Kaieteur News

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Workers block Friday Edition NEWS Berbice River as Rusal sends home over 140 workers AIETEUR

January 24, 2020 - Vol. 22 No. 04

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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

Price $80

-company claims duty free fuel imports blocked

Online readership yesterday 125,916

Jagdeo joins calls for Exxon’s release of gas,

oil quantities in its finds Suspect found dead in Young girl stabbed, male Angolan case involving student beaten with cutlass in ex-President’s daughter separate Linden school fights

Son among Four others charged for murder of man, 72

The victim’s son, Mahendra Deochand (left) and Permaul Sankar

Khublall Persaud

Mahendranauth Persaud

Man robs cop in front of station ‘Old clothes’ puts man Guyana improves in hospital over two significantly on bottles of high wine corruption index Jagdeo commits to – Transparency Int’l releasing records of all EU observer mission oil sector negotiations to oversee elections

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Kaieteur News

Friday January 24, 2020

Friday January 24, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Friday January 24, 2020

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Kaieteur News

What is the purpose of the Government if Mr. Jagdeo must intervene?

DEAR EDITOR, The GAWU must again take this opportunity to provide a response to Mr Lincoln Lewis’ latest installment of the frank conversation between our Union and him regarding occurrences in the sugar industry. In Mr Lewis’ most recent response, which appeared in the January 23 editions of the Kaieteur News and another newspaper, we are told that Mr Jagdeo apparently never implemented any agreement he had with Messrs Hoyte and Corbin regarding the bauxite workers and their communities. Certainly, Mr Jagdeo could provide clarity on this matter. Nevertheless,

by Mr Lewis’ notion, shouldn’t the same yardstick be applied to the Coalition Government which has promised to address the plight of the sugar workers but has not done anything?

We are also asked about the exchanges between the President, the Minister of Agriculture and the GuySuCo regarding the petition by sugar workers. On this matter, we are not au fait with the discussions between the parties on the petition. We did learn, from a source, that both Messrs Granger and Holder were presented with several proposals regarding a pay rise to sugar workers. That submission, we were told, was made on two (2) occasions, firstly in October, 2019 and then a few weeks later in December, 2019.

Moreover, Mr Lewis may have seen that, over the last weekend, we disclosed that Mr Granger has referred the issue to Mr Holder. So far, we have yet to hear from the Agriculture Minister, but we would not hold our breath either.

Mr Lewis continues to

refer to Minister Jordan’s statement that the Management of GuySuCo must sit with the union to address the workers pay rise matter. The Finance Minister sentiment, on the surface, may seem acceptable and rational.

Recall too that Minister Lawrence made similar statements, while former Business Minister and AFC Treasurer, Mr Gaskin, said all workers deserved a pay rise.

We say this to illustrate that GuySuCo’s Management, and perhaps its Board, is being set up as the bogeyman as the Government seeks to extricate itself. We are aware that in GuySuCo they are sympathetic views regarding offering the workers a pay rise, however, such views cannot become reality without Government support.

As we pointed out many times, those proposals sit on the desks of Messrs Granger and Holder, probably gathering dust.

Mr Lewis asks us, among others, why Mr Jagdeo hasn’t intervened on the sugar worker pay rise matter. But Mr Jagdeo did weigh in pointing out that some of the bond proceeds could be used to finance a pay rise. We believe GuySuCo has similar views as well.

It may not be the approach Mr Lewis desires and wishes but it cannot be said too there was silence. Of course, the ball on this matter lies with the Government and GuySuCo. The Corporation had promised to address this matter before the end of 2019, to date there has been no response despite a reminder from the Union.

The long-standing trade unionist, also says ”GuySuCo, which is now controlled by NICIL via shares, comes under the Minister of

Finance.” However notwithstanding this reality Mr Lewis, our Union and the public has been told that GuySuCo still falls under the ambit of Mr Holder. Mr Lewis next says Mr Jagdeo ought to have engaged the Finance Minister to ensure that the Union and the Corporation sit around the bargaining table.

But whether it has missed Mr Lewis or not, the GAWU and the GuySuCo are at the bargaining table and we have addressed several other matters. What is outstanding is the issue of pay rise which obviously the GuySuCo cannot address unless it receives guidance from the Administration. Or is it Mr Lewis saying that Mr Jagdeo can compel Messrs Granger, Jordan and Holder to positively consider the matter?

While Mr. Lewis may remain unbothered, a word that has its own meaning given happenings locally in recent times, about Mr Ramjattan’s attitude, on the other hand we are very much bothered.

It is Mr Ramjattan’s and his colleagues being unbothered, and one could say cavalierness that sees tens of thousands of Guyanese in miserable times and difficult situations. Mr Lewis goes on saying that as one who assists to pay Mr Jagdeo emoluments he has every right to hold him accountable. But by that same token, given that he also assists to pay the supersalaried and high perks Government, shouldn’t he also hold them responsible or are they let off the hook?

Mr Lewis next says during the Jagdeo Administration ”…GuySuCo became increasingly reliant on the Consolidated Fund.” But while the industry

did benefit from support, it did much more with much less. During that period support to the industry was never as much as it was during the stint of the Coalition, yet it operated seven estates and workers benefitted from pay rises and incentives. But Mr Lewis forgets that in the years when the industry was in better standing it contributed immensely to the coffers of the State and the well-being of all Guyanese. That contribution came at a significant opportunity cost.

It is well recognized that had the sugar levy, for instance, remained with the sugar corporation it would have, in all likelihood, been able to modernize and diversify its operations and become better able to adapt to changing conditions. Rather the industry put country and Guyanese first.

Mr Lewis also speaks again about the Skeldon Factory but fails to recognize that it was the first attempt during the period of State ownership to modernize the industry. Dr. Yog Mahadeo on a Globespan programme on January 20, which featured two union officials, disclosed that the Skeldon project was an idea that originated from the World Bank and later embraced by the GuySuCo. He also said that the project was examined and signed off

by the major financial institutions at that time.

Indeed, it was a bold attempt to bring the industry up to present-day standards. While it did not pan out as was hoped, we still believe that, with appropriate changes, it could demonstrate its worth.

Mr Lewis also charges that the EU monies were never released to GuySuCo. Previously he said that those monies were squandered. On this score, we repeated what we indicated in our letter that was published in the January 18, Kaieteur News. In that letter we pointed out: - ”The letter writer next charges that EU funds for diversification were squander[ed]. We again must disagree. We feel constrained to reiterate that funds that flowed from the EU were used to construct the Enmore packaging plant, to hasten conversion of lands for mechanical operations, to further cane planting, among other things. It is through those efforts, that the Sugar CoI determined that the packaged sugar being sold by GuySuCo obtained the highest returns.

Similarly, those efforts saw the East Demerara Estate having a significant proportion of its cane fields being mechanization friendly.”

While Mr Lewis may wish to harangue Mr Jagdeo

contending that he must approach the Government on the sugar workers issues, we wonder what the purpose of the Administration is.

Shouldn’t the Coalition be able to address these matters without Mr Jagdeo? Is Mr Lewis saying that the Government is ineffective and must benefit from the Opposition Leader’s intervention?

Mr Lewis also accuses us of spinning poorly. We want to tell him we are not engaged in any spinning but all we seek to do is to offer clarity.

He may not want to agree with what we are saying but that is for him to decide.

Nevertheless, it does not take away from the reality that sugar workers under this Administration have been treated most discriminatorily and as seeming outcasts.

They have suffered tremendously and have borne difficulty and hardships and they are forced to contend with many injustices perpetuated against them.

As we have said before, and reiterate again, time is the ultimate judge, it ultimately rights the wrongs and corrects the injustices. We are sure that time will finally address this matter.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

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Friday January 24, 2020

Kaieteur News

A carefully crafted strategy is needed to keep things in check DEAR EDITOR, Organization for the Victory of the People (OVP) agrees with Freddie Kissoon’s article, Small parties tell the story of an insane nationality (KN, 21/ 1/20). The article addresses an issue that OVP addressed months ago. On August 16th, 2020, OVP was the first organization to invite all the small parties to a round table discussion at Critchlow Labour College. Popular political commentators, Christopher Ram and Ramon Gaskin were invited as observers.

At that meeting, OVP opened the discussion by suggesting that the small parties form what is known as a “Big Tent”. This means that they would unite around a common platform. OVP suggested the following points for agreement: 1) Protect Guyana’s sovereignty.

2) I n i t i a t e constitutional and electoral reform – end winner takes all and the duopoly of PNCR and PPP. 3) Re-establish free education from nursery to university.

4) Provide quality healthcare for all – modernize Georgetown Hospital and all national healthcare services with an emphasis on preventive healthcare.

5) Revisit Guyana’s immigration and citizenship policies.

6) Re-negotiate the ExxonMobil contract Surprisingly, there was agreement on the above points. Everyone expressed the sentiment expressed in Mr. Kissoon’s article that the only way the small parties could bring about change is to merge into a coalition. This could have denied both political dinosaurs a majority by holding just one seat that

would give them the balance of power. The rest is history and suffice to say, a great opportunity was missed.

Mr. Kissoon remarks: “These misfits have just dropped out of the skies and want to defeat two humongous political parties”.

He posits that faced with this “grim reality” it seemed obvious that a merger was the only way forward. But alas, as Mr. Kissoon laments, a combination of “pomposity, hubris, hauteur and insanity” prevented the leaders of the small parties from understanding what Mr. Kissoon refers to as “their place in the scheme of things”.

OVP observed that big egos combined with a complete lack of political experience and knowledge of Guyana’s political architecture prevented these newcomers from developing an effective strategy. Once we

realized that a “big tent” was not possible, we took a decision to adopt our current electoral strategy, precisely because we fully understand “our place in the scheme of things”.

We are asking the electorate to give their presidential vote to APNU+AFC. We have made it clear that this is critical support and that we have serious ideological and political differences with the ruling Coalition. Why then, some ask, is OVP asking us to give them our vote?

Because, due to the failure of the small parties to form a “big tent” we are now faced with a situation that could possibly open the gates for a return of the PPP Regime. Surely, our memory cannot be so short of things of the past. January 30th, 2020, will mark the 14th anniversary of the assassination of political activist, Ronald Waddell, and

Our elected leaders, whoever they will be, must be strong, fearless and honest DEAR EDITOR, I am kindly asking if you can please put this article into your letter column, this will be of great importance to the Guyanese people and a nation as a whole. If we the Guyanese people want to make Guyana a proud place, we need peace. Hatred and intolerance tells new lies, adapt new disguises and still seek new victims, all too often language is used which turns disagreement into dehumanisation targets being our youths.

Words are used as badges of shame to mark others as

enemies, to brand those who are different as somehow deviant.

All too often virtue seems to be sought through verbal volience, all through real violence ensues and acts of unspeakable cruelty are still perpetrated around the world against people for no reason of their religion, their race political affiliation or their beliefs. Let me say Guyana is no exception. Some of us believe we are born to rule and above the law come what it may.

Knowing as we do, the darkness to which such

behaviour leads remember the 60s what Guyanese went through. We must be vigilant in discerning these ever changing threats. We must be fearless in confronting falsehood and resolve in resisting words and act of violence.

Let our leaders be truthful, act in a professional manner and lead by example so the people of Guyana can lead a better life.

As the election is coming closer the parties must act in accordance of the law and don’t spread false news and incite racial overtures. No one

should see a repetition of the 60s. We need no ballot box watch and no rigging. Let it be on a plain and level field and let the Guyanese people make their choice.

The world needs peace and only with peace can we survive and make our country a better place. Our elected leaders, whoever they will be, must be strong, fearless and honest, and lead by example and make decisions in the interest of the people and not just a few. May God bless Guyana.

Yours, Gobin Persaud

“The good life for all” slogan remains a distant cry from reality DEAR EDITOR, Campaign 2020 is on. The flags, banners and posters are evident everywhere. It is that time in our five years cycle when people become important to politicians. To say that the coming elections are being held on the heels of a successful passage of a NCM would be a mockery of the on e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l safeguard mechanism (vote of confidence) that the elected representatives of the people have, as a tool to end repressive governments outside of the 5 years electoral cycle - the 90 days stipulated timeline for NCM induced elections having expired 4 times since the NCMcompliments of the delaying tactics of the caretaker APNU/AFC

Coalition. The Coalition’s assault on the Constitution - the sacred covenant between the government and people should not be tolerated, it should be viewed as the tell tale sign of approaching dictatorship that needs to be nipped in the bud.

Constitutional transgressions should be viewed as a direct threat to our rights to elect a Government of the people’s choice in the future - the essence of democracy. I have not seen the contesting parties reminding the electorate of the ever present threat to democracy should the Coalition be given a fresh mandate to govern - given t h a t t h e C o a l i t i o n ’s president, in his usual style, promised his supporters to eliminate the

“vote of confidence” in the Constitution, through constitutional change if reelected.

S a d l y, the said president, being o p p o s i t i o n l e a d e r, w a s ecstatic and benefitted when the threat of an NCM - a threat that Granger as opposition leader had supported and subscribed to - had force president Ramotar to prorogue parliament and call fresh elections in 2015.

This is a clear case of, “what is good for the goose should be good for the gander” or what was “a knight in shining armour” (NCM) in 2015 is now considered a “millstone around necks” in 2020.This i s h y p o c r i s y mired in ludicrousness.

It is no secret that the Coalition was instrumental in

legislation that makes it illegal to keep any monies collected on behalf of the state outside of the consolidated fund. Our first oil money, the “the signing bonus” was diverted into a secret account and the existence of the same was denied by the Coalition.

When exposed, an official said, “I did it. How does that resonate with the term “integrity” as a characteristic? Honesty and integrity in its real sense should have induced the official to resign on account of the deception and illegality of placing the “signing bonus” money outside the consolidated fund.

The institution of VAT on private education, medical supplies, water and electricity over the last five years, took “the good life for all”, away from the masses.

Rudolph Singh

there can be no turning back.

The very reason that there are now so many new parties on Guyana’s political landscape is precisely because of the breathing space created by the PPP’s defeat. Unlike us, many of those now speaking up were too afraid to do so when the PPP was in power. As we have said, presented with a choice of 20 lashes or 10 lashes, we will choose the 10 lashes, while acknowledging that no lash is the better option. We are also very clear about the fact that after these elections the struggle continues. The fight to complete our national liberation struggle is underway. OVP fights on many fronts – election is only one front.

We are very clear that in

order to bring about a new order in Guyana, where true independence and economic justice prevail, we need to break out of these two party stranglehold, but as we all know, this is easier said than done. Given the absurd dialectic that we find ourselves trapped in, we say, as we said in 2015: Give your top vote to APNU+AFC (to keep the PPP out of office) but don’t put all your eggs in one basket! Vote OVP in Region 4 – it’s called shared governance. A carefully crafted strategy to give the people the power to keep things in check!

Yours faithfully, Gerald A. Perreira Leader Organization for the Victory of the People (OVP)

It seems being a dual citizen is a worse crime than encouraging violence DEAR EDITOR, GECOM has probably made history when they rejected three candidates for being dual citizens. It is a shame though, that Guyana’s democracy and laws and so on are structured so that those who previously made false declarations to GECOM can continue putting themselves forward to be elected. It is sickening how those who committed the same crime as those who have been struck off, can still plan to be addressed as Honourable in the next National Assembly and with no fear of facing jail or fines or convictions for their prior offences.

It is a shame that GECOM does not have the power to strike off the lists persons who have shown their contempt for human rights.

One party has been welcomed to participate in the elections, with one of its objectives to intensify the discrimination against Guyanese lesbian, gay,

bisexual and transgender citizens.

Former Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsarran, in 2015 resigned after some members of public protested at his repeated comments to get “his women to slap and strip” Sherlina Nageer. His women and his men voted for him.

And the party has put him back on because GECOM and Guyana’s laws and democratic culture allows men who have contempt for women and children to be put on lists of candidates for local, regional and national elections. Being a dual citizen is a worse crime for the electorate than encouraging violence against any individual. It seems that being a dual citizen in 2020 is worse for Guyana’s democracy than not independently resolving allegations of child abuse against party comrades.

Yours sincerely, Vidyaratha Kissoon

This action must be condemned DEAR EDITOR, An online news site reported that the foreign owned and operated bauxite company has laid off workers through a process that is disrespectful and smacks of disdain for industrial and labour best practices.

Regardless of the reason for the decision, how can

workers be notified of their employment status through a public notice, as it is alleged?

To compound the insult, there is no communication on monies and other benefits accrued to the laid off workers.

This is high-handedness and must be condemned.

Shamshun Mohamed

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Kaieteur News

Friday January 24, 2020

Freddie is like the boy who keeps crying wolf, when he just seeks to deceive DEAR EDITOR, It is obvious to me that Freddie Kissoon salivated when his puerile mind perceived an opportunity based on my dual citizenship to continue his vendetta against me, using his stock full of diatribe, collection of malignant thoughts and excess hate that has poisoned his mind against certain Guyanese.

Kissoon’s column in Kaieteur News dated Tuesday, January 14, 2019, and captioned “Only the Guyanese nationality can produce a Nigel Hinds” illustrates clearly that with all the education and knowledge Kissoon has, his mind has not been nourished or informed to be honest, objective and logical.

Instead, he often uses his bigoted mind and daily columns in Kaieteur News as a platform for his vampire-like attacks, witless accusations and ad hominem attacks.

It is most foolish of Freddie Kissoon to conclude that I, who have been referenced in many of his littleminded stories, would be fearful of what he will release to the public. The canards are within his rambling mind - from where he convinces himself that fiction is facts, and then seeks to vilify his targets into silence. Is it too much for his mental state that this Guyanese knows the difference between syntax and semantics?

Over a year ago Freddie threatened to release emails of my criticisms of the PPP. In his tortured mind, my speaking at PPP-sponsored events is improper. It is for him only proper that I stay in the historic lane that has cursed this land of ours, since the 1950s.

What he has released so far amounts to foul hot air and shows his partisan intention and lack of objectivity.

It seemed to me then that Freddie wanted to drive a wedge between the PPP and myself. As if the PPP is incapable of doing their own research and recognising that I was a constant critic of their governance prior to the May 2015 elections. Why is it wrong for me to speak on matters of national importance in an impartial manner at any forum?

Freddie brought up several falsehoods in his recent faecal explorations published on January 14, 2020.

In his lumpen and scandalising style, he sought to make my involvement in the review and report on the November 28, 2011 Elections Statement of Polls for the PNC

a shocking issue. Even though at least one press conference was held, where the media were presented with extracts of the report findings and questions were taken from the press.

It was not for me to release the report, as it was and is a PNC decision. The same foolishness extends to his asinine suggestions that I release the forensic audit reports. The forensic audit reports were submitted to the Ministry of Finance and some of the reports were posted on the Ministry of Finance website. My task was to conduct the audit and prepare the audit report for presentation to the Ministry of Finance, not to release the reports to the public.

Then in more of his diatribe, Freddie strains to link my resignation as Chairman of GWI to the dispute over a GWI resource on property owned by Queens Atlantic when they bought the Sanata Textile property. The passage of three years after my resig-

nation has confirmed that my actions were in compliance with the terms of the Agreement of Sale and the law.

Freddie’s infantile obsession and malicious comments on former President Jagdeo are constantly seen in his columns, and now he sees it convenient to link sponsorship of Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation by a particular company to my resignation from GWI. How low are you willing to go, Kissoon, in your illfounded and vindictive pronouncements? Maybe former President Jagdeo was willing to be compromised by your pay for play shenanigans.

Digging deeper into his inventory of emails and documents, Freddie pulls out my “extolling the virtues of Jagdeo” on May 25, 2017.

Suffice to say I stand by my statements. Let the facts and logic of my statements be tested. Use your daily column to publish my statements.

When will you bring up my defence of Minister Harmon

or that does not fit your narrative?

Freddie seems to slaver in his explicit focus on me, a non-presidential candidate for the scheduled March 2, 2020 Elections, with his warped threats and blackmailer-like pronouncements.

There is a saying that if it barks like a dog, walks like a dog, looks like a dog, then it’s a dog.

We also have his irrational and presumptuous conclusion in another of his putrid forays in Kaieteur News published on December 23, 2019; quibbling that I will not pull votes from the middle class or the rural areas. What a revelation from his exalted mind. After all his years in politics as a political scientist, has Freddie not realised that it is the primary leader and leadership of the party, the collective party attributes, the image built of the party and

the party’s structure that pulls the vote? Of course, his objective is not to be logical but instead to indulge in his partisan, divisive and ad hominem attacks on those not buttressing his ego or desires.

In his writings, Freddie uses a type of fearmongering technique by frequently claiming some special knowledge he has or knowledge that has been shared with him or information from reliable sources or some name he cannot call or he has seen documents that will upend some political or business figure.

Always trying to portray himself as a purveyor of justice and a straight shooter, yet constantly withholding information he purports to have, be it emails, recordings, documents or untellable tales.

Freddie is like the boy who keeps crying wolf, when he just seeks to deceive.

Instead of using his brush

with philosophic teachings to spread a positive message, he has become the chief exponent of ad hominem attacks on a selected group that he cannot succour from and who are not fearful to respond to his petty and cowardly attacks.

“The greatest wealth is a poverty of desires.”

This quote from Seneca typifies my belief that giving is the greatest wealth. My wealth is not in monetary financial accumulation, but in helping and giving to Guyanese. I have never claimed to be financially wealthy, that would be ludicrous.

Will Freddie now release his vitriol and nastiness on others who are dual citizens such as Vishnu Bandhu and Lenox Shuman or is it reserved for Hinds? I think not!

Sincerely, Nigel Hinds

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Kaieteur News

Friday January 24, 2020

Almost one month later…

Mother of two succumbs to stab wound

By Trishan Craig After fighting for her life almost a month now, Latoya Haywood of 57 Leopold and Cross Streets, Georgetown, yesterday succumbed to her injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Haywood, a 29-year-old mother of two, was nursing injuries after receiving a stab wound in the region of the heart by another woman on Christmas Day last.

Relatives indicated that the incident took place

around 07:30hrs on the day in question. The victim, who was in company of her cousin and sister-in-law, had attended a Christmas Eve party held in Leopold Street. The party went on into the morning of the next day and more of their family members subsequently arrived.

According to Tenisha Favourite, the cousin of Haywood, the victim went to the father of her [Favourite] child and asked for him to purchase a drink for her. However, the man refused.

The victim went her way, but the suspect who has been identified, approached the same man, whom she shares a relationship with, and demanded why he was engaged in a conversation with Haywood.

It was mentioned that an argument ensued between the two and the man placed his partner to sit in a car to calm herself.

Moreover, Favourite stated that she heard that the argument with the man and his girlfriend was because of

Dead: Latoya Haywood her and therefore, she went over to the man to enquire.

“I heard that the two of them were arguing with my cousin and it was because of me. So I went over to my “child father” to enquire what it was all about, but when I did this it was like the woman see red.”

The grieving cousin fur-

The victim while a patient at GPHC ther stated that being in the presence of the father of her child only angered the suspect and her [Favourite] sister, Nicola Haywood, saw the irate woman attempting to exit the car with a knife.

“When my sister saw that, she leaned in the car through the window and started to fight with her to try and take

away the knife from her.”

However, persons pulled Nicola away from the car and the angry woman and her partner proceeded to leave in the vehicle.

According to the relatives of the victim as the vehicle was being driven away, the suspect reached out of (Continued on page 12)

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Kaieteur News

Friday January 24, 2020

My vote is not up for grabs

T

here are political ac tivists who are at tempting to convince me to vote for their party. Little do they know that I do not have any intention of voting.

I consider the present bunch of politicians not befitting my standards. They do not enjoy my confidence.

They do not inspire me to go out and exercise my franchise.

It is not worth the trouble to have my finger stained and left looking dirty for one whole month.

This is what I think of the present bunch of politicians vying for political office.

They are not worth the walk to the polling station. They will not get my vote, not now, not ever.

I am asking the political activists of the various political parties not to come bothering me with their fancy talk and their flyers. I am not going to listen. I have better use

of my time. And do not let them bring this crap to me about the mother of all elections. This is not the mother of all elections. I have no time for the mother of all elections.

I am not interested in attending any political meetings for anyone to tell me that I should begin to think like a billionaire.

If I were thinking like a billionaire, I would be in Dubai. Not in this God-forsaken country where basic things become like rocket science.

Those who come knocking at my gate or door will not be welcome. Most of them who are from the ruling coalition, I believe in my heart are merely seeking to protect their jobs and the perquisites of office, including the duty free concessions on those expensive and fancy vehicles which they drive, while the restrictions have been placed on the type of vehicles which the ordinary man can import.

Many from the other side, the PPPC, are only interested in getting back into office.

They too are not going to find a receptive ear from me. If they want my vote, there is something that they can do.

They should get up on a podium and announce to the whole country that if the party they support wins the next elections, they will not accept any pay for any position they have, neither will they ask for any duty free concession.

If they want my vote, let them say publicly that they will renegotiate the contract with Exxon.

Let them say they will investigate the signing of the

contract to see whether it was approved by Cabinet. That is all I ask of anyone from APNU+AFC and the PPPC who want my votes.

As for the small parties, they are lost and out to sea.

Some of them have not as yet held a road corner meeting or a political meeting. They are lost causes who will not collectively manage to gain even one seat.

I, however, wish all the parties the best of luck in their campaigns. They will certainly need it.

The people are apathetic.

The crowds at most of the rallies have been poor, far less than in 2006 and 2011. Too

many persons are being bussed in to these rallies.

The die-hard supporters are going from meeting to meeting.

It is good business for persons owning portable stages and sound systems.

Business is good for the minibus operators who are bussing people from rally to rally.

The advertising firms, newspaper, radio and television will do brisk business as the parties seek to get their message across.

Facebook should open an office in Guyana given the number of political ads which are now being placed on that social media platform.

The people have no time to waste with these sideshows which are taking place.

They are fed up with the politics of the country. But they do not stay away on Election Day, not when certain loyalties kick 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

Friday January 24, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The PNC continues to manifest disturbing ingratitude Finance Minister Winston Jordan has sued the Kaieteur News for libel. Before I move on to the essential argument of this piece here – PNC’s barefaced ingratitude - I make a slight diversion but a relevant one, nevertheless, because of the mention of the name Winston Jordan.

The last conversation I had with Jordan occurred in 2013 at the Timehri airport. I have never spoken to Jordan since then. I was with my wife in the arrival lounge waiting for her nephew. Jordan appeared as an obscure figure to me when he approached me to inform me about the type of people in the government bureaucracy that are recipients of foreign-paid employment. I will not elongate, because I am not going to let Jordan sue me.

It is almost six years since that airport encounter, and I have not spoken to Jordan. I saw him once since that time – at the 60th birthday of Bert Wilkinson.

In September, in posses-

sion of his cell phone number which I got from a Cabinet member, I texted him three times requesting to meet with him over a practice of the GRA of imposing a fine on imported vehicles for used tyres without measuring the threads in front of the importer. Jordan didn’t have the courtesy to reply.

Let’s continue on the central argument of this commentary here which will bring out the relevance of mentioning Jordan. I was part of a panel with James Bond of the PNC on Kaieteur Radio last Wednesday evening. This is what Bond said, and in saying what he uttered, he follows in the footsteps of Winston Jordan, President Granger, Carl Greenidge, and so many others like them who need to be vigorously told who the people are that are responsible for them having power today.

Bond said in angry tones that I am in my mid-seventies (I haven’t reached seventy yet and not as old as Bond’s

leader, David Granger) and have been a devil’s advocate all my life and have done so successfully. Bond and I were in heated contention over the nature of the government, and he definitely resented the canvas I painted of the APNU+AFC government, which I have no apologies for, and which I will continue to do until I hope it loses the March 2020 election. What Bond did not mention - which in my opinion is deliberate is that my devil’s advocacy helped to bring his party in power, when I used my academic training and social activism to criticize for 23 years of my life an Indian-oriented government.

Enter Carl Greenidge. I am contending here and now that if it wasn’t for the Kaieteur News, Greenidge, his leader, David Granger and his party, the PNC, would not have been in power. Yet recently Greenidge made an accusation of bias against this newspaper, implying that it was biased against African nations.

There is nothing complex about Greenidge’s statement in his letter to the press. If he is arguing that KN has singled out Africa because of bias, then the definitive conclusion is racial bias is the motive. But it is the same newspaper that for years has exposed corruption, nasty governance and undemocratic governance of a political party in power in Guyana that the entire world knows is essentially Indianoriented.

It is stretching one’s imagination into morbid chasms that a newspaper owned by a Guyanese Indian that is biased against the African race, would use its pages to weaken Indian rule in Guyana. In fact, we live in the realm of mystery in this country, because this Indian owner and this Indian columnist have been accused by countless Guyanese Indians of be-

ing partly responsible for the electoral defeat of the PPP, a defeat that has resulted in Winston Jordan, Carl Greenidge and David Granger being in power today.

Let me be pellucid, I am contending that the Kaieteur News played no small part in the birth of consciousness among Guyanese voters about corruption and undemocratic governance that existed in the Jagdeo and Ramotar presidencies. A Cabinet colleague of Jordan and Greenidge, Mrs. Cathy Hughes reminded Guyanese in an AFC press conference in November last year that the PNC never won a general election on its own.

It is the inflexible and incontrovertible opinion of this columnist, an opinion I will never ever abandon (they say never say never, but I am saying, never, never will abandon)

Frederick Kissoon that the Kaieteur News played a crucial role in exposing the undemocratic governance that was a factor in how Guyanese voted in 2011 and 2015.

It is also the inflexible opinion of this columnist that Jordan and Greenidge and Granger should show at least a modicum of gratitude.

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

Dem boys seh...

Corruption declining in Guyana Guyana was a country wheh corruption was de order of de day. Things reach de stage that people who going about dem regular business use to feel that dem had to pay a something. People go in a shop to buy goods and when dem get de goods dem slip a small piece to de person who selling dem.

People who want a birth certificate know dem had to pass something before de person could even get up from she seat to look at the files. Was de same thing at Customs. People import something and pay to pay less duties. That is how some ah dem Customs officers use to get rich.

Policemen end up own-

ing three and four minibus; some throwing box hand fuh $20,000 a day. Dem roadblock was de collection point fuh de junior ranks.

Some politicians who never own even a bicycle suddenly own four houses after dem spend two years as a Minister. Dem boys know bout dem mansion.

When Transparency International investigate corruption in Guyana dem always had a bad report.

Dem boys seh one of de farrin investigators had to push he hand in he pocket to get information on corruption in Guyana.

When de report come out, Jagdeo always use to get vex.

He claim how de people who feeding de information didn’t

like he government. He use to attack nuff people. Times change and he and all of dem is friend.

Dem boys just get de recent report from Transparent International and Jagdeo get vex. He get so vex that he start to stammer till he passion cool. De report seh Guyana jump 34 places in the corruption index.

It pass some countries that use to talk bad bout this country.

It mean that since Soulja Bai tek over people frighten fuh stretch out dem hand fuh a raise. People talk how Soulja Bai help he self to de treasury, now it tun out that all of that is pure lie.

Talk half and watch corruption fade in Guyana

Friday January 24, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Mother of two succumbs ..

From page 8 the car and stabbed Latoya Haywood, who was standing not far from Nicola, to the region of the heart.

The car then drove off while the victim was picked up and rushed to the GPHC where she was admitted as a patient.

Later that day a surgery was done on Haywood and relatives learnt that when she was stabbed, her heart was punctured. This slowed the process of the heart getting blood to the brain. It subsequently caused the brain to be damaged.

Family members indicated that a police report was made at the outpost at GPHC; however, they were directed to the Brickdam Police Station to lodge their report.

“We made the report on Boxing Day. Since then, we saw the suspect on two separate occasions and had notified the police about it, but onto now she has not been arrested.”

They also indicated that persons told them that the suspect was seen countless times at her residence located on Charlotte Street, Georgetown. When they contacted the police they were told that attempts were made to arrest the suspect however, she ran away from them.

“All we want is justice for our loved one because it s a month now and she has died.

They [police] told us a wanted bulletin is out for her, but we continue to hear that she is at her home and we have not seen the bulletin published.”

Friday January 24, 2020

Young girl stabbed, male student beaten with cutlass in separate Linden school fights

By Shikema Dey Two students from separate Secondary schools in Linden were left nursing serious injuries - one even required surgery - after heated confrontations turned bloody. The fights were both captured and uploaded to social media, causing a major uproar.

One young girl, said to be 15-year-old of the Linden Foundation Secondary School, was stabbed in her back with a Rambo knife by another female student while she was pinned to the ground by another. In a horrific video

seen by Kaieteur News, students were seen cheering as the fight went on and even formed a circle around the two females.

But things took a turn for the worse, after another female student pulled out a jagged black-handled Rambo knife from her bag and stabbed the girl. The surrounding onlookers scattered and the video showed the injured student with the knife stuck in her bloodied back as she pleaded for help.

One adult could be heard saying “ah tell ayo go home…y’all doan hear.”

The knife used to stab the 15-year-old female student While most of the students ran away from the scene, a few with the help of an adult managed to flag down a passing taxi to transport the injured girl to the hospital while pleading with her not to remove the knife to prevent further damage.

Commander of the division, Superintendent Hugh Winter, when contacted, told Kaieteur News that he knew of the incident. According to him, the fight reportedly occurred at around 3pm, moments after classes were over.

Despite rumours circulating that the young student had succumbed to her injuries, Commander Winter stated that the child was undergoing surgery and remained in a critical condition.

Meanwhile, a male student from the Linden Technical Institute was assaulted by another student of the school with a cutlass, in full view of adults who appeared too scared to intervene. In that video, the student was being punched to the face by another, when a student wearing a white shirt rushed in brandishing a cutlass.

He fired several chops towards to the student who desperately tried to evade the blows. Surrounding students were frantic and could be heard pleading with them to desist, but this cry fell on deaf ears. Brave students attempted to block the assailant who quickly left the scene.

The injured young man was removed by his friends.

The boys from the Linden Technical Institute

Friday January 24, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Friday January 24, 2020

Jagdeo commits to releasing records of all oil sector negotiations General Secretary of the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo, has assured that should the party retake office through a victory in the March 2, 2020 General Election, it will ensure that all negotiations pertinent to the development and management of the Petroleum industry are brought to the light.

This assurance, the former President made during a press conference at the Office of the Opposition Leader yesterday.

In response to a question posed by Kaieteur News, Jagdeo said that those disclosures will not be relegated to just the current Government but negotiations executed by former PPP Governments. “Not just those that are signed by [Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael] Trotman but even those that were signed under the PPP.�

This, he explained, would fall into the PPPs plan to reexamine most of the oil contracts, bringing them into conformity with an upgraded

model contract structure.

There have been browraising occurrences under both administrations over the years.

Jagdeo already has agreed that email correspondences between government and officials and oil companies related to negotiations for the sale of Guyanas oil should be made public. .

There have been more than a few unseemly occurrences under both administrations.

Kaieteur News has been

on the forefront of exposing how the global Petroleum industry is, due to its lucrative nature, riddled with instances of corruption, bribery and large scale theft.

Some of those cases have been uncovered through leaked emails and other records. Hence, there has been some discourse about how the publication of local records could foster transparency in the sector and bring to light any instances of corruption which may have transpired.

PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo

Old clothes puts man in hospital over two bottles of high wine A vendor, better known as Old Clothes was yesterday remanded to prison after he allegedly wounded a man during an altercation over two bottles of high wine.

Donald Modeste was arraigned before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts. He was not required to plead to the offence as the charge was made indictable.

It is alleged that on January 19, 2020 at Arau Mountaintop, with the intent to commit murder, he wounded Ryan Burrowes.

The defendant, who was not represented by an attorney, told the court that he is 58 years old and hails from the same village that the incident took place. He indicated that he is the father of eight and was previously sentenced to three years imprisonment for the trafficking of narcotics.

Modeste added that he was released in 2005 for the crime.

Police Prosecutor Adunni Innis objected to bail based

on the fact that the victim is still hospitalised and is to undergo surgery from injuries he allegedly sustained at the hands of the accused.

Modeste was then remanded to prison and his matter was adjourned to January 27, when he will make his second court appearance, before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

According to information received, the defendant took two bottles of high wine from the victim, which was valued at $7,000 and equivalent to one gram of raw gold.

On the day in question, Burrowes was drinking alcohol at a shop. He later left and confronted Modeste.

The men got into a heated argument during which the victim was allegedly beaten about his body by the accused.

Burrowes was subsequently rushed to the hospital while the matter was reported. Following investigations by the police, Modeste was arrested and charged.

Kaieteur News

Friday January 24, 2020

Ministers Scott, Felix were unlawfully sitting in the - Court of National Assembly Appeal

By Feona Morrison

M

inister of Citizenship, Winston Felix and Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott were unlawfully occupying seats in the National Assembly, according to a judgment handed down by the Court of Appeal yesterday.

The Court of Appeal, comprising Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud and High Court Judge Franklyn Holder, affirmed a judgment handed down by Former Chief Justice Ian Chang in 2016.

Chang in that ruling held that Ministers Scott and Felix cannot sit in the House as Technocrat Ministers as they are candidates on A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC)'s List of Candidates. Following the results of the 2015 General and Regional elections, the coalition was allocated 33 of the 65 seats in the National Assembly.

The leader of its List of Candidates, President David Granger, then selected members to sit in the National Assembly. Both Ministers Scott and Felix

Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection: Keith Scott

Minister of Citizenship: Winston Felix

were on June 06, 2015 appointed executive members of the government.

Notwithstanding this, Ministers Scott and Felix also occupied two of the four additional seats in the National Assembly which cater for persons selected from outside a party's list, or in other words, Technocrat Ministers.

Like Justice Chang, the Court of Appeal outlined the constitutional process for the appointment of ministers of government. The Court of Appeal said that Articles 103 (3) and 105 are applicable in that regard. Article 103 (3)

reads: “Not more than four ministers and two Parliamentary Secretaries shall be appointed by the President from among who are qualified to be elected as members of the National Assembly”.

Article 105 states: “A Minister who was not an elected member of the Assembly at the time of his appointment shall (unless he becomes such a member) be a member of the Assembly by virtue of holding the office of Minister but shall not vote in the Assembly.”

In the case of Ministers (continued on page 18)

Police detain man suspected of faking carjacking

P

olice have detained a 32y e a r- o l d We s t Coast Demerara man who is suspected of filing a false carjacking claim.

According to reports, the 'victim' turned up at the Den Amstel Police Station at around 23.48 hrs on Wednesday, claiming that three men had made off with his vehicle.

He alleged that he was driving in the vicinity of a bus shed in Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara, when three men flagged him down.

The 'victim' said that when he slowed down, one of the men drew a handgun, pointed it at him, and ordered him out of his vehicle. He allegedly complied, and the men entered and drove off with his car.

Police reportedly became suspicious after noticing contradictory

aspects in the man's story.

H o w e v e r, t h e ' v i c t i m ' allegedly became annoyed when the ranks began to q u e s t i o n h i m f u r t h e r.

Sources said that he stormed out of the station, while stating that he would file a report with “bigger people.”

Ranks then went to the scene of the 'carjacking', but failed to locate the 'stolen' car. Yesterday, policemen who were continuing the investigation visited the area where the alleged victim resided. They were surprised to see the same man driving his 'stolen' car.

A source noted that the 'carjackers' appeared to have left the vehicle undamaged.

Police escorted the 'victim' to the Den Amstel Police Station. There, he allegedly said that he had located the vehicle at around 08.30 hrs at the back of Hague Village, West Coast Demerara.

Police then accompanied him to the area where the car was allegedly abandoned.

However, none of the residents that the ranks questioned recalled seeing an abandoned vehicle in the area.

Police then took the 'victim' to the station, where he allegedly made slight changes to his carjacking tale. This time, he reportedly stated that the 'carjackers' had attacked him when he slowed down at a speed bump.

He was still in custody up to late yesterday afternoon.

“We are investigating whether he may have provided us with a false report,” a source said.

Police intend to ascertain whether there were security cameras in the area of the alleged 'carjacking' and the area where the alleged victim claimed he found his car.

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Friday January 24, 2020

Death of pensioner on pedestrian crossing…

Traffic Chief orders ranks to expedite probe

The damaged fender of the car that was involved in the accident

C

hief Traffic Officer Linden Isles has ordered his ranks to expedite their

The pensioner (lower arrow indicates), seen here on CCTV, on the pedestrian crossing, just before being struck by the car (downward arrow)

probe into the death of 81year-old Pravidi Ramcharran, who was struck down on a pedestrian

crossing just over two weeks ago. The incident occurred on January 7, last, opposite the Post Office in Nigg Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Isles confirmed that the driver is a Chinese national.

“I have intervened and ordered that the case be expedited, and by next week you will see movement in the case,” Isles told Kaieteur News. “There is a video (of the accident) which the CID have access to.”

Kaieteur News had sought an update on the case from the Traffic Chief, after officials handling the

investigation repeatedly declined to comment on the matter. Some ranks have reportedly given contradictory information about the investigation.

Pravidi Ramcharran, called 'Marina,' of Albion Front, Corentyne, Berbice, had just uplifted her pension from the Nigg Post Office and was heading home when she was struck down.

According to reports, she was walking on the pedestrian crossing when a car, driven by a 29-year-old Chinese National, struck her.

She was pronounced dead on

arrival at the Port M o u r a n t Hospital.

Surveillance footage seen by this publication, s h o w e d Ramcharran walking slowly Pravidi 'Marina' Ramcharran from the post at the Albion Police Station. office and stopping at the southern side H e w a s s u b s e q u e n t l y of the pedestrian crossing to released on $100,000 station check for oncoming traffic. bail after 72 hours.

According to a January She then began walking, and was halfway across the 10 Kaieteur News story, pedestrian crossing when the police had indicated that charges would be laid vehicle hit her.

The driver was detained shortly.

Ministers Scott, Felix were unlawfully sitting in the National...

From page 15 Scott and Felix, they were permitted to present bills, answer questions and partake in parliamentary debates; however they could not vote.

It was PPP member David Morian who, through Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, challenged the ministers' appointment.

Following Justice Chang's

ruling, government through Attorney General Basil Williams, applied for, and was granted a stay of execution of the judgment until the hearing and determination of the appeal.

As a result, Ministers Scott and Felix continued with business as usual in the National Assembly.

At the Court of Appeal, government did not present

any arguments on Justice Chang's ruling. In fact, government took issue at the procedure used to initiate the challenge to the Ministers' appointment. At the High Court, Nandlall had filed a Notice of Motion; government however contended that if one wishes to challenge the validity of a sitting Member of Parliament, then an election

petition must be moved pursuant to Article 163 of the Constitution.

But Nandlall submitted that the case has nothing to do with the results of the 2015 General and Regional Election, the election of Ministers Felix and Scott as Members of the National Assembly or their qualification, but rather their appointment as Technocrat

Ministers. The Court of Appeal agreed with Nandlall's submission; like Justice Chang, it held that the Notice of Motion was procedurally correct to ventilate the issues regarding the ministers' appointment.

In the circumstances, the Court of Appeal dismissed government's appeal on both the procedural and substantive ground. Each

party in the matter was ordered to bear their own costs. The President has already dissolved Parliament. In that regard, the Court of Appeal's ruling essentially bears no effect.

W h i l e t h i s w a s acknowledged by Solicitor General Nigel Hawke, he noted that the judgment will serve as guidance for future ministerial appointments.

Kaieteur News

Friday January 24, 2020

EU observer mission to oversee Elections

F

ollowing an invitation from the Government of Guyana, the European Union (EU) has been tasked with being an official observer for the March 2, 2020 general and regional elections.

The team of eight observers is expected to arrive in the country today and an additional team of 14 others are expected in February.

The observers are expected to remain in Guyana until the end of the election process.

According to a statement by the local EU Mission, Member of the European Parliament Urmas Paet has been appointed to serve as the Chief Observer.

EU High Representative and Vice President, Josep Borrell, who was responsible for appointing the observers, indicated that “The European Union values its partnership with Guyana.

The deployment of this Election Observation Mission confirms our commitment to support Guyana's democratic

processes.

I am confident that the mission will contribute to ensure that the election is inclusive, credible and transparent. All citizens of the country have their say in Guyana's future.”

The Chief Observer, Urmas Paet pointed out that it is crucial for the European Union to “accompany these elections in Guyana.”

He stated that he is confident that their (team) will provide important contributions to support transparent and inclusive elections.

He further encourages the people of Guyana to exercise their democratic right to vote.

The mission highlighted that they intend to issue a preliminary statement as well as hold a press conference in Georgetown after the elections process. In addition, a final report, i n c l u s i v e o f recommendations for future electoral processes will be provided at a later stage, following the finalization of the regional and general elections.

PAGE 17

Regional health agency says risk of deadly virus “low” in Caribbean

T

he World Health Organization (WHO) on January 09, 2020 reported that a 2019 novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was identified by Chinese authorities. The virus was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and as with any other novel and imported disease, the 2019nCoV is causing heightened concern in the region.

However, according to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the risk of the Caribbean attracting the deadly Coronavirus is very low.

Executive Director of CARPHA and Trinidadian national, Dr. Joy St. John, explained yesterday that, “Presently, there have been no confirmed cases or reports of the 2019-nCoV in the Caribbean region and based on current information, the immediate health risk from this virus to the general public remains low. CARPHA is monitoring developments and working closely with its international health partners to respond to

- but recommends preparedness this health threat and provide timely advice and support to the preparedness activities of Caribbean Member States.”

Nevertheless, this calming news does not translate that member states should let their guards down, as CARPHA was keen recommend that preparation is much needed.

“CARPHA is aware that this is an early stage of the outbreak and is awaiting c l a r i t y o n t h e characterization of the behavior of the virus, including severity of the infection, and the level of transmissibility. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution, CARPHA is recommending that Member States be proactive and vigilant. They must reinforce surveillance measures at

points of entry, communication strategies which emphasize good hand hygiene, and measures targeted at reducing the importation of this new virus to our shores,” Dr. St John related.

Coronaviruses 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).

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even

death. This 2019-nCoV virus is a new strain of coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans.

According to WHO, there have been more than 500 cases reported globally, as at 21st January. However, late on 22nd January, the Chinese National Health Committee reported more than 571 confirmed cases of patients with pneumonia, and 17 fatalities caused by the 2019-nCoV. Imported cases have been reported by other countries including Thailand, Republic of Korea and the United States of America (USA).

Following this and in light of the recently confirmed case of the virus in the USA, CARPHA has issued advice to Health (continued on page 29)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Friday January 24, 2020

Suspect found dead in Angolan case involving ex-President's daughter (www.aljazeera.com) Isabel dos Santos has been named as a suspect in an investigation over alleged mismanagement during her time as chairwoman of Sonangol, Angola's state oil company, a position she was appointed to by her father, ex-President Jose Eduardo dos Santos.

Four others were also named on state TV late Wednesday by the country's prosecutor general, Helder Pitta Gros. One of the suspects, the director of private banking at Lisbonbased lender EuroBic, Nuno Ribeiro da Cunha, was found dead at his home in Portugal late Wednesday, Portuguese newspaper Jornal Economico said on its website.

The inquiry covers the period that Dos Santos served as chair of Sonangol, from June 2016 to November 2017, when she was fired by her father's successor, Joao Lourenco.

The announcement comes days after the International Consortium of

Isabel dos Santos has been accused of money-laundering in a probe surrounding alleged embezzlement of funds during her time as chairwoman of Angolan oil company Sonangol Holding-Sociedade Nacional de Combustiveis de Angola EP [File: Photographer: Daniel Rodgrigues/Bloomberg] Investigative Journalists released a series of documents showing how Africa's richest woman built a multibillion dollar business empire via mostly questionable deals involving state assets during her father's 38-year tenure.

Earlier this month, a court in Angola froze her assets and bank accounts.

Dos Santos, who has been living outside Angola since 2018, was not

immediately available for comment. She has previously denied wrongdoing.

Her brother Jose Filomeno, the former head of Angola's $5 billion sovereign wealth fund, has been on trial since December for his involvement in a $500 million transfer from the central bank to an account in the U.K. during the final days of his father's rule.

Authorities would like

the suspects to come in voluntarily, but international

arrest warrants may be considered if they continue to refuse cooperation, Pitta Gros said.

They may also try to block Dos Santos from selling assets and shares held in Portugal, the former colonial ruler, and elsewhere if they were bought with money that was transferred illicitly from Angola, he said. “If we get evidence that the investments were made with money taken illicitly out of the country we will do everything so that she doesn't dispose of those assets,� said Pitta Gros, who arrived in Portugal on Thursday to ask for help with the investigation.

Among those named by the prosecutor are Mario Leite da Silva, an executive with close ties to Isabel dos Santos and chairman of Banco de Fomento Angola, and Paula Olveira, the owner of Dubai-based consulting firm Matter Business Solutions. Da Silva stepped down Thursday, BFA said in a statement following the prosecutor's announcement.

Isabel dos Santos holds a 25% stake in Angola telecommunications company Unitel, which has a majority stake in BFA. EuroBic bank said in a separate statement that Dos Santos has decided to sell her 42.5% stake.

Manari Bridge to close for 10 weeks

T

he Ministry of Public Infrastructure has advised that from today, the Manari Bridge in Region 9 will closed for approximately 10 weeks. In the interim, a bypass road has been created on the southern end of the existing bridge to accommodate one-lane traffic.

The purpose of this closure is to facilitate the construction of a new bridge to improve the movement to and from Region 9.

Motorists and pedestrians are asked to exercise caution and observe all safety and directional signs, particularly in the vicinity of the works.

Kaieteur News

Friday January 24, 2020

Jagdeo joins calls for release of oil, gas quantities in its finds

O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo says it's a requirement that Guyana know the volume of oil and gas in every material discovery made offshore. He made this and other comments during a press conference at his Church Street office yesterday.

So far, ExxonMobil has made 15 finds on the Stabroek Block, but the public is in the dark about just how much oil and gas is i n e a c h d i s c o v e r y.

ExxonMobil has said that there are over 6 billion oilequivalent barrels in totality.

Apart from language that indicates there may be exceptionally significant bouts of natural gas in the Pluma and Haimara wells, Exxon's public disclosures don't quantify or disaggregate what's in each discovery.

Kaieteur News has heard from Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson that the Liza phase one field is estimated to contain one trillion cubic feet of natural gas. He also indicates knowledge of the gas content in Liza phase two. The Government, according to Jagdeo, is not competent or curious enough to demand those answers.

That or they're compromised, Jagdeo believes.

Exxon's Government and Public Affairs Advisor, Janelle Persaud, told Kaieteur News since late last year that the company is still analyzing its finds. Kaieteur News has been informed that well logs will show that Exxon and its partners already know. “[Government] wouldn't even find out about it although it's a requirement that you know. They're not competent enough to ask for it and to start planning for the

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo use of that,” said Jagdeo. He said that a People's Progressive Party (PPP) government would ensure that it gets all the answers.

The party is vying for reelection on March 2, after being unseated in the 2015 general election.

The former President explained that knowledge of the gas quantity, especially in Exxon's discoveries, will furnish Guyana with what it needs to start healthy discourse on a series of matters.

“Is [the quantity] enough to have gas sector development, not just oil?

What would be the cost of probably moving it?”

“What are the subsidiary industries? Is there adequate gas to come and build other types of industries? The downstream industries…”

Jagdeo said those are all the conversations that a Government should have already been having with its people. “They never had it.

You listen to the Ministers.

They are very uninformed, not curious.”

“We made it clear [that], from the first week [of taking office], we have to start talking about where the pipeline would go. And not led by Exxon, but led by the Government of Guyana.”

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Friday January 24, 2020

Victim's son among four charged for murder

By Shikema Dey

F

our men, including a son of the victim, were yesterday arraigned in the Vigilance Magistrate's Court for the brutal murder of 72-year-old Strathspey, East Coast Demerara resident, Ramsahoye Deochand.

Permaul Sankar, 34, of 491 Block 8, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara and Khublall Persaud, 35, of 104 Strathspey, E.C.D, along with Mahendranauth Persaud, 32, of 38 Strathspey, E.C.D and the victim's younger son, 22year-old Mahendra

The victim's son, Mahendra Deochand (left) and Permaul Sankar

Khublall Persaud (left) and Mahendranauth Persaud

Deochand of 109 Strathspey, East Coast Demerara, all appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore where the indictable charge was read.

The charge alleged that on January 20, 2020, the quartet, at Strathspey, East Coast Demerara, murdered Ramsahoye Deochand. The men were not required to plead to the charge.

The pensioner succumbed to the injuries he sustained after a severe beating, allegedly over stolen money and a gold chain, on Tuesday. The man was hospitalised for two days before drawing his last breath at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

An autopsy conducted by State Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh gave the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head and multiple injuries.

From graphic images posted on social media, Deochand endured a cruel assault; his head was cut open, fingers bloodied and the elderly man sported bruises about his body. The man was allegedly beaten with a house music amplifier and equalizer.

The pensioner had suffered a stroke, leaving his entire right side paralyzed.

Khublall Persaud, Mahendranauth Persaud and Permaul Sankar were represented by Attorneys-atLaw Haymant Ramdhani and James Bond, while Deochand remained unrepresented. In their address to the court, the lawyers' claimed that Deochand

Dead: Ramsahoye Deochand allegedly solely confessed to the crime, but this statement was thrown out by Magistrate Azore who stated that the case is in its initial stages and such accusations should not be put forward. Deochand however attempted to speak in open court, but was hushed by Magistrate Azore who reminded him that he was not required to speak, and that he was the only suspect who appeared without representation.

The lawyers went on to inquire about the earliest possible date for full disclosure of the statements and a date for the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) to begin, but Police Prosecutor David Goodridge told the court that the file is in his possession, but it has issues that need to be fixed before it can be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. As such, he is unsure of a definite timeframe for its return.

The men were then remanded to prison until March 16, when they will make their next appearance.

Friday January 24, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

Friday January 24, 2020

Workers block Berbice River as Rusal sends home over 140 workers From page 3 importation of fuel. This is not true.

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) issued that letter of approval.

When the management was confronted on the deception the position was changed, that the laying off is the result of the company scaling back operation.”

The union said that the BCGI

management was advised by the union that the manner in which the workers were laid off constitutes a departure from established industrial relations practice and Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, in that the Department of Labour and the Union were advised beforehand of the planned action.

“The management's response

was that it was given expert advice to operate in the manner it did, including posting the list of workers to be laid off on the Notice Board.”

T he union insisted in a statement that the company and the Chief Labour Office and BGCI were advised that the layoffs were in violation of established industrial relations practice and must be rescinded.

“The two workers (Glendon Tinnaman and Mario Harris) who were electrocuted last November in and during the course of their duties, the issue must be settled and the workers compensated…”

The union said that it will facilitate the opening of the Berbice River on the condition that the issue of wages and salary be settled now

through arbitration or some similar condition.

“The Chief Labour Officer informed the union and BCGI management he will be sending a report to the responsible Minister.

In the meantime, the union continues to stand with the workers to ensure resolution to the stated grievances.”

Kaieteur News

POP

CULT 'Bad Boys for Life' Review: THE REVIEWS ARE IN!!!

PAGE 23

Entertainment POLICE THE

THE

Friday January 24, 2020

E P

an, v i n i M In a Riding l but Stil

A

fter probably years of high-powered agent, studio and management negotiations, the boys are back.

The comedic chemistry of Martin Lawrence and Will Smith has to do a lot of heavy lifting in “Bad Boys for Life,” the third buddy-cop action movie to feature the pair as maverick Miami detectives.

They get the job done — delivering a mildly enjoyable movie that committed fans of the franchise will rate a lot higher — but they have to hack through a lot of by-the-numbers plotting and indolent characterizations to get there.

The opening sequence depicts Will Smith's Mike Lowrey at the wheel of a Porsche, speeding furiously, while Martin Lawrence's Marcus Burnett shouts loud enough to drown out the engine.

As it's been 17 years since “Bad Boys II,” one might smell a midlife-male punch line, and sure enough, they are in a hurry to attend the birth of Marcus's grandson. Marcus, hence, would like to stop and smell the roses; Mike thinks retirement is a dirty word.

A vengeful assassin, the son of a drug cartel matriarch on a mission, bloodies the waters of their argument by taking a few shots at Mike.

Six months later, a new division of the Miami P.D., led by a former paramour of Mike's, is puzzling over the ammo that hit

the detective. (AMMO is also the acronym of the new, tech-savvy division, Advanced Miami Metro Operations.)

Going rogue, or roguish, Mike finds its source, forms an alliance with the new kids, and, over the objections of good ol' Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano, here channeling a demon hybrid of Joe Pesci and Rudolph Giuliani) gets in the ring, with a very reluctant Marcus following.

The screenplay by Chris Bremmer, Peter Craig and Joe Carnahan offers buddy-cop greatest hits dialogue like “He dies last” “We had a deal,”; “If it's the cartel, she's gonna have serious backup”; and the ominous “One last time? One last time.”

But Lawrence's riffs almost always land.

They especially need to in the final quarter, when the movie sets the bar high for this year's Dopiest Movie Plot Twist competition. It's a moment that's meant to enhance character and raise emotional stakes, and the movie takes it seriously for maybe a minute and 45 seconds before Lawrence's character starts making light of it.

This is as it should be.

As for the action, the directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (taking over from Michael Bay, who has a coy cameo as a wedding M.C.) blow things up real good, and do so in ways that are more often buoyant than grisly.

Sparkling

Wine of the

Week

The Cavicchioli 1928 Rosé

T

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

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

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

Ford v. Ferrari, other riveting movies, shows to feature this weekend on Enetworks channels

F

or the home entertainment lovers, Enetworks is at it again with another satisfying lineup of movies and shows that will make you laugh, cry and everything else in between this weekend.

Tonight, things kick off with Ford v. Ferrari starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon. It is the ideal movie for racing fans. And even if you’re not a motorhead, this high-velocity film powered by zesty acting and meticulous direction will surly leave you entertained.

The days to follow will also see more exciting programmes too so be sure to stock up on your movie snacks and get ready for a weekend of quality entertainment at home.

Enjoy guys!

Programme guide January 24 Ford v. Ferrari at 10:00 PM on E1 (Movie) January 25 Maleficent 2: Mistress of Evil at 1:00 PM (Movie) January 25 Premier Boxing Champions: Garcia vs.

Redkach at 10:00 PM on E2 Every Weekday on E1: 12:00 PM : Young Sheldon 5:00 PM : The Ellen DeGeneres Show 6: 00 PM : The Young & The Restless

Armageddon Clash 2020: War of all Wars goes down tomorrow at National Park

T

he National Park Tarmac is expected to be transformed into a battleground this Saturday January 25, as Empire Media Inc. hosts its biggest Clash ever called Armageddon 2020. The event dubbed “War of all Wars” will feature six champion sounds battling for one million Guyana dollars, a trophy and bragging rights. The event is in its fourth year and is known for its sold out venue.

Competing are: Notorious International, Firehouse International, Exodus Nuclear, Trinity Sound, Dynamq Sound from South Sudan, Africa and Kanabis Sound from Antigua.

Armageddon promises to be explosive with musical talent since the six champions will be going head to head.

The Clash will have five rounds that DJs

will be using to guide the competition.

Round 1: Introduction Round (Dubs & 45s) Round 2: Round of Steel (Dubplates only) Round 3: Sounds of Steel (Dubplates only) Round 4: Challenge Round with face off Round 5: Dub for Dub (Dubplates only) The Clash starts at 10 pm. Judging will be done by the fans for rounds 1, 2, 3 and 5. A panel of three judges will judge round 4.

Tickets for the event is $2000 and are available at: White Castle Fish shop, Wings & Things (Mandela Avenue), Grill Kings (Mandela Avenue) and Nigel’s Supermarket (Robb St) Empire Media Inc. can be reached on Instagram and Facebook using the business name, on whatsapp at 862-233-0494, email on empiremediainc1@gmail.com or you can call 680-6720.

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Friday January 24, 2020

Guyana, Jamaica business chambers seek partnership FOR RENT One bedroom apartment 25ftx22ft for working couple or single person $36,000 monthly Water included. Call: 638-8858 SERVICES

FOR SALE

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040

(1) 320 CL Caterpiller Excavator low mileage. Never work interior. 15M Neg. 6851237,609-1237

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

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Jacob’s Jewellry and pawnshop, friendly money lenders. 16 Pike Street Kitty, Georgetown. Tel#227-8748/ 622-4970 We repair Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washer, Dryer-Call#231-0655/ 683-8734 Omar.

(1) Oil tanker boat 11,000 gallon GM engine. (1) Oil tanker 20,000 gallon GM engine. 6851237/609-1237 Lot 14 - 10,204 Sq ft Ph#264-2948/615-2270.

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 2 bedroom concrete fully furnished apartment. Two story, family preferred, Master bedroom with A/C, Peter’s Hall Public Road. Tel# 671-1441

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

Snackette for rent, Mobile snackettes, price $20,000 monthly. Tel# 697-6311

Copra Meal for sale.

Contact#223-5273/2235274

LEARN TO DRIVE

Freezer & Quality used restaurant equipment. Call: 618-5080 Prime piece of hand at La Grange Public Road 300ft X 100ft $100,000 US Dollar.Contact Annie 6950333.

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

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

With the aim of strengthening bilateral trade Wanted experienced hire car between the two states, the drivers at Ramada Princess Georgetown Chamber of Georgetown Hotel. Contact # Commerce and Industry 265-7075 / 616-5419 (GCCI) in collaboration with One experienced female cook the Jamaica Chamber of for a family, must be between Commerce (JCC) have planned to facilitate an 25-35 yrs. Call: 231-8737 incoming trade delegation of 1 Lorry Driver, must be able 10 Jamaican countries. to work flexible hours.

According to a release Contact Annie #233-3512 / from GCCI, the various 264-3720 countries are involved in numerous sectors including Security Officers to work at information communications East Coast Demerara Location. technology (ICT), financial Apply at Buddy’s Gym 137 services, business support Sheriff #231-7260 services, manufacturing, real One Accounts clerk must be estate development and writing CAT, Previous work distribution.

The trade mission experience necessary, send application to P.O Box 16005 program is expected to include meetings with other local Maid to work in Georgetown, public and private sector must know to cook and representatives including household work. Tel# 661- those from the Ministry of 3317 Foreign Affairs, the Guyana Office for Investment (GOVACANCY Invest) and the Centre for Local Business Development Labourers & Maintenance (CLBD). workers. Contact #621-6969, According to the release, serious enquiries only. in an effort to identify future Driver- must have sound partnership, a major highlight secondary education, for of the agenda entails more information. Please Call: matchmaking sessions, aimed 223-0090 WANTED

Security Officers $85,000, Apply within @ 47 Croal St. Tel# 226-9905 or on FB page, Atlas Security Services Inc LAND FOR SALE

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

Transported land 11.6 acres, Lot 15 Public Road #2 Village W.C.B/ce 5 mins from B/ce bridge.Contact#686-4818/6487109.

Zeelugt Old Scheme. Price $1.3M Tel# 642-1252 Parfaite Harmonie $1.4M Schnoord $3.6M Farm Main road $6.5M Covent Garden (100ft x 50ft) $4M Tel# 6481635/656-0701 Transported land for sale in Rose Hall Town.Call#603-1441

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

Nissan Juke 2010, Blue, PTT series, fully loaded, excellent condition. Call: 681-4208/ 2206262 1 RZ minibus for sale, series BSS Newly spray over, hardly work $1.3M Neg. Contact# 603-2640 TO LET Rooms tolet, 1 bedroom, working people: $30,000,$32,000,$35,000 monthly, 2 month security.Call#623-0076.

WANTED Maid. Requirements: person must be living on the East Bank. Contact# 600-6887 Contract Cars needed @ your taxi service. Call: 219-5555/6620070 Porters to work in Grocery Stall, Attractive Salary at Stabroek Market. Tel#2269800/683-9500. Experience an asset

Immediate vacancy exists for one Canter/Lorry Driver to work @ Del Ice Co. Call: 2311408/642-9191 Factory Workers- Must have sound secondary education, for more information. Please Call: 223-0090 Experience Goldsmith needed at Jacob’s Jewellery and Pawnshop. Address 16 Pike St, Kitty Georgetown.

Tel#227-8748/622-4970

Senior Kitchen Assistant, must have a minimum Primary education, 1 Experienced Driver & Cashier. Apply @ Hack’s Halaal Restaurant. 5 Commerce St

DemBake has openings for : 1 Accounts Clerk (P.M), Drivers (Motor Lorry) and Sales Agents. Email CV to: admin@demerarabakery.com or call: 266-5848

Female Domestic wanted for light housekeeping $3000 Daily, Male skill labourer One 3 Story building at 97 $4000 daily Vreed-En-Hoop Sugar Cane St.S/Rveldt Gdns 682-5230/615-4414. $125,000,000.Tel#674-9905/ 1 male cook for interior 695-1365/225-2971. $100,000 monthly. Tel# 672House and land available at 3359 Parfaite, Tuschen, Diamond etc.

Contact Pacific Wanted land to buy in Parfaite Development Inc. 223-6035/ Harmonie on the West Coast and East Bank. Tel# 697-6311 604-4909 One driver for residence at ACCOMMODATION Montrose, must have 10 Aracari Hotel -WBD (Near years experience within the Bridge)-Pool etc.Open 24 age 35-45 years. Contact Hours.From $25 USD.Phone #608-2440 264-2946/8

General domestic. 3 Days work. Must know to cook.

Apply with 2 references.

KeyFood McDoom village

PROPERTY FOR SALE Lot 89 Robb street Lacytown, Georgetown.

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

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

Front end loader operator.

Contact#223-5273/223-5274 1 bodywork technician. Tel# 668-7033 Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area. Call: 615-9132

at enabling one-on-one conversations between the participating companies and potential local partners.

Further, GCCI states that it views this collaborative effort between the two countries as a “key advancement in the commercial relationship between Jamaica and Guyana.”

The release pointed out that through this engagement, the GCCI and the JCC hope to foster collaborative business relationships and encourage, promote, and facilitate trade and investment between the two countries.

The trade mission also allows the GCCI to advocate for Guyana as a destination for future Jamaican investments.

The trade mission is scheduled to take place from January 26thJanuary 31st, 2020 at the Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown, Guyana.

Earlier in 2019, GCCI had embarked on a similar venture with the Barbados business chamber which entailed a formalized Memorandum of Understanding to improve trade relations between the two CARICOM sister nations.

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

Friday January 24, 2020

Modernised Diamond/Grove Magistrates Court commissioned - features recording apparatus, domestic violence unit The Diamond/Grove Magistrates Court

Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards (L) and Chief Justice Roxane George It was a grand occasion as the ribbon, placed at the entrance to the new Diamond/ Grove Magistrates Court, was cut during the commissioning of the building. This was done on Wednesday as members of the Judiciary welcomed the advent of a new courthouse.

In attendance at the event were President David Granger,

Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards, Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams.

Also at the gathering was Senior Counsel Teni Housty, President of the Bar Association and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Senior Counsel, Mrs. Shalimar Ali-

Hack.

The event commenced at 10:00hrs after the arrival of the President. With prayers from the three respective religious backgrounds, the programme was underway.

Following brief remarks from the President of the Bar Association and Minister Williams guests were treated to overwhelming cultural

President Granger during a tour of the court

President David Granger unveiling the plaque of the court with Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards

pieces written by citizens of the Diamond/Grove, East Bank Demerara area.

They were performed by students of the New Diamond/Grove Primary School and the Diamond Secondary.

The performances captured mainly social matters that would cross the path of the courthouse. Behind the construction of the courthouse According to the Chancellor Cummings-Edwards, because of an overwhelming increase in persons to the Diamond/Grove and sur-

rounding communities on the East Bank of Demerara, the judiciary found a need for these citizens to have better access to justice.

Despite having two Senior Magistrates at the Providence Courts, the volume of cases is still high. Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce, was working almost every day until 6pm.

Nevertheless, the load was still ever increasing on the East Bank of Demerara.

In this regard the Chancellor said, “The corresponding duty of the Judiciary, which is an arm of the State, to have

an enabling environment and to provide the necessary steps and services in that regard must not be missed.�

The engagements with the State for the land, on which the new courthouse now sits, began under former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh.

The sod for the construction of the Diamond/Grove court was turned on March 12, 2018. According to Chancellor Cummings-Edwards, such an investment is not without a cost. She told the (Continued on page 31 )

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

Friday January 24, 2020

Isabel dos Santos: Africa’s richest woman accused of fraud Africa’s richest woman, Isabel dos Santos, has been accused of embezzlement and money laundering by prosecutors in Angola.

Attorney General Helder Pitta Gros said the allegations related to her time as chairwoman of state oil firm Sonangol.

He called on Ms Dos Santos to return to Angola and face potential criminal charges.

Ms Dos Santos recently denied alleged corruption revealed by leaked documents.

The billionaire, who currently lives in the UK, also told the BBC she was considering running for Angola’s presidency.

Her father, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, was Angola’s president for 38 years before he stepped down in 2017.

Separately, another suspect in the case who managed Sonangol’s account at the small Portuguese bank EuroBic, was found dead at his house in Lisbon on Wednesday, Portuguese me-

dia said quoting a police source.

The source said “everything” suggested that the death of Nuno Ribeiro da Cunha was suicide.

Prosecutors are seeking to recover $1bn (£760m) that Ms Dos Santos and her associates are alleged to owe the state.

“Isabel dos Santos is accused of mismanagement and embezzlement of funds during her tenure at Sonangol,” Mr Pitta Gros told a news conference on Wednesday evening.

He said that as a result she was being provisionally charged with “money laundering, influence peddling, harmful management...[and] forgery of documents, among other economic crimes”.

The Angolan authorities will now conduct a criminal investigation to determine whether she should be formally charged.

They have also named five other people as suspects in the case, one of whom was Mr Ribeiro da Cunha, and

urged them to return to Angola.

Mr Pitta Gros said that if Ms Dos Santos did not return to Angola voluntarily, an international arrest warrant would be issued for her.

Ms Dos Santos was controversially appointed head of Sonangol in June 2016 by her father. She was sacked from the post in 2017 by her father’s successor, President Joao Lourenço.

An investigation into Ms Dos Santos was opened after her successor at Sonangol, Carlos Saturnino, alerted authorities to alleged irregular money transfers. Her assets in Angola have been frozen.

On Sunday, the BBC and other news organisations reported on more than 700,000 leaked documents about the billionaire’s business empire.

The documents showed how Ms Dos Santos got access to lucrative land, oil, diamond and telecoms deals when her father was president. Her fortune is estimated at $2.1 bn (£1.6bn).

Oil falls 3% as specter of China virus threatens fuel demand NEW YORK (Reuters) Oil prices fell 3% on Thursday on concern that the spread of a virus from China could lower fuel demand if it stunts economic growth, but losses were limited by a drawdown in U.S. crude inventories.

Brent crude LCOc1 futures fell $1.70, or 2.7%, to $61.51 a barrel by 1:03 p.m. EST (1803 GMT). The session low was $61.25 a barrel, lowest since early December.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 futures fell $1.74, or 3.1%, to $55.00 a barrel. The session low was $54.77 a barrel, lowest since November.

Two Chinese cities were put in lockdown on Thursday as health authorities around the world scrambled to prevent a global pandemic. The coronavirus outbreak has killed 17 people and infected

nearly 600.

The potential for a pandemic has stirred memories of the Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2002-03, which also started in China and caused a slump in travel.

“Such health issues represent significant impediments to normal travel and as a result, have forced the oil market to discount some significant weakening in jet and diesel fuel demand that is extremely difficult to measure until the spread of the health virus is contained,” said Jim Ritterbusch, president of trading advisory firm Ritterbusch and Associates.

With coronavirus cases detected as far as away as the United States, global stock markets also felt the effects of fears that the virus could spread further as millions of Chinese prepare to travel for

the Lunar New Year this weekend. <MKTS/GLOB> “We estimate a price shock of up to $5 (a barrel) if the crisis develops into a SARS-style epidemic,” JPM Commodities Research said in a note.The U.S. bank maintained its forecast for Brent to average $67 in the first quarter and $64.50 throughout 2020.Amid recent heightened tension between the United States and Iran, the United States on Thursday imposed Iran-related sanctions on two individuals and six companies, including four firms tied to the National Iranian Oil Company.Tempering losses, U.S. crude inventories USOILC=ECI fell 405,000 barrels last week, although gasoline stockpiles rose to their highest on record after 11 weeks of consecutive builds, the Energy Information Administration reported.

Regional health agency says risk of ...

From page 17 Authorities on measures to reduce the risk of importation of the disease to the Caribbean region, as well as advice to Caribbean travelers in the affected area in China.

“CARPHA is committed to supporting its Member States in refining existing influenza preparedness plans, refreshing training of health care works in universal precautions and the use of necessary personal protective

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Friday January 24, 2020

equipment (PPE), and implementing measures to protect the most vulnerable in our populations from developing the disease.

In the event that there is a suspected imported case of 2019-nCoV in the Region, CARPHA has already made arrangements with partner public health agencies for testing within the next three weeks, while we await delivery of necessary supplies,” the Executive Director said.

The Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) country office is set host a press conference on Monday to brief the Guyanese public on the deadly coronavirus.

Key personnel from the country office are communicating with counterparts in Washington DC in the USA, to garner updated information to reliably inform the public of how they can safeguard themselves against this virus.

Guyana improves significantly on corruption index – Transparency Int’l

Transparency International report showing Guyana’s significant improvement Guyana has jumped 34 places upward on the Transparency International (TI)’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2019, showing significant improvement over the past eight years.

Guyana ranked 85th out of a total of 180 countries, alongside regional counterpart Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) and Middle Eastern country Kuwait, among others.

According to the TI report, only 22 countries over the last eight years, have significantly improved their CPI scores. These include Greece, Guyana and Estonia. During the same period, 21 countries

saw significant decreases in their scores, including Canada, Australia and Nicaragua. In the remaining 137 countries, the levels of corruption show little to no change.

With a score of 40, Guyana has significantly improved.

Late 2019, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna lauded Guyana’s fight against corruption.

The Corruption Perceptions Index is the Transparency International’s flagship research product. Since its inception in 1995, it has become the leading global indi-

cator of public sector corruption.

The index offers an annual snapshot of the relative degree of corruption by ranking countries and territories from all over the globe. In 2012, Transparency International revised the methodology used to construct the index to allow for comparison of scores from one year to the next.

The 2019 CPI draws on 13 surveys and expert assessments to measure public sector corruption in 180 countries and territories, giving each a score from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

Armed robbery charges dismissed against construction worker After his first court appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts in July 2019, 31-year-old Linden Flavious yesterday yelled, “all the time I telling yall, I didnt rob anybody….watch how many times the matter call and nobody aint coming to court,” while he was being escorted back to the prisoners lock up at the court.

Flavious, a construction worker, had always been very vocal, every time he appeared in court, since the virtual complainants and eyewitnesses failed to turn up at court.

The man was charged for committing two armed robberies in one day. The first one alleged that on July 10, 2019,

at Georgetown while being in the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Ramsarran Ramsook of a phone valued at $78,000 and $140,000 in cash.

And the latter charge alleged that on the same day and at the same location, while being in the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Allan Shaw of a bag valued $22,000 and $11,000 in cash.

When the matters were called yesterday for ruling, Flavious appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh, who conducted the trials for the matters. The magistrate ruled that there was insufficient evidence against the defendant and as such both

armed robbery charges against Flavious were dismissed.

Flavious remains in prison, however, since he was charged with the attempted murder of a taxi driver.

Flavious and Ernest James were charged jointly for an attempted murder.

On their first court appearance they were not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on July 11, 2019, at John Fernandes Squatting Area, they unlawfully and maliciously wounded Derrick Nelson with the intent to commit murder.

As that matter continues, Flavious and James remain on remand.

PAGE 30

Kaieteur News

Friday January 24, 2020

Canje vendor stabbed during robbery by lone bandit

The robber was waiting not far from the business place.

Stabbed: Ashraf Ally

One person is presently in police custody assisting investigators with a probe into an alleged robbery that took place at Cumberland Village, East Canje, Berbice.

Kaieteur News was informed that a lone perpetrator armed with a knife confronted an employee of a pharmacy in Canje as he was making his way out the building.

It was during the confrontation that the man was stabbed.

Ashraf â&#x20AC;&#x153;Baiâ&#x20AC;? Ally, also of Cumberland Village, is nursing a stab wound to the abdomen at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.

CCTV footage showed the perpetrator was standing not too far from the business premises and waited until the employee walked out from the

building, before he pounced on him.

Ally was making his way to tend to his stall at the New Amsterdam Market. He had on him a bag containing approximately three hundred thousand dollars in cash which the perpetrator stole after he stabbed him. The assailant managed to escape.

Police are investigating.

Man accused of robbing cop in front of station The Police have placed a man before the courts for allegedly robbing one of their colleagues of articles amounting to $417,000 mid-last year.

Thirty-year-old Shawn Damon appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts yesterday before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty. He pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on July 26, 2019 at Agricola Public Road, he stole from Shawn Hunte, a Police Constable, one bag valued $5,000, a phone worth $65,000, one gold chain valued $140,000, one gold ring worth $30,000, one purse valued $2,000 and $130,000 cash, among other items.

The accused was represented by attorney-at-law Euclin Gomes, who in his bail application, said that the police know who the real perpetrators of this crime are but, they are pressuring his client for something he knows nothing about.

However, the Police Prosecutor objected to bail for the defendant. The grounds of

objections were based on the prevalence of such offences and the fact that Damon was allegedly positively identified by the victim at the Police Station when he was arrested.

Nevertheless, the magistrate upheld the bail application of the lawyer and granted same to the tune of $150,000.

A condition of the bail is that the defendant report to the Ruimveldt Police Station every Friday pending the outcome of the matter.

The case will come up for hearing again on February 12.

Information received, indicated that the victim was standing in front of the Agricola Police Station awaiting transportation when he was approached by Damon, who allegedly relieved him of the articles mentioned in the charge.

He was subsequently arrested by the police following a report being made. Upon being arrested, Damon was placed on an identification parade and was reportedly pointed out by the alleged victim.

Friday January 24, 2020

Girlfriend of remanded prisoner confronts victim in court yard On Wednesday morning after Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty remanded a 19year-old man on an armed robbery charge, the girlfriend of the defendant ran downstairs and confronted the alleged victim in the courtyard, claiming that she is the reason why her boyfriend got remanded.

The two women got into an argument at the main entrance of the court; however, a female constable stepped in and asked the women to leave the compound.

The defendant, Mark Gravesande, of Dairy, West Bank Demerara, was arraigned in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts, when he denied the charge which stated that on January 17, 2020, at Saffon Street, La Penitence, Georgetown, while in the company of others and armed with a cutlass, he robbed Patricia Abrams of $150,000 cash and $512,000 in items.

The court heard that Gravesande stole a gold chain, 9 gold rings, a bag, a Samsung cell phone and documents, property of Marian Hiram.

Police prosecutor Delon Sullivan, made objections to bail being granted based on the dangerous weapon that was used, the penalty, prevalence and the seriousness of the offence.

The prosecutor highlighted that on the day in question the defendant was in the company of others when they approached Abrams and demanded that she handed over the items

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Kaieteur News

Remanded: Mark Gravesande mentioned in the charge.

The court heard that the defendant was the one who pointed the cutlass at Abrams.

After listening to the prosecutor Principal Magistrate McGusty remanded Gravesande to prison until February 12.

Modernised Diamond/Grove Magistrates ...

From page 27 gathering that a sum of $132,212,878 was expended on the contract. The engineers fee and reimbursement totaled $11,385,431. This amounted to $143,598,309.

The contractor was for the construction of the courthouse PD Contracting. The Engineering Department was E&A Engineering Services.

The Chancellor said that the Diamond/Grove Magistrates Court should have been opened and handed over for business ever since.

After the turning of the sod, the duration of the contract should have been 12 months. But the actual start date was November 20, 2018.

There were delays from the weather and the contractor.

THE MAKEUP OF THE COURTHOUSE At the turning of the sod, it was decided that two courtrooms instead of one will be built.

Justice CummingsEdwards said that the court boasts modern equipment and technology.

“There is Skype equipment and court recording

units for the taking of evidence. So there is no longer the long hand way of evidence [Magistrates writing in a diary].”

There are facilities for the differently-able persons; for whom there is a wheelchair ramp and elevator. The washrooms were specially designed to accommodate wheel chair access. Also there will be a designated parking space in the compound for wheel-chair users visiting the halls of justice.

Within the courthouse, there is also a domestic violence unit where members of the public can come and have their matters dealt with or speak to Probations Officers or Social Protection Officers.

Holding facilities for prisoners and a Police Outpost have been built in the building. There is also a briefing room for attorneys to meet with their clients.

OPERATIONS OF THE COURT Staff of the new court hit the ground running as Magistrate Rondel Weaver commenced hearing matters at 1pm Wednesday. According

to reports, she will be assisted with proceedings at the court

by Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce.

The court will be dealing with all the summary matters from Mondays to Fridays.

The Providence court will be hearing all traffic matters. This will now turn that court into a specialised court.

The Providence Magistrates Courts will go back to having one courtroom and one Magistrate. According to the Chancellor, at that court a benab and a shed were built to accommodate witnesses.

“That in itself was not enough. Persons in the courtroom and the shed were spilling over. A request made to then Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud, to use the police housing in the same compound to have another courtroom. This was readily granted.”She said that it added a second courtroom or an annex to the courthouse.

With the advent of this new courthouse at Diamond/ Grove, the second courtroom will be returned to the Guyana Police Force for its intended purpose.

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Friday January 24, 2020

Cops in race against time to solve Teen victim charged for killing bandit newspaper vendor’s murder - may be forced to release suspects as DPP orders further probe Police appear to be in a race against time to solve the murder of newspaper vendor Shawn Mannilall.

Investigators may have to release three young suspects today, if the High Court fails to give them clearance to detain them for a further 72 hours.

Acting Crime Chief Michael Kingston revealed that this new development occurred yesterday after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ordered police to conduct further investigations into the January 10, 2020 killing.

Meanwhile, the 72 hours that the High Court had originally granted police to detain the trio has expired.

Kingston reveals that police will be approaching the High Court today to keep the suspects in custody for another 72 hours. He conceded that investigators will have to release the trio if the High Court judge doesn’t rule in their favour.

Some sources had initially indicated that the suspects would have been charged yesterday.

The detained youths are among four who were held during the early stages of the investigation. They were released, then re-arrested after an associate came forward with what appears to be implicating evidence.

Meanwhile, three other men, Carl Carter, Delhoya McKenzie and Carlton Carter, remain on remand for murder-

Dead: Shawn Mannilall ing Mannilall during the course or furtherance of a robbery.

Shawn Mannilall, 48, of Parcel 61 Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, was shot dead on January 10, 2020.

It is alleged that the vendor and his family were about to enter their home when two men, who wore helmets, confronted them.

The robbers, who had a gun and cutlass, reportedly demanded some $125,000 from Mannilall, who was said to have recently uplifted the cash from a bank.

One of the bandits shot Mannilall in the chest, shoulder and abdomen after he resisted. The gang reportedly fled empty-handed.

Mannilall was pronounced dead on arrival at the Suddie Public Hospital.

A teen, who, along with a friend was attacked brutalized and was being robbed by bandits on the New Amsterdam Public road has been charged with manslaughter after one of the bandits ended up dead following the botched robbery.

Anthony Carter, 18, a mason, of Main Street, Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.

He is charged with causing the death of Delroy James, called Slanty, 33, of Patrick Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice on Sunday, September 22, 2019.He was not required to plead and was placed on $450,000. He has to return to court on February 6.

It was reported that on the day in question, Carter and his boss, Nizam Balgobin, 53,

Dead bandit Delroy James of Victoria Street Cumberland, were walking along the New Amsterdam Public Road in the vicinity of Main and Church Streets, when they were attacked by James and his cohorts.

James, who was a former murder accused, reportedly punched Balgobin to his eye before flooring him in an at-

tempt to remove some gold jewellery which Balgobin was wearing. Carter was attacked by the other bandits with bricks, bicycles and a piece of wood and other implements.In the ensuing melee, James, who was well known to the authorities, was injured while his cohorts fled.

He was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Both Balgobin and Carter who were injured, reported the incident to the Central Police Station, New Amsterdam. They were however arrested and taken into custody. They were subsequently taken for medical attention.A report was prepared and sent to the DPP who advised that Carter be charged for the death of the bandit, James.

James had been charged with the 2011 New Year’s Day murder of Sean Craig.

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Friday January 24, 2020

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Friday January 24, 2020

Kaieteur News

Williamson scores 22 but loses NBA debut Field Level Media - New Orleans’ Zion Williamson scored 22 points in his NBA debut, but LaMarcus Aldridge topped him with 32 points and 14 rebounds as the visiting San Antonio Spurs defeated the Pelicans 121-117 on Wednesday night.

Williamson, the first overall choice in last year’s draft, missed the first 44 games of the season while rehabbing from arthroscopic knee surgery. He struggled for three quarters before scoring 17 consecutive Pelicans points to briefly give them the lead in the fourth quarter before sitting out the final 5

1/2 minutes as Spurs regained control.

Brandon Ingram matched Williamson’s 22 points for New Orleans. Lonzo Ball had 14 points and 12 assists, Jrue Holiday scored 12, Derrick Favors had 11 points and 10 rebounds, and JJ Redick and Josh Hart scored 10 apiece.

Williamson also amassed seven rebounds, three assists and five turnovers while playing 18 minutes, 18 seconds.

Utah Jazz 129 - Golden State Warriors 96 - Utah completed its first seasonseries sweep of Golden State in 10 years, using 23 points

from Donovan Mitchell and 22 from Rudy Gobert as the foundation for a runaway victory in San Francisco.

Gobert, who had been a bit iffy for the game after rolling his ankle in a Monday home win over the Indiana Pacers, also had a game-high 15 rebounds for the Jazz, whose first three wins over the Warriors this season had come by a total of just 26 points. Mitchell shot 8-for-13 and Gobert 10-for-13, helping Utah connect on 53.8 percent in the game.

The Warriors were limited to 39.8 percent shooting.

Golden State’s D’Angelo

Russell led all scorers with 26 points.

Los Angeles Lakers 100 - New York Knicks 92 Anthony Davis scored a game-high 28 points for visiting Los Angeles, who held off New York. Davis was 7 of 14 from the field and 13 of 13 from the free-throw line, matching his most conversions without a miss in a game this season. LeBron James had 21 points and six rebounds, five assists and five steals for the Lakers, who won for the 11th time in 13 games.

Marcus Morris Sr. scored 20 points and Damyean

Honduras Named Host...

Friday January 24, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) More than likely there is a person in your world who desperately wants to get closer to you, Aries. Conflict is apt to arise tonight if you don't open up and let this person in a bit closer.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) It may be easy for you to show up at a party or answer the phone when you know that it's your best friend calling with good news, but where are you when the going gets rough, Taurus?

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Realize that your inner state of mind is quite apparent to people just by the look on your face, Gemini. Don't think you can hide things from others, especially today.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your opinions are apt to be strong today and you may feel on top of the world, Cancer. Remember, however, that there are other people who share the world with you, so don't disregard them as you plow though the day.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Realize that you may be controlling other people's actions without even consciously knowing it, Leo. This is one of those days in which emotional outbursts could explode in your face as a result of other people's reactions to your pressure.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Beware of unexpected circumstances today, Virgo.

The good news is that your flexible attitude is perfectly suited to deal with the twists and turns that this day is likely to offer.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Come out of your shell today and try not to be so aloof, Libra. You will never find the exact path you want to be on until you explore the different options.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You may be wondering why everyone is getting so touchy when you see this as being just a normal day. Cut other people some slack when you think they aren't wearing as big a smile as you are.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) It could be that you don't feel as if you can begin your day until you've made it clear to someone that you have an issue that needs to be dealt with, Sagittarius.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Don't let another person's small, thoughtless comment ruin your entire day, Capricorn. People may be a bit stingy with everything from money to emotions to time spent with loved ones.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You may be feeling a bit tired and worn out lately. Don't push yourself to do things when you know that your body needs rest. It could be extremely tempting to roll with the crowd and participate in all the fun.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Don't fritter away your time with a person who isn't going to change his or her mind about something, Pisces.

This is one of those days in which you may end up wasting your time and everyone else's by continuing to insist that things be done a certain way.

From page 34 finisher in each of the four groups will qualify directly to the 2020 Concacaf Under-20 Championship knockout stage.

The group stage of the Championship will be disputed June 20-25, between the top ranked 16 teams according to the Concacaf Under-20 Ranking as of June 2019. The 16 nations were divided into four groups of four teams and will play as follows (listed in the order drawn): Group E: United States, Costa Rica, Jamaica and Saint Kitts and Nevis Group F: Mexico, El Salvador, Canada and Aruba Group G: Panama, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname Group H: Honduras, Cuba, Guatemala and Antigua and Barbuda After round-robin play, the top three teams in each of the groups will advance to the knockout stage, joining the four qualifying stage group winners. The knockout stage of the Championship will begin with the round of 16 on June 27 and 28, followed by the quarterfinals on June 23, semifinals on July 3 and the final on July 5.

All knockout round matches will be played in a single match elimination format, with the semifinalist qualifying to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Indonesia 2021.

The Francisco Morazan and Olimpico Metropolitano stadiums will both host group stage, round of 16 and quarterfinal matches. The semifinals and final will be played at the Olimpico Metropolitano Stadium.

In the previous edition of the Concacaf Under-20 Championship, played in Bradenton, FL in 2018, the United States won its second title at this age level, with a 20 win over Mexico in the final.

Dotson came off the bench to add 17 for the Knicks, who have lost four of their past five and are 2-9 in their past 11.

Julius Randle had 16 points for New York.

Chicago Bulls 117 Minnesota Timberwolves 110 - Zach LaVine scored 25 points — including a goahead 3-pointer with 1:26 to go — and Cristiano Felicio notched a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds to lift host Chicago past slumping Minnesota.

Karl-Anthony Towns scored a game-high 40 points and Andrew Wiggins followed with 25 for Minnesota, but it wasn’t enough as the Timberwolves took their seventh straight defeat. Lauri Markkanen followed LaVine with 21 points and hit four treys to become the 13th player in league history with 100 made 3-pointers in his first three NBA seasons.

Toronto Raptors 107 Philadelphia 76ers 95 - Fred VanVleet scored 22 points and added eight assists as Toronto beat visiting Philadelphia. Pascal Siakam added 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Raptors, who have won five in a row and have won 15 straight regular-season home games against the 76ers.

Norman Powell

contributed 18 points off the bench for Toronto.

Tobias Harris had 22 points and Ben Simmons had 17 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the 76ers.

Furkan Korkmaz added 17 points, Matisse Thybulle had 13 points.

Houston Rockets 121 Denver Nuggets 105 Russell Westbrook flirted with a triple-double while James Harden added 27 points as Houston snapped a four-game skid with win over visiting Denver.

Westbrook scored a game-high 28 points, grabbed a season-high-tying 16 rebounds and added eight assists to pace the Rockets, who had dropped five of six during their longest slide of the season.

Harden was 6 of 13 from the field and 13 of 15 from the free throw line to complement Westbrook, and Eric Gordon added 25 points on 8-for-11 shooting off the Houston bench.

Elsewhere, Oklahoma City Thunder 120 - Orlando Magic 114; Detroit Pistons 127 Sacramento Kings 106; Miami Heat 134 - Washington Wizards 129 (OT); Indiana Pacers 112 - Phoenix Suns 87, Atlanta Hawks 102 - Los Angeles Clippers 95, Boston Celtics 119 - Memphis Grizzlies 95 .

Friday January 24, 2020

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Kaieteur News

FIFA Foundation

Spain and Brazil crowned World Deaf Futsal champions While there is still just under eight months to go until the FIFA Futsal World Cup Lithuania 2020™ – the tournament emblem was only unveiled in the country’s capital, Vilnius, some days ago – the world’s best hearing-impaired futsal teams have already been crowned.

Spain clinched the men’s title and Brazil lifted the women’s trophy at the fourth edition of the World Deaf Football Championships in Winterthur, Switzerland. After a thrilling final, La Roja emerged with a 5-4 victory

over hosts Switzerland.

“We gave it our all and can be proud of finishing second – it’s fantastic,” Swiss team manager Reto Thurnherr said after his side’s result.

Meanwhile, Brazil outshone all of their rivals in the women’s competition.

The South Americans finished the tournament with six wins from as many matches, scoring 63 goals along the way while conceding just six. They even capped off their impressive campaign with a resounding 4-0 win over Poland.

“Unbelievable, unbelievable! My dream has really come true,” said

Josiane Maria Poleski after the final whistle.

“We did the thing we have dreamed about for many years. We’ve finally done it.

We’ve won the World Championships,” she continued, with a broad smile.

“I’ve invested so much and fought so hard. We’ve always supported each other within the team and worked so, so hard.

I went to training every

evening after school, which was a real strain, but I wanted to do it no matter what.”

The World Deaf Football Championships is organised

by Swiss Deaf Sport together with the ICSD (International Committee of Sports for the Deaf).

Only players who are deaf or hard of hearing are allowed to compete. The tournament also receives support from the FIFA Foundation.

The former deaf futsal world champions at a glance: Year Men’s Women’s 2007 Ukraine Germany 2011 IR Iran Russia 2015 IR Iran Russia 2019 Spain Brazil

World Deaf Futsal champions Male champions, Spain.

Female World Deaf Futsal champions, Brazil.

Qatar 2022: FIFA and hosts Qatar present first-ever joint FIFA World Cup™ Sustainability Strategy In less than three years’ time, the FIFA World Cup™ will be held in the Arab world for the first time, in a fastgrowing economy and in the most geographically compact area since the inaugural edition of the tournament in 1930.

As any host, Qatar presents common and unique challenges to be addressed, as well as unparalleled opportunities to leave a lasting positive legacy beyond the event. The path to achieve that ambitious goal started five years ago, when FIFA and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) began to develop and implement the event’s Sustainability Strategy – the first to be planned and delivered jointly by FIFA, the host country and the local organisers, represented in this case by the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC (Q22).

The associated policy applies to all functional areas and projects involved in the preparations for and staging of the tournament, in addition to post-event activities. To deliver on that shared vision, five sustainability commitments have been defined: (1) to develop human capital and safeguard workers’ rights; (2) to provide an inclusive tournament experience; (3) to catalyse economic development; (4) to deliver innovative environmental solutions; and (5) to set an example of good governance and ethical business practices.

On that basis, a total of 22 objectives have been described in detail, together with more than 70 concrete initiatives and programmes to deliver the strategy and achieve the objectives set.

“The FIFA World Cup offers us a unique opportunity to bring about positive change – one that FIFA and Qatar cannot, and will not, let slip away. All critical topics related to the event have been identified and duly addressed in this strategy, such as workers’ welfare, human rights, nondiscrimination and environmental protection.

The document is also in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and we are committed to contributing to those through the power of football and of the biggest single-sport event on the planet,” said FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura.

“When Qatar bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2022, it

did so with a vision to use the tournament as a catalyst for sustainable, long-term change in Qatar and across the Arab world. From the start, we believed in the power of football and the FIFA World Cup to inspire innovation, to build bridges between cultures and peoples and to accelerate positive social transformation.

Our measure of success for the tournament in Qatar will ultimately be the legacy it leaves behind. This strategy will help Qatar to realise that vision and ensure its success,” said the SC Secretary General and Q22 Chairman, HE Hassan Al Thawadi.

The issues and initiatives that form the framework of the strategy were identified with the help of a thorough and continuous consultation process with local and international stakeholders and thematic experts through surveys, workshops, meetings and the circulation of drafts. Throughout the process, over 100 national and international governmental, nongovernmental and private-sector organisations were consulted.

Furthermore, the development process for the strategy also included a full human rights salience assessment, a first for a mega-sporting event.

“The BWI (Building and Wood Workers’ International) recognises the commitment and efforts made by the SC and FIFA to improving the working and living conditions of construction workers building the 2022 tournament projects in Qatar.

The SC, in particular, has taken the risk and broken new ground by going far beyond declarations to form a partnership with the BWI in order to conduct joint safety inspections and train elected workers’ representatives. This is action on the worksite and not mere words and promises of reforms. It is making a difference for construction workers,” said BWI General Secretary Ambet Yuson.

“In the strategy, FIFA and the other tournament organisers commit to expanding these efforts to cover workers in other sectors involved in delivering the tournament.

We know that this work has already begun. The workers’ rights legacy of the 2022 tournament will be more meaningful once these initiatives are implemented for all workers in Qatar – in construction and beyond,” added Yuson.

PAGE 38

ECB President wants cricket to be played at all levels in E’bo

By Zaheer Mohamed President of the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) Fizul Bacchus wants to see cricket played at all levels in the county. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport yesterday, Bacchus who was re-elected to the post on Sunday last at the Annual General Meeting said even though limited cricket was played at the Inter Committee level due to the lack of sponsorship, Essequibo had a good year in 2019.

He said that the senior team played well in the franchise tournament and as a result wicket-keeper batsman Kemol Savory was included in the National team for the Regional Super 50 tournament. At the age group level, Sheldon Charles was chosen as Captain of the National U17 team.

“We want to ensure that cricket is played at all levels in both male and female categories. To host a tournament in Essequibo usually costs a lot due to the geographical location of the respective area committees, but so far we have a commitment from Busta to stage a senior T20 tournament. I am calling on the business community to render assistance to the board so more cricket can be played,” he added, Bacchus has expressed gratitude to Imam Bacchus and Company and Doodnauth Samaroo for their assistance. “Imam Bacchus and Company makes their ground readily available to be used by the board and for this we are very thankful.”

While the Imam Bacchus ground is one of the better grounds on the Coast, Bacchus said that they would like to utilise the Anna Regina ground which is located in close proximity to the board’s hostel.

Fizul Bacchus “The Guyana Cricket Board has invested close to some $10m at the facility at Anna Regina. This includes two sight screens, a press box and a scoreboard and yet we cannot gain maximum use of the venue.

There is a stage on the ground and the relevant authorities have promised to have it removed, so we are looking forward to having cricket played at this venue during this season. This ground is close to the hostel and having cricket played there will save the board a lot since we will not be spending so much on transportation, especially during trial matches.”

Bacchus indicated that the Mayor of Anna Regina Town Council, Rajendra Prabulall did put forward a proposal to the Ministry of Sport to have lights installed at the ground so we are hoping that this can be done, which will help us to stage more tournaments and raise funds for the board.”

He said the subvention they obtain from the Guyana Cricket Board is being spent on trial matches.

“As long as we receive the necessary sponsorship

we will be able to stage more tournaments and this can help us to select better teams to represent the county since more players will be on show as compared to just having trial matches.”

Bacchus stated that the board held a camp in 2019 which was a success and they will host another in August which will target both male and female cricketers.

When quizzed about the absence of Leguan and Bartica from the AGM, Bacchus indicated that they will engage these areas and render the necessary assistance to help with the development of the game there.

The President expressed gratitude to the area committees for re-electing him and urged his fellow executive to work feverishly for the development of the sport there.

The executive body will name its various committees on Sunday.

Apart from Leguan and Bartica, the other are committees are Wakenaam, East Bank Essequibo, Pomeroon, South Essequibo, North Essequibo and Central Essequibo.

Honduras Named Host for 2020 Concacaf Under-20 Championship Miami – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) yesterday announced that Honduras will host the 2020 Concacaf Under-20 Championship.

The two-stage competition (groups and knockout stage) will take place June 20 – July 5, 2020, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

“The Concacaf Men’s Under20 Championship is an exciting tournament that

Friday January 24, 2020

Kaieteur News

provides a great platform for the best young players across our region,” said Concacaf General Secretary Philippe Moggio. “We look forward to the 2020 edition taking place in Honduras as the teams compete for the right to represent Concacaf at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Indonesia next year.”

“We are honored, excited and grateful with the Confederation for naming Honduras as host of the 2020 Concacaf Under-20 Championship,” said

FENAFUTH president Jorge Salomon. “It is a great opportunity to showcase San Pedro Sula to the world, as it is a city characterized by its cheerful people, its simplicity and a vast culture inherited by our ancestors, which will predominate throughout the competition.”

The 2020 Concacaf Under20 World Cup qualifying process will kick off with a preliminary group stage between 17 nations. After round robin play, the top (Continued on page 32)

2019 Busta Champion of Champions Final

RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour to face Albion on Sunday The long and ongoing rivalry between Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt Flour and Albion would add another chapter to its rich history when they clash in the final of the Berbice Cricket Board/Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS/Busta Champions of Champions 2019 tournament.

All the action will unfold at the historic Port Mourant Cricket Ground from 11:00hrs on Sunday when Albion would be seeking its first ever Busta title while Rose Hall Town would be aiming to add its 13th since the tournament started in 2004.

The two teams on Sunday last contested the final of the BCB/Ivan Madray T20 Memorial tournament, RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour emerged as champion after edging Albion by five runs at the No. 69 Vikings Ground.

Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt has been dominating first division cricket in Berbice for a while now and Albion would be determined to win a title that they have failed to win since the tournament commenced.

Both teams would be without some of their main players due to senior national duties, U19 World Cup in South Africa, injuries and they refusal of Cricket Guyana Inc. (CGI) to allow their contracted players to play in the BCB organised tournament.

BCB President Hilbert Foster expressed disappointment in the CGI decision but stated that the tournament was still an overwhelming success.

Albion would be led by Kandasammy Surujnarine with support from Adrian Sukhwa, Sharaz Ramcharran, Jonathan Foo, David Latchaya, Rajiv Ivan, Sarwan Chaitnarine, Reyad Karim and Jetendra Outar.

Their all spin bowling attack consists of offspinners Ramcharran, Latchana, Foo, Left armspinner Mahendra Chaitnarine and Sarwan Chaitnarine. Albion would be missing the services of Anthony Bramble, Veersammy Permaul, Devindra Bishoo, Gudakesh Motie and Kevin Umroa.

Rose Hall Town Namilco

Thunderbolt Flour, without the services of Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Clinton Pestano would be spearheaded in the batting department by veterans Delbert Hicks, Royston Crandon, Khemraj Mahadeo, Jason Sinclair along with Skipper Eon Hooper, Junior Sinclair, Jonathan Rampersaud, Keith Simpson and Chanderpaul Govindhan.

The new ball would be shared by the fiery duo of Keon Sinclair and Sylus Tyndall with back up from offspinners Hooper, Crandon, Rampersaud, Junior Sinclair, Troy Mathieson, left armspinner Keith Simpson and Leg spinner Shawn Pereira.

The winning team and runner-up would carry home $100,000 and $ 5 0 , 0 0 0 , respectively along with trophies while the man-ofthe-final would also receive a cash prize and trophy. BCB President and RHTYSC/CEO Hilbert Foster along with Busta Regional Manager Albert Budhoo will officiate at the presentation ceremony.

Cappelen grabs lead, Woods three back at Farmers Insurance Open San Diego (Reuters) Sebastian Cappelen grabbed the early lead in the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open yesterday while Tiger Woods gave a solid display in his first start of the year as he guns for a record-breaking 83rd PGA Tour victory.

The 29-year-old Dane got hot early, mixing five birdies and a bogey on the front nine and added three more birdies and one bogey on the back nine at Torrey Pines. Cappelen was six-under par heading into his final hole, one stroke clear of six players including world number two and tournament favorite Rory McIlroy, who had seven birdies.

But all the attention was on Woods, who was trailed by a large crowd as he made his way around the oceanside course on a sun-soaked day that saw parasailers floating by before cool, thick fog moved in during the afternoon.

Woods, playing alongside world number three Jon Rahm and promising newcomer Collin Morikawa, looked rusty at the outset and managed just an even par 36 through his first nine holes

Tiger Woods plays his shot from the 14th tee during the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament.

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports behind two birdies and two bogeys.

But he gained momentum and capped his day with a birdie for a round of threeunder par 69, three off the pace. “Overall I’m pleased to get something in the red,” said Woods, who admitted that controlling his nerves was a challenge when he first teed off yesterday.

“I was definitely feeling the adrenaline,” he added. “I

missed the competition and I was trying to keep everything as calm as a possibly could.

“I didn’t do a very good job of that starting out, made a quick bogey early but felt like I fought back.” The 44year-old American will move to the more challenging, recently renovated South Course today as he tries to break Sam Snead’s record of 82 PGA Tour victories.

Friday January 24, 2020

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Kaieteur News

CWI’s Regional four-day Cricket

Bramble, Chanderpaul & Barnwell hit fifties as Charles takes 4-62

By Sean Devers Played before virtually empty stands in sweltering heat at Providence, Guyana Jaguars, led by Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s resolute 68 and half centuries from Chris Barnwell and Anthony Bramble, batted all day against leaders Trinidad’s Red Force on the opening day of their third round CWI’s PCL Four-day league yesterday to reach 263-6 by stumps.

Chanderpaul faced 251 balls, batted for 338 minutes and reached the boundary nine times. He added 86 for the fourth wicket with Barnwell who made 58 from 104 balls, 125 minutes with 10 fours.

Bramble is unbeaten on 63 from 49 balls, 85 minutes decorated with nine fours and two sixes while Chanderpaul Hemraj with 36 from 41 balls, 43 minutes with six fours was the other batsman to pass 20.

With Bramble is Davendra Bishoo on 10 with two fours in the final over from Off Spinner Bryan Charles(4-62) for the Red Force who lost eight of their last 10 matches against Guyana while winning one in T&T last season.

Guyana elected to bat on a slow track and Hemraj was looking well set for a big score when, after stroking Charles

for a glorious four and a nonchalant six over extra cover, tried to cut at one too close to him a dragged the ball onto his stumps.

Such was his dominance in the opening stand that when he was dismissed for 36, the Jaguars were 37-1 as Chanderpaul struggled get the ball away or rotate the strike. Skipper Leon Johnson’s went LBW for 20 with three fours from 61 balls and 68 minutes with the score on 69-2 as the Red Force, without a First-Class title since 2006, enjoyed the better of the of the early exchanges.

Despite the positive start from Hemraj, the five-time defending champions only managed to reach 69-2 before Lunch with Chanderpaul on 13 and Vishaul Singh yet to score.

After the interval Chanderpaul demonstrated a bit more positivity and tugged left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein over mid-wicket for four to move into the 20’s before Charles struck again at 80-3 as the left-handed Singh (4) attempted a big shot and taken at Gully.

The consistent Barnwell, again looking confident and square drove Charles for a boundary before stroking him past mid-off for the second four of the over.

Chanderpaul hit Yannick

Chris Barnwell continued his good yesterday with an attractive 58. (Sean Devers photo) Ottley for back-to-back boundaries before driving Yannic Cariah to the ropes at extra cover as he stepped on the gas.

The partnership progressed nicely with Chanderpaul playing the sheet-anchor role to the aggressive Barnwell and by Tea, the Guyanese, who have never lost to the Red Force on home soil in the five-year history of PCL cricket, were 150-3 with the partnership worth 70 runs.

Barnwell who drove pacer Odean Smith down the ground for four, was on 44 and with him was Chanderpaul on a carefully

constructed 43. Barnwell pulled Smith four off the first ball after the break and soon reached his 12th First-Class fifty from 98 balls, 124 minutes with eight fours.

The DCC right-hander celebrated the landmark with a spanking drive for four through cover but like he did in Antigua when failed to convert his 82 into a century, Barnwell was trapped LBW to Daren Bravo’s gentle medium pace for 58 at 166-4.

Bramble arrived in a nononsense mood and got going with a swept boundary off Hosein before depositing him next ball for a humongous

Chanderpaul Hemraj chops the unto his stumps yesterday at Providence. (Sean Devers photo) straight six. Chanderpaul backed away and played a majestic cut off Bravo which raced to the boundary before reaching his 10th fifty and third for this season. His halfcentury took 291 balls, 295 minutes with six fours.

Chanderpaul pulled Smith audaciously for four while Bramble slog-swept Hosein for a boundary as their partnership took shape Bramble swept Hosein for four before smashing Terrence Hinds back past his ankles and also cut him to backward point for boundaries to gallop to his 11th fifty from 57 balls, 53

minutes with eight fours and two sixes.

Chanderpaul was caught behind and Kevin Sinclair caught and bowled for a duck as Charles struck twice in the same over with both wickets falling at 251. Plays resumes at 09:30hrs today, the second day.

At Sabina Park: Scorpions trail by 166 runs with four wickets intact.

Barbados Pride 219 (Shayne Moseley 64, Kyle Mayers 53, Kraigg Brathwaite 25; Marquino Mindley 4-31, Rovman Powell 3-65) Jamaica Scorpions 53 for six (John Campbell 26; Chemar Holder 5-21)

Unbeaten Windies crush Nigeria to book quarter-final spot Kimberley, South Africa, CMC – Captain Kimani Melius and Matthew Patrick struck half-centuries as West Indies crushed hapless Nigeria by 246 runs to storm into the quarter-finals of the ICC Under-19 World Cup with an unbeaten record here y e s t e r d a y. A l r e a d y w i t h wins agains t powerhouses Australia and England under their belts, the 2016 champions flexed their muscle with both bat and ball, to top Group B with six points and install themselves as one of the favourites for the title.

Choosing to bat first; Patrick top-scored with 68 from 70 balls batting at number six while opener Melius struck 65 from 81 deliveries to power the Caribbean side to 303 for eight off their 50 overs.

Number eight Joshua James rallied the lower order with an explosive 30ball 43 while Kevlon Anderson got a start with 25 off 27 balls in the top order but failed to carry on.

Faced with a virtually

Celebration Time for the young Windies. impossible run chase, the African side capitulated meekly for 57 off 21.4 overs

as fast bowler Jayden Seales wiped out the top order with a superb spell of four for 19

from six incisive overs.

Left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd then

sustained that pressure with three for 11 while Patrick completed an excellent allround performance by picking up two for 16 with his offbreaks to earn Man-of-theMatch honours.

West Indies were given a solid, if not spectacular start by Melius and Leonardo Julien who put on 70 for the first wicket, before Melius added a further 65 for the second wicket with Anderson.

Left-hander Julien batted slowly, striking just three fours in a 47-ball knock before missing a drive at a full length delivery from seamer Abdulrahman Jimoh (2-56) and having his stumps shattered in the 17th over.

Melius looked in good touch, punching nine fours and a couple of sixes but it was his dismissal which sparked somewhat of a Windies slide a s f i v e wickets tumbled for 64 runs. In need of momentum at 199 for six in the 39th over, West Indies were rescued by Patrick and James who put on a rollicking 9 0 f r o m 6 3

deliveries for the seventh wicket.

Patrick belted halfdozen fours and two sixes while James blasted a couple of fours and three s i xes before perishing in the final over.

Seales then wasted little time getting stuck into the Nigeria top order when he bowled Sulaimon Runsewe without scoring with the second ball of the innings, and then sent back his opening partner Elijah Olaleye, also without scoring, bowled in the third over with five runs on the board.

Number three Chukwuemeka Mba (5) and Isaac Danladi (7) staged the best stand of the innings when they put on 18 for the third wicket but once Seales removed both Mba and Boniface Oche (0) in the space of three balls in the ninth over, the innings resumed its decline.

Jimoh top-scored with 17 but was one of the last four wickets to fall for seven runs in the space of 27 deliveries.

PAGE 40

Friday January 24, 2020

Kaieteur News

Organisers seek corporate support as South E’bo T20 tourney set to be launched on Sunday The South Essequibo T20 tournament is set to be launched on Sunday at the New Opportunity Corps ground and the organisers are calling o n t h e b u s i n e s s community to lend support as they seek to develop the game in the area.

According to Debra Daniels of the Organising Committee, they continue to face challenges in gaining sponsorship and they are seeking support in raising $150,000 more for the successful staging of the competition.

Sunday launch will take the form of the teams competing in different skill activities and a seven-over knockout competition; this activity is sponsored by the Fredericks brothers, Norman and Norwayne while South Essequibo Cricket Committee President Andy Ramnarine will deliver the opening remarks.

All matches will be played at the NOC ground on February 2, 16 and 23.

The winning team will take

home $60,000, runner-up $40,000, third place $30,000 and fourth place, $20,000.

During the final, the organising body will be honouring several former cricketers and cricket administrators who have made lasting impressions on the game; they are Cyril Drakepaul, Linden Daniels, Rawdo Persaud, Boodnarine Ramnarine, Terry Paul, Garfield Paul, Sewlall Sookdeo, Carl Brandon and Jeff Jones the first Essequibian to score an inter county century.

The organisers have decided as to give the females and Under-15 male cricketers in the area much needed practice before the Essequibo inter county trials which is set to start s h o r t l y. T h e y w i l l b e included in the teams taking part in the competition on Sunday.

As the organisers battle to attract sponsors, they are grateful to R. G Mining, Builders’ Hardware, Mr. Carl Brandon and Norman and Norwayne Fredericks

for their support. As expected it would be the first time sixteen past and present cricketers will be involved in a competition in South Essequibo and they have been placed in the various teams.

The Supenaam/ Velvorden team includes Essequibo franchise captain Anthony Adams, D a v i d Wi l l i a m s , K e o n Davis and Ravie Beharry.

Middlesex/Airy Hall has Linden Daniels, Besham Seepersaud, Eknauth Persaud, Norman and Norwayne Fredricks.

Adventure/Annandale - Patrick Rooplall, Ricardo Peters, Gewan Singh, Akenie Adams, Radho Persaud, Mark Gonslaves.

South Under-21 Select XI Rayon Thomas, Jermine Trotman, Trevor Benn, Neiland Codogan, and Joshua Jones. Players are asked to contact their respective captains at the earliest opportunity.

Supenaam/Velvorden – Timur Mohamed (660 2714), Middlesex/Airy Hall

South Essequibo’s Sheldon Charles Lisa Charles is one of the leading captained Guyana in the female cricketers in South Essequibo. Regional U-17 tournament in 2019.

Norman Fredricke (692 8752), Adventure/ Annandale Javid Azeez (675 8335), South Under-21

Select XI Mr. Shane Wong (604 5124).

Persons interested in rendering assistance can

contact, Reyaad Mohamed (630-8963), Debra Daniels (683-7807) or Akenie Adams (696-5095).

Ryan Crawford Turf Senior National Men’s squad shortlisted for Club goes racing Pan American Challenge on February 16 The Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sports Facility (RCMTCSF) will be running off a grand one-day horse race meet on Sunday February 16 next at the Club’s facilities, Alness Village, Corentyne Berbice.

Six races are listed for the days programme with over $2.M in cash, trophies and other incentives up for grabs.

The feature event will be for the Crawford stakes with a first prize of $500,000 and trophy over 1400 meters.

The ‘J’ and Lower race has a winner’s purse of $220,000 and a trophy also over 1400M. There is a race for 3-

Year-Old horses which carries a winner’s take of $200,000 and a trophy in another 1400M event.

The race for L1 and Lower horses will see the winner taking home $150,000 and a trophy over 1200M. The winner for the event for L2 and Lower will take away $80,000 and a trophy over 1200M. There is a race for L3 Unclassified horses and they will be running for a winner’s prize of $60,000 and trophy over 1100M. Entries closes on February 14 and interested persons can contact Marcel Crawford Jnr. on 678 5342 or 600 7690 for more information.

Following a weekend of open try-outs where players were asked to complete a series of physical tests and game situations, the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) has shortlisted 26 local men to begin preparations for the Pan American Challenge scheduled for June 27 to July 5, in Lima, Peru.

The tournament is the qualifier for the final two spots in the Pan American Cup, scheduled for 2021 in Trinidad & Tobago.

The squad includes 10 senior players and 16 members of the National Under 21 squad which is also preparing for the Junior Pan American Championships in Santiago, Chile in November of this year.

Commenting on the selection process, National Coach Robert Fernandes stated that, “Looking at the turnout at the tryouts it seems like we will be going through a transitional phase this year.

Our last international tournament was the CAC Games in August 2018, so some of our most experienced national players have since transitioned to other priorities in their lives and didn’t tryout last weekend.

Senior National Men’s squad shortlisted.

That means that there is a large crop of new faces i n t h i s y e a r ’s s q u a d .

Although their lack of e x p e r i e n c e will be a challenge, they have displayed an infectious enthusiasm which has brought a new energy to the entire process. They are very talented, intelligent and all seem willing to work hard

and those are some of the main ingredients we need to produce a quality national team.”

The 26 local players shortlisted are Dominic Alleyne, JamarjAssanah, Rayon Branford, Sherwyn Caesar, Hilmar Chester, Hilton Chester, Edmond Chinian, Paul D’Andrade, ShakeemFausette, Robert

France, Shomere Garnett, Tahrea Garnett, Tivesarid Garnett, Jael Gaskin, Michael Hing, Troy Hodge, Randy Hope, Kareem McKenzie, Tariq Nelson, John Phang, Mark Sargeant, Meshach Sargeant, Medroy Scotland, Theodore Thierens, David Williams and Samuel Woodroffe.

Friday January 24, 2020

PAGE 41

Kaieteur News

Coach Edmonds pleased with AAG’s busy calendar - Third Development Meet on tomorrow

Coach Julian Edmonds.

Davin Fraser

By Calvin Chapman The Athletics Association of Guyana’s (AAG) Third Development Meet for the year and the Fourth Track & Field Meet in less than a month’s time runs off tomorrow at the Enmore Community Center (ECC) Ground, East Coast of Demerara where over 150 local athletes are expected to compete in odd distances on the 300m track along with the traditional field events.

This year is the year of the Olympics and with Carifta Games a few months away; athletes are using these

Meets to gauge their level of preparedness for the busy season ahead.

Guyana is also scheduled to host the South America Under-23 Championships this year which will see a larger contingent of local athletes being able to compete at the continental showpiece.

Tomorrow’s headline will without a doubt be the men’s open sprint battle between Davin Fraser and Akeem Stewart. In the first Development Meet this year at the Guyana Defence Force

(GDF) ground two weeks ago, Stewart and Fraser shared honours in the 60m and 150m races, respectively.

Last week, Stewart didn’t participate in the second Development Meet at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground in Linden but Fraser continued where he left off at GDF to win the 150m race in 16.32 seconds.

Senior Athletics Coach, Julian Edmonds, in an invited comment,

expressed satisfaction with the busy start to season by the AAG with a track meet each weekend so far.

“There are many things we can improve on but this is very good, constant competition is needed to keep our athletes sharp.

It builds rivalries and motivates them to keep improving”, Coach Edmonds posited.

Following tomorrow’s event,

With less than one day remaining before the commencement of the 3rd Magnum Tonic Wine Mashramani Cup Futsal Tournament, tournament Coordinator San Sports, has officially released the complete fixtures for the group round.

According to CoDirector of San Sports Esan Griffith, “The decision to release the fixtures ahead of the start of the tournament was to ensure and promote transparency for the teams and the fans.

“In an effort to promote transparency and accountability, the entire group stage fixture for the tournament was released.

This was done to ensure that teams can properly manage their campaign while providing the fans the itinerary to properly follow the championship.”

Twenty-four (24) teams will feature in the competition which is programmed to commence tomorrow at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

The competing teams will be divided into six groups of four, with the top two finishers as well as the best four third

placed teams advancing to the knockout round.

The remaining playing dates are Tuesday January 28th, Thursday January 30th, Saturday February 1st, Tuesday February 4th, Thursday February 6th [Round of 16], Saturday February 8th [Quarterfinals], Saturday February [Semifinals] and Saturday February 22nd [Final].

The groups are Group-A: Back Circle, Sparta Boss, Ansa McAl All-Stars and Bad-A-Yard, Group-B: Rio All-Stars, Leopold Street, Spartacus and Melanie, Group-C: Future Stars, Alexander Village, Spot7 and Mocha, Group-D: Bent Street, Showstoppers, North East La Penitence and Avocado Ballers, GroupE: Sophia, Broad Street, Kingston and Island All-Stars and Group-F: Gold is Money, Albouystown, Stabroek Ballers and Belfield Warriors.

Winner of the event will pocket $700,000 and the championship trophy, while the second place side will collect $400,000 and the respective accolade.

On the other hand, the third and fourth place unit will receive $200,000 and $100,000

respectively and the corresponding trophy.

Complete Group Stage Fixtures Day-1 Bad-a-Yard vs Ansa McAl-19:00hrs Alex Village vs Spot-719:30hrs Showstoppers vs North East La Penitence-20:00hrs Melanie vs Leopold St20:30hrs Rio All-Stars vs Spartacus-21:00hrs Bent St vs Avocado Ballers-21:30hrs Back Circle vs Sparta Boss-22:00hrs Day-2 Sophia vs Island AllStars-19:00hrs Broad St vs Kingston19:30hrs Albouystown vs Belfield Warriors-20:00hrs Mocha vs Future Stars20:30hrs Rio All-Stars vs Melanie21:00hrs Gold is Money vs Stabroek Ballers-21:30hrs Back Circle vs Bad-a-Yard22:00hrs Day-3 Melanie vs Spartacus19:00hrs Future Stars vs Spot-719:30hrs Alex Village vs Mocha-

20:00hrs Leopold St vs Spartacus20:30hrs North East La Penitence vs Avocado Ballers-21:00hrs Sparta Boss vs Ansa McAl-21:30hrs Bent St vs Showstoppers22:00hrs Day-4 Mocha vs Spot-7-19:00hrs Sophia vs Kingston19:30hrs Broad St vs Island AllStars-20:00hrs Albouystown vs Stabroek Ballers-20:30hrs Gold is Money vs Belfield Warriors-21:00hrs Back Circle vs Ansa McAl-21:30hrs Rio All-Stars vs Leopold Street-22:00hrs Day-5 Kingston vs Island AllStars-19:00hrs Belfield Warriors vs Stabroek Ballers-19:30hrs Showstoppers vs Avocado Ballers-20:00hrs Future Stars vs Alex Village-20:30hrs Broad St vs Sophia21:00hrs Sparta Boss vs Bad-aYard-21:30hrs Gold is Money vs Albouystown-22:00hrs Bent St vs North East La Penitence-22:30hrs

GDF’s sprint ace Akeem Stewart (winner) will be looking to go faster than his 10.2s PB this season. the fourth Development Meet will be held at the National Track & Field Facility (NTFC) Leonora, on February 1st where regular distances will be contested.

This meet will also serve as the first qualifier for the 49th Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) Junior Games which will be held in Bermuda this Easter weekend. Edmonds noted

that Guyana will be without regular medalists the likes of Joanna Archer, Claudrice McKoy and Chantoba Bright who would have all contributed significantly throughout the years, but the Coach believes that the current crop of Under20 players Guyana has, can continue the upward curve of local athletics.

Formula One to hold Magnum Tonic Wine Mashramani Cup auction for Australian Futsal Tournament Fixtures Released bushfire relief

File Photo: Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - March 15, 2019 Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas in action during practice REUTERS/Edgar Su London (Reuters) Formula One, whose 2020 season starts in Melbourne on March 15, has announced an auction to help areas most affected by the Australian bushfires. The sport said in a statement that drivers, teams, partners and the governing body were contributing exclusive items and experiences to be auctioned from Wednesday and running through to Feb. 16.

Items included racing gloves and shoes used by Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo last season, his first with Renault, as well as race suits worn by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Alex Albon in 2019.

Teams have offered factory visits and meet-and-greets in the Melbourne paddock with drivers

and team principals including six-times world champion Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto. The FIA will provide a hot lap of the Albert Park circuit in the official safety car and a visit to race control during the grand prix while dinner with Formula One’s managing director for motorsport Ross Brawn is also up for bids.

“Australia has always been and will continue to be a very special place for Formula One,” Formula One said in a statement.

“The Australian people are an integral part of our tight-knit community and we send our condolences to everyone affected by the awful fires.”

Hamilton has already said he is donating U.S. $500,000 towards the rescue and care of wildlife caught in the fires.

PAGE 42

Friday January 24, 2020

Kaieteur News

Foster pledges to continue tradition Jermaine Figueira elected UDCA of excellence in legends memory President - BCB hosts night of reflection for late Basil Butcher

Jermaine Figueira MP was elected unopposed as the President of the Upper Demerara Cricket Association (UDCA) when the body held its Annual General Meeting (AGM), recently. The executive will serve until 2022.

Lancelot Easton will serve as the Vice President while the other members of the executive are; Nolan Beekharry-Secretary, Sharon Williams-Assistant Secretary, Keith Sullivan-Treasurer, Wanda Richmond-Assistant Treasurer, Avery TrimMarketing Manager, Flemroy Lambert-Public Relations Officer and Mortimer Denny -Chairman of the Competitions Committee.

Mr. Figueira expressed gratitude to the members for giving him an opportunity to serve the game there and outlined his plans for cricket development in Upper Demerara. Among them is to rebuild proper playing surfaces at Mackenzie Sports Club and the Linden Technical Institute grounds, soonest.

He further stated that discussions are already underway with East Bank Demarara and Guyana Cricket Boards to assist in the revival of cricket in the area where little or no cricket has been played for almost a decade.

He complimented Bayroc and Mackenzie Clubs for the effort to bring back the game to the Bauxite Mining Town.

The Guyana Cricket Board

recently announced that the entity will be building an allweather practice facility in Linden giving some level of hope that the area will finally be getting some much needed help for the revival of the game.

It is understood that previous cricket administrators in Linden, of recent, failed to plan and execute any level of cricket related events and the new executive committee intends to work collectively for the growth in the areas with plans on stream to start a sponsored competition as early as next week.

Clubs present at the meeting included Bayroc, Mackenzie Sports Club, Wisroc , Block 22, Blueberry Hill, Christianburg and Amelia’s Ward.

Mrs. Pamela Butcher carries the ashes of the late Basil Butcher.

The Berbice Cricket Board on Thursday and Friday last paid tribute to the late Basil Fitzherbert Butcher, AA as he was laid to rest in the home village of Port Mourant. On Thursday evening, hundreds turned out to an Evening of Reflection in honour of Butcher at the Port Mourant Ground.

Foster and Butcher’s former teammate, Sydney Jackman both hailed the late Butcher as a Berbice cricketing Hero, who laid the foundation for others to follow. Foster, who was a close friend of the batting maestro, disclosed that Butcher was one of the first persons to encourage him to run for the Presidency of the BCB and always provided words of encouragement and advice.

The attentive audience of young crickets were encouraged to follow Butcher’s formula of being humbled, hardworking, discipline and dedicated if they want to follow his path to success. Despite his legendary status, Butcher was a very simple and humble individual who strongly believed in assisting others to succeed.

Jackman in his half hour reflection on Butcher’s career stated that most bowlers rated him as one of the most difficult batsmen to dismiss as he cherished his wicket very highly.

The former Guyana Wicketkeeper noted that Butcher was very supportive of his junior teammates and remembered him being the first person to offer words of encouragement when he misstumped the great Sir Garfield Sobers.

Pastor Rajin Dipoo of the CCI Church also spoke at the event which featured

numerous cultural items from the Fyrish Steelband Group, Guysuco Training Center and the CCI Church, Williamsburg.

The large gathering of cricketers, officials, umpires and special guests were also able to view a pictorial review of Butcher’s career via an exhibition hosted by the BCB. Corporate support for the event was provided by Banks DIH Ltd., CIDI, Spready’s Snackette, Guyana Beverage Company BCB and RHTYSC, MS. At the funeral service on Friday, Foster unveiled several plans of the BCB to honour the memory of Butcher and the other four legends, John Trim, Rohan Kanhai, Joe Soloman and Ivan Madray. They were the

first five Berbicians to play Test cricket and Foster stated that Guysuco would be approached to name the pavilion at the Port Mourant Ground after the legends while a billboard would be constructed to honour them at the ground.

The RHTY&SC and BCB would also organise an annual Basil Butcher Memorial Cricket tournament and the Basil Butcher Trust Fund. Under the fund, less fortunate young players would benefit from cricket gear while clubs would receive cricket balls, stumps and scorebooks. Twenty-four cricketers honoured Butcher’s memory by giving him a bat salute as his ashes were taken in and out of the Church.

Royals bounce against Raiders for LABA/YBG U-19 2019 title, tonight - Kings face Jets for third The final of the 2019 Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA)/Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) Inter Club championship final will be decided tonight when the unbeaten Victory Valley Royals face off against Retrieve Raiders in the final at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court.

In the semifinals, Royals trounced Kings 78-43 with their top players being Immanuel LaRose who led with 33 points, Shemar Henry 13 and Kobe Tappin 12. T. Thom had eight points for the losing Kings.

In the other semifinal Retrieve Raiders got the

better of Amelia’s Ward Jets, 57-50 after the scores were in their favour 18-15 after the first quarter ended. However, the scores were level at 27 at half ended and remained tied when the third quarter came to a close at 46.

The Raiders eased away to win 57-50 when the final whistle was sounded.

Kareem Roberts had a top score of 19 points with teammates Stephan Duncan and Joshua Grannum each netting 12.

For the Jets Leon Benjamin had the game high 19 points also while Gavius George supported with 14 and Jennis Benjamin, 13.

President of the UDCA Jermaine Figueira (3rd left) with other members of the new executive body.

Australia smashes 40 runs in last 3 overs to knock England out of the tournament The Cricket Times Australia and England got involved in arguably the most exciting game so far in the ongoing U19 World Cup on Thursday. A game that went to the last ball held everyone on the edge of the seat, and in the end, it was Australia who came out on top.

After being asked to bat first, England posted 252-7 in their 50 overs. Opener Ben Charlesworth was the lone warrior as he played a crucial knock of 82 runs and helped his team to reach a formidable total.

In reply, the Mackenzie Harvey-led side had a terrible start as both the openers got out cheaply. However, then the skipper and middle-order batsman Lachlan Hearne stitched together a vital partnership of 83 runs and guided their team to a strong position.

But then it was the turn of English bowlers to bounce back in the game, and they shook the Australian team by picking up four wickets for 19 runs to reduce their arch-

Connor Sully – Player of the match rivals to 172/6. As if this much drama wasn’t enough, ‘Boys in Yellow’ decided to give England fans a shocker.

Patrick Rowe and Tanveer Sangha took the game deep where the Aussies reached a situation with 40 off 18 needed before Rowe and Sangha got

out. England were still in the game, but the tail-ender Connor Sully played an innings (35 off 20) of his life to take his side over the line; he was well supported by Todd Murphy who scored 16 off 10 balls and Australia won the match by two wickets.

Kaieteur News

Friday January 24, 2020

PAGE 43

GRFU 10s rugby match on tomorrow T

he top ruggers in Guyana will collide tomorrow afternoon when the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) host a 10s match between a President’s

Select and a Vice-President Select at the National Park Athletics Track.

Rugby pre-season scrummed off at the National Park last week when the GRFU held a Georgetown

Rugby continues tomorrow at the National Park with a 10s match.

Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Championship kicks off tonight in Linden Amid much anticipation and expectation, the 2020 season of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Championship will commence this evening with Linden Zone at the Silver City Tarmac.

Eight elimination matches will be staged, with opening match pitting Retrieve Unknown against Quiet Storm from 19:00hrs.

This will be followed by former champion Dave & Celina’s All-Stars battling Amazings from 19:30hrs, while Wisroc will oppose Presidential from 20:00hrs, and Assassa Ballers will engage defending champion High Rollers from 20:30hrs.

In the fifth clash, Coomacka lock horns with NK Ballers from 21:00hrs while former winner Amelia’s Ward Russians take aim at Capital Storm from 21:30hrs. In the final two matches, Swag Entertainment battles Barsenal from 22:00hrs and Silver Bullets match skills with Haynes Hitters from 22:30hrs.

According to an official release from the tournament Coordinators, the zone will

last for the duration of four nights and will be played utilising a knockout format.

The correspondence further said, “All 16 teams will play on the first night. The winning eight teams will advance to the quarterfinal which will be held the following night. The losing eight teams will enter the Plate Exhibition Round on the quarterfinal night. The winning teams from the quarterfinals will then advance to the semi-finals, while the four losing quarterfinalists will also enter the Plate round.”

The release concluded, “The winning teams from the semi-final round will progress to the championship round, with the losers facing off in the playoff round. The finals of the Plate Round will also occur on that evening.”

The other playing nights for the tournament are January 26th [quarterfinal round], February 7th [semifinal round] and February 8th [Final]. The Berbice Zonal tournament is slated to commence upon the conclusion of the Linden tournament.

intra-squad 15s match on Saturday afternoon. The game featured players who were divided into South & North Georgetown.

The game finished as a draw with both teams managing 17 points. Tyrese Prescott scored two tries and a conversion for North

Georgetown side while Phibian Joseph scored the other try to knot the scores late in the second half.

For South, Rondell

McArthur led from the front with two tries. Shawn David scored the third and Michael Barrow managed the lone conversion.

PAGE 4

Friday January 24, 2020

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Taking back control of one’s safety; of life itself Some members of the public are taking matters into their own hands, with their voices raised either to protest or to caution. Given that it is their own welfare involved, it is way past the time when this should have happened, and happened stridently and consistently. It is either that or hospital time, or wake-house time, followed by funeral and burial time, none of which is ever a good time.

After a flurry of gruesome accidents, with vehicles and passengers and death sprawled all over local roadways, the report is passengers in minibuses are stepping up and speaking out to manage better their own sanity and safety (KN January 13).

This paper is glad that, after the longest while, the first indications of good sense have come to the fore. This cannot be off and on, nor whimsical, as too much is at risk, too many lives have been lost, and too many who miraculously survived those accidents have related lifelong traumas and expenses with which to deal, which, most times, there is difficulty managing.

For too long, the minibus drivers and conductors have been given a free hand and allowed to intimidate the public, disrespect paying, travelling commuters, and injure or send more than a few of them to their graves. Now a start has been made, and it is going to be an uphill battle, because there are those more youthful folks and distinctively older, but no less immature, persons, who are proud to be a part of the rollicking, runaway road culture.

In fact, as has been told and retold, there are those travelers, who encourage drivers to go faster and push through the danger zone. It is considered part of having fun and enjoying a good time. That is, until somebody becomes the latest victim.

Only then, when passengers are hauled out from the wreckages and in great pain, is heard the lament of too loud music, too much smoking (or, on occasion, drinking), too much speeding, and too much of the reckless and unheeding on the part of bus operators.

It would appear, and this paper is guarded about this, that a handful of citizens have come to the conclusion that if they do not speak up, then it is highly likely that they could be going down, as in six feet under, or to the Intensive Care Unit of any one of the local hospitals. Neither one of the end results of silence and disinterest, brings any soothing or satisfying of agitated spirits.

It boggles the mind that, under normal, everyday circumstances, citizens traveling in minibuses would react differently to other menacing or life-threatening situations, without delay, for fear of the potential outcomes. They would be quick to reach out to the Guyana Police Force for assistance and protection, if a neighbour turns up the music too loud, or gets out of hand, or represents the fearful and endangering. The same applies for the women who, more and more, are coming out of their homes to report issues of domestic abuse and violence. And, last, there are those family members, who refuse to take anymore of the unacceptable, and determine that their best chance of safety and some peace of mind is to turn in some drug-crazed or liquor-addled family member.

It may be an out of control offspring or imperiling husband. But the action taken is to protect self. Thus, it is wondered why passengers in minibuses sit quietly and docilely, like sheep being led to the abattoir, while their pilots engage in one traffic violation after another, to the great discomfort and, sometimes, death of their paying charges.

It just does not make sense, when so many have fallen, and so many still decide it is not their business or that silence and stoic unresponsiveness are the better part of valour, and of getting to wherever is the destination.

Now that some concerned citizens have stepped forward, Traffic Chief Linden Isles is expected to make good on his words from before that promised a new day - a safer one for Guyanese travelers in general, and minibus users in particular. It is time that the tighter oversight regime mentioned be enforced, starting with those drivers.

This situation is most definitely a health hazard DEAR EDITOR, I wish to bring to the attention of the Ministry of Public Health, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Mayor, Georgetown City Council a very disturbing situation which has been aired before but still persists to the detriment of those affected.

Now, several years ago, there was a great outcry in the Princes Street, Lodge area about the dumpsite that was created. It was subsequently shut down. A few years later, residents in Princes Street complained that the Municipal Cleansing Department had been dumping rubbish in that compound. The then mayor, Hamilton Green, denied that it was so.

Whether he was aware or not of the truth of the fact is not known. Here we have a similar situation surfacing again.

Now, we all know that the chimney (Old Smokey) was partially demolished several years ago and the land site, Haag Bosh is the allocated site for the city’s refuse disposal.

There is now a mountain of refuse on location in the Cleansing Department compound.

Trucks are seen dumping waste in the compound.

When it rains residents and road users have to put up with the putrid scent that emanates from the area.

I had the misfortune to be in a vehicle that reversed onto a bridge of the Municipal compound and was shocked to see workers (security maybe) sitting on chairs inhaling the foul smell that has saturated their working environment.

Fires are sometimes lit on the refuse and clouds of smoke are seen billowing into the Charlestown/ Albouystown area.

My questions to these entities are: why is this Department accepting refuse when there is a site designed for this purpose?

Is someone receiving cash for what is evidently not permissible? Does the Mayor and councillors know of this development?

Has permission been given for this new dump site? If so, why?

Is this Department a neglected offshoot of the City Council? (Sell the land to

private developers) What a waste! Would this be done in Bel Air or other such areas? Doesn’t the health of citizens in this area count? There are many babies, small children and elderly folks living in the community. This situation is most definitely a health hazard.

I trust that by highlighting this situation, speedy action will be taken.

Another concern I have is the derelict vehicle that has been left lying at the side of the road opposite the compound for several years. Princes Street is narrow and since the road has been reconstructed there is always a constant flow of traffic.

There is no pavement so pedestrians are forced to walk many times in the grass for their own safety.

Why hasn’t the city Council moved this truck which they claim is not theirs? They are aware of the presence of the truck.

However it was said that it belongs to a staff of the Council. It is time that it is removed.

As a concerned citizen, I have looked at the confusion (broken down fence filled with

overgrowth a building that is under renovation for years) that is the compound of the Municipal Cleansing Department.

Worth noting is that fuel is stored in the compound and despite the fact that there is large land space available, the trucks are all competing for parking space. Should there be a fire, the few trucks owned by the municipality and workers would be at risk. That compound is a shameful sight.

I suggest they take down the sign that says cleansing. It’s a disgrace, but then the Town Hall is no better.

Neither is Stabroek Market. Bourda Market stinks to high hell.

Don’t we have town planners? The madness around Stabroek Square has me doubtful. Sigh.

Just a thought. Perhaps Bourda Market could be raised to another level to accommodate the vendors and the lower level used as a paid parking lot to ease some congestion in the city.

Same could be done for Stabroek Market.

Regards, J. Hinds

The Private Sector Commission should be both coy and careful DEAR EDITOR, I note the alacrity with which the Private Sector Commission has called for a Code of Conduct to be subscribed to by all contesting political parties.

This call, it appears is in the wake of an alleged Statement made by the Chairman of the People’s National Congress, Hon. Volda Lawrence, allegedly calling upon members to protect Ballot Boxes.

Of course, this expressed concern with vitriolic rhetoric from the Public S e c t o r Commission is a ‘photocopy’ of Statements m a d e b y t h e P e o p l e ’s Progressive Party/C attacking Ms. Lawrence.

Of course, both groups, like ‘Yam and Sam,’ have chosen to take Ms. L a w r e n c e ’s alleged statement out of context, but that’s another matter.

In the political history of our country, the Private Sector Commission must recall that it was others that first issued a clarion call to storm Polling Stations, snatch and follow Ballot Boxes.

So violent was this

initiative that they still celebrate what they refer to as the ‘Ballot Box Martyrs.’

We must not forget.

For brevity, I say the following, if the Private Sector Commission leadership wishes, as they ought to, secure some level of credibility, they should comment on Statements clearly intended to excite and inflame citizens made by several PPP/C top brass, at Kitty, Corentyne and East Coast Demerara while on the campaign trail.

Not to mention false statements accusing a Coalition Minister and a Senior Afro-Guyanese Official of grabbing large plots of land. Complete falsehood. I need not go into details.

We should expect the Private Sector Commission with equal zeal make public statements and suggestions on the above, since these are all related to the matter of their great concern, which is Elections 2020.

Because of the above factors, we should persuade the PSC to overcome this apparent

political myopia and seek balance and therefore, credibility.

I have publicly and privately expressed my a d m i r a t i o n f o r a f e w, I repeat, a few leaders of the Private Sector Commission for their business acumen.

Others don’t even contribute to sports and cultural organizations run by the poor and lowly.

The Private Sector Commission should be both coy and careful so as not to remind us of the generous transactions some of their members benefitted from the largest of the PPP Administration, when they made public statements parallel to those made by the PPP on the same matter.

No one needs to question the need for a ‘Code of Conduct,’ but what is a far greater importance, is that our women and men in leadership position in the political arena are morally erect and have a sense of decency.

Human history is replete with conventions, code of conduct and agreements that when

honoured in the breach, have led to turmoil, wars, and stress.

For Elections 2020, we need Leaders with i n t e g r i t y, u n w i l l i n g t o falsify and not to be as the old folks say modern day ‘tricky and trawny.’

I have offered some friends of the Private Sector Commission their availability of my experience and advice, probona, but are they interested?

I end with the words of Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, a Ghanaian Scholar, who came to the attention when the West African Country, Gold Coast, Ghana, was marching bravely to disengage the monster of the Colonial Master.

In Guyana today, the remnants of the Colonial Master philosophy seem to be alive and well.

Our young people must slay this monster.

Pipim said “Those who read are those who lead; But those who write keep the leaders right. For silence is the crime by cowards of every time.”

Hamilton Green