Thursday January 26, 2017
There is urgent need to have a GECOM Chairman DEAR EDITOR, To say that “there is no urgency to appoint a Chairperson of GECOM” because “Elections are not due until the next three years” (KN 22/ 01/2017) is tantamount to postulating that there is no need for the Guyana Fire Service until a house is in flames, or that there is no need for a standing army, if there is no war. In order for a credible Elections to take place this year or next year or whenever the President so decides, there must be a viable List of Electors at the ready. For such a constantly purified and accurate list to be immediately available, there must be Continuous R e g i s t r ation Cycles and Claims and Objections periods. Further, during the interElections years, so many activities (e.g. the whole process of changing laws to make them more reflective of new,
tested and proven systems — associated, inter alia, with: Electronic Registration, Voting and Transmission of Results; constantly updating Stakeholders; Issuance of ID Cards; the establishing of new Offices all over Guyana - not based on whim and fancy but on research, not lastly on ever-shifting population densities and demographic considerations; training, retraining, further training, refresher training of new and old staff; Civic and Voter Education, etc) have to be constantly carried out. There is definitely a need to appoint a new chairperson, one that will carry out his/her mandate fearlessly and with dignity. Leaving a hiatus between Chairpersons is courting the reduction of GECOM’s hardfought for credibility — locally and internationally. Ms. Tamara Rodney Public Relations Officer
Khemraj Ramjattan should allow for term limits in the AFC DEAR EDITOR, The Leader of the Alliance for Change AFC, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, continues to maintain that the AFC constitution is silent about a third term and therefore it’s his democratic right for a third term to be bestowed upon him at the National Conference. However, the Alliance for Change falls under the Friendly Society Acts under the Constitution of Guyana,
Two grave violations the President must address DEAR EDITOR, I was shocked to see Kaieteur News’ article stating no action on the Ombudsman’s reports after 20 months on complaint by Mr. Frederick Kissoon and Mr. Maurice Arjune. Why has this Government not done anything? What are they waiting for? Come on H.E President Granger and Hon P.M Moses Nagamootoo, this is not the change you promised during the campaign; the promised change that we voted for. You need to take action on wrongdoings the Ombudsman brought out and these are two grave wrongdoings during the previous regime that must be corrected. Don’t make our hands fall. Cheryl Thomas
where there is no provision for third terms. Mr Ramjattan has done a splendid job as leader for the Alliance for Change, but I would like to remind him that although his contribution was outstanding, it’s time for others to contribute towards the development of the party. The mentality that without Mr Ramjattan the AFC would be dead is wrong. There are other leaders who are also capable and could take the party into the future. As it relates to the rotation principle, most successful governments adhering to democratic principles remove their leaders after two terms. That is the norm worldwide except for those countries with dictators who refuse to move and abuse their countries’ constitutions to remain in office indefinitely. Let the harmony of the party continue in brotherhood as we host a successful National Conference. Pradeep Bachan Region 5 – AFC member
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I disagree with President Granger’s interpretation of the Constitution on the GECOM issue DEAR EDITOR, A critical look at the appointment of the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) would be aided considerably by a brief treatment of the historical background of this issue. When the PNC again prevailed in the 1985 Elections, five of the dissatisfied political parties, including, of course, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) formed an alliance known as the Patriotic Coalition for Democracy. Through this alliance they petitioned both the local and international communities for intervention by way of electoral reform, presupposing that if there were no reforms to the electoral process then the PNC would retain office indefinitely. Burnham died in 1985 and HD Hoyte took over as President of Guyana. Hoyte was amenable to electoral reform and invited observers from the Commonwealth, and Former US President Jimmy Carter and members of the Carter Centre to visit Guyana in 1990 to assess our electoral conditions.
The Elections Commission was seen as a political pawn of the then government, and the issue of its lack of transparency gave rise to sharp political and social unease. This occasioned another observer mission in 1991; this time by Prime Minister George Price of Belize and Dr. Robert Pastor. The intervention of the international community and local advocacy led to the Constitution (Amendment) Act No. 15 of 1995 and Act No. 2 of 2000 respectively. What is of concern is Article 161 (2) which is at the centre of the conflict between the government and the opposition. Before the 1995 Amendment, Article 161 (2) of the Constitution (subject to paragraph 6 of the Article) provided that “the Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be appointed by the President from among persons who hold or have held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having ju-
risdiction in appeals from any such court or who are qualified to be appointed as any such judge”. Let us now move to the 1995 amendment: 161 (2) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (4), the Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge, or any other fit and proper person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Minority Leader after consultation with the political parties represented in the National Assembly, other than the party to which the President belongs. Now let us look at the 2000 amendment: 161 (2) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (4), the Chairman of the Elections Commission
shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge, or any other fit and proper person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation with the non-governmental political parties represented in the National Assembly. Both the 1995 and the 2000 amendments carry the proviso: “Provided that if the Leader of the Opposition fails to submit a list as provided for, the President shall appoint a person who holds or has held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such Continued on page 6
Mark Benschop sets the parking meter record straight DEAR EDITOR, In response to a letter written by, Ms. Raquel Thomas-Caesar: Kaieteur News ‘Were the police consulted on the placement of the meters?” January 25, 2017. I wish to commend her for joining the dozens of people, who have bravely spoken out on said issue over the past eight months or so, and for echoing the very sentiments. However, I wish to remind Ms. Thomas-Caesar, that during the entire campaign of the 2016 Local Government Elections, Team Benschop argued against the signing of any new contracts during that period, especially the now infamous parking meter contract. Yes, we welcome everyone who is now speaking out against an obviously bad contract. That said, I wish to correct Thomas-Caesar on one
particular point made in her seemingly passionate later. Ms. Thomas-Caesar, erroneously wrote: “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 was severely lacking.” Sorry, Raquel. But the facts are, as follow: (1) This council or no other council voted on, or debated the parking meter contract. (2) The record would show that, Team
Benschop’s councilor, Salima Bacchus-Hinds objected to the contract from its inception. Here are just a few examples: Stabroek News, June 15, 2016: “Salima BacchusHinds, the councillor from the Benschop for Mayor Team also told Stabroek News that the parking meters project should have been awarded following a competitive process with a well thought out plan of how it was going to be implemented. She said the issue of the parking meters is a serious one and there are questions that need to be answered.” In this very article, other councillors opposed the contract, they include: Incoming Deputy Mayor Lionel
Jaikarran, Malcolm Ferreira, and Carolyn Caesar-Murray, both of Team Legacy. Note, prior to the Stabroek News publication, Ms. Bacchus-Hinds wrote on her Facebook page, and this I’m sure was before anyone deciding to go public: “So I had written a letter to the editors for a couple papers regarding the parking meters project in Georgetown. Haven’t seen anything published so I’m going to post it here: Firstly, please note that I am not speaking on behalf of my fellow councillors, or the City’s administration, but wholly practicing my democratic right and freedom to express my thoughts and positions as an Continued on page 6
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Thursday January 26, 2017
GuySuco’s CEO may endanger the rum industry I disagree with President... DEAR EDITOR, I refer to an article in January 22nd, 2017 edition of KN titled “Using ethanol to mitigate State’s fuel costs could kill rum industry GuySuCo’s CEO”. Editor, whenever this officer makes a statement, he confirms his ineptness of and in the sugarcane industry apart from a myopic vision on transformation of this sector. The most recent being, an assertion to National Assembly’s Economic Services Commission (ESC) that ethanol for fuel will destroy the local rum industry. This is a deliberate attempt to dismiss a sound proposal to transform the sugar industry and certainly an unsupportive position on Government’s green economy initiative. Let’s examine whether the assertions are rooted in facts
by reviewing some details. The production of molasses like sugar is a function of quantity and quality of sugarcane. GuySuCo in its current configuration produces about 95-130,000t of molasses per year and the industry typically produces about 4t of molasses for every 100t of cane milled. The local rum industry takes about 7090,000t of molasses at a price that is negotiated. The remaining 25-40,000t molasses is exported to Caribbean markets. In effect, GuySuCo produces more molasses than the local rum industry can take in its present configuration. To discredit a fuel ethanol facility, GuySuCo’s CEO advances a dooms day scenario for the local rum industry although GuySuCo produces more molasses than
the industry can take at this instant. This shows that this CEO is more focused on long term viability of another company other than survival of GuySuCo. Interestingly, the local rum industry makes a handsome profit every year while GuySuCo makes a handsome loss. One could only surmise that this officer is valiantly guarding some type of process/industry to ensure a steady and cheap source of molasses for the local rum industry. Is this something we need to analyze urgently? To further discredit the fuel ethanol facility, he claims that it is uncompetitive based on a study. Can the CEO share this study with the nation? The taxpayers paid for it. A viable fuel ethanol facility will obviously require GuySuCo to increase
molasses production from current levels, examine use of other process streams and explore use of starch based feedstocks. This would mean expansion, increased efficiency and innovation in the industry. Sadly, these concepts are alien and incomprehensible to GuySuCo’s IMC, a body that is paid G$7.7M per month and being advised by a battery of super salaried consultants. The CEO’s vision to close sugar factories and take lands out of cane production for non-sugar ventures will not support the establishment of a fuel ethanol facility and can possibly put the local rum industry in jeopardy. Is this the path we will take? Government needs to critically examine the advice it is receiving. Sookdeo Persaud
President Granger did not keep his promise to small miners
DEAR EDITOR, Some of the mines officers are corrupted and some are good. Some mines officers seized two malgum sheets from two crushers and fined the owners three hundred thousand dollars on the spot in Marudi. About a week later the said mines officers wanted to resell the said malgum sheet to the very owner who refined it. Based on the promise made by Mr. Granger when campaigning and what Mr. Trotman told them, the residents bought trucks and
crushers to work in Marudi. Some of them even took loans from the banks. What will happen to them now that Marudi is closed down and at this time of the year? Romanex explored Marudi for about ten years and spent millions of US dollars then left saying that there is not enough gold to pay them. Small scale miners found gold in Marudi since in 1940 and have been working in Marudi ever since; some of them even had claims on Marudi Mountains and
around Marudi. Some of them still have claims around Marudi. There is a certain miner that is fooling the Amerindians and the government. Amerindians are suffering and will continue to suffer if this miner is allowed to work in Marudi. Would this government allow a foreigner to work and take out our gold and have us suffer more? Wake up Mr Granger and Mr Trotman, look after your people first, the same people who helped you to be where you are. Everyday your ministers are making silly mistakes try and correct this one. The miners in region nine are suffering. Editor, this government made Lethem a town and Mr Granger told the town councillors to generate their own funds. Why then not
give Marudi to the Lethem Town Council. They could have rangers in place to regulate things in Marudi and get the same ten percent that this miner will get. We the miners of Marudi are asking you Mr Granger and Mr Trotman to help us to get to work because GGMC has closed Marudi. At the last meeting with Mr Trotman, the mines officers and this miner at Lethem it was agreed to meet again in Aishalton Village on the first week in December, so that miners can have three weeks to put Christmas on their table. The Minister then said over and over that work must not stop in Marudi. The mines officers came and stopped mines officers from working. Robert Murray Small scale miner
DEAR EDITOR, Reference is made to the letter published in the Monday, January 23, 2017 edition of Kaieteur News and other papers. The National Insurance Scheme has noted with concern the discrepancies mentioned therein. Please be advised that the
Management of the Scheme is now adequately equipped to urgently address these concerns since the Pension Readiness Programme has been implemented to accommodate such issues. Dianne-Lewis-Baxter, Public Relations NATIONAL INSURANCE SCHEME
NIS responds to claimant’s complaints
From page 5 court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge”. You would no doubt observe that in the event that the Leader of the Opposition (Minority Leader) fails to provide a list then the President shall choose the Chairman in the same manner as before the 1995 amendment. See Article 161 of the 1980 Constitution. The media report that Granger rejected the list because the nominees are neither judges nor persons possessed of the qualifications/ qualities of judges, and as a consequence their suitability to be selected Chairperson of the Commission is not constitutionally permissive. If this is indeed the rationale of the President, then I am constrained to reject it. Professor Pollard seems to favour the President’s interpretation in this regard. Both the President and Professor Pollard seem to be conjoined in their opinion that ‘any
other fit and proper person’ must be possessed of judgelike qualities to be suitable for consideration for the post of Chairperson of the Commission because the preceding requirement of a judge or person qualified to be appointed as a judge sets the tenor for the qualities to be possessed by the ‘fit and proper person’. Professor Pollard says, “The employment of the pronoun “other” speaks volumes and must be interpreted to mean that such “other fit and proper person” must possess the characteristics of the two-named preceding persons.” I am minded that this is potentially dangerously unpopular, but, with the greatest of respect, I beg to differ with both the President and Professor Pollard on their interpretation in this regard. This appears to me to render ‘any other fit and proper person’ a redundant consideration. Ronald J. Daniels
Mark Benschop sets the... From page 5 independent member of the Council. I cannot support this project as it is currently, and I have been provided with little evidence to convince me to change my position.” (end of quote). And, you could understand why Salima’s letter on the issue was never published. Then, as appeared in the Guyana Chronicle, June 13, 2016: “Councillor Salima Bacchus-Hinds, however, stood up to remind councillors that this is a very serious matter. She offered that the Town Clerk did not sign a personal contract, and hence that contract needs to be in the public record.” Yes, other councillors spoke out against the contract, as well. In closing, I wish to remind Thomas-Caesar, that Team Benschop was aware that Mayor Hamilton Green and other senior operatives wanted to quickly sign the
parking meter contract. Obviously, they knew that we campaigned on introducing parking meters. This would have been implemented after widespread consultation with the people, and a sensible plan in place. Take a quick look at Stabroek News, February 27, 2016, and understand the haste in signing the now controversial parking meter contract: “Benschop also spoke on the issues of parking in the city and problems faced by vendors. To address the former, the team plans on introducing electronic parking meters and providing parking spaces in the city. As regards the latter, there is hope for the re-designing of markets so that they are consumer and vendor friendly and the enhancement of the shopping experience to increase revenue for vendors...” (end of quote) Mark A. Benschop Team Benschop
At this time there is no need to... From page 4 both at home and abroad. The AFC delegates /members, should not get mislead, by those who want to hold high offices in the party, by getting the present leader /office holders out. Do not destroy what yourself and many of us put together do not destroy man-
agement skills because it does not come easily. Ramjattan, Trotman, Patterson and others have done a good job, by their dedication, hard work, conviction, expertise, advisors etc. to get the corrupt PPP out, and they need your support to deal with the allegedly corrupt APNU. Joe Persuad (Canada)
Thursday January 26, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Once there is sufficient evidence, Govt. should proceed with prosecution - Goolsarran Those forensic audits…
By Kiana Wilburg It is better to try and fail than fail to try. This old saying sums up the argument recently posited by Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran, as it relates to the Government’s reported difficulties with the forensic audit reports. In this regard, the Chartered Accountant reminded that the Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan told the media on numerous occasions that the major trouble in prosecuting persons, who have been fingered in the forensic audit reports, is the reluctance of key witnesses to give evidence to the police and to testify in the courts. Goolsarran opined that a key concern relating to this reluctance is what may be viewed as a significant mismatch between persons selected as prosecutors on the one hand, and defence lawyers on the other. He said, “The accused in all probability will select the best lawyers, while the prosecutors may lack the relevant legal background, experience and skills to represent the State in these high-profile cases”. The former Auditor General added, “These prosecutors are likely to find it extremely difficult to counter the arguments of the battery of experienced and reputable lawyers representing the accused. In the circumstances, witnesses often find themselves in the receiving end, especially during the cross-examination sessions, with the prosecutors standing helplessly by”. With the preceding in mind, Goolsarran in his recent writings stated that if there is sufficient evidence to prosecute someone, the Government should not prejudge what is likely to happen, but should proceed with the prosecution. He stressed that if witnesses fail to show up to give
evidence in court and the case is thrown out, then so be it. “At least, the Government would have discharged its responsibilities, and citizens will feel reasonably satisfied that it has done its best to bring to justice those who are alleged to have committed acts that are detrimental to interest and well-being of the State,” the Chartered Accountant expressed. Additionally, he said that it is incumbent upon the Director of Public Prosecutions to engage the services of special prosecutors whose knowledge, skills and reputation can match those who represent the interest of the accused. Goolsarran said that the Government also needs to strengthen the investigative capability of the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) if it is seriously committed to bringing to justice those who have been fingered for committing acts that resulted in financial loss to the State and those whose actions collectively and individually contributed to the diminution of the physical integrity of the State, especially through divestment of prime State lands to favoured individuals and groups at giveaway prices. Speaking with this newspaper yesterday, Minister Ramjattan asserted that the administration is not saying that it is predicting anything. He said that the police are in possession of the files and they have informed him of the difficulties they are experiencing in securing statements from witnesses. The Minister stated, “So you don’t go and charge with forensic audits. You go and charge with police statements. That is the difficulty. Anand Goolsarran did not get police statements. You need to have that. The police now are getting a couple of them and it will take some time. It is not that the witnesses will forever not want to give evidence, but it
will take some time…” Hinds Financial Service, Ram Ramjattan is also of the and Mc Rae and HLB conviction that it is still pos- Seebarran and Co. Goolsarran sible to hold the feet of cur- along with Harryman rent officials to the fire, de- Parmesar were also conspite being unable at the mo- tracted to conduct several ment, to prosecute those of forensic audits. the past who have committed certain acts as revealed by the damning forensic audits. The Leader of the Alliance for Change also emphasized that the “primary” purpose of the forensic audits was to see what the PPP administration did wrong. “ E v e n though we have found that, people are unhappy that we are not jailChartered Accountant, ing those past Anand Goolsarran officials. And we are getting lots of blows for that. They Nigel Hinds Financial Serare not happy with what the vice earned some $25M for audits uncovered.” auditing agencies such as the While Ramjattan holds Guyana Oil Company Limited this view, many critics have (Guyoil), the Guyana Energy opined that Guyanese feel a Agency (GEA) and the sense of betrayal that when it Guyana Office for Investment comes to the forensic audits, (GoInvest). which have cost Guyana milRam and McRae bagged lions of taxpayers’ dollars. some $20M for auditing the Critics stressed that the Guyana Geology and Mines citizenry was promised action Commission (GGMC), the on the corruption that was un- Guyana Gold Board and the earthed and to date there has E-Governance Project among been none. others. It was in May 2015 that Several audits were also the Granger-led administra- launched in July 2015 while tion began expending some others started in later weeks $133 million of taxpayers’ monies on 45 of the 50 forensic audits to ascertain how the assets of the state were sold, disposed of or transferred under the previous administration. The remaining five audits were sponsored by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB). Some of the firms contracted to conduct the forensic audits included Nigel
of that year. While the report on NICIL has been completed for months now, criminal proceedings are still to take shape. Those on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) have been completed for a longer period. The forensic audit into the NFMU has unearthed “some of the most appalling acts of corruption”, according to Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma. Commenting on the findings of the report, Sharma said, “There was just no proper management at this unit. There were instances where you could see that they just lost out on millions of dollars’ worth in fees that they should have ensured they collected. There were some defaulters as well, and the agency just took no action against them.” “(NFMU) could have collected a lot more revenue. Instead (the entity) allowed a lot of favouritism to take place and as such they lost, I would say, millions of dollars in revenue. “They allowed their big PPP boys to slip under the radar while others were called upon to pay their dues. In fact,
they weren’t collecting from two of their PPP big boys for some time. It was a lot of unfairness that was going on at that agency.” Sharma had said, “The level of corruption which was taking place at the agency points to the incompetency of those who are managing it.” The Junior Finance Minister said that the revelations of some of the forensic audits thus far, vindicate the concerns the APNU+AFC had regarding the lack of accountability under the previous administration as well as the stench of corruption in some agencies. As for the forensic audit launched into the EPA, Sharma had said that it uncovered that the entity has been holding some 15 accounts with over $400M. Kaieteur News understands that recommendations were made for the monies to be transferred to the Consolidated Fund. The Forensic audit revealed that the agency was apparently receiving monies from various agencies and opening a new account every time it received large sums. Sharma explained that the agency should not have done that. He said that it should have held one account and categorized its expenses.
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Thursday January 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
GuySuCo to meet today on production targets as first crop starts
The Management Committee of the Guyana Sugar Corporation is scheduled to meet today to decide when the first crop for 2017 will commence and what is likely to be the projected sugar production target for the year. Committee member, Deodat Sukdheo, told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the latter part of February is proposed for the commencement of the first crop, but this would have to be considered by the committee. “Meanwhile, the government continues to engage with relevant and key stakeholders including the Opposition on the way forward with regards to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).” Last Friday, the Board of Directors and management of GuySuCo appeared before the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Economic Services. The meeting was intended to facilitate the sharing of information, statistics and data on the current status of the corporation. The team headed by its Chairman, Professor Clive Thomas, highlighted the proposed diversification at some estates and reorganization of the industry’s structure, and it must offer hope for its employees. One of the key areas of concerns is how workers will be affected by decisions taken by the government Professor Thomas explained that, “the employment cost of retaining the workers in this industry exceeds revenue. In fact the actual figure is 101 percent so we spend more on employment than we receive in revenue from selling sugar, and these employment costs range between 6065 percent of the total cost
Some of the Board members and Management of GuySuCo across the estates and the cost range between 37 and 45 cents US per pound.” The current workforce of the Sugar Corporation is approximately 17,000 persons with more than 70,000 family members who would be affected if there is a closure of the industry. “Our indebtedness is also dramatic; we have debt in excess of $75B. The term structure is that short term debt is at $11.7B, the long term debt is $32.9B and the pension debt that the Corporation is carrying is just about the same as the long term debt and that is $32.8B.” Chief Executive Officer of GuySuCo, Errol Hanoman, noted that under the Corporation’s current configuration reducing “headcount” means production will decline significantly. He also explained that in or-
der to maintain high production levels with the workforce intact, substantial financial investments are required. Poor labour turnout has also contributed to reduced sugar production. The CEO had reported that cane harvesters’ attendance between 2009 and 2014 ranged from 52 per cent in 2011 to 60 percent in 2016. Sectoral Committee member and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge had noted that the government is working towards ensuring the current employment structure of the sugar industry will not be affected negatively. The cost for which sugar is traded on the world market is an average US$0.19 per pound. However, Guyana’s production cost per pound is approximately US$0.40 which contributes to the
Corporation’s indebtedness to a number of state-owned agencies including the Guyana Revenue Authority and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission. The Board of Directors of the Corporation has agreed that to save the industry, radical reorganisation and restructuring is necessary. Injecting money without such interventions is money wasted. Due to the industry’s current cost structure and prevailing prices, desired high levels of production is slowly becoming an elusive dream to management. A Cabinet sub-committee was appointed in 2016 to examine the way forward for GuySuCo. The sub-committee comprises Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder; Minister of Finance, Winston
Jordan; and Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman. The committee will take into consideration the continuum of options presented by the corporation. Additionally, the findings of a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into GuySuCo were laid in the National Assembly in December 2015 by Minister Holder who explained that the
government has “taken the decision to facilitate the widest possible consultations with all stakeholders in the charting of GuySuCo’s future.” The report of the CoI into the industry recommended among others, that the stateowned entity should be privatised, incorporated and regulated under the Companies Act while management of the Corporation focus on basic essentials to rehabilitate the fields, factories and infrastructure of GuySuCo. The industry is facing its toughest times with production just over 180,000 tonnes last year. Workers were not paid any increases last year and there was no production bonus. A decision was also taken last year to close the oldest estate - Wales on the West Bank Demerara - after it became clear that the facility would lose up to $2B in 2016. The operations have since partially been integrated with the Uitvlugt estate. Sugar has remained one of the biggest foreign currency earners along with rice and gold. However, Government can ill-afford to continue bailing out the loss-making government-owned entity, the administration has said.
Opposition fails in bid to “block” Law School The opposition Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) has attempted to block the establishment of the JOF Haynes Law School of the Americas that is to be located here. Attorney General Basil Williams made this disclosure at a press conference at the Ministry of Legal Affairs yes-
terday. Williams said former Attorney General and PPP Member of Parliament Anil Nandlall had written to the Council of Legal Education (CLE) seeking to prevent the establishment of the Law School in Guyana. He said that attempt was futile since the school has the blessings of two reputable legal bodies, the CLE and the Law College of Americas (LCA) and will be going ahead as planned. Williams opined that the opposition has no interest in the well being of the Law Graduates and the hardship they endured to enter the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS). He called the attempt “malicious and corrosive” and emphasised that such attempts cannot stop an idea whose time has come. The AG said that he was made aware of this attempt when he was contacted by CLE member and Trinidadian Attorney Reginald Armour SC. Williams said that the matter will be addressed when he attends the meeting of the Continued on page 9
Thursday January 26, 2017
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Kaieteur News
The Housing Authority should bring an end to this madness I had a stroll recently through parts of the city which, in days gone by, were considered as residential areas. I was horrified by the changes that are taking place within the areas of Queenstown and Alberttown. It seems that those areas are no longer classified as residential areas. Businesses are propping up at almost every two house lots in Alberttown. Queenstown is being disfigured also by ugly construction The designation of an area as a residential area does not mean that there were no shops or businesses. A residential area always has to be zoned in a way that would allow for a small number of shops and businesses to cater for the needs of residents. What it does not mean is that it is okay for persons to be permitted to open a business every two lots, as seems to be the case in Alberttown.
Queenstown is also being overtaken by businesses. A few months ago, a Senior Counsel wrote a letter to the media indicating that the laws of Guyana do not allow for businesses to be erected in that area, within certain boundaries. Yet he counted, I believe, fifty-five establishments which were operating there. Georgetown was intended to be a small city. A small city has markets, it has commercial districts and it has residential areas. Having residential areas, allows for persons to live near to where work can be found. This is why areas in the city are usually designated as residential areas. You must have places where people can live. In colonial Guyana, the most ordinary of citizens could, with hard work and savings, hope to one day live in either Alberttown or Queenstown. You might not always be
able to afford a front house, but you will be able to afford a back house. Working class families, particularly middle class professionals, were able to acquire properties in those areas. That dream is now an impossible dream. The real estate value of properties in those areas has skyrocketed. A working class person can no longer afford a property in those areas. In fact, the way things are going, the business community is going to eventually gobble up most of the residential areas in central Georgetown. This is already happening. Huge structures are being erected, dwarfing small cottages and other residential homes. It is not a pleasant sight. The aesthetics of Queenstown and Alberttown have been destroyed. Businesses are being erected where popular families once lived. The character of the city is changing.
Opposition fails in bid to... From page 8 Executive Committee to be held in Jamaica, tomorrow and Saturday. The aim of the visit is to further discuss the establishment of the law school, and according to Williams, to sensitize the Jamaican public about the impending establishment and how it will work. The AG said he was unsure what Nandlall’s aim was, and in fact the CLE had previously given permission to the Guyana government for the establishment of a law school but this was never done. The AG said what is most bizarre is that this permission was given during the time when the PPP/C was in office. Williams blamed the PPP/C for the plethora of problems that has bedeviled the Law programme at the University of Guyana. He claimed that contributions to HWLS were stopped by the PPP/C since 2002 and this has contributed to only
PPP Member of Parliament Anil Nandlall twenty-five Law graduates per year being allowed to enter that institution from Guyana. He noted that the situation couldn’t continue since
the number of students graduating from the law programme at the University of Guyana was increasing yearly. This would have meant that most graduates would not have had the opportunity to have that specialized training. On top of that, fees were substantially increased at HWLS and many graduates could not afford that cost, which meant they could not attend. Williams said had it not been for his persistence, the JOF Haynes Law School would not have been close to reality. This, he stressed, will ensure the exposure to quality training of Guyana’s aspiring Attorneys in a greater number. He concluded this can only serve the country well for the future. The JOF Haynes Law School of the Americas will accept graduates from the Caribbean and the Americas.
Property relations are also changing. The business community is gobbling up real estate. This will exacerbate inequality in our country. It is rumoured that one businessman owns as many as one hundred properties in Georgetown alone. When you see working class people lining up for house lots in a country in which houses in
parts of the country are unoccupied, you must understand that the housing stock is being taken over and converted to businesses in the traditional residential areas of the city. The Central Housing and Planning Authority should bring an end to this madness. It should preserve the old residential areas of the City by limiting new construction
for business purposes in these areas. It should allow working people, particularly the middle class, to once again dream of owning a home without having to go to the suburbs and beyond.
A policeman, who was a part of the police anti-narcotics branch and was subsequently interdicted on an alleged narcotics matter, has been jailed on another narcotics matter in Berbice. Ian Michael Johnson, 24, of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, was yesterday sentenced to a total of seven years in jail when he appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on two charges of possession of Narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
According to Prosecutor Inspector Bernard Brown, the accused on Sunday June 5, 2016, was on his way to neighbouring Suriname, via the No78 ‘back track’ crossing. Johnson, who was carrying a black bulky suitcase, was about to board a boat. He was seen acting in a suspicious manner and was subjected to a search by the police and GRA enforcement officers. It was observed that the suitcase had a false bottom. Upon checking the false bot-
tom the investigators unearthed seven parcels of compressed marijuana and a quantity of Amphetamines. Johnson was arrested and taken into custody where the drugs were tested and weighed and found to be 2,525 grams of marijuana and 15 grams of Amphetamine. The man was subsequently charged and was sentenced to four years in jail on the marijuana charge and three years on the Amphetamines charge. The sentences will run concurrently.
Drug-running cop jailed for 7 years
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Thursday January 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
The Ministry of Finance’s decision is immoral and illegal All owners of a vehicle have to get a road vehicle licence. Years back in these columns, I wrote that such a requirement is a remnant of colonial times. I grew up with officials knocking on our doors to see radio licences. That era is gone, but the silly little paper called a vehicular road licence still exists. The argument for its removal is plausible. People have to pay taxes on the purchase of their vehicles. Insurance is compulsory, so is another document called fitness; you get that from the police. Why do owners have to get a road licence for their vehicles? I will never be able to comprehend that, but they
have to get it. Now you do not have to wait for your licence to expire to buy a new one from the GRA. You can walk in to the GRA on any day and buy it. At the beginning of the new year, you can make your purchase, so as to avoid forgetting when it expires. The 2016 Budget was presented in March, and many of the costs of services and government documents like the road licence and fitness certificate went up. But they went up after the budget. Here is what the Ministry of Finance has secretly done, and which deserves the invocation of citizens’ anger. When you go into the GRA to buy your 2017 licence, they demand an additional $1,500 for your 2016 licence if you had bought it before April 2016. When asked, you are told it was retroactive to January 1, 2016. So here is the nastiness. In January 2016 there was no budget.
You walked into GRA and bought your licence at the fixed price. Now in 2017 you are confronted with additional cost, because the Ministry of Finance made the increase retroactive. To make any law or edict retroactive is immoral, illegal and downright sick. My cousin, Anita Singh-Narine, called me from the GRA yesterday and told me what she was facing. I doubted her strongly. I then called the road licence department and spoke to the supervisor, Ms. S. Evans. She told me that was the decision of the Ministry of Finance after the 2016 Budget. What is horrible about it is that drivers were not aware of this. My cousin’s husband was raging. This guy seldom loses his temper, but he was livid. He bluntly told me under no circumstances is he voting again for the Coalition. His wife kept shaking her head as he spoke.
Hundreds of persons who voted for the Coalition have told me they’ve had enough of the Jagdeoite traits and PPPite mentalities that exist in the Coalition Government. They will not vote for them again. An interesting chapter in Guyana’s history will unfold at Vreed-en-Hoop Primary School this Saturday. The AFC holds its National Conference. In its announcement, the AFC says the confab will be a reflection on its time in government. This may be the only time it has in government. I would like the AFC and its intellectual, spiritual leader, Alston Stewart from Jamaica, to explain to this nation the logistics and configurations of the votes for the AFC in 2020. Who is voting and where, demographically, are those votes coming from? I know Anita Singh-Narine and her husband will not be voting for the AFC.
Some demon has taken over the soul, mind and heart of the collective leadership of the Coalition. These people are not making constant peccadilloes. A peccadillo is usually regarded as a small mistake. The Coalition leadership is making depraved, sadistic, immoral mistakes, and they are less than two years in office. Sad for those like my longstanding friend, Tacuma Ogunseye, who advises us not to keep criticizing the Coalition because some bestial people are at the gate – the PPP. Well the only people who do not see the beasts at the gate are the leaders of the APNU+AFC administration. Ogunseye needs to buy a telescope from NASA so they can peep out at the gate and see the beasts. How do you explain a budget that makes citizens pay for a service retroactively? This is a laughable coun-
Frederick Kissoon try and so is its leadership. Why make the thing retroactive to January 2016? Make it retroactive to May 2015 when you came into power. You will collect more. Why January 2016? Maybe if you go back to January 2000 when the 21st century began, you will collect billions. I guess when the next budget comes and there is an increase in gun licences, make it retroactive to Independence 1966. All those who had guns then, will have to find billions to pay GRA.
Environmental tax on nonreturnable bottles effective February 1 An environmental levy of $10 will be applied to all non-returnable bottles of alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages or water, from February 1, 2017. The levy, which accords with amendments to Section 7A(1) of the Customs Act Ch 82:01 will be applicable to non-returnable units imported, locally manufactured or produced in Guyana. According to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Section 7A (1) of the Customs Act Ch 82:01 states: “Notwithstanding anything in this Act or in any other written law, there shall be raised, levied and collected a levy in this section referred to as an environmental levy, at a rate of ten dollars on every non returnable unit of metal, plastic or glass con-
tainer of any alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage or water, whether imported, locally manufactured or produced in Guyana.” GRA said that the levy also applies to the aforementioned products whether they are imported and not warehoused or imported and removed from a warehouse, factory, bond or other place of storage. Exports on the other hand are exempt from environmental levy. GRA said that the Environmental Levy is in keeping with government’s broad agenda to promote a green economy and protect the environment. The levy was one of several taxes and measures to reduce the solid waste problems facing the country, Government has said.
Thursday January 26, 2017
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Kaieteur News
2016 Perceptions Index report indicates…
Guyana still struggles with “serious corruption problem” By Kiana Wilburg Out of 176 nations that were assessed for perceptions of corruption last year, Guyana came in at the 108th position with a score of 34 out of 100. This is according to Transparency International, an organization that gives voice to the victims and witnesses of corruption. It works together with Governments, businesses and citizens to stop the abuse of power, bribery and secret deals. Through chapters in more than 100 countries and an international secretariat in Berlin, it prides itself on leading the fight against corruption. The Corruption Perceptions Index measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption worldwide. The scores are measured from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). The report said that any score below 50 indicates a serious corruption problem. Guyana has never been above that midpoint mark. Be that as it may, its 2016 ranking represents a slight improvement over its performance in prior years. In 2015, it placed 119 out of 168 countries. In 2014 it was ranked 124 out of 175 countries. Furthermore, Guyana shares its spot at 108 with Egypt, Algeria, Ethiopia and Côte d’Ivoire. In the meantime, the report shows that Trinidad and Tobago is just above Guyana with a score of 35 out of 100. With that score, the Caricom member state was ranked at 101. Denmark and New Zealand continue to boast the highest scores with 90 out of 100. Somalia was listed as
the most corrupt with a score of 10 out of 100 and a ranking of 176. China is ranked at 79 and has a score of 40 out of 100. Transparency International noted in its report that over 120 countries scored below 50 which means less than a third of countries are even above the midpoint. The corruption watchdog said that the global average score is a paltry 43, indicating endemic corruption in a country’s public sector. The body said that this year’s results highlight the connection between corruption and inequality, which feed off each other to create a vicious circle between corruption, unequal distribution of power in society, and unequal distribution of wealth. It said that the interplay of corruption and inequality also feeds populism. “When traditional politicians fail to tackle corruption, people grow cynical. Increasingly, people are turning to populist leaders who promise to break the cycle of corruption and privilege. Yet, this is likely to exacerbate – rather than resolve – the tensions that fed the populist surge in the first place.” “The lower-ranked countries in our index are plagued by untrustworthy and badly functioning public institutions like the police and judiciary. Even where anticorruption laws are on the books, in practice they’re often skirted or ignored. People frequently face situations of bribery and extortion, rely on basic services that have been undermined by the mis-
Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson appropriation of funds, and confront official indifference when seeking redress from authorities that are on the take.” With the aforementioned in mind, Transparency International said that grand corruption thrives in such settings. Furthermore, it stated that higher-ranked countries such as Denmark tend to have higher degrees of press freedom, access to information about public expenditure, stronger standards of integrity for public officials, and independent judicial systems. REFORMS Since the APNU+AFC administration took office, a number of steps have been taken to put a dent in corruption. The Government established a State Asset Recovery Unit, which will soon become Guyana’s anti-corruption agency. It also made considerable moves to root out corruption and bribery in the
forestry sector. This, however, was not without contributing effects on the declining production figures of the sector. There has also been the launch of over 40 forensic audits, so as to identify areas of abuses which took place under the previous administration and to ensure that measures are implemented to avoid repetition. After many years, the Government also succeeded in establishing the long awaited Public Procurement Commission. But be that as it may, the APNU+AFC administration continues to face harsh criticisms that it is not moving as swiftly as it should in the fight against corruption. The Alliance For Change (AFC) holds a different view. In fact, the party insists that in a period of 20 months, the coalition administration has been able to put a “significant dent” in corruption.
At the level of ministries and other government agencies, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson was the first to contend that there have been meaningful improvements in the fight against corruption. Speaking for his Ministry, Patterson said he had the “good fortune” to be in charge of an area that is susceptible to fraud. And within 18 months, the General Secretary of the AFC was proud to disclose that the opportunities for corruption to occur have been reduced considerably. While no one can claim that corruption has been eliminated altogether, the Public Infrastructure Minister stated that moves have been made to get the process started. The AFC General Secretary also stated that every report of wrongdoing in his field or against his staff is always investigated without fear or favour. Offering similar remarks
was Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes. Hughes told Kaieteur News that the administration is committed to the process of reducing corruption in Guyana. She emphasized however that the task is not an overnight one, as corruption has become a culture in Guyana. In this regard, the Executive Member of the AFC said that the coalition administration has been focusing on ensuring that ministries and agencies have the necessary checks and balances to reduce all forms of corruption. Hughes said, too, that the importance and significance of taking such an action cannot be emphasized enough. At the level of state, Leader of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan believes that there have been major improvements in the fight against corruption. In this regard, he pointed to the establishment Continued on page 23
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GRA to vigorously contest tax case... From page 2 arising out of the consumption Tax assessment levied against DDL by then Commissioner-General Khurshid Sattaur in January 2009 in the sum of $5,392,020,753. DDL and GRA were able to recommence negotiations for a resolution of the methodology for a calculation of Consumption Tax (and its successor, Excise Tax), and were able to arrive at consensus to fully and finally settle all claims by the GRA and liability by DDL for both Consumption and Excise tax up to March 9, 2016 in the sum of $1,500,000,000. This sum was payable over 12 months. DDL, in good
Thursday January 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
faith, effected the payment of $100,000,000 in compliance with the settlement terms. On several occasions Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo had argued vehemently about the effect such a settlement would have as it relates to other beverage companies would want to jump on the bandwagon and make similar claims. Jagdeo had calculated that the treasury could suffer a $60B reduction to facilitate payment of similar actions. At a press conference held by Jagdeo on Monday, he said, “Once you make that settlement you are going to basically trigger a request for
refund and it has happened now, so Banks DIH is claiming $28 billion of refund only for the period 2001 to 2006. When we come to see what happened between 2006 to 2016 there could very well be another claim over maybe $30 billion more, so that's why I have always argued that a government decision that we don't know who made so far.” Lawyers for Banks DIH Rex McKay, Claude Denbow, Neil Boston and Donna Denbow have asked that an Order for repayment by the government of the said money to be paid over to the company after a re-assessment is done by the GRA.
AG denies claims of attacks on Judiciary ...and says Jagdeo’s regime emasculated it
Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, was yesterday asked to respond to allegations made by General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo, about alleged attacks on the judiciary if decisions are not made in favour of the administration. Williams refuted this claim during a press conference hosted at his Chambers, Carmichael Street Georgetown, saying that all he made comments on were in regards to how the Govern-
PPP/C’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo.
ment was going to appeal the two cases at the Caribbean Court of Justice. He posited that perhaps, his comments were being confused with those made by other commentators with regards to the acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh. Williams took aim at the PPP/C more particularly, – the former President of Guyana – saying that it was under his tenure that the judiciary was emasculated. The AG said that under the PPP/C regime, the powers were removed from the Chief Justice’s office
to the Office of the Chancellor. “Why? Because he (Jagdeo) prepared a wicket; removed all the powers from one office to the next and let me say, it is important that there is a dichotomy between the Chief Justice’s functions and the Chancellor’s functions in terms of sharing the work in the judiciary so that one person would not be in charge of the entire judiciary – administratively. That has affected us a great deal because it meant that when the Chief Justice had supervision over the judges of the High Court, and the Chancellor had supervision over the judges of the Appellate Court and I think the magistrates, we have a situation where the checks and balances that we had, was removed.” The AG said that Guyana’s Constitution is premised on the separation of powers – that is, the Judiciary, the Executive of Government and the Legislature -which all have their independent roles and “no one should trod on the work of the other.” “What we had under Jagdeo was that we had a marauding judiciary. So the complaint is not that there is interference with the Judiciary, the Judiciary was interfering in the work of the executive and that is happening until now,” Williams asserted. He added that the Judiciary when it was inherited by the former Government was “dysfunctional”. “It has chronic backlog of cases. We inherited a dysfunctional judiciary, so I don’t know what Jagdeo is talking about, and we (are) going to correct it and that’s what we’re trying to do.” The AG posited that there is no part in the world where there is a change and persons who would have benefitted from the old systems would not “put up a resistance.”
Thursday January 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
More devaluation for the Jamaican dollar ahead under Trump? Jamaica Observer - Chief Investment Officer at Victoria Mutual (VM) Wealth Management, Devon Barrett, reckons that the Jamaican dollar will experience further devaluation as United States President Donald Trump settles in office. Barrett, who was speaking at the VM Wealth Management Economic Forum themed ‘Trumponomics: Repercussions for Jamaica’, said that while the sliding of the local currency will not affect the country in the short term, the Government must use the time to put in place strategies that will assist in strengthening Jamaica’s economy. “Since the election, the US dollar has strengthened against most of its trading partners so everything looks like its risk on. If the US dollar is strengthening around the world, it’s likely to strengthen here in Jamaica too and you know what that means - more depreciation of our currency,” Barrett reasoned with a packed audience at the Terra Nova Hotel on Monday. But further depreciation of the local currency would mean bad news for most of the country’s production and consumption activities led by increases in cost of funding and more belt-tightening measures to gain additional revenues. Up to Tuesday, the US dollar traded at $128.77, 14 cents stronger than the $128.63 of last Friday. “We are going to have to rely on what happens in that neck of the world. I absolutely don’t think this will affect us
Devon Barrett in the near term, so that gives us a little bit more comfort. But what we have to do in the meantime is to make sure that we take care of our fiscal issues, because our fiscal issues are those that have caused our cost of funding to grow so high,” he explained. Barrett is now imploring Government to halt big spends on things not fundamental to the development of the economy but noted, however, that one good move in recent times is the buyback of short maturing debt by the Government. “It means for the next year or two we won’t be required to find so much Net International Reserves to pay those back. So that’s a good relief. But while we get some breathing room here we cannot afford to squander it,” he said. Barrett also cautioned that since the US election, interest rates have increased by
roughly 50 basis points, signalling optimism that the economy is projected to get stronger. “That’s key for our market because if interest rates move up in the US market, then they will move up here as well,” he stated. “So simply put, there is about an 800 basis points spread between our 10-year note and the US 10year note - so if it goes up by 50 basis points in the US, we have to expect at least 50 basis points here as well. And you know Jamaica has to exaggerate a bit, so it is going to be more than 50 basis points.” He added that while the move in interest rates is expected to affect the island later this year, in the long term, economists anticipate market realignment led by unsustainable increased rates on productivity and consumption activities in the country.
Barbados Moves To Ban E-Cigarettes In Public BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – It’s not just secondhand tobacco smoke that health officials in Barbados want to stop exposing the public to. Now, e-cigarettes are to be banned. Parliament Tuesday passed the Health Services (Amendment) Bill 2017 which adds e-cigarettes to products that people are forbidden to smoke in public. An e-cigarette is a handheld electronic device that vaporizes a flavoured liquid, which the user inhales. It is usually made of nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerine, and flavourings, although some e-liquids do not contain nicotine. “The Ministry of Health will not support the report sometimes made that this product can be used as a cessation device and, on the contrary, it may be a forerunner to the use…of tobacco product,” Minister of Health John Boyce said as he introduced
John Boyce the amendment that also includes a ban on the sale of ecigarettes to minors. Minister of Commerce and Industry Donville Inniss, in his contribution to the debate, said it was time to regulate the use of these products.
“Over the years, there has been aggressive marketing by manufacturers who claim it is less harmful than cigarettes. Many jurisdictions have imposed heavy taxes on the traditional cigarettes. We have also prohibited the advertising of this, but the e-cigarette which around the world is yet to be regulated has been able to fly under the radar,” he noted. Meantime, Minister Boyce also served notice that steps were being taken to have cigarette packaging graphically illustrate the harmful effects of smoking. “The packaging and labelling of any tobacco product should not contain any information that is false, misleading, deceptive or likely to give erroneous information about its characteristics, health effects or hazards of the tobacco product,” he added. (Caribbean360)
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PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461
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New Creation of Hair is offering courses in Cosmetology & Nail arts design. Call: 616-6221/ 2705074
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FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Bottom flat house @ 25 North Road & Oronoque Street, fully furnished/ air condition/residence / business. Call: 226-7012 2 Bedrooms apartment for working individuals, recently renovated, free wifi. Call:641-3318 1-Self contained 2 bedrooms apartment to rent Avenue B, Diamond E.B.D, working couple preferred-Call: 6585452 1 Salon Station & 1 Barber station to rent, also wanted nail technician with clientele. Call: 270-5074/616-6221
1-2 Storey building 3 bedrooms – 1 self contained, Water Street, Agricola, E.B.D- Call: 658-5452 Planning on Buying a Property from Eccles to Timehri? Give us Call:6585897/651-1969 Are you selling your property From Eccles to Timehri? We Do It Without A Commission. Call: 6585897 651-1969 2 Storey house 35X45 3 bedrooms, 1 self-contained @ 5th Avenue Diamond, H/ Scheme. Call:677-0583/6645052 Newly built @ Craig E.B.D land size 91X50feet; house 40X28, 3 rooms, 1 selfcontained. Call: 718-2136496/617-7691 FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. PALMS: Any variety, all sizes, we deliver and plant anywhere. Call: 643-7193 Cheap! Cheap! CCTV Security Surveillance Kit, 8 Channels DVR with built in Hard Drive, 8 bullet cameras – Tel: 621-4740/686-3500 1 Big music set, owner migrating. Call: 690-5225 Popular taxi service for sale located on Sheriff Street Georgetown, includes 16 radio sets. Call: 695-0704 Cat 928F Loader $7.3M, 3406 Caterpillar Engine $1.3M, 3306 Caterpillar Engine $1.3 M - Contact: 6500402\260-4115 One 4 Cylinder Diesel welding generator on trailer miller 55D, 2 miller welding generator, all in excellent condition. Call: 699-4300/ 2282734 Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999 3116 Caterpillar Engine$1.1M, 3208Caterpillar Engine $700,000, Diesel Welder, BMW 318I $2.5M, IST $2M. Contact: 6500402\260-4115 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 1 Brand new pool table 8ft (slate). Call: 691-1161
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Thursday January 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
One two bedroom apartment for rental, price -$45,000, location- Diamond, New Scheme. Call: 604-2431/ 2162339 2 Bedrooms apartment to rent @ Providence -$45,000. Call: 265-7180 TAXI SERVICE G R TA X I S E RV I C E . CALL: 219-5000; 2271982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
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VACANCY Popular East Coast Gas Station (Non-Pareil) Day/ Night: pump attendants, sales clerk & office assistant. Contact: 695-9880/684-4197 1 - Secretary & office clerk, must have maths,english and accounts. Contact # 650-0402 \ 260-4124. Driver/Salesman, lorry licence, residing on East Bank Demerara. 266 4427 One fabricator & welder must have experience contact # 223-5273/74 1 Salesgirl, 1 daytime security, 2 labourers, 1 mason/ carpenter. Call: 2653586 8am-4pm One driver for office in Eccles, four per week. Call: 233-2745 The #1 Plant Shop, sale staff and general maintenance and sales persons 20-30yrs. Call: 643-7193 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 1 Female cleaner for office in Eccles. Call: 233-2745 Driver/General assistant for city location and cook/baker for interior location. Call: 6182020
Male supervisors (housekeeping Dept) 32Land @ Soesdyke, 6 lots 55yrs @ 233 South Road, measuring 135’X175’ -$24M Lacytown. Call: 225-0198 negotiable. Call: 627-3334/ 696-8935, email:fcranmore@ All rounder person to work guyanavoice.com in salon at Lot 6 North Road . Call: 666-6917/ 223-1821 Schoon’Ord first street 50X100 -$1.7M, Diamond $3.5M, Moblissa -30A, Loo Creek-35A, Saxacalli -26A. GME: 231-2199/ 618-7483 LAND FOR SALE
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Thursday January 26, 2017
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Kaieteur News
GPHC’s operations “threatened by grave inadequacies” Two brain surgeries, evident lapses in judgement and purported instances of amnesia have been listed as contributory factors to the inadequacies of a senior official operating at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). The official who is reportedly tasked with making key decisions at the country’s premier health institution was in fact the subject of a no confidence motion moved by the former GPHC Board. This was in light of the fact that the Board had reason to believe that the senior official might have made several decisions although not cognitive enough to do so. The Board, which was dissolved at the end of November last year, had unanimously voted for the individual in question to be removed because of the aforementioned shortcomings that were understandably causing more harm than good to the institution. This state of affairs has been substantiated by former Chairman of the hospital’s Board of Director, Dr. Carl ‘Max’ Hanoman, who revealed that “we decided that this person had to go but for some reason, others thought this person should stay.” A number of other officials have also supported the claims. The senior official this publication was told was sent off for a short period because of the known issues but has been reinstated since the dis-
Guyana still struggles with... From page 11 of the Public Procurement Commission. The Minister of Public Security expressed, “We have done what everyone should be proud of when it comes to ensuring that this big anti-corruption institution called the Public Procurement Commission came into being in the second year of our being in office. It took how long for us to get it? Almost a whole decade and more, and this is in spite of the fact that the Constitution made provision for it.” The AFC Leader also chided the previous Cabinet that was run by the PPP for such a constitutional office not being established. He said that it was the Cabinet of former President Bharrat Jagdeo that set the tone for all other cabinets under the PPP to never give up that noobjection role in the public procurement process. He said, “We have been clamouring for that while in opposition…And having it today is a far, far, cry from what we have come from.”
solution of the Board. A new Board is yet to be installed. The outcome has reportedly been very troubling, with several questionable decisions still being made at the GPHC, this publication was told. Recently this publication filed a report of a decision made at the hospital to permit the employment of a Finance Director, even though there was no vacancy for this position. According to additional information reaching Kaieteur News, the new Finance Director was employed on what is being deemed a ‘Super Contract’ which caters for a ‘super salary’ amounting to just under $1 million per month. “This is against regulations because there was no Board approval...such a decision has to be made by the Board and this was disregarded for this person to be employed,” a source close to the operation of the hospital related to this publication. The new Finance Director has reportedly since decided to bring on board too, a Deputy Finance Director, bringing the total number of Deputy Finance Directors also to two. The latest employed Deputy Director reportedly has no qualifications for such a position. This “unqualified” Deputy Director has reportedly been tasked with procurement. “People are wondering why procurement is in a messed up state at the GPHC...well the answer is right there staring them in the face, but nobody is taking action,” said the evidently concerned source.
“Money is just spending at the GPHC for no worthy cause...the unnecessary money that is being spent could be used to help improve the GPHC, instead this hospital is being brought to an all-time low because of mismanagement at so many levels,” the source quipped. The source continued, “Just think about the amount of unnecessary money being spent at this main hospital in the country. For instance there are a number of people who were sent off to facilitate investigations; the investigations are finished but no decisions have been made as to whether these people are to be retained or sent off. But there are other people acting for these people...so not only the person sent off, but the ‘actors’ too, have to be paid each month. This is unheard of, the amount of people being paid to do the same thing at this hospital when there is a clear structure that says only one is needed,” the source stressed. The individual believed to be at the centre of the dilemma at the GPHC has reportedly also been responsible for the appointment of two act-
ing Director of Nursing Services, one of whom is reportedly not “remotely qualified.” “Once you are friends with somebody ‘big’, it seems that you are guaranteed a place at the GPHC whether you have qualifications or not...you don’t have to attend university, get a degree, or qualify yourself in any way to get a ‘super salary’ here...that’s the message that is being sent out while patients, who are the most affected, continue to feel the brunt of this situation,” the source stressed. According to the source, too, while numerous complaints have been made, no one seems willing to intervene. “We need to let the President, the new Minister of Public Health, and all persons in relevant authority who care about improving the hospital to not only pay attention to the irregularities, but intervene...set things right at Georgetown Hospital,” the source appealed. Just recently former Board Chairman, Dr. Hanoman, called for an investigation to be launched into the management of the GPHC if its operation is to be improved.
From page 22
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Kaieteur News
Thursday January 26, 2017
US orders building of Mexico border wall, targets U.S. ‘sanctuary’ cities Reuters - President Donald Trump signed directives yesterday to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border and strip funding from cities that shield illegal immigrants as he charged ahead with sweeping and divisive plans to transform how the United States deals with immigration and national security. The Republican president is expected to take additional steps in the coming days to limit legal immigration, including executive orders restricting refugees and blocking the issuing of visas to people from several Muslim-majority Middle Eastern and North African countries including Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Libya and Yemen. The intent of those proposals is to head off Islamist violence in the United States, although critics have said it soils America’s reputation as a welcoming place for immigrants of all stripes. Trump signed two executive orders, directing the construction of a wall along the roughly 2,000-mile (3,200kilometre) U.S.-Mexico border, moving to peel away federal
A U.S. border patrol agent sits in his vehicle as he watches over the border fencing separating the United States and Tijuana, Mexico in San Ysidro, California, U.S., yesterday. REUTERS/Mike Blake grant money from “sanctuary” states and cities that harbour illegal immigrants and beefing up the force of immi-
gration agents. “We are in the middle of a crisis on our southern border: The unprecedented surge of
illegal migrants from Central American is harming both Mexico and the United States,” Trump said in remarks at the Department of Homeland of Security after signing the directives. “And I believe the steps we will take starting right now will improve the safety in both of our countries,” Trump said, adding: “A nation without borders is not a nation.” His plans prompted an immediate outcry from immigrant advocates and others who said Trump was jeopardizing the rights and freedoms of millions of people while treating Mexico as an enemy, not an ally. Local officials in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Denver, Wash-
ington, San Francisco and Seattle offer some forms of protection to illegal immigrants. Billions of dollars in federal aid to those cities, often governed by Democrats, could be at risk. “The American people are no longer going to have to be forced to subsidise this disregard for our laws,” White House spokesman Sean Spicer said. In an interview with ABC News on Wednesday, Trump said construction on the wall would start within months, with planning starting immediately, and that Mexico would pay back to the United States “100 percent” of the costs. Mexican officials have said they will not pay for the wall. During a White House briefing, Spicer referred to the
wall as “a large physical barrier on the southern border.” “Building this barrier is more than just a campaign promise, it’s a common-sense first step to really securing our porous border,” Spicer added. “This will stem the flow of drugs, crime, illegal immigration into the United States.” Trump’s actions could fundamentally change the American stance on immigration, as well as further testing relations with Mexico. Spicer said Trump’s goal was to get the wall project started as quickly as possible using existing government funds and then work with the Republican-led Congress on further appropriations. “We’ll be reimbursed at a later date from whatever transaction we make from Mexico,” Trump told ABC on Wednesday. “I’m just telling you there will be a payment. It will be in a form, perhaps a complicated form. What I’m doing is good for the United States. It’s also going to be good for Mexico. We want to have a very stable, very solid Mexico.” Trump made cracking down on illegal immigration a key element of his presidential campaign, with supporters at his rallies often chanting: “Build the wall.” “The border wall is about political theatre at the expense of civil liberties,” said Christian Ramirez, director of the Southern Border Communities Coalition immigrant advocacy group. “It is not national security policy. Border communities are among the safest in the nation and patrolling them with tens of thousands of heavily armed, poorly trained, unaccountable agents puts lives at risks.
Thursday January 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
Bahamas ranked least corrupt CARICOM country; Jamaica, T&T scores worsen BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC — Bahamas was rated as being least corrupt in the Caribbean Community (Caricom), according to the latest figures released by Transparency International yesterday. It is ranked number 24 in the world with a score of 66 while the next highest ranked Caribbean country is Barbados at position 31 with a score of 61. St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines tied for third position ranked 35th with a score of 60, followed by Dominica at 38 with a score of 39 and Grenada ranked 46th with a score of 56. Transparency International which examined 176 countries worldwide, ranked Suriname at 64 with a score of 45, up from the 36 points it had last year with Jamaica ranked at 83rd and a score of 39, down from the 41 points it scored the previous year. The oil-rich twin island republic, Trinidad and Tobago was ranked 101 with a score of 35, lower than the 39 points it had in 2015 with Guyana ranked at 108 with a score of 34, up from the 2015 figure of 29. The French-speaking CARICOM was ranked as the most corrupt country in the region, being put at position 159 with a score of 20, three more than it had in 2015. Transparency International said “over two-thirds of
the 176 countries and territories in this year’s index fall below the midpoint of our scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). “The global average score is a paltry 43, indicating endemic corruption in a country’s public sector. Topscoring countries (yellow in the map below) are far outnumbered by orange and red countries where citizens face the tangible impact of corruption on a daily basis.” It said that this year’s results highlight the connection between corruption and inequality “which feed off each other to create a vicious circle between corruption, unequal distribution of power in society, and unequal distribution of wealth. “In too many countries, people are deprived of their
most basic needs and go to bed hungry every night because of corruption, while the powerful and corrupt enjoy lavish lifestyles with impunity,” it said. It warned also that the interplay of corruption and inequality also feeds populism. “When traditional politicians fail to tackle corruption, people grow cynical. Increasingly, people are turning to populist leaders who promise to break the cycle of corruption and privilege. Yet this is likely to exacerbate – rather than resolve – the tensions that fed the populist surge in the first place” Transparency International named Denmark with a score of 90, one point less than last year, as the least corrupt country in the world.
Suriname calls for military spending to be channeled into development NEW YORK, USA – last week, Suriname’s ambassador to the United Nations, Henry MacDonald, joined with the permanent missions of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in calling for a portion of military spending to be channeled into financing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). In jointly organising a meeting entitled “Responsible Governance, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation for Progress and Sustainable Development”, the primary objective of the “brainstorming session” was to identify how to help shape the financing of the UNSDGs for the remaining 14 years, in tandem with collective defence spending. Suriname, Belarus, Kazakhstan and UNDP hope to convince major powers to invest a small percentage of their military expenditures
into the implementation of the UNSDG. This initiative builds on Kazakhstan President Nazarbayev’s proposal for countries to donate one percent of their military budgets towards achieving the UNSDGs. Participants included MacDonald, as moderator; Cihan Sultanoglu, assistant secretary general of UNDP, Europe and CIS; Valentin Rybakov, deputy minister of foreign affairs of Belarus; Yerzhan Ashikbayev, deputy foreign minister of Kazakhstan; and Peter Thomson of Fiji, president of the UN General Assembly. Also, Algerian ambassador to the UN, Sabri Boukadoum; Indonesia’s ambassador to the UN, Dian Triansyah Djani; president of the UN Economic and Social Council, Frederick Musiiwa Makamure Shava and Kim Won-soo, undersecretary and High representative for disarmament; and Lenni
Montiel, assistant secretarygeneral for economic development, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs participated in the “brainstorming session”. MacDonald said that 194 UN member-states collectively spend approximately US$1.747 trillion on defence annually — almost $2 trillion on military expenditure; however, their collective official development assistance amounts to $30 billion. According to MacDonald, the UN budget for the year 2016 – 2017 is about US$6 billion, and the budget for the year 2016 – 2017 with regard to peacekeeping operations, amounts to almost $8 billion. But ironically, “the Fifth Committee fell short to even provide a mere $5 million for the development account in support of the 2030 agenda for this year,” he pointed out. (Caribbean News)
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Thursday January 26, 2017
Thursday January 26, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Serena ousts Konta to set-up Lucic-Baroni reunion MELBOURNE (Reuters) Serena Williams remained on course for her 23rd grand slam title by quelling the challenge of in-form Briton Johanna Konta 6-2 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the eighth time yestersday. The 35-year-old American served up 10 aces and thumped 25 winners over 75 minutes on Rod Laver Arena to join sister Venus in the last four, where she will play Croatian Mirjana LucicBaroni. Ninth seed Konta, who reached the semi-finals here last year and won the Sydney warm-up tournament, managed a single break in the sec-
ond set but was unable to cope with the power of the world number two. Williams succeeded in finding the target on less than half of her first serves but cleaned up the points on 88 percent of the occasions when she did. Furious with herself at times because of her inaccuracy, Williams channeled the anger to overcome 25-yearold Konta and reach her 34th grand slam semi-final without having given up a set in five matches. “I missed a lot today, I got a little frustrated, then I told myself ‘Serena, stop complaining don’t be a Baby-rena out on court there’,” she said.
“I admit I complain a lot... but I said to myself, ‘just have fun and try to enjoy the moment’ and I did.” Williams is seeking her seventh Melbourne Park title, which would assure her of a return to world number one in place of ousted champion Angelique Kerber. She started the match reasonably slowly, feeling out an unfamiliar opponent desperate to force her out wide to the wings of the court. Williams saved a break point to hold on her second service game and pounced to go 3-1 up when the Briton dumped a backhand into the net after a long rally. Another Konta error, a
Thursday January 26, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Opportunities to travel will be favorable in terms of moneymaking connections. Opportunities to pamper yourself may unfold.
LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) A long discussion is in order if you wish to clear the air. The great outdoors will allow you to teach youngsters some of the things you learned when growing up.
TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) Love could develop at social events that are work related. Don't let relatives stand in the way of your personal plans.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Unexpected events may upset your routine. Romance could be exciting if you are spontaneous. Get involved in sports events that will benefit your physical appearance.
GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Social activities that involve the whole family will be enjoyable. Educational pursuits should help you develop your hobbies. CANCER (June 22-July 22) Your bankbook will suffer and your restrictions will put a damper on your relationship. You will be able to communicate well today.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Look into joining groups that can give you hands-on advice about business. You could be attracting individuals who are anything but good for you. CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) You will find that you are able to clear up a number of small but important details.
LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Implement your ideas into your projects at work. Be professional, and you will advance much more quickly.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) You will be popular and will easily attract members of the opposite sex. Empty promises are evident; therefore, get it in writing, to be safe.
VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Female colleagues may be able to help you get the job done. Your domestic scene could continue to be in an uproar today. Travel should be on your mind.
PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Calm down and take a step back. Don't make accusations unless you are completely sure that you are correct. Don't shy away from potential mates they want to introduce you to.
forehand long, gave Williams the set and the American was immediately applying pressure on her opponent’s serve at the start of the second. Konta rallied from 0-40 to hold, however, and then broke Williams to go 2-1 up when the six-times champion overcooked a crosscourt forehand. The pressure on Konta’s serve was unrelenting by this stage, though, and Williams raced around the court like a teenager to break back before a sizzling backhand winner gave her the chance to serve for the match. Williams said she was delighted to be facing 34-yearold, Lucic-Baroni, some 18 years after their only two previous meetings in 1998. “It’s really amazing, 30 is the new 10,” Serena added. “I’m so proud of Mirjana, she has been playing so well. “We played over a decade ago, nearly two decades ago. She’s been playing two decades. No matter what happens, someone 34 or older will be in the final, so that’s great.”
Aldridge helps Spurs... From page 28 Joseph tied it with a short jumper. Ross gave Toronto its first lead of the game, 77-76, when he hit one of two free throws with 1:19 to play in the third quarter, which ended tied at 79. Ross made two 3-pointers early in fourth quarter to put Toronto ahead 85-81. Bertans made a driving dunk with 8:15 to play and San Antonio led by three points. Ross put the Raptors back into a one-point lead with a driving layup with 5:19 left but the Spurs immediately moved ahead again on Kyle Anderson’s put-back layup. Lowry’s layup had Toronto up by three but Aldridge tied it when he completed a three-point play when he converted the free throw with 3:25 to go. Murray’s floating jumper put the Spurs ahead by two points with 1:29 to play.
Serena Williams of the U.S. celebrates winning her Women’s singles quarter-final match against Britain’s Johanna Konta. (REUTERS/Jason Reed)
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Thursday January 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
Henriques does it twice as Sixers scrape through in Super Over ESPNcricinfo - On the night that BBL’s sixth season’s millionth fan came through, the competition served up a captivating classic, with a Super Over being required to separate Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers at the Gabba. After both teams made 167, Sixers won the shootout by seven runs, with Moises Henriques - having made 64 off 34 earlier - flaying two sixes and a four in setting 23 for a Brisbane win. Sean Abbott, who earlier took his tournament wicket tally to 20, was up to the task of defending it. It should never have been so close. Sixers had been cruising, with eight wickets in hand and 36 needed off 32. But they lost six for 31 and needed six runs off the last over - Ben Cutting allowed just five. But it was Cutting who conceded 23 from the Super Over - and he and Brendon McCullum could not chase it down. As a result, we will see a Scorchers v Sixers line-up in both the men’s and women’s editions of the Big Bash League. Starved Baz, the Dotologist and the tactical drops After the start was delayed by smoke caused by fireworks, McCullum launched his first ball for four over mid-off, but actually took a backseat as Jimmy Peirson flayed away early. Peirson skying Abbott - and Sam Heazlett, running past Nathan Lyon, then fell in consecutive overs, bringing McCullum and Alex ‘Sweepologist’
Moises Henriques pulls one through midwicket during his 24-ball fifty, Brisbane Heat v Sydney Sixers, Big Bash League 2016-17, semi-final, Brisbane, ©Cricket Australia Ross together. McCullum continued to play some breathtaking strokes - when he could get on strike. On a slowish pitch, Ross not only failed to find the boundary in his 28 deliveries, but faced 12 dots. Sixers dropped him (tactically?) twice - once a tough chance for Jackson Bird, then a sitter for Ben Dwarshuis. As a result, McCullum increasingly had to take risks, and he eventually holed out. The man replacing Ross, Joe Burns, made a mockery of his strike-rate (60), matching his score with his first eight balls. The Lyon, the wickets
Volcanoes beat Under-19s by 21 runs – 3rd game NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – Windward Islands Volcanoes defeated West Indies Under-19s by 21 runs, in the third game of the Regional Super50 at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground here yesterday. Scores: VOLCANOES 221 off 46.2
and the Wildermuth Eventually, the Sixers held a catch off Ross. Like with McCullum, the bowler was Nathan Lyon and the catcher Abbott, at deep-midwicket. It was the last over of a fine Lyon spell, and he had Cutting by its end too. Earlier, he had dismissed Heazlett, and his figures were 4 for 23, with only one of the overs costing more than four runs. It was an outstanding spell - bowled half-in, half-out of the Powerplay - that left Brisbane five down and needing a special end to the innings. Dwarshuis had Burns caught behind, but they pilfered 57 from the final five overs - despite the last costing three wickets. That was mainly thanks to Jack Wildermuth, who smote some
Jack Wildermuth teed off with a 16-ball 29 © Getty Images mighty blows down the ground and over cow corner in his 29. Heat had something to defend. Joe Burns, strike bowler “Well, this is a surprise,” said the stadium announcer as Burns took the new ball. McCullum recognised that pace off would be key in the Powerplay, so he turned to Burns and Samuel Badree up top. Burns, though, had bowled 48 balls in his 184match professional career, and never taken a wicket. With his fifth ball, Burns crept a low offie through Nic Maddinson’s defence - and earned himself a second over! Colin Munro got after him, but then looped a catch to McCullum at mid-off. By the end of the Powerplay, the
Sixers had swung hard, but were 2 for 43. Game on. Moises’ mini-masterpiece Trouble was, 30 minutes later, Henriques was celebrating a brilliant 50 off 24 balls, at the end of an over from which he had taken 18, including two sixes over midwicket and long-off. He had picked leggie Mitchell Swepson apart, exploiting gaps in the big square outfields, and running hard with Daniel Hughes, who served him the strike. Henriques looked in utter control, and the Sixers were waltzing home. Always time for panic So how on earth did it make it to the last over, let alone a Super Over? Well, Hughes skied, then Michael Lumb ran past Swepson, who had recovered from
Henriques’ mauling. Henriques saw mid-off up, but was caught well. Brad Haddin, most careless of all, ran himself out. Abbott picked out long-on, trying to win it in one shot. Cutting to bowl the last; six required. Botha missed, then scrambled a single. So did Dwarshiuis. Botha went to paddle over the keeper, but was caught behind - or was he? Upper arm! Given! Four needed off two. Lyon sprinted through for a single. Three off one. Dwarshuis to face. Cutting dug it in, Dwarshuis swung hard and high; they ran two. Why not turn for a third, just to try? Scores level. Super Over. The Super Over Cutting’s luck was up. Three came from the first two, then Henriques whacked six over cow. The next was a noball, with a single. Free hit, and a hurried bye. Six more for Henriques, then a four behind square. Twenty-two. Cutting refused to leave the fray. He joined McCullum, who was fooled by Abbott first ball with a slower bouncer. Then there were two, and a wide. 20 off four. Four through Johan Botha’s hands, sprinting at long-on. Next, a single. 15 off two, with Cutting on strike. One to longoff, and the fans at the Gabba streamed out. McCullum smashed the last for six, but it mattered not. Scores: Brisbane Heat 9 for 167 (McCullum 46, Lyon 4-23, Abbott 4-40) tied with Sydney Sixers 8 for 167 (Henriques 64, Hughes 46, Steketee 2-21). Super Over: Sydney Sixers 0 for 22 (Henriques 18*) beat Brisbane Heat 0 for 15 (McCullum 13*) by seven runs.
overs (Sunil Ambris 54, Liam Sebastien 31, Kyle Mayers 28, Delorn Johnson 26; Keemo Paul 4-31) UNDER-19s 200 for nine off 50 overs (Bhaskar Yadram 52, Kirstan Kallicharan 25, Keemo Paul 22; Mervin Matthews 4-38, Delorn Johnson 2-33)
Ben Cutting bowled a stunning over to defend five off the last over © Cricket Australia
Thursday January 26, 2017
Preview Regional Super50 By Sean Devers in Barbados In Association with Bounty Supermarket, Vnet Communications, Life Time Reality & Ming’s Products & Services After suffering first round defeats on Tuesday both the Guyana Jaguars and the Jamaica Scorpions will look to rebound today when they face-off at the Kensington Oval in Barbados in the second day/ night encounter for the Jaguars from 13:30hrs. On Tuesday, on a good batting track at Kensington Oval, Barbados Pride, led by a maiden ton from Kraigg Braithwaite and Barbados’ fourth 300 plus Total, hammered the Jaguars by 145 runs with 18 overs to spare, despite an entertaining 55 from Skipper Leon Johnson. Over at the 3Ws ground at Cave Hill, home team CCC Marooners registered a convincing 75-run victory the Jamaican Franchise, who were dismissed for 140, to take a bonus point and join Barbados, who also got a bonus point for their win, at
Jaguars, Scorpions clash today Both teams look to rebound from first round defeats the top of zone ‘B’ on five points each. Guyana and Jamaica are both without a point but the Jaguars, who like Jamaica, have nine titles at this level, should have the advantage of having played already at this venue where they will five of their eight matches in the Barbados zone. All of the games at Kensington are day/ night affairs under lights. These teams have faced each other 20 times with Guyana winning 10, Jamaica winning nine and the other one ending in a tie. Barbados rattled up 302-7 on Tuesday but Jamaica’s highest Regional 50 over total is 307-5 against Barbados at Sabina Park in 2002 and while their batting is a lot weaker than on that occasion, the pitch and the lightening fast outfield at Kensington is conducive for big totals. But Guyana, whose highest total was made 37 years ago in Antigua when Skipper Roy Fredericks century spearheaded them to 327-7 and their first Regional
50 overs title in 1980 and although their batting looks strong on paper, cricket is not played on paper but in the middle. But the Jaguars’ batting faulted badly with only Johnson who hit eight fours and a six in 55, reaching 20 for the South American Franchise and a vastly improved permanence is needed if Guyana hopes to capture their first title since 2005. Head Coach Esuan Crandon is disappointed in the overall performance but especially the batting which resulted in the Jaguars losing their last five wickets for just 17 runs as they struggled to 157 all out. “Yes I am disappointed that we did not show more fight. Leon batted really well but wickets kept falling around him. I was not too worried about the amount of dot balls bowled since you can’t take anything away from their bowlers who bowled good lines. On a seaming pitch we had to leave a lot of
Bolt loses Olympic relay gold after Jamaica’s Carter tests positive (Reuters) Jamaica’s Usain Bolt has lost one of his nine Olympic gold medals and his perfect triple treble of Games’ sprint victories after team mate Nesta Carter was found guilty of doping at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Carter was found to have taken the prohibited substance methylhexaneamine, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said yesterday, meaning Jamaica’s 4x100 metres relay team must give back their gold medals. Bolt is considered one of the greatest sprinters of all time, having won an unprecedented treble of consecutive golds in the 100m, 200m and 4x100 relay in three straight Olympics. Bolt was sleeping after a training session and unavailable to comment yesterday but in June, when sources familiar with the case told Reuters that Carter had failed a doping test, he was philosophical about the prospect of losing a gold medal. “It’s heartbreaking (the positive test) because over the years you’ve worked hard to accumulate gold medals and work hard to be a champion... but it’s just one of those things,” Bolt said. “Things happen in life, so when it’s confirmed or what-
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Kaieteur News
ever, if I need to give back my gold medal I’d have to give it back, it’s not a problem for me.” Trinidad and Tobago are set to be promoted to gold in the Beijing 4x100, in which Jamaica set a then world record, with Japan moving up to silver and fourth-placed Brazil earning bronze. A reallocation of medals is subject to any further results from the IOC anti-doping retesting programme. POSITIVE TEST First-leg specialist Carter has been a vital member of Jamaica’s dominant squad, helping the Caribbean island win gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and the 2011, 2013 and 2015 world championships. Carter returned a positive result in re-tests of samples from the Beijing Olympics for the prohibited stimulant methylhexaneamine, the IOC said. Asafa Powell, who has himself served a six-month doping ban, and Michael Frater completed the Jamaica sprint team at the 2008 race. Nesta was unavailable to comment on yesterday’s IOC announcement, while Powell and Crater declined to comment. “The Jamaican team is dis-
qualified from the men’s 4x100m relay event. The corresponding medals, medalist pins and diplomas are withdrawn and shall be returned,” the IOC said. “The (international athletics’ federation) IAAF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.” Methylhexanamine has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code prohibited list since 2004 although it was reclassified on the 2011 list as a “specified substance”. The IOC programme of revisiting samples uses developments in testing techniques to find traces of drugs that were undetectable in 2008 or at the London 2012 Games. More than 100 athletes have so far tested positive in re-tests from the Beijing and the London Olympics. Gold medalists (L - R) Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell of Jamaica pose during the medal ceremony for the men’s 4 x 100m relay final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. (REUTERS/Mike Blake (CHINA))
Leon Johnson batted well on Tuesday and will need to continue his good form today. (Photos by Sean Devers) balls,” Crandon said. He added that he felt the bowlers apart from Jacobs, allowed the batsmen to score too freely with Bishoo and Permaul bowling too slowly at times. The 42-year-old Shiv Chanderpaul who needs another 133 runs to go past Bajan Floyd Reifer (2,878 runs) to become the leading run scorer in Regional 50 overs cricket, missed the
opening game due a ‘stiff neck’ while Chris Barnwell, who batted well in the two practice games in preparation for this tournament, also missed Tuesday’s game due to an injury to his right hand. But Crandon informed that Chanderpaul has recovered fully, while Barnwell should have a fitness test this morning and both players are likely to play today. The former Guyana fast
bowler also informed that the team had a long meeting after the game at the ground at which the areas of concern were addressed. Shimron Hetymer faced just three balls before he fell for a duck in the first over, while Assad Fudadin made 18 from 31 balls, Rajendra Chandrika took 17 deliveries to make 10, Jonathon Foo selected for the first time since 2011 for his positive batting, laboured for 18 balls for his eight runs. Anthony Bramble (8), Raymon Reifer (16), Steven Jacobs (11) and Veerasammy Permaul (16) all fell cheaply in a disappointing batting display in which 121 dot balls were bowled in 32 overs. Apart from Jacobs (10-029-0) all of the other frontline bowlers conceded more than 55 runs with Ronsford Beaton being the quickest but most expensive with figures of 9-169-1. Brandon King with 48, was the only Jamaican to offer any resistance on Tuesday and they will also depend on Chadwick Walton and John Campbell to give them a firm foundation with support from Jermaine Blackwood, Devon Thomas and Rovman Powell with the bat and 22-year-old rookie off-spinner Damani Sewell, Damion Jacobs, Jerome Tailor, Skipper Nikta Miller and Reynard Leveridge with the ball if they hope to kick start their tournament.
Japan hails first home-grown sumo... From page 29 native Japanese to attain the sport’s most exalted rank since 1998. “I will do everything in my power and try not to bring shame to the name yokozuna,” said Kisenosato, wearing a formal kimono and bowing deeply during a ceremony where he accepted the promotion from ozeki, sumo’s second-highest rank. “I want to become even more focused,” he said after the ceremony. “I have grown as a person and want to be a yokozuna that is respected.” Standing 1.87 metre (almost 6ft 2in) tall, and weighing 175 kg (385.8 lb), Kisenosato had a long history of crumbling under pressure in key bouts. But on Sunday, he wept after securing the ultimate rank with his first-ever tournament win in a bruising bout with long-dominant Mongolian-born yokozuna Hakuho. Newspapers and televi-
sion covered Kisenosato exhaustively, tracing his rise from rural Ibaragi, just north of Tokyo, to his promotion ceremony, which due to the huge interest was held at a hotel instead of the sumo “stable” where he lives and trains, as would be traditional. “For a really long time we’ve only had foreign yokozuna, so now that finally, finally, we have one who’s Japanese - well, as a Japanese it makes me really h a p p y, ” s a i d R u m i k o Takahashi, 41, who lives in China and was back on a visit. E v e n J a p a n ’s s t a i d deputy chief cabinet secre-
tary got into the act. “I believe many citizen have been waiting for the birth of a Japanese-born yokozuna for this truly Japanese traditional sport,” he told a news conference. But sumo journalist Mark Buckton, who has been writing about the sport for two decades and called Kisenosato “the most consistent ozeki for a generation”, said there was more to the story. “For long-term sumo fans it is about the boy who entered the sport as a mid-teen ... and has always seemed to ‘choke’ when the title was within grasp, finally coming good,” he added.
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Thursday January 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
Blyden, Jacobs make donation to Stella Maris Primary Stella Maris Primary School on Woolford Avenue, Georgetown was the recipient of a quantity of books, crayons and learning charts donated by cricketers Travis Blyden and Steven Jacobs on Tuesday. Blyden, who made the presentation to acting Graduate Head Mistress (GHM) Sherron Howard, said himself and Jacobs, both former students of the school, thought it necessary to give back to the institution that laid the foundation for them. He credited the teachers for instilling discipline and making them realise the importance of education at a young age. “We thought it necessary to make this presentation because it is necessary for the children to have firm base which will help them to grow from strength to strength,” he posited. “We are very thankful to for this opportunity and we will continue to assist in whatever way we can,” he said. Ms. Howard expressed
gratitude to the cricketers and said the items will be used to develop their library and to help in the Phonics programme at the lower level. Graduate Senior Assistant Mistress (GSAM) Onika Forde said they are happy that the cricketers remembered where they came from and the items will be of tremendous benefit to both the teachers and students. She urged the duo to continue to remain good role models for the students. Jacobs, who plays for the Malteenoes SC, is currently with the Guyana Jaguars in Barbados competing in the Regional Super 50. Blyden who plays locally for the Guyana Defence Force is also a former member of the MSC. He mainly plies his trade in Trinidad and Tobago and only recently crowned a fine season with Evergreen CC. He left Guyana on Wednesday to fulfill his new contract with the University of the West Indies in the twin island republic as a player/coach. (Zaheer Mohamed).
Travis Blyden (standing 4th from left back row), teachers and students share a moment during the presentation.
Aldridge helps Spurs edge Raptors
San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) looks to make a pass as Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) defends in the second half at Air Canada Centre. (Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports) (The Sports Xchange) - LaMarcus Aldridge scored 21 points and added seven rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Toronto Raptors 108-106 on Tuesday night. It was the fifth win in a row for the Spurs (36-9) and the fourth straight loss for the Raptors (28-17). DeMar DeRozan did not play for Toronto and Kawhi Leonard sat out for San Antonio. The Spurs led by as many as 13 points in the first half but the game was tied entering the fourth quarter and again with two minutes to play. Dejounte Murray’s jumper with under two minutes left gave San Antonio a two-point
lead. Terrence Ross missed a 25-foot jumper for Toronto with 1:17 to play and the Spurs had possession of the ball. The Raptors could not take advantage of a Spurs’ turnover with 45 seconds left. Both teams missed their next shots and Aldridge made one of two free throws with 11.3 seconds left to give San Antonio a threepoint lead. Toronto’s Norman Powell made a dunk with 6.2 seconds left and Aldridge converted one of two free throws with 5.1 seconds remaining. Toronto could not score on its possession. Patty Mills added 18 points for San Anto-
San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green (14) attempts to block a pass by Toronto Raptors guard Cory Joseph (6) in the second half at Air Canada Centre. (Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports) nio while Dave Bertans had 12 and David Lee and Murray each scored 11. Kyle Lowry led Toronto with 30 points, Ross had 21 points off the bench, Powell added 16 Patrick Patterson had 12 and Cory Joseph 10. Jonas Valanciunas had nine points and 13 rebounds. The Spurs led 29-25 after the first quarter, led by Lee’s eight points. Lowry scored 11 first-quarter points for the Raptors. The Spurs took an 11-point lead on a driving layup by Mills with 5:28 to play in the second quarter. Green’s hook shot bumped the lead to 13. Patterson hit a 3-pointer and Lucas
Nogueira scored on a tip dunk to complete the first half with the Spurs leading 61-54. Aldridge led the Spurs with 14 points in the first half. Lowry topped all first-half scorers with 18 points. The Spurs scored the first three points of the second half to lead by 10. The Raptors did not score until Lowry made a layup with 8:18 to play in the third quarter, cutting the lead to eight. Lowry’s layup whittled the Spurs lead to four with 6:44 to go in the third. Ross made a pull-up jumper and converted the free throw to cut San Antonio’s lead to two points with 3:34 left in the quarter and (Continued on page 25)
Kaieteur News
Thursday January 26, 2017
Bank of Nova Scotia pumps $762,000 into RHTY&SC, M.S activities for 2017
Scotia Bank Marketing Executive Jennifer Cipriani hands over sponsorship to RHTY&SC Executive Member Mark Papannah, while Club members Sohan Harry and Simon Naidu looks on. The Bank of Nova Scotia for the ninth consecutive year has strengthened its highly successful relationship with Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, M.S. The Bank on Friday last, handed over a sponsorship cheque valued at $762,000 for several programmes to be organised by the Club and its eight cricket teams during 2017. The RHTY&SC has set itself a target of 450 for the year under the sub-headings of sports, coaching, charity, religious, awards, anti-suicide, anti-drugs, anti-crime, education, youth and community development, jobs for youths, social among others. Long serving Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster hailed the relationship between the two entities as very productive and successful. The sponsorship
includes trophies for the Club’s 27th annual award ceremony scheduled for April, co-sponsorship of the annual youth review m a g a z i n e , Tr i b u t e t o O u t s t a n d i n g Te a c h e r s programme, Essay Competition for youths under the Say No/Say Yes Campaign, purchasing cricket balls for Cricket development programme and the hosting of the annual Bank of Nova Scotia Say No to Suicide Children Mash Parade. The success of the Rose Hall Town based Club over the years, Foster noted, is because of the outstanding relationship it enjoys with numerous entities like the Bank of Nova Scotia and he described the Bank as a foundation of the Club over the years. Foster made special mention of the Cricket Development programme which has been the cornerstone of the Club’s
success on the cricket field. This programme would be expanded to include more under 15 players and females as the Club strives to maintain its status as Guyana Cricket Club of the Year Awardee, which it won for the 5th time in December 2016. The Children Mash Parade would be held on the 23rd of February and would involve over 600 students drawn from the Rose Hall Town Primary School, Belvedere Primary, Tain Primary, Port Mourant Primary, Rose Hall To w n N u r s e r y, L o w e r C o r e n t y n e S e c o n d a r y, Corentyne Comprehensive Secondary, J.C. Chandisingh Secondary, Port Mourant Secondary and New Amsterdam Secondary School. The main objectives would be to promote the Say No to Suicide message, to celebrate Guyana’s 47th anniversary as a Republic and to inform youths that the gift
of life is precious, the Bank on an annual basis also invests in the Club’s Tribute to Mothers Programme, Christmas Village project, Charity project, annual cricket academy and in 2016 stood the cost of publishing a 40 pages booklet on the history of Rose Hall Town as part of the township’s 46th anniversary celebration. Special thanks was expressed to the Bank’s Marketing Executive Jennifer Cipriani for her cooperation since 2009. Cipriani, an awardee of the RHTY&SC, M.S highest award, the Dolphin Award of Excellence, hailed the Club as a role model organisation which the Bank was proud to be associated with. The Bank of Nova Scotia, she stated, is fully aware of its corporate responsibilities and over the years has invested heavily in sports, education and cultural activities.
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Lawrence Simon returns as LABA president following AGM and biennial elections The Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) will be led by Lawrence Simon for another two years after being reelected unanimously to serve when the six affiliated clubs voted en bloc for the slate headed by Simon. The LABA’s Annual General Meeting and Biennial Elections were staged last Sunday at the Mackenzie Sports Club Lounge. Others returning to server are 2nd Vice President Eze Wilson, Secretary Joseph Chapman and Organising Secretary Christopher Pollydore. Abdulla Hamid who headed the association a few years ago is back as the 1st vice president, while Tandica Fraser is the Treasurer and Kevin Sullivan the assistant treasurer, with Joel Webster as assistant Secretary. The Public Relations Officer is Tracy Liverpool with Kevin Joseph and Eusi Francis returns as Committee members along with Hubert Wade of Kwakwani. The clubs which attended
Lawrence Simon were Retrieve Raiders, Amelia’s Ward Jets, Bankers Trust falcons, Kwakwani and Victory valley Royals. The only club which failed to turn up were the Half Mile Bulls, while Wismar Pistons , absent from competitive basketball recently, is set to be affiliated once again. The association has set Saturday for their first executive meeting at a venue to be named.
Japan hails first home-grown sumo grand champion in 19 years
Preparations continue for Guyana Cup rematch three With just about a month to go before race day, horseracing fans, eager for a day of top class racing, are already beginning to pool their resources in anticipation of the third annual Guyana Cup Re-Match horse race meet. With not much race meets being held of recent the Rising Sun Turf Club (RSTC), Arima Park West Coast Berbice is set to come alive on Sunday February 26th. Organized by the Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing stable in collaboration with the RSTC, the meet is expected to be an action packed event, especially since the animals will be returning to the track after a long
layoff. With the last race meet held s o m e t i m e b a c k i n D e c e m b e r, horseracing fans are eager to see all of Guyana’s top horses in action. The feature race will be for animals classified B and lower for a whopping $1.2M and trophy over 1800M. Horses such as CP Got Even, Score’s Even, Just Call Me Boss, Princess She is not, Spit Fire, Jack in My Style, Golden Blue Ecko, King’s Knight, Honey Flow, Lady Budapest and Light Up Canada, Jack in My Style, Brave Sky among others have already begun preparations for the meet. Other races listed so far are events for the for F and lower animals, those classified 3 years old West Indies bred
and three year old Guyana bred; H and lower and J, K and L horses. The organisers have also put together some interesting incentives for lucky patrons and participants. Lucrative prizes will be given to the winners and outstanding performers. Prizes will also be given to the top Jockey, runner up, top stable and champion trainer compliments of the Trophy Stall and the organisers. For further information persons can contact Fazal Habibulla on 6577010 or 232-0232, Donald Lawrie on telephone Nos 225-4530 or 225-and Campton Sancho 602-1567 or coordinator Nasrudeen (Jumbo Jet) Mohamed jr. (Samuel Whyte)
Japanese sumo wrestler Kisenosato (REUTERS/Toru Hanai) TOKYO (Reuters) Japan rejoiced on Wednesday as sumo wrestler Kisenosato became the first Japanese born and bred grand champion in nearly two decades, ending foreignborn wrestlers’ domination of the ancient sport’s top rank. Sumo, which features giant wrestlers clad only in loincloths, has seen such an influx of foreign grapplers over the last 50 years that
prior to this week all three grand champions - known as yokozuna - were Mongolian. Hawaiian-born Americans have also held the rank. Until January 2016 a homegrown rikishi, as the wrestlers are known, hadn’t even won a tournament championship for a decade. But all this changed yesterday, when 30-year-old Kisenosato was promoted to yokozuna, becoming the first (Continued on page 27)
Kaieteur News
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Thursday January 26, 2017
Umpires Reifer and Williams Yassin writes UCI asking for further intervention in cycling imbroglio appointed for ICC Women’s Tournament
Juman Yassin
Horace Burrowes
Brian Cookson
President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), K.A. Juman Yassin has responded to the letter from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), which recognised Horace Burrowes as the legitimate leader of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF), asking for further intervention in the cycling imbroglio here. In his letter that was copied to Burrowes and President of the PanAmerican Cycling Federation (COPACI), Jose Manuel Pelaez, Yassin asked UCI to send a representative to resolve an impasse between some clubs and the Burrowes-led GCF. The full text of Yassin’s letter is below: Mr. Brian Cookson President Union Cycliste Internationale Dear Sir,
I am in receipt of your letter dated the 23rd January, 2017 in relation to the Guyana Cycling Federation. I have taken note that the Guyana Cycling Federation is a full member of the Union Cycliste Internationale and that Mr. Horace Burrowes is recognized as the President. The Guyana Olympic Association recognizes Mr. Horace Burrowes as the President of the Guyana Cycling Federation and at our last General Assembly Meeting in December, 2016, representatives of Guyana Cycling Federation attended and voted at the meeting. I wish, however, to bring to your attention that all is not well in Guyana with cycling and the Guyana Cycling Federation and most of its members. As you are aware there are various clubs that constitute the Guyana Cycling Federation and it seemed that the majority of
them had passed a motion to attempt to dissolve the executive and appoint an interim committee. I would urge that you and your body pay keen interest in what is happening in Guyana and in this regard to p e r h a p s s e n d a representative so that there may be some unity between the clubs and the executive of the Guyana Cycling Federation. You would appreciate that if there is disunity then the sport of cycling and our cyclists would be at a great disadvantage. The Guyana Olympic Association is ready to assist you in whatever measure you are willing to take and hope that this may be soon. I await your response. Yours sincerely, Mr. K.A Juman-Yassin President Guyana Olympic Association
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Two West Indian umpires have been named to stand in the qualification tournament for the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Women’s Cricket World Cup 2017. Leslie Reifer Jr. and Jacqueline Williams will be among the international officials for the 50-over event to be played in Sri Lanka from February 7 to 21. Reifer, aged 27, is one of the youngest international umpires in West Indies h i s t o r y. H e m a d e h i s international debut last year when West Indies played against India in the Twenty20 Series in the United States. Williams is the only female umpire on the regional senior umpires’ panel. The 40-year-old has officiated in several major m e n ’s a n d w o m e n ’s tournament, before including ICC World T20 women’s qualifiers and ICC Division 5 and the WICB Regional 4Day and WICB Regional Super50. Both are pleased to be involved in the ICC qualifiers and are eagerly looking forward to the experience of cricket in Sri Lanka for the first time. “This is my first tournament with the ICC so I am really looking forward to it – the experience of standing in an international tournament, as well the culture and atmosphere of Sri Lanka,” Reifer said. “For me this is a major
step in my career. I value every opportunity I get to stand at any level of the game. Women’s cricket is growing rapidly in the West Indies and all around the world, and the standard of play is very high. I am hoping to learn more about the game contribute in a meaningful way.” Williams started her career back in 2006 and has progressed through the ranks.
She said: “I’m delighted to be named among the umpires for this tournament. It’s a major tournament in women’s cricket with some of the best players in the world. All the appointments I have been on are stepping stones and I have welcomed all with open arms. I always find something to work on and improve. There is a lot to learn as an umpire.” Additionally, Williams said: “going to Sri Lanka, I have been doing my homework, looking at the conditions, the weather and other aspects of the game so I know what to expect before I reach there. It’s somewhere different but I’m happy to be involved and hoping to give my very best. She noted: “Whatever I do in cricket as an umpire, I always remember that I’m not doing it for myself but for people of the Caribbean and the upliftment of the game. I would like to encourage other women, who love the game, to seriously consider taking up umpiring. I find it quite enjoyable.” West Indies Women have already qualified for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2017 which will be played from June 26 to July 23. The final will be at Lord’s, Bristol and Derby will host the semifinals while Leicester and Taunton are the other venues.
Dimitrov dismantles Goffin to reach semis (Reuters) Grigor Dimitrov dismantled 11th seed David Goffin 6-3 6-2 6-4 in their Australian Open quarter-final yesterday to advance to his second grand slam semi-final. The 25-year-old Bulgarian, whose previous grand slam semi-final was at Wimbledon in 2014, will meet either Rafa Nadal or third seed Milos Raonic in the last four. “In the first set it was absolutely nerve racking,” Dimitrov said. “I felt that I could play well but I was not striking the ball as well as I could and I was a bit passive. “With each game I was feeling a bit better and I was finding my groove. I’m just happy now.” Dimitrov took the first after racing to a 3-0 lead as Goffin blew his opening service game with a double fault and two unforced errors,
a pattern that was set for the match. The baseline battle continued in the second set with both players breaking each other’s serve early, but the Bulgarian seized the advantage in the third game with a second break and then again in the seventh when he broke again. Dimitrov, seeded 15th, wrapped up the second set with a forehand pass that swerved around Goffin at the net. Dimitrov’s potent forehand got him out of trouble several times as he forced Goffin wide or left him with no shot after landing the ball right at the Belgian’s feet. The Bulgarian failed to convert two match points on Goffin’s serve at 5-3 but raced through his next service game to seal the win with a backhand winner down the line after two hours, 12 minutes. “I have
Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov celebrates after winning his Men’s singles quarter-final match against Belgium’s David Goffin. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter) been on a tremendous roller coaster,” Dimitrov said of the last two years, which saw him drop outside the top-40 after being in the top-10 in early 2015. “But I am happy with the way things happened the way
it did, otherwise I wouldn’t understand myself and I’m now appreciating things a lot better. “To be in the semi-final of a slam means too much for me now.”
Jacqueline Williams (WICB Media Photo/Randy Brooks of Brooks LaTouche Photography)
Thursday Janaury 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Limacol Round Robin / Knockout Football Competition
Georgetown hosts teams from the East
As in this encounter between Camptown and Riddim Squad, the action promises to be keen tonight. A double header is planned for this evening as action in the Limacol Round Robin / Knockout Football Competition resumes, at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground. In the opening encounter, Western Tigers take on New Amsterdam (NA) United and this game will be followed by the clash between Santos and Ann’s Grove. In the feature clash at 20:30hrs, Santos is coming off an impressive showing in their last match which they won 3-1 and once again the strike force of Job Caesar, Orlando Ricketts, Orin Yards, Keith Caines and Ryan October are expected to run riot over an Ann’s Grove side that is young and relatively inexperience. Then there is the e x p e r i e n c e o f Va s s e l Cantzelaar, Jermin Fraser and Samuel Hunte to call upon to nullify any attacking threat from the opposition. Ann’s Grove will be depending on players such as Ryan Seales, Maxton Adams, Navado Denny, Oswald Duke, NickosI Denny to lead their charge for victory. Despite the disparity in experience, Ann’s Grove is known for its production of strong, rugged defenders,
whose no nonsense approach is a real worry for opposing strikers. Among those whose task it will be to deny Santos’ offensive forays are Quincy Barry, Quincy Johnson, Anil Hernandez and Kevon Barry. In the preceding encounter, Western Tigers will no doubt be aiming to underline their status as one of the pre-tournament favourites with an emphatic performance. The enigmatic Randolph Wagner is the leader of the offensive pack and his role is to get goals for his side, while support should come from Dwayne McLennon, Joshua Britton, Daren Benjamin, Jamal Pedro and Rensford Coleridge. The Tigers backline will be led by the wily veteran Phillip Rowley, whose ability and knowledge of the game is second to none, while the supporting cast will include Cleon Forrester and Ryan Adolph. The visitors are coming off a disappointing loss in their previous engagement, but will obviously be looking for a more positive result this time around. Siblings Leonardo and Adrian Adams combined with the speed of Jamal Butts could be a handful for
the aging Tigers backline. The quality of their defence is not on par with the Tigers so goals are important. However, goalkeeper Jovano Dos Santos is regarded as a solid shot stopper and hopefully tonight is one of those occasions where his skill and ability all come together.
Starting time is 18:30hrs. The following day the competition goes to the National Track and Field Facility in Leonora where U i t v l u g t h o s t s Eagles United from 18:30hrs and Pouderoyen collide with Den Amstel at 20:30hrs. The final matches of Round One on January 28th
will pit Milerock against Northern Rangers and Winners Connection against Grove Hi-Tech, at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Bourda. The winner of each group will collect $100,000, while the respective finishers will be given $50,000, $30,000 and $20,000 each.
Winner of the event will receive $500,000 and a trophy, while the second, third and fourth placed teams 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 on board.
Bastia ban fan for monkey chants at Balotelli (Reuters) Bastia have banned a supporter who made monkey chants at Nice’s Italian striker Mario Balotelli during last Friday’s Ligue 1 match. The Corsican club said in a statement that the unnamed supporter, a season ticket holder in his 40s, had turned up at the Armand Cesari stadium on Tuesday and confessed to his actions. Bastia had put out an appeal for information on local television after reviewing broadcast images that picked out an individual making monkey chants during the warm-up. Balotelli posted a message on his Instagram page the day after leaders Nice drew 1-1, saying the incident was a “real shame”. “I have a question for French people...Is it normal that Bastia supporters make
monkey noise and ‘uh-uh’ for the whole game and noone of the “commissions discipline” say nothing?,” wrote the player, on loan from Liverpool this season. “So is racism LEGAL in France? Or only in Bastia?,” he added. “Football is an amazing sport...those people like Bastia supporters make it horrible.” The French League (LFP) has said it will investigate the incidents in its next disciplinary commission meeting on Thursday. It also sent footage from BeIN Sport TV channel, showing some Bastia fans racially abusing Balotelli, to its disciplinary commission. Bastia were docked two points by the LFP in the 2007-08 season after fans racially abused a Libourne St Serin player during a Ligue 2 game.
Mario Balotelli of Nice reacts before his match against Girondins Bordeaux. (REUTERS/Regis Duvignau)
t r o Sp Preview Regional Super50
Jaguars, Scorpions clash today Both teams look to rebound from first round defeats P.27
Shiv Chanderpaul, who spent Tuesday on the side lines nursing a ‘stiff neck’, will need to play a key role today.
West Indies spinner Bishoo proved expensive against Pride and here Kraigg Braithwaite hits him for one of the four sixes he conceded on Tuesday.
Bolt loses Olympic relay gold after Jamaica’s Carter tests positive P.27
Gold medalists (L - R) Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell of Jamaica pose during the medal ceremony for the men’s 4 x 100m relay final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. (REUTERS/Mike Blake (CHINA))
Serena Williams
P.25
Serena ousts Kontato set-up Lucic-Baroni reunion
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