Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday January 30, 2019

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

EDITORIAL

EDUCATION AND POOR CHOICES

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ong ago, the term “hard ears” was commonly used in Guyana, mostly by parents and teachers, to warn children who were determined to have their way and who stubbornly refused to heed the warnings, advice and instructions of elders. It was meant to let children know that their behaviour was obnoxious and that the choices they were making would inevitably lead to consequences. Today, the term is hardly being used, and it would appear that many parents seem to have lost control of their children or tend to act as if they do not care. Amid growing concerns about deviancy, indiscipline and bullying in schools by a small minority of students, it is an opportune time for youths, especially those entering secondary school for the first time, to understand how important it is to make wise choices, including staying away from crime and gangs, and heed the advice of parents and teachers that will serve them in good stead in the future. Schools should not be the place to settle conflicts or to create violence, but unfortunately, this has been the situation in many instances. The purpose of schools is to educate children and equip them with the necessary skills and attitude to be productive. During the early post-independence period, a good education was the key to a prosperous and bright future and many Guyanese, including those who were not born into great wealth, obtained a good education. Today, this is hardly the case as too many of our students, regardless of their socio-economic status, are being distracted by the lure of the illegal drug trade and criminality. Materialism and money, whether obtained legally or not, seem to be the opium of youths. Even though quite a few of today’s children may be from wealthy families, a probe into their family history two or three generations ago would reveal relative poverty. Their upward mobility would have been the result of having a good education and making the best of it. It stands to reason that the wisest choice for the children today is for them to continue to do their best in the pursuit of a good education. But this can only be achieved by a change in our culture which places more emphasis on a glamorous lifestyle and less on the importance of education, which is a timeless vocation. In this regard, the term “hard ears” is as relevant today as it was many decades ago. Like the past, those who are imprisoned today have shown signs of being on this path from their school days. They were in most cases under achievers in school for various reasons. It is unfortunate that many are functionally illiterate. Was it solely the result of bad choices on the part of the students or was it a case of a poor education system. The answer lies in both. As a country, if we are truly serious about becoming the place of choice to live, work, raise families, and do business, then we need to reform the antiquated education system bequeathed to us by Britain. One of the major concerns is that there are too many Band-Aid solutions to solve the deep-rooted problems. The government cannot continue to patch up a shabby education system. It has a duty to ensure that everyone gets a good education in order to boost their potential and bring out the best in them.

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

The King got his just deserts Dear Editor, In the Fables of Aesop, there is the story of how a bad King suddenly changed his behaviour and became a good one. Asked why, he relates a story about animals coming to bad ends when they try to do bad things. Aha! The moral of this very interesting fable is that whoever does what he ought not to, receives what he does not want. In Georgetown, the story regarding our ‘King’ is considerably different. Unlike that King who made such an alteration in his conduct that he gained the name of “The Just,” with every one blessing the felicity of his reign, ours instead decided to get more greedy, more ruthless and more immoral with the passage of time and would not have stopped had it not been for the intervention of

the Commission of Inquiry. He could not have been massively taken aback by hearing the words ‘You’re Fired!’ as he must have known that was inevitable. Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit. In his case, it was the other way around. One can only conclude that it was he and other chaps at City Hall that authored of the popular game ‘Sea of Thieves’. But firing the ‘King’ must be considered just a very small first step in addressing the looting of City Hall. The trail of theft cannot and must not be left just like that. The brazenness, the vengeance of the plundering, the boldness of the crime wave, the audacity of the heist cannot be just swept over with a mere firing.What has

happened at City Hall over the last three years makes the Banco Central Burglary in Brazil, the Brink’s-MAT Robbery in London and the Central Bank of Iraq Robbery in Baghdad look like child’s play. Unlike the Bernie Madoff scandal where few people outside of Wall Street had heard of Bernard Madoff before he confessed to his epic US$65 billion fraud in 2008, in this i n s t a n c e t h e ‘ K i n g ’s ’ activities were well known to many, some of whom in several instances conspired with him. One can only hope that the others who were cited in the same report for d e r e l i c t i o n o f d u t y, incompetence, and conspiracy, and who are still at City Hall nonchalantly carrying out their tasks as though nothing has happened, would be dealt

with summarily and condignly. Dealing with one offender whilst allowing the others to continue with business as usual is material for a ‘Carry-On’ movie. Just as importantly, a systematic and timely effort to see the return of the stolen assets of the Council and the City must be urgently undertaken. The Local Government Commission must focus as well on putting in place the legal frameworks, institutional expertise, and the skills necessary to trace and return stolen assets from local authorities. This is the only way to develop the most effective tools to tackle and prevent the further theft of assets critical to the development our cities and towns. Sincerely, Mark Roopan

Ethics seems to be sorely missing in Guyana Dear Editor, It will take volumes to adequately analyse a discourse in values, ethics and laws in relation to Guyana’s politics. However, given the series of political related events that unfolded over the past months, these important tenets need to be addressed in the most simple and comprehendible manner possible. Our young people are paying attention and it is frightening to imagine what the possible take away can morph into. We must safeguard their future and cultivate good moral principles in the prevailing environment to foster a healthy society. Each of us will instinctively define ethics through our own personal experience. There is one fact we must keep in mind, “ethics is dynamic”. In general, ethics is the way we relate to another human being or group of human beings. This relationship needs to be built upon such values as trust, justice and integrity. In a nutshell, then, ethics is about relating to another person through the “lens of trust”. It is the relational glue that allows us to trust each other in order that we may live together in a creative, rather than a destructive, tension. With this in mind, let us briefly reflect on three incidents, among the many others that can be placed under the ethical microscope. First, the No Confidence

Motion tabled by the opposition, and the subsequent developments surrounding the motion. What should have been relatively straightforward constitutional prescriptions were deliberately twisted and contrived into complex legal deliberations, clearly orchestrated by the government to buy time in office.Second. GECOM being the independent agency it is, more than one month after the no confidence motion was carried by the National Assembly cannot give an election date, nor at the time of penning this letter, still cannot come up with a realistic timeline in which it is practical to run off national and regional elections. A cursory glance from afar, gives the impression that GECOM is not treating this matter with the level of urgency that it deserves. Why? Third, the selection of the opposition’s presidential candidate, I have never seen

such an outcry by the general public and more importantly, party supporters, against a politician before. The PPP/C presidential candidate whilst selected through a process that is dubbed democratic, it is crystal clear, as admitted by the general secretary of that p a r t y, t h a t h e w a s instrumental in getting the candidate elected and he has no apologies. After much introspection, regrouping and openly admitting that arrogance and complacency placed them on the opposition bench, now this! If the candidates were to be voted for by the broader PPP membership, would the results be the same?The adage, “you can’t legislate ethical behaviour” comes to mind. What is really going down in the beloved motherland? Are either of the two sides relating to the people of Guyana through the “lens of trust”? Is this the political climate that will continue to prevail into the

future? Recently, I read a piece carried by the BBC on Guyana and the tone of that news article reminded me of a story by Flora Squires titled “The Hustlers”, the narrative of two undertakers, Grasper and Grabbit, who in their pitiful self interest would stop at nothing to be favoured for the job of burying a village dead. What bothered me most is how the country is being viewed and portrayed by others. To all the political groupings, stop setting bad examples, do the right thing, uphold good values and ethics and do not make a mockery of the laws. The time is ripe to cooperate and work together to achieve the best for Guyana. The Guyanese people are humble, contented and in the big picture really do not demand much. Please reciprocate by being respectful, ethical and caring. Yours truly, Andre Dukhia

A Canadian who has some questions Dear Editor, Can the government please tell us where is the (GRANT) free money that Guyana gets for the purpose of building 10,000 septic tanks for the poor people of Guyana? Also where is the (GRANT) free money that Guyana gets to repair STABROEK MARKET CLOCK?At this time, I would also like to inform, that any person from any Commonwealth country can vote in Guyana parliament, and Canada is a Commonwealth country. Let anyone check the law to verify this.

I also like to point out that one local newspaper said that the PPP is willing to let Guyanese contact them through email to say what we expect from the PPP, if they win the election, but the papers did not provide the email address.Can you please publish it so we can give our views? And one thing I want to suggest to the PPP is if they win, I would like for Government to stop taking the 20% withholding tax from our savings account. Thank you for publishing my letter. THANK YOU. MOHAMED AZAD

Wednesday January 30, 2019

Kaieteur News editorial should to be used as the propaganda mouthpiece DEAR EDITOR, Judging from the content written in the Kaieteur News editorial of January 28, it appears that both Adam Harris, its Editor-in-Chief, and its publisher, Glenn Lall, were out of the country when this was published. This editorial, I’m convinced, was written by a “guest” who is not associated with the Kaieteur News, but someone who is highly political, unethical, and has no reservation spewing lies and misinformation in the nation’s most popular newspapers. Kaieteur News should not allow its editorial to be used as the propaganda mouthpiece of the PNC/ APNU+AFC. Leave the gutter journalism for the discredited Guyana Chronicle. The editorial “Practising Deceptive Politics”, unleashed a venomous attack on the People’s Progressive Party that can only be matched by the likes of Freddie Kissoon and Mark Benschop. The author himself is guilty of practising deceptive politics. This missive is laced with so many inaccuracies that I don’t have the space here to respond to this writer, whoever he is. Since he quoted Abraham Lincoln, here is another quote from Mark Twain he should be aware of, “Better to keep your mouth shut and appear foolish than to open it and remove all doubt.” The unsupported accusations against the PPP/C will not change the vote on December 21. As far as I recall, the nation was presented with evidence of mismanagement, underperformance, ineptitude, the shameless misuse of state resources and corrup-

tion under the APNU+AFC government that he supports. In fact, “there is undeniable evidence” that Attorney General Basil Williams and others at Congress Place “have become fixated on rulership for their own interest and not those of the people. In fact, they have been known not to put the country and the citizenry first.” Nagamootoo first called a press conference on the night of December 21 and admitted the government fell. The next day, Granger held a press conference and said the same thing. Now he has Basil Williams doing all his dirty work, taking all the heat as the most incompetent Attorney General that he is. But Williams could not have done this on his own. The deliberate tactics that are being employed now in the courts and at GECOM to delay the inevitable, must have been sanctioned by David Granger. He’s not an innocent bystander here; he is cunning, deceptive and dangerous. He may be the President, but Granger is no Mr. Nice Guy. He refused to resign and call elections as mandated by our constitution. How honest can he be? Let us not fool ourselves, Granger is planning every move like a grandmaster in a game of chess, but his opponent is no pushover. The Kaieteur News “editor” seems to have a problem with Bharrat Jagdeo’s style of leadership. But let me remind him that it was the PPP/C and Bharrat Jagdeo’s dynamic leadership that rebuilt the Guyana economy from bankruptcy. Whether he likes it or not, Bharrat Jagdeo will remain the

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Party’s General Secretary to ensure a PPP/C victory at the polls when elections are finally called, and will play an active role in the next government to ensure our manifesto promises are delivered to the people. The irony is that almost four years into the APNU+AFC Administration, the People’s Progressive Party is still being blamed for everything that goes wrong in Guyana. During the run-up to the 2015 general and regional elections, Guyanese were asked to vote for the Coalition because they will fix everything that was wrong with the country. The APNU+AFC campaigned on getting rid of corruption, restoring accountability and transparency. They promised to improve the economy and to create jobs for our young people. They also promised to reduce crime and to get rid of the drug trade. But most importantly, they promised every Guyanese the “good life”. They have failed miserably. In his address to the National Assembly over two years ago, President Granger said his government “entered a depressing financial landscape in May 2015… Economic mismanagement was accompanied by huge debts for unpaid international obligations and court judgments.” He added that the absence of a policy to provide employment opportunities for youth and to reduce extreme poverty and the failure to energise the manufacturing sector helped to weaken the economy (Guyana Times, October 14, 2016). But compared to the (Continued on page 6)

PUTTING CONTEXT TO THE NO CONFIDENCE MOTION DEAR EDITOR, Upon the closing of the sitting of parliament on December 21, 2018, where a no confidence motion was declared passed by the Speaker of the House, and recorded by the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Speaker had said that he would deal with the consequences of “this motion” at the next sitting on January 3, 2019. The Speaker (Dr. Scotland) is well learned in parliamentary affairs. This man writes a regular column (parliamentary corner) on the modus operandi of parliament in the papers on a regular basis. Surely, Dr. Scotland would be aware that after the passing of a no confidence motion against the Government, it is no longer within his ambit to deal with the “consequences of this motion” because the motion kicks in Article 106 (6) and (7) of the Constitution. We are all aware that the Coalition is no gentleman’s Government. The Coalition’s president and ministers, having sworn to uphold and protect the Constitution, seem to have found the constitution as a stumbling block. This is evidenced by the fact that the Chief Justice had on several occasions cited the president for violation of the constitution. Had they been in the gentleman’s mode they would have complied with ar-

ticle 106. 6 which calls for the resignation of the Cabinet and the President. Had that been done, there would not have been another sitting of parliament, except for resolution, in agreement with the opposition to extend the stipulated 90 days for election which Article 106.7 dictates must be done by a two-thirds majority of all the MP’s. Dr. Scotland would have known that on the night of December 21, when he passed the motion. The fact that Dr. Scotland spoke of himself dealing “with the consequences of this motion”, places him in the forefront of the conspiracy theory of the Government, not to comply with the constitution. Further, the Speaker of the House holding a sitting of parliament after the passing of the motion in the absence of the opposition should be considered public mischief, illegal, and all legislation passed on that day as null and void. How does the Speaker justify the government passing Bills in parliament after the Government had fallen on

a confidence motion? This is ludicrous! I would like to see Dr. Scotland explain this in his next missive in “Parliamentary corner”. Dr. Scotland in his own jurisprudence passed the no confidence motion on December 21. Holding what should rightly be considered an illegal sitting of parliament on January 3, 2019, Dr. Scotland said that the powers vested in him as Speaker, he can undo the motion but he will not. How could he not know that if the Government had done the patriotic by following the requirements for a no confidence motion as stipulated by Article 106.6 and 106.7, December 21, 2018 could and should have been his last sitting as Speaker of the Assembly? Had he been impartial, like Granger said when he appointed him, he would not have acted in contravention of the constitution by holding an illegal sitting of parliament. This mirrors the point that all appointees of the President without consensus, are simply creatures of the President and Government. Rudolph Singh

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ACCA QUALIFICATION BEING DOWNPLAYED IN GUYANA DEAR EDITOR, The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is a highly prestigious and accredited body, which offers professional accounting qualification that is globally accepted. The structure of the ACCA syllabus is intended to produce the world’s best qualified and sought-after accountants. It is very disturbing to see the ACCA qualification being downplayed by employers in Guyana and I hope this letter will bring some clarifications on its equivalence. Numerous employers when recruiting an Accounting/Finance personnel are requesting a University De-

gree or ACCA qualification. ACCA qualification is equivalent to a Master’s Degree. Completion of level two is equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree. An ACCA member is someone who has passed all thirteen exams, gained three years relevant and certified experience and have completed the ACCA Professional Ethics module. After five years of membership, compliance and CPD one can become FCCA. Letters of Equivalence are published by the body to justify this. Therefore, if an accounting position requires a BSc. Degree, ACCA Level 2 should be accepted and NOT comple-

tion of the entire ACCA programme. Employers should equate the qualifications requirement accordingly when advertising for accounting/finance positions. I suggest employers do their due diligence before posting requirements for certain jobs. It seems that some employers don’t know much about the different levels. I noticed an employer asked for CAT or ACCA. Now there is a huge difference and a huge gap as ACCA by far supersedes CAT. There is an Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana, a body, which should be providing some guidance. Name Withheld

Kaieteur News editorial should to ... from page 5 bankrupt economy the PPP inherited from the PNC in 1992, the APNU+AFC inherited over US$670 million (G$134 Billion) in Foreign Exchange Reserves from the PPP/C in May of 2015 (source: the GlobalEconomy.com). This amount is in addition to the approximately $150 billion this Granger inherited in recurring revenues and the $35 Billion from semi-autonomous agencies. In addition, Granger inherited an economy with the lowest debt payment in

the entire Caribbean with only 4% as compared to 153% of revenue that went to service foreign debt in 1992. The APNU+AFC inherited an economy that was growing on an average of 4.5% for the p r e c e d i n g e i g h t years. Granger was being less than truthful in his address when he claimed to have inherited a “depressing financial landscape”. For in fact, the APNU+AFC inherited a buoyant economy; good international reserves; a big revenue base; small debt-servicing; and an inflow of foreign direct invest-

ments of about US$400 million a year with ExxonMobil spending hundreds of millions already; and from the two new gold mines operating in large scale production. The APNU+AFC Coalition is yet to attract a single foreign investor. Let me make this pellucid to all the Jagdeo haters, Bharrat Jagdeo is not going anywhere. He’s more loved throughout Guyana than Granger and his entire Cabinet put together. In fact, Granger would have loved to have a leader as popular as Jagdeo on his team. HARRY GILL PPP/C Member of Parliament

Wednesday January 30, 2019

GUYANA HAS BECOME LESS CORRUPT UNDER THE COALITION DEAR EDITOR, I think it is worth taking a close, hard look at Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for Guyana in respect of 2018. It conveys much from the positive to the discouraging. There is some hope. What is essayed today is not meant to be anything exhaustive; it is merely a survey of the lay of the land; and, as appropriate, to make comparisons here and there. I use 2015 as the base year, though this is at the risk of being unfair to the current administration and its efforts and record, since it only took the reins of office in May, with the first third of that year beyond its control and already history. Also, it should not be forgotten or ignored (how can anyone?) that it was an environment of almost universal dirtiness and ugliness that was inherited; and the entrenched mindsets that went along with those. Indeed that made many things possible and so rampant. But to progress by eight points on the plus side of the measuring scale is some achievement in just over two and a half years (full). I beg the courtesy and tolerance of rounding and approximations, as I proceed. However looked at, in this short span of time, this government has registered between a 20 and 25% improvement on where things and scores were pre-2015. I hasten to add that the 2018 score of 37 out of hundred is terrible; I cannot remember ever

getting such a score on any personal evaluation of any sort out of a hundred. But an individual is neither a nation nor a government (or public sector). Yet there is cause for applause; good sense insists that such should be quiet and polite, at best. Here are some pointed comparisons that should make others think; not necessarily agree, but think. In 2016, the first full year of stewardship of this government, the TI’s CPI score for Guyana was 38. This is versus 29 in 2014, the last full year by the previous government at the helm. That is a 30% plus improvement, and speaks for itself. I can stipulate that the methodology is open to question, and that biases may (may) be inherent. To maintain balance, and by the same token, I appeal to, even demand of, others to acknowledge just as openly and reasonably, that corruption preMay 2015 was tradition, religion, and rich rewarding obsession. To keep things even, I submit that, in spite of the strenuous example and exhortations of His Excellency, President David Granger, corruption remains a powerful bogeyman and jagged bone in the life and throat respectively of this society. To make matters inexcusably worse is the fact that some of such corruption is by his people, and amongst his own inner set. At best, the 2018 numbers and the extrapolations that can be made give basis for optimism, and remain a grueling work in progress, and one that runs into ethical, individual, collective, and spiritual headwinds. Editor, think about this: rational citizens complain that government is too stringent

with the narcotics trade and anti-money laundering priorities; they would like to see a slacking off, some easing. They conveniently, crassly, and thoughtlessly ignore the sure-to-follow illegitimating of law enforcement, the magistracy, the penal system, the customs and excise system, the tax system, and the rest. The fact that Guyana could limp (some would shout that the operative verb is accelerate) from 124 in the rankings in 2014 to 93 in 2018, relays the commendable at even this early stage of a government that has made more than its share of mistakes. That is 31 places on the upside in just under four years. At this rate, and with a thinning of the ranks of committed corrupters, another five years of governance could result in somewhere close to, or above the milestone of 70 out of 100. Now that is more than a passing score, and before anyone gets carried away, it is easier speculated and hoped for than done. Further, and to be careful here, I am not selling anything. Simply letting the years and numbers tell their story, a straight story. Personally, I am heartened; as at times, this place seems and feels like it is going nowhere, but backward and downward.No question there is a long way to go; and it is not back to the future through the decadent past that has enticed and enriched, even as it embalmed the corpse of nation left in its wake. It is that corpse that is being slowly resuscitated, one public servant at a time, one contract at a time, and one process and place at a time. It is that inestimably difficult, that resisted. And it is at the impossibly snail-like pace of one day at a time. Sincerely, G.H.K. Lall

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Wednesday January 30, 2019

CANU raid on Charlestown property unearths large Colombian ganja stash - two held Ranks for the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) have detained two people after seizing over 100 pounds of marijuana during a raid at around 11.00 hrs yesterday at a St. Stephen’s Street, Charlestown residence. The marijuana is suspected to have been shipped from Colombia. The suspects were reportedly under surveillance for some time. According to reports, while the property was under surveillance, a man brought out a package and took it to a car that was parked outside. He then collected a smaller package. It was then that the operatives moved in and arrested the suspects. This is the third time in recent months that CANU has seized marijuana that is believed to have been shipped from Colombia. It is of a much higher grade than what is grown here and therefore the street value is higher. CANU has indicated that it will release full details on the operation and the total weight of the marijuana when it wraps up the operation.

Some of the seized marijuana

The property from which the marijuana was seized

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Wednesday January 30, 2019

CRIC 17 brings gender equality into focus

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xecutive Secretary of the United Na tions Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Monique Barbut, said that women are uniquely disadvantaged when it comes to issues of desertification and land degradation. In this regard, one of the major focuses for the seventeenth session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 17) is to bring a gender-focused approach to all of the organisation’s efforts. The UNCCD’s text, approved in 1994, gives women a prominent role in the global efforts to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. Recognising the uniqueness of women’s experiences, the parties to the Convention adopted a Gender Action Plan (GAP) in 2017, to support and enhance the

implementation of gender-related decisions and mandates which the parties have agreed to. The UN defines gender as the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes that a particular society, at a given time and place, considers appropriate for men and women and to the relationships between them. Because of these norms, there have developed significant differences between the genders’ roles and responsibilities, daily activities, access to and control over resources, and decision-making opportunities. In some countries, women have little to no property rights and restricted personal autonomy. The UNCCD notes that, in developing countries, rural women are particularly dependent on natural resources for survival

than men, because they are poorer than men, given their more limited access to land rights, finance and credit, along with knowledge and technology. While women make up more than 43 per cent of the global agricultural workforce, less than 20 per cent of landholders worldwide are women. Though Guyana has benefited from relatively progressive laws, cultures and policies, the country still recognizes that it must work to reach the land degradation targets of the UNCCD, inclusive of ensuring that measures are gender-focused. The GAP outlines four priority areas to close the gender gap: participation in decisions taken during the design, planning, implementation and evaluation of initiatives to implement the UNCCD; integration of

women’s economic empowerment into UNCCD implementation activities to eradicate their extreme poverty; strengthening of women’s land rights and access to resources; and enhancement of women’s access to improved knowledge and technologies relating to the effective implementation of the UNCCD. The parties involved in this effort have acknowledged that there are major benefits to the achievement in gender equality, generally as well as specifically related to the issue of gender equality. One of these benefits is that there would be significant economic dividends.

The UNCCD’s recent estimates suggest that gender equality could as much as US$12 Trillion to annual global GDP in 2025, equivalent to the combined current GDP of Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom. The UNCCD has also noted that the benefits of secure land rights and access to productive resources, knowledge and technology are also well documented. The UNCCD posits that stronger property rights are associated with an increased annual average growth of per capita income of between six and fourteen per cent. The Food and Agriculture

Organisation of the United Nations estimates that, if women around the world had the same access to productive resources as men, they could increase yields on their farms by 20 to 30 per cent and raise total agricultural output by two point five to four per cent, which could save 100M150M people from hunger. Women, the UNCCD notes, if given true equality, would have a considerable positive impact on the overall wellbeing of individuals, families and communities. Today will be the last day of the CRIC meeting at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

Youth found with counterfeit $5000 bills charged Days after an intelligence-led operation resulted in the apprehension of a Diamond resident with a quantity of counterfeit Guyana $5000 currency, a youth was yesterday charged for the offence. Twenty-three-year-old Alston Pires, a technician, of 16 Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, appeared before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Marcus-Isaacs.The charge against Pires stated that on January 25, at Stabroek Market, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he had forged currency in his possession, that is to say $325,000 consisting of $5000 bills, knowing same to be forged.Pires pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to him in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Pires was represented by Attorney-at-law Eusi Anderson who asked the court to grant his client bail in a reasonable amount, citing that he is the sole breadwinner for his family. The lawyer told the court that if bail is granted to his client he will return to court for the trial, citing that he is not a flight risk and is innocent of the charge. Though Police Prosecutor Adunni Inniss had no objections to bail being granted to the defendant, she asked that conditions be attached.Facts presented by the Prosecutor stated that on the day in question, ranks from the Guyana Police Force carried out an intelligence-led operation at Stabroek Market which resulted in the apprehension of Pires with the counterfeit monies. The Prosecutor added that investigation into the matter is still ongoing.

Charged Alston Pires The Magistrate after listening to both sides released the defendant on $200,000 bail.Conditions of the bail are that he lodges his passport at the court and report to the officer in charge at the Brickdam Police Station every Wednesday until the hearing and determination of his trial.The father of one was instructed to make his next court appearance on February 18 for statements.

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Wednesday January 30, 2019

Self-employment is not the answer African-Guyanese are being given a basket to fetch water. The government’s call for African-Guyanese to establish their own business and become economically independent ignores the challenges which face persons seeking to become their own bosses.On the campaign trail, the APNU+AFC coalition had promised to create jobs for young people. But when it got in, it changed its tune and began to say that its job is to facilitate job creation and not find jobs for people. The government has since been urging the unemployed to become self-employed. But this is like leaving the dying to the encircling carrion crows. What type of jobs will the young people create? Where are the increases in demand for goods and services which will generate this demand for new businesses? And how will the young people be able to satisfy any such demand without the know-how and

the capital?The economy is growing, but very slowly. It is not growing at the rate of 8-10% which the Coalition, when in opposition, said was needed to reduce poverty. Increased growth is likely to come when oil production increases, but there will be no corresponding increase in direct employment in the oil and gas sector. Government therefore is the one which has to use the revenues to create jobs for the unemployed. The government says that it wants to put the oil revenues into infrastructure which, as is well-known, is now capital-intensive. Infrastructure projects no longer open the floodgates to massive employment. Each day, you can count on your hands, the number of workers who are being employed on the expansion of the East Coast Public Road. Self-employment is not the answer either. You cannot ask a young person just out of school to go and establish

a business. Doing what? There is no demand to generate large scale employment through self-employment. The young people do not have the experience to venture into business. They are being set-up for failure by asking them to try to start their own businesses. Long ago, when you left school and your parents wanted you to learn a skill, they sent you to work as an apprentice in some workshop or factory. There you learnt under the tutelage of experts. Eventually you became an expert yourself. When you left school, your parents first arranged for you to get a skill. They did not ask you to set up your own business, because they knew you would not be able to do this unless you had working experience which would have allowed you to acquire a skill, and understand how to manage a business. The experience served

DEM BOYS SEH

China waiting to pocket Guyana

From de time dem boys was growing up, dem use to hear ‘Patience is Virtue’. Dat mean dat if you got patience, then you gon get anything you plan to. It might tek couple years but you gon get it. Dem boys know people who get vex wid somebody and keep dat passion fuh years till dem get a chance to hurt dat person. Nuff wife does get vex wid dem husband and dem bide dem time till dem ketch him in a moment of weakness. Dat does mek de husband cry like if he mudda dead. De Chinese got patience. Dem is people who gon sit one place fuh hours fuh ketch a fish. These days dem ketching nuff fish. De only thing is dat dem fish name Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and nuff African countries. Dem boys did tell de whole world how dem Chinese people come wid dem money and set de trap. Dem offer de money at what look like a cheap rate but by de time dem ketch demself, de loan get big, big. All dem country dat couldn’t pay back end up losing

a big part of dem own country. Sri Lanka tek money fuh build a port and couldn’t pay back de Chinese. Right away dem Chinese tek way de port and open dem own village. Dat is wha dem doing to every country dat own China. Now China reaching in Guyana. Couple years ago a big Chinese Vice President pass through de region. Robeson Benn explain how de man wave some money and he and Jagdeo run to meet de Vice President in Jamaica. Jagdeo heself seh, dem tek money to expand de Cheddi Jagan International Airport. Before dat, he did tek money to build de Skeldon sugar factory.China now baiting de trap. It want to build de road linking Linden to Lethem because dem got Chinese businessmen in Lethem. If Guyana can’t pay then China gon tek over de road and of course all dem Chinese gon travel free right into Brazil, which is wha dem want. Dem boys watching. Talk half and watch out fuh de Chinese bait and how dem gon pocket Guyana.

you well. Not only did you learn a skill, but you also derived an income from which you saved and, at the same time, learnt how a business is managed by watching your boss. The government is however telling African-Guyanese to abandon that old-fashioned and proven path to business success in traditional economies. It is urging them to establish their own businesses. Self-employment is not cheap. You need money for rentals, equipment, to purchase materials, pay salaries and cover electricity and water. Where is a young person just out of school and without any savings going to find the money to start-up a business? One of the biggest problems facing the self-employed is access to capital. The requirements, including capital, managerial experience and equity, which are demanded by the commercial banking sector and small business institutions, disqualify the ma-

jority of the unemployed youth. The first question the credit institutions ask is about your equity and collateral. Young people with no work experience and no savings or fixed assets are immediately placed at a disadvantage. The government’s answer to this problem is to direct the unemployed to a $250M small business fund which it has established. This along with all the other public and private small business credit facilities, however, are woefully inadequate. The unemployment and underemployment rate require far more money than which is available for persons to start their own businesses. The government estimates that there are around 50,000 unemployed and underemployed persons. Hinterland unemployment is among the highest in the country. The cost of living in the hinterland is far higher than on the coastland. Therefore the cost of establishing

a business in hinterland areas is far higher than in the urban areas and in rural communities. Yet, the government, trying to outdo the PPPC’s cash-grant programme to hinterland residents, is providing business grants of $50,000 each. How far is $50,000 going to go to start up a business in the interior where prices are much higher than elsewhere? The way to create wealth is the old-fashioned way. Provide the private sector with support, such as cheap electricity and tax concessions for expansion and reinvestment. Then allow for school-leavers to go and work as apprentices in these private sector businesses so that they can learn a skill, learn how a business is run, and save some money. Only then should they venture out on their own.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 30, 2019

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Power fight in the AFC: Nagamootoo versus Ramjattan Neither of the two deserves to be Prime Minister. Both are politicians that have damaged the future of this unlucky nation. Both will be rejected by the electorate. Both will be rejected by the PNC leadership for the position of Prime Minister. The power struggle in the AFC should not concern this nation. S a t u r d a y ’s s t a t u t o r y meeting of the executive committee of the AFC was one of the most unusual for any party in this country’s history. It is not normal for a statutory meeting of 35 persons to be extended to 108. But in the ensuing power struggle between Ramjattan and Nagamootoo, each of these two leaders and their high-level backers invited their supporters in anticipation of the resolutions that would be put to the floor. As it turned out, there was a full blown struggle between Ramjattan and Nagamootoo. Up to a year ago, the slot

firmly belonged to Ramjattan, because in 2016 Nagamootoo declared that the 2015 campaign was his swansong. He told this writer in late 2015, he would not run for office in the 2020 election. The AFC leadership has operated since then with the acceptance that should the AFC go back with APNU, the PM role will be assigned to Ramjattan. Earlier this year, Nagamootoo had a change of heart. At last Saturday’s meeting, things went sour. Ramjattan’s intention of settling the PM’s position was derailed, because the resolution was not put to the floor. But something Trotman mentioned in his official speech to the gathering resulted in deep anger among Ramjattan backers. AFC personnel told me that there was no press release on the prime ministerial issue, but the Chronicle carried it to make it look like that. They put the blame on Nagamootoo and his point

man, Imran Khan, who has a big say in what the Chronicle puts out. The Chronicle headline went like this, “AFC backs Granger-Nagamootoo ticket.” The paper reported that; “Through a statement issued at the end of the party’s National Executive Committee meeting on Saturday, Guyana Chronicle was told that Nagamootoo appeared to have gained the nod of his party. There was wide, almost unanimous endorsement for Mr. Nagamootoo.” Ramjattan supporters told me the Chronicle’s reporting was mischievous. They indicated that there was no statement whatsoever after the meeting about the identification of the PM’s slot. No other media house reported that the meeting endorsed Nagamootoo. Kaieteur News and the Stabroek News published what Trotman told the gathering. In his delivery as leader, Trotman reaffirmed his

confidence in the GrangerNagamootoo combination for the future. As it stands, there is no statement or document or word that is the official position of the AFC in relation to who will be its prime ministerial candidate in the coalition with APNU. One can say that Ramjattan was the victor at last Saturday’s confabulation. A resolution was proposed by attorney, Joel Edmond (husband of Chronicle board chairman, Geeta Chandan) and accepted by consensus, that the AFC must have its biennial congress no later than March. The congress was due the first week in February, but was postponed because of the controversy over the no confidence vote. Nagamootoo backers did not want the congress. They argued that the AFC should concentrate on the election uncertainty and be prepared for eventual election if the court rules in favour of the no-

confidence vote. In such a scenario, the AFC would have had the same leadership and accepted the same configuration, that is, a Nagamootoo-Granger ticket. The Ramjattan camp said that there will be a motion from the floor to nominate Ramjattan for the PM candidacy, and if there are other contenders then the delegates will decide. My own thinking is if such a motion goes to the floor, Ramjattan will win and for one simple, ordinary reason. Delegates will be persuaded to accept the principle of rotation. Ramjattan has been in that situation before. In 2011, Trotman proposed that they go with the same formula of Trotman for the presidency with Ramjattan having the PM compartment. This was a diversion from the agreement in 2006 that the two positions would rotate. Trotman’s suggestion created sharp divisions in the AFC. Now we have a

Frederick Kissoon reproduction of the conflict, but this time it is Ramjattan versus Nagamootoo. Ramjattan won another round last Saturday when the delegates agreed to install a secretariat at the AFC’s head office. One powerful leader proposed that it be run by Dr. Vincent Adams, but Ramjattan saw this as a move to undermine his supporter, the General-Secretary, Marlon Williams. Both Williams and Ramjattan argued that the secretariat must be administered by the GeneralSecretary. The delegates accepted that. The AFC may be imploding.

Wednesday January 30, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 30, 2019

Guyana Goldfields significantly scales down operations The Guyana Goldfields is continuously scaling down its operations across interior locations in Guyana. However, this newspaper understands that while it is steadily aborting locations, the company is holding on to claims. Since August last year, Guyana Goldfields laid off more than 80 workers at its Aurora Gold Mine operations in western Guyana, after the company decided to focus on existing gold-bearing properties instead of searching for new deposits. Country Manager Violet Smith was quoted in sections of online media saying that

the decision was aimed at cutting the company’s operational costs. Six months later, Guyana Goldfields is not looking to return to the location anytime soon. This has been confirmed by officials from both the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). Sources say that the company is “taking a hit,” but is not looking to give up the claims, since it is “hoping to make a recovery soon.” Kaieteur News understands that the government has no grounds to take back the claims at this

- but holds on to claim with hope of recovery point, but notes “other companies are interested.” The move to lay off workers last year came one month after Goldfields’ founder and Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Sheridan’s services was terminated. He has since been appointed an ordinary director. Sheridan was responsible for exploration. Goldfields said that it moved away from there after Sheridan left because the locations—Wynamu and Sulphur Rose—had shown

“small signs of gold.” Yesterday, one source said, “it is strange though, because companies usually relinquish areas that do not seem to have much gold.” The source continued, “but I guess the company is really banking on making a comeback and will return then.” 70 PERCENT DROP According to the Toronto Stock Exchange, the share price for Guyana Goldfields Inc. has tumbled by 70 percent. It is now trading at

CDN$1.66. Sheridan now worries that the drastic fall in share price may make the company an easy target for “takeover”. He also expressed concern that in November 2018, the company’s stock fell by 47 percent. He said that this was due to the fact that the board revised the expected gold production from the Aurora mine down to 155,000 ounces — its second downward revision in 2018 from an original estimate of as much as 210,000. Sheridan said that clear reasons were not released to justify the revision. Sheridan recalled that the

board went ahead without the approval of the environmental authorities and started blasting an underground expansion of the mine, only to stop work 10 days later after receiving a cease order. Sheridan, along with other shareholders, moved for the current board of the company to be replaced due to the loss of over US$700M in shareholder value, which was accumulating since 2016. He and the concerned shareholders, who together have a 5.4 percent stake in the company, also called on the Toronto Stock Exchange to monitor any transactions that would be made by the company until the board has been replaced.

High Court orders GuySuCo to pay ex-Wales cane cutters one month’s pay Nearly two months after High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon ordered the State to pay redundant sugar workers their severance pay along with one month’s salary, union representatives were forced to take further legal action to ensure the workers received their entitlement. This resulted in Justice Kissoon issuing a further order last week mandating the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) to pay those retrenched Wales cane cutters, who worked at Uitvlugt Estate following the closure of Wales at the end of 2016, one month’s pay. Through the order issued, the workers in question were to be severed effective November 30, 2018 and paid one month’s pay in lieu of notice. For those who didn’t take up work at Uitvlugt, the Court ordered that they be severed with effect from December 31, 2016 and paid four (4) percent interest per annum up to December 05, 2018. Already those workers have fully received their respective payments. With regards to those who worked at Uitvlugt, they received severance payments; however, they did not benefit from the one month’s pay. According to the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’Union (GAWU), GuySuCo was seeking not to abide with this element of the consensual order (agreed to by the attorneys of the Union and the Company). The GAWU, in light of the Corporation’s position, pressed to have the order issued, which confirmed that the union’s position was correct. The union had approached the courts on the workers’ behalf after GuySuCo refused to pay the cane cutters of Wales their severance payments though they were entitled to such sums. The Corporation, for its part, insisted that the workers take up work at Uitvlugt, which was some 22 miles away from Wales. The GAWU had pointed out to the Corporation that the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA) obligated it to sever the workers when it was unable to provide similar work within a 10-mile radius. In his initial ruling last month, Justice Kissoon ordered that the workers be paid their outstanding severance with interest. The ruling came months after Government was sued over its refusal to pay over 300 workers attached to the Wales, West Bank Demerara estate their severance payments. At the end of the hearing, lawyers involved in the matter disclosed that the workers will be paid ex gratia payments representing severance from December 31, 2016 to (December 5, 2018) with interest at the rate of 4% per annum. As it relates to those workers who went to Uitvlugt estate, they will be paid severance as of (December 5, 2018) along with one month’s payment. Lawyers estimated that a few hundreds of millions of dollars will be remunerated to some 345 workers, which include those who took up employment at Uitvlugt and others who have ceased working. Earlier in December 2018, Justice Fidela Corbin Lincoln ordered the State to pay redundant sugar workers their outstanding severance with interest no later than January 15, 2019. These consisted of some 4,280 workers attached to the Skeldon, Rose Hall and the East Demerara Sugar Estates. The respective rulings by the High Court judges comes on the heels of a decision of the National Assembly to unanimously approve $2.451 billion to pay remaining severance to 4,723 sugar workers who have been laid off with the closure of several estates across the country.

Wednesday January 30, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday January 30, 2019

Rusal workers demand meeting with Govt. after US lifts sanctions

Russian aluminium tycoon Oleg Deripaska (Reuters photo)

Hours after US authorities announced that they had lifted sanctions on Russian-owned bauxite company, Rusal, workers in Guyana are stepping up the pressure for Government to meet on working conditions. “We have many issues we want raised. Our working conditions, pay and the fact that the company is continuing its merry ways while workers are suffering must be addressed,” a spokesman of the workers said yesterday. C o n s e c u t i v e governments in Guyana have been treating the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc.

(BCGI), Rusal’s subsidiary, with kid gloves despite complaints of workers and unions. In fact, the company was criticized for not turning up at meetings with labour officials. BCGI has operations at Kurukubali, Upper Berbice River, with several hundred workers. Almost a decade ago, under the People’s Progressive Party government, BCGI fired more than 50 workers, including supervisors for participating in strike action. More recently, the company has been refusing to recognize the workers’

union. Among other things, workers want a government delegation to monitor workers’ safety, toilet and transportation facilities at the Berbice mine site. BCGI was in deep problems last year after US Department of Treasury slapped sanctions on three companies controlled by Russian oligarch, Oleg Deripaska. The delisted companies were Russian power company EuroSibEnergo (ESE); aluminum producer UC Rusal; and Rusal’s parent company, En+ Group. The Treasury Department’s Office of

Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed the sanctions in April 2018. At that time, OFAC said Deripaska had been investigated for money laundering and accused of threatening the lives of business rivals, illegally wiretapping a government official, and taking part in extortion and racketeering. It’s also believed that Deripaska “bribed a government official, ordered the murder of a businessman, and had links to a Russian organized crime group,” according to OFAC.

Under the terms of their removal from OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List), En+, Rusal, and ESE have reduced Deripaska’s direct and indirect shareholding stake in these companies and severed his control. The companies have also agreed to “unprecedented transparency” for the Treasury Department into their operations by undertaking extensive, ongoing auditing, certification, and reporting requirements, OFAC said.

PM results for GPHC cancer patient inconclusive ...as family mulls legal action

Sherezer Mendonca

Roshnie Seegobin

The Post Mortem Examination conducted on the remains of six-year-old Sherezer Mendonca last Monday, has proven inconclusive. The autopsy was performed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) mortuary by Nancy Sitchoa in the presence of the Mendonca’s family, Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh and Dr. Wesly Greaves, an independent Pathologist from Trinidad and Tobago. However, relatives of the dead child noted that the independent Pathologist took a few samples from the body for further testing. The family is considering taking legal action against the State. Mendonca was the third child to succumb as a result of treatment administered to her during chemotherapy sessions at GPHC. Earlier this month, six-year-old Corwin Edwards and three-year-old Roshnie Seegobin also succumbed as a result of similar complications. On Monday, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence told media operatives that the Ministry is working to ensure that there is a thorough and transparent investigation into the

incident. Lawrence said that she has since met with the families of Edwards and Seegobin. “I am hoping to meet with the other child’s relatives. At the interim, I express my deepest regrets to the families … We do feel your pain but we will work assiduously to ensure that this matter is dealt with in a very open and transparent way and that we bring it to conclusion at the earlier possible time. What I do ask, however, is to allow due process to take its course,” Minister Lawrence added. To ensure that a thorough investigation is carried out, Minister Lawrence told the media that the Ministry has requested the assistance of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO). According to Lawrence, PAHO’s intervention also allows the investigation to be independent. “There would be persons outside of the system who will be part of the process so that they can lend to the transparency, they can lend to the process and they can be able to provide the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation with any technical assistance which Continued on page 27

Wednesday January 30, 2019

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Wednesday January 30, 2019

Link made between leprosy and psychiatric problems -as Guyana joins ‘zero discrimination’ movement

P

ersons infected with leprosy have been found to have a higher prevalence of psychiatric problems than the general population of patients with other diseases. This is according to Director of Leprosy Control within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Heather Morris–Wilson. She pointed out that depression can reinforce feelings of social exclusion, interfere with work and daily life, reduce social interaction, and lead to further isolation and in severe cases can even lead to sui-

cide. “Depression in people affected by leprosy is complex and multifaceted, both a consequence and a cause. Indeed, the depression may also lead to or accentuate a lack of self care which can worsen impairments,” Dr. Morris-Wilson shared. She went on to point out that the experience of depression in people affected by leprosy is not just an individual issue but is linked to the social context, that is, the ethical and moral values of the society. For this reason, the

Leprosy Control Director underscored that “it is important for health professionals and community members to realise the pervasive history and meanings of the disease for people.”Alluding to a study, Dr. Morris-Wilson shared that it has been found that even health care workers have been known to have negative attitudes towards persons with leprosy patients due to their lack of knowledge. According to the health official, “little do they realise that their stigma can and has negatively influenced pa-

tients’ health-seeking behaviours.”She moreover noted that it is imperative that research be conducted to effectively implement public policies that ensure the full exercise of human rights, especially access to health care and education and reduce discrimination of those affected by leprosy.For this very reason, the World Health Organisation and other organisations dedicated to the fight against leprosy are calling for “Zero discrimination against those affected by leprosy.” But organisations

Leprosy Control Director, Dr. Heather Morris –Wilson. cannot achieve this zero discrimination goal in isolation, Dr. Morris-Wilson related. She has firmly embraced the view that in order for change to be realised when it comes to leprosy, “government, civil society, health professionals and especially those affected by leprosy need to come together, think and act to build a world free from leprosy and discrimination.” Dr. Morris-Wilson added, “We in Guyana must not forget that leprosy is still relevant and there are many reasons why we must talk openly about leprosy, stigma and its effect on mental health.” Moreover, a valiant effort has been engaged to fight discrimination against this disease and by extension mental health. Emphasis in this regard was brought to the fore as World Leprosy Day 2019 [January 27] was observed under the theme: “Ending discrimination, stigma and prejudice.” Leprosy is said to be one of the oldest recorded diseases that exists today and has been a major public health problem in many developing countries for centuries. It is said to be an infectious chronic disease of the skin and nerves, especially the nerves in the cooler parts of the body such as the hands, feet, and this disease leads to gradual loss of nerve-endings, fingers and toes.

According to Dr. MorrisWilson, leprosy is known to affect all age groups and both sexes and generally manifests outwardly with a patch on the skin that is a little lighter than an individual’s normal skin complexion. “The skin patch will have a partial or total loss of sensation which is caused when the bacterium invades and destroys the nerves in the skin,” related the Leprosy Control Director. Transmitted in Guyana, in 2017 a total of 67 new leprosy cases were identified among which six percent were children and 10 cases or 15 percent of patients with visible deformities. Last year too, a total of 49 new leprosy cases were notified, among which seven [14 percent] were children and 12 cases or 27 percent of patients had visible deformities.Beyond the effects of the disease itself, people affected by leprosy experience stigma, discrimination and many limitations imposed by society. They are often excluded and their human rights violated. In fact Dr. Morris-Wilson said, “stigma, discrimination and prejudice continue, though the disease can be treated and cured with antibiotics” thus amplifying the need for more efforts to be plugged into ensuring that persons with leprosy are no longer marginalised.

Wednesday January 30, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Teen charged with illegal possession of firearm FOR RENT

SERVICES

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

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Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisement, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. For hire. Canter truck service. 676-0455 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158

Forklift for sale $3M Contact#661-7777/660-3698

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

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1 Shop assistant to work in the interior. Experience would be an asset. #669-3162

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

One female domestic worker to work in Trinidad. Age 2535. Contact 1868-386-5302

Experienced salesman 40-45 yrs with driver license. Must know to write bills/calculate. Keyyfood McDoom Village.

Factory workers male & female. Apply in person to: R.P’s Enterprise Area ‘K’ Le Resouvenir E.C.D. 220-2818 or 3710 Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic- Call: 223-7500 Monday to Saturday 8:15am4:15pm Office clerk, Senior/Junior CXC English/Mathematics, Computer knowledge an asset. Call: 223-7500 Relief guard 2 days a week. Handyman. Must have a bicycle and cellphone. 2275536/ 223-0504 Live in shop assistant and attractive experienced waitress. Must have secondary education. Salary $20,000 wkly. 610-3974

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Air condition room $3000 per day fully furnished apts $5000 & $6000 per day. 223-0994/678-5827

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

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Akelo Nurse A teenager was yesterday released on $100,000 bail after being charged with possession of an illegal firearm. Eighteen-year-old Akelo Nurse, a block maker, of 271 Independence Boulevard, La Penitence made an appearance before Principal Magistrate Sherdel MarcusIsaacs who read the charge to him. It is alleged that on January 25, last at Charlestown, he had in his possession - one .45 pistol when he was not a licensed firearm holder. Nurse pleaded not guilty to the charge. His lawyer, Stanley Moore, in addressing the court stated that on the day in question, his client and three friends were riding their bicycles in Charlestown when they saw a police patrol vehicle and decided to turn around in an attempt to ride away. The lawyer added that his client in an attempt to ride away from the police fell to the ground and was arrested and taken into custody. The lawyer further stressed that it was only while at the station that the officers produced a rusty gun and claimed that his client had it in his possession. However, Police Prosecutor Adunni Inniss had no objections to bail being granted to the defendant but asked that conditions be attached. The Magistrate after listening to both sides released Nurse on $100,000 bail. He was instructed to lodge his passport at the court and report every Friday to the Brickdam Police Station until the hearing and determination of the trial. He is expected to make his next court appearance on February 18 for commencement of the trial.

Wednesday January 30, 2019

Motorcyclist flees scene after Nismes man, 70, struck down

The two bikes that were involved in the accident. Police yesterday said they are making stringent efforts to apprehend the rider of motorcycle CJ 5283 who abandoned his bike and fled the scene of a fatal accident Monday on the Nismes Public Road, West Bank Demerara. Police said that enquiries revealed that the motorcyclist who was proceeding south along the eastern carriageway of the road, at a fast rate of speed, allegedly struck down 70year-old pedal cyclist Hubert Caesar of lot 95-96 Nismes Public Road, W.B.D. The septuagenarian was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital in an unconscious state and was pronounced dead on arrival. The body is at the Ezekiel’s Funeral Parlour awaiting a post-mortem examination.

PM results for GPHC... From page 14 they may not have,” she added. “And this is to ensure that we have an all rounded approach to what transpired with these patients. We believe that having a report from the drugs administered will be able to give clarity in that aspect of the services provided while we look at the human aspect from the hospital point of view,” Lawrence said. Additionally she said, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud has put together a team that will be looking at the drugs administered during the tenure of the patients at the hospital. The board of the GPHC has also expressed condolences to the families of three children who died while undergoing cancer treatment at the hospital. The hospital, in a statement on Monday noted the Board Chair, Ms. Kesaundra Alves met with the mother and relatives of Mendonca and expressed her sympathies. The hospital in a statement had also noted that it is seeking to provide support for the healthcare professionals involved in this matter, “who themselves are experiencing a considerable amount of trauma and anxiety.” The statement assured that none of these professionals in question acted with intent to harm the patients. Kaieteur News was told that the hospital’s investigations have already concluded that an intravenous medication, Vincristine, was administered to the spine, instead of the vein. Vincristine is marketed under the brand name Oncovin, with strict instructions to refrain from administration to the spinal cord.

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Jamaica will need 98,000 health and education professionals by 2040 - IDB study Jamaica Gleaner - A study by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) has found that Jamaica will need approximately 49,000 teachers, 12,000 doctors and 37,000 nurses by the year 2040. The IDB says this was one of the findings of its “Education and Health: The sectors of the future?” study, which is the second of it’s “The future of work in Latin America and the Caribbean” series.The study focused on the projection of the demand for social sector professionals in 24 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.It found that Latin America and the Caribbean will need approximately 12 million teachers, 3 million doctors and 8 million nurses by the year 2040. “Our study shows that, even in the framework of the fourth industrial revolution, we can expect the number of teachers, doctors

and nurses in Latin America and the Caribbean to continue growing at great speed,” explains Marcelo Cabrol, manager of the IDB Social Sector. “Our methodology allows us to know that, for example, a third of the teachers that will be needed in 15 years, and almost two-thirds of the doctors and nurses, are people who have not yet begun their working life. Faced with this reality, the key is to ensure that these new professionals have the skills and training they need to be the teachers, doctors and nurses of the future,” says Cabrol. The IDB says the study’s projections are based on a series of variables specific to these sectors.In the case of education, the schoolage population, school enrolment rates and the number of children per teacher are considered.

China extends its reach into Guyana (From page 21) road links from Brazil to the southern Guyanese town of Lethem and onwards to the capital Georgetown. “China sees Guyana as a conduit to northern Brazil,” said Sasenarine Singh, a former opposition politician and financial analyst. “A road link from Manaus to Guyana would cut thousands of kilometres off the shipping route along the Amazon River. The Guyanese government doesn't have the finances or capacity, only China has the resources and long-term vision to undertake such a project.” terms of financing, rather than its country of origin, is the crucial factor, according to Carl Greenidge, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Guyana became one of the world's most heavily indebted countries in the 1980s when falling sugar and bauxite prices crippled state-run companies. “No country is more aware of the cost of unsustainable debt that we are. We are alert to the problem and know what we need to do,” he told Diálogo Chino, in an interview.But Guyana's financial situation is on the brink of major change. The country is announcing infrastructure investments are just as it is poised to become one of the world's top oil producers per capita. In recent years, ExxonMobil has discovered over 4 billion barrels of recoverable oil off the coast of Guyana. Chinese oil firm CNOOC holds a 25% stake in ExxonMobil's Stabroek block, the most advanced project. BEYOND POLITICS China's footprint in oil and other sectors looks set to grow following Guyana's general election in March. The election was triggered by a December no confidence vote in the government of David Granger, leader of the People's National Congress (PNC) party, which came to power in 2015 as part of the wider Partnership for National Unity alliance (APNU). “When the APNU was in

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opposition, it expressed concern about China's growing footprint in Guyana and questioned its motives but now they are in power, all ministers seem to be welcoming of China,” said Abena Rockcliffe, a senior journalist at Kaieteur News, a local paper. Granger has been somewhat sceptical of foreign ownership of natural resources and revoked BaiShanLin's logging concession in 2016 after the Chinese firm broke the terms of its agreement. The opposition People's Progressive Party (PPP), which held power from 1992 to 2015 have also proved open to Chinese investment in the past. Based on our recent experience with Chinese investments, it seems Guyana is always left holding the dirty end of the stickChina Harbour Engineering won the contract to expand Cheddi Jagan airport in 2011 and Chinese firms account for seven out of eleven bids submitted for the construction of a bridge over the Demerara River. China Railway First Group also won a US$500M contract for the 165MW Amaila Falls hydroelectric plant in 2012 – a project currently on hold. Last year, construction began on a Chineseowned manganese mine. In September, during a visit from China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, Guyana signed agreements on greater financial integration. The Guyanese assets of two foreign banks – Canada's Scotia Bank and India's Baroda Bank – are currently up for sale. Chinese banks are the most likely suitors.Yet, as Chinese-led projects mount, so do questions about what Guyana has to gain by deepening ties with China.“Based on our recent experience with Chinese investments, it seems Guyana is always left holding the dirty end of the stick,” said Rockcliffe. “In the projects to date, we have seen very little use of local labour, no transfer of skills, project over-runs and allegations of corruption.” GREEN STATE DEVEL-

OPMENTSTRATEGY UNDERTHREAT The Brazil transport link would dwarf previous projects and open up development of the country's interior, thought to hold important deposits of gold, bauxite and rare earths. It could also jeopardise Guyana's 2017 Green State Development Strategy, which called for sustainable management of natural resources, expansion of environmental services and a transition to renewable energy. In 2009, Norway pledged US$250m to Guyana over the course of five years to protect its rainforests and in October, Guyana announced its lowest deforestation rate since 1990. “In a country that is 90% forest, any major infrastructure project will have an environmental impact,” said Greenidge. “We have a responsibility to minimise that impact but we cannot commit to not building infrastructure that allows for the provision of jobs and services to our isolated communities.” Guyana has under a million inhabitants and one of the lowest levels of GDP per capita on the continent. With a history of rigged elections and corruption scandals, the country's institutions are weak, casting doubt on whether regulators have the capacity to successfully mitigate negative environmental impacts. The same institutional weakness, combined with a history of corruption and opaque negotiations suggests that Guyana could provide a malleable ally for China in the South American Caribbean.“The government has not given enough information about the terms of Chinese loans and investments and have dodged reporters' questions,” said Rockcliffe. “We've seen in other countries that once China has a foot in a country, they move aggressively.” Read online: https:// dialogochino.net/21413china-extends-its-reachinto-guyana/

Woman jailed for killing Bajan lover appeals 18 year sentence A mother of two, who was sentenced to 18 years in jail for killing her boyfriend, a Barbadian national, is hoping that that the Appeal Court will reduce her sentence. However, at present, the applicant Tramangra Williams called “Queenie,” has asked the court for time to seek an attorney before her appeal comes up at the Appeal Court, next month. Williams was sentenced to jail by Justice Navindra Singh after she was found guilty of manslaughter at the High Court in 2014. She begged the court for leniency, saying that it was never her intention to kill her lover. The facts of the case stated that Williams met her boyfriend, Tyrone Bess, in Barbados and he visited Guyana where they became lovers. The couple lived at Lot 605 ‘D’ Field, Sophia. She said that Bess, like many men, was jealous and objected to her talking to other men. Their relationship took a turn for the worse on December 27, 2008, when Bess expressed his dislike about her relationship with a man named Eon and scolded her as a consequence. According to her, Bess accused her of having an affair with Eon, slapped her and pulled up her clothes in public. That particular day, she was speaking to Eon, when Bess left in disgust and went towards home but, when she arrived, he was not there and she began making arrangements to put him out, at least

Tramangra Williams, called “Queenie,” for a short time. That evening, she went out on her patio and was about to put his suitcase there when she saw him smoking a cigarette. Another argument escalated between them resulting, in her telling him that she was going to get the Police to expel him from the house. On hearing this, she said, Bess kicked her and pelted her with one of his shoes that struck her in the face. Williams had charged Bess with a knife fatally injuring him. He

was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. In her defence, Williams had told the court that she did not intend to harm her boyfriend, but that he ran into the knife during a confrontation. “There’s no way on earth I would stab Tyrone. I wanted him to back down, that’s why I used the knife in my hand. By the time I catch myself my dress was way above my waist.”

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“Trini” on the run after bludgeoning, stabbing Eccles woman Police and family Police are on the hunt for “Trini”, a Bare Root, Enterprise Road, East Coast Demerara labourer who brutally stabbed and bludgeoned his female partner around 08:00 hours yesterday at Cow Pen Street, Eccles, East Bank Demerara. Witnesses claim the victim, Unika Stewart, a 22-year-old mother of three, sustained injuries to her head that she received as a result of her partner beating her with a piece of wood, the woman also received wounds about her body after being stabbed with a scissors. The assailant only left the woman after she became motionless and family members who heard of the attack had come to the scene and rushed the suspect. When Kaieteur News arrived on the scene, the victim had already been rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital by police, with the assistance of family members. When enquiries were made as to what would have caused the man to attack Stewart in the

members picking up the injured woman to take her to the hospital yesterday.

manner he did, there were mixed views from Stewart’s family and “Trini’s” friends, each side blaming the other of infidelities.A Stewart is said to be in a critical condition at the GPHC. Up to press time, the suspect had not been apprehended.

Unika Stewart

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Several communities to benefit from GWI septic tank projects Guyana Water Inc. - Supply and Installation of Septic Tanks in Cornelia Ida to De Kinderen Lots 1-5 Seven companies vied for Lots 1 to 5 for the Supply and Installation of Septic Tanks between Cornelia Ida and De Kinderen on the West Coast of Demerara.

Guyana Water Inc. - Supply and Installation of Septic Tanks in Arcadia to Grove on the East Bank of Demerara One company cast a bid as Arcadia to Grove residents are to benefit from Government Installation and Supply of Septic Tanks

Ministry of Public Security – Procurement of Uniform Materials, Guyana Fire Service 10 companies vied for bids for the procurement of Uniform Materials for the Guyana Fire Service

Guyana Water Inc. - Supply and Installation of Septic Tanks in Georgetown Five companies vied for Lots 1& 2 for the supply of septic tanks in Georgetown

Guyana Water Inc. - Supply and Installation of Septic Tanks in Fortlands to Susannah, East Berbice, Region 6 Residents of Region 6, between Fortlands and Susannah can now look out for the supply of septic tanks as four (4) companies bid for Lots 1 to 4

Ministry of Public Security – Procurement of New Vehicles Five (5) companies have bid for the supply of New Vehicles to the Ministry of Public Security

Ministry of Public Health – Expression of Interest And the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NTPAB) yesterday received expressions of interest from six companies for the leasing and operating of dialysis machines and water treatment at Health Facilities across Guyana. Ministry of Natural Resources- Hiring of Consultants for the Oil and Gas Project A Foreign Company bid for the supply of consultants for the Oil and Gas project in Guyana.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Electrical Re-Wiring of Takuba Lodge Building Thirteen Companies vied for re-wiring of the Takuba Lodge Building yesterday at The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NTPAB).

Ministry of Public Security – Procurement of Field Materials, Guyana Prison Service The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NTPAB) yesterday opened bids, for the supply of Field Materials - Guyana Prison Service; 19 bids were cast.

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Wednesday January 30, 2019

UCCA’s 2019 season begins on Friday with Inter Primary School competition The Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) 2019 cricket season is expected to bowl off on Friday with play in the Davendra Ramgoolam, R and R Auto Rental Services Inter Primary School Softball T10 Cricket Competition, for schools in the Upper Corentyne area. A total of 10 Primary Schools are down to participate in the competition which will be played on Fridays. The schools have been divided into four groups or clusters, which is in

keeping with the Ministry of Education arrangements for school in the area. The schools down to participate are Crabwood Creek, Skeldon and Corriverton Primaries in one group; No71, No 68, New Market and No 59 Primaries in another group, while No 56, No 51 and No 48 Primaries are in the third group. For the first time the schools from the Black Bush Polder area, namely, Mibicuri, Lesbeholden, Johanna and Yakusari will play in the fourth group.

The winner of each group will qualify to participate in the final on 8th March at the Crabwood Creek ground. The games will bowl off on Friday with Group one matches at the Crabwood Creek Ground. The top teams in each group will be presented with trophies and other incentives. The overall top performers will be presented with incentives at the end of the competition. The winning and runner

Wednesday January 30, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Continued success and good fortune regarding finances could have you flying high right now, Aries. You're probably glowing with self-confidence and may well be surrounded by good friends. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Now that you've earned your place in the world after all your hard work, Taurus, you might take some time to pursue your own interests. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Money that has come your way unexpectedly might have you thinking in terms of expanding your personal interests and holdings. CANCER(June21–July22) You may feel so confident that you could be thinking in terms of starting a new enterprise, Cancer. Partnerships are especially likely to succeed now. You could also grow closer to those who mean the most to you - family, friends, romantic partners. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Recent successes haven't made you feel you can rest on your laurels. Rather, you're more likely to work harder. Today you might spend a lot of time considering different options for improving your socioeconomic status. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) This is likely a day when you want to reflect on your successes. As your professional success continues to skyrocket, your sense of selfconfidence follows suit. So do your relationships with family, friends, children, and romantic partners. .

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LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Surprising developments in your life might bring a lot of visitors and much happiness to your home. You could host a party or other sort of gathering. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Some wonderful new developments could take place in your community, Scorpio. You might meet some new people who move in nearby. New businesses could also arrive and give a whole new look to the area. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) A high level of self-confidence and optimism should stay with you throughout the day, Sagittarius. Your energy is good, as is your enthusiasm. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Happiness is the mood of the day, Capricorn, as you enjoy the fruits of all your hard work over the past few years. You're able to pursue a few things that you've never been able to before. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) All the success and good fortune you've enjoyed over the past several months may have freed you from the grind enough to concentrate on spiritual or artistic interests. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) The company of good friends, perhaps at a group activity or festival of some kind, contributes to a powerful feeling of good health, good fortune, and happiness, Pisces.

up trophies compliments of R and R Auto Rental Services will go to the respective schools. Vice President of the UCCA and head of the Competitions Committee and former national Wi c k e t k e e p e r b a t s m a n , Sydney Jackman, is the C o ordinator. (Samuel Whyte)

Benfica Women: Won 14, scored... From page 38 the largest margin of victory in senior football in Portugal with a 28-0 opening-day victory against Ponte de Frielas - the previous highest was Sporting’s 21-0 win in the Portuguese Cup in 1971 - and then hit another 28 goals against Almeirim. However, the Lisbon outfit are set to face their toughest task to date when they visit top-flight Maritime in the cup on Wednesday. Benfica’s record victory on Saturday came against a CP Pego side that sit bottom of the table having lost all 13 games this season, conceding 131 goals and scoring just two.

Budhram century... From page 36 from Vijay Baljit with 42 and Manraj Boodhoo 30 as Success Masters responded with 192-5 in 16.2 overs. HS Masters and President’s XI played to a tie. HS Masters scored 160 all out in 18.5 overs, taking first strike, while President’s XI replied with 160 all out in 17 overs. The competition continues on Sunday.

Andy Murray: Former British... From page 34 If the operation proves successful, Murray might be able to make a farewell appearance at Wimbledon - although there can be no guarantee he will ever be able to compete again. Bob Bryan played again five months after having the same operation, and reached the last eight of the Australian Open with his twin brother Mike. Wimbledon just happens to be five months away; and Andy also has a brother who is one of the best doubles players in the world. We can but speculate for the moment. Time will tell.

Riders overcome Gayle failure to win again CHAT TO G R A M , Bangladesh, CMC – Veteran West Indies superstar Chris Gayle failed again but his Rangpur Riders did just enough to beat Johnson Charles’s Rajshahi Kings by six wickets yesterday, and maintain their position at the top of the Bangladesh Premier League standings. Asked to chase a paltry 142 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Riders recovered from Gayle’s early demise to reach their target with eight balls remaining. The left-handed Gayle, who turns 40 later this year, struck two fours in 10 before holing out to long off off 21year-old off-spinner Mehidy Hasan in the third over with

only 13 runs on the board. However, South African Rilee Roussouw then stroked a responsible 55 off 43 deliveries, repairing the innings first in a 41-run, second wicket stand with England opener Alex Hales (16) and then in a 71-run, third wicket partnership with fellow countryman AB de Villiers (37). The 30-year-old Charles, who has not represented West Indies in over two years, made 12 at the top of the order and it was left to Englishman Laurie Evans with 35 to get Kings up to 141 for eight off their 20 overs. Riders have 14 points, ahead of Comilla Victorians at the top only on net run rate.

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Andy Murray: Former British number one has resurfacing surgery on hip

Murray was due to play in next month’s Marseille Open before opting for further surgery. (Andy Murray)

BBC Sport - Britain’s former world number one Andy Murray had hip resurfacing surgery in London on Monday. The three-time Grand Slam champion, 31, announced in January he would retire this year, preferably after Wimbledon. But he admitted the Australian Open, where he lost to Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round, could be the final tournament of his career. He said: “I have a metal hip. Feeling a bit battered and bruised but hopefully that will be the end of my hip pain.” The Scot’s post on Instagram featured an X-ray picture of his hip.

What does the operation involve? Professor Max Fehily, consultant orthopaedic surgeon and clinical director at the Manchester Hip Clinic, says the operation involves “smoothing down the ball, then covering it with a metal cap”. “Then a layer of metal is placed within the pelvic socket in which it sits,” he added. American doubles legend Bob Bryan had a similar operation in 2018. The 40-yearold was on court within five months of his operation and competed with twin brother Mike at the Australian Open. Prof Fehily added that “90 to 95% of patients who have this surgery are delighted and live a pain-free life”, although none of his patients try to play professional tennis. Murray initially had surgery on his right hip in January 2018 and has played 15 matches since returning to the sport last June. He was due to play in February’s Marseille Open but withdrew from the tournament earlier in January. Murray ended his 2018 season in September to spend time working with rehabilitation expert Bill Knowles. But he was in tears at a news conference in

Murray posted this picture on Instagram of his hip following surgery. (Andy Murray) Melbourne when he announced before the first Grand Slam of 2019 that it may be the final one of his career. Murray then said following his five-set exit to Bautista Agut that he would need “a big operation” if he was to play again, but added: “I’ll give it my best shot.” In an interview with BBC Radio 5 live, the two-time Olympic champion said surgery was the only option if he wanted to play beyond Wimbledon. “However, there is a strong possibility I won’t come back and play after an operation. I want to play tennis, but not with the hip I have right now,” he added. Murray said surgery on his hip would mean “my quality of life would be better”. “Just going to walk my

dogs, playing football with my friends, is the worst thing I can think of doing,” he said. “I hate it because it’s so sore and it’s uncomfortable. Waiting another five or six months to do something like that is just another period where I’m really uncomfortable.” Analysis BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller “Athletes have had operations like that done and come back to play, but certainly not in singles,” Murray told me in Melbourne after that very emotional news conference. I am sure there is a small part of him that has not abandoned all hope of continuing his career, but this operation is first and foremost about improving his quality of life. (Continued on page 33)

Archer’s brace stuns Brisbane as Hurricanes extend lead HOBART, Australia, CMC – Barbadian fast bowler Jofra Archer moved his wickets tally for the Big Bash League to 13, after taking a brace on Tuesday to help Hobart Hurricanes brush aside Brisbane Heat by nine wickets and consolidate their hold on the top of the standings. The 23-year-old Archer snatched two for 28 as Brisbane, sent in, were held to 145 for six off their 20 overs at Bellerive Oval. They were tottering on 27 for four in the sixth over after Archer and seamers James Faulkner (2-27) and David Moody (2-27) combined in a devastating partnership to wreck the top order. Archer got the key wicket of captain Chris Lynn, caught by George Bailey at mid-off in the fifth over with 27 runs on the board. With his next very next delivery, he claimed lefthander Matt Renshaw to a catch at the wicket but failed to get the hat-trick in his next over. However, Alex Ross ar-

Fast bowler Jofra Archer. rived to slam 62 off 35 deliveries while Jimmy Peirson struck a patient 50 off 48 deliveries, in a crucial 109-run, fifth wicket stand. In reply, Hurricanes made light work of their target, with D’Arcy Short hammering 68 not out and Caleb Jewell, an unbeaten 61, to put their side over the line with over five overs remaining. The pair put on 132 in an unbroken second wicket

stand after captain Matthew Wade fell cheaply for 12 in the second over. Hurricanes top the standings with 18 points from 11 matches, four clear of Sydney Sixers in second. Archer resides in England and is expected to complete his eligibility residency period shortly, making him an option for the upcoming 50overs World Cup in England starting in May.

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NBA roundup: Nuggets’ comeback stun Grizzlies Nikola Jokic scored 24 points, including a go-ahead basket with 28.9 seconds left, and the visiting Denver Nuggets rallied from 25 points down to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 95-92 on Monday night. Will Barton had 20 points, and Malik Beasley scored 13 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter — when the Nuggets trailed by as many as 19 — to help Denver win without Jamal Murray. The point guard missed his second consecutive game due to an ankle injury. Denver was down by 19 at halftime, 17 after three quarters and 13 with 4:31 left but outscored the Grizzlies 23-7 down the stretch to win its third in a row. Marc Gasol had 28 points and nine rebounds, and Mike Conley had 23 points and 11 assists for Memphis, which has lost 15 of 17 games. Warriors 132, Pacers 100 Stephen Curry scored 23 of his game-high 26 points in the first half as Golden State routed Indiana in Indianapo-

Denver Nuggets guard Gary Harris (14) holds the ball away from Memphis Grizzlies guard Shelvin Mack (6) at FedExForum. (Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports) lis. The Warriors won their 11th straight, their 10th in a row on the road, against a Pacers team that last season became the first Eastern Con-

ference club in the five-year Steve Kerr coaching era to sweep a season series from Golden State. Playing in just his fifth game, DeMarcus Cousins

dropped in a season-best 22 points for the Warriors, who capped a 5-0 road trip. Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson added 16 points apiece. Myles Turner led the Pacers

with 16 points. Celtics 112, Nets 104 Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart scored 21 points apiece, and Boston dominated the fourth quarter while extending its home winning streak over Brooklyn to six. The Celtics beat the Nets for the 11th time in the past 12 meetings overall on a night when Kyrie Irving sat out with a strained left hip. Boston coach Brad Stevens said he thought the injury occurred Saturday during the first half of the Celtics’ 115-111 home loss to the Golden State Warriors. Boston blocked 16 shots, its highest total since the 1983-84 season, according to basketball-reference.com. D’Angelo Russell scored 25 points for the Nets, who had their six-game winning streak end. Hornets 101, Knicks 92 Tony Parker and Jeremy Lamb led a balanced attack with 15 points each, and host Charlotte added to New York’s misery. The Hornets trailed by as

many as eight points in the third quarter but went on a 140 run early in the fourth to take control of the game. They led by as many as 14 down the stretch and never let the Knicks closer than nine again. Kevin Knox scored 19 points for the Knicks, who have lost 10 straight and 18 of their past 19 games. Hawks 123, Clippers 118 Rookie Trae Young scored 26 points and John Collins added 22 as Atlanta earned a victory over Los Angeles to improve to 2-1 at the start of a season-high, seven-game road trip. Alex Len added 19 points for the Hawks, who defeated a Pacific Division team for the first time in six tries this season.Tobias Harris scored 30 points for the Clippers, who have lost five of their past six home games. Los Angeles reserve Lou Williams opened the game 0-for-11 from the field, a day after a 2-for-16 shooting performance, and finished with 21 points on 4of-17 shooting. (Field Level Media)

Naomi Osaka’s rise spells trouble for Serena, points to golden age for women’s tennis The Telegraph - Defining the parameters of what makes a sporting era great is not easy. It is not only subjective, but some would argue undefinable - that is what makes elite-level sport so captivating. There are though a few broad rules most would accept. Complete dominance by one team or individual is rarely popular, since inevitably such a situation breeds jealousy, resentment and boredom. The other extreme is where there is too much competition and seemingly no great individuals or teams.

Yes, the unpredictability is exciting but there is normally a creeping suspicion that the flat structure is partly down to the absence of an outstanding candidate. Golf fans will empathise with this situation over the last five years. Women’s tennis meanwhile has veered between both of these extremes over the last 15 years - an era that can be broadly split into two sections. Either it’s been the Serena Williams show, a story of crushing wins, minimal competition and grand-slam dominance. Or when Williams has been absent a series of

understudies have grappled unconvincingly to take centre stage. To underline the ongoing absence of a credible challenger, during the period of January 2004 until the end of last year only one player besides Williams - Kim Clijsters in 2010-2011 - won consecutive majors. Which brings us to Saturday, when Naomi Osaka, still only 21, altered the landscape by winning the Australian Open and becoming the first non-Serena player since Clijsters to claim back-to-back grand slams. In so doing she also became the world No. 1

The nature of Osaka’s thumping win over Serena Williams at the US Open is often overlooked. (Getty Images)

and the first player since Jennifer Capriati in 2001 to back up her maiden grand-slam title win by capturing the next one available. It’s early days but Williams would appear to have a genuine challenger at last - especially given the way Osaka made her look every one of her 36 years during last year’s US Open final hammering. Now 37 and with 23 major titles, it appears less of an inevitability that Williams will surpass or even equal Margaret Court’s record of 24. Suddenly, the previously undisputed alpha female Williams can see predators circling around her in every direction. Saturday’s beaten finalist Petra Kvitova, for instance a giant of the game regathering her strength after a period of enforced hibernation. A horrific knife attack threatened to finish Kvitova’s career at the end of 2016, but as her run in Australia confirmed she has well and truly rediscovered the form that has taken her to two Wimbledon titles. Besides Kvitova, there are other hunters poised menacingly. Angelique Kerber may have exited the Australian Open early but she can boast the pedigree of three major titles and a statement win over Williams at last

Naomi Osaka pose with the Australian Open trophy. year’s Wimbledon. Simona Halep, Sloane Stephens and Garbine Muguruza are all grand-slam winners who will feel they should be capturing the biggest prizes over the next few years. Caroline Wozniacki will also be a factor, Victoria Azarenka can’t be ruled out of a third major, and then there’s Maria Sharapova - the WTA ice queen still capable of turning her opponents to stone. In fact everywhere you look, there are intriguing sub plots and emerging talents who will be inspired by Osaka’s success. Twentyyear-old Arnya Sabalenka is even younger than Osaka and blasts her shots so hard it’s as if she’s firing cannon-balls off her racket. The highlyrated and hugely popular Ashleigh Barty, 23, is almost the polar opposite in style -

possessing a throwback game full of beguiling spins and slices. Both players are already only just outside the world’s top 10. Teenagers like America’s Amanda Anisimova and Bianca Andreescu of Canada meanwhile are already gaining traction, scoring high-profile scalps with their fearless approach. Sport is unpredictable, but with so many talented players and arresting personalities it is hard to imagine a monopoly like Williams’ over the coming years or the sort of interregnum that we have been left with when she has been absent. With Osaka surveying her kingdom, Williams wanting her throne back and a stellar supporting cast desperate to make a land grab, women’s tennis should be heading for a golden age.

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Beware of England By Dr. Rudi Webster What a victory! West Indies’ brilliant performance against England in the first Test at Kensington Oval, Barbados will long be acclaimed, remembered and treasured by generations of West Indians. The players displayed im-

mense talent, outstanding teamwork, and exceptional self-discipline and self-motivation. But, in assessing this outstanding performance, one must wonder why this latent talent is so rarely displayed. England’s coaches and

players must be in a state of shock following their team’s capitulation and emasculation. The players’ self-confidence took a big hit.Identifying the reasons for the team’s unforced errors, poor judgment and substandardexecution must

be the coach’s first important priority. In such circumstances, coaches and players tend to focus exclusively on technique, especially technical mistakes. But the real answers are not usually found there. The players didn’t suddenly lose their technical skills during the game; they just expressed them poorly. The England coaches will do well to remember an old African adage: “When a man falls, look at where he slips not where he falls.” Reviewing the players’ attitudes and activities in the days leading upto the game might reveal the real culprits – perhaps overconfidence, social distractions and inadequate mental and physical preparation. Performance experts will tell you that desire, preparation and self-discipline can at times make up for lack of skill, but skill alone cannot compensate for inadequate preparation, lack of discipline and suboptimal motivation. Before the series started, the England team was repeatedly warned about the dangers of underestimating the West Indies team. Of overconfidence, Sir Garfield Sobers often highlights its perils: “It is only human to be overconfident at times but I tried not to be because overconfidence is very dangerous; it is a prescription for failure. No matter how good you think you are there is always somebody who might be better on the day, or some bowler who can produce the unplayable ball. I never underestimated my opponent or the situation. When things go wrong with overconfident players and pressure is placed on them their thinking and concentration often deteriorate, and mental and physical distortions usually show their ugly heads. Their bodies then tighten and they lose rhythm, tempo and free movements. That’s not all. The ball seems to come to them faster, bounce higher, swing more and spinmore. It

Dr. Rudi Webster is not unusual for good batsmen to struggle in these situations and for mediocre bowlers to get lots of wickets.” West Indies must be vigilant and well prepared for the next Test. The players’ selfconfidence and expectations are high. They must guard against false confidence and overconfidence because the England team will be mentally and physically different. It will be highly disciplined and motivated and eager to avenge its defeat in Barbados. Every team has a baseline self image. This image exists in the players’ subconscious mind and it determines how well they play. It acts like a sensor or thermostat that regulates performance. We must remember that the subconscious mind controls more than 90% of all of the body’s functions and activities, including its movements. When a mediocre team has a good game and exceeds its normal standard, its confidence increases and its expectations of doing well in the next game rise. But the subconscious sensor detects a deviation from normal and then self-corrects downwards. The team’s collective minds might then say, “What do you think you are doing? That’s not like you. Correct yourself and get back to where you belong.” The brain

Budhram century hands Success Masters five-wicket win Seekumar Budhram struck a fine century as Success Masters defeated President’s XI Masters by five wickets when the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc Regal Stationery and Computer Centre over-40 20-over tournament continued on Sunday last at Gandhi Youth

Organisation ground. Batting first, President’s XI managed 191-6 off their allocation of 20 overs. Clyde Cumbatch struck 72 as Riaz Khan claimed 3-25 and Mark Fung 2-32. Budhram then hammered eight fours and 10 sixes in a robust 115 and got support (Continued on page 33)

will then take the team’s performance back down to its normal level. And when a good team like England that is used to winning performs poorly, its subconscious sensor notices the deviation and self-corrects upwards. The sensor might say, “C’mon this is not like you. You are much better than this. Get back to where you belong.” Performance then improves considerably. Chances are that West Indies will follow the first example and England the second. Here are two examples of these subconscious self-corrections. In the first Test at Edgbaston in 2017 West Indies was humiliated by England and lost the Test match by an innings and 209 runs. As predicted, the West Indies self-corrected upwards and had a complete transformation in the second Test at Headingly. It lifted its performance to an amazingly high level and won the match by five wickets. In the third Test at Lords the team self-corrected downwards, went back to its usual standard and lost the game by 9 wickets. A similar set of events took place in the 2018 Test Series between India and England. In the second Test at Lords England demolished India and won the match by an innings and 159 runs. Again as predicted, India selfcorrected upwards and won the third Test at Trent Bridge by 203 runs. In the next two Tests, India reverted to its normal standard losing the fourth Test at the Rose Bowl by 60 runs and the fifth Test at the Oval by 118 runs. Throughout the ages, that pattern has often repeated itself.The Test in Antigua should be an interesting game.West Indies must improve its self-awareness and self-responsibility. The odds of winning are in England’s favour but if West Indies can eliminate the expected downward self-correction the team could once more surprise us.

Wednesday January 30, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Success will be “one-off” unless CWI governance changes: Mitchell ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell has warned that unless there is a change in the current administration of Cricket West Indies, instances like last weekend’s shock win over England in the opening Test will remain one-off occurrences. Speaking in the wake of the Windies’ crushing 381run victory inside four days at Kensington Oval, the veteran leader argued that sustained success on the field could only be achieved by proper leadership and management, and a governance system “that promotes the interests of the players”. “We have seen West Indies perform well in a particular game in the past but as one who understands the game well, I know you cannot make a final judgment on the performance of a team by one game,” Mitchell said. “As they say in areas of intellectual activity, maybe that’s a one-off. I don’t like one-off. I like it to be clear

Indies were suffering from a lack of leadership. “I always believe we have the talent in the region; I never think we are short of talent,” he pointed o u t . ”Maybe we will not see a Gary Sobers or Brian Lara

Grenada PM Dr Keith Mitchell. there’s a permanent change in a t t i t u d e . ” He added: “As I have said over and over, unless the administration changes, I do not think we will see the kind of performance we need to.” Mitchell is a former chairman of CARICOM’s Prime Ministerial subcommittee on cricket and has continued to lobby for governance reform in West Indies cricket. During his tenure, he found himself at odds with the current Dave Cameronled administration when he endorsed the CARICOM-

commission Governance Report, which among other recommendations, called for the “immediate dissolution” of the current board and the appointment of an interim board “whose structure and composition will be radically different from the now proven, obsolete governance framework.” CWI dismissed the recommendation as “impractical” and an “unnecessary and intrusive demand”. Mitchell agreed while there was an abundance of talent in the region, West

emerging, but we have the talent to ensure that we can extract the maximum performance, but it requires the leadership, management and governance system that promotes the interests of the players and the unity of the region as a

whole. “I think that is the fundamental thing that is lacking and I hope we see a change in that regard.” West Indies face England in the second Test of the three-match series starting tomorrow in Antigua.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 30, 2019

Windies face tough hurdle in title defence LONDON, CMC – Defending champions West Indies will open the defence of their title against New Zealand, in the highly anticipated edition of next year’s men’s Twenty20 World Cup in Australia. In the fixtures released yesterday by the International Cricket Council, the Caribbean side was installed in tough Group 1 alongside the likes of World number one side Pakistan, powerhouses Australia and two yet-

to-be-determined qualifying teams. Group 2 is headed by powerful India and includes England, South Africa and Phil Simmons’s Afghanistan, along with two other teams from the qualifiers. Twelve teams will contest the Super 12 first round, with the eight automatic qualifiers joined by four teams from the qualifiers which will be contested from October 18-23 in Group A and B. The tournament proper

will run from October 24 to November 15, 2020 in eight cities and 13 venues, with the Sydney Cricket Ground hosting the opener between Australia and Pakistan on October 24, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground staging the grand final. West Indies take on the Black Caps in Melbourne on October 25 before clashing with the hosts in Perth three days later. The two-time champions then take on one of the qualifying teams in Perth on

October 29 before travelling to Adelaide to face Pakistan on November 3. West Indies then round out their first round campaign on November 7 against another team from the qualifiers. Under former captain Darren Sammy, the Windies won the first of their titles in 2012 when they beat hosts Sri Lanka in the final in Colombo. Their second triumph came in 2016 in Kolkata when they won a dramatic final in the last over against England.

However, their form since then has been patchy, resulting in their number seven world ranking. Last year alone, they lost 10 of 14 T20 Internationals. Meanwhile, the women’s tournament set to be staged against as a stand-alone event also in Australia earlier in 2020 from February 21 to March 8, with the final carded for International Women’s Day. Like the men’s tournament, games will be played in eight cities and 13 venues, with the opener set for Sydney between Australia

and India and the final scheduled for Melbourne. West Indies have been installed in Group B alongside England, South Africa, Pakistan and one other yetto-be-determined qualifier while Group A comprises four-time champions Australia, New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka and another qualifier. West Indies won the 2016 edition but failed in their title defence when the tournament was staged in the Caribbean last November as a standalone event for the first time, bowing out in the semi-finals.

West Indies C/ships 6th Round

Hemraj, Reifer, Singh return to Jaguars team as they wing out - Bishoo (injured), Griffith, Joseph out The CWI President’s X1 trio of left-handed batsman Vishaul Singh, left-arm fast bowling all-rounder Raymond Reifer and lefthanded opener Chanderpaul H e mraj returned to Guyana Jaguars side for their six round Regional First-Class Championship encounter against host Trinidad Red Force from tomorrow in Port-of-Spain’. They replace injured legspinner Devendra Bishoo, pacer Keon Joseph and opener Trevon Griffith who were in the squad which lost for the first in 15 matches when the Leewards Hurricanes beat them in the

last round at Providence. The side left Guyana yesterday for the Twin Island Republic for their impending assignment. Team: Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Raymon Reifer, Leon Johnson (Captain), Vishaul Singh, Anthony Bramble, Christopher Barnwell, Romario Shepherd, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Clinton Pestano, Coaching Staff: Rayon Griffith (Head Coach), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (Assistant Coach) and Neil Barry Jnr (Physiotherapist).

Benfica Women: Won 14, scored 257, conceded 0, Eagles rack up record 32-0 win BBC Sport - Fourteen games down, 257 goals scored, none conceded. Benfica Women are cruising to the title after racking up another record win on Saturday. The Eagles won 32-0 against CP Pego in the second division of the Portuguese Women’s league, topping their previous best 28-0 victories earlier this term. Brazil forward Darlene de Souza Reguera scored 10 goals, taking her tally for the season to 81 in all competitions. As a new team, Benfica are required to work their way up the league pyramid.

But with their side containing several international players, they are proving too strong for the eight other teams in the league. “I was very proud of our players, they had an exceptional attitude, dedication, commitment and they honoured the jersey in the best way,” said head coach Jose Marques. “We want to win the Portuguese Cup and the Championship.” Marques’ side have hit double figures in all bar one of their league games so far, a 4-0 victory against secondplaced Sporting B.They beat (Continued on page 33)

Wednesday January 30, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 39

Underdog claim Trophy Stall dominoes title - Wakenaam

V Net Captain Mohamed Sheriffudeen (left) receives the runner up trophy from Lakeram Kubeer. Underdog chalked up 75 games to win the Trophy Stall Dominoes competition which was contested on Sunday last at Carlosh Sports bar in Good Success, Wakenaam. V Net took the runner spot with 74 games, while All star placed third on 69 games in the closely contested final. Mohamed Zafrul made 17, while James Ramnarine and Amit Ramnarine scored 14 each for the winners. Anil

Ramrattan and Shafdar Alli marked 17 and 15 games respectively for the runner up side, while Munesh Sukram got 16 and Tom Singh 13 for All stars. Zafrul was named the Most Valuable player. Organiser Nazeer Mohamed congratulated the winning team and thanked Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall for his sponsorship, adding that the dominoes community on the island is looking forward to his continued support.

Mohamed Zafrul (right) collects the MVP accolade from Tom Singh.

Underdog skipper James Ramnarine (left) accepts the winning prize from Feroze Amin.

The victorious Underdog team.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 40

Wednesday January 30, 2019

Swimmers start preparation for Carifta Games in April GASA head confident of winning Medals in B’dos this year By Sean Devers The Pools at the Aquatic Centre reopened last week and the Swimmers are back in the water after returning from Suriname and Trinidad last month and are busy preparing for the Mashramani Meet; Guyana Amateur Swimming Association’s (GASA) first local competition for the year. “This is the only qualifier before Carifta 2019 which will be held be in Barbados over the Easter weekend so the swimmers are presently preparing for this,” informed President of GASA Ivan Persaud. The Mash meet is set for March 1 to 3 and a number of swimmers are training to qualify for the Carifta Games. The GSA top man said the Association has big plans for this year and is very confident of winning Medals at the 2019 Carifta Games in Barbados. The objective is developing the swimmers and Carifta is the level just after the Goodwill Games and GASA is preparing the swimmers for higher level meets. “We are working towards earning medals at this level

from swimmers trained and living in Guyana. It’s a big year for swimming and exposure is important for our swimmers so we plan to have representation at all of the overseas Events as possible,” Persaud said. “This year we will participate at the World Championship in Korea, the Pan Am Games in Peru, the South American Games in Chile, the Carifta Games in Barbados and the Goodwill Games in Suriname,” the long severing GASA Head revealed. GASA is also having a training session for officials on the February 8. Persaud noted that 2018 was a very good year for Guyana’s swimming as Guyana competed at every overseas Meet and completed all of their local competitions. “We got funding from FIBA to purchase equipment, set up our web site and travel to the South American Games, while Andrew Fowler received a Scholarship to swim and study in Tennessee, USA and should be leaving Guyana very soon for the US,” Persaud informed. Dorado, Silver Sharks, Dolphins, Orca, Torpedo and Sea Otters are the six clubs

currently under the GASA Umbrella but Persaud disclosed the GDF and Police have requested to join GASA as clubs in 2019. Some of the swimmers are experiencing difficulties getting to the Pool at Liliendaal due to traffic congestion caused by the meeting of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CRIC 17) at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre which is obliquely opposite the Aquatic Centre. Persaud informed these swimmers have been involved in land training in the National Park from yesterday and feels this might be a blessing in disguise since their fitness should improve after their three sessions in the National Park which ends tomorrow. Persaud disclosed that the 22-year-old Fowler, Guyana’s fastest swimmer, will participate in the World Championship and will travel directly from the US to Korea. When asked about Hannibal Gaskin, Goodwill Games 100m butterfly Men’s gold medallist and grandson of President David Granger, who is in England and National School’s Swimming Championships’

Aleka Persaud

Hannibal Gaskin

Ivan Persaud

Leon Seaton

Amy Grant

Andrew Fowler

best female swimmer Amy Grant, the GASA Boss informed that that GASA wants both swimmers to qualify to represent their Country. “We hope he makes himself available to represent Guyana this year since he is very talented and if he is still swimming he could medal at the Goodwill Games,” Persaud said. Persaud said Grant seems reluctant to represent Guyana and only competes in the National School’s Championships but added

that, “Amy is a member of a GASA club and we would love for her to come and prove her worth at the Mash tournament and qualify for the Carifta Games in Barbados,” Persaud added. Persaud said he expects good things this year from Leon Seaton, Patrice and Paul Mahaica, Alika Persaud, Ethan Gonsalves, Amber DeGoeas, Monique Watson, Vladimir Woodruff and Noel Raekwon. Persaud thanked the sponsors who supported swimming during 2018 and

hoped for continued support from the business community and the Government. “We are hoping for Government’s support for the Goodwill Games in Suriname in August when we are sending a 48-member team…40 swimmers and eight support staff including Coaches,” Persaud concluded. All Swimmers who attend the Carifta Games are debarred from participating in the Goodwill games in Suriname.

BCB/NBS 40-Overs Second Division Tournament:

RHT Bakewell advance to Final, defeat Ramnarine Memorial and No. 72 Cut and Load

Surendra Kissoonlall

The powerhouse Rose Hall To w n B a k e w e l l S e c o n d Division Team have advanced to the Final of the Berbice Cricket Board 40-Overs New Building Society Second Division Tournament for the second successive time. The Team under the leadership of Kevin Sinclair defeated Ramnarine Memorial in the Quarterfinals on Saturday by 116 runs, while on Sunday they held their nerves to defeat a determined No. 72 Cut and Load Team by 20 runs in a match badly affected by the weather. Rose Hall Town Bakewell in 2018 won all four tournaments they participated in and were a finalist in the last New Building Society Tournament three years ago. At the Port Mourant Ground on Saturday, the Ramnarine Memorial Team were confident of defeating Rose Hall Town Bakewell and were on a high after dismissing Guyana National Junior Players Kevin Sinclair 28, Junior Sinclair 08 and Kevlon

Anderson 10 to leave Rose Hall Town Bakewell at 60 for 3 in the 13th Over. Left-handed Surendra Kissoonlall and Berbice Under19 player Keith Simpson then added 60 crucial runs to pull things around. Kissoonlall went on to top score with a classic 62 (4x4, 2x6) after Simpson was trapped LBW to offspinner R. Pottaya for 15. National Under15 player Jonathan Rampersaud supported with a mature 34, while former national Under-19 pacer Sylus Tyndall made 13 as Rose Hall Town Bakewell recovered well to end on 202 for 9 from their allotted 40-Overs. Medium pacers Jason Gray 3 for 30, Royden Gray 3 for 41 and Paul Tyndall 2 for 41 were the best bowlers for Ramnarine Memorial. Needing to score 203 to reach their first ever Semifinals, Ramnarine Memorial were bowled out for 86 in 18.2 Overs as only K. Sampson 12 and Paul Sampson 27 reached double figures. Off spinner Junior

Sinclair 2 for 3, Kevin Sinclair 3 for 20 and West Indies Female pacer Erva Giddings 2 for 5 were the outstanding bowlers for the winners. Less than twenty four hours after their Quarterfinal win against Ramnarine Memorial Rose Hall Town Bakewell travelled to the No. 72 Ground, to play Cut and Load in the Semifinals. Heavy over night and early morning showers had washed out all of the other Berbice Cricket Board organised matches but the hard work of the No. 72 Ground Staff allowed play to start at 13.30hours. The home team won the toss and asked Rose Hall Town Bakewell to take first strike on a pitch with lots of moisture. The visitors were soon in deep trouble at 17 for 3 in the 10th of the allotted 25-Overs as Kevin Sinclair 00, Junior Sinclair 01 and Mahendra Gopilall 01 failed to adapt to the softness of the wicket. Kevlon Anderson showed his class with a superb 45 in difficult

conditions and received support from Surendra Kissoonlall 18, Keith Simpson 13 and Jonathan Rampersaud 10 as Rose Hall Town Bakewell reached 106 for 9. K. Persaud 3 for 28, A. Ajay 2 for 37 and D. Chatterpaul 2 for 6 were the best bowlers for No. 72 Cut and Load. Needing to score at just over four runs per over, No. 72 Cut and Load failed to adapt to their own home condition and were dismissed for 86 in 20.4 Overs. Junior Sinclair continued his fine form with the ball to take four wickets for 23 runs, while Kevlon Anderson 2 for 9 and Keith Simpson 2 for 16 supported well. Rose Hall Town Bakewell would now have to wait to know who they won play in the Final. Rose Hall Canje would clash with Young Warriors Cricket Club in the first Quarterfinals. The winner would then clash in the Semifinals with the winner of the Blairmont Community Centre versus D’Edward Cricket club Quarterfinals.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 30, 2019

PAGE 41

Stephen, Dindyal guide G Square Cavaliers to six-wicket win; MP/Zeelandia triumph Led by some brilliant batting from Romario Stephen and Mahindra Dindyal, G Square Cavaliers of Belle Plaine defeated Good Success/Sans Souci/Jaguars Combined by six wickets when the Regal Sports U19 40-over tournament commenced on Saturday last in Wakenaam. Good Success/Sans Souci/Jaguars batted first and posted a challenging 208 all out at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground. Mahase Ramnarine made 37; Beesham Moses got 32 while Bhumeshwar Ramkissoon, Devon Ramrattan and Devendra Hansraj contributed 20 each and Derwin Bacon 16. Golcharran Chulai claimed 3-12 in 3.2 overs, while Ramnaresh Persaud had 228 and Tikeshwar Nankoo 232. G Square Cavaliers

Rickey Persaud responded with 209-4 in 30.1 overs. Stephen top scored with 90, while Mahindra Dindyal made 54 and Kumeshwar Suddin 13. Ramkissoon, Ramnarine, Hansraj and Moses took one wicket each. At Zeelandia, Maria’s Pleasure/Zeelandia Combined beat Noitgedacht SC 143 runs. Maria’s Pleasure/Zeelandia Combined batted first and managed 208 all out in 30 overs. Kevin Hemraj stroked

81, while Ryan Atkinson made 15 as Stephon Madramotoo bagged 5-35 and Fitzroy Retemiah 3-40. Noitgedacht SC were bowled out for 65 in reply. Fitzroy Retemiah and Cleon Retemiah made 12 and 10 respectively as Rickey Persaud grabbed 5-15 and Ryan Atkinson 2-20. The competition continues on Saturday with G Square Cavaliers playing Noitgedacht SC at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground and Maria’s Pleasure Combined entertaining Good Success/ Sans Souci/Jaguars.

Members of the G Square Cavaliers U-19 team following their win.

John Lewis remains president of Flying Ace Cycle Club Long serving president and popular businessman John Lewis was once again elected president of the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC). Lewis was once again elected unopposed when the club held its annual general meeting recently at the Skeldon Community Centre on the Upper Corentyne. Founder and coach Randolph Roberts is the First Vi c e P r e s i d e n t , w h i l e prominent Attorney at law Mursalene Bacchus is the second Vice President. Margaret Kuma remains the Secretary with Roberts doubling up as the Treasurer. Former national female cycling champion Marica Dick is the Assistant Secretary. The committee members are Rawle Felix, Fizal Ally, Pearl Arokium and Neil Reece. Former New Amsterdam Mayor and Businessman Errol Alphonso is still the Patron of the club. Balram Narine was reelected as the Club Captain. Former Long serving Secretary Rhonda Russell remains an honorary member. Lewis thanked the club for continuing to show fate in him and expressed his pleasure in continuing to work with them. He

congratulated all the members for a job well done and had special words of commendation for Roberts and the top riders who helped to keep the name of the club on its high pedestal. He also congratulated those that participated in the club’s activities last year, especially those who did well, while wishing them a better year in 2019. There were words of thanks and appreciation to all sponsors including a number of former members and overseas based Guyanese who would have supported the club through the year. The executives are to meet shortly to plan the list of activities for the New Year. The club is set to hold its award and presentation ceremony today at the Central Police Station.Balram Narine is the top cyclist. Jeremiah Joseph is the top junior rider with Mario Washington his runner up. Maria Carrington will be rewarded for her exploits in the female category. Veteran rider Syborne Fernandes has been recognised as the best in his category.Former cyclist and overseas based Travis Cipriani will also be rewarded as a long serving member of the club. (Samuel Whyte)

Good Success/Sans Souci/Jaguars team prior the start of the tournament

t r o Sp

Windies face tough hurdle in title defence

Title-holders West Indies ‌ installed in Group 1.

West Indies C/ships 6th Round

The Guyana Jaguars prior to departure yesterday.

Hemraj, Reifer, Singh return to Jaguars - Bishoo (injured), team as they wing out Griffith, Joseph out Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.