Monday July 17, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Atrocious service by Prison riot is symptomatic of failed governance made several more viable conspiracy to he ostensibly used a previous EDITOR, the GRA in Essequibo DEAR Last week’s swift public recommendations. Minister escape successfully, access a jail break to manufacture a DEAR EDITOR, Kindly permit me a little space in your columns to share the following: The GRA office in Essequibo does not have a standby generator. Whenever a blackout occurs, transactions cannot be done. Taxpayers are asked to return when power is restored to pay their taxes and file their documents etc. Government is losing revenue as a result of this situation. For some time now the air conditioner has not been working. Staff personnel make use of fans in the office. When there is a power outage the fans can’t work and the heat is unbearable. These conditions are unfit to work in. There is no proper parking for taxpayers transacting business there. The parking area is a pool (see attached pictures). Just two questions: WHO has the authority to remedy this inhumane situation and WHEN will it be fixed? Essequibo Citizens
Fired from President College without due process DEAR EDITOR, My name is Abiola Charles and I am a very concerned citizen. My best friend worked at President’s College as a Farm Manager since 2014. A month ago he was fired by the board without being given a reason for termination. No proper procedure was followed or the approval of the Minister sought by the board. I have at hand the letter of termination and other letters he wrote to the Ministry of Education, the board of Governors and GPSU seeking their intervention. He is currently considering protest action at the Ministry of the Presidency and the Ministry of Education, so I would like to share the documents with your paper, if you are interested and seek your readers’ advice on the way forward because right now my friend is very frustrated. Abiola Charles
Sugar union defends... From page 4 mischievous. Whatever the case may be please allow these facts to sink in. Diamond Estate was closed in 1985 when the factory and a large part of the cultivation was shuttered. What remained of the cane cultivation remained operable until 2011 when the 300-odd workers received their redundancy pay in keeping with their rights as outlined in the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act. Interestingly, it is the same law that GuySuCo is now flouting in the case of the Wales workers though a precedent has been established. Mr. Seetaram, if you weren’t aware, many of those former Diamond workers took up work at Wales until that estate was placed on the chopping block without any plans for the people who were dependent on its operations. In the case of LBI, the factory was closed in 2011 and the 137 workers were absorbed in the Enmore factory, the Enmore packaging plant, and the LBI field and factory workshops. LBI Estate, however, was closed in the second half of 2016 when several departments were closed and a number of the workers were transferred to Enmore or in some cases made redundant. Our Union also demanded severance for the transferred LBI workers as their jobs had become redundant. Again notwithstanding the law and the precedent, GuySuCo has adamantly and wrongly refused the workers legitimate request. That matter is now engaging the attention of the Court. Mr. Seetaram, our Union resisted and expressed our disagreement, in the highest order, with respect to all the decisions on closures. A simple internet search would be edifying, we believe. You may also want to speak with your comrades as they should be very much aware of what really transpired. Mr. Seetaram repeats another charge that anti-Union elements have levelled at us, that is we are only concerned with dues. This is furthest from the truth as one could be. On this score, we ask the Councillor if there is merit in what he saying? Our Union has called for the LBI and Wales workers to receive their severance? Certainly, a great lot of those workers will very well seek employment outside of sugar and, therefore, cannot pay dues. It seems, the author is not rationally considering the letter he signs. Seepaul Narine General Secretary, GAWU
accountability reinforced good governance in Trinidad & Tobago. Ms. Marlene McDonald was sworn in as Minister of Public Utilities on June 30. Three days later Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley fired her for countenancing a reputed member of the criminal underworld to attend her swearing in ceremony. Ms. McDonald introduced the gentleman, who is on the radar of security forces, to President Anthony Carmona with whom they were photographed. This public outrage forced the Prime Minister to hold his Minister accountable. Her firing restored public confidence in the government. Accountability is the essence of good governance. Good governance is the foundation of a democratic society. In March 2016, inmates at the Georgetown Prison, Guyana’s main jail, rioted and burnt down part of the facility. 17 inmates were killed and several prison officers and prisoners were injured. The Commission of Inquiry (COI) which investigated this fiasco
of National Security, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, said implementation of the reforms was unaffordable. Director of Prisons, Mr. Gladwin Samuels posited that money was a major challenge to implementing the major COI recommendations. Last Sunday, July 9, 2017 the prisoners struck again. They rioted, shot several guards and burnt down the entire Georgetown Prison. A prison officer was shot and killed. Several of his colleagues remain critical in hospital. Make no mistake, unaffordability to implement the COI reforms led to the July 9 national tragedy that has left the Granger administration wanting. We must laud our security forces. They commendably evacuated over 1000 prisoners safely and protected the lives of dozens of prison officials. In one year, the government’s only significant achievement in prison reform is a brilliant evacuation that was expertly executed. Meanwhile, its vacillation and negligence allowed prisoners to hatch a
This statement by the... From page 4 friend, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, led the charge against Minister Rohee. I recall in a motion which was debated in the National Assembly, he and his colleague, Cathy Hughes, treated the National Assembly to a treatise on the British convention of “Ministerial Responsibility” and its applicability to Guyana. Copious examples were cited from around the world and long quotations were extracted from text books from the English speaking Commonwealth on this issue. Indeed, President Donald Ramotar was given a 48 hours ultimatum to dismiss Minister Rohee. When that did not happen, violence and mayhem erupted at Agricola Public Road. Clement Rohee did not resign and indeed, was exonerated by a COI. Are these very principles now not applicable to Minister Khemraj Ramjattan? Do the APNU+AFC no longer subscribe to the concept of “Ministerial Responsibility” for which they so passionately prosecuted Rohee in the 10th Parliament. Interestingly, on what basis did Minister Ramjattan, a Member of the Executive, instructed Magistrates to grant bail to dozens of prisoners? The granting of bail is a purely Judicial function over which the Executive has no say in
accordance with the doctrine of separation of power. The matter is further complicated by Minister Ramjattan exercising a statutory power and releasing over 300 or 90 prisoners (the figures keep changing ). To date, no one knows what criteria were used to release these prisoners. Then there is a disturbing report in the Chronicle Newspaper that doors of certain prisons cells were left open. How did this happen? Most importantly, how did certain prisoners got access to firearm so quickly? What is the status of the records of the prisoners? Were they destroyed in the fire or were they kept at some other location? I am baffled by a statement emanating from the mouth of the President that the Camp Street disaster was “an accident waiting to happen”. Did the President have prior knowledge of this and yet waited for it to happen? These are all questions for which they must be forthright public answers. We do not need another COI to have these questions answered. The Prison Authorities, Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and President David Granger are in a position to provide these answers forthwith. They must do so as soon as possible. Nothing less will suffice. Anil Nandlall
weapons and incendiary devices that ultimately led to the prison’s destruction. It is inexplicable how such comprehensive planning went undetected. The systemic failures, negligence, absence of prison intelligence gathering and mismanagement evince poor leadership of our prison service and national security. The most dangerous inmates who masterminded the riot escaped. Authorities have given different numbers of escapees. Every two days the number changes and the names of some escapees are unknown. Obviously, there is an improper inmate registration system, which must be addressed by the reform project. Most of the prisoners were evacuated to the Lusignan Prison, where they have been video-taped roving the vast compound unrestrained, killing animals to cook, bathing openly etc. This lawlessness amplifies Mr. Samuels’ contention of lack of funding and the government’s laxity and unpreparedness for exigent circumstances. The optics of prisoners casually roaming a compound with cutlasses and knives and killing animals is a traumatizing image. The inmates are currently housed in a swampy compound. They are exposed to elements of the environment, and to unsanitary conditions that are hazardous to public health. This development is repugnant to international human rights norms. Moreover, rushing magistrates into that compound to convene a haphazard satellite bail court, and releasing over 300 prisoners willy-nilly, seems reckless. It further complicates the balance of human rights against public safety. Moreover, if there is a judicial basis to release a prisoner who is charged with a petty crime after the fire, what was the judicial basis for remanding them to prison before the fire? Furthermore, there must be transparency. The Police has an obligation to inform the public of the nature of the charges against those who have been released, to assuage public safety concerns. Opposition leader, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, has issued s a n c t i m o n i o u s condemnations of the government’s handling of the matter. However, his party, the PPP, was in government for 23 years. He was President of Guyana for 12 years; from 1999 – 2011. What did he do to solve this problem? In fact
national security crisis to blame his political opposition and slaughter hundreds of innocent, young black men. His party left this 100 yearold, antiquated, wooden facility to deteriorate to a national security risk, which they passed on to the Granger administration. Mr. Jagdeo therefore has no integrity to lecture us on this issue. If he were smart, he would just sit down. The Minister of National Security and Director of Prisons must account to the nation for a prison in which inmates accessed guns, knives and cutlasses and gravely endangered the lives of prison officer. Why didn’t the government, recognizing that the 2016 riot caused a national emergency situation, mobilize the necessary resources from the international community to fast-track the implementation of the COI recommendations? How did the prisoners acquire weapons and incendiary devices? How were the female guards overpowered? Was there a combination of male and female guards serving meals? How were the prisoners able to move from their cell to different parts of the compound to set simultaneous fires? How could prisoners escape when there were mobile Police patrol units around the outer perimeter of the prison? What kind of prisoner registration system is in place? How can missing inmates’ names and identification numbers not be known? Public safety is the most inviolable responsibility of a government. The Minister of National Security has the unpleasant record of two prison riots, 18 deaths and the complete destruction of the Georgetown Prison on his watch. He must answer these and other questions to assure public confidence in the government. As the government contemplates solutions for this crisis, its actions must exude transparency0, accountability and good governance. Part of the solution must include construction of a modern prison facility outside of the commercial district of Georgetown. The government has the ability to mobilize the resources for such a project. It requires political will, courage and forward thinking on the part of this administration. Guyana is a beautiful country. It is rich in vastly untapped natural resources. Continued on page 6
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Monday July 17, 2017
Kaieteur News
APNU+AFC machinery trying to change the prison riot narrative DEAR EDITOR, Whenever there are unpleasant truths to confront, the APNU+AFC machinery, including its leaders and its political commentators and those in the media who are supportive of APNU+AFC, aggressively try to change the narrative, re-direct people’s attention, replacing unpleasant truths with fabrications and half-truths. Another disaster, in a mindnumbing, unending list of disasters since May 2015, has hit Guyana like a deadly tsunami. A fire and a jail-break incident at the Camp Street Prison on July 9, 2017, have led to the death of a young prison officer and the complete destruction of the Camp Street Prison. The new narrative being peddled by the APNU+AFC machinery is that it was a miracle that only one person died and that only a handful
of prisoners escaped. Their distasteful take on the events is that given the fury of the fire that led to the complete destruction of the prison, it is simply astonishing that only one officer died, that no prisoner died and that almost all the prisoners were kept in custody. The fact is that even one death is too many and the life of the prison officer is an unforgiveable loss. There is nothing to celebrate. But, in addition, a whole prison has been razed to the ground and there are dangerous prisoners on the loose and fear stalks the land. Just in case the APNU+AFC machinery try to misrepresent me, let me state clearly that the women and men of the security forces averted a greater disaster and deserve recognition, but what happened was a disaster, nonetheless.
The facts are clear and unequivocal. The cold, hard facts cannot be ignored and dismissed, cannot be changed and cannot be varnished. The real narrative deserves reiteration, so that the narrative remains alive, it must be in BOLD PRINT to hold people accountable. There was a second prison fire in sixteen months, going along with several escape events and several protests and disturbances by prisoners. The first prison blaze sixteen months ago killed seventeen prisoners and destroyed a part of the prison. The second one on July 9, just over a week ago, led to the death of a prison officer, serious injuries to several others, the total destruction of the Camp Street Prison, the main prison in Guyana, and the escape of at least six dangerous prisoners.
Examples of known countries relocating their capital city DEAR EDITOR, Guyana should move (not only consider moving) its present main prison from Georgetown, but our incumbent Government, should consider giving consideration of moving its current capital Georgetown to a more suitable, convenient and central place within its boundaries of eighty three thousand square miles. We are aware that the Romans for mostly economic reasons had their capital located in the middle of their land space. Thus the saying “all roads lead to Rome. Currently we learn that Argentina’s President mulls switching the capital city from Buenos Aires to Santiago del Estero, a more central and convenient place where it can serve conveniently all its population economically. In recent times, the following countries have moved there capital mostly for economical and security reasons. Our South American neighbor, Brazil’s relocation of its capital city to the purposely built Brasilia was widely hailed as a success for many reasons; mostly for economic reasons and also accessibility of trade too. Brazil’s capital was relocated from overcrowded Rio de Janeiro to the planned, built
city of Brasilia in 1961. Upon its establishment as Brazil’s capital, Brasilia experienced very rapid growth. Brazil’s capital change was considered a success, and many countries have been inspired by Brazil’s capital relocation. Russia moved its capital to St. Petersburg, in order to be closer to Europe. The Russian capital was moved back to Moscow in 1918. In 1991 the capital of Nigeria, Africa’s most populated country, was moved from Lagos because of overcrowding. Abuja, a planned city in central Nigeria, was deemed to be a more neutral for Nigeria’s many ethnic and religious groups. Almaty, in southern Kazakhstan, was the Kazakh capital when the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Government moved the capital to the northern city of Astana in December 1997. Almaty had little room to expand, could experience an earthquake, and was very close to other newlyindependent countries which could experience political turbulence. Hurricane Hattie badly damaged Belize City, the former capital of Belize. In 1970 Belmopan, an
Prison riot is symptomatic... From page 5 All of us, as stake holders, must work to find solutions to the current economic and social challenges, and help mold and develop a modern country for new generations of Guyanese to inherit. Rickford Burke International Law and Public Policy Consultant Democratic Political Consultant
inland city became the new capital of Belize to protect the government’s operations, documents, and people - in case of another hurricane. In the 1970s, Tanzania’s capital began the move from coastal Dares Salaam to centrally-located Dodoma. But even after many decades, the move is not totally complete. In 1983, Yamoussoukro became the capital of Cote d’Ivoire. This new capital was the hometown of the President of Cote d’Ivoire, Felix HouphouetBoigny, who wanted to spur development in the central region of Cote d’Ivoire. However, many government offices and embassies remain in the former capital. Abidjan, Burma’s capital was formerly Rangoon. In November 2005, government workers were suddenly told by the military junta to move to the more northern city of Naypyidaw, which had been constructed since 2002. There is still no clear explanation why Burma’s capital was relocated. Economically, Guyana with its eighty three thousand square miles should gain more economically if its capital is moved inland within those eight three thousand square miles. Thus, I submit, not only should the main prison of Guyana be moved to a more suitable place but also the capital Georgetown where it can serve as a convenient modern economic center for this country. The current prison in Georgetown is like a millstone tied around the neck of this erstwhile colonial city. Rooplall Dudhnath
This second fire has led to hundreds of prisoners being kept in a pasture in subhuman conditions and the release of more than fifty prisoners, some of whom were serving multi-year imprisonment for robbery under arms and for rape. The Minister under pressure released the names of the freed prisoners without the offense or jailed terms of the prisoners, obviously an effort at deception. For several days after this second fire, no one could accurately tell how many prisoners had escaped and no one could tell the nation how many of the prisoners in Camp Street at the time were still in custody. It became a State Secret. Under any circumstances and under any government, this is a scandal and the minimum expected is that the Minister will take responsibility and resign. If the Minister will not be man enough to take responsibility, then the buck stops with the President. Instead, he has abrogated his responsibility by insisting that the Minister inherited a broken system from Clement Rohee and the PPP. If some people were willing to excuse them after the first fire led to the death of seventeen people, now after almost thirty months in office, this excuse for the July
9 fire is lame and disgraceful. Adding to the magnitude of the scandal is that President Granger, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan and APNU+AFC have admitted that they knew that the Camp Street inferno sixteen months ago and again on July 9 were fully expected, a disaster waiting to happen. Yet, even with full knowledge of an imminent disaster, by their own admission, there is little evidence of any real effort to improve security and conditions at the Camp Street Prison or in the prison system as a whole. In fact, little attention has been paid to the fact that there was knowledge by the authority that an escape was planned and little attention was paid to the fact that on July 9, with a prison population of 1,018, there were only nine prison officers on duty, half of them female. Commentators have not vigorously asked why the recommendations by an expensive COI after the first inferno were kept secret and not published to this day and why little to no action was undertaken to implement the recommendations. It is our country and we must face these facts, unpleasant and indigestible as they might be. The death of Officer Wickham cannot be subsumed by the fact that no
other officer or any prisoner died. That brings no comfort to his family. Even here there is a nauseating other element to the shifting narrative APNU+AFC wants to instill in people’s minds - Ramjattan claims that he is trying to provide a compensation of $1M to Officer Wickham’s family. This is not something for him to try to get. It is a compensation that has been catered for any officer whose life was lost. And the $1M compensation is a vulgar insult to this officer and his family, indeed, to all officers in the security force. Given his age, his death robbed him of earnings at present day salaries of more than $23M. But the furious effort on the part of President Granger, Ramjattan and the APNU+AFC machinery to change the narrative started even in the early hours and even as the inferno was ongoing. We cannot dismiss and not hold Ramjattan responsible for the reckless blaming of sugar workers and SUGAR for the inferno at Camp Street. He has not apologized for trying even as the disaster was unfolding to move the narrative from a deadly, destructive fire and dangerous prison outbreak to subsidies to the SUGAR Industry. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
Ministers deserve the perks that come from sacrifices they made DEAR EDITOR, “Fortune knocks once at every man’s door” Apparently fortune isn’t knocking “hard enough” at some person’s door. I want your readers to follow with me carefully in a letter published on the 8th of July in the media and I quote,” I think Minister Broomes is missing the essential point. It is about renting a house fit for kings ($500,000 a month) compared to the average rental which can be afforded by policemen, nurses, teachers, civil servants, taxi-drivers and senior clerks in private businesses ($45,000 to $90,000 a month). Many of these categories of workers earn an average monthly salary of $100,000 or less.” (end of quote). Can the lecturers, attorneys, judges, chancellors, advisors and distinguished English Language teachers please assist me with understanding that point? A famous songwriter once said,” If you can’t say something good about somebody, just shut up.” These three individuals
who will be announced later in this letter better take note of that song. My fellow Guyanese being a Minister (be it junior or senior) means that you are a “high social ranking” individual, it clearly states that,” you have worked your way up to the top, by having to endure many restless and sleepless nights and it also means having to leave yourself penniless and imperfect to fit other people’s wants, beliefs and needs and after doing all of these tasks your body needs rest Minister Simona Broomes is resting because she “deserved it (luxuriously),” but as I can see quite well is that Mr. Mike Persaud, Mr. Adam Harris and Dr. David Hinds are all pointing fingers and talking about “Insensitivity, Fairness and Decency” the only insensitive, unfair and indecent thing about it, are you sour-grapes people “feeding on other people’s success”. Somebody was speaking about the Philippine President wife’s shoes, (talk about insensitive irrelevance). I know that your readers
are aware that these three sour grapes people live in homes worth more than $30 Million dollars. If these people had principles of business skills and experience, they would have multiplied $500,000 by 12 months, then that amount by 4 years, that is equal to approximately $24 Million dollars far way less than the price of those three’s homes (apparently Mr. Persuad is trying to say that nurses, teachers etc., can’t afford a $24 Million dollar home) The government is just paying the $24 million dollars in installments of 5% a month and my people if you still agree with Persaud, Harris and Hinds, you can further it to the inquisitorial system because people that behave in this manner are the reason why we are termed a “Banana Republic and a Failing Economy”. Advise to the naysayers “before you naysay take a good look at yourself and your environment”. And I close my argument by saying, “Let us co-operate for Guyana.” Oshea Mingo
Monday July 17, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Anti-corruption advocate bemoans govt.’s sloth to bring whistleblower legislation The need for whistleblower protection legislation in Guyana is clear. What is not clear is the reason the APNU+AFC government is taking so long to have such a Bill and as such delaying its passage in the National Assembly. So said former Auditor General and anti-corruption advocate, Anand Goolsarran yesterday. He told Kaieteur News that Guyana has long been in need of such an important piece of legislation. However, Goolsarran said that the need has been magnified with the coming of an oil industry. A whistleblower is defined as a person who exposes any kind of information or activity that is deemed illegal, unethical, or not correct within an organisation that is either private or public. Goolsarran shared that he had been following closely the deliberations of the recently just concluded symposium on “Public Corruption and the Oil Curse” which considered the need to strengthen Guyana’s Procurement Act and to promulgate whistleblower protection legislation. That symposium was hosted by the Guyana Oil and Gas Association (GOGA) and the Caribbean Institute of Forensic Accounting (CIFA). At that forum, Trinidadian expert, Professor Afra Raymond said that more protections for ‘whistleblowers’ are needed
- Stresses importance of provision
Professor Afra Raymond in Guyana, along with a drastic overhaul of the nation’s procurement laws. He said that such measures are necessary to not only guard against, but prosecute corrupt activities emanating from the resource curse, associated with the influx of large sums of money into a country from commercial production of oil. In speaking to Kaieteur News about the need for whistleblower protection, Goolsarran was quick to point to the retaliatory action taken against Nurse Sheryl Marks of the Fort Wellington Hospital. Nurse Marks was transferred as punishment for her exposure Region Five Councillor, Carol Joseph’s abuse of Pethidine and the fact that she was able to access prescription for the highly addictive and costly drug for years. Goolsarran thinks that people like Marks need to be protected.
He noted that since November 2015, Guyana drafted legislation in the form of Protected Disclosures (Whistleblower) Bill 2015. He said however that consultations with civil society did not take place until eleven months later in October 2016. The anticorruption advocate noted that eight months have since passed and” it is not clear why the authorities are taking so long to have the legislation passed in the National Assembly and assented to by the President.” The draft whistleblower legislation identified three key objectives. These are, to assist in combating corruption and other wrongdoings both in the public and private sectors by encouraging and facilitating the making by employees of specified disclosures of improper conduct in good faith and in the public interest; to regulate the receiving, investigating or otherwise dealing with disclosures of improper conduct; and to protect employees who make specified disclosures from being subjected to occupational detriment. According to the Explanatory Memorandum to the Bill, the proposed legislation marks another step towards full compliance with the InterAmerican Convention Against Corruption that came into effect in 1996 and to
which Guyana is a signatory. The convention requires member states to consider creating, maintaining and strengthening the system to protect public servants and private citizens who in good faith report acts of corruption to the relevant authorities. The Bill contains six parts: Preliminary; Disclosures qualifying for protection; Provisions against occupational detriment; Receiving, investigating and otherwise dealing with disclosures; Oversight functions; and Miscellaneous. Goolsarran said that there are a number of important definitions in the Interpretation Section. He noted that perhaps the most important of these is the meaning of “disclosure” which is the disclosure of information made by an employee, regarding the conduct of an employer of that employee or another employee of the employer, where the employee has a reasonable belief that the information disclosed shows or tends to show that improper conduct has occurred, is occurring or is likely to occur. Goolsarran pointed out that “disclosure does not qualify for protection under the Act unless it is made in good faith and in the public interest. Nor is protection offered if an employee making the disclosure commits an of-
fence in doing so.” Improper conduct is defined in the bill as any conduct that tends to show that: a criminal offence has been committed, is being committed or is likely to be committed; a miscarriage of justice has occurred, is occurring or is likely to occur; the health and safety of any individual has been, is being or is likely to be endangered; the environment has been, is being or is likely to be damaged; gross mismanagement, impropriety or misconduct in the carrying out of any activity that involves the use of public funds or any financial resources, has occurred, is occurring or is likely to occur and information tending to show that any of the above has been, is being or is likely to be deliberately concealed. The draft act speaks to disclosures qualifying for protection and to whom disclosures can be made. The draft says that disclosures made by an employee to an employer qualify for protection if it is made to the employer where no procedure is in place for making disclosures. The draft bill stipulates that disclosures can be made to a Minister, the Auditor General; Bank of Guyana; Guyana
Former AG and anticorruption advocate, Anand Goolsarran Bureau of Standards; Rights of Child Commission; Commissioner of Police; Public Procurement Commission; Director of Public Prosecutions; Guyana Elections Commission; Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission; Integrity Commission; Guyana Revenue Authority; Environmental Protection Agency; Public Utilities Commission; and the Ombudsman.
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Monday July 17, 2017
Kaieteur News
Govt. to upgrade fiscal statistics to Moruca boat accident… reflect impact of future oil revenue Son’s body recovered, Local authorities have noted that there will be significant changes to Guyana’s fiscal landscape with the coming of oil and gas. Given this fact, moves are being made to upgrade Guyana’s fiscal statistics to reflect the impact of future oil revenue and to incorporate it in future budget projections. This is according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which produced a report on its 2017 review of Guyana’s economy. The report noted that fiscal statistics are disseminated through several Ministry of Finance (MOF) publications, including the Mid-Year Report on the annual budget, the Budget Speech and other
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
budget-related documents. IMF officials said that technical assistance delivered by the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Center (CARTAC) in 2016 focused on strengthening custom tariff classification and valuation, debt management, a review of VAT policy and administration framework and developing a medium-term macro-fiscal framework. The IMF report also noted the plans of local authorities to anchor future oil wealth management in a comprehensive legal framework. They sought the Fund’s advice on the recently drafted Natural Resource Fund legislation. Additionally, the Government informed the Fund that they are working on other key elements of the fiscal regime, including drafting the Petroleum Law and establishing a Petroleum Commission. They intend to use future oil revenue to help meet key development objectives based on a transparent and rules-based
framework. Furthermore, IMF staff encouraged the authorities here to undertake further steps to ensure financial sector resilience and deepen financial development. These involve enhancing the collection of bank and non-bank data and pursuing systemic risk monitoring, including of banks’ ownership linkages and related-party lending; implementing the new pension and insurance laws swiftly and thus aligning regulation and supervision with international standards; and designing a strategy for integrated development of the National Payment System to support the payment needs of the economy and financial deepening. IMF Officials said that the further strengthening of the supervisory and regulatory regime can help international banks exploit economies of scale and dampen the impact of losing Correspondent Banking Relations.
dad still missing
The body of an 18-yearold man was fished out of the Moruca River, Region One around 08:00 hrs yesterday, one day after he fell overboard during a boat accident. The dead teen has been identified as Ravin Piper, a farmer of Father’s Beach, a village between Moruca and the Pomeroon River. His father, 42-year-old George Piper is feared dead and up to press time, coast guards were searching the mouth of the Moruca River for his body. Kaieteur News was informed that a vessel owned by the Kumaka District Hospital collided with the 17-foot boat in which the father and son along with a third individual, whose name has been given as “Wood”, were travelling. The accident occurred around 01:00 hr on Saturday. The survivor reportedly told the police that he barely noticed when the other boat was almost on top of the vessel he was in and quickly managed to jump overboard. No one from the second vessel was injured. The 18-year-old was the
Dead: Ravin Riper
Feared dead: George Piper in his younger days
captain of the vessel and it is suspected that he might have died on the spot since the boat hit him first. Kaieteur News was told that when his body was pulled from the river, his face was badly damaged. His body is currently at the Charity Funeral Parlour awaiting a Post Mortem examination. Yesterday, George Piper’s sister, Paula Evans, said that she was informed that the young man went to Charity on Friday to make a purchase. “He drop off my brother somewhere in the Pomeroon River and when he was going
home back he stop to pick him up,” the woman noted. She further explained that they have a lot of relatives living in the area and suspected that the young man and his father stayed back to chat a bit. A little after 12:15 hrs on Saturday, they left for home. The accident occurred shortly after 01:00 hrs. Evans, who resides in the city said that both her nephew and brother are good swimmers but assumed that because they were struck by the other boat, they might have been unable to help themselves.
Monday July 17, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Contract employees and political change The Deeds Registry and the Commercial Registry have vacancies. They have advertised for applicants to fill the positions of Internal Auditor, Information Technology Systems Manager, Office Assistant and Administrative Assistant. The remuneration package for each of the positions provides for a gratuity which means that the positions are not public service positions. The persons selected to fill the vacancies will be on contract, even the office assistant. The APNU and the AFC,
when they were in the opposition, had lambasted the PPP/C for the large number of contract employees on government payrolls. The APNU and the AFC now form the coalition government and they are doing the very thing which they had condemned the PPP/ C about. They are employing large numbers of workers on contract rather than as public servants. The APNU+AFC made no bones that the system of public administration would have been different. They made it clear that there were
DEM BOYS SEH
far too many contract employees. So what really has changed in terms of the public service in Guyana? The staunchest supporters of the APNU+AFC will find it difficult to find five things which have changed for the better in the public service since the coalition took over just over two years ago. The public service continued to be inflated by contract employees. The faces have changed. The new government has imported their own supporters into the system. The public service is now bloated. Those affiliated or
MEK YOU BED HARD AND LIE DOWN PUN IT
De fire that bun down de Camp Street jail was a blessing in disguise because all of a sudden Soulja Bai know that he can’t build no more wood jail. Of course when dem white people did build de jail more than 100 years ago, things was under control. Most of de prison warden was white and most of de prisoners was black. Dem didn’t have ganja and cell phone and fuh sure dem didn’t have too much mixing between prison warden and prisoner. Nobody use to smuggle things inside de jail and all dem who play bad use to end up in Mazaruni wheh de big jail was brick. Times change and de prisoners smuggle in plenty things, even matches and lighter. That is how dem bun down de jail. Wha Baygon couldn’t do wid all dem bug and roach, de fire do. It even clean out all dem rat wha did live in Werk-en-Rust. But it was a curse because
de same people who set de fire had to sleep in a pasture. And then dem row. Dem boys want to know who gun bun down dem house and then row fuh get put in a hotel? Is when de rain fall and de pasture gather water that dem prisoners know how bad dem mek things fuh demself. Dem mek bad fuh dem soulja and police who had to watch dem because dem and all had to live in de pasture. And de rain wet dem too. Things also bad fuh dem who get away. Dem can’t find
nowhere to sleep properly. All of dem got red eye because dem got to sleep wid one eye open. That eye red from tiredness. Then food is another problem. One, one people smuggling food and give dem but even dem frighten. Dem don’t know if de people does eat meat or veggie without salt. Of course beggars can’t be choosers. Who got to sleep in pasture can’t demand fuh sleep in bed. Talk half and watch how you mekking decisions.
believed to be associated with the PPP/C are being slowly but surely weeded out. When the government first came into office there was a lot of talk about creating a professional public service. It was stated that persons who were on the list of representatives for political parties would not be considered for appointments within the public service. This commitment has been honored in the breach. Persons who were on the list of candidates of the PPP/ C were retained. One person who was on a regional list was actually promoted. One individual on the PPP/C’s list was actually retained as the Head of an agency. Persons on the APNU list were selected to fill senior positions which under a professional public service should have been advertised and filled by public servants. Political cronies have also been catapulted to high office in other government agencies and they are exercising
tremendous influence. Exmilitary personnel can be seen policing ministries and government agencies. Some of them hardly do anything. SOCU and SARU are yet to justify the faith which has been placed in them. They are yet to tell the Guyanese people who stole what, how much was stolen, where the proceeds are and how it intends to get them back. Instead, all kind of politically motivated charges are appearing while the Guyana people, long led to believe that the PPP/C was running a kleptocracy, are yet to see the hundreds of billions of dollars that was said to have been stolen and stashed away. Follow the money and you will find the criminal. A professional public service is supposed to be free of partisan politics. You cannot be painting the National Sports Hall and the Ministry of the Presidency in green and in the same breath want to have a non-partisan
public service. Party cards and nepotism cannot be the basis of creating a professional public service. A professional public service involves advertising positions and having a competitive process of applications and interviews. The handpicking of persons can lead to a situation in which the best person and the most competitive wage packages are ignored. Square pegs in round holes and overpriced employees will end up in the system. The fact that the PPP/C did something should not be the justification for the APNU+AFC doing likewise. Guyanese voted for change not exchange. By the way is it true that 25 percent of the annual education tax is being used to send a delegation to CARIFESTA?
Monday July 17, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Thieves escape with granny’s gold-plated teeth after brutal beating A 78-year-old woman was subjected to a brutal beating early yesterday- all because the two men who broke into her home wanted her gold plated teeth—and they did take them. Roohnee Mithuram of Lot 357 Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was choked, punched, slapped and had a pillow placed over her face around 03:00 hrs yesterday when two men in their midtwenties to early thirties gained entry to her home from a kitchen window. To wake her, the men placed a pillow on her face for several minutes and when she got up, she was punched in the face. They tied her feet and continued hitting her in the face while asking where she had the money and jewelry. In the end, the men escaped with the elderly woman’s teeth—even the ones that did not have gold, $6,000, three gold rings and personal documents. A police source said that the men escaped after the pensioner fainted and a
Roohnee Mithuram at the hospital yesterday. possibility exists that they thought she was dead. Yesterday, one of the woman’s relatives, Chandra Katwaroo, said that after she heard about the incident, she went over to the woman’s
home where she met her. The woman’s face was swollen and had black and blue marks. Mithuram was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where she was treated and sent home to rest. The pensioner related that she was in bed sleeping when the men went into her bedroom and put a pillow on her face to wake her. When she got up, they demanded that she tell them where the valuables were as they beat her. Not satisfied with what they had gotten and upon realizing that the woman had gold plated teeth in her mouth, they started punching her to get them out. “She had six teeth in her mouth. Now she has none and I am not finding any in the house so like they take all, even the ones that did not
have gold,” an angry Katwaroo posited. The woman added that the thieves did not spare the 78-year-old woman—they kicked her in the ribs, choked her and cuffed all over her face. “They really brutalize her. They take her passport and ID (Identification card) and even her wedding band that she wore for 62 years,” Katwaroo said. The elderly woman even passed out and when she got up, she realized that the men had gone. “She untied her feet and went to call out for neighbours but no one responded,” Katwaroo noted. She added that someone who would usually check on the woman found her crying sometime after 06:00 hrs yesterday while sitting in her
yard. The police was contacted and finger prints were taken. Katwaroo is annoyed at the fact that the thieves brutalized such an elderly
woman for money when in fact she lives on her pension. Since the passing of her husband, the 78-year-old woman has been living by herself.
GRA installing rigid systems... (From page 3) Fund was careful to stress on the importance of the Government putting in place, mechanisms to ensure the transparent spending of the oil revenue to come. In this regard, Directors attached to the global organization emphasized that sound fiscal practices suggest saving a share of the oil revenue for future generations. They said, “Oil-financed spending should be transparent and channeled through the budget toward projects that enhance the economy’s physical and human capital”. On a related note, the IMF commended the local authorities for drafting a Natural Resource Fund legislation and requesting the Fund’s technical advice on this topic. IMF Staff still stressed the importance of transparency and good governance in the management of the oil industry and even welcomed the authorities’ plans to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and adhere to the Santiago Principles for Sovereign Wealth Funds.
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Monday July 17, 2017
Kaieteur News
Sheet Anchor wife killer found hanging from tree After several weeks of searching for the deportee who viciously chopped his wife to death at her Sheet Anchor home, East Canje, the hunt came to an abrupt end when his decomposed body
was found dangling from a tree in the Canje River. Kaieteur News understands that the body of Goldburn December called “Goldie” was found yesterday morning.
Commander of B Division Ian Amsterdam confirmed with this publication that police found the remains after receiving a report that someone noticed a body hanging from a tree at the Fort Ordi-
nance Foreshore. “We got a call that a body was seen hanging from a tree, the ranks responded, of course they had to get in there by boat. They went in and brought the body out where his (the deceased’s) son positively identified him by a scar on his foot”. According to Amsterdam, the state of the decomposition of the body indicates that he would have committed suicide a little over a week. The son, Joshua December, relayed to this publication that he received a message from a villager that his father’s body was seen hanging in a tree. “When I get the message I borrow somebody boat and me and me friends dem go and search the bush where dem seh he deh. After we search we ain’t find he, so while swimming back to the boat, one ah me friend see something hanging from a tree and he seh how it look like me father.” According to him upon a closer inquiry he confirmed that it was his father. “The body did done buss up, so we go out back fo the police and they bring he out”. The young man explained that it was difficult seeing his father in such a condition since they were close and worked together. He noted that even though his father killed his mother he still had love for him. Just a few weeks ago while in the process of moving out from the Lot 19 Sheet Anchor premises, Mintie Karamchand was approached by her reputed husband Goldburn December. Both parties reportedly exchanged
Mintie Karamchand and her daughter a few words. When their 21-year-old daughter Drucilla December ventured to the lower flat of the two storey home, she found her mother bleeding profusely from wounds to her limbs. She said the wounds were inflicted with a chopper. Whilst holding her infant in hand, she attempted to save her mother by intervening but was ordered by her father to move. The young woman fled the yard and screamed for help, but no one came. An eyewitness recounted seeing Karamchand lying in a pool of blood and still breathing when December, still enraged, ran back into the yard to finish her off. He then escaped on foot. She succumbed at the New Amsterdam Hospital. The husband was reportedly deported from Suriname
Goldburn December called “Goldie” about a month ago and was staying at the Sheet Anchor home with Karamchand, their daughter and grandchild. The daughter stated that they were not romantically involved since her mother had moved on, however, this created jealousy on December’s part, and as a result there were frequent arguments between the two.
Teen inmate stabbed in Lusignan Prison brawl A misunderstanding between three inmates at the Lusignan Prison has left one prisoner nursing stab wounds about his body. Eighteen-year-old Allan Basdeo of Lot 4030 Zeelugt Squatting Area, East Bank Essequibo was on Saturday
evening stabbed to his lower back and abdomen after he was attacked by two inmates, with whom he had an argument. The attackers used improvised weapons to inflict the wounds. According to informa-
tion, the 18-year-old who is incarcerated on a simple larceny charge got into an argument around 20:45 hrs which resulted in him receiving several stabs wounds about his body. Basdeo was treated at the prison by a nurse.
Monday July 17, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Govt. takes CLICO’s no man’s land Trinidad Guardian - At the very end of the notes to the 2016 year-end audited financial accounts of beleaguered insurance giant Clico lies note 37. It reads: “To facilitate the implementation of the Resolution Plan, in January 2017, the Company was directed by the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago to take the necessary steps to effect the transfer of its 100% shareholdings in Occidental Investments Limited and Oceanic Properties Limited to the state enterprise Buccoo Limited. This transfer agreement was completed on March 2017.” In effect, this note says that Clico’s 100 per cent interest in Occidental Investments Ltd and Oceanic Properties Ltd, more commonly known as the No Man’s Land ocean property in Tobago, and carried on Clico’s balance sheet at a value of roughly $187 million, is now owned by the Government of T&T. One of the concerns arising out of this transfer, according to chairman of the Clico Policyholders Group Peter Permell, is the fact that
…Imbert: strict procedures for transfer to assets
Colm Imbert the Minister of Finance by virtue of the powers under Section 44D of the Central Bank Act can give general or specific instructions to the Central Bank in this particular transaction. Permell said: “What is troubling is the fact that the note is silent on the price at which the transfer took place and there was no indication in the note to the accounts of whether there was a gain or loss on the transaction. What that suggests is that this prime piece of real estate was transferred at the carrying
value as opposed to the fair market value. According to the Project Rebirth report prepared by PricewaterhouseCoppers (PwC), the fair market value of the property is estimated at circa $867 million. This represents a substantial difference in value of $680 million.” The process of selling and/or transferring Clico’s assets requires oversight by the Central Bank for accountability and transparency, statutory independent valuations in accordance with Section 44D of the Central Bank Act and consultation with the Minister of Finance under Section 44F (5) of the said act.” According to Permell, the deficit in 2016 came down from roughly $1.2 billion in 2015 to $910 million in 2016 and had this transfer been done at fair market value, “the $910 million deficit shown on Clico’s balance sheet, causing it to appear technically insolvent, would
PM puts Brakes on Govt. Vehicle Sale to Ministers The Gleaner - Prime Minister Andrew Holness has told members of his Cabinet that they will not be allowed first preference to purchase the vehicles assigned to them after three years. This follows confirmation that between January 2015 and December 2016, sixteen members of the former People’s National Party (PNP) government purchased the vehicles which were assigned to them. The former PNP officials spent a total of $19.6 million to purchase vehicles after the State had spent $64 million to buy them. The oldest vehicle sold to former ministers had been purchased four years earlier, while one former government official bought his Mitsubishi Pajero in January 2016 as it hit the three-year mark. When the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration was voted out of office in 2011, ten of the former ministers purchased the motor vehicles which were assigned to them. Since taking office this time around, the JLP administration has spent some $115 million to purchase vehicles for its ministers, with a 2016 Prado Land Cruiser
Andrew Holness valued at $8.8 million being the most expensive and a 2016 Mitsubishi Pajero valued at $6.4 million the cheapest. No new vehicle was purchased for Holness, who continues to travel around the country in the vehicle which was used by his predecessor. Now the prime minister has decided that the country’s coffers can no longer afford this luxury and has told members of his Cabinet and the attorney general that they will no longer have first preference in the sale of the vehicles assigned to them. According to a Sunday
Gleaner source: “The sale of the assigned vehicle will be treated the same as a fleet vehicle, but the Cabinet ministers and the attorney general will be allowed to participate in the bidding for these vehicles.” The source added that under the new policy, where a state official decides to change his vehicle after it has been fully depreciated, the transport manager must decide if it can be moved into the general fleet or if it should be placed on the auction block. “The PM has told the Cabinet that they can continue to operate a vehicle that has been assigned to them until it becomes uneconomical to operate, so there will be no more of this thing that the day after the vehicle reaches three years old the minister buys it at the depreciated cost,” added the source. Wi t h t h e H o l n e s s administration still reeling from the $8-million telephone bill racked up by Finance Minister Audley S h a w, t h e s o u r c e s a i d Holness has also laid down the law that no minister should exceed the US$55,000 (J$7 million) cost insurance and freight cap.
have been reduced by a further $680 million, moving the company even closer to solvency.” He said this transaction was a glaring example that if all the assets on Clico’s balance sheet are revalued at their current market value, this would totally eliminate the apparent insolvency position of the company that now exists. Permell said what was equally troubling is the manner in which the transaction was carried out. “Based on the manner in which the transaction appears to have been done, it conceals the $680 million worth of value that the Government actually received from Clico and conversely a loss of value to the company and by extension policyholders.” Permell is also questioning why this transaction has not yet been disclosed by the Government to the taxpayers of T&T. He said: “The note clearly states that the transaction had been completed since March 2017 and we are now in July (some four months later). And as far as I am aware, to date, the public has not heard anything about this. I am therefore now calling on the Minister of Finance for full disclosure on the particulars of this transaction.” For the year ended December 2016, Clico recorded an after-tax profit of $447.3 million. This
represents a 50 per cent decline from its 2015 figure when the company registered $894.3 million in profit after tax. Finance Minister Colm Imbert, responding to a text message from the Sunday Guardian on the matter last night, said, “Reports on the monetisation of Clico’s assets and repayment of the money spent by the Government of the Republic of T&T are laid in the Parliament and in court at regular intervals. There are strict court ordered procedures for disposal or transfer of Clico’s assets to repay the Government.” He said any transfer or sale of assets that take place in an intervening period is recorded in the next report that is laid in Parliament and in the court. This is done at regular intervals. Imbert further directed the Sunday Guardian to the Clico Resolution Plan, which was announced by the Central Bank in March 2015. Central Bank’s Clico Resolution Plan was developed to repay all creditors and policyholders and to ultimately facilitate the transfer of Clico’s traditional insurance portfolio to a suitable buyer by ensuring that enough appropriate assets are put aside. Clico Resolution Plan that you need to remember: 1. Government, as the single largest creditor of Clico, will receive $4 billion in 2015, and the balance of around $3 billion in lieu of
Peter Permell cash upon the transfer of three Clico assets, Angostura Holdings Ltd, CL World Brands Ltd and Home Construction Ltd. 2. The 1500 non-assenting STIPs policyholders will receive 85 per cent of their claim or about 950 million dollars in three months, and the remaining balance after the sale of Methanol Holdings International Ltd. 3. Creditors outside of the Statutory Fund such as nonGovernment mutual fundholders and nonresidential Short Term Investment Products policyholders will be paid following the sale of Clico’s RBL shares and other assets. 4. The policyholders who accepted Government’s offer of bonds and shares in the Clico Investment Fund will be no worse off. 5. The claims of British American Insurance Company Trinidad Ltd (Bat) policyholders will also be settled.
Venezuela opposition votes en masse in plebiscite to defy Maduro CARACAS (Reuters) - Lining up before dawn and honking horns, Venezuelans voted in large numbers yesterday in an unofficial referendum organised by the opposition to push for President Nicolas Maduro’s exit and an end to nearly two decades of socialist rule. The symbolic poll, which asked voters’ opinion on Maduro’s plan for a controversial new congress, was aimed at denting his legitimacy further amid a crippling economic crisis and months of anti-government protests that have led to around 100 deaths. The opposition has cast the vote, taking place at some 2,000 centres around the country, as an act of civil disobedience that will be followed by “zero hour,” a possible reference to a national strike or other escalated actions against Maduro. Lines formed early at makeshift polling stations at theatres, sports fields, and traffic circles in the oil-rich nation of 30 million as Venezuelans furious over food shortages and rampant inflation sought to make their voices heard. There was a festive atmosphere under the Caribbean sun, with people blasting Latin American music, honking car horns, waving yellow, blue and red Venezuelan flags, and
chanting “Yes we can!” Hooded men on motorcycles lobbed tear gas at two polling stations in the southern jungle state of Amazonas, the state’s governor told Reuters. But no other major security incidents had been reported by early afternoon. Despite a strong turnout, the opposition vote does not appear to augur a short-term change of government or a solution to the country’s political stalemate. Maduro, 54, has denounced the plebiscite as illegal and meaningless. Instead, the former bus driver and union leader is campaigning for an official July 30 vote in support of the proposed new assembly, which would have the power to rewrite the constitution and dissolve state institutions.
PAGE 22
EDUCATIONAL I.A.E – Registered now for full-time secondary school, lessons, CXC/CSEC classes, adults, students, repeaters. Call: 683-5742/621-7365 SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigration Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496/ 662-6045
WANTED 1 Accounts Clerk, preferably from E.B.D – 5 subjects CXC minimum @ gtcareers592@gmail.com 1 live in domestic- Call:6741767 Hire car driver with valid license. Call: 225-3234 Experience taxi and bus drivers at Princess taxi service. Call: 616-5419 Experienced taxi drivers and dispatcher. Call: 622-6413/ 667-9013 One male experienced merchandiser apply in person @ James Trading, 136 Regent Street. Call: 226-0114
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 677-7827, 6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIAL OFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494 AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 MASSAGE Neisha’s Massage Spa. Call: 674-8147
Summer Classes for slow learners in Maths, Phonics, Reading, Spelling and much more. Call: 675-4379 Summer Classes: Phonics, Reading, Language, Mathematics, Art & Craft & fun day (4-12yrs) July 17th- August 11th @ Roxanne Burnham Gardens-Tel:218-2076; 619-4355 INSTITUTE OFACADEMIC EXCELLENCE: Registration commenced for I.A.E Secondary school, forms 15, termly fee -$30,000. Call: 683-5742/621-7365 Summer School ages 4-14, Rising Star Academy, Phonics, Reading, Mathematics, Science. 5 Weeks: July 17-Aug18. Call: 677-0296
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Property for rent - 2 storey house at Republic Park, E.B.D $1200USD. Call 647-1773 Fully furnished luxury apartment to rent 2 & 3 bedrooms, long and short term stay. Call: 665-3505 1 Fully furnished apartment at Victoria Avenue Eccles, E.B.D, inclusive of: parking, cable, internet & 2 bedrooms (oneAC). Call: 667-2536 One big two bedrooms top flat house at Phoenix Park, lot 20 West Bank Demerara. Call: 643-9286 One bedroom apartment, well secured for working couple or single person $35,000 monthly, light & water included. Call: 638-8858
Rising Star Academy: Register now for kindergarten & Grades 1-4, build a strong foundation for common entrance. Call: 6770296
Repairs to refrigerators, gas stoves, A/C units, washing machines. Call Lindon: 6411086/ 694-2202 Eagle’s: Re-gas -$8,000, Washing machine repairs, Gas Stove, Plasma flat Screen, computer repairs & more. Call: 697-2969/646-0966 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
Monday July 17, 2017
Kaieteur News
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Paint Sale! Until supplies last! Coloured latex paint, 50% discount. Call: 265-3541/ 6954785/616-3411 German shepherd puppies. Call: 220-2277/220-8904/6291471/639-5466 Fluffy puppies. Tel: 619-6086/699-7077 Sale @ The warehouse, Lot 1 Melanie Public Road, E.C.D. Tyres: 445, 65, 22.5, 1400/20 new, 295, 80, 225. Call: 6985203 Greenheart wooden building only complete with all accessories, sliding door, windows & grills etc. Bargain! Price negotiable. Call: 227-4285 1 Set of used magrims, 4 holes 17". Call: 685-6874/653-2477 House and land for sale. Latest Toyota Tundra and Tacoma Parts. Tel: 646-8594.
VACANCY Office clerk, apply at Survival Lot 10 Vlissengen Road, Newtown, Kitty. Accounts clerk with 5 Subjects or more @ Trophy Stall Bourda Market. Cleaner/Janitor Shakoor’s Seafood, Eccles. Call: 233-2546/ Male fish cleaner @ Shakoor’s Seafood Eccles. Call: 233-2546 Security guards, apply manager @ Herdmanston Lodge, 65 Peter Rose & Anira Streets, Queenstown. One experienced female Accounts Clerk- Apply in person to Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street Bourda. One female general domestic apply in person to 65 Robb Street Bourda. Male with experienced in poultry farming to work on chicken farm in the interior, age 25-45yrs. Call: 680-2702 Experience Tutor/ nanny to read, teach & care for 2 years old from 12:00hrs to 5:30pmCall: 623-1615 Farm worker, interested person only. Call: 265-3586
LAND FOR SALE La Parfaite Harmonie (main road) - $2M, $1.6M, $1.4M, $1.8M, Herstelling -$3M, Tuschen - $1.2M, Farm $3M. Call: 666-2326 La Parfaite Harmonie $1.6M, $1.4M, $1M, $2M, Eccles - $5.5M, Herstelling $3M, Tuschen - $1.2M, $5M. Call: 604-6724 or 686-9608
PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461
House lots in Blankenburg $3.5M. Contact-6500402\603-1402
One three bedroom concrete house for sale Contact Mala: 917-254-2909, location: Vryheid’s Lust, North. Call: 699-4111/626-2208
MINING BLOCKS FOR SALE @ OMAI & CUYUNI NEAR BUCKHALL GY$2,500,000 EACH. CALL: 622-7563
One concrete three bedrooms house for sale at Block 8 Mon Repos -$17M. Call: 645-8543
2 ½ Acres riverside land, 5 Acres land with 5,000 sq.ft building, Brickery, East Bank Demerara. Call: 653-2477/6856874 Prime land to build that dream home. Not far from Princess, New Thriving, Massy, HJ water world $13M neg- Call: 669-8397 Land at Well Street Ogle, E.C.D, back lot, 65feetX105feet - $12M. Call: 625-1514 26 Happy Acres, East Coast, 5,830sq (53X110), 25 Million, negotiable. Call: 614-4358 FOR SALE/RENT Large 3 bedrooms house upstairs/downstairs @ Parfaite, Recht- Door-Zee, for sale or rent 40,000 monthly. Call: 690-5061 or 667-0022
Cook/ Baker for interior. Applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020
VEHICLE FOR SALE Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pit-bull – Call: 650-7501 (2) 2010 Vitz - $2.2M negotiable each, 2010 Suzuki swift & Nissan March - $2M negotiable each (all unregistered). Call: 649-7771/690-7155 New model, Toyota IST, late PVV series, female owner $2.65M. Owner Migrating. Call: 686-8985/621-3072
2006 Audi – A4 PRR series$3.1M. Call: 623-3839
Transported property for sale at Bush Lot village E/Bo. Price $10M negotiable. Call: 695-9932
Pitbull bus super GL with magrims and music. $2.4M negotiable- Call: 667-5681
Property at lot 4 James Street Albouystown, suitable for business, price $50M, negotiable. Call: 666-2645/ 266-5655 Property @ Eccles “BB” main road for living or business price -$55M. Call: 613-6815 TO LET 1 Two bedrooms bottom flat at Patentia Housing Scheme, W.B.D- Call: 646-2120 or 6033119
Register Now! Summer Courses in cosmetology & nails 7th -18th August; Cost: $20,000. Limited space available. Call: 618-2417
1 Toyota Vigo, 4 wheel drive immaculate condition, make an offer. Call: 225-3234
Need cash? Selling your house/land? Call:(592) 6817120
1 Transported property. Call: 265-3586
SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. -CosmetologyCourses:$120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257
(2) RX8 black ported powered engine, red no engine. Both $2.2M neg. Tel/ whatsapp- 680-3298 serious inquires only.
LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 6222872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).
Just in from UK Leyland DAF 145, 150 Flatbed 7.5 tons, immaculate condition. Call Terrence: 698-5203 1 Extra cab Hilux pickup, 5L Diesel GVV series, test drive offering. Call: 673-3335/6043275/233-6218 TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
ACCOMMODATION Journey Inn apartment rental, short term with AC & Kitchen, as low as -$15US. Call: 642-1783/ 646-3011634/ 718-2301695
Monday July 17, 2017
Kaieteur News
Eight to 10 Republicans have concerns on healthcare bill: Collins WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - Eight to 10 Republican U.S. senators have serious concerns about Republican healthcare legislation to roll back Obamacare, moderate Republican Senator Susan Collins, who opposes the bill, said yesterday. The Senate, which is delaying its consideration of the bill while Arizona Republican Senator John McCain recuperates from surgery to remove a blood clot, will take it up as soon as all senators are available, Senator John Cornyn, the second-ranking Republican senator, said. McCain’s absence casts doubt on whether the Senate would be able to pass legislation to repeal parts of the Affordable Care Act, Democratic former President Barack Obama’s signature legislative achievement, commonly known as Obamacare. Collins is one of two Republican senators who have already said that they would not even vote to open debate on the latest version of the bill released on Thursday, meaning one more defection from the Republican ranks could kill it. Republicans control the Senate by a 52-48 margin. With the Democrats solidly opposed to the legislation, the Republicans can only pass
the bill if all their other members back it and if Republican Vice President Mike Pence casts his tiebreaking vote in favour. A Washington Post-ABC News poll published on Sunday showed Americans preferred Obamacare by a 2-1 margin. Approaching six months in office, Trump’s overall approval rating has dropped to 36 percent from 42 percent in April. While Collins said that she did not know if the legislation would ultimately pass, she said as many as 10 Republicans have doubts about it. “There are about eight to 10 Republican senators who have serious concerns about this bill,” Collins told CNN’s “State of the Union” programme, faulting the bill
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa’s human settlements minister Lindiwe Sisulu accepted the nomination of some African National Congress (ANC) branches to lead the ruling party, she told local media. Sisulu, a veteran cabinet minister and a member of a family that along with the Mandelas were among the most prominent in the struggle against apartheid, joins a crowded race to succeed scandal-plagued President Jacob Zuma as ANC leader in December. At least six branches of the ANC have nominated Sisulu as leader and she has publicly accepted, the state broadcaster SABC reported. “I have agreed,” Sisulu told the eNCA news channel in an interview on Sunday, adding that she had a daunting task ahead to return the “dignity” of the ruling party and
securing a majority in the 2019 general election. Sisulu and the ANC could not be reached for comment. Z u m a ’s g o v e r n m e n t has been dogged by allegations of corruption and influence peddling and media reports about a trove of leaked emails has heaped pressure on him to allow a judicial commission to investigate graft claims. Members of the ANC have pushed for the president to step down as have alliance partners trade union federation Cosatu and the South African Communist Party (SACP). With campaigning yet to start, Zuma has openly backed former African Union president Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to whom he had once been married, while Cosatu and the SACP have voiced support for deputypresident Cyril Ramaphosa. The SACP at the weekend said it was
Susan Collins
for its major cuts to the Medicaid government health insurance programme for the poor, which she said would harm rural hospitals and nursing homes. “I don’t know whether it will pass, but I do know this, we should not be making fundamental changes in a vital safety net programme that’s been on the books for 50 years - the Medicaid programme without having a single hearing to evaluate what the consequences are going to be,” she added. Republican Senator Rand Paul also reiterated his opposition to the bill, which he described as “terrible” because it retained many of the Obamacare taxes and subsidies. “The current system is terrible,” Paul said on Fox News Sunday. “I don’t think Republicans should put their name on this. It is a bad political strategy and it will not fix the problem.” The bill unwinds Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion over three years, from 2021 to 2024. But it goes beyond repealing Obamacare by imposing drastic cuts to Medicaid that deepen in 2025. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill would cut Medicaid by nearly $800 billion by 2026, and would cut Medicaid 35 percent come 2036.
South Africa’s Sisulu starts bid to lead ruling ANC
Lindiwe Sisulu mulling contesting the next general election on its own - a first for the party, whose leaders have been included in ANC-led cabinets since the end of white minority rule in 1994.
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Brexit talks start in Brussels with 20 months to go BRUSSELS (Reuters) Brexit Secretary David Davis launches a first round of negotiations on Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union today when he meets the EU’s Michel Barnier for four days of talks between their teams in Brussels. A month after a first meeting where the two exchanged gifts inspired by a shared passion for hillwalking and spoke of the mountain of complexity they must climb, the Frenchman will press Davis to agree to Britain covering substantial British financial commitments and offer more detail on other British proposals. With little more than a year to settle divorce terms before Britain leaves, deal or no deal, on March 30, 2019, the 27 other EU national leaders want British Prime Minister Theresa May to rally her divided nation s w i f t l y b e h i n d a c l e a r, detailed plan that can minimise economic and social disruption across Europe as its second biggest economy cuts loose from the continent. Davis and Barnier will shake hands for the cameras at the European Commission’s Berlaymont headquarters at 9:15 a.m. (0715 GMT) before a first full session of talks. “We made a good start last month, and this week we’ll be getting into the real substance,” Davis said in remarks prepared for delivery ahead of the meeting. “Protecting the rights of all our citizens is the priority for me going into this round and I’m clear that it’s something we must make real progress on.” His office described an offer made by Britain last month as “fair and serious”, though Barnier has dismissed it as falling short of the EU demand that its 3 million citizens in Britain keep all their existing rights for life and have recourse to the EU courts to enforce those rights even after Britain has left. Negotiators will break into groups discussing four key areas of priorities before a planned news conference on Thursday. Barnier, who secured Davis’s consent last month to the EU’s broad structure for talks, wants to hold the Englishman publicly to whatever else has been agreed during the week, EU officials say. Working groups will focus on three areas: citizens’ rights; the EU demand that
David Davis
Michel Barnier
Britain pays some 60 billion euros ($70 billion) to cover ongoing EU budget commitments; and other loose ends, such as what happens to British goods in EU shops on Brexit Day. A fourth set of talks, run by Davis and Barnier’s deputies Oliver Robbins and Sabine Weyand, will focus on curbing problems in Northern Ireland once a new EU land border separates the British province from EU member Ireland to the south. Some of that will have to wait for c l a r i t y o n f u t u r e t r a de relations. One key early advance that EU officials hope for this week is for Britain to stop challenging the principle it will owe Brussels money — though how much will have to be argued over and cannot be calculated until Britain actually leaves. Three more weeks of talks, interspersed with internal EU sessions to coordinate the views of the 27 other
governments, are scheduled, from late August until early October. At that point, Barnier hopes to be able to show “significant progress” on the divorce priorities for EU leaders to give him a mandate to launch negotiations on a future free trade agreement. Davis and May had pressed over the past months for trade talks to start immediately but accepted the EU’s sequence for negotiations last month. However, Brussels accepts that details on the divorce terms will still be open when trade talks begin. In a sign British ministers are coming round to the EU view that a trade deal can at best be sketched in outline over the next 20 months, two members of May’s cabinet who were on opposing sides of the Brexit referendum debate both said they expected some transitional phase to start in 2019 to smoothe the passage from full EU membership to a final free trade pact.
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Defiant Erdogan attacks EU, backs restoring death penalty NKARA/ISTANBUL (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan yesterday defiantly stepped up his attacks on the European Union, saying Turkey had to go its own way and vowing to bring back the death penalty if parliament passed it. At the opening ceremony of a memorial dedicated to the roughly 250 people who died in last year’s failed coup, Erdogan accused Brussels of “messing about” with Turkey’s decadeslong bid to join the bloc. The speech in the early hours of yesterday wound up a marathon session of public appearances by Erdogan in both the capital and Istanbul overnight to mark the anniversary of last year’s defeated coup. “The stance of the European Union is clear to see ... 54 years have passed and they are still messing us about,” he said, citing what he said was Brussels’ failure to keep promises on everything from a visa deal to aid for Syrian migrants. “We will sort things out for ourselves. There’s no other option.” Ties with the West were strained when European governments voiced alarm at the scale of the crackdown that followed the coup. Some 150,000 people have been sacked or suspended from their jobs and more than 50,000 detained on suspicion of links with the U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for the attempted putsch. Erdogan also said he would approve, “without hesitation” the death penalty, if parliament voted to restore it — a move that would effectively end Turkey’s bid to join the EU. “I don’t look at what Hans and George say. I look at what Ahmet, Mehmet, Hasan, Huseyin, Ayse, Fatma and Hatice say,” he said, to cheers from a flag-waving crowd. Erdogan, the most popular and divisive politician in recent Turkish history, sees himself as the liberator of pious millions who were deprived for decades of their rights and welfare by the secular elite.
Monday July 17, 2017
US beat Nicaragua 3-0 to clinch top spot in Group B CLEVELAND (Reuters) A late goal from Matt Miazga helped the United States to a 3-0 win over Nicaragua in the Gold Cup on Saturday and ensured the hosts top spot in Group B on goal difference. After Panama beat Martinique 3-0 in the earlier Group B game, the U.S. knew they needed to win by three clear goals to avoid a quarterfinal match up against Costa Rica, one of the tournament favorites. “Clearly a good result for us,” said U.S. coach Bruce Arena. “It’s a game where we wasted some opportunities and made things hard on ourselves,” he added of his side missing two penalties. The hosts took the lead after 36 minutes when Joe Corona’s deflected strike got him on the international scoresheet for the first time in four years. The Americans’ second goal also came thanks to a deflection when Kelyn Rowe’s shot outfoxed keeper Justo Lorente at his near post. Miazga got the crucial
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third, his first international goal, when he headed home a Graham Zusi free kick with two minutes remaining. The Nicaraguans, who were already out the tournament after losing their first two games, were down to nine men at the time after they had Luis Copete sent off for two bookable offences, while another was receiving treatment on the sidelines. The result was particularly harsh on Nicaraguan keeper Lorente, who saved second half penalties from Dom Dwyer and Corona. The top two teams from each of the three Gold Cup groups advance to the quarter-finals along with the two best third-place teams. In the only quarter-final match up already decided, Panama will face Costa Rica, while the U.S. must wait to find out who they face. Canada and Honduras have also qualified. Mexico, Jamaica and El Salvador are battling to qualify from Group C.
Federer crushes... From page 32 mid-match meltdown that had fans nonplussed. “It didn’t hurt so much that it was putting me in tears. It was just that feeling that I wasn’t able to give the best.” SHAKY START Nerves were apparent for both men as Cilic opened the 131st men’s final with a shaky service game. Federer, who lost serve only four times in the fortnight, saved a break point at 12 and in the next game. At 2-2 Cilic took a tumble to the turf trying to reach a Federer dropshot and followed that with two lame backhands to hand master front-runner Federer control. Scenting blood, Federer polished off the first set before breaking Cilic to lead 3-0 in the second. Cilic slumped to his chair, sobbing, as the physio and doctor stood by and for a moment it looked as though the final might end in a retirement for the first time since 1911. Cheered on by the crowd, Cilic returned to the fray but any sense of a real match had vanished as Federer raced through the rest of the second set. After treatment on his stinging feet, Cilic at least showed some spirit to detain Federer for 40 minutes in the third set. But the outcome was never in doubt as the Swiss, eyes narrowing for another batch of records, broke in the seventh game before wrapping up the match with his eighth ace.
Froome survives French... From page 31 were trapped at the wrong end of the split. Froome’s rear wheel broke and he was assisted by team mate Michal Kwiatkowski. Team Sky’s Mikel Nieve and Vasil Kiryienka then pulled Froome along in their wake as they trailed Bardet’s group, which contained Aru and Rigoberto Uran, by 45 seconds. The Briton made up the time on the ascent of the Col de Peyra Taillade, an 8.3-km climb at an average gradient of 7.4 percent, with the help of team mate Mikel Landa, who briefly dropped out of the Bardet group to tow his leader back. Bardet and Aru, who opted to stay in the wheels of the Frenchman’s team mates in the punishing ascent instead of upping the pace to finish Froome off, jumped away on the final climb but were easily reined in. Ireland’s Dan Martin pedaled away on a flat section after the descent to gain 12 seconds on Froome and the other favorites. Martin is now fifth overall, 1:12 off the pace.
Republic Bank renews August Holiday Camp Educational Sponsorship The long standing and highly successful relationship between Republic Bank and the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS, was renewed for the 11th successive year on Thursday last. The Bank at a simple presentation ceremony at its Rose Hall Town Branch handed over a cheque worth $174,000 to the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club as sponsorship of the 11th annual Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club/ Republic Bank Educational August Holiday Camp. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that since 2007, the Bank has been sponsoring the Camp which caters for Grade Six students preparing for entrance into Secondary School when the new school term begins in September. The main objectives of the Camp which started on Monday 10th July, 2017, are to prepare students for a successful; transition to Secondary School, to promote the importance of discipline and education, while educating youths on their status as role models. The Camp is being conducted by Senior Educator, Rohan Etwaru and students would be taught Maths, English, Social Studies, Integrated Science and Spanish. The
Manager Assistant Seema Brijemal hands over sponsorship to RHTYSC Executive Sohan Harry while staff members look on. students would be involved in learning to play the game of cricket and also be part of the lectures on a wide range of topics of interest to them. These topics include Depression, Personal Hygiene, Suicide, Manners in the Classroom and Choosing Friends among others. The long serving Club Official disclosed that over 600 students have benefitted from the Camp over the years and stated that almost all of them were able to make a successful transition to Secondary School. He expressed gratitude to the
Management and Staff of Republic Bank, especially the Rose Hall Town Branch for their co-operation over the years and described the Bank as a true friend of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club. Special mention was made of Theresa Foo, Manager’s Assistant Seema Brijemal and Branch Manager Harry Dass Ganesh. The Bank also cosponsors the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Annual Magazine, Award Ceremony, Rose Hall Town Anniversary Celebration, Charity Programme and is the sponsor of the RHTYSC/
Republic Bank Under-17 Cricket Tournament. Each child attending the Camp would receive a school bag and exercise books, while the top ten students would also be honoured at the end of the five weeks Camp. The Camp is been organised by the eight cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club - Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Metro Female, Gizmos & Gadgets Under-21and First Division Teams.
13th P&P Insurance Brokers Junior Tennis Camp gets underway today The Guyana Tennis Association is preparing to host its 13th P&P Insurance Brokers Junior Tennis Camp starting today. Children between the ages of 6-11 will be trained at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from 9:00am, while those between the ages of 12-18 will be trained at the National Racquet Centre at Camp and Woolford Avenue from 12:00noon. The camp is the most significant annual junior development event after the end of the school year and it usually attracts at least 50 young children who enjoy learning the rudimentary principles of playing tennis in a fun and creative environment. The camp provides a potent avenue for the introduction of many new players to clubs for further training. Vikash Panday, son of Mr. Bish Panday, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited, represented the company in yet another of their outstanding contributions to the
Vikash Panday presents the sponsorship cheque to GLTA President Jamal Goodluck in the presence of GLTA Vice President Grace McCalman and P&P staff members. development of sport in general. He pledged their support for the 13th year in succession, urging all participants to give their best efforts and continue to persevere towards success. He pointed out the committed effort of longest standing executive member, Grace McCalman, from the inception of the camp supporting the administration of local tennis in all its forms and also recounted playing
doubles with his sister Varsha Panday and former national coach Debbie Bunbury. He pledged continuous support for local tennis on behalf of his father and the P&P Insurance Brokers. President of the GLTA, Jamal Goodluck, reiterated his appreciation for corporate support for local tennis to reach its pinnacle. This is what keeps tennis alive as there is limited support otherwise that hinders rapid progress.
The camp will be conducted by Coaches Shelly Daly, Leyland Leacock and Assistant Coaches from the National Junior Team Daniel Lopes, Jordan Beaton, Kalyca Fraser who have all initially benefitted from the P&P Tennis Camps in their early tennis career. The camp runs from Today, Monday July 17th to Friday August 4th on weekdays only. Players can register by calling 645-2901.
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Noble House Goals Galore Indoor Hockey C/Ships
GCC Vintage, Pizza Hut GCC Ladies ensure GCC win the ‘double’
Kevin Spencer’s 21 goals captured the male title for most goals and is flanked by Donyale Nurse of Saints (right), the best goalkeeper and Sonia Jardine of Pizza Hut GCC (left) most goals. (Sean Devers photo) It was action galore as the curtains came down on the Noble House Goals Galore Indoor Hockey Championships on Saturday night at the National Gymnasium with a couple of pulsating finals which climaxed a well run and entertaining tournament with GCC teams giving their club the ‘double’ with victories in both the male and Female categories. Watched by good size and vocal crowd, which included former National Rugby Captain Ryan Gonsalves, the sensational men’s final could
have gone either way with less than a minute to go but GCC Vintage showed they were like good wine and eventually scraped home with an upset 10-8 win to hand Bounty GCC their first defeat in the tournament in very hot conditions. Pizza Hut GCC ladies defeated Saints 16-12 to capture the female trophy to give GCC, Guyana oldest and most famous club, both titles and plenty of bragging rights. GCC Vintage began with a +6 goal handicap, one more than Bounty’s +5, and scored the first goal in the second
Port Mourant Training Centre wins Rollers Volleyball competition in New Amsterdam The Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) once again successfully completed another volleyball tournament with the playing off of the Rollers Volleyball Club one day Volleyball extravaganza which was played last Sunday at The GTM Court in New Amsterdam, Berbice. The day began with prayer and blessing by the executives. A total of 10 teams participated in the day’s competition which saw three different categories played: males, female and juniors. Among the males teams that competed were Port Mourant Training Centre (PMTC), Under 18, Police Recruits and hosts Rollers Volleyball Club of New Amsterdam. Among the females were: - Port Mourant Female and Corriverton Jets. The teams that participated in the junior category were: GTCPM1, GTCPM2, Corriverton Jets ‘A’ and Corriverton Jets ‘B’. In the end it was the (PMTC) lads that came out tops in the senior category after defeating the U-18 combination 26-24 in a close encounter that went down to the wire. The female competition saw Port Mourant females getting the better of their counterparts from Corriverton Jets 2-0. The winning scores were – 21-18, 21-17. The junior male category saw PMTC1 defeating Corriverton Jets A 25-20 to take the first place in that division. At the end of the competition the top teams were presented with trophies compliments of the Rollers Volleyball Club.
minute of the enthralling encounter when Devin Hooper collected an accurate pass from Patrick Edghill from the right and finished the job by beating custodian Micheal Hing in clinical fashion. Bounty midfielder Mark Sargeant scored four minutes later when Hooper stopped a penalty corner bullet on the line but Sargeant flipped the rebound into the net. Vintage would reel off three unanswered goals with one more from Hooper which was set up by a skilful overlapping run by right back Rawl Davson and two goals from Edghill. Bounty GCC made a late surge with two penalty corner goals from tournament highest goalsscorer Kevin Spencer but
Kenesnsa Fernandes scores as Goalie Donyele Nurse is left stranded on Saturday night. (Sean Devers photo) they were too little too late and fell two goals short trying desperately to beat the clock. Earlier, Vintage had prevailed by one goal in an exhausting semi-final matchup against the OFHC Warriors. Saints, considered the underdogs, surprised many of the more experienced sides to book their place in the grand finale after a hardfought semi-final battle against the Woodpecker Hikers which Saints secured a 13-9 victory. With GCC starting on zero and Saints enjoying a +12 goal handicap, the Pizza Hut ladies, who won all of their matches comfortably, had their work cut out in the keenly contested final, especially with the
goalkeeping heroics of tournament best goalkeeper Donyale Nurse who managed to deny a multitude of attempts throughout the tournament. It took GCC five minutes to breach Nurse but no time after that to get their second. The Pizza Hut ladies piled on the pressure and amassed eight goals by the half but Saints were matching them ‘shot for shot’ and at the end of the first stanza GCC knew they were in for a brawl with score 8-12 in favour of Saints. The second half produced a dominant display from Pizza Hut GCC as their crisp passing and unique skills bewildered an inexperienced Saints defence. GCC scored eight more goals in the second half, while not
conceding a single goal. Pizza Hut GCC cantered to an emphatic victory as their five leading goal-scorers of the tournament each stamped their mark on the final. Marzana Fiedtkou and Gabriella Xavier netted four each, tournament top-scorer Sonia Jardine and Aliyah Gordon scored hatricks, while Kerensa Fernandes added a double. At the Presentation the Male and Female Champions received Trophies and Medals as did the runnersup, while Donyale Nurse of Saints (best female goalkeeper), Sonia Jardine of Pizza Hut GCC (most goals 14) and Kevin Spencer of Bounty GCC (most goals 12) were also rewarded. (Sean Devers)
GCC Vintage were the Male Champs on Saturday night at the Nat Gymnasium. (Sean Devers photo)
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GFF appoints int’l Dave & Celina All Stars crowned 2017 Guinness team coordinator for ‘Greatest of the Streets’ National Champs female programme Showstoppers end third The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has appointed Paul Beresford as its International Team Coordinator for the female programme including the senior female national team, commonly called “Lady Jags”, and the female youth national teams. Beresford, whose appointment was made on 1st July, 2017 and will be effective until 1st July, 2018, has been a longstanding partner of the GFF. Among his primary responsibilities will be creating scouting and recruitment networks for our female national teams, implement overseas Talent ID Camps, coordinating ‘Lady Jags’ overseas based training camps, tracking and monitoring performance of ‘Lady Jags’ and youth players, coordinating the ‘Lady Jags’ International Programme, ensuring clear communication links to all our overseas-based players, liaising with the Women’s Development Officer (WDO) to ensure there is an integrated system for locallybased ‘Lady Jags’ players and assisting in the continued development of our GFF Women’s Programme both locally and overseas. Beresford’s appointment is strategically placed in the new structure for women’s football in Guyana as envisioned by the Executive Committee and developed by the Technical Director, Ian Greenwood. Greenwood, in an invited comment, explains: “This appointment will continue to strengthen the international outlook and professionalism of our female programme. Tracking and monitoring of our overseas
Paul Beresford ‘Lady Jags’ is a crucial part of the role to ensure we have up to date information on our players. Mr. Beresford is also tasked with the scouting and recruitment of potential new players at all age groups for the female programme which will be done with a clear and robust recruitment strategy. Overseas Talent ID and training camps will help ensure our ‘Lady Jags’ teams are in the strongest possible shape when competition and international engagements are upon us.” Greenwood added: “It’s fantastic that Mr. Beresford is on board as he has in-depth knowledge of female football both in Guyana and abroad, we are positive that his energy and passion for the role will improve the quality of the female programme.” Currently, the National U17 Women’s team is encamped preparing for the CONCACAF Caribbean Women’s U -17 Tournament, scheduled for the 9th– 13th August, 2017 at the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora.
Winning Combo! From right, Owner of Dave & Celina All Stars Lalta Ramdehol, Keon Sears, Gerald Gittens and Kennard Simon. By Franklin Wilson Playing almost flawless football and displaying excellent team spirit and understanding, the Bauxite Mining Town of Linden has seen its very own, Dave & Celina All Stars crowned the 2017 Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ National Champions on Saturday night at Demerara Park, Thirst Park. Witnessed by a colourful crowd, the clash of Linden vs the West Side saw the lads from Linden featuring three National Beach Soccer players, Captain Kennard Simon, Keon Sears and Cordel Johnson; humble their rivals from the West Side, Hustlers, in dominant fashion, 4-1. They were led by one of the best athletes in this format
of the game, the indefatigable elder statesman, Rawle ‘Bony Man’ Gittens who blasted a double, the first and final goal in the 6th and 20th minute; having already netted a hattrick in the semi final encounter, earlier in the night. Captain Kennard Simon added his name on the score sheet in the 12th minute as his side out-hustled, Hustlers. Keon Sears made his presence felt adding to the teams’ success with a goal on 19 minutes. The new champions earned for themselves the winning purse of $550,000 and trophy with the losers receiving $300,000 and trophy. The third place match featured Showstoppers taking care of Silver Bulllets 1-0 to lift the third prize of $200,000 and trophy, while
fourth place attracted a prize of $100,000. The new champs, exuded confidence throughout the championship at the regional and national levels and received the unflinching support of team owner, Lalta Ramdehol who was present at all their matches. Their small band of supporters who made the trip down to the City to cheer them on did not leave disappointed as Dave & Celina All Stars were the start act on the night. They were in similar winning form in their semi final match against fellow Linden side, Silver Bullets, edging them in a thriller, 4-3. Gittens blasted home goals in 20th, 30th +1, 30th + 4, while his Captain accounted for the other goal
in the 29th minute. For Silver Bullets, the players on target were Jamaine Samuels in the 30th, 30th + 6 and Damion Williams in the 8th minute. Showstoppers’ Hubert Pedro was their star in the third place match as his 4th minute strike made all the difference against Silver Bullets which failed to fire. Hustlers had earlier won their semi final match 1-0 against Showstoppers on account of A Donald McKenzie 18th minute goal. Soaking in all the action on Saturday night were Guinness Brand Manager Mr. Lee Baptiste, Director of Sport Christopher Jones and Managing Director of Colours Boutique, Mr. Milton Branford and Communications Director of Banks DIH, Troy Peters.
Froome survives French coup attempt to retain Tour de France lead LE-PUY-EN-VELAY, France (Reuters) Chris Froome survived an attempted coup by Romain Bardet’s AG2R-La Mondiale team in a treacherous, hectic 15th stage to retain the Tour de France overall leader’s yellow jersey yesterday. Dutchman Bauke Mollema, the strongest and smartest of the breakaway riders, who had three top 10 finishes on the Tour, won the 189.5-km stage from Laissac-Severac L’Eglise but the action was elsewhere. Defending champion Froome was first caught at the end of a split caused by French team AG2R-La Mondiale, who continued to press the pedals when the race leader suffered a mechanical problem shortly before the key climb of the day. The Team Sky leader kept his cool, however, and powered his way back to stay on top of the general classification with an 18-second advantage over Italian Fabio Aru. “It was a stressful moment. I thought I
might not get back to the front,” said Froome, who takes the yellow jersey into Monday’s rest day. “I’m just grateful I survived today. Tomorrow is a rest day so I will regain some energy and hopefully be fresh for the third week.” Bardet, who enjoyed huge crowd support in his home region in the Massif Central, while Froome was booed at one point, stays third 23 seconds off the pace. Colombian Rigoberto Uran is fourth six seconds further back. BROKEN WHEEL A week after Aru had attacked just as Froome suffered a mechanical problem, the Briton again had trouble with his bike and, as the race was on, none of the main contenders waited for him. AG2R-La Mondiale accelerated suddenly at the front of the peloton with some 45-km left and Froome and some of his team mates Continued on page 29
Froome finished 28th in an eventful 15th stage yesterday. (Reuters)
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GABA action shifts indoors due to weather UG Trojans lead night’s winners with 101-63 triumph over Cobras
Federer crushes suffering Cilic for 8th Wimbledon title
Action in the GABA tournament was shifted indoors to the Sports Hall due to the inclement weather. The Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association in Collaboration with Banks DIH through their Malta Supreme, Powerade and Rainforest Waters brands continued with night five of their 1st, 2nd and Under-23 division tournaments, which are all being played simultaneously. Due to the inclement weather, play was moved from the scheduled playing venue, Burnham Court, to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Saturday evening. Three matches were played with the first scheduled to start at 6 pm; that game however, bounced off an hour later, an Under-23 encounter between UG Trojans and Cobras. The University lads won that game convincingly 101-63. A much needed win for the Trojans that will help boost team morale after successive humiliating defeats to Eagles in the Under-23 and second divisions. Trojans led the game from the first quarter, extending their lead after each period of play for an eventual 38 point win. Kadeem Peterkin and Shaquille Adonis both scored 17 points in the collective effort for UG. They got valued support from Aleste Lewis 12 points, Tafari Joseph 10 points, Darrol Williams 9 points and Sherland Gillis 8. For Cobras, Akeem Morrison’s game high 19 points supported by Amonike John 17 points and Rawlewayne Payne 10 points was not enough to overcome UG Trojans who were starving for a win. The Second match was in the 1st Division contest between reigning champions Bounty Colts and Knights. Bounty made very light work of Knights as they blew them out by almost 50 points in the 103-55 victory. It was business as usual for the
Bounty Colts Sheldon Thomas attempts a pass.
number one club in Georgetown, Colts, as they raced to a 20 point lead in the first quarter that finished 34-14. It could have been a more embarrassing scorecard for the Knights but they managed to curb Colts scoring in the third quarter with only 16 points being netted in that period of play to increase their tally to 87 after finishing the first half on 71 points. But, the Knights scoring continued to be poor and they stood no chance moving from 45-87 in the third quarter to 55-103 at full time. Shelroy Thomas was on fire in the win, he scored 26 points, sinking 3 three-pointers in the process. Adding to the rout were Shane Webster with 19 points, Sheldon Thomas, who scored 14 points, including two three pointers and Errol Dryden 9 points. Kester Gomes was the stand out player for Knights with 14 points but he couldn’t prevent the humiliating defeat. The third and final game of night 5, the second 1st division match of the night which was contested between Pepsi Sonics and Ravens, was the closest of the three games played. Ravens won that game 62-43. The 40 minute match was very close throughout. Prior to the start of the fourth quarter, Ravens lead marginally with the score 42-40. Disappointingly, Sonics only managed to score three (3) points in the fourth quarter against the ravens 20 points, failing to show any fight as the Sonics suffered a 4th quarter blowout. Dominic Vincente was the main man for Ravens in the good team win with a leading 15 points. Ryan Gullen supported with 10 points. Trevor Smith 9 points and Earl O’Neil 8 points were the main contributors for the losers, Pepsi Sonics.
Federer kisses the men’s singles trophy after beating his opponent Marin Cilic in an hour and 41 minutes on Centre Court. (AFP/Getty Images) LONDON (Reuters) Behind Roger Federer ’s artistry and charm lies a ruthless streak of razor-edged steel which surfaced again yesterday as he thrashed suffering Marin Cilic 6-3 6-1 6-4 to secure a record eighth men’s Wimbledon singles title. The incomparable Swiss turned his 11th Wimbledon final into a procession as tearful seventh seed Cilic, battling his nerves and a bloody blister, suffered a torrid afternoon. Federer described Cilic’s predicament as “cruel” after ending his torment with an ace after one hour 41 minutes — but there was no hint of sympathy as, 23 days before his 36th birthday, he became the oldest Wimbledon men’s singles champion. That attitude from the third seed, who last triumphed at the All England Club five years ago, was not surprising since Federer’s dream of title number eight had been shattered by Novak Djokovic in the 2014 and 2015 finals. His take on Cilic’s injury spoke volumes for the killer instinct that has earned him a record-extending 19 majors and taken him past American Pete Sampras’s record of seven men’s singles titles at Wimbledon in the modern era. “I couldn’t tell what it was,” Federer said. “But if I saw him limping around, or if I saw him pull up hurt, I would start to think, maybe I’ll throw in a dropshot to really check him out, then one more, because that’s what you do. “You need to hurt him where it hurts already.”
It was not really necessary as Federer enjoyed one of his easiest title victories. Having reached the final without dropping a set, he was braced for Cilic’s power tools but, apart from the first four games, resistance from the Croat was about as daunting as a man brandishing a stick of celery. In winning the tournament without the loss of a set, Federer matched the 1976 feat of Swede Bjorn Borg and his own run 10 years ago at the Australian Open. LATEST MILESTONE His latest milestone continued a remarkable resurgence for Federer, who took six months off last year before returning to win the Australian Open — ending a five-year wait for an 18th grand slam many thought would remain elusive. “I’ve got to take more time off, I don’t know!” said Federer, whose family has doubled with the addition of twins Leo and Lennart to go with twin girls Myla Rose and Charlene Riva since his 2012 title — all of whom were watching yesterday. For Cilic, who beat Federer in the U.S. Open semifinals before going on to claim his sole major in 2014, his first final at the citadel of tennis, was a living nightmare. In pain from a blister, his legs appearing tied together and his mind in turmoil, Cilic seemed on the verge of quitting as the tears flowed and the crowd murmured in embarrassment. “I got a really bad blister,” Cilic said, explaining his Continued on page 29