Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

PAGE 04

Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

CARICOM CONFERENCE

T

he recent 39th Heads of Government Conference of CARICOM was held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Jamaica under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Andrew Holness. Before addressing some of the issues plaguing the region, CARICOM Secretary General, Irwin La Rocque, welcomed the Heads of State and congratulated the first female Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley.

He welcomed back Prime Ministers Dr. Keith Mitchell of Grenada and Mr. Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda who were reelected to office following general elections held in their respective countries in March.

The Secretary General has asked the heads of states to champion the cause of gender equality, social justice, the decriminalization of marijuana, and the free movement of persons with skills across the region.

The decriminalization of marijuana remains a hot topic in the Caribbean. In 2015, Jamaica decriminalized the use of small amounts of marijuana. With 94,000 marijuana cases pending in the magistrates' court throughout the region, President David Granger has signalized his intention to end custodial sentences for the possession of small amounts of marijuana, but would not decriminalize it.

Mr. La Rocque told the Heads of State and about 200 hundred delegates that the Caribbean is facing a series of problems such as economic stagnation, underdevelopment, indebtedness, rampant corruption, the negative impacts of climate change, increased violence and crime, inequalities and low production, all of which threaten the collective security and purpose of the region as a whole.

Not to mention domestic violence and sexual assaults against women and children. This has increased significantly in almost all of the CARICOM states.

It is true that in theory, the operations of CARICOM were supposed to be smooth but in practice, they are not.

Since its establishment in 1973, CARICOM has been plagued with a number of problems. This is due in part to the failure of some Heads of State to implement policies toward the successful integration of the region.

For example, integration of the region's economy and the coordination of its foreign policy proved far more difficult than anticipated. Most of the countries in the region continue to trade more with the United States and Canada than with each other because of the need of foreign currency.The three-day conference which ended on July 6 saw the Heads of State deliberating on measures to improve the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), reduce crime, violence and the trading of illegal narcotics, Security in the Region and the emerging geopolitical developments in the United States which could have a negative impact on the region's economy and its growth prospects.

The titles, handshakes and smiles at the conference cannot disguise the failures of CARICOM over the years.

The dream of a vibrant CARICOM single economy remains distant as economic hardship continues to envelope the peoples of the region.

Further, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which was established in 2005 as the final appellate court for the region has only a few CARICOM members. The majority continue to pledge their allegiance to the Privy Council.

And even though the leaders of CARICOM seem to be the purveyors of hope and success for the region, they do not have a road map to guide CARICOM towards that success. The focusing on different issues by each Head of State has led to the absence of initiatives and lack of enthusiasm to strengthen CARICOM and thus make it a viable organization in and beyond the region.

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.

Pay teachers and other public servants their due salary increases DEAR EDITOR, The members of the Coalition can no doubt remember my unflinching support for them as I consistently highlighted the PPP’s failures leading up to the 2015 national elections.

They cannot now be surprised at all that I have turned my attention to them, as they have picked up exactly where the PPP left off on a host of issues. In this particular instance, public sector wages.

The Coalition got into office with big promises of comprehensively addressing public sector wages. Yet after three years, and six months of receiving proposals from a joint Task Force of the Guyana Te a c h e r s ’ U n i o n a n d G o v e r n m e n t o ff i c i a l s , protests have to be mounted to force the pressing welfare issues of public servants to the front burner again. The

unimportance to which this issue has been relegated by the Coalition and the Minister of State speaks volumes for the Coalition’s concerns not only of public sector workers, but welfare issues of the masses in general.

It has been observed in the Friday June 6 edition of the local newspapers that the administration has suddenly woken up and granted a 200 percent increase to pensioners, raising their monthly payments from $10,000 to $30,000. They very probably consider that they have done their good turn for the year.

This shallow, unschooled attitude to addressing our welfare issues is tragic, and underlines the need for better alternatives at the political level.

Beggars very likely earn more than $10,000 per month or $330/day, and 30,000 remains a pittance for

Guyanese who have worked their lives contributing to Guyana’s national development.

A quick comparison of the nominal increase the ministers granted themselves in 2015 with what pensioners are receiving brings the scale of inequality and lack of judgment of the Coalition into perspective.

This $30,000 is also half of the current public service m i n i m u m w a g e (http://dpi.gov.gy/governme nt-announces-increase-inminimum-wage-and-publicservants-salaries/).

Returning to the proposals for teachers, it has been repeated over and over again from numerous commentators that teachers’ salaries are wholly inadequate and insufficient to allow them to meet even basic living requirements for their households, and the proposals tabled by the Task Force in fact represent a

compromise brokered between the Teachers’ Union and government officials regarding what is really due teachers.

The Coalition Administration therefore, in quite the same way they liberally granted themselves their 50 percent increase in 2015, should in fairness grant teachers what is being requested through their unions.

The ‘financial implications’ to which the good Minister of State referred can, within the context of the $58 billion overdraft the Coalition Administration ran up with the Bank of Guyana at endMay 2018 very probably on the assumption that oil money was just around the corner, can only be a shallow negotiating trick. So just pay teachers and all other public servants their due salary increases, because oil money is just around the corner.

Craig Sylvester.

Sunday July 08, 2018

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

When will Minister Ramjattan finally accept ministerial responsibility and resign?

DEAR EDITOR, As a member of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee for the Security Sector, I have been taking special interest in the performance (or lack thereof) of the Public Security Minister, the Honourable Khemraj Ramjattan.

Apart from his arrogance and total disdain for the People’s Progressive Party, Ramjattan is someone you would want to have a beer with. He is approachable and is never afraid to speak his mind, which often gets him into trouble.

I honestly believe he wants to accomplish his goals in the security sector but lacks the vision to do so.

He listens to the needs of the brave police and prison officers and appears eager to fulfill those needs, but he is powerless to do so. While Ramjattan may be accessible and approachable as a person, as the Minister of Public Security, he is a complete failure.

This is a man who despises Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP so much, that it is said, he demanded the security portfolio as part of the Cummingsburg Accord with one goal in mind, to put the “corrupt” leaders of the PPP behind bars.

This would explain his focus on working with the UK Security Expert, Sam Sittlington and SOCU to prosecute Anil Nandlall, Ashni Singh and others, while ne-

glecting the urgent need to do something to end the vicious cycle of crime that is destroying lives and commerce, prompting the UK Government to issue the following Travel Advisory to its citizens: “Crime levels remain high and police capacity is low. There are regular armed and violent robberies against businesses and individuals…

Muggings have taken place in broad daylight. Burglary and theft from cars are commonplace. Take sensible precautions to protect yourself and your belongings… Take extra precautions to safeguard your passports, money, tickets, mobile phones and other valuables. Even if you are staying with family, do not leave valuables in view. Keep them somewhere less obvious than your baggage. Use hotel safes if possible. You should be particularly vigilant when leaving local banks to ensure that you are not being followed.

In Georgetown, avoid the Tiger Bay and Albouystown areas and take care in Sophia, all of south Georgetown, Buxton and Agricola. Take particular care in the Stabroek Market area where robberies are a daily occurrence.”

In Guyana today, people no longer feel safe in their homes. Crime is running amok everywhere, raining terror on a population that is already stressed out trying to make ends meet. More and more families are being de-

prived of their valuables, communities ravished and businesses left vulnerable.

In 2015, the APNU+AFC Coalition campaigned on a platform to get rid of corruption and to “reduce the high rate of armed robberies and murders.”

And immediately upon gaining office, this government embarked upon a security recruitment drive and pulled several high-ranking former military and police officers out of retirement to achieve this objective. They have failed miserably!

Since Ramjattan became Minister of Public Security, he has brought the entire security sector in disrepute: In March 2016, seventeen (17) prisoners were burnt to death and 11 others injured in what was described as the worst prison riot in our history. Then in July 2017, during the blazing inferno of the Camp Street Prison, a prison officer was murdered and eight notorious, hard-core criminals escaped, two of whom are believed to be still on the run. Since then, there have been several more well-organized prison breaks.

Everyday reports of armed robberies, murders and domestic violence dominate the news. Prisoners, with the aid of some rogue prison officers, are now openly defying authority. At the New Amsterdam Prison, narcotics, alcohol and other contraband were recently discovered in the prison yard. And an inmate there flaunted the break-

down of authority in the prison system by posting a photograph on Facebook with fellow inmates in a cell, cerebrating Mother’s Day with several bottles of highend liquor. During a search of the Lusignan Prison, a quantity of illegal items were also found: Improvised weapons, cellphones, cellphone batteries, phone chargers, phone cards, cannabis, cannabis seeds and a cannabis plant.

Earlier, a cutlass and a knife were found outside of the northeastern fence of the holding bay of that Prison.

I am pleased that Prison Director Gladwin Samuels, a young professional whom I have tremendous respect for, has been able to identify and get rid of five of the corrupt prison wardens involved in the smuggling of contraband into these prisons, for he is often expected to manage the prison population with insufficient resources and personnel. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that a basic requirement to secure any prison facility is high definition surveillance system (Continued on page 7 )

Ramson, like Ramkarran, will not be given the nomination on a platter DEAR EDITOR, Let this letter be considered a rejoinder to the letter from Edwin Foo II writing from Tokyo, Japan (KN July 5th) vouching for the reputation, maturity and suitability of Charles Ramson Jr. to run for the presidency in Guyana.

“Democratic Centralism” is an anachronism in the current era. It is a system intended to prevent the party membership from having a voice in electing their leader.

First, Mr. Ramson and other like-minded folks have to work to abolish that system. How do you do that? Go to the villages throughout the country and engage the party membership – ask them to issue press releases, write letters to the press demanding a vote by the entire membership. If there is an open rebellion against the Jagdeo-controlled central executive, things will change.

Politics is hard work. If Charles Ramson is not prepared to do the hard work, then he doesn’t have what it takes to be president.

He will certainly not be handed the party’s nomina-

tion on a platter. We already had an intense national conversation on this matter in 2010. Then Speaker Ralph Ramkarran expressed a desire for the nomination, but he refuses to get out of his ivory tower in Georgetown to visit the party branches in the rural villages of the country – and ask for their support to change the way the party “selects” its leader. This thing about not letting the whole body of party members (approximately 1200) vote to elect a new leader is a very serious matter. It raises serious questions about the lack of internal party democracy. And, if that is how you run your party, so you will do to the whole country if you win elections.

You also have to ask: What kind of moribund membership this party has? Are they so cowed and frightened of their Soviet-style leader to wake up and demand their right to vote to elect the party’s new presidential candidate? Is this not a universal right in functioning democracies?

Mike Persaud

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Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox Can PAHO also address the mercury content in the Cuyuni and Mazaruni Rivers?

DEAR EDITOR, I note with considerable interest that a PAHO team is in Guyana to address the mercury clean up at the GGMC complex.Could Minister Raphael Trotman be persuaded to have them address the mercury content in the Cuyuni and Mazaruni Rivers at the point at which these rivers flow into the Essequibo River at Bartica.Not much point in the President’s determination to “Green” Bartica if the rivers surrounding the town are mercury polluted from gold mining operations up river from the town.

The colour change of the rivers from the turbidity from the mining is very visible. I have complained about this on numerous occasions to the EPA and, indeed, the Minister, but it simply gets worse.Four of Guyana’s top tourism destinations surrounding Bartica, including the beaches surrounding Bartica, are threatened by this rising pollution.

We have worked very hard over the last decade and more to establish Bartica and its surrounding resorts as a yachting destination and with some success. This too is now threatened.

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

HEADS SHOULD ROLL Dear Editor It took almost four days for a weak, inept and pathetic response to come about the multi-million-dollar heist from the City during which it was revealed ‘that the City Constabulary officers were on patrol of the area, at the time of the robbery’(“City Council had guards posted at Stabroek Market ...heist “KN July 6).

Really! It can possibly be discerned, too, that because the Department was not officially informed it did not respond with the alacrity the situation demanded.

Now the best that can be offered is security is to be ramped up. Always after a break -in that is the weak response until the next time. Heads should roll for this debacle.

Shamshun Mohamed

Kaieteur M@ilbox

IS THE GFF IN POLITICAL SURVIVAL MODE? DEAR EDITOR, It seems as though no one or nothing will ever return the ‘beautiful’ game of football to normalcy in Guyana.

The recent decision by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to install an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to run the affairs of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) is another example of the GFF’s attempt to handpick persons whom they feel confident will support them in their quest to retain power at the next Electoral Congress.This kind of deed has never proven to be the right decision and the only outcome has always been rebellion and chaos in the sport, which continues to struggle due to no fault of players, but rather its administration.

Politics in sport now resembles that of our own political landscape where narrow-mindedness and partisanship are the two vital assets to retain power.

It is no different to the past era when the GFF dictated to all and sundry who must head the respective member associations, a diktat specifically designed to ensure that Associations’ heads are on the same page with that of the GFF. The effrontery of this latest decision by the GFF is further confirmation of the Body’s intolerance of divergent views and its willingness to sacrifice the game’s image for its own survival in office.

How else could anyone with the knowledge of what transpired over the period of

comatose that football experienced in the GFA environ accept the ruling of the GFF when the Body had extended the life of the GFA for nearly nine months.

That time would seem sufficient to rectify any or all the deficiencies that were plaguing the Association and come up with solutions needed to ensure that elections were held as mandated by FIFA. No, they played the game that they wanted which was to allow the GFA executive to drift into invalidity and then announce an IMC. All this happened after being given notice of the Body’s readiness to host its elections, but many feel that after being given notice of the composition of slates they were not comfortable with some of the individuals represented on the respective lists hence their decision to halt the proceedings.

It was FIFA Head of Associations Primo Corvarro, who had visited Guyana in 2014, speaking at the Pegasus Hotel specifically asked the then incoming Clinton Urling who managed IMC to render assistance to the associations and clubs in helping them to improve their constitutions in addition to any other areas of need. Urling in an interview sometime later, responding to the question of whether he anticipated any resistance from those opposed to the FIFA ruling had said that “The GFF is at a pivotal moment, this represents a crossroad.

We could either choose to do things like the past and allow discord to rule the day or choose change.”

It is anyone’s guess which of those sentiments the GFF has chosen.

Despite not naming the members of the IMC up to press time, the prospective

candidates are already known and many would not be surprised whenever their names are announced.

The GFF continues to ignore the advice of many who are genuinely concerned about the paralytic state of the game and the need to avoid the pitfalls of the past.

It is clear that the advice has fallen on deaf ears and we are now on the path to repeating the mistakes made before, that plunged the sport into crisis.The GFF by stopping the GFA elections has entered the phase of political survival mode and is merely using as a frontage its regret of having to dissolve the GFA. The art of engaging and not imposing its will in the absence of inclusive consultation has been a lost art within the corridors of the GFF and perhaps it will take another visit by FIFA to adjudicate the impending calamity, a certainty, if the current course of action is not abandoned immediately.There are other glaring examples of actions that could be construed as authoritarianism; there is the indefinite suspension of referees Wayne Griffith and John Callender without probable cause and without even a letter outlining their infringement.There is no example in sport that supports this kind of action and perhaps it is time that the two aggrieved referees pen a letter to the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) urging a hearing from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to deliver judgment on the matter.It is wicked to deny anyone the opportunity to earn a living and even more egregious to penalise them indefinitely without stipulating what was the indictment.

That is highhandedness at its core and there should be no place for officials who use their offices to exercise such practices without cause.

The President repeatedly has been asked to state why the two referees were indefinitely suspended, but he bluntly refused to furnish any reason (s) for their punishment.The rumour swirling is that their castigation was as a result of them officiating in the Banks DIHorganised Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition, an event which the GFF absolutely has no jurisdiction over.

It is a community-based competition and one that has been embraced by all the com-

munities that the event is played, while also serving as a real cohesive symbol to integrate villages and its citizenry. At a time when the political leaders of this country are calling for cohesion, the GFF’s laser focus intent to obstruct such a great initiative should not be condoned or even entertained.

You just have to recall the utterances of President Forde, who tried to coerce other important stakeholders to support his reckless call to hinder the great initiative.

Thankfully they’ve not yielded to him, but continue to be supportive of the venture to build camaraderie and love among the various communities.The spinoffs are positive and the long-term gains are tremendous and definitely will prove beneficial in fostering improved relations among the six races.

There are numerous contentious issues to highlight among them being the staging of the Women’s and Berbice Football Associations elections without adequate public notices, while the sexual harassment allegations are also concerns that need resolving.

The GFF should be concerned with the fact that no football is being played in many of its affiliated members jurisdictions and this situation has many asking why the need to secure the services of a Technical Director at this point in time when no football is being played and money always an issue.If it is that the GFF has plenty money at its disposal, then how come many of its resource personnel and service providers are owed?

Could it be one of the reasons for the disinterest being shown by the referees’ body that continues to struggle for a quorum to hold its elections of office bearers after at least two attempts?Maybe Forde has the answer.What about the forensic audit for the Mexico proceeds, which was promised following a General Council ruling.Every Guyanese must have watched Mexico’s performance in this World Cup with much vexation, having been denied the opportunity to see live, the skills and abilities of players such as Javier Hernanzez, Rafael Marquez, Andrés Guardado and Giovani dos Santos among others, at our National Stadium.

Guyanese from all walks (Continued on page 7)

Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur M@ilbox Those personal attacks on Mr. Gobi DEAR EDITOR, It seems that some AFC members, infamously known as the ‘Three Musketeers,’ are not satisfied with launching personal attacks on Mr. Gobin Harbhajan within the confines of the Chat Group ‘Moving Guyana Forward’, but have now moved to the public domain for more political mileage and damage to his unblemished reputation.

The attack on Mr. Harbhajan in an article entitled, ‘PM Region 6 Office being used to fill out visa forms’ is without substance and a total fiction since the PM’s Office is only used to attend to issues affecting the residents of Region 6.

It is widely known that the PM’s Representative is not linked to any form of corruption or bribe taking unlike some of his AFC colleagues who go about masquerading as the panacea for all social and economic ills, whether it’s street lights, streets building and repairs, GWI issues, GPL

issues, gun licences, export permits, granting of contracts, etc. Of course, there is a fee attached whether it is money or in kind.

A few days ago RDC Councillor, Mr. H. Yusuf exposed the activities of the ‘musketeers’ in the press so it can only be assumed that MR Yusuf extracted his information from ‘Moving Guyana Forward’ and what transpired there. This irked the ‘Musketeers’ to such an extent that they decided to launch this personal attack.

On many occasions, Mr. Harbhajan would have been the reason why certain crimes are being exposed.

He brought to light many other issues such as the illegal parking on the road shoulders. This man was instrumental in the feeding, caring and eventual freeing of a cow calf, which was illegally impounded for months at the Number 51 Police Station. So be it humans or animals, this man gives freely his service.

There are no bribes involved.

Furthermore, Mr. Harbhajan has created and maintained vital links to several ministers and their ministries and several government departments to resolve many issues affecting businessmen, the farmers and the ordinary man. He treats everyone equally.

Only recently, he was instrumental in creating the linkage for the ICT Hub in Black Bush Polder and arranged for Minister Cathy Hughes to do the opening. This man is the face of the AFC in Region 6.

Now it seems that instead of being honoured by his comrades unadulterated hate and jealousy have taken total control of their senses. I would like to advise Mr. Harbhajan that, ‘Don’t worry about people who are not happy for you, They probably are not happy with themselves.’ Maybe, it is time to change your association.

Yours sincerely, Lakhram Singh

When will Minister Ramjattan finally...

From page 5 and the use of full-body scanners at the entrance of every prison facility. Whatever the cost, these security measures must be procured and installed immediately, The Prison Director should not have to wait on the 2019 Budget to get this done. All Minister Ramjattan needs to do is to come to Parliament with a Supplementary Budget. Governments do this all the time for far less urgent matters.

Since 2015, the state of the economy has declined rapidly with the loss of over 25,000 jobs and higher taxes.

For most families, there is little or no disposable income left after paying utility bills; rent/ mortgage; and living expense.

The lack of jobs and high cost of living may be tempting some to engage in criminal activities to provide for their families. After all, desperate people are known to do desperate things. The Guyana Times Editorial on July 5 reported, “The question is, what has the Coalition done since in Government to effectively combat crime?… The reality is that fear has taken a stranglehold on the nation, depriving people of their freedom… While there will always be some who will engage in criminal activities regardless of the economic situation, forcing people into poverty will have a frightening effect.

Analysts will postulate the nexus of youth in crime as a result of unemployment.

Clearly, many jobs have been lost under this Administration and this is not an attempt to state that all those who were

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fired have resorted to crime, for many are forced into humiliation in finding a legal livelihood. After three years and the upward spiral of crime, one may rightfully question policies and interventions, if any, and their effects.” On June 29, Minister Ramjattan got his face on the front-page of the Guyana Chronicle with a caption that shamelessly reads, “Gov’t makes ‘half-a-mil’ in pay-outs”.

The article covered the presentation of a one-off payment by government of a meagre $100,000 each to five families of Guyanese fishermen who were brutally murdered by pirates off the coast of Suriname. But this was only done after the PPP had brought a Motion in Parliament urging the government to offer financial support to these families, for Ramjattan had made it clear to them in Suriname that they should expect none.

It would have been kinder if government had increased this amount to $300,000 each, the estimated cost of a decent funeral. Nevertheless, I’m sure Minister Ramjattan was happy to be seen in a positive light at a time when just about everyone questions his ability to get the job done. How many more victims must be shot?

How many more lives must be lost? How many more cars stolen? How many more women must be forced into prostitution? How many more businesses must be robbed?

How many more Guyanese must be discouraged from returning home?

How many youths must be forced into a life of crime?

And how many more families must be deprived of their life’s savings before the Hon Minister of Public Security realise that he has failed to protect the Guyanese people and is totally unsuitable to serve in that capacity? When will Minister Ramjattan finally accept ministerial responsibility and resign? Will he ever?

HARRY GILL PPP Member of Parliament

Kaieteur M@ilbox Skeldon Heritage & Recreation Park DEAR EDITOR, While the media is abuzz with the pros and cons of the future of the sugar industry and the fate of its thousands of employees, it is heartwarming to see the development of the Skeldon Estate Heritage & Recreation Park, which is a brainchild of the current Estate Manager with support from her principals.

This park essentially represents a profit centre with employment opportunities for many otherwise unemployed staff, converting the liability of the unused Senior Staff Compound with all the sunken costs by renting the many empty Senior Staff Houses and openingup to the public at affordable fees, use of the staff club, swimming pool, children’s playground, tennis court, etc. spread across the extensive lawns with beautiful trees and flowers, which must be maintained lest what is now a pristine compound turns into an ugly forest.

This initiative is not only financially s o und, but it represents the breaking down of an age-old, anachronistic barrier between the privileged classes and rank & file citizens in the community and the country at large as well as overseas based Guyanese who return to their homeland for vacations.

The body language and expressions of joy on the faces of the men, women and children of the local community and others as

far away from Georgetown as they use the erstwhile ‘forbidden’ facilities, speak volumes for this socio-anthropological breakthrough.

(I often recall and recoil at the personal inferiority complex, which overshadowed my boyhood at Blairmont Estate when the invisible barrier along the public road which run through the Senior Staff Compound was so strong that I suffered mortal fears when I had to scamper on the lawns to retrieve my bumper ball lest Mr. Edoo, the compound foreman, apprehends

you with a good thrashing by his ‘koodari’ (walking stick)!

As far as I am aware, the initiative includes use of the Skeldon Heritage House (known as the Big House), conducted tours via empty cane pun t s t h r o u g h t h e cane cultivation, as well as walks through the old and new sugar factory, rental of the Training building for occasional meetings and longer term residential training activities, conventions etc.

BRAVO, Skeldon Management!

Nowrang Persaud

Is the GFF in political ...

From page 6 of life and those directly who love the sport should not rest until this matter is resolved since we were told that the move was necessary to offset the debt burden the GFF had at the time.The executive left office owing multi-millions of dollars to service providers, players and who knows who else.

The GFF should act expeditiously to get to the bottom of what was accrued for the game switch even if it means asking FIFA, CONCACAF or the game organisers to furnish the paperwork of the negotiations.

The GFF has the ability to ask for the paperwork, but is there the will to do so?

Let football play.

Yours truly, Rawle Welch

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Guyana shouldn’t waste time behind National Oil Company now - Dr. Mangal

By Kiana Wilburg If Guyana creates a National Oil Company (NOC) now, or even two to three years after oil production, it would simply be another avenue for corruption. This was essentially the position of former Presidential Advisor on Petroleum, Dr. Jan Mangal, during a recent interview with this publication.

The consultant said that Guyana is already facing serious capacity and governance issues. As such, a move to develop a National Oil Company (NOC) now would not be in the country’s interest.

Dr. Mangal said, “What Guyana needs to focus on is the regulatory framework.

There are several new pieces of legislation which need to be passed as well as existing Acts which require amendments.

“There is also the issue of scanty or minimal human capacity. So to go and say ‘let’s develop a national oil company’ then that is a recipe for disaster. You have low capacity to do other things, now you are going to dilute it with using the limited capacity for a NOC? That is not good.”

The Oil and Gas Consultant added, “If you look around the world, there are several instances where NOCs are prone to corruption because of the lack of human capacity. Trinidad is one example. So Guyana needs to step back from that idea, get the basics first, get qualified people on board, and see that things are working in the regulation of the industry.”

The Oil and Gas Consult-

…warns it would be a perfect avenue for corruption ant said that once the authorities can prove that it can regulate the industry properly, only then should consideration be given to the establishment of an NOC. He added, “There would be a lot of pressure to do that NOC because if people in Government want to get their hands on money, through corrupt means, then the NOC would be the perfect way to do it. “There will be many in the business sector and also externally, who would be pushing elements in the government to do a NOC because they know they can make vast sums of money. But it would not be in the country’s best interest.”

PROS AND CONS The Government has indicated that there are plans to create a national oil company before yearend. However, several international institutions have called for there to be serious consideration of the pros and cons of that construct.

Chatham House, for example, held a special forum for Guyana last year. It focused on the preparation for oil and the type of governance that would be needed.

The anticorruption body noted that there was a preoccupation by Guyanese representatives with the formation of a NOC. Chatham House in a report of the seminar said that NOCs are important to emerging producers because they can be vehicles for develop-

ing technical and commercial skills in the petroleum sector, enabling countries to participate in the production of their natural resources.

It noted, however, that the net financial gain to the state depends very much on the efficiency of the NOC and the soundness of its commercial strategy.

The body said, “Many Guyanese were positive about the idea of having an NOC… However, several external speakers urged Guyana to consider some of the negative considerations.

Firstly, there is an opportunity cost to financing an NOC: indeed, are those funds better spent on other budgetary priorities such as vocational education to train Guyanese for jobs in the oil sector, for example? Secondly, financing an NOC can be difficult when it does not have equity stakes in producing licences that generate revenue.”

Chatham House continued, “In Guyana’s case, the

offshore acreage has already been awarded (with no provision for an NOC stake) but minority equity stakes could feasibly be reserved for the NOC in acreage that is relinquished.

Finally, other producers in the room also suggested that Guyana would need to be ready to confront the likely rush of requests and favours that would follow the establishment of an NOC. In this respect, other producers were clear that it would be sensible to establish careful governance mechanisms to reduce the opportunity for nepotism and corruption.”

It added, “One speaker suggested that should the government decide to create an NOC, it should include the right of an NOC to minority equity stakes in future licences but work to establish the capacity of the regulator first. Also, when establishing

Former Presidential Advisor, Dr. Jan Mangal an NOC it is important to carefully delineate its mandates and ensure that it is affordable.”

(See link for full report: h t t p s : / / www.chathamhouse.org/ sites/default/files/events/ special/24022017%20 Guyana%20National%20Se minar%20Summary.pdf)

Millions in drugs disbursed without proof of cost

T

here are growing concerns that the Ministry of Public Health has distributed millions of dollars worth of drugs and other medical supplies to the administrative regions without providing a breakdown of the cost. This opens the door to the possibility of malpractice.

Under the procurement system established by the Coalition Government, the ten administrative regions are required to transfer hundreds of millions of dollars to the Ministry of Public Health for centralized procurement of medical supplies.

However, state auditors have difficulty establishing that the regions are receiving value for money since the regions, in most cases, have been unable to provide evidence of cost for the supplies from the Ministry. Each region is accountable for the monies it receives from Government. It is felt that the region upon receiving the sup-

…Min. Lawrence assures loophole being closed

Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence plies should be provided with a breakdown of the cost.Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, told Kaieteur News that United States Agency for Interna-

tional Development (USAID) implemented a computerized distribution programme, but only one component was being utilized.

“They were just using it like a stock tool to record what comes in and what went out.

They were not entering the cost,” Lawrence explained.

She stated that the Ministry has appointed a Director who was trained by USAID to use all components of the programme.

“We have now begun to utilize other components of the programme. So going forward, we wouldn’t have this problem because they didn’t put in the information.

They have to go back now, get all those pieces of paper relating to the cost of the supplies; find it and to put it into the system,” Lawrence stated.

She explained that the difficulty is getting the paperwork from previous years to enter the data into the system while at the same time, the same staff have to oversee the increasing amount of purchasing and intake.

“We have also had a discourse where we put in place a dual system where we have some people work in the morning, some work in the evening so that we can be able to get more out of the staff and get all the backlog work done,” Lawrence shared.

She added, “We have been able to get a large percentage out, but they have (Continued on page 64)

Sunday July 08, 2018

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

CARICOM united behind judicial process to settle border controversy

C

ARICOM member states have ex pressed their support for the judicial process underway before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to settle the matter of the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.

This significant support for Guyana’s position was contained in a communique at the conclusion of the Thirty-Ninth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) held in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

President David Granger attended the meeting along with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge.

The Heads of Government “expressed support for the judicial process underway which was intended to

Heads at the 39th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, Montego Bay, Jamaica (photograph courtesy of Caricom Secretariat) “They noted that Guyana settlement of the controbring a peaceful and defini- that the Heads of Government tive end to the long standing had “received an update on had filed its Application with versy between Guyana and controversy and which was the most recent develop- the International Court of Jus- Venezuela.”

“Heads of Government in accordance with the prin- ments between the Coopera- tice on March 29, 2018, in acciples and purposes of the tive Republic of Guyana and cordance with the decision of further noted that Venezuela the Bolivarian Republic of the United Nations Secretary had indicated its decision not United Nations Charter.”

General, which was issued on to participate in the case and The communique noted Venezuela.”

January 30, 2018 to choose that in such a case, the rules the International Court of of the Court provide for a Justice as the means that is full hearing of the case and n o w t o b e u s e d f o r t h e a final judgement that is leAfter more than three months of business, but still claims that he has no money completing their harvest, farmers on the to pay off rice farmers.

Another executive member explained, Essequibo Coast are still to receive payments for the paddy. This information was revealed “What is most shocking is that one of the by the executives of the Essequibo Rice millers purchased an additional mill but still cannot find money to pay farmers. We believe Farmers Association just last Friday.

Based on reports filtered to this that this is extortion at its highest and the The People’s Progressive Ministry of Social Protection, publication through the Association, two government needs to take actions.”

Many farmers are now placed under party (PPP) is pushing for the headed by a Senior Minister. millers on the Coast have not yet made any Further, the Motion notes payment to a number of farmers over the past financial constraints, leaving thousands of re-establishment of a three months. Kaieteur News understands acres of farmlands uncultivated. A Ministry of Labour and the that on the establishment of that initially, millers were paying farmers within representative of the Association told this issue is up for debate in the the Ministry of Social National Assembly this week. Protection, the Ministry was a week. As the harvesting season reached its publication last Friday.

Trade union leaders have reduced to a Department “A lot of farmers cannot prepare their lands climax however, millers failed in paying off a number of farmers.A member of the executive because some went back and took loans. They been calling for the re- within the Ministry of Social added, “For quite some time now, farmers have now have another problem because they do establishment of the Ministry Protection and headed by a been complaining to me, that two millers are not have enough resources to pay workers, which was done away with Junior Minister within the when the Coalition secured Ministry of Social Protection; owing farmers; Mr. Wazheer Hussain and Mr. buy fertilizers and chemicals to cultivate.”

The Motion points out The Rice Farmer’s Association believes Government at the 2015 Zamur Hack. What they explained is that that these millers have not made any payment to that at this point, the government needs to General Elections. President that on May 1, 2018, at the them over the past 3 months and the numbers intervene and take action against these millers. David Granger has so far joint rally of the Guyana Trades Union Congress are great.”The Association believes that it is The Association believes that miller’s licences resisted those calls.

A motion tabled by (GTUC) and the Federation of unfair that one miller has been making should be revoked until all payments to Opposition Member of Independent Trades Union of additional investments in expanding his farmers are settled.

Parliament, Gillian Burton- Guyana (FITUG) the call was Persaud, seeks to have the made for a Motion to be laid in National Assembly call on the National Assembly in Government of Guyana to relation to the re-establishment support the call of the joint of the Ministry of Labour.

Trade unionist Lincolntrade union movement and restore the Ministry of Labour Lewis has stated that the When shame was sharing Guyanese tek New, and Hay Heff See should be ashamed to its pre-2015 status, as soon as absence of a Ministry of all. Dem ain’t got nobody who got more to have dem people in parliament. Jagdeo Labour is a disservice to possible. shame than Guyanese. Dem does stand up refuse to go to de meeting wid Exxon beThe Motion from the former Guyanese and the historical and hear people talking bad bout Guyana and cause he and all mighta ask some stupid Guyana Trades Union Congress development of the society. question. How people can ask Exxon why dem does be too shame fuh seh anything.

Concomitant with (GTUC) leader stated that there Thursday, dem coulda dead wid shame. dem ain’t employ sugar workers? How dem existed a Ministry of Labour identifying problems within Every five years dem party does pick people can ask Exxon why it ain’t got legislation before the G e n e r a l society is also the necessity to represent dem in parliament. Dem boys before Parliament?

Elections of May, 2015 and of moving to solve them Nobody ain’t ask Exxon why de people never know dat dem party got so much stuafter those elections the through policy, laws and pid people. De security guard who does wuk in Australia hauling it before de courts fuh Government established a programmes to secure real at de Waterfalls paper more smart than dem get de tax money it owe de country. Dem parliamentarians.Exxon go to de Parliament ain’t ask de oil company why it does fuel to answer question but up to now de parlia- corruption in dem African country. Dem ain’t ment ain’t ask one sensible question. And even ask bout de US$18 million signing dem is de people taxpayers’ got to pay to sit bonus.Dat same US$18 million dat dem give Guyana gon cost Guyana $18 billion because down in parliament.

De last time, dem had to ask any com- of de robbing dem gon get. Guyana spendpany some question, de stupidness dem ask ing US$18 million to fight Venezuela but dem gon spend $18 billion to collect taxes from mek de whole country shame.

Jagdeo promise to tek dem in hand and Exxon. But de stupid parliamentarians didn’t train dem to ask proper question. He was de know nutten bout dat because Jagdeo same man who seh he gon fix de Skeldon didn’t train dem to question people who sugar factory. Dem boys she, he train he MPs does thief.

Talk half and help tek way de shame just like how he fix de Skeldon sugar factory.

De Waterfalls boss man seh de PPP, Hap people feeling right now.

E’bo rice farmers still due payments

gally binding on both the participating and nonparticipating countries.”

“Heads of Government reiterated their firm and unswerving support for the maintenance and preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana,” the communique noted.

MPs to debate re- establishment of Labour Ministry

Dem boys seh...

Pauline and Kumar mek Guyanese more shame

change.

The ILO has 189 Conventions. As a member, Guyana is duty bound to ensure the conventions are implemented and policed through programmes and law. Of these conventions, about 16 attend to Social Protection. This leaves more than 170 to be attended to, of which seven are considered Fundamental Rights. This reality has historically been attended to by a Ministry of Labour that treated with all in equal measures.“The absence of focusing on Labour as a ministry deniesrecognition of our historical struggles, achievements and continued pursuit for the creation of a just society, represented in the philosophical guidance of these conventions which are intimately intertwined to our social, cultural, economic and political advancement,” Lewis has stated.

He noted that the Trade Union Movement is not asking for a new ministry, but the Movement is asking for equal treatment.

PAGE 10

Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur News

Construction of Hosororo hydro to begin next month As the Hosororo Hydropower Project nears commencement of installation, the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) recently held a public consultation with residents of Mabaruma and other stakeholders as a part of the process to ensure that they were aware of what the project entails and its benefit to the community.

During the community engagement, Region One Chairman, Brentnol Ashley, thanked the GEA and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure for ensuring that the project was resuscitated.

“Initiatives like these will aid the transformative process of the region,” Ashley emphasized. “I am happy that this is going to become a reality,” he added and indicated that the RDC fully supported the project.

He also urged technical support from GEA to allow for the sustainability of the project. Similarly, Mayor of Mabaruma, Henry Smith, welcomed the project and said that it will lend to significant development of the township.

According to Dr. Mahender Sharma, Chief

Executive Officer of GEA, the Hosororo Hydropower Project site has been of interest for several years and “…the project is also serving as a capacity building exercise for the GEA, as it allows the Hydro Power Support Engineers of the Agency to gain knowledge and experience of hydro power development.

Noting that the hydropower project was the most economically feasible when compared to solar and diesel, he highlighted that “…while it would cost US$0.50 to produce a kilowatt-hour from diesel and US$0.36 to produce a kilowatt-hour from solar, hydropower would cost US$0.31 to produce a kilowatt-hour of energy…”.

He further stated that “…thanks to grant financing for the project, this cost would reduce to US$0.21/ kWh”.

Though the Hosororo hydropower plant will only contribute eight percent of Mabaruma’s energy demand (approximately 64MWh a year), Dr. Sharma noted that the supply “…would help the township diversify its energy mix, provide energy security, and reduce the use of fossil

Dr. Mahender Sharma discussing the project with the REO of Region 5 and Engineer Cort Cambell of the Mabaruma Power Company, among others. fuel”. He said, too, that the project is one of very low environmental impact since structures, such as a powerhouse, were already in place from the project’s first attempt in the 80s.

During the question and answer segment of the consultation, the residents raised a number of questions, including issues related to job opportunities, access to the site for recreational purposes, and the sustainability of the project.

Dr. Sharma explained that a number of jobs would be available for residents during and after construction, including surveyors, drivers, masons, supervisors, electricians, and accountants.

He further said that residents

would still be able to enjoy using the area as a recreational spot, while every effort would be made to ensure that the project does not become defunct once more. Speaking to the beneficiaries of the project, Dr. Sharma said that these were the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI), National Agricultural Research and Extension institute (NAREI); the Mabaruma Power Company; and, of course, the residents.

There are currently approximately 700 customers, both residential and commercial, who are connected to the grid.

Supervision of the project during the construction phase will be conducted by GEA’s engineers, along with

their counterparts from the Hinterland Electrification Company Inc. (HECI) and the Mabaruma Power and Light Company (MPLC).

Additionally, regular updates will be provided to the Mayor and councillors of the region, and the general community, on the project through meetings and site visits. During these sessions they will be encouraged to participate in the monitoring of the project.

The team from GEA visited Region One, from June 18 to June 20 and included Sharma; Hydropower Support Engineers Dolwin Khan and Winston Setal along with technician, Christopher Nelson.

The Hosororo Hydropower Project was one of 67 sites identified in 1976 as having hydropower potential.

Situated at the Hosororo Creek about 4.6 km bees flight

to the south-west of Mabaruma the initial plant was built in the late 1980s to supply electricity to an agricultural produce processing facility that was built nearby. The project was abandoned some years after its inauguration.

In 2015, the German Government, through its German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) initiative, committed to assisting the GEA with developing the project. The US$165,175 project received US$91,108 in financing from the Government of Guyana and US$74,067 in financing from GIZ/REETA. According to Dr. Sharma, a lot of work was done over the past three years to reach the current level of the project’s realization.

The resuscitated hydropower project will feature a new design that was conceptualized by GEA’s Engineers and will entail the construction of a 20kW runof-the- river type micro hydropower plant inclusive of weir/intake and penstocks but will use the existing powerhouse after it has undergone repairs.

Construction time is estimated at eight months, with commencement in August of this year.

The Guyana Energy Agency will use the knowledge and experience gained from this project to continue its efforts towards the development of Hydropower in Guyana in keeping with its vision to provide reliable energy in an e c o n o m i c a l l y , environmentally and socially sustainable frame work.

Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur News

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Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur News

2nd annual robot exhibition bigger than last year Concerned about showcasing advanced technology being used in robotic devices and equipment, STEMGuyana hosted its second annual robot exhibition yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Homestretch Avenue.

The event was aimed at unleashing the

creative potential of Guyana’s youth in the use of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for the developments of their communities and the country in this global digitized era.

Despite the inclement weather, scores of persons, predominantly young people,

First Lady Sandra Granger viewing some of the robots that were on display. flocked the venue where close to 20 booths from various STEM clubs from across Guyana hosted display.

These included participants from the Deaf Association, Buxton/Melanie STEM club, Belladrum Stem Club, Starr Computers, Metro, Crabwood Creek, Bartica and Linden.

Starr Computers had several drones and holograms on display. Various types of robot exhibitions under the themes of Education, Healthcare, Oil and Gas, Agriculture and Irrigation were presented.

Other features of the exhibition included Lego brick play stations for children under 10 years old and the app development booth, where persons were provided with instructions on how to create a simple android app.

The highlight of the exhibition, the Team Guyana Robotics competition field, was on display and team members demonstrated how the robot is expected to operate at the First Global Robotic Challenge to be held next month in Mexico.

Co-founder of STEM Guyana, Karen Abrams, who was present at the event was elated at the turnout. She admitted that this year’s event attracted more STEM teams and spectators compared to the inaugural event which was held last year.

According to her, the event attracted lots of support from communities with some participants coming all the way from Bartica, Crabwood Creek and Linden.

“It has been awesome,” Abrams exclaimed, adding that, organizers believe that the event is gaining momentum and that persons have come to recognize its benefits.

Abrams also disclosed that organizers have already began preparations for next year’s exhibition which is expected to attract over

100 teams.

“This year’s was definitely better than last year. We have gotten more people, more teams, there is more energy,” she said. Abrams went on to explain that the event is not only aimed at teaching persons about robotic, but also to enhance their communication, problem solving and critical thinking skills.

According to the STEMGuyana cofounder, these are some of the qualities a person needs to possess to be a good and productive citizen and to help solve problems in their community, country and worldwide.

All in all, organizers have indicated that the goal of the exhibition is to inspire, motivate and educate Guyanese youth and to encourage them to consider other career options in the field of technology, math, engineering and science.

Last year’s exhibition was held on June 24, and saw over 20 booths on display from Kuru Kururu, Lusignan, President’s College, St Rose’s, the Bishops’, the Ministry of Education, NT Computec, Gizmos and Gadgets, and many more.

At that event, First Lady Sandra Granger spoke of the importance of robotics to everyday life. Robots and drones are being used in the areas of drainage and irrigation, agriculture and medicine, she added.

A month later, a team from Guyana participated in the inaugural Robot Olympics which was held in Washington D.C, USA. Overcoming many challenges along the way, the Guyana team finished 10th in the fight against 164 other countries.

STEMGuyana introduces technology programmes for youths; programmes that will excite them, while encouraging their creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills.

These young boys were seen putting their robot to the test.

Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur News

Police tell home invasion victims story does not sound “real” - questions family where they got money from A 39-year-old woman and her brother are now in fear after their 51 Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice residence was invaded by armed bandits at their lot.

Kowsilla Fredricks, said she was at home with her brother, Devindra Fredricks, 42, and her nine-year-old niece when the men broke into their home and demanded cash and jewellery. Their other brother Keshwar Fredricks who also lives with them was not home at the time of the invasion.

He was reportedly at a birthday party not far away from where they live.

At approximately 2:30 am, Saturday, Kowsilla said she heard a banging on her window in the bottom flat of the two-storey wooden building. She stated that in less than a minute, there was a masked man pointing a gun The home that came under attack.

at her head and two others, one brandishing a cutlass and the other a huge knife.

“They started to demand money and we jewellery and dem tell we, dem na gon harm we. At that moment, I had $10,000 in my handbag and I give it to them but like they didn’t want that because dem throw away the bag and ask for more money,” the woman explained.

According to her, her brother Devindra was in his room while her niece was with her. She said her brother was ordered out of the room by the men. “When he come out, dem tek the knife and lash he pon he back and then dem tek the gun and put it to my niece head and still dem asking for money and jewellery”.

Kowsilla recounted that it was after she saw that they had the gun at her niece’s head then she eventually

One of the victims from the Bush Lot home, Devindra Fredricks “give in” and handed over all the money and jewellery she had in her possession.

Kowsilla said she had US $2,400 and $100,000 local currency along with two gold chains, two gold rings, two pairs gold earrings and four gold bangles. A power saw valued at US $100 was also stolen and two flash drives.

The men escaped through Continued on page 64

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Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur News

Least it go unremembered....and just for the record It had to happen...all that is embroiling the PPP upper echelons today! This imminent implosion will occur with every non-evolving “communistic” movement, especially made up of so many leaders who are simply seekers of power for power sake.

Prior to my expulsion on Black Friday 13th February, 2004 and whilst a leading member of the PPP, I had warned that there must be a widening and deepening of the People’s Progressive Party’s internal democracy.

This was one of my biggest fights inside that Party, apart from my anti-corruption crusade, I had commenced with support from that famous (or for some, notorious) Section K Campbellville Group.

A huge negative was the response.

And it came from all quarters, some of which I least expected, including from the Bel Air Group and Ralph Ramkarran.

I had gotten the feeling that after successfully leading the charge to remove the hard core ideological posturings of the PYO, the Party’s youth section, in 1994, when myself and quality players like Rohan Singh, Gerhard Ramsaroop, Lionel Peters, Frank Anthony, Sadie Amin and others managed to delete communism and similar “isms” from the PYO’s constitution, that transformation and perestroika were in the air in the PPP too. How mistaken I was.

Of course, my attempts to follow through with this expansion of democracy in the parent body, that is, in the PPP, was just being principled and consistent. But my Section K team and I made up of a num-

ber of sound, intelligent patriots, were badly battered when we sought to address a number of concerns at the Port Mourant Congress in July 2002.

The following were the Proposals for amendments to the Party’s constitution put to that 2002 Congress. History will record that the Executive, made up then of substantially those big ones wrestling today, did not favour a secret ballot to vote on these proposals at the Congress floor, nor did they favour any of the proposals.

The debate though rightfully instructed to be done Parliamentary style, had an ulterior purpose behind it. Jagdeo, then President, wanted to see who and who will support these proposals so he would have dealt with those persons later. That had the inevitable effect. A number who had earlier argued that these proposals were very relevant and necessary did a somersault, a volte fas, when they heard it was not going to be by secret ballot. So it was left on myself and a few brave souls to speak in support. Oh how the world turns!

I must tell you that the following is an abridged version of the Proposals and their respective Rationale. They do bring back some cherished memories. And to a certain extent, I feel vindicated and absolved. I do hope that those who supported these Proposals then, but were silenced by the Bully, will find courage to revisit each one of them, especially in view that the Bully now has become, effectively, a private citizen.

“The Section K Campbellville PPP Group’s Proposals” 1. GEOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION BYA PROCESS OF DIRECT ELECTION The Section K Campbellville Group notes that the Central Committee is dominated by some 75% of its members who are residing in Georgetown or its immediate environs and purportedly representing the interest of people in outlying areas. A disproportionately low number of Central Committee (CC) members come from these outlying areas primarily Berbice and Essequibo. It is felt that there must be a builtin minimum membership to the CC from such places as Berbice and Essequibo, where the Party has always secured the majority of its membership from, and support at National and Regional Elections. To meet this defect, the following is proposed.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 8 “1. (a) The Central Committee shall comprise of 35 (thirty five) elected members of which a minimum of 5 must be residents of Berbice and a minimum of 5 must be residents of Essequibo.”

Opponents of this proposal will be quick to assert that it will be difficult to effectuate at voting time in Congress. This is not so because nominees will be placed in County Blocks on the Ballot e.g. the Berbicians who are nominated will be placed alphabetically in the Berbice

Block. Assuming there are 12 nominees, the 5 with the highest votes will be duly elected to the CC. Similarly, the top 5 from Essequibo and then the top 25 from Demerara, subject to what will follow under the head “Gender Equity”.

2. GENDER EQUITY Parallel to the above proposal for geographic representation is gender representation at the CC. It is very obvious that the CC is dominated by males. A sort of affirmative action to input females into the CC is very necessary. This will be consistent with the national requirements at the nomination stage for Parliament.

PROPOSEDAMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 8 “1. (b) That the Central Committee final nomination list must as far as possible reflect a gender representation that satisfies a one-third female representation thereof.”

3. ELECTION OF PARTY LEADER/PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, CHAIRMAN, GENERALSECRETARY AND THE EXECUTIVE These positions in a broad-based party as the PPP are exceedingly important and because of this importance, the process through which these offices are to be filled must be as democratic as possible. There can be no better arrangement to ensure this kind of democracy than an election directly by the membership represented at a Congress on a popular vote.

As regards the Party Leader position, this will go

automatically to the President. This is in keeping with the practice all over the world.

Where, however, there is a national election coming up, this position must be vied for at a Congress by candidates showing an interest to run as the Party’s Presidential Candidate unless no other contestant wishes to compete against the existing incumbent Candidate. This allows, moreover, for a democratic election for our Party’s Presidential Candidate. We must never suffer from the “Pa say Ma, Ma say Ba” syndrome ever again!

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 9 “1 The Executive Committee shall consist of the Leader, Chairman and General Secretary each of whom must be elected by popular vote at Congress along with 12 additional CC members who obtained the highest number of votes at Congress”.

4. OUTDATED AND REDUNDANT TERMINOLOGY There is a need to clean up from our Constitution outdated and redundant terminologies.

The process had started at the Congress held at Empire Cinema in 1992. The Party must go further and delete hardcore communist/socialist rhetoric, which bear no relevance nor applicability today some 14 years after the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union.

“Socialist/Socialism” are used in the Constitution, that same be deleted and be replaced with “national democratic”.

B. Wheresoever the terms “Marxism Leninism” is used in the Constitution that same be deleted and be replaced with “constitutional and nationalist democratic principles”.

C. Wheresoever the terms “democratic centralism” is used in the Constitution that same be deleted and be replaced with “transparency, accountability, equality and the rule of law”.

The Section K Campbellville group is of the view that these proposed amendments will only strengthen the PPP and broaden its democratic outlook and approach.

The Group also does not believe, as was said by some Executive members who view these proposals disfavourably, that these proposed amendments will create divisions, incohesiveness and internal indiscipline.

As a matter of fact, the Group feels that such ludicrous inferences and speculations are emanating from selfish perspectives.

Further, the Group feels that other concerns raised, for example, the conduct and campaigning of elections for Leader/Presidential Candidate, Chairman and General Secretary, can easily be worked out by the adoption of certain guidelines or a code of conduct. Autocracy must be halted; democracy heralded.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT A. Wheresoever the terms

Khemraj Ramjattan.

AFC Chairman

Securities Council does not have direct access to crucial info from banks …denied membership to key transparency body

By Kiana Wilburg The Guyana’s Securities Exchange Council is a key agent in monitoring the financial market. One of its main responsibilities is to ensure that the economy is protected from anti-money laundering activities. But the Council is unable to effectively fulfill its mandate if it does not have direct access to crucial information from banks. Because of this, it was denied membership to a key transparency body, The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).

This was noted in the Council’s 2017 Annual Report. In that document, it was noted that the Council had applied since September 2005 (Continued on page 15)

Chairman of the Guyana Securities Council, Rawle Lucas

Sunday July 08, 2018

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

Jagdeo has no moral authority to speak on corruption - Badal I do all my dealings straight; it is above board.

“I pay my fair share of taxes ever year. I employ more than 500 people. I make significant contribution to the Guyana economy. So I have

Businessman, Robert Badal Local businessman, Robert Badal has declared that this is the last time he will respond to former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, who is “fading into insignificance.”

However, in his “last” response, Badal insisted that he manages all his businesses “above board.” Badal is the owner of Pegasus Hotel and the majority shareholder of Guyana Stockfeeds Limited.

The fallout between Jagdeo and Badal goes way back. However, it was recently provoked when Jagdeo realized that Government lost 31

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

percent of ownership it had in Guyana Stockfeeds.

Jagdeo has since accused Badal of defrauding the State via his practice of transfer pricing.

On Thursday, at Jagdeo’s weekly press conference, said that Badal is given special treatment because of his relationship with the government.

Read: https:// www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2018/07/07/badal-is-involved-in-transfer-pricingand-gra-is-ignoring-itjagdeo-claims/.

Yesterday, in an invited

comment, Badal refuted the allegations of transfer pricing.

He said, “I really do not want to comment on the filthy comments of Jagdeo. He is in the archive, struggling for survival and his continued obsession with me and business will not get him anywhere.”

Badal said that he is busy with his business and does not want to keep taking time out to humour Jagdeo.

However, he declared, “I received no favour from the government and I never financed any government. I do my business; it is audited and

Securities Council does not have direct access to crucial info from banks...

From page 14 to become a member of the body. The Council noted that the IOSCO Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation and Consultation and the Exchange of Information (the MMoU), provides a global framework for enforcement co-operation between securities regulators.

It explained that the MMoU therefore helps to ensure effective global regulation as well as the preservation of the strength of securities markets. The Council said that it is a critical IOSCO workstream, and is rightly regarded as the benchmark for international cooperation in enforcement matters.

The Council also listed the main impediments preventing Guyana from becoming a signatory to the MMoU. It said, “The Council does not have direct access to bank records, depending on the Bank of Guyana to obtain this information when a bank is not a market participant or a reporting issuer. Additionally, Guyana’s legislation is not specific with respect to how to acquire information from banks.

“The Bank of Guyana is

limited by law in sharing of information; the Council depends on the Minister of Finance or any lawful order of Court for obtaining banking information.”

Currently, becoming an ordinary IOSCO member is conditional upon signing the MMoU, a prerequisite of which is the ability to obtain, and disclose to other regulators, certain specific information that may be critical to enforcement cases.

IOSCO has noted that very often, acquiring that ability may require significant legislative change within an applicant’s jurisdiction.

The MMoU envisages that signatories will provide to each other comprehensive assistance in the investigation and prosecution of securitiesrelated crime and misconduct.

The Council said that in increasingly globalised markets, the ability to obtain information and exchange it with overseas counterparts, as facilitated by the MMoU, is critical to Regulators’ success in this field.

It pointed out that MMoU signatories, and the markets to which they belong, benefit from international recognition

in that they adhere to robust standards in the investigation of cross-border crime, and that they are participants in a global enforcement regime, which contributes to maintaining fair and efficient markets.

The Council said that that recognition may inform the perceptions of international organisations involved in global regulation.

It said for example, that the Financial Stability Board and other standard-setters use the MMoU as a benchmark when conducting their own assessments.

Moreover, the Council stressed that whether or not a jurisdiction is a signatory to the MMoU, it may influence the perceptions of international investors as to market credibility.

There are now 91 signatories to the MMoU, representing approximately 94% of the world’s securities markets.

IOSCO is determined to ensuring global coverage is therefore becoming essential for all regulators to sign the MMoU, not only to ensure effective international enforcement, but for their reputation and the economic health of the jurisdictions to which they belong.

no time to spend on answering his obsession over me. All these things that Jagdeo is talking about with transfer pricing and so on were addressed many years ago at the shareholders meeting.

This is no business of Jagdeo nor the PPP.” Badal said that Jagdeo should be more concerned about the turn his life can take if justice is to take its course.

(Continued on page 59)

PAGE 16

Nine new drainage pumps for coastland communities by December In keeping with the drive to increase the drainage capacity of coastland communities, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is about to acquire nine new drainage pumps that will be constructed and operationalised at several stations in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six. In a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) Frederick Flatts, Chief Executive Officer of the NDIA, said the new acquisitions are part of a US $4M government of India line of credit.

“We are currently drafting designs for a number of pump stations and at the same time

Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur News

seeking to procure the pumps.

There will be nine fixed pumps that will be brought to Guyana and three mobile pumps.

There will be two fixed pumps at Hampton Court and Devonshire Castle.

One will be at Den Amstel, one at Hope and Nooten Zuil on the East Coast, one at Mora Point in the Mahaicony Creek and one at Rose Hall town.”

In addition, Flatts said the construction of the pump houses will be funded from the government’s coffers and will begin ahead of the arrival of the equipment.

“They are likely to get here by December and we are going to begin construction

before because we want to build the pump stations so that as soon as the pumps arrive we can immediately have them installed,” Flatts said.

The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture. Its main function is the maintenance of drainage and irrigation systems across the nation.

Over the last 24 months, it has spearheaded the acquisition and installation of several drainage pumps across the coast in keeping with government’s drive to reduce the runoff time of water and reduce flooding on the coastland.

Bus kills man on McDoom pedestrian crossing

Large Greenheart shipment leaves...

From page 3 standards are present.

“We are talking about almost 1,200 m3 with this shipment,” he explained.

Woods Direct has been investing, recently bringing in kilns to cater for more value adding.

“This shipment represents a success story. You will recall we suffered a downturn in forestry. We lost the UK market for Greenheart.

Upper Berbice too suffered

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

after a reduction in activities.

We had at least 50 percent of the supplies coming from a dozen remote villages in the interior forest of Guyana.”

According to the businessman, the villages includes Bissaruni, Ituni, Kaburi, Omai, Hururu, Maicobe, Malali, and other villages along the Unamco, Potaro, and Mabura road.

“Our appreciation goes out to all smaller loggers who helped to make this shipment possible. Woods Direct also sourced a significant portion of timber from Variety Woods & Greenheart Ltd.” Khan insisted that the majority of the business would

impact the local content.

“We have been talking local content. When you buy nails and almost every step of the way was providing employment, at a difficult time, then it is appreciated how difficult this shipment was.”

Khan said that Greenheart wood, ideal for Marine applications and wharves, especially for its use as piles, is expected to be shipped twice yearly to DOT for use on the Staten Island Ferry maintenance programme, among other things.

Greenheart is one of the resilient woods, ideal for use in water.

BWW 6110, the bus that hit down Dexter Thomas Dexter Thomas, 48, of Lot 14 Haslington, East Coast Demerara, died yesterday after he was struck down by minibus BWW 6110 on a pedestrian crossing, on the Mc Doom public road.

The accident was caught on CCTV Camera, and was widely circulated on social media. Thomas was seen crossing the McDoom public road on the pedestrian crossing at 17:30 hrs.

Thomas was seen walking briskly across from the eastern side of the road. He stopped briefly at the median of the four-lane highway at which time he looked toward the direction of the Harbour Bridge, to insure that there was no oncoming traffic. He then made an attempt to cross quickly, which led him into the path of the minibus, a Route 43 bus bound for Linden. The bus was on the western carriageway of the East Bank public road.

This road is normally for traffic bound for Georgetown, but because of the traffic con-

gestion in the afternoons, the Guyana Police Force traffic department, has created a third lane that heads to the Harbour Bridge for a certain period in the afternoons.

Video footage shows Thomas being hit and thrown into the air, by the minibus, after which the bus came to a screeching halt.

Thomas was then picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where it is said that he died while receiving treatment.

Police is a statement said, “As Mini Bus BWW 6110 was approaching the Shell Gas Station, the pedestrian was standing between the concrete median and as the minibus got closer the pedestrian suddenly ran across the road going west across the western carriageway and in the process of doing so he ended up into the path of the minibus.

“Upon seeing him, the driver took evasive action by applying for brakes and

swerving further west, but the left front of the minibus came into contact with the pedestrian and as a result of swerving, the right side front of the mini bus collided with minibus BNN 3796 which was proceeding north on the western side of the road.

“The pedestrian fell onto the road surface where he received injuries about the body. He was picked up in an unconscious state and placed in motorcar PMM 5464 and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was treated for head injuries and a broken right leg.

“He later died while receiving additional treatment.”

This is the second time that an individual has lost his life as a direct result of complication created by the establishment of a third lane without having sufficient signage and awareness.

A few years ago, a Kaieteur News staffer office staff of this publication, Harry Brijmohan was heading south on the East Bank Public Road on his motorcycle, when he collided head-on with a car that was in the eastern carriageway. This carriageway is converted from a two-way thoroughfare into a single lane during the morning rush-hour.

The Kaieteur News staffer’s death had highlighted the danger in operating the reverse mechanism without a consistent system and public awareness exercises.

Following Brijmohan’s death, traffic ranks made an extra effort to place cones on the roadway to notify drivers that traffic flow had changed.

But it is abundantly clear now that enough has not been done.

PAGE 26

Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur News

A blue canvas bag by the foreshore

By Michael Jordan “One of these days y’all gon hear that I dead.”

This was the prophecy that Radica Mohan, a young sales clerk from Best Village, West Coast Demerara, made to one of her close friends, 21 years ago.No one, perhaps even Radica herself, would have expected that prophecy to be so chillingly true.

On Wednesday, July 16, 1997, Radica’s mother, Paula Mohan, received a disturbing visit from friends who worked at the same large business firm at which Radica was employed. The friends told Mrs.

Mohan that Radica had not reported to work since the previous Saturday.

That was news to the mother, who had last seen her daughter on July 10, which was also Radica’s birthday.

They then checked at Radica’s Best Village, West Coast Demerara home.

Radica’s husband reportedly told them that he and Radica had slept together on the Sunday night of July 13, 1997.

He claimed that his wife had awakened before him the following day.

According to his story, at around 6:30 am, Radica told him that she was going out.

He alleged that he did not see her depart, since he remained in bed. There were even suggestions that Radica might have gone to French Guiana.

But there were things about this story that did not quite mesh. For instance, Radica’s uniforms, national identification card, a credit card, her watch, a pair of sneakers and handbags were still in the house.

Radica’s two small daughters, aged nine and ten, were not at home when all of this transpired. The day before she had vanished, Radica’s husband reportedly sent them to Georgetown to stay

with relatives.

Then a neighbour of Radica’s confided that at around 05:00 am, on the day that the salesgirl had disappeared, he had heard a woman screaming: “Ow Daddy, Ow Uncle…”

The cries eventually stopped. Those screams had come from Radica Mohan’s home.

Fearing that Radica had met with foul play, relatives began to scour the vast Best Village backlands, even chopping away bushes for traces of the missing woman’s body.

On Thursday, July 17, 1997, fishermen at Ruimzeight spotted a bulky blue canvas bag that had washed up on the foreshore.

Inside, the fishermen found a woman’s decomposed remains. Her throat had been slit. The corpse had then been bound and wrapped in plastic and placed in a jute bag before being forced into the canvas bag. A pair of black denim shorts and a flowered blouse that were with the remains helped relatives to identify the victim as Radica Mohan.In hindsight, friends were saying that Radica’s end was not altogether unexpected. Close friends alleged that she was often physically

abused by an individual with whom she shared a relationship. According to some relatives, she had even expressed fear for her safety. Radica would sometimes say to them, “If anything happen to me is because ——kill me.”

Detectives suspected that Radica had been murdered in her home and dumped several miles away. In fact, it was suspected that she was slain in her bed, since a mattress that the couple had bought four months before the murder was reportedly missing.

A new mattress was reportedly transported to the house by minibus the day after Radica’s disappearance.

During a thorough search of the house, police reportedly found miniscule traces of blood on a cricket bat in Radica’s home. There were reportedly also bloodstains and hair on a wall in the hallway.Detectives took the cricket bat, bloodstained curtain, a mattress, a mop, and Radica’s passport away as evidence.

Even before the gruesome find, there were reports that a suspect was seen carrying a

large and bulky canvas sack on his bicycle.

Investigators considered Radica’s husband to be a prime suspect and detained him for several days. But despite what appeared to be a bundle of circumstantial evidence and other clues, police reached a dead end in their investigations and eventually released their suspect.

Back then, the laws did not permit DNA evidence to be presented in court. Such evidence is being allowed now, but it is doubtful that investigators can put their hands on those clues that their colleagues had so painstakingly gathered 21 years ago.

If you have any information about this or any other unusual case, please contact Kaieteur News by letter or telephone at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown location. Our numbers are 22-58465, 22-58452 and 2258458. You need not disclose your identity.You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email addresses mjdragon@hotmail.com and kamarangnight@gmail.com

PAGE 26

Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur News

A blue canvas bag by the foreshore

By Michael Jordan “One of these days y’all gon hear that I dead.”

This was the prophecy that Radica Mohan, a young sales clerk from Best Village, West Coast Demerara, made to one of her close friends, 21 years ago.No one, perhaps even Radica herself, would have expected that prophecy to be so chillingly true.

On Wednesday, July 16, 1997, Radica’s mother, Paula Mohan, received a disturbing visit from friends who worked at the same large business firm at which Radica was employed. The friends told Mrs.

Mohan that Radica had not reported to work since the previous Saturday.

That was news to the mother, who had last seen her daughter on July 10, which was also Radica’s birthday.

They then checked at Radica’s Best Village, West Coast Demerara home.

Radica’s husband reportedly told them that he and Radica had slept together on the Sunday night of July 13, 1997.

He claimed that his wife had awakened before him the following day.

According to his story, at around 6:30 am, Radica told him that she was going out.

He alleged that he did not see her depart, since he remained in bed. There were even suggestions that Radica might have gone to French Guiana.

But there were things about this story that did not quite mesh. For instance, Radica’s uniforms, national identification card, a credit card, her watch, a pair of sneakers and handbags were still in the house.

Radica’s two small daughters, aged nine and ten, were not at home when all of this transpired. The day before she had vanished, Radica’s husband reportedly sent them to Georgetown to stay

with relatives.

Then a neighbour of Radica’s confided that at around 05:00 am, on the day that the salesgirl had disappeared, he had heard a woman screaming: “Ow Daddy, Ow Uncle…”

The cries eventually stopped. Those screams had come from Radica Mohan’s home.

Fearing that Radica had met with foul play, relatives began to scour the vast Best Village backlands, even chopping away bushes for traces of the missing woman’s body.

On Thursday, July 17, 1997, fishermen at Ruimzeight spotted a bulky blue canvas bag that had washed up on the foreshore.

Inside, the fishermen found a woman’s decomposed remains. Her throat had been slit. The corpse had then been bound and wrapped in plastic and placed in a jute bag before being forced into the canvas bag. A pair of black denim shorts and a flowered blouse that were with the remains helped relatives to identify the victim as Radica Mohan.In hindsight, friends were saying that Radica’s end was not altogether unexpected. Close friends alleged that she was often physically

abused by an individual with whom she shared a relationship. According to some relatives, she had even expressed fear for her safety. Radica would sometimes say to them, “If anything happen to me is because ——kill me.”

Detectives suspected that Radica had been murdered in her home and dumped several miles away. In fact, it was suspected that she was slain in her bed, since a mattress that the couple had bought four months before the murder was reportedly missing.

A new mattress was reportedly transported to the house by minibus the day after Radica’s disappearance.

During a thorough search of the house, police reportedly found miniscule traces of blood on a cricket bat in Radica’s home. There were reportedly also bloodstains and hair on a wall in the hallway.Detectives took the cricket bat, bloodstained curtain, a mattress, a mop, and Radica’s passport away as evidence.

Even before the gruesome find, there were reports that a suspect was seen carrying a

large and bulky canvas sack on his bicycle.

Investigators considered Radica’s husband to be a prime suspect and detained him for several days. But despite what appeared to be a bundle of circumstantial evidence and other clues, police reached a dead end in their investigations and eventually released their suspect.

Back then, the laws did not permit DNA evidence to be presented in court. Such evidence is being allowed now, but it is doubtful that investigators can put their hands on those clues that their colleagues had so painstakingly gathered 21 years ago.

If you have any information about this or any other unusual case, please contact Kaieteur News by letter or telephone at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown location. Our numbers are 22-58465, 22-58452 and 2258458. You need not disclose your identity.You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email addresses mjdragon@hotmail.com and kamarangnight@gmail.com

Sunday July 08, 2018

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==

When David Hinds meets Moses Nagamootoo David and I were having lunch at Hot and Spicy Restaurant on Albert Street last week, and I reminded him what I wrote about Lincoln Lewis’ attitude to Moses Nagamootoo on the dropping of his (Lincoln’s) Sunday Chronicle column.

In a telephone conversation with Lincoln over the Chronicle fiasco, I asked Lincoln what he would tell Nagamootoo when he saw him. That question was asked in the context of Nagamootoo being the subject minister for the state media but unlike the leader of the AFC, Raphael Trotman and the President and also the Minister of the Presidency, Nagamootoo has not spoken even one word on the imbroglio.

Lincoln said he would not have even one word to say to Nagamootoo. He intoned; “I have nothing to say to him, I don’t want anything from them.” Those were his exact words.

So I put the same question to David. He exclaimed; “What! I will have plenty to say to Moses. You wait. It was he who invited me to write for the Chronicle!”

So when David Hinds meets Moses Nagamootoo the elephant and ant proverb

will come into play. I guess two longstanding friends will part ways if they haven’t already.If David Hinds can remember, I warned him about writing for the Chronicle.

The advice came one Sunday evening at the studio of Channel 9. We were waiting to go on air. I only recently knew he had become a columnist for the Chronicle. I asked why he did that, and I predicted there would be problems. I know my country.

I know my country’s politics.

I know my country’s leadership. I know as a trained intellectual what power does to humans. I couldn’t understand why David accepted Nagamootoo’s offer. My prediction of trouble came true.

Here is why I felt there would have been problems with the column. It relates to power and betrayal.

Whatever faith I had in the APNU+AFC government was shattered days after the election results. The AFC bigwigs met at their head office and decided on Cabinet appointments.

A woman who never campaigned for the AFC, raised a finger to help the AFC, was never seen around the AFC, was contacted by telephone in that room and offered the

portfolio of Minister of the Environment. Three AFC powerhouses were adamant in giving her the job. Over the telephone, she turned it down.

For me, that was the limit of human abomination. It was depravity without limits. I was so angry because so many educated cadres who were in the trenches were overlooked for the middle class friend of the middle class leadership of the AFC, that I did a column on the repugnancy.

Then General-Secretary of the AFC, David Patterson replied. I reproduce part of his response; “When the ministry of environment was proposed, we decided to go for a civil society placement, plus a woman. If your source is an honest person, he or she would at least admit that’s why that decision was made.”

I replied to David Patterson, telling him among many other things, the following; “no decent activist should accept a small group in a national party just randomly calling up a stranger and asking them if they want to be a minister. Really David, that is unheard of anywhere in the world”.

To this day, inner leaders of the AFC insist that they know of no such agreement

to give a civil society member a ministry and they were not consulted on the choice for that ministry.

This was the beginning of the power madness taking over the new government in May 2015.When Imran Khan offered me column space in the Chronicle, I politely declined. I declined because I knew what would happen, and it happened to David Hinds and Lincoln Lewis.

After the AFC’s choice for Minister of the Environment, came the almost secret ministerial salary increase.

Then that was followed

by the extension of the barriers around Parliament that, in 2012, APNU and the AFC voted to remove. Today in 2018, the PPP’s idea of ringing the Parliament with barriers when the House is in session has been taken to morbidly excessive heights by APNU+AFC. There was every indication since May 2015 that the APNU+AFC coalition would go in the direction of powertripping.

David Hinds as an activist since he was 18 years and now a competent scholar had to know that power intoxica-

Frederick Kissoon tion was coming. He remained at the Chronicle doing what?

Doing what scholars do – excoriate power abuse. Sadly for David Hinds, he became a victim of the very thing he exposed at the Chronicle.

PAGE 28

Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur News

JAGDEO ACCUSES OTHER PEOPLE OF A LACK OF MODESTY Charles Ramson Jnr. has thrown his hat into the presidential race.

In going public with his intention to run the Presidential race in 2020 before seeking permission from his party, he might have unwittingly committed political blasphemy. Despite that, he has in essence, signaled to the minority Peoples Progressive Party

that they should no longer pay attention to anything party leader and General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo says anymore.

After all, the recent CCJ ruling has completely gutted Jagdeo of his political capital, all the clout, and any relevance for a future in national politics.

Ramson’s statements had only just begun to sink in

when Jagdeo predictably jumped on Junior, saying to the public that the man had committed party heresy by openly declaring his intention to run for the presidency without consulting him.

Why PPP leaders are still allowing Jagdeo to ‘run things’ is beyond common sense. Why none came to Ramson’s defence is a

mystery. But for Jagdeo, the fact that Ramson’s road did not pass through him annoyed him tremendously, considering the ramifications and the message that highlight his waning political career.

He keeps trying to stay in total command, telling the media recently that “we (the PPP) have a way of approaching these matters.

This (Ramson’s declaration) is a departure from that approach that we have always used in the past ... but maybe the person here might think this best suits his purpose, but the party will meet and discuss this too.

One thing we have frowned upon though, is lack of modesty, lack of modesty among people who are presidential hopefuls”. This comes from Jagdeo whose every action demonstrates the total absence of anything resembling modesty, or conformity with any ‘norm’.

As it is now, the party has three main factions. There is one group headed by Jagdeo camping out at the Church Street Office of the Opposition Leader. Another operates out of the party’s base at Freedom House in Robb Street, Georgetown, and the third has its groundings at Red House on High Street, the former political home of the PPP. Had the PPP not been dispensed with by angry voters in 2015, Mr. Jagdeo would certainly have reappeared as a force of some sort in another PPP Cabinet.

His plan was to set up an Economic Council that would have ensured that all roads, gullies and tracks, and contracts, would have had to pass through him.

Of course, these would have included everything related to local and foreign direct and indirect investments; gun licences; road building and canal clearing contracts; hydropower station construction, i.e. minus the

Brazilians whose 2005/6 offer to build Amaila at no cost to Guyana was shut down in preference for Fip Motilall; distribution of prime real estate like Providence front and Liliendaal … this list is long.

The upshot was whether he had gotten his third term or not, Jagdeo was jockeying himself into position to remain the most powerful person in cabinet and government.

As far as the Alliance For Change knows, he still has this on his to-do list. Problem is, the PPP is very unlikely to return to govern this nation for some time. That to-do list was likely the reason why he made it clear as day the other day that he was not going to be left out of any future PPP cabinet, not like he was after he’d made way for Donald Ramotar in 2011.But the decision was made three years into Ramotar’s Presidency to dissolve parliament and make way for the 2015 general and regional elections. To use an old Guyanese analogy, that sent the boat a-falls and totally ruined the man’s plans to become Guyana’s first Oligarch, Russian style.

Although some PPP executive members wish to ensure these plans never fructify, still they allow Jagdeo to dominate all the political space available to the opposition. So far, they have not mustered the spleen to even call their own press conference and interface with the media/public. The Church St. crew sometimes does three per week.

Sunday July 08, 2018

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

My column

Ganja is grabbing national attention I remember when marijuana became a drug of choice in Guyana. It was in the 1970s when Rastafari became the chant, Guyanese having recognized this religion that was dominant in Jamaica.

Dreadlocks also became fashionable.

Indeed, we Guyanese always take things a bit farther, so the people who gravitated to this way of life began to fashion clothes from discarded material. They were making a statement against society. Policemen became the symbol of oppression, hence the name Babylon.

This too was imported from Jamaica.

Pretty soon the country was full of dreadlocked and ragged people wearing clothing fashioned from jute bags.

Their diet changed. It was no salt, organic in nature and meatless. Guyanese took things even further; they declined to drink water from the taps choosing instead, creeks and waterways with fresh water.Mental illness rose dramatically. I am not sure that anyone took seriously, the link between marijuana and mental illness. There were cancers, too.

In 1980 Zimbabwe became independent.

Forbes Burnham was an invited guest. On his way back home, Bob Marley and the Wailers shared the flight. Burnham saw how clean the Wailers were with their dreadlocks and muttered that the local police needed to take action against those who professed to be members of the same group as the Wailers.

Today marijuana use is common, not confined to Rastas. It entered schools when some enterprising

adults gave the drug to children to sell in the schools.

Things reached the stage where the then President Desmond Hoyte decided that something had to be done. In 1988, he introduced the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act. This Act was draconian.

People were sent to jail for even the smallest amount of any narcotic, marijuana included. For years this law prevailed, but from the look of things it did nothing to slow marijuana use in Guyana. Of course cocaine had made its appearance.

Fast forward to today.

Society seems to be upset that people are going to jail for even small amounts of marijuana. There was a modification to the narcotics Act. People stayed out of jail if they had small amounts of jail, but they were still penalized.

However, what is considered small is not small enough.

Things went further; some people began to call for a repeal of the Marijuana law.

They began to chant “legalise it.� A man was sent to jail for four years for having eight grams of marijuana. The sentence was shocking to many.

And a distraught magistrate called in the relatives to explain that she had no choice, that the law was what it is. She said that she gave the man the minimum sentence.

As life goes, marijuana entered the political arena. It featured at the just-concluded Caricom Heads of Government summit in Montego Bay, Jamaica. If there was talk of legalizing the drug, I am not aware, but there was the consensus that people will not go to jail for small quantities of the drug.

How small is small I am uncertain.

Marijuana has been dominating the international community. The United States experimented with medical marijuana with astonishing results. People claimed that marijuana was good for glaucoma and there were other ailments that marijuana appeared to ameliorate.

Way back in 1976 I experimented with the drug. It was an interesting experiment. I got so high that I was almost incompetent the first time I used it. Later, I found it a relaxing drug. It made me tremendously hungry and at one stage I said to myself, I preferred marijuana to alcohol.

My experiment was shortlived. I simply walked away because I could not stand being incapacitated for any period, and that is what the drug did for me. However, I suppose other people so loved it that they risked their jobs.

At Kaieteur News, we found marijuana use very pervasive among the technical workers. Glenn Lall noticed how lethargic some of the workers were one day, so evident that he informed them of a drug test the next day. Men sweated; one man got a sample from his brother only to find that he had to present himself in person.

In the end they were all smokers, people addicted to marijuana. Because of the shortage of such skills the company could not fire everyone, but it threatened. Today, I am certain that all of the workers there would test positive once more.

One argument some people use is that a marijuana

user is less prone to conduct a criminal act because the drug pacifies him. I am not so sure, but I do know that it impairs learning. Those who say that it enhances reasoning are misguided. But then again, I am no expert.

There are those who say that marijuana is safer than cigarettes; I do not know.

What I do know is that its use is widespread; people who use the drug seem to want to smoke it at the drop of a hat.

I also know that it has made people rich. There are huge marijuana farms in Guyana that provide the drug

for export. There are motorists who smoke without realizing that the drug impairs their reflexes. It would be interesting to test those who got into accidents and passed the breathalyser test.

I suppose when all is said and done it boils down to what is considered abuse.

There have been recreational users who kept things within the confines of their homes. I heard that the police without warrants raided homes and made arrests. They have never raided Rastafari churches.

And as someone pointed

Adam Harris out to me, the police are products of the society and many of them smoke. Prison officers will be subjected to drug tests and all manner of things will happen around marijuana.

The future beckons.

PAGE 30

I

n an address at the cer emony to open Guyana’s Trade and Investment Exposition (GUYEXPO), on May 13, 2016, President David Granger said, “Guyana’s Green Development Strategy will be developed as a template for the ‘greening’ of Guyana. Guyana will have a ‘green’ economy.

We will transition our economy rapidly towards renewable, clean and cheaper sources of energy. We will

Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur News

craft a comprehensive Coastal Zone Management Plan to protect human habitation, our coastal economic sectors and coastal ecosystems. We will create ‘green’ enterprises and jobs and we will inculcate ‘green’ education.”

What does all of this mean to the man or woman in the street and how exactly will this ‘green’ wave impact their lives? What does going green mean?

‘Going green’ means to

pursue knowledge and practices that can lead to more environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible decisions and lifestyles, which can help protect the environment and sustain its natural resources for current and future generations.

To put it simply, going green means to care about the environment and make a deliberate attempt to help use as little resources as possible.

People who do this limit their

footprint on the environment and encourage others around them to do the same. Going green is not limited to recycling.

It is so much more than that. The idea is to live the kind of lifestyle that is sustainable in the long run.

It includes making a lot of small changes in your everyday routine that will help you achieve that goal. So what are some of the things that are easy enough for us all to include in our lives?

One of the things that we all can do is to minimize polluting the environment. Be a little more aware of the products we buy.

Things like shampoo and cleaning detergents are some products which if not chosen wisely add a lot to the load on the environment . They run off into our drainage and eventually into the water systems around our cities causing water pollution.

Buy green products and then use less of them. Find out more about these things and help teach others in turn too.

Over the past 50 years, consumerism has run riot, evolving to create a culture in which individuals lean towards items, which are convenient, disposable and lowcost.

Suppliers are meeting this demand with products that are intentionally designed and manufactured to have a limited lifespan after which they are discarded or replaced, giving rise to singleuse items.

The convenience of these items comes at a cost however, and as far as the consumer is concerned this is a financial one. Though often overlooked, it should be evident that in purchasing a

product multiple times more money will be spent in the long run. In addition, there is an environment cost: an increase in consumption leads to pollution and resourcedepletion, while more waste is generated. Thus, if we were to curb these habits of convenience we could reduce our consumption and waste.

Many of us have become blind to the environmental hazards we create engaging in activities of daily living.

Many of us consume coffee and other beverages at work using disposable cups.

If you drink just one beverage each day you consume on average 240 disposable cups per year; and even if you only drink one once a week, that still totals 52. The most environmentally friendly alternative to the common coffee cup is packing a reusable mug.

Plastic bottles for water and other cold beverages are a big problem and a major source of pollution.

If you have to buy a beverage, select one that is in a reusable bottle and for personal rehydration carry a water bottle that can be refilled.

It is recognised that plastic bags are bad for the environment, yet it is estimated between 500 billion and one trillion are used worldwide each year, the bulk of which end up in landfills (taking up to 1,000 years to decompose). We should refuse plastic bags, using a durable, foldable and inexpensive reusable bag that can be carried around in your car, pocket, or purse.

Many of us use a new set of disposable cutlery each day if we get lunch on the go or order a take-away. Just

think about how much damage this can do to the environment. Keep a fork, knife and spoon from home wherever you need it most or invest in an inexpensive reusable set of cutlery.

Then remember to ask the restaurant not to include a disposable set with your takeout.

With blades made from inexpensive steel and handles made from cheap plastic, disposable razors have always been made for single-use.

Billions of them, along with the paper and plastic packaging, are discarded each year; and because most of it can’t be reused or recycled the disposable razors and blade cartridges find their way into landfills. If you want to shave daily, invest in a durable electric shaver, refillable razor, or straight razor or get one that can be recycled.

This is just the tip of the iceberg where going green is concerned. We have a responsibility to educate ourselves and others.

What we might not realize is that even though we recycle and compost and turn off our lights and try not to use our air conditioner unless it’s really hot, there are lots of sneaky ways we might be hurting the environment and not even know it—because some significant environmental damage is caused by everyday products that seem harmless; leather products, paper, disposable plates and food containers; paints and varnishes; insecticides and p e s t i c i d e s ; c i g arettes; soaps and detergents; motor vehicles and cell phones; to name just a few.

Today’s lifestyle is brutally damaging our environment in one way or the other.

Not only the scenic beauty, like forests, rivers etc is getting disturbed but also animals, birds and humans are adversely affected by our own actions.

Almost every day, we harm our surroundings at a minor level, which in turn accumulates and damages the environment at a major level.

The need of the hour is to observe our own activities that are posing a threat to our environment and rectify them.

We generally ignore our duties towards the environment in which we live thinking others would work on it, but if there is to be change it has to start with us at the individual level.

We must first educate ourselves by understanding what going ‘green’ means and what steps we can take to get us there.

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Genital Warts: When it’s more than meets the eye

By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Having warts around the genital area is always a reason for concern. While some warts may be self-limiting, others can persist and can indicate more serious underlying conditions. Patients sometimes ignore these warts and present when they become more complicated. Today we will shed some light on this uncomfortable condition. Hopefully it will help to bring about some amount of urgency for patients that have genital warts.

WHATARE GENITAL WARTS? Genital warts may be small, flat, flesh-colored bumps or tiny, cauliflower-like bumps and are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).

There are many kinds of HPV. Not all of them cause genital warts. HPV is associated with cancer of the vagina, anus and penis. Not all HPV infections cause cancer.

WHERE DO GENITAL WARTS GROW? In men, genital warts can grow on the penis, near the anus, or between the penis and the scrotum.

In women, genital warts may grow on the outside lin-

ing of the vagina called the vulva, around the anal region, the vagina and on the cervix (the mouth of the womb). Genital warts vary in size and may even be so small that you can’t see them.

HOW DO YOU GET HPV? HPV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). The most common way to get HPV is by having oral, vaginal or anal sex with someone who is infected with HPV. The only sure way to prevent genital warts is to not have sex. If you are sexually active, having sex only with a partner who isn’t infected with HPV and who only has sex with you will lower your risk of getting genital warts.Just because you can’t see warts on your partner doesn’t mean he or she doesn’t have HPV. The infection can have a long incubation period. This means that months can pass between the time a person is infected with the virus and the time a person notices genital warts.

Sometimes, the warts can take years to develop. In women, the warts may be where you can’t see them–inside the body, on the surface of the cervix. Using condoms may prevent you from catching HPV from someone who has it. However, condoms can’t

always cover all of the affected skin.

HOWARE GENITAL WARTS DIAGNOSED? If you notice warts in your genital area, see your doctor. Your doctor may be able to diagnose the warts just by examining you. For women, a Pap or a VIA test can help detect changes on the cervix that are caused by genital warts.

CAN GENITAL WARTS BE TREATED? Yes. Genital warts must be treated by your doctor. Do not try to treat the warts yourself. The warts can be removed, but the viral infection itself can’t be cured. The virus goes on living inside your skin. This is why the warts often return after they have been removed. You may need to have them removed more than once.

HOWARE GENITAL WARTS REMOVED? One way to remove the warts is to freeze them. This is called cryotherapy.

The warts can also be taken off with a laser. A treatment called the loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) can be used to remove the warts. With this method of removal, a sharp instrument shaped like a loop is passed underneath the

wart and the wart is cut out of the skin.

Special chemicals can be used to remove the warts.

These chemicals dissolve warts in the genital area.

They may have to be applied to the area a number of times over a period of several weeks before the treatment is complete.

Chemicals you can buy at the store to remove warts from your hands should not be used for genital warts.

They can make your genital skin very sore.

HOW DO I PREVENT GENITAL WARTS? Genital warts are a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV).

The only sure way to prevent genital warts is to abstain from sex or to avoid being promiscuous or avoid a promiscuous partner. Using a condom may help prevent you from getting HPV, but condoms are not 100% effective. They do not cover all the affected skin, and you may still get HPV, even if you use a condom.

WHATABOUT THE HPV VACCINE? There are two types of HPV vaccine. Both types help protect against the HPV strains that are most likely to

cause cervical cancer. One type also helps protect against the HPV strains that are most likely to cause genital warts.

Routine HPV vaccination is recommended for the following groups of people: · Boys and girls ages 11 to 21 · Women ages 22 to 26 · Men ages 22 to 26 years of age who have a compromised immune system (HIV, Diabetes etc) · Gay and bisexual men The vaccines are given as shots (injections in the upper arm) and require 3 doses. The vaccine is most effective if children receive it before they start having sex.

WHAT IF I DON’T GETGENITAL WARTS TREATED? Genital warts can grow if you do not get them treated.

Dr. Zulfikar Bux If you are sexually active, you also risk infecting your partner. Certain kinds of HPV can cause abnormal cells to grow on the cervix. Sometimes, these cells can become cancerous if left untreated. Other kinds of HPV can cause cancer of the vulva, vagina, anus, or penis.Sexual intercourse is part of human nature. The less risky and promiscuous we are with it, the lesser our chances of getting genital warts and the complications that comes with it.

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SUNDAY Numerous Guyanese acting as middlemen between Oil companies and Govt.

– Former Pres. Advisor says, “Many more aspiring jokers in the line…”

private sector.

Former Presidential Advisor on Petroleum, Dr. Jan Mangal, insists that there are numerous Guyanese acting as middle-men between foreign oil companies and the government of Guyana.

In a letter to the media, the Oil and Gas Consultant said that this state of affairs is only eroding the value of the country.

His comments came in the wake of accusations that his recent call for an investigation into all oil blocks given out under the previous administration, is an attempt to regain his job with the current Government. But Dr. Mangal maintained in his letter that these allegations are baseless.

The Petroleum Advisor said that one of the conditions upon which he was hired by the Granger administration, stated that he would not be looking to facilitate deals between the private sector and the government.

It said that his focus needed to be on Government and civil society.

Citing an example in this regard, Dr. Mangal said that he received a call from someone overseas in the industry indicating that he could become filthy rich if he helped broker a deal between an oil company and the government. He said he responded in the negative to the request.

Dr. Mangal added, “This type of request is not uncommon. There are numerous Guyanese already acting as middlemen between foreign companies and the Government and many more aspiring jokers (are) in the line. ”But these middlemen add zero value to the country, and only erode value from the country.”

Further to this, the Oil and Gas Consultant said that by accepting to be the President’s advisor, it was with the understanding that his earnings during the role, although very high by Guyanese standards, would be a fraction of what he previously earned when in the

In one of its reports examining the impact future oil revenue will have on Guyana’s economy, the Wall Street Journal interviewed several officials here. One of those individuals was Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge.

During his interview with the international news agency, Greenidge was asked about the growing concerns here over the preparedness for oil and gas. But Greenidge made it clear that he believes the concerns are simply “overblown.”

He said the government is preparing to spend wisely, with lawmakers working on a sovereign-wealth fund to invest oil earnings in a country with average incomes of about $4,000 a year. ”I’m tired of people calling this the apocalypse,” Mr. Greenidge told the Wall Street Journal.

The Foreign Affairs Minister added, “There are people here who think oil is just a rumor, a fraud by Exxon.

They’re mixing black magic with economics.”

Greenidge tells Wall Street Journal: Concerns about ExxonMobil “overblown” …Says critics mixing black magic with economics

MONDAY Guyana has to buy out Sithe Global before it can start Amaila Falls project – Jordan challenges Jagdeo to explain how ‘Fip’ Motilall won the rights to Amaila and how a US$15M road cost over US$50M If the Government of Guyana wants to revisit the Amaila Falls hydro project, it will have to either get permission from the American company, Sithe Global, or buy the “rights to the site” that the company owns.

This was revealed recently

by Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan during an interview.

The Minister was responding to former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s recent comments about the legitimacy of Fip Motilall being given the contract to build the road to the Amaila Falls.

Jagdeo said that the

Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge. evaluation that was done concluded that Motilall was best suited for the job. He called on government to release the evaluation.

Last Sunday, Jordan said that the audacity of Jagdeo— to try and justify the wrongs he committed against Guyana—is boundless. ”Yes, I heard him saying that (the Motilall contract was legitimate). But like this man ain’t shame? This man is not shame? You are telling me three educated evaluators sat down and gave a road to be in a jungle to a man who never built a footpath. I mean, are we that ignorant? Come on, we cannot be serious.”

Jordan said that before Jagdeo attempts to “go down that road, he should explain to this nation how a so-called US$14M road ended up being over US$50M eventually.

In the midst of it Mr. Man (Motilall) got more than half the money then disappeared.”

Further, Jordan said that he is in favour of “the entire story being investigated.”

The Minister said that what he would really like to know is how Motilall ended up owning the rights to the Amaila Falls. He then sold the rights to the American company, Sithe Global. ”Do you know we could not restart any work on Amaila Falls unless we buy out Sithe or unless they give us permission? They own the rights, Fip sold them the rights. Any works to start back on Amaila Falls still have to go to Sithe Global.”

Request for investigation into all blocks under PPP not a new phenomenon – Dr. Mangal…Insists he is not saying this to regain his job with Govt.

Former Presidential Advisor on Petroleum, Dr. Jan Mangal has debunked accusations that his call for an investigation into all oil blocks given out under the previous regime is an attempt to renew his contract with the government, which came to an end March last.

In a letter to the media, Dr. Mangal said that he will prove in the coming weeks that his call for an investigation predates the end of his tenure as advisor to the President. He insisted that his request is not a “recent phenomenon.”

Further to this, the Oil and Gas Consultant opined that his actions taken during the role of petroleum advisor prove that he was not trying to curry favour with anyone, including the President. Dr. Mangal said that his objective was only to satisfy his remit from the Head of State, which was to help ensure the oil and gas industry benefits the people of Guyana, especially the poor, the youth and future generations.

Failures of Coalition Govt., PPP demand birth of third political force – Ramkarran

Former Presidential Advisor on Petroleum, Dr. Jan Manga Ramkarran argued that the need for a third political force has become necessary since the major ones have failed the nation in several ways.

Speaking to the current dilemmas of the major forces, he pointed out that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has suffered a major electoral blow, whereby its most popular and experienced leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, would not be able to lead as the PPP’s Presidential Candidate at the 2020 elections. It must now look for a fresh face.

He said that Guyana is also faced with deteriorating economic conditions and the one seat majority of the APNU+AFC Coalition.

Compounding this he said, is the fact that both parties have failed to establish inclusive governance, even though they were staunch advocates for the concept when in opposition.

Taking these and other factors into consideration, Ramkarran said that Guyana needs a new party with a programme of unity as a way out of the debilitating, ethnopolitical controversies and insecurities, which have dominated its politics and have bred only suspicion, antagonism and political unilateralism.

The commentator opined that this third party can do so

by recognizing the existence of the two major parties, the support they receive and seek as its fundamental goal to encourage these two parties to work together for the future of Guyana. Ramkarran contended that decades of political effort, including the mandate of the electorate in 2011, have all failed.

The popular columnist reasoned that the third party, if it wins a majority or plurality, will accept the task of government in order to prevent a constitutional crisis. Under the constitution, he said that the party obtaining a majority or plurality must hold the presidency. Until the constitution is amended, Ramkarran said that the party will be obliged to fulfill its constitutional mandate but, not being wedded to power, would propose a re-examination of this and other provisions. He said the difference is that, in accordance with its primary purpose, it will invite the other major parties to share in the government in accordance with their percentage of support.

Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo

Minister of Finance, Winston Jorden

TUESDAY Govt.’s share in Guyana Stockfeeds plummets from 38% to 7%– Opposition notes decline with suspicion; wants explanation It is still unclear how (Continued on page 41)

Former House Speaker, Ralph Ramkarran believes that now is the time for Guyanese to be offered a different kind of political party.

In his most recent writings,

Sunday July 08, 2018

From page 32 exactly the Government of Guyana’s share in Guyana Stockfeeds Limited (GSL) has been reduced to seven percent from 38 percent. But the Opposition seems assured that Government made “a deal.”

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said that it is “despicable” that Government would act in the manner he perceives. Jagdeo recalled that in 2008, the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) won a High Court case restoring its 38 percent shareholding in Guyana Stockfeeds. He said, “when we left office it was at 38 percent, so I do not know how it went back down to seven percent. Government has to explain.”

However, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan is refuting Jagdeo’s claim that “a deal” has been struck. This was during a recent telephone interview with Kaieteur News.

At the time of the interview, the Minister was not sure as to the percentage of Government shares in the entity. He made it clear, however, that government is just trying to get out of the company completely.

Jordan said, “We were trying to sell out our shareholding in Guyana Stockfeeds. We had it advertised in the daily newspaper.”

However, despite the advertisements, Government’s

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bid to sell has so far been unsuccessful.

Jordan said, “It was not sold, because the only interested buyer was the man who owns Guyana Stockfeeds (Robert Badal) and the price he wants to pay is not good for us….We cannot sell it at that price, because his shares on the stock market suggests that our stake in the Stockfeeds is far higher than what he wants to pay. But being a typical businessman, if he is the only person who is interested in the shares then he will offer low.”

While his explanation on the reason why Government has not been able to sell its seven percent was clear and detailed, Jordan could not offer the same detail in explaining how it is that the share got so low in the first place.

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

US bans “powder-like” substances in carry-ons Caribbean Airlines has advised that effective June 30, 2018, following a directive to airlines from the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA), new carry-on baggage restrictions are in effect for all passengers flying to that country. ”Specifically, any “powder like substance” with the exception of baby formula, medically prescribed powderlike substances and human remains will now be forbidden in carry-on and cabin luggage if the quantity of the substance is over 350 millilitres,

The US has restricted the placement of “powder-like” substances in carry-ons

12 ounces or 350 grams.”

Caribbean Airlines disclosed that the same limitation applies to the capacity of the container which cannot be over 350 millilitres.

“All passengers flying to the USA must give up any “powder-like substance” over this amount and place it in their checked baggage for transportation in the baggage hold of the aircraft.”

Caribbean Airlines operates more than 600 weekly flights to 20 destinations in the Caribbean and North and South America.

The airline’s fleet com-

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan prises Boeing 737-800 and ATR72-600 aircraft. Jointly owned by the people of Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica, headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago, and with an operational base in Jamaica, Caribbean Airlines employs more than 1600 people.

WEDNESDAY Lessons from Chad & ExxonMobil reveal…

New laws cannot beat “oil curse” if general governance is weak—Int’l Expert There are many nations

that hold an abundance of lessons on what not to do in the oil industry.

Chad is just one of them.

In an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News, Director of Power and Money at Oxfam America, Ian Gary shared a few of these that Guyana would find useful. It is an area Gary has written on extensively. The Oxfam Director noted that Chad like Guyana, had signed a contract with American oil giant, ExxonMobil which was considered by some observers to be generous towards the company. But there were many mistakes that followed.

In this regard, Gary said, “In Chad, oil exploration, development and production proceeded much more quickly than the development of new laws and institutions to manage oil and the associated revenues.”He noted that capacity building programmes from donors such as the World Bank were slow in delivery and the government made it difficult by frequently changing ministers and key staff in government agencies.

The international oil and gas expert said that the “twospeed” nature of Chad’s oil project meant that ExxonMobil and its partners moved much more quickly than the Chadian government and society could handle.

He added, “A lot of hopes were placed on Chad to defeat the ‘oil curse’ or ‘resource curse’ because of an innovative law which required the government to spend oil revenues on certain priority areas – such as health and education – and to set up a citizen oversight committee to manage investments. The law also earmarked five percent of oil revenues to local communities close to the oil fields.”

Gary stressed however

Majority Shareholder, Robert Badal that these hopes were dashed when the government changed the law and allowed money to be used on military expenditures. He said that a lesson here is that a new law will not beat the “oil curse” when general governance and rule of law in the country are weak.

Heist from Stabroek Market Jeweller… Burglars torch safe, cart off estimated $90M in gold, diamonds A multimillion-dollar jewel heist that was discovered Tuesday has left one longstanding jeweller family counting losses in the millions.The jewellery stall that has been in the Stabroek Market for over six decades, was said to have been secured on the last day of business of the market, last week.

They further checked on Sunday and found the stall still secured.This was not the case on Tuesday morning at 07:00 hrs when an employee turned up to find a vault housed in the jewellery stall torched, and the door ajar.

The padlocks for the grill that secured the stall from front were cut and the grill wrenched open. There were a bag at the scene and a jersey.

There was also the equipment used to torch the vault. That included gas bottles and a torch.

When this publication visited the scene, investigators from the Criminal Investigation Department and City Police were in the process of examining the entry points and dusting the scene for fingerprints. The Crime Chief, Assistant Commissioner Paul Williams, was also at the scene.

The vault is a walk-in (Continued on page 42)

PAGE 42

From page 41 vault that stands six feet tall.

Before that vault could be gotten to, there is a quarter inch steel-plated door that is secured by multiple locks.

Then the vault door has a combination locking system.

The vault itself carries 12inch thick walls and is fireproof.

This has the proprietors pondering how such a heist can be achieved without the market security having a clue.

The jewellers were very tight-lipped about what transpired, but some staffers were adamant that it was an inside job, since they claim that it would take over five hours to cut all the locks and torch the safe, and there was no evidence of a break-in to the market itself, to their knowledge. There was supposed to be City Police securing the Market, they said.

Members picket GTU headquarters– over Govt’s slothful approach to salary Agreement While the executive of the Guyana Teachers Union [GTU] had months ago expressed optimism that the inking of a Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] to facilitate salary and non-salary benefits for public school teachers was on the horizon, up to Tuesday, the ‘remuneration fate’ of the educators continued to hang in the balance.

But the teachers are not taking this state of affairs lightly.

In fact, teachers of the South Georgetown branch decided to move to incite their Union to take action in light of the delayed efforts to bring to fruition the inking of the MoU. Just over a score of teachers, led by their Chairman, Kerwin Mars, congregated at the GTU’s Woolford Avenue, Georgetown head-

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Kaieteur News

quarters to highlight their concerns.

The teachers indicated their desire to protest rather than merely sit and have a conversation on the matter.

Representatives of the Union, including its President, Mr. Mark Lyte, and its General Secretary, Ms. Coretta McDonald, were among the members of a Task Force, which was established to fast-track negotiations for a multi-year remuneration package for teachers.

The establishment of the Task Force was in fact a directive of President David Granger as a strategic tactic to dissuade planned strike action instigated by the Union. The Task Force, moreover, included representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Education, Communities and the Ministry of the Presidency.

The negotiation process came to an end in April and a report containing the recommendations of the Task Force was handed over to Minister of Education, Ms. Nicolette Henry, who in turn presented same to Cabinet.

The last word on the matter was that the report was with the Ministry of Finance.

Just last month, the GTU President expressed anxiety over the situation. He had even confided that the Union was trying as far as possible to appease its members’ frustration.

THURSDAY Berbice pensioner batters girlfriend to death over badly cooked food A 62-year-old Rosignol, West Coast Berbice pensioner was arrested by police Wednesday morning after he allegedly murdered his girlfriend at his home sometime after midnight on Wednesday.

Dead is Shabana Babita Ishack, 40, while her attacker,

Leonard Allan, was arrested after he delivered the fatal blow to her head with a piece of wood following a heated argument.

According to a neighbour, ‘Shabana’ who originally hails from No.2 Village, East Canje, Berbice would regularly visit Allan – at his Lot 70 Burnham Avenue residence – after they struck up a relationship when his wife died in February.

On the day in question, the couple, said to be alcoholics, was reportedly consuming alcohol as they normally would when Ishack visits. The neighbour said that the couple began drinking sometime around 17:00 hrs on Tuesday and ‘Shabana’ had cooked for Allan, but he was not pleased with the food.

This allegedly angered him and he ordered the woman to consume all the food that she cooked since he did not like it. ”She couldn’t ah eat out that food, because dem bin drinking, and he get vex because he tell she the food ent cook good, and he start beat she from in the afternoon (Tuesday) till two o’clock next morning. She was screaming and crying and so, but dem neighbours frighten to go and intervene, because he does cuss we too,” an eyewitness recounted.

One female neighbour explained that while the suspect was thrashing the woman he brought up other issues and accused her of stealing his money among other things, “he deh beating she and telling she how she thief he gold ring, money and all kinda thing, but she was hollering for neighbours, but we didn’t go and put in we mouth because eventually he does want cuss yuh and so”.

The neighbour stated that after hours of beating the woman’s screams and moaning ceased – around 2:00 am

Proprietors of the jewel stall talking with investigators just outside the vault

Wednesday when it is alleged that he clobbered her to the head with a piece of wood. ”After we ent hear no more sounds, I wait till morning fuh seh that I wudda go over and talk to he, because is a normal thing for him to deh beating the girl,” she said.

Oil and Transparency …

Guyana must demand disclosure of everything related to subcontracts – Int’l Expert If Guyana is truly serious about transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector, then there are a few basic principles it would strive to adhere to.

According to Director of Power and Money at Oxfam America, Ian Gary, local authorities in their accountability efforts should strive to have an open and competitive bidding process for any new license as well as disclose all existing licenses, contracts and ancillary agreements.

Gary said, too, that Guyanese must demand the disclosure of the true “beneficial owners” of companies involved in the upstream industry as well as companies getting sub-contracts.

The Oxfam Director commented that sometimes, these are avenues for corruption.

He said that this point is also crucial since “front companies” can be used by politicians to benefit from the sector.The International Oil and Gas Consultant said that a law requiring all payments from companies to be disclosed to the public would also be a fundamental principle that the Government should look to implement. In this regard, he pointed out that the Ghana Petroleum Revenue Management Act is a good example for Guyana to take its cue from.

Gary also called for there

Director of Power and Money at Oxfam America, Ian Gary to be open national budgets and good avenues for public participation on how the oil money is allocated and spent.

Barbados PM calls for more inclusion of CARICOM residents in decisionmaking….as Heads of Govt. meeting commences The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) must do all it can to let the integration movement be owned by the people, Barbados’ new Prime Minister, Mia Mottley told regional leaders Wednesday.

In her inaugural address at the opening of the 39th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Montego Bay, Jamaica, the Prime Minister noted that the Community is running out of time to get the ‘buy in” of people to the integration movement. ”Buy in to the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) requires the single domestic space and ability for people to move without cum-

bersome red tape,” PM Mottley said.

The Barbados Prime Minister cautioned that people will not forgive CARICOM if it continues to procrastinate or lack courage to implement the CSME. She also called for greater transparency in decision making by Heads of Government. Barbados holds lead responsibility for CSME. Mottley became the Prime Minister of Barbados in March this year, in a clean sweep election. She is the first female Prime Minister for Barbados. PM Mottley’s call was echoed by returning Prime Ministers of Grenada, Dr. Keith Mitchell, and Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne.

Dr. Mitchell noted that CARICOM must adapt to the “new normal” to flesh out its own space in a changing global economic, social and political landscape as well as improving efforts to mitigate climate change.

(Continued on page 43)

The jewel stall in Stabroek Market that was robbed

Sunday July 08, 2018

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From page 42 PM Browne, meanwhile, noted that CARICOM must restore the people’s trust in the Community by making decisions that go beyond agreements in principle.

Outgoing CARICOM Chairman and President of Haiti, Jovenel Moise supported PM Mottley’s call for obstacle free movement, particularly in relation to Haitian nationals who face travel restrictions to some member countries.

Meanwhile, Chairman and Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, in declaring the Conference open noted the Community must reflect on experiences of regional integration over the years.

Deplorable working conditions at Clerk of Markets’ office This publication visited the office of the Clerk of Markets of the Stabroek Market, on Tuesday to get some information in relation to the $90 million jewel heist, and what was found at the office was the most inhumane working environment imaginable.

Photos on the front page of Thursday’s Kaieteur News showed the conditions which City Hall has its employees working under; the lower flat of the office is drenched with water every time it rains, the counter that exists for the interaction with the public is covered with water, and water is constantly dripping from above.

There exists a real possibility for a fatal incident in this environment since this building has an electrical supply, and there are office appliances being used.

The ceiling shows evidence of mould, an indicator that this has been the condition for some time - and a dan-

McDonald (at extreme left) in discussion with some of the Union’s South Georgetown members

gerous one at that, since a simple Google search of “Mould” tells a lot,” The most common black mould symptoms and health effects are associated with a respiratory response. Chronic coughing and sneezing, irritation to the eyes, mucus membranes of the nose and throat, rashes, chronic fatigue and persistent headaches can all be symptomatic of black mould exposure or black mould poisoning.”

This is not the first time the Mayor & City Council of Georgetown (M&CC) has been found in breach of Occupational Safety and Health Act Chapter 99:06, on April 11 2016, the Chief Labour Officer within the Ministry of Social Protection, caused two of his officers to conduct a “workplace” inspection at a number of departments or the M&CC.

The findings which were handed over to the M&CC in a report on the 1st July, 2016, stated amounts other things,” The building that housed employees is in a deplorable state and needed urgent repair.

There were missing windows, wood ants were visible on the walls of the building and holes were visible in the ground flooring and also in the walls of the building. The upper part of the building can collapse due to the deplorable state.

That is indeed an occupational hazard.”

The report continued that while lunchroom facilities were provided for staff, it was in a dilapidated state.

There were holes in the roof through which, whenever it rained, water leaked to the extent that the lunchroom would be flooded.

FRIDAY GRA unearths forged driver’s licence, compliance and registration racket The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has uncovered a racket involving the use of forged driver’s licences, certificates of compliance and registrations. At the centre of this scam were some of its trusted officers.

GRA’s Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia, told this newspaper Thursday that several officers who were found to be part of the racket have been sent home while others are willingly giving evidence.

Statia was unable to say how long the scam has been taking place but promised that he would be looking into the issue. He declined to comment further on the matter.

In the meantime, other

well placed sources in the revenue authority were able to shed further light on the matter.

Officials told Kaieteur News that the GRA individuals involved were able to get their hands on a “highly sophisticated photocopying machines.”

One senior GRA officer said, “It is a set of guys who have been utilizing access to GRA records and using a powerful photocopying machine. You would find it very difficult to tell the difference between the fake and the real driver’s licence.”

GRA officials also revealed that the officers were producing the fake documents in collusion with banking officers.One Customs officer said, “They were producing the fake certificates of compliance and registration in collusion with officers at

banks to get loans… They would get the GRA officers to doctor the records to say Tom Jones is driving a high-end vehicle like a Mercedes Benz and then take it into the bank.

Lotto Fund probe…

Fugitive suspect arrested at court after freed of illegal entry charge-former top Finance Ministry official detained also A fugitive suspect who skipped Guyana one day before a wanted bulletin was issued for his arrest was on Thursday charged for entering Guyana illegally.

Jadoo Datt, 40, of Sheriff Street, Campbellville was wanted for questioning by Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) in relation to collecting millions of dollars by way of withdrawals from the Lotto (Continued on page 44) The Rosignol house where the murder took place

The bedroom where the woman was killed

PAGE 44

From page 43 Fund. Datt appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on July 4, at Springlands, Corentyne, Berbice, he entered Guyana by sea and disembarked without the consent of an immigration officer.

In his explanation, he stated that he went into the US Embassy to get a visa and he was denied. He added that after his refusal of a visa, he contacted his sister and she told him to come across to Suriname. Police Prosecutor, Gordon Mansfield, stated that a wanted bulletin was issued

by SOCU on May 16 for his arrest after months of intense investigation in relation to the lottery fund fraud.

The court heard that the police later obtained information from Immigration, which stated that the defendant left Guyana on May 15 via Moleson Creek.

The prosecutor went on to tell the court that on July 4, last, Datt, reported to SOCU and he was arrested and taken into custody.

The Magistrate after listening to Datt, reprimanded and discharged the matter.

As soon as Datt exited the prisoners lock-up, he was arrested by an officer who escorted him to a vehicle and took him back to SOCU. It was reported that SOCU is currently investigating some questionable payments from the Lotto Fund, which was established under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic, and controlled by what was then known as the Office of the President.

The fund continues to be under the control of what has now been renamed the Ministry of the Presidency.

Armed CG bandits rob Brazilian at fruit stall in Queenstown On Tuesday, two bandits on CG motor cycle, one armed with a gun walked into a business in Queenstown that sells fruits, and relieved one of the customers of her purse containing an undisclosed sum of cash.

The barefaced bandits were caught on CCTV camera, walking up to the business entrance. One of them then removed a gun from his waist and cocked it before pointing it the customer who was conversing with the proprietor of the business at the time.

He then relieved the woman of her purse, and briskly walked away, before jumping on to a motorcycle to join his partner.

This is the second time in recent years that this business has seen armed bandits

Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur News

Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Mottley addressing the other regional leaders coming to the establishment.

SATURDAY Exxon appears before Parliamentary committee…

Uninformed, ill-prepared opposition lets company off the hook -Questions regarded as “hogwash” His confusion and accompanying amusement were quite visible. In fact, he even paused for a few seconds before answering the question.

It was quite clear that ExxonMobil’s Country Manager, Rod Henson, did not expect to be asked why the company did not secure legislation for local content.

Eventually, Henson answered, “I am sorry, but a company cannot secure legislation sir.”It was Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Neendkumar, who posed that question at yesterday’s meeting of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources.

ExxonMobil appeared before the committee.

Neendkumar’s question made it appear as if the longstanding parliamentarian actually thinks that ExxonMobil, or any other company for that matter, actually has relevance in the drafting and passing of legislation. This is usually the job of the legislature. But even after Henson said that it is not in ExxonMobil’s remit to secure legislation, he followed up the question. When faced with a similar response, the parliamentarian gave up and said, “Okay, we will have to follow-up with the minister.”The Neendkumar scenario was unfortunately not unique to yesterday’s meeting. It is even safe to pronounce that the meeting was characterized by similar occurrences.

Across the board, the questions posed were not

what would be considered ‘hardball’ or constructed based on research or an understanding of the industry and Guyana’s uniqueness at this point. The few wellframed questions that ExxonMobil’s Henson could have actually provided answers to were posed by government MPs and Chairman of the Committee, Odinga Lumumba, who sits in parliament on behalf of the opposition. Opposition Member, Yvonne P. Fredericks did not pose a single question during the almost three-hour meeting. While MP Pauline Campbell-Sukhai posed many questions, few were considered pertinent. So worrying was the situation that Minister Ronald Bulkan asked that members stick to matters relating to ExxonMobil’s role in the oil and gas industry and the progress the company is making.

But Sukhai insisted on asking questions like why it is that ExxonMobil has not sought to provide jobs for displaced sugar workers. Also, most of her questions were accompanied by lengthy comments. In fact, most MPs were guilty of this. However, Sukhai was the biggest culprit, to the extent that she spoke for spans of five to 10 minutes when ‘posing questions.”

In one instance, when her colleague attempted to guide her, Sukhai said “I would like to finish my line of thought.”

At another point, she accused the chair of trying to steer the conversation.

It was here that Lumumba got upset. He reacted, “Come on, me ain’t protecting Exxon; Exxon big enough to protect itself.”

But Sukhai was not deterred. She then went on to accuse ExxonMobil of funding political initiatives.

Sukhai said, “There is

talk that Exxon is funding a political initiative that is not yet approved by the National Assembly—that is the Green State Development Strategy.”

At this point, she offended Henson. He said, “Sorry ma’am but I have to stop you. ExxonMobil…we don’t choose sides, we are apolitical. We are not funding any political party.”

But even after then, Sukhai continued. Henson then said, “Allow me to say that is complete hogwash.”

Bandit sentenced to death for killing New Amsterdam market vendor Stafford Harry called “Bilall” 40, of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice who was found guilty a few weeks ago, for the murder of New Amsterdam market vendor Hansraj Samaroo, has been sentenced to death. Harry was on trial before Justice Brassington Reynolds and a mixed jury in the Berbice High Court.

The crime was committed between March 27 and March 28th 2010 at Hampshire, Corentyne Berbice.

Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy had presented the state’s case while Attorney Sasha Roberts of the Legal Aid Clinic repre-

Opposition MP, Neendkumar

Flood waters continued to affect Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) with several families camping out at shelters that have been opened.

Images on Friday showed animals stranded, with the army working to move residents around the flooded communities, especially in the environs of Lethem.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon led a team to assess the situation, with several schools converted to shelters and students told to remain at home.

Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson was deployed to the affected area on Thurs-

day, where she met with village leaders of one of the hardest hit area - St Ignatius.

According to Minister Ferguson, the water level is currently being monitored and her team is aiding the evacuation of persons from their homes. Hot meals, drinking water and other supplies are provided daily to the affected residents.

Areas that remain underwater are Tabatinga, Culvert City and St. Ignatius.

Affected families are being housed at the Arapaima Primary School, Culvert City Nursery School and the Tabatinga Sports Complex.

Five schools were suspended Thursday after waters from nearby mountains and from neighbouring Brazil rose rapidly, flooding ranches and homes.A preliminary assessment conducted by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has identified aviation fuel to support emergency medical evacuations, should that become necessary, in remote areas, water purification tablets, water storage containers, food and beddings for residents in shelters as emergency needs of the community.

The flooding in that area that borders with Brazil has been an increasing problem in recent years.

Opposition MP, Pauline Campbell-Sukhai

Chairman of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources, Odinga Lumumba

sented Harry.

Samaroo, a father of four and a fruit vendor in the New Amsterdam Market, was reportedly injured when he resisted attempts by bandits to rob him and his family on March 27, 2010 at his home.

After being injured, Samaroo was picked up and rushed to the New Amsterdam hospital before being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

He died on March 28, despite undergoing hours of surgery.

Lethem flood waters going nowhere…Supplies flown in, army working with affected residents

Sunday July 08, 2018

PAGE 45

Kaieteur News

Conversations can affect your well-being We know that being social is good for us, and talking with others can be a great way to relieve stress and improve relationships. But should we favor longer, deeper conversations over small talk? A new study investigates.

A few years ago, Prof.

Matthias Mehl — at the University of Arizona in Tucson — and team conducted a study.

That study asked whether we should strive to have deeper, more meaningful conversations with others to improve our own well-being.

At that point, their findings appeared to suggest not only that substantive conversations make us happier, but also that indulging in too much small talk could damage our well-being. “[H]igher well-being,” the authors wrote, “was associated with having less small talk, [...] and more substantive conversation.” They add that the participants who reported being the happiest spent little time on superficial chit-chats, preferring to engage in more

meaningful exchanges.

Recently, however, Prof.

Mehl and a team of researchers decided to test those results in a larger and more diverse population sample, using more rigorous data analysis methods. And, to their surprise, only part of the initial findings held strong.

“We do not think anymore that there is an inherent tension between having small talk and having substantive conversations,” says Prof.

Mehl. “Small talk didn’t positively contribute to happiness, and it didn’t negatively contribute to it,” he observes.

Moreover, “With this study, we wanted to find out whether it is primarily the quantity or the quality of our social encounters that matter for one’s well-being,” explains study co-author Anne Milek.

The researchers’ new findings have been published in the journal Psychological Science.

In the new study, the researchers collected data from 486 participants — a much larger population sample com-

pared with the 79 participants involved in the previous study.

These participants belonged to four different kinds of categories: college students, breast cancer survivors and their partners, healthy adults in a meditation group, and adults who had recently gone through a divorce.

Information regarding the type and frequency of conversations was collected using Electronically Activated Recording devices, which are programmed to turn on intermittently throughout the day,

recording random bits of conversation.

The researchers categorized the interactions thus recorded as either “small talk” or “substantial conversations.”

“We define small talk as a conversation where the two conversation partners walk away still knowing equally as much — or little — about each other and nothing else,” says Prof. Mehl.

“In substantive conversation, there is real, meaningful information exchanged,” he notes, adding that “it could be about any topic —

politics, relationships, the weather — it just needs to be at a more than trivial level of depth.”

To determine the volunteers’ state of well-being, the scientists asked them to fill in questionnaires that evaluated their life satisfaction, as well as their personality types.

As before, they found that participants who had more substantive conversations with others reported a greater degree of happiness, overall. This was true both for extroverts and for introverts.

“We expected that per-

sonality might make a difference, for example that extroverts might benefit more from social interactions than introverts or that substantive conversations might be more closely linked to well-being for introverts than for extroverts,” says Milek.

She adds that they “were very surprised that this does not seem to be the case.” The researchers were also able to confirm that the more conversations someone tended to have — that is, the more they were exposed to social interactions — the better they seemed to fare, and vice versa.

“We replicated that people who spend a lot of time alone,” says Prof. Mehl, “are less satisfied with their lives and have lower well-being.”

“People who spend more time interacting and have more meaningful, substantive conversations are more satisfied. The happy life is social, rather than solitary, and meaningfully so,” he adds. ( ( h t t p s : / / www.medicalnewstoday.com/ articles/322367.php)

8 healthy tweaks to make your diet today The desire to get healthier is a common goal, but the thought of a massive dietary overhaul may seem overwhelming. Truthfully, even small tweaks have health payoffs, including lowering your chances of conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Plus, small changes are less taxing to your willpower than loftier goals. Just like overworking your biceps leads to fatigue, so does overworking your willpower. Over time, like muscles, your willpower becomes stronger, so successfully making a micro-change to your menu can empower you to take on another small change. Here are eight expert-recommended diet tweaks to try this summer. Once you master one, see if you can try another.

1. DRINK MORE WATER This simple change, recommended by nutritionist Keri Gans, RDN, author of The Small Change Diet, is an easy place to start. “Many people confuse thirst for hunger and wind up reaching for a high-calorie snack when in reality, hunger isn’t the issue.” Research confirms the lines get blurred, and the science supports another reason for making this change: Even mild dehydration can lower energy levels. So set your intentions on drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day — and more on hot and humid days, and when you’re hitting the gym (or ski slopes, or your exercise of choice). If water isn’t your thing, Gans suggests boosting flavor with fresh lemon, lime or cucumber. I’m also a fan of flavored sparkling waters, like La Croix.

2. HAVE A PROTEIN-PACKED BREAKFAST Though I love overnight oats as

much as the next person, a cereal or grain-based breakfast, while nutritious, may fall short on protein. “Sufficient protein at breakfast (at least 20 grams) is important to help prevent muscle loss as we age and maximize muscle growth and repair after a workout. Plus, adding protein to your breakfast, especially when paired with good carbs, fiber and healthy fats will help to keep you full longer to keep your energy levels up all morning,” according to Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN, author of The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club.

3. TUNE IN TO HUNGER CUES Learning to recognize when you’re hungry and when you’re full will go a long way toward improving your overall health.

We all fall into the trap of eating for reasons other than hunger, be it the habit of popcorn at the movies, munching your way through a bag of chips during a stressful afternoon at the office or finishing up the last forkful of pasta at dinner. To break the cycle, “practice using the hunger-fullness scale,” suggests Alissa Rumsey MS, RD, founder of Alissa Rumsey Nutrition and Wellness and creator of the 5 Minute Mindful Eating Exercise e-guide, who recommends using this useful tool to clue into your hunger before, during and after a meal. “While babies and small children do a great job eating when they’re hungry and stopping when they’re full, as adults we tend to eat more for external reasons,” says Rumsey. The idea is to learn when you’re comfortably full and put your fork down at that point.

4. COOK MORE “Cooking is more than just the simple act of preparing food to fill

your belly,” says Chicago, IL culinary dietitian, Sara Haas RDN, LDN. “It’s a ritual that boosts your understanding and appreciation of food. And performing this simple skill puts you in control of what shows up on your table, which equates to better nutrition and a healthier lifestyle,” she explains.

Another way I look at it is this: Cooking is an act of love. Whether feeding family or friends, or making a meal for myself, it’s a way I can show love and appreciation. And it need not be complicated or Instagramworthy to fulfill the requirement.

5. GET MORE GREENS Given the startling CDC report finding that about 91% of Americans fail to get enough veggies, the advice to eat more greens from dietitian and founder of Nutrition Stripped, McKel Hill, MS, RDN, are words to live by. “Whether you add greens to smoothies, sneak in a salad before a meal, snack on vegetables, or greens to stews and stirfry, they’re great source of fiber, min-

erals and antioxidants our bodies need,” she says. If you’re averse to vegetables, I’ve found that it’s helpful to take a stacked approach to eating more. For instance, if you already like scrambled eggs, add some spinach to the scramble and see how it goes. If you’re making a side of brown rice, try adding some chopped broccoli. Folding veggies into things you already enjoy helps make it easier to make this change.

6. EAT MORE PLANTS (AND FEWER ANIMALS) “Try to reduce your meat consumption for your health and the health of the planet,” encourages The Plant-Powered Dietitian, Sharon Palmer, RDN. Even if you only do this one day a week, it can curb your risk of obesity and lower your odds of diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and cancer, according to the scientific team behind the Meatless Monday campaign. “Have more meals based on legumes, grains, vegetables, nuts, and seeds,” says

Palmer. If you need inspiration, try her weeknight-easy Mediterranean Edamame Quinoa Bowl.

7. BUILD A BUDDY SYSTEM We all get by with a little help from our friends and no area of our lives is this more true than with our health and wellness goals. Nutrition expert Patricia Bannan, MS, RDN has this sound advice: “Make an effort to include one more supportive, health-minded person in your life this year.” According to Bannon, research shows that supportive relationships with friends, family members or both, can help you deal with day-to-day stressors and reach and sustain your health goals.

“The opposite side of the coin holds true too: eliminate (or minimize) your time with emotional vampires — they sap your strength, emotional energy and often sabotage your health goals,” she says.

8. LEAVE ROOM FOR TREATS Yes, you read that right. Although I think we can all agree that spinach is better for your body than doughnuts, I’m a big believer that sometimes we eat to nourish our bodies and other times we eat to nourish our souls. “Research shows that depriving yourself actually leads to over-eating and a binge-restrict cycle in the long run,” says Food and nutrition blogger Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN, LD. “Instead, aim for an overall balanced dietary pattern, leaving room for treats that you truly desire and are hungry for.” (https:// www.nbcnews.com/better/health/8healthy-tweaks-make-your-diet-today-according-nutritionistsncna839221)

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Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur News

Have Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith Figured Out the Secret to a Lasting Hollywood Marriage?

He said it in 2006.

“Divorce can’t be an option. With Jada, I stood up in front of God and said, ‘Til death do us part.’ So there are two possible outcomes. One, we are going to be together till death, or two, I am dead.”

And again in 2015. “In the interest of redundant, repetitious, over & over-againness...Jada and I are...NOT GETTING A DIVORCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have denied the presumed end of their marriage so many times, that even their kids have gotten into the act. That same year, a then-14-year-old Willow Smith tweeted, “The media thinks my parents are getting divorced like every second haha h a ! ” N o t e x a c t l y a laughing matter, but one could see how, at this point, the family finds it comical.

Last December the sitcom star turned dependable leading man and the outspoken actress he’s dubbed “my Queen” marked 20 years of marriage, an almost unheard of milestone within the confines of Hollywood. It’s an occasion even mere mortals canonize, celebrating each other with an anniversary bash or at least the traditional piece of china. But the

parents to Jaden Smith, 19, and Willow, now 17, simply gave each other a high-five, the Suicide Squadactor, 49, told E! News and kept it moving. It’s not that they have a blasé attitude toward their accomplishment, Will, also dad to son Trey Smith, 25, from his first marriage to Sheree Fletcher, recently revealed in an interview on TIDAL’s Rap Radar podcast, it’s just at this point what they have has surpassed traditional unions.

“We don’t even say we’re married anymore,” he explained. “We refer to ourselves as ‘life partners,’ where you get into that space where you realize you are literally with somebody for the rest of your life.

There’s no deal breakers.

There’s nothing she could do—ever—nothing that would break our relationship. She has my support till death, and it feels so good to get to that space.”Obviously Jada, 46, is in complete lockstep. “Here’s the thing about Will and I, it’s like, we are family, that’s never going down! It’s just not! Ever!” she dished to Sway Calloway during a June 13 interview on Sway in the Morning on SiriusXM’s Shade 45. “It doesn’t matter, all that relationship and what people think, ideas of a husband and

a partner and all that, man, whatever, at the end of the day, that’s a man that can rely on me for the rest of his life, period.”So, they’ve cleared that up.

But when people aren’t predicting that the pair are headed for divorce court, they tend to speculate about just what it is that keeps their two decade union together. One of the more persistent rumors, Jada acknowledged during a 2017 appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen: That they’re swingers. “And I’m like, ‘Yo, I wish!” she joked. “I wish!”While she shot down

that particularly report, she’s provided fuel to another by giving HuffPost Live’s Marc Lamont Hill this answer when he asked if she and the Oscar nominee enjoy an open marriage: “I’ve always told Will, ‘You can do whatever you want as long as you can look at yourself in the mirror and be okay.’ Because at the end of the day, Will is his own man. I’m here as his partner, but he is his own man. He has to decide who he wants to be and that’s not for me to do for him. Or vice versa.”

Reactions to her admission became so frenzied that she later took to Facebook to clarify she hadn’t given him an open-ended hall pass.

“The statement I made in regard to, ‘Will can do whatever he wants,’ has illuminated the need to discuss the relationship between trust and love and how they co-

exist. Do we believe loving someone means owning them? Do we believe that ownership is the reason someone should behave’?

Do we believe that all the expectations, conditions, and underlying threats of ‘you better act right or else’ keep one honest and true? Do we believe that we can have meaningful relationships with people who have not defined nor live by the integrity of his or her higher self?” she wrote in a lengthy post, adding, “Should we be married to individuals who can not be responsible for themselves and their families within their freedom? Should we be in relationships with individuals who we can not entrust to their own values, integrity, and LOVE...for us??? Here is how I will change my statement...Will and I BOTH can do WHATEVER we

want, because we TRUST each other to do so. This does NOT mean we have an open relationship...this means we have a GROWN one.”She would later untangle her thoughts again on Howard Stern’s radio show, explaining she’s not her husband’s babysitter, and once more during her chat with Calloway.

When asked how they deal with indiscretions, she replied, “You come across lots of different kinds of indiscretions in all kinds of relationships. And let me tell you something, the one thing that I’ve learned, as much as we wish our partners could be perfect, as much as we wish that they never hurt us, as much as we wish that they came into relationships with no flaws and had everything figured out, we don’t. You know? And inevitably all kinds of things, whether it’s kind of understanding trust or understanding, you know, figuring out, are you a person that can hold down monogamy? Are you a polyamorous individual?”

Her words, while they fall well short of saying cheating is A-OK, are cryptic enough that their policy is still a little fuzzy. But the main implication is clear: They have the utmost of faith in each other and it simply cannot be shaken. (see full story here: https://www.eonline.com/ news/949808/have-willsmith-and-jada-pinkettsmith-figured-out-the-secretto-a-lasting-hollywood-marriage)

House of Cards’ Claire Underwood Declared Her Independence and Fans Loved Every Second of It “Happy Independence Day…to me.”

With Robin Wright’s Claire Underwood saying those words, House of Cards set the tone for its upcoming sixth and final season.

The video, which you can see above, was posted on Twitter and punctuated with #MyTurn. Season five of the Netflix political drama ended with Wright’s character taking control of the White House. She turned to the camera, something only her husband Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) previously did, and broke the fourth wall and declared, “My turn.”

Wright will be the lead of the upcoming season after Netflix severed ties with Spacey following sexual misconduct allegations.

Some of the final season of House of Cards had already been shot and production was shut down to regroup. No word on what will happen to the Frank Underwood character.

At the end of the fifth season he was awaiting a pardon from Claire.

Joining Wright this year are returning cast members Michael Kelly, Jayne Atkinson,

Patricia Clarkson, Constance Zimmer, Derek Cecil, Campbell Scott and Boris McGiver. Diane Laneand Greg Kinnear have also joined the cast for the final season.

House of Cards will return to Netflix in 2018. www.eonline.com

Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur News

NY-based group lends support to Enterprise Primary School Enterprise Support Group Inc., which is based in New York, has once again showed their generosity by rewarding the outstanding performers of the Enterprise Primary School, East Coast Demerara, who recently sat the National Grade Six Assessment.

At the school’s graduation ceremony which was held last Thursday, the group which was founded in 2008 by a number of overseas-based Guyanese, presented over $250,000 in cash prizes and trophies to the top 45 students.

The group’s steering committee in Guyana is being managed by Parmanand Dindyal and Jainarine Sarjoo, both of Enterprise. Its main objective is to assist organisations, the elderly, and schools in the community.

Dindyal said the group has contributed towards the renovation of Enterprise Nursery School and also rendered assistance to students who excel in their academics, including those attending the University of Guyana, as well as charitable organisations.

He pointed out that the group will expand its contribution towards the school’s graduation exercise in 2019 and plans are in the making to assist the community cricket club. He expressed gratitude to members of the group for the initiative and urged the students to continue taking their education seriously.

School teacher Kamta Ramnarine said that the initiative will serve to motivate the students, and they are looking forward to the group’s continued support, adding

Top student Nishaul Samaroo (centre) and other outstanding students display their prizes following the ceremony. that they are one of the biggest sponsors onboard.

Nishaul Samaroo is the school’s top student with 506 marks followed by Maharani Ferdinand who gained 502, Videsh Persaud 501, Jaiwen Cao 500 and Geetanjalie Samaroo 499.

Prosecution closes cases in five pound cocaine trial Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU), Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford has closed the case for the State in the trial of two men who were allegedly busted with cocaine back in March.

The men, Mark Gomes, 33, of Campbellville, Georgetown and Mohamed Kadir, 37, of Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara are alleged to have trafficked 2.50 kilos, equivalent to 4.9 pounds, of cocaine, on March 29, last, at Sheriff Street, Georgetown.

Prosecutor Sandiford after calling several witnesses wrapped up the case for the prosecution.

Thereafter Attorneys-atLaw Mark Waldron and Latchmie Rahamat, who are representing Gomes and

Mark Gomes (left) and Mohamed Kadir Kadir respectively, made separate no-case submissions.

On July 17, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan will rule on whether the prosecution has presented prima facie evi-

US$100,000 study to upgrade Lethem Aerodrome A US$100,000 contract has been awarded for consultancy services to conduct a pre-feasibility study for the upgrading of the Lethem Aerodrome, Region Nine, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo into a regional airport.

This was announced by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon at his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing last Thursday.

The contract was awarded to Colombian company GSD PLUS SAS Consultancy. The government aims to upgrade the airport’s runway and taxiway to meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards as well as the provision of the terminal and auxiliary facilities for its operations. The general objective of the study is to determine the main costs and benefits associated with this project and analyze how the economic development impacts could be maximized. The study will perform a diagnostic of problems, limitations and trends of domestic and regional air transport services with the aim to make Lethem an important hub for air transportation between Northern Brazil, Guyana and the Caribbean. Additionally, the study will develop a framework and recommendations for the institutional and operational setup at the proposed Lethem Airport based on the diagnosis performed and an efficient operation standard.

Preliminary designs and improvement measures regarding infrastructure, technology and safety in accordance with ICAO requirements must also be provided.

dence against the defendants.

Initially, the men were charged jointly along with 33year-old Ryan Fowler of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, for the offence.

However, at their first court appearance on April 3, last, Fowler opted to plead guilty to the charge. He was jailed for four years and ordered to pay a fine of $6M. According to the prosecution, on the day in question, the men were in their vehicles, in the vicinity of Sheriff and John Streets, Campbellville, around 19:45 hrs, and had no knowledge that they were being monitored by CANU ranks. The Prosecutor said that CANU ranks observed the men in a trade-off of the drugs.

It was reported that on the day of the exchange, Fowler came out of his vehicle with a yellow gas cylinder and took it to another vehicle.

This was when ranks from the CANU intervened and began to sea r c h t h e v e hicles. The drug was subsequently unearthed and tested on the spot, and the three men were escorted to CANU Headquarters.

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Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur News

Son Chapman explosion….

Big tragedy for a small Town ...says Dr. Stephen Carryl

By Enid Joaquin Dr. Stephen Carryl, an overseas-based Lindener who is now 56 years old, was only two, when the Son Chapman exploded at Horadia, killing his mother, Carmen Carryl, and 42 Lindeners on July 6, 1964. Carryl called the incident a “Big Tragedy for a small Town.”

“I believe that they should do different or better with this event, because if you look at the population of Linden at that time and if you look at it as a percentage, if you lose that number of people in one accident, it’s a big tragedy.

“So any tragedy has to be dealt with within the context of its proportionality and size. This is a big tragedy for a small town!”

Carryl said that his church community alone had six women.

“Imagine that kind of impact. The women in those days, they were the breadwinners most of them, my mom was one, who sold women and children’s clothing.

“Most of those women were entrepreneurs who used to go to Georgetown to buy things to sell, so when you eliminate them from the family and the church, it has a tremendous ripple effect.”

RELUCTANT Carryl said that he only started thinking of the tragedy four years ago, when he came back during the fiftieth anniversary of the

incident. He however acknowledged that he was reluctant to return for the memorial. Two days prior to his journey, a patient told him of her personal journey and how she had to, “open some doors in her life.” “ I told her that there were some doors in my life that I needed to go in, and I did exactly what she said and I came out better!”

Carryl says that it is important to keep the memory of those who died on that fateful day alive, so that it would not be lost, and our children and grandchildren can learn of our history.

He suggested that on July 6, there could a Commemoration rally where residents march from Christianburg, but that it should be done consistently to “build momentum”, as if it’s only done “sometimes, it won’t go anywhere.”

“There are young people that don’t even know about this incident, so we have to transmit this to the next generation, because eventually all of us from that era would be gone so if we don’t have a strategy that’s intentional, that is saying how do we pass this information on, it would be lost.

“We have to light a fire under somebody in their thirties, that’s how it has to be done, so that it won’t be lost!”

The memorial would be observed on Friday, July 13.

BV boy is President of America...

From page 18 later, his mother recovered and accompanied him on a trip to Europe to celebrate the end of his medical training and start of his medical career.

After seeing two of his family members suffer from strokes, Benjamin had a new interest in understanding health events within families and not solely one patient at a time. This encouraged a budding career as a cardiology researcher as he aimed to understand how to prevent future health events that ran in his own family.

“I recognized that being a phenomenal physician was necessary, but not sufficient,” he said. “I wanted to find a way to help people on a larger scale.” *** After his residency and internship at Yale, Benjamin entered a fellowship at Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago.

While there, he was among the earliest recipients of the Minority Medical Faculty Development Award given by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The funding allowed him to join a lab at Duke University Medical Center, where he studied molecular cardiology under R. Sanders Williams.

When Williams went as Division Chief of Cardiology to UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Benjamin was appointed to the faculty. As an attending cardiologist, one of the first medical residents he worked with in Dallas was Dr. John Warner. Benjamin is now succeeding Warner as AHA president.

While in Dallas, Benjamin earned his first AHA grant. It came during the first research investment by the Henrietta B. and Frederick H. Bugher Foundation. The Bugher Foundation has gone on to invest more than $48 million in AHA-guided research, primarily into previously underfunded areas. Benjamin is the first Bugherfunded researcher to become AHA president. *** In 2003, Benjamin became Division Chief of Cardiology at the University of Utah. Patients, research, advancing an academic mission – this job had it all. In 2009, he received a crowning achievement in his research portfolio, a $2.5 million Pioneer Award from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

The grant proposal funded studies of how certain inherited modes of heart failure, which share similar features of neurodegenerative disorders, contribute to protein misfolding con-

ditions and the extremes of oxidative metabolic stress, termed reductive stress.

In 2013, Benjamin relocated to Milwaukee to be the Director of the Cardiovascular Center at The Medical College of Wisconsin, a role in which he continues to serve. *** Throughout Benjamin's career, he has remained committed to the mission of the AHA to improve cardiovascular health while reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease and stroke in all communities.

It started in Dallas, mostly with scientific work such as a peer-review committee. He's gone on to chair the Scientific Publishing Committee, the International Committee and the Research Committee. He's on the editorial board of many of the AHA's top publications, including Circulation and a founding member on the board of the Journal of American Heart Association.

“I just did what was the natural fit for me,” he said.

When it was time to pick Warner's successor, the AHA's leaders naturally felt Benjamin would be an excellent president.

“I am a very blessed human being to be in this space,” he said. “I do not take it for granted.”

Benjamin credits his family as a key source of pride and stability.

He's been married to his wife, Carol Benjamin, for 30 years. They have two sons and a daughter. Their oldest son, Lawrence Benjamin, is a resident in internal medicine; their other son, Alexander Benjamin, is in hospital administration; and their daughter, Charis Benjamin, is pursuing graduate studies in Maternal Health and Biostatistics.

One of Dr. Benjamin's fondest memories was when he took his children to Guyana to explore where he grew up. While on this trip, he shared stories and lessons, and showed his children the family's roots.

A lesson he passed on to the next generation was a line he heard many times from his father, one penned by the German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: “Choose well, son, for your choice is brief, and yet endless.”

Benjamin considers the line a call to action – a challenge to make his world, and the world at large, a better place.

It's a responsibility he's eager to take on as AHA president, a role he's essentially been preparing for his entire life. (news.heart.org)

Sunday July 08, 2018

PAGE 59

Kaieteur News

Fuel truck driver dies after Lethem trail “explosion”

STANDARDS IN FOCUS

A focus on standardisation at the level of the CARICOM region - Family suspects foul play Global trade agreements [such as the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)] between the countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the European Union (EU)), are guided by Agreements of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Most Member States (MSs) of CARICOM are signatories to the WTO Agreements. Membership of the WTO obliges adherence to the Multilateral Agreements including the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), which are aimed at reducing the incidence of standards and regulations being used as barriers to trade.

-The realities and priorities in the Caribbean are different from those that obtain in the developed world. -The relatively small size of Caribbean economies obliges the region to respond to the needs of the international market through functional cooperation including the sharing of critical services and joint undertaking of key activities, which would enable them to reduce costs, and at the same time meet the necessary quality infrastructure (QI) requirements.

National Standards Bodies (NSBs) such as the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) and the Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o Bureau of Standards (TTBS) develop and promote standards at the national level. Through Regional projects NSBs are being supported to implement the components

of an internationallyrecognised quality infrastructure (QI) for Standardisation, Conformity Assessment (including Accreditation) and Metrology, in order to contribute to satisfying global demands.

These components of QI, necessary for bilateral and multilateral trade, are particularly important for developing countries like those in the Caribbean that need to build and grow their production sectors. They also provide vital competitive advantage to the local businesses and firms.

Standards and Technical Regulations fall under Chapter Four of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, specifically Part Three, which addresses Common Supportive Measures. Article 67 requires that the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), in collaboration with competent agencies, develop a standardization programme consistent with the international obligations of the Member States.

The programme objectives include trade facilitation, enhanced efficiency in the production and delivery of goods and services; improved quality of goods and services traded within the Community and with third States; and consumer and environmental protection.

CARICOM Member States established the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) under Article 67 that was signed by the Heads of Government of CARICOM on 5 July 2001. CROSQ, as the Regional Standards Body, was established to

facilitate implementation of the Standardisation programme and assist the Member States in understanding and fulfilling their obligations under this Treaty of Chaguaramas and other international agreements.

CROSQ also promotes the development of national standards bodies in the Member States; and facilitate access to technical assistance available in the Member States and outside the Region.

To date, GNBS as an NSB has supported the development and adoption of more than forty regional standards.

These standards primarily relate to agriculture and consumer products. These regional standards are adopted nationally and are being used in industry to improve the products manufactured; making these products readily acceptable on the regional market. In addition, at the regional level, significant focus is being placed on Energy Efficiency; and with this in mind, projects are being undertaken to develop and implement a Regional Energy Efficiency Building Code.

This Code aims guide the construction of new and existing building with designs and materials that minimize the use of energy.

Further, regional standards for the monitoring and use of Energy efficient appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, and AC units entering the Region are being developed. This is to facilitate the purchase and use of appliances with good energy star ratings in the Region.

Jagdeo has no moral authority to...

From page 15 “He should be more concerned that if the government of the day is to look into his affairs and his acts of corruption during his tenure then he would be behind bars.

“In particular, investigations should be done into the giving away of the bauxite assets in Kwakwani, the giving away of over 100 acres of land to his friend at Liliendaal at below market price.”

Badal continued, “He gave another friend the Sanata Textile property at a fraction of its value; he gave away Duke Lodge to another friend for just over $100M after the government spent over $90M on the property.

“Then there is the selling

of an additional 30 percent of GPC shares to the Ramroop Group at below market value and without any tender.”

This same group was given billions of dollars in contracts at prices more than four times its cost under a sole sourcing arrangement.

Badal said that the train of corrupt deals also included 10 acres to MovieTowne below market value and without a transparent process, and land to himself and friends at Pradoville 2.

Further, the businessman said that Jagdeo needs to account for the transfer of 30 percent shares in GT&T without receiving full payment.

“US$5M is still outstand-

ing. This is fraud…His obsession prompted him to spend US$60M of taxpayers’ money on the Marriott Hotel and then hatched a plot for his nominee to buy its shares for US$8M. Each of these transactions was directed by him and executed by his cohorts Winston Brassington and the former Finance Minister. In other countries, former presidents and public officials are convicted for a fraction of these corrupt acts.

“If the Coalition Government were serious in investigating these transactions, the former President would have suffered the same fate as the former Prime Minister of Malaysia,” said Badal.

A father of two who sustained third degrees burns about his body after a fuel truck exploded in Lethem succumbed on Friday, at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

Shawlin Shaw Ally, 37, also known as ‘Impty,’ sustained third degree burns to sixty percent of his body.

According to doctors, he only stood a 15 percent chance of surviving.

Kaieteur News understands that Ally who has been a driver for close to a decade, and resides in Lethem, reportedly sustained severe injuries during his attempt to transfer fuel from one truck to another via a hose on June 26.

The injured man was brought to the City hospital the following Sunday and remained in the Intensive Care unit (ICU) on life support up until his demise.

It was previously reported that one of the fuel tucks exploded after turning on its side due to the deteriorating conditions between the Mabura and the Kurupukari Crossing.

There were also unconfirmed reports that the fuel ignited as one worker was smoking. However, there are conflicting reports surrounding what transpired.

In fact, Ally’s family

suspects foul play. The family said they were told that the explosion occurred on July 1.

According to the dead man’s sister, Bibi Ally, little information is being provided to the family about the incident. The woman said that she received information that her brother was still conscious after the explosion.

She is now wondering why her brother was admitted to the ICU. The sister claimed that her brother was not severely burnt after the explosions from photographs sent to her.

Bibi alleges that she received information that her brother was set on fire by a man (name given), after the explosion.

The grieving woman added that she also received information that her brother was heard hollering, ‘Shoot me! Shoot me! You done burn me alive,” to the said man.

When asked if her brother had any problems with anyone on the area, Bibi said she was not aware.

The dead man’s brother, Zamman Ally, related that this was the first time his brother met with such an incident.

Zamman recalled that he visited his brother last week Monday at the hospital where he met with a man who showed him several pictures of the state his brother was in

DEAD: Shawlin Shaw Ally after the explosion. One photograph showed him with relatively minor burns and nothing as extensive as what he displayed in hospital..

The family is appealing to the police to launch a probe.

They are also calling on members of the public who may have information about the explosion to contact the nearest police station.

In a video purporting to capture the explosion, a truck was seen laden with what appeared to be fuel containers with another truck alongside it. From the video, it was unclear to assume what that truck was carrying.

However, after the truck turned on its side, a liquid spilled.

Shawlin Shaw Ally’s wife is currently pregnant.

PAGE 60

Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur News

CONSUMER CONCERNS

IMPROVING THE EDUCATION SYSTEM

By PAT DIAL

Some two weeks ago, the Minister of Finance addressed the officers of the various Departments of Government who are responsible for making the departmental budgets, which will eventually be part of the National Budget to be presented to Parliament for its approval.

Each of these departmental budgets will be discussed in detail by the Ministry of Finance so as to eliminate all imperfections.

In his address, the Minister outlined the main policies and requirements, which budget officers will have to take into account. When he came to the Education Sector, he mentioned that 17.2% of budgetary allocations was spent on that sector and questioned whether the Government and people of Guyana were receiving value for the money spent.

He rhetorically asked, “Why with the increasing allocations to Education less than 50% of our children pass Maths and English at the CXC Examinations?” In other words, he was indicating that the imperfections in the Education Sector could not be attributed to lack of money. He was referring particularly to primary and secondary education.

The Minister was reflecting the sentiments of the majority of parents who feel that the school system- both primary and secondary - was shortchanging their children.

This feeling is exacerbated when the conditions and results of the private schools are compared with the Government-run schools and when the children who attend Government schools who receive private lessons do better than their classmates. Most parents cannot afford the cost of such private

lessons.

It is generally felt that children attending Government schools have their abilities stultified except they receive help outside the school system. Many people now tend to hark back at the pre-Independence Education system and claim that what obtained then was better than the present.

When Independence came, local politicians and educational personnel assumed full responsibility for the education system and in a short time effectuated three fundamental reforms, which could not be faulted.

The first reform was the extension of the education system to be all-inclusive. This was very evident in the extension of secondary education where all children could now have post-primary education, not necessarily of the traditional grammar school type: the second was to exorcise all elitism, especially, class from the system; and the third was that technical education would be expanded.

These reforms were in consonance with modern education theory except that the planners did not factor in the quality of education. And the quality of education was largely dependent upon the quality of teachers. It was the absence of emphasis on the quality of education, which was the Achilles heel of the system.

By comparing the pre and post Independence syllabuses and teaching methods, we may begin to discern the ways of raising the quality of the education now provided.

In the primary schools, English grammar, spelling and reading were vigorously taught, and in Arithmetic, the four rules as well as the

addition and multiplication tables were drilled into the children. Children were encouraged to read the Fairy Tales, Greek Mythology and children’s books and were encouraged to use the school libraries and the public library facilities.

Children climaxed their primary school career by doing the Primary School Certificate examination, the results of which were gazetted and accepted by employers.

The opportunities for all primary school children to receive secondary education were limited but those children who attended secondary school always did well in English and Math because of their primary school foundation.

There were only three Government secondary schools but they were well endowed, especially with their staff who almost all held degrees from English universities. The other tier of secondary schools was the private ones, which tended to use Queen’s College as their model but they concentrated on their pupils passing the English secondary schools examinations and had less stress on extra-curricular activity.

Private lessons in both primary and secondary schools never existed and the pupils performed better than they do today.

Games, especially cricket and football and to some extent hockey for girls were played.

Clubs such as debating and drama existed

in almost all secondary schools. Children were encouraged to read the classical novels and a foreign language, usually French or Spanish was obligatory.

At this point, we have reached the prescribed limit of this offering and so we will briefly summarize the main lessons from the past, which may better our present system: Firstly, after-school private lessons should be strictly forbidden; the responsibility of teachers to teach their charges during school hours would be evident.

Second, the authorities as well as the parents should be more cognizant of the performance of the teachers as much as they are concerned with the performance of children. Third, if basic English grammar and Arithmetic had not been properly taught at the primary level, then all secondary schools should have remedial classes in these subjects.

Fourth, outdoor games or membership of the Cadet Corps should be compulsory. Fifth, clubs such as debating, drama and science should be encouraged. Sixth, form teachers should be in contact with parents of each child in their classes, especially if a child is absent for two days.

Seventh, the computer should be used as a teaching and learning tool. Eighthly, reading, especially of the classics and current affairs should be encouraged.

CANU nabs 19-year-old female coke swallower

Just four days after a mother of two tried to board a plane with cocaine pellets in her stomach, a 19-year-old female has been nabbed while attempting a similar ruse.

A release from the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) said that the teen was arrested on Friday while she was an outgoing passenger on Flight BW 526 destined for JFK International Airport.

She was escorted to a city hospital and has since excreted 44 pellets suspected to contain cocaine. She remains hospitalized and under observation.

“This interdiction then led to a CANU Operation at a location on East Coast Demerara last evening where some 279 suspected cocaine filled pellets were seized.

Three persons were arrested.

Two suspects remain at large,” the release stated.

Mom gets three years for cocaine at CJIA. Last Friday, Natasha Blair, 37, a cosmetologist, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for attempting to smuggle a quantity of cocaine via the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, (CJIA) Timehri.

She was arrested on Monday.

Blair, of 92 Grove/ Diamond, East Bank Demerara, had admitted to ingesting and inserting a total of 532 grams of cocaine.

When she appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown

— secures 279 pellets, arrests two following East Coast raid

The seized cocaine pellets.

Magistrates’ Court, Blair, a mother of two, stated, “I’m very sorry for what I did and I’m sorry for putting my children and family through this. I did it to provide for my children.”

According to the allegation, on July 2, last at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, she attempted to smuggle cocaine pellets, which she ingested and inserted in her vagina. She was intending to board a flight bound for New York.

Blair, who was travelling with an 11-month old baby was scheduled to board Caribbean Airlines flight BW726 destined for John F. Kennedy International Airport.

It was reported that when Blair checked in her luggage at Caribbean Airline counter,

a CANU rank acting on information, approached her and informed her of his suspicion that she had ingested and inserted narcotics.

Blair was cautioned and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where an x-ray was conducted. It revealed foreign objects in her stomach and pelvic area.

The prosecutor told the court that the woman was admitted at the institution and during the period of July 2 and July 4, she excreted 32 pellets.

It was disclosed that the pellets found in the woman stomach weighed 322 grams while the object in her pelvic area weighed 210 grams.

The prosecutor added that while at the hospital, the woman made several oral Continued on page 61

Sunday July 08, 2018

PAGE 61

Kaieteur News

CANU nabs 19-year-old female...

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From page 60 statements indicating that she was trafficking the narcotics to take care of her two young children.

Sandiford went on to tell the court that based on additional information received from the woman, further investigation into the matter is ongoing.

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PAGE 62

Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur News

$2.2B farming projects for 60 indigenous communities Sixty indigenous communities in Region Nine and Region One (Barima-Waini) will benefit from the implementation of a US$11.1M Hinterland Environmentally Sustainable Agricultural Development (HESAD) programme.

The project targets some 30,000 residents from 4,500 poor households; 30 percent youth, 50 percent women.

Project Manager, Allan John Woolford, explained that all the villages and communities in Region Nine are eligible to benefit from the project as well as Mabaruma and Moruca in Region One. He was speaking at the recently concluded Regional Toshaos’ Conference held at the Indigenous Conference Hall, Region Nine.

Woolford, according to a government release, said that consultations on the project have already started at the regional level, and a Regional Management Committee (RMC) chaired by Regional Chairman, Brian Allicock has been established.

Two representatives from the beneficiaries, along with representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture, Indig-

- 4,500 households targeted enous Peoples’ Affairs, Natural Resources, Business, Public Health and Social Protection are also part of the committee.

Woolford said the project will initially focus on the North Rupununi in order to capitalise on the government’s efforts to exploit the agricultural potential of the area, but will also be conducted in Central and South Rupununi - areas most affected by climate change.

The programme will be implemented in phases.

Phase One involves the strengthening of the community and producer groups community production development plans for Region Nine; implementation of investment plans - investment fund, public and common goods and services and producer groups; and project & knowledge management and coordination - monitoring & evaluation of the implementation in each community and linkages.

Woolford added that support will be given income gen-

erating ventures such as cassava processing, cattle rearing and eco-tourism among others.

It will also finance water, renewable energy and internet access.

Last year, the Government of Guyana and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) signed a US$11.1 Million agreement to boost small-scale farming in hinterland communities.

IFAD is providing a US$7.9 Million loan and a US$500,000 grant, while the government is investing US$2.4 Million into the project. The beneficiaries will also be contributing US$300,000.

The project will also facilitate increased access to assets that build community resilience and create enabling productive environments such as water, energy and ICT and ensure that poor, indigenous and non-indigenous rural households living in the project area, whose livelihoods are threatened by economic and environmental risks, are direct beneficiaries.

Private sector bodies mount pressure for fuel price reduction Local businesses are piling pressure on Government to reduce fuel prices.

“Fuel prices have being constantly increasing over the past few weeks. In the past when there was a reduction in crude oil market price to US$44 per barrel in 2015, Government intervened to slash the retail price per litre from $219 to $153. However, although the world market price dipped below US $30 per barrel in 2016, the retail price per litre at the state owned pumps was $190 which was then reduced to $170 due to advocacy by the private sector for Government to intervene,” a joint statement from the Private Sector Commission, the Georgetown Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association said Friday.

According to the busi-

ness advocacy bodies, as the world market price for oil recovers, the local private sector has noted similar increases at retail outlets per litre of gasoline and diesel; from $180 in June 2016 to $230 more recently in July 2018.

“While this is commensurate with the rising price of oil on the world market, there are ways in which our Government could stem the impact of the price increase on the local economy, in order to manage the foreseeable uptick in inflation and reduced economic activity. There is much that could be done by adjusting the excise tax so that businesses could remain competitive.”

They said that as consumers, there are economic implications of higher oil prices.

“When gasoline prices increase, a larger share of households’ income is likely

to be spent on it, which leaves less to be spent on other goods and services. The same goes for businesses, whose goods must be shipped from place to place.

The manufacturing sector that uses diesel and Bunker C for self-generation of power and steam are finding it difficult to cope with the increased cost as it has a negative impact on profits. The alternative is to increase prices of goods produced, which is difficult to do in a competitive market.”

The bodies noted that on the commercial side, fuel costs account for a significant part of overall operational costs in distribution and transportation businesses.

“We, therefore call upon our Government to intervene and adjust excise taxes to reduce the fuel price and negate the harmful impact on Guyana’s economy.”

Sunday July 08, 2018

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Operators hike sand prices by as much as 100 percent Sandpits have announced a 100 percent increase in prices from tomorrow.

The notice at one of the sand pits on the increase.

Minister Simona Broomes.

O

perators on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, East Bank Demerara, have announced a major hike in the price for sand from tomorrow.

However, it appears that the hike would be raising

some eyebrows.According to a notice at one of the sandpits, from tomorrow, the price for loading the Twin Steering trucks will be $5,000; trucks with Double Axle to be $4,000; Single Axle (large)$3,000 and with Single Axle truck (small) for $2,000.

That is about 100 percent increase for each category.

The notice said that the new rates are effective tomorrow.Under arrangements, the sand-pit operations are regulated by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

Operators before being issued licences must submit mining plans.In return, the

sandpit pays $15 in royalties to GGMC for every tonne of sand mined.

Yesterday, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, disclosed that she is unaware of the increases as she only returned into the country a few hours earlier.

She was also unaware that there were any changes to the royalties of $15 per tonne, which she admitted is low and is now being reviewed.

She said that she cannot speak for truckers who have signaled intentions to protest tomorrow.However, it was made clear that the operators

of the sandpits have been coming under scrutiny in recent times. A number of them were exporting sand.

When GGMC checked their records, it was found the royalties were not paid over.

One operator owed more than $50M in royalties. Many of them were not paying their royalties.

Under regulations, GGMC officials are supposed to carry out audit checks every three months to check records.

However, according to Broomes, over time, it was found that a few operators were even mining near roadways, undermining the

foundation.The Minister said that intolerable situation appeared to have been happening a while now with this administration inheriting it and is now attempting to correct it.Yesterday, several truck drivers agreed that it could be a case that the sandpit operators are taking advantage.

“We have to bear the burden with tyres and maintenance.

They are paying GGMC less than $50 for a tonne. They are making money.

We have to pay fuel prices, which have gone up and we barely cut it. We can only pass the sand prices to our customers.”

A number of sandpit operators when contacted confirmed that indeed the prices are to be raised.

“We also have to deal with fuel increase and maintenance of equipment. What do we do? ” One operator asked.With the construction sector in swing, the demand for sand has been good business.

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NY-based company sole sourced in $366M drug contract There are questions over a $350M-plus drug contract last year to a New York-based company.

The contract, valued at US$1,789,886.15 ($366,926,660.80) was awarded on sole sourcing to a company called HDM Labs Inc. While there is nothing much wrong with the award of contracts, there seems to be many question marks over this particular one.

HDM Labs, according to sources at the Ministry of Health, apparently had little or no experience in supplying pharmaceuticals to the Ministry of Health.

In fact, HDM Labs beat out a number of experienced suppliersAnsa McAl Limited, International Pharmaceutical Agency, Global Healthcare Supplies Inc., Caribbean Medical Supplies and Meditron Inc. From indications, the contract was hurried through in a matter of days.

According to documents of the Ministry of Health seen by Kaieteur News, on June 19, 2017, Permanent Secretary Collette Adams, wrote Berkley Wickham, Chairman of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB),

Ministry of Finance compound, asking for sole sourcing approval.

Under the rules, sole sourcing must meet criteria that the items are emergency in nature and that only that one company has the possibilities of supplying.

The Permanent Secretary disclosed that the approval for sole sourcing was necessary to allow for the procurement of pharmaceutical supplies that were omitted from the major tender of 2017.

The letter, while not explaining the omission, sought approval for HDM to be awarded.

The Permanent Secretary, in her justifications of the choice of HDM, said that the US-based company has “great capacity” in delivering supplies within two weeks to the Ministry and that it was recognized as an efficient supplier countrywide.

She said that the company has pharmaceutical supplies registered with the Food and Drugs Department in both Guyana and the US; it has its own broker to expedite consignments.

“Based on experience HDM Labs Inc. has supplied pharmaceuticals to Georgetown

-major local suppliers disqualified

PS Collette Adams Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) using all Standard Operation Procedure.”

Adams said that the reason for the sole sourcing was because the “Ministry of Public Health had a

Police tell home invasion ...

From page 13 the front gate leaving a toolbox and a crow bar behind.

Meanwhile, the police who arrived on the scene shortly after the men escaped, a female rank took Kowsilla and her niece in the upper flat and questioned them.

It was while the nine-yearold was recounting the events that she broke down in tears.

Before the police left, they requested a contact number for them and the child answered and gave the number.

According to the family, the female rank who questioned them earlier shouted towards the child, “When you fa talk upstairs, you dont know but now you know the number”.

This is according to the 39year-old woman. She also added that the police also told her “this story ain’t sound real”.

They subsequently left and returned some three hours later and began to search their home and questioned them on how they acquired that amount of money that was alleged to be stolen. “…Dem come and ask me, where me get alla that money

HDM’s Chief, Dr. Hardatt Singh restrictive tendering process done which was opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board dated the 23rd May, 2017. An evaluation report was prepared and none of the bidders

were qualified to be awarded a contract.”

One day after writing NPTAB, the Ministry on June 20, 2017 wrote HDM Labs Inc, informing a Mr. Singh that his company has been awarded the contract.

HDM address was given as 153 Kingston Blvd, Island Park, New York 11558.

HDM’s principal is listed online as a Dr. Hardatt Singh who is said to the President and CEO of HDM. The issue of drug contracts and their awards has been a burning one over the years with billions of dollars involved and accusations of significant wrongdoings.

There were supposed to be overhauls by the Coalition Government with Minister of Health Volda Lawrence recently reading the riot act recently to staffers warning that she is calling in the police and state auditors.

Dr. Singh’s name had surfaced in 2016 in relations to a $400M-plus fertilizer contract with Government.

Bus catches afire on Highway

Guyana Fire Service at the scene

The window through which the bandits entered. from and me tell dem that my mother send money for me from overseas fuh buy plane ticket. And then dem ask me fuh me receipts dem fuh show that me collect the money”.

The family is expressing disgust at the manner in which

the police acted and felt as though they were being treated as suspects rather than the victims. “They didn’t even tell us why they searching we place. Dem come and ransack the barrel and so”.

A Pit-bull minibus caught afire on the, Soesdyke-Linden Highway recently after developing mechanical problems in the vicinity of the Hararauni Village.

The minibus caught afire around 07:00 hrs.

Villagers became aware of what was going on after hearing loud explosions like gunshots.

Witnesses claimed seeing a man running through the bushes, away from the minibus, after hearing the loud explosions. When asked what had happened, individuals from the Vil-

lage of Hararauni were told that the man who was running had actually attempted to take out photos of the bus on fire, but after the tyres of the bus started to explode the man thought he was hearing gunshots, and started to run.

In one villager’s words, “The man bruk out through the bush.” The fire service was called in and was able to douse the blaze, but by that time, the bus had already been consumed by fire.

Millions in drugs disbursed...

From page 8 some documents that they have not found, and they have to get it from the Accounting Department which is understaffed.

You understand the complications there. “We are consistently working to ensure that they bring this matter to closure so that they would be able to show how the monies were spent and the cost for each item that they paid for it.”

The Public Health Minister stated that another matter that is complicating the accounting process is that accounting officers in the region submit their warrants late in the year, but they start receiving supplies from January 1.

Additionally, she noted that the regions were responsible for the purchase of computers which would be connected to the Ministry. So far, only Regions Five and Six have done so.

“Some of the regions accounting officers are saying that they didn’t know that they had to buy this computer, but we are working now to have that connectivity. I believe that once we get that up and running that we will find that the system is very friendly and that the type of information and data that the system can give out will be able to eliminate this issue that we have,” Lawrence outlined.

Sunday July 08, 2018

Kaieteur News

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$40.00

Sunday July 08, 2018

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Semi-finalists decided after... Hamilton Ian Alleyne’s brace... rises to...

From page 68 Odoyo Harris’ 30th minute strike was enough to draw the game level and set up a mouth-watering remainder of the game.

It would take Orlando Sickie’s 46th minute strike to send the North side through.

Game three was a high scoring fixture where Chase Academy beat Vergenoegen 5-3.

While it was Vergenoegen who opened the scoring in the first minute through Timothy Duggan, Chase took a while before the response came. When it did come, it was Brandon Solomon in the 33rd that brought things level before Jaheel Alcindor gifted Chase the lead for the first time in the 44th.

Clinton Jones would bring the West Demerara side level in the 50th and a minute later,

Nashawn Livan would put Vergenoegen in the lead again. Seon Cato would level it up for Chase in the 53rd before Kevin Mullin restored Chase’s lead in the 60th and Cato completed his hat-trick and the team’s fifth in the 62nd.

Buxton also featured in a high scoring result against Dolphin, winning 6-1. A hattrick from Tyrice Dennis (12th, 18th and 40th) was the dominating force for Buxton with Olashi Primo (23rd), Samuel Garnett (31st) and Akiem Gaime (48th) being the supporting cast. Dolphin had Jaquan Cole (45th) on target for them.

In the ladies round robin, Dolphin lost 3-2 to South Ruimveldt after Latesha Sutherland’s double (10th and 44th) and Amanda McKenzie (19th) lead the way.

Dolphin had Kezia Parkinson (30th) and Naiomi Williams (35th).

New Campbellville needled Tucville 1-0 as Alicia Maynard was the decider in the 28th while East Ruimveldt got the better of Tucville 2-0 thanks to Gilana King (28th) and Tamara Mendonca (35th).

Charlestown registered the biggest win in the female category with a 4-0 drubbing of Uitvlugt.

Tynesha Thorne (10th), Donna Lowe (19th), Annera Alim (24th) and Akilah Koster (39th) each scored once.

The tournament, which is also sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health and Demerara Distillers Limited through its Pepsi Brand will continue next weekend at the Ministry of Education ground.

Sunday July 08, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You might come across strong opposition today from someone who seems to want to cut straight through to your heart, Aries.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Act on your instincts today, and you won't go wrong.

You may need to give up a bit of control and put logical thinking aside for the day.

Let the wind take you where it wants you to go.

GEMINI(May 21–June 20) Today you'll find that you're the missing puzzle piece that people need in every situation, Gemini.

Engage in light conversation in social arenas and feel free to turn your charm up full blast.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may find that people want to do a great deal of talking but not a great deal of feeling today, Cancer.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) It's important for you to take action on a day like today, Libra. Trust yourself and your instincts.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You might find yourself a bit unfocused and confused about which way to go, Scorpio. The baffled look on your face isn't helping anyone else figure out how to help you.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) It's important for you to get outside and feel the wind blowing, Sagittarius.

Reconnect with nature and be aware of the four elements.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Make practical use of the thoughts you have synthesized over the last few days, Capricorn.

Stretch your boundaries and extend your wisdom to the people around you.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You should be able to evaluate your emotions from a very neutral, detached perspective today, Leo. Use this opportunity to take action based on what you feel.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) This is an important day for you to make valuable connections with others, Aquarius. You'll find yourself engaged in fastpaced, witty conversations and debates from which you can learn a great deal.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) If you're talking about another person today, Virgo, make sure you aren't saying anything that would be upsetting if they were standing right there.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) It could be hard for you to get a handle on things today, Pisces, as your focus seems to jump from one subject to the next without finding resolution for any.

From page 69 adrenaline rush was way above the limit that I had experienced before.”

The pole was the 76th of Hamilton’s career, with every one adding to the record he already holds, and fourth in a row at Silverstone.

He was also on pole in 2007 with McLaren and 2013.

The four-times world champion, Britain’s most successful driver of all time, is chasing a record sixth home win on Sunday to become the first driver to win five in a row at the circuit that hosted the first championship race in 1950.

He currently shares the record of five British wins with late compatriot Jim Clark and France’s four-times champion Alain Prost.

It had looked, however, as if Vettel was going to deny him the top slot.

The German was 57 thousandths of a second quicker after their first laps and Hamilton knew he needed to do something special.

“The first lap was pretty good, and then I saw that I’d dropped to second. Obviously, that naturally just adds a little bit more pressure,” he said.

“Because you know that he’s going to improve again, so I’ve got to improve the same and a bit more. To push over the limit just a little bit more, without losing it, is one of the toughest positions to put the car.”

Victory today will see Hamilton reclaim the overall lead from Vettel, who has a one point advantage after nine races.

Hand-inHand...

From page 72 member team, Cayman Islands, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago have confirmed.

Director of Hand-in-Hand Insurance and Manager of Fire, Howard Cox, spoke of the success of the boxers over the years and the need for them to have continued support.

“The amateurs are the nursery of boxing and I’m very pleased [the] tournament has been started again. This is a vital tournament not only for Guyana, but also for the Caribbean because our boxers need a lot more exposure,” Cox contended.

The GBA has already begun preparations for the title defence by hosting competitions every fortnight at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis gym.

From page 72 get on the scoresheet when he fired home just three minutes before stoppage time.

West Coast Demerara based Den Amstel FC, in their home territory, added to the woes of defending league champions, Guyana Defence Force Football Club (GDF FC) with a 3-0 trouncing. After a relatively stiff first half, Den Amstel managed to score all of their goals during the second period of play.

Gideon Payne netted first in the 48th before national forward Delon Lanferman successfully converted a penalty kick in

the 83rd. Kevaughn Ward then joined the party with an 87th minute strike as GDF FC were pressing hard, looking for a goal.

More league action is set for this evening with a triple head at the NTFC at Leonora. In the first match which will be played between Ann’s Grove and Buxton in an all-East Coast affair from 16:00hrs followed

by Cougars versus Den Amstel at 18:00hrs and Milerock against Western Tigers at 20:00hrs.

Admission to the venue is $500, women and children under 12 years are free.

(Calvin Chapman)

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GTT on board with Malteenoes Froome loses big on tough - National Coaches to be Cricket Academy complemented by NSC Coaches day for Tour top guns The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) is the largest provider of telecommunication services in Guyana with wireless, Telephone and Internet services.

On Friday at its Head office in Brickdam Georgetown, under the ‘More Love’ tagline, GTT joined the list of Companies and Business entities supporting this year’s two-week Malteenoes Cricket Academy.

TheTelephone giants donated Water bottles for every student at the Academy and the Coaches.

“As part of our programme the youths would be encouraged to promote a “Green Economy” through presentations by resource personnel. The presentation would aim at informing them of the impact derived from the process of recycling,” said Deborah McNicol as she thanked GTT for their contribution.

The Academy starts on July 23 and carters for students between the ages of 618 who will be divided into two groups.

The Academy runs from 09:00hrs to 15:00hrs with Lunch provided from 12:00hrs to 13:00hrs each day. Regis-

GTT’s Marketing Executive Tahndra Inniss (right) hands over the Water bottles to Deborah McNicol. tration fee is $3,000 and forms can be uplifted at the Club and the deadline for registration is July 20.

The Academy includes class room and field work which will provide the youngsters the tools to become Cricketers, Umpires, Scorers, Journalists, Commentators and more importantly well rounded and disciplined individuals. Facilitators will talk on Education, Social Skills, Health and Hygiene, Etiquette, Child Protection, Laws and History of Cricket, Umpiring and Scoring.

Director of Sports Christopher Jones will provide two National Sports Commission (NSC) Coaches to work along with the two full Coaches at the Academy.

National Youth Coach Orin Bailey is one of the full time Coaches, while sessions will be conducted by National Head Coach Esuan Crandon, former Malteenoes and West Indies Test pacer Colin Stuart and former Test off-spinner Clyde Butts, while several other Coaches will also be involved during the course of the two weeks.

RHTY&SC/Republic Bank Holiday Camp, 28th Cricket Academy bowls off tomorrow The popular Area ‘H’ Ground in Rose Hall Town would be a hive of activities from tomorrow as Guyana’s leading Youth and Sports Organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS hosts two of its major annual activities. The Club along with its ten cricket teams would be hosting the 11th Edition of the Republic Bank Educational Holiday Camp and the 28th Annual Cricket Academy. The Cricket Academy would be conducted by Level III Coach Winston Smith with support from National Player Eon Hooper and a panel of Pre-Level One Coaches.

Eighteen years old Simon Naidu, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Asst Secretary would serve as the Academy Director with Asst Organising Secretary Ravindra Nauth Kissoonlall as his Deputy. The Academy would be catering for about 60 to 80 youths between the ages of 8 to 18 years. Special emphasis would be placed on batting, bowling, wicketkeeping, fielding and physical fitness. Members of the Academy would also be involved in a series of lectures to be done by long serving Secretary/CEO of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, Hilbert Foster and a panel of experienced personnel.

Topics to be covered include Laws of Cricket, History of Cricket, Personal Hygiene, Public Manners, Table Manners, Roles of a Sports Ambassador and Team Leadership.

Among the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Members who would be attending the Camp are national players Jonathan

Rampersaud, Jeremy Sandian, Mahendra Gopilall, Kevin Sinclair, Junior Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Marian Samaroo and Uma Matadin. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club is also extending invitation to other Clubs to send their promising players to the Academy as the main objective is to strengthen Cricket in Berbice.

The Republic Bank Holiday Camp would be supervised by a battery of experienced educators with University of Guyana graduate Damon Vantull serving as Camp Director.

The Camp caters for Grade Six Students preparing for Secondary Schools in September with the main objective of assisting them to make a successful transition from the Primary to Secondary level. Students would be taught Mathematics, English A, English B, Social Studies, Integrate Science, Agricultural Science, Information Technology and Physical Education.

The programme would also feature presentations from a lawyer, Police Commander, Pilot, University of Guyana Academic Advisor, Medical Doctor and an Army Coronel on Career choices. Lectures would also be conducted on a wide range of topics of interest including Peer Pressure, Choosing Friends, Classroom Manners and Importance of Education. Outstanding members of both the Cricket Academy and Camp would be rewarded with Educational materials, trophies, medals and special gifts. Interest parents can call 3374562 for additional information.

FONTENAY-LE-COMTE, France (Reuters) - It was supposed to be a relatively quiet day for the overall contenders on the Tour de France, but defending champion Chris Froome and other big guns lost significant ground in a nervy finale to yesterday’s opening stage.

The Team Sky rider escaped unhurt from a fall but he is already in a chasing position as his main rival, France’s Romain Bardet, ended the 201-kilometre ride from Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile safe in the main bunch.

Froome went over a safety rail and onto the grass with five kilometers to go and even though he quickly got back on his bike, he could not make it back to the peloton and finished 51 seconds off the pace.

Australian Richie Porte faces a similar deficit after being held up behind a pileup and it was even worse for twice runner-up Nairo Quintana as the Colombian lost one minute 15 seconds after suffering a puncture 3.5km from the finish.

“There were a lot of crashes out there today just one of those things,” Froome, who is looking to become the first rider in 20 years to achieve the Giro d’Italia-Tour double, told reporters.

“We always knew the first few days were going to be tricky, sketchy and that’s part of the game unfortunately.

“We were riding in the top third of the peloton, there was not much more the guys could have done it was getting chaotic with the sprinters’ teams, but that’s bike racing.

“I’m just grateful I’m not hurt or injured in any way.”

At least, Froome got a regular welcome from the crowd before the start, unlike on Thursday when he was booed during the team presentation by fans upset he had been cleared of wrongdoing following a positive test

Team Sky rider Chris Froome of Britain carries his bicycle next to Lotto Soudal rider Jasper De Buyst of Belgium after his crash. (Jeff Pachoud/Pool via REUTERS) for Salbutamol in last year’s Vuelta.

“You hear boos in every football stadium every weekend,” said Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme.

“But of course we are not used to it in cycling. It’s best for everyone, including Froome’s rivals, if the atmosphere is serene.”

PHILOSOPHICAL PORTE Froome will be hoping to get some time back in Monday’s team time trial, where Sky are expected to tame most of their opponents.

His former team mate Porte, who crashed out of the Tour last year, was equally philosophical about his poor start.

“I don’t know what happened,” the BMC rider told reporters. “It’s one of those things, one minute you’re okay and next thing there is a crash in front. It’s the first day of the Tour it’s not ideal but it’s a long race.

“Guys took time today but they could lose time to-

morrow.”

According to his AG2RLa Mondiale team manager Vincent Lavenu, Bardet was all smile on the team bus.

“We knew there would be narrow roads and there would be a lot of tension,” said Lavenu. “Romain is happy, he’s got the feeling he got away with it.”

The mood was different in the Movistar camp after Quintana suffered a front wheel puncture when he hit a traffic island.

Had Quintana changed his wheel inside the threekilometre mark, he would been credited with the same time as stage winner Fernando Gaviria in accordance with the regulations.

“If he could have reached the three-kilometre mark obviously he would have done it,” said team manager Eusebio Unzue.

“Alejandro (Valverde) and Mikel (Landa) are co-leaders so it was out of the question that they would wait for him.”

ExxonMobil Under-14 Schools’ tourney

Semi-finalists decided after battling on soggy outfield St John’s College, North Ruimveldt, Chase Academy and Buxton are into the semi-finals of the inaugural ExxonMobil U-14 Schools Football tournament; boys’ division, after toiling hard during yesterday’s matches at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground.

In the first quarter-final, St. John’s College easily negotiated Marian Academy 2-0 with Dequan Bovell leading the charge with the opening goal in the 6th minute. Shem Jovis

in the 35th minute then secured the victory for the St. John’s side which will ensured they reached the semifinal round.

In the second game, North Ruimveldt were made to work for their 2-1 win against Tucville on the wet outfield that had been affected by sudden showers. Yannick Norton in the 23rd opened the scoring for the eventual winners but it would not be easy sailing.

(Continued on page 67)

Sunday July 08, 2018

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Kaieteur News

GBA School Boys & Junior Boxing C/Ships

FYF dominates as Coach Blake asks RDC’s for assistance for outof-Towns teams

The third Guyana Boxing Association’s (GBA) School Boys and Junior Boxing Championships were held yesterday at the Andrew ‘six heads’ Lewis Boxing Gym in Albouystown with the youngsters from the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) dominating the day’s Event.

FYC’s Coach Sebert Blake, who coordinated the Card, said 26 Boxers participated, adding that this was the third such Event.

“I wanted it be a truly National tournament but unfortunately the Gyms in Linden, Berbice and West Demerara could not attend although West Demerara attended the last time,” lamented Blake.

Blake feels the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) should put some type of system in place to give the youths whose parents, most times, find it very hard to make ends meet, a chance to compete in such activities.

He was pleased that four Boxers from Mabaruma participated with Adriano Wong beating Harpy Eagles Colin Williams in the first bout of a 12-match card consisting of three one-minute rounds.

The Mabaruma contingent informed that Orland ‘Pocket Rocket’ Rogers has been appointed Boxing Coach in the

The Medalists show-off their hardware after the Championships yesterday.

Hinterland by the Sports Ministry and has been doing a good job as was evident with their Boxers participation yesterday.

Other Results: Moses Crawford (FYF) who stopped Trevor Sealey of Young Achievers (YA) (60-64 lbs).

Malachi Sealey (YA) de-

feated FYF’s Michael Mansell, Wayne Castello (FYC) got the better of Dextroy Brrimo (HE) (75-79 lbs).

Sean Graham (FYF) beat Lionel Mahabir (MBG) (75-79 lbs).

Dwayne Baptiste (FYF)

defeated Gymmate Malachi Jones (99-102 lbs), Stephon McDonald (FYF) got a Walkover from Daniel Pompey (YA) (99-102 lbs).

The 15-year-old Abiola Jackman (FYF) was out-boxed by her 13-year-old sister Alesha Jackman (FYF) in an

Execibition match.

Travis Inverary (FYF) beat Joshua Hinds (HE) (110115lbs), Mark Crawford (FYF) defeated Alvin Harripersad (MBG) (110-115lbs).

Leon Moore and his FYF Gym mate Richard Howard played around in their Exhibi-

tion bout and Fitz Heywood (FYF) gained a controversial TKO verdict against MBG’s Alex Airndea, who initially did not understand what the Referee was saying but then signalled that he wanted to continue fighting in the 100-115lbs division.

(Sean Devers)

Banks GNDF Dominoes tourney Hamilton rises to the occasion set for today and next Sunday with record British GP pole

Troy Peters, Communications Manager of Banks DIH Limited hands over the sponsorship package to Gladstone George, Vice President of the GNDF in the presence of Transport Sports Club Manager Charles Greaves and team representatives.

Banks DIH Limited has teamed up with the Guyana National Dominoes Federation for a two-day Inter-Corporation tournament today and next Sunday at Transport Sports Club at Thomas Lands.

Thirty-Five teams will battle for supremacy at three hand and four hand dominoes over the two days with Banks Beer being the premier sponsor of the tournaments.

Among the teams ex-

pected to compete are GPL, GWI, Banks DIH, Ministry of Public Health, Stabroek News, GTU, Bank of Guyana, GNIC, GNSC, Guyana Defence Force, Police, Bounty Farm, Demerara Harbour Bridge, Giftland, Guyana Fire Service, Guyana Prison Service, Ministry of Public Security, and Transport and Harbour.

Vice President of the Federation Gladstone George said that Dominoes players and

supports can expect two days of exciting matches.

Banks DIH Limited Communications Manager Troy Peters said that Banks DIH Limited through its world acclaimed Banks Beer is excited to be sponsoring the two tournaments.

Starting time on both days is 14:00 hours and the Federation will also use the opportunity to raise funds for its international tournament to be held later this year.

Lewis Hamilton celebrates after qualifying in pole position alongside Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel (L) and Kimi Raikkonen (R). (REUTERS/Andrew Yates) SILVERSTONE, England (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton felt the pressure like never before yesterday and stepped up to the challenge with one of the great qualifying laps of his Formula One career for a record sixth British Grand Prix pole position.

The achievement left the Mercedes driver shaking with emotion.

“I didn’t leave anything on the table today,” he said after beating Ferrari rival and championship leader

Sebastian Vettel by 44 thousandths of a second.

That same number 44, Hamilton’s racing number, could be seen around the sunbaked circuit — with the track temperature in the 50s (Celsius) — on T-shirts and banners acclaiming a home hero who has delivered like no other in recent years.

“The lap was... I mean it was just intense,” continued the 33-year-old, who later donned an England shirt to watch them beat Sweden 2-0

and progress to the World Cup semi-finals in Russia.

“With the whole build up, with the whole intensity, with the whole spur-of-the-moment thing, knowing how close we were, for me it feels like one of the best laps that I’ve been able to produce,” he said.

“I would say it felt like the most pressurised lap I’ve ever had. And then afterwards I was just... I was shaking through the emotion, the (Continued on page 67)

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England moves into semi-finals after 2-0 win over Sweden SAMARA, Russia (Reuters) - Headers from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli fired an impressive England into the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 28 years after they eased their way to a 2-0 victory over a dogged but disappointing Sweden yesterday.

Maguire opened the scoring in the 30th minute at the Samara Arena and Alli doubled the lead after the break as Gareth Southgate’s young squad continued to defy dampened pre-tournament expectations with another confident display.

For once it was not Harry Kane who claimed the plaudits as the tournament’s top scorer was kept quiet, but England found another hero at the other end of the pitch as Jordan Pickford produced three superb saves to shut out the workmanlike Swedes.

Croatia beat host Russia when they met later yesterday on penalties and are lower ranked than Gareth Southgate’s side, are all that stands between England and a first World Cup final since they lifted the trophy in 1966.

Sweden had reached the quarter-finals by making life hard for supposedly superior opponents and it was easy to

see why after a dour opening when England looked incapable of stringing passes together against their hardworking opponents.

It was predictable in many ways, therefore, that the deadlock was broken from a set piece.

BULLET HEADER England had labouredly without reward before Ashley Young lined up a corner on the left and his curled effort was met by Maguire charging forward with conviction and barging Emil Forsberg out of his way to power a header down into the net.

That was England’s eighth set-piece goal at this World Cup, but, while they are seemingly lethal from dead balls, apart from Kane they are not blessed with too many other sharp shooters.

Raheem Sterling has faced some criticism over his struggles to score for England and just before halftime his doubters were handed ammunition when he was twice left alone to bear down on Sweden keeper Robin Olsen.His blushes were saved by the linesman’s flag as he fluffed the first chance, but moments later he ran through again, this time trying to round the keeper, only

England’s Raheem Sterling in action with Sweden’s Robin Olsen. (Reuters Carlos Garcia Rawlins) to be denied once more.

England were almost made to pay straight after the interval and would have been pegged back if Pickford had not produced a top-drawer save to keep out a Berg

Guyanese team to compete at Open Fitness Challenge in Suriname today

The Guyana Cross Fit team whilst on their way to Suriname from right, Kwame McRae, Stephen Fraser, Jamie Mc Donald and Dillon Mahadeo.

Guyana will be represented today at the Open Fitness Challenge organised by Rock Cross Fit and set to take place at the Marina Resort Waterland, Paramaribo, Suriname.

Competing would be Kwame Mc Rae and Stephen Fraser, managed and coached by Jamie Mc Donald who is a Certified Coach.

Guyana’s Cross Fit champion, Dillon

Mahadeo who won the Kares Guyana Fitness Challenge this year for the third consecutive year has been invited as a Guest Judge.

Competition would take place from 10:00hrs to 18:00hrs in the RX and Scaled categories with athletes battling it out in five (5) events which would include weightlifting, gymnastics and swimming.

header.

The killer blow, however, arrived in the 59th minute as Jesse Lingard’s teasing cross into the box was met by Alli unmarked at the far post to head powerfully past Olsen.

England had not kept a clean sheet in their four previous matches and had Pickford to thank for ensuring they did not concede this time.

The keeper saved su-

perbly from Viktor Claesson before tipping a shot from Berg over the bar and that was enough to ensure Swedish hopes of reaching their first semi-final since 1994 were dashed.

Croatia end Russia’s World Cup dream on penalties SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Croatia finally ended Russia’s unlikely World Cup dream when they won 4-3 on penalties to eliminate the gallant hosts in a dramatic quarter-final which ended 2-2 after extra time yesterday.

Ivan Rakitic stroked home the winning penalty to send Croatia into a semi-final against England after Mario Fernandes dramatically equalised for Russia with five minutes of extra time remaining, only to miss a crucial kick in the shootout.

Both teams had also won on penalties in their second round matches, with Russia beating Spain, but the hosts’ marksmanship let them down this time.Fyodor Smolov saw R u s s i a ’s f i r s t p e n a l t y saved by Danijel Subasic and, although Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev saved a Mateo Kovacic kick, the hosts’ fate was sealed when Fernandes, turning from hero to villain, fired completely wide from their third attempt.

In the previous 120 minutes, Denis Cheryshev rifled Russia in front with a longrange thunderbolt, his fourth

goal of the tournament, in the 31st minute before Andrej Kramaric headed Croatia level six minutes before halftime.

Croatia then went ahead with a soft Domagoj Vida header in the eleventh minute of extra time but Russia still managed to bounce back through Fernandes.

Russia, who many feared could go out at the group stage after a dismal run over the previous two years, had already surpassed expectations by reaching the last eight, ousting Spain on the way.

“I’m very pleased at how the team played the whole World Cup, how it showed it character and worked to the maximum,” said Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov.

After a lively opening, the game dropped off, with sessions of head tennis in midfield, but it was Russia’s more rustic approach which paid off first as they went ahead out of the blue.

Cheryshev collected the ball near the halfway line, exchanged passes with Artem Dzyuba and curled a 25-metre shot past Subasic.

But slack defending al-

lowed Croatia to level eight minutes later. Mario Mandzukic ran unchallenged into the penalty area and chipped a low ball back into the centre where unmarked Kramaric scored with a glancing header.

Croatia were agonisingly close to scoring on the hour when Russia’s defence failed to clear the ball and Ivan Perisic’s shot hit the inside of the post but rebounded harmlessly across the face of the goal.

Croatia, a shadow of the team which cruised through their group with maximum points, went ahead when Vida met a corner with a weak downward header which found its way through two sets of legs and rolled into the net.

To their eternal credit, Russia hit back again when Alan Dzagoev floated a free kick into the area and Fernandes powered home a header.

“I don’t have any emotions left at all,” said Russia midfielder Roman Zobnin.

“We left everything on the field. But unfortunately it didn’t happen for us today.”

Kaieteur News

PAGE 72

Sunday July 08, 2018

Hand-in-Hand backs GBA’s Caribbean School Tournament

GFF Elite League season III

Conquerors’ Dennis Edwards (left) challenges Kings’ Nickosi Denny for possession as goal scorer Ryan Hackett (21) awaits an opportunity to assist.

Ian Alleyne’s brace guides Conquerors Amstel trounce 5-0 win over Victoria GDF-Den to add to their woes The second half of the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Elite League season three commenced on Friday evening at the National Track and Field Center (NTFC) at Leonora with a double header that saw Fruta Conquerors and Den Amstel e m e rg i n g c o m f o r t a b l e winners.

In the opening match, as expected, Fruta Conquerors shot to the top of the points table after making light work of Victoria Kings with a 5-0 drubbing of the East Coast Demerara based team.

By the end of the first half, the Tucville team were already four goals up, courtesy of a brace by skipper Eon Alleyne with

successful strikes in the 21st and 40th minutes before Dennis Edwards opened the scoring in the 3rd minute followed by Ryan Hackett doubling Conquerors’ lead in the 8th.

The second half was much quieter and Raushan Ritch was the fourth player on the Conquerors team to (Continued on page 67)

From left: Savita Singh (Business Development Officer), GBA President Steve Ninvalle, Director of Hand-in-Hand Insurance and Manager of Fire, Howard Cox and Zaida Joaquin (Human Resource Manager) pose with trophies.

Guyana will host the third edition of the Caribbean School Boys and Juniors Boxing Championships from August 17-19 and Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire and Life and Insurance Companies has come out in support of the event, which is organised by the Guyana Boxing

Association (GBA).

GBA President Steve Ninvalle, speaking at simple ceremony at the company’s Avenue of the Republic location, extended gratitude for the four trophies presented and the prompt manner in which the company extended its benevolence.

Ninvalle further noted that he foresees Guyana doing well at the championship. He added that the other countries are showing their interest as registration closed yesterday, Saturday June 7.

To date Grenada, who was the first to register with a six(Continued on page 67)

Kaieteur News

Sunday July 08, 2018

PAGE 73

EBFA / Juicy Juice U-13 League

Diamond Utd. trounce Herstelling Raiders 7-1

T

he inaugural East Bank Football Association / Juicy Juice sponsored Under-13 League kicked off yesterday at the Timehri Red Ground, East Bank Demerara with Diamond United recording the biggest win of the day, 7-1 over Herstelling Raiders.

During intermittent rain along with sunshine, the action got underway with Timehri Panthers needling new comers Hararuni Eagles after which Swan took care of business against Kuru Kururu Wa r r i o r s 3 - 0 b e f o r e Diamond United took over proceedings.

This Diamond United team, which finished last in the just concluded GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Wa t s o n U 1 5 I n t r a Association League scoring just a brace of goals in their 12 matches and conceding a huge 79, is out to prove that there are fighters and focused on development according to Head Coach Orein Angoy.

Featuring many players from that U-15 team, Diamond United went about their task in a businesslike fashion scoring in the 1st minute of play and eventually went on to win the match comfortably.

Notching up points via the walkover route were Diamond Upsetters and Samatta Point/Kaneville due to the no shows of Grove Hi Tech and Agricola Red Triangle.

Shaquan Braithwaite netted the fastest goal of the competition so far with his first minute strike for Diamond United against Herstelling Raiders.

However, it was Joel Ross who fired in the first hattrick of the league who led his side which seemed to be enjoying every moment of the action.

Ross was on target in the 5th, 19th and 42nd minutes with teammate Ronaldo Adams netting a double (14th & 35th), while the other goal came off the boot of Shakeem Welcome in the 18th minute.

Malcolm Hendricks scored Herstelling Raiders’ consolation goal in the 38th minute.

Kuru Kururu Warriors, which had edged Sawn FC, their Linden Soesdyke Highway neighbours for the 2nd place in the U-15 tournament, were hoping to

avenge their 1-0 loss in that league but were not able to do so as Swan, in their second competitive competition with the association, romped to a convincing 0-3 win.

Merphus Andrews led the way with a double, scoring in the 25th and 40th minutes; Merwin Lonke had earlier opened proceedings in the 5th minute.

Hararuni Eagles looked a good unit competing in their first competitive match in the EBFA inclusive of six females in the side, the amount, a first for any team in the association. An Omar Joseph goal in the 15th minute for Timehri was the lone strike of the match.

The matches are being officiated by new EBFA officials who were part of a recently conducted GFF Referees Programme which was the first in a proposed series of similar initiatives throughout the nation aimed at increasing the Referees pool.

The new officials were

- Swan, Timehri, Dia. Upsetters & Samatta Point KV take full points

Diamond United’s goal-scorers from right, Shakeem Welcome, Shaquan Braithwaite, Ronaldo Adams and Joel Ross.

supervised by National Female Referee, Diane Angoy who is also a product of the East Bank. Matches will continue today at the same venue form 10:00hrs.

Match Day 2 Fixtures 6. Soesdyke vs Swan 10:00hrs 7. Diamond Upsetters vs Hararuni Eagles 11:15hrs 8. Kuru Kururu Warriors vs Timehri Panthers 12:15hrs 9. Samatta Point/Kaneville vs Grove Hi Tech 13:15hrs 10. Herstelling Raiders vs Agricola 14:15hrs

rt o p S

Croatia end Russia’s World Cup dream on penalties P. 68

Croatia players celebrate winning the penalty shootout. (REUTERS/Christian Hartmann)

EBFA / Juicy Juice U-13 League

Diamond Utd. trounce Herstelling Raiders 7-1 P. 73

- Swan, Timehri, Dia. Upsetters & Samatta Point KV take full points

Swan FC, (blue & white) on the attack against Kuru Kururu Warriors yesterday at eh Timehri Red Ground.

FYF dominates as Coach Blake asks RDC’s P. 67 for assistance for out-ofTowns teams

GBA School Boys & Junior Boxing C/Ships

Alesha Jackman (left) looked the better Boxer in her exhibition bout against older sibling Abiola Jackman. (Sean Devers photo)

England moves into semi-finals after 2-0 win over Sweden P. 68 Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.