Kaieteur News

ExxonMobil K NEWS should come clean on Guyana’s gas – TIGI Director

Wednesday Edition

AIETEUR

January 29, 2020 - Vol. 15 No. 05

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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

Price $80

Online readership yesterday 125,318

Lawsuit over oil blocks give away...

Former Pres. Ramotar admits companies had no exploratory experience prior to signing deals Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off the coast of Jamaica P. 28

Miami

Gulf of Mexico

The

Bahamas Bahamas

Map showing location of earthquake

Havana Cuba

Cancun

Mérida

Turks and Caicos Islands

Cayman Islands

Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake

Haiti

Jamaica Port-au-Prince

Dominican Dominican Republic

British Virgin Virgin Islands Puerto Rico San Juan

Belize Guatemala Honduras Honduras

Caribbean Sea

El Salvador Nicaragua Nicaragua Managua Managua

Aruba

Barranquilla

Curacao Curacao Maracaibo Maracaibo

Caracas Caracas

Costa Rica

Police dog sniffs Prosecution closes After 10 years case in driver’s murder accused out fake assault rifle set freed used in robbery spree licence exam fraud Former Presidential Advisor says...

Govt. should publish its economic model for Stabroek Block projects

Wednesday January 29, 2020

FIRE DESTROYS CLUB AT GIFTLAND MALL

Gutted Section of the District Ultra Lounge Club.

Around 13:15 hrs yesterday, a fire erupted and gutted the District Ultra Lounge Club on the Strip at Giftland Mall.

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle who was also at the scene conducting and spearheading the necessary investigations concluded that the fire is of electrical origin. He said that based on the evidences found, the fire was caused by a malfunctioning air conditioning unit.

One of the employees, Joseph (only name given), was going about his work routine at the bar located opposite the club when he noticed a flame inside.

He immediately rushed to open the heavily tinted glass door of the club and was greeted by the blaze and thick smoke.

Realising that the fire was beyond his control, he rushed out of the building alerting his colleagues of the fire. The smoke quickly made its way out of the club filling the entire “Strip” and part of the commercial shopping area, sending off the fire alarms.

Staff and customers panicked as they were forced to evacuate the building quickly.

Marketing Supervisor of Giftland Group of Companies, Lorenzo Persaud, said that the Guyana Fire Service was contacted immediately.

But by the time the tenders arrived,

PAGE 3

Kaieteur News

members of Supreme Ventures and the Giftland Team had taken proactive action and were able extinguish the blaze within minutes and keep the situation under control.

However, the Fire Department was very instrumental in making sure that all the trapped smoke was extracted from the ceiling of the Strip. Persaud explained that because of the swift action taken, business at the Mall was restored to normalcy two hours later.

The Marketing Supervisor added that the section of the Strip that housed District Ultra Lounge was rented by Giftland Group of Companies to Sean Major, the proprietor of the club.

In an invited comment, Major said that he is in shock after what has transpired.

He was at home when he received a call notifying him that this club was on fire.

Major immediately contacted his partners in business and rushed to the scene to assess the situation. The businessman estimates his losses to be in excess of $45 million. He is unsure of his next move.

He told Kaieteur News that “if all goes well” and a positive decision is taken by himself and business partners, then the District Ultra Lounge will be up and running within 2 months.

An outward view of the District Ultra Lounge.

Lawsuit over oil blocks give away...

Former Pres. Ramotar admits companies had no exploratory experience prior to signing deals Ex-President, Donald Ramotar, faced a series of questions in relation to the merits of the contracts, his government signed with four oil companies in 2015 for deep water exploration in the Canje and Kaieteur oil blocks.

Under crossed examination by Attorney-atlaw, Nigel Hughes, Ramotar admitted under oath that his administration signed deals with oil companies that had no track record of exploration.

The former President has sued Kaieteur News for exposing the questionable circumstances under which the deals were signed.

In an advertisement, the newspaper pointed out the similarities between the action by the Ramotar administration and Senegal, an oil-rich West African country. Both countries allocated oil blocks to companies with no known experience in the oil industry.

In Senegal, the oil blocks were signed away to a convicted drug lord; in Guyana, the owners of the drug blocks were unknown until the newspaper tracked down the contracts.

The former President in turn accused the newspaper of publicising false and slanderous information which immeasurable damage to his character.

He sued Kaieteur News, its Publisher Glenn Lall, and

Former President Donald Ramotar

Attorney-at-law, Nigel Hughes

Editor-in Chief Adam Harris for in excess of $10 M for libel.

During court proceedings on Monday, the former President was questioned specifically on his Government’s decision to hand out oil contracts just prior to the May 2015 elections.

He was asked specifically about his familiarity with the companies, which benefited from the deals. He was asked about each company.

The former President admitted that he is not aware of the experiences in the oil fields as it regards the first company —Mid Atlantic Oil and Gas Inc. “Were you familiar with the name Mid Atlantic Oil and Gas Inc.?” Hughes asked.

“Yes,” he replied.

“And as far as you are aware that company was incorporated in Guyana?” the attorney followed up.

“Yes” Ramotar said.

Questioned further about the company, the witness told court that he was not aware that it had any track record of oil discovery or exploration.

According to him, the only experience he was aware of, related to the principal of the company, Mr. Edris Dookie.

He said that Mr. Dookie was responsible for searching for oil in Guyana waters since 1986; that he had some experience in the field.

“Were you aware of the identities of the partners who Continued on page 28

PAGE 4

Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 29, 2020

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

Corruption and the corrupters We at this newspaper can tell the public exactly what happened. And this is without reference to any of the sleazy litany of exposés shared in these pages. We have to start somewhere to dig out from under the mudslide of dirty money matters, which will now be done, in no particular order, but beginning with the man from the UK. The caption from KN on January 5th relays the sorry state of Guyana: “Investigations into grand corruption during PPP era in office will go nowhere.”

According to the Britisher, Dr. Sam Sittlington, once in a crucial role at SOCU, “key records either locked away, burnt, or missing” and thus, “it is a lost cause.” That is a mouthful and then more, isn’t it?

Record a hat trick of them,for the slick, clever corrupters.

And while at it, this is just another kick flush in the teeth of the Guyanese taxpayers. Down and out, it is yet again for that hapless, beleaguered breed.

Let’s look at that one more time: “will go nowhere” and “locked away, burnt, or missing” and “lost cause.” There is a certain finality about them, a damning void left and nothing to pause or change the course of future events of the same corrupt pedigree.

Congratulations are due to the intellectual and political authors for orchestrating all these corruption success stories.

With no records to piece together and parse through laboriously, there is nowhere to start, no dots to connect.

Corruption was and is a major industry in this country, with huge growth prospects, given oil.

And so, too, is the machinery in place to cover for those comrades and circumstances that roar of what is wrong and wretched for this society, but which will continue unaddressed, unresolved, and unabated.

Records locked away or missing might as well be nonexistent, since they are either long gone and shredded to the winds or buried deep or fed to the sharks, or somebody will arrange for the blowing up of cabinet or safe to ensure that nobody gets near to the paper dynamites.

Come to think of it, the thieves and their leadership cronies have it within them to go so far as to burn down the building, which houses incriminating documents.

As said before, there is a whole apparatus in place to make such things happen, to prevent with absolute certainty any of the sleazes coming to light.

But there is more, since law enforcement itself-the investigating people is riddled with compromises, swathes of the judiciary suspected and untrustworthy, and then there is still another component that tells how deep and dirty and dead this corrupt nation known as Guyana is to the core.

Under Exhibit Number One can be lumped all those cases that never made their way past the governing political directorate.

That would be this Coalition Government. It was where senior men sold out the taxpayers, now wooed as voters, to return favours to the opposition people for their generosity during their tenure.

This was a peculiar kind of power sharing, which was really about spreading the wealth and looking out for one another. At certain levels in this country, there is no government or opposition adversaries; there are only comrades and conspirators, who put heads together to work things out for predetermined outcomes and rip off the Guyanese public some more.

It is why a number of reported strong cases never went anywhere, to the dismay and disgust of the few toiling, honest professionals, who tried to get to the bottom of the things that cost this nation so much.

From all observations, from the wisdom of commonsense, it is beyond debate and argument that enormous amounts of money were stolen.

Like the man from the British Isles said, “It’s a lost cause.” Today, they campaign.

Lincoln, indeed these, as you put it, are “…the hard, cold facts” DEAR EDITOR, The GAWU has recognized that Mr Lincoln Lewis has continued, notwithstanding several explanations, to make reference to the sugar industry and express criticism which in our view lacks objectivity. We reiterate that Mr Lewis has a right to his political preference and which right we respect. This again, we also feel that we need to objectively assess the sugar industry and its ongoing trial at this time.

In his latest letter on sugar, which appeared in the January 26, Kaieteur News, Mr Lewis alleges that Mr Jagdeo has been twiddling his thumbs regarding the sugar issue.

While Lincoln is of the view that the Opposition Leader has not sufficiently satisfied him regarding the sugar matter, we hasten to ask and wonder whether this Trade Unionist is satisfied and/or supportive of what the Coalition has done to the industry and its workers over

these long, nearly five years.

For us, it appears, the Government is out at sea, when it comes to sugar and those who depend on it.

Imagine, we are now approaching the two-year anniversary since the now infamous sugar bond was birthed and yet not one project earmarked from the bond funding has even broken ground.

We saw the Prime Minister, last week, championing that displaced sugar workers will receive land to engage in economic activities, though we had to remind him that he has made this call some two years ago and nothing has been done.

It has now been three years since Wales’ closure and two years since Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara closure, and there has been no concerted effort by the Administration to even assuage, at the slightest, their misery.

Even the touted divestment of estates has seemingly reached a

screeching halt and the plans to keep them as going concerns have apparently gone out of the window.

Mr Lewis says that history would have recorded that Mr Jagdeo would have tried at least. But really, the moment begs the question: what about the history created by the Coalition? They have the ignominious record of the largest retrenchment exercise in post-independent Guyana.

They also hold the title of longest period of wage freeze in the sugar industry.

And then too, they have ignored literally ever piece of advice, commentary, urging and call not to shutter estates and put people out of work and communities into misery.

So that is also history, history that will indelibly scar the landscape and push back peoples and communities for many years to come.

Lincoln also says that he is concerned very much where workers cannot “…earn wages/salary that can provide a decent living…”.

He rightly points out that it

has a “…concomitant impact on standard of living, poverty and other social ills.” This is very much true as well. He goes on to say that “…ministers of government are on record saying these workers should be paid more…”

Again these are lofty utterances but where is the action? Certainly, the Ministers who are in seeming sympathy with the workers and their plight could have used their collective voices to urge their colleagues to have the matter meaningfully addressed. Rather, it appears that that so-called concern exists in abstract, hollow talk.

Mr Lewis may have missed that we disclosed in our last response to him that we are at the bargaining table with GuySuCo. We did share too that, at this time, only the pay rise matter remains under consideration.

Several other matters were discussed and responses were provided.

Lincoln may have missed too (Continued on page 6)

A book from Bolton – Five cardinal sins DEAR EDITOR, I learn that Mr. John Bolton did unsheathe the sword that is his knowing pen and spilled blood all over Capitol Hill. His unpublished manuscript, shared with the National Security Council, tells the story that protectors of the president do not wish to see the light of day.

Well, it is in limelight and spotlight, and sure to be highlighted repeatedly in scorching detail before a world no longer shocked at the lengths to which a leader would go to get his way.

What could be shocking is if Republican senators put party loyalty (and fear of the president) ahead of their conscience and constitutional responsibility, for the disclosures are from one of their very own.

There is no shooting of this particular messenger, as detested as he is now. For he is as American as they come: Rock-ribbed, red-blooded, red meat Republican, bedrock Republican.

John Bolton is, if anything, still an archconservative and ultrahawk, one of the founder Vulcans, who believe in the expression and projection of American power as a foreign policy tool to compel subservience to American interests and objectives. For him to do what he did, take the stands that he has, says so much of what has gone wrong in the White House.

I say this because John Bolton is not the kind of man to go against his president, especially a Republican one.

No Judas is he. So for him to proceed down this hill of dissent conveys the depths of his torments, the sharp disillusionments with his leader, who has failed the Republic, the high office held, the people who believe in him and trust in him, through one subterfuge after another.

Let it be said, and I say it, as an American citizen, it has been one low betrayal and sellout and conspiracy after another through things unAmerican with people not American.

Mr. Bolton’s book pinpoints and channels the glare of unwanted publicity, necessary publicity, from an insider, a loyal and respected one. There were five failures in leadership acumen, in leadership judgment, in leadership character; five cardinal sins, that are best sought pardon for, instead of the rages, improprieties, and buffooneries that make utter fools and laughingstocks of lawmakers who support him uncaringly, blindly, inexplicably.

There they are as identified in the New York Times on January 26th.

First, the suspended and dangled quid pro quo of aid withheld on the condition of delivery of what would damn and destroy a political opponent. Second, ignoring

and overpowering advisers on the same issue for unacceptable and unconstitutional ends; the wrong issue prioritized in the wrong way for the worst of expected results.

Third, the corruption of the once law and order mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, to fell unjustly an ambassador, and to perpetuate more crookedness.

Fourth, muzzling Mr. Bolton from testifying before the Congress and to the truths of the matter; if there was no failure, then there is no fear.

And fifth, this still unpublished manuscript of the former National Security Adviser, which lays all of it out, and now ties the impeachment trial into knots, while turning it on its head, along with the diehard senators, who hold the fate of the presidency, maybe the Republic, in their hands.

Things are so bleak that even the Wall Street Journal, that erstwhile defender of the faith relative to mantras conservative and the excesses of a troubled president was forced to come to terms, through grudging and guarded acknowledgement of the Bolton book development, as allegedly leaked to and released by the New York Times.

The Journal’s headline of January 7th spoke to its uncertainty, its uneasiness:

“Bolton claim set to scramble impeachment proceedings.”

The customary secondary sub-caption elaborated, “Draft of his book says that Trump sought to keep aid to Ukraine frozen over Biden probe.” Indeed, the waters are further muddied, through the believed insider and authoritative authorship of Mr. Bolton.

I believe him. I note also that not many Republican stalwarts are rushing forward to attack Mr. Bolton and what is sure to be polemical, endlessly divisive. If one thing only, it leaves a number of senators in the unrelenting and remorseless glare of unforgiving searchlights.

What will they stand for now?

What can they deny or defend or rationalize now, given this development?

Whatever dignity and character they have left will be hung out for all to behold and either hold their noses and turn their faces in horror and disbelief.

Or be gratified and applaud that America and its supreme legislative organ still has a certain kind of man and woman in its ranks. And those that would be for the benefit of the nation, and not merely for the paramountcy of the party.

There is a message there for Guyanese political campaigners and would-be governors.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Wednesday January 29, 2020

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

Performance accountability or lack thereof Misplaced priorities with the oil stories DEAR EDITOR, The level of accountability in the Ministries responsible for education and crime reduction leaves much to be desired. These Ministries should be implementing a joint plan for controlling and reducing the crimes that are occurring in the school system, while also increasing the disciplinary level throughout the schools.

It has become clear that the aggressive, violent criminal activity in the streets and our communities has spilled over into our schools. The children are exposed to the violence that is running rampant in our society and reported daily in the news.

This has made them insensitive to the consequences of violence against other members of our society. Our communities’ level of intolerance for violent crime needs to increase and we must hold the Police and the Ministry responsible of Public Security/Safety, accountable for their poor performance.

The Ministry of Education is very aware that Guyana was a society where spare the rod and spoil the child was not an approach embraced in the schools. The Head Masters and Head Mistresses had wild canes available for the stern correction of poorly behaved students. The removal of such stern disciplinary options within the school system has led to the gang sodomy/rape of a young child and the gang beating of another at the Primary School level. This is utterly ridiculous and people need to be held accountable.

Gangs are also selling drugs in the schools and if they are not corrected at this young age, we will have gangs running in the streets creating even more chaos.

We have also seen the poor

behaviour of parents who lack the decorum, decency and respectful behaviour for the school structure, and its staff. If the parents cannot respect the teachers, then the students will behave even worse at school. Our society is not one where the teachers should be in fear of their students, and we have reached the point where the discipline of the past must be returned to our schools.

No one wants a school system that will produce future criminals that society will not be able to control. We have also seen gang stabbings in the schools and its very casual acceptance by fellow students.

It is time to bring back into our schools the very high levels of discipline and order which we once had in place. Those parents that object are the same ones that are beating up the teachers in the school, and our teachers should not live in fear of those who they are developing. Those who object have the option of home schooling their children.

No one in Guyana wants to be raising wild animals that prey on the innocent and wellbehaved children of law-abiding citizens. Bags and belongings of

students should be randomly checked and teachers should report immediately any confrontations between students before they escalate out of control.

There must be consequences for bad behaviour, and if the parents will not support such disciplinary action then their children should not be allowed in the schools.

The school of the street is a much harsher environment and the consequences out there are even worse. It is time to nip this in the bud. The police also have a part to play, and the training of the security guards for the schools would be a great start. Our Ministers must start to raise their level of expectations and hold themselves accountable for quickly improving public safety and the level of crime in society and the education system.

The building of additional jails is not the best solution for the prevention of criminal activity, but given the current path society is on, I can understand why President Granger has decided to invest in the prison system.

Those who are allowed to stray down the undesirable path

of criminal activity at a young age will continue to prey on society and create an atmosphere of fear which usually leads to high levels of vigilante justice in Guyana.

We must remember that Guyanese are not the kind of people to put up with this nonsense for too long, and that we did respond to Mr Sukhu’s comments. That response had appeared in the December 05, 2019, Stabroek News. Nevertheless, it is said that Mr Sukhu has ignored Minister Jordan, though Lincoln said in his response that the negotiations fall under the ambit of the Management.

Again, Lincoln may be confused when he said “…the conditions under which the bond was established wages and salary cannot be paid from it.” This, (Continued on page 6)

DEAR EDITOR, One cannot miss that over the past months/years Kaieteur News has been at the forefront of highlighting the wrongs of the oil contract. It appears as if we may end up owing Exxon for that oil, given that we are already in debt by 10 Billion, plus we have to pay all the operating cost and taxes.

The majority of the population is certainly grateful for the exposure.

However, many of us believe the initial negotiation of the contract was linked to the government in 2015 (that is, who offered the better deal got to govern) and similarly, any calls for renegotiation will invariably affect that party’s chances of forming the next government in 2020, hence the reluctance from the two main parties to re-

negotiate.

Anyway, my email is to highlight that even though you publish all these stories day after day, none of it is permanently posted on your website. Instead, you have permanent stories of Jagdeo, Sattaur and Robert Persaud on your front page.

It must be noted that those stories, while important, pale in comparison to the losses Guyanese will experience with the Exxon contract. Yet, you do not have one story about the quartet+1 trip to Texas, the onesided deals, the huge debt we incurred before oil was pumped, etc. Your online presence certainly does reflect the attention or priority you place in your dailies.

Sincerely, Avid Kaieteur News Reader

PAGE 6

We all are being exposed to danger as a result of myopic actions DEAR EDITOR, I write in response to your caption “Wildlife Management Commission declares closed hunting seasons for 2020” in your 23rd December 2019 edition.

I am writing in my capacity as the Secretary of the Caribbean Vegetarian-Vegan Charity, which is based in Barbados, and as someone who has been on a plantbased diet for fifty years for animal rights reasons.

The Charity aims to raise awareness as to the human health and environmental benefits of a plant-based diet.

It has as its mission statement: “The promotion of a plant-based diet to improve human health; protect the environment; facilitate social justice; and reduce animal cruelty”.

The Coronavirus which is making the news at present, began in China from the eating of bush meat that had the virus [possibly snakes],

which then jumped the species boundary as did Swine and Bird Flu, SARS [from civet cats], Ebola [from bats and chimpanzees], MERS [from camel eating in the Middle East], and HIV [attributed to the eating of chimpanzees]. The influenza pandemic of 1918–19 which has been sourced to poultry, killed an estimated 20 to 50 million people.

The negative effect of a meat diet on both human health and the environment is well known, and is the contemporary global driving force for the adoption of a balanced plant-based diet.

[See for example the film “Game Changers” on Netflix].

Less well known is the historical role played by meateating in the development of the gender division of labour and class society [with men dominating hunting expeditions, and menstruating and pregnant/

breast feeding women left at home as hunting liabilities], and also in the creation of weaponry [with spears and bows and arrows being developed initially for hunting, but then being utilised to dominate and kill humans].

Leaving aside animal cruelty concerns, and the threats to bio-diversity, the eating of bush meat ought to be banned outright as being a severe danger to human health.

We need to learn the lessons from inter alia Corona and Ebola viruses. It is not just the participants of this abhorrent practice who are at risk, we all are being exposed to danger as a result of their myopic actions.

Yours sincerely, Mr. Lalu Hanuman, Attorney-at-Law, Dr. Walter Rodney House, Dover Gardens, Dover, Christ Church, Barbados.

Lincoln, indeed these, as you...

From page 4 however, is not true.

The NICIL, according to a report appearing in the June 04, 2019, Guyana Chronicle, said, among other things, that the bond proceeds were earmarked for “…two years… general ongoing operational costs”. That report went on to say that “…GuySuCo has reportedly requested monies to cover operational expenses, such as payment of salaries.”

Mr Lewis also questions where it is said that the World Bank gave approval for Skeldon. It may be wise for Lincoln to consult the World Bank’s website. Nevertheless, maybe it has slipped him that, at the time, of the Skeldon investment the country was deemed a HIPC nation and we were firmly in the grips of the international financial institutions (IFIs) i.e. the World

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

Bank and the IMF. Lincoln may recollect that the Skeldon project was envisaged since the late 1990s. However, it did not begin construction until the mid-2000s as permission had to be granted by the World Bank and IMF. An earlier start was prevented as the IFIs did not allow the Corporation, on its own, to borrow the monies required for the project. Lincoln again raised the EU monies, something we have clarified twice for him and we don’t believe we need to repeat ourselves.

Lincoln refers to the Demerara Waves which said that 5,200 workers were laid off by the Coalition. Just for the sake of clarity, 5,200 workers were laid off through the closure of Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara Estates in December 2017 and additional 1,700 were laid off at Wales in December 2016.

Of course, those numbers do not include the hundreds of temporary workers who GuySuCo prevented from working during the years of closure and thus denying them any severance.

Regarding, the claim of some 5,340 employees laid off during the PPP/C Administration, this is indeed news. The only workers that were made redundant, during the period, were those linked to Diamond and a few at the LBI factory. Apart from that, workers who may have committed misdemeanors may have been dismissed or terminated. That is the length of our knowledge. Of course, those numbers aggregated cannot be equivalent to 5,340 as is claimed.

We agree with Lincoln when he says “[s]ugar is in crisis and has to be attended to in frank, honest and open conversations and through deliberative action(s) by the relevant stakeholders.” The problem is that those in charge do not want to have such conversations and prepare to listen to valued and valuable advice. They have, in our view, their own ulterior intentions. As Mr Lewis said the job losses are too many, especially considered “…when there is limited opportunity for reemployment or retraining…”

Lincoln, indeed these, as you put it, are “…the hard, cold facts.”

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

The very first job of a leader is to inspire trust DEAR EDITOR, I am astounded that after more than one year since the no-confidence motion and the protracted court trials from the High Court to the Appeal Court resulting in the most comprehensive judgement delivered by the Caribbean Court of Justice, some Presidential hopefuls have yet blatantly violated Articles 53 and 155 of our Constitution and the Statutory Declaration Act Chapter 5:09, when throughout the legal imbroglio, a dual citizenship nomination to the National Assembly was upheld as being unconstitutional.

How can they not be aware that they have to give up their foreign citizenship before seeking nomination? It cannot be assumed that on Nomination Day they suddenly made a decision to contest as the Presidential candidate for their respective parties.

The Declaration Form 3A for Presidential Candidate stipulated five conditions which must be met, of which two state unambiguously that, ‘I am a citizen of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana’ and ‘qualified to be elected as a Member of the National Assembly’.

Article 155 further states that: ‘No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who: - (a) is, by virtue of his or her own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence of a foreign power or state.’ Moreover, according to the Statutory Declaration Act, Chapter 5:09,

‘Everyone who makes a declaration according to this Act containing any statement false in fact or does not believe to be true, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be liable to imprisonment for one year.’

How can anyone violate this pellucid Section of the law? It seems that Granger as President has set a bad precedent when he blatantly disregarded and violated our Constitution and the CCJ’s orders, claiming that he has his own interpretation of the law. Now Shuman, Bandhu and Leung have followed suit, since their interpretation is that they could sign the Statutory Declaration and relinquish their Canadian and US Citizenship at a later date, probably when they are elected to the National Assembly.

I simply cannot fathom Yolanda Ward’s statement that these people need to ‘show cause’ for their violation! These people ignored the fact that they must relinquish their foreign citizenship before Nomination Day, at least before signing the Declaration Form. The USA and Canadian Immigration websites provide easy online procedures to renounce citizenship.

Why were procedures not followed months ago? Why is GECOM so lenient with them?

Again, it leaves us to wonder if these ‘leaders’ suddenly awoke from their slumber and lethargy and decided to become the President of Guyana to bring prosperity to the Guyanese people. So many negative

issues affecting our democracy have been going on in our country and we are yet to hear the voice of condemnation from the leaders of the small parties.

Then there are the bread and butter issues: the dismissal of 30,000 persons, the closing of four sugar estates, the mounting unemployment among our youths, the rising cost of living, the massive taxes and the inability of the vulnerable groups in our society to eke out a living. Then we must also mention the squandering of our taxpayers’ dollars and the ensuing massive corruption. Yet these leaders have remained mum.

Moreover, when the illegal Chairman of GECOM was appointed, the voices of these Presidential candidates were non-existent; when Granger blatantly violated our Constitution they watched on; when Granger ignored the CCJ orders they sat silently; when GECOM foisted the illegal House to House Registration upon us they had nothing to say; now that the Voters’ lists are in shambles they are busy with their own self-interest.

It is not too late for these persons in the smaller parties to make an about turn and start serving our country.

Before we aspire for higher offices we must be prepared to serve the people. We must understand that the very first job of a leader is to inspire trust; it is the most essential element in our ability to deliver extraordinary results.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Thieves at GNIC wharf DEAR EDITOR, In the middle of December 2019, two barrels I had shipped to Guyana through Laparkan in New York arrived at the GNIC Wharf in Georgetown. Around December 20th, I uplifted the barrels, only to discover that both had been opened and several items stolen from them.

I suppose a “chemical spill” at the facility provided the ideal cover for thieves to pilfer what they and their co-workers needed for

the holidays. This does not augur well for the reputation of Laparkan as a shipping company, GNIC as a major wharfing port, and the Customs Department, which is responsible for clearing goods that are shipped into the country.

Maybe strategically placed and working surveillance cameras could prove effective in curbing such criminal activities at the wharf.

Daniel Dacosta New York USA

Performance accountability...

From page 5 have taken justice into their own hands on many occasions.

I remember when a village killed one of its members for raping and killing a child.

The Ministries and Police must act now to stop the development of gang activity at the primary and secondary school levels before they end up having to deal with those same individuals in the street,

under even more dangerous circumstances.

It only gets worse if not quickly brought under strict control in an orderly and disciplined manner.

A stitch in time does save nine, and no one wants five more years where such levels of crime are allowed to get worse. The Government needs to act decisively and quickly to improve this situation. Otherwise, no

amount of infrastructural investment or other improvements will matter if no one is able to fully enjoy it because of the unsafe environment caused by high levels of criminal activity that is currently growing out of control. This must end!

Sincerely, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Former presidential advisor says...

Govt. should publish its economic model for Stabroek Block projects

By Kemol King Former Presidential Advisor on Petroleum, Dr. Jan Mangal, is urging that Government release its economic model for Stabroek Block projects for public scrutiny.

The Oil & Gas Consultant made the comment pursuant to a discussion about how an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) model for Liza Phase One, and a subsequent extrapolation to include Liza Phase 2, led him to conclude that Guyana could lose US$5B in revenue, because the Government granted a permanent tax holiday to ExxonMobil and its partners for their operations on the Stabroek Block. That is just one of the aspects of the contract pinpointed by commentators as unfair and lopsided.

Public discourse has been rife with questions about what Guyana will get from oil production in the Block, since the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) governing those operations has been repeatedly criticised as lopsided and unfair. Public commentators have, like Dr. Mangal, projected that Guyana could lose billions

Former Presidential Advisor, Dr. Jan Mangal not just from the tax holiday granted to ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC, but from several sections of the contract.

Governments, in their perusal of economic projects, usually produce economic models to determine the risks and benefits associated with those projects.

Dr. Mangal said that he advocated for Government to develop a model when he served as the Presidents advisor, as he is adamant that it is critical to have. Government has not been very forthcoming in responding to all of the contentions with the numerous aspects of the contract which have been pointed out as financially detrimental to

PAGE 7

Kaieteur News

Guyanas success in the very lucrative global petroleum industry.

Yet, it gave ExxonMobil the approval for Liza - Phase One and the operator has already started producing oil there. Government has also approved Liza - Phase Two. ExxonMobil intends to start production there in 2022.

ExxonMobil has applied for approval for a third field development, Payara. That awaits a review by Government and a Consultant, which Government has indicated it needs, to hold its hand through the process.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that Guyanas Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will increase substantially in 2020, but indicated that most of that wealth will leave Guyana with the foreign companies.

It stated that Guyana will be getting 14.5 percent of oil revenues, and that revenues will not be substantial in the early years. It does expect, though, that revenues for Guyana will see an increase, once Exxon and its partners recoup their investment. The Inter-American Development Bank has made similar comments.

Final witness testifies against former GRDB heads

S

pecial Prosecutor Patrice Henry, who is working for the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), yesterday called his final witness to testify in the trial of two former officials of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), who are facing charges of fraudulent conversion and misappropriation.

The defendants are former General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board, Jagnarine Singh, and former Deputy General Manager, Madanlall Ramraj.

Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty is presiding in the trial, which is being conducted in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts. Attorney-at-law Glenn Hanoman is representing the two men.

The alleged fraud took place between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2015. There are 17 charges of keeping fraudulent accounts, 16 for fraudulent appropriation and five for the falsification of accounts.

The final witness, Corporal Fizal Ali of SOCU, yesterday took the stand and exhausted his evidence to the court.

His evidence was based on having an interview with

Jagnarine Singh and Madanlall Ramraj the two defendants and putting certain documents to them.

Singh and Ramraj were allowed to give an explanation as to why their signatures were affixed to the documents.

They were then arrested and told of the allegations against them.

On the next occasion that the matter is called, Ali will be cross-examined by defence

counsel. The matter was adjourned to the day after elections which is March 3, next.

Four other officials have had their cases dismissed based on insufficient evidence led by the prosecution.

They had all pleaded not guilty to the charges that were put to them.

Former accountant Peter Ramcharrans matter is still before the court.

The unbelieving man can have no peace, and how can there be happiness for one who lacks peace of mind.

PAGE 8

Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Allocation of state lands follows a set pattern - Forestry Commission No hurrying here…

T

he Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) is denying that it is hurrying the allocation of a number of large-scale logging concessions that were associated with disgraced Chinese investor, BaiShanLin. The Commission was over the weekend responding to a letter writer titled, Hurried allocation of over one million acres of State Forest will be a national environmental disaster.

The letter would have followed statements of Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, who last week warned that there should be no hurry in allocating the lands, which represents several hundred hectares.

The forested area,

covering miles of Guyanas hinterland, was repossessed by the Coalition Government in 2016 after it became clear that BaiShanLin had failed to honour a number of commitments, including the construction of a large processing plant in the Region 10 area.

“The Guyana Forestry Commission Act 2007 and the Forests Act 2009 have given a clear mandate to the GFC for the management and administration of State forests. The vacant areas as advertised were repossessed by the GFC in 2016 after significant transgressions of the Forest Act 2009 by the previous concession holders,” the Commission said in response over the

weekend.

The Commission pointed out the article cited the proposed re-allocations as a significant development, but attempts were then made to suggest that the Commission was guided and or motivated by political considerations.

“The GFC unequivocally states that the timing of the advertisement has no bearing on the impending electoral process. The areas have been held in abeyance since their repossession.

Their reallocation was based on submissions recommended by the GFC, which were duly studied and carefully considered by the Board of Directors of the GFC.” According to the

Commission, the Guyana Forestry Commission Act 2007 and the Forests Act 2009 have given a clear mandate to the GFC for the management and administration of state forests.

“The vacant areas as advertised were repossessed by the GFC in 2016 after significant transgressions of the Forest Act 2009 by the previous concession holders.

The areas as advertised will be issued in accordance with the Forest Act 2009 and as embraced in the Guyana Timber Legality Assurance System (GTLAS) which is internationally recognised as being a transparent and legitimate system of allocating

state forest, by donor partners including the European Commission and the Kingdom of Norway.”

GFC stressed that the article cited the proposed reallocations as a significant development, but attempts were then made to suggest that the Commission was guided and or motivated by political considerations.

“It should be noted that a portion of the Barama concession was allocated in 2018 under and the very process being following to re-allocate the current areas and no concerns of forests degradation or environmental disasters were expressed by anyone.

Therefore, it is ludicrous to conclude that the impending

re-allocations will have any dire effect on the environment or be contrary to the principles of sustainable forests management practiced by the sector.”

GFC insisted that Guyana has been sustainably harvesting its forests for more than a 100 years and yet deforestation rates remains one or if not the lowest in the world.

“A fact that has been confirmed by the Forests Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) REDD+ process and the Monitoring Reporting Verification System (MRVS) reports which have resulted in Guyana receiving approximately GY$9B in December, 2019 from the Kingdom of Norway.”

Wednesday January 29, 2020

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

The secrecy continues It took almost 18 months for the Production-Sharing Agreement, between Exxon Mobil and the Government of Guyana, to be made public.

That is a long time and the release only came after intense pressure and reports about the abysmal rate of royalty.

One of the excuses which was made for the non-disclosure of the contract was that it had to do with the situation in Venezuela. Somebody needs to explain to me how the releasing the details of the contract would have prejudiced whatever moves the government was making at the time as regards the territorial dispute.

It is not as if there was any denial that there was an agreement. And so if there was no denial, what could have been preventing the government from making the agreement

public.

A senior local official of ExxonMobil is on the public record as saying that Exxon was not the least worried about the Venezuela territorial dispute. So why then should the Guyana government have used the Venezuela issue as an excuse not to make public the production-sharing agreement it had with the oil multinational and her partners.

The contract was signed in June 2016. It was not made public until December 2017 and only after relentless public pressure led by this newspaper. Ever since then, there has been criticisms about the terms of the contract. It is therefore not true to state that the criticisms of the contract coincide with the approach to elections; the contract was deemed rotten more than two years ago.

The Production-Sharing Agreement was signed by a Minister who said that he was ordered to so. He did not state, nor was he asked by the media, who ordered him to sign.

But why state ‘ordered’?

Why did he not state that he was ‘authorised’ to sign the agreement?

The Minister who signed the contract said that Guyana should have gotten a better deal considering that the reserves in the Stabroek Block alone are more than 6 billion barrels. Exxon has since said that the reserves could be eight billion barrels.

One analyst has calculated that it could be high as 15 billion barrels, which is another way of saying that the oil cannot be exhausted within the next thirty years.

Not only was the oil contract with Exxon kept secret but so too was the signing

DEM BOYS SEH

People done got video destroying Jamaica One big earthquake strike in de ocean off Jamaica. Dat was de news. Of course once de earth quake strike near Jamaica, it had to strike near Cuba.

Haiti woulda feel de shake and panic because a big earthquake did mek a mess of Haiti couple years ago.

Of course, these days since anybody miss is de phone does come out to record all dat happening.

Dem boys seh if a man drowning before people jump in and save him, dem gon stand up wid dem phone and video de drowning.

Even when something not happening, people does

get de video. When dem hear bout de earthquake and Jamaica, somebody send a video to some people in Guyana. A man call de Waterfalls paper in a panic to ask if de paper get de news.

Dem boys tell him dat dem had plenty news. Then he ask about de earthquake and de tsunami. De man seh he got a video showing how de tsunami lick up Jamaica and how de Waterfalls paper must get de news.

Dat is how dis social media thing does wuk. People does mek up things and send de video.

People does believe. And when dem boys tell dem is fake, dem would want to kill dem boys because dem seh

how dem seeing it and is no fake.

Is just like wrestling. Big men use to get into fight because somebody tell dem how wrestling was fake.

People picking up one anodda and throwing dem down pon de ground. Dem does beat one anodda wid a chair. Dem does cuff and kick one anodda and not a soul getting any bruise. Dem don’t even bleed. But people don’t see dem things.

Well dat is wha happen wid de video on Jamaica.

Dem boys wonder if dem ain’t got a video showing how de whole of Jamaica destroy.

Talk half and watch out fuh more fake videos.

bonus. It was only as a result of the sustained probing by this newspaper that the government eventually relented and confessed that it did receive a signing bonus. This was after there was a vehement denial and later on the claim that there was the presumption that the monies paid was a gift to the government.

We are not sure as yet what other secrets are buried.

We do not know if any more surprises are in store.

The government announced the start of oil production last December. No evidence was produced in the days that followed to prove that oil was being pumped. It was only after this column began to demand that some evidence be provided to the Guyanese people that a photograph was shown of dark liquid in a bottle, presumably

oil.

A bash was then thrown at the Marriott Hotel. The bigwigs were wined and dined while the masses were pissed on with a fireworks display.

And still the secrecy continues. Not a word as yet on the daily output of oil produced since the start of production. Not a word about the quality of the product.

Against this background, there should be a full Commission of Inquiry into the signing of the contract. This would establish both a moral and legal basis for the annul-

ment of the contract if it is found that the contract was signed without the expressed knowledge of the President or the Cabinet.

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

PAGE 10

Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 29, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

If a guy from the Arctic Ocean reads this letter about the PPP Suppose a gentleman from the Arctic region who never heard about Guyana came to this country and read a letter in the Stabroek News yesterday written by a former central committee mandarin of the PPP and current member of that party. Harry Nawbatt was the Ambassador to Brazil when his party lost power in 2015.

The man from the Arctic reading what Nawbatt penned would not believe that Nawbatt’s party ruled Guyana for 23 years during which time Guyana faced extinction.

To understand this psy-

chotic letter, it is best to offer select quotes. I would suggest you read Nawbatt’s letter because it betrays the psychological make-up of the PPP’s leadership. This is a psychological portrait in which the person has no idea of the crimes they have committed and continue to plea innocence.

1 – “… since 2015, (there is) blatant abuse of power, disregard and disrespect for the rule of law, flagrant and obvious racial discrimination as well as political, where persons were perceived not to be in their “camp.”

Comment – the PPP came into power in 1992 and by the time it lost power in 2015, the entire public service and public sector had undergone an ethnic transformation never before seen in this country even under Forbes Burnham.

If Nawbatt could cite “blatant abuse of power” under the APNU+AFC then what choice of words would the scholar use to describe what went on from Jagdeo to Ramotar. For me the appropriate term is “fascistization.”

There was hardly any rule of law under Jagdeo and Ramotar. It was under the Jagdeo presidency that a li-

bel writ filed by President Jagdeo against this columnist created a little piece of history that today remains obscure.

Mr. Jagdeo’s writ went to trial eleven months after it was filed. That is the quickest libel writ to go to trial in the history of this country and maybe the world.

Was there any rule of law under Jagdeo and Ramotar?

The acting Chief Justice, Ian Chang (deceased) was refused a duty free car by the GRA and appealed to the president who acted on his request. I told Justice Chang in front of Chris Ram on the balcony of the High Court that

such conduct was improper.

Which rule of law was there under Nawbatt’s party? The PPP changed the law to allow the State to appeal an acquittal from a jury in order to keep Benschop in jail forever because the PPP felt it would be in power forever.

Two - “I had a valid contract. After what amounted to a dismissal, absolutely disregarding the terms and conditions of my contract, I put my case to the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and finally Mr. David Granger, and not even an acknowledgement was received.”

Comment- I had a UG contract that had five months remaining on it but it was still abrogated. The Ombudsman ruled that the termination of the contract was illegal. The Jagdeo government arbitrarily terminated several Foreign Service officers’ contracts.

For a list of those officers and dozens of other managers in a wide array of public sector employment, see my research, “Ethnic Power and Ideological Racism: Comparing presidencies in Guyana,” June 2010.

Three- “All three of the Ramotar children were removed from the positions they held, and it seems as if their “sin” was having immediate past President Ramotar as their father, a person who was in the “trenches” to help ensure that democracy returned to Guyana.”

Comment -Maybe Nawbatt should tell us how many of those that fought in the trenches with the PPP so

Frederick Kissoon the PPP could have come to power in 1992 so that Nawbatt could find employment as Ambassador to Brazil were not demonized by the PPP. Four- “Some say we are heading back to the Burnham days (and nights) but I say we are there, already.”

Comment – Under the PPP, 2001-2015, there were cruelties, depravities, immoralities and tragedies that made the Burnham regime look like a school party.

Maybe when Nawbatt wrote that missive, he was drinking something strange.

I will end with an incident.

At the wake of my vet’s sister, Nawbatt’s PPP colleague, Mitra Devi Ally, sat next to me.

She told me that her son is being denied employment by the present government. I told her she should understand how others felt because her PPP government did the same to countless others. I mentioned my wife and me. Ally looked at me without any reaction. It was if she didn’t hear what I said.

This is the danger in the psychology of the PPP. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Govt. silent on telecoms liberalisation as 4,000 sign petition Over 4,000 persons have signed a petition calling for Government to get serious and formally announce the liberalisation of the Telecoms Sector.

Since being announced that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed last year, there has been little word on when the liberalisation would actually happen.Yesterday, Digicel, the main competitor to GTT, joined the growing calls.

“The people of Guyana are tired of poor, unreliable broadband services and remote communities not being able to realise the dream of modern communications in their homes and are fed up of limited choice and not having the benefits of true competition,” Digicel said in a statement yesterday.

The Irish-owned company explained that those were the conclusions of a Change.org petition calling

for the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in Guyana which has been gaining a lot of attention online, boasting over 4,000 signatures to date.

The petition will be sent to all political parties contesting the elections by February 8th.Not only is the #LiberalisationNOW Change.org petition racking up new signatures daily, the accompanying campaign video on YouTube has gained over 52,000 views and the campaign Facebook page has 2086 followers with campaign posts having a reach of 654,990 since the start of campaign.

“Likewise, there are 16,725 engagements on the Facebook page with people actively commenting and sharing posts to show their support for breaking the monopoly and liberalising the telecom industry,” Digicel said.According to Digicel, the

change that the people of Guyana are demanding is long overdue. After three decades locked into a telecom monopoly, Guyanese suffer from a poor choice of services, the mobile phone company said.

It has signaled intentions to bring a submarine fibre optic cable to Guyana once the sector has been opened to allow other players.

Blocked”Meanwhile, other operators are being held back from offering the better services they are ready and willing to provide. Poor broadband coverage -- a shameful 90% of Guyanese still have no access to broadband services at home.

Poor quality of services - even when they do have access to services, speeds are slow and unreliable.”

Digicel said that from indications, there is poor response time from GTT- any issues are resolved at a snails

pace.“These factors have combined to give Guyana the worst service in the Caribbean.

With the legislation ending the telephone monopoly passed over three years ago by Parliament in July 2016 and assented to by the President, today there is still no progress since the legislation has not been made law.

“This requires the issuance of a commencement order by the Minister. With Guyana stuck in the telecoms dark ages, liberalisation must happen immediately to give Guyana the internet it deserves.”

Digicel argued that the stakes could not be higher.

“Bringing Guyana s communications into the 21st century wont just improve lives; its essential to developing the economy especially now that oil production has begun with the first million barrels

Digicel Guyanas CEO, Gregory Dean

Minister Cathy Hughes

recently sold. As things stand, Guyanas communication services are nowhere near ready to take full advantage of this development.”

However, Digicel said, the country is a long way from achieving the universal landline coverage it was promised when the monopoly went into effect almost three decades ago.

“With a commitment to have telephone service in the home of every Guyanese, today fewer than120,000 subscribers have been provided with what is at best a mediocre service.

If landline service has long been underwhelming, Guyana s broadband service is even worse. Fibre optic service can be found in limited pockets in Georgetown and some surrounding communities, while DSL has slowly crept across the country on poorly maintained copper networks.

Its simply not good enough.”

Petition welcomed According to Gregory Dean, CEO of Digicel Guyana, it welcomed the petition.

“The response to the petition clearly shows that Guyanese are sick of being left behind and missing out on the opportunities that come with a digital economy. Guyanese are calling on all our leaders to take the necessary steps to eliminate the monopoly immediately and liberalise our

telecommunications market so that other companies can roll out the services that Guyanese have waited far too long for. “I encourage everyone to get on board with this movement by signing the petition before February 8 and show that the will of the people cannot be denied.”

In March last year, the Coalition Government and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) announced that they had inked an agreement. While the Memorandum of Understanding is nonbinding, it was promised to be a significant advancement in the ongoing negotiations.

GTT, a US-controlled company that has been here for 29 years, taking over the crumbling state-owned Guyana Telecommunication Corporation in the early 1990s, has been insisting on a number of concessions, including more spectrum, and reportedly tax breaks, to give up its monopoly on landline and international calls.

Several companies have been applying to operate internet TV, mobile services, and the landing of submarine cables to bring data.

However, the ongoing talks have stalled the processing of the applications.A joint statement was issued by Government and GTT.“The (Continued on page 26)

Wednesday January 29, 2020

PAGE 13

Kaieteur News

Brassington, Singh fraud case‌ Magistrate adjourns hearing to receive High Court ruling Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday adjourned the hearing for the proceedings against former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, and former Head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington.

The adjournment was granted as the lower court awaits the ruling of the High Court from Chief Justice, Roxanne George. The defence lawyers had approached the High Court making a substantive challenge over the validity of the charges.

The defendants were absent at yesterdays hearing and the court was told that this was as a result of the stay that was granted in the matter by Justice Franklyn Holder.

After the Special Prosecutor, Patrice Henry, briefed the magistrate on the High Court proceedings the matter was adjourned to March 6, 2020.

Singh and Brassington are facing a trial in the Magistrates Court for alleged Misconduct in Public Office.

Following its investigations into Pradoville Two, the Special Organised Crime Unit, (SOCU), moved to institute charges against the former public officials.

According to the first charge, Dr. Singh as Minister of Finance, and Brassington as the Chief Executive of NICIL on May 14, 2011 at Lot 126 Barrack Street, Kingston, Georgetown, sold a tract of land being a portion 10.002 acres of Plantation Turkeyen, East Coast of Demerara, property of the State of Guyana for the sum of $185,037,000, without first having procured a valuation of the said property from a competent valuation officer.

Another charge stated that Dr. Singh and Brassington on December 30, 2008 at Lot 126 Barrack Street, Kingston, Georgetown, by way of Agreement of Sale and Purchase without due diligence, sold to Scady Business Corporation, a 4.7 acres tract portion of Plantation Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, for $150M knowing

that the said property was valued at $340M by Rodrigues Architects Associate, a competent valuation officer.Furthermore, it was alleged that Dr. Ashni Singh and Brassington on December 28, 2009 at 126 Barrack Street, Kingston, Georgetown, by way of Agreement of Sale and Purchase, acted recklessly when they sold to National Hardware Guyana Limited, a tract of land at Plantation Liliendaal, Pattensen and Turkeyen, situated on the East Coast of Demerara, being 103 acres, being property of the State of Guyana for the sum of $598,659,398 (VAT exclusive) without first having procured a valuation of the said property from a competent valuation officer.

Finally, it is alleged that Dr. Ashni Singh and Brassington, between October 26, 2010 and December 20, 2010 at Lot 126 Barrack Street, Kingston, Georgetown, by way of Agreement of Sale and Purchase, acted recklessly when they sold to Queens Atlantic Investment Inc, Sanata Textiles Complex, with building and erections thereon, that is to say, Parcel 4702, Part of Plantation Ruimveldt, situated on the East Bank Demerara, being 18.871 acres, at $697,864,800.00 plus VAT, knowing that the said property was valued at the sum of $1,042,403,500.00, and was therefore being sold at a price that was grossly undervalued, thereby creating a breach of their duties.

The men were each placed on bail on $6 million and the matter was fixed for June 5, 2018, for continuation. Singh and Brassington have since left the country.

Brassington was at the helm at NICIL when the controversial Pradoville 2 Scheme was conceptualised.

There were whispers among Government officials that the former head has a lot to answer for in relation to the Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara housing scheme.

The contention was and still is that the lands sold to former Government Ministers and close friends of the PPP/

C administration were seriously undervalued. Ashni Singh was the Minister of Finance at the infancy stage of the project and is believed to be a recipient of one of those plots overlooking the sea.

NICIL reportedly paid over $100M to take down the tower and build the new transmitting facility and charged the expense to the National Communication Network (NCN).

Ashni Singh

Winston Brassington

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Impact of depression gains attention of Health Ministry’s Men’s Health Unit Depression is a real issue and it certainly isn’t limited to women. This was the contention of Dr. Dennis Bassier, Coordinator of the Men’s Health Unit within the Ministry of Public Health, when he appeared on Monday as the guest on Kaieteur Radio’s [99.1FM. 99.5 FM] Your Health Matter.

By virtue of his work, Dr. Bassier has found that oftentimes men are unwilling to compromise their ma-

chismo by accepting a diagnosis of depression.

Depression, according to medical experts, is a rather common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how someone feels; the way they think and how they act.

In fact, it has been proven that it can affect the sexes differently.

Reports suggest, too, that men with depression may have symptoms such as irritability, escapist or risky

behaviour, misplaced anger and they could even resort to excessive use of alcohol and illicit drugs.

Further, men are also less likely than women to recognise depression or seek treatment for it.

“Men are affected but we have that mindset that we have to be the strong ones, the dominant ones, the breadwinner. So when we get depressed basically, it is like the end of the world...We are not

supposed to get depressed.

“We are not supposed to show that weaker subdued, somewhat submissive side.

So it is a major factor that influences men and their health and we need men to come forward with these things,” said Dr. Bassier.

According to the Men’s Health Coordinator, symptoms of depression in men can manifest in a number of ways.

“You might think that a person who is depressed might be somewhat gloomy, ‘under the weather’, slow moving, slow with their speech pattern but they can also be very agitated.

“They can be restless, like to pace, or be rather out spoken and somewhat verbally abusive, and even though you might think that is just a sign of them and their poor upbringing, lack of manners or whatever, the case may be, that could be the signs of depression,” Dr. Bassier explained.

He further expounded that the impact of depression could manifest in other ways including the loss or increase of appetite.

Alluding to what he described as “stress eating”, Dr. Bassier said, “They can sit down with a tub of ice cream or a tub of nut butter and a spoon and people may want

Men’s Health Coordinator, Dr. Dennis Bassier

to know what’s going on with them.

“But you need to get down to the root of it...start talking to them and find out what’s going on with them that’s leading them down this road.

“There might be involuntary weight gain or weight loss and you just need to figure out what’s happening with this person that changed them from their normal behaviour...They lose interest in things they would normally get some pleasurable feelings.”

For men suffering from depression and even sub-

stance or alcohol abuse, Dr. Bassier said that help is readily available. Such help, he said, can begin at the community health centre or even at the Ministry’s Mental Health Unit situated in Quamina Street, Georgetown.

“We have a lot of mental health professionals in the health care system, more than likely there is one in all health centres,” said Dr. Bassier.

He also referenced the Salvation Army and the Phoenix Recovery Project, calling them facilities that can lend needed support to those men who may who need help to (Continued on page 25 )

Wednesday January 29, 2020

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

ExxonMobil should declare Guyana’s -TIGI Director oil to gas ratio

By Kemol King ExxonMobil should come clean with the Guyanese people, and tell them what they need to know about the contents of the material discoveries it has made offshore Guyana. That is the insistence of Director of the Transparency International Guyana Institute (TIGI), Turhan Doerga.

Doerga and TIGIs first Vice President, Fred Collins, appeared on an edition of the Kaieteur Radio show, Petroleum 101, last Monday night.

During that programme, the Institutes leaders discussed transparency in the petroleum sector, against the backdrop of ExxonMobils continued withholding of details about Guyanas hydrocarbon content, particularly the natural gas.

ExxonMobil has announced 16 discoveries on the Stabroek Block, so far.

The companys most recent disclosure indicates that it estimates there are eight billion oil-equivalent barrels in 15 of those discoveries. The 16th discovery is not yet factored into the estimate.

The term oil-equivalent accounts for oil as well as gas

content. Exxons public disclosures do not disaggregate.

Kaieteur News posed the question to ExxonMobils local Government and Public Affairs Advisor, Janelle Persaud, late last year. On several occasions, she said that the company was still analysing its finds.

During Mondays radio show, Doerga said, “You cannot tell me that you dont know or that youre still analysing. We need more data. They need to come clean with us. This is our country.” He said that ExxonMobil has to make a decision now to move away from the trends it has established for other countries in which it has operated, around the world.

“Let us be honest; let us be open. It is the people s oil,” Doerga said.

Surinames experience with a discovery made by Apache and Total in Block 58, made earlier this year, shows that the gas content can be estimated just days later.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, appearing on a Kaieteur Radio show, Guyanas Oil & You, told the listening public

that the Liza-1 field is estimated to contain one trillion cubic feet of natural gas. He had disclosed that he was also aware of the gas content in Liza - Phases One and Two. However, ExxonMobil had already announced 15 discoveries at the time of his statement. Kaieteur News is aware that ExxonMobils 11th discovery called Haimara, made in early 2019, is a gas condensate reservoir. Furthermore, ExxonMobils public disclosures about the Pluma well seem to indicate that it may be a gas reservoir as well.

These discoveries open up a new area for development.

When it comes to deciding what to do with Guyanas natural gas, public discourse has lagged behind discourse about oil.

ExxonMobils local subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), had informed the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) that between 30 and 50 million cubic feet per day of extra gas can be made available for electricity generation in Guyana from the Liza-1 project. Government had announced intentions for a natural gas plant. It is esti-

mated that the excess gas from that project could power Guyana for more than 15 years.

But thats not enough, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo. During a press conference last week, Jagdeo told Kaieteur News that Government must be competent enough to de-

mand Exxon make necessary disclosures in due time.

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

What would be the cost of probably moving it?”“What are the subsidiary industries? Is there adequate gas to come and build other (Continued on page 16)

TIGI Director, Turhane Doerga

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Gold Board opening new office in Port Kaituma The headquarters of the Guyana Gold Board, in Alberttown.

The Guyana Gold Board, an agency of the Ministry of Natural Resources, says it is opening a branch at Port Kaituma, Region One. The expansion of that state entity’s gold trading operation to that area is slated for Monday, February 3, 2020, Gold Board said.

The office will be located in the building that houses the Guyana Bank for Trade

and Industry (GBTI) - Port Kaituma Branch, Turn Basin, Port Kaituma, North West District and will be opened to the public desirous of selling gold to the board Mondays to Fridays, from 08:00 hours to 16:00 hours.

According to the Board, there are many benefits to be derived from selling gold to its branches.

These include duty free concession for operators who have accumulated sales of 500 ounces and over; security and confidentiality; reliable testing of gold purity; payout adjustments following assay testing; becoming AML/CFT compliant and accurate record of taxes and royalties.

Gold miners can also benefit from competitive prices and exchange rates; reducing the risk of product being traced to smuggling and other illegal activities; easy access to foreign exchange for purchase of mining equipment; declaration letters; incentive for firearm licence; incentive for bank loans and recommendation to foreign businesses.

In recent years, gold production has been climbing as world prices remain high.

It was over US$1,570 per ounce yesterday.

Gold has been responsible for raking in the most foreign currency in any sector, within recent years. It is being overtaken by oil now.

ExxonMobil should declare...

From page 15 types of industries? The d o w n s t r e a m industries?”Jagdeo said those are all the conversations that a Government should have already been having with its people.

In talking about this issue, Doerga argued, “Nobody can come to my country and rip me off or take what I have, if I dont allow them… We are allowing them to do what they are doing.” His colleague, Collins, added that Guyana must not run away with the idea that it is limited in its ability to take control.

He said that that mentality has been normalised by a culture politicians have normalised for years, and that it must change.

In trying to determine whether independent analyses could be done, Kaieteur News has discovered that the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act has made provisions for the Government to furnish a Consultant with the necessary data without the consent of ExxonMobil and its Stabroek Block partners. It is unclear whether Government will take that route.

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

Digital learning now available to Region Six schools Hundreds of students from 14 primary schools in East Berbice Corentyne (Region Six) now have access to digital learning. The digital learning initiative is part of the ‘ProFuturo’ project, funded by the Organization of American States (OAS).

The initiative will see the introduction and enhancement of digital learning in the region.

The handing-over ceremony was held at the Cumberland Primary School, one of the recipients of the kits. The other schools that received kits on Monday were the Edinburg Primary, Overwinning Primary, Locaber Primary, Sandvoort Primary, St. Theresa’s Primary, New Amsterdam Primary, All Saints Primary, St. Aloysius Primary, Fort Ordnance Primary, Sheet Anchor Primary School, Rose Hall Estate Primary, Betsy Ground Primary and Gangaram Primary Schools. The schools are all from the New Amsterdam / Canje catchment area.

The kits are as a result of collaboration between the Organisation of American States (OAS), the ProFuturo Foundation and the Ministry of Education.

Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, said that education in Guyana is

Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, Ambassador Dormeus along with head teachers and students of the 14 schools pose for a photograph with the Profuturo Kits. embarking on major changes to students’ learning and knowledge acquisition.

Technology has influenced and changed the way thing are done.

Initiatives that will continue to provide opportunities for Guyanese to advance in this technological era are very much welcomed by the government.

Minister Henry called on those in attendance to harness the opportunities, and combine efforts in the maintenance and

sustainability of the kits as they capitalise on the correct usage and learning abilities that will be created.

She added that the initiative is a good bounce for the country decade of development as the country is adequately prepared for technological growth.

The OAS Country Representative in Guyana, Ambassador Jean Ricot Dormeus, stated that the programme aims to prepare the next generation for the future.

He said that education is the twin sister of freedom and that technology works as a great equalizer allowing us to transform the world from our huts to our gated communities. He said that the partnership between the OAS, ProFuturo and the

Government of Guyana is to provide education to the most challenging and vulnerable communities.

The Ambassador further stated that the $152,000 Euros project will benefit more than 5000 children across Regions One, six and 10 and almost 500

teachers will receive training on modern methodologies and how to use technology to enhance the learning experience of students.

Regional Education Officer, (ag) Ms. Bhagmattie LaCruz said that the initiative marks an extraordinary day for education in the Region where there will be the advancement of Information Communication Technology (ICT). The ProFuturo kits comprise of 40 tablets, one router, a projector and a laptop.

Guyana signed a technical assistance cooperation agreement with the OAS and the ProFuturo Foundation in May 2019.

Following the handingover ceremony Minister Henry and Ambassador Dormeus along with officials visited the Gangaram Primary School as a model school for ProFuturo implementation.

Earlier in January, Hosororo Primary, in Region One received the first batch of ProFuturo digital learning kits.

Dialysis centre commissioned in Region Six

Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence visits patients of the dialysis centre.

A new $6.3M Regional Dialysis Centre was officially commissioned on Saturday in Berbice 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.

Minister of Public Health, 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,

accommodation and some other expenses.

“She said that if it to be added up, it would amount to approximately $4.3M per year.

How many persons can afford that?” the Minister asked.

According to Minister Lawrence, the establishment of the Dialysis Centre is the latest in a number of new facilities and a series of developments that the Ministry has unfolded in Berbice and across Guyana during the last year.

Many of the services never existed in these areas before. “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 Ministry Of Public Health has achieved an important milestone for residents in this region.”

She noted that the

landmark achievements are all part of the Government of Guyana promise to make health service easily accessible to all Guyanese.

Among the patients already benefitting from the centre are Sewekarran Nanhu of Edinburgh, East Bank Berbice and Wayne Watson of No. 28 Village, West Coast Berbice. 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 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.

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 23

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

After 10 years in jail…

Prosecution fails to provide evidence, accused freed

FREED: Lowel Hope Sherland Joseph and Lowel Hope who were locked away in prison for 10 years on a murder charge were finally freed yesterday.

This was after Justice Sandil Kissoon quashed the indictment against them due to the prosecution having insufficient evidence.

Hope, 37 and Joseph, 27, had been on remand for the August 9, 2011 murder of 19year-old Kenny Creame which occurred at Monessee Backdam, Port Kaituma, North West District.

Based on previous reports, Creame, a miner, formerly of Port Kaituma, North West District was beaten to death during an argument with two men. He was reported to have been beaten with several pieces of wood; his cause of death was given as blunt trauma to the head.

Yesterday, the two murder accused were brought before Justice Kissoon at the High Court in Demerara. There, State Prosecutors Tuanna Hardy, Tiffini Lyken and Nafeeza Baig presented a murder indictment against them.

The men, who were both represented by attorney-at-law Maxwell McKay, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Thereafter, their lawyer moved a motion to have the indictment quashed.

In his submissions to the court, McKay said that there is no evidence against his clients to substantiate the charge.

According to the lawyer, the prosecution has no eyewitness, neither circumstantial nor forensic evidence. Prosecutor Hardy made no objections to the motion. In fact, Prosecutor Hardy conceded that the state had no evidence against the men.

She, however, pointed out that the delay in the men’s trial was at the level of the Magistrate’s Court. She revealed that the preliminary inquiry into the charge was only completed in 2017; the men were afterwards committed to stand trial.

In light of the forging, Justice Kissoon commended both the defence and prosecution for the stance they took. He thereafter quashed the indictment and informed the men that they were free to go.

PAGE 25

Impact of depression gains attention...

From page 14 overcome addiction.But even before help can be forthcoming, Dr. Bassier stressed the importance of persons recognising their need for that help.

“They have to want to change.

They themselves have to see something in their life, their partner, their community, their children...they have to recognise I’m not look-

ing how I used to. At the end of the day, they are the ones who have to want to change,” said Dr. Bassier.

Throu g h i t s n a t i o n a l r e a c h , t h e Men’s Health Unit has also been helping to tackle the challenge of depression as part of a tactical move to make men more aware of the importance of being healthy.

PAGE 26

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

Govt. silent on telecoms...

SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040 ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 We repair Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washer, Dryer-Call#231-0655/ 683-8734 Omar.

REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIR CONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINE, FREEZER, SALE OF AC’S. TEL#629-4946,225-4822

CAR RENTAL DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL CALL: 225-7126 & 2263693 -DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL@ YAHOO.COM/ W W W . D O L L Y SAUTORENTAL.COM PROPERTY FOR SALE Lot 89 Robb street Lacytown, Georgetown.

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

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

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

Contact Pacific Development Inc. 223-6035/ 604-4909 3- Storey unfinished building, Lot 1486 Plot B Herstelling EBD. 2 storey unfinish building, Lot 1488 Onderneeming WBD. #6093777/697-4557/641-3893/6860522 PEN PAL Indian Overseas male seeks female 30/35, must have good personality. Call: 602-9975

FOR SALE Lot 14 - 10,204 Sq ft Ph#264-2948/615-2270.

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

Contact#223-5273/2235274 Freezer & Quality used restaurant equipment. Call: 618-5080 Prime piece of hand at La Grange Public Road 300ft X 100ft $100,000 US Dollar.Contact Annie 6950333.

Corrugated steel rods 1/2 ‘’ (12mm) $745 = + 14%vat, 5/8 (16mm) - $1,310+14%vat at Alabama Trading, 27 Lombard St or call #231-3345/227-4234

FOR RENT

WANTED

One bedroom apartment, furnished, AC, washing machine, internet, light & water included. Parking. Call: 682-6238/617-2666

Barman, Waitress and cook.

Tel# 619-2877

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

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

TO LET

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

Available from 1st Feb,2020Decent working couples, One bedroom apartment in Georgetown, Parking, $50,000. Tel# 623-8759 LAND FOR SALE 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.

WANTED Maid. Requirements: person must be living on the East Bank. Contact# 600-6887

One Accounts clerk must be writing CAT, Previous work 1 Suzuki Escudo.Excellent experience necessary, send condition, Low Mileage application to P.O Box 16005 (50,000Km).$3.6M Neg.Call One experienced welder to #649-0956. work in the interior, must have Nissan Juke 2010, Blue, PTT experience. Contact Imran # series, fully loaded, excellent 226-9416/502-8587 condition. Call: 681-4208/ 2206262 Excavator operator to work with mining firm, must have 1 RZ minibus for sale, series experience. Contact Imran BSS Newly spray over, hardly #226-9416/ 502-8587 work $1.3M Neg. Contact# 603-2640 Diesel Mechanic to work in Massey Ferguson Tractor 283 interior, experience with $2.5M(Foreign Used) MF 165 perkins, duetz, doosan $1.5M, MF 135 $1M,MF 165 engines necessary. Contact Loader Tractor $2.1M.682- Imran #226-9416/502-8587 VEHICLE FOR SALE

ACCOMMODATION Aracari Hotel -WBD (Near Bridge)-Pool etc.Open 24 Hours.From $25 USD.Phone 264-2946/8

2 Waitress at D'Edward Village Berbice.Tel#327-5923/6855024.

Wanted One cook for a family, must be 25-35 years old.

Call: 231-8737

VACANCY

Porters to work in Grocery Stall, Attractive Salary at Stabroek Market. Tel#2269800/683-9500. Experience an asset

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.

1 Live-in male, multi-tasking & 1 live-in domestic female, experience in cooking creole foods. Tel# 675-2550/656-9313

Wanted one maid between the age of 25-35. Call: 231-8737

Computer with webcam. CD/ DVD, Print adaptable. 9" x 12" screen size, Owner migrating $40,000 neg. Tel #592-6390436

5230/615-4414.

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

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

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

8 week old pups, de-wormed & vaccinated. Father- Pure bred bull mastiff, MotherItalian mastiff + Rottweiler.

Contact Conway # 666-7956

Needed Labourers & Chainsaw operator to work on concession. Tel# 690-3535/ 651-1115

Wanted experienced hire car drivers at Ramada Princess Georgetown Hotel. Contact # 265-7075 / 616-5419 1 Lorry Driver, must be able to work flexible hours.

Contact Annie #233-3512 / 264-3720 Sales girl. Apply in person at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street

1 Female Office Assistant.

Must have knowledge of NIS, Payroll & computer literate, Age 30 +. Contact PSGCS #621-6969, serious enquiries only Driver/Expeditor. Contact # 231-0363/ Accounts Clerk.

Contact # 231-0363 Domestic. Contact# 2235273/223-5274 Nail Technician. Contact# 223-5273/223-5274 Driver/Expediter. Contact# 223-5273/223-5274 Pump Attendant & Cashier, shifts rotated weekly Shell Service station Providence.Email: Shellramsburg@gmail.com.

Female cleaner office & home.

Call: 642-9823 One male Janitor. Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St Bourda Labourers & Maintenance workers. Contact #621-6969, serious enquiries only.

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 Front end loader operator.

Contact#223-5273/223-5274

From page 12 Cooperative Republic of Guyana (GoG) and Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the GoGs planned liberalisation of the telecommunications market.”The statement noted that the agreement, while “non-binding”, represents a major step toward fully liberalising Guyanas telecommunications market.

“The parties have further agreed to continue

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

1 bodywork technician. Tel# 668-7033 Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area. Call: 615-9132 Soup Cook & Kitchen Assistant, Mon-Sat, Job location in town, Good pay. Call: 660-9983 between 8am-3pm for interviews Security Officers $85,000, Apply within @ 47 Croal St. Tel# 226-9905 or on FB page, Atlas Security Services Inc One General Domestic, must be able to prepare vegetarian meal. Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street Bourda

discussions on all outstanding issues with the objective of reaching a binding agreement,” the statement had said.

Minister of Public Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , Catherine Hughes, had stated in March that, “after many years of delays, this Government has brought the country one step closer to achieving a fully open telecommunications market.

“While more work needs to be done, the Government is committed to continuing discussions and completing the process of liberalization for the citizens of Guyana.”

However, consecutive governments have been under pressure to allow new players for the expansion of services to especially outlying areas, which have been struggling for landlines and faster, affordable internet connectivity.Since coming into Government in 2015, the issue was high on the agenda of the Coalition to end the 28year landline and international calls monopoly held by GTT. It entailed talks between the Government and the company about taxes, concessions and other issues.Currently, only Irishowned Digicel is here, and it is limited to mobile services.

Government had committed to opening up the sector in mid-2018, but it was delayed to the end of that year and then onto 2019.

E-Networks is now landing a submarine cable for what it says is its own cable television services.

In the meantime, there has been little word from the Coalition Government why there is no announcement of a formal liberalisation process as yet.

Wednesday January 29, 2020

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

Murder accused has up to today to retain desired lawyer

A

MURDER ACCUSED: Gavin Graham

lthough the State provides lawyers for a murder accused who cannot afford to hire legal representatives, 51year-old Gavin Graham, who is accused of killing his exlover, has refused the services of several such lawyers.

The lawyers have even visited him at the prisons.

He is still not convinced that he will be given proper representation.

In April 2019, Graham had requested of Justice Navendra Singh a threemonth long adjournment so that his family could accumulate money for him to retain a lawyer of his choice. This was after he refused to be represented by not one, but three lawyers provided by the state.

Earlier this month, at the opening of the Demerara Criminal Assizes, Graham was arraigned before Justice Kissoon. However, his trial could not start as he has continuously refused the services of state assigned lawyers, even though it is apparent he cannot afford to hire a

lawyer. Justice Kissoon granted him 14 days to find his own lawyer. Yesterday, Graham showed up at court without a lawyer.

There was a state-assigned lawyer available to him; but he refused to have

that lawyer defend him.

In the circumstances, Justice Kissoon told the murder accused that he has until today to find his own lawyer.

Graham is accused of the January 3, 2015 murders of his ex-lover, Tabola Abrams, 39,

and her 68-year-old stepfather Clifford Sampson who died because of injuries they received in a fire, which destroyed a house at Lot 636 ‘C’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

According to reports,

Graham set fire to the twostorey house, which was at the time occupied by Abrams, her paramour and stepfather and about 10 other individuals including children, after the woman ended their relationship.

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Prosecution closes case in driver’s licence exam fraud Police Prosecutor Adduni Innis yesterday closed the prosecutions case for the trial involving three members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). This is in relation to a massive drivers licence examination scam that was unearthed in April, 2018 at the Felix Austin Police College.

This was done before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts.

The three ranks before the courts are Corporal Shenese Fraser, 31, of 199 Section A Field 7 South Sophia; Corporal Ryan Gray, 25, of 215 DaSilva Street, Newtown; and Sergeant Alfred Park, 55, of 1129 Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

Following the prosecutors announcement, the mat-

Corporal Ryan Gray

Sergeant Alfred Park

ter was adjourned to February 28, for the magistrate to give a ruling.

Fraser was slapped with 18 counts of misdemeanour,

Gray with 20, and Park was slapped with 12 counts of committing a felony.

It is alleged that Fraser, on April 12, 2018 at Georgetown,

Corporal Shenese Fraser with intent to defraud the public, conspired with persons to commit a misdemeanour by uttering 18 questionnaires, knowing

50 students tested for hearing defects Officials from the Lions Club with some of the students who were tested

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in collaboration with the Lions Club of DUrban Park successfully screened several students from the Tucville Primary School for hearing defects.

The screening process was done yesterday morning at the city hospital. A total of 50 students between the age of six and nine completed the screening.

President of the Lions

Club of DUrban Park, Simone Beckles, stated that the initiative is the first of its kind. The main focus is on children that have been experiencing difficulties in the school.

“The Lions Club of DUrban Park has decided that one of its projects for the year will be servicing the students of Tucville Primary by providing ear screening for the students in grades two and three.

What we have found is that hearing and speech de-

velopment is a critical part of learning. Sometimes parents may not know that their children may have a hearing defect that can hinder their learning at school” Ms. Beckles explained.

According to Beckles, the students will be tested for wax build up; possible cleaning and if hearing aid is required also. If the screening shows that some of the students need hearing aid it will be provided to them by the

organization.

“The main cause of this imitative is to bring about awareness about the issue of children having ear defects.

As parents, we need to observe our children. Taking them for regular check up is the way forward.

“Sometimes when you visit some schools, teachers will tell you that your child is not learning but it could just be that the child has a hearing defect,” she stated.

Former Pres. Ramotar admits companies had no exploratory...

From page 3 were with him in Mid Atlantic Oil and Gas Inc.?” the lawyer asked.“I know that there were but I don’t have all the recollection,” Ramotar responded. Further asked about the exploratory knowledge of any other persons involved in Mid Atlantic Oil and Gas Inc Ramotar told the Court that he can’t specifically recall anyone.

The former President was then grilled on the due diligence undertaken prior to signing the contracts. In response, he told the Court that it was the Guyana

Geology and Mines Commission,(GGMC) and the Minister of Natural Resources that were responsible for conducting the technical work.Based on suggestions by the Attorney, Ramotar admitted he is unable to provide information on prior exploratory experience of companies. As it regards to Ratio Energy and Ratio Guyana Inc, Ramotar told the Court that he was not familiar with principals of the companies.

He said instead that he relied heavily on the advice of GGMC and the Minister of Natural Resources that the

persons attached to the company had prior experience.The Attorney therefore enquired from the witness whether GGMC had provided him with documentation that indicated Ratio’s prior experience in exploration.“No they didn’t provide me with documentation; they informed me, and they advised me,” he replied.

“Okay, so you never saw any written document from GGMC or any other state agency that may very well have said that this is the experience of Ratio?

“That would be correct,”

Ramotar admitted.“In relation to all the companies (Mid Atlantic Oil and Gas Inc., Ratio Energy, Ratio Guyana and JHI Associates) were you aware whether any of them had any successful exploratory experience?”“I don’t have any information of them directly but as I mentioned, I was advised that these were companies,” Ramotar maintained As such, the Attorney then suggested that the terms of the contract and licences put Guyana at a disadvantage with regards to benefits.The former Head-ofState nonetheless disagreed with the suggestion.

them to be forged, in that they were not written by 18 persons, whose name they were in.It was also alleged that Gray, on April 12, 2018 at Georgetown, with intent to defraud the public, conspired with persons to commit a misdemeanour, to which he uttered 20 questionnaires, knowing them to be forged, in that they were not written by 20 persons, whose name they were in.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read to them. They were released on $150,000 and $160,000 bail respectively by the Magistrate.

Park appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman when he pleaded not guilty to his 12 counts of committing a felony.

It is alleged that on April 12, 2018 at Georgetown, with intent to defraud the Public, he conspired with persons to

commit a felony, to which he uttered 12 questionnaires, knowing them to be forged, in that it was not written by 12 persons, whose name they were in.

He, too, denied the allegation and was released on $1.2 M bail.According to information, on April 12, 2018, there were 174 candidates slated to write the theoretical exam at the Felix Austin Police College, Georgetown.

On the day of the examination, 106 candidates turned up at the training school to write the examination. The court heard that on conclusion of the examination, it was discovered that 207 examination papers were submitted to the invigilators.

It was reported that after the examination, pastors who allegedly invigilated the examination reported to officers of the wrongdoing, hence an investigation was launched.

Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off the coast of Jamaica (CNN) A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Tuesday about 80 miles from Jamaica, shaking people in the Caribbean and as far away as Miami.

A tsunami of 0.4 feet was recorded in the Cayman Islands at George Town, but no tsunami was observed at Port Royal, Jamaica, or Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

There were several aftershocks, including one the US Geological Survey said had a magnitude of 6.1.

“Based on all available data, there is no significant tsunami threat from this (6.1) earthquake. However, there is a very small possibility of tsunami waves along coasts located nearest the epicenter,” the National Weather Service’s Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

The quakes come three weeks after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Puerto Rico.

A tsunami threat alert was lifted Tuesday afternoon, a few hours after the quake.

Earlier, a tsunami of 0.4 feet was recorded in the Cayman Islands at George Town, but no tsunami was observed at Port Royal, Jamaica or Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

Alec Pultr, who lives in Ogier, Grand Cayman, said it wasn’t the first earthquake he’s experienced but it was the biggest “by far.”

“We were simply working and things started to sway,” he told CNN. As the swaying and shaking became more violent, most people started to run; the ones who stayed behind got under their desks.

People in Miami, 440 miles

from the epicenter, felt shaking.

Miguel Charon was on the 13th floor of a building on Brickell Avenue. He told CNN that he felt the walls shake for 30 to 40 seconds. His initial thought was that it must have been caused by a machine of some sort. He said building officials issued an evacuation order and people left the building in a smooth and calm manner.

Jose Borrego, who also works in the Brickell area, said he was in a meeting.

“We felt slight movement of the building, then we got told to evacuate the building,” he said. “Once we came outside, (we) noticed that there are evacuations every building in the area.”

The earthquake appears to have been a “strike-slip earthquake,” in which tectonic plates slide against each other. This limits the threat of a devastating tsunami, which are more associated with “thrust earthquakes,” where a portion of the earth is thrust upward and causes the water to push up and outward, creating the tsunami.

The quake hit 125 kilometers (77.6 miles) north-northwest of Lucea in Jamaica.

The earthquake also was felt as far away as Havana.

Some people in the Cuban capital were evacuating taller buildings. Cuba’s state media reported the earthquake was felt across the island in Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Las Tunas, Cienfuegos, Pinar del Río, Havana and the Isle of Youth.

There are no initial reports of damage or casualties.

Wednesday January 29, 2020

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

We are prepared to treat Coronavirus -Health Officials

The World Health Organization (WHO) on January 9, last, reported that a 2019 novel Coronavirus (2019nCoV) was identified by Chinese authorities.

The virus was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China, and as with any other novel and imported disease, the 2019-nCoV is causing heightened concern in Guyana and the Caribbean region.

However, the Ministry of Public Health and the PanAmerican Health Organization- World Health Organization (PAHO-WHO) have emphatically stated that the countrys health sector is prepared to screen, detect, isolate and treat the deadly virus, should it arrive on the countrys shores.

During a press conference held yesterday at the PAHOs Boardroom in Brickdam Georgetown, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, confirmed that there are no cases of the deadly virus in Guyana, since the risk of it being detected here is very low.

However, if the deadly virus is to break through the countrys shores, the Minis-

ter boasted that the countrys health sector is well-prepared to screen, detect, isolate and treat the virus, which has claimed the lives of 106 persons thus far. All the deaths have been recorded in China.

Minister Lawrence explained that the Ministry has increased surveillance at all of the countrys points-ofentry, increased capacity training for medical personnel, and has prepared health facilities for isolation and testing.

Furthermore, Minister Lawrence added that health officials are preparing to launch a public information campaign on what the Coronavirus is and what measures can be taken to prevent the disease.

The virus was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention described symptoms as those commonly experienced with contraction of influenza. The incubation period is believed to be between two and 14 days.

An incubation period begins from the moment of exposure to the infectious agent until signs and symptoms of

the disease appear. Minister Lawrence said the Ministry has adequate drugs in stock and if necessary, will utilise resources from its 2020 funds allocation.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, said additional health officers and medics have been deployed in all health districts. Points of entry in Lethem, Moleson Creek, Georgetown and New Amsterdam have put measures in place to deal with any possible infection while health outposts in border communities have been placed on high alert and are making the necessary preparations. PAHO/WHO Representative, Dr. William AduKrow, explained that Guyana is proficient in treating and becoming prepared to address life-threatening illness, so he is not at all worried about whether the country would hold up to that standard.

“I think every time [the country] goes through [a disease like]… Chikungunya, SARS, ebola and histoplasmosis, I think it has made us gain enough experience. So in this country even though we might not have had the cases, trust me, we have enough ex-

(From left) Chief Medical Officer, Shamdeo Persaud; Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence; and PAHO/WHO Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow perience to be able to deal with it… That experience has come as a result of preparedness,” the doctor explained.

He explained that for a person to become infected, he or she must come within the outbreak point, through body fluids of who has been infected, or has eaten contaminated food.

“According to the case definition, we are very, very low in terms of the possibility

Police dog sniffs out fake assault rifle used in robbery spree

A police dog yesterday sniffed out a fake assault rifle that detectives believe three men used in a spate of brazen robberies on the West Bank and West Coast Demerara.

Police sources said that investigators yesterday located the ‘firearm’, buried in a La Grange, West Bank Demerara yard.

Police have detained two suspects who reside at the property, along with a third man who resides at Crane, West Coast Demerara.

Police sources said that video footage gleaned from the areas where the robberies occurred, as well as eyewitnesses, led investigators to the suspects.

Footage gleaned from security cameras at the scenes of the robberies showed the bandits brandishing what appeared to be an assault rifle.

Police have linked the trio to a robbery at the Papi Restaurant and Bar located at Lot 81 New Road, Vreed-enHoop, West Coast Demerara on January 15, 2020.

Kaieteur News had reported that four masked men, including two with hand guns, one with a ‘long gun’ and another with a knife carted off over $1.8M in cash, gold jewellery and electronics during the attack.

It is alleged the gang placed their victims face down on the floor. The lone female, Alistra Francipio of

of getting a condition like that…According to a case definition, you must have come from China and you must have come from China during the incubation period of 14 days…So thats one, or you must be around someone who has been confirmed of having the virus.”

Mr. Adu-Krow said that even as the outbreak remains a serious one, there is no need for panic as the number of cases is far below other outbreaks that have been reported in the past.

“In terms of the confirmed cases, it may be sound as an oxymoron for me to say as compared to Ebola, this is a less virulent condition because Ebola in the beginning

killed 99% of people who had Ebola…

Now with this new condition, we thought it was around 24%, now it dropped to 2.9%, what does that mean that every hundred people that have the condition, 2.9% may die, so its less of an issue.”

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Karen GordonCampbell noted that the Georgetown Public Hospital is working to boost existing safety measures.

Currently, there are 4,564 confirmed cases worldwide in 14 countries with 52 of those cases occurring outside of China. North, South and Central America have a combined seven confirmed cases.

Two others charged for Essequibo newspaper vendors murder

CCTV footage of the Vreed-en-Hoop robbery

The fake assault rifle Lot 7 Bella Dam, West Bank Demerara who was sitting on a chair, was punched and kicked. The proprietor was also assaulted.

The robbers reportedly escaped in a silver grey vehicle.Police said that the same gang has been implicated in a robbery at Parika,

Essequibo, on January 3, and another robbery at a Vriesland, West Bank Demerara location on January 19, last.

Police have charged two other youths for the murder of Queenstown, Essequibo newspaper vendor, Shawn Mannilall.

Norlando Brown, 27, of Bush Lot, Essequibo, and John Li, 17, of La Belle Alliance, Essequibo, were remanded yesterday, following their appearance before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Anna Regina Magistrate Court.

They are scheduled to return to court on February 25.

Brown and Li were among four youths who were detained for the January 10, 2020 slaying. They were released, but re-arrested about a week ago.

They join Carl Carter, Delhoya McKenzie and Carlton Carter, who are at present on remand for allegedly murdering Mannilall during the course of a robbery.

It is alleged that Mannilall, 48, and other family members were about to enter their Parcel 61 Queenstown, Essequibo Coast home when two men who were wearing helmets confronted them.

Dead: Shawn Mannilall The intruders were reportedly wearing helmets while brandishing a handgun and a cutlass.It is alleged that the men demanded some $125,000 from Mannilall.

When he resisted, one of the bandits shot him in the chest, shoulder and abdomen. The gang reportedly fled empty-handed.

Mannilall was rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

PAGE 30

Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 31

PAGE 32

Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Wednesday January 29, 2020

PAGE 33

Kaieteur News

Minimum Wage Raises Could Lower Suicide Rates, Study Says

It was the latest study to suggest that effects of wage increases reach beyond economic welfare, but some experts pushed back on the findings.

Raising the minimum wage could lower the suicide rate, according to a study published last week, delivering labour advocates a tantalising new finding about the broader impacts of wage changes even as some experts said other factors could explain the decrease.

More than 47,000 Americans died by suicide in 2017, and with other so-called deaths of despair — drug overdoses and alcoholism — it has grown into a slow-motion public health crisis. The phenomenon is difficult to study, and researchers have struggled to find effective prevention strategies.

The new study examined suicide rates from 1990 through 2015 across all 50 states and Washington, and measured how they changed as the minimum wage increased. The researchers focused on adults between 18 and 64 years old with a high school education or less — a group more likely than others to be affected by changes in the minimum wage.

When controlling for changes in a state’s economy and welfare policies, the researchers estimated that a $1 increase in the minimum wage

corresponded with a 3.5 percent decrease in the suicide rate for those with a high school education or less.

Without some of the controls, the decrease in the suicide rate was 6 percent. The effect was most pronounced during times of high unemployment.

“The real world is a living natural experiment,” said John Kaufman, a doctoral student in epidemiology at Emory University and the lead author of the study, which was published on Jan. 7 in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

“Yes, there are possible alternative explanations to what we saw, but these aren’t crude associations, these aren’t mere correlations,” he said. “We designed the study to account for multiple types of alternative explanations.”

The study echoed other findings about the nonfinancial effects of minimum wage increases. They have been linked to less chronic disease in adults, lower premature mortality and fewer cases of child maltreatment, said Yannet Lathrop, a researcher and policy analyst at the National Employment Law Project, a nonprofit organization based in New York that supports workers’ rights.

Two 2019 studies also associated raising the minimum wage with lower suicide rates.

Mr. Kaufman’s research drew national attention in re-

cent days, coming as suicide rates continue to climb and a movement to raise minimum wages sweeps across the country. Democrats in the House pushed through a bill in July that would more than double the federal minimum wage, raising it to $15, and dozens of states and cities have enacted similar wage increases.

“Raising the minimum wage by $1 could’ve prevented thousands of suicides a year,” Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a leading progressive candidate in the presidential race, said in a tweet about the study. “We will end the 40-year assault on the working class and the suffering it has caused for our people.”

Some politicians raised questions about the study’s findings.

A spokesman for Senator Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, who leads a congressional committee that has examined suicides, told The Washington Post last week that the office had a different interpretation.

“Our reading,” said the spokesman, Conn Carroll, was that the paper showed that a higher “state minimum wage over the federal minimum wage is correlated with less suicide.”

“By this logic, if we raised the federal minimum wage while keeping state minimum

wages constant, suicide would go up!” he said. “Or, we could really reduce suicide by eliminating the federal minimum wage entirely thus creating a huge gap between state minimum wages and the federal one. These seem nonsensical.”

Mr. Carroll declined to answer further questions seeking clarification.

Mr. Kaufman said that he did not expect the study to draw so much attention, and that it was part of a series examining changes in economic policy — unemployment programmes and tax credits, for example — and how they affect people’s health.

“My approach is, when there’s a disagreement, there’s room to learn,” he said. “But only if people recognise that maybe they don’t know everything.”

Aparna Mathur, a resident scholar in economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, said the study’s findings made sense.

But she said she was concerned about not knowing what specifically drove decreases in the suicide rate.

“Are we adequately controlling for everything else?” she said. “Do we know that when people have high minimum wages, they tend to go to the doctor more? They seek

more help for depression.”

She said policymakers focusing on suicides may be ignoring potential costs of raising minimum wages, such as a reduction in hours worked.

Dr. Mark Olfson, a professor at Columbia University who studies the impact of socioeconomic factors on suicide rates, said he did not find the results of Mr. Kaufman’s study persuasive.

He said looking at large groups of people, instead of honing in on specific individuals, allows for other factors to affect the suicide rates — even if the study tried to control for some of them.

“It introduces room for spurious associations or associations that are hidden in their overall finding,” Dr. Olfson said.

He said that when taking into account the margin of error, the change the researchers found in the suicide rate was too small to make solid conclusions.

“You make sound public policy decisions in part based on strong empirical evidence — at least that’s the hope,” he said. “Studies that don’t meet some basic standard, really, I think don’t think have much of a role in the discourse.”

But Dr. Margot Kushel, the Director of the Center for

Vulnerable Populations at the University of California, San Francisco, said there would most likely be no other way to study the impact of minimum wage on suicide. Dr. Kushel, who is also a professor of medicine, said the study was “well done,” noting that it was not the first to link minimum wage increases to decreases in suicide.

“When you start to see so many well-done studies pointing in the same direction, it has to get you to think there may be something here,” she said.

She said researchers can “never adjust for all confounders.”

To Fran Marion, a shift manager at a McDonald’s in Kansas City, Mo., who has been pushing for a higher minimum wage, the study’s findings were not surprising.

She said she knew workers who had died by suicide and who were stressed about providing for themselves or their families. She said she herself had been depressed when she struggled to pay for her health care or healthy food for her children.

“I’ve been in those dark places, too,” she said, “where I don’t want to wake up or I just want to give up because I’m tired of struggling.”

(Taken from the New York Times)

PAGE 34

Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Wednesday January 29, 2020

PAGE 35

Kaieteur News

Djokovic sets up Federer showdown with Raonic rout Gabriel, Deonarain....

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - fighting off match points to Defending champion Novak Djokovic set up a semi-final showdown with ‘Big Three’ rival Roger Federer at the Australian Open yesterday with a thumping 6-4 6-3 7-6(1) victory over Canada’s hapless Milos Raonic.

Federer saved seven match points in a five-set thriller with American battler Tennys Sandgren only hours before but there was no luck of a second successive belter for the Rod Laver Arena fans, with Djokovic at his ruthless best.

The crowd will hope for a better show tomorrow, when second seed Djokovic renews his Grand Slam rivalry with Federer, six months after

beat the Swiss in Wimbledon’s longest ever final.

“I hope I get to at least one match point in a few days,” Djokovic, who hold a 26-23 edge over Federer, quipped on court after downing Raonic.

“Obviously (I have) tremendous respect for Roger, everything he has achieved in the sport — definitely one of the all-time greats.

“Let the better player win.”

While 38-year-old Federer made heavy weather of world number 100 Sandgren and was hampered by a groin problem, Djokovic’s biggest trouble against Raonic was

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in action during his match against Canada’s Milos Raonic. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach) his contact lenses.

He winced in discomfort in the latter part of the match and took a medical timeout at 4-4 in the third set to fit a fresh pair passed on from his

Wednesday January 29, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Remember that there is a spirit in everything around you.

Just because we can't perceive something with our eyes, ears, nose, mouth, or fingers doesn't mean that it doesn't exist.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) If you find yourself needing to do something in order to escape your life for a while, Libra, then maybe you need to examine your life more closely.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Share more of your passion, love, and happiness with the people around you. Put your energy toward a group project and work to co-create something much more magical

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Keep your fun-loving spirit pure, Scorpio. Be careful that you aren't making witty conversation or entertaining jokes at someone else's expense.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Drastic shifts in your emotions might be causing you to doubt certain instincts or feelings you have. Instead of getting frustrated by your inability to make rational sense of these emotions, enjoy the ride that they're offering you.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your emotions are likely to deceive you today, so be careful about making a judgment about something, Sagittarius. Make sure that you take your time and gather all the necessary facts

CANCER(June21–July22) Today is one of those days in which you just want to lie on your back on the ground and look up at the clouds. Your artistic mind can easily spot one that looks like a dragon.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Make your time spent with others much richer by contrasting it with time spent absolutely alone. Be more selfish with your energy in terms of making sure that your inner sanctuary is being tended to regularly.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You're most likely going to be very drawn to the things that you can't have. Instead of getting upset and frustrated by the fact that you aren't getting what you want, look for the lesson in the situation.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Attend a lecture or some sort of intellectual discussion in which people are actively expressing their ideas and strong opinions

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may find yourself staring at a blank page for what seems like hours on end while you try to get down on paper what you really want to say, Virgo. Perhaps your motivation is flagging.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your imagination is in all likelihood drawing you to faraway places, and you may find yourself daydreaming constantly. At times, these dreams may seem to get in the way of your usual rational, linear way of dealing with everyday life.

players’ box.

“I want to apologize to Milos once again,” he said.

“It was not intentional or tactical — it was just something that I had to do because those few games I could not really see much and I had to change my lenses.”

Even if blindfolded, Djokovic might still have beaten Raonic, a player he had never lost to in nine previous matches.

Although 32nd seed Raonic has long been one of the tour ’s most vexing servers, his main weapon was redundant against his opponent’s brilliant returning.

It was mainly down to luck that the robotic Canadian hung in for a period, with Djokovic unable to convert eight of nine break points in the first set, including three chances to win it.

The Serb, bidding for a record-extending eighth title at Melbourne Park, finally converted the fourth set point when Raonic clubbed wide in an 18-shot gunfight.

The booming Raonic forehand with its extravagant wind-up had cut a swath through the draw but Djokovic made it look decidedly foolish as he broke the Canadian in the fourth game and roared to a 4-1 lead.

The 16-times Grand Slam champion paused only briefly to mount a pair of dodgy line challenges before serving out the set. His failing contact lenses took the polish off the third, however, and he barked at distractions in the crowd as Raonic saved four break points at 5-5.

That extended the Canadian’s Melbourne Park stay only briefly, with all resistance broken in the onesided tiebreaker.

Djokovic later grew mistyeyed as he remembered NBA great Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles on Sunday along with his 13-year-old daughter and seven others on board.

“Kobe was one of the greatest athletes of all time and inspired me and many other people around the world,” said Djokovic, who had KB and a pink heart stitched into his green tracksuit top.”

From page 37 classy left-handed Romeo Deonarain (15) had shared in an opening stand of 47 to spearhead Gabriel’s X1 to 157-6 when their 50 overs expired.

But only Shilo Adams (11) and Jadyn Dowlin (10*) reached double figures as Riyad Latif (218) and Mario Simeron (221) bowled Sankar’s X1 to victory.

When Gabriel’s X1 began their reply, Ryan Latif and the stylish left-handed Deonarain, batted sensibly on a slow pitch and heavy outfield to give them their team a slow but solid start.

But just when Deonarain, who made his maiden U-15 century, a fabulous 156 in the BCB U15 competition for Blairmont last Saturday, was looking set for another big score, he tucked a ball to short midwicket and called Latif for an impossible single and ran himself out at 47-1.

Latif was bowled by Sankar, the brother of former Guyana U-19 leggie Steven Sankar, a run later as Gabriel’s X1 slipped to 48-2.

And when Riyad Latif,

the brother of Ryan, got rid of Omari Cummings (2) and Rahul Prasad for duck in consecutive overs, Gabriel’s X1 seemed in danger of being bowled well inside their 50-overs.

The 13-year-old Gabriel, who plays for the Transport Sports Club, had other ideas and the burly left-hander launched a brutal attack on the bowlers.

Gabriel, with little movement of his feet, fired away with a series of big shots and favoured the lofted drives over the bowler’s head where he hit the majority of his sixes.

He found useful partners in Adams and the correct looking Dowlin, the 13-yearold son of former West Indies Test batsman and Women’s Selector, Travis Dowlin.

But with a century in sight, Gabriel missed a mighty swing and was bowled for an entertaining 78 leaving the pint-size Dowlin unbeaten on 10.

The second and final 50over trial match is scheduled for today at the historic Bourda.

(Sean Devers)

PAGE 36

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

Rescuers recover all nine bodies from helicopter crash that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant Daily Mail - Rescuers recovered the bodies of all nine victims from a helicopter crash near Los Angeles that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant, the coroner’s office confirmed yesterday.

Three bodies were retrieved from the scattered wreckage by a special response team on Sunday the day of the crash.

The remaining six were located as the search resumed in rugged terrain Monday.

In a statement, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office said the remains were ‘removed from the crash site and transported to the department’s forensic science center’ for examination and identification.

Bryant, 41, was traveling with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other passengers and crew when the Sikorsky S-76 slammed into a rugged hillside in thick fog in Calabasas, northwest of Los Angeles.

Also killed were John Altobelli, 56, longtime head coach of Southern California’s Orange Coast College baseball team; his wife, Keri; and daughter, Alyssa, who played on the same basketball team as Bryant’s daughter; and Christina Mauser, a girls’ basketball coach at a Southern California elementary school.

Another young player, Payton Chester, was also killed in the crash along with her mother Sarah Chester.

The pilot, Ara Zobayan,

50, was the ninth victim. He was the chief pilot for the aircraft’s owner, Island Express Helicopters. The company said the pilot had more than 10 years of experience and had logged more than 8,000 flight hours.

He also was a flight instructor who had flown Bryant and other celebrities several times before.

Zobayan was instrumentrated, which means he was qualified to fly in fog.

Investigators said they are ‘actively working on’ identifying the individual remains before officially notifying next of kin.

A five-time NBA champion for his only team, the LA Lakers, and a double Olympic gold medalist, Bryant was widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players in history.

He was traveling on his private helicopter from Orange County, where he lived, to his Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks where his daughter was set to play.

Investigators will remain at the site of the crash throughout the week to collect evidence, hoping to find clues as to what caused the accident that stunned the world.

Jennifer Homendy, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board, described the accident scene as ‘pretty devastating,’ with wreckage spread across about 600 feet.

Though officials are still investigating the cause of the crash, several experts have questioned why Zobayan took the flight despite the weather conditions.

Robert Ditchey, a veteran airplane pilot, aeronautical engineer and former airline executive, told USA Today that the crash ‘was totally avoidable’.

‘And on the part of some people I can go as far as to say irresponsible,’ Ditchey added.

‘Here’s one of the most important people in the world who comes to a tragic end like this and you say, “Why? What the hell happened?”’

Bryant’s helicopter left Santa Ana in Orange County, south of Los Angeles, shortly after 9am on Sunday, a time when conditions were not suitable for flying, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

There was an overcast at 1,300 feet and visibility of about five miles. Zobayan was initially flying under VFR, meaning that he was relying on his ability to see the terrain below him.

The weather was so foggy that the Los Angeles Police Department and the county sheriff ’s department had grounded their own choppers.

Ditchey questioned why anybody would hop on a helicopter in what he called ‘very scary conditions’.

‘The weather is not good enough for the police to fly,’

Rescuers recovered the bodies of all nine victims from a helicopter crash near Los Angeles that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant, the coroner’s office confirmed Tuesday. Officials are seen removing remains from the site. (Frederick M. Brown for DailyMail.com) Ditchey told USA Today.

‘Why should Kobe do it?’

Details of what followed are still under investigation but there are indications that the helicopter plunged some 1,000 feet.

It was flying at about 184mph and descending at a rate of more than 4,000 feet per minute when it struck the ground, according to data from Flightradar24.

Ditchey told USA Today that helicopters can operate in bad weather because they can fly low, but they need to have reasonable visibility of at least one mile.

According to Ditchey, even then, going at 120mph only gives the pilot only 30 seconds to avoid a large obstacle, suggesting the pilot may have been traveling too fast to properly maneuver around obstacles.

Ditchey said the helicopter appeared to run into trouble around the Glendale area where visibility decreased.

‘They’re in the fog, and you’re down hugging the ground trying to fly up the highway and barely able to see it,’ Ditchey told the news outlet.

‘He’s down only 100 feet or so above the ground. In that area of the San Fernando Valley you have mountains on either side of you … and the clouds have obscured them, and you don’t have that much room to maneuver.’

The chartered Sikorsky S76B was a luxury twin-engine aircraft often used by Bryant in traffic-jumping hops around the LA area’s notoriously congested sprawl. It was heading from John Wayne Airport in Orange County to Camarillo Airport in Ventura County when it crashed in Calabasas.

Zimbabwe restrict Sri Lanka to edge ahead in second test HARARE (Reuters) Donald Tiripano and Sikandar Raza took a wicket each as Zimbabwe reduced Sri Lanka to 122 for two in their first innings before bad light brought a premature end to the second day of the final test at the Harare Sports Club yesterday.

Zimbabwe had posted 406 all out in their first innings and lead by 284 runs on a wicket that is offering little encouragement to the seamers, but providing turn for the spin bowlers, which is likely to be the key factor in the remainder of the test.

Kusal Mendis (19 not out) and Angelo Mathews (four not out), who crafted an unbeaten double ton in the first test, will resume on

the third morning with Zimbabwe the happier of the two camps.

The home side claimed the wickets of both Sri Lanka openers with their scores on 44.

Captain Dimuth Karunaratne was trapped leg before wicket by off-spinner Raza before Oshada Fernando edged seamer Tiripano to wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva.

Sean Williams top-scored in the Zimbabwe first innings on Monday with a superb 107 from 137 balls.

With the hosts resuming day two on 352 for six, Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya put a poor first day behind him as he claimed three of the final four wickets for figures of 4-

182.

Zimbabwe will feel well ahead in the game if they can pick up key wickets in the first session on Wednesday, having made it into the final hour on the fifth day of the first test at the same venue earlier this month, only to lose by 10 wickets.

It was their return to the international arena having been briefly suspended by the International Cricket Council last year because of government interference.

Scores: Sri Lanka 122 for 2 (Karunaratne 44, Fernando 44, Tiripano 1-5) trail Zimbabwe 406 (Williams 107, Raza 72, Taylor 62, Embuldeniya 4182, De Silva 3-71) by 284 runs.

Wednesday January 29, 2020

PAGE 37

Kaieteur News

Mahdia B overcome Mahdia A by nine wickets in Tapeball final Mahdia B defeated Mahdia A by nine wickets in the final of the Movement family sponsored T/10 tapeball competition which was contested recently in Mahdia.

Batting first, Madhia A managed 47 all out with Ryan Adams and Raydon Austin scoring 20 and 15 respectively; Mark Jeffers took two wickets. Mahdia B responded with 48-1. Andrew Gibson struck 25 as Rajkumar Singh took 1-20.

Mahdia B won the opening encounter of the three-game competition.

Mahdia A took first strike and scored 91. Omesh Danram made 31, while Ricardo Poloram bagged five wickets.

Mahdia B replied with 92; Andrew Gibson led with 43.

Mahdia A rebounded to win the second encounter.

Led by a fine 76 from Beepaul Bandoo, Mahdia A posted 162, taking first strike. Mahdia B managed 134 in response.

Paul Tyrell made 52 while Gibson scored 23 as Bandoo returned to take two wickets.

Gibson was given the best batsman prize while Mark Jeffers pocketed the best bowler and best all-rounder accolades and Malcolm Hubbard collected the trophy for taking the best catch.

The Movements family presented a pair of boots to Osafa Simpson of Mahdia, who has been selected to National U20 football team, at the presentation ceremony.

Members of Mahdia A and B teams with their hardware following the final.

Andrew Gibson accepts the best batsman prize from Lesa Lee of the Movements family.

Mark Jeffers collects one of his prizes from Lesa Lee.

Barty avenges Kvitova defeat to reach semi-finals MELBOURNE (Reuters) Ash Barty stormed into her maiden Australian Open semifinal yeste r d a y w i t h a n emphatic 7-6(6) 6-2 win over Petra Kvitova that avenged her defeat to the hard-hitting Czech in last y e a r ’s q u a r t e r- f i n a l a t Melbourne Park.

Thrashed 6-1 6-4 by eventual finalist Kvitova 12 months ago, top seed Barty rode a wave of crowd support as she defused the twice Wi m b l e d o n champion’s power game before running away with the contest on a glorious afternoon at Rod Laver Arena.

“It’s been absolutely incredible, I knew I had to bring my absolute best against Petra,” Barty said on court.

“I think Petra, in my eyes, is the perfect competitor.

“Regardless of whether she wins or loses she’s always got a big grin on her face.

“I absolutely love

Australia’s Ashleigh Barty celebrates winning her match against Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach) testing myself against her.”

French Open champion Barty saved two break points serving for the match, then thumped down four first serves in succession, sealing the win in style with an ace.

The 23-year-old became the first Australian woman to reach the semi-finals at Melbourne Park since Wendy Turnbull in 1984.

She will play 14th

seeded American Sofia Kenin, who earlier ended Tu n i s i a n O n s J a b e u r ’s fairytale run, for a place in the final.

“Obviously s h e ’s having an incredible run, she’s really developed her game over the last 12-18 months,” Barty said of the Moscow-born Kenin.

“It’s about me trying to get my running shoes on again.

“I’m going to have nothing but a massive smile on my face when I walk out here on this beautiful court.”

Australia have not had a home winner at Melbourne Park since Chris O’Neil’s triumph in the women’s tournament in 1978 but the sports-mad nation may feel Barty is poised to break the drought.

DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION Overwhelmed by Kvitova’s firepower in their last meeting in Melbourne — the Australian’s first appearance in the last eight of a Grand Slam — a wiser, craftier Barty took the court for the rematch yesterday.

She saved eight out of nine break points to keep Kvitova at bay in the first set, then scrambled brilliantly to claim the tiebreak.

Driven to distraction by the Australian’s defense, Kvitova crumbled in the second set.

She double-faulted to concede two break points and

fell 3-0 behind, having reprieved Barty with a weak overhead smash and another poorly struck volley that pinged the top of the net.

The volley gave Barty time to swoop forward, and true to her game, she lobbed Kvitova with a deft backhand rather than seek to pass her with needless brawn and aggression.

Kvitova belatedly found her range and fired a searing backhand down the line to break back to 42 but it was more of a death

rattle than a rally.

The seventh seed dropped serve the next game with a sixth doublefault that put her within a game of defeat.

The terraces gasped as Barty fired a forehand just wide to allow Kvitova two chances to break back when serving for the match.

But soon after they were roaring in delight as Barty struck two aces in a four-point blitz to ensure she will be the talk of the nation through to tomorrow’s semi-final.

PAGE 38

Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 29, 2020

In honour of Coach Huburn Evans Floodlights U-15 tackle DCC in 30-overs game Friday Losing finalist in the recently concluded Youth US Open Cricket Tournament played in Florida and organised by Cricket Council USA, Floodlights Under-15, will take on Demerara Cricket Club Under-15 team in a feature 30 overs game from 4:30pm on Friday at the DCC ground. The match will be contested under lights is in honour of Huburn Evans, the coach of the Floodlights Under-15 team that toured Florida.

Evans, a former national senior cricketer and former national youth coach is currently visiting and the GFSCA sees it fitting to recognise his work with the kids on tour. He had as support, former West Indies captain, the prolific Ramnaresh Sarwan, as the manager. The Floodlights Under-15 is the first team from Guyana that ever participated in that tournament.

Friday evening contest promises to be a cracker with

Coach Hubern Evans. two evenly balanced teams.

The Floodlights Under-15 will be led by all rounder Alvin Mohabir and will include the classy West Indies Under-15 player Mavendra Dindial, national under-15 allrounder Zachary Jodah, the consistent Dave Mohabir and new find Joash Persaud.

National under-15 player Jonathan VanLange, Demerara under-15 allrounder Romeo Deonarain and

Floodlights Under-15 team proudly displayed their tokens in Florida.

Premkumar Permaul will turn up for their team, DCC. The DCC line up also includes national under-15 player Jaden Campbell, Shaquan Walters, Wavel Allen and Nick Raghunauth.

Teams: Floodlights Under-15: Alvin Mohabir

(captain), Mavendra Dindial, Zachary Jodah, Nicholas Shiopersaud, Arun Gainda, Gabriel Rookhum, Nityanand Mathura, Dave Mohabir, Joash Persaud, Ravindra Singh and John Persaud.

Notable absentee is Stephon Sankar who is out

with injury.

DCC: Shaquan Walters (captain), Romeo Deonarain, Jonathan VanLange, Jaden Camphbell, Nick Ragunauth, Wavil Allen, Mahiem Khan, Jeremiah Hohenkirk, Jayden Dowlin, Premkumar Permaul, Shilo Adams, Jashua Walcott,

Kareem Caesar and Mark Seecharran.

Players are asked to report to the ground no later than 4:00pm. This match is sponsored

by Ramchand Auto Spares, Trophy Stall, Ariel Enterprise, Tropical Spring Waters, Mike’s Pharmacy, Survival Group Of Companies & 4R.

RHTYSC, MS, Farfan and Mendes Ltd Renews Cricket sponsorship for 24th year Secretary/CEO of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club MS, Hilbert Foster on Friday last described long term sponsor Farfan and Mendes Ltd as one of the main foundations of his club’s success story over the years. The Providence based

company has been an official sponsor of Guyana’s most vibrant youth and sports Organisation since 1997.

Foster stated that the relationship actually started in 1996 when the company thru its then General Manager Mrs. June Mendes, donated a grass cutter towards the upkeeping of the Area H Ground.

The Company in February, 1997 became the official sponsor of the RHTYSC, MS under-15 team and over the years the team have won several Berbice Championships and produced dozens of Berbice and Guyana Under-15 players.

Among the players produced by the club under

the sponsorship, who went on to play for the West Indies are Assad Fudadin, Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Grimmond, Shabika Gajnabi, Royston Crandon and Kevlon Anderson. Others who played for Guyana include Abdel Fudadin, Delbert Hicks, Khemraj Mahadeo, Murphy La Rose, Dominic Rikhi, Shevon Marks, Shawn Pereira, Naresh Mahadeo, Parmanand Narine, Arif Chan, Junior Sinclair, Sylus Tyndall, Matthew Pottaya, Jonathan Rampersaud, Jeremy Sandia and Mahendra Gopilall.

Foster hailed the relationship between the club and the company as one that has touched and changed the lives of countless youths in a positive way.

He stated that youths from his small hometown and across Berbice have benefitted from the

sponsorship and other forms of support.

The RHT Farfan and Mendes Ltd Under-15 team since 1997 has successfully hosted over one thousand self-developmental activities under the sponsorship.

These includes, Senior Citizens Breakfast Programme, Say No/ Say Yes Programme, Tribute to Mothers, Tribute to Fathers, Children Mash Parade, Tribute to Heroes, Summer Camp, Medical Outreaches, Feeding of the Poor, Construction of Play field, Career Fair, Youth Information Booklet, Posters, Educational Competitions, Youth Inspirational Forum, Tribute to Teachers and Top Ten Students Awards.

The company over the years has also supported the club by sponsoring its annual review magazine, charity programmes, cricket academy,

summer camp, annual Christmas village among others. Asst Secretary/ CEO Simon Naidu reassured the company that its support was appreciated as sponsorship was hard to obtain in Guyana, much less for it to last for almost a quarter of a century.

The team under the leadership of Captain Matthew Pottaya, Naidu pledged would continue to maintain the high standard of the club.

Marketing Executive of the company, Onai Vasconcellous, stated that Farfan and Mendes Ltd was pleased to be associated with the RHTYSC, MS and that the club, has an excellence record of promoting the Company’s brand.

He expressed confidence that the relationship would continue to expand in the future. The sponsorship for 2020 is worth $250,000.

Mr. Okachi Dennis, Customer Service Representative of Farfan and Mendes Ltd, hands over sponsorship to MS. Marissa Foster of the RHTYSC, MS.

Wednesday January 29, 2020

PAGE 39

Kaieteur News

BCB Clinches $500,000 trophies sponsorship deal with Trophy Stall “Over the last two years we have done the impossible in Berbice Cricket. From taking over a board with almost no funds, no developmental programme, no proper tournament been played and morale at the lowest level, we have witnessed the transformation of Berbice Cricket to one of its highest level ever. We have raised close to $30M in cash and kind in sponsorship, organised over 60 tournaments at all levels, hosted dozens of developmental programmes and return morale to the cricketing network. Our success has been based on a simple formula of sheer hard work, forward and visionary planning along with a policy to make everyone feel a part of the system.

Your support via this historic sponsorship package would assist us to take our cricket to an unmatched level.

Thank you for been a real friend of Berbice Cricket,” said Berbice Cricket Board President Hilbert Foster at a special launching of a $500,000 sponsorship deal with Managing Director of the Trophy Stall, Ra m e s h Sunich.

Under the historic

sponsorship deal, Trophy Stall would provide trophies for twenty different tournaments during 2020. The trophies would be for the Man of the Finals, runner up team and winner. Foster disclosed that the BCB has used over $600,000 over the last two years on trophies and this large amount of funds could have been used for developmental youth programmes and with Mr. Sunich’s assistance, the BCB in 2020 would have more funding for its countywide coaching programme and preparation of inter county teams.

The BCB boss stated that the board is looking at avenues of cutting back on administrative cost and areas such as meals and refreshment for finals, internet, transportation and stationery. Sponsorship for these are been currently sought, so that more funding can be placed into developmental programmes.

The BCB, since the election of Keith Foster in 2008, has not received a single cent from the Guyana Cricket Board for subventions and as such has to raise all of its funding. Foster stated that despite this setback, BCB has

BCB President Hilbert Foster and Trophy Stall Managing Director Ramesh Sunich launch the historic sponsorship. gone on to become the most vibrant board in the Caribbean.

Meanwhile, Sunich handed over $400,000 worth of cricket balls to the BCB on behalf of a medical doctor, who is an overseas based Berbician. The balls would be shared out to clubs participating in the ongoing BCB Under-15 tournament and members of the board.

Foster had made it quite clear

Henry XI overcome Atkinson XI in U-17 cricket fixture

Devendra Hansraj

Gladewin Henry Jr

Ryan Atkinson

Gledewin Henry Jr. XI defeated Ryan Atkinson XI by 88 runs when the teams collided in an U17 40-over fixture on Saturday last at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground.

Led by an attacking half century from Devendra Hansraj, Henry Jr. XI managed 172-9, batting first.

They were given a steady start

by Devon Ramratan and Ricky Persaud before the latter was bowled by Sachin Chulai for eight with the score on 32.

Following their separation, Henry Jr. XI lost Mohan Ali (00), Tekeshwar Nankoo (00) and Henry Jr. (03), but Ramratan and Devendra Hansraj added 53 for the fifth wicket to steady the innings. Ramratan hit

three fours and one six before he was lbw to Ryan Atkinson for 33.

Hansraj then added 52 for the sixth wicket stand with Terrence Softleigh; Hansraj struck four fours and four sixes in his unbeaten 50, while Softleigh was dismissed for 44. No other batsman offered any significant resistance as Chulai took 2-23, while there was one each for Atkinson, Nazam Mohamed and Ramesh Ramnarine.

Hansraj uprooted the stumps of Ravy Nandlall (02) while pacer Ricky Persaud had Ramesh Ramnarine (05) caught before disturbing the stumps of Kumesh Sudin (07) to reduce Atkinson XI to 213, in reply. Atkinson and Chulai steadied the chase somewhat with a fourth

wicket partnership of 31 before Chulai was bowled by Ricky Persaud.

Following his demise, Henry Jr. picked up some quick wickets, however Atkinson wasn’t afraid to play his shots; he counted four fours and three sixes before he was bowled by Henry Jr. for an even half century as his team were sent packing for 93 in 23 overs.

Henry Jr. finished with 5-16 while Ricky Persaud had 3-18.

Following the contest, President of the Wakenaam Cricket Committee, Khemraj Surujpaul congratulated the winners and urged the young cricketers to continue training.

The game was organised by the Wakenaam Cricket Committee.

that only clubs who have junior teams would receive assistance from the BCB and his club, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS in 2020. Two boxes of balls would be given to fourteen clubs who have junior teams, while the members clubs of the BCB, who do not have a junior selection, would

Ramesh Sunich hands over $400,000 worth of balls to BCB President Hilbert Foster on behalf of a donor. receive one box of balls.

Foster expressed gratitude to Sunich for his support and explained that under the sponsorship, all Berbice junior inter county teams would be named after the Trophy Stall, while the company would be promoted at all BCB matches.

Sunich in brief remarks,

congratulated the BCB on its works and stated that he was delighted to support the development of Berbice Cricket. Trophy Stall, the popular businessman noted, is fully committed to the development of sports as it is a safe avenue for youths to stay away from social ills such as drugs and crime.

PAGE 40

Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 29, 2020

P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Ltd. set to open GSSF’s shooting calendar for 2020 Local sport shooters will be given an opportunity to participate in a match sponsored annually by P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited. For the fifth consecutive year, this match marks the start of the year’s shooting calendar for matches hosted by the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation.

Chairman of the Steel Challenge Shooting

Committee, Dr. Pravesh Harry, noted that shooters will be competing under two divisions; Production and Limited. The match will consist of four stages, with each stage being shot five times. Times are recorded and the worst one is discarded, leaving the shooter with four recorded times, the total of which is their score for the stage. At the end of the match, the scores are tallied and

prizes will be awarded for the top three performers in each division.

GSSF Director and Steel Challenge Chairperson, Dr. Pravesh Harry, met with representatives of P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited for the handover of sponsorship funds.

The GSSF would like to thank P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited for

their continued support and dedication to the shooting sport.

At the Ceremony at P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Ltd.’s office located at Lots 272-273 Lamaha Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown, Chair of the Steel Challenge Committee and Director of the Foundation, Dr. Pravesh Harry, in accepting the kind sponsorship, conveyed

thanks to the Executive Director of P&P, Mr. Vikash Panday. The Foundation expresses its thanks once again to Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bishwa Panday and P&P Insurance, who un-

hesitatingly came on board to support the sport shooting fraternity for the fifth year.

For more information on the G.S.S.F. please visitwww.guyanasportshooting.comfor further details.

Ms. Jaya Panday (left), Senior Representative of P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Ltd. hands over sponsorship funds to GSSF Director, Dr. Pravesh Harry.

Wednesday January 29, 2020

PAGE 41

Kaieteur News

Jaiswal, Ankolekar, Tyagi put India in semi-final as Under-19s show great character ESPNcricinfo - In their chase of 234, Australia received a punch to the gut right at the start, when their in-form opener Jake FraserMcGurk was run-out for a diamond duck. After that India’s right-arm quick Kartik Tyagi delivered three blows in his first two overs to put Australia down for the count which they couldn’t ever recover from, eventually losing to the defending champions by 74 runs at the first quarter-final in Potchefstroom. India’s win sets them up for a semi-final clash against the winners of the quarter-final between Afghanistan and Pakistan, while Australia can now, at best, finish fifth in the Under19 World Cup Cricket tournament.

Tyagi, consistently clocking speeds in upwards of 135kph, was given the responsibility of beginning India’s defense. His first delivery was driven by Sam Fanning to mid-off, but he took off for a single while

Sam Fanning cuts. (ICC via Getty) Fraser-McGurk was watching the ball and as a result was run-out without facing a ball.

By the end of the over, Australia’s misery had compounded thrice over, with their captain Mackenzie Harvey lbw to a full delivery although it pitched outside leg stump - and Lachlan

Hearne bowled for a first-ball duck to Tyagi’s yorker.

Tyagi’s second over was equally menacing albeit only half as rewarding, with the Australia batsmen playing and missing before No. 5 Oliver Davies edged a drive into the hands of Yashasvi Jaiswal in the slips. From 14

Former West Indies Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan renews BCB U-17 sponsorship - Donates $100,000 coaching kit “You were the first person to call me after my election as President of the, Berbice Cricket Board in February 2018 and you were the first sponsor to come on board, just two hours after election.

My Presidency has been very successful because of persons like you, who have invested heavily into our cricket. Berbice Cricket would be grateful to Ramnaresh Sarwan,” pointed out BCB President Hilbert Foster, MS as he launched the 3rd edition of the Ramnaresh Sarwan Under-17 Berbice Cricket Tournament at the fitness 53 Gym, located in Providence, EBD. The first edition of the tournament was won by Rose Hall Town Bakewell, while the defending champions and arch rivals Albion Community Center would clash in the 2019 finals shortly. Foster stated that with the Guyana Cricket Board inter county Under-17 tournament coming up in the near future, the BCB has been pro-active and would like to start early preparation.

The under-17 tournament normally attracts about twenty teams and would involve players born on or after the 1st of September, 2003. Among the teams expected to participate would be Achievers, East Bank

Blazers, Paradise, Bush Lot United, Blairmont, Tucber Park, Mt. Sinai, Edinburgh, Rose Hall Canje, Albion, Rose Hall Town Bakewell, Port Mourant and No73. Players the likes of Leon Cecil, Isai Thorne, Rampertab, Jonathan Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Jeremy Sandia, Tameshwar Mohabir, Zeynul Ramsammy, Rashaad Gafoor and Salim Khan are expected to play in the 50 overs format event.

The teams would be divided into four Zones with the top two advancing to the Quarterfinals. Foster stated that the Lewison General Store Under-15 tournament has already started and another under-15 tournament would start after the national elections in March.

As part of a c o m p r e h e n s i v e developmental programme, the BCB would also be hosting Under-13, Under-19, Under-21 and Under-23 tournaments in 2020.

Foster reminded clubs that only Berbicians would be allowed to play, while walkovers would be granted half hour after the schedule start of play. Clubs who grant walkovers shall be banned from playing at the junior level for the rest of the year.

Captains who are not present

at the venue fifteen minutes before the start of play shall lose their rights to the toss.

The BCB would select a 30man squad based on performance in the tournament to participate in several trial matches.

Meanwhile, Sarwan donated a coaching kit worth $100,000 to the BCB as the board strives to develop its coaching department. The donation, Foster stated, would be used by the coaching staff headed by level Three Winston Smith in the upcoming inter county tournaments and in the BCB coaching programmes during the year. One of the BCB’s main objectives is to make sure that every promising talent in Berbice is unearthed and allowed to be fulfilled.

The BCB is also expected to receive another coaching set later in the year from another former Guyana senior player.

The BCB President expressed gratitude to Sarwan and called on other former cricketers to give back to the game, which made them household names.

Sarwan in brief remarks stated that he was very impressive with the BCB under the leadership of Foster. He urged the board to always strive for excellence and noted that he was satisfied with the hosting of the first two tournaments.

for 4, it was going to be a mammoth effort for Australia to win the game, especially after Tyagi struck again in his second spell, dismissing Patrick Rowe in the 21st over as his fourth scalp, to reduce the batting side to 68 for 5.

But Australia were not willing to give up just yet.

Fanning and No. 7 Liam Scott - who wasn’t in the XI but was batting as a concussion substitute following Corey Kelly’s injury while fielding put on 81 for the sixth wicket.

The partnership made India nervous, with India captain Priyam Garg shouting “body language, guys” to keep his team-mates zoned into the game. Fanning held up one

end while Scott played more freely, but soon after the latter hit a six over midwicket, he was out caught-behind by legspinner Ravi Bishnoi in the 41st over. The score of 149 for 6, however, soon became 155 for 9 following a team hattrick.

In the 42th over, Fanning was dismissed by an Akash Singh short ball for 75. The next ball Australia were eight down as Tanveer Sangha’s attempted jab-and-run didn’t pay off. Wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel picked the stray ball and aimed at the stumps with an underarm throw, effecting his fourth dismissal of the day, running Connor Sully out.

Singh then cranked up the pace to No. 10 Todd Murphy to bowl him for a duck. It wasn’t long before Australia folded for 159, igniting celebrations from the handful of India fans who were present at the ground.

In the first innings, India asked to bat - had begun steadily but lost three wickets in the space of 21 runs to be reduced from 35 for 0 to 54 for 3 inside 16 overs. Seamers Kelly and Sully dismissed opener Divyaansh Saxena and Garg cheaply, while offspinner Murphy removed the No. 3 Tilak Verma.

A brief recovery from India followed. Opener Jaiswal, scoring his third fifty in four World Cup games, combined in a 48-run fourthwicket with Siddhesh Veer, but he was bowled by Sangha’s legspin just after

the team crossed 100 in the 26th over. Murphy then deceived wicketkeeperbatsman Jurel with a loopy delivery that took his outside edge to take his second wicket, and when Veer’s attempted pull was top-edged to third man, India were at 144 for 6 with 12 overs to go.

At that stage, it looked like India wouldn’t last the full 50 overs with Australia’s bowlers having exposed the lower order, but allrounder Atharva Ankolekar got together with Bishnoi to drag India past 200.

Bishnoi, who made 30 in 31 balls, was eventually run-out in the 48th over with India searching for quick runs, but Ankolekar provided a flourishing finish for India, reaching his half-century with a six in the last over.

Ankolekar and Bishnoi ran their twos hard and found the occasional boundaries.

Their 61-run stand for the seventh wicket came in 59 deliveries and raised India’s run-rate significantly. In their last two overs, Ankolekar and the last two batsmen scored 24 runs and India finished on 233 for 9. India had wrested the momentum from Australia by the end of the innings and after Tyagi’s three wickets in the first two overs of the chase, they always remained ahead in the game.

Scores: India Under19s 233 for 9 (Jasiwal 62, Ankolekar 55*, Murphy 240) beat Australia Under19s 159 (Fanning 75, Tyagi 4-24, Singh 3-30) by 74 runs.

GT U-15 trial 50-over match

Gabriel, Deonarain impress at Bourda Watched by a large gathering which included plenty of parents yesterday at Bourda, Stephon Sankar’s X1 beat Rookum Gabriel’s X1 by 30 runs in the first 50 overs U-15 Trail match to pick the Georgetown team for the Demerara Inter Association cricket tournament.

Sankar’s X1 were bowled out for 187 as Malik Hopkinson (20) and Skipper Sankar (17) were the only batsmen to pass 15 as 13-yearold leg-spinner Romeo Deonarain befuddled the batsmen with 4-12.

Deonarain, who plays for DCC in the City and Blairmont in Berbice, was supported by off-spinner Jayden Dowling (2-6), Feyad Mohamed (2-9) and John Persaud (2-13).

Skipper Gabriel blasted a pugnacious 78 with two fours and five huge sixes after the Ryan Latif (19) (Contiued on page 31)

13-year-old Romeo Deonarain had 4-12 yesterday at Bourda.

13-year-old Rookrum Gabriel hit two sixes and five in his 78 at Bourda yesterday.

PAGE 42

West Indies and New Zealand battle for U-19 World Cup semi-final spot Benoni, South Africa The West Indies U19 Rising Stars are a victory away from their second World Cup semifinal in four years when they lock horns with New Zealand in the 2020 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup Quarter-Final at Willowmore Park Main Oval today.

West Indies U19 Head C o a c h G r a e m e We s t i s hoping to use his experience from the 2016 U19 World Cup to help the young West Indies team maintain their form which resulted in them going unbeaten to win Group B. “It’s all about focusing on the next game and we can’t think further ahead than that.

In 2016 we came through the group stages as runner up and Pakistan were hot favourites to progress to the semi-final. This time around expectations are much greater

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

having beaten both England and Australia,” said West to CWI Media.

“The team has performed well in all d e p a r t m e n t s b u t the coaching team have identified small areas where we can be better and more efficient.”

“In the last couple of days our preparation has been designed to address these areas and maintain all the things that have worked well, we have studied our opponents but we know we must be focused on the personal and collective objectives that the players have.”

West further highlighted that the group games against England and Australia could aid the team ahead of the New Zealand clash.

“It’s quite ironic that given the amount of Asian teams in tournament playing

well that we haven’t come up against anyone of them as yet,’’ said West He continued: “Given the conditions and climate in New Zealand they naturally share some of the methods that both Australia and England would have employed, given their performances so far in the tournament they will provide a very stern test, they are outstanding in the field and have a very positive batting line up.

“It’s a warning for us in terms of the approach they have. We are going to have to match and find ways to combat that and ultimately play our brand of cricket which has been very successful so far.” The winner of this quarter-final will face either hosts South Africa or Bangladesh in the semi-final on February 6th in Potchefstroom

BCB/Lewison General Store Under-15

Raashad Gafoor, Nathan Kistama, Romeo Deonarine, R. Budhana, Keiron George and Afraz Budhoo, among top performers in round 1 and 2 The Berbice Cricket Board has started early preparation for the 2020 GCB Inter County Under-15 tournaments by hosting the Lewison General Store Under15 tournament. Fourteen team divided into three zones are contesting the tournament, which would be used by the Balram Samaroo Berbice Led Selection Committee to select a 30-man training squad to participate in two trial matches. At the end of the first two rounds of the tournamentAlbion, Blairmont and Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes have played unbeaten.

Raashad Gafoor scored the

only century to date, while Nathan Kistama, Romeo Deonarine, R. Budhana, Keiron George claimed five wickets haul.

1. Albion defeated Port Mourant by 32 runs.

Albion - 62 all out in 30 overs - Damion Cecil 14. R. Budhana 6 for 21, J. Latchman 2 for 8 and Salim Khan 2 for 11.

Port Mourant - 30 all out Rampertab Ramnauth 24. A record nine batsmen were dismissed for nought. Afraz Budhoo 5 for 8, Anthonio Ramphal 2 for 19 and Shiv Harripersaud 2 for 1.

2. At Blairmont, the home team defeated Achievers by

229 runs.

Blairmont 289 for 3 in 45 overs - Rashaad Gafoor 140 not out, Romeo Deonarine 56 and Collis Harcourt 2 for 48.

Achievers 60 all out in 26 overs - Tousaint Connelly 16, Neville David 10: R. Gafoor 3 for 5 and Sayaad Ishmail 3 for 4.

3.At Blairmont, Paradise lost to Blairmont by 143 runs.

Blairmont 217 all out from 49 overs - Romeo Deonarine 40, Arun Jaikarran 37 and Rashaad Gafoor 20. Extras 77. R. Mc Donald 2 for 31 and Russell Wilson 2 for 16.

Achievers 75 all out in 17.3 overs - Daniel Ramoutar 36.

Romeo Deonarine 5 for 34 and Sajaad Ishmail 3 for 15.

4. Edinburgh defeated East Bank Blazers by nine runs.

Edinburgh 83 all out in 20 overs -Troy David 14 and Danesh Persaud 11. S. Gafoor 3 for 31 and Eson Ellis 3 for 22.

East Bank Blazers 75 all out in 15 overs. J. Kesney 16, Roberto Vankendin 11. David Fraser 4 for 18 and Keiron George 5 for 18.

5. At No72 Cut and Load Ground, Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes Ltd got pass No73/ Scottsburg by five wickets.

No73/Scottsburg- 57 all out in 21 overs - Tomesh Hemraj 21.

Nathan Kistama 4 for 15, Matthew Pottaya 3 for 02 and Khemraj Tika 2 for 16.

RHTFM- 58 for 5 in 15.2 overs - Sahail Hardwar 15 not out. T. Doobay 2 for 17 and L. Singh 2 for 15.

At the Area H Ground, RHT Farfan and Mendes Ltd crushed No19 Kendall Union by 238 runs.

RHTFM 274 for 7 in 45 overs- Nyron Hicks 74, Raphael Fraser 60. G. Harris 4 for 36 and D. Etwaroo 2 for 20.

No19 Kendall Union 37 all out- Nathan Kistama 5 for 8, Matthew Pottaya 2 for 3.

7.At Albion,Albion defeated No19 defeated Kendall Union by 207 runs.

Albion 266 all out in 48 overs - Tameshwar Mangal 23, Afrizal Kadir 28 and Kumar Deopersaud 34. G. Harris 2 for 39 and K. Premnanand 2 for 45.

No19 Kendall Union- 59 all out - B. Saul 15. Anthonio Ramphal 2 for 13 and Yuvraj Nazir 2 for 6.

8. Tucber Park got passed East Bank Blazers by 50 runs.

Tucber Park 85 all out in 22.4 overs - G. Kisten 15 and A. Henry 14. J. Kensey 3 for 10 and E. Ellis 2 for 5.

East Bank Blazers 38 all out in 15 overs. Gavin Kisten 4 for 5, Dellon Endore 3 for 7 and David Palandi 2 for 4.

Wednesday January 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 43

Coach Graeme West speaking to the players after a training session.

rt Spo Former West Indies Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan renews BCB U-17 sponsorship - Donates $100,000 coaching kit

Ramnaresh Sarwan hands over sponsorship to BCB President Hilbert Foster.

West Indies and New Zealand battle for U-19 World Cup semi-final spot Kartik Tyagi picked up two wickets in the first over of the Australia innings. (ICC via Getty)

Jaiswal, Ankolekar, Tyagi put India in semi-final as Under-19s show great character GT U-15 trial 50-over match

Gabriel, Deonarain impress at Bourda

P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Ltd. set to open GSSF’s shooting calendar for 2020

Rescuers recover all nine bodies from helicopter crash that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.