Kaieteur News

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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

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

In the past year, gender-based violence especially against women increased substantially to such level that it led the former United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon to sound the alarm that “Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation, public health pandemic and serious obstacle to sustainable development. It imposes large-scale costs on families, communities and economies. The world cannot afford to pay this price.” Guyana is part of the international community which every year observes 16-days of activism against gender-based violence. November 25 to December 10 is commemorated as the International Day for the Elimination of violence against Women. During this period, the global community would raise public awareness of violence against women which has its genesis in the unequal distribution of power between genders. Studies have shown that gender-based violence cuts across ethnicity, race, religion, education and international borders. An estimated one in three women worldwide has been beaten, forced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. It is the same for the countries in the Caribbean and the rest of the world. Unfortunately, and it is very sad, over 50 percent of violence against women go unreported each year. It has been reported that the Caribbean has one of the highest incidences of rape and violence against women. On a per capita basis, the Bahamas has the highest number with an average of 133 per 100,000, followed by St. Vincent and the Grenadines 112, Jamaica 51, Dominica 34, Barbados 25 and Trinidad and Tobago 20. In Guyana it is 57. Over the last few years, Guyana has witnessed an alarming increase in gender-based violence and the targets are overwhelmingly women. However, many cases are not being reported because women feel a sense of shame and prefer to suffer in silence. Some blame themselves and would commit suicide. Many women have opted to remain silent because of the high tolerance for lawlessness. Those in authority need to do more to encourage women to report any violence against them to the police. Gender-based violence has psychologically damaged the minds of many children as well. Children are traumatized whenever they see one parent, especially their mothers, being physically abused their fathers or their mother’s boyfriends. Many have become withdrawn, rebellious, depressed, and angry, perform poorly in school, and can become abusers as adults. However, society has not yet come to the realization that not only women are the victims of abuse, but men have also suffered at the hands of their spouses or significant others. But in a society which heavily favours masculinity, men are rarely afforded the opportunity to express their concerns mainly out of fear of being ridiculed or have their manhood questioned by other men. In this New Year, all in society including the government, civil society, churches and other stake-holders should work towards eradicating gender-based violence and its impact on women through public education. The education system also has an integral role to play by infusing the subject in the school curriculum. Although there are laws to prevent violence against women, society needs to ensure that the police and security forces should be trained to better equip themto deal with such violence. If the state is serious about tackling gender-based violence, the least it can do is to create safe spaces in each of the ten regions for the survivors of violent abuses. The state has an obligation to protect its citizens from danger. It should also strive to fulfill the UN Sustainable Development Goals number five, which speaks to gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. It needs to foster relationships between the sexes and ensure that women and girls have equal access to all resources and are protected from all forms of discrimination and violence.

Tuesday January 17, 2017

Calypsonian “Blazing Fire” sang about the reality of Guyana

DEAR EDITOR, I tell you, I really don’t know what to say. Racism will tear us apart if we don’t stop feeding it. It will eat us from the inside out because that’s the mode it has reverted to. Truth be told, we as a people are daily becoming more and more shrouded in deceit and hypocrisy. I see our national colours being used as a veil and a sham, this is why at the core they lack any real penetrating force and inspiration to blend and fuse us. The Pledge and National Anthem are no different, wonderfully crafted as they are, they suffer the same fate. They are parroted at national events as a matter of formality to give an impression – a false one at that, that all is well, but they are flat, dormant and not aiding us to unleash the varied and diverse potential we possess. I will repeat here that the only time we can truly say we have a coming together of our people in unison is at cricket. West Indies versus England/ Australia and even that is disguised. Individually we have done well and acquired much materially that is but collectively as a people we have not. We seem to be all flesh, but devoid of spirit, which is precisely why our society is becoming so volatile, being consumed by a ris-

ing crime wave affecting each and every one of us. It is the spiritual emptiness within us that we have got to wake up to, the lack of concern for anyone beyond our parochial circle. While we lack the ability to solve everyone’s problem, I still think that we are too uncaring and dismissive towards each other. When we stop being our brother’s keeper, we allow ourselves to become much more vulnerable whether we recognize it or not, because we are a part of the whole. A society in many ways is like a chain in which ironically the weakest link is the one its strength depends on. We witness people falling victim every day to the ugliness that’s happening and still we carry along as if it will burn itself out. Editor, I have to say that in my opinion there is no one, and I mean no one, who has ever made a more genuine, forceful, meaningful, objective and passionate appeal for national unity across race as Walter Rodney did. As we know there were those who have pretended to do so; others have made superficial and lukewarm attempts, but at the end of the day they have all been self-serving and lacking

Mayor of Bartica desires citizens’ participation DEAR EDITOR, An Integrated Solid Waste Management Program is critical to a Cleaner Greener Bartica. A year ago, solid waste management was a burden, an environmental crisis, a health hazard. Today, with the support of Government and stake holders we are doing much better but a distance off from where we should be. With a small population of just under 15,000, we are committed to modelling best waste disposal practices, practices that will not only enhance the aesthetics of the Township but positively impact the health of its citizenry. Council is presently spending millions of dollars per month to keep Bartica clean which includes managing the Byderabo dumpsite. This site was recently rehabilitated by the Town Council through funding from the Governm e n t . In the year 2017, the municipality will be placing greater emphasis on sensitization. An educated populace on Integrated Solid Waste Management may be the answer to a Cleaner Greener Bartica. The incident of an international institution burning

documents at our “dumpsite” on Wednesday 11th January, resulting in a massive fire, the continued littering of our parapets with construction waste by some contractors and the dumping of garbage on sections of our reserves and beaches are cause for much worry. What is common on all fronts is the “We did not know” exclamation. Unfortunate as it may be, it highlights the challenges the municipality has in moving forward. We can no longer continue to only invest in machinery and equipment; we must invest in the populace as well. Therefore, a massive sensitization program, targeting every resident has now become a priority. Residents, businesses and institutions must understand their responsibility in achieving the goal of a cleaner, greener Bartica. It must not be taken for granted or assumed that the citizenry understand or know. The municipality by no means can do it alone. Stakeholders’ participation through education will make a tremendous difference. Gifford Marshall Mayor of Bartica

in magnanimity. They never quite felt the pulse of the people, lifting and transporting them to a newer, higher and better dimension. And this is why I suspect their flame quickly went out, causing them to lose faith in themselves and the people, and return to their respective race camps. But not so was Rodney; indefatigable and unrelenting, to his dying day he kept the faith, simply because he knew and believed in what he was doing. He understood the force and power not just of a united people, but a united people of varied ethnic backgrounds; he knew the magnitude and magic of a ‘people’s power’ movement. And I want to emphasize what most politicians don’t quite seem to get, that people don’t want to just hear what you are saying, they want to feel it. But then again you can’t make people feel what you yourself don’t believe. Thus the reason why national unity, rebranded as social cohesion hasn’t taken root, something which I suspect will remain so for a very long time. Maybe, notwithstanding all that has been said above we are bound by our very ethnic,

race and background makeup, and have fixed behavioural patterns which are involuntary – our nature. And if that be so, then we can’t fight fate. And maybe too that is why our politicians are not concentrating on any genuine racial unity, and why we don’t hear them preaching it. Indian and African leaders and top-functionaries more deal with the class factor, and are moreso over protective of each other. It’s a rejuvenated class thing, and they are succeeding well without having to indulge deeply in each other ’s customs. These people have perfected the art of wearing a mask. It’s a pity the vast ethnic masses, the working class population can’t figure it out and do the same. I say that we all have to agree and sing along with that master calypsonian of ours, ‘Blazing Fire’ … “Lord help my Guyana to love again, she has no unity…” These lyrics represent the living truth. I can’t help saying it: we have a wash of good songs by our local artists, some really profound and meaningful that our radio station should be playing often; the one mentioned above is certainly one of them. Frank Fyffe

Minister Winston Jordan defends his professional career DEAR EDITOR, I must express my outrage and disgust at a letter captioned, “My experience working at the Ministry of Finance”, which was written by Joe Persaud, and appeared in Kaieteur News, Sunday January 15, 2017. In particular, I found offensive his statement that he reported me, among several others, to Dr Jagan “for having no respect of (sic) “Value for money.”” He further goes on to state that Dr Jagan was going to confront them all but that Janet Jagan did not want Jagdeo fired. Editor, I state categorically that I do not know Joe Persaud. I never met the individual, and we never worked together at the Ministry of Finance or anywhere else for that matter. I made checks of the Ministry’s employee records, dating back to 1992 and found no one by the name of Joe Persaud. However, an employee of the Ministry recalled that there was a Joe Persaud who was the Project Coordinator of the Primary Education Improvement Project, which was financed by the Inter-American Development Bank. Apparently, his contract was terminated, which left a bitter taste and created his animus with the previous government.

Editor, I value my professionalism and integrity highly. I have a stellar record of working in the Ministry of Finance with various governments. Indeed, anyone who knows me even fleetingly will tell you how much I value taxpayers’ money. It pains me, therefore, that your newspaper can knowingly carry letters such as this that seek only to tarnish people’s reputation, image, integrity and professionalism. It is worse when the individual being tarred is a serving Minister of government. The imputations in Joe Persaud’s letter were serious enough to warrant frantic calls from my friends and well wishers to seek clarity and explanation. I call upon you, Mr Editor, to apologise for the imputations in Joe Persaud’s letter as they relate to me. Your failure to do so will cause me to exercise all available options to ensure that my name is freed of the muck over which it has been raked. Hon. Winston Jordan Minister of Finance EDITOR’S NOTE: We apologize to Minister Jordan. We can assure him there was no intention to doubt his professionalism as a career public servant

Tuesday January 17, 2017

Anil Nandlall says the President is not above the Constitution

DEAR EDITOR, I observed a nicely written piece by Mr. Vivian Williams, Attorney-at-Law on the issue of the appointment of the Chairman of Gecom. Among the arguments advanced by Mr. Williams is that the President’s powers and discretion under Article 161(2) of the Constitution are absolute and non-justiciable and therefore beyond the reach of the Judiciary. This argument is at best anachronistic, quaint and antiquated and at worst, palpably and manifestly erroneous. No legal system in a society where the rule of law prevails will ever countenance an absolute discretion, irrespective of how unfettered it may, exfacie, appears. Public and Constitutional Law texts are replete with authorities to support such contentions. This position suffers no exceptions. Absolute discretion is the very antithesis of the rule of law. I will recite two

judicial pronouncements which I have used before to support this contention: “discretion’ means when it is said that something is to be done within the discretion of the authorities that that something is to be done according to the rules of reason and justice, not according to private opinion: Rooke’s case; according to law and not humour. It is to be, not arbitrary, vague, and fanciful, but legal and regular. And it must be exercised within the limit, to which an honest man competent to the discharge of his office ought to confine himself.” (Lord Halsbury in Sharp v Wakefield (1891) AC 173) “the discretion of a statutory body is never unfettered. It is a discretion which is to be exercised according to law. That means at least this: the statutory body must be guided by relevant considerations and not by irrelevant. If its decision is influenced by extraneous considerations

Public must report cruelty to animals DEAR EDITOR, I want to thank your reporter for the coverage about a horse that was cruelly abused; however, I would like to clarify a few mistakes that were made in the article: 1: Friday afternoon, the Station Corporal immediately sent Officer McGarrell to assist us when I went to Ruimveldt Police Station to make a report. The kind officer was shocked at what he saw and wanted to talk with the owner, however, he did not want to go into the area alone, so he called for backup. It was the backup that arrived much later. 2: Editor, at no time did I say the GSPCA needed to have a system in place to

euthanize animals by lethal injection nor did I say that suffering animals should be administered painkillers before they are put to death. 3: The Police Officers did make an effort to find the owner. Please ensure the public is apprised of these corrections. Recommendations: I would like to say to the public, if you see cruelty to animals, please do not turn a blind eye, speak up for our voiceless friends, call the GSPCA at 226-4237, the Police or an animal activist. I would kindly suggest the GSPCA make available a cell phone number for people to text them at. SyeadaManbodh

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which it ought not to have taken into account, then the decision cannot stand. No matter that the statutory body may have acted in good faith; nevertheless the decision will be set aside. That is established by Padfield v Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which is a landmark in modern administrative law.” (Lord Denning MR in Breen v Amalgamated Engineering Union (1971) 2 QB 175, 190)The nonjusticiable argument is a relic of a bygone era and owes its genesis to certain aspects of the Royal Prerogative which were beyond the reach of the judiciary and not amenable to its review. This concept has no place in a legal system where the Constitution is supreme and where the judiciary is its guardian and imbued with an unlimited jurisdiction not only to ensure that it remains supreme but to strike down any law or actions which not only violate or are inconsistent with it but also which seek to question or undermine its supremacy. In this regard, even the legal immunities which the Constitution confers upon the President have been held by our Court of Appeal to only immunize the President, personally, from suit but not his actions. His actions are not above the law or the Constitution and remain reviewable by the Court by a suit to be instituted against the Attorney-General. (See Baird v Public Service Commission

and the Attorney-General (2001) 63 WIR 134)If Mr. Williams is right, it means that the President is above the Constitution and therefore the President is supreme and not the Constitution. This would be in violent contradiction to Article 8 which declares the Constitution to be supreme. It would also mean that the President would be above the law. This is the antithesis of the rule of law. The quintessence of which is that no one is above the law; all is equal before the law. Professor A.V. Dicey, expresses the matter thus: “not only that with us no man is above the law, but that here every man, whatever may be his rank or condition is subject to the ordinary law of the realm and amenable to the jurisdiction of the ordinary tribunals… With us every official, from Prime Minister down to a constable or a collector of taxes, is under the same responsibility for every act done without legal justification as any other citizen.” (A.V. Dicey, Introduction to the Law of the Constitution, 9th edition, 1948)Of course, Professor Dicey was speaking of the British legal system, where there is no written constitution and where parliament is supreme. His statements will apply, a fortiori, in a legal system with a written constitution which is supreme. Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP-PPP

Constitution allows the President to reject names he disapproves of DEAR EDITOR, In accordance with the Constitution, Guyana’s Opposition Leader, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, last week submitted a list of six nominees to President David Granger for his consideration and appointment of one as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission. President Granger asserted that none of the nominees was a judge, or qualified to be a judge, as the constitution dictates. Consequently, the President, exercising his powers under the constitution, declared the nominees “unacceptable,” and rejected the list. Mr. Jagdeo retorted that, apart from the requirement that the Chairman shall be a judge or a person qualified to be a judge, Article 161 (2) of the constitution also mandates that “any other fit and proper person” may be so appointed. Mr. Jagdeo subsequently announced an intention to approach the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) for an interpretation of Article 161 (2) of the Constitution; particularly the clause “any other fit and proper person.” Article 161 (2) states that ”Subject to the provisions of paragraph (4), the Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified

to be appointed as any such judge, or any other fit and proper person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation with the nongovernmental political parties represented in the National Assembly.” Approaching the CCJ on this matter would be nugatory. I believe that the powers which Article 161 (a) confer on the President are absolute and innocuous from judicial review. Regardless of any requirement, qualification or eligibility, the constitution mandates that, ultimately, the nominees by the Opposition Leader cannot be “unacceptable to the President.” It therefore follows that acceptability is not to be determined by the nominator or the courts, but exclusively by the President, guided by the constitution – not the opposition leader or a judge. I think Mr. Jagdeo might be a little confused about his office. He’s the opposition leader, not the President. He should quit caviling and submit a list of nominees that is acceptable to the President. Rickford Burke, President, Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID)

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You cannot ask the CCJ for an opinion in such circumstances DEAR EDITOR, This letter is prompted by the following newspaper reports: “PPP willing to approach CCJ to interpret constitutional provision” (KN January 13, 2017); “Jagdeo wants CCJ to interpret law on GECOM Chair” (GC Friday January 13, 2017); and “AG queries haste to complete Presidential third term appeal” – KN Saturday, January 14, 2017; and “February is set for ruling on third – term appeals” SN, Sunday January 15, 2017. Since, article 161(2) provides relevantly that the chairman (not being a person who is an alien) “…. Shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a judge… or any other fit and proper person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation…” a question about the interpretation of this article firstly involves the jurisdiction of the High Court for its ruling (see article 133(1) (a)). Whatever the outcome, I would anticipate that the unsuccessful party would then appeal to the Court of Appeal and then invoke the appellate jurisdiction of the CCJ. This is no summary expeditious process. Only God knows how long from High Court to Court of Appeal to ruling by CCJ would take. And I do not think, although I express no concluded opinion, that a mechanical facility or process of what is called “leap – frogging” to the CCJ is available in a matter of this sort (this not being a matter of its original jurisdiction in interpretation of the Treaty of Chaguramas). Be that as it may, I submit that an action for a declaration that the President has acted unconstitutionally, involving as it would, an interpretation of article 161(2) has no real

prospect of success. First, the President is the only constitutional functionary who is peculiarly entitled to “act in his own deliberate judgment” (article 111 (1), 161(3)(a)). When the President acting pursuant to article 111(1) invokes this unfettered discretionary power in deciding whether the list of nominees are “not unacceptable” to him, no Court can declare that he has improperly, arbitrarily, unreasonably, or otherwise exercised that discretionary power or function. Both on principle, and authority alike (Adegbenro V, Akintola And Another (1963), 3All ER, 544 PC that issue of non-acceptability, because of the plentitude of such discretionary power, is what in jurisprudence, is known as a non-justiciable issue (ie no court ought to, or will take cognizance or try it and give a decision/ruling on it, save to say that it is not a justiciable power the exercise of which it can review). Second, the ejusdem generis principle – general words takes their genu or character or nuance from the character of the Specific words used, applies; and by it, the President is entitled to demand that nominees be persons of judge-like attributes of impartiality etc. This second proposition merits further elaboration, as it has been a source of considerable dispute and criticism of what the President has intimated is his benchmark for appointment. Given such plentitude of discretionary power (as I would articulate below) the President by his intimation of a preference for a judge, or judge-like person was within the boundaries of his constitutional power; and that is all that matters. Since neither President Granger nor Mr. Jagdeo are endowed with psychic

powers to go into the state – of – mind of any nominee as to his/her capacity for impartiality, both can only, sensibly, in their respective functions of nomination and appointment, act on the empirical or demonstrated evidence of impartiality, or alternatively take the approach of a preconception that a judge (sitting or former) by reason of such profession, would bring impartiality to the office of GECOM, Chairman, as he/she does, or did, in the court. What I understand the constitution- makers and draftsman to have said in article 161(2) is, inter alia, that a judge is a classic, or per force, a “fit and proper person” and any other person not being a judge/ Magistrate/Lawyer must be a person with the signal hallmark or attribute of a judge – a disposition of impartiality and neutrality. If the draftsman of article 161(2) did not intend the preceding special or specific wording as to “judge” to have any limitative or restrictive effect or impact on the generality of the words “any other”, nothing would have been easier or more simply than for them to have drafted article 161(2) without those special reference – words viz “judge or person qualified to be a judge”. They simply could have drafted – “shall be a person to be appointed by the President …” But they did not. So, there must have been some significant constitutional purpose in such specificity of wording. What, then, is that purpose? I submit the President rightly comprehended and apprehended that purpose when he intimated his preference for a Judge or Judge-like person. Maxwell E Edwards Attorney-at-Law

Tuesday January 17, 2017

The story of Russia versus the United States continues DEAR EDITOR, Most Americans are confused as to what Trump will do once in office, however, if one can be guided by his campaign promises then the Kremlin will have reason for optimism. He has praised the Russian bombing attack in Syria, supported the destabilization of Russian’s European rivals brought about by Brexit, mused about weakening America’s commitment to NATO, and has personally praised Vladimir Putin. Hilary Clinton’s history of aggressive criticism of Russia’s foreign policy, her proposal for a no-fly zone in Syria, were all seen as strong evidence that America would be more confrontational towards Russia if she won the presidency. According to Fyodor Lukyanov, the chair of Russia’s Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, and also an influential voice in Russia’s security establishment, “there is a widespread view that she personally hates Putin”. There is a considerable amount of parsing and analysis to be done regarding the hacking or the allegation thereof. What were the Russians thinking, if they were at all? Do they need to be told or at best reminded that dabbling with American politics is an extremely dangerous game? Nations have been hacking into each other’s computer networks for a long time. When the U.S military’s precursor to the Internet – ARPAnet - was about to spring into action in 1967, several warnings came from a few computer scientists, that putting information on a network that can be accessed online from various unsecured locations creates inherent vulnerabilities. They further cautioned that from now on keeping of secrets would be extremely difficult. Of ironic mention is the fact that in 1984, the first presidential directive on computer security was signed by Ronald Reagan, warning of electronic interference by foreign intelligence agencies, terrorist groups, and criminals. Most of the staffers in the Pentagon and the National Security Agency, who

wrote the document, were aware of the danger, because they knew the United States was already hacking into foreign networks, and they inferred as a consequence that what America could do to a country, could be someday done in return. In 2008, during the presidential election, China hacked into the websites of both parties’ candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain. It was called espionage and treated as no big deal. The Russians during the Cold War referred to this manner of spying as “active measures”, and America was also engaged in it. Both sides were involved in rigging elections in smaller countries around the world, either to protect governments serving their interests or to overthrow those that were not doing so. Several means were employed, and the techniques were many, such as funneling money, spreading propaganda, assassination etc. Crazy or paranoid as the world may view him, in Putin’s opinion these hacks may well be regarded as acts of revenge, especially since he blames the United States for plotting the implosion of the Soviet Union, a truly geopolitical catastrophe. To further compound his dislike of the U.S, he also blames Hilary Clinton specifically, when she was Secretary of State—for prodding democratic activists in Ukraine to move away from Russia and toward the Euro-

pean Union. Trump has expressed admiration for Putin, has never criticized him, and some of Trump associates have business interests in Russia. So it is obvious that if Vladimir Putin had the power to tilt the election who would be at the receiving end. America has been playing the same game as Russia is playing, except that this time Russia has revealed her level of cyber supremacy. According to Forbes magazine in 1983, when Senator Ted Kennedy wanted to run for president, he sent a friend John Tunney to Moscow where Tunney told the head of the Soviet Union that he wanted a deal. The deal was simple Kennedy would assist Andropov in dealing with Reagan, and in return the Soviet leader would assist the Democratic Party in challenging Reagan in the 1984 presidential election. Now the U.S cannot face the fact or bear the shame that one of the world’s worst dictators hacked the Democratic National Committee in an attempt to influence an election. While there is no real way of knowing the true impact of the hack, nevertheless citizens the world over should be on their guard for there may soon be a hack coming to an election near you. All countries must protect both their electoral integrity, and the democratic rights of its citizens. Yvonne Sam

There needs to be an immediate audit of Rosignal NDC DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me to voice my concern about my community, Rosignol. Since the local government election was finished, it was supposed to be the people helping to develop their communities; but to no avail. This is not done. Our NDC is taking instruction from Freedom House. Our community was supposed to earn township soon but our community is worse than a garbage dump. Our NDC is controlled by the PPP/C councillors. They are trying to destabilize our community; we never had a community meeting with the chairman to air our views and concern. My second point is our market building that is located next to the NDC office was leased out to the owner of a certain non-functioning business and has been locked up for years now. They are fight-

ing for prescriptive right. How can this be when this land was given up by our forefather for the purpose of serving our community? This building could be used to better serve the youth of our community. The government is about to launch the National Youth Policy; how will that help our youths? We need this building to be converted to a learning center that will cater for slow learners who were not successful at the conventional, educational system. We need the relevant authority to look in to the operation of the ROSIGNOLZEELUST NDC because of the rampant financial questions that have arisen there. We the people are asking for an audit of the above NDC. Please MR President. Rosignol needs your help. CONCERNED YOUTH

Tuesday January 17, 2017

Kaieteur News

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Significant Customs fees hike effective February 1 Effective February 1, 2017, agents and brokers will be required to pay new administrative and miscellaneous fees when conducting business with the Customs and Trade Operations (CTO). According to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), these changes will be implemented in accordance with the recent amendments made to the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01. The increases, Government has said, is to bring the country’s revenue-collection agencies within acceptable standards, since some of the fees charged before were considered laughable. The new fees are listed as follows:

Ramkarran urges establishment of national Oil and Gas company Even as the news of the second oil find offshore Guyana reverberates, political commentator and former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, is calling on the government to establish a national oil and gas company to manage the oil industry from the earliest stage. Guyana’s second oil find was reported last week. The find by ExxonMobil is located at a well called Payara1. The presence of petroleum offshore Guyana was confirmed last year when ExxonMobil announced its world class discovery at the Liza well. The Payara-1 is the most recent find. Given the discovery and what it could mean for Guyana ‘economic development, Ramkarran is of the view that while the government is working to establish the legal framework and institutional mechanisms, steps should be taken towards the establishment of a national oil and gas company. He noted former Minister of Energy of Trinidad and Tobago, Kevin Ramnarine, recently, urged Guyana to establish the national oil and gas company whose leadership should be insulated from politics. While this is easier said than done, the former politician believes that it can be accomplished if the effort starts now. Additionally, he noted there is no evidence that it is making any effort to reach out to the opposition to build

Ralph Ramkarran consensus from the earliest stage. “If the government wants political and national consensus going forward, it needs to start consultations with the opposition early or face the possibility of a perennially contentious situation for our oil industry.” Apart from all the matters which have to be resolved relating to oil, Ramkarran noted that one major issue facing Guyana and its government is how to ensure that Guyana’s agriculture, mining and forestry industries are sustained since a large number of developing countries that have become oil producers have seen their indigenous industries abandoned because of the flow of income from oil. The former Speaker says the obvious question is how do agri-based industries in which Guyana has great potential and other industries, such as in information technology and otherwise (Continued on page 09)

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Tuesday January 17, 2017

Kaieteur News

Bartica Massacre…

Police detective recounts statements given by accused

Accused: Roger Simon

Accused: Dennis Williams

Accused: Mark Royden Williams

Bartica massacre Police Detective, Suraj Singh, yesterday recounted to the court his portion of evidence in which he reiterated the statements given by the three men accused of slaughtering 12 persons at Bartica in February 200. The three accused, Mark Royden Williams, called Durant and Smallie; Dennis Williams called Anaconda; and Roger Anthony Simon, called ‘Goat Man’ are on trial before Justice Roxanne George and a mixed 12-member jury at the High Court in Georgetown. According to the allegation Sunday, February 17, 2008, the men were among a number of gunmen who attacked the mining community of Bartica, Essequibo, killing 12 residents. Among the deceased were Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir, Constable Shane Fredericks and Constable Ron Osborne; Edwin Gilkes, Abdool Yassin Jr, Deonarine Singh, Errol Thomas, Ronald Gomes, Baldeo Singh, Ashraf Khan, Irving Ferreira and Dexter Adrian. After murdering the police officers, the gang is said to have stolen cash, arms, ammunition and a vehicle from the police station. Using the stolen police vehicle, they drove through the streets of Bartica shooting at civilians. They proceeded to CBR Mining, where they stole arms and ammunition, and removed two safes containing cash and gold. After their one-hour rampage, the gunmen departed Bartica by boat. Yesterday, Detective Singh told the court that constable Chester Benjamin pointed out Roger

Simon, during an identification parade, some time after the incident. The witness recalled that Benjamin identified Simon as one of the men, who attacked the Bartica Police Station in February 2008. Singh recalled that Simon responded to the allegations by the saying, “Boss man me ain’t understand. What’s going on?” He said that on April 8, 2008, the accused was cautioned and the allegation of murder was put to him. This time, he related to the court that Simon was told that he was in the company of others who shot and killed 12 persons at Bartica, Essequibo, on February 17, 2008. In response to the allegation, he s a i d , S i m o n stated, “Boss man I was in the interior working. Me ain’t know nothing about this. Me ain’t know what going on…” Singh said, too, that the suspect (Simon) declined to give a written statement to the police on the matter. He recounted that he therefore made an entry of the man’s oral statement in the station diary. The officer noted that no threats, promises, or inducements were offered to the accused for him to give the statements The Policeman testified to taking the statements from the other two accused persons, Mark Royden Williams and Dennis Williams. Both of whom, he recalled gave oral statements on the incident. In relation to Mark Royden Williams, Officer Singh said that after he was picked out by Policeman Carl Methuram, on an identification parade, he was cautioned and the allega-

tion of murder was put to him. The witness noted that Williams had responded by saying is “Saddest (Rondell ‘Fine Man’ Rawlins) come and I had to go.” The accused however declined to say anything further. “Me nah mek no more statement, man.” The policeman recalled that he cautioned the accused in accordance with the Judge’s rules before he gave the oral statement. He had also asked Williams if he wanted anyone present at the time of the statement but he replied in the negative. Detective Singh said that some time afterwards, the other accused, Dennis Williams was cautioned and the allegation of murder was put to him in relation to the Bartica incident. The witness said that Dennis Williams told detectives that he was at Bartica but he didn’t kill anyone. The Policeman‘s evidence followed the testimony of Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh. Dr Singh committed a post mortem examination on all 12 persons, who were murdered in the massacre. In his testimony, the pathologist revealed that the victims died as a result of the gunshot injuries they sustained. Based on the information gathered from the autopsy, Dr Singh noted that some of the victims were shot at close range while others were shot to the head and other vital parts of their body, making their chance of survival very small. Dr Singh noted that his examinations revealed that the victims of the massacre sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

Sophia girl missing Fifteen year old Alyiah Majeed, of 92 Section ‘A’ Sophia has gone missing. The teenager was last seen entering a blue and white bus in Sophia last week Monday. According to a relative, the young lady said she was going to see her mother in central Georgetown but she did not show up. At the time of her disappearance she was wearing a pair of brown short pants, a peach coloured ‘fine’ strapped top and a blue denim jacket. She is a student of Queenstown Secondary School and has not attended school since it re-opened. The family is pleading with her to return home and promises that she will not be in trouble.

Her sister wants her to know that she and the family love her very much and they are all concerned for her. The concerned sister said the 15-year-old called her on January 7, last, and enquired how her mother was doing and then disconnected the phone. She then made contact on Facebook and the older sister asked where she was, she replied that she did not know. When asked if she was okay and she also said she did not know. Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Alyiah Majeed should contact the nearest police station or the family on 680-8331, 219-1106, 666-8528.

Alyiah Majeed

Tuesday January 17, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Do not be deluded! Who feel that Guyana will concentrate, over the long-term, only on the LEC and will not place its sights on the LLB are deluding themselves. The investment that is being made is a long-term investment. The LEC programme is just the means to get a foot into the Guyanese market. The ultimate goal will be a full-scale law programme. Those who are deluding themselves into believing that UG’s LLB will survive the establishment of this law school, are yet to answer the question of why it had to take a private entity to offer the LEC or its equivalent in Guyana. The intellectual bankruptcy of the University of Guyana over the past fifty years has made this possible. Instead of UG trying to launch its own programme, it was beaten to

the punch by a private entity. UG did not have the vision to do what the private grouping is doing. UG will pay a high price for its lack of vision. We are witnessing the beginning of the privatization of programmes offered by the University of Guyana. Competition will force the demise of the University of Guyana whose overheads will not allow it to compete with smaller more flexible schools. It is like the old cinemas we used to have long ago trying to compete today with the small cinemas which we now have in Guyana. UG’s LLB will eventually be co-opted into the law school. Mark my p r e d i c t i o n ! Some students from the University of Guyana recently lost their belongings

in a fire which razed what has been described as an apartment complex in the Cummings Lodge Area. This was the second fire in recent weeks in that area. The students were lodgers or tenants in the building which went up in flames. It is a sad situation. One has to sympathize with the students over their losses. They are hurting and are looking for help. UG cannot help them. UG needs help itself. But a strange development is taking place. The students are demanding compensation from the owner of the building. This is the first time that anyone can recall hearing about a tenant who has suffered a loss demanding compensation from the owner on the basis that they believe he or she has an insurance policy in force on the

Dem boys seh

People got to come out and face de music Tantalise is a bad thing. Idle Odle sit down in ee corner and ee didn’t trouble nobody. He never even use to answer he phone. When people call him he would tell dem to call back because he don’t want to wrong talk. But it look like if trouble always following him. He go pun a plane and de next thing dem boys know is that somebody tell dem that Idle Odle calling a press conference. Of course, when dem boys go to de conference dem didn’t see Idle Odle. Instead dem see Slidey Jamesey. De problem come when a reporter write how Idle Odle call a press conference and didn’t tun up. De man

couldn’t tek it. He complain. Then he write a letter and fuh sure, he don’t like de name Idle Odle. He seh suh in he letter. Now dem boys want him to know that he got to call a press conference. Even Soulja Bai hold one. Idle Odle ain’t hold none. Even de Chat-3 holding press conference and he got nuff thing to hide from. He is de one who know that people want to ask him nuff question but he still facing de press. Imagine he talk about special prosecutors and claim how that was a bad thing when he himself was a special prosecutor. He talk about how much money Soulja Bai put aside

fuh de special prosecutors. Chat-3 could have apply fuh de wuk because de government advertise for it. And he got experience because he did get nuff money to be one couple years ago. In fact, two more case at that price and all de money dem vote fuh special prosecutors woulda done. When dem boys ask de Chat-3 how much he get he tell dem it ain’t relevant. And he hold press conference. Rohee got to hold one too. Dem boys seh that dem waiting fuh he talk how Bharrat rig de party elections. Talk half and watch dem either crawl out de woodwork or dem crawl further in.

Ramkarran urges establishment of... From page 7 develop? He believes, nonetheless, that unless the Government decides to impose lending by banks of a certain percentage of overall loans to special areas, such as agriculture, paying special attention to small and medium scale farmers, it would need to devise some serious incentives to banks to increase the flow of resources to agriculture and agri-based industries. “Lending for agriculture and the inadequacy of financial instruments to encourage agriculture in developing countries, even though large sections of the population is engaged in agriculture, been recognized as a problem as an international problem and

many ideas exist to deal with it.” “The experience of other countries like Brazil, whose exports of agricultural products is about 30 percent of its GDP, can be useful. It is necessary that these consultations and discourses should begin now, so that public opinion is engaged on these matters and that Government should lead the way,” he added. The oil discovery is being viewed as a major gamechanger for Guyana and one that will change the country’s fortunes. Guyana received news of its first major oil find in May 2015 from the Exxon-Mobil. Since then, training, leg-

islations and consultations have been ongoing to ready Guyana for oil production with approval already granted to build an on-shore facility.

building. It is hard to imagine how a landlord or landlady could have an ‘insurable interest’ in the personal contents of his tenants . Without that ‘insurable interest’, the owner cannot take out a policy that covers the belongings of the tenants. It is hard to imagine a tenant claiming losses of their personal belongings on an insurance policy of the building. It is the responsibility of the tenants to insure their personal belongings against the risk of fire. How can they be de-

manding compensation from a policy which covers the building? Or are they implying that the owner has an obligation to insure the contents of his tenants? If this is the argument, then insurance law is being rewritten in Guyana. If you are renting a property from someone it is your responsibility to take out insurance on your belongings or your stock. A landlord cannot assume an insurable interest over your belongings. But in Guyana we are having persons asking for compensa-

tion for their losses since they believe that the property is insured. Even if it is insured, what is insured is likely to be the interests of the landlord and not the belongings of the tenants. And you do not need a law degree to understand that fact, LLB or otherwise.

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Tuesday January 17, 2017

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

All Guyanese politicians should watch that Obama interview Barack Obama gave his final interview as president to 60 MINUTES. It was aired last Sunday evening. There are parts of that programme that every politician in government and those aspiring to political office should pay keen attention to. Obama told Steve Croft that he welcomes fresh legs in the White House, going on to say two terms were sufficient. Here in Guyana, the obsession with staying in office is literally insane. There is a desire that is sick and unhealthy in this country to remain in office, whether public or private, till the end of time. Obama was specific and definite - you need the newness of person. There are no scientific laws that govern psychology and human behaviour; in fact, Sigmund Freud was hesitant in accepting that there is a definite pro-

cess called human nature. He felt there are no absolute laid down characteristics known as human nature. Even if there aren’t the laws of science in human nature, there are trends that have been observed over thousands of years of a pattern that has emerged in human psychology. Once you remain in a position where you have to make decisions for other humans, you will fall into malaise, mediocrity, tiredness, resignation, unconcern, slowness etc with the passage of long time in office. It is not a scientific law, but is a graphic reality that has been with civilized society very, very long ago. A nation’s leader, an army’s commander, a bank’s CEO will not be a quick thinker and an astute strategist as they were 20 years ago when they were at the top of their game.

In this country, the most feared thing is not a monster but a natural process called term limits. People do not want to put term limits in their organization’s constitution. The PPP has none. The PNC has none. The now defunct WPA never had term limits. I have now learned that it is not a binding instrument in the constitution of the Alliance For Change. There was a big public quarrel between the Guyana Olympics Association and two journalists from this newspaper over the indeterminate tenure of Mr. K. Juman Yassin. That body does not recognize term limits. It is the same for every sports organization in Guyana except lawn tennis. David Granger had two terms as elected leader of the PNC – 2011 and 2015. Will he be the presidential candidate in 2020? Bharrat Jagdeo has

emerged as the worst head of government the West Indian group of nations has ever seen. I grew up rejecting the style of governance of Eric Gairy in Grenada and Forbes Burnham in Guyana. I thought these two leaders were happy and content with the exercise of absolute power. Then I saw Bharrat Jagdeo. This man has just been awarded the title of GeneralSecretary of the PPP, a party that has no term limits. This man wants to run again in 2020 arguing that the term limits set by the constitution is null and void. Any cursory examination of the PPP will reveal the totalitarian control Jagdeo has over the structures and systems of the PPP. Even if he loses the court case in our Court of Appeal or the CCJ, and could no longer be eligible for the presidency, he will remain forever as the General-Secretary

of the PPP thereby shaping the presidential throne, if his party wins it, as he so desires. This is the identical process that occurred under the Ramotar presidency. Publisher of this newspaper, Mr. Glenn Lall told me that I am free to publicly write about it, that it was Jagdeo that insisted to President Ramotar that he be charged over the vehicle issue. So this country can end up with a man being the leader of the PPP forever. In these columns, I have occasionally invited people to spend time with me to see what my average day is like. Only my wife and daughter know the true situation. People call my numbers and stop me all the time about human rights violations. 2016 was no different. I knew from those approaches that people have no faith in the new APNU+AFC Government

Frederick Kissoon when it comes to righting wrongs. They do not seek out their new leaders. Yet we have an organization named the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA). Its head, Mr. Mike Mc Cormack has held that position for 40 years; yes, forty years. He doesn’t like it when I write about this. Where is the GHRA? The answer is that with the passage of time, its permanent leadership has lost its vibrancy. Barack Obama was so right

Some large employers on confrontational paths with Labour Dept - draws warning from Minister Scott

Minister Scott and NAMILCO’s Bert Sukhai sharing a light moment yesterday. Minister with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott, on Monday praised two local manufacturing firms for exemplary industrial relations standards while maintaining high staff morale and experiencing low worker turnover. Scott made the remarks following the end of familiarisation tours to the National Milling Company (NAMILCO) and giant beverage conglomerate

Banks DIH both located south of the capital. The Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection assured that the government “will do everything to help the company maintain their high industrial relations standards and will detail Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) officers to help strengthen that sector in the two local companies.” “Overall, both companies

are doing very well,” Scott said at the end of Monday visits. While at the beverage giant, Scott and his team of MOSP officials from the labour, OSH and the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA), examined several aspects of the operations and both NAMILCO and Banks DIG Ltd. At the latter, the officials examined the new technologies used in the

Minister Keith Scott listens intently as a NAMILCO employee explains the flour-production process. production of the Banks Beer plant which produces some 14,000 to 18,000 bottles of the product daily. They also benefitted from guided tours of the beverage and alcohol, pastry and biscuits and the machine shop. While at NAMILCO, Scott held formal discussions with executives where he unveiled plans “to meet with all employers (and unions) individually” this year to

sensitise them to the “new levels of industrial relations Guyana is currently experiencing”. Unions, Scott explained, have to “adjust to the new psychological atmosphere” enveloping the local labour sector. Without naming companies, Scott said “some large employers are on a confrontational path” with the Labour Department. Nevertheless he reminded that he will maintain his ‘open door’ policy with employers. “It is in all our interests for Guyana to have a stable industrial relations climate...and the government’s position is not to intimidate but to help companies fulfil their goals,” Scott said. “We want to bring down the unemployment rate in Guyana,” Scott told NAMILCO executives, urging them to utilise the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) and the CRMA both

agencies within the MOSP. NAMILCO’s Managing Director, Bert Sukhai, praised Scott for initiating Monday’s visit and said afterwards that Guyanese should expect no price increases for flour even though the company will be hit by higher corporation taxes this year. “NAMILCO will absorb the (higher) corporation tax under the new VAT (Value Added Tax) regime,” Sukhai disclosed. He reiterated stable prices in 2017 for the company’s 20 products notwithstanding a higher wage bill from November 2016. NAMILCO and the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) brokered a three-year wages pact which guarantees workers a 21 per cent pay hike over the period. NAMILCO workers received the first increase in November 2016, Sukhai said.

Tuesday January 17, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Dr. Jennifer Westford trial…

Defence/Prosecution clash over witness reviewing statements

Legal arguments were raised by State Prosecutor Teshana Lake and Neil Boston, SC, with regards to a police witness reviewing 13 statements he gave in relation to the trial of Dr. Jennifer Westford and Ms. Margaret Cummings. The two are accused of stealing $639,420,000 from the state. The trial continued yesterday, before City Magistrate Judy Latchman. However, it was adjourned until January 19, after issues were raised by Boston over Detective Inspector of Police Richard Frank, being permitted by the court to review peculiar details he give in the statements, since he had a memory lapse during testifying. Inspector Frank, who is stationed at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, was called by the state. He testified to conducting investigations in the matter, during which he interviewed Westford and Cummings at CID Headquarters. Inspector Frank, at one point, told the court that he could not remember the details of cheque numbers among other things. This prompted Prosecutor Lake to make an application to the court for the witness to be allowed to be “refreshed” from his statements. Objections were raised by Boston. Boston told the court that (the defence) was never served with such statements. This claim was quickly refuted by Prosecutor Lake, who said

that statements were served on the defence and even the court. Boston subsequently requested a short adjournment date to have the issue resolved. Magistrate Judy Latchman granted the adjournment after informing the court that she will have her clerk verify whether the lawyer (s) for the defendants signed for the statements. Inspector Frank told the court that he conducted investigations into the matter after receiving a report of larceny by a public officer committed on the state of Guyana involving $10M. The police witness told the court that on July 2, 2015, he contacted Alwayne Williams, the Accountant of the Office of the President (OP). “According to Inspector Frank, He (Williams) handed over to me a copy of the memorandum of the Public Service Ministry dated the 7th of June, 2010, with caption Financial Assistant for Public Service Evaluation with a purported signature (above) type written Dr. Jennifer Westford MD, with the Public Service stamp.” Inspector Frank revealed that Williams also gave him a voucher dated June 8, 2012 payable to Permanent Secretary, OP, Margaret Cummings for the sum of $10M. He said that Williams handed over to him the Bank of Guyana (BOG) cheque dated June 8, 2012 with cheque number 05-23381 payable to Permanent Secretary, OP, for the sum of

Dr. Jennifer Westford $10, 255,000. The police witness testified to contacting Westford and Cummings on August 13, 2015 at CID Headquarters, in the presence of their attorney. “I told her (Westford) it is alleged that on the 12th day of June, 2012, while being a public officer, stole $10M (GYD) property of the state of Guyana”, Inspector Frank added. The police witness said that the same allegation was also put to Cummings. Both Westford and Cummings, Inspector Frank stated, remained silent and declined to make written statements. Inspector Frank said that he showed memorandum to Westford and asked her if she had knowledge of them, but she replied, “no comments.” On August 13, 2015,

Ms. Margaret Cummings Inspector Frank recalled that a confrontation was held between Cummings and Chief Accountant, Peter Moore, of OP. He said that Moore told him that he made payments to Cummings and she also signed payment vouchers on June 12, 2012. Inspector Frank related that Cummings insisted that she had nothing to say. The witness stated that he did other investigations of a similar nature in relation to this matter. Jennifer Chapman, Deputy Accountant General at the Ministry of Finance, Accounting Department was recalled to the stand. Chapman explained how the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMAS) works. Guided by Prosecutor Lake, she told the court that expenditures are processed through the IFMAS based on

Men impersonate police commander, collect $800,000 bribe-- court hears Two men who impersonated the then acting Commander of Police B Division, Senior Superintendent Kevin Adonis, last October, thus obtaining over $800,000 from a woman by fraud have been charged. The men are Jason Thomas, 28, of No 2 Village, East Canje Berbice and Leon Hart, 19, of Cumberland, East Canje Berbice. They appeared on Monday before Magistrate Rhondell Weaver in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court. They are charged with obtaining from Destiny Harris the sum of $800,000 while purporting to be the acting Police Commander on October 23, last in the vicinity of the Central Police Station, New Amsterdam. The case for the prosecution is that on the day in question Thomas, who is well known to the woman, telephoned her and informed her that he was the acting Commander of Berbice and was in

a position to release her husband who was incarcerated in a serious matter. It was subsequently revealed that the person who spoke to the woman was not the commander, but the impersonator Jason Thomas. The issue had stemmed from the arrest and subsequent remand of France,51 of lot 55 Palmyra Village who was charged with having in his possession one 9 mm pistol and 13 live rounds around 01:00 hrs on Saturday October 22, last, at Palmyra, East Coast Berbice without being the holder of the relevant licence. France was held after ranks on a mobile patrol stopped motor car PVV 2423 which was being driven by France in the vicinity of Vryheid Road, West Canje, B e r b i c e . He sped away sparking a high speed chase along the New Amsterdam public road which ended at his Palmyra home. France was subsequently

searched and the gun and ammunition were discovered in the car. He was arrested and charged and pleaded not guilty before being remanded to jail. Subsequently a recorded conversation allegedly between the man’s wife and someone purporting to be the Commander surfaced concerning a $1M bribe being offered for the release of France. The voice was later traced to Jason Thomas who is well known to the police. Thomas had used cell phones 678-9963 which has the recording and 696 8378 to make the calls. After the agreement was reached between him and the woman, he informed her to wait in the vicinity of the Central Police Station and he would send someone to collect the money from her. A sum of $800,000 of the agreed $1M amount was paid over by the woman to someone, who turned out to be Hart. This accomplice told

her he was sent by the Commander to collect the money and to have the man released and ‘done the story’. Thomas was subsequently arrested and placed in custody. He was released on station bail. Diligent investigation led to Hart’s arrest. A file was prepared and sent to the DPP and advice was received that the men be charged. In court, Thomas who is well known to the authorities was a no show. Thomas who also lives in a hotel in New Amsterdam had given his address as Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, when he and another man from Canje were charged in another matter of robbery with aggravation in Demerara on February 27, last. Hart was granted bail in the sum of $150,000, but could not afford the bail and was remanded to jail. The matter has been set for March 3 for continuation in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.

monthly releases from the Ministry of Finance. According to Chapman, the spending agency would prepare manual payment vouchers with all supporting documents and relevant authorized signatures. Chapman disclosed that she and Jawalar Persaud, Accountant General (ag) are duly authorized signatories by the BOG. She added that Sub Accounting Agencies have an examination unit which examines all payments, while the payments for Non Sub Accounting Agencies are examined by the Accountant General Department. Chapman stated, “In the case of the Sub Accounting Agencies, these cheques are uplifted from the Accountant General’s Department by a duly authorized officer. An instrument authorizing the officer to uplift….with a standing order…. The standing order is signed off by a senior officer of the respective agency.” In the case of Non Sub Accounting Agencies, Chapman said, the cheques are uplifted by a duly authorized officer for salaries and other orders. “In the case of direct payments those

cheques are uplifted by the respective supplier, contractor at the Ministry of Finance.” The testimony of this witness was suspended until the cheques are tendered in court. According to facts, Westford of Lot 55 ‘AA’ Victoria Avenue Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was employed as Minister of Public Service from 2001-2015, while her co-accused was the principal personnel officer of the Ministry. Cummings of Lot 709 Section A Diamond, EBD was also in charge of the Ministry’s accounts department. It was discovered that on 24 occasions Westford signed memoranda amounting to $639,420,000 and sent them to the OP for approval. Approval was granted and cheques were prepared and encashed by Bank of Guyana. The monies were requested to carry out various activities throughout the 10 administrative regions. However, personnel from the various departments were contacted and denied ever receiving the cash. Investigations were carried out but the monies were never recovered.

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Tuesday January 17, 2017

ExxonMobil denies financing Coalition’s campaign US (Washington Post) Rex Tillerson hadn’t been CEO of ExxonMobil very long when the late president Hugo Chavez made foreign oil companies in Venezuela an offer they couldn’t refuse. Give the government a bigger cut, or else. Most of the companies took the deal. Tillerson refused. Chavez responded by nationalizing ExxonMobil’s considerable assets in the country, which the company valued at $10 billion. The losses were a big blow to Tillerson, who reportedly took the seizure as a personal affront. Only Tillerson didn’t get mad, at least in public. He got even. Fast forward to May 2015. Just five days after former military general David Granger was elected president of the South American nation of Guyana, unseating the country’s long-ruling leftist party, ExxonMobil made a big announcement. In the deep blue waters 120 miles off Guyana’s coast, the company scored a major oil discovery: as much as 1.4 billion barrels of high-quality crude. Tillerson told company shareholders the well, Liza-1, was the largest oil find anywhere in the world that year. For tiny Guyana (population 800,000), the continent’s only Englishspeaking country and one of its poorest, it was a fortunechanging event, certain to mark a “before and after” in a country long isolated by language and geography. There was just one problem with this undersea bonanza. Venezuela claimed the

waters — and the hydrocarbons beneath them — as its own. Clearly drilling in the disputed area was potentially a good business decision for ExxonMobil, not some sort of elaborate revenge scheme by its CEO. But revenge had been served. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Chavez’s successor, was livid. “There is a brutal campaign against Venezuela of lies, funded by ExxonMobil … which has great influence at the Pentagon,” Maduro declared, calling the dispute an attempt to corner Venezuela and precipitate “a high-intensity conflict.” Investors Out The Stabroek block where ExxonMobil and its partners struck oil is off the coast of a patch of wild South American jungle known as the Essequibo territory. Venezuela and Guyana have haggled over it with oscillating levels of vehemence for more than 100 years. Amounting to twothirds of Guyana’s surface area, it is, by any practical measure, a part of Guyana and populated by Guyanese people, albeit sparsely. But Venezuelan claims on the land have long kept foreign investors out. In 2013, a research vessel exploring the area for U.S.-based Anadarko was intercepted by a Venezuelan warship, which temporarily detained the 36-member crew. It was a warning to other companies thinking of partnering with Guyana.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro points at a map of the border between Venezuela and Guyana, while at the presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela in 2015. (EPA/Miraflores Press) Tillerson’s ExxonMobil went ahead anyway. As soon as the company announced its big find in 2015, Venezuela loudly reasserted its claim on the Essequibo. Faced with mounting economic problems at home, Maduro seemed to welcome the distraction of an external enemy next door in Guyana, particularly the softspoken, U.S.-trained Granger, whom Maduro depicted as an American toady. Maduro ordered military exercises along the border, appealed to the United Nations to intervene, and cast his country as a victim of “imperialist” aggression. But Maduro was boxed in. Tillerson had taken him to school. And he was just getting warmed up. The company has moved quickly to drill more wells since then, rack-

ing up new discoveries in the area. Maduro’s attempts to bully Guyana backfired, driving a major wedge between Caracas and the Caribbean nations whose support Chavez had tried to cultivate through billions in oil subsidies. CARICOM, the association of Caribbean states that benefited from the largess of Chavez’s PetroCaribe agreement, ended up siding with Guyana in the Essequibo dispute. CARICOM’s new chairman is none other than Guyana President Granger. The United Nations has extended its attempt to mediate the dispute for another year, after which the U.N. Secretary-General may refer the matter to international courts. But given that Venezuela’s economically failing government already sits on the world’s largest petroleum reserves, much of the Western Hemisphere seems to be rooting for underdog Guyana. No financing Tillerson has not com-

ExxonMobil’s boss, Rex Tillerson mented publicly on the Guyana find or the Venezuela dispute. He was scheduled to visit Guyana last month when President-elect Donald Trump nominated him for secretary of state, forcing him to cancel the trip, according to local press reports. Lauren Kerr, an ExxonMobil spokeswoman, confirmed that Tillerson and Granger have met, “though as a matter of practice we don’t comment on discussions with government officials,” she said. Kerr said the claims by Venezuela’s Maduro that ExxonMobil financed Granger’s 2015 presidential campaign were baseless. “ExxonMobil does not make political contributions in any nation other than the United States and Canada,” she said. ExxonMobil signed its deal for the Stabroek block with the Guyanese government in 1999. The country’s ruling leftist party had generally warm relations with Chavez’s Venezuelan govern-

ment, and shipments of subsidized oil may have also diminished the urgency to drill in Essequibo waters and risk renewed tensions. In March 2015, ExxonMobil hired a ship, the Deepwater Champion, to begin drilling exploratory wells, according to the company. Asked to explain the delay between ExxonMobil signing the agreement with Guyana in 1999 and the company’s first wells, Kerr said the timeline was not atypical. “Exploration and production projects may span the course of decades, including significant front-end engineering work,” she said. The company’s wells in the Stabroek block are beneath about 6,000 feet of water and 11,000 feet of rock. It has the majority investor in a group that also includes the smaller Hess Corp and the large state-run Chinese energy giant CNOOC. Pavel Molchanov, an industry expert at the financial services firm Raymond James, (Continued on page 23)

Tuesday January 17, 2017

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21 homicides in T&T: Detection rate - ZERO Brazil sees new uprising at penitentiary where 26 killed over weekend She was last seen leaving ...”I don’t concentrate on statistics”, says National Security Minister

National Security Minister Edmund Dillon (Trinidad Express) There have been at least 21 homicides in Trinidad and Tobago for 2017 already. The detection rate stands at zero. The killings have been committed across the country with the majority in the Northern Police Division. National Security Minister Edmund Dillon was asked about the crime statistics on Sunday during a function in La Brea. He said: “”I do not concentrate on statistics. There is qualitative versus quantitative. I prefer to look at the qualitative aspect which is the mind, getting rid of the fear of crime.

This means doing certain things to alleviate fear in people’s mind and that is where my emphasis is, in terms of creating more deterrence, more intelligence gathered, more detection. Those are the things I concentrate on to keep them on the radar. We know of course murder is the barometer by which we are measured so murder is our main concentration effort.” A n a utopsy was conducted yesterday on the body of schoolgirl Rachael Ramkissoon. The body of Ramkissoon, 16, of Talparo Trace, Brazil Village, was discovered dumped in a bushy area not far from her home.

her home on Friday morning to go to school at North Eastern College in Sangre Grande. She missed her school bus and determined to attend classes to write an examination, she is believed to have taken a taxi. But she never made it to school. Ramkissoon is the second woman to have been killed this year. On Saturday night El Socorro mother of two Balmatie Bachan was shot dead and her husband wounded when gunmen opened fire on their vehicle while driving on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway. An autopsy is also to be performed on Bachan’s body today. Dillon said he was “saddened” by the teenager’s killing. MURDER NO. 21 A man liming in an apartment in Santa Cruz was ambushed by gunmen and killed on Sunday. Anthony Sammy, 38, was shot multiple times. Police said he was at Sammy Lane, Bourg Mulatresse in the company of a woman. At around 2.30 p.m. three armed men ran into the home and fired several gunshots. They gunmen ran out and escaped. Sammy also ran out of the house, but collapsed and died. Police believe the killing was drug related. Sammy’s killing took the murder toll to 21 in 15 days.

CARICOM Energy Ministers meet in Bahamas this month NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) – Energy ministers from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries will meet here later this month to discuss the region’s transition to greater sustainable production and use. Representatives of public and private sector entities, senior officials of national, regional and international institutions and industry experts will join the ministers at the fifth Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum (CSEF) to be held here from January 23-25. The conference is being organised by the Guyanabased CARICOM Secretariat in collaboration with the Bahamas government with support also from the United States, through the Organisation of American States (OAS); the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World

Bank. “Over the three days, participants will hone in on the CARICOM Energy Policy which was approved in 2013 and the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Roadmap and Strategy (C-SERMS) with a view to focusing on policy, planning and decision support mechanisms to enable game-changing investment to transform the regional energy matrix,” the Secretariat noted. It said that the specific objectives of CSEF V are to identify and agree on modalities for validating the midterm [2022] and long-term [2027] C-SERMS targets, propose actions through which member states are able to attract the “right type of capital” to support long-term sustainable energy production and use. The organisers said that the CSEF V will seek to catalyse consensus among stakeholders around what they are prepared to do to further define and support the long-term (2027) commitments that are necessary for

energy transformation within CARICOM. Energy Programme Manager at the CARICOM Secretariat, Dr. Devon Gardner said that the forum will provide a greater understanding of what had taken place since the last CSEF and since the regional energy policy and CSERMS were approved. CSEF was established as a biennial sustainable energy event in the Community. The previous events were held in Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis and in Barbados. “The Forum is intended to facilitate dialogue and actions towards the adoption of more robust policies and the transfer of appropriate technologies in renewable energy and energy efficiency in CARICOM. It seeks ultimately to enhance stakeholder support and contribution to diversification of the regional energy supply from its current fossil fuels base to a mix that includes significant renewable sources,” the Secretariat added.

An inmate talks with riot-police after a new uprising broke out at Alcacuz prison in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil, yesterday. REUTERS/Josemar Goncalves (Reuters) - Another uprising broke out at a prison in northeastern Brazil where 26 inmates were killed by a rival gang faction over the weekend, authorities said yesterday. A SWAT team entered the prison before midday “to get control of the situation,” said Maj. Eduardo Franco, spokesman for police in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, where the prison is located. Yet for most of the afternoon, television images showed inmates on the roofs of at least two wings of the Alcaçuz prison, wielding large knives, waving banners with gang acronyms and yelling death threats to rivals. By evening, Franco said that the SWAT team had control of all the prison except for the wing housing members of Brazil’s biggest drug gang, who refused to hand over their weapons and allow police to enter their area.

“ We ’ r e n e g o t i a t i n g with them,” Franco said, adding that the situation remained extremely tense. It was in the same prison, located about 25 km (15.5 miles) south of the state capital Natal, that members of the powerful drug gang, the First Capital Command (PCC), slaughtered 26 other inmates from a rival gang in a riot that began late Saturday and was not halted until Sunday. As in a series of other prison uprisings in recent weeks, many of those killed had their heads cut off and were badly mutilated or burned. At least 140 inmates have died in Brazil’s prisons in just over two weeks. The intense violence is the result of a split between the PCC and Brazil’s secondmost powerful gang, the Red Command. For more than two decades the two gangs main-

tained an uneasy working relationship, ensuring that a steady flow of drugs and arms easily made its way over Brazil’s porous borders with the world’s biggest cocaineproducing nations. But about six months ago, security officials and experts say, the PCC moved to fully take over trafficking routes and tried to push the Red Command aside. The Red Command responded by forming alliances with smaller regional gangs, primarily in Brazil’s Amazon region and in the northeast, in an attempt to block the PCC from taking over those drug routes and gaining new turf. A New Year’s Day prison massacre at the Anisio Jobim prison complex in Amazonas state in which 56 died ignited the recent violence. Most of those killed were members of the PCC, butchered by members of the North Family gang, which is allied with the Red Command.

Heavy flooding threatens Shell Beach Heavy spring tides and strong winds have caused widespread flooding in Shell Beach, a Region One community. According to Aubrey James, Warden of the protected area, the flooding which started Friday, was one of worst in years for the area. Shell Beach, located on the Atlantic coast of Guyana in the Barima-Waini region, near the Venezuelan border, is a popular nesting site for four of the eight sea turtle species and was named as a protected area. Shell Beach extends for approximately 145 km. However, it appears that times are changing and several families who lived in the area, forced in recent years to move elsewhere. According to James, about nine of 40 families had

remained in the beach area, helping with conservation work, among other things. “This flooding is one of the worst in years. Families are seriously thinking about moving to safer grounds.” Fortunately, the nesting season is not due to start for several weeks. The turtles are not under threat. “The water has started to recede but the damage has been done,” the warden said. The situation is a nervous one for Annette Arjoon-Mar-

tins, who works closely with the conservation efforts and Shell Beach. “We are monitoring the situation and working closely with the regional authorities to assess the damage,” the official said yesterday. Turtles used to be slaughtered for their meat and eggs but are now part of a non-governmental conservation programme called the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society (GMTCS), founded by Dr. Peter Pritchard and Romeo De Freitas.

PAGE 22

VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Toyota Allion PVV series: TV Camera, HID, lights, alarm & remote start $2.2M negotiable Call: 649-0956 Leyland DAF 65 (sand truck). Call: 623-3895 SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 6471773/660-5257

Visa Application: U.S.A, C a n a da & UK; Guyana p assport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535.

Exquisite Beauty works have hair and nail or barber station available for rent. Call: 6927307/ 226-6352

INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

Register Now! Cosmetology, Nails & Wig designs courses, classes commence February 20th 2017. Call: 6182417

Hello the doctor is back! Have your gas stove service and repair. Call: 601-0595 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 B U D H R A M ’ S LANDSCAPING SERVICES: FREE ADVICE, FREE DESIGN. CALL: 656-1326 A&T TRAVEL AGENCY INC: TICKETS GOING VERY CHEAP!! OFFICE IN USA. CALL: 223-1332/ 6137542/+1-347-617-7582/ EMAIL:OMKARLILIAH@ GMAIL.COM Guytec Repairs Services & Spares to washing machines, pressure washer, dryer, st o v e s , r e f r i g e r a t o r, treadmill, vacuum, etc – Call: 680-2377 Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezersCall:629-4946 or 225-4822

Oswin J’s Auto Imports: New Arrivals: Premio, Allion, Fielder, Axio, Rush, X-Trail. Free full coverage insurance. Call: 609-2815 One Nissan Duke, lady driven, immaculate condition, PTT series, low mileage. Call: 653-0018/ 6667748, price negotiable serious enquires. 1 AT 212 (PNN) – Call: 6792928 Long bass Mitsubishi Canter -$2M, Honda Fit -$850,000, new model Raum -$2M, Audi Car $2M. Call: 604-6724 Nissan Bluebird 2011 model -$2.7M, Toyota Rush 2006 model -$2.8M. (unregistered vehicles) Call:655-3400

LANDSCAPING: We design, supply and implement residential and commercial indoor & outdoor landscaping. Call: 648-1821 Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045

PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 Riverside property, Roeden-Rust, East Bank Essequibo, 3 Miles from Parika. Call: 266-2217/6945109

Tractor (foreign used) Massey Ferguson -165 $1.7M, MF-135 - $1.2M, MF265 -$2.2M, 165 Loader tractor -$2.4M. Call: 6825230/ 628-9596 2005 Tacoma from Canada bull bar -$2.4M, Ford F150 sport -$1.5M, Ranger sport $1.4M. Call: 682-5230/ 6289596

Eccles New Housing Scheme property for sale by owner. Call: 618-2603 2 Storey house & land at UG area, East Coast Demerara. Call: 657-4349 2 Storey house 35X45 3 bedrooms, 1 self-contained @ 5th Avenue Diamond, H/ Scheme. Call: 677-0583/6645052 1-2 Story building: top flat4 bedrooms, 1 self contained, air-conditioned, 2 apartment bottom flat, 2 bedrooms each apartment. Call: 645-9157 Aubrey Barker Road, triple lot -$27M, campbellville, DaSilva Street, Diamond Bungalow 12.5M, East$11.5M. Call GME Realty: 231-2199/ 618-7483

LAND FOR SALE Uitvlugt -$2.3M, Zeelugt $1.7M, Tuschen -$1.6M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.4M – Call: 642-1252

Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, video games & repairs – Call: 672-2566; 265-3231 PALMS: Any variety, all sizes, we deliver and plant anywhere. Call: 643-7193

15 Acres transported land @ Upper Demerara River next to Kaumudi Creek opposite Timehri Docks. Call R. Mithu: 222-4708 Land @ Soesdyke, 6 lots measuring 135’X175’ -$24M negotiable. Call: 627-3334/ 696-8935, email:fcranmore@ guyanavoice.com

WANTED Need immediately dry cow mold 400 bags, preferably from Berbice Area. Call: 6437193

WANTED

VACANCY

1 Female Shop attendant to work in the Interior. Calll: 6780565

Popular East Coast Gas Station (Non-Pareil) Day/ Night: pump attendants, sales clerk & office assistant. Contact: 695-9880/684-4197

1 Male or female to look after layer birds in the Interior. Call: 678-0565 Bahier to cook in the interior. Call: 678-0565 1 Porter to work on vehicle in the Interior. Call: 678-0565

01 Leyland DAF55 Truck, excellent condition, no dump. Call Reaz: 675-4287/ 661-7186

Experienced cleaners, waiters and counter servers. Apply with written application, Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce St. (Day Shift only).

Honda S2000 Convertible$3.2M, Audi A4-$3.6M, 318i BMW-$2.6M, Toyota IST-$2M. Contact#650-0402/260-4988

Wanted land to buy: Uitvlugt, Tuschen, Zeelugt & La Parfaite Harmonie. Call: 6579594

Sheep for sale at Independence Street La Grange. Call: 675-6491

Live in waitress to work in a bar- Call: 604-6606;692-4646

1 Two storey building @ Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara, New Scheme. Call: 628-4436 Cheap! Cheap! CCTV Security Surveillance Kit, 8 Channels DVR with built in Hard Drive, 8 bullet cameras – Tel: 621-4740/686-3500 1 Stembow boat & engine (Yamaha 200HP) with Power Steering kit $1.6M Call 6585299/638-7748

Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999 Elevator, very good condition, price negotiable. Call: 231-1284

Land @ La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.2M, $1.4M, $1.6M, Uitvlugt- $2M, Tuschen School Street -$3M, Providence -$5M, Eccles $5M. Call: 604-6724

TOURS TO LET Alexander Village 1st Street, large two bedroom, 1 self contained with A/C, parking $60,000.Call:652-8970/674-3735

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

Perkins 3 Cylinder 27 KVA Generator, price -$1,200,000 negotiable. Call: 682-6111

FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578

Need a weekend getaway? Pay just $36000 for a return trip to Suriname. February 2326, 2017. Contact: 600-5509/ 268-2507

Tuesday January 17, 2017

Kaieteur News

Operator/Driver – Call: 6190898/698-4321 Male and female to work in Interior age 25-35 salary $80,000 monthly. Call: 674-1767 Male & female factory workers from age 18 and older with working experience. Call: 223-0090

Two bedrooms apartment to rent @ Better Hope, E.C.D – Call: 617-3001 2 Bedrooms bottom flat @ Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara. Call:661-9689 Space to rent on Public Road, West Bank Demerara, preferably for business. Call: 661-9689

Receptionist, Security Guard, Room Attendant. Apply to 233 South Road – Tel: 2250198 1 General Domestic Monday-Saturday, must be able to prepare vegetarian dishes, apply at Alabama Trading. 1 Senior Accounts Clerk. Interesting person apply to Alabama Trading, Ferry Stelling. Valid Certificate of competence as Master of power, driven vessel. Call: 226-1100/226-5380 Female kitchen assistant and male assistant to grill meats and vegetable, weekend included. Call: 656-9313/6752550/684-7526

2 Waitresses age 18-25yrs, 1 cook & 1 bartender in Grove. Call: 678-2295

Accounts/office assistant CXC Accounts. Email CV to laltag@yahoo.com or whatsapp: 680-3863

To work weekends: female bartenders, attractive waitresses, cooks needed at Eden’s Bar (East Bank). Call: 678-3616

Office clerk with 5yrs experienced 5 CXC subjects. Apply in person @ Universal Machine, 161 Charlotte Street. Call: 225-2093

2 Seamstress need at Lot 5 & 6 Supply Village, E.B.D. Call: 670-8182

Sales Representative to sell juices, applicants must have experienced. Apply to Mc Doom C.I.D.I, E.B.D- Call: 233-0910

Sales girl to work on a stand in the New Amsterdam area. Call 604 -9596 or 646- 9087 One Receptionist. Apply in person with application to Agriparts, 202 Mandela Avenue,AlexanderVillageG/Town. One experienced sand truck driver preferably from E.B.D. Must be honest- Call: 2653024/609-0766

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

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1 - Secretary & office clerk, must have maths,english and accounts. Contact # 650-0402 \ 260-4124. The #1 Plant Shop, sale staff and general maintenance and sales persons 20-30yrs. Call: 643-7193

1 Female cleaner for office in Eccles. Call: 233-2745

Experienced bartenders and cleaners. Call: 225-8572, between 7am-9pm

Couple to live in: husbandhandyman, wife-domestic. Call: 227-1830

Driver/Salesman, lorry licence, residing on East Bank Demerara. 266 4427

1 live in waitress with secondary education, starts at $70,000 monthly, boarding and lodging free. Call: 6103974

EDUCATIONAL

One live in domestic to work in Mahaicony River. Call: 655-9419/ 644-6905 Workers for land dredge. Call: 683-7178 Senior Mechanic & Driver. Call: 227-1717

Private custom house broker certificate training course; January 30 2017. Register now & save. Call: 694-8322 or 671-9603 Classes for slow learners in Reading, Spelling, Mathematics, and much more for children all ages. Call: 675-4379 Continue on page 23

Tuesday January 17, 2017

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Strategic measures embraced to improve nursing education ExxonMobil - but political opposition concerned about 2016 breached exam The importance of nurses in the delivery of health care cannot be underestimated. Moreover, the Ministry of Public Health has been paying keen attention to training these professionals at varying levels. In 2016, a total of 494 students graduated from the field of nursing. This included 312 professional nurses, 91 nursing assistants, 72 post-basic midwives and 19 single trained midwives. There is a current enrollment of 716 persons in the field of nursing with 119 for clinical and technical programmes. This is according to information recently disseminated by the Ministry of Public Health which has reportedly been directing deliberate efforts to continually ensuring that nurses are exposed to quality training. It was revealed that last year, 26 nursing tutors/clinical instructors successfully completed a 24 weeks basic certificate in nursing education. Also in June 2016, the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) facilitated the participation of Guyana in a regional workshop intended to review a draft proposal of the core

competencies of nursing educators in the region. Former Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, said that the workshop provided an opportunity to identify the gaps in the educational preparation of the local educators and also served to create partnerships with the regional body. It was on the heels of this meeting, Dr. Norton said, that a group was invited to visit Brazil to explore opportunities for higher education for nursing tutors. In response, a three-man team visited the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil to explore opportunities for post-graduate education for nursing tutors. Thirteen scholarships were offered to the team (eight Masters Degrees and five at the doctoral degree level). The programmes are expected to commence in September this year. Added to this, three nursing students and one nursing tutor participated in an exchange visit to the St. Joseph University of Connecticut, United States. The visit provided valuable opportunities for the participants to share their experiences in the area of nursing education and practice. Part of the Ministry’s ef-

forts during the past year included moves by its Health Sciences Division activating an old agreement with PAHO to provide low cost textbooks and other teaching and learning resource materials. The aim, Dr. Norton said, was to adequately equip learning resource centres and laboratories. This tactic, he noted, allowed for timely sourcing of materials for the nursing schools and also for individual purchases for students. Training in the public health sector is provided for nurses through the three national schools located in Georgetown, Linden, and New Amsterdam. Expansion works on the latter mentioned nursing school commenced last year and according to Minister Norton this additional space will result in two new classrooms, a new learning laboratory and two new lavatory facilities. A new hostel for student nurses is also under construction in the school compound of the New Amsterdam school of nursing. This facility will accommodate 25 students from the far flung areas in the region, Dr. Norton revealed. While a number of measures were introduced to improve nursing in 2016, there

were, however, challenges that faced nurses in training. Among these challenges, according to former Health Minister George Norton, was the overcrowding in classrooms due to large class sizes. But he assured, even before his recent move to the Ministry of Social Cohesion, that “this hurdle is gradually being addressed by reducing the number of new students in each class.” There was also a shortage of basic textbooks but the former Minister of Public Health, revealed that a PALTEX agreement spearheaded by PAHO and the Public Health Ministry served to guarantee that students were able to access low cost books for schools and students. However, among the troubling developments that considerably affected nursing education during the past year was a breach in the State finals in October, 2016. This breach characterized by a leak of the examination prompted a police investigation. According to Minister Norton, “Cabinet had made a decision to have the examining body, the General Nursing Council, go ahead with the marking of the exam papers.” However, he had noted

that the Ministry was awaiting a report on the matter from the Crime Chief of the Guyana Police Force in order to make a final decision. At a People’s Progressive Party press conference yesterday, Member of Parliament, Anil Nandlall, expressed concerns about the very examination and the fact that students have not yet been able to access their results. Nandlall in his deliberations on the matter yesterday said, “We note that the matter involving several hundred nursing students who wrote their exams several months ago, is far from conclusion. “These students have been told that the examinations which they wrote, several months, ago have been compromised. No one knows how or who is responsible but to date these students cannot get their results. Their lives have been put on hold for several months now. They cannot earn during this period. They are not told what the next step is. We call upon the Ministry of Public Health to conclusively address this matter…The situation is becoming unbearable for the students.” A total of 250 Professional Nurses participated in the examination.

denies...

From page 12 whose portfolio includes ExxonMobil and Hess, said countries such as Guyana that have no existing oil industry are considered “frontier” locations, and typically offer the most lucrative terms to foreign companies willing to invest. Guyana’s foreign partners stand to earn 60 to 65 percent of profits, he said, a far larger share than what more established nations are willing to offer investors. ”An investment in Guyana is not a political statement to hurt Venezuela,” Molchanov said. “It’s an example of an early-stage exploration opportunity that has the benefit of good fiscal terms.” At current oil prices, the Liza deposits could be worth US$70 billion, more than 30 times the size of Guyana’s annual GDP.

From page 22

Stepson, friend remanded to prison for estate worker murder Roopnarine Persaud, 18, called ‘Helicopter’ and Deonarine Lakan, 23, called ‘Pascal’ were yesterday remanded to prison after they appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse in the Wales Magistrate’s Court, West Bank Demerara, charged with murder. Persaud and Lakan were both charged with the murder

of 38-year-old Kawal Shivnauth, called Rupesh, or Rupee, an Uitvlugt estate worker who resided at Wine Bush, Leonora West Coast Demerara. It is alleged that on January 9, at Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara, Roopnarine Persaud and Deonarine Lakan murdered Kawal Shivnauth.

The accused were not required to plead to the indictable charge after it was read to them by Magistrate Clive Nurse. On the day in question Shivnauth approached one of the accused and instructed him to stop harassing his 15year old daughter. With the help of two of his friends, the young man started an argu-

Domino brawl gets driver community service Alvin Austin, 39 of Lot 380 Enmore, East Coast Demerara yesterday appeared before Magistrate Beverly Cheddi in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer a charge that on January 10, last, at Stabroek Market, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously assaulted Basheer Asgarally. The accused pleaded guilty at a sitting of the Night Court in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Police Prosecutor Shevon Jupiter told the court that the accused and Asgarally are known to each other. On the day in question around 15:50 hrs, Austin and Asgarally among others were playing a game of dominoes when the accused picked up some of the dominoes and threw them at Asgarally. The victim sustained a swollen face and a laceration the forehead. The accused when given a chance to address the court stated, “The facts presented is correct; I did do it. Yuh know when people losing how they does behave. It was four of us playing domino and he kept losing so he

get knock out and because of that he decided to stand behind me and tell then men what I have in my hand. “I turn around and asked him if he wanted me to pelt him in the face and he said if I am a bad man pelt so I decided to pick up some of the dominoes and pelt him in the face and one burst his head. Asgarally made a report to the Police Station and the accused was arrested and charged. When the Magistrate asked him if he was remorseful for his action he stated, “I ain’t really sorry but I am sorry. He has to remain a loser and he will be a loser for the rest of his life. He can’t want play and win all the time. You have to win some and lose some. He needs to be tough. The only reason he went to the police station was because them men was laughing at him.” The magistrate placed the accused on a bond to keep the peace for six months and sentenced him to perform 50 hours of community service at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

ment with Shivnauth and then struck him to the back of his head with a bottle. Shivnauth upon receiving the injuries ran out the shop to get help and the two accused ran behind him and dealt him several kicks and punches about his body. The father of three was also stabbed twice to the abdomen by the accused.

The 38-year-old was pronounced dead on arrival at the Leonora Cottage Hospital after he was found with the stabs wounds about his body near an Anna Catherina shop. The duo will make their next court appearance on February 20, 2017 at the Wales Magistrate’s Court, West Bank Demerara.

The Sun Finally Sets... From page 15 Dorothy Leilani Ellis Zeffiro, Miss Hawaii 1953, noted that she was of Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, English, Irish, Scottish and German descent, and that her late husband, Frank, had been a purchasing agent for Lihue Plantation. Sugar cane still sways in fallow fields around the state. But the mills are hulks. Agrochemical companies are growing genetically modified seeds, and there are more papayas, macadamia nuts, orchids and anthuriums. M y m o t h e r ' s p a rents, from Okinawa, lived in Pepeekeo, on the Big Island, at the Mauka Loa plantation camp. Nothing is left of it but a towering

Norfolk pine on the mountainside, near where horse stables once stood. Worker housing has gone to grass and red dirt. But the blue Pacific is the same, the low clouds, the moist breeze. Beyond lie Hilo and a graveyard. When my mother and aunts and I visit Grandma and Grandpa, Kana and Kiyuei Higa, we take red anthuriums from the farmers market. To see the names all around, mostly Japanese and Okinawan, is to be struck anew at the strangeness of it, the transplantation of so many from so far away, to an outpost of diversity and harmony: a world built on sugar. (Reprinted from the New York Times)

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 17, 2017

Hundreds of U.S. Marines land Canada’s Trudeau faces ethics probe over Bahamas trip in Norway, irking Russia (Reuters) - Some 300 U.S. Marines landed in Norway yesterday for a six-month deployment, the first time since World War Two that foreign troops have been allowed to be stationed there, in a deployment which has irked Norway’s Arctic neighbor Russia. Officials played down any link between the operation and NATO concerns over Russia, but the deployment coincides with the U.S. sending several thousand troops to Poland to beef up its Eastern European allies worried about Moscow’s assertiveness. Marines from Camp Lejeune in North Carolina landed a little after 10 am CET (0900 GMT) at a snow-covered Vaernes airport near Trondheim, Norway’s thirdlargest city, where temperatures were reaching -2 de-

grees Celsius (28 degrees Fahrenheit). U.S. troops are to stay in Norway for a year, with the current batch of Marines being replaced after their sixmonth tour is complete. A spokesman for the Norwegian Home Guards, who will host the Marines at the Vaernes military base, about 1,500 km (900 miles) from the Russian border, said the U.S. troops will learn about winter warfare. “For the first four weeks they will have basic winter training, learn how to cope with skis and to survive in the Arctic environment,” said Rune Haarstad, a Home Guard spokesman. “It has nothing to do with Russia or the current situation.” In March the Marines will take part in the Joint Viking exercises, which will also include British troops, he

added. The Russian Embassy in Oslo did not immediately reply to a request for comment by Reuters yesterday. It questioned the need for such a move when it was announced in October. “Taking into account multiple statements of Norwegian officials about the absence of threat from Russia to Norway we would like to understand for what purposes is Norway so ... willing to increase its military potential, in particular through stationing of American forces in Vaernes?” it told Reuters at the time. A spokeswoman for Norwegian Ministry of Defence also said the arrival of U.S. Marines had nothing to do with concerns about Russia. However, in a 2014 interview with Re u t e r s , Norway’s Defence Minister Ine Eriksen Soereide said Russia’s annexation of Crimea showed that it had the ability and will to use military means to achieve political goals.

(Reuters) - Canada’s ethics watchdog is investigating whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau violated conflict of interest laws by taking a New Year’s vacation on an island in the Bahamas owned by the Aga Khan, the first such probe of a sitting prime minister. Trudeau has faced repeated questions from the opposition about his trip to Bell Island, the Aga Khan’s private island, which sits in a national park in the Bahamas. He said last week that he had flown there by private helicopter. In a letter to a Conservative lawmaker dated Jan. 13, Mary Dawson, the federal conflict of interest and ethics commissioner, said she has “commenced an examination” to determine whether Trudeau’s trip contravened the Conflict of Interest Act. The probe could hurt Trudeau, who has high ratings even as the Liberals have been dogged by spending controversies, including his health minister’s use of a luxury car service owned by a party supporter. “Unethical actions are definitely a hot button for voters,” said Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch. “I think it will cause him to lose voter support as a result.” The last Liberal government, ousted in 2006, was tar-

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (REUTERS/Chris Wattie) nished by a sponsorship scandal involving corruption and misdirection of funds to supporters in Quebec. In a bid to reconnect with voters, Trudeau scrapped a trip to this week’s World Economic Forum in Davos and embarked on a cross-country tour instead. “I think the tour is too little too late,” said Conacher. In the letter, Dawson acknowledged concerns about potential breaches related to the use of the private helicopter, as well as Trudeau’s acceptance of the trip in light of the Aga Khan Foundation’s lobbying of the government. Ethics rules introduced by Trudeau in 2015 bar government ministers from taking private flights without getting Dawson’s approval.

A Trudeau spokesman said the prime minister will answer any of Dawson’s questions. A spokeswoman for the ethics commissioner did not immediately comment. Trudeau is facing a separate probe into fundraising by his Liberal Party, but an examination into the trip would be the first such investigation of a prime minister, said Conacher. Aga Khan is the title held by the leader of the Ismaili branch of Shi’ite Islam. The current Aga Khan, Prince Shah Karim Al Husseini, is a Trudeau family friend. The Aga Khan Foundation Canada is a registered lobbyist with the government and executives met with government officials as recently as December.

China will ‘take off the gloves’ if Trump continues on Taiwan, state media warns (Reuters) - China will “take off the gloves” and take strong action if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump continues to provoke Beijing over Taiwan once he assumes office, two leading state-run newspapers said yesterday. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal published on Friday, Trump said the “One China” policy was up for negotiation. China’s foreign ministry, in response, said “One China” was the foundation of China-U.S. ties and was non-negotiable. Trump broke with decades of precedent last month by taking a congratulatory telephone call from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, angering Beijing, which sees Taiwan as part of China. “If Trump is determined to use this gambit in taking office, a period of fierce, damaging interactions will be un-

avoidable, as Beijing will have no choice but to take off the gloves,” the English-language China Daily said. The Global Times, an influential state-run tabloid, echoed the China Daily, saying Beijing would take “strong countermeasures” against Trump’s attempt to “impair” the “One China” principle. “The Chinese mainland will be prompted to speed up Taiwan reunification and mercilessly combat those who advocate Taiwan’s independence,” the paper said in an editorial. The Trump transition team did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment on the Chinese articles. The Republican president-elect is sworn in on Friday. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the United States was clearly aware of China’s posi-

tion on “One China.” “Any person should understand that in this world there are certain things that cannot be traded or bought and sold,” she told a daily news briefing. “The One China principle is the precondition and political basis for any country having relations with China.” Hua added, “If anyone attempts to damage the One China principle or if they are under the illusion they can use this as a bargaining chip, they will be opposed by the Chinese government and people. “In the end it will be like lifting a rock to drop it on one’s own feet,” she said, without elaborating. The administration of President Barack Obama has repeatedly reinforced the U.S. commitment to the one China policy since Trump’s call with the Taiwanese leader.

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Packers win an ‘unbelievable Yusuf slams ton, Persaud takes 5... wickets. Batting first Success Deosarran and S. Deosarran (From page 31) effort’, says QB Rogers Chumandatt captured 4-15 managed 121-8 in 12 overs. scored 36 and 34 respectively; (Reuters) Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the MVP of Green Bay’s Super Bowl triumph six years ago, was left almost speechless after his team’s nailbiting 3431 win over the Dallas Cowboys in a divisional playoff showdown on Sunday. After squandering an 18point lead they established during the second quarter, the Packers held off a thrilling Cowboys comeback with successive field goals by Mason Crosby, the last of which was set up by another bit of playoff magic by Rodgers. Rodgers, taking over the ball with 44 seconds left and the score 31-31, connected on a stunning 35-yard completion to tight end Jared Cook, who nimbly tip-toed inbounds with just three seconds left on the clock. Crosby then delivered for

the final time, kicking the game-winner from 51 yards just inside the left upright after his first attempt had been waived off as Dallas called time out right before the snap. “Unbelievable effort. What a game, what a game,” Rogers told Fox Sports, having briefly paused to gather his thoughts after the frenetic end to a playoff classic at AT&T Stadium. “Jared just kept on coming and I tried to put it in a good spot and he made a hell of a catch. And then Mason, Mason kicked twice. Unbelievable. “It’s a different energy with this team, the guys are very hungry, there’s a stronger belief,” Rodgers said. “This one is special — more special than we’ve had in a while.” Next Sunday, the Packers will take on the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Champion-

ship game to decide which team reaches the Super Bowl but for the moment, Rogers wanted to savor the victory. “We’re just going to enjoy this game,” the six-time Pro Bowl selection said after completing 28 of 43 passes for 356 yards and two touchdowns, with an interception. “We are going to celebrate this, then we are going to move on to Atlanta.” Packers head coach Mike McCarthy applauded the sheer grit shown by his team. “I can’t say enough about my football team’s resiliency,” McCarthy told reporters. “Obviously a fantastic finish. The execution there, the throw by Aaron and the catch by Jared Cook and Mason Crosby being able to knock it through twice … a pretty good insight into who we are as a football team.”

Tuesday January 17, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Keep your wits about you and be sure that you can trust those you confide in Not everyone will be pleased with your plans. Spend time with friends or family. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Your health may have suffered due to neglect or abuse. Be careful when dealing with loved ones. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your partner may push buttons that infuriate you. You will be entertained and intrigued by the logic foreigners possess. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your honesty will not only win you points but also respect. Be prepared to make compensations and adjustments. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Get ready to do some fancy footwork when it comes to taking care of your financial situation. Tell them to get out of the mess they are in and then you'll consider getting together with them. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Residential moves will also be advantageous for all concerned. Don't donate more than you can afford in order to impress others.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may be uncertain about some of your coworkers and your boss. Try not to get upset or angry without having all the facts. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Travel should be on your agenda. Compromise may be necessary. Emotionally, things may not run so smoothly. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Spend time by yourself to avoid any conflicts with family members. Emotionally you won't see things accurately. Renovations to your domestic scene will pay high rewards. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Digestive disorders will be a result of family squabbles. Spend time by yourself to avoid any conflicts with family members. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You may have been too agreeable to someone who just wanted to use you. Be careful not to hurt someone's feelings. You'd be wise to control your spending so your debts don't get out of hand. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Work quietly on your own. Accomplishment is yours if you direct yourself accordingly.

from there overs, while Jagdesh Persaud and Latchman Kallicharran had two apiece. Regal Masters defeated Mike’s Wellman by 78 runs. Regal Masters batted first and scored 191-7. Randolph Baker struck an even half century, Eric Thomas made 44 and Raymond Harper 31; Eon Lovell had two wickets. Mike’s Wellman were bowled out for 113 in 18.4 overs in response. Greg De Franca, Wayne Jones and Lovell made 23 each as Tony Singh and Mahendra Arjune grabbed three wickets apiece while Mahendra Hardyal had two. In the Open category at the Carifesta Sports Complex, Farm beat Success by seven

Farm replied with 123-3 in 10.3 overs. Rawl Reid cracked 59 and Sachin Ramsarran 37. Farm overcame Mahaica by eight wickets. Mahaica were bowled out for 147, batting first while Farm responded with 148-2 in 11.5 overs. Nandshaam Boodhoo stroked 64, while Sachin Ramsarran scored 52 and Rawl Reid 22. De Hoop and Regal All Stars played to a tie. De Hoop batted first and made 84-8 in 12 overs. Regal All Stars were bowled out for 94 in reply. Vishnu Tammechandra scored 23 and Safraz Esau 16. Regal All Stars beat Success by six wickets. Success mustered 137-4 in 15 overs, taking first knock. D.

Kelvin Olford had 2-34. Regal All Stars made 139-4 in 15 overs in reply. Marvin Bobb led with 58, while Martin Dutchin got 36 and Timur Mohamed 18. The competition is being organised to help raise funds for organising secretary of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc, Samuel Kingston, who has to undergo a surgery on his eye next month in Trinidad and Tobago. Kingston was struck on the eye in a match at the GYO ground, recently and is suffering from retinal detachment. Anyone wishes to assist Kingston can make a donation to account number 1019355 at Republic Bank.

World Cup expansion is an... (From page 26 ) see themselves aligning with an institution that is credible, an institution that doesn’t threaten their brand. We’ve undertaken as an executive committee to deliver in those goals but it’s not a situation that is entirely under our control.” The CONCACAF Governance Committee member noted that football throughout the world has its ups and downs as well as its politics and sadly, these things seem to play out in the press. ”We appear to have an obsession with taking all of our differences into the media and I am sure that the media sees a commercial opportunity in carrying this information. My preference would

Top seed Kerber... (From page 27) opponent broke back for 5-5. World number 51 Tsurenko grasped her opportunity with both hands and broke the Australian and U.S. Open champion again after a marathon nine-minute game to send the contest into a decider. The third set developed into a battle of wills but lefthander Kerber grabbed the key break for a 4-2 lead before rattling off the next two games to advance after more than two hours on court. “I think it’s always good to have a match like this in the first few rounds,” said Kerber. “I mean, it’s always tough for everybody to get the rhythm and to start the tournament, especially the grand slam, the first grand slam of the year. “So I think it was not so bad to have a match like that in the first round.”

be that we can resolve many of our challenges privately and within the family but I sense that that is not the way that fraternity has been accustomed to. Whether we break that cycle over the next couple of years is left to be seen.” Forde has undertaken the challenge as President, to break this cycle.

”It is important that we find ways where we can sit down as matured professional individuals and put into perspective and into context the damage that we inflict upon the sport whenever these things get into the press. So, I will do my part but I need the other members also to commit similarly.”

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Tuesday January 17, 2017

World Cup expansion is an expression of Progressive Thinking – Forde By Franklin Wilson President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde has welcomed the expansion of teams for the marquee event of senior football which will now see 48 teams competing, up from 32 in 2026 when it would come into being. Forde, like his Jamaican counterpart, Captain Horace Burrell have both expressed delight at the move by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and his Executive to expand the tournament which Infantino said would attract greater participation. ”I think it’s an expression of the progressive thinking of FIFA and football in general across the world. No doubt the idea behind this was to empower smaller nations that would have found it very difficult within the existing format of qualification for the world cup.” Despite the fact that the qualifying slots for the CONCACAF region has not been known as yet, Forde has posited that Guyana has a realistic chance qualifying for the world premier event. ”When you consider how unrealistic the goal of getting to the world cup appeared for small nations like Guyana

that doesn’t have the budget and the investment infrastructure compared to some of the stronger nations, you now see a rebalancing of the opportunities within football.” Forde noted that this is within the alignment of the GFF Executive Committee as they are of the belief that there needs to be some balance and opportunities need to be distributed in a very equitable manner. He also proffered the view that members needed to be empowered and everyone that is capable of participating at every level should be given that opportunity. ”So I think President Infantino has delivered on his commitment to the membership and I was glad to see the executive committee of FIFA making that decision.” Focus on Developmental Programmes The decision by FIFA to go this route will bring with it a greater focus on developmental programmes Forde noted, since there is a clearer sight ahead to reach for a more attainable goal. ”We all know that there is no quick fix to football for many

Guyana’s starting X1 vs Jamaica at the Leonora Football Field, Oct. 2016. countries that may have been placing excessive emphasis on their national programme at the detriment of their youth and coaching development programme will now refocus priority.” Forde informed that the GFF will now be taking aim at 2026 and his duty along with the executive is to put Guyana on a solid path in this regard in order to have a real chance of vying for one of those spots. ”We need to lay the foundation we need to put in the developmental infrastructure at the youth level, coaching and infrastructure. Things that will directly impact and affect in a positive way, the quality of the players and the quality of the game here in Guyana.” A greater emphasis to play on FIFA dates/Travel Grant to kick in mid 2017 The cost for inter regional travel has always

been a major challenge which has had a direct negative impact on the GFF and other Caribbean nations being able to utalise FIFA dates for friendly internationals. Operating with the US250,000 annual support from FIFA made travel almost impossible Forde noted but informed that that is about to change for the better with the increase of funding to the GFF and the wider world of football, going forward. ”We will be able to make full use of those FIFA dates in addition; part of the funding/grant has a US$250,000 travel grant in it. We haven’t accessed it as yet but I am sure by mid 2017 those funds will be available. So we’re going to make full use of the FIFA dates.” The GFF calendar of events which would be circulated to the Member Associations and Affiliates

sometime next week would reflect the GFF utalising FIFA dates, Forde stated. ”Of course we haven’t identified the teams but we are scheduled to play on all the FIFA dates for 2017.” Government and Corporate support The GFF boss is adamant that the ‘Golden Jaguars’ and ‘Lady Jags’ brands are bigger than the GFF which makes the support and partnership of Government and the Private Sector even more vital. ”We are encouraged by the posture of the government towards the development of sport. The Minister of Education and the Director of Sport have been very visible doing a lot of good work and we are very confident that they will come on board and support the Guyana Football programme, going forward.” Whilst sharing his unhappiness at the level of

Wayne Forde President GFF the Private Sector presence within the sport, Forde said he understands where they {Private Sector}are coming from. ”I think corporate Guyana wants to see greater stability within football. Corporate Guyana wants to (Continued on page 25)

Lady Jags in 2015 at the Windjammer Int. Hotel, Queen Street, Kitty. (Franklin Wilson photo)

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Top seed Kerber overcomes nerves, Tsurenko to advance MELBOURNE (Reuters) Defending champion Angelique Kerber battled her nerves and blew a match point in the second set before finally overcoming Lesia Tsurenko 62 5-7 6-2 to reach the second round of the Australian Open yesterday. The top seeded German was starting the defence of a grand slam title for the first time and made harder and longer work than she might have of advancing to a meeting with compatriot Carina Witthoeft. “I was actually feeling not

too bad,” the 28-year-old said after basking in the applause on Rod Laver Arena, where she beat Serena Williams last year to win her first grand slam title. “From the beginning, I was trying to play my game. I played a good match. There was a little bit where I didn’t play too good. I make some simple mistakes in the second set, at the end of the second set. “But first round matches are always tough.” Kerber perhaps had good reason to fear the embarrassment of becoming only the second woman to fall

at the first hurdle in her title defense at the Australian Open. She had spoken before the tournament about feeling the pressure after her stellar 2016 season, during which she won two major titles, reached the Wimbledon final and became world number one. Knocked out in the first round at Melbourne Park two years ago, even last year Kerber was match point down against Misaki Doi in her opener before recovering to reach the final. After losing the first

‘I’m pretty good at this,’ says victorious Venus

Venus Williams of the U.S. reacts after winning her Women’s singles first round match against Ukraine’s Kateryna Kozlova. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter) M E L B O U R N E (Reuters) Venus Williams survived a rocky start to reach the second round of her 17th Australian Open yesterday, putting her 7-6 75 victory over Kateryna Kozlova down to hardearned experience. At 36, Williams is the oldest woman in the singles draw at Melbourne Park and seeded 13th for her open era record-extending 73rd appearance at a grand slam. Like sister Serena, she rested up for the last couple of months of 2016 before returning at the Auckland Classic two weeks ago. The American could quite easily have put the loss of her opening service game on Monday down to rustiness but instead gave credit to 22-year-old world number 101 Kozlova. “She played amazing,” Williams said. “Hardly any errors, she played amazing

defence. She didn’t make it easy, so it’s really satisfying to get past a player who’s on fire.” When asked how she managed to keep beating players so much younger than herself - Kozlova was born the year Williams turned professional - the seven-times grand slam champion assumed the role of elder stateswoman. “Well I know how to play tennis ... You know, I like to think I’m good at this,” she said. “She hasn’t had the years that I’ve had yet. Se hasn’t had the gray hairs that I’m dying, the wrinkles that I’m hiding. You’re trying to make me feel old now!” Williams next faces Swiss qualifier Stefanie Voegele, 26, or Japan’s Kurumi Nara, 25, as she bids to go deeper into a tournament where her best

finish was a run to the final in 2003. “I’m always ready,” she said. “2017 is going to be a wonderful year, and it’s been a wonderful start with this win and I couldn’t ask for any more - except a win in the second round, and third and so on.” Williams has not won a grand slam title since claiming her fifth Wimbledon crown in 2008 but said she still embarked on every tournament with the intention of winning it. “I’ve not come all the way to Australia for kicks and giggles, I’m here to be competitive,” she said. “Each player in the draw has an unbelievable ability to play tennis. There are some that have won more championships than others, but it’s because we know how to play this game, and it’s pretty serious stuff for us.”

six points of the match, though, Kerber gradually found her range and proved too strong for Tsurenko, who was reduced to scrapping to save her serve and the odd pearl of a consolation point off her rasping backhand. The nerves returned when Kerber was serving for the match, however, and the world number one angled a backhand into the net on her single match point before her Ukrainian (Continued on page 25)

Germany’s Angelique Kerber (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

CONCACAF and FEMEXFUT Boost Football Development with Educational Programme

Miami, FL – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación (FEMEXFUT) announced yesterday a joint effort to continue improving the standard of football within the region through a Programme of Refereeing Excellence and Coaching Education. The programme conducted in the new facilities of FEMEXFUT in Toluca, Mexico, provides an innovative platform to train Technical Development Directors from 35 Member Associations as well as top national-level referees in a professional environment. ”The Programme of Excellence for Referees and Coaching Education is an important step in investing in football, a pillar of our ONE CONCACAF Vision. The Confederation and FEMEXFUT are working together to implement the initiative, which represents a key deliverable to accomplish our mission to develop the game,” said CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani. “For the

first time, CONCACAF and FEMEXFUT have established a programme that presents unique educational tools to increase and improve the sport quality within the region.” Coaches and referees will have customized access to FEMEXFUT’s educational resources, including special sessions on technical, physical, psychological, and nutritional aspects. ”The Federación Mexicana de Fútbol is very proud to announce this joint initiative with CONCACAF. This programme represents a fundamental step forward for football development,” said the President of the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol, Decio de María. “The Programme of Refereeing Excellence and Coaching Education will offer valuable elements that will enable us to continue evolving in order to meet the demands of today’s world of football.” Coaching Education The Coaching Education course, which also offers modules on how to develop youth and lower divisions, k i c k e d o ff y e s t e r d a y, January 16 and will run

through Friday, January 20, 2 0 1 7 . Furthermore, UEFA’s Head of Football Education Services, Frank Ludolph, will speak about the importance of grassroots development and best practices to raise the level in this area. Refereeing To p n a t i o n a l - l e v e l referees will be trained, over an eight-week period, by professional referees from Mexico as well as FIFA Instructors. Participants will be assigned selected games to officiate in one of the lower divisions of FEMEXFUT, commensurate with their level of refereeing. This programme consists of two four-week sessions: the Introductory Course, which begins on Monday, January 30 to Monday, February 27; and a Certification Course that will begin on Monday, September 4 to Monday, October 2, 2017. Through a thorough application process that resulted in over 30 candidates, CONCACAF selected 14 referees that will participate in the program. (CONCACAF)

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Coach Crandon satisfied with practice games By Sean Devers Head Coach Esuan Crandon is satisfied with the Guyana Jaguars’ two practice matches in preparation for the 2017 Regional Super50 cricket tournament from January 24 to February 18 in Barbados and Antigua. Crandon, former Guyana p a c e r, s a i d t h a t t h e Providence track was good for batting with some help for the bowlers who put in the effort, adding that most of the batsmen looked in form. The track used for the two practice matches and yesterday’s simulation game was one of the two untouched pitches. The four middle pitches have been relayed and are expected to be ready for Guyana’s eighth round match in the PCL fourday competition in late March when they face the Leewards. “I expect the pitches in Barbados to have a bit more pace and bounce than those here but we have a strong batting line-up and I am

confident that we can do well and qualify for the Semifinal in Antigua,” Crandon said. In 2005 at Bourda, Guyana beat Barbados in near darkness to take the last of their six Regional 50-over titles and while they have reached the semi-finals on seven occasions since then they are yet to claim Championship honours. The Jaguars, led by West Indies batsman Leon Johnson, play in the Barbados zone ‘B’ along with last year’s runners-up Barbados Pride, Jamaica Scorpions, Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners and the ICC Americas. All of the Jaguars games will be day games, while if they qualify for the semifinals, it is set for the Coolidge Cricket Ground (old Stanford ground) under lights. The Semis and Final will be televised live by ESPN. Crandon explained that yesterday’s simulation game, which was washed out

Assad Fudadin dumps Raymon Reifer for one of two sixes in an expensive over during yesterday’s simulation match at Providence. (Sean Devers photo) after 20 overs, was set for 50 overs with eight batsmen batting to get a target 250 runs. Crandon explained that the first four batsmen had to get 125 in 25 overs but once a batsman got dismissed they have to come in.

The next four batsmen needed to get 125 in the last 25 overs with the eight batsmen having to face the six bowlers during the 50 overs. After Shemron Hetymer fell cheaply Johnson and

Federer makes winning return at Melbourne Park MELBOURNE (Reuters) Roger Federer made a winning return to competitive tennis after six months out of the game yesterday, thrilling a packed Rod Laver Arena as he beat qualifier Juergen Melzer 7-5 3-6 6-2 6-2 to reach the Australian Open second round. The Swiss had to battle hard throughout the match against his fellow 35-year-old and only pulled clear of his dogged opponent when the Austrian tired in the final set. Even Federer could be forgiven a little Switzerland’s Roger Federer celebrates after winning his rustiness after his Men’s singles first round match against Austria’s Jurgen prolonged absence due Melzer. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter) to a knee injury and he made 36 unforced errors in his two hours and six does best. feeling.” minutes on court. “I definitely see things a Although he hit 19 aces There were, though, bit different when you’ve and increasingly relied on his plenty of reminders of the been gone for a long time or serve to get out of trouble, brilliant shot-making that when you’ve come back Federer was surprised at how have helped Federer to 17 from injury,” he told long it took him to feel grand slam titles and his 46 reporters. comfortable with that part of to 26 advantage over Melzer “It was great to be out his game. in the winner count told the there. I really enjoyed “There were definitely tale of what was ultimately a myself, even though it some nerves there,” he comfortable win. wasn’t so simple. added. “I was feeling The crowd cheered “Now being here, feeling nervous once the match everyone to the rafters and, l i k e I ’ m p a r t o f t h i s actually started. while that pleased Federer, tournament. I wasn’t just in “Think I struggled for a he was clearly just delighted the draw, I’m actually while to find that groove, that to be back doing what he making strides. It’s a good rhythm and everything. Then

you remind yourself how many times has it not been easy in the first round.” The secret to the improvement over the final two sets, he thought, had been relaxing a bit. “I almost felt like I had to pace myself,” he said. “I didn’t want to over think every play. That was not the idea to come here and go mental about every point.. “I’m happy with the more relaxed attitude. Also success came easier.” Seeded 17th, Federer has much tougher battles ahead as he continues his bid for a fifth Melbourne Park title. Next up in the second round tomorrow, however, is another qualifier in American Noah Rubin. Having got his first tour match since his semifinal loss to Milos Raonic at Wimbledon in July out o f t h e w a y, F e d e r e r thought his next encounter would not be quite so difficult. “This match tonight was more based on me, how I’m going to cope with my comeback and my match,” he said. “But I’m happy with how it went. I think from here on it’s only going to get easier.”

Assad Fudadin joined forces. Fudadin, like he did in the first practice game, looked very positive and dumped left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer for two sixes in the same over and could open the batting with

Hetymer in the opening game against Barbados. The team is scheduled to depart the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on Saturday morning and will spend five hours in Trinidad before leaving for Barbados.

Fruta Conquerors U-17&19 players asked to attend sessions today The Coaching Staff of Fruta Conquerors Under-17 and 19 teams are asking all players within the age groups to attend a training session today, at the Club Headquarters in Tucville. Coach Wayne St. Jules

speaking with Kaieteur Sport yesterday said the aforementioned age group players are being asked to commence training today in preparations for upcoming tournaments this year. Starting time is 17:00 hrs.

Katich takes over from Helmot at TKR P O RT O F S PA I N , Trinidad, CMC – Trinbago Knight Riders have named Australian Simon Katich as head coach for the upcoming Caribbean Premier League season. The 41-year-old Katich, a former Test batsman, replaces countryman Simon Helmot who has accepted a long term appointment as a high performance coach with the Bangladesh Cricket Board. “ I t ’s a n e x c i t i n g opportunity to coach a successful franchise like TKR in the Hero CPL and also great to extend the association with the Knight Rider Family from [Kolkata Knight Riders] to TKR,” said Katich, who is currently assistant coach with KKR in the Indian Premier League. Helmot leaves the post after three years successful years in charge. He oversaw

Australian Simon Katich. TKR’s title capture in 2015 and also led the side into the playoffs in 2014 and 2016. “I would like to sincerely thank the entire TKR family for all the support during my three years with the franchise,” Helmot said. TKR are owned in part by Indian Bollywood star, Shah Rukh Khan, and is closely aligned with KKR. The franchise features the likes of international Twenty20 stars Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine.

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Trophy Stall, Banks DIH already on Rutherford replaces Crawford board with Guyana Cup Rematch as new DCUSA president

Within days of the announcement that the Guyana Cup Rematch horserace meet is back on the roster a number of organisations and owners have been making full use of the opportunity to get on board quickly. Two such heavyweights The Trophy Stall and Beverage giants Banks DIH Limited have agreed to play major parts in the upcoming mega event. The event which is organised by the Jumbo Jet Business Conglomerate is slated for Sunday February 26th at the Rising Sun Turf Club, Arima Park, West Coast, Berbice. Even with the event being over a month away and the programme not yet finalized, the organisations have decided that they will renew their commitment to

the event early. The feature race will be for animals classified B and lower for a whopping $1.2M and trophy over 1800M. Horses such as CP Got Even, Score’s Even, Just Call Me Boss, Princess She is not, Spit Fire, Jack in My Style, Golden Blue Ecko, King’s Knight, Honey Flow, Lady Budapest and Light Up Canada, Jack in My Style, Brave Sky among others have already begun preparations for the meet. Among races expected to be on the programme are events for the for F and lower animals, those classified 3 years old West Indies bred and three year old Guyana bred; H and lower and J, K and L horses. Lucrative prizes will be given to the winners and outstanding performers. Prizes will also be given to

the top Jockey, runner up, top stable and champion trainer compliments of the Trophy Stall and the organisers. There will be no two years old event since those animals will be ready until the middle of the year. According to the organisers the complete programme is expected to be released before the end of the week. Organiser Nazrudeeen Mohammed stated that the event is going to set the stage for what is to follow in the horseracing industry for the year. For further information persons can contact Fazal Habibulla on 657-7010 or 232-0232, Donald Lawrie on telephone Nos 225-4530 Compton Sancho 602-1567 or coordinator Nasrudeen (Jumbo Jet) Mohamed jr. (Samuel Whyte)

Knight in rusty armour Murray battles through M E L B O U R N E (Reuters) Andy Murray took to Melbourne Park’s centre court as top seed at a grand slam for the first time in his career yesterday but the recently knighted Briton’s victory over Illya Marchenko was far from a regal display. A heavy-footed and rusty Murray had to dig himself out of a number of holes before securing a 7-5 7-6(5) 6-2 win over the 95th-ranked Ukrainian, having spent far longer under a hot sun than he would have liked at Rod Laver Arena. “I don’t think it was the best match, to be honest,” Murray told reporters after the two hours and 47 minute slog. Murray has typically started the year’s first grand slam like a well-oiled machine but for the first two sets the only free movement came from the Scot’s vocal chords as he berated himself constantly for limp baseline

play and wayward serving. “Shocking!” Murray howled at the terraces a number of times as he blew a 5-2 lead in the first set. The 29-year-old was so agitated that he became confused by his drink bottles during a change of ends, unable to differentiate between a 600ml container and a much larger one. “I know how much I have to drink when it’s a certain temperature. I couldn’t find how big it was, so I didn’t know how much I was having to drink,” he said with a sheepish smile as he studied his drink bottle in the post-match news conference. “I still didn’t see (the volume) on the court, but I can actually see it now. It’s one litre.” Murray landed less than half his first serves in the match and was broken three times by Marchenko, who was buoyed by the Scot’s troubles and swung hard for

the lines. But Murray yelled his way out of the rough patches and gradually shed his tentative ways to rally with aggression. After edging the second set tiebreak, Murray roared to 5-1 in the third before progressing to a match against Russian qualifier Andrey Rublev who beat Taiwan’s Lu Yen-Hsun. He was not announced as “Sir Andy Murray” when he entered the court to a warm ovation but the Scot, bidding for his first Australian title after losing five finals, had no problem with that. “Everyone around tennis, everyone that I know has been exactly the same,” he said. “I don’t feel like it’s been a distraction. It’s something I’ve had to speak about, obviously quite a lot. But I’ve had enough time to get my head around it.”

Some of the newly elected members of the DCUSA executive. Sitting from left are Eddie Nicholls, Arleigh Rutherford and Nolan Hawke. Standing from left Joseph Jeffery, Javed Persaud and returning officer Matthew Kissoon. Areligh Rutherford replaced Shannon Crawford as president of the Demerara Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association when the body held its annual general meeting and elections on Sunday at Union Building, Woolford Avenue. Nigel Duguid and Moses Ramnarine were both nominated to fill the post of Vice President, but the position was left vacant since they were both absent. According to the DCUSA constitution, nominees that are absent must indicate to

the association in writing their willingness to serve on the executive. The post will now be filled by the executive at their first meeting. Nolan Hawke was retained as the Secretary, while Eddie Nicholls was re elected as the Treasurer. Zaheer Mohamed was nominated as the Public Relations Officer, but he declined the post. The new PRO will now be decided at the first executive meeting since the constitution do not provides for on the floor nomination.

Joseph Jeffery and Trevor Whitney are the committee members elected so far while the executive will elect the other two committee members at their first meeting since those nominated were absent. Speaking after the elections, President Rutherford thanked the members for their confidence and urged his fellow executive to work collectively for the growth of umpiring. Mathew Kissoon performed the duties of the returning officer.

NYSCL champs Regal presents autograph bat to DOS Jones New York Softball Cricket League champs Regal All Stars and Masters’ t e a m s o f G e o rg e t o w n yesterday presented an autograph bat to Director of Sport Christopher Jones at the National Sports Commission office, Homestretch Avenue. Regal became the first Guyanese club to win an unprecedented double overseas when their Allstars team defeated New York Allstars to win the Independence Cup and their Masters’ side beat Floodlight to claim the legends title in March 2016 at Roy Wilkins Park in New York. The presentation was a gesture of expressing

gratitude to Jones who assisted the teams on their journey. Speaking at the simple ceremony organising secretary of the GSCL Inc Samuel Kingston thanked Jones for his support and said they will be looking for a repeat in the Florida Cup next month. Jones congratulated the players and said that he is happy

Regal was successful, stating that their victory was special since it was Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary. He explained that the players have done the country proud and urged them to keep the Golden Arrow H ead flying in the upcoming F lorida Cup, adding that the N S C w ill continue to lend s upport.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 32

Tuesday January 17, 2017

Boswell boots Steelers past Chiefs, into AFC title game

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell (9) kicks during the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium. (Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports) (The Sports Xchange) The Pittsburgh Steelers did not spend much time in the end zone at Arrowhead Stadium in Sunday’s AFC divisional round game against the Kansas City Chiefs. In fact, it was the home team that scored the game’s only touchdowns. But the Steelers had the strong right leg of kicker Chris Boswell, along with the athletic limbs of running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown, and it was enough to beat the Chiefs 18-16. The victory sends the Steelers to the AFC Championship Game next Sunday against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium. Boswell made all six of his field goal attempts, while the Steelers’ offence produced a lot of yards but not a single touchdown. Overall the Steelers had 389 yards on offence, with Bell running for 170 and Brown picking up 108 receiving yards. It will be the 16th time the Steelers have advanced to the AFC Championship Game. They won eight of the previous 15 games, including their most recent appearance in the 2010 season when they beat the New York Jets 24-19 at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh faced New England twice before in the title game (2001, 2004), losing both times at Heinz Field. Overall they are 2-2 on the road in the AFC’s deciding game. This season, the teams met on Oct. 23 in Pittsburgh,

with the Patriots grabbing a 27-16 victory. While the Kansas City defense could not handle Bell and Brown, the Chiefs’ offense was out of synch and unable to produce any touchdown opportunities save their first and last possessions in the game. Quarterback Alex Smith connected with wide receiver Albert Wilson on a 5-yard pass nine minutes into the game. The Chiefs picked up the game’s second touchdown with just 2 minutes, 43 seconds to play in the fourth quarter, when running back Spencer Ware scored on a 1yard run. They went for two points after the TD, and Smith completed a successful pass to tight end Demetrius Harris. But Kansas City left tackle Eric Fisher was called for holding, wiping out the tying score. On their next attempt, S m i t h ’s p a s s s a i l e d incomplete through the end zone. Their only other points came when kicker Cairo Santos made a 48-yard field goal with 10 seconds to play in the third quarter. Boswell connected from 22, 38, 36, 45, 43 and 43 yards. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger continually led the offence down the field, but could not crack the K.C. end zone. On five different possessions, Pittsburgh moved to the K.C. 20-yard line or closer. The Steelers kicked field goals on four of those, losing another when the Chiefs intercepted a deflected pass in the end zone.

Pittsburgh Steelers punter Jordan Berry (4) greets kicker Chris Boswell (9) . (Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports)

GCB gets $1.5M towards development of National Secondary School Cricket League

GCB’s Anand Sanasie (centre) collects the donation from Minister Nicolette Henry at her Main Street Office, while Colin Stuart shares the moment. (Georgetown) – The Government of Guyana; through the Ministry of Education signaled its commitment towards the continued development of cricket with the contribution of $1.5M to the Guyana Cricket Board yesterday, a release informed. The cheque was presented to Mr. Anand Sanasie by Minister within the Ministry of Education, Hon. Nicolette Henry at her Main Street Office. The funds are intended to be used by the GCB to purchase cricket balls for the National Secondary School Cricket League. During the presentation Minister Henry said this initiative follows one of the Ministry of Education’s

mandate to promote a wider student participation in sports. This is the first official donation to sports from the Ministry for 2017. The GCB expressed elation and commended the efforts of the Ministry Of Education and its National Sport Commission for conducting and promoting the NSSCL and dubbed the partnership a fruitful and purposeful exercise. The GCB/MOE NSSCL has enabled the GCB coaching personnel to identify and groom young talent and where necessary, aligned student-players with Association, County and/or National teams. The NSSCL structure

has been absorbing young talent, while ensuring that at the school cricket level enough quality cricket is played countrywide, thereby enabling the technical staff to assess and measure talent, track and promote such talent along a systematic pathway of development. Such a systematic development pathway has allowed the NSSCL structure at an early age of students’ life, to promote a culture of professionalism among and between teams and players, make them more recognised and marketable, as well as making the NSSCL a more marketable activity. The GCB noted that the NSSCL has also encouraged and demanded higher levels

of youth players’ investment and productivity, as many more student have an interest in cricket and are willing and able to dedicate more time, energy and finances on their game, which has led to higher levels of productivity. This collaborative effort between the Education Ministry and the Guyana Cricket Board is a critical developmental initiative which continues to promote a positive impact on structure of school cricket and its participating studentplayers. These efforts have made school cricket more organised, competitive, and creates a wider pool of players for the GCB to monitor and select from, the release disclosed.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 17, 2017

UWI t20 Final

PAGE 33

Singh’s 5th consecutive fifty fails to save DCC

Red Force’s Lewis (90), Primus (43 & 4-39) star for Cane Farm By Sean Devers A full strength Cane Farm, led by a pulsating 90 from Evin Lewis and 4-39 from Roshan Primus handed DCC their first defeat in Sunday night’s final of the fourth edition of the 2017 UWI-UNICOM t20 Tournament at the Sir Frank Worrell ground at UWI St Augustine, Trinidad to take the (tt) $40,000 winner’s prize. DCC had to settle for the runners-up prize of (tt) $20,000. Trinidad & Tobago’s Red Force Franchise players Lewis, who smashed 90 from 35 balls with six fours and 10 sixes, Bajan, Primus, who clobbered three sixes and four fours in 43 from just 18 balls and West Indies opener Lendl Simmons who made 26 from 27 balls, spearheaded Cane Farm to 217-7 in 20 overs. Sherfane Rutherford returned from T&T to play in the two GCB practice matches but did not bowl and

was run out without facing a ball. The talented teenager flew back to the twin Island Republic and had 3-32, while Kellon Carmichael took 1-10 from four frugal overs which included a maiden to Simmons. Man-of-the-Match 21year Primus, who played the first of his five FirstClass matches for T&Ts Red Force last month against Guyana Jaguars at Providence, returned with the ball to grab 439 and got support from West Indies pacer Ravi Rampaul (2-19) and West Indies ODI leg-spinner Imran Khan (2-34) as DCC were bowled out in 17.1 overs for 150. The 29-year-old out of favour Guyana batsman Gajanan d S i n g h a g a i n batted brilliantly as he blasted a fifth consecutive halfcentury, a blistering 64 from 39 balls before he was finally dismissed with five overs

remaining in the exciting tournament. After Singh, who played the last of his 10 First-Class matches in 2011, departed in the 15th over with DCC on 140-6, the Queenstown side lost their last five wickets for 10 runs and when Rampaul removed Carmichael who was last out for a fighting 34 from 21 balls it sparked unadulterated celebrations from the large and raucous crowd. Singh, with scores of 64, 88, 56, 56, 64 in the tournament, including four not outs, the left-handed Berbician began like a runaway train on the lightening fast ground. With his team needing to score at 10.85 to win, he soon reached another pugnacious half-century but wickets were falling around him and the required run rate mounting all the time. Singh found a useful partner in Keemo Paul who blasted an explosive 25 from just 11 balls in a 56-run stand

Roshan Primus took 4-39 to send DCC packing for 150 in the UWI t20 final on Sunday night. with Singh to provide the Guyanese with hopes of a come from behind win. But once Paul and Singh were dismissed the task was too much for guest player Carmichael who succumbed off the first ball

Gajanand Singh scored the most runs to take the Man-of-the-series Award in the UWI t20 tournament in T&T.

of the 18th as Rampaul ended the contest in emphatic fashion. The Guyanese copped three Awards with Singh being adjudged Man-ofthe-Series for most runs (327), the best young

player Award went to West Indies U-19 Vice-Captain Keemo Paul who took six wickets wkts for 66 runs at an average of 34, while the award for the biggest six in the semi-finals went to Darwin Christian.

Yusuf slams ton, Persaud takes 5 for as KPL softball tourney commences

Yunnis Yusuf By Zaheer Mohamed An attacking century from opener Yunnis Yusuf and a five-wicket haul by Peter Persaud highlighted the opening round of matches when the KPL fundraising softball tournament commenced on Sunday. Playing in the Masters’ category at the Everest

Peter Persaud Cricket Club, Yusuf struck two fours and 18 sixes in scoring 136 as Savage posted 245-8 off their allotted 20 overs, batting first against Success. Navindra Pooran made 49. Success scored 150-9 in reply. Hackim Mohamed made 27 and Rudy Martin got 19 as Imtiaz Mohamed took 2-22. Ariel defeated Savage by

Motilall Chumundatt 51 runs. Batting first, Ariel managed 175-6. Mohamed Rafeek scored 42, Richard Persaud 30, R. Persaud 24, Dennis Mangru 22 and Peter Persaud 20. Ramo Malone had three wickets. Savage were restricted to 124-8 in reply with Malone scoring 25 and Patrick Khan 22. Peter Persaud proved unplayable picking up 5-9 from 2.5 overs.

Randolph Baker

Parika Defenders beat Ariel by six wickets. Ariel batted first and made 117 in 19.2 overs. Mohamed Rafeek scored 30 and Fazal Ali 17; R. Narine picked up three wickets. Parika Defenders replied with 1184 in 18 overs. Rudolph Pereira struck 49 not out and D. Singh 29. Regal Masters thumped Success by six wickets.

Success took first strike and were sent packing for 61 in 14.1 overs. Rafman Ali and Mark Fung made 21 and 19 respectively. David Harper and Ricky Persaud each claimed 3-6. Regal responded with 62-4 in 8.1 overs with Mahendra Arjune scoring 27. Mike’s Wellman got the better of Parika-Amazon by 13 runs. Mike’s Wellman

Rawl Reid made 110 all out in 17 overs, taking first strike. B. Dindyal and Wayne Jones made 22 and 19 in that order as Devanand Kanan and Raghundan Narine snared three wickets each and Rudolph Pereira two. Parika- Amazon were bowled out for 97 in 17.5 overs in reply. Beesham Singh made 23 as Motilall (Continued on page 25)

t r o Sp Coach Crandon satisfied with practice games First simulation match washed out after 20 overs

Leon Johnson evades a quick short ball from Ronsford Beaton during a simulation game at Providence yesterday. (Sean Devers photo)

NYSCL champs Regal presents autograph bat to DOS Jones

Director of Sports Christopher Jones (right) accepts the bat from Richard Latif in the presence of members of the open team. Also on display are the winning trophies from the NYSCL tournament. (Zaheer Mohamed)

GCB gets $1.5M towards development of National Secondary School Cricket League Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210