Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 11, 2017

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 THE PRISON FIRE The public should not be surprised. The inferno that engulfed the wooden structures at the Camp Street Prison on Sunday was bound to happen for several reasons. There has been chronic over-crowding at the prison, and despite several recommendations to ease it, the government has obviously been finding it difficult to do so. For starters, there is the problem of both financial and human resources. The prison system is short of wardens and the government simply does not have the money to pursue full scale prison rehabilitation. Following the last riot at the Camp Street prison, the government established a Commission of Inquiry (COI) which made several recommendations, one of which was to address over-crowding. Immediately there was a move to alternative sentencing policy; prisoners were transferred away from the Camp Street jail to the other prisons, with most being sent to Mazaruni. This was apparently not enough. The Camp Street prison population was reduced from some 1,300 when the fire broke out last year. It was bursting at the seams. When the prisoners set it alight on Sunday last, it had just a tad over 1,000 souls. The government, aware of the overcrowding, kept erecting dormitories inside the prisons. Just a few months ago a new dorm was completed to house an additional 150 prisoners. To date, the government has spent hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ dollars on COIs. There have been criticisms of these COIs, but there has also been ready acknowledgement and implementation of some of the recommendations by the administration. One recommendation from the COI into the education system saw the intervention of a remedial Mathematics programme. Less than one year later, the skeptics are singing the praises of the people who pursued the implementation and saw a marked improvement at the National Grade Six level. However, it is clear that the Prison system is not meeting the needs of the population it serves. In increasing numbers, younger people are heading to jail because the education system is failing the young men, many of whom have chosen the wrong role models. Then there is the question of rehabilitation. This is not something that the prison has the capability to pursue as rigorously as it should. It simply does not have the skilled people to deal with the psychology of the criminal. The reality is that many of the young criminals became part of the revolving door policy—they came in, left and returned. But if the saying “out of evil cometh good” is true, then the one good outcome from the prisoners’ insurrection at the nation’s main penitentiary should be a new prison outside of the city environs. It should be done to honour those prison officers whose death in the line of duty must be remembered. However, no one should hold their breath that this will ever happen. In the wake of the last prison riot which was one of the worst in the Caribbean, it was stated unequivocally that the cost of building a new prison elsewhere will cost billions of dollars and that the government cannot afford to bear such cost. Time will tell if the government is going to make changes to its policy on a major prison. It may argue that it has to weigh the cost of making life better for its people or spending to protect people from themselves, because the criminals are the products of the society. We express sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and hope for the full recovery of those injured and otherwise traumatized as a result of this tragedy, the most recent insurrection.

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.

Guyana is saturated with the instinct of prejudice Dear Editor, I do not think that I am alone in feeling that our society is beset and besieged by all sorts of prejudice, buttressed by a dangerous arrogance in the belief that anyone of us is right or has the answer to all the vile issuance of preconceived notions of what is at the root of our current socio-economic problems. I certainly do not profess to have any particular solution but I do believe in the power of open discussion and exchanging of ideas. In this regard I was most impressed with the thoughts of the famous Professor Isiah Berlin in his essay on ‘PREJUDICE’ as reproduced in his publication on “LIBERTY”. I do not

feel qualified to paraphrase Prof. Berlin but believe that a faithful reproduction of his brilliant thoughts on this crucial subject will be helpful to us Guyanese as we strive to forge ahead as an independent society; I therefore commend the following to my fellow Guyanese: “Few things have done more harm than the belief on the part of individuals or groups (or tribes or nations or churches) that he or she or they are in sole possession of the truth; especially about how to live, what to be and do….and that those who differ from them are not only mistaken, but wicked or mad: and need restraining or suppressing. It is a terrible and dangerous arrogance to believe that you

have a magical eye which sees the truth and that others cannot be right if they disagree. Compromising with people with whom you don’t sympathize or altogether understand is indispensable to any decent society….nothing is more destructive than a happy sense of one’s own or one’s nation’s infallibility. Another source of avoidable conflict is stereotypes; tribes hate neighboring tribes by whom they feel threatened, and then rationalize their fears by representing them as wicked or inferior or absurd or despicable in some way.” I humbly commend these thoughts, as succinctly expressed above, to my fellow Guyanese. Nowrang Persaud

The security forces deserve our highest commendations DearEditor, Safely re-locating just over one thousand prisoners during the raging inferno that reduced the Central Prison on Camp Street to cinders borders on the miraculous. While a final accounting for all prisoners awaits a search of the cooling-off compound, the Prison Service staff and Joint Services whoworkedwiththemalongwith inmates, deserve the highest commendation. This commendation is additionally merited, in light of the provocation of the Prison Officers Club being set alight allegedly by some inmates while being held there as a temporary measure. Statements from President David Granger and the Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, indicate an intention that these levels of humanitarian concern will carry over to the make-shift accommodation in Lusignan, especially given the current heavy rains. Judging from their performance last night, lessons have been learnt by the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) and the Joint Services from last year’s fire in which 17 prisoners perished. As reported, one prison officer who lost his life tragically is Prison Officer Odinga Wickham while he was resisting the efforts of the ring-leaders to break out from

prison. It was also reported that eight persons from the Prison had been transported to the Public Hospital, seven of whom were prison officers who had been shot andbrutallychopped. The spotlight needs to move fairly quickly to an assessment of other aspects of this tragedy. Last year’s Commission of Inquiry Report, asked three questions: what happened. What happened that should not have happened, and what did not happen that ought to have happened. The first section dealt with the facts: who did what and to whom and what were the consequences. The second part encompassed Standing Orders, their adequacy and other aspects of the general administration of the prison. The third part: ‘What did not happen that ought to have happened?’ looked at the role of supporting agencies – the most v i t a l o f which is the Judiciary, which controls how many prisoners are sent to Camp Street prison. The prison population as of yesterday, according to Prison Director (ag.) Gladwin Samuels stood at 1018 in a prison built originally to accommodate 300400 inmates. The prison has to take all who are sent by the courts. The central complaint leading to last year’s fire came from remand

prisoners who spend long periods awaiting trial. The Minister of Public Security reported last night that this figure still constitutes half of all inmates –some 500 men who are still to be convicted or releasedasinnocent. TheCOIReportalludedtothe following causes of overcrowding which one way or another fall within the purview of the administration of justice. They include refusal of bail in bailable cases, inability to pay bail, a dearth of magistrates, slowness of the high courts, lack of alternative sentences and absence of a sentencing policy leading to bizarrediscrepanciesinsentences. Following a temporary introduction of night courts and appeals to magistrates to use their common sense and be evenhanded in bail matters, overcrowding has assumed a lower profile. An initiative to develop alternative penalties has reportedly been developed but its effects are not yet evident in the courts. Equally disturbing is the lack of sustained interest from the legal profession in bringing pressure to keep prison reform front and centreofpublicconcern.Similarly the other key institution nominally responsible for the welfare and safety of prisoners, namely the Parole Board, has powers to

ensure that time spent productively while in prison will result in positive and timely recommendations for parole. It is the safety valve all prisons require to incentivize good behavior. More attention to the role of the Guyana Parole Board is needed to ensure public accountability and greater vitality. By contrast, the GPS has shown imagination and leadership on over-crowding by rewarding prisoners who work without compensation in the prisons. Acting Prison Director Samuels is reported as stating that “It’s a form of reward for daily contribution to the prisons. They work in the tailor shops, farms, kitchens, clean the yards, and the transport self-support meals. At the end of the month, we calculate the value of that labour. So, as a form of compensation, they receive Special Remission, which is reduced time on their sentences…. “Last year a total of 8,743 days were taken off from the sentences. In the past, it was seven to 28 days, but this timewestartedfrom14to21,to28 days… many of them are well behaved and go beyond the call of duty of what is required. Some 486 prisoners have benefitted fromthisschemetodate.” Executive Committee GHRA

An argument against the Skeldon sugar factory Dear Editor, The correspondent who addressed you under the captioned topic, “Guysuco’s Human Resource Director is talking nonsense” (KN July 06) would appear to have rushed himself into an indefensibly defence corner. His argument (if it can be so called) seems based more in ad hominem attacks than on factual evidence that could make such defence credible. As a consequence no value has been added to the discourse. A more rational analysis would have logically suggested that there must have

been substantial documentation accessible to this writer’s office, of the explicit technical and financial deficits of the “Skeldon elephant’, that would have been evaluated by both overseas and local experts, including the very Skeldon Energy Inc. to whom the Government sold the Co-Generation Plant in early 2015. The record showed that the Plant was never commissioned, amongst other misdeeds; nor could your correspondent not possibly forget, when in desperation about its dysfunctionality, a past president

announced in the press that he would personally go and run the factory himself. But even the above item is a distraction from the reality of proving one’s virility by closing down production with strikes, the numbers of which are unmatched anywhere in this or any other industry, or economy. In the final analysis it is the preoccupation with reflecting our own mindsets that fails to objectively address the problems which confront all of us as citizens first; rather than as defenders of the indefensible. E. B. John

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RAMJATTAN CONTINUES TO DAMAGE HIS CREDIBILITY DEAR EDITOR, I believe that Guyana needs our prayers and that we need to unite. That was my first comment Sunday night. But I will not allow Khemraj Ramjattan to get away with his abominable attack on SUGAR and sugar workers. He MUST apologize immediately to the sugar workers. Ramjattan in his first appearance as the catastrophic event at the Camp Street Prison escalated last night defended himself by blaming SUGAR. It was the most ludicrous thing I have heard yet from this government. This Minister who is the highest paid Minister of Public Secu-

rity, whose budget for his Ministry is the highest ever, whose Ministry employs the largest staff in the history of the Ministry of Public Security in Guyana, was AWOL, missing in action in the first hours of the crisis. When he did appear hours after the crisis had escalated, he took time to blame poor sugar workers and to take a side-swipe at the PPP. He claimed he needed more money for his Ministry, but APNU+AFC could not invest enough money into the Ministry because the money was diverted to sugar. Ramjattan’s first response was another betrayal of sugar

We strongly urge Camp Street jail must not be rebuilt DEAR EDITOR, The Indian Action Committee (IAC) is shocked and horrified at the deliberate destruction of the Camp Street jail which was destroyed by fire on Sunday, July 9, 2017, set simultaneously in several buildings in the compound by dangerous prisoners many of whom are on Death Row or serving life sentences for murder. The IAC understands that the now destroyed prison was insanely overcrowded with at least twice the safe capacity for housing both convicted criminals and those on remand prior to their trials. The IAC is calling on the government, which now has an ideal opportunity, to construct two new prisons outside of the city of Georgetown: one for the remand detainees in the vicinity of Timehri and a second for dangerous convicted criminals somewhere in the remote interior of the country such as within the New River Triangle. The IAC further calls upon the government to implement speedy trials for those on remand so that their constitutional right under Article 144 can be protected and this can be facilitated by the allocation of sufficient funds into the now being prepared 2018 National Budget given the recent statement made by the Minister of Public Security that there is not enough money available for the reduction of this backlog of cases. The IAC wishes to ex-

press its deepest condolences to the family and relatives of the slain prison officer Odinga Wickham who was brutally murdered by prisoners and the organization wishes a speedy recovery to the other wounded prison officers. The IAC also understands that hundreds of prisoners have been taken to Lusignan where the facility there cannot accommodate them and that these prisoners are being kept in the open exposed to the elements in an inhumane manner and, therefore, this unsafe situation presents a clear danger to the inhabitants of the villages nearby. The IAC calls upon the Guyanese citizens to take all possible safety precautions because several very dangerous armed criminals have not yet been recaptured and these persons have the ability to create a grave crisis similar to what occurred after the 2002 Mashramani Day prison break from the same facility which led to the crime wave that lasted from then until 2009. The IAC recommends that no new prison be rebuilt at Camp Street and that the land be put to other use whether publicly or privately. The IAC also recommends that as the economy deteriorates and unemployment rises with a concomitant worsening of the crime situation, that the government takes a tough line on crime. Saira Alli Indian Action Committee

workers who are responsible for him and Nagamootoo enjoying the life of a king. He did not admit that sugar was being repaid for the more than $100B taken from sugar in the 1970s and 1980s. He ignored the almost $35B (almost $10B since 2015) sugar brought into the consolidated fund from the EU as earnings from the sugar protocol. He ignored SUGAR’s expenditure on drainage and irrigation and on recreation, housing, water, street developments and health. Sugar did not get a handout under the PPP or under APNU+AFC. His attack on SUGAR was reprehensible, repugnant and an absolute betrayal from someone who persuaded sugar workers before 2015 that he was one of their champions. This is a man who promised sugar workers a 20% increase, no sugar estate would be closed and in its time of difficulty he would ensure that his government provides repayments to GUYSUCO to help it cope with its difficulties. Now that some of those sugar workers took him at his word and gave him and APNU+AFC a chance to govern, he blames them for his incompetence and his cluelessness. The call for Ramjattan’s resignation is justifiable. SUGAR is innocent and has nothing to do

with what happened at Camp Street yesterday Ramjattan did not mention APNU+AFC has been collecting more in taxes than ever before because of 200 additional taxes. He did not mention the savings they got from denying pensioners the water and electricity subsidies and the children their $10,000 per year per child grant. Ramjattan did not mention the more than $3B annual subsidy for electricity that go to Linden annually. In fact, when Government in 2012 wanted to reduce that subsidy to increase expenditure for improving electricity supply around the country, he himself was a part of the agitators that caused the deadly Linden protest. SUGAR is responsible for floods, spiraling crime, APNU+AFC’s breaking their promise to public servants for wage and salary increases. Now the calamity at Camp Street Prison is because of SUGAR. Ramjattan disgraced and humiliated himself even as the security forces, including the prison officers, police and firemen, were heroically saving lives of prisoners and protecting people. Given the magnitude of the fire and the threat of prisoners on the loose, the security forces must be commended for the herculean task of rescuing

and gathering the prisoners and at the same time preventing the fire from engulfing civilian buildings in the neighborhood. Their professionalism and efficiency were in stark contrast to the ineptitude displayed by their political leadership. It took the President almost eight hours to make a statement, by which time the prison buildings were already razed to the ground and fear stalked the land. The Prime Minister, the Attorney General and others were conspicuous by their absence. Whatever happen in the aftermath of the July 2017 Camp Street Prison fire, including the inevitable COI, Ramjattan’s leadership was palpably weak, flawed, incompetent and egregious, He disgraced and humiliated himself. He was absolutely clueless, flailing like a beached whale, desperate, hopeless and clutching at a straw. If it were left to the Guyanese people, he would be dumped now. There could not be a greater reason for resignation than another deadly fire at the Camp Street Prison so soon. David Granger and his PNC and APNU colleagues when they were in Opposition demanded the resignation of Clement Rohee for a deadly protest that APNU and AFC started and stirred. Worst yet,

the most vocal person that called for Rohee’s resignation, not just for the deadly Linden protest, but for every road fatality, was Ramjattan. If the cap fits you, wear it. The cap fits Ramjattan. If he applies the standards he passionately advocated for Rohee, he will RESIGN now. But President Granger in justifying the enormous pay rise early in their tenure argued that it was needed to prevent corruption and to recruit the most competent Cabinet, He had promised people that Ministers who proved incompetent and unable to efficiently administer their sector would be dismissed. Granger has been AWOL, missing in action, as corruption swamps his administration and as incompetence bedevil our country bringing agony to people everywhere. Granger must act on behalf of the people. We are certain that he will appoint another COI, costing more money and occupying the time of people, money and time wasted. The COI will not be in the interest of the Guyanese people, but another excuse for a payday for friends and family. What he needs to do is fire Ramjattan. He fired Roopnarine for much less. What will it take for him to let Ramjattan go? Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

I insist the faults are in politics not the constitution DEAR EDITOR, I am a proponent for respecting the Guyana Constitution and making it work. Civilised societies cannot operate without laws and an examination of the constitution, inspite of its imperfection, should it be upheld allows for better governance of the people’s business. Article 119A makes provision for the establishment of a Parliamentary Standing Committee to continuously review the constitution effectiveness, making periodic report to the National Assembly, and where necessary proposals for reform. This committee must be allowed to do its work and its role respected. I have made this point several times before and its converges with Anil Nandlall’s call ( SN 9th July Why the need for a Constitutional Reform Commission when there is a Parliamentary Standing Committee for Constitutional Reform?”). This is one of the sore issues I have with those who are talking

about constitutional reform without taking time to recognise, understand and enforce what is in this instrument. Where Nandlall and I part company, is that though he recognises what is required of the Standing Committee of which he was a member in the 10th Parliament and sits as a member in this 11th Parliament, he didn’t do and isn’t doing anything to make the committee work. It was the PPP and WPA who have socialised the society to despise the Constitution and both of them made it part of their political and campaign platform to either discard or overhaul. In the 10th Parliament then Leader of the Opposition David Granger was the Committee’s chair. On this

committee Nandlall represented the PPP/C’s interest and since that party had executive authority and the committee was non-functioning he had a responsibility to his party, its constituents, and the Constitution to ensure the committee commenced its work. The same principle applies in this Parliament where Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams is chair of the committee. Having made public what he knows is correct Nandlall must now demonstrate respect for the constitution and the constituents he was elected to represent by ensur-

ing the committee does its work. For the WPA, it was presented a leading opportunity to make Article 119A work. Their co-leader Rupert Roopnarine was prime ministerial candidate of the APNU which along with the AFC in the 10th Parliament comprised the legislative majority. The failure by Roopnarine to perform this duty is an indictment on the party and what it has always lead society to believe it has abiding interest in constitutional reform. The WPA may be inclined to excuse its action by saying (Continued on page 6)

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Let’s build a new Guyana for all of us DEAR EDITOR, There is a famous quote that says “it takes a spark to set the forest on fire.” In remembering this quote, I can only recall that the ethnic fighting in our dear country erupted after some report that an “Indian” had killed a “Black”. The eruption was easy because the distrust among and between these two ethnic groups were at a boiling point. Are we preparing the ground for another ethnic conflict? My prayer is that we will learn from our past and do all in our power to build bridges of social cohesion among our people. Former Chairman of Region 10 Solomon Sharma wrote an interesting article about the anniversary of the “Sun Chapman.” It’s a sad part of our history when innocent lives were lost due to evil. Ravi Dev added to this piece by pointing out that Solomon left out the part of the history of Linden when he either failed to or disregard the casualty of the “Indian” before and after the Sun Chapman incidence. Very interesting! Sase Singh wrote a very informative letter in respect to the appointment of Permanent Secretaries in the various ministries. His assertion that our current government (whether deliberately or unconsciously) appointed 17 of the 18 from the “African” community. This is not new in our country. I am reminded of Dr. Luncheon statement, when he reported that no “African” Guyanese was qualified to hold ambassadorship position in the last government. The question is, “where do we go from here?” I would like to touch on the ethnic problem in our country. I will repeat what Prime Minister Nagamootoo

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Kaieteur News

stated in the last election campaign, for which he was roundly condemned by the previous government. He stated that he is not “Indian”. I responded to his statement with a letter to the press, full supporting the Prime Minister’s statement. None of us who were born in Guyana are “Indians” or “Africans”. To be Indian or African is not an ethnic group. We are Guyanese of different ethnic group. People of every ethnic group on the earth were born in what is Africa today. Does this means that they are all “Blacks?” No, but they are qualified to be called “African” because they were born on that continent. Similarly, in India people of different ethnic groups were born there today, and that qualifies them to be called Indian. So the nationality of someone born in India or in Africa makes those people “Indian” and “African” respectively. But in Africa, their nationality is not only African, but Nigerian, Libyan, Ghanian, and so on. In Guyana, we are neither “Indian’ nor “African.” We are Guyanese by nationality. In Africa, the Blacks can be from the ethnic group of Yoruba, Ibo, Zulu and so on. In Guyana, some of our ancestry came from these ethnic groups. So a Guyanese whose ancestry came from the great continent of Africa is either a Yoruba, an Ibo or any of the many ethnic groups in that continent. You are not “African”. Your roots came from Africa, but you are not African, you are Guyanese of African descent belonging to the ethnic group of Yoruba, Ibo or another ethnic group. Similarly, our ancestors who came from India also have different ethnic group. The major groups in Guyana are the Dravidian and the Aryan.

We have heard of the Madras culture where they celebrate the dead with music and dancing. Yet we call them “Indian”. What about the other “Indians” in Guyana who weep and mourn for the dead? Are they not all from Indian ancestry? Yes, but they have different ethnic and cultural identity. The people in Guyana need to wake up from our slumber. The country is blessed with the greatest ethnic and cultural groups in the world, and what are we doing? Instead of celebrating our great cultures with pride and joy, we seem bent on destroying each other. How long, how long, will be the cry? My recommendation is that we carry out a detail survey in two (2) predominantly “African” villages, two (2) predominantly “Indian” villages, two (2) communities of “both ethnic group”, and two (2) “Amerindian” villages. Let us find out what these communities need to make our country move forward. Our researchers must compile the findings of these surveys and then propose new measures to launch a “New” Guyana. We can use the information from the survey to write a “New” Constitution and begin the process of building our people rather than tearing us apart. The funds for this project should come from our business community, the government and other interested parties. We can then use some of our students from the University of Guyana to work with our researchers to get this done. Let us put our hands to the plough and build a “New” Guyana for our Children and Grandchildren, and let us begin to celebrate our different ethnic groups and its rich cultures with pomp and glory. Charles Sugrim

No need for a Constitutional Reform Commission by way of ordinary law DEAR EDITOR, Almost every day before the Constitutional Court, the Attorney General advances the outmoded and the constitutionally heretic contention that the President’s actions and decisions are beyond judicial review or inquiry and cannot be challenged in any court of law. This argument was roundly rejected by the Privy Council only a few weeks ago and has been authoritatively destroyed by the Guyana Court of Appeal over fifteen years ago. Yet, the Attorney General laboriously persists with it. Such an anachronistic posture does not come from the legal advisor of a Government that has any intention of reducing Executive or Presidential powers. The Government was boxed in a corner last February, when a United Nations team visited Guyana to review the state of constitutional reform in the country. The Government was forced to give a commitment to accelerate the process. This was followed by a similar intervention from the Carter Center in collaboration with the United Kingdom (UK), in A p r i l t h i s y e a r. M a s s a cracked his whip. The Coalition Government could no longer dither. It is this, which has catapulted the Prime Minister, who has a lot of time on his hands, into action. Ever since, he has inundated the press with “updates” on the constitutional reform process. Over the past few weeks, “the process” has moved into overdrive. Two weeks ago the nation was informed by the Office of the Prime Minister that a “Constitutional

Reform Commission Bill” will soon be tabled in the Parliament. In an interview with the press, I pointed out that the establishment of such a Commission is both unnecessary and superfluous, since we have had a Parliamentary Standing Committee for Constitutional Reform established by the Constitution, our supreme law, since 2001. The mandate of this Committee is to continually review “the effectiveness of the working of the Constitution and making period reports thereon to the Assembly, with proposals for reform as necessary.” To assist it in its work, “the committee shall have the power to co-opt experts or enlist the aid of other persons of appropriate expertise, whether or not such experts or other persons are members of the National Assembly.” [See Article 119 (A) of the Constitution]. It begs the question, therefore: why the need for a Constitutional Reform Commission by ordinary law, in the face of Article 119 (A) of the Constitution? This Article confers the Committee it created with a very encompassing mandate. Is this another opportunity to waste millions of taxpayers’ dollars and to provide jobs for political sinecures? The idea for the establishment of such a Commission by statute, may misguidedly owe its genesis to the Constitutional Reform Act of 1999, which established a similar Commission. This idea, however, is otiose, because in 1999, we did not have Article 119 (A) of the Constitution. In fact, Article 119 (A) is a prod-

uct of the Constitution Reform Commission of 19992001. The clear intention was to avoid the establishment of another ad hoc CRC, but instead, to have one of permanence. Earlier this week, in a media release, the Prime Minister announced that the Government took a decision that “the Constitutional Reform and Consultative Bill will be laid in the National Assembly before the Parliamentary recess in August.” You will note that the word “Commission” is now absent from the title of the Bill. One can only hope that my observations were taken on board. However, I now have another query: why is a Bill necessary for constitutional reform? A Bill was required in 1999, because we did not have Article 119 (a) of the Constitution. All that is needed now is for a set of Terms of Reference to be crafted and handed to the Standing Committee on Constitutional Reform. That Committee has a mandate to call in-aid additional staff and to co-opt any number of experts it may deem necessary in the discharge of its responsibilities. Clearly, it would have the power to hold public consultations under existing Standing Orders, both within and without the precincts of the Parliament. This proposed Bill, therefore, is another pappy show and publicity gimmick. This Bill is wholly unnecessary. It may be enacted but will constitute another colossal wastage of scarce public monies. The process is going nowhere in the near future. Anil Nandlall

I insist the faults are in politics not the constitution From page 5 that it is part of a coalition and was constrained by the decision of the collective. Let them be reminded that constitutional reform has been one of its consistent messages since 1980. The AFC who was part of the opposition majority in the 10th Parliament had too campaigned about constitutional reform yet did nothing to ensure the Committee was doing its work. This party is in the Executive and the majority in the Parliament but to-

day the rather than enforce Article 119A the party is violating the article through extra- constitutional measures. For the PNC while under Desmond Hoyte’s leadership it pushed for and achieved constitutional reform, when the opportunity was presented to head the Standing Committee in 2011, the party failed in its responsibility to make sure that bills and motions consistent with the amendments were brought to the Parliament for deliberations. There remain

outstanding amendments from the 1999 Constitutional Reform process that are languishing somewhere. These too must now be brought before the Parliament in the form of bills. Society is being implored on to recognise that on matters of the Constitution and many spheres of governance the politicians are in their best element talking the talk and not walking the walk. There was recent cause to remind Clement Rohee and

Henry Jeffrey of similar failure on their part in upholding the Constitution and passing legislation to operationalise the intent of the articles ensconced therein when they were in the Executive and had legislative majority. This instance reinforces my argument that it is not the Guyana Constitution that is bad but the failure of the political leadership to respect it and the wider society to hold them accountable for this contempt. Lincoln Lewis

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Air, ground patrols to boost security at Lusignan - Govt. announces emergency plan to house displaced prisoners, restore normalcy In the aftermath of Georgetown Prison riot, the Government has approved the immediate implementation of a fourpart emergency plan, which includes the construction of temporary structures to house the displaced prisoners in the short term; the completion of a recovery operation to account for and accommodate every single prisoner; implementation of legal measures to immediately reduce the prison population and, importantly, the immediate recapture of five inmates who escaped custody. This is according to President David Granger, who in an address to the nation last evening, assured citizens that the National Security Council (NSC), which held its second meeting since the incident, at Camp Ayanganna, will continue to remain engaged to coordinate and implement immediate measures to ensure that the situation remains stable and secure and that there is a return to normalcy. “The Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Prison Service and the Guyana Fire Service are working together to ensure public safety.

A manhunt is being executed, air and ground patrols are being conducted and vigilance has been heightened on roadways and at key points,” the Commander-in-Chief said in a statement. By the end of yesterday, close to 300 inmates were safely relocated to various detention facilities across the country, including at Mazaruni, New Amsterdam and Timehri. The remainder will be housed at Lusignan, where temporary facilities are currently being installed by engineers from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. Tents, in addition to portable toilets, were set up to protect inmates from the elements, while construction begins on three holding shelters, washrooms and reinforced gates. A budget of $18M has been approved to execute these works. Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr. David Patterson, who was part of the meeting, also informed that his Ministry in collaboration with the Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Prison Service will commence the process of removing debris at Camp Street and restorative works will be carried out on the brick prison

There is now increased ground and air support at Lusignan

President David Granger during the second meeting of the National Security Council, following the Camp Street Prison fire and inmate escape Sunday evening. located within the precincts of that facility. This building, which received minor damage from the fire, has the capacity to house about 250 prisoners. While these measures are being put in place, President Granger also informed that “the Government is continuing to implement the major recommendations that were made by of the Commission of Inquiry into the March 2016 prison riot. These

include the expansion of the infrastructure of the Mazaruni Prison.” Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan is appealing to citizens who might have information on the five inmates that are on the run, to come forward and cooperate with law enforcement officers. The next 72 hours, he said, will be critical in terms of implementing the four-point plan. “We should reduce the number at Lusignan from 1000 to about 450 by virtue of what we

are doing administratively and also by the process of transfers… So it is a very complex set of arrangements that we are putting in place to ensure the safety of all as well as the recapture of those who have escaped,” he said. Meanwhile, President Granger paid tribute in his address, to Prison Warden, Mr. Odinga Wickham who succumbed to his injuries Sunday evening. “I mourn the loss of Prison Warden Odinga Wickham, who

was murdered in the execution of his duties and I extend condolences to his family. We will ensure the best medical attention is given to everyone else who received injuries in the riot,” he said. He also expressed the Government’s appreciation to the security forces, who responded resolutely to the emergency under difficult circumstances, and worked through the night to contain the situation and limit the loss of life.

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Tuesday July 11, 2017

Kaieteur News

Japan donates musical instruments to Music School The Japanese Government is playing a role in the Ministry of Education’s efforts to reintroduce music to the regular schools’ curriculum. Yesterday, members of the Japan International Cooperation Agency handed over 54 music tune bells, 35 flutes and 25 Yamaha Pianicas to the National School of Music. The donations also included an electrical piano, it was disclosed. Minister of Education Nicolette Henry, on receiving the instruments, expressed the Guyana Government’s gratitude to the Japanese for the timely donation and technical support as tangible signs of bilateral relations. The donation, pegged at $1.5 million, will be further augmented by an additional handing over of 35 Pianicas to the Cyril Potter College of Education taking the total donation to a value of about $2M. Minoru Ito, during the handover ceremony, said this is part of ongoing cooperation with the Japanese

Government and Guyana. “This is to encourage the Ministry of Education to further focus on music development at the primary level. It is a pilot project that follows a project started by Guyanese classical vocalist Mr. Paul Cort,” the Japanese representative said. The aim is to train teachers who will, in turn, teach students. “Music is not only for entertainment it trains one to be sharper and improves intelligence while building or bridging the cultural divide, “according to Japanese instructor Ms. Yuko Aoki who was also at the handover ceremony. A graduate of the Master class with a master and bachelors of Music at the world cla s s J a p a n e s e University, Ms. Aoki, has been involved in music as a specialty from aged three and her overall experience spans sixty years. “Guyanese people are talented, and express the aptitude to learn once given the opportunity and

Education Minister Nicolette Henry receiving the donation from Japanese officials. from my experience being here since April, has proven that Guyanese are eager to learn music. They have a great sense of melody, harmony and symphony of songs. I

also believe that they can produce with the right guidance and support, worldclass musicians who can read, arrange and produce as well as write music. I see much potential because they adapt and learn quickly,” the Japanese Musical genius instructor said. In 2016, the Japanese Government facilitated a

music teacher completing a training stint with the National Mus i c S c h o o l . Now Ms. Aoki is on attachment at the National School of Music providing musical training to piano teachers, primary school teachers and students as well as elementary students. They are also being thought vocal training. The

most recent instruments handed over will be used to begin teaching students at CPCE on how to use the Pianicas as Primary teachers. A Pianica is a mini keyboard. Andrew Tyndall Administrator of the National School of Music sees the donation as an addition and support to the Ministry of Education’s Primary school music initiative. To him, “this initiative will see more than 161 teachers from across Guyana being trained to deliver the music curriculum. At present, through the National School Music, many are given the opportunity to complete training and to sit the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music, London. A fair amount are also afforded the opportunity to pursue certificates and diplomas through the Institute of Creative Arts music programme”. While training is always ongoing at the National School of Music during the August holiday period, teachers from regions 3 and 4 as well as Georgetown will be exposed to musical workshops. Further, there are several introductions to music children’s workshops planned for the school vacation period. Additionally, the school will host the annual Republic Bank pan minors music literacy camps which will see 135 children, aged 11-15 benefiting from an introductory steelpan course. This workshop is targeting schools that were beneficiaries of steel pans from the Ministry of Education’s Steel Band development programme.

Tuesday July 11, 2017

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

SECURITY, NOT OVERCROWDING, WAS THE PROBLEM The prison break and torching of the Georgetown Prisons was not due to overcrowding. It was due to ineffectual security. There were incidents in the past with prisoners breaking out and climbing on top of the rooftops, but large scale riots on the scale of what happened last March and last Sunday did not occur. In other words, despite the overcrowding, the prison authorities have always been able to keep the prison population in check. Security was beginning to crack. Law and order was breaking down inside the prisons. Prisoners were having cell phones. They were selling and smoking dope in their cells. A thriving underground economy had developed within the prisons. Corruption was rampant. The prison authorities were also being fingered in the illegal activities, but evidence was not being garnered to put many of them away behind bars. Corruption is widespread within prisons, and the prisoners know it. Sooner or later that corruption

corrodes security. Last March exposed the crisis in security within the Georgetown Prisons. Adding to the woes of prison security was the demoralization of staff and their fearfulness of going to work. Sunday was a disaster in the making. The intelligence within the prisons had failed. The authorities are now learning that plans for the prison break were hatched since February. Yet, the prison authorities had no wind of this plot. Instead of focusing on the need for tightened security within the Prisons, the authorities, after the tragedy of last March, sought refuge in the excuse of overcrowding. A 1.6 Billion-dollar project was inked with the IDB, and ironically was to have been launched yesterday. The project was aimed at reducing overcrowding by reducing pre-trial detention and by implementing alternative sentencing. Overcrowding was not the cause of Sunday’s prison break

and inferno. Poor security was the real cause. If there was better security that disaster would not have occurred. It was not as if the entire prison rioted. It was a small group which could not be managed by the prison authorities that led to the conflagration. Overcrowding has to be addressed. It has been a perennial problem at the Georgetown Prisons. Overcrowding of what is primarily a remand facility has been around for decade. Even though the population is shrinking and investments were made to expand the number of persons which the Prisons can hold, it still cannot keep abreast with the number of persons who are being incarcerated for crimes such as possession and use of narcotics, which was not a major problem four or five decades ago. Overcrowding will be a perennial problem in the future, unless alternative sentencing is applied more regularly by the courts, and for a greater range of offences. The prisons will continue to burst at the seams, un-

Dem boys seh ...

Buxton and Agricola don’t want no escapee Since dem prisoner bun down de jail Sunday afternoon, nuff people close dem doors and go to bed early. Last night was de same thing. During de daytime and all de place was skimpy. Nuff people didn’t come to wuk, some send home dem workers early and close dem business. Dem boys find this very strange that people can be so frighten after dem live through de crime wave of 2002-2008. If people live through that you could never have fear because that was de wuss it can get. To begin wid, Buxton ain’t tekking in nobody and Agricola don’t want

dem name call in any prison escape. Dem had dem fair share of Skinny and Fine Man dem. Jagdeo seh he not tekking in anybody although he mansion can hold half of de prison population. And de Sanata Complex that he give Babby fuh next to nutten can hold all dem prisoners in Guyana. But that ain’t happen yet. De only place prepare to tek dem is Mazaruni and Timehri. Lusignan can’t tek none. De last set wha try to move in end up in a cow pasture sleeping under tarpaulin. Some couldn’t even sleep because dem wasn’t accustom to de fresh air and de space. One prisoner

claim how he uncomfortable. He miss de lock down and de sound of dem prison bar. Rum Jattan done seh anybody who harbor dem escapee can expect to end up in de same jail or suffer de same fate. Dem mightn’t be lucky to escape de fire. SouljaBai done give de assurance that he gun protect de society. He seh he gun deal wid anybody who harbor, help or support in any way, people who escape from prison. He seh he don’t want to hear anybody give dem even a cup o’tea or a glass of water. Ta l k h a l f a n d d o n ’t frighten nutten.

less dispute settlement mechanisms are applied at the level of the police stations, so that minor offences do not have to reach the courts. But reducing overcrowding alone is not the answer. We live in a crime-infested country. People seem to steal with compulsion. Even in school, children are stealing from one another. Every week, a potential pickpocket, fraudster or larcenist is born in Guyana. Stealing and defrauding has become a feature of national life. If it were an export, Guyana would not have had a need for oil. This high level of criminality in the society means that even with measures at alternative sentencing, our prisons will still be bursting at the seams. Guyana’s incarceration rate stands at 256 per 100,000 persons. This is way above the world average of 146 per 100,000 persons.

But even with the overcrowding, the prison authorities were managing. They were under strain, but they were managing. Things fell apart last March when seventeen persons lost their lives after a prison riot over prisoners’ complaints at not seeing a boxing match. They were so accustomed to having their way that they rioted when it was clear that they would not be able to see boxing. There was no attempt on that occasion of a prison break. That incident and the subsequent takeover, a few days later, of prisoners of the kitchen of the prisons, should have forewarned the authorities that they were sitting on a ticking time bomb. They should have realized that security at the prisons was razor-thin, and unless it was boosted, the prison was likely

to be overrun. The incident last March exposed the weakness of security at the Prisons. Not only were 17 persons killed in that prison riot but even afterwards the prisoners easily took over the kitchen. What happened on Sunday was a disaster waiting to happen. Instead of building new prison quarters within that compound, the authorities should have strengthened the security. If the plan was to reduce the prison population, why build a larger facility?

PAGE 10

Tuesday July 11, 2017

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

A single act by one inhuman magistrate can endanger the entire country The Minister of Public Security has told the nation that those convicted of nonviolent crimes will be given early release. He informed us that over 500 hundred remand accused cannot meet bail. Did he know this before the Camp Street inferno? Yes he did. Did the Bar Association know about it? Yes it did. No wonder Mark Benschop has dismissed that worthless paper organization with utter contempt in a recent letter. Did the President and his Cabinet know it? Yes they did. I knew about it and I have written umpteen times about certain types of magistrates and what they were doing on

the bench. And I warned the nation about these magistrates. Let me move on, before I am accused of boasting. The Indian Arrival Committee is now calling for speedy trials. As the days unfold, I am asking readers to start counting those who will jump on the bandwagon to denounce excessive bail for petty crimes and excessive jail for silly misdemeanours. It is a sad reflection of a dead country. This country had to wait until Guyana endured what no other country in the world has seen – the riotous burning down of the central prison - before it realized that

poor, disadvantaged people were being savagely treated by the courts. The talk among Guyanese is the expression of fear about where the escapees are. People are advising others to be careful and not to stay out late in the evenings. But here is the thing. Even if death row inmates did not plan the horror show on Sunday afternoon, who says petty criminals, frustrated at their mistreatment by magistrates, and with suicidal tendencies, would not have contemplated similar action? What the judicial system is doing had to lead to chaos. You do not take parents’ children and lock them away for four years for two marijuana cigarettes. You do not put a father on $80,000 bail because he threw oil in his neighbour’s yard. You do not put two female security guards on

$80,000 bail for a fistic encounter. Those people unable to meet high bail, go on remand, meet hardened criminals, and become contaminated. Or they become victims of prison riots and die. How could any President or Prime Minister or Home Affairs Minister watch at these judicial bestialities and stay silent? A country does not jail an 18-year-old girl for six months for leaving her country illegally. As I write this column, many must be doing what she was jailed for – crossing the Corentyne into Suriname on a speedboat. Thousands must have made the Suriname entry since that teen was jailed four years ago. A country does not jail young men for three years for the mere possession of a smoking utensil. I know of six such cases. Why haven’t our ruling

politicians spoken up on these morbid manifestations of injustice? The PPP leaders are behaving as if they are different from the present incompetent government we have. Someone told me Leslie Ramsammy wrote on Facebook that he is praying for his country. Where were his prayers when the teen was jailed for 6 months for illegally crossing over into Suriname by a Berbice magistrate when he was a Minister? It was under the government of which Leslie Ramsammy was a minister, when youths were being jailed for two grams of marijuana. It was under Leslie Ramsammy’s government that a father of five little children committed suicide after he was charged for holding a dance in Mahaicony and not declaring his profits to the GRA. That man has left five children who may grow up to be angry youths. This columnist knows of billionaires who cheated the GRA of hundreds of millions under Khurshid Sattaur. If I reveal this information, I am sure to get myself and this paper in both legal and physi-

Frederick Kissoon cal danger. President Granger has established a neat separation between the personal and the political. In reacting to what Minister Bulkan wrote about the Chronicle, he said the Minister was offering his personal opinion and it wasn’t an attack on the Chronicle by a serving Cabinet member. This is a moral position that may have some strength in it. After all, ministers are humans too, with personal viewpoints. But if a minister can proffer a remark in his/her personal capacity on what he/she sees as a professional mistake by the state, why can’t the President, the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers comment in their personal capacities on some of the bizarre, inhuman decisions that take place in the magistrate courts?

Tuesday July 11, 2017

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

Data cleansing needed at GRA …766 delinquent taxpayers not filing returns As 766 taxpayers remain delinquent by failing to file their tax returns, the Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority has said that there is need for data cleansing within the institution. That number is the revised amount following a previous report of there being 1,509 taxpayers registered with GRA who failed to file returns. according to the Report of the Auditor General for the year 2015. The Auditor General’s office had recommended that the Department put systems in place to en-

sure that taxpayers comply fully with the requirements of the Value A d d e d Ta x ( VAT ) A c t concerning the filing of returns. According to information provided to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday by officials of the GRA, the recorded 1,509 included persons that were de-registered and those pending de-registration from GRA. Based on steps t a k e n to have the defaulting taxpayers file their returns promptly and comply with the requirements of the VAT Act, it was said that a letter of

demand is usually sent to the various persons asking for the submission of the returns. Failure to do this, legal action is instituted against the defaulting taxpayer. Further, the CommissionerGeneral confirmed that the new figure is the updated position as of yesterday. However, he could not agree th a t t h e 1 , 5 0 9 which was reported at the time of the 2015 figure was correct to begin with. His reason for taking this position is that the Total Revenue Integrated Processing System (TRIPS) system used by GRA is riddled with errors.

Disengagement not on the table for now - WPA While the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) remains peeved as a result of many of the actions and decisions made by the government, including the renting of $500,000 homes for ministers, the party is not considering leaving A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). At least this is what was told to the media at WPA’s most recent press conference held at its Queenstown head office. WPA executive member, Dr. David Hinds said that the party is taking things one step at a time and is looking at this stage to sort out its differences with the coalition. He told the media that while he is aware that the WPA does not generate many votes, he still thinks that it makes a valuable contribution to the coalition and as such would not want

to withdraw. “We do not want to undermine the coalition.” Among the contributions that the WPA can make, according to Dr. Hinds, is the formulation of a manifesto “we know how to do that good.” “We do not want to go to the point of disengagement. We are firmly committed to making this government work, because we have been in the trenches for 40odd years trying to bring about change, and we feel that the present government has a unique opportunity to bring about some semblance of change in this country. We have worked hard to pull this government into power and we do not want to bring the government down. That is not part of our calculation. What we want is to be meaningfully engaged.”

At a previous press conference, Dr. Hinds told the media, “There are some who believe that we have erred on the side of support for government and others who feel that we have been balanced. For us it is not an easy task, we have always championed coalition government from the time of Dr. Walter Rodney who put a lot of effort into something that we called a government for national unity and reconstruction. We had put that out in 1979. So therefore we have been the party of coalition and we do not want to be the party that kills a coalition.” A meeting is scheduled later this month with all five parties that stand as part of APNU. The WPA said that it will be sure to highlight a majority of its concerns at that forum.

He said that if reports are taken from the system, a lot of errors would be recorded. As such, the GRA boss said that there needed to be some reconciliation with what has been transpiring in the TRIPS system and what is being done manually. The TRIPS system is a computerised system being used by GRA since 2007. Statia was asked if the reconciliation could not have been done at the time of the audit. He said that it should have been addressed. Statia said that there were a number of issues which needed to be addressed prior to the report being done, that were not dealt with. He said that he was aghast when he realised that a number of issues were not addressed. Statia became the head of GRA in July 2016. He said that if corrective actions were taken, these errors would not have found their way into the Auditor

General’s report. He said that the TRIPS system will continue to be riddled with errors until it is fixed. Further, he said that his team has endeavoured that there will not be a reoccurrence this year. Statia said that when he took office as Commissioner-General, he immediately summoned the Crown Agents responsible for the TRIPS system. He said that what was found was that the Crown Agents were looking at TRIPS in an a l l - e n c o m p a s s i n g w a y. According to Statia, the GRA prefers the system to be implemented by module. Statia said that if this was done, VAT, Customs and certain parts of internal revenue would have been working well. H o w e v e r, h e s a i d t h a t the agents were instead working to ‘turn-up’ all the systems simultaneously. He said that instruc-

tions were then given to cease and to be provided with a timeline of the modules being ‘turned-up’. He said that when this was done, the GRA prioritised which module should be implemented first. It was found that the internal revenue modules made more sense to implement first. Hence, attention was placed on the internal revenues which enable the GRA to do operations such as E-filing and adequately look at assessments of returns. He said that in the case of VAT, there are less than 4000 persons of which close to 1000 should have been de-registered. Statia said that it was decided that the manual system would have worked best in conjunction with what TRIPS had to offer. As a result, TRIPS is now moving to a place where it should be, Statia said.

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Tuesday July 11, 2017

Kaieteur News

UG’s procurement system neglected for years - persons accepting appointments to build résumés – Vice Chancellor The University of Guyana’s [UG] procurement system has been neglected for years. This has been the deduction of Professor Ivelaw Griffith, who just over a year ago accepted the post of Principal and Vice Chancellor of the institution. Professor Griffith said that having recognized the dilemma, deliberate remedial efforts were engaged. “We were only last year October able to hire a procurement officer, but he has already left,” the Vice Chancellor revealed. The appointed Procurement Officer parted ways with the university early last month, reportedly for an appointment at the InterAmerican Development Bank [IDB]. The Vice Chancellor claims to have a clear understanding why this has happened. “Partly because of the low salaries at this university, both on the teaching and administrative side, we have difficulty recruiting people,” he

confessed, even as he added, “we are looking for a Civil Engineer, we are looking for an Attorney, we have been looking for a Chief Accountant for four years.” He continued, “There are a number of things that have impeded efficiency and effectiveness and quality of service to students, it is going to take money to get it right, and I make no apologies…If we don’t pay people we are going to get them for the wrong reasons. They are going to come and spend a year, build their résumés, and they are going to move on; it is already happening.” But fixing the long neglected procurement system is especially important if the university is to prove it can properly spend its finances. Vice Chancellor Griffith has moreover noted that although the move to hire a Procurement Officer was a step forward, the departure of the officer has yet left the university in a quandary. And this

dilemma, according to Professor Griffith, has been recognized by Government. Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr. David Patterson, during a visit to the Turkeyen Campus made this observation. “Minister Patterson spent about two hours, then we walked the campus and he said ‘Vice Chancellor your problems are much bigger than I thought.’ He said to me ‘I saw that you asked for $5 billion from government’. He asked [too] ‘Vice Chancellor if you get that, can you spend it?” recalled Professor Griffith. “The Minister was asking a correct question…because for me to be able to make a case next year to the government that I want more money, I have to be able to show them that I was able to spend some of what I got before, and if we don’t have a procurement unit, then we have a problem,” the Vice Chancellor explained. According to him, there are a number of things that need troubleshooting to en-

sure the efficiency of the university. In fact, he made reference to a World Bank project that was languishing as he added, “You don’t want to know the millions of issues, people ask ‘Ivelaw, how do you stay sane?’ So the critics from the outside don’t know the half of it.” In recognition of his challenges, Professor Griffith said, “I brought seven ministers to this campus and said help us.” Professor Griffith last year proposed to Government that in order realize a modernized university, there was a need for subvention of $5.2 billion from the 2017 budget. Government had however

approved $2.9 billion for the University. This was despite the Vice Chancellor’s explanation that a large portion of the money would be used to pay higher salaries to both foreign and local academic staff. In fact, he had underscored that to improve the university’s credibility, more foreign staff would have to be hired to perform functions which cannot be taken up by locals owing to the lack of skill sets required. “It’s not always something that colleagues like to hear… Some of the staff we are going to need to hire both on the academic and on the administrative side will need to come from outside Guyana. We will need to attract people

from outside that have got skills that we need that are not readily available here,” he explained. The funds, he had proposed too, would have been used to improve the laboratory, support overseas travel for lecturers to present papers at international conferences, development of a new library, a new centre for communication studies, fencing of the campus to prevent animals from roaming, the purchase of a tractor, and to improve lighting. Further, he had highlighted the need for the institution to hire its own attorney to take care of all its legal aspects, such as labour issues and intellectual property rights.

Decision in Arjoon/NBS court case further deferred Amidst much anticipation, the ruling in the matter involving former Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) of the New Building Society Limited (NBS), Maurice Arjoon over wrongful termination was again deferred to another date. The matter was set for decision at 11:30 hours yesterday before Justice Brassington Reynolds at the Georgetown High Court. However, Kaieteur News learnt that the matter was again postponed to a later date, after lawyers involved in the case agreed to this. The ruling is now set for July 17 at 13:30 hours before Justice Brassington Reynolds. The decision will be handed down after some six years, eight months in the Court. A new date was announced last month after concerns were raised over the length of time which had passed since initial date was set for decision in the highly

Former NBS CEO, Maurice Arjoon publicized court case. The genesis of Arjoon’s case dates back to 2007 when he was accused of conspiracy to defraud the NBS of $69M. He was charged along with Kissoon Baldeo (Assistant Mortgage Manager) and Kent Vincent (Operations Man-

ager). They had faced a trial in the Magistrates’ Court. But Arjoon had claimed that he was framed after he refused to illegally endorse the lending of $2B, in 2006. The matter was later dismissed for lack of evidence. But in 2011, Arjoon of 1-2 La Fleur Road, Eccles filed a lawsuit in the High Court against the financial institution, noting that he was on the verge of retiring when the charges were instituted and he was dismissed from NBS, losing his pension and other benefits. The former CEO had therefore sued the financial institution for wrongful dismissal and for withholding of Pension. Additionally a report prepared by the Office of the Ombudsman, concluded in November 2014, stated that the police wrongfully charged the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the two other managers for the $69M fraud at the New Building Society, in 2006.

Tuesday July 11, 2017

Kaieteur News

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PAGE 22

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Tuesday July 11, 2017

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday July 11, 2017

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Kaieteur News

$300M-plus contract awarded to provide Flood-affected Pomeroon communities receive utility poles for housing schemes A contract totalling over $300M was awarded to several contractors for the procurement of poles and timber products to be used in various housing schemes across Guyana. This was disclosed by

the State Minister Joseph Harmon, last week during the weekly post-Cabinet Press Briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency, Georgetown. Harmon said that the poles and timber products

will be installed in an aim to provide electricity to the housing developments. The contract was divided into several parts called “lots”. Each lot represents a specific location or loca-

tions, where the supplies will be installed. (See the accompanying table on the project description, the company that was awarded the contract, and the contract sum (amount):

A contract in the sum of $74,035,000 was awarded to Gaico Construction and General Services for the construction of a singlelane roundabout at Timehri, East Bank Demerara. Also, a $17,149,000 contract was awarded to AAV Raghubeer General Construction for the extension and

rehabilitation of the Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) Regional Administrative Building. F u r t h e r, for the procurement of vehicles for the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) and the National Anti-Narcotic Agency (NANA), one 30-seater

bus, one pick-up, one Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and one motor car, a contract in the sum of $39,244,000 awarded to Massy Industries Guyana Limited. Finally, a contract in the sum $72,059,000, was awarded to Massy Te c h n o l o g i e s f o r t h e supply and installation of Closed-Circuit Television

(CCTV) cameras and accessories for 24 tower sites. The procuring entity is the Ministry of Public Telecommunications. The money for the CCTV cameras and the accessories is being spent from the $314M that was allocated to the E-Governance Project for this year.

$80,000 bail for man who allegedly stabbed spouse over doctor’s fee request A businessman who was charged with wounding his spouse was yesterday placed on $80,000 bail when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman. Fifty-two-year-old Barton Mackenzie of Lot 465 North East La Penitence pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on July 6 at North East La Penitence, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Andrea Brummell. Police Prosecutor

Shawn Gonsalves told the court that the defendant (Mackenzie) and the virtual complainant (Brummell) are known to each other for a period of seven months. The prosecutor objected to bail being granted to the defendant citing the serious nature of the offence and the penalty the charge attracts. Prosecutor Gonsalves told the court that the victim is hospitalized at the Woodlands Hospital in a critical condition and is scheduled for surgery.

The court heard that the victim received several puncture wounds to her legs and buttocks. The defendant’s attorney told the court that his client is the proprietor of a motorcycle shop and has no prior matter in any other court. The lawyer went on to tell the court that the victim is not aware of what transpired on the day in question, and for that reason bail should be granted to his client. The lawyer added that his

client was hit several times to his left temple with a hammer and he received puncture wounds to both hands. The magistrate told Mackenzie that the condition for bail is that he must stay away from Brummell until the completion of the trial. According to reports, Brummell was stabbed and beaten after she asked her spouse to borrow $3000 to visit the doctor. Mackenzie will make his next court appearance on July 24.

cleaning supplies, tools Sanitation packages and equipment were distributed to the flood-affected, riverain communities of Martindale, Hackney, Aberdeen, and Friendship along the Pomeroon River, Region Two. Over the weekend, Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, Minister of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings and Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix visited residents in the aftermath of the recent flood. “The Ministers listened to the issues raised by the residents and distributed supplies of Jeyes Fluid, Marvex bleach, drugs, mosquito nets, health awareness pamphlets, wheel barrows, long boots and shovels, among agricultural tools.” Several residents explained that the flooding was due to a recent tropical storm having an effect on the Pomeroon River, raising the water by approximately two and a half feet. One resident of Martindale, Trevor Coziar said this storm coupled with the mouth of the Pomeroon River being heavily silted caused the floods in the various communities in the area. Other residents highlighted the urgent need for canals to be dug and cleared, while others spoke of the need for assistance with their inundated farm lands among others. Minister Bulkan, in response to the residents’ concerns, promised and committed to facilitate immediate relief. The Minister explained that government is not oblivious to the issues and challenges affecting the residents in the communities and based on earlier discussions, addressing the issue of the Pomeroon River is a priority one. “If we are to bring about meaningful and early relief to the challenges and issues then it means that the dredging at the mouth of this river has to be a priority.” The Minister also noted that measures will be taken to address the other issues in a timely manner. Regarding the health issues raised, Minister Cummings emphasised that the government acknowledges the importance of health and will continue to upgrade the health facilities in the region. She indicated that before the year ends, some upgrades will be added to the health facilities there. “We’re going to have 50 medics graduating in November, we’re having more doc-

tors, very soon and in this quarter, I’ll make sure we have a medical outreach here, the dentist and ophthalmologist who deals with the eyes will be here. So at least in this quarter you will get services you weren’t getting in the last quarter and maybe years,” Minister Dr. Cummings explained. Meanwhile, Minister Felix urged the residents to ensure that their children are registered within one year after birth. He explained that after one year the registration process becomes more tedious and leads to many persons being unregistered for most of their lives. “Just recently we discovered that persons in their 50s are now being registered for the first time in their lives. So, parents please register your children, even if they weren’t born in Venezuela or the father is not there. Every other step could be completed after the registration is done,” Minister Felix emphasised. The Department of Public Information (DPI) spoke with several residents who responded to government’s assistance. Tracy De Costa, a Community Health Worker at the Hackney Health Centre, told DPI she is grateful that the health centre will now be able to better serve the residents. “I want to say thank you for these stuff that you have brought for us; the ORS (Oral rehydration solutions), Ibuprofen, gloves and the tablets for treating our water and making the community safe.” Ann James, another resident of Hackney Canal noted that this is the first Ministerial visit to her community and she is grateful for the assistance provided. “No minister never visited us, this is the first time and we are much thankful and grateful for this government…I feel proud of everything that they brought for us and what more we may ask and they will do for us.” Other issues raised during the visit included the need for Information Communication Technology (ICT) hubs in the area for students to have access to internet, the issue of land titling, and issues of cooperatives. Minister Bulkan assured that these issues will be forwarded to the relevant Ministers on his return to Georgetown.

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Tuesday July 11, 2017

Kaieteur News

Bermuda nationals jailed in UK over drugs plot HULL, CMC — Two Bermudian nationals living in Britain have been jailed in this northern port city after police discovered a plot to smuggle more than US$30,000 worth of cocaine into England.

Drugs mule Sharnell Simmons arrived in Hull on a ferry from the Netherlands in August last year, with two packages of cocaine glued to the insoles of her shoes, Hull Crown Court heard.

But Simmons, who worked as a cleaner at the ferry terminal, panicked while waiting in the arrivals lounge and tried to hide the drugs on a table, while her accomplice, Kyle Lightbourne, who trav-

elled with her, tried to distract staff by talking to them. Lightbourne, 36, was jailed for six years, while Simmo n s , 4 1 , w a s s e n tenced to three years’ imprisonment after both

pleaded guilty. The court heard that although both had family contacts in their native Bermuda, they met in England. Lightbourne had “pressured” Simmons, a former pub singer, into carrying the drugs with the promise of helping her nephew, who had become “embroiled in gang culture in Bermuda”. Lightbourne had moved to Britain three years earlier to look after his teenage son, a member of English Premier League club Stoke City’s football academy, because the boy’s mother had moved back to Bermuda after her brother’s murder. Prosecutor Richard Thompson said: “They arrived in the port of Hull from Rotterdam by ferry. Having proceeded to passport control, they were asked to wait while other passengers disembarked so that passport and nationality tests could be completed and their luggage searched. “In the arrivals area, it was apparent, the Crown say, from that point they were likely to be searched, so Ms Simmons set about seeking to dispose of the drugs concealed by the insoles of the shoes she was wearing. “Initially, she went to use the toilet, but she was followed by an alert member of

Border Agency staff. Once back in the waiting area, CCTV footage shows her removing her shoes, leaning over a headrest to a table behind her, and clearly disposing of something on that table underneath tourist information leaflets.” Lightbourne also tried to cover the drugs with leaflets and then spoke to Border Agency staff as a distraction. Thompson said: “Checks were carried out in relation to their identity, and they were about to be allowed to proceed when a member of staff cleaning the arrivals hall discovered two packages concealed under a pile of leaflets, so the two defendants were arrested.” The two packages had a combined weight of 307 grams, were of more than 50 per cent purity, and had an estimated street value of approximately US$31,500. Simmons had no previous convictions. Lightbourne – not to be confused with the 48-year-old Bermudian footballer of the same name who played professionally in England — had none in Britain, but had two convictions for possessing cannabis in Bermuda, and one for possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

Tuesday July 11, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Ceasefire brokered by US and Russia begins in Syria (CNN) A ceasefire brokered by the US, Russia and Jordan went into effect Sunday in southwest Syria as part of an agreement hailed as a precursor to greater cooperation between Russia and the US over the war-ravaged

country. The plan was announced Friday at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, after a meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

The leaders also agreed to establish three de-escalation zones in Syria. Russian military police, coordinating with the US and Jordan, will initially ensure security around the de-escalation zone, officials said.

The ceasefire affects the regions of Deraa and Suweida, along the Jordanian border, as well as Quneitra, near borders with Lebanon and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The areas in southern Syria will be the first

in which the US is party to a de-escalation zone. White House National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said in a statement Saturday that such de-escalation zones are a US priority. “The United States re-

mains committed to defeating ISIS, helping to end the conflict in Syria, reducing suffering, and enabling people to return to their homes,” he said. “This agreement is an important step toward these common goals.”

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Tuesday July 11, 2017

Tuesday July 11, 2017

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Marcellin takes St Lucia to title; Barbados, Dominica shine CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – Lifted by victories by Boxer-of-the-Tournament, Lyndell “The Russian” Marcellin and Nathan “Furious” Ferrari on the final night of competition, hosts St Lucia took overall honours as the Creole Boxing Championship wrapped up at the Beausejour Indoor facility here Saturday night. St Lucia ended with 19 points, followed by Dominica with 14 points while Martinique finished with 10 and Guadeloupe, six. Barbados, one of five teams invited to the tournament, amassed 21 points

while Antigua and Barbuda chalked up 15, St Maarten, five and St Vincent and the Grenadines, four. Trinidad and Tobago managed two points. Mar c e l l i n w a s a l s o named Best Senior Boxer while Antiguan Amos Speide was voted Best Junior and Andy Nordene of Martinique, the Best Youth Boxer. Barbadian Kimberley Gittens was the Best Wo m a n B o x e r w h i l e Martiniquan Nathaniel Joseph copped the prize for Best Novice. On a night of finals, Marcellin won on split deci-

sion over Barbadian Jamal Edmund in a welterweight cont e s t w h i l e F e r r a r i forced the referee to stop the contest in the second round of his light welterweight encounter against Antiguan Wynton Philip. There were two walkovers when Vincentian Keithland King got the gold medal in the middleweight class after his opponent failed to show and Barbadian Charles Cox also took gold on medical grounds over Rowain Christopher of Dominica. In the heavyweight division Antiguan Yakita Aska

St Lucian Lyndell “The Russian” Marcellin. won a split decision over hometown boy Nyran David. There was also success

for Dominica and Barbados in the other bouts. In the welterweight division, Domini-

can Roderiquez Frederick won a split decision over Ludwig Charles of St Maarten, while Delroy Jno Charles beat St Lucian Jehium Papius after the referee was forced to step in and halt the heavyweight encounter. Barbados, meanwhile, tasted success through Gittens who snatched a split decision over Hammoni Meriot of Guadeloupe in a welterweight match up; Jabali Breedy, who beat Keshan Jacoby-Koaly of Guadeloupe in a lightweight contest also on split decision; and Ajayi Jones who took honours over Dominican Simon Joseph after the referee stepped into to stop the bantamweight bout.

Guyana face Windward Islands at... Tuesday July 11, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You should make special plans for you and your lover. Problems with gas, oil, or water in your home may disrupt your routine. Unique forms of entertainment could capture your attention and bring about a romantic interest. TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) You may be tom between two possibilities. This has left you in a confused and uncertain state. Pleasure trips will be emotionally favorable. You can make money if you concentrate on producing services or goods that will make domestic chores easier. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Don't be too quick to judge others. You need time to make things better. A need to express yourself may come out in creative ways. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Make plans to do the things you enjoy. You will need to spend extra time sorting through your work. Don't put your professional reputation on the line. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You can accomplish a lot if you work out of your home today. Communicate with relatives who may need advice in order to find solutions to their existing problems. You will be able to work with fine detail today. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You can make new connections if you play your cards right. You are in a high energy, get it all done, mood and you'll have little patience with those who are slacking off. Take precautions while traveling; you don't have to get anywhere that fast.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your communication skills will bring you popularity and increased self esteem. Any difficulties with peers could be unnerving. You must follow your desires and dreams. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You will find travel and lectures most stimulating. Don't make financial contributions in order to impress others. Groups you belong to will not only enjoy your company, but they will also share your interests. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Use your creative talent in order to accomplish your goals. Make any decisions you have to in order to avoid feeling unsettled. You can pick up valuable information if you listen to those with more experience. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You need adventure and excitement in your life. Your determination and stamina will make your work look flawless and effortless. You will be appreciated for the competence you exhibit and for taking on responsibilities. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Hidden matters are likely to surface. Be sure to pay attention to your financial status. Investments may be misrepresented today. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You will be able to pick up on future trends if you keep your eyes peeled for unique ideas. You will back yourself into a corner if you are baited and your stubbornness will only make matters worse. Stop telling others about your problems.

(From page 30) playing as a team will be important. “We will take one game at a time, we know that the Windwards have some good players, but they tend to give some early chances and once we capitalise we should overcome them.” Nedd, who plays for Demerara Cricket Club, stated that he is looking to become the first captain to win the title for Guyana and will not take any team for granted, stating that he is pleased with his personal form at the moment. Coach Orin Bailey said there are a number of talented players in the team and expressed confidence of them going all the way. “Once we can get the basics right and support each other we will definitely be hard to beat,” he added. Bailey, a former Guyana first class batsman, said the team spirit is good and made mention of opener Alex Algoo, whom he said can take the game away from any opposition even though this is his first year at this level. Among the players he also singled out are Sachin Singh, Kevlon Anderson who made a century against Essequibo in the inter county U19, Kevin Omroa and Sinclair.

Kerber knocked out... (From page 27) that though, I was ready to face that situation.” Two games later Kerber dealt with two match-point threats, but Muguruza grabbed the third to book her place in the last eight. She will next face Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova after the seventh seed beat Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2 64 in the last 16.

Teams- Guyana- Ashmead Nedd (Capt. Sachin Singh, Alex Algoo , Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Pradesh Balkishuin, Reaz Khan, Alphius Bookie, Lance Roberts, Kevin Umora, Orlando Jailall, Kevin Chritian, Qumar Torrington and Gevon Schultz. Orin Bailey Coach (Coach) and Nazeer Mohamed (Manager.

Windward Islands Kimani Melius - Captain, Tahj Tavernier - Vice Captain, Micah Joseph, Tijourn Pope, Jahseon Alexander, Mickel Riviere, Lee Solomon, Cazari Charles, Simeon Gerson, Jehiel Walters, Ethan Doctrove, Dominic Auguste, Garvin Serieux and Jamie Buddy.

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday July 11, 2017

GFF/BFA NAMILCO Thunderbolt Jammers punish NA Warriors Flour Power U17 League 62-45 to march to semis of Berbice Basketball tourney Paradise Invaders, Monedderlust

and NA United chalk up wins

Part of the action in the Berbice Basketball Association tournament at Rose Hall Court Rose Hall Town Jammers brushed aside New Amsterdam Warriors 62-45 in a Group B encounter to book a place in the semi-final in the Berbice Amateur Basketball Association 2017 Tournament for teams in Berbice. The event is sponsored by Nigel Hinds Financial net and the most recent game was played at Rose Hall Basketball Court in Corentyne. Jammers enjoyed the early advantage in the game, leading at the first quarter 19-11 and when the half time whistle sounded the advantage was 29-21.

The visitors were still hoping to make a comeback, but the Jammers held the lead at the third quarter 36 -30 and romped home 62-45. Malcolm Mickle 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, Kwesi Mickle 10 points, 6 rebounds and Romone Fogenay 9, points 5 rebounds 6 steals led the winners. For the Warriors, Mickel Lewis poured in 22 points and had 7 rebounds, Perry Corts 18 points, 4 rebounds, 6 steals, while David Hope had 11 points 2 steals in a losing cause. The next game in the competition will move to the

west side, with Ithaca Hardliners taking on Fyrish Black Sharks at Ithaca Basketball Court from 16:00hrs. Six teams are involved in the competition which is being played on a round Robin basis in two Zones. Zones A included Canje Knight, Fyrish Black Shark and Ithaca Hardliners and Zone B Rose Hall Town Jammers, Hopetown Stealers and New Amsterdam Warriors. Trophies, cash and other incentives are up for grabs. The tournament is being organized by Vibert Garrett.

In brilliant sunny conditions on Saturday last at the Paradise ground, Paradise Invaders made full use of home advantage including crowd support to needle a spirited Mahaicony T h u n d e r h a w k s when competition in the Berbice Football Association (BFA) segment of the GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power U17 Intra Association League continued. Paradise’s leading goal getter, Shakeel DeHarte was again the man of the moment when his 58th minute strike ended up being the sealer. Chances were created at both ends of the pitch but neither team were clinical as they wanted to be in finishing. In similar sunny conditions on Sunday at the same venue, Monedderlust sailed to a 2-0 victory over Mahaicony Thunderhawks with goals either side of play. A penalty was awarded for an infringement in the box in the 3rd minute of the 70 minute encounter. Paul McDonald drove a right foot shot, from the penalty mark

Shakeel DeHarte - Paradise Invaders FC past the outstretched right h a n d o f M a h a i c o n y ’s custodian, Anthony Bovell who otherwise, had a brilliant match. The second goal came early in the second half and this time it was the diminutive Chetram ‘Devin’ Saroopchand aka Messi who broke away on the left side in the box and fired home a left foot shot to the far right hand corner. The goalie secured the near post but did not have a blinker of a chance to react. In the other Sunday match, which was contested at Burnham Park in New

Amsterdam, host team New Amsterdam United whipped Corriverton Links, 4-0 after a 1-0 half time score-line. NA United’s scorers were Jamal McCalmont (40th minute), Tierre Phillips (66th and 78th minute) and Troy Munroe who sealed the deal in the 87th minute. Rivalry will continue this weekend on the West Side, on Sunday from 15:30hrs, Paradise Invaders will be at home to Hopetown United Rangers, while on the East Side from the same time, Cougars will tangle with Young Strikers at Burnham Park.

India to name head coach... (From page 28) Johri will probably continue with the same set for the time being.” K u m b l e ’s o r i g i n a l contract expired with the India’s Champions Trophy campaign, but the former leg-spinner was tipped to get an extension after leading the country to 12 victories in 17 tests with just one loss. Kumble, India’s most successful bowler, also

guided the team to one-day international series wins over New Zealand and England with losses coming only in a Twenty20 series against the West Indies and in the Champions Trophy final, where they lost to Pakistan. “We want to speak to Virat Kohli once he is back from America, all three of us along with the respective people concerned,” Ganguly said, adding that Kohli has

made no recommendation. “We will explain to him that the coaches want to function in a certain way and make sure that everybody is on the same page before we make the announcement, because once we make the announcement it has to be till the (2019) World Cup.” Former test all-rounder Shastri was appointed team director after head coach Duncan Fletcher’s term came to an end following India’s semi-final defeat at the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Moody has previously coached the Sri Lankan national team and in the Indian Premier League while Pybus had roles with the Pakistan, Bangladesh and West Indies teams.

NSC stages ‘TEACH THEM YOUNG’ Table Tennis Camp The National Sports Commission (NSC) in collaboration with the G u y a n a Ta b l e Te n n i s Association began its ‘TEACH THEM YOUNG’ Summer Table Tennis Camp at the National Gymnasium Mandela Avenue from yesterday. The four-week camp is scheduled to end on Friday August 11, 2017 with sessions from 10:00 hrs to 12:00 hrs Monday to Friday and this year’s camp will include players from out of G e o rg e t o w n ( B e r b i c e , Bartica, Linden and Essequibo) as part of the development in the sport.

A key feature of the camp would be the staging of a novice’s category which is geared to attract the players participating in the camp. During the past years this camp brought out some of the top cadet, junior and senior players in the country and is expected to attract more than 60 players and new champions. The objectives of the camp are to help players with the basic skills, help players to be better prepared for future tournaments, train and introduce students to the basic techniques of the game, discover the skills of children, talent

Identification, amuse children with sport skills and develop habits of healthy competition. The programme seeks to target players between the ages of 4- 18 years. Over 60 players (boys and girls) will be exposed to the introduction, orientation, teaching and practicing to the sport of table tennis in a fun way. Coaches Panel will include International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) level 1 and level 2 coaches and requirements to obtain Certificate is 90% Attendance. (Sean Devers)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 11, 2017

PAGE 29

Kerber knocked out by Muguruza, loses top spot

Spain’s Garbine Muguruza celebrates during her fourth round match against Germany’s Angelique Kerber. (REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge)

LONDON (Reuters) Top seed Angelique Kerber was knocked out of the last-16 of Wimbledon by Garbine M u g u r u z a y e s t e r d a y, ensuring she will lose her world number one ranking. Muguruza’s 4-6 6-4 6-4 victory marked the ninth consecutive time Kerber has failed to beat a top-20 opponent. She last achieved that feat in 2016 and she has now been beaten by Muguruza in five straight matches. Romanian Simona Halep could now take the world number one crown if she reaches the semi-finals at Wimbledon. Halep beat

Rowley fears for Windies relegation as CWI fiddle P O R T O F S PA I N , Trinidad, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has warned that West Indies could face relegation from the top tier of international cricket if the regional game continues in its current state of crisis. Laying the current demise at the feet of Cricket West Indies, Rowley said nothing proactive was being done to salvage the situation but rather, administrators were simply hoping for a “miracle” in order to turn things around. “My perspective is that West Indies cricket is in dire trouble, in crisis, and if we are not careful, something is likely to happen in the not too distant future even though it is not being spoken about now,” Rowley told ISports radio programme here at the weekend. “I don’t know that the ICC (International Cricket Council) will continue to put this sub-standard West Indies team to play against the top five or six teams going forward into many more years. “What I am frighten of is that somewhere in the not too distant future common sense will prevail at the ICC and they will create some kind of a premier league and a second division and West Indies cricket will end up in the second division because of the standard we are displaying and we will end up playing cricket against Ireland, Scotland, Kenya and Afghanistan and that is where we’re headed.” Rowley was speaking

Dr Keith Rowley against the backdrop of the CARICOM Head of Government summit in Grenada last week when West Indies cricket emerged as one of the hot topics. CARICOM chairman, Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, used his opening speech to outline the challenges facing the sport regionally and to urge fellow leaders to find consensus on the way forward. Rowley agreed with Mitchell that CARICOM had a vital role to play in helping to overhaul the sport especially since CWI seemed unable to find solutions to the current crisis. “They believe that some miracle will take place and some superstar like Brian Lara or Andy Roberts will appear from the crowd and pull us back from this brink,” Rowley said candidly. “But in the meantime we are handling large sums of money from the ICC, unearned money, and those monies are used to strengthen people who are in

office, who literally dominate the game, not on the field but in their boardrooms.” The debate over West Indies cricket also appears to have caused a rift in CARICOM with Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne openly disagreeing with the regional nation grouping’s position on the “immediate dissolution” of CWI. In a statement last week, Browne said: “Antigua and Barbuda as a matter of principle does not interfere in the internal affairs of institutions, and governments that are governed by democratically elected officials.” But in dismissing that argument, Rowley said Browne seemed to have “anchored his position on some discussion about democracy.” “We here in Trinidad and Tobago know that does not apply and that’s what in the court in Trinidad about the absence of democracy in the selection of leadership,” Rowley stressed. He, however, conceded there was disunity among CARICOM on the contentious topic. “I think there is tremendous confusion about the way forward,”said Rowley. “What is happening at the level of heads at CARICOM should make it clear to the other people that the game is now and the management and the situation is threatening to destroy CARICOM itself.”

Victoria Azarenka yesterday to move into the quarters, where she will face Johanna Konta. Should Halep fail to advance to the semis, then Czech Karolina Pliskova will take over at number one when next week’s rankings are announced. But there was a bitter irony for Kerber who, despite being somewhat hampered by her left knee, produced her best display in months and yet bids farewell to Wimbledon and her status as the world’s best. “I think we both played a good match but in the end I think it was just two points that decided the match,” said Kerber. “Of course I’m disappointed that I lost the match, because I was really playing good.” Yesterday’s match was

always destined to be close, pitting 2016 runner-up Kerber against her 2015 equivalent and there was little to choose between the pair in what was a high quality contest on Court Two. Kerber broke to go 5-4 up in the first set when at the end of a fierce rally her Spanish opponent went wide and allowed the German to serve out, securing the set with an emphatic smash. The second set was onserve until, with Kerber serving at 5-4 down, the tall Muguruza, who had saved three break points in the set, broke to secure it with a fine crosscourt winner. It was just reward for Muguruza’s attacking and positive play and was warmly appreciated by her temporary coach, Conchita Martinez, the Wimbledon

champion in 1994. Kerber’s left knee, which she appeared to hurt in the first set, was reducing her push-off on serve with the consequent impact on her speed, but the third set became a battle of nerves and stamina in the early afternoon heat. The German broke in the first game and led 2-0 but both struggled to hold serve and it was soon 3-3 with two breaks each. In an epic 10-minute game, Muguruza held for 43 with the crowd appreciating some hugely entertaining rallies between the determined pair. “That definitely was an important game,” said the Spaniard. “I fight. She was fighting. Every point was incredible. I was expecting (Continued on page 25)

GT Beer Keep Your 5 Alive KO Futsal Tourney

Battles continue this evening at Gymnasium from 20:00hrs Its win or get out the way time again this evening when the GT Beer Keep Your 5 Alive knock-out Futsal tournament continues at the National Gymnasium with six more matches. Tonight’s competitors will be aiming to join the successful teams from opening night play but will have to get past their respective opponents if they are to move on as only the fittest will survive. Already advancing and closer to staking a claim for the top prize of $500,000 are the best side in Street and Futsal football, Sparta Boss, Broad Street, North Ruimveldt, Showstoppers, Rhythm Star and Kitty. Tonight’s action will see Agricola Champion Boys tackling Leopold Street, Tiger Bay will hope to claw their way past Bagotsville, North East comes up against Dave and Celina of the Bauxite Mining Town of Linden, Shatterville Gunners will aim to cut down Newton Kitty, Melanie oppose Future Stars, while GWI will hope dispose of G P L . Thirty-two teams started the competition but as you lose you will fall by the way side. They have come from the East Coast, East Bank, West Demerara, Linden and the Capital City, Georgetown.

Among the corporate entities on board to date are HJTV, 94.1 Boom FM, The Trophy Stall, Star Party Rentals, Confidential Cabs and GT Beer. The other competition dates are July 13th 18th 22nd and 25th July and August 5 t h . Meanwhile, following are results from the opening night of action, July 6th. Game 1 - Kitty-8 vs Plaisance-1: Kitty Scorers: Anthony Sancho-2nd, 16th, 17th and 19th, Donald McKenzie-3rd and 7th, Sonel Logan-10th, Jahaal Greaves-20th. Plaisance Scorer, Warren Gilkes-1st. Game 2 - Rhythm Star-4 vs Old School Ballers-3: Rhythm Scorers: Kevin Agard-2nd and 12th, Sceyon Hope-18th, Teon Jones19th. Old Scorers: Junior Jordon-9th and 16th, Moses G i t t e n s - 8 t h . Game 3 - Sophia-6 vs Showstoppers-8: Showstoppers Scorers:

Delroy Ferdinand-8th, 21st, 27th, Marvin Josiah-36th and 37th, Dexroy Adams16th and 38th, Sherwin Halley-6th. Sophia Scorers: Desmond Cottam-17th, 22nd, 26th, Akeem Jaikissoon-11th, Shem Arthur-25th, 33rd. Game 4 North Ruimveldt-5 vs Grove Hi Tech-1: North Scorers: Gerald Gittens-6th and 7th, Linris Carrington-21st, Travis Grant-26th, Nkosi Barker-30th. Grove Hi Tech Scorer: Domini Garnett1 7 t h . Game 5 - Broad Street-2 vs West Back Road-1: Broad Street Scorers: Devon Johnson-14th, Samuel Hunte-29th. West Back Road Scorer: Josiah Charles1 7 t h . Game 6 - Sparta Boss-4 vs Russian All-Stars-0: Gregory Richardson-7th, Own Goal-12th, Devon Millington-14th, Eusi Philips-23rd.

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday July 11, 2017

Nat School B/Ball finals

LTI (boys) & Marian Academy (girls) take U-19 Titles By Sean Devers Watched by a fair sized crowd on Sunday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the 12th annual National Schools Basketball Championships concluded with three Boys and one Girls final and when the dust had settled McKenzie High (U-14), Kwakwani (U-16), Marian Academy (Girls) and Linden Technical Institute (U-19) were all crowed Champions. The feature games were the Boys U-19 final involving Marian Academy and LTI and Girls match-up between last year’s finalists Marian Academy and President’s College. Playing in the last match of the well organsied tournament which was sponsored by Edward B Beharry and Companies Ltd, the National Sports Commission, John Fernandes Ltd and Sterling Product Ltd, LTI got the better of Marian Academy 52-48, in a keenly contested game which threatened to get physical at one stage. The bigger students from Linden were spearheaded by lanky forward Daniel Lee, who apart from scoring crucial points from inside the

McKenzie High win U-14, Kwakwani take U-16 Divisions

Girls Tournament’s MVP and Marian Academy’s Captain Jada Mohan collects her award from DS Christopher Jones. (Sean Devers photo)

Tournament MVP Daniel Lee presented with his Award by DS Christopher Jones. (Sean Devers photo) paint, drilled a couple of three-pointers from ‘down town’ to register a game high 23 points, while defender Akin Wilson scored seven points and had 12 rebounds. In a game which saw several ‘turn overs’ the difference between the two

sides apart from their size was the three-point shooting from the lads from the Mining Town of Linden and their clinical shots from the Free throw line. Although 6ft 4in Timothy Thomas, who had the only dunk, scored 22

points and 14 rebounds in the competitive battle for Marian Academy and Jahleel Young had 12 points, Marian Academy were always playing catch-up. The 14-year-old Jether Harris is defiantly a player to

India to name head coach after discussion with Kohli (Reuters) The Cricket Advisory Committee of the Indian board (BCCI) interviewed five candidates for the head coach’s post yesterday but said it will n a m e A n i l K u m b l e ’s successor only after consulting captain Virat Kohli, who is in the United States. Former captain Kumble stepped down as coach last month after falling out with skipper Kohli despite enjoying a successful run during his year in charge. Last year the BCCI formed the CAC, comprising former players Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, who chose Kumble for the job. The CAC interviewed Indians Ravi Shastri, Vi r e n d e r S e h w a g a n d Lalchand Rajput, Australian Tom Moody and Englishman Richard Pybus

India’s Virat Kohli during nets. (Action Images via Reuters / Paul Childs Livepic) to fill the vacant position, the BCCI said in a statement. India toured West Indies for a limited-overs series without a head coach and could continue with the set-

up for their visit to Sri Lanka, starting on July 26. “We feel there is no hurry at the moment,” former India captain Ganguly told reporters.

“Sri Lanka tour is in a week’s time, the board headed by (secretary) Amitabh Choudhary and (Chief Executive) Rahul (Continued on page 26)

watch and played in the U14, 16 and 19 for the City side but none in their team seemed willing to try any long range shots and missed most of their free throws. The star of the night for the Girls was the 14-year daughter of former National player Lugard Mohan who coached the Marian Academy to four finals on Sunday night. Jada Mohan’s looks matched her skill and ball control and she was virtually a ‘one girl show’ for her team. She had a game high 14 points as Marian Academy beat President’s College 17-11 to reverse the result of last year’s clash between the two sides. PC went five points up in the contest which saw plenty of missed shots from the girls from both teams before ‘the Mohan show’ began. She was guarded like a dangerous prisoner but the live-wire Mohan was on fire and escaped past the hapless PC’s defence to score several two pointers. Mohan, who played with passion and speed, found herself on the floor on a few occasions and was voted tournament MVP of the girls division. In addition to her 14 points she had five rebounds and three steals, while her teammate Renuka Ramcharran was outstanding on the defensive

end. Roshell Campbell scored six points and six rebounds for PC in a losing effort. Earlier, in the opening game, Mackenzie High retained their U-14 title when they beat Marian Academy 34-30 despite a high quality performance from Marian Academy’s Captain Harris who led his team with 20 points, 13 rebounds and three steals. Meshal Allicock supported with four points and had five steals. Mackenzie High’s best player was Cy Walker who scored 11 points, 4 rebounds, while Damascus Adams chipped in with nine points for the defending champions. In the second game of the evening, Kwakwani comfortably won the U-16 title; defeating Marian Academy 42 to 20 points. Kadeen Dover scored a game high 13 points and defender Nicholoud Lowden had 11 rebounds and five steals, while Isaiah Hintzen top- scored with 10 points, 11rebounds and five steals for the team from Kwakwani. Josiah Daniels contributed eight points, eight rebounds for the losers. Director of Sports Christopher Jones made the presentation of Medals and Trophies to the teams in the Girls and Boys U-19 finals.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 11, 2017

Top Brandz Corona Invitational football Tournament underway Wins for Northern Rangers and Santos on opening day

Play in the Top Brandz Corona Beer Invitational Football Tournament kicked off on Sunday last at the GFC ground in Georgetown with three matches which saw opening wins for Northern Rangers and Santos, while the other scheduled game was drawn. The Petra Organisation event saw Northern Rangers beating East Veldt 2-0 with an Own Goal (22nd min) and Sunil Logan (64th min) strike resulting in victory. Riddim Squad and Flamingo played out a 0-0 stalemate. Santos then dismissed Pele 4-0 with Robby McClaggon 9th min, Kenroy Deminick 11th min, Josh Parvattan 65th min and Orin Yarde 90+2 min the men on target. The teams involved in the tournament are: GROUP A - Pele FC, Santos FC,

R i d d i m Squad FC, Northern Rangers FC, Flamingo FC and East Ve l d t F C ; w h i l e GROUP B Western Tigers FC, Police FC, GFC, Camptown FC, Beacons FC and Black Pearl FC. They are battling for a first prize of $1million and the championship trophy, while second to fourth take home $400,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively. The tournament continues tomorrow at the GFC ground at17:00hrs. Western Tigers FC face Black Pearl FC, followed by GFC challenging Camptown FC, then Police FC come up against Beacons FC.

Results from the games played: Game 1 Northern Rangers 2 vs East Veldt 0 Goal Scorers Own Goal 22nd min Sunil Logan 64th min Game 2 Riddim Squad 0 v/s Flamingo 0 Game 3 Santos 4 v/s Pele 0 Goal Scorers Robby Mc Claggon 9th min Kenroy Deminick 11th min Josh Parvattan 65th min Orin Yarde 90+2 min

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Berbice Cricket Board First Division 50 overs

Cricket at Rose Hall Canje Welfare Centre revived, wins for YWCC and West Berbice First Division action in the Berbice Cricket Board’s 50-Over competition continued last weekend with two matches being played in the county. At the Rose Hall, Canje, Welfare Centre, under brilliant sunshine, Young Warriors Cricket Club defeated the Rose Hall Canje Team by 15 runs in their match which was reduced to 36 overs due to overnight moisture. Winning the toss and electing to bowl first, Rose Hall Canje dismissed the Young Warriors Batsmen for 135 in their 36 overs. Seon Hetmyer top scored with 46 followed by Linden Austin on 30. Kasim Khan and Vishal Mohabir contributed with 21 and 11 respectively, while all the other batsmen failed to reach double figures, including National Player Shimron Hetmyer who scored 8. Bowling for Rose Hall

Canje, Sanjay Khan took 2 for 17, Amir Rahaman 2 for 22, while Compton Hope, Andrew Williams and Mark Sampson took one each. In reply to the 135 set by Young Warriors Cricket Club, Rose Hall Canje were bowled out for 120 in their allotted overs. Over at the Bush Lot Ground in West Berbice, West Berbice had the better of the Bush Lot Team when they defeated them by 166 runs. Batting first, West Berbice scored 253 runs, with Rafael Estriado scoring 73, C. Sookra 44, Arthley Bailey 30, A. Dutchin 21 and Stefon Adams 22, while all the others contributed with single figures. Bowling for the Bush Lot United team, Christopher Bissoon took 3 wickets, G. Gossai 2, A. Johnson 2 and J. Darsan 1. The Bush Lot United batsmen failed to chase the

target set as they were dismissed for a paltry 87. Joel Dilchand was the only batsman to reach double figure for his side and ended up getting bowled for 14. All the other batsmen remained in single figures, as the West Berbice bowlers proved detrimental to them. B o w l i n g f o r We s t Berbice, Keith Fraser took 4 wickets, A. Bailey 2, C. Harry, Stefon Adams and A. Dennis one a piece. The competition continues Sunday 16th July with the following Fixtures; Zone A- Blairmont vs West Berbice at Blairmont, Bush Lot vs Young Warriors at Bush Lot, Rose Hall Canje vs Tucber Park at Rose Hall Canje. Zone B - Albion vs Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club at Albion, Port Mourant vs Skeldon at Port Mourant, Upper Corentyne vs Police at Upper Corentyne Skeldon Community Centre.

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Tuesday July 10, 2017

Gajanand Singh attributes hard work his recent success By Sean Devers Gajanand Singh, the classy left-hander from Cumberland Berbice, is one of six new recruits in the Guyana Amazon Warriors team for the 2017 CPL which bowls off on August 4 with the Warriors playing their first match on August 5 in Florida. Singh, a former West Indies youth and Guyana First-Class batsman along West Indies ‘A’ team pacer Keon Joseph are the Guyanese selected for the first time. Singh reminded of his tremendous talent when he was named the MVP in J a n u a r y ’s U W I t 2 0 tournament in Trinidad for his five consecutive fifties and 337 runs for Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) who lost in the Final to Cane Farm of T&T. Cane Farm were led by 90 from West Indies opener Evin Lewis, 43 from Roshon Primus and 26 from Windies

batsman Lindl Simmons to reach 217-7. The 21-year-old Primus, who is also among the new comers in Warriors line-up, captured 4-39 to take the Man-of-the Match with West Indies pacer Ravi Rampaul and T&T’s legspinner Imran Khan picked up two wickets to dismiss DCC for 150. The 29-year-old Singh, who played the last of his 10 First-Class matches for Guyana six years ago, hit a blistering 64 from 39 balls to follow up scores of 64, 56, 56 and 88. Singh added 56 with West Indies U-19 allrounder Kemo Paul, who smashed 25 from 11 balls, but once Singh and Paul, also in the Warriors squad, were dismissed in quick succession, DCC slumped to defeat. Singh who played the first of his two Regional 50over matches for Guyana in 2008 attributed hard work and determination as the main reasons for his recent

Plans to give 150% to Warriors during CPL

Gajanand Singh representing an overseas club. success. “It was a great feeling to hear that I had been selected f r o m t h e Wa r r i o r s , especially to be rewarded after putting out consistent performances. My fitness

has improved tremendously, thanks to training with the Guyana Jaguar franchise for over a year and doing a lot of personal work as well,” said Singh who had put on plenty of weight after his self

imposed exile from cricket for over a year. While there has not been too much local cricket played in Guyana due to the adverse weather, Singh had a successful GCB Franchise League to add to his outstanding performance for DCC but he was ignored by the Guyana selectors for the penultimate First-Class game of this season when six senior players were unavailable. “I don’t know how close I am to getting back into the first class team, but I know when the opportunity comes I’ll be more than ready,” the extremely fit looking Singh stated. “There are lots of people that motivate and inspire me but my drive come from wanting to play cricket more than anything else. Whatever role is given to me by the Warriors will be done

at 150% effort,” a determined said Singh who also bowls useful off-spin. “I try to keep things simple and set goals according to situations. I’m not looking too far ahead as right now my main focus is the CPL,” disclosed Singh who has two fifties in FirstClass cricket. “I’m in New York, I just finished playing a T20 tournament where I got the MVP and best batsman of the tournament. I scored a century and 66 not out in semi-final,” said Singh who has played in England and Trinidad and most of the major leagues in the USA. Sing is happily married with a beautiful daughter. “Outside of cricket I love watching movies and spending time with my family and I love Brazilian food,” the new Warriors batsman concluded.

Guyana face Windward Islands at Gilbert Park as Regional U17 bowls off today Kevlon Anderson bats in the nets yesterday.

Skipper Ashmead Nedd bowls in the nets yesterday. (Zaheer Mohamed photo) By Zaheer Mohamed in Trinidad and Tobago In association with V Net Communications, Mike’s Pharmacy, 4R, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre and Ramchand’s Auto Spares Guyana will begin their quest to win their first regional U17 50-over tournament when they take on the Windward Islands today at Gilbert Park,

Trinidad and Tobago. The Guyanese took the runner up spot in last year’s competition which was won by Trinidad and Tobago who got the edge with 0.3 fast bowling bonus points. However, their game against the eventual champions was rained out without a ball being bowled. Windward Islands have been one of the most consistent teams in regional youth cricket of recent and

the Guyana team, which boasts five players with previous experience at this level, will be wary of the threat their opponents can pose. The side was once again afforded the opportunity to play in the Guyana Cricket Board inter county U19 tournament and the exposure has certainly helped in their preparation. The Guyanese, led by left arm spinner Ashmead Nedd

had another practice session yesterday at the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board National Cricket Centre in Couva. The team seemed a balanced one and with the likes of Nedd, Kevlon Anderson, Sachin Singh, Alex Algoo, Kevin Christian and Orlando Jailall, they can certainly go all the way. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport yesterday following their practice session, Nedd

said that his boys are confident and eager to showcase their talent. He pointed out that they will have to utilise the fast

bowlers a lot more since bonus points are important. Nedd said that the players are gelling nicely and (Continued on page 25)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 11, 2017

PAGE 33

Media interactive session held with National U17 Women’s Team

Media Training with National U17 team members conducted by GFF’s Communications and Public Relations Officer Debra Francis. As part of the national encampment schedule of activities, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) held an interactive session with members of the National U17 Women’s team at the camp venue to build their capacity to interact with the media.

This was facilitated by D e b r a F r a n c i s , G F F ’s Communications and Public Relations Officer on Sunday last following their morning training session. Among the key areas addressed were the art of introductions, responding to questions including

development and structure of responses and the importance of non-verbal communication such as posture and eye contact. The female footballers were very receptive to the session and were given the opportunity to practice the key concepts shared, while

Candace Fraser (right) makes a contribution during the Media Training with National U17 team members conducted by GFF’s Debra Francis. receiving feedback from their colleagues. ” A s n a t i o n a l ambassadors, it is critical that team members give a sound representation of themselves both on and off the field. It begins with the youth players. This is the third such

session conducted with a youth national team, the first two were held with the U15 and U17 Boys respectively at previous camps,” Francis said. National encampment for the U17 girls’ team began on Saturday last in preparation for the

CONCACAF Caribbean U17 Qualifiers scheduled for August 9 – 13 in Guyana. Thirty (30) girls from six (6) GFF-Scotiabank Academy Training Centres have been called. The team trains twice a day at the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora.

Cracks appear in Sky’s armor but Froome still in control B E R G E R A C , FRANCE, (Reuters) Cracks have appeared in the Team Sky armor on the Tour de France but defending champion Chris Froome remains on track to claim a fourth title after the opening block of racing. The Briton survived a day in hell in Sunday’s ninth stage as big rival and longtime friend Richie Porte crashed out, but he lost his lieutenant Geraint Thomas, who also exited the race after a fall. Froome is now without his key support, he could not drop his main rivals in the last climb to the Mont du Chat, and was also distanced by last year’s runner-up Romain Bardet in the treacherous final descent. In addition, Froome had to deal with controversy. Fabio Aru attacked him just as he w as reques ting assistance because of a mechanical problem on the Mont du Chat. Later Froome appeared to lean onto the Italian, who then almost crashed into the spectators lined up along the route. “I lost my balance a little bit and swerved to the right. Aru happened to be on my right and he had to swerve as well. Any suggestion that it

Team Sky rider and yellow jersey Chris Froome of Britain and Direct Energie rider and polka-dot jersey Lilian Calmejane at the start of the 181.5-km Stage 9 from Nantua to Chambery, France. (REUTERS/Benoit Tessier) was on purpose is just crazy,” said Froome. Both Froome and Aru played down the incidents the attack and the alleged retribution. To add to the off-bike worries, Sky found itself in the center of a row over their time-trial skin suits at the Grand Depart in Germany,

while team principal Dave Brailsford has been snubbing the media since his opening news conference, though Froome and his teammates have been cooperative. The Welshman, who was more than willing to discuss team tactics and all things cycling when Sky arrived in

the peloton, now declines to chat with reporters most of the time. For the first time in years, the yellow jersey will not be holding his traditional restday news conference. Though Froome picked up a four-second time bonus by finishing third on Sunday, he has not yet hammered the

opposition. He leads Aru by 18 seconds and Bardet by 51 going into the second week with the GC battle set to

resume in the Pyrenees and the Frenchman, a runner-up last year, promising “more battles will be fought”. But Froome has so far fought off his rivals. “You need somebody on par with him and I don’t know if that’s the case. It’s a race that could be Chris Froome’s race,” three-time champion Greg LeMond told Reuters. Aru beat Froome in the first summit finish last Wednesday but was at some point dropped in the ascent to the Mont du Chat. Bardet was eventually reined in during the run-in to Chambery after dropping the main overall contenders in the descent One of Froome’s main challengers, Colombian Nairo Quintana, is now 2:13 off the pace after failing to sustain the pace in the climb up the Mont du Chat. Even a podium finish, let alone overall victory, seems unlikely for the Movistar rider. With a 22-km time trial favoring the Briton on the penultimate day, the race is still Froome’s to lose.

t r o Sp Nat School B/Ball finals

U-19 Champions LTI beat Marian Academy in the Final. (Sean Devers photo)

LTI (boys) & Marian Academy (girls) take U-19 Titles

Girls champs Marian Academy with Director of Sports Christopher Jones. (Sean Devers photo)

McKenzie High win U-14, Kwakwani take U-16 Divisions

Guyana face Windward Islands at Gilbert Park as Regional U17 bowls off today Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210