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

EDITORIAL UNETHICAL SOCIETY In Guyana, those who have eyes to see, should be able to see that there is now an abundance of evidence that we live in a society in which the laws are being broken and the respect for life and property is at its minimum. Our society has become corrupt and lawless and is being overrun by bandits who prey on the elderly and the innocent. Drugs lords and violent gangs are responsible for the crimes which have afflicted and defaced the nation for more than a decade. Although police data show that crime is reducing, the media continues to report to the public almost every day about some robbery. Murders are so random and senseless in society that the killers do not even know why they are killing. Today, children especially boys, do not have proper role models in the home and have turned to crime as a result of peer pressure. Women are being disrespected, raped, physically abused and sometimes murdered; children are being physically and sexually abused a n d e x p l o i t e d a n d bribery and corruption are rampant in s o c i e t y. Minimum wage continues to be substituted for slave labour and an unconscionable banking and monetary system is ripping o ff t h e m a s s e s t o e n r i c h t h e w e a l t h y a n d p o w e r f u l f e w. I t h a s b e c o m e i n c r e a s i n g c l e a r t h a t w e n o w live in a society where the rich are getting richer and the poor are becoming poorer. Efforts by the ruling elite to reverse this unethical and immoral trend are made daily but the change will not happen overnight, maybe, in the long run. Many believe that most of the traditional moral values of society have been cast aside for a modern culture that focuse s o n s e x i s m , violence and crime. Even the movies glorify such a new society to the extent that the gullible in our midst accept such a life as the norm. They would only relate to what they know. Any other life portrayed would be seen as unreal and fictitious. But in the real world the family is the bedrock on which society is built. Indeed many are waging a relentless war agai n s t t h e m o r al values embedded in the family structure. They are seeking to replace it with an immoral modern culture. Should they succeed, the family structure may one day suffer the same fate as the monastic way of life in western Christianity or it might eventually become redundant and disappear altogether. To the extent that society has lost some of its moral values in many countries including Guyana, one just has to take a c a r e f u l l o ok at what is happening in some of the most powerful countries in the world. Same sex marriage is accepted in the United States, Canada, Britain and many other developed countries. Children are al l o w e d t o g r ow in homes comprising two daddies or two mummies. They are taught at school that such a family structure is morally and socially acceptable. It should be clear to everyone that not only societal values are being attacked but the institution of the traditional f a m i l y i s b eing destroyed. Guyana is a classic example of a rapidly collapsing society in terms of moral behavior. It is suffering from incurable p r o m i s c u i t y. It is being asked to tolerate an increasingly gay and lesbian lifestyle. The society is being told that it should not discriminate. That being the case the society is becoming less rigid and less formal. Despite its intolerance of same sex marriage and other aberrations like child marriage, it is seen as collapsing.

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Sunday July 02, 2017

Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com

APNU+AFC’s POLITICS OF DECEPTION CONTINUES Dear Editor, In my last two commentaries, I addressed the politics of deception practiced by the APNU/AFC in respect to the sugar workers and the sugar industry both in Opposition and in Government. In this article, I continue along the same vein. While in Opposition, the APNU/AFC promised accountable and transparent governance; borrowing a phrase from Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Mr. Moses Nagamootoo promised “lean and clean” government; they promised “to cut fat” etc. Permit me now to walk you through some factual issues, as I demonstrate the sophisticated levels of deception, sophistry, and in some instances, plain vulgarity, perpetrated and perpetuated against and upon the people of this land in violation of those

promises to which I referred. The first major signal of colossal chicanery on the part of the Administration emerged in a press report in one newspaper in August 2015, that Cabinet approved increases in salaries for Ministers and other office holders by 50%. A senior Minister of the Administration, who hosted the post-cabinet press conference of that week, came out swinging with the Government’s unqualified rejection of what he termed, “a most wicked and malicious rumour”. He appeared visibly upset. He assured the nation that the coalition Government would never do such a thing. The nation swallowed hook, line and sinker. Within a month thereafter, an inconspicuous Ministerial Order, in a most remote part of the Official

Gazette was stumbled upon by an industrious reader, which shocked the consciousness of this nation. It revealed salary increases by over 50% for the Prime Minister, Vice Presidents, Ministers of the Government and other office holders. The outrage further intensified when it became k n o w n t h a t t h e unconscionable increases in salaries were made retroactive to July the 1st, meaning, that the first month’s salary received by this Government for virtually doing nothing after the May 11th Elections, was flatly rejected. It became obvious that the foolish intention was to conceal such vital information from the very people upon whose backs this humongous financial burden was imposed. The Government’s first

reaction was one of embarrassment. Attempts at justification flew from every corner of government. When they did not succeed, the embarrassment transformed into arrogance. The very Minister, who stoutly denied that the Government was planning any such salary increase, impudently declared that the public should “get over the salary increase and move on” and from the floor of the National A s s e m b l y, h e b o l d l y announced that the Government will make no “apology” for the same. The same level of opaqueness and guile that permeated the atmosphere surrounding the astronomical salary increases now envelope the payment of outrageous rental for living accommodations for (Continued on page 5)

Sunday July 02, 2017

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Le Repentir is the worst graveyard in The selling off of sugar will bring fat profits windfall rightly and correctly signed off on all works and the to foreigners that belongs to Guyana and components that were delivered there, and a Sexton who is data? the world and installed at Skeldon. Many Guyanese. The canals, which form in touch with everyone, DEAREDITOR, DEAR EDITOR, The recent epiphany experienced by City Councillors of the Georgetown Mun i c i p a l i t y, a t t h e i r l a s t statutory meeting, particularly those who were there for the last two decades, regarding the ostensible disorder and lawlessness that accompany funerals is just pathetic to say the least. These modern day Rip Van Winkles seem unaware that this has been going on for years now, to which they had all turned a blind eye. The city of Georgetown became uncontrollable and unmanageable under their watch over the last two decades. First of all, they keep referring to Le Repentir which was created in March 1861 as a cemetery. It is not. At best it is a graveyard. But more practically, the Le Repentir graveyard has to be the worst graveyard in the world. It is a complete eyesore. A cemetery is a burial place where the grounds are neat and attractive, clean avenues and pathways, well-kept lawns and lots of specially planted trees and shrubs, in variety, flower beds here and

easy to approach, sympathetic in nature, and courteous at all times. No human being who has left this life deserves to have a final resting place as decrepit as what lies south of Princes Street in Georgetown. A person who bids a final farewell to his or her loved ones, find it extremely difficult if not impossible one year later to locate the burial sites where their loved ones have been interred. And alas! These Councillors are arguing about whether or not music should be played at funerals. A visit to the brightly painted green Le Repentir office building where the burial records are kept reveals that these records are not in order which results in a s e r i o u s p r o blem of not being able to locate where family members, relatives and friends are interred. And these Councillors prefer to spend hours debating about the disruption of traffic, the noise, and alleged drunkenness of the attendees at funerals. Should they not be focusing instead on computerizing burial records and

the northern and southern boundaries of the cemetery, including the inter-locking side trenches, are clogged with grass and all sorts of unmentionables. There is bush everywhere in Le Repentir and the pathways are impassable and the Councilors are arguing instead about the so-called damage to the fence. The grave diggers and other workers in the graveyard do not have the requisite tools and safety gear; and they are most times paid their salaries late and are still awaiting the payment of their leave passage allowances which should have been paid since the beginning of the year, but the Councillors are more concerned about ‘who goes to dance up and wine up and when they don’t even know who died’. Be reminded that some of these very Councillors were attendees at such festive like funerals in the past. Those Town Hall meetings are more like stand-up comedy shows rather than serious business where levelheaded and rational persons set policies for moving the city forward. Riley Matthews

It was quite interesting to read an article on June 28, 2017 which reported that Governmentappointed sugar salesman, Wesley Kirton stated that several foreign-owned companies have expressed interest in investing in the sugar industry. Mr. Kirton mentioned, among other things, that there is talk about investment into a sugar refinery to tap the lucrative Caribbean market. In a previous letter, I did share with the Guyanese public a GuySuCo document in which the sugar company advised the Government to inform investors about the potential for sugar refining and the windfalls that can be had. Clearly, from Mr. Kirton’s statements the investors have been advised and they are naturally enthused. It is saddening that the state-owned sugar company is operating in such a hand in glove manner especially when

The article goes on to say that among the interested parties is US multinational American Sugar Refiners (ASR), one of its subsidiaries being Tate and Lyle. ASR was a name, I understand, among those interested in acquiring Skeldon, but they were seeking a straw buyer to make the purchase on their behalf à la D. Rampersaud of Trinidad and Tobago. ASR, I was also made to understand, had meetings with very high ranking Guyanese officials abroad. One can’t help to wonder whether any pact has already been sealed. ASR also has some interests in Booker Tate. The latter had managed GuySuCo in the past and also, through a separate contract, managed the design and supervision of the Skeldon factory as well as the accompanying agricultural expansion. Their ‘experts’ had approved and

are aware that the current GuySuCo CEO, who according to what I have read in the press is exorbitantly paid, was at one time a senior Booker-Tate official. The point here is that we see the entrance of ASR into the fray at the same time one of its former senior official heads the Corporation. Well it does seem that the puzzle is slowly coming together and the picture is becoming clearer. One cannot help but see what is an apparently a wellrehearsed and very much laid out plan that would see billions of dollars rightly belonging to GuySuCo and Guyanese being siphoned off to aristocrats in foreign lands. If my memory serves me right, wasn’t national ownership of sugar in the mid-70’s after independence one of the high points of the LFS Burnham administration? Well! Well! Well! Patricia Persaud

APNU+AFC’s POLITICS OF DECEPTION... From page 4 Ministers. It is now pubic knowledge that the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and senior Ministers of the Government are entitled to a housing allowance of $25,000 GYD per month by law. Alternatively, the government may provide living accommodations for them. There is no provision in the law for such allowance to be paid or such facility to be provided for junior Ministers. Also, as the Clerk of the National Assembly pointed out

to me in a recent letter, there is no legal authority authorizing the payment of rental of living accommodations for a Minister, a fortiori, a junior Minister. Boxed in a corner, the Clerk was forced to resort to the innovative mechanism of an “administrative decision” as a justification for the payment of rental at a rate of

$500,000 GYD for Minister Broomes. The truth is that barring the President, the law does not authorize any public official to pay public monies in such circumstances based upon “administrative decisions.” I will continue my analysis in a follow-up letter. Anil Nandlall

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Sunday July 02, 2017

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Some persons are trying to dominate cricket administration out of power lust Dear E d i t o r, I wish to bring to the attention of the cricketing public of Berbice and the country at large the illegal action of the “de facto Berbice Cricket Board”. These persons prevented the legally elected executives of the Berbice Cricket Board of Mr. Anil Beharry and others from functioning in 2015. H o w e v e r, t h i s c o n strained board actually survived harsh times and functioned admirably by competing at all levels of cricket in the region, without the subvention from the Guyana Cricket Board. It is now public knowledge that the persons who would have acquired the restraining order against the then Berbice Cricket Board have teamed up /or joined hands with the gullible, power hungry members of the former Anil Beharry Administration. This was to seize control of the Berbice

Cricket Board with the h e l p a n d advice of the power crazy individual who claims to have national cricket development at heart, but instead wants to satisfy his personal ego of controlling Guyana’s cricket and by extension the lives of so many young Guyanese people. These people who portray themselves as good, honest and disciplined individuals, and who profess to want to develop Berbice cricket are but pawns in the wider net of an individual who is using them for personal glory. They are not developing Berbice cricket but destroying it. A typical example is the composition of the teams selected to represent Berbice, the overhaul of the First Division Level to include clubs supportive of this “de facto cricket administration, former national youth cricketers being told that they will never have a chance to wear

national colors again unless they play for a particular club and the list goes on and on. Therefore it is no wonder that this honest, disciplined and good administration would seek to have one of their own “bad fellows” be appointed to manage country teams, who it is alleged have in their camp a non-selectee on tour for dubious reasons. So Mr. President, is this how we develop cricket in Berbice Further, Editor it was bought to the attention of the Berbice Stakeholder Committee that Mr. David Black who portrays himself as the chairman of the Competition Committee, has circulated a registration form for teams wishing to play Second Division with a stipulation that $1000 must accompany the returned registration form. This is unheard of and a practice that the Berbice Cricket Board ruled against years ago in the interest of cricket de-

velopment. We wonder if cricket is now only for the elite and w e a l t h y. T h e B e r b i c e Cricket Stakeholders Committee endeavors in the strongest terms to prevent this elitist practice. We the Berbice Stakeholders Committee would therefore like to inform all cricketing supporters, cricket lovers, the business committee and most importantly cricket clubs and players of the anti-cricket policies of these power drunk persons who want to destroy cricket in Guyana. We also reiterate that the only surviving persons from the 2014 Berbice Cricket Board a r e ; Q u a l i s Wi n t e r, D . Sumwaru, Veeren Walters, Angella Haniff , Albert Smith, Hubern Evans, Rabindranauth Saywack, Julian Cambridge These members/executives have not been removed in anyway by any election since 2014. Communications Office Berbice Cricket Stakeholders Committee

The Opposition may not agree to the appointment of CJ and Chancellor DEAR EDITOR, The judiciary is an extremely important arm of the government on July 17 the acting Chief Justice will make an important ruling on the criteria for selection of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission. Two days ago eyebrows were raised when the chief magistrate read a search warrant in open court. Guyanese of all walks of life are looking on with great concern, to see what’s the next move by the Granger administration, in the appointment of judges and magistrates. This is important because it is anticipated that in addition to the number of high profile criminal cases pending, more politicians will be hauled before the Courts to answer charges for wrong doing and many constitutional issues may come up for determination by the Court. It is a known fact that both the government and the

opposition are sensitive to certain issues especially those dealing with the judiciary. There is also disagreement hence the reason why Carl Singh and Ian Chang were not confirmed as Chancellor and Chief Justice respectively and now it is almost likely that the nomination by the current administration for the Chancellor and Chief Justice might not get the nod of the opposition. This is very unfortunate. However, the Granger administration will get the upper hand that while the opposition has to agree with the confirmation of the two top judicial appointments consent is not required in the appointment of appellate court judges as well as puisne (first instant) judges as well as magistrates. Moreover the Chancellor and Chief Justice can function in acting capacity for an indefinite period as was in the case of Singh and Chang. Judges (other than the Chancellor and Chief Justice) are appointed by the Judicial Service Commission (JLS) which comprises the acting Chancellor, acting Chief Justice, retired judges Prem Persaud and Lennox Perry, and President of the Public Service Union Patrick Yarde. Magistrates have the power to adjudicate in criminal cases in which they can impose lengthy sentences and as such the charges against the six Rice Board high ranking officials will be heard by a Magistrate since the indictable charges were changed to summary charges Oscar Ramjeet

Sunday July 02, 2017

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Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Town Clerk with the required qualification

Will the “Basil Williams’ Law School” materialize and be recognized?

DEAR EDITOR, It is rather shocking and indeed disappointing that some very senior municipal officials of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown are apparently ignorant of the difference between ‘General Rates’ and ‘Property Taxes’. The distinction is extremely important and should not be flippantly interchanged as it is particularly misleading. For some time now the citizens of our capital city have been subjected to what is either the poor use of English Language, a deliberate act of deception or a complete lack of knowledge by persons who are in leadership positions at the City Council - who refer to general rates as rates and taxes. At the moment, crude attempts are being made to embarrass defaulting property owners in the Garden City, in a reckless effort to force them to cough up scarce monies so

IDCE in Region 2 is not functioning DEAR EDITOR, The Essequibo Branch of the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (I.D.C.E) in Region 2 is not functioning in the best interest of its students, who are made to suffer through no fault of their own. For no justifiable reason it was revealed that more than one year has elapsed after satisfying their financial obligations for graduation (already completed), but yet for all, they cannot be provided with their certificates. Being in possession of a certificate was considered to be ever so important especially when a p p l y i n g f o r a job a n d moreso it makes no sense to withhold it after strenuous studies to achieve something of value as an asset for life. It was noted that the present ugly situation is also hampering enlistment for future courses with a question being asked; what will happen t o p r e s e n t s tudents now undertaking courses? A call was made for the relevant authorities to look into this matter and to bring about improvements within the educational facility; it is a vital service to the district. Agnes Johnson

that the fat cats at City Hall could continue on their spending binge of paying enormous salaries, doling out cash to contractors who were never subjected to transparent tender processes such as the Toilet Fiasco etc. But as they rashly go down this self-serving path, someone needs to tell the Mayor, Councillors, the Town Clerk, the Public Relations Officer of the Council and the host of a ridiculous programme titled ‘Georgetown on the Move’ that general rates must never described as ‘property taxes.’ Such solecisms by municipal officials causes much confusion to property owners when they are confronted with property taxes which are leviable by the Commissioner of the Guyana Revenue Au-

thority, on the total property of taxpayers which comes into consideration when the owner of landed property seeks to sell or transfer it to another, requiring the obtainment of a Certificate of Tax Compliance from the GRA. The confusion arises when the seller of that landed property is being asked by the GRA to provide property tax return claims, which they quite wrongly believe that they have already paid to the city council whose officials quite inaccurately but colloquially refers to as ‘rates & taxes’ in their public statements rather than general rates. This is why the Council needs a Town Clerk with the requisite legal qualifications as specified in the job description of that position. James McConnell

DEAR EDITOR, In January, 2017 the media carried banner headlines announcing “ L AW S C H O O L F I NALLY” when they carried a story that Attorney General Williams had negotiated with a private Jamaican university to establish a Law School in Guyana. The School will cater for those who cannot be

admitted into the Hugh Wooding Law School. Hugh Wooding is the only recognized Law School in the Caribbean and graduates of the “ L AW S C H O O L F I N A L LY ” w o u l d n o t b e recognized to practice. It would be just like doing Law at the School of Nations University which I believe works with the University of London.

Half-a-year has passed and we have not heard a n o t h e r w o r d f r o m M r. Wi l l i a m s . U G s t u d e n t s are now wondering if Williams has hoodwinked them. Would Mr Williams now urgently make a statement clarifying the situation? G. Mitchell Faculty of Humanities and Education University of Guyana

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Search warrant controversy...

Only Magistrate can explain her actions – Ramjattan Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, has said that only the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, can explain why she read an application for a search warrant by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) in open court, thereby alerting the affected party. Ramjattan told Kaieteur News recently, that he was surprised at how the Magistrate handled the matter. “I do not like to make comments – being a President of the Guyana Bar Association for some years – in demeaning terms for any Judge or Magistrate, we do have our ethics. But I rather thought that it was surprising what she did. But she may have got good reasons for doing that, I don’t know. But it is not generally the way you proceed with a search warrant. A search warrant also has the element of surprise in it. You do not go tell the person necessarily,” Ramjattan told Kaieteur News.

Sunday July 02, 2017

Kaieteur News

Former Attorney General and Opposition Member of Parliament, Anil Nandlall.

Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.

The Minister urged the media corps to ask the Magistrate, “If that is how she thought it ought to be done” while sharing his opinion: “I don’t know that is how it is done.” The Chief Magistrate’s action has come under scru-

tiny by a number of persons within the legal fraternity. Magistrate McLennan raised eyebrows a little over a week ago, after she dealt in the aforementioned manner with an application made by SOCU in relation to a search intended for the home of

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan. former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall. SOCU had planned to raid Nandlall‘s home to retrieve 15 LexisNexis Commonwealth Law Reports in his possession, and for which the state is claiming ownership.

Security Guard shooting… Killers captured on camera Surveillance footage at the Good Luck Supermarket where 64-year-old security guard Gerald Henry was killed has captured two men scuffling with him before overpowering and shooting him with his own gun on Friday. The incident happened around 18:30hrs at Lot 8 Block X, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The footage has been handed over to investigators in ‘C’ Division where it will be processed before it is released to the public to make it easier for the lawmen to capture Henry’s killers. Kaieteur News was informed that the men wore hats to conceal their identity but whilst wrestling with the elderly man, their faces were revealed—but at least two investigators in the division said that their faces are not familiar. “They seemed new because when they shoot the man (guard) they panicked and run away and didn’t rob the supermarket,” one of the

Gerald Henry investigating ranks posited. He said, too, that the men might have panicked further when they realized that their faces had been revealed before the cameras. Gerald Henry of ‘C’ Field Sophia, Georgetown was shot once to the chest. Kaieteur News was informed that the victim was standing inside the (Continued on page 63)

Sunday July 02, 2017

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Dem boys seh... PPP should explain what it did with $348B in EU sugar money - Harmon GECOM panty and half-slip showing

Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon The Wales estate river front operations are now silent. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) should come out and explain to sugar workers what it did with more than $348B in European Union (EU) funding it received between 2006-2013. The amount of money disbursed by the European Union was announced last week by EU ambassador, Jernej Videtic, who also said it is unlikely at this time that the bloc would consider more support for the troubled industry. The money was supposed to have been plugged into projects that would make the Guyana

Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) more competitive as well as be able to explore diversification. However, the industry is in dire straits. Its fortunes have steadily declined over the last two decades with cost of production now said to be three times the world market price. Wales estate was closed by the administration last December and two more Rose Hall and Enmore - are likely to face the same fate. The administration has made it clear that the 17,000strong workers industry is placing a massive strain on

the rest of the economy. On Friday, asked what his administration would have done with $348B in EU grants, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said that it is clear that if the money was spent in the sugar industry, Guyana would not be facing the situation of having to bail out GuySuCo to the tune of billions of dollars annually. “This is a huge sum of

money that clearly did not go where it was needed.” Harmon, speaking during the post-Cabinet briefings at the Ministry of the Presidency, noted that the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, under whose watch the slide of GuySuCo continued, has been calling for a number of inquiries with regards to this administration. Continued on page 57

People from time to time would call on dem boys and seh; man how yaal could expose dem people suh? Sometimes dem does seh ‘Ow meh Gawd! He or she is a good person. Dem very quiet and is church people. Dem boys remember when dem expose the skampishness that involves hundreds of millions at GECOM. If you see calls wha dem boys get; how all of dem are angels from above. After today dem boys hope that dem people who use to call that dem same angels wuss that de devil himself. All dem got to do is read de headline stories and dem gun see de same angels dem was talking about. Dem boys seh wha dem fail to realize is that sometimes it’s not the people who can change, is the mask that falls off. De GECOM bosses learn from Jagdeo and dem learn everything, including how to thief and how to be vindictive and nasty. Who would believe dem would sink so low as to pocket de taxpayers’ money and when people talk dem get vex and spite dem. Dem stop give ads to de Waterfalls paper but dem forget when de sh*t hit de fan is de same Waterfalls paper dem does run back to. But As dem seh, Karma is a bitch. When people insult yuh, don’t tek offence, don’t tek it personally; just listen to dem words. Dem telling you how dem see the world, and dem telling you de exact negative qualities that dem possess. “The Law of Mirrors” states that one can only see, what’s in them, regardless if it is what is actually present in reality or not. Release the need to defend or try to explain to dem that you’re not wha dem see or being nasty and insulting about. All yuh got to do is tek a look at all dem insults, and realize that dem is exactly de same thing dem calling you. Then, decide if a person with those qualities is one who you want to be your Boss, de leader in your community or somebody in your life. Those are the type of people Jagdeo and Donald Dumb cultivated in our country. Talk half and no wonder people never trust wha come out of GECOM.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday July 02, 2017

Oil news week in review

WHAT GUYANA NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT EXXONMOBIL - PT 3…EXXONMOBIL HISTORY OF UNDERPAYING ROYALTIES TO NATIONS When contractual deals go wrong, the first place both parties may turn to for fair judgment is the court. US oil giant, ExxonMobil, has faced a wave of litigation reaching from environmental matters, the alleged deception of its shareholders to even the underpayment of royalties. Here are some instances in which ExxonMobil has been sued in relation to the underpayment of royalties to nations. CHAD ExxonMobil was fined US$74 billion after the courts in Chad ruled that the country was underpaid royalties to which it was entitled from the oil giant. Research indicates that the fine itself is about five times more than Chad’s Gross Domestic Product, which the World Bank estimates at US$13 billion. The fine imposed against the company was handed down October 5, last, by the High Court in the capital, N’Djamena. The ruling was in reaction to a protest from the Finance Ministry in Chad that a group led by the ExxonMobil giant did not honour its tax commitments. According to www.bloomberg.com, the court also demanded that the Texas-based oil explorer pay US$819 million in overdue royalties. Legal minds believe that Chad would not see most of the money as ordered by the court. ExxonMobil has since said that it disagreed with the Chadian court’s ruling. At the time of the judgment, it was examining other options. ALABAMA In 2003, ExxonMobil was found to be defrauding the state of Alabama of royalty payments and was ordered by the courts to pay up more than US$100 million in back-pay royalties. According to www.classaction.org., in August 2012, a Kansas judge approved a US$54 million settlement with landowners who claimed they were underpaid royalties when ExxonMobil made deductions for expenses that occurred downstream of their wells. The settlement also ended a lawsuit filed in Kansas state

court against ExxonMobil over royalties dating back to 2000. Similar situations occurred in the American/Indian Federal lands. PREPARING FOR THE WORST With the aforementioned in mind, it is not unreasonable for citizens to be worried or cautious when it comes to the nation’s future relations with ExxonMobil as it relates to the payment of royalties. More importantly, given ExxonMobil’s history in the foregoing cases, it would not be impractical for Guyanese to question whether the state is preparing the legal framework to deal with the worst to come with the oil and gas superpower.

WHAT GUYANA NEEDS TO KNOWABOUT EXXONMOBIL - PT 4…EXXONMOBIL SHOWS TWO FACES TO INVESTORS, PARTNERS According to www.theguardian.com, (https:// www.theguardian.com/business/2017/may/31/exxonmobil-climate-change-cost-shareholders) ExxonMobil was forced to be more frank with its shareholders regarding the effect climate change will have on the operations and profitability of the company. The report by the Guardian notes that Climate Change poses a real threat to the sustainability and the manner in which ExxonMobil will continue to operate its business in the future. Climate Change, the article notes, is a “material financial threat” for ExxonMobil. But that is not all. ExxonMobil is currently under investigation by the Offices of the New York Attorney General and Massachusetts for being deceitful about climate change, something the company, of course, has denied. According to the www.nytimes.com, (https:// www.nytimes.com/2015/11/06/science/exxon-mobil-under-investigation-in-new-york-over-climate-statements.html), an investigation is being carried out to determine whether the company has been truthful to the public on the issue of climate change or if it deceived its investors about the impact the challenging issue can have on the business. Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman issued a subpoena to Exxon Mobil, for extensive financial records, emails and other documents that would be helpful to the investigation, the NY Times reported. The media outlet said, “The investigation focuses on whether statements the company made to investors about climate risks as recently as this year were consistent with the company’s own long-running scientific research.” “The inquiry would include a period of at least a decade during which ExxonMobil funded outside groups that sought to undermine climate science, even as its in-house scientists were outlining the potential consequences — and uncertainties — to company executives.” In short, ExxonMobil was actually paying lobbyists to deny the impact of climate change. ExxonMobil has been accused over the years of funding

certain groups and government officials/parties to promote disinformation about the effects of climate change. It has of course denied this to the end, but the media reports on this matter are overwhelming. The Guardian (www.theguardian.com) is just one media site which has placed this issue in the spotlight. The news entity has reported that ExxonMobil has been funding anti-climate groups such as the American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec). It based this conclusion on tax records. (https:// www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/15/exxon-mobilgave-millions-climate-denying-lawmakers) In addition to the aforementioned, civil proceedings have been filed against ExxonMobil by some of its own shareholders who feel deceived by the company regarding the truth about climate change and the toll it will take on the business’s fortunes as most nations are being encouraged to move in the direction of cleaner sources of energy. According to www.insideclimatenews.org. (https:// insideclimatenews.org/news/18112016/exxon-climate-changeresearch-oil-reserves-stranded-assets-lawsuit), the deception by ExxonMobil led to the investors paying inflated prices for Exxon stock and subjected them to financial losses because the company knew the value of its oil reserves was less than what it was telling investors. This was also noted in the lawsuit which was filed in a Texas federal court this year. (See link for full lawsuit: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/ 3215695-Class-Action-Exxon-Complaint.html). EXXONMOBIL SUBMITS POOR EIA TO GUYANA, BUT STILLGETS PERMIT Oil giant ExxonMobil, it seems, is already getting its way in Guyana with the government accepting from the company an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that leaves much to be desired. The company was still granted an environmental permit. An EIA is referred to as a process of evaluating the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project or development, taking into account inter-related socio-economic, cultural and human-health impacts, both beneficial and adverse. If the EIA process is successful, it identifies alternatives and mitigation measures to reduce the environmental impact of a proposed project. In general, the benefits of EIA include better environmental planning and design of a proposal. A well-designed project can minimize risks and impacts on the environment and people, and thereby avoid associated costs of remedial treatment or compensation for damage. So hands down, EIAs are crucial. Countries around the world ensure that an EIA is satisfactory before giving the go ahead for projects. But Exxon has been given a free ride. The company submitted an EIA that is said to be way below international standards. In fact, Kaieteur News has learnt that the document which ExxonMobil submitted to the (Continued on page 16)

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Amid exposure of skullduggery, GECOM pulls ads from... there were two payments for Duracell batteries by GECOM. One contract was awarded on April 23, 2015, about three weeks before the elections, for $14,529,000. This contract was awarded to Mobile Authority, a business also owned by Brasse. There was another contract awarded to the same entity for $9,180,518 on May 21, 2015, making it a total of $23,709,518 paid for Duracell batteries in 2015.

This composite photo shows some of the radios that GECOM has in its possession. At top right, are the HF radios that cost taxpayers $100M but were never used. From page 3 and inventories. They would have been looking, especially, at spending by the entity for the May 2015 General and Regional Elections. The probe by the AG office reportedly extended to expenditure for the 2016 Local Government Elections. BREACHES The auditors have reportedly found several cases of worrying breaches of procurement procedures, excesses and wanton spending - in some cases items were purchased for four or five times the retail prices. With GECOM in the spotlight over the selection of a new chairperson following the departure of Dr. Steve Surujbally earlier this year, the Opposition especially has been calling for reforms. With regard to GECOM's spending, from internal documents and those filed with the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), GECOM reportedly deliberately bypassed established procedures of the state when it comes to using tax dollars to procure services and items. At GECOM, the accounting officer responsible for spending is the CEO. Auditors were said to be interested in the purchase of not only the high frequency radios, but also millions spent in toners for printers and photocopiers, and a quantity of pliers. With regard to the radios, weeks before the May 2015 elections, GECOM's secretariat made a case for the purchase 50 High Frequency radios for use during the elections. Because of the emergency nature, the purchase was approved by the then Cabinet, under former President Donald Ramotar.

FAKE QUOTATION There were several things wrong with the purchase of those radios which reportedly turned out to be unserviceable. One prominent company, Massy Technologies Guyana Limited, denied that it ever submitted a quotation to supply the radios. Somebody submitted the fake quotation and GECOM's senior officials accepted it. The communication radio sets were outdated and came too late for them to be deployed in time for the May 11, 2015 elections. CEO Keith Lowenfield, on April 23, 2015, wrote the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) making a case for the radio purchases. He said that the radios were urgently needed to help GECOM communicate with its staffers who are working in outlying areas that had no telephone services. There also appeared to be evidence that GECOM conducted contract-splitting to hide a number of questionable purchases from the Cabinet. Among some of the purchases were pliers, Duracell batteries, toners and even office equipment. INFLATED PRICES In almost all the cases, there was evidence that the prices were highly inflated, as in the case of the radios. Some of the radios supplied by Brasse at the time were retailing for $300,000. Yet GECOM paid on average $2M apiece. Former GECOM Chairman, Dr. Surujbally had emphasised that it was the Secretariat that handled purchasing of items and services. The glaring breaches were not for those unserviceable radios alone. According to official figures of contracts awarded in 2015,

Cyber-crime training to tackle emerging threats - Harmon In light of several malware attacks on local companies’ Information and Communication Technology (ICT), the Government is sending two persons to participate in a cyber security and grill programme in Suriname. The training commences on Monday and ends on July 7. At his weekly press conference, the Minister of Presidency, Joseph Harmon said that Muriana McPherson and Ms. Marks from the National Data Management

Authority will attend the exercise. The technical training will be provided by the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Telecommunications Union for cyber security managers and technicians. “It will enable Guyana to enhance cyber security preparedness and to respond to current emerging cyber threats,” Harmon noted. Only last January, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) had to call in cybercrime experts from the Guyana Police Force after its

ICT system was hacked. The water company had disclosed that its ICT personnel, while performing maintenance duties, discovered that several systems were infected with malware. The attack affected the company’s methods of billing and collections and it had to avoid extended damage by taking servers offline. Additional, since early 2015, a local porn site has been publishing images of women, some photo-shopped Continued on page 58

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Three weeks prior to the election, the entity doled out $14.8M for the purchase of nippers/ pliers from a King Street, Lacytown business called Standard Distributors. The owner is the brother of Brasse. It appeared that GECOM paid out an average of $6,000 apiece for those pliers when they could have been acquired on the local market for $600. It was not even a familiar brand.

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Financial Education Will Improve Productivity in the Guyanese Workplace Financial stress and work A review of the literature seems to confirm that money problems have become the biggest contributor to

personal stress and sleep deprivation. Many individuals in Guyana and elsewhere experience financial strains at some point

in their lives. In addition, many families say they live from pay-day to pay-day. These stressors can negatively affect productivity

in the workplace. In fact, a study performed by American Express Retirement Services found that 60% of working Americans were experiencing moderate to high levels of financial stress. According to FINRA Investor Education Foundation’s National Financial Capability Study, 60% of American households have less than three months of savings on hand. The percentage is possibly higher for Guyanese households. At night many families ponder how to make ends meet but these workers do not leave their money worries at home. Multiple surveys offer ample evidence of the impact of financial stress on work. For example, in 2012, one survey found that roughly one in five employees admitted they had skipped work to deal with a financial problem. Among American workers in their 30’s and 40’s, stress levels are even higher. A Met Life study indicates that many employees (40%) say that they want help in achieving financial security and (81%) say that financial problems have affected their productivity. Implementing a workplace financial literacy program It is apparent that in response to the financial stress of employees, many employers have provided workplace financial education programmes to help employees better manage their personal finances and improve their financial well-being. In giving employees the information they need to manage money wisely, employers hope not only to increase productivity and profits but also to realize other proven benefits of employee-provided education. In this regard, leadingedge Guyanese employers must take the lead in helping their employees learn to make better financial decisions. Employees will appreciate employers who help them take control of their money not only through traditional benefit plans but also through financial knowledge and education. Workplace financial education programmes increased financial literacy, increased retirement savings,

and improved some financial management practices. When you improve the financial literacy of the employees, it brings tangible benefits to both the employers and employees. Employers have a number of options at their disposal when it comes to establishing a financial literacy programme in the workplace. While much depends on the size of the organisation, many have existing resources that they can leverage for financial literacy training purposes: · Leverage the finance and accounting department: There are many highly trained employees that have the knowledge and background necessary to educate employees about the basics of personal finance including budgeting and financial decision making strategies; · Integrate financial literacy into employee training: Employment training is essential for a company’s success. For example, many organisations provide pension training to provide employees with an indepth understanding of the conceptual and practical issues related to pension and other benefit plans. In addition, a number of employers are turning to online employee training for financial education; · Partner with a local training organization: Many organisations consider the business partner approach to training financial literacy. In some cases, partners deliver financial literacy training and familiarize employees with for example, a curriculum called “Smart Money” and · Munch and Learn: Munch and learn events are free financial literacy learning and networking events offered by many organisations. These are semi-regular meetings with employees in place of a formal financial literacy education programme. For example, the Federal Reserve Bank of New has a formal financial education programme for employees including Munch and Learn events for employees. Challenges and obstacles to financial fitness at work According to one report, although financial wellness training appears to be growing, challenges and obstacles to wider adoption still remain. Probably the number one challenge to employee financial training is overcoming senior management’s scepticism; would the time and expense for the financial fitness program be better spent on something else? Another employer challenge is determining whether to keep

Sunday July 02, 2017

Dr. Terence Smith, Deputy Governor, Bank of Guyana the training in-house. The costs involved could be significant, after adding in expenses such as content creation, facilitator training and travel. Ensuring the program’s effectiveness is a significant management challenge as well. Employees too have reservations about the programme and may be reluctant to discuss embarrassing financial information with co-workers or even with contractors hired by an employer to deliver financial education. Another obstacle is that human resource functions may be viewed as a cost centre; some employers may also be reluctant to increase expenses, even in cases where strong benefit is likely. Conclusion The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has developed several principles and good practices for financial education and awareness. These include the promotion of methodologies for formal financial education program for employees. In addition, financial education programmes that develop guidelines on study content and accomplishment level for each financial education programme and for each population sub-group must be promoted. Official recognition of financial education programmes for employees should be considered, the mechanisms for delivering these programmes must be as important as the content; even though measuring the direct monetary benefit from workplace financial education is not easy. Overall, the body of research confirms that leading-edge employers are helping their employees learn to make better financial decisions. In fact, when you improve the financial literacy for the employee, it truly benefits the employers and employees. Next week we will discuss credit reporting as it relates to financial literacy. Thanks for all your comments and support. As usual, please send your comments or questions to deputygovernor@ bankofguyana.org.gy

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Oil news week in...

(From page 10) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is even below ExxonMobil’s own standards when compared to EIAs that the company prepared to do drilling in other countries. Further, a source at the EPA said that it is not a case where the agency did not know that Guyana is being shafted in this area. The source said that the EPA found the assessment “less than adequate” but felt obliged to grant the permit based on posture of the government on the issue. “LEARN FROM OTHER COUNTRIES’MISTAKES” – EX T&T ENERGY MINISTER WARNS GUYANA The Zen proverb, “It takes a wise man to learn from his mistakes but an even wiser man to learn from the mistakes of others,” encapsulates the advice offered to Guyana by former Energy Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kevin Ramnarine. Ramnarine said that Guyana would be wise to learn from the mistakes of numerous countries around the world with oil industries. Ramnarine was invited earlier this year by the Guyana Oil and Gas Association (GOGA) to deliver a presentation here. He made several important points and offered key advice based on the experience of Trinidad and Tobago as well as other countries. He noted, extensively, the mistakes made by his country as well as the things she got right. Seemingly over-expectant, Ramnarine said, “With the opportunity that oil presents, I think that Guyana is more than capable of learning from all the experiences available to them to create a uniquely better outcome for themselves.” He said that perhaps the single most important event in the economic history of Guyana was the declaration by ExxonMobil of its discovery of crude oil in its Liza-1 well. Ramnarine said that in preparing his presentation, he pondered extensively on what he would do if he was in President David Granger’s shoes at such an important time in Guyana’s history. He listed about six areas of concern which he thinks imperatively need to be addressed. Birthed from one of Ramnarine’s concerns is the question: How can Guyana avoid the gloomy fate sealed by some other countries with oil? The politician said, “I would be concerned about Guyana going down the road of ruin taken by some oil-based economies. I would contemplate the words of one of the founders of OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries), a Venezuelan named Juan Pablo Pérez Alfonso. In 1975, he said: “I call petroleum the devil’s excrement. It brings trouble…Look at this locura—waste, corruption, consumption, our public services falling apart. And debt, debt we shall have for years.” Venezuela is a prime example of “Resource Curse Thesis” and “Dutch Disease”. In fact, there is a spectrum that starts with Venezuela and ends with Norway, and you have to determine where you want to be on that spectrum.”

Cabinet to meet Permanent Secretaries monthly Cabinet will be meeting every month with the Permanent Secretaries of the various government ministries to ensure that the cost-cutting measures outlined by the administration, are implemented. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, told media operatives on Friday during the post-cabinet press briefings, that Cabinet would have met with the Permanent Secretaries last Thursday and an assessment was made. “We were able to make an assessment of where we are in relation – not only to austerity measures – but respect to our engagement on spending on public sector projects. So that the engagement that we had (on Thursday) and the continued engagement which we will have on a monthly basis with Permanent Secretaries, we’re now able to keep a check on these things that are happening,” Harmon said. Earlier this year, the government introduced a number of austerity measures including recycling envelopes, conserving on electricity by turning off lights and air condition units. These measures were introduced to ensure that monies allocated to government agencies, “can last longer” and would avoid Ministers

...for implementation of cost-cutting measures going to the National Assembly for supplementary funds. However, recent reports by this newspaper had highlighted a number of instances whereby it would appear that taxpayers’ dollars were being used unconscionably, one being the construction of a guard hut for the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education to the value of a little over half a million dollars. The cost to construct the hut could have built six similar structures. Harmon said, yesterday, that President David Granger, during that conference reemphasised the importance of austerity. Harmon said that the President reminded the officials that resources are not limitless and therefore, “We have to be very careful in our spending so that we can ensure that we get the best value for our money.” Cabinet’s engagement with the officials would come days after the President spoke on this television show, “The Public Interest” that the procurement of goods must be done with a certain vision. Granger said that he would

like to see less waste. He said that when Government agencies have to expend money they should embrace a ‘green strategy’ – for example, rain water can be trapped and used, there is proper solid waste management and solar power or green energy sources are utilised. On the show, the President provided a personal example where he opted to save money at State House. The President said that he is the patron for six organisations and the First Lady is the patron for an additional four. He said that from time to time these organisations would ask the patron to fund entertainment activities and the rental of tents and chairs is very expensive. As a result, Granger said a benab was built in State House’s compound so that money can be saved from having to rent tents. After the Minister, the PS is the most powerful person in the ministries. He or she is the accounting officer who controls the purse strings. In the past, several Permanent Secretaries were fired or transferred for wrongdoing. With billions of dollars at stake in each ministry, it was not unusual in the past for auditors to red-flag transactions because of overpayments and other deliberate manipulations.

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Master Marcello Small - a Martial Artist on a mission to teach women self-defence - hopes to help reduce incidence of death by domestic violence Domestic Violence has over the years become very rampant in our society. In some instances the extent of violence has been so severe that it has ended in death. A number of women have been at the receiving end of this form of violence. However, Master Marcello Small is convinced that more women could take control if they are exposed to such situations. According to Small, he is even prepared to lend a helping hand in this regard. The 40-year-old New Amsterdam resident is the Senior Instructor and President of White Tiger Martial Arts Academy. His credentials include Taekwondo 2nd Dan, Wushu, Nature fist kung fu [White Sash], Linjitsu [system] Karate 4th Dan and Shin Kai Do 2nd Dan. In fact, he is able to

boast of being trained under the late Grandmaster Dr. Stephen Monasingh. The legendary Professor Monasingh passed away earlier this year. Master Small was only too eager to share recently how he proposes to help women be in a better position to defend themselves rather than continue to be statistics associated with domestic violence. He is convinced that his vision of a major self-defence movement, starting in the New Amsterdam area, is the answer. He hopes to utilise the New Amsterdam Town Hall as a training Centre, a location he already utilised for his Academy classes. The Academy was opened on May 2, 2017, and classes are conducted on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week. Small, who had previously

resided in Barbados, became aware of the daunting domestic violence situation here, through reports disseminated by the local media. But this has not been his only focus. You see, Small, although he has been involved in martial arts for the past 25 years, is a full-time fashion designer and garment manufacturer. However, he said that he decided to make it a priority to share his martial arts knowledge with the intent of helping to reverse the existing violent trend. “When I came back home I took a count of the situation and to me, it was like, on average, one woman was dying per week [because of violence], and that was frustrating to me. Some of these things even happened because of minor issues,” Small reflected. He was even more dis-

The Baccoo Speaks This is going to be a most unusual weekend. The police are going to be kept busy chasing a spate of robberies. One will occur in the heart of the city. Then there will be news of another in the eastern part of the country. One of the bandits will be caught in a hurry, because public-spirited citizens would report his hiding place. ** There will be a

confession into the mysterious death of an eightyear-old. Indeed, the killing would be related to what is

called spiritualism. The boy would be lured into the home and pounced on by the killer, a woman. ** Motorcyclists are a danger to themselves, as would be the case of a young rider with no respect for his own safety. He is going to be darting in and out of traffic until he clips an approaching vehicle. He is going to crash, but the motorists would have a lot of questions to answer.

turbed by the fact that several women, who suffered violence at the hands of their partners, often opted to not press charges, for whatever reason, when the matter reached the realm of law enforcement and the judiciary. “Recently I read about a woman who was nearly killed by her partner and she didn’t want to press charges...I think the law should ensure that these people [perpetrators of violence] should face the law, whether these women want to press charges or not, because sometimes these same women continue to be abused and sometimes they are even killed,” Small lamented. Since some women may be afraid or even embarrassed to take their issues outside the home, Small said that he is willing to offer them training that will equip them to stand up against their attackers. The initial self-defence skills that Small is prepared to offer will be done during a one-month training-workshop. “During the one month, persons will be offered aerobics, so that they will be able to boost up the muscles and get the body in tune. They are going to learn to defend themselves against an attacker with a knife, a choke...They will also learn what are the weak points, so that they will know where to hit to get the maximum effect,” Small explained The training that will be

Master Marcello Small outfitted in his martial arts uniform offered, he noted, will certainly not make the participants eligible for the big leagues, since it is the simplest form of training they will be initially exposed to. But the training will be significant enough to realise its intended purpose of self-defence. “They will learn to have an open mind to the fact that it is not what you know, but what you think...You have to train the body and train the mind,” Small related. The workshop is slated to start on Wednesday [July 5, 2017] at the New Amsterdam Town Hall, according to Small, who is also a part of the Guyana Masters Martial Arts Association International. According to the Martial Arts Instructor, the Association also has plans to soon

launch a similar self-defence venture in Georgetown. But according to Small, once there is a demand for training, he is willing to travel to various parts of the country to host free one-day training seminars on a national scale. Small is also appealing to all martial artists throughout the country to get on board the movement and also offer self-defence training for those women who may be victims or vulnerable to domestic violence in the society. Those who ar e i n t e r ested in taking advantage of Small’s offer can contact him on [592] 673-9221 for more information about the planned one-month self-defence workshop and other plans that are in the pipeline in this regard.

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The case of the secretive security – He was a strange man…and his death was equally strange By Michael Jordan He apparently had no close friends. No women in his life…few photographs of himself. He seldom confided in anyone….not his family, not his colleagues. So no one could quite fathom how and why he ended up dead and naked as he was born, on a bushy dam. On Sunday, July 4, 2010, a man looking for bird-seed on a dam near D’Aguiar Housing Scheme, Ruimveldt, spotted something that made him hurry away from the area. He kept this information to himself until the following day, when he eventually confided in a friend. The friend went to the same area to confirm the report. He then con-

tacted the police. Accompanied by the man, a police rank trekked down the muddy, bushy dam. After walking halfway down the dam, the cop came face to face with what the other men had seen. Hanging from a low tree branch with a belt around his neck, was the nude body of a man. There was a cut on one of the victim’s hands. Acting on information they had received, the police contacted officials from the GEB Security Services. The officials accompanied some of the police ranks down the dam. They took one look at the dead man, and immediately confirmed that the victim was one of their employees.

He was 43-year-old Lynden Collins, a driver employed by GEB, and a resident of Princes Street, Lodge. Collins’ colleagues revealed that they had last seen him on Saturday, July 3, 2010. At the time Collins was driving one of the firm’s buses. But that very afternoon, some GEB staff spotted the same vehicle parked near the dam where Collins’ body was eventually found. According to reports, the keys were in the ignition and a GEB uniform was in the vehicle. There was no sign of Lynden Collins. The GEB staffers took the vehicle to the security firm’s headquarters. But then they reportedly noticed bloodstains

in the vehicle and took it to the Ruimveldt Police Station. Telus Collins, one of the victim’s brothers, said that he last saw his sibling on Wednesday, June 30, 2010. He was driving the GEB bus and did not seem to be worried about anything. The brother said that he was later told that Lynden left for work on Friday night and failed to return home. He was later informed that the bus his brother was driving had been found. A worried Telus Collins said that he then checked at the Georgetown Public Hospital but failed to locate his brother. Shortly after, he spotted a GEB vehicle, and stopped the staffers to enquire whether they had any information about his missing brother. One of the staffers then informed him that Collins’ body had been found. He told me that his brother did not appear to have any problems. But he also revealed that his brother seldom confided in anyone. Lynden Collins had fathered two children. But the brother had no idea there were any women in his life at the

time of his demise. Around the same time that Collins’ body was found, police also found the corpse of a woman on the seawall aback of the NIS Sports Club. The body bore two gaping wounds to the throat. The victim was 42-yearold Claudine Inniss, called ‘Ann’, of Leopold Street. At first, investigators wondered whether the two cases were somehow connected. There also rumours that Inniss was seen entering a GEB minibus outside of a carwash on Hadfield Street on Friday, July 2, 2010. However, investigators eventually concluded that there was no connection. Investigators have never found any leads which indicate that anyone murdered Lynden Collins. Their suspicions have been that it was a case of suicide, but they have unearthed nothing to show why Collins would have taken his own life.

One of the unanswered questions is this: Why would the security guard have removed his GEB uniform, then proceeded to walk stark naked down a dam to hang himself? His family has always believed that someone murdered Collins. But because of his reclusive lifestyle, what happened to the GEB guard seven years ago, may remain a secret that is never revealed. If you have any information about this or any other unusual case, please contact us. You can also write to us at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown location, or contact us on telephone numbers: 22-58458, 22-58465, 22-58473, 22-58482 and 22-58491. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email a d d r e s s ; mjdragon@hotmail.com.

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WPA saved the PNC in 2011; the AFC gave the PNC power in 2015 The most complex and incomprehensible of all West Indian societies is Guyana. It is simply difficult to fathom the deep chasms that underlie its politics. Politics in Guyana is simply not easy to comprehend, whereas in other CARICOM states, political narratives are very banal. Last week, I was eating alfresco style with Dr. David Hinds, at Hot and Spicy Restaurant on Albert Street, when a car pulled up. A young, African man, with the looks of a white collar worker, came out of his car and approached David. He said; “Dr. Hinds, I like what the WPA did; keep the pressure on the PNC, the WPA must be itself.” He was referring to the little imbroglio between the WPA and the Government over the handling of Dr. Roopnaraine’s ministerial transfer. When he left, immediately, David said, “Freddie, you see what I always tell you, there are Black people that see the WPA for something”. Right at the top of the PNC’s hierarchy, there are condescending views on the

value of the WPA in politics, and the role of the AFC in the 2015 elections. It may be correct to say that such views not only permeate the upper tier of the PNC leadership, but also at the secondary level. I know for a fact, that many PNC leaders think that the WPA is a shell, and that the AFC got more than what it brought to the table. A profound, soulsearching analysis of Guyanese politics would reveal that if it wasn’t for the WPA in 2011, the PNC may not have survived electorally with any substance thereafter. And if it wasn’t for the AFC teaming up with APNU in 2015, the PNC would not have been in power today. The problem with the PNC leadership, from Granger right down, is that they do not understand symbolism in politics, and the role it plays in the voter’s psyche. In 2006, the PNC appeared to the nation as jaded and faded. Robert Corbin’s leadership was sung out and rung out. The PNC’s

showing in the 2006 elections was a historic disaster. It lost substantial votes in Georgetown and Linden. The PNC lost six seats. When the WPA joined with the PNC in 2011 to form APNU, two things occurred. Those PNC constituencies that were resigned were galvanized again, because of the historic move by the WPA . For African Guyanese, the WPA’s courage was something that they felt needed to be nurtured. It was nurtured by a new embrace of the PNC through APNU. Secondly, APNU’s formation necessitated new leadership to replace Corbin. Much to his credit, Corbin acknowledged that, and pushed very hard for APNU’s formation. When the PNC came to select a new leader, it was not a good prospect for vote-winning if the PNC was to go on its own in 2011. Carl Greenidge and Faith Harding were out the country for too long, and thus were not favoured names. Black people would not have voted

for James Bond as their leader. David Granger was a political unknown. Whoever led the PNC on its own in the 2011 elections would have seen the PNC losing more than the six seats it lost in 2006. It was APNU, with the conspicuous, symbolic presence of the WPA, that resuscitated the electoral life of the PNC. Simply put; without the WPA, there would have been no APNU, without APNU, the PNC would have declined further. PNC leaders flippantly dismiss the AFC as not bringing in the 12 percent APNU needed from it in 2015. The AFC didn’t do that, of course, but without the AFC joining with APNU in a huge show of historic symbolism, APNU would not have been in power. Substantial votes came to the coalition from people who voted not for the AFC

or APNU, but for the coalition as a separate phenomenon. For them, this was a formula that they wanted to see in power. I suspect in Linden, if there wasn’t the coalition, APNU would have lost votes. If there was a three-way race in 2015, the AFC would have taken seats from both the PPP and APNU. Both the PPP and PNC would have needed AFC support if one of them had won the plurality and acquired a minority presidency. It is too simplistic an analysis for PNC leaders to dismiss the WPA as an electorally bare, small party. It is naïve thinking for PNC

Frederick Kissoon leaders to think that the coalition won because of APNU’s showing. The PNC got back seats in 2011 because of symbolism. The coalition won in 2015 because of symbolism.

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Sunday July 02, 2017

Kaieteur News

GUYANA’S IMAGE MAKEOVER When Jamaican Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo in July 2016 he’d remarked, “Guyana is on the cusp of a boom period.” Prime Minister Holness’ wellintended (and accurate) statement was a distinct departure from what had been said about Guyana by one of his predecessors in the past decade during Jagdeo’s presidency. That counterpart of his had suggested that Guyana had earned its global reputation as “an international panhandler.” Ouch! Panhandling is an act of begging strangers for materials and favours. The term was derived in the 19th Century, probably from the image of a begging arm stuck out like the handle of a pan. The Jamaican PM was not pulling any punches. In the decades before the PPP fell on Guyana, despite the huge economic problems which were brought about mostly by spiraling fuel prices, we were still able to command considerable re-

spect in the region. We were hit by imported material and food shortages, but we became inventive instead and manufactured what we needed. It was called “import substitution”. Then the PPP happened. Fuel prices had fallen by 1989 and the cost of living was sliding downward under the hands of Desmond Hoyte and Dr. Cheddi Jagan. By 1997, several things had ‘conspired’ against our country - some external, some misfortune, some avoidable and much of it self-inflicted. Our international image began to fray. By 2014, it was in tatters and battered. Then came the announcement the next year of a commercially viable find of oil and gas in our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the direction of our social and economic trajectory changed. Before then, regional and international reportage on Guyana had been exclusively negative. From questionable general elections and a 20year absence of local govern-

ment elections to obscene corruption; crime spiraling out of control; extra-judicial and alleged state-sponsored killings; on to becoming an unapologetic narco-economy and a major transshipment point for illicit drugs; to nepotism and cronyism in government, in business ... Guyana attracted only negative attention. THINGSARE CHANGING Our international image is taking on a new patina. The reason for this is two-fold. The first and most obvious is due to the enormous oil field found in the Stabroek Block. Forbes Magazine, Bloomberg News, the New York Times newspaper and other high profile media outlets with international audiences are now reporting favourably, and even excitedly, about Guyana. They have said that the quantity of oil and gas in these Atlantic waters represent one of the world’s largest fields of untapped hydrocarbons. We found a June 2016 Forbes article titled ‘With second Big Oil Discovery, Exxon

puts Guyana on the Map’. A Bloomberg article in July 2015 opens with “[A]n ExxonMobil Corp. discovery in the Atlantic Ocean off Guyana may hold oil and natural gas riches 12 times more valuable than the nation’s entire economic output”. And in January 2017, New York Times’ Clifford Krauss wrote “Guyana … is poised to become the next big oil producer in the Western Hemisphere, attracting the attention and investment dollar of some of the biggest oil companies in the world.” Matt Blomerth, head of Latin American Upstream Research for natural resources analyst Wood Mackenzie (Houston, Texas): “It’s not often that a country goes from 0 to 60 so fast like this”. Industry excitement over Guyana was really stirred by another widely distributed report from Wood Mackenzie that said, “Guyana is rapidly joining the ranks of serious oil and gas players”. The second reason is the restoration of executive decency and order following the historic 2015 elections. The Government is constantly implementing new measures as we reset the foundation for a truly democratic nation and a

model developing economy. Of course, it is for the benefit of every Guyanese that international confidence is returning. Just as a reminder, here are a few of the pluses that our ambitious 2-year-old coalition government has chalked up: 1. The Public Procurement Commission has been established to remove the authority for approving contracts from Cabinet. 2. The Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Act has been passed. This Act allows constitutional agencies such as the Parliament, GECOM and the Judicial Service Commission to manage their finances without government control. 3. The Telecommunications Liberalization Bill was passed to make way for the removal of exclusivity by GTT. We can look forward to an open, potentially thriving telecoms sector. 4. The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has finally opened its field office in Guyana after several years of being frustrated, stymied and blocked. 5. The UK Security Sector Reform Programme is alive again. It had been scrapped

by the PPP regime. British Senior Security Sector Reform Advisor, Mr. Russell Combe, is in the process of setting up his operations. 6. After residing on the ‘Tier 2 Watch List’ for three consecutive years (20132015), Guyana was reclassified this year as a ‘Tier 1’ country in the US Department of State’s 2017 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. This is a testament of the level of determination your Government has to erase this country’s reputation as a source and destination country for trafficked persons. Today Guyana sits among the group of countries that fully meet the minimum requirements (for action) for elimination of trafficking, and we are the second Caribbean country to reach this milestone. This list of achievements is much longer, but we are not nearly satisfied with progress to date. In the words of that famous 1970’s singing duo, the Carpenters, we’ve only just begun! What’s been done to date is only the start of that thousand-mile marathon to the place where Guyana ought to be. It certainly feels good to do the right things at this most promising juncture in our history.

Sunday July 02, 2017

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Kaieteur News

My column

Keep gripping education by the scruff The release of the National Grade Six Assessment results took me back nearly sixty years when I did the same examinations. There is a saying that the more things change the more they remain the same. Just before the release of the results, the parents were more nervous than the children. It was the same when I wrote those examinations. The results were released during the August holidays— these days I hear about summer holidays as though we have a special period called summer. Being little children we were all enjoying the break from school. There were no cellular phones. The postal service had to do, but the newspapers were the major source. I still remember playing cricket at the Den Amstel pavilion when my sister came running up. Even before she was close she was screaming my name and telling me that I needed to go home. My heart raced then slowed when she told me that I had passed. A village indeed raises a child, and so it was that all the neighbours found time to congratulate me and my mother. Fathers are not considered much, because raising the child is the duty of the mother. On that list was my friend and neighbour, George McDonald. By no stretch of imagination were we the children of

rich parents. We weren’t even the children of middle class parents. But we were the products of a disciplined society that set store by education. Lessons were perfunctory, if any at all. I had none, because my mother could not find the seventy-five cents a month. Anyhow, so it was that our parents had about six weeks to get our things ready. And they did with the support of relatives and close friends. I had a cursory look at the top one per cent of the successful candidates and I saw the smiles on the faces. I know the feeling in their hearts, because I was there. I could also understand the dejection of those who did not make it. Indeed they had all worked hard, but some not hard enough, because they did not have parents to shepherd them. Those who did exceedingly well came from homes of affluence. They were the children who had more than adequate supervision, not that it takes money to provide supervision. My mother is semi-literate, but she insisted that I sit with my book. And sit I did, as did my sisters and brothers. My mother always believed that education was the key out of the world of poverty. Today, at 93, she is enjoying the fruits of her

labour. On Friday, when the results were announced, not one parent basking in the glory of their child remembered the protest against the value added tax on private tuition, and none of them will in the coming days. For them it was worth it. The results also afforded me a chance to examine the performance of the public schools against the private schools. I noticed that the public schools were holding their own, despite the talk that they are poorly staffed and incapable of providing anything of merit. It is common knowledge that the teachers who are performing in the private schools came out of the public school system. Most of them retired and were gobbled up by the private education system. The younger ones fell in line because they were properly supervised. There was no scope for slacking. Should this be the case in most of the public schools, one would be very surprised at the output. I still remember when West Ruimveldt Primary School burst on the scene. Such was the result back in 1986 that people accused the teacher, Mr. Wilfred Success, of cheating. They demanded an investiga-

tion. Mr. Success repeated that performance and has been doing so every year since then. There are other teachers in the public school system doing the same t h i n g . G r a h a m ’s H a l l , Leonora P r i m a r y, Cummings Lodge Primary and the list goes on. There are teachers who work. More of them will do so once the level of supervision is adequate. As a former teacher, I know. I am worried that the gap between the coastal schools and the hinterland schools keeps widening. Trained teachers are not being posted in adequate numbers to those locations. In my day it was not a question of choice, it was a case of assignment. I was sent to Bartica and I do not regret one moment. There were good teachers there. There is a Dr Dawn King-Fox at the University of Guyana. She graduated from St Anthony’s Roman Catholic School in Bartica. She was posted to President’s College and the rest is history. There are others like her. What was revealing is that

in one short year, the system was able to boost passes in English and Mathematics. The remedy cost the government $144 million. Retired teachers with their faculties and skill are making a difference. They can work and have worked with those children who, like me, never saw a gold spoon, but who have the brain to work under proper guidance. Sadly, not many men are lending their support. If we could increase the number of male teachers by fifty percent who knows where we would end up? I would also like to see the better trained teachers installed at the lower level of the school system. I understand that the intervention by the government did just that. In one year the children performed admirably in Mathematics and English. Back in my days those two subjects were walkovers, because that was almost all that the schools concentrated on in the primary levels. Let us go back there. With the foundation, every child with an aptitude for learning would do well. The next year will be better once the intervention continues. Further

Adam Harris down the road we would be producing children who would not be running away from Mathematics. We would have radio and television anchors for whom tenses and verbs would be no strangers. I would not hear the names of people and places being mispronounced so horribly that I would be led to believe that they are talking about a different country and a different person. Suffice it to say that we have gripped education by the collar, something that should have been done a long time ago. I shared some of these views with the thenEducation Minister Priya Manickchand so many years ago.

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Sunday July 02, 2017

Kaieteur News

GuySuCo - The way forward A key component of GuySuCo’s diversification initiatives is the transitioning of redundant employees into independent, sustainable farmers. GuySuCo will surrender land for lease to employees for them to engage in agricultural production. Their efforts would be supported by the resources that exist under the “Green Economy” and “Regional Food Self-Sufficiency” drive. The operational model proposed is for lands to be leased to employees to farm as out growers and provide raw produce to processing plants and other markets. The main benefits of this model are as follows: (i) The social and economic upgrade of the employees into independent farmers; (ii) the lower operational costs achieved by private farmers versus the high

overheads of the corporation (iii) Elimination of an adverse industrial relations climate. GuySuCo is currently in talks with the European Union (EU) to access technical assistance for a study on the transitioning of its employees into farmers. Once finalized, it is forecast for this study to commence by midyear and conclude by October 2017. The objectives of the study are to determine the best operational model for transitioning redundant employees into independent, self-sufficient, sustainable, successful farmers. This would include, but is not limited to, identifying the most economic operating unit, business structure, resources required, sources of finance, training required etc. This study would be done initially at Wales Estate and the op-

erational model determined would be replicated at the other estates earmarked for diversification. CO-GENERATION The Corporation is exploring the feasibility of expanding co-generation at Albion and Uitvlugt Estates to deliver power to the National Grid and generate value addition for the industry. Danish Energy Management A/S has been contracted to conduct this study which commenced in November 2016. The overall objectives of the study are to create a value added product for the sugar industry while also contributing to the security of clean and cost effective energy production in Guyana, reducing the dependence on expensive, imported fossil fuels, also resulting in the saving of foreign exchange. The study will evaluate

the feasibility of the two options of constructing modern co-generation factories on Greenfield sites at Albion and Uitvlugt or upgrading the current factories to deliver power to the National Grid. The final report should have already been delivered to GuySuCo at the end of May 2017. DIVERSIFICATION Diversification would result in reducing the existing Corporation’s dependence on the national treasury and eventually eliminating the need for subsidies from 2020 onwards. With regards to the diversification of the poorer performing estates, Rose Hall, East Demerara and Wales, the diversification Task Force’s report highlighted the alternative feasible agriculture ventures for diversification. Sugar employees will be absorbed in the divestment initiatives and redundant employees will be encouraged to lease lands and contribute to the diversification initiatives and become independent sustainable farmers. Skeldon Estate will be divested. Significant investment was made in the new Skeldon factory which to date has experienced numerous technical issues and has failed to achieve its potential, thereby not generating any returns on the investment. The Corporation does not have the resources required to correct the technical issues and owes in excess of G$29Billion in loans due to the Skeldon project. Divestment of Skeldon Estate may result in investors with the required funding and technical expertise to sustain cane farming, securing employment and markets for the private cane farmers. Funds generated from the divestment of Skeldon Estate will go to reducing the Corporation’s debt and sup-

porting its capital programmes for both sugar and the diversification initiatives. With the closure of Wales Estate, approximately 60 percent of farmers’ canes traditionally supplied to Wales factory will be available to Uitvlugt factory - these cane farmers are actually closer to Uitvlugt than Wales. The majority of farmers affected by the closure of Wales (mostly small farmers) have undertaken to piggy-back on any diversification plans for Wales found feasible by GuySuCo. Furthermore, some of these farmers have taken up land at Uitvlugt. Following GuySuCo’s proposals, Cabinet requested a detailed evaluation of the diversification options that were undertaken by a specially commissioned Task Force. The Task Force submitted its report in October 2016 and recommended the following feasible diversification options: · Livestock - inclusive of beef and dairy cattle, pigs and small ruminants. · Value added processing - juice and milk plants · Ducks · Apiculture (commercial scale Bee Keeping) · Aquaculture · Fruit crops (orchards) · Other high value crops - rambuttan, acai berry inter alia · Grains and legumes · Seed production/ aromatic rice Beef Cattle - This would entail farmers rearing and selling their animals to a processing plant for processing and marketing. There is a significant demand (130,000 lbs imported annually) for fresh and frozen cuts of beef locally and regionally.

Dairy Cattle - The development of the dairy cattle venture would eventually support the milk processing plant. This would entail farmers rearing dairy cattle/cows and providing the milk to the processing plant. Satellite farms will target youth and women; the financing arrangements structured towards reducing barriers to entry for these traditionally resource-poor cohorts. Pigs - This operating model is similar to beef cattle, with the project requiring 100 boars and 2500 sows producing 13 piglets per sow totaling, 32,500 piglets per year. There is a significant market for fresh and frozen pork and pork products both locally and in the region. This has the potential of generating G$1.2 Billion per year in revenues. Milk Processing Plant - A milk processing plant can be a very lucrative option because of the captive market of the school-feeding programme which feeds approximately 47,000 children daily, also the prisons and the military. Ducks - This model is similar to beef cattle, with the project requiring the rearing of 100,000 ducks per month. The estimated cost of investment is G$2Billion which includes a building and is expected to generate G$3.7 Billion in annual profits from year one. Aquaculture - The feasibility study into this project is complete and there are numerous competitive advantages for Aquaculture as a key diversification venture and as a business opportunity for GuySuCo, in the short, medium and long term. The main products considered in this study were Tilapia and shrimp.

Sunday July 02, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Atherosclerosis: Blockage in your arteries that has deadly consequences By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine We often hear about atherosclerosis, but we do not usually understand the seriousness of this process and its consequences. Years of poor eating and lifestyle choices are the main supporting factors for atherosclerosis. Imagine a pipeline getting blocked over years by dirt and debris. After a while water will stop flowing through that pipeline because of the blockage. It’s the same with the arteries. In this case the artery is the pipeline, the blockage is atherosclerosis and the water is our blood. Whenever blood supply is blocked, the organ or tissue that it was supposed to reach dies. Preventing atherosclerosis is such an important factor in our lives. WHAT IS ATHEROSCLEROSIS? Atherosclerosis is a condition in which fatty deposits called “plaques” build up inside the arteries in the body. (Arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart out to the body.) Atherosclerosis is the reason most people have a heart attack or a stroke. Atherosclerosis can affect arteries all over the body. There are different names for atherosclerosis depending on

which arteries it affects. %Carotid artery disease is a form of atherosclerosis that affects the carotid arteries, which bring blood to the brain. This form of atherosclerosis can lead to stroke. %Coronary heart disease, also called coronary artery disease, is a form of atherosclerosis that affects the coronary arteries, which bring blood to the heart muscle. This form of atherosclerosis can cause chest pain and lead to heart attack. %Renal artery stenosis is a form of atherosclerosis that affects the renal arteries, which bring blood to the kidneys. This form of atherosclerosis can cause high blood pressure or lead to kidney disease. %Peripheral artery disease is a form of atherosclerosis that affects the arteries that bring blood to the arms and legs. People with this condition sometimes have pain, tingling, or numbness in their legs when they walk. HOW DOES ATHEROSCLEROSIS CAUSE HEARTATTACKS, STROKES, AND OTHER PROBLEMS? Atherosclerosis-related plaques can cause problems in 2 ways: %Plaques can get too big

Dr. Zulfikar Bux

and reduce blood flow to certain body parts. This can cause symptoms (such as pain) in the part of the body that is not getting enough blood. %Plaques can break open, or rupture. When that happens, blood clots form inside the artery and block the blood supply to tissues past the clot. This is what happens during a stroke or a heart attack. WHO IS AT RISK FOR ATHEROSCLEROSIS? A person has a higher chance of getting atherosclerosis if he or she:

%Has a high cholesterol or triglycerides (triglycerides are a type of fat found in blood); these are the main components of plaque. %Has high blood pressure %Has diabetes %Smokes %Has an unhealthy diet %Is overweight or does very little physical activity %Has a mother or father who got atherosclerosis before the age of 50 years WILL I NEED TESTS? Aside from a physical exam, doctors do not typically order tests to check for

atherosclerosis in general. Instead, they order tests if they think a patient might have a specific form of atherosclerosis, such as coronary heart disease or peripheral artery disease. The tests for each of these conditions are all very different. A general test that is often done in people who might have atherosclerosis is called a “lipid profile.” This is a blood test that measures the amounts of different forms of fat and cholesterol. CAN THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BYATHERO-

SCLEROSIS BE PREVENTED? Yes. To reduce your chances of having a heart attack, stroke, or related problem, do the following: %Take the medicines your doctor prescribes to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and to prevent clots. %Lose weight (if you are overweight). %Choose a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. Don’t eat a lot of meats, sweets, or refined grains. %Do something active for at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week. %Quit smoking (if you smoke). Ask your doctor for help. %Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. As we age, we all have some form of atherosclerosis. The more we control how fast it progress, the better our chances of living longer.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday July 02, 2017

SUNDAY BK ORDERED TO DRILL NEW WELL FOR MON REPOS TO REPLACE FAULTY ONE

Ashni Singh, who was a board member of NICIL, and who would have been privy to the transactions, as many of them would have had to also been approved by Cabinet, which the minister had been part of. Singh is said to be working in the US, in a major financial institution. It was unclear Monday whether the two investigators will be also attempting to speak to the former minister. The administration, while in Opposition, had insisted that billions of dollars were siphoned off and not accounted for, because of the deals, with the country’s best interests not taken care of.

Contractor, BK International, will have to construct a new water well for Mon Repos, following news that one completed five years ago had technical issues and was not commissioned, despite almost all the monies being released. According to Dr. Richard Van West Charles, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI), a meeting was held with principals of BK International on June 21 and a number of decisions were taken. It was decided that the contractor will have to build a new well, but at its own cost. This is because for the faulty well, BK had already collected almost $34M (over 80 percent) of the $41.6M that had been earmarked for the project. According to the GWI boss, it has not yet been decided whether the new well will be constructed right in the compound at the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) at Mon Repos, or outside. Instead of serving only GLDA and its facilities, it is the plan that the new well will be providing service to Mon Repos and its environs. As regards the old well, the CEO explained that GWI believes that it could still be used to boost the water supply to the area, following attempts to connect it to the distribution system.

AFTER SPENDING $700M… 750M-PLUS TO BE SPENT ON REPAIRS TO HIGH ST. BUILDING

MONDAY THERE IS A BIG CASE FOR TAXAMNESTY IN GUYANA – GRA BOSS Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia is open to the idea of granting tax amnesty. In fact, he believes that there is a big case for it in Guyana. He noted, however, that before this is done, a number of factors need to be taken into consideration. Statia told Kaieteur News that while there has been talk of a tax amnesty, there are different types in which this measure can manifest itself. He explained that there can be tax amnesty for those employers who have not been paying the Pay As You Earn (P.A.Y.E); there is tax amnesty for those taxpayers who have not been paying or not complying; and there can be one for those who actually owe arrears in taxes. In the case of the latter, Statia explained that those persons would be granted a particular time within which they would have to pay their taxes in return for waiving penalties and interests. The tax chief also noted that a tax amnesty can also be in the form of giving taxpayers who can’t pay off all the taxes owed, the opportu-

nity to pay a percentage of what is owed within a certain time frame. The Commissioner-General said that these forms of tax amnesty can happen individually or simultaneously. Statia said, “The first thing you need to do is calculate the cost to the economy for each one of these measures and then you decide. You also need to understand that tax amnesty doesn’t work when you do it too often. You have to decide the type you are going to give, and calculate the amount you are going to get back and how often you are going to do it, because if people get accustomed to tax amnesty, they would not comply and they would just hope for the next tax amnesty.” The Commissioner-General continued, “If you give a tax amnesty, it must be a once and for all tax amnesty that will m a k e p e o p l e c o m p l y, a n d thereafter if you find that people are not complying, then that is when you penalize them.” Statia told Kaieteur News that he has been in talks with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana, in relation to granting tax

amnesty. TUESDAY NICIL PROBE…SOCU, SARU OFFICIALS TRAVELTO FLORIDA TO TALK TO WINSTON BRASSINGTON Two of Guyana’s top investigators are travelling to Florida to talk to Winston Brassington, a former executive of the former administration whose role in a number of state deals has come under t h e m i c r o s c o p e . We l l - p l a c e d sources said Monday that head of the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU), Aubrey Retemyer, along with Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sydney James, of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), would be on the trip. Brassington, former head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and its sister arm, the Privatisation Unit, is said to be living in Florida, where he operates a pallet company. Brassington reportedly left the country in late 2016, months after the Coalition Government took office. During his time in the aforementioned designations, the official oversaw a

number of transactions and deals, worth billions of dollars, that are now the subject of investigations. After taking office, the administration initiated several forensic audits including into the operations of NICIL/PU. The audits included transactions into the Pradoville Two sale of lands to former government officials and their relatives; the construction of a High Street building at a cost of several hundreds of millions of dollars; the sale of two Duke Street properties to businessman, Gerry Gouveia, among others. Investigators would also want to talk to Brassington about billions of dollars in dividends from state companies that NICIL collected and proceeds from the sale of scores of state properties. It was unclear Monday whether the officials would be examining moves to have Brassington returned to Guyana. The former NICIL official, who came under scrutiny for overseeing the building of the Berbice Bridge and the Marriott Hotel, is said to be a permanent resident of the US, and not a citizen. SOCU has also been wanting to talk to former Finance Minister, Dr.

With an estimated $700M already spent by the former administration to construct the controversial building at High and Princes Streets, Georgetown – formerly the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) – the Government is expected to plug an additional $750M to carry out works there. In an advertisement published in Sunday’s edition of the Kaieteur News captioned, “Extension of Tender Opening Invitation for Bids”, qualified contractors were invited to bid for the project, “Completion of the Administration Building”. The Ministry of Social Protection appears to be the procuring entity, since the advertisement was published under the entity’s header. While the advertisement did not specify the location of the administration building, an official from the Accounts Department of the Ministry of Social Protection, Lamaha and East Streets, confirmed the location to be the High and Princes Streets building. The department is selling the bidding documents for the project. Previous reports have indicated that the building was slated to become the headquarters of the Social Protection Ministry. The complex was built in 2008 and would have come under intense scrutiny when numerous defects were noticed. Kishan Bacchus Construction Company had carried out works on the foundation and on several other parts of the project. It was later revealed that the building’s foundation contained sub-standard material and the ceiling was improperly designed. The construction company would have secured the contract after the initial contractor backed out of the project. It is still unclear if anyone was penalised for the shoddy work. The complex, which is approximately 65,000 square feet, is abandoned, with several sections overrun with vegetation. A security guard was seen (Continued on page 41)

Sunday July 02, 2017

Kaieteur News

PAGE 41

(From page 32) stationed at the building Monday morning when this publication visited. WEDNESDAY SEARCH WARRANT READ IN OPEN COURTALERTS FORMERAG NANDLALL -SOCU ABANDONS PLANNED SEARCH OF HIS BELAIR HOME A planned raid on the Bel Air Park home of former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, has raised several alarming questions about leaks and procedures. The police Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) from all indications, was all set to visit the home to retrieve 15 Commonwealth Law Books in Nandlall’s possession that the state is claiming. The law books are subject of a criminal case that Nandlall is facing. He was arrested and charged earlier this year. He is insisting that the books, paid for by the state when he was in office, were part of his entitlement as a minister. SOCU officials Tuesday reportedly went to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where they applied to Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, for a search warrant. In what was described as a highly unusual situation, the application was read in open court. The magistrate reportedly also asked the SOCU officials to return in the afternoon to uplift the warrant. Legal minds and other officials were surprised that the application could have been read in open court, as that itself would defy the surprise element that exists with a search warrant. Shortly after that application was made, several media houses were alerted and they rushed down to the Bel Air Park home of Nandlall to await the SOCU raid. It never happened. Several high-ranking officials of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), including former President Donald Ramotar; Neendkumar, Juan Edghill, and Zulfikar Mustapha were among those that converged on the Lama Avenue property, in an apparent show of support for Nandlall. There were also some men specially mobilised. At the scene, Nandlall waved a court order which he insists is in force and which bars SOCU and the police from searching his property until the outcome of a pending case. He said that the issue was never about being able to afford the law books. ”That is not my concern at all. In fact I offered SOCU to buy 15 brand new books, unused from the company and deliver it to them by DHL tomorrow if they want.” He said that the issue is about his rights. GOVT PAYING $500,000 EACH FOR MINISTERS’ HOUSE RENT

The State has been renting a house from businessman/politician, Peter Ramsaroop, for Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes. The facility is being rented at a monthly rate of $500,000, being paid by the Parliament Office. Another is being rented for Minister within the Ministry of Comm u n i t i e s , Va l e r i e A d a m s Patterson. This arrangement has raised the eyebrows of many, including former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall. He is of the opinion that this arrangement is offensive since it is not being governed by any Constit u t i o n a l p r o v i s i o n o r o r d e r. Nandlall penned a letter to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, seeking more information on the arrangement which he claims is unlawful. A p p a r e n t l y, N a n d l a l l w a s not aware that Patterson is enjoying a similar arrangement as that which is being enjoyed by Broomes. So, he wrote, “It has been published in the public domain that the Parliament Office/Clerk of the National Assembly has rented living accommodation for Junior M i n i s t e r, Simona Broomes, at a rate of $500,000 GYD per month. “Please provide me with the

statutory/constitutional provision or Order, which authorized such use of public monies. I further request copies of any other such rental contracts for living accommodations for Ministers of the Government entered into by the Parliament’s Office/Clerk of the National Assembly.” The letter was sent to Isaacs on Monday. Isaacs was very open with Kaieteur News when an explanation for the arrangement was sought. The Clerk said that unlike what has been published in sections of the media, it is not true that the house allowance for ministers—which is provided for in the law—has increased. He said that this allowance still stands at $25,000 per month. “But, we have been renting quarters for two ministers out of Georgetown (Valerie Patterson and Broomes). Indeed we have been paying $500,000 a month for the houses. Isaacs quoted the law which says that the Prime Minister, Attorney General and senior ministers of

the government are entitled to rent free quarters. Isaacs said that those who have their own homes do not go into rent-free quarters. “We give them $25,000”. The other Ministers are housed in Government flats. THURSDAY GUYSUCO NOW PRODUCES SUGAR THREE TIMES WORLD MARKET PRICE Sugar prices on the world market for the past six months have dropped significantly to between US$250 -$275 per tonne, further compounding the problems of the state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). The prices translate to about 12.5 cents per pound (c/lb). As of Wednesday, the price was 12.66 cents per pound. The figures would continue to send warning signs, as it was only in January that GuySuCo officials appeared before a Parliamentary committee and disclosed that the cost for which sugar is traded on the world market is an average US$0.19 per pound.

This would contrast starkly with GuySuCo cost per pound of approximately US$0.40 -more than double. It is now thrice of what it is being sold for. The world market price disclosure by GuySuCo would only serve to underscore the plight facing the industry which is rocked by industrial unrest and protests over plans to close the Rose Hall and Enmore estates in a last-ditch attempt to keep the industry alive. GuySuCo explained Wednesday that it supplies annually about 65,000 tonnes of bagged and packaged sugar to Caribbean and local markets. Another 12,000 tonnes of raw sugar is supplied to the North American market while the remainder, which is also raw sugar, is sold on the European market. The supply to Europe for the second crop 2017 is expected to be around 70,000 tonnes. “The current forecast is that there will be a surplus of sugar on the World Market for the marketing year 2017/2018. In addition, from 1st October 2017, the European Union market will also see some radical changes, since it is anticipated that significant additional amounts of beet sugar will be available for sale and this will compete directly with cane sugar.” This, GuySuCo said, may result in reduced sugar prices in Europe. “Due to the competition with beet producers, the price paid by the refiners for raw cane sugar (as supplied by GuySuCo) will be more in line with the World Market Price, which currently is trading at US$275 per tonne and the forecast is that it will not increase significantly in the near future . The price at the commencement of the year was US$396 per tonne.” GuySuCo argued that the anticipated lower prices for the sugar sold will not assist the corporation’s (Continued on page 42)

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(From page 41) fragile financial position and poor liquidity will continue to pose a serious challenge in the upcoming second crop. WANTED GRDB ACCOUNTANT FIGHTING EXTRADITION – CANADIAN LAWYER Former accountant of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Peter Ramcharran, will not be coming home anytime soon from Canada to face fraud charges here, his lawyer says. According to Kaisree Chatarpaul, a former magistrate in Guyana who now practices law in Canada, the legal procedures being used to bring back his client are highly flawed and will be vigorously tested in courts there. Ramcharran is wanted in Guyana to face fraud charges for alleged breaches at GRDB, an independent state agency that regulates the rice industry. Already six former officials, including current Opposition parliamentarians who were part of the former board, have been charged and released on bail pending trial. The police’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), earlier this month, successfully moved to the local courts, asking for an arrest warrant. The Government of Guyana in turn has asked the Canadian authorities to send Ramcharran back. According to the lawyer, his client has been in Canada since last year on a student’s visa, attending Humber College. He left Guyana in March 2016 and not this year as authorities are claiming, his lawyer said. Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said over the weekend that from all indications the accountant left in April, a month before the six persons from GRDB were charged. Ramcharran was there at Humber College last week Tuesday, when immigration officials descended on the college and took him into custody. The lawyer said he was retained more than a month ago by the accountant after news broke of arrests and charges of the former GRDB ex-

Kaieteur News

ecutives in Guyana. Ramcharran was taken to the immigration enforcement office, processed, and told of allegations that he was wanted in Guyana. Chatarpaul said he was contacted the next day by the accountant, but had trouble finding him. He managed to locate his client not in an immigration detention centre, but in a high security holding facility in Maplehurst, outside of Toronto. According to the lawyer, there were several things wrong with the process. He insisted that Canadian laws work differently from the US, and one cannot be sent back on an immigration issue to face criminal charges. Rather, extradition proceedings should have been filed. CHIEF MAGISTRATE’S HANDLING OF SEARCH WARRANT QUESTIONABLE Hours after she read an application for a search warrant by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) in open court, thereby alerting the affected party, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan’s action has come under scrutiny by a number of persons within the legal fraternity. Magistrate McLennan raised eyebrows on Tuesday, after she dealt in the aforementioned manner with an application made by SOCU in relation to a search intended for the home of Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall. SOCU had planned to raid Nandlall‘s home to retrieve 15 LexisNexis Commonwealth Law Reports in his possession, and for which the state is claiming ownership. The law books are subject of a criminal case that Nandlall is facing. He was arrested and charged earlier this year. On Tuesday, SOCU officials reportedly went to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where they applied to Magistrate McLennan for a search warrant. However, in what was described as highly unusual situation, the application by SOCU was read in open court by the Magistrate, before she reportedly ordered the officials from SOCU to return in the afternoon to uplift the warrant.

Hours later, Nandlall turned up at his home with a court order which he insisted bars SOCU and the police from searching his property until the outcome of a pending case. Those familiar with the procedure have since expressed concerns that the application was read in open court. Some persons have even stressed that the act defeats the purpose of the search warrant, noting that it interferes with the surprise element that exists with such orders. Several legal minds weighing in on the matter noted that while the Chief Magistrate is empowered by law to handle such applications, the ethics employed by the Magistrate in dealing with the matter are up for debate. Sources close to the issue have suggested that given nature of the order, in practice, “the issuance of a search warrant should be treated with much sensitivity”. Sources also noted that “by reading the application to the court before the order is granted, the Magistrate essentially alerted the affected party of the intended search on the premises, thereby allowing time for the affected party, if necessary, to cover his tracks.” Kaieteur News understands that once an application for a search is made to the Court, the issue is treated with urgency.

Sunday July 02, 2017

FRIDAY “LEARN FROM OTHER COUNTRIES’MISTAKES” - EX T&T ENERGY MINISTER WARNS GUYANA The Zen proverb, “It takes a wise man to learn from his mistakes but an even wiser man to learn from the mistakes of others,” encapsulates the advice offered to Guyana by former Energy Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kevin Ramnarine. The politician who has a wealth of knowledge about the oil and gas industry, said that Guyana would be wise to learn from the mistakes of numerous countries around the world with oil industries. Ramnarine served as Minister of Energy of Trinidad and Tobago from June 2011 to September 2015. From May 2010 to June 2011, he served as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago. Ramnarine was invited earlier this year by the Guyana Oil and Gas Association (GOGA) to deliver a presentation here. He made several important points and offered key advice based on the experience of Trinidad and Tobago as well as other countries. He noted, extensively, the mistakes

made by his country as well as the things she got right. Seemingly over-expectant, Ramnarine said, “With the opportunity that oil presents, I think that Guyana is more than capable of learning from all the experiences available to them to create a uniquely better outcome for themselves.” He said that perhaps the single most important event in the economic history of Guyana was the declaration by ExxonMobil of its discovery of crude oil in its Liza-1 well. Ramnarine said that in preparing his presentation, he pondered extensively on what he would do if he was in President David Granger’s shoes at such an important time in Guyana’s history. He listed about six areas of concern which he thinks imperatively need to be addressed. Birthed from one of Ramnarine’s concerns is the question: How can Guyana avoid the gloomy fate sealed by some other countries with oil? The politician said, “I would be concerned about Guyana going down the road of ruin taken by some oil-based economies. I would contemplate the words of one of the founders of OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries), a Venezuelan named Juan Pablo Pérez Alfonso. In 1975, he said: “I call petroleum the devil’s excrement. It brings trouble...Look at this locura—waste, corruption, consumption, our public services falling apart. And debt, debt we shall have for years.” Ramnarine said that indeed, there would be a long list of things to do before 2020. “Make no mistake about it, the years 2017 to 2020 are the most crucial years in the post-independence history of Guyana,” he said. He continued, “In these years, Guyana must follow the tailor’s rule “measure twice, cut once”. You have one chance to get this right. The good news is there are a lot of countries that can serve as examples.” Ramnarine said that Guyana has an opportunity to build an Oil and Gas Sector that has benefited from the lessons learnt from other (Continued on page 43)

Sunday July 02, 2017

(From page 42) countries around the world. He said that in looking at some of the countries that are big producers of oil, one can easily identify countries that Guyana should not want to emulate. “We don’t have to go very far. Venezuela is a prime example of “Resource Curse Thesis” and “Dutch Disease”. In fact, there is a spectrum that starts with Venezuela and ends with Norway, and you have to determine where you want to be on that spectrum.” Ramnarine admitted that Trinidad made many mistakes but he said that the fundamental difference between Trinidad and Guyana is that Trinidad inherited an oil industry from the British at Independence. But, Guyana will be building an industry from scratch “and that may not be such a bad thing.” “This is a blank canvas. We didn’t have a blank canvas (in Trinidad and Tobago) at Independence. We had an established oil industry at Independence. But this is not a bad thing. It’s a good thing. You have an opportunity to take the best from the experiences of other countries and make your own Guyana model, so that 20 years from now we won’t be talking about the Norway model. We will be talking about the Guyana model.” PROBE OF $100M IN UNUSED RADIOS…AUDITOR GENERAL STUDIES GECOM CEO’S RESPONSE TO FINDINGS More than eight months after State auditors launched a probe into several multimillion- dollar contracts of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), a final report into the questionable acquisition of high frequency (HF) radios is almost completed. Updating Kaieteur News Thursday, Auditor General Deodat Sharma disclosed that his office had sent a draft report to Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, who has since responded to the findings, and this will be included in the final report. Sharma declined to delve into

Kaieteur News

details Thursday of the findings when questioned. He admitted that two other probes into the purchases of toners and pliers are ongoing. However, knowledgeable officials have disclosed that the findings were serious enough to warrant further investigations. The Office of the Auditor General descended on GECOM’s secretariat late last year after a series of articles by Kaieteur News painted a picture of significant corrupt practices with procurement at the entity that is tasked with managing elections. Despite several glaring cases of procurement breaches, no action has been taken at GECOM level. Hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts were handed out in highly questionable circumstances. Auditors were working at the GECOM’s High Street, Kingston office and other locations, perusing contracts and inventories, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. They would have been looking, especially, at spending by the entity for the May 2015 General and

Regional Elections. The probe by the AG office reportedly extended to expenditure for the 2016 Local Government Elections. EU ENDS SUGAR SUPPORT FOR GUYANA After more than seven years of plugging in excess of $348B to assist Guyana in recovering from a crippling 36 percent price cut in sugar, it appears that the European Union (EU) may be unwilling to give more. The last disbursement occurred last year, with EU’s ambassador Jernej Videtic making it clear Thursday that no more help is forthcoming at this time for the troubled industry. The envoy was speaking, along with several officials during a press conference. Between 2006 and 2016, the money never went directly to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) but to the Treasury, where the administration of the day would determine how to use the funds. According to the officials, the disbursements were never based on

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how well the sugar industry did, but rather, on indicators measuring reforms, which Guyana passed. Guyana was among more than 18 countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and St. Kitts and Nevis, that benefitted from the Accompanying Measures for Sugar Protocol countries (AMSP) to support a number of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries that were adjusting to the 2006 reform of the EU’s sugar regime. That year saw the implementation of a 36 percent phased price cut for countries that sold sugar to the E U . The AMSPs supported a wide variety of projects that ranged from improving competitiveness to promoting diversification. The budget is distributed among the beneficiary countries according to their needs, depending on the level of impact of the reform and on the importance of the sector in their economies. The confirmation that no immediate plans are there for further financing to the sugar industry, comes as the EU prepares to allow more beet sugar, produced in Europe, to flood the market there, after farmers protested for a larger market share. BUSINESSMAN’S PROJECT TO COMBAT FLOODING WORRIES NEIGHBOURS - CITY COUNCIL TO INTERVENE, DESPITE GIVINGAPPROVAL Flooding due to incessant rainfall was the reason a city businessman decided to invest in a project to raise the shoulders of the alleyway between Cummings Street and Orange Walk, Georgetown. But although the project was regarded as a noble one, even by the Mayor and City Councillors of Georgetown [M&CC], it is now a subject of concern. Complaints have reportedly been directed to the municipality regarding the project. Officials of the Guyana Society

for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [GSPCA] have also been among those complaining about the project. Speaking to this publication, Treasurer of the Animal Shelter and Clinic, Ms. Dominique Ahmad, said that up to Thursday, “We don’t know what is really being done.” But according to Ahmad, based on a conversation she had with one of the workers on the site, the work was being done to safeguard the fence of a nearby business place. Ahmad said that she initially approached the worker because she needed to determine whether the works being done would affect the drainage situation in the area. She was also worried about the fact that the ongoing works required that part of the GSPCA fence be damaged. According to Ahmad, during her enquiry, she was bluntly told that GPSCA should have been aware that the nature of the work would have warranted part of its fence being damaged. Ahmad said, too, that she was informed that the works were approved by the Georgetown municipality. She is however worried that consideration was not given for the security of the Animal Shelter, since the previously near six-foot fence has been lowered because of the ‘building up’ work being done. According to the GSPCA Treasurer, although the project could be one that will be beneficial, “we just don’t know, because nobody has told us anything. The person responsible for it has communicated nothing to us.” Moreover, Ahmad said that the concerns of the GSPCA have been shared with the Georgetown Municipality. When contacted Thursday, a representative of Alabama Trading, believed to be its owner, Mr Wooed Phillip, said that the project, which was granted approval from the relevant authority, was merely intended to combat the flooding situation that the area is predisposed to. Added to this, he said that (Continued on page 44)

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(From page 43) the investment, which he is happy to be associated with, is one that will essentially help to enhance the environment. In response to concerns from the GSPCA about security, the Alabama Trading representative said that he would be willing to give support to remedy that concern. SATURDAY ‘SCHOOL OF THE NATIONS’ GIRL IS 2017 NGSA TOP PERFORMER It was 12-year-old Saskia Twahir of the privately-operated School of the Nations who was named the country’s top National Grade Six Assessment [NGSA] performer when the results were announced yesterday by Minister of Education, Ms. Nicolette Henry. Twahir secured 524 marks. The highest possible score that was attainable for the assessment was 529. The second place was shared by five candidates, Clifton Bacchus of Mae’s Under 12; Gabriella Roberts of Success Elementary; Xiana Chabila of Graham’s Hall Primary; and Amelia Sugrim and Antonia Dey of the Academy of Excellence. A total of nine candidates secured 522 marks to share seventh position. They are Brandon Gouveia of the Academy of Excellence; Emily Lalchand of the Academy of Excellence; Raj Seeram of Swami Purnananda Primary; Tristan Persaud of the Academy of Excellence; Jerod Roberts of Marian Academy; Tristan Richards of Dharmic Rama Krishna; Muhammad Bacchus of ISA Islamic; Tia Chung of Success Elementary and Kripa Thani of Mae’s Under 12. Of the aforementioned top performers only one hailed from a public school – Graham’s Hall. All other pupils are from privately-operated schools. When the NGSA was held on April 12 and April 13 last, a total of 13,329 candidates from both public and private schools participated. According to Minister

Kaieteur News

Sunday July 02, 2017

Henry, pupils were assessed in the subject areas of Mathematics, with the highest attainable score being 132; Science, with the highest attainable score being 132; English, with the highest attainable score being 132 and Social Studies, with the highest attainable score being 133. Minister Henry at the announcement forum held at the Ministry’s Brickdam, Georgetown Boardroom, said improvements were recorded in all the subject areas for 2017 when compared to what obtained in 2016. According to her, in 2016 the Ministry embarked on a strategic collaboration with the Caribbean Examinations Council [CXC] to improve the quality of all primary grade assessments. The partnership continued this year and saw teachers, subject specialists, test development officers, developing the assessment items with technical guidance from CXC. “The team sought to address key areas such as item construction, weighing of the item, sampling and other psychometric elements,” Minister Henry disclosed. Minister Henry disclosed the names of several pupils who made up the top one percent including the top 10 performers of each education district. SECURITY GUARD SHOT DEAD DURING BOTCHED ROBBERY - GUNMEN ESCAPE WITH VICTIM’S FIREARM A security guard was shot dead Friday night during a scuffle with two gunmen at the Good Luck Supermarket on Dennis Street, Sophia around 18:30 hrs yesterday. The victim was identified as Gerald Henry of ‘C’ Field Sophia, Georgetown. He was shot once to the chest and died. According to reports, Henry was standing inside the supermarket when two gunmen entered and went straight up to him and a scuffle began. “(The victim) was standing inside the supermarket and like these guys see he had a gun. So one of them went straight up to him—to try to grab the gun but Henry start to fight with he and that’s when he (victim) get shoot to the chest,” a police source said. Kaieteur News was informed that after shooting Henry, the gunmen collected his weapon and ran out of the supermarket—without taking any valuables. It is unclear whether they had a vehicle waiting on them or whether they escaped on foot. Immediately after, the se-

curity guard was rushed to the GPHC where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Kaieteur News understands that the two gunmen wore hats to conceal their identity but their faces can be recognized. $120M MORE TO BE SPENT ON SUPENAAM STELLING The Supenaam Stelling in

Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam) is once again, slated to undergo a multimillion-dollar make over. Minister of State Joseph Harmon, during the postCabinet Press briefings in Georgetown, noted the award of the contract. He said that the contract in the sum of $120,245,000 was awarded to S. Maraj Contracting Service. The Supenaam Stelling, has in the past, faced intense

scrutiny after the $600M facility began suffering structural defects days after it was commissioned in 2010. ‘RAKING IN ARREARS IS WHAT’S SAVING US’ – JORDAN - VAT COLLECTION DOWN $1.8B Contrary to the belief that the government is raking in money, there has actually

been a shortfall in ValueAdded Tax (VAT) and Income Tax collection, says the Finance Minister Winston Jordan. The Minister was at the time fielding questions from members of the Private Sector at a Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) event hosted at the Le Meridian Pegasus Hotel, Kingston Georgetown. Comments were made about the upcoming 2018 budget. President of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Eddie Boyer, endorsed the idea of an early budget. He told the gathering that the ‘word around’ is that the budget will be “a very encouraging” one for business and expressed hope that this would be so. “We are looking forward to something. You got your taxes last year, so this year, give it back,” Boyer said. Minister Jordan during his response to that, and other comment and concerns raised by the businessmen said, “We are not raking in any money here…Contrary to the belief that we are raking in money, up to May (last), VAT collection was $1.8 billion down relative to 2016 and income tax was down by $1.2 billion relative to last year,” “What we are raking in at the moment is arrears. Arrears have been up by $4.3 billion. That is what has saved us so far…It’s the collections of arrears for some previously non-compliant sectors – so to speak,” the economist said. Turning his attention to other comments made over the apparent rising operational cost as a result of the imposed tax measures on water, Jordan begged to differ. The Minister said that he could not “understand how businessmen could say that the Value Added Tax on water is killing them”. He posited that businesses were not paying VAT on water at the end of May because the Guyana Water Authority (GWI) is waiting on an expert from the United Kingdom (UK) to make the necessary changes to the utility company’s billing system. “They (businesses) were not paying the Value Added Tax as of the end of May because GWI has claimed they have to bring somebody from Britain to change the computer system that they have in there to accommodate the Value Added Tax,” he said. Jordan informed the gathering that the state’s half-year report will be introduced in a few weeks and the private sector will be able to have a look at the performance of the various sectors.

Sunday July 02, 2017

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Kaieteur News

The PPP should explain... Names of key figures negotiating... From page 9 If there was ever an inquiry in the EU billions, Harmon said, “You will find the bulk of the money never went where it was supposed to. And so when the PPP and some of their friends are going to sugar workers and crying out ‘we sorry for you, we sorry for you,’ and so on, they should explain what it is that they did with all this money.” Specifically, Harmon said, the PPP should be made to answer why it is that the state-owned industry is producing sugar higher than the world market price. “This is not something that could have happened overnight. It did not start in 2015 (when we entered office). These were noted trends that happened along the way. “And so when we came into office, the decisions that the PPP government were afraid to take, we took those decisions for the interest of the industry and the people of the country.” The Minister said that the Coalition Government is

attempting to save it. “The PPP, they were on a path of killing it and this is what I want to say, that we are working in the interest of the people in the sugar industry and that we are working in the interest to ensure that there is still a sugar industry going forward in Guyana…albeit in a different stage.” GuySuCo has more than $75B in debts and was forced to close the US$200M Skeldon factory for the first crop after technical problems surfaced. Annual production is expected to be low again this year. Jagdeo, who ended his two constitutional terms in 2011, had insisted that the Skeldon project was the answer for the industry. EU officials last week said that the disbursements were never based on how much sugar was produced, but rather, on indicators measuring reforms, which Guyana passed. Guyana was among more than 18 countries, including

Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and St. Kitts and Nevis, that benefitted from the Accompanying Measures for Sugar Protocol countries (AMSP) to support a number of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries that were adjusting to the 2006 reform of the EU’s sugar regime. That year saw the implementation of a devastating 36 percent phased price cut for countries that sold sugar to the EU. There have been several protests, organized by the Opposition-aligned unions in recent weeks, over the closure of estates. Government insists that it cannot continue to spend billions of dollars annually to bail the industry out.

From page 20 that we will use for our interest.” Just over three months ago, Government announced the hiring of Dr. Mangal, an expert in offshore and civil engineering. He was appointed as Petroleum Advisor in the Ministry of the Presidency. Trotman had told the media that Dr. Mangal was recommended last year by consultant Anthony Paul, who compiled the Rapid Analysis of the State of Readiness of Guyana's Hydrocarbon Regulatory Framework report that was facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). “I think this appointment of Dr. Mangal is timely. It is necessary and we look forward to working with him to

move things further apace… He has experience from all sides; the academic, the theoretical and the practical, which is vitally needed at this time,” the Natural Resources Minister shared. Dr. Mangal has a Doctorate in Offshore Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Oxford and a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Edinburg. He has worked in marine and oil and gas industries for the past 18 years in

various parts of the world including the United States, West Africa, and the Philippines. Guyana, through USowned ExxonMobil, has discovered a large deposit of oil, in offshore concessions and is moving to start production in 2020. However, there has been deep worry about Guyana's capacity to handle the negotiations and introduce the necessary legislations and monitoring mechanisms in time.

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Kaieteur News

Govt. reviewing Oil and Gas sector draft agreements

Key government and other officials are currently engaged in discussions and a review of all the agreements and arrangements that have been put in place, with respect to the country’s preparation for the oil and gas sector in 2020. These include arrangements for the creation of the Sovereign Wealth Fund and the Oil and Gas Local Content Policy. It is still unclear whether the Production Sharing Agreement between Guyana and ExxonMobil will be reviewed as well. Minister of State Joseph Harmon explained that the table top review came out of a meeting in which the President, David Granger, appointed a team of Ministers

together with the Government’s Advisor on Oil and Gas, Dr. Jan Mangal, to report on all issues relating to the sector to Cabinet. The Ministers of Government that form part of the team are the Ministers of Natural Resources, Finance, Public Infrastructure, Business and State. The table top review is to allow for Cabinet to make decisions about the sector that is in “the best interest of all Guyanese,” Minister Harmon said, recently. The Minister explained that to support the review, the team has held extensive consultations with several entities. He noted that during the course of this week, Dr. Mangal and the government officials also met a team of of-

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

ficials from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) at the request of the President. “We are basically at this point, of accepting advice but ultimately we would have to come up with what is the best practice, and what is in the best interest of the people of Guyana,” the Minister said. He noted there are several statements that are being made, some by Venezuela with respect to role of ExxonMobil in Guyana. The Minister reiterated that Guyana is a sovereign nation, “and we will make decisions that are in the best interest of the people of Guyana.” He said that in moving forward and making decisions, the government is taking consideration of all the historical issues with respect to the oil and gas industry including some of ExxonMobil’s past actions. “We are taking note of all that is being said…and

as a government. We have no issues with persons that are actually bringing up information, for the benefit of the Guyanese people”, the minister said. He assured that the government in its continued engagement with ExxonMobil and other foreign companies will continue to seek out a wealth of technical and experienced people in the area of oil and gas. The Minister said that whilst Dr. Mangal is currently advising the team reviewing the decision of the sector, the government and the Ministry of Natural Resources’ inhouse capacities will be augmented by the available international resources, as the country moves forward with its negotiations. “From time to time, we will identify leading experts in the field of law, environment and other negotiating skills, which we would put to use for the benefit of the people,” the Minister emphasised.

Sunday July 02, 2017

Cyber-crime training...

From page 13 and some uploaded by jilted men. While several reports have been made, nothing has been done as yet. Meanwhile, the Cybercrime Bill of 2016 was presented and read for the first time in the National Assembly last year by the Attorney General, Basil Williams. The Legal Affairs Minister also referred the complex legislation to a Special Select Committee, so that it can be properly perused and amendments made where necessary. Williams explained that the Bill seeks to combat cybercrime by creating offences related to it and provide for penalties, investigation and prosecution of the offences and related matters. The Bill sets out that a person commits an offence if he/she intentionally, without authorization or in excess of authorization, or by infringing any security measure, accesses a computer system or any part of a computer system of another person. The draft legislation also deals with child pornography and child luring. It says that a person who produces child pornography for the purpose of distribution through a computer system, or offers or makes available, distributes or transmits child pornography through a computer system, commits an offence.

Sunday July 02, 2017

By Dr. Neromini Fagu Eruption of the first tooth is usually expected around six months of age and is considered as a normal milestone. Any sooner eruptions have often been associated with superstition and folklore in various cultures. Erupted teeth in the mouth of a newborn is a rare phenomenon and has been linked with good or bad omens that surround beliefs and assumptions which still exist today. Natal teeth are those present in the oral cavity at birth, and neonatal teeth are those teeth that erupt within the first 30 days of birth. These natal or neonatal teeth are also termed as premature or predecidious dentition. The teeth commonly occur in

Kaieteur News

NATAL AND NEONATAL TEETH pairs, mostly in the lower anterior region. The presence of natal teeth is three times more likely than neonatal teeth and ninety percent of these teeth are true primary (baby) teeth that have come

in early. The remaining ten percent are supernumerary or extra teeth. The cause of natal and neonatal teeth is unknown but one explanation is the positioning of superficial tooth buds. There also appears to be a hereditary aspect to developing natal

teeth, with up to 60% of cases reporting a positive family history. Natal teeth are associated with cleft lip/ palate, with 10% of children with bilateral cleft lip/palate having natal teeth and two per cent of unilateral cleft lip/ palate having natal teeth. Natal and neonatal teeth can sometimes be normal in size, shape and colour. However, they are usually small, conical and yellowbrown. They are often loose and prone to wear and discolouration. Four clinical categories of natal teeth have been described: 1. Shell-like crown structure loosely attached by gum tissue with no root 2. Solid crown loosely attached by gum tissue with little or no root

STANDARDS IN FOCUS

STANDARDISATION IN THE CROSQ CARICOM LEVEL

Standardisation is a very integral component of trade and integration within the Caribbean Region as it facilitates the production and acceptance of quality goods and services among member states. CARICOM Member States established the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) under Article 67 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that was signed by the Heads of Government of CARICOM on 5 July 2001. CROSQ began its work as a regional intergovernmental organisation in February 2002 to facilitate the development of regional standards, promote the harmonization of metrology systems and support the sustainable production and trade of goods and services in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). With its headquarters in Barbados, CROSQ is the regional centre for promoting efficiency and competitive production in goods and services, through the process of standardization and the verification of quality. In this regard, CROSQ aims to support international competitiveness for the enhancement of social and economic development of the region. All fifteen Member States of CARICOM are members of CROSQ – Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. CROSQ’s vision is to be the leader for the development and promotion of the Regional Quality Infrastructure (RQI) which has five components: standards, metrology, testing, certification and accreditation. Meanwhile, its mission is to facilitate trade and competitiveness for CARICOM products and services for sustainable development through implementation of a RQI. As the Regional Standards Body, CROSQ reports to the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), which is responsible for the approval of standards, CROSQ work programme and budget. The Regional Body is made up of the Council, the Technical and Special Committees and the Secretariat. The CROSQ Council

provides policy direction and consists of the Directors/Executive Directors (or representatives) of the National Standards Bodies (NSBs) such as the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS). The Technical and Special Committees consist of stakeholders from private and public sector entities who support the work of the organisation. Meanwhile, the Secretariat coordinates, facilitates and implements programmes and activities of the organisation. Three Technical Committees assist with the technical agenda of the CROSQ Council. Firstly, the Technical Management Committee (TMC) was appointed in 2005 to assist with the development and harmonization of regional standards. Comprising technical experts from among the NSBs, the TMC meets 3-4 times yearly to oversee the process. Sector-specific Regional Technical Committees (RTCs), comprising relevant stakeholders and experts, develop and review the standards. Secondly, CARIMET, the Caribbean arm of the Sistema Inter-American Metrologia (SIM), is made up of representatives of the National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) of the English-speaking Caribbean, including Belize, Guyana and Suriname. It has been in existence since the mid1990s. In April 2008, it was formally invited to participate within CROSQ as a special committee, with particular responsibility for the development and coordination of Metrology in the region. Lastly, the Marketing Information Knowledge and Education Management (MIKE) Committee is made up of representatives from each of the National Standards Bodies in the areas of information technology, information management, marketing and communications, WTO/TBT enquiry points and CODEX nodes. The MIKE Committee was established to assist in the development of information and communication technologies (ICT) within CROSQ. The GNBS in collaboration with the other National Standards Bodies across CARICOM and the CROSQ Secretariat wishes all Guyanese and CARICOM Nationals “A HAPPY CARICOM DAY, 2017”.

3. Eruption of the cutting edge of the crown through gum tissue 4. Swelling of the gum tissue with an unerupted but palpable tooth. The presence of natal teeth may lead to a number of complications and include: · Potential risk of the

infant inhaling the tooth into his/her airway and lungs if the tooth becomes dislodged during nursing due to its greater mobility · Trauma to the tip or undersurface of the tongue resulting in ulceration – RigaFede disease Continued on page 61

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Dr. Neromini Fagu

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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 Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezersCall:629-4946 or 225-4822 A Power’s Repairs & Services: repairs done on fridges, washers, freezers, stove, A/C. located 114 Bruche Dam, E.C.D. Call: 6852588/669-0477 Repairs to refrigerators, gas stoves, A/C units, washing machines. Call Lindon: 641-1086/ 694-2202 Affordable house plans for residential and commercial buildings @ 37 Camp and Croal Streets. Call: 610-4085/ 614-0525/227-3575 Eagle’s: Re-gas -$8,000, Washing machine repairs, Gas Stove, Plasma flat Screen, computer repairs & more. Call: 697-2969/646-0966

WANTED 1 Accounts Clerk, preferably from E.B.D – 5 subjects CXC minimum @ gtcareers592@gmail.com Hairdresser/Nail Technician apply at West Shore Plaza, 15 Public Road, Ruimzeight, W.C.D. Call: 269-1524/656-3561 One female domestic to work in Trinidad. ages between 25 40yrs. Free accommodation. Call or whatsap: 1868- 683-1528 Hairdressers and nail technicians to work at Modern Hair Fashion Salon. Call: 227-8613 or 226-1931 Buying fresh wamara logs and square. Call: 664-5150 Contract cars at City Taxi Service, 8 Vlissengen Road. Call: 227-6868 We are buying residential house lots from $500,000.00$10M, priorities for Eccles & Providence. Call:629-2881/ 651-1969

FOR SALE

FOR RENT

PROPERTY FOR SALE

LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461

Bully dogs mix with pit-bull puppies. Call: 684-9994/6878320 ask for Keno

Three storey 75ftX30ft building/bond, open floor, 2 offices & 2 washrooms, driveway @ 25B Princes St., Charlestown. Call: 223-0654/ 225-0605

Paint Sale! Until supplies last! Coloured latex paint, 50% discount. Call: 265-3541/ 6954785/616-3411 Sale! Laptops from -$40,000, netbooks -$29,000, Dell Desktop Computers with 19" Screen - $49,000 free games, etc. Call Futuretech: 231-2206 One 65KVA generator, one double head planer, one 4 head planer. Call: 222-3644/ 613-5535 Three (3) pure bred female German shepherd pups, location: La Grange, W.B.D. Call: 654-6354 German Shepherd pups. Call: 665-4747/681-4762 200HP Yamaha Outboard, 330 HP PR Perkins, Radiators for Diesel Engine. Whatsapp: 786-399-3109

Experienced dispatcher, drivers and cars needed A.S.A.P. Contact 682-6747, 615-4252, 2192712. Wanted now! Female bartender $18,000 weekly live in or out, free meal & accommodation in G.T. Call: 681-1312 Arc/Acetylene Welder with fabrication skills. Call: 227-1830 Experienced curry cook roti/ puri cook, counter servers, waiters (day shift only). Apply Hacks Halaal, 5 Commerce Streets.

VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Hilux extra cab, GVV series, 5L diesel, good condition. Call: 673-3335/233-6218 1 Toyota Vigo, price -$2.5M, 4 wheel drive immaculate condition. Call: 225-3234 Oswin J’s Auto Imports, new arrivals: Premio 2009, Allion 2009/2010, X-Trail 2009, Vitz 2013, 1 Bus 05/09. Call: 6092815/696-4659 2004 Honda Fit for sale, price negotiable. Call Akimo: 6226453 or Michael: 685-0088

TO LET FOR SALE/FOR RENT Large 3 bedrooms house for rent or sale in La Parfaite W.B.D -$40,000 per monthly. Call: 690-5061/667-0022 One furnished liquor restaurant and bar for sale $20M or rent, location: E.C.DCall: 600-7228 Semi-furnished 5 bedrooms, 4 bathroom, camera, alarm, grill, garage. Call John: 652-1504 TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)

Sunday July 02, 2017

Kaieteur News

Newly constructed apartments in a safe & healthy environment. Call: 698-6496/622-6512 2 Bedrooms apartment Middle Road La Penitence $25,000 working person only. Call: 601-4661 Alberttown - $50,000, $80,000, $40,000; Mandela -$80,000, ($250,000 – business), South - $100,000, Eccles, Durban Backland & many more. Call: 231-2199/ 660-7710 Single room for Bachelor @ 11 Charles Street, Charlestown. Call: 223-4060

Two bedroom apartment to rent @ Herstelling New Scheme. Call: 627-3882/ 6412311 Hair & nails stations available for rental to experienced hairdressers & nail technicians. Call: 6283092/ 683-7033 1 House – upper flat 3 bedrooms, Pike Street Kitty. Call: 234-0733 1 & 2 Bedroom apartment available @ Charlestown. Call: 681-4275/ 231-4432/601-5857 1 Three bedrooms upper flat @ Lusignan, E.C.D. Call: 629-8240 2 Bedrooms apartment including water and internet, price - $40,000, location: Diamond Scheme, E.B.D. Call: 602-7135 One two bedroom apartment located in Diamond, Housing Scheme, rent -$45,000 monthly. Call: 216-2339/6766313

Unregistered Mazda Axela 2011 -$2.7M, Corolla Fielder 2010 -$2.4M, Nissan Pickup 2000 -$2.3M. Call: 617-5536 1 Mitsubishi Lancer PJJ series, female driven $500,000. Call: 656-2255 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).

House for sale, 2 flat, no flooding, 6ft fence, price $18M negotiable. Call: 2335400, 218-0595

Hair/Nail Station rental & barber station rental, New Market Street. Call: 638-1106 One bedroom self-contained apartment in Grove, E.B.D preferably working couple. Call:687-7376/693-3738 Property for rent - 2 storey house at Republic Park, E.B.D. Call 647-1773

43yrs old male looking for vegetarian wife. Call: 690-7175 Handsome, energetic and ambitious male seeking female 21-26yrs for Friendship. Call Harmony Singles: 626-2629/676-6312 Beautiful working females seeking male 45yrs & older. Call: 676-6312/626-2629 ACCOMMODATION Journey Inn apartment rental, short term with AC & Kitchen, as low as -$15US. Call: 642-1783/ 646-3011634/718-2301695

Cook/ Baker for interior. Applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020 Immediate vacancy exists for labourers t work at Ice Factory, Meadowbank. Call: 231-1408/642-9191 between 8am-1pm

House for sale -1 2 flat 3 bedrooms house located @ Belle West #2 W.B.D, asking $9.5M. Call: 604-1299

1 live in couple & 2 male assistant with driver’s license to work @ outdoor grill, weekend included. Call: 6569313/675-2550

Aubrey Barker - $28M, Greenheart -$25M, Norton Street -$11M, ½ Mile - $16M, Atlanticville - $28M, Kitty $10M, $30M. Call: 231-7805/ 618-7483

1 General domestic, must know to cook. Call: 638-6891 Chef and assistant cook. Call: 225-7933 or visit us at 173 Sheriff St.

2 Story property located at Sewing machine operator & Montrose. Call: 677-1310 1 trainee draftsman/cutter, 1-2 Storey house concrete consideration given to bottom, wooden top with persons with intermediate shop @ Herstelling, level training. Call: 225-5948/ reasonable price. 1-2 story 644-4398/333-4170 building in Tuschen. Call: 695Experienced bartender. Call: 5154 225-8572 between 7am-9am Cook, female with housekeeping experienced, age 25-45years old. Call: 6299450 from June 30th , 2017 to July 5th , 2017 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:LOWDOWNPAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERSFOR THESEASON.CALL:690-6494

PEN PAL

Immediate vacancy for 2 females to work @ Ice Factory in Blairmont, must have Maths, English. Call: 2311408/642-9191

1 Flat concrete house @ La Parfaite Harmonie, 3 bedrooms with 1 Master room, grilled PVC ceiling etc $12.5M negotiable. Call: 2533052/ 662-6818

Furnished three bedrooms top flat, next to Georgetown Hospital. Call: 225-3756/603-2257

Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pit-bull – Call: 650-7501 2 Isuzu Troopers -$1.9M each. Call: 657-3893

One three bedroom concrete house for sale Contact Mala: 917-254-2909, location: Vryheid’s Lust, North. Call: 699-4111/626-2208

VACANCY One experienced pharmacy assistant to work in a reputable pharmacy in G/ Town (flexible hours). Call: 227-0630

AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL: PICKUP,9-11SEATMINIBUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 LEARN TO DANCE Studio 87 Dance Classes: keep fit, loose weight, build self-esteem and have fun. Call: 626-2629/676-6312 SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. -CosmetologyCourses:$120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257

Vacancies exist for private male security guards between ages 25-50yrs. Call: 679-7807 for more information. Accounts clerk: English A (Grade 1) , Mathematics, P.O.A (Grade 2), knowledge of NIS, PAYE, VAT & QuickBooks @ Technical Services, Eccles. Call 614-4358 General Marketing Enterprise Real estate has position. Text Shawn: 618-7483 Receptionist/Clerk -$35,000 weekly, manager’s assistant, attractive salary. Call: 2202878 Nexgen Global: Now Hiring! New locations, E.B,.D, W.C.D, GT, F/T & P/T, Will train. Email CV hrmanager.ce@gmail.Com One experienced legal computer clerk. Call: 6247087/ 226-4283/258-0213/ email:husainsaphier@ yahoo.com DRESSMAKING Studio 87 Designing/sewing classes: hobby/career, increase your earning power. Call: 626-2629/676-6312 Continued on Page 61

Sunday July 02, 2017

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Kaieteur News

CONSUMER CONCERNS

Consumers welcome the new PUC Chairman, look forward to quick liberalization By PAT DIAL On Wednesday 21st June Ms. Della Britton, a wellknown attorney-at-law and serving Commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) was sworn in as Chairman of the PUC by President Granger. The Consumer Community, which from the inception of the PUC was fully involved in all its hearings, extends a hearty welcome to Madame Chairman Britton, and as a stakeholder, again pledge our support to the Chairman and the Commission. Ms. Britton is an experienced Lawyer and had been exposed to other disciplines and skills when she took her Masters’ Degree from Columbia University. She therefore brings a rounded intellectual personality and tested ability to the Chairmanship. During the time Chairman Britton served as Commissioner, the Commission had to adjudicate on several difficult and complicated issues especially in respect of the Telecommunications Utility. In these deliberations Chairman Britton saw firsthand the knowledge, capability and professionalism of her fellow Commissioners. She also saw how helpful and able the staff of the Commission was. In her acceptance speech,

she underlined this when she remarked, “We do have a dynamic group of professionals and the Commissioners are all capable of fulfilling their mandate as all have years of experience and are professionals ... Our duties are strict under the Legislation and because they are strict we have mandatory obligations to the Consumers, the Utilities and to the Minister”. With this excellent PUC infrastructure she inherits, she will immediately start working and as she put it, “I hit the ground running tomorrow”. The liberalization of the Telecoms Sector is the first challenge Chairman Britton will encounter and she is wellprepared to meet it. “Plans are afoot as of now,” she said, “to have all things in place before liberalization would have come into force.” In getting ready for liberalization, the PUC will have to engage new personnel to assist in the process. Such personnel would be the best available in Guyana. Chairman Britton has promised to work closely with the Minister of Telecommunications Hon. Catherine Hughes who would be leading the liberalization process. The Liberalization legislation which came into being last August has several new requirements but the core of

Natal and Neonatal... From page 59 · The child’s refusal to feed due to pain · Ulceration of the nipple of the mother and interference with breast feeding Natal teeth are usually diagnosed based on a complete history and physical examination of the infant. X-rays may be performed soon after birth to determine if the teeth are normal baby teeth or extras, the extent of root development, enamel and dentine, and the relationship to other teeth. The management option of conservative treatment versus extraction needs to be discussed with the parents. Treatment of natal and neonatal teeth is advisable at an early stage. Conservative management is generally preferred and options include: · Grinding/smoothing sharp edges of the tooth · Composite resin to form a dome shape over the edge of the tooth so the tongue glides over the tooth · Protective Stomahesive wafers/rings · Changes in feeding technique · Dental hygiene including topical fluoride application It has been reported that 30-60 % of natal teeth fall out in the first year of life. However, natal teeth that are only slightly loose at birth often quickly stabilize, and if still present at four months of age the teeth have a good prognosis. Extraction may be a course of treatment if the teeth are supernumerary, very loose, or because of interference with the nasoalveolar molding appliance associated with cleft lip/ palate. Extraction can often be performed with just topical anesthetic cream because of the poor root development. Usually the procedure is done after age 10 days to allow for appropriate levels of accumulation of Vitamin K in the blood for clotting. For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 2603133 or send emails to nerominifagu@hotmail.com.

it concerns the ending of the ATN/GTT monopoly of the Telecoms Industry. The Liberalization is expected to be completed by the end of this month. This had been set as the deadline and the public is looking forward to this in much expectancy. Minister Hughes however pointed out that before the liberalization process is complete, a number of issues have to be resolved, and this may go beyond the end of July, but that consumers and the public need not be alarmed since the process is moving in a straight line towards conclusion. The main issues which are in the process of being resolved are the engaging of a suitable consultant to advise on spectrum management and pricing since in the past GTT enjoyed free or almost free spectrum. Since the National Frequency Management Unit now comes under a new agency,TT, on its side, is concerned with the pricing of spectrum and the process by which applications for new licences are received. In addition to these, ATN/ GTT has a number of other issues still to be resolved which are of the nature of dismantling the Monopoly and the payment of monies it owes to the Guyana Revenue Authority. Minister Hughes has reported that negotiations on all outstanding issues are going well. It is not expected that the Telecoms Minister and ATN/ GTT would make public the process of these negotiations

but this, however, does not preclude the GCA from giving its take on information which is already in the public domain. In this regard, there are three issues of which the negotiators would be reminded:(1) GTT has publicly stated that the Liberalization Act was ending the Monopoly which it regarded as its private property and for which the Government of Guyana must duly compensate it. This Monopoly was given in the 1990 Contract between ATN/GTT and the Government of Guyana. The GCA had long been advocating that the 1990 Contract was void and as such there was no Monopoly in the strict sense. There is therefore no obligation on Government to compensate ATN/GTT for loss of Monopoly. The reason why the 1990 Contract was void was that the Government gave ATN/GTT the Monopoly subject to it performing certain things. The most important of these was the obligation to institute universal landline services in Georgetown, throughout the Coastland of Guyana and in five named interior locations. GTT has failed to do this and there is a list of thousands who require landlines and cannot get

them; and also the demand in the new housing schemes. In GCA’s view, this fundamental breach of the 1990 Contract in addition to other less fundamental breaches voids the so-called Monopoly Contract. (2) The GCA believes that ATN/GTT owes the Guyana Revenue Authority at least US$40 million in taxes which they have resisted paying over the years. The GCA surmises that they will try to negotiate away this debt by suggesting that it should be balanced against the loss of Monopoly among other things and that both sides should let bygones be bygones. The GCA holds strongly to the view that ATN/GTT should be made to honour their financial obligations to the Government. They have extracted enormous profits from Guyana beyond the wildest dreams of any local company. (3) GTT has been complaining that they have been making poor profits on the regulated services which are of course the Monopoly segment of their business. If the so-called Monopoly service is of such poor value, then it could scarcely expect to be compensated for this. We do look forward to the quick conclusion of negotiations and the advent of Liberalization.

Habits are not the product of one decision — They’re the result of repeated choices that eventually become automatic responses. How can you know your true spiritual condition? By the company you keep and the choices you make. When you’re free to go, where do you choose to go? Whose company do you prefer?

From Page 60

LAND FOR SALE Land at 42 Coglan Dam, size: 37X270 price -$5.5M negotiable. Call Mr. Howes: 677-9938 or Mrs Clarke: +13473870537 2 ½ Acres riverside land, 5Acres land with 5,000 sq.ft building. Call: 653-2477/685-6874 Herstelling (100ftX50ft) - $3.2M, Farm (East Bank) -$2.8M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1M, $1.4M, $1.6M, Uitvlugt -$2.6M. Call: 629-2881/651-1969 Land at Well Street Ogle, E.C.D, back lot, 65feetX105feet - $12M. Call: 625-1514 Land in Friendship E.B.D, land size 50ftX198ft, price -$3.9M negotiable. Call: 645-6498 La Parfaite Harmonie -$1M, Zeelugt -$2M, Tuschen house & land - $3.5M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.7M. Call: 642-1252 East ½ 84 David Street, back lot for sale- Contact: 84davidstreet@gmail.com Vreed-en-Hoop, W.B.D, La Parfaite Harmonie (house & land) W.B.D, Bent Street, Camp Street, Durban, Cross Street. Call: 627-9685 Harmony prime spot, ideal for business. Call: 695-5154

EDUCATIONAL Canadian School of Arts & Science: Summer Classes 2017- Pre-K, Nursery, Primary, Secondary (July 10th –August 11th). Call: 216-6921/22 for registration I.A.E – Registered now for full-time secondary school, lessons, CXC/CSEC classes, adults, students, repeaters. Call: 683-5742/621-7365 Summer School ages 4-14, Rising Star Academy, Phonics, Reading, Mathematics, Science; Register Early. Call: 677-0296 Studio 87 Table Tennis classes: keep fit, loose weight, build self-esteem and have fun. Call: 6262629/676-6312 Summer Classes for slow learners in Maths, Phonics, Reading, Spelling and much more. Call: 675-4379

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Sunday July 02, 2017

Sunday July 02, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Exxon refuses invitation to local public forum, but attends one in Trinidad ExxonMobil is not drilling for oil in Trinidad and Tobago. It is looking to produce oil in Guyana. In fact, the company has received all that it needs to start oil production in Guyana—its Environmental Permit and Production Licence. However, it has, on two occasions, refused to appear at a public forum in Guyana. However, it has found the time to prepare a presentation that was delivered by Country Manager Jeff Simons in Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year. The presentation was about Guyana’s oil and the plans of the company. Why would Exxon refuse to engage Guyanese on oil found in Guyana but feels comfortable talking to Trinidadians on the matter? That question remains unanswered. Not even the organization that invited ExxonMobil—Guyana Oil and Gas Association (GOGA)—

ExxonMobil Country Manager, Jeff Simons can say why the company refused to show. Sources at GOGA say that the company was invited twice—orally and in writing. GOGA said that in February, ExxonMobil made “favorable comments” about the organization’s initiative to hold a lecture series to sensi-

tize Guyanese. GOGA said that at that point the opportunity was seized to invite ExxonMobil to make a contribution to the series, but nothing materialized. After that oral attempt failed, GOGA sent a written invitation but again, ExxonMobil declined. Earlier this year, Simons went to Trinidad and entertained the press there. However, even on that occasion, some questions were sidelined. The Oil and Gas Journal reported on what occurred in Trinidad. An article written by Curtis Williams referred to ExxonMobil’s “giant Liza discovery offshore Guyana.” That piece quoted Simons as saying in addition to the average production of 100,000 barrels of oil per day that Liza will provide when it begins flowing in 2020, “it also expects to produce 165 MMscfd of natural gas that will be mainly used for re-in-

Only Magistrate can explain her... From page 8 The law books are the subject of a criminal case that Nandlall is facing. He was arrested and charged earlier this year. On Tuesday, SOCU officials reportedly went to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where they applied to Magistrate McLennan for a search warrant. However, in what was described as highly unusual situ-

Killers.... From page 8 supermarket when the two gunmen entered, went directly to him and a scuffle ensued. “(The victim) was standing inside the supermarket and like these guys see he had a gun. So one of them went straight up to him and after he started fighting back with them, one of the gunmen managed to grab his gun and shoot he,” a police source said. Reports are that after shooting Henry, the gunmen ran out of the supermarket with the victim’s gun—without taking any valuables. It is unclear whether they had a vehicle waiting on them or whether they escaped on foot. Immediately after, the security guard was rushed to the GPHC where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The victim’s sister-in-law, June Peters, said that she was at home Saturday night when her sister, Abeola Harris called her in tears and asked that she take her to the hospital. “She called crying and telling me that the work place called and say that Gerald get shoot and he gone to the hospital,” Peters said. The woman said that when they reached the hospital, the security guard was already dead.

ation, the application by SOCU was read in open court by the Magistrate, before she reportedly ordered the officials from SOCU to return in the afternoon to uplift the warrant. Hours later, Nandlall turned up at his home with a court order which he insisted bars SOCU and the police from searching his property until the outcome of a pending case.

Several legal minds weighing in on the matter noted that while the Chief Magistrate is empowered by law to handle such applications, the ethics employed by the Magistrate in dealing with the matter are up for debate. Sources close to the issue have suggested that given the nature of the order, in practice, “The issuance of a search warrant should be treated with much sensitivity”.

jection into the wells.” Simmons told those in attendance at Trinidad’ annual energy conference that the company will use a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit to produce the oil and would then export it. It raised the possibility of the oil being refined in nearby Trinidad and Tobago. He told delegates that the company planned to drill 17 production wells with subsea tiebacks to the FPSO and that ExxonMobil was confident it

could meet the early start up deadline because of its use of “cutting edge” technology. Simmons said no decision had been taken as of yet on whether ExxonMobil would use one or two drill ships during the development stage. He noted that ExxonMobil has always been committed to the maximum use of local content but admitted that during production very few jobs will be created in Guyana because a total of 60 people will be required for the production of

the oil. ExxonMobil’s Country Manager said the company has had to use Trinidad and its services during the exploration phase due to the Caribbean island’s relatively close proximity, its long history in oil and gas, and its capacity to service the industry. See full Oil and Gas Journal report at http:// www.ogj.com/articles/2017/ 01/liza-to-flow-at-100-000-bd-exxonmobil-officialsays.html

IMF Warning: Barbadians Told To Expect Increased Cost of Living BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is extending a helping hand to Barbados, as it warns that the island’s economic picture remains grim – with an inevitable hike in the cost of living and minimal economic growth in sight. And the Washington-based financial body says the recent Budget in which Finance Minister Chris Sinckler announced a 400 percent increase in the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL), the introduction of a two per cent levy on foreign exchange, and a hike in the excise tax on gasoline and diesel is directly to blame.

It said that inflation, which stood at 3.2 percent at the end of last year, is expected to more than double by the end of 2017. “Inflation is expected to continue to accelerate to 6.7 per cent by year end because of the increase in the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) and other taxes and fees, but revert to more historical norm in 2018 and subsequent years,” it said in its statement, following just concluded talks. “Growth in 2017 is projected to slow to less than one per cent, reflecting the fiscal consolidation efforts introduced in the FY2017/18 Budget.”

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Govt halts $750M repairs on controversial High Street building

An aerial shot of the complex located on High and Princes Streets, Georgetown. The David Granger-led administration has taken a decision to review the expenditure of some $750M to repair the High Street building that was at one

time home to the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation. This was according to the Minister of State Joseph Harmon, during the post-cabinet press

briefing held at the Ministry of the Presidency on Friday. “That is a project that is under review. Those sums were allocated but not spent because

we are looking at the feasibility of actually spending that sum of money on that building. As recent as (Thursday), the matter came up at our conference and we have undertaken to conduct a review of that decision. So that is the current state of play with respect to the High Street building.” An estimated $700M would have already been spent by the former administration to construct and carry out repairs to

that building, located at High and Princes Streets, Georgetown. It was said that the building will now house the Ministry of Social Protection. The Ministry was listed as the procuring entity in the national newspapers a few days ago, inviting qualified contractors to bid for the project. The engineer’s estimate was stated to be $750M. The complex was built in 2008 and would have come under intense scrutiny when numerous defects were noticed after its construction. Kishan Bacchus Construction Company had carried out works on the foundation and on several other sections of the project. It was later revealed that the foundation contained substandard material and the ceiling was improperly designed. The construction company would have secured the contract after the initial contractor backed out of the project. It is still unclear if anyone was penalised for the shoddy work. The complex, which is approximately 65,000 square feet, is abandoned, with several sections overrun by vegetation. A security guard was seen stationed at the building yesterday morning when this publica-

tion visited. Last year, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman disclosed that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure was examining how the current building could be used without posing a danger to people’s lives. He said that the building continues to pose an embarrassment to the past administration – the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C). Trotman had stated that the situation is so bad that the “very minimum of persons and furniture would have to be put in the building for it to be used,” A forensic audit report ordered by Government last year, had found that the building involved the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), the stateowned entity which handles investments. NICIL’s negligence resulted in some $350M in taxpayers’ money being wasted, the forensic audit report stated. The report has also revealed that Kishan Bacchus had operated without bond and owed over $50M for works he did not complete but had received payments. It is still unclear if the contractor repaid this amount.

Trump: US patience with the North Korean regime ‘is over’ (CNN) President Donald Trump, speaking alongside South Korean President Moon Jae-in, declared Friday US patience with the North Korean regime “is over.” “The era of strategic patience with the North Korean regime has failed,” Trump said in a statement from the Rose Garden. “And, frankly, that patience is over.” The remarks were the latest sign that Trump is growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in curbing North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, which top US officials have eyed with increas-

ing concern in recent months. The South Korean President’s visit to the White House came after Trump approved a series of measures designed to ratchet up pressure on North Korea — while also sending signals to China about the US’ shrinking patience. The Treasury Department on Thursday imposed new sanctions on a Chinese bank and several Chinese nationals while the State Department approved a $1 billion arms deal with Taiwan. Both moves appeared aimed at un-

settling China, which the US has repeatedly urged to pressure North Korea into changing its behaviour, with little success. Trump on Friday warned that the US is facing “the threat of the reckless and brutal regime in North Korea” that “has no regard for the safety and security of its people or its neighbors” and vowed the US would continue to act to defend US interests and allies in the region. Moon, who was elected on a platform of increased engagement with North Korea, also warned that “threats and provocations from the North will be met with a stern response” and vowed South Korea and the US will “strengthen” their joint deterrence capabilities. But he also urged the North Korean regime “to promptly return to the negotiating table” to achieve a peaceful end to its nuclear program. Beyond its ongoing nuclear and ballistic missile activity, the sense of alarm in the US has also grown after American student Otto Warmbier fell into a coma while in North Korean custody and died days after he was returned to the US. “The North Korean dictatorship has no regard for the safety and security of its people or its neighbors and has no respect for human life — and that’s been proven over and over again,” Trump said, before also thanking Moon for expressing his condolences over Warmbier’s death.

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UN Security Council says Haiti has ‘window of opportunity’ for reforms NEW YORK, United States - (CMC) — The President of the United Nations Security Council, Ambassador Sacha Sergio Llorentty Soliz of Bolivia, says Haiti has “a window of opportunity” to implement reforms necessary to bring the French-speaking Caribbean country onto a path of stability and develop-

ment. Bolivia, who held the Security Council presidency for the month of June, was recounting the Council’s recent visit to Haiti and pointed to opportunities to cement positive change in Haiti. “Haiti is at political crossroads. The window of opportunity is open to promote the reforms the country needs to respond to challenges,” he told the Security Council Friday, adding that these include strengthening the rule of law, reforming the security sector,

providing basic services and creating jobs. Llorentty led the Security Council mission to Haiti from June 22-24 “to get a first-hand look at how the UN could best contribute to stability and development in the country. “The mission of the Security Council to Haiti was successful because of the large amount of information we obtained in face-to-face meetings, and the better understanding of concerns and expectations that Haitians have about the drawdown of

MINUSTAH and the transition to the new mission,” said Llorentty, using the acronym for the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti. In April, the Council extended MINUSTAH’s mandate for a final six months, deciding to transition it into a smaller follow-up mission, known as the UN Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH). The smaller mission, the UN said, would assist the Haitian Government to strengthen rule-of-law institu-

tions, its security sector and human rights monitoring. “The information gathered will be useful when defining the nature of implementation of the new mission,” Llorentty said. During the visit, the Council members met with President Jovenel Moïse, members of his cabinet, parliamentarians, national police, judicial officials and civil society and private sector representatives, the UN said. Llorentty said cholera was the main issue that came

up at every meeting, “and which requires the Council’s attention.” He said concerns over cholera were vital to all aspects of Haiti’s future, from water and sanitation concerns to its development and stability. In December 2016, thenSecretary-General Ban Kimoon put forth a “New Approach to Cholera in Haiti,” which “demonstrated the organization’s commitment to eliminating the disease in the country,” the UN said.

Sunday July 02, 2017

Kaieteur News

China’s Xi talks tough on Hong Kong as tens of thousands call for democracy

Pro-democracy protesters take part in a march marking the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to Chinese sovereignty from British rule, China yesterday. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu Reuters - Chinese President Xi Jinping swore in Hong Kong’s new leader yesterday with a stark warning that Beijing won’t tolerate any challenge to its authority in the divided city as it marked the 20th anniversary of its return from Britain to China. Police blocked roads, preventing pro-democracy protesters from getting to the harbour-front venue close to where the last colonial governor, Chris Patten, tearfully handed back Hong Kong to China in the pouring rain in 1997. Xi said Hong Kong should crack down on moves towards “Hong Kong independence”. “Any attempt to endanger

China’s sovereignty and security, challenge the power of the central government ... or use Hong Kong to carry out infiltration and sabotage activities against the mainland is an act that crosses the red line and is absolutely impermissible,” Xi said. He also referred to the “humiliation and sorrow” China suffered during the first Opium War in the early 1840s that led to ceding Hong Kong to the British. Hong Kong has been racked by demands for full democracy and, more recently, by calls by some pockets of protesters for independence, a subject that is anathema to Beijing. Xi’s speech was his

strongest yet to the city amid concerns over what some perceive as increased meddling by Beijing, illustrated in recent years by the abduction by mainland agents of some Hong Kong booksellers and Beijing’s efforts in disqualifying two pro-independence lawmakers elected to the city legislature. “It’s a more frank and pointed way of dealing with the problems,” said former senior Hong Kong government adviser Lau Siu-kai on Hong Kong’s Cable Television. “The central government’s power hasn’t been sufficiently respected... they’re concerned about this.”

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Qatar says will reject Arab demands but ready for dialogue - foreign minister Reuters - Qatar will reject a series of demands made by several other Arab states, its foreign minister said yesterday, adding that their ultimatum was aimed not at tackling terrorism but at curtailing his

country’s sovereignty. But Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, speaking to reporters in Rome, said Doha remained ready to sit down and discuss the grievances raised by its Arab

neighbours. The comments came ahead of a deadline set by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt for Doha to accept 13 demands. Officials say they

are aimed at ending a rift that erupted last month over accusations that Qatar supports terrorism, charges it denies. “This list of demands is to be rejected, not to be accepted. We are willing to en-

gage in dialogue but under proper conditions,” he said. The demands included severing ties with terrorist groups, closing down the pan-Arab Al Jazeera satellite channel, downgrading ties

with arch-rival Iran and closing a Turkish air base in Qatar. Arab states have said the demands are not negotiable and warned that further unspecified measures will follow if Qatar does not comply.

World leaders bid farewell to Germany’s Kohl as force for European unity Reuters - Leaders from the United States, Russia and across Europe paid tribute yesterday to former German chancellor Helmut Kohl as the architect of German reunification and a driving force for European integration. Kohl, who died on June 16 at 87, was lauded at a ceremony at the European Parliament as a dedicated European who abhorred war by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Russia Prime Minister Dmitry M e d v e d e v, E u r o p e a n Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and other figures. A funeral service was held yesterday with 900 invited guests at Speyer Cathedral, where as a teenager Kohl found shelter from World War

Two aerial bombings. His casket was flown by helicopter from Strasbourg to his hometown Ludwigshafen before being carried by boat up the Rhine to Speyer, one of Germany’s oldest towns where Kohl took former world leaders including C l i n t o n , G e o r g e H . W. Bush, Mikail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin and Margaret Thatcher for private meetings. “Helmut Kohl gave us the chance to be involved in something bigger than ourselves, bigger than our terms in office and bigger than our fleeting careers,” Clinton said in Strasbourg of the man who was German chancellor from 1982 to 1998 and oversaw German reunification in 1990.

Sunday July 02, 2017

Kaieteur News

GCB advises that only the BCB authorised to administer cricket in Berbice The Guyana Cricket Board has observed a series of releases emanating from a source called “stakeholders of Berbice Cricket”, which have been given wide publicity by the Guyana Chronicle. “The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) would like to make it clear that only the Berbice Cricket Board is authorised to organise cricket in the County of Berbice under the overriding authority of the Guyana Cricket Board,” a release from the GCB stated. “All entities seeking to organise any form off cricket, outside of the pre-approved list of cricket, must seek approval before any such game or competition is launched or

advertised. It is illegal to collect money from sponsors for cricket which is not approved. It is also mandatory that all funding provided be properly accounted for and audited. The process for seeking approval can be found on the WICB website,” the release informed. It further stated, “The cricketing public should be aware that a charity called Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, which lists its parent body as St. Francis developers, is not a member of the BCB as per the BCB Constitution appended to the Cricket Administration Act 14 of 2014. Further, the Guyana

Cricket Board hereby informs sponsors, cricket clubs, cricket administrators and fans of Berbice cricket that Mr. Dhieranidranauth Samaroo is currently the President of the Berbice Cricket Board and should, along with his executives, be the point of contact for all matters relating to cricket in the county of Berbice.” “We take this opportunity to also inform the public that Ms. Angela Hannif has converted office space of the BCB to her personal use…. In the meantime, the BCB Office is located at 8-5 St A n n ’s St r e e t , New Amsterdam,” the GCB release informed.

Sunday July 02, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may want to get a little extra rest. You are prone to infections and fevers. Family may not want to get involved but an entrepreneur will. Ferret out information that will hold them responsible. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Romance can develop; however, it will most probably be short-lived. It's time to reevaluate your motives. Make career changes that may increase your income. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Be careful how you handle friends and relatives, they may take things the wrong way. Deception is apparent. Be prepared to meet new lovers through colleagues. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You will communicate easily and should be able to develop new friendships. Emotional situations could bring out your stubborn nature. Purchases will be well worth it and they will last a long time. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) This is a great day to beautify your living quarters or to entertain at home. Find an outlet for any mounting frustration. Consider a creative hobby. You have the ability to motivate others. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Large organizations may try to talk you out of your hardearned cash. Matters pertaining to work must be completed before you leave. Confusion is apparent and you'll need some sound advice if you want to do the right thing.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You can get the attention of important individuals but it might not be the time to get them to help or to back your ideas. Be precise in your communications to avoid any misunderstandings and arguments. You can enjoy doing things that include children. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Don't let your personal partner hold you back. You can discuss your intentions and ideas with your colleagues or friends today. You will benefit through hidden assets and property investments. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Curb the impulse to make lavish purchases and maybe spend some time with good friends. Enjoy taking courses or lecturing others. Your input into their activities will help bring you closer together. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Get together with those you find mentally stimulating. Efforts made to improve yourself will turn out to your satisfaction. You have to let go of your past if you wish to get out of any sentimental mood that might be hanging over your head. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Get motivated and follow up on some self-improvement resolutions. You will not impress others by being foolishly generous. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Educational pursuits should help you develop your hobbies. Put your efforts into making changes to your domestic scene.

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Walters triumph at BSSC dominoes Tumeranie Walters was crowned champion of the Black Stallion Sports Club King dominoes competition which was contested recently at South Vryheid’s Lust Housing Scheme. Annalisa McArthur placed second, while Verna Weddell finished third. The top three finishers received trophies and medals donated

by Johnny Barnwell, Trophy Stall and Tent City. Meanwhile, The Ministry of Education / N a t i o n a l Sports Commission will conduct its annual swimming programme from July 10 - August 18 at the National Aquatic Centre. Registration will conclude on July 4 and interested persons are asked to contact

Desiree Cummings at Colgrain pool, Camp Street on 226-0387 or Wilton Spencer at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal on 222-1306 between the hours of 08:30 and 16:00. Parents are asked to bring provide their children birth certificates and a registration fee of $1000 will be charged.

Marian Academy (U14), President’s... (From page 68) the difference between winning and losing, cramped up at crunch time and had to leave the court, it was her absence that the PC girls celebrated as they outhustled the Marian side from that point. Despite having to the leave the court and watch on in agony as her teammates struggled to contain their PC rivals, Mohan still ended up being the game’s top scorer with 21 points and 10 rebounds; Renuka Ramcharran had 7 points with two three’s and 3 rebounds for Marian. In the Under-14 champi-

onship, Marian Academy thumped President’s College 64 - 56 to claim the title. Tournament MVP, Jether Harris poured in the game high 38 points and accounted for 28 rebounds and 3 assists. The next best contributor was Meshal Allicock with 8 points and 5 steals, while Ethan Fernandes also had 8 points for the winners. Despite tournament Best Defender Gabriel Lin’s double, double for PC of 35 points and a similar amount of rebounds and 7 steals it was just not enough to deliver the silverware. Jushawn Bailey managed 4 points and 4 re-

bounds in the losing effort. Assisting with the presentation of trophies and medals on the night were Ms. Monique Tiwari, Brands Manager for the Edward B. Beharry Companies, Mr. Brian Smith, Assistant Director of Sports, Mr Nigel Hinds President, Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation, and Mr. Rayad Boyce, YBG Director. Meanwhile, the NSBF championship week is set to tip off tomorrow from 13:00hrs at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall where the nations’ best will now compete for national glory. (Franklin Wilson)

Will India test their bench... (From page 70) 35 now, 37 during the next World Cup - Dhoni will know he is as good as his last couple of innings. The good thing is, his keeping has shown no signs of deterioration and he was back to providing running commentary as he kept wicket in the third ODI. He will need all this in the coming two years if he is to make it to the 2019 World Cup. Jason Holder has an unenviable task of leading an inexperienced West Indies side, and he tried to do the noble thing of leading from the front. However, he might perhaps be better off being a little more practical and not bowl himself at the death. In the last two ODIs, he has been targeted by India. In Port-ofSpain he had to be taken off after he bowled three beamers - one of them was so slow Dhoni pulled it. His 4.5 overs at the death in the last two matches have cost 65 runs. Team news West Indies made three changes in the last match. None of the newcomers did awfully. Kesrick Williams had an impressive debut, bowling five overs in the last nine. It might just help them to stick with the same players for a while. The only question will be if they want Alzarri Joseph back. Will either Rishabh Pant or Dinesh Karthik get a chance now that India can’t lose the

series? Is there scope to try Ravindra Jadeja again? Pitch and conditions The previous ODI in

North Sound was played on a damp pitch, which explains the low scores, but this one should be better to bat on.

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Kaieteur Sports Week in Review Week in Review Sports Today we look back on the happenings and events that made the news on the local scene in sports. Among some of the things which caught the eye was the emergence of a new young amateur boxing talent. NEW KID ON THE BLOCK LIVES UP TO HYPE IN OPENING SALVO The opening night of the threenight Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) National Novices Championships got off to the usual exciting start on Tuesday evening at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue. The highlight of the evening was the emergence of new kid on the block, Harpy Eagles’ 18-yearold Ishawn Khan, the younger brother of National Amateur lightweight boxing champion Imran ‘Magic’ Khan, fighting in only his third contest. Fighting in the Elite preliminaries 56kg division, the languid Khan began nervously against Jason Mickle of GDF, however, Mickle answered the bell for round two in aggressive fashion but Khan began to find his range as the pair traded punches. Both boxers were administered standing eight counts in a hectic second stanza. But the technically correct Khan, coming into the fight with plenty of hype, lived up to that hype in the final round and backed up Mickle with a clinical combination of wicked body blows. With 34 seconds left in the contest, Khan landed a hard straight right and followed it up with a vicious left hook to Mickle’s head which sent him sprawling to the canvas to end the entertaining battle and enhance Khan’s fast growing reputation as one to watch. Defending champions GDF took an early lead, winning six of the 12 bouts contested on the opening night. STEVE BACCHUS WINS DRAUGHTS ASSOCIATION INDEPENDENCE TOURNEY Steve Bacchus emerged as the winner of the Guyana Draughts Association 51st Independence Anniversary tournament played at the National Gymnasium. Games were contested for the senior Draughts players along with four qualifiers from the B competition. Steve Bacchus with 14 points went to a tie breaker to emerge the winner over Ulric Brathwaite (14) in second place, while Jiaram (12) had to settle for the third position. Davanand Persaud from Tuschen East Bank Essequibo with 10 points occupied the fourth place. The B Class competition resulted in Ulric Brathwaite emerging the

winner and was promoted to the A class. In the second position was Navin Meghbarran, followed by Davanand Persaud and Michael Francis who got a walk over from Lyndon Heywood in a fourth place tiebreaker match.

15 completed the distance underlining the grueling nature of the contest. Some of the riders suffered mechanical problems, while in eth case of Lear Nunes, he fell and damaged his right knee which put paid to his ambitions of completing the course. Jeffrey, speaking with the media following his triumph, the second time in his career, said that he has captured the double following a similar achievement in 2013, said he was at one point hurt but challenged himself to keep the focus against top opposition. “Coming back I was hurt and the last 20 miles I went on the break by myself and I just down my head and kept going and never looked back. Coming on the back road I talked to myself, said this is my race and just went a bit more hard and held the guys off.” Whilst noting that he did not do such a long ride for the year, Jeffrey mentioned that riding among pros in the USA contributed in a major way to his success.

UITVLUGT BEAT DEN AMSTEL TO LIFT NSC/ARTHUR CHUNG MEMORIAL FOOTBALL TITLE Uitvlugt Warriors defeated old rival Den Amstel on penalty kicks following a 1-1 tie in regulation time to win the inaugural National Sports Commission sponsored Arthur Chung Memorial Football competition organized by the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA). The one-day event, which attracted the top four teams of the association, was played at the Leonora Track and Field Facility, Football Field. Taking the third place were Eagles FC of Stewartville who beat Pouderoyen FC in an exciting match 3-2. Uitvlugt took the top prize of $100,000; the losers pocketed half that amount. Eagles squeezed past Pouderoyen 3-2 to take the $30,000 third prize on offer. Pouderoyen did not walk away empty hand as they received $20,000. The tournament was played in honour of Guyana’s first President who served from 1970 to 1980. President Chung, whose home village is Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara, was born on January 10, 1918 and died on June 23, 2008. RIVER VIEW CROWNED INAUGURAL BARTICA GUINNESS CHAMPIONS River View became the first winners of the inaugural Bartica Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Football Tournament after they prevailed 1-0 in a penalty shootout against Police on Sunday, at the Bartica Community Centre Tarmac. Played before another massive turnout that included Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste and Outdoor Events manager Mortimer Stewart, the two teams battled to a 2-2 stalemate in regulation and extra time, forcing referee Wayne Griffith to order penalty shootout. In the shootout, Police got off to a disastrous start when the reliable Mark Boyce sent his effort wide, but River View was unable to take advantage when their shooter missed as well. Police’s woes continued when the next player missed the mark, before River View netted to take a 1-0 lead. Needing to score in their third attempt to stay in the encounter, Police for the third straight

Bronze medalist Alisha Fortune (left) with the gold and silver medal winners display their awards occasion failed to hit the mark, conceding defeat to River View, who walked away with the top prize of $350,000, the championship trophy and just as important a trip to the national playoffs. The Lawmen was rewarded with $150,000 and a trophy for their efforts. In the third place playoff, Campbellville outlasted Potaro Strikers 2-0 on penalty kicks after regulation time ended goalless. Campbellville won $100,000, while Potaro Strikers received $75,000. FORTUNE COPS WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE BRONZE; GRIMES PLACE 4TH IN MEN’S PHYSIQUE The lone female amongst the group of bodybuilders that ventured to the Twin Island Republic last weekend to compete at the Sports World Classic 2017 Invitational, copped a bronze medal in the body fitness segment of the show. The indefatigable Alisha Fortune, who is also one of G u y a n a ’s l e a d i n g M a s t e r s Athletes, flexed her way to a podium spot and was the only member of the contingent that achieved such. Yannick Grimes, competing in the men’s physique was aiming to better his 2016 achievement of a bronze medal but did not succeed as he ended just outside of last year’s position, in fourth. The other athletes, Emmerson Campbell and Caerus Cipriani who also contested the men’s physique

competition and the lone body building class athlete, Rashleigh Bentick, failed to make the top five. Apart from assisting to raise funds on their own, each athlete was assisted by the Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness Federation with half their air fares to the Twin Island Republic. Apart from the host nation and Guyana, the other participating nations were Suriname, Barbados, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Jamaica, St. Maarten, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Curacao. RAYNAUTH JEFFREY SEALS HISTORIC WIN AND DOUBLE IN GCF CHAMPIONSHIPS Raynauth ‘Obeah Man’ Jeffrey inked his name in the history books of Guyana with a commanding win in the longest Road Race championship ever held last Sunday when he won the senior segment of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) marquee event. A member of Team PharmacoDeep South of the USA and Trinidad and Tobago, Jeffrey, after winning the Time Trials two Saturday’s ago, he took the 103mile long road race, pedaling home all alone in Three Hours 59 Minutes 37 Seconds (3:59:37). In a sprint home for the other top four positions, Paul De Nobrega held off Hamza Eastman who was followed by dethroned champion Geron Williams and Orville Hinds; the quartet was timed at 4:00:16. A total of 49 cyclists commenced the race which included a number of junior and veterans, while only

GEORGE RACES TO SOUTH AMERICAN 400M GOLD MEDAL Guyana’s national 400m record holder, Winston George got the best reward after being forced to pay his own way to represent Guyana at the South American Senior Championships in Paraguay. George landed his first major international gold medal in the 400m in 45.42 seconds with a superb performance out of lane nine. The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) had indicated to the athletes hoping to represent Guyana that they would have to pay their own airfare etc. to compete at the meet. The athletes attending that event included United Statesbased, Winston George (200m, 400m), Jenea McCammon (100m, 400m hurdles) and Owen Adonis (100m, 200m). HAMILTON GREEN CUP FOOTBALL TO KICK OF JULY 9 Coordinator Lennox Arthur has announced the start of the Hamilton Green Cup Knockout Football tournament has been fixed for July 9 with a double header at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Ground in Linden starting from 7:00pm. Arthur, the former national footballer and Coach, has been staging this tournament for over 23 years now, which was named in honour of former Prime Minister of Guyana and Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green who has supported sports tremendously over the years. Some 31 teams have been invited from the various (Continued on page 67)

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Kaieteur Sports Week in Review (From page 66) area associations to participate in the tournament. Those teams are: Western Tigers, Police, Santos, Pele, GFC, Riddim Squad, Beacon, Flamingo, Black Pearl and Camptown from Georgetown; Federal Winners Connection, Eagles, Silver Shattas and Milerock of Linden; Den Amstel, Uitvlugt, Pouderoyen, Eagles FC, Young Achievers and Golden Warriors of West Demerara; Ann’s Grove, Mahaica, Golden Grove, Buxton Bakewell and Plaisance of the East Coast; Grove Hi Tech, Agricola, Herstelling, Soesdyke and Kuru Kururu of the East Bank; and New Amsterdam United of Berbice. The teams will be battling for cash prizes of $700,000 for the winner, $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 for the other top three finishers. TEAM NEXUS & GIZMOS & GADGETS DOMINATE GT MOTORSPORTS ENDURANCE RENTAL CUP Defending 600lbs champions made a successful defence of their title when the fourth Endurance Rental Cup, which was organised by GT Motorsports at the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club. Also returning to winners’ row was Gizmos and Gadgets / iRide that swept the 500lbs category who relinquished their title at the previous Meet. Team Nexus with Steven Nobrega, Matthew Phang and Gregory H a n i ff M o h a m e d , recorded 58 laps at the conclusion of the allotted 45 minutes of racing to relegate Te a m S p e e d c o m p r i s i n g GMR&SC President Rameez Mohamed, Kamal Seebarran and Raymond Seebarran into second place after they registered 57 laps, while Team E-Racing’s Denzel Hopkinson, Marcel Profitt and Jason Gonsalves ended third, also with 57 laps. Debutants Team Unruly of Phillip P aruag, M ichael K han and Timothy J adubal turned in a laudable performance, finishing fourth with 56 laps. In the 500lb Class, Gizmos and Gadgets/iRide underlined their class, making it three wins from four attempts. The team of Nobrega, Matthew and John Phang registered a staggering 60 laps to beat Team CDR with Clint Seebarran, Dharmendra Dharmo and Raymond Seebarran into second place followed by the Vieiras, Mark, Matthew and Emma sponsored by Team Palm Court. Team GFX Racing, with the likes of Luis Antonio Kumar, Rohindra Mahase and Sean

Charles, had an impressive start on the first leg, but lost valuable time through a mishap involving Kumar. They eventually finished fourth. There were also four sprint races on the night, with the winners being determined by the fastest lap times. The All Girls race, which was held for the first time, attracted eight competitors with nine-yearold Paige Mendonca, the youngest of the lot, racing to an impressive win. Macalie Rahaman and Alexandra Phang took second and third spots respectively. Veteran Ray Rahaman won the Hall of Fame race, which was being staged for the first time, ahead of Jad Rahaman, Harold Hopkinson and Terrence Clarke in that order. The event was sponsored by Secure Innovations and Concepts (Harold Hopkinson), Karcher, ENetworks and the Track Bar. MINISTER HENRY ENGAGES SPORTS FEDERATIONS/ASSOCIATIO NS ON NATIONAL SPORTS POLICY DRAFT As part of the Guyana Government’s plan to complete a much needed National Sports Policy to ensure that sports develop positively, the first in a series of consultations with Sports Federation and Associations was conducted at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. A draft document would be issued shortly but in the meantime, the Ministry of Education Department of Sport, as the lead Ministry responsible for Sport, hosted the interface with the objective of meeting with a view

to provoke feedback into what would ultimately become the National Sports Policy, a release informed. The consultations that are scheduled for hosting in the various administrative regions over time is a primary Government initiative that has been high on Hon. Nicolette Henry’s agenda since 2016. Amidst her preamble, the Minister noted that “at the end of the day (the overall consultations) we want a policy that will work for Guyana.” Noting that her expectation was that more representatives of Federations and Associations would have been in attendance, Minister Henry posited that there are more than 43 groups that were invited to the consultation. H o w e v e r, t h e r e a r e o t h e r opportunities to be had as more consultations are planned to ensure wide participation in the process that will lead to an all-inclusive Sports Policy. GCB CHILD PROTECTION COURSES COMMENCE Child protection is the protection of children from abuse, harm or neglect. It is the responsibility of coaches to care for children in such a way that neither they nor others cause harm to children, and to report and record all concerns related to a child being harmed. More so when a child’s parent or guardian leaves their charge in the coaches’ care for a morning or afternoon of cricket, that parent expects that his or her son or daughter will be in a safe and protected environment during the time that they are under their

supervision. A lack of commitment by coaches to ensure that the parent’s expectations are met may result in serious consequences. With this in mind, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has held the first in a series of Child Protection courses across that would be held across the country. The first course commenced at the GCB boardroom and is intended to target individuals who interact with children on a regular basis, such as cricket coaches, players and teachers who act as coaches. The programme involved current national coaches, assistant coaches/managers, and Cricket Guyana Inc. contracted and academy players including Assad Fudadin, Leon Johnson, Raymond Refier, Keon Joseph, Rajindra Chandrika, Christopher Barnwell, Keemo Paul, Nazeer Mohamed, Esuan Crandon, Michael Hyles and Rayon Griffith and Orin Bailey. According to GCB Territorial Development Officer (TDO) Colin Stuart, the aim of the programme is to provide coaches with the necessary tools and to be aware of the expected requirements when coaching since children’s welfare is very important. Taaliba Speede a Child Care and Protection Officer attached to the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) said they are happy to be part of the programme and to impart knowledge so coaches can be well equipped to deal with a situation as it arise. Apart from Speede, other facilitators were Nicholas Fraser of Allied Arts and Head of the Physical Department in the Ministry of Education and

Event sponsor Harold Hopkinson (second left) poses with Team Nexus drivers. From left: Gregory Haniff Mohamed, Steven Nobrega and Matthew Phang.

Phillip Anthony, another CC&PA Officer. The programme is being sponsored by Cricket West Indies and UNICEF. GDF RETAIN GBA’S ANDREW LEWIS NOVICES C/SHIPS The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) came with heavy artillery and quick marched to back-to-back titles as they dominated the five other gyms when the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis N a t i o n a l N o v i c e s Championship concluded. Originally scheduled for three nights at National Gymnasium, a power outage just before 22:00hrs on Thursday night halted the card with three bouts remaining, forcing the GBA to move the action to the ‘Sixheads’ Gym to conclude the event. GDF’s 22-man team won eight of the 10 titles to take the overall title for the third consecutive year, while Vergenoegen Boxing Gym (VBG) had one with Republican, who had 20 boxers participating, taking the other. Captain Keith Watts, Officer Commanding the Sports Department told Kaieteur Sports that he was proud of the professionalism displayed by the coaching staff and Boxers and congratulated them on behalf of the Chief-of-Staff and ranks of the GDF. “I wish to thank the Boxing Association for successfully hosting the tournament and assure them that GDF will continue to support the promotion of the sport,” Watts said.

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Sunday July 02, 2017

Kaieteur News

Marian Academy (U14), President’s College (female), St. Roses High (U16), Marian Academy (U19) emerge champs YBG / National School Basketball Festival - Regional Finals This year’s Regional segment of the National Schools Basketball Festival (NSBF) sponsored by the Edward B. Beharry Group of Companies Ltd and the National Sports Commission concluded in fascinating style on Friday last at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with four sizzling finals. Capping the night off was Marian Academy which edged Plaisance Secondary in the Under-19 championship by three points, 68-65. St. Roses High after looking comfortable at one stage almost choked in the end but rallied to defeat President’s College 78-68 in the Under16 final. A spirited performance from President’s College in the female final saw them clawing their way back to humble Marian Academy by a single point, 35-34 in an

entertaining game, while the first final of the night saw Marian Academy powering past President’s College in the Under-14 segment, 6456. The Under-19 finale lived up to expectations as a heated clash with Marian Academy holding its nerves to rally past a strong Plaisance Secondary Team, 68 - 65 points and in the process won their sixth Senior Regional title. Leading the champions were Timothy Thompson who tipped in the game high 21 points along with 12 rebounds. Displaying a high level of energy and discipline was Jether Harris, in his second final of the night, he supported with 17 points and 6 rebounds, while Jahleel Young and Josiah Daniels added 11 and 9 points respectively to the winning cause. The tournament’s MVP

and Best Defensive Player, Nigel Bowen tipped in 15 points, 5 rebounds and 6 steals, but it was not enough to take Plaisance over the line. He was supported by Andrew Johnson who contributed the team high 19 points with 5 from down town, Jared Sears had 16 points and 8 rebounds from the losers. In the Under 16 final, St Roses High almost lost their focus and advantage but woke up at the right moment to water down the workmanlike performance of the spirited President’s College side to win 78-68. U16 Most Valuable Player Anthony Yansen led his team with the game high 34 points along with 13 rebounds and 6 steals; able support came from Kwesi Roberts 11 points and 16 rebounds and Atilla Williamson 10 points, 6 steals as well as 4 assists.

Leading President’s College’ resurgence, which almost resulted in an upset win, was Rankin McDonald who poured in 22 points and pulled down 12 boards, Lanon Friday was good for 11 points and 9 rebounds, while Ashriel Burnett collected 10 points and effected 6 steals but in a losing effort. The female final produced the biggest upset of the night as the President’s College girls, backed up by energetic and consistent support from current and past students, upstaged Marian Academy in the last three minutes to win a memorable showdown, 35 34 to claim the coveted Regional Championship. Most Valuable Player of the female segment, Roshelle Campbell turned in a huge performance to lead her side to the win with 19 cherished points and also

Female MVP, Roshelle Campbell of Presidents College is rewarded by Edward B. Beharry & Co. Brands Manager, Ms Monique Tiwari. came up big with 14 critical rebounds. Teammate Saffiya Green, who was voted the Best Defensive Player of the tournament, scored 9 points and hauled down a whopping 17 rebounds. The PC team came up big

in out-rebounding their opponents which made a huge difference in the final outcome. Marian’s Captain Jada Mohan, whose athleticism and classy plays which was (Continued on page 65)

Junior CASA tournament serves off today By Sean Devers When Guyana dethroned Barbados in 2004 many would not have thought that the team from the South America’s mainland would have captured every other team title since then and as this Country prepares to host the 2017 Junior CASA from today at two venues, the home side is vying for its 13th consecutive Championship. The Boys team will be led by 18-year-old overseas based Ben Mekdeci, while the Girls team will have Taylor Fernandes, three months Mekdeci’s junior, as their Captain and although 13 is considered an unlucky number to superstitious folk, both teenagers are confident that Guyana can win the tournament which concludes on Saturday. Guyana last hosted this Event in 2011 and their fans will hope for more success on home soil when the Guyanese begin their campaign this morning from 09:00hrs with four games at the National Racquette Centre on Woolford Avenue and 16 at the Georgetown Club on Camp Street. Only matches in the individual category, which concludes on Tuesday, will be contested at the Racquet Centre, which have two Courts, while the individuals

Guyana ready to defend title on home soil

Team Guyana wraps up final preparations yesterday for the Junior CASA tournament set to begin in Guyana today. (Sean Devers photo) and team events, which commences on Wednesday evening, the official Opening Ceremony at 16:00hrs on Wednesday and the finals, are slated for the GT Club. Mekdeci, who for the last 10 months has been studying at Drexel University and playing for their Varsity Squash team, is confident Guyana can keep the spoils at home. “Compared to what I saw last year the improvement I have seen is shocking and

gives us more hope of retaining the title this year,” Mekdeci stated. The Boys Skipper feels than one of the main reasons for Guyana’s success over the past years is that they have possessed more unity than any of the other teams. “In addition to us being more unified we have a World Class Coach in Carl Ince and the players have all worked hard on their game. I would say that Barbados is our biggest challenge and there has been a healthy

rivalry over the last five years and I don’t see that ending anytime soon,” Mekdeci said. The talented Squash player has improved due to his exposure to North American Squash and conditions there and said that every year you are expected to get better if you are serious about your game. “I am confident of readjusting to the Courts here and doing well in my final year as a junior. The

dimensions of Squash Courts are the same but the ones in the USA are panned Courts and equipped with ACs so there are slightly slower than the ones we have here,” Mekdeci explained. Mek d e c i f e e l s t h a t one thing he can bring to this team is the experience of the high level coaching he is exposed to in the US. “I feel that experience could be very helpful as I work with the kids here,” Mekdeci

concluded. Girls Captain Fernandes says she is pretty confident of success from the girls since they trained hard and put in the work. “I am pretty confident but I think we could have been even better had school work not affected our preparations a bit,” Fernandes lamented. “On a personal note I feel I am ready to give a good account of myself this year although I think I could have been fitter,” Fernandes said. Fernandes, one of the better female junior players in the region, agreed with Mekdeci that Barbados should be Guyana’s biggest challenge and feels that the under-13s and U-19s should produce Guyana’s best performance. Coach Ince reiterated that he was satisfied with the three months of preparation the team had for this tournament, although at times it was affected by exams. “I think our best will come from the U-15 Boys led by Shomari Wilshire,” Ince opined. There will two sessions each day with the first one concluding at 13:30hrs and the evening session commencing at 16:00hrs and admission to both venues is free.

Sunday July 02, 2017

Kaieteur News

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Boyer makes presentation Thomas wins Tour opener as to Port Kaituma Secondary Froome lays down early marker football team

Kimtse Castello (right) presents one of the balls to Port Kaituma Secondary School Captain Delroy Peters in the presence of his team mates. Marlon Boyer, a businessman of Port K a i t u m a Wa t e r F r o n t Region One, recently made a timely donation to Port Kaituma Secondary school football team which is currently preparing for the Digicel schools football tournament. Following a practice session at the Fitzburg ground, Kimtse Castello,

vice chairman of Matarkai Sports Committee, handed over the balls to Port Kaituma Secondary School Captain Delroy Peters, on behalf of Boyer. The balls will boost the team’s preparation as they hunt victory at this year’s tournament. Ryan James, Region one Sports organizer expressed gratitude to the

businessman and urged the players to remain committed. He encouraged the players to support each other and to put their best foot forward, while Martarkai SC chairman Sherlon Rodrigues called on other businesses to support sports in the area. Port Kaituma Secondary is expected to go into action next weekend.

Team Sky rider Geraint Thomas of Britain wearing the leader’s yellow jersey celebrates on the podium. (REUTERS/Christian Hartmann) D U E S S E L D O R F, GERMANY (Reuters) Reigning champion Chris Froome wasted no time flexing his muscles at the Tour de France as he powered to sixth place in a treacherous opening time trial won superbly by Team Sky colleague Geraint Thomas yesterday. Heavy rain turned what,

Sebai Invincible Talons FC thump Port Kaituma

The victorious Sebai Invincible Talons FC Host Sebai Invincible Ta l o n s f e m a l e F C maintained their winning ways as they defeated Port Kaituma United female FC 3-0 when the home team

held their annual fathers day, day of sports recently in region one. In front of cheering home fans, Sebai Invincible Talons opened their account

when Captain Marva Benjamin latched onto the ball from outside the-18 yard box and converted a beautiful shot with her right foot in the 20th

minute. Raveena Benjamin added the second in the 35th minute, while Feona Benjamin extended the lead in the 78th.

on paper, had looked like a regulation 14-km circuit alongside the Rhine river into an incident-packed Grand Depart that could have major consequences in the three-week battle for the yellow jersey. While it was a great start for Team Sky, with Thomas, three-times champion Froome, Vasil Kiryienka and Michal Kwiatkowski all in the top eight of the 198 riders t o s t a r t , M o v i s t a r ’s Alejandro Valverde’s Tour is already over after a sickening crash. Several riders continued after crashing on the greasy roads but there was no getting up for Valverde, third overall in 2015, after he careered into crowd barriers after skidding off before being taken to hospital with leg injuries. It was heart-breaking for Valverde and also a huge blow for team mate Nairo Quintana who would have been counting on Valverde’s experience in the mountain stages to come to have a real chance of halting Froome’s bid for a hat-trick. We l s h m a n T h o m a s ,

riding his eighth Tour de France, looked completely at home in the puddles as he became the eighth Briton to wear the yellow jersey — making up for the disappointment of crashing out of the Giro d’Italia as team leader. He displayed brilliant bike-handling to cross the finish line alongside the sprawling Messe Duesseldorf exhibition complex in 16 minutes 04 seconds. He was five seconds ahead of BMC’s Swiss rider Stefan Kueng, who was two seconds ahead of Kiryienka in third. Froome, the last rider out, was 12 seconds slower than Thomas, but significantly quicker than all his main General Classification (GC) rivals — 35 seconds ahead of Australian Richie Porte, 36 seconds ahead of Quintana and 42 ahead of Spain’s twice former winner Alberto Contador. French hopefuls Thibaut Pinot and Romain Bardet were also off the pace after conservative rides.

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Sunday July 02, 2017

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West Indies v India, 4th ODI, Antigua

Will India test their bench strength? ESPNcricinfo - Big Picture - West Indies must feel this is just a surreal nightmare. They are playing in the rainy season and at 9:00am in front of no crowds to adjust to the opposition’s schedule and to finish at least half the match before the opposition fans go to sleep. In the first half they try their best, flailing their limbs, trying to wake up from the nightmare, trying to bowl with discipline, and then when seemingly nobody is watching - little live crowd, little TV following in India -

they slip back to the nightmare, with their inexperienced batting letting them down. Friday was their best chance to put one past India they had got the first use of a damp pitch and had taken two early wickets - but they seem almost scared of aiming too high. If you looked at the fields and the kind of bowling West Indies employed, you wouldn’t guess it was a difficult pitch to bat on. They have now not won an ODI series in three years, and are playing like it.

India, on the other hand, are enjoying a dream. Pristine islands, no crowd to haunt them for selfies, a small press contingent, an easy opposition, and their internal troubles far far away for the moment. The only dilemma they might be grappling with is when to give Rishabh Pant a go. They have avoided adventure on the field so far, but if they don’t try out Pant, now that they can’t lose the series, this trip will be wasted. India need to keep giving the youngsters game

time to stay prepared for the contingency of realising in early 2019 that one of their two middle-order giants can’t make it to the World Cup. The other, smaller question will be if they

should allow Kedar Jadhav more batting responsibility higher up in the order and test him for a bigger role. In the spotlight It’s like wine, MS Dhoni said, referring to getting

better with age, after he had converted a slow start into a near run-a-ball 78 and had given India a match-winning total. However, he is an uncorked wine; at this age (Continued on page 65)

Guyana NRA Recorded Shoot

Braithwaite almost flawless in victory Lennox Braithwaite was almost flawless, dropping just two points, one each at the 600 and 1000 yards ranges in wrapping up the latest Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) Recorded Shoot held at the Timehri Rifle Ranges. On another overcast and rainy day, the event which forms part of ongoing preparations for this year’s 150th Anniversary and the We s t I n d i e s F u l l b o r e Shooting Championships, the local shooters continues to show encouraging p r o g r e s s . Braithwaite toped his peers at 300 and 1000 yards ranges which included a possible at 300, while Sherwin Felicien won the 600 yards, shooting a possible. Braithwaite recorded an overall score of 118 points and 14 Vs. Felicien was next overall with 116 points and 8Vs including his possible of 35.4v at 600 yards. The winner of the last Recorded Shoot, Dylan Fields was third with 115 points 12Vs. Fullbore Captain Mahendra Persaud did not

Jason Holder runs past Virat Kohli in celebration, West Indies v India, 3rd ODI, Antigua,©AFP

Lennox Braithwaite

Berbice Cricket Board female U-19 training intensifies Trials set for tomorrow at Port Mourant CC

participate due to a minor injury to his hand. Other shooters continue to struggle with the conditions as they strive to elevate their s h o o t i n g . Meanwhile, the Guyana NRA was contacted by the son of legendary shooter in the 1960s, Mohamed Ali.

The Ali family said they will be donating a trophy to the association for the upcoming West Indies championships. Ali won British Guiana Sportsman of the Year in 1961 and was Runner-up Sportsman in 1962.

Chairman of Selectors for the Junior Panel of the Berbice Cricket board (BCB) Mr. Leslie Solomon has expressed his satisfaction at the initiative taken by the BCB in using the school system to identify players for the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) female Under-19 competition scheduled to start this month. So far, thirty two (32) participants have been identified, and will be training together at the Port Mourant Community Center for the next week before a team is selected for the competition. A Trial match is scheduled for tomorrow at the same venue. Coach Tremayne Smartt is optimistic that this initiative, in using the school system, will serve as an impetus for the resurgence of female cricket in the county. She is confident that these girls, if properly groomed, and instructed, can move on to represent Guyana, and the West Indies. The Berbice Cricket Board fully supports the Guyana Cricket Board in fulfilling its mandate. The Players that are called to trials tomorrow are:

Tremayne Smartt (Getty Images) Tavita Deonarine, Aliyah S a m a r o o , Va r s h a n i e Ramlall, Beonce James, Preya Singh, Aliyah Baksh, Shazana Barth, Alana Nadir, Trishel Joseph, Emily Narsingh, Tanaika Boyer, Keba Henry, Stacy Hope, Sarai Magalee, Sheldiana Bovell, Jonelle France, Amelia Boodram, Melissa Torres, Tashieka Arthur, Amesha Samaroo, Aleema Arokium, Plaffiana Millington, Lafona Gilgeous, Sheneta Grimmond, Shabeka

Gajnabi, Christine Quintyn, Marian Samaroo, Rushanna Lynch, Omadevi Matadin, Kassica Munroe, Kimmone Thomas, Olisha Williams, Kavita Ramsammi and R. Lynch. Players are asked to report to the Port Mourant Community Center for 09:30hrs tomorrow, since the days activities include physical drills, pitch work, fielding exercises and a lecture on discipline and acceptable behaviour from Police Inspector Michael Newland. The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) wishes to express its deepest satisfaction, and thanks to the administrators at the New Amsterdam Multilateral School, The Berbice Educational Institute, and Vryman’s Erven Secondary for the support in this programme. Coach Tremayne Smartt, in conjunction with the BCB has announced that an ongoing programme will be set up for the grooming of female cricketers in the county of Berbice. Aspiring female cricketers are encouraged to attend these sessions, and develop their skills in the game.

Sunday July 02, 2017

Kaieteur News

PAGE 75

Aliann Pompey Invitational

Banks DIH Men’s 100m headlined by World Champ T&T’s Collins; T &T’s Callender to also run The Banks DIH Men’s 100m at the Aliann Pompey Invitational slated for July 15th at the Lenora Stadium has a famous headliner. One of several premier events at the competition, the race is headlined by World Champion the famed Kim Collins of St. Kitts & Nevis. The event will be run with a qualifying round at approximately 4:15pm, with the finals at 5:35 pm. Emmanuel Callender, Trinidad & Tobago 2017 national champion and two time Olympic bronze medalist will pose a serious threat. Callender ’s time of 10.10 was good enough to

win Trinidad’s recently concluded Senior Championships. Other notables in the race are Levi Cadogan of Barbados and Chavaughn Walsh of Antigua and Barbuda. The list of Guyanese who will start the race depends on the outcome of the Senior National Champs slated today and tomorrow at the Leonora Stadium. The race is named for one of the major contributors to the success of the competition, Banks DIH specifically the brands Powerade, Malta Supreme and Rainforest Waters. Meet Director, Guyana’s four-time Olympian Aliann

Pompey commented on Banks’ partnership: “I’m Thrilled about this partnership. Banks from the beginning understood the vision of this competition, what it could do for our athletes, what it meant for Guyana on the international track scene, and bought in right away. I’m glad it wasn’t a one off situation, as they are back in a much bigger way to support the event, particularly the Men’s 100m dash. I thank Banks from the bottom of my heart for working so hard to make this happen. It costs a pretty penny but I believe it’s worth it, and I’m glad they do as

Warriors sign Curry to record deal: reports

Kim Collins well. Mr. Mortimer has been behind the scene making sure the pieces come together and that athletes will be well hydrated with Banks products. I want to thank Clive Pellew for making the important introductions and seeing it through. I owe an immense amount of gratitude to M r. Carlton J oao for trus ting us to do a great job, while aligned with the Banks DIH brand.” The international field as well as the field of Guyanese runners to start the Banks DIH Men’s 100m dash is as follows: Kim Collins (SKN), Emmanuel Callender (TRI),

Emmanuel Callender

Tr e H o u s t o n ( B E R ) , Chavaughn Walsh (ANT), Jaqouhne Hoyte (BAR), Virjillo Griggs (PAN), Levi Cadogan (BAR), Tahir Walsh (ANT), Ramona Hill (JAM). List of potential Guyanese starters (list to be finalised after the Senior National Champs today and tomorrow): Adam Harris,

A n d e l P e r r y, J e r e m y Bascom, Lloyd Cummings, Chavez Agedly, Compton Caesar, Stephon Boodie, Emmanuel Archibald, Deandrew Denny, Salish Nauth, Tevin Garraway, Davin Drawers, Akeem Peters, Carlos Trinidad, Terron Montford, Tyrell Peters, Quason Anthony, Owen Adonis.

Malta Supreme National Park 11-Race Cycle Meet

Eastman eases to victory in feature; Duguid tops juvenile field

Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35), guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrate with his daughter Riley in game five of the 2017 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. (Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports) (Reuters) Stephen Curry has agreed to a record fiveyear, $201 million ‘supermax’ deal to stay at the Golden State Warriors, according to several reports on Friday. The deal came immediately after the NBA’s free agency period began and was done under the league’s designated veteran player extension. Under the new

designation, which was added to the current collective bargaining agreement, Curry was eligible for the lucrative deal since he won at least one MVP award in the last three seasons. The 29-year-old has claimed the MVP honor in two of the last three seasons while helping the Warriors to two NBA titles. The reports said the

Warriors paid Curry $12.1 million last season in the final season of a four-year deal worth approximately $44 million signed after the 2012-13 season. Curry averaged 25.3 points and shot 41.1 percent from three-point range last season while teaming up with new addition Kevin Durant and ultimately c r u i s i n g t o a championship.

Hamza Eastman rode a strategic race to emerge winner of the feature 35-lap school boys and invitational when the annual Banks DIH Malta Supreme 11-Race Programme at the National Park came off yesterday. The Team Coco’s rider, who disclosed that the race was not at all difficult for him, clocked a time of One Hour 21 Minutes sprinting home comfortably ahead of Paul DeNobrega, Jamal John, Raul Leal, Briton John and Silvio Inniss in that order. Such was his dominance of the race that Eastman also won seven of the eight sprint prizes on offer, the other went to Jamal John. Taking the juvenile 10lap contest was Team Evolution’s Nigel Duguid who clocked 23 Minutes 59.53 Seconds; he was trailed to the line by Marcus Keiler and Briton John. Ryan Canterbury won the mountain bike 5-lap event from Sherwayne Forde.

Hamza Eatsman receives the winning trophy, cash and sprint prizes from Hassn Mohamed.

Sean Green was the top veteran Under-50 on show, he crossed the finish line in the 5-lap duel ahead of Keith Fernandes and Lear Nunes in 11 Minutes 02.30 Seconds. Jonathan Ramsuchit

took the 12-14 boys and girls 3-lap race in 8 Minutes 25.15 Seconds, while the BMX Boys 6-9 years 2-lap race saw Jared Barrington taking the first place. Yesterday’s event was organised by Hassan Mohamed.

t r o Sp YBG / National School Basketball Festival - Regional Finals

Marian Academy (U14), President’s College (female), St. Roses High (U16), Marian Academy (U19) emerge champs

YBG/NSBF Regional U-16 champions St. Roses High showcase their individual and team silverware in the presence of Assistant Director of Sport Brian Smith (right) and YBG Director, Rayad Boyce at left.

Junior CASA tournament serves off today Guyana ready to defend title on home soil

Aliann Pompey Invitational

Banks DIH Men’s 100m headlined by World Champ Collins; T&T’s T&T’s Callender to also run West Indies v India, 4th ODI, Antigua

Will India test their bench strength? Malta Supreme National Park 11-Race Cycle Meet

Coach Carl Ince is flanked by Boy’s captain Ben Mekdeci (right) and Girl’s Skipper Taylor Fernandes as Guyana aims to make it 13 in a row. (Sean Devers photo)

Eastman eases to victory in feature; Duguid tops juvenile field

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