Kaieteur News

K

SOCU Deputy resigns NEWS after Magistrate requests her qualifications AIETEUR

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

Thursday Edition January 31, 2019 - Vol. 12 No. 05 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Price $80

Online readership yesterday 120,426

Govt. must demand guarantees from parent companies in oil sectors IMF, Revenue Watch warns...

…it’s necessary to ensure Guyana is fully compensated in any eventuality Radically improved Bartica Stelling enters second phase

Judge denies jailed Lula's request to attend brother's funeral ...

Decision in No-Confidence motion expected today SOCU fraud charges hinder Irfaan Ali from travelling to Canada he didn't attend two brothers' funeral as President

PAGE 02

Kaieteur News

Thursday January 31, 2019

Thursday January 31, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 03

Govt. must demand guarantees from parent companies in oil sector - IMF, Revenue Watch …Say this is necessary to ensure all potential liabilities are covered

By Kiana Wilburg

G

overnments of oil producing nations should always examine the assets of subsidiary companies signing onto an oil deal with them. It could mean the difference between having full coverage from the company for accidents and a country having to deal with the expense on its own.

Considering this, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and transparency body, Revenue Watch, have urged in numerous literature, that the choice of parties to

any agreement should be treated with extreme caution. In this regard, the Revenue Watch for example has often warned of the ticks of oil companies when it comes to signing agreements.

The transparency body said, “Oil company partners in any deal with a host government will usually create a subsidiary to serve as party to the agreement.

But this type of subsidiary will have limited or no assets of its own and it will not be able to rely on the financial resources of the parent company to stand behind its

commitments, especially in regard to damages resulting from environmental pollution.”

Revenue Watch and the IMF have said, therefore, that it is expected of host governments to “require a guarantee from the ultimate parent company of the subsidiary so that the host government has a reliable contractual counterparty with the resources to cover all potential liabilities.”

OTHER PAYMENT /PROTECTIONS MEASURES Guyana's oil deal for the Stabroek Block is signed

GECOM warns of strange persons visiting homes

T

he Guyana E l e c t i o n s Commission is urging citizens to be alert and not divulge personal information to persons visiting their homes under the pretense of being representatives of the commission.

“Several persons from

Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six in particular have contacted the GECOM Secretariat to query the nature of the exercise after being visited by persons purporting to be from the Commission.”

The Commission said it is not engaged in any such field exercise and is

therefore urging citizens to be extremely cautious and not to provide any information to those persons as their motive is unknown and can be potentially harmful. For clarifications, GECOM is asking that persons contact the Public Relations Officer on 2239653.

between the Government and ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).

The Government did not express any concern in this regard. It has however, made some effort to ensure Guyana has

some form of protection in place in the event that there are environmental casualties by oil operators.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, is one person who has recommended that the respective regulatory bodies

for the looming oil sector have tankers contribute funds towards oil spill readiness and even have contracts with the Civil Defense Commission (CDC) on disaster risk management.

During the 2019 budget debates he had said, “Agencies such as the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Guyana Geology and Mines (continued on page 24)

KAIETEUR NEWS APOLOGIZES

A

s the nation's leading newspaper and the most read in the Diaspora, Kaieteur News has always prided itself on equal, fair, balanced and objective reporting. Kaieteur News has always strived for honesty, decency and factual and truth telling in the journalistic world.

However, its guest editorial of Monday January 28, 2019: “Practicing Deceptive Politics” did not meet the aforementioned guidelines, standards, values or ethics established by the Publisher and its Editor-inChief since the founding of Kaieteur News twenty-five years ago.

It may not be the first newspaper to establish such immaculate principles, but its Publisher and Editor-in-Chief have always insisted for its reporters to take the high moral

ground in reporting the news in order to maintain the dignity of the newspaper and its readers in Guyana and around the world.

The editorial was irregular; it contained some inaccuracies and may have caused harm to many of its readers, which was not the intent of the paper.

Therefore, the Publisher, Editor-in-Chief and management of Kaieteur News have expressed their sincere apology to all the readers who might have been affected by the article and we dearly regret this incident.

While as human beings, we are not perfect, but our solemn promise to all our readers is, we will do our utmost to prevent this from happening again.

Sincerely, Management of Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

PAGE 04

Thursday January 31, 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

Copying all the wrong things It would seem that everything that develops in the United States is copied in Guyana. There were the fashion statements; the music systems and even the nature of television.

When Guyana contemplated television, the broadcast system was intended to be European—PAL. After all, Guyana was a European colony. Its trading partners were, for the greater part, the European countries.

However, Government faltered with the introduction of television in 1980 and a private entrepreneur opted to experiment with satellite connections. The most available satellites were American, so before long the American system –NTSC—became the preferred broadcast system.

Other television stations came on stream and they all adopted this system which dominates the local broadcast system today.

For some time now Guyanese have been regaled with news of school shootings. People, some of them very delusional, some filled with hate over an action taken against them by the school, bought guns in a country where the constitution gives Americans the rights to bear arms, and to buy guns with little questions asked.

Of course there were regulations. Some states allow people to carry their weapons in the open, while others demand that the weapon be concealed. But in all cases there must be a permit, pretty much like Guyana.

Unlike Guyana, people over a certain age would walk into a gun store and make a purchase. Pressure on the National Rifle Association allowed investigations of people before the weapon or weapons could be bought or sold.

There were also restrictions on the nature of weapons sold. In Guyana, the legal limit is for small handguns. In the United States, until recently, people could actually buy assault weapons. In Guyana, the number of ammunition one license holder could possess is limited by law. Not so in the United States.

But there are always loopholes, with the result that even people with criminal records have been able to purchase weapons. And they have been able to source deadly assault weapons. These have been used with deadly effect in shopping malls, in schools, in night clubs and even in churches.

Over the years, at least since 1998, hundreds of people have been slaughtered in the United States. For this year alone ten people have been killed in mass shootings. A 21year-old man killed five people, including his parents, in two parishes in Louisiana on January 26, last.

At least five people were killed in a hostage incident and shooting at a bank in Florida. The suspect was taken into custody by police on January 23 last.

A man opened fire in the Tree of Life synagogue in an anti-Semitic attack, killing eleven people and injuring six others (including four police officers). The suspect was taken into custody by police on October 27, last year.

On February 14, 2018, a former student of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Florida, entered the school, killed seventeen people, and wounded seventeen others. He was taken into custody by police.

A fifteen-year-old student killed two other students and injured sixteen others before discarding his weapon and attempting to hide among other students on January 23, 2018. He was apprehended by police. This was the Marshall County High School shooting in Kentucky.

Those were only two of the recent school shootings.

Today, this trend seems to becoming to Guyana. Copying what some of the school shooters did in the United States, our would-be shooters took to social media to announce a plan to shoot up schools.We tend to copy all the bad things out of the United States.

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.

It is clear that standard protocols are being violated in relation to these deaths DEAR EDITOR, Individuals and organizations, including the O p p o s i t i o n P e o p l e ’s Progressive Party (PPP), are demanding there be an independent investigation in relation to the deaths of three children at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

This demand is for the right thing and an independent investigation should have been convened automatically, in accordance with standard protocols for the death of any child, under any circumstance. It is egregious that the GPHC is investigating itself. It is worrisome that the public and political parties must intervene and demand an independent investigation.

The call for an independent investigation reflects the public outrage surrounding the death of three children at the GPHC. The GPHC continues to hide behind the refrain they are investigating the deaths.

The Minister and the Ministry of Public Health, after more than a week of deafening silence, finally held a private media conference with a handpicked reporter. She finally expressed condolences to the a ff e c t e d f a m i l i e s a n d expressed satisfaction that the GPHC is investigating the deaths. I am flabbergasted that the GPHC, the Ministry of Public Health or the Minister of Public Health seem oblivious they are violating

standard protocols.

The present management of the GPHC clearly does not seem to be aware of the standard protocols for how the death of a child must be handled. These protocols were established as part of the Ministry of Health Act. The Ministry of Public Health similarly appears to have forgotten what these protocols are. The Senior Minister of Public Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence, is guilty of not being aware of the protocols and oblivious of her responsibility to ensure these protocols are rigidly applied. Now that PAHO has become engaged, I am hopeful that PAHO will remind them of the protocols. Guyana introduced a standard protocol more than a decade ago to ensure that the death of every child is investigated, not as an option, but an obligation.I was the Minister when the protocols were implemented. The protocol requires an immediate reporting of the death of any child, no matter what the circumstances might have been, whether it was a preventable death or a nonpreventable death. Every child’s death must be reported by the institution or the healthcare provider involved within 24 hours to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) whose responsibility it is to inform the Minister.

The institution where the death occurred or where the child is taken must investigate

Peeping Tom’s gleeful gloating DEAR EDITOR, I am appalled at the gloating tone of Peeping Tom’s commentary on the understandable inability of our GDF to respond militarily to Venezuela’s aggressions against Guyana (KN 1/27/19). Given the writer’s obvious gleeful gloating, I have no doubt that this person is not emotionally invested in the well-being of our country as long as it is being ruled by the current government.

The Peeper attempted to hide the true intent of his commentary by using its first few sentences to heap effusive but devious praise on President Granger for his handling of aspects of the Venezuela problem.

However, the political intent could not be suppressed.

It’s a crying shame that political and policy differences have brought us to the place where a native-born person can openly take to a widely-read publication to gloat about the understandable inability of his nation’s defence forces to respond to baneful foreign aggression.

Editor, with this kind of politically-motivated, Venezuelapleasing writing by Peeping Tom, the Venezuelans are assured of, and our government knows of, at least one Trojan Horse in our midst. The sad truth is that there are many others.

Sincerely, Lionel Lowe

the death without any delay and submit a report to the CMO within forty-eight hours.

The Ministry has seven days to examine the institutional report and make further queries and then initiate an independent investigation, if the Ministry deems it necessary. This protocol, therefore, avoids the hospital or doctors investigating themselves, thus avoiding any conflict of interest.

Three children are dead and at the centre of the outrage are questions about the medicines used and how these medicines might have been administered. The GPHC only agreed to start an investigation after the parents expressed their fears that their children might have died, not from their illnesses, but from matters relating to the care they were receiving at the GPHC. Let me reiterate - I have always believed that healthcare providers always want to do the very best they can to provide quality care to the persons they care for. Still, something went wrong that led to the death of three children, and there is suspicion relating to the safety of the medicines and how they were used.

An independent investigation should have been immediately initiated, in accordance with the standard protocols. There was no need for anyone to demand an investigation. The fact that almost two weeks later, the GPHC insists it is still investigating and that the Minister has the temerity to tell the nation after almost two weeks of silence that the GPHC should be allowed to complete its investigation is a violation of the protocols

and adds to the outrage surrounding the deaths of these children.

What is more appalling is that the Minister and the GPHC seek praise for the inappropriate investigation being conducted. An independent investigation is what is required and the GPHC, the Ministry of Public Health and the Minister have no say in this matter - it is required in accordance with standard protocol.

At the time those protocols were introduced, the intention was clear - the death of every child requires an investigation so that we could learn lessons and work t o w a r d s n o repetition of whatever might be the weaknesses in the health care system.

When the institutions are investigating themselves, usually it is a dead-end. Two examples will suffice. Around July 2017 a three-year-old died, after yo-yo management between GPHC and a private institution. The GPHC insisted they were investigating. The Ministry of Public Health said they were awaiting the GPHC report. On September 3, 2017, a one-month old child died at the GPHC. The parents insisted the child died because of an overdose of antibiotics. Again the GPHC and the Ministry insisted that the GPHC was conducting a thorough investigation. The nation is still awaiting those reports.

Those investigations actually died a natural death.

The fact that the standard protocol is not being used either means that there is a frightening ignorance of these protocols or that there is an ulterior motive.

Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

Selecting a Town Clerk DEAR EDITOR, Given the tragic record of defective performers in the position of Town Clerk of the Mayor and City Council over the last two decades, care should be taken about the next appointment.

The process obviously should be the responsibility of the Local Government Commission. The latter should invite a professional or group of professionals to manage the procedure – from crafting the job description with the appropriate requirements to be advertised, organisation of the shortlisting for the approval of the Commission; and then the conduct of the interviews and making of recommendations for selection or otherwise.

The exercise must involve full transparency.

Yours faithfully E.B. John

Thursday January 31, 2019

GTT is needed urgently in Agriculture Road DEAR EDITOR, Last year I made several complaints to GTT about problems with my phone and poor internet service where I live in Agriculture Road. The first problem I had was with my phone that works on and off - sometimes I would call and won’t hear the person on the other end of the line and when a person called I won’t hear them.

Their technicians came and the first thing they told me was the phone is not good. I purchased a new phone from them for $4,600 that service used to be free. I told their technicians it’s a line problem from the post and not the phone. They left.

A few days after, I called them again. They came back after ten days and tried to rewire a box on the house but could not solve the problem.

They went away and came again about three weeks after and decided to rewire my house. I then purchased another phone for my downstairs, because we have a twoway phone system.

The phone worked, but I discovered I was encountering the same ‘’on and off problem’’ and the internet service they provide cannot cost a thousand dollars. I am not the only customer living here with phone and internet problems.

Most times the internet is connected but it’s not working.

I decided to visit the back of the road - going down to NAREI stock farm opposite Komal Scheme. To my amazement all the GTT phone lines from the fat, black cables to the fine, black service lines touching the ground are connected to a makeshift broken GPL post strapped to a next post.

Editor, these and other lines are literally touching the

ground, connected to a GPL post that can pose danger to the public and kids if current runs through those lines many innocent lives can be lost.

What infuriates me is GTT workers are going down to the back of this road actually every week. I wonder if they are blind. All they have to do is plant three posts and run these wires at the top of them - a job that would only take about 3-4 hours - but they turn a blind eye to it, and we the customers have to pay phone bills and internet bills for a service we are not having.

This is Agriculture Road cows, horses, sheep, goats, trucks traverse where those lines are on the ground; they burst these lines all the time and GTT technicians are on this road weekly but cannot fix this basic problem. I wonder why are they running their lines on GPL posts; two of their technicians were already electrocuted, yet they are making the same mistakes again and again GTT has many new slogans about Blaze internet, but that has blazed out ages ago.

They claim they’re getting better all the time but it’s worse all the time. In my opinion the current GTT administration are just wasting our time. The customer service is always on voicemail. When I call, it can take days to get to them. Why voicemail for emergencies?

I have travelled to many countries and I have never see phone lines run on the ground - only in Guyana, this lackadaisical and incompetent work can happen. I also note with interest that many GPL posts are extremely rotten and twisted, but GPL workers just leave them. It’s time they move away from these

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

‘’wallaba’’ posts and run metal posts with a concrete foundation.

In this modern era, GPL and GTT make us look like we are yet evolving from the ancient world with the sloppy jobs they are performing. I am calling on the CEO of GTT to come into Agriculture Road to see the incompetent work his technicians are doing. GPL linesmen also need to come and remove their tangled-up lines on their posts before innocent people get killed.

Since last year the 17th February I applied for the Blaze internet service it’s almost a year now and I am not given that service. These lines were run long before other villages and we are left behind for this service here in Agriculture Road. I was informed that the Blaze price already increased by $3000 a month and it will increase more - by the time we get it here it will be about $20,000 a month.

I wrote before and I will mention it again, the not so competent have risen to power -after 50 years of Independence we still have daily blackouts, poor phone and internet service, and a dirty, unreliable supply of drinking water for just a few hours a day. Guyana really needs a change; even God himself would run from Guyana.

Regards, Rev. Dr. Gideon Cecil

A remigrant confronts Guyana’s racial divide DEAR EDITOR, I was recently reading a letter in the Guyana Chronicle by a young successful Doctor describing the difficulties of his experience under the then PPP government and reflected on my recent experience under the APNU +AFC government and couldn’t help but draw similarities.

Don’t get me wrong, I have also experienced a touch of “confusion” at a PPP event where upon seeing me, the head of the party said, “We really need to open our party to more Afro Guyanese”. Immediately, senior members of the party came over to welcome me, but I was confused as to the need for the remark.

There I was standing with the descendant of an Indentured Immigrant and the descendant of one of the party’s initial leaders yet I was made to feel like an outsider. It was upsetting at the time.

However, this pales in comparison with the reception that I have been given by the current government in my attempts to help provide my services to my Dear Beautiful Guyana.

As a recent remigrant, I have spent the better part of my career developing indus-

try overseas and gaining experience in key industries such as beverage, alcohol and bauxite-based products that would be to the benefit of Guyana. Yet the reception from government agencies has been lukewarm at best.

They have dismissed my qualifications, which I have garnered from some of the top institutions in the world coupled with experience from MNCs in the Fortune 200 list of companies.

The nepotism and party bias appears to be evident in the decision-making process within the government infrastructure.

It is quite disappointing, especially considering that I fondly remember meeting the late President Burnham while in primary school. I remember him coming by our home not too long after I had placed within the top 10 at Common Entrance.

His daughter was also part of the recruitment team for the business school, which I attended. Hence, I felt quite unbiased as it related to party affiliation.

So after reading the young Doctor’s remarks and account of his experience, I am left with the impression that the hate between the two major parties has left such a

division between races that it now becomes difficult for them to make unbiased factbased decisions for the benefit of the country.

This leaves the 26% of us who are either from a mixed background, European, Chinese or are of Amerindian descent, to fend for ourselves. I look forward to the eventual establishment of a new party focused on this neglected group of citizens.

This will help put an end to racial partisan politics and ensure the fostering of dialogue and consensus building in Parliament. We as a nation must find ways to overcome this “do for do” mentality and ensure the remembrance of that old Guyanese saying, “Two wrongs don’t make a right”.

Best regards, Mr. Changlee

PAGE 6

Thursday January 31, 2019

Kaieteur News

UNCCD adopts report to combat Desertification

The parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), yesterday, adopted the comprehensive report produced by the 17th session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 17).The last day of the convention included meetings by a group of African States, a group of Asian States and a group of Latin American and Caribbean States, as well as a meeting of the Regional Implemen-

tation Annex for Central and Eastern Europe.

The parties, throughout the conference, had interactive sessions, where they discussed progress made in setting voluntary land degradation neutrality (LDN) targets and advancing towards LDN implementation, identifying emerging innovative financing opportunities to combat land degradation, and the Gender Action Plan as a mechanism for improving the living conditions of affected

populations.

Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, Monique Barbut, said, “LDN is now seen as an accelerator and an integrator of all business development goals. We’ve achieved all this in five years. The potential of this convention has only just started to be realized.”

The achievement of LDN involves first making a commitment to stop the excessive loss of productive land by 2030, and to ensure that the amount of land degraded per year in each country is offset by restoring an equal amount of degraded land.

Barbut said that it is paramount for parties to the convention to have the political will to achieve LDN. Pursuant to this, 120 countries, party to the convention, have announced their commitment to LDN, 82 countries have set LDN targets, 36 countries are in the planning stages of target setting, and 68 countries have set other similar targets at the national scale.Barbut said that the recommendations in CRIC 17 constitute a powerful input for the deliberations that will occur in New Delhi, India, when the next meeting occurs.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said, “Our pristine rainforest is crucial to the carbon cleanup of the earth’s atmosphere,” he told the conference. He said evidence of the importance of Guyana’s role as a partner in the global environmental movement, can be seen in the many agreements entered into with

countries such as the Kingdom of Norway, the Netherlands, Germany and Japan as well as international organizations such as conservation international for the conservation of the forests.There was a ‘Green Guyana Expo’, where numerous Guyanese exhibitors displayed their services.Barbut thanked the people and government of Guyana “for the warm welcome shown and for

Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, Monique Barbut [Guyana’s] faultless organization of this meeting.”

She implored all parties to help the UNCCD to reach its full potential.The completion of this conference marks the

first time since Guyana has successfully hosted a major international conference since the meeting of the foreign ministers of the NonAligned Movement in 1972.

Verdict looms for seven on trial for shopkeeper’s murder Closing arguments were presented yesterday by the defence and prosecution as the trial of seven persons accused of the murder of Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara shopkeeper, Zulfiker Namdar, is winding down. In fact, verdicts are expected as early next Monday after Justice Singh sums up the evidence and sends the jury to deliberate.

Those on trial are Allan Dorsett, called ‘Baird’; Delwayne Croft; Esan Lawrence, called ‘Muscle’; Jermain Williams, called ‘Yankee’; Andrew Chandler, called ‘Sonic’ or ‘Sowie’; Samuel Bacchus, called ‘Kirk’ and Casindra Dorsett also known as ‘Cassandra SinghDorsett’, the wife of Allan.

They have all pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Attorneys-at-Law Nigel

MURDERED: Zulfiker Namdar Hughes and Ashley Henry are appearing for Allan Dorsett.

Attorney-at-Law Adrian Thompson is appearing for Lawrence, Croft and Casindra

Dorsett, while Attorney-atLaw George Thomas is representing Williams, Chandler and Bacchus.

Presenting the case for the prosecution are State Counsel Tuanna Harding, State Counsel Abigail Gibbs and State Counsel, Tariq Mohamed.According to previous reports, Namdar was shot and killed after heavily armed gunmen intruded his Lot 76 Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara home where he resided with his parents.The gunmen shot at Namdar while he was in the shop he operated. They left him lying in a pool of blood, before escaping with a large sum of cash and a quantity of jewellery.

Namdar was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Thursday January 31, 2019

PAGE 7

Kaieteur News

NICIL’s CEO, Horace James, dies The nation is mourning the death of Horace James, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

James was battling cancer and died yesterday in his Linden home, Region Ten. “His Excellency David Granger, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, is saddened at the passing of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Mr. Horace James,” a statement from the Government said.

During the course of his professional career, Mr. James served as Head of the LINMINE Secretariat and CEO of the Linden Electricity Company.

“President Granger expresses sympathy to his relatives, friends and colleagues.”

James was appointed in early 2017 as NICIL’s chief.

He came out ahead of 14 external and internal candidates that were evaluated by both the Board and independent assessors.

James reportedly held a degree in mining from a UK university, and served in the position of Head of Linmine Secretariat for 16 years as well as in several managerial positions in the bauxite plant.

He also served as the first Regional Chairman.

James is said to have played a key role in establishing the Linden museum.

He was said to have possessed institutional knowl-

Died: Horace James edge of the history of the town especially as it relates to bauxite mining.

GTU to reengage Education Ministry over ‘glitch’ in teachers’ increase Government has reportedly been fulfilling its commitment to increase the salaries of public school teachers in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] it inked with the Guyana Teachers Union [GTU], last year.

However, there are some concerns being raised by the Union linked to the percentage increase that teachers received on their salaries this month. Last month, teachers started to receive increases to

their salaries.

The agreement is one that allows for public school teachers who work for below $100,000 to receive a 12 percent increase for 2016 and those working for more being eligible for eight percent in the same year.

The agreement also stipulates that the interim payment received by all public servants including teachers in 2016 shall form part of the payment to be received for 2017 while all teachers will

benefit from an across the board eight percent increase for 2018.

Given the interim payment in 2016, Lyte noted that only some teachers were eligible for a two percent increase.

But although these were indeed afforded a pay hike, Lyte said that the Union had qualms about whether the correct amount was paid out.

“We don’t know that the percentage they [teachers] received is quite accurate (Continued on page 11)

He also served as a Director of the Linden Technical Institute and also of the Linden Community Development which started in 1970.

PAGE 8

Thursday January 31, 2019

Kaieteur News

‘Nero’ implicates ‘Smallie’ in 2007 murder In a caution statement given to detectives, murder accused Sherwin Nero, called ‘Catty’ and ‘Pussy’, implicated his co-accused Royden Williams, called ‘Smallie’, in the August 30, 2007 murder of Cove and John, East Coast Demerara businessman Kumar Singh called ‘Mango Man’.

He told the court that he was one of the men armed with guns.

This is according to Detective Inspector of Police Suraj Singh who was called by the State to testify yesterday when the trial of Williams and Nero continued before Justice James Bovell-Drakes

and a 12 –member mixed jury at the High Court in Georgetown.

According to reports, Singh, called ‘Mango Man’, who was 51 at the time, was shot after gunmen stormed his home at 51 Craig Milne, Cove and John, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, terrorized and shot at his family members during the ordeal before escaping on foot.

Singh sustained several gunshot wounds and died while undergoing surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Both of the murder accused are being represented

by Attorney-at-Law Nigel

Hughes, while State Counsel Tameika Clarke, is presenting the case for the prosecution.

During his time in the witness box, Inspector Singh testified to taking caution statements from Williams and Nero while they were in custody at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown. According to the police witness, Nero told him, “Me didn’t had gun. Is ‘Smallie’ and ‘Coolie Boy’ them had gun. Me didn’t went in the man (Singh) yard.

Is ‘Smallie’, ‘Coolie Boy’ and Junior went in the yard.

Me hear shots fire off. Me get about $20,000 from ‘Coo-

lie Boy’. This is all me know about this work. Me later hear that the man name ‘Mango Man.” According to Inspector Singh, Williams told him, “Me ain’t went in the man (Singh) yard. ‘Coolie Boy’ and Junior went in the yard. Me ain’t had no gun. Me been a lookout.

Them boys go in the yard and spent five to seven minutes.

“I hear gunshots and ‘Coolie Boy’ tell me that he shoot the man. I didn’t ask he why he shoot the man. I get $20,000 and the next day I hear that the man that get kill name ‘Mango Man’. Me ain’t know he right name.”

Inspector Singh recalled (Continued on page 9)

Royden Williams called ‘Smallie’

Sherwin Nero called ‘Catty’ and ‘Pussy’

SOCU fraud charges hinder Irfaan Ali from travelling to Canada PPP Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali, was unable to travel to Canada on Tuesday.

The Canadian authorities cited the 19 fraud charges brought against him by the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) last year.

The charges note that Ali allegedly undersold state lands at Pradoville Two to former PPP Ministers and affiliates.

In a statement to the media yesterday evening, Ali explained that he had a series of meetings and events with the Diaspora in Toronto, Canada.

He said, “I was scheduled to leave Guyana, on Tuesday, January 29, 2019, at 10:20am, via Caribbean Airlines: BW 600 flight. On Monday, January 28, 2019, at 4:05pm, I received a correspondence

PPP Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali from the High Commission of Canada, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, advis-

ing me of a report in relation to the 19 trumped-up charges

by SOCU.” In the correspondence, the PPP Presidential Candidate said he was advised not to travel and was given 30 days to respond to the matter that was raised.

Even though he was prevented from travelling, Ali clarified that he is in possession of a valid passport and visa to Canada. He has since contacted Canada’s High Commissioner, in Georgetown, Guyana to look into the matter.

He said, “As I await the outcome, I assure all Guyanese in the Diaspora of my utmost respect and regard for them and the circumstances surrounding my travel to Canada at this time is beyond my control.”

Thursday January 31, 2019

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Charrandass was not the first and will not be the last The Charrandass Persaud (CP) “yes’ vote in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018 was a case of the PNCR getting a taste of its own medicine. What CP did on that eventual day, was no different to what the PNC engineered, in the run-up to the 1968 elections, when it passed two dubious Bills with the support of a United Force (UF) parliamentarian.

CP did not cross the floor.

Crossing the floor has a different connotation to voting against your party. Crossing

the floor involves a permanent change of place within the Assembly.

Crossing the floor is when someone decides to change sides. The 118 members of the Conservative party that recently sank Theresa May’s BREXIT agreement did not cross the floor; they simply voted against their own government.

The PNCR is fully knowledgeable of the difference between crossing the floor and voting contrary to party lines. After the 1964 elections,

‘Nero’ implicates...

From page 8 that the caution statements were taken in the presence of other police ranks including Detective Sergeant Rodwell Sarrabo, who at the time was a Constable.

The police witness, who is now stationed at the Alberttown Police Station, said that during 2008 he was a Corporal and was attached

to the Homicide Section at CID Headquarters.

He further testified that he used no force, threat or violence to obtain the caution statements from the two murder accused. The witness said that he did not notice any marks of violence on the exposed body parts of either of the two men.

This trial is continuing.

Dem boys seh ...

Is only when he in jail Lula want to go to funeral Lula should know de journey of life. No one is ahead of you or behind you. You are not more advanced “or less enlightened.” You are exactly where you need to be. It is not a contest; it’s life. We are all teachers and we are all students.

That is a lesson Lula and Fat Man Irfaat got to learn.

Everybody got freedom of speech but is not everybody can say what he want. Same way, everybody free to move about but dem always got a limit. Something does always come up to stop dem in dem tracks.

Lula was a powerful president in Brazil. People did like him so much that even after he get jail people was prepared to vote fuh him as president of Brazil. He end up in jail fuh corruption.

He follow in de footsteps of nuff leaders, including dem in Guyana.

De difference is that in dem odda country when you corrupt and you step out is jail you gone. In Guyana, nobody don’t touch you. And dem boys know jail is not a good place. Lula know that too. De odda day he petition a judge to come out of jail to go to ee brother funeral. De judge tell him to stay wheh he deh. De truth is that he did want to get some fresh air.

Some reporters did find out that when Lula was president and not in jail, two odda brothers close dem eyes. Lula didn’t have to ask permission to go to de funeral but de reporters find out that he didn’t even go.

That is why de judge wanted to know why he want to go now.

Lula was Jagdeo friend. De man come to Guyana and Jagdeo been foot to foot wid him. De people in Brazil jail Lula but dem never touch Jagdeo.

Fat Man Irfaat ain’t even get jail yet but he find out wha gun happen. He can’t go to Canada and if he try to go to de States he gun find out that is de same thing. He wouldn’t pass de airport. Like Lula, he is exactly where he should be.

Talk half and watch wha de journey of life do to Lula and Irfaat.

the PNC engineered persons to cross the floor and also to have someone vote against his party.

After the 1964 elections, the PNC held a minority in the National Assembly. Of the 53 seats, the PNC had 22 seats; the PPP, 24 seats and the United Force seven.

Post-election coalition was then allowable and therefore the PNC and the United Force formed a coalition to oust the PPP government. At the time, there was no recall legislation to deter parliamentarians from crossing the floor.

The United Force’s concern over rampant government corruption and the PNC machinations to seize control of the public purse, led to deep divisions within the coalition government. As such, Burnham decided that he had

enough of coalition politics and later announced that he would never again enter into such an arrangement.

His solution to the problem was electoral fraud. As such, he hatched plans to rig the elections.

In order to do this, he needed to pass legislation that would allow him to control the election machinery and facilitate vote rigging.

But he did not have a majority in the National Assembly and could not rely on the UF which was opposed to the two Bills. The PNC had by then engineered four defections – three from the PPP and one from the United Force.

The four defections increased the PNC’s seats to 26 and reduced the PPP’s to 21 and the UF to six.

The majority in the 53 seat parliament was 27, but

Burnham only had 26 seats.

Burnham, however, had a card up his sleeve.

That card was named Rupert Clement Tello. He was a United Force parliamentarian and had once served in the interim government in 1953, as General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress and as President of the Manpower Citizens Association.

Tello sat on the United Force benches and like CP was from Berbice. He did not cross the floor; but in a shock move, just like CP’s, voted against his party and in support of the two Bills.

The rest is now history.

Burnham seized control of national registration and instituted overseas voting.

With that control, the 1968 election was flagrantly rigged. D’Aguiar, an arch-enemy of the PPP, was forced to

pronounce that “to call it an election is to give it a name it does not deserve; it was a seizure of power by fraud, not elections.”

Tello’s infamous vote was his swansong. After the 1968 elections, he never again set foot in the National Assembly.

He died in 1981. And in glowing tributes paid to him in the National Assembly, the PNC showed no gratitude for his vote which allowed it to seize control of the election machinery.

PAGE 10

Thursday January 31, 2019

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

This afternoon, one “unelected” person decides the fate of the government Since the no confidence vote (NCV) of December 21, 2018, the print media have been deluged with interpretations of the constitution in support of the legality of the NCV and in rejection of its legal validity. The very latest one is the viewpoint of attorney Jailall Kissoon in both KN and SN. His position is pellucid.

The NCV was properly put and properly voted on and was done in accordance with the constitution. Then there is a most amusing letter signed by someone who put his/her designation, “attorney-at-law” in yesterday KN under the headline, “Article 106 (6) and (7) are inconsistent with article 1.50 and 65.”

The anonymous avenue can be used by anyone to adumbrate silly polemics that even lack commonsense and get

away with it because no one knows who he/she is.

If you disagree with Jailall Kissoon, you can now say that you don’t think Mr. Kissoon (no relation) understands constitutional law. But that anonymous lawyer may not understand politics and law and yet there can be no rebuttal.

The letter argues against the power of an NCV to remove a president.

It goes on to state that it is unconstitutional for Parliament to remove an elected president because in doing so it impinges on the sovereignty of the people. He/ she refers to this as a parliamentary dictatorship.

I quote from the letter; “This could not have been the intent of the framers of our constitution when they spoke of democracy.

This cannot be democracy.

It is Parliamentary dictator-

ship. It is a system whereby the Parliament is as powerful as the source where it derived its powers and efficiency from (the people).

It is a system whereby democracy is made weak, in that the people can elect today and the Parliament can conveniently check the sovereign right of the people by removing the President that the people elected once there is a majority (simple or absolute)” The conceptual flaw in this argument is the dichotomy between the people and their representatives. From very early times in the evolution of civilization, it was discovered that decisions cannot be made by every citizen of the “demos” having to be asked. Thus was born representatives of the demos.

Plato called these rep-

resentatives the “philosophy king class” which he later renamed the “nocturnal council.” It was Aristotle who argued that you cannot have a permanent set of representatives deciding on what the people want. He suggested that even if they remain permanent their action must be guided by laws.

Parliament is the manifestation of the sovereignty of the people. The only philosophers who argued against this were those who believed in the divine rights of the monarch. Thomas Hobbes and his theory of the Leviathan have been misunderstood for a long time. The popular approach to Hobbes is that the Leviathan replaced the sovereignty of the people.

Hobbes explained that for there to be civilized society, the people must surrender their sovereignty to the Leviathan who becomes the sole recipient of power. But Hobbes went on to argue that there must be an exist clause. If the Le-

viathan misuses his power, the people must remove him.

What is conceptually wrong with the power of parliament to remove an elected Executive? In Guyana, we don’t have presidential elections. We have parliamentary elections and the Executive comes from a list that contested the elections. The parties that go into parliament become the representatives of the people.

Sovereignty, then, is transferred to the people’s representatives. Hobbes was quite clear on the removal of the Leviathan.

Likewise, the people’s representatives can remove the Executive.

I may be wrong but I know of no constitution where the executive cannot be expelled from power by the people’s representatives. In some constitutions, there has to be a twothirds majority but whatever majority you call it, parliament (or congress in the case off Brazil, the US and other countries) has the right

Frederick Kissoon through being the elected lawmakers of the people to take action against the executive.

In trying to argue that a motion or a deliberation in parliament cannot remove the government, the letter-writer (who says he/she is a lawyer) failed to understand the ruling of the CCJ on the term limit case. The judges simply stated that parliament could have amended the constitution and it was a democratic act because parliament is the conveyor belt of the sovereignty of the people.

Today one person, a judge, will decide the life of the government. Is that undemocratic? The answer is a gargantuan no. The judiciary was created by the people through their representatives to adjudicate.

Thursday January 31, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Thursday January 31, 2019

Market security high on agenda as vendor’s union meets with city council

(Fourth from right) Mayor Ubraj Narine flanked by President of the GMVU, Eon Andrews, and other members of the vendors Union following a meeting at City Hall yesterday.

Security was high on the agenda for the Guyana Market’s Vendors Union, (GMVU) as representatives of the union met with the Georgetown Mayor and City Councillors, (M&CC) at City Hall yesterday.

President of the GMVU, Eon Andrews, told Kaieteur News that this is the Union’s first official meeting with the City Council since it was formed in 2016.

“There were a number of issues which the union, since 2016, has been trying to meet with representatives of the Council to discuss. We have written to the former Town Clerk, seeking an audience with him on a number of oc-

casions before, but it was never granted.”

At present, Andrews said that there are matters of concern to stallholders and itinerant vendors which must be discussed. Among the issues high on the agenda is the security around the markets.

“We think we can help the Council to have some of those issues resolved. We can help when it comes to issues like the displacement of vendors and so on.

Instead of calling little groups together, the union will be able to provide a better platform and make representation on behalf of the vendors.”

The GMVU head placed emphasis on the absence of adequate security to help dissuade criminal activities from happening in and around the markets.

“Of major concern to the vendors is security. There are a lot of criminal activities happening around the market and because of that, vendors are losing revenue, consumers have not been venturing in certain areas…

“You would find a lot of persons getting robbed in the car park, especially after six in the evening and then there are these groups of persons who congregate at the entrance gates of the markets.

“We feel that some of those persons may not be of good character and may be contributing to the problem.”

Andrews said that issues such as the removal of vendors from the Stabroek Market Wharf would have been handled better, if the Union was able to be a part of the discussion.

At present, the GMVU has in excess of ninety vendors and stallholders on its (Continued on page 24)

Thursday January 31, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

SOCU deputy resigns after Magistrate requests her qualifications

A

B r i t i s h specialist investigator who is second in command of the police's Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), has resigned after questions over her qualifications.

Her resignation would raise deep worry over the advancement of several multi-billion-dollar cases being investigated and before the courts, including ones with the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Guyana Bank For Trade and Industry (GBTI).

According to lawyers attached to the cases, Special

Superintendent of Police, Sheronie James, tendered her resignation last week with her date effective February 1.

From indications, James, who is here to assist SOCU, on a loan from the United Kingdom, was in court being questioned about her credentials to give expert testimony.

She reportedly declined.

She reportedly did not tender the qualifications to her seniors at SOCU and to the Ministry of Public Security, when asked to present it.

The matter reportedly came to a head and she

Two others appear for stealing female undergarments

Remanded: Colin De Souza, Patrick Huntley

F

ollowing an appearance by two vagrants last week in court for allegedly stealing female undergarments, two others joined them in prison for the same offence.

Colin De Souza, 50, and Patrick Huntley, 39, denied the allegation which stated that on January 23, 2019 at Stabroek Market Wharf, they stole a quantity of brassieres, slippers and panties all to a total value of $391,000, property of Monel Rogers.

The men at the time were arranged before Senior Magistrate Faith McGusty in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts.

Police prosecutor, Seon Blackman, objected to bail being granted to the two accused based on the fact that the police were looking for them while they were in hiding. He also objected to bail under the grounds of the nature of the offence and the penalties it attracts.

Furthermore, the prosecutor mentioned that

no fixed place of abode was given to the police for the men. After listening to the prosecutor the magistrate then upheld the submission and remanded the men to prison. They were instructed to return to court on February 13, 2019 for their next court appearance.

According to reports, on the day in question Rogers left a box with the articles at the location mentioned in the charge. The men later came and took the articles without the consent of the owner.

Leslie Ferdinand and Harry Bahamie were arrested and charged for the offence last week. They appeared in court last Friday before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts.

During interrogation the men notified police officers that De Souza and Huntley were in with them on the incident, hence an investigation was done and the charge was prepared for the defendants.

tendered her resignation, stating that her qualifications were a matter of national security.

In fact, it was in July last year that the issue of her qualifications was first raised.

SOCU had called James to testify in the contempt trial of several high ranking officials from GBTI. The case involves Chairman, Robin Stoby S.C; and Directors, Edward A. Beharry, Suresh Beharry,

A number of SOCU's cases are under question after a top official resigned when she did not produce her qualifications.

Richard Isava, Carlton James and Basil Mahadeo, along with Chief Executive Officer (ag) Shaleeza Shaw and Kathryn Eytle-McLean.

They all denied the charge, which alleged that on September 7, 2017 at Georgetown, they failed to comply with production

order granted by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, for them to produce certain documents to head of the (continued on page 24)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Thursday January 31, 2019

Violet Smith out as Goldfield's local head

A

major shakeup is continuing at the country's biggest gold mining operations.

According to the Guyana Goldfields Inc. yesterday, it has reduced the expatriate workforce by some 30 percent with longserving Country Manager, Violet Smith, being replaced.

The moves would come as the company gets ready for a special meeting on May 22, next. A number of shareholders have been demanding the current board be replaced after the Canadian company lost C'dn$1B in value during the past year.

Those shareholders, including former chief and founder, Patrick Sheridan, are claiming that the company is being mismanaged and that new blood is needed.

According to the company yesterday, as part of the ongoing restructuring program launched on July 30, 2018 to its local operations, it has promoted 60 Guyanese nationals into senior roles.

One of the jobs went to Jermaine Critchlow, who is the Sustainability Manager for Guyana; a role previously held by an expatriate.

Former media worker, Miranda LaRose, has been appointed as Corporate Social Responsibility/ Sustainability Coordinator for Guyana.

- expats' workforce slashed by 30%; 60 Guyanese promoted

Out: Current Country Manager, Violet Smith “In addition to realizing operational efficiencies, the Company expects these changes and the new local leadership will further strengthen its presence in Guyana and its good relationship with the government.”

The company explained that as part of the restructuring, it has reduced its expatriate workforce by 14, representing approximately 30% of the total expatriate staff.

To t a l e m p l o y m e n t p o s t restructuring consists of 729 Guyanese nationals (representing

approximately 96.4% of the overall workforce) and 27 expatriates.

The company said yesterday that it is one of the largest employers in Guyana.

“These transformational changes, which are consistent with our Aurora Gold Mine strategic plan established last summer, will strengthen our presence in Guyana and further enhance our operations,” said Scott Caldwell, President and Chief Executive Officer.

“These restructuring efforts complement recent initiatives undertaken to strengthen all of Guyana's Goldfields and Aurora Gold Mine's activities in Georgetown will be managed out of a single office in the country, which will increase synergies and efficiencies while reducing costs.

The second office located at North Road will be closed effective immediately. As part of the restructuring, Country Manager Violet Smith is leaving the Company, as her position has become redundant.

“Guyana Goldfields thanks Ms. Smith for more than 20 years of service.”

The company, however, says that it will likely retain Smith in a consultative position.

The company had announced on January 3, 2019, that Perry Holloway has been appointed Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Affairs.

Holloway, who recently retired as US Ambassador to Guyana, has assumed responsibility for all activities involving Government relations in Guyana, as well as corporate social responsibility. He will also provide assistance on key in-country management issues as needed.

Exploration Refocused During the second half of 2018, management made a strategic decision to refocus exploration efforts on the high quality nearmine brownfield targets that will potentially provide the greatest opportunities for near term growth.

This resulted in the net reduction in the total exploration team of 45 employees (of which seven were expatriate geologists), as the Company temporarily closed distant field camps at Iroma, Wynamu and Arangoy, which have been placed on care and maintenance.

The company said it intends to resume its greenfields exploration in the first half of 2019.

“As part of the restructuring

efforts to focus on brownfields exploration, the 7 expatriate geologists were replaced with 2 new expatriate hires. The remaining 32 members of the exploration team are Guyanese nationals (94%) in keeping with the Company's commitment to source skilled local employment. The team consists of 7 geologists, one data technician, 12 core technicians, and 14 drill contractors. For the 2019 campaign, the Company expects to hire an additional three geologists, six technicians and two data clerks.”

Goldfields also said that it has appointed a Guyanese national, Boaz Wade, as Exploration Leader effective January 1, 2019.

They have reportedly also retained leading commercial firm, London House Chambers headed

by Devindra Kissoon as their counsel.

“Under Mr. Wade's direction, the company has already made considerable advances in the appreciation of the geology and gold mineralization at the Aurora Gold Mine.”

The Aurora mines contributed over 150,000 ounces last year in production, remaining the largest single private producer.

Thursday January 31, 2019

Kaieteur News

Radically improved Bartica Stelling enters second phase

T

he reconstruction of the Bartica Stelling has entered its second phase.

Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited was awarded the contract for the first phase by way of a tender in 2017. This phase was completed last October.

Phase One description dictated that the southern section of the stelling be demolished and reconstructed with support piles made of greenheart for the substructure. The phase now accommodates commercial concessions and a modernised passenger waiting area.

During a visit to the stelling mid-last year General Manager, Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), Marcelene Merchant, said the completed stelling will also house various government offices, commercial businesses, passenger waiting area, canteen and staff offices.

Ye s t e r d a y , C h i e f Executive Officer of

Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited, Mr. Courtney Benn, said that the second phase is now underway. That too involved a public tender.

This Phase Two entails an extension on the northern section of the stelling, as a way to accommodate the drawbridge. Right now there are the timber stages that allow vehicles to drive on and off the ferry. “We are hoping to move away from this, for safety purposes,�

Merchant explained.

She added that plans to

construct the drawbridge is underway and will accommodate boats; it will be similar to the design of the Supenaam Stelling used for side-loading.

The 300-plus 60-foot long reinforced concrete piles for the stelling arrived from Suriname with a tensile strength of 7,500 pounds per square inch far exceeding the 5,000 psi stipulated in the contract.. The demolition of the northern portion of the Bartica stelling has already begun. According to Merchant, T&HD has also

made provision for vendors with the construction of 16 stalls and parking spaces for members of the public. This includes the current construction of an administration building.

It will also house various government offices, commercial businesses, passenger waiting area, canteen and staff offices, some of which should have already been in place.

On completion, the Bartica Stelling would be the most modern stelling in the country.

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Thursday January 31, 2019

Decision in No-Confidence motion expected today Chief Justice Roxane George is expected to hand down her ruling, today, in closely watched cases filed against the no -confidence motion against the government. The court has

been considering arguments in three major cases filed since the motion was carried on December 21, 2018.

In the first court action, private citizen Compton Reid, who through Senior

Counsel Neil Boston, is challenging the validity of the no-confidence vote on the basis that expelled Alliance For Change (AFC) parliamentarian Charrandass Persaud was

Venezuelans allowed to stay in Guyana, charged for break and enter

T

wo Venezuelans who were allowed to stay in Guyana, were yesterday arraigned on a charge of break and enter after allegedly stealing over one million dollars in articles from a shop.

Tavier Lafez Solórzano and Nelson Vladimir Perez Moto made an appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus with an interpreter.

It was alleged that on January 25, 2019 at Shell Landing, Essequibo, the men broke and entered the shop of Colin Basil and stole a quantity of raw gold and silver among other articles all to a total value of $1,314,500.

Solórzano pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to him. He informed the court that he is 24 years old and a father of one. He said that he is a labourer and was working outside the shop for the past three months.

Moto, the other

Nelson Moto (left) and Tavier Solórzano defendant, was uncertain about his plea therefore the magistrate entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. He related to the court that he is 25 years old and is also the father of one.

Moto told the court that he is a businessman selling clothes and food.

Both men told the court that they do not have a legal passport, however they would

have been staying in the country from documents that would have been given to them by immigration officers of Guyana.

Police prosecutor Adduni Inniss objected to bail being granted to the men based on the fact that they have no ties to the country. Bail was refused and they were remanded to prison until February 5, 2019.

Labourer jailed for illegal gun

K

hayyam Ahmad m a d e a n appearance in court and changed his plea for a charge of being in possession of an unlicensed firearm. He was on remand for. This time around he admitted to the charge.

Last December, Ahmad appeared before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts, and denied the charge which alleged that on December 1, last, at South Road, Bourda, he had in his possession one .32 pistol when he was not a licensed firearm holder.

Yesterday, Ahmad found himself before Senior Magistrate Faith McGusty in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts; he entered a guilty plea after the charge was read to him for the second time.

The accused was represented by attorney at law George Thomas who informed the court that Ahmad is 34 years of age. He added that the defendant is a mechanic from Lot 197 South Road with four children.

Khayyam Ahmad The facts of the charge indicated that on the day in question, about 23:30 hrs Police Constable Williams went to Airmax Tyre Shop on South Road, Bourda, to change a tyre on his motor car. The court heard that during the process Williams and the accused who is an employee of the shop, got into an argument and Ahmad walked behind the tyre shop and returned with a gun in his pants waist.

Ahmad was about to reach for the unlicensed

firearm when someone shouted, “Boy, how you talking to the police like that.” Upon hearing that, the defendant ran to the back of the shop and threw the gun in a corner.

The officer (Williams) then called for backup and a party of police officers went to the location and conducted a search in the presence of Ahmad, which resulted in the discovery of the firearm.

The defendant was cautioned, then arrested and taken into custody. He was later charged for the offence.

When asked if he had anything to say before sentence was passed, Ahmad stated, “I am really sorry for the offence I committed and I would like to go home and see my children.” Magistrate McGusty then imposed a one-year suspended sentence on Ahmad.

This means that if Ahmad is charged another time he will then be placed in prison to serve this one year sentence. He was also instructed him to pay a $15,000 fine.

not qualified to vote, since he is a citizen of Canada.

In r e l a t i o n t o t h i s application, the Chief Justice, (CJ) granted permission to Attorney General Basil Williams to make submissions in relations to Article 70 of the Constitution of Guyana, which according to him, provides for government to run its five-year course.

Th e C o u r t g r a n t e d Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and General Secretary of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Joseph Harmon, approval to join in Compton Reid's application as interested parties.

Additionally, Attorneyat-law Christopher Ram, had petitioned the High Court for a declaration that the noconfidence motion was p r o p e r l y, v a l i d l y a n d lawfully passed by the National Assembly. Through his Attorney-at-law Kamal Ramkarran, Ram is also seeking a declaration that the passage of the no confidence motion requires the resignation of the Cabinet including the President with all convenient speed.

In these proceedings, the Attorney General and Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo have been listed as the Respondents.

Just yesterday, lawyer for the Attorney General' Chambers, Maxwell Edwards, issued a written submission in relation to the case.

In response to a question on the government's legitimacy, Edwards noted that it would be appropriate to note that in a letter addressed to Dr. Ashni Singh dated February 4, 2015, the Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall purporting to answer questions posed by Ms. Sophie Makonnen, Representative for the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), had said that under the Westminster Constitutional model, an Executive Government continues in office with unaltered powers until a new Executive Government assumes office.

“T h i s p r i n c i p l e o f continuity of the Executive remains unaffected by the dissolution of Parliament.

Therefore, dissolution of Parliament does not affect the authority of the Government to enter into a new loan or grant agreements, unless of course, the agreement expressly requires the input of the Parliament.”

Ram wants the court to declare that the government comprising 33 elected

members of the National Assembly coming from the coalition between A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) elected at elections in 2015—excluding the Cabinet including the President who shall resign with all convenient speed—shall remain in o ff i c e u n t i l a f t e r t h e President takes the oath of office after elections to be held within 90 days from December 21, 2018 or within such extended period as the National Assembly shall determine by resolution support by not less than twothirds of the votes of all elected members.

Fu r t h e r m o r e , t h e Government is challenging the vote count in the noconfidence motion.

In filings, Williams has asked the court to determine whether the motion of noconfidence upon a division vote of 33:32 members of the National Assembly was validly passed as the requisite majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly pursuant to Article 106 (6) of the Constitution; or whether the requisite majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly ought properly to be 34 votes.

CANU nabs third suspect in Charlestown drug bust

A

third suspect is now in custody following last Tuesday's discovery of 89.23 kilograms of cannabis and 20 grams cocaine at a Charlestown property.

A CANU release said that the individual was a Route 42 minibus driver.

Also in custody is Ebony Craig, 23, of Lot 17 Lamaha Springs Sophia; and Courtney Demonick, 58, of Lot 82 St. Stephens Street, Charlestown. All suspects are currently in custody pending the completion of

the investigation.

CANU ranks had reportedly kept the property under surveillance from some time. It is alleged that the ranks moved in around 11.00 hrs on Tuesday, after a woman came out of the house.

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 on 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.

Thursday January 31, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

Activists protest GPHC cancer deaths Activists outside the Ministry of Public Health, Brickdam

O

ver a score of social activists turned out yesterday, at the Ministry of Public Health's Brickdam office, to protest at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), following the deaths of three children, who died after receiving treatment for cancer at the state hospital.

Leader of the picket, Sherlina Nageer, said that she orchestrated the movement, not just because of the recent cancer deaths, but because of the precedent that the hospital has set for itself, with regards to the provision of quality healthcare to Guyana's citizens.

She also noted that the public hospital serves p r e d o m i n a n t l y p o o r, working class Guyanese; that those persons cannot afford private healthcare, and have no choice but to settle for subpar service.

“Year after year, poor Guyanese utilising the public health services continue to suffer poor quality healthcare – avoidable errors that leave their loved ones dead or seriously injured; harsh and disrespectful care from healthcare workers, medication shortages and lack of key services at many facilities.”

Nageer said that though she acknowledges there are good, progressive healthcare workers, too many serious problems persist.

“Accountability for medical errors remains a systemic challenge – with the health and wellbeing of women, children and babies being particularly affected.

The lives of poor Guyanese matter.”

Nageer said that there has been little to no effort by the hospital management to uphold accountability surrounding the measures taken to sanction staff found to be involved in malpractice or other errors.

“They need to implement better oversight mechanisms to reduce 'errors' and enforce

stronger penalties against staff who disregard and disrespect patients.

Patients need to know exactly what the complaints procedure is, and where to go, in facilities in all regions, not just Georgetown.”

She recalled visiting certain hinterland areas and noting shortages in a series of drugs, as well as the issue of drugs being overpriced.

She said that birth control pills and other abortion services are not available at public facilities in the hinterland communities.

As a result, private clinics sell these drugs at highly inflated prices, making it difficult for women to access. She said that the private healthcare providers also should be subjected to stronger oversight.

“The Medical Council must also perform better-- in a more timely and transparent manner with public reports.

They need independent persons there as well, not just doctors investigating their colleagues.”

She said that politicians could build more confidence in the system if they, themselves, made use of public facilities, as opposed to searching out private or foreign healthcare.

It is not enough, she said, for those politicians to only visit those healthcare facilities for publicity stunts, to take photos with babies.

Nageer also said that the group is protesting what she describes as 'hoggish' behaviour by some hospital staff when handling patients and other members of the public. She believes that there is a dire need for medical malpractice laws.

“This picket is a call for justice, accountability, and better quality healthcare for all Guyanese.

A nation's wealth is the health of the population and too many poor Guyanese are punishing unnecessarily. We deserve and demand better.”

The protests are scheduled to continue next Wednesday outside of the

Ministry of Public Health's Brickdam office.

The families of Curwayne Edwards,

Roshani Seegobin and Sharezer Mendonca are yet to receive conclusive details on the cause of the children's

death, though Kaieteur News was told that the hospital's investigations have already concluded that

an intravenous medication, Vincristine, was administered to the spine, (continued on page 20)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Thursday January 31, 2019

Expelled Nations Student gives his side of the story

T

he boy at the centre of the controversy at School of the Nations, since being expelled from the school for what appeared to be a threat to “shoot up” the school, has been cooperating with the police.

He is now ready to give his side of the story.

The young man's father, Satyadeo Persaud, pleading for his son's story to be heard, told Kaieteur News, “All I want is for society to hear the boy's side of the story. He's not a murderer; he's not condemned for anything. He's free. All I want is for the country to know the boy's side of the story so that he can go back to school and study.”

Dialing back to before the controversy all started, the 16-year-old said, “It started off in a Whatsapp group chat, about November 2017.”

He explained that he and a few other friends had started a group chat; friends who are now fifth form students at the school.”

“So I was talking with them. One of them made a joke. I understand it was a joke. I wasn't offended by it; that I'm a school shooter because I'm white; well, white-looking. Throughout 2018, the joke continued and several people joined in. I didn't like it, but I accepted

it.”

T h e b o y, w h o i s Brazilian by birth, had been living in the US for some time, but decided to come back to Guyana because he wanted to complete his studies at the School of the Nations.

“So, I eventually came back to Nations, and the joke came back in real life. People would say, 'When you gon' shoot up the school?' or 'I can't wait for you shoot up the school.'”

He said that, eventually, he got in on the joke himself.

So one day, he made a joke on his Whatsapp status, that he would “shoot up” the school.

“So, then it was taken out of context. When the staff

saw it, they didn't understand the joke. They thought it was serious or something, so they called me into Dr. Dexter Phillips's office [the CEO], and he proceeded to tell me about the situation.”

The boy said that Phillips told him a few things that were untrue, including that the post was made on Facebook when, according to the child, he doesn't even have a Facebook account.

He said that he heard the same utterances repeatedly, from persons and from the news; that he's from America; that he's white; that, because of the issue of gun violence in the US, he may be a danger to the school.

He said that the school

never let him explain his side of the story.

“They never gave me a hearing. They were quick to expel me.”

Asked how he got the news of the expulsion, he said that he found out when his father called him. His father said that when he got the call, he was worried that his son might have been hurt or sick, because the person who called him said that he needed to talk to Dr. Phillips, the school's CEO. When he got to the school, he saw his son sitting in a corner of the room to which he was led. Dr. Phillips, by then, started telling him that his son posted a threat to Facebook.

At this point, the boy

interjected, saying “No, no, no. It's not Facebook.”

The father told Kaieteur News, “He wouldn't even let the boy speak. I was there.

He wouldn't let the boy speak and they got into an argument. Dr. Phillips said 'You're disrespecting me.'

“The boy said 'Okay, I don't mean to disrespect you.

I just want to explain myself,' at which point, Phillips said “You go home.

Take him home.”

The father, concerned for his son's education and wellbeing, went back to the school, where he found Mrs. Pam O'Toole. He told Mrs. O'Toole that the threat was just a joke between friends, and that the boy needed a chance to explain his side of

the story.

“I don't know how it came out but it's a school problem. It is a school problem, and the boy needs to be heard.”

The woman, the father said, decided to give the boy a chance to explain his story.

She told the father to have him put his explanation in writing, which he did.

Later, while running an errand, the father said that he got a call from the school.

The school told the father that “[redacted] is expelled from the school. That's what they told me. I was shocked.

I was hurt.”

“The next morning, I woke up and saw that it was in the Chronicle, that he (continued on page 20)

Activists protest GPHC cancer deaths

Activists outside the Ministry of Public Health, Brickdam From page 17 instead of the muscle.

Vincristine is marketed under the brand name Oncovin, with strict instructions to refrain from administration to the spinal cord.

The postmortem examination conducted on the remains of six-year-old Sherezer Mendonca last Monday, proved 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. Wesley 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.

Thursday January 31, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

In wake of damaged West Dem access road ...

Contractor calls for residents to exercise patience

S

ea Defence contractor, BK Engineering, is asking residents to exercise a bit of patience as they work to fortify the river defence along La Union, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

Project overseer attached to BK Engineering, Agnes Dalrymple, said that prior to the commencement of the work a number of tests were conducted in keeping with the tenets of the contract. “ We d i d t h e d u e diligence before embarking on the project.

We conducted environmental tests; looked at the impact the project would have on the environment and would have taken the households into consideration before starting the project.

“There are two main issues to be looked at. Those issues were the proximity of the project to the rice farming and residential lands.” In addition, Dalrymple noted that key officials attached to the firm had met with residents prior to the commencement of the project.

“We consulted with them about the noise, dust and so

forth before the project started. In addition, residents are also provided with grievance forms so that they can document their issues and have them addressed.

A c c o r d i n g t o Dalrymplye, every month there is a meeting between the contractor, employees and consultant where the issues are discussed.

“And there is the stakeholders meeting at the Neighbourhood Democratic Council, (NDC) every three months but what is happening is that a lot of residents don't turn up to the meetings.”

A consultant attached to the project explained that given the magnitude of the project, it would have been impossible for there not to be adverse effects.

“The thing is, we try to mitigate those issues as much as possible. That's the reason why we took photos of the environment before it started. “It is our intention to clean up and restore the environment as much as possible to what it was before the project commenced.

“All we have been asking

The West Coast access road at centre of controversy is that the residents exercise a bit more patience with us.”

BK Engineering had commenced work on the $1B river defence project in August 2017. The project was scheduled to be extended over 18 months.

However over the past year, residents of the small community located just along the stretch of West Coast Demerara highway

just outside Crane, claimed that BK trucks transformed the once bitumen paved road into a pot- holed mud dam.

Ram Singh and his wife, Pramie Singh, have been complaining bitterly about the problem.

“The road was paved with bitumen but after the trucks break it up, they throw sand and left it to fall apart,” the couple related.

The elderly couple explained the trucks have been utilizing the pathway in front their home to carry out river defence works.

But the road is not the only thing that is negatively impacted by the operation.

“Because the road is so bad now, when the rain fall it get holes and when the sun come, it turn to dust again.

It's not just the condition of

the road, the dust affecting us. “When the wind blow the house is covered in dust from the road. All our food and everything is covered in dust; we can't continue to live like this.

“These vehicles long like train and they carry these huge boulders, so whenever they pass, the house shakes,” Mrs Singh told Kaieteur News.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Thursday January 31, 2019

Govt. urges Goldfields to resolve internal issues - pushes for underground mining

T

he Government of Guyana says that it welcomes the planned underground mining project to be undertaken by Canada-based company, Guyana Gold Fields Inc. as one of the flagship projects in the natural resources sector for 2019.

The other flagship projects are bauxite mining at Bonasika in Region Three

and manganese mining in Matthews Ridge, Region One. “The Government, through the Ministry of Natural Resources, and agencies, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency, is reviewing the company's plan to advance the underground exploration to potentially upgrade and

expand the current resource and unlock the Aurora deposit's full potential,” according to the government statement.

Aurora has a total gold reserve of 6.25 million ounces in the measured and indicated categories, as well as an additional 1.79 million ounces in the inferred category.

“The prospective underground operations are

The Government is urging that Guyana Goldfields continue to push its development of the Region Seven underground mining. aimed at extracting more than two million ounces.

The mine plan has since been approved by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the s i s t e r A g e n c y, t h e Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has rightly called for an updated Environmental Impact Assessment to ensure an underground mining operation of world-class specifications.

All indications are that this review process is proceeding well.”

M e a n i n g , t h e Government takes serious note of the internal issues within the company and is

concerned about the negative impact on the company's production and overall well-being and places on record its expectation that these internal matters will be resolved soonest and in the best interest of all.

“The Government continues to recognize the great role mining plays in our nation's social and economic development.

In this sense, the GOG will continue to promote the sustainable use of our country's natural resources noting that it will aid in the creation of jobs and enhance sustainable investments in all aspects of our society.”

Expelled Nations Student gives his side of the story From page 18 came from America, a white Caucasian, and posted this thing. From there, it became a scary thing. The school made it into a scary thing. I don't think it's right.”

His father told Kaieteur News that the boy had pleaded with him, for a long time, to have him come back to Guyana because he wanted to complete his education at School of the Nations.

“The boy came back to study and his life is being ruined. He asked them to consider this. He asked them not to 'destroy my life', but they expelled him before he could give [his explanation].”

The father said that he hopes his son's name could be cleared, because he wants him to go back to school.

“Not necessarily Nations. I doubt they would take him back.

I doubt they would be humble enough to say that they were wrong. I want him to study and carry on his education. He doesn't hate the school. He loves the

school. This is the truth and the whole truth.”

After news of his expulsion circulated, the student's friends started a Whatsapp group, where they share news articles on the matter, and brainstorm ways to clear his name. His friends, as well as his father, are concerned that the matter is being exacerbated by racial stereotypes which do not reflect who he is.

Meanwhile, the person behind the Facebook account from which further threats against the school were posted, has changed the tone of posts and has signaled intention to work with the post.

The post, made yesterday, expressed that the individual's life may be in danger, as a result of a disagreement between other persons who have threatened the school. The individual claims that their lives are in danger and gave instructions about how the police should attempt to contact him.

School of the Nations will remain closed for the rest of the week.

Thursday January 31, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

GTU to reengage Education Ministry...

GECOM told it is willfully neglecting constitutional mandate

From page 7 because if 2016 increased, 2017 should have triggered an increase as well, so we will have to reengage the Ministry to have that rectified,” said Lyte.

He disclosed plans to take queries in this regard to the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ms. Adele Clarke.

Meanwhile, Lyte said that the union is satisfied with the payment of debunching monies to its membership. Based on the agreement, teachers will receive a lump sum of $350 million in debunching monies owed for the period 2011 to 2018.

Lyte explained that the plan was to divide the sum among eligible teachers over the eight-year period. The eligible teachers in the system number some 10,500 and, according to the GTU President, “A teacher who has been in the system for the eight-year period will receive a maximum of $36,490.”

Teachers in a number of regions have started to receive their payment and Lyte anticipates that the payment process will be completed before the end of next month.

Some regions have been adopting various formats to

make these payments to their teachers. This, Lyte said, has translated to teachers in Georgetown being paid by their individual schools.

“What I know is that in Georgetown for instance cheques are being issued to the head teachers who in turn disperse the funds to the teachers in their care,” Lyte shared.

But it hasn’t only been teachers in the system who are eligible for payment as, according to the GTU President, “those who are retired, migrated and so, their monies have been returned to their respective accounting units so those persons can make contact with the accounting units to uplift their monies.”

Additionally, Lyte said that those who have migrated and are living overseas will also be able to receive their payment once a notarised authorisation is sent to the Region(s) they would have taught.

Lyte also revealed, “If persons are retired and they want somebody to pick up their money because they cannot go to the place where it is at, they can authorise someone and send their identification along with the individual. It

is a case where everyone will be able to receive their monies once they are entitled to it.”

“We have found also that if a teacher taught at several schools and if they have retired and it goes to the [Education] Department the money will go in one location.

But if they taught in multiple regions then the various regions will account for their money in the respective regions,” said Lyte.

The GTU President disclosed that the payment approach in some regions has been even more accommodating with some regions opting to transport the money to each school in order to pay teachers.

Although there have been reports of some challenges, Lyte said that for the most part the process has been satisfactory.

He added, “We anticipate that in the new month all teachers would have received their money. Even people who are deceased I think there is a system in place for their next of kin to collect their money...so persons can enquiry about what systems are in place for them to receive that.”

Oil spill contingency planning

Yesterday, the Director General (ag), Lt Col Kester Craig, and other staffers from the Civil Defence Commission, met with representatives from Tullow Oil to discuss potential partnerships in the area of oil spill contingency planning.

Further, the group had discussions around the need for collaborative systems between the CDC and stakeholders within the oil industry to ensure efficient environmental management and disaster risk management.

As a stalemate at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) continues over a date for general elections, there could be some progress in the process to determine the commission’s readiness.

On Tuesday, during the statutory meeting of the six commissioners and chairman, Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson, it was agreed that the GECOM Operations SubCommittee will examine workplan scenarios which could be provide then.

On Tuesday, the Chief

Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, was a no-show.

Commissioner Robeson Benn, of the Opposition side, disclosed that the commissioners were not briefed on a meeting with the diplomatic community.

That meeting reportedly took place Monday with the Diplomats on the no-confidence vote.

However, according to Benn yesterday, the Chairman refused to reveal whom he met or give details.

The Chairman also did not want to suspend the agenda

to deal with the critical issue of elections, Benn said.

Tuesday’s meeting saw over three hours spent on minutes of past meetings. ”It was agreed that the Operations Sub-Committee will examine the work plan scenarios which will be provided by next Monday.”

The work plans will layout the timelines and what has to be done by GECOM for the elections.

“We on our side are still of the view that elections can be held by March 19 and that (Continued on page 24)

PAGE 22

FOR RENT

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 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 & freezer-Call: 610-5846 or 661-8158

FOR SALE Forklift for sale $3M Contact#661-7777/660-3698 1-620 leyland daf engine and gear box $950,000. Front spring, back spring and back def. Contact 650-0402/6031402

VEHICLE FOR SALE Allion, primo, spacio, allex, noah, RZ pitbull bus, mazda axela, bluebird, 192 fielder wagon. 650-7501 Nissan Laurel Executive antique car, Nissan Pathfinder 4-door Jeep.

Superb condition. Price Neg. Call your price. Tel#660-3415/609-7766

HERBAL REMEDIES: Diabetes, Hypertension, Infertility, Menstrual disorders, Enlarged prostate, Kidney,Gall stones & Arthritis etc. Call Sparman #676-5924 TO LET House to rent. 76 Kuru Kuru road side. #227-1042/6918420 One spacious 3 bedroom lower flat at Mon Repos ECD with inside toilet and bath $45,000. Call #668-7986/6295300 LEARN TO DRIVE N. Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square. Affordable package. Call: 644-5166/6912561 PEN PAL Guyanese male seeking female partner to be in a relationship.

Call# 638-9806

Mini excavator $8,800 per hour, also Bobcat service available. Tel#623-0290 One bedroom apartment, Middle Rd La Penitence $40,000 monthly. Contact #666-9534 Preferable Bachelor

1 bedroom apt for working couple/single person $35,000 monthly. Light and Water included. Lodge. Call: 6230076 2136 Parfaite Harmonie, 3 bedroom apartment, self contain for rental. Contact #665-8561/266-0858/644-0931 1 well-appointed furnished 2 bedroom apartment in Bel Air Park, with parking. Tel# 2254106/225-4708 between office hours 8:00-4:30 Mon-Fri Fully furnished (2) Bedroom Apt, Providence, Diamond #672-1906/682-6238 Paula Junior

ACCOMMODATION

HEALTH

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

Newly constructed 2 bedroom apt in a safe and healthy environment. Call# 698-6496, 622-6512

Installations, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc call Nick 627-3206, 630-1600

Air condition room $3000 per day fully furnished apts $5000 & $6000 per day.

223-0994/678-5827

Thursday January 31, 2019

Kaieteur News

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

Call: 227-2322/601-2622 AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIAL OFFERS! .

CALL: 690-6494

Unfurnished (2) Bedroom Apt, Smyth St, GeorgetownTop Flat Diamond 3rd Avenue- Top & bottom flat, Durban Backlands Studio Apt #623-1562 June PROPERTY FOR SALE House and land available at Parfaite, Tuschen, Diamond etc.

Contact Pacific Development Inc. 223-6035/ 604-4909 House for sale, Eccles Housing Scheme. 7 bedrooms, 3 toilets and bathrooms enclosed. $28.5M. Call 642-0391/ 001447587233657 Large 3 bedrooms classic house in solid condition- all amenties, huge yard, security.

Price negotiable, Versailles WBD. Call: 660-3415/609-7766

LAND FOR SALE

6 bedrooms house on transported double-lot, all amentities, private yard/ parking.

Located in Georgetown. Call: 6603415,609-7766

Parfaite Harmonie (Transferable $2.5M) $2M $1.4M Tuschen Phase II $1.5M Providence, Herstelling. Call: 666-2326

Business Property for sale in Albouystown, Price $17 Million Neg. Tel#639-7484/ 611-8540

WANTED

VACANCY

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

General Domestic with cooking experience for East Bank. #614-4358

Factory workers male & female. Apply in person to: R.P’s Enterprise Area ‘K’ Le Resouvenir E.C.D. 220-2818 or 3710

Vacancy exists for experienced Pharmacy assistants to work @ reputable pharmacy in G/ town. Call: 628-8811 between 8am-6pm

Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic- Call: 223-7500 Monday to Saturday 8:15am4:15pm

Natural Beauty Salon & Spa needs an experienced hair dresser & professional make-up artist. Contact#6525800

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 Wanted experience hire car taxi drivers at Ramada Princess Hotel (Providence) Tel: 616-5419, 265-7074 1-Male able-bodied clerk.

Contact #231-2029/616-5954 1 sales girl, 1 truck driver. Call: 223-9677 1 Holler truck driver, over 1 year experience. #225-8645/ 223-5180/671-0245 One Receptionist for The Millenium Manor Hotel, Apply in person with application, 43 Hadfield & Camp St One florist needed with knowledge of fresh floral arrangement. Tel 226-3109 One cleaner to work shifts.

Apply in person at Buddy’s Gym 137 Sheriff St #231-4104 PROPERTY FOR SALE

EDUCATION Common Entrance Lessons.

Grades 5 & 6. Phonics & Reading for grades 1-4, Nursery Phonics & Aftercare from 12 noon daily. Call: 6770296

TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS) VACANCY

1 Cashier needed. #223-7165 Camp Manager for the Interior #223-7165 Cashier (Shift 7am-3pm & 3pm-11pm) Submit Application to: Shell Service Station Providence EBD or Email:Shellramsburg@gmail.com Vacancy for one shop attendant #618-3575/691-7123 Looking for a job & educational services? Contact The Job Centre 43 Croal & Alexander Street or call 6008457/683-8765 Chef, assistant cook and night supervisor. Call us on 2257933 or visit 172 Sheriff Street.

Male factory worker needed.

Must have police clearance.

For more info call: 223-0090 1 experienced cook and 1 maid for a family, age 25-30 years. call 231-8737 between 8am- 12 noon One live-in Domestic. Call: 674-1767 Cook and waitress needed to work in a bar. Contact# +592 676-7884 (1) waitress (1) Waiter with experience. (1) cook experience in restaurant, cooking creole & other dishes. Contact 650-0402, 6644663 7 Pit foreman, 1 GM, Crusher operators. Contact#223-5180/ 696-9386

2 Storey Building @ Prime location in Georgetown. Ideal for business & residence. 89 Robb Street, Bourda. #44-208737-1598/ 225-8427/264-1130

Female cleaner Office & Home, age 25 to 50. Call: 2332745

Transport property for sale, BB Eccles EBD. Tel# 616-0499/ 616-9490

One (1) seamstress to work for an established company.

Must have experience. Call 672-4695 for more information

Professional Mechanic, Machinist, Male cleaner, Apply @ Technical Services, Eccles Industrial Site

Thursday January 31, 2019

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Judge denies Lula’s request to attend brother’s funeral … he didn’t attend other brothers’ funerals as president GLOBO NEWS - The 12th Federal Criminal Court of Curitiba denied the request of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to attend the funeral of Brother Genival Inácio da Silva, 79, who died on Tuesday morning (29) . The defense filed an appeal in the TRF-4 (Regional Federal Court of the first region) even before the ruling, and Judge Leandro Paulsen maintained the sentence late in the morning.

Notably, the former Brazilian leader lost two of his brothers while he was Brazil’s head of state, but attended neither.

Judge Carolina L e b b o s ’s dispatch, published early We d n e s d a y morning, followed the statements of the Federal Police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which stated that there was no time for the transport logistics of the former president to be carried out in time for the end of the burial of Lula’s brother.

The burial is scheduled for 1pm next Wednesday.

L u l a ’s d e f e n s e d e manded the release based on article 120 of the Criminal Enforcement Act, which says that “condemned persons serving a sentence in a closed or semi-open regime and provisional prisoners may obtain permission to leave the establishment, by escort, when death or serious illness of the spouse, partner, ascendant, descendant or brother”.

The judge stated that “it is not insensitive to the nature of the defense’s request” but that “it is necessary to preserve the public safety and physical integrity of the prisoner”

Former Brazillian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his brother, Genival Inácio da Silva to deny the request.

Lebbos considered the MPF’s argument, which stated that the law states that prisoners “may” be released but that there is no guarantee that this will happen. According to the judge, the text of the law “expresses notion of possibility”.

PF claims In the opinion filed with the court, PF argued that there was no time for Lula’s arrival at the funeral before

the end of burial rites, even if an aircraft was flown to Curitiba to transport the former president.

The demonstration also says that the final part of the route to the cemetery would have to be carried out by car and that this “potentializes the risks already identified and demands a control and interruption of roads in the vicinity.” PF stated that a risk analysis was carried out which took into account

the following situations: Escape or rescue of former president Lula; Attack on the life of former president

Lula; Attacks against public agents; Commitment to public order; Protests from supporters and supporters of former President Lula; Protests from pressure groups opposed to former President Lula.

The opinion also says that there is no police force to ensure that none of these situations happen.

The prosecutors affirmed that Lula “is not a common prisoner and that the logistics to carry out his escort depends on a previous time of preparation and planning”.

Habeas corpus no TRF4 Even before the decision of the 12th Federal Criminal Court of Curitiba, Lula’s defense filed a petition for habeas corpus in the Federal Regional Court of the 4th Region (TRF4) . Judge Leandro Paulsen, who reviewed the petition and published an order before the decision of Carolina Lebbos, stated that the competent authority to

give a decision is the first instance, and that TRF4 should only rule after the judge’s order.

After the decision of the Lava Jato judge, Paulsen published another dispatch , following the decision of the 12th Circuit Court of Curitiba.

Order Lula’s defense filed the request for release demanding that it be examined urgently so that the former president had time to attend the funeral, which was scheduled for 13:00 hrs on Wednesday.

The request was based on Article 120 of the Criminal Enforcement Act, which provides for release in the case of the death of relatives as sibling. The law, however, cites that it is necessary that the released person be escorted by the police.

On December 25, the Justice denied another request from Lula to attend a funeral, this time of the former federal deputy Luiz Carlos Sigmaringa Seixas.

PAGE 24

Thursday January 31, 2019

Kaieteur News

EU negotiator, Council chief tell May - No renegotiation LONDON/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator told Britain yesterday that time was too short to find an alternative to the Irish border arrangement agreed in their divorce deal, as London wants, and that this deal was not open for renegotiation.

With only two months left before Britain is due by law to leave the European Union, a narrow majority in the British parliament instructed May on Tuesday to go back to Brussels to revise what is arguably the most intractable part of the deal.

Michel Barnier told France’s RTL radio that the two-year divorce negotiations had looked for an alternative to the “Irish backstop”, designed to ensure that the border between EU member Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland, long a scene of sectarian violence, remains free of

border posts.

“No one, on either side, was able to say what arrangement would be needed to ensure controls on goods, animals and merchandise without having a border,” Barnier said. “We have neither the time, nor the technologies.”

The 11th-hour uncertainty leaves Britain’s investors and allies trying to gauge whether the crisis will end up in a deal, a chaotic ‘no-deal’ Brexit on March 29, a delay, or no Brexit at all.

In essence, May will use the implicit threat of a ‘nodeal’ Brexit to seek a deal from the other 27 members of the EU, whose combined economy is about six times the size of Britain’s.

But the European response has been united, and blunt.

“The Withdrawal Agreement is not open for renegotiation,” European Council President Donald Tusk

Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May looks up during PMQ session in Parliament, in London, yesterday.

UK Parliament/Mark Duffy/Handout via REUTERS tweeted in what he said was a message to May. “Yesterday,

Govt. must demand guarantees...

From page 3 Commission(GGMC),among others, should have appropriate legislation for the sector and may wish to require tankers operating in Guyana contribute to funds and to have contracts with the CDC for example, to ensure that disaster relief arrangements are properly in place.”

Further to this, Greenidge noted that Guyana has already signed on to several conventions which will help to offer protection if such an eventuality occurs.

These include the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage (Bunkers Convention), 2001; and the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC).

He said, too, that Guyana would also be able to benefit from the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC Funds) which provide financial compensation for oil pollution damage that occurs in Member States.

Guyana is also expected to sign on to the Protocol of 1992 to amend the International Conven-

tion on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage.

The Foreign Affairs Minister said that the move to sign on to the aforementioned convention is based on advice that the Ministry would have provided to Cabinet, which it subsequently accepted.

Just a few weeks ago, Greenidge noted that Guyana and its CARICOM sister, Trinidad and Tobago, have already initiated talks on the exchange of resources for the former's oil spill readiness.

The official said that these talks stem from the Energy Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed last year between the two parties. While most of the dialogue has been via emails and phone calls, Greenidge said that “an intensive face-to-face encounter” is expected before the end of the first quarter.

Greenidge said, “Discussions opened from the time TT's Prime Minister (Dr. Keith Rowley) was here last year. The Department of Energy had a couple of exchanges and I spoke briefly at the ministerial level with some of

the TT officials regarding the desirability of having an intensive face-to-face encounter before the end of the first quarter. Oil spill readiness is one of the matters which will take centre stage during the encounter.”

The Foreign Affairs Minister also stressed that while the responsibility of Guyana's oil spill readiness does not rest with his Ministry, Cabinet was advised that certain international partners must be engaged on the matter.

The Minister said that there are other things to be done regarding the issue of oil spill readiness but this will be handled by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Energy Department and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

In addition to the efforts being undertaken by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Natural Resources Ministry is in the process of seeking international help on various issues, two of which include crisis management in the petroleum sector and boosting Guyana's preparedness for oil spills.

GECOM told it is willfully...

From page 11 sufficient time and safeguards are present to so do,” Benn said. According to the commissioner, he told the Commission that it risked the loss or damage to its reputation collectively and also that of individual commissioners as a result of willful neglect of its constitutional mandate.

Guyana is facing an unprecedented situation with possible early elections due to a successful no-confidence vote laid by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.

Government parliamentarian, Charrandass Persaud, who voted against his colleagues, has triggered constitutional provisions as a con-

sequence for elections to be held in 90 day from December 21st.

However, Government has challenged the validity of the vote in court, pointing out that Persaud was illegally sitting as he had dual citizenship, a no-no, under the laws.

The court rulings are expected today.

we found out what the UK doesn’t want. But we still don’t know what the UK does want.”

EU officials said Tusk and May had 45 minutes of ‘frank’ discussion. Tusk stressed that it is up to May to come back to EU with a proposal that she can convince the EU will get a majority in Parliament.

EU leaders in December simply did not believe May could get a majority if they gave her what she wanted and so they did not budge. For them to move now, she will

have to show them that anything they give will be the final deal and it will be accepted.

May indicated that she understood this but gave no indication of what she might ask for nor of the timeline for her next steps, although she indicated that meetings in Brussels would be useful at some stage, the officials said.

Tusk made clear that it is up to the UK to come up with solutions, not the EU. ‘WISHFUL THINKING’ Simon Coveney, foreign minister of Ireland, whose

economy stands to suffer most from a ‘no-deal’ Brexit, said Britain had not offered any feasible way to keep the border open: “What we are being asked to do here is to compromise on a solution that works, and to replace it with wishful thinking.”

And Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told May by phone that “the latest developments had reinforced the need for a backstop which is legally robust and workable in practice”, an Irish government spokesman said.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said the chances of a ‘no-deal’ exit had increased, and currency traders also took that view as sterling traded around $1.3070, more than a cent down from its level before lawmakers voted on Tuesday. EU sources said additional clarifications, statements or assurances on the backstop might be possible, short of reopening the agreement.

But May says she needs more - a legally binding change. She aims to get parliament’s approval for a revised deal on Feb. 13. If that fails, parliament will vote on next steps on Feb. 14.

That deadline ratchets up the pressure on dedicated Brexiteers in the Conservative Party who fear opponents will try to delay and ultimately thwart Britain’s exit.

SOCU deputy resigns after...

From page 13 Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU), Sydney James. As it relates to the trial, James, a Forensic Analyst, was called

by SOCU Special Prosecutor Attorney-at-Law Patrice Henry to the witness box. She gave testimony with regard to an investigation at GRDB which led to her uncovering several bank accounts.

The prosecutor had wanted the court to deem James an “expert witness.”

Consequently, the court conducted a Voir Dire (trial within a trial) to determine whether or not the witness could be deemed an expert in the field for which she was being called to give evidence.

However, Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan ruled then, in July, that the court was not satisfied that James is sufficiently/properly qualified to give evidence in the area of Financial Forensic Analysis, and as such, cannot be deemed an expert on the field.

This was although the witness had said that she is the holder of a Masters Degree in Business Administration.

James had also told the court that she worked in 15 countries looking at corrupt organizations and dealing with banks. Taking all these into consideration, the Chief Magistrate ruled that although James possesses

these qualifications and experience, she had no tertiary education neither did she publish any writings, in the area of Financial Forensic Analysis. Allowing her to continue her testimony in the trial, the Chief Magistrate said that James will not be permitted to give opinion evidence.

Lawyers yesterday said that they will be examining other cases where James may have been involved in and which could have been “tainted by her expert testimony. This is serious. Where someone's qualifications may not be right yet we have people being charged in a high profile manner and before the courts.

Market security high on...

From page 12 membership. According to Andrews, this includes vendors from the Stabroek, Bourda and La Penitence Markets.

Another issue that must be looked at, Andrews said, is the placement of stallholders.

“There are a lot of people who have cho-

sen to get into vending to make a decent living and to earn but there has been a level of dispute over the allocation of stalls within the Market Squares We are hoping that this meeting with the Mayor will foster the kind of dialogue needed to assist in the bargaining process,” he added.

Thursday January 31, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Thursday January 31, 2019

Thursday January 31, 2019

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

Jason Holder urges focus as West Indies contemplate rare series scalp ESPNcricinfo - Jason Holder, the West Indies captain, has urged his players to focus on the job at hand ahead of the pivotal second Test against England in Antigua.

After his side’s demolition job in Barbados, West Indies only need to win one of the next two matches to seal a rare series win against top-eight opposition but Holder is refusing to be distracted.

While West Indies have shown steady improvement over the last couple of years, their only series wins in recent times have come against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. Just twice in the last ten years have they beaten another Test team ranked in the top eight: a 2-0

win over New Zealand in 2012, and the hard-fought 1-0 victory against England in 2 0 0 8 - 0 9 .

“It’s great to be 1-0 up, but that’s history,” Holder said.

“We are happy to be leading in the series but we have our feet firmly on the ground. We are not focusing on what happened before in Barbados. We are looking forward to this match and what we have ahead of us.

“It’s a matter for us to move on and understand what we need to do. We speak about consistency in the dressing room and I think we’ve got to be hitting all three departments well every time we step on the field.”

Asked about the potential significance of a series win over England, he added: “It would mean a lot but again I don’t want to focus too much on the series at this point in time, I want to focus on the second match. We need to be consistent in all three departments.”The key feature of West Indies’ performance in Barbados was contributions coming from throughout the side. Holder led the way with his second-innings double-hundred, but there was a five-wicket haul for Kemar Roach, career-best figures for Roston Chase and important innings from Shane Dowrich and Shimron H e t m y e r .

Thursday January 31, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Are you involved in an ambitious, creative project of some kind, Aries? You might have so much to do that you decide to take on a partner, if you haven't already.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) The desire to improve your home's appearance might suddenly come over you today, Taurus. Whether you're planning some redecorating, landscaping, refurnishing, or simply a thorough cleaning, you will probably take the bull by the horns and concentrate on nothing else.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Much of your day may be spent running around your neighborhood, Gemini, perhaps in the company of your partner. You may have a lot of errands to run, or perhaps you're just antsy and unwilling to spend the day indoors.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) A financial windfall might come your way, Cancer. This may not be a lottery win or surprise inheritance.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You're probably feeling full of energy, Leo, and looking for an outlet for it aside from the usual jog or workout.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Your subconscious mind is active today, Virgo, perhaps releasing old traumas from the past. Memories from long ago could pour into your mind as though

floodgates were opened.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You tend to be an adventurous soul by nature, Libra. Today the desire to do something you've never done before could be overwhelming.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) f you've been thinking about studying astrology, Scorpio, this is the day to do it.

Even if you already know the field, you might decide to branch out into a newer or more radical aspect, such as Draconic or galactic astrology.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your innate sense of adventure is active today, Sagittarius.

Travel is on your mind. You and some friends may kick around ideas for an unconventional trip to an exotic place, such as sailing to Tahiti.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Career matters may involve some touchy circumstances that require ingenious methods to solve, Capricorn.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) A social event could bring you into contact with some interesting people in fascinating fields, Aquarius, some from distant places. Discussions could turn you on to one or more new interests, which you will probably want to pursue later.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A burst of physical energy might have you spending hours working out today, Pisces. You might decide to

Holder said that while his players had shown “glimpses” of what they were capable of in the past - such as their dramatic 2017 win at Headingley - he was pleased that the team was growing stronger as a collective.“It’s a matter for us to continue to build the side,” he said. “What’s really encouraging is that we’ve seen glimpses that this team can perform, and beat top sides in the world. We’ve had personal success and it’s good to see us bringing it a little bit more together as a side, so hopefully we can continue in that vein and the guys continue to be hungry for success.”West Indies had a

couple of fitness question marks over Dowrich, who did not keep on the fourth day due to a sore back, and Shannon Gabriel, but both were declared fit to play in Antigua.

The sight of Gabriel giving Joe Root, England’s captain, the hurry up was a throwback to traditional West Indian strengths and Holder was looking forward to unleashing his pace spearhead once again.“It wasn’t a surprise, it’s something that Shannon’s done to many batsmen around the world. He carries pace and he was aggressive in that spell, which we asked of him.

It was really good to see him come out after lunch - we were

probably a little flat with England two down and over 100, we needed to break the partnership and Shannon really gave us that momentum. It was really good to see.

“He’s generally quick and awkward [to face]. Just expect Shannon to run in - he had a bit of a toe injury in the last game but that seems to have healed up pretty nicely. So we expect Shannon to be running in tomorrow (today).”

Should West Indies produce a similar performance, England might find it hard to live with them and Holder admitted the thought of sealing the series with a game to play had not escaped him - though he was keen to insist West Indies remained the underdogs.”It’s at the back of my mind. I just said to the guys, make sure we keep it out of our minds, make sure focus on what we need to do here we need to get 20 wickets to win this game, we need to put up runs, and if we do that and hold our chances, we have a good chance. We’re still ranked No. 8, England are No. 2 or 3, so we’re definitely the u n d e r d o g s . ”

Simon Naidu - BCB PRO...

From page 32 activities/programmes annually. Naidu is directly responsible for all of the Club’s assets, membership, reports, cricket matches, Say No/Say Yes Campaign and record keeping among others. He also is the chief organiser of the Club’s Award Ceremony, Cricket Academy, Educational Summer Camp, Christmas Charity Programme, Annual Review Magazine and the yearlong Charity Outreach Programme. Foster stated that once Naidu stays with the RHTYSC, MS he would naturally be the next Secretary/ CEO. Over the last two years under Naidu’s leadership the RHTYSC has completely dominated Berbice Cricket by winning over sixteen titles.

Naidu is supported by a panel of experienced Cricket Administrators including Robby Kissoonlall, Keith Hicks, Sohan Harry and Tyrone Pottaya.

Naidu hailed the unity and hard work of the RHTYSC Management Team as the main reason for all the successes over the years. He urged youths across Guyana to get involved in the Management of Clubs, NGOs and their Religious place of worship.

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

Russell all-round heroics not enough as Dhaka lose fourth straight C H AT T O G R A M , Bangladesh, CMC – Allrounder Andre Russell snatched a hat-trick and then struck a cameo but West Indies teammates, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine, both failed to score as star-studded Dhaka Dynamites slumped to their fourth straight defeat in the Bangladesh Premier League with an 11-run loss to Chittagong Vikings here Wednesyesterday.

Choosing to bat first, Vikings rallied to 174 for five from their 20 overs at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, with opener Cameron Delport slamming 71 off 57 balls and captain Mushfiqur Rahim getting 43 from 24 deliveries.

Deport put on 42 for the first wicket with Mohammad Shazad (21) and a further 46 for the second with YasirAli (19) before off-spinner Narine (2-20) broke both partnerships.

H o w e v e r, it was D e p o r t ’s 7 9 - r u n , t h i r d wicket stand with Mushfiqur which really galvanised the innings, before Russell pulled things back in the final over with his hat-trick.Off the first delivery, he first claimed Mushfiqur holing out to long on off a full toss and then prised out Delport to a c a t c h also down the ground.

Dasun Shanaka scooped the first ball he faced to short fine leg to give Russell (3-38) the third hat-trick of the season.In reply, Dhaka were struggling on 23 for three in the fourth over but captain Shakib-al-Hasan stroked 53 in

West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell … grabbed the third hat-trick of the BPL season. a 50-run, fourth wicket stand with Nurul Hasan (33) to revive the innings.

Nurul perished in the 10th over and off the next ball, Pollard ran himself out needlessly off the first ball he faced.

Russell arrived to slam four fours and a couple of sixes in 39 off 23 balls, in a 66run, sixth wicket partnership with Shakib, which looked like winning the game for Dhaka.

But Russell picked out Deport at deep mid-wicket with a full toss from seamer Shanaka in the 17th over, and the innings suffered from loss of momentum.

In the other match of the doubleheader, West Indies left-hander Nicholas Pooran extended his superb form with an unbeaten 76 for Sylhet Sixers but was unable to pre-

vent Rajshahi Kings from taking a crucial five-wicket win.

Choosing to bat first, Sixers piled up an impressive 189 for five with Pooran, batting at number five, lashing half-dozen fours and sixes in a sparkling 31-ball knock, to move his tally for the season to 379 runs at an average of 47.

In reply, Kings got a top score of 76 from Englishman Laurie Evans as they romped to their target with two overs to spare.

West Indies opener Johnson Charles chipped in with 39 off 26 balls.

The defeat for Dhaka saw them drop out of the playoff places into fifth on 10 points, while Sixers remained one from bottom in the seventeam standings on eight points.

Gabriel, Dowrich fit for second Test ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Speedster Shannon Gabriel and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich have recovered from minor injuries picked up in the opening Test and have been passed fit for the second Test starting here today.

Gabriel limped out of the fourth day’s play at Kensington Oval last weekend with a bruised toe as West Indies romped to an emphatic 381-run victory, while Dowrich also sat out proceedings with a sore back.

West Indies team manager, Rawl Lewis, confirmed Tuesday there were no major injuries in the squad as they chased a historic series win. “[There are] no worries at all. There will always be little niggles after a hard Test match but they are all ready to go,” Lewis said.

He added: “We practised from 2 pm to 5 pm and everyone was there nice and healthy and strong and looking pretty good.”

Gabriel had little impact in the opening Test claiming just two wickets but worked up a fair turn of pace in the second innings before having to go off after lunch.

Dowrich, meanwhile, batted outstandingly in the second innings to finish unbeaten on 116 but was replaced by Shai Hope behind

Shane Dowrich celebrates his hundred during the third of the opening Test. the stumps for the entire fourth day.

West Indies named an unchanged squad for the upcoming Test but have added fast bowler Oshane Thomas as a 14th man, after the Jamaican acted as cover for fellow pacer Alzarri Joseph for the first Test in Bridgetown last weekend.

Thursday January 31, 2019

Plane cushions found in search for missing soccer player Sala LONDON (Reuters) - Investigators searching for a lost plane carrying Premier League soccer player Emiliano Sala said yesterday an underwater search would begin after they found two seat cushions on the French coast that likely belonged to the aircraft.

The 28-year-old Argentina-born forward had been en route from Nantes in western France with pilot David Ibbotson to make his debut for Welsh team Cardiff City when the plane disappeared over the English Channel on Jan. 21.

Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said it was informed on Monday that part of a seat cushion had been found on a beach near Surtainville on the Cotentin Peninsula in northern France.

A second cushion was found in the same area later that day.“From a preliminary examination, we have concluded that it is likely that the cushions are from the missing aircraft,” the AAIB said in a statement.

Investigators said they now planned to launch an underwater seabed search for aircraft wreckage. Due to weather conditions, the search would start at the end

General view of tributes left outside the stadium for Emiliano Sala. (REUTERS/Stephane Mahe) of this weekend and take up to three days.

“Based on a detailed assessment of the flight path and last known radar position, we have now identified a priority search area of approximately four square nautical miles,” they said.

A remotely operated vehicle will be used to examine visually any wreckage found.

A privately funded operation is also set to search for wreckage on Sunday and the AAIB said it was liaising closely with those involved.

Sala had been traveling from Nantes to make his debut for Premier League side Cardiff City after being signed

for a club record fee of 17 million euros ($19.40 million).

Rescuers scoured about 1,700 square miles after the single-engined Piper Malibu plane went missing but had failed to find a trace of the aircraft until now.

The plane had been cruising at 5,000 feet (1,525 m) when the pilot requested to descend to a lower altitude on passing Guernsey. It then lost radar contact at 2,300 feet.

On Tuesday, Cardiff played their first game since Sala’s disappearance, a 2-1 Premier League defeat at Arsenal, where tributes were paid to the missing player and pilot.

Europe chooses Polish sports minister as candidate to head WADA WARSAW (Reuters) Poland’s sport minister Witold Banka has been chosen as Europe’s candidate to become the next head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, which has continued to face criticism over its handling of its Russian affiliate.

Banka had proposed establishing a separate funding mechanism to help countries with less developed anti-doping systems fight the problem.

He also wants to improve communication with athletes and engage them in anti-doping activities, establish more anti-doping laboratories worldwide and improve cooperation between governments and the sports movement.

Poland’s Ministry of Sport and Tourism said on Wednesday that Banka had received 28 votes to be Europe’s candidate and defeated Norwegian politician Linda Helleland, who got 16 votes, and Belgian politician Philippe Muyters on five votes.

“This is a great honor, a great privilege for me and also a huge responsibility,” Banka told Poland’s state-owned news agency after winning the vote. WADA will vote on a

A technician walks down the hallway at the Doping Control Laboratory, at the National Institute of Scientific Research Centre (INRS) Institute Armand-Frappier in Laval, Quebec, Canada January 15, 2018. (REUTERS/Christinne Muschi) new president at a conference from Nov. 5-7 in Katowice, Poland.

Last week, WADA decided not to re-impose a suspension on Russian anti-doping agency RUSADA despite Moscow missing a deadline to hand over laboratory data.

WADA last year voted, subject to certain conditions, to lift the ban on RUSADA, which it suspended in 2015 after a WADA-commissioned report found evidence of

state-sponsored doping in Russian athletics.

But for RUSADA to keep its accreditation, Russia had to provide WADA with data from the Moscow anti-doping laboratory by the end of last year, which it failed to do.

WADA said on Jan 17 that it had finally recovered data from the Russians.

The WADA presidency rotates between government representatives and the sports movement.

Thursday January 31, 2019

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

NBA roundup: Pelicans win but Rockets’ Harden extends streak Jahlil Okafor produced a season-high point total for a second consecutive game while Jrue Holiday undergirded a patchwork rotation with a sensational defensive performance as the depleted New Orleans Pelicans stunned the host Houston Rockets 121-116 on Tuesday.

James Harden led the Rockets with 37 points — his 24th straight game with at least 30 — and added 11 rebounds, but he shot just 11 of 32 from the floor.

Okafor paired 27 points with 12 rebounds while Holiday posted 19 points, six rebounds, eight assists and six blocked shots for the Pelicans, who were missing five of their top six rotation players and reeling from the trade request of AllNBA center Anthony Davis (who is also sidelined with a finger injury).

Harden’s streak actually appeared to be in jeopardy, but a late spurt kept it going. He did not hit 30 points until he sank a 3pointer with less than two minutes left, and then he scored seven more points in the final minute.

Bucks 115, Pistons 105 Giannis Antetokounmpo collected 21 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and three steals as visiting Milwaukee completed its first four-game season series sweep of Detroit.

Eric Bledsoe had 20 points and seven assists and Pat Connaughton added 16 points off the bench for Milwaukee. Khris Middleton contributed 15 points, six rebounds and six assists, Brook Lopez tossed in 14 points and Tony Snell had 11 points in the win.

Reggie Jackson paced the Pistons with 25 points while Andre Drummond had 20 points and 13 rebounds.

Blake Griffin added 18 points, nine assists and seven rebounds but also committed five turnovers.

76ers 121, Lakers 105 Visiting Philadelphia welcomed Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler and Wilson Chandler back into their starting lineup, and the trio helped the Sixers run over short-handed Los Angeles to get back on track after a rough start to a fivegame road trip.

Embiid finished with 28 points and 11 rebounds. Butler scored 20 points, and Chandler finished with nine.

Ben Simmons added 19 points for Philadelphia, Mike Muscala scored 17 off the bench, and JJ Redick had 13.

Brandon Ingram scored a career-high 36 points for the Lakers. He has posted at least 20 points in three straight games for the first time in his three-year career. JaVale McGee contributed 17 points and 14 rebounds off the bench, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 12

New Orleans Pelicans center Jahlil Okafor (8) makes a spin move around Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) in the second half at Toyota Center. (Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports) points.

Spurs 126, Suns 124 Rudy Gay poured in a tiebreaking, 21-foot jump shot as time expired to lift San Antonio to a win over visiting Phoenix.

San Antonio led by four points after Davis Bertans barely beat the shot clock with a 27-foot 3-pointer with 33.3 seconds to play.

Phoenix’s Devin Booker then cut the lead to two points with a pullup jumper with 24.9 seconds remaining, and Josh Jackson tied the score with a

dunk with 19.6 seconds left after a Booker steal.

Gay then took the game in his hands, patiently working against Phoenix defender Kelly Oubre Jr. a step inside the arc before letting fly his deciding shot just before the buzzer and granting the third win in a row for the Spurs, who were led by LaMarcus Aldridge (29 points, 14 rebounds).

Thunder 126, Magic 117 Dennis Schroder’s 18 points in the fourth quarter led visiting Oklahoma City to

Buxton United FC maintain tradition of Donating Blood

Members of the Buxton United FC during yesterday’s blood donation exercise.

The Buxton United Football Club (BUFC), one of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League teams have continued its social commitment of donating blood to the Blood Transfusion Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

On Tuesday last, BUFC, which finished as the runner-up team in the just concluded GFF/Stag Super 16 year-end knock-out championship, made their yearly trek to the Blood Transfusion Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital to keep up a tradition that is in its fourth year.

Technical Department Head of the club, Mr. Lyndon France and five players donated blood which France stated has become a part of the club’s social responsibility. ”Donating blood has now become a part of our club’s yearly programme, players and management staff has agreed that we will do our part in assisting others by doing this on a yearly basis. As they say, blood saves lives and you never know, we might be saving the life of a footballer who will one day play for our team.”

a win over Orlando.

Schroder had 21 points in all, and Paul George scored 37 points (31 in the first half).

Russell Westbrook had 23 points, 14 assists and 14 rebounds for Oklahoma City, which extended its winning streak to six games. Schroder scored 18 points during a 235 Thunder run midway through the fourth quarter.

Nikola Vucevic led Orlando with 27 points and 11 rebounds, and Evan Fournier added 17 points.\ The Magic have lost four straight and seven of their last eight games.

Cavaliers 116, Wizards 113 Jordan Clarkson scored 28 points and Cleveland squandered most of a 25-point fourth-quarter lead before holding on to defeat Washington for its second straight win.

Washington cut the deficit to three points in the final minute and had a chance to tie when it inbounded with 10.8 seconds left but Cedi Osman knocked the ball away from Troy Brown, who was attempting a 3-pointer, and the Cavs held on despite missing nine fourth-quarter free throws.

Osman had 26 points for Cleveland and Ante Zizic had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Nets 122, Bulls 117 D’Angelo Russell scored 30 points as Brooklyn overcame some sluggish moments to extend its home winning streak to nine games with a victory over Chicago.

Russell scored at least 30 points for the eighth time this season as he hit 10 of 22 shots and added seven assists. He scored 22 of his points after halftime as the Nets rebounded from Monday’s loss to the Celtics in Boston.

Russell’s latest productive game also helped the Nets win for the 13th time in their last 14 home games since Dec. 7. The Nets (28-24) also matched their win total from last season and beat the Bulls for the sixth straight time.

(Field Level Media)

Denly set for debut as England ditch Jennings ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – England will hand Joe Denly his Test debut after dropping failing opener Keaton Jennings, in a 12-man squad named for the critical second Test against West Indies here starting today.

Left-hander Jennings has made just 72 runs in his last six Test innings, and struggled in the opening Test last weekend in Bridgetown which England lost by 381 runs.

“It gives Joe an opportunity,” captain Joe Root said in confirming the change to the squad.

“It’s disappointing for Keaton. He’s done some excellent things and he will continue to work on developing his game and be a big part of this squad.”

Denly, 32, has already played nine One-Day Internationals and six Twenty20 Internationals, and boasts an extensive first class career which has yielded nearly 11 000 runs from 189 matches.

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who was ineffective in the opening Test, has been excluded with left-arm spinner Jack Leach coming in.

England are anxious to get their tour back on track following their surprise thrashing at Kensington Oval inside four days last weekend.

They were bundled for a venue-low 77 in their first innings and faltered again in their second inning after being asked to chase an improbable 628 for victory.

The final Test is set for February 9 in St Lucia.

SQUAD – Joe Root (captain), Rory Burns, Joe Denly, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Ben Foakes, Sam Curran, Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson, Jack Leach.

PAGE 30

Kaieteur News

Thursday January 31, 2019

GFF/Pele Alumni/Frank Watson Nationwide 2017/2018 Playoffs

Santos and BV Triumph United to kick off action on Saturday

By Franklin Wilson

T

he nationwide play offs for the inaugu ral GFF/Pele Alumni/Frank Watson Intra Association Championship is set to kick off this Saturday at the Providence National Training Centre with a clash between Georgetown Football Association winners, Santos and East Demerara Football Association champs, BV Triumph United from 10:30hrs.

The fixtures and other information was released by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) yesterday when this segment of the championship, which will feature ten (10) champions, gets underway with the first of what is anticipated to be four days of pulsating rivalry.

Corriverton Lynx, the Berbice FA winners is the other team in Cluster One and they will face BV Triumph United in the second match on Saturday from 12:30hrs with the third

and final clash of the day from 15:00hrs between Santos and Corriverton Lynx.

Matches in the qualifying stages of the playoffs would be of 70 minutes duration (two equal halves of 35 minutes).

Cluster Two play will get underway on Sunday at the same venue with East Bank Football Association winner; Timehri Panthers coming up against Eagles FC which won the West Demerara FA leg of the competition from 10:00hrs.

From 12:30hrs, taking to the field would be Eagles and Upper Demerara’s champions, Milerock FC with the final encounter of the day between Timehri Panthers and Milerock. The respective cluster winners following action on both days would advance to the Final Playoff which would be contested at the same venue on Saturday, February 16.

Cluster Three rivalry will take place at the Anna Regina Community Center Ground on Saturday February 9 when

GFF TD Ian Greenwood (2nd left) makes a point during his presentation at yesterday’s launch. Others in pic from left are GFF’s Brain Joseph, Pele Alumni’s John Yates and GFF’s Debra Francis. the top teams from the Essequibo/Pomeroon FA (Dartmouth Determinators) oppose Atkinson Brothers (Region #1) from 10:00hrs.

Atkinson Brothers would then throw down the gauntlet to Bartica FA’s Rising Stars FC from 12:30hrs, the last match

Windies praise enhanced security after arriving for T20s KARACHI, Pakistan, CMC – West Indies Women touched down here yesterday for their three-match Twenty20 International series against Pakistan, hailing the enhanced level of security for the historic tour.

The Caribbean side trained in Dubai for the last week and will now take on the hosts in the first game here starting Thursday at Southend Club.

Security here has been a major issue for international sides ever since the deadly attack on a Sri Lanka team bus 10 years ago in Lahore, leading to a cessation of international series in the often volatile nation.

For West Indies Women, it is their first series in Pakistan in 15 years, and it follows on from their male counterparts’ similarly historic tour last April for three T20s, when they became the first major nation to stage a series in Pakistan since the attacks.

“The security system is top class. There was security on both sides of the roads and these things show that everybody has put things in place and we are really lucky to be spending time here,” said Merissa Aguilleira, leading the side in absence of regular captain Stafanie Taylor who opted out of the tour over security concerns.

Since the attacks, Pakistan have played all of their home series in the United Arab Emirates but cricket authorities here have been lobbying international sides in recent years, in a bid to have international cricket staged here again.

In 1017, a World XI played three T20s against Pakistan in Lahore incident-free, prompting the Windies to tour the following year.And Aguilleira said the Windies Women were pleased to play their part in helping to revive cricket here.

“I’m pleased we can bring back cricket to Pakistan because it’s really important. If we find ourselves in this position, I believe one of the teams would step up and try to help

Stand-in West Indies skipper Merissa Aguilleira. us,” the veteran said.

“We are not playing ODIs here but eventually it will happen. I’m pleased that we as a team took the initiative to come over here. I am so thankful that we can contribute to bring back cricket to Pakistan.”

West Indies have little time to acclimatise to conditions here with three matches in four days but Aguilleira backed her side to make the adjustments.

We have a motto, two words our coach has given us: adapt and overcome. That is what we are trying to do,” she explained. ”It is really difficult adapting in such quick time, but we are professional cricketers and we are willing and raring to go. We are excited for this tour.”

West Indies face Pakistan in three ODIs starting in Dubai next week Thursday.

of this round will see Dartmouth Determinators taking on Rising Stars.

At yesterday’s launch, Pele Alumni representative and former Club President, John Yates gave a background to the tournament and the person after who it was named, Frank Watson a pilot by profession; the first President of the club who was a stickler for discipline and empowerment of youths through education.

Unfortunately, Watson passed away in December 1973 as a result of a plane accident in Guyana’s interior.

Yates who took over as president following Watsons demise, noted that the Pele Alumni, which is made up of about sixty (60) past Pele players in the Diaspora, felt the need to give back to Guyana’s football development thus the partnership with the GFF for this nationwide championship among youths which was contested at the Intra Association level. ”We also felt it important that we start at the bottom with the young people because the future of football in Guyana is our youths. We have to ensure that the discipline etc, takes place within the development process.”

Yates posited that the money craze in the sport around Guyana is creating problems: “The money will come, but the question is, you have to have the skills and the discipline to be able to follow rules and regulations that are established.

This is what we are hoping will come out of this GFF/ Pele Alumni U15 regional tourn a m e n t . ” GFF youth Development Officer Brian Joseph shared details in relation to the tournament whilst disclosing that the second edition of the Intra Association League will get underway in February.

He informed that upwards of one hundred (100) U15 matches were contested in the various associations apart from other youth tournaments, indicating that the venue for three of the four days of the final competition was chosen given the positive impact it has had on players at every level since it was completed (playing surface).

The astro turf pitch Joseph noted is a huge plus for local players who will no longer be total strangers to such pitches in their overseas travel to represent Guyana as had obtained in the past.

TD Greenwood also extended gratitude to the Pele Alumni for its contribution to youth development by affording them the opportunity to be involved in structured programmes, be it football or education. ”I think it’s been a fantastic association between the two groups so far, so again we want to continue with this great partnership. Looking at what the intra association leagues offer, it gives players across the country a platform to develop to push towards our targets for our performance clocks.”

He alluded that by the time players reach the senior level they would have participated in 10,000 hours of deliberate practice; hours which are split between training and the playing environment which can only be realized once matches are played.

This he said would require at least 20 hours per week split across training with the club, playing matches, playing with schools as well as the individual work that they would do from time to time. ”But this can only happen if we have games, so this shows how important it is to have intra association games. This structure hasn’t been in place

before on a national basis, so the first time its being developed on a national basis is a massive achievement.”

Greenwood pointed out that the inaugural league was not without its challenges as the Competitions Department struggled with certain challenges that were presented by the Regional Member Associations (RMA).

The major one pointed out was the unison of playing matches at the same times in Georgetown, Bartica, East Bank and the other RMA’s.

Efforts he indicated would be made to align all the programmes for the 2019 edition. ”Looking at this weekend, it’s a great opportunity for the first cluster and over the few playing days, we have all the top under-15 players in the country participating on an ideal surface. Ultimately from a GFF point of view we are looking at talent identification of the top players that can come into our national team p r o g r a m m e s . ” Technical officers would be observing the matches to ensure that the correct players move on to the academy structures. ”From a holistic view, GFF has its youth development programme which focuses on three main areas, area one is the grassroots programme, area two is the intra association leagues so we have the U15 league and the U17 at the moment. From these programmes they then move into the academy training center structure.

The three key areas that we focus on youth developm e n t . ” The youth leagues this year would be running from February to May with June being the playoffs which will lead directly into international competitions.

Kaieteur News

Thursday January 24, 2019

PAGE 31

West Indies First-Class C/Ships

Jaguars favoured to rebound from loss to Hurricanes As they face-off with struggling Red Force from today

By Sean Devers in Trinidad In association with Cascadia Hotel, Star Party Rentals & Lifetime Real Estate Despite their first loss in 15 games in the fifth round of the West Indies First-Class against the Leewards Hurricanes at Providence two weeks ago, four-times defending Champions Guyana Jaguars (85.6) remain in the lead on the points table as they head into battle against the T&T Red Force from today at the Queens Park Oval in Port-of-Spain.

The Red Force has struggled so far with their only win in four games being against Jamaica, who sits less than a point below Red Force’s 33 points, at the bottom of the ladder.

After three defeats in four matches, former T&T player Kelvin Williams was sacked as Coach and replaced for today’s game by ex-Test pacer Mervin Dillon, who insists his new chargers need to concentrate on the mental department of their game.“I don’t have little children here, I have big men and they need to be strong and go out and battle hard.” Dillion told the Media leading up to today’s encounter against the Leon Johnson lead Jaguars in their own back yard.

Ravi Rampaul, Rayad Emrit, and Lendl Simmons practiced with a Red Force team in which only 23-year-old left-hander Jeremy Solozano (104) has scored a century, but the former West Indies U-19 batsman who has scored 285 runs from four matches, has had little support this season as only Yannic Cariah with 61 has scored a half century while no Red Force batsman, except Solozano, has reached 150 for this season.

Today Denish Ramdin, Kyle Hope, Jason Mohammed, Amir Jangoo and Imran Khan will have to come to the party with the bat today.Without the genuinely quick Shannon Gabriel, 21-year-old Odean Smith will hope to bowl fast with the new ball, while leg-spinner Khan has picked up 19 wickets and will spearhead the spin attack.

The Guyanese also had a net session at the Oval and in conditions which should be good for batting, the Jaguars, although without young batting sensation Shimron Hetmyer, will be strengthened by the return of Chanderpaul Hemraj and the Test pair of Vishaul Singh and Raymon Reifer and will be a force to be reckoned with.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s 362 runs is the third highest most runs and although he needs to face less dot balls, he has demonstrated immense concentration.Anthony Bramble has scored back-to-back tons this season, while fast bowling all-rounders Kemo Paul, Romario Shepherd, Chris Barnwell, Sherfane Rutherford and Clinton Pestano are all capable of making big scores which gives the Jaguars batting depth.Johnson is regarded the best Captain in the Region but with just one fifty so far this season he is failing to get big scores and if he was not the skipper he would have been starting to worry about keeping his place in the side as a batsman.The seam bowling will be taken care of by Pestano, Paul, Shepherd, Reifer, Barnwell and Rutherford with leftarm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, who has the most wickets (28) this season leading the spin department.

The forecast is for good weather and today’s game is scheduled to commence at 10:00hrs.

Skipper Leon Johnson will need a big score today.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul is the third leading run-scorer.

Guyana vs Belize 52 Days to go

Anthony Bramble celebrates consecutive tons and has backed up his most dismissals with the gloves.

Veerasammy Permaul is the leading wicket taker with 28 scalps.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 32

Thursday January 31, 2019

PAGE 30

Roger Harper returned as GCA President for two-year term Two new faces on Executive

Roger Harper (4th from right) with GCA Executives after being elected on Tuesday night (absent is 2nd VP Azad Ibrahim).

I

ncumbent Roger Harper was returned unopposed for another two-year term as President of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) on an Executive body with just two new faces (Former Minister of Labour Mansoor Nadir and First Division Cricketer Marcus Watkins) when the ruling body for Cricket in the City held its AGM on Tuesday night at the MYO. Harper, a 55-year-old former Guyana Captain and West Indies Vice Captain, had a successful 2018 as GCA head; testimony to the confidence shown in his leadership and GCA top brass was that all 11 of those elected got unopposed positions.

The AGM was called to order at 19:00hrs and concluded just before 10:00hrs with the new GCA Executive posing for a photo opportunity.

After a prayer by GDF

Coach Roddy Lovell, Assistant Secretary Paul Castelo read the minutes of last year’s AGM to the delegates and Observers before Harper, who played 25 Tests, 105 ODIs and 200 First-Class matches between 1980 to 1997, give an overview of what transpired in GCA’s cricket last year.

It was disclosed by UG, that former Test batsman Floyd Reifer came to UG during last year on a scouting trip to find players for UWI Scholarships which did not bear fruit since Reifer said, while the UG players were talented they did not reach the required fitness level.

First Vice-President Neil

Simon Naidu - BCB PRO and RHTYSC Asst Secretary /CEO at just 18 years old At just eighteen years old, Simon Naidu is fast becoming a household name in the Ancient County of Berbice. Naidu, who joined Guyana’s best youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS at the tender age of 14, was elected as its Asst Secretary/CEO at just sixteen years old. I time Naidu has now taken over the day to day operation of the Club and is in charge of its highly successful Cricket Programme.His outstanding work at the RHTYSC has resulted in his appointment as the Public Relations Officer of the Berbice Cricket Board. BCB President and RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster has described Naidu as one of the smartest, visionary and progressive youths he has met over his thirty years at the Club.

Foster noted that his Asst Secretary/CEO was a huge assist to the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sport Club, MS and noted that every executive at the Berbice Cricket Board supported his appointment as the Board’s Public Relations Officer because they knew of his talent and hard work. As BCB Public

Barry, the former National Batsman, told the gathering, which included two founder members of the GCA, Claude Raphael and Raymond Williams, about the players from GCA Clubs that played for Guyana and West Indies at Youth and senior level last year including Raymond Reifer, Kemo Paul, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford and Chanderpaul Hemraj.

“2018 has been an outstanding year for the GCA, in fact I think that it has been the best year since my involvement with the GCA,” said Harper proudly.

He informed that GCA

ran off competitions for all age groups from U-13 to First Division, while adding that for the first time the GCA held a Festival of Youth Cricket during the two-week Easter School Holiday with three competitions being held.

“The GCA continues to show that we are one of the main breeding grounds in Guyana for National and International players,” the GCA head said.

The former off-spinning all-rounder congratulated those clubs and their Coaches on the fine work they have been doing in producing National and West Indies players and

encouraged them to keep up the good work.

Harper, one of the best fielders in International Cricket, challenged the other clubs to follow in their footsteps.

Former Guyana and DCC off-spinner Gavin Nedd has produced the most Guyana and West Indies players in the recent past as Coach.

Harper said he was delighted in producing an audited financial statement, while informing that facilities to hold their development programmes still remains an issue as the weather was generally poor

during the July and August holidays, adding that the GCA will now have to look at conducting development programmes with available players during the cricket season.

The GCA Executive: Roger Harper (President), Neil Barry (1st VP) Azad Ibrahim (2nd VP), Deborah McNichol (Secretary), Paul Castello (Asst Secretary), Imran Ally (Treasurer), Marcus Watkins (Asst Treasurer), Mansoor Nadir (Marketing Manager), Colin Alfred (PRO), Shawn Massiah (Comp Committee Secretary) and Parmesar Accountants (Audit Firm).

(Sean Devers)

EBFA preparing for warm up match with Golden Jaguars

Simon Naidu Relations Officer, Naidu is in charge of the promotion of matches, press releases, Facebook account and Television Programme.

Since the election of Foster as BCB President, Naidu has also played a major role in BCB activities. He expressed surprise at his recent appointment but stated that he was totally dedicated to fulfilling his duties as part of a united team effort to lift Berbice Cricket even higher.With Foster cutting back his duties at the RHTYSC, Naidu has taken over the day to day operation of the RHTYSC which undertakes over 700 (Continued on page 27)

EBFA Academy Coach, Levi Braithwaite (right) conducting the Beep Test on Sunday last at the GFF training Facility, Providence, EBD. With preparations in train to ensure that the Golden Jaguars are in tip top shape for what is anticipated to be a historical match against Belize on March 23rd next here, the Guyana Football Federation has sent out a directive to its members Associations to get their senior teams in shape to engage the Golden Jaguars in a number of practice matches.

The East Bank Football Association (EBFA) has already commenced preparation of its team that will engage the Golden Jaguars. Technical Development Officer Devnon Winter has disclosed that the association has already had two days of trials which saw over 40-players attending on both days at the GFF Training Facility, Providence, East Bank Demerara.”The first day we invited players we did not see Timehri, Mocha and Soesdyke but that changed on the second day which was on Sunday last.

The second day we had a full turnout and we assessed them doing a beep test. We then had a full 11 a-side 20 minute on field exercise to assess their technical and tactical a b i l i t i e s . ”

Winter also stated that 30 players have been shortlisted, 30players who will continue training this Saturday and Sunday from 16:00hrs at the same venue. ”For now fitness will be our priority as we continue to observe how they play in the scheduled sessions and bond with each other in the way we would like them to play. Of course discipline towards every session will be key, because the staff is made up of the Academy Coaches so it’s a zero tolerance when it comes to indiscipline,” Winter stated.

He commended the clubs for the response to the association’s call and opined that in two weeks time he would have a unit that is ready to take on the Golden Jaguars. ”We want to put together a team that will provide tough challenges for the Golden Jaguars who we want to see excel on March 23 and propel Guyana to history. So we are urging the players to come out and give of their best and you never know, if they are up to the standard, they might very well be pulled in to the national team. We want the EBFA to represent well.”

Kaieteur News

Thursday January 31, 2019

PAGE 33

Seventh Milo Schools’ football tourney launched - 33% increase in teams It’s that time again for the Petra Organisation’s first football tournament of the year, the Milo Schools’ football competition, which coincidentally is in its seventh consecutive year running.

As was the case last year, multiple-time champions, Chase Academic Foundation, have been excluded for the event which will see a total of 24 teams participating; an increase of six teams from last year’s 18 participants.

According to co-director of the Petra, Troy Mendonca, the increased participants is due to the fact that teams view the event as a fair playing field where anybody can come out victorious.

Beepat’s distributors through their Nestle Milo brand are the title sponsors for the event for their seventh year running and the product’s brand manager, Shellona David, noted that the Nestle brand is proud to be associated with the event

which is well organised.

She further posited that, “We (Beepat’s) hope that the event continues to run smoothly as it has during the past years and that all the teams come out with their usually competitiveness to make the event a bigger success.”

Mendonca expressed heartfelt gratitude to the sponsors, “The contribution that Beepat’s have made in the revival of school football has been tremendous.

On behalf of Petra, the GFF (Guyana Football Federation), GTU (Guyana Teachers Union), and the players we want to extend our sincere gratitude for the valuable contribution over the past six years. We (Petra) will work with all stakeholders to make this tournament bigger and better as we move forward.”

The GFF’s technical department will be on hand to offer assistance to teams and help identify potentially talented youths during the

From left, GFF’s Bryan Joseph looks on as Beepats’ Shellon David presents the sponsorship cheque to Troy Mendonca with Petra’s Jacklyn Boodie and Sean Embrack enjoying the photo-op. tournament.

Speaking on behalf of football’s governing body, Technical director, Bryan Joseph, shared that, “The GFF is very pleased to be a facilitator of football development in any phase.

The Petra group has done tremendous work in football development in Guyana and the partnership that they have with Beepat’s is something the GFF has modeled for their various youth tournaments.”

The tournament kicks off next Saturday at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground on Carifesta Avenue and will conclude on April 14.

After two months of heated clashes in the group r o u n d - r o b i n

format/knockout format, the champions will pockets $500,000, second $300,000 and third place $200,000, all towards a project of the school’s choice. Sir Leon’s Lessons are the defending champions.

rt o p S

Jason Holder urges focus as West Indies contemplate rare series scalp P.27

Denly set for debut as England ditch Jennings P.29

Left-handed opener Keaton Jennings.

Jason Holder in a relaxed mood at West Indies’ training. (Getty Images)

Santos and BV Triumph United to kick off action on Saturday GFF/Pele Alumni/Frank Watson Nationwide 2017/2018 Playoffs

P.30

Timehri Panthers Captain, Prince Forde (2nd right) pose with officials following yesterday’s launch from right, John Yates, Frank Parris (Santos), Ian Greenwood, Brian Joseph and Adrian Gonsalves (Timehri Panthers)

West Indies First-Class C/Ships

P.29

Jaguars favoured to rebound from loss to Hurricanes As they face-off with struggling Red Force from today 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.