Kaieteur News

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Wednesday Edition January 27, 2020 - Vol. 13 No. 04

Guyana’s second largest oil block fined billions for environmental infractions

NEWS

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“I never resisted disclosure of ExxonMobil’s contract and - Carl US$18M signing bonus”Greenidge Ravi Singh

Race car driver escapes burning vehicle

Linden teen stabbing… Ruptured brain GPHC begins counselling sessions One sister aneurysm for domestic released, file to patient undergoes violence patients be sent to DPP successful surgery

Guyana could lose US$5 Billion for

paying Exxon’s taxes from Liza 1 & 2 alone ...Greenidge and Trotman should explain – Former Presidential Advisor

Monday January 27, 2020

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Kaieteur News

“I never resisted disclosure of ExxonMobil’s - Carl contract and US$18M signing bonus Greenidge

By Kiana Wilburg Foreign Secretary Carl Greenidge is vehemently denying recent allegations made by former Presidential Advisor on Petroleum, Dr. Jan Mangal, that he resisted the disclosure of the ExxonMobil contract as well as government’s acceptance of an US$18M signing bonus.

During an interview yesterday with Kaieteur News, Greenidge said that Dr. Mangal’s claims in this regard can be best described as “utter fabrications” which are clearly defamatory and intended to damage the Government.

The former Minister of F o r e i g n Aff a i r s s a i d ,

“...When Mangal speaks on issues of transparency, you would think he spoke to God himself. But let me tell you, the impression that Mangal and I were frequently locked in some battle or other over his proposals is rather foolish, because we have only spoken to each other on two occasions in the course of the four or so meetings at which I was aware of his presence.”

Greenidge further said that he never saw any proposal from Dr. Mangal about the disclosure of the contract or the signing bonus.

“So this claim that I was the most resistant, nothing could be further from the truth,” the Foreign Secretary

Foreign Secretary, Carl Greenidge added.

Further

to

this,

Former Presidential Advisor, Dr. Jan Mangal Greenidge said that he was not Dr. Mangal’s policy

Minister and was never asked by either President David Granger or Mangal’s immediate subject Minister, Mr Raphael Trotman, to c o m m e n t o n M a n g a l ’s written work.

The Foreign Secretary said, “It is therefore astonishing that he would have the temerity to suggest that his failure to persuade his Minister/ President or the Cabinet of the wisdom of ‘all’ his proposals is wholly attributable to me or my office.”

Greenidge said that the attempt to use him as a scapegoat is clearly a “barely disguised political attack on the Government.”

Additionally, Greenidge stated that he is not the

first object of Dr. Mangal’s ire, adding that the former Presidential Advisor has sought to vilify in the same “intensively personal and self righteous fashion,” not only Minister Trotman, in whose policy realm he operated, but also Sir Shridath Ramphal and Mr Rashleigh Jackson whose remits are entirely foreign policy and law.

Finally, the Foreign Secretary categorically stated that he did not negotiate the ‘2016 contract’ or any petroleum contract with ExxonMobil and received no proposal from Mangal, directly or on his behalf, concerning the signing bonus.

Leguan received $645M sea defence boost in last 5 years Phoenix, Maintenance works to the earthen embankment between Cane Garden and Cornelia; upgrading to river defence at Cane Garden, boulder face works along concrete structure at Amsterdam, construction of rip-rap River Defence at

A section of the sea defence work carried out in Leguan.

The beautiful Island of Leguan, lies among the majestic Essequibo Islands but its beauty is often threatened by rising sea levels and rapid tides.

Recognising this, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure has injected over $645M into boosting its sea and river defences.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma told Kaieteur News that upon taking up office in 2015, the Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson had engineers carry out an assessment of all of the vulnerable sea defence areas along the coastlands, and also at Leguan.

Sharma explained that “recognising the importance of the Island to the residents and also to the economic development of our country, we decided to carry out a series of rehabilitation and developmental works including a large number of

river and sea defence projects.”

In 2015, the Ministry expended $179,430,900 on the Construction of rip-rap river defences at La Bagatelle; Construction of rip-rap river defence at Maryville, along with the upgrade of river defence structures at Henrietta.

These contracts were awarded to BK International Inc, A&S General Contracting Inc and Khan’s Construction and Transportation Services Inc; to a tune of $76,289,000, $87,420,000 and $15,721,900 respectively.

Meanwhile, in 2016, $110,696,021.89 was expended on the Construction of rip-rap river defence at Endeavour, Construction of rip-rap river defence at Cane Garden, Construction of timber revetment at Henrietta; maintenance works to river defence at Blenheim; maintenance works to the

earthen embankment between Richmond Hill and Cane Garden; maintenance works to the earthen embankment between Henrietta - Vrouwanna, maintenance works to the earthen embankment between Amsterdam and Cane Field; maintenance works to the earthen embankment between Thierens and Success and upgrading of river defences at Thierens.

These works were carried out by Samaroo Investment, A&S General Contracting Inc, Khan’s Enterprise; S. Maraj Construction; Eron Lall Construction; R. Maraj General Contracting and Adamantium Holdings to the tunes of $56,711.89; $49,679,210; $25,340,000; $6,975,200; $2,986,500; $2,720,000; $3,455,900; $1,500,000 and $17,982,500.

In 2017, $141,198, 520 was used for maintenance works to the earthen embankment between Vrouwanna -

Elizabeth Ann, construction of a concrete crest wall at Elizabeth Ann and the upgrading to river defences at Enterprise.

These contracts were awarded to Khan’s Enterprise, Gupta Engineering, S. Maraj Contracting, BK International

Inc, and R. Maraj General Contracting. These projects cost $3,900,000; $3,590,000; $56,920,100; $10,879,000; $62,788,520; $3,120,900 and $10,912,500 individually.

A further $133,270,250 was spent in 2018 on the Continued on page 13

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Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

China’s virus not well handled by political powers Coronavirus is rising dread across the globe, like its predecessors SARS and Ebola. Those two also hailed from distant parts of an increasingly interlinked world of continuous movements of peoples crisscrossing from here to there in ongoing repetitions. In this instance, and unlike before, the Chinese authorities have been the beneficiaries of some recognition and praise for being responsive, and somewhat transparent.

But have they done so to a great enough degree? Did they really go all out to confront and control, such that they could, the outbreak of this latest threat that inflicts fears and anxieties? And with what an apprehensive world has been given, does this lead to comforting and confidence? What about us here in Guyana, are we satisfied and what does it mean for us in a society with still limited resources and expertise?

The answers to most of those questions is an alarming No! For according to an article in the Wall Street Journal of January 24 titled “China’s coronavirus response is questioned: everyone was blindly optimistic.” To this paper “blindly optimistic” sounds like gambling through taking chances, when more careful and sensible, if not practical, approaches were called for, but not delivered.

Recognition is given to the fact that “Beijing made the unprecedented decision to lock down the city of 11 million people.” That would be Wuhan where many had gathered to usher in the Chinese New Year of the Rat. Criticism has been leveled, and it is not unjustified, that the priority of powerful officials in the Chinese Communist Party was on pomp and ceremony, at the expense of precautionary safety measures that would have been more protective and the first steps in commonsense defensive decisions. To assemble a huge mass of people exponentially increased the risk of infection and spread, which raises the reasonable position that the celebration exposed people to unnecessary risks and that what followed may be too late, resulting in too little.

From various corners, criticisms have been leveled at Chinese overlords that they were “overly optimistic” and the Mayor of Wuhan, Zhou Xianwang, went on China Central Television to opine that those in charge at the local level “were not alert enough.” That is not surprising, given awareness in Chinese society of where orders and expectations come from, what makes for good comrades, if not better theater, and what must be done, if one desires to remain in the political power milieu. It is delivering or departing, just do as normal to please the bosses, with the pieces picked up later.

The reports from medical authorities are that person to person contact increases “potential danger.” Further, the leader of a responding medical team indicated that, “more than one dozen medical staff had contracted the virus from one patient.” That is frightening in its implications.

And the reasonable have to wonder, how much the Chinese are sharing, since an information lockdown has since been enforced.

While the main worry is on the possible medical exposures, the New York Times called attention to a different concern, through an article captioned, “How China’s virus outbreak could threaten the global economy” (January 23). The Times did note that the disease has put a damper on the outlook for the Chinese economy, which is the second largest in the world, and where a slowdown could have serious repercussions across an interconnected world. As the Times pointed out, “the Chinese economy has for years been one of the world’s most powerful growth engines. A stumble in China could hobble jobs and growth elsewhere.” In addition to the medical trepidations, this is a sobering reminder of what is involved.

In view of all these discomforting developments, as to

Monday January 27, 2019

Why are Guyanese taxpayers paying Exxon’s taxes?

DEAR EDITOR, By some estimates, for the Liza Phase 1 and Liza Phase 2 projects alone, the permanent tax holiday for the biggest oil company in the US could cost Guyanese taxpayers some US$5 billion. That could instead be spent on salaries for teachers and schools, nurses and hospitals, actually reliable water and electricity plants, and better roads and even railway systems to help Guyanese citizens to obtain the good life President Granger says he wants to deliver.

Perhaps the people said to be responsible for renegotiating

this agreement, and who argue strongly against revising it further – Carl Greenidge, Raphael Trotman, and Shridath Ramphal - should explain to us why they believe Exxon should have that money, and not the Guyanese taxpayers who paid their government salaries.

Those are the five billion reasons why the Payara project should not be approved without the renegotiation of the disgraceful agreement currently in place.

Regards, Jan Mangal

The Police Force is in need of a behavioural science unit DEAR EDITOR, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan hit the nail on its head when he recently called for tougher scrutiny of recruits to weed out corrupt ranks in the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

According to a daily newspaper article, the Hon. Minister in response to a report that a member of a specialised section of the GPF was fingered in an armed robbery on the West Coast of Demerara, stated, “All rogue elements must be forced out.

We must strengthen the vetting system (for recruits) ... but we still have the ones who want to live the illegal life.”

Although this is a timely call, the focus must be broadened to reach all levels and ranks in the Force to weed out corrupt and undesirable behaviour.

The recruiting system for regular members of the Force is quite simple. Applicants who passed the entrance examination; are physically fit; satisfy background checks by the Special Branch and Divisional Command; are cleared by the Criminal Records Office and are successful at the Final Interview for Selection, will be well on their way to wear the police colours- blue and black.

For members of the Special Constabulary and other auxiliary the process is even easier to gain entry in the Force.

No longer can you swear for a policeman, give him a badge and a gun and send him in the street to work.

No longer can a policeman depend on his brawn and political connections to be effective. The paradigm h a s s h i f t e d . To b e effective, a policeman must understand behaviour.

He must not only understand the behaviour

of the criminals, the behaviour of his superiors, his peers, his subordinates, his friends, his family and members of the public but his own b e h a v i o u r. H e n c e , i t i s apposite to note that the recruitment process must cater for behaviour, moreso psychological behaviour.

R e c e n t l y, President Anthony Carmona of Trinidad and Tobago called for members of his police service to be exposed to b e h a v i o u r a l psychologists. A good starting point to aid the recruitment process is to set up assessment centres.

An assessment centre is a place where the applicants undergo a series of events or activities under the watchful eyes of trained assessors, who are expected to among other issues anlyse the behaviour of the applicants.

According to Tinsley (2002), “The assessment centre was and still is - one of the best methods available for selecting suitable candidates for either employment or advancement in law enforcement agencies.” It is nothing new. Both Allies and the Axis used it during World War II to train their spies.

During my groundings with my brother officers in Jamaica, I attended several assessment centres for applicants for the Jamaica Constabulary.

I vividly recall one applicant had a degree from the University of the West Indies. He failed the assessment and was not recruited as during the assessment, he displayed some amount of psychopathic behaviour.

Francis Forbes who was in

what was done or not done in China, the spread of the problem to over half of the globe, the risk of infection should trouble ordinary Guyanese. What do we know, and what can our medical controllers do to protect us? What more do our government and responsible professionals need to know to develop a robust plan to safeguard us?

On Sunday, the media carried reassurances from Guyanese officials that this country is prepared and ready.

Time will tell, since viruses, unlike hurricanes, do not change course.

charge of the Jamaica Constabulary Staff College and who later became a Commissioner of the Jamaica Constabulary remarked, “Him can get a degree from UWI, but if him a psycho, him can’t be a police.” Utilising the assessment centres will result in fewer persons being recruited but a better quality of persons will be enlisted in the Force.

It is not that all members of the GPF are involved in corruption and unethical behaviour. There are good and bad policemen. Walker et al (2001) may be instructive when they wrote, “ It has become a truism among police chiefs that 10 percent of their officers cause 90 percent of the problems.”

What is needed is a way to identify these problems very early. Walker et al suggest, “ Early warning (EW) systems are data driven management tools for identifying police officers with performance problems.

EW systems have emerged as popular tools for identifying police officers with performance problems and for providing some intervention to correct those problems.

EW systems have emerged as popular tools for enhancing police accountability. “ Arnold (2001) posits, “ Early Warning Systems (EWS) were developed as proactive tools and have been utilised by some law enforcement agencies for over a decade with beneficial results. These systems have to a limited degree, provide a ‘heads up’ regarding behavioural problems with police officers and afford the agency an opportunity to implement remedial a c t i o n . ” H o w e v e r, a s Rhyons and Brewster caution, “ An Early

Warning System is not a substitute for good supervision. Instead, it is a tool designed to help good supervisors become better.”

Another entity that can promote good behaviour is a behavioural science unit.

Sometime ago, I made a call for the establishment of such a unit in the GPF. It fell on deaf ears. I hope that this time, it will fall on fertile soil. I again make such a clarion call. Since then, the University of Guyana has rushed ahead and established a behavioural science department at its Turkeyen Campus.

Certainly, the police can also utilise that facility while they await the setting up of their own such unit. During my stint at the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy in the United States of America, I was exposed to their behavioural science unit.

My interaction with that unit then and subsequently enabled me as a senior law enforcement officer to deal effectively with my superiors, peers, subordinates, members of the public, friends, family and my own behaviour.

Establishing assessment centres, early warning systems and behavioural science unit will enable the police to design, develop, implement and evaluate effective strateges and tactics as they move from incident driven and reactive approaches to effectively analysing pattern of crimes and violence in order to create opportunities for them to be more proactive and conduct more intelligence-led policing.

These interventions would also promote activities to minimise corruption and unethical behaviour in the GPF. May God bless the Guyana Police Force.

Yours faithfully, Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)

A sort of conundrum DEAR EDITOR, The two ministers who were sitting in Parliament illegally would it now mean that all benefits derived from that illegality would have to

be returned?

Further, they were illegal in Parliament but can still function as ministers? Seems to be a sort of conundrum.

Shamshun Mohamed

Monday January 27, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Do you think we can survive with a racial vote?

DEAR EDITOR, My brother Michael, who played cricket at Queen’s College, told my friends and me about meeting Rohan Kanhai after Kanhai’s poor performance at Bourda. Hearing the disappointment of schoolboys who sacrificed their meager allowance to see him, Kanhai promised them a century in the next match in Barbados. Kanhai kept his promise and was redeemed by his courage, resilience, mettle and dedication to keeping his word to some young boys whom he had disappointed.

Now, when we look at the PPP/C, their record shows that they lost the majority for reasons you need to analyse for yourself.

And regardless of your conclusion, one should expect the PPP/C to take steps to address their inadequacies and emerge with at least the semblance of a plan to compensate for losing the majority and betraying their constituents.

Let’s review the PPP/C rally, and you decide whether this party is worthy of your vote. Here are some excerpts from the address b y t h e General Secretary of the PPP/C, former President Bharrat Jagdeo, as reported in another newspaper on January 13, 2020: ‘“He [President Granger] doesn’t make decisions...”

Is this the statement of

someone who cares for his audience and his message?

President Granger decided to run for re-election; President Granger decided the date of election.

President Granger does make decisions.

Former President Jagdeo should know that statements can r e f l e c t t h e s p e a k e r ’s sloppiness when they are not supported with concrete example and/or facts. “... He doesn’t even read the document he has...

After so much depends on oil and gas and he says he never read the contract.”

If you are okay with this construct, that is fine.

However, contracts, even though they are read, may be meaningless unless someone who is versed in these contracts interprets them. Former President Jagdeo was at the helm when the contract for “new” and now defunct Skeldon Sugar Factory was commissioned. If former President Jagdeo read the contract for the construction of the Skeldon Sugar Factory and understood all that it entails, then he can he explain Kaieteur News. (5/ 21/2017) headline “Guyana burdened with US$43M Skeldon factory debt until 2033” that was incurred during his presidency.

“He wants to go to

Do you truly want what is best for our homeland?

DEAR EDITOR, Once again, I make an appeal to the small parties contesting the upcoming General and Regional elections.

Do you truly want what is best for this our homeland?

Do you truly want to gain elected representation so as to participate in the wise governance of our country?

Do you truly want to have

a part in the stewardship of our abundant natural resources, so as to ensure that all citizens enjoy a good quality of life?

You have the opportunity to achieve all this if you join your lists so that there is the best possible chance that every vote that you receive is translated into representation in Parliament.

(Continued on page 6)

sleep at 8 o’clock in the night; presidents can’t sleep at 8’o clock in the night, ...”

And if he did go to bed at 8 P.M, what time did he get out of bed? Does he know that Granger begins his email correspondence at 4 A.M? One should also remember that President Granger was battling cancer and going to bed as early as was dictated by the circumstances.

Thankfully, President Granger won his battle with cancer.

However, it is ironic that this is a railing point against recuperating President Granger when Kaieteur News (March 4, 2014) writes, “Jagdeo used luxury jet, not air ambulance for medevac.” “’... they have work to do, you can’t just be cutting ribbons and [sic] open [ing] arches and landing with helicopter, you have to roll up your sleeve[s] and work. That’s the only way this country will make progress,’ Jagdeo said.”

Trite statements like rolling up one’s sleeves and working as the only way this country will make progress” are just empty rhetoric that is intended to be evocative. Let us look at the debt that the former government has left us as of May 2015: 1. US$150M Skeldon factory debt to be paid by 2033 2.

NIS was bankrupted 3.

Rice Marketing Board was bankrupted 4.

PetroCaribe fund had zero balance 5.

The PPP/C was sued and the Caribbean Court of Justice awarded US$100 million to the plaintiffs; President Granger has arranged payment to these plaintiffs on behalf of the Guyana Government.

6. GuySuCo owed the Guyana treasury over US$400 million 7. Loan investment to repay for the Marriott Hotel and the Berbice

Bridge 8. Loan for the Amaila Falls Hydro Project 9. Loans for a new international airport – CJIA Ignoring these facts, former President Jagdeo continues: “... persons of every race have a right to prosperity and the PPP/C is the only party that can deliver this for all of our people and because of that we will not only win power on March 2, we will stay in power for another 20, 30, 40 years in the future [sic].”

Now that he has promised you the pie in the sky, will someone please ask him the details of how he hopes to achieve prosperity for all? Don’t be surprised when he responds —”you will hear the details after you elect me.”

Then, asking — “Do we want another low energy president in this country?” and the crowd responded: “No!” W e l l , surprise! Another newspaper (October 5, 2018) writes, “PPP/C w i t h d r a w s Wa k e n a a m candidates over “dead” ‘migrant’ nominators.”

And if that is not enough, here is an example of his insensitive bumbling: ”Jagdeo hailed the PPP/C presidential candidate Irfaan Ali saying that despite his size, he has a tonne of energy.” If you are a fan of former President Jagdeo, interpret his statement to show how he is not ‘belittling’ his newest protégé.

Former President Jagdeo continues, “That’s what we need, we don’t need a president who is aloof. Even with his own supporters he will not stop to take a picture with them, he is coming around now because of elections,” referring to Granger.

I take umbrage with former president Jagdeo because he squandered his opportunity to select a

noble and worthy c a n d i d a t e i n D r. F r a n k Anthony – see another newspaper January 12, 2017 article “The PPP did not have the courage to elect Frank Anthony as General Secretary.” I have written that former president Jagdeo “was my hero when he signed the agreement with Norway to protect Guyana’s forest.

But somewhere along the line, things changed as he was accused of becoming a different being. I do not know the truth in those accusations, but I have read that, because his marriage was not registered, his wife was not entitled to a pension.

All the witnesses to his marriage, photographs of his wedding, he living with his wife, his wife being presented as the First Lady of Guyana etc. did not mean anything to h i m ” K a i e t e u r News August 30, 2016.

Dem Boys from Kaieteur News, impressed with my l e t t e r, cited my concerns on August 31, 2016.

Many of you have relatives or know someone who suffered because of the collapse of the sugar industry that snowballed during Jagdeo’s and his p r o t é g é ’s time of governance. President

Granger had an open door so that former President Jagdeo can address any of his concerns, but this offer was never realised. This leads to one to ask: What steps did Jagdeo take to alleviate the suffering of his constituents? What did he propose? Did he ever advocate that his constituents have access to the land for sharecropping while means of resuscitating the industry is being explored?

And the list can go on.

Now I go back to cricket.

Our great Rohan Kanhai redeemed himself because he did not only let down some schoolboys but his team and his country.

It is that team, with Lance Gibbs, Basil Butcher and others, that showed us we can take on Great Britain and the world and win.

They showed what we can accomplish when we work together. Remember, Barak Obama did not win his presidency because of a racial vote. Many whites, who are the majority in America, saw Obama as a good man. Even immigrants of Indian ancestry voted for Obama. They, like millions of Americans, made the right choice, and they know it now more than ever.

Do you think we, Guyana, can survive with a racial vote?

Sincerely, Stanley Niamatali

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Kaieteur News

A very good deal could be negotiated if the benefits are clearly understood DEAR EDITOR, In the media, there has been an expression of interest by some officials in exploring and pursuing the reestablishment of a national airline.

As attractive as such a goal may appear to be, we must keep in mind that the country has higher priorities to pursue that will generate a better return on investment while creating a higher number of jobs. In addition, the airline industry can be a money pit where it is very difficult to make a profit as seen when one takes the time to review existing and past players within the airline

industry.

An alternative approach would be to co-brand with an existing and reliable provider of airline services to the region. This will de-risk the country’s exposure and eliminate the need to take the assets onto our books while meeting the goals of establishing the presence of a national carrier. A very good deal could be negotiated if the benefits are clearly understood.

Best regards, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana (CRG)

Do you truly want what...

From page 5 If you act together, you can be the conscience of the nation, and guide Guyana to an era of true peace, prosperity and the greater good.

The two major players in Parliament are likely to oppose each other for the sake of opposing each other – once in Parliament your role is to be the voice of reason - to bring clarity, balance and wisdom to the governance of Guyana.

I appeal to your sense of patriotism: ‘Let us co-operate for Guyana’.

I appeal to your sense

of reason: recognise that votes gained for any individual small party are likely to be fewer than h o p e d f o r, t h u s b e i n g unable to attain a seat and therefore wasted.

Don’t waste the votes that will be cast for you: if YOU don’t gain a seat, GUYANA stands little chance.

If you go it alone, you may end with many individual hopes that fade into oblivion.

With joined lists, a united, viable reality can be yours and ours.

Yours faithfully, Joan Collins

Monday January 27, 2019

What is behind the PPP’s relentless campaign to discredit GECOM and its Chairperson?

DEAR EDITOR, Over the last few weeks, I have noticed the relentless efforts by the PPP/C and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to malign the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and its chairperson, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh. This attack is being led by known media agents/mouthpieces of the PPP which include both the printed and electronic media.

One of the PPP’s leading mouthpieces, almost on a daily basis, publishes these lavish allegations.

The assault on GECOM and its chair is multipronged. For instance, on January 9, 2020 two news outfits carried an almost identical article, in furtherance of their party’s smear campaign. On that day one carried an article captioned, “GECOM tampering with NRR” and the other carried the title “GECOM “tampering” with NRR – PPP”.

In these articles, the opposition PPP alleged that, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) was tampering with the National Register of Registrants Database (NRRDB) at the Guyana elections.

The PPP claimed that GECOM was using unverified H2H information to adjust voters’ information on the NRR. This is a serious allegation, which the GECOM categorically debunked by exposing the falsities. The chairperson, in her own response to this dangerous lie, deemed the news reports as poor and an attempt to mislead the public.

I applaud Justice Claudette Singh for her, almost immediate rebuttal of the lies and attack on GECOM by the Opposition. Her tone and temperament seem ideal for this most important office.

Justice Singh, in her many responses to the PPP’s fabrications, provided sound legal basis and reasoning for

any action GECOM took. She also called out the opposition deceptions and forcefully restated the facts. As a consequence of this kind of timely and factual response to the PPP’s concoction, the PPP is not able to get the kind of traction they were hoping to gain from their misinformation campaign.

However, they refuse to give up on their efforts.

E d i t o r, i t i s r a t h e r perplexing that the Opposition and the PPP seem to be on a mission to discredit and tarnish the character of the GECOM chairperson and to attack the credibility of GECOM. The said Opposition leader, a few months ago lauded Justice Singh as competent, fair and a person of high integrity. In fact, at Justice Singh’s swearing in ceremony, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, and his party, expressed confidence i n Justice S i n g h ’s appointment. Bharrat Jagdeo noted that he was satisfied with her nomination and subsequent appointment. So, what has gone wrong, in this short time!

Was the opposition hoping that Justice Singh would compromise her integrity and succumb to their pressure campaign!

Was she supposed to bow to PPP’s pressure and disqualify those young eligible voters, who made every effort to ensure that they got registered during the last registration exercise! Was Justice Singh supposed to bow to the PPP’s demands and take action to disenfranchise thousands of eligible Guyanese voters, merely because their address may have changed! Why is Justice Singh, coming under such vicious attacks by the Opposition? Are they hoping to have her engage in actions which may occasion some kind of reverse discrimination? This constant banging at GECOM by the PPP seems to be well timed,

intentional and choreographed. It is a political strategy intended to achieve some specific outcomes.

Allow me, therefore, to elucidate these potential outcomes targeted by the PPP. For starters, the PPP sees the writing on the wall. There is no way the Guyanese electorate will vote them back into office. Guyanese people have not forgotten those long 23 years! Further, the PPP knows that it has taken actions that are selfdefeating, so now it is beginning to come to grips with the daunting reality, of the fact that many of its supporters refused to register to vote. They refused because the Opposition leader told them not to do so.

What is the strategy now! It is clear that the PPP and its operatives have delved deep into their toolkit to resort to what they know best - lies and misinformation! With their foreign helpers, the PPP seemed to have adopted a three-prong approach strategy.

The first is to directly attack the office responsible for conducting the elections, GECOM. The primary objective is to discredit the Chairperson and the Commission. Charges of biases, and attacks on the procedures and system used to make the Commission function will be targeted. The aim here is to raise all kinds of baseless claims which seeks to project the PPP as a victim of GECOM. What does the party hopes, to achieve out of this strategy, is anyone’s guess?

It appears that the hope is to make enough outrageous allegations, challenge every action by GECOM, in order to cause enough people to pay attention.

The international community is the PPP’s main audience. The thinking is that once they throw enough allegations out there, the international community may want to intervene and attempt to make some statements.

They feel that any such statement may work in their favour as they would have gained the attention they seek.

These statements may then be used as PPP campaign propaganda talking points.

These talking points will be repeated ad nausea to their supporters in an attempt to soundly persuade. The general message to the supporters will be one which projects GECOM and its chairperson as bias against the PPP. The PPP hopes that, with a support base that questions

the integrity of GECOM, it may become easy to sell the idea that it was cheated at the elections. This speaks to what appears to be the second effort by the opposition, which is to lay the ground work to cry foul after the May 2, 2020 elections are declared.

Those of us who pay attention to the PPP political antics, over the years, are able to predict just how they think. It is astonishing that the party continues to be so transparent in conducting its disruptive plan. I have read media reports of every PPP attack on GECOM. I have also kept myself abreast of GECOM and its chairperson’s response to these attacks.

The PPP seems to have a targeted and structured approach to their attack.

Every allegation by the party strikes straight at the heart of the elections results, when you remove all the fluffs from the claims. Make no mistake, the PPP is setting the stage to cry foul! The strategy is obvious! It is therefore, very important that the government and its supporters be extra vigilant.

Every effort must be made to ensure that the PPP’s strategy does not work. Guyanese expect a free and fair election.

Efforts to discredit or disrupt the electoral process must not succeed.

The attempt at orchestrating a situation where reverse psychology may lead to reverse discrimination must not be realised.

The PPP is on the back foot and they appear vicious!

I imagine that, as we get closer to elections, the assault on GECOM and its Chairperson will become more personal and outlandish! The attack on Madam Justice Singh, this female role model, may come from all angles and can become very nasty! Justice Claudette Singh remains a most credible individual, with the highest of integrity. I therefore, feel compelled to write and to speak of her character and let those in the international community know that the PPP’s efforts to discredit her will not work!

She is a Guyanese woman who people are proud of. The PPP must know that its constant efforts to malign GECOM and its Chair can do damage beyond the walls of GECOM. It may very well have the potential to cause serious disunity and strife in the society. I hope they rethink their strategy, in the interest of the country.

Sincerely, Lurlene Nestor

Monday January 27, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Guyana could lose US$5 Billion for paying Exxon’s taxes from Liza 1 & 2 alone …Greenidge and Trotman should explain – Former Presidential Advisor

Government’s refusal to renegotiate the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) for the Stabroek Block, could see Guyana losing US$5B from Liza - Phases One and Two alone, because of the permanent tax holiday granted to ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess and CNOOC. Government officials who staunchly refused to renegotiate should explain why this should happen.

That is the insistence of former petroleum advisor to the President, Dr. Jan Mangal.

During his time in that capacity, Dr. Mangal had staunchly advocated for the agreement to be renegotiated to get Guyana better terms.

Several sections of society have criticised the deal as being lopsided and unfair to the State.

One facet of the contract that has been identified as a cause of major revenue loss for the State is the tax holiday,

Foreign Secretary, Carl Greenidge

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Advisor, Sir Shridath Ramphal

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman

Former Presidential Advisor, Dr. Jan Mangal

which Government decided to grant ExxonMobil. The agreement doesn’t just waive a series of taxes. But Government intends to give tax certificates to the companies, ensuring that

they’re not taxed in their home countries.

Taxation tends to be a major source of income for oil producing States. Dr. Mangal said, by some estimates, that Guyana could lose US$5B.

When asked to demonstrate how he arrived at the US$5B figure, Dr. Mangal indicated that a simple economic model was developed at the Inter American D e v e l o p m e n t Bank for Liza phase 1. He said that he performed an extrapolation to include Liza phase 2.

That money, the Consultant insists, could be spent on so many projects that could improve the lives of ordinary Guyanese people, such as better salaries for teachers and nurses, the building of schools and hospitals, reliable water supplies and electricity plants, better roads and even

New network group advocates for women’s role in oil sector Women in Oil and Gas (WIOG) Guyana, a local networking group which focuses on the importance of women’s role in the oil and gas sector, was launched yesterday. WIOG is said to be the premier and most anticipated energy sector event for women.

The objective is to provide a platform where energy professionals and industry shapers help women to become knowledgeable in order to enter and/ or advance their careers in a traditionally male industry.

WIOG wants to provide women with information on key energy trends and skills for personal and professional development. In addition to the launch, a WIOG summit is slated for June 20-22, 2020 at the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown.

The conference themed “First Oil, First Set, and Focusing on Women,” will feature keynote addresses, panel sessions, interactive group discussions and a plentitude of networking opportunities.

The intention of the summit is to learn from successful women leaders in oil and gas sector as they share their industry knowledge, strategies and experiences on how to navigate the space in this new industry in Guyana, advocate for local content mainly for the role of women

Dr. Melissa Varswyk, Co-founder and CEO of the Georgetown American University

Abbigale Loncke, Founder We Lead Caribbean

Marissa Lowden of the Level Up Movement

Dr. Dawn C. Stewart, Founder Guyanese Women’s Roundtable (GWR)

in the sector, accelerate positive organisational change, business creation,

and personal growth.

Participants are set to Continued on page 22

railway systems.

Many of these are promises Dr. Mangal noted Granger has made, in his bid to give people ‘the good life’.

“Why are Guyanese taxpayers paying Exxon’s taxes?”

That is a question the Consultant believes certain officials should be held accou n t a b l e t o a n s w e r, namely Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman; former Foreign Affairs Minister turned Foreign Secretary, Carl Greenidge, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Advisor, Sir Shridath Ramphal.

Dr. Mangal said that they should explain why they believe Exxon should be the beneficiary of that money, instead of the people of Guyana.

ExxonMobil’s field development plan for its third project on the Stabroek Block, Payara, should not be approved unless the “disgraceful” agreement is renegotiated, Dr. Mangal opines.

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Monday January 27, 2020

Kaieteur News

Company operating Guyana’s second largest oil block fined billions for environmental infractions

By Kemol King Anadarko is one of the better endowed oil and gas companies operating in Guyana, when it comes to the sheer acreage granted to those companies. While ExxonMobil has a 45 percent stake in the 26,800 sq. km Stabroek Block, Anadarko operates the Roraima Block, at 19,828 sq. km, all on its own.

In 2019, the company was acquired by Occidental Petroleum Corporation. The acquisition came, not just with

Anadarko’s assets, but with its sordid record of environmental and safety infractions. The fines levied against the company now amount to billions.

‘DEEPWATER HORIZON EXPLOSION’ In April 2010, the United States Exclusive Economic

Zone of the Gulf of Mexico became the scene of one of the worst environmental and safety infractions of the Petroleum industry. The Maconda Prospect, located in the zone, was the site of a massive explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig. Although the prospect

Fireboats battling the Deepwater Horizon blaze after the rig’s explosion in 2010 (Reuters/Landov) was BP operated, Anadarko held a 25 percent stake and was held liable as well.

During the explosion, natural gas travelled up the rig to the platform, killing 11 workers. Several were also left several injured. The explosion caused an oil well fire, and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Considered to be the largest oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry, it is estimated by the US government that 4.9M barrels of oil was spilt in the Gulf of Mexico.

The effect of the disaster on the environment and several industries was tragic.

The oil formed a slick extending over thousands of square miles of the Gulf. In 2011, Anadarko decided to pay US$4B to BP to cover victims’ claims and cleanup

costs, according to Reuters.

The US Government went after Anadarko, seeking a fine above US$1B, and Anadarko said that no fine was justified, according to Reuters.

In 2015, a federal judge ordered Anadarko to pay a US$159.5M civil fine reflecting its stake in the well, far less than the Government sought. That’s not all.

‘ENVIRONMENTAL DUMPING OF TOXIC WASTE’ Anadarko was also held liable for generations of environmental dumping of toxic waste across many US states by its subsidiary, KerrMcGee. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, Kerr-McGee and related subsidiaries of Anadarko were held liable for

fraudulently conveying assets in an attempt to evade their liabilities for cleanups at toxic sites around the country, and for keeping the environmental disaster a secret.

Kerr-McGee had attempted to push its liabilities for the matter off to a subsidiary called Tronox.

Tronox had hid the issue from its investors, who later found out and sued Anadarko.

The US Government also sued Anadarko to pay for the cleanup, resulting in a settlement of US$5.15B. The US EPA states some of the money was then earmarked to go toward cleanup at contaminated sites across the country. Some of the funds were set aside to compensate thousands of people living with the effects of the contamination.

Better Hope NDC initiates ICT, literacy and other programmes for residents The Better Hope Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) is playing a significant role in fostering educational development in its community. The local government body has created an Information & Communication Technology Hub at its office. The hub, which is equipped with 20 computers, offers daily ICT classes to the public, beginning from 10:00AM to 6:00PM. Between the hours of 3:00-6:00PM, there is also a special focus on children.

The instructor of these classes also assists students with their homework and assignments. The NDC also has a large public library. According to the NDC’s Chairman, Zaman Shaw, the “library has more than 10,000 books.”

The library also provides basic educational classes to the residents, with a special session for “slow learners”, or children with learning disabilities.

“The librarian spends time assisting children who have trouble reading and generally learning at the general speed of children, their age, Mr. Ramkaran Budhram, a Councillor at the NDC, explained.

Mr. Shaw said that within the NDC’s catchment area, there are 10 government

schools, and at least three private schools, all of which the NDC supports independently without government funds.

He added that in addition to routine services such as de-bushing, desilting of drains, and garbage collection, the NDC staff usually pool their private funds to assist the schools in any way possible, especially with school programmes and events.

They even give small grants to children who excel at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) & Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) Exams.

Budhram also alluded to the fact that the NDC renders financial assistance to lowincome parents whose children are writing the NGSA and CSEC Examinations.

In addition, councillors attend all Parent Teacher Association meetings (PTA) at these schools. This allows them to be up to date with issues affecting the schools and the students and even be able to rectify those on the spot.

Shaw also noted that there are further plans to support the education system, but this is currently hindered by the fact that the NDC has not yet received its 2018 or 2019 subventions.

Monday January 27, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Pick-pocket deal Imagine a situation in which you have a property but you are not familiar with its market value. So you hire real estate broker to sell the property for you.

He comes one day and tells you that he has gotten a good offer of $10M for the property. He advises you to take the deal since it is the best that you will get. You do so.

A few weeks later, you find out that the market value is $100M and that there are

many persons who may have been willing to pay that sum.

How are you going to feel that you have accepted $10M for a $100M property?

You would feel that your pockets have been picked.

You would feel robbed. You would feel betrayed by your real estate broker. You would move to annul the deal.

The kingdom was sold for a horse. Guyana’s oil wealth was sold short. Guyana got ripped-off. It is the worst deal in the history of oil deals. It is

unacceptable, totally unacceptable. It amounts to highway robbery.

Yet those who oversaw this pick-pocket arrangement have the temerity to come to the people and ask them to return them to office. People are free to do as they please but, as far as I am concerned, those who signed the oil agreements can never obtain my vote until they make things right and have that deal amended retroactively.

Right now, the talk is

U.S. President to meet with Netanyahu and Gantz as he readies Mideast peace plan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will hold backto-back meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli opposition leader Benny Gantz today as he prepares to release his long-delayed Middle East peace plan.

Trump will meet first with Netanyahu, Israel’s veteran right-wing leader, and then with the latter’s election rival Gantz, who just last week dropped his objection to having the peace plan published before Israel’s March vote, a schedule released by the White House showed.

He will meet with Netanyahu again tomorrow, and the two of them are scheduled to deliver joint remarks.

During the talks with both Israeli politicians, Trump is likely to share some details of his plan, a U.S. source familiar with the subject said.

“Today, I leave to Washington to stand by an American president who brings a plan which I believe is promoting our most crucial interests ... together with him, we will make history,” Netanyahu said before taking

off for Washington.

Trump said last week he would release details of his peace initiative before meeting with Netanyahu and Gantz, but the White House has yet to say exactly when it will be released.

Gantz, a former general who heads Israel’s centrist Blue and White Party, welcomed Trump’s effort on Saturday.

“The peace plan devised

by President Trump will go down in history as a meaningful landmark mapping the way for the different players in the Middle East to finally move forward towards an historical and regional agreement,” he said in televised remarks.

The political aspects of the plan to end the decadeslong conflict between Israel and the Palestinians have been closely held, although the economic components have already been unveiled.

While Trump was set to brief Netanyahu and Gantz, Palestinian leaders said they had had no communication with the U.S. administration.

They have warned that no deal can work without them on board.

Trump has made a number of decisions Israel has welcomed that have angered Palestinians. He recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, moved the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and slashed humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.

The proposal, dozens of pages long, addresses in detail the thorny political issues between Israel and the Palestinians, such as the status of Jerusalem, Trump administration officials say.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump said Palestinians might react negatively to his plan at first, but that “it’s actually very positive for them.”

The launch of the plan has been delayed numerous times over the last two years. U.S. officials decided to move forward now rather than wait until Israel’s election, because the past two elections left the Israel government deadlocked.

A source told Reuters last week that bringing both Netanyahu and Gantz in on the details was aimed at defusing any suggestion Trump might be favouring one candidate over the other.

about renegotiation. But there will be no renegotiation once the Americans are involved.

Both the PNCR and the PPPC are afraid of the Americans.

They tremble in their boots when the American speak.

Moreover, as far as the Americans are concerned, the deal is done and sealed. There is nothing to renegotiate.

Kaieteur News and Glenn Lall have provided an incomparable service to the nation through their exposure of the highway-robbery of the nation’s oil assets. Guyana has been sold for a horse in its negotiations with the oil companies.

Had it not been for Kaieteur News and Glenn Lall, the Guyanese people would be no wiser. It was Kaieteur News which was in the forefront of exposing the terrible agreement which was signed between the government and the oil companies. It was Kaieteur News which pressed for more than a year for the contract with Exxon Mobil to be made public.

It was Kaieteur News

which led the way in explaining how the country was ripped-off by the oil companies. It was the bravery of Glenn Lall which saw this newspaper to sustain its reporting on this pick-pocket deal. A weaker man would not have been able to do this.

The former petroleum advisor to the President, Jan Mangal has called for a renegotiation of the contract before permission is given for work to commence on the Payara field. But what about the more than 6 billion barrels of oil which are believed to be contained in the Stabroek Block. It is unacceptable for Guyanese to simply not subject those reserves to renegotiation. Even a few percentage points higher in royalties and an imposition of a tax on profits will ensure a fairer deal.

A renegotiation before work commences on Payara is not enough. There is a need to strike a better deal for Liza 1 and Liza 2 because these two fields alone can make everyone in Guyana rich.

As things stand now,

Guyanese have been robbed blind and legally so. And to add insult to injury, the country was deceived about the signing bonus.

And still politicians have the temerity to go by the road side and at rallies and to ask the people to vote so that they can return them to office.

Not before a full-fledged Commission of Inquiry into the signing of this oil deal which will allow for the full facts to be known as to who was behind this sordid arrangement.

If this deal was signed behind the back of Cabinet and the President, then it is not legal. The contract should be annulled and a new agreement negotiated.

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Monday January 27, 2020

Kaieteur News

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Should David Hinds and Mark Benschop vote for the PPP? Here is an extract of Mark Benschop’s email to me which I indicated to him I will do a column on; “In conclusion, I ask of you as a friend, someone who is passionate of human rights, a patriot, someone who has given decades in the area of teaching at the University of Guyana, and other services to your country, sometimes under threat to your life and that of your beautiful family under the corrupt and brutal PPP regimes, beaten and locked up, etc. Freddie, in this elections, the only visionary is David A. Granger. He will ensure a better future for

your daughter, my son and every other young child, and citizens of Guyana. Surely he’s not perfect, but he has Guyana at heart.”

My other friend David Hinds in his column on me yesterday, wrote; “But unlike Freddie, I do not think those mistakes disqualify them from a second term. Like Freddie, I have difficulties with the way the AFC and WPA behaved in the government and approached the PNC’s desire to treat the government as a one-party formation, but unlike Freddie, I do not believe that those parties are useless. I

believe Coalition politics is the route to the desired national solution and national government, and I believe the AFC and WPA are pivotal to pushing the Coalition in that direction.”

Here is a reply to these two friends. First, a preface to my reply. In a column of Sunday, January 13, 2019 headlined “My vote for Granger depends of his action on UG”, I noted; “With the exception of David Granger, this column is openly saying in pellucid language, I trust no one in the ANPU constituents including the WPA to accept

defeat with the no-confidence motion and in the next general election. I see the AFC in identical fashion.

“Put another way, I believe with the exception of David Granger, the rest of the leadership in power will not conceded defeat in the next general poll.

“Without Granger, they may be a rigged national election with the input of the power drunk cabal we presently have. This is a dangerous situation facing Guyana and we would need all the courage of Granger to save Guyana. Mr. Granger should be the presidential

Race car driver escapes

BURNING VEHICLE

A prominent race car driver is lucky to have escaped with minor injuries after his car, Toyota Scarlet, burst into flames at around 16:30hrs.

Ravi Singh, of Lot 280 Lusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD), a member of the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club, had the narrow escape while participating in an event at the South Dakota Circuit at Timehri.

He is being treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for burns to his left leg and hand.

Officials putting out the fire.

Singh told Kaieteur News that he was leading his competitors when misfortune struck.

“The car started to overheat and I know something would have happened, but by the time I take off the seat beat and other safety gear that was strapping me down, the car was already on fire.

“When I see the fire, I just hurry and loose out myself and then I just jump from the vehicle.”

An ambulance was summoned and the injured driver was taken to the GPHC.

Ravi Singh

candidate for APNU. I may be inclined to vote for him. But I have a strong condition attached.

UG has deteriorated terribly and is in more troubled times than when the PPP ruled.”

If Mark and David read this, they will see I endorsed Granger. I placed only one criterion before President Granger if I was to vote for him. There were not three, four, five, six requirements just one.

What was taking place at UG with the new Vice Chancellor were bizarre, macabre, destructive, incredibly shocking. No previous president would have tolerated such extraordinary reckless financial waste.

The people who comprised the two unions opposing the Vice Chancellor were not even remotely connected to the PPP. From knowing about them, all were sympathetic to the PNC and only one was Indian who voted for the APNU+AFC in 2015.

Yet the Granger administration stuck with this gentleman and government’s three representatives on the Council voted for renewal of his contract. After that, it was clear to me that Granger and his APNU+AFC colleagues were into incestuous politics, party politics and not the future of Guyana.

Mark and David want the Granger administration to have a second try because they will do better in the second tenure. But where are the signs they will? I confess from the depths of my heart that if these signs could be shown to me, I will vote for

Frederick Kissoon APNU+AFC. I believe that is an impossible task. It has been almost five years of governance that does not auger well for an optimistic future. I am literally fed up with the unscholarly approach to the theory of Guyanese politics espoused by those who support APNU+AFC. It goes like this – the PPP was evil, the PPP was destructive, the APNU+AFC has not done even one percent of the horrible things the PPP did, it is the better choice to vote for. But if the PPP leaders acknowledge their mistakes to David and Mark and promise they will do better if given another chance, will they vote for the PPP? If not, why?

I agree with the denunciation of the PPP’s semi-fascist rule under Jagdeo and Ramotar but why that automatically makes the APNU+AFC the choice to govern? APNU+AFC have shown that they will not govern democratically. The dangerous signs are there. If David and Mark look carefully, they’ll see them.

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

Monday January 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Monday January 27, 2020

Kaieteur News

Ruptured brain aneurysm patient GPHC begins counselling sessions undergoes successful surgery for domestic violence patients

When Parbattie “Ravina” Austin found out that she had a ruptured brain aneurysm that was life threatening, her entire world began to crumble. But amid the daunting medical development there was a ray of hope among the dark clouds.

Austin was diagnosed with a ruptured brain aneurysm back in September 2019.

(An aneurysm is a balloon-like bulge of an artery wall. A ruptured aneurysm releases blood into an area around the brain).

She was told that the surgery could be done in Guyana by Guyana’s only Neurosurgeon, Dr. Amarnauth Dhuki.

However, there was a cost attached to execute the life saving operation and with very little time to gather the funds, Guyanese, businesses and the Ministry of Public Health assisted in making it possible.

The surgery was done last Thursday and since then she has been recovering at the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI) in Georgetown.

During a visit to the mother of four, Austin was in good spirits, and praised Dr. Dhuki for saving her life.

She also thanked all her supporters, donors and Dr. Dhuki for making her possible and a success.

“The surgery was successful; I had no side effects since it was done on Thursday. I am so happy… I am back to my normal self. I am ready to go home and see

A smiling Parbattie “Ravina” Austin

my kids and play with my puppies”, she said.

Dr. Dhuki, speaking with reporters stated that in cases where there is a ruptured brain aneurysm there is a high rate of fatality with many patients not surviving the first rupture or a high percentage of persons experiencing neurological deficits after the first rupture.

“It is important that we treat every aneurysm that is diagnosed or sometimes we do find small ones that we can wait and watch, but in Miss Parbattie’s case, it was a huge aneurysm which we saw on her non-invasive magnetic resonance and geography.

We also know the difficulty Miss Austin faced over the last couple of months, trying to get finances for her

surgery. “ He added presently there are available ways of treating brain aneurysms in Guyana, which should significantly drop the fatality rate and in Austin’s case, it was treated in an “appropriate manner.”

Dr. Dhuki further explained that during the surgery, the team found two aneurysms, but both were treated without an added cost.

The Dr. stated that Austin can go back to her normal life but with some lifestyle changes to prevent any further complications.

Most often, a ruptured brain aneurysm occurs in the space between the brain and thin tissues covering the brain. This type off haemorrhagic stroke is called a subarachnoid haemorrhage.

The Georgetown Public Hospital.

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) will be counselling patients that the institution is treating for domestic-violence related injuries.

This is according to a senior official at the hospital, who spoke on request of anonymity.

“I have been working at this hospital for over two decades and I have been interacting with these abused patients so I can safely say that these people need help,” the official stated.

“I have worked with and seen domestic violence patients that were so traumatised that they don’t even want to utter the

name of their abuser…I can safely say that those kinds of patients are the hardest to get through to, and currently we have patients in this state at this hospital and they are afraid to go out and seek help. So GPHC had to come up with ways to help these patients and we have come to a conclusion that counselling is more effective,” the official explained.

After the victims start to show signs of improvement, they will be advised to go to the nearest police station to report the matter.

The official said counselling sessions will

commence today and will last for an hour.

On weekdays, counselling will commence at 09:30 hrs and end at 10:30 hrs, while on weekends, it will commence from 08:30 hrs and conclude at 9:30 hrs.

Aside from this, the Board of Directors at the city hospital had been counselling several burn patients on ways to deal with their scars, among other issues affecting them.

According to internal statistics, between November 19, 2019 and January 19, 2020 the GPHC recorded 109 cases of domesticallyabused women.

Lights, camera, fashion!

A fashion exposition highlighting several local designers with fascinating platforms and others in their infancy was hosted last evening at the Youth Village.

Goldyn Lyte, designer for Goddess Wear, has had a knack for fashion all her life.

A designer for five years, Lyte described the theme of her creations as ‘afro-centric.’

“My designs for tonight [last evening] are mainly ready-to-wear. Outfits people can visualise themselves in on a daily basis…the outfits also feature my accessories which are meant to be worn on a day-to-day basis.”

Ly t e shared her thoughts on how fashion empowers today’s youth.

“I think it’s something that we use to build ourselves up…I definitely see it as an armour.”

Stepping into the fashion spotlight for the first time, local designer, Salena Cruikshank, cited her daughter, Lily, as her inspiration for joining the fashion world. ”We have a business called Sally’s Stitch Fix and we cater for modern

Goldyn Lyte

Selena Cruikshank

women regardless of occupation [and] religion.”

Cruikshank described her platform as ‘colour infusion’ and hopes it creates a sense of modesty for youths.

For Colvin Andrews, who has been designing for five years, fashion involves all regardless of gender. Also a costume designer, Andrews themed his black and white collection ‘the strength of our people’.

“Fashion empowers

today’s youths in many ways whereby it helps young people to be themselves…We are showing the young people no matter your size, just be who you are,” Andrews opined.

The fashion display was one of the activities of the two-day event, organised by the Ministry of Social Cohesion to focus on the development and empowerment of young people. (DPI)

Monday January 27, 2020

Kaieteur News

Dialysis Centre commissioned in Region Six - Many to benefit from free services - First of its kind facility Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence with a patient.

A $6.3M regional dialysis centre was officially commissioned last Friday at the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital.

The centre which, is equipped with eight dialysis machines and trained staff, has been operational since the start of the year. To date, 38 patients have accessed its services free of cost.

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence explained that the establishment of the dialysis centre was the result of an agreement the Ministry reached with the Doobay Medical Centre to provide free dialysis services in Berbice.

She noted the financial impact this will have on

patients in the region.

“One patient accessing dialysis outside the region would expend about $360,000 a month and that doesn’t include transportation and accommodation. If it were to be summed up, it would amount to approximately $4.3M per year. How many persons can afford that?” the Minister remarked. She also noted that the facility adds to a series of developments that the region underwent within the last year.

“This is the first of its kind for the region and is a service of inestimable value… I am thrilled to say without reserve that the MoPH has achieved an important milestone for residents in this region.”

Among the patients already benefitting from the centre are Sewekarran Nanhu of Edinburgh, East Bank Berbice and Wayne Watson of #28 Village in Region Five.

Both agreed that in addition to seeing an improvement in their health, they have been able to save much-needed funds since travel time has been vastly reduced.

Dr. Budhendra Doobay in his remarks commended the Health Minister for ensuring this crucial facility was established in the region.

“Since meeting Minister Lawrence, her only concern is ensuring that people get access to all the services they need,” Dr. Doobay noted.

(DPI)

The recently commissioned centre.

Leguan received $645M sea defence...

From page 3 maintenance works to the earthen embankment between Kingston and Richmond Hill; maintenance works to the earthen embankment between Henrietta and Enterprise, construction of timber revetment at Henrietta; maintenance works to river defence at Amsterdam; maintenance works to river defence at La Bagatelle; construction of rip rap river defence at Cane Field; maintenance works to river defence at Elizabeth Ann; emergency works at Cane Garden and maintenance works to river defences at Blenheim.

These projects were undertaken by Khan’s Enterprise, R. Maraj General Contracting, S. Maraj Contracting, BK International and Mohammed Fawaaz Bacchus. These projects cost $3,975,300; $3,200,000; $29,451,700; $10,912,450; $8,974,000; $56,721,590; $6,987,210; $2,450,000 and $10,598,000 respectively.

Meanwhile, 2019 saw a total of

M$190,933,200 on the construction of rip-rap sea defence at Cane Garden, construction of rip-rap river defence at Cane Field, gabion mattress river defence at Cornelia, gabion mattress works at Blenheim, Leguan - PH 2; boulder face protection along concrete structures at Amsterdam; maintenance works to the earthen embankment between Henrietta and Vrouwanna and maintenance works to the river defence at Elizabeth Ann. A. Nazier and Sons Construction, A&S General Contracting INC, IB Contracting and Machinery Rental, Khan’s Construction and Transportation Services INC and Ideal Engineering Services were the awardees of these contracts. M $43,752,400, M $103,257,000, M $9,424,400, M $10,922,400, M $11,775,000, M $2,430,000 and M $9,372,000 were the sums allocated for each project.

The Ministry also undertook work in other areas of development within the Island.

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Monday January 27, 2020

Kaieteur News

Agricola tyre shop operations hinder traffic flow on EBD public road - Concerns raised with City Hall, Public Infrastructure Ministry pavement, you will see a big hole. We had to put up a grill to block the pavement so that people won’t fall in. We are not creating a block. What the Council needs to do is fix the pavement,” Rutherford said.

Hall told the Council, the issue of encroachment does not exist at Agricola, alone.

She said that at Houston, the problem exists with vendors encroaching along

the main road. She said that now the Council has been made aware of the issues the Town Clerk will be looking into the matters.

As a consequence, even Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma was notified.

When contacted, the Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure explained owing to issues of

jurisdiction, his Ministry cannot on its own determine what action should be taken.

“Of course it’s the public road, but some of these districts fall under the jurisdiction of the Council and the police have some authority as well, as the traffic is involved. So it will need to be addressed through a multiagency approach,” Sharma said.

Linden teen stabbing…

The Agricola tyre shop reportedly causes congestion along the Public Road A tyre shop located at Agricola, East Bank Demerara has become the subject of complaints from residents due to the congestion it creates for those having to access the public road.

Residents say that often vehicles (including ‘bush trucks) parked alongside the tyre shop hinder the smooth commute of traffic and pedestrians alike.

Residents say the public road provides for double lane traffic, but vehicles are forced to form a single lane when approaching the tyre shop at Agricola. This problem is said to particularly acute on week days.

However, what is most disturbing to the residents is the fact that the congestion affects schoolchildren.

The issue was raised at a recent meeting of the Georgetown Mayor and City

Councillors.

Representative of constituency 15 (Houston, Agricola, Mc Doom and other East Bank Demerara communities) Cilesia Hall told the Council that activities of the vulcanising outlet have led to major concerns.

Hall noted that, “the tyre shop is causing obstruction to the flow of traffic and pedestrians alike.”

She was particularly vocal about the safety of children who commute the public road to school almost every day.

She explained that the residents have complained about the congestion and particularly the danger this poses for children who are forced to walk on the public road whenever vehicles and other objects from the shop block their way.

Hall said further that neighbours have complained

that the tyres from the outlet encumber their free movement.

She told the Mayor and Councillors that she had raised the issue with the proprietor, Tony Rutherford.

She said that Mr. Rutherford removed the tyres and other items for about a week. However, by the following week, the tyres and other objects were again blocking the area.

The councillor added that, “Rutherford had been formally written to, but he basically tried to justify the reason for actions.”

When contacted by this publication, the proprietor denied that the work of the shop is creating congestion.

He said it is actually preventing commuters from falling into a large hole on the pavement.

“If you check the

One sister released, file to be sent to DPP

One of the two sisters arrested last Friday for brutally stabbing schoolgirl Shashamani Williams has been released from police custody.

She was on released on her own recognizance.

Her 15-year-old sister, a student of the Linden Foundation Secondary School, remains in the lock ups.

According to the Commander Superintendent Hugh Winter, a file is being prepared to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice on the way forward.

The 15-year-old suspect will remain in custody pending the DPP’s recommendations.

Fifteen-year-old Shashamani Williams was stabbed on Thursday last in the back with a 10-inch ‘Rambo’ knife during an afterschool fight.

She remains a patient at the Linden Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit; her condition is still listed as critical.

Relatives say that the teen is unable to eat, walk or function on her own. They are calling for the students who attacked her to face the full brunt of the law.

Shashamani underwent surgery for more than five hours at the Linden Hospital to have the blade removed.

According to reports, she sustained severe injury to her ribs, her left lung, spleen and her stomach.

The fight was captured on video and posted online.

Students were seen cheering as the fight went on and even formed a circle around the two girls.

But things took a turn for the worse, after another female student pulled out a jagged black ‘Rambo’ knife from her bag and stabbed the

The teen at the hospital.

15-year-old girl.

The surrounding onlookers scattered and the video showed the injured student with the knife stuck in her bloodied back as she pleaded for help. One adult could be heard saying “Ah tell ayo go home…Y’all doan hear.”

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

According to reports, the fight occurred at around 15:00 hours, moments after classes were over.

Education Minister Dr. Nicolette Henry travelled to the mining town to meet with the students at the school and had stated that it was unfortunate that a child was seriously injured and informed the students that, “we (MoE) will spare no efforts in dealing with indiscipline and violence in our schools”.

Further, Dr. Henry advised the children to seek the assistance of their teachers in situations where

The 10-inch ‘Rambo’ knife that Williams was stabbed with. conflicts arise and not to resort to fights and violence.

Additionally, she stated that the MoE has recently met with a number of stakeholders to formulate a holistic strategy to address violence, bullying and other inappropriate behaviours in the school environment.

Monday January 27, 2020

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

GUYANESE HORROR FICTION KAMARANG…

CROSSING LUCILLE

By Michael Jordan “IT Look like yuh girl ain coming, tonight,” the stevedore said, before putting the bottle of Banks ale to his lips.

Michael remained silent, trying to mask his irritation. It was the third time that the man had commented on Lucille’s absence. What was more annoying was that it appeared that the man was right. He glanced at his watch for the second time in five minutes. Ten o’clock already.

He had not wanted to be seen entering the Ritz in daylight, so, from home, he’d gone to the Metropole Cinema to kill time. Two pretty girls had sat next to him. The one closest to him had seemed intent on flirting; touching him now and then and asking inane questions about the movie plot, which he had hardly followed because his thoughts were elsewhere.

There was a short blackout during the second flick, but it was still a bit too early when the second movie ended, so he had stopped for a snack at Demico House.

Now, here he was at the Ritz, dressed up and with a gift in his pocket and the girl wasn’t there. She was not in her room—so, where was she? That was the first thing he’s asked the barman, who had looked at him, emptily, and shrugged. Without being asked, the stevedore claimed that he had seen her enter a shiny black car about two days back. He hadn’t seen her since. Was she with another lover? He pushed the thought away and glanced at the sparse crowd. A woman with an intricate corn-row sat at a table, closest to the punchbox. She sat with a prostitute he’d seen on his previous visits: a sulky-mouthed woman of about thirty, with a low Afro and dressed in tight red pants. She winked at him.

He glanced away in annoyance.

For some strange reason, the prostitute that they called Abby, (after the demonpossessed Abby in the exorcism movie, the stevedore claimed), had been pestering him almost as soon as he had entered the Ritz. She had tried to bum a beer and punch-pox change from the stevedore, while staring at Michael with open curiosity.

Michael had been in a good mood then, so he’d bought the beer and given her a dollar in twenty-five cent pieces.

But as the night wore on, she became a pest—returning to Michael and the stevedore, babbling inanely, teasing Michael (“what this lil boy

who ain lose he mother features doing up hay?” ), dancing up to him suggestively.

“She dig yuh,” the stevedore said, grinning.

“Yuh could get dat easy, easy.”

But he was too disappointed by Lucille’s absence to be flattered by the prostitute’s attention. He finished his second beer, collected the stevedore’s empty bottle and returned to the bar. This would be his last one and then he was going home. The barman gave him a friendly nod. He opened the bottles, pushed them across to Michael.

“Like yuh girlfriend ain coming back tonight,” he said.

“Matter of fact, I thought you and all desert me.” The barman leaned forward, grinning. “Ah see Abby giving you a hustle.” His eyes shifted and he grinned again.

“She coming now.”

Michael heard the slapping sound of sandals, then felt Abby’s thick-bodied

the counter, and headed down the corridor to the urinal. His legs felt heavy; he felt light-headed. He sighed, relieved himself, and had just zipped up his trousers when he heard a soft footfall. He turned. The prostitute with the cornrows was staring at him.

He frowned. What did she want?

She leaned forward and said: “Room three.”

“What?”

“Room three. Yuh girl just come back and she in room three.” She sniffed. “They renovating she room.

Desmond tell me to tell you.”

He felt a burst of elation.

She had not deserted him. In his head he heard the lilting voice: I will wait for you, Mikal…

He tried to suppress a smile as the prostitute watched him. She was smiling, too, but there was nothing friendly about it.

“You should still give me friend Abby a shot. She like you.”

presence at his side. He flinched as her voice blared in his ear.

“Is what you going on with at all, Desmond?”

The barman gave her a half-puzzled smile. “What you talking about?”

“You mean is beer you got that lil boy drinking? You know you could get lock up fuh that?”

She emitted a burst of laughter, collected two beers from the barman, winked at Michael, then returned to her seat. Michael watched as she whispered something to the prostitute with the cornrows.

Michael drank the last of his beer, placed the bottle on

To heck with you and Abby. “Where is room three?”

“Third room from the corridor,” she snapped. “On yuh left.” She turned abruptly and headed back down the corridor.

He felt his heart thumping as he walked down the corridor. He came to the door.

He rapped. “Come in,” she said softly. He pushed the door, and stepped in a darkened room. She lay entirely covered beneath the sheets. He removed his windbreaker, and as he reached the bed, he heard a suppressed giggle, and a rattling sound as someone padlocked the door from the

outside. Then the woman on the bed removed the sheet, and he gave a yelp of surprise as he stared at the prostitute, Abby.

For a moment he just gaped, catching a glimpse of large breasts and wide hips.

Then he took a step backwards, but she was already off the bed, pressing herself to him, gazing at him with a mixture of lust and contrition.

“Ah sorry, handsome boy, ah sorry.” He got a whiff of marijuana. “I just need to be with you.”

He felt a brief rush of lust, but then pulled free and glared at her; angry at the prostitute, angry at her friend, angry at himself for being so easily fooled.

He turned to the door. He pulled it, found it locked.

“Marilyn lock it from outside,” she said. She had come over to him. “Doan vex with me. The minute I see you I just wanted to—” Someone rapped at the door.

Abby sucked her teeth.

“Who is dat?”

Someone laughed softly.

“Wha happen, Abby, ah interrupting something?”

Abby sucked her teeth again. What yuh want, Marilyn?”

The woman outside giggled. “Yuh rival outside.”

Lucille. She was outside and he was— Outside, the prostitute giggled again. “One of them chaps ask fuh you, and I say that you with that cute, highcolour boy that you was troubling. Ah think she hear me.”

I will wait for you, Mikal. An image of the girl sitting in their corner came to him. He turned to Abby. “Tell yuh friend to open this door.”

She tried to press against him again. He pushed her back hard.

“Tell yuh friend to open this door now!” He could feel his face becoming hot, a sure sign that he was losing his temper. She glared back at him, and he held her gaze until her eyes shifted away.

“Open the door, girl,” she said. She turned to the wall nearest to the hallway and shouted. “Ah done get what ah want.”

He felt his face getting hot again. The room was near to the hallway. He could hear music from the punch-box.

That meant that maybe the girl had heard Abby.

“I glad fuh you, girl,” the prostitute at the door yelled back. He heard the door being unlocked, laughter, and footsteps hurrying away.

And now, what? Go past the giggling prostitutes and

Cover design and illustrations by Harold Bascom explain to the girl how he’d ended up in another woman’s room? Then maybe end up at the centre of some nasty confrontation between Abby, her friend, Marilyn, and Lucille?

No…it would be best to just leave. He took out his kerchief. He wiped his face.

He took a deep breath, headed for the door, shifted his eyes away from the grinning stevedore, then headed down the stairs, heart heavy with a guilt that he told himself he shouldn’t feel. * Abby came out of the room at the same time that Lucille was heading towards the bar for another cider. As the women were about to pass each other, Abby swung her hips to the right, knocking the girl off balance.

Desmond slammed a hand on the bar. “Hay, Abby, humble yuh self, nah!”

Abby glared at the girl for a few seconds, sucked her teeth, then headed for the punch-box.

Lucille smiled. * In all, Abby thought, as she headed down the brothel’s back stairs, it hadn’t been such a bad night. For one, she had almost gotten in on the bitch’s man. For another, she now had a real customer: the big ‘Government man’ who now waited on her.

He was over fifty, and had come up the stairs about eleven-thirty. According to street gossip, his regular visits to Lombard Street’s brothels had caused him to lose favour with the Comrade Leader. This had led to him being relieved of his position as a Government Minister.

Abby had slept with him a few times before. He was an

easy-going customer who would pay a little extra to get freaky.

She didn’t mind his rules.

For him, her bathing before they got together was a must.

As she headed to the bathroom, she remembered the first time he was in a room with her. “Please have a bath first my dear,” he had said in that loud bass voice.

The bathroom was a crude, concrete structure in the hotel’s back-yard. There was no shower, just a galvanized bucket that you filled at a tap in the yard.

She paused at the bottom of the stairs, feeling the beginning of unease as she surveyed her surroundings.

The yard was sunken, easily flooded during heavy rainfall.

A huge silk-cotton tree leaned its weight against the southern fence. A full moon threw shadows around the four corners of the backyard.

To her, the concrete bathroom, with its door-less entrance, reminded her of the old, moss-covered mausoleums in Le Repentir Cemetery.

It was just about a month ago, that a prostitute named Anita was almost gang-raped while going to this same bathroom at night. Since then, the girls would only go there in pairs, and sometimes with their clients. She half-turned to go back upstairs to ask Marilyn to accompany her, but then recalled that Marilyn was in the middle of a shorttime hustle. And if she, Abby didn’t move fast, the horny old fare-picker upstairs might get impatient and go with somebody else. She couldn’t afford to lose out on him, when she only had three dollars in her purse.

Sighing, she headed for Continued on page 20

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Monday January 27, 2020

German-based study recommends gender balance among CCJ judges - only one woman judge on bench

Since its inauguration in April 2005, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has had 13 judges; but only two of them have been females.

The court currently has a bench of seven judges which comprises one female, Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee. Apart from Justice Rajnauth-Lee, Justice Desiree Bernard, who retired in 2014, was the only other female to serve as a CCJ judge.

Against this backdrop, a German-based study has recommended that the court adapt a gender balance among its judges so as to strengthen public confidence.

All of the court’s three presidents have been men. Its current president, Justice Adrian Saunders, was appointed to the post last year. The study conducted by the Gesellschaft für I n t e r n a t i o n a l e Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the German corporation for international co-operation.

GIZ was impressed with the manner in which Judges were recruited and noted that the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC), the institution that appoints the Judges of the CCJ, guarantees a free and independent selection of Judges based on ability and integrity, with the best candidate being selected among applicants.

The GIZ did suggest, however, that to further ensure that the CCJ is compatible with other courts of a similar nature; measures could be established for unsuccessful applicants to be given the opportunity to file a competition complaint as part of the selection process to the Court. It also found a high level of confidence in the integrity and independence of the CCJ, commending the court for its institutional design, organisational capacities and the competencies of the staff.

The study was based on the Bangalore Principles of

Judicial Conduct, which aim to establish standards of judicial integrity internationally. Additionally, the German Judicial Scan utilised Article 11 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption as a benchmark of good governance and integrity.

GIZ, on the other hand, is a German federal organisation that supports the German government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. It has in the past supported and continues to support the Judicial Integrity Group, which developed the Bangalore Principles to promote compliance with judicial integrity standards.

The results of the study found that the CCJ had a high level of compliance with the Bangalore Principles in several respects. These included having a Code of Judicial Conduct; the monitoring of its Judges’ compliance with this Code and the high level of public access to the Court’s hearings and judgments. All hearings at the CCJ are live streamed. GIZ found that this ensured a high level of transparency in Court decision-making.

The Report also considered that in order to strengthen public confidence in the CCJ, a gender balance among the judges should be sought in the future. Overall, the GIZ applauded the CCJ for being an independent and accessible institution, creating a distinct benefit for the people of the Caribbean as it continuously exemplifies “great transparency and openness”.

The CCJ has an Original and an Appellate jurisdiction and is effectively, therefore, two courts in one. In its Original Jurisdiction, it is an international court with exclusive jurisdiction to interpret and apply the rules set out in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC) and to

decide disputes arising under it. The RTC established the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

In its Original Jurisdiction, the CCJ is critical to the CSME and all 12 Member States, which belong to the CSME (including their citizens, businesses, and governments) can access the Court’s Original Jurisdiction to protect their rights under the RTC. In its Appellate Jurisdiction, the CCJ is the final court of appeal for criminal and civil matters for those countries in the Caribbean that alter their

national Constitutions to enable the CCJ to perform that role.

At present, four states access the Court in its Appellate Jurisdiction, these being Barbados, Belize,

Dominica and Guyana.

However, by signing and ratifying the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice, Member States of the Community have demonstrated a

commitment to making the CCJ their final court of appeal.

The Court is the realisation of a vision of our ancestors, an expression of independence and a signal of the region’s coming of age.

CROSSING LUCILLE

From page 19 the bathroom, which lay about twenty feet away. She picked up the galvanised bucket at the entrance, then stepped gingerly on to a line of crookedly laid boards that led to the nearby tap. She shooed away a toad from the tap, filled the bucket and returned to the bathroom.

Darkness hemmed her in as she stepped inside; and again, she found herself thinking of a mausoleum. She cursed Desmond silently as she unwrapped the towel from her waist.

Some people really cheap. He could have at least put in a light bulb. She hung the towel and underwear on the rack that someone had rigged up in the bathroom, cursing again as her brassiere fell. Shit…she should have been younger, or high-complexioned; then she could have been at the Penthouse, or Pakaraima, instead of this kiss-me-ass place.

Abby stepped further into the darkness, until one of her feet touched the wooden pallet that the women stood on while bathing. She groped around in the bucket for the plastic bowl. She could just wash her face, spray on some perfume, and who would know the difference? But no…maybe she wasn’t high-coloured and good looking, but at least she was clean. But she would make the old fucker pay dear for sending her to bathe at this time of the night. She would ask him to stay till day-clean, and hustle some twenties from his wallet while he slept. God knows she needed the money. Desmond was right. It was time she stopped wearing this red pants … time she bought some new threads, and underwear, and maybe some Ambi for her complexion.

If only she had threads like that highfalutin bitch. She splashed more water on her face as her thoughts turned to the girl. She had hoped that the girl would have reacted when she’d pushed her, but the whore had looked so cool, that she’d felt like scratching that white face; but maybe she’d gone too far in chucking her; she hadn’t really meant to do that, though she’d been waiting for the girl to as much as pick her teeth. Instead, the girl had just smiled and walked away.

She lathered her breasts. She didn’t know why, but the girl’s presence at the Ritz disturbed her. There was something wrong, wrong, wrong about her being there. There was something wrong about the girl herself. Where did she eat?

Where did she bathe? Who was that man who picked her up in the black Morris Oxford now and then?

Abby shook her head, trying to chase away the unease that had returned. She lathered her body quickly. Her hands lingered between her thighs, and now she found herself thinking about the boy;. Why did she have this stupid weakness for these high-coloured, mixed race men? If only it was the boy who was waiting for her upstairs.

Her eyes were closed when she felt someone breathe lightly on the nape of her neck. She gave a yelp of surprise and looked around, half-expecting to see some raving manic standing behind her.

Nothing.

Unconsciously, her hands flew to her breasts. She locked her thighs together.

She stared outside. Nothing unusual in the moon-lit yard; but now she felt her gaze being drawn to the silk-cotton tree near the northern fence. And now she sensed that someone was standing there and staring at her with a mixture of mirth and hostility. Not a sex maniac. Something worse.

“Who…who’s duh?” Her voice echoed in the tomb-like structure. She thought of screaming, but her throat felt locked off. Then it came to her…a faint, unpleasant odour that she knew she had smelt before. Oh God, she knew that smell…but it couldn’t be…

Yes it is, yes, it is, you ugly whore, a cold, amused voice in her head answered, while the thing she couldn’t see continued to stare at her.

What was the psalm that Auntie Carla had told me to say in the presence of evil?

“The Lord is…the-the-Lord is my Shepherd…”

Oh Christ!—ah can’t remember anything else!

She had to get out of here quickly, or they’d find her dead in the morning!

Oh lawd—oh Gawd!

Whimpering, she grabbed the towel from the rack, feeling at the same time for her panties…oh shit, what had happened to her panties? She gave up her search, stumbled outside, still feeling those hateful eyes, but nothing leaped out at her from the silk-cotton tree, so she ran to the brothel, sinking in mud, stubbing a toe on a stone, but now she was pounding up the stairs and clutching at her unravelling towel, reaching the top and leaning to the open door like a sprinter trying to breast the tape first.

Later, with the politician snoring at her side, she stared at the ceiling, still thinking of that smell that couldn’t be, because it was the smell, akin to frozen and slightly tainted meat, that had stayed in her clothes, that time the police had taken her to the Lyken Funeral Home mortuary, to identify her murdered mother. She’d brought the smell home. It was in her clothes, her hair.

It had lingered even after she’d taken a bath. It had mingled unpleasantly with the perfume she’d sprayed on herself.

In the end, unable to sleep, Abby smoked a marijuana joint. But that smell of her long-dead mother stayed with her.

It stayed with the memory of that staring, invisible thing that had entered the bathroom, silent as smoke, breathed its stench on her neck with playful malice, and, for some reason, had apparently made off with her underwear…

(Taken from the supernatural novel Kamarang by Michael Jordan. Book design and illustrations by Harold Bascom.)

GREAT NEWS FOR FANS: Copies of the illustrated edition of Kamarang will be once again on sale from this Thursday at Austin’s Book Store.

The author can also be contacted for autographed copies on +592 645 2447 or by email: kmarangnight@gmail.com) Kamarang (Kindle and paperback) is also on sale on Amazon

Monday January 27, 2019

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

VPA recommends early Five lucky students receive Tablets intervention to stem violence - D’Urban Park Youth Village gets thumbs up KINGSTON, Jamaica — Executive director of the Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) Dr Deanna Ashley is suggesting that focused intervention programmes on children in the early childhood years should be a preventative strategy that is employed to address the country’s crime problem.

“We know the Jamaican saying ‘prevention is better than cure’. We need to focus our interventions on our children beginning in the early years. We need to focus on helping the parents to provide that positive support to the development of our children,” she said.

Dr Ashley made the observation after presenting data on effects of violence on children at a VPA forum on “Pathways to the Prevention of Violence: Examining the Evidence” at the Regional Headquarters at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus on Wednesday, January 22.

She also noted that there should be a change in the approach of teaching and providing more support to teachers as well as engaging more social workers in the schools.

The VPA executive

Executive director of the Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) Dr Deanna Ashley. (Photo contributed) director said that children in Jamaica are exposed to a significant amount of violence as victims, as well as witnesses to violence.

She noted that the violence occurs in all forms such as physical, emotional, verbal abuse as well as

neglect, adding that intrafamily abuse and violence affected children are leading to the development of intergenerational cycles of violence.

“We need to use the data from our research, monitor (Continued on page 22)

The Ministry of Public Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s distributed digital tablets to lucky students at Youth Village at D’Urban Park on Saturday.

This effort is a part of t h e M i n i s t r y ’s g o a l t o ensure all Guyanese have access to technology and to boost the delivery of education in Guyana through Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

Outreach Officer at the Ministry of Public Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , Deon Patterson, explained that the students were given pamphlets with information about the Ministry, which they had to revise before they were quizzed. The names of the students were put into a bag and five winners drawn.

According to Patterson, the aim of the exercise was not only to test their knowledge but to also promote education, and to provide the students with technology

that would boost their academic performance.

“We want them to have the tablets that will enable them to do their school work, more so their homework,” she said.

This distribution follows last Friday’s handing over of five more digital tablets to deserving students at the Youth Village launch.

Since its official opening on Friday, the village has attracted hundreds of students and interested persons.

Tamya Healis said she was passing the village at D’Urban Park when she spotted the crowd and knew that she wanted to be a part of it. She noted that the event is another good move by the Coalition Government to focus on youth development.

“I like the atmosphere…I like the idea that the young people have the opportunity to come out not only to mingle but to be empowered through the information by the different youth groups and

the local entrepreneurs promoting their products,” Healis said.

For Leon Edwards, this event was a perfect learning experience for his daughter and granddaughter.

“I want them to be exposed to what the young people are doing because they are about 13 and 7…as a father, I know that it is important that the youths get involved in creative activity.”

Spearheaded by the Department of Social C o h e s i o n , t h e Yo u t h Village forms part of the calendar of events for the Golden Jubilee celebrations leading up to Republic Day on February 23, 2020.

(DPI)

PAGE 22

Monday January 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

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

House and land available at Parfaite, Tuschen, Diamond etc.

Contact Pacific Development Inc. 223-6035/ 604-4909 Broad Street & Republic Gardens, Georgetown, Enterprise & Enmore East Coast. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685

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

Nissan Juke 2010, Blue, PTT series, fully loaded, excellent condition. Call: 681-4208/ 2206262 1 RZ minibus for sale, series BSS Newly spray over, hardly work $1.3M Neg. Contact# 603-2640 Massey Ferguson Tractor 283 $2.5M(Foreign Used) MF 165 $1.5M, MF 135 $1M,MF 165 Loader Tractor $2.1M.6825230/615-4414.

Pick-up from Truck Canada Extra-Cab, 2005 Tacoma $1.750M, Ford-F 150 Sport $1.1 M, Ford Ranger Sport $1M.682-5230/615-4414.

3- Storey unfinished building, Lot 1486 Plot B Herstelling EBD. 2 storey unfinish building, Lot 1488 Onderneeming WBD. #6093777/697-4557/641-3893/6860522

VACANCY

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

Soup Cook & Kitchen Assistant, Mon-Sat, Job location in town, Good pay.

Call: 225-6927 between 8am3pm for interviews Pump Attendant & Cashier, shifts rotated weekly Shell Service station Providence.Email: Shellramsburg@gmail.com.

Female cleaner office & home.

Call: 642-9823 Factory Workers- Must have sound secondary education, for more information. Please Call: 223-0090 Experience Goldsmith needed at Jacob’s Jewellery and Pawnshop. Address 16 Pike St, Kitty Georgetown.

Tel#227-8748/622-4970

Labourers & Maintenance workers. Contact #621-6969, serious enquiries only.

Modern Home, Georgetown, 3 self contain rooms upstairs, 2 room downstairs, Automatic Garage & Gate. Contact Ray’s Realty # 627-9685

LAND FOR SALE

Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area. Call: 615-9132

One male Janitor. Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St Bourda

99 Mining permits- Cuyuni Mazaruni. Contact #683-9756

One 3 Story building at 97 Sugar Cane St.S/Rveldt Gdns $125,000,000.Tel#674-9905/ 695-1365/225-2971.

CAR RENTAL

FOR RENT

Driver- must have sound secondary education, for more information. Please Call: 223-0090 Office assistant, Maths & English required, knowledge of Excel & Quickbooks, Mima Decor , 8 Sheriff Street, mimadecor12@gmail.com (227-0186) Female Cook/Baker for interior location. For further details.

Call: 618-2020 Driver/Expeditor. Contact # 231-0363/ Accounts Clerk.

Contact # 231-0363 WANTED Receptionist, Handyman and maid to work at Hotel, 25 years & older, able to work shifts, Apply in Person. Tel# 2259211

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

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

One General Domestic, must be able to prepare vegetarian meal. Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street Bourda

1 Office Clerk, Computer Literate. Tel# 233-2725/2332439

Front end loader operator.

Contact#223-5273/223-5274

From page 11 and evaluate it to assess the effectiveness and impact; scale up and sustain the interventions that work and are cost effective,” she said.

The objectives of the forum were to share data that examine the magnitude of violence in Jamaica and some of the underlying risk and protective factors, to discuss the benefits and limitations of social

Wanted land to buy in Parfaite Harmonie on the West Coast and East Bank. Tel# 697-6311

WANTED Maid. Requirements: person must be living on the East Bank. Contact# 600-6887 Porters to work in Grocery Stall, Attractive Salary at Stabroek Market. Tel#2269800/683-9500. Experience an asset One Accounts clerk must be writing CAT, Previous work experience necessary, send application to P.O Box 16005 One experienced welder to work in the interior, must have experience. Contact Imran # 226-9416/502-8587 Excavator operator to work with mining firm, must have experience. Contact Imran #226-9416/ 502-8587 Diesel Mechanic to work in interior, experience with perkins, duetz, doosan engines necessary. Contact Imran #226-9416/502-8587 One driver for residence at Montrose, must have 10 years experience within the age 35-45 years. Contact #608-2440 Female Domestic wanted for light housekeeping $3000 Daily, Male skill labourer $4000 daily Vreed-En-Hoop 682-5230/615-4414.

Wanted experienced hire car drivers at Ramada Princess Georgetown Hotel. Contact # 265-7075 / 616-5419 One experienced female cook for a family, must be between 25-35 yrs. Call: 231-8737 1 Lorry Driver, must be able to work flexible hours.

Contact Annie #233-3512 / 264-3720 Maid to work in Georgetown, must know to cook and household work. Tel# 6613317 Sales girl. Apply in person at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street 1 Live-in male, multi-tasking & 1 live-in domestic female, experience in cooking creole foods. Tel# 675-2550/656-9313

interventions in the prevention of violence, and to make recommendations for scaling up what works.

New network group...

From page 7 engage in knowledge sharing and collaboration while building relationships and enhancing your professional network.

Dr. Melissa Varswyk, Cofounder and CEO of the Georgetown American University noted that this is an opportunity for us to ensure that women’s place is at the decisionmaking table in Guyana’s oil and gas sector.”

“The little big secret in Guyana is that there is a cohort of women helping women to move beyond the glass ceiling the rest of the world sees,” she said. Marissa Lowden of the Level Up Movement noted that the goal is to be a part of the forum that showcases the talent of women already involved in Oil and Gas and promote opportunities for other women thinking of working in the Sector.

Abbigale Loncke of We Lead Caribbean shared similar views. She said that, “As we continue our mandate of supporting women in business in Guyana and throughout the Caribbean, We Lead Caribbean is proud to be a part of this inaugural event.

“We see this as another opportunity to bring women to the forefront of development and to give them the knowledge and exposure that they need to make informed decisions in the Oil and Gas sector.” Meanwhile Dr. Dawn C. Stewart - Founder CPIC Monique’s Guyanese Women’s Roundtable (GWR) noted that, “Through my conversation with other stakeholders, it was quickly realised that there was a critical need to engage the women and girls of Guyana in the conversation of the emerging oil and gas economy.

“It became evident that it is compulsory that civil society play an integral role in the preparation of Guyanese women to play a positive role in the newly and quickly changing economy. I truly think that women disrupt differently, they also can bring different leadership skills and behaviours to this new economy for Guyana. It’s not just about diversity of gender, it’s about diversity of thought; balanced teams are necessary because they make better decisions. This type of inclusion is invaluable in an industry reliant on new ways of working to boost productivity levels and unlock efficiencies,” she added.

The conference is organised

by CPIC, Monique’s Guyanese Women’s Roundtable, (GWR), Level Up Movement, We Lead Caribbean and Georgetown American University.

Monday January 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Monday January 27, 2019

Monday January 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Monday January 27, 2019

NBA roundup: LeBron passes Kobe, Lakers fall to 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) reacts after dunking the ball during the fourth quarter as Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) looks on in the background at Wells Fargo Center. (Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)

Ben Simmons had 28 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and four steals to lift the host Philadelphia 76ers past the Los Angeles Lakers 108-91 on Saturday, in a game that saw LeBron James pass Kobe Bryant for third on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

Simmons shot 12 of 15 in playing 41 minutes. Tobias Harris scored 29 points and Al Horford had 16 for the Sixers, who improved to 21-2 at home. Matisse Thybulle also contributed five steals.

The Sixers played without Joel Embiid (finger) for the 16th time this season and were also missing Josh Richardson with a strained hamstring.

Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 31 points, while LeBron James had 29 points,

eight assists and seven rebounds. James entered the game with 33,626 points while Bryant sat at 33,643.

Chicago Bulls 118 — Cleveland Cavaliers 106 Zach LaVine scored 27 of his 44 points in the first half and Chicago benefited from a dominant third quarter to beat host Cleveland for the second time in as many Saturdays.

LaVine made five of his team’s 12 3-pointers and added 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Bulls, narrowly missing out on his first career triple-double. He recorded 21 of his 42 points in fourth quarter last Saturday as Chicago overcame a late 15point deficit in a 118-116 victory over Cleveland last weekend.

Cleveland scored the first

Manchester United hit...

Monday January 27, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your telepathy and intuition are at an all-time high today, Aries. You should find it easier than usual to tune in to others' thoughts and feelings. It might be a good idea to control your reactions.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Today a deep concern for others' feelings could have you lending a sympathetic ear to those in need of some understanding. It's more important to listen than talk now GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today you might complete a difficult project that's important to your career.

Acknowledgement of your dedication and hard work could find you more emotionally overwhelmed than makes you comfortable.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) A long-awaited social event, perhaps a wedding or christening, could have you moved to tears, Cancer.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) An intense, emotional dream could move you so powerfully that you awaken with the odd sense that the dream was real. Write it down, Leo. Maybe it is.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Emotional discussions with your partner could move you to tears, Virgo.

You've overcome any difficulties and probably reached a new understanding.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today you may feel the need to do a lot of work around your home, Libra. Perhaps you expect visitors or simply want to spruce up the place for yourself.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Some intense communications with a close friend or lover could reveal wonderful things about your relationship.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Ancient social traditions could be a powerful part of today, Sagittarius. An emotional event concerning your family, perhaps a wedding or other milestone, could have you feeling especially moved.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You usually place a lot of importance on self-control.

Today this skill will come in handy when you receive some wonderful news that might otherwise move you to tears.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Expect some great news regarding money, possibly professional advancement.

You may have to control the urge to break into tears of joy, Aquarius.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Happy events involving a close female relative might have you feeling emotional, Pisces. A marriage or birth could be involved. you've had to overcome that.

From page 28 as United turned on the style on the type of surface rarely seen these days.

“When you score two or three goals in quick succession, it’s sit down and enjoy the game and let the players enjoy it,” United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said.

If Maguire’s strike was a rarity — it was his first of the season — then when Phil Jones looped in a header for his first goal since 2014, after Dalot and Lingard had put United in control, the visitors knew it was going to be a good day.

Anthony Martial added a fifth goal just before the break with a deflected effort and poor old Rovers keeper Scott Davies could have done nothing about any of them.

United had not scored five times before halftime since 2001 and Greenwood’s penalty, after a foul on Tahith Chong, meant it was their biggest away win since they beat Nottingham Forest 8-1 in the Premier League in 1999.

“You can see everyone wanted us to fail but it doesn’t bother me,” Solskjaer said.

“I’m happy but won’t relax.”

Holders Manchester City romped to victory over second-tier Fulham — a task made easier as the visitors played virtually the whole game with 10 men after Tim Ream was red-carded after six minutes for conceding a penalty converted by Ilkay Gundogan.

Bernardo Silva made it 20 and Gabriel Jesus scored twice after the break as City reached 100 goals for the season in all competitions, the first club to do so in Europe’s top leagues.

seven points of the third before Chicago seized control of the game by igniting a scintillating 40-12 run to take a 99-76 lead at the end of the quarter. LaVine drained a 3pointer to both begin and end the Bulls’ 11-0 run to cap the sequence.

Brooklyn Nets 121 — Detroit Pistons 111 (OT) Kyrie Irving poured in 45 points and Brooklyn snapped a five-game losing streak by topping host Detroit.

Irving’s output was his highest since scoring 50 points against Minnesota in October during his Nets debut. He added seven assists and six rebounds.

Jarrett Allen had 20 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks and Joe Harris tossed in 16 points for Brooklyn.

Derrick Rose led Detroit with 27 points and six assists.

Pistons center Andre Drummond, who missed the previous two games after taking an elbow to the mouth at Washington on Monday, supplied 20 points and 21 rebounds.

Utah Jazz 112 — Dallas Mavericks 107 Rudy Gobert scored 22

points, collected 17 rebounds and blocked five shots to rally Utah over Dallas in Salt Lake City.

Donovan Mitchell scored a team-high 25 points for Utah, while Bojan Bogdanovic added 23 points.

Utah won its fourth straight game and is 19-2 over its last 21 games. Luka Doncic scored 25 points to lead Dallas. Seth Curry added 19 points and Kristaps Porzingis added 15 for the Mavericks, who are 1-2 in their last three after winning four straight.

Oklahoma City Thunder 113 — Minnesota Timberwolves 104 Chris Paul added to his All-Star credentials with his sixth double-double of the season, helping the Thunder roll past the host Timberwolves.

The nine-time All-Star scored 13 of his 25 points in a third-quarter outburst and added a team-high 10 assists as the Thunder won their fifth straight both overall and on the road.

The Timberwolves’ KarlAnthony Towns was the game’s leading scorer with 37 points.

Monday January 27, 2019

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Kaieteur News

England set South Africa improbable target Day seven at the of 466 to win Australian Open JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Captain Joe Root top scored as England took a huge 465-run lead over South Africa on the third day of the fourth test and were bowled out for 248 just before stumps in their second innings at The Wanderers yesterday.

The score left them with two days to dismiss their hosts, who will have to chase an improbable fourth-innings target if they are to win the test and level the series at 22.

Fourteen wickets fell on a busy Sunday that saw South Africa dismissed for 183 at lunch, 217 runs behind England’s first-innings score of 400.

Root did not enforce the follow on but instead rammed home his team’s advantage as England batted briskly in their second innings before the captain was the last man out, superbly caught by South African counterpart Faf du Plessis t o g i v e debutant Beuran Hendricks a maiden test fivewicket haul.

Root scored 58, Dom Sibley made 44, Sam Curran an entertaining 35 and Ben Stokes 28 with Hendricks finishing on 5-64 off 15.3 overs.

Openers Zak Crawley and Sibley put on a 56-run opening-wicket partnership in a positive second-innings

England’s Mark Wood celebrates the wicket of South Africa’s Dane Paterson with team mates. (REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko) start before Crawley was out for 24.

WORLDRECORD TARGET Stokes was in belligerent mood, having been fined for verbally abusing a spectator after going cheaply in the first innings, and sought to get retribution as he raced to 28 off 24 balls, with six boundaries, before Hendricks had him caught in the slips.

Curran also made up for a first baller in the first innings as he accelerated the run rate in the last hour before being caught in the deep off Hendricks.

All the while Root kept the scoreboard ticking over to

ensure South Africa will have to chase a world-record fourth innings target on a pitch where the bounce was becoming increasingly more uneven.

South Africa bowled a man light when veteran Vernon Philander pulled up with a hamstring injury after nine balls, further weakening a home attack already sorely missing the suspended Kagiso Rabada.

Philander was sent to hospital for a scan, said Cricket South Africa, threatening an inglorious end to his test career as he is retiring from the international arena.

Mark Wood completed a five-wicket haul earlier as South Africa were dismissed in the morning session, adding 95 runs to their overnight score.

“I’m over the moon — a very special day,” said Wood, who credited a shorter run-up for his success.

“Since I have (done that), it’s been a lot better. I’ve got a little bit more momentum; it’s taken pressure off my body.

It’s been nice to take a load off.”

Scores: England 400 and 248 (Root 58, Hendricks 564) lead South Africa 183 (de Kock 76, Wood 5-46) by 465 runs.

India bowlers set up easy win in second T20 v New Zealand WELLINGTON (Reuters) - India’s bowlers highlighted the balance of their side as they set up an easy sevenwicket win over New Zealand in the second Twenty20 international at Eden Park in Auckland yesterday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. KL Rahul (57 not out) and Shreyas Iyer (44) then marshalled the run chase as they helped their side to reach 135-3 with 15 balls to spare, chasing New Zealand’s 1325.

The hosts had posted an impressive 203-5 in the first game on Friday but were unable to repeat that on a pitch that had slowed down considerably in the intervening 48 hours and India’s bowlers put them under pressure throughout the innings.

Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets with his left-arm spin and conceded just 18 runs from four overs.

New Zealand wicketkeeper Tim Seifert

KL Rahul goes for the upper cut, New Zealand v India, 2nd T20I, Auckland, January 26, 2020 © Getty Images scored 33 not out, while Martin Guptill also scored 33 in their side’s total.

India won the first game on Friday by six wickets as

Rahul and Iyer both scored half centuries.

The third game of the fivematch series is in Hamilton on Wednesday.

Scores: India 135 for 3 (Rahul 57*, Iyer 44, Southee 2-20) beat New Zealand 132 for 5 (Seifert 33*, Guptill 33, Jadeja 2-18) by five wickets.

Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova celebrates winning her match against Greece’s Maria Sakkari. (REUTERS/Edgar Su) MELBOURNE (Reuters) Highlights of the seventh day at the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, yesterday Show: 2040 SANDGREN SENDS FOGNINI CRASHING Unseeded American Tennys Sandgren beat 12thseeded Italian Fabio Fognini 7-6(5) 7-5 6-7(2) 6-4 to book his place in the quarter-finals, a feat he last managed two years ago on his debut at Melbourne Park for his best Grand Slam performance.

1704 DJOKOVIC DOMINATES SCHWARTZMAN Seven-times champion Novak Djokovic thumped Argentine Diego Schwartzman 6-3 6-4 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals for the 11th time in 16 appearances.

The world number two will take on 32nd seed Milos

Raonic in the last eight, looking to improve his 9-0 head-to-head record over the Canadian.

1531 RAONIC MOWS DOWN CILIC Canadian Milos Raonic sent down 35 aces as he blasted past Marin Cilic 6-4 6-3 7-5 in a meeting of two players who both reached a career-high ranking of number three but have since dropped out of the top 30.

1433 KVITOVA RALLIES PAST SAKKARI Czech seventh seed Petra Kvitova lost a tight opening set to Greek Maria Sakkari but the 2019 runner-up recovered to win 6-7(4) 6-3 6-2 and reach the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park.

“I just kept playing. I knew it would be a really difficult match... I had to fight hard... my serving game really helped,” Kvitova said.

PAGE 28

Monday January 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

Mike, Ian, Imtiaz, and Shanella fly highest in COPA Airlines Inaugural Golf Tourney The Copa Airlines inaugural tournament of Saturday last saw Mike Mangal, Ian Gouveia, Imtiaz Subhan, and Shanella London excelling in their individual Flights under excellent weather and ground conditions at the Lusignan Golf Course.

Copa Airline Sales Manager, Nadine Oudkerk, and team comprising Sales Executive, Christopher Ferrell and Counter Agent, Karen Mohamed, were on hand early to observe that the golfers were impressed with Copa and in fact produced very competitive scores in a very cordial atmosphere. At the end of the tournament Ms Oudkerk and Mr Ferrell congratulated the winners and their consensus was that Copa was delighted to be associated with the Lusignan Golf Club, the vision and direction it was moving in under Club President Aleem Hussain, and stated that Copa was very likely to continue supporting the LGC as it moves forward. Each of the representatives was involved in the distribution of prizes to the winners.

In the separate Ladies flight, the winners were: former Guyana Open Ladies champion, Shanella London (67/14) – 1st; Eureka Giddings (69/29) – 2nd; and another former Guyana Open Ladies champion, Dr Joaan Deo (73/15) – 3rd. Curent Guyana Open Ladies champion, Christine Sukhram, and past Ladies Captain, veteran Ms Doreen DeCaires also participated and performed encouragingly.

Specialty prizes of Nearest The Pin was won by George Bulkan, and Longest Drive by Troy Cadogan.

Among the Gentlemen, in the 19-28 flight, winners were: young Imtiaz Subhan (71/ 19) – 1st;veteran Maurice Solomon (72/26) – 2nd; and veteran Bholawram Deo (74/19) – 3rd. Miguel Oviedo (77/24) and Jordi Pinol (77/27) came fairly close behind the winners.

In the extremely competitive 10 – 18 flight where the bulk of golfers fall, the scores testify to the intense jostle and

Winners pose happily with the sponsor. From left in front row: Hilbert Shields, Ian Gouveia, Shanella London, Mike Mangal, Eureka Giddings, Copa Sales Manager Ms Nadine Oudkerk, Joaan Deo, George Bulkan, Club Captain Chatterpaul Deo, and Avinash Persaud. In the back row: Copa Sales Executive Christopher Ferrell, Richard Haniff, David Harry, Imtiaz Subhan, Club President Aleem Hussain, and Maurice Solomon. Partly hidden in the middle is Bholawram Deo (with cap) and a young observer of the sport. rivalry for the winning spots. First 3 places went to left-handed championIan Gouveia (65/ 15) – 1st, who produced a fantastic overal best net score of 65; veteran David Harry (69/14) -2nd; and past President, Hilbert Shields, (72/16) – 3rd.

However, 3rd place was obtained out of a tie by 4 persons – so Aasrodeen Shaw (72/13), Patanjilee ‘Pur’ Persaud (72/14) and Rabindranauth Persaud (72/16) were narrowly edged out by Hilbert. Ravi Harry (73/14), George Bulkan (74/16), Guillermo Escarraga (74/18), Andre Cummings (75/14), Rakesh Harry (75/14) and PopeEmanuel London (75/18) were following very hard on the winners.

In the 0-9 flight, winners were: former Guyana Open champion, Mike Mangal (66/9) – 1st; reigning Guyana Open champion, Avinash Persaud (68/2) – 2nd; and veteran Richard Hanfff (73/9)- 3rd.Missing this flight’s winners row by only one or two strokes were Kassim Khan (74/9), Aleem Hussain (75/9) and Patrick

Prashad (79/9). Avinash performed superbly by “parring” the Course, that is, taking 70 strokes to complete playing all 18 holes – a feat that few golfers achieve in their lifetime!

Copa Airlines is a Star Alliance Member, - address 212 Camp Street, North C u m m i n g s b u r g , Georgetown. Airline Code: CM. Airline Contact: Tel: + 592 231 2492 (Georgetown)

+ 592 261 0277 (Timehri) offers flights from Guyana to the United States, the Dominican Republic, Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o , Puerto Rico, Panama, Jamaica, Honduras, Ecuador, Curaçao Island, Cuba, Costa Rica, Colombia, Canada, Aruba a n d Arg e n t i n a . C o p a assures travellers that you may experience “peace of mind when flying with

Copa Airlines by managing all your trip’s details online through copa.com. Choose your seat and save time waiting at the airport with convenient online check in, or book hotels, rent cars and hire travel insurance on your flights from Guyana. Club President Hussain expressed gratitude of the LGC to Copa Airlines, and praised them for their good

corporate citizenship by their coming on board to be involved in promoting and d e veloping golfing in Guyana.

He was also appreciative that in addition to prizes to the first 3 winners in each of four Flights, Copa had generously provided a gift bag with meaningful tokens to each golfer that participated in the tournament.

GMR&SC’s Endurance C/Ship

Singh survives freak accident

By Calvin Chapman Ravi Singh in his Miracle Optical sponsored Toyota Starlet avoided a potentially fatal accident yesterday afternoon when Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club hosted round one of the 2020 Endurance racing championship at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri.

Singh, who was leading the unlimited class, narrowly escaped his motorcar after it spontaneously caught fire after just an hour had elapsed in the race.

Singh unclipped his seatbelts and jumped through the passenger side of the car before it was completely engulfed in flames with just first degree burns to his left thigh to show.

Speedy responses from

the Guyana Fire Service, that had a truck stationed at the track, extinguished the fire and prevented a possible explosion.

Meanwhile, the medical team at the track tended to S i n g h ’s w o u n d s a n d transported him via the stationed Ambulance to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to the head of the GMR&SC, Rameez Mohamed, he noted that Singh was in a stable condition at the hospital and explained that accidents happen and that the GMR&SC is serious when it comes to safety, which is why a Fire Truck and medical team equipped with an Ambulance are also present at all race meets.

Singh would have been burnt alive if he had not

managed to escape.

According to unofficial results, before the accident, defending champion Adrian Fernandes was leading the race with 44 laps with Danny Persaud in second place, while Singh was third overall but first in the unlimited class.

The endurance race began with Shairaz Roshandin leading for the first few laps before lap record holder; Rameez Mohamed took over with some blazing times, including a 1m 18s lap.

However, front runners Mohamed and Roshandin were derailed before 20 completed laps and Roshan Ali led momentarily before Clint Seebarran took the reins of the contest.

Before the incident,

Endurance race promised much action with a total of 20 cars registered and lined up on the grid to grind out in a reduced two-hour of racing stamina due to the late start.

The club had not recorded such a packed starting lineup to an Endurance race in some time.

Earlier in the day, 2019 rookie class bikes’ champion, Dwayne Caesar edged John Bennett during 30 exciting laps of bikes’ rivalry.

The main race was red-flagged with around 45 minutes to go and the club is yet to make a d e c i s i o n o n t h e final results since some issues are yet to be sorted out.

Monday January 27, 2019

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Magnum Tonic Wine Mashramani Cup Futsal Tournament

Sparta Boss, Leopold Street, Spartacus and Showstoppers secure wins Sparta Boss, Leopold Street, Spartacus and Showstoppers secured opening night wins when the 3rd edition of the Magnum Tonic Wine Mashramani Cup Futsal Tournament started on Saturday at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.

Sparta Boss edged Back Circle 1-0. Deon Alfred recorded the only goal in the fifth minute. Similarly, Leopold Street bested Melanie 2-1.

Omallo Williams fashioned a brace in the third and 12th minutes. For Melanie, Odell Gulliver scored in the second minute.

Likewise Spartacus defeated Rio All-Stars 3-2.

Jamal McPherson fashioned a double in the 10th and 14th minutes, while Simeon Moore netted in the fifth minute. For the loser, Kelsey Benjamin and A. Austin scored in the 12th and 13th minutes respectively.

Also, Showstoppers defeated North East La Penitence 2-1. Luiroy Nieuelder and Akeem Trim scored in the seventh and 14th minutes each. For the loser, Lance Forde scored in the fifth minute. In other results, Alexander Village crushed Spot-7 by a 6-1 scoreline, while Ansa McAl defeated Bad-a-Yard 2-0.

Also, Bent Street and Avocado Ballers battled to a 1-1 stalemate.

The tournament continues tomorrow at the same venue with another round of matches.

The tournament, which features 24 teams, will be contested over nine playing dates.

The respective competitors will be divided into six groups of four, with

the top finishers from each pool alongside the four best third place teams, progressing to the knockout section.

The other match-days are Tuesday January 28th, Thursday January 30th, Saturday February 1st, Tuesday February 4th, Thursday February 6th [Round of 16], Saturday February 8th [Quarterfinals] and Saturday February [Semifinals], with the finale scheduled for February 22nd.

The groups are Group-A: Back Circle, Sparta Boss, Ansa McAl All-Stars and Bad-A-Yard, Group-B: Rio All-Stars, Leopold Street, Spartacus and Melanie, Group-C: Future Stars, Alexander Village, Spot-7 and Mocha, Group-D: Bent Street, Showstoppers, North East La Penitence and Avocado Ballers, Group-E: Sophia, Broad Street, Kingston and Island All-Stars and Group-F: Gold is Money, Albouystown, Stabroek Ballers and Belfield Warriors.

Winner of the event will pocket $700,000 and the championship trophy, while the second place side will collect $400,000 and the respective accolade. On the other hand, the third and fourth place unit will receive $200,000 and $100,000 respectively and the corresponding trophy.

Below features the complete results for the matches staged and the impending results for day two.

Complete Results Game-1 Bad-a-Yard-0 vs Ansa McAl-2 Akin Curry-9th and 11th Game-2 Alex Village-6 vs Spot-7-1 Leon Yaw-6th and 12th Shem Porter-9th and 11th

Orville Stewart-13th Anton Porter-14th Spot-7 Scorer S. Stanton-3rd Game-3 Showstoppers-2 vs North East La Penitence-1 Showstoppers Scorers Luiroy Nieuelder-7th Akeem Trim-14th North East Scorer Lance Forde-5th Game-4 Melanie-1 vs Leopold St2 Leopold Scorer Omallo Williams-3rd and 12th Melanie Scorer Odell Gulliver-2nd Game-5 Rio All-Stars-2 vs Spartacus-3 Spartacus Scorers Jamal McPherson10th and 14th Simeon Moore-5th Rio All-Stars Scorers Kelsey Benjamin-12th A. Austin-13th Game-6 Bent St-1 vs Avocado Ballers-1 Avocado Scorer Jimmy Vintinilla-6th Bent Scorer Adrian Aaron-8th Game-7 Back Circle-0 vs Sparta Boss-1 Deon Alfred-5th Fixtures-Day-2-Tuesday 28th Sophia vs Island AllStars-19:00hrs Broad St vs Kingston19:30hrs Albouystown vs Belfield Warriors-20:00hrs Mocha vs Future Stars20:30hrs Rio All-Stars vs Melanie21:00hrs Gold is Money vs Stabroek Ballers-21:30hrs Back Circle vs Bad-a-Yard22:00hrs

Part of the group stage encounter between Leopold Street [black] and Melanie at the National Gymnasium in the 3rd edition of the Magnum Tonic Wine Mashramani Cup Futsal Tournament.

Action between Melanie [green] and Leopold Street at the National Gymnasium in the 3rd edition of the Magnum Tonic Wine Mashramani Cup Futsal Tournament.

Manchester City punish 10-man Fulham 4-0 to reach FA Cup last 16

Manchester City’s David Silva in action with Fulham’s Stefan Johansen at Etihad Stadium. (REUTERS/Phil Noble) (Reuters) - Holders Manchester City served up an attacking masterclass as they thrashed 10-man Fulham 4-0 in the FA Cup fourth round yesterday, with Gabriel Jesus scoring twice within three second-half minutes.

Any hopes of Championship side Fulham causing an upset at the Etihad Stadium were dented in less than six minutes after captain Tim Ream received his marching orders for dragging down Jesus inside the box.

“For a few moments I thought it would be a tough game,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “They’re a team with a lot of courage but it was a bit different after the red card.”

Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan converted the resulting penalty for his fifth

City goal of the campaign, before Bernardo Silva made it 2-0 for the hosts.

Phil Foden slid the ball across the edge of the box to Silva, who made a sharp turn before driving the ball past Fulham keeper Marek Rodak into the bottom right corner.

City continued to carve open Fulham in the second half, with substitute Raheem Sterling striking the crossbar from close range on the hour mark.

Jesus eventually put the game to bed as he headed home a Joao Cancelo cross from the right wing.

The Brazilian striker made it four, 163 seconds later, when he pounced on a rebound after Foden’s initial attempt had forced a save from Rodak.

Having fallen 16 points

behind leaders Liverpool in the Premier League title race, City are now focused on winning the remaining three cup competitions in the second half of the season.

Guardiola’s side are well placed to reach the League Cup final as they hold a 3-1 lead heading into the second leg of the semifinal against local rivals Manchester United on Wednesday.

However, a tougher test awaits in the Champions League, where City meet Spanish giants Real Madrid in the last 16 next month.

“The determination was always there and we will fight to win each competition,” Guardiola added. “Next is United and a chance to get to the final and that is our next target.”

PAGE 30

Monday January 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and daughter 13 killed - Seven others onboard also perish in helicopter crash

Bryant was believed to be flying in the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter he’d used to travel for years. He is seen preparing to board the private chopper in Los Angeles in April 2013. (NBAE via Getty Images) CALABASAS, Calif. — Kobe Bryant, one of the NBA’s all-time greatest players whose international stardom transcended basketball, was killed at age 41 on Sunday in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles along with his 13-year-old daughter and seven others on board, officials said.

Bryant rocketed to fame as an 18-year-old rookie and played 20 years for the Los Angeles Lakers - 18 of them as an all-star - winning five NBA championships.

His death sent shockwaves through the National Basketball Association, which he helped propel to

international prominence, and around the world.

The cause of the crash was unknown, and an investigation by the Federal Av i a t i o n Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board could take months.

Bryant was known to travel frequently by helicopter to avoid Los Angeles’ infamous traffic, dating to his playing days.

His Sikorsky S-76 chopper went down in foggy weather around 10 a.m. (1.00 p.m. ET) in hilly terrain in Calabasas, California, about 40 miles (65 km) northwest of central Los Angeles,

sparking a brush fire, officials said.

“There were no survivors,” Los Angeles C o u n t y S h e r i ff A l e x Villanueva told a news conference, saying the manifest showed nine people on board. He declined to identify them.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among those killed, and sent condolences to Bryant’s wife, Vanessa.

“He was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game with accomplishments that are legendary,” Silver said, as tributes poured in from

Manchester United hit Tranmere for six in FA Cup mauling TRANMERE, England (Reuters) - Manchester United thrashed third-tier Tranmere Rovers 6-0 yesterday to join Manchester City in the FA Cup fifth round but it failed to silence protests against the club’s owners.

A muddy and bobbly Prenton Park pitch looked the perfect stage for an oldfashioned Cup shock but it was Tranmere who sank as Harry Maguire’s thunderbolt signalled a United onslaught that saw Diogo Dalot, Jesse Lingard, Phil Jones and Anthony Martial all score before the interval.

Mason Greenwood added a second-half penalty meaning it was the first time since 1892 that six different players had scored in the

same game for United.

It was an impressive display from a United side that had lost three of their last four Premier League games, and eclipsed Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Championship side Fulham earlier, but it might only be a temporary respite for disgruntled fans.

They sang songs against the Glazer family who own the club and vice-chairman Ed Woodward even as the goals rained in.

“It was really important to get the win, coming off the back of a bad performance and result against Burnley,” skipper Maguire said referring to Wednesday’s 2-0 home defeat. “We set our stall out to put in a positive

performance for the fans.”

Tranmere knocked out Premier League Watford’s second-string side in a replay on Thursday and were firedup for the visit of a United team missing key players and looking vulnerable.

But when Maguire advanced and belted a rightfooted effort into the top corner after 10 minutes before Dalot jinked into the area to finish with aplomb three minutes later and Jesse Lingard curled home three minutes after that it was all over.

NO ESCAPE Tranmere had come back from three down against Watford to force a replay but there was no escape this time (Continued on page 24)

Bryant is seen with wife Vanessa and daughters Natalia and Gianna in February 2018. (Film Magic) players, politicians and entertainers.

Among the others on

board, in addition to the pilot, were a teammate from B r y a n t ’s d a u g h t e r ’s

basketball team and a parent of the teammate, NBC News reported.

Copa Airlines Latest Major Golf Partner President of the Lusignan Golf Club Aleem Hussain and Copa Country Manager Nadia Oudkerk announced the decision to join forces to use golf to open doors for Guyanese of all ages through training sessions and charitable outreaches.

The deal is another major achievement for the ever growing sport, as more and more attention is focused on Guyana amidst the growth due to massive oil finds by ExxonMobil and Tullow Oil. “We are seeking ways to give back to the local community in innovative ways and see this relationship as a strong means of accomplishing our goals” said Nadine Oudkerk. “After meeting with Mr. Hussain, we felt that our mutual goals would be met through our joint efforts and we look forward to a long-term relationship.”

The two entities are planning several events throughout the year that will benefit charitable organizations along with expanding the sport to those who will benefit the most.

LGC President Hussain expressed his appreciation to the entire Copa team and thanked Ms. Oudkerk and Mr. Ferrell for their commitment to the project and the sport. “We see this as a win-win for

everyone since as we in Guyana build additional high quality PGA standard courses, Copa Airlines will play a key role in ensuring that more golfers are able to see us as a golf destination.”

In July 2013, Copa airlines launched its first flight to Guyana and then opened its local ticketing office located on Camp Street, Georgetown in October that year.

Celebrating its fifth year of full presence and operation in Guyana, Copa has steadily increased its presence in the Guyanese market adding flights to multiple destinations while opening the world to Guyanese.

In 2012, Copa joined the Star Alliance, the largest global airline network in terms of daily flights, destinations and countries to which it flies, and number of member airlines within the alliance.

Star Alliance was founded in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, offering customers all over the world many destinations and an excellent travel experience.

Members of the frequent flyer programs or any Star Alliance airline member can earn and redeem air miles at all the member airlines within the network, and their accrued miles will help upgrade their status so that they may enjoy all the added benefits in any part of the world where there is an alliance member airline.

Monday January 27, 2019

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

GFF-Always Championship 2019

Fruta Conquerors claim title in pulsating final against Lady Panthers via spot kicks

Lady Panthers Captain Izlisa Bascomb receives the 2nd place trophy from Ms. Rebecca Vaughn, Member of the International Support Group.

By Franklin Wilson Fruta Conquerors ladies added yet another title to their club’s collection when they outlasted Lady Panthers in the final of the GFFAlways Championship 2019 which took place on Saturday evening last at the GFC ground.

The match was a classic as both teams went about the business of winning in no nonsense style. Despite being the more experienced of the two teams, Fruta had to pull on all their experience to outlast the determined Lady Panthers who came from behind twice, took the lead but could not defend it.

Conquerors took the lead in the 14th minute w h e n t h e t o u r n a m e n t ’s l e a d i n g g o a l s c o r e r,

national Under-20 player Tiandi Smith netted her 15th goal of the tournament. It was early days and the fans on hand to witness the action had lots more in store for them.

Annalisa Vincent, the star of the Lady Panthers’ attack took on the challenge of keeping her team in the hunt for the c h a m p i o n s h i p . Vi n c e n t tucked in the equalizer five minutes after falling behind.

But even before Conquerors took the lead, Panthers squandered at least two opportunities to score.

Fourteen year-old Glendle Lewis of the Lady Panthers outfit was just superb on the pitch, her speed and control was something to behold as

GFF-Always Championship 2019 MVP, Abioce Heywood receives her trophy from GFF TD, Ian Greenwood.

Lady Panthers - GFF-Always Championship 2019 runners-up. was her daft touches and dribbling skills, fans can look out for more of young Vincent who is certainly an asset for the national programme.

It was Tiandi Smith who restored the advantage for Conquerors in the 28th minute on the back end of a sweetly timed cross which the lanky forward headed past Alba Marquez in clinical fashion. It was Smith’s 16th goal of the league which earned her the Highest Goal Scorer trophy.

The lead was taken

over to the second half even as play ebbed and flowed with Panthers creating chances; Conquerors’ Abioce Heywood was kept quiet by the brave defenders of the Panthers unit. On 59 minutes Vincent brought her team level once again working in tandem with Lewis.

Panthers would take the lead for the first time in the match in the 77th and it was Vincent again who tapped in a loose ball in the six yard box on the end of a well taken free kick. As the

Highest Goal Scorer Tiandi Smith is rewarded by GFF GS (ag), Rev. Ian Alves.

clock ticked away Lady Panthers were sensing an upset win but the Fruta Conquerors ladies would have none of that.

Smith teamed up with Heywood to deliver the equalizing goal with just two minutes to go in regulation time much to the delight of their teammates and disappointment of the Lady Panthers, the score ending 3-3.

Based on the tournament rules, kicks from the penalty mark were required to arrive at the winning team as there was no extra time; the match was played for 90 minutes.

Fruta Conquerors won comfortably, 4-2 to win the final and League.

The Tucville based side also walked away with all the individual awards, Abocie Heywood was named the Most Valuable Player; Best Goalkeeper was Deckola Chester with Delon Williams taking the Best Coach trophy.

Meanwhile, Santos

Football Club, in their first season at this level, defeated Foxy Ladies of Den Asmtel 2-1 in the third place playoff. Scoring both goals for Santos was seasoned campaigner and former National player Andrea Lashley who also represented Guyana at Rugby.

Lashley scored in the 54th and 59th (penalty) minutes, Foxy Ladies’ consolation goal came off the boot of Horicia Adams in the 64th minute.

Assisting with the presentation of trophies were National Association o f Wo m e n ’s F o o t b a l l President Andrea Johnson, Member of the International Support Group - Rebecca Vaughn, Akela Castello - Assistant Coach of the Guyana Senior Women’s National Team, Naseya Brewster Manager of the Women’s U20 Team, GFF General Secretary (ag), Rev. Ian Alves and GFF Technical Director, Ian Greenwood.

PAGE 32

Kaieteur News

Monday January 27, 2019

BQCS Guyana Masters Squash Tournament

Guyanese Denis Dias, Lydia Fraser wins titles as action ends on Saturday night The Georgetown Club Inc. was buzzing with spectators on the final night of the BCQS Guyana Squash Masters Championships. Earning the true Masters crown was Denis Dias (GUY) in the Over 65 category.

Facing off Winston Findlay (BAR) in a three game match, Dias was outstanding with his eye firmly on the title.

Moving out quickly ahead in the first Dias stamped his authority on his home court with an 11/9 win. Findlay bought up his game covering the court faster to retrieve Dias’s crisp shots taking him to a 10/10. Poised at a vital juncture, Dias calmly placed a killer to move ahead and then secure the game. Findlay couldn’t match Dias in the third and Guyana took the crown in the 3-0 bout.

The man responsible for bringing BCQS Masters to Guyana, Sanjay Amin (BAR), faced Guyana’s seasoned player Narendra Singh in the over 55’s final. With a calculated game Singh used well placed shots and clever deception to keep the talented Amin on his toes. In another 3-1 match, despite a strong first game win from Amin, Singh took the lead in the second and remained on top to win the next three and earn his title.

In the over 45’s, Maestro Mark Sealy (BAR) showed his calibre against fellow countryman Marlon White in three straight sets. Sealy’s

brilliance was evident as the experienced athlete worked every corner of the court and was in charge throughout.

Both players displayed some fantastic squash, entertaining spectators and supporters.

Sealy’s win was never in question and he took a deserved title.

The finals for the Women’s over 35 saw a victorious Lydia Fraser (GUY) dominate Hazel-Anne Sandy (BAR) in acrobatic fashion.

Hunting every ball, Fraser retrieved well and used her athleticism to pressure Sandy.

Fraser’s stronger technique and level of play outmatched Sandy and Fraser took her title in three games.

In the youngest Men’s category, over 35, the pace really picked up as the fitness levels were evidently higher.

An outstanding Shaun Simpson (BAR) defeated Regan Pollard (GUY) in a three straight win. Pollard rallied out some lengthy points with great flair and faced the national champion with strength but could not match the reach, placement and court coverage of Simpson.

Executing a full selection of shots, some deep drives and perfect drops the players bore testament to why squash is described as chess at 90 miles an hour before Simpson closed off the match in triumph.

Closing remarks, following the prize giving, highlighted the support of

The winners of the BCOS Masters Squash tourney on Saturday night at the GT Club. sponsor ’s BCQS International and the importance of corporate investment in sport. This inaugural Masters tournament was enjoyed by all participants and spectators and served as a great platform for Masters Squash in the Caribbean.

Results for Saturday: MENS Over 65 Denis Dias (GUY) defeated Douglas Beckford (JAM) 11/3, 9/11, 12/10, 11/5 Winston Findlay (TOR) defeated Orson Simpson (BAR) 11/8, 11/1, 8/11, 11/7 Denis Dias (GUY) defeated Winston Findlay (TOR) 11/9 , 12/10, 11/4 Douglas Beckford (JAM)

defeated Tony Farnum (GUY) 11/5, 11/3, 12/10 Over 55 Sanjay Amin (BAR) defeated Frank Jordan (BAR) 11/3, 11/9, 16/14 Narendra Singh (GUY) defeated Sanjay Amin (BAR) 8/11, 11/5, 11/2. 11/9 Over 45 David Fernandes (GUY) defeated Diego Perdomo 11/ 6, 11/6, 11/5, Robert Natiello (USA) defeated Duane Burke (BAR) 11/5, 11/6, 11/5 Joe Mekdeci (GUY) defeated Tony MacKenzie (BAR) 11/5, 6/11, 11/5, 11/6 Robert Natiello (USA) defeated David Fernandes (GUY) 11/3, 8/11, 11/4, 11/9 Duane Burke (BAR)

defeated Diego Perdomo 11/ 5, 11/5, 11/4 Mark Sealy (BAR) defeated Marlon White (BAR) 11/4, 11/5, 11/7 Over 35 Shaun Simpson (BAR) defeated Regan Pollard (GUY) 11/6, 11/3, 11/3 Women’s Over 35 Lydia Fraser (GUY) defeated Hazel-Anne Sandy (BAR) 11/3, 11/8, 11/5 Overall results: Men’s Over 65 Winner Denis Dias (GUY) Second Winston Findlay (TOR) Third Orson Simpson (BAR) Men’s Over 55 Winner Narendra Singh (GUY)

Second Sanjay Amin (BAR) Third Lloyd Fung A Fat (GUY) Men’s Over 45 Winner Mark Sealy (BAR) Second Marlon White (BAR) Third Joe Mekdeci (GUY) Fourth Tony Mackenzie (BAR) Men’s Over 45 Classic Plate Winner Robert Natiello (USA) Men’s Over 35 Winner Shaun Simpson (BAR) Second Regan Pollard (GUY) Women’s Over 35 Winner Lydia Fraser (GUY) Second Hazel- Anne Sandy (BAR)

Jaguars roar to emphatic... Everest CC, UG record victories From page 31 Terrence Hinds had posted the 150 and Ottley’s demise left the Red Force on 155-8.

Permaul, who reached 500 First-Class wickets yesterday when he removed Joshua DaSilva, struck without addition to the score when had Hinds to leave the score 155-9.

Odean Smith and Bryan Charles threw their bats around lustily and added 28 for the last wicket in quick time before Smith (14) ran past Permaul. Charles was unbeaten on 13 with a couple of sixes.

After the game, former West Indies Test Pacer and TDO of the GCB handed over a special trophy to Permaul in recognition of him joining Lance Gibbs with 1,024 wickets from 330 matches, Roger Harper 567 from 200 matches and Carl Hopper 555 from 339 matches

as the only Guyanese spinners with 500 First Class wickets.

The 46-year-old Stuart who took 20 wickets in six Tests between 2000-2001, congratulated Permaul on his achievement and said that the young spinners will look up to him and encouraged him to continue to take wickets for Guyana.

The 30-year-old Permaul, one of six Berbicans in the team, thanked the GCB for the Trophy.

Permaul has 502 wickets from 116 First-Class games including 18 from six Tests and Sonny Ramadhin 758 from 184 matches, Nakita Miller 538 from 100 First Class matches and Shane Shillingford with 583 from 130 matches are the other West Indian spinners with 500 FirstClass wickets.

Only Shillingford is still playing.

After a break this week, Jaguars play Jamaica Scorpions and Red Force oppose Windwards Volcanoes in the fourth round from February 6-9.

Scores: JAGUARS 323 (Anthony Bramble 91, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 68, Chris Barnwell 58, Chandrapaul Hemraj 36, Devendra Bishoo 27; Bryan Charles 5-87) & 177 for five decl. (Chandrapaul Hemraj 54, Vishaul Singh 37 not out, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 33; Yannick Ottley 2-8).

RED FORCE 98 (Jeremy Solozano 27, Kjorn Ottley 22; Nial Smith 5-12, Veerasammy Permaul 4-29) and 183 (Jeremy Solozano 34, Jason Mohammed 33, Yannic Cariah 27, Terrance Hinds 22, Kjorn Ottley 22; Veerasammy Permaul 4-42, Keon Joseph 2-15, Devendra Bishoo 2-39).

Everest Cricket Club and University of Guyana registered victories when the latest round of matches in the Georgetown Cricket Association/Noble House Sea Foods second division two-day tournament concluded yesterday.

Host Everest Cricket Club defeated Diplomats by 52 runs. Resuming on their overnight second innings score of 7-1, Everest CC were bowled out for 120 in the first session of the d a y ’s p l a y. U r s h e r d e v a Balgobin made 40, while Essequibian David Williams scored 24 as Nigel Simpson bagged 5-50.

Set 202 to win, Diplomats were bowled out for 149 in the last hour of the game.

Simpson struck 57; left arm spinner Javed Rasheed grabbed 4-36 to end with match figures of 12 for 56.

Richie Looknauth claimed 3-30 and Williams 2-24.

Scores: Everest CC 159 and 120 beat Diplomats 78 and 149 by 52 runs.

At Queen’s College, University of Guyana beat Bel Air Rubis by 44 runs.

UG began the day on 14-1 in their second innings and posted 263 all out.

Y.Singh led with 87 which included five fours and seven sixes while Damion Vantull scored 62 with five fours and five sixes; A. M u r t l a n d a n d Ye k i n i Favourite contributed 20 each. Arvind Gainda and F. Jones took three wickets each while Mahendra Geenarine had two.

Set 197 to win, Bel Air Rubis made 149 all out in the last hour of the game. Krishna Deosaran top scored with 23, F. Jones and Gainda made 20 while Keon Franklin scored 18; Vantull grabbed four

Javed Rasheed took 12 wickets in the match. wickets while Ershad Ali had three and Favourite two.

Scores: UG 139 and 263 beat Bel Air Rubis 209 and 149 by 44 runs. (Zaheer Mohamed)

Kaieteur News

Monday January 27, 2019

CWI’s Regional four-day

Jaguars roar to emphatic win over Red Force - Permaul awarded by GCB for his 500 wickets

The Jaguars after taking the last Red Force wicket yesterday to complete thier 2nd win in three matches.

By Sean Devers It took the Guyana Jaguars just 57 minutes of the final day of their CWI’s Regional four-day third round match yesterday at Providence to register an emphatic 219-run win over Red Force to jump to second place on the points table.

The Jaguars rebounded from their loss to Barbados at the Kensington Oval in their last match to bowl out Red Force, set 403 to win, for 183 to secure their ninth win

against the Trinis in their last 11 matches.

Yannick Ottley and Terrence Hinds with 22 each offered token resistance as Man-of-the-Match, left-arm s p i n n e r Ve e r a s a m m y Permaul had 4-42 for match figures of 8-71, while pacer Nial Smith had 1-45 for match figures 6-57. Keon Joseph (2-15) and Devendra Bishoo (2-29) also bowled well for the five-times defending Champions.

Resuming the final day

on 122-6 with another 281 required for an improble win, the Red Force’s tail wagged somewhat as they made 61 runs in less than an hour’s play.

Akeal Hosein (5) was LBW to the lively Nial Smith after adding two runs to leave the score on 124-7.

Bishoo then had Ottley caught by Skipper Leon Johnson at slip pushing at one that turned away from him, just after he and (Continued on page 30)

PAGE 33

GFF-Always Championship 2019

rt Spo

National Association of Women’s Football President Andrea Johnson hands over the winning trophy to Captain of Fruta Conquerors, Odessa Romeo in the presence of her teammates.

Fruta Conquerors claim title in pulsating final against Lady Panthers via spot kicks Ravi Singh’s Miracle Optical sponsored Toyota Starlet was a mess after the fire that hurt the driver.

GMR&SC’s Endurance C/Ship Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna (pictured together in December) and three others were killed when his private helicopter crashed in Calabasas, California, yesterday morning. (NBAE via Getty Images)

Lakers legend Kobe Bryant Seven and daughter 13 killed - others onboard in helicopter crash also perish

Singh survives freak accident BQCS Guyana Masters Squash Tournament

Guyanese Denis Dias, Lydia Fraser wins titles as action ends on Saturday night

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