Monday January 22, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Jagdeo accuses Govt. of ‘hatchet job’ on Police Top Brass The temporary appointment of Assistant Commissioner and Crime Chief, Paul Williams to Acting Commissioner of Police is being viewed as part of the coalition Government’s plan to overhaul the top brass of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), which is in keeping with a recommendation from the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report into the alleged assassination attempt on the President. But that’s not the way that former President Bharrat Jagdeo is seeing things. He’s accusing the government of doing a ‘hatchet job’ on the Force’s top brass. Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo warned that political inference is afoot as President David Granger prepares to appoint the next Commissioner of Police when Persaud retires in April. “I have been hearing lots about who they want and how they are manipulating the system to get that person in place. We are seeing an unbelievable level of interference in the police force,” Jagdeo told Kaieteur News. Last week, Williams was appointed in the absence of acting Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine, who was
…says unbelievable level of political interference
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo
Paul Williams
Clifton Hicken
David Ramnarine
Seelall Persaud
overseas on official duty. Ramnarine returned on Friday and had been performing the duties of Commissioner because Seelall Persaud, the substantive holder of the post, was sent on additional leave in December ‘until further notice’. Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan wrote to Persaud to inform him of his additional leave in November. Persaud was off the job since July, last. On Saturday, the Minister confirmed that
Persaud returns to office today. In the midst of it all, Assistant Commissioner, Maxine Graham performed the duties of Administration, the post that Ramnarine held before he became Acting Commissioner. In appointing Williams, the most senior officer, Assistant Commissioner and head of operations, Clifton Hicken, was bypassed. Under the structure of the force, Hicken, although senior to Graham, was obligated to
report to her. Some observers believe that the recent moves are a direct reflection of the Government’s intention to shake-up the top brass of the force. Last week President David Granger made light about the current position of the force when he referred to Williams as “acting for the acting Commissioner.” The CoI, headed by retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Slowe, recom-
mended that Persaud should be made to resign as Commissioner under such terms and conditions that the President considers appropriate. According to the CoI, a ‘hostile’ relationship existed between Persaud and Ramnarine. This allegedly led to divisions among the officer corps of the force. Aside from Persaud and Ramnarine, the report identified Assistant Commissioner Clifton Hicken and Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum, who was also Acting Crime Chief, as “the main protagonists,” who “lack the professionalism to lead the Force in this touted period of reform and transition.” The report described the rift as a most unwelcome development, while concluding that everything must be done to stamp it out.
GRA to pursue $20B in outstanding taxes The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will be hastening efforts this year to collect billions of dollars in outstanding taxes. This is according to GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia. The tax chief noted that despite best efforts in 2017 whereby over $3B in arrears were collected between the Objections Finalization and the Arrears Collection Departments, there is still over $20B in taxes to be collected. Statia commented that the outcome of objections may be in doubt because of the provisional nature of the assessments. However, the GRA Commissioner General said that even after the provisional assessments have been discharged, taxes outstanding will amount to over $14B. He emphasized that these outstanding taxes will have to be zealously prosecuted for collection with the declared amnesty. Statia believes that the amnesty will garner an additional $5B in revenue collections.
…GuySuCo has not been remitting PAYE for employees for six years
GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia The Commissioner General said that it is crucial that the agency clamps down on the billions of taxes owed by individuals and companies. The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is one entity which owes the treasury $8B in taxes. Kaieteur News understands that the entity has not paid P.A.Y.E for its employees since 2012. AMNESTY The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will be providing a period of amnesty for delinquent taxpayers. This
move by the authority would be in keeping with the measures announced by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan in his budget 2018 speech last year. Jordan had said that the period of amnesty for taxpayers—corporate and individual— would ensure they are able to get in order, the filing of true and correct tax returns and payment of their true and correct taxes. The amnesty will be applicable to: Taxpayers who have principal taxes outstanding; Non-filers such as persons who are delinquent in the filing and payment; Taxpayers that filed individual and corporate tax returns, but in the process would have mistakenly underreported or understated their income or overstated deductions or credits; Taxpayers who filed but would have deliberately not declared or under declared their true income; and Taxpayers who are already subjected
to completed audits and a determination was made that additional taxes are owed to the GRA and the additional tax is still outstanding. He said that this amnesty will be in effect from January 1, 2018 through September 30, 2018. The Finance Minister said that taxpayers who file and pay all principal taxes on or before June 30, 2018 will have all interest and penalties waived, while those who file and pay all principal taxes between July 1, 2018 and September 30, 2018 will have 50 percent of interest and penalties waived. The economist noted that taxpayers who expect to benefit from this amnesty must file true and correct returns. Those found to be in violation will be subject to an audit and the attendant penalties and interest will be applied. He said that GRA will be devoting increased resources to enforcement of the income tax laws.
Neither the President nor Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan would admit that the administration is carrying out the recommendations of the CoI report. While Persaud was on leave, Blanhum was removed as Crime Chief. Many felt that this was as a direct result of the recommendations of the CoI report. “I predicted what would have been Paul Slowe’s report,” Jagdeo told Kaieteur News. “I said he [Paul Slowe] was placed there to do a hatchet job on members of the police force and to cleanse the upper leadership to clear the way for someone that the President wants and that is precisely what he did and the Government is following through.” Jagdeo concluded that the current Government has contributed to the significant decline in the morale of the force (Continued on page 13)
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Kaieteur News
Monday January 22, 2018
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
WHY JAIL/DEPORT VENEZUELANS? Venezuela is in its worst political and economic crisis in recent history that has led to shortages of basic goods and human amenities. Many poor Venezuelans are starving because they have no food and no money. Some are dying because most medications are no longer available and many doctors have fled the country. Venezuela’s crippling economy means that eating meat is a luxury for many, but the Maduro government has told Venezuelans that the solution to the crisis is to breed and eat rabbits. The Maduro government has approved a plan known as the ‘rabbit plan’ because rabbits breed by the dozens. It claimed that rabbit is an alternative to other sources of meat. The plan seems to be part of his government’s offensive for Venezuela’s worsening economic crisis, amid shortages of food and medicine. A survey conducted mid-last year showed nearly 75 percent of the population, mostly the poor have lost an average of 19 pounds in weight due to lack of proper nutrition because of the crisis. Venezuelans were upset at Maduro’s “rabbit plan” which means that Venezuelans would have to abandon their love of rabbits which should not be considered a pet, but five pounds of meat with high protein and no cholesterol. The “rabbit plan” sparked an angry response from opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who blamed the Maduro government for the economic crisis and the shortage of food in the country. Today, Venezuela’s currency is worthless. It cost 3,000 bolivars to buy US$1. Inflation is at 1,500 percent, the highest anywhere in the world and creditors are not being paid. Neighbouring countries. including Brazil and Argentina, have issued stern condemnations of President Maduro’s actions. How did Venezuela, once seen as a model for left-wing movements, crumble under its own weight? The answer lies in President Maduro’s lust for power. His push to rewrite the constitution amid an escalating political crisis has led to a stern warning from the Trump administration which imposed sanctions on Venezuelan officials. It seems that the crisis in Venezuela will not end anytime soon as massive demonstrations and confrontations between protesters and the security forces continue. Many believe that the crisis could adversely affect us in Guyana. As Guyana grapples with its own problems, it must keep a sharp eye on Venezuela which seems to be the proverbial train wreck in slow motion. The Granger government should not take the situation in Venezuela for granted. It should develop a contingency plan to deal with any possible worst-case scenarios that could emerge from a flood of Venezuelan refugees into the country and the spillover of criminality from the economic and political meltdown in Venezuela. The fact that Venezuelans are in a desperate situation and in dire need for food, they will do almost anything to survive, including robbery and the trafficking of illegal guns, drugs and people. That said, we should welcome those Venezuelans coming to Guyana for legitimate business such as shopping for food. We should also offer temporary refugee status to those who are in the country illegally because of the crisis in Venezuela. It would be laudable for the government to do so because in an earlier period, many Guyanese have found themselves in the same situation and fled Guyana. Many were granted refugee status in the United States and Canada. This has not been the case in Guyana. Our government has and continues to prosecute and deport desperate Venezuelans coming to Guyana for food and work. Many were jailed because they could not and cannot afford to pay the fines for illegally entering the country. This week, two more Venezuelans were charged and fined $30,000 each for entering Guyana illegally. We should not be so cruel and inhumane to them. Those of us who care about human rights should intervene and help our less fortunate neighbours. Since we have a crisis on our doorstep; we must heed the adage, “When your neighbour’s house is on fire, carry water to your own.”
Guyana is on a collision course with the resource curse DEAR EDITOR, Since the discovery of 0il in the Stabroek Block a few days before the Coalition Government took office to present date, it seems like destiny has slowly ordained Guyana for the “resource curse.” Within four months in Office the Government had admitted that they were inexperienced but they were learning. Their theme in the election campaign that inspired the votes for them”transparency and accountability,” they quickly swept under the carpet. The machination of “oil and gas” was relatively unknown to Guyanese. Kaieteur News did a great service to the nation by exposing the track record of ExxonMobil around the globe. Initially! Exxon spoke of pumping oil by 2020-the Government had five years to get it right for Guyana. What did they do? In 2016 they signed a PSA with Exxon without any consultation with the populace, collected a signing bonus of US$18 million and kept it in a secret account and denied it when asked, until evidence in the form of a letter surfaced. In 2017 Exxon came with an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) a
requirement before production begins) and despite being advised that it was flawed the Government signed it. When it became common knowledge to the public that the EIA did not hold Exxon liable for any damage to the environment in the event of an oil spill. Minister Patterson had the audacity to publicly state that the EIA was only for the first 450,000 barrels pumped out of the Stabroek block-—another dry lie! In December, when the PSA was finally released and found wanting, the Minister of Natural Resource sought to distance himself from the Agreement by saying that “Mr Newell Dennison (commissioner of GGMC) and his team were the principal negotiators (of the Exxon petroleum agreement)”. Whereas, clear language of chapter 6 of the preamble states that “GGMC has been authorized by the Minister (of natural resource) to assist and support the negotiations of this agreement subject to the provisions of the Act. Clearly! The minister is responsible for the final agreement. The asininity of the PSA is astounding! It seems to offer Trotman a job somewhere in the vicinity of Exxon’s tax liaison Guyana operative, where Trotman is
responsible to pay its taxes to GRA and deliver receipts to Exxon. Why did the Harvard Grad with distinction in negotiations not object to that? Maybe Harvard doesn’t teach anything on conflict of interest! While the public was clamoring for transparency and accountability our top diplomat, Carl Greenidge, after the exposure of the $18 million “signing bonus”, made one of the most notorious remark-”Many of those who talk transparency, their activities won’t see the light of day.” Now all these people, Trotman, Patterson and Greenidge are all Government ministers. You have to wonder where is their sense of responsibility to the Nation! A few days ago the Minister of Business, speaking at the pre GIMPEX forum scheduled for next year said, “There are a number of interventions that are being made and measures that are being put in place to ensure that Guyana and Guyanese are the main beneficiaries of all that is taking place offshore.” This is dialectal nonsenseAn agreement is an agreement, PSA or EIA. There is no room for interventions. The most the Government can do is execute on what is
written in the existing agreements with Exxon. You don’t have to be business savvy to know that! Minister Gaskin spoke of the pitfalls encountered by many countries at the hands of Exxon then added, “But I think we have heard a lot about this and we have learnt a lot about this from others. We don’t intend to make those mistakes and I can give that assurance.” What was he talking about? The “proof is in the pudding “(PSA and EIA). The Minister then added a touch of humor by saying that the Government would ensure Guyana walks a different path; one paved with transparency and accountability. When does that begin? The PSA, EIA and most of all, the signing bonus fiasco were more indicative of trampling on his so called, paved path of transparency and accountability. Judging from what had transpired since the advent of oil, it seems the “writing is on the wall”-the resource curse is on a collision course with Guyana. Is it destiny or are we standing on a geological fault line of the curse? I think not. Vexatious and inept governance is navigating Guyana to the resource curse. Rudolph Singh
CLOSURE OF SUGAR ESTATES DEAR EDITOR, Reference is made to letter “GTUC never had any discussion on closure of sugar estates” written by Eon Andrews, Vice- President, GTUC (SN, January, 20, 2018). The structure of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and the roles of its principal officers are clearly defined in its constitution. This constitution vests the authority in the General Secretary for the day-to-day administration and activities of the organisation. The office holder is so empowered to publicly speak to issues that impact the welfare and interest of workers/citizens, be they in the workforce or out, unionised or non-unionised. Speaking is done via various means such as press statement/release, letters, interviews and appearing on programmes. Issues attending to our constituency run the gamut from governance to the minutest of rights and violations by employer, government, institutions and individual.
The Central Executive Council of the GTUC has responsibility to ensure that all activities of the organisation are executed within the purview of the policies which are informed by international trade union principles and guided by the Constitution of Guyana, laws and Collective Labour Agreement. Prioritising of the activities of the organisation is the responsibility of the General Secretary. However, should there exist difference of opinion as the execution of such, the Central Executive Council allows for ventilation and guidance, after following a process of deliberation, debates and determination. On the matter of the state of the sugar industry and particularly the treatment of the trade union and sugar workers, the G T U C ’s public positions on the issues are not inconsistent with trade union’s principles and the organisation’s policy. At the day-to-day
operational level these tenets are the responsibility of the General Secretary to publicly articulate, defend and advance. It also includes speaking out against day-to-day violations and transgressions. Silence is not an option the office holder can exercise. To the reference made that the Postal and Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n Workers Union (PTWU) is fighting for its survival and said passion directed to sugar should be directed to this union, there has been no discriminatory treatment on the two issues. While sugar attracts more public attention and corresponding articulation by the GTUC, the PTWU continues to benefit from the advice of the GTUC Secretariat. Should this matter become publicly volatile and rancid as sugar, GTUC with the same passion being given to sugar shall make its position public. It is not lost on me the concerns raised by Bro.
Andrews with regards to the discriminatory treatments meted out to the GTUC, its arms and affiliated unions by the PPP/C Government. Neither too are the instances of silence to such abuses by unions in FITUG or the preferential treatment given to them by the PPP/C Government. At the same time, where the trade union sees the creating of a just society built on equality and dignity in the treatment of all, it would be an abrogation of my duties as a t r a d e u n i o n i s t and guardian of the GTUC, to stay silent when violations and transgressions occur under the APNU+AFC Government. My day-to-day activities as a trade unionist and General Secretary are guided by the GTUC Constitution, universal acceptable principles, international conventions and charters, universal declarations and the rule of law, not how I feel or vote. Lincoln Lewis General Secretary GTUC
Monday January 22, 2018
For Trump, it will not be business as usual DEAR EDITOR, United States President Donald Trump has completed his first year in office. He will go down as one of the most controversial if not unpopular Presidents with approval ratings well below 50%, the lowest for any US President since polling commenced some 70 years ago, according to a CNN report. Several demonstrations have taken place in Washington and several other States in protest over Trump’s management of the country’s affairs. There is also a government shutdown with both sides of the political divide, Republicans and Democrats trading blame for the current fiasco. Only recently he labelled citizens from Haiti and other African countries as ‘shitholes’ which has rightly
been condemned by CARICOM and other countries. He made good on his campaign promise to take a tough stand on illegal immigrants and people entering the country from Muslim States. He recognized East Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and ordered the shifting of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to East Jerusalem. Tension between North Korea and the United States has risen to new and dangerous levels with leaders from both countries referring to each other in derogatory language. It is interesting to see how matters will unfold in the remaining years of his presidency. One thing seems certain: it will not be business as usual in Washington and the White House. Hydar Ally
Enclose the overpass steps DEAR EDITOR, Last month the media reported on the death by suicide of a 40-year-old man, who jumped off the pedestrian overpass on the Diamond Public Road. Given that there are a number of such overpass on the East Bank Demerara Highway, The Caribbean Voice calls on the government to take proactive actions and enclose the steps on both sides of each overpass. This will help to ensure that there is no scope for any copycatting of this tragic act. Please do not wait for more lives to be lost by suicide, as happened at Kaieteur Falls, before taking action. Sincerely The Caribbean Voice
A Schoolboy’s Plea DEAR EDITOR, As a resident of the Diamond Housing Scheme, I testify of the blatant disrespect we -the members of a supposedly ‘middle class’ community- have to endure everyday on our commute to frankly, anywhere outside our homes. Our roads and cross streets, excuses of internal infrastructure, have been worn and torn to something less than a poorly built dam; and even this is an understatement. Surely, Esteemed Editor, you can understand my plea. My plea for at least an explanation for why this is so, a reason for why we must suffer these craters in our roads on a daily basis. I, like many others, can’t seem to fathom one. It is utterly unbearable having to traverse our streets constantly having to
succumb to the upward and downward motion of the car, only to be exacerbated in the rainy season soon to come. One can only think of the stress that the shocks of the motor vehicles undergo; that mind you, can be very expensive to repair. I am sure that I am not the only one in this community who believed that I came to live in a structured neighbourhood with wellmaintained roads. However, this is an idealistic fantasy for the foolish. I suppose we’ll have to continue living in this madness and trudge onward through the slush and muck we call our roads until someone hears our imploration to ease this burden. But what do I know? I’m just a schoolboy inexperienced in the ways of this country. J.Cruickshank
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Kaieteur News
Guyana’s Race Relations Situation is SuperSensitive and Outsiders Must be Mindful of that… DEAR EDITOR, I do not normally get involved in matters on race and politics in a direct way, I prefer to address these issues in the context of good governance, however, I would like to add my few words to the issues on the Parliamentarians from Guyana who attended the conference in India. In an attempt to understand this issue, I asked myself, if an African Government, had invited parliamentarians of African descent from Guyana to attend a ‘conference for the People of African Origin Members of Parliament’ in an African country, would that be a problem for me? My initial reaction was NO! Not REALLY! So I thought, why then is it an issue for 17 PPP Parliamentarians of Indian descent to attend a ‘conference for the People of Indian Origin Members of Parliament’ in India. I would not discuss the three Parliamentarians of Indian descent who attended from
the Coalition Government because for me, that is a nonissue; if there is an event for Indians or Africans or for people of other ethnic origins, then there should be no issue with that. However, having examined this matter further, the lines got blurred somewhat, the fact the invitation came from the Indian GOVERNMENT. Similarly, the scenario would have changed if the invitation for a ‘conference for the People of African Origin Members of Parliament’ had come from an African government, this is in the Guyana context. Had the conference been organized by civil society or the private sector and the same persons were invited, the entire scenario would have been different. Maybe, it was an oversight by the Indian government. Guyana’s sensitivities, as it relates to race and power, particularly between Africans (blacks) and Indians, are very complicated and intricate, and
many outsiders, while understanding some aspects, may not understand the true dynamics. The dynamics of the Guyanese race relations situation could be overlooked, particularly for persons with a background from countries with predominantly one race. However, it is imperative that outsiders understand that as a black citizen living in Guyana, I see Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo as my Opposition Leader, President Granger is seen as the President of the Indian, African, Amerindian and other races. What is important to me, is to be assured as a black citizen, that Mr. Jagdeo as my Opposition Leader, even though he does not look like me, he understands my issues as a human being and as far as possible, that he understands my issues as a black person; as such, as it relates to issues of race, I am a little more sensitive about how Mr. Jagdeo treats with those matters and likewise, the Indian Guyanese would
be more sensitive about how President Granger treats with matters relating to Indian Guyanese. It is expected that governments, any government, would be mindful of these sensitivities, particularly in the Guyana context; and that they would at all times maintain balance in their relationships, though difficult at times. On the point of the response from the Indian High Commissioner to Mr. Imran Khan’s comments on his Facebook page on the matter, I sincerely hope that this would not become the new normal in Guyana – Diplomats DO NOT engage with citizens in this way. A friend once told me that ‘you are as good as your first compromise’. Our society has established systems and structures to adequately address matters of this nature and they must be utilized. We must be jealous guardians of our democracy! Yours sincerely, Citizen Audreyanna Thomas
Review these works at Buxton DEAR EDITOR, In articles which appeared in the news media on Jan. 17, 2018, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) stated that three pump stations are now under construction at Buxton and other communities on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and these are expected to be completed and operational before commencement of the May/June rainy season. Photos accompanied the articles showed construction of one of the stations adjacent to the Buxton sea defense. Photos of the Buxton station showed it in an advanced stage of construction with a steel sheet piling revetment (SSPR) supporting a clay
embankment with two fuel storage tanks and a cottage built on top of the embankment a few feet away from the revetment. The clay embankment in addition to the loaded fuel tanks and other structures will impose large horizontal soil pressures on the SSPR which will have a predisposition for outward movement if it is not anchored and restrained firmly in the underlying soil. Experience has shown that at least two-thirds of the length of the steel sheet piling (SSP) driven in the type of soil shown should be underground. However, the ultimate depth to which it should be driven will depend on the soil cohesive/shear strength and its horizontal pressure on the SSPR which
I am not a member of Caribbean Voice DEAR EDITOR, I’d like an inaccurate statement to be retracted in the story that was printed on January 21st. https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2018/01/20/onlineabuse-reporting-system-launched/ The part I’d like retracted is this- “Speaking to media operatives yesterday, Ms. Akola Thompson, who has been working with Caribbean Voice, an NGO which promotes antiviolence measures, said that moves were instead made to create an online reporting system.” I am not working with the Caribbean Voice, nor have I worked with them at any point. I really do not want my name associated as a member. Akola Thompson
the site soil tests should provide. In addition, the tie-back rods should be adequately sized, spaced, corrosionresistant and anchored onto restrains outside the embankment’s slip circle to withstand the tensile forces imposed upon them. It would be prudent therefore for the NDIA to review the design of this project to ensure that the design engineer has satisfied these basic technical requirements required for the design of this project failing which, there could be another costly revetment failure similar to those which occurred at Craig on the EBD and Mabaruma, NWD waterfront in recent times. Finally, the CEO has stated that the newly installed pumps will prevent flooding of the ECD communities by increasing the drainage coefficient of these areas from 1.5 inches of rainfall in 24 hours to some unknown figure. The newly determined coefficient was not stated because no one knows but it
is generally accepted that the coefficient for residential areas should be the minimum removal of three inches of rainfall falling over a specified area in 24 hours and it is hoped that the new pumps together with existing facilities will achieve this desired objective. It should be further noted, that drainage of the coastland is primarily based on an integrated system - outfall channels, sluices, primary and secondary drainage channels. To operate efficiently, all these components have to be adequately sized and in good working condition free of debris, sediment and obstructions if their design requirements are to be met. If not, the pumps and sluices will be starved of water as the rainfall backs-up, inundating the properties they are intending to drain of excess water. Yours faithfully, Charles Sohan
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Share Guyana’s Wealth with All Guyanese DEAR EDITOR, Guyanese people are being led once by their noses again, this time, by another subtle act from the Granger administration. After the PPP (in particular) has raided the wealth of Guyana’s resources – our timber, gold, diamond, lands, etc. – for more than two decades. And after they have enriched themselves and their chosen cronies – some of who now occupy residency in Pradoville #2 – we are being told that oil is Guyana’s savior. After 50 years, without the mention of any oil, the world knew that Guyana was a treasure trough of mineral wealth. Additionally, the work ethic of the masses by far surpasses the vocational aptitudes of any of our Caribbean neighbours. Yet the hardships inflicted on our people by our successive governments, have driven, and continue to drive us from our native land. Guyana does not need oil for its citizens to experience the good life now being touted as crumbs from the masters’ table. Guyana is super wealthy with just the transparent and conscientious management of any ONE of our natural resources. Can anyone imagine how much billions of dollars were stolen by BiShal Ling and the PPP administration, in lumber alone? PPP had given BiShan Ling billions in concessions and they were shipping out (and we saw the satellite images), billions more in lumber. Now multiply that by a daily exercise and multiply it by 10-15 years and one begins to get an idea of the pilferage of billions of Guyana dollars that never got to benefit our children and grandchildren. The United Republic Party was told that one evening, A few years ago, on the high seas, off of Curacao, 10 Billion dollars of Guyana gold, was stolen (if you can steal from thieves) from off a Guyanese fishing boat, by bandits pretending to belong to Curacao coast guards. That is just one boat on one day. And it had 10 Billion dollars worth of our gold. Just imagine that this was happening weekly for 12-14 years. And that is why the Guyanese populace never benefited in any meaning full way from the wealth of our minerals. The resources are being shipped out of Guyana through its back door and only the politicians and a few others are benefiting. The recourses manager, Mr. Trotman, is saying that our wealth is still haemorrhaging through the back door. He gives no plans on curtailing and stopping that massive loss of billions of dollars. Understand that the current stealing of our natural resources is mainly being undertaken by small business men who have the capacity to buy out our politicians and law enforcement officers. Yet the government is incapable of closing that loop hole. So they are admitting that our current - nonrenewable - natural resources will continue to be fleeced from our country, so that the general population will never see the true benefits of this wealthy nation. And even as they are admitting that, they are singing the praises of oil. Now the government cannot curtail the financial haemorrhaging and corruption that is currently been perpetrated by some comparatively local and regional, ‘small fish’, how will they fend off the international likes of these oil giants? If money was and is the motivating factor for the massive corruption and loss of billions of dollars of our natural resources – over the last 30-40 years – when the stakes are higher, can the Guyanese citizenry expect any better financial management? If your answer is ‘yes’, the URP is challenging you to prove it! Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bandhu Leader, URP
Kaieteur News
Monday January 22, 2018
Remaining sugar estates DEAR EDITOR, The management of the sugar industry by Guyana Sugar Corporation successive Boards of Directors has always been composed of persons who have never considered that they have had to be accountable to a higher authority, the Government of the day, much less to the owners of the enterprise- the people of Guyana who own Guysuco. Since nationalization successive Boards have displayed the notion that Guysuco’s resources could never be depleted, deep as the oceans. The Boards have not operated over the years as conscious business people willing to manage the ebbs and flows of a multi-billion dollar enterprise. In a cursory examination of Board members since 1976, there is hardly any evidence that Boards of Directors displayed the ability to fulfill the mission of the Corporation. Beginning in the midseventies , the European Community made it clear that as time progresses the EC will not be able to sustain the preferential market for sugar. Efforts at diversification by Guysuco ended in failure either through lack of
efficient management, or sabotage by groups who envied the expected outcome. We propose to submit additional article on Diversification in opposition to diversify another word for privitisation, which we shall not accept. The present low price for sugar on the world market cannot sustain the industry. Sugar was the primary foreign exchange earner and the second largest employer after the Government of Guyana. It is the mainstay of communities in and around the sugar estates. King sugar has contributed to the growth of the country, also to the development of community sports, health-care and other facilities. Cricket, football, athletics developed around the sugar communities. Prior to independence, fourteen sugar estates were in operation. The price begun its decline in the early 1970’s and so was sugar production in Guyana. Today, sugar production is half of what it was in the 1970’s and 1980’s. In addition to lower prices and less demand, the industry has been plagued with labour unrest, high production costs, low productivity and out-dated equipment, and labour unions
that still operate in 1950’s mode in the 21st century. Editor these are the woes of the sugar industry, and by extension the sugar workers and the owners being the people of Guyana. The Government of Guyana who is the manager of the country’s assets is sleeping at the wheel. This ship m.v. Guyana is rudderless and the captain is not in the wheel house. Editor, I am departing from the traditional form of presentations through the media, by presenting excerpts of clippings taken from KN since 2015, articles submitted by your readers which display deep understanding of the crisis sugar faces, and the motivation of the letter writers to expose the failures of Guysuco’s management. Through expression of their views, writers have produced viable inputs as to the reasons for the demise of sugar, the ineptitude of Guysuco, call to give the lands to sugar workers as sweat equity and land to African Guyanese who may wish to become farmers or who may not possess sufficient acreages to maintain their families, to help our people to be selfemployed and be dignified. It is a worry-some sight to see
our females hurrying to be watch- women at other people’s properties, leaving their children alone at home. Mr. V. Odit wrote -let’s focus on issues to return Guysuco to profitability. He must know the short comings, for when he departed as Chairman of Guysuco Board, he wrote in KN of October 14, 2015: The issue of political interference must be distinct from political support. Government of Guyana is the sole shareholder of Guysuco and, as such appoints a Board of Directors, that it has confidence to perform the mandate given to it. Those Directors have a ficundiary responsibility to perform, or they should be replaced. I venture to suggest that the persons who contributed to the discussion on Guysuco, do have heart-felt longing to remove the entity that has failed repeatedly in the present and in the past, without remorse, and let the remaining sugar estates be operated by thier own management as in the past. Guysuco has out-lived its purpose and must be removed from the sugar scene forthwith. Yours truly, Hafiz Rahman National Farmers Organization
PPP Region 5 Chairman admits that he stalled the RDC meetings in 2017 DEAR EDITOR, We all know that around Christmas time many look forward to good things to happen esp. starting to make resolutions towards the New Year. In Region Five we could not have believed that the Regional Chairman was also thinking through that said path of having a better new year. At the Statutory Meeting of the RDC that w a s h e l d o n T h u r s d a y, December 21, 2017, it was shocking to hear that the regional chairman accepts that he did not do any investigation towards matters that were raised at the April 2017 RDC meeting which he committed himself in doing. At the April 2017 RDC meeting, I brought to the attention of the chairman and councillors that a long boom NDIA excavator was u s e d b y t h e Wo o d l e y Park\Bath NDC chairman and vice chairman to do private work in the Bath area. After the denial of such by the chairman, I offered him to show photographs
that will prove to him it was true. He refused to look at those pictures also. The Clerk of Council Mr. Ovid Morrison, who is also the REO of the region stood up and backed up my statements and told the Chairman that he was taken to the site and witnessed the same being done. The chairman refused to accept the clerk’s words. The chairman then told the council that he would have to do an investigation so that the council can know the truth of the matter at the next RDC sitting. This was recorded and is in the minutes of the RDC. At that point, I indicated to the chairman that we will not proceed at the next meeting unless the investigations are before the council. He accepted and said it will be done by then. Since May 2017 the chairman failed to conduct an investigation into the matter knowing that he was the one that is responsible to conduct the said investigation. From May to November 2017 the
chairman denied that he was at fault and that he was the one causing the problems so that the RDC meetings cannot go on. But as stated in my opening paragraph in December 2017 the chairman all of a sudden woke up and decided to repent. He said it clearly that he did not conduct an investigation into the matter to date and therefore is asking that we start on a new page in 2018. This man could have said this long before December so that the RDC meetings could have happened. He had the face to tell this nation and residents of Region Five that we on the APNU+AFC side are the ones that are causing the problems and do not want the RDC to function. We all know those statements were all lies. Residents of Region Five must now understand the game that the chairman is playing and it’s a bad game; it is politics with people’s lives. The chairman and PPP don’t care about development but all they cared for is political power.
They will use their supporters in every way that they can in ensuring that they believe lies and deception. They are trying to frustrate the residents of the region especially their supporters into thinking that nothing is being done in Region Five. The chairman’s admission speaks volumes because they are the ones on the PPP side that do not want the region to progress. We on the APNU+AFC side will like the residents to know that we are strongly representing them no matter what and which political party they backed. The government side of the RDC is working towards ensuring that we have a better region and works being done in all villages. Now that the Chairman has accepted that he is at fault for the breaking up of RDC meetings, we on the APNU+AFC side will be participating in all RDC matters come the next RDC meeting in January 2018. Regards Abel Seetaram Regional Councillor RDC Region 5
Monday January 22, 2018
Random checks and no discretion DEAR EDITOR, I visited Essequibo Coast during the Christmas holidays. Being considered by many as an activist for justice on that turf, I was greeted by a barrage of complaints as I moved around the Coast. I was made to understand that the Police having acquired a large fleet of motor cycles and buses from China have unleashed some sort of blitzkrieg on motor vehicle owners. The assault comes in the form of speed gun, breathalyzer and random document checks. We all know that what may seem like war is just made believe, the rice Industry struggling, it is perceived that the only ones with the dough are vehicle owners—it is a strategy to harvest it by coercion. While random checking for documents is illegal, in Georgetown that part of the Police Training Manual never seemed to have reached the Richard Faikal Training School since it was established there. With the extra mobility provided by China, the Police in Essequibo have escalated random checks for documents. Three years ago I had experienced what it felt like to be a victim of these random checks. I had just emerged from the back dam on to the public road on my motor cycle with a mist blower on my back. About 100 rods from my home a biker cop overtook me and signalled me to stop. “Good morning Sir, documents please.” I explained to him that I was coming from the back dam, indicating the blower on my back as evidence and that I could not carry my documents in such conditions since they would be damaged by the perspiration or weather, but if he wants to see my documents he could follow me since I live just seven lots away from where we were. He responded,”Sir you failed to produce your license, I have to give you a ticket. He gave me a ticket and rode off. Enraged, I went home, showered and went to the commander’s office at Anna Regina with all my documents. After explaining what had transpired to the commander he called the senior traffic rank and asked for the policeman who
unfortunately was not around. “Look, here is the man’s license, (giving the traffic rank my license and ticket) the man was seven house lots from his home and he (the biker cop ) could not go and verify his license before writing a ticket. You have to control your men. They have to learn to use their discretion,” said the commander. The traffic rank uttered something about talking to them every day. The commander returned his attention to something on paper he was discussing with another senior rank when I came in. The traffic rank returned my license and ticket to me and I somehow felt no one was paying attention to me, so I asked, “Sir so wah a gone do with this ticket”. The commander replied, “You have to pay it or go to court, that is the law.” I had to pay $7000. If you are looking for the “strangest accomplices,” check the GPF! I am not aware of when and how the law was changed from the granting of time to produce documents to producing driver’s license on demand. What I am certain of, is that none of the 65 MPs give a thought to the difficulty and impractically they created for farmers who use motor bikes and tractors to produce. The law was changed in the PPP regime and when farmers had complained about harassment by the police; instead of adding a clause to exempt open air vehicles (motor cycles and tractors) they passed a circular through the police force for police to use their discretion. To give the police a chance to use their discretion in the execution of a law is to make them, judge, jury and executioner—the perfect recipe for corruption or should I say, corruption supported by law. Farmers in Guyana would like to see the Minister of Public Security grant owners of tractors and motor cycle time to produce their driver’s license. Owners of vehicles in Essequibo are also awaiting the arrival of the observance of the illegality of random checks for documents by the police. Concerned Citizen
UNKNOWN GROUP
DEAR EDITOR, I have noted letters in the media from A.C.D.A. and an organization purported to be representing Rastafarians in Guyana. For the record, A.C.D.A. was invited by the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Bharrat Jagdeo to participate in the consultations with civic society seeking their views and proposed names for the post of Chairman of GECOM in keeping with the constitutional provisions. A.C.D.A. was invited to attend the March 20, 2017 and June 26, 2017 consultations; unfortunately they had been inadvertently left out from the first one held on December 1, 2016, this was corrected and they were invited to the other consultations. A.C.D.A. did not send any representative to either of the meetings. Nor did A.C.D.A submit names as all the civil society bodies were invited to do whether they actually attended or not. In fact. a number of organizations, despite not
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attending, used the opportunity to submit their nominees. ACDA was again invited to attend the Leader of the Opposition’s meeting with civil society on October 25, 2017, and again, ACDA did not attend. Surely A.C.D.A. could have used its voice to promote names who, in its opinion, were “fit and proper persons’ to hold the chairmanship of GECOM. It failed to do so. Therefore, its race-laced assault on the PPP/C and the 18 eminent persons whose names were submitted to the President has relegated A.C.D.A, as an organization that is clearly misled by some of its leaders, who are well paid employees of the government as advisors, and, for being wantonly irresponsible and divisive. A reputation l am sure some of the A.C.D.A. members I know do not wish to have. The Rastafarian Council has had cordial and constructive engagements with the PPP/ C in government in all of the National Stakeholders Forum chaired by President Jagdeo and President Ramotar. This has continued with the PPP/C as the Parliamentary Opposition in this and other consultations, and, in this instance on the appointment of a Chairman of GECOM. The Council sent a representative to the previous consultations and as recent as the October 25, 2016 meeting with the Leader of the Opposition. We do not know of the new group speaking on behalf of the Rastafarian community. Sincerely, Gail Teixeira, M.P.
Petroleum Commission should stay far from revenue collection …IMF Calls for Bill to be amended The Petroleum Commission Bill which is before the National Assembly will pave the way for the establishment of a regulatory body for the oil and gas sector. The Bill sets out various functions and duties of the Commission; one of which includes revenue collection and other fiscal powers. According to the Bill, the Commission shall: ascertain the cost of oil or gas due to operators; participate in the measurement of petroleum to allow for estimation and assessment of royalty and profit oil or gas due to the State, and be responsible for the approval of the exercise; provide the necessary information to the relevant authority for the collection of taxes and fees from petroleum operations; be responsible for the collection and recovery of all rents, fees, royalties, penalties, levies, tolls and any other charges payable under the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act and any other revenues of the Commission; and advise the Minister of Natural Resources in the negotiation of petroleum agreements and in the granting, amendment, renewing, extending, and revocation of licenses. But the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is opposed to this idea. It is of the view that the Commission should only stick to being a sector regulator and not meddle in revenue collection matters. The Fund said that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) should be dealing with such matters. The IMF said that the Government also agrees that the tax entity should be the only revenue collecting agency for the oil and gas sector. The IMF said if the intention is to have the GRA as the single revenue collection agency for the petroleum sector, the Bill should be amended. “Given Guyana’s limited exposure to the petroleum sector and the scarcity of specialized human capital among government ministries and agencies, resources should be used efficiently and strategically. The mission supports centralizing the fiscal administration of the sector (including Production Sharing Agreements-PSA) in the GRA. The proposed Petroleum Commission, however, should be responsible for regulating all non-fiscal aspects of the petroleum sector.”
“Even with a single revenue collection agency, coordination between the Petroleum Commission and the GRA is essential. As the sector regulator, the Petroleum Commission will develop a deep technical knowledge of the petroleum sector in Guyana. This technical knowledge will be of great benefit to the GRA in administering PSAs and taxes for the sector.” OTHER FLAWS Like most pieces of legislation in draft mode, the Petroleum Commission Bill has its fair share of flaws. But the most disturbing of them for local anticorruption advocates and advisors pertains to the uncapped authority given to the Natural Resources Minister. Not only will the Minister have the power to select the members of the Petroleum Commission, but he can also select and appoint the members of the Board along with its secretary. The Minister can even disrupt the work of the Commission as he pleases. These very concerns were raised during a consultation on oil and gas development and the Petroleum Commission Bill last year. The speakers included former Minister of Energy for Trinidad and Tobago, Kevin Ramnarine; former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran and GCCI President, Deodat Indar. In his presentation, Ramnarine noted that the Petroleum Commission is tasked with monitoring and regulating the efficient and environmentally responsible exploration, development and production of petroleum in Guyana. He said that some of its main functions include; Approving proposed exploration activity, carrying out estimation of reserves, promoting local content, overseeing third party access to infrastructure and providing information to tax authorities. The former Energy Minister then highlighted the control the Minister has over the appointment of staff for the Petroleum Commission. He noted that the Commission will have a Board of Directors (BOD) that is expected to govern or supervise the Commission. But all of the Board members would be appointed by the Minister. According to the draft legislation, the Chairperson shall be appointed by the Minister, while the Deputy Chairperson may be
appointed by the Minister. He noted that in the case of the chairperson, this is definite while in the appointment of the deputy, it is optional for the Minister. The Board is also directed by the Minister. Ramnarine also pointed out the fact that the Board would have a life of one year and the Minister has the power to terminate it at any time. The Minister can also perform the functions of the BOD if one is not appointed. He can even assume the Chairmanship in the absence of a Chairman. Also worrying to Ramnarine is the fact that the Minister would have the authority to appoint a Chairman, the Commissioner, eight other directors, and the secretary to the board. On the bright side, the former Energy Minister said that the draft legislation calls for the Board of the Directors to include one person from the parliamentary opposition and one from civil society or academia. Former Speaker of the House, Ralph Ramkarran agreed with Ramnarine’s points. He surmised that the legislation essentially gives the Minister “a heavy hand” in the staffing and operation of the Commission when in fact; he is only supposed to have “a light touch.” Ramkarran said, “One can understand that the government wants control. I am not quarreling with this…but it is not normal for Ministers to be approving the secretaries of boards.” The Attorney-at-Law asserted that what he also found peculiar is that, the fact that the draft legislation speaks nothing of the size or the number of persons who would make up the Petroleum Commission. It is only specific that eight persons would make up the Board. As it relates to recommendations, Ramnarine suggested that the term of the board be longer than one year. He and Ramkarran agreed that it is the Board which should appoint the Commissioner as well as its secretary. In relation to the later, Ramnarine noted however that the secretary should be an attorney with at least 15 years at the bar. The former energy Minister agreed that there should be a Board member from the Opposition, but he or she should be appointed by the Minister based on the written advice of the Opposition Leader.
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Three years after closure... Christianburg residents ready to rebuild school on their own The Christianburg Primary School
The residents of Christianburg, Linden, are rebuilding the Christianburg Primary School on their own. The school has been unoccupied for the past three years because sections of the building crumbling, and there was massive erosion near its foundation. Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland, told Kaieteur News that the Region made provision in their budget for the rebuilding of the school, but the money was not enough. The Mayor added that the residents and teachers are willing and eager to have the school rebuilt so that the children can attend a school that’s
closer to their homes. The Mayor said that the main call is for the school to be rebuilt at the same location. However, the people of Christianburg and the Mayor are jointly calling for this school to be rebuilt this year. They are ready to rebuild the school as a community project if it’s not done by the RDC. He noted that a US engineer recently visited the site and carried out numerous tests. He added that several overseas based Guyanese who were former students are ready to help provide free labour. It was also noted, that
some past students have expressed their readiness to join the effort of rebuilding the school. “Being a past student at the said school, I have asked the Linden group leaders for assistance and they too are ready and willing.” Holland added that they have been working closely with persons to get the project financed as soon as possible and they are also hoping to get the support of the region and the central government. A few years ago members of the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) of Christianburg Primary had shut the school over concerns that the building posed a threat to the safety of both students and teachers. The students had to be transferred to the St. Aidan’s Primary, which is located in Blue Berry Hill. Some parents had complained about the added expense.
Monday January 22, 2018
ExxonMobil will try to rob us as much as they can By: Kiana Wilburg Since the release of the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement between the Government of Guyana and USA oil giant, ExxonMobil, critics who have given the contract a thorough review believe that the nation was shortchanged; that the contract is more generous to the oil operator. These opinions have been expressed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and even Chartered Accountant and Attorney-atLaw, Chris Ram, among others. But economist and Presidential Advisor on Sustainable Development, Dr. Clive Thomas shares a different viewpoint. Professor Thomas is of the firm belief that no contract is perfect before it is executed. He told this newspaper that there needs to be empirical evidence showing that the contract has not worked for Guyana otherwise, everything else would be speculation. The Presidential advisor said, “I can’t say if we have a good deal or not because we have to see it fully executed. You can’t condemn the contract until you have evidence to justify same; if you don’t have empirical evidence that it is failing us then what are you using as your evidence to say it is bad? This is not my backing the government. The country wants to do well
…we must figure out how to defeat them - Dr. Clive Thomas
Economist and Presidential Advisor, Professor Clive Thomas and push its talent; we need comments which have nothing to do with massaging anyone’s ego.” “We make these constructions about the ideal contract and what it must have, but a mental construction is far different to a real life one; the former is only useful in so far as it can help us. You will want to improve the contract all the time. But I find that there isn’t an intellectual contribution on how we can find solutions and what these solutions can look like. We place focus on the problems and in doing so, we devalue the debate on oil and gas...” The economist said that citizens must understand that
Guyana’s contract with ExxonMobil is a unique one; one that is designed for the country’s circumstances and its environment. He said that there is also need for some to understand that the people who are engaged in the contract, hold different motivations. Dr. Thomas said, “I call it the Principal (Government) Agent (Oil operator) problem and the motivations on both ends are diverse. Exxon wants to make money and we can’t expect the Principle to say (to them) don’t make money; that is their primary goal. We expect ExxonMobil will try to rob us as much as they can so it is now on us to figure out how best we can defeat them. It is a waste of time at this point saying that they can rob us. That is ABC. That is known. Let us start looking for solutions and safeguards. It is useful in this regard to point out the errors made by other countries and how we can be able to do better.” The economist stressed that while it would be wise to reflect on the mistakes of other countries, it should not be perceived that that is the direction Guyana is heading in. He said that lessons from other nations should be used to help Guyana determine how (Continued on page 17)
Trinidad- based company launches local foot care services In a matter of weeks, Guyanese will be able to acquire the services of a certified foot care specialist via Rovon Home Healthcare Inc. The Trinidad –based company launched its Podology Service during a cocktail event at Herdmanston Lodge Hotel, Queenstown Georgetown yesterday. Podology is a branch of medicine devoted to the study, diagnosis, and medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the feet. Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) of Rovon Home Healthcare Inc, Yvonne Braithwaite-Superville, explained that the company offers a number of services which will be beneficial to the Guyanese public. Among them are treatment for diabetic foot ailments, in grown nails and brace, corns, heel fissure , thick nail, onychomycosis, tinea pedis/athlete’s foot, callus and fisheye /verruca. Braithwaite-Superville explained that the podology
- caters particularly for diabetics service will be available to the public via St Joseph’s Mercy Hospital in Georgetown. “We should be up and running in February,” she added. Rovon Home Health Care Limited was founded in Trinidad &Tobago some 15 years ago. The company is the brainchild of BraithwaiteSuperville, a Guyanese based in Trinidad. In addition to a range of health care services, the company currently offers medical evacuation and ambulance services in the Twin Island Republic. The CEO explained that the vision of Rovon Home Healthcare Inc “is to be the leading primary health care providers in the Caribbean by expanding our service across CARICOM.” As an expert in foot care, Braithwaite- Superville says Rovon Home Healthcare Inc. will provide patients with comprehensive leg and foot care including gait analysis
and the knowledge of advanced foot and nail pathology, diabetic mellitus and infection control. She explained that her mission to Guyana is to offer consultation, medivac services; nurse escort and emergency medical services to patients who need further medical intervention in Trinidad and Tobago. “The foot is always a neglected part of our body.” “Honestly, it is taken for granted when it takes us all over the world. The sole of our feet has over 7,000 nerve-endings called reflexes that correspond to every organ and system within our body.” “Podology will be the first service offered t o t h e people of Guyana because my goal as a Podologist is to prevent amputation of the lower limbs of diabetic patients. There are too many amputations,” she emphasized.
Monday January 22, 2018
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Revenue management will be essential to harnessing oil benefits - IMF cautions While Guyana is expected to rake in billions from the oil and gas sector, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is cautioning that prudent management skills would be needed by local authorities if the country is to truly benefit from this new and exciting venture. The Fund said that there are inherent features of the extractive industries revenues that raise specific management challenges. It said that these include the fact that revenue flow is potentially large but temporary, given the exhaustibility of the natural resources. There is often pressure to increase government spending upfront, sometimes by borrowing against future expected extractive industry revenue. These spending pressures often arise from elevated expectations in the population as to the expected benefits from projects in the industry. The IMF said that the revenue management challenges can be addressed by designing a fiscal policy framework that incorporates revenues from extractive industries. It said that this needs to strike the right balance between investing to meet development needs by scaling up public investment or other priority programmes while increasing financial savings for stabilization and future generations. Additionally, the Fund noted that Guyana has achieved good progress in implementing public financial management reforms yielding improvements in the management of public finances. It said that the major milestones include: approval of the 2017 budget before the start of the fiscal year; gradual implementation of programme and results based budgeting; development of a medium term perspective in the budget; publication of a comprehensive midyear budget review and; timely completion and publishing of audited annual financial statements. The Fund noted however, that sustaining the reform agenda has proved increasingly challenging with the limited capacity in the Ministry of Finance and line agencies. With the recent discovery of petroleum, the body said that there is even more pressure to have strong public financial management systems to effectively manage the volatile and temporary petroleum revenues. It expects therefore, that public financial management reforms will further intensify.
Finance Minister, Winston Jordan MEASURES During 2018, work is expected to continue to improve the efficiency and quality of the public sector investment programme (PSIP), management of oil and gas resources, tax administration, public expenditure reviews and the strengthening of monitoring and evaluation systems. According to Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, the aforementioned are crucial given their collective contribution to the goal of realizing effective results based management. Jordan noted that the Government has continued to implement a Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) Action Plan and the Budget Transparency Action Plan, in addition to improving capacity improvements in these areas. The Finance Minister also stated that in addition to efforts on the procurement side of public financial management, his Ministry has piloted a Budgeting for Results (B4R) system with the Ministry of Public Health. Jordan explained that the B4R platform is data driven; it forces the user to adapt a programmatic, resultsfocused approach to budgeting and planning. He said that the pilot will continue during 2018, when it is anticipated to utilize the platform to assess performance of public health, and to assist in the preparation and delivery of the Ministries’ Budget 2019 proposal. Once the platform proves successful, Jordan said that the Government anticipates a roll out to other key ministries. Another platform that the Government has rolled out this year is the upgraded version of the Government accounting software. Going forward, Jordan said that his Ministry will be examining the effectiveness and userfriendliness of the existing and alternative platforms. In his 2018 budget speech, the
economist said that this will be in an effort to improve on processing times within the Integrated Financial Management and Accounting Systems (IFMAS) across Government. He said, too, that the Government will be moving to design the Integrated Financial Management and Information Systems (IFMIS) to replace the IFMAS. TREASURY MANAGEMENT In the area of treasury management, Jordan said that the Government has decided to transition to a Treasury Single Account (TSA). Based on international experience, the Finance Minister said that best practices and expertise, structural changes to the
Accountant General‘s Department (AGD) were recommended. He said that these would best facilitate the move towards the TSA and enable smoother implementation of reforms in the future. Jordan said that these changes to the AGD are being considered by Government for implementation in 2018. He said that support will be provided to plan for the implementation of the TSA, as well as the adoption of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and the reconceptualization of government’s chart of accounts. In addition to this, the Finance Minister said that the
upgrading of the National Payment System (NPS) to a digital one will facilitate more effective monitoring of Budget Agencies and public funds flows, cash management, and financial reporting. Jordan said that all of this is designed to protect the integrity of the treasury and improve accountability and transparency. Jordan said, “All of the aforementioned have largely focused on improving our planning, budgeting, and financial processes. However, we must also improve the capacity of our human resources to ensure that there is sufficient analytical rigour to drive these processes. The draft report
assessing child-focused public expenditure was completed and preliminary findings show that Government, between 2015 and 2017, has placed significant emphasis on interventions that benefit children, with child-focused expenditure rising from $35.5 billion to $50.8 billion.” The Finance Minister in his 2018 budget revealed that the final report will also include analyses of the effectiveness and efficiency of select government programmes for children, and, when completed in early 2018, will serve to guide interventions and policies, going forward. “We will be undertaking Continued on page 22
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“Decriminalise suicide, it’s a cry for help” Although an attempt at suicide, from a mental health perspective, is a plea for help, it is at the same time a criminal act that could attract a twoyear prison sentence. It is for this reason that the Caribbean Voice is vociferously advocating for suicide to be stricken from the law books as a crime. Caribbean Voice is a Non Governmental organisation [NGO] with a local and international presence which embraces an anti-violence stance. According to Coordinator of its Guyana Chapter, Mr. Nazim Hussain, “because suicide is a crime, it is the reason why so many people end up self-harming and dying...strangulation of themselves [hanging] and drinking poison.” In fact he disclosed recently that based on statistics, those who died as a result of self-harm might have tried as much as 20 to 25 times before they were successful. Seeking the requisite help is often not an option when families become aware that one of their members attempted suicide. This, Hussain said, is due to the criminalisation of the act of suicide and its associated penalty. He is of the firm belief though that “if it [suicide] was decriminalised persons’ relatives would have ensured that they seek and get the requisite mental health support. But because it is criminalised when you attempt, and thankfully do not die, your parents,
- NGO urges
spouses or whoever are not going to take you to get mental health treatment because they would be fearful; it’s a crime...you could be imprisoned for two years for trying to take your own life.” As part of its anti-violence efforts, Caribbean Voice has been helping through its emphatic communication programme to help address the problem of suicide. According to Hussain, oftentimes suicide is preceded by evident behavioural change. These changes, he noted, should not be taken for
granted. “This [behavioural change] can be a suicide warning sign...there are several other signs that these people display [too], perhaps not consciously,” Hussain added. For this reason, Hussain noted that Caribbean Voice is fervent in its advocacy to have suicide decriminalised. As part of its advocacy, Caribbean Voice, through yet another of its representatives, Annan Boodram, has been urging that all media refrain from using the term ‘committed suicide’ to refer to the act whereby someone dies by
suicide. According to Boodram, by way of a letter which was disseminated to the media last year, “Suicide prevention activists and organizations argue that the word ‘commit’ has certain negative connotations and associations such as in ‘criminals commit crimes’.” Boodram also noted that in spite of the archaic law in Guyana that criminalises attempted suicide, suicide is not a crime but a mental health issue, especially given that all triggers lead to either depression or anxiety which in turn catalyses suicide ideation and suicide itself. “Suicide prevention activists and organizations are requesting that the replacement terms be ‘died by suicide’ or ‘is a suicide victim’. Also, instead of ‘reducing suicide’ or ‘suicide reduction,’ please use ‘creating suicide free [or suicide freer] communities’.” The goal of activists, Boodram added, is not to reduce suicide since one suicide is one too many. As such, the goal should be to work to create suicide freer communities that would eventually result in suicide free communities, Boodram has outlined. Although representatives of Caribbean Voice were not able to share any suicide statistics at a recent forum, Guyana up to August last year was embracing trends that
Mr. Nazim Hussain, Caribbean Voice Coordinator were highlighted by PAHO/ WHO Director, Dr. William Adu-Krow, which suggested that Guyana’s suicide rate had plummeted to 20.6 per 100,000 people. In 2012 Guyana was reported to have the highest suicide rate in the world. However, by 2015, when a Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] review was conducted, it was found that the rate had considerably declined. A 2012 WHO report indicated that Guyana had a suicide rate of 44.2 per 100,000 people, and that for every single female suicide, there were 3.2 male suicides. By comparison, it was revealed that neighbouring territories Suriname had a suicide rate of 27.8 per 100,000, and Venezuela’s rate was 2.6 per
100,000. “I just want to say that a lot of things are happening and sometimes people dwell on the negatives all the time. Granted that we are not off that list but we are getting off that list,” said the PAHO/ WHO Representative of Guyana’s declining suicide rate. As part of its efforts to help low and middle income countries like Guyana combat the scourge of suicide, WHO developed the Mental Health Gap Action Programme [mhGAP] which is aimed at scaling up services for people with mental, neurological and substance use disorders. In its quest to combat the evident scourge of suicide, the Ministry of Public Health had announced plans to continue a number of ‘suicide deterrent’ measures. Among the measures that have been revealed by the Ministry are efforts to ensure that existing laws and regulations regarding pesticide sale, use and storage are enforced. Added to this, moves were slated to be made to train at least 50 percent of Primary Health Care doctors in mhGAP-Intervention Guide. The programme asserts that with proper care, psychosocial assistance and medication, many people could be treated for depression, schizophrenia, and epilepsy, prevented from [choosing] suicide, and begin to lead normal lives even where resources are scarce.
Rotaract clubs launch major conference for Guyana The Rotaract Clubs of Guyana on Friday launched the 26th Annual Rotaract District 7030 Conference under the theme” El Dorado Undiscovered, Experience the Adventure.” The conference, slated for June 14-18, 2018, is described as a potpourri of at least 200 volunteers from more than 17 Caribbean nations gathering in Guyana to explore and experience Guyanese culture and showcase projects underway within the Caribbean District. Cecil Maxwell, conference chair told the audience at the University of Guyana, that Guyana is hosting the conference for the first time in 13 years and sessions will be held at the Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel. “We are happy to be hosting the conference in Guyana again. Apart from the tourism benefits, Guyana will also
benefit from a major humanitarian assistance with the help of our visiting friends,” Maxwell stated. He noted that this year, Guyana will directly benefit from a collective community service project being undertaken by the local and visiting Rotaractors, Rotarians and friends of Rotary International. The rural community of Haruni along the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway is expected to be the beneficiary of this initiative called H.A.N.D.S for Haruni. “It is expected to be a multifaceted, magnificent and a massive undertaking,” Maxwell outlined. The project will involve the construction of a home for a single parent family, a medical outreach and blood drive, book donation and general community beautification. The five-part project provides
Rotaractors along with District Governor Waddy Sowma (center) at the launch of the 26th annual Rotaract District 7030 Conference. a golden opportunity for the clubs to commemorate 50 years of Rotaract service worldwide. In attendance at the launch was Suriname’s Waddy Sowma, District 7030
Governor underscored the importance of the youth groups to the Rotary family. He pledged the support of the Rotaraians in the district. The four-day conference will gather young profession-
als from across the Caribbean to discuss innovative means of voluntary service, impactful ideas, developmental plans and sustainable goals; all aimed at positively impacting the people and communities in their respective countries. Given the sheer scale of this event, it is an excellent opportunity for partnership with organizations within the tourism and business sectors as it provides marketing op-
portunities across Guyana and the larger Caribbean. For over 30 years, the Rotaract Clubs of Guyana have contributed significantly to Guyanese society with numerous ventures targeted at improving communities, professional development, and strengthening local and international relations. To contribute to the Haruni project, persons can contact Stuart Shepherd at 654-3209.
Monday January 22, 2018
Cops probe slain girl’s link to ‘group’ in bizarre cemetery murder - as victim’s dad vows to help find killers
The area where Rainella was found What connection, if any, does an online group have with the still-unsolved murder of a teenage girl who was battered to death in a cemetery last December? That’s the question that detectives are seeking answers to, as they pursue the killer or killers of 18-year-old Rainella Benfield, whose body was found in a cemetery at Triumph, East Coast Demerara on December 11, 2017. Benfield, a receptionist who was employed with Qualfon, was apparently killed by someone who repeatedly struck her in the face with a rock. The bloodstained ‘weapon’ was left near the corpse. The method in which she was slain has led to the conclusion that vengeance, for some possible grievance, was the motive. “From the outset, when we look at the type of injuries sustained, and the postmortem, we realised that it (the killing) would have been meted out (because) of grievance, affair, passion, as it relates to something she may have known or heard,” Crime Chief Paul Williams told journalists at a recent press conference. The Crime Chief also said that information had surfaced that has caused his detectives to be “looking at a group to see definitely if there is any information that we can use to pursue further investigations.” The ‘group’ to which Williams referred reportedly comprises individuals, who first corresponded via ‘WhatsApp. “From my understanding, the group started to meet, and then began to get bigger,” Rainella’s father, Rainsford Benfield, told Kaieteur News this week. “For me, it seems that it moved from being a company to being a cult.”
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Kaieteur News
Murdered: Rainella Benfield But Mr. Benfield said that he knew nothing about the group to which his daughter belonged until after her death. He speculates that his daughter was slain “because of something she found out, or something she may have done, or refused to do.” According to Mr. Benfield, who saw his daughter’s body, said Rainella “practically did not have a face,” because of the ferocity of the attack. Mr. Benfield says he’s determined that his daughter’s killers will be found. “It will not b another unsolved case. I will go the full
length (for justice) and I will not give up.” SUSPECTS Police have been reluctant to disclose many details about their investigations, or other theories pertaining to the case. Five individuals, including the slain girl’s fiancé, were initially detained. Kaieteur News understands that investigators are attempting to locate a Beterveragting resident whom they consider to be “a person of interest,” in the investigation. Rainella Benfield, of Lot 99 Canterbury Walk, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, was reportedly last seen alive at around 18:00 hrs on Saturday, December 9. A male friend of Rainella’s had said that that she had planned to spend the night out with a group of friends at Mahaicony. But the receptionist cancelled at the last moment, since she had to work late the following day. On Monday, December 11, she was found dead in the Triumph cemetery. It is suspected that she was slain the previous Saturday, since persons in the area reportedly heard someone screaming in the vicinity of the cemetery.
MOE takes Town Hall meeting to Lethem As part of its continuing efforts to improve the standard of education across Guyana, the Ministry of Education (MOE), took its townhall meeting to the hinterland community of Lethem in Region 9 (Upper Takatu/ Upper Essequibo) last Wednesday. According to the Ministry, the ongoing town hall meetings are aimed at exploring fresh approaches in the quest to create a modern, participatory educati on system. The initiative is the brainchild of the Minister of Education Nicolette Henry. Its aim is to foster a closer relationship between parents, the school, and the ministry. Addressing a packed auditorium of parents, guardians, teachers, and students at the St. Ignatius Secondary School, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Marcel Hutson said that Region Nine has potential. It is against this backdrop that parents and teachers
must collaborate to harness the potential of students in the region, the CEO charged. Further, Hutson told those in attendance that the ministry is serious about closing the gap between the schools on the coast and those in the hinterland. "We must create a level playing field for all our children to have a good education and that is why we are here today." The chief educator announced that plans are in-train to address issues at the critical early childhood stage in Region Nine. Towards this end, the CEO announced that the establishment of a school for autistic children is on the cards to complement the diagnostic centre that has been built in the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) compound. Hutson said that he is confident that similar services will be extended to Region Nine. The region was commended for their much-im-
proved performance at the 2017 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). According to CEO Hutson, this improvement is due in large part to the approach that was taken by the MOE. He noted the acquisition of mathematics kits and the hiring of a number of mathematics inspectors who are tasked with ensuring that the content and methodology being taught at schools are in keeping with what is expected. National Coordinator of the Parent Teachers Association (PTA), Nadia Hollingsworth in her presentation told parents that it is imperative that they are integrally involved in their children's education. The Coordinator said many times schools are only visited by some parents when there is an issue. "You cannot only visit the school when there is an issue but you have to visit to be apprised of how your child is performing."
Jagdeo accuses Govt. of... (From page 3) and uncertainty among officers because they have interfered like never before in the operations of the police force. He stated that the Government has also compromised their effectiveness to solve crimes by diverting the police’s attention to frivolous issues. “I saw junior Ministers now with police escorts around town. Ministers never had police escorts in the past. Junior Ministers now having security personnel along with their drivers. That never happened under the PPP. Due to constant interference, they have the police focused more on security for ministers, on public statements and not on solving crime itself. FACED SIMILAR ACCUSATIONS But is this a proverbial
case of “the pot calling the kettle black?” Jagdeo and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) were previously accused of political interference in the operations of the joint services. Regardless of the accusations, Jagdeo stated that the most senior officer was always appointed Commissioner. In the case of former Commissioner, Winston Felix, Jagdeo said that he was among four persons identified to succeed Floyd McDonald. According to Jagdeo, Felix, who is now Minister of Citizenship in the coalition government, emerged as the leading candidate at the end of a high-level training programme overseas. “At every level, it was the most senior person who went in. I then appointed [the late] Henry Green, although the Americans didn’t want him
appointed. I said unless you can give me good reasons for him not to be appointed, he will be because he is the most senor person there. There was not a political consideration. We did not do a political litmus test. Look where Felix is now. All along he may have been PNC and the same thing with Eddie Collins (former Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force) who I appointed,” Jagdeo stated. It was under former Minister of Home Affairs, Ronald Gajraj that accusations were brought against the PPP of a heavy-handed interference in the operations of the force. Jagdeo said that a Commission of Inquiry cleared Gajraj although he subsequently resigned the post. “In the 23 years of the PPP I saw a very different approach,” Jagdeo noted.
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Monday January 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
The Guyana Foundation had successful year Last year was one of resounding success for The Guyana Foundation. Through local and international partnership, the foundation, last year, carried out several charitable works across the country. The foundation hosted an after-school mentorship and homework assistance for students of Zorg-en-Vlygt and Queenstown on the Essequibo Coast. Sixty-eight students were tutored through this programme, mainly in the areas of literacy and numeracy. Donations of clothing, food and hygiene products were made to settlements up the Pomeroon River and villages on the East Coast of Demerara, such as Breezy Point aback of Buxton. Dialogue was also held with religious groups, governmental agencies, non-government organizations. Outreaches were held in various communities on the Essequibo Coast, with information being disseminated on mental health and other social issues. Holistic wellness was promoted with mothers of the adolescent prenatal clinic at Charity and Dartmouth Health Centres. Some of these sessions were partnered with the Ministry of Social Protection, mostly in the Lower and Upper Pomeroon River. According to Supriya Singh-Bodden, CCH, founder of The Guyana Foundation,
some of its other works included, “workshops on women’s empowerment in Zorg-en-Vlygt and Bartica reaching a total of 47 persons. Two mental health workshops were held with 52 cadets of the Richard Fickal Police College on how to understand the signs of suicidal ideation. “Activities on Child Sexual Abuse Awareness in collaboration with the Childcare and Protection Agency, outreaches to the elderly and disabled individuals, providing psychosocial, nutritional and health counseling and physiotherapy. Activities to honor the Elderly during the month of October, 2017 in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection and talks to members of the disabled community in recognition of disability week.” The Guyana Foundation was also instrumental in the formation of a Kids Club to assist young children to learn the importance of hygiene and expressive art to unlock mental health issues. Through this, each child was given the opportunity to express his/her feelings; 32 children participated in this programme. Further, a 10-day summer camp was held for children between the ages of 12-18 and others between six and 11. A total of 84 children attended. “Fundraising activities on the Essequibo coast where the Scotia bank logo was used
Some of the 92 skills training grandaunts, December 2017 as a contributor to our work. And a weekly television programme on RCA TV Channel 8 in order to reach out to communities with information on mental health and other social issues.” Then there was the historic signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Guyana Foundation and the University Of Medical Sciences Of Ciego De Avila in Cuba for conferences to be held annually dealing with mental health issues. The first conference was held in 2016. “The University will train mental health counsellors we select from villages in Region Two where we work. This will be done gratis except the air travel to Cuba for those selected. There is a shortage of mental health profession-
als in Guyana where only five Psychiatrists are available to service the entire population. The terrain is vast and, therefore, many are without access to mental health support,” revealed Singh-Bodden. Also, 92 persons graduated from the areas of catering, cosmetology, fabric designing, electrical installation, tailoring, dress making and computer repairs and maintenance; mental health workshops were held with 75 care providers from the Essequibo Coast, Pomeroon River and Capoey Mashabo, Mainstay and Tapakuma Lakes and Bethany. To date, the foundation’s Managing Director of the Sunrise Center, Mrs. Miriam Roberts-Hinds has been instrumental in her effort to
counsel and assist many victims of attempted suicide, domestic violence and various forms of abuse, that number being 163 persons. The Guyana Foundation has established a craft shop, “Hand Made With Love”, in the Cayman Islands in order to assist with funding for some of its projects. The Wai Wai people all the way in Region #9, with more orders expected soon has completed the first order of craft. The activities of the Guyana Foundation have received wide press coverage not only locally but internationally. According to SinghBodden, “The (British Broadcasting Corporation) BBC recently visited to do a documentary. Aljazeera invited us on a panel discussion on sui-
cide in Guyana. The Economist UK published an article on our work. The World Weekly published an article on suicide highlighting our efforts. Prensa Latina Cuba, released a video on our submission to the last conference on suicide in Guyana.” She continued, “Mr. Haimraj Hamandeo, our Senior Counselor at the Sunrise Center was invited to attend the BABCP Annual Conference on Mental Health in the United Kingdom, (see link http://www.babcp.com/files/ C B T- To d a y / c b t - t o d a y september-2017.pdf), in July 2017, whereby our participation was publicized in the CBT Today, the official magazine of the British Association for Behavioral & Cognitive Psychotherapies.”
Timehri Film Festival to host workshop for filmmakers Even as filmmakers across Guyana are gearing to submit their projects for the Timehri Film Festival, they are now being given the opportunity to develop their skills. A Timehri Film Festival official revealed that a special workshop will be held this year, for the first time, to help both aspiring and experienced filmmakers in their areas of expertise. The workshop is limited to the first 20 persons at a registration fee of US$150 per person. Persons can register by making contact with the officials at the Timehri Film Festival on their website, ‘timehrifilmfestival.com’. In this course, students will learn how to create short documentaries focused on stories in their own communities. It also would be beneficial in exploring how the fundamental storytelling methods used in fiction can be used to create immersive nonfiction films and draw on acclaimed documentary shorts, which have been redefining the rules of non-fiction story telling. Students will also learn the fundamentals of interviewing subjects, conducting research and producing docu-
The cover of the Guyanese film mentary shoots. The sessions are scheduled to be conducted from May 28, 2018 to June 2, 2018 between 17:00 to 21:00hrs on weekdays and on Saturday, from 14:00hrs to 18:00hrs. Registration will end on March 1, 2018. This is the third consecutive year that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport will host the event. In a release, officials from the Timehri Film Festival reminded that the short films must be shot in or around Guyana. Film submissions will be accepted before March 15, 2018. The well-written pieces
An audience of the screening of a film at the Umana Yana, Georgetown
will be selected by a panel to be screened at the Film Festival, which is slated to be held between May to June, 2018 in Georgetown. Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. George Norton said during his budgetary presentation that, “The Guyana Film Festival would have a different focus in 2018”. Norton said that in 2018, “New players in terms of producers will be coming on board with their own ideas and their own interpretation of the
whole industry”. In this regard, Norton, who is also responsible for Social Cohesion, stated that more young people who are very talented and informed in this field, will be involved in the Film Festival. In response to a question, Norton said that the Ministry hopes that with the group of young people on board, “more zest can be put into the exercise so that we can get a better outcome”. Last year’s Film Festival
was held in Georgetown in May and June. The festival lasted five days and featured over 26 short films from 14 different countries. The Festival also saw partnership with Trinidad and Tobago’s Green Screen Environmental Film Festival and Iwokrama. Also as part of the Festival last year, screenings were held at different locations around the country. This presented a perfect opportunity for the premiere of “Adero,” the short film shot
in Guyana and directed by Kojo McPherson. It was made as a part of the Caribbean Film Project, and is the first of the initial four films made, to be completed. The Festival also featured a collection of some of the best short and feature length films in and around the Caribbean. In addition to “Adero,” the Guyana Shorts section featured films by Diaspora filmmakers of Guyanese heritage.
Monday January 22, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Vandals destroy road signs civic-minded retiree paid to erect in his community
VANDALIZED: The sign at Kiskadee Street
The sign at Toucan Drive
In a country where drains are often clogged, and garbage strewn carelessly near marketplaces, one would think that a citizen’s efforts to beautify his community would be lauded. But that’s not the case in North East La Penitence,
where someone has been vandalizing road signs that one resident, Mr. Aubrey Alexander, has gone to pains to erect. Long before calls for a “green environment” were being made, Mr. Alexander, a former Deputy Director of
The alleyway that Mr. Alexander paid to have cleaned.
Civil Aviation, and longstanding resident of North East La Penitence, has been making efforts to beautify his community. One of the things that this civic-minded retiree observed was an absence of road signs in his sub-division. About a year ago, and using his own financial resources, he erected two beautiful road signs at Kiskadee Street and Toucan Drive, North East La Penitence. Those signs each cost $10,000. “They were the most attractive street signs one could see in Georgetown,” the retiree said. “You would see signs like this in America.” Six months ago, vandals began to ‘attack’ the signs. First, Mr. Alexander observed that the metal pole to which the Kiskadee Street sign was attached was bent. Shortly after, someone smashed the sign to pieces. They also did minor damage to the other sign at Toucan Drive. “What kind of people would not want street signs in their community?” a disappointed Aubrey Alexander queried. “Why would they not want their street to be named? I have my idea (about the identity of the vandals) but I’m not pointing any fingers.” Nevertheless, Mr. Alexander says that he will not be deterred in his efforts to enhance his surroundings.
Prior to this, for security purposes, he hired an electrical company to install two street lights at both ends of Kiskadee Street. Installation of one at the lights cost $60,000 (another resident contributed $5,000). He paid another $10,000 to have the other (which has a photo cell sensor) Installed. Some six years ago, he also hired persons to clean the alleyway behind his house. He also once had a brief tiff with former President Bharrat Jagdeo over the state of the roads in the community he had residend in since 1972. “The street was so bad that people were walking on the parapet in front of my house,” he recalled. President Jagdeo was having a ‘walk-about’ in North East La Penitence. Mr. Alexander approached the head-of state about the deplorable condition of Kiskadee Street and Toucan Drive. “I told Jagdeo that I had paid my dues (to the country) as a former Director of Civil Aviation and demanded that the roads be fixed.” Then, shortly after, Mr.
Civic minded retiree: Mr. Aubrey Alexander Alexander encountered President Jagdeo at another venue . He again raised the
issue about the deplorable roads in North East La Penitence. According to Mr. Alexander, Jagdeo “raised his hands and told me to ask (Mayor) Hamilton Green.” Mr. Alexander immediately dispatched a letter to the Office of the President, chiding the younger man for his “terse” response. “A week after, his secretary told me that that he (Jagdeo) had forwarded my letter to (Minister of Public Works) Robeson Benn.” Minister Benn not only had Kiskadee Street and Toucan Drive fixed, but, at Mr. Alexander’s insistence, put in speed bumps as well.
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SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK;Guyanapassport application. G r a p h i c s design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6004212: We create A/works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.
VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota premio PSS7517 1.8M 2005 model C light recorder Axio 2.5 Bluebird 2.6 Tida 2.2 #655-3400 R3 Minibus $800k 212 Toyota $750k 192 Toyota $500k. Call: 697-2550, 613-1810 One RZ minibus BRR series, mag rim, cat eyes $1.5 Tel#6689672, 645-2525 Tractor (foreign used) Massey Ferguson-165 excellent condition Vreed-enhoop $1.6M, MF-135 $1.1M, MF-265-$2.2M, 165- loader tractor- $2.4M. Call: 682-5230/ 615-4414
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY- $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-2274754. Video games and consoles at affordable price. Repairs to video game system .Call:6722566/265-3231 12ft & 14ft Aluminum boat for sale 222-5671, 641-6162 Freezers. Call: 671-3004 1 Mack truck, 1 Mercedes Bendz, 1 Pathfinder. Contact: 665-1154 Three pure breed German Shepherd. Seven weeks old. Tel: 626-0953/650-9998 Litace Noah 3 (S) engine a/c working (G) series can be changed to private $1,250,000. Neg townace parts available also. Call: 622-5986 9000 BM Klim dry, rough sand crabwood. $2.15US per BM Tel: 697-7708 LAND FOR SALE Parafaite Harmonie 2.5M 1.6M Ten year up 3.5M Herstelling 3M Tuschen 5.5M 5M. Call: 666-2326 Parafaite 2M main road 1.6M 3M Herstelling 3M Farm 3.5M Tuschen 5M 1.8M Uitvlugt 3M. Call: 604-6724/ 686-9608
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Vreed-en-hoop junction. Lessons place, storage bond, office, other. Call 6036400.
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Apartment- Vreed-en-hoop, two bedroom (Kitchen, bath, grill, security camera, A/C, Granite countertop) family preferable. $25,000 monthly. Tel: 682-5230, 615-4414 TOLET Furnished 2 bedrooms apartment in Eccles New Scheme. #698-7807 Room for working couple/ single person. Light, water, bed included. $28,000 monthly, $28,000 security @ South Riumveldt. Tel:6230076 Ground floor of four storey buliding located on Robb Street next to Bourda Market. Tel: 623-7731, 688-7625
Pick up truck from Canada, All double cab 2005 Tacoma $2.3 M, Ford F150 sport $1.5M, Ford ranger sport $1.4M. Call: 682-5230, 615-4414. PROPERTY FOR SALE
Monday January 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Forty foot (40ft) containers, in good condition. #687-6072 1 welder to work in the interior. Meals & accomodation provided. Must have driver’s license. Contact: 680-2702 Land to buy- Parafaite Harmonie, Tuschen, Farm, Uitvlugt, Eccles, Herstelling, Zeelugt. We pay cash. Call:666-2326 Seeking property to rent for restaurant in Georgetown, Call: 615-0317 Labourers to work on farm in Demerara river. Accomodation provided. Tel: 684-1098/646-9821 1 honest, reliable domestic & 1 Babysitter to work 7am-3pm & 8am-4pm workplace will be near Sheriff St. Call: 641-1062 (7:30am-5:00pm) Graphic Artist. Call: 222-7603
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EDUCATION First Aid/CPR and Home Nursing. New classes starting shortly at St John. Tel: 225-9082 Lessons: Phonics, Reading & Writing for Kindergarten, grades 1-5 Mathematics & English. Lessons for form 1-5. Call: 690-9378 HEALTH Get genuine herbal supplements from Hazel’s Herbal Store. Call: Tel# 2269136. Iridology Services offered on Monday 29-01-18
C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 6222872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages). Ultraviolet Driving School is offering a 6 days driving lesson for $7,500. Come and enjoy it! Call 602-2583 VACANCY 1 cook, 1 cleaner, 1 waitress. Call Sabrina/Lisa on 231-5857/ 231-5866 One general domestic. Apply in person to Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street, Bourda.
From page 9 further public expenditure reviews, in different sectors, commencing in 2018, and will continue capacity building in this area, along with economic forecasting and modeling. The child-focused public expenditure assessment also incorporated a capacity building exercise which sought to train officials of several key ministries, such as the Ministries of Public Health and Education, in the methodologies behind the exercise.” Jordan said that approximately 30 public servants were sensitized on
VACANCY Experienced Security Professionals. Must have 3 yrs. experience, past military/ security. Send resume & picture by email:. bvisecurityandinvestigators @ g m a i l . c o m Cleaner – submit written application to Barton-Sukhraj Accounting Lot 78 Breda & Hadfield Street, Werk-en-rust or e-mail to bs.taxes@yahoo.com Temporary Tax Consultant – Minimum qualification – CXC inclusive of Mathematics, Accounting & English, e-mail application to bs.taxes@yahoo.com Vacancy exists for 1 experienced pharmacy technician to work part time @ a reputable pharmacy Georgetown- Call: 227-0630 Shipping Assistant, Accounts clerk- must have knowledge of QuickBooks. Tel: 616-5591/ 665-3676/226-0395. Waitress for bar. Age 18-27 #612-2522 Cashiers @ Nirva Superstore. please apply in person with written application at 49 Sheriff & Craig St. Tel#2275771 Live-in or part time maid, call 695-5505 or 611-6364 between 9am to 4pm Office clerk Senior/Junior CXC English/Mathematics, Computer knowledge an asset, Call: 223-7500 General maintenance Guy, room attendant ages 25-45 years old. Tel: 225-0198 233 South rd, Lacytown. One Live in domestic. Five days per week. Age 18-55. Call: 669-4436 Auto body repairman, part time. 266-4427
measures of efficiency and effectiveness when assessing public programmes. The economist said that the intention is to develop the analytic capacity to undertake such assessments, in-house, so as to programme development and evaluation DATA FOR DECISION MAKING The Finance Minister had told the House last year that the experiences of 2017 make it plainly evident that Guyana still has a long way to go in strengthening its data systems. “To be able to have effective monitoring and evaluation systems, make the most of planning and budgeting platforms, such as B4R; and produce quality analytic reports, as we are doing for the child-focused public expenditure assessment; we must do more to improve data collection, management, quality and analyses. “ “As such, capacity building, under the umbrella of our National Monitoring and Evaluation ( M & E ) St r a t e g y, w i l l continue in 2018, with at least five sessions of training planned in key concepts of M&E and indicator building. As we continue to implement performance budgeting and results based management, the need for effective M &E systems, underpinned by strong data development, remains critical.” With regards to national statistics, the Finance Minister said that the Labour Force Survey (LFS) took the field in the third quarter of 2017 and will continue into 2018. The LFS – the first for Guyan a – i s n o w i n i t s second round and the first profiles of analysis are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2018. In addition, the all-Urban Consumer Price Index is expected to be implemented in the first quarter of 2018. Further, Jordan revealed that the Government will be launching the Household Budget Survey and the Living Conditions Survey in the last quarter of 2018. The latter survey is the first major output of the newly established Poverty Measurement and Analysis Unit.
Monday January 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
PM May says will stop companies abusing pension schemes Writing in Sunday’s Observer newspaper, the Prime Minister said private companies could help deliver better public services, but the system needed to be rebalanced in favour of ordinary working people. “In the spring, we will set out tough new rules for executives who try to line their own pockets by putting their workers’ pensions at risk - an acceptable abuse that we will end,” she said. Construction and outsourcing services group Carillion was put into liquidation today, swamped by debt and pension liabilities of at least 2.2 billion pounds ($3 billion), and forcing the government to step in to guarantee public services from school meals to roadworks. Its more than a dozen pension schemes, which collectively have 27,500 members are on course to transfer to the lifeboat Pension protection Fund, leaving many members who are below retirement age
Theresa May facing a cut in their pensions. May had previously pledged to tackle corporate abuses, and she said in May 2017 she would protect pensions from “irresponsible behaviour by company bosses”, a reference to the public outcry to the demise of department store group BHS after it was sold by billionaire Philip Green. She said yesterday she had taken action on
boardroom excesses, for example giving shareholders a greater say in the pay awarded to bosses, and she was determined that the government would stand up to the small amount of businesses that give the majority a bad name. But she also defended the role of the private sector in providing government services, and the action it had taken after the collapse of Carillion. “The state also has a role to play when things go wrong and companies fail, as Carillion did last week,” she said. “Not by bailing out the directors with a blank cheque - it will be the shareholders of Carillion, not taxpayers, who pay the price for the company’s collapse - but by stepping in and supporting those affected.” Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn last week called for the end of the “costly racket” of outsourcing public services to private companies after Carillion’s failure.
German SPD backs coalition talks, leader vows tough approach ONN (Reuters) Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) voted yesterday to begin formal coalition talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives, moving Europe’s economic powerhouse closer to a stable government after months of political deadlock. SPD delegates voted 362 to 279, with one abstention, to press ahead with negotiations. The center-left party’s leaders had agreed a preliminary coalition blueprint with Merkel’s conservative bloc earlier this month. A recount was held after an initial show of hands was too close to call for the SPD official in charge of the count and the result was slightly narrower that most analysts expected. “We are of course all
Martin Schulz relieved,” SPD leader Martin Schulz told Phoenix television after the vote in Bonn, the capital of former West Germany where late SPD chancellors Willy Brandt and
Helmut Schmidt earned reputations as global statesmen. Now, the SPD aims to negotiate an improved coalition deal it can sell to members wary of acting as junior partner to Merkel. Schulz has already said that all SPD members will get to vote on a final coalition deal. “The coalition talks are going to be just as hard as the exploratory talks,” said Schulz. “We will talk to conservatives in the coming days and agree on a time frame. Then I hope that we will start negotiations soon.” Merkel welcomed the SPD’s decision, saying she looked forward to intensive talks focused on reaching a conclusion which she hoped would take place in a sensible atmosphere.
Chuck Defends Judges The Gleaner - Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has hit back at the police and other critics who have taken issue with perceived light sentences being imposed by judges for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition. Days after publicly admitting that he also has concerns about the disparity between some of the sentences being imposed, Mr Chuck says critics should understand that sentencing is not a science and that every case can be explained. Last week The Gleaner reported that police investigators have compiled a document that
examined 35 cases of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition that were disposed of in Trelawny, St James, Hanover and Westmoreland. The document indicated that in a majority of cases judges opted for fines, suspended sentences and probation orders. Investigators complained that these were ineffective in helping to tackle the country’s escalating crime rate. But Mr Chuck chided the police for singling out cases with perceived light sentences to make the argument that the justice system should be blamed for the escalation in crime.
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Monday January 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Haitians march in NY protesting Antigua wants China to partner Trump’s reported racist comments on State-funded projects Haitians march in NY
NEW YORK - CMC – Hundreds of Haitians marched from the Brooklyn Bridge to Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan Friday, protesting Trump’s reported disparaging remarks about the French-speaking Caribbean country. Waving Haitian flags and dancing to the beat of drums and horns, the number of demonstrators multiplied as they streamed into Midtown. “We have a President in power who knows no history and seems to have no education, who just disrespects any and everybody in the world,” said Marie Timothee, 28, a social worker born in Haiti and raised in Brooklyn. The protesters took to the streets eight days after Trump was reported, in a White House meeting with lawmakers, to have described Haiti and African nations as “shithole countries”. The President reportedly used the derogatory term to describe the countries with black populations while wondering aloud why the US wasn’t
accepting more people from places like Norway, a predominantly White country. “I am here with my fellow Haitians, and also our fellow Africans, to tell Trump he’s wrong the way he thinks about us,” said Sully Guillaume-Sam, 49, a priest at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Bushwick, Brooklyn. “We bring a lot to this country, and he needs to be fair to us,” Fr. Guillaume-Sam said. “He needs to be a leader with heart, not the kind of racist leader he has been showing us he is.” Meanwhile, Haiti has been slapped with the ending of Washington’s guest worker programme for Haitian nationals. Effective Thursday, Haitian farmers and other labourers seeking to come to the United States as temporary, seasonal workers under the federal H-2A and H2B guest worker programme, will no longer be eligible. The temporary workers’ visa has for decades allowed hundreds of US farmers, hoteliers and other business
owners to hire thousands of foreign seasonal workers. But citing Haitians’ “extremely high rates of refusal… high levels of fraud and abuse and a high rate of overstaying the terms of their H-2 admission,” the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Haiti’s inclusion on the lists of eligible countries for 2018 “is no longer in the US interest.” DHS also announced that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)-member state of Belize will be banned, as well as Samoa in the central South Pacific Ocean. The decision comes amid a push by the Trump administration to restrict immigration and the public outcry over the president’s alleged characterization of Haiti.
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua CMC – Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda has invited the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation to invest more with the Government. Browne made the call while speaking during recent high-level talks with Chinese diplomats and the president of the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC). “Realising the increased traffic of tourist from Cruise Tourism, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda intends to capitalize on this increase and expand the tourism capacity of the island,” a Government statement said. “To this end, the prime minister extended an invitation to the Chinese to partner with the Government to invest in the development of a small hotel project on the coast line. “The project will see some capital coming from the government and the opportunity to invest was given to CCECC,” it added. “The first floor could be utilize as your cooperate offices for the region and the rest of the multi-story building will be used as a hotel to facilitate home-porting,” the Prime Minister said. He also suggested that CCECC, with its strong ties with the people and government of Antigua and
Barbuda, should seriously consider creating their regional headquarters in the country. CCECC has offices in 89 countries, and “Antigua and Barbuda is a significant market.” The Chinese delegation agreed that its presence is welcomed and appreciated having been on island for 12 years, the statement said. Browne said such a project would be timely, “given the fact that Antigua and Barbuda has become one of the most important cruise tourism facility [facilities] in the Caribbean.” He said the opportunities that can be derived from the continuous growth of the tourism sector are ones to be exploited, adding that the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has partnered with a private firm to complete the purchase of a local dredging business. Browne said significant amount of work is expected to be on dredging. The St. John’s Harbour will have to be dredged as a part of the port upgrades costing around US$12 million, he said. “We proposed that the job is given to that dredging company that is owned jointly by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and a private company out of the BVI [British Virgin Islands],” Browne said. “That company is assisting us to build a fifth
cruise tourism birth at a cost of US$30 million dollars. “We would like you to patronage this company with an investment similar to what the government has made available,” he told the Chinese delegation. “We only purchased it because we have all this dredging work to do in the harbor.” The Antigua and Barbuda prime minister said these two projects are “ideal opportunities for the CCECC to invest in,” strongly suggesting that they come on board. After a quick discussion among the Chinese diplomats, the president of CCECC agreed that Antigua and Barbuda would be “a perfect location for a headquarters and continued business,” the statement said.
Port Castries hosts its largest cruise ship, the Anthem of the Seas
Pope warns Latin America about corruption LIMA (Reuters) - Pope Francis wrapped up his trip to Chile and Peru yesterday by warning that Latin America was in a deep crisis from corruption, with politics in most countries “more sick than well.” Speaking in improvised remarks to bishops, he mentioned the scandal involving construction company Odebrecht, which has admitted to paying billions in bribes, as an example of greed run amok across the continent of his birth. While sitting beside embattled Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski on Friday, the pope said all parts of society needed to work to combat corruption. Yesterday he spoke more broadly. “Politics is in crisis, very much in crisis in Latin America,” he said, while also mentioning tax havens and drug trafficking. In a rare turn of phrase for a pope, he named a specific company. Francis said Brazil’s Odebrecht, which confessed in a 2016 plea deal to paying out billions in exchange for contracts across 10 Latin American countries, was actually only a small part of the problem. In Peru alone, a former president has been detained for allegedly receiving bribes from Odebrecht.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne
The Anthem of the Seas: the first ship of its kind to sail into port Castries. Saint Lucia Star – Recently the Anthem of the Seas became the largest cruise ship to sail into Port Castries. Its accommodation was made possible by the completion of extension works at Berth #1 at Pointe Seraphine. The US$18.8 million project, constructed by Dutch company Ballast
Nedam, saw the extension of Berth #1 by 164 feet, at a width of 40 feet with the installation of an additional bollard for anchoring the ship on the concrete extension. A high capacity foamfilled fender was also added. Three mooring dolphins were constructed allowing mega cruise ships like the Anthem of the Seas to be berthed
safely and securely. The extension and dolphin berths are secured by 76 piles driven deep into the seabed and fortified by sea concrete. The Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) says this is the largest investment it has made in 20 years. The US $18.8 million project was financed through the National Insurance Corporation.
It was completed within budget and on time. Stilt walkers, dancers and steel band music welcomed the 4,200 passengers who came in with the Anthem of the Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean Cruises. The local agents are Platinum/Foster & Ince. The extension of port facilities at Pointe Seraphine will see mega ships visiting Port Castries bringing in thousands of passengers with each call. The Anthem of the Seas became the largest cruise ship to sail into Port Castries. Its accommodation was made possible by the completion of extension works at Berth #1 at Pointe Seraphine. The US $18.8 million project, constructed by Dutch company Ballast Nedam, saw the extension of Berth #1 by 164 feet, at a width of 40 feet with the installation of an additional bollard for anchoring the ship on the concrete extension.
Monday January 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Sparman’s way to ease impact Daily Nation - Dr Alfred Sparman has a three-pronged approach to dealing with the increase prices of medical supplies and equipment. Keep the cost of patient care the same, round up patients and source cheaper supplies. And this, he said, had been working at the Belleville, St Michael Sparman Clinic. “Our prices we have kept the same because times are hard. We approached this NSRL [National Social Responsibility Levy] with a team effort. We called all our old patients who we have not
seen for a while and brought them back into the fold; so by increasing the volume of patients we nullified that effect.” The cardiologist believes that any price increase at this time would have a negative effect on his business. “That would decrease the number of patients coming to me and I wouldn’t benefit,” he admitted. “So we have been bringing in these old patients and calling them and it has worked out good for us. We have gone to the point where we feel we have to take care of the patients’ needs.
We feel if we increase prices it would put a load on the hospital and it will really affect patient care. I am very optimistic that in the future things will turn around.” As to the increase in supplies and equipment brought about by the controversial tax, Sparman said his procurement team was sourcing the best prices. “I tell them get me four prices and I choose the cheapest. We have suppliers all over the place in the US and China, so we have to make the business costeffective.”
Spurned by Trump, Europeans ponder how to meet Iran ultimatum
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson attends a news conference with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel and European Union’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini after meeting Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (unseen). REUTERS/Francois Lenoir Less. PARIS/BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A day before Donald Trump’s Jan. 12 ultimatum to “fix” the Iran nuclear deal, European powers met Iran’s foreign minister to show support for it, but the effort failed to soften Trump’s aversion to the accord, U.S. and European officials said. The gathering in Brussels may even have reinforced the U.S. president’s antipathy, according to three U.S. officials involved in the discussions. Trump instead gave the European allies, Britain, France, Germany, and the U.S. Congress 120 days to come up with a tougher approach on Tehran or see U.S. sanctions reimposed, they said. With Trump warning of a last chance for “the worst deal ever negotiated”, Britain, France and Germany have begun talks on a plan to satisfy him by addressing Iran’s ballistic missile tests and its regional influence while preserving the 2015 accord that curbed Iran’s nuclear ambitions for at least a decade. It is hard to say what might mollify the Trump administration, which is split between those who would like to tear up the agreement and those who wish to preserve it and which has said inconsistent things about its demands to keep the accord, U.S. and European officials said. Under U.S. law, Trump must decide again whether to renew the U.S. sanctions relief
every 120 days, giving Congress, as well as U.S. and European diplomats, until mid-May to see if there is a way to finesse the issue. But the Brussels meeting has left European powers wary that whatever they agree, it may not be enough. “We’re going to work in the spirit that we’re ready to talk about everything, from the nuclear accord to Iran’s ballistic missiles,” said a senior European diplomat. “But we want to compartmentalise the subjects; we’re not going to mix them.” At stake is not just an historic accord negotiated - before Trump took office - by the United States, China, France, Russia, Britain, Germany and the European Union, and one that Europe sees as its biggest diplomatic achievement in decades. A collapse of the nuclear deal could see a breakdown in the relations between the United States and Europe that have underpinned the West’s security since World War Two, European diplomats and the senior U.S. official said, and could confirm Europe’s fears that it can no longer count on U.S. leadership. Britain, France, Germany and the EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, are adamant that the deal cannot be renegotiated, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also ruled that out this month, speaking at the United Nations.
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Monday January 22, 2018
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Caribbean legislators blame Republicans for US Govt. shutdown NEW YORK - CMC – Caribbean American legislators have blamed the Republican Party for failure to pass a bipartisan solution to keep the US government open. “Republicans control the House, the Senate and the White House, but they couldn’t get it together to do something as basic as keeping government open,” US Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) on Saturday. “Now, Republicans’ incompetence has endangered our economy, could hurt our communities; and, if not addressed soon, will dangerously deprive our military of the certainty they need to keep our nation safe,” said Clarke, representative for the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York. She noted that in 2013, US President Donald J. Trump blamed the Republican government shutdown on the President Barack Obama, saying, “the problems start from the top and have to get solved from the top…The president is the leader, and he’s got to get everybody in a room and he’s got to lead.” But since assuming the presidency one year ago on Saturday, Clarke said Trump has “cynically and explicitly called for a government shutdown, tweeting in May of 2017, ‘our country needs a good shutdown.’” She said the US Congress still faces a long list of “urgent, overdue business.” “From the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to the Dream Act and the fate of our DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] recipients, Democrats will continue to strive for an agreement on all of the outstanding issues that face our nation,” Clarke said. “When President Trump is finally ready to lead Republicans to a deal, Democrats will be ready and willing to end this unnecessary impasse.” New York City Councilman, Jumaane Williams, the son of Grenadian immigrants also told CMC that “Donald Trump and his” GOP [Grand Old Party – Republican] sycophants” allowed the federal government to shut down, despite controlling both houses of Congress and the White House – something never before seen in American history. “As with everything that the Trump GOP does, the shutdown came as a result of both their malevolence and their incompetence,” said
Yvette D. Clarke
Jumaane Williams
Diana C. Richardson Williams, Deputy Leader of the City Council and representative for the 45th Council District in Brooklyn. “Their immoral ideology prevented them from protecting the ‘DREAMers’ [DACA recipients], or from returning health insurance to children all over our country.” Instead, Williams claimed that Republicans attempted to use “leverage to build Trump’s monument of racism along our southern border and abandon the American principle of welcome and refuge to the world’s poor and repressed. “The Trump GOP’s xenophobia and bigotry yield an incompetence that has prevented them from performing something so simple as keeping the lights on,” he said. “It is clear that, under
Trump, Republicans have succumbed to his moral and functional ineptitude. “Government should be an entity to serve and protect the public, and the Trump GOP is clearly willing and eager to abdicate that responsibility,” Williams added. “Regardless of what Washington may inflict, New York must and shall stand in defense of the immigrants who make our city and state what it is, and to always stand against attempts to drag our country back to a time we worked too long and too hard to escape.” Early Saturday, New York State Assemblywoman Diana C. Richardson, the daughter of St. Martin and Aruban immigrants, weighed in on the US government shutdown, saying that “this act is certainly a reflection of the stark leadership we have and the times of division we currently live in, as basic needs fall on deaf ears.” “As an individual who comes from an immigrant family and a government official who represents a constituency which encompasses a wide variety of those who have travelled to this country to obtain some level of the American Dream, I recognize the importance of this immigration measure,” said Richardson, referring to the Democratic Party’s push for provision for 800, 000 young, undocumented Caribbean and other immigrants to be included in the spending bill. Richardson, who represents the 43rd Assembly District in Brooklyn, noted that the shutdown will result in government workers being put on leave and that contractor payments will halt until the government reaches a decision. She also said federal employees will be put in nonessential and essential groups. Those deemed non-essential will not be paid and will be off until there is a resolution. Those deemed essential will have to still work and remain unpaid, Richardson said. Senate Democrats, showing solidarity in the face of a clear political danger, early Saturday blocked consideration of a stopgap spending measure to keep the US government operating. The shutdown, coming one year to the day after President Trump took office, set off a new round of partisan recriminations and posed risks for both parties, according to the New York Times, adding that it came after a fruitless last-minute negotiating session at the White House between Trump and Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader.
Monday January 22, 2018
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Heavy casualties after Moderate U.S. senators cite progress overnight battle at Kabul hotel in talks to end Govt. shutdown
Kabul’s Intercontinental Hotel KABUL (Reuters) - Gunmen in army uniforms who stormed Kabul’s Intercontinental Hotel late on Saturday and battled Afghan Special Forces through the night killed more than 30 people and wounded many more, although the final toll of dead and wounded may still be higher. Wahid Majroh, a spokesman for the ministry of public health, said that 19 bodies had been brought into city hospitals, with six identified as foreigners. However a senior Afghan security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media, said the death toll was over 30 and might climb higher. The dead included hotel staff and guests as well as members of the security forces who fought the attackers. All five attackers were also killed, interior ministry spokesman Najib Danesh said. In Kiev, Ukrainian foreign minister Pavlo
Klimkin said on Twitter that six Ukrainians were killed in the attack. The raid was the latest in a series of attacks that have underlined the city’s vulnerability and the ability of militants to mount high-profile operations aimed at undermining confidence in the Westernbacked government. More than 150 guests were able to flee as parts of the building caught fire, with some shimmying down sheets tied together and dropped from upper-floor windows and others rescued by Afghan forces. Local airline Kam Air said around 40 of its pilots and air crew, many of whom are foreigners, were staying in the hotel and as many as 10 had been killed. Local media reports said the dead included Venezuelans and Ukrainians. Zamari Kamgar, the airline’s deputy director, said it was still trying to locate staff.
Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) arrive at the Capitol yesterday. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - Moderate Republican and Democratic senators held talks yesterday to break a political impasse that has kept the U.S. government shut down for two days, but it was unclear if a deal could be struck to reopen federal agencies by the start of the work week. Some of the roughly two dozen senators involved in the discussions said they were making progress, but
Congolese security forces kill six while dispersing anti-Kabila protest
Riot policemen fire teargas canisters to disperse demonstrators during a protest organised by Catholic activists in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo yesteerday. REUTERS/Kenny Katombe KINSHASA (Reuters) Congolese security forces shot dead at least six people and wounded dozens more as they fired tear gas to disperse a protest against President Joseph Kabila organised by the Catholic Church yesterday, a U.N.
peacekeeping mission in the country said. Kabila’s refusal to step down at the end of his mandate in December 2016 has triggered a series of street protests in which scores have been killed in Kinshasa. It has also emboldened armed rebel
groups in different parts of the country. A Reuters witness saw police and paramilitary troops fire volleys of tear gas and shoot into the air yesterday outside the Notre Dame cathedral in the capital Kinshasa. Florence Marchal, spokeswoman for the U.N. mission (MONUSCO), also said 57 people were wounded and dozens of arrests had been made across the country. As well as Kinshasa,
protests erupted in the central Congolese diamondmining town of Mbuji-Mayi, in the eastern cities of Goma, Lubumbashi and several other places. A police spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. The instability has stoked fears that the vast, mineralrich Democratic Republic of Congo could slide back into the wars that killed millions in the 1990s, mostly from hunger and disease.
offered few details of a possible compromise. The ultimate decision was up to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and his Democratic counterpart, Senator Chuck Schumer, they said. “We are moving in the right direction,” Republican Senator Johnny Isakson said of the effort. “I wouldn’t rule out anything now, positive or negative. But I think it’s going to be positive,” Isakson said. An emerging deal appeared to involve reopening the government in return for a promise by majority Republicans to deal with Democrats’ immigration concerns in coming weeks. “We’re going to open the government and solve immigration at the same time,” said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Funding for federal agencies ran out at midnight on Friday, and was not renewed amid a dispute between U.S. President Donald Trump and Democrats over immigration. Refusing to support another short-term government funding extension last week, Democrats demanded that Trump live up to an earlier agreement to protect “Dreamers,” illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children, from deportation. “We need to have a substantive answer, and the only person who can lead us to that is President Trump. This is his shutdown,” Dick Durbin, the second ranking Democrat in the Senate, said on the CBS “Face the Nation” programme. Trump and other Republicans were just as adamant yesterday, saying they would not negotiate immigration or other issues as long as all but essential
government services remain shuttered. “We will not negotiate on the status of unlawful immigrants while Senator Schumer and the Democrats hold the government for millions of Americans and our troops hostage,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said. The shutdown is the first since a 16-day closure in October 2013. Its effects will likely be more visible today, when financial markets and federal offices open. The Senate will vote at 1 a.m. EST (0600 GMT) today on whether to advance a measure to fund the government through Feb. 8, McConnell said on Saturday. But several senators said yesterday the vote could be accelerated. Trump, who spoke by phone to Republican lawmakers and agency heads yesterday, cancelled a weekend trip to his Mar-aLago estate in Florida that included a major fundraiser on the anniversary of his first year as president. The White House said his planned trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next week was in flux because of the standoff. With elections set for November for a third of U.S. Senate seats and the entire House of Representatives, both sides are manoeuvring to blame the other for the shutdown. Trump said yesterday that if the stalemate continued, Republicans should change Senate rules so a measure could be passed to fund the government. Current Senate rules require a super-majority of three-fifths of the chamber, usually 60 out of 100, for legislation to clear procedural hurdles and pass.
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Messi, Suarez lead Barca romp, Real crush Deportivo
Luis Suarez (left) and Lionel Messi (right) after combining to score Barcelona’s fourth goal against Real Betis. (AP) MADRID (Reuters) - Barcelona rode further away from their crumbling title rivals yesterday as Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez scored twice each in a 5-0 thrashing of Real Betis which opened up an 11-point gap at the top of the La Liga standings. A strike from Ivan Rakitic broke the home side’s resistance in the 58th minute and top scorer Messi and the in-form Suarez took turns in adding to the scoring to cap a sixth successive league win for Ernesto Valverde’s imperious team. Barca, the only unbeaten side in Europe’s top five leagues, lead the way with 54 points after capitalising on second-placed Atletico Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Girona on Saturday and third-placed Valencia’s 2-1 defeat at Las Palmas. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice before leaving the pitch with his face covered in blood as Real Madrid eased their domestic crisis by hammering struggling Deportivo La Coruna 7-1 on Sunday to reclaim fourth spot. Betis went into the game having scored eight goals in their last two league matches but had few opportunities against Barca, who turned on the style in the second half as they have done so often in this dominant campaign. It took a clever rolled pass from Suarez to release Rakitic for the opening goal, which the Croatian dispatched confidently while Messi took full advantage of a slack Betis offside trap to slot the second. The Argentine’s second strike moved him on to 19 league goals while Suarez’s brace took him to 15, 10 coming in his last seven La Liga games. Real had lost two of their last three league matches and got off on the wrong foot against relegation-threatened Deportivo when former Atletico Madrid forward Adrian Lopez put the visiting side ahead against the run of play in the 23rd minute. The stumbling La Liga champions responded in emphatic fashion, however, and
went on to record their biggest win of the season in all competitions with two goals apiece from Gareth Bale, Nacho Fernandez and Ronaldo as well as a long-range strike from Luka Modric. SIX STRIKES Ronaldo was unable to continue playing after he was left with a bloodied face by the boot of Deportivo defender Fabian Schar as he struck his second goal, which took him level with Bale as Real’s top scorer in the league with six strikes. Real climbed above Villarreal into fourth place on 35 points but are still 19 behind Barcelona. “The players needed a game like this,” Real coach Zinedine Zidane told reporters. “I don’t know if much changed apart from the scoreline and that’s the biggest difference. We played well against Villarreal (in our last match despite losing 1-0) and we were doing well when we were losing 1-0 today but we got the equaliser and I‘m delighted with what we did in the rest of the game.” Real began the season with a comfortable win at Deportivo and could hardly have asked for better opponents than the struggling Galician side to get them out of their miserable run, even though Depor struck first. In-form defender Nacho lashed Madrid level after playing a one-two with Marcelo and Bale produced a brilliant curled finish off the post to put Real in front as halftime approached. Bale stretched his side’s advantage after the interval by leaping to head in Toni Kroos’s corner, scoring a sixth goal in seven league starts which proved his persistent muscle injuries have not harmed his striking prowess. Ronaldo had had little luck in front of goal at that point but quickly stole the headlines with two strikes in six minutes before leaving the pitch using a mobile phone to examine his blood-drenched face.
Deportivo goalkeeper Ruben Martinez watches on as Gareth Bale’s (right) strike flies past him and into the top left corner. (AP)
Monday January 22, 2018
Scorpions suffer heavy defeat as batting fails BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Fast bowler Keon Harding’s maiden five-wicket haul ripped apart Jamaica Scorpions as they crashed to a crushing 216-run defeat to Barbados Pride here yesterday. Resuming the last day of the final round contest needing a Herculean effort to avoid defeat, Scorpions found no such resolve after being set 350 for victory, and tumbled to 128 all out – about three-quarters of an hour into the final session at Kensington Oval. Left-handed opener John Campbell topscored with 28, Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood got 21 and West Indies limited overs all-rounder, Rovman Powell, 20, as the Scorpions batting struggled for the second time in the match. Harding, in his fifth first class match, took five for 66 while left-arm seamer Dominic Drakes (2-11) and pacer Justin Greaves (2-11) ended with two wickets apiece. The defeat for Scorpions was their fourth of the season while the victory for the hosts was only their third but ensured they ended the campaign in second spot. Earlier, left-handed opener Shayne Moseley completed his second career hundred as Pride declared at 169 without loss, after resuming the day on 147. Moseley, starting on 87, made exactly 100 not out, an innings that spanned a shade over three hours, required 173 deliveries and included 11 fours and a six. His senior partner, Test star Kraigg Brathwaite, added eight to his overnight 50, hitting six fours off 105 balls overall. After rain prevented play in the first session, Pride declared 31 balls into the second session, leaving the visitors with just under two sessions to survive. And they showed no indications of doing so especially after Chadwick Walton fell to a catch at the wicket off Harding in the seventh over for seven with 29 on the board, and Andre McCarthy followed soon after for one, caught at second slip by Shamarh Brooks off pacer Chemar Holder. Two balls later with a single run added, Campbell, who faced 40 balls and struck five fours, was also caught at the wicket off Harding, to leave the Scorpions on 42 for three.
Blackwood and Paul Palmer (4) put on 20 for the fourth wicket before both perished in the space of 11 balls with seven runs added, as Scorpions slumped to 69 for five. Powell and Fabian Allen (17) looked to be taking the visitors safely to tea in a 28-run sixth wicket stand when Allen fell on the stroke of the interval, cutting Greaves to substitute Haydn Walsh Jr at point. Tottering on 97 for six at this stage, there was to be no recovery as Scorpions lost their last four wickets 36 runs after the break. Scores: PRIDE 427 (Shamarh Brooks 166, Shayne Moseley 79, Jonathan Carter 36, Dominic Drakes 33, Kraigg Brathwaite 32; Derval Green 2-50, John Campbell 2-62, Christopher Lamont 2-70, Nikita Miller 283) and 169 without loss (Shayne Moseley 100 not out, Kraigg Brathwaite 58 not out) SCORPIONS 247 (Chadwick Walton 72, Rovman Powell 43, Jermaine Blackwood 39, Nikita Miller 27; Jomel Warrican 3-34, Roston Chase 2-34, Justin Greaves 2-36) and 133 (John Campbell 28, Jermaine Blackwood 21; Keon Harding 5-66, Dominic Drakes 2-11, Justin Greaves 2-11)
LAUSANNE (Reuters) - North Korea will send 22 athletes to the Winter Games in the neighbouring South next month and compete in three sports and five disciplines, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said yesterday. North Korea’s planned involvement in Pyeongchang is viewed as a sign of easing tensions over its nuclear and missile programme. The North and South had agreed to march under a single flag at the opening ceremony and would field a united team in the women’s ice hockey, The IOC said in a statement that confirmed earlier reports. The North will send 24 officials and 21 media representatives. It said the united Korean delegation would be led into the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony under the Korean Unification Flag which would be carried by two athletes, one from each country. Separately, South Korea’s Unification Ministry said North Korea would send a delegation to the country on Sunday to prepare for a trip by an art troupe during the Games, pushing the visit back a day after earlier cancelling it. The North Korean athletes
will be handed quota places, a rarely-used form of wild card, to allow them to compete in ice skating, skiing and ice hockey. Until Saturday, a figure skating pair were the only North Koreans to have secured a spot at the Games through the conventional qualifying competition, although they lost their place after failing to register. They were therefore handed one quota place while two male North Korean competitors were given places in the short track speed skating. Three North Koreans will compete in the cross-country skiing and another three in the Alpine skiing slalom and giant slalom events. Twelve players would be added to the existing South Korean women’s ice hockey squad of 23. At least three North Korean players would be selected for each match. “Today marks the milestone on a long journey,” said IOC president Thomas Bach in a prepared declaration. “Since 2014, the IOC has addressed the special situation of having the Olympic Winter Games on the Korean peninsula.
Fast bowler Keon Harding … claimed his maiden five-wicket haul.
North Korea to send 22 athletes to Pyeongchang
Monday January 22, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Bad Blood Card lives up to the hype Wins for Marques & Dharry; Corbin, Gonsalves, Green go down to foreign foes
James Moore staggers Sherwin Clarke in Cruiserweight bout to win by TKO. (Sean Devers photo) By Sean Devers Despite the close to two hours late start the eagerly anticipated six-fight ‘Bad Blood’ fight card organised by a collaborative effort by the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC)/NexGen Global Marketing (NGGM), lived up to the hype. Staged at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall as Professional Boxing returned to venue for the first time in two years, a near capacity crowd watched as Guyana’s Dexter ‘De Kid’ Marques and Venezuelan Dionis Arias produced an entertaining display in the Main Event which ended in
the wee hours of yesterday morning with Marques getting a unanimous decision over Arias after 10 rounds of Flyweight action. USA based Guyanese Elton ‘Coolie Bully’ Dharry was clinical in his Bantamweight encounter over eight rounds against Jesus Barcelo of Venezuela which also ended in a unanimous verdict for the CABOFE and InterContinental bantamweight champion. But it was also a disappointing night for local Boxers and fans as Dexter Gonsalves was out-jabbed by
Venezuela’s Felipe Barcelo out jabbed the much taller Dexter Gonsalves who fought most of the bout from the ropes as the Guyanese lost by a unanimous decision in their Lightweight fight. (Sean Devers photo)
his much shorter opponent from Venezuela, Felipe Barcelo and lost my a majority decision. Guyana’s Anson Green was stopped in 1:35 minutes of the second round in his Junior Middleweight battle with Bajan Keithland King. Local boy Shawn Corbin was having things his own way against T&T’s WBC FECARBOX Light Heavyweight Champion Sheldon Lawrence and after eight rounds was in front on all of the Judges’ cards until he was hit with a brutal uppercut and was knocked unconscious in 2:22 seconds of the 11th round of their 12round title fight. In the other fight of the night, six feet four inches James Moore was all over the heavier 35-year-old Berbician Sherwin Clarke. Both fighters were making their Professional debuts and Clarke was stopped in 2:44 seconds of the third round in the fourround match-up. In the main event both fighters came out with all guns blazing and Marques, Coached by 67-year-old former Commonwealth lightweight Champion Lennox Blackmore, went toeto-toe with Arias as they fought in the middle of the ring. In the second stanza Marques connected to the head of his man with an overhand right but Arias countered with a 3-punch combination before missing with a mighty upper-cut at the bell. The next round saw Marques being caught with a couple of upper-cuts and took a right as he moved forward to counter. The fighters traded punches with Arias taking a right hand but retaliated with a right of his own. As the fight progressed Marques was working his body punches to good effect which caused Arias to miss with some wild shots to the head as the intensity picked up. In the ninth round Marques threw three jabs in quick succession but all were short of the mark but the Guyanese continued to punish the body of Arias with shots to the rib cage. By the last round both boxers were showing signs of fatigue but Marques threw some good combinations to the body which were followed up by a crisp Jab to Arias’ head. A brutal right connected
Guyanese Shawn Corbin was knocked Unconscious in the 11th round as T&T’s Sheldon Lawrence successfully defended his WBC FECARBOX Light Heavyweight Title. (Sean Devers photo) to Arias’ head but he fought his way out of trouble and refused to quit and when the final bell sounded it was Marques who had won. The Caribbean and Guyana Flyweight Champion was appointed as the Mandatory challenger for the Commonwealth Flyweight Title against current champion Jay Harris of Wales on March 31, 2018 at the Copperbox Arena and this fight was excellent preparation for him. In the title fight, not many punches were thrown in the first as both Lawrence and Corbin were feeling out each other but the action picked up with the Trinidadian going forward but Corbin countered with a left to the body.
By the middle of the fight Corbin was using his jab well and following them up with wicked body digs. Lawrence dropped his guard and got hit. Corbin continued to pepper the body with a 1-2 which was well defended by Lawrence. The 10th round saw the boxers holding more and Corbin was caught with a good overhand right. Lawrence was on the attack in the 11th round, a straight right to the jaw sent Corbin to the canvas. Lawrence then parried at straight right from Corbin who was hit with an upper-cut which knocked him out. When Corbin fell he hit the back of his head on the floor and was taken by stretcher to the hospital in an
unconscious state. The 32-year Dharry dominated Garcia with clinical Jabs and quick combinations to the body and when he executed a four-punch ‘combo’which finished with a crunching upper-cut to the mid-section the vocal crowd was on their feet and not surprisingly all the Judges give him the fight. The biggest disappointment was the in the fight with Dexter Gonsalves who for most of contest fought from the ropes and was never allowed to use his reach advantage. Barcelo fought him at close range and surprisingly out jabbed the taller Gonsalves forcing him to fight the Venezuelan’s fight.
Guyana’s Anson Green was floored in the second round of his Junior Middleweight fight against Bajan Keithland King. (Sean Devers photo)
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Monday January 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
CWI Digicel Regional 4-Day C/Ships
JAGUARS JOIN B’DOS & JAMAICA AS ONLY TEAMS WITH 4 SUCCESSIVE TITLES Defeat Red Force
Jaguars Skipper Leon Johnson collects the Weeks Headley Trophy from James Adams. By Sean Devers Guyana Jaguars ended the season as the only unbeaten team to join Barbados (19771980) and Jamaica (2008-2012) as the only teams to win the Regional First-Class tournament for four consecutive seasons when they beat T&T’s Red Force by an innings and 81 runs on the final day of this year’s CWI Regional Four-Day competition at Providence yesterday. Scores: Red Force 135 & 324, Jaguars 540-9 declared. The last time the two teams met in this tournament in Trinidad, the Jaguars roared to an innings and 217-run win. Set 405 to avoid an innings defeat, the Red Force resumed on 282-8 with Jason Mohamed on 85 and in glorious sunshine a handful of die-hard supporters, including the families of some of the players, saw Mohammed coverdrive left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul to post his seventh hundred at this level with his sixteenth boundary.
SCOREBOARD RED FORCE 1st Innings 135 JAGUARS 1st Innings 540-9 decl. RED FORCE 2nd Innings (overnight 282 for eight) A Jangoo c Johnson b Motie 16 J Solozano b Permaul 16 T Webster c Rutherford b Paul 77 J Mohammed not out 103 *D Ramdin c & b Rutherford 47 Y Cariah lbw b Motie 0 +S Katwaroo lbw b Rutherford 0 Imran Khan b Paul 17 D St Clair lbw b Permaul 2 B Charles b Permaul 15 A Phillip b Paul 11 Extras (b5, lb2, w3, nb10) 20 TOTAL (all out, 88.5 overs) 324 Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-43, 3-127, 4-244, 5-245, 6-246, 7-269, 8-282, 9-312, 10-324. Bowling: Paul 19.5-4-118-3, Reifer 7-1-32-0, Motie 24-5-73-2, Permaul 29-9-73-3, Rutherford 9-2-21-2. Result: Jaguars won by an innings and 81 runs. Umpires: D Butler, S Crawford.
Raymon Reifer gets his man-of-the-match award from CWI’s Director of Cricket James Adams. Brian Charles (15) hit Kemo Paul for three fours, before he was bowled by Permaul for his 50th wicket in what has been a truly dominating season for the Leon Johnson led side. Paul sent Anderson Phillips’ leg stump cart-wheeling leaving Mohammed unbeaten on 103. Guyana’s victory was set up by Man-ofthe-match, Bajan Raymon Reifer who joined Roger Harper (twice), Carl Hooper and Narsingh Deonarine as the only Guyanese to score a century and claim a five-wicket haul in the same game. Reifer’s unbeaten 108 also saw Guyana breaking the 47-year-old record of Guyana’s highest total (537) against T&T. The Jaguars, who have played consistent team cricket with everyone contributing when it most mattered, have lost just three matches in their last 40 games; to Barbados and Leewards twice. Anthony Bramble must surely now be a front runner for a West Indies ‘A’ team pick after once again emerging as the wicketkeeper with the most dismissals (45) and 613 runs including an unbeaten 196 and four fifties, while the 19-year-old Paul finished the most wickets (42) by a pacer in addition to scoring a hundred in the first match against Jamaica and finishing with a shot-filled 53 in this game. Except for Chanderpaul Hemraj, all seven batsmen in the order have scored centuries with Vishaul Singh, who was rested for this game, scoring two and an unbeaten 97 in St Kitts. Singh, Paul, Reifer, Shiv Chanderpaul, Johnson, Bramble and Tagenarine Chanderpaul have scored hundreds, while Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Hemraj have featured in two century opening partnerships. Ironically Hemraj, who has not been able to convert any of his five fifties this season into hundreds, is Jaguars’ leading run-scorer with 623 runs. While Permaul top the list of wickets and Paul has been the biggest find this season with the most wickets by a pacer, all of the Guyanese bowlers have taken at least 15 wickets, including Keon Joseph and Romario Shepherd who played just five matches each. This emphasises the team work shown by the CWI Jaguars Franchise. Johnson is arguable the best leader in the West Indies presently and only Jamaican
Tamar Lambert has more consecutive titles as Captain than Johnson with five. Johnson finished with 575 runs with 165 and three half-centuries and if the very intelligent Johnson can be a bit more consistent and score a few more runs, at 31, he still has time on his side to become a future West Indies Test Captain. While Johnson has led with his astute leadership, the Manager who doubles as assistant Coach, Rayon Griffith and head Coach Esuan Crandon have played important roles in Guyana’s four-year dominance of Regional First-Class Cricket, while the hard work of the physiotherapist, Cuban born Ernesto in keeping the players fit cannot be overlooked. Of course nothing is perfect and the inability to polish off the tail after blowing away the top order and the at times the faulty
shot selection by the batsmen are areas that should be worked on. But overall the local Franchise Tournaments organised by CGI has contributed to the Jaguars’ success since it keeps the fringe players fit and ready if required. The performance of the Guyana players must be looked at by the West Indies selection panel which include former West Indies batsman Guyanese Travis Dowlin when they sit to pick ‘A’ and senior teams. In 1983 under Clive Lloyd and in 1997 under Roger Harper, Guyana won the ‘double’ but Guyana has not won a 50-title since 2005. As the Jaguars head into the Regional Super50 this month end it is hoped that batsmen demonstrate the type of positivity needed in 50-over cricket and Guyana can win the double in Antigua.
Ethiopia’s Bekele to race London Marathon
Bekele was second in the 2017 London Marathon. (Getty Images) (Reuters) - Ethiopia’s triple Olympic track champion Kenenisa Bekele will race the London Marathon in April and line up alongside Briton Mo Farah and Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge for what promises to be a mouthwatering contest. Bekele, 35, regarded by many as the greatest
distance runner of all time and holder of the 5,000m and 10,000m world records, finished second in London last year and was third in 2016. A pre-race favorite last year, Bekele had hoped to break Dennis Kimetto’s men’s world record of 2:02.57 but had trouble with blisters on his feet and crossed the finish line behind Kenya’s Daniel Wanjiru. “I am thrilled to be returning to London for the third year in a row and would love to go one better than last year and win the race,” Bekele said in a statement. “Once again London has brought the best distance runners in the world together so I know it will not be easy... I have been training very hard with the aim of arriving in London in April in the best possible condition.” The trio of Bekele, Farah and Kipchoge have a combined total of eight Olympic gold medals and 12 world championship gold medals between them. “This is a mouth-watering prospect,” said event director Hugh Brasher. “Sir Mo, Eliud and Kenenisa could all put forward a persuasive case for being the greatest of all time and now they meet for the first time over the marathon distance.” The London Marathon will be held on April 22.
Monday January 22, 2018
Buttler hundred hands England ODI series victory SYDNEY (Reuters) - England’s Jos Buttler struck a belligerent unbeaten 100 to set up a 16-run win over Australia in the third one-day international yesterday, as the touring side took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. The right-handed batsman produced late fireworks to complete his fifth ODI hundred on the last ball of England’s innings, helping them reach an unlikely 302-6 in their 50 overs after Australia won the toss and put them in. The hosts, who won the Ashes series 4-0, lost wickets at crucial junctures in reply and fell short in their chase, reaching 286 for six in their 50 overs. “So proud of the guys today,” England captain Eoin Morgan said at the presentation. “I thought Jos was probably the difference in the sides, certainly with the bat. “He paced his innings to perfection. He took the responsibility on his shoulders and ... played anchor in one way, until the last five or six overs.” Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis scored 56 in 43 balls and added 74 in a sixthwicket stand with wicketkeeper Tim Paine, who made 31 in 35 balls, to give the hosts hope of victory, but the target proved beyond their reach. Aaron Finch continued his strong run with the bat with a 62 in 53 balls after back-toback centuries in the first two ODIs but the opener’s dismissal in the 21st over to legspinner Adil Rashid severely hampered the hosts’ progress. Finch reviewed the umpire’s lbw decision but replays showed the ball was clipping the leg stump and the on-field decision was upheld. Australia captain Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh were going along nicely in a fourth-wicket stand of 68 before the former was given out caught behind off fast bowler Mark Wood with wicketkeeper Buttler clinging on to a low, one-handed grab. The umpires went to the television room to check the catch but there was no conclusive evidence to rule it out, much to the disappointment of Smith and the Sydney crowd. Wood was England’s best bowler with 2-46 in his 10 overs while Rashid also dismissed Marsh for 55 for his second wicket for the touring side, who lost Liam Plunkett to a left hamstring injury when the paceman was in his second over. Earlier, Buttler and Chris Woakes propped up England’s innings after they had been reduced to 189 for six. The duo added 113 in their unbroken partnership, with 102 of those runs coming in the last 10 overs.
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Kaieteur News
Jos Buttler leaps in celebration of his outstanding century reached off the final ball. ©Getty Images Buttler smashed six fours and four sixes in his knock and was ably supported by Woakes, who scored 53 in 36 balls. Australia’s first-choice quicks Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood returned to side in four changes and the bowling kept England in check for a considerable period before Buttler and Woakes began their assault. “I thought the way we bowled the first 45 overs was pretty good and obviously Jos played exceptionally well and Woakes played well at the end,” Smith said. “I don’t think we bowled as well as we could have. We bowled in areas they could hit and you don’t do that to a quality player like Jos. I thought we were probably chasing 30 too many.” The Adelaide Oval will host the fourth ODI on Friday. Scores: England 6 for 302 (Buttler 100*, Woakes 53*) beat Australia 6 for 286 (Finch 62, Stoinis 56, Marsh 55) by 16 runs.
Jonny Bairstow was bowled by Adam Zampa’s googly ©Associated Press
Kyrgios bows out defeated but wins over Australia MELBOURNE (Reuters) Nick Kyrgios’s Australian Open ended with a gallant fourth round defeat by an inspired Grigor Dimitrov yesterday but the maverick talent leaves Melbourne Park after winning over a nation. A year ago, Kyrgios bowed out of his home grand slam to spectators’ jeers following a tempestuous five-set capitulation to Andreas Seppi in the second round. Ye t h e w a s g i v e n a standing ovation from the Rod Laver Arena crowd after his 7-6(3) 7-6(4) 4-6 76(4) loss to third seed Dimitrov, which capped a fruitful home summer including the Brisbane International title. Australia’s wait for a men’s champion will now stretch to 43 years but Kyrgios’s composure throughout a roller-coaster week will raise fresh hopes among compatriots that the drought may break soon. “I lost tonight to one of the best players in the world. Went down swinging,” the 22-year-old told reporters. “Obviously I feel a lot better this time around. Last year I really didn’t know what I was going to do after the Australian Open. “I feel like I have more of a vision and goal for this year. I think I‘m in a good head space. “I just feel like I‘m trying to get better. You know, there were periods where I stepped on the court last year where I was just doing it for the sake of doing it.” Dimitrov will go into a quarter-final with unseeded Briton Kyle Edmund as he bids for a maiden grand slam triumph that many have seen as his birthright for years. After the nerveshredding clash, Kyrgios shared a warm embrace with the Bulgarian 26-year-old, who has struggled to deal with the sky-high expectations that surround him. A kindred spirit, the richly-talented Kyrgios has also labored under a similar burden since a run to the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2014. “I just told him to believe in himself,” said Kyrgios. “Sometimes I think he lacks a bit of belief. But I think he’s got the game and he’s proved to everyone that he can win one of these slams. “So I just told him to believe himself and hopefully he can go all the way.” Kyrgios’s exit 12 months ago triggered a minor spat
Grigor Dimitrov pumps his fist after claiming the first set against Nick Kyrgios. (Reuters) with seven-times grand slam champion and TV pundit John McEnroe, who accused the Australian of giving the sport a “black eye” by not trying during his broadcast of the Seppi match. On Sunday, however, it was all water under the bridge, with the American heaping praise on Kyrgios’s fight.
“I saw Rod (Laver) there and Johnny Mac commentating in the box and we smiled a couple of times,” said Kyrgios. “It was obviously a massive experience. I had my first win a couple days ago against (Jo-Wilfried) Tsonga. So I feel a lot more comfortable on that court now.”
Kyrgios reaches for a backhand shot during his last 16 clash with Dimitrov yesterday. (Reuters)
Overseas Disturbance... From page 33 Institute (BEI), Berbice High School (BHS), Tutorial Academy Secondary School (TASS), Fort Ordnance Primary School, Corriverton Links, Hearts of Oak, Shoe Lane Determinators and All Saints Anglican Church among others. Among activities undertaken were males and females age group and inter school football. There were also masters’ cricket and football games, community enhancement activities, feeding programmes for churches and other groups. Among those contributing to the success of the group are the Humphrey’s family, Colin Wilson and Family, Robert Carrington, Daniel Thomas, Valmon Hope, Wanita Hope Phillips, Victorine Collins, Frankie Victor, Terrence Douglas, Taff Henry, Chetwin and Vivian Bowling; VIP Party Rentals, Delroy, Dwaine and Kegan Rigby, Winston Ward, Qwesi Joseph, Ingram Clarke and Garfield Wilson among many others. (Samuel Whyte)
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Monday January 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Letter to the Sports Editor
A response to Berbice Cricket Stakeholder DEAR SPORTS EDITOR, Please allow us to respond to the letter that appeared in Kaieteur News, 3rd January, 2018, “Berbice Cricket Stakeholders concerned over interference in the game” signed by “Berbice Cricket Stakeholders”. First, the so called “Berbice Cricket Stakeholders” are a hand-picked, private group of individuals selected by members of the previous Berbice Cricket Board administration at the Skeldon Back Centre Ground on the 9th December, 2012 (Stabroek News 12th December, 2012.). At half-time in a local T/20 final match between local clubs the PA system announced: “Teams that were so informed [are] asked to meet in the pavilion for the promised meeting.” It was, we learnt later, a contrived selection and not a meeting in which selected clubs had been privately invited (word of mouth and telephone) to a pre-arranged meeting behind closed doors where the present “Berbice Cricket Stakeholders” acquired life. With BCB support for both competition and playing the UCCA announced both limited-over matches as well as T/20 competition and assumed the mantle of cricket in the Upper Corentyne. Questions of the bona fides of the Association were always seen as treasonous and either contemptuously dismissed or set aside for a “suitable” occasion, depending on who did the asking. Cricket, in the meantime, took a back seat since it seemed that those in authority were the least concerned with the development of the game. One of the more disturbing signs of this was the absence of an umpiring fraternity and the clear unwillingness to cultivate one. By whom and by standards the game was being played and judged soon became clear. In the absence of formally, qualified umpires, clubs and teams connived and contrived with each other and increasingly set aside the rules to do as they pleased - no one to demand any standards, equally, no one to deliver on them. The obvious result was the game itself was now played with increasing indolence, while attention was drawn to the social festivities that the game tended to provide and increasingly attract. It was obvious why it lacked the standards to fit into a school’s curricula. Equally troubling is the fact that since the Berbice Cricket Stakeholders have been the authority of cricket in the community no one can remember an Annual General Meeting (AGM) to discuss the affairs of the association or its financial status. What happened to the monies that were acquired for competition or tournaments? Were there other monies that came for the development of the game in the area from the BCB, the GCB, the WICB, the ICC? Isn’t there need for some accountability here? The record suggests that our Stakeholders have been less than forthcoming. The Constitution of the association, no date given, Section 4, Sub-section b, says: “The Biennial General Meeting (BGM) of the association is that meeting where the officers of the Association are duly elected for two (2) years”. Our Stakeholders letter to the KN says that there was something resembling a BGM on the 27th September, 2017. None among us seem to be aware of such a meeting - where was it held or how was it advertised, who/what were the teams/clubs/ persons that attended, how were they invited?
And, if as the Constitution says, this should be a biennial affair when and where was the previous one held? The record shows that the life of the Stakeholders began on the 9th December 2012 at the Skeldon Back Center. That would be at least five (5) years for the life of the present Stakeholders. Where/when was the other meeting between those two dates if the Constitution is to be acknowledged and observed for a BGM? What would also be interesting is the time place and date where the constitution was approved? Who were the clubs/teams/ persons that attended the meeting? How were they invited to such a meeting? What were the circumstances in which the document was made available for discussion and approval? One last point of substantive interest as per the activities of our Stakeholders. Here is a letter that appeared in Kaieteur News 2nd May, 2015. WHEN DID THE UPPER CORENTYNE CRICKETASSOCIATION BECOME A PPP/C FRANCHISE? Dear Sports Editor, From recent reports it appears that the PPP/ C has found a new vote bank – the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UPCA). KN News reports that the “Upper Corentyne names team for PPP/C fundraiser – May Day Cup 2015”. It was also reported that “Proceeds from this event will be donated to the party to assist with the 2015 election campaign and beyond”. At what meeting of the Association was it decided that the latter was now a franchise of the PPP/C?/Thankyou Rishee Thakur On the 16th November, 2017, Ten Clubs, all members of the UCCA, after several verbal requests to the Stakeholders for a meeting of the association failed, sent out a formal notice, signed by the ten clubs, inviting interested clubs for a formal meeting at the No. 73 Young Warriors Cricket Pavilion, on the 7th December, 2017, at 4:00 P.M. In attendance at the meeting were 18 Clubs. They (named in the minutes of the meeting) agreed that the time had long passed for a formal meeting of the Association. They were now well within their rights, according to the Constitution of the UCCA, to proceed with such a formal meeting and a decision on the way forward. The clubs then proceeded with elections for a new Executive for the Association as indicated in Kaieteur News 13th December, 2017. More recently a new competition, Roy Baijnauth T20, started with 21 clubs participating, while the new executive is seeking sponsorship for a limited overs competition to include under 19 and under 15 Players and Clubs. All of this was transpiring and the UCCA interim committee or the so called ‘Berbice Cricket Stakeholders” disappeared. It came as no surprise that, after Justice Singh’s order for new elections of the BCB on 18th December 2018, the interim authority installed in 2012 for control of UCCA suddenly reappeared, BCB voting time. Sorry! All the cricket clubs in Upper Corentyne have spoken. A lot of club cricket is now playing in UCCA and it must continue. The group of pretenders must be put to pasture. Thank you, Upper Corentyne Cricket Stakeholder
Rehabilitation work resumes at Esplanade Park, New Amsterdam
Work is ongoing at the Esplanade Park. After being off to a false start due to a fatal accident, work has now resumed at the Esplanade Park, New Amsterdam. The Park, which sits on over 600 square feet of land, is situated on the North Western end of the town of New Amsterdam. The Park which is administered by the New Amsterdam Town Council has been earmarked for massive rehabilitation. Some work including drainage and under bushing was already done by the Council with finances made available by the Ministry of Social Cohesion. The area which was some time ago earmarked for recreational facilities and Botanical Gardens is being given a big boost. Recently the Council through the Ministry of Communities signed a $14M contract with Memorex Contracting of New Amsterdam. They in turn subcontracted the work to someone else. That subcontractor was undertaking work when the incident occurred killing the contractor. The work subsequently stopped for some time and has now restarted. Among the works earmarked to be done are the fencing of the inner field of the facility, installation of 25 led Lights around the
perimeter, construction of 10 benabs, two Kissing Bridges and a walk way among other conveniences. The venue presently boosts a playground, a Pavillion, a stand, a benab, the bandstand and a few sheds. There are also a number of concrete benches which were donated by the business community. The aim is to make the Esplanade Park second to none in Guyana. The once famous swimming pool has since been overrun by huge trees and big bushes and laden with Alligators and other reptiles. Efforts are being made to rehabilitate the swimming pool also. An Esplanade Kiddies Park, located at the venue is also set to be spruced up. The Park when completed is set to house an inner field and an outer track. Softball cricket, football, athletics, amateur games and cultural activities are held regularly at the venue. The Mayor and Town Council had previously collaborated with town of Midland Texas in the USA and the New Amsterdam Rotary Club to do a number of enhancement works on the facility before. (Samuel Whyte)
Hurricanes boosted by Samuels for one-day campaign ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – West Indies batting star Marlon Samuels, along with the Trinidadian duo of Kevon Cooper and Akeal Hosein, have been again named in a 14-man Leeward Islands Hurricanes squad for the Regional Super50 starting month end. The trio, who were members of the Hurricanes campaign last year, will be part of a squad led again by Test batsman Kieran Powell, and which includes regulars like West Indies A one-day captain Jahmar Hamilton and former Windies wicketkeeper Devon Thomas. Last season, Samuels played twice for Hurricanes, scoring 36 runs before taking up other playing commitments internationally, whle Cooper gathered 42 runs and grabbed three wicekts in three outings before bowing out injured. Hosein, a useful all-rounder, took 12 wickets in eight matches with his left-arm spin and also scrored 76 runs. Samuels, Powell, Hamilton and vicecaptain Rahkeem Cornwall will leave the tournament early for West Indies duty, a release from the Leeward Islands Cricket Association said, and will be replaced by Shane Burton, Kofi James, Akeem Charles and Jaeel Clarke. Hurricanes were good enough to reach the semi-finals of the last Regional Super50 before losing to eventual champions Barbados Pride. This year, they have been installed in Group
Windies batting star Marlon Samuels B alongside Jamaica Scorpions, Guyana Jaguars, United States and English County Kent. The Regional Super50 will run from January 30 to February 24 in Antigua and Barbados. SQUAD – Keiran Powell (captain), Rahkeem Cornwall (vice captain), Keacy Carty, Montcin Hodge, Terance Warde, Jeremiah Louis, Mervin Matthew, Sheno Berridge, Akeal Hosein, Marlon Samuels, Justin Athanaze, Kevon Cooper, Devon Thomas, Jahmar Hamilton.
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Kaieteur News
Overseas Disturbance Sports Club makes tangible donations in Guyana There are a number of overseas based organisations that are contributing tangibly to the development and upkeep of Guyana and Guyanese back home. One such is the Overseas Disturbance Sports Club (ODSC). The (ODSC), which is about three years old, is made up of Guyanese now living in the Diaspora and are former residents and sports personalities mostly from the New Amsterdam and Canje areas in Berbice. Most of the members would have participated in football, cricket, athletics, basketball, and volleyball, table tennis and all the other major sporting disciplines either at school, district levels or nationally. A number of them would travel home on a yearly basis to participate in various activities including, sports, educational, community, religious and other charity activities. The Coordinator is former national footballer Owen Humphrey. Humphrey, who also participated in volleyball and cricket was also a field event specialist, reminded that he played almost all sports whilst at school. He stated that the aim of the organisation is to give back and assist those back home who are not so fortunate. The former Berbice Educational Institute student is a member of the famous Humphrey family from Berbice. Humphrey stated that the donations and series of activities are part of the group’s efforts in
remembering where they come from and giving back tangibly in whatever way possible to the Guyanese people. He said that they are more than happy to contribute to developmental activities back home, be it sports, education, community activities etc. He said the team was able to purchase the uniforms, equipment and training gear, with donations received from members of the group and other well-wishers now living in the diaspora. Among activities undertaken whilst on the trip were the donating of football gear with two sets going to the Arsenal FC of New Amsterdam, and one set to the St. Ignatius Football Club of South Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo). Reverend John Rodrigues, a Pastor of the All Saints Anglican Church in New Amsterdam, received the items on behalf of the St. Ignatius Football club. Rodrigues who is a former, National Goalkeeper, National Swimmer, National Cyclist and was the National Flyweight champion between 1982 and 1985. That donation was made possible through a connection the religious leader has with Humphrey. Apart from the winners of the various activities that receives donations and gifts, a number of schools and other organisations also benefited. Among them were the Canje Secondary School (CSS), Berbice Educational Continued on page 31
Donation being made to Arsenal football club.
Donation of a set of soccer uniforms made to theCanje Secondary School by Charles Humphrey Snr.
Members of the group pose with some recipients
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Monday January 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Watson U15 League – EBFA
Grove Hi Tech rebound to beat Kuru Kururu Warriors in opener
This Kuru Kururu Warriors player is being closely observed by his Grove counterpart with colleagues in pursuit on Saturday last at eh Grove Playfield. A second half double off the boot of Vincent Chin piloted Grove Hi Tech to a solid 4-1 win over Kuru Kururu Warriors in the first match of the GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Watson U15 Intra Association League, East Bank Football Association (EBFA) leg which kicked off on Saturday last with a single match. Following the march past which attracted ten of twelve possible teams, home team Grove and their arch rivals Kuru Kururu Warriors based on the Linden Soesdyke Highway squared off in the inaugural match of the league, the EBFA being the first association to commence the Intra Association tournament. Teams have been on
pause for almost one year but were finally given the opportunity to showcase their skills with the aim of coming out as the inaugural champions but more importantly; players would be aiming to be good enough to be called to the Academy Training Center team, a precursor to national selection. Watched by President of the GFF, Wayne Forde along with EBFA President and Secretary Franklin Wilson and Wayne Francois, the Under-15 players played with passion from the first whistle with former EBFA female junior player of Diamond United, Diane Angoy, the Referee in charge. The fast paced match saw
both teams enjoying a fair amount of ball possession but it was the Warriors which drew first blood in the first minute of added on time in the first half, matches being played for 70 minutes. Carl Punous nudged one past Hi Tech’s goalkeeper, Ramesh Persaud who also stood between the uprights in the club’s Ralph Green Under-11 campaign but had to stand down in the final two matches due to him turning 12. Despite the fact that they were a goal down going into the final 35-minutes, the home team never lost focus and their higher level of fitness made the difference in the long run. The Warriors found the going tough as the game
Grove Hi Tech goal scorers from right, Devon Padmore, Zewdi Francois and Vincent Chin.
motored on and it was the Hi Tech boys which turned up the heat to the extent that the fired in four unanswered goals to take full points. Zewdi Francois was the first on the score sheet for the home team with the neutralising goal in the 53rd minute that broke the back of the Highway boys. Seven
minutes later, the go ahead goal came off the boot of Vincent Chin, his first of two in the 60th minute. Captain Devon Padmore doubled the advantage in the 63rd minute to put the game way beyond the reach of the Warriors which could not find an answer to the relentless offensive raids by the home
team. The icing was put on the cake with three minutes to full time, Chin achieving his double in the 67th minute of an entertaining match which saw a number of talented players on show. More action will continue this weekend at the same venue.
Rampaging Mexicans crush Girlz 4-0 Jamaica Observer COUVA, Trinidad and Tobago – Jamaica’s Under-20 Reggae Girlz made a dismal start to their CONCACAF Women’s Championship campaign as they slumped to a 0-4 defeat to Mexico in their opening Group B contest at the Ato Boldon Stadium here Friday. Goals by Jacqueline Ovalle (26th miniute) Katty Martinez (33rd) and substitute Belen Cruz (79th) saw the mighty Mexicans to a comfortbale victory. A 55thminute own goal by defender Chyanne Dennis had earlier added to the young Reggae Girlz’s woes. The result has provisionally placed Mexico at the top of the standings on three points with the Jamaicans at the foot. At press time, defending champions USA were leading Nicaragua 2-0 with 62 minutes on the clock in the feature contest of the group. The Mexicans as expected were quick on the front foot and signalled intentions in the early exchanges as they utilised the wide channels to
break down an unsettled Jamaican defence with some teasing crosses inside the box. They had their first look at goal in minute number eight, but it took some brilliance from goalkeeper captain Sydney Schneider to deny Daniela Espinosa who was left unmarked at the far post. Two minutes later Ovalle was allowed too much space inside the six-yard box, but her left-footed effort sailed wide of the upright. As the young Reggae Girlz struggled to consistently transition from defence into attack, the Mexicans continued to run amok and eventually found the goahead goal. A weighted right-sided cross from Dayana Cazares was expertly headed down by Espinosa beating the outstretched arm of a diving Schneider. The Jamaicans tried to play, but struggled to breach the opponents defence and soon found themselves falling further behind three minutes past the half-hour mark.
Another weighted cross by Cazares again caught the defence napping and Martinez was on hand to head home. Cazares then tried to get her name on the score sheet with a stinging left-footed effort, but Schneider did well to parry the ball onto the upright to ensure the score remained at 2-0 at the break. The Jamaican team gradually took shape when the contest resumed, but before they could conjure up an attack they were now 0-3 down as Dennis turned one into her own net 10 minutes in. Jamaica Head coach Lorne Donaldson made a few substitutions which saw the lively Jody Brown injecting some tempo into Jamaican attack, but she lacked meaningful service from the midfield. The Mexicans countered with substitutions of their own and found success through Cruz who fired home from close range to cap off the victory shortly after replacing Cazares on the right channel.