Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 30, 2018

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

FOCUSING ON MEN’S HEALTH Men are generally considered stronger than women in physical terms. They are bigger and more muscular than women; they run faster, lift heavier objects and throw things farther. But while men rule on the aforementioned, in medical terms it is an entirely different story. In matters of health, men are the weaker sex and their lifespan is shorter than that of women. World Health Organization (WHO) data published in 2015 in relation to Guyana and the Caribbean puts the average life expectancy at 67.9 years for males and 74.8 years for females. In 2005, it was 67.1 years for males and 73.9 years for females. Being considered macho in society, men in general have placed little focus or emphasis on their health, which seemed to be counter-intuitive. They very seldom see a doctor, go to the hospital or visit a health clinic or a dentist. According to the WHO, the health of men has deteriorated more than women in the last 25 years. The cause of this discrepancy is the fact that men are more likely to die of certain diseases than women. For example, the high blood pressure rate for men in Guyana and the Caribbean is over 35 percent, compared to 25.1 percent for females. A Pan American Health Organization study in 2008, showed twice as many males than females suffered premature death due to cardiovascular disease. Breast cancer was linked mostly to females; today, about 3 percent of the men in Guyana and roughly 5 percent in the Caribbean have the disease. Men in Guyana are more likely to engage in high-risk reckless behaviour. They consume more alcohol than women. Four out of five men drive while under the influence compared to one in five women. In the last five years, most of the traffic fatalities were males and the overwhelming majority of criminals, including murderers, were also males. The gap is not only in relation to physical conditions. Males also suffer disproportionately in terms of certain mental illnesses and suicide rates. Data from the WHO showed that the lifetime prevalence rate for alcohol dependence is more than twice as high in men as in women. Men are also more than three times more likely to be diagnosed with anti-social personality disorder than women. However, because gender bias occurs in the treatment of psychological disorders, the true picture may be masked. Public Health officials are more likely to diagnose depression in women compared with men, even when men have similar identical symptoms. The truth is, men are not solely to be blamed for their reckless and sloppy behaviour. In all of these matters, a combination of cultural and biological factors is at play. Men have in years past, not been taught to be vigilant about their health. This has changed somewhat, but if we are serious about increasing productivity and developing as a nation, it is fundamental that those in authority acknowledge this is a problem and deal with it urgently. Our changing understanding of the roles of men and women today in society, and in the home, calls for greater vigilance. Men have a major role to play in families; therefore they cannot be blind to their health needs or exhibit reckless and carefree behaviour. Internationally, especially in the United States, Canada, and other developed countries, public campaigns have been effective in decreasing deaths related to unhealthy behaviours by men. What is needed in Guyana is a sustained and effective public relations campaign. As those in authority address the issues affecting healthcare needs in our society, they must remember to also focus on men’s health. However, none of this is meant to detract from the role played by women in society and the very real challenges they face given the lack of fathers in the homes. It is in the interest of all to ensure that men contribute their fullest potential to the family structure and in the building of the country.

Our security officers are not as skilled as they want to believe DEAR EDITOR, Now that ExxonMobil is the new bogie man in town, I received a telephone call from a senior security practitioner who wanted to know how the local security industry could secure a fair share of business under the new oil dispensation. He said that he had heard that the oil companies prefer to bring in their own security personnel. I told him that it was not as simple as that and the matter had much wider implications, which are as follows. During 2012, while teaching a security course at the University of Guyana, I told my students that as Guyana gets closer to the oil production phase the security contract at the United States embassy will become shorter. This means that a new foreign security provider will take over the security of the embassy after a few years, so that other American security outfits could position themselves to take over the local security

industry. I told them that the current security contract will be the shortest and that the Guyanese senior functionaries of the current security provider will be soon replaced by foreigners. All of the above happened. But Guyana is unique in all of this. Our security industry has been for too long a highly politicized one; and since the security industry internationally complements the criminal justice system it is very corrupt. A little known fact is that members of the joint services have been traditionally foisted upon the local security industry in the absence of a properly structured resettlement programme for former soldiers. Again many former joint service personnel are on, or used to be on the payroll of many security departments, ostensibly as security consultants, even though they only turned up at month end to collect large sums of money.

A United Nations document stated a long time ago that members of our joint services were involved in “protection racket.” Aggrieved business persons have complained bitterly for years of how difficult it often was to find these large sums of money each month. When President David Granger took office the practice of security extortion or protection racket was greatly reduced because nobody wanted to be on the wrong side of the President. So for several months cheques were left uncollected until it became apparent that the practice had almost died a natural death. But even those former Joint Services officials who were legitimate employees of companies had some problems of their own, irrespective of how much money they earned, and several earned a lot. They never bother to upgrade themselves professionally. As many functioned below par due to their lack of a thorough understanding of the private sector, and the pri-

vate security industry in particular; some lost high paying jobs, mostly colonels. So they now face a fate similar to their Jamaican counterparts. Several years ago thirty persons sat an international professional security exam in Jamaica; twenty nine failed miserably. The only successful candidate was the lone female and lone civilian. Those who failed were all former senior members of the joint services. This fiasco further reinforced a long held view in the security industry internationally, that military veterans working in the industry often accord themselves much more credit than they truly deserve. The professional examining body then instituted a number of changes which make it mandatory for applicants to attend a two-week programme before sitting the exam; this change could increase the cost of the exam by between f$500,000 and one million dollars. But the Jamaican men did not have to endure that fate because they were offered help by the lone successful (Continued on page 5)

Sugar is resilient, don’t dump it DEAR EDITOR, Guyana is losing its comparative advantage in the Caribbean as a producer of agricultural produce, in particular sugar and rice. The downsizing, euphemistically dubbed “rightsizing” of sugar and the failure to take full advantage of market opportunities for rice in CARICOM and the neighbouring countries of Venezuela and Brazil do not augur well for the sustainable growth and development of the agricultural sector and for that matter the economy as a whole. I have argued in several letters in the media that the economy of this country is inextricably linked to the development of agriculture which remains the backbone of the economy. In this regard, agriculture cannot be relegated to a secondary role in the economy. We have all the ingredients for agriculture to flourish, namely fertile land, skilled and experienced agricultural labourers, a relatively good infrastructure of roads and canals for drainage and irrigation purposes and by no means least, a fairly good and predictable market for our agricultural products. This is why I will argue that the downsizing of sugar is shortsighted and counterproductive. The mining and oil sectors cannot supplant agriculture because of market volatility and price instability

for both oil and minerals, more particularly bauxite and gold. The long term prospects for oil and gas on which we seem to depend so much is not good in light of an emerging green global economy and alternative sources of renewable energy. This is why the natural and competitive advantage we have enjoyed over the decades as a major exporter of agricultural products should be maintained and consolidated. The fact is that billions of dollars have been spent over the decades to build a solid infrastructure for sugar and rice production. This infrastructure will most likely deteriorate and crumble with the passage of time following the closure of sugar estates not to mention the loss of other external benefits to the communities by way of internal drainage and irrigation sub-systems and other socio-economic benefits. The government seems hell bent to close down the sugar estates and no arguments advanced by the sugar unions and other stakeholders including the political opposition would suffice to result in a change of mind. The political will to save the industry is simply not there insofar as this current administration is concerned. In fact, the intention to divest and privatize sugar was taken

since the early 1990’s under the Desmond Hoyte administration and it was not until the PPP/C administration took power in October 1992 that the privatization of the industry was abandoned. With a change of administration on May 2015, the privitization/closure of the sugar estates once again became a front burner issue and has now culminated in the impending closure of four estates including the flagship Skeldon Estate in which billions of dollars were spent by the previous administration towards its modernization. I remain unconvinced that sugar cannot be saved and restored to economic viability. Sugar over the decades had seen several ups and downs but it has always survived the vagaries and changing fortunes of time and circumstances. I believe that it is not too late to save the industry provided that there is constructive and committed engagement between the current administration and key stakeholders more particularly GAWU which to its credit has militantly and unrelentingly represented its membership. The Unions have done a commendable job in resisting the decision to close the estates and subsequently engaging the Guyana Sugar Corporation and the current administration with a view to mitigate the impact of the clo-

sure of the estates on the affected workers. I believe that the government has a duty and obligation to adhere to its fiduciary and legal obligation to pay all workers their full severance as demanded by the unions. Moreover, it should immediately embark on a new and strategic approach to keep all the factories grinding even if it means working in partnership with local and foreign investors and making lands available to sugar workers to grow cane for sale to these newly created or re-configured entities. Several interesting and, in my view, workable proposals, were made by GAWU to save the industry. The government needs to pause and take a fresh look at the available options rather than lamenting the subsidies it had been pouring into the industry. The sugar industry has, for several decades in the past, subsidized the economy by way of huge amounts of levies paid to the government. The records will show that during the lean years when the rest of the economy was underperforming, it was sugar that kept the economy afloat. It is only fair and reasonable, therefore, that the government now come to the rescue of the industry until it is restored to economic viability. Hydar Ally

Jagdeo is ranting about the AFC DEAR EDITOR, Tell me a day when Bharrat Jagdeo is not desperately scraping the barrel, looking for something with which to criticize the coalition government, and I will tell you a day when the devil is asleep. I stand to be corrected, when I say that I am certain that I did manage to hear part of the leader of the opposition’s usual ranting via the 6.30 am Channel Nine Prime News rebroadcast. In it he referred to the Alliance For Change having so many ministries and that they have all failed. Then he said his party will win the Local Government Elections later this year. A noted characteristic of Jagdeo in his daily criticisms of the government is that he seldom offers any solution as an alternative, or give credible evidence for whatever shortcoming(s) he pontificates. It is similar to the marked pattern in his baseless criticisms about the GuySuCo tragedy, of which he is the chief architect. For all his so-called economic skills, he has never offered a solution, or accepted the coalition government’s invitation to join in seeking a way forward for the livelihood of the sugar workers, whose interests he claims to represent. His wanting the government to continue the operations of the estates was torn to pieces, when GAWU met with the coalition at the seminal talks on severance and other related matters. One need not spell out the reasons for the deep seated hatred he holds for t h e AFC. They are well known. By what yardstick has he been measuring the failure of the AFC’S ministerial portfolios’ performance, is best known only to his devious

mind. · How can Minister Patterson and his Ministry of Infrastructure be labeled as failing, when this ministry has effected a new look city with properly surfaced roads, and increased street lighting? Such works are visible all along the coastland. They are even manifest in the hinterland road programme, and upgrades of aerodromes. · The Ministry of Public Security is undergoing a gradual transformation from a battered police force, where pol i t i c a l i n t erference was rife; community ties nonexistent, and compromised policemen promoted; to one where its much improved professionalism and community relations have been rewarded with the highest percentage of murders being solved, including cold cases. Even bribery attempts are now b e i n g e x p o s e d . Thanks to a better sense of duty and service, and of course - training opportunities for all levels of ranks. Criticizing the Ministry of Agriculture as a failure further exposes the deviousness and lies of a former leader who should have already been placed before the court for the debacle GuySuCo left behind by the subject minister. Further, this ministry has had to cope with another debacle – the Petro Caribe rice for oil agreement, which the Venezuela government had already informed the then PPP/C administration, w o u l d e n d b e f o r e M ay 2015, but this information was never conveyed to the rice farmers. Markets have since been secured for the nation’s rice farmers. · For all the criticisms

That questionable oil contract DEAR EDITOR, Already the corruption and bullying by the powerful have begun regarding oil find in Guyana! We just learnt that ExxonMobil is requesting from Guyana the repayment of US $460,237,918M. This is according to the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (P.S.A) that Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman signed with Exxon Mobil. Mr Trotman, a lawyer and politician, should have known t h i s b e f o r e t h e press, and the Guyanese

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Tuesday January 30, 2018

people became cognizant of this aberration. He should let ExxonMobil know that the majority Guyanese people would not accept this confounded nonsense and bullying from Exxon Mobile. It seems that ExxonMobil has paid handsomely to its drafter of the contract to secure a contract comfortably to itself.One wonders what the Guyanese legal brain was doing at the time of reading and drafting the fine print of the contract between ExxonMobil and Guyana. Yours faithfully Rooplall Dudhnath

leveled at the Ministry of Natural Resources, Minister Trotman deserves praise for his piloting the establishment of the national infrastructure for the imminent oil and gas industry. This particular industry with all of its numerous challenges, and its unknowns, is one that can have about a dozen ministries for its daily and constant attention. Instead, the indefatigable minister and his advisors have been successful in garnering the services of advisors; hosting numerous seminars and public engagements all towards educating the public. · The Ministry of Public Telecommunications, since its formation has been pre-occupied and busy with the pivotal task of extending internet services to the Hinterland, and along the coastland by way of establishing IT hubs. Also, the egovernance network is being established all over Guyana which will make access to government services readily available. This is in addition to overseeing the liberalization of the telecommunications sector, and the recent introduction of the National Telecommunications Agency that will oversee the national frequency. That I have chosen these five ministries as examples is because they are pivotal ones that are mostly central to the socio-economic dynamics of the nation. Of course, there is always room for improvement, but given that it is just past the half way mark of the government’s first five year term of office, and inheriting an economy that had been deceptive in every way, those named ministries can be said to have performed very well, much to the great discomfort of Jagdeo and fellow critics. As to Jagdeo’s prediction about the local government polls, it is his and party’s democratic right to campaign. Regards Earl Hamilton

Guyanese warmth and hospitality at best DEAR EDITOR, I thoroughly enjoyed my recent visit to Guyana from the United States. I write to note the many unplanned instances of warm hospitality that I encountered in my first visit, particularly in Georgetown. Special thanks to Mr. Rahul Singh, Mr. Wesley of Wakenaam Island, Ms. Vanessa Benn, Ms. Kathie, Mr. Julian of Julian’s Guest House, Mr. Christopher George, Ms. Pamela Jerry, Ms. Radica Hunter, Mr. Yogendra

Kissoon, Mr. Keith Williams, Dr. Dellon Durga, Mr. Marnix Ross, Esq., Mr. David Bispat, Ms. Perozo, Dr. Iamei Aowmathi and many more. Each of you went above and beyond mere courtesy in some way to share meaningful slices of life in Guyana. Thank you to the National Trust of Guyana as well for its incredible work to preserve the nation’s cultural heritage. As oil and time bring change, it is my hope that Georgetown will retain a

sense of its unique and distinctive architecture - not only the magnificent buildings on the Avenue of the Republic, but also the traditional wooden houses on stilts in the neighbourhoods. Georgetown still has a chance to avoid becoming a place that “could be anywhere else.” Again, my gratitude for a wonderful visit. Cordially, Brad Vogel New York, New York

Our security officers are not... From page 4 female who unlike them had spent her entire working life in the security industry. However, ego being what it is, they refused her assistance. It is to be noted, too, that it is civilians who teach soldiers many of the sophisticated technical security skills which are utilized in the military so there was a surfeit of technical skills present in the Jamaican private security industry at that time. Back to Guyana, former joint services officers are often reluctant to hire civilians who are qualified in security management because they are afraid of competition. It is especially difficult for females. I trained only six females over a fifteen-year period to senior levels. None were able to secure employment in the settings described above, because when the women came to me they already had several passes at the CSEC, university diplomas or degrees. Thankfully, they have all been able to secure employment with international companies in Guyana, and with two foreign embassies. Two have left Guyana and work with international companies overseas. One could understand why our security depart-

ments spend so much money annually. We do so because we must also pay a very high price for inefficiency. In order for an entity to function properly people with complementary skills must work together. In 2008, I spearheaded the establishment of a professional body for security managers because I foresaw this day. When we invited certain persons they turned their noses up. Today they are helpless in the cold. Naturally so, ExxonMobil is privy to this conspicuous void in the local security industry, and along with its American allies is poised to eventually take over the entire security industry in the absence of strong legislation. I have seen this in several South American and Caribbean countries. The literature informs of its occurrence in other jurisdictions. The problem lies in the fact that our security managers do not understand how to manage a security department in a modern environment. Many are reluctant to learn or employ persons with such qualifications for fear of being replaced. But government has to do its part by providing the necessary legislative safeguards. Guyana is one of few re-

maining countries where foreigners could operate freely in its security industry. The joint certification between the Guyana Defence Force and the University of Guyana will help significantly to professionalize the industry because a soldier can then pursue one year of security training and matriculate to the Masters in security management anywhere in the world. Messrs George Gomes and Joseph Mc Donald both former senior military officials have for long (10 years) asked me to talk to their colleagues with respect to pursuing professional security training. Today is the day of reckoning, I recently saw four former senior joint services officers working together in one office.Previously their egos would have taken over and each would have carved out his own security fiefdom somewhere in the private security industry. So here’s the take away. If you want to pose a successful challenge to expatriate security professionals with impeccable credentials, in a globalized economy, you will need to possess on par or superior credentials, hence the problem faced by the oil companies. Clairmont Featherstone

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Was Ramjattan quoted accurately? DEAR EDITOR, The Guyana Times of January 26, 2018 reports Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, as saying in relation to sugar industry that “…probably it was destined to fail. Probably God wanted it that way.” We had to read this section twice as we simply could not believe that a senior Government official would have made such an unbelievable statement. To invoke the name of the Good Lord to justify what Minister Ramjattan termed “hard decisions” is clearly beyond reprehensible. Moreover, to say the in-

dustry was destined to fail says a lot about the leadership of the Coalition Government and the sincerity of its commitments before the 2015 Elections Campaign. Clearly, Minister Ramjattan is clutching at straws as he seeks to find any ignoble justification to excuse his Government’s callous approach to the sugar industry. The article made reference to the severance pay and quotes the Minster as saying “(GAWU) came up with a suggestion…then we decided all under $500,000 are going to get their full lump sums…” If the quote is indeed correct, as we did not see it featured in reports appearing

in other sections of the media, then the Minister is patently wrong and misled those present. As GAWU earlier explained over the past days, when the issue of severance paym e n t s w a s raised by the Government delegation when we met, both our Union and NAACIE took an intractable position that the payments to the workers should be made at once. Minister Ramjattan, who was present at the meeting, knows this and, therefore, to say otherwise is dishonest. Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

Ms Akola Thompson’s activism is valuable DEAR EDITOR, Recently The Caribbean Voice contacted Ms. Akola Thompson after learning of her website facilitating Guyanese to report abuse c o n f i d e n t i a l l y (reportabusegy.com) and we requested her permission to link to her website from our w e b s i t e (www.caribvoice.org). Subsequently, we invited her to talk about the site at our press conference on January 19th. In a letter in the Kaieteur News of January 22 captioned ‘I am not a member of The Caribbean Voice’, responding to an article of January 21st in that same newspaper, Ms. Thompson stated, “I am not working with the Caribbean Voice, nor have I worked with them at any point. I really do not want my name associated as a member.” The underlined sentence seems to attribute negative implications to membership of The Caribbean Voice. The Caribbean Voice has never invited Ms. Thompson to become a member nor have we ever stated/implied that she is. Our reaching out to her

was in keeping with one of the pillars of our anti-violence campaign – Building Stakeholders’ Collaboration for Social Activism. And we have worked very hard to stay above the fray and build bridges across all divides, as reflected in both our membership and our work. We are and continue to remain a truly professional entity operating on the basis of ethics and principles and displaying the most profound dedication and commitment to

saving lives and empowering people.And our interactions and relationships with stakeholders and the wider community have and will continue to be positive and affirming. Meanwhile The Caribbean Voice extends an open invitation to Ms. Akola Thompson to continue to collaborate as we strive to positively impact the social landscape. Her activism is a valuable part of this process. Sincerely The Caribbean Voice

JAGDEO NEEDS TO BOW OUT DEAR EDITOR I note with some consternations news stories and commentaries stating that Komal Chand’s tenure as head of GAWU is at an end because of a rift between himself and the PPP (read: Bharrat Jagdeo). I do not personally know either gentlemen but I do know that Komal Chand (and GAWU) stood up for the

sugar workers’ rights extracting severance pay from the APNU+AFC Government of President David Granger. Komal Chand needs to hold ground and not be cowed by Bharrat Jagdeo and/or his supporters. It is Bharrat Jagdeo that needs to bow out gracefully from the PPP so that a new Leader can take over so that the PPP can have the opportunity to regenerate. Bharrat Jagdeo has had his time as President twice; a third term is not necessary or wise. Yours Faithfully Sean Ori

Tuesday January 30, 2018

ON THE MURDER OF MARLON FREDERICKS DEAR EDITOR, I founded ACDA RESCU in 2014 with my colleagues, it was launched in 2015, and its principal purpose is to inform citizens of the dangers of mind-altering substances. I brought over 100 photographs of drug addicts from as far back as 1996 to RESCU. We are inadequate in dealing with this problem. It took a lot of reading and guidance from the late Clarence Young, founder of the Phoenix Recovery Project, and others to comprehend the long term effects of these substances. If you are religious you will conclude drugs to be the communion of the devil, administered by demons that lead users into hell on earth. That Marlon Fredericks was

an addict placed him in a peculiar position. The entire incident was part recorded and displayed on the internet. Other aspects, the media provided. There is no way his fatal shooter acted in self defence; it was premeditative murder, callous and vindictive. Corporal Bascom should face a murder charge, nothing less would be equivalent justice. The kicker must be brought before the court. His actions to the head and body were equally uncalled for, as again this man was not posing a threat. And even so, he was compromised when the onslaught of kicks descended on him. The constabulary has a list of uncalled for fatal shootings to its history. This

kicker may have contributed to a decline in Marlon’s faculties, and he needs to be put before the court. The Joint services, as far as I know, have failed to put in place a test to determine whether persons of unsound mind are at fault. I can find no rationale for Bascom’s senseless killing of Fredericks. It is obvious that a more competent officer retired or on strength from the GPF or the GDF be placed to manage the city constabulary. The constabulary is not unaware of the Narco outlets within its municipal markets jurisdiction. All this amounts to a need for a revamp of that organisation and an evaluation of its armed staff. Barrington Braithwaite

Private hospitals are no different DEAR EDITOR, I would like to add to a letter by Mr Nowrang Persaud, captioned “The private hospitals should take over the public hospitals” (SN, Jan 28) by sharing my concerns about the dreadful healthcare system in our country. To this end, I must highlight that our private hospitals are no better than those run by our government. They are all third rate. Due to this, our loved ones die way too early. It is no secret that our hospitals, including the private ones, do not have essential drugs, equipment, skills and other resources that are needed to effectively handle our medical needs. Complicating this heartbreaking situation is the sad reality that our health care professionals often act like dictators. Arrogant doctors even ridicule dying patients and turn them away when they ask questions about their medical conditions. This is exactly the case at our private hospitals. I was deeply disappointed to have experienced how doctors at a popular private hospital in Georgetown go into temper tantrums

when patients ask questions. Our doctors must know that patients have a right to ask questions. Our private hospitals even take us for a ride but we are forced to use them. Private health care is also unaffordable for the majority of us. Often times than not, we do not have the dollars necessary to buy comprehensive medical services or to continue to pay for long-term medical care. As a result, we are forced to discontinue necessary medical treatment. In spite of such a dis-

tressing and grave situation, the APNU/PNC/AFC government turns a blind eye and selfishly takes care of its own medical needs through high quality foreign medical insurance while it continues to trample our health care system. This government even hires its political backers without appropriate qualifications to lead the Ministry of Health. Clearly, our government is callous but many continue to support it because of issues such as race and politics. Sincerely, Annie Baliram

Komal Chand must be commended DEAR EDITOR, The National Mine Workers’ Union of Guyana stands in full support of the decision taken by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) to meet with the President and cabinet on January 19, 2017 to discuss the way forward and have the interest and concerns of the sugar workers addressed. Komal Chand must be given the credit he deserves for his bravery at not only showing but demonstrating that workers’s rights, concerns and issues take precedent above political affilia-

tions and Government economic interest. The sugar workers issue is much bigger than our personality and personal issues. It is very unfortunate that political affiliation is now playing out in the public domain. Trade unions and unionists must continue to be independent. They must make workers a priority as we are here to serve the interest of workers not to advance or protect political agendas and interest our government must continue to broaden their capacity to accommodate and facilitate trade unions Sherwyn Delano Downer, President National Mine Workers Union of Guyana

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Tuesday January 30, 2018

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President lauds service of his Ministry's staff members

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We would like to buy 20 ft & 40ft containers. Contact: 6876072 1-Serviceman/mechanic 2Skidder/loader operator 3Tree fellers. Contact: 656-8754 Wanted experience hire car taxi driver at Ramada Princess Hotel. Tel: 265-7076. Cell: 6165419 We are interested in buying large quantities of used zinc # 687-6072 Urgently need one houselot to buy in Eccles and Herstelling. Tel: 611-7223/ 6560701 PROPERTY FOR SALE Lot 15 Public Road, #2 Village, W.C.B. 49ft x 10,314ft $22M Negotiable Contact 648-7109/ 686-4818

Lessons: Phonics, Reading & Writing for Kindergarten, grades 1-5 Mathematics & English. Lessons for form 1-5. Call: 690-9378

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SALON Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $90,000 Nail Technician Course: $35,000. Call: 647-1773/688-0009 TOLET One business space, located at 177 Charlotte & Alexander St. Kindly call: 644-3555,6893462, . Serious enquiries only.

From page 17 appreciated,” the Minister said. Minister Harmon further touted the work of the administration as a smooth sailing ship, despite challenges it has had to deal with along the way. He also expressed much appreciation to the President who he described as a visionary for the country. During the one-hour pre-

Property located in secure and residential Ixora Avenue, Block AA Eccles EBD. $36M. Tel: 233-2793, 615-8502

VACANCY Experienced Security Professionals. Must have 3 yrs. experience, past military/ security. Send resume & picture by email:. bvisecurityandinvestigators @ g m a i l . c o m Vacancy exists for 1 experienced pharmacy technician to work part time @ a reputable pharmacy Georgetown- Call: 227-0630 Experienced teacher needed. Capable of teaching nursery, Grades 1&2. For quick response, text qualifications & experience to: 677-0296. General maintenance Guy, room attendant ages 25-45 years old. Tel: 225-0198 233 South rd, Lacytown. Driver from Age 22 and above, must have police clearance, for more info, call: 223-0090 House keeper(good cook) wanted. Live-in if possible. Windsor Estates East Bank. Contact: 673-6050 Nanny to teach and take care of a 2 year old girl. Campbellville area. Contact: 673-6050 Cook/Baker & Excavator operator for interior location. must be experienced. Call: 6182020 Backhoe operator, woodmizer moulder and edger operator, experience logging truck driver, call Richard: 609-7675/ 674-1705/233-2614 LEARN TO DRIVE Ultraviolet Driving School is offering a 6 days driving lesson for $7,500. Come and enjoy it! Call 602-2583

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sentation 55 staff members received awards. Some 22 persons received for meritorious work done, five for academic achievements at a tertiary education, seven persons for dedicated service beyond the call of duty, 10 persons for service of 25 years and over and nine persons for long service. Two retirees were also awarded for their service as well. Among those acknowledged were Ms.Wonnetta Peters, Ms. Shondel Benjamin, for academic achievement; Mr. Gansham Singh, Mr. Ryan Akeong for meritorious work done; Mr. Alwayne Williams, Mr. Keith Goodridge and Ms. Leyota Hookumchand for service of 25 years and over. At the conclusion of the presentation members of the Ministry sang National Songs, and got a chance to connect and interact with personnel from different departments of the Ministry and the Presidency. Also present at the ceremony were First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger and Permanent Secretary, Ms. Abena Moore, who organised and chaired the ceremony.

Sugar workers begin receiving... From page 12 stated that "we still have to wait for the rest, we can't fight the government". Moore said that he will be utilizing his spacious backyard to invest in some livestock farming to support his family of three. He relayed that the Port Mourant market will be a great medium to sell his livestock. Audwin Jeffrey explained that despite all the rumours circulating that severance will not be paid, he is happy that the government stuck to its promise. He added that he will be discussing with his wife on how to move forward. One man, Danesh Raghubir said he was not impressed and would prefer his job be given back rather than having a lump sum severance. "This money is only for a short period of time, so after this cheque finish, what you gon do after that? I need back my job". He stated that since he left the school he has been working with GuySuCo, dedicating close to thirty years of service to the Skeldon Estate. He plans to migrate. Workers also described the process as easy and not time-consuming. They were asked to produce their identification cards and sign for the cheque that could be cashed in at any local bank. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had stated that over 1600 retrenched sugar workers would receive their severance as soon as Tuesday.

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Tuesday January 30, 2018

Lawyer seeks acquittal for President Bouterse By Ivan Cairo PA R A M A R I B O , Suriname, CMC – The lawyer for President Desi Bouterse, who is accused of involvement in the 1982 murders of 15 political opponents of his then military government, Monday, asked the Military Court to acquit his client after brandishing the victims as “traitors”. Attorney Irvin Kanhai said the National Army did Suriname a great service by eliminating the opponents of the then military government telling the court that as a result, a larger bloodbath had been averted. He told the court that one day in the future “we will pay tribute to our soldiers for what they did for us on December 8, 1982 and that we will honour them”. Kanhai told the Military Court that the entire indictment should be dismissed. He deemed the case inadmissible since the court refused to take into account an Amnesty Law which was passed during the course of the trial in

April 2014. Last year, Bouterse along with 23 co-defendants appeared in the Military Court after the Court of Justice had earlier rejected a motion to stop the trial. The former military officers and civilians are charged with the December 8, 1982 murders of the 15 men that included journalists, military officers, union leaders, lawyers, businessmen and university lecturers. The prosecution alleges that the men were arrested on the night of December 7 and December 8 of that year and transferred to Fort Zeelandia, then the headquarters of the Surinamese National Army. They said the men were tortured that night and summarily executed. The Court of Justice ruled that the criminal case should be continued by the Military Court since the prosecutors’ request to end the trial wasn’t based on any provision in the Surinamese criminal law.

President Desi Bouterse In June 2016, the Military Court ruled that the Amnesty Law, which was criticised by human rights groups as an attempt to shield Bouterse, was unlawful.Several years ago, the former army commander claimed political responsibility for the murders since he was head of government at the time of the massacre, but has denied any personal involvement in the killings.

The military government claimed that the men had conspired to stage a coup. Bouterse later became president of Suriname through democratic elections in May 2010 and won re-election in May 2015. In his arguments in support of his client being released, Kanhai said that the Public Prosecution had not provided any evidence against Bouterse. He said numerous witnesses had under oath claimed that Bouterse was not present in Fort Zeelandia at the time of the murders, nor did anyone accuse him of firing a single gunshot. The defence lawyer also called on the Netherlands to pay compensation to the families of the 15 victims as he sought to link the European country to the situation in 1982.Referring to various statements by witnesses, Kanhai said that from February 25, 1980 when Bouterse came to power through a military coup, several coup attempts had been made to re-

move him from office. He said that members of the then Military Authority were invited to a Paghwa celebration in a Hindu temple with the intention that they would be poisoned or shot and that the plot failed because the military officials did not turn up.In a crowded courtroom Kanhai said that The Netherlands played a leading role in the events leading up to the murders in December and that it tried to expel Bouterse from the circles of power to help establish a government that would look after Holland’s economic interests. He claimed that the Dutch country was being assisted by the United States and that these cases are recorded in, among other things, CIA reports and other documents.He said that apart from those two countries, the media also participated in an “intensive brainwashing” in order to make the people of Suriname believe that the actions of the then military government were not legal.

Kanhai told the Military Court that the 15 victims were actually involved in an attempt to overthrow the Bouterse administration, describing them as “collaborators”.He said everything was prepared “carefully and professionally”, with loyal support from crucial elements in the Surinamese society. Bouterse has claimed in the past that the trial is politically motivated and has argued that the truth and a resolution regarding the so-called “December Murders” will not be found through the court system but rather through a process as had been the case in South-Africa and other countries where special commissions were established to determine the truth behind political murders. Last December, Ruben Rozendaal, one of the co-defendants in the mass murder trial involving Bouterse, died, after allegedly committing suicide by bleeding to death following a cut on his left arm.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 30, 2018

U.S. to resume refugee admissions from 11 ‘high-risk’ countries WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - The United States will resume admissions for refugees from 11 countries identified as presenting a high security risk, but with extra vetting for these mostly Middle Eastern and African nations, senior U.S. officials said on Monday. The changes came after a 90-day review of refugee admissions from Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen by the State Department, Department of Homeland Security and intelligence agencies. The new rules are the latest changes to the U.S. refugee programme made by the administration of President Donald Trump to address what it sees as national security issues. Some of the administration’s actions, including an executive order to temporarily ban all refugees,

have sparked lengthy court battles. Refugee advocates have said they see the administration’s actions as intended to reduce the number of refugees, particularly those from Muslim countries. During the review period, which lasted from late October to last week, admissions of refugees from those countries dropped sharply, according to a Reuters analysis of State Department data. The changes announced on Monday include additional screening for certain people from the 11 countries, and a periodic review of a list of countries identified as presenting higher security risks. The new guidelines were announced at a press briefing by senior administration officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. They offered no details about which people from the 11 countries will be subject to the extra screening, citing security con-

cerns. The list of “high-risk” countries was last updated by the Obama administration in 2015, the senior administration officials said. U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen, would like officials to factor in risks to the United States other than terrorism, such as transnational organized crime, a senior administration official said. During the briefing, officials said refugees will not be barred from admission to the United States solely on the basis of nationality. “The big picture is that there is no longer a refugee pause on countries, including the 11 high-risk countries, with these measures taking effect,” one senior administration official said in a briefing with reporters. “We’ll be resuming admissions with the new security measures in place.”

Nigerian air force killed dozens in attacks on villages: Amnesty ABUJA (Reuters) Nigeria’s air force killed at least 35 people in attacks on villages in the northeastern state of Adamawa in December, Amnesty International said in a report on Tuesday. Residents of the villages described being fired upon by a fighter jet and military helicopter as they attempted to flee, at the same time as hundreds of herdsmen took part in a revenge attack on the communities for earlier killings, Amnesty said. “Launching air raids is not a legitimate law enforcement method by anyone’s standard,” said Osai Ojigho, Amnesty’s country director for Nigeria, in Tuesday’s report. “Such reckless use of deadly force is unlawful, outrageous and lays bare the Nigerian military’s shocking disregard for the lives of those it supposedly exists to protect,” she said. The report is the latest challenge to the military on human rights and the attacks suggest a deadly crisis between herders and farmers is spiraling out of government control. Reports of abuses and military excesses rarely result in Nigeria’s military meting out public discipline to officers. Air Force spokesman Olatokunbo Adesanya denied it had bombed any locations in the region or fired shots

targeting people, saying it had opened fire to dissuade looters and vandals. Adesanya said he was unaware of any human casualties. On December 4, air force fighter jets fired rockets at villages to deter communal clashes as a cycle of violence and revenge attacks gripped Adamawa state, Amnesty said. The region is a flashpoint for violence between Muslim herders and Christian farmers over rights to grazing land and agriculture. This month at least 168 people have died across five states in such clashes, said Amnesty. “The helicopter and the jet started releasing bombs. Houses started burning. Children started running for their lives,” an unnamed farmer from the village of Shafaron told Amnesty. The report described the

“devastating cumulative effect of the herders and Air Force attacks, with at least eight villages heavily damaged or completely destroyed by fire.” Burned husks of vehicles and blackened houses reduced in parts to rubble were shown in an accompanying video from Amnesty. Satellite images depicted large swathes of settlements ravaged by fire. Eighty-six people died, with the Nigerian air force responsible for at least 35 deaths, and some 3,000 homes were destroyed in the five villages visited, said Amnesty.Nigeria is in the final stages of buying fighter planes from the United States, a deal halted by former president Barack Obama’s administration over concerns about the military’s human rights record.

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Tuesday January 30, 2018

FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe quits amid Trump criticism (BBC) The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s deputy director, whom US President Donald Trump repeatedly accused of political bias, has resigned. Andrew McCabe was pressured to quit by FBI Director Christopher Wray in advance of an inspector general report examining the agency, reports CBS News. Mr McCabe was reportedly due to retire on 18 March. His exit from the top law enforcement agency comes a week after a report that Mr Trump wanted him out. An internal communication authored by Mr Wray shows Mr McCabe’s early de-

Andrew McCabe parture was the result of a forthcoming FBI inspector general report that concluded the agency must perform at

the highest standards, according to CBS News. Earlier on Monday, the New York Times reported that Mr Wray had expressed an interest in moving Mr McCabe to another job, which would have been a demotion, ahead of the inspector general report. It is unclear when the report will be released. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told Monday’s daily press briefing: “This decision was not made by the White House.” “The president wasn’t part of this decision making process,” she added.

Russian Military Jet Comes Within Five Feet of U.S. Plane on Black Sea, (Yahoo) A Russian military jet performed an “unsafe” intercept on the Black Sea on Monday, flying within five feet of a U.S. Navy plane on the Black Sea, U.S. military officials told CNN. The U.S. Navy P-3 surveillance plane was reportedly flying in international airspace when the incident occurred and was forced to end its mission prematurely as a result. The intercept lasted two hours and 40 minutes, according to a statement released by the U.S. military. “The Russian military is within its rights to operate within international airspace, but they must behave within international standards set to ensure safety and prevent incidents... Unsafe actions increase the risk of miscalculation and midair collisions,” the statement said. “The U.S. aircraft was op-

erating in accordance with international law and did not provoke this Russian activity.” The last time such an intercept occurred on the Black Sea was in November 2017. After the incident, which involved a Russian Su-30 fighter jet and a U.S. P-8A Poseidon, Nikolay Antoshkin, the retired deputy commander of Russia’s air force, said the U.S. shouldn’t have any presence in the area. “Americans have nothing to do in the Black Sea. This is an enclosed sea,” Antoshkin said at the time. Russian and U.S. military planes also were involved in an incident in December in Syria in which US F-22s intercepted Russian Su-25 closeair support jets after they flew over a deconfliction line along the Euphrates River. At one point, the F-22s even fired warning flares at the Russian aircraft, and one of the U.S.

warplanes was forced to perform a risky maneuver to avoid a midair collision with one of the Russian jets. The U.S. military has sought to bolster and modernize its presence in Europe in response to Russian aggression in recent years, particularly in the wake of the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election has compounded tensions between it and the U.S. that are seemingly being felt across the U.S. military. While visiting U.S. Marines stationed in Norway around Christmas, U.S. Marine Corps Commandant General Robert Neller told the troops to be prepared for a “big-ass fight.” “I hope I’m wrong, but there’s a war coming. You’re in a fight here, an informational fight, a political fight, by your presence,” Neller said at the time.

Trump hints at fight over $1 trillion trade with Europe (BBC) President Trump has warned that the U.S. administration may soon address “very unfair” trade with the European Union. “I’ve had a lot of problems with the European Union, and it may morph into something very big from ... a trade standpoint,” Trump said in an interview with British broadcaster ITV on Sunday. “It’s a very unfair situation,” he added. “We cannot get our product in. It’s very, very tough, and yet they send their product to us — no taxes, very little taxes.” Trump has on several occasions criticized the EU over trade, singling out export powerhouse Germany for running a big trade deficit with the United States. The rhetoric has not yet translated into

substantial action, but the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on what it perceives as unfair trade now appear to be gaining momentum. Last week, the U.S. slapped new tariffs on imported residential washing machines and solar panels, a move that is expected to hurt China and South Korea, a key ally and trading partner. Trump must soon decide whether to apply tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum. He has also threatened to withdraw from NAFTA if he’s unhappy with the outcome of talks about revising the pact with Canada and Mexico. And Commerce Sec. Wilbur Ross signaled last week that the administration could soon go after China on trade in technology.

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Tuesday January 30, 2018

Police investigating issuance of Barbados says it is fraudulent cheques involving some colleagues committed to eliminating PORTAU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – The National Police of Haiti (PNH) said it has been able to recover nearly Gourdes 50 million (One Gourde=US$0.015 cents) over the past three months as a result of various acts of corruption including payments to persons who are no longer affiliated with the police service. The PNH said that nearly 19,000 cheques are made out monthly for the payment of salaries to staff who have resigned, abandoned their positions, absent or deceased. The authorities said they had taken steps to exercise greater control over the situation and have been carrying out rigorous verification for several months. PNH director general, Michel-Ange Gédéon, said that for the last three months, these verifications and investigations have enabled the PNH to recover nearly Gourdes 50 million in cheques given to both police officers and administrative staff. Gédéon said at some police station where the cheques were handed over to the beneficiaries themselves, the action resulted in the return of several hundred checks; the financial amounts have not yet been recorded. Gédéon said this activity showed that police officials are involved in the fraud and that he is determined to clean

corporal punishment

the police service of those officials and tarnish the reputation of the police. He is also promising to have these officers face the full brunt of the law and that investigations are under way to determine and identify the leaders and their accomplices. ** More than 50 homes destroyed in blaze in shanty town NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – Bahamas police say they are conducting investigations into a fire at an area known as “The Mudd” on Sunday that destroyed several homes and left more than 100 people homeless. Chief Superintendent Kevin Mortimer, the officer in charge of the Abaco district, said the blaze may have been

deliberately started and that police and volunteers throughout Abaco responded and battled the fire for over three hours. He confirmed that there was no loss of life and that a team from the Department of Social Services and other government and civic agencies was scene interviewing residents to determine how many homes were destroyed. “We suspect it being lit by someone, but we are not certain as yet. We are conducting some inquires as time progresses,” he said, even as the police said they believe at least 60 homes in the shanty town area had been destroyed.The parliamentary representative for Central and South Abaco, James Albury, said the police were question-

ing someone in relation to the fire that left at least 170 people homeless. Albury said his focus will be on ensuring that no homes are rebuilt in The Mudd comprising three shanty town communities, Sand Banks, The Mud and Pigeon Peas, and have as many as 1,000 homes occupied mainly by Haitian migrants. “I can tell you precisely that, in my capacity, this is exactly a case in point of what happens when you have structures built like this, very closely together, and not built up to any sort of proper code or standard,” he said. In 2014, a similar incident prompted a government pledge to relocate more than 150 people who were displaced after a fire.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Barbados government Monday said it remains committed to eliminating corporal punishment in keeping with its agreement to protect the Rights of the Child. Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite, in discussions with the new United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Dr. Aloys Kamuragiye, said he believes the time has come to eliminate corporal punishment even as he admits that greater discussion and dialogue are needed on the issue before it is accepted by society. “We need to go to the churches and society and show them the alternatives… We need to re-socialise our people,” Brathwaite said, noting that teachers were already stating that the present generation was more difficult than those before. And, while acknowledging that it would not be an easy matter to deal with, Brathwaite re-emphasised that he believed in doing what he could to ensure that young people had a second chance. “One error should not define a child’s life,” he maintained.Kamuragiye urged stakeholders to assist in bringing about the neces-

Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite sary change, saying “it takes people with passion who are committed. “Where change happens it takes commitment,” he said, noting that it was also important to monitor the impact of the efforts over time so that an account could be given of the change being produced in communities. Kamuragiye commended Barbados’s efforts so far in a number of areas, including the draft Juvenile Justice Bill, which also contains proposals to raise the age of criminal responsibility for children from 11 to 12. But, at the same time, he lamented what he described as the high prevalence of violence against children throughout the region, particularly in the areas of sexual abuse and neglect.

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Tuesday January 30, 2018

Tuesday January 30, 2018

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Quetta Gladiators pick Jofra Archer in PSL replacement draft Red Force unfazed by star... ESPNcricinfo - Quetta Gladiators picked Sussex’s rising sensation Jofra Archer as a replacement for allrounder Carlos Brathwaite who will miss the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and will instead play for West Indies in the World Cup qualifiers in March. Archer’s Sussex teammate Tymal Mills was roped in by Karachi Kings in place of former Australia quick Mitchell Johnson, who had pulled out of the tournament, citing personal reasons. In a replacement draft held in Lahore yesterday, all six franchises tweaked their roster, replacing players unavailable for various reasons ahead of the third edition of the league, scheduled to be played from February 22. Only five players who had been originally drafted in will miss the tournament in its entirety Johnson,

Brathwaite, Luke Wright, Angelo Mathews and Colin Munro. The other replacement players have been brought in as cover for players who are partially available. Two days after being picked up by Rajasthan Royals for USD 1.125 million in the IPL auction, Archer grabbed the spotlight again. A 22-year old allrounder from Barbados who plies his trade at Sussex, Archer extended his county form into the Bangladesh Premier League and then the Big Bash League. He claimed a doublewicket maiden on BBL debut for Hobart Hurricanes and continued to impress with his rapid pace. In addition, he has a strike-rate of 143.93 with the bat, which makes him an exciting prospect. England opener Luke Wright, meanwhile, pulled out of the PSL because of fitness

concerns. Wright had played for Quetta in the first two seasons, before being selected by Karachi this season. They replaced him with another England opener in Joe Denly who was the top scorer in the Natwest T20 Blast in 2017 and later went on to play for Dhaka Dynamites in the BPL and the Hurricanes in the BBL. “Sadly I’ve had to pull out of the PSL this year,” Wright tweeted. “I’ve been carrying niggles all winter and they aren’t getting better so, to be fair to both Karachi Kings and Sussex, I respectfully have to miss it. Great tournament. Hope to play in it next year.” SLC denied a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to Mathews, forcing Lahore Qalandars to pick New Zealand’s Anton Devcich instead. Lahore also drafted in

Tuesday January 30, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) A social event could bring a fascinating new someone, perhaps from a different culture, into your life, Aries. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Are you falling for someone you know on the job, Taurus? If so, you might find out that your feelings are reciprocated. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Love and romance are first and foremost on your agenda for today, Gemini. You and your romantic partner may leave a gathering of friends to be alone together and talk. CANCER (June 21–July 22) A festive event takes place in your home today, Cancer. Is it a family member's birthday? A lot of lighthearted banter takes place alongside intense discussions of deep subjects and stories of strange events occurring around the world. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Throwing away your map frees your mind to perceive reality as it is, rather than how its drawn. At this point in time, its more important to make your own connections rather than relying on anyone elses VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Financially, things seem to be going great for you right now, Virgo, and therefore you could plan to make an investment in your home.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) At this time, Libra, most of your focus is on either a group you're affiliated with or an intellectual subject in which you have an intense interest, or perhaps both! SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today you might decide to spend much of your day alone at home, Scorpio, perhaps working on a creative project of some kind. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Expect to be surrounded by genuine love and affection today, Sagittarius. Friends, family members, and a very special romantic partner could pay you far more attention than usual. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Idealistic love could come your way today, Capricorn. This might involve a colleague or possibly someone in a group with which you're affiliated. It might even be someone you've never before considered as more than a friend AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Travel by air, perhaps in the company of some friends, could well be in the works for you, Aquarius. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A lucky break could put you into a higher financial bracket than you were two days ago, Pisces. Career matters, perhaps those concerning the arts, could be involved in some way.

West Indies wicketkeeperbatsman Denesh Ramdin to replace Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman, who will be available for a few games before joining the Bangladesh side. Islamabad United brought in Sri Lanka allrounder Asela Gunaratne, England quick Steven Finn and West Indies batsman Chadwick Walton to replace JP Duminy, David Willey and Alex Hales. “We brought in an extra keeper (Ramdin) as back up for Umar Akmal, in case we want to play Umar as batsman only,” a Lahore Qalandars spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo. “We had originally picked Mitchell McClenaghan to fill in for Mustafizur’s absence, so we have an extra fast bowler if we need one.” Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan - who are both part of defending champions Peshawar Zalmi’s squad - will also only be available for the first four games of the tournament. They will then join the national team for a tri-series that also involves Sri Lanka and India. Quetta’s Mahmudullah, also unavailable for the same reason, was replaced by Australia fast bowler John Hastings. Peshawar also brought in Dwayne Smith and Liam Dawson as cover.

Estwick... From page 28 West Indies will be the highest ranked side in the March 4-25 qualifiers, as they chase one of the two remaining spots at the 2019 World Cup. The Caribbean side missed out on automatic qualification after they were ranked ninth in the ICC oneday rankings at the September 30, 2017 cutoff date. Only hosts England, the remaining top-seven ranked sides earned direct qualification.

Haiti U20... From page 31 in a 1-1 draw also on Sunday at Ato Boldon Stadium. Goalkeeper Emily Alvarado made two saves in the shootout, denying Brianna Pinto and Kiara Pickett on the Americans’ first and third attempts. Katty Martinez, Jimena Lopez, Mia Villegas and Belen Cruz converted successfully for the Tricolor. The USA entered the match as the four-time defending champion, even beating the Mexicans in the group stage, 2-1, on January 23. (CONCACAF)

From page 26 with the abundance of talent at their disposal, with Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich and company all in the line-up, and captain Kraigg Brathwaite said the side remained confident. “It’s the first game for us. We’re looking forward to it. You know we always have a big rivalry against Trinidad, and the guys are very excited about the tournament,” said the Test opener. “I think we’re quite ready. Obviously Jason had surgery on his elbow so he’s not a hundred per cent but as a team we’ll be ready to go.” Like Red Force, several members of the team will head off on West Indies duty while the tournament is ongoing

but Brathwaite said he did not envision it being a major blow to Pride’s title defence. He said once the replacements remained in shape, the transition would be seamless. “Obviously it will be tough but the guys who are coming in I have full confidence in them to do the job in terms of defending the title,” Brathwaite pointed out. “What will be key for us is that for the five guys who are not playing that we keep them flowing with a few practice games and keep them practicing so that when they come in they are ready to roll. “I don’t think it will hamper us because I have full confidence in the guys to represent Barbados.”

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Kaieteur News

Alibaba looks to modernise Olympics starting in Pyeongchang SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, one of the few Olympics sponsors signed up until 2028, said it wants to upgrade the technology that keeps the Games running and will study the Pyeongchang Games to help find ways to save future host countries money. “Pyeongchang will be a very important learning opportunity for our team to see how things are working and what’s missing,” Alibaba’s chief marketing officer Chris Tung said in an interview. Alibaba, the cloudservices and e-commerce provider for the Olympics, will take back what it has learnt at the Feb. 9 to 25 Pyeongchang Winter Games and develop solutions for the next Games. Ticketing, media and video services are among the areas that Tung said Alibaba wants to improve. It especially wants to end the inefficient practice of building from

scratch local data centres and IT services for each Olympic Games. “It will be great if a lot of the back end systems from hosting a Games can be hosted on the cloud and can be reused from Games to Games to enhance the cost efficiency,” he said. Atos SE, the French information services company that is also a top sponsor, said on its website that all critical IT systems in Pyeongchang have already been moved to the cloud using its technology. Alibaba will send to South Korea between 200 and 300 employees from across all its management teams, Tung said, adding that he wants the “organizers to see how the operations could be made more efficient, effective and secure.”Alibaba’s views are in line with the Olympics Agenda 2020 reforms that also aimed to make the Games more attractive and cut the

Alibaba Group (REUTERS/Stringer) cost of hosting them. The next Winter Olympics after Pyeongchang will be in 2022 on Alibaba’s home turf in China, where the company said it wants to make the experience of going to an Olympics totally different for consumers, whether it’s how they buy tickets, use mobile technology or find related events in Beijing. At Pyeongchang, Alibaba said on its website that it will put on a showcase at the Gangneung Olympic Park demonstrating concepts Alibaba is looking to pursue

No tolerance for hooligans at Russia World Cup: UK police chief

A projectile is launched in the streets of Marseille ahead of the England v Russia match. (Photograph: Jean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters) SHEFFIELD, England (Reuters) - Soccer hooligans can expect swift police action if they try to make trouble at this summer’s World Cup finals in Russia where authorities are already putting strict security procedures in place, Britain’s lead officer for soccer policing said. England and Russia were threatened with expulsion from the 2016 European Championship in France after brawls between Russian and English hooligans that both countries blamed on each other’s fans. Russian and British police have been cooperating to avoid a repeat this summer, Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts said, with Russian authorities visiting England to watch its soccer policing

in action and British officials going to Russia to discuss tactics and strategies. Roberts said he was confident the Russians were on top of security at the tournament, which will be held in 12 venues in 11 cities, including Moscow, St Petersburg, Sochi and Kazan.“Gauging everything (the Russian police) have said, everything I’ve seen, there’s a high degree of commitment to deal with their own risk supporters as well as any visiting ones,” Roberts said in an interview at police headquarters in Sheffield, northern England, where he is based. “My sense is the hooligans in Russia will be wary of the Russian authorities.” English fans have had a reputation for hooliganism

since the 1970s and caused trouble in the 1998 World Cup in France and the European Championships in Belgium in 2000. Britain has had success cracking down on the problem by banning travel for known troublemakers - nearly 2,000 people are currently banned - and giving police the power to confiscate their passports.Not one British national was arrested for soccer-related disorder at tournaments in South Africa in 2010, Poland and Ukraine in 2012 or Brazil in 2014.The trouble in Marseilles two years ago reignited concerns that English soccer violence could return, however. “I think they (the Russians) are wary as every host nation is,” Roberts said.

for future Games, including facial recognition technology, travel guidance, content creation and better ways to buy Olympics merchandise. “We’re new to the Olympics games but we’ve been studying what would be solutions to the pain points that game hosting cities have been facing over the years,” Tung said. As for the cold weather expected in Pyeongchang, there will also be a daily tea ritual at the Alibaba site to keep fans warm.

Tuesday January 30, 2018

Amir Khan to fight Phil lo Greco in Liverpool first bout since 2016 BBC Sport - Britain’s Amir Khan will fight Canadian Phil lo Greco at the Liverpool Echo Arena on 21 April in his first bout for almost two years. Khan, 31, was beaten by Saul Alvarez in a WBC middleweight title bout in May 2016, his most recent fight.“He will be coming with everything to win this fight and I’m not going to give him an inch,” said former light-welterweight world champion Khan.“He’s an aggressive fighter who is always looking to come forward.” Khan has won 31 and lost four of his 35 professional bouts, while Lo Greco, 33, has 28 wins and three defeats from 31 fights.“Being my first fight in the UK, I’m excited about the crowd,” said Lo Greco.“I can’t wait to feel that energy. As much as UK fans love their fighters, they love great fights and I promise just that. This night will go down as one of

Amir Khan (Getty Images) the best fights ever in the UK.“I’ve got a full training camp this time around - there will be no room for error. Amir Khan will be knocked out.”During his time away from the ring, Khan appeared on ITV show I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here.

Red Force unfazed by star-studded Pride BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Star-studded title-holders Barbados Pride are heavily tipped to successfully defend their Regional Super50 Cup but they will hold no terrors for perennial archrivals Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, when the two teams clash on the opening day of the one-day tournament here today. Pride boast 10 Test players in their squad and 12 who have already represented West Indies at international level. The two who have not yet played senior team cricket – Kevin Stoute and Shamarh Brooks – have both played for West Indies A. Red Force, on the other hand, are missing most of their established players for varying reasons but will still pack a punch, with seven members of their squad having already played for West Indies as well. And while former Test skipper, Denesh Ramdin, acknowledged the home-side’s strength, he said Red Force possessed a very good chance of winning once produced their best game. “We have a mixture of senior players and youngsters – exciting youngsters so it’s important that we stay focussed,” Ramdin told a media conference here yesterday. “Our first game is against Barbados Pride – a very experienced team. We’re playing in their backyard so we need to come up with our ‘A’ game. “If you look at all the teams this year they’re very

West Indies opener Evin Lewis … will play a major role in the Red Force line-up. strong teams, well balanced, so on any given day, any team can win but cricket plays on the day so we’re not going to take it lightly. “It’s going to be an exciting tournament, young stars can come up. The most important thing is to qualify and get to Antigua … so hopefully all goes well.” Ramdin, who recently plundered 799 runs in the Regional Four-Day Championship, leads a batting side that includes the likes of West Indies stars Evin Lewis and Jason Mohammed, with Twenty20 left-hander Nicholas Pooran also expected to feature.

Their bowling will be led by the Windies pair of fast bowler Shannon Gabriel and off-spinner Sunil Narine, with left-arm speedster Sheldon Cottrell also a lethal member of the attack. Ramdin believes the combination of experienced and younger players provided a well-balanced unit for Red Force, which had the ability to stun the powerful Pride unit. “They are strong on paper but cricket plays on the field. A bowler can come and bowl a good spell and knock over a few of them and put us in the box seat,” Ramdin stressed. “We have some young exciting players. We have what we have and we have to make it do. Obviously some of them have to go off on West Indies duty and we have some replacements. “We have Nicholas Pooran, Evin Lewis [and] Narine is back in our team and those guys are match-winners for us. [Pride] has some in their team.” He continued: “It’s going to be good competitive game. At the end of the day, [cricket plays on the field] and it is about which team comes out and does well in all departments.” Pride will enter the opening contest with a question mark over the fitness of Test and one-day captain, Jason Holder, who recently underwent elbow surgery and is still recovering. However, they can easily compensate for his absence (Continued on page 25)

Tuesday January 30, 2018

David Beckham FINALLY launches his MLS franchise David Beckham has launched his long-awaited Major League Soccer franchise after his side was accepted into the league by Don Garber. The former England captain announced the news at a press conference alongside Garber yesterday afternoon. Garber said: ‘These are the days that really warm our hearts and make us so proud. Great things come to those who wait. A day that will go down as one of the historic days in our league. ’David will remember when we first met and he said he wanted to grow the sport but one day he wanted to become an owner. He worked for years to find the right stand.Miami had long been identified as a potential MLS expansion area but the Beckham-backed venture to take a team there had been beset by years of difficulties over the location of a possible new stadium.

David Beckham (right) has officially launched his MLS franchise after years of waiting to take charge of a club in the United States. Beckham, who won 115 England caps, had an option to purchase an MLS expansion franchise included in his contract when he joined Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007. The former Manchester

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United star promised to bring the world’s top players to Miami in 2014, sayinghe would make a global football team, whichwould be ‘loved by millions of people’. (MailOnline)

Matthews best seals winning end for Hurricanes MELBOURNE, Australia, CMC – Teenager Hayley Matthews struck a tournament-best 44 in a Player-of-the-Match performance to help Hobart Hurricanes secure only their second win, in their final match of the Women’s Big Bash League here Sunday. Defending a modest 131 at the MCG, Hurricanes held Melbourne Stars to 128 for seven, to come away with a narrow two-run victory. Sent in, Hurricanes gathered 130 for six off their 20 overs, with West Indies star Matthews unfurling an attractive run-a-ball knock which included five fours. She put on 38 for the first wicket with Stefanie Daffara (13) before adding a further 39 for the second wicket with Georgia Redmayne whose 40 came from 37 balls and included a single four. Off-spinner Erin Osborne was the best bowler with three for 23. In reply, Osborne top-scored with 30 from 29 balls but no other batsman passed 20, as Stars came up short. They required 11 from the final over bowled by Matthews but the Windies offspinner conceded only eight runs. Overall, she finished with one for 19 from a miserly fourover spell. Hurricanes ended bottom of the WBBL

Hobart Hurricanes opener Hayley Matthews. standings with four points. At the Allan Border Field in Brisbane, Stafanie Taylor’s Sydney Thunder got the better of Deandra Dottin’s Brisbane Heat by two runs, but both teams qualified for the final four of the tournament. Neither Taylor nor Dottin had any major impact on the game.

West Indies announce separate player contracts for different formats

‘Wonderful start’ for Elaine Thompson to season at Queen’s/Grace Meet

West Indies players sing their cricket anthem. (Getty Images)

Elaine Thompson eases across the finish line to win the 60m dash Jamaica Observer - Elaine Thompson clocked 7.18secs to take section three of the women’s 60-metre dash Open at the 17th staging of the Queen’s/Grace Jackson Invitational Meet at National Stadium Saturday night, but she was made to work by her MVP teammate Christania Williams, who led for about 50m of the race. Left behind by both Williams and Sprintec’s Natasha Morrison at the start, Thompson had to extend her legs to catch up, but prevailed to take first place with her superior top-end speed. Williams finished second in 7.19secs, but it was the fast-finishing Shashalee

Forbes who took third in 7.28secs, as Morrison faded into fourth in 7.29secs. Quarter-miler Shericka Jackson of MVP, who was running in her first 60m race, finished fifth in 7.31secs. Thompson was happy with her first race of the season.“The 60m is very fast, you have to execute it properly and this season is relatively fast and short. I have been in training for only three months so to come out here and run 7.18 is a wonderful start. I have to take it step by step, continue to put in the work, and just come out here and perform.” She also revealed that the World Indoor Championships

was a main target of her plans this year. “There will be a build-up to the World Indoor Championships; we are in background training now and doing some development meets as well, so I am going to target the 60m indoor this year and my first international meet will be at Glasgow.” World University Games 100m champion Shashalee Forbes was surprised by her own performance in her firstever competitive 60m. “It was a good race and I must say I was surprised with the time that I received. I am a strong finisher, but I need to fix my start so that I can get faster times.”

ESPNcricinfo - Cricket West Indies has introduced a new system of different contracts for Test and limited-overs international players, effective from July 1. The system will have three categories: all-format contracts, redball contracts, and white-ball contracts. Only five players - Jason Holder, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Devendra Bishoo - have been contracted for all formats, while six have been given red-ball contracts and five others white-ball contracts. The new measures come in the wake of an increasing number of players opting out of the national team in favour of T20 tournaments. Most recently, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell and Darren Bravo opted to skip the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe to play the Pakistan Super League. “The new retainer contracts aim to incentivise our players to play cricket for the WINDIES and be contracted to CWI,” Johnny Grave, the chief executive officer of CWI, said. “All the new contracts offer increased remuneration to our WINDIES men’s team as well as enhanced medical and insurance policies. All future contracts for all of our professional cricketers will start on the same date, July 1, which will become the start of our cricketing year.” Under the new arrangement, a maximum of 11 all-format contracts can be awarded. For

red-ball and white-ball contracts, the aggregate can go up to 11, and the total number of contracts is capped at 18. Four new development contracts can also be offered to players in the red-ball and whiteball categories. These contracts cater to those players yet to establish themselves in the XI but who are likely to be selected in the year ahead. The process of selecting players was completed last July, ahead of the issue of domestic contracts to the 90 regional professional cricketers on August 1. While the national men’s team is officially on contract till September 2018, the new retainers will be issued to both national and regional players on July 1, to ensure all professional cricketers start their new contracts on the same date. List of retained players: All-format contracts - Jason Holder, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Devendra Bishoo Red-ball contracts - Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Jermaine Blackwood, Miguel Cummins, Jomel Warrican (Development - Shimron Hetmyer, Kieran Powell, Vishaul Singh) White-ball contracts - Carlos Brathwaite, Ashley Nurse, Jason Mohammed, Evin Lewis, Rovman Powell (Development - Kesrick Williams)

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Kaieteur News

Jeffrey, Seejattan, Seebarran, Baksh, Rahaman among top GT Motorsports’ awardees By Zaheer Mohamed The top drivers of the GT Motorsport Georgetown Grand Prix were rewarded for their efforts when the organisation held its Awards ceremony on Friday night at GMRSC in Thomaslands. These drivers have made great strides in the sport in only some 12 months of competition and gave Guyanese fans much to cheer about on the track, thereby making the sport an important event locally. The top three drivers in each category were presented with plaques, while marshals and other persons who assisted in the success of GT Motorsport were also rewarded for their input. Kristian Jeffrey was named champion driver of the Shifter Pro Cup after recording six wins amassing 189 points. Fellow Guyanese Elliott Vieira finished second with 138 points, while Canadian Darryl Timmers was third on 131 points.Mikhail Persaud was named the top driver in the125 cc junior division with 272 points. Rayden Persaud with 239 points ended second, while John Phang was third on 205 points. Matthew Phang was voted the best driver in the 125cc senior segment after scoring 148 points while Bridget Singh of Trinidad and Tobago took the runner up spot with 115 points, while

The top drivers display their accolades at the awards ceremony. Denzel Hopkinson placed third on 109 points. Shan Seejattan marked 186 points to cop the top award in the Easy Cup Heavy; Haniff Mohamed and Raymond Seebarran finished second and third with 93 and 65 points respectively. The top driver prize in the Easy Cup Light division went to Raymond Seebarran who rattled up 172 points ahead of Haniff Mohamed 155 and Ralph Persaud 147 points. Raymond Baksh was crowned champion driver in the Easy Cup Rookie category after notching 273

points; Ralph Persaud was second on 184, while Dharmendra Dharmo was third on 154. Jeremy Tenpow took the top podium spot in the Sunburst Kids Cup 60cc, while Nathan Rahaman placed second; Paige Mendonca placed third. Vishok Persaud, who chaired the proceedings, congratulated the awardees and expressed gratitude to the sponsors. He made special mention of Stanley Ming and Kevin Jeffrey who were instrumental in the erection of the facility and gave the assurance that this year will be

Guyana All-star trio in Pan American Hockey Cups Presented with their certificates Guyana had three players that featured on the Pan American Hockey Federation’s (PAHF) all star male and female teams of the historic and locally hosted, Pan American Indoor Cups (PAIC) which was competed at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall October 16-21 last. Although Guyana didn’t medal in either of the Male or Female Categories which Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of America won

respectively, Marzana Fiedtkou, Robert France and Medroy Scotland’s standout performances earned them spots in the tournament’s AllStar XI’s.Fiedtkou, who copped a place in the women’s all-star XI, featured in Guyana’s female team that finished sixth out of a pool of seven. Meanwhile, the Golden Arrowhead had to entries in the men’s all-star XI with Robert France who

captained Guyana’s men and his teammate Medroy Scotland, who was adjudged the best goalkeeper of tournament, rounding off the two spots. Minister of Social Cohesion with the responsibility for Sport, Dr. George Norton, had the privilege of presenting the athletes with their certificates of achievement from the PAHF, during a brief courtesy call at his Main Street office. During the greet Norton congratulated the players on their outstanding performance and encouraged them to continue the good work.Head of the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB), Philip Fernandes elated, “It is a great achievement for such a small hockey nation like Guyana. In the past we’ve only had one all-star player and now we have three which I think speaks volumes of our progress in the sport locally.”Minister’s office.

bigger and better. Kevin Jeffrey, Stanley Ming, Ray Rahaman, Rameez Mohamed, Sunil Persaud, Harold Hopkinson were among those that were commended for their role in the success of the sport. President of organisation Rameez Mohamed lauded the winners and stated that drag race is the perfect start for new drivers. He added that

the entity will show more dedication to the sport and special emphasis will be placed on safety. The sponsors were STAG Beer, Exxon Mobil, Bounty Farm Ltd., Monster Energy, All in One Distributors, Sunburst Orange Juice, Rent-A-Tent, Cyril’s Taxi Service, Fly Jamaica, Optique Vision Care, King’s Jewellery World, Karcher, Prem’s Electrical,

Truck Masters, Secure Innovations and Concepts, Auto Toy Store, BM Soat, Industrial Supply of Guyana, Marics Company Ltd., Superbet, Ray’s Auto Sales, Zoon, Hero Motorcorp, Hand in Hand Insurance, Readymixx Concrete, Rid-OPes, Scotiabank, Toucan Distributors, Windjammers, Ticketmaster Travel Agency, Japarts and Nexus Machining.

Estwick axed for Zimbabwe qualifiers KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Well-regarded West Indies bowling coach, Roddy Estwick, has been sacked for the upcoming ICC World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe. The 56-year-old, who joined the Caribbean side’s coaching staff 20 months ago, will be replaced by a coach from outside the region. CWI president Dave Cameron confirmed the move but declined to name Estwick’s replacement citing “protocol”. “We are bringing in a different bowling coach and we will also solidify the batting,” Cameron told TVJ Sports here, while hinting at other changes in the management setup. “I’m not sure I’m at liberty to disclose the name of the coach … but he’s not from the region. Again, we want to bolster our bowling. I believe that if we have good bowlers, then whatever we get to make our batting will take care of that.” Estwick joined the Windies management in May, 2016, replacing the legendary former Windies fast bowler, Sir Curtly Ambrose, ahead of the Tri-Nations Series in the Caribbean involving Australia and South Africa.

Roddy Estwick (right) has been credited with much of the recent development of Shannon Gabriel. Througout his tenure, the Barbadian has earned praise from players, with seamers like Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach crediting him with their recent development. Gabriel snatched 44 wickets in Tests in a 15-month period ending last December while Roach, who returned to international cricket last August following a 19-month break, picked up 25 wickets in seven Tests. However, West Indies endured a wretched run in New Zealand last December, failing to win a single game as they suffered 3-0 whitewashes in

the Test and one-day series, and a 2-0 defeat in the threematch Twenty20 series. The Caribbean bowlers struggled, dismissing the Black Caps just once in the two Tests. Estwick was a member of the Windies management group headed by Australian head coach Stuart Law, and which also included team operations manager, Joel Garner; batting coach, Toby Radford; fielding coach, Ryan Maron; physio, CJ Clark and strength and fitness coordinator, Ronald Rogers. (Continued on page 25)

Tuesday January 30, 2018

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CWI leadership incapable of rescuing Windies cricket: Bravo PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Outspoken all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has written off the present crop of Cricket West Indies leadership, and says there is desperate need for a new kind of thinking, in order to save the next generation of cricketers. Speaking against the backdrop of the latest fracas betweeen CWI and the players, the former one-day skipper said the board had a history of mistreatment of players and this could only change if there was a wholesake shakeup at the top level of the administration. “I am just concerned about the next generation of cricketers. West Indies have a history of treating players [badly],” a passionate Bravo told I95FM Radio here. “They treated players badly before my time, they

treated players badly during my time and … it’s just a history of treating players badly. And players always get the blame and when a player does not perform he gets dropped, and that’s it. “Do you hear anybody getting sacked or resigning [from the board]. The best coach (Phil Simmons) West Indies had in how much years, the only coach that players loved and were dying to play for, West Indies sacked him because he stand up for the players.” Bravo, who is currently playing in the Australia Big Bash, said the future of West Indies cricket was bleak, and stressed that the Dave Cameron-led administration was incapable of turning around the situation. The major problem, the 34-year-old argued, was the need for “new blood”, point-

ing out that the current leadership had already been in place for an extended period, and had little results to show. “It’s just sad to see what West Indies cricket [has come to] and I’m sorry for the younger players who’re coming through,” the Trinidadian continued.“They’re not being paid well, one, and the system is terrible so the future of West Indies is cricket is in a very bad state, and those who are in charge now, they cannot help. West Indies need a new blood of thinking, they need new people.“Those board directors [have been] there for how much years? Like 20-something years and 30-something years and nothing [has changed]. Look at the structure of West Indies cricket, look at the facilities in the Caribbean.” Controversy erupted last Thursday when chief selec-

tor Courtney Browne said the senior quartet of Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Darren Bravo and Andre Russell, had declined selection for the upcoming ICC World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe. In a statement, Browne said they had reached out to the players who had “indicated that they were unavailable to help us qualify as their priority was playing in the Pakistan Super League.” CWI president Cameron said the board was “very disappointed” by the players’ decision, adding “we’ll probably not invite those players to be a part of Cricket West Indies going forward.” Cameron’s comments drew a sharp rebuke from Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board president, Azim Bassarath, and Bravo too was also critical of the Jamaican administrator.“The president

Never said West Indies career was over - Dwayne Bravo ESPNcricinfo - Dwayne Bravo has hit back at Cricket West Indies (CWI) for building a perception that he isn’t interested in playing one-day internationals. The 34-year old allrounder hasn’t played one in nearly four years, but he insists that such a situation arose because of a lack of clarity from the selectors regarding his role in the team as opposed to his not wanting to play ODIs. In addition, Bravo has also called out the chairman of the panel Courtney Browne for purporting that the two of them had been in contact with each other. While announcing West Indies’ squad for the 2019 World Cup Qualifiers, Browne was quoted in a CWI release saying, “Dwayne Bravo was not contacted as he had indicated previously that he is no longer available to play cricket for the West Indies.” Bravo, however, was firm that he has never expressed any desire to end his West Indies career; at least not to CWI or the team management. “Let me make it clear that I have never had any conversation in last six months with the chairman or anyone from board about any West Indies cricket,” he told Cricbuzz. “The only time we spoke about cricket was during the T20 series in Dubai 2016 when he said I was poison to West Indies cricket and bad influence on young players, ridiculously. “What I said recently in an interview with a journalist in the Bangladesh Premier

Dwayne Bravo charges in to bowl. (Getty Images) League was that, however, I don’t see myself playing 50overs cricket again, despite my interest, because of the lack of communication from the board. So I would challenge the chairman to say otherwise.” A similar situation arose last year when West Indies were deliberating on a squad to play England. In August 2017, Browne had ruled out the possibility of Bravo’s inclusion, despite the board offering to relax the rules and pick even those players who didn’t take part in the oneday domestic tournament, on fitness grounds but that he may be considered for a spot in the future. “The person who actually spoke to me was captain Jason Holder, during Caribbean Premier League,” Bravo said,

“And it was him I told that after just coming back from my 2017 Big Bash League injury my body wasn’t ready to play one-day cricket in England, but when I’m stronger I would consider playing oneday cricket in 2018.” Bravo last represented West Indies in September 2016 but remains a popular figure in T20 franchise cricket. He is currently in Australia, with the Melbourne Renegades, who have made it to the playoffs of the Big Bash League. On Saturday, he was bought by Chennai Super Kings to play the IPL for USD 1 million approx. “What I would like the Caribbean people to be aware of is that since India 2014 saga [when West Indies left the country midway through the tour over a contract dispute

with the board] I never said much about West Indies cricket, because I am living my life stress free, enjoying my cricket around the world,” Bravo said. “Yet my name is still being called up in West Indies cricket controversy.” While the CWI signed a temporary truce with their cricketers last year, and have now instituted white-ball contracts, the board made it clear that playing the domestic one-day tournament was still a requirement. Last week, the CEO Johnny Graves told ESPNcricnfo that Andre Ruseell, Sunil Narine and Chris Gayle would play some matches in the this year’s Super50 season. These players, Graves said, would then be available for ODI selection in the future, based on form and fitness. It is not clear whether Bravo and the selectors have had any conversations about him featuring in domestic cricket again. He hasn’t played a List A match since January 2015, and even as a one-day international player, he averaged a middling 25 with the bat but did markedly better with ball in hand, as 199 wickets at 29 apiece suggests. “I was dropped from the Test team at age of 26, in 2010, before I retired in 2015 after being fed up of asking the selectors when I’d play again,” Bravo said. “I was dropped from the one-day team before the 2015 World Cup. I have never turned my back on West Indies cricket, it is them who have turned their back on me.”

of the West Indies is a bully. You challenge him, you stand up to him and he clicks his fingers to get rid of you. That’s it.”Bravo reiterated his claim that West Indies selectors were only now interested in the senior players because of the team’s failure to earn automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup, and the subsequent desperation to secure one of the remaining two berths at the qualifiers in March.

Previously, Bravo argued, senior players had been repeatedly overlooked. “They need to stop throwing around these things and making people think that the players are not committed,” he contended.“They are not committed to us, they’re never interested in us before they reach this situation they’re in now. It’s only now they’re reaching out to us because they’re in a crisis situation.”

Letters to the Sports Editor Time for Bramble and Permaul to gain Windies call up DEAR SIR, Selection to the West Indies Team should be based on performance and performance alone, unless a player has a dismal discipline record. This short letter is to express the dismay of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS on the non-selection of Anthony Bramble and Veerasammy Permaul on any West Indies Team for upcoming tours. Bramble and Permaul have been simply outstanding for Guyana and it is a huge shame that they cannot be rewarded for their hard work. We fully support Sean Devers’ article on Friday 26th January, 2018, which asked the question “What more must Bramble do”? Despite not being members of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, as Berbicians we are very proud of them. For too long, our cricketers have been treated shabby by the West Indies Selectors and the time has come for Berbicians to say enough is enough. Bramble and Permaul deserve to be on the West Indies ‘A’ Team in front of numerous players who are below their high standard. To both of these players, we would like to encourage them to stay the course, to continue performing, believe in the God they serve and one day they would be rewarded. Every voice in the ancient county should be raised in disgust and it is my hope that this letter would serve as an inspiration for others to speak up. Yours in Sports, Hilbert Foster, RHTYSC Secretary/CEO

In support of Michael Parris DEAR SPORTS EDITOR, I hope that this article makes into your newspaper. I Andy Medas-King am in full support of T. Pemberton that our only Olympic Medalist Michael Parris should be the Flag bearer at the 2020 Olympics. I hope that T. Pemberton saw me Andy Medas-King on the Basil Bradshaw show honoring Mr. Michael Parris for being our only Olympic Medalist and my kids and wife was able to meet this great athlete from Guyana and with the hope of his success rubbing off on my two daughters so that they can grow up and become an Olympic Medalist also. Well if T. Pemberton missed that presentation on the wake up Guyana show or never heard of Andy Medas-King before, for the records you can watch back the video on YouTube by typing in Michael Parris being honored by Medas-King and Family. It was also great to know from that day on Channel 9TV that Mr. Parris is now involved in boxing and is doing great things at least someone listen. So to throw my support behind this venture of him being the flag bearer for the 2020 Olympic Games would only put him where he should be, leading Guyana from the front and maybe that would break the jinx and we might be able to come away with an Olympic medal. Thanks T. Pemberton for your vision, it could be realized only if the GOA put it in place and we are hoping this can happen. Andy Medas-King Founder and Organizer of the Guyana’s First ‘Junior Olympic Games’ (2017)

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GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Watson U15 League – EBFA

Herstelling swamp Diamond United; Grove stay clear at the top after day 2 action Damien Persaud rocked the nets on five occasions while Solomon A u s t i n tucked in a helmet-trick and Shoran James a hat-trick to lead Herstelling Raiders to a huge 13-1 drubbing of Diamond United when play in the East Bank Football Association leg of the GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Watson U15 Intra Association League continued with day two action on Saturday last at the Grove Playfield. Also recordings wins on the day were Grove Hi Tech which notched up their second of the league when they eased past Diamond Upsetters 2-0; Samatta Point/Kaneville FC defeated Friendship All Stars 3-1 while Agricola Red Triangle too full points from Mocha Champs which did not show up for their clash. But it was Herstelling Raiders which stole the show on the day with a thumping display. Shoran James opened Herstelling’s account in the first minute of the 70miunte match, his strike signaled the attacking intentions of his team form the onset. Solomon Austin, who ended the just concluded Ralph Green sponsored Under-11 League with 8 goals in 7 matches continues to display a flair for scoring by hitting four to help his team to a big win. Austin doubled Herstelling’s lead with his first in the 2nd minute and put

Yohance De Florimonte

Malcolm Hendricks

Shoran James

Solomon Austin

Damien Persaud

away two more in the 3rd and 26th minute, taking them to a comfortable 4-0 advantage. The goal spree had just started, before the half time whistle; Damien Persaud netted his first in the 28th while James achieved his second in the 29th minute as Herstelling sat comfortably 6-0 up. It was always going to be a tough ask for Diamond United to come back from this juncture. In the second half there was no letting up from the Raiders as they raided their opponents final third with even more success in the final half. Persaud started goal scoring proceedings off with strikes of his own in the 40th, 41st, 49th and 50th minute to complete his five for in the match. James completed his three in the 53rd minute just

after Malcolm Hendricks had scored in the 51st minute. It was Austin who completed the score-line at 13-0 with his fourth of the match in the 60th minute. Grove Hi Tech notched up their second win in as many matches when they beat Diamond Upsetters 20, both goals coming off the boot of Yohance De Florimonte in the 27th and

42nd minute of the match. The win takes Grove to six months and the top spot on the points table; they had won the f i r s t m a t c h o f t h e league against Kuru Kururu Warriors, 4-1 coming from a goal down. Saturday’s final match saw Samatta Point/ Kanville FC recording a comfortable 3-1 win over Friendship All Stars which

gifted the Samatta Point side their opening strike by way of an own goal in the 6th minute. It was the only goal of what turned out to be a very competitive opening 35 minutes as both sides held their own, toughing it out. On 51 minutes however, Samatta Point were able to double the advan-

tage when Denzil Garraway found the back of the nets. The lead was further increased when Jaden Forths converted in the 59th minute, taking the lead to 3-0. Friendship was able to score a consolation goal in the 65th minute off the boot of Vishaul Lalchan. D e t a i l s o f S u n d a y ’s matches in tomorrow’s edition.

Team Grove Kuru Kururu Agricola Mocha Herstelling Diamond United Diamond Upsetters Samatta Point/KV Friendship Swan FC Timehri Soesdyke

P 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0

W 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

Latest Points Table L D GF 0 0 6 1 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 13 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

GA 1+ 40+ 21+ 132 1 3 0 0 0

GD 5 3 2 2 12 12 -2 +2 -2 0 0 0

Points 6 0 3 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 0 0

Australia halt Afghanistan’s run in semi-finals

ESPNcricinfo - What was to be a spicy contest against spin turned into a no-contest with Australia steamrolling Afghanistan by six wickets at Hagley Oval to a secure a berth in Saturday’s final in Mount Manganui. They will play the winner of today’s second semi-final between India and Pakistan. Afghanistan’s decision to bat first backfired, as they were bowled out for 181 with medium pacer Jonathan Merlo picking four wickets. With their only hope of causing a stir in the Australian camp hinging on their mystery spinners, they unleashed Mujeeb Zadran, who on Sunday bagged an IPL contract worth USD 625,000, with the new ball. This move was met with a spectacular counter-attack from opener Jack Edwards, who smashed him for 14 in the eighth over on his way to a 40-ball half-century. Australia lost Jason Sangha, the captain, and Merlo to Qais Ahmed’s legspin, but Edwards’ charge meant Australia were far too ahead to panic. Param Uppal and Nathan McSweeney batted with admirable maturity and composure in the face of Afghanistan’s choke-by-spin tac-

tic to share an unbroken 53-run stand. Uppal, who was the more dominant of the two, showcased his command of the pull shot in his unbeaten 32. The target was run down comfortably in 37.3 overs. While the batsmen delivered box-office stuff, it was their new-ball pair of Zak Evans and Ryan Hadeley who caused early trouble for Afghanistan. Evans, who hit the deck hard, profited from the bounce on offer as he had Ibrahim Zadran top-edge a swirler to Hadley at fine leg to breakthrough early. Rahmatullah Gurbaz, who was reprieved on 6 when Evans put down a chance off his own bowling, built slowly in Ikram Ali Khil’s company. Legspinner Lloyd Pope, who became a star after his heroics against England, was welcomed into the attack in the 16th over by Ikram with a fierce sweep to deep square leg. That was Afghanistan’s first attempt at raising the tempo, but the surge did not last long as Gurbaz became the first of three Afghanistan batsmen to be snuffed out down the leg side. Gurbaz was the most unfortu-

Australia secured their spot in the Under-19 World Cup final with a 6-wicket win over Afghanistan at Christchurch nate, playing a neat tickle down leg to Baxter Holt. Bahir Shah was tangled, looking to pull a short ball that stopped on him and brushed his glove to Holt, while Qais Ahmed got some bat - after completing an attempted pull off a short ball - to the wicketkeeper. In between these dismissals, however, Ikram showed excellent footwork, particularly against Pope to bring up a fighting

half-century. Confident and composed at the crease, Ikram was adept at picking Will Sutherland’s slower variations and seemed set to bat through before an attempt to launch with 10 overs remaining led to his eventual downfall. From 146 for 7, the last three batsmen swung their bats, till Evans brought an end to the innings by dismissing Zahir Khan, who was

caught by substitute Austin Waugh at mid-off. Afghanistan started poorly with the ball as Darwish Rasooli put down a sitter at cover point to reprieve Edwards in the fourth over. That was the trigger for Edwards to lay into the bowlers, particularly Zadran. Edwards’ fire blended well with captain Sangha’s ice as the two went about milking the runs during the course of a 79-run stand for the second wicket. Sangha, in an attempt to drive on the up, chipped a simple return catch to Ahmed to give Afghanistan a sniff. When Merlo and Edwards fell in the space of 4 runs, Australia were in strife at 129 for 4. Suddenly, the ball was turning, bouncing and beating the batsmen. There were regular appeals for stumpings and runs were hard to come by. Once Ahmed was seen off expertly, though, the rest of the chase turned into a cruise that gave Australia an opportunity to aim for a fourth Under-19 World Cup title. Scores: Australia 182 for 4 (Edwards 72, Uppal 33*) beat Afghanistan 181 (Ikram 80, Merlo 4-24) by six wickets.