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SOCU head sent on leave

Saturday Edition

AIETEUR NEWS

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

July 06, 2019 - Vol. 13 No. 26

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Price $80

Online readership yesterday 107,653

The Stabroek Block...

Money changer Hess boss sees multi- shot three times, billion barrels of future daughter once

exploration potential

- PM report reveals

- killers still at large

Govt, Opposition clash over house-to-house registrations

Rain does not halt PPP protests for early elections - clean Voters' List will return coalition to power - PNCR

Man steals “Meh blood pressure gon motorbike to raise in jail” buy horse cart - boat captain tells Court

... crashes on way to sale - court hears

Guyana now has to identify all players in the extractive sector Under new EITI rules...

PAGE 02

Kaieteur News

Saturday July 06, 2019

2%

GUYANA'S VS 35 Countries!

There are 35 countries which demanded oil companies like ExxonMobil, Total, Tullow and Hess, pay royalties that go as high as 30%. Yet, Guyana continues to accept a mere 2% royalty for the Stabroek Block. Below is a chart showing the names of those oil-producing nations and the royalty they demand.

COUNTRIES 1. Abu Dhabi 2. Algeria 3. Argentina 4. Brazil 5. Bolivia 6. Brunei 7. Cameroon 8. China 9. Colombia 10. Congo 11. Eq. Guinea 12. France 13. Gabon 14. Ghana 15. Korea 16. Malaysia 17. Morocco 18. Myanmar

ROYALTY (%) 12.5 to 20 12.5 to 20 12 10 11 to 19 8 to 12.5 9 to 12.5 10 to 12.5 20 to 25 14.5 to 19 10 12 20 12.5 15 10 12.5 to 14 10

COUNTRIES 19. Nigeria 20. Pakistan 21. Peru 22. Syria 23. Thailand 24. T&T 25. Tunisia 26. Uganda 27. USA 28. Australia 29. Ecuador 30. India 31. Kazakhstan 32. Kuwait 33. Libya 34. Romania 35. Venezuela 36. Guyana

ROYALTY (%) 12.5 to 20 12.5 5 to 20 11 12.5 to 15 10 to 12 10 to 15 12.5 16.6 10 to 12.5 12.5 to 18.5 10 to 12.5 5 to 18 15 16.67 13.5 20 to 30 2

WHEN WILL THE PNCR, PPP & AFC START DEMANDING OUR FAIR SHARE?

PAID AD

Kaieteur News

Saturday July 06, 2019

PAGE 03

The Stabroek Block...

Hess Boss sees potential for multibillion barrels of oil in future exploration

By Kiana Wilburg

E

ven though the appraisal for s e v e r a l discoveries on the Stabroek Block indicate that there are over 5.5B barrels of oil equivalent reserves, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hess Corporation, John Hess, says that his firm is excited about future prospects for the block.

In this regard, he said that Hess continues to see multibillion barrels of future exploration potential remaining on the block.

The CEO made this known at the Bernstein 35th Annual Strategic Decisions Conference that was held in New York.

Hess said the firm which holds a 30 percent interest in the Stabroek block also sees potential for not just three, but five Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels to produce greater than 750,000 barrels of oil per day by 2025.

The CEO told investors who were present at the event that Hess's cash flow and Cash Return on Capital Employed (CROCE), are expected to grow more than 250 percent through 2025.

The official said that this makes Hess well positioned to return capital to its shareholders.

He said, “In summary, we are incredibly well positioned to deliver i nc r e a s i n g a n d s t r o n g financial returns, visible and low risk production growth and significant future free cash flow. Very few oil and gas companies can deliver all three and we can.”

Furthermore, Hess Corporation's 2019 Exploration and Production

CEO of Hess Corporation, John Hess budget will see it expending over US$500M in the Stabroek block.

According to Greg Hill, Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Hess, 2019 will be the peak spend year for the Liza phase one development, which is on track for first oil by early 2020.

He noted, as well, that Hess is poised to begin the Liza phase two development spending, complete the plan of development for Payara, and advance front end engineering and design work for future development phases.

This newspaper understands that Hess has put aside US$260 million for costs associated with the Liza Phase One d e v e l o p m e n t o ff s h o r e Guyana while its US$310 million budget includes spending for Liza Phase 2 development, the plan of development for Payara, and frontend engineering and design work.

The sum of US$440

million is also planned for drill exploration and appraisal wells on the Stabroek Block. Funds are also included for seismic acquisition and processing in Guyana, Suriname and the deep water Gulf of Mexico, and for other license acquisitions.

A c c o r d i n g t o Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) documents, oil production from the Liza Phase Two Development is expected to last at least 20 years. ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) will drill approximately 35-40 wells offshore to support extraction of the oil from below the sea floor.

Each well will be drilled to a depth which is over 5,000 metres (m) below the sea floor. EEPGL will then install some of the oil production facilities on the sea floor at approximately 1500-1900 m (4900-6200 ft) water depth.

These subsea facilities include various types of pipes and hardware. The subsea facilities allow the oil from the wells to be gathered and moved to the surface of the ocean for further processing.

Kaieteur News understands that EEPGL will install other oil production facilities on an FPSO that will be moored on location in approximately 1,600 m (5250 ft) of water depth and will remain on location throughout the life of the facility.

Further to this, oil production facilities on the FPSO will further process the oil extracted from below the sea floor.

The FPSO will have the

IDPADA-G Credit Union sign-up event today

T

o address the “Development” theme of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, IDPADA-G proposes to launch a national Cooperative Credit Union, today.

The credit union aims to provide credit and financial support to individuals and business persons throughout the country and to address the capacity gap in meeting development needs in Guyana.

Persons interested in joining the Credit Union are being invited to register for

membership at Critchlow Labour College on Woolford Avenue and Albert Streets at 11 a.m. today. Today's event also recognizes United Nations International Cooperative Day. Mr. Vincent Alexander, Chairman of IDPADA-G will address the gathering.

IDPADA-G is of the view that there is a strong need for a national Credit Union that will address the banking needs of individuals, owners of micro, small and medium-sized businesses and those who have experienced difficulties accessing credit from established institutions.

Map showing 13 discoveries made on Stabroek Block (Sourced from Hess) capacity to produce approximately 190,000 to 220,000 barrels of oil per day. During the early stage of production operations, the FPSO is anticipated to produce an average of approximately 5,700,000 to 6,600,000 barrels of crude

oil per month.

At peak, EPA documents note that EEPGL will utilize a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 , 20 0 personnel offshore during the stage where the wells are being drilled and the offshore oil production facilities are being installed.

Kaieteur News understands that this number will decrease to less than 200 personnel during the production operations phase.

A smaller number of personnel will then be utilized at the onshore support facilities.

PAGE 4

Saturday July 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

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

Burnout and the local workforce From CNN datelined May 28: “Burnout is an official medical diagnosis, WHO says.” This could be a muchneeded brace for fatigued workaholics. On the other hand, it could come to represent a convenient shelter for those on the lookout for opportunities to abscond.

Burnout could represent numerous conditions.

Thankfully, the World Health Organization, was careful to identify three criteria. First, there has to be feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; second, increased medical distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and, third, reduced professional efficacy. So far, so good; but for employers and managers, this could mean a can of woes, if unfair advantage is taken through misuse by workers and medical practitioners. It opens the door for diagnosis abuse, and gaming the system.There is one more condition to burnout diagnosis: “Doctors should first rule out adjustment disorder as well as anxiety and mood disorders limited to work environments specifically.”

Now to dissect. Anxiety and mood disorders are very real; overwork, too. But the latter only in extreme situations, and not when there is emphasis on work life balance; interest in extended maternity leave; consideration of paternity leave (not bad either). Can this be afforded by small struggling agencies?Next, feelings of negativism or cynicism about one’s job are universal in even dream jobs and superior environments. They don’t have to be medically powered: could be the usual shortfalls: poor pay; poor working conditions and benefits; poor management; a supervisor from hell; a hostile environment (think of the incorruptible employee in a corrupt Guyanese working world); or discrimination. Reduced professional efficacy can be self-induced as in deliberate and calculating: stick it to them. Payback for all the traumas and trials, result of all of the foregoing.Clearly, the world in recent times has changed: more understanding, more benevolent, more tolerant of human physical frailties. But is this taking things too far? Third World countries, including Guyana, know of forefathers, who walked miles daily from dawn to dusk, with basket on their heads, and in all weather and terrain.

Women were very much in the goings and comings.

Slaves and, to a much lesser extent, indentured servants toiled under the most harrowing conditions and survived on a diet that would maltreat a snail. Now there is this talk of burnout, stressed out, and fallout. Separately, and by any measure, when politics and elections are considered, all Guyana is burnout country, given the levels of “negativism and cynicism” prevalent.

Today, there are those who work 16-hour days routinely, six-day work weeks, yearlong, and never take a holiday for years. They work on Sundays, holidays, high holy days, birthdays, weddings, even funerals. How that is managed is anyone’s guess. But they do so for years on end. If they were to be approached on this development and diagnosis, their reaction is sure to be: burnout? What is that? Guyanese emigrants, and emigrants in general, gird mind and muscle to work round-the-clock, while beating the books, just to emerge ahead of the pack in the rat races of advanced foreign societies. The stresses are unimaginable; but palpably there.

For them, burnout would mean fall out and get out.

Now, there are five-day work weeks, scheduled breaks, long annual leave entitlements, paternity leave, and many kinds of occupational cushions to ease the strain. Guyana still labours with 28 days of sick leave annually; an entitlement much utilized. And now, there is this business about burnout. Boggles the mind; surely necessary, but also dangerous for business.To narrow matters down: the Guyanese worker is laid back, lacking in spirit, devoid of zest, and often robotic. The public service is overloaded with such freeloaders; the private sector not too distant.

Create a spark under them, and the world is set on fire.

Crisis!While a long overdue and needed medical option, burnout could turn out to be a misused, double-edged sword.

Accountability Relationships in the Ministry of the Presidency DEAR EDITOR, Article 107 of the Guyana constitution reads as follows: “The President may assign to any Minister responsibility for any business of the Government of Guyana, including the administration of any department of Government, and shall be charged with all responsibility to any Minister; in respect of responsibility so charged, the President shall appoint a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary to be answerable to the National Assembly therefor on his or her behalf.

Provided that authority to exercise any power or discharge any duty that is conferred or imposed by any other provision of this Constitution or by any other law on any person or authority shall not be conferred under this article.”

It is just possible that management students may see the following as a case study of how to account to oneself in organisation.

In the earlier management construct one assumed that the Minister of State replaced the position of Parliamentary Secretary.

Now it would appear that the position of Minister of State has been replaced by that of Director General – a descriptor which suggests a sufficiently wide area of responsibility and authority that may compete with the position of Minister.

In the meantime, it is understood that there is a Minister each assigned to the Public Service Department and that of Social Cohesion.

It is not easy therefore to determine a decision-making hierarchy within the Ministry of the Presidency comprised as it is of Ministries, Depart-

ments, Programmes – totalling eight components, as set out in the approved Estimates of 2019 as follows: - Policy Development & Administration (PD&A) - Public Service Management (headed by a Minister) (PSM) - Citizenship & Immigration Services (C&IS) - Social Cohesion (SC) - Environmental Management & Compliance Department (EM&C) - Cultural Preservation & Conservation (CP&C) - Youth (Y) - Sport (S) - Petroleum & Energy Management (P&EM) Table 1

In addition to the other standard public service job categories, there is a total of 475 contracted employees within the Ministry, the largest number of 217 being within Policy Development & Administration, and the smallest total of 3 within Petroleum & Energy Management.

For the more interested observer, the accompanying Table 1 shows the job distribution across these components of the Ministry, with the comparable manning levels of the Prime Minister’s office shown alongside, just for information.

(Continued on page 6)

In-transit absurdity at Piarco Airport DEAR EDITOR, I arrived in Trinidad & Tobago on Caribbean Airlines flight BW483 from Miami at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, 30th June, 2019. The flight was on time and due to depart at 8:55 p.m. for Guyana. The passengers for Guyana, however, were required to leave the plane. I was a wheelchair passenger.

To my astonishment, the wheelchair attendant informed me that my wife, travelling with me, could not accompany me in the elevator to the security check required for all passengers who are in-

transit to Guyana. I pointed out that in every other airport I have travelled through as a wheelchair passenger my wife has remained with me to the check-in.

The Caribbean Airlines Supervisor in attendance, however, insisted my wife could not accompany me and informed me “that’s how we do it in Trinidad”.

I refused to be separated from my wife and decided, therefore, to walk with difficulty with her and join the long queue waiting to be checked through security.

In the first place, it is ut-

Warm congratulations to all NGSA students DEAR EDITOR, Warm and applauding congratulations from The Mayor and City Council of Georgetown to the students who would have written the National Grade Six Assessment. You are the children of tomorrow, and the future of this great nation, and whether you have gotten the highest or lowest secondary school within your city or country, your journey does not stop there.

“The world is your oyster” in the words of William Shakespeare, you are in a position to take the opportunities offered to you. This is merely just a stepping stone for you towards exceedingly great things. This is your foundation, so do the best you can, and as you prepare yourselves to attend your respective schools, just put your best foot forward and shine. Remember that the sky is not your limit, there’s more beyond what the naked eyes can see. I wish you well in your future endeavours. There are many stars but I encourage you to be the sun - go and shine your brightest of lights and share your knowledge as we take Guyana to higher heights.

Pandit Ubraj Narine His Worship The Mayor Of Georgetown

terly ridiculous and completely unacceptable that CAL passengers ticketed to Guyana who have cleared a full security check departing Miami must again be subjected to a full security check when in-transit at Piarco Airport.

Why are Guyanese passengers forced by the Trinidad & Tobago authorities to clear security when they are not landing in Trinidad and

are in-transit to Guyana?

What is to prevent the Guyana passengers being held in the departure lounge prior to departure for Guyana?

The flight to Guyana scheduled to depart at 8:55 p.m., in fact, departed at approximately 10:00 p.m., the time it was scheduled to arrive in Guyana.

I have been a faithful and (Continued on page 5)

How many more of our citizens must lose to crimes?

DEAR EDITOR, As I read the newspapers yesterday, 5th July, my heart bled for the Latchman family at Better Hope on the East Coast.

The ‘poor’ woman lost her husband, Aaron Latchman and her teenage daughter, Arianna, after they were killed by bandits at their home on Thursday.

Editor, how many more of our citizens must we lose to bandits, robberies and other crimes? How many more? How many more? How many more must we lose to crimes? How many more of our brothers? How many more of our sisters?

How many more of our sons? How many more of our daughters? How many more of our fathers? How many more of our mothers? How many more of our grandmothers? How many more of our grandfathers? How many more of our aunts and uncles? How many more?

Please Mr. Commissioner of Police, how many more must we lose? How many more must we lose Hon. Minister of Public Security? How many more must we lose? How many more?

How….many….morrrrre?

Yours faithfully, Audreyanna Thomas On behalf of Christians Affected By Crime Group (CABC)

Saturday July 06, 2019

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

A DARK DAY IN OUR COUNTRY’S HISTORY DEAR EDITOR, Today, 6th July, marks the anniversary of a dark day in our Country’s history.

On Monday, 6th July, 1964, a launch owned and operated by a known PNC Supporter, Norman Yacoob Chapman while plying its normal Georgetown – Wismar/ Mackenzie route exploded in the vicinity of Hurudaia in the Demerara River Forty-seven persons, including a pregnant woman, all of one group and known PNC supporters perished. I point no fingers, except some facts for the benefit of the forgetful old and the young.

The Constitutional Conference for Independence was held at Lancaster House, London, in October 1963. The three Leaders, Peter D’Aguiar,

Dr. Jagan and Forbes Burnham could not agree on the main issues.

The PPP delegation did not agree with the PNC suggestion for a plebiscite to allow the people to decide, instead Dr. Jagan asked the British Colonial Secretary, Mr. Duncan Sandys to break the deadlock, stating in his own words, that he had great faith and confidence in the British sense of fair play and justice.

Reluctantly, and threatened with a further delay for Independence, the PNC and UF Leaders signed a document supporting Dr. Jagan’s request.

We know the result.

Clearly Dr. Jagan and the PPP were unhappy, if not furious with the Sandys solution and return home promising, again,

In-transit absurdity ...

From page 4 unwavering customer of Caribbean Airlines and BWIA before that. I have always regarded this airline as ours, a Caribbean airline and not a Trinidad & Tobago airline. It is one of the safest airlines in the world and its onboard service is as good as most.

However, with American, and I suspect a number of other airlines beginning to service Guyana in the near future, my loyalty will be severely tested if the Trinidadians persist with this foolishness.

It is no wonder that already many Guyanese flying to Miami prefer American and pay more to do so. The same foolishness takes place on flights from New York. To the best of my knowledge, Guyana is one of, if not, the most lucrative destinations for Caribbean Airlines. It’s time that the airline sorts this out with the Piarco authorities and revises their treatment of in-transit wheelchair passengers.

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

in his own words, a ‘hurricane of protest.’

G.A.W.U was also agitating in the sugar belt for recognition.

During the 25th May, 1964 there were serious eruptions in the Wismar/Christianburg, Mackenzie (now Linden) community. Over seventyfive percent (75%) of the Indo Guyanese were roughed up and forced to flee their homes and businesses.

What triggered this, were the murders, rape and arson in parts of the East Coast Demerara and West Coast Berbice, from where the majority of bauxite mine workers came. It was a terrible situation.

Shortly after, a top official from Freedom House promised a gift to the people at the Wismar/Christianburg area.

As we remember this anniversary, let us prevail upon our Leaders to avoid missteps of earlier days.

Let’s be reminded of the following wisdom:“And I can see no reason why anyone should suppose that in the future the same motifs already heard will not be sounding still …put to use by reasonable men to reasonable ends, or by madmen to nonsense and

disaster.” - Joseph Campbell, Foreword to the Masks of God: Primitive Mythology, 1969 Just two days ago, I dispatched a correspondence, published in the Media of Thursday, July 4, 2019 appealing to our Leaders to put Guyana first. If I can put it another way, to display the highest level of sagacity and patriotism thereby overcoming what appears to be universal weakness.

Barbara Tuchman in the introduction to her book ‘The March of Folly: from Troy to Vietnam’ laments “A phenomenon noticeable throughout history regardless of place or period is the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests. Mankind, it seems, makes a poorer performance of government than of almost any other human activity. In this sphere, wisdom, which may be defined as the exercise of judgement acting on experience, common sense and available information, is less operative and more frustrated than it should be.”

She then begs a question “Why do holders of high office so often act contrary to the way reason

points and enlightened selfinterest suggests? Why does intelligent mental process seem so often not to function?”

I hope that the young people of Guyana, irrespective of race, colour, creed, or station in life, would demand that our Leaders really put Guyana first, for if we mess up or do the sensible thing, it will be the kids in school and now leaving school who will be either the victims or the beneficiaries of our actions today.

I repeat, do not let the CCJ and the niceties of our Constitution take up any more of our time and resources, but rather concentrate on how the less than a million people, resident in Guyana, can make Guyana, Good, Glorious and a Giant among Nations.

As I dictate this letter, I learnt of Mrs. Patricia Abraham’s passing in Canada just a few weeks before her 99th birthday.

Mrs. Abraham was the wife of Alexander Arthur Abraham, who, with seven of their nine children, perished in a fire set to their home in Hadfield Street on the 12 of June, 1964. She somehow jumped through a window and was the only survivor.

Two of the nine children were away at the time.

Recall, Arthur Abraham was at the top of the public service – Permanent Secretary, in the Office of the Premier (Dr. Jagan), Abraham was suspected of passing documents to the United Force Leader, Peter D’Aguiar and so, he was ‘promoted’ (SIC) from the Premier’s Office to the Ministry of Works.

Her passing closes another chapter in our troubled history.

On behalf of my wife and children, I offer sympathy to her family and relatives. May Her Soul Rest in Peace.

I end with the contention reiterated in Isaiah Berlin’s ‘Historical Inevitability’.

The historian, Berlin maintains, cannot escape “that minimum degree of moral or psychological evaluation, which is necessarily involved in viewing human beings as creatures with purposes and motives (and not merely as casual factors in the procession of events).”

The old folks will say “put sense through our thick skulls to push out the nonsense.”

Hamilton Green

PAGE 6

Kaieteur News

The PPP/C needs to be consistent DEAR EDITOR, In October 2015, while still claiming the elections they had lost had been rigged (we are still awaiting compelling evidence), the PPP/C called for sweeping electoral reforms.

Among their list of demands was - and I quote from their own press release-: “A new voters’ list to be compiled on the basis of a fresh house to house enumeration.” Let’s just state their position again: “A new voters’ list to be compiled on the basis of a fresh house to house enumeration.”

Fast forward three years and the list of electors, minus some tinkering, is now perfectly acceptable to the PPP/C. But how can a list that has gone from 440k voters in 2001 to 572K in 2018, even with a shrinking population, be the basis for a credible election?

Elections in Guyana are not ordinary, given the unfortunate historical ethnic tensions.

There is never a time for a rushed affair which could result in a disputed outcome that

might plunge the nation into political turmoil.

The average citizen, the business community...even a victorious PPP/C would not wish for that. I think that is President Granger’s primary concern in his being consistent that there must be a new list compiled through house to house registration. After all, it’s the same position as the PPP/C back in 2015. Guyanese are a proud people. We respect the CCJ but a legal solution is a crude fix for what is a political problem, and may do more harm than good.

Instead, I urge the political leaders to agree to have Gecom work as quickly as possible to register everyone - after all it’s only 400k plus voters - and hold a credible election that truly reflects the will of the people and can be accepted by all parties.

That will be the basis for a secure and stable future.

Yours sincerely Albert Russell

Saturday July 06, 2019

Accountability Relationships in the...

From page 4 *Omitted: 1) Defence & National Security 2) Temporaries (Presumably, the ‘administration’ of Environmental Management Compliance, and that of Sport is effected by Contracted Employ-

ees.)

Also one could not help being curious particularly about the positions included in the category described as ‘Administrative’.

Interestingly, the relevant section of the approved Annual Estimates 2019, identify only the following – shown in Table 2.

(*Note the difference from the descriptor ‘Citizenship & Immigration Services’ in Table 1.)

The absence of the manning of the other ‘programmes’ is not explained.

But even though a few of the Job Titles appear specific to this grouping, e.g. Cabinet Monitoring Officer, Manager Development Operations, Registrar General; once again it raises the much more fundamental issues as to the identifiable expertise, and the evaluation mechanism utilised for grading jobs across the Public Service.

For one, at the risk of repetition, the current job categorisation is worn out, after more than three decades of application – persistently ignoring all the changes in technology, for example. There is the inexplicable insistence on the reference to ‘Personnel Management’ (since before Independence) and in this Ministry’s case, contradicted by the appointment of Junior Human Resources Management Consultant, who is regarded as a traditional public servant and placed at salary Grade 10, below the position of Principal Personnel Officer (Operations) at Grade 11 – in the same Public Service Department as the

Chief personnel Officer at Grade 12.

It seems most critical to conduct a comprehensive review of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service, to agree on an implementation plan for its recommendations to upgrade the Public Service, and with particular regard to the evaluation of related skills and competencies.

In the meantime, with a Ministry managed by a Director General, at least two Ministers and two Permanent Secretaries, some clarification of the accountability relationships is certainly necessary. For one, how does one explain the two Ministers concerned being responsible for Departments only, while their counterparts manage Ministries?

More critically, however, is the organisational mal-construct wherein these Ministries are contained within a super-Ministry headed by the President. At what stage therefore is the distinction made between the role of Minister and that of President?

Surely, it is a bureaucratic conundrum that invites comprehensive clarification; but should in no way be replicated.

Yours faithfully E.B. John

CHAIRING GECOM DEAR EDITOR, There is really little to cheer about all the passionate discussion on the Chair of GECOM; for all the expert observers have (in) conveniently overlooked the recommendation made in 2006 by the Carter Center Observer Mission to the General Elections.

The Carter Center Mission, in recommending the discontinuance of the current political management framework, made reference to models in the Commonwealth which function more effectively, and consequently enjoy much more credibility.

The Mission recommended a new structure to be managed by recognisably qualified professionals, as obtains in Barbados, Jamaica and Canada, for example; and for a specific term of office.

Following are extracts from ‘Recommendations to be addressed’.

“Reforming GECOM a) GECOM should be independent from the government and be accountable to and receive funding from the National Assembly. The independence of GECOM from the Government’s administration will bolster the Commission’s credibility and independence. b) The Carter-Price formula for GECOM should be changed to ensure that GECOM is not divided solely along political lines: 1) GECOM should be composed of individuals who are solely committed to carrying out a successful and transparent election process, and who have the confidence of political parties, but who can also maintain independence. As noted in the Carter

Center’s report on the 2001 elections, ‘as part of the electoral reform efforts, Guyana should give careful consideration to alternative models, possibly reducing or eliminating political party representation and increasing the role of civil society and professional experts’.”

That since 2006 such a recommendation was neither comprehensively debated, or a conclusive decision made at the highest levels of the contending parties, can be regarded as a dereliction of duty to the citizenry, who should still insist on their constitutional right to be part of such a critical decisionmaking process.

Perhaps now is the time for ANUG to play a leading role in this reformation.

Yours faithfully E.B John

Saturday July 06, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Finance Minister could go to jail Monday -as Full Court refuses to stay contempt order for his imprisonment

M

inister of F i n a n c e , W i n s t o n Jordan, could be sent to jail on Monday pursuant to a contempt order issued by Justice Priya SewnarineBeharry if he fails to honour a court judgment to pay US$2.2M to Dipcon Engineering.

The Full Court comprising Justices Simone MorrisRamlall and Diane Insanally, refused to grant a stay of Justice Sewnarine-Beharry’s order during a hearing yesterday.

Attorney General Basil Williams who is representing Minister Jordan issued the Full Court with an oral notice of appeal.

Minister Jordan was present at yesterday’s court proceedings.

The matter had stemmed from a multi-million-dollar contract dispute between the Trinidad-based company, Dipcon and the State.

In 2015, Justice Gino Persaud had ruled that Dipcon recover the sum from government as monies due to the engineering company for infrastructural works done under the previous PPP government.

On June 24, Justice Sewnarine-Beharry issued a contempt order to have Minister Jordan imprisoned for 21 days if he fails to pay the monies to Dipcon by Monday, July 8. Following the contempt order, Attorney General Williams appealed to the Full Court to set aside and/or reverse the order of Justice Sewnarine-Beharry.

The Full Court ruled that Williams’s application has no merit.

In his filings to the Full Court, Williams had challenged the jurisdiction of the High Court to issue such an order against the Minister. He

contended that Justice Sewnarine-Beharry misdirected herself in law when she exercised jurisdiction to hear the application of contempt against the minister in his private and personal capacity as Minister of Finance for alleged monies owed by the State and Government to Dipcon.

Further, Williams noted that among other things Justice Sewnarine-Beharry erred and misdirected herself in law when she failed to appreciate that contempt proceedings were coercive in nature and such order could not be made against Jordan in his private capacity, since no act was committed by the Minister in his private capacity.

It was Williams’s argument that Jordan in his capacity as Minister of Finance fell under government.

Dipcon’s lawyer, Timothy Jonas, in addressing the Full Court held that while the court has no jurisdiction to issue a coercive order against the government, the contempt proceedings were filed against Jordan, a mere “individual” and not the government. As it is, Jonas submitted that Jordan was liable for criminal contempt over his failure to comply with the judgment of Justice Persaud.

Moreover, Jonas said that there is no reason why the monies cannot be paid since it has already been approved

by Cabinet. In this regard, Jonas contended that the Minister’s failure to pay out the monies defeats the purpose of the administration of justice. Jonas pointed out that the Court of Appeal and Caribbean Court of Justice have upheld Justice Persaud’s ruling.

Jonas stressed that Minister Jordan has even failed to comply with an Order Mandamus that was applied for by

Dipcon and granted by the Chief Justice Roxane George on November 12, 2018 ordering that the monies be paid on or before January 15, 2019.

Obviously dissatisfied with the judgment of Justice Persaud, Williams filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal.

Based on reports, that appeal was out of time by about six months. The Court of Appeal refused to allow the appeal and dismissed it. Williams subsequently sought redress at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

In substantiating his case at the CCJ, Williams contended that there were good reasons for the belated appeal.

For one, the Attorney General told the CCJ that the matter was handled by a private attorney and the State was not informed of the judgment until months after it was delivered. Noting the fact that the appeal was not filed within the prescribed time limit, the CCJ dismissed the appeal, among other things, noting that it was unacceptable.

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan

Attorney General Basil Williams

PAGE 8

Saturday July 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

Guyana now has to identify all players in Extractive sectors Under new EITI rules...

By Kiana Wilburg Guyana and 51 other countries are now required by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) to have a publically available register of the beneficial owners of corporate entities that apply for or hold a participating interest in an exploration or production oil, gas or mining license or contract.

According to the recently launched 2019 EITI Standard, Guyana must also include the

identities of the beneficial owners, the level of ownership and details about how ownership or control is exerted.

Where possible, the international watchdog expects that beneficial ownership information should be incorporated in existing filings by companies to corporate regulators, stock exchanges or agencies regulating extractive industry licensing. Where this information is already publicly available, the country’s EITI report is expected to include guidance on how to access this information.

Further to this, implementing countries of the EITI Standard are required to document the government’s policy and

multi-stakeholder group’s discussion on disclosure of beneficial ownership. EITI said

ducer, several industry analysts have said that measures must be put in place to safe-

that this should include details of the relevant legal provisions, actual disclosure practices and any reforms that are planned or underway related to beneficial ownership disclosure.

BENEFICIAL SCREENING With Guyana being an emerging oil and gas pro-

guard the nation’s wealth.

One of these systems, they have said, must include increasing beneficial ownership screening so as to reduce the sector’s risk to corruption.

This was recently noted by the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving countries’ governance over their natural resources.

Since 2015, the institution has been providing advice to Guyana’s authorities.

The Institute noted that in most natural resource-rich countries, when a company is seeking the right to explore for or produce oil, gas or minerals, sector, rules require that regulators check some basic information before granting the company a license and accompanying contract.

NRGI said that the regulator is supposed to judge whether the company is technically competent, financially sound, and is in compliance with environmental and safety rules.

It noted, however, that licensing rules generally do not require screening of whether public sector officials have interests in an ap-

plicant company, which could create serious conflicts of interest.

The Institute said, “We reviewed over 50 mining and oil laws around the world and found that about half contained prohibitions on Government officials or their close associates – often called ‘politically exposed persons’ (PEPs) – holding interests in companies applying for extractives licenses, but none required regulators to actually check whether or not such PEP interests existed as part of screening license applications.”It added, “This is a potentially critical gap in regulatory oversight, because a large body of real-world cases suggests that the ability to hide a company’s true beneficial owner is a major enabler of corruption in the granting of extractive rights.”

In Guyana, there is no legislation or piece of regulation which requires beneficial ownership screening.

On that note, NRGI has pointed out that a growing number of Governments are developing legal policies and information systems for collecting and publishing data about the beneficial owners of extractives companies – the real people who own, control, or economically benefit from a company.

It stressed that these reforms range from amending company registration laws and creating national public registers to sector-specific approaches like establishing extractives transparency laws and licensing requirements.

But to have an impact,

NRGI said that extractive sector reforms may need to go beyond just requiring beneficial ownership disclosure, namely by establishing rules on what types of beneficial ownership linkages will be considered unacceptable self-dealing or corruption, and by determining the consequences that will apply when that line is crossed.

NRGI research shows that a number of countries have already established such rules, but monitoring and enforcement is lacking.

Given the corruption risks, the Institute said that improving national policies and practices on allocating extractives licenses should be at the forefront of these efforts.Going forward, NRGI said that resource-rich countries such as Guyana will need to choose beneficial ownership assessment rules that best address the political, legal and industry realities in which they award licenses.

Given the relative newness of evaluating corruption risks using beneficial ownership information in licensing decisions, NRGI said that officials may want to put much of the detail into less formal documents such as guidelines, so that the rules will be easier to amend based on lessons learned.

Regardless of where rules are stipulated, NRGI commented that they should be subject to public consultation during their development, and publicly disclosed once finalized in order to facilitate monitoring and accountability.

Police visit Berbice accident victims

O

n Wednesday, July 3, 2019, Officerin-Charge of the #3 Sub-Division in ‘B’ Division, Superintendent Mahendra Singh, accompanied by Assistant Superintendent Elton Davidson, Corporal Beniah Reynolds, Constable Rhonda Samuels and Pastor Thom, visited two victims of the recent accident which occurred on June 30, last.

Vishnu and Ramdat Persaud are currently

warded at the Fort Wellington Hospital. ”The team reminded the men to be aware and alert when using the road and to exercise better judgment when driving.

Both men were thankful for the visit, which was intended to show that the police are not only about enforcing laws but also considerate of those injured in traffic accidents or affected by serious crimes,” the police said in a statement.

Saturday July 06, 2019

The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) is willing to bend over backwards in order to retain a place in the ruling coalition. Even though the WPA has been marginalized and humiliated within the coalition, it is still desperate to grovel at the feet of the PNCR and the AFC so as to devour the scraps of political spoils which is being thrown its way.

The WPA is now pledging unconditional support for the coalition. It is asking its supporters to vote for the coalition even if it is unhappy with any of the parties which form the coalition. This is a naked appeal to a form of solidarity that is in contradistinction to everything that Walter Rodney stood for which the WPA fought for right up to the 2015.

The WPA says that it will fight for cash-transfers from the oil revenues. This is what it is offering its supporters: vote for us and we will fight to ensure that cash transfers are made to every Guyanese.

Gone is the position that these cash transfers should be only for the poor. Every citizen is now being told that each should be receiving a cheque each month from the government.

Gone too is the demand for an apology from the coalition. The WPA has done a political somersault.

The new position of the WPA is to tell its supporters even if they do not like what the WPA is doing, vote for the AFC; and if they do not like what the AFC is doing, vote for the PNCR; and if they do not like what the PNCR is do-

ing vote for the WPA. In other words, vote for the coalition regardless of if you have problems with any of the parties which constitute the coalition.

What the WPA is not saying is what happens if someone has problems with what all the parties in the coalition are doing. Who then should that person vote for?

This new WPA is decadent. It is appealing to a certain kind of loyalty.

Taken to its logical extension, what the WPA wants its supporters to do is not to blame the government for its mistakes but to blame the parties. And then to say to these supporters that notwithstanding that blame to still vote for the coalition.

In other words, it is saying that the vote in the forth-

Eco Atlantic upbeat as drilling operations begin at Jethro-Lobe Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas announced on Friday that drilling operations had started offshore Guyana, with the spudding of the first exploration well on its JethroLobe prospect on the Orinduik Block.

The AIM-traded firm said Jethro-Lobe was spud at 22:45 local time in Guyana on July 4, using the Stena Forth drillship.

It said itself and its partners on the Orinduik Block, the operator Tullow Guyana with a 60% working interest, and Total E&P Guyana with a 25% working interest, estimated the well would take up to 40 days to drill.

Jethro Lobe was the first prospect to be drilled as part of a two-well programme, and

would be immediately followed by the drilling of an exploration well on the Joe prospect.

Eco said it was fully funded for its share of up to six potential exploration or development wells on the Orinduik Block, in addition to the Jethro Lobe and Joe exploration wells, as it announced on 10 June.

“Today Eco Atlantic’s first Guyana well has been spud, three years ahead of our petroleum agreement commitment,” said Eco Atlantic chief executive officer Gil Holzman.

“This is the start of a hugely exciting time for the company.

“Jethro Lobe will test the Lower Tertiary aged turbidites, as well drilling

down into the Cretaceous.”

As such, Holzman said the company was awaiting the well results with “great anticipation”, as they would give it a greater understanding of the geological plays.

“The huge success which ExxonMobil has had on the neighbouring Stabroek Block, has aided our geological assessment of the many similar channel systems in our Orinduik Block.

“With 15 leads and prospects identified on the Orinduik Block, and funding to drill six potential exploration wells beyond the two currently planned, this is only the start of a fascinating and potentially transformational time for the company.” (Sharecast.com)

Dem boys seh ...

Irfaat behaving like Jagdeo servant People does talk bout de tail wagging de dog. Yesterday, dem boys understand wha it mean.

De same thing does happen when children always trying to mek dem parents feel guilty or when dem got parents dancing to de children tune.

As far as de PPP concern Irfaat is de biggest thing around, and dem ain’t talking bout he size. He is de presidential candidate fuh de party.

Once de party win de elections he gun be de most powerful man in Guyana.

At least he should be but from what dem boys see yesterday, that wouldn’t be de case.

People who does watch international news does see when a president walking he

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bodyguard does have de umbrella. When de rain come down de bodyguard does hustle to shelter de president, even if de bodyguard got to get wet.

When de rain come down yesterday Irfaat run to shelter Jagdeo. At de time dem was picketing fuh early elections.

Dem boys want to know if he tek off Jagdeo pants and press it when dem meet home.

And while Irfaat was sheltering Jagdeo a man was thiefing a motorbike fuh buy a horse cart.

De thing is that he was thiefing everything he could put he hands on. He rob a lady of she phone, she handbag wid all she belongings and she money.

De next day he rob

anodda lady of she phone.

Dem boys seh this man only use to wake up to thief. Since de sun come up he gone pun Lombard Street to rob somebody, he didn’t care is who.

He thief de motorbike in de same Charlestown. De owner lef de bike in de schoolyard . He ask a security guard to watch it. Is either de guard sleep away or de guard was in league wid de boy because when de owner come back de next day de guard tell him de bike missing.

If it wasn’t so serious dem boys would still deh laughing. De man tek de bike and while he going to sell it he crash.

De man had to be a cross.

Talk half and teach Irfaat some sense.

coming election should be against the PPPC regardless of how one feels about the coalition.

Absent from the WPA position is the insistence made by one of its leaderswho said that he was at the time speaking in his personal capacity – that the coalition should apologize to its supporters. He did not state at the time that the PNCR should apologize; or that the WPA or the AFC should apologize.

He said that the coalition should apologize to its supporters for betraying their trust and not fulfilling the promises made in its manifesto. Mouth change!

Gone is the insistence that the coalition should look at its supporters in the face and admit that it has messed up.

If this has not happened, how

can one ask supporters to reelect a coalition which has messed up and which has not apologized.

Gone too is the contention that coalition was not being properly managed and that not all the parties felt a sense of ownership of the coalition.

Gone too is the complaint of some of the parties being left out of the decision-making process which it was contended was controlled by a clique.

The WPA asks for support so that it can fight like a tiger. But what kind of tiger?

A paper tiger?

The WPA is a toothless and clawless tiger. Why does it expect anyone to believe that it can fight like a tiger when it could not prevent one of its leaders from being humiliated within the govern-

ment when he was unceremoniously dispatched from the Ministry of Education to desk duties in Department of the Public Service?

Why does it expect anyone to believe that it can fight like a tiger when after being promised the resignation of that Minister from the government, the PNCR was able to convince the same person not to stay on as a Minister?

The WPA has no growl.

However, it is prepared to grovel.

Martin Carter said, “The mouth is muzzled by the hand that feeds it.”

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Saturday July 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

“Chase them out” versus “war break”

G

overnment leaders indicated that the police should interview the Opposition Leader for uttering the exclamation “chase them out.” The

police did just that. They went to his office. The Opposition Leader was in Berbice addressing a public meeting of the PPP when he told his audience that after the no-con-

fidence vote the APNU+AFC should have called general elections.

He said the government should not be in power and Berbicians should chase the

ministers out from the villages when they come up there to address them.

Jagdeo’s utterance was nothing new. He was pandering to his supporters. This is

natural in politics. See my Friday, April 26, 2019 captioned, “Restricting Jagdeo’s right to free speech will come back to haunt,” and Wednesday, June 26, 2019 with the headline” “My advice to the new GECOM chairman.”

Government leaders felt that Jagdeo’s words were configured to inflame passions and they believed he broke the law.

Has the government’s effort to get the police to investigate Jagdeo come back to haunt their leaders as I suggested in the April 26 column?

Well after Winston Jordan’s outburst at Bartica the answer should be yes. But there is no haunting. Jordan was not approached by the police.

Can the two statements be compared for subliminal or overt incitement? This is where opinions come in.

Based on your perspective you may see Jagdeo’s rhetoric as inciting but Jordan’s outburst as just politicians mouthing off. To my mind it is the choice of words that should guide the researcher or commentator.

A politician tells his crowd that when ministers come to their villages, they must chase them out. The operative word here is “chase.”

Another politician, this time a senior minister on hearing that his government has lost a no-confidence vote in the country’s highest court told the rally he was speaking at that “from today comrades, war break.” He went on to tell them that CCJ or no CCJ they must take to the streets to protest for house to house registration.

The operative words in Jordan’s exhortation are, “war break.” In the case of Jagdeo, the words have a contextual time frame. Suppose the ministers do not go to Berbice, then there is no violence. Suppose they go and bring goodies then why would they be chased out?

This is what happened this week in Enmore.

There was a Cabinet outreach and no one chased the ministers out of a village that since 1957 has overwhelmingly voted for the PPP. Jordan’s use of the word “war” is more dangerous.

In using the word “war” the connotation could hardly suggest peaceful protest.

We can disagree on the

Frederick Kissoon severity or innocuousness on what both men said but I cannot see how one could justify the police visiting Jagdeo and not Jordan. It is my inflexible opinion that if the police could have spoken to Jagdeo then Jordan’s remarks warranted a visit too.

Why the police have not interviewed Jordan is up for speculation. It brings the police’s role as an independent agent into sharp focus.

This has been the pattern of our politics since Independence. The PPP protects its erring leaders no matter how egregious were the output and emanations. “Killamaan” was a serial offender. The police never touched him.

In fact, Roger Luncheon described the insulting dance Satyra Gyaal did at the home of the American ambassador as a feral blast. Kwame McCvery is very much a part of the PPP. What makes anyone thinks that if a PPP minister had told a volatile crowd in relation to the PNCs action that “war break” that the PPP would have disciplined him/ her. No one in the leadership of the PNC has asked for an investigation into how a person dressed as Santa Claus found her way in Parliament while it was in session.

The disguised person was seen entering a vehicle owned by an APNU minister.

Simona Broomes used the respected chambers of the National Assembly to film a video that was scurrilous. Of all the places she identified, the National Assembly was her choice.

The Speaker declined to discipline Ms. Broomes.

So the police are not going to talk to Jordan. At the same rally in Bartica, Nagamootoo made some ominous statements. But which police officer is going to interview the Prime Minister?

Our political culture is a debased on. I saw how both Jagdeo and Ramotar further push it into the mud. I really had huge expectations of David.

Yes, the president does not incite or instigate and he doesn’t engage in vulgar language.

In fact, he publicly said he disapproves the words “testicular fortitude” in the caption of a Chronicle column by Lincoln Lewis. But he is surrounded by philistines.

Saturday July 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Money changer shot three times, daughter once

Georgetown School of Nursing expands to accommodate more trainee nurses

- PM report reveals - Killers still at large Police were yesterday still hunting for the gunmen who killed 47-year-old m o n e y c h a n g e r, A a r o n Latchman, and his 18-yearold daughter, Arianna, on Thursday at the family’s North Better Hope, East Coast Demerara home.

Investigators are said to be examining security camera footage of the bandits, who escaped in a white car with an undisclosed sum of cash.

They are also reportedly checking police photographs of criminals that match the description they were given of the men.

One individual described the suspects as being “neatly dressed”. He estimated then to be in their twenties.

Wa r h e a d s r e t r i e v e d from the slain father and daughter confirmed that the killers had used pistols.

According to a police release, a postmortem indicated that Mr. Latchman had sustained multiple gunshot injuries, while his daughter sustained a single gunshot injury.

He was shot while scuffling in his yard with one of the bandits.

Scenes from the gathering yesterday.

Dead: Aaron Latchman

Dead: Arianna Latchman

His 18-year-old daughter, Arianna, was shot while she was in the family’s kitchen.

The attack appeared to have been well planned, and the bandits appeared to have been familiar with the moneychanger’s routine.

A neighbour took the moneychanger and his daughter to the

Georgetown Public Hospital where they were both pronounced dead on arrival.

Mr. Latchman is the second moneychanger to be slain by robbers this year.

In April, Prince William Alleyne was shot dead outside Ashmin’s Mall by two gunmen who escaped on a CG motorcycle.

The nursing community welcomed an additional annex yesterday during a simple launching ceremony at the Critchlow Labour College Auditorium.

The Critchlow Annex came into being in 2010 to boost student intake but after a few months it became non-functional.

The ceremony was called to order; the chairperson was the University of Guyana (UG) and NCN s very own, Marcy Parker.

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporations (GPHC) choir rendered The Greatest Love of All by Whitney Houston and Miley Cyruss The Climb.

Seriah Validum, Director of Health Sciences Education gave an overview of the Critchlow Initiative.

She said, “Back then we had an intake of 24 students per year.

Now we have an intake of approximately 200 students per year.” This particular part of her

speech was met with bountiful applause.

“In 2010 the Critchlow Annex was used to increase the intake of students but after a few months it had become non-existent. There are limits to capacity within the nursing schools despite this however additional classrooms are being acquired to enhance our student intake.”

She went on to say that now that the Critchlow Annex was reborn they will continue to enhance the student intake. However it was observed that there is a need for additional tutors.

In the years 2018-2019 they advertised for eligible nurses to apply as tutors and the shortlisted candidates were contacted.

Minister Annette Ferguson gave very brief remarks on behalf of the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan. So too did Minister Keith Scott.

Both ministers expressed their joy and contentment at be-

ing in attendance and on future collaborations with the Ministry of Public Health.

They both commended Minister Volda Lawrence on her achievements within the health sector since her transfer and they urged her to continue along that path as they will assist and combine their resources.

Dr. Mandy La Fleur, Midwifery and Nursing Consultant at the Ministry of Public Health introduced the woman who would present the featured address and she was no other than the Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence.

Minister Lawrence took the stage and thanked Dr. La Fleur before greeting the audience.

She said “Guyana, Guyana may the blessing of God never leave your shore…Today marks a special day in the calendar year of the Ministry of Public Health.”

She went on to say that there is a gap in registered nurses. Some 550 is needed to bring the number up to standard while the nursing assistants would need 686.

She encouraged those in attendance to tell a brother, sister and friend to finish school and CXC and apply to serve the county.

The Ministry of Public Health and the government of Guyana are committed to ensuring that every young person has equal job and career opportunities disregarding colour, race or creed.

Volda said that the country economic trajectory will take off and there will be a need for service that is accessible, timely and most importantly efficient.

The vote of thanks was given by Camille Johnson, the coordinator for Annex Two. The minister proceeded to cut the ribbon to declare the Annex officially commissioned.

Saturday July 06, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Govt, opposition clash over house - to - house registration

Rain does not halt PPP protests for early elections - Clean Voters’ List will return coalition to power - PNCR The Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR), the biggest partner in the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), is adamant that for there to be credible elections there must be house-to-house registration.

However, the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) insisted yesterday that elections have to be held within three months as mandated by laws and any adjustments to the voters list can be fixed by a claims and objections period.

Yesterday, both Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry and Volda Lawrence, the Minister of Health, two senior officials of the PNCR, pointed to statements last month by President David Granger.

“In his address to the nation on June 18, 2019, our Leader and President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency David Granger, provided clarity on the way forward for the people of Guyana.

“He said, it is now clear that the Guyanese people need certainty about the future and a way forward. I want to outline a clear path. It is essential that we hold fair, free and credible elections. We cannot proceed on the current list of voters. It is outdated and corrupted. It may hold as many as 200,000 incorrect entries.”

Yesterday, the two PNCR officials argued that those who have reached the age of 18 years since the last election are not on it.

“The Constitution entitles all citizens over the age of 18, the right to vote. It is a democratic imperative that houseto-house registration be completed swiftly so we can have an election at the earliest opportunity. In the current political climate, it would be fair to ask - Why is the PPP so afraid of having a clean voters list and credible elec-

tions?”

The PNCR officials stressed that it was under the Bharrat Jagdeo presidency that the National Registration Act was amended by the “National Registration (Amendment) Act 2007” to ensure house-to-house registration.

“That amendment adjusted the principal Act and inserted the following: “(a) every registration officer shall, either by himself or an authorized officer, by house to house visits within the registration division or sub-division assigned to him, obtain as far as practicable the application for registration of every person, who is on the appointed date of the age of fourteen years or above for the purpose of ascertaining every person qualified for registration to have his name included in the National Register of Registrants.”

It further states that, “(1) The Commissioner shall establish a central register which shall consist of a computerized database of the information of the originals of the registration records and the originals of all persons registered under the house to house registration process mentioned in section 6, and the data so generated shall be utilized to effect the continuous registration process.”

House-to-house According to PNCR, it establishes clearly that for elections to be credible in Guyana, there is need for house-to-house registration.

“The PNCR is adamant that for there to be credible elections there must be credible house-to-house registration. There are facts about the current voters list that cannot be disputed. It is true that the names of dead people are on the list. It is true that the names of missing or non-existent people are on the list. It is true that the list does not

have the names of thousands of young people who recently became 18.”

PNCR said that in two field exercises conducted by GECOM, in excess of 150,000 entries on the list were found to be incorrect.

“In the same field exercises GECOM could not locate close to 30,000 persons whose National Identification Cards, GECOM has in its possession. As far as the PNCR is concerned, Jagdeos rantings are futile attempts to brow-beat the Guyanese people so that elections would be held with the corrupt list they (the PPP) created while in power. That will not happen.

“The APNU+AFC is confident that once the bloated and corrupted Voters List is replaced by a credible list, the Granger-led administration will be returned to power. “ PNCR said it is understandable that the PPP would argue to keep this corrupt list. ”It is their bread and butter. However, one cannot but wonder why new political parties, the Private Sector Commission, and some members of civil society champion this list, and by extension, support the perpetuation of a corrupt and undemocratic act against the Guyanese people.”

PNCR made it clear that it is convinced that during its 23 years in office, the PPP Government established an unenviable record of criminality, corruption, human rights abuse, abuse of power, obstruction of justice and incompetence. ”(Former President Bharrat) Jagdeo would now like for all of us to pretend that none of this happened. The PPP is banking that Guyanese, especially our young people, will forget the lessons of the recent past and judge them by their new pos-

turing and self-righteous rhetoric.”

Appalling However, yesterday, the PPP in its statement, denounced the continued peddling of what it calls falsehoods.

“The party wishes to remind that it was none other than the Chief Elections Of-

ficer, Keith Lowenfield, who, on February 5, 2019, articulated a position that exposes the PNCRs position as completely misleading.”

The Chief Elections Officer in his comments to the media was clear that a period of Claims and Objections can refresh the validity of an already “clean” Voters List.

“That the PNCR would go as far as touting falsehoods as “facts” about the Voters List is appalling. The PNCR claims that there are names of dead persons who are on the Voters List.

The FACT is that this can be addressed without a new national house-to-house (Continued on page 24)

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Johnny Braff birthday celebrated

During the celebrations on Wednesday.

The Night Shelter on Wednesday celebrated Guyanese icon, Johnny Braff’s 82nd birthday with a live performance by Guyana’s longest-serving band, the Yoruba Singers.

Braff, who is also a resident of the Night Shelter was recognised by other residents as

an artiste whose hits enthralled his fans. The Night Shelter’s compound where the celebration was hosted was filled with residents and staff of the Ministry of Social Protection.

Among the hits by Braff were “It burns inside” and “A shower of tears”.

Policeman hauled before court for child support Police Constable Ellery Mason was on Thursday hauled before a city magistrate after an arrest warrant was issued for him in relation to outstanding payments of child support monies. He was brought before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts, where he was made to answer as to why he did not pay his child support fee. He owes $44,300 in child support fees. Mason in his response stated, “I did not know that I had to pay child support because I was never served with any child support documents. I only learnt about this last month

but I have some financial problems and that is why I still havent paid it.”

The defendant then told the court that he can only pay $20,000 from the total owed.

Therefore he was instructed to pay that sum before he can be released from custody.

Magistrate McLennan then ordered that Mason is to complete the full payment on or before July 17, 2019.

After he raised concerns about difficulties to travel to Georgetown for further payments the matter was transferred to his district at Fort Wellington Magistrates Court.

800 young mothers reintegrated into education system The Ministry of Education, in May, rolled out a programme that was designed to reintegrate young mothers back into the educational system. At that time, only 80 of those young mothers were given the opportunity to return.

During a press conference that was held by the Peoples National Congress Reform, yesterday, Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, said that an additional 720 young mothers have been reintegrated into the educational school system of Guyana.

The mothers, who are all from different regions of the country, were enlisted into courses such as cosmetology, and programmes at the Carnegie School of Home Economics (CSHE). Other young mothers chose to get reintegrated back into their old high school.

The courses will be fully funded by the Government of Guyana though the Education Ministry which is also supporting transportation to and from the educational institutions, along with the provision of free day care services for their children.

Upon completion of the courses the young mothers will also receive a “start- up” toolkit along with follow- up sessions to ensure that progress continues in their lives.

Health Minister Volda Lawrence said, “For these mothers, this is not just an opportunity, but it is a chance to get them

Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry back on their paths.

“This for them will break the chain of struggle and poverty for them and their families. Every Guyanese, regardless of circumstances, must be given the opportunity to reach their full potential.” To this she says, the young mothers will be better equipped with many life skills, and it is a “worthy investment” into the development of the nation. The Education Ministry, and other governmental and non-governmental agencies have thrown support into interventionist programmes, to reduce the levels of teenage pregnancy, to empower and develop adolescent mothers and to decrease poverty and gender-based violence rates among the women of the country.

The reintegration is facilitated primarily by the Health and Family Life Education Unit within the Ministry of Education.

In 2017, the ministry lobbied for an unprecedented legislative policy to be drafted and passed to allow formal, technical and vocational education for adolescent mothers.

This reintegration policy is the result of collaborations between the education ministry, UNICEF, and the input of other important stakeholders such as the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Social Protection and faithbased organizations, among other agencies.

Residents foil robbery attempt at E’bo post office

Robbery foiled: Queenstown Post Office Residents of Queenstown are being lauded for stopping a robbery at a post office there.

According to the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) yesterday, it would like to publicly commend the public-spirited residents of Queenstown,

Essequibo, for their brave act on Wednesday, July 3, 2019. “Due to their diligence, the trio was successful in foiling a robbery attempt on the Queenstown Post Office.

“After seeing an unknown person in the Post Office, the three residents raised an alarm

and subsequently gave chase (after) the individual,” GPOC said in its statement.

“The Board of Directors and Management of the GPOC is extremely grateful for this act of valour and would like to publicly recognise these individuals for their good deed.”

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Scholarships for two Berbice NGSA top students

T

he government has signalled its intention to offer scholarships to the two Berbice students who topped the region at the National Grade Six Assessme n t (NGSA) examinations.

Minister of Public Service, Tabitha SaraboHalley, visited Berbice` on Friday, and committed to providing assistance that will aid in their academic pursuits.

Pawan Etwaroo, of Cumberland Primary, and Chitra Ramdihal, of Cropper Primary, tied for the position.

They both gained 520 marks and attained Queen's College.

Eleven-year-old Etwaroo managed to persevere even though his family was faced with challenges leading up to his examinations.

Anand Etwaroo, who is currently unemployed, said he is very proud of his son's accomplishment, and while he can't afford to send him to the city,

his son insists on remaining i n the region to pursue his secondary education.

As such, the decision has been made by the family for Pawan to attend the Berbice High School in September.

Minister Sarabo-Halley said the government has recognised his achievement and congratulated him particularly considering the circumstances which currently exist for his family.

In light of his accomplishment and his desire to have a laptop, the minister gifted the lad a brandnew device. “I have spoken to his parents and have a sense of what their current situation is, and my hope is that the government will be able to assist moving forward in Etwaroo's continued education. He has chosen to stay at Berbice High School instead of going to Georgetown; once he remains focused, he will

Young Pawan Etwaroo, Region 6 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) top student receives a laptop from Minister of Public Service, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley.

continue to do well here.�

She noted this is only the beginning for the aspiring medical doctor. Once his parents work out the logistics and other decisions, the government will ensure he has access to the resources necessary, she said.

At their Cumberland East Canj e h o m e , P a w a n ' s p a r e n t s w e l c o m e d the assistance and commended the minister and her team for the visit and their commitment.

Minister of Public Service, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley with eleven-year-old Chitra Ramdihal with her family members.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Saturday July 06, 2019

One woman among 51 GuySuCo apprentices graduating

F

i f t y - o n e apprentices, among them a l o n e y o u n g wom a n , graduated yesterday from the Guyana Sugar Corporation's (GuySuCo), Port Mourant Training School. The class of 2019 obtained 52 Distinctions and 65 Credits . Their training included both the practical and theory in fields such as Auto Electrical training, Instrument Repair Mechanics and Sugar Boiling.

The institution located in East Berbice, Corentyne, conducted its 58th graduation exercise on July 3, last, which was attended

by Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, regional officials and several senior representatives from the sugar industry including its CEO, Dr. Harold Davis.

Minister Henry in her feature address described the school as the “premier technical and vocational training centre in Guyana”.

She urged the graduates to take their rightful place in the various local industries.

“The training centre here continues to produce highquality technical support staff for GuySuCo itself and for other industries in our country.”

The Minister noted that graduates from the s c h o ol c a n b e f o u n d throughout the Caribbean, North America, Europe, and Africa which is “testimony to the success of Port Mourant Training Centre.”

“Graduating from this school provides you with the skills and knowledge for the world of work. There is a road ahead that you can turn into opportunity. Give back to your communities,” she further urged the class 2019.

Noting that the skills they have acquired during their four years at the Port Mourant Training Centre will now be put into practice, Dr. Henry advised the graduates to “carefully and critically strategise the skills and knowledge you have

The 2019 graduating class of Port Mourant Training School in East Berbice, Corentyne acquired…capitalise on this knowledge and the opportunities now presented to you. “Undoubtedly it is the ultimate aim of the Ministry of Education, to ensure that all of our citizens are equipped with all resources and knowledge to be a successful individual.”

Valedictorian Michael Manroop, acknowledged the lecturers and fellow students along with his parents for the major role they played in his success. His achievement came with many challenges, difficulties and sacrifices, he noted. An overwhelmed Manroop encouraged his fellow apprentices to keep striving for higher heights.

In his report, Manager of the school, Jainarine So o k p a u l , n o t e d t h a t

Valedictorian: Michael Manroop lecturers have continued their professional improvement.

Jai Raj Narayan recently completing a diploma in Technical Teachers Training at the Cyril Potter College of Education, Reuel Jagroop, an Advanced Diploma in Electrical Engineering with

the Engineering Institute of Technology Australia and Devendra Singh who is on the verge of completing his degree in General Engineering at the University of Guyana.

Sookpaul also highlighted that with the ongoing changes at the

Guyana Sugar Cooperation the re-engineering of the apprenticeship programme was evident. The curriculum is currently being reviewed to include co-generation, plantation white sugar and mechanization.

According to Sookpaul the GuySuCo Training Centre's vision “advocates a vibrant community of active and lifelong learners who are equipped with a strong foundation of core skills, attitudes and values to ride on the opportunities and possibilities in the 21st century globalized world.”

Sookpaul highlighted that moving forward in 2019 the school will continue to grow and achieve outstanding performances in the years ahead.

Saturday July 06, 2019

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

Talks still ongoing to find alternative to Suriname ferry There has been no definitive word on the way forward on the Guyana/Suriname ferry service.

It was halted a few weeks ago with talks starting between the two neighbours to find solutions on what has developed a critical trading link. On Thursday, DirectorGeneral of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, disclosed that there has been some communications between the Government and the Government of Suriname in relation to the ferry service.

“The engagement is still going on. As you know, the MV Canawaima ran into some technical issues a few weeks ago and therefore could not travel on its own speed. I understand that there is some proposal to have it towed by a pontoon across the river.

“There is a counter proposal, of course, from Guyana to put one of our vessels on the route. So these are discussions which are now going on between the Suriname government and our Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ”And once they are concluded we will have a clearer statement to make to you on the matter,” Harmon said.

However, initially, the Government of Guyana is not immediately looking to replace the Canawaima ferry with one of its own.

Rather, the country signaled last month that it wants to first have talks with Suriname to hold up its end of the bargain.

The ferry service, a joint arrangement, has been a boon for commerce and tourism between the two countries, moving containers and visitors alike. However, it broke down recently, leaving

The MV Canawaima being towed on the Corentyne River.

scores stranded on both sides of the Corentyne River.

The Government of Guyana was forced to place the MB Sandaka at the Moleson Creek terminal to rescue the stranded passengers. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had said that the MV Canawaima has been suspended to facilitate repairs and servicing by the joint company- the Canawaima Management Company.

“Since the company was unable to secure the funds intended to meet the routine repair costs, the vessel had to be pulled by a tug-boat to facilitate passengers wishing to travel between Moleson Creek Terminal and the South Drain Terminal.”

The service between

Guyana and Suriname was officially launched on November 6, 1998. “It is a joint venture and the financial and other arrangements for defraying operational expenses are outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Government of the Republic of Suriname on the Formation and Operation of the Joint Ferry Service between the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Republic of Surname (1998),” the ministry had explained.

According to the agreement, the maintenance of the ferry is to be shared equally.

“This has not occurred.

In a bid to reduce the hardships to passengers and busi-

nesses using the service and in order to give the neighbouring state time to meet its obligations, the Government of Guyana has been funding most, if not all of the maintenance works on the ferry over the years.”

The ministry said that the Guyana/Suriname Cooperation Council at its meeting in

2018 underscored the importance of the Canawaima Ferry Service to bilateral trade and cross border tourism between Guyana and Suriname and agreed that the efficient and optimal operation of the service was to the benefit of both countries. “As indicated elsewhere the matter was raised

by President (David) Granger

over a year ago during his last meeting with his Surinamese counterpart. At that time, President (Desi) Bouterse undertook to look into the matter.” The ministry had made it clear that speculation about the Government of Guyana taking on the obligation of entirely funding a joint enterprise of this type is erroneous.

“It is not in keeping with the bilateral agreement signed between the two countries that govern the obligations of both States regarding the operations of the ferry service. That agreement is still functional.

“There is no onus on Guyana to fund the replacement of the service either temporarily or permanently. The joint company has to ensure that the monies collected by or on behalf of the business are properly directed to defraying the expenses incurred.” Guyana, the ministry said, will request an early meeting of the relevant mechanism in order that the issues affecting the operation of the ferry vessel can be fully ventilated and resolved to the full satisfaction of the parties.

“It is hoped that the fact that the service has been of mutual benefit to both countries will inform the treatment of the matter.”

PAGE 20

Saturday July 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

Aurora gold mine resumes operations

Man involved in Ebo hit-and-run turns self in After more than a week of running, a driver who sped away after hitting down a man on the Queenstown public road, Essequibo Coast, has finally turned himself in.

The man, who surrendered in the company of his attorney, was identified as Alicex Brown of lot 11 Section A, Danielstown, Essequibo Coast.

It is believed that on July 21, last, on the Queenstown Public road, Brown collided with Errol Richardson, a 44-year-old man who is also from Queenstown. Richardson was rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital with head injuries, before being transferred to the

Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to eye witnesses, the man fled the scene after the collision, while being pursued by residents from the community.

Three days later, the motor car PMM 7554, which was driven by Brown at the time of the accident, was discovered in Lima Sands. The car was retrieved, but Brown who allegedly fled the coast, was not seen in days.

This publication understands that the victim, Errol Richardson has since been discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital. Brown on the other hand is being processed for court.

Culture Director clears air on delay in awards for Cultural and Creative Industries Fund

Aurora Gold Mine

Workers at the Aurora mine of Guyana Goldfields Incorporated resumed work yesterday.

The suspension of work was forced by a workers strike on July 2, over a series of issues, foremost of which is the lack of union representation.

When the strike started on Tuesday, the company shut off the internet connection at the mine so the workers couldnt reach the general public. The strike lasted days, with workers being neglected meals, and standing in the rain.

Kaieteur News reported the strike with the help of the National Mine Workers Union (NMWU), and the Canadian company was forced to make a statement about the strike, blaming it on a misunderstanding.

There have been several efforts, over the past few years, to have the workers recognised by the Trade Union Recognition and Certification (TUR&CB). Those efforts, even recently, had met staunch resistance by the administration of AGM Inc. But due to the strike, the

Labour Department was forced to meet with a team of workers, and the union on a separate occasion, to sort out their concerns.

Minister of Labour, Keith Scott, promised both parties that his Ministry would go to the mine on Monday to have a better understanding of the workers concerns.

The workers were also promised that their request to be unionised would be expedited. By all indications, NMWU is the choice of the workers, but that will be (Continued on page 22)

Responding to queries about a projected six-month delay in naming awardees for Department of Social Cohesion of the Ministry of the Presidency Guyana Fund for Cultural and Creative Industries, Culture Director, Tamika Boatswain, yesterday noted that procedures needed to be in place before such a venture is attempted.

She said before this is attempted a committee first has to be set up, and approval granted before awardees are named or grants distributed.

She further explained that there has to be a period of verification as well. The committed was newly formed, and the process took longer than expected.

She added that some 28 entries had to be shortlisted and processed to eliminate any bias in selection, and to ensure well deserving individuals get the awards when they are distributed.

Ms Boatswain however admitted that the Ministry may have erred, not properly detailing advertisement, but indicated that in many cases such an initiative can take even up to six months to be properly executed.

She said that since she is not a member of the committee she played no role in decision-making.

Last December, Kaieteur News reported that Cultural Policy Advisor to the Department of Social Cohesion, Ruel Johnson, suggested the initiative to the Department to

Director of Culture, Tamika Boatswain ensure that young Guyanese know that the local environment would become more conducive to the development of their talents.

The project was added to the Budget 2019 roster and was allocated $20M. In early March, the government called for submissions from creative entrepreneurs, with original proposals of cultural and creative projects that have already been developed, with well thought out plans for their commercialization and sustainability.

The initiative is currently under the purview of Director of Culture, Tamika Boatswain.

The funding was offered for work across all creative industries; for marketing, distribution, branding and development of new cultural products.

The money was also intended for procurement of

equipment; creation of intellectual goods, patents and copyrights; research and designs of innovative local products, like gaming, fashion and animation.

It was noted that focus for funding will be on productions and publications across all creative industries; marketing, distribution and branding of creative products; the development of new cultural products such as festivals; procurement of specialized equipment in support of a particular type of creative production; the creation of intellectual goods, patents and copyrights; and research and designs of innovative new Guyanese products in the creative industries, such as gaming, animation, fashion and condiments/recipes using local content/contexts.

The deadline for the submission of proposals was March 22, 2019.

Saturday July 06, 2019

SOCU head sent on leave Head of the police Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Assistant Commissioner Sydney James, has been suspended.

According to well-placed sources, James reportedly received a letter directing him to proceed on administrative leave.

The decision, not totally unexpected, was based on a special police audit on the finance of SOCU, recently.

The audit had reportedly found some unaccounted expenditure which could not be verified by a paper trail.

SOCU has been rocked in recent months by a number of incidents.

The unit is the special police one that probes corruption and money laundering.

SOCU head, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sydney James Since 2015, since the new Government took office, SOCU has been handed increased powers to investigate the findings of several forensic audit reports of state agencies.

A number of Government officials under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) were charged as a result of SOCU’s investigations of those audits.

The British government has been assisting SOCU by placing an expert, Dr. Sam Sittlington, as an advisor.

However, Sittlington had his services terminated by the British government after it was discovered he had opened a private investigating company.

Another senior official, Sheronie James, also departed SOCU after questions arose about her qualifications.

This latest news would raise concerns about the numerous court cases and investigations at SOCU.

“Meh blood pressure gon raise in jail” -boat captain tells court “I am a diabetic; I won’t make it in jail. I would dead. I can’t be kept in close places.

Me blood pressure gon raise,” a defendant explained to the court as he stood in the prisoners dock after admitting to an offence.

Joseph Allen, 64, father of five and a certified boat captain, of Lot 3 Bent Street, Werken-Rust, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Allen was slapped with two charges. He was yesterday brought before the courts, where he was made to answer to the charges.

The charges read that on July 2, last, at Mabaruma Police Station he had in his possession 11 nine mm ammunition, and a nine mm handgun.

Chief Magistrate McLennan read the charges to the defendant, and without any delay he pleaded guilty to both charges. He also offered to give a detailed explanation why he had the gun and ammunition in his possession.

Allen said, “I use to wuk on a ship for 10 months. While working there I find a gun in the cabin in a box. I decided to keep the gun but I didn’t know if it was license or unlicensed. After a period of time I left the job because I wasn’t being paid for over six months.”The defendant added, “Mr. Hudson [who the court learnt was his boss] called me and tell me to bring the gun to Mabaruma.

When I arrive the police search me and carried me to the station. When I tried to call Mr. Hudson he didn’t answer his phone.”

After the defendant’s explanation Police prosecutor, Gordon Mansfield, then told the

Joseph Allen court that on the day in question, about 13:00hrs a police constable arrested the defendant on an allegation of simple larceny.

While at the police station a search was conducted on the defendant and his belongings. The defendant’s shoulder bag contained a black nine mm handgun and 11 nine mm rounds of ammunition.

The defendant was then told of the allegation and he was cautioned. The defendant also admitted to both of the offences put to him while in police custody.

The defendant was represented by Attorney-at-law Ronald Daniels who made a plea in mitigation.Allen was handed a two year’s suspended sentence on each of the charges and was ordered to pay a $50,000 fine on each of the charges by Chief Magistrate McLennan.

MAN STEALS MOTORBIKE TO BUY HORSECART - crashes on way to make sale -court hears

A

20-year-old man was yesterday sentenced to one year in jail when he appeared before a city magistrate where two robbery charges and one simple larceny charge were read to him.

Ken Das appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus.

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

The first charge read that on June 27, 2019 at Lombard Street, Charlestown, Georgetown while in company of another and armed with an offensive weapon, he robbed Tracey Reid of one Samsung phone value at $80,000.

The second charge stated that on June 22, 2019 at Lombard Street, Charlestown, Georgetown while in the com-

pany of another and armed with a cutlass he robbed Tandi Whittaker of a cellular phone valued $65,000; $31,000 in cash, medication valued at $5,500 and a handbag valued at $3,000 along with her personal documents.

The final charge stated that between July 1, 2019 and July 2, 2019 at Lombard Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, (Continued on page 24)

Guyana-Exxon Mobil Deal…

Trotman shafted Guyana-Jagdeo

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo made some comments at his weekly press conference on Thursday in relation to Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman’s error with the Exxon deal and what it means for Guyana.

Jagdeo said that Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman screwed up and shafted Guyana due to the fact that he did not look to ensure that ring fencing provisions were included before signing the Exxon deal.

He said that Trotman claimed that he was advised

by GGMC. “Trotman’s comment about blaming the GGMC for not ring fencing now isn’t this pathetic? As a minister after all this time, you screwed up the negotiation of the Exxon Mobil contract; you shafted the country.”

“We called on the government to hire the best skills in the world to be at the table.

You could potentially have cost this country billions of US dollars through your inept negotiations. That is what we get today and it passes on.”

He went on to say that Guyana will have to live with that forever. The opposition leader quoted Trotman’s exact words where he said “My only comment is that as a nontechnical person, I was not the one to negotiate the contract.”

According to an article in another section of the media, Minister Trotman claimed that he was absolving himself

Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo.

from any responsibility for not expressing that the lack of ring fencing provisions in the Exxon contract could affect the country’s revenue that it will earn from the oil industry.

Government first expressed its concern over the lack of this provision during a delegation visit by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) earlier this month.

“My only comment is that as a non-technical person, I was not the one to negotiate the contract, and that, at all material time, I acted on the advice and direction of the GGMC,” Trotman told Stabroek News.Trotman went on to say, “How could I see something as an indictment on myself if I didn’t draft it? I relied on the officers at GGMC at all times and was advised when the agreement was ready for signature.”

The IMF’s mission’s Concluding Statement had said that “authorities indicated their concerns that the absence of a ring-fencing arrangement in the Stabroek Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) could potentially affect the projected flow of government oil revenues.

At one time Trotman described the new PSA as a “tweaking” of the earlier one but the way he handled things had come under serious criticism for not addressing issues such as ring fencing.

According to the said article, after the GGMC officials returned to Guyana and presented the report, they never heard of or saw the renegotiated contract until it was ready for signature in June 2016. After its completion, they were not asked for further input.

PAGE 22

Saturday July 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

Haitian fined $60,000 for overstaying FOR RENT

WANTED Cooks, Counter Staff/Server, Supervisor, Baker/Pastry Maker. Tel#225-6255/226-9000

SERVICES

FOR SALE

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Pierre Baptiste defendant was found.

The passport was then examined by the said rank and it was discovered that the defendant overstayed his time; the defendant was then escorted to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters where an investigation was conducted.

Investigations revealed that the Central Immigration and Passport Office on No (Continued on page 23)

Aurora gold mine...

From page 20 finalized after the Labour Department conducts a survey.

The workers promised that they would return to normalcy under those conditions.

They started returning to Aurora yesterday, “in a phased approach to ensure orderliness” said a release from Goldfields.

Full production is anticipated to resume shortly.

Suresh Kalathil, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said, “Personnel are being re-mobilized and the site is ramping back up to normal operations in a phased

Furniture installer, supervisory experience, five years experience, drivers’ license, good communication skills.

Email: starcomm36@yahoo.com Tel#227-7995

Tyre repair technician and wheelie bin repair technician, 1 security guard. Tel#227-1717

We buy land in Parfaite Harmonie, Eccles, Providence, Herstelling, Farm, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt. Tel#651-1969/6560701

A Haitian national appeared on Thursday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts after he was charged for being in Guyana after his permit was expired.

Thirty-nine-year-old Pierre Baptiste, of Alberttown, Georgetown, pleaded guilty to the charge that was read to him and stated that he has no explanation to offer to the court.

The charge stated that between December 29, 2018 and July 1, 2019, at Georgetown he failed to comply with conditions of a permit granted to him allowing him stay in Guyana between November 28, and December 28, last.

Through the use of a French interpreter the court was able to communicate with the defendant.

Police Prosecutor, Gordon Mansfield, stated the facts of the charge which read that on July 1, 2019, police ranks from A Division went to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), where the defendant along with several other persons were arrested by the ranks.

A search was then conducted where a Republic of Haiti Passport in favour of the

VACANCY Experience Goldsmith needed at Jacob’s Jewellery and Pawnshop. Address 16 Pike St, Kitty Georgetown.

Tel#227-8748/622-4970 Female cleaner office & home.

Call: 642-9823 LORRY DRIVER/porter, basic education, honest.

Telles Steel, 74 Hadfield St. 226-6771

and safe manner. The Company has agreed to a dialogue with employee representatives and Government authorities to resolve any outstanding issues in full compliance with Guyanese labour laws.”

Saturday July 06, 2019

Business Community donates new motorcycle to ‘B’ division police

Proprietor Fizal All of A. Ally and Sons presents the motorcycle to Commander Paul Langevine in the presence of Senior Superintendent Phillip Azore, Officer in charge of crime E. Baird, and Traffic Officer Timothy Williams.

The transportation and crime fighting capacity of the ‘B’ Division of the Guyana Police Force was on Thursday boosted with the addition of the brand new motor cycle. Businessman Fizal Ally Proprietor of A. Ally and Sons General Store in New Amsterdam made good on a promise as he donated a Shineray Urban 150 motorcycle to the Guyana Police Force ‘B’ Division.

The simple yet significant ceremony was done in front of the Head Office of the store at Main Street and Coopers

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Lane, New Amsterdam.

Ally made the donation to Commander ‘B’ Division Assistant Commissioner Paul Langevine.

Accompanying the Commander to the activity were Deputy Commander Senior Superintendent Phillip Azore, Traffic Officer Deputy Superintendent Timothy Williams, and Detective Divisional Officer Assistant Superintendent E. Baird. Also present were a number of staff of the entity.

M r. A l l y n o t e d t h a t the bike is being given to the organization to assist with the continued

fight against crime throughout the Division.

He pledged his and the store’s continued support to the police. The businessman also committed to the maintenance of the motorcycle.

Commander Langevine expressed his gratitude to the Businessman and his entity for the donation. He stated that the donation is very significant. It will go a long way toward maintaining law and order and the fight against crime.

He assured Ally that the bike will be used and taken good care of. Maintenance will be optimal, he added.

Sagga murder PI…

Inspector testifies

Yesterday, a police inspector gave his testimony to the court in relation to his involvement in the investigation of the murder of Godfrey Scipio, known as “Sagga”. Scipio was shot dead on October 12, 2017. The accused are Aubrey Bobb, Derwin Eastman and Jemison Williams.

Bobb was the first person to be charged with Scipios murder. He subsequently implicated former Police Corporal Derwin Eastman and his colleague, Constable Jemison Williams. They are currently on remand for the capital offence.

The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) is currently being conducted by Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts.

Bobb was committed to

stand a High Court trial February last, for the murder by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly after she found sufficient evidence against him for a conviction in relation to the matter.

The three men were not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that on October 12, 2017, at David Street, Kitty, Georgetown, they murdered Scipio.

According to reports, Bobb alleged that Eastman is the mastermind behind Sagas murder, since he allegedly provided the weapon.

It was reported that Scipio, of DUrban Street, Wortmanville, was shot in the chest as he was leaving a city hotel. He succumbed at the Woodlands Hospital.

Police had reported that Bobb was nabbed at his Wil-

liam Street, Kitty, Georgetown home which is located a few buildings from where the killing occurred. Kaieteur News understands that CCTV footage of the attack helped investigators to identify and track him down.

Reports are that the murder accused told detectives that he was in the area, and saw Scipio, who was wearing a gold chain, enter the hotel.

At the time, Bobb claimed he was armed with an ice-pick, but later decided that a gun would be more effective.

It was also reported that when Scipio exited the hotel, the murder accused relieved the businessman of a gold chain and shot him.

Scipio had been selling at the Berbice car park for several years, and was known for wearing lots of gold jewellery.

Haitian fined $60,000 for overstaying From page 22 vember 28, 2018 via the CJIA had granted one month stay in Guyana to the defendant. A check was made to inquire whether the defendant applied for an extension stay.

It was later verified that the defendant had not done so and as a result he was charged for

overstaying his time in Guyana.

After the facts were stated to the court Chief Magistrate McLennan fined the defendant $60,000 or in default he is to serve four months imprisonment. Also after paying his fine or serving his time he is to be escorted to the nearest port of exit to his country of origin.

PAGE 24

MAN STEALS MOTORBIKE...

From page 21 the defendant stole motorcycle CJ 8934 which is the property of Andre Haywood.

The defendant pleaded not guilty in relation to the charges for the attacks against Whittaker and Reid.

However, in relation to the charge involving Haywood, he pleaded guilty.

The court heard that while on lu n c h b r e a k Haywood parked his motorcycle in the Ketley Primary School compound and went home on July 01. He returned the following day and inquired from the security guard about the motorcycle. The guard informed that the motorcycle was missing.

T h e c o u r t h e ard that Haywood went in search of the motorcycle and was later informed that the said motorcycle was involved in an accident.

The defendant was riding the cycle. The defendant was arrested and provided police with a caution statement.

The motorcycle was lodged at the Providence Police Station.

In his explanation, the defendant said that he “was not focusing.” He also stated that he loves horses and that a friend told him that he had a horse cart to sell.

According to him, he didn’t have the money to purchase the horse cart, and as a result stole the motorcycle which he would have sold to buy the horse cart.

The prosecutor then objected to bail being granted because of the prevalence and nature of the offence. According to the prosecutor, Das had a matter before the High Court for attempt to commit murder.

M a g i s t rate IsaacsMarcus then remanded the defendant to prison until August 2, 2019 on each of the two robbery charge, but sentenced him to one year imprisonment on the larceny charge.

Saturday July 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

Rain does not halt PPP protests for early ...

From page 13 registration. The PNCR claims that there are names of non-existent persons who are on the list. This is a blatant lie. No such complaint was raised by the PNCR in the last several elections held in Guyana. Additionally, the use of biometrics (fingerprints, etc.) prevents multiple registration of one person under different names.”

The Opposition denied that there are thousands of young people who recently became 18 years old and are not on the list.

“The party highly doubts that thousands of young persons are not registered, given that persons who attained the age of 14-years, as of October 31, 2018, were registered during the last Continuous Registration Cycle. However, the fact is that a Claims and Objections process allows any person who is 18-yearsold to be registered as a first time voter.”

The PPP questions why the APNU+AFC Coalition Government is attempting to delay General and Regional Elections that are constitu-

tionally mandated, following the passage of the no-confidence motion on December 21, 2018.

“Why is the David Granger-led Administration averse to upholding the rule of law in Guyana? Is the APNU+AFC Coalition Government afraid of returning to the polls?”

The PPP cast aside the boast of the PNCR that a new Voters List will allow them to return to power.

A new list “does not confer any advantage to any political party to ensure an electoral victory. Rather; it is the policies and hard work of political parties.

“In over four years, the APNU+AFC Coalition has only been successful in increasing the hardships place on the Guyanese people over 30,000 jobs have been lost, the decline in the local economy is visible, key productive sectors are facing greater hardships, there has been increased taxation resulting in Guyanese having less disposable income, and much more, including the decline of the health and other

critical sectors. The policies of the current administration have failed to ensure greater job and wealth creation for our people.”

The PPP said it is maintaining that the Constitution of Guyana must be respected and elections must be held within the three-month timeframe stipulated by Article 106 (7) of the Constitution.

“The APNU+AFC Coalition Government must stop engaging in delay tactics and call elections now.”

The spectre of early elections was sparked by the shock December 21st no-confidence vote which heralded the fall of the Coalition Government.

The validity of the vote dragged on for months with the High Court upholding, ruling also that persons with dual citizenships are barred from holding parliamentary seats and by extension sitting as ministers.

The Court of Appeal later deemed the vote not carried.

This was recently reversed by the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Under regulations, Government is bound to hold elections in three months. However, the administration is insisting that the Voters List must be sanitized.

GECOM has said it will be ready with the clean list by Christmas, an untenable situation the Opposition.

Rainy Protests Meanwhile, the Opposition also protested outside the Ministry of the Presidency. Scores of protesters led by PPP presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali, and former

Prime Minister, Sam Hinds, called for early elections and for the Government to observe the Constitution.

Speaking to the supporters at the Leader of the Opposition office on Church Street, Ali noted that the PPP is an all-weather party, rain or sun, always ready to protect democracy and uphold the Constitutions of Guyana.

According to Jagdeo who stood alongside Ali, the Coalition Government became illegal on March 21.

He said that the only way after the court rulings to change the situation is through elections.

He said that the Granger government behaves as though everything is normal and that they are not subjected to the Constitution rule and even the rulings of the CCJ. Jagdeo said that the house-to-house registration at this time is a delaying tactic.He said that the turnout yesterday should send a strong signal to the CCJ. Jagdeo, the PPP General Secretary, urged supporters to keep pressuring the government to respect law and order.

He said that many APNU supporters cant wait for elections to vote for the PPP as they are fed-up with failed promises.

According to Jagdeo, the Coalition is using the time it bought to transfer assets and benefit from duty free concessions, a good signal they are preparing to leave office.

He urged that the groundwork be done to bring the voters and for all Guyana to benefit from the oil and gas.

Saturday July 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Saturday July 06, 2019

Saturday July 06, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Teenager Shaheen bowls Pakistan to victory over Bangladesh LONDON (Reuters) Teenage fast bowler Shaheen Afridi took six cheap wickets as Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 94 runs at Lords yesterday, clocking up their fourth World Cup win in a row but narrowly missing out on the semi-finals. The 19-year-old became the youngest bowler to take six wickets in the history of the tournament, and gave up just 35 runs in the process the best figures for a Pakistan bowler in the competition.

“The way Shaheen is bowling, the consistency is amazing. One of the best bowling performances Ive ever seen,” Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed said.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq made a run-a-ball century and Babar

Azam scored 96 as they set the Bangladeshis a target of 316 runs in both sides final group game.

After fellow opener Fakhar Zaman was out for 13, Imam and Azam added 157 for the second wicket, laying the foundations for a big total.

Mohammad Saifuddin denied Azam a century when he trapped him lbw, while Imams innings ended in a hit-wicket dismissal when he backed into his own stumps as he tried to flick away a ball from Mustafizur Rahman.

Mustafizur went on to claim five Pakistan wickets for 75 runs.

In reply, Bangladeshs Shakib Al Hasan scored his seventh half-century of the tournament - equalling Sachin

Tendulkars record of 2003 before slashing wildly at a ball from Shaheen and being caught behind for 64.

That knock made Shakib the highest-scoring batsman of the World Cup with 606 runs. But Bangladeshs other wickets fell with alarming regularity as they were skittled out in 44 overs.

“I want to say sorry for Shakib. If we stepped up, the tournament couldve been different,” Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza told reporters.

Despite the win for Pakistan, the teams poor net run rate meant the 1992 champions had no real chance of pipping New Zealand to the last semi-final slot.

Based on their own score,

Saturday July 06, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Get in touch with your vulnerable side today, Aries. Don't pretend to be someone you're not. Realize that you can be yourself and still have a good time without needing to hog all the attention. Stabilize your mind and create space to grow.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Don't say anything about someone behind his or her back that you wouldn't want to say if the person were standing right next to you, Libra. Feelings are easily hurt on a day like this.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) This is your day, Taurus, so don't let anyone take it away from you. The key will be to get a head start on whatever goals you wish to accomplish.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) When it comes to decisions, Scorpio, do what's best for you today.

Don't feel like you need to perform certain tasks just because of guilt over a past situation.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Open up and reveal more of your sensitive side, Gemini.

The more willing you are to share with others, the more they will feel comfortable sharing things with you.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) It's time to settle down from the rapid-fire activities of the past few days and retreat to a quieter state of mind, Sagittarius.

CANCER(June21–July22) Things should go well for you today as long as you can keep the drama to a minimum. You can jump over any hurdle in your way, so don't worry about a thing. You have a sharp, intuitive wit about you that's grounded in the real world.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) This is an excellent day in which your thinking is clear and your emotions stable, Capricorn. Use this powerful combination of a solid frame of mind and compassionate feelings to express yourself in a sincere, positive fashion.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may have to bring yourself down to ground level in a rather sobering fashion, Leo. Maybe you're forgetting an important piece of a goal that you've been shooting for.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Turn your energy inward today, Aquarius. Make a detailed list of what you need to get done in order of priority. It's time to take inventory and get organized

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You have a tremendous ability to understand the inner workings of any situation, Virgo. You may need to give someone a reality check to make sure they're on the same page as you.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your head and heart are working in concert today, Pisces. Things are coming together just as you expected them to. Have confidence in yourself.

Pakistan would have had to bowl out Bangladesh for no more than seven runs in order to do that.

“We played good cricket but haven t qualified. That one game against West

Indies cost us the tournament,” Sarfaraz said, referring to their crushing opening loss.

“We have two months off and we need to do a lot of work with the team,” he

added.

Scores: Pakistan 315 for 9 (Imam 100, Babar 96, Mustafizur 5-75) beat Bangladesh 221 (Shakib 64, Shaheen Afridi 6-35) by 94 runs.

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Saturday July 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

Infantino eyes further World Cup Knee injury puts Van Niekerk’s world championships in jeopardy expansion after ‘best ever’ tournament (Reuters) - South African world record holder Wayde van Niekerks defence of his 400 metres world title could be in jeopardy after a knee injury.

The two-time world champion had picked up a bone bruise in his right knee that had set back his training by five to six weeks, his agent said in a statement.

“Sadly guys, Ive had a minor setback on my road to recovery,” Van Niekerk added on Twitter. “Ive been pushing myself a bit too hard in training so that I can make a memorable comeback but I have picked up a bone bruise on my knee so wont be participating in the upcoming @Diamond_League events.”

While the Doha world championships are not until late September and Van Niekerk has already qualified as the reigning world champion, the injury raises questions about whether he will try to make a comeback at all in 2019 and instead prepare to defend his Olympic title in 2020. Van Niekerk, 26, did not compete in 2018 after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a celebrity rugby

South Africa’s 400m Olympic gold medallist and world record holder Wayde van Niekerk looks on as he attends South African Championships in Germiston, South Africa, April 25, 2019. (REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko) match in 2017.

He has run only one 400 metres this year, clocking 47.28 seconds in February.

His world record from the 2016 Rio Olympics is 43.03.

“I will review my competition schedule with my team and together with my coach (Ans Botha) we will decide where and when to race,” Van Niekerk was quoted as say-

ing in his agents statement.

Van Niekerk remained “hopeful” of targeting a third world title, the statement said.

“He had MRI scans which showed the ligaments and meniscus in his (right) knee were fine but unfortunately he picked up a bone bruise which has set him back five or six weeks,” the statement added.

Nick Kyrgios says he deliberately tried to hit Rafael Nadal with ball, won’t apologize USA TODAY - Nick Kyrgios admitted to attempting to hit Rafael Nadal with a ball during their heated Wimbledon match Thursday and said he won’t be saying sorry to the 18-time Grand Slam champion. “Why would I apologize? I mean, the dude has got how many Slams, how much money in the bank account?” Kyrgios told reporters at a post-match news conference. “I think he can take a ball to the chest, bro.

I’m not going to apologize to him at all.” Nadal held on to beat Kyrgios 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5) 7-6 (3) and advance to the third round at the All England Club. During the third set of the match, Kyrgios aimed a forehand at his opponent’s chest but Nadal was able to deflect it with his racket before glaring back at Kyrgios.

“I don’t say Nick does this stuff to bother the opponent, but (it) is true that sometimes he’s dangerous,” Nadal told reporters. ”When he hit the ball like this, (it) is dangerous for a line referee, dangerous for a crowd. ... I know he’s a big, talented player, but I know when you hit this kind of ball, the ball can go anywhere. (The ball) almost hit me, no problem. I am profes-

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios reacts after winning a point against Spain’s Rafael Nadal in a Men’s singles match during day four of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth, AP) sional, so I know how to avoid this. But another one, the ball goes straight to the back. So (it could’ve) been dangerous

moment for the line umpire.

That ball hits an eye or something like this, (it becomes) a problem.”

Gianni Infantino (3L), seen attending the women’s World Cup semi-final between England and the USA, proposed expanding the tournament to 32 teams. (AFP/File / Franck Fife) AFP - FIFA president Gianni Infantino said yesterday he is determined to push ahead with plans to expand the women’s World Cup in time for the next tournament after hailing France 2019 as “the best ever”.

Speaking at a press conference in Lyon, where the World Cup concludes on Sunday a s h o l d e r s t h e United States and the Netherlands contest the final, Infantino said the tournament had been “phenomenal” as he promised huge increases in investment in the women’s game and to the prize fund for future competitions.

“There was a before and there will be an after the World Cup but it is up to us to seize the opportunity and do something about it,” added Infantino, who last month was re-elected for a second four-year term in charge of world football’s governing body.

Rolling out a series of proposals for the development of the women’s game, Infantino said he would try to expand the competition in time for the next tournament in four years.

“I think we should increase the number of participants,” said Infantino, who has succeeded in expanding the men’s tournament from 32 teams to 48 in time for the 2026 finals.

“The tricky thing is that we have a World Cup coming in 2023 for which we started just a couple of months ago a bidding process based on 24 teams, so there we will need to act more quickly if we want to have more teams already in 2023.”

This is only the second women’s World Cup since it was expanded from 16 teams to 24 in Canada four years ago. The competition started out with 12 teams in 1991.

Infantino suggested that FIFA may need to “reopen the bidding process and allow everyone to have a chance to organise or maybe co-host” but claimed that “nothing is impossible”.

A decision on who hosts the 2023 finals will be made next year, with Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Japan, South Africa, and New Zealand among the contenders, while the possibility of South Korea co-hosting with North Korea has also been raised.

Earlier in the tournament, USA star Alex Morgan stated her wish to see the competition expanded to give developing countries more reason to invest in the women’s game.

“It’s great to see quality games and quality teams, and my hope is eventually we cap it at 32 teams moving forward,” she said after her team’s 13-0 demolition of Thailand.

Infantino also promised to double the prize fund for the next tournament having initially raised overall contributions from $15 million to $50 million in time for this year’s competition.

When that increase was announced by FIFA late last year, it was criticised by players union FIFPro, who said it actually marked a “regressive trend” compared to the men’s tournament.

The prize money for the

2018 men’s World Cup in Russia was $400 million, a $48 million increase from 2014.

“I am very confident we can achieve the necessary figures,” Infantino said on Friday.

- Club World Cup? He said the increase was part of a wider plan to invest a further $500 million in the women’s game to achieve a total of $1 billion over the next four years.

“We have more than $2.75 billion of reserves, we don’t need all this money in the Swiss banks, they have enough money,” said the 49year-old.

“We need to invest this in order to make the whole movement around the world grow.”

His five-part plan for the future development of the women’s game also included establishing a “women’s World League” and creating a Club World Cup for women, “starting as soon as possible”.

“We can develop national team football only if we develop club football as well, all over the world, not only in a few countries,” he said while speaking at the home of Lyon, who have won the last four women’s Champions Leagues.

“We need a Club World Cup which can be played every year to expose clubs from all over the world and to make clubs — men’s clubs but also women’s clubs — invest even more in women’s football.”

Infantino is already pushing ahead with plans to expand the existing men’s Club World Cup to 24 teams.

Saturday July 06, 2019

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

G.S.S.F.s DIG INC.s sponsored Practical Shooting Match

Ryan McKinnon, Andy Phang take top honours Local practical shooters were for the second year given an opportunity last weekend, Saturday 29th June, to participate in a Sport Shooting Competition which was exclusively sponsored by Dental Imports Guyana Inc. (DIG Inc.) and hosted by the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation. Match Director Mr. David Dharry in declaring the Match open, welcomed participants to what promised to be an exciting afternoon with five dynamic fun stages. Everyone converged on the “Peekaboo” stage as one Squad which began with shooters standing in a relaxed position, heels touching rear fault lines of the stage. A magazine was inserted in the handgun but chamber empty.

Upon start signal, shooters had to engage the 4 paper targets as they became visible and run a few feet forward to finally peek around a barricade to engage the 3 remaining poppers.

After warming up by completing the first stage, shooters proceeded to a starkly different stage called “No Rush” which comprised of 4 paper targets but 6 no-shoot targets surrounding them which caused participants to take their time after turning to face downrange when the startsignal was given. Gasps were heard by participants and spectators alike as seasoned shooters unfortunately registered a few hits on the muchdreaded no-shoot targets thereby incurring a penalty of minus 10 points per hit.

Things then turned a little lively after that particularly tense stage as everyone pro-

ceeded to the “Bolero” stage which started with the participants all standing in Zone A, facing uprange, with all their magazines placed on a barrel.

Upon start signal, shooters had to retrieve unloaded handgun placed on a table behind them or choose to retrieve the magazines first then engage all targets which were 7 paper targets and 2 plates.

This stage saw shooters engaging targets as if dramatically and technically dancing the Spanish bolero with different techniques/moves executed.

The fun did not end there as shooters then proceeded to what was declared a fun stage: “Afternoon Jog”. This stage was just that as shooters started out with a loaded and holstered handgun and upon start signal had to move/ jog to various locations to engage 6 paper targets, 2 poppers and 2 plates.

The afternoons Competition ended on the “Fiesta” which was a very colourful stage which saw shooters on start position standing with a Sombrero on his/her head, facing uprange, hands touching marks on the wall.

Holstered handgun was loaded and chamber empty.

Upon start signal, shooters had to engage targets with the provided sombrero on shooter when engaging targets. This stage comprised of 11 paper targets, 2 no-shoot and 2 poppers.

Beautiful trophies were presented to the winners.

Overall Match Results of the G.S.S.F. Practical Shooting Match sponsored by Dental Imports Guyana Inc. were as

Prize Winners of the 2019 DIG sponsored Practical shooting Match, Mr. Ryan McKinnon (yellow shirt) and Mr. Andrew Phang (red shirt) surrounded by other prize winners, Dr. Pravesh Harry, Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon and Mr. Dallas Thomas. Missing is Master John Phang. (Stanford Howard photo) follows.

Limited Division: 1st Place Ryan McKinnon (345.3381 Points) 2nd Place John Phang (331.0934 Points) 3rd Place Pravesh Harry (287.3179 Points) Production Division: 1st Place Andrew Phang (347.6693 Points) 2nd Place Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon (307.1555 Points) 3rd Place Dallas Thomas (235.1131 Points) Dr. Pravesh Harry in the

Closing Ceremony reiterated his pleasure at being able to sponsor a Guyana Sport Shooting Foundations Practical Shooting Match and indicated DIGs commitment to the GSSF and safe sport shooting activities. DIG Inc., which has been established

by Dr. Pravesh Harry and Dr. Kevin Jodah, is a local, efficient, and reliable dental supplies company. The main focus of the company at this point is to supply dentists in and around Guyana with a wide range of dental materi-

als at competitive prices.

The G.S.S.F. would like to extend its sincerest gratitude to Dr. Harry and the Board of Directors of Dental Imports Guyana Inc for the kind sponsorship and support of the Foundations activities and events. The Board of Directors wishes to commend the Match Director, Range Master, Stats Officer, Range Officers and the shooters for ensuring an efficient event. Special thanks also to the Guyana Defence Force, Chief of Staff Brigadier Patrick West, Com-

missioner of Police Mr. Leslie James, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ms. Maxine Graham, OC Mr. Guy Nurse, the ranks of TSU and the Guyana Police Force, the Media and GSSF members for their support in promoting practical shooting locally. Thanks also to Mr. Harold Hopkinson for the use of his personal props, steel plates, poppers and targets stands for some of the stages.

More information on the G.S.S.F. is available on its websitewww.GuyanaSportShooting.com

Cori ‘Coco’ Gauff, 15-year-old American, storms back for another Wimbledon upset U S A TO D AY - C o r i “Coco” Gauff’s remarkable Wimbledon run isnt over.

The 15-year-old American pulled off another huge upset yesterday, this one in a third-round thriller that saw her come back to beat Slovenian Polona Hercog 6-3, 7-6, 7-5.

After taking down Venus Williams in the first round and Magdalena Rybarikova in the second round both in straight sets Gauff had her back against the wall after losing the first set and trailing Hercog 5-2 in the second set.

But thats when the teenager dug down and found another gear. Gauff rallied to force a tiebreak, which she won 9-7, and fed

off the crowd at the All England Club to win the decisive third set.

Gauff advances to the fourth round to face No. 7seeded Simona Halep on Monday.

The 28-year-old Hercog looked to have the match won late in the second set.

Hercog, ranked No. 60 in the world, was able to use her low-slicing style and court movement early on to overwhelm Gauff, who entered as No. 313 in the world.

Gauffs three victories have made her a darling at Wimbledon, as she became the youngest tennis player to win a match in the prestigious tournament since Jennifer Capriati in 1991. After stunning

Williams 6-4, 6-4 in straight sets, she then defeated Rybarikova 6-3, 6-3 in the second round.

“You can kind of fake it until you make it, but Im not faking it, at least right now,” Gauff told reporters after beating Rybarikova, the 2017 Wimbledon semifinalist, on Wednesday.

Gauff previously won the junior French Open title at 14 and had to earn her ticket to Wimbledon by knocking out No. 1 seed Aliona Bolsova in qualifying rounds.

“It just shows if you really work hard, you can get where you want to go,” Gauff told reporters earlier this week. “Last week, around this time, I didn’t know I was coming here.”

Cori Gauff of the United States celebrates in her third round match against Polona Hercog of Slovenia at Wimbledon. (Photo: Shaun Botterill, Getty Images)

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Saturday July 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

Albion Community Center Cricket Club GCB extends heartfelt sympathy one week academy starts Monday on the passing of Aaron Latchman

Albion Community Center Cricket Club will be holding their 2019 Cricket Academy from Monday July 8 to Saturday July 13. The activity will be held at the Club facilities at the Albion Community Center, Corentyne Berbice.

The activity is expected to be held from 09:00 hrs in the mornings.

The main objective of this five-day academy is exposing young cricketers to the basic fundamentals of the game. The participants will be taught both theory and practical during their time at the academy.

Persons desirous of attending the academy are required to complete an online application or visit the club to have the particulars taken before the academy

commences.

Over the years the club, which is one to top clubs in the country, has produced a number of outstanding cricketers, a number of whom have gone on to represent the country and West Indies on the International Level.

Sewnarine Chatergoon, Narasingh Deonarine, Devendra Bishoo and Veerasamy Permaul have worn West Indian Colours.

Others such as former player National player Sudesh Dhaniram, was outstanding. Guyanas present wicket-keeper/batsman Anthony Bramble along with Gudakesk Motie and Johnathan Foo are household names from the club. (Samuel Whyte)

RFA-GBTI Annual U13 Finals on today

The Executives and Staff of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) have on July 4th 2019, learnt with great sadness of the passing of former national youth player, Mr Aaron Latchman. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, clients and friends. Mr. Aaron Latchman was always a pleasant individual, and from our understanding, was always ready to assist anyone in whatever way he could. His demise is a great loss to the members of the entire cricket fraternity.

As a cricketer, Aaron Latchman was known for his dedicated service to the game and for his inclination to

promote team work ethics. His contribution to the growth of Guyanas cricket has been highly appreciated and has definitely left an exemplary player development trait that can be adopted by budding cricketers.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time as we share their pain and grief. May his soul rest in eternal peace!

NB: Latchman made his under-19 Inter-County debut for Essequibo in 1989 and played for Guyana in the Regional U-19 tournament in 1990 in Trinidad and 1991 in Jamaica as batting all-rounder who bowled Medium pace.

Former National U-19 Cricketer Aaron Latchman

Inclement weather forces postponement of Breeders Cup The inclement weather is taking a toll on sporting events across Guyana, especially those that are contested outdoors.

The latest to be affected is the much anticipated Jumbo Jet Racing Committee Breeders Cup Horserace meet which is a three in one event that also included grass track motorcycle racing and a car-and-bike show. The event was slated for Sunday 14th July at the Bush Lot United Turf Club West Coast Berbice. According to information from the organisers the event was galvanizing much interest and due to the rain it would be impossible to stage. The organisers are looking at possible new dates in August or September to stage the

event.

The horserace meet and the Grass track racing will be held simultaneous during the day with the days motorcyclists taking to the track during intervals of the horse racing. The Car and Bike Show will be held at the end of those two events going into the evening. Five races are listed for the horseracing event with the race for horses classified E3 and lower listed as the feature event for the day. There are different categories and distances for the motorcycles in the Grass Track events. The vehicles and bikes in the car and bike event will be judged according to make, brand, decoration, sound, cleanest etc.

Marquez quickest in practice ahead of German MotoGP

Tabatinga FC U13 Team.

The Rupununi Football Association (RFA) in partnership with the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) will host the finals of the U13 Championship today at the St. Ignatius Ground, Lethem from 14:00hrs.

The annual tournament, which began on June 29, saw the participation of 18 clubs from the five sub-districts by the end of the preliminary rounds, which is scheduled for today at 16:00hrs Central (5), East Central (5), North (4), Deep South (2) and South Central (2).

Competing in the finals will be eight clubs, winner

and runner-up respectively from Central, East Central and North subdistricts with one club each from Deep South and South Central sub-district.

To d a t e , B a s i c F C a n d Paiwomak Warriors FC will represent North Rupununi, while Ta b a t i n g a F C a n d Gladiators FC will represent Central District; defending champions Guyana Rush Saints FC was knocked out of the tournament.

The other three districts scheduled to complete their preliminary round today at the following venues are: East Central leg at the Yupukari

Sports Ground, South leg at the Aishalton Sports Ground and the South Central leg at Shulinab Sports Ground.

This is the third year of the tournament, which aims to promote healthy lifestyles and the development of young talent for national selection. “GBTI has been a good corporate citizen and has been supporting football development at various levels including the seniors and U23. The RFA welcomes this partnership towards the development of football in the region and Guyana at large,” said Rayan Farias, RFAs president.

Marc Marquez was fastest in practice ahead of Sunday’s German GP at Sachsenring. (AFP/File / Tobias Schwarz) AFP - Championship leader Marc Marquez again showed his mastery of the Sachsenring circuit to clock the quickest time in yesterday’s practice ahead of tomorrow’sGermanGrandPrix.

The Spaniard, who has won every edition of this race since 2013, ran second behind Frenchman Fabio Quartararo during the morning session but turned things around in the afternoon.

Marquez almost crashed his Honda on his first lap but after coming out of the pits on soft rear tyres, he went on to post a fastest time of 1min 20.705sec.

That left him 0.341 seconds ahead of Suzuki’sAlex Rins who was marginally quicker than a disappointed and disgruntled Quartararo.

The 20-year-old, who took pole inAssen last week-

end,wasimpededbyhisownYamahateammateFranco Morbidelli as he looked set to improve on Rins’ time.

The final practice session takes place on Saturday morning with qualification in the afternoon.

Freepracticetimes: 1.MarcMarquez(ESP/Honda)1:20.705 2.AlexRins(ESP/Suzuki)at0.341 3.FabioQuartararo(FRA/Yamaha)0.360 4.MaverickVinales(ESP/Yamaha)0.488 5.PolEspargaro(ESP/KTM)0.560 6.CalCrutchlow(GBR/Honda)0.687 7.JackMiller(AUS/Ducati)0.737 8.DaniloPetrucci(ITA/Ducati)0.779 9.AndreaDovizioso(ITA/Ducati)0.784 10.ValentinoRossi(ITA/Yamaha)0.833

Saturday July 06, 2019

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

Guyanese Umpires attend CWI B-Panel workshop Gardner to compete at Darcy Beckles Diamond Cup in Barbados, today

Guyanese umpire Shannon Crawford makes a point to his colleagues during a practical session at the workshop.

Five Guyanese Umpires, namely Shannon Crawford, Nankumar Shivsankar, Imran Moakhan, Ryan Banwarie, and Javed Persaud joined thirteen of their regional colleagues in attending a twoday workshop for CWI B Panel Umpires, which was held at the Hilton Hotel & Conference Centre with Practical Sessions at Queens Park Oval in Trinidad & Tobago on 2nd and 3rd of July.

The B-Panel usually takes care of all CWI Age Group and Women Tournaments and partners the Senior Panel to cover First Class and List A Matches.

The Workshop was organized by Cricket West Indies

which was Co-odinated by Mr. Daro Barthley, CWI Project Director and facilitated by Mr. Peter Nero Former International Umpire & CWI Umpires Coach/Assessor. The workshop covered areas such as Child Protection, Match Management, Preparation, Performance, Players Behavior, Suspect Bowling Action, Field Technique, 3rd and 4th Umpire Duties, Personal Development and Umpires Accreditation. Speaking with Kaieteur sport, Guyanese Crawford said the workshop was very timely, beneficial and a wonderful experience for all in attendance and is part of their continuous growth and devel-

opment. “A lot was learnt, accomplished and achieved, the participation, enthusiasm, team building, camaraderie, friendship, sharing and enlightenment was great. It is very important that umpires continue to train and study and fine tune all aspects of cricket umpiring so that they will be able to deliver a very high standard of officiating at all times. Also we are from different parts of the Caribbean with various background and cultures, but we are called upon to work as a team, so it is very important that at all times we aim for consistency, singing from the same hymn book and we are always on the same page, so the major

objective of the activity such as this workshop is to promote just that.”

He added that, “CWI must be commended and given high kudos for this initiative and we express our sincere thanks and gratitude to Mr. Dario Barthley, Mr. Peter Nero and all others who contributed to make this workshop a success.”

“The CWI Umpires have a responsibility to pass on their knowledge and experiences to the local Umpires in the respective territory and we here in Guyana will be doing just that as we are working on a policy of “Continuous Umpire Education” (CUE).”

Chilled Halep catches fire to dispatch Azarenka at Wimbledon LONDON (Reuters) Simona Halep was supposedly having a chill year, but for a little over an hour on Wimbledons Centre Court the ice-cool Romanian was on fire as she swatted aside Victoria Azarenka 6-3 6-1 yesterday to reach the fourth round.

Haleps form has understandably dipped since she won the French Open last year to lift the weighty millstone of several Grand Slam final failures and she said her intention in 2019 was to mentally ease off the accelerator.

Yet any suggestion that her hunger had diminished was emphatically dispelled as she absorbed everything Azarenka could muster and then dismantled her fellow former world number one to progress for the loss of four games. That statistic was all the more remarkable considering Azarenka, ranked 40th in the world, had broken in the

Romania’s Simona Halep celebrates winning her third round match against Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka. (REUTERS/Toby Melville) fourth game of the first set to take a 3-1 lead, a commanding advantage that was comprehensively erased as the seventh-ranked Halep won six straight games.

The Belarusians frustrations boiled over as she slammed her

racket into the turf, receiving a code violation from the umpire, before she fell to her knees with head in hands after smacking a simple put-away into the net.

Azarenka, who had dis-

patched her second-round opponent by winning 12 consecutive games, made only one further mark on the scoreboard against Halep, to level at 1-1 in the second set, before the Romanian put her foot to the floor to win five games on the bounce.

She brought up three match points with a precise midcourt dropshot and, after spurning the first, put Azarenka out of her on-court misery, when the Belarusian netted a return.

Next up for Halep is a potentially mouth-watering clash with Cori Gauff, providing the 15-year-old American can get past Polona Hercog.

Not that Halep will be paying much attention.

“My coach is going to watch this match,” she said.

“I will recover my body and just chill. I have a day off. I dont look at the draw. I just take it match by match.”

Former Mr. Guyana Body Building champion Sylvan Gardner will be competing at the Darcy Beckles Diamond Cup in the Land of the Flying Fish, Barbados, today.

Gardner who left Guyana yesterday informed that he is hopeful of putting in a good performance against what is expected to be tough competition. He is hoping that his vast experience after turning a Pro back in 2008 as well as his exploits as Guyana most successful CAC competitor, can land him a top placing in Barbados. The Pro Qualifiers, which has 19 Pro Cards at stake, will commence at 10:00hrs today with the successful competitors moving on to the Pro Show this evening from 19:00hrs at the

Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Center. Some USD$24,000 will be at stake in the five (5) Divisions Body Building, Mens Physique, Womens Body Fitness, Womens Bikini-Fitness, Womens Wellness Fitness.

It is expected that more Guyanese athletes will be competing including Caerus Cipriani who will compete in the Mens Physique category.

Gardner is expressing thanks to the following sponsors for making his trip possible.

Farfan and Mendez, Jai Singh, Julius Variety Store, Fitness Express, Hot and Spicy, Roger Yearwood, Massy Distribution, Mr. Etwaroo, Johnny P. Supermarket, Cool Square, Macorp, Acbar Auto Sales, Family and Friends

Johnsons team overcome Jamess team in STSC final Keyon Johnson team defeated John James side 4-1 to win the final of the South Turkeyen Sports Committee and Belfield Sports Club Caricom Day 4-a-side small goal and penalty shootout football competition which was held recently at Belfield tarmac.

Eon Jeffers scored twice, while Kevin Johnson and Andy Andrews netted once for the winners; skipper James was on target for his team. Jeffers was named the most valuable player.

Earlier, Johnson side overcame Kent team 4-3. Trophies and medals were for the outstanding teams and players were donated by Tent City, MSC, Mr. Henry Chase, CEO Carry Cargo, Trophy Stall, Johnny Barnwell and Dexter Thompson.

Djokovic equals Becker mark with Wimbledon last 16 spot

Novak Djokovic returns he ball to Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz. (AFP / Ben Stansall) AFP - Defending champion Novak Djokovic went level with Boris Becker’s mark of 12 appearances in the Wimbledon fourth round yesterday despite a midmatch blip.

The world number one and four-time winner defeated Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-4.

He will next face either Canada’s Felix AugerAliassime who, at 18, is the youngest man in the draw, or Ugo Humbert of France, the world number 66.

Djokovic is now level with Becker in third place on the all-time list for last-16 places.

Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors lead the way with 16.

PAGE 32

Saturday July 06, 2019

Kaieteur News

Lionel D Andrade triumphant in T and T WICUA 29th bi-annual convention commences tomorrow in Barbados Close to 150 members of the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association (WICUA) will be gathering in Barbados this weekend for the organisations 29th bi-annual convention. Long-serving WICUA secretary Vivian Johnson said the week-long convention, the fifth to be held in Barbados since the organisation was founded in 1962, will see umpires from the six West Indies cricket associations, as well as Bermuda, Canada, the Cayman Islands and the United States, attending.

Johnson said that during the week discussions, which will take place at Kensington Oval, are scheduled on training and development of umpires throughout the region served by the WICUA, there will be elections of office bearers for the next two years, and

a cricket match played between the umpires of Barbados as host country and those from visiting ranks. The convention will culminate with the Presidents Banquet and Awards function where a number of umpires will receive their certified WICUA umpires certificates, and others will receive awards for outstanding service to the Association.

The newly elected Vice President of Cricket West Indies, Dr. Kishore Shallow, will be the guest speaker at the dinner.

There will be approximately 150 umpires in attendance with Guyana Cricket Umpires Council President Shannon Crawford and Vice President Arleigh Rutherford, who is also the Chairman of the Georgetown Cricket Umpires and Scorers Associa-

tion, being the two delegates from Guyana. Others attending from Guyana are Kenalyn Baker, Grantley Culbard, Matthew Kissoon, Dawchand Nagassar, Karen Witherspoon and Deon Feassal.

The convention gets underway with a church service followed by an Island tour.

The opening ceremony will be held on Monday which will be preceded by a meet and greet function. On Tuesday there will be a cultural night while games on Wednesday.

The Wanderers Cricket ground will host the cricket match on Thursday, while on Friday the Kensington Oval will be the venue for the Awards Ceremony and Presidents ball. The delegates will then depart Barbados on Saturday July 13.

YBG-NSBF National Playoffs

This weekends semi-finalists decided

Lionel D Andrade, Ted John and Guswil Georgeb with their prizes on the podium.

Guyanese Lionel A Andrade continued to impress in Trinidad and Tobago where he won the Living Beyond Hope 5k which was con-

tested recently. He clocked 17 minutes 44 seconds to win the event ahead of second placed Ted John of the host nation in 17:45 and Guswil Georgeb

of St. Vincent who finished third in 17:56. 256 athletes started the race.

D Andrade will be in action again today.

10-man Benin upset Morocco on penalties in huge Nations Cup shock CAIRO (Reuters) - Ten-man Benin rode their luck to eliminate heavily fancied Morocco on penalties in an extraordinary upset in the opening match of the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations yesterday.

Benin advanced to quarterfinals, after four successive draws, as they outscored Morocco 4-1 in the shootout after a 1-1 stalemate at the end of extra time in the last-16 tie.

The small West African nation survived a last-gasp stoppage-time penalty missed by Morocco and an extra-time dismissal to create one of the tournaments great upsets.

Defender Moise Adilehou opened the scoring to give Benin a shock 53rd-minute lead before Youssef En-Nesyri equalised after 76 minutes.

Benin’s Seibou Mama scores the winning penalty in the shootout. (REUTERS/Suhaib Salem)

Under-14 group play between Saints and YBG Cluster (offence).

Following the final round of play in the under-14 and girls division on Thursday evening in the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) National Schools Basketball Festival, the semi-final fixtures for all the divisions have be set.

On Thursday, St. Stanislaus College (Saints) got a hard fought 25-21 victory over St. Roses High in their final under-14 group fixture. Daniel Bailey netted 11 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the winners.

Kwakwani remained unbeaten in the group with a close 25-22 triumph over the winless YBG cluster and Presidents College thumped

Marian Academy 30-7 to round off the under-14 group action.

In the girls division, Queens College got past Saints 23-6 with Naiomi Barkoye swooshing 16 points and collecting 19 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Marian Academy handed Kwakwani girls their first loss of the entire tournament, a nail-biting 3332 finish after double overtime.

The fixtures for todays and tomorrows semi-finals are listed below.

Saturday, July 6th (U14 & Girls) Game 1: Marian Academy vs Saints Stanislaus College-

4:30pm (GIRLS) Game 2: Kwakwani Sec. vs Queens College- 5:30pm (GIRLS) Game 3: Presidents College vs Saints Stanislaus6:30pm (U14) Sunday, July 7th (U18) Game 1: Presidents College vs Berbice High- 5:30pm Game 2: Kwakwani Secondary vs NATI - 6:30pm The Finals for the NSBF (U14, GIRLS & U18) are set for Saturday, July 13th.

The festival is sponsored

by Edward B. Beharry and Company Ltd, the National Sports Commission, Banks DIH, Exxon Mobil and Bounty Ltd.

Kaieteur News

Saturday July 06, 2019

PAGE 33

Dutch upstarts bid to shock mighty U.S. in World Cup final LYON, France (Reuters) - The Netherlands will bid to begin a new era in womens soccer in tomorrows World Cup final when they try to stop the all-conquering United States team from claiming a record fourth crown.

It is almost a classic David v Goliath clash, although the Dutch did produce a major shock two years ago when, ranked 12th in the world, they won the European Championship on home soil to lift their first trophy.

The Netherlands have utilized technically-gifted players, like former world player of the year Lieke Martens, to reach the final against the most dominant team in womens football history.

Both sides are managed by women, Sarina Wiegman coaching the Dutch and Jill Ellis leading the U.S. Of the 24 teams competing at the World Cup, only nine were

coached by women.

The U.S., seeking to retain the trophy they won comfortably in Canada four years ago, have been severely tested in this tournament with Ellis saying it has been their hardest ever route to a final.

The Americans were indebted to goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher for saving a late penalty in their 2-1 semifinal win over England on Tuesday.

The Netherlands needed extra-time to see off Sweden as a long-range strike from midfielder Jackie Groenen sent them through.

“We watched the USA game against England and of course they are a really strong team. I hope we will be able to play our own game,” Groenen said.

“We never knew this would be possible. It is one more match and we could be world champions.

It will be difficult but it will be incredible to win.”

Netherlands Lieke Martens in action with Sweden’s Hanna Glas. (Reuters Denis Balibouse)

Serena and Murray’s Wimbledon mixed doubles match ‘canceled’ London (Reuters) - Serena Williams and Andy Murrays mixed doubles match at Wimbledon was canceled yesterday evening by organizers, who did not say if the first-round clash had been rearranged, or if the celebrity pair had scratched from the tournament.

The two tennis stars had teamed up on Wednesday to play in the event. Serena is still competing in the singles, while Murray hasnt played singles since the start of the year because of injury, but appears to be making a tentative comeback through doubles.

The pair had been due to play Andreas Mies and Alexa Guarachi on Centre Court, but moments after the preceding match went to a third set at around 7:15pm local time, organizers announced the mixed doubles clash was being “canceled”.

Wiegman, a former midfielder for the national side when they were outside the elite, took over in January 2017 and has led the team to 12 straight wins in tournament football, many coming through late goals.

The U.S. have their own record going with 11 consecutive World Cup wins. Their last defeat was the 2011 final in Germany when they lost to Japan in a penalty shootout.

The result was a major upset for the four-times Olympic gold medalists and Ellis is well aware of the threat posed by the European champions.

“The Netherlands have had a great tournament, obviously coming off the Euros, (weve seen) tremendous performances by them,” she said.

Should the U.S. triumph it would mean they have won four out of eight editions of the womens World Cup. Questions over whether

they are arrogant may still linger, particularly if jointleading tournament scorer Alex Morgan breaks out another cheeky goal celebration as she did against England.

The Dutch, meanwhile, could cap a remarkable journey in what is only their fifth major tournament, all of them since 2009, and in only their second World Cup finals appearance.

A Dutch win would also be a fitting end to a tournament where the levels of competitiveness in womens football around the world has shown a marked increase.

rt o p S Cori ‘Coco’ Gauff, 15-year-old American, Gardner to compete at storms back for another Wimbledon upset Darcy Beckles Diamond

Cup in Barbados, today

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P.29

Sylvan Gardner Cori Gauff of the U.S. in action during her third round match against Slovenia’s Polona Hercog (REUTERS/Toby Melville)

Infantino eyes further World Cup expansion after ‘best ever’ tournament P.26

G.S.S.F.s DIG INC.s sponsored Practical Shooting Match

Ryan McKinnon, Andy Phang take top honours P.27

Group Picture of some of the Participants in the DIG 2019 sponsored GSSFs Practical Shooting Match. (Stanford Howard photo) Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.