Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

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Sunday January 27, 2019

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

TRUMP CAVED IN On Friday, President Trump caved under mounting pressure to end a 35-day-old U.S. government shutdown without getting the $5.7 billion from the U.S Congress to build a wall along the U.S-Mexico border. According to Trump the wall is intended to keep illegal immigrants and drugs out of the U.S. It matters not that the people across the border have discovered ingenious means to counter any wall. They are tunneling. The collapse of the position adopted by President Trump was an astonishing retreat. It came three days after he had vowed that “he will not cave.” The shutdown which began on December 22 was triggered by President Trump who was criticized by conservative commentators for signing legislation to fund policies without securing money to build the wall. With several polls showing that more than 60 percent of Americans blamed President Trump for the painful shutdown, the longest of its kind in U.S. history, Trump was forced to find a way out of the crisis. The surprise announcement was a remarkable surrender for a president whose tough talk during the shutdown has made the wall his nonnegotiable condition for ending the shutdown. The president’s concession paved the way for both the House and the Senate to pass a stopgap spending bill to restore normal operations at a series of federal agencies until February 15 and to pay the 800,000 federal workers who have worked without pay during the shutdown. The shutdown, which pitted Speaker Nancy Pelosi against President Donald Trump, was the Speaker’s first test since assuming the Speakership position in early January for the second time. Minority leader Chuck Schumer, the top democrat in the Senate, has said he hoped the experience would be a “lesson learned” for Trump and his party that it is selfdefeating to shut the government over policy disputes. True to their belief, democrats remained united and unyielding in their opposition to provide money for what they dubbed “Trump’s wall”, one of his signature campaign promises. However, Trump has stated that his about-face is in no way a retreat, but simply to stop the pain and suffering of the 800,000 furloughed Government employees and their families who were being hurt by the shutdown. The three-week agreement reached with congressional leaders was quickly passed by the Senate and the House without opposition and signed by Trump. It paved the way for the government to remain open in order for U.S lawmakers to address security along the U.S.Mexican border. But Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated plainly that any compromise would not include money for a new border wall, which democrats view as ineffective and overly costly. It has also made it possible for Mr.Trump to deliver his State of the Union address to Congress, which Ms. Pelosi had prevented him from doing during the shutdown. While President Trump offered no explanation for his surrender, it has affected the security forces in the country, including the FBI and the CIA. It took its toll on federal workers. But it reached a critical point on Friday after thousands of flights were grounded at several airports, including JFK, Philadelphia and Chicago as air traffic controllers reported sick. And despite his threat that the shutdown could resume on February 15 if he does not get funding for the wall, he has already adopted some of the language that democrats have used during the shutdown. He has conceded that he does not need 2,000 miles of concrete wall along the entire border. Instead, he could invoke the utility of drones and sensors, effectively could substituting for some physical barriers.

Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.

Jagdeo failed to remind that he closed down Wales estate and started the closure of LBI Dear Editor, Over the past two weeks I have had the time to recall the utterances of some of our politicians. Let me first start with the Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. At one of his recent meetings he disclosed that he will cause the re- opening of some of the closed sugar estates and give special assistance to the sugar workers. I had tried to convince myself that he was serious with the pronouncement, but I was unable to do so. Some/most politicians say most things just to attract votes but in this case reality has evaded Mr. Jagdeo. He failed to remind the listeners that it was his

government that closed down Wales estate and started the closure of the LBI estate. He also in his politically blinkered world ,failed to explain that the exorbitant cost of production would have been an albatross on the neck of the Guyanese economy. Secondly, in his pursuit for the re-opening of those closed estates, he had given no thought about the welfare of his constituents. The manual harvesting of cane is generally seen akin to slavery .In this agricultural mechanized world, why would parents condemn their children and grandchildren to live that way when farming is one of

the better options available? Is this a case of him wanting power and to hell with the voters? I can also recall the PPP spin doctor, Roger Luncheon, in his usual snail paced ,condescending diction, informing the public that NIS pensioners would have been unable to uplift their medications at the Brickdam office because it was too costly and that “ Cabinet had agreed to that decision.” That had severely impacted on the lives of pensioners living in the contiguous area of that office. The hypocrisy was exposed when money was found from the NI S coffers to invest in Clico and the

Berbice bridge. It was the same doctor of political spin who gave evidence in the High Courts of Guyana that no African Guyanese was qualified enough to work in any of our embassies worldwide. My heartiest laugh for the week was when Bharrat Jagdeo announced that he will be including more Afro Guyanese in his new government. By the way, I never knew that he was about to be in charge of the next government. I’m also reminded of an old Guyanese saying “jackass talking doan mean that jackass listening”. Orin Major

Sunday January 27, 2019

Kaieteur M@ilbox Politicians with dual citizenship cannot be trusted to defend our national interests DEAR EDITOR, The Charrandas Persaud Affair has highlighted Guyana’s very real constitutional crisis, namely, that in breach of the constitution, many politicians and presidential aspirants possess dual citizenship and are citizens of the so-called ABC countries. These politicians, regardless of which side of the political divide they find themselves, are all compromised. Their dual citizenship necessarily leads to an obvious conflict of interest. Since their patriotism is conflicted, they cannot be trusted to defend the national interests of Guyana. It is no wonder that they remain silent when the representatives of these imperial countries meddle in our domestic affairs, as though we are still a colony. Real patriots and nation-

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alists do not hold dual citizenship, nor do they negotiate contracts that allow rapacious and unscrupulous corporations such as ExxonMobil to plunder Guyanese resources. Real patriots and nationalists jealously and zealously protect the sovereignty, independence and natural resources of their country from imperial entities and corporate predators. It is time for true patriots to be at the helm of the national affairs of this land. Only then will Guyanese get the leadership they long for. Sincerely, Gerald A. Perreira Organization for the Victory of the People (OVP)

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Complicit is not in Jagdeo’s and the PPP’s vocabulary DEAR EDITOR, Many are aghast at the last moment withdrawal of three candidates in the central committee of the PPP which leave Nandlall and Ali to run for the nomination. More shocking was Ali’s victory, 24 to 9 votes. This is definitely not a reflection of the party’s supporters and it calls into question the relevance and ideals of the central committee in relation to the party’s grassroots base. The general consensus among the party’s loyalists, is that the PPP lost the 2015 general election on the basis of acute corruption. While Mr. Ali has been charged but never tried in a court for corruption there is a perception that he has been complicit. While corruption had ruled the roost in the past PPP regime, former President Jagdeo became the architect of the phrase “show me the evidence” to anyone who accuses him or anyone in his Government of corruption. The central committee should take the blame it shows that the elite (central committee) is not in touch with

the people who can make or break them. The decision to rerun Ramotar in 2015 for the presidency cost the PPP to lose an estimated 10,000 votes because that number of supporters could not stand the mediocrity of Ramotar and were angry with the party leaders. It was more than the margin required to win the election. It all happened because one strong man in the central committee wanted a puppet and the remainder lacked the testicular fortitude to stop him. Now history seems to be repeating itself for the PPP, the Jagdeo stranglehold on the central committee continues. Ramson (Jnr) or Frank Anthony would have done justice to the party and for supporters in their search for a flawless candidate, given that corruption is the most pressing national issue. It is difficult to see Nandlall getting nine votes squaring off against Irfaan’s 23, given the public support for Nandlall. There had to be some ghost whispering taking place in the Central Committe for that to happen. The general public sees Irfaan carry-

ing more baggage than Anil in painful ways. There is a general perception in the public domain that Irfaan was complicit in the cheap selling out of large swaths of state land to wealthy business persons under the pretext that these persons were to build homes and sell to the public. That did not happen and these persons are selling back house lots at exorbitant prices. In short, many are of the opinion that Irfaan deprived thousands of Guyanese from owning house lots in prime areas. I can picture Jagdeo screaming “where is the evidence” to the above! The word Complicit does not seem to exist in the Jagdeo’s vocabulary. The poor have no interest to prove anything to anyone, they know what they know and they will act on what they

know like Charrandass when the time comes. The diehard supporters will vote for anyone the party throws at them. Jagdeo seems to be inhibited by the perception that because the Coalition had done so poorly and the general populace is in a complaint mode, supporters will vote for any puppet thrown at them despite their baggage. In a scenario where corruption is seen as the ever present plague in society, a presidential candidate, perceived to be complicit in corruption will not appeal to proactive members of society, the proactive segment has grown considerably over the years. The proactives won’t mind gravitating to the third force. The central committee has outlive its relevance -compliments of Jagdeo. Rudolph Singh

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

This student’s death should galvanize the Education Ministry and religious leaders DEAR EDITOR, The recent death of the fifteen year old student by suicide should be a matter of concern for all of us. I often wonder in amazement at the death of our young people’s lives snuffed out so often by suicide, accidents, murders, drug overdose and alcoholism.I want to challenge us as a nation, particularly our young people, that we are born with a purpose to live. Purpose in theological terms simple means why do we exist in this world? What are our goals, visions and dreams? Where do we go from here when we die. Purpose can guide life decisions, influence behaviour, shape goals, offer a sense of direction, and create meaning. For some people, purpose is con-

nected to vocation—meaningful, satisfying work. For others, their purpose lies in their responsibilities to their family or friends. Others seek meaning through spirituality or religious beliefs. Some people may find their purpose clearly expressed in all these aspects of life. (Richard Leider)The untimely death of this young lady should motivate the Ministry of Education and religious leaders to do more in our schools among our young people including the University of Guyana. Psalms 118:17 - ‘’I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.’’ That is a very important Psalm. I believe it should be on our school doors and on every classroom wall. We are born with a purpose to live

and declare the works of God because we are created into the image of God. Ecclesiastes 7:17 New King James Version (NKJV) ‘’Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?’’ The wise man King Solomon writing here admonishing us not to be wicked nor foolish and ends with a question: ‘’Why should you die before your time?’’ When people are confused and frustrated also rejected they feel they can take their life just end it all, but they can kill their bodies but not their souls. Our souls are our true spiritual bodies that will stand before God on the day of judgement and those who commit suicide have no chance of salvation unless they repent before they die.

‘’For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.’’ (Ecclesiastes 12:14) Suicide is defined as intentionally taking one’s own life and comes from the Latin suicidium, which literally means “to kill oneself.” It tends to carry different traits depending on culture. Literally speaking, suicide, or completed suicide is the successful act of intentionally causing one’s own death. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death worldwide and rates of completed suicide are higher in men than women – with men up to four times more likely to kill themselves than women. The most cited risk factors for suicide include psychiatric disorders, genetics, sub-

stance abuse, and family and social situations. Oftentimes, psychiatric factors and substance abuse co-exist.(Quote from PSYCOM)I have had the privilege to counsel and pray for people contemplating murder and suicide and see them free with much prayers and counselling. While we mourn the death of this child from Mae’s school, it’s time we introduce religious studies into our school curriculum from Primary to University. It is God’s purpose and plan for us to live life to its full potential and don’t die before our time. (Psalm 91:16 King James

Version (KJV) ‘’With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.’’ It’s in God’s plan for us all to live a long life full of purpose and many blessings. I call on all of us to say Yes to Life and Not SUICIDE.I end this discourse with a quote from Shakespeare: ‘’This life, which had been the tomb of his virtue and of his honour, is but a walking shadow; a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.’’ William Shakespeare Regards, Rev.Dr.Gideon Cecil

A call to all Guyanese DEAR EDITOR, There has to be a metamorphosis in the thinking of the two major races in terms of the way they view their political leaders, both those who are in office and those who aspire for office. Both races have to face the harsh reality that politicians who do not have the country’s interests at heart, but who are bent on enriching themselves at the expense of the suffering working class, are detrimental to the welfare of all races in Guyana. We must not differentiate on the basis that ‘our leader is less evil than their leader’; evil is evil and a rotten fish stinks whether it is in one house or another. This type of thinking requires that we have to remove that insidious veil of tribalism and racism that have entered into the psyche of both races, and have created that fertile ground for greedy and corrupt politicians to grow and prosper. This will not be an easy task, but it will represent a pivotal turning point in the political process in Guyana. With this type of approach and thinking, people will begin to look for leaders on the basis of the content of their character and their capacity to serve the country and advance the welfare of all Guyanese, and not because of their race. Of course, we do not expect leaders to be flawless in character and virtue, but at a minimum, they must have a strong respect for truth and moral integrity, and a demonstrated commitment to public service without any ulterior motive or vested interests. The historical experience in Guyana has been that the ‘racial pattern of voting’ has always trumped any type of rational and objective thinking and analysis. The leaders that have emerged over the years know this very well, and almost all have been masters of manipulation, division, and exclusion. They know that they can violate all the rules and norms of good governance and financial propriety and they will always have that safety net of tribalism and racial voting to catapult them into high office.Well, the time has come for Guyanese to break this pattern. If a person votes for a presidential candidate, then it must be so on the basis of that candidate’s demonstrated performance and leadership, his/her capacity to serve in the best interests of all Guyanese, and to promote the growth and prosperity of Guyana, and at no time must his/her race or any other narrow affiliation enter into the equation. Voting for a presidential candidate is a serious matter, and there will be serious consequences for the people and the country when someone who does not have the character and the attributes to work for the welfare of all Guyanese, is propelled into that office. No emotional sentimentalism or show of blind loyalty to race or tribal interests must thwart the exercise of right thinking, objective judgement, and rational and impartial analysis. But all this is not enough. Those who oversee the electoral machinery must ensure that elections are fair, both in appearance and in substance. The integrity of the votes cast must be upheld and protected. There must be no interference, manipulation or substitution of valid votes cast. And this begins with the accurate and complete preparation of the electoral list of eligible voters, and sufficient time for the review and correction of this list. Also, the results of the elections must be made known in a timely manner, considering logistical and other unforeseen circumstances. It is also critical that the young people in Guyana play a more meaningful and impactful role in the political process. It seems that there is widespread discontent with the present crop of leaders. This offers both a challenge and an opportunity for the young people to articulate their position and agenda, and hopefully take on the mantle of leadership. This is the way forward for Guyana, and in living the spirit of our motto of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny.” Sincerely, Haimnauth [Cecil] Ramkirath

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Kaieteur News

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Decomposed body of farmer, 55,found in abandoned rice field Residents of Better Hope, Essequibo Coast, had the shock of their lives early yesterday morning, following the discovery of a decomposed body, which was found in an abandoned rice field some 40 feet from the main carriageway. The badly decomposed body was later identified as 55year-old Frederick Riley, a rice farmer who lived further south along the Essequibo Coast in the Dartmouth Village. Based on reports, the decomposed body was discovered by a 22-year-old resident who was attending to his cows in the backdam. One neighbour said, “The boy went going and tie the cow and he smell something stink. When he part the bush he see the dead man swell up so he comeback and tell everybody.”The police were called to the scene and the body was identified by a police officer, who happens to be a close relative of the deceased. Riley was last seen three Sundays ago at his Dartmouth home on the Essequibo Coast. Riley had indicated to his wife that day, that he was going to the Dartmouth Backdam to ‘shie’ fertilizer and regulate water for his field. Family members told this publication that the man did not return home the afternoon, and a report was made at the Anna Regina Police station the following day. The man’s wife added, “When he went missing the entire village come together and we search all over for him. We search the whole Dartmouth Backdam all the way to Sand Line.” Family members said that they were shocked when reports of the man’s decomposed body surfaced, especially since his body was found some four miles north east of the Dartmouth Backdam, which he had left for.Due to the decomposed state of the body, police indicated that it was difficult to determine whether there was any mark of violence. The body was taken to the Suddie parlor and is presently awaiting a post mortem examination.

“Guyana should not be overly dependent on oil and gas ”- says Prof. Brian Copeland From the expectations of oil and gas, it is highly recommended to Guyana that it implement measures and work towards not being overly dependent on the sector. Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Professor Brian Copeland, made this recommendation at the launching of two programmes by the University of Guyana (UG), on Friday. The programmes are geared towards filling the gap to prepare Guyanese to function in the oil and gas sector. One programme will lead to a Master’s degree in the oil and gas sector. The other will lead to an Associate degree. The courses would be pursued in conjunction with the University of the West Indies and the University of Trinidad and Tobago. He noted that the first graduates of these new programmes will be expected to offer solutions to the very real problems of Guyana and in doing so, address the many anticipated and expected challenges as the country transforms. Copeland suggested that in taking command of the emerging sector, Guyanese need to think of long-term, strategic and sustainable development. “The country should be careful to not create a society that is overly dependent on

Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Professor Brian Copeland the state for all of its needs.” He gave this caution as a reference to the infamous ‘Dutch Disease’ which is suffered by many countries worldwide through a reliance on natural resources. The Dutch Disease is an increase in the economic development of a specific sector and a decline in other sectors. Copeland also advised that persons can create business entities, even small ones, that in turn will help contribute to the country’s economy and more job areas for persons to push their education towards. “The national education system must ensure that it prepares citizens to (Continued on page 14 )

Dead: Frederick Riley

The location where the decomposed body was found

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Sunday January 27, 2019

UG introduces degree programmes in oil and gas At an official launch on Friday, The University of Guyana (UG) launched two degree programmes which are aimed at getting Guyanese ready to function in the oil and gas sector. The programmes are the Associate Degree in Science (Petroleum Engineering), which is being offered in collaboration with the University of the West Indies (UWI); and a Master’s Degree in Science (Petroleum Engineering),

which is being done in partnership with the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). . Vice-Chancellor of UG Professor Dr. Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith said, “We found it necessary to build partnerships to tap into the expertise of people who are in Guyana and out of Guyana.” “This programme is enabled to help us deal with some realities that we aren’t able to deal with ourselves.” According to him, the pur-

suit of partnerships will be more forthcoming as the university serves to meet the needs of the country—beyond oil and gas development. Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UWI, Professor Brian Copeland, posited that locals ought to position themselves to foster development in their country and contribute to the development of the Caribbean. “These degree

programmes are the first critical steps which would equip and encourage graduates to take responsibility to use their knowledge and expertise to ensure that there is accountability for Guyana’s natural resource.” In a recent forum hosted by the Energy Department, UG Registrar, Dr. Nigel Gravesande, informed young people about the programmes and also indicated that there were already 74 persons who

Professor Brian Copeland (L) and Professor Dr. Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith (R) would have signed up for them. Dr. Gravesande had stated that the Associate Degree will be a two-year, full-time programme of study in which a strong foundation in Mathematics, Physics, and fundamentals in Petroleum technology will be established during the first year of study. In the first semester of the first year, he emphasized that students will be required to complete a workshop skills training course to help them with the practical or hands on skills that will be required for the industry. In the second semester of

the first year, emphasis will be focused on the technical aspects of Petroleum Engineering. These include drilling, production, reservoir characterization, and management skills. All students will be required to complete a mandatory in-house industry project which will incorporate the knowledge gained from all the courses covered in the Associate Degree Programme. Once successful, the students can choose to move on to the Master Degree programme in Petroleum Engineering.

Death of Mae’s student… Cops release pharmacist who said he gave victim ‘Ecstasy’ -autopsy will be key aspect of probe Police have released a 20-year-old pharmacist who has reportedly admitted to providing the Mae’s Secondary School suicide victim with the ‘date rape’ drug, ‘Ecstasy.’ The youth, who is from a West Coast Demerara community and was the teen’s boyfriend, was released on $20,000 station bail yesterday. He has reportedly told investigators that he had occasionally given the sixth former ‘Ecstasy’ pills to distribute in her school.Kaieteur News understands that the relationship between the pharmacist and the 15-year-old began when she was 13. There are reports that the student had told close associates that she was introduced to ‘Ecstasy’ and other substances. Police said that an autopsy, which is expected to be performed Monday, will be a key aspect of their investigation. While it is suspected the 15-year-old had said she ingested ‘carbon tablets,’ blood samples were also taken to ascertain whether she ingested any other substances. Reports had surfaced last week that a student had ‘used a pill,’ but this has not proven. Further interrogation led to other names being called, but nothing was found on any students and none of them showed any signs of having used any prohibited substance. Kaieteur News understands that some of the teen’s relatives were made aware of the sixth-former’s relationship with a man who gave her “drugs” and also gave her ‘Ecstasy’ to sell in school.The girl’s parents had reportedly contacted an attorney about the matter. However, during a press conference on Thursday, a senior school official had stated that no ‘Ecstasy’ was found in the school. The 15-year-old is believed to have ingested a poisonous substance around noon on Thursday, shortly after distributing two suicide notes to her friends and teachers. It is alleged that during the lunch break, students observed the sixth-former vomiting and raised an alarm. She succumbed at the Woodlands Hospital. The Ministry of Education has since held counselling sessions for students of Mae’s Secondary.

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Guyana assessing targets for Rio Conventions

T

wenty-seven years ago, Guyana became a signatory to three conventions which has to do with the proper management of the environment. Known as the Rio Conventions, they are the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD). According to the Chairman of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Patrick Williams, Guyana signed onto these conventions at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in June 1992, and has certain obligations to meet in relation to the management of its environment. He said that Guyana has to report to the United Nations next year on its accomplishments with respect to each of the conventions. He said that a project called the National Capacity Self-Assessment is assisting Guyana with evaluating what it has accomplish, and the gaps that need to be fulfilled for the conventions. To aid with reaching the obligations of these conventions, the government is looking to launch, this year, the Environmental

Information Management and Monitoring System (EIMMS), which is a part of a larger project called the Strengthening Capacity for mainstreaming Rio Conventions into Environmental Management. Rather than create a new database, the EIMMS will set out to network existing databases, reconciling their content (in particular indicators) that serve to inform planners and decisionmakers about trends in meeting and sustaining global environmental outcomes.The EIMMS will strengthen the collection and management of data and information for improved monitoring. This includes the technical capacities to use data and information to create knowledge at both the national and sub-national level, with particular attention to decentralized planning and decision-making. According to Williams, each of the three conventions has a focal point agency which has overall responsibilities for its implementation. For example, the EPA is responsible for the implementation of UNCDB, the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GLSC) is in charge for the implementation of UNCCD, while the Office of Climate Change (OCC) is responsible for implementing UNFCC. “Those three agencies

Dem boys seh ...

De elections start without GECOM If people didn’t know dem woulda believe that de elections campaign begin already. Dem see photos of people in dem party colours. And no joke, de crowds big. People pick flower and mek garland fuh Fat Boy Irfaat. Dem boys remember de time when some of dem garland that de people mek had black ants. Some people did give Jagdeo one wid black ants. De man scratch like if there was no tomorrow. Dem always got couple wicked people in de mix. Somebody mek a garland wid stinging nettles fuh Soulja Bai. Wha save him is that one of ee bodyguards recognize de leaf. He woulda been scratching till now. But is nice to get a garland. It mean people like you and dem always showing dem love wid flowers. As far as dem boys concern, people should mek garland wid money, couple thousand dollar bills and nuff Granger. Guyana about to get nuff money from oil. People gun do like wha dem pork knock-

ers use to do in de bush. When dem strike gold some of dem use to go in a shop and buy out de shelf. That mean that dem buy everything . Nobody else can’t buy. All dem can do is drink. Dem days coming back. Only this time is oil. Jagdeo done tell de cane cutters that dem don’t have to worry. He gun open dem sugar factory and all dem got to do is go and sit down and wait fuh pay. He gun get people to walk round and share out de oil money. Dem gun be de glory days.But dem boys want to know if he gun be sharing out so much money how much he gun keep. He got a big small piece already. And nobody don’t give way nutten and don’t tek fuh demself. That is why Jagdeo want to deh in de thick of things. He don’t trust Fat Boy Irfaat. And de poor Chat-3 can only hope that if ee party win he gun be Attorney General again. Talk half and watch how de elections start just suh.

have overall responsibility for ensuring that Guyana work towards meeting its obligations to those conventions,” Williams added.Dr. Williams disclosed that the kind of setup being touted for the EIMMS is one whereby it will be accessible by a username and password and one will only be able to retrieve highly confidential information with authorization from the head of

respective agencies. It is also being touted that a small subscription fee will be charged to offset maintenance of the database. He went on to explain that the central system will be within the Department of Environment, and the other agencies that have their own data systems, will be subsystems. It was disclosed by the Board Chairman that the

Department of Environment will be responsible for storage, retrieval, updating and management of the data system. Right now, the Department of Environment is working on legislature so that it will be able to collect certain information, as is being done by the Bureau of Statistics and the National Data Management Authority (NDMA).

EPA Chairman Patrick Williams

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Jaipaul Sharma: No such thing as a no-confidence motion in the Constitution A sitting minister of the Government is convinced that the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland, erred by allowing a motion of noconfidence to be debated on December 21st. That motion was carried after Charrandass Persaud, an Alliance For Change (AFC) parliamentarian said

yes, and has since created headaches for the Coalition Government, including early elections. According to Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma, the Speaker erred because the Constitution never catered for a no-confidence motion but rather a confidence motion.

“I want to show you that there is a definition for a Vote of Confidence and it must be brought by the government.” According to Article 106 (6), on the issue of the motion, “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all

the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.” Yesterday, the minister, who is representing the Justice For All Party (JFAP) on the Coalition Government, said during his Voice of the People programme that Article 106 was placed in the Constitution by Amendment 17/2000 during the constitutional reform process.

Minister Jaipaul Sharma “So it was not in the original 1980 Constitution so it was not properly thought out but it makes perfect sense because in protecting the sitting government…” “The Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, while he was president was the one who assented to the amendment

but he used it incorrectly and the Speaker accepted i t . ” The vote by MP Persaud has raised questions over the interpretations of the Constitution. Issues of dual citizenship and the way MPs are supposed to vote are now being debated.

IMF to have fixed petroleum team at GRA GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia

A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which specializes in petroleum taxation and audits will be housed at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) for two years. According to GRA’s Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia, the team of analysts gets started on February 1. He said that the funding for this exercise is made possible through the IMF and the British. Since its first report to the Government about two years ago, the IMF has said that GRA should be the single revenue collection agency for the petroleum sector. The Fund contends that this is a reasonable decision given the key role played by the PSA and the pay-on-behalf arrangement for corporate income tax in existing contracts (where the contractor’s income tax obligations are settled from the government’s share of the profit oil). The Fund had also noted that the Petroleum Industry Taxpayer Unit attached to the large taxpayer office in the GRA should be prioritized. It said that this effort is supported by a peripatetic advisor from the US Treasury office of technical assistance. The Fund said it will be important for this unit to start verifying and undertaking audits of cost incurred during the exploration and development phase, which is getting underway now. The financial organization also said it would be advantageous to establish close working relations between the GRA and the sector regulators (Ministry of Natural Resources, Guyana Geology and Mining Commission and the prospective Petroleum Commission) to ensure that the limited petroleum sector expertise in government is applied most efficiently. (KIANA WILBURG)

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Sunday January 27, 2019

Fix existing oil contracts; hold off on drafting Model PSA - Dr. Mangal urges

By Kiana Wilburg In spite of the advice being offered by institutions

such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), former Petroleum

Advisor to Government, Dr. Jan Mangal, strongly contends that Guyana

should not be distracted with drafting a new model Production Sharing

Agreement (PSA). In his view, this move makes no sense since there are hardly any blocks left to give out. He argues instead, that the authorities of the day should refocus their energies in the direction of fixing existing agreements so that Guyana can get more value for its resources. Dr. Mangal said, “All of this talk about new PSAs is really a red herring because there are hardly any blocks left. The only major block out there of interest is Block C, and that is extremely deep water. The previous government awarded the Canje and the Kaieteur Blocks already, as well as others. “So this talk of ‘Oh well we kind of missed the boat with the Stabroek Block but in the future we will do the PSA so we can get it right with the remaining blocks and do better,’ is really just a red herring.” The Oil and Gas Consultant continued, “This is because all the oil and value for Guyana might end up being in the Stabroek Block or the adjacent blocks already awarded with unfair awful terms. “So when the government, US state and international bodies like the IMF says let’s focus on getting better agreements in the future, it just does not make sense for Guyana.” The former Government Advisor added, “Let’s not waste too much time being distracted with a new model PSA for future agreements (since this is an easy task and not a priority), but instead, let us focus on the existing agreements and revisit those so we can get more value out of those.” Dr. Mangal noted however that the government, current and past, seems scared to do this. He said that policymakers continually raise the issue of sanctity of contracts but in the extractive sector, these contracts are always revisited so there is no sanctity of contracts. THE BIGGEST BANG Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe, had told Kaieteur News that his office will be revising Guyana’s model Production Sharing Agreement to ensure the country gets the “biggest bang for its buck.” Dr. Bynoe had said, “We currently have a PSA and it is what we used in the case of Exxon. We want to ensure we review that in its entirety because there will be things that will need tweaking and that goes without saying. The

Former Petroleum Advisor to Govt., Dr. Jan Mangal idea is to have a model PSA which is more contextual to our current reality and where we are going.” The official added, “That model PSA, once it is in place would be looked at by the Department (continuously) and it will be applied and tweaked where necessary.” D r. B y n o e h a d a l s o sought to stress that the PSA would not be a onesize-fits-all approach. He said that there would be times when it will need to be amended depending on the context of the situation that obtains. “What I am saying is that it will depend on the context of the situation.” Dr. Bynoe had added, “What we are interested in ensuring is that Guyana gets maximum returns on its resources and that those resources or the benefits derived there from would redound to Guyana. The entire focus is to ensure we are getting the biggest bang for the buck.” JORDAN AGREES Finance Minister, Winston Jordan is also of the view that the existing template for Production Sharing Agreements must be revised. He made this position quite clear during his reading of budget 2018. The Finance Minister had said that the discoveries by ExxonMobil have de-risked the basin and has resulted in the significant ramping up of exploration activities in other already-allocated off-shore blocs. In light of the discoveries, the economist said that the Government also anticipates significant interest in exploring the unallocated blocs of Guyana’s de-risked, off-shore basins. As such, the Finance Minister said it is imperative that the Government safeguard the rights of the nation to a fair share of resource wealth.

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A PPP Govt. will not allow BaiShanLin to return - Jagdeo Reports were that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government allowed an Asian company, BaiShanLin International Forest development Inc. to have its way. BaiShanLin was given concession agreements to bring in many and almost everything under the sun. It gained control over very large portions of land, all under the PPP/C.When the APNU+AFC government took office, things got tough for the company. A Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) with a new Board, took a stern hand with the company and it was now expected to follow the rules. After not fulfilling some very key obligations, and in accordance with the recommendation of a forensic audit, GFC repossessed all of BaiShanLin’s concessions. Also, the company had to en-

ter into an agreement with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to pay billions owed but never lived up to its end of the bargain. In the face of looming elections, PPP has been speaking of many of the actions of the APNU+AFC government that it will overturn. For instance, PPP said that it will reopen all the GuySuCo estates that APNU+AFC closed despite the lack of any plan to stop the financial haemorrhage.At a recent press conference, PPP’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo was asked if repossession of BaiShanLin concessions would be reversed if his party regains political power. Jagdeo said, “I gather they have already lost the lease and stuff like that. It is with new people and once that is transparently done we do not have a problem with it.”

Jagdeo also recalled BaiShanLin “had a contract with GRA that they did not honor. So if the actions were taken consistently with that contract, they have to face the consequences.” Jagdeo continued, “We had a contract with BaiShanLin…they were supposed to fulfill some deliverables if they did not fulfill those deliverables this government stands to do what it did.” While officially BaiShanLin is supposed to have aborted all operations in Guyana, reports are that some officials in the company continued small scale operations even after the concessions were repossessed. Up to last year, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, denied that the company is behind the continued logging on the former concessions.

”BiShanLin is not doing anything, but from time to time people raid the concessions and you may see a truck or so coming out from one of them, but the company itself is not operating,” Trotman stated.An investigation was launched after reports surfaced in February that employees of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) had stopped trucks that bore the company’s logo, transporting logs.They found Wamara logs on the trucks. Checks reportedly found some discrepancies in the paperwork. The tags on the logs reportedly came from the Kwakwani Natural Resource Organisation (KNRO) but the logs were later traced to a concession that used to be controlled by the Chinese company. Trotman who appeared before the Parliamentary Com-

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo mittee on Natural Resources said that there are plans to redistribute the concessions to local loggers. Since, half of the concessions were redistributed and half went to conservation purposes. BaiShanLin grew in prominence after 2010, with its forestry company said to be co-owned by the Government of China. With its original intentions to capitalize on forestry activities, BaiShanLin received unlimited concessions on vehicles, equipment, building materials and other tax breaks from the then Government. In return, the company promised to open a large wood processing plant on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. It received almost US$70M from the China Development Bank. However, the company appeared to have got too ambitious. There was talk that it was protected. It went into housing, buying 100 acres of prime housing lands at Providence, East Bank Demerara, and paying hundreds of millions of dollars for the incomplete Cacique Hotel in the same area. BaiShanLin opened several companies signaling interest in shipbuilding, auto repairs, river transportation and a host of other activities. A showroom at Providence remains incomplete and there were accusations that the company was using materials imported under its duty free concessions to supply the local market. Steel was one such c o m m o d i t y . The company was even accused of burning up a large patch of forest in Berbice and

attempting to cover it up. There were also accusations that it was logging in areas that were for exploration. Shortly after taking office, the Coalition Government appointed a new board at GFC, chaired by Jocelyn Dow. The board seized the forest concessions of BaiShanLin, including some it had acquired under questionable joint venture means. In all, BaiShanLin had grown to be one of the biggest holders of State forests in Guyana. There was evidence that little was done to curtail its activities here, many of them illegal.Just recently, BaiShanLin again hit the news, after it was discovered that despite its forestry concessions being taken away by GFC, the company was illegally working its trucks and equipment in Berbice.GFC seized a truck of logs reportedly illegally harvested from a Berbice concession once under the control of BaiShanLin. That matter is under investigation. Authorities like GFC and the Guyana Revenue Authority have been attempting to collect millions of dollars from the company in taxes and royalties. However, there are few assets that can be found. It appears that some of the equipment, including excavators and trucks, was shifted to gold mining concessions now controlled by principals of the company. BaiShanLin owes some $80M to the commission, but also has a larger debt to settle with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

“Guyana should not be ... From page 7 successfully function in the world of the future and nurtures a strong culture of innovation and entrepreneurship,” he said. While addressing the burning issue where graduates face the challenge of being employed in job positions that are below their academic experience the Professor said, “We strongly believe that these students should be motivated and supported to apply their expertise and inventive talents to the foundation and development of their own enterprises.” In Guyana’s case, he stressed that innovation-driven entrepreneurship, societal transformation and economic transformation must be a high priority, since the country will have oil as a major income earner. “To whom much is given, much is expected,” he said.

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City Hall prosecutor who testified before COI banished to guard incinerator Ranks of the City Constabulary of the Mayor and City Councillors (M&CC) are asking the Local Government Commission (LGC) to investigate a clear case of victimization of one of their own.Lance Corporal Quacey Baveghems was reportedly sent to provide security services to the M&CC’s Princes Street incinerator compound. In that compound are several old trucks and other equipment. The guard hut that Baveghems was relegated to is a small affair. It would have been a major step-down for a man who once prosecuted scores of cases for the M&CC and who bravely testified last year before the COI headed by Justice (Ret’d) Cecil Kennard. His testimony would have been crucial to the findings of the COI which called for a number of M&CC officials to be penalized and investigated for possible criminal charges.

According to insiders, Baveghems was sent off one week after he testified in October. He has reportedly since asked to meet the new mayor, Ubraj Narine, to reverse the posting. The prosecutor had been with the City Council for 12 years, serving in different capacity including heading the Traffic Management Unit and AntiCrime Unit.Baveghems came to limelight last year after he reported a senior Constabulary official for sexual abuse of a teen prisoner.However, he was sacked by a City Hall official who was under fire for several things. The rank had accused Clifton Pellew of sexual assault. Pellew is before the courts.Baveghems allegedly stumbled on to Pellew during the act with the teen and reported it to the Chief Constable Andrew Foo. He submitted a statement. Pellew was eventually dismissed. Shockingly, so too

Businessman charged with attempted murder A businessman who is accused of stabbing another man several times about his body was charged and released on $400,000 bail on an attempted murder charge. Thirty-one-year-old Brenton Charles, of Moruca, North West District, was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that on January 23, last, at Kamaka Market Area, in the Essequibo Magisterial District, with intent to commit murder, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Kenrick Henry. Charles appeared before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Marcus-Isaacs in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. He was represented by Attorney-at-Law Trenton Lake who in a successful bail application told the court that at the time of the incident, his client was merely acting in self-defence. The lawyer added that on the day of the incident, his client was at his business place when he was confronted by the victim who began to use abusive language towards him. Lake told the court that his client went into his shop for his safety and stayed there until the victim left the compound. He added that his client then ventured outside to remove a piece of cloth that the victim had placed on a camera that is situated at the side of the business place. The court heard while Charles was in the process of removing the piece of cloth, he was once again confronted by the victim who by then was armed with an object and dealt him several cuffs and kicks about his body. The lawyer argued that his client in an attempt to defend himself, pulled out an object from his pants pocket and dealt the victim several stabs about his body. The lawyer went on to tell the court that even after the victim would have received several stabs about his body, he still managed to attack his client, which caused his client to run to the Station for safety.However, Police Prosecutor Adduni Inniss, in addressing the court, stated that on the day in question, the two had an altercation and the businessman became annoyed and dealt the victim several stabs about his body with an object. The Prosecutor added that the CCTV footage obtained from the businessman’s shop showed the defendant being the aggressor. He said that the defendant was on top of the victim inflicting the stab wounds. The victim was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to the Suddie Hospital where he was admitted. Prosecutor Inniss made serious objections to bail being granted to the defendant citing that the victim’s injuries are life threatening. She added based on the serious nature of the offence and the penalty the charge attracts if bail is granted to the defendant, he might not return to court for the trial.The Magistrate after listening to both sides released Charles on $400,000 bail. Condition of the bail is that he reports every Friday to the Aquaro Police Station until the hearing and determination of the trial. He was also instructed to stay 100 feet away from the victim. The businessman is expected to make his next court appearance on January 31 for statements.

was Baveghems. Pellew was later reinstated and sent on administrative leave. Baveghems was eventually returned to duty. He later testified to the

COI that ranks were forced to buy their own uniforms. He also complained that dues for the National Insurance Scheme and tax deductions were not being

The Princess Street incinerator area what the prosecutor was sent to guard.

remitted.Last week, the Local Government Commission sacked Town Clerk, Royston King, as part of the recommendations of the COI findings.

Banished: Quacey Baveghems

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Sunday January 27, 2019

Leprosy among children more than doubled last year – Ministry -Ministry on mission to reduce associated stigma and discrimination

Dr. Morris Wilson in conversation with Minister Volda Lawrence and school children at the Leprosy exhibition.

Local statistics available at the Ministry of Public Health suggest that children with leprosy more than doubled last year. In fact of the 67 new cases of leprosy, six percent were children.This was announced by Senior Minister of Public Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence, as she addressed the opening of an exhibition to launch World Leprosy Day at the Kingston, Georgetown Umana Yana. According to Minister Lawrence, although the figure dipped last year, falling to 49 new cases, the percentage of children infected climbed to 14, which has been especially troubling for the Ministry. “We have a serious cause for concern. A significant percentage of our children are at risk of this disease, and hence it is imperative that we boldly endorse this year’s theme through education and heightening of public awareness so that all those afflicted by the disease can be encouraged to seek medical assistance before disabilities and deformities become visible,” Minister Lawrence shared. The 67th annual World Leprosy Day was observed this year under the theme ‘Ending Discrimination, Stigma and Prejudice’. This prompted Minister Lawrence to charge Guyanese to help “destroy the myths about the disease and pull down barriers of stigma and discrimination and spread the important message that leprosy can be treated and cured with antibiotics once discovered in the early stages.” Globally, 30 persons are diagnosed with leprosy every hour. The figure is less depressing in Guyana with almost six per month in 2017 [67] and slightly more than four [49] in 2018 contracted the contagious ailment, Leprologist Dr. Holly Alexander said.Dr. Alexander lauded the dedication of the Ministry, led by Dr. Heather Morris-Wilson, Director of the government’s Leprosy Control Programme, in fighting the disease. The infectious aliment has moved “to the front burner,” Dr. Alexander said, reminding the audience that lepers can still live “highly productive lives.” Worrying, too, is that fact that persons affected with leprosy have a higher prevalence of psychiatric problems than the general population of patients with other diseases. Minister Lawrence reminded that depression can “reinforce feelings of social exclusion, interfere with work and daily life, reduce social interaction and lead to further isolation and in severe cases can lead to suicide.” “The depression may also lead to, or accentuate, a lack of self-care, low self-esteem, strong negative feelings of guilt, self-doubt, anguish, fear and sadness which can impact on the patient’s mental health which can worsen impairments,” Minister Lawrence said. The global leprosy agenda is to eliminate the disease at the sub-national despite the myriad challenges, PAHO/WHO representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow, said in his presentation. According to Dr. Adu-Krow, obstacles include limited impact on transmission of leprosy, continued delay in detecting new patients and persisting discrimination against people affected by leprosy are among the most frequent. To help address those challenges, the Global Leprosy Strategy 2016-2020 ‘Accelerating towards a leprosy-free world’, and endorsed by the WHO Technical Advisory Group, centres on three major pillars, through strengthening government ownership and partnerships; ensuring accountability by strengthening monitoring and evaluation in all endemic countries in order to objectively measure progress; and promoting inclusivity by stopping discrimination through establishing and strengthening partnerships with all stakeholders, including persons or communities affected by the disease, Dr. Adu-Krow related.Poisoned attitudes and leprosy have survived together for millennia, pointed out Dr. Morris-Wilson in her welcoming remarks. “Lepers are often excluded, and their human rights violated.”Internationally, 37 percent of people affected by leprosy believe the disease affects their right to work and a staggering 55 percent believe that the disease is frequently used as grounds for ending their marriages. Making matters worse for them “there are also an unbelievably 157 laws in place that discriminate against people affected by leprosy,” Dr. Morris-Wilson said. Guyanese acceptance of people suffering with leprosy “must be complete if we want to fight against stigma, discrimination and prejudice,” Minister Volda Lawrence said. At the population level it is essential that the acceptance of persons with leprosy be long-term and one that is based on knowledge about the disease to reduce stigmatising attitudes…by enlightening the general public, especially shopkeepers and workplace managers who are frequently in contact with leprosy patients, could be an effective way of intervention,” Lawrence added.

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For a change, the PPP is being outmaneuvered by the Coalition Finally, one gets the sense that the PPP is being outmaneuvered by the Coalition. Since the passage of the no-confidence motion, there has been a war of attrition between the two political giants. One is intent on going to elections as quickly as possible while the other is bent on frustrating such as a move. It is obvious to any keen political observer that the government was caught off guard by the No-Confidence Vote (NCV) and that exiting office at this point would derail its plan to use government as an electioneering tool in the homestretch to the 2020 election. This is a tactic used by most governments. But, given the fact that the Coalition has been harshly criticized by its own constituency for not delivering to them, it is one that is especially crucial to their fortunes at the next election. On the other hand, it is clear that the PPP is rearing to go to the polls as early as possible. That party has obviously figured that it has the Coalition on the ropes. The governing parties are still reeling from the twin setback of defeat at the Local Government Election (LGE) and by the passage of the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly. The inability to inspire its supporters to turn out for the LGE means that the Coalition has to go to them with a fresh message of accomplishment and hope—something that it needs more time to construct. But the PPP is flush with confidence and its supporters are already in electoral mode. So it is not surprising that nothing that the Coalition has done or said since December 21 gives the impression that it is eager to hit the campaign trail. Apart from informally saying that President Granger would be its standard bearer whenever the elections are held, there is no hint of traditional electioneering from the

Coalition. But make no mistake, the government is campaigning very hard. As the de-facto government, the strategy seems to be to use the government as the medium to impress the electorate that the Coalition should be returned to office. We are now being treated to almost daily announcements of government initiatives which are targeted to select constituencies. There seems to be a concerted attempt to answer some of the concerns of government supporters. In this regard, the PPP appears to be politically helpless. While the PPP has been reduced to making promises to the electorate, the Coalition is using government to deliver on some of its promises. But more importantly, the Coalition has been using two avenues to slow down the process. First, by going to the courts to review the NCV, the Coalition has in effect slowed down the transition to elections. I have reluctantly gone along with the right to judicial review, largely because I see nothing that constitutionally denies that right. I say reluctantly, because although it is a legal right, the political optics are not necessarily in the Coalition’s favour. Twist it or turn it, both the Coalition and PPP supporters read the move to the courts as delay tactics, albeit for different reasons. Government supporters see it as brilliant politics— using legitimate means to get back at the PPP’s attempt to derail the government before its term is up. But, it is the PPP and its supporters’ contention that the court cases are meant as a move to remain in office that the Coalition has a hard time denying. The case to the PPP constituency is made within the context of the old, anti-democratic praxis of the PNC—a narrative that has tremendous currency in the PPP’s constituencies. While the Coali-

tion could ignore what the traditional PPP voters think, it should not do the same with regard to the thinking of many independents, particularly among the middle and professional classes. Many in this section of the electorate are apparently uncomfortable with the notion of using the courts to remain in office illegally. And as I have repeatedly argued, this group was critical to the Coalition’s fortunes in 2015, and would be equally critical at the next election. The Chief Justice has said that she would give her verdicts by the end of the month. If the verdicts are in the Coalition’s favour, the PPP would be sure to appeal to the higher courts, which would then give the Coalition more time in office. But it would then be able to put the blame on the PPP for the delay. If the verdicts go against the Coalition, it also has the option of appeal. But given the political optics I discussed above, it would be interesting to see if they would pursue that option. I think that that would depend on what transpires at the next theatre of contention—GECOM. The Coalition has found another lifeline at an institution that is at the heart of Guyana’s electioneering. The President got Jagdeo to agree to formally put the ball in GECOM’s court—a decision that I am sure the latter now regrets. The PPP no longer has the political clout at that institution. The Coalition’s commissioners have made a compelling case for a new round of house-tohouse registration—an area that the PPP has traditionally championed. I don’t see how the PPP can prevent that process—the most it can do is strike a compromise to reduce the length of time it would take. In the end, the Coalition would get the extension it politically needs. I don’t think there would be elections within the stipulated 90 days.

The Baccoo Speaks There is going to be increased police action in the wake of a shooting. A gunman is going to try his luck in the city after an individual had left a commercial bank. There would be an accomplice but the traffic would be a hindrance. One would be caught. ** More focus would be placed on a city hospital. An expectant mother would develop complications, but

there would be no doctor. Panic would step in among the staff and in the end a midwife would undertake the delivery.

However, the baby would be in distress and there would be calls for an investigation. ** Another road accident would have people wondering whether the licensing process is actually working. An unqualified driver would proceed on a joy ride that would end disastrously. He would strike a cyclist, leave the car and flee the scene.

MR. JAGDEO’S AFRICAN GUYANESE INITIATIVE I have mixed feelings about Mr. Jagdeo’s intention to include more African Guyanese in the PPP. On the one hand, one must welcome any serious move by one of our major parties to reach across the ethnic divide. There is always a place for such initiative if they are guided by sincerity and a real concern for improved race relations. Any party is free to campaign in any community and to make a pitch for votes. And in that regard the PPP’s initiative should be welcomed. But I am afraid that given Mr. Jagdeo’s track record in this regard, I am very skeptical. In the past the PPP’s outreach to African Guyanese has amounted to “ethnic window dressing”, something that has not contributed to national unity. In Mr. Jagdeo’s case, his regime’s policies, which were grounded in ethnic domination, have left lasting scars on the African Guyanese collective psyche. It was not just the bias towards the PPP’s traditional base that was cause for concern, but it was the way in which the State in conjunction with the so called “phantom” forces were systematically used to directly and indirectly crush the soul and the spirit of African Guyanese. A few experiences are worth remembering. The use of the police at Linden during the crisis brought about by the PPP’s attempt to remove an economic subsidy is still very fresh in our minds. We remember the government’s response to the Buxton scenario that did not just punish the politico-criminal gangs, but criminalized and assaulted an entire community

and beyond. We remember how the PPP used the State and other institutions to embed fun and frolic in the African Guyanese community, rather than introduce serious policies aimed at economic and cultural empowerment. We remember the PPP ignoring the wishes of the African Guyanese cultural leadership and unilaterally making decisions on sensitive cultural issues like the 1823 monument. But I wish to remind that community that the PPP has never apologized to African Guyanese for those infractions and sought to compensate them. I am on record of calling on the Coalition to apologize to African Guyanese for not following through on campaign promises. I hold the PPP to the same standard. Until that party acknowledges its past misdeeds and puts on the table real policies aimed at dealing with the ethnic imbalance in the economy, I would not take its outreach to African Guyanese seriously. There are serious structural problems in the African Guyanese community that are unique to that community, some of which are historical and some which were directly and indirectly caused by the policies of the Jagdeo regime. What African Guyanese want are initiatives aimed at bringing about ethnic equality of opportunity. Let Mr. Jagdeo tell us how he intends to deal specifically with those unique problems that are grounded in the ethnic imbalance that he exacerbated. He must tell African Guyanese how he intends to close the gap in key areas of the economy. He must say categorically where he and the PPP stand on Executive Power Sharing with the rep-

Dr. David Hinds resentatives of African Guyanese. He must vow that the State would never be used again to physically and economically assault African Guyanese youth. He must vow that the State would not be used again to bribe African Guyanese to become PPP enforcers. He must vow not to use the State again to turn African Guyanese youth into chronic party animals. Regarding those African Guyanese who may be tempted to join the PPP ticket at the top, I wish to remind that that approach has never yielded any rewards for the African Guyanese community. Those recruits end up representing themselves and eventually becoming diehard PPP members. In ethnic societies like ours, the tactic of one group choosing leaders for the opposite group has never worked. The PPP would be better advised to seek a lasting political solution with the representatives of African Guyanese in the form of a National Government. More of Dr. Hinds’ writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his website www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.news. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com

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Sunday January 27, 2019

The man in the shallow grave off the highway - Finally, what some say is the real truth behind the kidnapping and execution of Islamic cleric Mohamed Hassan Ibrahimi By Michael Jordan Now that the guns are silent, now that the period that some call the ‘crime wave,’ and others call ‘the troubles’ are long over; and now that some key players have been permanently ‘erased’ from the picture, I can finally lift the veil on what some say happened to Mohamed Hassan Ibrahimi 15 years ago. Ibrahimi, an Islamic cleric from Iran, arrived in Guyana in 2002 and established the International Islamic College for Advanced Studies, located at Lot 42 B United Nations Place in Georgetown. He was also the school’s Director. But he did more than that. Ibrahimi was of the Shia sect. This is said to be a minority Islamic sect, which one source said would “hold strongly to their views.” According to persons close to him, Ibrahimi was attempting to bring Guyanese individuals into the Shia Muslim sect. His organization began carrying out charitable work in mainly impoverished communities around Guyana, including areas of Linden, and on the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara. One day in 2003, Ibrahimi turned up at the Kaieteur News. He was drenched in blood and explained that he had been robbed. At the time, Guyana was in the throes of unspeakable violence and that attack was soon forgotten. At around 22:30 hrs on Friday, April 2, 2004, Mohamed Ibrahimi stepped out of his college. The scholar was accompanied by an employee, Raymond Halley. The two men entered Ibrahimi’s white Toyota Carina and the cleric was about to drive off

The International Islamic College for Advanced Studies when two men, brandishing assault rifles, blocked their path. Ibrahimi and Halley raised their hands in surrender and the gunmen opened fire, riddling the car with bullets and wounding Halley in the right foot. The assailants then dragged the terrified Ibrahimi out of his vehicle and forced him into a dark-coloured car, which was parked nearby. Slamming the doors shut, they then raced away east into Brickdam. Within hours of the daring abduction, ranks from the police force’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad had launched a search for the missing cleric. Ibrahimi’s associates also began their own efforts to locate him. Muslim groups scoured various sections of Georgetown and the East Coast of Demerara. But not a trace of the Iranian was found. One thing soon became clear. Money was not the

motive for the kidnapping, since the abductors made no ransom demand. Speculation was rife as to who was behind Ibrahimi’s disappearance. Was it the notorious gunmen who were hiding out in Buxton and Agricola? If so, why was there no ransom demand? Was it the work of the feared ‘phantom’ gang that had sprung up during the crime wave? If so, what did the ‘phantoms’ want with an Iranian cleric? On Friday, April 9, 2004, a week after the abduction, police received a tip about his possible whereabouts. The information indicated that Ibrahimi was being held against his will at a private school building in the city. Ranks from the Anti-Kidnapping Squad cordoned the area and entered the premises where students were preparing for exams. Although they found no trace of Ibrahimi, the

ranks detained the principal, his deputy, and about four other staff members. They were all released after intense questioning. The arrests and the police search sparked outrage in certain quarters. The days passed and the trail grew colder. I was at work at around 21:00 hrs on Tuesday, May 4, 2004, when someone telephoned me. The caller disclosed that police had located a two-and-a-half-feet-deep grave some 400 yards off the St. Cuthbert’s trail and about three-and-a-half miles in from the Soesdyke/Linden highway. The victim, a man, had been placed face down, his mouth and hands were ducttaped and he had been shot twice in the forehead. The victim was dressed in a black jersey beneath a plaid shirt and a pair of brown trousers. These were the same clothes that Ibrahimi was wearing when he was kidnapped. The following day, police allowed Abdul Kadir, a former parliamentarian and close associate of the missing cleric, to view the body. After viewing a silver cap on the lower jaw, a finger ring, and the victim’s clothing, Kadir informed police that the dead man was indeed Mohamed Hassan Ibrahimi. Detectives believe that Ibrahimi’s kidnappers executed him about three days after he was abducted. The investigators believed that the cleric’s captors forced him to walk through the trail until he reached the spot where he was executed. But according to police, no bullet casings or warheads were recovered. Reports at the time indicated that about three weeks before the discovery, a resident from the predominantly Amerindian area was walking along a trail when he spotted

Mohamed Hassan Ibrahimi a strange, dark-coloured pickup with what appeared to be bloodstains. According to this report, he approached the vehicle with a view to getting a drop, but the pickup sped away. The man then saw what appeared to be a shallow grave nearby. He reportedly pushed a stick into the ground. It was covered with blood when he pulled it out. He reported the matter to his Village Captain, but there was no immediate report to the police. A few weeks later, the police got word of what had transpired and attempted to locate the captain and witness. Investigators immediately suspected that the grave contained the body of the abducted Iranian cleric, since the vehicle the witness saw, appeared to be similar to one that was seen parked outside the International Islamic College when Ibrahimi was kidnapped. In response to the gruesome discovery, the Iranian government sent four detectives to Guyana to assist in the investigations. They visited the murder scene, but, like the local cops, they found nothing. The case, like so many others, remained cold. So, what was the motive for this gruesome killing. Who were the individuals who orchestrated it? This is what I have been told. Remember I said that Ibrahimi was attempting to woo Guyanese into his sect? Remember I said that he was doing charitable work in some communities?

Well, I am told that those communities included Albouystown. Agricola, and Buxton. Remember, that was the time of the ‘crime wave’, or ‘the troubles,’ and some of the gunmen behind those ‘troubles’ inhabited Agricola and Buxton. It is alleged that some individuals were concerned that the Iranian cleric was aiding these gunmen. They sought information on Ibrahim. They were reportedly told that Ibrahim had no criminal intent. All he was interested in was conducting charitable work and bringing converts to his branch of Islam. It is believed that individuals, reportedly still fearful that Ibrahimi was aiding the gunmen, decided to take him out of the picture. Shortly after individuals began checking into his background, unknown gunmen abducted and executed him, and buried the unfortunate man face-down in an unmarked grave off the highway. Those who suggest this was Mohamed Ibrahimi’s fate have also suggested that ‘lady karma’ visited some of the main planners, not long after. If you have any information on any baffling incidents or unsolved murders, please write to us at our Lot 24 Saffon Street Charlestown office or you can contact us on telephone numbers 22-58465, 2258491, or 22-58458. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email address: kamarangnight@gmail.com.

Sunday January 27, 2019

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A high-level PPP leader contacted me A high-level PPP leader contacted me to offer my ideas on the decentralization of power and democratization of governance at UG. He asked not to be named, but one day the release of my political, personal and other related papers, which I have instructed my daughter to donate to UG after I am gone, will reveal who he is. Obviously, I have retained his correspondence. I quote from it; “Freddie, I am aware of your grievances with the former PPP/C administration and some of its leaders. I cannot do anything about that. I can, however, address your concerns about the functioning of the University of Guyana, and with your guidance, commit the PPP/C to bring these changes, or most of it, to fruition. You and I have not seen eye to eye in the past on the political front, but I do respect your opinions and admire your courage and patriotism. Guyana is on the threshold of greatness. But we need the political will and inclusiveness of all our people for this to happen. I can assure you, the PPP/C stands ready to work with

everyone to accomplish this noble task.” My problem with this correspondence is rooted in the routine (basically simple) understanding of philosophy. It is banal knowledge that when undemocratic leaders victimize their detractors, critics and dissidents, the consequences are never confined to the victim him/ herself. Families suffer in the process. It is dishonestly and vulgarly easy to say; “let’s forget about the past and work for the future of the country.” But what about the other people who were hurt by tyrannical visits? The Jagdeo/Ramotar cabals directed their morbid nastiness towards one of the world’s most innocent and harmless persons – my wife. My wife was literally hounded out of her job at GOInvest. While Jagdeo’s relatives and Ramotar ’s children appeared in highpaying jobs, my wife was victimized. The Jagdeo/ Ramotar cabals brought into their frame my innocent daughter. They posted fictional and awfully sordid things about her on social

media. When my contract was terminated, UG was funding my daughter’s undergraduate studies because of my long years as a staff member. But that was stopped and I had to find money to continue her education I was physically assaulted twice by lifethreatening violence. The GRA hounded me down. Imagine, a poor church mouse like me, the GRA went after. Donald Ramotar’s son knocked down my nephew in front of his gate on Pike Street, Kitty. His right leg was a year in Plaster of Paris because of his advanced age. There was no police investigation. Let’s quote from the gentleman’s communication again; “I am aware of your grievances with the former PPP/C administration and

some of its leaders. I cannot do anything about that.” But he can. Not by asking them to apologize to me, but him apologizing on behalf of them. So this gentleman is telling me to let’s work for the good of Guyana, but he is also working in the PPP with the very people who did these things to me and my family. My question to him is does he feel that these leaders he is currently working with were wrong to do those things to me. I met the then GRA head, Khurshid Sattaur about a year ago. He lives a block away from my mechanic in Bel Air village. He boldly asserted to me that he was pressured to go after me. He is still to publicize that information and name names. Contrary to Sattaur’s silence, Anil

Nandlall told me that he did ask then President Jagdeo not to go ahead with his libel against me. I published that information before and I am doing so again right here, right now. There is a value in human society called redemption. You did wrong, seek redemption, and it doesn’t have to involve any extensive action. A simple apology puts you a long way on the road to redemption. I want this importantly placed person in the PPP to know that it would not be emotionally, philosophically and morally right for me to have any contact, however distant, with these people that harmed me and are still in the PPP’s leadership and that he is quite happy to work with and quite happy not to ask them to at

Frederick Kissoon least offer a public apology to me. I want to be honest to those who read this column and over the decades have shown some appreciation for. Even if those in the PPP that hurt me and my family should apologize, I cannot accept those same leaders administering my country again. Morally, though, they should apologize to me.

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Sunday January 27, 2019

A bare-faced promise of 50,000 jobs for Guyana’s oil industry For all of the Opposition L e a d e r ’s posturing over the last two-plus years, very few Guyanese are fooled. He lives among a small few who don’t acknowledge the terror that average Guyanese lived with during his reign as President of this country. The way in which the PPP Government handled the mechanics, the horrible stories, the trauma of a frightened nation, and the news of executionstyle killings of policemen and women was frightening in itself. Fast forward to present day and the Opposition L e a d e r ’s w e e k l y p r e s s appearances in which he

paints himself as Guyana’s magnanimous saviour, the only one who is able to transform the nation. It would be laughable if it w e r e n ’ t s o ridiculous, especially when everyone knows that he was the architect who created, and led, Guyana’s worst period of anarchy and cruelty. Lately, as serious as ever, he comes back with a barefaced promise of 50,000 jobs within the oil and gas sector for his people once his party returns to power. Since 2017, Exxon and their partners have been training young people in communities and at Exxon’s Centre for Local Business Development. Our youths are being prepared for direct

employment in the sector, or for entrepreneurship, i.e. starting up their own businesses. According to the Energy Chamber of Trinidad & Tobago (ECTT), there are approximately 116 types of businesses related to oil and gas production, storage, transportation, trade and of course, safety and environmental protection. The ECTT also warned us in 2015 that it is usually very difficult for low to midlevel skilled and semiskilled persons to get a foothold in oil production. They said that the few who are chosen would have had intense training. The ECTT would know since Trinidad

and Tobago has been in the hydrocarbon business for nearly a century. But the PPP’s front man has promised his supporters that he would manufacture 50,000 jobs as soon as that party seizes power again, and he mentioned it so casually, so en passant. Again he miscalculated by ignoring p e o p l e ’s c a p a c i t y f o r ferreting out the truth. He also missed the glaring fact that folks who used to be afraid of him no longer are. He has made it unequivocally clear that this nation would enjoy no peace if the Coalition Government rigs the next general elections. We’ve said it before and it still applies – the Opposition Leader projects his own twists and turn-backs on to others. He openly threatens the nation with instability because he believes that, just as he is wont to do, the Coalition government would rig the upcoming elections. Isn’t that treasonous or seditious? A recording of Jagdeo’s pronouncements has gone viral on social media. He said, “If they think that they can rig the elections and have the kind of peace w e h a v e n o w, t h e y a r e wrong, very very wrong. I’m making it clear about that, and it is not coded language. The nature of the struggle changes”. He then explained that when it becomes a freedom

struggle, the normal rules of protests and civil actions could be changed to whatever form he wishes it to take. We’d like to thank him for acknowledging that Guyana is now a peaceful nation. We are tired of Jagdeo threatening the people of this nation with violence, threatening to derail our hard-won peace a n d s t a b i l i t y, w i t h t h e impunity he has bestowed upon himself. It doesn’t take much of a stretch to interpret his threats as treasonous and seditious. We u rg e t h e p e o p l e responsible for the security of this State to place these remarks in context and take appropriate action. The PPP still seems to be getting away with minimizing or just plainly ignoring the failures that the PPP’s 1999 – 2015 administration has gone in history for. One of the more glaring failures was the totally disastrous multibillion dollar ‘investment’ in the tottering Skeldon sugar estate. After a lot of hoopla, the first Chinese contractor, China National Te c h n i c a l I m p o r t a n d Export Corporation, handed the rehabilitated factory over to the PPP government in 2009. Then the real troubles at Skeldon immediately began with every part, punt, crusher and knife in the factory which the contractors had replaced or repaired not working. Less than two years after the

celebratory recommissioning, the factory was closed down again for a major overhaul, then another overhaul, and another rehabilitation. After spending US$200M on the Chinese rehab, the government hired the South African Bosch engineering firm at US$30M to replace the knives that cut up the cane stalks. Today, all that talk that the ultra expensive Skeldon project was going to revive the dying sugar industry has stopped. Time, and the coming of the coalition government, has nailed that lie, and exposed the fact that the entire sugar industry had been plagued with deep financial and operational problems long before 2009. Guysuco after 1995 had disastrous management one after the other that made bad decisions that had no benefits for the sugar fields and factories or workers’ welfare. Yet the ‘Leader’ talks on as if the very real problems with sugar began in 2015, telling the sugar workers that he is the only person who could SAVE the industry! Now, how is it that there is no other PPP source to quote from? There is literally no other head talking but the Opposition Leader’s, even now, more than a week after their presidential candidate was named. He must be the proverbial oxymoronic ‘maximum leader’.

Sunday January 27, 2019

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My column

Never a dull moment in Guyana It never fails to surprise me when people with the ability to check and double check a story would rush to conclusions. This happened a week ago. I saw a story about a conferral of senior counsel being revoked and I was surprised. My investigations revealed that Vic Persaud of Ministry of the Presidency called Attorney-at-Law Timothy Jonas to ask him whether he would accept the conferral of silk should it be offered. Jonas told me that he answered in the affirmative. Then came another call from Persaud to inform him that the conferral was not made. He then surmised that his decision to join a political party was the cause. I called Persaud who confirmed that he did make the call, but he said that at the time there was only a recommendation. He said that when he learnt that the conferral was not made, he called Jonas to explain that there would be no such. He then told me that something cannot be taken away if it was not offered, and that the conferral was not offered. However, there were

those who claimed that the conferral was revoked. And a press conference hosted by Jonas actually made such a statement. Persaud told me that it was a storm in a teacup. Arguments were many. People claimed that silk was a judicial conferral; others said that the president had the final say. I do not know which. If the president does have the final say then there is no issue. If the recommendation by the Chancellor is final, then one must ask how is it that the president would step out of his ground. He is not known to be such a person. I then asked myself why were there no conferrals during the tenure of President Bharrat Jagdeo? Did the Chancellor not find anyone suitable? Or was it that Jagdeo rejected every nomination? Suffice it to say that there was not a sound from anyone. Another issue that grabbed attention involved three children who died as a result of pre-chemotherapy treatment. Apparently they were given some injection and they died. I would have expected that after the first

death there would have been an intervention. The call for an investigation came after the third death. I don’t who is going to test the drug, but I anxiously await the findings. But the confusion does not end there. The family of the third child asked that the postmortem be delayed until they could procure the services of an independent pathologist. However, there was a postmortem. The hospital claimed that another family claimed the body as their own. Is it that people cannot easily recognize their own child? The parents of the third child certainly did, and sparked something that would have been a comedy had it not been so serious. The hospital had to call the undertaker, who then contacted the driver of the hearse, even as the relatives of the other child were heading to Bartica. I could imagine the consternation in that camp as they were all told that they had the wrong body. Better late than never, I suppose. Imagine the con-

fusion had the body landed at Bartica. People would have been crying over the w r o n g b o d y, e v e n a s people would have been arguing over what was there before their eyes. Then there were the threats. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo wants the public servants to refuse to carry out Government decisions. I don’t know who would be in the employ of a government and refuse to execute programmes ordered by the government. He did call on people in the local authority areas his party controlled to refuse to undertake programmes identified by the government. There was no no-confidence vote then. It was just a case of destabilization. Such is the nature of politics. Things became even more strident. Jagdeo said that he would not honour any privatization deals concluded by the government. This took me back to 1992. Dr Cheddi Jagan had said that when he acceded to office he would revisit the agreements entered into between the Hoyte administration and companies

like Omai, Barama and Atlantic Tele-Network. To his credit, he did revisit those contracts, but said nothing about his findings. It turned out that he discovered that the agreement with Omai was one of the better ones in the world. Suffice it to say that when Omai had that cyanide spill, the very People’s Progressive Party rushed Omai back into production, even as the environmentalists felt that the situation had not been remedied. The agreement with Atlantic Tele-Network was iron clad. Later, even Jagdeo was afraid to touch that company. The Americans ensured that he could not. For him to talk about not honouring privatization deals this time around is nothing but hot air, and he knows this. But he goes further. He talks about re-opening the loss-making sugar factories. He then makes bold to say that he would continue to pour money into them because his government is going to be charitable. It was noted somewhere that he was prepared to pour money into a black hole, money that could go to further develop the

Adam Harris A. A. country. At best, his statement is an appeal to the sugar workers. He wants their vote, so he is making a promise that everyone knows that he would not fulfill. What I admire about him is his candor. He openly says that he is going to be the front man, regardless of who is in charge. He does not care who says that his president would be his puppet. He insists that once his party accedes to the government, Guyana would be governed by Jagdeo, something that many people resent. They celebrated when he failed to get the courts to allow him a third term. He must know whether he is sending the right signal.

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Sunday January 27, 2019

Putting an end to divisiveness and fragmentation A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Unity Charter is a must read for all Guyanese. The Charter is an aspirational document. The authors, mindful of our quest for national unity, acknowledge that attaining it would not be an easy task; they used words like difficult, uncomfortable and frustrating. However, they made a pledge that APNU would be totally focused and committed to achieving it, but it is

the invitation that follows that is worthy of note. It reads; “We ask all who can to join us in this task. If at this time you genuinely feel that you cannot join us, then give us your support. If you cannot even give us your support, we ask at least for your good will and your respect for our commitment.” As we navigate our way in the current uncharted political waters, this type of messaging is powerful, because

national unity has been an ideal that has eluded us for several generations. The Unity Charter quite clearly states that the Partnership (APNU) is committed to a government of national unity. The Partnership is cognizant that achieving this goal will be difficult and accepts the challenge. In the words of the Charter “it must be done if a government of national unity is to achieve its aims and survive.”

On the 14th February, 2015 APNU (a five party Partnership) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), signed t h e C u m m i n g s b u rg A c cord. The purpose stated that - this accord was to establish the framework within which the signatories undertake the arrangement of the structure and priorities of a new government which will be, a government of national unity. This proposed framework is supported and presented to the Guyanese public by a broad-based multi-ethnic alliance comprising political parties, civil society groups, o r g a n i s a t i o n s a n d i n dividual citizens. This was a major step by APNU towards the achievement of a National Unity Government. Over the past forty-three months the APNU+AFC coalition has lived up to the spirit of the Unity Charter and protected the interest of all Guyanese. There has been no cause for fear by any ethnic group under an APNU +AFC administration. Rather than cause for fear, there has been much hope and balanced development under a government that is committed to national unity. The evidence shows that this coalition government has managed the affairs of state in such a manner so as not to bring the races into collision with one another. Under this administration law and order has been restored and the public has

been assured that every arm of the government will be brought to bear to ensure that all citizens, regardless of ethnicity are protected. APNU asserts that no one benefits from a divided populace. The parties that came together (APNU+AFC) to contest and win the 2015 General and Regional elections formed a national unity government, and started the arduous task of mending a broken nation. The damage done by over fifty years of mistrust cannot be whisked away overnight, it will take time. Enemies of the APNU+AFC will like to see racial animus continue, because they benefit from such an arrangement, but it will not happen. The tide of ideas in Guyanese politics has turned, in the words of His Excellency David Granger, “We are a movement. We are a movement to create a community with a common cause. We are a movement to reaffirm our commitment to confront the challenges facing our nation. We are a movement to establish an equitable society, in a stable political environment with a prosperous economy. We are a movement, most of all, to secure the future of our youth and our children.” The Coalition has worked tirelessly over the last three years to establish a consultative democracy where all sectors of the society has a voice in the government. Local government areas and municipalities are once again healthy

and part of our democratic architecture. Under this new dispensation, Constitutional bodies are functioning and independent. The rights of individuals and communities are now scrupulously protected. As a consequence, the temptation for individuals, groups and even communities to take the law into their own hands has been greatly minimized. This was a major step in bringing the PPP’s orgy of lawlessness to an end. The Unity Charter is recommended reading, especially for those who want to find out more about the APNU, or those who do not understand the concept of the Partnership and its goals and objectives. As the document states; “National unity is an imperative in Guyana’s current fragile social and economic circumstances. In a plural society, there is a clear choice between the uplifting benefits of cooperation and the downside of destructive political competition…. the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Let us put an end to divisiveness and fragmentation. Let us restore hope to the unemployed. Let us recover our can-do spirit and create a better life and freedom from want for all Guyanese.” The future is in Coalition governance not political and racial division and PPP oneparty domination. It’s time for all Guyanese to enjoy the good life.

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Swine Flu: It’s not far away from us By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Swine flu or medically known as the H1N1 influenza, is a form of the flu virus, but causes infections that can be more debilitating and life-threatening. It is not the same as seasonal flu. The first outbreak occurred in 2009 and infected people all over the world. It was called swine flu early on, because tests showed that it was like flu viruses that occur in swine (pigs). There is currently a mini outbreak of swine flu in Trinidad and Tobago. Unfortunately, it has caused a few deaths in that country. We are now on the alert in Guyana, and it’s only best that I highlight some details on this deadly viral infection. WHATARESYMPTOMSOF SWINEFLU? Symptoms start 3 to 5 days after exposure to the virus. On average, they last about 8 days. Common symptoms are similar to those from any viral infection and include: · fever · sore throat · cough · muscle aches · headache · chills · fatigue · runny or stuffy nose · vomiting · diarrhea. Babies and children may have different symptoms. Look for these signs: · trouble breathing · fever combined with a rash · confusion or impatience · trouble waking up · not drinking enough fluids

· flu-like symptoms that go away and then return with a fever and cough.

and care as you would when you are trying to avoid catching the regular flu.

WHAT CAUSES SWINE FLU?

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU’RE DIAGNOSED WITH THE SWINE FLU?

A virus causes swine flu. It spreads from person to person. You cannot get it by eating pork or pork products. It spreads the same way as human flu, through coughs and sneezes, or by touching a contaminated surface and then touching the nose or mouth. HOW IS SWINE FLU DIAGNOSED? Your doctor will do a physical exam and review your symptoms. This alone may alert them that you have swine flu. Testing for the disease may take a few days to come back. Your doctor may want to start treatment right away and not wait for results. This is common if there is a swine flu outbreak in your area and lots of people are infected. CANSWINEFLUBE PREVENTED? The best way to avoid swine flu is to get the flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that anyone 6 months of age or older receive the flu vaccine. People who work in health care should get the vaccine. So should anyone who lives with or takes care of children younger than 6 months of age. The vaccine is costly, and since there is no outbreak in Guyana, there is no dire need to get vaccinated at this time. You can prevent getting and spreading swine flu virus by practicing good hygiene

Your doctor will admit and isolate you in a hospital to prevent spread of the virus. You will receive antiviral

treatment and treatment to help you with your symptoms. The following are complications that can occur from the infection: · Worsening of chronic conditions, such as heart disease and asthma · Pneumonia (serious lung infection) · Symptoms that can affect your nervous system such as

confusion and seizures (fits) · Unable to breathe by yourself Any of these complications can lead to death. Early detection and treatment is key. If you suspect that you, or anyone you know, have symptoms of swine flu, get medical help immediately. This can prevent an outbreak and potentially save many lives.

Dr. Zulfikar Bux

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SUNDAY

support to working towards a PPP/C victory.”

Irfaan Ali is PPP’s presidential candidate – doubles main competitor, Nandlall, in votes

Offshore Guyana is the crown jewel, the mother of dragons – Eco Atlantic CEO

He is facing questions over his qualifications and is before the courts on 19 fraud charges for his role in the allocation of lands as the former Housing Minister for the socalled Pradoville Two. However, all that mattered not Saturday when it came to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) choosing a presidential candidate for the next general and regional elections, whenever it is held. At just after midday Saturday, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, received the votes, 24, and overwhelmingly so, over the lone contender, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, who received 11. Nandlall was the former Attorney General. For some it was as an upset, as Ali was widely seen as a favourite of former PPP president, and now leader, Bharrat Jagdeo. The older heads were looking more to Dr. Frank Anthony, who is one of the most popular figures in the party, or Nandlall, who one of the main voices, especially in several high profile legal matters. At the Robb Street headquarters of the PPP- Freedom House- the party in a statement shortly after the decision, said that the selection process had taken nearly two months. Coming up against Ali were not only Anthony and Nandlall, but long-time stalwarts like Gail Teixeira who is the party’s Chief Whip in the National Assembly, and Dr. Vindhya Persaud. However, shortly before the secret votes Saturday, Anthony, Persaud and Teixeira all dropped out. The PPP said after the voting that in “accordance with the agreed process”, the Central Committee elected Ali as the Presidential Candidate for the next national and regional elections. It was disclosed that five candidates expressed an intention to contest for this post. These were Anil Nandlall, Dr Frank Anthony, Dr Vindhya Persaud, Irfaan Ali and Gail Teixeira. The party also disclosed that “immediately prior to the elections”, Dr. Anthony, Dr. Persaud and Teixeira withdrew from the contest, leaving Nandlall and Ali as the two contestants. ”Ali received 24 votes and Nandlall received 11 votes from the 35-Member Central Committee, thereby making Ali the Presidential Candidate. After the vote, the four other contenders congratulated Ali and pledged

Sunday January 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eco Atlantic, Gil Holzman is excited about the future of oil in Guyana. This is especially so, since he believes that Eco and its two other partners, Tullow and Total, have bagged “an elephant-sized asset” in the Orinduik Block. Holzman made these and other comments during interviews with international media platforms: https:// www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk, and S&P Global Platts. According to Holzman, “Guyana is the jewel in the crown, the mother of dragons. That is the hottest exploration area in the world. It’s no longer frontier, it’s a sub-mature basin,” he said. Holzman added, “This is phenomenal, over four billion barrels of pure, sweet, high grade API oil, which the refining itself is much easier than say neighbouring Venezuela (which produces heavier, sourer crude), in a place that is easy to operate. It’s a paradise for exploring in that sense.” Holzman also revealed that the partners, including French super major Total, will drill the first of two planned wells on Orinduik on a prospect called Jethro-Lobe in late May or early June. Holzman said that the well is most likely to spud in the third or fourth week of May and will actually zone in on an Upper Tertiary target called Lobe within what is described as the Jethro complex, which is assessed as having a series of targets. An initial statement from Eco had said that the prospect is in the Upper Cretaceous horizon. However, a later statement corrected this to Upper Tertiary, with Holzman also clarifying that total depth is in the Cretaceous. Eco has also said the gross prospective resource estimate at Lobe is 250 million barrels of oil, with a chance of success estimated at 44 percent. Although Holzman clarified that the figure of 44 percent should be read as Eco’s number, he added, “The number is not materially different from what our partners think.” However, Tullow’s Exploration Director, Angus McCoss said that the 2019 drilling candidates were being given chance of success “in the twenties” of percent. Jagdeo vows to remain face of PPP throughout election Guyana can rest assured

that despite Irfaan Ali being chosen as the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) presidential candidate, he will not be the face of the party’s election campaign. Ali will have to share the spotlight with the party’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo. As Opposition Leader, Jagdeo initiated the process to premature General and Regional Elections. Despite knowing that the opposition sits in the National Assembly as a minority, Jagdeo sponsored the no-confidence motion that saw the fall of government. He said that he has a mission to return power to the PPP and would not step back anytime soon. Saturday, a few hours after PPP’s Central Committee elected Ali as its presidential candidate, Jagdeo hammered home his position to the media that he will not step aside for any other PPP member to pass until the party is safely in government. ”My job as General Secretary (GS) is many-fold. It is to grow the party. I set myself the task of greater inclusion, changing the face of the party, including more afroGuyanese in our party at every level, because we are strongly represented by indo-Guyanese and Amerindians.” Jagdeo said that he has another job which is to “galvanize this party to win power. That is the role of General Secretary. The candidate runs for the elections, but my job is to bring people together, work on a campaign strategy and get it approved by the party.” Jagdeo told the media that there will be a place for Ali too. He said that the Presidential Candidate will have a profile, “(he) will have to go out more and will have to make himself available to the press”. ”He will have to take positions on things, but I have my work cut out for me. I have to go across the country, bring activists together and assure we will keep our promises. I have to work the ground as any GS would to ensure that his party wins power. If you are not doing that then you are not a good GS.” Jagdeo said that he views stepping back so as to not overshadow the candidate as abdicating his responsibility as General Secretary.” MONDAY Absence of House to House Registration leaves room for corrupted elections – GECOM Commissioner The political parties are divided on the necessity of house-to-house registration

before the next elections. The Government says the list of voters has to be sanitized to remove the names of dead people and to include the names of individuals who are now turning 18. But that could take six months. As such, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo contends it is just a frustration tactic. He believes all the dead people could be cleared out from the list within two weeks and Guyana could get on with the business of holding elections. But one of GECOM’s Commissioners, Vincent Alexander, says the sanitization of the list goes beyond the dead. He told this newspaper that the list is bloated with persons who are no longer living here. And if this is not dealt with, he said it leaves scope for corrupted elections. Before going into further explanation on this statement, Alexander felt it necessary to provide some history on the holding of house-to-house registration. The GECOM Commissioner noted that any

voters’ list or any register of registrants needs to be renewed periodically. That is standard practice, he said. Alexander asserted that in the case of GECOM, the body took the decision years ago that it would do a renewal of the voters’ list every seven years. ”For the last few years, we wanted to do it but we did not get the funding, hence it was not done. In this year’s budget, we have gotten the resources so basically what GECOM wants to do is what should be done as a matter of course… So forget all the questions. This is a basic procedure that should be undertaken periodically. And the period we defined is seven years and we have gone past seven…” GPHC launches probe into death of two young cancer patients – third child on life support Top officials at the Georgetown Public Hospital

Corporation (GPHC) have launched an investigation into the deaths of two young cancer patients, even as a third child is on life support at the institution. Reports indicate that three year- old Roshnie Seegobin and Corwin Edwards died while undergoing treatment for leukemia at GPHC. Roshnie succumbed last Saturday. while Corwin passed away earlier in the week. The third child, six yearold Sherezer Mendonca, has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Relatives of the children said that GPHC officials have not been forthcoming with information about the incident. However, an official confirmed the deaths to Kaieteur News and stated that a report will be released when an ongoing investigation is completed. Hospital staffers who treated the children are said to be ‘devastated’ by the incident. Information indicates (Continued on page 33)

Sunday January 27, 2019

From page 32 that the children’s conditions worsened rapidly after they were administered with an injection. Romel Seegobin, the father of Roshnie Seegobin, told this newspaper that his daughter Roshnie was being treated for the disease for more than a year. He said that she has been undergoing chemotherapy and was responding to the treatment well. ”This is not the first time she going for treatment. She was making progress. So we really can’t understand what happen because she make it through all difficult procedures.” According to Seegobin, little Roshanie was in high spirits when she went to the hospital. She had appeared to be recovering following three months in the hospital. Mr. Seegobin said that his daughter was rushed to GPHC last Friday and admitted to the ICU where she died the following day. Prior to that, she had visited the hospital for a regular check up and chemotherapy session. An Ali Presidency equivalent to a Jagdeo third term – WPA Executive member If the embattled Presidential Candidate of the PPP, Irfaan Ali, wins the upcoming elections, then it is equivalent to Bharrat Jagdeo having a third term in office. This was recently noted by Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds. In his recent writings, Dr. Hinds said he is less concerned about Jagdeo’s presence in a potential PPP gov-

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ernment and more concerned about the Jagdeo agenda of ethnic dominance and the criminalized state. He said, “In effect, I see an Ali presidency as a Jagdeo (third) term. This, I think, should be cause for concern for all those who would like to see a Guyana that is ethnically inclusive and a state that is untied from the bad influences of the past. Neither the PPP nor Mr. Ali has repudiated the Jagdeo agenda or has put forward a new agenda.” Despite his cabinet and parliamentary experience, Dr. Hinds noted that Ali has not articulated an agenda and a vision beyond the Jagdeo agenda. Further to this, the political activist said he is not surprised that Ali won by a landslide over his colleague, Anil Nandlall. He said that Ali was clearly the choice of the PPP’s maximum leader and the leader’s preference on such matters holds sway with many in the party’s leadership. The columnist said that given his close ties to the Jagdeo agenda, Ali is in effect the best candidate for that section of the PPP’s base that supports the Jagdeo agenda. Dr. Hinds said Ali is more likely to galvanize that section more than the candidates he defeated. TUESDAY House-to-House Registration… Dead persons on voters’ list inconsequential – Former GECOM Chairman It is important for Guyana to have house-to-house registration. But given the special circumstances, the country now finds itself in, it would

not be a matter of life and death if it is not conducted. This is the informed viewpoint of former Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr. Steve Surujbally. He was at the time sharing his perspective on whether house-to-house registration is absolutely necessary before the political parties head into the next Gen-

The GPHC

eral and Regional Elections. To provide context for ensuing discussion, the former GECOM Chairman was informed by this newspaper that some persons believe that the list is overdue for a renewal so that the names of dead persons can be removed as well as those who are living abroad. It was also brought to his

attention that some individuals hold the view that if this is not done, then it leaves scope for corrupted elections. Dr. Surujbally said he agrees with both observations. He noted however, “Dead people won’t be able to rig the elections.” The former GECOM Chairman said that there are simply too many checks and balances in place to inhibit such efforts. Dr. Surujbally said that even if some are successful in trying to use the name of a dead person to cast a vote, it would have to be a “massive number of people doing so, and that is just not possible.” ”After lots of deliberations, GECOM had decided a long time ago that the list would be sanitized or renewed every seven years. But this is an expensive process. It takes six months. The last one we did started in January 2008 and ended June of that year. And there are a lot of factors that have to be looked at during that process… This includes fingerprints and the facial recognition part of the process…And there is data on the registration form, which has to be checked…” 2,300 kilos drug bust… Suspect attempts suicide in Suriname lockups A 43-year-old truck driver

from Suriname whose only name was given as Shailindra attempted to kill himself in a lockup there on Sunday. The suspect was one of at least 10 persons who were detained in connection with a 2,300 kilo seizure in Suriname earlier this month – the biggest ever drug bust for that neighbouring country. The suspect was being held in a cell of the police’s Narcotics Department. He reportedly slashed his wrists with a razor. However, he was found in time by officers and rushed to hospital and later released back into custody. Suriname police said that his condition is stable. They were Monday making plans to transfer the suspect to another location to better monitor him. He would have been among those arrested in connection with the coke seizure at the Jules Sedney Port, Paramaribo. Also arrested over the weekend was a forklift driver. A Customs officer, broker, and several top officials in Suriname are reportedly also in custody. The case is of interest to Guyana as just recently, a Suriname rice exporter, wanted for questioning in the seizure, was found dead on (Continued on page 34)

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From page 33 the Number 63 beach, Corentyne, with a single gunshot wound to the head. Nitender Oemrawsingh was said to be the owner of Nivash Rice. What the businessman was doing in Guyana is still being investigated. The cocaine was stashed in an eight-container shipment filled with rice, awaiting loading at the harbour. The shipment was destined for France, through Guadeloupe. Sophia shopowner stabbed to death Forty-eight-year-old Godfrey Phillip of 3028 ‘D’ Field, Sophia died after being stabbed to the abdomen on Sunday night around 23:45 hours, reportedly by a Pike Street, Sophia resident. The incident occurred in front of a shop that Phillip operates, after he (Phillip) intervened in an argument between the suspect and a woman, said to be his wife. Phillip died at the Georgetown Public Hospital in his daughter’s arms after being rushed to the hospital by public-spirited citizens who were in the vicinity of where the stabbing occurred. When Kaieteur News arrived at Phillip’s house, family members were making preparations for a wake. The man’s stepdaughter said that a neighbour witnessed the whole incident and related to her that the suspect and his wife were having an argument in front of Phillip’s shop while he was in the process of closing up, Phillip reportedly came out and told the couple to go over the road where they lived. It was then that the suspect pulled a knife from his waist and stabbed Phillip to his abdomen. He then calmly pulled the knife out of Phillip and placed it back into his waist. He left on a motorcycle. WEDNESDAY Chief Elections Officer to brief Commissioners tomorrow on readiness for polls Guyana could know as early as tomorrow when General and Regional Elections are to be held. Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, is expected to brief the six commissioners and the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) at 9am tomorrow. According to Commissioner for the Opposition’s People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Robeson Benn, the CEO has been told to brief the

commissioners on his work plan, including on his need for more money, resources, staffers and training. Speaking with Kaieteur News earlier, GECOM’s spokesperson, Yolanda Ward, confirmed that Chairman, Justice (Ret’d), James Patterson returned to work Tuesday after more than six weeks on sick leave. He met hours later with commissioners for the weekly statutory meeting. The CEO was told to provide a report on the possible options for elections and what will be required for elections to be held in the shortest possible time. A c c o r d i n g t o Wa r d , based on that briefing, the Commission will then determine a date for a meeting with the Chief Whips, representing both Government and Opposition, to brief them on the likely date. Meanwhile, Benn, a former Public Works Minister for the PPP, said that it was pointed out that the life of the current list of electors expires on April 30th, a chief constraint for the holding of elections. During the meeting Tuesday, it was disclosed that Chief Parliamentary Whip for the Government, Amna Ally had written GECOM on January 10th asking for meeting to discuss the readiness of the entity for elections. The GECOM chairman, commissioners were told, replied on January 14th to Ally informing her that a meeting would soon be convened on the readiness.

Senior police shake-up in ‘B’ Division Several senior ranks were shifted around in the Guyana Police Force B’ Division effective from Tuesday, Monday 22nd January, 2019. Kaieteur News was reliably informed that Senior Superintendent Wayne DeHearte, who served as Deputy Commander in Berbice for a while, has been confined to only a sub-division. He will now take charge of the Number 3 sub-division which was headed by Assistant Superintendent Davidson, rather than being the second in charge of the entire B’ Division. Senior Superintendent Phillip Azore will now fill the spot of Deputy Commander. Additionally, Superintendent Bhudnarine Persaud who previously controlled the Number 2 sub-division (BorlamCrabwood Creek) for over a year, was sent to Operations Room at the Central Police Station Headquarters. Ranks stationed in that department are tasked with the answering of calls and messages. Superintendent Mahendra Singh will now take up the responsibility of running the Number 2 subdivision. Prior to Persaud’s time as the Officer-in-Charge of the Number 2 sub-division, he served as the Traffic Chief of Berbice. Gunmen kill taxi driver execution-style on East Bank highway An Indian Chief Taxi driver was shot dead execu-

tion-style last night, around 20:00 hrs, at Eccles, East Bank Demerara, while his horrified girlfriend and five-year-old daughter sat in his car. Kevin Walters, 35, of Eccles, East Bank Demerara, was shot in the face and died shortly after at the Georgetown Public Hospital. There are reports that one of the gunmen was injured after Walters, said to be an exsoldier, rammed into the gunmen’s bike. Reports suggest that the gunmen had trailed their victim. According to reports, Walters was heading south along the East Bank of Demerara in Toyota Allion, PXX1509, when the gunmen, on a CG motorcycle, came up to his car, in the vicinity of the Two Brothers Gas Station near Eccles. On seeing the men, Walters reportedly attempted to ram his car into the bike, but the pillion rider opened fire, shooting Walters in the face. The mortally wounded man remained at the scene for some time before being rushed to the GPHC, where he was pronounced dead. Walters is the third individual to be executed in recent weeks. Some three weeks ago, Sean Allister O’Brien Greene, 38, of Queenstown, Georgetown, and Number 78 Village, Springlands, Corentyne, was riddled with bullets outside a Hotel in Queenstown. This was followed by the killing of Suriname businessman Nitender Oemrawsingh,

whose body, bearing a gunshot wound to the head was found on the Number 63 beach. The latter killing is believed to be linked to the recent discovery in Suriname of 2,300 kilos of cocaine in a rice shipment. THURSDAY Executed taxi driver was witness in Kaieteur News grenade attack –injured suspects detained after turning up at hospitals Police were last night keeping watch over two injured men, who are suspected to be the gunmen who executed taxi driver Kelvin Walters. Walters, a taxi driver, was the key witness in the Kaieteur News grenade attack case. The suspects, Devon Williams, 32; and Roderick Thomas, 27 were arrested shortly after turning up at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, and the Woodlands Hospital. Both men had sustained broken left legs, and police said that one of the suspects has been positively identified. Police believe that the gunmen were injured after Walters managed to ram his vehicle into the killers’ CG motorcycle just as he was shot. Kaieteur News understands that one of the men told police that he was run over by a car. Police have swabbed the hands of both suspects for traces of gun-

powder. Police also recovered a fully-loaded 9mm Taurus pistol at the scene. Williams, of James Street, Albouystown, was charged in 2008 for armed robbery and abduction, while police had detained Thoma s and two others following a highspeed chase at Industry, East Coast Demerara. While police sources confirmed that Walters was a witness to the June 2016 attempted grenade attack outside Kaieteur News, investigators said they are still seeking a motive. Indications are that the killers had kept Walters under surveillance for some time, since one of the suspects was allegedly recently spotted near the victim’s Lot 242 Forshaw Street, Queenstown residence. Walters, 38, was gunned down by two men on a CG motorcycle around 19:30 hrs on Tuesday, while driving south along the eastern carriageway of the East Bank Demerara Public Road. Police said that he was in the vicinity of Two Brothers Service Station when two men on a motorcycle turned in front of his vehicle. The pillion rider then whipped out a handgun and shot Walters in his face. Although wounded, Walters struck down the suspects who fled the scene on foot, leaving their motorcycle and 9mm Taurus pistol, with 14 rounds, at the scene. Pillion rider crushed by fuel truck after bike loses control. A La Parfaite Harmonie (Continued on page 35)

Sunday January 27, 2019

From page 34 teenaged father is dead after he was thrown under the wheels of a fuel truck on the West Bank Demerara Wednesday. The horrific accident left family and friends of John Walcott, called ‘Redman’, 19, in deep mourning. According to reports, the fatal accident occurred around 11:45hrs on the Goed Intent public road. Also involved in the accident was motor lorry, GJJ 3746 owned by Jaikishan Naipaul of Nismes Village, West Bank Demerara. It was driven by Ramnarine Singh, a 42-yearold Sisters Village man. The motorcycle, CH 4244, was said to be owned by Walcott but ridden at the time by Orin Parris, 26, of Bagotville, West Bank Demerara. According to reports, the motorcycle was proceeding south with Walcott on the pillion. Witnesses said that it was going at a fast rate. Others claimed it was doing stunts. At they negotiated a left turn, the rider lost control of the motorcycle. Walcott, sensing danger, decided to jump off and ended up under the truck wheels, which ran over his head. Parris reported fell with the motorcycle on the roadway injuring himself and causing significant damage to the bike. The two were both taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where Walcott was pronounced dead while Parris was treated. The lorry and driver were both taken to the police station while the damaged bike was also lodged. Witnesses said that the rider and pillion passenger were not wearing safety helmets at the time of accident. It is reported that further investigation is in progress. According to reports, Walcott recently became a father and was involved in a serious motorcycle accident less than a year ago. He was warned to be careful. Against all odds… PPP Govt will reopen sugar estates–Jagdeo The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is one of the many institutions that has advocated for Guyana’s authorities to reduce the size of its sugar industry since it was too costly to upkeep production at competitive rates. Following this advice, the APNU+AFC administration closed four estates, which displaced over 4,000 sugar workers, leaving them without a social net or programme to fall back on. But this state of affairs could all be temporary. Ac-

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cording to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, if the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) wins the next elections, its members will find a way to reopen the estates. Jagdeo said, “The PPP will find a way of reopening the estates that are closed so as to put people back to work. We will explore all forms of partnerships to get that done plus innovative financing and investments so people can return to providing for their families.” The PPP General Secretary said that through a series of investment initiatives and support from the treasury, the workers from the Wales Estate would benefit from the PPP Government. He said, “We had said last year that we would also assist the sugar workers directly, that is, through a stipend. But if we can find jobs for everyone then we wouldn’t have to resort to that because they would be employed.” The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is using three estates for production – Blairmont and Albion in Berbice and Uitvlugt in West Demerara. The remaining four estates, Wales (West Bank Demerara); Enmore (East Demerara) and Rose Hall and Skeldon (East Berbice), are up for offers of divestment and privatization. FRIDAY Elections date in limbo as GECOM meeting ends abruptly A key meeting of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) ended abruptly last evening with no consensus on a date for General and Regional Elections. It will raise questions exactly what the commissioners will tell two parliamentary plenipotentiaries - the two Chief Whips- this afternoon about the readiness of GECOM to hold early elections. The issue of early elections came about after the December 21st no-confidence vote which was carried after government parliamentarian, Charrandass Persaud, said yes, toppling the one-seat majority Coalition administration that had only been in power for just over three years. Under the Constitution, the no-confidence vote meant that elections have to be called within 90 days unless the Government and Opposition can agree for the life of Parliament to be extended. Persaud had left Guyana and is being investigated in a “matter of national security” and allegations of possible

PPP Commissioner, Robeson Benn bribe taking. Government has since challenged the vote in court, insisting that Persaud, who was expelled by his party, the Alliance For Change, had two passports - including one for Canada, and under the laws should not have been a parliamentarian. The High Court is expected to rule next week on the validity of the vote. In the meantime, the Government and the Opposition have agreed to both send the Chief Whips to GECOM to find out how ready the entity is for elections in 90 days. Thursday, Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, was scheduled to brief the six commissioners and Chairman, Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson, on the situation, outlining his plan for training, need for money and resources, among other things. Speaking about the meeting shortly after 8 p.m., Commissioner Robeson Benn, one of three commissioners representing the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which is in Opposition, disclosed that there is no consensus and that his party will now have decide on the way forward. He said that the morning session ended with some sort of “emerging consensus” which could have seen elections being held by April 29th. According to Benn, based on the vote, the Constitutional drop dead date to hold elections was by the latest, March 19th or 20th. Lowenfield was advised that in terms of money for the election, they could use the funds approved by the National Assembly for house-tohouse registration.. With regards to training, there were three elections, beginning 2015 using the same voters’ list. Third child succumbs to cancer treatment at GPHC The third child has suc-

cumbed to cancer treatment which was administered at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Sixyear-old Sherezer Mendonca reportedly took her last breath Thursday morning at GPHC after weeks on life support. Mendonca is among three children who were administered with an injection prior to chemotherapy treatment. The child went into a state of paralysis and became unconscious as a result. She was placed in the Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital. Mendonca’s death follows that of three-year-old, Roshini Seegobin, who also succumbed to medication which was administered to her as part of treatment for leukemia at the hospital. She was cremated earlier this week. Six-year-old Corwin Edwards was the first to succumb to complications following the treatment. He died on January 14 last. On Monday, GPHC put out a statement calling on members of the public to resist the urge to speculate based on the information that is being circulated regarding the treatment and adverse reaction of several children who are suffering from cancer in our Paediatric Wards after the administration of medication”. The administration of the GPHC said that it is aware of this situation and has launched an investigation to determine the reason for the adverse reaction to the medication. ”That investigation involves the interviewing of all medical persons directly involved, along with an assessment of the medication administered. Further, the usage of that medication has been discontinued.” ”While the investigation continues, we advise members of the public to resist the urge to speculate on what is a sensitive matter and to await the findings of the investigation.

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo The GPHC reassures the public that every life is precious to its staff and every death is distressing. We continue to work closely with all stakeholders, including the Ministry of Public Health, the Pan American Health Organization, World Health Organisation and other agencies in an effort to improve the services we provide to our patients.” Charrandass’ vote is irreversible – Lawyers argue Attorneys-at-law, Anil Nandlall and Sanjeev Datadin have both argued that the noconfidence vote by expelled Member of Parliament, Charrandass Persaud, is irreversible. The lawyers based their argument on specifically on Article 165(2) of the Constitution, which states in part that: “…the presence or participation of any person not entitled to be present at or to participate in the proceedings of the Assembly shall not invalidate those proceedings.” The case filed by Compton Reid, a private citizen, is challenging the noconfidence motion against the Government, on the ground that Persaud, who voted with the Opposition, has Canadian citizenship. The litigant is asking the Court to nullify the motion, since it is his contention that Persaud acted in contravention of Article 155 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana, which basically forbids Members of Parliament from holding allegiance, obedience and adherence to foreign powers. The applicant has asked the court to make a declaration that Persaud is not qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly, by virtue of his own act and acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience and adherence to a foreign power – that is the Sovereign State of Canada, in contravention with

Article 155 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana. Further, the applicant is asking for a declaration that Persaud is the holder of a valid Canadian passport No. AC773625 issued by the Government of Canada on October 25, 2017, which will expire on October 25, 2022 and was a replacement of the previous passport, which was issued to him on January 29, 2013 and expired on January 29, 2018.’ The vote cast by Persaud is null, void and of no legal effect and by reason the unlawful “yes” vote cast by Persaud, the No Confidence Motion was not passed, is another declaration being asked for by the court. However, lawyers refuted the claims by arguing that the Constitution provides for Persaud’s actions to be validated. SATURDAY Royston King sacked He clawed his way into one of the most powerful positions at City Hall. Sitting as the Town Clerk, in essence the Chief Executive Officer of the office that runs Georgetown, he then was forced to fight to keep his place. On Thursday, he was fired by the Local Government Commission (LGC). It was the rise and fall of a man who started at City Hall, as the Public Relations Officer. King was the centre of major revelations last year in a Commission of Inquiry, headed by Justice (Ret’d) Cecil Kennard. The hearings riveted the nation. The findings of the inquiry pointed to significant fraud at City Hall. The tenure of King had been a rough road for him. He had come under fire for his defence of the parking meter contract, and a number of land deals, which were (Continued on page 6)

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From page 35 highly questionable, to say the least. He was seen as the focal point of growing anger against a City Hall that was doing little for Georgetown yet sucking hundreds of millions of dollars annually. The findings of the report were supposed to determine his fate at City Hall and possibly see a police probe into what are supposed to be criminal actions during his tenure. Sources close to the Local Government Commission confirmed a decision was taken to sack him Wednesday. The letter was delivered Thursday. The commission is charged with regulating the local government entities, including city and town halls, regional democratic councils and neighbourhood democratic councils. It has authority to hire and fire employees in the organs. This would be the first major case for the commission. The report of the inquiry, with recommendations for criminal charges and all, was handed over last year to the LGC, headed by Chairman, Mortimer Mingo. Several persons were supposed to be called before the LGC to answer the charges in the report. One of them was King. Kaieteur News was told that a week ago, he appeared before the commission and asked for more time. He was given a letter from the commission

Kaieteur News

granting him until Wednesday. King was told to respond to the charges in writing. However, on Wednesday, when he came, the former Town Clerk had no written response. He wanted more time and said that his lawyer was absent. However, the LGC was having none of it and told King he must answer the charge. He was also told clearly that it was not an inquiry. King reportedly said that he had nothing to say and asked to be excused. According to sources, the commission deliberated, in the absence of the Opposition commissioners, and took a decision to fire King. Death of Mae’s student… Detained boyfriend admits to giving victim ‘Ecstasy’ to sell in school The probe into the apparent suicide of a Mae’s Secondary School student has now spiraled into an investigation into the alleged distribution of the ‘date rape’ drug, ‘Ecstasy’ in the elite private school. Kaieteur News has confirmed that police have detained the 15-year-old victim’s 20-year-old boyfriend. He has reportedly told investigators that he had occasionally given the sixth former ‘Ecstasy’ pills to distribute in

her school. He was taken in custody on Friday and police are awaiting a postmortem to ascertain what exactly the victim ingested. A senior police official confirmed to Kaieteur News that investigators are questioning the boyfriend. Asked if they were looking at reports that the individual had been giving the student drugs to sell, the official said, “We are investigating something like that.” Kaieteur News understands that relatives have told investigators that the sixthformer alleged that she was in a relationship with a man who gave her “drugs” to take to school. The relationship reportedly started last April. “She said he used to give her drugs to take to school, something like a tablet to sell to kids,” source said. Information provided to investigators suggests that the relatives notified at least one educator about the allegations. The girl’s parents had reportedly contacted an attorney about the matter. However, during a press conference on Thursday, a senior school official denied reports about the drug ‘Ecstasy’ being circulated in the school. The 15-year-old is believed to have ingested a poisonous substance around noon on Thursday, shortly

after distributing two suicide notes to her friends and teachers.

Sunday January 27, 2019

It is alleged that during the lunch break, students observed the sixth-former vom-

iting and raised an alarm. She succumbed at the Woodlands Hospital.

Sunday January 27, 2019

Govt. to engage small miners about implications of Mineral Sector Policy Framework

Ministers Raphael Trotman and Simona Broomes engaging stakeholders on “The National Mineral Sector Policy Framework and Actions” The National Mineral Sector Policy Framework and Actions has been designed to manage the development of Guyana’s mineral sector in a holistic, integrated, responsive and responsible manner. The document was presented to stakeholders on Friday morning during a stakeholder forum, hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources. It was presented by University of Guyana Lecturer, Sherwood Lowe, who leads the team contracted to spearhead the process of designing a Strategic Ten Year Plan for the mineral sector. The policy document (NMSPFA) is said to be both a vision statement and an action plan. It also responds to the need to have the mineral sector realign more with sustainable development goals, as well as be aligned with policy recommendations for national development agendas, in particular, the Green State Development Strategy. Following the presentation, stakeholders who would have previously perused the document give their feedback. Vanda Radzik, who represented Civil Society says the report was excellent; “it is one of the reports in recent times that is to the point. All of the recommendations are valid”. Chairman of the Guyana Gold Board, GHK Lall, said while governance, compliance and performance are inextricably linked, the GGB has been admonished for compliance…”we at the gold

40

board have gotten hell for that,” Lall said. He added that performance in terms of production will not take place unless the compliance continues. When the session concluded, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman said the public will now have an opportunity to peruse the document. “The document will be released to the media and on the ministry’s website where the public can now view, peruse and make recommendations.” According to Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, her department will now e n s u r e t h e p o l i c y reaches those persons on the ground who could not have attended the session today. “There are five mining districts and so we will have a team visiting these mining districts to engage the small miners, explaining the policy to them and giving them the opportunity to ask questions as to how it will either affect or benefit them,” Minister Broomes explained. According to the NMSPFA framework, mining has implications for national sovereignty, border security, health security, law enforcement, hinterland and infrastructure development, social cohesion, and internal population movement and redistribution. It says in addressing these various needs and demands, the NMSPFA embraces a consultative approach.

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Regions collaborate to help address migrant-related challenges in Region One The Regional Democratic Council [RDC] of Region Four has joined forces with its Region One counterparts to address the increasing challenges of Venezuelan migrants. This collaboration was forged through a visit by RDC Region Four’s Regional Executive Officer [REO], Ms. Pauline Lucas, and a team from the region. Accompanying her were: Regional Health Officer [RHO], Dr Quincy Jones, and Dr. Christopher Seetram from the Regional Health Department. The one-day visit saw REO Lucas holding a number of meetings with newlyappointed Regional Executive Officer of RDC One, Lieutenant Colonel Retired Randy Storm; Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley; RHO Dr. Cerdel Mc Watt; the Regional Environmental Officer and other officials from

the Army, Police Force, Childcare and Protection Agency, the Welfare Department and the Education Ministry. REO Lucas told her counterparts that she is very concerned over the many challenges and difficulties being encountered by the women and children migrants as well as the affected Guyanese. Even as she recognised that the migrant issues are of national concern, Lucas noted that RDC Four remains committed and as such, will provide technical and other support to RDC One in addressing a number of the glaring migrant-related challenges. “From my assessment this isn’t a quick fix situation, but with collaboration at all levels, I am confident that the issues being encountered by various officials and departments can be properly addressed,” she

The representatives of agencies and both Regions pose for a group photograph after a successful meeting. said. The REO disclosed too that the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund [UNICEF] has also come on board to lend its support. As she

insisted that her Region is in for the long haul, Lucas went on to congratulate the Health Department of Region One, adding that “their hard and significant work and efforts continue to demonstrate that

Government is indeed committed and dedicated in addressing a number of issues and concerns”. Lucas went on to urge the Region One’s RHO [Dr. Mc Watt] to continue the

excellent work being undertaken even as she added that her Region through the RHO will continue to emulate and/or review a number of initiatives and systems being implemented with a view to follow suit. Adding his voice of congratulations to the Regional Health Services department of Region One was the Region Four RHO [Dr. Jones] who declared that the efforts and work of Region One is worthy of being emulated. He thanked the Region One RHO [Dr. Mc Watt] for what he said has been a tremendous and fantastic job in addressing a number of issues. According to Dr. Jones, his department, backed by the REO, will remain committed and dedicated to providing the required (Continued on page 47)

Sunday January 27, 2019

Regions collaborate to help address...

REO Pauline Lucas listening attentively as newly appointed Region One REO, Lieutenant Colonel Randy Storm makes a point. From page 46 assistance in ensuring that Region One can effectively address the several concerns of both nationals and migrant Venezuelans. Meanwhile, Regional Chairman [Brentnol Ashley] was high in praise for REO Lucas and her team congratulating them on stepping forward to lend what he dubbed as “very valuable and significant assistance and support.” He took the opportunity to enlighten those gathered that his region is in dire need of all assistance and support that they can garner as they seek to address a number of important issues coming out of the migrant situation. “Residents have expressed concerns, some have expressed fear, and there is the feeling of wanting to know what to expect or what will happen. Therefore, as the Regional Chairman, I must thank REO Pauline Lucas and her team because the support and assistance that she is giving and has committed to give is certainly important and welcomed.” The Regional Chairman said that he and his REO, will be attending a very important Civil Defence Committee meeting at the end of the month which will address a number of important issues. He noted that he is adamant that a number of solutions and ideas would be addressed, thus ensuring that upon their return, residents can have their fears and concerns properly addressed. “Every day people are meeting me, as there are fears and rumours circulating that

the Sindicato gangs plan to seize the boat that usually brings in food into the region. This has resulted in persons meeting me every day asking me what is government doing and more so, what do we at the regional level plan to do? “There is great uncertainty as the number of people coming from Venezuela continue to increase while our resources are strained and pressured, thus placing our residents at a great disadvantage as crime, unemployment and health related issues would be of significant importance to all,” he stressed. REO Lucas accompanied by her team and officials from Region One visited one of the camps in Kan Hill, which, according to the Toshao of the community, Ernest Santiado, have some 104 Venezuelans consisting of 28 children. The Toshao urged the REO and her team to lend whatever support that can be given, stressing that the Region has been unable to provide food and other critical resources that are desperately needed by the migrants. “We have received health support and other support, but what the Venezuelans are in urgent need of is food. Honestly speaking they have not eaten in three days and because of desperation they [Venezuelans] have been venturing to eating from garbage bins and sourcing food from various places which in many cases put their health and those around them at great risk,” Toshao Santiado said.

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CARPHA urges good personal hygiene to reduce transmission of flu, other viruses The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is urging persons to practice good personal hygiene in order to reduce the risk of transmission of influenza and other respiratory viruses. Influenza [flu] is a contagious respiratory illness caused mainly by two types of viruses: Influenza A and

Influenza B. The Influenza A [H1N1] virus caused a pandemic in 2009. Although often referred to as “swine flu”, CARPHA has advised that this name is misleading as it is not spread by contact with pigs or pig products. Influenza A [H1N1] is a virus that continues to circulate around the world,

including the Caribbean. Typically, the flu season in the Region occurs between September and March when there is usually an increase in the number of persons coming down with the virus. Flu is characterized by a sudden onset of high fever, cough [usually dry], headache, muscle and joint pain,

severe malaise [feeling unwell], sore throat and runny nose. Most people recover from these symptoms within a week without requiring medical attention, but influenza can cause severe illness or death in people at high risk. Dr. C. James Hospedales, CARPHA’s Executive Director, explained that the primary form of influenza transmission is through interpersonal contact. He added that large social events like carnival, festivals and concerts can create serious public health challenges because persons are

often crowded together, sharing personal space and common areas. Given elevated flu activity in the northern hemisphere, combined with the high travel season to the Caribbean, it is important that people take the necessary steps now, to protect themselves and their loved ones from the flu. Moreover, CARPHA is urging persons to take proactive measures to reduce the risk of transmission of influenza and other respiratory viruses. “Good hygiene measures

that persons can take include: covering your mouth with a tissue or handkerchief, or using your elbow, when sneezing or coughing; safely disposing of used tissues; washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after coughing and sneezing and before and after meal preparation, eating and using the toilets,” CARPHA has noted. Alternatively, CARPHA noted that “persons may use an alcohol-based hand-sanitizer; avoid contact with (Continued on page 49)

Sunday January 27, 2019

Guyana to host two major int’l conferences at once Guyana is getting ready to host two very major international conferences simultaneously this week at the Guyana Marriott and the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC). CANTO, one of the leaders in Information C o m m u n i c a t i o n Technologies (ICTs) in the Caribbean and the Americas, is holding its 35th Annual General Meeting and Mini ICT Expo at the Guyana Marriott Hotel from today, Sunday 27 to Wednesday 30 January. Minister of Public Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , Catherine Hughes, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address during the Opening Ceremony for C A N TO’s A G M w h i c h begins at 6.00 pm. GTT is the official host of the AGM, and all are collaborating with Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA), a London-based ICT trade body that represents the interests of private sector mobile network operators worldwide. In addition, aside from the AGM’s agenda, GSMA is working with the Public Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Ministry to organize a special one-day workshop on Wednesday 30 January at the conference venue. The Tech4Girls workshop is designed for female secondary school students to encourage them to pursue careers in ICTs. The girls will have the opportunity to interact with female industry leaders while they learn to use the Raspberry Pi kit, Unix Commands and the Google Voice Box, along with other devices and apps. The Ministry is handling the logistics for the workshop. At the same time, preparations for the meeting of the Committee implementing the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) have moved into

high gear at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC). The conference, carrying the acronym CRIC17, will take place from tomorrow Monday 28 to Wednesday 30 January under the auspices of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission. This is the first time that an event with such global magnitude is taking place in Guyana, since the 1972 Non-Aligned foreign Ministers conference. The entire complex at Liliendaal including lawn space is being utilized for additional break-out rooms, the exhibition site, and facilities for interpreters, among others. Approximately 400 delegates from about 96 member countries of the United Nations are expected to descend on Guyana to participate in the conference. The emerging hydrocarbon sector has catapulted this country onto the world stage. With increasing world attention come higher demands for a broader range of products and services including conference and training facilities, exhibition and banquet space, with support services delivered at international standards. The Arthur Chung Conference Center is a gift from the government of the People’s Republic of China. It first opened in 2006, and in 2015 was re-named in honour of Guyana’s first President who served from 1970 to 1980. The centre underwent major rehabilitation after ten years of use and was reopened in June 2018 completely refurbished and modernized with new digital equipment and systems. Since its recommissioning, the ACCC has become the chosen venue for local and international business events including the November 2018 International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Air Transport summit.

CARPHA urges good... From page 48 others by staying home if they are sick; cleaning and disinfecting surfaces regularly.” Meanwhile, CARPHA has noted that vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent the disease, pointing out that “safe and effective vaccines have been available and used for over 60 years.” Vaccination, it has noted,

too, is especially important for health workers and people at higher risk of serious influenza complications, such as the very young, pregnant women, the elderly and chronically ill persons, and for people who live with or care for high risk individuals. For more information on vaccination, persons can contact their Ministry of Health or community health centre.

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Imported Jewelry Can Pose Danger Foreign-made jewelry is a potential source of lead exposure, according to public health officials. A 1-year-old boy living in New York City had a rapid increase in blood lead levels, and the likely source of the exposure was traced to a Cambodian amulet made from knotted string and metallic beads, according to researchers from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the CDC. Testing revealed that the beads contained 45 percent lead, the researchers reported in Jan. 28 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The boy had worn the amulet — “something to protect

him,” his father said — since he was 3 months old, and had been seen putting it in his mouth. “Healthcare providers and public health workers should consider traditional customs when seeking sources of lead exposure in Southeast Asian populations,” the authors wrote. Healthcare professionals should ask parents — particularly from Southeast Asian families — about the use of amulets, they added, noting that educational efforts about the risk of lead poisoning from jewelry are needed for immigrant families. An accompanying editorial note pointed out that the

CDC recommends blood lead testing for internationally adopted and refugee children and that the New York City health department recommends testing all children with recent travel to foreign countries. Although the most common source of lead exposure in young children is paint, other sources have been increasingly identified. That is particularly true in immigrant communities because of the use of lead-containing products from their country of origin, such as spices, food, candy, cosmetics, health remedies, ceramics or pottery, and jewelry. For the case of the 1-yearold boy, routine lead testing

showed an elevated blood lead level of 10 micrograms/ dL. According to the National Institutes of Health lead concentrations in blood should be less than 10 micrograms/ dL in children and less than 20 micrograms/dL in adults. Because he lived in a household with a cousin who had had lead poisoning, he had also been tested at 6 months. His blood lead level was just 1 microgram/dL then. A risk assessor from the Environmental Protection Agency visited the home to look for potential sources of the lead exposure. The boy’s father denied using any imported products, and the assessor failed to find any po-

tential sources of exposure. Three months later, the boy’s blood level doubled to 20 micrograms/dL. The boy’s father again denied that the child wore jewelry or charms, but eventually admitted that the child had worn an amulet acquired at a Cambodian market since he was 3 months old. A second home inspection identified one area of paint with an elevated lead level, as well as imported spices and rice. Testing revealed that the food products did not have elevated lead content. Within eight days of the amulet being removed from the home, the boy’s blood lead level decreased to 14 mi-

crograms/dL. About five weeks later — after the lead paint was reported to be removed — the boy’s blood lead level was 10 micrograms/ dL, and five months after the amulet was removed, the level was down to 5 micrograms/ dL. “Although other factors might have contributed to the child’s overall lead burden,” the researchers wrote, “the most likely source identified was the amulet, based on its high lead content, statements that the child had been observed mouthing it, and the rapid decrease in the child’s blood lead level after its removal.” http:// www.everydayhealth.com.

Multivitamins: Should You Take One? Our bodies need many different vitamins and minerals to function properly. Vitamins and minerals also offer us protection against a host of ailments, including heart disease and some cancers, such as colon and cervical cancer. The good news is that we can get most of the vitamins and minerals our bodies need daily by choosing the right foods and eating a wide variety of them. Still, many people take a multivitamin daily as an insurance policy — just to be sure they are getting all the vitamins and minerals that their bodies require. “A multivitamin is a good idea for the trace elements,” says Donald Novey, MD, an integrative medicine physician with the Advocate Medical Group in Park Ridge, Ill. “You want a multivitamin for all those little things at the bottom of the ingredients list. The ones at the top of the list are familiar and the ones we can’t avoid if we’re eating enriched foods. It’s the trace elements at the bottom that are the ones often missing.” Trace elements include chromium, folic acid, potassium, iron, manganese, selenium, and zinc. DAILYVITAMIN: OUR NEEDS CHANGE WITHAGE Vitamin supplements can be particularly important during certain stages of our lives, Dr. Novey says. For example, women in their childbearing years can benefit from folic acid, which decreases the risk of some birth defects. A pregnant woman needs a multivitamin, starting in the first trimester, to ensure that the baby receives proper nutrition. Active and older women can benefit from increased calcium, which can help prevent bone

loss and fractures. Vegetarians also can benefit from taking extra calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamins B12 and D. Does it matter what time of day you take a multivitamin? Not really, says Stephen Bickston, MD, AGAF, professor of internal medicine and director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Virginia Commonwealth University Health Center in Richmond. However, he says, some people find it helpful to take vitamins at the same time every day. If it becomes part of their routine, they are less likely to forget. Also, he says, some people feel that if they take their vitamin with food, it is less likely to cause stomach upset. “I often recommend that people take a chewable vitamin,” Dr. Bickston says, “because they seem to be well tolerated, even in people who have serious digestive conditions, which is what I deal with in my practice.” DAILY VITAMIN: TIPS FOR SHOPPING FOR THE RIGHTMULTIVITAMIN Do you need to buy brand name vitamins? Novey says vitamins are like any other consumer product: “You get what you pay for.” He suggests shopping for vitamins in health food or natural food stores. Read the label and make sure its expiration date is at least a few months away. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s advice on how much to take — or the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) — is often written as “% DV” for percentage of daily value on the label. However, be careful because the DVs on the label may not take into consideration the different requirements for age and gender as RDAs do.

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Is your hand sanitizer safe? The FDA wants to know Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are everywhere these days, and the Food and Drug Administration wants to know more about them. It requested more scientific evidence Wednesday to prove that hand sanitizers are both safe and effective. In particular, the FDA will be investigating whether sanitizers might be harmful to pregnant women and children. Used by millions of Americans daily and often repeatedly, over-the-counter sanitizers are meant to reduce bacteria when hand-washing is either inconvenient or impossible. Specifically, the agency wants to know more about three ingredients in these products: ethanol (or ethyl alcohol), isopro-

pyl alcohol and benzalkonium chloride. Ethyl alcohol is a primary alcohol and isopropyl a secondary alcohol; though related, they have different chemical properties and absorbency. High-concentration exposure to ethyl alcohol (PDF) may harm a fetus, while isopropyl alcohol (PDF) can irritate the eyes and skin, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. Benzalkonium chloride, which is in a range of products from burn treatments to spermicides to floor cleaners, possesses antimicrobial properties. In animal studies, benzalkonium chloride had lethal effects on rodents when taken orally in repeated large doses,

according to the European Medicines Agency (PDF). The FDA’s concerns are based on those of the agency’s independent advisory committee, which reviewed scientific data on these ingredients. H o w e v e r, t h e f e d e r a l agency has not called for the products to be removed from the market. Originally, the FDA reviewed these antiseptics in the 1970s. Since then, many things have changed, including how frequently people use them. Also, new technologies can detect low levels of antiseptics in the body, and the FDA knows more about how that might affect a person’s health. Over the past seven years,

90% of all antiseptic rubs have used ethanol or ethyl alcohol as their active ingre-

dient. More information is needed about how repeated exposure to this and the other

active ingredients impacts the body, the agency noted. http://edition.cnn.com.

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If the issue of inclusionary democracy is not settled... (From page 39) see Guyanese being exploited, deprived. The resources of a nation and its laws are meant to be for the benefit and protection of all its people. A government has premier responsibility to create and ensure an environment where citizens do not have to live and feel inconsequential in their land. But this feeling persists, daily. Development can never be guaranteed without the people’s involvement, vigilance and militancy. Strong citizens-participation, independent civil society and media, irrespective of political sentiments, must stand up and speak out for the common good, the values of a nation. The responsibility is each one to safeguard the tenets of nationhood, the requirements of nation-building, and the pursuit of development. We must not blink or shirk. There is much talk about a Local Content Policy on Oil and Gas. These resources are playing major factors in galvanising the desire to secure or win political office. A policy of this nature, designed with the well-being of Guyanese in mind, must have the input of stakeholders and become law. Measures must be put in place to safeguard indigenous labour, business or worker. We have to move now before the deluge hits our shores. Be it known, there is no need to be elected to Government to honour or demand what the Constitution mandates of inclusionary democracy. There is no need to make a constitutional requirement a promise or await election to make the promise a reality. Do it now. Procrastinating on this fundamental tenet of our system of governance is not only a violation, but most importantly, depriving the people of what is rightly theirs, i.e.- a seat at the table to determine how our resources could best be exploited with our interest as primary.

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Moves apace to make Region Ten agriculture future fruitful – Regional Chairman The future is looking especially bright for Region Ten especially when it comes to the agriculture sector. At least this is according to Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council [RDC], Mr. Renis Morian, as he announced ambitious plans for the Region this year. His disclosure followed a meeting with the Region’s Chairman of the Agriculture Committee during which discussions were had on a number of initiatives, projects and programmes, which are expected to help boost the agriculture sector significantly. The Region was not so long ago able to achieve its first established agriculture co-operative society Madena Co-op Society Limited. This has been operating on a 500,000 plus acres of land. According to Morian, the Region has held discussions with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority [NDIA] to assist with some drainage related issues to which an affirmative response has been forthcoming. “We have a project document that we are about to complete. It will be sent to the Minister of Agriculture for some support in this area, and we are working to complete this document so that we can get going,” Morian said. Taking into account that the Co-op Society is already operational, the Regional Chairman disclosed that efforts are being made to have some 300 limes, 300 grafted oranges and 300 sour-sop plants planted permanently in the first quarter of this year. He said that this will be planted along with regular

cash crop plants on the 500,000 acres of farm land that has been secured. To further boost the knowledge and skills of those working along with the Co-op Society, an exploratory visit has been planned with a view to examining and or modelling farms with a view of fostering the continued development of agriculture in the Region. An initial exploratory visit had caused officials to visit the work of some farmers, an undertaking, which was thwarted by persistent rainfalls. Morian said that efforts will be made to revisit the farmers to examine their drainage capabilities. He went on to point out that because of the agricultural works being done at another farm, road expansion works have begun. “We are using our own equipment plus with the support from residents, we are able to widen the road as we seek to create a farm to market road,” Morian shared. One of the primary plans, according to Morian, is pushing agriculture in schools to establish shade houses. This is a deliberate move, he noted, since the Region is on a mission to have shade houses at the various secondary schools. Already some of the schools with shade rooms are the Linden Multilateral, New Silver City Secondary, Linden Foundation and Wisburg Secondary.According to the Regional Chairman, too, his administration is looking at a regional model experimental farm, noting that it would be executed in one of the schools’ compounds but managed by the region. “It’s an experimental project, so

shortly we will be going out and looking at several schools, their security, among other things, so as to decide which school this project would be best suited for in terms of land availability,” he said. He, however, noted that the project will also have some amount of involvement and participation by the students, stressing that agriculture will continue to play a major role in the development of Guyana since the Region has the finances to spearhead such initiatives.“My focus, this year, is to concentrate on investment in agriculture. “I

must say that there are several investors who are waiting because they have several issues so we are hoping to build up a better relationship with Lands and Surveys so that these things can be processed more quickly. “We also want to have a better working relationship with National Drainage and Irrigation because as you know they play a very integral part in terms of drainage and now they are tasked with doing drainage all over the country which is good for us,” Morian said. As the Region moves to

Regional Chairman, Mr. Renis Morian. fast-track its agriculture plans, the Regional Chairman divulged plans to visit the Minister of Agriculture before the end of this month. “We want to outline to him what we have planned

and that we are seeking his support,” said Morian as he revealed that the region has commenced plans for a second hosting of a Food and Agricultural Exhibition, which is slated for September.

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STANDARDS IN FOCUS

GNBS to enhance monitoring of products under its purview The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) under the Standards Act of 1984 and amendment of 1997 intends to do more under its Product Compliance Programme in the monitoring of some fifteen categories of imported and locally manufactured products. Through the aggressive monitoring of products for compliance to requirements of national standards the quality of some products offered for sale to consumers will improve. Currently, products monitored by the GNBS are Domestic electrical appliances, Tyres (new and used), textiles, garments, footwear, PVC pipes, Weighing and measuring devices, Furniture, Gas stoves, Cigarettes, Safety matches, Safety helmets, Cellular phones, Christmas Tree and decorative lighting outfits and Toys and playthings. The list of products monitored by the GNBS can grow based on the availability of relevant standards for products, especially if consumers are complaining of their poor quality. In fact, the GNBS is collaboratively working with the Government Electrical Inspectorate (GEI) to put the necessary system in place to commence the monitoring of electrical fitting and equipment based on newly developed standards. Over the years, there have been complaints made by electricians and homeowners regarding the quality of these items.

Monitoring of products is usually challenging but the efforts are rewarding. During last year (2018), a total of 288 importers, 49 used tyre dealers, 167 cellular phone dealers, 7 local manufacturer and 3 manufacturers of scales were registered under the GNBS Product Compliance Programme. In addition, the GNBS was successful in conducting 2,250 inspections at Ports-ofentry and at importers’ bonds and warehouses. A number of products were seized or destroyed because they failed to meet relevant requirements. The monitoring of products in any country for compliance to standards is essential to ensure consumers get the level of satisfaction and benefits they need from such products. This can only be achieved if there are established national monitoring mechanisms and systems in place to ensure that goods offered for sale are of acceptable quality. These mechanisms and systems must be grounded legally and guided by the requirements of standards and other technical requirements. It is important to note that the GNBS does not monitor foods, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, plants and animals, meats and seafood as is the perception of many. It is only mandated to develop national standards pertaining to these commodities and monitoring is done by other Regulatory Authorities. The GNBS will continue

GDF ranks accused of rape to stand trial in High Court

Accused: Isaiah Rawlins [right] and Rawlston Reid Two GDF ranks who were charged with rape committed on a 26-year-old woman on the Essequibo Coast, have been committed to stand trial in the high court. The decision was made on last Monday after the accused, Rawlston Reid, 22, and Isaiah Rawlins, 21, appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam in the Charity Magistrate court on last Monday. The prosecution indicated that the rape accused have been committed to stand trial in the high court since there is sufficient evidence for them to be tried before a judge and a jury. The ranks made their first court appearance before Magistrate Esther Sam in Suddie Magistrate Court on November 8, 2018 and were both granted $300,000 bail each.

to monitor the quality of products that fall under its purview to ensure compliance to available standards and guidelines, which will

ultimately provide consumer protection and satisfaction. Importantly, Importers, manufacturers and dealers and even consumers; all

have a significant role to play in ensuring quality when selecting, manufacturing and selling products. For further information,

please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 2190065, 219-0066 or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org

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Rottweiler & Mastiff pups for sale, 8 weeks old #6986796 1 foreign used komatsu excavator for sale, 2010, 3,103 hrs. Serious enquiries only. Call/Whatsapp #677-8104 Land (Bamia, Highway) & used heavy duty machinery. Contact Susan on 611-2113/ 642-3749/ 648-6309 The #1 Guyanese artist on canvas in history. for art students. Don’t believe it? www.paintingsron.com

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Sunday January 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

Newly constructed 2 bedroom apt in a safe and healthy environment. Call# 698-6496, 622-6512 1 bedroom apt for working couple/single person $35,000 monthly. Light and Water included. Lodge. Call: 6230076 3 Bedroom bottom flat apartment W.B.Dem. 689-3699 House and apartment to rent from 1st February 2019, all utilities, West Minister WBD. Call: 674-5779 Self-contained rooms to rent in Prashad Nagar. Tel#2272993 “AA Eccles” 4 BR fully furnished home, polished wood floors, AC, parking for 8 vehicles, US$ 3,800. Call 6537139 / 645-0944 Four 2 BR fully furnished luxury apartments near MovieTowne including gym, game-room and bar. US$1,500. Call 653-7139 / 645-0944 Six 2 BR luxury apartments in GT. Fully furnished. Secure parking. US$1,200. Call 6537139 / 645-0944 Prime business location on Sandy Babb Street. US$1,000. Call 653-7139 / 645-0944

Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665/6493750

Contract cars at City Taxi Service 8 Vlissengen Rd. Tel: 226-7150 One female domestic worker to work in Trinidad. Age 2535. Contact 1868-386-5302 Factory workers male & female. Apply in person to: R.P’s Enterprise Area ‘K’ Le Resouvenir E.C.D. 220-2818 or 3710 Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic- Call: 223-7500 Monday to Saturday 8:15am4:15pm Office clerk, Senior/Junior CXC English/Mathematics, Computer knowledge an asset. Call: 223-7500 One hair dresser and one nail technician to work. Contact# 698-3018 Relief guard 2 days a week. Handyman. Must have a bicycle and cellphone. 2275536/ 223-0504 Wanted land to buy. Parfaite Harmonie, Farm, Providence, Tuschen, Diamond, Herstelling, Eccles, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt. Call: 666-2326 TM & Model M truck drivers for interior. Call 223-5273/4 Driver/purchasing clerk. Car/ van/lorry license. Call 6166988 Live in shop assistant and attractive experienced waitress. Must have secondary education. Salary $20,000 wkly. 610-3974 Wanted experience hire car taxi drivers at Ramada Princess Hotel (Providence) Tel: 6165419, 265-7074 1-Male able-bodied clerk. Contact #231-2029/616-5954 We buy land in Herstellng, Farm, Eccles, Providence, Parfaite Harmonie www.paintingsron.com #6117223/656-0701 Land with foundation and c o l u m n , www.paintingsron.com #6481635/656-0701

VACANCY

VACANCY

Cooks, Handyboys, Roti/ Puri makers, Apply at Shanta’s 225 Camp St

One Tutor/Nanny to teach 3 year old boy from 9:50pm. Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb St

Salon for rental. Hair & nail stations available. New Market Street. 638-1106. Massage room available

Immediate vacancy exists for male operators to work shift @ Del Ice Co. Training Provided. Call 231-1408/ 642Earn up to $5000 daily selling 8181 hotdogs. Food handlers needed. Contact Sean #667- Chef, assistant cook and night 2189 supervisor. Call us on 2257933 or visit 172 Sheriff Street. Driver/Salesman, Security Guards, Handyman, Male factory worker needed. Bulldozer Operator, Part time Must have police clearance. Mechanic. # 266 4427 For more info call: 223-0090 Experienced salesman 40-45 yrs with driver license. Must know to write bills/calculate. Keyyfood McDoom Village. General Domestic with cooking experience for East Bank. #614-4358 Vacancy for skill carpenter. Apply at Alabama Trading at 65 Robb St Bourda Urgent 1 male with cooking experience to work in multiple areas. Contact X’s Grill & Cuisine # 695-6550/656-9313 Natural Beauty Salon & Spa needs an experienced hair dresser & professional makeup artist. Contact#652-5800 Cashier for the interior. #2237165 Camp Manager for the interior.#223-7165

Opening soon - Restaurant @ Parika E.B.E. Looking for Indian & Chinese cook & waitress. Contact# 650-0402, 260-4124, 260-4018 Cook and waitress needed to work in a bar. Contact# +592 676-7884 LAND FOR SALE Transported land 11.6 acres. Lot 15 public road. #2 Village W.C.B. Price $18M. Contact 686-4818, 648-7109 Parfaite Harmonie 2M 1.3M. Farm 4.5M 5.5M. Providence. Tuschen. Herstelling. Eccles. Uitvlugt. Call: 666-2326 Measurement 61’x125, transferable and clean. Price $8.5M in Diamond. Call: 6674867(Ram) 7 acres located in Garden of Eden. Price $45 Million , just off main road. Call: 672-1920

Vacancy for Delivery Clerk. Apply at 65 Robb Street, Bourda Continental Park. Land size 208x97. Price $40M neg. Call One puri and roti maker. Apply llewellyn & llewellyn Real with written application to Estate #672-1920 Beacon Cafe. For more Transported lots in information call 225-9409 Ulverston Berbice. Private Cashier (Shift 7am-3pm & and gated community. Call 3pm-11pm) Submit or Whatsapp 346-818-0822 Application to: Shell Service Station Providence EBD or Schnoord $4M Dairy $3.5M Email:Shellramsburg@gmail.com & $2.2M Parfaite $1.6M Farm $3.5M & 3M Herstelling (4th $4M Vacancy for one shop Bridge) attendant #618-3575/691-7123 www.paintingsron.com #648-1635/651-1969 Looking for a job & PEN PAL educational services? Contact The Job Centre 43 Croal & Guyanese/Canadian male Alexander Street or call 600- seeking female career 8457/683-8765 oriented 24-28 in marriage. Tel# 664-1966 One security guard. Apply to the Manager, Herdmanston 35 year old male, looking for Lodge, Lamaha & Peter Rose a female companion. Tel# St 672-3445 Driver/Salesman. Cook - Age 30-45. Submit application to Survival Supermarket. 16 Vlissengen Rd. & Duncan Street, Newtown

Guyanese male seeking female partner to be in a relationship. Call# 638-9806 Continued on page 69

Sunday January 27, 2019

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CONSUMER CONCERNS

Could Georgetown regain its past glory? The City of Georgetown in the 19th century and in the first five decades of the 20th century had the enviable reputation on being the “garden city” of the West Indies. It was one of the few completely wooden cities in the world since there were no brick buildings. It was spotlessly clean, well drained and all the amenities were available. Then from the 1960’s the City began to decline in a rising crescendo and by 2000 the quality of life had declined beyond recognition. Le Repentir Cemetery is a microcosm of this decline,

where from once being maintained like a well-kept park with various eras of funerary architecture, it became a jungle with tombs being vandalized and vagrants living in the tombs and oftentimes attacking mourners. At this present juncture, the City has an opportunity of ushering in an era of renewal and rebirth. There is a new Mayor and City Council who were elected at the recent Local Government Elections and they seem to be accepting their responsibilities with enthusiasm and intelligence. This was gleaned when the new Mayor and City Council

PROPERTY FOR SALE

From page 68

House and land available at Parfaite, Tuschen, Diamond etc. Contact Pacific Development Inc. 223-6035/ 604-4909 House for sale, Eccles Housing Scheme. 7 bedrooms, 3 toilets and bathrooms enclosed. $28.5M. Call 642-0391/ 001447587233657

CAR RENTAL

By PAT DIAL

House lots for sale, 200k downpayment, 20k monthly #622-1957 Commercial Property, double lot next to Harbour Bridge,East Bank... must go #622-1957 Large 3 bedrooms classic house in solid condition- all amenities, huge yard, security. Price negotiable, Versailles WBD. Call: 660-3415/609-7766

DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL:225-7126/ 2263 6 9 3 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM/ WWW.D OLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/6560087, ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM

6 bedrooms house on Reliable Rentals: Top quality transported double-lot, all cars, SUV’s at very low rates. amenities, private yard/ Call: 227-2322/601-2622 parking. Located in Georgetown. Call: 660- AIDAN’S CAR 3415,609-7766 RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 Diamond EBD, 2 storey SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD concrete, 6 bedrooms, FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY secured parking etc. Ready to OUTINGS, CHEAPEST move in. Price negotiable, RATE . Call: 698-7807 serious enquiries only. Call: WING’S CAR & PICKUP 625-3435 RENTAL: LOW DOWN CHEAP Property located on Hadfield PAYMENT, St. Land size 26x120. asking RATES,SPECIAL OFFERS! price $19 Million. Call . CALL: 690-6494 llewellyn & llewellyn Real Estate #672-1920 Property for sale- by owner in Tushen New H/s EBE. Contact#612-3650. Please call after 4pm-8pm MondaySaturday, Sunday 6am-8pm Transported Double Lot in Rose Hall. Opportunity for Duplex Apartments. Call or Whatsapp #346-818-0822

held its inaugural statutory meeting and were addressed by the Minister of Communities Hon. Ronald Bulkan. Mr Bulkan, in his speech, in effect laid out a programme for the Council. But before Mr Bulkan’s address, the Council had the benefit of the Kennard Report. Government had appointed a Commission of Inquiry (COI) under the chairmanship of Justice Cecil Kennard. Justice Kennard took evidence at all levels and his findings were not only revealing but in effect provided an agenda for the present City Hall. The Report shows the weaknesses of the various sectors of the City Council and in particular its administration. The Report made suggestions of how matters could be corrected and bettered. One notable area which caught the serious attention

of the public were the vestiges of corruption which so negatively affected the Council’s administration. The Report named a number of officials who should be disciplined. Among these were those who were responsible for causing the business community millions of dollars in losses. We recall two such cases: Churches, the fast foods chain of restaurants had completed all arrangements to establish a branch in Stabroek Square. In this process it had expended over $30 million and merely had to have City Hall’s final permission before opening the branch. City Hall never granted permission over several years and the company had to abandon establishing the new restaurant. Similarly, the old Booker zinc bond in Water Street was to have been transformed into a fine architecturally

designed and constructed multi-story building which would have beautified and immeasurably improved downtown Georgetown. But though the owners had satisfied all criteria, City Hall kept withholding its permission for the project to be finalized. When Minister of Communities Bulkan delivered his address at the inaugural meeting of the new City Council on Monday 14th January, he further widened the parameters of Justice Kennard’s Report. Likewise, the Local Government Commission started to effectuate the Report within its remit and summoned several allegedly culpable officers. The Public are critically looking on, confident that the LGE would be able to do their work without fear or favour. Minister Bulkan’s address was wide- ranging and did cover the main challenges of

City Hall but the problems are so multifarious that it was impossible for him to cover all of them. Among the two main omissions, probably because they are so obvious, were the renewal of the Town Hall building and the complete revival of Le Repentir Cemetery, He began by reminding the new Council that three years ago President Granger had addressed the then Council and among his valuable suggestions was the establishment of a National Capital Planning Commission to assist the Council. The present Council could take up the challenge. Such a Commission would be able to ensure long term planning and bring more focus to city government. He touched on corruption and transparency and pointed out that that it is a very few people who bring the Council into disrepute and not the overwhelming majority of the workforce. In meeting this problem, he suggested integrating into the financial and administrative sectors a series of checks and balances. He also reminded that the public do not wish to be told of achievements; more importantly, they want to know the cost and expenditure for such achievements. He also offered to use the Audit Department of his Ministry to do annual audits of the Council’s accounts. He enjoined the Council to cultivate good relations with the business community and to promote dialogue between the Council and the Private Sector. The council should create an investmentfriendly climate and should, for example, take steps to reduce unnecessary delays in the issuance of building permits. He also mentioned some of the continuous problems which have to be confronted such as illegal vending and it proliferation, drainage, security, solid waste management, squatting on municipal reserves and zoning. The Council of 2019 using the findings of the Kennard Inquiry and those of past Reports such as the Burrowes Report and the Justice Prem Persaud Report, and the Minister’s guidance, would be able to develop a programme which could begin the process of restoring Georgetown to its former glory.

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Regional Council protests NDIA takeover of East Berbice drainage works The Regional Chairman, REO and Vice Chairman at the special meeting this week.

The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) in Guyana is set to take control of all drainage and irrigation projects in Region Six, according to the Regional Chairman David Armogan. During an emergency meeting this week with the Vice Chairman Dennis Deroop, Regional Executive Officer Kim Williams Stephens and Councillors of the Regional Democratic Council, Region Six, Armogan said that the new development is of concern to regional officials. No consultations were done between NDIA and the region, he added. He noted that that the only indication of such a development was through a letter that was sent by NDIA stating that

the government has given the go ahead to manage the D&I affairs of Region Six. It was highlighted that over the years the region has been responsible for certain aspects of drainage and irrigation while the NDIA through the water users association has been responsible for other aspects of the D&I. According to Armogan, the NDIA is trying the reverse the regular process through the Cabinet decision. However, “no cabinet memorandum was seen”. In light of the new development, Armogan said that the region’s budgetary allocation for 2019, catered for D&I works to be executed. He said, “That is what we knew all the time and that is what we budgeted for in 2018 to make sure that we put enough money in the budget to deal with that. “We were responsible for the primary system and the drainage and irrigation system was responsible for the main drainage structures like Number 43, Eversham, Adventure, etc. Now they have written to us to tell us something else”. Armogan said that the region budgeted $370 M under drainage and irrigation (to take care of cultivation as well as residential areas), however, out of the $370 M appropriated through the national assembly, the NDIA has written requesting over $108M. “This is only a preliminary amount that they have demanded. Maybe at some point during the year they might demand the rest of the money. “That is why this meeting is called, to air our distress for this agreement, to express our frustration and to express our feelings with regards to this new dispensation that is taking place within the regional system.” The Regional Chairman posited that due to what is taking place, emergency issues in relation to the farming sector will not be addressed as they usually would. He questioned, “How is it that we are going to deal with

the people? We have a responsibility as an RDC to the people of the region. This is what we do in the region. Our region is an agricultural region and therefore most of the work, the biggest slice besides health and education, is agriculture so this is a big problem for us.” He said they have decided to request that the cabinet rescind the decision. PPP Councillor, Zamal Hussain, opined that the regional administration plays an important role in the day to day running of the region. He expressed his disappointment when the topic was raised “some months ago” when it was indicated that NDIA will take over monies from the regional budget. But lo and behold, the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Communities have given their assurance in the national assembly that they would respect or they would not change any system that is working well. Hussain pointed out that there was an advertisement in the state run newspapers where several canals were already tendered by NDIA with no consultations, no approval of the transfer of money. “But this is the high handedness of this agency, that they without any consultation with the RDC decided to tender for the job so actually they are saying we are not needed, the RDC is being bypassed. “If we don’t put our foot down the entire budget will be taken away from us”. He said that many persons will be out of jobs, since the persons that are pre-qualified in the region to tender for the jobs were not informed of the new direction taken. Hussain said that some of the works under the NDIA currently in the region “have failed”. “There are supposed to be about nine excavators in this region. You tell me how many working. These are managed directly by NDIA. Not more than two working. The mini-excavator; same thing.”

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Agri., Minister appoints sacked PS, George Jervis, in organizational shakeup T

he Ministry of Agriculture has a new organizational structure with former Permanent Secretary, George Jervis, who was sacked, now in a more power f u l position. The situation has the m i n i s t r y ’s s t a f f e r s , a number of them who were bypassed, asking whether Minister Noel Holder would have gone through the proper p r o c e d u r e s . Under the structures of ministries, the minister is supposed to be the policy maker while the PS is the one that runs the daily operations. H o w e v e r, in recent months, a new organisational chart has seen changes in the ministry. Jervis is reportedly now the Chief Technical Officer (CTO), a position that reportedly equivalent to the PS on the new organizational structure. It will be recalled that Jervis was investigated by the

police’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and his services terminated. However, the ministry, under a new minister decided to bring back Jervis, appointing him head of the Agricultura l Sector Development Unit (ASDU). His one-year contract came to an end in September. According to agri officials, the new CTO position has now taken over a lot of the responsibilities of the current PS, Delma Nedd. The PS has been left only with responsibilities of the Legal Unit, Personnel, Principal Assistant Secretary (General) and (Finance). According to staffers, there is no immediate indication that Cabinet has approved such appointments. The Cabinet had reportedly stepped in and overturned a previous decision to hire an official from the Guyana Sugar Corporation as the new PS.

The new organizational structure.

According to insiders, there has been other

L-r- Minister Noel Holder with new CTO, George Jervis (2nd r) and other agri officials

U.S. calls on world to ‘pick a side’ on Venezuela; Europeans set to recognize Guaido UNITED NATIONS/ CARACAS (Reuters) - The United States yesterday called on the world to “pick a side” on Venezuela and urged countries to financially disconnect from Nicolas Maduro’s government, while European powers signaled they were set to follow Washington in recognizing Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s rightful leader. In heated back-andforth exchanges at a United Nations Security Council meeting, the opposing camp led by Venezuela and Russia, which has invested heavily in Venezuela’s oil industry, accused Washington of attempting a coup, and lambasted Europeans’ demand that elections be called within eight days. Guaido, who took the helm of the National Assembly on Jan. 5, proclaimed himself interim president on Wednesday. The United States, Canada and a string of Latin American countries

recognized the young leader in quick succession. Maduro, who has led the oil-rich nation since 2013 and has the support of the armed forces, has refused to stand down. But yesterday, Guaido gained support from a key military official. Venezuela’s defense attache to Washington, Colonel Jose Luis Silva, told Reuters that he has broken with the Maduro government and recognized Guaido as interim president. Speaking at the U.N. meeting called by the United States, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Maduro’s “socialist experiment” had caused the economy to collapse and reduced ordinary Venezuelans to rooting through dumpsters for food. “Now it is time for every other nation to pick a side. ... Either you stand with the forces of freedom, or you’re in league with Maduro and his mayhem,” Pompeo told the council. “We call on all members of the Security Council to support

Venezuela’s democratic transition and interim President Guaido’s role.” Pompeo also called on the international community to disconnect their financial systems from Maduro’s regime. Washington has signaled it was ready to step up economic measures to try to drive Maduro from power, but on Saturday Pompeo declined to elaborate on any such plans. By overcoming opposition to holding the U.N. meeting on Saturday, Washington successfully put the global spotlight on Venezuela as a Security Council problem. However, any council action to address the crisis would be blocked by veto-powers Russia and China, diplomats said. Britain, Germany, France and Spain all said on Saturday they would recognize Guaido if Maduro failed to call fresh elections in eight days, an ultimatum Russia said was “absurd” and the Venezuelan foreign minister called “childlike.”

incidents at the ministry which now calls for a probe. “We had two senior officials who have not been paid 10 months now. Their gratuities have been withheld in a clear case of victimization.” According to the

officials, the ministry is clearly on a path of creating a situation of cronyism. “This situation is shameful and dangerous, people are being held hostage by a political boss and there is a deafening silence from t h e g o vernment. It is

appalling that this kind of discrimination and open violation of Constitution and public service rules can happen now.” Kaieteur News could not immediately make contact with Minister Holder for a comment.

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Region Two launches Mash with confidence walk

T

he Region Two Democratic Coun cil hosted for the first time yesterday, a confidence walk, which signaled the commencement of Mashramani activities within the region. The walk commenced around 06:15 hrs yesterday after participants assembled at the rendezvous point at Coffee Grove, Essequibo Coast. Participating in the walk were members of the Guyana Defence Force, the Fire service, public servants, the Region Two tourism association and students from the Essequibo technical institute. The participants who numbered almost 200, briskly walked from the rendezvous point to the RDC office, Anna Regina in full support of Mashramani 2019. Assistant Regional Ex-

ecutive Officer, Ms. Yvette Tafares-Hastings in addressing the participants yesterday, highlighted some of the region’s activities for Mashramani 2019. There will be Clash of drums, where people with drumming skills will be performing at the Anna Regina car park, a day of sport on February 15 at Anna Regina Centre ground and some other activities.February 22 at 8:00 PM will be the flag raising ceremony that will feature a cultural show. The customary road march and costume competitions will be hosted on February 23.” Also addressing the participants yesterday was the Regional Executive Officer, Mr. Dennis Jaikaran. Jaikaran commended those in attendance for their participation.

“Scenes from yesterday’s confidence walk in Region Two, which ushered in activities for Mash 2019.”

“It is a clear indication and expression of the confidence that we have in our selves.” He also urged all to participate from the heart as con-

trary to participating begrudgingly. Mashramani which is celebrated in Guyana to mark the country’s republic anniver-

sary, will be celebrated this year under the theme “Celebrate 49 with Victory in Mind- Rediscovering El Dorado.”

Top Cop escapes unhurt after vehicle crashes into water truck Police Commissioner Leslie James force-issued vehicle crashed into a water truck yesterday afternoon at Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara. The commissioner was en route from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to Georgetown, after returning from a trip overseas. The police commissioner was with his personal assistant and driver when the Land Cruiser collided with GWW 9079, a water van attached to “Horizon Spring” water company, and driven by Romel Lallchan. The circumstances which led to the accident were unclear. But what was clear from claims by first responders, is both vehicle were heading to Georgetown when the commissioner’s vehicle crashed into the back of the water van on the highway mere feet from Second Street, Covent Garden. The impact sent the water vehicle ploughing into the rear of another truck that was parked at the side of the road at the time. Lallchan and a porter were immediately pinned in the water van. The commissioner’s vehicle went on to hit another truck parked on the side of the road. The front wheel of the police vehicle broke off; and the vehicle ended up facing the opposite direction. Public spirited citizens immediately rendered assistance. One witness claimed that a man in a black

Commissioner Leslie James suit came out of the blue and white Land Cruiser seemingly shaken. The commissioner’s assistant who was in the front seat at the time was said to have sustained injuries. The Guyana Fire Service with the assistance of villagers had to pry the front of the water van open to free the driver and porter who were pinned in the vehicle. The two men were immediately taken to the

Diamond Regional Hospital where one was treated for multiple injuries while another was being treated for a broken leg. The men were then transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for further treatment. Up to press time the Guyana Police Force has not issued a statement as to what exactly transpired and who is responsible for the accident.

Sunday January 27, 2019

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Parliament’s life likely to be extended -Commissioner Benn

Fallouts from no-confidence vote… With a continuing stalemate between Government and the Opposition on a date for elections, it appears that the life of the Parliament will be extended.This past week, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), met to assess the readiness of the entity to hold elections within 90 days.That period is mandated after a noconfidence vote on December 21 toppled the one-seat majority government.The validity of the vote by Government parliamentarian, Charrandass Persaud, is being challenged in court with the ground-breaking ruling expected this week. That no-confidence vote, under the Constitution, should have set in wheels the mechanics for the holding of early elections, within 90 days.The police are investigating Persaud who flew out to Canada, under the protection of the Canadian High Commission, hours after the vote. He is being accused of bribe-taking and attempting to purchase a large amount of gold. Last week, after being ill and out of office for six weeks, GECOM’s chairman, Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson, returned to head a meeting with commissioners.The commission was briefed on Thursday but the meeting ended abruptly with no dates for a continuation.Under the Constitution, there should be resignation of the Parliament, consequent to the noconfidence vote.On Friday, two representatives,

Government’s Chief Whip, Amna Ally, and the Opposition’s Gail Teixeira, met with the commission to be briefed. However, they now have to go back to their respective parties and inform them that no progress has been made.Rather, it is all up to the parties to make the decisions. According to PPP commissioner, Robeson Benn, yesterday, the meeting with the Chief Whips on Friday lasted about 90 minutes at the Kingston headquarters.In addition to the Chief Whips, the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, and his deputy were present. “The commissioners on both sides gave presentations and we said that elections have to be held by March 1920 which is the limit of the 90 days mandated. From there GECOM had to do the necessary.”According to Benn, GECOM had to present a work place on their activities, matching this against a timeline.“GECOM has not done so. Two commissioners for the Government side- Vincent Alexander and Desmond Trotman- said that there must be house-to-house registration and that GECOM needs time to fill vacancies. They argued that any person can claim the right to vote and that right overrides anything else. We were at an impasse.” According to Benn, Chief Whip Teixeira was set to make a presentation when the Chairman brought the meeting on Friday to an

“abrupt” end. “The Chairman is failing in respect to C o n s t i t u t i o n a l responsibilities. GECOM needs to present a work plan. We need to have them present activities that are not consecutive but should overlap to save time.” According to Benn, the Opposition is saying that there are enough persons already trained and instead of using weekends as suggested by GECOM to conduct training, the idea is to train during the week.

“GECOM is feeding the perception that it is delaying elections. We can’t have that. The two Whips now have to go back to their principals and there is tendency to go in the direction of extending the date. The Government wants months. They have started campaigning. The elections are supposed to be held in 90 days. We are pushing for it.” The PPP fancies its chances at elections with two local government elections showing falling support for

the Coalition Government, moreso for the Alliance For Change, the smaller of the two governing factions. Three and half years into its terms, the historic Coalition Government is under fire for its failure to deliver elections promises. Some seeming missteps and the Charrandass Persaud vote have not been helpful. The closures of the sugar estates and delays in attracting new investments or starting new projects have been blasted by an

opposition whose top members have been the subject of criminal investigations and charges. In fact, the recently named presidential candidate of the PPP, Irfaan Ali, is facing several charges in relation to his role in selling state lands to top PPP officials without valuation of the lands at the so-called “Pradoville Two”, at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara.The fact that Guyana has found oil in large quantities has opened up the stakes even more.

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Sunday January 27, 2019

Sunday January 27, 2019

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Trophy Stall confirms Magnum Mash Cup support... From page 78 North Ruimveldt Group-G Back Circle North East La Penitence BV-B Good-Life Group-H Sparta Boss Mocha Swag Entertainment Gaza Squad Day-1 North East La Penitence vs Good-Life Alexander Village vs Buxton Diamond Swag Entertainment vs Gaza Squad Broad Street vs Quiet Storm Showstoppers vs Ol Skool Ballers Leopold Street vs Ansa McAl Agricola vs Albouystown

Back Circle vs BV-B Future Stars vs North Ruimveldt Sparta Boss vs Mocha Day-2 BV-B vs Good-Life Kingston vs Avocado Ballers Tigerbay vs Rhythm Ballers Gold is Money vs Stabroek Ballers Capital FC vs California Square Kingston vs Avocado Ballers Sophia vs Silver Bullets Sparta Boss vs Gaza Squad Bent Street vs Melanie Day-3 Ansa McAl vs Agricola Sophia vs Rhythm Ballers Stabroek Ballers vs Capital FC Melanie vs Kingston Showstoppers vs Quiet Storm Swag Entertainment vs Mocha

Alexander Village vs North Ruimveldt Silver Bullets vs Tigerbay Back Circle vs North East La Penitence Gold is Money vs California Square Day-4 Mocha vs Gaza Squad Ol Skool Ballers vs Quiet Storm Broad Street vs Showstoppers Back Circle vs Good-Life Buxton Diamond vs North Ruimveldt Gold is Money vs Capital FC Alexander Village vs Future Stars Tigerbay vs Sophia Bent Street vs Avocado Ballers Leopold Street vs Albouystown

Sunday January 27, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Some unexpected calls from friends or colleagues could bring you wonderful news today, Aries. A serendipitous lucky break could end the logjam that has held up the attainment of all your dreams. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Job-related or personal projects are apt to come to a head now. Success is in the air, along with a marked increase in income and acknowledgment from those who matter. GEMINI (May 21–June 2 0 ) If you're currently involved, Gemini, expect to feel a rush of revived passion for your partner. If you aren't currently involved, the one great love of your life could finally appear. CANCER(June21–July22) You know you're intuitive, Cancer, but changes could take place in your brain that elevate your abilities beyond mere intuition. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Don't turn down invitations today, Leo. A group meeting or social event could be thrown together with casual acquaintances, and your relationship with these people could abruptly change. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) A financial windfall could come as the result of a coup that no one expected you to pull off, Virgo. Everyone is likely to be very proud of you - and you will be very pleased with yourself, too. This is only the start of a fortunate new turn in your life.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Wonderful news comes from far away, Libra, possibly involving writing, teaching, or publishing. Creativity combines with heightened intellectual ability to bring success and good fortune to your door today. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) An enterprise you'd long since given up on, perhaps one involving the creative arts, may suddenly come up again, this time as a real opportunity, Scorpio. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Group activities or social events could put you in contact with a new, exciting person. You could feel a strong physical and romantic attraction, Sagittarius. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Whatever you've been trying to accomplish over the past several months could break loose just the way you want it to today. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today might be one of the most fortunate days of your life, Aquarius. Everything you've been striving for romance, money, creative fulfillment - could fall into place at various times today. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Information received through dreams and visions could trigger sudden psychic revelations of solutions to problems you may have been mulling over for weeks. What you realize is likely to clear up any difficulties and pave the way for success.

Day-5 Ansa McAl vs Albouystown North East La Penitence vs BV-B Stabroek Ballers vs California Square Rhythm Ballers vs Silver Bullets Ol Skool Ballers vs Broad Street Avocado Ballers vs Melanie Bent Street vs Kingston Future Stars vs Buxton Diamond Leopold Street vs Agricola Sparta Boss vs Swag Entertainment

GT versus B’dos.. From page 79 make this event a success and we thank the Guyana Boxing Board of Control for giving Pocket Rocket and Hard Judgement Promotions the go ahead to host this card in Linden,” said Rogers. “While Linden haven’t seen professional boxing since 2013, amateur boxing is hosted every year since I returned from Jamaica in 2014. There are limited Professional fights but I working on doing about three to four professional fights and as many amateur fight nights just to keep the sport alive in the mining town Linden. At one time we had one of the best gyms in Guyana in the early years when the Bauxite Bombers was in existence,” informed Rogers, who is also the Hinterland Boxing Coach. Today the Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym in Victory Valley in Wismar is churning out a new crop of talented pugilists from Region 10. “We have Akea Lamzion, the best female amateur boxer in Guyana and some top male junior amateur boxers. Linden have the present middleweight champion of Guyana and the Caribbean middleweight champion, we also have in the amateur ranks, the fastest knock out in the Caribbean when Omar Pollard stopped Trinidadian Edwin Felix in 19 seconds,” disclosed Rogers. Rogers said in the early days Linden Produced Boxers like Terrence Ali, Mortimer Cornell, Conrad Wilson, Kenny Bristol and Ernest Smith among others. “A modern Boxing Gym is needed in Linden and Sports Minister Dr (George) Norton has promised to try to start building one if I can find the land. As soon as the land is available construction should start,” Rogers had revealed a year ago. Rogers said he has land at Block 22 Wismar and added that he contacted the Minister and informed him of this but has not received a response as yet.

Chase slices through... From page 76 the break, England were staring down the barrel and Chase duly performed the final rites as he took the last four wickets for the addition of only 29 runs. With his first ball of the second over following the resumption, he claimed Buttler to an excellent catch by debutant John Campbell at short mid-wicket, to complete his second five-wicket haul in Tests.

And in his next over, Chase got his sixth wicket when Ben Foakes’s (5) attempted sweep found Shimron Hetmyer’s lap at short leg, and Adil Rashid (1) holed out to Kraigg Brathwaite at deep midwicket in the bowler’s next over, to put England on the brink. The next Test starts at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in Antigua next Thursday.

Spooner, Latif wreck... From page80 picked up 3-10, Wayne Bollers 2-8, Ray Seecharran 2-23 and Ntini Permaul 2-23. At GNIC SC, Queen’s College overcame the home team by six wickets. GNIC SC batted first and were bowled out for 78 in 30 overs. Amos Sarwan made 21; Navindra Persaud grabbed 4-12 and Anthony Singh 3-9. Queen’s College replied with 79-4 in 12 overs with Persaud scoring 33 and T. Allen 25. Dwayne Dick claimed 3-15. At, Everest Cricket Club, the host and Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) played to a draw. Ariel Tilku and S. Premchand added 46 for the opening to give Everest CC a decent start before the former went for 13. Premchand struck six fours and two sixes in scoring 51 and shared in useful partner-

ships with R. Mohamed (11) and C. Gilgeous (19). Ushardeva Balgobin then blasted seven fours and five sixes in a robust 81 off 67 balls to propel his team batting. He dominated a sixth wicket stand of 63 with A. Beharry (29) as Everest rattled up 269 in 53.3 overs. Z. Jodah, D. Andrews, C. Pollard and Mavindra Dindyal took two wickets each. GCC lost opener A. Rodrigues for three before L. Seeram and Dindyal added 42 for the second wicket. Seeram hit two fours before he departed for 23 while Dindyal struck five fours in scoring 29. R. Phillips hit three fours and a similar number of sixes in a top score 48 while Z. Jodah made 31 with four fours as GCC responded with 213-6 when their allotted overs (47) expired. S. Premchand had 2-33.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday January 27, 2019

Chase slices through England to set up crushing win BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Off-spinner Roston Chase’s career-best eight-wicket haul propelled a dominant West Indies to their second largest win ever over England, as they crushed the hapless visitors by 381 runs inside four days of the open-

ing Test to take a shock 1-0 lead in the three-match series here yesterday. The 26-year-old bowled brilliantly to take eight for 60 – the second-best performance ever by a West Indies bowler against England – as the tourists, chasing an im-

probable 628 for victory, crumbled meekly for 246, three quarters of an hour after tea at Kensington Oval. Resuming the day on 56 with survival as the only realistic option, left-handed opener Rory Burns led the initial resistance with a top

score of 84 while all-rounder Ben Stokes chipped in with 34 and Jonny Bairstow got 30. Jos Buttler (26) and captain Joe Root (22) got starts but England never came to grips with Chase on a wearing track especially after lunch when they lost four

critical wickets in a damaging slide. They had looked in good stead at lunch on 134 for two but the decline in the second session saw them lose their last eight wickets for 112 runs handing the hosts their third largest Test victory in terms of runs. The day had started brightly when Burns and Keaton Jennings (14) extended their opening stand to 85, to keep the Windies without any immediate success in the morning session. Burns scored quickly, punching 15 fours off 133 balls in just under 3-¼ hours at the crease while Jennings opted for defense as his approach, in his boundary-less nearly 2-¼ hour stay at the crease. Approaching the first hour, West Indies got the breakthrough when fast bowler Alzarri Joseph got Jennings to drive at a full length delivery and edge a catch high to Jason Holder’s left at second slip. Burns then put on another 49 for the second wicket with the fluent Bairstow, in a stand which appeared to be taking England safely to lunch. But Chase breached Burns’s loose forward defensive stroke and bowled him between bat and pad with the penultimate delivery before

the interval. The real drama, however, started almost immediately following the resumption. Off the third ball, captain Joe Root fended off a lifter from speedster Shannon Gabriel to second slip where Holder took the gentle lob but television replays showed the bowler had overstepped. Undaunted, Gabriel struck in his next over when he got Bairstow to glove one through to wicketkeeper Shai Hope, deputising for the injured Shane Dowrich. Root made little of his reprieve when he departed on the stroke of the first hour after lunch, steering Chase to Darren Bravo at slip at 167 for four. England then resisted through a 48-run fifth wicket stand between Stokes and Buttler, the former playing positively in an attempt to transfer England’s pressure. Stokes went after Chase with a boundary to long on before clearing the ropes at long off in the same over. But Chase struck two key blows in the last 13 minutes before tea when he first trapped Stokes lbw and then had Moeen Ali caught at second slip by Holder, driving at the penultimate ball before the break. Tottering on 217 for six at (Continued on page 75)

Sunday January 27, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Rising Star’s SC’s, RG Mining Enterprise

Grand Slam Super 6 on today at Pomona ground The Rising Star’s Sports Club in Collaboration with RG Mining Enterprise will be hosting its Annual “Grand Slam “ knock out Hardball competition in the form of a Super “6” Today at the Pomona Cricket Ground. There should be intense competition between bat and ball as top teams in South Essequibo battle for bragging rights. All teams affiliated to the South Cricket Committee were invited to participate and Norman Fredricks, Chandy Jairam and Javid Azeez are included in the Jaguars line-

up, while Recko Doobay, Bristol and Sydney Richard are expected to turn out for United Warriors. Ravi Beharry, Royan Fredrick and Garfield Phillips are among those in the Aurora Knights Riders unit, while Ramnarine Ragoobeer, Mahendra Basdeo and Ramkisoon will play for Hiberina. Ricardo Peters, Rohit Latchman, Sachin Persaud and Kurty Jones should be on show for Rising star’s, Gavindra Sharma, Moses Ferriera and Andy Dass should play for GT Warriors,

GCA’s NBS 2nd division 40-over cricket

Boodie & Savory hit fifties as Police arrest Ace Warriors at MYO By Sean Devers In scorching heat on the tiny Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) ground, Police arrested Ace Warriors by eight wickets in the only Georgetown Cricket Association’s (GCA) New Building Society (NBS) 40overs second division match played yesterday. Leg-spinner Vishal Jaigobin (3-15) and Darson LaRose (2-19) combined to bowl out Ace Warriors for 145 in 30.1 overs as only Colin McPherson (28) and Devendra Lall (25) reached 25 as the Inner City side lost their last six wickets for just 21 runs. Kevin Boodie who smashed 13 fours and two sixes in a pugnacious 34-ball 68 and a brutal unbeaten 51 from Kemol Savory who faced 25 balls as the Cops galloped to 146-2 in just 13.5 overs as Lall took both of the wickets to fall. Police asked Ace Warriors to bat first on slow and low track and a fast outfield and Rawle Enmore got going with back-to-back drives to the 40yard extra-cover boundary off LaRose in the day’s second over.McPherson was the aggressor and with some audacious shots and dominated the half-century opening stand before Enmore (16) was trapped LBW to LaRose at 511, while Hemchand Persaud had McPherson LBW at 652.Laurel Parks looked set for a useful score before, when on 17, he edged Rocky Hudson to slip at 79-3, while Roger Aarons (19) also failed to build on a start and was run out at 102-4. But the left-handed Lall who hit three fours in his 25

and Yakin Favorit (8) carried the score to 124 with sensible batting before Favorit fell off the bowling of skipper Keston Hardcourt. Favorit was brilliantly caught at midon by Rodrigues diving full length forward to trigger a dramatic collapse with saw Ace Warriors slumping for 124-4 to 145 all out. Miguel Parks (2) was bowled by Jaigobin who also bowled Allister Graham for duck before Lall was removed by LaRose at 141-7. Selwin Collier (8) fell to Jaigobin and Okora Roberts (0) was run out. When the Lawmen began their hunt of the small target, Rodrigues stroked the expensive Miguel Parks past cover for a couple of boundaries, while Boodie, who could have been charged for Police brutally, launched a vicious attack on Parks; flicking him disdainfully for four before clobbering him back over his head for six. Boodie was not done yet and jumped on Favourit like a cat upon a mouse and ripped him to sherds with three pugnacious pulls which reached the fence like a bullet. Rodrigues, the silent partner, was LBW to Lall for 10 at 73-1, while after reaching his 50 from 24 balls with 12 fours and a six, Boodie edged Lall to the Keeper at 93-2. But the left-handed Savory continued his merciless onslaught; hitting Collier for three big hits, the last clearing the roof of the MYO and three to reach his 50 and with four to win Savory pulled Aarons for four to end the contest in emphatic fashion. The competition continues today with four matches, all of which start at 10:00hrs.

while players from Young Guns will be also be keen to showcase their talent and skill with bat and ball. This competition was due to be played off last December but due to the unfavourable weather was rescheduled for today. Chairman of the South Cricket Committee, Andy Ramnarine, who is the also the secretary of Rising Star’s SC, is the coordinator for the event. (Sean Devers)

The Captains & the Trophies to be played for today.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday January 27, 2019

Golden Jaguars commence quest for Gold Cup Qualification with physical evaluation By Franklin Wilson Guyana’s quest to qualify for its first ever Concacaf Gold Cup is closer to reality following the start of preparation by the local based players yesterday at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Training Center Facility, Providence yesterday morning. The 35-players called to trails by the GFF were taken through the paces to ascertain their level of fitness ahead of what would be a rigorous training schedule in the coming days and weeks ahead of the Concacaf Nations League final round match against Belize, here. Today will be the

final day of two-day physical evaluation sessions. GFF Director of Coaches Education Wilson Toledo, who is conducting the physical evaluation aspect of the sessions, informed that they refer to the exercise as the soccer test and it is designed to evaluate the aerobic conditions of the players. He noted that two more tests would be conducted today at the same venue: “It will be a speed test and a power test, like a jump test. We hope to improve - after we know the conditions of the players – the physical levels of the players. As you know, football without a high level of fitness is

impossible to play. We try to make something different here to improve their fitness condition.” Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard, a former national Captain and solid central defender who has now embarked on his coaching career, is in charge of the tactical sessions which will see the players coming together twice per week (Mondays and Wednesdays) staring tomorrow. Once known as the ‘Twin Towers’ when he teamed up with fellow central defender Howard Lowe, Pollard revealed that he is ecstatic about the brand new Training Facility that has been completed (phase one) by the GFF under the FIFA Forward Project.

”Like I told the guys, this facility for me is the best thing, it’s been years that we have been looking for something like this and it has finally come along; this in itself should enhance the national team preparation.” Developing the awareness and intelligence of the players during the tactical sessions would be paramount Pollard shared: “I think from my perspective and the coaching staff, this is where we are lacking, decision making. So we are here to help them make decisions not to teach a guy how to shoot, how to tackle and how to dribble; they already know that, that’s why they are here.” Guyana, currently holding

down the eight (8th) place in the Concacaf Nations League qualification table with six (6) points (2 wins and a loss) will be going all out for victory against Belize on Saturday March 23rd next as the top 10 teams will join Mexico, USA, Trinidad & Tobago, Panama and Honduras at the Gold

Cup later this year. Curacao, Haiti, Canada, Cuba, Jamaica, Martinique and Bermuda in that order are the nations ahead of Guyana in the CNL push for qualification to the 15th edition of the Concacaf Gold Cup which has been expanded for the first time to sixteen teams.

Trophy Stall confirms Magnum Mash Cup support -kick off set for Feb. 2

Managing Director of Trophy Stall Ramesh Sunich (left) hands over the second and third place trophies to Organising Committee member Esan Griffith on Friday. Trophy Stall of Bourda Market followed closely in the footsteps of the National Sports Commission after confirming its support for the upcoming second edition of the Magnum Mash Cup which is set to kick off on February 2, at the National Gymnasium. During a simple ceremony that was conducted at the entity’s location on Friday, Managing Director Ramesh Sunich handed over the second and third place trophies to Organising Committee member Esan Griffith, who thanked the proprietor for his continued support for sports. Griffith added that what Sunich has done over the years towards the development of sports is truly commendable and urged more business entities to come on board and offer their assistance as well. Sunich in his remarks pledged future assistance to the promoter and wished that the tournament garners the necessary success and achieve its intended goal. The competition will be played over nine (9) days and promises enthralling action for the fans with most of the country’s top futsal teams already confirming their participation in the year’s opening tournament which carries prize monies in excess of $1.2 million along with trophies. The winning team will receive $600,000 + Trophy, run-

ner-up $300,000 + Trophy, third place $200,000 + Trophy and fourth place $100,000. The other playing dates are: February 5, 9, 13, 16, 19, 21, 24 and March 3 when the final will be played. Meanwhile, teams can uplift registration forms from the Key Shop on Carmichael Street next door to Oasis Café or contact Esan Griffith on tele #644-1416. Meanwhile, the groups are seen below: Group-A Bent Street Avocado Ballers Kingston Melanie Trendsetters Group-B Gold is Money Stabroek Ballers California Square Capital FC Group-C Silver Bullets Tiger Bay Sophia Rhythm Ballers Group-D Ol Skool Ballers Broad Street Quiet Storm Showstoppers Group-E Leopold Street Albouystown Ansa McAl All-Stars Agricola Group-F Future Stars Buxton Diamond Alexander Village (Continued on page 75)

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Sunday January 27, 2019

Singh elected to lead GABF A

s expected, Michael Singh, w h o h a d indicated before that he wasn’t interested in taking the helm, was elected as President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) when the body held its annual general meeting (AGM) and executive committee elections, yesterday at the Roraima Duke Lodge. “It wasn’t my wish to have another four years in Basketball Administration, it is a very tough job but somebody has to do it,” those were some of Singh’s remarks following the unopposed elections. In fact, Singh’s slate was the only one submitted to contest the elections due to the laborious nature of the job. The new executive committee of the GABF reads, Michael Singh – President, Kenrick Thomas;

Vice President (VP) of O p e r a t i o n s a n d Development, Lawrence Simon; VP of Compliance and Discipline, Alex Graham; VP of Marketing and Public Relations, Patrick Haynes; General Secretary, Gavin Singh; Treasurer and Joe Chapman; Assistant Treasurer along with Junior Hercules as the Technical Coordinator. The new GABF boss paid special tribute to the outgoing head, Nigel Hinds, for his hard and dedicated work during the last tenure, noting that Hinds really set the bar high and it will be difficult to fill his shoes. Singh revealed that sometime during the year that he plans on host a President’s Cup basketball tournament in recognition of all former local basketball administrators who have played integral roles in bringing the sport to where it is currently.

However, first on the new executive’s agenda is to meet with corporate Guyana as they prepare the national m e n ’s t e a m f o r t h e i r participation in next month’s FIBA Americas qualifier in Colombia. Although, support from the business community and state will be needed, Singh noted that, “I am confident that we will be able to wing out our team to the qualifiers hiccup free.” The budget for the trip he revealed is around $7million. Meanwhile, head coach of the national men’s team revealed that with the exception of the injured Ray Victor and Travis Burnett who has migrated along with Devon Devonish and the indisciplined Felix Hamilton, all players from G u y a n a ’s C a r i b b e a n Championship winning team are invited to tryouts, which will be held shortly. (Calvin Chapman)

Ricks & Sari Agro Industries 26th 1-Race National Park Cycling Meet - Balram Narine takes feature race Balram Narine clocked a time of One Hour 14 Minutes 02 Seconds to win the feature School Boys and Invitation 35-lap event when the 26th edition of the annual Rick’s & Sari Agro Industries 11-Race Cycle programme organized by Hassan Mohamed came off the National Park yesterday. Narine was followed to the line by Paul Race BMX 6-9 BMX 9-12 Boys and Girls 12-14 Mountain Bikes Veterans Under-50 Veterans Over -50

De Nobrega, Michael Anthony, Briton John, Alex Mendes and Ajay Gopilall to close out the top six in that order. Golpilall had earlier won the juvenile 10lap race from Shemar Younge and O’Neil Rose. Results from the other races are as follows:

Placing 1st Jose Rodigues, 2nd Neshan Rigby, 3rd Jesicka Mohabir 4th Lennox Jackman 1st Nehum Rigby 1st Steve Bhimsen, 2nd Jaheme Henry, 3rd Mark Lewis 1st Ozia Mcuallay, 2nd Jamal Coppell 1st Junior Niles, 2nd Warren McKay, 3rd Lynn Murray 1st Andy Spencer, 2nd Linden Blackman, 3rd Kennard Lovell

GT versus B’dos on Feb 16 at Xcitenet Night Club - As Pro Boxing return to Linden for first time in 6 years By Sean Devers Coach of the Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym, Orland Rogers told Kaieteur Sports that Professional Boxing will return to the Mining Town of Linden for the first time since 2013 when an eightbout card (including 4 Pro fights) is scheduled for February 16 from 19:00hrs at the Xcitenet Night Club. The card, staged by the Hard Judgement Promotions group, will comprise of four

professional fights and four amateur exhibition bouts. The main bout will see Guyana’s Orlon ‘Pocket Rocket’ Rogers matching gloves with Bajan Gordel ‘The Judge’ Roberts for the Hard Judgement junior lightweight title. The main supporting bout will be between Guyana’s Cassius Matthews, who squares off with Revlon Lake of Barbados in a Middleweight encounter,

while Caribbean Middleweight champion Edmond Declou will faceoff with James Walcott of Linden. Guyana’s champion James ‘The Jabber Man’ Moore will oppose Emmanuel Anderson of Barbados in addition to bouts by two amateurs who will be soon be going Pro. “We are looking for sponsors to come on board to (Continued on page 75)

- FIBA Americas qualifiers priority

The newly elected GABF executive, seated from left Kenrick Thomas (VP), Mike Singh (President), Lawrence Simon (VP). Standing from left, Junior Hercules (Technical Coordinator), Alex Graham (VP) and Joe Chapman (Ass. Treasurer)

Kaieteur News

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Sunday January 27, 2019

Guinness Greatest of the Streets

Showstoppers, ESPN and Bagotstown reach quarterfinals

D

efending champions Showstoppers, along with former winners ESPN and the relatively young Bagotstown Warriors side, all won their second consecutive group round-robin matches last Friday to solidify their quarterfinal berth in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ West Demerara/East Bank zone. Playing at the Pouderoyen Market tarmac; where will host all the matches of the zone, the venue witnessed the usual large amount of supporters coming out to enjoy another riveting night of street football. ESPN were the first to book their quarterfinal berth following a 1-0 victory over Brothers United. Trevor Lythcott scored the decisive goal in the fifth minute of the clash that Brothers tried to avoid being

Pernell Schultz on the go for ESPN during their 1-0 victory against Brothers’ United. Group-A Team GP W Showstoppers [q] 2 2 Up-Top Bosses 2 1 Boom Bang 2 1 Up-Like-7 2 0 Group-B Team GP W ESPN [q] 2 2 Genna 2 1 Brothers United 2 1 Dream Team 2 0 Group-C Team GP W Jetty 2 2 Rising Stars 2 1 West Side Ballers 2 1 Phoenix Ballers 2 0 Group-D Team GP W Bagotstown [q] 2 2 Young Ballers 2 1 Ballers Empire 2 1 Agricola 2 0 Legend [q]-Qualified to Knockout Round

L 0 1 1 2

GF 4 3 0 0

GA 0 1 3 3

GD +4 +2 -3 -3

Pts. 6 3 3 0

L 0 1 1 2

GF 5 3 1 0

GA 0 1 2 6

GD +5 +2 -1 -6

Pts. 6 3 3 0

L 0 1 1 2

GF 3 3 3 1

GA 3 1 2 4

GD 0 +2 +1 -3

Pts. 6 3 3 0

L 0 1 1 2

GF 0 2 1 1

GA 0 1 0 3

GD 0 +1 +1 -2

Pts. 6 3 3 0

needled but to no avail. Bagotstown Warriors outfoxed Ballers Empire via kicks from the penalty mark, 2-1, following a goalless draw in extra-time. However, on the stroke of full time, Brothers had an excellent opportunity to notch a win after being awarded a questionable penalty that was fervently protested by the Bagotstown men but Ballers failed to convert it. For the defending champions, Dextroy Adams continued his form and notched the lone goal of his team’s victory against UpTop Bosses, in the 15th minute. The final group round-robin matches will get underway next week where the other five quarterfinal spots will be decided. See current group standings below. (Calvin Chapman story and photos)

Spooner, Latif wreck GYO, DCC, QC triumph By Zaheer Mohamed Off-spinner Joel Spooner and Riyad Latif shared eight wickets between them as Transport Sports Club thumped Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) by 10 wickets when the Georgetown Cricket Association Noble House Sea Foods Generation Next U19 100-over tournament commenced yesterday. Spooner and Latif proved unplayable as they wrecked host GYO for a paltry 49 in 22 overs after they opted to bat. Shamar Phillips made 10 while extras contributed 17. Spooner finished with 4-6

from six overs, while Latif bagged 4-12 from six. Openers Adrian Hinds and Alvin Mohabir then guided Transports SC to victory as they responded with 54 without loss in 10 overs. Hinds, who finished the game with a six over square leg, made 30 not out while Mohabir got 10. At Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), the home defeated Eco Champs by 10 wickets. Batting first, Eco Champs were sent packing for 45. Deqwan Bamfield captured three wickets while Jason Holder and Qumar Torrington had two each. Opener Sachin Singh then blasted two fours and four sixes in a quick fire 36 as DCC responded with 46 without loss in 2.3 overs; Tameshwar Permaul made five. At Malteenoes SC, the host overcame Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) by 156 runs. Malteenoes SC scored 268 all out in 49.1 overs, taking first strike. Having lost the early wicket of W. McPherson for one, Shamar Yearwood and Tuen Hicks added 88 for the second wicket to lay the

Sachin Singh foundation before Hicks was dismissed for 30 with four fours. Yearwood reached the boundary seven times before he was caught off M. Jahmer for 43. Jeremiah Scott struck nine fours and one six in a top score of 68 while Ntini Permaul and Kester McAlister made 32 and 28 respectively down the order. B. Bowen, Jahmer and D. Ramsaroop took two wickets each. MYO replied with 111 all out in 36.3 overs. Niran Bissu struck five fours and one six in scoring 41 while M. Jahmer made 18 and B. Bowen 14; Jeremiah Scott (Continued on page 75)

Sunday January 27, 2019

Jumbo Jet to stage event on March 24 despite clash with KMTC Phagwah meet - Preparations begin for Triple Crown opener February 24 The Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee has disclosed that they will maintain the racing dates for 2019 that it has released with the Triple Crown horseracing championship being the major draw on the programme. Nasrudeen Mohamed Jnr. responding to recent comments by Justice Cecil Kennard President of the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) said, they initially made efforts to not have a clash of race dates but received no response and decided to go ahead and publish their programme so fans and horse owners would make the necessary preparations for the races. Mohamed Jnr. stated that they set their dates three months before the end of the year, well aware that KMTC would stage their event before or after the Phagwah holiday. He also indicated that they wrote to Secretary of the KMTC on the matter and never received a response so they went ahead with their plans for the March 24 date. That matter aside, the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee is forging ahead with plans for the start of the 2019 season which is No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Nasrudeen Mohamed Jnr. set for February 24th with the start of the Triple Crown at the Rising Sun Turf Club. Mohamed Jnr. noted that this meet is the start of the Triple which will see 27 races being staged within a 65 day period with over $25M on offer for the outstanding performers. The other dates set for the Triple are March 24th and April 21st. Mohamed Jnr. informed that the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee would be providing transportation for horses on the Corentyne and West Berbice participating in the event. Also, they will give a free bag of feed to each horse owner that takes part in all three legs of the Triple Crown. The First Leg of the Triple Crown provisional programme is:

CLASS DIST. 1st PRIZE C-Class & Lower 1400M $1,000,000 3YrsOld Guy Bred 1400M $400,000 F-Class 1100M $350,000 H-Class 1100M $300,000 I-Class 1400M $240,000 J-Class 1400M $230,000 K-Class 1100M $220,000 L-Class 1100M $200,000 L class 1100M $150,000

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t r o Sp

Chase slices through England to set up crushing win

Roston Chase made the key breakthrough in his first over, right before lunch and ended with career best figures 8-60. ŠGetty Images

Coach Charles Pollard giving a few tips to the players in the presence of staff before some 8 v 8 matches yesterday.

Golden Jaguars commence quest for Gold Cup Qualification with physical evaluation Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.