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Wednesday Edition January 22, 2020 - Vol. 15 No. 04

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Private hospitals rake in millions for unnecessary tests GECOM disqualifies Shuman, two other candidates due to dual citizenship Housing staffer fired for allegedly forging documents, cheques Body of chopped, bound teen found in Craig trench Cuban specialists give Pres. Granger good health report US, UK publish oil drilling results; Guyana does not Reversing garbage truck crushed sanitation worker

Man, 72, beaten by son’s boss dies

Dead: Ramsahoye Deochand

Private Sector confident in GECOM’s ability to deliver credible elections - PSC Chair

Wednesday January 22, 2020

Private hospitals rake in millions for unnecessary tests For a number of years now, there have been rising numbers of complaints of the operations of doctors, private clinics and hospitals.

From accusations of wrong injections to malpractice, there has been little evidence that harsh sanctions have been meted out to punish doctors who would have gone rogue.

In recent weeks, there has been a number of shocking complaints, accusing doctors of being in cahoots with specialists and private hospitals to force patients to pay for tests that are totally unnecessary.

Several hospitals’ staffers and also patients who suffered, reached out to Kaieteur News recently complaining of experiences.

“At one hospital, you go in for a routine cold, and they sending you to do HIV test and a whole bunch of other stuff,” one patient complained yesterday.

It does not matter whether it is a simple visit for a cough.

The hospitals are ordering you do a full barrage of tests…from full blood work to take even mandatory saline drips at the emergency.

One parent whose two children were suddenly ordered to take x-rays for scoliosis (curved spine) by the family’s pediatrician, is now seeking legal recourse.

Another doctor expressed shock at the need for the xrays.

“It is a public secret what is happening. I am, personally sick at what other doctors are doing,” a doctor who operates a private clinic said.

For a number of private hospitals, it is an unspoken policy that sending patients for tests that are unnecessary would be one of major ways how doctors are making money.

“I know one man who was troubled with gallstones, and they asked him to do some throat tests. He went to another hospital and they treat him for his gallstones without any further tests.”

There are even accusations of doctors who work out of town, and are in league with the private hospitals.

“So here is how it

The unbelieving man can have no peace, and how can there be happiness for one who lacks peace of mind.

A number of private hospitals are running rackets where patients are being sent for unnecessary tests, several sources have confirmed. happens. You go into the doctor’s private clinic and he would examine you and suddenly, there is a cause for concern. It is all part of the scam. Of course, there are genuine cases. People don’t go to the doctor for fun. But an experienced doctor knows.

That doctor would suddenly find a reason to refer you to a private city hospital and tell you to go to doctor so and so…everybody gets a cut,” one worker at a city hospital explained, on condition of remaining anonymous. It appears that everybody in the clinic, who are working there, knows of the racket.”

“So what you have is the doctor’s consultation fees, and those normal checks, to put in layman’s term. Then you have those tests. It is a lot of money. If you charge each patient $20,000 and you have 20 patients a day…that is not jokey money.”

In fact, it is estimated that the lab work and other tests are major revenue earners for the private hospitals.

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“It is hard to nail doctors who are running these kinds of rackets. A doctor will tell you he or she see something…that he or she use the discretion to send the patient for more tests. It is hard to disprove unless the case is a blatant one where it is seen that the doctor is clearly one.”

Several different sources indicated the level of abuse of patients is on several levels.

“We can talk about the Csections…and how much money being made by one doctor who decide he is God. Or we can talk about patients being made to do surgeries that ain’t supposed to do. The bottomline is that these are poor people who scrape enough money to go see a doctor. They are sometimes being told that they have to find more. Sometimes, it is hundreds of thousands of dollars,” a former senior official of a private hospital explained.

(To be continued…)

Newspaper vendor’s murder…

Cops get extension to detain two, others released The High Court yesterday granted police clearance to further detain two prime suspects in the murder of Queenstown, Essequibo newspaper vendor, Shawn Mannilall.

Police will now be allowed to keep the two youths in custody until Thursday.

But Acting Crime Chief Michael Kingston said that the Judge indicated that police did not have enough evidence to further detain the other suspects, who have since been released on station bail.

Kingston said that police will also be seeking further legal advice by Thursday. He said that a confrontation between those in custody and the trio charged with Mannilall’s murder “will only be held if necessary.”

The two youths now in custody were among four who were held during the early stages of the investigation.

However, the Acting Crime Chief said that investigators lacked sufficient evidence and were forced to release them.

Meanwhile, three other suspects were held and charged.

Kingston said that an individual recently provided the police with information which led them to re-arrest the youths they had first detained.

Investigators have received information which suggests that persons may have provided the killers with information about their victim’s transactions.

Remanded for murdering Mannilall during the course or furtherance of a robbery are Carl Carter, Delhoya McKenzie and Carlton Carter.

According to information, Mannilall, 48, of Parcel 61 Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, was shot and killed around 20:00hrs on January 10, 2020.

It is alleged that Mannilall and his family were about to enter their home when they were stopped in their tracks by two men. The intruders were reportedly wearing helmets while brandishing a handgun and a cutlass.

Dead: Shawn Mannilall It is alleged that the men demanded some $125,000 from Mannilall, who was said to have recently uplifted the cash from a bank.

It is alleged that after the vendor resisted, one of the bandits shot him in the chest, shoulder and abdomen. The gang reportedly fled emptyhanded.

Mannilall was rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 22, 2020

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

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

EDITORIAL

Violating protected space This is happening too frequently for comfort. No civilized, 21st century society should have any patience or the slightest tolerance for incidents of violent conduct by parents inside school complexes. It is unacceptable, it is condemnable, and it is time that this kind of misconduct is met head-on with what it deserves. And that is very harsh unsparing responses.

When a parent enters a school compound to find out the facts, to hear of what took place, and to obtain a clear understanding of what occurred involving their child or charge, he or she is in protected space, almost the equivalent of the sacred space of an institution of worship. The ordinary standards of behaviour do not apply, for the expectations are higher, the comportment of individuals demanded to be at an exemplary level.

From quiet respectable speech, to the choice of words, to the tone and temperature of the exchanges. Parents should be made to meet the highest bar possible, as they are setting a benchmark for their own offspring, and there must always be the awareness that there are many children in the vicinity, who are watching and listening.

It is why only the best will do. Anything less signals a departure towards the lawless and all that that embodies. It is all negative and not good for institution, staff, children, or the public. So, when a parent crosses the threshold, it is straighten up or ship out, as in do not cross the line, get behind it, and stay there. Schools are about order, a special kind of ambience, a heavier brand of discipline. It cannot be inconsistent nor haphazard nor weak-willed, for those are sure to be taken advantage of and harm.

Now when parents come to a school, it is to meet with the head, engage the overseeing teacher, learn the facts, and voice their thoughts carefully and freely. Those thoughts, though freely expressed, must be within boundaries, with assertiveness allowed. But there should never be deterioration to the point of violence and physical indignities inflicted. This is plain wrong; this can never be found understandable, acceptable, or justifiable. There is no justification under any circumstances for such egregious misconduct, which borders on the criminal. Truth be told, such deplorable and disgraceful misbehaviours must be called for what they are: felonies in the purest sense of the word.

It is why this paper believes and recommends that anytime a parent steps out of bound and raises voice to threaten violence, or actually raises hand in contemplation or the commission of violent acts, then it is time for immediate police intervention. In fact, the standing protocol, as put in place by the Ministry of Education, has to mandate that any parent who menaces or engages in acts that deteriorate to physical abuse should be subject to immediate reporting to and arresting by the Guyana Police Force, with charges of aggravated assault and battery instituted. If a weapon is involved, then it has to be attempted murder. Depending on the gravity of the situation, and if any injury resulted, there should be no bail granted.

The incident must be shared with the press and the name and picture of the offending parent published, with details of the story revealed to the public. It is the view of this publication that if the authorities are serious and take the severest view of school violence initiated within a school’s compound by a parent, then these steps have to be implemented, with no exceptions entertained, no discretion permitted. Let the chips fall where they may.

With literally a handful of such arrests, charges, court proceedings, and sentences, it is guaranteed that some degree of sanity and civility would take hold, with shades of normalcy returning to within the confines of houses of learning. If we continue to treat these occasions of indiscipline, disregard, and barbarisms with kid gloves and in the current tame and low-keyed manner, then it is an invitation for more of the reckless and dangerous to invade school property and lash out at whomever incurs their wrath and whenever it pleases them. It is time that this nonsense be brought to a hard stop and right now.

The silent victims of Domestic Violence Dear Editor, Over the past week we have read of the most recent incident of domestic violence which concerned a 34-year old mother of three who was stabbed to death by her reputed husband.

Sadly, this is not the first incident of its kind and it certainly will not be the last.

However, one aspect of Domestic Violence that we need to bring to the awareness of society is the effects of domestic violence on children.

Children are the silent victims of domestic violence because they are present in almost all the situations when the violence takes place.

Violence has many forms: physical, emotional, psychological, and even economic and each type of violence affect the child differently.

Some of the known

effects of domestic violence on children include fear of abandonment, guilt, fear, lying, excessive worrying and sadness.

Psychiatrist and researcher Daniel Siegel (2004) said “The mind develops as the brain responds to ongoing experience. The pattern of firing of neurons is what gives rise to attention, emotion, and memory.” As these neurons fire together they bind the violence they see with their fundamental processes.

This gives rise to the child’s own reality. It is undisputed that children learn through social interactions.

They learn through the modeling, mimicking and imitation of behaviours. It is through this that they learn good from bad and

wrong from right. Imagine a situation in which the only bad and good a child knows is arguments and fights.

What sort of behaviour will that child exhibit? How will that child resolve conflicts? What types of relationships will that child eventually form? These are all questions we need to ask ourselves.

It has been noted that bullyism is on the increase in our schools and we are forced to think about the interactions they see at home. Is this the type of conflict resolution we are teaching our children?

It is for this reason that we need to place more emphasis on the mental wellbeing of our children.

H o w e v e r, t h e stigma attached to mental health does not make this an easy

task but we have to start somewhere.

As a society, we have the responsibility to help our children through our interactions with them in the school system, at home or even in the community. At the school level, we should integrate programmes that will encourage children to talk about their feelings and express them in an appropriate manner instead of having them pent up and ready to explode at a moment.

Similarly, in our families we should encourage each other to talk about our feelings and educate ourselves on better conflict resolution.

Our children are the future leaders of tomorrow and we have a responsibility to take care of them.

Yours Sincerely, Rebekah Seymour

If only we can get a President that can be selfless DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me space in your very informative letter column to pen a few lines about a documentary and a movie I watched based on the life of a former President of a country right here in South America.

Sometime ago, I watched a movie of the freedom struggle of Uruguay spearheaded by three individuals who were sent to jail. Among the three was one named Jose Mujica.

They spent 13 years in prison being transferred between various prisons throughout the country.

Prison life for them sometimes became so unbearable that they were losing their minds.

After their release from prison they continued the struggle to free the country of military rule.

Sometime later in the

struggle one of them, Jose, became the President of Uruguay.

He served as the President until he retired in 2015.

The documentary I watched focused on the life of this President after he retired.

Editor, I urged all our aspiring Presidential hopefuls and our current President to take a deep look at the way a President should rule and live.

It may be a life changing moment. Should anyone emulate and rule Guyana the way Jose did, rest assured Guyana will be safe and prosperous in the future.

This worthy man was not rich, he emerged from among the working class and he lived for them.

He live the most simplest of life, used the simplest car, lived in a regular house and depend on his farm for his food and well being.

From time to time he would make visits to various places including schools practically teaching students to farm.

He turned the prison he was housed into a sprawling shopping mall.

He made sure he looked after the poorest in society so they can be self sufficient.

During his period as President he met various world leaders including President Obama and the Pope and at his meeting with President Obama he said that all non English speaking countries should become bilingual, he was a man with vision.

The one statement he made that was so pure was when he was asked that if he should have 80 billion dollars what he would do with it.

He said the first thing a man with that much money would do is try to find out who is stealing from him.

He went on to explain

that that money could be used to make barren lands arable so that man can make use of those lands to help save the environment and feed themselves.

From what I saw there wasn’t any security detail following him around. I think he did not have reason for that, for he was trusted by the people and he trusted them.

In his retirement speech he told the people that he may be gone but he has just begun.

He went on to tell them that they the people he would continue to breath until his last breath.

He is still alive.

If only we can get a President that can be so selfless Guyana will indeed be a Paradise.

I urged everyone who can access Netflix to watch this documentary, and I urged all media houses to show it or do a story about it.

Regards, Zahir Khan

No answer from NIS on retroactive payment to from $64,200 to P e n s i o n B e n e f i t o f t h e for the 12 months of 2019 pensioners increased $70,000 retroactive from Public Service Minimum for those Pensioners who DEAR EDITOR, The two announcements by the National Insurance Scheme that NIS Pension Benefit would be increased from 1st January 2020 made no mention of retroactive payments due to Pensioners for the year 2019.

The Government announced in November 2019 that the Public Service Minimum Wa g e is

January 2019. Public Servants were paid the increase difference between the old rate and the new rate retroactive from January 2019.

Why is the NIS increasing the minimum rate of Benefit from $32,100 to $ 35,000 from January 2020 and not paying the retroactive difference from January 2019.

The effective Rate of

Wage is 50% of $70,000 or $35,000 per month retroactive from January 2019. Pensioners should be paid the difference between $ 32,100 that is 50% of $ 64,200 the rate that Pensioners were receiving before the announced increase and $35, 000 that is 50 % of $70,000.

The difference of $2,900 should be paid retroactive

were receiving the minimum rate of $32,100 as at January 2019. Those Pensioners who became 60 years of age during 2019 should receive their retroactive payment difference from the month they started getting their benefit.

Why is the NIS not forthcoming with an answer to this issue?

Pensioner

Wednesday January 22, 2020

I insist on free and fair election, please!

DEAR EDITOR, Now that electioneering is in full swing, I am surprised that the same old narrative is being heard, including the word “comrade”. I have a single issue for the new political party. It is free electricity for all, except for commercial users.

I am old enough to have experienced the frequent and daily power outages that it has become part of the Guyanese way of life since the dawn of the use of the word “comrade”.

Moreover, the blackouts have continued over the reigns of both of the main parties - some four plus decades.

Yet we don’t hear the promise of steady reliable electricity in this election. Like free healthcare and free education, the time has come for free electricity as a result of the abundance of oil (natural gas).

Besides free electricity will improve the quality of life which translates into smarter and healthier people thus reducing costs associated with utilization of health care and provision of education (free online courses from top universities available).

The question is why Guyanese continue to give

all parties a break on this issue. The obvious answer lies in the monopoly of the only electricity supplier that has always been used as a political tool. For this reason, I advise the new parties to make this their single campaign issue.

There is nothing to lose and it is more feasible than creating an oil fund. Free electricity is a direct impact to the Guyanese people and will be remembered every second of the day.

Imagine brighter c o m m u n i t i e s r e ducing crime. Seniors and retirees not having to pay for electricity until oil runs out.

The costs of providing free electricity is available, just multiply the current cost (by a factor) of what it takes the electric company to deliver the current percentage of demand then subtract u n n e c e s s a r y administrative costs.

T h e p a r t y that is innovative enough to campaign and win on this single issue will be known as the “genius party” or coalition government with genius members.

Notwithstanding, I insist free and fair election. Please!

Keith Bernard

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO TRUST DEAR EDITOR, I observe the behaviours of one new contestant or another in the run-up to elections, and there is much that is incomprehensible, so much that is of the undesirable and the distasteful, to put things mildly. From studied antics to forced last-minute decisions and delayed announcements, there is worrying as what the future holds. They throw the public a bone to see if that will allow them to get by.

They want to compete in the elections, and that is welcomed. They come with the glowing and the arresting; but that is all they are able to get right. Some of them can’t get their stories straight; or their timings right; already they speak with forked tongues. Those forks have numerous prongs, all sure to deceive further.

First, there is the matter of citizenship, with ongoing questions as to who actually did relinquish completely versus who held on to it on the side and on the sly. If outright falsehoods are uttered from day one, then the outlook as to presence and promise is most discouraging, very grim. Because when candor and truth are fractionalized, then I submit that there are only scattered

The Diamond/Grove Magistrates’ Court will bring a lot of relief DEAR EDITOR, The new year start resolutely right, where the justice administration is working towards betterment.

A spanking $132 million new Magistrates’ Court house in the Diamond/Grove, East Bank Demerara, region # 4

area has been completed and schedule to be opened on Wednesday 22nd January, 2020.

This Magistrates’ Court will bring a lot of relief to the now congested Georgetown Magistrates’ court and more so raise the standard in the

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Diamond/Grove, East Bank Demerara.

The most important subject to this Court house is maintenance and the justice administrators will score high points.

Yours faithfully, Parmanand Ram

fragments left. Fragments about authenticity of intent, immaculacy of objectives, and cleanliness of character. It always comes down to character, for if that is straight and honorable, then these asinine games about what is surrendered, and when, and to whom, and where things stand, do not arise. They are all put to bed and with finality.

Second, and not unrelated, there is word circulating of who has good reason to maintain foreign citizenship. I say that is not an overnight development nor an overnight consideration. The wise and practical would measure the pros and cons, and if and when it becomes clear that serving the motherland conflicts with personal circumstances, then the latter comes first; the personal transcends the national.

There is nothing wrong about that; it is merely the product of commonsense, of what is responsible, and of what is expected of men, who harboured interests in leading. If that is handled poorly, then there is only fooling of self; and stretching oneself too thin in a vain effort to serve two masters.

It would not work, for there is bound to be falling short.

As an aside, I left here to return in ten years to give back. I was woefully wrong, as I had underestimated my

readiness to be able to do so by twenty-one years. I had failed to account properly and totally for what was involved.

And I was not aiming for the heights, such as the National Assembly or State House, but for the routines and demands of the invisible, inconsequential trenches.

The point is simple: men and women-whether possessing dual citizenship or only local one-must count the cost and have a most comprehensive idea beforehand of the associated demands of the endeavour being embarked upon, with all of its sacrifices,

setbacks, and heartaches.

Trust me on this one: they are there by the busload.

So when I see men venturing forth to lead this land somewhere, I ask that if a true awareness of what is encompassed is not present, then where is the required depth of studying, breadth of thinking, and height of planning for that which is national in scope. Clearly, it is lacking; for what we have been presented with are only the self-serving commercials, the seductive sound bites, and the usual songs and (Continued on page 6)

Give your wells time to adjust DEAR EDITOR, As an oilfield engineer of many years working in oil and gas circles in 11 different countries, I was a little surprised by the article on how much oil and gas you can expect to see from a particular well.

The Gas /Oil Ratio or (GOR) is something that should not change appreciably much over time.

When a well is on “on plateau” say after a stable period of operation, there should be little change in the GOR. Perhaps the reservoir

engineer will check, say once a quarter to make sure that things are stable.

For a large well with lots of potential as for instance in Starbroek there should be little change in GOR, especially for such large and powerful wells in their prime.

Each well will have a different GOR depending on other factors like where is the well located, up-dip or down dip.

Don’t worry, be happy.

Give your wells time to adjust.

Good Luck, Allan Stirling Oil and Subsea Engineer

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IT ALL COMES DOWN TO...

From page 5 dances from the minds and mouths of the uncertain, the unacceptable, and the unbelievable.

It is disappointing that men would dare to think that the Guyanese masses are so gullible, so backward, so cheap, as to fall for their continuing farces.

I think of this: across this globe in most civilized nations, when a man steps up to stand as head-of-state, or to serve as national lawmaker, then his whole life story, complete with the positive ingredients (and hopefully no bothersome deficits), becomes public property.

It is better if he had no secrets; and particularly those that were craftily withheld; if there were those, the recommendation is to come clean with them upfront.

Yet in this awful place, men arrive on horseback to ride over us like so many plantation overseers, while only giving us part of their stories, the part found attractive and sales worthy.

It is a lame brained and tangle footed way of addressing this calling for morally transformational leadership, ethically clean governance, and exemplifying what is needed here and what will be delivered, come hell or high water, including force majeures, acts of god, and circumstances unseen and unimagined.

If not, it is the same ugly, dirty, sickly that has inflicted so much damage here and appears to be gathering momentum to do so again.

That kind of individual madness was there before, now the oil has only exacerbated the storms battering heads.

I submit that we have enough political scoundrels here, we do not need any more. I have interest and use only for those who exemplify what stand as genuine articles, real patriots, clean leadership prospects. Comes down to one word: trust.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Wednesday January 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

It would be beneficial for all the small/new parties to grasp this opportunity DEAR EDITOR, I write to appeal to the leaders of all of our New/Small parties to recognize that they have a glorious opportunity to make history in our country. With the realization that our current elections law permits parties to inform the Guyana Elections Commission of their intention to join their list for the purpose of seats allocation in the National Assembly, I beg the leaders to put Guyana first. Section 22 of the Representation of the People Act states, “Subject to subsection (2), two or more lists of candidates shall be joined for the distribution of seats (but not for the purpose of voting) if the representative and deputy representative of each list

REGION PPP/C 1 4,468 2 14,415 3 34,307 4 61,896 5 15,769 6 41,713 7 2,449 8 865 9 3,073 10 3,201

AFC 931 1,724 2,710 13,566 850 3,033 746 407 1,414 3,016

to be so joined gives notice accordingly in writing to the Chief Election Officer not later than the 25th day before election day; and the list so joined are hereinafter referred to collectively as a combination of lists.”

Subsection 3 states, “The Commission shall cause a notification of combinations of lists to be published not later than the 23rd day before election day in the Gazette and may cause such further publication of the same, for the information of electors, as the Commission considers desirable”.

The Guyana Elections Commission is misleading the political parties and the public that the time for any joiner list has passed. The actual day to inform the Chief Elections Officer for the 2020 General and Regional Elections is February 6th, 2020 (discounting election day – March 2nd). I am recommending that the joiner list submitted by ANUG/JLP/TNM be rescinded, and a joiner list of all the small/new parties be presented.

TUF 273 146 123 340 57 202 143 449 1,090 92

JFAP 33 60 957 2,107 77 44 50 0 21 24

government and main opposition are both incapable to take us there.

With the new injection of these dynamic new/small parties in our political landscape, hope is on the way.

2001 elections The PPP/C won the elections with 209,754 and securing 34 seats in the National Assembly. The combined new/small parties would have secured the same 4 seats as reported by the Elections Commission, but there was a possibility that more votes for these parties could have been realized, if the voters were informed that their votes would have been combined for the allocation of seats. Had this occurred, the PPP/C would have won the Presidency with the largest number of votes, but they most likely

2006 elections Geographic elections GAP/ROAR PNC/IG GNC LD PRP 198 1,046 0 0 0 322 3,662 0 0 0 183 10,782 0 0 0 359 67,726 123 137 0 0 8,710 31 0 105 230 11,628 0 0 0 868 1,958 0 0 27 480 543 0 0 0 1,734 871 0 0 0 114 7,369 0 0 0

I have done some analysis of past elections, and wish to share its finding with the electorate, but more importantly, the leaders of the New/Small parties. Our country is in dire need of a new direction, and the

would have been a minority government.

2006 elections In the 2006 elections, the results would definitely have resulted in a minority government, had the new/ small parties contesting the elections invoked section

Breaking with the past and creating an altogether different future for Guyanese DEAR EDITOR, Mr. Jan Mangal’s letter in Kaieteur News of 15 January 2019, has prompted me to pen these thoughts which I have mused about for some time.

Coming from a mixed racial background and growing up and living all my life in a mixed racial community, and working closely with people

22 of the Representation of the People Act. The PPP/C won 36 seats in this election which was made up of 15 Geographic seats and 21 Top-up seats. An analysis of the results revealed the following: 1. T h e combined votes of the small parties in Region 1 would have given them 1 seat. The seats were allocated 1 each for the PPP/C and the PNC/ IG. 2. T h e r e s u l t f o r Region 7 showed that the combined small parties accumulated 1,834 votes as against PNC/IG with 1,958.

The difference of 124 votes could have gone to the combined small parties, thus winning another seat.

3. Region 8 was won by the PPP/C, but the combined small parties easily won that seat.

from the major races, caused me to be very concerned about the racial relations existing in my country. I am concerned that our country will never achieve the level of development which we are capable of and dreaming about, even with the enormous oil wealth we are expected to have, if there is not a radical change of the racial situation in our country.

The two major races, from the time I was born, have been vying for supremacy in the political realm. What makes matters worse is that the racial make-up of the leadership of the two major political parties in the country, reflect the population. It is no secret that both of these major races would like to have their people in government. General

elections under the existing constitution invariably result in a winner and a loser, so that half of the population celebrates while the other half is wounded and downtrodden. We cannot continue like this.

Our country therefore needs a constitution where there will be no winner or loser in an election. We need a constitution which distributes executive power proportionate to the number of seats won at the election, a constitution which will give the presidency to the party which wins the largest number of seats, while the office of the prime minister goes to the runner-up. The composition of the cabinet will also be proportionate to (Continued on page 132)

NDF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25

analysis of Region 8 gives some interesting information: PPP/C 1,836 TUF 48 APNU/AFC 1,837 Had the PPP/C and TUF triggered a Joiner list, this combination would have given that seat to them.

It is very surprising that Mansoor Nadir, who was on the PPP/C list did not trigger this electoral joiner.

Had they done that, the TUF could have claimed the 33rd seat in the National Assembly with 48 votes.

How interesting. The APNU/AFC would have been a minority government.

Conclusion Now that we have an analysis of the actual

TOTALSMALLPARTIES 1,435 2,252 3,973 16,632 1,120 3,509 1,834 1,336 4,259 3,271

4. Region 9 was won by the PPP/C, but the combined small parties also won this seat.

5. Region 10 seats were won by PNC/IG (2 seats) and the PPP/C (1 seat). The combined small parties won this seat easily from the PPP/C. With an additional Topup seat for the combined small parties, the PPP/C would have won 32 seats, hence a minority government. The writing would have been on the Regions (Geographic) seat 1 4 7 8 9 10 wall for the PPP/C. 2011 elections In these elections, the PPP/C won 32 seats, APNU won 26 seats and the AFC won 7 seats.

Wi t h a minority government, parliament was able to put some check on the excessive of the PPP/C government.

2015 elections In these elections, the APNU/AFC ticket won 33 seats in the National Assembly. However, an

votes in previous elections, I am calling on all the small/new parties to trigger section 22 of the Representation of the People Act and inform the Guyana Elections Commission. If History has any bearing on our voting practice, it would seem beneficial for all the small/ new parties to grasp this opportunity.

My prediction on a Joiner list of the new/small parties would result in the following: Number of potential seat 1 1 1 1 1 1 There are Top-up seats that will also be secured in the General Elections.

It seems likely, therefore, that a Joiner list of all the small/new parties could secure 10 seats in the National Assembly.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please put aside your egos and put Guyana first. As the maxim goes, “the whole is greater than the number of its parts”.

Sincerely, Charles Sugrim, CPA

Wednesday January 22, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Body of chopped, bound teen found in Craig trench

By Trishan Craig Relatives were yesterday left in shock as the motionless body of their 18-year-old family member was discovered partially covered in a trench at Sideline dam Craig, East Bank Demerara.

The remains of Wayne Anthony George of 711 Kaneville, East Bank Demerara, were found around 07:40hrs. The body of the teen, who was unemployed prior to his death, was found lying on the southern side of the trench.

When Kaieteur News arrived at the scene around 08:30hrs, a number of persons including toddlers and school children, were on the street looking down at the body in the trench.

Police ranks arrived shortly and moved onlookers back as much as they could until the crime scene investigators arrived and the undertakers later came to remove the body.

As the crime scene markings were put up and the body was being removed, family members started a loud wailing while still trying to console each other.

The body was shirtless and clad in a brown camouflage pants. A senior official of the police force indicated

The scene after the body was removed from the trench

that the body bore marks of violence.

Blood was also seen oozing from the lips and the back of the head. A bicycle and cutlass were removed along with the body.

When the body was taken out and placed on a stretcher, one crime scene investigator then cut an item which was keeping the victim’s hands bound. After completing their procedures the body was placed in a hearse and taken away.

According to one of the relatives, “There is a video

that everybody has with some boys beating he [George]. They tie he up and was beating he and all of them [onlookers] just videoing, nobody ain’t try to stand up and help he. He didn’t deserve that… look how they tie he up, beat he and plus just throw he in ‘deh’.”

The family member indicated that she is unsure as to what caused the altercation, however, the senior police official has indicated that the mother of the deceased told investigators that she last saw her son around 23:30hrs

on Monday.

The mother stated that her son returned home saying he had an altercation with some boys. He then left with the bicycle and cutlass which were recovered at the crime scene.

The official also highlighted that up to press time no arrest was made but they were working on some leads.

Investigations are continuing.

Dead: Wayne George

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Wednesday January 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

“Over 90,000 corrections” made to Revised List of Electors Over 90,000 corrections have been made to the Revised List of Electors (RLE), GECOM Commissioners, Bibi Shadick and Vincent Alexander told reporters yesterday.

According to Alexander, the changes were made based on information gathered in the recent House to House registration exercise.

He noted that the names of over 370,000 persons were garnered in that exercise, and

of those persons, over 90,000 would have changed their addresses from when they were previously registered.

Shadick, the PPP Opposition representative on the other hand said that members of her team had requested that GECOM provide the information on the corrections made to the RLE, since it will eventually be used to craft the Official List of Electors (OLE) to take the nation to the election.

Shadick nonetheless

stated that GECOM has not been forthcoming with the information and time is running out. She said that the Opposition wants to ensure that the changes are legitimate and that persons are aware of the changes before it is printed in the OLE. “The claims and objections period deadline for the RLE is January 25 and we are still to see the some 90,000 changes made.” Shadick stated.

GECOM has been pushing towards getting the revised list circulated and vetted in 21 days. The 21 days of claims and objections commenced on January 5, 2020.

GECOM has since been updating the recently published RLE to reflect changes in addresses and other information of some persons.

However PPP/C, which Shadick represents, had dubbed the act “illegal”, saying that officials of the Commission have no right to tinker with the information without a claim or objection from a potential voter.

GECOM’s Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward

had however explained that from the recent truncated House-to-House registration exercise, there were a number of registrants who had made changes to their addresses and names. GECOM has since discovered that a number of those changes were not updated in the system and Ward said that “it is important for us to have those changes made.”

The PRO said that with the publication of the RLE, it was recognised that a number of eligible electors whose addresses and other information were updated during the exercise were not reflected on the RLE.

“In this regard, an administrative process is being conducted to ensure that electors are placed within their correct divisions for voting. Failure to conduct this necessary exercise may very well result in electors being displaced and unable to vote at a polling station in their area,” the statement said.

Ward noted that under the law, the Chief Elections Officer is allowed to make changes to information. “The law provides that we use the most recent registration record,” she said, adding that this record would be the list generated from the house to house registration exercise.

Man, 54, accused of raping girl, 6, while watching porn A curious neighbour, who heard the desperate cries of a six year old girl, reportedly caught her 54-year-old male relative raping her while watching pornographic material.

Kaieteur News was informed that the child and her brother were left in the care of the man and his wife after their father died some months ago. It was said that on Wednesday last, the neighbour was in his yard when he heard the child cry out. Upon peeking into the man’s home after climbing on his roof, he reportedly saw the man raping the child while he watched porn.

The child’s mother who was at work at the time, was informed of the incident and when

she questioned her daughter about what happened, she was reportedly told that the older relative had interfered with her about ten times before he was caught. The woman immediately made a report to the station. A medical examination was conducted and it confirmed that the little girl was sexually molested. The police are now awaiting other details which include a report from the Child Care and Protection Agency, before the man is hauled before the court. The child has since been removed from the home and is back in her mother’s care. The woman is expecting the relative to be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.Police are investigating.

Wednesday January 22, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Outside looking in and inside looking out

T

he politicians will tell you that the country’s oil belongs to all Guyanese. But the scenes inside and outside of the Marriott Hotel last Friday were contrasting. The bigwigs of government and the business world, bedecked in their suits and ties, were inside toasting with champagne while outside the ordinary folks, in their jeans and jerseys, were content with the sideshow of fireworks laid on for their benefit.

A few persons, I am told, went out of their way to be present. They begged for an invitation to be inside. They preferred to be inside with the rich and notables rather than on the beach with the ordinary and unknowns.

This is the way of the world. Guyanese are being told to think like billionaires, yet the ordinary man was left outside, while those who will reap the most benefits from

developments which will result from oil-driven growth were inside.

The class nature of our society is as such that the bourgeoisie and petite bourgeoisie stand on one side, the inside, and the poor and powerless on the other side, the outside. The situation is symbolic of what is likely to happen with Guyana’s oil wealth.

What has been done to the people’s wealth? Has the kingdom been sold for a horse? Just who is unbothered by having one group inside and another outside of the Marriott last Friday?

Guyana’s oil wealth is likely to soon be gobbled up by the rich and the bureaucratic class. The rich and the connected are going to fill their pockets until these are overflowing. The poor, like the folks outside the Marriott last Friday, who were given their twenty minutes of enter-

tainment, will be thrown a few of the scraps – free education, a road here and a road there, a school here and school there, a hospital here and hospital there, and back pay every Christmas.

The banquet is for those on the inside; the circus will be for those on the outside.

One group had their fill of food and drinks; the other was bedazzled by fireworks.

So much so that they have not blinked as yet, and are not likely to do so until after the elections.

Not one of the parties, big or small, that are contesting the general elections, have defined themselves ideologically. Only one party which is contesting the regional elections has indicated its ideological opposition to neo-liberal policies. Only one party, a small party with little chance of gaining a seat, has said that it will renegotiate the disgraceful oil contracts.

DEM BOYS SEH

Guyana refusing money

When a man is a beggar he really got to beg fuh money. People don’t want to give him money just so. At one stage a Jamaican leader describe Jagdeo as a man who walking round wid he begging bowl. That thing mek Guyanese did vex wid Jamaica.

Guyana use to go around begging dem international lending agency fuh lend we money. Some give we at high interest rate and some give we at low rate. But sometimes we couldn’t pay back de loan and that is how it reach high.

Dem boys remember how de airport get build over.

Some Chinese Minister pass through de region holding out money and Guyana just

reach out. Dem boys see Guyana grabbing wha it could get, even if was a case of de politicians thiefing de money.

But things does change overnight.

All of a sudden Guyana got problems. De Minister of Finance got to hold he hand behind he back to prevent people from pushing money inside. Everybody wid two cents running to lend Guyana.

Dem boys talk to Jordan and he seh people running to lend Guyana up to US$500 million. It mean that people see de oil and it full dem eyes. Dem want to create a condition suh if Guyana owe dem all of dem can claim a piece of de country.

De oil mek Guyana got

more airlines than ever come to Guyana. People coming in increasing numbers. Long time Guyanese use to run out de country to odda countries.

Things reach de stage wheh more Guyanese living outside Guyana than who living in de country.

But now people coming from every country that G/T getting like New York. People use to walk around and all dem could hear was Guyanese accent. Now dem hearing Spanish, French and Portuguese like if dem deh in a farrin country.

De country tun upside down. People begging you fuh shelter and some begging Guyana to tek dem money.

Talk half and imagine Guyana refusing money.

Thousands of persons are attending political rallies across the country to give a façade of democracy. Not one of them has stood up and asked any of the parties on which side of the ideological divide they stand, the poor or the rich, the left or the right.

These political parties have not been asked but if they are, you can bet that they will have an answer. They will claim that they are for everybody. Every party contesting the general elections will claim they are for everyone.

The same people, who were standing outside of the

Marriott while their leaders were inside wining and dining, are going to soon forget their exclusion from that event. They have had their fill of fireworks display, and it is now time to revert back to their respective political camps and dream of oil wealth and the prospects of thinking like billionaires.

Those inside will have the last laugh. They will convince those outside to vote for them so that they can look out for their interests. And those on the outside will swallow the argument, hook, line and sinker, and put their trust on those on the inside.

Such is the way of the world. Those on the outside will remain on the outside; those on the inside will stay inside, looking out cynically and disapprovingly at those who are peering in.

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

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 22, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

PPP could have provided a scientific fulcrum for Charran’s decision The two electoral systems of Proportional Representation (PR) and First Past the Post (FPTP) or constituency representation, each have strong validities. Space would not allow for a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of both, but FPTP offers a certain protection in the growth of individuality that PR does not.

Most people, even those who don’t have an interest in politics or follow political happenings in their respective countries, know that in the constituency system, there is a candidate in the area in which they live that has an

elected MP that they could protect if his/her central bosses do not like the openness and good things he/she is doing for his/her constituency.

FPTP enables a maverick MP to confront his/her undemocratic party bosses because if recalled, the constituency can put him/her up as a candidate in the next election, thus the party loses a seat. In many marginal seats in FPTP, the party leaders are scared to mistreat a local candidate who is very popular with his/ her constituents.

Charrandass Persaud emerged as the constituency

MP for Berbice after the 2015 elections. Berbicians had to go to him to discuss their grievances and desires. They had no business trying to get the Region 4 MP to do things for them. They had a Region 6 representative in parliament.

When the Region 6 MP voted for the no-confidence motion (NCM) in December 2018, the viciousness in the language directed against Charran was sick and depraved.

Let’s digress a tiny bit.

One of the local news websites carried a Facebook post from Minister David

Patterson in which he is quoted as saying the 2020 election campaign is the most vicious and divisive he has seen. He added that people that he considers friends are uttering nasty things against him that he would never have imagined they were capable of.When I read that, I wondered why Patterson found that process so abnormal.

Patterson’s leadership colleagues in the AFC did the same to Charran. Moses Nagamootoo wrote in the Chronicle that Charran took a bribe to vote. Ramjattan did the same and Charran sued him. To date there isn’t even an infinitesimal speck of evidence that the researcher can use to find the paper trail of bribery. In a modern age of scientifically impeccable anti money-laundering laws, not even a speck of proof has been provided to the public on Charran’s financial mischief.

The PNC leadership, Charran’s own colleagues in the AFC, pro-government supporters, were using the

Chronicle and social media to dirty the character of Charran.

Commissioner of the Ethnic Relations Commission, Barrington Braithwaite in a column in the Chronicle described the circumstances in Charran’s life that led to him being bribed. Braithwaite actually wrote that, and the Chronicle’s editor actually published that.

In the tsunamic condemnations of Charran from the government side, lost in the waves was the attitude of Berbicians. Did Region 6 support the action of its MP? This is where the PPP failed to devise a scientific method to protect the credibility of Charran. Soon after the nasty accusations began to hit the air, the PPP should have commissioned a scientific poll to ascertain how Berbicians felt about Charran’s vote.

The response was simple.

Acquire the services of a professional polling organization in the region or South America, or in a country close to Guyana like the US, UK or Canada. That would have shut the mouths of those who would have shouted that it was a fake poll. Respected social scientists would have come and tested the attitudes of Berbicians on Charran’s vote. The PPP had the money to do that. Had they done it, it would have dented the hurricane of evil accusations that greeted Charran.

Here is why. Each time a PNC or AFC leader or a type like Barrington Braithwaite

Frederick Kissoon attacked Charran, then they were by extension attacking the choice of hundreds of thousands of Berbicians, and the poll results would have been there to counter them. I cannot understand why Charran endorsed the PPP for the upcoming national election. The PPP could have provided him with that scientific umbrella, but it chose not to.

Each time a condemner of Charran spoke, the counter would have been – “but Berbicians that he represented approved of his action, don’t they have the right to tell their MP how to vote?”

In FPTP, the constituency tells the MP how they want him/her to vote. The vicious outpourings against Charran will no doubt fill the atmosphere in the election season we are in. But in this unfolding scenario, we cannot cite the support of Berbice for Charran. There are no poll results.

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

Wednesday January 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday January 22, 2020

Wednesday January 22, 2020

Natural Resource Fund…

PSC to name oversight committee member within a month Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Gerry Gouveia has informed Kaieteur News that the PSC is closing in on a nominee for an oversight committee of Guyanas Natural Resource Fund.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan told Reuters that the Opposition and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) have not yet named their nominees to the oversight committees. Hence, the committees have not been formed.

Jordan had told Kaieteur News last year that the fact that those entities have not named their nominees would hamper the operationalisation of the fund.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Gouveia said that the PSC understands the importance of having the Natural Resource Fund monitored properly. For that reason, the PSC has narrowed down its search.

He had told Kaieteur News previously that the Commission was having difficulty finding a suitable nominee, and that it would be looking to the diaspora.

Gouveia said yesterday

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Kaieteur News

Private Sector Commission Chairman, Gerry Gouveia that the PSC already has someone in mind, and that that decision is expected to be sorted out within a month.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, on the other hand, has expressed his opposition to the Natural Resource Fund Act as it is currently structured. He has argued on several occasions that the Act allows too much power to be focused in the Ministers hands.

The Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) is dead set on replacing the Natural Resource Fund Act if it wins the gen-

eral election of March 2, 2020.

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil has already started production on the Stabroek Block, and Guyana is set to collect its share soon. Shell Western Supply and Trading Limited (SWSTL), the Royal Dutch Shells Barbados affiliate, will be selling Guyanas first three crude cargos.

The Central Bank of Guyana is responsible for the operational management of the Fund, but the first set of oil revenues could be placed into the account with no oversight committees.

Bankers bombard Guyana with financing plans as oil boom begins: finance minister

By Luc Cohen; Additional Reporting By Neil Marks GEORGETOWN (Reuters) - Bankers are “bombarding” Guyana with offers of financing backed by future oil production, the finance minister told Reuters, but the South American nation is rejecting the proposals to avoid the excessive borrowing that has plagued other oil producers.As the former British colony begins its first significant oil production this year, it is wary of avoiding the mistakes made in oil-dependent economies such as Angola, Nigeria and its economically collapsing neighbor Venezuela.

Winston Jordan, an economist and career public servant, also cited Guyanas own history of economic crisis in the 1980s for turning down overtures to finance infrastructure and development before oil money started flowing.“At the IMF meetings, I was bombarded, at the IDB meetings, Im bombarded with people telling you how much money they can lend you,” he said in an interview on Wednesday in his Georgetown office, referring to the International Monetary Fund and Inter-American Development Bank.

He declined to name the

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan specific institutions, saying only that “quite a few banks, quite a few middlemen” offered loans of between $500 million and $2 billion.

During the oil boom years, Venezuela borrowed more than $50 billion from China through loans that were repaid in oil shipments, a practice later replicated in Ecuador. The arrangements were criticized for lack of transparency.A consortium led by Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) has discovered more than 6 billion barrels of oil and gas off Guyana, a find that could transform the impoverished countrys agriculture- and mining-dependent economy.

With fewer than 800,000 inhabitants, Guyana is seen as a test for whether oil revenue can spur sustainable

development in a country lacking strong institutions.

Other petrostates have seen crude sales lead to corruption and debt-fueled spending binges, often described as the “resource curse.”Guyana in the early 1980s defaulted on foreign debt, fueling an economic crisis characterized by chronic shortages of consumer goods. Following economic austerity and debt relief, the economy began recovering in the 1990s.“I much rather that we slowly ramp up,” Jordan said. “We will avoid resource curse.”Legislation this year established that Guyanas oil revenue will flow to a sovereign wealth fund, and withdrawals must fund specific projects rather than day-today expenses. Committees to oversee the fund have not been formed because the opposition and the private sector have not named representatives, Jordan said.

The opposition Peoples Progressive Party has said President David Grangers government overstepped its authority by forming the fund, given its “caretaker” status after losing a 2018 no-confidence vote. The opposition is promising a new sovereign wealth fund “insulated from political interference.”

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Wednesday January 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

Private Sector confident in GECOMs ability to deliver credible elections

- PSC Chair

A

s Guyana heads closer to March 2020 General and Regional Elections, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has expressed confidence in the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)s ability to conduct fair and credible elections.

Speaking with this publication yesterday, Chairman of the Commission, Captain Gerry Gouveia indicated that the Commission has the utmost confidence in GECOM, particularly the recently elected Chair, Justice Claudette Singh, stating that he believes she will be the hand to place GECOM “on the straight and narrow”.

The PSC chairman additionally expressed confidence in the various forms of technical assistance GECOM has been receiving from both local and international bodies.

He stated that currently all matters of discourse that the Commission has pertaining to the upcoming Mach 2, 2020 polls are being addressed by GECOM. One such concern which Gouveia highlighted was allegations that GECOM is up-

dating the recently published Revised List of Electors (RLE) to reflect changes in addresses and other information.

Earlier, in a statement released by GECOM, the commission indicated that with the publication of the RLE, various information updated during the House to House exercise was not reflected on the RLE. “In this regard, an administrative process is being conducted to ensure that electors are placed within their correct divisions for voting. Failure to conduct this necessary exercise may very well result in electors being displaced and unable to vote at a polling station in their area,” the statement said.

Gouveia opined that actions of that nature should be made public so as to ensure transparency and public “confidence in the process”.

He indicated that he believes persons should not be removed from the RLE due to the fact that they were not at the address given at the time of the verification exercise, instead he opted that further investigations be conducted.

Wednesday January 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

Despite higher education, women still undervalued GENEVA - CMC – The International Labour Organization (ILO) says while a significant number of women in Latin America and the Caribbean have been able to attain higher education than men, they are still earning less than their male counterparts.

In its “World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2020 (WESO)” publication released here on Monday, also

noted almost half a billion people are working fewer paid hours than they would like or lack adequate access to paid work.

“In Latin America and the Caribbean, for example, the average level of educational attainment of women now surpasses that of men, yet women in the region still earn 17 per cent less per hour worked than men,” the ILO report noted.

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US, UK publish oil drilling results; Guyana does not The United Kingdom and several American States are very serious about public disclosures when it comes to their hydrocarbon sector. They ensure that drilling results by oil and gas multinationals are published.

Those results are reflected in well logs. Those logs hold detailed records of what the operators find.

They can be used to independently analyse the finds oil and gas contents.

Kaieteur News has seen several online portals with information that can be perused by anyone on well records.It appears accepted across many of those jurisdictions to grant a period of confidentiality to reward operators for making a risky investment. But reporting to the State immediately is a requirement. Failure to report immediately may result in a relaxing of that confidentiality reward.

In the US, the confidentiality period may last one year after production, after which the State releases the information to the public.

In Exxons home State of Texas, the regulatory body for the oil and gas sector is called the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC). That States

Wednesday January 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

confidentiality period begins after drilling operations are completed.

Kaieteur News has perused well logs from Exxons drilling operations in the US. They are not private.

Because offshore projects take much longer to complete than onshore projects, they tend to carry a longer confidentiality period. For the UK, the period lasts three to four years from the date of the contract award. Guyanas situation is more similar to the UK than most of the instances described of the US. Guyanas commercial reserves have only been found offshore thus far.

If Guyana was using a system like its former colonial master, some well logs would have started going public already.

That is not the reality here. The Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) takes requests for access to well logs. However, the only logs that can be accessed are the ones covered by contracts that have come to fruition, like those from the 1940s, since abandoned by companies like Exxons predecessor, Mobil.

Logs for current contracts, like the one that covers Exxon s 15 material discoveries in the Stabroek Block, are not accessible.

Inspections of oil and gas vessels on the rise

With the advent of the oil and gas sector, the Maritime Administration is exercising its regulatory duties over vessels operating within a new industry; since there has been an increase in the number of vessels contacting Guyana.

Claudette Rogers, DirectorGeneral of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, made this disclosure on a recent Department of Public Information One-on-One programme.

“There has been an increase in the number of vessels calling our port and so now our inspectors are required to ensure those vessels calling at our port comply with international standards,” the Director-General related.

According to the Head of MARAD, tankers have to make contact with the regulatory body to signal their intent to offload oil and gas from the Floating, Production, Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

At present, the FPSO operating in Guyanas waters is the Liza Destiny.

“They have to send that

information in advance to the administration and we will verify it to see when was the last time if there were any non-compliance issues that had to be corrected, when it was corrected and what that issue was,” DG Rogers explained.

After these documents are issued, MARAD determines whether that vessel is seaworthy enough to partake in the operational exercise that is requested.

Among its widespread functions, MARAD has the responsibility to board vessels under its flag state, port state and coastal state jurisdictions to conduct inspections Flag state refers to the duties exercised over vessels that are carrying Guyanas national flag. Port state refers to vessels that possess the flag of a foreign country and coastal state, vessels that operate within territorial waters or those in exclusive economic zones and on the high seas.

Inspections of these vessels are in accordance with Guyanas obligations to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) standards.

Claudette Rogers, Director-General of the MARAD On Monday, the MV Yannis left Guyanas waters for the USA to transport one million barrels of light crude oil.

Wednesday January 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday January 22, 2020

GECOM disqualifies Shuman, two other candidates due to dual citizenship

Given the clear prohibition against the participation of candidates holding dual citizenship in general elections, the Guyana Elections Commission, (GECOM) has disqualified three Presidential hopefuls.

GECOM Commissioners, Bibi Shadick and Vincent Alexander told members of

the media yesterday that the names were “struck off” following deliberations by the commission.

The three candidates Lenox Shuman, Dr Vishnu Bandhu and Dr .Valerie Leung - were identified as the Presidential candidates of the Liberty and Justice Party, (LJP), United Republican

Party, (URP) and People’s Republic Party (PRP) respectively.

The three candidates all signed sworn declarations that they had not pledged allegiance to any other nation except Guyana and presented to GECOM on Nomination Day on January 10, last.

However, GECOM axed

Dr. Vishnu Bandu

Dr. Valerie Leung

Lenox Shuman

the names of the candidates from the list after the Commission found that documents had been falsified Speaking to reporters outside GECOM’s head office in Kingston, Oppositionappointed Commissioner, Shadick noted that while the names have been removed, the parties’ entire lists have not been disqualified from contesting the elections.

“The Commission’s decision was that the names of Mr. Shuman, Mr. Bandhu and Ms. Leung must be removed from the list because when they made their declarations they were all dual citizens.”

The candidates were required to make sworn decrees that they are aware of a provision in the constitution that prohibits dual citizens from

participating in the presidential elections.

That provision is Article 155 (1) (a) of the Constitution of Guyana which states, that “No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.”

In relation to Bandhu, the former Presidential Candidate had made the declaration on January 10, but sent a letter to GECOM which stated that his foreign status was relinquished on January 16.

Shuman on the other hand had told reporters that he started the process to relinquish his foreign citizenship but even up to Nomination Day, he did not

receive official word from the Canadian authorities about his status.

Yet he went ahead and made the sworn declaration that he does not hold citizenship of any other country.

It is unclear whether Leung ever made any attempt to relinquish her foreign citizenship.

Government-appointed GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander later revealed that now that the Commission has played its role in removing the names, it is up to law enforcement to take the next step in possibly laying charges against the former candidates found liable of making the false declarations. If charged and found guilty, Shuman, Bandhu and Leung can each be jailed for one year.

Wednesday January 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday January 22, 2020

Reversing garbage truck crushed sanitation worker A sanitation worker contracted to work with the (Herstelling –Little Diamond) Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) is now dead after he was reportedly crushed by the garbage truck he was working on.

The victim has been identified as 54-year-old Chatterpaul Kabir of Lot 52 Herstelling, East Bank Demerara. The incident occurred yesterday around 10:45hrs.

Kaieteur News understands that at the time of the incident Kabir and his co-workers were in Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara.

The man’s colleagues were reportedly collecting refuse while he remained in the truck.

However, reportedly unknown to the driver, Kabir disembarked from the truck and stood behind the vehicle. It was shortly after that the driver reversed, causing Kabir to be crushed

by the left rear wheel.

On realising what had transpired, the other sanitation workers raised an alarm and the driver stopped the vehicle.

Kabir was taken to the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival The 68-year-old driver is in custody.

Kabir’s body is presently at Lyken’s Funeral Home awaiting a post mortem.

Teen stole mattress to replace hammock - Court hears A teenager was brought before the court yesterday to answer to a simple larceny charge. It is alleged that he stole several household items that cost a total of $173,500.

The teen, who had admitted to stealing a mattress, travelled back to the interior yesterday.

When the defendant made his first court appearance he was placed on $50,000 bail for the offence. However, the magistrate reduced the bail to $1000 and the defendant was placed in the custody of Lynel Persaud who accommodated him, until he returned to Kumaka.

The matter was adjourned to April 12, and transferred to Aquero Magistrate Court.

Eighteen-year-old Roberto Perez of Kumaka, North West District was arraigned before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on January 11, 2020, at Aquero Airstrip, North West District, he broke and entered the dwelling house of Juan Marie Ferreira.

The court heard that Perez’s brother carried a group of policemen to a place

where the defendant allegedly hid the stolen loot.

However, Perez told the court that he only removed a mattress after his hammock burst and he was unable to fix it.

It is alleged that Perez stole a mattress, table model stove, solar light bulbs, wallpaper, DVD player and mosquito nets. The teen was able to communicate with the court through the use of a Spanish interpreter. He said that he works with his older brother as a phone technician.

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

The prosecutor later highlighted that the defendant’s smaller brother took the police to Rinka Village, and the articles was recovered.

Wednesday January 22, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Immigration Department denies violating human rights of Jamaican national BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – Barbados immigration authorities says they are not responsible for the delay in the departure of Jamaican Kivesi Andrae McPherson, who was considered a prohibited person from entering the island.

In a lengthy statement, the Immigration Department sought to distance itself from statements made by attorney, Asante Brathwaite, who is demanding questions from the Trinidad-based Caribbean Airlines (CAL) and the Immigration Department as to why her client was detained for almost a week at the Grantley Adams International Airport.

Brathwaite said she was aware that her client had “committed an illegal act, but we don’t need to punish him twice.

“He already paid his debt to Barbados but was still being detained and nobody could tell me when he could go home. He was here depressed with no change of clothes. Immigration was assuring me that he was being given three meals every day,

but he was telling me that he had to purchase three meals daily. I am not saying that immigration is telling lies but the two stories are completely different.”

She said that Macpherson’s experience at Her Majesty’s Prison also reportedly included some inhumane treatment.

But in its statement, the Immigration Department said the Jamaican national had arrived here on December 30 last year on a CAL flight and that a check by Customs officials of the laptop bag he was carrying revealed three taped packages of cannabis concealed in a false compartment.

The Immigration Department said that McPherson was arrested and charged and on January 9, this year, he pleaded guilty to the offences of unlawful possession of cannabis, possession with intent to supply, trafficking and importation of cannabis.

McPherson was fined BDS$8,000 (One Barbados dollar=US$0.50 cents) to be paid forthwith, with an alternative of nine months’ imprisonment for the importation of

cannabis. He was convicted, reprimanded and discharged for possession of the drug, possession with intent to supply and trafficking.

The Immigration Department said that the fine was not paid immediately, and McPherson began serving his term of imprisonment.

However, a day later, the fine was paid and McPherson was released into the custody of the Barbados Immigration Department.

“He was detained by the department in accordance with section 13(8) of the Immigration Act Cap. 190, pending deportation. Section 13(8) gives the Chief Immigration Officer the authority to detain a person pending the making and execution of a deportation order.”

The Immigration Department said that given, McPherson’s convictions he was considered a prohibited person in accordance with the Immigration Act and that the deportation order was signed on January 13, 2020.

The Immigration Department said that CAL requires that permission for persons

being deported from Barbados must be requested 48 hours in advance in order to travel on its aircraft and that such a request was made on January 10.

It said that communication had been received from CAL allowing for McPherson to travel on its aircraft and on January 14, he was checked in by Caribbean Airlines personnel, and issued with a boarding pass to depart on the 6:00 a.m. (local time) flight.

“In accordance with Immigration protocol for the repatriation of deportees, he was escorted by an Immigration Officer to the boarding gate at 5:15 a.m.

However, the captain of the aircraft refused to accept McPherson on board because he was not escorted by an Immigration Officer to Jamaica.”

But the Immigration Department said “it should be noted that it is not customary for the Immigration Department to provide escorts in these circumstances,” adding “usually, the airline readily accepts such persons without objection”.

The Immigration Department said that further permission was sought from the airline’s headquarters in Trinidad and obtained on January 15.

It said that McPherson’s attorney was informed of the situation and that she “was aware that the Immigration Department did not have any control over the airline, and that the department had met all of its obligations with respect to the repatriation of persons being deported.

“She was never prevented from speaking with or visiting her client,” the Immigration Department said, adding that he was also allowed to contact his family members

via telephone; provided with meals, shower and toilet facilities and a room to sleep.

“His basic human rights were not in any way violated,” it said, noting that on the day of his departure .he refused breakfast because he was upset that he was denied travel on January 15.

“The department did everything in its power to repatriate. McPherson in a timely manner; the fact that his departure was delayed was not the department’s fault.

The officers provided yeoman service by going beyond the call of duty to ensure that he got the meals that he requested,” the Immigration Department added.

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Wednesday January 22, 2020

Kaieteur News TO LET

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Wednesday January 22, 2020

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Sentencing principles taken to task as CCJ concludes arguments in rape appeal Sentencing principles, specifically totality, were at the centre of arguments as the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) concluded hearing a challenge against a 37-year jail sentence by rape convict Linton Pompey.

The proceedings were viewed via live broadcast from the courts Trinidad headquarters.

Nigel Hughes in association with Ronald Daniels appeared for Pompey, while the State is being represented Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack and State Counsel Natasha Backer and Teshanna Lake.

The appeal was heard by the full bench comprising the courts President Justice Adrian Saunders and Justices Winston Anderson, Denys Barrow, Jacob Witt, Maureen Rajnauth-Lee, Andrew Burgess and Peter Jamadar In September 2015, Pompey, 43, who is said to be a father of 12, was convicted by a 12-person jury for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl, by fondling her breasts, between May 1 and May 21, 2011. He was also convicted on two counts of rape committed on the same girl between June 1 and June 13, 2011 and January 10, 2012, respectively On the first count of rape, the trial judge imposed a sentence of 15 years. A 17-year sentence was imposed on the

second count of rape.

Pompey was sentenced to five years imprisonment on the sexual assault charge. The judge ordered that the sentences are to be served consecutively. Pompeys total sentence stands at 37 years.

Pompeys lawyers are contending that the sentences were all excessive having considered the facts by the prosecution and the manner in which the offences were committed.

Asked by the court why the sentence was excessive, Hughes acknowledged that rape, itself by definition, is considered a violent offence.

He however submitted that apart from the fact that there was no consent, there was no evidence to show some degree of planning on his clients part. Hughes went further to point out that there is no evidence to show extreme violence or restraint.

Referencing the sentences imposed for murder and manslaughter in which a life is “actually” lost, Hughes insisted that a sentence of 17 years, in this particular case is excessive. Interjecting was President Saunders, who told Hughes that the 17-year sentence has to be viewed against the backdrop that on the third occasion his client committed another sexual offence on the young girl, as well as it was a crime of opportunity, which Hughes had

earlier on alluded to.

Saunders asked, “So, had he not been caught then.

Heaven knows how long he may have gone on preying on this young lady. So, in other words, I think you are making too lightly of the circumstances.”

Responding, Hughes said, “I am not treating it lightly, comparatively in the absence of any particular [sentencing] guidelines, this compared to other offences where there have been similar convictions.”

Weighing in, Justice Witt asked Hughes to look at similar offences instead of comparing the sentence to those imposed for other offences.

The judge explained that when sentences are decided for certain criminal offences there is usually a base, added to that, the considering of aggravating and mitigating factors to arrive at a reasonable sentence. But Hughes pointed out that there is a lack of consistency across the bench with regards to sentencing.

In Pompeys case, a sentence of 15 to 17 years is perhaps not extraordinary in the circumstances, not a base; but down the middle, Hughes submitted. Justice Anderson reminded Hughes that the maximum penalty for rape under the laws of Guyana is life imprisonment. But, the Judge then sought to inquire from Hughes what does life mean,

Linton Pompey in practical terms. According to Hughes, it is 20 years imprisonment with a prison year being nine months.

The DPP, in her submissions, called Pompey a sexual predator, an adult who preyed on a child. She said she searched the records of appeal but did not find any mitigating factors. “Does it warrant 37 years?” asked Justice Anderson of Ali-Hack. The DPP confidently responded

“yes”. She pointed out that sexual offences are becoming more and more prevalent in society.

In fact, she brought to the courts attention that over recent years sexual offences have been accounting for more than half of the cases for trial at the Demerara Assizes. Although she agreed with Justice Anderson that Pompey did not use a knife during the commissioning of

the offence, she said that he did it in a family setting and abused a position of trust.

“He may not have used excessive violence because of the circumstances and his predatory disposition,” the DPP submitted to the CCJ. Ali-Hack even suggested that a base of 25 years would be appropriate in the circumstances of this case, as every case has to be tried on its own facts.

“Counsel 25 years…starting point?” asked Justice Denys Barrow.

Justice Barrow said that a starting point had to be what in an ordinary case is not excessive or very mild. He then asked the DPP to consider a starting point of 25 years when aggravating factors still have to be taken into account.

The DPP said it would arrive at a sentence of 37 years. “For one count?” Justice Barrow queried.

President Saunders, on the other hand, said that the (Continued on page 133)

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 22, 2020

Cuba’s ex-president Raul Castro Angola pleads for help to claw hosts Granger back assets lost to corruption

President David Granger, on Monday afternoon, met Army General Raul Castro Ruz, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and former President of the Republic of Cuba, at the Palacio de las Convenciones in Havana, Cuba.

Army General Raul Castro was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla.

“The two leaders reminisced on a number of personal and political matters with Army General Castro mentioning that the next Cuba-CARICOM Summit will be held in Havana, at the end

President Granger is greeted

by Army General Raul Castro Ruz. of this year.”

President Granger was accompanied by First Lady,

Ms. Sandra Granger and Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba, Mr. Halim Majeed.

LONDON (Reuters) Angola is seeking other countries’ help to recover state funds lost because of corruption, Minister of State for Economic Coordination Manuel Jose Nunes Junior said on Tuesday.

Angolan President Joao Lourenco said on taking office in 2017 that he would crack down on graft and reform the economy.

“We are activating all the legal, judicial and diplomatic measures to ensure the repatriation of those resources,” Nunes Junior said at Chatham House think tank in London.

He declined to say which countries the government had contacted.

“We are requesting international cooperation to support this process, to help us look into the cases of corruption we already identified or

the ones we have not found yet,” he said.

Sub-Saharan Africa’s third-largest economy is ranked as one of the world’s most corrupt nations, in 165th place on a list of 180 countries, according to anti-corruption group Transparency International.

Scrutiny of Angola has increased since the authorities seized the domestic assets of former first daughter Isabel dos Santos, accusing the billionaire and her husband of steering payments of more than $1 billion from state oil company Sonangol and official diamond trading group Sodiam to companies where they held stakes.

Dos Santos and her husband have denied wrongdoing. Dos Santos has told Reuters the allegations against her are “completely

unfounded” and accused the authorities of a “witch hunt”.

On Monday, Portuguese authorities said they had started investigating leaked documents concerning dos Santos’s business empire, and Portuguese bank Eurobic said it had decided to end commercial relationships with entities she controls.

Asked about dos Santos, Nunes Junior said the law was being applied in her case and Angola must be seen as a place that respects the rule of law.

Angola’s minister of mineral resources and petroleum, Diamantino Azevedo, added that his country had enlisted the help of international accounting group Deloitte to list 30% of Sonangol in the next two years after slashing its non-core businesses, which he called an “octopus”.

Breaking with the past and creating an...

From right: Cuban Foreign Minister, Mr. Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla; General Castro’s Interpreter; Army General Raul Castro, President David Granger; First Lady, Ms. Sandra Granger and Mr. Halim Majeed, Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba.

From page 6 the number of seats won by the parties in order to guarantee equitable sharing of executive power, which everyone craves. Parliament will not have government and opposition benches. Instead, members of parliament will be free to support or oppose as they see fit, because members of parliament, once sworn in, will no longer represent a political party but will be representatives of the people.

After all, shouldn’t this be the main reason for being a parliamentarian? The oath

taken by parliamentarians must demand loyalty to country only.However, in order to facilitate the electoral process, in order not to unduly complicate it, the status quo for general elections may remain.

Representatives will continue to be members of political parties and campaign under such arrangements, but once elected to parliament, they must discontinue their allegiance to the political parties and become ‘Representatives of the People’.The president, in

consultation with the prime minister, will decide on the number and type of cabinet portfolios for the government.

The leadership or executive of the parties which have won seats will nominate the parliamentarians from their parties for cabinet positions, based on the number of positions earned. However, the actual assignment of cabinet portfolios will be done by the president in consultation and with the agreement of the prime minister.

W. Richards

Wednesday January 22, 2020

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Private sector groups wants more done to deal with crime situation PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce (TTCIC) is calling for “urgent action” to be taken now to deal with the crime situation in the country.

In a statement, the private sector body said it is of the opinion that National Security Minister, Stuart Young, “in his leadership role must acknowledge that we are not just in a difficult situation but in fact in a crisis regarding crime and we do not have the luxury of time to deal with it.”

It said that it is of the view that “the present state of affairs dictates that urgent ac-

tion must be taken now” and that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), despite its best efforts, “does not by itself have the capacity to deal with the crime situation, and other arms of the security infrastructure must be mobilised.“We also recognise the Minister’s reference to technology in the fight against crime and endorse this. We fully support a strong presence of security forces in high-crime areas.”

So far more than 20 people have been killed since the start of the year and last year, Trinidad and Tobago recorded more than 520 murders, surpassing the previous

figure of 517 in 2018.

In its statement, the TTCIC said that the law “provides for the Defence Force “to cooperate with and assist the civil power in maintaining law and order”, and “to assist the civil authorities in times of crisis or disaster.

“We thank the Minister for his commitment with regard to upping the collaborations between the police and the defence force and trust that this is part of an overall plan and strategy that is being executed on a sustained basis.”But the private sector group said it believes that there were several options open to the authorities to deal

TTPS launches Gender -Based Violence Unit Trinidad Guardian - The Trinidad and To-ba-go Po-lice Ser-vice (TTPS) launched a new unit tasked with handling cas-es of gen-der-based vi-o-lence and do-mes-tic vio-lence in this coun-try.

The new-ly formed Gender-Based Vi-o-lence Unit (GB-VU) will fo-cus heav-i-ly on do-mes-tic vi-o-lence cases and breach-es of re-straining or-ders. In ad-di-tion to vic-tims mak-ing re-ports to the Unit, mem-bers of the pub-lic with in-for-ma-tion on do-mes-tic abuse al-so can bring that in-for-ma-tion to the

po-lice, so they can act on it.

At yester-day’s launch, Com-mis-sion-er of Po-lice Gary Grif-fith apol-o-gised on be-half of the Po-lice Ser-vice for not do-ing enough to deal with do-mes-tic vi-o-lence in this coun-try.

The Com-mis-sion-er said the TTPS has made mis-takes in the past, par-tic-u-lar-ly the one of not de-vel-op-ing the GB-VU a long time ago.

“With the estab-lish-ment of this Unit, there is now going to be a sys-tem of bet-ter lead-er-ship, bet-ter man-agement,” he promis-es. “We are

go-ing to mea-sure per-formance, and we are go-ing to hold per-sons ac-count-able.”

He adds: “I get a num-ber of re-ports from women who would state that they were not treat-ed as good as they should have been when they go to the po-lice sta-tions.

There was one I got just yester-day. She went to a police sta-tion, and was spo-ken to by three officers. They took her statement and then one said: ‘All yuh to-geth-er so long. All yuh try and work it out’. And this is af-ter this woman was bad-ly beat-en.”

Sentencing principles taken to task ...

From page 131 issue was whether the 17-year sentence imposed for the second count of rape was excessive. He told the DPP: “What is relevant is for you to tell me the principle of that condition, whether sentences that are resulting from counts on a single indictment should be made to run consecutively or concurrently. There are principles that govern this. I would like to hear whether in this particular case the application of those principles warrants the sentences to run concurrently.”

“What I have a difficulty with is the prosecution taking the view that he should have gotten a lot more than 17 [years], but he got 17, so lets make them all consecutive so that he will get 37. To me that is not a proper approach, that is not a principled approach to the issue of whether these sentences should run consecutively or concurrently. There are principles that govern whether sentences should run consecutively or concurrently.”

Referencing Blackstones Criminal Practice Supplement, Ali-Hack said that consecutive sentence can be granted

to the appellant when it is the same victim and in cases of sexual and domestic violence committed against the same individual, “as we have in this case, over a period of eight months against a child, a very vulnerable person.”

President Saunders responded, “The judge did not give him 15 years on the second rape. The judge gave him 17 [because it was a repeated offence] already; it was taken into account some aspect, some notion of the same matter that underline the totality principle.”

He continued, “In other words, the judge would have considered look, you would have done this thing before and therefore I am going to up the sentence. If in addition to that you make it consecutive, then it seems to me that you are inappropriately doing a second time, what you did the first time, i.e., you are counting twice the aggravating factor that this was a subsequent occasion that he was doing this to the same victim.”

President Saunders went on to ask the DPP what if Pompey had placed a knife to the girls throat, or ripped her clothing, or damaged her pri-

vate part?” The DPP suggested that a life sentence, the maximum penalty for rape, would have been appropriate in these circumstances. “But if he had gotten life imprisonment, he could not have gotten another sentence consecutive to life,” said Justice Barrow to the DPP. Justifying why the court should affirm the 37year sentence, the DPP said that the penalogical objective of a sentence includes rehabilitation, punishment, deterrence and public interest. She said that a prison year in Guyana is eight months and that prisoners are entitled to parole if they are of good behaviour, so even though he got a sentence of 37 years, he might not serve it all. She further submitted that the maximum penalty for sexual assault is 10 years, but Pompey was given half - five years.

The DPP asked the court to find that the sentences were not excessive. Justice Witt during the hearing pointed out that sentencing need to have some rational basis so that we do not go into the emotions too much.

The CCJ has reserved its judgment in this case.

with the crime situation, adding that a list of the most wanted criminals should be circulated in the media, at every police station and all police posts.It also wants a crime crisis team reviewing the deployment of all the security resources of theCountry be established and “seek assistance from our CARICOM (Caribbean Community) partners who have successfully reduced similar crime upsurges in their own country”.

In addition, the private sector grouping is calling for international experts who can be brought in to support the

crime fighting effort. And ‘to maintain public confidence, communication to the public about crime fighting strategies, taking into consideration national security confidence, with metrics that show their success/failure” It also wants the authorities to ensure that the technology infrastructure, including drones, air support, digital fingerprinting, the CCTV cameras with facial recognition, the National operations Centre among others “are fully operational and utilised.

“While we are in a difficult situation it can be solved

if the government accepts the reality, and makes solving/reducing crime a priority. The Minister has signalled his intention to meet with chambers of commerce and other stakeholders, and we look forward to a meeting as soon as possible.”The TTCIC said it “remains committed to fully support and collaborate with all legitimate agencies in the fight against crime.

“Saving our country from this spiralling crime is critical to our citizens and visitors wellbeing, and the preservation of our very way of life,” it added.

Health authorities step up surveillance to deal with Novel Coronavirus PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago government yesterday said that it would be implementing thermal screening at the airports here as the island responded to a call by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/ WHO) to strengthen surveillance activities to detect any unusual respiratory health event as the number of people infected with a new virus in China increased significantly.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh, speaking on a radio station here, said that health authorities would be “even more vigilant with the captains of aircraft where they will have to fill out forms stating that no passengers are ill, no passengers have fevers.

‘We will be stepping up our port health surveillance and we are revisiting and making sure our isolation capacity is up to date,” he added.

PAHO/WHO has issued an alert to its member countries on the Novel Coronavirus (nCoV), recommending that “health care

workers have access to up to date information on the illness, be familiar with the principles and procedures for handling nCoV infections, and be trained to inquire about a patient’s travel history in order to connect this information with clinical data.”It said that while cases have been reported in China, Thailand and Japan, there is “no evidence to suggest that person-to-person transmission occurs easily,” and suggests that national authorities “review the actions considered in response to the spread of SARS CoV in 2003, adapting and/or adopting those that are proportionate to the current risk.”Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

Deyalsingh said that the spread of the virus from human to human” is now of concern to us,” adding “there

is no vaccine for the Coronavirus…anywhere in the world…so vaccination is totally out of the question.

“What we have to do is adopt the usual precautions….hand washing, covering your mouth and nose if you are coughing (and) if you are ill go to the doctor…isolate yourself.

Those are the measure that we have to take,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health said it is continuing its “robust nation-wide influenzas the number of suspected cases moved to 17 as of last weekend.

It said that 38 people have died since the start of the flu season and 60, 256 vaccines have been administered to date.“The influenza virus is serious and is generally more severe than the common cold.

The flu vaccine is available at no costs at all health centres,” the Ministry of Health said, warning groups, including babies and elderly persons, who are vulnerable to the virus to ensure they are vaccinated.

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Cuban specialists give President Granger good health report

Solitary bid for Kumu Hydropower Project consultancy The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) yesterday opened -----ten bids for three major governmental projects.

One notable project included the ---procuring of consultancy services for geological, geotechnical and topographical surveys for the proposed 1.5 megawatt Kumu Hydropower Project.

Located on the Kumu River of Region

Nine, the venture is a diversion type runof-the-river plant that is located 15 kilometres southeast of the town of Lethem. The project aims at utilizing water from the Kumu River which will facilitate the installation of the plant.

This hydropower project, which is funded by the Islamic Development Bank, is expected to be operational in the next five years.

Guyana Energy Agency Consultancy services for geological, geotechnical, topographical surveys for the proposed 1.5 megawatt Kumu Hydropower Project in two lots

National Parks Commission Provision of Security Services (baton) for zoological park and the Botanical Gardens

From right: Ambassador Samuel Hendrik Goagoseb of Namibia; Ambassador Ignatius Graham Mudzimba of Zimbabwe; President David Granger; Ambassador Kujejatou Manneh of Gambia; Ambassador Napoleon Abdulai of Ghana; and Ambassador Halim Majeed of Guyana Cuban doctors have given President David Granger a good health report. His cancer remains in remission.

According to a statement, Granger arrived in Havana on January 18, 2020 to undergo a scheduled medical evaluation which was completed Monday.

“The team of Cuban medical specialists confirmed that the Presidents medical examination shows that he has improved to the satisfaction of his doctors and that he is in good health.”

According to the statement, the specialists iterated that the President responded “very well” to the treatment at CIMEQ in Cuba and that the Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma remains in remission.

Granger was set to leave Havana yesterday.

He is set to commission a new magistrates court in

Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara today.

The president started taking treatment in Cuba after being diagnosed in late 2018.

He received several rounds of treatment before it was determined that his cancer was in remission.

The president has been ordered by doctors for routine checkups in Cuba.

Meanwhile, it was disclosed that a number of African Ambassadors in Cuba paid a courtesy call on President Granger while he was there. The meeting took place Monday.”President David Granger, yesterday, received the ambassadors of the Republic of Ghana, the Republic of Namibia, the Republic of Gambia and the Republic of Zimbabwe, who are based in Havana, Cuba.

He took the opportunity to brief them on the present political and economic

situation in Guyana and outlined his Decade of Development Program for 2020-2029 explaining that it was based on four pillars: The Green State, the Petroleum State, the Digital State and the Education Nation.”

It was disclosed that the African ambassadors inquired about the prospects of deepening of bilateral relations with Guyana with President Granger pointing that there was great scope for the development of trade and economic relations.

“The expansion of Guyanas rice exports to the African continent and the sale of Guyanas rum was an area of interest to the Ambassadors. President Granger also updated them on his medical condition and the ambassadors congratulated him on his good state of health as they prayed for his full and complete recovery.”

Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Supply of transportation services

Man drowns after falling off Jet Ski A West Bank Demerara resident met his demise on Monday, around 10:40hrs, after he reportedly crashed a Jet Ski in the community conservancy and failed to resurface.

Relatives have identified the victim as 29-year-old Amar Shampersaud of Lot 42 Canal Number 2.

Kaieteur News understands that Shampersaud was on a picnic with several family members and friends when the mishap occurred.

According to reports, Shampersaud was riding on the Jet Ski when he made a sharp turn and fell into the water. After waiting some time and realizing that he was not resurfacing, his friends then went into the water and started to search for him. After almost two hours the mans body was found..

When contacted, a relative of the victim stated that at the time of the incident, Shampersaud was not wearing a lifejacket, although he cannot swim.

After the body was fished out of the conservancy, police were summoned to the scene. An investigation has been launched into the matter.

Dead: Amar Shampersaud

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Wednesday January 22, 2020

Wednesday January 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

Holder Osaka faces Zheng before possible meeting with Gauff

Japan’s Naomi Osaka in action during the match against Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)

MELBOURNE (Reuters) World number four Naomi Osaka will continue her Australian Open title defense with a clash against China’s Zheng Saisai, while Roger Federer and men’s champion Novak Djokovic are also in second-round action today.

Victory for third seed Osaka will open up the possibility of a third-round showdown with teenager Coco Gauff, who sent fellow American Venus Williams packing. The 15-year-old faces Romania’s Sorana Cirstea next.

Federer, who looked in

Wednesday January 22, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Family and friends may gather for an intimate get-together at your home or perhaps at the home of a neighbor. At some point, expect an exciting phone call.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) A festive social event could either start or consolidate a love relationship, which could last for a long time.

New and interesting people could come into your life.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) A close friend or lover could share a secret with you today, Taurus. An older person could be in the news, perhaps an author or politician you particularly admire.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today you should be experiencing a strong feeling of satisfaction and contentment with your life, Scorpio. Business and financial matters continue to go well, and your home life especially appears to be secure and stable.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Someone you've known for a long time but haven't seen for a while could suddenly come back into the picture. He or she could attend a social event of some kind or actually drop in to visit your family.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Business transactions taking place in your near neighborhood should prove sensible and satisfying today.

CANCER(June21–July22) Today you and your family or a group of friends might spend most of the day out and about.

You might spend the day outdoors, or possibly attend a concert or festival of some kind.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) If you're into gardening or in any way working with the land, you're likely to spend a lot of time doing it today.

A friend or family member could help.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) A class, lecture, or workshop could prove fascinating and stimulating for you today, Leo. Plans for travel to a distant state or foreign country, perhaps in the company of friends or family members, could be confirmed.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) A warm and loving communication could come today from a longtime friend or romantic partner. This could be the high point of your day, Aquarius, especially since a letter or delivery you've been waiting on for a while still might not come.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) If you've been thinking of buying a home or otherwise purchasing real estate, Virgo, this is the day to start the ball rolling or finalize the deal, depending on your situation.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) If you've been thinking about starting a garden, this is a great day to do it, since anything relating to the land you begin today is likely to thrive.

ominous form in his 6-3 6-2 62 win over American Steve Johnson, takes on Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic in the evening session on Rod Laver Arena, while Djokovic will meet unheralded Japanese Tatsuma Ito. The defending champion was forced to work hard by Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff in his opening round match before he sealed a 76(5) 6-2 2-6 6-1 victory.

Serena Williams, fresh from lifting the Auckland Classic title and dismissing Anastasia Potapova 6-0 6-3 in her first match, takes on Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek.

Women’s top seed Ash Barty will resume her quest to become the first homegrown winner of an Australian Open singles title since 1978 when she plays Polona Hercog in her first career meeting with the Slovenian.

Double Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova faces Spain’s Paula Badosa while Caroline Wozniacki, who announced she will retire at the end of the tournament, meets Dayana Yastremska.

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Wednesday January 22, 2020

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Bowled out for 41, Japan look to ‘tick off the little wins’ ESPNcricinfo - The first fans to make it to Bloemfontein’s Mangaung Oval ahead of Japan’s game against India arrived an hour before the toss. Dressed in pink, they were friends and family of the Japanese players, and were waving a banner that read “Play Without Fear”. The sun was out and so were their smiles.

By the time the game ended, with Japan suffering a ten-wicket mauling under cloudy skies, the sun was out again. Surprisingly, perhaps, the smiles were still there too.

That Japan suffered such a heavy defeat was inconsequential to the fans and the team itself. Speaking after the game, Japan coach Dhugal Bedingfield said his team always knew facing India would be a challenge.

They weren’t ever looking to beat India, he said. They were simply looking to be better versions of themselves.

“For us, it’s just about gradual improvement,” Bedingfield said. “We hope to be a better team than we were

Japanese supporters at the Under-19 World Cup. (ESPNcricinfo Ltd) yesterday. If we can do that every day over the course of the World Cup, we’ll be happy.

“We are a team that’s developing. Right now, we’re at the beginning of our journey. Definitely not a finished product.”

When Japan came out to bat after losing the toss, it seemed they had a plan.

Against the new-ball bowlers, it looked like their openers restrained their strokeplay, looking to offer shots only to deliveries that were aimed at the stumps. It worked for 26

balls, even though Japan scored only five runs in that period, but when Kartik Tyagi unleashed his yorker, they had few answers. They didn’t have a reply to Ravi Bishnoi’s wrong’uns either. Pretty soon, they were all out for 41, the joint-second-lowest total in the U-19 World Cup’s history, but Bedingfield said he saw enough in that batting performance to not feel disappointed.

“Before the game, we spoke about working on our basics like energy and communication,” he said.

“With the bat, we’ve been practicing the basics for the past 6-9 months. I thought for the first few overs, we stayed in there.

But against a team like

India, things can quickly change like it did today.

“For us, we are ticking off little wins day by day. With our bowlers, it’s basic lines and lengths, our fielding plans, our effort in the field. I feel we’re improving and a day like today probably didn’t show that by the scoreboard but we are definitely heading in the right direction.”

Bedingfield, however, rang a warning bell for the remaining teams in the competition, whom Japan may face in the plate league next week. “We are not setting out to be cautious,” Bedingfield said. “We certainly want to play positive cricket and by the end of the tournament, we are hoping to upset one or two teams.”

After the game, both sets of players mingled near the boundary line. Japan captain Marcus Thurgate rushed to attend the post-match press conference, but said he would love to get some tips from the Indians at the team hotel.

To bring the day to a close, India brought out a cake to celebrate not only the birthday of their wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel but also Japan’s Kento Dobell.

India coach Paras Mhambrey asked his Japanese counterpart whether his team would like to be part of a group photo.

They obliged, and by the time the teams left the ground in their respective buses, they both seemed like winners.

Cake-smeared birthday boys Kento Ota-Dobell and Dhruv Jurel. (ICC via Getty)

Wednesday January 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Diamond United FC retains Orein Angoy as President History was created on Monday evening last when the Diamond United Football Club elected nine (9) women in an 11-member executive committee that will govern the affairs of the club for the next two years.

Returning as President was Orein Angoy with the other position being occupied by a male being Committee Member, Rockwell Adams.

The full executive committee reads: Orein Angoy (President), Vianne Stanislaus (Vice President), Marcel Pinder (Treasurer), Charlene Da Costa-Cameron (Secretary), Nicole McKenzie (Assistant Secretary/Treasurer), Atoya Shepherd (Public Relations Officer).

Committee Members:

Rockwell Adams, Tobika Wright, Amanda King, Threcia Williams, Yerina Carvahal.

President of the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Kevin Anthony who performed duties as Returning Officer charged the new executive to continue the good work of the club which has been improving its pedigree with every competition played in the EBFA. He also congratulated the club for electing so many women to the executive and encouraged them to be the trail blazers in charting a new course for the club. President Angoy thanked the club for reposing confidence in him and encouraged them to work as a team to take the club to another level.

Bangladesh defeat Scotland at U-19 cricket World Cup

Rakibul Hasan ran through the Scotland lower order. (ICC via Getty) ESPNcricinfo - Another poor batting performance meant another heavy defeat for Scotland in Group C of the Under-19 World Cup, as they lost by seven wickets to Bangladesh in Potchefstroom, the same margin as their loss to Pakistan earlier.

Batting first after winning the toss, like they had against Pakistan, Scotland again got off to a wobbly start, losing four wickets for just 21 runs before fighting back a bit through Uzzair Shah and Daniel Cairns.

Uzzair was the dominant partner in the 31-run stand, with Cairns contributing just 7 runs in 37 balls, but it helped Scotland hold Bangladesh off for a while.

Uzzair continued till the 28th over before becoming the ninth man out for 28, but by then left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan, the Player of the Match, had started to

weave his magic, tying the batsmen up in knots and running through the lower order. Jamie Cairns did hit a quick 17, but there was no stopping Hasan as he returned 4 for 20 in just fiveand-a-half overs.

The reply from Bangladesh wasn’t all smooth, as they lost Tanzid Hasan off the first ball of the innings, caught behind off Sean Fischer-Keogh, who went on to pick up all three wickets to fall in the chase.

But there wasn’t a lot of penetration from the rest of the bowlers, and Parvez Hossain (25 in 15 balls) and Mahmudul Hasan (35* in 48) made sure Bangladesh earned full points, finishing the job in 16.4 overs.

Scores: Bangladesh Under-19s 91 for 3 (Mahmudul 35*, FischerKeogh 3-27) beat Scotland Under-19s 89 (Uzzair 28, Rakibul 4-20, Shoriful 2-13) by seven wickets.

Six of the nine women elected to the Diamond United FC Executive Committee (2020-2022) pictured with President Orein Angoy (left) and EBFA President, Kevin Anthony.

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Wednesday January 22, 2020

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Johnson says first innings batting let down Jaguars against B’dos

By Sean Devers Barbados Pride rebounded from a first-round defeat with a second-round victory over five-times defending Champions Guyana Jaguars in the CWI Colonial Medical Insurance Regional 4-day Championship last Sunday at the Kensington Oval.

The host completed a seven-wicket win after the Bajans made 389 in their first innings, replying to Guyana’s first innings’ total of 209.

Guyana were bowled out for 258 in their second innings which left Barbados needing 79 runs for victory.

Pride were able to reach 79-3 for an emphatic win.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul top scored with 66 from 404 minutes but only 20-year-old debut Kevin Sinclair (43) and Chris Barnwell (32) and Bajan Raymon Reifer (20) and pacer Nial Smith (17) reached double figures in Guyana’s first innings.

Vishaul Singh (79), Chanderpaul Hemraj (42), Reifer (31) and Barnwell (26) were the only batsmen to reach 20 in their second innings.

Thirty-two-year-old Jaguars Skipper Leon Johnson was disappointed with his team’s batting

Vishual Singh had a tough time during his top score of 79 in Guyana’s 2nd innings. performance in their first innings.

“I don’t think we batted well in our first innings in the game….don’t think we batted enough overs or scored enough runs in our first innings. I don’t think we really achieved any of our batting targets and that let us down a bit,” said Johnson who made 0 and 17 in Barbados after getting 59 in the first round

India thrash...

From page 139 straight. That paid off for Tyagi, whose yorker knocked over Japan captain Marcus Thurgate. He then welcomed No. 3 Neel Date with another yorker and the batsman was trapped lbw for a duck. The total of 14 for 2 soon became 14 for 4 after Bishnoi’s introduction, and by the time Japan reached 19 they had lost seven wickets. A 13-run partnership between Dobell and No. 9 Maximillian Clements (5) took Japan past what is the lowest-ever Under-19 World Cup score [22, for Scotland against Australia in 2004], but then Singh and Tyagi returned to

finish the innings for the same total that Canada managed against South Africa in 2002.

Kumar Kushagra, who also played his first game of the tournament, opened the batting with Yashasvi Jaiswal during the reply. Jaiswal struck five fours and the game’s only six in his 18-ball 29 while Kushagra chipped in with 13 in 11 deliveries.

Shashwat Rawat, the other India player appearing in his first game, ended up playing no major part in the match.

Scores: India Under19s 42 for 0 (Jaiswal 29*) beat Japan Under-19s 41 (Bishnoi 4-5, Tyagi 3-10) by ten wickets.

in Antigua.

Keon Joseph picked up 4-75, while rookie pacer Smith follow-up his eightwicket match haul in Antigua with 2-84.

“Barbados scored 380 but I think the bowlers did a very good job, 380 on that surface was a good indication of how well the bowlers bowled,” said Guyana’s most successful

First-Class Captain.

Johnson, who has five centuries and 38 fifties from 111 First-Class matches, said he did not think the bounce was an issue or a concern for the batsmen in Barbados although several batsmen got hit with short balls.

“I have played on quicker pitches with more bounce in Barbados. This pitch was inconsistent and played two-paced….don’t know how much preparation went in to it.

A few balls were keeping low and some reared up. But that’s cricket and we can’t complain too much about the surface,” added Johnson.

Johnson informed that Reifer has a concussion and is under surveillance in Barbados.

Sinclair replaced 34year-old leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo but cleared up speculation that Bishoo was dropped for the younger Sinclair.

“Bishoo was not feeling too well in Barbados,” Johnson informed.

Meanwhile, CWI has requested the West Indies players take a rest and will m i s s the third round so Guyana will be without

Keon Joseph captured five wickets in a losing cause.

Skipper Leon Johnson says first innings batting let down Jaguars.

Romario Shepherd and Shimron Hetmyer.

T&T’s Red Force are early leaders with 29.6 points, while Windwards Vo l c a n o e s ( 2 9 . 4 ) a n d Barbados Pride (25.6) occupy the second and third spots respectively.

The Jaguars are fourth on

the points table with 24.8 points after a win and a loss in their first two matches.

Guyana who won their opening match against the Leeward Islands by 10wickets in Antigua will faceoff with T&T’s Red Force from tomorrow at Providence in the third round.

Sachin Tendulkar and Courtney Walsh to coach in bushfire relief match

Sachin Tendulkar will be involved in the bushfire relief match in Australia.

(Getty Images) ESPNcricinfo - Sachin Tendulkar and Courtney Walsh will coach the Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne teams respectively in the Bushfire Cricket Bash on February 8.

The bushfire relief match will take place ahead of the Big Bash final with the venue to be confirmed on January 31 after the Qualif i e r i s played with the winning team hosting the final.

Before that double-header, the Australia and India women’s teams will play

Phil Simmons, Courtney Walsh (centre) and Clive Lloyd have a chat © WICB Media their tri-series match in Melbourne and it could be the city hosts the trio of matches if the Melbourne Stars secure the BBL final at the MCG. Alongside Ponting and Warner, Justin Langer, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Shane Watson, Alex Blackwell and Michael Clarke have confirmed they will take part

in the match.

“We are absolutely honoured to be welcoming Sachin and Courtney back to Australia where they both enjoyed a lot of success as players, and we can’t wait to have them involved in what is going to be a special day,” the Cricket Australia CEO, Kevin Roberts, said.

The Bushfire Cricket Bash

is one of a range of initiatives the sport has undertaken to raise funds for those impacted by the devastating bushfires around the country over the last few months.

They have included auctioning Test and BBL shirts and players donating money for sixes hit and wickets taken in various competitions.

Wednesday January 22, 2020

2020 Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship

Final preparations begin, 47 players training in Guyana and Canada Final preparations have begun in earnest in Guyana and Canada as Coach Ivan Joseph and his staff prepare for the 2020 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship set to take place in the Dominican Republic from February 22nd.

Guyana will kick off its quest for glory against Nicaragua on February 23rd and is aiming to field its strongest team at this level ever for these encounters.

Assistant Coach Akilah Castello has been conducting training sessions for the Guyana based players, while Head Coach Ivan Joseph conducts training s e s s i o n s i n To r o n t o , C a n a da for all of the internationally based players.

The competition for the final squad is expected to be very competitive as noted

by Head Coach Joseph, “We have a very talented pool of players to choose from, and that will make our

decision very difficult.

However at the end of the day my primary responsibility is to always select the best possible squad from all players available to me for the final team.”

The final squad and alternates, which would be announced in early February, will be selected from the list of eligible players below who have been working hard to impress the coaching staff.

National U20 Women’s Eligible Player Pool Number Name Current Club 1 Horicia Adams Foxy Ladies 2 Tiandi Smith Fruta Conquerors 3 Taylor White Oshawa Kicks OYSL 4 Stefani Kouzas Laval FC 5 Brianne Desa Durham United FC 6 Nailah Rowe Durham United FC 7 Jade Vyfhuis Markham SC 8 Rylee Traicoff Durham United FC 9 Makayla Rudder Unionville SC 10 Jessica Myers Durham United FC 11 Kiana Khedoo North Missisisauga SC 12 Tori DeNobrega Durham United FC 13 Aneesa O’Brien Durham United FC 14 Hailey David Pickering 15 Audrey Narine Pickering 16 Gabriella Salvadore Erin Mills Eagles 17 Nyla Oppenheimer AJAX FC 18 Sydney Puddicombe AnB Futbol Academy 19 Savannah Edwards Durham United FC 20 Serena Mcdonald Richmond Hill 21 Asiyah Shakeek Pickering Green U15 22 Megan O’Brien North York Cosmos 23 Christina Antonopoulos AnB Futbol Academy 24 Shanice Alfred Richmond Hill 25 Raven Edwards-Dowdall Senaca College 26 Nia Collins Florida Kraze Krush ENCL 27 Anisa Roberts Durham United FC 28 Sonaya O’Neil North York Cosmos 29 Jaida Brooks Durham United FC 30 Ashaya Doobay Richmond Hill 31 Jenea Knight Durham United FC 32 Samantha Banfield United FA OPDL 33 Mariah Johnson Pickering Green U15 34 Rory Scott Unionville 35 Inari Moore Laval FC 36 Shacaylah Williams Unionville 37 Stefani Kouzas Laval FC 38 Jessica Jagdeo Dixie Girls 39 Sidney Facey Unionville-Milliken Soccer Club 40 Anaya Johnson Woodbridge Strikers 41 Alliea Alleyne Fruta Conquerors 42 Shamya Daniels Fruta Conquerors 43 Amanda McKenize Fruta Conquerors 44 Deekola Chester Fruta Conquerors 45 Shontel Green Foxy Ladies 46 Izannah Rogers Fruta Conquerors 47 Lensey Adolph Upper Dem FC

West Indies to tour Sri Lanka in...

From page 138 where the teams will stay for the start of the T20I series on March 4. The second and final T20I will be held on March 6. All three matches in Kandy will be hosted at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

Sri Lanka have played

nine T20Is against West Indies, winning six of them, while their last 10 ODI encounters against the same opponents have seen eight wins and two losses.

However, the teams have only faced each other once in limited-overs cricket since 2016 - a dead rubber at the 2019 World

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Cup that saw Sri Lanka come away 23-run winners.

The last bilateral series between the sides was in 2018 when Sri Lanka played three Tests in West Indies, drawing the series 1-1.

West Indies last toured Sri Lanka in 2015, where they lost the ODI series 3-0 and drew the T20Is 1-1.

Mendis, Mathews lead Sri Lanka progress in Harare AFP - Kusal Mendis struck a measured 80 as Sri Lanka reached 205 for three at tea on the third day of the first Test against Zimbabwe in Harare yesterday.

It was a hard sweat for the Sri Lanka batsmen who still trailed Zimbabwe by 153 at tea with their captain Angelo Mathews unbeaten on a painstaking 51.

The 24-year-old Mendis struck eight boundaries in his 163-ball innings before flashing at an outswinger from debutant Victor Nyauchi that flew to Brendan Taylor at first slip.

It marked a second success for Nyauchi who collected his first wicket in Test cricket during the morning session when Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne flicked a low catch to Ainsley Ndlovu at midwicket.

Nyauchi was the pick of the attack, taking two for 32 from 19 overs.

Karunaratne had resumed his partnership with Kusal Mendis after bad light stopped Monday’s play with Sri Lanka on 42 for one.

Kusal Mendis made 80 as Sri Lanka made steady progress against Zimbabwe in Harare. (AFP / Jekesai Njikizana) They added 60 before Mathews joined Mendis in a third wicket partnership of 92.

Mathews hit three fours and towering six over midwicket off Ndlovu, bringing up his 50 from 154

balls.

Scores: Sri Lanka 295 for 4 (Mathews 92*, Mendis 80, Nyauchi 2-38) trail Zimbabwe 358 (Ervine 85, Embuldeniya 5-114) by 63 runs.

India thrash Japan inside 30 overs, Scotland lose again

Ravi Bishnoi and Priyam Garg celebrate a wicket. (ICC via Getty) ESPNcricinfo - India took under two hours to bowl Japan out for 41, the jointsecond-lowest total in the history of the Under-19 World Cup, and then took just 29 balls to chase the target down and secure their second win in Group A and virtually confirm their place in the quarter-finals.

Legspinner Ravi Bishnoi, who was recently bought by Kings XI Punjab for IPL 2020, took 4 for 5, including two wickets in his first two deliveries, to wreck Japan’s middle order. Right-arm

seamer Kartik Tyagi also took three wickets, of which two came with the new ball. Leftarm pacer Akash Singh collected two lower-order wickets while Vidyadhar Patil, playing his first game of the tournament, had one as the Indians were all over Japan.

The highest contribution to Japan’s total - 19 - came from extras, of which 12 were wides as India’s new-ball bowlers looked for the yorker but erred in line, making wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, the birthday boy, to dive and scramble time and again.

Opener Shu Noguchi and No. 8 Kento Dobell topscored for Japan with seven apiece while five batsmen were out for ducks.

Bishnoi was clearly the pick of the Indian bowlers, using his wrong’uns frequently and clean bowling two top-order Japanese batsmen in similar fashion.

Tyagi and Singh initially bowled outside off, looking to get some movement, but seeing that the Japan openers weren’t to be tempted, soon changed their line to full and (Continued on page 138)

PAGE 144

Wednesday January 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

Neville Ramotar memorial T/20 final

Enmore CCCC Bravados and Ogle CC Blasters to clash Sunday Enmore CCCC (A) will take on defending champions Lusignan SC (A) in the finals of the 2019 Neville Ramotar T/20 cricket competition this Sunday at the Enmore Community Centre Ground.

This competition commenced in 2019 amongst 20 teams before being suspended in December 2019 due to inclement weather.

This T/20 competition is in its first year and is being played in memory of the late Neville Ramotar, an ardent cricket supporter and businessman from Enmore.

The first team which win the competition twice, will keep the Neville Ramotar lean trophy. ECCCC Bravados, who despite not winning any T/20 competition recently, will start as favorites after defeating a formidable Lusignan team recently in the 40-overs cricket format on the Coast. There will also be an exhibition game preceding the finals between a combined East Coast U-23 team and Lusignan East, who are the third placed team.

ECCCC batting will be led

by Amir Khan, national U-17 Chaitram Balgobin and the inform Vishwanauth Ramlakhan, whilst their quartet of spinners, Satash Jainarine, Chris Surat, Amir Khan and Yuvraj Dayal will look to restrict the Ogle batting lineup.

Ogle CC Blasters Andrew Samaroo and Khemchandra Dindyal are expected to make significant contributions to their teams’ score whilst their bowling will be led by Ayodha Joseph and Damuka Ngondo.

The exhibition game is set for 10:00 hours, whilst the finals will be played at 1:30PM. The teams are as follows: ECCCC Bravados: Bheeemraj Ramkelawan (Capt), Yuvraj Dayal, Imran Hassan, Vishwanauth Ramlakhan, Amir Khan, Chris Surat, Rudolph Singh, Navindra Gobin, Cordel Marz, Kenon Ramascindo, Ranjeet Hiralall, Chaitram Balgobin, Hemraj Garbarran and Satash Jainarine.

Ogle CC Blasters: Davindra Ramtahal (Capt), Soopaul Sanichar, Michael Deonarine, Khenchandra

Dindyal, Ayodha Joseph, Andrew Samoaroo, Orlando Persaud, Khemraj Jaikaran, Damuka Ngondo, Anthony Ifill, Deion Thomas, Shivanand Gossain, Nazir Hussein and Orlando Persaud.

Lusignan East: Hirdeo Jailal, Ramchand Jailall, Harrinarine Hira, Ayube Sammy, Patrick Appanna, Sachin Sahadeo, Joash Lall, Mohan Jailal, Khemraj Jailal, Navindra Balram, Kedar Amsterdam, Kevin Mckenzie, Tulsie Persaud and Bhogpaul Balram.

East Coast U23: Gavin Budwah (capt), Robin Williams, Travon Charles, Suresh Jainarine, Denzil Williams, Vickram Doonauth, Rajpaul Basdeo, Chaterpaul Ramraj, Mike Persaud, Yogesh Umrao, Darshan Persaud, Yudister Persaud, Viviakanand Ishwardin.

In the ECC sponsored T/ 10 competition, six matches were played last Sunday, with wins for ECCCC (A), Ogle CC, Lusignan B and Strathavon SC. The scores of previous

West Indies to tour Sri Lanka in February for three ODIs, two T20Is

action are as follows: At Enmore: ECCCC (A) defeated LBI SC by 12 runs. ECCCC (A), 88 for 3 with B. Ramkelawan 21, V. Ramlakhan 21 and I. Hassan 22. LBI SC were restricted to 76 for 7 with R. Dowlatram scoring 19.

Satash Jainarine took 3 for 7 from 2 overs. Ogle CC defeated ECCCC (B) by 10 wickets. ECCCC (B) 40 for 4.

Dion Thomas took 2 wkts for 6 runs from 2 overs. Ogle CC knocked off their target in 4 overs with Irfan Ali unbeaten on 22.

Ogle CC got the better of Industry SC by 4 wkts.

Industry SC 56 all out from 9.3 overs. Ayodha Joseph and Khemraj Jaikarran took 3 wkts for 8 and 10 respectively. Ogle CC labored to their target of 57 for the loss of 6 wkts in 9.1 overs. Irfan Ali made 20.

Aravida Gainda and Mohamed Nazir took 3 for 7 and 2 wkts for 7 runs respectively.

At Lusignan: Lusignan East SC defeated Lusignan SC (B) by 17 runs. Lusignan East 98 for 7 from 10 overs.

Hardeo Jailall svored 48 whilst Ferron Kadir took 2 for 20.

Lusignan B were then restricted to 71 for the loss of 6 wkts. V. Jailall and M. Jailall took 2 wkts apiece for 8 runs.

Avish Auto Sales (Unity)

Captain Bheemraj Ramkelawn of Enmore (left) and his opposite number Davindra Ramtahal pose with the championship trophy.

SC defeated Strathavon SC by 4 wkts. Strathavon SC 57 for 5 from 10 overs. P.Chowtie took 2 wkts for 6 runs from 2 overs. Avish Auto Sales (Unity) reached their target

for the loss of 6 wkts in 9.3 overs.

Lusignan SC (B) returned to defeat Strathavon SC in the final game. Scores were unavailable up to press time.

Venture, Khan lead Sans Souci to huge win; Maria’s Pleasure overcome NSC

Pooran made 118 against Sri Lanka in the World Cup - his highest ODI score - but West Indies were all out for 315 chasing 339. (Getty Images) ESPNcricinfo - West Indies will tour Sri Lanka in February for three ODIs and two T20Is, Sri Lanka Cricket has confirmed. West Indies are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka on February 10, and they will play two warm-up games on February 17 and 20, before the first ODI on February 22.

The first of the two warmup matches will be an unofficial encounter at the P.

Sara Oval, while the second game against a Board President’s XI at Katunayake will mark the official start of the tour.

Apart from the warm-ups, only one of the five limitedovers contests will take place in Colombo. The SSC will host the first ODI, which will be a day game; usually limitedovers matches in Colombo take place at the Khettarama stadium, however the

stadium is still undergoing renovations.

The second ODI - a daynight encounter - on February 26 will then see the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambantota host its first match in almost three years, the last being an ODI between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in July 2017.

The final ODI on March 1 will move the action to Kandy, (Continued on page 139)

Seon Venture

Kamal Khan

Kennard Lewis

Resolute batting from Seon Venture and Kamal Khan led Sans Souci to a 136run victory over Zeelandia, while Maria’s Pleasure defeated Noitgedacht Sports Club by six wickets when the Wakenaam Cricket Committee/ Bel Air Rubis and Trophy Stall T20 tournament continued on Sunday last at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground.

Venture and Khan stabilised the innings with an entertaining fourth-wicket stand to lead Sans Souci to 217-6, batting first.

Openers Jaggernauth Manbodh and Heera Sukram handed Sans Souci a steady

start before teenage left arm orthodox spinner Ryan Atkinson removed them both in quick succession; he had Manbodh caught for 19 and bowled Sukram for 18. Cleon Venture soon followed, caught off Navishaul Pooran for 11 before Seon Venture and Khan came together.

Venture blasted three fours and 10 sixes before he was taken off Navishaul Pooran for an attacking 92, while Khan, who was removed by Ronnie Gangaram, struck five fours and three sixes in a fluent 51.

Pooran finished with 3-43, while Atkinson snared 2-35 and Gangaram 1-50.

Zeelandia were bowled out for 81 in reply. Pooran scored 22 with four fours; Cleon Venture picked up 3-5 from three overs, Seon Venture had 2-8, while Omal Bacon, Devon Rambaran and Khan had one each.

Noitgedacht Sports Club batted first and were sent packing for 74. Neil Ramalho made 14 as Kennard Lewis took 3-18 and Leorayan Ramlakhan 2-15. Maria’s Pleasure responded with 764. Lionel Baker and Timothy Singh scored 18 each, while Bernard Lewis contributed 16. Ramalho picked up 3-28.

The competition continues on Sunday.

Wednesday January 22, 2020

PAGE 145

Kaieteur News

BCB/Stag Beers 50 Overs Cricket Tournament

RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour defeat Tucber Park by 58 runs to lift Championship

Man of the Finals Jason Sinclair receives his Award.

Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt Flour First Division team continued their dominance of Cricket at that level with an easy 58 runs defeat of Tucber Park CC to win the 2019 Berbice Cricket Board/Stag Beer 50 overs tournament. The match was played at the historic Port Mourant Cricket Ground and was especially dedicated to the memory of legendary West Indies test player Basil Butcher AA, who was buried on Friday last at the ST. Joseph Anglican Church in his home village.

Both teams stood in a oneminute tribute to Butcher before the match. Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt, strengthened by the presence of former West Indies ODI player Royston Crandon, won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch with some moisture. They lost national

junior player Junior Sinclair, LBW to Jamal La Fleur for 6 at 12 for 1 in the sixth over.

Veterans Khemraj Mahadeo and Jason Sinclair then featured in a crucial 63 runs partnership for the 2nd wicket before Mahadeo was caught off Kwesi Mickle for 27. Sinclair was joined by former national player Delbert Hicks and they added 49 for the 3rd wicket. The inform Hicks fell for 22, while Sinclair went on to top score with 67.

Crandon 06, Eon Hooper 01, Keith Simpson 18, Sylus Tyndall 08 were the other batsmen to be dismissed, while Keon Sinclair was unbeaten on 15 as RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour ended on 192 for 8 from their allotted 50 overs. Veteran off spinners Devon Clements took 6 for 36 from ten impressive overs, while Jamal La Fleur 1 for 28 and Kwesi

The Victorious RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Team.

Mickle 1 for 32 were the other wicket takers for Tucber Park CC. Needing to score 193 from 50 overs, Tucber Park CC found themselves reeling at 3 for 3 in the second over.

After bowling three successive wides in the first over, former National Under19 pacer Sylus Tyndall trapped Clifton Lindee LBW for nought and then removed the off stump of Jamal La Fleur first ball. Tucber Park then lost Martin Singh first ball off Eon Hooper. Hooper soon had skipper Anthony D’Andrade LBW for 05 and held a return catch to remove Maxine De Jonge for 03 to leave the visitors reeling at 22 for 5 in the eight over. Tyndall then bowled by Clements for 12 in the 11th over as Tucber Park CC slumped further to 33 for 6.

Former RHTYSC member

Damion Van-Tull then counterattacked his former teammates with a brutal 36 which included three boundaries and two sixes. He received vital support from Kwesi as they added 67 for the 7th wicket before national junior cricketers Jonathan Rampersaud held a brilliant caught to dismiss Van-Tull at 99 for 7. Mickle went on to remain unbeaten on a fine 50

as Tucber Park were bowled out in the 36th overs for 134.

The fiery Tyndall took 3 for 31 from 6 overs, Hooper 3 for 20 (9 overs) and the talented Rampersaud 3 for 20 from 6 overs.

Jason Sinclair was named Man of the Finals for his crucial innings of 67. BCB President Hilbert Foster expressed gratitude to Ansa Mcal Managing Director Troy

Cadogan for his support of Berbice Cricket and described the tournament as highly successful. Foster called on clubs in Berbice to be grateful for the progress been made and to assist the BCB. The BCB also announced to great applause that over $7M in sponsorship has been raised in just two weeks in 2020 as Berbice Cricket continues to expand.

Rafeek leads Park Rangers to three-wicket win; Savage Legends beat Savage Youths

The victorious Park Rangers team with their hardware.

Ansa Mcal Sales Supervisor Paul Azar hands over winning trophy to Eon Hooper Captain of RHTNTF.

Opener Mohamed Rafeek struck a fine half century to lead Park Rangers to a threewicket victory over Savage Legends when the teams collided in a T20 encounter on Sunday last at Queen’s College ground.

Batting first, Savage Legends were bowled out for 90 off 20 overs. Randolph Perreira made 28, while Vishwanauth Gobin scored 19; Raymond Bisraj 16 and Herbie Gentle 11 not out.

Rudy Mayers grabbed 4-22 from four overs and Vines Lall had 2-19. Rafeek then stroked a fluent 55 and got support

from Danny Ram 22 as Park Rangers responded with 91-7 in 17.1 overs.

Gobin bagged 5-26 from four overs while Perreira had 2-16. Rafeek and Gobin received the best batsman and bowler prizes respectively. The game was sponsored by Vivakanand Ramsaywack of Savage.

Savage Legends defeated Savage Youths by 22 runs in another encounter. Batting first, Savage Legends made 132 for 6 off 20 overs.

Vishwanauth Gobin struck 37, Randolph Perreira and Vicky Jaikissoon made 23 each,

while Herbert Wright and Vivekanand Ramsaywack scored 17 apiece. Randy Tappin claimed 2-22 from four overs.

In reply, Savage Youths were restricted for 110 for 9 off 20 overs. Randy Tappin scored 32 and Troy Rsmsaywack 22. Gobin grabbed 3-23 from four overs, while Randolph Perreira had 2-16, Vicky Jaikissoon 2-16 and Vivakanand Ramsaywack 2-20. Gobin copped the best batsman and bowler prizes, while both teams were presented with trophies by Lalta Gainda.

PAGE 146

Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 22, 2020

BCB/Ivan Madray Memorial 20/20 Tournament final

Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt Flour hold nerves to defeat Albion by five runs The No69 Ground was almost filled to capacity and those present at the venue were very fortunate to witness one of the best ever cricket finals in the Ancient County of Berbice. Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt fought with grit and determination to claw themselves back into contention when arch rivals Albion Community Center Cricket Club seemed to be coasting to an easy victory in the final of the Berbice Cricket Board’s Ivan Madray Memorial T20 Tournament.

Albion entered the last over requiring ten runs for victory but left arm spinner Keith Simpson only conceded four runs as spectators supporting both teams were kept on their feet.

Kevin Umroa was run out for 06 off the second ball of the over from a powerful throw from Keon Sinclair as the batsmen took on his arms to attempt a second run, while Simpson dismissed

The Namilco Thunderbolt Flour First Division Team poses with the Chintamani Family.

Mahendra Chaitnarine and Gourav Ramesh off successive balls to spark wild celebrations Rose Hall Town supporters.

Eleven overs earlier, it was the Albion supporters who

were celebrating as Albion were coasting to victory at 66 for 2 in the ninth over in pursuit of 130. Former national Under 19 pacers Sylus Tyndall, who continues to impress, then removed

Lesser Antilles under-18 3x3 prep begins next weekend

From L-R, GABF head Mike Singh, Kobe Tappin, Delroy Belle, Shemroy Green, Immanuel LaRose and coordinator Andrew Hercules.

Technical Director (TD) of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Junior Hercules, in an invited comment with Kaieteur Sport has shared that training will begin next weekend for the National under-18 3x3 boys’ team that will represent Guyana at the regional tournament in Guadeloupe next month.

The team of Kobe Tappin, Immanuel LaRose, Shemroy Green and Delroy Belle will make the trek from the ‘mining town’ of Linden for sessions at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on Homestretch Avenue.

Hercules shared that the focus of the training will be mainly on conditioning, rules of the game and strategy. The TD highlighted those three aspects as most important because of the fast paced nature of the five-day tournament scheduled for February 27 to March 2nd.

The 3x3 basketball rules sees the team that will represent a country winning a qualifying tournament rather than being selected and last year November, Victory Valley Royals came out victorious in the GABF oneday qualifying event that saw 16 teams being drafted into

four groups with the winner of each group advancing to the semifinals.

Victory Valley Royals then defeated Blazers in the final 15-10.

Kobe Tappin, Captain of the Royals, led from the front with a starring role for his side from the beginning of the tournament winning the three-point shootout contest as well.

In 2017, Guyana secured a silver medal Lesser Antilles 3X3 Championships; their best championship finish to date, going down agonizingly to Martinique 9-8 in the final that was played in St Lucia.

national 50 overs batsman Jonathan Foo for 10 to signal the start of his team’s fightback.

Earlier in the day, Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt Flour won the toss and elected to bat first.

Former national players Royston Crandon and Delbert Hicks added 47 for the 3rd wicket after the early dismissals of Khemraj Mahadeo (04) and Jason Sinclair 13. Crandon was trapped LBW by Foo for 18, while Hicks was given out, caught at the wicket for 42 under strange circumstances to leave RHTNTF at 78 for 4 in the 13th over. Useful contribution from Troy Mathieson (16), Keith Simpson (15) and Keon Sinclair 09 saw their team to a useful score of 130 off the last ball of their allotted 20 overs.

Bowling for Albion, talented left arm spinner Gourav Ramesh took 4 for 36 from 4 overs, while Mahendra Chaitnarine had 2 for 7 from two overs. Jonathan Foo, David Latchaya, Kevin Umroa and Sharaz Ramcharran each took a wicket apiece for 15, 19, 30 and 12 respectively.

Albion in response started like a house on fire as the prolific Kandasammy Surujnarine struck Tyndall’s first two balls for boundaries.

The first ball was driven through cover, while the second was flicked behind square.

The ultra-aggressive Adrian Sukhwa struck off spinner Eon Hooper over long off for a massive six but was caught next ball by Keon Sinclair for 06 as the first wicket fell at 15 in the second over. Surujnarine was then trapped LBW by the wily

Crandon for 22. Foo and Sharaz Ramcharran then added 27 for the 3rd wicket before the crucial wicket of Foo fell. Ramcharran was bowled by Hooper for a wellplayed 31, while Latchana was run out for 24 as he became the second Albion batsman to fail while taking on Keon Sinclair’s strong throwing hand.

Hooper 3 for 26 and Keith Simpson 3 for 29 were the best bowlers for Rose Hall Town, while Tyndall and Crandon took a wicket a p i e c e f o r 2 8 a n d 18 respectively.

BCB President Hilbert Foster congratulated both teams for entertaining the large crowd with great cricket.

Foster also expressed gratitude to Mr. Chandradat Chintamani for sponsoring the tournament in memory of

his late uncle, Ivan Samuel Madray. Chintamani, in response, expressed thanks to the BCB for organizing a highly successful tournament and stated that the final was one of the best cricket matches he has ever seen. He committed to sponsoring the tournament for as long as he can afford.

The Larparkan (Guy) Ltd Senior Vice President congratulated the Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt flour team for winning the title after ending as the 2018 runner up to Young Warriors CC. Delbert Hicks was named Man of the Finals for his 26 balls 42 and carried home a financial reward along with a trophy.

Albion received $50,000, while the champions were $100,000 richer. Both teams also carried home a trophy.

Mr. Chandradat Chintamani and son hands over winning trophy to Eon Hooper captain of RHTNTF.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 22, 2020

Sixth KARES Caribbean Fitness Challenge

Event #1 revealed as registration closes A potentially exciting and riveting 6th annual Kares Caribbean Fitness Challenge, under the theme: ‘Bring Out The Beast In You’ is set to unfold at the National Park Tarmac in just over two weeks time, Sunday February 9th.

With record prize monies to be awarded to the top five male and female athletes in equal amounts, the first place being $500,000 sponsored

by Lotus Hardware under the Kares Group of Companies apart from a participation fee for every athlete, it’s all to compete for.

The organisers, Guyana Fitness Games have not yet released the names of the competitors after the registration date ended, January 17th but based on reports, there will be a very competitive field inclusive of five-time defending male champion, Dillon ‘The Beast’ Mahadeo.

A new female champion is expected to be crowned as 2019 winner; Surinamese

Ava Zalman might not be able to make the trip to Guyana which means that the front runners for the number one spot are 2018 winner Delice Adonis and Semonica Duke. Athletes are also expected form Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia and Jamaica.

Meanwhile, event #1 has been announced and would be contested on the morning of February 9th from 06:30hrs, registration commencing half hour earlier.

With a time cap of 30minutes, athletes would be involved in a one mile odd object carry (20lbs, 40lbs); 75 overhead squats (55lbs, 75lbs) and cap it off with a one mile run.

A few hours to recover and then it’ll be on to the afternoon session from 13:00hrs where fans would be able to join all the action for a fee of $1000.

The 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place athletes would receive

$400,000, $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000, respectively.

There will also be a competition for the Fittest Teens in Guyana which will attract youths between the ages of 13-17 years old, girls and boys. (Franklin Wilson)

PAGE 147

Scenes from the 5th annual Kares Caribbean Fitness Challenge in 2019 at the National Park Tarmac.

The Canada based Under-20 Lady Jags and Technical Staff.

rt Spo

2020 Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship

Final preparations begin, 47 players training in Guyana and Canada

The Guyana based Under-20 Lady Jags and Technical Staff.

Sixth KARES Caribbean Fitness Challenge

Event #1 revealed as registration closes West Indies to tour Holder Osaka faces Sri Lanka in February for Zheng before possible meeting with Gauff three ODIs, two T20Is Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.