Kaieteur News
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Friday July 07, 2017
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL MEDICAL INCOMPETENCE COSTING LIVES There is no disagreement on whether or not the State should provide health care to the people because if the provision of health care is left in the hands of private providers, some life-saving, essential services will not be provided. Furthermore, it will be too costly for the poor. Health care should be affordable to all, rich and poor alike. But the quest for profit by private health care providers will result in corners being cut in terms of quality service. It will also be a disservice to the poor. The State must provide health care, due largely to the diminishing purchasing power of the masses, rising inflation and low wages. However, as in many other countries, Guyanese have a choice between accessing health care in the private or public sector, but those who opt for the former would normally get a rude awakening in terms of cost. They will find the grass is not greener on the other side, because private health care is very expensive. For decades, services at all the public hospitals throughout the country have been very poor and promises by our politicians to improve them have not materialized. The fact that the public hospitals simply do not have the resources and medical staff to offer high-quality service to the people is an indictment on the government. Inadequate infrastructure, inefficient systems, shortage of nurses and trained doctors, sloppy management, lack of drugs and poor customer relations are some of the major problems facing the public hospitals. Too many of the medical staffers at the public hospitals and health care clinics throughout the country are often discourteous to the public. They do not communicate with tact or with sensitivity - given that health issues are involved, and that they are working at a health institution. The support staffers at these facilities appear to be none the wiser. Many of them berate patients and issue threats to them for asking about the poor services they receive at the hospitals. Questions such as when they would be able to see a doctor or why they have to wait for such a very long time. Being rude and uncaring of the fact that persons who are at a health centre are likely to be ill is unsympathetic. In a health care environment, this can be disastrously discouraging and sometimes fatal. The issue surrounding many careless deaths at the public hospitals is not whether the Ministry of Public Health is at fault, but rather, whether lessons can be learnt by the hospitals and their administrators on how to prevent such mistakes in future. In order to provide quality health care to the public, the hospitals must have a staff that anticipates the problems and knows how to treat patients who are in distress. A few weeks ago, a woman was sent home from the New Amsterdam Hospital after receiving treatment for selfinflicted stab wounds. She died a few hours after, which suggests that the wounds had to be life-threatening. And a little over three months ago, a ten-year-old girl who was violently kicked in the stomach by a male classmate, was treated at the Georgetown Hospital and sent home. She died a few days after. The fact that the girl and the woman were treated and sent away instead of being admitted to the hospital shows that in both cases, the attending officials at both hospitals exhibited gross incompetence. Too many people continue to die from medical incompetence at the public hospitals, and while the Ministry of Public Health may not be directly responsible, it must share the blame for such undesirable services. Medical incompetence is costing too many lives.
Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.
Guyana’s only choice is to take it or leave it Dear Editor, may become a Brunei. For the time being it should take an All the talk about unfairness with regard to the Exxon deal is just the same verbal diarrhea that caused the plywood and cardboard companies to pack up and leave. Moreover, you don’t see companies trampling over each other to replace them. Why, Guyanese has one choice - take it or leave it because Guyana is a “small” country. There is risk and reward when investing. For this reason, Guyana is a huge risk and the reward is built into the deal. Perhaps in the distant future it
advance from Exxon to really fix the electricity challenges. Then build the biggest jail on one of the thousand islands in the Essequibo. Next, give every citizen 1000 shares in a special purpose entity that controls all oil and gas subsidiaries resulting from the Exxon deal. This is inexpensive because there are approximately 400,000 Guyanese 18 years and older. Besides, you would not have to talk about Pradoville ever. Keith Bernard
Over three billion dollars owed to the City Council Dear Editor, The Mayor and Councilors of the City of Georgetown wishes to urge rate payers to ensure that their accounts are up to date. The records of the Council reveled that some rate-payers have not honoured their civic obligation in excess of five years. Currently, there is 3.1 billion dollars outstanding in rates owed to the Georgetown Municipality by rate- payers. General Rates accounts for approximately 81% of the total revenue of the Council’s income. The short fall in rates collected has seriously affected the capacity of the Council to provide the requisite services in a timely manner, while the demand for these services are steadily increasing. The services provided include: cleaning of drains, road repairs, street lighting, collection of garbage, and maintenance of parks and gardens. The fact remains that monies are necessary to provide these services.
The Municipality has observed that some ratepayers are eluding the system when properties are bought and sold. These properties are transferred from one owner to another without the rates cleared off. In light of this fact, the Council is calling on lending institutions to ensure that when granting loans to property owners that a certificate of compliances is presented. Also please be advised that when granting loans to property owners, a certificate of compliance should be obtained from the Mayor and City Council.Also please be advised that when granting loans to property owners, a certificate of compliance should be obtained from the Mayor and City Council. Before a certificate of compliance is issued by the Council outstanding rates must be cleared off. The Council would be working with other Institutions to put an end to this practice. The Council wishes to remind rate-
payers that the Council has implemented a payment plan to assist rate- payer who are experiencing financial challenges. According to the Municipal and District Councils Act 28:01: · No transport shall be passed for any parcel of land in a council area, except upon production to the Register of Deeds or Judge of a certificate signed by the clerk of the council that the provisions of section 300 will not thereby be contravened. · Neither the Official Receiver nor the Registrar may sell any portion of a lot less than a whole lot unless he is first supplied with the certificate of the clerk, which shall be supplied to the Registrar by the judgment creditor. · Any person desiring to sell or purchase any plot within a council area may at any time obtain a certificate of the clerk thereof. Debra Lewis Public Relations Officer
150 years of the bible of socialist economics Dear Editor, Dr. Henry Jeffrey’s column captioned “Freedom” makes for interesting reading and introduces some new insights in the rather complicated writings of Karl Marx as embodied in his publication Das Kapital. This year marks 150 years since the publication of Das Kapital and a Discussion Forum was organized at the National Library on July 1 where several participants shared their views and perspectives on the relevance of Marx’s contribution to political economy in contemporary society. The event was sponsored by the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre in collaboration with the Guyana Peace Council and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union. Dr. Jeffrey in his contribution to the
discussion drew attention to an interpretation by Marx where work was seen as a form of alienation. Such alienation, it should be noted, was premised only on a particular production mode, namely a class divided capitalist system of production and distribution, one in which the fruits of human labour were appropriated and siphoned off not to satisfy the material and cultural needs of the worker but for private accumulation. In other words, the socialized nature of production comes in open conflict with private appropriation of surplus value which leaves the worker increasingly estranged not only from himself but also from the product of his labour. True freedom can only be realized when the socialized nature of production is in congruence with the socialized manner
of expropriation as embodied in the principle “ from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs”. In such a scenario, classes will disappear and the worker will finally be ‘liberated’ from the tyranny of work. Only then will there be total and true freedom. All of that, as correctly pointed out by Dr. Jeffrey is purely theoretical but it does suggest an alternative to the current system of capitalism which is characterized by high levels of inequity in the distribution of goods and services produced by human labour. As to whether or not Marx’s prediction of the self-destructing tendencies of capitalism constitute an ‘absurdity’ as posited by Dr. Jeffrey, in my humble view, can only be answered by the long march of time. Hydar Ally
These bank robbers preyed on people before Dear Editor, There is a song by one of the Jamaican artistes that runs like this, and I have substituted boy for girl “Pretty boy with bad character” this sums up the essence of the robbery that nearly was at the Water Street Branch of The Republic Bank. Following the news on print and electronic media as well as
on social media, most of the readers seem to be obsessed with the fact that one of the bandits was a “handsome” university graduate, and as such felt sorry for the guy. They keep repeating this over and over again as the central theme. Barring the scruffy hard knocks involved in the heist they seemed transfixed with the “handsome graduate.” How
sorry are they that he is in this sordid affair. Well, they are so wrong! Most of those sympathizers are missing something really important here; thieves, bandits, criminals, what have you, do not go with looks, rather it goes with ones character, what is concealed within far secluded from our natural view. If someone is a
criminal no matter how “good looking” he or she might appear to the public’s eye; the point is you are a criminal, period end of discussion! The case in review begs the question why was the agronomist there? That kind of activity has nothing to do with the science for which he was trained, so what was he (Continued on page 5)
Friday July 07, 2017
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Kaieteur News
In large cities these things don’t happen, why then in Guyana? DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me to comment on the recent botched robbery at the Republic Bank Water Street branch several days ago. I once shared a few local case studies with my hostage and crises negotiation classmates in the USA; and one of my professors said that she was very surprised to learn of some of the things that happen in Guyana, given its small population. But it was Professor Wayman C. Mullins of the University of Texas who said that even in large cities; you seldom find some of the things that go on in Guyana, and in relatively close proximity of each o t h e r. H e o p i n e d t h a t things in Guyana might get a lot worse before it gets better. So now we come to the recent botched armed robbery, and brief hostage situation. It is interesting to note that barricade situations are becoming commonplace in Guyana. Readers will recall the s t a n d o ff a t t h e To u c a n Suits many years ago which resulted in the death of Linden London AKA Blackie. Then there was the one on Middle Street, and
now this one, all these incidents present differing characteristics. In the case of Toucan Suits, the police resorted to what is known in crisis negotiation as the ‘action imperative’ and killed the previously barricaded fugitive immediately after he emerged, even though a negotiated position had been arrived at. The Middle street standoff presented the profile of a ‘berserk active shooter’ while the recent robbery was a well taught out crime, by minds too young to understand concentric layers of security. Even this case is a very strange and troubling one for many reasons. Very seldom do you see professional people with great potential for growth getting into such escapades, except when faced with severe domestic crises, as is often the case with military veterans. The robbery became a hostage situation in so far that one of the robbers used an individual at the scene of the crime, to prosecute a ‘substantive demand’ – one that is directly related to motivation or a resolution, in this case freedom to es-
cape. However, the crisis did not develop into a real hostage situation as no other demands were proffered for the release of the detained individual or for a large sum, a ransom order. And we should not lose track of this very point, for it communicates some very important information. Likewise, an ‘expressive demand’ will provide insight into the subjects’ emotional status and behavior. While ‘Secondary demands’ made by a subject are not necessarily related to motivation, they are nonetheless, an important part of the resolution strategy. A friend of mine once told me that the involvement of bank employees in robberies is a well-manicured practice in Guyana, having started somewhere around 1969. He said back then, the bank employee will pass the pertinent information directly to a group of robbers, who will attack the unsuspecting customer and steal the money, after which the bank employee will receive 25% of the loot. Given the degree of sophistication available today, one can only imagine how syndicated this practice has become. Guyana is quickly becom-
These bank robbers preyed on people... From page 4 doing there? The answer comes back “to thief.” And probably history might have been created that day with billions being lost had it been successful. So, let me simplify it for my readers, what agronomic practices was he carrying out at a bank with a gun in hand? Now, putting things together, this guy might very well have been the “mastermind” or “intellectual author” behind the whole affair, because everything in that set up was carefully planned and meticulously executed with razor sharp precision. No ordinary fool could put together such a plan. The only problem with that is “masterminds” and bandits do not always cater for the planned precision response of the victims or the eventualities in such a situation. The point I am making co-
incides with the old Guyanese proverb “bucket guh a well one day he bottom muss fall aff.” Their bucket bottom did fell off because The Professional Guard Service was indeed professional and got down to business in flushing out the bandits before they had the opportunity to pull off a major bank robbery. Thank you Professional Guard Service. In the past, there were numerous instances of persons being robbed of their hard earned cash soon after leaving that very same city b a n k . Folks might have shrugged it off as another of those brazen bandits at it again. But if you really trace the history that group of persons was really involved. How did the bandit become aware of persons’ withdrawals and their subsequent movements? The
criminals aren’t clairvoyant? It is all becoming clear that this gang or network of individuals were behind those robberies. Mastermind agronomist, Bank employee, with knowledge of persons’ business transactions, even getaway car owner who “claims” his car was hijacked, all are involved. There is no question in my mind this was going on for some time now, with the quartet up until now, when they’ve decided to go big. Guyana is not new to this kind of criminal activity, the only difference this time is a handsome graduate who was caught up in the action. Everton Adams
ing the go-to country in the region. However, most Guyanese, especially those in the law enforcement community; have not yet acquired the psychological posture, or is possessed of the institutional capacity to deal with the wide array of problems, which the various cultures of the new arrivals will present in isolation, let alone, its combined transnational effects. The police will very soon be faced with crimes committed by outfits of several different nationalities and cultures. The employees at the bank must be commended for maintaining their composure, but it is the first responders who should come in for high praise, in this case the onsite security detail, since very often in these types of situations, onsite security officers become the first causalities.
The security officers did not only contain the crisis well, but prevented it from becoming an ‘active shooter’ or full blown hostage incident, which was well within in the bounds of possibility. Like many observers across
Guyana, this author is of the view, that the Hip Hop subculture to which many young Guyanese subscribe to and participate in has come full circle, and is now taking its toll. Clairmont Featherstone
A suggestion for dealing with EXXON negotiations DEAR EDITOR, When my letter here is published, I hope it is read by the ministers and president of Guyana. Regarding the money from the oil production, my understanding is that Guyana will get 2% in royalty and 50% of profit. However, that 50% will start (after) EXXON recoups their investment, and Guyana will have to wait very long to start receiving that 50%. It will be better for
Guyana to get EXXON to pay the 2% royalty and 10% of the profit, and when EXXON recoups its profit, then, they can give Guyana 40% until they get back their 10% which they will pay from time of production. That arrangement will be good for Guyana, and EXXON will not lose out, because they will reduce the 50% to 40% until they get back their original 10%. Mohamed Azad
We, the youths need to save our generation and the ones to come DEAR EDITOR Guyana is a beautiful country inhabited by beautiful people, however, that does not negate the fact that we have mountainous issues. What I have noticed with time is, we as a people continuously fail to confront these mountains for varying reason. Instead we talk around these issues, cast blame and somewhere along the line we expect things to materialize by our mere utterances or expectations. The youth make up on average 60% of our populace and have the unenviable task of dealing with these mountainous issues. We are also the ones who turn a blind eye to those issues and slum into a place of dependency as if we cannot confront them. We are also the ones who contribute to making issues mountainous. We’ve set up elite organizations that require CVs and other stringent application processes inclusive of interviews for a simple task of
being a volunteer, automatically saying to a large demographic you are not qualified to be here. What’s even worst is that our programming does not facilitate the development of the demographic we shun; instead we give handouts and provide little solutions. How can one justify giving one hundred dollars to a homeless person when what he really needs is a roof above his head. We have failed to have a strong single or united advocate, settling for the status of being the silent majority. Individually we are strong and may voice our concerns and disapproval but together we are stronger and our voice can never go unnoticed. Many of us are muzzled and in some cases spew hate and cause strife because of party affiliation but to what end? To maintain a divide or to keep a job? We must come to the understanding that our very decisions impact the lives of others, we need to determine if the impact is negative or
positive. We as youth must learn to celebrate, support and encourage each other, we must create the environment that we want to live in and not be dependent on politicians to do so. We must forge relationships beyond the racial spectrum and be exemplary before those who are coming after us. We are more powerful than we can imagine. We are the movers and shakers of this nation, the engine of growth and development. We can break cycles even though racism, violence and crime among our youth will probably exist long after we are gone. History can show that we are the ones who grabbed the bull by the horn and made strides that have never been made before. For the love of our people and the love of our dear mother land we the youth need to save our generation and pave the way for generations to come, let’s confront these mountainous issues now. Clayton Halley
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1931 extradition treaty between US, Britain being used in Bisram case US state attorneys are banking on a 1931 extradition treaty it had signed with Great Britain to successfully send back wealthy businessman, Marcus Bisram, to face a murder trial in Guyana. According to court documents filed Wednesday by state attorney on behalf of the Department of Justice, the applicable provisions between the United States and Guyana are found in the Extradition Treaty between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of December 22, 1931. Bisram was refused bail on Wednesday after he appeared before Judge Peggy Kuo in a Brooklyn court, New York. The businessman, despite lawyering up, failed to persuade the court that he should be allowed his freedom pending the extradition hearing. This is because Bridget Rohde, Acting United States
Attorney, made it clear that there is no guarantee the businessman would not flee. In custody now, he will return to court next Thursday. Rohde, in her submissions for Bisram to be kept in custody, explained that the Government of Guyana requested formally for the US to extradite Bisram, a fugitive from Guyana, pursuant to the Extradition Treaty between the US and Great Britain.. It was disclosed that Bisram was arrested on July 4, 2017, based on a complaint and warrant issued by Judge James C. Francis IV, a New York judge since June 16, 2017, seeking his extradition to Guyana. Rohde, in her arguments for refusal of bail, said that unlike in criminal cases, there is a strong presumption against bail in extradition proceedings. To justify bail, the fugitive must establish the existence of “special
circumstances” warranting bail, and that he is not a flight risk or a danger to the community. “We respectfully submit that Bisram should be detained because he cannot meet the burden of showing that he poses no risk of flight or danger to the community and that special circumstances exist warranting his release.” The US state lawyer said that as a general matter, international extradition is primarily an executive function. “The judiciary’s role is delineated by statute, and extends to determining whether to certify to the Secretary of State that the submitted evidence from the requesting country is “sufficient to sustain the charge.” She made it clear that the Secretary of State, and not the courts, makes the final determination whether the fugitive should ultimately be
$500,000 bail for driver charged with causing friend’s death Twenty-seven year-old Tecona Welcome yesterday made another appearance before Magistrate Alisha George in the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts to answer to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving. Welcome, of 39 Austin Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on June 24, last, at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, she drove motor car PSS 7195 in a manner dangerous to the public causing the death of Debra Pompey. The accused was represented by attorney Nigel Anthony, who told the court that his client is presently on bail for driving under the influence of alcohol. The lawyer added that his client is still
Tecona Welcome grieving due to the fact that she lost a friend. Anthony asked that his client be placed on reasonable bail, citing that she is not a flight risk and will return to court for the trial. Police Prosecutor David Goodridge objected to bail
being granted to the accused citing the serious nature of the offence and the penalty the charge attracts. The prosecutor further told the court that the accused was instructed by police to report to the Sparendaam Police Station after she was granted bail for driving under the influence, but she failed to do so. The prosecutor went on to tell the court that if bail is granted to the accused she will not return to court for the trial. Magistrate George then granted bail to the accused in the sum of $ 500,000. Conditions to the bail are that the accused must lodge her passport and return to the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts on the second Friday of every month until the completion of the trial. She is expected to make her next court appearance on August 4. According to reports, the accused was driving the aforementioned vehicle when she slammed into the Liliendaal Bridge, after she and a group of friends were returning from a bridal shower at the Giftland Mall. Debra Pompey was killed and five other passengers were injured in the accident.
In US jail: Marcus Bisram surrendered to the requesting country. “Accordingly, at an extradition hearing, the court considers the evidence presented on behalf of the requesting country—here, Guyana—and adjudges whether the legal requirements for certification of extraditability have been established.” This entails determining whether the judicial officer is
Faiyaz Narinedatt, his wife Pooja and their son, in happier times. authorized to conduct the extradition proceeding; the court has jurisdiction over the fugitive; the applicable treaty is in full force and effect; the crimes for which surrender is requested are covered by the applicable treaty; and there is sufficient evidence to support a finding of probable cause
as to each charge for which extradition is sought. It was pointed out that the inability of the US to deliver a fugitive who jumped bail would cause them “serious embarrassment.” Accordingly, “release on bail in extradition cases (Continued on page 21)
Father says teenaged son provoked into killing ‘taunting’ taxi driver The teenager who is now in police custody for the murder of Deonarine ‘Baba’ Laljit, a taxi driver of No.72 Village, allegedly killed his neighbour over continuous taunts about his sister. This is according to the father of the accused. Kaieteur News was told that the accused, whose eldest sister lived next door to Laljit, had separated from her husband sometime ago and migrated. However, according to the father, his teenage son came home a few months ago and complained that Laljit was teasing him about his sister’s personal problems. “He come home and told his mother that the man keep teasing he ‘bout he sister divorce and wha does go on in she house,” the father of the 14-year-old said. He stressed that his son would complain that Laljit would insult him whenever he travels with him, doing so in the presence of other passengers. The lad’s father is of the opinion that his son probably felt overwhelmed and frustrated with the teasing and
Dead: Deonarine Laljit that spurred him to resort to such an act to defend his sister, an act he said is no excuse to do what he did. The man told this publication that his son has never had brushes with the law and is usually at home on his computer or assisting with chores when he (father) is out at sea. “It is unbelievable what he did, but I don’t know my son’s mind,” the distraught father said. He explained that his son dropped out of the
Line Path Secondary School because he was not doing well academically. However, he wanted to enroll at the Roadside Baptist Church for vocational classes when he turned 15. He expressed his hope that his son will learn from his mistakes and reckless decisions made that cost him his freedom. Meanwhile, a post mortem examination revealed that Laljit died of shock and haemorrhage with a stab wound to the neck. The file for the case has since been completed and sent for advice. This was confirmed by the Divisional Commander Ian Amsterdam. The young man is expected to face the courts sometime next week. Deonarine Laljit was stabbed to the neck and left to die by the 14-year-old on Wednesday. After stabbing the taxi driver in his car, the teen fled the scene and hid in an abandoned house. He was eventually nabbed by ranks and taken into custody. Laljit succumbed to his injury after he collapsed at the gate of a villager. He was later rushed to the Skeldon Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The murder weapon has since been recovered.
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Equipment, pumps rushed to affected Berbice areas as…
Cattle marooned in flood waters As Black Bush farmers continue to grapple with heavy flooding in the backland area, home to thousands of head of cattle and other livestock, government says it is rushing down pumps and other equipment to bring relief. However, the situation remains serious, with some farmers from Yakusari, disclosing that they are unable to brave flood waters in the savannah area to save their cattle. In some places, the water is more than five feet high with overhead shots in some areas yesterday in the Kokerite area, showing cattle stranded. With the Canje Creek heavily overtopping, releasing waters is a major issue that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is grappling with. There are few options for bringing the water levels down in the Canje Creek which runs aback of Black Bush Polder, Corentyne. Drainage officials either have to wait it out and hope the water goes down fast or the waters are released into the Black Bush Polder drainage system where thousands of acres and homesteads stand to suffer. Yesterday, one Yakusari farmer, who has around 300 head of cattle said he was forced to turn back from proceeding to the savannah area because of the difficult circum-
An excavator on its way to affected areas
stances. Berbice authorities are blaming many of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils for the flood situation in some of the Corentyne villages. Over 1,000 head of cattle reportedly died along with 20 horses, it was reported. Black Bush is a farming community about seven miles in from the Corentyne public road, with rice, cash crops and cattle being the main economic activities. According to NDIA yesterday, it has deployed a team of engineers to flood-affected
communities in Region 6 to assist residents who have suffered from severe flooding. “After thorough assessments of the area, it was revealed that the flooding was a result of overtopping of the Canje Creek due to excessive rainfall. This has resulted in flooding in the Kokerite and New Sukhram Cattle Pastures which are located between the Black Bush Polder rice cultivation area and the Canje Creek neighbouring rivers and waterways.” According to NDIA, which manages the drainage and irrigation system for the
country, the group which visited the area conducted an extensive evaluation and made several recommendations that are expected to be
carried out over the next few days. “It was also advised that farmers transfer their cattle to higher ground to avoid additional loss of their herd.” Chief Executive Officer of NDIA, Frederick Flatts said that the engineers are working around the clock to ensure all the drainage structures are operable to ensure flooding does not persist. “Even though the flood waters are so high, rice fields in Black Bush Polder and the 52/74 areas are not threatened at this time. However, cattle in the area are severely affected, with some reports of mortality. We are working to ensure all sluices and drainage structures are operable.” The flooded area is designed to drain through the Canje Creek. However, according to NDIA, this is not possible at the time since the water level in the creek is so high. Rather, waters are being released in a
controlled manner through the Torani Canal. “This system will see water being re-directed from the Canje Creek to the Berbice River,” Flatts said. In an effort to prevent further flooding, NDIA will be installing a120 cubic meters per second pump at Adventure and two others at the Number 52 sluice. “The authority is currently mobilizing a Short Boom and Two Long Boom Excavators to clear and dig the Fouler Channel… that is expected to installed within 24 hours. This channel runs from the Number 52 Main Drainage Channel and drains in the Number 66 Creek.” According to NDIA, the team which consists of six engineers who are presently assigned to the flooded areas, is also tasked with ensuring all structures are operable and functioning at maximum (Continued on page 12)
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Oil companies are like sexual predators - UK security expert Guyana has no idea what it is up against “They know everything: the good guys, the bad guys who is sleeping with whom, who is corrupt and who is potentially corrupt. So when ExxonMobil needs a friend who is favourable to its interest, they already know who that person is.” Guyanese were enlightened yesterday about the different facets of an oil industry. They also learnt about the spin-off effects that can seriously cripple a country that is not careful in the management of its oil and gas sector. This was at a symposium that focused on the link between oil and corruption. The forum was hosted by the Guyana Oil and Gas Association (GOGA) in collaboration with the Caribbean Institute of Forensic Accounting (CIFA). Those who attended the seminar were told that oil companies are not to be approached in a lax manner, as they look for any opportunity to rob nations of their resources by securing deals that suit only their interest. An interesting topic was presented by UK Se-
curity Expert Dr. Perry Stanislas. During a section of his presentation that focused on power, Dr. Stanislas’ realism sent shockwaves through the audience. His subject point was, “Superior power/resources of global corporations versus weak government administrations; Concept of ‘state capture.” Dr. Stanislas encouraged small nations like Guyana to invest in contracting experts that can be trusted. He said that this is important for the protection of the interests of the people. He explained that one of the reasons why global oil companies are successful is that they generate revenue like no other, and can therefore “buy the best experts on the planet.” He said that many former experts from entities like the MI6 usually join global oil companies after retirement. The British Secret Intelligence Service is commonly known as MI6. Dr. Stanislas said that experts such as those who work with the likes of MI6 “know everything: the
good guys, the bad guys who is corrupt and who is potentially corrupt. So when Exxon needs a friend who is favourable to its interest, they already know who that person is.” He continued, “They know who to invite for a drink and to whisper in their ear; these companies employ the best of the best.” The expert pointed to the fact that ExxonMobil negotiates with big countries like Iraq which makes negotiation with the likes of Guyana an easy walk over if Guyana does not arm itself with the right people. D r. St a n i s l a s s a i d , “There is no dirty trick in the planet those guys do not know. Then they come to the Caribbean to deal with you; it is like men versus boys.” The security expert said that Guyana will pay the price if it chooses not to invest in the right set of professionals. STATE CAPTURE State Capture! This is a term that many in Guyana are not aware of but the few who were in attendance at the conference got a real understanding. The term basically speaks about a captured
UK Security Expert, Perry Stanislas state. According to Transparency International, state capture refers to a situation where powerful institutions, companies or oligarchs within or outside a country use corruption to shape a nation’s legal environment, policies and economy to benefit their own private interests. Dr. Stanislas’ definition was a little simpler. He said that State Capture is when a corporation is so influential that it is basically running your country. He added, “There is one (such corporation) in your country. He pointed to a “wonderful example in Kenya”. There, the government is
silent as citizens wail about state capture.” LIFE IS CHEAP TO OIL COMPANIES Dr. Stanislas said that human life is cheap to big oil companies that are often ruthless. “French oil companies are some of the worst; they organize coups and assassinations.” He brought the unnatural death of Thomas Sankara to the fore. Sankara “was killed because of French oil companies.” Dr. Stanislas said that Sankara wanted to nationalize oil resources and this offended the companies. “How did they do it? They used his best friend. They grew up together in the same village, ate from same plate. That’s what they did and washed their hands. But they knew who they approached to do their dirty work.” Dr. Stanislas cautioned Guyanese, “Please be careful when dealing with oil companies.” He said that those companies are run by hardcore people who operate heartl e s s l y. “ A n d y o u c o m e with you Caribbean smile like a little child or girl around a sexual predator.”
GOVT’S NO SHOW Dr. Stanislas, as well as other presenters made some salient points which Guyana stand to benefit tremendously from. However, the most important people to hear these messages were absent—the government ministers. The fate of Guyana rests in the hands of politicians who have little knowledge about the task at hand. They have no experience in the oil and gas industry as this is all new to Guyana. But none of them, not even the Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, found it useful to attend yesterday’s symposium. Organizers of the symposium said that the government was invited. Government Ministers were even given the opportunity to sit through specific programmes. One of the organizers said, “We understand that they are busy so we gave them the opportunity to listen to one or two sessions for their benefit then leave.” But that proposition was not taken advantage of. Working People’s Alliance, Executive Member Tacuma Ogunseye, who was in attendance, described this as “unfortunate”.
Friday July 07, 2017
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COST-CUTTING IS NOT THE ANSWER The PNC has a funny way of managing the economy. In the seventies when the oil crisis hit, it should have been expanding rather than contracting economic activity. Sugar prices were high, bauxite was doing well. The best plan was to expand to grow out of the crisis created by the increase in petroleum imports. Burnham got the wrong advice. His economic advisers, as declassified docu-
ments are now revealing, told him to ban and restrict imports so as to curb consumption. He did just that. Burnham got the wrong advice. He slashed imports and ended up hurting more than consumption. He ended up also affecting the productive sectors. The country therefore could not have grown out of the crisis. The restrictions on imports led to a slowdown in the
economy, thus causing the economy to contract further. The foreign exchange crisis got worse rather than better. And Burnham, believing in the late Clarence Ellis and Kenneth King, never got wiser. The APNU+AFC coalition is not facing an economic crisis today. It inherited a solid economy, one which has been growing for more than ten years. The economy is not
SOCU head testifies in Omar Shariff trial The trial of former Permanent Secretary (PS) of Ministry of the Presidency, Omar Shariff, and his wife, who were charged for failing to comply with a court order, continued yesterday before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. It is alleged that Shariff, 46, and his wife Savitri Hardeo, 32, both of 36 Dowding Street, Kitty, Georgetown, on or after October 14, 2016, failed to comply with a Production Order issued by the previous Chief Justice (CJ) Yonette Cummings-Edwards. The order was for the defendants to produce certain named documents to Assistant Commissioner of Police and Head of the Special Organized Crime Unit, (SOCU), Sydney James, no later than seven days after the service of the order. However Shariff is said to have contravened the said order without reasonable cause, and failed to produce it. Assistance Commissioner James told the court yesterday that relative to an allegation of money laundering involving Shariff, he conducted an investigation and requested documents from the Commercial Registry, relating to businesses owned and registered to Shariff, Savitri Hardeo and another person, Bibi Khan. That investigation was probing how billions of dollars passed through Shariff’s bank account from as far back as 2010. There were alleged records showing that he and his wife purchased shares in companies which were placed in her name. There were hundreds of transactions in several bank accounts which were held at different commercial banks. James said that he received responses from the Registry which indicated that Hardware King, Colour-R-Us and Kitty Square Mall were all registered to Shariff. He noted that Talk-2-U is registered to Hardeo, while Sasha Cells is registered to Bibi Khan. James told the court that on June 30, 2016, a search warrant was issued and later in that same day he headed a party of SOCU officers to search the office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Presidency, belonging to Shariff. He said that on arrival at the location, he met Shariff in his office, where he informed him about the search warrant for
Omar Shariff and Savitri Hardeo documents that would assist him in the money laundering investigation. James told the court that Shariff indicated to him that he had no problem with the search being conducted in his office. James said that the search found nothing incriminating, and he informed Shariff that officers from SOCU were conducting a similar search at his residence. Shariff indicated to him that he wanted to be present at the search, and he was accompanied by the head of SOCU to his residence. James said that on arrival at Shariff’s residence, an officer handed him a box containing documents, two laptop computers, an Acer tablet and one External Hard Drive. After receiving the articles, James said that he went back to his office where he then marked the articles and placed them in a safe in his office. On September 30, last, an affidavit for a Production Order was made under Section 24 of the Anti-Money-LaunderingAct. The order was related to the documents of the businesses operated by Shariff, Hardeo and Khan. On October 6, 2016, SOCU filed for a Production Order at the High Court, The then-Acting Chief Justice, Yonette CummingsEdwards, granted the Order. James told the court on October 7, 2016, he gave instructions to Superintendent Tyndall with respect to serving the two Production Orders and later that day a marshal from the Supreme Court returned documents to him, endorsing the service of the Production Order to Shariff and Hardeo. They were supposed to respond within seven days.
James told the court that seven days elapsed and there was no response from either Shariff or Hardeo. On October 28, 2016, he then wrote a letter to the defendants indicating that they were not in compliance with the Production Order. James said that a letter was then sent to him by Shariff indicating that there was a delay in the request. James went on to tell the court that on November 4 last, he was handed over several envelopes and six boxes which were delivered by Shariff with respect to the Order. He said that he read the letter which had Shariff’s signature. He said that the letter indicated that the contents of the six boxes contained an admission that not all the requests that were ordered in the production order were complied with. James said that he examined the boxes and marked them, then caused the boxes and documents to be lodged after analyzing the production order. James added that on September 7, last, after analyzing the documents, he realized that there were a number of non-compliances by Shariff and Hardeo with respect to the order. He later prepared a record of his observation with respect to particular compliances and non-compliances. James said that after his observation he gave Superintendent Robert Tyndall certain instructions with respect to the fiat from the officer of Director of Public Prosecutions. At that point of James’ testimony, the Magistrate adjourned proccedings. James will continue to give evidence at the next hearing on July 31.
going to collapse. The problem the government faces is that it is biting off more than it is capable of chewing. It is making the same mistake that the PPPC made. The PPPC tried to make every Budget the largest Budget ever in the history of Guyana. And so the PPPC passed larger-than-ever Budgets which they or the country did not have the capacity to absorb. The APNU+AFC coalition cannot spend the sums that it voted in the National Assembly. The country does not have the absorptive capacity to spend those billions which were passed in its three Budgets so far. The need to raise revenues to finance these excessive Budgets has resulted in overtaking the population. The cost of living has gone up. Even the government’s own numbers confirm this fact. The government claims to have increased wages to offset this inflation, but not everyone works with government, and the heavy taxation
followed by a slowdown in business activity - which is now also being acknowledged by the government has led to a precipitous shortfall in tax collection. The government’s response to this is to employ cost-cutting. We are told that envelopes are being recycled. This shows that the government is clueless as to how to address its present problems. The Cabinet, as part of the cost-cutting exercise, is going to be meeting regularly with the permanent secretaries. In other words, the Cabinet is going to micromanage the spending of government ministries. This is going to be a failed strategy, because cost-cutting will only end up with ministries having to return larger sums each year to the Consolidated Fund. The Budget is too big. If there is any trimming to be done, it has to be at the level of the Budget. Trimming the Budget will mean that the government does not have to overtax the population. It can remove
many of the controversial taxes, including the tax on private tuition and the VAT on water and electricity consumption. It can also pay workers more, instead of having to return unspent monies to the Consolidated Fund. Investing in a living wage for workers is going to offer a stimulus to businesses, since workers will spend a greater share of their higher disposable income. Businesses will enjoy a boost in sales. When this happens, the businesses will increase their profits and tax collection will increase. Cost-cutting is not the answer to the government’s problems. It is a retrograde step. The government should be trimming its Budget, rather than asking permanent secretaries to recycle envelopes.
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Friday July 07, 2017
Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
A violently ugly incident is waiting to happen If there is anything I have learnt in my long years in media functions is that governmental leaders from top to bottom have a deterministic conceptualization of journalism – it is to be used in the service of power, and if it does not serve that purpose, then leaders have no use for journalists. Media operatives on the other hand, have to carry out what is essentially their obligation – to report and comment without fictionalization and malice. A journalist and a columnist have obligation to country, not government. Governments come and go; governments do bad things, but countries remain. I owe my readers who have stuck with this column for twenty-three years an obligation to present my analy-
ses from the viewpoint of what is inside my head, not what is inside the corridors of power. My readers expect me to express a heartfelt opinion on things in my country; not to please President, Prime Minister and Ministers. The day I am prevented from expressing in these articles what is inside my mind and publish what is inside the minds of governmental leaders, I will retire to my family and my pets, and that would be the end of my media career. There is another lesson to be learnt from the corridors of power. The power elite want you, in the media, to acknowledge that they are knowledgeable about politics and intellectually smart. When you find them wanting in these departments and you write about their failings, they
get vicious. Once you point out their mistakes they get nasty. But all media operatives know that such comes with the territory. What I am about to expound on in the following is partially derived from the horrible deaths that came out of our prison uprising. Not even in perennially violent Jamaica have so many inmates died in a prison rebellion. At the risk of invoking the wrath of President Granger, Prime Minister Nagamootoo (who often boasts about his forty-odd years in politics), and their ministers, I do not believe anyone among the group has the intellectual capacity to internalize the causes and lessons to be learnt from that prison rebellion. That prison mayhem has roots that go way into the
hopelessness of youths in this country; the cruel ways the judicial system treats them, particularly the magistracy, and the unbearable hypocrisy in the corridors of power that triggers extensive anger in our youth population. This columnist will not and will never argue in any way that could offer sympathy for those three bank robbers or condone what they did. But despite our revulsion at what they did, social mayhems have underlying causes. My opinion is that youths feel that the status quo is class-based, unjust and sadistic and it will lead them to do “not so nice things.” Do you think there isn’t volcanic passion waiting to find an outlet over the constant denial of bail youths from low income communities endure for small possessions of ganja, but two accused were given bail on appeal from the High Court (which entails more fees for the lawyer presenting the bail petition) for
charges of possession of 187 pounds of cocaine (work out how much grams that is)? Magistrates are devastating the youth population from working class families with unreasonable jail terms and putting them on remand with excessive bail assignments. Yet against the backdrop of the prison riots, the corridors of power are unmoved. They are unconcerned because they do not have the capacity to link the following – youth frustration, judicial sadism, the prison uprising and the bank robbery. They are connected, but mundane minds cannot see that, and there are too many mediocre souls in the corridors of power. A very powerful minister told the media he doesn’t like to comment on magistrates’ decisions, but he couldn’t help reacting to what Magistrate McLennan did when she read in open court the application from SOCU for a search warrant for Anil Nandlall’s home. He chose that occasion to comment on
Frederick Kissoon the action of a magistrate, but not all those other controversial decisions of so many magistrates that have led to an unstable situation in the prison population in Guyana. The minister chose his priority. I am choosing mine as an opinion-maker, and my view is that if we continue to treat our youths so contemptuously, we may invite an outburst of a violently ugly emotion that can have tragic consequences. Power people in this country are so ignorant that they wait until disaster happens then to act. But maybe it is not only ignorance, but an empty mind at work too.
Dem boys seh ...
De coalition playing three card trick wid Guyana oil Soulja Bai and de coalition govt playing lotto wid de people oil. He was a li’l boy when he start playing lotto. In fact he start wid three card and end up buying tickets. Sandy give him some money to pay de light bill. Instead, he tek de money and buy a lottery ticket that offer a brand new car as de prize. When he go home he explain to Sandy what he did and she cut he tail fuh wasting de money. He cry and he go in he bed. De next morning when she wake up and open de door, outside de house was a brand new car. He and she start fuh cry because de car
was from de power company. It did come to cut off de lights. That is how he get a second licking. To dis day he does try to pay all dem bill and he never gamble back, till now. Is only a few weeks ago dem boys notice he start back gambling. ExxonMobil come to him wid a three card trick. This fuh you, this fuh me and de rest fuh de Guyanese people. Then dem tell him don’t tell nobody and that’s why this thing so secret. Nobody hearing anything from de coalition govt bout all de skullduggery wha ExxonMobil do all over de world. After dem boys expose de things ExxonMobil do, Soulja
Bai come out to seh dem listening and watching. But dem boys want remind Soulja Bai and de coalition three card is a game—de more you watch, de less you see. De less you see is better fuh we. Dem seh dem listening. Experts had two forum yesterday and de talk a lot. Dem talk how Guyana can protect itself from de shaft and not one of dem from de govt been deh. Dem boys notice is not only de govt people was absent from de forum, but also de Pee Pee Pee was nowhere to be seen. Talk half and tear up de three card and de players.
Friday July 07, 2017
Guyana’s oil and gas sector...
Laws not enough to stop corruption With Guyana now moving to set in place the necessary laws and regulations to govern the emerging oil and gas sector, it’s going to take more than that to stop corruption. This is the opinion of Vicky McPherson, a Shareholder in the Global Energy & Infrastructure Group and the Africa Practice Group at the international law firm, Greenberg Traurig. “The most important thing to acknowledge about corruption is that you can have all of the laws and regulations in place, but if you don’t have the leadership and the personal conviction to not steal from the public coffers, none of this matters,” she said. McPherson was at the time responding to a question posed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) Aubrey Heath-Retemyer, on whether there has been any attempt to safely determine the level of involvement of larger countries in corrupting smaller oil-rich states. This statement would come at a time when Guyana is moving to put in place the necessary laws, policies and regulatory bodies to govern the emerging oil and gas sector.
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- Foreign panelists stress at local forum These would include the Local Content Policy, the Sovereign Wealth Fund, and the Petroleum Commission Act, among others. McPherson, who appeared as a panellist at the “Public Corruption and the Oil Curse” symposium held at Le Meridian Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown yesterday, told Heath-Retemyer that she is not aware of any “quantifiable” report, and outlined several factors that can prevent corruption from outside sources. These factors, she said, include Civil Society and a Free Press. “The things that distinguish many developing countries from others in terms of how corrupt their system becomes after the discovery of oil and other natural resources, are those two factors...whether or not civil society is active and vocal of the development of that industry, and whether the press will report what it ultimately will find – if it’s doing its job.” McPherson said also that citizens have a major role to play in ensuring transparency.
“If the citizens demand transparency, that will go a long way in terms of ensuring that the government and those who benefit from government contracts do not personally benefit to the detriment of Guyana as a whole,” she said. Echoing McPherson’s view that laws will not be enough to combat corruption was David Holukoff, the Director of Grant Thornton in the British Virgin Islands. The firm is regarded as the world's seventh largest professional services network of independent accounting and consulting member firms which provide assurance, tax and advisory services to privately-held businesses, public interest entities, and public sector entities. “It’s not just about laws, because there is always a loophole...When we’re doing our forensic investigations, it’s about the will and the leadership from the top...and the unwillingness to accept corruption and chase after and get rid of the bad players,” he said.
Task Force to combat noise nuisance established The Ministry of Public Security, in collaboration with other various stakeholders, has taken the initiative to establish an Inter-Agency Task Force to combat noise nuisance. Noise nuisance in Guyana has grown intolerable over the last few years. Despite efforts by law enforcement agencies, the issue is still rampant, particularly in Georgetown. Other locations across the country are, however, not immune to noise nuisance. The numerous letters being published in the daily newspapers and posts on social media are evidence of this. According to the Ministry yesterday, the unit was established “having recognised the right of citizens to live in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility, and free from undue discomfort,” The main goal of the Task Force, according to the Coordinator, Mr Deonarine Ramaroop, is to ensure a greater enforcement of the laws/regulations on noise nuisance, which in turn will reduce the discomfort caused by noise pollution across the country. The Task Force currently
- Silent zones to be enforced comprises representatives from the Ministry of Public Security – (Coordinating Agency); Guyana Police Force; Guyana Prison Service; Guyana Fire Service; Ministry of Natural Resources; Environmental Protection Agency; Ministry of Communities; Ministry of Public Infrastructure; Central Housing and Planning Authority; Mayor and City Council of Georgetown; and the Guyana Revenue Authority. The key objectives of the Task Force are: enforcing existing (or create new) rules governing codes for all buildings that cater for the use of amplified sound equipment; enforcing silent zones; elimi-
nating the proliferation of loud music in public transport vehicles; recommending amendments to laws that allows the use of available technology to establish and measure noise levels for the purpose of compliance and prosecution; curbing random and spontaneous open air and roadside “boom boxes”; and examining complaints made about industrial noise and take necessary action as deemed fit to eliminate or reduce the level of noise discomfort. The Ministry of Public Security is urging the members of the public to work together to ensure that the environment is free from noise pollution.
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Kaieteur News
Results of NGSA 2017...
Public schools produce many candidates in top one percent Although private schools have dominated a number of top performing places at the 2017 National Grade Six Assessment [NGSA], there were also a several public schools that have also stood out. Among the especially outstanding performers from public schools are Xiana Chabila of the Graham’s Hall Primary [523 marks] and Raj Seeram of the Swami Purnananda Primary [522 marks]. They were named among the top 10 performers. But a number of other public schools have also produced top performing candidates. Among them are: North Georgetown Primary, St. Gabriel’s Primary, Windsor Forest Primary, Cornelia Ida Primary, Strathspey Primary, Watooka Day Primary, La Bonne Intention Primary, Uitvlugt Primary, Leonora Primary, Greenwich Park Primary, Saraswat Primary, Tuschen Primary, Winfer Gardens Pri-
Education Minister, Nicolette Henry mary, St. Margaret’s Primary, St. Aiden’s Primary, One Mile Primary, Belvedere Primary, Belle West Primary, Regma Primary, Meten-Meer-Zorg Primary, Zeelugt Primary, CV Nunes Primary, Sparta Primary, Golden Grove Primary, Friendship Primary, Vryheid’s Lust Primary, Clonbrook Primary, One Mile Primary,
Rosignol Primary, Grove Primary, Peter’s Hall Primary, West Ruimveldt Primary, Montrose Primary, Enterprise Primary, Suddie Primary and Hague Primary. A breakdown of the candidates as revealed by Minister of Education Nicolette Henry, suggests that among the top performing one percent of 2017 NGSA, Region One produced zero candidates, Region Two - four, Region Three - 38, Region Four 35, Region Five - two, Region Six - one; Region Seven, Eight and Nine each produced zero, Region 10 - eight and Region 11 - 75. More than 60 candidates of the top one percent are from public primary schools. Meanwhile, securing the top performing place for the respective Education Districts are: Saskia Twahir of School of the Nations who was named the top performer of Georgetown [Region 11] and national top performer with her 524 marks; Korey DeCosta of Santa Roza Primary was named the top performer for Region One with 492 marks; Ramool Baboolall of CV Nunes Primary and Aryan Doodnauth of Sparta Primary, together secured 513 marks to top for Region Two; Amelia
Sugrim of Academy of Excellence topped for Region Three with her 523 marks; Gabriella Roberts of Success Elementary also gained 523 to claim the top performing place for Region Four; Asa Molaha of Sapodilla School of Excellence with 515 marks secured top place for Region Five; Matthew Ramlochan of Belvedere Primary, also with 515 marks, was named the top performer for Region Six; Romain Downer of St. John The Baptiste Primary was named the top performer with 504 for Region Seven; Rajendra Dalchand of Monkey Mountain Primary with
480 marks secured the top performing place for Reg i o n E i g h t ; Vi d y a n i Campbell of St. Ignatius Primary with 507 marks was the top performer for Region Nine, and it was Miguel Emerson of Watooka Day Primary who was named the top performer for Region 10 with 517 marks. Based on information provided by the Ministry of Education, the cut-off score for the Country’s Sixth Form Schools are: Queen’s College - 512; The Bishop’s High - 508; St. Stanislaus College – 504; St. Rose’s High – 501; St. Joseph High – 497 and
President’s College – 485. Minister Henry explained that as one of the ‘A’ Schools in Region Four, President’s College offers non-residential placement to candidates in Region Four from Mahaica to Cummings Lodge. However, candidates must have attained a minimum score of 485 marks in order to be eligible for placement there. Additionally, a total of 291 residential places are offered to candidates from Regions One, Two, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine and 10 who have attained scores of 485 marks and above, according to Minister Henry.
Over 5,000 ganja plants destroyed in Ituni backdam An intelligence-led operation conducted by ranks of the Guyana Police Force on Wednesday at Ten Miles Backdam, Ituni, Upper Demerara River, has resulted
in the destruction of a fouracre cannabis cultivation which had in excess of five thousand plants measuring from four inches to four feet. According to the police,
there were also several nurseries with an estimated four thousand seedlings; a large quantity of dried cannabis and three makeshift camps. No arrests were made.
Cattle marooned in flood... (From page 7) capacity which includes head and tail regulators to open to release water, in addition to 24 hours monitoring within the affected area. “Additionally, the authority is making an assessment to release additional volumes of water through the Number
46 and Number 49 drainage channels.” On Wednesday, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma, were in the Berbice area, speaking to farmers. The Prime Minister recommended that an advisory be sent to the
Guyana Police Force for stray animals not to be impounded, and for a long term plan for a secure place to rear cattle on higher ground. Officials are now tallying the losses of farmers with recommendations for cattle to use feed in the absence of areas to graze.
Friday July 07, 2017
Regional leaders re-affirm principles of non-interference in Venezuela By Peter Richards ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders have re-affirmed their position of non-interference in the internal affairs of countries as they issued a statement on the political situation in Venezuela where opposition forces are seeking to remove the government of President Nicolas Maduro. Informed sources told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that the Venezuela issue had been discussed on Wednesday, the second day of the three-day summit that ends later on Thursday. According to the sources, the statement rea ff i r m e d C A R I C O M ’s guiding principles of the adherence to the rule of law, respect for human rights and democracy, as well as for the fundamental principles of non-intervention and non-interference in the internal affairs of states. The statement said that the regional leaders continue to call for “all parties to commit to engage in renewed dialogue and negotiations leading to a comprehensive political agreement with established timetables, concrete actions and guarantees to ensure its implementation for the wellbeing of the nation”.
Venezuela’s new Foreign Minister Samuel Moncada is heading a delegation here in the hope of meeting with CARICOM leaders to discuss the situation in his homeland. On We d n e s d a y, Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit told CMC that he favoured a CARICOM delegation going to Venezuela. Skerrit said he would suggest that the delegation should comprise “of a couple heads, a couple leaders of the opposition within CARICOM and report back and ensure that we can play our part in assisting a sister nation in these whole internal situation. “Of course that would have to meet the approval of both the government and the opposition,” he said, adding “I think that should be considered”. “We would like to see a peaceful resolution to the situation. It is not in the interest of Venezuelans or the interest of the world for the situation to continue “What I would like to suggest though is the possibility of a CARICOM mission going into Venezuela meeting with the government, meeting with the opposition and seeking to provide a greater sense of leadership to finding a resolution to the current challenges confronting the Venezuelans,” he added.
The sources told CMC Thursday that the regional leaders have indicated a willingness to facilitate “constructive dialogue” among all relevant parties in the south American country and that the CAICOM Chairman Dr. Keith Mitchell, who is also the Prime Minister of Grenada, had been mandated to write to those stakeholders outlining the offer. At the ceremonial opening of the summit here on Tuesday night, Mitchell said the regional grouping needed to find the resolve to commit to a unified position on the current political challenge in neighbouring Venezuela, where opposition forces are seeking to remove Maduro by staging daily street demonstrations that have so far resulted in the death o f m o r e t h a n 5 0 people. “We cannot ignore what is going on in a country with which all of our member states have had strong historic ties; and one with which countries such as Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago share maritime borders,” Mitchell told the ceremony, adding “these realities, combined with our international record of standing up for political order, democracy and respect for human rights, ought to inspire us to arrive at a clear stance on this current crisis in Venezuela.”
1931 extradition treaty between... From page 6 should be an unusual and extraordinary thing.” With regards to Bisram fleeing Guyana after the murder last October, the court documents said that in doing so, Bisram has demonstrated that he is highly capable of moving to avoid prosecution. “Moreover, based on information gathered by the United States Marshals about Bisram, it appears that he has the financial means to further flee from the United States to yet another country or to hide in this country were he to be released. Bisram also has a strong incentive to flee due to the seriousness of the offense with which he is charged in Guyana.” The US attorney went further. “With respect to Bisram’s danger to the community, given the serious nature of the alleged crime, a brutal murder, the community both here in the United States and abroad would be at risk were he to be released.
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Allowance of bail in any amount would not guarantee Bisram’s presence in court and would invite the possibility of embarrassing the United States in the conduct of its foreign affairs.” The case would be generating much interest in Guyana as it is not often that the US has extradited one of its citizens to Guyana to face charges. Guyana has done so in the past. The arrest would come days after relatives complained to Kaieteur News that the authorities seemed not too keen to extradite Bisram from the US to face the courts. On November 1, last year, the battered body of 26-yearold carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt was found on the Number 70 Village, Corentyne foreshore. His death had been staged to look like a hit-andrun accident and two cops in Berbice were fingered in the cover-up. According to the prosecutors’ case, the man was killed after an argument at a
function attended by Bisram and friends, then taken elsewhere and dumped to make it appear as a hit-andrun. Bisram had apparently made sexual advances on the carpenter but was rebuffed. It was after ranks from the Guyana P o l i c e F o r c e ’s Major Crimes Unit took over the investigation that Harripaul Parsram, 49, Orlando Dickie, 39, Radesh Motie, 39, Diadath Datt, 18 and Niran Yacoob, 37, were charged for the murder. Additionally, three individuals, including Bisram’s mother, were charged for allegedly offering a detective $4M to suppress evidence against Bisram. On Wednesday, a tearful Pooja Pitam, wife of Narinedatt, was in court when Bisram was arraigned. She told CBS afterwards that she wanted justice and that her little daughter, one of two children with the dead man, was born after he was laid to rest.
Alert neighbours save Norton St. property from fiery destruction A family of seven was spared the agony of being rendered homeless after fire broke out in the bottom flat of their home at lot 14-14 Norton Street Wortmanville. A woman who resided in the upper flat of the building said just before 21:00hrs, she got a strong whiff of something burning and took it for nothing after she had checked to see if it was the generator which powered her home that was on fire. Little did she know that while she felt safe as it was not her home and had gone about her business, it was actually the bottom flat of her home where a blaze had already erupted.
She only became alert after neighbours shouted “fire”, and upon looking outside she realised that it was her sister Onika Vieira’s apartment that was on fire. By then Dane St Hill, who resides two buildings west, had already noticed the smoke emanating from his neighbours’ apartment. He dropped his plate and swung into selfless action. “All I saw was Dane run from he house and run in the yard and kick open the door,” one witness said. It was St Hill’s quick thinking that led to others gaining access to the apartment and through a bucket brigade the fire was extinguished before
the fire service arrived. However, even though the fire was put out, the damage was evident as the PVC ceiling had been destroyed as well as a few valuables including clothing and household items. The lower flat was rendered inhabitable. The house was spared from total destruction, but Onika Vieira and her three children are now counting their losses. The woman admitted that her 17-year-old son was left at home and had momentarily stepped out leaving a lit candle which it is believed was the source of the flames that have altered their lives. (Mondale Smith)
Laing Ave. execution-style murder…
Duo for High Court trial
Murder Accused Howard Rambharose
Murdered: Orin David called ‘Malik’
Murder Accused Jermaine Jeffers
Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman yesterday determined at the conclusion of the Preliminary Inquiry (Pl) into the murder of Orin David, who was gunned down in front of his Laing Avenue West Ruimveldt home, that a prima facie case had been established against the two defendants for the murder. The magistrate told the court that she was satisfied with the evidence from the
prosecution witnesses who were led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Vishnu Hunt. The accused, Jermaine Jeffers, 24, and Howard Rambharose, 25, of Meadow Bank, Georgetown, are currently on remand for the capital offence which allegedly occurred on August 1, 2016. Based on reports, David a 33-year-old father of five, was killed after one of five
men came out of a car and riddled him with bullets. Two other men, Negus Lamazon, 21, of D’Urban Street, Lodge Georgetown and Samuel McIntyre were charged with David’s murder. However, the matter was discharged against them earlier this year by Magistrate Dylon Bess, who ruled that there was insufficient evidence for them to stand trial in the High Court.
UWI challenged to help change culture of anger and violence KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has challenged the University of the West Indies (UWI) to start playing a more decisive role in helping to change the culture of anger and violence in the society. Bartlett who was addressing the 2017 graduation ceremony of the Herbert Morrison Technical High School in the western city of Montego Bay said that as the nation’s leading tertiary institution, the UWI has been playing a major role in producing well educated citizens, who
must now help to reduce the high level of anger that often lead to violence in the society. While not advocating for any major change to its curriculum, Bartlett said efforts must be made by the UWI to ensure that persons who are trained there are able to assist in transforming Jamaica into a more gentle society. The minister congratulated the administration of Herbert Morrison Technical for the sterling work they have done over the four decades of the institution’s life. He said the school, with an enrolment of 1,200 students,
has been producing wellrounded individuals, who, in their senior years, are prepared for the world of work through the specialised skills training they receive from grade 10 up to sixth form. Your successes reflect the discipline that you have applied to your studies and the hard work of your committed teachers. No doubt, many of today’s graduates will be pursuing higher education, while others of you will be seeking out job opportunities befitting the skills you have acquired,” Bartlett told the graduates.
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SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigration Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496/ 662-6045 Repairs to refrigerators, gas stoves, A/C units, washing machines. Call Lindon: 6411086/ 694-2202 Affordable house plans for residential and commercial buildings @ 37 Camp and Croal Streets. Call: 610-4085/ 614-0525/227-3575 Eagle’s: Re-gas -$8,000, Washing machine repairs, Gas Stove, Plasma flat Screen, computer repairs & more. Call: 697-2969/646-0966 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
CAR RENTAL
WANTED 1 Accounts Clerk, preferably from E.B.D – 5 subjects CXC minimum @ gtcareers592@gmail.com Hairdresser/Nail Technician apply at West Shore Plaza, 15 Public Road, Ruimzeight, W.C.D. Call: 269-1524/6563561 Buying fresh wamara logs and square. Call: 664-5150 Contract cars at City Taxi Service, 8 Vlissengen Road. Call: 227-6868 Experienced curry cook roti/ puri cook, counter servers, waiters (day shift only). Apply Hacks Halaal, 5 Commerce Streets.
2 Cashiers to work in the Interior. Call: 644-6366/ 699-9458 Live in experienced waitress 18-25yrs -$80,000 monthly. Call: 610-3974 Cosmetologist to work in salon must be certified & have clientele, must have pleasant personality. Call: 626-6450/ 227-1125 Professional mechanic specialized in diesel & gasoline vehicles with responsibilities - $5,000 daily. Call: 685-6588 EXPERIENCED AUTO ELECTRICIAN WANTED: CALL: 681-7120/ 226-7361 EXPERIENCED SALES STAFF. CALL: 681-7120/ 2 2 6 - 7 3 6 1 Experienced shop workers, handyman & domestic to work Interior location, age 1840yrs. Call: 231-0363 9am4:30pm (TIN, ID & NIS)
PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 677-7827, 6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM
Female cook with housekeeping experience, ages 30-45. Call: 629-9450
AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807
FOR SALE
FOR RENT
LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
Paint Sale! Until supplies last! Coloured latex paint, 50% discount. Call: 265-3541/ 6954785/616-3411
Hair & nails stations available for rental to experienced hairdressers & nail technicians. Call: 6283092/ 683-7033
Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999 Transported property & music equipment. Call: 2653586 One 5pcs suite hardly used $55,000, treadmill -$40,000, 1recliner chair -$30,000. Call Esmond Latchmansingh: 2265053
Hardworking, pleasant, physically fit, literate, team player (Plant Shop Staff), 18-25 years in Georgetown Tel: 646-2108 We are buying land in Eccles, Providence, Herstelling, Farm, La Parfaite, Zeelugt, Bartica, West Berbice. Call: 629-2881/651-1969 1 Skilled fitter machinist, 1 live in couple: husband – driving & wife- domestic, private cottage and good rates. Call: 227-1830
1 Three bedrooms upper flat @ Lusignan, E.C.D. Call: 6298240 Furnished three bedrooms top flat, next to Georgetown Hospital. Call: 225-3756/6032257 Hair/Nail Station rental & barber station rental, New Market Street. Call: 638-1106 Property for rent - 2 storey house at Republic Park, E.B.D. Call 647-1773 Fully furnished luxury apartment to rent 2 & 3 bedrooms, long and short term stay. Call: 665-3505
1 Heavy duty mechanic for Interior must have Driver’s License & know to weld. Accommodation & Meals provided. Call: 682-2702
DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494
Friday July 07, 2017
Kaieteur News
LAND FOR SALE Land at 42 Coglan Dam, size: 37X270 price -$5.5M negotiable. Call Mr. Howes: 677-9938 or Mrs Clarke: +13473870537 Land at Well Street Ogle, E.C.D, back lot, 65feetX105feet - $12M. Call: 625-1514 La Parfaite Harmonie -$1M, Zeelugt -$2M, Tuschen house & land - $3.5M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.7M. Call: 642-1252 Harmony prime spot, ideal for business. Call: 6955154 Prime land to build that dream home. Not far from Princess, New Thriving, Massy, HJ water world $13M neg- Call: 669-8397 La Parfaite Harmonie (main road) - $2M, $1.6M, $1.4M, $1.8M, Herstelling -$3M, Tuschen - $1.2M, Farm $3M. Call: 666-2326 La Parfaite Harmonie - $1.6M, $1.4M, $1M, $2M, Eccles $5.5M, Herstelling - $3M, Tuschen - $1.2M, $5M. Call: 604-6724 or 686-9608 2 ½ Acres riverside land, 5 Acres land with 5,000 sq.ft building, Brickery, East Bank Demerara. Call: 653-2477/6856874 Herstelling -$3.5M & $5M, Farm (East Bank) -$3M, Uitvlugt -$2.8M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.4M, $1.6M, $2.5M. Call: 629-2881/ 6511969
Room to rent - $30,000 monthly + security @ Aubrey Barker Road, S/ Ruimveldt Gardens. Call: 6230076 1 Fully furnished apartment at Victoria Avenue Eccles, E.B.D, inclusive of: parking, cable, internet & 2 bedrooms (one AC). Call: 667-2536 Queenstown: furnished apartment and one office flat 2500 sq.ft. Call: 600-3171 2 Bedrooms apartment including water and internet, price - $40,000, location: Diamond Scheme, E.B.D. Call: 602-7135 TO LET
PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461
VACANCY Cook/ Baker for interior. Applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020
One three bedroom concrete house for sale Contact Mala: 917-254-2909, location: Vryheid’s Lust, North. Call: 699-4111/626-2208
Chef and assistant cook. Call: 225-7933 or visit us at 173 Sheriff St.
Aubrey Barker - $28M, Greenheart -$25M, Norton Street -$11M, ½ Mile - $16M, Atlanticville - $28M, Kitty $10M, $30M. Call: 231-7805/ 618-7483 1-2 Storey house concrete bottom, wooden top with shop @ Herstelling, reasonable price. 1-2 story building in Tuschen. Call: 6955154 Property for sale at Hope, E.C.D- Call: 648-0436 One concrete building (incomplete) in residential area, close to National Stadium, Massy Supermarket, price negotiable. Call: 699-4114
Workers: carpenter & mason. Call: 265-3586 Male & female labourers for a seafood processing plant. Apply in person @ BM Enterprise, Guyana Fisheries Limited Wharf.
Maid for East Bank area please call: 614-4358
1 Hilux extra cab, GVV series, 5L diesel, good condition. Call: 673-3335/233-6218
Female cleaner for office in Eccles, E.B.D. Call: 233-2745.
Oswin J’s Auto Imports, new arrivals: Premio 2009, Allion 2009/2010, X-Trail 2009, Vitz 2013, 1 Bus 05/09. Call: 6092815/696-4659 Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pit-bull – Call: 650-7501 2 Isuzu Troopers -$1.9M each. Call: 657-3893
Room in Albertown / Apartment in Eccles. Call: 225-3234
1 Toyota Vigo, price -$2.5M, 4 wheel drive immaculate condition. Call: 225-3234
ACCOMMODATION Journey Inn apartment rental, short term with AC & Kitchen, as low as -$15US. Call: 6421783/ 646-3011634/7182301695
(2) 2010 Vitz - $2.2M negotiable each, 2010 Suzuki swift & Nissan March - $2M negotiable each (all unregistered). Call: 649-7771/690-7155
Neisha’s Massage Spa. Call: 674-8147
One experienced Accounts Clerk; apply to Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling.
VEHICLE FOR SALE
1 Mitsubishi Lancer PJJ series, female driven $500,000. Call: 656-2255
MASSAGE Gent’s Spa contact our masseuse for appointments. Call: 658-5528
C a r p e n t e r, M a s o n a n d porters, apply in person to Alabama Trading, Georgetown, Ferry Stelling.
Office clerk, apply at Survival Lot 10 Vlissengen Road, Newtown, Kitty.
Newly constructed apartments in a safe & healthy environment. Call: 698-6496/622-6512
SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 6471773/660-5257
Accounts clerk: English A (Grade 1) , Mathematics, P.O.A (Grade 2), knowledge of NIS, PAYE, VAT & QuickBooks @ Technical Services, Eccles. Call 6144358
1 Fielder Wagon, new model -$1.450M negotiable. Call: 231-6552/ 656-6852 LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages). TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
EDUCATIONAL Canadian School of Arts & Science: Summer Classes 2017- Pre-K, Nursery, Primary, Secondary (July 10th –August 11th). Call: 216-6921/22 for registration I.A.E – Registered now for full-time secondary school, lessons, CXC/CSEC classes, adults, students, repeaters. Call: 683-5742/621-7365 Summer Classes for slow learners in Maths, Phonics, Reading, Spelling and much more. Call: 675-4379 Summer Classes July 10th – August 5th: Phonics, Reading, Compositions writing, Maths, Crafts Games & Fun Day, Oronoque & Lamaha Streets. Call: 695-9625 First Aid/Courses at St. John Ambulance Brigade, 110 Cowan St., Georgetown, available: morning, evening sessions. For details call: 225-9082 Summer School ages 4-14, Rising Star Academy, Phonics, Reading, Mathematics, Science; Register Early. Call: 677-0296
Friday July 07, 2017
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Kaieteur News
THAG elects new board The Tourism & Hospitality Association of Guyana, (THAG) has elected a new board which will serve for a one-year period, from 20172018. The new board was appointed during the entity’s Annual General Meeting at Roraima Duke Lodge on June 30 last. The team is headed by reelected President of THAG, Mrs. Andrea de Caires of Atta Rainforest Lodge (Community and Tourism Services), Vice President; Kevin Daby, General Manager of Grand Coastal Inn (Hotel), Treasurer; Mitra Ramkumar, Finance Comptroller of Roraima Airways Inc., Committee Member; Alexandra Correia, a Market Research and Investor Relations Manager of Correia Group of Companies, Committee Member Davie Sukhdeo, Senior Sales Manager of Marriott Hotel Georgetown, Committee Member; Camille Boodhoo, Managing Director of Old Fort Tours & Angellina’s Travel Service and Committee Mem-
The Tourism & Hospitality Association of Guyana, (THAG) has appointed a new board which will serve for a one-year period. ber Jacqueline Allicock, General Manager of Surama Ecolodge, Surama Village. In brief remarks, Mrs. de Caires described the newly elected Executive Council as a versatile mix of industry personnel. “THAG’s focus, going
forward endeavours to expand lobbying efforts with Government of Guyana and deliver more services to our membership – to support HRD initiatives, increase revenue streams for operations and identify opportunities for development. “
“The Executive’s contributions will be beneficial to the Association as they attend to the identified areas, address industry concerns and seek new prospects for expansion.” THAG also re-appointed Ram & McRae as its Auditors
for the new financial year. THAG was formed twelve years ago by a small group of five persons. According to its mission statement, THAG is an umbrella body of all Tourism-related entities in Guyana. Members include hoteliers, resort owners, tour
operators, travel agents, restaurants, jewellery and craft shops, transportation services among others. This association was formed twelve years ago by a small group of five persons. THAG is also a member of the Caribbean Hotel Association.
UG on course to improving research capabilities A school of graduate studies and research is currently on the cards for the University of Guyana [UG]. In fact, according to Principal and Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, he intends to appoint a Dean of Graduate Studies and Research in the coming year. Moves in this direction, he informed, is geared at advancing UG’s capabilities to indulge in research projects in an efficient manner. “I couldn’t act because of budget limitation to appoint a Dean…but it is part of my priority for next year. We have to have the mechanisms to focus on providing support for graduate studies and research; the two must go hand in hand,” said Professor Griffith. As he responded to questions from this publication on the importance of boosting research at the university, the Vice Chancellor pointed out that “one of the sad things about the decline of research at this university is that the university did not adequately invest in helping the professional development for research”. Coming from a background that fully understands and appreciates research, Professor Griffith underscored the need for lectures of any university such as the University of Guyana to travel to various conferences to present papers. But according to him, lecturers do not only have to travel overseas to gain exposure, since they can travel to areas in-country too.
“Think of going to present a paper in Anna Regina or Linden, or Lethem for that matter. Sometimes it costs more to go to Lethem or Anna Regina than it would cost to go to Trinidad, but over the years there was a diminution in resources to support lecturers,” the Vice Chancellor noted. Critical to research for those within the sciences, technology or health sciences, are the labs and the other necessary facilities and instruments which have been lacking. Moreover, the capabilities for research declined over the years, because the mechanisms to facilitate these declined, as did the possibility for grants. Professor Griffith noted that although some lecturers will always be eligible for grants because of their fields, some simply haven’t had a chance. “A lot of them will get grants coming to them because of their professions…if you are a biologist or mechanical engineer.” He however emphasised that there is more to getting a grant than merely being eligible for it. “What happens when the grant is won? You have got to have some people managing the implementation of the grant too. It shouldn’t be the lecturer doing that,” the Vice Chancellor explained. He therefore pointed out that “Any credible university has to have a Pre-award office helping people to put the grant proposal together, and then it has to have a Postaward office.”
Griffith described as “one of our dynamic Mathematicians.” But ensuring that all measures are in place and functioning effectively will not materialize overnight, the Vice Chancellor cautioned. He related that “in order to restore the credibility to do research, to create the mechanisms to
support it, there are many things you have got to do at the same time.” According to Professor Griffith, “It sounds nice to say the University of Guyana should be doing this and that, but you have got to ask ‘what are the necessary preconditions to get those things in place…”
Radical shakeup being proposed for Caribbean's...
Professor Ivelaw Griffith But even before this, grants must be available. As such, he noted that part of “my re-organisation plan, which was approved October of last year, was to have that School of Graduate Studies and Research in place, because getting grants just doesn’t happen. You have to have grant writers; you can’t have the lectures just using their time looking for grants.” It was therefore important to Professor Griffith to determine, “not only how do you provide those grant opportunities…but it is also how do you create mechanisms to be the outlet for people to research and how do you fund people to go to conferences too?”
But according to the Vice Chancellor, the reality is that as the national university there is need to stimulate and support research not only by the lecturers but by the students. Stressing the inclusion of students, he said that consideration must not only be given to “just fourth year and third year students…” It was with this in mind that the Vice Chancellor decided to establish an undergraduate research programme. According to him, the undergraduate programme is an integral part of restoring the needed capabilities for research. Currently functioning as the Assistant Director of that programme is Dr. Troy Thomas, who Professor
From page 18 teach and test isn't, then the status quo will remain. The entire system needs reform, he explained, and this can only be done if there is the political and social will to do so. Learning must be made fun and school structures changed to accommodate this, CXC Registrar Cumberbatch insisted. He sounded a call for more access and importance to be attached to tertiary, polytechnic, adult and continuing education. The long serving educator said there is also the need for moneys to be spent differently to achieve true value, in terms of results and above
all…”we must make learning fun.” The Commission was launched after Caribbean Leaders were given a presentation in March 2014, on behalf of a cluster of Human Resource Development (HRD) agencies regionally, and a decision was taken to examine education jointly. They then asked that a Commission be mandated to develop a HRD strategy that looks towards 2030. It sought to address ways in which HRD and education needed to change to equip CARICOM residents with the projected skills and knowledge needed, for economies and societies, by that benchmark. (DPI)
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German police fire water Trump administration sued by 18 U.S. states over student loan relief cannon at G20 demonstration
U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos testifies before the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C (Reuters) More than onethird of U.S. states on Thursday sued the U.S. Education Department and Secretary Betsy DeVos over the recent suspension of rules that would have swiftly canceled student-loan debt of people defrauded by Corinthian Colleges Inc and other for-profit schools. Last month DeVos pressed pause on the rules, due to take effect on July 1, saying they needed to be reset. Massachusetts, 17 other states and the District of Columbia said in a filing in U.S.
District Court in Washington, D.C. that the department broke federal law in announcing the delay with limited public notice and opportunity to comment. DeVos, a Republican and advocate of public-private partnerships in education, said she wanted to pause the acceleration of the debt cancellation process because it “puts taxpayers on the hook for significant costs.” She also said a delay was needed while current litigation in California over the rules works its way through the legal system.
Consumer groups Public Citizen and Project on Predatory Student Lending sued on Thursday to remove the delay as well. The department did not immediately have a comment on the suits. The rules were finalized in the last days of the administration of President Barack Obama, a Democrat who overhauled federal student lending. After Corinthian, a forprofit chain, collapsed in 2015 amid federal and state investigations into its post-graduation employment rates, the administration began drafting rules to help students caught with loans they had taken out for Corinthian tuition. Obama wanted to prevent students from receiving loans they could not repay after graduation. He specifically targeted for-profit, career colleges that promise students they will find jobs after graduating and can charge high tuition. The attorneys general for California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, all Democrats, also signed onto Thursday’s suit. They said the department and DeVos were using the pending litigation as “a mere pretext” to repeal the rules and replace them with one that “will remove or dilute student rights and protections.”
(BBC) Police and protesters have clashed in the German city of Hamburg where the G20 is due to start on Friday. Organisers had cancelled the march following the violence, police said, but many demonstrators remained on the streets. At least one person appeared to have been seriously hurt and was carried away covered by a foil blanket. World leaders including US President Donald Trump are in Hamburg for talks on a wide range
of issues. The clashes began when police charged a group of anti-capitalist demonstrators at the march attended by thousands carrying banners with slogans such as “Welcome to hell” and “Smash G20”. They fired water cannon and pepper spray at masked protesters, who hurled bottles, stones and flares at police. Medics were seen treating several people. Other protesters built makeshift barricades on streets. At least one vehicle had been set alight and businesses had been damaged, police said. Up to 100,000 protesters are expected in Hamburg during the summit. E a r l i e r, p o l i c e h a d warned of possible violence and said they had confiscated a number of homemade weapons. The G20 leaders face their own disagreements, including over climate change and trade.
Mr Trump has already met German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the pair spent an hour talking about North Korea, the Middle East, the conflict in eastern Ukraine and G20 issues, a German government spokesman said. Last week Mrs Merkel said the G20 would focus on the Paris climate deal - which the US has withdrawn from. But earlier she said that as the G20 host she would work to find compromises. The summit will also see Mr Trump meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time. The meeting will take place at 14:45 local time (13:45 GMT) and last for an hour, Russian media report. Earlier in the day Mr Trump used a speech in the Polish capital Warsaw to call on Russia to stop “destabilising” Ukraine and other countries.
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GASA/FINA host five days Intermediate... Windies Women extend wretched... (From page 30) fearless in water,” Williams posited. He stressed the need for Guyana as a nation to harness that talent to produce phenomenal athletes that can represent our country at competitive swim meets locally, in the Caribbean and on the international stage. “We cannot do that until we have the infrastructure and organisations to support our future swimming competitors. But being here today reinforces the fact that this is happening,” Williams said. Solidifying his point Williams referenced the inspirational, historic achievements of Jamaican’s Alia Atkinson who became the first black woman
to win a gold world swimming title as well as the more recently, Simone Ashley Manuel who at the 2016 Rio Olympics took home two golds and one silver medal in the pool. Closer to home Williams spoke of Guyanese Hannibal Gaskin, Guyana’s representative to last year’s Rio Olympics competing alongside the best in the world. “In years to come with this example of our continued commitment to swimming excellence we will be able to grow on his outstanding achievement on the world stage,” he emphasized. Among his remarks, Williams encouraged the participants to take up swimming for
all of the obvious health benefits but also posited that “if a parent swims their children also swim. We too have to build the capacity of a pool of future swimming stars. And that includes adding swimming in the national curriculum to produce a nation of confident recreational and competitive swimmers.” Brian Smith spoke on the behalf of the National Sports Commission and lauded the efforts of the coordinators, while encouraging the participants to seize the opportunity to be better and more professional at their skills set advancement. (Mondale Smith and Tekia Hanover)
(From page 26) run continued when she drove the very next delivery back to Kasperek to perish for a first-ball ‘duck’ and in the next over, Nation’s vigil ended when she clipped legspinner Amelia Kerr to short mid-wicket where Amy Satterthwaite took a simple catch. Tottering on 53 for five in the 18th over, Kyshona Knight and Aguilleira combined in a 38-run stand to stablise the innings. The left-handed Kyshona, Kycia’s twin sister, looked composed in an innings lasting 60 deliveries and including seven fours while Aguilleira, in her 100th ODI, struck two fours and a six off 30 balls.
The former skipper had just cleared the ropes at midwicket with Kasperek when she was unfortunately given out stumped off the next delivery even though replays showed her foot grounded behind the line. Her dismissal signalled the end of the last bit of resistance. Shanel Daley missed a heave at off-spinner Satterthwaite and was bowled in the 33rd over for her second consecutive ‘duck’ and Kyshona perished in the 40th over, bowled by pacer Holly Huddleston also missing a wild swing at 135 for eight. Fletcher struck four fours in her 37-ball innings but Anisa Mohammed (5) and Akeira Peters (0) failed to stay with her.
In reply, Priest raced to her ninth half-century off a record 29 balls and all told belted 17 fours and two sixes, as she put on 120 for the first wicket with Bates who counted five fours off 43 deliveries. The right-handed Priest was in sight of her third career hundred when she picked out Daley at cover with a firm thump off off-spinner Mohammed in the 15th over. Scores: WEST INDIES WOMEN 150 all out off 43 overs (Kyshona Knight 41, Afy Fletcher 23 not out; Leigh Kasperek 3-17, Lea Tahuhu 339). NEW ZEALAND WOMEN 151 for two off 18.2 overs (Rachel Priest 90, Suzie Bates 40)
Hopkinson competes and wins in... Friday July 07, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Raise your self esteem and your confidence if you want to get back into the mainstream again. Jealous attitudes may lead you astray. You should consider getting into self improvement endeavors. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Enjoy the company of relatives today. Put your plans into motion by presenting your intentions to those who should be able to give you financial support. Get help to finish a project if you need it. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Don't get so wrapped up in being rich that you overlook the fact that your plan may not be as solid as you thought. You will have the getup and go to contribute a great deal to groups of interest. Opportunities for romance will develop through activities with large groups. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Avoid any over indulgences. Make the necessary changes that will enable you to advance financially. Get involved in sports groups or hobbies that attract you. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Look at your options before making commitments that could jeopardize your financial position. Emotional up and downs have caused doubts in your personal life. Residential moves are evident. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Put your time and energy into home improvement. Try not to be so demonstrative. Look into projects that you feel
would contribute something to your appearance. LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Make some notes regarding the changes that you should make. Implement your ideas into your projects at work. Opportunities for partnerships are present; but get every detail in writing. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You can make a big difference to children if you are understanding of the difficulties they are experiencing. Eliminate situations that are no longer to your advantage. Be sure not to burn any bridges. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) You will be able to borrow money in order to invest. Hobbies will be good for your emotional well being. Your tendency to overreact could get you into trouble. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The locks, stove, gas, or electric wires may not be secure. You can make gains if you look at long-term investments. Get out and rub shoulders with people in high positions if possible. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Stop telling others about your problems. You will do well if you mingle with the brass today. You will be in an overly generous mood today. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may want to clear the air where older relatives are concerned. Sign up for seminars that will expand your business awareness. Money may slip through your fingers.
(From page 29) of 5 pounds. The Standard pistols are pistols with iron or fibre optic sights, very specific modifications are allowed on these firearms. These finely tuned pistols carry double stacked magazines, enlarged mag wells and with trigger pressures as little as 15 ounces. IPSC have specific instruments to measure these pressure specifications accurately and pistol dimensions are curtailed so it must fit in the IPSC Standard box. The Open division was won by The US Grand Master, Mr. Shannon Smith of the Universal Shooting Academy, Frostproof Miami USA, followed by Desmond Chang and the hard working Match Director Mr Sergio Tjon, who organised the event and was still able to take the 3rd spot from Andrew Wilson and Dr Hu. Romano Adel took the Production Division, the Stan-
dard Division was won by Stanley Lau, both Surinamese. Hopkinson took the Super Senior top spot. The ‘Topgun’s’ next stop will be Jamaica where he will be shooting his highly modified 9mm pistol from Akai Custom Gun Works, Miami. He remarked that he is doing all the shooting and training he can to finish in the top ten or even win the Super Senior Division
at the IPSC World Shoot to be held in France this August. The Guyana National Rifle Association member, who is also the IPSC Regional Director will be accompanied by the former Regional Director Mr. Mohamed Arafat Qualander, who will compete in the Production Division. The ‘Topgun’ thanks all who helped him to get to the standard he has achieved.
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Friday July 07, 2017
RHTY&SC Teams to construct Community Projects, host $3M Patron’s Outreach The eight cricket teams of Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS, over the next two months would be
heavily involved in several Community Projects. The projects would be constructed under the Rose
Hall Town Youth & Sports C l u b P a t r o n ’s a n d Community Development Programme. The teams
would also be involved in the distribution of almost $3M worth of bicycles, school bags, exercise books and cricket balls to less fortunate students and cricket clubs across the ancient county of Berbice. The teams are currently involved in the construction of a $150,000 (one hundred and fifty thousand dollars) concrete scoreboard at the Area “H” Ground and would shortly start the construction of a concrete bridge at the Southern end of Beharry Street in Rose Hall Town. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club is also currently awaiting permission from the Mayor and Town Council of Rose Hall Town to construct a small monument in observance of the purchase of Rose Hall Village in 1842 by 57 (fifty seven) free slaves. As part of the 175th Anniversary the cricket teams are also awaiting the Town Council’s permission to do some work around the Rose Hall Monument at the Arch Square. Club Secretary/CEO
Hilbert Foster stated that the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club would be spearheading the 175th Anniversary Celebration and once completed, the Community projects would be handed over to the Mayor and Town Council. The eight teams would also be involved in the distribution of 20 cycles, 800 school bags, 20,000 exercise books and a large collection of cricket balls to less fortunate school children and cricket clubs across Berbice on the 21st July at the St. Francis Community Developers Training Centre. The distribution to be made under the Patron’s Fund would be done as part of the Club’s celebration of its Patron’s 72nd Birthday and also as part of a Berbice wide effort to promote the Say Yes to Education and Sports Messages. Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Barton Scotland would deliver the Feature Address at the event which would also feature the Graduation Ceremony for the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club
27th Annual Cricket Academy and Presentation Ceremony of the 5th Annual Gregory Gaskin Berbice Memorial Sports Awards and the Ansa Mcal Award of Excellence. The RHTY&SC would also be unveiling a new programme “Tribute to the Berbice Top Ten”. Under this programme, the Club would be honouring the top ten Berbice students at the 2017 Grade Six Examination. They would each receive a trophy, medal, framed certificate and a collection of educational materials for the new school term in September. Foster hailed the RHTY&SC as a remarkable organisation which on a daily basis touches the lives of youths, the elderly and less fortunate. The eight cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, Ms, are Farfan and Mendes Under15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Metro Female and Gizmos & Gadgets Under-21 and First Division.
Windies Women extend wretched run with fourth loss TAUNTON, England, CMC – West Indies’ misery at the ICC Women’s World Cup increased yesterday when they produced yet another docile performance against New Zealand Women to lose by eight wickets and crash to their fourth straight defeat. In what has become the norm during the campaign, the Caribbean side meekly surrendered for 150 all out off 43 overs after being sent in at Somerset County Ground and then watched helplessly as the Kiwis stormed to the target in the 19th over. Veteran opener Rachel Priest slammed the fastest ever Women’s World Cup fifty en route to a strokefilled 90, while Suzie Bates struck an unbeaten 40, to take their side to five points and fourth in the eight-team standings. West Indies, meanwhile, continued bottom without a point with virtually all hope extinguished of making the final four. Once again, their batting proved shambolic. Kyshona Knight, batting at number seven, top-scored with 42, while tail-ender Afy Fletcher finished on 23 not out and captain Stafanie Taylor and
Kyshona Knight top scored for the West Indies Women and India Women © CWI Media Photo/Adriel Richard wicketkeeper Merissa Aguilleira both got 20. They were undermined by off-spinner Leigh Kasperek (3-17) and seamer Lea Tahuhu (3-39) who picked up three wickets apiece. West Indies’ promises of an improved showing came to nothing as they slumped to 10 for two in the fifth over with Tahuhu removing both openers cheaply. Left-hander Kycia Knight, who only arrived earlier this week as one of two injury replacements, had a miserable start to her campaign when she edged a low catch behind without scoring in the third over. And the in-form Hayley Matthews followed with one
run added, top-edging a pull back to the bowler to depart for nine. Taylor and Chedean Nation (17) then revived the innings with a 43-run, third wicket stand but the partnership required 71 deliveries and put the Kiwis under little pressure. The right-handed Taylor, without a significant score in the series, struck four fours in 32 balls at the crease while Nation hit three boundaries in a 43-ball knock. Kasperek returned to trap Taylor LBW, sweeping at the first delivery of a new spell and her dismissal triggered a slide where West Indies lost three wickets without for no runs in the space of eight deliveries. Deandra Dottin horror (Continued on page 25)
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Friday July 07, 2017
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Kohli hundred batters Windies into series loss KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – West Indies were overpowered by a dazzling unbeaten hundred from India captain Virat Kohli, as they slumped to another series defeat with a heavy eightwicket loss in the decisive fifth One-Day International here yesterday. Entering the contest at Sabina Park on a high following their sensational victory in the fourth ODI five days ago, the Windies were brought down to earth by Kohli’s high class 111 not out which helped the Asian powerhouses easily overhaul their target of 206 in the 37th over and clinch a 3-1 series victory. The century was Kohli’s 28th in ODIs and a record 18th in run chases, and provided the ideal finale for the series after he had struggled with failures in his previous two innings. He struck 12 fours and two sixes in a 115-ball knock and put on 79 for the second wicket with opener Ajinkya Rahane who made 39 off 51 balls before adding a further 122 in an unbroken stand with Dinesh Karthik, who stroked an unbeaten 50 from 52 deliveries. West Indies had earlier failed to capitalise on a strong start as their batting collapsed yet again and could only muster a hugely disappointing 205 for nine
off their 50 overs. The increasingly dependable Shai Hope gathered a top score of 51 off 98 balls while his older brother Kyle Hope chipped in with an authoritative 46 off 50 deliveries. Captain Jason Holder slammed a frenetic 36 from 34 balls and all-rounder Rovman Powell, 31 from 32, but none of the top six could carry on to three figures. Seamer Mohammed Shami claimed four for 48 while new-ball partner Umesh Yadav picked up three for 53 with his pace. Opting to bat first on a good surface, West Indies appeared to be riding on the momentum of their recent win when they took the attack to India’s bowlers at the start. Kyle lashed nine fours in an attacking knock, dominating a 39-run opening stand with left-hander Evin Lewis (9) before adding 37 for the second wicket with his younger brother. Lewis never found his touch and lofted the 20th delivery he faced to mid-off where Kohli took the offering off seamer Hardik Pandya but Kyle put the Indians on the back foot with a pair of off-side boundaries in the fifth over off Umesh and another pair off Shami in the 10th over. His gusto got the better
Virat Kohli was positive right from the outset, West Indies v India, 5th ODI, Kingston ©AFP of him in the 16th over when after taking two consecutive boundaries of Umesh, he attempted a third and was taken at short mid-wicket by Shikhar Dhawan off a sharp pull at 76 for two. Roston Chase lasted one ball, plumb lbw to Umesh and Jason Mohammed added 39 for the third wicket with Shai Hope before slapping an innocuous delivery back to off-spinner Kedar Jadhav to perish for 16 at 115 for four in the 31st over. Going at a run rate of well under four, the Windies were in need of impetus and got it from Holder who slammed four fours and six
Aliann Pompey Invitational Meet fixtures released The fixtures for the Aliann Pompey Invitational Meet slated for July 15th at the Lenora Stadium has been released. With the Banks DIH Men’s 100m being the headliner and featuring the famed Kim Collins of St. Kitts & Nevis among a number of regional and international stars, the event promises a choc-full of action for fans. The race is named for one of the major contributors to the success of the competition, Banks DIH - specifically the brands Powerade, Malta Supreme and Rainforest Waters. The international field as well as the field of Guyanese runners to start the Banks DIH Men’s 100m dash is as f o l l o w s : Kim Collins (SKN), Emmanuel Callender (TRI), Tr e H o u s t o n ( B E R ) , Chavaughn Walsh (ANT), Jaqouhne Hoyte (BAR),
Virjillo Griggs (PAN), Levi Cadogan (BAR), Tahir Walsh (ANT), Ramona Hill ( J A M ) . List of potential Guyanese starters should include: Adam Harris, Andel Perry, Jeremy Bascom, Lloyd Cummings, Chavez Agedly, Compton Caesar, Stephon Boodie, Emmanuel Archibald, Deandrew Denny, Salish Nauth, Tevin Garraway, Davin Drawers, Akeem Peters, Carlos Trinidad, Terron Montford, Tyrell Peters, Quason Anthony, Owen Adonis. The fixtures for the Track Events: 3 P. M . - O p e n i n g Ceremonies 3:30 P.M. - Fly-Jamaica Women’s 400mh 3:45 P.M. - Ramada Georgetown Hotel Men’s 400mh 4 : 0 0 P. M . - G O A Women’s 100m Trials 4:15 P.M. - Banks DIH Men’s 100m Trials
4:30 P.M. - Women’s 1500m 4:40 P.M. - MOE Men’s 3,000m 4:55 P.M. - Star Party Rental Women’s 400m 5 :05 P.M. - Quality Plus Men’s 400m 5:20 P.M. - Hits and Jams 94.1 Master’s Men 100m 5 : 2 5 P. M . - G O A Women’s 100m Finals 5:35 P.M. - Banks DIH Men’s 100m Finals 5:50 P.M. - Men’s 110mh 6 : 0 5 P. M . - N S C Women’s 800m 6:15 P.M. - SDS Men’s Men’s 800m 6:30 P.M. - Douglas & Associates Women’s 200m 7:00 P.M. - Men’s 200m Field Events 3:30 P.M. - Women’s TJ 3:30 P.M. – Men’s Javelin 4:30 P.M. – Women’s High Jump 5:00 P.M. - Men’s TJ 6:00 P.M. – Women’s Long Jump
in a 48-run fifth wicket stand with Shai Hope. The pair were wresting back control of the innings when Holder’s ambition cost him dearly, holing out to an excellent running catch at long-on by Dhawan off Shami in the 40th over. His dismissal triggered a s lid e f r o m w h ich th e Wi n d i e s n e v e r r e a l l y recovered as four wickets fell quickly for just 19 runs. Shai struck five fours en route to raising his third halfcentury in the 38th over but skied a heave at Shami and watched as Rahane took a superb tumbling catch at mid-wicket in the 42nd over at 168 for six. Shami quickly cleaned up Ashley Nurse without scoring and Devendra Bishoo for six, leaving Powell to slam a pair of sixes
Shai Hope ducks under a bouncer, West Indies v India, 5th ODI, Kingston, July ©AFP down the end to get the Windies past 200. West Indies then got the early breakthrough they needed when the left-handed Dhawan tamely drove seamer Alzarri Joseph to Lewis at short cover to fall in the first over of India’s reply for four with five runs on the board. But the hosts squandered the chance at another wicket in the fourth over when Bishoo put down Rahane on five at point off off Holder. The miss proved costly as the right-hander combined with Kohli to put the innings on solid footing, in a knock that contained five fours. By time he played around a straight one from Bishoo and was lbw in the 19th over at 84 for two, India were well set and Kohli used the platform to plunder the
Windies bowling. He brought up his halfcentury off 67 balls with a cover-driven boundary off off-spinner Nurse in the 22nd over and then required only another 41 deliveries to reach three figures. The right-hander stroked seamer Kesrick Williams to the wide long-on boundary to bring up the landmark before clearing the ropes at long on with off-spinner Chase to take his side over the line. Scores: WEST INDIES 205 for nine off 50 overs (Shai Hope 51, Kyle Hope 46, J as on H older 36, Rovman Powell 31; Mohammed Shami 4-48, Umesh Yadav 3-53). INDIA 206 for two off 36.5 overs (Virat Kohli 111 not out, Dinesh Karthik 50 not out, Ajinkya Rahane 39).
Berbice Amateur Basketball Association 2017 tournament games rescheduled The Berbice Amateur Basketball Association 2017 Tournament for team in Berbice and sponsored by Nigel Hinds Financial has seen the rescheduling of games after the contest between Canje Knights and Ithaca Hardliners was not played due to the inclement weather last weekend at Vryman’s Erven Basketball Court in New Amsterdam. The competition will however, continue this week at Rose Hall Court on the Corentyne. NA Warriors will clash with Rose Hall Town Jammers at 16:00hrs. Jammers will be boosted by overseas player Kevon Wiggin. Wiggin will team up
with the likes of Michael King, Mickle Lewis and Rayborne Murray to face New Amsterdam Warriors. BABA President Vibert Garrett recently met with the Mayor and City Council for the Council to grant permission to the Berbice Basketball Association in collaboration with Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation to develop the Vrymen’s Erven Basketball Court with lights so basketball can play at night.
Six teams are involved in the competition which is being played on a round Robin basis in two zones. Zone A includes Canje Knight, Fyrish Black Sharks and Ithaca Hardliners, while Zone B comprises of Rose Hall To w n J a m m e r s , Hopetown Stealers and NA Warriors. Trophies, cash and other incentives are up for grabs. The tournament is being organized by Garrett.
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Friday July 07, 2017
National Schools Basketball Championships
Kallicharan, Bishop hand President’s College, Marian Young Windies victory Academy among Day Three winners
Play in one of the games on Day 3 of the National Schools Basketball Championships at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. President’s College and Marian Academy Under-16 teams enjoyed the journey to winners row when play on the third day of the National Schools Basketball Championships continued at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. President’s College Under-16 blew away St. Joseph High - 52 to 19 points. Rankin McDonald with 13 points, 14 rebounds, Akinyan Deirell 10points, 7rebounds and Jesse Thomas 9 points, 7 rebounds were on target for the winners, while Shaquawn Gill scored 11 points and 5 rebounds for Joseph’s. Marian Academy Under16 defeated New Amsterdam Multi - 44 to 5 points. Akili Haynes 15 points, 7 rebounds, Josiah Daniel 11 points, 5 rebounds and Jether Harris 10 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals led the rout. Imtiaz Jaundoo had 3 points, 4 rebounds for NAMS. President’s College
overcame St Roses High in over-time 52 to 46 points. Anton Fileen 25 points, 4 rebounds, 5 steals and Akeem Crandon 18 points, 22 rebound led President’s College. Anthony Yansen 21 points,9 rebounds, 6 steals and Kwesi Roberts 15 points, 10 rebounds, 7 steals were the top shots for Roses. The tournament paused for the 2017 All-star game yesterday and return with the championship rounds today through to Sunday. Sponsors for the tournament are Edward B Beharry and Companies Ltd, National Sports Commission, John Fernandes Ltd and Sterling Product Ltd.
DURBAN, South Africa, CMC – Kirstan Kallicharan stroked an aggressive unbeaten halfcentury and left-arm spinner Joshua Bishoo claimed a sixwicket haul, as West Indies Under-19s defeated Kwazulu-Natal Coastal Academy by five wickets in a warm-up game here yesterday. Chasing 196 for victory at Hammond Field, the Young Windies motored to their target in the 29th over with the right-handed Kallicharan top-scoring with an unbeaten 87 off 57 deliveries. Opener Kegan Simmons supported with 45, while Jeavor Royal ended unbeaten on 33. Thula Ngcobo (2-26) and Mlungiseleli Gcado (248) finished with two wickets apiece. Bishop had earlier claimed six for 17 from six overs as the hosts reached 194 for nine off their 30 overs after opting to bat first. Opener W. Rahman topscored with 80 from 66 balls with seven fours and four sixes, while Joel Veeran made 35 and Jason Wagner,
Kirstan Kallicharan … top-scored with a robust unbeaten 87. 32. Rahman added 56 for the first wicket with Sithabiso Zungu (10) before putting on a further 55 for the fourth wicket with Veeran. When Rahman was dismissed in the 20th over, Veeran and Wagner came together to post 42 for the fifth wicket before Bishop helped run through the tail. In reply, the Windies Under-19s were struggling on 52 for three in the 13th over before Kallicharan arrived to blast them to victory. He struck five fours and
six sixes and posted 49 for the fourth wicket with Simmons who faced 59 balls counted four boundaries. When the Caribbean side lost Simmons and Alick Athanaze (4) in the space of 14 deliveries, Kallicharan combined with Royal in an unbroken 73-run sixth wicket partnership to see their side home. Royal faced a mere 18 balls and struck four fours and a six. West Indies Under-19s take on South Africa Under19s in the first of five Youth One-Day Internationals on Sunday at Chatsworth Oval.
Guinness National Playoffs launched The eagerly anticipated 5th edition of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ National Playoffs was officially launched yesterday, during a simple ceremony that was conducted, at the Banks DIH Ltd Sports Club. In attendance at the occasion were Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste, Outdoor Events Manager Mortimer Stewart, Communications Manager Tr o y P e t e r s , C o l o u r s Boutique representative Creanna Damon and Referees Co-ordinator Wayne Griffith. The tournament, which will start tomorrow in the Mining Town of Linden, will be played over three days in different locations with the We s t D e m e r a r a a n d Georgetown, being the other communities that will witness 16 teams from six zones battle for the coveted first prize and bragging rights for one year. Georgetown will be represented by Sparta Boss, who is also the reigning title holders and 2015 champions as well, inaugural winners
Back Circle, who won the title in 2013, Tucville and Broad Street, while Dave and Celena’s All-Stars (champions of Linden), Swag Entertainment and Jermaine and Family Silver Bullets will represent the Mining Town. The East Coast of Demerara representatives are Melanie-B (Champion), Plaisance-B and Buxton Diamond, while Showstoppers (Champion), Hustlers and Money Team are the West Demerara/East B a n k D e m e r a r a ambassadors. New Amsterdam (NA) Kings (Champion) and East Bank Gunners are the Berbice representatives, while Riverview (Champion) will be the sole entry from Bartica. Baptiste speaking at the Launch revealed that the season has certainly lived up to the expectation of being the best thus far, citing the increase in teams participation when compared with previous years as evidence of his pronouncement. He added, “Over the three days, the public will
witness the best of the best competing to see who is made of more, revealing “The intention is to take the national final to different parts of the country.” Baptiste praised sponsor Colours Boutique for its continued support, adding that the entity has remained on board without much fanfare. He also commended the Guyana Football Federation, the referees for their commitment and the media for their support over the years. Meanwhile, the fixtures for opening night will see NA Kings tackle Melanie-B at 20:00hrs and this encounter will be followed by the clash between Swag Entertainment and Buxton Diamond from 20:45hrs. At 21:30hrs, East Bank Gunners square off against Dave and Celena’s All-Stars, while Tucville and Jermaine and Family Silver Bullets clash kickoff at 22:15hrs. Following the completion of the four matches, the winners of game two and three battle from 23:00hrs, while the
winners of game one and four clash at 23:45hrs. The survivors automatically move into the semi-final round. The event resumes on July 14, at the Pouderoyen Tarmac. Plaisance-B battle Broad Street at 20:00hrs, while Showstoppers square off against Riverview from 20:45hrs. The third fixture will see the Money Team match strides with Sparta Boss at 21:30hrs, while Back Circle tackle Hustlers from 22:15hrs. The winners of game one and four then collide for a semi final place and so too the winner of the game two and three encounter. The semi-finals and final will be played on July 15, at the Demerara Park, Thirst Park. Winner of the tournament will receive $800,000 and the Championship trophy, while the second, third and fourth place finishers will pocket $400,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively along with trophies.
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Friday July 07, 2017
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Georgetown Grand Prix set for tomorrow night at GMR&SC
Go Kart- The Go-Karts that will be on show Saturday night.
GT Motor Sport CEO Vishok Persaud (left) addresses the gathering in the presence of Race Director John Chin (center) and Track Marshal Wazir Mohamed during the launching. Exciting action is anticipat e d t o m o r r o w night when GT Motor Sport hosts its 3rd annual Georgetown Grand Prix at the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club, Albert Street and Thomas Land. The qualifying of the event, which targets the
development of the young drivers, will take place this evening at the said venue. Addressing the media on Wednesday night, CEO of GT Motor Sport, Vishok Persaud said some 40 competitors have already registered and they are working to have a better parking arrangement in
place, adding that the Malteenoes SC is being looked at as an option. Among the competitors expected to thrill the fans are Matthew Phang (shifter kart race), John Phang (125cc), Elan Rahaman (125cc jnr), Stephan Jeffrey (125cc shifter pro cup) and John
Claud-Jeffrey (GX 200 light). Competitors will battle in the following race groups; 60cc IAME, 125cc seniorIAME X30/Rotax 125, 125cc juniors IAME, X30/Rotax 125 and Pro Cup Shifter Karts. Action gets underway at 18:00hrs.
Admission-adults $1,000 and children $500 and VIP $4,000 includes finger foods and other refreshments. The event is being sponsored by Sun Burst, All in One Snack and Beverage D e p o t , S t a g , P r e m ’s Electrical, Vishal Auto Toy Store, Exonmobil, Ocean
Spray Hotel, GMRSC, Cyril’s Taxi Service, Bounty Farm Ltd and Meat Centre, R e n t - a - Te n t , K a r c h e r, Japarts, Trophy Stall, Clear Waters, The Track, ENetworks, Marics, Superbet, King’s Jewellery, Truck Masters, Optique Vision Care, Z Online Shopping and BM Soat.
Hopkinson competes and wins in Suriname shoot Competing with an unfamiliar high recoiling .40 calibre CZ Tactical Sport pistol made in the Czech Republic that was loaned to him by his Surinamese counterpart, Regional Director, Mr. Serge Tjin Wong Joe at a international competition in Suriname recently, Harold ‘Top gun’ Hopkinson proved that by applying the basic proven fundamentals and constant training in the art of practical shooting, a dedicated shooter can do very well. The veteran practical Shooter took part in the MTV Resort Official Opening Invitational Match, held on Sunday last in neighbouring Suriname, which is owned by Mr. Roy Lie, a Surinamese Standard Division competitor. At this world class motocross and practical shooting facility,
Hopkinson won the Super Senior Category with a whopping 75.9%. Due to this high percentage also
took 6th place overall, achieving two seconds and one third place finish in three of the six stages.
Harold ‘Top gun’ Hopkinson
For the year Hopkinson was successful in the Production, Standard and precision pistol
competitions locally and overseas. The Production division is listed as pistols out of the
box, with absolutely no modifications; must have a minimum trigger pressure (Continued on page 25)
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Friday July 07, 2017
GASA/FINA host five days Intermediate Officials Clinic As Guyana prepares to host a seven nations Goodwill swim meet in August, preparation of officials are paramount. In this regard a five-day follow up Federation International De Natation Nautica Aquatic, FINA intermediate officials’ clinic opened on Wednesday at the National Aquatic Center, Lilliendaal. A release indicated that Daniel McAllen, a FINA Instructor, who is in Guyana to train local officials in advance of the Goodwill meet, is conducting the sessions with an objective to increase the participants’ knowledge of swimming rules, to enhance their experience on deck and to increase their enjoyment of the sport. Upon conclusion of the five days, clinic participants will be awarded a FINAaccredited certificate of completion. This certificate course, the FINA official said, is a booster to the participant’s desire to improve themselves and by extension Aquatic Sports in Guyana. “It also helps the officials to think regionally and internationally so that they are prepared to officiate at m a j o r F I N A Championships,” he said. Over the five days, the
-Ahead of Goodwill swim championships set for August
FINA Instructor Daniel McAllen (seated centre) along with other officials of GASA and participants at the start of the officials swimming course. participants will be exposed to training principals based upon the qualities of a good official, knowledge of the rules of swimming, the correct way to apply rules, timing rules, philosophy of officiating among other areas. Categorical, McAllen said, “This is more of an interactive participatory exchange between students and lecturer/ trainer that will work in the best interest of developing the official human resource capacity of swimming in Guyana and the region as opposed to being a talk shop.”
Meanwhile, the FINA official dubbed the National Aquatic Center as “a worldclass facility that lacks a major component of an electronic timing system.” This was noted given his travel experience to other nations. “I’m actually surprised that you have this level of facility with no electronic timing system which provides for timing accuracy for swimmers,” McAllen noted. President of Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GACA), Mr Ivan Persaud said the clinic
serves to offer much needed education on officiating to our affiliates. The training exercise offers a battery of twenty-five (25) officials comprising referees, starters, stroke and turn judges, time keepers etc. an opportunity to be better ahead of the planned Goodwill Aquatics Championships 2017. He noted too that the upcoming event has a direct basis on the workshop and “spotlights Guyana as host of swimmers from seven countries each of which will field forty swimmers.” Athletes to the upcoming event slated August 18-20
are headed Guyana’s way would represent The Bahamas, Grenada, Barbados, St Lucia, Trinidad and Suriname. Trevor Williams representing Minister Nicolette Henry declared the FINA Intermediate Officials Clinic Open and commended the GASA and the visiting FINA official, Mr Daniel McAllen for affording local officials the opportunity. Expressing elation, Williams spoke of the moves from strength to strength being made by the GASA as it actively increases the
c a p a c i t y o f G u y a n a ’s capability to hold swimming meets and tournaments here in Guyana. He also noted that the training will give our swimmers the opportunity to compete in Guyana at local and international levels. Williams reminded the gathering that the 2017’s Goodwill Swim Meet has a record number of competitors headed to Guyana through the GASA working in collaboration with FINA and the Government of Guyana and noted that “we now have the capacity to cater for this increase.” For that meet, Guyana is expected to be invaded by more than 200 swimmers from six countries in the region to participate in this flagship annual short course meet in August. This fabulous news puts Guyana on the map as a premier destination for swimming. “This is exactly where we need to be because Guyana is the land of many waters… and as a nation, we are water people, as water and swimming are part of our recreational culture. If you ever stop and look at our children enjoying an afternoon at the creek you can observe that they are (Continued on page 25)
2017 Digicel Junior CASA
Guy Boys beat T&T (5-0) & Jam (3-2) B’dos beat C/Islands (4-1) & Bermuda (4-1) By Sean Devers Twelve times defending Team Champions Guyana are locked in a tight battle with Barbados for this year’s title as action continued on day-two of the team event of the Digicel Junior CASA at t h e G e o rg e t o w n C l u b yesterday and when the dust had settled the Bajans were slightly ahead. Guyana Boys hammered Trinidad & Tobago 5-0 and Barbados defeated Cayman Islands 4-1 while, Bermuda earned a 3-2 win over Jamaica in the three morning games before the host team got the better of Jamaica 3-2 and Barbados beat Bermuda 4-1 in the evening games yesterday. CASA U-15 Champion Shomari Wilshire has played unbeaten in the tournament so far and yesterday won both of his matches in convincing style.
The pencil thin Wiltshire started the day well for Guyana when he hammered Christopher Anthony, 11-2, 11-1,11-6 with an array of well calculated shots to enhance his fast growing reputation as the best U-15 player in the Caribbean. Wilshire then returned to the court last evening to destroy Jamaican Sebastian Levy 11-1, 11-1, 11-1. This was after Alex Cheeks had lost to Jonathan Walker 9-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-13, 11-6, Benjamin Mekdeci beat Tahjia Lumley 11-8, 11-9, 11-3, while, Daniel Islam suffered his second loss of the day when went down to Adam Ardito 11-6, 11-5, 411, 11-6. Playing in the last match of the night with the scores level at 2-2, Micheal Alphonso beat Aman Dhiman 11-2,11-4,11-2 in the decider. In the morning session,
U-15 Shomari Wilshire (right) was clinical in his 3-set victory over Christopher Anthony yesterday. (Sean Devers photo) Rithew Saywack, playing in the second game of the day, recovered from two sets down, to win the next three consecutive sets to beat a tired looking Jonathan Blanc 9-11,5-11,11-6,11-8,11-4. Eighteen-year-old Mekdeci, the Guyana Skipper, romped to a threeset win as he beat Nicholas Caddle 11-4, 11-3,11-6 before Daniel Islam, who suffered the only loss by a Guyanese male on the opening morning when he lost Bermudian Taylor
Carrick, dominated from start to finish to defeat Joshua Poon 11-4, 11-2, 11-4 yesterday. Michael Alphonso beat Seth Thong 11-7, 11-6, 11-4 to give the home team a clean sweep against the lads from Carnival County. Barbados, who captured six of the 10 Individual titles, continued their good run in this year’s tournament when Josiah Griffith beat Christian Dube 11-6, 11-3, 11-4, USA based Bajan Reginald Brewster beat Isaiah
Rithew Saywack (front) recovered from two sets down to win the three consecutive sets to beat Jonathan Blanc. (Sean Devers photo) Robinson 114, 11-7, 11-4, while, Khamal Cumberbatch got past David Pitcairn 11-4, 11-4,11-5. Darien Benn was awarded the victory after Pierce Terry got injured in the first set and was forced to retire but Jace Jervis spoiled the Bajan dominance when he registered Cayman Islands’ only win by beating Alex Stewart 11-7,8-11,11-2,113. In the other match of the day, Bermuda, who has a
talented crop of players, got the better of the Jamaicans. Anaya Smith lost to Tahjia Lumley 11-8, 11-2, 11-6, while, Matthew Elliott was beaten by Jonathan Walker 11-3, 11-3, 11-2 to give Jamaica their two victories before Bermuda won the other three matches. Taylor Carrick beat Adam Ardito 11-8, 7-11, 112, 11-8, Charlie defeated Sebastian Levi 11-3, 11-8, 11-7 and Graham Moss beat Tobias Levy 5-11,15-13,113,11-9.
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32nd FESUPO/16th NAPF & FESUPO Pan American C/ships – Equipped Day 1
Historic day as 5 lifters combine to deliver 16 medals including 11 golds By Franklin Wilson in Orlando, USA compliments of Crown Mining Supplies, Fitness Express, Secure Innovations & Concepts, Industrial Safety Supplies, Rose Hall Town Youth & S p o r t s C l u b . Guyana enjoyed its best day yet at the international level when it racked in a total of 16 medals at the 16th North American Powerlifting Federation (NAPF) and 3 2 n d S o u th A mer ican Powerlifting Federation (FESUPO) Championships yesterday at the Hyatt R e g e n c y, O r l a n d o International Airport. Winston ‘Little Master’ Stoby led the medal haul with a perfect 4 gold medals out of four followed by Arif Immamdeen who accounted for 3, Britney Mack 2 with one each for Teneisha Toney and 72 year-old Nairianjan Singh, the grandfather of the team. This historic performance by a team that has braved the cold Hall here at the competition venue was witnessed by former President of the Guyana Amateur Powetrlifting Federation (GAPF) Peter Green who was high in praise for the performances of the lifters. All of the Guyanese athletes to date, hitting the competition platform have
Still golden at age 72, Nairiansingh Singh savours the moment.
medaled, 5 medals each on the first two days, but yesterday’s performance trumped all, with a total of 16 medals. Leading the charge was Stoby who captured gold in the Men’s Open and Men’s Masters 2 (50+) in both the Pan American and FESUPO competitions. The cold conditions did not help the Guyanese cause but pure determination and the will to excel brought out the best in all five lifters. Stoby described the day as one of his worst days since 1993 but was still able to humble his opposition in each category. The 1993, 1996, 2013 and 2017 Pan American gold medalist missed his first lift, squat, as well as his third but never gave in as he rebounded to show that the lifters from the Land of Many Waters, never say die. Such was the case also with Arif Immamdeen, who also faced challenges to keep warm and despite failing his final squat, endeavoured to blow away his opposition to win three gold medals and one bronze. G u y a n a ’s o l d e s t competitor at the championships, Nairianjan Singh also never gave up or in and battled his way to new bench press and deadlift South American records on
Teneisha Toney squats. his way to claiming 1 gold, 2 silver and one bronze medal. But the pace for the older lifters was set by the 17 yearold duo of Britney Mack and Teneisha Toney who set the pace in the morning session by grabbing three gold medals and one silver. Mack got South American and Pan American gold; Toney South American gold, Pan American silver. Still hungry for more medals, Guyana will be unleashing two more lifters today in the form of Andrea and Erwyn Smith and will be seeking to increase their medal tally on the penultimate day of the
South and Pan American 47kg Classic Sub-Junior gold medalist, Britney Mack
Arif Immamdeen relishes the Gold Medal moment.
t r o Sp Historic day as 5 lifters combine to deliver 16 medals including 11 golds
National Pride! Winston ‘Little Master’ Stoby on the podium as a gold medalist ahead of the USA and Uruguay.
Guinness National Playoffs launched
Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste and Colours Boutique Rep Creanna Damon hold one of the match balls as (from left) Banks Outdoor Events Manager Mortimer Stewart, Communications Manager Troy Peters and Referees Co-ordinator Wayne Griffith share the moment.
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