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AIETEUR Top Cop says police have Saturday Edition NEWS

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

'corroborating statements' in Charrandass Persaud probe

January 19, 2019 - Vol. 13 No. 03

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

- may approach Canada if necessary to question former MP

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“Guyana is the gift that keeps on giving...”

- Exxon's latest well could produce 300M barrels of oil - Wood Mackenzie From left: Ralph Ramkarran, Akanni Blair, Henry Jeffrey, Beni Sankar, Timothy Jonas and Kian Jabour

A New and United Guyana launched PPP agreed Coalition MPs' dual Guyana Goldfields' shareholders citizenship status to to content of await response be addressed after joint statement from Board - Harmon

court ruling - Govt.

- willing to go the whole gamut

Govt. files submissions in challenge to no-confidence motion vote count Appointing AG as External Auditor for Natural Resource Fund a wrong move - NRGI

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Kaieteur News

Saturday January 19, 2019

Saturday January 19, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Govt. files submissions in challenge to no-confidence motion vote count

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awyers for the government have filed submissions in the High Court regarding its challenge to the ruling of the Speaker of the National A s s e m b l y D r. B a r t o n Scotland - that the motion of no-confidence debated on December 21, 2018, was carried by a vote of majority by all elected members.

The Attorney General (AG) Basil Williams is challenging the Speaker of National Assembly Dr Barton Scotland, and Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, and in court documents, he is asking the court for its determination on a number of issues which arose as result of the passage of the no-confidence motion.

The submissions were filed by the Attorney General, Solicitor General Nigel Hawke, Deputy Solicitor General Debra Kumar and

Assistant Solicitor General Beverly Bishop-Cheddie.

In the submissions, filed yesterday, the lawyers sought to address four legal issues, providing basis for their arguments. These are: (1) Whether 33 votes in favour of the motion of noconfidence amounted to a majority of all elected members in accordance with Article 106 (6) of the Constitution; (2) Whether Resolution 101 is constitutional and effective and passed in accordance with Article 106 (6) of the Constitution; (3) Whether Section 5 of the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2000 (No 17/2000) is constitutional and not inconsistent with article 70 of the Constitution; and (4) Whether the Speaker's ruling on the vote can be quashed by the Courts.

In answering the first

issue, the government has submitted that there was a miscalculation of the majority of all elected members as required under Article 106 (6) of the Constitution for the Government to be defeated on a vote of no confidence.

According to the lawyers, for the Government to be defeated on a vote of confidence, 34 or more votes, of all the elected members in favour of the motion, was required instead of 33.

This assertion, the lawyers argue, is grounded in established Parliamentary precedent and practice and case law in the Commonwealth.

The government's legal team has acknowledged that Article 106 (6) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana provides that, “The Cabinet including the

ASP in alleged coke deal transferred as probe continues - Police Commissioner

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he Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) who was implicated last December in an alleged bungled cocaine transaction has been transferred.

Police Commissioner Leslie James made this disclosure yesterday during a press briefing, in which he also said that the investigation into the allegation is ongoing.

'He has been removed from his post…we can't have an officer (with such allegations) working in that area.” James said.

The ASP was in charge of an East Coast Demerara station when he was allegedly robbed of his service revolver and other items at La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara.

He had alleged that two

men held him at gunpoint and took his 9mm pistol and jewellery.

The 'robbers' were said to have fired several shots into the policeman's vehicle.

The rank has said that he recovered his gold band and chain from one of the robbers, who was held at the scene.

But the suspect reportedly told investigators that he and an accomplice were instructed to purchase two kilogrammes of cocaine from an individual. The buyer reportedly turned out to be the police rank. They were reportedly instructed to rob the buyer, and were allegedly unaware that he was a policeman.

It is alleged that when the policeman arrived at the location, the men assaulted him and took some $6M he

had in the vehicle. One of the men also fled with the policeman's firearm.

However, the rank allegedly managed to hold on to the other individual, and subdue him with help from persons nearby. It is alleged that after learning that the victim was a policeman, the men made arrangements for the firearm to be returned.

The individuals are said to be from Linden and are reportedly linked to a dealer from that location. During an investigation by the Major Crimes Unit, the ASP and two other ranks were placed under close arrest.

Among them was a detective sergeant who allegedly destroyed a statement that implicated the ASP.

President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence”.

H o w e v e r, t h e y a r e contending that the Constitutional requirement for voting on a motion of noconfidence is distinct from voting on the passage of legislation and ordinary motions in Parliament and that the framers of the Constitution by requiring the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly, have set the requirement as being tantamount to an absolute majority.

“The passage of legislation and motions outside of article 106 (6) procedurally only requires a vote of those members present and voting. By way of example, Article 168 of the Constitution deals with voting on motions generally and provides that “Save as otherwise provided by this Constitution, all questions proposed for decision in the National Assembly shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting.”

Further, the government argues, “Therefore, it is clear that the intention of Article 106 (6) is that there must be a majority of “all the elected members of the National Assembly” as a vote of confidence falls outside the ambit of article 168. This distinction in the voting required, rests in the serious legal implications for the National Assembly, and the legal consequences of the vote of confidence, as set out in the Constitution of Guyana.”

The lawyers say that the ordinary and legal meaning of a majority is a number greater than half. And that according to the Merriam

Attorney General, Basil Williams Webster Dictionary (1828), “majority rule” is defined as, “A political principle providing that a majority usually constituted by fifty percent plus one of an organized group will have the power to make decisions binding upon the whole.”

This definition of majority, the lawyers contend, is applied in No Confidence Cases to both even and uneven number Parliaments, and in the latter case where fractions are involved, the rounding up of the fractions require at least a majority of two clear votes.

In relation to the second issue, the lawyers have contended that the failure to obtain 34 or more votes breached Article 106(6) of the Constitution and was unlawful, and the certification by the speaker by issuing Resolution 101 could not be conclusive.

“It is our respectful

submission that the principles of our Constitution are sacred and sacrosanct and cannot be discharged by the Parliament itself, the body charged with making laws for peace, order and good government of Guyana. We submit most respectfully that the framers of our constitution could not have intended for a government to be defeated by a majority, but rather, an absolute majority of all members present. In all the circumstances, this could only be 34 votes in order for that motion to be carried.”

Pointing out that a question arises whether Resolution 101, being subsidiary legislation, can lawfully abridge or curtail the five-year government term of office provided for in article 70(3), the lawyers said that Resolution 101 cannot lawfully abridge or curtail the five-year term of office of the APNU+AFC Government and to the extent that it is inextricable connected with and intertwined with the mandatory requirements of Article 106 of the Constitution that the Cabinet and President resign no later than March 31, 2019.

The lawyers continued, “It purports to curtail or abridge the APNU+AFC term which constitutionally expires no earlier than May 2020, and to that extent that it has the effect of reducing the five years term in terms of article 70(3), it is pro tanto inconsistent with Article 70 (3) and invalid for such inconsistency.”

“It is respectfully (continued on page 23)

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Kaieteur News

Saturday January 19, 2019

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

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

EDITORIAL

Maduro’s tattered presidency Last week Thursday, it was painful - for most if not all Guyanese who did - to watch Nicolás Maduro sworn in for a second term as President of Venezuela after a blatantly rigged election and especially given the fact that Georgetown and Caracas have not enjoyed fruitful and friendly relations of late.

On the day of his inauguration, Guyana voted with 18 other members of the Organization of American States (OAS) to not recognize the legitimacy of Maduro’s second term as president of Venezuela, thus leaving his presidency in tatters.However, his recent inauguration does not bode well for Guyana because of his refusal to cease from issuing military and other threats to annex the resource-rich Essequibo region, which makes up two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. His most recent threat was the declaration that Venezuela plans to remap its offshore oil territory which will definitely include the oilrich Stabroek Block which is Guyana’s.

This latest intimidation by the Maduro regime has been deemed absurd by the Guyana government, and could lead to escalating tension with the U.S. oil giant, ExxonMobil, which continues to explore for more oil.

In light of his deliberate disregard for democracy, his inauguration was shunned by a number of world and regional leaders included the Lima Group which is made up of 14 Latin American countries, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and members of the OAS, all of which have dubbed his re-election illegitimate, as the polls were boycotted by the majority of the Opposition parties.

The ceremony was, however, attended by several South American leftist leaders, hundreds of his diehard supporters and the military top brass. Among the other countries represented were Russia, China, Cuba, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Iraq, Turkey, and Mexico, as well as the Caribbean nations of St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.

Following his swearing in ceremony by Venezuela’s Supreme Court, the 56-year-old leader flashed the victory sign and vowed to take strong action against those who opposed his regime and refused to recognize the legitimacy of the country’s institutions.

Maduro has also threatened to take diplomatic action against those neighbouring countries which have refused to recognize his reelection and his government. The isolated former bus driver and union leader, who was the hand-picked successor of the late leftist firebrand President, Hugo Chavez has gained control of virtually all of Venezuela’s political institutions and enjoys the support of the military.

However, as it now stands, things are not looking good for the Venezuelan people, as many blamed Maduro for the country’s economic woes, which have left much of the population living in poverty with shortages of basic foods and medicines. He must deal with the drastic economic decline, which according to the International Monetary Fund, the country’s inflation rate has spiraled to 1.35 million percent in 2018 and will hit a staggering 10 million percent by 2020. The IMF also predicts that Venezuela’s GDP contracted significantly to reach an all-time low of minus nine percent in 2018, its exchange rate has dropped by more than 2000 percent and its stock and bond markets have collapsed.

Since 2015, more than three million Venezuelans have migrated to the U.S and several neighbouring countries, including Guyana. However, Maduro has blamed the collapse of Venezuela’s economy and the shortages of basic human amenities on U.S sanctions which he claimed have cost the country in excess of US$60 billion in 2018, and another US $40 billion in 2017.Over the years, the Opposition parties have tried every means, including street protests to dislodge the Maduro regime, but they remained fragmented. Many prominent opposition leaders are either in jail or in exile and various factions continue to squabble over power while the National Assembly, the one institution that they have control over, has been left impotent after Maduro created the rival Constituent Assembly and filled the Supreme Court with loyalists judges who have annulled every decision made by Parliament.

Guyanese hanging on to hope for something different are living in a fool’s paradise DEAR EDITOR, What is going on here?

Who have been saying the same things and actually meaning the same things?

Who is really about separating from the blighted past and advancing to a potential future? Who is who and about what?

On Friday, December 21st, there was that development that was unleashed; it is the latest version of what Guyanese a while back termed “disturbances” and “troubles.” For certainty, mentally, emotionally, and psychologically, so far. That was Phase I. Phase II, as is becoming increasingly evident, broadcast the newest episode of the continuing Guyanese political soap opera on Wednesday, January 9th, when the two leaders and their teams convened.

As soap operas go, the plot for this one is no different: there was lamenting, embracing, crying, and promising. There was all of those in that seemingly conciliatory lovers’ effort to suspend bygones, and to work together for the betterment of the family, watching, listening, and

waiting with bated breath. In this instance, family consists of current and future offspring of Guyana, wherever they may be geographically, psychically, and tribally.

As is becoming more and more apparent, it was a farce and one hell of a cruel joke; the same joke that has repeatedly made complete morons of Guyanese. January 9th launched the same silly season of soothing sentences from supposedly sensible statesmen, but which concealed the usual self-serving impulses and objectives.

This is but a continuation of the old Guyanese political soap opera, and one which embeds all the elements of a true horror story. It easily could be titled, “Guyanese Psychos” or “Nightmare on Guyana’s Street.” When all is assessed, it is the same crash landing in the same frightening place.

For today emerges Phase III, in the chronology of the ugly and the empty, through twists and turns, and given the environment, political turpitudes, too. It is the usual history of false starts and tumbling stops; a dismal chro-

nology of the glowing followed by the grim. Calculating men entertain ideas; it is not of one side only. These ideas are neither of the constructive, nor of the people, nor of the country. These ideas, entrenched and enveloping, are about the same singular obsession with power, the same hegemonies, the same tribalism, the same delusions and megalomania.

The origins, the foundations, and visions are not the preserve of one man or group; but indicative of a coursing through the blood, heart, and head of most, if not all. Primarily, it is that this can be had by us, and for us. And us alone. Thus, the Greek tragedy that is Guyana lurches forward. The final curtain is unpromising.

For today, not yet a full month since the no-confidence moment undermined governance, there is the Phase III of the old squabbles (just like previous cycles) of registration, readiness, and rationales of who should be in and where, and doing what. It is the same circular flow of local politics rigidly adhering to the same well-worn circumference

of futility. Forget about one step forward and two backward; that has never been the case here. Never! Rather, it is far more accurate to state, and as a perfect reflection of local political thinking, that the reality has been two steps backwards, and as many as can be carved out sideways.

Decade after decade, this is accepted as progress; the totality of Guyanese democracy. With mindsets such as these, there is all this trashtalking about a real constitution, a binding one.

I have to ask: which of the principals, parties, powers are going to allow themselves to be yoked by such a restraint; such an inconvenient paper nuisance; such an inhibiting powerless abstraction? I say: none! Not one! The personal character is just not there; the national welfare an inconsequential doormat.

In view of the political talk of today, in less than one month of mental mayhem, the situation is right back to where things unfolded. Men do not mean what they say; that was never part of any (Continued on page 6)

It is time we returned government to the people DEAR EDITOR, The successful passage of the no-confidence motion against the coalition administration has brought Guyanese face to face with the possibility, I and others had been warning against - that of having the PPP back in office with just about the same composition as which it had been booted.

The issues with Charrandass’ vote aside, the no-confidence motion should be seen for what it is: a call for better and more representative government.

Are we ready to have the PPP back in power in its current form? Can we even countenance having the coalition continuing for another five years as we suffer from the effects of its welfare-retarding policies and its clear intent at political victimization and decimation of the lives and families of traditional PPP supporters in the sugar belt?

Guyanese, regardless of political affiliation, have to speak up and out about the coalition’s brutal and inhuman treatment of sugar workers, who were forced to go months without money and provision to look after their

children and families as the coalition effectively pauperized them.

That the coalition considered its treatment of these sugar workers a routine matter of policy speaks of the callous disregard it has for natural justice and basic human rights, thinking that its supporters either would not understand, or even condone its deliberate and willful attempt to starve children and decimate the families of sugar workers out of political spite.

We have to draw a line against the brutality meted out by our current and previous administrations to us as a people, even as they pit us against each other for political ends.

This is the fourth time in the PNC’s political history when as a government it has demonstrated that it lacks the basic principles of government, justice and commitment to human rights necessary to govern in the interest of all Guyanese.

The first such was when they systematically rigged elections during their earlier 28-year reign.

The second was their reduction of Guyana to eco-

nomic rubble by the end of the 1980s.

The third was the deception they exercised on their 2015 campaign trail, along the destructive policy matrix they implemented instead, the effects of which we are feeling even today.

The PNC-led coalition has gone to great lengths to disqualify itself from holding office. The PPP has also, even avoiding a no-confidence motion against it in 2014.

Do we want either of these parties being responsible for our governmental affairs? Can we even afford them in office for the next five years? What we cannot do at this juncture is throw up our hands in resignation and say, ‘that’s it,’ because doing so would cause us to sacrifice between 5 and 20 years of our lives to the government of either the PPP or the coalition administration, which to me is unthinkable.

A number of individuals including myself have established political parties as alternatives to the PPP and coalition. But being successful at providing an alternative government requires more

than just the formation of political parties. The successful new political party/platform must demonstrate that it has the ministerial capacity to administer the affairs of government.

Second, it must possess the mix of policies which respond to the needs and demands of Guyanese. Therefore, as we rush to establish political parties, we need to consider engaging each other to form a full government complete with a solid policy framework which Guyanese can feel secure enough to install as their new Government.

We have voted on race in the past, but we are not fools. We demand a better and more representative government, a government that can administer our affairs competently while addressing the multitude of political, social and economic concerns.

To succeed, we have to pool our talents, financial and other and resources, and bring that successful political party/platform into reality.

It is time we returned government to the people.

Yours Faithfully, Craig Sylvester

Saturday January 19, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Those responsible for making the THE PASSING OF A GREAT MIND laws, shaping and guiding society must be held in compliance DEAR EDITOR, As society continues to read revelations of Members of Parliament admittance of having dual citizenship and denial on the part of others, even though one was outed by his leader, this issue is bringing clearer to the fore the magnitude of the problem we face in this area.

Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo has outed Gail Teixeira and Adrian Anamayah, the latter who did not want to admit to the media until he heard Jagdeo’s press conference.

Society awaits the media following up with Anamayah, Amna Ally, Odinga Lumumba who were previously approached, and others who are seeking to lie low. They have to be rooted out on both sides. By now you would image this being in the public

domain that the Leaders, of both sides, should have issued a statement of those in violation and what measures will be put in place to secure compliance with Article 155(1)(a).

We are witnessing those who come clean when questioned, some denying even when outed, and others being downright deceptive or cagey. This issue is not about the Coalition Government or the Opposition; it is about both sides who are deserving of being held equally accountable. It is clear that both are in breach of the extant article.

As society’s watchdog the media continue to play a pivotal role in ensuring constitutional compliance in this instance and all in violation of the article must be exposed.

There should be no cherry-

picking of the Guyana Constitution, it has to be total compliance and we must not stop now until this is achieved. Those responsible for making the laws, shaping and guiding society must be held in compliance for same.

This issue is reinforcing the call for constitutional education because it allows members of society to know their rights and freedoms, better understand the system of governance in order that they can participate in a more meaningful way, insist on its application, and hold leaders to account consistent with the Constitution.

In a previous address of this issue it was misstated that Article 155(1)(a) was enacted in 2000. Christopher Ram is thanked for bringing same to attention.

Lincoln Lewis

Sunday 20th, 2019 is world religion day Dear Editor Sunday 20th, 2019 is world religion day.

World Religion Day is an observance initiated in 1950 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, celebrated worldwide on the third Sunday in January each year.

Though initiated in the United States, World Religion Day has come to be celebrated internationally.

Described as a “Bahá’íinspired idea that has taken on a life of its own”, the origins of World Religion Day lie in the Bahá’í principles of the oneness of religion and of progressive revelation, which describe religion as evolving continuously throughout the history of humanity.

The purpose of World Religion Day is to highlight the ideas that the spiritual principles underlying the world’s religions are harmonious, and that religions play a significant role in unifying humanity.

Initially a Bahá’í observance, World Religion Day was inspired by the Bahá’í

principles of the oneness of religion and of progressive revelation, which describe religion as evolving continuously throughout the history of humanity. It promotes these principles by highlighting the ideas that the spiritual principles underlying the world’s religions are harmonious, and that religions play a significant role in unifying humanity.

As a means of clarifying the nature and purpose of World Religion Day, the Universal House of Justice, the elected council that serves as the head of the Bahá’í Faith noted in a 1968 message that, rather than providing a “platform for all religions and their emergent ecumenical ideas,” the observance serves as “a celebration of the need for and the coming of a world religion for mankind, the Bahá’í Faith itself.”

In April 2002, the Universal House of Justice published a letter, “To the World’s Religious Leaders”, in which it stated: ...interfaith discourse, if

it is to contribute meaningfully to healing the ills that afflict a desperate humanity, must now address honestly ... the implications of the over-arching truth ... that God is one and that, beyond all diversity of cultural expression and human interpretation, religion is likewise one.

World Religion Day has been described as a “Bahá’íinspired idea that has taken on a life of its own”, because its observance is no longer confined to the Bahá’í community, where it originally took shape.

Although observances of World Religion Day are still sponsored and supported by Bahá’í communities worldwide, Baha’i institutions such as the Universal House of Justice or the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States no longer play active roles in the promotion of events, apart from reporting on them. Instead, an increasing number of observances are independently organized by interfaith or multifaith coalitions.

Yours Rooplall Dudhnath

Dear Editor, Perhaps the greatest legal mind that Guyana ever produced, has died. I first met Dr. Fenton Ramsahoye in Barbados during the CARICOM summit in the early 90’s when I was the URP representative for free and fair elections which had been postponed twice by President Hoyte. He invited me to his home and, along with some of his fellow attorneys, enjoyed a homecooked lunch (curry chicken etc.) —prepared by the great man himself!

Sir Fenton, knighted by the Queen, had been earning acclaim since the 1970s in the area of human rights in the many cases argued by him at the regional appellate level and in the Privy Council in England from a variety of Caribbean countries. He had the distinction in the British Commonwealth of winning more cases in the Privy Council in London than any other lawyer in the Commonwealth.

Since the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice in 2005 and until recently, Sir Fenton utilized his considerable legal skills in representing litigants in the region’s highest Court.

One of his most famous cases was the challenge by the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha of the use of the symbol of Trinity Cross as the

country’s highest national award on the grounds of having religious overtones. The State challenged the lawsuit right up to the Privy Council, which resulted in TT changing the award to the Order of Trinidad and Tobago. Sir Fenton had won another case!

Perhaps the most famous case he participated in was Hector vs Attorney General where the editor of an Antiguan newspaper was sued for printing ‘malicious deeds’. The main Judge, Lord Bridge of Harwich stated: ‘In a free democratic society it is almost too obvious to need stating that those who hold office in government and who are responsible for public administration must always be open to criticism. Any attempt to stifle or fetter such criticism amounts to political censorship of the most insidious and objectionable kind.’ and it would on any view be a grave impediment to the freedom of the press if those who print, or a fortiori those who distribute, matter reflecting critically on the conduct of public authorities’ He warned me not to get deeply involved in politics, and told me some horror stories that took place in Guyana.

The most notable was the seizing of his parents’ properties (just as Burnham did to

the Kissoons with Takuba Lodge and Hope Estate) forcing him to flee Guyana “without even a copper” to quote him. He told me about Burnham who took some money from the law firm the two had started and went on a safari in Africa and how he had to take money out of his pocket to pay the staff.

Sir Fenton went on to describe a most bizarre incident at the London Conference in 1964, when Premier Cheddi Jagan was called to discuss Independence and changing the voting system from First Past the Post to Proportional Representation. After having fully discussed the terms of Independence and voting system, Dr. Jagan was called

by Dr. Duncan Sandys, Head of the British Foreign Office, to come alone and ‘sign some documents’. ‘That idiot went and did precisely what his chief legal advisor told him not to do,’ was his bitter remark to me. The stage was set for the destruction of Guyana’s political and economic landscape under the emerging Burnham dictatorship; no doubt Guyana would have been a prosperous country if only the PPP leader had followed the advice of his learned Attorney General, Dr. Fenton Ramsahoye.

Yours Respectfully, L. R

Ramotar had a duty to disclose legal opinion on what makes a ‘majority’ DEAR EDITOR, I believe that President Ramotar had a duty in 2014 to disclose to the Guyanese people that there was a legal opinion on what makes a ‘majority’ of ALL the members of the National Assembly for passing a motion of no confidence in the government.

That opinion - that states that 34 votes were needed and not 33 - was the property of

the State and Mr. Ramotar could not discard it as “foolish. What was foolish was to prorogue parliament for 6 months, then dissolve it, in order to run from the motion.

But he ran from the frying pan right into the fire when the PPP was defeated at the 2015 elections. It went from a majority lame duck minority

government into the opposition. Had he established that 34 votes were needed, he would have remained in government and, today, Guyana would not be facing a political crisis.

I find his position to be imprudent.

Yours truly, Carla Mendonca

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Saturday January 19, 2019

Guyana Goldfields’ shareholders to meet with Board - willing to go the whole gamut The group of “concerned” Guyana Goldfields shareholders has signaled its intention to go the full gamut to get the company to move away from its current trajectory, which the shareholders feel will only harm their investment.

Patrick Sheridan is one of the shareholders. His advisor, Ian Robertson, spoke to Kaieteur News via telephone from Canada.

Robertson said that that the board is still to respond to the concerns of the shareholders. However, Robertson said, “It does not stop here. The rules give the board 21 days to respond and we have to wait. But there will be further action once that time

elapses.”

Tw o w e e k s a g o , t h e Concerned Shareholders announced that they requisitioned a Meeting for the purpose of reconstituting the entire board with new experienced, accountable and qualified directors capable of fixing performance issues, leading a share price recovery and executing a value-maximizing transaction. Under applicable rules, the Board must honour the Concerned Shareholders’ request by calling a meeting within 21 days of the requisition.

The shareholders said that “the overwhelming support that we’ve received from shareholders who have contacted us is

a testament to the strong desire for change at Guyana Goldfields. On top of this, and even more disconcerting, is the number of investors who have told me they have dumped their stock or that they won’t invest in Guyana Goldfields because they no longer trust the competency of the current Board,” said Sheridan, one of the largest shareholders and founder, former Executive Chairman and former director of the Company.

“Shareholders are telling us that they’ve had enough of the dramatic value-destruction that has occurred under the stewardship of this Board and are seeking a new path, with new directors, who can turn things around.

They share the Concerned Shareholders’ view that the

longer it takes to change the Board, the worse things are going to get for shareholders.”

A few days ago, this newspaper reported that the shareholders have app r o a c h e d t h e To r o n t o Stock Exchange (TSX) asking the agency to look out for signs of entrenchment, shareholder dilution or attempts to structure around regulatory shareholder approval requirements in any proposal made by Guyana Goldfields Inc. Making the request are Northfield Capital C o r p o r a t i o n ’s Robert C u d n e y, D o n a l d R o s s , Gretchen Ross, and Patrick Sheridan. Together, they own not less than five percent of Guyana Goldfields

which is based in Canada.

The shareholders had revealed to the media that Guyana Goldfields lost over CDN$1 billion in value since 2016 because of the Board’s operational failures, irresponsible actions and risky decisions.

The shareholders said, “To add insult to injury, while shareholders have lost over 80% of their investment since 2016, the Board has continued to reward itself handsomely and has offered no plan to turn things around…

“The Board has demonstrated an inability to stop the freefall of the Company’s share price.

Enough is enough,” said Mr. Sheridan.

In its letter to the

To r o n t o E x c h a n g e , t h e Group said, “Until after a meeting is called and held and the direction of Guyana Goldfields Inc is rightly determined by its shareholders, the TSX should carefully monitor and review any acquisition, financing, issuance of securities, or other defensive tactics or potentially-dilutive transaction or series of transactions proposed by Guyana Goldfields Inc., and require that any such transaction or series of transactions be approved by shareholders as a condition of TSX’s consent, including with respect to any issuance of securities by Guyana in connection with such transaction or series of transactions.”

Kenyan authorities investigate National Insurance and We at local role in Nairobi attack NAIROBI (Reuters) - Investigators in Kenya are exploring the possibility that some of the militants who attacked a Nairobi hotel and office complex may not have been ethnic Somalis, stoking fears that militants are deepening their pools of recruitment in the region.

Officials have released few details about the five-man assault team that carried out Tuesday’s siege at the dusitD2 hotel complex, an attack that killed 21 people and was claimed by al Shabaab, a Somalia-based al Qaeda affiliate.

But police, private security sources and local media

reports have highlighted the involvement of a 26-year-old suspect identified in court documents as Ali Salim Gichunge, who was born and raised in central Kenya, as evidence of the group’s lure to some people outside its traditional strongholds.

“The government needs to look at (Gichunge’s) profile. How did he get to where he is?” said a private security official in Kenya, who asked not to be identified for operational reasons.

“If al Shabaab can replicate this model, then there is a fundamental problem.”

All five assailants were killed in Tuesday’s attack, the

country’s president said in a televised address the next morning. Police said on Friday they had detained nine other suspects in connection with the incident.

Five of the suspects, one of them listed as a Canadian citizen, were taken to a magistrate’s court and ordered detained for 30 days.

Two were taxi drivers and one was a mobile phone financial services agent, court documents said.

The others have not appeared yet. They could have been released or they may be brought before a magistrate on Saturday. Police can hold suspects for 24 hours and need a court order to extend this.

An officer who was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly also told Reuters police were pursuing a woman suspected of ferrying weapons to Nairobi from Kiunga, near the border with Somalia, via the port city of Mombasa.

There are multiple programs aimed at preventing radicalization in Kenya, but analysts say the efforts appear to be falling short. Those close to Gichunge said they were stunned when he appeared in CCTV footage of the attack toting an assault rifle and firing at a white car.

Linden

DEAR EDITOR, The National Insurance Scheme started sometime in the year 1969. When it started, most people were against its implementation because it reduced the spending power from wages and salaries. It also caused us to question which direction Guyana was going.

Today, the NIS pension is the financial backbone of people who have contributed unwillingly towards the scheme - thanks to the late President Linden Forbes

Burnham who was chastised verbally by many of us who are today giving praise and thanks to him for many things, including the NIS. At Linden’s NIS branch office, on pension day, pensioners are subjected to mount or climb twenty-one steps in order to change cheques or transact other business. This situation has been in existence for a very, very long time, pensioners are becoming older and most likely weaker, and more are added daily to the list. For that reason, the NIS management must find a better way

to prevent the elderly and the lame from mounting the top floor to conduct business.

As a pensioner myself, I must commend the hard working staff of Linden for their patience and understanding while attending to the elderly.

Keep on working and work harder, your pension time though it seems far, is not so far away.

There is an old saying “thoughts put into practice can be good or bad”. Let us stop trying and start doing in order to move forward.

Yours faithfully B. Winslow Parris

Guyanese hanging on to hope for something different are living in a fool’s paradise...

From page 4 intention; never part of a wholesome panoramic national vision. Today, there is sifting, hedging, dissembling, and distancing: Not what was agreed. Not part of any consensus, in spite of all the happy talk of January 9th.

I close with a few parting thoughts. Guyanese hanging on to hope for something different are living in a fool’s paradise.

Guyanese longing for the national rather than the tribal are, to put it kindly, as pitiful as those lost forlorn street souls staring at the heavens and mumbling to themselves.

It is why I recommend to those Guyanese searching for a new and radical beginning to drive themselves to do so in another place, another climate, and among another set of people. Though unintended, it is becoming clearer

by the hour, that that no-confidence vote was not of a government alone.

The no-confidence lot cast was against a system, a culture, and the way of life of a country. It is damning as that, and still not grasped, even at the edges.

This is the intrinsic ignorance of the national character.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Saturday January 19, 2019

Kaieteur News

Tampering of records...

Former Gold Board clerk, accountant to go on trial next month

Deborah Forbes The trial involving two former employees of the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) who were slapped with several charges in relation to stolen money and engaging in fraudulent activities will commence on February 21.

This announcement was made yesterday by Principal Magistrate Sherdel MarcusIsaacs in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris told the court that the investigation into the matter is complete, and they are ready to commence with the trial.

The two persons before the courts are former accountant, Rosanna Ramnarine, 35, of 46 Republic Park, East Bank Demerara and former clerk, Deborah Forbes, 50, of Langevine Street, Den

Amstel, West Coast Demerara.It is alleged that the two women, between January 1, 2017 and February 28, 2017, at the Guyana Gold Board located at Lot 68 Brickdam, Georgetown, conspired to forge Guyana Gold Board payment voucher #80230, dated January 24, 2017.

It is also alleged that both of them between January 1, 2017 and February 28, 2017, while being employed as a clerk or servant of GGB, stole $436,409, monies taken in possession or power of the GGB, their employer.

The last charge levelled against the duo stated that both of them between January 1, 2017 and February 28, 2017 at Guyana Gold Board located at Lot 68 Brickdam, Georgetown, while being employed as a clerk or servant, wilfully and with intent to defraud, falsified payment voucher #80230, purporting to show that Clifton Alfonzo received a payment of $436,409 on January 24, 2017.

Both women denied the allegations after they were read to them by the Magistrate and were released on $450,000 bail each.

According to information, an audit was conducted at the institution and it was discovered that several payments were falsified.

Handwriting specimens were then taken from the defendants and an investigation

was launched. A file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions who advised that charges be laid.

Conditions of the bail are that they must lodge their passport with the court and report to SOCU headquarters every Friday until the hearing and determination of the matter.

PAGE 7

PAGE 8

Kaieteur News

Saturday January 19, 2019

A PPP govt. will repeal all Bills passed after no-confidence motion - Jagdeo Sittings of the National Assembly held following the passage of the Bharrat Jagdeo-sponsored no-confidence motion will prove to be a waste of millions of dollars, if the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) returns to government.

Jagdeo, the Opposition Leader, said as much during a press conference he held on

Thursday at his Church Street Office.

Jagdeo told the media that the PPP is not recognizing anything the government does now as legitimate.

Also, he said that the PPP will move to repeal all Bills passed by the government.

Already, several financial Bills have been passed by the government for the year. These

Bills include: the Property Tax (Amendment) Bill, the Capital Gains Tax (Amendment) Bill, the Tax (Amendment) Bill, the Customs (Amendment) Bill, the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill-No. 23, the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill-No. 24 and the Corporation Tax (Amendment) Bill.

The foregoing Bills were

moved by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan.

Additionally, Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan moved for the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2018 to be read a second time. Ramjattan explained that the simple amendment to the Principal Act sought to increase the duration of the licence from three years to five

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo years.

The PPP was not at the January 4 sitting when these Bills were passed.

Jagdeo said that the government is well aware of the PPP’s position, because he expressed as much to President David Granger during the meeting they had last week.

Jagdeo told the media, “We pointed out to them that there will be a review of all of the decisions made in these three months; all the spending in these three months, all the contracts, everything will be reviewed.”

The Opposition Leader said he also told President David Granger that the PPP will not recognize any contract or deal struck with private investors during this

period.

Further, Jagdeo said that he made it clear that the PPP is unwavering in its position that the government should only be operating in caretaker mode.

Jagdeo said, “Clearly, if the government goes beyond March 19 that has implications for a whole range of things. The army (Guyana Defence Force) has sworn to uphold our Constitution and the Defence Act. That will be new territory. It will be unsettling for democracy and for anyone who has to do business with Guyana. It will put us into crisis and I suspect that at that stage you will have much more international involvement in Guyana to address this issue.”

Appeal Court denies sentence reduction for convicted rapist Convicted rapist Ray Thomas has failed in his attempt to have his 18-year jail sentence reduced at the Appeal Court. Thomas, 49, an ex-gambler from Laing Avenue, Georgetown, was unanimously found guilty by a 12-member jury of the offence of raping an eightyear-old in 2015.

According to the facts of the case, the child had gone to the home of the accused to return a bag which her mother had borrowed when the accused used the opportunity to pull the girl into his bedroom and commit the crime despite cries from the child to “Stop! I want to go home!”

Thomas had sexually penetrated the eight yearold’s vagina with two of his fingers during the month of February 2012. He had conducted his own defence after he denied committing the crime at his arraignment in the High Court.

Thomas was however found guilty of the crime by a jury panel which consisted of ten women and two men. The presiding Judge, Dawn Gregory, had sentenced him

to 18 years in prison.

The convict appealed the sentence, hoping for a reduction.

At the Appeal Court, Attorney George Thomas presented arguments on his behalf. Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Dionne McCammon appeared for the State. Thomas had argued for a reduction of the sentence.

Chancellor of the Judiciary Yonette CummingsEdwards, Appellate Justice Rishi Persaud and additional judge from the High Court, James Bovell-Drakes, determined that they did not find that trial judge Dawn Gregory erred in principle when sentencing Thomas.

In fact, Chancellor Cummings-Edwards citing case law, observed that sentences can serve as a deterrent to others who may potentially commit such crimes.

After in-chamber deliberations, the judges returned and disclosed that they were unable to find that the sentence was excessive.

As such, the appeal was dismissed.

Saturday January 19, 2019

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

What does it take to be happy in Guyana?

A woman on her morning walk, noticed an older man sitting on his front step smoking a cigar and looking extremely happy.

She guessed that he must be in his eighties, yet he seemed so happy.

She walked up to him and said, “I couldn’t help but notice how happy you look! What is your secret?”

“I smoke ten cigars a day,” he said. Apart from that, I drink a whole bottle of whiskey every week, and eat only junk food. On weekends, I drink a case of beers. I don’t exercise at all.”

“That is absolutely amazing! How old are you?”

“Twenty-four,” he replied.

The above story re-

minds us that happiness is not about having, but is about a state of mind. It is not about material things, but about how we relate to those things. It is not about owning things, but about how contended we are with what we have.

I know an old lady who always complains. Her favourite complaint is that one day she is going to break her ankles when walking on the street in front of her home because it is filled with craters.

A few days ago, I was by her house and noticed that all of the streets in her area, including the one in front of her home, had been fixed. So I told her she must be very happy now that the

roads have been fixed.

“Happy? Happy?” she bellowed. “Look at these drains in front of my home.

The water can’t flow.”

The drains were no more than twelve inches wide and six inches deep.

It was what we call in Guyana, a gutter. I picked up a stick that was lying nearby and parted some weeds in the gutter. Immediately, the once stagnant water began to flow freely.

“Are you happy now?”

I asked “Why the government can’t do it?” was her response.

I realized that her state of mind was the cause of her happiness. Being happy for her was about

Coastland braces for high tides next week Authorities are warning coastlanders to take precautions against abovenormal spring tides next week.

According to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, the spring tide is expected between today, January 19 and January 25, 2019.

The predicted tide indicates above normal levels for this impending period, the ministry advised yesterday.

The Sea and River Defence Department also listed a number of areas that it says will be particularly susceptible to possible flooding as a result of storm surges which may induce overtopping of sea and river defence structures.

The areas include the Pomeroon River Banks; San Souci to Sarah-Wakenaam Island; Canefield/Amsterdam, Endeavour/Blenheim; Cane Garden-Leguan Island; Windsor Forest to DeWillem, West Coast Demerara; Parika Market area and Salem to Sparta, East Bank Essequibo; Water Street, Georgetown, Chapman Grove/ Greenfield, East Coast Demerara and Helena #1&2, Mahaica.

The highest tides are expected to be on Tuesday, January 22, 2018 at 4:55 pm at a height of 3:30 metres and on Monday and Wednesday, January 21 and 23, respectively, at 4:06pm and 5:44pm, at a height of 3:26 metres.

The ministry also warned

that persons residing along the banks of rivers and lowlying coastal areas are advised to take all the necessary precautions against possible flooding.

“Precaution should also be taken by all marines including those operating fishing vessels and larger ones. Use of beaches and foreshore areas for recreational purposes during this period is not advised.”

In March last year, residents of Uitvlugt and Leonora areas, West Coast Demerara, were badly affected after waves pounded the sea defence there, with the Leonora Hospital and other properties inundated with flood waters.

having something to complain about.

Each time I pass by the fast food joints in our country, I always seem them overflowing with patrons, particularly the young people. The lines are long. People have money in Guyana to splurge, and they do splurge, including on fast foods.

I once saw a lady eat four large pieces of fried chicken that she had bought from a fast food outlet. She licked her platter clean. Only bones were left in the box. When she was finished she let off a loud belch, rubbed her stomach, downed a twenty-ounce cup of s o d a a n d s a i d , “ T h e chicken had too much salt.”

Each weekend, I see thousands of persons at local bars and pubs and

clubs having a whale of a time. They seem loaded with an endless stream of dollars. I wonder whether they are happy.

I see young ladies frequenting the clubs. Each week, some of them have to have a different outfit, which costs thousands.

The money seems to be there. Are they happy? No, they are not!

Each day I see persons who used to walk now driving. I see young men speeding along our roadways with their big bikes and I wonder also whether they are happy.

If material wealth is the basis of happiness, then the Guyanese people should be happy. Many of them now have their own homes, drive their own cars, go out on weekends

and have a grand time and sport the latest designer clothing. Are they happy?

I decided to ask one of them this question. I said to him, “I like your threads.

They must have cost you a fortune. You have a beautiful home and nice ride, and a lovely girlfriend and a good job. You must be very happy?”

He shook his head.

“What more do you want? Why are you not contended and happy?”

“I get turn down at the embassy.”

PAGE 10

Saturday January 19, 2019

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Hardik and sex There are three countries that irritate me. I mean they are not as unstable as the United States. Not as undemocratic as China and Russia. Two of them I have absolutely no interest in seeing even for five minutes. They are Australia and Norway.

Australians are mostly uncouth people, without

manners. They are mostly philistines. Perhaps it has to do with how they were populated. They have been riding on a global wave because their country is wealthy and as part of the white world, Europe and the US favour them over the non-white countries. I would rank Australian cricketers as more out-

rageously ill-mannered than any major US basketball team. It had to be one of the most sickening caricatures in the past few hundred years when an uncouth nation like Australia poured scorn on West Indian superstar, Chris Gayle, for inviting a female sports journalist out for a date while she was interviewing him. Gayle is sexist no doubt.

His remarks about women are outrageous and should be condemned, but not by Australians. Gayle once told a female West Indian sports reporter that he doesn’t know how the pitch feels when that question was asked of him, because he hadn’t felt the reporter’s pitch as yet. How can a global icon say such a thing when untold millions admire his sporting talent?

But what Gayle asked the Australian reporter has absolutely no obnoxious implications by comparison to what Australian cricketers say on the field. During a test match in the West Indies, Glenn McGrath told Ramnaresh Sarwan that he gives oral sex to Brian Lara. Where was the voice of hypocritical Australia? But the condemnation of Gayle echoed throughout Australia. Gayle was then de-

nied selection by all the Big Bash teams. This was the reaction of a country that violates international law on the treatment of refugees. Sometimes fate works in mysterious ways. Australia lies far away geographically from the melting pot of Asian, European, African countries and the countries of the Americas.

Imagine a man went to a summer camp in Norway and shot dead 69 very young people and two hours before had murdered 8 persons in a bomb blast. Over 300 were injured in the two incidents.

Some of the survivors of the summer camp massacre contested elections and lost to other candidates whose platform was right-wing, antiMuslim and anti-immigration.

The right-wing terrorist was sentenced to 21 years in jail and later applied to university and was accepted, and does his studies from his jail cell. Surely, such a country has to be an obnoxious land. A Muslim in Norway is far more despised than the man who committed the massacre. Now to Hardik and his sex life in India, the third of the irritating countries.

Hardik Pandya is an emerging all-rounder in the

Indian cricket team. He plays at both the test level and in ODIs. On a talk show, Hardik opened up about how he likes to sex women. India is livid with Hardik. He was sent home from Australia, where the Indian team is currently touring, to face disciplinary charges and will no doubt be sanctioned. In this day and age, you cannot speak of women so flippantly as Hardik did. The remarks of Gayle and Hardik about women ought to be condemned, though Hardik’s words were less sexually spiced up as Gayle’s pitch remark. But look which country is raging mad about Hardik’s sexual semantics and boasts?

India. This is hypocritical.

What India practices and the negative values of life that India accepts and embraces, are grave sins compared to the bravado about sex that came from Hardik’s mouth.

India’s Bollywood has the largest film industry in the world.

In its history, Bollywood has not produced a leading male or female star that is brown-skinned.

All the leading actors over the past 100 years in Hindi films have a fair complexion or lily-white skin. And

Frederick Kissoon the country accepts this. No brown-skinned boy or girl would ever dream of going to Bollywood. All of India knows that in the movies, you have to possess white skin to have the lead role.

I once read that there isn’t even a brown-skinned flight attendant in India much less a dark-skinned one. That information could be wrong, but I once read that. If any country is obsessed with the white colour of film stars’ skin, it is India. Then there is the caste system. In India, the caste system is not official, but it is very much part of the biology, physiology and soul of India.

Hardik says he loves sex.

Nothing wrong with that. But he said it in sexist ways. He should not have done that.

Saturday January 19, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Saturday January 19, 2019

I prefer a consensus candidate – PPP General Secretary General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo, has indicated that, though the party will vote for its presidential candidate by way of secret ballot, he prefers the party to decide by way of consensus.

“It’s always better to have a consensus candidate in any organisation.

That’s the ideal thing.”

Jagdeo sought to defend his party, however, by

saying that, despite the fact that the voting is by secret ballot, the party is united and that each of the presidential hopefuls have pledged to support whoever the candidate will be.

“The candidates have already made their presentations to vie for the party’s nomination. The voting will be done in a matter of days. One thing that happened is that, in the presentations, every single one of the five had

said that ‘If I do not become the candidate, I will work and support the other person’. They all said that, explicitly.”

He said that, even though the party was accused of squeezing out Charles Ramson Jr., even Ramson said that he would respect the process.

“Every single one of the five said ‘Yes, I will work in the interest of the party and support the candidate.

You saw Charles Ramson’s statement, also.”

He said that the selection is less about a specific candidate, and more about choosing the candidate that will best suit the mandate of the party.

“This is not just about the candidate; this is about a programme that we will go to people with. We have

not been criticizing any of those parties that are being formed, because we want to leave room for inclusion.”

Jagdeo noted the emergence of new parties intended to become third forces. However, he gave a stark warning. “ We h o p e t h a t t h e y don’t, in their attempt to create a space, come after us in a way that we’ll have to defend our record. [We hope that they don’t seek] to spread lies – the usual stuff - the same APNU line.

[If that occurs], we may have to change our custom.”

“But right now, you see our party. We are open to civil society inclusion, to inclusion of anyone. I have seen about 30 people who’ve come off the street.

PPP/C General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo These are university lecturers, etc., who want to work with us. We are leaving room for all of us now, because we can’t get

APNU to engage formally.

We’re going to create this big tent for everyone in the next government. That is what the approach is.”

Saturday January 19, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

Coalition MPs' dual citizenship status to be addressed after court ruling - Govt.

A

lthough the High Court is set to rule by this month-end whether a noconfidence vote by expelled parliamentarian, Charrandass Persaud, was legal, it is unlikely the Government will pronounce on its members who have dual citizenship.

One of them is Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.

Two others are reportedly

Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge and Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine.

Persaud's vote is being challenged as he held two passports, including one for Canada, at the time of the vote on December 21st. His party, the Alliance For Change, which has since expelled him, said it never knew and he never divulged such.

Any ruling against

Three Venezuelans among 5 arrested with grenades, gun, ammo

J

oint Services ranks conducting patrols last Wednesday and Thursday in the Blackwater C r e e k , C u y u n i R i v e r, arrested five persons, including three Venezuelans and two Guyanese, with drugs, a gun, ammunition and grenades.

On Wednesday about 13:30hrs, the ranks intercepted a boat and conducted a search of its occupants and found in the possession of the 26 year-old Guyanese captain of Eteringbang Landing, a live 12-gauge cartridge and 271 grams of cannabis.

At 15:30h Thursday, the ranks intercepted a boat at Mode Hole, Cuyuni River, and found in possession of two of its 17 occupants, two live grenades.

Later at 17:30hrs another vessel was intercepted and one of the two occupants

who resides at Enterprise E.C.D, was found in possession of an unlicensed pistol with 11 live matching rounds.

Again at 23:30h on T h u r s d a y, t h e r a n k s searched a boat at the Eteringbang Landing and found in the possession of a 27-year-old Venezuelan captain, five live rounds.

Ranks of the Guyana Police Force on Thursday also, acting on information received, went to a location at Wismar, Linden and found a 2 ½ acre cannabis cultivation with about 1,100 plants measuring 6 inches to a foot in height along with a nursery with about 500 seedlings and a makeshift camp.

The plants and camp were photographed and subsequently destroyed by fire.

Persaud by Chief Justice, Roxane George, this month, will likely have implications on other MPs who have dual citizenship. However, any such ruling will not force MPs with dual citizenship to resign, as the court case only targets Persaud, Government has pointed out.

Yesterday, Harmon made it clear that Government will not be making any pronouncements on matters relating to the December 21, 2018 vote, since it is presently in the High Court a very active matter.

Minister Harmon, who was speaking during a postCabinet press conference, s a i d t o m a k e pronouncements on related

matters would be premature.

“It is usually not prudent t o b e m a k i n g pronouncements on matters which are before the Courts and which can in fact have the tendency of seeking to influence the direction in which the Court goes. So, I would reserve any comments on this matter until the Court has made its ruling,” Minister Harmon said.

Rather, he said that the party in which he is a m e m b e r, t h e P e o p l e ' s National Congress Reform; and A Partnership for National Unity, along with the Coalition, will make definitive statements after.

Minister Harmon also

dismissed opposition claims that Government is influencing the Guyana Elections Commis s ion (GECOM), hindering the agency from preparing for Regional and General Elections.

The minister reminded that GECOM is an independent body and Government has no intention of interfering with its functioning.

He attributed such behaviour to the previous PPP regime.

Further, the minister made it clear that in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana, the Coalition Government remains legitimately in

office and will continue to execute its functions to ensure the development of the country.

Persaud invoked his Canadian citizenship right on the same night of the vote, and under the protection of the Canadian High Commission, flew out of Guyana.

Under the Constitution of Guyana, persons who have sworn allegiance to another country are barred from serving as parliamentarians.

However, that barrier has never really been enforced.

It is the subject of a court matter now; one that the whole world is watching closely.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Saturday January 19, 2019

A New and United Guyana launched

A

New and United Guyana (ANUG) made its official launch, yesterday at Moray House, with party leader, Ralph Ramkarran, declaring that the newly-formed grouping will “win the election”.

The party established a Steering Committee, constituted by businessmen, Kian Jabour and Beni Sankar; lawyers, Timothy Jonas and Ralph Ramkarran; political scientist, Henry Jeffrey; and the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C)'s former deputy Chairman in Linden, Akanni Blair.

The launch saw members of the committee seeking to capitalize on frustration with the current political climate, much of which they described as “failed promises and political loyalties.”

The party noted its disappointment with the present regime to implement its manifesto, specifically focusing on the coalition government's promise to implement swift Constitutional Reform.

ANUG called on the

Guyanese people to help the party create a Constitutional system that will bring the country's parties “to share executive power.”

Both the Peoples National Congress Reform (PNC/R) and the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) were dubbed disappointments who have done great harm to Guyana for the past 50 years.

The party, the committee noted, is not unidimensional. Although it was noted that there are currently no women in its leadership, they explained that this is because women, when asked to join the party and lead, declined the offer.

However, the party has committed to setting specific policies to ensure the party is kept diverse, for the purpose of facilitating inclusionary governance, including the setting of quotas for women's involvement in government.

Jonas said that, so far, no money has come from external sources, that they have all funded the formation of the party out of their own pockets. He explained that though

A section of the audience

businessmen have indicated their willingness to donate, they prefer to keep away from the political limelight and stay anonymous. Jonas committed that when donations are accepted by outside sources, the details of such donations will be made publicly available on their social media pages, so that all donations could be accounted for. It was emphasized that the party will not allow financial interests to compromise the

A New and United Guyana leader Ralph Ramkarran delivering his remarks

party's mandate or their commitment to ensuring a better Guyana.

Jeffrey spoke extensively on what he sees as extremely ethnocentric politics, which he believes is one of the major issues holding Guyana back. He said “this chronic, [ethnic] voting is largely responsible for poverty,” and that Guyana is more like a collection of tribes, than a diverse collective. He warned that “If we don't

speak with a united voice, then the international community will not respect the country”.

Ramkaran said that ANUG will be what the Alliance for Change (AFC) convinced Guyana it would be. He noted that in the stages of the AFC's formation, Khemraj Ramjattan had said that the AFC would become dead meat if it joined with the PNC/R. He stated that, since the Cummingsburg Accord, “they joined with the PNC… and they became dead meat.”

ANUG leadership criticised not just the AFC, but The United Force (TUF).

These parties, ANUG notes, have become “weakened political appendages”. The Working People's Alliance (WPA) was mentioned, for their criticism of both main parties as not worthy of support, but are noted to have “[fallen] by the wayside.”

The former Speaker of the House promised that

ANUG will not join either of the major political parties to form a government.

The party leader said that he believes ANUG will win the election, and that that is its ultimate goal. He noted, however, that the two major political forces currently in play have major strongholds.

Hence, he explained that, if the party doesn't win the election, there is a “strong possibility that it will “get enough seats to hold a balance of power.”

Noting that most of the persons on the Steering Committee are in or near senescence, he stressed the importance of having a diverse party; noting that youth are welcome to join and that they will not just be given a voice, but allowed to lead.

The former PPP stalwart said that Guyana is currently politically unstable and that oil-related developments in 2020 will not cure that instability.

“We need to make the (continued on page 24)

Saturday January 19, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

Tint policy to be addressed once and for all

T

he vexing problem of tints on vehicles is heading, at last, for a solution.

Yesterday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon, during the post-Cabinet press briefings, disclosed that a recent survey on tint for motor vehicles, was submitted this week to Cabinet.

The research survey, he said, was conducted to facilitate a review of the policy by which vehicles tint permit are issued.

The survey was submitted by Vice President and Minister of Public S e c u r i t y, K h e m r a j Ramjattan.

The main purpose of the survey was to solicit the views of citizens on the use of vehicles with tinted windows in Guyana.

The report also included the information on best practices in a number of countries with regards to the use of motor vehicles with tinted windows.

According to Minister Harmon, Cabinet accepted the report and undertook to examine its full content

before its approval.

Currently, there is a degree of tint allow on vehicles. The police must see the driver and inside for vehicles for ordinary citizens.

Police have been checking and during road campaigns have been ordering drivers to peel the really dark tints off.

While for some, tints serve as protection against the sun, for others, it has been used to conduct illegal activities, including robberies. For the darker tints, the Ministry of Public Security has to grant permission.

In the Application For A Tint Waiver, vehicle owners must submit a copy of the Certificate of Vehicle Registration and the Certificate of Fitness and a copy of the last tint permit received (if applicable).

The process from application to final approval or rejection for a tint waiver is that upon receipt of the application, along with documents required, the applicant will be served with a letter that must be taken to the Licence Revenue Office

Government is moving to address the issue of tints on vehicles, once and for all, Minister Joseph Harmon disclosed yesterday.

(LRO) in order to verify the Vehicle's Tint Density.

Subsequent to the completion of this verification process, the LRO will submit its Tint Reading to the Minister of Public Security for approval/refusal. The Ministry will notify the applicant of the final decision, and if the

application is approved, the applicant will be granted a Tint Waiver Permit.

The permits are valid for one year and should be renewed at least one week before the expiry date. Only vehicles with a manufacturer's tint will be eligible to be considered for a tint waiver.

In the past, there have

been widespread complaints about the manner in which tint waivers were being approved. There were also questions about the private

vehicles of police ranks, who are accused of sporting the darkest of tints. The new tint policy will address these issues also.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Saturday January 19, 2019

Top Cop says police have 'corroborating statements' in Charrandass Persaud probe - will approach Canada, if necessary, to question former MP

P

olice have r e c e i v e d 'corroboration' from gold dealers who were interviewed during an ongoing probe into bribery and other allegations against former Member of Parliament Charrandass Persaud.

Commissioner of Police Leslie James made this disclosure yesterday while

telling journalists that the Force's investigation has “gone a significant way,” and that the police may approach Canadian officials 'if necessary' to have Persaud extradited for questioning.

James confirmed that Persaud, a Canadian citizen, is under investigation into allegations of bribery and the reported shipping of gold out of Guyana.

“I would say that we have gone a significant way so far (in our investigation) (and) there may be a need for us to speak with Mr. Persaud,” Commissioner James told journalists while giving a promised update of the investigation.

“If it becomes necessary to seek extradition we will so do…I am sure that there is an extradition treaty between

Canada and Guyana, and if it so necessitates, we will apply to have it done.”

While confirming that investigators have interviewed “a few gold dealers” and “have corroboration” from these interviews, media operatives left the briefing with many questions unanswered, as the To p C o p r e p e a t e d l y described the investigation

Former MP, Charrandass Persaud

Commissioner of Police, Leslie James

as “a matter of national security.”

“What we have is statements which embody some things. If I were to say certain things, I would be highly prejudicial…I don't intend to do that. The person we are investigating is innocent until proven guilty.

This is an impartial investigation we have undertaken.

“This is a matter of national security. It is a former MP that is under investigation. What we are doing at this point is gathering evidence. We are not seeking to manufacture anything; whatever is given to us is being submitted for legal advice. Any developments will be made public.”

James stated that police launched the investigation after they received a report.

He declined to say who submitted the report, or whether police are trying to link any evidence to Persaud's no-confidence

vote in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018 The allegations against Persaud surfaced shortly after the former AFC member shocked his colleagues by supporting the Opposition PPP's noconfidence motion. This led to the toppling of the Government and a call for General Elections within 90 days.

Commissioner James confirmed that Minister of Public Security had contacted him about providing security for Persaud as the MP was leaving parliament.

Persaud fled to Canada hours after casting his NoConfidence vote. He was subsequently expelled from the AFC. Persaud, an attorney, has stated that he contacted some gold dealers on behalf of clients, but denied accepting any money to vote in favour of the aforementioned motion.

Kaieteur News

Saturday January 19, 2019

PAGE 17

“Guyana is the gift that keeps on giving...”

E - Exxon's latest well could

xxonMobil's latest discovery offshore Guyana, the Pluma-1 well, could very well produce around 300 million barrels of oil equivalent of recoverable reserves.

This is according to Wood Mackenzie, in its preliminary estimation of the well. Wood Mackenzie is said to be a global leader in commercial intelligence for the energy, metals and mining industries.

Specifically making this known recently however was Wood Mac's, Julie Wilson.

During one of Wood Mac's podcast discussions, (https://soundcloud.com/wo odmackenzie/guyanadeepwater-discoveries-hitdouble-figures), the Research Director said that Pluma is another Cretaceous sandstone discovery. In fact, she explained that there have been 10 discoveries so far and eight have been in the Cretaceous play.

Wilson said, “And of course, we have had two discoveries in other plays.

One in the carbonate play for the north Ranger and one in the Miocene play and that was the Hammerhead…The consortium is talking about a further 18 or more prospects on the block. I suspect that the majority of those are Cretaceous.”

The Research Director continued, “Now what is remarkable about the block is that 12 exploration wells have been drilled and only two have been a miss. That is an incredible success rate, but not unprecedented in new provinces like this opening up…We saw similar success rates in other places like Angola and Mozambique.”

She added, “What we

The Noble Tom Madden drillship (Photo Credit: OilNow)

might see as the operator works down the prospect list is that we might begin to see more dry holes. So the success rate might fall away a little bit as they start to drill riskier prospects. And I expect them as well to target o t h e r M i o c e n e prospects…But the resource estimate has increased to over five billion barrels of oil equivalent of recoverable resource and that's not all in the Pluma discovery… So our preliminary estimate for Pluma is 300 million barrels of oil equivalent of recoverable resource…”

Wilson said that this is a remarkable story and one that is highly successful for the participants. She and her other colleagues at Wood Mac said that at this rate, Guyana could easily end up

producing one million barrels of oil per day.

“Guyana is the gift that keeps on giving,” they said.

The Pluma-1 well is ExxonMobil's tenth and latest discovery to date on the Stabroek Block. The discovery was announced in December 2018. Pluma was drilled in a new reservoir and encountered approximately 121 feet (37 metres) of high-

produce 300M barrels of oil - Wood Mackenzie

quality hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone.

The Noble Tom Madden drillship began drilling it on November 1, last. The well is located approximately 17 miles (27 kilometres) south of the Turbot-1 well.

The gross recoverable resource for the Stabroek Block is now estimated to total more than five billion oilequivalent barrels, including

Liza and other successful exploration wells such as Payara, Liza deep, Snoek, Turbot, Ranger, Pacora, Longtail, and Hammerhead.

The Noble Bob Douglas continues to drill the Liza Phase One development wells and will continue drilling exploration wells. It will move to drill the Tilapia-1 prospect located 3.4 miles (5.5 kilometres) west of the

Longtail-1 well.

The Stena Carron drillship was docked in November last for scheduled 10-year maintenance, during which new K-Pos Dynamic Positioning, K-Chief Automation, K-Thrust Thruster Control, and a Kongsberg Riser Management System will all be installed, after which it will return to Guyana.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Saturday January 19, 2019

Guyana collaborating with FAO to improve school feeding programme

G

uyana is on a tactical mission to strengthen and transform its national school feeding programme.

Moreover, discussion on the way forward was a top priority when newly appointed Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO] Representative to Guyana, Dr. Gillian Smith, met with Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, on Thursday.

This move comes in light of the FAO's mandate to reduce poverty and eradicate hunger globally by working across sectors, including Ministries of Education.

It is expected that Dr. Smith, a Jamaican national, will be able to work closely with Guyana given her Guyanese heritage which

she spoke proudly as she engaged the Education Minister on measures to strengthen and transform the national school feeding programme.

Indeed it was in an effort to move forward with a structured school feeding programme that the local Ministry of Education decided to partner with FAO. Moreover, as part of Thursday's self-orientation exercise, Dr. Smith and Minister Henry discussed a range of issues regarding the FAO effort in Guyana, with the main focus on the ongoing work of the Education Ministry relating to its school feeding programme.

Calling the discussion with the Education Minister “very fruitful,” Dr. Smith

noted that the FAO has provided, and will continue to provide, needed support to the Ministry of Education and by extension, the Government of Guyana, for the benefit of its populace.

Through the interaction, Minister Henry informed Dr. Smith about the human and structural development programmes which the Education Ministry executes.

The Minister listed school feeding as a priority for Government, as reflected in the 2019 budgetary allocations.

“We [the FAO] work to promote and support the country programme and we are looking for key areas to continue the work that we do, while contributing to the development of education

Minister Nicolette Henry (right) presents Dr. Gillian Smith with a record of Guyana's history. and food security in Guyana,” said Dr. Smith.

To this, Minister Henry p r o m i s e d t h e FA O

representative to facilitate pathways for networking with the Ministry's Permanent Secretary, Ms.

Adele Clarke, to share the Ministry's transformational vision aimed at (continued on page 24)

Cessnas cleared to fly again

The Cessna Caravan (at left) shortly after the landing gear collapsed on Wednesday

A

irworthiness Inspectors from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) have completed their investigation and inspections of all Cessna Caravans at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, declaring all the aircraft as safe for use.

According to the a u t h o r i t y y e s t e r d a y, following the submission of their findings, the Director

General of the GCAA, Lt. Col. (Ret'd) Egbert Field, has lifted the suspension which was instituted on Wednesday, effectively giving the operators the green-light to continue using this type of aircraft as part of their fleet.

On Wednesday, the left main landing gear of aircraft C208B, belonging to Air Services Limited, collapsed while being loaded at the Ogle Airport. The Director General issued the temporary suspension of all

flights using the Caravans until safety inspections were completed. The suspension was given “in the interest of safety for the flying public”.

Col. Field promised that more in-depth inspection of these aircraft will be conducted at a later date.

There are 16 Cessna Caravans operating commercially, officials say.

The planes are critical to taking residents, miners and others to remote hinterland areas.

GCAA' Director General, Lt. Col. (Ret'd) Egber

Saturday January 19, 2019

'Shark Oil' gets March date for hearing of appeal against murder conviction

H

erman Ally, who was sentenced to death for the murder of a fellow Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice resident in 2006, was instructed yesterday to return to court on March 14, when the Court of Appeal will commence hearing arguments in the case.

Arguing that trial judge Roxanne George admitted a caution statement into evidence which should have been excluded, and failed to put his defence to the jury, 70-year-old Ally has appealed a murder conviction and death sentence imposed on him Ally, also known as, 'Shark Oil' was found guilty of murdering Randall Sandy, also known as 'Randall Taylor' between October 5 and 6, 2006. The conviction and sentence were handed down in 2012 following a trial at the High Court in Berbice.

During Ally's trial in 2012, State Prosecutors had argued that Ally murdered Sandy following a misunderstanding.

It was stated that on October 5, 2006 at around 16:00 hrs, Sandy was found in the vicinity of Ally's yard with a wound. He was picked up and taken to his mother's

home before being rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he died the next day. Ally was arrested that same day and was later charged with murder.

In court documents seen

by Kaieteur News, Ally's lawyer is contending that the trial judge admitted into evidence a caution statement which ought properly to have been excluded, and further, that the trial judge failed to permit his client to mitigate his defence.

In the grounds of appeal, the lawyer argues that the trial judge failed to put his client's defence to the jury and that the trial judge misdirected the jury on the law of self-defence and murder. Further, Alli's lawyer has argued that the trial judge failed to permit his client to mitigate in his defence.

Though he was found guilty of the crime, Ally had maintained his innocence.

Then, he had told the Court, “I know to myself that at no time at all I had any implement or knife or w h a t e v e r. I w a s n o t responsible for the killing of Randall Sandy. I swear on my two eyes, which are damaged, that he did not give a caution statement to the police.”

Rice farmers unable to cope with increase in price of fertilizer

- Call for removal of VAT, granting of fuel subsidies

R

ice farmers are calling on the Government, in light of the added burden to irrigate fields emanating from the dry spells, and increases in prices of fuel and lubricant, to grant fuel subsidies. They also want the removal of the Value Added Tax (VAT) on fertilizer and pesticides, which they insist would be a form of financial aid given to them to improve their sustainability and their remaining competitive in the industry.

Paddy farmers recently alluded to price increase of Urea 46-0-0 fertilizer by some $800 per bag, as imposing severely on their ability to make necessary input in fields. In addition, VAT has already been applied to pesticides, and all other facilities necessary for rice production, which the farmers say will make it a non-profitable business if they too are continuous.

Kaieteur News went to Crane on the West Coast of Demerara, where several farmers, while discussing other matters related to rice production, said that they were familiar with the important role that media plays in highlighting their plight.

“If government pull off the VAT from fertilizer and subsidize fuel cost, we can buy the full amount of fertilizer and apply. Right now as it stands, we pay VAT on fuel, grease, tyres, oil, tools and spares, which is an enormous burden on us.

The price we get for paddy was graded for the 2018-second crop, which is a real blow to us. Fuel on the world market has dropped, and the effect is not equal here in Guyana.”

Relative to Trinidad & Tobago gasoline price is 0.85 USD, Suriname 0.92 USD, while Guyana currently is 1.09 USD per litre.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Saturday January 19, 2019

Region Four Health Dept. partners Labour Dept. for workplace safety training

B

eing able to identify hazards in the workplace is an important asset.

Against this backdrop, the Region Four Health Department decided to collaborate with the Labour Department of the Ministry of Social Protection to facilitate a strategic Occupational Health and Safety training workshop for employees within Region Four.

The training workshop which was held at the Region's Friendship office targeted new employees with the aim of sensitizing them on a number of issues as it relates to occupational safety and health awareness.

The workshop, which was facilitated by Ms. Neza King, Occupational Health and Safety [OHS] Officer within the Social Protection Ministry, sought to address a number of issues so as to

better inform and sensitize employees on what are their rights and responsibilities.

She also educated them on how to address workplace accidents.

K in g r ev e al ed th a t among the primary objectives of the workshop was to provide a basic introduction to Occupational Health and Safety. She added that it also sought to create awareness of the OHS Act, workplace hazards and employees' safety and health responsibilities. Twentyseven new employees within the Regional Democratic Council Region Four Health Department participated in the workshop.

“Through this workshop, we are hoping that the participants would learn how they can identify hazards, how they can control these hazards and how to eliminate these hazards among other

things. It is our hope that when they are on the job they would be able to work in a safer environment, as they would have received the required knowledge, thus preventing things like accidents on the job,” King said.

The Ministry of Social Protection officer stressed too that such workshops are critically important, noting that there are many things that persons should know, but unfortunately they are not aware of. She went on to note that the participants themselves recognise the urgency and importance of such workshops.

As such she emphasised that “These workshops are very important because the participants have recognised and admitted that they have no knowledge of the OHS Awareness Act, and no one knew about it, which means

that we have many others who are in a similar situation like them. It's important to know what the laws are and what are the consequences for those found guilty of not following the Act,” she said.

King stated that many persons are clueless as to the safety measures that should be followed so as to avoid accidents. As such she was eager to point out that the response by the participants to such the workshop has been overwhelming.

According to the OHS o f f i c e r, m a n y o f t h e participants were genuinely interested in learning more about the OHS and other related Acts too. “I am happy with the level of positive response that I have seen.”

King further pointed out that one of the most interesting areas was the examination of personal core values, which, she said, gained a lot of attention.

This, she explained, is especially important as, “it would help one in better understanding what they are expected or not expected to do.” “Your core values are

the yardstick and as such it would guide you. That is why I have encouraged the participants to embrace safety as professionals, team work, integrity, cooperation etc. as their personal core values,” King said.

The OSH officer singled out RDC Region Four for high praises, noting that in Guyana there is a laudable level of safety and health awareness, adding that it's not only being pushed by the private sector but also the government sectors.

As such, King reiterated that workshops are tactical moves, as her ministry seeks to address what she said has been a major issue for a number of years. She revealed that this being the first workshop for her Ministry in 2019, she is hoping that several other private and public agencies and departments would follow suit.

Although there has been a notable reduction in the number of accidents in workplaces for this year so far, King expressed the view that there is still more to be

Ms. Neza King, Occupational Health and Safety Officer done. She declared that this can only be achieved through increased education and sensitization, thus the approach being taken by Region Four RDC is one that she said should be emulated by others.

“I am very pleased by the response of participants, and I am confident that with this approach by RDC Region Four, especially starting off the year with training, it will significantly improve the skills and knowledge of employees, which is certainly the right step to be taken,” King added.

Saturday January 19, 2019

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

PPP agreed to content of joint statement - Harmon

By Abena RockcliffeCampbell Tit for tat?

At a press conference on Thursday, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo told the media that the government misrepresented the occurrences of his meeting with President David Granger last week. He said that the mischief was in the joint statement that the government released.

Less than 24 hours after, Minister of State Joseph Harmon told the media that it is Jagdeo who is misrepresenting things. Harmon said that the Opposition Leader knows very well that the statement was approved by him (Jagdeo) and two other People’s Progressive Party (PPP) officials.

Harmon said this at postCabinet press briefing held at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The meeting was the first issue Harmon dealt with at yesterday’s forum.

He told the press that Cabinet was provided with details of what took place at last week’s meeting and the joint statement was circulated.

Harmon said that the joint statement was drafted by himself and Minister Raphael Trotman for the government and Opposition Members of Parliament Anil Nandlall and Irfaan Ali. Harmon said that the four worked no less than four hours to ensure that the statement was an accurate representation of what was discussed.

“After that long session, the statement was not released until midday the following day because all throughout the morning there were calls for changing this

and changing that, we accommodated all of it.”

Harmon said that that is why he found Jagdeo’s claim of misrepresentation “a bit troubling.”

Harmon said, “Sometimes I wish the public can take a peek into the way these things are done. There it was, Nandlall was actually iterating the Leader of Opposition’s position on a certain matter and he was strolling around my office iterating it, and I taking notes.”

Harmon said that the government regarded the entire exercise as uplifting for the public to see that government and opposition members can actually sit and hammer out documents in the national interest.

Harmon said that Jagdeo had his say even the day after.

“The last insertions in

that statement were made by Jagdeo. He called me at 11:45 hrs to say ‘please insert this’ and I said ‘yes, that is okay to put in’. So this was a question of going forward and backward, forward and backward. Citizens were asking into the night, ‘where is this statement, y’all had the meeting since 12 o’clock?’ But sometimes to capture what was said and what was the intention of the parties takes a while to put in writing.”

Harmon said that the government holds to the letter “and the spirit of the document itself, I am not sure what Jagdeo is talking about.”

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

PAGE 22

Saturday January 19, 2019

Kaieteur News LEGALNOTICE

FOR RENT

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisement, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

For professional bee removal with a warranty call The Bee Musketeers on 639-6911 today House plan drafting from $13,000. Sean #667-2189 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezer-Call: 610-5846 or 661-8158S HOUSE PLAN TO BE DRAWN OR ESTIMATES. CALL 216-0671/ 692-8464/ 622-0267

FOR SALE 1 Double Steel Wheel Roller, 1-9 Wheel Pneumatic roller, 2 Bitumen Kettle, 1- 3304 Di CAT engine. Tel#275-0367/ 683-7225 1-CAT 215 Excavator, 1 CAT 428 Backhoe, 1 Mack concrete mixer 8 Cu yds, 1 450 Honda Atv. Call: 275-0367/683-7225 Black German Shepherd pups, Riumzeight Gardens WCD. #269-0671/688-1656 1 (250KVA) generator power

by NT55 Cummings. Contact #269-0603/609-2350/644-1190 Used imported glass showcase L72" x H39" x W24" 40,000 each. Tel#625-1514 USED PARTS FOR 320/324 CATERPILLAR MACHINE. CONTACT 223-5273/74 Tacoma, tundra, titan, FI50 parts - engine, transmission, back & front suspension, alternator, starter etc, CD players. Call 695-6461/6397758 Transported property at Covent Garden Island. Call 265-3586 One eight inch bearing block and water pump with 6x4 Y along with matching valves.

Tel#676-5725

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 1 bedroom apt for working couple/single person $35,000 monthly. Light and Water included. Lodge. Call: 6230076 One 2 bedroom apartment located at North East La Penitence. Contact#668-3259/ 621-3762 Bottom flat 2 bedroom apartment to rent situated at lot 229 Section A Block X Diamond Housing Scheme.

Contact 696-6463/673-6222 1 well-appointed furnished 2 bedroom apartment in Bel Air, with Parking. Tel Nos: 2254106/225-4708 between 8:004:30 Mon-Fri Self-contained rooms to rent in Prashad Nagar. Tel#2272993 Mini excavator $8,800 per hour, also Bobcat service available. Tel#623-0290 (1) Upper flat (4) bedroom house fully grill in first st Herstelling E.B.D. Contact 265-3844, 662-2687

GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)

LAND FOR SALE Transported land 11.6 acres.

Lot 15 public road. #2 Village W.C.B. Price $18M. Contact 686-4818, 648-7109 (1) Fenced land Parfaite Harmony - $2M. Uitvlugt $2.5M Neg. Zeelugt $1.5M Neg. Zeelugt $2.3M Neg. Tel: 697-6311/642-1252

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

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

Land at Best Crane Vreed-enhoop 104x417 $2,000,000 transported, Land at Parfaite W.B.D Tel#672-0416 Parfaite $1.6M. Land fence & foundation $2M. Farm $3.5M. Schoonard $4M. Dairy (100ftx50ft) $4M. Tel# 6560701/648-1635 LEARN TO DRIVE P. Outar and C. Persaud Driving School at Maraj Building. Call: 622-2872, 6150964, 681-2808

1 Shop assistant to work in the interior. Experience would be an asset. #669-3162 1 Cleaner to work shift system.

Apply in person Buddy’s Gym. 137 Sheriff St. 231-4104 Urgently need dry Corilla Bush.Any amount from 1lb to 1000lbs. #609-8281 Contract cars at City Taxi Service 8 Vlissengen Rd. Tel: 226-7150 Looking for experienced cook to make soup daily. Good pay, Flexible hours, Call: 622-2693 General domestic with cooking experience. Age 3055. Call 616-6988 Assistant office administrator. Sales and spares assistant. 628-9268 One female domestic worker.

Must know to cook. Drivers/ porters. Preferably from the East Bank. Call 233-5255, 6109624 One female domestic worker to work in Trinidad. Age 2535. Contact 1868-386-5302 Factory workers male & female. Apply in person to: R.P’s Enterprise Area ‘K’ Le Resouvenir E.C.D. 220-2818 or 3710 1 Male cook to work in interior $120,000 monthly. Workers for land dredge. #629-8280 LEGALNOTICE

We supply large quantities of school uniforms for interior locations and other places.

Tel# 656-0701/648-1635 TAXI SERVICE

WANTED

VEHICLE FOR SALE Nissan Laurel Executive antique car, Nissan Pathfinder 4-door Jeep.

Superb condition. Price Neg. Call your price. Tel#660-3415/609-7766 One (1) unregistered new model Tacoma, white in color, crash bar, step, alarm etc. Call 695-6461 or 639-7758 Allion, primo, spacio, allex, noah, RZ pitbull bus, mazda axela, bluebird, 192 fielder wagon. 650-7501 One Hilux Vigo, Smart cab.

Call: 693-7613 Reasonable offer accepted 1 Mitsubishi canter 4D-32 14 feet tray wide body. Series GJJ. 664-5052

2018-HC-DEM-CIV-FD1482 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND M AT R I M O N I A L JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO. FD-1482 BETWEEN:- (De Souza) VERLINE nee GARRAWAY Petitioner – and- (De SOUZA) ANTONIO JARAON MARQUES Respondent TO: ANTONIO JARSON MARQUES De SOUZA (Last Known Address) Lusignan Grassfield Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, Guyana TAKE NOTICE that on the 15th day of November, 2018 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by VERLINE DeSouza nee GARRAWAY the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 21st day of December, 2018

the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) Consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspapers, a daily Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the Worldwide Web. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorneyat-Law at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 28 (twenty-eight) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the matter is fixed for Directions Hearing on Monday 18th day February, 2019 at 3:30pm before the Honourable Mr. Justice Gino Peter Persaud in the Directions Hearing Room of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown.

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/ Notice of Intention to Defend Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts (Georgetown, Demerara). The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 27th day of December, 2018.

VACANCY Cashiers - CXC required porters. Survival supermarket 16 Vlissengen Rd. Newtown Cooks, Handyboys, Roti/Puri makers, Apply at Shanta’s 225 Camp St Salon for rental. Hair & nail stations available. New market street. 638-1106. Massage room available (2) Responsible male to graze and milk cow. Age 30-45. #2332049 Call anytime after 12 $22,000 start salary.

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Must have experience. Call 672-4695 for more information General Domestic with cooking experience for East Bank. #614-4358 PROPERTY FOR SALE House and land available at Parfaite, Tuschen, Diamond etc.

Contact Pacific Development Inc. 223-6035/ 604-4909 Transport property for sale, BB Eccles, EBD. Call: 616-9490 Transported property in Regent Street between Wellington & Camp Street.

Tel#655-3332 Opposite Guyoil Gas Station House for sale, Eccles Housing Scheme. 7 bedrooms, 3 toilets and bathrooms enclosed. $28.5M. Call 6420391/ 001447587233657

TO LET Lodge apartments (Vlissengen/Durban) unfurnished (1) bedroom $50,000, (2) bedroom $60,000.

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House lots for sale, 200k downpayment, 20k monthly #622-1957 Commercial Property, double lot next to Harbour Bridge,East Bank... must go #622-1957 Continued on the next page

Saturday January 19, 2019

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Govt. files submissions in challenge...

Cuban national fined for overstaying - granted time to conclude pending transactions at U.S. Embassy A 40-year-old Cuban national found himself before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for overstaying his time in Guyana.

The court heard that Hunyays Lazaro Delgado Reygaga, of Cal l e 1 0 , # 154 Apartment 6, Havana, Cuba, entered Guyana via the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and was granted a one month period to stay - November 14, 2018 to December 13, 2018. He failed to comply with that time and overstayed.

According to the police facts, on January 17, 2018, the accused along with his mother enquired about a Visa application at the United States Embassy located at Duke Street, Georgetown in pursuit of destination to the United States of America.

During the enquiry it was found that the application was pending. In the presence of the embassy representatives, Reygaga allegedly made statements about bombing the embassy. From his disorderly conduct the police were called in and he was arrested.

The defendant was taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Eve L e a r y, Georgetown, where he was asked to produce his documents, and it was discov-

Hunyays Lazaro Delgado Reygaga ered that he over stayed his time. Reygaga was later charged.

The accused was then fined $30,000 or in default he is to spend six months in prison. He was instructed to be deported to Cuba.

However, attorney at law Bernard Da Silva, who represented the accused, claimed that his client has transactions pending at the United States Embassy in Guyana and further asked for more time to conclude such.

Magistrate Daly then granted the time and further ordered that the defendant leave Guyana on or before February 14, 2019.

From page 3 submitted that the framers of the Constitution in article 70(3) having guaranteed an elected government a five years term of office which five years term is protected by entrenchment by the requirement of two thirds of all the elected members of the National Assembly voting to reduce that five years, could not at the same time have intended that a future Parliament were to be permitted to abridge or curtail the enjoyment of that five years, by introducing into the Constitution via a provision that is not entrenched at all a process called a 'vote of confidence'”, the lawyers have argued in relation to the third issue.

They also contend that this provision was completely omitted in 1980 by the framers, whereby, by a bare simple majority, an elected government's entrenched five years term could to all practical intents and purposes be reduced to mere months (as there is no time limit after a President is sworn into office before a vote of confidence could be taken).

Furthermore, among other things, they are contending that it is this vulnerability to such drastic impingement on that guaranteed five years through the instrumentality of Section Five of that Act which, was in law capable of being amended without a two third majority, that is repugnant to, and inconsistent with the intention of the framers that the five years should only, in law be reducible by some future amendment of a provision which requires a two third majority vote for its amendment.

According to the legal team, Article 106 via which the Seventh Parliament has pur-

ported to enable such reduction to the five years is not such a provision, and Article 106 is not an entrenched provision in terms of the special procedure for alteration in article 164.

“For present purposes it is wholly immaterial that, in point of fact, there was political bipartisanship that caused Act 17/2000 to be passed in fact by a 2/3 majority vote. It is submitted that fact of 2/3 majority vote is immaterial to the issue under consideration because the question of interpretation as to what the framers intended is not whether parties may for political convenience (as happened with 17/2000) pass a Bill with 2/3 majority support).”

They have raised the question on whether bipartisan support, or not, the provision requires a two third majority vote for its passage.

Article 106 does not require a two third majority vote for its alteration, they contend.

Finally, the lawyers advance that if the vote is contrary to the Constitution, the court can intervene and

quash the Speaker's decision.

Citing the Kelman case, the lawyers submit that the court declared that the vote was void and that Government Ministers were not to resign but remain in office.

According to the lawyers, “if a Speaker of a National Assembly acts contrary to the Constitution, his decision can be quashed. In this case, the vote in Guyana is contrary to Article 106 (6) and must be set aside as being ultra vires and repugnant to the Constitution”.

In concluding the lawyers said, “The quintessential fact is that there has been an error in the manner of the calculation of the number of votes needed for a No Confidence Motion, and this error carried over into the purported pronouncement by the Speaker that the vote was carried.

The ineluctable conclusion is that the vote was improper and unconstitutional.

The Constitution's ethos and norms must be maintained in order that the Parliament do not act or purport to act in a manner subversive to the Constitution.”

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PAGE 24

Russia says new U.S. missile strategy will unleash arms race in space MOSCOW (Reuters) Russia said yesterday the new U.S. missile defense strategy would unleash a dangerous arms race in space and amounts to a relaunch of the Cold War-era “Star Wars” program.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled a plan that envisages developing spacebased sensors to detect incoming enemy missiles and exploring space-based weapons to shoot down missiles before they can threaten U.S. soil.

A statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the strategy as irresponsible and an act of confrontation, but made no mention of Moscow reciprocating with new plans to develop its own nuclear capability.

Instead, the ministry called on Washington to think again, backtrack from its plans and engage in talks with Moscow to find agreement on how to manage the world’s nuclear missile arsenal.

“The strategy, de facto, gives the green light to the prospect of basing missile strike capabilities in space,” the statement said.

“The implementation of these ideas will inevitably lead to the start of an arms race in space, which will have the most negative consequences for international security and stability,” it said.

Saturday January 19, 2019

Kaieteur News

“We would like to call on the U.S. administration to think again and walk away from this irresponsible attempt to re-launch, on a new and more hightech basis, the still-remembered Reagan-era ‘Star Wars’ program.”

A renewed nuclear arms race would be a huge financial burden for Russia, whose economy is making a faltering recovery after years of low oil prices, a r e c e s s i o n a n d We s t e r n trade sanctions.

President Vladimir Putin’s approval rating, while still high, has fallen from its peak in 2014, in part because of unhappiness about living standards and a drop in household incomes. The revamped U.S. missile strategy cited concerns about the burgeoning capabilities of Iran, Russia, China and North Korea and said this required a review of U.S. capability. It marked a departure from the approach taken by Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, to tamp down concerns among other major nuclear powers about expanding U.S. missile defenses.

Even before the new U.S. strategy was unveiled, Moscow and Washington were at loggerheads over missile defense.

The Trump administration has said it plans to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear

F o r c e s t r e a t y, o n t h e grounds Moscow is flouting it. Russia though says it is in compliance, and that Washington is in fact in violation.

In its statement about the new U.S. strategy, the Foreign Ministry said: “It is openly confrontational i n c h a r a c t e r, a n d o n c e again demonstrates that Washington is trying to secure for itself unrivalled military supremacy in the world.”

It said Russia had made repeated offers to Washington to negotiate about nuclear arms control, but that these offers had been ignored or rebuffed.

“We call on the U.S. administration to display political will and, once and for all, engage in a joint search for ways to resolve the problems that have built up in the strategic field, before it’s too late,” the statement said.

Russia has itself been accused of flirting with a new nuclear arms race, an allegation it rejects.

I n M a r c h l a s t y e a r, Putin announced that work was underway on an array of new Russian weapons which he said could hit almost any point in the world and evade U.S. missile defenses.

The new weapons included a hyper-sonic, nuclear-capable missile called Avangard. Putin oversaw what the Kremlin said was a pre-deployment test of the new missile in December last year, and afterwards he declared it a complete success.

Defending his stance, Putin said he was not trying to trigger a new arms race but rather to stop that from happening. By developing weapons capable of evading U.S. defenses, Putin said, he was showing U.S. officials it was futile for them to beef up their own nuclear missile capabilities.

Trump hits back at report he ‘instructed lawyer to lie’ US President Donald Trump has hit back over a news report that he directed his then personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, to lie to Congress.

Buzzfeed News said Mr. Trump had instructed Cohen to lie about plans to build a Trump Tower in Moscow.

Cohen was convicted over the case last month.

Mr Trump said the lawyer was lying about the Moscow project to “reduce his jail time”.

Democratic politicians say they will investigate the Buzzfeed allegations.

Buzzfeed says its report is based on testimony from two unnamed law enforcement officials investigating the matter.

The story alleges Mr Trump received 10 personal updates from Cohen about a plan to build the Moscow tower at a time when Mr Trump denied having any business ties to Russia.

Mr. Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, and son, Donald Jnr, were also updated, the story alleges.

Special counsel Robert Mueller, who is conducting a federal investigation into alleged Russian interference in the US presidential election and whether Trump campaign figures were complicit, has already revealed that Cohen lied about the date the Moscow Trump Tower project ended.

Cohen told Congress talks over the plan had taken place between September 2015 and January 2016 but criminal complaint documents say they lasted until June.

Cohen said the plan had been halted earlier in an attempt to “minimise links between the Moscow Project and Individual 1” during the election campaign. Individual 1 has previously been identified by Cohen as Mr Trump.

Buzzfeed says Cohen has told investigators that Mr

Trump “personally instructed him to lie” about the date negotiations ended “in order to obscure Trump’s involvement” The report said Mr Mueller had other evidence, including from interviews with other Trump organisation staff and internal company emails, to corroborate Cohen’s version of events.

The report also says Mr Trump allegedly encouraged Cohen to plan a trip to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during the election campaign.

Cohen was sentenced to 36 months in December after he pleaded guilty to lying to Congress over the Trump Tower plan. He also admitted campaign finance violations and tax evasion.

In court he said his “weakness was a blind loyalty to Donald Trump” whose “dirty deeds” he had felt compelled to cover up

New caravan of Central American migrants crosses into Mexico TAPACHULA, Mexico (Reuters) - Hundreds of mostly Honduran migrants entered southern Mexico yesterday, joining around 1,000 other people from Central America who crossed a day earlier and putting to the test Mexico’s vows to guarantee the safe and orderly flow of people.

The cohort crossed into Chiapas state before dawn without needing the wrist bands that officials on Thursday gave migrants to wear until they could register with authorities, several migrants and an official told Reuters.

The road today was open,” said Marco Antonio Cortez, 37, a baker from Honduras traveling with his wife and children, ages 2 and 9.

“They didn’t give us bracelets or anything, they just let

us pass through Mexico migration.”

A migration official at the entry point, who asked not to be named because she was not authorized to speak to media, said that at least 1,000 people crossed from Guatemala into Mexico by around 5 a.m., without needing wrist bands.

Migration officials did not reply to requests for comment on why the wrist bands were not required on Friday.

The migrant group proceeded on foot alongside cars on a highway, accompanied by federal police officers, arriving at a shelter in the city of Tapachula around midday.

Sitting by the side of the road rubbing cream onto his children’s feet, 40-

year-old Honduran migrant Santos Pineda said he and his family entered Mexico easily, and without having to provide documents or wear any wrist bands. The family’s plan was to press on to the United States, he said.

Ash-smeared holy men attract crowds at India’s Kumbh Mela Mexico’s migration institute said in a statement the migrants can stay in temporary shelters in Mexico until they receive humanitarian visas allowing them to remain in the country, or they wait in Guatemala for their document to be ready.

Groups of migrants left El Salvador and Honduras earlier in the week, the latest in a string of caravans of people largely fleeing poverty and violence.

Guyana collaborating with FAO to improve...

From page 18 strengthening and expansion of various programmes among other subject matter.

Dr. Smith said too that it is obvious that the school feeding programme is extremely important to Guyana, while commending Minister Henry for being a champion for the cause.

According to Dr. Smith, “school feeding programmes can be really transformational in the de-

velopment of the human capital of a country as this ensures that children have proper nutrition which allows them to have better cognitive results and learning outcomes.”

Additionally, Dr. Smith noted that her organisation knows that school feeding programmes provide a real opportunity for children to understand nutrition education, which is key to tackling issues of Non-Communi-

cable diseases [NCDs].

The contention of the FAO representative, with agreement from Minister Henry, is that, “if we can teach children through a vibrant and productive school feeding programme how to be lifelong healthy eaters, this can help to contribute to the reduction of the NCDs and contribute to a healthy population that is productive.”

Upon conclusion of the meeting, Dr. Smith committed to Minister Henry that, “We [FAO] are looking forward to being able to work with the Ministry of Education around many of the areas that the Ministry is already working on, including nutrition education”.

The conversation between the two officials also concentrated on the curriculum and the work being done to strengthen and revise same.

Saturday January 19, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Saturday January 19, 2019

Saturday January 19, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Gunmen kill Ghanaian journalist who helped expose soccer graft DAKAR (Reuters) - Gunmen in Ghana killed an investigative journalist who had helped uncover corruption in football, rights groups and his employer said on Thursday.

Ahmed Hussein-Suale was shot three times by men on a motorbike while driving home from work on Wednesday in the capital Accra, said his production company Tiger Eye PI. “We ... are terribly devastated by this dastardly act, but remain unshaken in our resolve to make ... corruption a high-risk activity in this country,” it said in a statement.

Hussein-Suale was part of a team led by well-known un-

dercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas. Their crew is famous for a documentary last year that accused 77 referees and Ghana’s then soccer chief Kwesi Nyantakyi of taking bribes.

The film prompted Ghana to dissolve its Football Association. Nyantakyi was suspended by world soccer’s governing body FIFA and stepped down shortly after, apologising for what he called his “indiscretion”.

The killing came as a shock in Ghana, whose vibrant press enjoys relative freedom compared to many African nations.

“I expect the police to bring to book, as soon as possible, the perpetrators of this

heinous crime,” said President Afuko-Addo on Twitter.

Ghana’s police and government officials were not immediately available for further comment.

Ghana is ranked 23rd out of 180 countries in a world press freedom index compiled

by Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which is Africa’s highest ranking.

But “this shooting is a grave signal that journalists cannot work safely to keep the public informed or hold power to account in Ghana,” said the Committee to Protect Journalists, another press freedom group based in the United States.

The killing came after a

Saturday January 19, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today you're likely to feel especially romantic and sexy, and anxious to get together with a love partner.

This doesn't mean you aren't in the mood for socializing in general.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) An old friend you haven't seen for a while could suddenly reappear, and you might view this person in a different light as a potential business partner

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Some deeply buried feelings about your mother and family could come up from the past today and need release.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You're a service-oriented person by nature, and today the opportunity to spend time serving those in need could well present itself.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Group activities in your neighborhood could lead to positive changes in your community. You will enjoy exchanging ideas and information with others.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Today you might find yourself in the public eye. Acknowledgment for work well done could come your way.

It might also involve an increase in income.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Expanding your horizons is the key for today, Leo. Communications received from distant states or foreign lands could have you entertaining the idea of traveling to those places.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Some very intense dreams could take you back to the past, perhaps your childhood or past lives. Write down any dreams you remember. They might not make sense to you now, but if you go back and analyze them later, you're likely to find that they reveal a lot about you that you weren't previously aware of.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) If you've been hoping for a lucky break, Sagittarius, this is the day it might come, especially if it involves love and romance. Or you might have been hoping for acknowledgment on the job.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Changes in your home could take place now. These are positive, Capricorn, though they might seem a bit overwhelming. Some could even be described as upheavals.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Some great news could change your life forever. It might involve a new partnership of some kind or opportunities in your community.

At the least, Aquarius, it could involve changes in your outlook and attitudes about life.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Some changes regarding your career could make a difference in your resources. This could involve a pending raise or promotion or opportunities for freelance work outside the job.

campaign of abuse against the documentary team. After its airing, government legislator Kennedy Agyapong called Hussein-Suale “dangerous”, shared photos of him and told viewers he would pay for them to “beat him”.

He was not immediately available for comment on Thursday.

Anas, who covers his face in public for safety reasons, posted about the death on his Facebook and Twitter feed.

“Sad news, but we shall not be silenced,” he said.

“Rest in peace, Ahmed.”

Soccer star Ronaldo...

From page 28 a decade ago in Las Vegas.

Ronaldo says he is innocent and that the sexual encounter in question was consensual.

In the case of Xabi Alonso, prosecutors are seeking a five-year prison sentence and four million euro fine. A World Cup winner with Spain who retired from football in 2017, Alonso is accused of defrauding the Spanish state of two million euros between 2010 and 2012.

Alonso, whose adviser Ivan Zaldua Acuenaga and administrator Ignasi Maestre Casanova face the same sentence, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Ahmed Hussein-Suale, an investigative journalist who was killed by gunmen, is pictured in this handout photograph obtained

by Reuters on January 18, 2019.

(Hussein-Suale Family/ Handout via REUTERS)

PAGE 28

Birthday girl Kerber completes Australian horror show MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Birthday girl Angelique Kerber humiliated Australian wildcard Kimberly Birrell 6-1 6-0 to storm into the fourth round of the Australian Open yesterday and complete a late-night horror show for the locals at Rod Laver Arena.

Just after Rafa Nadal subjected Australian number one Alex de Minaur to a straight sets humbling, second seed Kerber pounded into Birrell like a freight train and sent the 240th-ranked 20-year-old packing after 58 scarring minutes.

Shell-shocked under the lights in front of a packed center court crowd, Birrell simply had nowhere to hide as the former world number one celebrated her 31st birthday by pummeling her opponent.

Kerber has enjoyed a birthday serenade from friendly Melbourne crowds for a number of years, but after seeing Birrell eviscerated, the terraces were hardly in full voice.

The German was unconcerned by the crowd’s heartbreak.

“If you are there, you are professional,” she told reporters.

“You are trying to play your match, trying to focus

Germany’s Angelique Kerber celebrates after winning the match against Australia’s Kimberly Birrell. (REUTERS/Aly Song) on the tennis, on the way how you would like to play, and on winning the matches. I’m not thinking about something like this.”

German Kerber has enjoyed a rollicking start at the year’s first Grand Slam and has an excellent chance to reach her third quarter-final in Melbourne after claiming the 2016 title and reaching the semi-finals last year.

She will play unseeded

American Danielle Collins for a place in the last eight where former U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens might wait should the draw go with seedings.

“I think it will be another good match ... I know her (Collins) a little bit. We played once I think last year.

“She hits the ball really hard and fast.

“It’s another match that I know that I have to take it in my hand, playing my game.”

Soccer star Ronaldo expected in Madrid Tuesday for tax fraud trial MADRID (Reuters) Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo is expected back in Madrid on Tuesday to attend a trial for tax evasion where Spanish prosecutors are asking for a 23-month prison sentence and fine.

Ronaldo’s former Madrid teammate Xabi Alonso is also due in court next Tuesday for another case of tax fraud.

Portuguese striker Ronaldo, who left Real Madrid for Juventus last July, is expected to plead guilty after he agreed a settlement worth 18.8 million euros ($21.43 million) with Spanish tax authorities last summer.

However, he is unlikely to serve any time in prison as Spanish law states a sentence of under two years for a first offence can be served on probation.

The prosecutor’s office said it was seeking a fine of 5.7 million euros, which it said Ronaldo had already paid, as well as interest of about one million euros.

That fine, expected to be confirmed on Tuesday in a Madrid court, is part of the total agreed in the earlier

Saturday January 19, 2019

Kaieteur News

Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo after their match against Bologna. (REUTERS/Alberto Lingria) settlement, judicial sources said.

Ronaldo, 33, who has helped take Juventus to the top of Italian football’s Serie A, will have to travel to Madrid immediately after playing against Chievo on Monday.

The trial was initially expected to take place on Monday but the prosecutor’s office said the date was now set for Tuesday.

It is expected to be concluded on the same day and be short, with officials saying the hearing will only require Ronaldo to confirm he accepts the deal.

Ronaldo is involved in a second legal case where police in the United States asked Italian authorities to obtain a DNA sample from him as part of their investigation into accusations he raped a woman (Continued on page 27)

Nadal subdues local hope de Minaur in third round clash

Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning the match against Australia’s Alex de Minaur. (REUTERS/Aly Song) MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal subdued Alex de Minaur 6-1 6-2 6-4 in their third round clash at the Australian Open yesterday after dominating the home town’s topranked male player.

The second seed comfortably controlled baseline exchanges, forcing the young Australian to take ever greater risks to compete with the 17 times Grand Slam champion.

“I tried to make him feel that my ball was good enough that he was not (in) control of the point - almost never,” Nadal said.

The Spaniard has won three consecutive straight sets matches against Australians, and will play Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych in the fourth round.Alarm bells started ringing at the packed center court almost as soon as the Friday match started.

Nadal held his service game easily, while de Minaur needed 16 points to hold serve, raising immediate questions over whether the young

Spain’s Rafael Nadal in action against Australia’s Alex de Minaur.

(REUTERS/Kim Kyung Hoon)

Australian could keep up with his Spanish opponent.

It was the only game de Minaur won that set.

Nadal, who later described his opponent as probably the quickest player on tour, exerted similar pressure in the first game of the second set.

This time he broke de Minaur’s serve after a marathon 20-point game.

With superior firepower on his ground strokes, Nadal could take control of baseline exchanges without taking too many risks.

De Minaur tried to lift his tempo to prevent being bullied around the court - a tactic that naturally carries more risk, and one that he could not successfully sustain.

A packed center court stadium tried desperately to encourage their charge, but the 19-year-old had his work cutout trying to hold his own service games, let alone pressure Nadal on his.

“If I could have just held on a little bit more with my

serve, applied a bit more pressure early on in the sets, then maybe I could have got... more chances on his serve,” de Minaur said.

De Minaur saved five match points before succumbing in an identical scoreline to the pair’s third round Wimbledon match-up last year.

Although mainly known for his aggressive ground game, Nadal recorded a very high first serve percentage (75), leaving his opponent very few opportunities.

The strong serving display also sounded a timely warning to the rest of the field that Nadal is a bona fide contender for the title despite coming into the tournament under an injury cloud.

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are both searching for a record seventh Australian Open title in Melbourne, while a younger generation led by Germany’s Alexander Zverev are looking to unseat the aging champions.

Saturday January 19, 2019

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

West Indies First-Class Cricket

Pestano (4-50) & Shepherd (3-29) blow away Hurricanes for 175 - Jaguars stretch lead to 97 on truncated 2nd day

Rakeem Cornwall followed up his 4-70 by tucking Shepherd for four during his 34-ball 29 yesterday.

By Sean Devers The Berbician pace pair of Clinton Pestano and Romario Shepherd shared seven wickets between on a truncated second day of the fifth round of 2019 Regional First-Class cricket tournament yesterday at Providence to blow away the Leewards Hurricanes for 175 to give Jaguars a 21-run first innings lead.

When rained stopped play for second and final time at 15:52hrs, after 158 minutes were lost yesterday, the home team had extended their over-

all lead to 97 as they ended the day on 76-2 with off-spinner Rakeem Cornwall (2-22) trapping Trevon Griffith LBW for 37 with six fours from 64 balls before bowling Skipper Leon Johnson who again fell cheaply after two fours and a six in 15.

When the day’s play was called at 17:00hrs, Tagenarine Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 15 from 130 minutes and 104 balls, taking his aggregate to 337 runs and with him was Chris Barnwell, who made 58 in the first innings, yet to

score.

Resuming on 57-3, Akeem Saunders (28) and Terrence Warde (30) extended their partnership to 57 before the 24-year-old Shepherd (3-29), induced Saunders, who reached the boundary four times, to edge a catch to the Keeper at 97-4.

Without addition to the score, Warde, aided by six boundaries, was LBW to Pestano (4-50) before Guyanese born Jason Peters (0) was LBW to Pestano, Or-

Tagenarine Chanderpaul Chanderpaul cut during his patient unbeaten 15 yesterday. lando Peters (8) fell to Shepherd, who also had Jeremiah Louis LBW for a duck as five wickets tumbled for 19 runs to leave Hurricanes on 116-8 at Lunch.

After the interval, Cornwall, playing positive cricket and Damion Jacobs put together 22 valuable runs in overcast conditions on a still fast outfield before Cornwall (29 from 34 balls with six fours) was bowled by Pestano at 138-9.

However, another fair size gathering watched a

frustrating 37-run last wicket partnership between Jacobs, who contributed 31 of those runs and last man Sheno Berridge (2) who edged Test Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo to give Anthony Bramble his 18th dismissal for the season.

Jacobs, who faced 44 balls and reached the boundary six times in his 34, was left undefeated.

Today is the penultimate day and play is scheduled to commence at 09:00hrs.

Scores: At Guyana Na-

tional Stadium: Jaguars lead by 97 runs with eight second innings wickets intact.

GUYANA JAGUARS 196 (Chris Barnwell 58, Leon Johnson 44, Keemo Paul 32; Rahkeem Cornwall 4-70, Damion Jacobs 3-15) and 76 for two (Trevon Grifftih 37; Rahkeem Cornwall 2-22).

LEEWARD ISLANDS HURRICANES 175 (Damion Jacobs 34, Terrance Warde 30, Rahkeem Cornwall 29, Akeem Saunders 28; Clinton Pestano 4-50, Romario Shepherd 2-29).

GCB again questions the selection policy of CWI Selection Panel Once again, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) is compelled to express its extreme disgust with the lopsided and illogical approach displayed by the CWI selectors with their selection of the Test team for the First Test against the visiting English team in Barbados, the GCB has informed in a release.

This team was released to the public on January 15th and the test commences on January 23rd 2019. This is the second time in 6 months that we are having a genuine cause to question the ridiculous selection policies and practices of the CWI selection panel, headed by Mr. Courtney Browne. We have been literally bombarded with calls for us to explain this outrageous situation and just cannot fathom a plausible explanation.

Firstly, we note that the administrators arranged 2 two days’ tour matches to be held on January 15th& 16th and January 17th& 18th prior to the First test. Of note is that

the tour matches, and practice matches are all being played in Barbados so there is no issue of travelling being an impediment for logistics. Can the selection panel advise us why the haste in selecting the team 8 days in advance of a very important series at home?

The second tour match was slated to conclude on Jan 18th, a clear 5 days before the First Test. Can you explain why the team was not selected at the end of the 2nd tour match? Or were those matches arranged just to facilitate practice for the English team and had no bearing on the minds of the CWI selectors? the GCB questioned in the release.

The GCB strongly feels that all teams should be selected on a firm set of criteria, chief among which should be; Performance, Fitness, Form, Attitude, Aptitude, Team Balance, Ground Conditions, Commitment, Training and a few other reasonable subjective considerations. We at the GCB have been practicing

these traits in the selection of our representative teams which has served us well with the structure that we have developed with our contracted and Academy players.

Our structure now involves a domestic franchise system within the regional franchise system. The GCB has fully embraced the CWI PCL franchise system, ever since its inception in 2014, and have thus reaped rewards for the fruits of our labour by winning the PCL R4D for 4 consecutive years and well on track to make it 5 in a row this year. We do accept that you can never satisfy everyone all the time, but you should always endeavour to execute your duties in the interest of West Indies cricket. What do we tell our players who have displayed year-round commitment and dedication coupled with outstanding performances when they are constantly being sidelined?

Since the selection panel has unilaterally decided to disregard the 2 tour matches

for their selection, any prudent person would have expected that the panel would have looked at recent performances and form to guide their deliberations but, lo and behold, that was not to be. Barring Darren Bravo, no other top or middle order batsman in the selected team has an average more than 35.25. The whole principle of the franchise system was geared to improve the standard of our cricketers whereby these ‘test’ players would be kept on their toes by the emerging players with great performances and form given precedence and a fair opportunity to play. All players deserve a fair run in the team especially in this era of shortened series of just 2 and 3 test matches, but our Jaguars players seem to be discarded by the selection panel after just 2 or 3 tests. It is a well-known fact that it is always better to blood new players at home rather than on foreign soil so that they get that added confidence from their home crowds and

their intimate knowledge of the regional wickets.

It follows that if we do not have the caliber of test players with the required level of performances to be selected, we need to then look at the emerging players from the PCL. A cursory view of the stats on the CWI website would demand that the following players be called up for duty with the CWI President’s XI or the Test team immediately: Chandrapaul Hemraj, Vishal Singh, Anthony Bramble, Keemo Paul and Veerasammy Permaul. There may be a case to be made for a few others such as Clinton Pestano and Romario Shep-

herd. It is not our intention to demand places for our players in the test team without any justification, but once their performances warrant such selection, then so be it.

The GCB welcomes the decision of the panel to bring back our best test batsman, Darren Bravo, and trust that the selectors follow the strict selection criteria outlined above as only justice and fair play will develop our players to be hungry for success which will ultimately translate into success for our WI team.

We also welcome our captain, Jason Holder, back into the fold after injury, the release concluded.

PAGE 30

Saturday January 19, 2019

Kaieteur News

Chahal, Dhoni script India’s ODI series victory in Australia MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored his third successive half century to guide India to a seven-wicket victory in the series-deciding third one-day international against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday.

Dhoni, who was dropped twice in his innings and could have been run out too, made 87 not out as he combined with Kedar Jadhav (61 not out) to guide the tourists home with four balls remaining and complete India’s 2-1 series victory.

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, making his first appearance in the series, had earlier finished with a careerbest 6-42 to help dismiss Australia for 230 in 48.4 overs.

Australia had won the first match in Sydney last Saturday by 34 runs, before Dhoni and skipper Virat Kholi combined to give the visitors a final-over sixwicket victory in Adelaide on Tuesday.

The Australians only had themselves to blame for their defeat on Friday as they had several opportunities to turn the game their way.

Kohli (46) was dropped by Peter Handscomb at slip on 10, Dhoni was dropped by Glenn Maxwell at point on his first ball while both should have also been run out early in their partnership.

Dhoni was also dropped in the 48th over by Aaron

MS Dhoni raised his third successive half-century ©Getty Images Finch with India needing 27 runs from the final 18 deliveries.

The Australian bowlers had kept their side in the match with some tight bowling, which frustrated Kohli and also made the finish tighter than it should have been.

Dhoni and Jadhav, how-

Malteenoes SC pays tribute to the late friend of the Club Allison Butters-Grant The Malteenoes Sports Club wishes to express our heartfelt sympathy to the immediate family, relatives and friends of the late Mrs. Allison Butters-Grant, CEO of Global Seafoods, a release from the club stated.

Mrs. Butters-Grant became a member of the Malteenoes Sports Club family in 2013 after being invited to the club by friends and immediately pledged her commitment to contribute to the club’s mission and vision of providing a stable development programme for all young

person’s especially in the game of cricket.

In 2017, Mrs. ButtersGrant through her contribution of fish to help in the provision of meals for the participants was one of the main donors that ensured the successful re-launching of Malteenoes Cricket Academy in which her grandson Declan was one of the attendees. Her commitment remained up to the time of her passing.

The Malteenoes Sports Club have lost a valuable member.Rest in Peace Dear Allison and Rise in Glory.

ever, never looked flustered and ensured the victory in their unbroken 121-run partnership.

The Indians had also exploited the slow-paced pitch in Australia’s innings and set the tone early as they put pressure on the Australian openers and restricted their scoring.

Yuzvendra Chahal wrecked Australia’s middle order and came away with 6 for 42 ©Getty Images Bhuvneshwar Kumar also continued to torment Finch as he dismissed both the Australian captain and Alex Carey to reduce the hosts to 27-2 in nine overs.

Kumar dismissed Finch in all three matches.

Usman Khawaja (34) and Shaun Marsh (39) steadied the innings with a 73-run part-

nership, but both fell to Chahal in the same over and their dismissals were typical of Australia’s innings with the batsmen getting starts but then falling at times when they looked well established to push on.

Handscomb top-scored with 58, but became Chahal’s fifth wicket with

the score on 219-8 on the final ball of the 46th overs and just when he was needed to see his side through to the full allotment.

Scores: India 3 for 234 (Dhoni 87*, Jadhav 61*) beat Australia 230 (Handscomb 58, Chahal 642) by seven wickets.

Regional Four-Day Kennard Memorial Championship – 2nd day, 5th round announces provisional Scorpions trail programme for Volcanoes by 73 runs Phagwah Meet The Kennard Memorial Turf Club of Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice has released its provisional programme for the Phagwah Horserace Meet fixed for Sunday March 24th at their racetrack.

Six races will be run on the day with entries set to close on March 17th.

Contact can be made with Ivan Dipnarine on telephone 331-0316, Justice Cecil Kennard 623-7609, 225-4818, Fazal Habibulla 657-7010, Dennis

DeRoop 640-6396, Compton Sancho 6911174, Niketa Ross 6624668 and Isaac Dallo 3253274 and 689-0629 for information and entry.The main attraction is the G1 & Lower 7 furlong race for a $300,000 purse. Other races are: L non earner over 5 furlongs for $100,000 first prize, 3 year old Guyana Bred over 6 furlongs with a $240,000 reward, I Open 5 furlongs event with $140,000 going to the winner, L non winner covering 5 furlongs for a $120,000 purse and the J&K race over 7 furlongs for a $180,000 prize.

The event will be run under the rules of the Guyana Horseracing Authority.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Scorpions trailed Volcanoes by 73 runs with six first innings wickets intact at the close of play scores on the second day of the fifth round of matches in the Regional Four-Day Championship yesterday.

Scores: At Grenada Na-

tional Stadium: WINDWARD ISLANDS VOLCANOES 285 (Devon Smith 124, Kavem Hodge 56, Denis Smith 49; Dennis Bulli 5-94, Derval Green 2-35).

JAMAICA SCORPIONS 212 for four (Chadwick Walton 113 not out, Brandon King 52; Ray Jordan 2-27).

President’s XI and England draw 2nd 2-day game CAVE HILL, Barbados, CMC – CWI President’s XI drew with England on the final day of their two-day tour match at the 3W’s Oval here yesterday.

Scores: ENGLAND 379 (Jonny Bairstow 98, Rory Burns 68, Adil Rashid 48, Sam Curran 47, Chris Woakes 43; Raymon Reifer 3-39, John Campbell 3-58).

PRESIDENT’S XI 202 (Sunil Ambris 94, Chandrapaul Hemraj 22; Chris Woakes 3-31, Stuart Broad 2-33).

Saturday January 19, 2019

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

NBA roundup: Lakers take down Thunder in OT Kyle Kuzma scored 32 points to help the Los Angeles Lakers earn a 138-128 overtime win over the host Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night.

Kuzma hit seven 3-pointers, and Los Angeles’ Ivica Zubac scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Lonzo Ball added 18 points, including five in overtime as the Lakers outscored Oklahoma City 16-6, and dished out 10 assists.

The Thunder lost for the fifth time in six games. The Lakers won their second in a row and improved to 5-7 without LeBron James (groin) and Rajon Rondo (hand).

The Thunder faltered from behind the arc in overtime, going 2-for-12 from 3point range. Oklahoma City attempted just one field goal inside the arc in the extra session. Paul George led the Thunder with 27 points.

Russell Westbrook had 26 points and 13 assists but shot just 7 of 30 from the field.

Raptors 111, Suns 109 Pascal Siakam made a layup at the buzzer and Toronto defeated visiting Phoenix. Siakam ended the game with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma (0) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (13) during the second half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. (Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports) Kyle Lowry had 16 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Raptors. Serge Ibaka added 22 points.

Devin Booker scored 30 points for the Suns. Deandre Ayton added 15 points and 17 rebounds while Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 18 points and had nine rebounds off the bench.

Nuggets 135, Bulls 105 Jamal Murray scored 22 of his 25 points in the third quarter, Nikola Jokic had 18 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, and host Denver routed Chicago. The Nuggets were coming off a 142-111 home loss to Golden State on Tuesday in which the Warriors set an NBA record for

points in a first quarter with 51.

Paul Millsap finished with 14 points, and Gary Harris, returning from missing five games due to a strained left hamstring, scored 14 off the bench for Denver.

Lauri Markkanen had 27 points and 10 rebounds, Robin Lopez finished with 17

points and Jabari Parker had 15 for Chicago.

The Bulls have lost nine in a row and have yet to win in the 2019 calendar year.

76ers 120, Pacers 96 Joel Embiid, despite battling a sore lower back, had 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists to lift visiting Philadelphia past Indiana in Indianapolis. It was Embiid’s 38th double-double of the season and his 12th in his past 13 games.

Jimmy Butler scored 27 points for the 76ers, and JJ Redick added 20, highlighted by six 3-pointers. Mike Muscala also contributed 11 while Ben Simmons had 11 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

Thaddeus Young led the Pacers with 27 points while Victor Oladipo added 15 on 6of-20 shooting. Indiana had its four-game home winning streak snapped.

Hornets 114, Kings 95 Kemba Walker led a balanced attack with 23 points, and Charlotte gained revenge on the visiting Kings after a loss on Saturday in Sacramento.

The Hornets erupted for 43 points in the second quarter after trailing by as many

as 13 early, and they went on to lead by 13 at halftime and by 21 in the second half.

The Hornets also got 15 points each from Miles Bridges and Michael KiddGilchrist, 14 points apiece from Jeremy Lamb and Tony Parker. Buddy Hield led the Kings with 24 points.

Wizards 101, Knicks 100 New York’s Allonzo Trier was called for goaltending with less than one second remaining, and Washington rallied from 16 points down to win at the O2 Arena in London.

Trailing 100-99, the Wizards inbounded with 3.3 seconds left and Thomas Bryant drove the lane.

His floater was deflected with less than one second remaining.

The trail official made the goaltending call, and after a review of several minutes, the call stood.

New York inbounded with four-tenths of a second remaining on the clock, and Emmanuel Mudiay’s shot was off the mark. Bradley Beal led the Wizards with 26 points, Mudiay had 25, and Otto Porter Jr. added 20.

(Field Level Media)

Aggressive Sharapova eliminates holder Wozniacki in Melbourne Russia’s Maria Sharapova celebrates after winning the match against Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki. (REUTERS/Aly Song)

Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki reacts during the match against Russia’s Maria Sharapova. (REUTERS/Aly Song) M E L B O U R N E (Reuters) - Maria Sharapova scorched the Rod Laver Arena with her aggressive tennis to eliminate defending Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 4-6 6-3 in the third round yesterday.

Five-times Grand Slam champion Sharapova, who won her last major at the 2014 French Open, hit 37 winners against 10 from her opponent and converted her second matchpoint to set up a fourth round clash against Austra-

lia number one Ashleigh Barty.

Sharapova, who won the Australian Open in 2008, headed into the match with a 6-4 lead in their previous meetings and went for her shots from the first point making it difficult for the third-ranked Dane with a game built on defense.

“I thought the level was quite high. She is the defending champion of this event and it’s no secret she loves this arena,” Sharapova said in a courtside interview.

“These are the types of matches I train for so it’s really rewarding to win that last point. I’m definitely not walking around thinking I have experience and think they’re just going to give it to me.”

Wozniacki had the first break but handed the advantage back with a double fault before the Russian 30th seed, who was suspended for 15 months for taking banned drug meldonium in 2016, won three consecutive games to take the set.

After a trade of breaks,

Wozniacki took the match into a deciding set after a double fault from former world number one Sharapova gave her a set point which she converted to level the entertaining encounter on Rod Laver Arena at 1-1.

Sharapova shrieked in delight with her fists clenched after converting her third breakpoint in the seventh game with a scorching forehand and broke Wozniacki again to seal the victory in two hours and 24 minutes.

The 31-year-old Russian

said she had decided to be aggressive against Wozniacki and aim for shorter points.

That plan, however, took her unforced errors to 46, more than double than from Wozniacki. “It was definitely, you know, a match that I looked forward to and when the draw came out obviously I had to get there first and so did she,” said Sharapova, who wore a black crop top to her news conference.

“But, yeah, I thought it was, as usual, as expected, a physical match. Didn’t have

to be in some ways, but I felt like even in the longer rallies I did a great job of winning those. Put a lot of pressure on her.”

Sharapova will brace for a hostile crowd in the fourth round when she takes on local hope Barty, who beat Greek Maria Sakkari 7-5 6-1.

“I think her story is phenomenal, she loves playing here,” Sharapova said of her next opponent. “I know it’s going to be a tough crowd but I go out here to perform and play tennis.”

PAGE 32

Saturday January 19, 2019

Kaieteur News

Athletics Association of Guyana holds Development Meet The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) held a Developmental Meet in Berbice on Wednesday last, which was in keeping with the IAAF’s mandate of “Taking the sport to the people”.

Athletes from this meet were also selected for the training camp which began

yesterday at the Leonora Track & Field Centre and will conclude tomorrow.

These camps are in keeping with our three (3) years developmental programme set by our coaches.

It’s the first of many camps that will be held leading up to Carifta Games in April.

Results from the meet:

Last Name First Name D/O/B Girls U-17 60m Reynolds Roshanna Lewis Lashawn Atlector Amrist Mccalmon Jada Mccalmon Tomiha Simon Ashanti Boys U-17 60m Hercules Joshua Crawford Carlos 16/10/02 Morris Carl 15/07/03 Grant Demarre 15/11/03 Girls U-20 60m Bagot Lashawn 29/11/99 Boys U-20 60m Gilead Osmond 17/10/01 Adams Delon 10/11/2000 Williams Brandon 17/03/01 Men 60m Bramble Ryan 25/08/98

Timing 8.31 8.68 9.05 9.3 9.36 9.52 7:30 7:56 7.75 8.88 8.74 7.23 7:36 8:36 7:16

Semple Delvin Girls U-17 150m Grimmond Releanna 24/02/04 Lewis Lashawn 12/12/2003 Boys U-17 150m Morris Carl 15/07/03 Alfred Stephon 1/11/2004 Crawford Carlos 16/10/02 Demendouca Raheem 2/4/2002 King Aniel 10/3/2004 Semple Shaquan 9/8/2003 Girls U-20 150m Bagot Lashawn Boys U-20 King Jermaine 10/2/2001 Adams Delon 10/11/2000 Gilead Osmond 17/10/01 Women 150m Bagot Lashawn 27/11/99 Men 150m Samlall Devas 7/3/1998 Semple Devin Girls U-17 300m Paddy Niaomi Atlector Amrist Simon Ashanti Mccalmon Tomiha Mccalmon Jada Lewis Lashawn Boys U-17 300m Fraser Job 14/7/2004 Crawford Carlos 16/10/02 Demendouca Raheem 2/11/2002 Girls U-20 300m

Defending champion Cheruiyot leads elite women’s lineup at London Marathon

Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot celebrates after winning the London Marathon, Britain - April 22, 2018. (REUTERS/Paul Childs) (Reuters) - Vivian Cheruiyot believes she will need to produce her “very best” to defend her London Marathon title in April as she heads a star-studded lineup, which includes winners of the last four majors.

Cheruiyot will be joined by fellow Kenyans Gladys Cherono, Brigid Kosgei and Mary Keitany, who top the Abbott World Marathon Majors Series XII rankings with 25 points apiece from their wins in Berlin, Chicago and New York respectively.

Cheruiyot clocked two hours, 18 minutes and 31 seconds to seal her London triumph last year ahead of three-time winner and race favorite Keitany, who finished fifth.

“It was a great moment for me winning last year’s Vi rg i n M o n e y L o n d o n Marathon and I am very much looking forward to returning in April,” Cheruiyot said in a statement.

“The line-up for this year’s race is, once again, in-

credibly strong so I know I will need to be at my very best to repeat last year’s victory but it is a challenge that I’m really looking forward to. I will be ready.”

The organizers also confirmed the participation of Ethiopian trio Tirunesh Dibaba, Tadelech Bekele and Roza Dereje.

Dereje and Cheruiyot are on 16 points apiece in the World Series standings following their second place finishes in Chicago and New York respectively.

7:22 20.16 20.45 17.19 17.68 17.92 18.3 20.77 25.34 20.9 16.26 16.67 16.69 20.9 16.79 17.25 48.06 51.25 52.6 54.88 54.98 1.04.16 38.54 40.42 43.38

Desilva Akaysse 10/4/2000 Boys U-20 300m Millington Jamal 26/09/01 Anthony Devantie 22/10/01 Cassiano Roberto 19/07/01 Men 300m Bagot Murphy 22/06/99 Semple Delvin 21/12/98 Girls U-17 600m Paddy Niaomi 25/08/05 Byass Jennifer Boys U-17 600m Cort Gregory 10/2/2004 Wright Antwone 27/10/04 Phillips Emanuel 25/11/05 Girls U-20 600m Desilva Akaysse Boys U-20 600m Bagot Murphy 22/06/99 Girls U-17 1000m Paddy Niaomi 25/08/05 Reynolds Roshanna 24/02/04 Byass Jennifer 23/10/06 Boys U-20 1000m Williams Calvin 12/4/2001 Boys U-17 2000m Daniel Quintyn King Aniel Javelin Larose Josh Foul Grant Demarre 25.8 Simon Richard 38.5 Welchman Carlos 35.6 Liverpool Nyles 38

54.84 37.97 41.57 45.18 38.23 39.72 2.05.16 2.06.46 1.49.41 1.50.50 1.51.01 2.19.10 1.36.26 3.36.45 3.39.24 3.43.81 2.59.01 7.15.47 7.42.42 45.6 Foul 35.48 36 46

48.7 30 42.4 38.5 49.5

CWI refers Lewis comments to ethics committee ST JOHN’S, Antigua, Jan 18, CMC – Outspoken Cricket West Indies director, Enoch Lewis, could find himself in trouble with the regional body over his strong recent criticism of the appointment of Richard Pybus as senior men’s team head coach.

While not mentioning Lewis by name, CWI said in a statement late yesterday that the charges regarding Pybus levelled by the “objecting board director”, would be referred to the Ethics Committee “for review”.

“Recent public charges leveled at the sporting body by an objecting board director have now been referred to the governing body’s Ethics Committee for review,” CWI said.

Lewis slammed the appointment of Pybus, accusing CWI president, Dave Cameron, of “hand-picking” the Englishman and ignoring the best practices of “transparency, fairness and due process”.

The Leeward Islands Cricket Board president penned his concerns in a stronglyworded letter to CWI last month and also repeated those concerns in media interviews.

He said CWI directors had approved Nic Pothas as the choice to replace Australian Stuart Law, the South African having been put forward by director of cricket, Jimmy Adams after consultation with players.

After Pothas rejected the initial compensation offer – which was nearly half of what Law had been paid in the position – Lewis said Cameron determined negotiations were at a stalemate, made contact with Pybus and negotiated and concluded a deal worth more than what Pothas had been offered.

“The negotiations conducted with Mr. Pybus by President Cameron was without preauthorization and input from the Board,” Lewis c o n t e n d e d . ”None of the [Director of Cricket], the Cricket Committee or the Technical Cricket Committee were consulted on the initiative to engage or negotiate with Mr. Pybus.”

Cricket West Indies director, Enoch Lewis.

Lewis also contended that while Pybus was eventually approved by directors, the matter “provoked heated debate and proved a very divisive issue amongst the directors”.

However, in its statement on Friday, CWI said it was “standing by its decision” to appoint Pybus as head coach, pointing out that the decision was made “with the support of more than two-thirds of its board.”

“CWI advised that the decision to appoint the coach had been further reviewed and approved by the Corporate Governance, and Audit Risk and Compliance Committees,” CWI said.

According to the release, the Pybus was appointed in order to “ensure the team had strong leadership ahead of the busy cricket season this year.”

West Indies host England in a full tour of three Tests, five one-dayers and three Twenty20s starting next Wednesday, and also travel to England for the ICC World Cup in May, before hosting India in another major series.

Pybus has been appointed on an interim basis, with a permanent head coach to be found from September.

A former director of cricket and the current high performance director, Pybus never applied for the Windies head coach position and was not among the 11 coaches shortlisted

by Adams last September to fill the post.

Saturday January 19, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 33

Rupununi Football Association bracing for a hectic year Secretary of the Rupununi Football Association (RFA) Ryan Farias has stated that the association has set their programme for the year and it will be a busy one for villages and teams under its umbrella.

Farias informed that the Kool Kids Grassroots Programme that has been initiated by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) would be a dominant feature throughout the year from January to November.

The launching of the RFA Senior League is set to take place towards the end of February while the Rupununi Champions League will kick off in March and attract male and female teams.

There will be a Basin Football Club promotion in July, while the month of August will witness the Guyana Rush Saints Football Club Pre-Heritage tournament, Paiwomak Warriors Cup and Titans United August Games.

Snatchers FC will run off tournaments in October after the National and Regional Heritage competitions in September.

The month of November would see Gladiators FC running off an Under-23 tournament and also in this month, the RFA will host an Under-13 female league.

The final month of the year is anticipated to be an exciting one when the Surama Cup, promoted by the Tabatinga Football Club is contested.

Rupununi FA Secretary Ryan Farias pictured with players from Snatchers FC, Rush Saints FC and Far East United Sports Club.

Veteran Roach backs Windies to give England stiff challenge BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Fast bowler Kemar Roach believes despite being labelled “underdogs”, West Indies have what it takes to challenge England in the upcoming three-Test series in the region.

Roach is the oldest and most experienced member of the 13-man squad preparing for the series – which starts at Kensington Oval here next Wednesday.

The 30-year-old boasts an impressive record of 166 wickets in 50 Tests, putting him in the West Indies top 10 wicket-takers of all time. ”Looking ahead to the series, I’m feeling fit and ready. I’m confident I can do well and make an impact for the team,” the Barbadian said during the ongoing training camp here.

“We are the underdogs, we know that. But we were underdogs back in 2017 and we played some fantastic cricket to win at Leeds and show the world we have

West Indies seamer Kemar Roach … believes the hosts can test England. quality. We will prepare well, we will plan well, we will look to take our chances and look to challenge and win again.”

Roach was referring to the 2017 tour of England when West Indies suffered a crushing innings and 209run defeat in the opening Test at Birmingham but bounced back to stun the

hosts by five wickets at Headingley.

He, along with the Windies players entered camp on Thursday, and will ramp up their preparations over the weekend going into next week’s big event. ”I recently reached one of my goals in the last series…obviously to be among the top ten West

Indian bowlers of all time in Test cricket was something special,” he noted.

“My next goal is to get 200 Test wickets and in doing so win some more games for West Indies. I will see how far I can go from there. I think I still have another three to four years in West Indies cricket, and I want to contribute to the team.”

The speedster has a very good record at Kensington Oval, managing 24 wickets in five Tests at the historic venue. His best match figures were eight for 116 against New Zealand in 2014.

Roach, who has been a key member of the Windies attack after returning to the squad in 2017 following a 19-month break due to injury

and loss of form, said he was eagerly looking forward to performing in front his home fans. ”As a Bajan playing at Kensington Oval in front of your home people, is always a good feeling to perform well … it is very important at home, you know the conditions well,” he pointed out.

“Once you go there and be focussed and be mentally prepared, I think it will be a very good feeling to represent the West Indies in

your homeland.”

He continued: “Seeing the names of past greats on the stands is an inspiration.

Kensington is an historic place and a lot of great cricketers have played at the ground. It has been renovated from the old one but it is still a good feeling to go out there and see the Sir Garfield Sobers Pavilion, Greenidge and Haynes Stand, The Three Ws, Hall and Griffith or bowling at the Malcolm Marshall or Joel Garner Ends.”

t r o Sp

West Indies First-Class Cricket

P. 30

Pestano (4-50) & Shepherd (3-29) blow away Hurricanes for 175 The covers remained on the ‘square’ for most of the final session. (Sean Devers photos)

- Jaguars stretch lead to 97 on truncated 2nd day

Romario Shepherd (3-29) celebrates the wicket of Akeem Saunders to break the 57-run stand yesterday.

Clinton Pestano had 4-50 at Providence yesterday.

CWI refers Lewis comments to ethics committee

P. 27

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