Wednesday January 25, 2017
There is no justice for the poor and powerless DEAR EDITOR, Comments like those offered by the Minister of Finance in his 2017 Budget with respect to the progress on the reforms in the judicial system have to be rejected on all fronts since it is constructed in an environment that is confusing. The Minister was quoted as saying “the Government continues to place the highest priority on the maintenance of a strong justice system, given its role in upholding our civil liberties and maintaining the rule of law.” Where is this strong justice system that the Minister is alluding to? Thus my use of the word confusing because such a system does not exist in Guyana, has not for a very long time and the justice system continues to deteriorate under this Granger Government with these public measures of witch-hunt and harassment of the top judicial official by the politicians. We have a strategic problem in the judicial system, it is a third rate deliverer of justice especially if you are poor and cannot raise “bail money”. The Hon. Minister of Finance in his 2017 Budget introduced a $1.6 billion IDB Project that is aiming to provide: 1. Alternative sentencing interventions. 2. Strengthening of probation services. 3. Design and implementation of restorative justice programme. 4. Implementation of case management and court scheduling system. 5. Training of judges and magistrates in the use of alternatives to pretrial detention. 6. Law reform. My immediate response this latest
act of irrelevance spending is - here we go again. Guyana has spent some G$10 billion by way of foreign donor projects on Justice Sector Reforms and Citizen Security Programs since 2007 and it has mostly come to naught. Guyana is still a crime invested society that has a judicial system that still has thousands of cases in the backlog piles, unresponsive to the needs of the accused and actively violates the human rights of dozens of innocent men and women in a remand system that is totally malfunctional. There is no social justice for the poor and the working class in Guyana; not under Anil Nandlall and now under Basil Williams because of serious legal administrative issues. Under Anil Nandlall, an Amerindian victim one, Mr. Justin John languished in jail for seven years because the prosecutorial system was unwilling to deliver justice in a timely manner. Today under Basil Williams, it is better with dozens more such active cases leading a President to make decisions with a questionable methodology to release prisoners from an overcrowded prison system. Good try, but there is a better way, put the people in front of judges and magistrates. It is unfortunate that after all these years, our policy makers do not understand that development is not how much money we spend, but how much of that money actually benefits the intended beneficiary. Where is the change for the poor and the working class that was promised at WHIM in 2015? It is time for the DPP to bite the bullet and surrender those cases she has inadequate evidence on. As the Officer in Charge of Prosecution in Guyana, she has the mandate to bring speedy closure
to those cases she has weak evidence or no evidence for. It is not the remandee’s fault that the investigative skill of most of the members of the Police Force is poor. It is time that we as a society have the courage of conviction to advocate for justice for all regardless of their social status. The burden of proof is on the prosecution and their slothfulness must not be rewarded by the incarceration of poor people. The prosecutors are tasked with the responsibility to collect and present enough compelling evidence to convince the Judge of the facts. The DPP and the Police and the leaders in the judicial reform process under this Granger government continue to fail the nation by failing to present evidence beyond the reasonable doubt on these cases fast enough and instead they continue to hide behind the bureaucracy. This is wrong and in cases where the DPP has weak evidence, she must throw in the towel and go for an acquittal, rather than have so many young lives tarnished by a crooked and broken judicial system. It is up to the Independent Media to ask the tough questions of the DPP, Attorney General and the Public Security Minister and the President himself so that this trend of denying justice to the working class reduces. This is not how the poor and the powerless must be treated. It is just plain wrong. How many more poor people, who cannot afford to raise bail, will be forced to languish unjustly in jail for years because the DPP, the Police and those tasked with Judicial Reforms in the Granger government are failing to do the job that they are paid to do? Sase Singh
Were the police consulted on the placement of the meters? DEAR EDITOR, I am not against parking meters but I am completely aghast at how this particular project in Guyana has been implemented. It has been foisted on the citizenry at such an amazing pace that we can hardly catch our breath. My issues with this project follows. The fact that all councillors of the M&CC it seems (except for Mr Sherod Duncan) sat and allowed this project to be passed with ease, makes me very concerned about whose interest these representatives are serving. The lack of consultation for this project
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was severely lacking. And a few public meetings here and there are not considered consultations in my book. It seems even the police were not consulted on placement of the meters. This project is ill conceived, lacks consideration for the citizens of the city and the implementation process borders on bullyism. The fact that the council will get only 20 per cent of the proceeds astounds me. How will this be profitable for M&CC? The fact that the council has tied Guyana down with this deal for 20 years further astounds me. I trust there is an exit
clause in the contract. The fact that they are now scurrying around and suggesting that persons have to apply for discounts (resident permits) shows that no consideration has been shown for persons working and living in areas. Who in this country on a regular salary can even afford to pay over $20,000 in parking meters? Did they not assess the East Street parking lot pilot which looks like a failure, before going ahead with this one? Why have we not seen in their advertisements special fixed costs (that are affordable) for residents and
There is no coordination among the service companies DEAR EDITOR, Just like almost everything else in this land, infrastructure like roads especially is constructed and well laid out, then comes one of the utility companies and digs up the road/s to facilitate the laying of water mains, GTT cables or GPL doing some work that would not put the newly laid road/s into a state of disrepair. One wonders where the cohesiveness is among these companies. Why are there not consultations between the agencies mentioned above, and why was a comprehensive plan not put in place to facilitate what is to be done by these companies before the road is completed. In
my layman’s position monies are wasted since after the road is dug to accommodate the passing of cables or water mains there is a cost to the tax payer to have these new roads repaired, and to make matters worse the repair work is never the same as when it was laid originally. Now we have the Parking Meters around city streets that was put on hold because there was something to be done and should have been done a long time ago, but now there was a pause a few days ago to get things right, (I did mind the delay), but I do worry about things that must be done and wasn’t done so that delays becomes inevitable. Ivan John
business persons. That there was a legal delay up until this week in the M&CC anticipated commencement for this project further makes me think that these folks are in such a rush to push it on the people of Guyana that they have not done all the homework. I completely understand that the M&CC needs to get income, but there must surely be more creative ways to think about it if leaders would just sit, put their arrogance aside and talk and listen to folks on the ground and maybe, just maybe we can come up with solutions that can work. Leaders have to remember they are there to serve; the citizens put them there with the hope that they would look after the best interest of the people all the people. Raquel Thomas-Caesar
The premise of this statement attributed to Mr. Nandlall is false DEAR EDITOR, The Tuesday 24th January, 2017 edition of the Kaieteur News contains an article under the caption “Banks DIH sues GRA for $28.5 billion.” In that article a statement is attributed to former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, chronicling the history of the Consumption tax dispute between Demerara Distillers Limited and the Guyana Revenue Authority dating back to 2001. After correctly recounting that the Court of Appeal upheld DDL’s challenge to the GRA’s assessment of its tax liability, and prescribed a formula to calculate that liability, the article reports Mr. Nandlall’s statement to the effect that, in 2009, the GRA again assessed DDL, this time using the Court’s recommended formula, which second assessment was also challenged in Court by DDL. Mr. Nandlall is quoted as criticizing the Government for its failure “to defend GRA’s assessment done in accordance with the Court of Appeal’s formula.” It becomes necessary to point out that the premise of this statement attributed to Mr. Nandlall is false. In fact, DDL’s claim in Court was that the GRA’s assessment violated the Court of Appeal formula, and this was a live issue between the parties. The article also does not point out that the second assessment was made two years after the Consumption Act which permitted such assessments had been repealed, so that there was no authority to make the assessment at all. Miles Fitzpatrick, S.C. Timothy Jonas
WPA activist, Mobutu Kamara is dead DEAREDITOR, A few days ago I learnt with shock from a friend that long time WPA activist Mobutu Kamara (also known as Drummer), farmer, poet and political activist, passed away last December. The length of time it took for Mobutu’s death and subsequent burial to be known to his colleagues and friends is itself a subject of concern for which it is hard to venture an explanation. My first instinct on hearing of Mobutu’s passing was to reach for his booklet of poems titled “IS TIME”. Beautifully illustrated by artist Abbysinnian and edited by Andaiye, the booklet contains very short but powerful poems reflecting the times, that is, the 1980s. Mobutu’s poems echo his passion for social justice in Guyana. Rupert Roopnaraine in an afterword in Mobutu’s booklet describes the poems as “slender as bullets” and springing “from the militant imagination.” Undeniably, Mobutu was as militant as they come. A member of ASCRIA, he also became a member of the WPA when ASCRIA merged with others to form the political party. Like many in the WPA,
Mobutu was arrested on a number of occasions for his political activity against the People’s National Congress government. The former Centre Coordinator of the WPA Headquarters in Tiger Bay was arrested several times, including one occasion for selling Dayclean in January 1980 when his home was also searched. The Recognition Handbook published in 1979 by the intelligence services to identify key WPA activists identified Mobutu as a “firm believer in African traditions and dresses accordingly.” One way to salute Mobutu Kamara’s life and work is through one of his poems. Its self-refection says it all: “I learn my history from my class experience I learn it from the simplest of my people” Nigel Westmaas
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In the Land of Many Waters, Linden has no water DEAR EDITOR, In the land of many waters there is water everywhere. Travelling from Georgetown to Linden, one drives along the Demerara River, then cross 9 creeks between Soesdyke and Linden. Yet in Mackenzie, Linden water isn’t delivered 24/7, despite being bordered for miles on one side by the Demerara River. Typically water starts running about 6 am until about 10 am. It stops running until about 4pm, then stays on until about 10pm after which it shuts down until the following morning. Even though the times are approximate, that is the general schedule. Often when the water is running, the pressure is often low and/or the water is brown.
At the local GWI office I asked why these problems exist and received a collective shrug of the shoulders. There wasn’t even an official company excuse given, not that I would have been appeased by that. They were collecting their paycheck and nobody seemed to care which is unfortunately typical all across Guyana. I reminisced with three other customers who were there to pay their bills about the time about two decades ago when Linden had clean, drinkable water around the clock, even during the infrequent blackouts. Providing clean water is a basic function of any government. Providing clean water is a low tech activity. Not providing clean water in
an area where the infrastructure already exists shows ineptitude and a clear lack of empathy to those being subjected to the poor service which is paid for. Besides lots of water, we are blessed with abundant sources for the other raw materials used to filter water such as sand (used to remove organic matter from plants and animals), charcoal (the precursor to activated charcoal that is used to capture harmful minerals which chlorine or boiling doesn’t remove). Add ultraviolet filtering and the cost for expensive, imported chemicals is vastly reduced. What is your excuse GWI? Can you provide a timeline for when this problem will be fixed? K. Slowe
Lack of concern is ruining hopes in Region 10 DEAR EDITOR, According to the magnitude of work I’ve done as a leader in Amelia’s Ward and Linden. There seems to be no visionary prospects for us. In phase two, Amelia’s Ward Housing Scheme there exists a parcel of land under the control of the Central Housing and Planning Authority. This plot of land is earmarked for community infrastructure and recreation development. During the year 2015, several efforts were made to the relevant authorities to have this land developed under the control of the area community development council. We have been kicked around from then to now. Recently, a wealthy man has occupied a portion of this said land with his big trucks and other equipment. I made another attempt to have some clarity from Ms. Valerie Patterson, Housing Minister on November 14, 2016 at 11:15AM. The secretary took the details and she promised me that I will have a call from the Minister. To date no response. For me this is very disrespectful. We feel
marginalized. At present other people are taking portions of this land. They are being encouraged by another man who has occupied a section of this land and is successful in having other residents erect houses there. Even a housing officer from Georgetown intervened earlier. The situation is worse now. No one seems to care about our future. A copy of this letter was faxed to Mr. Granger’s office on November 19, 2016 and on January 5, 2017. To date no response. Also our youths are being kicked around due to the lack of adequate recreational facilities. Areas cleared and developed by our youths are being taken away from them, with no alternative. A certain senior officer feels she is too big to speak with the youths who are displaced. These developments and others too numerous to mention are in direction opposition to what was expressed by Mr. Granger during his campaign towards his presidency. Godfrey Isaacs
The new Demerara Harbour Bridge should be double-decked DEAR EDITOR, I venture to respectfully enquire if the authorities responsible for the planning of the New Demerara Harbour Bridge have given any serious thought to inviting designs for the construction of a double-decked bridge. The reason for the double-deck is to make provision for an over water section of mass transit TransGuyana railroad system link designed to eventually operate from our eastern
border to some point at the western extremity of Guyana. Such a mass transit facility would contribute to my previously touted ‘Freedom To Move’ concept which should be adapted by the powers that be, to facilitate the ease of access to land, water and air transportation throughout Guyana. It would also be a boost to development. Contributional funding may be investigated when a multi-decked bridge to be a
part of a Trans Pan-American Rail and Highway system linking our contiguous neighbours is visualised. Of course, Mr Editor, a new capital to the south for Guyana may be a prime consideration in this regard in addition to what the prophets of doom have forecasted in relation to the adverse effects of global warming eventually affecting our coastland. Aubrey Alexander Rtd. Deputy Director Civil Aviation
Wednesday January 25, 2017
Bharrat Jagdeo’s attorney explains his successful court appeal DEAR EDITOR, I refer to the caption contained at page 1 and the article at pages 3 and 5 of the Guyana Chronicle of January 19 under the headings, ‘Singh strikes’ and ‘Singh strikes twice’, and request that you publish this correspondence so the public would not be misled on the Bharrat Jagdeo, Babu John alleged racial statement case in the Court of Appeal. First of all, the article states that the original application was “put before Justice William Ramlal”, implying that Mr Jagdeo went ‘judge shopping’. In reality the application was filed by me in the High Court Registry in Berbice on June 26, 2015 primarily because I practise mainly in Berbice. There was nothing in the rules of court or in practice to deny a lawyer the right to file such an application in the county where he normally has his practice. At the time of the filing of the application for the order of prohibition Mr Justice William Ramlal was the presiding civil judge in Berbice, sitting in Bail Court/ Motion Court. Lawyers in Berbice do not and cannot choose judges because in Berbice there is a ‘civil’ judge and a ‘criminal’ judge. Applications for prerogative writs are made to the civil judge and not the criminal judge. Therefore of necessity, the matter went before Justice Ramlal who granted the order nisi ordering Magistrate Artiga, by whom the charge was being considered, to show cause why that order nisi should not be made absolute. The Attorney General was never a party to those proceedings. Subsequently, Ms Artiga filed an affidavit purporting to show cause why the order nisi should not be made absolute. That affidavit was drawn by the Deputy State Solicitor Ms Prithma Kissoon. It stated at paragraph 24 that the Attorney General was counsel for Ms Artiga. On December 11, 2015 Justice Navindra Singh, after written submissions by me and Ms Kissoon, made the order nisi absolute; that is, that the Magistrate must not take any further steps in the matter. Up till then only Bharrat Jagdeo and Magistrate Artiga were parties to the proceedings. On January 18, 2016 the Attorney General, although not being a party to the
proceedings, filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal against Justice Singh’s order. The appeal was signed by the Solicitor General. That amounted to an abuse of the court’s process as the Attorney General, not being a party, had no right to appeal. On September 13, 2016 I, on behalf of Bharrat Jagdeo, filed a motion in the Court of Appeal seeking an order to strike out or dismiss the appeal on the ground that it was an abuse of the court’s process. Since 2003 (see 67 WIR- Attorney General v Jardim) the Court of Appeal, consisting of Bernard, Chancellor; Kissoon JA; and La Bennett, additional judge, had ruled in identical circumstances, that the Attorney General not being a party to the originating proceedings, had no right to file an appeal. The court dismissed that appeal. Normally a motion to strike out is heard promptly by the Court of Appeal. However, shortly after September 13, 2016 the Court of Appeal went on statutory vacation. On its resumption the court fixed the motion to strike out for December 19, 2016. On that date Ms Kissoon laid over written submissions. I laid over my written submissions on December 29, 2016. At paragraph 2 of her submissions Ms Kissoon quite properly conceded that the Attorney General was never a party to the proceedings before Justice Singh. Ms Kissoon in her written submissions and orally made an application to the court for an amendment to the Notice of Appeal to remove the name of the Attorney General as appellant and substitute Ms Artiga as the appellant. Of course I objected to such an application and argued, on the authority of GTM v Chandroutie 1991-93 GLR 175, that the Notice of Appeal being a nullity, was incapable of being amended. I also argued that Ms Kissoon had no mandate from Ms Aritga to make such an application and in any event the amendment would result
in an appeal being filed over one year after the decision of Justice Singh without any grounds to satisfy Order 2 rule (3) (4 and (5) of the Rules of the Court of Appeal. On January 9, 2017 the Attorney General appeared in the Court of Appeal in person and was granted leave at his request, to file further written submissions within 5 days. The matter was then fixed for January 18, 2017 for ruling. On January 18, the court delivered its decision dismissing the appeal as an abuse to the process of the court, a jurisdiction that the court undoubtedly had. Up to January 18, 2017 the Attorney General had not filed any additional submissions. He did not attend court on that date. Ms Stewart from the Attorney General’s office attended and held for Ms Kissoon. That was the first time that Ms Stewart was placed on record. The article in the Guyana Chronicle gives the impression that the court was constituted by the Chancellor alone. That was a deliberate attempt to mislead. The court was constituted by the Chancellor, Justice of Appeal BS Roy and additional judge Dawn Gregory. It was so constituted on all the occasions. The ruling was read by the Chancellor but it was the ruling of the court that is, by all three judges. It is indeed strange and unfair for blame to be laid, as the article does, at the feet of the Chancellor. The filing of the appeal with the Attorney General as appellant was a colossal blunder on the part of the law officers of the state, and that blunder should not be shifted onto the court or any member of the court. It is an indictment on the law officers of the state that although the motion to strike out was filed and served on the Attorney General since September 13, 2016, no proper application was made for an extension of time to file an appeal by them on behalf of Ms Artiga. M Bacchus Attorney-at-law
Wednesday January 25, 2017
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SARU Bill for National Assembly next Monday By Kiana Wilburg After 20 months of waiting, the State Asset Recovery Agency Bill will finally be taken to the National Assembly next Monday. This is according to the Order Paper for the 60th sitting of the House. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, is expected to present the Bill on behalf of the Government. The Bill will pave the way for the official establishment of a State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) in consonance with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) 2003. It is to be headed by a Director who shall be a corporation sole. The Agency will be empowered by way of the legislation, to recover through civil proceedings, State property which was unlawfully acquired by a public official or any other person. The entity will also provide for investigations leading to the granting by the High Court, Restraint and Civil Recovery Orders in respect of unlawfully acquired property. SARA will also have the power to engage in international cooperation in the recovery of stolen assets of States within the contemplation of the Act, and for related matters. At the moment, this agency is in the form of a State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) - a department of the Ministry of the Presidency. It is headed by Professor Clive Thomas. Its Chief Executive Officer is Major (rtd.) Aubrey Heath-Retemyer.
SARU Head, Dr. Clive Thomas CORRUPTION Head of SARU, Dr. Clive Thomas has on numerous occasions, spoken to the importance for attention to be placed on recovering stolen public assets. He said that the “rampant corruption under the 23-year rule of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) should not be ignored”. Dr. Thomas stated that any new government pursuing good governance would seek to recover the nation’s assets, which were mismanaged in “some of the most despicable and corrupt ways.” He had said, “A clear line must be drawn against past illicit/ corrupt behaviour in order to prevent their future repetition.” He asserted that the corruption that has been taking place in Guyana can be deemed public and not private, because it is based on fraudulent public procurements contracts; illegal capital flows, particularly illicit misinvoicing of exports and imports and illicit financial transactions; and an
underground economy that is driven principally by criminal endeavours and the evasion of taxes. Dr. Thomas believes that the new administration can make bountiful gains by eradicating certain practices. The economist projected that the APNU+AFC government could rake in $21B in total revenues, once illicit siphoning off practices are halted. Professor Thomas also said that those who held authority over state assets under the previous administration will be subject to “rigourous” audits, preparations for which are already underway. The Economist said that this comes in light of the “hundreds upon hundreds of complaints” that come in on a daily basis to the Asset Recovery Unit, regarding individuals who held high office and abused or allegedly stole state assets. Dr. Thomas said that by all legal means necessary, his entity’s mandate to return or regain what rightfully belongs to the state, will be achieved. He noted that under the previous regime, the assets of the state were “misused and in some cases stolen in unconscionable ways.” He said that he will make it his duty to see that due process is followed and that justice is served. The Head of the Asset Recovery Unit stated, “I cannot begin to tell you the amount of complaints we get on a daily basis on persons under the previous government who abused assets of the state and in some cases, the evidence
would strongly suggest that they stole it for their own benefit or the benefit of a third party. So we have our job cut out for us.” He noted however that in order for this to be done, the entity must be legally empowered to prosecute and this comes from having its own legislation. SARA BILL SARU officials who spoke with Kaieteur News made it clear that in the case of the SARA Bill, there are no new offences being created which would prohibit the body from going after those wrongdoers of the past. They stressed that a quick look at the offences as listed in the SARU Draft Legislation would prove this. According to the Bill, “if a person knows or suspects that an authorized officer is acting or proposing to act in connection with a civil recovery investigation which is being or is about to be conducted, the person commits an offence, if – (a) the person makes a disclosure which is likely to prejudice the investigation; or (b) the person falsifies, conceals, destroys or otherwise disposes of, or causes or permits the
Attorney General, Basil Williams falsification, concealment, destruction or disposal of, documents which are relevant to the investigation.” The Bill also states that a financial institution commits a summary offence if without reasonable excuse; it fails to comply with a requirement imposed on it under a customer information order. It says too that, “a financial institution commits a summary offence if, in purported compliance with a customer information order, it – (a) makes a statement which it knows to be false or misleading in a material particular, or (b) recklessly makes a statement which is
false or misleading in a material particular.” Additionally, the Bill says, “A person who makes or sends a threat to or, in any way intimidates or menaces, or assaults or attempts to assault a member of staff of SARA, or any member of the family of a member of staff of SARA commits an offence.” Another aspect of the Bill which deals with offences says, “A person commits an offence if without reasonable excuse, he fails to comply with a requirement imposed on him under a disclosure order.” The SARU officials made it clear that these offences do not in any way inhibit the body’s powers when it becomes an agency to go after officials who stole assets from the state.” The officials said, “What the citizenry must understand is the fact that stealing state assets or fraudulently converting it for one’s own gains is captured in different ways in many other aspects of our financial laws. Therefore, this Bill when it becomes law will empower SARA to act and enforce those aspects of the law which already speak to stolen state assets and can be recovered via the courts”.
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Wednesday January 25, 2017
TOPCO juice bid protest finds evaluation committee acted unlawfully The Bid Protest Committee (BPC) has found that the Evaluation Committee which assessed the bids for the supply of boxed juices to the Ministry of Education, acted unlawfully by evaluating the bid submitted by Tropical Orchard Products (TOPCO) based on past performance. The decision was handed down on December 12, 2016. In the ruling seen by Kaieteur News, the BPC said that the evaluation committee was obligated by law to disclose in the tender documents the criteria that would be used to evaluate bidders. “Additionally, the evaluation committee acted unlawfully when it went outside the
scope of its remit by evaluating the Complainant (TOPCO) on the criterion of past performance.” According to the BPC, Section 5 of the Procurement Act Cap. 73:05 speaks to the qualification of suppliers and contractors, and Section 5(1) sets out the various evaluation criteria that a procuring entity, in this case the Ministry, can use to evaluate bidders. The Section says “every supplier or contractor wanting to participate in procurement proceedings must qualify by meeting such of the following criteria as the procuring entity considers appropriate.” Despite this, the BPC said in its decision
that the Section should not be read in isolation from Section 5(3) which states, “any requirement mentioned in this section shall be set forth in the prequalification documents, if any or in the solicitation documents and shall apply to all suppliers or contractors. A procuring entity shall impose no criterion, requirement or procedure with respect to the qualifications of suppliers or contractors other than those set forth in this section or the regulations.” Therefore, the BPC reasoned that subsection (3) places two burdens on the procuring entity. Firstly, the entity can choose any criterion to evaluate bidders with each criterion being set out in the documents that are supplied to the bidders and must apply equally to all bidders. Secondly, the entity cannot include any criterion, requirement or procedure that is not provided for under Section 5 or the regulations. The decision stated, “This means that while the procuring entity is given discretion to choose any criterion to assess bidders, the criterion must be disclosed in the tender documents. According to the BPC while modification can take place it must be done before tenders are submitted. The BPC said that the law provides for full disclosure because bidders must not be ambushed, that they must know exactly what is required of them. “This is to ensure that the evaluation process is transparent and objective. Therefore, the procuring entity cannot introduce a new criterion following submissions of tenders. To do so would be to go against the intent of the legislation and offends against the principles of transparency and fairness which is fundamental to the integrity of the procurement process.” Further, it was highlighted in the ruling that the complainant’s bid, according to the
evaluation report received a “Yes” for all fourteen criteria which meant that had complied with all that was required. Additionally, the bid was the lowest and as such, TOPCO was the tenderer with the lowest evaluated bid that was responsive to the bid documents. However, all of this fell through because the evaluation committee sought to consider what was revealed to them by the procuring entity. “In essence they embarked on an unlawful procedure taking into consideration numerous problems that the procuring entity stated they had encountered since 2012 with the complainant. This resulted in the complainant being adjudged non-responsive, despite responding positively to the bid documents and being the lowest bidder.” According to the BPC, the law provides for the procuring entity to reject the recommendation of the evaluation committee. Upon rejection, the procuring entity can then advise the evaluation committee on which bidder should be the lowest evaluated bidder. “Therefore, had the evaluation committee not erred in their assessment the procuring entity probably would have had a plausible case for rejecting the complainant even though they were the lowest evaluated bid.” TOPCO, a subsidiary of Demerara Distillers Limited filed its complaint to the BPC on September 23, 2016. The review of the award was on two grounds. TOPCO claimed that the procuring entity failed, refused and/ or neglected to consider only such evaluation criteria as set forth in the solicitation and tender documents contrary to the Procurement Act. Secondly, the review was based on the non-disclosure of past performance as an evaluation criterion in the solicitation Continued on page 14
Wednesday January 25, 2017
By the time the APNU+AFC coalition demits office, it may end up rewriting constitutional law. We already have a raging debate taking place over the interpretation of the section of our Constitution dealing with the appointment of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission. The former Attorney General of Guyana, Anil Nandlall, by reference to the rules of interpretation used by our Courts and citing cases in support of his contention, has effectively demolished the argument that the phrase “or any other fit and proper person” is conjunctive. What he has not done is to cite supporting cases to clarify the meaning of ‘fit and proper’. It is hereby respectfully contended that those who argue that the person to be appointed under the ‘fit and proper’ category must have judgelike qualities – whatever that means – are erroneous in their interpretation. “Fit and proper” can never be taken to mean possessing judge-like qualities, because there is an abundance of cases, particularly in South Africa, where this question has been addressed by the courts. If the framers of our Constitution wanted a person who was a judge or had judge-like qualities, they would have enunciated those qualities. We must be very careful that there is no compromise over what constitutes ‘fit and proper. ’ We should not, out of respect for anyone, tinker with the principles of constitutionalism. If a learned person is wrong, and patently wrong at that, they must be told that they are wrong. But we must not try to let them save face by finding anything redeeming in an erroneous interpretation of our Constitution. The Constitution must be upheld. There is a settled way in which it is upheld. The
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JIMMY AGAIN!
courts have been assigned responsibility as guardians of our Constitution. If there is a problem with the interpretation of a constitutional provision, the Courts must be approached and asked to provide an interpretation. This is how constitutionalism and the rule of law are protected in any society. This is not just a matter of interpretation though. It is about constitutionalism, which is aimed at limiting the arbitrary use of power. The freedom of all men and women is in danger when constitutionalism is ignored. We are not yet out of one constitutional crisis and here we are being confronted by another constitutional crisis. The government seems to believe that it should do as it pleases. This proclivity on the part of the administration has to be checked, especially when the implication involved is trampling on the Constitution. One controversy has not yet ended and another is about to begin. This time it is over the appointment of a Chief Justice and a Chancellor. We h a v e b e e n d o w n this road before. The arguments have been made before. The APNU+AFC coalition is fully aware of the arguments. It is fully aware that the Constitution does not require for the positions of Chief Justice and Chancellor to be advertised. It has never been done in the history of Guyana. The Constitutional rule is that both the positions of Chancellor and Chief Justice require the agreement of the President and the Leader of the Opposition. This was another of Jimmy Carter’s proposals to move Guyana closer towards a constitutional, rather than political, form of shared governance. Carter had put forward the idea that for these top judicial positions, along with the Commissioner of Police, there should be agreement
between the President and the Leader of the Opposition. The constitutional reform process which emerged after the 1997 elections adopted that formula in relation to the appointment of the Chief Justice and Chancellor. No agreement was ever reached between the PPP presidents and the Leaders of the Opposition as to the appointment of Chancellor and Chief Justice. As such, both Carl Singh, the acting Chancellor and Ian Chang, at one time the acting Chief Justice, were never confirmed. They remain the longest acting senior judicial officials in the Englishspeaking Caribbean. Political gridlock denied both men their confirmation. APNU went as far as proposing that the appointments be settled by having persons apply for the positions. When it was pointed out to them that this was not what the Constitution provided for, they retreated and said that it can be measured to break any deadlock. We l l , t h e r e i s n o deadlock at present, because the Leader of the Opposition has not been invited to discuss the appointment of a Chancellor and Chief Justice. Yet, here is the government actually going ahead and advertising for the two top judicial positions. This is a serious development which should be brought to the attention of regional jurists. The government should not be advertising for the positions of Chief Justice and Chancellor. This is not the constitutional means of selecting someone. The Constitution does not provide for any process of shortlisting through appointment. Further, it is violation of the doctrine of the separation of powers for the Executive arm to be involved in advertising and selecting persons for t h e t w o t o p judicial
positions. It is highly improper for the executive arm of government to be involved in any determination as to who should be shortlisted for
judicial appointment. We are about to enter a second constitutional crisis. Guyana is in danger of sliding down that slippery slope from which there is no return.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 25, 2017
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN...
I say to Mobutu, “thanks for the moments we shared together” I didn’t know Mobutu Kamara had died, until last week when I got an email from Dr. Nigel Westmaas. On Friday last, his wife, daughter and grandchild turned up at Kaieteur News to see me. Based on our discussion, I recommended that they see Tacuma Ogunseye of the WPA so that he could make arrangements with the WPA (which I strongly believe is a caricature and a deception) to arrange for the things they requested of me. I was courting my wife in 1978, and one of the first persons from the WPA she met was Mobutu. We were enchanted youths together in the WPA; he and I became very close. I would say of all the WPA youths at the time, he and I were closer. My parents got to know him
because he visited my D’Urban Street home often. When I got married in 1979, he came often to my house and became the first, yes the first, person from the WPA my wife got to know personally. Mobutu and I renewed our friendship when I came home in 1984, but as the years went their way, we went our ways too. But the friendship was always there. He visited me infrequently in Turkeyen. He had a little farm up the East Bank and I patronized him. Our last sojourn was four years ago when I took him to the Georgetown Hospital for a growth in his intestine. The hospital put a date six months after. I intervened and asked the then CEO, Mike Khan to bring it up, since Mobutu was
suffering. As the name Mike Khan is mentioned here, let me tell the hypocritical leadership of APNU and the AFC that they may be willing to embrace certain persons who were associated with the PPP regime and ostracize Mike Khan, but this columnist can verify the countless times Mike Khan, as CEO, rescued people at my request who needed urgent attention. The list includes two of my Kaieteur News colleagues – Dale Andrews and Leonard Gildarie, the daughter of AFC Parliamentarian, Michael Carrington and my mother-inlaw. Several of my requests consisted of poor people who came from far away. Let me say to APNU and the AFC, if I had to choose between Mike Khan and those PPP elements referred
to above, to be employed to serve Guyana, my choice would be Khan, and I say that unapologetically. Let’s get back to Mobutu. Always when Mobutu visited me, the conversation was how the present WPA leadership shamelessly abandoned the working class members of the WPA. In fact, this leadership’s behaviour was and is depraved. The current WPA leadership, minus Desmond Trotman and Ogunseye, as a matter of policy, has completely severed their relationship with these cadres. I never saw any of them at the funerals of these fine activists. “Toddy” was a sugar worker who was in the WPA from the beginning. Toddy died four years ago, and only Desmond Trotman, Ogunseye and I were there. To see the house Toddy lived in was a colossal indictment of the big wigs in the WPA. Toddy deserved better for his years of sacrifice. When
Adeshina died, I gave the funeral eulogy in the burial ground. Only Ogunseye was there. Mobutu, Toddy and Adeshina deserved better from the elite leadership of the WPA. I write so much, so people would seldom read all my pieces, but twice in these columns I stated that the most elitist, snobbish, middle class political party ever seen in this country was the WPA - even more than the League of Coloured People and the United Force of Peter D’Aguiar. It is unacceptable that someone like Bonita BoneHarris could have struggled together with people like Mobutu, Toddy and Adeshina, and never wrote a word about them, but she could wax lyrical on the qualities of Hindu priest Aksharananda. It is my right to express my opinion outside of libel and bad taste, and it is my opinion that Aksharananda does not possess the positive
Frederick Kissoon traits Bone-Harris accepts he has. But then again; she too has the right to her opinion. I will always remember my life in struggle with fine Guyanese like Mobutu Kamara. Those memories will never go away. I think of those memories with Mobutu and I know at heart that I will always be and will die as a working class boy. It pains me deeply that Mobutu suffered so much and lived so much in want. I hope one day the next generation will recognize the courage and patriotism of people like Toddy, Adeshina and Mobutu. Farewell my dear friend! Goodbye forever!
Wednesday January 25, 2017
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Kaieteur News
CJIA contractor among six bidders for major sea defence project - Financial proposals in for study on Soesdyke/Linden Highway rehab During the opening of tenders at the National Tender and Procurement Administration Board (NPTAB), at the Ministry of Finance yesterday in Georgetown, bids were submitted for the reconstruction of sea defences. The procuring entity was listed as the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the engineer’s estimate was announced at US$9.4M (approximately G$2B). Among the bidders was China Harbours Engineering Company Limited (CHEC) – the company currently carrying out works on the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Airport Expansion Project. China Railway First Group Company Limited is also among those bidding. That company is expected to commence works on the halted East Coast Demerara Expansion Project. The sea defence project also attracted first-time bidder, Aannemingsmaatschappij Baitali N.V. operating out of neighbouring Suriname.
Tenders were opened for the procurement of pest control services for the CJIA.
Contractors also vied for a Ministry of Public Telecommunications’ contract which entails the provision of security services for the Arthur Chung Convention Centre.
Bids were also submitted for the procurement of security services for the Ministry of Public Telecommunications.
Financial proposals were also opened for the feasibility study and design for the rehabilitation of the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure was listed as the procuring entity. Finally, bids were opened for the supply and installation of LED lamps and occupancy sensors. The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) was listed as the procuring entity.
Financial proposals were submitted for consultancy services for engineering designs and supervision of works for the rehabilitation of drainage and irrigation system which entails the earthworks, structures and access dams. The contract was announced in three Lots: Lot one, Ithaca; Lot two, Buxton; and Lot three, Triumph.
Bids were also submitted for the rehabilitation of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF)’s Hangar Complex. The engineer’s estimate was announced at $67.5M.
Tenders were submitted for the procurement of air conditioning maintenance services for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
Bids were also opened for cleaning and maintenance services at CJIA.
For the cleaning, clearing and maintenance of the sewerage system of the CJIA, there was a sole bidder.
Cevon’s Waste Management was the sole bidder for the CJIA contract which entails the collection, removal and disposal of domestic and international garbage.
Tenders were also opened for the procurement of cutting and removal of grass on the landside of the airport.
TRANSACTIONAL AUDIT…
SOCU handed over NICIL documents to Audit Office since last year The Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) recently sought to set the record straight that it is more than cooperating with the Audit Office to ensure the speedy completion of a transactional audit. This perspective from SOCU comes on the heels of accusations that it is hampering the smooth flow of the audit into the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) which was launched over 10 months by the Government. It was NICIL’s Officer in Charge, Horace James, who told Kaieteur News that one of the constraints affecting the smooth flow of the audit is that original documents from the company are tied up in investigations being conducted by SOCU. James said he was made aware of this state of affairs after the company wrote to Auditor General Deodat Sharma, requesting an update on the audit. James said that both SOCU and the AG’s office would require the use of original documents given the seriousness of the probes. He noted that while the audit at Sharma’s office is being “held back”, he anticipates that it would be finished by midyear. On the contrary, this newspaper saw correspondence which showed that the original documents, as requested by NICIL and the Auditor General’s office, were handed over since last November. The investigations by SOCU and the transactional audit by the AG’s office were as a result of the damning findings stemming from a forensic audit into NICIL by Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran. During the forensic audit, Goolsarran discovered that in relation to the expenditure on the 2007 Cricket World Cup, NICIL had transferred amounts totaling $650 million to the Local Organizing Committee, but failed in its responsibility of ensuring that there was proper accountability for the amounts
transferred. As regards the construction of the controversial 44 High Street property, the forensic auditor found that the contract was awarded in 2007, but at the time of reporting, the building remained substantially incomplete. Goolsarran stated in his report that the building was abandoned, and the structure was expected to be torn down because the floors were not constructed to the required specifications. As the “Project Executing Unit”, he said that NICIL’s role was to ensure that the works were executed according to the agreed specifications, and the entity had again failed to discharge its responsibility for this project, resulting in some $350 million of taxpayers’ funds being wasted. Goolsarran in his report also stated that despite the size and complexity of its operations, NICIL does not have its own procurement rules, which is key requirement of the Procurement Act. In the circumstances, he said that it would have been more appropriate for NICL to involve the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) in the assessment of tenders received for the award of contracts. Instead, the assessment of bids was done internally and would have lacked the level of independence, especially for large projects such as the Marriott Hotel. Given the aforementioned findings among others, Goolsarran recommended that Government commission a further independent audit to examine in detail transactions over the last six years under NICIL. He also recommended that the relevant authorities institute criminal/disciplinary actions against all those responsible for other violations, including the failure to properly account for State resources under their control.
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Wednesday January 25, 2017
Kaieteur News
Tender Board in process of conforming to Auditor General’s advice on evaluators - Chairman The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) is currently in the process of complying with the recommendations of the Auditor General’s 2015 audit report that due diligence should be carried when appointing tender evaluators. Speaking with Kaieteur News yesterday, Chairman of NPTAB Berkley Wickham said that it is a continuing process. He said that the pools of evaluators are professional people, whereby most of them are already in professional positions within the various agencies and ministries.
“They are not unqualified people, in the sense that they are not people we just pick up.” Wickham explained that from time to time batches of evaluators are called into the board’s headquarters to ensure that they are familiar with the Procurement Act and the procedures in carrying out an evaluation. He said that what is being recommended by the Auditor General is that documentation is prepared containing the qualifications of each evaluator. He said that based on qualifications, persons are matched with particular
procurements. Wickham said that what is being asked for is similar to Curriculum Vitae. “We’re in the process of getting that and putting it on file.” The NPTAB head said that checks have been done to ensure that evaluators are qualified, but there still needs to be documented proof of this. When asked if the list is rotated, Wickham explained that the list of evaluators is quite extensive, reaching a total of almost 200. “We have a small committee that when a particular procurement comes
up, we try to peruse and pick persons, and we make sure that we don’t pick people too often, because you need to remember that they are all working in various ministries and would have to be released to do this. It is almost voluntary.” He said that based on this arrangement, NPTAB has to ensure that the persons are rotated and not overused. Within the report compiled by Auditor General Deodat Sharma, it was stated that
NPTAB has been found to be in default of not practicing due diligence as it relates to ensuring that persons appointed as evaluators had the expertise and experience as is specified in the Procurement Act. Ministerial departments and Agency Tender Boards are required to nominate qualified persons to be considered by the National Board to sit on Evaluation Committees. Auditors noted that a pool of evaluators was created and evaluation
NPTAB Chairman, Berkley Wickham committees were formed to Continued on page 30
Menu of oil and gas policies, legislation being rolled out early this year - Trotman In just a few years, Guyana is expected to benefit from massive revenue earnings which will be had from significant oil finds. But to effectively prepare the nation for the onset of a billion-dollar industry, a number of policy documents, legislation and regulations would have to be in place, one of which includes a modern upstream Oil and Gas Policy. For the time being, the draft Oil and Gas policy represents Guyana’s attempt at setting out specific policy objectives and implementation measures for the exploration and potential development of upstream oil and gas resources found in the country. This is according to Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman. The Minister stated that while the work executed on the initial draft of the policy in 2015 was extensive, the coalition government recognized the need to improve the policy by
Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman including issues such as licensing and contracting, fiscal framework, transparency and accountability, and environmental management. In this regard, he said that an invitation was extended to the Commonwealth Secretariat to return to Guyana to assist in updating the document. Minister Trotman said that an update to the policy included an
analysis of the legislative, contractual and regulatory frameworks presently in place. Additionally, Trotman reminded of his Ministry’s promise to the National Assembly that a number of legislation and policy documents would be completed by the end of 2016. These included; Oil and Gas Policy; the Revised Petroleum Act and Regulations; Local Content Policy and Regulations; Petroleum Commission Bill; Petroleum Taxation and Fiscal Legislation; Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Regulations; and a Bill to provide for Sovereign We a l t h / G e n e r a t i o n a l Savings, Stabilization, Infrastructural Social Welfare and Citizens Participation Fund. Trotman stated that all of the above mentioned documents have been completed and will be rolled out for countrywide consultations early this year.
Wednesday January 25, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday January 25, 2017
Kaieteur News
Sluggish economy blamed for Citizens Bank’s lacklustre performance in 2016 Citizens Bank has recorded a profit of $0.8B before taxation and after taxation, a profit of $0.5B. According to Chairman of the Board of Directors Clifford Reis, the bank’s performance reflects a slowdown in the economy due to underperformance by many major productive sectors, with many borrowers encountering difficulties in meeting their obligations to financial institutions with a resultant increase in nonperforming assets. Reis made these comments
during his report at the Bank’s Annual General Meeting yesterday held at its newly opened branch at the corner of Camp Street and South Road. “The bank’s loan portfolio remains relatively sound. However, the difficulties experienced by our customers because of a decline in business activities during the review period, has impacted the performance of our overall portfolio.” The Chairman said that nonperforming loans at September 30, 2016 represented 15.5% of the bank’s total loan portfolio. He
said that the major contributors to this level of non-performing loans were borrowers within the forestry and housing and construction sub-sectors. He described these facilities as being well secured and expects full recovery within the new financial year. However, “In the interim, the bank has prudently provided for these facilities in keeping with International Accounting Standard 39 and the Financial Institutions Act.” During his report, Reis said that during 2016 total revenue amounted to $3.3B with growth
recorded for investments, deposits and total assets of 116.0%, 21.0% and 16.0% respectively. Further, the return on average assets was 1.0%, while the return on shareholders’ equity was 6.5%. He said that the bank’s shares were last traded on the local stock exchange at $144.00 per share. As it relates to predictions for 2017, the Chairman said that it is expected that many of the conditions which prevailed in 2016 and defined the Guyana economy will continue. These include a flat economy, slowdown in business activities, limited lending and investing opportunities and declining credit quality among others. Therefore, Reis said, “Our success will therefore require us
to be creative and to take appropriate initiatives which address those components of our operation that we anticipate will ensure sustainable performances.” In addition, he said that the bank will play greater emphasis on risk management which is expected to improve and strengthen the bank’s assessment and management of risk. To further improve the bank’s operations, Reis said that in 2017 the bank will not only provide improved accommodation but improvement in the level and types of services provided to customers. “In 2017, the bank will continue its efforts to improve our Human Resources Management capability ensuring that our most valuable assets, our employees remain motivated and well equipped to meet the
Citizens Bank Chairman, Clifford Reis ever-changing requirement of our clients and ensure that these clients benefit through the consistent delivery of quality customer care.” Reis believes that these initiatives among others will ensure that the bank meets the expanding financial needs of customers making Citizens Bank one of the industry’s leading financial service providers.
TOPCO juice bid protest finds evaluation... From page 8 documents prevents and precludes the procuring entity from belatedly relying on such criterion in the evaluation and determination of the bid. Four bids were received for the contract, TOPCO $506,688,000, Ansa McAl - $628,992,000, Guyana Beverages Inc - $542,360,000 and Caribbean International Distributors Inc $545,272,000. The contract was awarded to Caribbean International Distributors, a subsidiary of Surinamese company Rudisa Beverage and
Juices N.V. Company. The contract award was tainted with controversy when it was revealed that the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) did not test a sample for Topco so as to make a comparison. Additionally, the department lacked the necessary equipment to properly conduct testing. Head of the GA-FDD Marlan Cole had come out saying that had there been a sample from TOPCO, the company would have come out on top of the other samples tested due to the product’s juice content.
Wednesday January 25, 2017
Kaieteur News
Convicted drug trafficker remanded for coke find at Post Office Four years after he was convicted for trafficking some 654 pounds of cocaine, Dennis Albert Jones was yesterday remanded for allegedly attempting to post more cocaine. According to reports, the 63-year-old man of Caneview Avenue, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown was arrested shortly after he attempted to ship cocaine in baking powder bags and Banko wine to Canada. The shipment was made at the General Post Office Corporation (GPOC). Ranks from the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) intercepted a box containing the prohibited substance. The package was due to leave Guyana last Friday evening. A total of nine kilograms of cocaine was found in baking/custard powder bags. Another 1.62 kilograms of liquid cocaine was found in two bottles of Banko wine. Jones appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he pleaded not guilty to a narcotic charge. It is alleged that on January 20 at GPOC, Jones trafficked 10.618 kilograms of cocaine posted by him in the Georgetown Magisterial
District. It is further alleged that between September 1 and 30, 2016 at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, Jones forged a Republic of Guyana identification card in the name Josiah Jones, purporting to show that same was issued by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Jones who was represented by Attorney Eusi Anderson pleaded not guilty to both allegations after they were read to him. During his petition for bail, Attorney Anderson told the court that his client was denying the forgery allegation. He said that his client was curious as to why he was now being placed before the court for the offence since it happened last year. Admitting that Jones was convicted for a similar offence (narcotics trafficking), the attorney pointed out that his client has since turned his life around. Attorney Anderson also claimed that his client was offered several inducements by law enforcement officers to take a certain course in relation to the narcotics charge. CANU Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford opposed bail for
the defendant citing that he is still under investigation in relation to other packages he had posted. Prosecutor Sandiford contended that there is overwhelming evidence against Jones, in the form of a caution statement, outlining the intricate details of his conduct in the offence. The prosecutor pointed out that there is video surveillance footage from the GPOC. She also contended that Jones is a flight risk. Sandiford said that when police went to arrest Jones he was found hiding in the ceiling of his home. According to Prosecutor Sandiford, in 2012, Jones was convicted and sentenced to four years imprisonment for trafficking some 654 pounds of cocaine in soap powder. Based on reports, Jones was busted after he attempted to ship the cocaine to an African state. Reports also state that Jones was deported from the United States of America for drug trafficking. Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers objected to bail for Jones on the forgery allegation. He highlighted the particulars of the charge and
nature of the offence. Prosecutor Jeffers informed the court that the identification card was found in the defendant’s home with his photograph inserted. Jeffers said that Jones confessed to creating the document. Jeffers informed the court that GECOM has no records of issuing the identification document. In relation to both matters, Jones will return to court on February 14.
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The custard/baking powder packages and Banko wine bottles, containing cocaine, that were seized.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 25, 2017
Wednesday January 25, 2017
Kaieteur News
Increased maternity leave being... (From page 24) breastfeeding is seen as one of the tactics that can serve to combat obesity in babies. Moreover, he stressed the need for the implementation of social policies to address this health challenge. A few years earlier, the CMO had told this publication of discussions which were leaning towards the possibility of having mothers in the CARICOM Region be eligible for six months of maternity leave to ensure newborn babies are exclusively breastfed. This approach, he related, was designed to tackle childhood obesity. According to the CMO, childhood obesity starts in the womb, depending on the kind of nutrition mothers take and the extent to which they maintain health. He insisted that not only is breastfeeding important to the wellbeing of babies, but they are less likely to be hooked on sugar or high calorie foods. “Sugar and salt are acquired tastes. If you don’t expose them to sugar they like
what you give them and they grow up like that. Breastfeeding transitioning into complementary feeding is a much more acceptable way of controlling children’s weight,” he said. Dr. Persaud had, moreover, lamented that the three months maternity leave contradicts the six-month exclusive breastfeeding that is promoted by the local Health Ministry. “This was one of the things that came up…how we could start stimulating Governments to open the discussion about our mothers. We can’t have mothers going back to work in three months, and we are insisting on, and think there is a value of breastfeeding for six months; so the two things do not coincide,” he stressed. Dr. Persaud however noted that while the Ministry will have to advocate for the six-month leave “there could be some economic costs, since Guyana is still a growing society. Taking into consideration that many women
may not have formal employment contracts, Government may have to prepare social security programmes,” he added. “Those are some of the things we want to get into. If we have cross-regional policies, Governments are more likely to comply. And countries must have standards,” Dr. Persaud noted. But although this process should have been set in motion about two years ago, the Ministry is in 2017 still initialising its advocacy in this regard. In addition to the first six months of exclusive breastfeeding, it is also recommended that breastfeeding continues, with appropriate complementary foods, up to two years of age or even beyond.
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
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Kaieteur News
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The #1 Plant Shop, sale staff and general maintenance and sales persons 20-30yrs. Call: 643-7193 EDUCATIONAL
Leyland DAF 75 Hauler in good condition GNN series $2.2M. Call: 655-5117 or 6233839 Imported German Shepherd & Huskies dogs, fully vaccinated and processed through G.L.D.A, make bookings early. Whatsapp: 615-5343
VISA Processing Centre: visitor’s Visa for US, Canada, student Visas @ Cybertron, Vreed-en-Hoop. Call: 2643057
1 Brand new pool table 8ft (slate). Call: 691-1161
VACANCY
One driver for office in Eccles, four per week. Call: 233-2745
Phonics & Reading classes for 4-8yrs, Common Entrance Lessons- Grades 4 & 5, full time school, Grades 7-9. Call: 690-9378 Classes for slow learners in Reading, Spelling, Mathematics, and much more for children all ages. Call: 6754379
CAR RENTAL
TAXI SERVICE G R TA X I S E RV I C E . CALL: 219-5000; 2271982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Toyota Allion PVV series: TV Camera, HID, lights, alarm & remote start $2.2M negotiable Call: 649-0956
Register Now! 9 Course, Diploma in computers, Computerize Accounting, PCrepairs, Graphics @ Micro Graphics/Cybertron, Vreeden-Hoop. Call: 264-3057
Newly renovated, grilled, self-contained apartments for rent (light & water included) in Sussex St. Charlestown. Call: 689-8757/ 659-3597
PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 677-7827, 6435122, EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIAL OFFER FOR THE SEASON. CALL: 690-6494
1-2 Story building: top flat4 bedrooms, 1 self contained, air-conditioned, 2 apartment bottom flat, 2 bedrooms each apartment. Call: 645-9157
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
Wednesday January 25, 2017
Live in/live out waitresses. Call: 643-9007/ 666-4647 Pump attendants @ Low’s Service Station, Shell Bel-Air park @ Vlissengen Road, Georgetown. Call: 226-3734 Experienced salesgirls to work on orange walk clothes stall and Bourda Market. Call: 698-7152 1 Female cleaner for office in Eccles. Call: 233-2745 Driver/General assistant for city location and cook/baker for interior location. Call: 6182020
LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages) FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578
DRESSMAKING Learn to cut & sew at Enid’s Dressmaking, course range from elementary to advance @ 66 6th St. Alberttown, G/ town. Call:223-9106/ 6437966 Continue on page 27
Wednesday January 25, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Delayed justice irks alleged Berbice rape victim A 24-year-old woman of Crabwood Creek, Berbice, claiming that she has been denied justice for far too long, decided that she wanted to share her story with the public. The woman in question says she has filed multiple reports with police claiming that she has been raped, threatened and more recently had her reputation besmirched by a man sworn to uphold the law of the land – a police rank. Her aim, however, is not only to fight her own case, but also to encourage other women who have reportedly been similarly treated by the said rank to come forward and speak out too. According to the woman, who recently visited the Kaieteur News’ Saffon Street, Georgetown office to tell all, “I am tired of living in fear and I’m tired that I can’t get justice and I’m tired of people just protecting this man; he is dangerous and I don’t want anyone else to suffer as I have.” The woman said that her decision to speak out comes because the alleged perpetrator of the ills against her has even started to threaten to bring harm, not only to her, but to her family as well. “I really believe he will hurt my family. I am not afraid of him but I am now afraid of what he could do to my family,” the woman related. Fast forward to two years ago, the woman recalled that, like a typical young girl, she struck up a friendship with a male Facebook friend. She had never met the man, but was intrigued by his words and the fact that he had revealed that he was a police officer. Many chats later they decided to organise a rendezvous at the Number 63 Beach. It was supposed to be a private meeting, though in a public space, since this was the first time they were meeting. The young lady, however, admitted that she wanted the meeting to be away from her home since she did not want her boyfriend at the time to know of her Facebook friendship. The ‘Facebook Friend’, according to the young woman, decided to take advantage of the secluded nature of the Beach and decided to entice her to
- Police say awaiting DDP’s advice - DPP says file returned to police two weeks ago engage in sexual intercourse. The woman said that she rejected the man’s advances and even attempted with all her might to fight him off but she was eventually overpowered. According to the young woman, she regretted not reporting the incident to police at the time but disclosed that she felt too embarrassed to tell anyone. “I felt ashamed...I feel people would just say I bring it on myself because if I didn’t go and meet him it would have never happened,” the woman said. The woman said, too, that after the incident the police rank feverishly sought her out in order to convince her that he was a good person and only wanted to have a relationship with her. He eventually succeeded in his persuasion, as according to the woman, she ended the relationship with her boyfriend and the two started dating. She recalled that her family did not approve of the relationship since there were rumours that the man was married and that he had a reputation of having many extramarital affairs. The woman said that she confronted the man with the allegations at one point of their relationship but was treated with disdain. In fact she said that she was seeking a plausible reason to end the relationship with the man since he was extremely verbally abusive and would inflict physical pain through sexual intercourse. “He would be nice to me sometimes but if I talk to anyone or anybody even calls my phone he would get mad at me,” recalled the woman who disclosed that it was only after sharing her story with an elder in the community that she realised that she was being repeatedly raped by the man and the matter could be reported to police. She eventually did just that. But this was not before she attempted to enlighten
the man’s wife, who she was able to locate, about the situation. This, however, was a futile mission, as, according to the woman, she was not only attacked but humiliated by the woman. “She cut my hair off and then she grabbed and pulled me into the street and told the whole community that I was sleeping with her husband,” recounted the emotional woman. This matter was reported to police. The woman said by this time she had enough courage to report the several instances that the police rank raped her. “There were three particular cases that I gave statements about,” disclosed the woman. But according to her, while the Commander of the Division instructed that the matter be investigated, a number of ranks, including a female rank, kept confusing the process. The matter was reported at both the Springlands Police station, where the accused police rank is stationed, and at the New Amsterdam Police Station. “I don’t even know what they did with the first statement I gave because there was this woman police (rank) who kept telling me that I needed to change my statement...she even write what she wanted to write even when I told her something else. It was as if she was trying to protect this man so that nothing comes of the case. I even told them how he threatened me with a gun several times,” speculated the woman. When this publication reached out to the Officer in Charge of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the
Springlands Police Station y e s t e r d a y, t h e o ff i c e r disclosed that he was aware of the matter. In fact he disclosed that he was stationed at New Amsterdam too when the matter was reported there and was therefore well aware that the file on the matter was sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). “We have investigated the matter and we are awaiting advice from the DPP...we have to wait on that advice,” the officer informed. But when contacted yesterday an official at the DPP’s office said that while the file was sent to the DPP’s office it was sent back to police, complete with advice for the matter to be further investigated in order to bring clarity to some aspects of the case. The file this publication was told was sent back within the past two weeks. Added to this, the official at the DPP’s office said, that Police was instructed that once further investigation is completed the file must be re-sent to the DPP’s office for further advice. This has not yet been returned to the DPP’s office, this publication was told. “I don’t know if these people don’t believe me or they don’t think I deserve justice, because since last year I reported this matter and this man just threatening me and my family and spreading awful rumours about me in the community and I just have to take it...no one is helping me and this is not fair to me. I made a mistake, but must I suffer for the rest of my life?”
From page 26
WANTED New Management: GT Express wanted contract cars (1 week free base fee), Dispatcher & Drivers. Tel: 231-0316/ 231-0002 Need immediately dry cow mold 400 bags, preferably from Berbice Area. Call: 6437193 We buy land in Eccles, Providence, Hersteling, Farm, La Parfaite Harmonie, Zeelugt & Bartica.Call:6585897; 651-1969 Parts for Sunny B310. Call: 614-3452 Urgently wanted a professional cosmetology at Natural Beauty salon and spa, Grove, Market Street, E.B.D – Call: 652-5800
WANTED Male & female factory workers from age 18 and older with working experience. Call: 223-0090 1 live in waitress with secondary education, starts at $70,000 monthly, boarding and lodging free. Call: 6103974 Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic. Call: 223-7500 Monday-Saturday 8:15-4:15 Diesel mechanic to work in the interior. Must have knowledge of Perkins engine & Doosan excavators. Call: 226-9768 or 615-6172 Ladies to work in Suriname. Call: +597-875-4660 Experienced drivers, waiters, roti/puri cooks, day shift only. Apply at Hack’s Halaal with written application, 5 Commerce Street. Cook & Cashier for snackette, attractive salary. Call: 697-5387/ 677-9279
LAND FOR SALE Land @ Soesdyke, 6 lots measuring 135’X175’ -$24M negotiable. Call: 627-3334/ 696-8935, email:fcranmore@ guyanavoice.com Schoon’Ord first street 50X100 -$1.7M, Diamond $3.5M, Moblissa -30A, Loo Creek-35A, Saxacalli -26A. GME: 231-2199/ 618-7483 Land @ La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.2M, $1.4M, $1.6M, Uitvlugt- $2M, Tuschen School Street -$3M, Providence -$5M, Eccles $5M. Call: 604-6724 Land @ Diamond and Eccles (cheap). Call: 609-7766 37 Acres of transported land at Big Biaboo Mahaica Rivers. Call: 699-4300/ 2282734 Parfaite Harmonie $1M, $1.3M, $1.6M, Uitvlugt (100FT X 5OFT) $2M & $2.5M, Eccles $5.5M Cuyuni Mining Block $2.5M. Call: 658-5897/ 651-1969 Eccles New Scheme (100FT X 50FT) $5.5M, Semi Concrete Fenced, Safe and Secure Area (Upfront).Call:658-5897/ 651-1969 Lot 20 Philippi Corentyne Coast, situated on both sides of the Highway Farmland is included. Call: 333-3717
Urgently – house lot in Diamond New Scheme, front half between 7th & 10th Avenue, price $2M-$2.5M. Call: 610-5957 1- Honest Driver salesman, must have lorry license, CXC subjects. Mail application to 10 La Grange, W.B.D. Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 1 Live in domestic. Call: 6749999/661-5992 Experienced salesgirls @ Christine’s Variety on Lombard Street. Call: 2278529 Waitress to work in a bar. Call: 692-4649 One experienced domestic babysitter to worm in Tuschen, preferably from W.C.D, attractive salary. Call:667-1777 between 8am12pm Immediate vacancy exists for workers to work at Crystal Ice Factory in Berbice. Please call: 231-1408/ 642-9191 between 8am-1pm Experienced cook & pastry maker, salesgirl. Call: 6266835 Experienced sandpit truck driver. Call: 227-8529
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 25, 2017
Drug busts at CJIA, East Couple wanted by cops, months Canje net coke, ganja after Prospect woman vanishes
The marijuana found at East Canje, Berbice Police ranks of the Narcotics Branch stationed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri at 0630h yesterday, arrested a female outgoing passenger who was on a flight to Toronto, Canada.
Cocaine found on outgoing passenger at CJIA, Timehri.
According to the police, she was arrested after four parcels of cocaine were found in her suitcase. The substance was tested, weighed and amounted to 4,178 grams. The woman was taken into
custody and is assisting with the investigation. Meanwhile, ranks in ‘B’ Division (Berbice) conducted several raids in the Fort Ordinance Housing Scheme, East Canje area, where a quantity of cannabis was discovered concealed in a red washing tub. The substance amounted to 7,748 grams. Two suspects are now in custody assisting with the investigation, the police said.
Almost five months after 37-year-old Shawnette Savory went missing, when she left her Lot 222 Prospect, East Bank Demerara apartment, the Guyana Police Force has issued a wanted bulletin for a 25-year-old woman and her husband. The cops believe that the couple may have information that could help them in finding Savory. In the bulletin, the police said that Patrick Kissoon called “Pato” and Ritesha Rahaman called “Tesha” are wanted for questioning in relation to the disappearance of Savory, which occurred on August 30, last. Kissoon and his wife are of East Indian descent and their last known addresses are Herstelling Sea Dam, East Bank Demerara and Belle West, West Bank Demerara. Kaieteur News understands that Savory was last seen alive in the company of the couple. She and Rahaman were friends. When the police had expressed their interest in questioning the couple, they immediately moved
Missing: Shawnette Savory
WANTED: Ritesha Rahaman called ‘Tesha’
from their Belle West home, where it was initially believed that the woman had been killed and buried in the concrete floor. However, ranks went to the area and broke the concrete but found no evidence that would lead to the discovery of the woman. The police had arrested three persons, including K i s s o o n ’s m o t h e r, h i s b r o t h e r a n d R a h a m a n ’s sibling, but they failed to provide information on the suspects’ whereabouts. There are reports that the couple was hiding out in Berbice and there is another report that they have fled the jurisdiction. The cops were unable to get a photograph of
Patrick Kissoon, because he never registered to get a National Identification Card or a Passport. Shawnette Savory was last seen alive by her relatives on August 28 last, when she attended a birthday party. She disappeared two days later after leaving to pay an electricity bill. Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Patrick Kissoon called ‘Pato’ and Ritesha Rahaman called ‘Tesha’ is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 226-1389, 2272128, 226-7065, 256-411, 225-2227, 225-0575, 2256940, 911 or the nearest police station.
Wednesday January 25, 2017
Trucker gets 3 years for rugby player’s death in accident
Greg Stewart, a 41-yearold truck driver, has been jailed for three years. He was yesterday convicted by City Magistrate Renita Singh for causing the death of 20-year-old Dustin Crawford, a rugby player, who was killed after he was run over by a truck at Flour Mill Road, Agricola, East Bank Demerara. The accident occurred on July 22, 2015. Stewart of 707 Kaneville, East Bank Demerara, was also found guilty of failing to stop after the accident. He was also found guilty of failing to render assistance to the injured man. On each of the two charges he was fined $30,000 with an alternative of two weeks imprisonment. On the day in question, Stewart drove motor lorry GJJ 7168 with trailer TAA 2203 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Crawford. Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru contended that Stewart was driving at a fast rate of speed, when he turned into Flour Mill Road. The trailer of the vehicle hit Crawford causing him to be
Rio Night Club shooting…
Former murder accused knew of plot to execute him -Incident allegedly linked to Club Privilege confrontation
JAILED: Greg Stewart
KILLED: Dustin Crawford
flung into the air before falling onto the roadway. During the trial, the prosecutor said that Stewart continued driving the vehicle and one of the wheels ran over Crawford’s head. Stewart escaped after the accident but was later pointed out by an eyewitness, who called the police, and gave chase in a vehicle. The young rugby player died as a result of multiple injuries.
According to reports, Crawford, of Public Road Friendship, East Bank Demerara met his demise just after he disembarked a route 42 minibus and had been walking on the southern half of the Flour Mill Road. It was reported that the 12-wheeler hauler truck turned into the street and collided with the pedestrian. Crawford had been working with the Guyana National Rugby Union as a coach.
Chief Magistrate to rule in Houston fatal accident trial
Following closing submission by the defence and prosecution, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday announced that a decision will be made on Friday in the trial ofAndrewAulder, who is accused of causing the death of Dinesh Bissoon by dangerous driving. Aulder, 58, of 616 West Ruimveldt Georgetown is alleged to have committed the offence on March 6, 2016 at Houston Access Road, East Bank Demerara, whereby he allegedly drove motorcar PMM 3981 in a manner dangerous to the public. He is out on bail. Aulder was called on last week to lead a defence after the Chief Magistrate ruled that a Prima Facie case had been made out against him after the close of the prosecution’s case which was led by Police Inspector Neville Jeffers. Aulder after consulting with his attorney, Patrice Henry, elected to give an unsworn testimony during which he told the court that it was Bissoon who was riding a motorcycle which collided with the vehicle he was driving. Aulder told the court that on the day in question; he was heading to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) to pick up two of his relatives when the accident occurred. He said that it was around 06:30hrs, when he was driving south along the Houston Access Road. According to the defendant, the motorcycle that Bissoon was riding was
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Kaieteur News
heading in the opposite direction when it slammed into the driver’s side of his vehicle. “How this thing happen…I didn’t expect he (Bissoon) to roll over to my side. I stopped and a police vehicle with some TSU (Tactical Service Unit) ranks stopped.” Aulder recalled that a police rank marked off the point of impact and instructed him to remove his vehicle to which he refused. He stated that several traffic ranks later arrived at the scene. The defendant told the court that a witness who had testified
on behalf of the prosecution reported the accident to the Ruimveldt Police Station. Aulder testified that the injured man was picked up and place in a motorcar and transported to the hospital. He further said that he explained what had transpired to police and was told to go down to the police station. The defendant pointed out that he never saw police ranks taking photographs of the accident scene. Aulder added that he was held in custody for 72 hours and was released on $40,000 bail. A few weeks after the accident, Aulder related that he was informed that Bissoon had succumbed at the hospital.
A man who police said was going to be a victim of an execution when they intercepted three individuals and retrieved an AK 47 rifle, a 9MM pistol, three magazines and eighty live rounds in a house at Campbellville on Sunday, allegedly knew someone wanted him dead. As such, the individual, who has been identified as Leon Duncan called “Whistle” of West Ruimveldt, has been keeping a low profile. Additionally, he has been fingered in a shooting at Club Privilege located at the Tower Hotel on Main Street, Georgetown, two weeks ago, which the hotel management had denied took place. Deputy Commander of ‘A’ Division, Calvin Brutus said that ranks have received information linking Duncan to the club shooting—this was supported by surveillance footage. They are now trying to locate the alleged shooter. Regarding the shooting at the Rio night club, this newspaper was told that Duncan was a friend of 19-year-old Ryan Sergeant, who was gunned down outside the club last September. Reports are that the bullet which struck and killed
Leon Duncan called “Whistle” Sergeant was actually meant for Duncan, a former murder accused. According to information received, Sergeant and Duncan along with other friends went to the club when the 19-year-old left and went outside to meet a female. While inside, Duncan allegedly got into a fight with an ex-phantom squad member, who is among the three suspects found with the weapons in Campbellville. Reports are that after the ex-phantom squad member pulled out a gun in the club, the former murder accused ran outside and in the direction of where Sergeant was
Dead: Ryan Sergeant standing—it was there that the young man was shot. Duncan was freed in 2016 for the murder of Imtiaz Roopnarine at the Cool Square hotel in 2013. He narrowly escaped death last September. It is believed that the ex-phantom squad member and his cohort had since been hunting him down. Last week, the men allegedly got information on their intended target and according to sources, they were believed to have been in the planning process of an attack when the cops raided the Campbellville house and apprehended them and retrieved a high powered rifle.
The guns and ammunition that were discovered in the Campbellville house
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 25, 2017
Tourism Authority names 60-plus hotel operators in licencing crackdown The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) is taking some tough actions to get hotels across the country to toe the line when it comes to the regulations. Yesterday, the authority in an advertisement published in the state-owned Guyana Chronicle, listed more than 60 hotels in the three regions which they say must contact them before month-end over
registration issues. GTA explained that all tourism businesses must register with the entity. These included hotels, guest houses, lodges, resorts, inns, apartments, tour operators and tourist guides. “The Tourism Regulations also requires that all tourism businesses must obtain a licence to operate from the authority in accordance to
Tender Board in process... From page 12 decide on procurement, subject to its jurisdiction. However, it was reported that NPTAB had not exercised due diligence to ensure that the persons appointed as evaluators had the requisite expertise and experience. In response to this, NPTAB’s Chairman explained that a circular was issued in February of this year by the National Board to all Regional, Ministerial, Department and Agency Tender Boards. These entities were reminded about Sections 20 (1) and 23 (1) of the Procurement Act 2003, which requires these agencies to nominate persons to serve on the evaluation committees. Additionally, they were asked to submit the qualifications and experience of the nominated persons for the board to scrutinize. Based on this response, the audit office recommended that in appointing Tender Evaluators, the National Board should do all in its power that Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Regions undertake checks to ensure that candidates have the necessary expertise before nominations are made to the National Board.
the…regulations made under the Guyana Tourism Act 2002.” The regulations include the Tourism Accommodation Establishments Regulations No. 16 of 2008; Interior Lodges and Resorts Regulations No.1 of 2008; Tour Operators Regulations No. 17 of 2008 and Tourist Guides Regulations No. 18 of 2008. In Demerara, the advertisements listed 36 hotels, guest houses, inns and apartments that have to get themselves in order and make contact with GTA before month-end. These include a number of Brazilian hotels like Rockies, Hotel Brazil and Hotel Marinho, and Alpha, C Island Hotel, Hilton Crest and Paradise Inn. In Essequibo, three hotels were named- Caribbean Heat Hotel, Traveller’s Lodge and Comfort Inn. In Berbice, nine hotels include Parkway, Astor, Berbice Inn and First Impression Hotel were listed. At Linden, the three businesses named Riverview International, Quality Inn and Linden Guest House - have to get their affairs in order. At Bartica, Diamond Castle, Platinum, Morocco International, 7th Avenue Hotel and Sherill’s Inn and At Home Guest House were the six named in the advertisement.
Wednesday January 25, 2017
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Kaieteur News
PM Christie says more than 31,000 new jobs created in Bahamas NASSAU, Bahamas CMC – Prime Minister Perry Christie says his administration has created more than 31, 000 jobs during its five year term in office with at least eight billion dollars being invested in the tourism sector. Addressing the Bahamas Business Outlook conference here on Monday, Prime Minister Christie, said the efforts of his administration on job creation from foreign direct investment have been fruitful, “with approvals given for over eight billion dollars in touristic projects and, inclusive of 300 estate homes which, along with Baha Mar, will create an additional 15,000 permanent jobs throughout key islands of our archipelago. “As a matter of record, the Department of Statistics has recorded the creation of 31,735 jobs during the current administration,” he said, adding that he was pleased with the level of investor confidence in the Bahamas. Christie, who has been endorsed by his Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) to lead it into the next general election, told the conference that the remobilization of the multi-billion dollar Baha Mar Resort is
well underway and that the project will open in phases this year. “It is my understanding that since the announcement, Baha Mar’s website has received over 20,000 views and 5,000 job applications have already been received for the 1500 positions now available, with several thousand more positions coming on stream by year end, when the project is fully completed.” Christie said that the new owners of the project, CTF Enterprises, a Hong-Kong based conglomerate and operators of top branded hotels worldwide, “are also making plans to add additional fea-
tures to what is already the largest single resort complex under development within the region”. He said that Atlantis Resort, with 7,763 employees continues to be the largest private sector employer in the country and that its owner, Brookfield Asset Management, is carrying out US$38 million in upgrades and renovations. “In 2016, Atlantis contributed US$290 million in salaries, fees and taxes, for which the Government has extended appropriate concessions, and will maintain a vibrant capex programme over the next three years.”
Christie said that a signal achievement of his government has been the initiatives taken with respect to the expiring provisions of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, which is expected to result in the strengthening and expansion of the Grand Bahama economy. “The consultative process undertaken by this administration for review of the expiring provisions of the agreement has led to the implementation of a new policy framework and conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding with key stakeholders for commitments to further development,” Prime Minister
Christie said, adding “this will deliver a wide range of economic and social gains for Grand Bahama’s residents”. Christie said that some of the outcomes from this new framework include changes to the regulatory framework governing Freeport, creating improved transparency and regulatory oversight. “Future concessions to developers will be administered by government and conditional upon compliance with real estate and business development milestones. A collaborative strategy is being developed with key stakeholders for attracting, retaining and expanding investment in Grand Bahama, including the injection of new equity capital into the Grand Bahama Port Authority group of companies.” Prime Minister Christie said the cruise sector continues to expand with the recent negotiation by the government of a Waiver of Exclusivity from Freeport Harbour Company to enable development by Carnival Cruise Lines of a cruise port in Eastern Grand Bahama. “More than US$350 million has been committed by
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCA), Disney and Mediterranean Cruise Lines (MSC) for refurbishment and creation of cruise ports in The Bahamas,” he said, adding that the construction of a large pier and enhanced amenities at Coco Cay in the Berry Islands will enable RCCA, which is a minority investor in the Grand Bahama Shipyard, to transport over two million passengers per annum to the Bahamas. “The development by Mediterranean Cruise Lines (MSC) at Ocean Cay of a $200 million, exclusive private cruise destination, the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, will enable MSC’s new, smart mega ships sailing in November 2018, to bring an additional 390,000 passengers to The Bahamas,” he said. “MSC is committed to hiring more than eleven hundred twenty (1,120) Bahamians for the construction and operation of the Cay and, in partnership with the National Training Agency, will train and employ an additional 240 Bahamian crew who will join the 20 Bahamians already working on its cruise ships.”
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 25, 2017
CARIFESTA XIII to be bigger and better, says Barbados minister
Minister of Culture, Stephen Lashley (centre), receives the baton at the close of CARIFESTA XII in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 2015. (J. Weekes/BGIS) BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS) — CARIFESTA XIII will be like no other before it, minister of culture, sports and youth, Stephen Lashley, said last week as he updated members of the media on plans for Barbados’ hosting of the upcoming regional arts festival.Lashley stated that CARIFESTA was “no longer a festival where artistes meet and just have a show or display a few cultural performances”. Rather, he said it must now connect with the vision of Caribbean governments to use their cultural industries sectors to “propel us to new vistas of economic growth and development”. “Our hosting of CARIFESTA at this time is certainly key to our strategic plat forming for economic growth, and using creativity is a key plank of that…. We
expect that CARIFESTA will attract a significant number of visitors; this will also translate into heightened economic activity. Barbados has a great opportunity in terms of the impact that CARIFESTA can have on the economy,” he said. The culture minister disclosed that in addition to the traditional events such as the opening and closing ceremonies, signal events, super concerts, country nights and fringe events which were normal features of the 14-day festival, it was thought necessary to also expand the Grand Market to include a Buyers’ Shopping Mall. As a result, a number of international buyers have been invited to these events.
He explained that this move would give the buyers the opportunity to visit an exhibition of cultural goods and services in a market place environment, which exclusively features Caribbean creative products. Lashley also noted that one of the main goals was for CARIFESTA to reflect the regional push for the development of the cultural industries. “Since 1981, so much has happened in terms of the cultural landscape of the region…. Several countries, including Barbados, have gone the route of placing a lot of emphasis on the creative sector, and the cultural industries today loom large as being a new frontier for economic development. CARIFESTA, within the context of 2017 and going forward, would have to reflect the realities of what is happening within the region,” he signalled.
Wednesday January 25, 2017
Kaieteur News
Jamaica placing priority on dealing with climate change –Vaz
Douglas Vaz (center) at the training workshop (JIS Photo) KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The Jamaica government is giving priority to climate change as it maps out its economic growth strategy, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Daryl Vaz, has said. “We have to integrate climate change with the economic path that we are on in terms of economic growth and job creation and make sure that we are treating climate change with the same importance that we are in terms of our economic policy, which is prosperity,” Vaz said as he addressed a five-day climate change training workshop here being attended by delegates from Grenada, Germany and the Czech Republic.. He said the Andrew Holness government is actively seeking international funding in a bid to properly prepare for and address the impacts of climate change on the country. “We have to make sure that we tap into all of the funds that have been created to help small island countries like Jamaica deal with the issue,” he said, noting that billions of dollars have been spent by Jamaica and other countries of the world in recovering from natural disasters, which have been linked to climate change. Citing statistics from the Planning Institute of Jamaica, Vaz said that Jamaica lost 7.3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2006 due to natural disaster. He said that for the period 2001 to 2012, Jamaica experienced 11 storms, including five major hurricanes and flood events, which resulted
in loss and damage amounting to J$122 billion (One Jamaica dollar =US$0.008 cents). He said the government is engaging in strategies that support the sustainable management and utilisation of the country’s natural resources; sound management of chemical and hazardous wastes; as well as risk reduction and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Focus is also being placed on training and public education to inform Jamaicans about the impact of climate change on their lives. Vaz commended the team at the Climate Change Division for conducting the fiveday training workshop for the Climate Change Focal Point Network.
“This training is fundamental in building the capacities that are required for us as a country to address some of the many issues relating to climate change impacts on the Jamaican society,” he said. The training workshop is aimed at mainstreaming climate change considerations into development planning. The Focal Point Network supports the Government’s implementation of measures under the Climate Change Policy Framework and Action Plan across the public sector and the wider society. The network, comprising representatives from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), collaborates with the Climate Change Division to implement the provisions.
Trinidad and Tobago’s President Gets Death Threat PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Security officials in Trinidad and Tobago are investigating a death threat made against President Anthony Carmona, even as the country’s National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said there was no “credible evidence” that the threat was legitimate. The Trinidad Guardian newspaper reported that a man, who said he was in the army, called the Police Command Centre around 11 a.m. Sunday and threatened that he, would be “waiting by the Savannah to offload shots for the President”. He also reportedly threatened to bomb police stations. “The Defence Force and Special Branch have been in-
formed accordingly – through the Police Commissioner and Chief of Defence Staff – and are taking the necessary action,” Minister Dillon said. The newspaper reported that a senior Special Branch official met with the President just before noon Monday. No details about the discussions have been forthcoming. This is the first time Carmona, whose five-year term ends next year, has received a death threat while serving as president. However, the Trinidad Guardian noted that he had been the subject of such a threat when he was a judge presiding over the trial of gang leader. (Caribbean360)
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 25, 2017
Wednesday January 25, 2017
Kaieteur News
Venus reaches first Melbourne Park semi in 14 years M E L B O U R N E (Reuters) Venus Williams continued her astonishing late-career revival by felling Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4 7-6(3) yesterday to reach her first Australian Open semi-final in 14 years and become the oldest woman to reach the last four at Melbourne Park in the professional era. The quarter-final will hardly be remembered as a classic, with both Venus and the 24th-ranked Russian surrendering serve with alarming regularity despite perfect conditions for tennis at Rod Laver Arena. In the end it was 36year-old Venus’ experience that proved decisive when the pressure rose, and
Venus Williams of the U.S. hits a shot during her Women’s singles quarter-final match against Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. (REUTERS/Issei Kato)
Wednesday January 25, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Don't use emotional blackmail on someone you love. You are best to work at home, clearing up overdue projects. Your personal life will be disrupted if you have been too busy with business.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) They will not be in the right frame of mind to put up with tactless comments. Finish those changes you've been talking about making to your residence. Channel your energy into decorating or household chores.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Changes regarding your image will bring you greater confidence. Love and romance are evident. Don't give your heart too readily.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You may be in love today, but who knows what tomorrow may bring. Secret enemies may be holding a grudge that you're not even aware of. Try to be understanding.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You will be overly generous with children today. Your tendency to overreact could get you into trouble. Look into ways to make your home more comfortable. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your tendency to dramatize may be a little much for your partner to take constantly. You will be able to pick up on future trends if you keep your eyes peeled for unique ideas. You should consider getting into self improvement endeavors. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Interaction with colleagues will only be upsetting. Go after your goals and don't be afraid to ask for assistance. Travel will entice you; however, a tendency to overspend is quite possible. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Financial limitations may add to your depression. This is a turning point. You can pick up wonderful buys if you really look hard today.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Don't expect anyone else to pay your bills for you. Take part in stimulating debates that will allow you to show off your intelligence. You will have a problem holding on to your cash today. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Keep your eyes and ears alert for any evasive or deceptive statements. Don't be too pushy or demanding, or you may find yourself all alone. Deception is evident around you. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Make the necessary changes that will enable you to advance financially. You should visit a friend or relative who hasn't been well. Risky financial ventures will result in unrecoverable losses. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Sign up for courses that will bring you more skills. Hassles with close friends or family will put a damper on your day and result in isolation and loneliness.
Pavlyuchenkova crumbled with a double-fault on match point to boost the A m e r i c a n ’s h o p e s o f a maiden title at Melbourne Park. “Oh my gosh I’m so excited,” said the seventimes grand slam champion after closing out the one hour and 48-minute tussle. “I want to go further. I’m not happy just with this. “I’m just so excited that I have another opportunity to play again.” Following her run at Wimbledon, 13th seed Venus has now made the semi-finals at two of the last three grand slams. She was 22 when she last made the semi-finals at Melbourne, during a run to the 2003 final where she was beaten by younger sister Serena, the current world number two, in three sets. Venus will play an allAmerican semi-final against Coco Vandeweghe, who thrashed former French Open champio n Garbine Muguruza 6-4 6-0 in the following quarter-final at Rod Laver Arena. The mouthwatering prospect of a repeat of the 2003 final against Serena beckons if the second seed can get there as well. Venus has s t o r m e d through the Melbourne Park draw without losing a set and was never truly threatened by Pavlyuchenkova who let h e r s e l f d own with nine double-faults. Both players struggled to hold serve but Pavlyuchenkova buckled at the bigger moments. When serving at 5-4 to stay in the first set, she double-faulted and butchered a forehand to offer three set points. Venus needed only one, hammering a backhand return down the line and giving a yelp in triumph. There was no more resilience on serve in the second set, with both players trading breaks to move to 4-4. Pavlyuchenkova doublefaulted to fall back to 0-30 at 6-5, two points from elimination, but bravely rallied to take Williams into a tie break. The Russian led 3-1 before it all fell apart. She double-faulted to allow Venus to draw level and the American spanked a huge return down the line to edge ahead. Venus hammered a forehand winner to bring up three match points and Pavlyuchenkova surrendered the match meekly w i t h h e r n i n t h d o u b lefault.
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Wednesday January 25, 2017
Konta’s learning curve continues against Serena ( R e u t e r s ) B r i t a i n ’s Johanna Konta has learned much from matches against grand slam champions and former world number ones over the last 18 months but today her education will be complete when she faces Serena Williams in the Australian Open quarter-finals. While Konta has never played the American great, who is bidding to win a record 23rd grand slam title in the professional era, the 25-year-old knows exactly what Williams has in store for her on Rod Laver Arena. “I don’t think Serena
Williams needs an introduction with everything that she’s achieved in this sport,” Konta said. “But I have played, over the last year and a half, quite a few grand slam champions and some former world number ones. So I have accumulated, I think — I have prepared myself as much as possible to play a competitor like Serena.” Konta’s rise to ninth in the world, sparked by a run to last year’s semi-finals at Melbourne Park, has not gone unnoticed by her quarter-final opponent.
“I have watched her game a lot. She’s been doing really, really well,” Williams said. “She has a very attacking game. I know her game pretty well. I look forward to it.” The other quarter-final pitches fifth seed and U.S. Open finalist Karolina Pliskova against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, who is having a career renaissance at Melbourne Park after making a comeback. “I still wanted to play on a stage like this, on a full court like this,” she said. “Come out, play, have these
wins, be in a quarter-final of a slam, have a chance to fight for a semi-final. Those are incredible moments.” In the remaining men’s quarter-finals, David Goffin and 15th seed Grigor Dimitrov will be the last match on the main court before the evening session. Having spent some of the off-season practicing together, Dimitrov knows what to expect from the 11thseeded Belgian. “He’s very dangerous all over the court,” the Bulgarian said. “He can hit quite a few shots, moves well on the court, reads the game well. It’s going to be a tough match.” Milos Raonic, the highest remaining men’s seed following the exits of Andy Murray and Novak
Britain’s Johanna Konta celebrates after winning her Women’s singles fourth round match against Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova. (REUTERS/Jason Reed) Djokovic, wraps up the quarter-finals against a resurgent Rafa Nadal. The Canadian is hoping to have shaken off the effects of flu by the time the match comes around. “Still don’t necessarily
feel at full capacity but I have energy now. I can go about my days normally,” the third seed told reporters. “With the way things are going, getting better and better, I c a n ’t i m a g i n e m y s e l f struggling.”
Wednesday January 25, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Volcanoes wary of dangerous Under-19s ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Windward Islands Volcanoes will be taking nothing for granted when they come up against minnows West Indies Under19s, in the first game of a doubleheader that opens the Antigua leg of the Regional Super50 here today. Volcanoes, boasting the likes of two-time Twenty20 World Cup-winning captain Darren Sammy and the current West Indies pair of Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher, enter the contest at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium as the definite favourites but captain Liam Sebastien said yesterday they would not be underestimating the young side. “We will be looking to start with a win. In any competition it is always important to start off good. The guys are obviously raring to go and the guys are focused on that mission of winning the first game which obviously would set the
tone,” Sebastien said. “Also, they are not a team we are going to underestimate. They’ve been preparing for a while, they’ve had a few camps together and it’s something we’re mindful of. We’re not going into the game complacent saying we’ve won the game already. “We know we still have to go out and play a good game of cricket. It is something we are aware of. We are aware of them in terms of what they can bring because we will be going into the game as favourites and favourites don’t always win.” Antigua will play host to Zone A which also comprises title-holders Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, Leeward Islands Hurricanes and English County side, Kent Spitfires. Wednesday’s feature game set for the Coolidge Cricket Ground will see Kent clashing with Hurricanes in a day/night affair.
But despite fixtures against the likes of Red Force and Kent, Sebastien believes the clash with the Windies Under-19s is the most critical one for Volcanoes. “This could be one of the most important games of the group for us because this is our first game and it’s against the team everybody expects to be the minnows of the group so it’s something that’s going to be very important in terms of our performance as a group,” he stressed. Meanwhile, Under-19s head coach Graeme West said his side were still building their confidence ahead of their first outing. However, he said their practice match last Sunday had gone a long way in boosting the side’s belief, and he was now hoping to see signs of development as the squad used the tournament as preparation for next year’s Youth World Cup.
“We are building on what we did in [the camp in] Grenada in December,” the Englishman said. ‘There are some nerves in the group. We have some young guys and inexperienced players in terms of senior cricket so on reflection I think it was a good exercise on Sunday. A lot of them come away from it with a lot more belief that they can compete at the senior level.” He continued: “I think what we are really looking for is the ability to make good decisions. For the bowlers, they are going to be under pressure. They are some very positive players they are going to be bowling against so it’s a little bit composure, a little bit setting the right fields for what they
are trying to do. “For the batters, certainly at the top of the order, it’s really a case of developing the belief that they can perform.” SQUADS: VOLCANOES: Liam Sebastien (Captain), Audley Alexander, Sunil Ambris, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Kavem Hodge, Delorn Johnson, Mervin Matthews, Kyle Mayers, Tyrone Theophile, Darren Sammy, Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith, Kesrick Williams. WEST INDIES UNDER-19S: Te-Shawn Alleyne, Alick Athanaze, Joshua Bishop, Shian Brathwaite, Kirstan Kallicharan, Mikyle Louis, Obed McCoy, Matthew Patrick, Keemo Paul, Jeavor
Royal, Javier Spencer, Shamar Springer, Emmanuel Stewart, Bhaskar Yadram. HURRICANES: Kieran Powell (Captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Jason Campbell, Kevon Cooper, Rahkeem Cornwall, Jahmar Hamilton, Montcin Hodge, Akeal Hosein, Chesney Hughes, Alzarri Joseph, Jermaine Otto, Orlando Peters, Marlon Samuels, Gavin Tonge. SPITFIRES: Sam Northeast (Captain), Adam Ball, Daniel BellDrummond, Hugh Bernard, Alexander Blake, Matthew Coles, Sean Dickson, William Gidman, Callum Haggett, Matthew Hunn, Imran Qayyum, Adam Riley, Oliver Robinson, Adam Rouse, Darren Stevens, Ivan Thomas, James Tredwell.
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Wednesday January 25, 2017
Tennis-Back to the future as Federer storms into Melbourne semis M E L B O U R N E (Reuters) Four-times champion Roger Federer continued to roll back the years as he took apart Mischa Zverev 6-1 7-5 6-2 with a clinical display of allcourt tennis to reach his 13th Australian Open semi-final in 92 minutes yesterday. Chasing an 18th grand slam title, and first since 2012, the 35-year-old Federer neutered his lefthanded German opponent’s serve-volley game to set up a last-four meeting with fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka. “I think it definitely went as good as it possibly could have gone,” Federer told reporters. “I had to adapt my style.
It was a nice match. I think I played great.” Looking in form as imperious as in his heyday of a decade ago despite missing the back half of last season after knee surgery, Federer is now one match away from a potential final against his old rival Rafa Nadal. Wawrinka, the 2014 champion, will want to have a say about that as will N a d a l ’s q u a r t e r - f i n a l opponent, Milos Raonic. But with both Williams sisters also still standing in the women’s draw, it would be easy to imagine it was 2007 not 2017 at Melbourne Park. Zverev’s serve-andvolley game is a throwback to an even earlier era and the
world number 50 contributed fully to an entertaining, if brief, contest with his fine volleying and net play. The unorthodox game helped the left-hander beat world number one Andy Murray on Sunday, one of two stunning upsets along with the early exit of Novak Djokovic which have opened up the draw for Federer and Nadal. Against Federer, though, it took Zverev 15 minutes to hold serve and get on the scoreboard and by that stage he was already 5-0 down in the opening set. “I think he did not really let me play,” said Zverev. “He just has so many more options, how he can, like,
outplay me or pass me. It was different, definitely different.” L E A P I N G BACKHAND The Swiss needed four more minutes to wrap up the set with a leaping backhand at the net but Zverev gradually found his touch and broke for 3-1 in the second set. Federer broke again straight away but Zverev, who admitted after beating Murray that he had no Plan B, continued to charge to the net to greater and greater effect. The Swiss bided his time, though, and a couple of brilliant backhand passes gave him another break before he served out the set with less than an hour on the clock. A third set studded with deft shot-making went with serve until another Federer backhand gave him a break for 5-2 and a rasping
Switzerland’s Roger Federer shakes hands after winning his Men’s singles quarter-final match against Germany’s Mischa Zverev. (REUTERS/Edgar Su) crosscourt winner, his 65th of the match, sent him into a 41st grand slam semi-final. “I’m happy, I never thought I was going to be this good,” Federer said. “And here I am, still standing, in a semi against Stan, it couldn’t be cooler for the both of us. “I think him and Rafa know my game best. Stan and I practiced so much together. Yeah, I guess those two guys know me very well.” Federer has been such an extraordinary player that he
has all but lost the ability to shock with his feats on court. Andy Roddick, who was inducted into the tennis Hall of Fame on Tuesday and lost a Melbourne semi-final to Federer a decade ago, offered some welcome perspective. “Everyone here is going to talk about it in every story they write for the rest of this tournament, and I still d o n ’t k n o w i f t h a t ’s enough,” the American told reporters. “It’s pretty amazing.”
Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 25, 2017
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Griffith’s smashing 237 lifts Melbourne into semis Jamaica Observer Guyanese left-hander Trevon Griffith clobbered 237 against Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) at Up Park Camp in Sunday’s quarterfinal, to power Melbourne CC to the semi-final of the Jamaica Cricket Association 50-over competition. Melbourne, batting first, racked up 407-7 off their allotted 50 overs on the back of Griffith’s heroics en route to a massive 182-run win. The army men scored quickly early on but could not sustain the tempo required, and were bowled out for 225 in 36 overs. Scores: Melbourne 4077 (50 overs); JDF 225 (36 overs) Melbourne are set to travel to Chedwin Park to face reigning champions St Catherine CC in one semifinal on Saturday. In the d a y ’s o t h e r l a s t - f o u r encounter, Kingston CC and Kensington CC are scheduled to lock horns at Kensington Park. On Sunday, Griffith, who opened the batting, needed only 153 balls to chalk up his highest score in 50-over club cricket. The batsman, who missed the final Jamaica
Trevon Griffith is all smiles after his whirlwind knock of 237 carried Melbourne CC to 407-7 in the quarterfinal against Jamaica Defence Force on Sunday. Melbourne won by 182 runs. (Bryan Cummings) Scorpions 14-man squad for the Super50 tournament, smashed 21 fours and 14 sixes. His previous best was 176 playing for Demerara CC in Guyana. “I would rate it as one of the better innings I’d have played because I batted right through the innings and helped us to a good score. It was a quarter-final game and we needed one of the top
players to bat through and get a big score; I put my hand up and did exactly that,” Griffith told the Jamaica Observer at the end of the game. Earlier, JDF won the toss and sent Melbourne to take first strike, but it was a decision they would soon regret. The slim-framed Griffith added 202 runs for the
GT Sports Endurance Race Meet
Palm Court drives with Team Vieira The GT Motor Sports Endurance Race Meet which will be staged tonight at the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) received a timely boost after Palm Court offered sponsorship to Team Vieira yesterday, at the entity’s location on Main Street. Making the presentation to Team Vieira member Emma Vieira was Events & Marketing Manager Sasha Lewis, who did so in the presence of Managing Director Navin Prashad and another member of the team Stephen Vieira. Prashad, who has been a prolific supporter of motor racing, having doled out sponosrship to the likes of Group 4 & 3 drivers Rupie Shewjattan and Rameeze Mohamed, speaking with this newspaper, said he felt inclined to get on board because the sport continues to expand and was
convinced that the initiative was a good one. He also spoke of the composition of the team which includes a mixture of experience and youth, pointing to Mark and Stephen as the two that possesss experience, while Emma is a young and exciting driver. Emma when asked how she felt going into the event said she was extremely excited and was confident that her team will win. The young racer, who has the sport splattered all over her veins, is the daughter of Mark, whose exploits and reputation is well documented in regional racing. Emma is a very promising karter and has recorded the fourth fastest time on the new circuit, clocking a fantastic 39.4 seconds and word is that, that could be lowered because
she is revved up for the opposing teams. Stephen, who is more celebrated for his Superbike heroics, admitted that karting is a new phase in his racing career and he is now beginning to adapt to the change. He too echoed sentiments of confidence which according to him is simply because of the strong team that he is a part of. Vieira disclosed that there will be two weight classes including the 500 and 600 and they are entered in the former with each member required to drive a minimum of twenty minutes for a total of one hour. Meanwhile, racing fans are being urged to get down to the GMR&SC location to witness a night of daredevilry. Admission is free and action starts at 19:00hrs.
second wicket with Sadiki Bolt — the brother of sprint legend Usain — as the soldiers’ bowlers were put to the sword. Bolt hit 62 off 85 balls, while JDF medium pacer Ryan Bennett took 2-71 off eight overs. Part-time spinner Rasheed Outar ended with 2-65 off five overs. In reply, JDF opener Jermaine Harrison thrashed a quick-fire 55, while middle order batsmen Outar and Sean Bennett contributed 39 and 32, respectively. Bolt, bowling spin, grabbed 5-43 off eight overs, while off-spinner Yannick Elliott had 2-28 off six overs. The young Scorpions’ fast bowler Oshane Thomas snared 251 off seven overs. In the other quarterfinal on Sunday, Kingston defeated St Thomas CA by 85 runs at Kensington Park. Scores: Kingston 265 (44.3 overs); St Thomas 180 (44.5 overs)
Earlier, Kingston won the toss and opted to bat first and got off to a flying start. Aaron Johnson, who fired 74 off 58 balls, and Captain Garth Garvey, who made 40 off 26 balls, shared in a first-wicket partnership of 73 runs which came in seven overs and five balls. After both were dismissed, wickets tumbled cheaply before a 79-run, seventh-wicket stand between wicketkeeper Kirk Harris and Abhijhai Mansingh ensured they had the momentum to surpass the psychological 250 mark. Harris slammed 82 off 81 balls and counted ten fours and a lone six, while Mansingh’s patient 23 came up in 74 balls. St Thomas CC’s Omar Brooks took 4-60 off nine overs, while Chevon Simpson grabbed 2-24 off four overs. Kenroy Williams topscored for St Thomas with 39. Opener Andre Bryce also made 39, while his brother Damion — a left-hander —
made 20. O u t - o f - f a v o u r We s t I n d i e s wicketkeeper/batsman Carlton Baugh, batting at seven, was given out leg before wicket for zero. His dismissal at 82-5 in the 25th over left St Thomas’s runchase in tatters and, despite lower order resistance, they were unable to snatch the win. Pacer Odean Smith took 6-51 for Kingston, while spinner Patrick Harty grabbed 2-36. In one quarter-final game last Saturday, St Catherine CC brushed aside visitors Lucas CC by 10 wickets at Chedwin Park. Scores: Lucas 83 (27.3 overs); St Catherine CC 87-0 (7.1 overs) In Saturday’s other quarter-final, Kensington CC eked out a two-wicket w i n o v e r h o s t s We s t m o r e l a n d C A a t Paradise Cricket Ground. Scores: Westmoreland 182 (30.4 overs); 183-8 (28 overs)
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Wednesday January 25, 2017
Annual Roy Fredericks Cricket Marian Academy hosts Schools’ Relay Championships on Saturday Cup on this Sunday at Blairmont -Event part of Fifth Form CSEC Physical Education Project Marian Academy will host a National Schools’ Relay Championships on Saturday at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary from 9:00am as part of its fifth form students’ Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) Project. The activity will form part of the class project for the 2017 CSEC Physical Education exam that will be held May/June. The fifth form students, therefore, in a press release yesterday, invited all enthusiasts to come out and help make the event a success. The competition is open to the first to fifth form student-athletes only, and interested schools are asked make contact with Physical Education teacher, Keith Smith on 675-5566 or 6502928 or the schools’ office on
Committee for the Project, Jahleel Young told Kaieteur Sport that the event planning is well on stream and it promises to be a successful athletics competition. Admission to the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary on Saturday is $100.
Samuels, Fletcher picked up in replacement PSL draft LAHORE, Pakistan, CMC – West Indies batting star Marlon Samuels has been picked up by Peshawar Zalmi in the replacement draft staged here Monday. The right-handed Samuels was joined by Windies limited overs teammate, Andre Fletcher, who was also selected by the franchise for the February 9 to March 7 tournament carded for the United Arab Emirates. However, the final will be staged in Lahore. Samuels will replace injured Englishman Alex Hales while Fletcher will come in for Pakistan’s Mohammad Shahzad who is unavailable. Jamaican Samuels was in superb form in the Bangladesh Premier League last November/December
West Indies batting star Marlon Samuels. when he finished among the leading run-scorers with 334 runs at an average of 66 Zalmi is led by two-time Tw en t y 2 0 Wo r l d C u p winning skipper Darren Sammy, and also includes Barbados-born England all-
expected to commence at 09:00 hrs with the six teams cricket competition for the Roy Fredericks Cup. Defending champion, Blairmont Blazer, will be hard pressed to retain their crown. They are expected to face stiff challenges from the other teams lead by last year ’s runner up DeEdward’s Sports Club and the others - Young Warriors, Cotton Tree Die Hard, Metamorza CC (WBD) and Blairmont U-19. The table tennis
competition will be played in the Under-15, Under-19 and Open categories. The volleyball will be a four-aside tournament, while the football will be played with five players per team on short goal format. The Blairmont Cricket Club (BCC) has grown over the years to be recognized as one of the top clubs in Berbice. Other attractions include BBQ, Tassa Drumming, bouncy Castle, Cartoon Characters, among others. (Samuel Whyte)
Limacol Football opens up with two exciting draws
Jahleel Young 226-9045. The prizes that will be given include: medals for first to third place and trophies for first to third place schools. One of the members of Marian Academy Physical Education Planning
The cricket section of the Blairmont Community Center on Sunday will be staging the Annual Roy Fredericks Cricket Cup Cricket competition and fun day. The cricket competition will be a one day 10/10 affair and will be held at the Blairmont Community Center Ground, West Bank Berbice. Apart from the 10/10 cricket competition other activities planned are Table Tennis, Volley ball, football and dominoes. The day’s activity is
rounder Chris Jordan. West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has been ruled out of the tournament after picking up an injury last month while playing for Melbourne Renegades in the Australia Big Bash. He has been replaced by Englishman Jason Roy. Windies T20 captain Carlos Brathwaite will also be unavailable for the tournament, with Australian Brad Hodge called up. The likes of West Indies stars Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Samuel Badree have been confirmed for the tournament.
-double-header on tomorrow at GFC Jason Williams’ stunning strike two minutes from full time earned Camptown a 1-1 draw against Riddim Squad in the feature clash on opening night of the 2nd Annual Limacol Football Competition on Monday night, at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground. Played before a fairsized crowd that included Co-Director of the Petra Organisation Troy Mendonca, the two teams battled intensely for the most part, before Teon Jones 82nd minute goal gave Riddim Squad the lead. Jones goal came when he noticed the Camptown goalkeeper way off his line and a wonderfully executed lob over his head from about 20 metres out landed into the back of the net. However, instead of having a negative effect on the Campbellville-based unit it seemed to have the opposite result as they searched relentlessly for the equaliser. It came six minutes later and indeed it was a precious one from the speedy winger, who weaved past his marker, before cutting inside to belt a sizzling right-footed corker past a surprised Riddim Squad custodian. The response from the partisan support was one of euphoria since it meant that the teams shared a point each. Earlier, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and Mahaica Determinators battled to a similar result with a 2-2 draw. The visitors got off to an
impressive start when the muscular Eion Abel struck his first of a brace after two minutes. Police squandered an excellent chance to level proceedings after winning a penalty in the 27th minute, but the ensuing spot kick sailed over the crossbar much to the relief of the Mahaica Determinators side. H o w e v e r, D w a y n e Charles would make amends for the team’s failure when he scored in the 40th minute, hitting a left-footer which glided over the goalkeeper’s flailing hands and into the back of the net. The teams went to the break with the scores deadlocked at 1-1. Abel returned in the 57th minute to complete his tally, firing a stinging left footer from just outside the box past the keeper. However, one minute later Police responded through striker Quincy Holder, who deflected a cross from the left flank past the scrambling goalkeeper to level the scores. Both teams had opportunities to take the lead, but poor finishing erased those and when the final whistle came they remained tied at 2-2 to share one point apiece. Play in the competition resumes tomorrow with another double header at the same venue. In the opening fixture, Western Tigers take on New Amsterdam United from 18:30hrs and Santos host Ann’s Grove at 20:30hrs. The following day the
event moves to the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground in Linden where Milerock hosts Northern Rangers and Wi n n e r s C o n n e c t i o n entertain Grove Hi-Tech. The final matches of round one on January 29th will see Uitvlugt square off against Eagles United and Pouderoyen tackle Den Amstel at a venue to be announced. The event is being contested in an initial roundrobin format, with the top two finishers advancing to the quarter-final round. Group-A consists of Milerock, Winners Connection, Grove Hi-Tech and Northern Rangers, while Group-B is made up of Western Tigers, Uitvlugt, Eagles and NA United. Group-C contains Santos, Pouderoyen, Den Amstel and Ann’s Grove, while Group-D has Guyana Police Force (GPF), Riddim Squad, Camptown and Mahaica Determinators. The winner of each group will receive $100,000, while the respective finishers will pocket $50,000, $30,000 and $20,000 apiece. Winner of the event will receive $500,000 and a trophy, while the second, third and fourth placed teams will take home $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively. Banks DIH Limited under the GT Beer Brand, Trophy Stall and Star Party Rentals are the other companies that have thrown their support behind the Competition.
Wednesday January 25, 2017
Kaieteur News
PAGE 41
Vandeweghe blasts into first grand slam semi-final (Reuters) Coco Vandeweghe blasted her way into her first grand slam semi-final with a dominant display of power tennis to destroy French Open champion Garbine Muguruza 6-4 6-0 at the
Australian Open yesterday. The 25-year-old American, who was equally as impressive in dispatching world number one Angelique Kerber in the previous round, controlled the match from the seventh
game when she achieved her first break of serve. Having taken 56 minutes to wrap up the first set, Vandeweghe raced through the second to clinch the match and her semi-final place 27 minutes later.
Jammers sink Black Sharks in opening encounter of Anamayah Memorial Basketball Action in the game between Rose Hall Town Jammers (in yellow) and The Fyrish Black Sharks.
Top team Rose Hall Town Jammers Basketball Club began the 2017 season on a high note as they made light work of defending champions Fyrish Black Sharks when competition began in the annual Anamayah Memorial Basketball Competition on Sunday last in Berbice. The Jammers were off to a fast start and began eating away at the once ravenous Black Sharks to take an 8-4 lead at the end of the first quarter. During the second quarter, both teams having being warmed up, increased their play, scoring more points in that segment which ended 25-20 in Jammers
favour. The battle continued in the second half of the encounter, but the Jammers were able to thwart any attack mounted by the Black Sharks to maintain the lead at the end of the third quarter at 31-27. As the fourth quarter began the Jammers began to pull away as they consistently pierced the Black S har k s def ence scoring to move onto a 43-35 points win. Leading the way for the Rose Hall Town Jammers were Wilburn Murray 16, Michael King 9 and Mikel Fung 6 points. For the Fyrish Black Sharks the top scorers were
Linden Joseph 12 and Dessie Douglas 10. The other teams confirmed in the competition are New Amsterdam Wa r r i o r s , S m i t h f i e l d Rockers and Ithaca Hardliners. The tournament is being played on a round robin basis with the top two teams qualifying for the finals. At stake in the competition will be cash and other incentives for the winning and runner-up teams and other outstanding players. The tournament is being organised by sport enthusiast Vibert Garnett. The competition is expected to continue on Sunday. (Samuel Whyte)
“It’s amazing to be in a semi-final. But, you know, not satisfying. I want to keep going, keep playing,” Vandeweghe told reporters. “There’s more things to do out on a tennis court that I’m hoping to achieve.” Vandeweghe, whose previous best grand slam tournament was making the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in 2015, will now meet compatriot Venus Williams. “It’s a dream to play
someone you grew up watching,” added Va n d e w e g h e , w h o previously said that as a youngster she had tried getting an autograph f r o m Wi l l i a m s a t a tournament. “To play an unbelievable player, future Hall of Famer, Venus, to be on the court w i t h h e r, I ’ v e o n l y experienced it one time before. “But to do it at this stage of a grand slam is kind of
crazy. I mean, I can’t really put it into words.” While neither player gave an inch in the opening salvos of the first set on Tuesday, the American’s booming groundstrokes finally put sustained pressure on the Spaniard. Muguruza fought off five break points in the seventh game but gifted the advantage to the world number 35 with a double fault that gave the American a 4-3 lead.
Marooners stun Scorpions in opener BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners raised the curtain on the 2017 Regional Super50 in style when they stunned Jamaica Scorpions by 75 runs in the opening game here yesterday. Fired by teenaged opener Amir Jangoo’s measured 64, Marooners raised a modest 214 for eight off their 50 overs at 3Ws Oval. However, Scorpions were then undermined by off-spinner Mark Deyal (322) and fast bowler Keon Harding (3-30) who claimed three wickets apiece, as they tumbled to a disappointing 140 all out off 35 overs. Only Brandon King with a top score of 48 showed any enterprise as Scorpions failed to mount any meaningful partnerships and lost wickets steadily. Sent in in the Zone B encounter, Marooners lost captain Jamal Smith cheaply for 13 at 27 for one in the seventh over but Jangoo revived the innings with support from veteran allrounder Ryan Hinds who got an unbeaten 39 and Cassius Burton who made 32. Left-hander Jangoo faced 114 balls and struck four fours and a six, and anchored a string of small partnerships which prevented the innings from collapse. He put on 32 for the second wicket with Kyle Corbin (12), 38 for the third wicket with Vikash Mohan (20) and another 38 for the fourth wicket with Burton. When Jangoo was lbw to leg-spinner Damion Jacobs (2-22) in the 38th over, former West Indies lefthander Hinds arrived to
Amir Jangoo was Player of the Match as CCC beat Jamaica in the opening match. (Windies Cricket Facebook) smash two fours and two sixes in his 34-ball knock, to rally the innings. He put on 29 for the fifth wicket with Burton and 28 off 22 balls for the eighth wicket with Nino Henry who made just six. The target seemed a straightforward one until Harding bowled openers Chadwick Walton (15) and John Campbell (1) in successive overs to leave the Scorpions in strife at 22 for two in the fifth over. Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood threatened b r i e f l y, b a n g i n g f o u r boundaries in 19 off 14 deliveries but Harding ended the cameo by removing the right-hander to a catch at the wicket. Deyal further hurt the innings by sending back Devon Thomas (5) and Rovman Powell (2) in
successive overs as Scorpions stumbled to 64 for five in the 13th over. King inspired the best stand of the innings when he put on 39 for the sixth wicket with debutant Damani Sewell (10), raising hopes of a late order revival. But King’s dismissal, lbw to left-arm spinner Larry Edward in the 25th over, sparked a slide which saw four wickets tumble for the addition of just 20 runs and there was no further recovery for the visitors. Scores: MAROONERS 215 for eight off 50 overs (Amir Jangoo 64, Ryan Hinds 39 not out, Cassius Burton 32; Damion Jacobs 2-22); SCORPIONS 140 off 35 overs (Brandon King 48, Nikita Miller 25 not out; Mark Deyal 3-22, Keon Harding 3-30).
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday January 25, 2017
Regional Super50
Kraigg Braithwaite maiden ton power Pride to victory Jaguars lose by 145runs despite Johnson’s 55 Anthony Alleyne clobbers Beaton over mid off during his 75 yesterday.
By Sean Devers in Barbados In Association with Bounty Supermarket, Vnet Communications, Life Time Reality & Ming’s Products & Services A fair sized working day crowd which included many tourists and Guyanese saw Barbados Pride march to an emphatic 145-run win against Guyana Jaguars last night at the Kensington Oval in the opening round of the WICB Regional Super50 contest to join the CCC Marooners in winner’s row in the Barbados zone. Pride won the toss and elected to bat in glorious sunshine on a hard track and well manicured outfield as the Jaguars left out Shiv Chanderpaul (stiff neck), Chris Barnwell (injured hand) and Paul Wintz from their team. The 24-year-old Kraigg Braithwaite stroked six fours and a six from 146 balls in his maiden Regional 50 overs century and shared in a 122-run third wicket stand with left-hander Jonathon Carter who made his ninth fifty at this level. His 75 came from 63 balls
with five fours and four sixes to help Barbados to 302-7 and their first 300 total in 50 overs cricket. Braithwaite was named Man-of-thematch. Skipper Jason Holder (31), Ashley Nurse (28) Roston Chase (20*) and Anthony Alleyne (20) all contributed shot-filled cameos as Veerasammy Permaul (2-56) and Devendra Bishoo (2-65) were the main wicket takers although Steven Jacobs (029 off 10) was the most economical bowler for the Jaguars. Skipper Leon Johnson played a lone hand with an entertaining 55 from 68 balls with eight fours and a six but no one else offered support as the Jaguars lost their last five wickets for 17 runs to be all out for 157 in 32 overs as Ashley N u r s e t o o k 4-42 and Suleiman Benn had 4-35. Braithwaite played a magnificent bounce drive to the cover boundary off Ronsford Beaton who had tested him with a quick short ball as the score raced to 38 without loss from the first five overs bowled by Beaton and Bajan left arm seamer Raymond Reifer. Spinners Jacobs and
Permaul were introduced and stemmed the runs flow for a while although Braithwaite leaned back and cut Jacobs delightfully behind point for four. Anthony Alleyne, who struck three boundaries including a lofted off-drive when Beaton over-pitched, was trapped LBW to Permaul in the ninth over for a quick 20 from 15 balls, as he pushed forward to leave Pride on 48-1. Kyle Hope joined Braithwaite and the 50 came up in 9.4 overs but Hope (9) was also removed by Permaul when he missed a sweep with the score on 70-2 in the 19th over. Carter sliced Permaul for four to get his innings going, while Braithwaite swatted the off-spin of Jonathon Foo for a boundary while Braithwaite was dropped on 90-2 for 46 off Jacobs but soon reached his seventh 50 from 84 balls with six fours as Jacobs strayed on leg-side. Carter dispatched Foo for another boundary before a scorching sweep galloped to the boundary two balls later as the 100 was posted from 25.1 overs. Braithwaite smashed
Beaton back over his head for four and was already making the Jaguars pay for dropping him when he hit a free-hit off Bishoo into the Sir Garfield Sobers Pavilion. Carter smashed Beaton like a bullet down the ground before backing away and hammering Bishoo behind point for another scintillating boundary as the partnership flourished nicely. Carter clobbered Bishoo for six before sweeping Permaul for four to reach his 50 from 47 balls with five fours and a six before celebrating the land mark by depositing
Permaul for a couple of straight sixes. Carter was not finished yet and pulled Beaton for a huge six to move into the 70s but soon played an impetuous hook at Raymon Reifer and was caught by wicket-Keeper Anthony Bramble for 75 to end the century third wicket stand and leave Pride on 192-3 in the 38th over. Holder banged Beaton for a boundary past mid-off to post the 200 in the 39th over and the Bajans were on track for a 300 total. Holder swung Bishoo out of the ground before he was dropped next ball at long-off by Shemron Hetymer before he dumped Bishoo for six. But Bishoo would have the last laugh when Holder was taken by Hetymer in the deep for 31 decorated with three fours and two sixes from 21 balls at 237-4 in the 44th over. Carlos Braithwaite (7) failed to fire and was removed by Bishoo while a stupendous catch by Leon Johnson at extra cover got rid of Kraigg Braithwaite off Beaton. Nurse clobbered Reifer for two sixes and a four in the 48th over which cost 21 runs, while Chase clobbered Beaton for consecutive sixes to post the 300 before Nurse was run out for 28 as 110 runs were scored in the last 11 overs. The Jaguars started horrendously, lose Hetymer
Many tourists watched the action.
for a duck in the first over bowled by Holder before Assad Fudadin and Johnson added 62 for the second wicket before Fudadin (18 from 31) got bogged down and was bowled by Nurse at 63-3 before Rajendra Chandrika (10) fell to Holder nine runs later with the Jaguars on the ropes. But Johnson fought like a one man army. He top edged a bouncer from Miguel Cummins over the keeper’s head for six before stroking Holder down the ground for an imperious four. Johnson, brimming with confidence even as wickets were falling around him, stroked Cummins for four and then pounced on Carlos Braithwaite and caressed him for a delightful boundary before pulling him pugnaciously for back-toback fours. Foo struggled for 18 balls for eight before hitting Nurse to deep mid-wicket at 91-4 before Bramble (8) was removed at 107-5. Johnson reached his fifty with a delicate late cut off Nurse for four. His 55 lasted 56 balls and included eight fours and a six but when he edged Benn to slip at 115-6 the fat lady was already clearing her vocal cords. Reifer (16) and Jacobs (11) were both removed at 140, while Permaul (16) and Bishoo (1) as the Jaguars lost their five wickets for 17 runs.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 25, 2017
PAGE 43
STAG Nations Cup KO Football – Quarter Finals
Grove Hi Tech, Police, Den Amstel, Riddim Squad clash tonight at Tucville Ground Grove Hi Tech FC
Riddim Squad FC The final two semi final spots will be decided tonight when the quarter final round of the Stag Nations Cup knock-out football championship ends tonight at the Tucville ground. Grove Hi Tech will come up against Police in the feature match from 21:00hrs with the winner set to collide with Western Tigers in the second semi final on Sunday at the GFC ground. Tonight’s opening clash at 19:00hrs will see Riddim Squad facing off with Den Amstel, the winner of this shindig set to oppose Santos in the first semi final on Sunday. Police’ first and only match of the championship produced the largest margin of victory for any team in the
competition to date, 13-2 and this was achieved against Rosignol United of Berbice at the #5 ground on December 16th, last. But coming up against Grove Hi Tech which also defeated a Berbice Team, their #1, New Amsterdam United 4-2 on Wednesday last at the Grove ground, Police will find themselves facing a much more potent force. The Lawmen however, would fancy their chances of easing into the semis given the players in their arsenal who they would be confident can deliver on the night for them. Police would be looking to the man that scored a hat-trick for them against Rosignol, Quinsen
Guyana Police Force FC
Holder to lead their charge against the #1 team on the East Bank. Support would come from the likes of Kester Dundas, Atto Wallace, Junior Gordon, Dwayne Charles, Jermaine Castello, Grayson Barker, Jermaine Grandison and Rawle Turnell who all scored in that huge win, Barker achieving a double. However, Grove Hi Tech will not be intimidated by Police’ dominance in City football and would be out to prove that as champions of the first two editions of this championship which had attracted three GFF affiliated associations in each instance, they would not be easily daunted as they have
yet to lose a match in nine (9) outings over a three year span. G r o v e ’s C a p t a i n , Sherman Doris will once again be at the helm and will look to lead from the front as usual. He would fancy his chances of repeating his performance of a brace of goals which piloted them to victory over New Amsterdam United on Wednesday night last. Able support would come from Mervin Squires and Joel Dick both of whom scored in the win, Teshawn Blackman, Dexter Archer, Seon Thompson, Trevor Jones, Clive Matthews, Kevin Padmore, Akel Forde, Delroy Dodson, Moses
Fraser, Shane Singh, Antony Stanton, Nicholai Matthews, Denzil Crawford, Devon Joseph, Akeem James, Alwyn Haynes, Jermaine Benjamin and Ronaldo Romelho. Riddim Squad will also find that the Den Amstel unit, the last standing side from the West Demerara, will be much tougher than Cougars of Berbice whom they trounced 5-2 in their round-of-16 clash on December 16th. The East Bank based Riddim Squad will hope to cross tonight’s hurdle successfully and will turn to the likes of Kevin Gordon, Sceyon Hope, Dellon John, Kevin Agard and Teon Jones who netted for them
against Cougars, to be on target. Den Amstel had to pull out all the stops to get past a game Ann’s Grove United on Wednesday night last via kicks from the penalty mark. Gavin Graham, Kevaughn Ward, Maurice Charles, Kerwin Ward, C l e v o n P r y c e , Tr a v i s Hilliman, Akimbo Henry, Joseph Payne, Wycliff Simon, Derron Wilson, Alista Lynch, Keon Marcus, Ryan Hunte, Prince Payne, Kevin Murray, Colin Benn, J amal P er r eir a, K er r y Harvey, Welton Jordon, Anton Jackman and Andre Hector will carry their charge for a victory and place in the final four.
Den Amstel FC
t r o Sp GT Sports Endurance Race Meet
Palm Court drives with Team Vieira
Limacol Football opens up with two exciting draws -double-header on tomorrow at GFC
Events & Marketing Manager of Palm Court Sasha Lewis (2nd right) hands over the eheque for an undisclosed sum to Team Vieira member Emma in the presence of Managing Director Navin Prashad (left) and Stephen Vieira yesterday.
Part of the action in the feature game between Riddim Squad and Camptown on Monday night at the GFC ground.
Regional Super50
Kraigg Braithwaite maiden ton power Pride to victory Jaguars lose by 145runs despite Johnson’s 55
Kraigg Braithwaite flicks during his maiden ton at Kensington yesterday.
Leon Johnson’s halfcentury was in vain. (Photos by Sean Devers)
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