Kaieteur News
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Friday July 06, 2018
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
POWER STRUGGLE HAS ERUPTED
W
ith the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ending the possibility of a third term for the presidency by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, his influence on the PPP and on the selection of the party's presidential candidate for the 2020 election is being challenged. It is not an exaggeration to say that Jagdeo intends to remain the kingmaker of the PPP and would select its next PPP presidential candidate. He would also be a part of the next PPP government. But close sources to the party have stated that he will face stiff opposition from both younger members and the party's old guard, with whom he has a long and uneasy relationship. It seems that a power struggle is underway at Freedom House. Jagdeo's ineligibility to lead the PPP to the polls in 2020 has opened the door for younger members of the party such as Charles Ramson Jr. who has announced his intention to be the presidential candidate. Ramson has emphasized that young and credible leadership needed to rejuvenate the party. Jagdeo has since stated that Ramson broke with the party traditions when he announced to be the PPP presidential candidate for the 2020 elections. Jagdeo inferred that he has too big an ego for the PPP to allow him to run as President, and that the party requires modesty and experience from its candidate. In response to Jagdeo's attacks, Ramson has stated that he fears no man, only God and would not engage in personal attacks or tit for tat politics which have destroyed Guyana over the years. Addressing the issue of breaking with party traditions, the young political aspirant intoned that during his ten years as a member of the PPP, he was not aware of such party custom. It did not take long after the CCJ decision against presidential term limits for a clash to erupt in the PPP leadership with former President Bharrat Jagdeo at the center of the maelstrom over who should be the next presidential candidate. Jagdeo is said to wield significant influence in the PPP but seems to be losing his grip on the party as members jockey for the top position. The electoral defeat of the PPP in the 2011 and 2015 elections, and the decision by the CCJ have shattered the unity and existence of the core leadership in the party. Unlike in the past, its members are no longer suppressed within the collective mindset to pay obeisance to the leader of the party and its General Secretary. Today, the door seems to be opened for contenders to mount a challenge for almost every party position despite Jagdeo's opposition. The internal struggle in the PPP is between the old guard, the Jagdeoites and its young non-Jagdeoite members. The latter is of the view that the party has to keep renewing itself with younger members and women if it wants to remain relevant. Charles Ramson thinks he fits the bill of what Guyana needs as president. He thinks that he should not be selected only by the leader as was the case in 2011 and 2015. According to the Attorney-at-law, Guyana needs high-quality leadership that exudes integrity, passion and vision and which is technically sound across many key disciplines like oil, economics, business; leadership which understands the meaning of family and having families of their own. He and others seem to think that the current PPP leadership comes from a different era. They cannot be the future of the party. The future of the PPP is smart young people with clear vision, more women and people of all races.
Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.
I commend Barbados’ PM for leading the way in treating with our Haitian sisters and brothers DEAR EDITOR, The opportunity is being taken to publicly commend Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley for leading the way in treating with our Caribbean sisters and brothers of Haiti, with her government’s decision to lift the visa restriction for these nationals’ entry into Barbados. By this action, the Prime Minister is not only demonstrating her ability to talk the talk but also walk the walk, exemplifying the spirit and intent of the integration movement (Caribbean Community) and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). It remains disturbing the discriminatory treatment being meted out against Haitians by CARICOM countries and citizens, when Haiti is not only a memberstate, but shares similar history and in many instances, has led the way in the fight for human dignity and respect in this Region. Excuses found and being
made about their movement to member-countries on the pretext of language barrier masked discrimination against them, for similar treatment or excuse is not being directed towards Chinese, Brazilians, Venezuelans and others who are flocking to our shores. The Haitians’ religious practice of voodoo is too another excuse to discriminate against them. Our Constitution, and also in other member-states, protects religious freedom. The African, East Indian, Amerindian and other groups’ historical religious practices were among the early acts of an independent nation, under the government of Forbes Burnham, that were decriminalised.The Haitian people are industrious, intelligent, and renowned for their farming practices, making them an asset wherever they go. Where the world is focused on healthy eating/organic foods with our
vast un-occupied and untilled land mass, their labour can be valuable. A recent study conducted by Zion Market Research said the global organic food and beverage market in 2017 valued US$124.76Billion. This market is expected to reach US$323.09Billion by 2 0 1 4 (www.onegreenplanet.org). With Prime Minister Mottley’s pronouncement, hopefully the other Heads of Government in attendance at the forum have taken note of her bold and decisive leadership in giving meaning to the spirit and intent of CARICOM and CSME, and will likewise follow suit. This was the type of leadership demonstrated by Errol Barrow (Barbados), Forbes Burnham (Guyana), Eric Williams (Trinidad and Tobago) and Michael Manley (Jamaica) that brought them to the table and led to the establishment of CARICOM, i.e. the desire to harness the resources of the
region (land, labour, capital and entrepreneurship) for the development of the Region and its people. The act of removing barriers (discrimination, travel restriction, etc) aids the integration process and the Treaty of Chaguaramas. Notwithstanding this issu e where Heads of Government meetings have within recent times come to be seen as that of a talk shop and leaders standing at the podium calling for actions they are empowered to effect, there resides optimism in Mottley’s speech and action that will serve as a reminder that the CARICOM Secretariat cannot do the job designated to the governments. The disreputable image CARICOM attracts by its people is in large part to the conduct of inaction by the governments and discrimination against brothers and sisters of the Region. Lincoln Lewis
PPP Presidential candidate dilemma DEAR EDITOR, Now that former President Bharrat Jagdeo has been legally barred from becoming President again, the lid has been blown off the candidates’ can over at Freedom House. Potentials are trying to get out, but the environment seems harsh, as in the case of Charles Ramson Jr. He probably created that himself, thinking that the freeway was cleared and that the early jump was advantageous. Clearly his well-intended action was illthought out. So was Jagdeo’s response, in part which played into the hands of his internal opposition. Public denial cannot hide the division within the PPP which may have gotten wider following the recent CCJ ruling. There is the Jagdeo faction and all others who oppose. The Jagdeoites, which, in many ways, represent forward thinking through progressive and visionary ideas, would want to preserve their current position as rightful leaders for future prosperity. The others, the non-Jagdeoites, bent in preventing the Jagdeoites from succeeding for reasons they deem worthy, are accused of being sterile in progressive
thinking and trapped in the distant past. This division is officially being kept out of the public domain for obvious reasons. With barbs being traded constantly, fortification on both sides appears to be ongoing, creating an unwanted dilemma. Justification abounds from both; the Jagdeoites with a claimed proven track record of progressiveness and new thinking and the non-Jagdeoites with counter accusations of a wealthy undemocratic elite clique consumed with selfenrichment. While both can be considered fair arguments, if no common ground is found, the Party can be catapulted to an undesired precipice. Many, including the droves that abandoned the PPP and voted for the AFC, are now convinced that the current coalition government continues to mismanage the country and has assaulted the nation with economic burdens. With a perceived lack of vision and no clue on how to manage the economy, the government seems incapable of even trying to achieve at least some shades of prosperity seen under the Jagdeo’s presidency. This alone continues to give a
compelling reason for the return of the PPP. The 2020 elections could therefore be premised on the future of Guyana and its people in terms of being able to sustain decent livelihoods. The government by its action since 2015 seems continually willing to give the PPP the edge on economic management. However, the government still has some time and all available state resources to pull rabbits out of the proverbial hat. Whether that will be able to flip voters who may have already turned, is to be seen. There is no ambiguity; Jagdeo was responsible for the unprecedented economic progress, the country’s positive transformation, the advancement of a broad base of Guyanese and the creation of enabling environments to push progress and the accumulation of wealth for ordinary citizens, as seen through many years of sustained economic growth. The evident transformation of the country’s infrastructure could justify the bestowed title of the architect of modern Guyana. This is what the nonJagdeoites are refusing to accept, despite their claims. Their opposition, on the
grounds of personal enrichment to benefit a few and their friends and autocracy, seems to taken hold in some quarters. This is fueled by sections of the media, possibly fed in some way by the internal accusers. Many of this group, who would have served Jagdeo as President, cite facts as against vendetta. Some have not been bashful in their condemnation of him being dictatorial and petty, with a penchant to publicly crush those who oppose him. Some public opinions may give credibility to this. This presents a herculean task for the Party to reconcile for an acceptable candidate with the sole intention of winning first and then kickstarting economic progress. Who will give in for the good of the Party in the first instance, and for all Guyanese in the second? The PPP, regardless of its flaws, is still the best Party to m a n a g e t h e c o u n t r y. However, that, in this modern time, is premised on the candidate. Political maturity will therefore be brought into play and the faster the Party can engage its leadership meaningfully and fairly to derive a winnable candidate, (Continued on page 6)
BASIL WILLIAMS WASN’T THE ONLY LAWYER WHO REPRESENTED ME DEAR EDITOR, I have noticed that the race for Chairmanship of the People’s National Congress is heating up, and the three ‘Old School’ candidates are campaigning aggressively. However, I have no horse in this race. But whoever the winner is, I wish that person the best of luck. That aside, I have noticed that Basil Williams (the Attorney General) mentioned that he has worked pro-bono (free) for “Mark Benschop, for five years” — Well, that’s fair enough.However, during those five years, Mr. Williams alongside a battery of lawyers worked for free during my trumped up treason trial. And, I’m eternally grateful to everyone: Shawn Allicock, Carol Martindale, the late Mortimer Codette, Emily Dodson, Llewellyn John, the late Benjamin Gibson, Roysdale Forde, and many others. As I recall, during the
course of my years of incarceration, I had seen Basil twice - once when my case got thrown up to the high court (when he told me to go to my in my cell and lie down, because Mandela spent 28 years in jail) and the other visit was years after when he and the then Opposition Leader Robert Corbin visited and pleaded with me to write a letter to Bharat Jagdeo, and apologize for the event in front of the Office of the President. During that brief meeting (which ended abruptly) I said to both gentlemen that I would not be apologizing to Jagdeo for something I did not do, and that I would rather rot in prison than to suck up to Jagdeo or anyone. Before the visit concluded, I asked Mr. Corbin to tell Jagdeo that he is the one who needed to apologize to me and my family.Not surprisingly, in less than 24 hours after my meet-
ing with Corbin and Basil, Jagdeo announced via the media that he had issued me a “Pardon” which I refused, until senior prison officials, and fellow prisoners pleaded with me to accept. And, reluctantly I did, as I would have preferred to go to court. In closing, my time spent in solitary confinement (Strong Cell/Dungeon) for the entire five-plus years wasn’t easy. However, I’m thankful to those few lawyers who took the time out to visit me. In fact, two of those lawyers, Llewellyn John, and the late Benjamin Gibson, were there at least twice a week for many years fighting the legal battle. Hence, such legal fight was not the work of one lawyer. Nevertheless, I wish Basil the best in his battle to become Chairman of the PNC. Regards, Mark A. Benschop Former Political Prisoner
Dr. Norton’s pronouncements on the Guyana Prize puzzled me DEAR EDITOR, I was puzzled by Dr. Norton’s pronouncements on the Guyana Prize, because Dr. Norton himself seems puzzled. From what he says, it seems that he has very little understanding of the prize and how it functions, based on statements such as “it is not being run the way it should be” and “a lot of money was invested, and we would have to ensure that we get value for our money.” I am not clear of the kind of “value,” he has in mind but in my opinion, the payoff in value is assured by intelligent people who write intelligently about Guyana. They promote Guyana through literature. Fred D’Aguiar, Sasenarine Persaud, Wilson Harris, Harold Bascom, David Dabydeen, Ruel Johnson and others, for whom Guyanese culture and people are their salient subjects, bring value to Guyanese arts. These writers constitute a creative force unsurpassed in all the Caribbean. The intrinsic value of the Guyana prize is that it promotes the artistic worth of Guyana by rewarding its writers. The prize does not pay for writers to write or publishers to publish their works. I won a Guyana Prize for first book of Poetry in 2004; the manuscript had been my submission for a Master’s
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Degree in creative writing at Queens College of the City University of New York. It was subsequently published by a small press in California; they have published my other three books out of charity; they make no money from what I write. Books of poetry do not appear on bestseller lists. The Guyana prize was helpful, because I had no idea of a critical reception of my work. I wrote in the basement when my children were asleep. I submitted and won a Guyana Prize. What is more, the judges who read my book had many kind things to say about it that encouraged me. Dr. Victor Ramraj, a fine man, gave me some good advice. I remember him sitting with local Guyanese writers on the Herdmanston House veranda discussing their submitted manuscripts and giving them advice on how to improve their writing skills. He kept saying “you have to read more.” He was doing the workshops one on one. The Guyana Prize encouraged me to write. The advice of the judges was indispensable to me. That the prize can be improved is not ambiguous; there is no perfection in the process or the execution of the award. This can also be said of the Nobel Prize or The Man Booker. There is no
need to politicize the equivalent of mending a bucket so it can be used further for fetching clean water. I do not like these arguments that pit diaspora writers against those who stay at home. I write poems about Guyana. It is my subject of choice. I try to write the best poems I possibly can. I am not unlike any Guyanese writer living at home. I came to New York as a boy. I have lived here close to forty years. There is no real privilege of writing from a metropolis of some snow country. It certainly does not ensure that you get published. As I said, I am the charity case of a small publisher. I have written more than will ever be published by them. I have no quarrel with Petamber Persaud or Ruel Johnson or Ras Aaron Blackman, or any other writer who stays at home. These are serious, intelligent men, dedicated to their craft and are passionate about Guyana, not unlike myself. We may have more in common than we do differences. I know for sure that none of us want to see the Guyana Prize go away forever, because we recognize its real value to Guyana. As writers, we can articulate this to Dr. Norton. Berkley Wendell Semple Author
I am a distraught teacher who has been mistreated, but who can I turn to for help? DEAR EDITOR, I am a distraught teacher who feels that the treatment meted out to me by some officials at the Department of Education Region 4 has been discriminatory to the point where I believe that I cannot approach this department on any work-related issue. The bad relationship started after I requested a transfer from my school - this department is responsible for such matters. A senior official asked for my reasons for the request. I told her that my workplace was very far from where I live and that I felt uncomfortable at my school, mainly due to the Headteacher’s attitude towards me. The official informed me that transportation issues were not valid reasons for a transfer and I had to put in writing why I felt victimized by the Headteacher. I did this, and after reading my letter, the official stated that I was a rude person, the Headmistress (HM) was not victimizing me and I didn’t know the meaning of the word. After that, I was bodyshamed by this woman who wanted to turn the spotlight on me. She said that my skirt, with a hemline below the knee, was too tight and I was forced to stand up, turn around and show the other persons (including a former student of mine who was the secretary) in her office, my derrière. I didn’t want to do this and was left in tears. Is this the proper manner in which Education officials should treat teachers? Editor, if a woman has a voluptuous/curvy body and is wearing her size, the shape of her body will be outlined, women are not flat from all angles. Basic science teaches that on the female body fat is deposited on certain areas. Unless a woman is wearing loose robes or a bag, it is impossible to hide her figure. However, this is just reflective of our society which views women’s bodies as dirty and the scapegoat for the bad behaviour of others. This is sad, especially coming from educators who should teach boys, future men, to respect women, re-
gardless of clothing, and not view females as sexual objects but persons. I do feel though that the focus on me was done to embarrass, and for me to drop the issue, a simple, “Miss, your skirt is too tight”, would have sufficed without the shaming. The issue with my Headteacher is that on numerous occasions, which I have documented, she humiliated me in the presence of my colleagues, students and their parents. This is highly unprofessional behaviour on her part. The psychological abuse led to my authority being undermined in the classroom and some colleagues disrespecting me. Twice, I was even informed while at the Department of Education that letters were sent by the HM requesting disciplinary action be taken against me. I was never shown nor given copies of those letters before they were sent off. This was unprofessional of the HM and the officials knew. Also, the reasons presented were without merit, based on trivial issues, and the HM didn’t have a leg to stand on. My biggest grievance is that due to the officials refusing to listen to my side of the story and due to their attitude, the Department of Education Region 4 is off-limits to me. For instance, when I highlighted that the HM confronted and humiliated me in front of colleagues and the students (the school does not have classrooms, it is an open plan) I was told that the HM can speak to me wherever she felt like, and that I am a junior teacher. Apparently, as a junior teacher I am expected to be a model of perfection and submissiveness while the HM can behave unprofessionally and like a bully, therefore, any complaint is view as an act of ‘insubordination’ - the most easily accessible and overused word by the officials of the Department of Education Region 4. I also feel victimised because I am not treated the same as my colleagues. For instance, many little matters are dealt with and concluded right within the office of the
HM, yet trivial issues concerning me are overblown and letters sent off to the Education Department. Even the simplest administrative issue is troublesome to deal with. For example, when it was my turn for Whitley Council, I was forced to contact the Department because of the HM. Now, even a simple job letter from the school for an educational pursuit is denied, but if I complain I would be labelled as insubordinate. Due to the biased emphasis placed on my every action, I am being viewed as a troublemaker and ‘crazy teacher’ because I am apparently always the perpetrator and never treated badly. Why? Because the administration of the school does not recognise that another person can be disrespectful to me. On several occasions I was verbally abused by a few teachers ‘in the open’ yet never received a simple ‘sorry’. Even sexual harassment is overlooked. A female worker groped me in the presence of teachers. I am not friendly with this woman whom I noticed would touch the backsides and breasts of her ‘friends’. I however, never indicated to this lady that I was okay with this. When I complained to the DHM I didn’t even get an apology from the groper. Later, the groper verbally abused me in the presence of students and teachers. In a meeting I raised both issues, yet still did not get an apology and at the end of the meeting the focus turned on me. I was accused of not having class control! The last time the HM took me for disciplinary action at the Department of Education Region 4, I told the officials (Continued on page 6)
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PROOF THAT THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THE GUYANA PRIZE ARE FALSE, ULTRA VIRES AND WITHOUT MERIT DEAR EDITOR, I refer to the claims made in letters to the national newspapers by Rev. Gideon Cecil and Ras Aaron Blackman that the Guyana Prize for Literature privileges Guyanese writers resident overseas; • that it only awards prizes to a small clique of friends in that circle of overseas-based writers; • that the local writers and unpublished manuscripts are overlooked; • that they do not stand a chance against the foreigners; and • are denied opportunities for recognition and development as writers. The Guyana Prize was established “to recognize and reward outstanding work in literature by Guyanese and Caribbean authors in order to: (i) provide a focus for the recognition of the creative writing of Guyanese at home and abroad; (ii) stimulate interest in and provide encouragement for the development of good creative writing among Guyanese in particular and Caribbean writers in general.” Since it began in 1987 the clear majority of winners have been resident overseas. The Prize Awards have always been meant to go to the best of the nation’s literature, and the harsh reality has been that since the 1950s the vast ma-
jority of practicing and professional writers left the country, most of them settling overseas. This meant that the bulk of the best Guyanese literature was being produced in the UK, Canada and the USA. It should not be surprising that that is where most of the winners have been. In spite of that reality, it is plainly not true that there was a bias towards those writers “in exile” and a neglect of local residents. The judges have proven themselves ready to recognise the best talent when it is resident in Guyana and have not hesitated to award the Prizes to them. Contrary to what has been peddled there have been outstanding cases of local writers, most of them with unpublished manuscripts, defeating well known names who have been established overseas. Here are some examples. Harischandra Khemraj was an unknown writer – a school teacher in Region Three, with no previous publications when he won the top prize – the Best Book of Fiction in 1994 with Cosmic Dance. Among the vanquished were celebrated literary high flyers based overseas Fred D’Aguiar, David Dabydeen, Beryl Gilroy and Cyril Dabydeen. That was a major find, an emphatic advance for Guyanese literature at home.
Harold Bascom has now advanced to be a playwright with four Guyana Prize victories and one Caribbean Award. He resides in the USA. But he was a local writer and dramatist in Lodge, Georgetown, when he received his greatest recognition up to that time – the Guyana Prize for the Best Book of Drama in 1994 for his unpublished manuscript of the play, Two Wrongs. What is more, he repeated the achievement in 1996, while still a local resident who entered his playscript of Makantali. Paloma Mohamed is now highly successful and recognised. But she was a local dramatist and poet who had not yet achieved any international accolades when she won her first Guyana Prize for the play Duenne. She progressed from there to win more Guyana Prizes for Best Book of Drama, including for Anansi’s Way (2006). A local unknown, unpublished writer with his first collection of short stories became the youngest winner of the Guyana Prize to date. Ruel Johnson emerged as a significant talent, recognised by the judges as outstanding for his Ariadne and Other Stories in 2002. He won the Best First Book of Fiction, having entered an unpublished manuscript to defeat two published shortlisted books. His
A new force in the education system is putting our children first DEAR EDITOR, I write to congratulate all of the children who did so well at this year’s grade six assessment examinations. I have observed in the news media all of the joy and excitement - especially as there was a perfect score by a young lady, who deserves credit for that achievement. All that being said, the top students and parents will always be given the praise that they deserve. However, I would like to point out that there is a reason for this rise in academic achievement across the board.
To the parents and guardians that worked very hard with our children, thank you and keep working hard. Also, our teachers need to be recognized for all of the hard work that they are doing in the classrooms. They have raised their game and it is reflected in these results. There seems to be a new force in the education system that is putting all of our children first. The barriers have been lifted, allowing talent to shine. I am so glad to see this. I must also commend the work that the Minister of Education is doing. Her policies
and direction are cutting through with tangible results. I encourage Minister Henry and the Ministry of Education to continue the great work, because our children deserve a good education, something that has been ignored until recently. I am glad to see that Guyana’s education system is getting back on track and look forward to seeing the CXC/CSEC results later this year. Congratulations to all Grade Six Assessment students, their teachers and parents. Yours Sincerely, Elizabeth Williams
other first time manuscript was a collection of poems The Enormous Night, which was shortlisted for the First Book of Poetry. It was against foreign competition that the second youngest writer to win the Guyana Prize emerged from the local writing community. Subraj Singh also won the Guyana Prize for the Best First Book of Fiction in 2014 for Rebelle and Other Stories. Once again a first time local writer was identified by the Guyana Prize judges as a major talent when there were established intellectuals living overseas on the shortlist with published books. So-called hallowed and chosen overseas-based writers must have been once more overlooked by the clique of judges who must have bypassed their friends to award the prize to an unknown disadvantaged local. Increasing belief in themselves must have been among the gains for local Guyanese writers when yet another one of them beat the overseas competition in 2012.
Dramatist Mosa Telford, a local writer with no previous publications or international achievement won the Guyana Prize for Drama with Sauda. This time among the vanquished was a successful three-time Prize winner named Bascom, who was by then resident overseas. Neither must it be forgotten that Cassia Alphonso, an entirely new poet writing verse in Creolese, also won as a first-timer living in Guyana. Very significantly, she shared the Poetry Prize with the very established writer Ian McDonald, who, as a local resident, became a multiple winner of the Prize for Poetry. Another distinguished local resident won the Best First Book of Poetry with an unpublished manuscript when Dennis Craig was awarded for On The Seashore. Although a veteran writer, it was his first collection. Among that significant list of Guyana Prize winners are works which were entered as unpublished manuscripts.
They had to compete against published books entered by publishers from abroad. It has been a consistent policy of the juries that these manuscripts had to be of publishable quality to be awarded a Prize. It ought to be obvious by now that the Guyana Prize created opportunities for local writers who were previously unknown to gain recognition and to emerge. Surely the Prize has helped to create an environment in which a number of local developing writers are motivated to write and to improve. The list of examples provided above is evidence that many of them have achieved; some have gone on to become more successful, more accomplished and to join the corps of established writers. Those examples prove the accusations against the Prize to be false, ultra vires and without merit. I am Yours faithfully Al Creighton Secretary, Guyana Prize
PPP Presidential candidate dilemma From page 4 the better it will be for the nation.The General Secretary of the PPP has a prescribed function for this process and to steer the Party through it. Jagdeo is the General Secretary and is extremely popular which will further irk the opposing faction. He possibly stands to be accused by those who oppose him of influencing the process even if he doesn’t.
Fairness will therefore be brought into question if accusations surrounding Donald Ramotar’s candidacy are true. When all is said and done, regardless of who emerges, Jagdeo’s economic prowess cannot be banished. He will have to play a fundamental role at least for the sake of the country in rebuilding the economic machinery. If a non-Jagdeoite
is crowned, the biggest mistake he or she will make is to diminish or remove Jagdeo and some of the Jagdeoites from the process of returning Guyana to its once prosperous state. One way or the other, a dilemma, unfortunately, will be everpresent. Sincerely Rajendra Doodnauth New Jersey USA
I am a distraught teacher who has been ... From page 5 that I do not feel that I am being treated fairly when compared to my colleagues. I was told that I am insubordinate. I related the groping incident where I didn’t even receive an apology. Now, what did these astute officials do? They visited my school and held a meeting about me with the senior staff to which I was not invited, then told
them about my groping incident. No investigation was done to confirm my allegation. I had indicated that I was uncomfortable with the staff knowing about this embarrassing incident and did not see the point of informing people who were not remotely involved. Now I am being bullied by ‘teachers’ and made the butt of jokes. Groping comments and
sexual harassment jokes are made within my hearing. How can people tasked with educating the nation, especially the enforcers, behave in such an atrocious manner? Professionalism and sensitivity training is needed for administrators and the officials at the Department of Education Region 4. Upset Teacher Name and School provided
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Monthly psychiatric services being demanded for Region Seven
A
call has been made for the Ministry of Public Health to revise its decision to offer quarterly rather than monthly visits of a psychiatrist to attend to patients of Region Seven [Cuyuni/Mazaruni]. This was the disclosure of Regional Health Officer [RHO] of Region Seven, Dr. Edward Sagala, as he delivered a presentation at the ongoing Regional Health Services meeting being held at the Lake Mainstay Resort, Pomeroon/Supenaam [Region Two]. In his presentation Dr. Sagala disclosed that patients, and by extension the Region, have been advocating for government to restore the monthly visits of psychiatrist, Dr. Bhiro Harry, to the mining area. “This decision of quarterly visits needs to be revisited since the 26 patients who depend on this service are the ones suffering,” related Dr. Sagala. At the time, he was delivering a 64-page report which encapsulated the delivery of health care in Region Seven. As part of his presentation, he said the patients suffering from neuropsychiatric disorders, or mental illnesses in the Region have been known to look forward to Dr. Harry and his mental health team’s monthly visits. “It was a good thing which the patients liked since they didn’t have to travel long distances anymore as far as Parika or Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC] to receive mental health treatment,” Dr. Sagala said. The monthly clinic, he said, has been well-received by patients not only from Bartica and its environs but also from mental health patients from Essequibo Islands/West Demerara [Region Three]; Potaro/ Siparuni [Region Eight] and Upper Demerara/Berbice [Region 10]. In Guyana, neuropsychiatric disorders are believed to affect some 25
percent of the country’s 750,000 multi-racial population, with women, young adults and ranks of the unemployed being the most vulnerable. At the national level, mental health is ranked among the central planks of the government’s overall public health programme with the Public Health Ministry giving it prominence in the service priorities of the 20132020 National Health Sector Strategy. The stated vision of the Strategy is “that the people of Guyana are among the healthiest in the Caribbean and the Americas”. This plan was developed jointly between the Public Health Ministry, the Mental Health team of the GPHC and the Pan American Health Organisation [PAHO] Guyana. It outlines strategic actions on how to implement and scale-up interventions and primary care services for mental health. The Ministry established a Mental Health Unit, which is headed by a specialist, Dr. Util Richmond-Thomas. The Mission Statement of the new department is, “To promote, coordinate and implement technical activities and actions directed towards strengthening the national capacity to develop policies, plans, programmes and services, thus contributing to the promotion of mental health, the reduction of the burden of the psychiatric diseases, prevention of disabilities and the development of rehabilitation. Dr. Sagala said, yesterday, that there has been a notably improved quality healthcare especially at the Bartica Regional Hospital, a development, which has resulted from the assigning of eight medical specialists to that institution. The types of medical specialists include a General Surgeon, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Paediatrician, Internist, Dermatologist, Anaesthesiologist, Orthpaedic/Trauma Surgeon
- as efforts are made to bridge gap in healthcare delivery Dr. Edward Sagala
and Radiographer. During the review period over 15,000 patients were seen between these medical specialists and over 400 surgeries were performed and, according to Dr. Sagala, this allowed for a drastic reduction of referrals to GPHC, which was previously over-burdened.He, moreover, commended the Ministry for introducing such an initiative, which has and continues to be well appreciated by the hinterland community. In the past, specialist care was not available in the hinterland areas except during medical outreaches. The initiative, he therefore added, has essentially helped to bridge the gap in the quality of healthcare delivery available between the coastal and hinterland areas. Dr. Sagala therefore underscored that the continuation of this initiative is critical to ensure equitable healthcare to the populace. Meanwhile, Dr. Sagala in his presentation also highlighted the fact that the Region has been haemorrhaging trained health workers. “We seem to be training different categories of health workers, but the challenge remains that of retention,” he explained. “The reasons for
this problem are various and the solutions will have to be dealt at a national level.” Although a lot has been achieved during the year
under review, Dr. Sagala said that Region Seven “continues to face challenges in the areas of human resources, repairs of medical equipment, accommodation for all categories of healthcare providers and the chronic shortage of basic medical supplies.” Added to this, he said that malaria, dengue, gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders, snakebites, accidents, trauma and violence, sexually transmitted infections [STIs], teenage pregnancy, suicide attempts and conditions related to substance abuse remain major health challenges within the region. Some 28,000 to 30,000 persons inhabiting the sprawling interior mining community seek medical
attention for hypertension, heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes, vectorborne diseases, malaria, dengue, pregnancy-related conditions, skin conditions, snake bites, accidents, trauma, violent acts and mental disorders in that order. Dr. Sagala said the five leading causes of death in Cuyuni/Mazaruni are respiratory disorders, gastrointestinal conditions, neonatal conditions [sepsis, prematurity] multifactorial [accidents and trauma] and congenital malformations. STI s , teenage p r e g n a n c y, a t t e m p t e d suicide and substance abuse, especially the use of alcohol and drugs, are e m e r g i n g challenges for Regional officials, Dr. Sagala said.
Govt. announces three-fold increase in state pension Following a decision of the Cabinet, state pension has been increased almost three-fold to $360,000 annually, up from $120,000. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who made the announcement, yesterday, said this followed the approval of a submission by Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan for an increase in the maximum annual rate of the state.Persons eligible for state pension will now receive $30,000 monthly as opposed to $10,000. He also announced that Sister Noel Menezes, a well-known Guyanese historian, will now be paid a state pension. According to the Minister, she has met the eligibility criteria under the State Pension Act, describing her as “most deserving”. At age 87, Professor Menezes launched her book entitled ‘Guyana and the Wider World’, which features a collection of her essays and addresses. She also served as a history lecturer at the University of Guyana (UG) to President David Granger and many others and is a recipient of a national award.
State pension for historian, Sr. Noel Menezes
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Fugitive suspect arrested at court top Finance Ministry after freed of illegal entry charge - former official detained also Lotto Fund probe...
A fugitive suspect who skipped Guyana one day before a wanted bulletin was issued for his arrest was yesterday charged for entering Guyana illegally. Jadoo Datt, 40, of Sheriff Street, Campbellville was wanted for questioning by Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) in relation to collecting millions of dollars by way of withdrawals from the Lotto Fund. Datt appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on July 4, at Springlands, Corentyne, Berbice, he entered Guyana by sea and disembarked without the consent of an immigration officer. In his explanation, he stated that he went into the US Embassy to get a visa and he was denied. He added that after his refusal of a visa, he contacted his sister and she told him to come across to Suriname. Police Prosecutor, Gordon Mansfield, stated that a wanted bulletin was issued by SOCU on May 16 for his arrest after months of
Arrested: Vladim Persaud intense investigation in relation to the lottery fund fraud. The court heard that the police later obtained information from Immigration, which stated that the defendant left Guyana on May 15 via Moleson Creek. The prosecutor went on to tell the court that on July 4,
Charged Jadoo Datt
last, Datt, reported to SOCU and he was arrested and taken into custody. The Magistrate after listening to Datt, reprimanded and discharged the matter. As soon as Datt exited the prisoners lock-up, he was arrested by an officer who escorted him to a vehicle and took him back to SOCU.
It was reported that SOCU is currently investigating some questionable payments from the Lotto Fund, which was established under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic, and controlled by what was then known as the Office of the President. The fund continues to be under the control of what has now been renamed the Ministry of the Presidency. Under the arrangements, the fund was to be used for specific purposes. However, a forensic audit raised questions about spending under the PPP/C. Monies expended were supposed to fund health and other emergencies. Datt reportedly signed for cheques, to the tune of
millions of dollars. Investigators from SOCU reportedly have no idea why Datt collected those cheques and that is why he is being questioned. According to information, the request for the wanted bulletin had been with police for about a week before it was issued to the media. It is believed that during the “delay”, Datt may have been tipped off about the bulletin and fled. Datt is being question is in relation to a number of conspiracies to defraud the Governmant of Guyana, between the period December 2015 and April 2016. He is said to be one of several persons who signed to collect payments issued by the Lottery Control Commission, which has responsibilities for the Lotto Fund. Those cheques were to the tune of millions of dollars. Under the agreement between the Government of Guyana and Canadian Bank Note, which is the parent company of the Guyana Lottery Company, this country gets 24 percent of gross revenues from the lottery. However, over the years, the administration of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has been accused of keeping the monies under its control at the Office of the President, instead of turning it over to the Public Treasury. It is believed that the fund had hundreds of millions of
dollars in it from the Lottery Company. In fact, the new administration has spent monies from it, including $300M in 2015 on the D’Urban Park. The Auditor General had reported that between 1996 and 2011, the Government of Guyana received over $4B from the Guyana Lottery Company. The monies were to be used for sports, education and health. With regards to the SOCU investigations, it was reported that in 2015 the Coalition Government ordered forensic audits into several state entities. The Lotto Fund was also audited. It is the findings of the audit that concerned the Ministry of Finance, which handed the report over to the police to be investigated. Meanwhile, a former senior Ministry of Finance official questioned last year, was yesterday arrested again by investigators of SOCU. Being questioned yesterday was Vladim Persaud, the former Assistant Accountant General. He was reportedly performing the duties of Deputy Accountant General when ranks of SOCU picked him up last year at his Main Street office. He is said to have intense knowledge of the workings of the Lotto Fund. Persaud’s contract expired and was not renewed by the Government of Guyana.
Minibus drivers granted $300,000 bail each for brothers’ deaths Mohendra Rambowar, 31, of 1621 Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo; and Devon Headley 27, of 793 Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo; were both charged with two counts of causing death when they appeared before Magistrate Bess, at the Wales Magistrates court. They were both placed on $300,000 bail each. The charges stemmed from the accidental deaths of Sherman West, 28, a labourer and Shalum Allen, 19, both of Lots 8-9 Fellowship, West Coast Demerara. They were killed after being run over by a minibus while cycling on the Den Amstel Public Road. According to a police release, the driver of minibus BVV 8882, who was proceeding east along the northern side of the road, stopped to put
Sherman West and Shalum Allen the two brothers who died in the Den Amstel accident. off passengers, while West, who was towing Allen on a bicycle, was proceeding in the same direction behind the bus. West was about to pass the bus when the vehicle suddenly moved off and struck
the bicycle handlebar. The brothers fell onto the southern carriageway of the road and were struck by minibus BVV 7042, which was proceeding in the opposite direction. The brothers were laid to rest on Tuesday.
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The CCJ decision does not hurt the PPPC Forbes Burnham once warned his political opponents that shooting him was a waste, another Rasta would take his place. Forbes Burnham, of course was no friend of Rastafarians – he attacked the local Rastafarian community, circumscribing their activities and even let loose the police on them. But Burnham was using the word “Rasta” in the different context. What he wanted to say is that replacing him would not bring change; someone committed to continuing his legacy would arise. He was a little wrong there. Desmond Hoyte continued the human rights abuses, the rigging of elections and some of Burnham’s distasteful policies of his predecessor. But he also, with his back to the wall and nowhere to run, changed economic direction and loosened some of the shackles on press freedom. It is said today that it matters not who the political parties select as their presidential candidates. They can each
dress up a toad in a suit and still enjoy overwhelming support. Ever since 1957, ethnic voting has been dominant in every election. Why the CCJ decision should change that is hard to imagine. The ethnic polarization is a product of ethnic insecurity which forces persons to vote, so often, against their own vested interests. David Granger was a political unknown prior to 2011. Yet he did just as well as Desmond Hoyte did in the 1992 elections, and far better than Robert Corbin did in the 2006 elections. So it does not matter who is the presidential candidate, racial voting will still predominate at election time. The CCJ decision in the Cedric Richardson case does not change that calculus. So it is a bit of a stretch of logic for it to be said that the CCJ decision has hurt the PPPC chances at returning to power. When Jagdeo demitted office, the same thing was said. It was argued that his successor would not be able
to hold the party’s core support. He not only did that but lost the elections by a mere whisker. The CCJ decision may have ended the presidential ambitions of Bharrat Jagdeo. He may have also been the best candidate that the PPPC could put forward. However, the argument that his barring from contesting the presidency hurts the PPPC is false. Those making this argument are paying a compliment to Jagdeo. They are in such fear of him that they are relieved that he is not contesting and they believe that his non-contesting of the presidency means that the PPPC chances have been seriously hurt. It just shows how fearful the WPA, the PNCR and the AFC were of his candidacy. Within those camps, the public elation within at the CCJ decision suggests both hatred of the PPPC leader and relief that he would not have a chance of dethroning the coalition’s candidate. Bharrat Jagdeo may have been a dominant figure within
Armed CG bandits rob Brazilian at fruit stall in Queenstown
The bandit with gun in hand robbing the Brazilian woman in Queenstown.
O
n Tuesday, two bandits on CG mo tor cycle, one armed with a gun walked into a business in Queenstown that sells fruits, and relieved one of the customers of her purse containing an undisclosed sum of cash. The barefaced bandits were caught on CCTV camera, walking up to the business entrance. One of them then removed a gun from
his waist and cocked it before pointing it the customer who was conversing with the proprietor of the business at the time. He then relieved the woman of her purse, and briskly walked away, before jumping on to a motorcycle to join his partner. This is the second time in recent years that this business has seen armed bandits coming to the establishment.
the PPP but there should be no confusion as to the difference between marginal parties and mass-based parties. The PNCR and the PPPC are massbased parties. The WPA is a marginal party. In marginal parties, the loss of a leader, can destroy that party’s support base. But this is not the case with mass-based parties. The CCJ decision has not and will not dent the PPPC support. Instead, it is migration of a great chunk of its support base has hurt the PPPC since 1992. The party’s majority declined consistently between 1992 and 2011 when the opposition was able to eclipse the PPPC and reduce it to a minority government. Four years later, the PPP gained the same percentage of the votes and lost the presidency.
The pre-election coalition allowed for the end of the PPP regime. Were there no preelection coalition, the PPPC would have been in government. If the PPPC is going to be kept out in the 2020 elections, it will not be because Bharrat Jagdeo was barred from running as President. The PPPC chances depend on the PPPC’s ability to mobilize beyond its base. Jagdeo has been on a misguided political strategy of trying to regain what he sees as losses in his party’s political base. Support in his base has not shrunk; the base itself has been reduced because of migration. Jagdeo has been wasting resources mobilizing a base that is already mobilized. Jagdeo, because of his
popularity, his superior skills at managing an economy and because of his track record of delivering economic benefits to the people, may have been able to dethrone the APNU+AFC because he enjoys substantive support outside of his party’s traditional base. The PPPC must not be ruled out of contention, regardless of who is its presidential candidate. Its base is intact but migration has hurt the PPPC so badly that its base alone may not be able to deliver the votes needed for victory in 2020.
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THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
A business guide to ignorant Guyanese business people
I
know of no political theory, and there has never been such a theory that postulates that economic development and financial stability can take place once wealth exists. In other words, if a country has lots of natural resources, those assets will create economic development. Wealth by itself cannot guarantee and will not guarantee a future, if the enabling environments are shoddy or non-existent. The adjective political theorists are fond of using is, “enabling”. I prefer, “deterministic.” I think that word better describes the value of those supporting environments. These include a competent bureaucracy, a stable, functional education system, the rule of law that is widely respected by major societal actors, civic values; political thinking that is humane and modern, security services that are incorruptible, etc. These environments are deterministic in every country. Without them, economic take-off will not occur. It is my deeply held opinion that many of these environments
are shambolic and they have undermined and continue to undermine economic expansion and financial durability in Guyana. The people who should understand this lesson the most but who understand them the least are our business community. I am revolted at corrupt police officials; I am livid with insensitive public servants; I am angry at the mediocrity of the country’s bureaucracy and of course, I have no respect for our visionless leaders. But the area of life that lacerates my psyche is our stupid, ignorant, un-intellectual business community. Their lack of an elementary, intellectual understanding of the modern world disgusts me to the core. They remind me of the saying from Shakespeare in “Measure For Measure. “But man, proud man, Dress’d in a little brief aut h o r i t y , Most ignorant of what he’s most assur’d— His glassy essence—like an angry ape Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven As makes the angels weep;
who, with our spleens, Would all themselves laugh mortal.” Each year, the major business organizations (Private Sector Commission, Guyana Manufacturers’ Association, Chamber of Commerce) have their annual dinner and they lay out their business plan. Last week was one such event, and a huge banner was unfolded entitled a “Guide to Business.” If we weren’t living in the world most dystopian society named Guyana, I’m sure a protestor would have barged into the dinner and yelled out, “A business guide to what … Stupidity?” In all the speeches, in all these dinners over the decades with last week being no exception, not one of these business executives points to the idiotic rules and regulations and backward thinking that literally hinders the growth and expansion of the business world in this country. They are so intellectually poor that they cannot acquire the capacity to understand that a country moves forward not because of its inherent wealth only but the deterministic environ-
ments that canopy and nurture the function of that wealth. There is no need to offer any example of these deterministic environments. Comprehending their importance is a commonsensical act. I am not going to invest in a country where my car and my family’s car get into accident all the time because there are no working traffic signals. I am not going to invest in a country where each day I take my eggs from Berbice to markets in Essequibo, parasitic traffic cops are harassing me. I am not going to invest in a country of less than a million persons where the leased land on which I want to put down a car plant will take five years to process. I am not going to invest
in a country that when I arrive, the GRA officials at the airport thinks I am a beggar and treats me humiliatingly. I am not going to invest in a country that when I arrive with my children, the kids cannot find a place in a public school because it will take a year to issue them with a placement letter. Not one of these business executives can see the connection between the “envelope insanity” and doing business at the commercial banks and at the post office. A small farmer cannot post his cassava sticks from Georgetown to the interior because he must produce as proof of address, a post office envelope with a stamp date. Guess what is rejected as
Frederick Kissoon proof of address in Guyana – police vehicular fitness certificate. Imagine that is a document issued by the Police Force with your address. These thing s a r e n o t conducive to the expansion of the business climate but our stupid business people cannot see how terrible those restrict i o n s a r e a n d denounce them. Why do they have these annual dinners? To show off their spouses, fancy SUVs and stuff their stomachs.
DEM BOYS SEH
People pull ‘Wheels on Deals’ wid some bank
Guyana is a nice place. All you got to do is seh sorry when you do something wrong. But sometimes sorry don’t wuk. Dem boys was going home last night when two big man clash over food. De two of dem should a been living pun dem own years now. Instead, dem still living wid Ma. One of dem eat out de buddy food and he didn’t get a chance to seh sorry. De licking wha he get, mek he dead. Dat is why people don’t mek joke wid food. Dem wuss than dogs. But is only de poor people does end up in dis situation. De rich people
does do odda thing. Dem full of crookishness. Dem boys now find out dat some people con de system and rob couple bank. Khurshid was in charge of de GRA when he people tie up a deal wid de bank. De deal mean dat people does go to de bank fuh a loan and dem does use dem car as collateral. Dem get somebody inside GRA to get a registration fuh a high end car. If de car is mini minor dem does change de registration to seh is a Mercedes Benz. Dem got no intention to pay back de loan, suh de next thing you know is de bank moving to seize de car. Nuff bank manager cry when dem
send de seize man fuh de vehicle. One man even carry back a donkey cart. To avoid de embarrassment, because is people money dem play wid, dem send home de people who do de scam and dem ain’t even mention de thing in dem annual report. Last night, two bank manager call dem boys and beg dem to keep dem mouth shut. Dem promise a small piece. Is now dem boys understand why instead of de bank lending money pon a used car, dem buying de car. Talk half and enjoy de Deal on Wheels instead of de Wheels pon de Deal.
Friday July 06, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Team heads to address influx of Venezuelans, returning Guyanese
T
he government will dispatch a team to neighbouring Venezuela next week in response t o g r o w i n g concerns about the influx of Venezuelans into the country and the increasing number of Guyanese returning home. Guyana’s team which will visit the eastern Venezuelan community of Puerto Ordaz, will be led by Barbara Haley, Director of the Frontier Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon at his post Cabinet press briefing yesterday, disclosed that the visit is intended to enable the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Citizenship to plan a more effective response to the influx of Venezuelan migrants and
returning G u y a nese nationals from Venezuela. He estimated that there are in excess of 15,000 Guyanese living in the Puerto Ordaz area. There has been an influx of Venezuelans entering Guyana as they flee severe economic and political hardships. Guyanese have also been returning due to the upheaval in the South American country. According to Harmon, currently, there is an honorary consul providing services. The Minister of State noted that the state must have a more solid arrangement where Guyanese people can get the quality of service that they deserve. “Wherever our Guyanese citizens live we are looking at providing better consular services to them.
This mission is really to look how best we can provide consular services… Venezuelans coming and going and we can provide a better facility at Puerto Ordaz,” Harmon noted. In recent months, remigrant Guyanese from Venezuela claimed mineralrich lands in Ekereku, Region Seven. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that they must be able to prove their citizenship to the satisfaction of immigration authorities. The statement followed a report in sections of the local media that a group was claiming the lands based on the fact that they lived there before heading to Venezuela. T h e M i n istry had indicated that while the government is committed to
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon ensuring the rights of our indigenous peoples are respected, none of the
persons in question has been able to prove their citizenship to the satisfaction of
immigration authorities. Without this proof, they are not entitled t o e n t e r Guyana without permission from the relevant authorities. The Ministry also cited security and other legal issues arising from the persons claiming land where gold is being mined without proper documentation. Guyana and Venezuela are locked in a decades-old t e r r i t o r i a l c o n t roversy. Guyana has sought legal settlement through the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Venezuela has backpedaled on its recognition of the United Nations’ authority to determine the outcome of the dispute.
Guyana signs agreement for establishing law school
AG Basil Williams with the Jamaican joint venture partners.
F
rom June 18 to June 20, 2018, Attorney General, Basil Williams, and members of the local Joseph Haynes Law School (JHLS) committee met with representatives of the Jamaica joint venture partners. The representatives were Professor Dennis Gayle, Executive Chancellor of the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, UCC; Dr. David Wan, Group
Finance Director, UCC; Courtney Wynter, Chairman of the Board, Law College of the Americas (LCA); and Marcelle Donaldson, Attorney-at-law. The visit was specifically aimed to finalize and sign the shareholders’ agreement for the JHLS, the AG Chambers disclosed. “The JHLS created for this purpose met with the representatives on Monday, June 18, 2018 to hammer out
Drunk brother kills sibling who ate his food A 57-year-old man was in custody last night after allegedly beating his 61-year-old brother to death for eating out his food.The incident occurred at around 19:15 hrs. Police identified the dead man as Nazir Khan, called ‘Kari, an unemployed resident of Lot 37 Bella Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara. The suspect is a porter at a waste disposal entity. According to reports, the suspect, who had imbibed in alcohol, gave Khan money and asked him to purchase a meal. Khan reportedly bought the food, but ate it out on the way back.When he returned, a fight broke out between the brothers, with Khan getting the worse of the exchange.He reportedly fled to a neighbour’s yard, where he collapsed and died shortly afterwards. His brother was subsequently taken into custody.
the final details of the agreement. The representatives continued to meet, with the Honourable Attorney General, who represented the Government of Guyana’s interest.” The team, the AG Chambers said, worked relentlessly to ensure that the result was an agreement acceptable by all parties. “After careful consideration and collaboration, the agreement was signed and witnessed by representatives of the parties involved. The shareholders’ agreement together with the feasibility study and related business plan will be submitted to the Council of Legal Education (CLE).” Currently, students interested in law have to study at the University of Guyana before moving to Trinidad or further afield to complete their law degree. The JHLS is supposed to solve this problem.Guyanese students have been complaining of admittance problems to the Hugh Wooding law school in Trinidad and Tobago.
Friday July 06, 2018
Kaieteur News
Lindo Creek COI considering recommendations from family members - report to be handed in soon
Chairman of the Lindo Creek COI, Justice (retd) Donald Trotman. The final report of the Lindo Creek Commission of Inquiry (COI) will be handed over to President David Granger this month. This was confirmed by the Commission’s Public Relation Officer, Melanie Morris. Currently, the Commission is looking over some recommendations presented by family members of the June 2008 massacre, that could aid them in the process of moving forward. According to reports, close family members put together some recommendations that they believe would bring closure, while at the same time, keep the memories of the victims alive.
Some of those recommendations include offering scholarships to the children of the murdered miners, providing counselling for family members, and financial compensation. The recommendations were received June 29 and are being examined by the Commission. According to a source, these recommendations will guide the Commission in presenting its report to President Granger. The Terms of Reference (ToRs) of the Commission of Inquiry charged the Commissioner to investigate and make findings of fact on all matters in relation to the (Continued on page 30)
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Friday July 06, 2018
Kaieteur News
No shortage of insulin - says Health Ministry -40ft container arrived since February -drug packed in cold storage container in Diamond, EBD A staff exhibits the insulin in storage at the MMU
MMU’s Director, Cecil Jack
Director of the Materials Management Unit (MMU) Ministry of Health, Cecil Jack, yesterday put to rest
allegations that there is a shortage of insulin at health facilities in some parts of the country.
The MMU Director said that he is deeply disappointed that such information is being peddled in
the public when the evidence can speak for itself. “I am disappointed as the Director of the MMU, presiding over half of a 40foot contai n e r a l m o s t filled with insulin, to be hearing the claims from the public that there is no insulin at the health facilities,” Jack told the Department of Public Information (DPI). The container arrived in Guyana since February. “I want the public to know that there is absolutely no shortage of insulin. The 70/30, the soluble,
the lente; we have all in stock” he assured. DPI visited the Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) facility and was able to view the drug packed in the cold storage container. Over the last week, the Ministry of Health has been receiving reports that patients attending certain health facilities for insulin were being turned away and told to buy the drug instead. According to the MMU Director, it is unfair that persons have to purchase the costly drug when it is being supplied free of cost by the government. National Director of Pharmacy Service, Oneil Atkins, said the Ministry was made aware of the issue, because of the vigilance of the public. “If the public does not make the loud cry and if when people go to their clinic, they are not prop-
erly registered, we would not be able to adequately quantify. I want the public to ensure that they are adequately registered so that we would be able to take care of their needs. “We want them to be that vigilant to have us know when something is going wrong,” he surmised. Atkins said the “cries” of insulin shortages have been coming from all ten administrative regions but the hospital has been receiving complaints from two particular regions. “Once I heard that I call, but the public is being turned away and have to go buy insulin.” Insulin, he said is being sold for between $3,000 and $5,000 a vial. “ We a t t h e M i n i s t r y want to let them know that they don’t have to do that, we have enough insulin in the system,” he assured.
Friday July 06, 2018
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Kaieteur News
‘Nasty Man’ gets 51 3 arrested over missing Berbice school vouchers The Region Six years jail for ‘Warlock’ Education Department footballer murder
Murdered: Dexter Griffith.
Jailed: Delon Henry called ‘Nasty man’
Delon Henry, called ‘Nasty Man,’ has been jailed for 51 years for the murder of ‘Back Circle’ footballer, Dexter Griffith. Last month, Henry was found guilty of the murder following a trial before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Georgetown High Court. Yesterday, Justice Kissoon proceeded to impose the sentence, following the presentation of a probation report. The report gave the Court insight into Henry’s upbringing and criminal background. According to the report, Henry grew up in a single-parent household; his father played no role in his upbringing. During his teen years, he was held for several crimes and thereafter incarcerated. While in jail, he was known to be abusive to his fellow inmates and had a negative influence on his cellmates. After listening to the report, Justice Kissoon imposed the sentence which started with a base of 50 years. The judge deducted three years for the time Henry spent on remand, pending his trial. Four years was added, taking into consideration aggravating factors which included cruelty, premeditation and the use of a firearm in the commission of the crime. The incident occurred at East Ruimveldt, (Warlock/ Back Circle) Georgetown on September 29, 2015. The well known 36-year-old footballer, formerly of Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, was shot nine times about the body by two gunmen. He was subsequently found lying in a drain by his mother, Lavern Griffith. During the trial, State Prosecutors, Lisa Cave and Orinthia Schmidt called several witnesses, among them, Police Corporal Munilall Persaud. Persaud testified that on October 6, 2015, he was performing duties when he received certain instructions from Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Trevor Reid. Based on what he was told by his superior, Corporal Persaud told the court that he
contacted Henry who was in custody at CID, Headquarters. The witness told the court that in his presence, ASP Reid informed Henry that he would be conducting an identification parade and that his photograph will be placed among those of other persons of similar description. The court heard from the police witness that Henry was informed that investigation into the murder of Griffith was the reason for his photograph being placed on an identification parade. The witness disclosed that the murder accused was cautioned and had no objections to this being done. Detailing the lineup of the identification parade, Corporal Persaud recalled that a photograph of Henry was placed in the #10 position and that Keshawn Griffith, the brother of the deceased, later went on to point out Henry as a suspect in the killing. He added that Henry was once again cautioned by ASP Reid, who had informed him that he was identified as a suspect. During crossexamination by Attorney -atlaw, for the murder accused, Adrian Thompson, it was put to Corporal Persaud that Henry did not tell ASP Reid he had “no problem” with the identification parade. In fact, the lawyer suggested to the witness that his client had only told police that his photograph was published, the day (on October 5, 2015) prior to the identification parade, in the newspapers in which he was labelled a suspect. Henry had consistently stated that he was nowhere close to where the shooting took place. “I living till on the East Bank (of Demerara), and I don’t even know the area, ‘Warlock’,” he said in his defence. He said that during his time in police custody, he complained to police ranks and he told them, “I don’t know about this murder. I did not shoot anybody.”
The police in Berbice have confirmed that three persons have been arrested in connection with missing vouchers from the Regional Education Officer ’s office in New Amsterdam, Berbice. Regional officials who made the announcement at Region Six monthly statutory meeting has since condemned the act. They have assured that the persons involved will be made an example. Zamal Hussain, PPP Councillor, said that the vouchers were in an envelope on the REDO’s desk in her office when the sweeper/cleaner, while carrying out her duties allegedly stole the envelope containing the vouchers worth $120,000. The vouchers are normally distributed throughout all schools in the country to assist parents and guardians acquire school clothing, supplies etc.
What was allegedly stolen was set aside for the Baracara Primary School. The head teacher of the Albion Back Nursery School is also accused of being in collusion with the person that allegedly stole the vouchers. She reportedly stamped the stolen vouchers. The councillor stated that the discovery was made some time last week when the head teacher for Baracara Primary visited the office to uplift the vouchers. According to Hussain, “The vouchers for Baracara school which were not issued as yet was kept in an envelope on the desk and it was allegedly stolen by the sweeper/cleaner. The security guard is also allegedly involved since she was also in receipt of some of these vouchers.” However, Kaieteur News was told that the head teacher (Continued on page 26)
Region 6 Chairman, David Armogan
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Kaieteur News
DPP conducts outreach to Orealla and Siparuta
Residents of the Orealla and Siparuta Communities in Region Six, last week expressed their delight when they were afforded the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions last week. A four-member team from the DPP Office on June 27, last, travelled to the riverine communities to hold a Public Outreach which focused on sensitizing residents to the role and functions of the DPP’s Office in the Criminal Justice System. The meeting at Orealla was held at the Orealla Benab
on June 28. “This is good, very, very good what you have done here today to meet with us. Not very often do we have meetings like this where we can sit and talk face to face with officials,” one resident proclaimed. Assistant DPP, Diana O’Brien, who sits on the Ministry of National Security Task Force Committee for Human Trafficking, took the opportunity to speak on the issue of Trafficking in Persons (TlP) and its indicators. The ADPP and Legal Assistant Abbas Hamid also spoke on the various offences under the Sexual Offences
(Amendment) Act. Of concern to residents was the issue of teenage pregnancy in both communities. The team also visited the Orealla Secondary School and the Siparuta Primary School where the students also learnt about the works of the DPP Office. In addition to talks, the team also distributed TIP Posters, Pamphlets and the DPP’s Chambers Information Booklet. The objective of the Outreach was to meet with residents and to listen to their complaints with respect to legal matters.
Car abandoned, suspects arrested after police shootout Four suspects are now in police custody after an alleged shoot-out with ranks on their police mobile patrol vehicles. According to a high ranking police source, ranks in Berbice received a tip-off and were about to intercept a hire car with four male suspects who are known to the police. The
men after noticing the police, allegedly sped ahead w h i l e t h e r a nks gave chase. The car reportedly ended up in a muddy ditch and the suspects exited the car and attempted to escape on foot. Divisional Comm a n d e r Ly n d o n A l v e s told the media that the
men shot at the police and they returned fire. They were all apprehended subsequently but no firearms were recovered. The hire car used by the men was impounded at the Albion Police Station Compound. Previously, the police had stated that there was no shootout but rather an explosion was heard coming from the car. Another senior police said that after the suspects sped away, the police “challenged” the men. Investigations are ongoing.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 24
The iconic
JOHNNY BRAFF
Friday July 06, 2018
celebrates 81st birthday with Yoruba Band, other dear friends
The legendary Johnny Braff during his birthday celebrations on Tuesday
O
n Tuesday last, the legendary Johnny Braff celebrated his 81st birthday with the help of his dear friends in the Yoruba Singers Band. This marks the second time in which the band observed such a special occasion in the singer's life at the night shelter behind the East La Penitence Police Station. Speaking with Kaieteur Entertainment last night, the Band's lead singer, Mr. Eze Rockcliffe said that the show was a great success which was also well attended. Rockcliffe, one of Guyana's most treasured performers said, “There were several great performances. We saw pieces done by Charmaine Blackman, Bonny Alves, Aubrey “Fingers” Roberts, Michael Smith, and Peter Callender, the bass player. There were also performances from people who live at the shelter. Commissioner at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Vincent Alexander gave a few remarks as well as Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott.” The Yoruba Lead singer reiterated his satisfaction with the show's success and expressed gratitude to those who came out to show their support for one of Guyana's greats. In honour of the legendary artiste, Kaieteur Entertainment has republished an excerpt of
a Johnny Braff feature done by our very own Senior Editor, Mr. Michael Jordan. Enjoy! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 'STOP THE MUSIC…IT BURNS INSIDE…' If you don't know those lines, if you don't know that heartbreaking song, then sadly, you missed out on the late sixties and early seventies, when a Guyanese singer named Johnny Braff was belting out love songs that made him both a household name and sex symbol in his homeland and abroad. His real name is Johnny Critchlow, and he was born on July 3, 1937; the second to last of 14 children, living in Station Street, Kitty. But the large family was never in danger of starving. His father, Harry Braithwaite, was a stevedore, “and stevedores in those days used to get good money, and things weren't that expensive,” he said during an interview with Kaieteur News. From an early age, young Johnny Critchlow showed an interest in music- entertaining and annoying his family by blowing on a comb wrapped in paper. “Since I was a small boy, I used to play the 'comb and paper' and make music around the house, and everybody would start to dance.” One can say that his mother, Irene
House of Soups brings delectable twist to the Guyanese culinary tradition …offers signature Crab Soup this Saturday
L
ike cook-up-rice, soup has become a staple in the Guyanese culinary tradition. Many local companies have dared to keep the custom alive with unmatched family recipes. The House of Soups owned by Andre Robinson, is just one of Guyana's many treasures in this regard. After being open for less than a year, the House of Soups located at Lot 17 Duncan and Abary Streets, Bel Air has been able to garner a strong fan base and respect
for its delectable soups which can outstrip many of its competition if put to the test. During the week, the entity offers a range of tasty soups which include: beef, cow heel, oxtail, chicken, vegetable, mix and fish broth. According to Management, the House of Soups will be offering its special Crab Soup this Saturday. For orders and delivery interested persons can make contact with management on 6445884. Enjoy!
Critchlow, was one of his first critics. “My mother used to tell my father, 'why this boy keeping so much of noise with this comb paper, like he gun be some kind of musician or something?'” One of his first jobs was at the famous Tang's Bakery, but he learned plumbing as a trade at Barry Massay in Queenstown. He eventually became an A-class plumber, working at Mackenzie for a number of years. He got in the habit of singing at his workplace, and recalled that some of his colleagues would remark: “You think you is a sing-man, you better do the people work.” And hadn't it been for a challenge from a colleague, the world might never have heard about 'Johnny Braaf.' “There was a chap named Barker who used to stammer, he coudda sing good, so he meet me one day and say 'you think you could sing more than me?' I say 'you could sing? Is just that I doan know nuff songs like you.' So he say 'they got a concert tonight at the Recreation Hall, so I decide to pay twenty-fice cents to enter. “He (Barker) was to sing at the concert, he was dressed up, while my clothes were full of dust, since I had come straight from work.” With his dusty clothes, the then Johnny Critchlow sat at the back of the audience, where his colleague, Barker, found him and again challenged him to sing. “I say I ain't come for no competition, I had never sung with a microphone before, but he (Barker) go and bring the piano player to me.” After much urging from the piano player, Johnny Critchlow ventured onstage and began to sing 'Many a Tear has to Fall', which was the only song that he could think of at the time. “Before I started, the people were keeping a lotta noise because I had on my dutty clothes, but when I start to sing the place get quiet, quiet…and when I was done they shouted for more.., I said I don't know any other song and they say 'sing the same song again' and from then I was on.” At around 19 years of age, he went on to form a singing group called 'The Heartbreakers' with local musicians Michael Bacchus, Dennis Coxwell, Cecil Whitehead, and Compton Edwards. “We rehearsed in Lall's Store in Garnett Street, Kitty opposite to Rialto Cinema. We became so popular that anyone that came
from overseas (to sing) they would put us to sing with them, like Ben E. King and all of those singers. We sang with Sparrow, with the Blues Busters at Astor Cinema, Queen's College.” It was while performing at the Carib Hotel that the Guyanese group out-danced the legendary American singer Chubby Checker, who had popularized the dance known as 'the twist.' That event made the headlines in the dailies. By then, the group was earning about $30.00 for each performance. His big break came during a performance to a packed audience at the Astor Cinema. It was then that he first performed his compositions 'It Burns Inside,' and 'A shower of Tears,' two of his first major hits. In that audience was local businessman and producer Vivian Lee. Lee was so impressed that he met with him afterwards and suggested that Critchlow record his two songs. He would subsequently record 'It Burns Inside' at Radio Demerara, before re-recording it in the US, along with. Some of his other hits, such as 'A Shower of Tears', 'Same Time Same Place, 'Anything You can Do' were recorded in the US and in Curacao. At the peak of his career, the songs of the now-rechristened Johnny Braff were played almost daily on the radio. Johnny Braff signed a contract with Vivian Lee, which allowed him to perform in America. He also sang with Percy Sledge in Barbados. Sadly, a scheduled tour with legendary soul singer Otis Redding never came off after the American and his band died in a plane crash. Johnny Braff then signed a six-year contract to sing on a Yugoslavian cruise ship, earning US$5,000 a month. Of course, there were his female fans. Many, many female fans. At the peak of his fame, Johnny Braff claims to have fathered at least 27 children in at least ten countries. “I have children in America, I have children in Curacao…in Haiti…Venezuela, in Dutch Guyana…in Martinique…in Trinidad…Barbados .Antigua…St Lucia; they all know me…I got nuff children, boy, this year I going and see some of them…” NO ROYALTIES FROM HOME Johnny Braff has received several awards for his contribution to music, including the (continued on page 25)
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Friday July 06, 2018
Kaieteur News
Guyana to draw from CARICOM on Marijuana Cabinet is still gathering information before rolling out a comprehensive approach in response to wider calls for legalization of marijuana, at least in small quantities. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, told reporters yesterday that the Government’s decision will incorporate the final report on the CARICOM Commission on Marijuana which is part of the agenda at the ongoing Thirty-Ninth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Jamaica. “That report will provide guidance to countries as to how they proceed. Here in Guyana, the issue is still a little complex,” Harmon stated. Apart from the CARICOM report, the Government has done its own work through the Ministry of Public Health’s survey on the matter along with examining the sentencing guidelines on the possession
of various sums of marijuana. The pressure to change the law, which allows for automatic jail sentence for certain quantities of marijuana, was reignited in May when a 27-year-old farmer was jailed for three years by a city magistrate for just over eight grams of marijuana. The Alliance For Change (AFC), which is a member of the Coalition Government continues to forge ahead with their position for noncustodial sentence for persons convicted of small amounts of marijuana. AFC Member of Parliament, Michael Carrington, had tabled amendments to the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act since 2015, but it has not reached the state of a vote despite public support from the opposition. For now, the official Government position is to appeal for more time. “At this stage, we are still gathering information before we actually make decisions that are going to affect our Guyanese citizens in a long term basis,” Harmon
3 arrested over missing Berbice ... From page 15 of Albion Back Nursery is claiming that the stamp was stolen before the vouchers went missing. Weighing in on the issue was the Regional Chairman, David Armogan, who stressed that what took place is “very serious”. He said that the matter was only brought to the attention of the RDC at yesterday’s meeting, but was lamented that the Education Department in Region Six
40
should take some responsibility also for what happened. Armogan said, “Those things should be properly secured by the REDO or someone in authority. The fact that a sweeper/cleaner can get such access and take vouchers worth $120,000 tells me that these things are not properly secured. This is gross carelessness and so in the future we have to be more careful and safeguard it properly.”
The Marijuana Plant
stated. Minister of Public S e c u r i t y, Khemraj Ramjattan, has explained that the delay in moving
forward with the 2015 proposed amendments was due to studies undertaken by the Pan American Health
Organisation (PAHO) and CARICOM. Other delays relate to the non-establishment of
the Advisory Council and the Rehabilitation Fund for users who are processed by the court.
Extradition proceeding for US murder suspect…
Defence challenges suspect’s name One of the three lawyers representing US murder suspect, Troy Thomas, is now challenging the name of his client. This challenge comes almost one month after, Justice Jo-Ann Barlow made the ruling in the High Court stating that Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus has the authority to continue hearing the extradition proceeding. The decision saw the dismissal of a Fixed Date Application (FDA) filed by lawyers for the murder suspect, which sought to challenge the extradition proceedings. Ye s t e r d a y, w h e n t h e matter was called before Magistrate Marcus at the Providence Magistrates’ Courts, Assistant Superintendent, Simeon Reid, went into the witness box. Reid told the court that he is the officer-in-charge of the Fraud Department at Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He stated that relative to a request made by the US Government to the Government of Guyana for the extradition of Troy Thomas, he carried out an investigation. The witness added that on March 14, last, he was on duty at CID headquarters when he made contact with Troy Thomas who was at the time in the holding area at CID. He went on to tell the court that he approached the
suspect who told him his name was Mervin Williams. Reid then proceeded to interview the suspect and he later admitted that his real name was Troy Thomas and not Mervin Williams. The court heard that Troy Thomas then proceeded to provide the rank with his date of birth and his parents’ name along with his place of birth. He later signed the name Troy Thomas on several documents. The witness added that he informed Thomas that he is accused of committing a murder in USA and a warrant was issued for his arrest since the US Government made request to the Guyana Government for him to be extradited. Reid added that US authorities supplied Guyana Government with information of the his correct name (Troy Thomas), date of birth, and his parents name during an interview. He added that he also received information from the US Government that the defendant fingerprint matched and persons that know the defendant identified him as Troy Anthony Thomas. After Reid’s testimony, he was subjected to intense cross-examination by Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes. When the witness was asked if he or any other rank had any form of identification for Troy Thomas,
he said no. The lawyer went on to grill the witness by asking him if checks were made to state registries to know if any passport or any documents were issued for Thomas and the witness told the court that no checks were made. Hughes went on to ask the witness if checks were made to verify if more than one person had the name Troy Thomas and the witness responded by saying that during his investigation he found out that they were multiple persons with the name Troy Thomas. The lawyer then told the court that the witness can only say that his client’s name is Troy Thomas because the defendant said so but they have no proof. The Magistrate, after listening to the witness’s evidence and the lawyer’s submissions, told the court that the identity of the suspect is still a live issue. She added that because of , the court will have to conduct a voir dire (trial within a trial) to ascertain the suspect’s real identity. The matter was adjourned until July 17 for commencement of the void dire. According to information, Thomas, who resided overseas at 32nd Street, South Ozone Park, Queens, New York, U.S.A, fled to Guyana after allegedly gunning down
another Guyanese, 20-yearold Keith Frank, in Queens, New York, seven years ago. Thomas reportedly fled to Guyana shortly after an arrest warrant was issued for him in the U.S. for the murder of Frank, who was slain on December 11, 2011. Frank succumbed to a bullet wound to the torso, allegedly during a confrontation with Thomas and others. The victim, whose daughter was eight months old at the time, died two months before he would have celebrated his twenty-first birthday. He had reportedly been living in the U.S. since he was 12. Reports in U.S. media stated that the killing occurred outside a South Richmond Hill party. Frank’s mother, Carol Kyte, was quoted as saying that her son was attending a birthday party near 132nd Street and 109th Avenue and ran into some other men with whom he had an ongoing dispute. It is alleged that a group of other Guyanese men were at odds with one of Frank’s friends over sophomoric quibbles like break-dancing or the attention of girls in the neighbourhood. During his first court appearance, Thomas denied ever being charged in the U.S. for murder. Attorney-at-Law Stacy Goodings is representing the Government of the United States.
Friday July 06, 2018
Pensioner dies after wedding house beating - father and son held A father and son are in custody in connection with the death of a 71-year-old man, who succumbed last Tuesday after being badly beaten at a La Retraite, West Bank Demerara wedding house. Relatives said that the victim, Jerry Rambir, of Lot 18 Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara, was found on Goed Intent ‘Centre Dam’, West Bank Demerara last Monday morning. He was admitted to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, but succumbed on Tuesday at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was taken after his condition worsened. A postmortem conducted yesterday showed that he had suffered blunt trauma to the head. Police had detained the two suspects, known as ‘Screech’ and ‘Puck’ since Monday. A senior police official said that investigators were told that Rambir had gotten into a scuffle with three men at the wedding house. He was reportedly struck to the head
Jerry Rambir and upper body. Ricky Rambir, the victim’s brother, said that the suspect known as ‘Screech’ came to his sibling’s house at around 21:30 hrs on Sunday. He said that the two men then left for the wedding house. The brother said that at around 23:45 hrs, he received a call from a woman who said that someone had “lashed up” his sibling, who was lying in a pool of blood at Goed
Intent. However, when he arrived at the scene, the police had already taken his injured brother to the West Bank Demerara Regional Hospital. The brother arrived at the hospital at around 01:10 hrs on Monday, and saw his sibling, whose head was heavily bandaged. Kaieteur News understands that Rambir gave the names of two individuals who he said, “beat me bad.” According to the brother, Rambir was also complaining of stomach pains and an ultrasound was ordered. The brother said that he left, and when he returned, was informed that Rambir had been transferred to the GPHC. He arrived there at around 03:30 hrs where hospital staff informed him that his brother was being prepared for surgery. When the brother again visited on Tuesday, he was informed that Rambir was on life support. The pensioner died later that day. Charges are likely next week.
Former prison escapee gets life imprisonment for attempted murder Former prison escapee, Stafrei Alexander, was convicted on an attempted murder charge after a mixed 12-member jury delivered an 11-1 verdict in relation to the offence at the Georgetown High Court yesterday. Alexander was among the batch of escapees from the major Camp Street Prison break, last year. He was recaptured in Berbice after weeks of being on the run. Yesterday, Justice Sandil Kissoon imposed a life sentence on Alexander for the near fatal shooting of Curtis Thom back in 2015, at Laing Avenue, Georgetown. This was Alexander’s second time in the High Court for the offence. His first trial back in 2017 ended in a hung jury. Following yesterday‘s announcement of a verdict, Justice Kissoon examined a probation report presented on Alexander’s behalf. The judge also listened to a plea of mitigation presented by Attorney Stanley Moore before passing the life sentence. The indictment against Alexander, also known as ‘Mad Dog’, alleged that on March 23, 2015 in the County of Demerara, he discharged a loaded firearm at Thom with intent to commit murder. The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was being represented by retired judge Stanley Moore. The State, represented by Prosecutors Lisa Cave and Orinthia Schmidt, had also presented an alternate indictment for Alexander. That charge alleged that on
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Kaieteur News
Jailed: Stafrei Alexander March 23, 2015, Alexander discharged a loaded firearm at Thom, with intent to maim, disable, or cause serious bodily harm. According to the prosecution, on the day in question, Thom held a christening at his LaingAvenue, Georgetown, residence to welcome his baby daughter. When the event ended and the guests left in the wee hours of the following morning, Thom went to the back of the property to clean up and feed his dogs. Moments later, Alexander reportedly walked past Thom and grumbled something, which Thom did not hear. But as Thom was entering his house in a backward position, he saw Alexander standing next to him holding what appeared to be a shine gun. Alexander allegedly shot Thom twice and the victim collapsed to the ground and began bleeding. The injured man underwent surgery and was hospital-
ized for seven weeks. Thom was able to see his shooter with the aid of lights attached to his home and surrounding buildings, the prosecution had disclosed. In his testimony, Thom told the court that he had known Alexander for a number of years since he resided about six to seven houses away from him in Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown. On March 23, 2015, Thom said that he went to the back of his yard to feed his dogs just after a christening celebration, which was held for his baby daughter. Thom said that while feeding the dogs, he heard a grumble and when he looked up, he saw Alexander passing in his direction. He said that he continued feeding his dogs and eventually locked them up in a kennel. “It got an old tradition that when you get a young baby you go in (the house) by your back,” the witness told the court. Thom recalled that while going in his house, Alexander appeared in front of him and afterwards he heard a loud sound and felt a burning sensation in his chest. According to Thom, he then cursed Alexander and inquired from him as to why he was shooting him. The victim told the court that he called out for help and three more shots were fired at him. Thom said that he was able to see Alexander’s entire face due to the reflection of lights from nearby building
Mom gets three years for cocaine at CJIA A single mother of two who was nabbed while attempting to smuggle a quantity of cocaine via the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, (CJIA) Timehri last Monday, was yesterday sentenced to three years imprisonment. A teary Natasha Blair, 37, a cosmetologist of 92 Grove/ Diamond, East Bank Demerara, admitted to ingesting and inserting a total of 532 grams of cocaine, when she appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. When asked by the Magistrate if she has anything to say, an emotional Blair stated “I’m very sorry for what I did and I’m sorry for putting my children and family through this. I did it to provide for my children.” According to the allegation, on July 2, last at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, she attempted to smuggle cocaine pellets, which she ingested and inserted in her vagina, onto an ongoing flight bound for New York. Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford, told the court that Blair who was travelling with an 11-month old baby was scheduled to board Caribbean Airlines flight BW726 destined for John F. Kennedy International Airport. It was reported that when Blair checked in her luggage at Caribbean Airline counter, a CANU rank acting on information, approached her and informed her of his suspicion that she had ingested and inserted narcotics. She denied. As a result, Blair was cautioned and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where an x-ray was conducted. It revealed foreign objects in her stomach and pelvic area. The prosecutor told the court that the woman was admitted at the institution and during the period of July 2 and July 4 she excreted a total of 32 pellets. It was disclosed that the pellets found in the woman stomach weighed 322 grams while the object in her pelvic area weighed 210 grams. The prosecutor added
Jailed: Natasha Blair
WANTED Sherwin Stoby also known as Kong that while at the hospital, the woman made several oral statements indicating that she was traffi c k i n g the narcotics to take care of her two young children. Sandiford went on to tell the court that based on additional information received from the woman, further investigation into the matter is ongoing. The woman’s lawyer, Keoma Griffith, in mitigation for his client asked the Chief Magistrate to take into consideration that the single mother took a difficult risk to provide
for her children. Magistrate McLennan after listening to the both sides sentenced the woman to three years’ imprisonment and fined her $1.1M. This publication was informed that CANU is now searching for the father of the woman’s child, Sherwin Stoby, also known as Kong. His last known address was 87 Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown. Anyone knowing his whereabouts is asked to contact CANU on 592-2273507.
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Kaieteur News
Friday July 06, 2018
Valuation of closed sugar estates to be made public in 2 weeks - SPU blasts Jagdeo’s erroneous bond statements The Special Purpose Unit (SPU) under the National Industrial & Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), yesterday announced that the preliminary works being carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) with respect to the valuation of the estates that have been put up for privatisation and diversification are 90% completed.The multinational professional services network is completing the information memoranda (IM) for each estate. “The IMs will include the asset registry and land inventory for each estate. The completed IMs will be published for potential investors, and public scrutiny, within the next two weeks. It is expected that potential investors would begin visiting the various estates in August, in order to make assessments of the facilities as part of the preparation of their proposal to the SPU.” Head of the SPU, Colvin Heath-London, said, “Work continues apace both with the process being carried out by PriceWaterhouseCooper (PwC) and with the efforts of the SPU to maintain the operations of the estates as going concerns until they’re handed over to investors at the end of the process”. London added, “Progress is also being made with the sale and lease of assets at the Wales Estate, and the conversion of the Skeldon Estate compound to the Skeldon Heritage Resort has gone very well.” Earlier this year, the executive management of NICIL, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, embarked on an ambitious strategic plan to turnaround the fortunes of the Guyana sugar industry. “In part, the strategy involved the
SPU’s head, Colvin Heath-London development of two co-generation facilities, upgrades to the existing sugar factories to produce white sugar, the restructuring of debt, and ongoing training and education for the workers and management of GuySuCo.” To augment the plan, SPU explained yesterday, that financing was sought to implement NICIL’s strategy, to the tune of $30 billion and awarded a mandate to the leading arranger of debt financing in the Caribbean, Republic Bank Limited. SPU said that it has noted that the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, publicly criticized the way that the $30 billion syndicated bond was secured by NICIL. “In response (Continued on page 31)
City Council had guards posted at... From page 21 other departments of the Council to ensure that we have the requisite things to enhance our security operations at all of our municipal markets and other installations of the Council.”“[Yesterday morning], the Deputy Mayor who is performing the duties of Mayor and I visited the businessman and spoke with him but we continue to be relentless in our pursuit to achieve good order and security but unless we have a free hand to bring order to
that section of the city those, who are bent on criminal activities would seek cover there. We continue to work with the National Police Force with joint patrols and special training to make local communities in the city safer.” According to Foo, there is need for an increase in the number of patrols around Stabroek Market. He noted that discussions are ongoing as it relates the way forward to protecting all of our assets.
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Kaieteur News
Friday July 06, 2018
GPHC health education institute gets much needed accommodation boost with new facility The newly commissioned facility, which houses the Oncology Unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, (GPHC), is set to boost the work of the Institute of Health Science Education (IHSE). The IHSE opened in 2006 to serve the educational functions of the hospital by offering postgraduate training to medical professionals including doctors and nurses. The post-graduate programmes entail comprehensive advanced training in a number of specialised areas. The institute has produced at least 70 graduates, certified in various fields of medicine. The certificates offered by the Institute are accredited by the University of Guyana. According to Manager of the Institute, Darshanand Rampersaud, IHSE is designed to produce the core of healthcare providers needed to ensure quality healthcare across all regions and communities in Guyana. “Basically, the Institute of Health Sciences Education under Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) specializes in postgraduate training.” At present, IHSE has 11 programmes including a Masters in Medicine surgery; Masters in Medicine and Orthopedic surgery; a Masters in Paediatrics; Masters in Family Medicine; Masters in Anesthesia and Intensive Care; Masters in Diagnostic Radiology. Rampersaud noted that the programmes specifically target persons who have completed their medical degrees and have some level of hospital training. “Every year, we take in a suitable number of applicants for each programme and they
IHSE Manager, Darshanand Rampersaud are trained in their area of specialty. “Upon completion of a programme, the graduates are conferred with certificates accredited by the University of Guyana.” Over the past decade, the work of the institute has expanded significantly. Rampersaud explained, “When the institute started in 2006, it offered only one programme, the Post Graduate Surgical Programme and now we have 11 Postgraduate programmes for doctors and three specialized programmes for nurses.” He explained that the programmes are facilitated by senior medical staff attached to GPHC and other overseasbased Universities. “We foster collaboration worldwide, from North America and the Caribbean. We sometimes have lecturers from McMaster University in Canada, University of Ohio and the University of Pittsburg in the United
States.”Additionally, he explained that although the programmes consist of classroom sessions, teaching is not limited to the classroom—”knowledge is also shared during bedside visits and in the operations room.”“It all depends on the programme. Key emphasis is however placed on the practical aspect,” Rampersaud added. At present, the IHSE located at the upper flat of the building accommodates 140 Postgraduate students from GPHC and other medical institutions. Rampersaud explained that in the past, space was always an issue for the Institute.“We didn’t have ample space. We used to work around it but it was always an impediment for us in terms of delivering to optimal levels. With this building that issue has been reduced tremendously,” he added.
A classroom setting of the IHSE at GPHC At the commissioning of the facility last week, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GHPC, Brigadier (ret’d) George Lewis, highlighted the need for utilising the facilities to improve the quality of service offered by the hospital. “Together, the new and improved facilities for
Institute of Health Science Education and the Oncology Department will better enable us to achieve our mission of providing efficient healthcare services in an equitable manner and promoting teaching and research here at the Georgetown Public Hospital,” Lewis remarked. The upper flat of the 30
feet by 60 feet building functions as the IHSE, while the lower flat is used as the Oncology Department. The teaching facilities that are provided include equipment for online training, an online library, two offices and two classrooms, which can host approximately 50 students.
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Friday July 06, 2018
Kaieteur News
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1 CAT 215 Excavator 1 Mack 8 Cu yds mixer truck 1 CAT 428 Backhoe 1 double steel wheel roller. Call: 275-0367/ 683-7225 1 Pneumatic 9 wheel roller 2 Bitumin spray kettle 215 excavator spares. Call: 2750367/683-7225 German Shepherd pups for sale, 6 weeks old, fully vaccinated & Dewormed. Tel# 619-9203 One complete Water dragger Excellent condition, Ready to use, Equipped with satelite TV. Tel# 671-4019 One Excavator, Minor repairs, engine in excellent condition. Tel# 671-4019 1 flat concrete house, 3 bedroom & 1 master room, PVC ceiling, tile, grill, Parfaite Harmonie, Onderneerming #662-6818
One Jialing 150 motorcycle, price $210,000. Contact # 6302460 VEHICLE FOR SALE 2006 Suzuki Escado (White) Excellent condition. Price $3.6M Neg. Contact #6093777/697-4557
Herbal remedies: Diabetes, Hypertension, Infertility, Menstrual disorders, Enlarged prostate, Kidney & Gall stones etc. Call Sparman #676-5924
1 & 2 Bedroom apartment for rent Nandy Park EBD # 6413318
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/ 6 5 6 - 0 0 8 7 , ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL:225-7126/ 226-3693DOLLYSAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM/ WWW.D OLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494 LAND FOR SALE Zeelugt New Scheme, East Bank Essequibo Price $5 Million. Ideal place for business (100x60) #616-5606/ 277-0281 High Income land fully fence 5000 Sq ft Continental & Republic Park #233-0570
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2 bedroom apartments, fully furnished with AC in Providence. Contact # 6826238 whatsapp 1-246-8339739 & 660-7716
Large pure bred pitbull pup fully vaccine, ears clip, well kept. #233-0570
Spears for Bedford M. 6 Cylinder Ford. Alternator for Scammel. Call: 690-5827
Seeking Female companionship. Mr Other, Hesky Mount 92-96 Lord Street, PR81JR, England.
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 1 bedroom apt for working couple/single person $35,000 & $32,000 monthly light & water included. Lodge. Call: 623-0076
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Lot 22 Dowding street, Kitty Georgetown 125’x57'. Call: 227-1905 or 619-4152
Summer special 16 July-Aug Cosmetology Advance Makeup Nails $15,000 per package. Free products included. Abby# 614-6749
Herstelling New Scheme (2nd bridge) Way upfront (110ft x 60ft) $4M Tel#656-0701/6561345
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2 acres of title land situated @ 1st St Garden of Eden EBD $6.5M Neg. Call Terrence #638-7836. email: Latchmanrich@gmail.com
1 bedroom apt, Lot 1 Yarrowdam. Contact Ms Bacchus #227-1317
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Experienced male sales attendant, stocktaking knowledge, computer literate, excellent service attitude, able bodied. Key Food McDoom Village.
One General Domestic, must know to cook. Apply @ Keyfood, next door to Post Office, McDoom. Housekeeper wanted in Trinidad to live with an elderly person, call between 10am-3pm Call: 868-705-8073 Contract cars: Contact City Taxi Service 8 Vlissengen Rd. Tel# 227-6868/696-0002 1 experienced male to look after layer bird in the interior. #699-4718 1 Skilled or Semi skilled mechanic. Contact Skelly Auto Motive Services. #2316587/ 649-1290/ 671-8122
Hair stations available for rental. New market street. #638-1106 One receptionist to work at Xenon Hotel in Georgetown. Contact # 223-5273/4 Vacancy for cleaners, apply @ 112 3rd & Albert St, Albertown, must be willing to work shift. Tel# 225-6255 Experience Cook/ Housekeeper, Parika/Bushy Park #693-0636 for details. Driver/Expediter. Contact # 223-5273/74
One experienced waitress with Secondary education 18-25 yrs salary $20,000 wkly from ECD. #610-5043
Security Officers wanted for Security Company, BV location. Call: 672-1920 between 9am-4pm
One General Domestic must know to cook 25-45 yrs from ECD $20,000 wkly #610-3974
Female Security Officers wanted for Security Company. Call: 672-1920 between 9am4pm
Experienced men to work on a crusher and a experienced woodmiser operator. Call: 2237165/657-4639 1 Office Clerk. Call: 265-3586 Carpenters/Painter/Mason/ Porter. Call: 225-3234/225-9223 Drivers and Security personnel, Apply to North West Mining Investment Inc. 344 Middle and East Street, N/C Burg PROPERTY FOR SALE
Jos-el Educational Institute needs experienced Primary & Nursery Teachers, Bring CV.120 Peterose & Laluni Sts, Queenstown. Telephone #226-7868 Driver, Female Cleaner Office & Home Tel#233-2745 Maid for East Bank area to cook & clean, Accounts Clerk English-1 Mathematics-2, Payroll, NIS, PAYE, VAT & QuickBooks. #614-4358
3 storey commercial buliding. Location- Lot 1486 Plot B Herstelling (2 Bridge) EBD. Suitable for school/ apartments. Contact #6093777/686-0522 Lot 15 Public road #2 Vill. WCB 3 House Lots. Coconut & Mango trees 49ftx10,314ft length. Price $18M. Contact# 648-7109/686-4818 Located in Queenstown, 3 storey buliding. 75 Million. Call: 672-1920 EDUCATION Summer School & LessonsPhonics, Reading, Compositions, Full & Half day sessions 3-14 yrs Nursery & Primary Full day school. Call: 677-0296 Kids Summer Computers, register now $8,000 2 months MicroGraphics #264-3057 CXC 2018 Computer deal 9 course Diploma $40,000 4 Course Computerized Accounting MicroGraphics Vreed-en-hoop #264-3057
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From page 13 killings of the eight miners in the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice Region in June 2008. It will also make recommendations on actions to be taken against all persons and/or organisations that are deemed responsible for the deaths of those persons. The Presidential Commission of Inquiry was established to enquire into the circumstances surrounding the killings of Cecil Arokium, Dax Arokium, Horace Drakes, Bonny Harry, Lancelot Lee, Compton Speirs, Nigel Torres and Clifton Berry Wong, on or about the 21st June, 2008 and to report the findings and recommendations to President David Granger.
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GRA unearths forged driver’s licence, SOCU will charge every strong PPP compliance and registration racket Presidential Candidate- Jagdeo predicts Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, is convinced that the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force—under instructions from the government—will seek to charge every politician it views as having a good chance becoming People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate. Jagdeo said that SOCU is given instructions in relation to who are the chosen ones to be charged from the PPP/ C. Jagdeo said this during his weekly Press Conference held at his Church Street, Queenstown Office. There, Jagdeo sought to “assure” the media that the “government will try to charge every single person that they see as a potential front runner for the PPP presidential candidate. In fact, that was discussed and it is already in train. People have received their instructions and I will not be surprised if we see it being rolled out shortly.” The Constitution states that one who is convicted of a felony cannot become President of Guyana. Therefore, any PPP/C official who is convicted will automatically be barred from even being elected as PPP’s Presidential Candidate. Jagdeo was asked if he was worried about Nandlall’s theory that SOCU is aiming at him (Jagdeo). Nandlall wrote that the
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo SOCU façade in charging former Finance Minister Ashni Singh and arresting former Finance Minister Sasenarine Kowlessar is all to get at Jagdeo. Nandlall’s conclusion was that because SOCU cannot get to Jagdeo for anything, he did as President because of the immunity he enjoyed, SOCU will seek to pin him for things he did as Finance Minister. Jagdeo said, “It’s not just about me. It is about all the serious aspirants that they believe could pose a threat to them and therefore they will want to deplete the leadership of the PPP. They will not succeed.” Jagdeo also asserted that SOCU, under its instructions, “does not have to find much to charge people in a fanciful capricious manner. Just imagine after hearing
about the tens of billions of dollars that were misappropriated by the PPP, look at the nature of the charges of our MPs so far. Look at them and you would see how frivolous they are.” He continued, “So if they go back to 1995 when I was Minister of Finance and charge me, it’s no problem. Cheddi Jagan was the president at that time. I do not have any issue. “We will fight all those cases and they will be thrown out. They have absolutely no case. But the point is not winning cases, [it] is damaging reputations.” Jagdeo said that that the PPP will soon pick its Presidential Candidate. He said that he urged the Executive Committee to set a timeline “to address the matter expeditiously.”
Second drowned cousin washes up at Buxton
The two cousins who drowned, Timothy Yearwood and Timothy Robinson. Four days after two cousins went for a swim at the Mahaica s e a w a l l s a n d drowned while swimming, the second body has turned up at the Buxton foreshore. Timothy Robinson, 14, and his 10-year-old cousin Timothy Yearwood went for a swim on Monday. They
went missing, so family members commenced a search for the youths. On Tuesday afternoon, the families worst fears were confirmed when Robinson’s body was found at the Hope, Low Land area, in the vicinity of the koker. The family continued searching for Yearwood and
that search has since ended after the body of Yearwood was found at Buxton. The police in a statement said the body of Timothy Yearwood was found by Linden McCurdy of 77 Supply Mahaica, ECD, and the brother of the deceased, Kevin Sash, at Buxton, Brusche Dam, seawalls.
The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has uncovered a racket involving the use of forged driver’s licences, certificates of compliance and registrations. At the centre of this scam were some of its trusted officers. GRA’s Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia, told this newspaper yesterday that several officers who were found to be part of the racket have been sent home while others are willingly giving evidence. Statia was unable to say how long the scam has been taking place but promised that he would be looking into the issue. He declined to comment further on the matter. In the meantime, other well placed sources in the revenue authority were able to shed further light on the matter. Officials told Kaieteur News yesterday, that the GRA individuals involved were able to get their hands on a “highly sophisticated photocopying machines.” One senior GRA officer said, “It is a set of guys who have been utilizing access to GRA records and using a powerful photocopying machine. You would find it very difficult to tell the difference between the fake and the real driver’s licence.” GRA officials also revealed that the officers were producing the fake documents in collusion with banking officers. One Customs officer said, “They were producing the fake certificates of compliance
GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia and registration in collusion with officers at banks to get loans… They would get the GRA officers to doctor the records to say Tom Jones is driving a high-end vehicle like a Mercedes Benz and then take it into the bank. “The banking officers who used to go and do the inspection of the vehicle got a raise and then they would tell the banks, ‘Yes, it is a Benz.’ But it is actually a Morris Oxford. So the bank ended up giving out a set of money and when the people were not paying and they go to seize the vehicle, they see is a li’l ole thing. So that is what was happening.” Kaieteur News understands that it was since last year that the banking sector was notified of these dishon-
est activities. Even though the implicated banking officials were dismissed, it did not result in the death of the racket. GRA found that the scam was alive and well up to a few days ago. This newspaper understands that an investigation into the scam has been launched. In a statement yesterday, the Authority sought to remind taxpayers that all financial transactions should be conducted by the cashiers and an official GRA receipt should be issued for all monies paid. The revenue authority said it will continue to work to improve its systems to minimize illegal activity and ensure that integrity and transparency are the hallmark of the agency.
Valuation of closed sugar estates... From page 28 to those criticisms, it should be noted that as standard for any debt financing, security is required to secure payments to bondholders. Rather than encumber the assets of NICIL, which include the Guyana Oil Company, Atlantic Hotels Incorporated and the Guyana Sugar Corporation, the security of the NICIL bond is simply a guarantee of payment from the Government of Guyana. The terms of the bond are five years, since it is expected that the proceeds of the land sale for GuySuCo will be used to repay the facility and NICIL wanted to secure the lowest possible interest rate. Bond Issue “It is therefore important to correct several inaccurate statements being made by the former President of Guyana and Minister of Finance, Bharrat Jagdeo, regarding the bond. The bond was secured solely by the full faith of bondholders in the Government of Guyana and not against any assets of NICIL or GuySuCo. The commercial lending rate for Guyana is 13.00%, while the
NICIL bond was issued at 4.75%, which is 8.25% lower than the rate that most companies borrow at in Guyana.” The current inflation rate in Guyana is 2%; therefore, SPU said, any prudent investor would demand a return higher than the rate of annual inflation. “Mr. Jagdeo’s comments as a former Finance Minister are very concerning, since he would certainly understand that no country in the world, including the USA, Switzerland or Germany can borrow at less than 2% for 40 years, as he mentioned. The 30-year US Treasury Bond is currently trading at 3.04%, which is expected to rise within the next year.” According to SPU, to further illustrate how competitive the interest rates in comparison to Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas, Jamaica, Suriname and Belize, Guyana had the lowest lending rates at 4.75 while the others went as high at 10.3 percent. “The Marriott US$27M bond that was secured indirectly by assets of NICIL, had a floating interest rate above 8.50% per year. The Berbice Bridge bond
that is also indirectly secured against the assets of NICIL, has an interest rate of 10.0%. Both bonds were and are tax-free and were issued before May, 2015.” SPU said that while the NICIL bond issue is a private placement and intended solely for accredited investors, one of the primary beneficiaries are pension and insurance plans that are seeking to make medium-long term liquid investments at an attractive rate of return. “To date, many of these plans earn less than 1.50% on T-Bills, even though they are expected to generate roughly 6% per year to meet ongoing pension obligations. Many of these plans will become insolvent if the only available risk-free investment option are T-Bills. The issuance of the NICIL bond is viewed as a precursor for increased activities within the Guyana capital markets, from corporations looking to tap affordable sources of financing. Therefore, while citizens are welcome to scrutinize the books of the NICIL, it is important to be factual in any analysis.”
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Pella cracks Cilic on grass to end years waiting for big win LONDON (Reuters) Guido Pella became the toast of Argentina yesterday after achieving the biggest win of his career, something he said he had been seeking for years and never dreamt would come at Wimbledon against one of the favorites. Pella, with no titles and ranked 82 in the world, upset big-serving third seed Marin Cilic 3-6 1-6 6-4 7-6(3) 7-5 in the second round at Wimbledon where the Croatian had entertained hopes of reaching a second consecutive final. “I have been looking for this for years but I didn’t expect it to come here, against Cilic, at Wimbledon,” said the 28-year-old from Bahia Blanca, home town of basketball great Manu Ginobili.
Argentina’s Guido Pella in action during the second round match against Croatia’s Marin Cilic. (REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge) “I have been deserving (of such a result) for years but I couldn’t believe it when I won,” added the left-hander,
who looked stunned by his achievement when the match ended and he turned towards Argentine supporters in the
Friday July 06, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Things might get a bit confusing for you today, Aries. Don't feel like you need to make sense of it all. In fact, this task may be impossible. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Mix your reality with a bit of fantasy today, Taurus. Allow your feet to come off the ground for a little while. Give yourself a rest. Take some time to meditate and clear your mind of your daily worries. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Let yourself go into high creative mode and drift into a whole other world. Escape your present reality and explore your fantasies through any sort of artistic endeavor. CANCER(June21–July22) You'll find that things are slipping nicely into place for you today Your persuasive manner and gentle nudges are just enough to get people where you want them. Control is all yours if you want it. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) When faced with ten entrees on the menu, it might be hard for you to choose just one. Feel free to order two or more, Leo. Don't let indecisiveness slow you down. At the same time, don't view it as something negative. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Your dreams won't come true unless you believe in and act on them, Virgo. No one else is going to do it for you. Unless you have a fairy godmother, you need to take matters into your own hands.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) If people hassle you or give you a hard time about your appearance today, pay them no mind, Libra. You have the right to live your life any way you want to. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Reach for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, Scorpio. It's closer than you think. Indeed, your dreams are completely within your reach, and there are huge forces at work helping you achieve your goals. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today is your day to dream and dream big, Sagittarius. Think about what it is that you want most out of life. Aim your arrow to the stars and pull back your bow as far as possible. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Expand your mind to its furthest reaches today. There's an incredible opportunity opening up for you in which you can make great strides in a creative realm. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your mind may seem rather cloudy today, Aquarius, but don't let this hinder you. In fact, you'll find that you can use this feeling of fantasy to your advantage. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Today is an excellent day for you, one in which you'll find a great deal of strength in your emotions, Pisces. Trust that your instincts are serving you well.
Court One crowd. “I did a good job (preparing) and this is the reward,” said Pella, who played at Stuttgart in the build-up. “For the situation, the surface and the rival this was my best ever result, which means a lot but at the same time doesn’t mean anything because tomorrow I have to go out there again against a player who has been winning matches, who is young and must be playing well otherwise he wouldn’t have reached the third round.” He faces 23-year-old American Mackenzie McDonald, who like him is in a Grand Slam third round for the first time, today. Pella had to overcome changes to the conditions between Wednesday, when the match was interrupted for rain with Cilic dominant and serving well, and yesterday when the Croatian was erratic. Cilic made 63 unforced errors
Bartica Football... From page 41 organized by the Bartica Football Association (BFA) and saw eight teams competing in two groups on a round-robin knockout format. Group A consisted of Beacons, Mil Ballers, Wolves United and Strikers while Group B was made up of Lazio, Potaro Strikers, Rising Stars and Rivers View.
to Pella’s 18 in the match. “The court was faster today with the sun on it. When we stopped the first time yesterday and then resumed it was never fully dry,” Pella said.“It gave me the chance to go to sleep and plan the (rest of the) match differently and I also gave him the chance to get a bit nervous because he had been doing whatever he wanted on the court, hitting the ball very hard, putting his serves where he wanted and he was clear favorite (to win).” Pella, an avid video game player in his spare time, built up his confidence with the precision of his shots. “I think I got some breathing space, so to speak, with my slice which I hit very well and that gave me some calm whenever he attacked me.”
He said he saw a chink on light when he broke Cilic in the last game they played on Wednesday to go 4-3 up in the third set. “Obviously I couldn’t have won then but it was evidence that I could do something against his serve because I really wasn’t managing to return any, he was doing whatever he wanted. “The worst thing you can do against these (top) players is let them run away with the score because they gain in confidence and never let you come back. “From that break the match was even and in the fourth and fifth sets you didn’t see a huge superiority; it was an even match, we both had chances and in the end luckily it fell to me.”
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Russia and Croatia look to emulate group stage mindset SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Croatia and Russia did just about enough to emerge successful from their respective round of 16 matches but will need to replicate their group stage form and attacking mindset when they clash in tomorrow’s World Cup quarter-finals in Sochi. The hosts came into the tournament as the lowestranked team but began with a bang by beating Saudi Arabia 5-0 and Egypt 3-1. They went down 3-0 to Group A winners Uruguay but won over critics at both home and away with their approach. Russia changed tactics to play five men in defense with a lone striker in Artem Dzyuba against Spain in the round of 16 on Sunday, an approach that restricted their opponents to just one chance in 90 minutes. But Russia themselves also had just one shot on target in two hours of football and needed two saves by their goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev in the penalty shootout to advance to the last eight and send the country into a soccer frenzy. Spain appeared bereft of ideas in front of the opposition box, letting Russia get away with defending for almost the entire duration of the match. But the hosts might
not be so lucky against the Balkan side on Saturday. “We all understood that Spain will control the ball, it happens in every match they play with any team,” Russia midfielder Aleksandr Golovin said. “We understood that. With the Croats we should play using our strong points, dictating our play.” Croatia showed flashes of their stellar attacking game when they beat Nigeria, Argentina and Iceland to top their group. But, like Russia, they took a defensive route to the last eight with a 3-2 shootout win over Denmark. With players such as world-class midfielder Luka Modric and a string of toplevel forwards including Mario Mandzukic, Ante Rebic, Andrej Kramaric and Ivan Perisic, Zlatko Dalic’s team scored at least two goals in each of their three group matches, including firing three past hapless Argentina. They are much more potent in attack compared to Spain and could cause Russia trouble with their quick passing game and crosses aimed for Mandzukic. “I think we primarily must focus on ourselves because I think our team has bigger quality, we just need to show
Russia players celebrate winning penalty shootout against Spain in World Cup at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia - July 1, 2018. (REUTERS/Carl Recine/File Photo) that on the pitch and we will be able to set the tone,” Rebic told reporters during the week. STOPPING MODRIC Russia’s success will depend on how they manage to rein in the likes of Modric and Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic, and then hit on the
counter as they have done with such surprising success at the tournament. On many occasions, Modric fell back against Denmark, which cut Croatia’s supply line to their strikers, and the Real Madrid midfielder would look to avoid hanging in too deep against Russia.
Going to penalties will not be an ideal ploy for both sides with Russia boasting Akinfeev between the posts while their opponents will have Danijel Subasic, who against Denmark became only the second keeper in World Cup history to make three saves in their shootout win.
The current Croatian squad is one win away from matching their 1998 success of reaching the semi-finals. The hosts, meanwhile, have already punched much above their weight and will hope the partisan crowd at the Fisht Stadium by the Black Sea will carry them even further.
FICA opposes cap on number of leagues per player ESPNcricinfo - Any restraint on player movement across lucrative domestic Twenty20 leagues globally will only hamper the growth of the international game, according to Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA). FICA was responding to discussions earlier this week at the ICC annual conference in Dublin, from where it emerged that Full Member boards raised the prospect of capping players to three domestic T20 leagues in a year. · The movement of top players across leagues especially those run by Full Members - as well as the burgeoning growth of T20 leagues in Associate Member markets were the two main areas of conversation of a working group at the annual conference. · One of the stated objectives of the working group is that domestic T20 leagues should “complement” and not “compromise” international cricket even as they should continue to be used as vehicles to popularise the game globally. · The primary objective is to preserve “the value of international cricket and its status as the pinnacle of
David Willey saves a boundary. (Getty Images and Cricket Australia) cricket competition ensuring that the best players are available to play international cricket”. · FICA said the objectives were “narrow” in scope currently, instead arguing that a balance between international cricket and domestic T20 leagues was crucial. · “International cricket needs to be strong and attract the best players. Establishing an appropriate balance between the two is critical for the future,” FICA said in media release on Wednesday. · The global players’
body, which is not recognised in key countries like India and Pakistan, said it was the “fundamental” right of the player to play where he wanted and imposing a cap would amount to a restraint of trade. · “Cricket’s focus should be less on restricting players from playing where they are valued and more on positive measures to ensure an attractive system including in relation to scheduling, economic models and the creation of world-class environments. The movement of players is a fundamental aspect of growing and developing the
game globally in both existing and new markets. · “FICA is further concerned at reports following the ICC meetings that blanket regulation is to be introduced to restrict players to playing in three T20 leagues and believes that any arbitrary restriction is likely to constitute a restraint of trade in most countries. Any regulations should be designed to minimise the likelihood of successful legal challenge.” · An official familiar with the working group and the Dublin meeting said restrictions would be a last
course of action administrators take, pointing out that a number of other options are also under consideration. Any cap could only be restricted to centrally contracted players in the first place - a board could add a clause in its central contract that the player will only receive a specified number of NOCs (No-objection certificates) in a year. · Other ideas that cropped up include the Full Member board organising the league making a payment for employing an international player - not to that player’s board necessarily, but to the grassroots club or institution that first identified and developed the player. · A significant portion of the discussions among the group, comprised of Full Member board chief executives as well as FICA representatives, focused on better overseeing the conduct of Twenty20 leagues in Associate Member markets. · “A lot of work is around ensuring that if leagues do keep coming up, they are of a certain quality,” the official said. “That due diligence is done on private ownership, that anti-corruption measures are in place. If a player is getting an NOC to
go, then that league must adhere to certain standards. · “There is no doubt that strong, viable T20 leagues in different territories is good for the game. But a lot are of variable quality that is the concern. If we are going to promote the game, let’s do it well and [ensure] that it’s done in a way that adds to the game.” · One suggestion here was for such leagues to restrict the number of international stars they recruit and prioritise the induction of local players, to show they are serious about the development of the game in their territory. · Earlier this year FICA released findings of its inaugural Employment Report of 300 male cricketers (outside of India and Pakistan where there are no player associations). The damning verdict was young players were more keen to adopt the free-agency route by playing in several domestic T20 leagues, thus bringing the traditional employment model under significant threat. Any formal decision will be taken by the ICCBoard once the working group submits a formal report at the October round of meetings.
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South Essequibo CC Invitational T20 Tite backs under-fire Neymar, suspended due to inclement weather expects ‘beautiful’ Belgium clash The South Essequibo Cricket Committee has suspended its Invitational T/20 cricket tournament on the Essequibo Coast due to the current inclement weather. The competition which started with 29 teams has seen players that have represented Guyana at various levels taking part in an effort to uplift the standard of cricket in the county. Its second edition involves teams from the four Area Committees on the Essequibo Coast; South Essequibo, Central Essequibo, North Essequibo and Pomeroon. Teams were drawn in six groups with three teams qualifying for the Super 14 knock out stage. Two matches remaining in the Super 14; Jaguar Sports Club versus Young Achievers with the winner playing Rising Stars in the Quarter final. Bush Lot Trendsetters will take on Sparwin Sports Club in the final Super 14 fixture and the winner will face Reliance Hustlers in another
Wayne Osbourne
Kemol Savory
quarterfinal encounter. Imam Bacchus Sports Club will battle Walton Hall Sports Club in another quarter final game and the winner will play NOC Sports Club who drew the bye to the semi final. The competition has already seen outstanding performances from Rising Stars’ Kemol Savory and Ricardo Peters, NOC’s Kevon Boodie and Anthony Adams, Reli-
ance Hustlers’ Narendra Madholall and Rovendra Parasram, Norwayne Fredricks and Chandi Jairam of Jaguars SC, Young Achievers’ Vishnu Murray and Avinash Persaud, Bush Lot Trendsetters’ Ravindra Mahabeer and Keith Blackman and Imam Bacchus SC duo Yogeshwar Lall and Wayne Osborne. The competition will commence as soon as the weather permits.
Djokovic makes a big statement in small arena LONDON (Reuters) Novak Djokovic might have needed a sat-nav to find his way to Court Two at Wimbledon but once he reached his outback destination it was all one-way traffic as he zoomed into round three with a 6-1 6-2 6-3 win over Horacio Zeballos yesterday. The last time Djokovic was serenaded by excited fans as he made his way from the locker room to an outside court at the All England Club was in 2009, when he played a fourth-round match against Dudi Sela on Court 3. Since then he has become accustomed to playing in the biggest arenas the sport has to offer while amassing a Grand Slam trophy haul of 12 — including three at Wimbledon — and collecting more than $100 million in prize money. While the audience numbers were more limited on Court Two compared with his usual playing fields of Centre and Court One, Djokovic made it a day to remember for the 4,000 fans who had crammed into the more inti-
mate arena. “I was enjoying it. I’ve never played on this new Court Two (which opened in 2009). I played on the old Court Two ... Yeah, long time ago,” said a grinning Djokovic. “What was different is the walk to the court. Obviously the crowd, everybody cheering you on, wishing you luck, (and) after the match congratulating you. That was quite special, quite different. “I haven’t experienced that in a while in Wimbledon,” added the Serbian, who usually uses the club’s private underground network of tunnels to navigate his way around the grounds. Djokovic coasted toward his 60th win at Wimbledon by breaking his 126th-ranked Argentine opponent six times and fired down 15 aces. The only cause for concern was when Djokovic suddenly started wincing while running along the baseline in the seventh game of the third set and called on the trainer to get his left thigh massaged. That interruption only
delayed the inevitable for Zeballos, who lost both games after the resumption to bow out. Twelve months after Djokovic’s 2017 season came to an abrupt end at Wimbledon, when he retired in the quarter-finals with an elbow injury, the Serbian served notice that he should be considered one of the title contenders despite being ranked only 21st in the world. He has dropped only 12 games in two matches and appeared in top form yesterday — until the sight of a trainer massaging his thigh raised a few question marks. Djokovic, however, was confident the “twitch” would sort itself out over the next 24 hours. “It seems like it’s nothing major. It’s most likely a twitch in the muscle... that has affected the knee a little bit,” he said. “Hopefully it’s nothing that will concern me.” The 12th seed will next take on either home hope Kyle Edmund or American Bradley Klahn.
Brazil’s Neymar during training. (REUTERS/Toru Hanai) KAZAN, Russia (Reuters) - Brazil coach Tite has defended Neymar from criticism over his histrionics on the pitch and said he was just happy to have the team’s talisman playing “at his best” ahead of today’s quarter-final against Belgium. Neymar has scored two goals in Brazil’s four matches, but he has been slammed by soccer pundits across the world for diving and rolling on the ground theatrically in Russia. He has, however, also suffered a disproportionate number of fouls in the tournament so far, with his tally of 23 more than Uruguayan duo Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani combined.“I’ve already talked about Neymar and I’ve been very specific about what happened,” Tite told reporters on the eve of the quarterfinal at Kazan Arena. “You should look at the videos. All you have to do is look at the images. “What makes me happy
is to have him playing at his best. It’s not just with the ball, it’s not just dribbling. There are actions, there are transitions, defensive transitions and if you look, you see how much he has contributed.” Tite confirmed that his preferred left back Marcelo would return to the starting side in place of Filipe Luis after the Real Madrid defender missed the 2-0 win over Mexico through injury. “I’ve spoken with both Marcelo and Filipe Luis. Filipe played very well in both matches. But now we are going with Marcelo again,” said Tite. Fernandinho is also expected to replace the suspended holding midfielder Casemiro who picked up a second yellow card against Mexico. The dominant win over the Mexicans cemented Brazil’s status as favorites to win a record-extending sixth World Cup trophy, but Tite said it would take a whole
team effort to get past Roberto Martinez’s Belgium and their array of attacking stars. “It will be a great match. Both teams excel with a beautiful football. Belgium have great players and a great coach as well. I’ve always put them in the group of favorites (for the title). “It’s the same now.” With Brazil’s last World Cup ending on home soil with a 7-1 semi-final humiliation by Germany that shocked the soccer-mad nation, Tite called on his players to ignore the pressure and expectations inevitably put on the side. “If you ask me what is the greatest challenge of a World Cup? It’s the mental fatigue, the pressure is immense, it’s extraordinary. “(It) proliferates through the family. I hope the family can keep their heads cool. Don’t listen, don’t watch (the attention) because there is a lot of psychological pressure.”
Konta destroyed by Cibulkova on Center Court LONDON (Reuters) Britain’s Johanna Konta joined the exodus of w o m e n ’s seeds at Wimbledon yesterday, beaten 6-3 6-4 by Dominica Cibulkova, a player with a point to prove. Konta became the first British woman to r e a c h t h e Wi m b l e d o n semi-finals since 1978 last year, losing to Venus Williams, but her hopes of repeating that thrilling run were crushed by an inspired Slovakian on a
subdued Center Court. Cibulkova missed out on the 32nd seeding when Wi m b l e d o n ’s s e e d i n g s committee bumped seventimes champion Serena Williams up the order and she played with a fierce intent throughout. Konta, seeded 22, could do nothing to stem the tide of winners as Cibulkova stormed ahead. She showed real guts to save four match points at 3-5 in the second set as the crowd rallied to the cause. But Cibulkova showed
no nerves as she served for victory, going 40-0 up and finishing off the Briton with a powerful first serve that Konta could only fend into the net. “It feels great, it was a tough draw today and I could not be more happy with my performance,” Cibulkova, twice a quarterfinalist, said. “I don’t really think about the seeding now, I’ll just focus on my tennis.” Cibulkova will play Elise Mertens for a last 16 spot.
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Kaieteur News
Windies v England Women’s Blind T20 series
Five Guyanese selected
The West Indies Blind a n d Vi s u a l l y i m p a i r e d women’s team will go head to head with England in a five-match T20 cricket series scheduled to commence on Monday in Barbados. The 10-day series will include a one-day workshop by the WICCBVI on one of rest days. The home team, which include five Guyanese, will have training sessions from today after the team assembles in Barbados and matches will comprise of both Day and Night matches under lights. The Guyanese players; Crystal Aulder, Melieka Crawford, Ackela Smith, Robecka Edinboro and Rosemarie Ramitt along with Guyana Blind Cricket Association (GUYBCA) officials Ganesh Singh (himself a West Indies male Blind player) and Theresa Pemberton departed for Barbados yesterday.
The five Guyanese in the Windies Blind team is flanked by Ganesh Singh (left) and Theresa Pemberton just before they departed for Barbados yesterday.
BECKENHAM, England, CMC – Fit-again stroke-maker Sunil Ambris forced his way back into reckoning for a senior team call-up with his sixth first class hundred but India A fought back courtesy of a Prithvi Shaw century, on the second day of the opening four-day “Test” here yesterday. The 25-year-old Ambris stroked an accomplished 128 as West Indies A, resuming on 148 for three in their first innings, piled up 383 all out at Kent County Ground. Captain Shamarh Brooks converted his overnight 51 into 91 while Test all-rounder Raymon Reifer chipped in with 52. However, Windies A saw their handsome lead of 250 quickly dissipate as the 18year-old Shaw hammered a whirlwind unbeaten 101 to lift India to 159 without loss at the close. A right-hander who led India at the recent ICC Youth World Cup, Shaw smashed an amazing 18 fours and a six off just 74 deliveries. His opening partner Mayank Agarwal was nearly reduced to being a spectator but he too chimed in with 56 not out off 71 balls with 11 boundaries. India A trail by 91 runs heading into Friday’s penultimate day. Earlier, Ambris and Brooks
Yahoo Sport UK - Diego Maradona showed some continental pride on Tuesday, sporting a Colombia jersey during the team’s World Cup elimination match with England. Maradona says ColombiaEngland match was fixed When England won on a penalty shootout that was as marred by fouls and yellow cards as much as it was a thriller, the Argentinian soccer legend ripped into officials, accusing them of match fixing. Maradona called the game a “monumental theft” in an interview with Venezuelan TV station Telesur. “The penalty was not a penalty — it was a foul by [Harry] Kane,” Maradona said via ESPN translation, referring to a penalty that set up England’s second-half goal. “Why didn’t he use VAR? I’m reeling because when I spoke to [FIFA president Gianni] Infantino the first time, everything had changed at FIFA: the thieves had left, the fixes, everything. “And today I saw a monumental robbery on the pitch. I apologize to the Colombian people, but the players are not to blame as we don’t choose the referees. The referees are chosen by [Pierluigi] Collina, who was appointed by Infantino to change the new FIFA from thieves and fixers, and today we saw the opposite — an old and fixed FIFA.”
Ambris announces return to FIFA ‘strongly rebukes’ Maradona - Soccer legend accuses World Cup officials of match fixing fitness with classy hundred
Stroke-maker Sunil Ambris … struck 128. had extended their fourth wicket stand to 152, as Windies A flourished in the morning session. Ambris, resuming the day on 24, faced 165 balls in a shade over four hours at the crease and struck 20 fours while Brooks perished with three figures in sight, after hitting 16 fours and a six in a knock spanning 177 deliveries and just under four hours. For Ambris, the knock was significant.He had two forgettable Tests in New Zealand last December when he also broke his arm and Thursday’s outing represented only his seventh innings since recovering from the injury. Wicketkeeper Devon Thomas perished cheaply for
10 but Ambris found an ally in Reifer to add a further 72 for the sixth wicket and further bolster the innings. The left-handed Reifer faced 100 balls in nearly 2-3/4 hours and counted six boundaries. Once Ambris was taken at the wicket off seamer Navdeep Saini (2-78), West Indies lost their last five wickets for 42 runs, with new-ball bowler Ankit Rajpoot finishing with four for 76. Scores: INDIA A 133 (Hanuma Vihari 37, Vijay Shankar 34, Karun Nair 20; Sherman Lewis 4-35, Chemar Holder 4-57, Raymon Reifer 2-20) and 159 without loss (Prithvi Shaw 101 not out, Mayank Agarwal 56 not out).
Diego Maradona made World Cup waves again by accusing officials of match fixing, this time drawing a rebuke from FIFA. (AP) FIFA blasts back at Maradona On Wednesday, FIFA shot back at Maradona, an official FIFA ambassador and VIP guest of FIFA at the World Cup. “FIFA is extremely sorry to read such declarations from a player who has written the history of our game,” a statement read. FIFA “strongly rebukes” Maradona’s comments and continued that his “insinuations” were “entirely inappropriate and completely unfounded.” Maradona wasn’t the only one mad about officials Maradona’s accusations echoed those of Colombia forward Radamel Falcao, who
accused American referee Mark Geiger of having a bias toward England in the game that saw 23 of 36 fouls called and six of eight yellow cards against Colombia. “I found it peculiar that they put an American referee in this instance,” Falcao said. “To tell you the truth, the process leaves a lot of doubts. He only spoke English, some bias was certain. Through small calls, he was pushing us [toward] our goal, that was clear for me.” Maradona has been a long-time critic of FIFA, but was brought back into the fold by Infantino when he replaced the scandal-ridden Sepp Blatter as president in 2016.
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Kaieteur News
Bangladesh collapse again after Brathwaite’s ton ESPNcricinfo - West Indies’ fast bowlers rocked Bangladesh, again, reducing them to 50 for 6 in the final hour of play on the third day. This after Kraigg Brathwaite’s seventh Test hundred secured West Indies a 363-run first-innings lead. Kemar Roach, who had wrecked Bangladesh in the first innings did not take the field in the second because of a hamstring injury, but Shannon Gabriel blew the visitors away with sheer pace and bounce. Gabriel, fresh from a 20wicket series against Sri Lanka, dismissed Tamim Iqbal soon after the opener had become the first Bangladesh player to 4000 Test runs. One ball after Tamim’s dismissal, Mominul was bowled by a Gabriel shooter that snuck through his defences. Jason Holder, who took the new ball with Gabriel due to Roach’s absence, then plunged into the action. He kept moving the outswinger late from Liton Das, who resisted for a while, but in the seventh over, he went after another outswinger, only to edge to Kraigg Brathwaite at first slip. Gabriel then blazed one past Mushfiqur ’s defen-
Shannon Gabriel prepares to bowl for West Indies v Bangladesh © CWI Media
sive prod, with the ball cutting back after pitching on a good length. Shakib then became his fourth victim, squared up to one that snaked away from him. Mehidy Hasan, who had earlier bowled well to give Bangladesh something to cheer about, became Holder ’s second wicket when he edged a short ball. They closed on 62-6. The action wasn’t as dramatic when the hosts started the day on 201 for 2. They added 205 runs in 69.3 overs, Brathwaite leading the way with a polished ton. Having begun the day on 88, Brathwaite first took
20 balls to reach the milestone and then let the others do the bulk of the scoring. He was in control of most of his shots, however, and only offered one chance - Liton Das dropping him at leg gully when he was on 110 though it was a tough chance. Brathwaite added 52 runs for the third wicket with Devendra Bishoo before the nightwatchman lost his off stump to Kamrul Islam Rabbi. The second session saw West Indies lose their way to B a n g l d e s h ’s s p i n n e r s . Mehidy Hasan removed
Roston Chase leg-before and Jason Holder caught at short-leg, while Shakib Al Hasan took the wickets of Brathwaite caught at cover and Shane Dowrich caught at silly mid-off. Roach, though, struck six fours and a six in his breezy 33, before falling leg-before to Mehidy while Hope made 67 off 127 balls. Debutant Abu Jayed took Hope’s wicket - caught at fine leg - before removing Shannon Gabriel to wrap up the West Indies innings. Mehidy and Jayed took three wickets each while Shakib Al Hasan took two wickets.
‘Dynamic’ motocross Nadal passes tricky challenge set for July 29 test against Kukushkin
Steven Nobrega
Motor-racing enthusiasts will have a chance to test their skills or view some pulsating action when the first of the 2018 Motocross champion series is held on July 29 at Lower Kara-Kara Spike Land, Linden. The motocross challenge will make a return in the Region 10 community after close to an eight-year hiatus and according to racer, Steven Nobrega, who is a part of the planning committee, the event will be like no other and will ask different tasks of riders and in-turn bring greater thrills to fans. “This track will be completely different from the norm. It will be longer and has a lot more turns, we also have an incline. It is a unique track and I do not want to give out all the information now as I want the guys to come out and experience the excitement,” Nobrega told media operatives yesterday. The young daredevil is banking on having a humongous turnout since they have invited a large nucleus of the grass racing contingent. The likes of Andy Rajkaran, Andrew Wong, Junior DaSilva, Vassie Barry, along with the Spellen brothers, Kennard and Kenrick are some just of the big names set to participate. Other riders from Georgetown, Bartica, East Coast Demerara, Linden and Essequibo are anticipated to sign up. The event is open to ATV and other offroad vehicles but the organisers are asking that they register soonest for the event by making contact with Nobrega on 669-1900. Race time is 11:00h and admission is $1,000.
LONDON (Reuters) - The scoreboard said 6-4 6-3 6-4 to Rafael Nadal but it was an uneasy two-and-a-half hours for the Spanish world number one as he labored past Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin into the Wimbledon third round yesterday. Twice champion Nadal, 32, never quite got to grips with the unorthodox Kazakh’s low, skidding shots and faced 13 break points in an entertaining Center Court contest. Had Kukushkin converted a few more of them it could have got really complicated for Nadal, who is still finding his grasscourt game after claiming an 11th French Open title. The mere mention of Lukas Rosol, Steve Darcis and Dustin Brown — all of whom have knocked him out at the All England Club since he won the 2010 title — is enough to make Nadal’s face crease into a frown. He also got a fright from Kukushkin when he dropped the opening set at Wimbledon in 2014 so there
was clear relief in his voice as he stopped for a BBC TV interview on his way back to the locker room after a second successive straight-sets win. “It was very tough because he played very well and his shots stay very low so it was a good test,” Nadal said. “I am happy to go through, I think I played better than the first day. The most important thing is you can’t save your body at majors, you have to give your best. Nadal took 10 minutes to hold his opening service game but, when he broke quickly in the next game and held to love for a 3-0 lead, it seemed Kukushkin had already shot his bolt. The Kazakh, with a curious undercut double-handed backhand and some clever angles, broke back to level at 3-3 though before Kukushkin wobbled when serving at 4-5. Nadal wasted one set point with a poor slice into the net but got his nose in front when Kukushkin netted a simplelooking forehand. An early break in the sec-
ond set helped Nadal move into a two-set lead but he could not shake off the world number 77 who reached the semis on the Eastbourne grass last week. Nadal was given his second time warning of the match by umpire Carlos Bernardes when he took forever to get himself organized on his courtside chair for the start of the third set. Nadal had to fight off more break points but Kukushkin finally broke for a 3-1 lead as Nadal hooked a forehand wide after being taken out of his comfort zone — something Kukushkin did well throughout the match. The response was emphatic though and Nadal broke back and then pounced again for a 5-4 lead. Serving for victory he made a complete hash of a simple volley but minutes later finished the job when a Kukushkin forehand slapped the tape. Second seed Nadal is in to the third round for the eighth time where he will face Australian teenager Alex De Minaur.
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Friday July 06, 2018
Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’
Bartica Zone set for July 13-15 - Teams battle for sole national playoff berth
W
ith the final leg of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Zone Competition set to be played in Bartica, the organisers have released the names of 15 of the 16 teams that will contest the national playoffs later this month. Bartica, which saw its inaugural competition played last year, will be represented by the winner of their zone scheduled to be played from July 13-15 in the Mining Town. R i v e r Vi e w i s t h e defending champion and word from the community is suggesting that they will have to be at their best to hold off some of the aspiring teams who all exuded confidence ahead o f n e x t w e e k e n d ’s showdown. Police who ended as runner-up in last year’s
competition will once again be aiming to go one step better and be the Region’s sole representative in the national playoffs. With the chance to compete at the nationals, a huge opportunity for the winning team, fans can expect three days of exciting action that could challenge some of the battles we’ve seen so far at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The national playoffs are set to be staged on July 27 and 28 at the Pouderoyen Tarmac and Haslington Market Square respectively, while the final will be played, at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac. Meanwhile, the qualifiers for the national playoffs are seen below: Georgetown Gold is MoneyChampion
Part of the action in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition.
Paradise Melanie-B Buxton Diamond West Demerara Showstoppers-
Sparta Boss Leopold Street Bent Street East Coast Demerara Uprising-Champion
Respectable performance by Guyana at World Jump Rope C/ships
Team Guyana representative at World Jump Rope Championship finishing on the podium.
I
t will be recorded in the annals of Guyana that on the 1st of July, 2018, the first Jump Rope team from the Cooperative Republic of Guyana departed the shores to attend the World Jump Rope Championship and Camp at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, USA. This team comprised of Team Leader- Lindley Langhorne, Head CoachShavin Greene, Assistant Coach- Odella Hilken and twelve jumpers namely: Ashanti Antigua, Akiela Johnson, Serena Drakes, Amnesha Charles, Rodwell Halley, Tyrese Thornhill, Prince Beckles, Adriell Wilson, Safron Grenville, Deshanti Grenville, Shannae Worrell and Jannee Greene. Being the first year at a world class event the jumpers participated in novice and junior categories. Hard work has paid off for the entire team who all pushed to perform at their best. It was not seen as an opportunity to participate,
but as one to compete at this level. The team participated in the possible events for their age category and level. It must be noted that 31 countries were represented at this event with over 800 competitors making the achievements of this young team very outstanding.
The first event Guyana participated in was the Female 4 x 30 and the team that made the first jump for Guyana comprised of Ashanti Antigua, Akiela Johnson, Serena Drakes and Amnesha Charles. A total of eight prizes were obtained which were shared among six jumpers. Congratulations are
extended to the entire team for making the bold step to the World stage. First time participants at the World Jump Rope Championship being held at the University of Central Florida in Orlando; Team Guyana won 8 prizes. These include four 5th place, two 3rd place, one 3rd place and one second place.
Champion ESPN West Side Ballers Linden Silver Bullets-Champion
Dave and Celina’s AllStars-National Champion Swag Entertainment Berbice Trafalgar-Champion
Kaieteur News
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Defending Champs GDF on show tonight in Elite league double header
Delroy Fraser -GDF The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League Season III kicks off its second leg tonight at the National Track and Field Facility at Leonora with a double header from 19:00hrs. In the feature match, defending champions, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will look to begin the second leg of the league on a high when they lock horns with West Side based, Den Amstel FC, at 21:00hrs. GDF will be looking to improve their Team GP 1. Western Tigers 9 2. Fruta Conquerors 9 3. Victoria Kings 10 4. GDF 9 5. Den Amstel 9 6. Buxton United 9 7. Milerock 9 8. Ann’s Grove United 9 9. Cougars 10 10. New Amsterdam United 9
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Bissan’s Trading supports Malteenoes Cricket Academy
Eusi Phillips – GDF performance from the first half after finishing a distant fourth on the points table with a tally of 18, three points off leaders Western Tigers on 21. In the opening match, second place Fruta Conquerors (20 points) will match skills with East Coast’s Victoria Kings that are currently ranked second in the league with 19 points. Admission to the venue is $500, children under 12 years and women are free. See current points standing below. W 6 6 6 5 5 3 3 2 2 1
D 3 2 1 3 2 2 0 1 0 0
L 0 1 3 1 2 4 6 6 8 8
GF-A Points 16- 5 21 20- 4 20 18-10 19 15- 5 18 18- 7 17 9-12 11 9-15 9 8-15 7 8-33 6 5-20 3
GCB disappointed in the selection decision of the CWI he Guyana Cricket Board wishes to express its profound disappointment with the totally illogical selection decisions of the current Cricket West Indies Selection Committee. It is a well-known fact that the Guyana Jaguars have completely dominated the Regional 4day Professional Cricket League for the past four consecutive years. This dominance did not occur by luck or chance but rather by a carefully designed development programme by our Guyana franchise. Our Franchise has invested heavily in our youths and has created an Academy programme whereby the Academy players practice daily with our contracted Franchise players. As a result of these successes, one would have thought that most of our players should have been featuring heavily in all of the CWI representative red ball teams. That is yet to happen, a release from the GCB stated. In the past month or so, CWI hosted Sri Lanka in a three - Test series that unfortunately ended in a 1-1 draw at home. For the very first time in a long time, our team won the first test of a series most convincingly. We strongly feel that had the correct team been selected to represent us in the Third Test of that series, we would have won that series easily by a 2-0 margin. Keemo Paul was named as a replacement for
Friday July 06, 2018
Shimron Hetmyer and plucked out from a touring team in England to return here in the Caribbean to sit on the bench. The GCB held its collective breath and refrained from making a statement in this regard with the hope that these mistakes would have been corrected at the commencement of this Bangladesh series. We were heartened when Shimron Hetmyer recovered from his recent illness and was able to participate in the tour match last week where he cracked a brilliant century against the tourists for the CWI President’s XI. Yet still this was not enough to warrant his return to the starting XI in the First test of this Bangladesh series. Keemo Paul was made to sit out this match again. We strongly feel that with these short two and three matches test series now, our bench strength has to be tested regularly so that our supposedly ‘entrenched’ players are placed on notice that their places are not guaranteed throughout the series. Our teams and its players will not develop if players continue to fail and are selected and players who perform well are not selected in the final XI. Our policy in this regard has to be clearly outlined and defined. It is noteworthy that four CWI teams have been selected in the last month or so and some of our top performers in the PCL over the years could not find favour with the selectors, the release concluded.
Bissoon Singh of Bissan’s Trading hands over his contribution to PRO of Malteenoes Sean Devers. Bissan’s Trading of 94 King Street Georgetown has come on board the sponsorship team in support of this year’s two-week Malteenoes Cricket Academy which starts on July 23. Proprietor of Bissan’s Trading, Bissoon Singh, said he played some cricket at GCC as a leg-spinner before getting into Cricket Administration because he wants to help the development of cricket in Guyana especially on the East Coast of Demerara where he holds a prominent position in the Cricket. “This is a great concept and I know how much the youngsters will learn from this and hopefully some players from this Academy will go on to play at the highest level. The East Coast Board has held summer camps in the past and I wish
Malteenoes all the best,” said Singh. The sponsorship cheque was collected by Malteenoes’ PRO Sean Devers who thanked the Store for their contribution, adding that he knows Mr. Singh wants to see cricket strive in Guyana. The Malteenoes Cricket Academy was launched in July 1993 in recognition of the Club’s motto ‘Our Youth, Our Future’ and caters for Male and Females between the age of 6-13 and 14-18. Registration is $3,000 and Lunch and Snacks will be provided. The Academy caters for 90 students and registration closes on July 20. It will include class room and field work which will provide the tools to become Cricketers, Umpires, Scorers, Journalists and Broadcasters all of which
can be well paid careers. National U-17 Coach Orin Bailey is the Head Coach, while former Test pacer Colin Stuart, Guyana Head Coach Esuan Crandon and NSC qualified Coach, will conduct technical and physical sessions while facilitators will talk on Education, Social Skills, Health and Hygiene, Etiquette, Child Protection, Law and History of Cricket, Umpiring and Scoring. The Academy has produced Test players Ramnaresh Sarwan and Ryan Ramdass along with former USA Captain Steve Massiah, while Azeemul Hannif and Ricardo Mohamed have played FirstClass Cricket. Parents or Guardians can uplift Registration forms from the Malteenoes Sports Club in Thomas Lands or call 225-6509.
GABF to award team with cash incentives
T
he Guyana A m a t e u r Basketball Federation (GABF) will give each player and official of the winning men’s Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship team $100,000 each. President of the Federation, Nigel Hinds made it known via ‘WhatsApp’ that winning the male championship for the first time in the nation’s
history was an “incredible” achievement. Hinds further noted that the money will be issued to all of the players and officials within 45 days and further revealed that the team will not attend any dinner that does NOT include any specified incentives in cash or kind. The GABF boss was referring to a request by the Director of the National Sport Commission (NSC), Christopher Jones, to host
the team but after discussion with his executives, the GABF boss noted that they had come to an agreement. The GABF had requested that the Ministry of Social Cohesion and the Ministry of the Presidency, fund their male and female team’s participation in the CBC Championship in neighbouring Suriname which carried a budget of US$50,000. However, that request was informally declined.
Kaieteur News
Friday July 06, 2018
GABBFF Senior Nationals
Men’s Physique showdown would not be close – Fitness 53’ Emmerson Campbell By Franklin Wilson It’s going to be a battle of the Men’s Physique Titans come Sunday July 15 next when the Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness Federation (GABBFF) brings off its Senior National Championships at the Parc Rayne Event Centre, Rahamans Turn, Houston, East Bank Demerara. Ever since this category was introduced, it has enabled athletes who might not necessarily compete in the body building segment to show off their packages in the Men’s Physique division. It has brought out some exciting duels and fans close to the sport would know all too well of the Yannick Grimes / Emmerson Campbell shindigs to the extent that Campbell who won twice was dethroned last year by Grimes, as a matter of fact, Campbell was only able to muster the third place last year at the Marriott Hotel. This time around though, the Fitness 53 athlete has disclosed that it would not be a close contest this year: “Last year’s competition I wasn’t really focused on it, I just took it nonchalantly because I was just trying to peak for Mexico, but this
year is different. I got third last year but I went to Barbados and I redeemed myself by beating the guy that won three months after. I don’t think there would be a battle with me and Yannick, there was never a battle.” Noting that he was just off last year, Campbell boasted that whenever he is on, his competition does not even come close. While it is expected that the showdown will be between these two athletes, others might very well be in the mix to upset the apple cart but that is left to be seen. ”It is not going to be a battle between Yannick and I, it’s going to be me, and then the rest of the competition, it would not even be close, I could guarantee that. But I am really looking for more to Mexico and CAC because I got a silver medal there the last time in the Dominican Republic. I’m in great shape and I am looking forward to r e c l a i m i n g m y m e n ’s physique championship.” Campbell, who started competing three years ago, noted that he is a five-time Men’s Physique champion and have won silver medals at the CAC and Darcy Beckles championships that
Bartica Football Association clubs receive prizes for Independence Cup GFF President Wayne Forde last weekend presented cheques to the amount of two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars ($225,000) to first, second and third-placed winners respectively of the recently concluded Guyana Football Federation–Bartica Football A s s o c i a t i o n ( B FA ) Independence Cup Football Tournament. In a tournament which was conducted from May 13 to June 27, Mil Ballers United were crowned champions, while Lazio FC came in second in the finals, which was played at the Bartica Secondary School Ground. Rivers View FC finished third. This presentation was made to Shaquille Hopkins of Mil Ballers FC, Sherwin Da Silva of Lazio FC and Mark Ambrose
on behalf of Rivers View FC during a visit to Bartica on the weekend of June 30. The winning team pocketed one hundred thousand dollars, secondplace team received seventyfive thousand dollars and fifty thousand dollars was given to the third-placed team. In brief remarks to the recipients, Forde said he was pleased with the efforts made by the BFA to rebuild football in Bartica: “I am very happy with the efforts being made by Bartica to reignite the passion for the game and equally encouraged by the support of the fans. This is one simple step in rebuilding Bartica’s reputation for producing excellent National footballers.”The tournament was sponsored by the GFF, (Continued on page 34)
are held annual in Barbados. He went on to wish all the competitors the best and is looking forward to a night of fierce rivalry. ”I respect the competition and I wish everyone a safe rest of preparations and I hope everyone shows up on stage
100% so they can give the fans a great show and their monies worth.” Meanwhile, tickets are on sale for the show at $2,500 each and can be bought at Buddy’s Gym, Space Gym, Fitness Paradise, Fitness Express, Body Alive and Fitness 53.
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Emmerson Campbell
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Bangladesh collapse again after Brathwaite’s ton P. 38
Kraigg Brathwaite and Devendra Bishoo, the nightwatchman, put on 52 for the third wicket to grow West Indies’ lead ©CWI Media
Kraigg Brathwaite brought up his seventh Test century before lunch © AFP
‘Dynamic’ motocross challenge Nadal passes tricky P. 38 set for July 29 test against Kukushkin P. 38
Some high octane action is on the cards come July 29 at Lower Kara-Kara Spike Land, Linden. (Akeem Thomas photo)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates winning the second round match against Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin. (REUTERS/Tony O’Brien)
Defending Champs GDF on show tonight in Elite league double header P. 39
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