Kaieteur News

K

AIETEUR NEWS

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

When oil money reaches people we can p.

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Friday Edition January 17, 2020 - Vol. 22 No. 03

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Price $80

light fireworks everyday - Jagdeo

Online readership yesterday 149,606

ExxonMobil flares gas way longer than EPA expected Suriname was p.

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told its gas content daysp. after find 16

Intense police presence needed to stomp out 29p. minibus park chaos - Union President

...Guyana waited years

Quality checks delay CJIA 11p. hand-over SOCU, Police Force probes...

External p.8 investigators needed to break back of corruption - Jagdeo

Most GPHC burn PM results saves man, victims werep.

67, from murder charge attacked by 18 their spouses Alleged thiefp. runs into 21 police while p.

- says Guyana could seek observer status 3 chasing victim p.

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Energy expert advises against joining OPEC+

PAGE 02

Kaieteur News

Friday January 17, 2020

Kaieteur News

Friday January 17, 2020

PAGE 03

Energy Expert advises against joining OPEC+ …says Guyana could seek observer status

By Kemol King

G

uyana wouldn't benefit from joining the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+). But it can learn a lot from being an observer.

That's the opinion of Robert McNally, a global energy expert and founder of Rapidan Group, a Wa s h i n g t o n - b a s e d o i l m a r k e t , p o l i c y, a n d geopolitical consulting firm.

He made the assertion at the University of Guyana's Education Lecture Theatre, during a public lecture on Crude Pricing yesterday.

McNally gave a rundown of a long history of oil price

booms and busts experienced throughout the life of the oil industry. He explained that in that time, several entities or groups have managed to take control of the oil price with various levels of success, including Standard Oil (the industrial empire of John D. Rockefeller) and the Seven Sisters (a group of seven transnational oil companies).

During certain periods, through their control of considerable portions of the world's oil reserves, they were able to restrict or increase their supply of oil to global markets, thereby manipulating the price of oil.

OPEC+ has been

carrying on that mandate. Its founding members are Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

Oil prices are volatile to shocks from many various incidents like war, McNally explained, or a single tweet from US President Donald Trump.

Its volatility is what has encouraged certain nations to join the supply management chain, OPEC+.

“Nothing causes oil producers to cooperate more than a price bust. That scares the stuffing out of everybody,” McNally said.

And he thinks it's likely that Guyana will get an invitation to join.

T h e e n e rg y e x p e r t referred to a recent Bloomberg report, which lists Guyana and Norway as rival oil producers that could “threaten [OPEC]'s efforts to defend crude prices”.

Guyana's current peak production capacity is 120,000 barrels per day, since production started in the Liza field. But its capacity to make a steep increase in the coming years, as the Liza-2 startup in 2022 will take its oil production to 340,000 barrels per day.

ExxonMobil also anticipates that it will get approval in time to start production on the Payara project by 2023, which would take Guyana's peak

Secondment of Hicken, Karimbaksh an administrate decision - Top Cop

W

h a t w a s thought to be a big shake up in the Guyana Police Force was yesterday deemed an administrative decision by the Commissioner of Police, Leslie James.

James was at the time responding to questions by the media on the secondment of Assistant Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken and Senior Superintendent Fazil Karimbaksh.

Hicken was moved to the Ministry of Citizenship while Karimbaksh who worked under him was

shifted to the Civil Defence Commission. The two ranks reportedly got their letters informing them of their reassignments on Tuesday afternoon.

The shift was made public last week and caused quite a stir in the media as both men were responsible for the training of ranks in the Force.

According to the Commissioner of Police, the move was nothing but an administrative decision. “ Yo u ' v e h e a r d t h e comments of the honorable minister (Khemraj

Ramjattan) of the force.”

James assured that the Guyana Police Force has officers in line to fill the now vacant spots but noted that this is first time officers have been seconded under his command. “ I t i s n o t a precedent…We've had none before but we have had secondment in the Force

prior.”

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, had stated that the shift of both men, especially of Hicken, was strategic and necessary.

He stated that the Commissioner has the right to move police officers anywhere he sees fit as part of the operational mandate of the Police Force.

production capacity to 560,000 barrels per day.

F u r t h e r m o r e , ExxonMobil optimistically projects that it could be producing 750,000 barrels per day by 2025. Bank of America Merrill Lynch has projected an even higher capacity of 1,000,000 barrels per day.

According to McNally, Guyana would suffer if it joins OPEC+ because it would be told to restrict its production.

OPEC+ is a swing producer group, he explained, and to be a swing producer, “you have to be willing and able to subordinate your own economic interest or your returns on your investment to the greater goal of price stability.”

“That would be bad for Guyana, bad for the producers. It's expensive to shut in production. You'll be delayed on your cost recovery… So Guyana wouldn't want to do that.”

It would be unreasonable to ask Guyana as an emerging producer to restrict its output, McNally believes.

He does believe that OPEC+ would probably “cut Guyana some slack” in the beginning.

But as its production capacity rises, that could

Energy Expert, Robert McNally change.

Although he advises against joining OPEC+, McNally said that it would benefit Guyana to take up observer status.

“It may be in Guyana's interest to attend the meeting and get to know some of the Ministers. Just to join that conversation to see how supply management works.

You can be an observer. You can go to OPEC+ and not necessarily take a quota.”

“I think you want to get to know the other major producers. Get to know global oil market management…”

The benefit for Guyana in such a situation, he believes, is to give Guyana an opportunity to act on the world stage in a way it has not done before.

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Friday January 17, 2020

Kaieteur News

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

Coalition Day is here Today is the deadline for groups to form coalitions. Are new participants in the electoral race sure of what they are about, of the enormous responsibilities that come from being involved?

Given the state of uncertainty and ill-preparedness by some of those groups, which made it under the 5 o’clock wire last Friday, the answer is not comforting, since they are still hunting to find all their marbles. In fact, the record shows that one group did not even make it within the timeframe. GECOM officials rescued, through extending the discretionary, to the ill-fated and highly unimpressive.

Who would vote for any of them? Who kind of presence do they really represent? What manner of governance would they offer?

If this shakiness is what was manifested while readying for nomination, then it is not credible that some can deliver in the crunch, when large national issues arise for examination, deliberation, and decision. This was sloppiness, pure and straight, and would be unpardonable, if it were not so laughable.

What a wild, untamed bunch of the unsteady and unready! Good luck, Guyana with such characters. Who would want them as partners?

There were those who went back and forth and then back again. There could be no meeting of the minds for whatever reason; this is not decisive leadership. One group is usually on the sober side of this troubling business but does not have much momentum.

‘The others meander about looking to be beneficiaries of an arranged midnight marriage. The time for the umbrella of a grand coalition is late, the probability seems remote.

With unawareness and indecisiveness like this at this witching hour, what holds for the future?

What could possibly hold, other than the shorthanded and shortsighted? Interest in governance has faded; it is all about ego and possibilities. It is where the old dogs triumph, as has been the norm. From their perspectives, the latest nuisances do not know what to do with themselves.

They veteran heavyweights pick them apart, carve them up, and use them, as usual, again; and manipulate them.

Look closely at some members of the new groups.

Whoever believes that they have what it takes to be a principled legislator should be committed. The thought of some of them in the opposition benches is jarring, since these aspirants lack the depth of character and ethical commitment that are prerequisites to lift this place to just one other rung on the ladder.

Can they power through a dirty environment and make people trust them, actually think of coalescing with them?

There is great uncertainty about this; the faith and trust are not there. The last thing this society needs is for more of the kind of leaders that we have had over the long decades, who pretend to be servants, but end of being the worst kind of hustlers.

We do not need more of them, as there are more than enough of them already. Why add more of the potentially warped and crooked to the boil?

For all that is known, their best function, and the most utility from their presence, would be as ‘no-confidence’ threats and clones.

Along the same lines, there are those new presences that may not have had any telltale encounters with law enforcement, but they are far from untainted, with records and stories of their own that do not lend credibility, nor do they instill confidence.

If this was what they were before, when operating as private citizens, and below the radar, then there is not much that comforts that they can offer as to principle and character and clean governance.

Make no mistake; this is the place where we have arrived, where new people look to join political hands with the old ones. With newcomers like these, it is the sameness of the ancient, as in from 1960, and all the lost years in between.

The oil that comes might as well be radioactive, for all of the effects that it could have on the hopes of this society.

For it is the same sorry Guyanese political story.

Show us the exact time allocated by NCN to parties from the No Confidence Motion to present Dear Editor, In a letter of 13th January, 2020, to the media, I raised the matter of media broadcast coverage, particularly the coverage of the State owned and operated National Communications Network (NCN), of the political parties contesting the General and Regional Elections as a fundamental requirement for conducting a free and fair election.

I expected the Chairman of NCN, Mr. Enrico Woolford, to respond to my letter, but did not expect him to repeatedly resort to personal invective rather than address the issue itself.

I have always recognised him to be a professional, both when he worked under me and since.

It appears that my raising this concern and in singling out the use of NCN’s facilities to provide totally biased coverage of the rallies launched by APNU+AFC and the PPP/C in favour of the

governing party, my letter has gotten under the skin of Mr. Woolford.

My sole purpose of raising this matter and drawing it to the attention of the international community observers is that it is fundamental to the conduct of a free and fair election and has been subject to exactly the same abuse in the past at previous elections under other governments and is now the case again.

The NCN Chairman has persisted that there is no evidence to support my concern, though he admits to the unfair coverage of the rallies, justifying it as coverage of the President.

When the President mounts a political platform, he becomes the leader of his political party, to be treated no differently than any other political leader.

The Chairman has asked for proof of the concerns I have expressed. It is a

condition of the licence issued to all broadcasters by the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority that they record all of their programmes and I believe that this is monitored by the Authority for the purpose, in fact, of ensuring free, fair, balance and truthful broadcast content of not only the State owned and operated NCN but also the private broadcasters.

Given Mr. Woolford’s attitude on this matter, I invite the Broadcasting Authority or, for that matter, NCN, to publish for the public, the exact amount of time allocated to the government, the governing party (APNU+AFC) and its spokespersons on NCN on news, general programming and current affairs in comparison with the opposition, People’s Progressive Party/Civic, since the passing of the No Confidence Motion to the

present time.

Interestingly, Mr. Woolford uses the pejorative French term “soi-disant” in referring to the international community and observers.

For those well less versed in the use of this “highbrow” language, it means “socalled” or “claim to be what they are not”.

Of further interest, is the fact that the Guyana Chronicle has published all of Mr. Woolford’s letters, but has refused to publish the letters of Mr. Tony Vieira and myself.

I thought of writing to complain about this to the Chairman of the Chronicle until I discovered that the Chairman is the Confidential Secretary to the Prime Minister, making the Prime Minister now the de facto Chairman of the Chronicle.

I shall have nothing further to say on this matter.

Regards, Kit Nascimento

I sincerely hope equal attention is paid to each and every area throughout Guyana by these foreign observers DEAR EDITOR, I note with interest the expanded role the Carter Centre intends to play in our upcoming General and Regional Elections.

On the face of it, every right-thinking Guyanese should welcome individuals and groups offering to help by sharing their experiences and affection.

However, I boldly express a view held earlier. This involvement, monitoring or intervening by external elements in important matters such as National Elections could be interpreted as a negation of what true Independence and sovereignty means.

It is and has always been my view, that if we are truly independent, is incumbent that our leaders and people be able to demonstrate the characteristics of maturity and have the intellectual strength to navigate through every troubled water.

Elsewhere, there are issues affecting powerful nations related to the question of “interference” in National Elections.

These have made headlines.

Guyanese should draw lessons from the underlying principles of what involvement or interference by external agencies, really means.

Sensible people with responsible Leaders must

be able to identify the problems and difficulties and talk, talk and talk to find a modus vivendi.

When the Carter Centre became involved in Elections, you recall that there was abroad, the belief, that the mantra of the Carter Centre was regime change.

In 1992, it is apt to be reminded that many voters whose names appeared on the posted Voters’ List in certain areas turned up on voting day to discover that their names were not on the list being used by the Staff of the Returning Officer.

There were three such examples in the Polling Division in Lodge, where I was a registered voter. It was clear that some lists given to the Elections Officers for use at some Polling places were compromised.

In the case of Lodge Housing Scheme where this flaw was observed, I complained to Mr. Rudy Collins, then Chairman of the Elections Commission.

He immediately dispatched the Senior Elections Officer, Mr. Stanley Singh, who confirmed and was satisfied that the three names that did not appear on the list given to the Election Officials, were there on the original list

posted at the ground floor of the Enterprise Primary School in Lodge.

Mr. Singh removed that list which had the names of the three persons and suggested that that list be used since it appeared to be the authentic list, which was posted up earlier and seen by the Community.

The Elections Officer informed Mr. Singh that the instructions were to use the list supplied to them that morning and no other.

It is no secret, that some of those lists were printed late the evening or early Election Day. In fact, in one Polling place in West Demerara, the list arrived after the official opening of polling (6 am).

The situation referred to above was replicated in other parts of Georgetown, and we should recall there were near riots on Election Day in the City due to the frustration of persons who had earlier seen their names on the list posted, and names had disappeared on the list being used.

At the instance of the then President Hoyte, certain functionaries of the Carter Centre and Dr. Reid, they proposed and apparently accepted that persons finding themselves in this dilemma should be allowed to vote using a “Tendered Ballot.” This was

intended to appease the angry disenfranchised. Of course, a “Tendered Ballot” is not counted.

Editor, you recall my strong objection to this recommendation and deemed it the response of a schoolboy to a serious and vexatious situation.

My other concern was that the Carter Centre personnel seem to concentrate their scrutiny in areas, which were known PNC strongholds and seem to cast a “Nelson’s eye” in certain of the areas.

I mention the above because I sincerely hope that GECOM and the contesting parties ensure that equal attention is paid to each and every area throughout Guyana by these foreign observers.

If these “friends” cannot with equal fervour cover all areas in Guyana, and I state each and every area, it would be difficult to extend a warm welcome to them.

People who come from certain States of the USA will appreciate my concern expressed, for it was Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.S President who said “To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.”

I pray for a fair Elections process, with a list that is not bloated.

Hamilton Green

Friday January 17, 2020

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

Guyanese have a chance now to Minister Holder either aloof see the true nature of the Coalition or unconcerned DEAR EDITOR, In my last letter, I pointed out the true intentions of the APNU+AFC Coalition, in relation to constitutional reform. I explained why the comments from many senior leaders of the Coalition, concerning the removal of the No-Confidence Motion provisions from the Constitution, amounts to the Executive removing a significant check and balance in a parliamentary oversight system. It would lend to dictatorial rule once again in Guyana if the Coalition is successful in achieving this goal.

It is important that I remind that Britain inserted this mechanism in our I n d e p e n d e n c e Constitution, as it did in the Independence Constitution of all its former colonies. In the creation of an omnipotent Executive, Forbes Burnham removed it from the 1980 Constitution. It is the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) that put it back in 2001.

Equally worrying and of great concern, in the short term, is the message of “gather in front of polling stations” after polls c l o s e o n e l e c t i o n s d a y, being preached to Coalition supporters by their senior leaders.

At a community meeting in South Georgetown, one speaker, stated, “…and when you done vote…you make certain that at six o’clock you hanging around, you hanging around…if you move is trouble. Comrades, we got to keep we eye, we got to mobilize, as soon as we done vote…keep our eyes

on this thing because we cannot afford for stuffing boxes, especially in certain areas…”

At another meeting in South Georgetown, another speaker, stated, “Unless you go out in a determined manner…take care of our elections…protect your vote…be vigilant…protect your vote…stand up outside the ballot s t a t i o n … f o l l o w them…especially after the polls close.”

This is a blatant attempt to incite chaos and confusion, which can easily result in public disorder and violence on the 2nd March 2020. This type of clarion call will certainly put APNU+AFC supporters in collision with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) officials and the security officials, who have the responsibility of removing the ballot boxes from the polling stations to safety.

There has been much talk of observer missions that will be in Guyana prior to the elections. The Carter Centre, who a few days ago, announced the launch of their observer mission, in a statement informed that “The mission will observe and examine key aspects of the electoral process, including the preelectoral environment, status of the Guyana Elections Commission’s preparations for elections, and campaigning.”

F u r t h e r, T h e C a r t e r Centre stated, “Throughout election season, The Carter Centre will issue periodic statements on key findings.”

It is my sincere hope that The Carter Centre pays keen attention to the campaign messages at these community meetings.

Guyana needs free and fair elections.

We need elections without any violence on elections day and post elections day.

I would also like to encourage the international community to pay keen attention to these senior leaders of the APNU+AFC Government and their attempt at inciting violence on elections day.

What is extremely clear is that the Coalition has a dismal track record of performance in Government and as a result, has nothing to rely on during the campaign season, in terms of development and progress of the country over the past 5 years.

Therefore, the Coalition has resorted to what they know best, that is, spreading racism and hate and trying to incite disorder and confusion, which can easily degenerate into violence.

Guyana can no longer tolerate such political leaders. Guyanese have a chance now to see the true nature of the Coalition. On the 2nd March 2020, I trust my people will make the right choice and reject the APNU+AFC Coalition. Reject the message of lawlessness, racism and hate.

Yours Sincerely, Roodi Balgobin, MBA

Dear Editor, The soon-to-depart Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder in the January 14 edition of another newspaper, when asked whether he had any regrets about the closure of four (4) sugar estates under his watch, astonishingly told the newspaper that “I’m quite happy…I am very pleased”.

It has long been said that hindsight is 20/20 vision. It appears to us at least, that though the Minister has the benefit of hindsight, he is obviously blinded by the painful reality that he and his colleagues have created.

We wonder how the Minister, or any rational human being for that matter, can really be happy when thousands of Guyanese in the sugar belt find life so hard.

How can he be happy when school-aged children are forced to abandon their educational pursuits? How can he be happy when families are being separated?

How can the Minister be so pleased with such a situation?

Can he really sleep peacefully at night full well knowing that thousands in communities of the sugar communities have sleepless night as they wonder how to make their meager ends meet?

In our view, the fact that the Minister can make such an outrageous statement tells us that he is either aloof or really unconcerned about the plight of those who he helped to put on the breadline. We sincerely believe that it is a combination of both.

We have seen, in recent and not too recent times, how out of touch the Minister and his colleagues are with the general situation facing our people. We also recognize that there is scant, if any, concern by the powers-thatbe regarding our people’s plight, but the sugar workers more specifically.

Under Mr. Holder’s tenure, he has the ignominy of being the first, and only, Minister of Agriculture to have given the sugar workers not even a cent in pay rise.

Minister Holder also said that the current plan for the industry will see it “become viable again”. But, as the GAWU has been lamenting, no matter how good of a plan one may have, if one lacks the wherewithal to execute such a plan then how worthy is such a plan. This is exactly the case playing out in the sugar industry.

Mr. Holder is no doubt well aware that monies to execute the plan he says will bring the industry back to viability has practically been imprisoned and the plan is reduced to a nice document that is gathering dust and losing relevance by the day.

But that is not all, as we saw Mr. Holder touting his so-called achievements. But it should be recorded too that during his stint as Agriculture Minister, sugar production in our country fell dramatically from over 231,000 tonnes in 2015 to just under 91,000 tonnes in 2019. He also admitted publicly that he was

not aware about the $30B sugar bond and was clueless about how it would be utilised. He also did not mention that he disowned the sugar industry, telling Guyanese in 2018 that oversight of the GuySuCo was transferred to the Finance Minister.

So while the Minister says that he is “…quite happy with what we’ve done with the sugar industry”, for the thousands who are affected, their days are filled with sadness, despair and plain anguish. In a few days’ time, the Minister will ride off into the sunset with a golden parachute and his needs and wants will be ably met. And, for those thousands of workers, particularly the sugar workers, they must contend with joblessness and wages stagnation.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

PAGE 6

Friday January 17, 2020

Kaieteur News

In Memory of ‘Bud’ Lee DEAR EDITOR, I so much regret my inability to attend my friend and schoolmate ‘Bud’ Lee’s departure ceremony on Thursday 16th January, at the Georgetown Club.

‘Bud’ and I played for the same Queen’s College team in the 1940’s in the first class cricket competition of the time. We were opposites. He was a left-handed opening batsman while I was a right-handed opening bowler. But he was much productive to our

team’s performance.

As we later went our different professional routes, we however remained connected through our extended membership of the Georgetown Club, particularly on afternoons when I was an onlooker at the squash court where he was so active.

Spiritual we continue to remain connected.

The accompanying image below is one record of our team’s history-1949-1950.

Earl John

I stand by my position that Bharrat Jagdeo has failed the sugar workers, their families and communities DEAR EDITOR, Response is made to GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine’s letter, “The current Administration’s attitude and level of openness towards the sugar industry is bleaky” (KN 15th Jan 2020) My letter (KN 12th Jan, 2020), ‘Is GuySuCo’s management attempting to embarrass the Govt. by refusing to bargain with the unions?,’ expressly stated “It is not being said that the Coalition Government has done a stellar job in handling the sugar industry.”

What this statement means is that the government has not done a stellar job.

That Seepaul seeks to twist my statement suggesting that I said the government has done a “stellar job” is mischievous and dishonest.

Having set that aside, attention is turned to the other extant issues.

I stand by my position that Bharrat Jagdeo, as President and Leader of the Opposition, has failed the sugar workers, their families and communities. This position has been arrived at after careful study of his handling of sugar in both constitutional offices.

As President, he pumped over US$200 million into the failed Skeldon Factory, a debt we are now saddled to repay.

It was during his administration that preferential prices for sugar changed and the opportunity offered by the European Union (EU) at diversification was squandered. It does not suggest shrewdness in decisionmaking, ignoring the reality that sugar-producing countries were entering the EU and Guyana, a non-member, would find it difficult to sell its product to the same people at the price we’re producing.

Further, whatever explanation was put forward as to the functioning of Diamond, it cannot be denied it was the Jagdeo government that closed the estate. His government thereafter converted those lands into housing. But those who toiled there, under harsh conditions, were given no special consideration for house lots. Anybody who knew Cheddi Jagan knows he would have offered the affected workers first preference to ownership.

Talking about what Khemraj Ramjattan et al purportedly said about sugar cannot deflect from the Jagdeo PPP management of the industry. The fact remains

the PPP has always projected itself as the friend and champion of these workers, and its current leadership has done nothing more than betray them and their families.

You would have never heard under the Jagans any threat to de-recognise GAWU, who is considered the industrial arm of the party.

In December 2010, President Jagdeo threatened GAWU with de-recognition for standing up to GuySuCo on the workers’ behalf.

As Leader of the Opposition all he did was talk the talk, but never walk the walk for sugar workers. He spent a lot of time accusing the government of not caring for these workers, but never laid before the government and/or nation a plan to show he cares. Jagan would not have done this.

This nation is well aware the management of GuySuCo is refusing to engage the sugar unions in collective bargaining to address increased wages and salary.

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan commenting on this matter recently, reportedly “stressed that the union must sit with management to come up with a deal for satisfactory pay packages” (SN-Dec 6, 2019: Granger, Jagdeo differ on way ahead for sugar).

Said newspaper on 9th December 2019 reported, “GuySuCo’s Chief Industrial Relations Manager Deodat Sukhu, has said that the financials of the company shows that it cannot afford to pay an increase. Sukhu, who heads the GuySuCo’s negotiation team, related that the cash-strapped corporation does not have the revenue or cash flow to pay workers the requested increase” (GAWU hopeful of wage hike offer from gov’t).

He further said that “position was made known to union representatives,” but this does not constitute collective bargaining.

Collective bargaining entails

sitting at the table, negotiating by examining various options with a view of arriving at resolution to the impasse.

Mr. Jagdeo has not taken a strident position to GuySuCo’s violation of Sect 23 (1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act and its transgressing of the workers’ constitutional right (Article 147). Were he committed to those workers’ welfare he could have sought engagement with the Minister of Finance and President with a view of having this issue addressed and some form of remuneration granted.

Sugar workers held a special place in Dr. Jagan’s heart. As Leader of the PPP and Opposition, he would have taken strident positions on this matter, including calling out GuySuCo and exhausting the political channel to secure resolution.

Jagdeo has taken a different approach. His is one that seems to have made a calculated deduction that there is more political value in having the workers’ grievances and economic dislocation unattended. We must ask to what end or whose benefit.

In the last four plus years, the Opposition has not aggressively pursued sugar workers’ interest.

Unapologetically, I say Cheddi who fought all his life for the welfare of these workers would have ensured, at the political level, the atmosphere was created for engagement between management and union. He would have doggedly pursued the arriving of an agreement at the negotiation table.

Whereas Jagdeo is no Cheddi, it is not unreasonable to expect he would have learnt a few things from his predecessor, particularly the art of deal-making as it relates to politics and industrial relations.

Lincoln Lewis

This is what we have been reduced to; how the canvas is blank and decrepit DEAR EDITOR, In the beginning, they rode into town from over the horizon.

They saw themselves as saviours of this society, men and women with pious dispositions, and comforting declarations. Then things fell apart. More than

one of them collapsed into an ignominious jumble, patented pretenders, they turned out to be..

As I expected, they were not what they held themselves out to be. I speak of most of those from the new (Continued on page 29)

Friday January 17, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 07

Teachers to wear black & white in protest of assault as another beaten on school property -Union demands proper security for teachers

By Shikema Dey “Teachers are said to be the engine that drives the nation and mould present and future generations.”

This was the sentiment expressed by Union P r e s i d e n t M a r k Ly t e , himself, but it appears that some parents disagree. So much so that educators all across Guyana will be holding a nationwide protest action against the constant assault meted out to them.

This action comes as a result of a video published on social media of a teacher at the St. Agnes Primary School being brutally beaten by two parents.

In the video seen by Kaieteur News, the teacher was being held on the ground by a woman, while a male dressed in all black could be seen stomping on her several times. All this was done in full view of students at the school.

The protest was given the go ahead by the President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union, Mark Lyte, who condemned the action. He has called on teachers to don black and white clothing on Monday, and plead with parents to “stop the violence against teachers”.

“All teachers, regardless of status, race, political views and economic position are asked to dress in black and white for work. This is to

indicate to our employers that we are dissatisfied with security arrangements put in place for teachers.”

He explained that the assault took place in the head teachers’ office Wednesday morning during a meeting with the teacher and the parents of two male students.

Lyte said that the meeting was called after an altercation between the two boys resulted in one being severely injured and requiring medical attention.

But this meeting later spiraled out of control after the parents of one of the boys began attacking the teacher.

“On Tuesday, two boys were fighting and one kicked the other in the groin resulting in him being injured. The child was taken to the public hospital by the teacher and his parent was informed and the child was treated,” Lyte disclosed.

The child was reportedly taken back to a private medical facility later that evening for further treatment. The cost incurred from this visit was asked to be repaid by the parents of the other student.

“The issue arose when the parents of the other student believed that it was the teacher who instigated the parents of the injured child to take him to a private medical facility and instruct them to pay.”

Better security needed

The union head expressed his anger and dissatisfaction with the security at the institutions.

This gives way for parents to enter compounds and assault teachers.

“Our teachers are now fearful for their lives. The question is ‘Who is next?”

“Teachers continue to be attacked by parents in their work place. Why is this allowed? There is a crisis with security both in and out of schools.

“Parents are now walking off the streets and into the classrooms and office to physically assault and wound teachers.”

According to Lyte, both the teacher and the parent were slapped with charges and he strongly believes that this should not have happened.

He recalled the previous incident where a teacher at the Winfer Garden Primary School was assaulted by a parent and relayed that charges are still to be laid against that parent.

“Enough is enough!

Imagine the teacher was charged along with the parent for defending herself in the place she works.

Where are the laws and rules governing our society? Mind you, we await charges to be laid against the other parent who wounded a teacher at another primary school last school term in the same

President of the Guyana Teacher’s Union Education District.”

The GTU head stated that, “the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has to do better at charging parents and placing them before a court of law. It is due to the reluctance and inability of the GPF to act swift and justly that this has continued.”

Lyte said that the union

Screenshots of the video showing the male dressed in all black stomping the teacher and the Ministry of Education along with the Guyana Police Force and the Ministry of Social Protection are in talks to ensure that teachers are protected.

He further called on the charges laid against the teacher in the video to be dropped as she was only defending herself at her place of employment.

Education Ministry in full support The Ministry of Education joined with the Guyana Teachers’ Union to condemn the act.

The Ministry in a statement stressed that, “at no time and under any circumstances would any form of violence in schools be condoned, (Continued on page 13 )

Kaieteur News

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Friday January 17, 2020

External Investigators needed to break back of corruption-Jagdeo SOCU, Police Force probes...

I

t is almost one year now since the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is probing a damning report on corruption that took place at one of its sister agencies, the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU), from 2016 to 2019.

Not a single person has been hauled before the courts to face the music, since.

Should the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) win the upcoming General and Regional Elections, its General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, vows that there would be no pussyfooting on such issues. In fact, he told Kaieteur News and other media operatives that it would ensure action is taken to break the back of corruption in SOCU and even the Guyana Police Force.

Speaking at a press conference, yesterday, at his Church Street headquarters,

Jagdeo said that the government has simply dropped the ball on these matters. He said that he is in the dark just as much as the media fraternity is on the reasons behind no one being charged for corruption that took place at SOCU. The Opposition Leader added, “These guys dont give (an) explanation about anything. When they are caught with fingers in the cookie jar, they blame someone else...We definitely have to look at these issues...We will put in place, a body that will go after the real corruption, not just at SOCU and the Police Force (but wherever it is).�

Highlighting the importance of having external investigators, Jagdeo disclosed that he has seen attempts to cover up corruption at some senior levels within the police force. As a result, he said,

junior ranks would not be inclined to carry out investigations as they would fear victimisation from their superiors. For this reason, he stressed that the Police Force cannot be relied upon to root out corruption within its domain.

SOCU CORRUPTION This newspaper would have exposed over the last few days, some instances of the shocking levels of corruption that took place from top to bottom at SOCU. The document which was seen by this newspaper stated that the former Head of the Unit, Sydney James, and several other officials such as Superintendents Robert Tyndall, Trevor Reid, Byran Vieira and Corporal Kevin Haywood from the Guyana Defence Force, abused the agencys Operational Fund which benefitted from $1.5M on a monthly basis.

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

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

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

But these receipts were found to be back dated.

It was further observed by the auditors that Haywood, who served as the secretary and not as an i n v e s t i g a t o r, d i d n o operational duties during the time of the assessment, but he still received a whopping

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

$1,378,000.

As for the entitys former Head, there are allegations against him that he forged the signature of his successor, Superintendent Althea Padmore, so that he could obtain almost $1.8M. Auditors also learnt that James claimed to have paid $1,719,000 on five occasions to repair motor vehicle PRR 2609. It was discovered that this was not a

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

Another disturbing discovery for the auditors were records which showed that the SOCU official paid $10,300,000 to M. Ali for car rental.

All the receipts were vague and had no vehicle registration numbers or the period they were rented for.

Also, the receipts had no letterhead or official stamps.

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

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

Kaieteur News

Friday January 17, 2020

PAGE 09

Sugar workers have been treated unfairly Sugar workers have not enjoyed an increase in salaries since 2015. This will be a major factor in their decision about which party they will vote for in the March general and regional elections.

Central government did not agree to make any releases from the Treasury to pay a wage increase for the workers. The government has bluntly said that the issue of wage increases for sugar workers is a matter for the sugar unions and the sugar corporation.

But the government is well aware that the sugar corporation is in no position to afford any increases and it is only through central government intervention that sugar workers can expect an increase.

This raises the issue of just what criteria should be used to determine whether public sector workers should be paid a salary increase. The government’s approach to the sugar workers would tend to suggest that, when it comes to public corporations, profitability determines increases in salaries.

T h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s position is that sugar is not profitable and therefore the workers in the industry are not entitled to an increase in s a l a r i e s . H o w e v e r, i s GuySuCo the only public corporation, which is not profitable? Did the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and the Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil) turn a profit in 2019? They could hardly be profitable if they have to depend on central government’s support.

In his 2019 Budget speech, the Minister of Finance spoke about the prospects of an higher deficit in 2018 and pointed to higher acquisition costs for fuel which would have affected GPL and Guyoil. GPL surely could not have been profitable since Central government promised to inject $3.6B into its operations last year.

Yet workers of GPL, unlike GuySuCo workers, did receive a salary increase last year.

GPL workers reportedly received an increase of 8.5% last year; they also received increases in previous years.

Sugar workers therefore have every right to feel that they have been treated unfairly and discriminated against. And what about the public service – the ministries, departments and agencies? What is the basis upon which the government decides to grant public service workers an increase?

Did the government do an analysis of each of these agencies to show that they have become more efficient than in the previous year?

So what was the basis upon which the government decided to grant public servants salary increases since 2015? Is it based on better performance? If so, where are the performance measures?

Both the PPPC and the APNU+AFC governments have offered annual salary increases to public servants regardless of performance indicators. So why then should the sugar workers not have received an increase?

Are they being punished?

Annual salary increases are have become the norm in Guyana because the government recognises two things. The first is that there is a wage deficit which has to be narrowed and annual wage increases allow for government to close this deficit. The reason for annual wage increases is to ensure an increase in real wages by paying increases, which are above the inflation rate.

It is not certain how many people take seriously the declared inflation rate but without increases above the rate of inflation, workers would find that the money,

which they are taking home is buying less than before.

Sugar workers have not enjoyed a salary increase for four years. It means that the purchasing power of their wages is less today than it was four years ago. In other words, what they can buy today with their wages is less than what they could in 2014. They are worst off, unlike other workers in the public service who have enjoyed increases in real wages.

The sugar industry is in deep crisis. But that should be more reason to support workers rather than to punish them. If the sugar industry is

to survive, you need a motivated workforce so that the industry can become more efficient.

If workers’ salaries are buying less goods than before, these workers will not be encouraged to stick around. They will not be motivated to improve production and efficiency.

Not paying sugar workers an increase for five years is not only cruel, it is counterproductive.

Sugar workers know that protests will not force the government to offer them an increase. They know that the only protest, which matters is their vote. And you can bet

that sugar workers will reject the APNU+AFC at next month’s elections because they know that with such a government they have no future. That is more than 10,000 votes. Think about that!

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

Kaieteur News

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Friday January 17, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Election campaign is on show and so are Guyana’s tragedies

D

o you know that 95 percent of the bodies dancing and gyrating in front of the speakers of the two major parties – PPP and APNU+AFC -- will not be able to receive adequate modern medical treatment for serious ailments in Guyana?

Yet they are clamouring for these politicians to rule them that will rule them country and as the years go by, these very politicians will get sick, pay for expensive treatment in foreign countries while they wait for endless hours at the public hospitals.

When the election cycle

comes around again in 2025, they will gyrate and dance once again. Poor people have a permanent destiny with self-destruction.

The announcement by PM candidate for Change Guyana, Mr. Nigel Hinds, that his diabetes problem is too serious to rely on treatment here in Guyana highlights once again how the ordinary man and woman in this land are condemned to see a dim future.

Mr. Hinds’s statement brings in focus once more, questionable medicine delivery in a country where the two major parties have ruled Guyana for more than seventy years.

Mr. Jagdeo ruled Guyana longer than the combined

presidencies of Cheddi Jagan and his wife, yet when he left office through his control of the Ramotar presidency in 2015, medicine delivery was far from adequate and remains so almost five years into the tenure of APNU+AFC. It is no secret, in fact it is known throughout the length and breadth of this country that our rulers will hop on a plane, paid for by the state and receive medical treatment in foreign lands paid too by the state.

Several ministers over the fifteen years of Jagdeo’s tenure did this. Since it came into power, the APNU+AFC mandarins have been doing the same.

Where are the deliveries in medicine, utility service, educational facilities? My daughter did two degrees at UG, then, she went to a British university to do her Masters twenty times larger than UG with twenty times the number of staff and students.

When she graduated, within days, the university had the students’ certificates ready. I doubt she can get her UG certificate within one month much less one week.

This is the state of a country where politicians from both sides of the fence have had their chances, let down the ordinary man and woman yet these classes of folks are out there waiting in their thousands to vote for politicians who have virtually no patriotic love for the country that they have

ruled and wants to rule once more.

I stood outside the DSL supermarket at the junction of Sherriff Street and the Railway Embankment last Monday and watched the helpless look on the face of a mother whose car was struck by another driver because of the jungle that has replaced the traffic signals at that crazy junction.

The signals have been out since the December 14, 2018.

She was all flustered and couldn’t speak. But what traumatised me was her little daughter who couldn’t comprehend the reality around her and was crying uncontrollably.

This is life in the 21st century in Guyana and people are going to flock in prodigious numbers to vote for politicians who did what I will describe below.

President Jagdeo, in a moment of intellectual bankruptcy for which he should have been banished from this country, took US$60 million and built a hotel rather than put that precious sum into medicine delivery.

As soon as David Granger came to power in 2015, money was poured into a project named D’Urban Park.

To this day, we don’t know the figures involved but the consensus is that it is more than a billion dollars.

In justifying the project, David Patterson, Minister of Public Infrastructure, said in

Frederick Kissoon 2016 that the attendees for the Golden Jubilee of the 50th Independence anniversary could not be accommodated at the National Stadium or the National Park.

Just reflect on that statement and you will see why the Georgetown Public Hospital cannot provide modern medical facilities, why blackouts visit us daily, why a UG student cannot get a transcript within a month of an application for one.

It is interesting to note that all three of the names mentioned here – Jagdeo, Granger and Patterson- are on the campaign trail urging poor, ordinary working class Guyanese to put them in power back again.

Juxtapose the service we get from the Georgetown public Hospital, UG, GPL, GWI with the appearance of the vehicles, which our past and present rulers drive. Let me finish with my favourite, French term I ended with in so many columns – “God is dead, Marx is dead and I’m not feeling too well myself.”

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

Dem boys seh...

Exxon got Guyana sucking brick When people look at de oil situation, dem always finding a problem because the oil situation got nuff problems. People now looking at wha Suriname get after it find oil and comparing de Suriname situation wid Guyana.

Guyana get two percent royalty. Suriname get six per cent. Guyana fiddle wid de tax against ExxonMobil; Suriname tax its oil company 36 percent.

When dem boys see dem things, dem get vex. Dem done know dem would never get rich at de rate de contract going but dem want to mek sure dat dem get a good share of dem oil wealth.

When de oil company announce dat it find oil, de news was like candy to a

baby. De whole of Guyana was like li’l babies. Dem didn’t know nutten bout oil and fuh certain dem didn’t understand de tricks of de trade.

But dem start to learn and dem learning quickly. Dat is why dem vex wid de oil contract dem leaders sign wid de oil company.

It feel like if de oil company tek de candy out of dem mouth and stuff brick instead.

Dem boys don’t have to imagine de situation. Just compare de taste of a piece of brick and a candy. Is dat kind of situation mek de Trinidad Prime Minister collar BP (British Petroleum) and get dem to change de contract fuh de gas dem was collecting.

De man tell de company dat any contract dat benefits one side can’t be a contract.

Dat is how he manage to get an extra small piece from BP. It was not too hard a bargain.

Dem boys want Guyana to do de same thing. Dem feel dat dis contract benefit only Exxon. Of course de money is Exxon but whatever money dem spend dem gon benefit.

Is like when you spend you money in de market and then go home to cook and enjoy wha you buy.

Exxon spend its money and will enjoy wha it buy but it still want to enjoy more.

Dat is why Guyana sucking brick.

Talk half and watch how Guyana trying to get back something.

Friday January 17, 2020

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PAGE 13

Barticians gearing for decentralised Carnegie programmes The Carnegie School of Home Economics (CSHE) and authorities of Region Seven are working feverishly to have, for the first time, decentralised services available to residents of the Town of Bartica and its environs.

The new partnership with its self -empowerment concept, is expected to see a number of young people and adults signing up for Carnegie training programmes before the end of January.

During the International Decade for People of African Descent’s (IDPADA-G) F a m i l y We l f a r e a n d Business Conference at Bartica on November 29, 2019, the immediate need, amongst youth, was for continuing education opportunities.

Recently re-elected Mayor, Gifford Marshall, and Councillor Kenneth Williams, had indicated their interest in various areas of service that were believed to be relevant to the region.

They told IDPADA-G that since Bartica is emerging as an ideal tourism destination much training is needed.

As such, residents should be able to access training programmes which include hospitality, cosmetology, interior decorating, commercial food preparation and garment construction. IDPADA-G brought Carnegie on board for discussions with the Bartica Council and meetings were held with the Board Chairperson for Bartica and Three Miles Secondary Schools as

Teachers to ...

From page 7 especially when our students and teachers are involved.”

“Therefore, any criminal act perpetrated by any parent or other person of the public on teachers, students or any member of the Education sector ought to be meted out with the fullest extent of the law. In this regard, the Ministry has taken the position to assist victims in their pursuit of criminal proceedings against perpetrators in instituting the appropriate criminal charges.”

Last November, a Grade One teacher attached to the Winfer Garden Primary school was assaulted by a parent who claimed that the teacher struck her child on multiple occasions. It was reported that the parent, fed up of the constant complaints by her son, marched into the school compound and accosted the teacher resulting in her sustaining injuries to the face. That fight also took place in full view of other students at the school.

locations to accommodate the long-term special training. Subsequent site visits by the various teams were also made to the schools. Hundreds of Barticians had attended I D PA D A - G ’s M e g a

Conference where numerous Government agencies were available to offer services.

Residents were able to sign up with IDPADA-G’s credit union, apply for their passports and birth certificates, register their

businesses, seek business advice and information, access free medical care and other services. The Institute of Distance and Continuing Education, University of Guyana, also participated and is actively considering

offering programmes in Bartica.IDPADA-G has been engaging the African Guyanese community countrywide in their execution of the United Nations declaration of the International Decade for

People of African Descent 2015-2024.

The Assembly with support and funding from Government has been able to offer much assistance to the African Guyanese community.

Kaieteur News

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Friday January 17, 2020

NICIL properties in Linden, Kwakwani undergo $131M renovation, upgrade The Kwakwani State House

Apartments renovated by NICIL Renovations and upgrades to the tune of $131M were completed during the past year on several properties in Linden and Kwakwani belonging to the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

Chief Executive Officer (ag), Mr. Colvin HeathLondon, has expressed satisfaction with the completed works.

The NICIL CEO (ag) said that for the past year, his company undertook to have several main properties enhanced and upgraded to improve and increase the services it was providing to the public.

“Last year after reviewing quite a number of our properties, we at NICIL concluded that significant work must be done to ensure that several of these properties which were abandoned and ignored for years are returned to their former glory,” HeathLondon shared.

Against this background, the NICIL official undertook the task of ensuring that several of these properties were enhanced and improved “as we recognised

The Completed Watooka Guest House boardwalk

that some of these buildings were not providing the expected services.

“I must admit that I am very satisfied with what I am seeing as we have completed them in a significant way.”

The NICIL Head said that his company will continue along this path this year. They have already identified several other properties that NICIL will seek to renovate and enhance. He said that this forms part of the entitys mission to lift several of its properties to the level and quality that it deserves.

“We were unable to complete all the buildings

The Kwakwani Club House

that we needed to. There are still some more buildings that we intend to work on this year…We will continue this year with a number of major renovations and upgrades,” he assured.

The residents of Kwakwani, Heath-London said, are elated that the Government Guest House, and other major buildings, are back to their former glory and are operational.

“Several residents have been writing, calling, texting and messaging us as they commend NICIL for rebuilding the Kwakwani Guest House, which was in a very terrible shape.

However, with the completion of this Guest House it now stands as a proud primary site for residents there, as it has certainly enhanced and improved the image of Kwakwani,” he said.

Among the other properties that underwent works were the State House and Club houses in Kwakwani and, according to the NICIL official, other

communities like Ituni, Skeldon, Albion and Wales, among others, would see major renovations and upgrade during this year as well.

“There are still quite a number of other properties that we would be seeking to enhance and improve as we have recognised that a significant number of our properties were somewhat abandon and left to

deteriorate. He said that this partly allowed a number of scammers to fraudulently sell several of these properties to unsuspecting persons,” Heath-London said.

He added, “We have been taking control of our properties and assets as we have been closely monitoring them all, thus being alert to some of the ploys that are being used by scammers. “ We h a v e b e e n enhancing and improving several of the properties thus improving its ambiance and environment as we seek to make them more attractive and marketable.”

He disclosed that with regards to the Watooka Guest House, the construction of the boardwalk, the annex, deck and Centennial Park were all done in 2019, adding that both the Berbice Inn Guest House and Annex were also completed.

According to HeathLondon too, the Bachelors Quarters situated at Richmond Hill in Linden was also renovated and upgraded and several more properties are slated for (Continued on page 30)

Friday January 17, 2020

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Friday January 17, 2020

Suriname was told its gas content days after find …Guyana waited years

S

uriname recently announced that Apache and Total, two oil companies operating off its shores, made a hydrocarbon discovery on an oil concession, titled Block 58.

In its Maka Central-1 well, Apache announced that it confirmed a geologic model with 73 meters (240 feet) of oil pay and 50 meters (164 feet) of light oil and gas condensate pay.

Just days after that d i s c o v e r y, E n e rg y Consultancy firm, Wood Mackenzie, was able to publish a report, disaggregating the oil and gas contents of that find.

In its report, Wood Mackenzie said that the discovery is estimated to contain 300 million barrels of oil, 150 million barrels of condensate and 1.4 trillion cubic feet of gas.

To the general Guyanese public, the estimation of the contents of a find so quickly after it was made is unheard of. This is because it took five years for it to find out the natural gas content in ExxonMobil's first discovery made in 2015.

It was only on Kaieteur Radio's show, Guyana's Oil & You, last Thursday that

Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson informed the public that the Liza-1 field is estimated to contain one trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The Government is also aware of the gas content in Liza-2.

For years, when discoveries are made, the company has only publicly reported its discoveries in barrels of oil equivalent (boe), which includes but does not disaggregate oil and gas contents.

Up to late 2019, Kaieteur News questioned ExxonMobil several times about the gas content in its discoveries, and it was repeatedly told that ExxonMobil was still analysing the contents of the finds.

Meanwhile, its local subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), had informed the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) that between 30 and 50 million cubic feet per day of Natural Gas (NG) can be made available for electricity generation in Guyana from the Liza-1 project.

Like Wood Mackenzie, a local firm could analyse the contents of ExxonMobil's

finds using its well logs.

Kaieteur News was informed

by Petroleum Engineer Paul Ramsaywack that the contents are estimated based on a standard equation that takes into account porosity and fluid properties, all data listed in the logs.

SURINAME SECURES BETTER FISCAL TERMS Suriname is not only lucky to benefit from more public disclosures and transparency than the Guyanese public. It has also benefitted from a royalty rate that is more than three times that of Guyana. While Guyana's royalty for the lucrative Stabroek Block agreement is a meager two percent, the Suriname Government will receive a royalty of 6.25 percent of the oil produced on the Block 58.

Kaieteur News also understands that the companies will pay Suriname a 36 percent tax on income. In Guyana's case, ExxonMobil and its partners have been given a range of tax waivers.

Guyana will also be giving tax certificates to ExxonMobil so that it would also be exempted from taxes in its home country.

Map showing the location of the latest Suriname discovery (marked by a star) and its proximity to other oil finds offshore Guyana

APNU uses GNBA to muzzle - says Jagdeo

O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has said that the party plans to engage multiple international organisations over what it says are various unfair restrictions imposed upon the party by the Guyana National Broadcasting Agency (GNBA).

Speaking yesterday at his weekly press conference, the General Secretary of the party said that the PPP/C has prepared a file and plans to engage the international community on what he describes as a violation of freedom of the media.

According to Jagdeo, the GNBA has been sending multiple correspondence to

Freedom Radio, which he i n d i c ates is t h e m a i n medium for the majority of the party's advertisements.

He explained that the party's press conferences are aired via Freedom Radio and as such, GNBA has been imposing multiple requirements, which the party now has to submit to the Agency. The former President is of the view that the reasons behind these biased sanctions are as a result of a special investigative committee within the GNBA being headed by an individual closely affiliated with the APNU/AFC Coalition.

Additionally, Jagdeo told reporters yesterday that

he believes that the aim of GNBA is to cause the closure of various radio stations before the General and Regional Elections.

“GNBA has being writing mainly Freedom Radio and other stations that we primarily put our ads on...They have been writing them so that (radio stations) have to submit everything.”

Further, he claims that the weekly press conferences “offend the people at GNBA”.

Jagdeo reiterated that plans are in place to inform the international c o m m u n i t y a n d concurrently protecting the rights of the party.

Friday January 17, 2020

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Friday January 17, 2020

Most GPHC burn victims were attacked by their spouse

A

majority of patients at the Burn Care Unit (BCU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) are those who were attacked by their spouses.

This was related by a top official at the hospital.

In a recent interview, the official revealed that there are at present, 33 patients in the BCU; 28 are women.

The remaining five are men. According to the official, these persons were either doused by their spouses with hot oil or hot water. Most of them had lit kerosene stove thrown on them.

Currently, there are 14 patients who were burnt by kerosene stove; nine of them were burned with hot water; while 10 were burned with hot oil.

According to the source, the majority of the burn patients attacked by their spouses or ex-lovers are between the ages of 20 and 36.

Every day, the BCU tends to over 100 patients, including children.

“Due to the number of years, I am working in this department, I have come face to face with a lot of burn patients. From interacting with these patients, I get to u n d e r s t a n d t h e circumstances surrounding their injuries and what will be lifelong scars,” the official related.

“Presently most of the victims in the burn unit were attacked by their lovers or ex-lovers. In the burn unit, we have cases where a patient's spouse took hot oil and threw it on the (person); there are cases where some patients were attacked by their spouses with kerosene stoves. [We also] have patients who were doused by their spouses with hot water.”

The official further stated that persons tend to think that when it comes to domestic abuse, women are the ones who are usually

victims. But that is only a mere thought, the official added, as on many occasions, there were and are several males who have been admitted in the unit due to third degree burn injuries, they sustained by the hand of their female spouse.

“The process of caring

for injuries is not any easy one for the victims; a lot of pain is involved because their wounds have to be tended to on a daily basis.”

Only recently, the Board of Directors at the city

hospital included counseling sessions to the hospital curriculum, with the aim of assisting burn patients to adapt to their scars.

This initiative comes after most of the patients in

the BCU would usually complain about their appearance while going through physical therapy, and their fear of facing the general public with their scars.

Murder charges for men who allegedly killed wedding house guest

T

he Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recommended murder charges for two men who allegedly killed wedding house guest, Rudendra Persaud. The file was returned to police yesterday and the suspects are likely to appear in court today.

Both men were detained on Tuesday after turning up at police stations with attorneys.

One of the suspects is 20-year-old Errol Thapordeen, also called 'Buffy,' 'Bowie' and 'Powie,' of Enterprise, East Coast Demerara, for whom police had issued a wanted bulletin.

Police have said that 26-year-old Persaud was fatally injured during a fracas at the Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara wedding house, It is alleged that he had intervened in a fight that had broken out between the men and some guests.

He suffered a fractured skull and died hours later.

Rudendra Persaud

Kaieteur News

Friday January 17, 2020

PAGE 19

$20,000 monthly allowance to monitor - Opposition Guyana's oil wealth shameful Leader

O

pposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, finds it absolutely shameful that the government is paying officials from the G u y a n a N a t i o n al Bureau of Standards (GNBS), a meager $20,000 allowance to ensure accurate measurements of oil on the Liza Destiny, Guyana's first Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

His comments in this regard were in response to a question this newspaper posed to him during a press conference t h a t w a s h e l d at his Church Street office, yesterday.

Jagdeo was asked to state if he is disappointed that the

officials are being paid such a paltry sum and if it would therefore, open the floodgates to incentives for corruption.

The Opposition Leader, in registering his disappointment with the situation, reminded that the government has the audacity to borrow US$20M from the Wo r l d B a n k t o p a y international consultants large sums of money to give advice and produce reports on the sector but does not cater the same way for locals.

He stressed that this is just another manifestation of the government's failure to protect its people while making reference to the absence of a long awaited

Sooba wrongful dismissal lawsuit set for trial in April

T

he constitutional writ of summons has been filed in the High Court, on behalf of former Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba, challenging her dismissal as an employee of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is set to come up for trial before Justice Fidela Corbin at the High Court.

Sooba had served as Legal Officer and Town Clerk (Ag) of the Council, prior to her dismissal from duty, in July 2015. The dismissal was initiated by Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, following a no-confidence motion by members of the Council.

However, according to the Writ filed on August 18 2015, Sooba is seeking a declaration by the court that there was a breach of her constitutional rights under Articles 40, 144 and 153 of the Constitution.

The court document described Sooba's revocation as Town Clerk, as unconstitutional, unlawful, unreasonable, and irrational, wholly in excess of jurisdiction and in breach of

the rules which govern natural justice.

As such, the plaintiff wants a declaration by the Court that her sudden dismissal from service is in breach of the statutory conditions of her appointment to serve as the Town Clerk of the M&CC. Sooba is also claiming in excess of $1.5 million, for aggravated and exemplary damages; damages for the breach of the statutory conditions of service, and e n t i t l e m e n t t o superannuation and other benefits.

Sooba wants the Court to declare that she is still a public officer with the title of Town Clerk at the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown.

Additionally, the former Town Clerk is seeking an injunction restraining the Minister of Communities, the M&CC, the Councillors or any of their members, officers, servants or agents from taking any further steps in the furtherance of carrying into effect the purported revocation of her appointment as Town Clerk.

Local Content Policy.

Kaieteur News would have published last week, the advice of University of Houston Instructor, Tom Mitro, who intimated that as Guyana embarks on the development of its oil

resources proper compensation for the guardians of the new found wealth must not be overlooked.

The official who has over 30 years' experience in the oil sector stressed that the

key agencies, which have to regulate the oil sector have the crucial task of keeping corruption at bay. “Therefore, the importance of paying competitive compensation to key Government agencies

involved with oversight should not be overlooked; it serves as a means of not only attracting and retaining the most qualified people but as a means of minimising incentives for corruption,� the official had said.

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Friday January 17, 2020

Kaieteur News

Friday January 17, 2020

PAGE 21

Man satisfies ego by beating Alleged thief runs into police while chasing victim businessman in front of police

By Trishan Craig

T

he court on Wednesday heard that an alleged thief was caught by the police when he chased one of his victims straight into the hands of the police after asking for $100.

Odwin David was arraigned in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty. David pleaded not guilty to both charges after they were read to him.

The first charge alleged that on January 11, 2020 at Camp Street, Georgetown he attempted to commit a felony to wit robbery under arms that is he being armed with a dangerous weapon, a knife, he attempted to rob Stephen Hall. Also it was alleged that on the same day he being armed with a knife, attempted to rob Mukish Ally of one LG cellphone valued $30,000 and $1,360 in cash.

The defendant, who was not represented by an attorney, told the court that he is a 29-year-old porter who resides at 50 Hadfield Street Georgetown.

Both victims appeared for the hearing and were given a chance to address the court.

Hall said that on the day in question he was just off from work and was at the location when he was approached by the defendant. David allegedly asked for $100 however, Hall responded saying he didn't have.

Upon leaving the defendant reportedly pushed Hall and snatched his bag while brandishing a large knife. The victim said, “I didn't have anything in my bag but my work stuff so when he saw that he just chuckled and went away.”

The victim further told the court that he saw some police ranks at the State House and he reported to them that someone just tried to rob him and he gave a description of the individual.

While on Main Street the victim said the police ranks came in a state vehicle saying they just found the person that fits the description he gave.

He went with the ranks and later positively identified the person they arrested as the individual who tried to rob him.

On the other hand, Ally indicated that David allegedly approached him in the same manner asking for $100 and when he declined to offer the money the defendant

reportedly whipped out a k n i f e . H o w e v e r, A l l y managed to run away and he ran into the police ranks that were looking for the accused.

Ally also mentioned that when the defendant reportedly pulled out the knife after the refusal, he allegedly told him “Like you want dead.”

The police prosecutor objected to bail based on the nature and penalties of the offence. Objections were also made based on the fact that the defendant may not return for trial. The magistrate upheld the submission made the prosecutor and remanded the defendant to prison. The matter was then adjourned to February 5, 2020.

Before the hearing concluded Hall told the court that he is of the opinion that the judicial system has been soft on offenders and he believes that given the prevalence of certain offenses the penalties should be harsh on offenders.

However, to this the magistrate informed him that the main reason and according to the laws of Guyana the maximum sentence that can be handed down in the Magistrates Court is five years.

Two buildings in “Big Yard” collapse

R

esidents of “Big Yard” Tucville, Georgetown, are pleading with Government for assistance as their place of abode came crashing down last night. Luckily, no one was seriously injured.

When Kaieteur News arrived on the scene, a string of dilapidated structures was seen in the yard. Several families occupied these structures.

In fact, 20 children are among those homeless.

Residents said that the buildings are decades old and never underwent any renovations.

When the buildings collapsed, most of the occupants were still at work.

Natasha Alexander, who resided in one of the buildings shared, “When I came home from work this afternoon, my son meet me and tell me the building cave in… When I came in, this is what I have to put up with.”

The distressed woman added that because of the incident, she was unable to go into her home so she was unable to assess her losses.

Alexander said, “We

The aftermath of when the buildings collapsed have been here for 23 years, we came here temporarily.

Even though the buildings aren't that much, we try our

best to up keep it. We patch up, we nail up…we didn't come here and meet a brand (continued on page 31)

The popular Sunset Boulevard Bar where the incident occurred

A

2 8 - y e a r- o l d union worker satisfied his anger by on Wednesday evening by beating a businessman in the presence of police officers.

The incident occurred at the popular “Sunset Boulevard Bar” located at Second Street, Fourth Avenue, Bartica.

The union worker who was consuming alcohol with friends left his table and entered the washroom to use the urinal. While in the washroom, he was greeted with harsh words by a well-known businessman with whom he has an ongoing court matter.

The young man held his cool and exited the washroom but approached the

businessman minutes later and insulted him in the presence of his wife.

This aggravated the businessman and he dealt the union worker several cuffs to face and body. The bartender intervened but could not stop the altercation between the two so he decided to summon the ranks of the Bartica Police Station.

By the time the ranks arrived, the altercation had ended and the union worker was left with a “black eye”.

Police Officers approached the businessman first to inquire the reason for the altercation. While the police were in the process of doing so, the union worker “flew into a rage” and attacked the businessman, in

the presence of the ranks.

Kaieteur News was told that the businessman was dealt a “powerful cuff to the face that knocked him off his chair”. Being helpless on the floor, the businessman received multiple blows from the union worker who had to be restrained by the officers.

When asked the reason for assaulting the businessman in the presence of the police ranks, the union worker responded that “he seized the opportunity to satisfy his ego.”

Both men were detained at Bartica Police Station and charged for assault causing grievous bodily harm.

They are scheduled to appear in the Bartica Magistrate Court today.

PAGE 22

Kaieteur News

Friday January 17, 2020

Kaieteur News

POP

CULT

THE REVIEWS ARE IN!!!

PAGE 23

Entertainment POLICE THE

THE

Friday January 17, 2020

E P

Enetworks to show HBO’s most thrilling Original Programmes for 2020

ma a r d w o r h The deat

’ Y C R E M T S U ‘J

true isfying and t a s , g in r e tt that is sha tells a tale

T

he stirring, stylish legal drama “Just Mercy” feels familiar on several levels.

The story of a wrongly accused man sent to death row, it joins such films as “Dead Man Walking” and the more recent “Clemency” as an affecting examination of how justice is confused with inhumane retribution.

Based on factual events, “Just Mercy” is the story of Walter “Johnny D.” McMillian, who in 1987 was arrested for a murder he didn’t commit, but who was railroaded by a racist and incompetent legal system in Alabama — a story that is as old as the rugged cross itself.

McMillian’s case became famous by way of a “60 Minutes” episode and the memoir of Bryan Stevenson, a brilliant, Harvardeducated attorney who came to his defense and has gone on to become a visionary leader in criminal justice reform.

Both on a macro and micro level then, “Just Mercy” — which takes its title from Stevenson’s book — might feel like something we’ve seen before. But in the judicious hands of director and co-writer Destin Daniel Cretton, it feels not new exactly, but fresh and urgent and more timely than ever.

Largely, that’s because Cretton, best known for his exceptionally assured 2013 breakthrough “Short Term 12,” knows exactly when to get out of the way and let Stevenson and McMilllian’s story simply unfold. “Just Mercy” begins in 1987, when McMillian — played in an astonishing comeback performance by Jamie Foxx — is in a forest outside Monroeville, where he works as a pulpwood contractor. Arrested for the murder of a white dry cleaning clerk back in town, McMillian insists he couldn’t have committed the crime (he was at a church fish fry that day along with several witnesses).

Still, he winds up on death row, the result of countless assaults on his human and constitutional rights that will continue once he’s there. McMillian would have been just another statistic of structural racism and irrational fear and revenge, had Stevenson not decided to move from the Northeast to Monroeville, where upon his arrival he’s encouraged to visit the “To Kill a Mockingbird” museum and to stand “right where Atticus Finch once stood.” In “Just Mercy,” the painful and infuriating gaps between myth and reality of the contemporary South aren’t underlined as much as opened up and revealed, allowing audience members to come to conclusions that will range from wincing discomfort to outrage.

Played by Michael B. Jordan with his usual combination of composure and submerged fire, Stevenson is the main protagonist in “Just Mercy,” but this isn’t a biopic. As much as viewers come to admire him for his courage and dedication, they don’t necessarily come to feel they know him. Similarly Brie Larson, who plays Eva Ansley, who joined Stevenson in founding the nonprofit Equal Justice Initiative, is often relegated to little more than providing awkward chunks of earnest exposition. There are moments when “Just Mercy” threatens to become as meandering and mired-down as McMillian’s case itself.

But Cretton keeps the narrative on course, leading the audience through the stakes and specifics of Stevenson’s quest with welcome clarity. Perhaps ironically, “Just Mercy” comes most to life on death row, where, when Stevenson first visits him, he’s ordered to submit to a humiliating strip search. A group of prisoners act as a moving Greek chorus while Stevenson doggedly searches for the truth and McMillian awaits a fate that feels tragically preordained. “That’s how it’s done down here,” McMillian says in one scene; it’s an eloquent if dispiriting summation of the emotional labor it takes to manage the anxiety, aggression and impunity otherwise known as white supremacy.

Foxx, delivering one of the finest performances of his career in a role that involves as dramatic a physical transformation as his Oscar-winning turn in “Ray,” is joined by an equally impressive supporting cast, which includes O’Shea Jackson, Jr., Darrell Britt-Gibson and Rob Morgan, who brings enormous sympathy to a prisoner whose extenuating circumstances throw the perversity of the death penalty into heartbreaking relief. Punctuated by a twitchy, uncannily on-point turn from Tim Blake Nelson as a crucial witness named Ralph Myers, “Just Mercy” is transformed from a mere billboard declaring that racism is bad to an intimate, immediate and deeply moving portrait of the trauma and psychic toll imposed on its victims and practitioners.

Propelled by a liltingly beautiful musical score

by Joel P. West, “Just Mercy” keeps its emotions on a low simmer, its absorbing, tautly designed drama finally coming to a climax that is satisfying on one level, and absolutely shattering on another. From its smooth visuals and warm, swinging sounds to its magnificent performances, “Just Mercy” is masterfully constructed to keep us inside a story that otherwise would be too brutal to bear. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/)

H

aving survived the end of “Game of Thrones” with buzzy new series like “Euphoria,” “Watchmen,” and “His Dark Materials,” in addition to the well-watched new seasons of “Succession,” “Barry,” and “Big Little Lies,” HBO is preparing for its first post-Westeros year with a similar onslaught of exciting adaptations, enticing follow-ups, and shows skewing toward a younger demographic.

The latter point is perhaps more important than ever, given that 2020 marks another milestone for HBO: the debut of HBO Max, WarnerMedia’s all-in-one streaming platform that bundles its various networks (and their programs) in one app. HBO Max will have its own originals, but HBO is still the service’s crown jewel (as evidenced by those three telling letters right before “Max”).

It’ll be up to the former Home Box Office as much as, if not more than, any other WarnerMedia network to drive subscriptions, and that’s harder to do without the No. 1 show in the world.

So what will entice subscribers to keep HBO (or add HBO Max) to their ever-

growing streaming library this year? 2020 offerings include “The Outsider,” a Stephen King adaptation from “The Night Of” creator Richard Price; “Avenue 5,” Armando Iannucci’s “Veep” follow-up; “The Undoing,” starring Hugh Grant and Nicole Kidman; “Bad Education,” HBO’s pricey TIFF film festival acquisition starring Hugh Jackman; “Perry Mason,” from producer Robert Downey Jr. and starring “The Americans” veteran Matthew Rhys, and don’t forget more new originals from indie film favorites Luca Guadagnino, Derek Cianfrance, Paolo Sorrentino.

Meanwhile, plenty of fan favourite shows are returning, none more important than the rebooted “Westworld” Season 3, but additional entries like “Euphoria” Season 2, “Barry” Season 3, and “Succession” Season 3 cannot be undervalued.

With “House of Dragons” not expected until at least 2021, this likely won’t be the only year without a “Game of Thrones” series on the docket — but it might be the most important year for HBO. Be sure to catch up on these riveting originals via the Enetworks channel.

Sparkling

Wine of the

Week

The Cavicchioli 1928 Rosé

T

his bright and pale pink candy” coloured Rosé features white evanescent foam, fine and lingering perlage when poured and tasted. The wine has a fresh, fruity aroma, and a slightly spicy aromatic taste with red fruit notes and a lingering aftertaste.

Cavicchioli 1928 Rosé is excellent as an aperitif with sweet and sour pairings. You can also pair it with risotto, tortellini, seafood dishes, and fresh fruits.

It can be had at Ansa McAL’s Twee Gourmet Shoppe at the Giftland Mall. Do enjoy and remember to drink responsibly.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Friday January 17, 2020

Perfection is the name of the game for

ASHANTI

” S S O B L R I G “

HERCULES W

hen it comes to nail artistry and extensions, nothing but perfection is acceptable for Ashantie Hercules who is popularly known as Girl Boss. The talented nail technician who has been in the industry for several years operates from a modest yet posh studio at Lot 148 Albert and Sixth Street.

During an exclusive interview with Kaieteur Entertainment about her love for what she does, Hercules was quick to note that she has always been a fan of gorgeous nails.

The successful businesswoman said, “I have always been obsessed with beautiful nails.

The

Beauty COLUMN

Two beautiful creations by the talented Girl Boss

Ashantie “Girl boss” Hercules

Make-Up Artist of the week:

The Sultry Lisa FranceCummings D

uring the first week of this month, the Entertainment Police had the distinct honour and pleasure of meeting with Lisa France-Cummings who, without any fear of contradiction, stands as one of Guyana's most gifted MakeUp Artists.

Not only was she patient, but FranceCummings was attentive to the needs of her client while being completely open to what you would like her to adjust to the already flawless look she provided. (And for the record, there was nothing she had to amend!)

As this stunning mother of one continues her way up the ladder of success, we at Kaieteur News wish you all the best and will continue to monitor your progress. You rock Lisa!

(To make contact with Lisa to have a faultless look for the weekend parties or any upcoming event, you can The talented Lisa contact her via her Instagram handle France-Cummings @ beatface_chrisy)

In fact, there were many times when I sat and watched other people exhibit their creativity and I was in complete awe of how their work was able to add to the client’s confidence and beauty.”

“But if I am to be quite candid, I never thought that I would become a member of the industry, much less the potential, to take me where I am today. But one day, I sat for hours watching a nail technician perfecting her art on someone’s nail and it prompted me to give it a try.”

Hercules disclosed that given her fear of failure, she subsequently purchased some products and began using her cousin’s fingers as a canvass. As time went by, she told Kaieteur Entertainment that her skill improved and other family members and friends began visiting her grandmother’s home where she had set up a small work station.

From that humble beginning, Hercules noted that she wanted to learn more, not just about nail art but nail care. In this regard, she shared that this prompted her to attend Carnegie School of Home Economics, after which, she began working in the arcade.

Hercules also said that she moved around several salons where professionals of the business imparted their knowledge on how she could enhance her already outstanding skills. After this, she left for the British Virgin Islands where she pursued other business opportunities.

On returning to her homeland some years ago, Hercules said that with the encouragement of supportive family members and friends, she opened her own business called Creative Nails and she has been a force to be reckoned with ever since.

Kaieteur Entertainment wishes her all the best in her future endeavours.

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Friday January 17, 2020

PM saves labourer from murder charge in pensioner’s death FOR RENT Furnished one bedroom & three bedroom apartment in Providence for rent. Call 6721906, 682-6238, 216-2299 SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040 ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 We repair Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washer, Dryer-Call#231-0655/ 683-8734 Omar.

Jacob’s Jewellry and pawnshop, friendly money lenders. 16 Pike Street Kitty, Georgetown. Tel#227-8748/ 622-4970 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezer-Call: 610-5846 or 661-8158

FOR SALE (1) 320 CL Caterpiller Excavator low mileage. Never work interior. 15M Neg. 6851237,609-1237 (1) Oil tanker boat 11,000 gallon GM engine. (1) Oil tanker 20,000 gallon GM engine. 6851237/609-1237

Self contain rooms to rent in Prashad Nagar. Tel#227-2993

Lot 14 - 10,204 Sq ft Ph#264-2948/615-2270.

Newly built flat licensed business place. Restaurant & Bar, Huge land space @ Vreed-en-hoop area. Fully furnished $48M neg Tel#6897481

Prime piece of hand at La Grange Public Road 300ft X 100ft $100,000 US Dollar.Contact Annie 6950333.

(3) Mack Garbage trucks, 1 Skip Truck. Tel#683-6814/4420162 Copra Meal for sale.

Contact#223-5273/2235274 EDUCATION

LAND FOR SALE

Aracari Hotel -WBD (Near Bridge)-Pool etc.Open 24 Hours.From $25 USD.Phone 264-2946/8

37 Acres of Transported Land at Big Biaboo, Mahaica River.Contact#699-4300/2282734 for more info.

3 Residential lots of Land (Together) For Sale Situated in a Gated Community @ Providence E.B.D, Tel#645-4940, 660-4437

LEARN TO DRIVE N.Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square.Affordable Package.Call#644-5166/6912561/681-2808.

Shalom Enterprise Driving School, 2 Croal St. Call: 2277560/227-3869-6. Join us on Facebook

1 house 20'’ x 16'’ conrete and wood on a piece of land 42'’ x 100'’, residential. Call: 6763883 Kuru Kururu

DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL CALL: 225-7126 & 2263693 -DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL@ YAHOO.COM/ W W W . D O L L Y SAUTORENTAL.COM

ACCOMMODATION

1 Rz bus for sale, hardly work.

Series BSS $1.4M neg.

Contact#603-2640

Flat 2 bedroom concrete property. Located at Lot 101 Plaisance/Sparendaam. Call for more information 220-0183/ 602-3729

CAR RENTAL

Enroll now! Classes: Cookery, Cake & Pastries. Start 20th Jan 2020. Contact Sharon #6124193/672-8768 or Whatsapp

1 Suzuki Escudo.Excellent condition, Low Mileage (50,000Km).$3.6M Neg.Call #649-0956.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

CAREFORELDERLY, CARE FOR CHILDREN, FIRSTAID & CPR CLASSES. CONTACT#227-4881

CAKES & PASTRIES

VEHICLE FOR SALE

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

Farm New Scheme (East Bank) Main Road 105ft x 65ft $6.5M Parfaite Harmonie $1.2M. Tel# 648-1635/651-1969 Transported land for sale in Rose Hall Town.Call#603-1441

AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL & TOW TRUCK SERVICE:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE#698-7807.

Wanted Bus Driver (over 45 yrs old) & experienced Cook/ Counter girls @ 44 Barima Avenue Bel Air Park.Tel#6844508.

(1) Driver, must be able to drive both left handed & Stickshift. Tel#223-5354

PROPERTY FOR SALE Lot 89 Robb street Lacytown, Georgetown.

Next door to Mike’s Pharmacy.Land size-3431.25 Sq.ft.Phone:617-5323/6668052.

Dog groomer to do home service. Please call: 676-1148 Maid. Requirements: must be between the age of 35-45, person must be living on the East Bank. Contact#223-2169 Senior Kitchen Assistant, must have a minimum Primary education, 1 Experienced Driver & Cashier. Apply @ Hack’s Halaal Restaurant. 5 Commerce St

T

he results of a post mortem appear to General domestic. 3 Days have saved a 24work. Must know to cook. year-old labourer from being Apply with 2 references. charged for killing a West KeyFood McDoom village Bank Demerara pensioner.

Room Attendant,Desk staff Police had received re25-50 Years old.233 South ports that the labourer had Road Lacytown/225-0198. kicked 67-year-old Mohammed Rasheed, of Belle For one experience teacher West during an altercation on who will love to read and Monday. teach a 4yr old boy. Call Rasheed was admitted to 623-1615 the West Bank Demerara ReVacancies exists for Truck gional Hospital.

Meanwhile, based on a Drivers and Loader Operator. report from the pensioner’s Contact - 233-2773/4 son, police arrested the Welder/Fabricator and labourer. He denied that he Kitchen Assistant for Interior location.Applicants must be had assaulted Rasheed.

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learn that he had succumbed.

A doctor who had treated the pensioner informed the policeman that Rasheed had suffered from a lung infection. Police said that government pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh, yesterday conducted the postmortem which found that the patient had suffered a heart attack, and also suffered from a lung infection and cirrhosis of the liver.

Police also said that the pathologist found trauma at the back of the pensioner’s head and stomach, but could not say whether this was caused by a blow or a fall.

The pensioner was subsequently released.

Driver/expeditor. Contact 2235273/ 223-5274

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government says it is placing priority on ensuring that Jamaica’s small businesses will benefit from 20 per cent share of the Government’s procurement spend this year.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Floyd Green, who made the disclosure, noted that the process started late last year and will be increased this year.

“For a very long time our small businesses have advocated that the government should use some of the resources that it puts into procurement to help drive and grow small businesses. The passage of the Government’s Public Procurement Guidelines will ensure that 20 per cent goes directly to small businesses,” Green said.

“It has been carved out and reserved for our business sector…if we direct

Salesman, good verbal/ excellent attitude, knowledge in stocktaking, computer literate & team player.Keyfood McDoom.

Pump Attendant & Cashier, shifts rotated weekly Shell Service \station Providence.

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Clerk & Domestic- Live-in facilities for Berbicians & Essequibians. #219-5354 Offset printing press operators,Guillotine Operator,Security Guard.Apply in Person to F&H Printing Establishment Inc.90-92 John Street, Campbellville Greater Georgetown.

Workers to work in Ice Factory Tel# 223-7165 Driver- must have sound secondary education, for more information. Please Call: 223-0090 Factory Workers- Must have sound secondary education, for more information. Please Call: 223-0090 Experience Goldsmith needed at Jacob’s Jewellery and Pawnshop. Address 16 Pike St, Kitty Georgetown.

Tel#227-8748/622-4970 Counter Sales Clerk- CXC Maths & English, must be computer literate, send resume to : dieselcity@hotmail.com Welder. Apply in person at ARK Enterprise/The Container House, 17 Lombard Street

WANTED

TO LET Rooms tolet, 1 bedroom, working people: $30,000,$32,000,$35,000 monthly, 2 month security.Call#623-0076.

VACANCY

WANTED 1 Male shop assistant to work in 2 shop in the Interior #6705583.

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Need a maid between the age 42-48, must be from EBD. Call: 671-2090 Driver/Expeditor 25-55 yrs old, MC/MV/ML Licence. Please call: 616-6988 Admin Assistant 25-55 yrs old. East Bank Area Preferable.

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Contact#223-5273/223-5274

Govt. prioritising 20 per cent procurement spend for small businesses

our government spend into our small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) then they will grow,” he added.

Green was speaking at the launch of Moody’s Small and Medium-sized Enterprises lending master class workshop, which was organised by the Business Works Collective in collaboration with the ministry’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Division and held at the ministry’s St Lucia offices in New Kingston yesterday.

The ministry noted that the estimated value of the Government procurement spend in 2014 stood at $59billion for goods and services.

Kaieteur News

Friday January 17, 2020

PAGE 27

$13M piggery taken over by bush The Region Five project.

In early 2018 under the Regional Economic Developmental Programme for Region Five, a model farm was launched and subsequently developed months later. The farm was intended to have a piggery, other livestock and crops.

However, the leaked 2018 Auditor General’s report, reveals that the construction of the building to house pigs for the farm was carried out and a contract was awarded in the sum of $13,720,000 to the lowest bidding contractor.

This was done “at his corrected bid price” since it was considered “urgent” by the regional administration.

According to the report, as of the 31st December 2018 the sum of $13,172,000 was paid out to the contractor but “a physical inspection on 12 June 2019 revealed that the building is still unutilised and was overgrown with vegetation”, the report said.

The head of the budget agency for the Region in response to the AG’s findings had indicated that because t h e r e w a s “ i n s u ff i c i e n t funding” to complete the structure “it was unutilised”.

The agency further stated

that to facilitate the operation of the piggery “funds were allocated from the 2019 allocation”. However, to date the building is still not utilised.

This was confirmed by a regional source.

A total of $35M was allotted for Crops and Land Utilisation Project, spearheaded by Regional Executive Officer, Ovid Morrison.

According to the report, t h e r e g i o n ’s b u d g e t submission indicated that the project was expected to “foster agricultural development and education within the region and aims to promote crop rotation techniques, proper land utilisation, processing of by products, providing agricultural supplies to schools and hospitals and provide employment for persons in the region”.

T w e l v e f a r m hands/labourers were employed in 2018 to work on the farm. According to the report, there were discussions with the Head of the Budget Agency which highlighted that the farm is in operation and functions as a “economic venture for the region” where cash crops are planted and

sold.

But while such was taking place, the report mentioned that checks to verify the revenue received “proved futile” since there was “no cash collected, or records maintained were provided”.

As such, the AG report noted that the region is in breach of the FMA act. Part IV of the Regulations to the FMA Act which states “that every person who collects and or receive public money shall record the information in a register kept for that purpose with: (i) the date of receipt; (ii) the amount received, deposited or withheld; and (iii) all other information required for identification or audit purpose. At the time of reporting in September 2019, it was decided that a special audit on the operations of the farm would be done and a separate report issued.

The model farm was launched on lands leased to the Regional Administration by the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), at Naarstigheid West Coast Berbice (WCB). It is being executed in three phases.

When oil money reaches the people, we can light fireworks everyday - Jagdeo

F

ormer President and Peoples Progressive Party (PPP/C) General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo is of the view that the Governments decision to host a commemorative event for Guyana attaining oil producing status is a waste of taxpayers dollars.

During a press conference, yesterday at his Church Street office, Jagdeo called the event a waste of state funds.

At the time, the opposition leader was referencing the joint collaboration between the Government of Guyana and ExxonMobil in hosting a fireworks display to commemorate the launch of first oil.

Jagdeo told reporters, yesterday, that he believes the decision is a wasteful one, especially since Guyana has not yet received any oil revenue.

“When we start making money, then we can have

all the fireworks; every day we can have fireworks in all the regions.”

In highlighting his and the political partys refusal to attend the event, Jagdeo stated that, “this is a waste of our peoples money at this point in time. Look at the big extravagant gala they have planned.”

He pointed out that decisions of this nature actively describe some of the core causes of the state of affairs in Venezuela, Equatorial Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago as it relates to managing their oil revenue effectively.

Just a few days ago, the Department of Energy via

an online release publicly announced the occasion of a f i r e w o r k s d i s p l a y, managed by the Guyana Defence Force and supported by ExxonMobil in celebration of the countrys oil production status tomorrow.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, i n pointing out the need for effective management of t h e o i l s e c t o r, t h e opposition leader made mention of the US$18 signing bonus Guyana received, and compared it to continental neighbour Suriname who just a few days ago secured three times Guyanas royalty for its latest oil find.

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ExxonMobil flaring gas way longer than EPA expected -Dr. Adams ExxonMobil has been flaring natural gas from the Liza1 well much longer than the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expected it to.

This was revealed by Executive Director of the EPA, Dr. Vincent Adams, during a Kaieteur Radio interview on the show Guyanas Oil & You. The official said it has come to accept the necessity of flaring the natural gas, as it is needed to test the newly acquired equipment that is to be used for oil production during the Liza-1 project development.

This comes despite a previous declaration that Government would not permit flaring. It has since learnt a bit more about the technicalities of oil production.

Dr. Adams said that flaring is done in cases of emergencies or when certain unexpected developments occur, or to test equipment on the new natural gas.

The mechanism for the testing the equipment, Dr. Adams said, is written into the permit Guyana has granted to ExxonMobils subisidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), and its partners for their operations on the Stabroek Block.

The equipment is necessary to ensure some of the gas is re-injected into the well.

This ensures that the pressure in the well is high enough for as much oil to be extracted as is needed.

Dr. Adams revealed that if it is so necessary for those companies to flare, they are

EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams expected to report it.

There appeared to be a misunderstanding, however, between Government and the operator on the length of time that the startup flaring would take.

And Dr. Adams said that as soon as the matter was reported to Government, the EPA in conjunction with the Department of Energy, met with EEPGL so that it would explain why the extended period of flaring is necessary.

That meeting may have been about three weeks ago.

Yet, the public was not notified. Dr. Adams told Kaieteur Radio that there were two meetings. And during those meetings, the Government eventually came to understand that the shorter period it expected for the flaring process was not enough.

It is also necessary for the testing to be done, so that any concern about safety is alleviated, Dr. Adams said. Otherwise, the equipment runs the risk of operating deficiently.

Furthermore, Dr. Adams explained that the extended period of flaring and testing would minimise the time it would take to flare in the future. Going forward, the EPA he said, will work to ensure that the time needed to flare the natural gas is kept to a minimum.

He said, “We re not going to eliminate flaring for startup obviously.” The EPA Director noted nonetheless that the agency will “think about where we could cut some time off of the flaring exercise...”

So far, the EPAs preliminary assessment does not indicate that there will be any additional and/or adverse impacts on the environment, due to the extended flaring.

However, the EPA is still paying keen attention.

Dr. Adams assured that despite there being an absence of environmental laws to govern the management of the effect of these operations; the EPA is adopting and working with international best practices.

Friday January 17, 2020

Four years later…

Intl body helping to draft Guyanas Occupational, Safety and Health legislation for petroleum sector For this year, Guyana is expected to receive assistance from the International Labour Organization to facilitate and develop legislation for the oil and gas sector.

This legislation is being drafted with regards to the workers in the petroleum sector for Occupational Safety and Health (OSH).

Safety and health management is one of the vital constituents in the activities of the oil and gas industry, simply because most of the operational conditions.

Chemicals and end products such as hydrocarbons and other compounds associated with oil and gas production are well-known to pose serious safety and health threats to the workers.

It should be noted that this legislation is only now being drafted, even though ExxonMobil struck oil over four years ago. One would assume that such legislation would have been implemented long prior. However, and similar to other key legislations, this was never done.

Gwen King, an OSH consultant attached to the Ministry of Social Protection, was keen to note that consultations began last year but “hiccups” hampered its progress.

“But we are hoping to get things finalised this year,” she said, confidently.

Nevertheless, the Social Protection Ministry maintains

Ministry of Social Protection, Occupational Safety and Health Consultant, Gwen King that Guyanas human resource is paramount to moving the country forward and as such, King argues that strict measures must and will be enforced to protect workers.

Therefore, the Ministry is mulling the review and drafting of an effective Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. The Occupational Safety and Health Act is the primary legislation that governs workplace hazards and applies to every industrial establishment, such as, a factory, shop or office.

The act, which is also based on a joint responsibility system or an internal re-

sponsibility system, offers workplace parties, such as, workers, employers and trade unions representatives to work together to identify or develop solutions to workplace hazards.

According to King, every officer within the OSH Department is trained and qualified to conduct workplace inspections and pinpoint defaulting employers.

In cases where there are deficiencies, the employers will be advised accordingly on the steps they need to take to correct the situation. If they do not comply, the department has the option of taking them to court.

PM meets with members of US delegation

Mystery ‘Big Fish’ behind violent crime, says Stuart

Trinidad Express - National Security Minister Stuart Young said there is someone behind and to blame for the “sporadic” murders taking place in the country.

That persons or persons, he said, are the ones to gain from the Government failing in its crime fight.

Speaking at the Post Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s yesterday the Minister said he was concerned about “intelligence” information provided with respect to these persons communicating with criminal elements.

Young noted that in the last 20 days of 2019 there was a “sudden spike” in murders in Trinidad and prior to that “there were a number of incidents taking place with homicides as well as sporadic and what appeared to be random

shootings at persons who as far as we are aware, are not involved in criminal activity,”.

Young said at his weekly meetings with security heads “I drew to their attention that there were all of a sudden shootings taking place across the East West corridor in particular that were not gang related”.

He recalled an incident where a couple, around 9 p.m. were talking to a neighbour and a car pulled up and then shot randomly at them.

He said there have been a number of such incidents including persons being shot at when driving along main roads.

“We then began to put pieces of the puzzle together that there are certain people in our society who want to create the impression and create a sense of fear and create

a sense of panic about what they call the runaway rate of crime and we began to work backwards with that,” he said.

He reiterated that within the last 20 days of 2019 there was an upsurge in murders as he pointed out there could have been more were it not for an off duty police officer who on December 31, 2019 was in the right place at the right time and drew his service pistol and fired back at a carload of men who were using automatic assault rifles in the middle of Port of Spain “assaulting no criminal”.

“The question then began to be even more emphasised who is it stands to derive the most benefit from sudden spikes in the murder rate and from the narrative of a murder rate has gone in an upward direction and has broken records,” said Young.

(L-R) Linda S. Taglialatela, US Ambassador, Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris; Marshall Billingslea, Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing within the U.S. Department of Treasury, and Cabinet Secretary, Josephine Huggins.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - CMC – Challenges faced by small island developing states and the Federation’s preparation for its 2020 Mutual Financial Evaluation Report, were discussed when Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris met with several high level officials from the United States Department of Treasury and the Barbados based US embassy. The US delegation was led by the assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing in the Department of Treasury, Marshall Billingslea and US Am-

bassador, Linda S. Taglialatela.During the meeting, Billingslea said his visit was a sign of the high value his government places on the friendship withSt. Kitts Nevis and it also demonstrated the US Government’s willingness to continue to work with the twin island federation. The delegation also engaged in talks on possible areas in which the United States can lend further assistance to St. Kitts and Nevis “to help us move faster along the path of growth and development.”

Intense police presence needed to stomp out minibus park chaos -Union President

P

resident of the United Minibus Union (BMU) Eon Andrews, and Chairman of the Sophia Minibus Branch, Unzie Copeland, are pleading with the Guyana Police Force to intensify their presence at the various minibus parks with the aim of lessening the chaos of over loading that usually occurred.

Kaieteur News understands that the pleading comes after the issue of overloading minibuses has increased drastically.

According to sources, the majority of the minibus operators working the Route 48 and Route 40 are guilty of such practices. And by doing that, they are at all times putting their lives and the lives of their passengers in danger.

The issue of overloading is causing increased tension at the bus park.

In an interview, Mr. Copeland stated that the is-

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Kaieteur News

Friday January 17, 2020

sue of overloading is one that the Police Force has to look into because the Minibus Union has no control.

Mr. Copeland further stated that in order to cut back on the overloading issue, the Minibus Union has implemented the number system. Different lanes were set up so that drivers can load their buses in an orderly manner.

However, drivers still tend to cut the line and move towards the front where they continue to carry out the act.

Mr. Copeland stated that police ranks should be at the parks to overlook the bus operators and anyone found guilty of overloading should be ordered to leave the park without loading their bus.

According to the President of UMU, Eon Andrews, the issue of over-loading continues because the presence of police ranks at the various parks is lacking.

CANU intercepts truck with cocaine, ganja stashed in fertiliser

Customs Anti-narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks have detained four people after intercepting a truck with what is suspected to be cocaine and marijuana hidden among fertiliser.

A CANU release stated that the vehicle, which was destined for Berbice, was intercepted on Mandela Avenue.

The narcotics were hidden in two white salt bags, and contained 40 parcels totalling 22 kilograms of suspected marijuana; and two parcels totalling 2.740 kilograms of suspected cocaine.

PARTIES SHOULD EXPLORE ALLIANCES TO MAXIMISE SEAT ALLOCATIONS Dear Editor, This is in reference to your news report that GECOM has approved eleven parties for the March 2 elections.

Based on the most recent opinion polling (as of last weekend) conducted by this writer, only the two major parties (PPP and PNC-led coalition) are guaranteed to win representation in all of the ten regions and the national parliament. It will be wise, therefore, for the nine minor parties in the fray to seek some kind of coalition or combination in order to increase the likelihood of winning regional and national seats (geographic as well as top up). The minor parties should explore the possibility of linking up among themselves to maximise seat allotment. The major parties should also consider linking up with the minor parties to add to their vote banks and seats allotment.

I had queried two

constitutional lawyers whether post-nomination coalition or alliance or some kind of link-up was officially possible. They are not sure.

But GECOM had indicated prior to nomination day (January 10) that the parties had about a week to enter into some kind of alliance post submission of lists; it is not clear how such a coalition, alliance, or combination pact can be done as per GECOM’s edict.

GECOM did not give any definitive statements. It needs clarification. I don’t think anyone asked GECOM that question. One needs to reexamine the constitution whether a pre-election election link-up is permissible.

Dr. Steve Surujbally is an expert par excellence on the subject; no one knows election laws more than him.

He should be consulted on this and other issues by the parties and by even by

GECOM itself. In fact, I am rather surprised that GECOM has not sought his services on election matters – his knowledge and expertise are going to waste.

The critical question — is post-nomination link-up possible and if so how? In previous elections, such a possibility was not explored, and as such it was not done.

Had it been explored and permitted, then the minor parties (like TUF, ROAR, JFA) could have obtained a seat in previous elections or a major party could have won an additional seat in a link-up.

If permissible under the law and can still be effected now, then the likelihood of minor parties winning seats at the regional and national levels would be substantially increased.

This could enable them to hold the balance of power in the national parliament, if not also in the regional councils should they win seats and the

party that wins the Presidency lacks a majority – that scenario is possible.

To win a parliamentary seat, a party would need approximately 5,000 votes. As per the latest polling I conducted, only three minor parties are around that threshold or crossing it. Two other minor parties are halfway there. And two minor parties are very far off from the threshold.

None of the minor parties should be disheartened and give up hope.

Many voters are still sitting on the fence and deciding which party to give their ballot. All of the parties have to earn their votes with serious ground (perhaps house-to-house) campaign.

But alliance or combinations should be explored even at this late hour to maximise seats.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram (PhD Political Science)

This is what we have been reduced to; how the canvas...

From page 6 parties contesting in the elections frenzy and circus.

They are neither truthful nor principled nor patriotic nor profound in the things that are desperately needed by this country; the things that matter to its conscientious people.

As the days passed, and the pages of their histories, their contexts, and their visions were turned and became more decipherable, they appeared in a different light - a defamatory one - in glaring terms, and with steely finality.

First, almost all of the new people manifest those tiring and deplorable national characteristics that are of the self-promoting, the selfaggrandizing, and the selfserving; their focus is on one thing: positioning for selfenriching.

It could not be concealed; few bothered to hide, who they really are, so contemptuous they were and are of the Guyanese voter.

So sure of themselves, so arrogant as to their appeal and the undetectable nature of their lack of character, of what it takes to be a true leader, of a genuinely committed patriotic striving mightily with all to make this land a better place, and lift all boats.

They were wrong, because only a literal handful of the gullible paused to gaze at the spectacle they presented.

They were that obvious, that dismissible, that meaningless.

Now with intelligence seeping out into the public domain, all of this is

confirmed. The insights from the inside indicate that they falsified papers; they hemmed and hawed about citizenship; they stabbed one another in the back within their own groups. As anticipated, they played games with the competition, as they went back and forth seeking opening, probing for acceptance, pushing for partnership (coalescing), while selling the same commodity (themselves) several times over. There were no takers.

They bring nothing with them, but baggage.

The first issue was that nobody wanted to lay their cards on the table and show their hand; nobody was interested in straight talk; but spoke from many sides of their mouths.

The second roadblock was that everyone wants to be president, prime minister, or mandarin in the new Guyanese order. The third limitation was that egos were immovable and irreconcilable; such are the products of selfish ambitions.

Those of the new crowd, who belatedly realized that they were not going to make the grade or attract substantial votes were looking for continuity, so that they could still be a player in the shadows.

Editor, since this is what the newcomers embody and project, since there is nothing about them that is about country, then give me Lucifer.

And if this is about the best that is out there and

representative of youth and religion and commerce, then give Guyanese a return to the devil that has misled, hurt, and poisoned them.

Rather regrettably, that means the continuing hegemony of the political duopoly that suddenly do not appear to be so uninviting, so damnable. They are known quantities of a questionable quality; but there is nothing unknown of the deeply sullied aspects of those two enduring behemoths, that have ruled the roost. What a roost it is!

Because if the new and untried are already entangled in a dogfight in a sealed crab barrel, then there is no space left for them, but to devour each other now, and us later.

For this is what ego, the lust for power, the drive for supremacy by the puny and pathetic amounts to at their cores; these who did anoint themselves as the promised ones.

Who would trust them with anything to do with power or petroleum or the wellbeing of the populace?

Count me out. Some of them are not worthy to be dog catcher or garbage collector.

Yet they persist for a foothold: to be president or PM, or someplace close to the plums of power.

They bring recoiling.

They are not worthy of any attention, interest, trust, or vote. If this is what we have that surfaces at this election time, then we have less than nothing.

This stands as stark

testimony to the caliber of people that inhabit this country; the third-rate people with third tier values parading in a Third World place.

To repeat something that I wrote before: there was capital flight; and there was the exodus of the cream of the crop (the best and the brightest) for decades on end.

And then, to a large extent, there was an entire nation left with these dregs that form its professional class, its aspiring political class, its potential rulership class-inwaiting, its unethical class.

This is what rises today to offer hope, to rescue us.

I am glad I had the grace to say no, to distance myself from the marketers. Let this be said unambiguously: the new people cannot take anybody anywhere. They themselves struggle to find for a welcoming harbour.

Anywhere with any group would be acceptable, just so that they stay in the running, so they can either barter or sell for personal profit.

I hate myself for saying this, but if this is the youth presence and new presence, give me the old presence, who suddenly look relatively better to muddle along with and hope for the best. Yes, this is what we have been reduced to, how the canvas is blank and decrepit. Why am I here?

Why am I involved? Why do I care? In answer to the last question, I know why: because I do.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Kaieteur News

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Friday January 17, 2020

Pomeroon Trading gives new library, computer centre to Abrams Creek Primary School

A section of the new library at Abrams Creek Primary School

A Pomeroon Trading official shows the students of the Abrams Creek Primary School some new features of the computer lab Pomeroon Trading, one of Guyanas leading coconut growing and processing enterprises, recently opened a new library and computer centre at Abrams Creek Primary School.

Kaieteur News understands that the project was coordinated and fully funded by Pomeroon Tr a d i n g , a G u y a n e s e company with investors from across North America and Europe.

The company which has its operations along the Pomeroon River has a long tradition of running highly impactful social outreach projects in the community, with previous programmes including building a dining

room at Hackney Primary School and organising training seminars for female entrepreneurs in the Pomeroon.

Speaking at the Blessing Ceremony, Tana Yussuff, Pomeroon Tradings Community Development Coordinator said that January 15, 2020 marked a leap forward in the educational development of the students of Abrams Creek Primary School.

She said, “Last year, we set out to develop a community of readers in the P o m e r o o n . To d a y (Wednesday) we are excited to open the first of two ICT labs at local schools and hope they inspire the next

generation to develop their technology skills”.

This newspaper understands that the project is particularly notable in its collaboration between the private and public sectors. It was noted in its missive to the press that Pomeroon Trading relied on strong partnerships with the Department of Education (Region 2), the Guyana Energy Agency and the M i n i s t r y o f Telecommunications.

The company explained that the Guyana Energy Agency offered its support through the installation of a photovoltaic system, and the M i n i s t r y o f Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s

Senior Cop fingered in sexual assault of reporter ‘stood down’ from duties The Senior police rank accused of sexually assaulting a female reporter has been r e m o v e d f r o m h i s o ff i c e p e n d i n g administrative action.

This revelation was made by Police Commissioner Leslie James who spoke on the incident on the sidelines of an event held at the State House yesterday.

The Commissioner told reporters that “he was stood down from his actual duties and an administrative decision will be made shortly.”

James disclosed that the relevant information was obtained from the victim as the police continue their investigations.

“We have obtained a statement from the victim and the person was medically examined. We have not yet obtained the medical but those two things were done.”

The allegation came to light a few weeks ago when an official complaint was made to police.

The assault was said to have taken place in November 2019 when the reporter reached out to the senior cop for information on a matter he was spearheading.

She was allegedly invited to the office of the senior cop and it was there that the incident was said to have taken place.

Allegations surfaced that other senior

officials were fully aware of the assault but did not advise the reporter to lodge an official report.

To this, the Commissioner stated that “it is not fair to say that they did not. It is the victim’s…we are not officious; we respond based on reports.

“Indeed, the alleged victim spoke to a number of officers prior to her making an actual report.”

Investigations are continuing.

NICIL properties in...

From page 14 rehabilitation later this year.

“I am certainly satisfied and I am equally elated like many of the residents who have been seeing transformation within their respective communities as what was once seen as derelict buildings and ones that urgently needed repairs and renovations, now proudly stand as sites and symbol of what the community can produce.

“We are confident that the residents will continue to be the vanguard of the buildings, ensuring that they are cared for and protected properly from ill- intentions and/or careless approaches by individuals,” Heath-London declared.

provided an ICT Hub. Jared Kissoon, Pomeroons Chief Operating Officer for the Caribbean said, “Every child should be offered the same educational opportunities in Guyana, regardless of location, and a key component of this is access to books and the internet. “At Pomeroon Tr a d i n g , w e c o n s i d e r community service to be central to our vision and operations. We look forward to growing alongside the community in the

Pomeroon”. An officer from the Department of Education, Region Two, N e t r a m D o o b a y, a l s o welcomed the project. He commended its immediate impact on the pupils.

He encouraged the teachers and the students to read more and make full use of the computers and the internet facility.

He added that it is important for the young minds to grow and develop in this fast-changing technological world

Kaieteur News understands that during the blessing ceremony, guests were welcomed with songs and poems performed by the young students.

The ceremony closed with Kassandra Edwards of Abrams Creek Grade Five, thanking the team for providing the school with the books and computers as well as thanking the Parents Teachers Association for volunteering their time to build the shelves and paint the library room.

Man to serve 19 years for killing murder suspect Trevor Anthony Amsterdam was yesterday sentenced to 19 years’ imprisonment for the November 20, 2015 unlawful killing of Jermaine Simon, who police had wanted for questioning in relation to the murder of a teenage boy.

On Monday, at the commencement of the January Demerara Criminal Assizes, 35-yearold Amsterdam appeared before Justice Sandil Kissoon. Then, State Prosecutors, Tiffini Lyken, Tuanna Hardy and Nafeeza Baig presented a murder indictment against Amsterdam.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and his trial thereafter commenced before a 12member jury. The Prosecution called a several witness to testify as the trial progressed. However, yesterday, Amsterdam opted to plead guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter. As a result, the trial was stopped, and the Judge proceeded to impose the custodial sentence.

Amsterdam was initially sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment. His sentence, was however, reduced to 19 years after the judge made deductions for mitigation factors.

It was on November 20, 2015, that Simon was shot to the forehead by another man. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he died while receiving treatment.

It was reported that Amsterdam and Simon had a feud over a woman, and other gang-related issues. Two days after

JAILED: Trevor Amsterdam Amsterdam killed Simon, his home went up in flames.Police had issued a wanted bulletin for Simon in connection with the murder of 19-year-old Ryan Sooklall. The teen called ‘Plyboard’ was gunned down in a Providence, East Bank Demerara shop on March 1, 2015, by members of his own gang.

He was shot in the back and was pronounced dead at the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital. It was reported that Simon and Sooklall had a falling out that saw Sooklall shooting up his home. The following day, Simon visited Sooklall’s home and killed him.

Kaieteur News

Friday January 17, 2020

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Norton Street murder PI…

Magistrate briefed on death of witness

P

r i n c i p a l Magistrate Faith McGusty was yesterday briefed on the findings of the Guyana Forensic Scientific Laboratory (GFSL) which confirmed the death of Collin Rodney.

Rodney was the main witness in the murder of his cousin, Marlon Seon Rodney, who was shot and killed in April 2019.

Osafo Grundell, called Safo, and James Fraser, called Dab, are on remand for the murder.

As the matter was recalled yesterday in the Georgetown Magistrates Court, Police Prosecutor Dominic Bess who is representing the state in this matter, briefed the magistrate on the new developments in the case.

The court heard that based on the findings of the testing lab, the prosecution will now call 10 more witnesses. Some of the statements for these witnesses were filed with the court.

The prosecutor also indicated that legal advice is currently being sought in the matter from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The matter was then adjourned to January 27, 2020 for the continuation of the murder PI. The men

remain on remand until that time.

Collins burnt body was found in a car trunk at Letter T, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, on November 1, 2019. The GFSL disclosed its findings last week when officials handed over the results of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to the police.

The results came from DNA samples that were taken from Collins close relatives and from the remains two months ago.

Police have not indicated whether they have made any headway in identifying any suspects in Collins disappearance. However, investigators believe that the last calls he received may be crucial to enabling them to find his killers.

Kaieteur News understands that investigators have established that he had driven to the Rupert Craig Highway. He was reportedly alone in his vehicle. It is believed that he was responding to a phone call he had received.

Collin, along with his silver-grey Toyota Allion, vanished on October 25. His vehicle, with his burnt remains in the trunk, was found in his car trunk at Letter T, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara about a week later.

The torched remains of the car found

Collin Rodney Collin disappeared on the same day that he was scheduled to testify in the murder PI of his cousin.

According to reports, Marlon Rodney, a 35-yearold taxi driver of 71 Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, was involved in an argument with three individuals.

The men reportedly pulled out guns and discharged several rounds at Rodney, who was hit in the left leg. A passerby was also shot in the process.

The injured men were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, as was the passerby who was treated and sent away. Rodney was admitted in a critical condition. He later succumbed to his injuries.

No shortage of surgical gloves at Linden Hospital - CEO (ag) THERE IS NO SHORTAGE of surgical gloves at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), Upper Demerara/Berbice (Region Ten) acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Michelle Bollers, confirmed Thursday.

Bollers was responding to a post by a popular social media activist claiming a shortage of surgical gloves at LHC forcing the authorities to resort to use of the vinyl type, unsuited for the specialised functions.

“We recognise it was vinyl and not the regular surgical disposable gloves and a decision was taken to use them for non-sterile activities,” Bollers explained.

She said the donation of the vinyl items were made by overseas-based former members of the bauxite

Michelle Bollers mining town of Linden who willingly keep contributing to the development of the health sector there.

“The donation was never meant to be used for patient care and other surgical activities. This decision was communicated to supervisors uplifting the items from the Materials Management Unit (MMU) at

Diamond, on the East Bank Demerara corridor,” Bollers explained.

The acting CEO said distribution of the gift to LHC employees was not a compromised move “Since they would have already had gloves for patient care”.

In the social media post, the well-known activist made a public appeal for surgical gloves citing posts allegedly from LHC employees claiming to be fed-up with the situation.

The gift of vinyl gloves was uplifted a little over a week ago from the MMU Diamond bond and Bollers also confirmed that LHC received more gloves from the MMU this week.

LHC administrators have removed the vinyl gloves from use in the wards and will “find other uses” for the donations, CEO Bollers said.

Osafo Grundell called ‘Safo’

James Fraser called ‘Dab’

Court hears defendants brother carried police to stolen loot A teenage boy was yesterday arraigned before Acting Chief Magistrate, Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts, days after the defendants brother carried a group of policemen to a place where the defendant alleged hid the stolen loot.

The defendant was charged for breaking and entering a house and carting off several household items that cost a total of $173,500.

Roberto Perez, of Kumaka, North West District, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on January 11, 2020, at Aquero Airstrip, North West District, he broke and entered the dwelling house of Juan Marie Ferreira.

The court heard that the defendant stole a mattress, a table model stove, solar light

bulbs, wallpaper, DVD player and mosquito nets.

The 18-year-old defendant, who works with his older brother as a phone technician, was able to communicate with the court through the use of a Spanish interpreter.

Police prosecutor Adunni Inniss made no objection to bail being granted to the defendant but asked that the defendant report to the Aquero Police Station every Monday until the completion of the matter.

The prosecutor then highlighted that the defendants smaller brother took the police to Rinka Village, and the articles were recovered. Acting Chief Magistrate Marcus granted the defendant bail in the sum of $50,000.

The defendant is expected to make his next court appearance today.

Two buildings in “Big Yard” collapses From page 21 new building.”

“I live here with my children and I don't know where we are going to sleep,” the worried woman added.

Felicia Dickson, a young mother of three, who is Alexander's neighbour, told Kaieteur News that when the building collapsed, her two eldest son, aged six and five were inside the house in the chair playing games on their computer tablet. She said that her sister was asleep, while her spouse was also inside.

“When I feel the jerk, I shout Bappa is wuh…? By the time I said that, I see he going through the flooring.

Everything start fall; my television, my stove, cupboard with all my ration.”

“My sister barely missed a zinc from falling in her head.

Then she pulled the zinc from my big son foot but it didn't cut him.”

The woman recalled that while she was outside on the steps with her toddler son, the building crashed.

Blackman said that luckily, she and her daughter escaped unharmed.

The other occupants who were at work were called and informed of the tragedy.

Minutes after the building on the eastern side

collapsed, another building in the compound fell.

According to the other residents, that building had a lone occupant.

At the time, the lady was still at work. Many of the displaced residents indicated that they would spend the evening “somewhere”.

They are however pleading with kindhearted citizens to assist them.

Although the buildings are not totally destroyed, they will not endanger their lives by going back into them.

Anyone who would like to assist the families is asked to contact 699-0365 and 6091503.

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Quality checks delay CJIA handover The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) project is on its way to be f i n a l l y h a n d e d o v e r.

According to Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MOPI), Jaipaul Sharma, the project is 93% completed and is expected to be handed over to the airport authorities by the first quarter of this year.

The sod was turned for the airport in early 2013 but the US$150M project has been dogged by one problem after the next. It was first scheduled to be handed over in late 2015.

The completion date has been pushed back several times since then.

The Minister explained that while there is a projection for the handing over of the airport, the fact that there is a process with various entities involved can affect the projected date for the handover.

“There is a contractor, and a consultant (Code International Consulting Firm) that we work with… If the consultant has an issue with the materials or the work that is being done, then there is a back and forth between all entities involved and that can make the p r o c e s s l o n g e r, ” h e

explained.

He also said that this has been the procedure throughout the project and while it prolongs the process, it is necessary to ensure that the best quality of work is done.

All of the internal structures have been completed and temporarily handed over to the airport authorities for operation.

According to Sharma, the airport continues to make remarkable strides.

At a recent press conference, the Minister pointed out that the airports revenue has moved from approximately $1 billion in 2015 to $3.4 billion in 2019.

This, he said, is a “remarkable achievement”, for the airport.

CJIA also recorded a seven percent increase in international passengers with an overall four percent increase, in 2019 with a total of 22,533 more arriving passengers than its 2018 record.

Among other plans for 2020 are the installation of self-check-in kiosks and passenger tracking software, a shopping mall adjoining the terminal for local

Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA)

products with enhanced CCTV, along with the construction of a cargo facility and the installation of an automated car parking system.

The airport project has been major scandal since announced in late 2011, shortly before Bharrat Jagdeo ended his Constitutional second term in office.

Guyana learnt of the project via a report in the Jamaican press.

The Coalition Government has made it clear that it has found little or no record of preparatory work, including a number of critical studies that would have guided the project.

In fact, the Chinese contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) was forced to abandon the runway extension on the northern side and shift to the opposite end after workers encountered poor soil conditions.

This was after millions of US dollars would have already been spent.

An analysis of the initial project found that many of the costs as listed by the contractor were highly inflated.

The Coalition Government itself came

under fire after it drastically reduce the scope of works, which saw a decision to gut the old terminal building and renovate it, instead of altogether building an entirely new one.

The project itself is being investigated now by the Audit Office.

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Friday January 17, 2020

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PAGE 35

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Friday January 17, 2020

Kaieteur News

Red Force take honours after Hurricanes meltdown Tarouba, Trinidad, CMC – Test left-hander Darren Bravo was eyeing a halfcentury as Trinidad and Tobago Red Force took the upper hand on the opening day of their second round Regional four-day contest against Leeward Islands Hurricanes here yesterday.

After bundling out the visitors for a disappointing 185 in their first innings, Red Force finished the day on 74 for one – only 111 runs adrift of their target at

the Brian Lara Stadium.

Bravo, who hit a halfcentury in the opening round, was unbeaten on 36 from 81 deliveries, and has already struck five fours and a six.

He has so far shared a second wicket stand of 71 with opener Keagan Simmons who was unbeaten on 32 from 95 balls with four boundaries.

The stand pulled Red Force around from early trouble at three for one when left-hander Jeremy Solozano drove tentatively at lively seamer Sheno

Berridge and was caught at the wicket.

Earlier, captain Jahmar Hamilton had top-scored with 55 while Test pacer Alzarri Joseph showed his worth with the bat in a positive 35 at number nine.

For the exception of Keacy Carty’s 27, the Hurricanes batting once again left a lot to be desired as it fell prey to Jamaican speedster Odean Smith who snatched four for 50 while left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein extended his good form with two for 32.

It was Smith who

Friday January 17, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today sensitivity combines with mental astuteness to bring your innate practicality and efficiency to the surface. You'll probably have more than one chance to make use of this.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Projects of all kinds that you could be working on with partners or friends could go especially smoothly today, as your thinking is especially sharp, clear, and logical.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Communication with others should be as strong on a psychic level as on a verbal one, so expect some telepathic flashes. Practicality and common sense combine with intuition today to make you feel especially creative.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today could be one of those days when you look around the house and think, "What a mess!" You might then decide to give the whole place a thorough cleaning.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your innate practicality and common sense are apt to be called into action on behalf of a group with which you're affiliated.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Letters or phone calls could come today reaffirming the continued success you've been enjoying and presenting new opportunities, Sagittarius.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Whatever tasks or chores you may have to perform today are likely to go much more quickly and efficiently than usual, Cancer. Your level of common sense is high, as is your physical energy.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You may have been especially interested in promoting your general health for a while, Capricorn, and so today you could finally start that nutrition and exercise program you've been thinking about.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You generally tend toward a very high level of perseverance, Leo. No matter how difficult a task may seem to you, today it should go very smoothly, particularly if it involves in-depth study or research of some kind.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Today should prove a busy day on all levels. Inspiration for creative projects, particularly writing, should come to you in profusion, Aquarius, and so you might produce results that could surprise even you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Dreams could shed light on some personal ambiguities you've been trying to understand. Your thinking is especially clear and logical now, and work should therefore be a snap. Money matters should go fairly smoothly today, particularly if paperwork or legal documents are involved.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Generally you tend to let paperwork go, but today the necessity of handling budgeting and financial matters could force you to sit down and get it all done.

However, where money and other resources are concerned, you're apt to be especially practical and efficient

grabbed two of the first three wickets to fall to leave Hurricanes in disarray at 26 for three inside the first hour. First, he got left-hander Kieran Powell (6) to play around a full length delivery and fall lbw in the fourth over before having new batsman Devon Thomas caught at first slip without scoring, flirting with a wide ball in the sixth over.

Montin Hodge then followed in the ninth over, lbw to fast bowler Terrance Hinds for five. Hamilton, who struck eight fours and a six in a 79-ball knock, then anchored two key stands to stabilise the innings, putting on 51 for the fourth wicket with Carty and 45 for the fifth wicket with Amir Jangoo (17).

However, once Hamilton was bowled by Hosein trying to whip a straight one through the on-side, Hurricanes lost their last six wickets for 63 runs.

Flow Concacaf Caribbean...

From page 38 representative in the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf League.

2020 Flow Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship Schedule *Listed in local time Wednesday, January 29, 2020 – Group A 01: 7:00 pm Waterhouse FC (JAM) vs Cibao FC (DOM) Friday, January 31, 2020 – Group A 02: 3:00 pm Cibao (DOM) vs Don Bosco FC (HAI) Sunday, February 2, 2020 – Group A 03: 6:00 pm Waterhouse FC (JAM) vs Don Bosco FC (HAI) Wednesday, February 5, 2020 – Group B 04: 7:00 pm Portmore United FC (JAM) vs Club Atletico Pantoja (DOM) Friday, February 7, 2020 – Group B 05: 3:00 pm Club Atletico Pantoja (DOM) vs Arcahaie FC (HAI) Sunday, February 9, 2020 – Group B 06: 6:00 pm Portmore United FC (JAM) vs Arcahaie FC (HAI) Friday, May 8, 2020 – Semifinals 07: 1A vs 2B 08: 2B vs 1A Sunday, May 10, 2020 – 3rd Place Match and Final 09: Loser match 7 vs Loser match 8 10: Winner match 7 vs Winner match 8 Wednesday, May 13, 2020 – Playoff match 11: Loser match 9 vs 2020 Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield Champion

Pollard urges attention...

From page 36 again, the discipline was out the window again with the wides and no-balls,” Pollard pointed out. “[There were problems with] backing up and misfielding and when we’re batting, not having that urgency running between the wickets. “We know we’re a good power-hitting team but again when the singles are there, when the twos are there we need to run hard between the wickets and not just settle for one.

“We saw that when Ireland was batting – they hit the ball to a fieldsman and they ran and that is something we didn’t do. At the end of the day, it’s all a learning experience. I was very, very disappointed we didn’t get over the line because we were in the chase for most of the way.

He added: “But it was good to see the batsmen coming out with that sort of intent and that sort of intensity. We have a couple things to speak about [as a team] and now we move on to St Kitts.”

West Indies were under pressure from early as Paul

Stirling (95) and Kevin O’Brien (48) smashed a record 93 inside the first power-play, before going on to add 154 for the first wicket.

Though West Indies eventually pulled the scoring back, they found themselves chasing 209 which proved insurmountable, as only opener Evin Lewis with 53 and Pollard with 31, managed to really get going.

“Ireland came out and came hard and they took the initiative in the first 10 overs or so but I thought the bowlers really came back well when we decided to bowl one side of the wicket and and tried to execute our skills,” Pollard said.

“I thought Hayden Walsh in all the carnage that was taking place – he bowled four overs on the trot – was consistent with his line and length as well. So there are still some positives in the bowling aspect but we need to execute our skills properly.”

He continued: “Batting wise, all the way through we were in with a chance but in the last overs we let it slip.”

Friday January 17, 2020

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Kaieteur News

NBA roundup: Magic halt Lakers’ 9-game win streak Field Level Media Markelle Fultz amassed 21 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and the visiting Orlando Magic ended the Los Angeles Lakers’ nine-game winning streak with a 119-118 victory on Wednesday night.

The triple-double was the second of Fultz’s career. The other came on April 11, 2018, for the Philadelphia 76ers against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Aaron Gordon also scored 21 points for the Magic.

Wes Iwundu scored a career-high 19 points, Nikola Vucevic also had 19, and Terrence Ross had 15 off the bench for Orlando, which built a lead as big as 21 before withstanding several late Lakers rallies.

Quinn Cook led the Lakers with 22 points while LeBron James finished with 19 points and 19 of the team’s 34 assists. Los Angeles forward Anthony Davis missed his fourth consecutive game with a bruised tailbone, and the Lakers also played without reserve point guard Rajon Rondo (fractured finger).

Detroit Pistons 116 Boston Celtics 103 - Career nights from Sekou Doumbouya and Svi Mykhailiuk and a vintage performance by Derrick Rose led short-handed Detroit past

Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) celebrates with guard Markelle Fultz (20) during the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports host Boston.

Doumbouya and Mykhailiuk had career bests with 24 and 21 points, respectively, and Rose scored 22 on 11-of-13 shooting.

Markieff Morris added 23 points off the bench, and Andre Drummond (13 points, 13 rebounds) chipped in a double-double as the Pistons won for just the fourth time in their past 16 games.

Gordon Hayward had 25 points, and Jaylen Brown added 24 points and 12 rebounds as the Celtics lost for the fourth time in their past six. Boston played without forward Jayson Tatum, who was held out due to a knee injury.

Toronto Raptors 130 Oklahoma City Thunder 121 - Norman Powell had 23 points off the bench to help

Toronto beat Oklahoma City on the road. Toronto shot a season-high 61.2 percent from the floor, with Powell going 9 of 11.

Toronto has battled injuries that recently left the team without three regular starters. While Fred VanVleet remains sidelined, the Raptors got back Pascal Siakam back Sunday and then Marc Gasol returned to the lineup

Wednesday.

Siakam scored 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting, while Gasol added 15. Gasol was playing for the first time since Dec. 18. Dennis Schroder scored 25 points off the bench to lead the Thunder.

Oklahoma City got 57 points from its reserves.

Portland Trail Blazers 117 - Houston Rockets 107 Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum combined for 49 points as Portland controlled the tempo throughout its victory over host Houston.

Lillard posted 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists while McCollum added 24 points and six assists to lead a Portland attack that featured all five scorers tallying double figures.

Anthony, playing in Houston for the first time since the Rockets released him early last season, posted a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Russell Westbrook produced a triple-double of 31 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists while Eric Gordon scored 20 points off the Houston bench.

Ben McLemore added 17 points and Clint Capela had 14 points and 18 rebounds, but with Harden taking just

12 shots, Houston lacked the offensive thrust to keep pace with the Trail Blazers.

Philadelphia 76ers 117 Brooklyn Nets 106 - Tobias Harris posted 34 points with 10 rebounds and hit three clutch shots in the final 2:20 as Philadelphia continued its home dominance by making all the plays down the stretch in beating Brooklyn.

Harris scored 11 of his points in the last 5:07 of the fourth quarter, when the Sixers outscored Brooklyn 31-16. He scored nine of his points in Philadelphia’s game-ending, 13-2 run over the final 3 1/2 minutes in Philadelphia’s 19th home win in 21 games this season.

Ben Simmons also posted 20 points and 11 rebounds for Philadelphia, which shot 51.1 percent from the floor. Kyrie Irving was held to 14 points on 6-of-21 shooting in his third game back from right shoulder impingement.

Other results: Denver Nuggets 100 - Charlotte Hornets 86, Miami Heat 106 San Antonio Spurs 100, Indiana Pacers 104 Minnesota Timberwolves 109, Dallas Mavericks 127 Sacramento Kings 123, Chicago Bulls 115 Washington Wizards 106.

Australian Open 2020

Coco Gauff faces Venus Williams, Johanna Konta draws Ons Jabeur BBCsport - American teenager Coco Gauff will again face Venus Williams in the first round of a Grand Slam after the pair were drawn together at the Australian Open. Gauff, 15, announced her arrival on the biggest stage by beating 39-year-old Williams, a seventime Grand Slam singles winner, at Wimbledon in July.

Britain’s Johanna Konta, seeded 12th, will play Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur. In the men’s draw, British 30th seed Dan Evans meets American Mackenzie McDonald in Melbourne. Evans, 29, is playing in his first Slam as B r i t a i n ’s l e a d i n g m a l e player and could face S e r b i a ’s defending champion Novak Djokovic in the third round.

Djokovic, who is aiming for a recordextending eighth title, does not have the easiest opener after being drawn against Germany’s world number 37 Jan-Lennard Struff. The first Grand Slam of the year begins on Monday with the top half of the women’s draw and the bottom half of the men’s draw in action.

Gauff ’s match against Ve n u s Wi l l i a m s s e e m s

Coco Gauff certain to feature in the first night session on Rod Laver Arena with Djokovic, R o g e r F e d e r e r, S e r e n a Williams, 2019 women’s champion Naomi Osaka, Konta and Evans among those also playing on day one.

Swiss great Federer has been drawn in the same half as second seed Djokovic, meaning the pair could meet in the semi-finals.

F e d e r e r, 3 8 , s t a r t s against American Steve Johnson and has a favourable-looking draw, although Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov - who memorably beat the Swiss in the US Open quarter-finals in September - and Canada’s

exciting talent Denis Shapovolov are potential opponents before the quarter-finals.

Spanish top seed Rafael Nadal plays against Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien in the first round, with the possibility of a blockbuster fourth-round match against Australia’s Nick Kyrgios. The pair have not always seen eye-to-eye and met in a dramatic second-round match at Wi m b l e d o n l a s t y e a r, where Kyrgios tried to rattle Nadal with constant complaints about the Spaniard’s slow play.

British number two Cameron Norrie plays Frenchman Pierre-Hugues

Herbert in his opening match, while Kyle Edmund - who reached the semifinals in Melbourne two years ago but has dropped to 69th in the world - has a tough opener against Serbia’s 24th seed Dusan Lajovic.

Russian fourth seed Daniil Medvedev, looking to win his first Grand Slam after reaching the 2019 US Open final, has been pitched against dangerous American floater Frances Tiafoe, who reached the quarter-finals last year.

A u s t r a l i a ’s world number 21 Alex de Minaur pulled out on Thursday with an abdominal injury aggravated at last week’s ATP Cup. Wi t h G a u ff p l a y i n g Venus Williams again, eyes were immediately focused on that section of the draw - an exciting quarter which also features Serena

Williams among a host of stand-out names.

The 38-year-old takes on Russian 18-year-old Anastasia Potapova first as she aims for a recordequalling 24th Grand Slam singles title, and could face Gauff or her older sister in the quarter-finals. Osaka is also in the same quarter, t h e J a p a n e s e t h ird seed starting against Czech Marie Bouzkova.

Briton Konta, who reached the semi-finals in Melbourne in 2016, is another pitched into this loaded part o f t h e w o m e n ’s d r a w.

S e r e n a Wi l l i a m s i s a possible opponent in the last 16 for the British number one, who could also face 2018 champion and former world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the third round.

The 29-year-old Dane, who enrolled at Harvard Business School in

September and was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2018, is retiring after the tournament, saying she has realised “there is more to life”.

Britain’s Katie Boulter aims to put a season wrecked by injury behind her after using her protected ranking of 85 to enter the year’s first major, but must take on Ukrainian fifth seed Elina Svitolina in her opening match.

British number two Heather Watson, ranked 101st, will play Czech world number 62 Kristyna Pliskova, twin sister of second seed Karolina. Karolina Pliskova, who is aiming for a first Grand Slam title, has a tricky opener against France’s former world number 10 Kristina Mladenovic.

Top seed and home favourite Ashleigh Barty opens against Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko.

PAGE 38

BCCI drops MS Dhoni from central contracts list ESPNcricinfo - MS Dhoni is no longer a centrally contracted player with the BCCI. His name didn’t feature in the 27 contracts handed out by the Indian board yesterday. He last played for India during the World Cup in 2019, following which there has been suspense over his future.

In 2019, he had been awarded a Grade A contract, which brings a retainer of INR 5 crore (USD 700,000 approx).

Top-order batsman KL Rahul made the jump from Grade B to A this time around, getting an increment of INR 2 crore (USD 280,000 approx). While Dhoni has not played any professional cricket since the World Cup, India coach Ravi Shastri has said more than once that Dhoni could come into contention for the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year if he does well in the IPL. Others to lose contracts were Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik and Khaleel Ahmed.

There weren’t many other massive changes from the contracts list from last year.

Test opener Mayank Agarwal,

Friday January 17, 2020

Kaieteur News

MS Dhoni who made his debut in Melbourne in a delicately poised series and immediately impressed, was the big gainer, entering the list at Grade B, which comes with a retainer of INR 3 crore (USD 420,000 approx).

Test wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, who had dropped to Grade C thanks to injuries, came back to join Agarwal in Grade B. Other new names in the contracts as of now - included limitedovers specialists: Navdeep Saini, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Shreyas Iyer and Washington Sundar. They all

entered the system at Grade C, which comes with a retainer of INR 1 crore (USD 140,000 approx).

The A+ grade, which includes players who feature in all three formats, remained unchanged with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah retaining their INR 7 crore (USD 980,000 approx) fee. The injured Hardik Pandya, who has played only T20Is since the World Cup, retained his Grade B contract.

These contracts are for October 2019 to September 2020. The total number of retainers has come down from 29 to 27. The recommendations for these contracts are made by national selectors based on a combination of performance in the previous year and the roles players are expected to play in the contract period.

If someone outside of this list gets an India cap during the period, he becomes eligible gets Grade C contract.

According to the BCCI rules, a player needs to play a minimum of two matches to be eligible to earn a Grade C contract.

Hamilton warns he will be ‘a machine’ London (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton has warned rivals that he plans to be better than ever as he chases a recordequalling seventh Formula One championship this season. The 35-year-old Mercedes driver posted a picture on Instagram of himself at home, hugging a wooden pillar and smiling.

“I am at peace when I’m here, can focus and build my mind and body so that I can come back year on year. I’m going to be a machine this year, on another level than ever before,” he declared.

The Briton won 11 races last year and has averaged 10 victories a season since the start of the V6 turbo hybrid era in 2014. The opening race is in Australia on March 15 and Hamilton starts the campaign with 84 career wins, seven short of Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of 91.

Mercedes started last season by winning the first eight races. Schumacher also

Lewis Hamilton holds the record of seven championships, five with Ferrari, while Hamilton has won five of his six with Mercedes.

Hamilton is out of contract at the end of the 2020 season and has had talks with Ferrari, although the champion looks more likely to stay with Mercedes now that the Italian team have committed longterm to Monegasque youngster Charles Leclerc.

Red Bull have also signed a deal with Max Verstappen until the end of 2023. With stable rules and similar tyres

to last year, hopes are high of an epic battle between Hamilton at the peak of his powers and the young guns vying to topple him.

“We’ve got continuity across all aspects of next year with drivers, with regulations, with engine supply, engine regulation,” Red Bull boss Christian Horner told motorsport.com. “So unless somebody pulls a rabbit out of a hat, then I think we’re set for a really exciting year next year between, Mercedes, Ferrari, ourselves. It could be a real classic season.”

ICC awards: Ben Stokes Australian Open ‘is happening’ named player of the year despite air quality concerns, says tournament director

BBCsport - Australian Open organisers are confident the tournament will start and finish on time despite continuing health concerns over Melbourne’s air quality from bushfires in the country.

Some players have complained about having to play qualifying matches in smoky conditions.

“There is a lot of speculation about the Australian Open not happening, or starting later,” said tournament director Craig Tiley. “The Australian Open is happening.” Slovenia’s Dalila Jakupovic had to be helped off court when she retired from her qualifying match on Tuesday because of the “unhealthy” air quality.

British player Liam Broady said having to play his firstround qualifier on the same day “made his blood boil”, adding he was “gasping for air” as he lost to Belarusian Ilya Ivashka.

People in Melbourne were advised to stay indoors and keep pets inside on Tuesday.

A number of players have also criticised the tournament for not postponing the matches, with American Noah Rubin saying he had “blood and black stuff” coming out of his nose following his match on

Wednesday.

Tiley says he understands the anger of the players, adding he believes it stems from the confusion of seeing different measurements of air quality depending on the app or website they used.

Rubin, a former Wimbledon junior champion, also told BBC Sport he was unhappy with the communication from tournament officials, saying they were reluctant to explain the figures to the players.

“Air quality is a very complex and confusing issue which relates to a number of different factors,” said Tiley. “There are number of different air quality measures and it is made more complex by going on an app. There are different apps and websites which give you different readings.

“This is about trusting the medical advice and trusting the expertise and scientific advice of the people who analyse this every day. “The safety, the wellbeing and the health of the players is the priority for us, as with our staff and our fans.”

Tiley said the tournament decided to use a ‘PM2.5 concentrate’ measure to monitor the air quality levels after receiving advice from

environmental and medical experts. APM2.5 reading is being taken every four minutes at Melbourne Park. If the reading exceeds 200, Tiley said it would be deemed hazardous and play would be suspended.

He says no reading has exceeded the 200 mark while matches have been in progress at Melbourne Park. However, it did exceed that mark - rated as ‘very unhealthy’ - on Tuesday, when qualifying was delayed by an hour.

If play is suspended, the Tennis Australia chief executive says the tournament will continue indoors under the roofs on Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and Melbourne Arena.

“We do have three indoor arenas in which we can compete. It may look differently but the tournament will happen,” Tiley said. “We are speculating if that would happen but if we had to work it out we would.

“We don’t expect that to happen because we haven’t yet seen anywhere in the world where there has been above that 200 on the PM2.5 concentrate consecutively over two weeks.” The first Grand Slam of the year gets under way on Monday.

ESPNcricinfo - England allrounder Ben Stokes has won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC player of the year after playing starring roles in the side’s maiden 50over World Cup triumph and one-wicket win in the Leeds Test during the Ashes in 2019.

In a World Cup final for the ages, Stokes struck an unbeaten 84 off 98 balls to help England tie with New Zealand’s 241. He then made eight off three balls in a Super Over shootout, which also ended in a tie, but England eventually won the title on boundary count.

Stokes also produced a similar stellar display in the longest format, his unbeaten 135 off 219 balls helping England secure an improbable chase of 359 from 9 for 286 at Headingley.

Australia quick Pat Cummins and India’s whiteball vice-captain Rohit Sharma scooped up the other top honours, winning the Test player of the year and ODI player of the year awards respectively. Cummins’ Australia team-mate Marnus Labuschagne, who closed out 2019 as the leading rungetter in Test cricket, was named Emerging player of the year, while Scotland’s Kyle Coetzer was recognised as the Associate player of the year.

Cummins had put in a

Ben Stokes number of strong performances in Test cricket in 2019, including matchwinning five-wicket hauls against Sri Lanka and New Zealand. His hot form was also central to Australia retaining the Ashes away from home in 2019.

The 26-year old had gone wicketless in a mere three innings out of 23 Test innings in the past year. In all, Cummins took 59 Test wickets in 2019, 14 more than any other bowler. Rohit had reeled off 648 runs in nine innings at an average of 81 and strike rate of 98.33 in the World Cup in the UK. Only Sachin Tendulkar (673) and Matthew Hayden (659) have scored more runs than Rohit in a single edition of the World Cup.

Rohit’s India team-mate Deepak Chahar’s 6 for 7 against Bangladesh in the Nagpur T20I, which also included a hat-trick, was chosen as the best T20I performance of the year.

Chahar’s figures are also the best ever in men’s T20Is. England’s Richard Illingworth, meanwhile, won the David Shepherd Trophy for the umpire of the year.

India captain Virat Kohli, who had claimed three major awards last year, won the spirit of cricket award for asking fans to cheer for Steven Smith - and not boo him - at the 2019 World Cup, when the Australian was returning from a one-year ban for his role in the Newlands ball-tampering scandal.

Friday January 17, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Global Spare Parts and Auto Sales golf tourney on this weekend This weekend will see the first of two tournaments to be hosted by Global Spare Parts and Auto Sales at the Lusignan Golf Club in 2020 to celebrate the grand opening of their Georgetown location at 87 Seaforth Street, Cambellville.

Chief Executive Officer of Global Spare Parts and Auto Sales Hardeo Ganpat has been a staunch supporter of the club and has vowed to continue his support of the work and vision of the club’s executive.

“I have seen for myself what President Aleem Hussain has done for the sport and this club and I am proud to be able to help him achieve the goals he has for Lusignan Golf Club “ said Ganpat.

Manager of the new branch, Imtiaz Singh said the company offers the widest range of used and reconditioned spare parts along with affordable 24 hour towing services.

This weekend’s event will feature three flights with prizes for first and second along with special recognition for longest drive and nearest to pin.

The course is in probably the best condition in years and with players having consistent practice, the level of play has increased and competition has gotten stiffer.

Hussain said, “It is expected to be a grand tournament with the return of many members who are all honing their game in

anticipation of the Copa Airlines Invitational scheduled for January 25th.”

The LGC under the leadership of President Aleem Hussain has seen tremendous progress and growth over the past two years with more sponsored events and members than at any other time in its h i s t o r y.

Individual membership increased by 36% corporate membership increased by 40% Associate membership increased by 56%.

The revenue from membership will now cover almost 50% of operating expenses, up from just 22% in previous years.

Among the players set to participate this weekend are; William Walker, Patrick

Avinash Persaud Prasad, Pur Persaud, Av i n a s h Persaud, Christine Sukhram, Philbert London, Shanella London, Hussain, Mike Mangal, G a v i n To d d , M a u r o Gamargo, Maurice Solomon, Ganpat, Guillermo Escarraga, Miguel Oviedo, Jordi Pinol and Carlos Carbo.

Hodge, Smith punish Scorpions Devon Smith

Kavem Hodge

Kingston, Jamaica, CMC – Kavem Hodge and veteran opener Devon Smith fashioned halfc e n t u r i e s a s Wi n d w a r d Islands Vo l c a n o e s produced a solid batting display, to keep Jamaica Scorpions in the field for the entire first day of their second round fixture at Sabina Park.

Asked to bat here y e s t e r d a y, Vo l c a n o e s finished the day on 314 for five thanks mainly to Hodge who struck 88 and Smith who carved out 72.

For the exception of captain Sunil Ambris (7), every Volcanoes batsman managed a start. Twentyyear-old Emmanuel Stewart was unbeaten at the close

on 46 and was partnered

by Keron Cottoy on 29.

Former captain and Test batsman Kirk Edwards had earlier also struck 29 while Desron Maloney chimed in with 26. Seamer Derval Green was once again the hosts’ best bowler with three for 58 as the attack struggled to break down Volcanoes.

It was Smith and Maloney who set the tone by posting 43 for the first wicket to deny Jamaica any early success. And even after Maloney fell after hitting five boundaries in a breezy 31-ball knock, Smith and Hodge then put their side in a commanding position courtesy of a 130run stand.

All told, the 38-year-old

Smith faced 152 deliveries in nearly three hours at the crease and counted nine fours, completing his 60th first class half-century in his 211th game. The 26year-old Hodge’s knock, meanwhile, spanned 171 balls in just over 4-½ hours and included 12 fours.

When Smith was bowled by pacer Marquino Mindley, Hodge put on a further 44 for the third wicket with Edwards who punched two fours and a six in an attractive 48-ball knock before falling in the fourth over after tea, flirting with a side ball from Green and going caught

behind.

Scorpions then enjoyed their best period of the day when Ambris followed 10 balls later, also caught at the wicket off Green as Volcanoes stumbled to 242 for five. However, Stewart quickly dashed the hosts’ hopes of a further breakthrough, pairing with Cottoy to add 72 in an unbroken sixth wicket partnership.

Stewart, who scored a half-century in the last round against Barbados Pride, has so far faced 94 balls in a shade over 1-¾ hours and counted six fours and a six.

Roach hurts Jaguars despite Chanderpaul resistance Bridgetown, Barbados, CMC – Opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s defiant halfcentury kept champions Guyana Jaguars afloat after seasoned Test seamer Kemar Roach grabbed four wickets to undermine the innings, on the opening day of their second round encounter here yesterday.

Sent in, the visitors reached the close on 209 for eight, with the left-handed Chanderpaul unbeaten on a marathon 66.

Kevin Sinclair chipped in with 43 batting at number eight while Chris Barnwell stroked a fluent 32, but Jaguars found the going difficult especially after losing key batsmen cheaply.

In fact, they were wobbling inside the first hour on 14 for three after Roach, who finished with four for 28, knocked over the top order in an incisive opening spell.

However Chanderpaul, batting in the same obdurate spirit that characterised his father, Shivnarine’s 164-Test career, carried his side in a painstaking innings spanning just over 6-½ hours, 274 balls and including eight fours.

Test left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican supported with two for 17 from a frugal 13-over spell while part-time medium pacer Jonathan Carter picked up two for 31.

Sent in, Jaguars were in trouble as early as the third over when Roach removed Chandrapaul Hemraj (4) and captain Leon Johnson (0) in

successive deliveries both caught at the wicket by Test gloveman Shane Dowrich.

And when left-hander Vishal Singh found himself in a tangle and skied one to cover for six in the ninth over, the Jaguars innings lay in strife. Chanderpaul then found an ally in Barnwell to add 53 for the fourth wicket, one of two half-century stands which underpinned the innings, as Jaguars dragged themselves to lunch on 61 for three.

Barnwell, unbeaten on 29 at the break, perished in the second over following the resumption when he drove loosely to Shayne Moseley at mid-off, after striking four fours in a 55-ball knock.

Barbadian Raymon Reifer then joined Chanderpaul to add a further 33 for the fifth to keep Pride at bay but had scored 20 off 35 balls with three fours when he missed a full length delivery from Carter and was adjudged lbw at 100 for five.

Carter also removed Anthony Bramble cheaply for eight as Jaguars slumped to 108 for six but the key stand came when Chanderpaul and Sinclair combined to add 81 for the seventh wicket and frustrate the hosts.

The 20-year-old Sinclair struck six fours and a six in a knock off 103 balls which lasted nearly 2-½ hours, and his efforts saw Jaguars reach the tea interval at 134 for six.

However, he was one of two wickets which fell to Warrican in the same over in the final session as Pride further tightened their grip.

PAGE 40

Friday January 17, 2020

Kaieteur News

LGC Extends Honorary Membership to Dr. K. J. Srinivasa The Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) Executive Committee presented a Certificate of Honorary Membership to His Excellency, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, High Commissioner of India, on Wednesday last.

The LGC under the leadership of its current President Aleem Hussain and Executive team have made tremendous efforts to expand the appeal of the game of golf to a wide range of participants and His Excellency Dr. Srinivasa is the latest addition to a long list of dignitaries who are now a part of the club.

Pandit Ravi Persaud, Secretary of the club was amongst the first to welcome the High Commissioner to Guyana and informed him about the benefits of visiting the golf course. The High Commissioner said he was very impressed with the vision of the Club, adding that he and family along with other members of the embassy will get involved in the sport.

“I am very grateful to the Club’s President and Executive for extending this honor to myself and family and we all look forward to be present at the club on a regular basis.”

The High Commissioner went on to say that physical activity is an important part of every one’s life and the tranquility of a golf course would add balance and beauty to those who seek to relax and find peace.

Dr. K.J. Srinivasa assumed his assignment as Consul General of India to Guyana in 2019. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 2002 and has worked in the Indian Embassy in Madrid (Spain) and Lima (Peru).

Dr. Srinivasa also served as the Regional Passport Officer, Bangalore from September 2010 to April 2013 and was instrumental in the implementation of the Passport Seva Project (PSP).

He was Deputy Consul General in the Consulate General of India, San

Pollard urges attention to detail ahead of St Kitts double-header

Kieron Pollard wants West Indies to improve on the small things.

St George’s, Grenada, CMC – Captain Kieron Pollard has urged his side to pay attention to the small details and improve their bowling discipline, as they seek to come from behind and win the three-match Twenty20 series against Ireland.

Labelling those areas as the “one percenters”, Pollard said doing the small things properly was often the difference between winning and losing a cricket match, and said the Windies had

been guilty of not paying attention to these details.

West Indies slumped to a narrow four-run defeat to Ireland in Wednesday’s opening T20 International here, to leave themselves with the challenge of winning the next two matches in St Kitts at the weekend in order to avoid a third straight T20 series defeat.

“The attitude of some of the guys in the field that cost nothing. It’s just a matter of showing up for 120 balls and (Continued on page 32)

Francisco from April 2013 till July 2016 and then was Consul General in Johannesburg prior to his arrival in Guyana.

During the past two years, the sport of golf has seen a dramatic increase in the number of events, members and activities both on and off the course.

Major contributions by Macorp has aided the development of the grounds and allowed more playing days than before.

This year, the LGC will host several special events starting with the Easter Family Gathering where thousands of families will descend upon the grounds for a festival of kite flying. Also plans for the third annual Soca and Wine Festival amongst others are being finalised.

Bishop Guy Griffith welcomed the High Commissioner on behalf of the Executive team and members. “We look forward to having you and your family being frequent visitors to our wonderful facility and hope

LGC President Aleem Hussain (L) with High Commissioner of India Dr. K. J. Srinivasa and PRO Bishop Guy Griffith. that the ‘golf bug’ makes you a regular participant in our events.” For more information

on the LGC, membership, activities or how to learn about the sport, please visit their

Facebook page – lusignangolfclub or call 2205660/645-0944.

South Africa v England: Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope give tourists edge BBCsport - An unbroken stand of 76 between Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope gave England a slight edge over South Africa at the end of a fluctuating first day of t h e t h i r d Te s t i n P o r t Elizabeth. On a lifeless pitch, the tourists were in danger of being overwhelmed when they lost three wickets for 35 runs to slip to 148-4.

But Stokes solidly moved to 38 not out and Pope shone in his unbeaten 39 to take England to 224-4 at the close. They will return today looking to buck a trend which has seen the rest of the top order fail to capitalise on good starts.

When Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley were adding 70 for the first wicket, it appeared as though England were going to take full advantage of winning the toss. However, South Africa wrestled their way into the contest thanks mainly to superb spinner Keshav Maharaj and the tactics of captain Faf du Plessis.

Only late in the day, as the second new ball was repelled for 10 overs, did England take the advantage, especially with the hosts set to bat last on a surface that is likely to deteriorate. Still, wickets early on day two would

Ollie Pope struck seven fours in his unbeaten 39. shift the momentum again, meaning the series - level at 1-1 - remains in the balance.

This was a slow-burning day, one which gave no clue to its eventual fluctuations in a tepid morning session.

Under a cloudless sky and on a straw-coloured pitch, Sibley and Crawley batted to lunch with few alarms and there was more energy in the band that played in the stand than there was in the contest.

That changed when leftarm spinner Maharaj took a grip of one end, stifling the tourists and allowing the pace bowlers to nag away from the other. If the battle in the afternoon session was gripping, England doing their best to repel the South African effort, the hosts threatened to take control after tea when Joe Denly and Joe Root were dismissed in quick succession.

At that stage, it could have can been argued England were not showing enough intent to score, although that would have ignored the quality of the South Africa bowling and the impact of the pitch.

Ultimately, the tourists have a platform for a large total, one that could heavily pressurise a South Africa side, especially with the pitch already offering turn.

Friday January 17, 2020

PAGE 41

Kaieteur News

Ramnarine XI overcome Hansraj XI by 19 runs

The victorious Mahase Ramnarine XI. Devon Ramrattan accepts the his man-of-thematch prize from Vickram Ramnarine Mahase Ramnarine XI defeated Davendra Hansraj XI by 19 runs when the teams collided in a one day/two innings U19 contest on

Saturday last at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground.

Ramnarine XI batted first and managed 59 all out in 15

overs on a difficult track.

Mahase Ramnarine made 16 while Mohandas Surujpaul scored 12; Davendra Hansraj took 3-19 and Ricky Persaud 2-15.

Hansraj XI responded with 55 all out in 13 overs.

Tushall Surujpaul scored 12

and Comesh Persaud 11; Mahase Ramnarine and Mohandas Surujpaul took two wickets each.

Batting a second time, Ramnarine XI managed 97 -3 from their allocation of 15 overs.

Devon Ramrattan struck

two fours and a six in a top score of 30 while Ramnarine made 12.

Sachin Chulai and Ricky Persaud took two wickets apiece. Set to 102 win from 15 overs, Hansraj XI responded with 82-4.

Hansraj slammed three

sixes in scoring 23 not out while Gladewin Henry Jr. scored 14. The teams were allotted a maximum of 20 overs in their first innings and 15 overs in their second innings.

The game was sponsored by Nazir and Sons of Good Success.

Turbo Football Tournament

Coach Bess upbeat about Pouderoyen’s chances

Pouderoyen will be looking to make their first Turbo Knockout football final when they clash with Fruta Conquerors in Sunday’s semifinal.

Head Coach of Pouderoyen Football Club, Travis Bess, is optimistic about his team’s chances heading into this Sunday’s semifinal clash of the Third Annual Turbo Energy Drink knockout football tournament against the pre-tournament favourites, Fruta Conquerors

U20s, citing his team’s great fighting spirit as the X factor for the last four meetings.

Bess, who has been in charge of the West Bank Demerara based outfit for a few years during an interview with Kaieteur Sport, noted that he is not fazed with his team’s underdog status

because football has to be played on the day.

“No it doesn’t bother us that we are seen as the underdogs and we have so far fought against all odds to be in this weekend’s semifinals. We actually had it tougher since we had to play an extra game against Eastveldt in a qualifier to

make it into the last 16 of the tournament before we were up against a very youthful Pele FC team”, Coach Bess expanded.

Bess, who works as a Goalkeeper Coach for the national Under-20 male team that will be travelling to Nicaragua next for U20 Boys

Concacaf Championship, posited that his team, “Have shown that we are willing to fight and we have fought hard to be at this stage.”

En route to the semifinal, Pouderoyen proved their mettle against Eastveldt in the qualifier winning 2-1 courtesy of goals off the boots of Quessey Alleyne and Ej Mars. In the round-of-16, an own goal and a goal from Stephen Jupiter allowed them to beat Pele 2-0 while last Sunday’s quarterfinal against Buxton Under-20 was won via kicks from the penalty mark after full and extra time were deadlocked 1-1.

Pouderoyen’s fixture against Fruta Conquerors Under-20s is scheduled for 18:30hrs at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground on Carifesta Avenue according to the latest release from the promoters of the tournament, Petra Organisation.

The feature match this Sunday will see Georgetown Football Club (GFC) matching skills with defending champions Northern Rangers at 20:30hrs. This has quashed the protest made by Santos FC contesting GFC’s quarterfinal win against them, noting in a letter seen by this publication that Gregory Stevens and Paul Fields of

Coach Travis Bess Grove Hi Tech and Deon Alfred of Beacon FC were not legally transferred to contest for GFC in last Sunday’s quarterfinal match.

However, Co-Director of Petra, Troy Mendonca in an invited comment shared that while at the promoters’ level he believes GFC should play the semifinal, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) that governs all football in Guyana, can still step in and make a final ruling.

The champions of this tournament will pocket $400,000 with second place bagging $200,000, third place $100,000 and fourth place $50,000.

PAGE 42

Friday January 17, 2020

Kaieteur News

BCB/Ivan Madray Memorial T20 GCC beat Rising Star by Albion and Rose Hall Town seven wickets Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Georgetown Cricket Club defeated Rising Star of Essequibo Coast by seven wickets when the teams collided in a 40over contest on Sunday last at Bourda.

Batting first, Rising Star posted 147 all out in 29.5 overs.

Latchman Rohit led with 43 which included six fours and two sixes while Otis Roberts made 34 with two fours and three sixes. The pair added 68 for the third wicket a f t e r St e p h o n Wi l s o n r e m o v e d b o t h openers for nine each, leaving the score on 30-2.

Wilson, Bernard Bailey, Devon Lord and Ronaldo Ali Mohamed picked up two wickets each. GCC responded with 148-3 in 22.4 overs. Ali Mohamed slammed five fours and six sixes in a top score of 85 while Martin Pestano Bell made 50 not out with three fours and one six.

to contest final on Sunday Junior Sinclair

Ronaldo Ali Mohamed

BCB/Stag Beer 50-Overs Final

RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour and Tucber Park to clash; Match dedicated to legendary Basil Butcher The historic Port Mourant Cricket Ground, home to seven Test cricketers will tomorrow play host to the final of the 2019 Berbice Cricket Board/Stag Beer 50Overs first division tournament. Rivals Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt Flour and Tucber Park Cricket Club would battle for the $100 000.00 first prize.

The BCB is dedicating this final in memory of the legendary Basil Butcher, A.A who would be buried this weekend in his home village of Port Mourant.

The late Butcher played 44 Test matches for the West Indies after making his debut versus India in 1958.

Butcher, an inductee in the BCB Hall of Fame was also named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1970.

The Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Team has been dominating first division cricket in Berbice over the last few years and would be led by former national player Eon Hooper.

Veterans, Delbert Hicks and Khemraj Mahadeo, National Youth Player Junior Sinclair, Jason Sinclair, Surendra Kissoonlall, Jonathan Rampersaud.

Hooper would lead a strong batting line up.

Pacer Sylus Tyndall would likely share the new ball with former Berbice Under-19 left arm spinner Keith Simpson. Off spinners Junior Sinclair, Hooper, Rampersaud and leg spinner Shawn Pereira would offer support in the mostly spin based bowling attack.

Tucber Park would miss

the services of Romario Shepherd and Nial Smith who are currently on West Indies and Guyana duties, respectively.

Their batting would center around Martin Singh, Garfield Benjamin, veteran Anthony D’Andrade, Clinton Lindie, Devon Clements along with Kieon De Jesus, Malcolm Mickle, Joemal La Fleur and the ultra aggressive Damien Vantull. National youth players Gevon Schultz and Leon Swammy would share the new ball with support from off spinners Joemal La Fleur, Kwesi Mickle, Martin Singh, Devon Clements and left arm spinner Vantull.

The Stag Beer finals would be the first of three first division finals to be played over the next two weeks.

Flow Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship Schedule Announced Miami – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) yesterday announced the schedule for the 2020 Flow Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship.

The Caribbean club competition will be played in two stages, a group stage and a final stage.

The group stage of the 2020 Flow Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship will take place from January 29February 9 at Anthony Spaulding Complex in

Kingston, Jamaica. In Group A, hosts Waterhouse FC of Jamaica will play alongside 2017 winners Cibao FC of the Dominican Republic and Don Bosco FC of Haiti.

In Group B, 2019 Caribbean Champions Portmore United FC of Jamaica will face 2018 winners Club Atletico Pantoja of the Dominican Republic and Arcahaie FC of Haiti. After round robin play, the top two finishers of each group will advance to final stage.

The final stage (semifinals, third place

match and final) will be played May 8-14 at a venue to be announced. At the conclusion of the event, the champion will qualify for the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League, while the runnerup and third place team will qualify for the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf League.

The loser of the thirdplace match will face the winner of the 2020 Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield in a playoff match to determine who will be the third Caribbean (Continued on page 32)

Kandasammy Surujnarine

A potentially exciting climax to the 2019 Berbice Cricket Board/Ivan Madray Memorial T20 tournament is set to unfold on Sunday when arch rivals Albion Community Centre Cricket Club (ACCCC) and Rose H a l l To w n N a m i l c o Thunderbolt Flour clash in the final.

The venue is the No. 69 Vikings Cricket Ground in Upper Corentyne; the match would also be used as a fundraiser for the BCB. Over the past decade, arch rivals Albion and Rose Hall Town have dominated cricket at all levels and have played each other in numerous finals.

Tomorrow, they would face off in the final of the BCB/RHTYSC/Busta Champion of Champions 40 overs tournament at the Area ‘H’ Ground before colliding again on Sunday for the Madray T20 Title.

Most of Berbice’ finest players will be on show despite RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour missing the services of the injured Clinton Pestano, Kevin Sinclair and Kevlon Anderson who is with the

West Indies Under-19 team.

RHTNTF would be led by national all-rounder Eon Hooper and he would be supported in the batting by Junior Sinclair, Khemraj Mahadeo, Surendra Kissoonlall, Jason Sinclair, Delbert Hicks, Jonathan Rampersaud and Keith Simpson.

Pacers Keon Sinclair and Sylus Tyndall would share the new ball with offspinners Junior Sinclair, Khemraj Mahadeo, Jonathan Rampersaud and Eon Hooper offering support.

Leg-spinner Shawn Pereira and Keith Simpson will also offer variety on a track that is expected to be two paced.

Albion would be affected by the absence of Devendra Bishoo, Ve e r s a m m y Permaul, Anthony Bramble as they seek to halt the dominance of their arch-rivals.

Their batting on paper is very strong with Kandasammy Surujnarine, Adrian Sukhwa, Sharaz Ramcharran, Rajiv Ivan, David Latchaya and

Jonathan Foo. Ivan, Foo, Ramcharran, Latchaya Guadakesh Motie and Kevin Umroa would spearhead an all spin based bowling attack.

The tournament is sponsored by Upper Corentyne born business executive, Mr. Chandradat Chintamani in memory of his uncle, former West Indies leg spinner Ivan Madray who was the third B e r b i c i a n t o p l a y Te s t Cricket for the West Indies after the legendary John Trim and Berbice greatest ever, Rohan ‘Babulall’ Kanhai.

Madray, a product of the historic Port Mourant Cricket Club played two Te s t m a t c h e s i n 1 9 5 8 before migrating to the United Kingdom. He later died on the 23rd of April, 2009 at age 74.

Meanwhile, BCB President, Hilbert Foster and Chintamani would be part of the presentation ceremony following the match. Foster is urging all cricket fans in the Upper Corentyne area to attend Sunday’s final.

Colours Boutique continues to back Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’...

From page 39 Streets’ Tournament.” Lee Baptiste, Guinness Brand Executive thanked Colours for their invaluable contribution throughout the years, adding that the company has gone beyond with their support by branding the respective uniforms for the entire season. He further

added, “Once again I would like to thanks Colours for supporting Guinness and by extension Banks DIH limited.”

The Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ 2020 season opener will last four days in Linden and besides next Friday (January 24th) the other playing dates for the compe-

tition are January 25th, February 7th and 8th.

Sixteen teams will participate in this leg of the championship, with the Berbice Zonal tournament slated to commence shortly after.

The organisers have noted that the official fixtures for the Linden would be published shortly.

Kaieteur News

Friday January 17, 2020

Jerry’s double hands Jawalla U-15 2-0 win A second half double by Anil Jerry guided Jawalla to a 2-1 win over Paruima Combined when the teams collided in an Under-15 football match organised by DC Caesar Fox Secondary played recently at Waramadong.

Adrian Jacobs put Paruima Combined ahead in the first half when he collected a pass from Raydon Krammer and blasted home from inside the area. However, Jerry sealed his team’s victory following the break with both strikes coming from within the 18yard box.

Meanwhile, the Head Mistress of DC Caesar Fox Secondary Ms. Indra Granes said that as part of this programme, every Sunday students from Grade 7-9 are being targeted to share their views on the social ills of society.

“As a head teacher I have initiated a plan whereby every Sunday will be set aside for Sports Development and Culture to deal with issues that affects students especially the

Anil Jerry Dormitory students.

Therefore I am appealing to the corporate community to donate sports gears and musical instruments to assist with this initiative.”

This Sunday, the focus would be on teenage pregnancy and will target Jawalla and Kamarang students. A female Under-15 football match will be played between Kamarang C o m b i n e d a n d Jawalla/Quebanang Combine. This event will be coordinated by Ms. Katrina King.

Colours Boutique continues to back Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ C/Ship ‘Colours Boutique’ continued their long-term partnership with the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ football championship after handing over team uniforms for the 2020 edition of the tournament set to kick off next Friday in the ‘mining town’ of Linden.

The simple but significant presentation occurred yesterday at the entity’s Regent Street location. Speaking on behalf of the establishment Marissa Williams said, “We at Colours are once again happy to be a part of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the (Continued on page 38)

PAGE 43

Kevin Sinclair

rt Spo Tagenarine Chanderpaul

Roach hurts Jaguars despite Chanderpaul resistance Hodge, Smith punish Scorpions

Christine Sukhram

Red Force take honours after Hurricanes meltdown

Guinness Brand Executive Lee Baptiste (right) receives tournament kits from Colours Boutique Representative, Marissa Williams following the official launch of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ season.

Colours Boutique continues to back Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ C/Ship

Global Spare Parts and Auto Sales Golf tourney on this weekend

Shanella London

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