Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR NEWS

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

Female cops from

Thursday Edition

sex crime unit accused

July 11, 2019 - Vol. 12 No. 28 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

of covering up gang rapes

Price $80

Online readership yesterday 129,754

As moneychanger and daughter laid to rest...

Detectives take suspect back to scene of killing, hunt for fifth man

Selection of GECOM's chair…

Presidential Advisor, Opposition wants clarity, SARA Official register threatens pullout Pharmaceutical and from engagements other companies

Kaieteur News

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Thursday July 11, 2019

Opposition asks CCJ to award court costs in successful appeals

L

eader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo has asked the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to consider awarding him court costs, since he has incurred significant legal expenses to defend Government's challenge to the validity of the No-Confidence Motion.

Likewise, his party member Zulfikar Mustapha who was successful in challenging the President's unilateral appointment of retired

Justice James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is also asking the court to grant him costs.

On July 01, 2019, the Opposition, through its lawyers including Trinidad and Tobago-based Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, submitted written submissions on Consequential orders in relation to the CCJ, affirming that the Opposition-sponsored No-

Confidence Motion against government was properly passed having acquired 33 votes of the 65 seats in the National Assembly.

The CCJ had ruled that the appointment of Patterson was “fatally flawed” and unconstitutional.

According to court documents seen by Kaieteur News, Jagdeo submitted that he was “forced to incur significant legal expense to defend the proceedings in the courts below and to

prosecute his appeal before this Honourable Court (CCJ) and to defend the crossappeals.” The PPP General Secretary told the regional court that he ought not to be forced to absorb the costs of his victory.

Mustapha, on the other hand, said that he was forced to incur costs to challenge the appointment of the Chairman of the Commission, and he ought not to be left out of pocket.

While the Opposition Leader

Zulfikar Mustapha

Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo

and Mustapha are asking the court to consider costs, the Government in similar submissions, made no order as to costs.

Tomorrow, Friday July 12, at 14:00hrs, the CCJ will give Consequential Orders and declarations in relation to the two matters. At a post

judgment hearing on June 24, the Opposition and Government were unable to arrive at a consensus on the way forward with regards to the rulings of the regional court. In this regard, lawyers were ordered to make written submissions on the issue by July 01.

Ammo stash seized at Onderneeming

P

olice in 'G' Division, acting on information received, on Tuesday night went to a location at Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast, and found a plastic container with ammunition.

According to the police, ranks found forty-four live cartridges and 38 live .32 rounds. A spent shell was also found. There were no arrests, but investigations are in progress, the police said.

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 11, 2019

PAGE 03

Presidential Advisor, SARA Official register Pharmaceutical, other companies S

pecial Assistant of the State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA), Eric Phillips and Presidential Advisor on the Environment, Gary Best, have established several companies, one of which is specifically geared to serving the pharmaceuticals industry.

According to the Certificate of Incorporation, Superior Pharmaceutical Company (Guyana) Inc. was incorporated on March 8, 2019. The following persons were appointed as directors: Gary Best, Eric Phillips, Shabakie Fernandes, Philip Springer and Shaun Allicock.

According to the document seen by Kaieteur News, it notes that no director has ceased to hold office.

On March 8, 2019, as

well, Best and Phillips formed another company called the Equity Centre (Guyana) Inc. The other director for this firm is Shaun Allicock. The purpose of this business is to carry out financial services or any other business which may profitably and usefully be connected to its purpose.

The third company formed by Phillips and his associates is Entec Capital (Guyana) Inc. It was incorporated on December 6, 2018. The directors listed on the Certificate are Gary Best, Philip Springer, Edmond Grant and Phillips.

Phillips appears to also have an interest in the fisheries business. On January 23, 2017, the SARA official and five other persons formed Coastal Fishermen and Marine Services Inc. The directors

Presidential Advisor on the Environment, Gary Best

SARA Special Assistant, Eric Phillips

listed are Relrick Wilkinson, Godfrey Scott, Allison Butters-Grant (deceased), Lelon Saul, Robert Forrester and Phillips.

Since being appointed to the State Asset Recovery

Agency (SARA) in 2017, Phillips has been in charge of a number of crucial projects, including being placed as the lead investigator into the award of two oil blocks offshore Guyana by former

President, Donald Ramotar just days before he lost the 2015 General and Regional elections.

However, Phillips came under heavy criticism after it came to light that he is party to a pending application for an oil block that is in ultra deep waters. The offshore concession is referred to as Block C. According to documents from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Phillips, who also has no track record in oil exploration, is listed as one of the beneficial owners of a company called ABR Oil and Gas Exploration that has applied for a license to explore the block that is adjoining the Kaieteur and Canje blocks. Phillips claims, however, that he left ABR last year. He was still a member of SARA at that

time.

Furthermore, the application for the licence lists two individuals as ABR's technical experts: Patrick Assad Ceres who is an environmental engineer and Aisha Jean-Baptiste, a geologist.

The applicants noted that they have US$5M at present to expend on operations under the licence being applied for. These would include gathering geoscientific data, its subsequent assessment along with purchasing of additional data, identification of potential targets and drilling of prospects. They further noted that the company is Guyanese owned and they intend to utilise Guyanese petroleum engineers and Geologists in its work should the licence be granted.

Female cops from sex crime unit accused of covering up gang rapes

E

ven as it commemorates i t s 1 8 0 t h anniversary with music, parades and fireworks, the Guyana Police Force is bracing for a major scandal.

A number of young women are accusing two policewomen from one of the Force's Sex Crimes Units, of protecting a policeman's son, and others, in a gang of serial rapists.

The victims, all in their teens, claim that the policeman's son and two others, gang-raped and robbed them earlier this year, after they were duped into

going on dates with one gang member who drives a car.

The victims said that although the matter was investigated and the suspects apprehended, only one of the alleged rapists was charged.

They have suggested that policewomen who help in sex crime investigations, and who took their statements, were involved in the cover-up.

Kaieteur News was told that persons close to the alleged rapists gave one victim's family some $200,000 to avoid prosecution.

According to the claims received by Kaieteur News,

the gang moved around with a motorcycle and a car. The victims were allegedly contacted via WhatsApp and social media. Dates were allegedly made with the unsuspecting young women, who responded. One of the alleged rapists would pick up the intended victim in a car.

Unknown to the teen, two accomplices of their 'date' would be hiding in the car trunk. The 'date' would take the teen to a secluded area, where his accomplices would emerge from the car trunk. The men would then take turns raping the teen, before relieving her of her

Dominican Republic expects to award several blocks in first oil licensing round HOUSTON (Reuters) The Dominican Republic's first oil licensing round will be a success if it awards more than two of the 14 blocks on offer this year, a government official said at an event disclosing the Caribbean nation's fiscal terms.

The licensing round, which began yesterday with disclosure of contract terms, comes after Brazil, Guyana and Mexico attracted billions of dollars in oil investment.

Cuba and Panama also have

taken steps to lure producers with new areas and by making seismic exploration data available.

Dominican Republic offers simple terms that provide low risk and low cost of entry for operators willing to commit to minimum investment, said Alberto Reyes, Dominican Republic's vice minister of hydrocarbons.

The country is providing seismic exploration data for all the areas on offer. First

awards are expected to be released by late November.

The Caribbean is attracting wider interest as nearby discoveries and competitive investment terms have emerged, said energy analysts.

"This is mostly a frontier area with good potential, and in some cases with good business environment," said Carlos Bellorin, an analyst at researcher IHSMarkit.

About a dozen major oil (continued on page 13)

cell phone and other valuables.

All the attacks are said to have occurred at secluded areas on the East Bank of Demerara. From reports reaching Kaieteur News, the gang slipped up when they contacted another teen, who is a friend of one of the victims. The young woman allegedly notified the police, who allegedly instructed the intended victim to meet her 'date' at a particular location while the ranks lay in wait.

The 'date' and his accomplices were arrested when they all turned up at the location. It is alleged that the

investigation took a disturbing turn when the police ranks realised that one of the suspects was the son of a police rank.

While the victims allegedly identified all of the suspects, and also provided statements, only one of the men was charged. He is at present on remand.

It is alleged that a female lance corporal and another female colleague, both of whom are attached to a Sexual Offences Unit, changed the victims' statements to indicate that they had not identified the suspects. They are said to

have been aided in the coverup by a male CID rank who is also related to the policeman's son. The family of one girl was reportedly compensated, but relatives of the others have filed complaints.

(See tomorrow's edition for more on this breaking and developing story. Any other victims and relatives are free to contact us at our Saffon Street office. We can also be reached on telephone numbers: 22-58465, 2258473 and 22-58491. All names and information will be treated with utmost confidentiality)

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Thursday July 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

The corruption monster is devouring this country

T

he corruption monster is devouring this country.

Yet there is either indifference or sloth or distance in facing this monster face front, and with arms raised to strike.

With the now almost ancient change in government, matters have compressed to the tiring normalcy of: some talk, a little more paper, the appearance of controls, and then a vast emptiness of either silence or meagre movement.

Like the old government, there are lots of policies and procedures. Like the old government, there is an absence of hard-charging, freewheeling, town-taming troop to clean up what is one dirty territory. This is a great part of the story of the new government.

The opposition is very careful about the corruption grenades it hurls at its adversary; those can backfire and hurt their own people and interests, as it has embedded people. For its part, the government realises that it has its own baggage, and walks a careful line: in Guyanese lingo, it is forced to tie bundle with rotten rope. A president stands almost alone. This is the political landscape.

From the bureaucratic side, there appears to be neither professional pride nor personal dignity nor individual ethics at the executive and senior management levels to confront and clear up the air, through convincing proof.

This is what it is. There are no sacred cows. There are no protected species. But it is the same old song: silence and sullenness. It is the most contemptuous and sour of songs, which should enrage the Guyanese public eking out a living the hard way: one dollar at a time, and the hard way: they earn it honestly.

Bureaucrats present ramshackle defences. They will not be reactive; pander to the press. That is, responding to every exposure in the press. Sad to say, only a small part of the press seems to be moved by corruption, admitted by one and all as a contagious disease at pandemic gallop.

Internal and external auditors are either stymied or part of going-through-the-motion exercises.

The drilling energy is not there; and so, too, the will to connect dots to arrive at a compelling picture. The Guyana Police Force is nowhere near to the level of sophistication and savvy to probe local white-collar crime. Try as it may, the reports are not flattering of rings made around the police probers, and their own demands for a monetary fix to make matters go away when stumbled upon. There is that special skill that comes from long familiarity with people and place.

This opens up the real story that is of Guyana, and the entrenched problems relative to any possible solutions concerning pervasive corruption. It is not about seminars and processes and systems and training. All of those are far-reaching and can mean much. But only when one and only one mandatory ingredient is in place. Only when they fall on the receptive ears, stir the ready hearts, and move the furious minds of a certain kind of people.

Concerned. Conscientious. Committed.

People are what make the procedures and processes come alive; convert all the training to pursue relentlessly facts and truths; and produce material results. It is where senior politicians (opposition and government) speak out without fear, because they have no secrets squirreled away, no comrades to protect. It is where senior public servants are courageous in stepping forward to face the music of the press (as discordant and unwelcomed as it may be) and not only promise to clear the air; but with every intention of delivering. And then doing just that; leaders have to set tone and example. But to do so, they cannot be part of the gift-giving and collecting arrangements of longstanding culture.

When the heads are clean and clear of taint, then they are positioned to give the charge to subordinates and demand results. These are the problems to possible solutions. Begins and ends with people.

The People of Guyana must come FIRST DEAR EDITOR, This shall be my second letter to your newspaper in as many weeks concerning the people of Guyana and the country itself.

Today, I shall write about the social political concerns, which we face as a nation - some of these shall be positive, others negative. Let me start with the positive concerns.

1) It is admirable that our President the Hon. David Granger has agreed with the decisions of the CCJ. I congratulate him and the government to accept the ruling of the Court.

2) While both major political parties have for-

warded names whom they wish to be the GECOM Chairman, it still has to be decided and this, I hope, shall take place in the shortest time possible.

3) I do agree with the Hon President that the voters’ list has to be renewed. This ensures democracy and this also ensures that democracy is functioning at its best in Guyana.

On the negative concerns, Guyana needs to face one or two facts: 1) When I was a young person, growing up in British Guiana, I knew nothing about race or ethnicity. I knew we were all citizens of British Guiana. In the early

sixties, the race or ethnicity became dominant and the dominance still unfortunately exists.

2) Today, my major concern is that in choosing who shall be the Chairman of GECOM, the Guyanese who support each major political party shall have in their minds if a person of one race is chosen, they shall point out that is for the existing government to remain in power or the opposite.

3) The people who therefore are to carry out the functions of GECOM must always realise the people of Guyana and all Guyanese come first and must at all times remain impartial, fair

and totally unbiased in carrying out their duties, regardless of race, colour and affiliation.

In conclusion, I beseech both leaders of the major political parties to realise the importance of these coming elections. It is high time for us, as a people, to forget the disastrous effects of racial divide created because of ethnic difference and ensure that the People of Guyana come FIRST! After all, Guyana with its abundance of resources and small population shall become one of the wealthiest nations in the world.

Sincerely, Anthony Kissoon

A PROVOCATIONIST DEAR EDITOR, So Bharrat Jagdeo has caused to be resubmitted eleven names for negotiations. I am pleased, exceedingly pleased, that Mr. Jagdeo has timeously, given the July 12 adjourned date for announcement of “consequential orders” demonstrated to the CCJ, that its foisted aspiration of “consensualism” in the appointment of a GECOM Chairman, is pious, utopian, politicking in our political affairs. What crass provocation, for Mr. Jagdeo to caused to be resubmitted (not even having the decorum to write the letter himself), eleven (11) names to the President, ominously, inclusive of persons who James McAllister in a letter

to the press in 2017, aptly described as “straw candidates” and comprising lists Professor/ret’d CCJ Justice Duke Pollard dismissively described as “palpably defective” in another section of the media on January 17, 2017.

Is recycling, as an environmental conception, appropriate in a matter so pregnant with the embryo of a constitutional crisis, which it is in our overriding public interest to abort, and not to deliver?

I had written, ad nauseaum, on these lists in 2017. Mr. Jagdeo, with an accustomed display of intemperance, called me a “sycophant”; one of my letters a “gutter letter” (see “Maxwell Edwards scrutinises

Jagdeo’s GECOM nominees” – in another section of the media dated 30th May 2017). So, Hon Leader of the Opposition, let us agree that if you are entitled in the exercise of your constitutional right to freedom of expression to call me a “Sycophant”, I, exercising a self same right, is entitled, and justified, to label you as PROVOCATORY – a provocationist. On the available evidence, or the circumstantial evidence, on one very arguable view, it must be the case that Mr. Jagdeo has deliberately resubmitted as part of the “hammering out” process such “straw candidates” as Former Senior Magistrate Krishnadant Persaud, as a pure act of provocation; or as an act,

mindlessly, whimsically, capriciously done.

Mr. President you must not yield. If in Mr. Jagdeo’s “objective” judgment Krishnadant Persaud is a “fit and proper” person for GECOM Chairman, then President David Granger, permitted as he is by Article 111 - one of the eleven most valuable and important provisions in the Constitution (Lawyers knows this as entrenchment of the deepest level), to “act in his own deliberate judgment”, invites no approbrium (political or constitutional) in submitting for negotiations Eric Phillips as a Candidate.

Yet, we know that President Granger would not seek to match Mr. Jagdeo’s (Continued on page6 )

GUYANA IS IN A CRISIS CAUSED BY OBTUSE INTERPRETATIONS OF ITS CONSTITUTION DEAR EDITOR, Guyana is in a crisis caused by obtuse interpretations of its constitution; an obstinate administration is refusing to accept the consequences of losing a motion of noconfidence in the legislature.

All Guyanese know that delay tactics are being employed to postpone mandatory General and Regional elections. This is not the first time. In our short history, we have been faced with an obstinate administration; in 2014 when faced with certain defeat (by 33 votes to 32) then President, Donald Ramotar, prorogued parliament from November 10th 2014 to February 28th, 2015.

Under pressure from civil and diplomatic entities, Ramotar set a date for election seventy-one days into prorogation and announced dissolution of

parliament for a later date to allow for a full period of Claims and Objections in the electoral process.

Prorogation is the formal term for the period between the end of one parliamentary session and the start of the next.

In contrast to dissolution, prorogation is a personal prerogative power formally in the hands of the President. Crucially, the consent of MPs is not required.

During those seventyone days, the utterances of representatives of various foreign nations make for interesting reading.

Fifty-nine days into prorogation (8.1.2015) the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office Minister, Tobias Ellwood said, “The UK Government views with concern the continued prorogation of Parliament

by His Excellency President Ramotar and calls for its

earliest possible resumption. Parliament is required by Guyana’s Constitution and the Commonwealth Charter; it provides the necessary checks and balances and enables citizens’ voices to be heard the suspension of Parliament therefore means that an essential element of a functioning democracy has been put on hold…”

Sixty seven days into prorogation (16.1.2015) Chargé d’Affaires at the US embassy in Georgetown, Bryan Hunt said “…I look forward to the announcement from President (Donald) Ramotar as to when the electoral campaign will begin and as I (said) we’re already discussing very actively with the government, with the Guyana Elections Commission, with other stakeholders as to how the United States can play a

constructive role in making sure that process moves forward and we see a return to a parliamentary democracy, a parliament that is elected by the Guyanese people to move the country forward,” Yesterday (10.7. 2019) marks 200 days since the Granger administration fell to an actual no-confidence motion; many actors have been constrained in response because of respect for the judicial process, it will be interesting to see how they react after Guyana’s final appellate forum, the Caribbean Court of Justice, delivers its Orders on Friday 12th July. In sport all one can hope is for consistency from any referee to ensure a fair and level playing field. I look forward to see how the whistle is blown in the coming weeks.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

Thursday July 11, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Undisputable scientific fact that needs to change our thinking about race www.amazon.com/Journey- sure this vision could be to gain political advan- become one people, one na- say it all. realized. in Guyana fort tage at the next general elec- tion and one destiny, let us “You and I, in fact every- Man-Ge...

As a side consideration, DEAR EDITOR, Neither any of the ten powerful and most scared paragraphs of the preamble, nor Article 13 of the Constitution of Guyana, which sets out our sustained aspirations, measurements and processes relative to how we manage the affairs of Guyana to adaptable and expansive perfection, encourages or supports the current and sustained manmade bitterness, mistrust in each other, confusion and downright disgraceful thinking of disuniting us based upon race, in an ef-

tions in Guyana.

Those individuals who unashamedly and continuously articulate this thinking in a sustained manner know themselves as unpatriotic, in that they are aware they are violating the culture, perspectives, purpose, reasons and spirit of our constitution.

We conveniently use modern technology (various internet streams, microwave ovens, cell phones and many other consumer durables) to our advantage and enjoy the outcomes they provide, but for us to

for just 2 hours pay attention to this new factual technological information, considering our blood (time machine) and genetics, of whom we are.

My brothers and sisters, and especially the young, reach inward to your inner teacher for guidance, let your conscience be your guide, do not let your thinking be clouded by race bating, irrespective if you are advised or told not to listen to other factual ideas, because if you elect to so do, you will be brain-washed.

The paragraphs below

one all over the world, we’re all literally African under the skin; brothers and sisters separated by a mere 2.000 generations.

Old-fashioned concepts of race are not only socially divisive, but also scientifically wrong.

It’s only when we’ve fully taken this onboard, that we can say with any conviction that the journey our ancestors launched all those years ago, is complete.” Spencer Wells - 2002 Spencer Wells - The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey (2002) https://

Change versus vested interest/traditional privileges DEAR EDITOR, Referring to NICILSPU’s Executive Head, Colvin Heath-London’s letter in another section of the media of July 09, 2019 captioned, “Ms. Thomas should have availed herself of the facts – before going public on such sensitive matter”.

Mr. London’s letter contents, indeed points to a very troubling situation that exists at GuySuCo, so much so that his personal safety has been threatened, inclusive of the terrorist extreme of bomb threats that has warranted the intervention of police investigations. This is shocking, to say the least. One is forced to inquire whether this troubling situation, has anything to do with the clashes between London and what is clearly the old guard.

It would seem that London must have touched some ‘sacred elements’, to have attracted “threats to his life” and “bomb threats”.

London is a young dynamic man who brings a modern perspective to both management and administration, particularly as it relates to overseeing the gradual resuscitation of a once industrial giant that had been wrecked by the shameless management of the PPP/C. This dynamic undoubtedly clashes with a Corporation, which culture has been steeped in decades-old tradition of fiercely guarded and protected privilege, and a

blinkered practice and understanding of one-way management. The fact that there were differences between London and the sugar corporation as to the manner in which a tranche of the $30B bond had been spent by GuySuCo, and which had been contrary to the terms of the bond agreement, speaks of an entity that still believes that it is in its glory days. Of course, it was London’s right to object to the Corporation’s manner of spending, since it was/is not in any position to spend on luxuries, as reported in the media. The fact of the matter is that he is vested with the ultimate responsibility for the management of the bond’s disbursement.

But emanating through the grapevine, are reports of a seminal issue which London’s principled position in challenging the status quo has upped the ante.

Ms. Audreyanna Thomas’s letter appears to be more about sensationalism, and pandering to a

particular political/vested interest’s gallery, rather than taking into consideration the seriousness of the situation that surrounds London’s safety, apart from his efforts to turn around GuySuCo. One gets the unmistakable impression that Thomas’ contrived desperate ‘‘cries for help” in her letter is one that has been made with the purpose of demonizing this executive who seems to have upset the old boys club. It is part of a wider orchestrated strategy of a hidden political agenda, which is challenging London’s efforts at salvaging what can be had from the wreckage that was made of GuySuCo. The fact that there are comments in the media from these same enemies of progress, or their proxies, that serve to trivialise the threats to London’s personal safety, speaks as much of their wicked and evil design of resisting change, as it is about their unmistakable vested interests.

It is the height of the greatest contradiction that those who now seek to object to London, with the grand intention of hounding him out, because of his mental sapping challenge of making GuySuCo good again, which is inclusive of upturning the old culture of privilege and exclusivity, that their voices were all slammed shut during the period of the sugar industry descending to its destruction. They were all silent, with many of them benefitting from questionable arrangements under the guise of corporate legitimacy.

What a shameless cabal!

Editor, one notes Ms. Thomas’ claim to what amounts to representing socalled concern persons within GuySuCo. It is laughable, very laughable, such a claim, as she is clearly being the mouth piece of this very collective, to mask their agenda against London, and the changes he seeks to bring about.

Regards Carla Mendonca

PBS https:// www.youtube.com/user/ PBS Visit: https:// w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / spaceandinte...

Just relax and PLEASE pay attention to this documentary on any of the above-mentioned websites, to help us bury many of our learned prejudices, just as humans for centuries once believed the earth was flat.

It took improved technology to dispel that thinking, so it is time we change our thinking of this nonideal, polarised, multi-component, adversarial, and racial attitude, to reconcile and cooperate for common concessions, confidences, afford abilities, good, interests, necessities, actionable and satisfactions, under the umbrella of natural justice, which are enshrined in structures associated with fairness and civility.

It will require after viewing this monumental documentary, and irrespective of our spirituality (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and others) we som e h o w, from some unknown place, find a way within our conscience, to unite, in order to ensure we all enjoy in a sust a i n a b l e m a n n e r, the spoils from Guyana becoming a ma n u f a c t u r i n g power house - within the green state development strategy- for any consumer durable known to man, given, we have all the raw materials, knowledge or skill-sets and diverse experiences to en-

once one obtain a visa to reside in the USA, Canada or the UK, and from the moment one leaves Cheddi Jagan International Airport to journey to one of the above mentioned countries, a certain never before experienced mental metamorphosis is completed in one’s mind, that this real and astonishingly rapid transformation essentially allows one to readily comply with the existing laws of that country.

Brothers and sisters, Guyana belongs to all of us, so let us treat the new information from “the journey man” as a visa to a new Guyana with the depth and width of efficient business and societal transformational structures within our exiting and soon to be improved Constitution, to improve our standard of living, given, our never before harvesting of new revenues from our petroleum reserves.

F u r t h e r, s o m e o f u s have expert understanding of many industries and have documented evidence of previously demonstrated capacities in the developed countries, to successfully address any challenges that need efficient and profitable solutions.

Charles L. Griffith, BS (Agri. Eng.) MS (Agri. Process Eng.) PE Consulting Engineer/ Planner/Scientist (Space And Intelligence –Published on Dec 4, 2016)

PAGE 6

ABR and the oil block application DEAR EDITOR, I have noted the recent news stories on the application for an oil block made by ABR Oil and Gas Exploration (“ABR O&G”). One of the names listed among the principals of ABR is “Osafa” George (a misspelling of my name, Asafa) with a 25% ownership stake in the company. While I cannot address the issue on behalf of all the principals of ABR O&G, as one of the stakeholders, the publication of this information presents for me a welcome opportunity to address both the central issue and larger context surrounding it.

ABR O&G is a start-up company established by a few members of the African Business Roundtable who have significant experience in oil and gas, including previously drilling for oil in Guyana, extensive local business track records of investing in the economic and social development of Guyana, and international economic development expertise.

Let me share a few thoughts that I hope will stimulate conversation about economic development opportunities and make the ABR O&G more transparent to the general public: No Support for Corruption At the time of the formation of ABR O&G and proposal to the government, I do not believe that anyone in the group had influence over the government’s decision on contract awards. If any of the principals have subsequently taken up a role and would have influence over the government contract awards, it is quite easy for the other shareholders to remove the conflicted shareholder. To date, ABR O&G has NOT been awarded anything by the government, and has no economic value.

Diversity Inclusion and diversity were important considerations and part of our pro-

Thursday July 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

posal to the government.

The principals reached out to prominent Guyanese businesses of all races and ethnicity to join the effort. We were careful in ensuring that there was representation from each of the six racial groups if we were awarded a block. I will respect their right to confidentiality, but hope that some of those who were approached or agreed to participate, will come forward to confirm that there was an arrangement to unite on this important initiative.

This is an important fact that I hope can spark the discussion on how we dismantle discrimination and inequality in Guyanese society.

Empowerment for Ordinary Guyanese Our proposal to the government was accompanied by a commitment to empowerment for the benefit of Guyanese people who would otherwise have no access to participate in the contract award opportunity.

Therefore, a significant portion of the company’s shares were intended to be distributed to Ordinary Guyanese who would be able to own these empowerment shares and directly benefit from the economic opportunities.

Right now, Ordinary Guyanese have never been offered this type of opportunity.

Transparency I am very comfortable with the government and press making public the names of all principals of companies that are awarded a government contract.

While there is no requirement, I am also comfortable with the government and press having the names for all applicants that are pending an award of a government contract if the goal is to bring more accountability and equitable distributions to the entire contract award process. Transparency will strengthen Guyana and our key institutions and will help to eliminate corruption or even the perception

of corruption.

Moving Forward We Guyanese will be here long after all the government contracts are awarded and the last drop of natural resources is sold. We cannot solely rely upon international firms and auctioning of our natural resources to foreign companies to somehow restructure our local economy, strengthen political institutions and improve social norms.

I believe that Guyana can pursue economic development policies that maximize the benefit of our natural resources, develop the local business infrastructure to create more jobs, and create a rising tide of opportunity that is inclusive of all Guyanese. In order to accomplish these initiatives, we have to make sure the economic opportunities are well distributed amongst local Guyanese businesses of all races and ethnicities, and constantly find ways to encourage those businesses to keep re-investing in Guyana.

If I am so blessed to benefit from the rising tide of opportunities in Guyana that God has bestowed upon us all, I pledge to reinvest in Guyana to make sure that the economic empowerment reaches all our Guyanese citizens. We Guyanese will choose our own future – Guyana is we own!

Selwin Asafa George

Why wasn’t Guyana’s political issue raised at last week’s CARICOM talks?

DEAR EDITOR, It is sickening to see that CARICOM Prime Ministers continue to ignore the damning political situation in Guyana following the Caribbean Court of Justice ruling that the December 2018 novote of confidence in the Guyana House of Assembly was fully constitutional, contrary to the Guyana’s jurisprudence.

We hear coming out the talks that the heads discussed the Haiti and Venezuela situations at last week’s conference in St. Lucia, but not a word on Guyana, which continues to be the spoilt child in CARICOM. This means that the entire leadership of the CARICOM is guilty of discriminatory practices when the name of Guyana boils up. Similarly, it tells us that CARICOM is playing hideand-seek when it comes to Guyana because not a word or a drum was heard on Guyana.

Editor, what CARICOM leaders are perpetuating is lawlessness to the maximum, yet they all postures with democracy, free and fair elections and the like, when in their own caucus, there is the culprit whom they ignore at all times.

We have had it with, Forbes Burnham who was one of the initiators of CARICOM in Chaguaramas in 1973 christened as the Chaguaramas Declaration for a new leadership among the Caribbean countries, as most of them were independent or about to become. In his presence were the might of Dr. Eric Williams, Michael Manley and Errol Barrow.

Burnham reportedly did what he wanted at the behest of the British Government and proportional representation.

It is alleged that he stole elections after elections until former US President Jimmy Carter established his Free Elections and Democracy Grouping in Atlanta, and forced free elections under Burnham’s successor, Desmond Hoyte in 1992.

Today, in 2019, the shadows of Burnham are on play with David Granger and Moses Nagamootoo with a defaulting partnership and they were able to form Government by a one-man majority.

Any child would tell you that 33 votes were more than 32, remember with 33 votes, Granger was able to govern, but the same 33 votes could not throw down the Govern-

ment.

Call a CARICOM meeting and move its headquarters from Guyana, as if it continues to be present there, it would certainly signal and represent the demise of democracy and free elections in Guyana.

And all leaders, both past and present, are to be held responsible for this decay in Guyana, and probably in other CARICOM countries.

We are not hearing a word about Guyana. But we hear about Maduro’s actions in Venezuela. We hear about Haiti. CARICOM leadership is totally fake, false and fruitless.

I shudder to think that the CARICOM countries are on the brink of decay.

CARICOM assemblies are a total waste of time and human resources.

The CSME issue keeps boiling up, but decisive or fruitful decisions are on the way.

Perhaps, it is time that we scrap CARICOM and let each individual country row its own boat.

Let’s take a look at what is happening with the European Union, as soon the bell would ring for its demise.

Paras Ramoutar

A PROVOCATIONIST From page 4 effrontery.

I hope the three “wise men” in Port of Spain are taking judicial notice of Mr. Jagdeo’s provocation, which by their interpretation of our Constitution he has been licensed to commit. En passant, here is a poignant view of a true Caribbean Legal legend – J.O.F Haynes.

Sitting a s a Justice of Appeal in a local case of Re Williams and Salisbury (1978) 26 WIR, this legendary jurist said thus: “of course this doctrine of liberal interpretation cannot imply that we” [i.e. the Judges] “are free to stretch or PERVERT the language of it “[i.e. the Consti-

tution] “in the interest of any preconceived constitutional theory or spirit.

The question is still not what may be supposed to have been intended but what is intended by what is said” (see at page 147 b-c).

I submit, and remain unshakeably convinced, that this doctrine of “consensualism”, as aspirational as some may perceive it to be, is a perversion of what is said in our Constitution.

“Consensualism” of the CCJ type, is the antitheses, and, negation of constitutional Presidential absolute deliberativeness.

A Frankenstein has been created. Mr. Jagdeo’s submission of, inter alia, the name of Krishnadant Persaud, is a palpable manifestation of this judicial monster.

As an aside – is it not Jagdeo’s first list nominee – Christopher Ram, who is one of the foremost antagonists, and litigant in Court for the resignation/removal of this David Granger Cabinet/Government.

And, was it not Christopher Ram who had instituted pri-

vate criminal charges against Jagdeo? Was preNo Confidence antagonism latent, waiting, if given an opportunity, to volcanically explode? Oh what a tangled web of deceit can be weaved.

I return to Krishnadant Persaud.

I served as a Magistrate with him. We had interactions at Magistrate’s meetings/conferences. He was most favoured by Carl Singh, C. (ag). I can assure your readers that this most favoured status was not because of some judicial aptitude, or exemplary knowledge of law.

He demonstrated more of that. So, when other contracted Magistrates, decades younger than Persaud, had their services terminated, or their contracts not renewed, by the Carl Singh-led Judicial Services Commission, he (Persaud) continued to serve as a Magistrate in Berbice.

The Police complained about his outrageous and perverse decisions in the Court (especially in drug cases of high profile). Yet

he remained.

The irresistible inference, is that he was allowed to continue to serve as a Magistrate, because, and only because, he was a yeoman, unabashed supporter of the PPP. Was he a close relative of Robert Persaud former PPP/C Minister of Natural Resources? Bias can be an insidious thing.

I end with this: Mr. Jagdeo, with an accustomed predatory, reckless, contemptuous miscalculation of the limits of his power as Leader of the Opposition in this Republic, pursues nothing but narrow, myopic political machinations. He has an aversion for public interest.

With resubmissions of names like Krishnadant Persaud (perhaps recycling), he is being provocative.

Were he to be further emboldened on the 12th July, then nothing but a constitutional crisis awaits us, for which, for us, the CCJ must bear responsibility.

Regards, Maxwell. E. Edwards (Former Magistrate)

Thursday July 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 7

Selection of GECOMs chair…

Opposition wants clarity, threatens pullout from engagements The Opposition has written Government asking for more clarity ahead of a third engagement today on the selection of a new chair for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The Opposition made it clear yesterday that the answers will determine whether it abandons the current engagements and returns to President David Granger and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo meeting, in keeping with Article 161 (2) of the Constitution.

Teams from Government and the Opposition have met twice this week in an effort to fast-track and reach an early consensus on names of nominees.

According to the laws, the Opposition Leader is mandated to submit a list to the President and one name is to be chosen.

The situation has arisen after a recent Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling that a 2017 unilateral decision by President Granger to appoint Justice (retd) James Patterson was flawed.

Patterson resigned recently leaving the post vacant.

President Granger has said he wants new chairman in place so he can be advised accordingly to announce a date for elections.

The elections are due early after a December 21st 2018 shock no-confidence vote that was deemed carried by the courts.

As a result there is supposed to be early elections, with GECOM taking centre stage now.

The Government and Opposition have agreed that they will each send a team to hammer out the names of nominees for GECOM chair before a final list is submitted to the President.

On Tuesday, Government and the Opposition sides met for the second consecutive day to discuss the nominations. The names of 11 persons submitted by the Opposition were discussed.

Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, who is part of the government team, said after that second meeting that from, “the eleven names, four were shortlisted. Two are still under active consideration, and five have been rejected with reasons given” .

Another “hammering out meeting” was scheduled to be held today at Castellani House.

However, yesterday, it appeared that the Opposition is not happy with how things are proceeding.

It sent a letter to Harmon yesterday which said that there are a number of issues that are unclear and which it now seeks clarification.

“At the meeting, we were informed that four (4) of the names on the list of 11 nominees, “appropriately adjusted from the original 18 names of 2017”, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition to the President on July 5th, 2019, for consideration for the appointment of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), were given the following labels: “no objection”, “tending to-

The Government and Opposition teams meeting Tuesday at the Castellani House, Vlissengen Road. wards acceptability” and “short listed”. You would recall that our specific enquiry of whether these four names are “not unacceptable” to the President was answered in the negative.”

The letter to Harmon, from Gail Teixeira, says it wants explanations on the meaning and purport of the terms “no objection”, “tending towards acceptability” and “short listed”.

“We further and specifically enquire, hereof, whether these names are “not unacceptable” to the (Continued on page 22)

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Thursday July 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

Health Ministry commissions $539M Kingston bond

The plaque being unveiled

Cutting the ceremonial ribbon The Ministry of Public Health yesterday commissioned a $539M drug storage bond at Kingston. Among those present at the occasion were Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman, Minister of Social Cohesion George Norton, City Mayor Ubraj Narine, Deputy Mayor Alfred Mentore and Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud.

Mr Lloyd Hutson, the Manager of the Central Supplies Unit (CSU) delivered the welcoming remarks and the programme got underway.

Auditor General Deodat Sharma in his brief comments, noted that there were issues and weaknesses in the past with the ministrys accountability, and he admonished that the storekeeper “must make frequent checks with records and they should have good record keeping”.

Finance Permanent Secretary acting Michael Joseph also addressed the gathering.

He posited that with the new facility, which is ten times the size of the old one, there should “no longer be an inflation of budgetary expenditure due to the repurchase of drugs”.

Joseph made reference to the decrepit state of the old building saying that “it leaked when it rained, thus stock was exposed to mould, mildew and the discoloration of stationery. Minister Lawrence in her keynote speech expressed happiness at the completion of another bond, saying that her ministry was one step closer to where it wanted to be.

She noted that the bond

was also a promise kept by President Granger to fix the health system, and she opined that he was “well on the way” to doing so. The Kingston Bond is essentially an extension of the facility at Diamond, and will see less hassle in the distribution as well as storage of drugs.

The Minister gave a brief history lesson about the CSU, saying that it is a moving bond, as in 1982 it was housed at the Chief Pharmacists Office, it then moved to an annex at Liliendaal in 1984.

It moved again to Kingston in 1992 but had to be relocated early last year to facilitate construction of the

present one.

She said that she understood why staff acted the way they did, as the previous bond was uninspiring. “If I was offered a job there I wouldnt go”. She was however happy that all those issues have been resolved and that staff will now have no excuse to meet demands and deadlines. She then wished the staff well and asked them to care the facility.

The plaque to officially commission the building was unveiled and the ribbon was cut by the Prime Minister.

Those in attendance were then given a tour of the spanking new facility.

Thursday July 11, 2019

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

The List has to come from the Leader of the Opposition The Carter-Price formula was incorporated, via a constitutional amendment, into Guyana’s Constitution.

There is a logical reason why, in so doing, the drafters of that amendment used the double negative “not unacceptable”.

The President is required to choose a Chairperson from a list of six names submitted by the Leader of the Opposition. It is because of this fact that the person selected has to be not unacceptable. If the President were allowed to choose a nominee of his own, it would mean that that person would be acceptable to him. It is to emphasise that the choice of a Chairman has to come from the list submitted by the Leader of the Opposition, that the criterion “not unacceptable” was inserted.

There is nothing in the Constitution or in the decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice which provides the President with a right to name any nominee. But the Leader of the Opposition has said that he is willing to consider seriously, any names put

forward by the President.

This acceptance, however, does not change the rules. There is no lawful provision for the President to nominate persons; that is a matter entirely up to the discretion of the Leader of the Opposition. Despite this obvious fact, there have been preposterous and laughable statements, to the effect that the CCJ ruling grants to the President the right to nominate persons. The government must stop this charade; it is disgracing itself with such uninformed statements. The President has gone ahead and submitted eight names for consideration. Obviously, these names are acceptable to him, but may not be acceptable to the Leader of the Opposition.

According to the CCJ ruling, on the 21st December 2016, the Leader of the Opposition submitted a list of six names to the President, for consideration as Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission. The President

rejected this list saying that the six names were unacceptable.

Clarification was then sought by the Leader of the Opposition as to what kind of candidate would find favour with the President. This was the first time that a sitting President had rejected a list of nominees for the position of Chairperson of GECOM. According to the CCJ, on the 14 March 2017, the President provided a Statement of the ‘Qualities of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission’.

According to the President’s Statement: 1. The candidate should be a person who is qualified to be a Judge of the High Court under Article 129 of the Constitution and under section 5 of the High Court Act, Cap. 3:02.

2. That person should have been an Attorney-atLaw for a minimum of 7 years, according to section 5 of the High Court Act, Cap. 3:02.

3. In the absence of 1 and 2 above ‘any other fit and

Dem boys seh ...

Things open up and people seeing right through Ever since Soulja Bai tun president, he always pushing fuh transparency. He ain’t talking ‘bout people wearing see-through clothes or house wid sheer glass windows.

He was talking ‘bout openness.

But even then, dat cause confusion because people get odda ideas. Some walk wid dem mouth open all de time because dem believe openness give dem de right to talk all de time whether dem mekking sense or not.

Wha Soulja Bai was talking about was mekking de public aware of everything dat de government do. All de agreement it sign, de people must know. Dat was something dat nobody in Guyana coulda dream would happen.

When dem hear ‘bout any agreement, and only hear because dem can’t see it, dem use to keep dem mouth shut. De agreement fuh de Marriott was a secret. In fact, de government even cancel an agreement wid a group from St. Lucia because dem tell de media wha dem was signing wid de government.

Soulja Bai mek everything open or transparent and all of a sudden people question-

ing everything and everybody. Some even questioning nuff of de agreements. Dem even questioning Soulja Bai. Dem boys remember when some contracts fuh build an ordinary building use to be in de hundreds of millions of dollars. Today de same building barely cost couple millions. De NIS building in Berbice was one. It cost $69 million instead of $10 million.

De people even lock out de reporters who go to visit de building. Everything was a secret. People couldn’t go to certain government places but nobody ever dare seh anything.

Today a police station three times as big as dat NIS building cost less than wha de NIS building did cost back then.

Today, dem boys find out dat de government got to explain everything it do. And dat is a good thing. Dat is wha should happen all de time. Dat is something people got to insist on till death do us part as dem does seh when people get married.

Talk half and watch how Soulja Bai open things.

proper person’ be appointed according to Article 161(2) of the Constitution and they should have the following characteristics: a) That person is deemed to have wide electoral knowledge, capable of handling electoral matters because he or she is qualified to exercise unlimited jurisdiction in civil matters; b) That person will discharge his or her functions without fear or favour, that is, he or she will not allow any person or organization to influence him or her to compromise his or her neutrality; c) That person will discharge his or her functions neutrally, between the two opposing parties, as he or she would have done in Court between two opposing litigants; d) That person will not be an activist in any form (gender, racial, religious etc); e) That person should not

have any political affiliation or should not belong to any political party in any form, apparent or hidden; and, f) That person should have a general character of honesty, integrity, faithfulness and diligence in the discharge of his or her duty as Chairman.

The Statement issued by the President in March of 2017 (and which is referred to in the CCJ judgment) stresses the important of political neutrality. It is therefore very strange that some (not all) of the names submitted by the President a few days ago were affiliated with political parties.

The President therefore may be breaching his own Statement of Characteristics.

How then does the President expect the Leader of the Opposition to take seriously his list?

The CCJ did specify a role for the President in the

selection of the lists. To facilitate consensus, the CCJ suggested (and that is all it is - a suggestion) that the two sides hammer out a list that would contain names that are not unacceptable to the President. And this is the sole purpose of that Committee that is meeting presently. It is to come up with a list of six names which the President finds not unacceptable.

There is nothing which says that the President has a right to nominate persons. The List has to come from the Leader of the Opposition.

PAGE 10

Thursday July 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

WPA and AFC: Self-destructive death The WPA held a community meeting in Buxton and declared its support for the reelection of APNU+AFC. In email discussions with two priceless former WPA heroes – Andaiye and Moses Bhagwan – both of them felt that WPA should have distanced itself from what takes place for governance under the present leadership of APNU+AFC. Andaiye has passed on.

So that leaves Moses and so many others who were once in the WPA’s leadership.

Then there is a group named, WPA Overseas Associates (WPAOA) with persons like Dr. Alissa Trotz; Keith Branch, former secretary to Bishop George in the seventies, Eusi Kwayana etc.

Neither Andaiye nor Moses made their feelings public. But the WPAOA has.

It feels that the WPA’s programme should be accepted as part of policy-mak-

ing and if there is no guarantee of that, the WPA should leave the coalition. WPAOA made that pronouncement more than three months ago.

So is there a unified position in the domestic and foreign communities of WPA supporters that the party is going back into elections with the PNC? I don’t know what was said at the Buxton meeting; the mainstream media did not carry it, so I don’t know if the speakers mentioned the position of WPAOA. But if any party enters a coalition government, it can only survive as a biological organism if it retains its identity and has many of its agenda items translated into policy.

This did not happen with the Lib Dem party in the UK. It is a centre-of left party that went into government with the rightwing conservative party

and got terrible rejected by the electorate at the next election.

At the time of writing, the infamous coalition in Italy may fall apart, because each party is demanding implementation of its agenda.

In Israel, coalition partners ensure their identities are retained and they fight hard to get their agenda passed.

This is where the AFC went the way of the LibDem party. After two years in government, there was no coalition administration, but a typical oneparty majority, with the AFC completely sacrificing its identity for power. This loss of its face has caused the demise of the AFC. I am in two minds to decide if the AFC on its own in the upcoming poll would get a seat. But I do know it would not get more than one. This

is what happens when units in a coalition abandon their identity and agenda in power arrangements. As observed above, I do not know what the format of the Buxton meeting was, so I would not know if the villagers asked questions, but the WPA has to face three very important queries.

What policies and programmes that were in the bosom of the WPA were accepted and implemented since May 2015. Secondly, if as a coalition party you are contesting another election, have you laid out an agenda with your major partner, and have any items on the agenda been signed and sealed and will become reality?

Thirdly, the WPA did not sign a written power-sharing document when APNU was born. The AFC did just that when it agreed to a coalition to contest the 2015 poll. It is known as the Cummingsburg Accord. It delineates the pa-

rameters of state power.

For four years, including as recent as last Sunday in the David Hinds column in this newspaper, it has been regurgitated over and over that the WPA was sidelined after the 2015 election victory. So in 2019 you are staying in a coalition and there is still no legally binding document.

Why if you were treated badly in 2015, are you going to walk that self-destructive path again in 2019?

I feel that since the colossal disappointment with the performance of the APNU+AFC since 2015, citizens are more conscious of the faults of politicians, so they are not going to be easily swayed. The WPA, PNC and AFC can fool themselves that since they were nicely received by the people in the villages they went to, they are appreciated.

Cabinet ministers have to be really stupid to think that

Frederick Kissoon the response they received in those countless Cabinet outreaches will translate into votes. Going to a village and fooling people (remember the change of no jail term for possession of 30 grams, yet the law remains and you will get jailed if the police arrest you today with 30 grams and you are found guilty) while they listen attentively, is a different world when your opposition has large numbers in front of them and they are exposing your failures.

Thursday July 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

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Kaieteur News

Thursday July 11, 2019

Over 900 jobs up for grabs in the public sector The Public Service Commission has released its 2019 annual vacancy circular, and it reveals some 900-plus vacancies available across the country.

In an interview with Kaieteur News, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan said that there was a moratorium on hiring for the public service, since the International Monetary Fund had advised Government to curtail its budget.

But the Minister went on to say that the economy has expanded, and so there is a need for more human resources. Some jobs which were already listed before have been reopened, while new jobs have been created due to the expansion of the economy.

The vacancies are listed according to the revised 2018 salary structure. Interested persons are advised to contact the Secretary of the Public Service Commission, Marvalyn Stevens, or the Ministry, Local Government

Organ or other public agency under which the job is listed for the job description and requisite qualifications.

There are several key posts available for levels 10 and up of the structure, which are as follows.

Region one needs a Regional Health Officer (RHO) at Mabaruma Regional Hospital, three Assistant Hospital Administrators, and one Education Officer. Region two needs a Medical Superintendent, a Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO), one RHO, a Regional Education Officer (REO), a Senior Health Visitor (SHV) and a Nutritionist. Region three needs a Medical Superintendent, a DREO of Planning, one RHO, a Senior Obstetrician and Gynecologist, a Medical Registrar, four Government Medical Officers (GMO), and one Senior Departmental Sister. Region four needs one DREO, one RHO, one REO, one

SHV, three Education Officers II and one Education Officer I. Region six needs one Senior Departmental Sister. Region seven needs a Medical Superintendent. Region nine needs one Hospital Administrator and one REO. Region 10 needs one SHV and an Education Officer II. The Supreme Court of Judicature needs a Deputy Registrar for the Supreme Court of Berbice.

The Ministry of Legal Affairs needs a Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator, an Assistant Solicitor General, a Principal Parliamentary Counsel, an Assistant Chief Parliamentary Counsel, and a State Counsel. The Ministry of Public Health needs a Director of Primary Healthcare Services, a Director of the National Blood Transfusion Centre, a Director of the Genito Urinary Medicine clinic, a Deputy Director of Health Sciences Educa-

tion, a Strategic Information Officer, a Technical Officer, a Deputy Director of Regional Health Service, a Project Manager of the AIDS Programme, a Principal Dental Surgeon, a Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, a Health Economist, three Programme Coordinators and a Deputy Project Manager for the National AIDS Programme Secretariat, a Principal Physiotherapist, a Public Health Nutritionist, a Chief Emergency Medical Technician, a Coordinator for the Rehabilitation Assistant Training Programme, a Coordinator for the X-RAY Technician Training Programme, Head for the Georgetown Chest Clinic, a Project Director (Drug Abuse), a Senior Analytical Scientific Officer, two Senior Nursing Tutors, and two SHVs. The Ministry of Business needs a Director for the Business Strategy and Policy Unit and a Legal Officer. The Ministry of (Continued on page 23)

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 11, 2019

PAGE 13

US Appeals Court rejects Bisram's move to overturn extradition A

United States C o u r t o f Appeals has rejected Marcus Bisram's application to halt his extradition to Guyana to face a murder charge.

The ruling released this week now exhausts the possibilities, in terms of courts, for Bisram avoiding being sent back to Guyana, after more than two years in US custody. The final decision for him to be sent back rests with the US Secretary of State.

According to court documents, from Circuit Judges Dennis Jacobs, Debra Ann Livingston and Joseph Bianco, they have considered all of Bisram's remaining arguments and find them to be without merit. “Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the district

Murdered: Faiyaz Narinedatt court.� In January, the US Court of Appeals ordered that the extradition be stayed during the appeal.

Bisram is in the custody of US authorities, after being arrested on July 4, 2017 based on a request of the

Guyana government. He is being accused of ordering a hit on a Berbice carpenter, Faiyaz Narinedatt, a guest at a party he hosted back in late 2016.

Narinedatt was alleged to have been beaten by several men, at the behest of Bisram.

He was allegedly pushed into the trunk of a car, taken to the Berbice public road, dumped and run over to make it appear as if it was a hit-and-run.

Bisram was a close friend to Berbice police, contributing significantly to community policing.

After the incident, police had said, Bisram flew to New York and was not arrested until months later, in July 2017 at a New York beach front property.

The Guyana government had requested that the US authorities facilitate his

Dominican Republic expects...

From page 3 producers, including U.S., C h i n e s e and European companies, have expressed interest in bidding, said Reyes.

Executives from Repsol SA , Total , CNOOC Ltd , Noble Energy Inc and Exxon Mobil Corp were signed up to attend yesterday's launch.

"From the interest we have gathered, I'm pretty sure we'll award more than two blocks," Reyes said. "There is reasonable interest in the Caribbean and we're right in the middle of the Caribbean

Sea, our basins are facing Colombia and Venezuela," two nations with significant oil production.

Juan Agudelo, director of upstream consulting at Wood Mackenzie, which worked with the Dominican Republic on its licensing round, said Exxon's massive oil discoveries in waters off Guyana have helped put the spotlight on oil in the Caribbean.

Indeed, energy exploration is one way to boost the economy.

"Countries just want to develop their hydrocarbons resources and attract investments to improve their economic development," said Agudelo. Dominican Republic expects to attract investment by offering itself as a low-cost, businessfriendly country. " We h a v e a s t a b l e e c o n o m y, a l o t o f infrastructure including eight airports, and have the secondbiggest natural gas demand in the region," said Vice Minister Reyes.

extradition in relation with the matter. He was ordered to be sent back last year, but he immediately appealed.

Bisram migrated to the US years ago, and struck it rich there, travelling back and forth and becoming involved in charity.

His case is being closely watched as it may be the first time in years that someone with US citizenship would be extradited back to Guyana to face charges‌in this case it is murder.

Five other persons were charged for the murder of Narinedatt and have been sent to the High Court for trial before a jury.

In his appeal, to stay his extradition, Bisram, relied on a written statement allegedly given to Guyanese police on November 15, 2016 by Chaman Chunilall, a relative, and a guest at Bisram's house on the night of the alleged murder.

Bisram's legal representative argued that the statement was recanted, but the Court of Appeals, like the other lower court, disagreed.

The statement describes a party that took place at Bisram's house that evening, during which Chunilall allegedly witnessed Bisram approach an inebriated party guest, Faiyaz Narinedatt, and grope Narinedatt's private parts.

The statement claims that Narinedatt responded by slapping Bisram several

times and that Bisram responded in turn by instructing his bodyguard and several other party guests (in words or substance) to kill Narinedatt.

The statement then claims that the men began to beat Narinedatt with wooden staves before finally placing Narinedatt's bloodied and motionless body in the trunk of one of the men's cars, which was then driven away.

Narinedatt was found dead the next morning.

Running out of options: Marcus Bisram

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 11, 2019

2%

GUYANA'S VS 35 Countries!

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

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

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

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

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

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

PAID AD

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 11, 2019

PAGE 15

Young man 'trips out', attacks Decomposed body found in Crabwood 79-year-old church brother Creek trench

T

he suspicions of several church brethren were affirmed yesterday when a young colleague suspected of having emotional issues, 'tripped out' and attacked a 79-year-old church brother.

Victor Daniels as he awaited medical attention

Eyewitnesses who were on the scene and attend the same church as the suspect, said that man is normally quiet and distant, and acts s t r a n g e l y, e v e n w h e n church brethren are worshipping, interacting or

otherwise having a good time.

Some said that yesterday's attack did not come as a surprise, since many feared that one day he would 'trip out' as a result of his strange behaviour.

Several church members were executing construction work on a church in Princes Street, Georgetown, yesterday, when the young man reportedly sprang up suddenly and attacked 79year-old Victor Daniels of Bent Street, Georgetown,

resulting in Daniels sustaining a deep slash to the neck.

Daniels was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was treated and sent home in a stable condition.

While the accused has been taken into police custody, Daniels is however begging for mercy on his behalf. Daniels said he does not want the man to go to jail, but instead be offered the professional psychiatric help he seems to need.

T

he decomposed body of a man was found floating in a trench at Crabwood Creek yesterday around 10:30hrs by a farmer. Kaieteur News understands that the police were alerted that the body of a male was discovered floating in a sideline trench situated at Grant 1779 Crabwood Creek, Upper Corentyne.

The body was clad in checkered three-quarter pants and a dark coloured shirt. There were no apparentmarks of violence noticed

by investigating ranks, however, there was blood oozing from the nose.

According to the farmer who made the discovery, he was tending tohisboatinthesaidlocation when he was overwhelmed by an unbearable stench. Upon further investigation by the farmer, he found the rotting body in the trench.

The body is currently at the Bailey's Funeral Home awaiting an identification which will be followed by a post mortem examination.

Kaieteur News

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Thursday July 11, 2019

Local neurosurgeon making headway, aims to perform 'Awake brain surgery'

E

ven though he has been making progress with medical advancements l o c a l l y, H e a d o f t h e Neurology Department of the Georgetown Public Hospital, Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi believes in expanding his knowledge. This way, he can better serve the Guyanese community and ultimately improve the delivery of health care locally.

D r. D u k h i w i l l b e

- to participate in World Course in Advanced Brain Tumor Surgery in London participating in the 8th Annual World Course in Advanced Brain Tumour Surgery. The event is organised by the World Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) and will take place in London from July 18-21. The forum will bring together some of the

world's most distinguished n e u r o s u rg e o n s , neuroscientists, neurooncologists and leaders with interest in oncology, brain plasticity and neural functions, where they will share new treatments, research and strategies to enhance the specialty.

Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi According to CNS, they aim to bring the best in surgical techniques, advanced technologies and treatment options to neurosurgeons, treating patients with brain tumours, in all parts of the world.

For this year's conference, they will include eight live surgeries from some of the world's best university institutions with awake craniotomies and glioma surgeries, a cavernous sinus and skull base tumours, endoscopic pituitary surgery and, resection of a vascular lesion from an eloquent part of the brain.

Highlights of the four-day event include the introduction of the programme “The anatomy behind my surgery”,

Dr. Dukhi in the operating theatre where leading surgeons explain the critical surgical anatomy; hands-on practical workshops, debates and discussions on research in neuro-oncology, and awake craniotomy among others.

Participants will also be exposed to learning about non-surgical treatments in brain tumours from the leaders in clinical and medical neuro-oncology.

In addition to participating in the prestigious event, Dr. Dukhi was invited to a specially accredited course in the use of the latest technology in identifying and removing brain tumours.

The course called the 'Gliolan training' is aimed at risk minimisation and the support of safe and effective use of a brain tumour visualisation drug known as Gliolan. It assists neurosurgeons to completely remove malignant brain tumours by causing them to become fluorescent during surgery.

He explained that he will be “accredited to give the patient the medication to use and then that medication will be captured by the cancerous cells of the brain and during surgery, that area where the tumour exists will be lit up so it's called fluorescence guided tumour resection”. This type of procedure will also be the first to be introduced to Guyana.

He told the Department of Public Information: “It is a privilege and honour to attend such a prestigious conference of the council of neurological surgeons. It's one of the most recognised international advanced brain tumour surgical conferences

where you can interact and share ideas with the best neurosurgeons who are well trained in removing difficult brain tumours. I do look for w a r d t o u s i n g t h e knowledge gained in London to provide improved service to the Guyanese population”.

D r. D u k h i f u r t h e r highlighted that the training would provide him with an opportunity to witness firsthand an awake craniotomy, a procedure that specifically piqued his interest as he hopes to perform this complex technique in Guyana soon.

“With this advanced training in London, I will improve my skills to deal with difficult tumours deep within the brain and besides that, this course is especially associated with something that I always wanted to bring back to the region, making Guyana the first country in the English speaking country in South America to perform an Awake Brain Surgery.”

In the past year, Dr. Dukhi has pioneered two significant surgeries in Guyana, including a Vault C Anterior Cervical Fusion System (ACDF) implant and just recently a minimally invasive brain aneurysm surgery.

He received training in Guyana, Cuba, United Stated States of America and additional training from several countries around the world. His desire to become a neurosurgeon began in 2009 when he was offered a Scholarship to a full residency master's degree majoring in Neurosurgery at the Calixto Garcia's Medical University, Havana Cuba. (DPI)

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 11, 2019

PAGE 19

GPHC sees 'Implanon' implant as most effective for birth control

O

fficials at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) are asserting that the Implanon birth control implant is the most effective of its kind.

This of course was decided after a recent survey based on the demand for the contraceptive compared to other remedies at the GPHC Family Planning Clinic.

It is said that Implanon is a more 'easy to handle' remedy since it is a single rod implant as compared to Jadelle which is a double rod implant.

As a result Implanon has

replaced Jadelle, also because it is has fewer side effects, according to GPHC officials.

Birth control implants are one of the most widely demanded services at the family planning clinic and are available free of cost to women who wish not to get pregnant within a three to five-year period.

According to reports from the institution, more women have a preference for Implanon because it is longer lasting and does not require them having to pay much attention to it after it is implanted in the upper

forearm. After being implanted, the contraceptive immediately releases hormones in the body that effectively prevent pregnancy.

As stated by Head of the Family planning Department Nurse Debbie Dundas-Haley, the method of inserting the implant is quick, easy and painless.

The patients are first educated on the implant, and then a simple procedure occurs where the upper arm is sterilised, and numbed, before the contraceptive shot in the upper arm.

In many cases, according

Police treating welder's death as murder, several co-workers detained

A

previous report b y t h i s publication had stated that 34-year-old Welder Yogindra Ramkarran was found decomposed at Pigeon Island, however, multiple police sources have confirmed that the man's body was found near his work camp up the Karakari Creek, several miles away from the village of Orealla.

His body was found last week Wednesday night, reportedly by his coworkers.

Meanwhile, Kaieteur News was informed that several of Ramkarran's coworkers have been arrested and are currently in police custody assisting with investigations. Ramkarran's death is now being treated as a m u r d e r, s i n c e n e w information gathered has indicated that persons burnt the remains before the police arrived to the area to bring it out for relatives to identify.

It is understood that the persons are claiming that relatives gave permission to burn their relative's body, however the man's brother-inlaw told Kaieteur News that

Dead: Yogindra Ramkarran the only time they spoke to anyone was on Friday, when it was mentioned that the body was too decomposed to come out and as such they (persons at the worksite) would have to burn or bury the body. The brother-in-law disclosed that at no point was any permission granted to burn his relative's remains.

A police source from that area stated that there appeared to be a wound to the chest of the man that may have been the cause of death.

R a m k a r r a n ' s decomposed body was found in a clump of bushes

near his camp. He was reportedly imbibing with his co-workers last week Tuesday at their camp and shortly after they all ventured into the backlands and continued drinking. The co-workers reportedly claimed that after they concluded drinking they left him in the backlands to head back to camp and they never saw him again until they found his body last week Wednesday night.

Ramkarran had been employed with a sawmill operator from Crabwood Creek for the past nine years, relatives said.

Police are investigating.

West Berbice man freed of rape

A

29-year-old West Berbice man who was on trial on a charge of rape has been freed.

Khemraj Persaud, called “Hot Dog Boy”, of Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice, was on trial before Justice Priya SewnarineBeharry and a mixed jury in the Berbice High Court.

The man was accused of committing the act on October 15, 2017, at Rosignol, West Bank Berbice.

He was represented by Attorney at Law Latchmi Rahamat. Attorney Mandel Moore appeared for the State.

Persaud was freed after the jury returned

with a verdict of not guilty.

The case for the prosecution was that Persaud along with two others accosted a woman while she was on her way home, held her at knifepoint and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her against her will.

The woman, who was acquainted with one of the men, was out drinking at a disco in West Bank Berbice. On her way home she was reportedly ambushed and raped.

One of the men, Clarence Arthur called “Bung”, recently pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 20 years in jail by Justice Jo Ann Barlow. The other man was not arrested and is still at large.

The Implanon contraceptive being implanted at GPHC to reports, the only after effect is a little soreness to the area where the contraceptive has been administered.

Reports indicate that this procedure has been conducted at the health

facility for more than five years, and there has never been a case returning with serious complication. To date, some sixty mothers have already received the implant without complaints, according to GPHC services.

There are several other birth-control options available locally, and these include Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCPs), Depo-Provera injection, and the insertion of the Intra Uterine Device (IUD)

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 11, 2019

Detectives take suspect back to scene ...

From centre with the father being brought in first. The passage of his casket through the crowd was met with wails of anguish.

His daughter's remains followed sometime after as the transporting hearse was experiencing mechanical problems and had to be pushed into the driveway.

As the undertakers positioned the caskets and locked the wheels of the trolleys, they were opened and met with a mass of onlookers, as everyone tried to get a glimpse of father and child.

The family was given a private viewing, as members of the public were asked to give them some time to pay their last respects.

After about half an hour, others were

allowed to file around the caskets to get their share of viewing.

The floor was then made open to tributes.

Two Essequibians, an uncle of Mr. Latchman, as well as a pastor, paid tribute and extended condolences to the family and reminisced on the good times they had with Mr. Latchman.

A number of medical students, carrying a pink, heart-shaped wreath wept uncontrollably as they viewed their young colleague and her father lying side by side in caskets.

The two victims were shot dead last week Thursday after bandits cornered them in their premises and stole a bag of money from Mr. Latchman.

Thursday July 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

PAGE 22

Thursday July 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

Opposition wants clarity...

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Installation, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing Machine, Stove etc. Call Nick 630-1600, 627-3206

FOR SALE (1) Excavator CAT 315BL (1) Roller/Compactor CAT CB434C (1) Skid steer CAT 277B. Call for information, Rayman #615-2346/500-1600/ 628-0200/652-8505 Combines 7300 John Deere (2000hrs), Fiatagri L413 (2500hrs), Laverda 132 & Tractors: Massey 399, Fiat 110/90, Ford 6610, 290 Massey # 695-2220 Logs & Lumber directly from concession holder. Specialized in green heart, purple heart, mora, wamara, darina.

Affordable prices. Tel#2234236/697-0966 Steel rod sale at Alabama Trading, 1/2 “ 12mm -$960, 5/ 8”- 16mm -$1680. Call: 2255800/231-3345/623-1615 30x48 Sash windows, black & white (Regular size) casement and awning windows. $12,000 each. Tel#679-3325

FOR RENT

WANTED

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 One Four bedroom concrete cottage, unfurnished for rent, located at 26 Continential Park, Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara. Tel#233-5808

Experienced Cashier, Waitress/Waiters, apply in person with H/written application. Hack’s Halaal Restaurant, 5 Commerce St

3 Bedroom apartment unfurnished, 2 living rooms.

Water included $62,000 suitable for storage.Room for single person.675-2550/6742526.

3D Enterprise- Contract cars & SUV for short and long term rental. Cars from G$4,000 per day. Drivers Wanted.

Contact#611-9910 3 bedroom bottom flat, unfurnished at 116 Caneview Avenue, South Riumveldt Park $80,000. Call: 609-7826 2 bedroom downstairs flat @ Plaisance. $35,000 per month, 2 months security deposit.

Preferably a couple.

Whatsapp +1-905-3019798

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’sPER DAY- CALL: 656-0087 / 6435122,EMAIL:PRO_ A U T O R E N T A L @YAHOO.COM

Allion, primo, spacio, allex, noah, RZ pitbull bus, mazda axela, bluebird, 192 fielder wagon. 650-7501 One safari built and tested Toyota Tacoma. Call: 6245141/ 444-2910 (night and weekends) TO LET

DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL CALL: 225-7126 & 2263693 -DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL @ YAHOO.COM/ W W W . D O L L Y SAUTORENTAL.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 LEARN TO DRIVE Ultraviolet driving school, summer discount 6 classes for $10,000 book today #602-2583 N. Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square. Affordable package. Call: 644-5166/6912561

Office space to let.74 Brickdam opposite GT&T, 2 Floors fully Air conditioned, Generator, parking available.Call:226-6771/2264537.

(2) bedroom apartment @ 80 Brutus Street Agricola, next to Anglican Church between 1st & 2nd St. Tel#693-9494/2310051/611-9880 PROPERTY FOR SALE House for sale, Eccles Housing Scheme. 7 bedrooms, 3 toilets and bathrooms enclosed. $28.5M. Call 6420391/ 001447587233657/ yasharabhola4@gmail.com One flat unfinished concrete house-Tuschen $4 Million.

Tel#697-6311

Farmhand to live and work on farm on the Linden Highway.

Tel#626-8055 1 live in Domestic worker for G/town, 1 Sawman for interior. #660-9093 Live in or Live out Domestic worker. Call from MondaySaturday between 8:154:15pm #223-7500 We buy land in Parfaite Harmonie, Eccles, Providence, Herstelling, Farm, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt. Tel#651-1969/6560701 Experienced Salesman to work @ Innovation America, Knowledge in sales & vast experience in hardware atmosphere.

Apply: innovationsamericamng @gmail.com 1 maid. Tel#225-3234 T

VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Honda CRV. includes TV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, sproiler, crash bar, Low mileage. PTT Series (First Owner) Contact #6490956

Wanted-One route 40 minibus driver. Contact#638-2941/6985231

Cashiers to work at Superbet.

Tel#691-7123

LAND FOR SALE Farm road front E.B.D. Behind Park Vue hotel. High income land. Tel#669-5781, 696-7777 Transported land 11.6 acres, Lot 15 Public road #2 Village W.C. B/ce 5 mins from B/ce Bridge. Contact# 686-4818/ 648-7109

Vacancy exist for one Female to work @ Crystal Ics House in Blairmont, must have Maths & English #231-1408/ 618-3800 Immediate vacancy exists for male workers @ Del Ice Co. Tel#231-1408/642-9191 Experience Goldsmith needed at Jacob’s Jewellery and Pawnshop. Address 16 Pike St, Kitty Georgetown.

Tel#227-8748/622-4970

Live-in Domestic, must know to cook $25,000 wkly #6103974 25-40 yrs Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665/6493750

1 General Domestic, must be able to prepare Vegetarian meals, Apply Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St

One handyman. Please call #628-9268 VACANCY Vacancy exist @ People’s Choice mobile for 2 counter staff. Tel#679-9449/231-3059

Land for sale- Crane H/ scheme, WCD. Tel#671-6855

(1) Cashier to work @ Innovations America, must be between ages of 30-45. Send applications/CV’s to: innovationsamericamng @gmail.com

Parfaite Harmony $1.6 Million #697-6311

Accounts clerk to work In Charity. Contact#654-7162

Farm main road (East Bank) $6.8M Schnoord $3.6M (100ftx50ft) Dairy $2M Parfaite Harmonie $1.5M Tel#648-1635

Handyman in Charity.

Contact#654-7162

WANTED

VACANCY

1 part time kitchen asst/cook & 1 live-in domestic.2035yrs.Contact Mr.Khan.6956550/656-9313.

EDUCATION First aid/CPR & home nursing courses, St John Ambulance Brigade. Call: Tel# 225-9082 at 9:00-16:00hrs

From page 7 President.” The Opposition said it is also now enquiring of the meaning and purport of these “terminologies; before whom are these names pending, under whose consideration are they active, the President or his representatives and are these names “not unacceptable” to the President?”

“For the avoidance of doubt, we reiterate our commitment and availability to meet at any time, in order to advance and expeditiously conclude this process. We express our disappointment that the Presidents Representatives were unable to meet today, Wednesday the 10th

Supervisor to work in Charity.

Contact#654-7162

(1) Experienced Pastry maker.

Contact#682-1126/231-0498

Surveyor. Contact# 223-5273/ 223-5274

2 CSR at KDR (Western Union) at 38 Ketley St, Charlestown, Maths & English (1-3) Contact#2310498

Cashier, Ark Enterprise/The Container House. Bring application and police clearance to 17 Lombard Street.

Whole day domestic 4 days per week salary negotiable in Bel Air park near survival. Call: 226-2322 1 experienced driver, must have license for car/van/ minibus & motorbus, residing in G/town between ages 24-50 yrs old. #225-1429/ 641-5075 Vacancy exist @ People’s Choice Kitchen, Lot 88 James St, Albouystown for 3 nights cooks. Tel#679-9449/231-3059 Industrial Sales Representative, 5 Subject CXC Age 25+ Experience in Sales, must own vehicle, email r e s u m e : vacancy@josarltd.com Security needed for the interior and Georgetown. Call: 223-7165 One procurement personnel needed. Call: 223-7165 1 trainee computer technician, age 17-21 to work in Vreed-enhoop WBD. Email application to: rtechguy1@gmail.com

July 2019, to continue the engagement.”

According to the Opposition, they had agreed to the engagement to effectuate the “good faith” admonitions enunciated by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which must “preponderate” engagements between the President and the Leader of the Opposition.

“We, therefore, expect that the Presidents Representatives will be duly authorized to make commitments at these engagements in their capacity as conduits of the President. Unfortunately, these engagements, thus far, have failed these expectations, hence, our enquiries above.”

The Opposition said it will present the answers from the Government to the CCJ. “We are obliged to inform you that this communication and any response received hereto, will be disclosed to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) before the 12th July 2019, so we shall appreciate a response by tomorrow 11th July 2019, at 12 noon, and may determine whether this engagement will continue or whether, we will revert to the Leader of the Opposition and the President engaging, personally, as mandated by Article 161 (2) of the Constitution.”

Thursday July 11, 2019

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Man accused of murdering Prison Officer on ganja charge released on $100,000 bail sister appears in court A man who was charged for killing his sister, appeared yesterday before a city magistrate to answer to the charge.

Randy Cozier was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts. When the charge was read to the defendant, he stood still in the prisoners dock as though he was lost.

The charge stated that on July 4, 2019, at Waramuri, Moruca, North West District, he murdered Cynthia Cozier.

However, the accused was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

When asked about his particulars, the accused made known that he is a 24-yearold weeder from Moruca.

Police prosecutor Gordon

Remanded: Randy Cozier Mansfield revealed the facts of the charge to the court, which read that on July 3, 2019, the accused went to the

home of Cynthia Cozier where she and her other siblings resided. Cynthia Cozier told her brother to stop pelting bricks towards some children who were in the yard. The man became annoyed and armed himself with two cutlasses.

He dealt his sister several chops to her neck and her back.

The woman was then rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The suspect was later apprehended by the police and charged.

Chief Magistrate McLennan remanded Randy Cozier to prison and ordered that he go through counseling, and he is expected to make his next court appearance on August 5.

Over 900 jobs up for grabs...

From page 12 Public Security needs a Head for the Policy Research Unit and a Programme Coordinator. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure needs an Aviation Inspector, seven Senior Engineers, a Marine Superintendent, a Specialist Engineer, a Chief Mechanic a l E n g i n e e r, a Tr a ff i c Manager, and a Geographic Information System Technician.

The Ministry of Social Protection needs a Chief Probation and Social Services Officer, an Assistant Chief Probation and Social Services Officer, a Deputy Chief Labour Officer, an Assistant Chief Labour Officer, an Assistant Chief Occupational Safety and Health Officer, a Manager of Child Abuse Intake, a Manager for Family Support Services, a Manager of Foster Care, a Manager for the Procurement Unit and a Senior Statistician. The Ministry of Communities needs a Community Development and Monitoring Officer and three Special Project Officers. The Ministry of Agriculture needs a Chief Technical Officer, a Chief Hydrometeorological Officer, a Technical Officer, a Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator, a Head of Strategic Planning at the Policy Development and Analysis

Unit, a Head of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Statistics and Forecasting Unit, a Head of the Project and Programme Development Unit, a Specialist Meteorologist, and a Specialist Hydrologist, a Manager of Agricultural Stations of Ebini and Pirara, a Legal Officer, a Manager (Agriculture Extension) and a Policy Analyst.

The Ministry of Education needs a Deputy Chief Education Officer of Administration, a Chief Test Development Officer, a Curriculum Development Officer, an Assistant Chief Education Officer (Primary), a Principal Education Officer (Georgetown), a Head for the Literacy Units, a Head for the Multimedia Centre, a Coordinator for the Centre for Stimulation of Persons Associated with Disabilities, five REOs for Regions 2, 3, 4, 7 and 9, four Schools Inspectors, a Coordinator for the Schools Support Unit, an Individual Education Planner, a Special Project Officer, a Senior Test Development Officer, a Senior Statistician, three Education Officers II, a Senior Physical Education Officer, a Systems Administrator, two National Literacy Coordinators, and seven Education Officers I for Special Education.

It is important to note that

the Education Ministry is in need of 114 Guidance and Counselling Officers (Level 8).

The Department of Culture, Youth and Sport needs a Director of Culture, two Technical Officers and one Administrator for the Kuru Kururu Training College.

The Ministry of Finance needs a Chief Evaluation Officer. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs needs a Systems Administrator.

The Ministry of Indige n o u s P e o p l e s Aff a i r s needs a Ministerial Planning Officer, a Monitoring and Development Officer, a Programme Coordinator, a Systems Administrator, and a Management Development Officer. The Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions needs two Assistant Directors, and two State Counsels.

The positions are pensionable.

A prison officer, who was remanded to prison on his first court appearance, was yesterday released on $100,000 bail. He is accused of smuggling marijuana into the Camp Street Prison.

Twenty-year-old Cleon Webster, of Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara, was arraigned before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts. The charge stated that on June 14, 2019, at Camp Street Prison, Georgetown, Webster had in his possession 120 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

However, the defendant denied the allegation.

On Websters first court appearance, police prosecutor Seon Blackman objected to bail being granted to him based on three grounds; the nature of the offence and the prevalence

Prison Officer: Cleon Webster of, and the punishment the offence attracts. He also objected based on the fact that the narcotics were found in

Websters bag. Yesterday, Websters lawyer renewed the bail application and mentioned that her client is prepared to lodge his passport, and his family will ensure that he returns for his next court date. Magistrate McGusty then granted Webster bail in the sum of $100,000. He is expected to make his next court appearance on July 31. The facts of the charge read that upon entering the prison compound everyone is subjected to a search. A search was conducted on Webster and the said narcotics were discovered in his bag.

The officer who conducted the search, unwrapped the parcel the marijuana was in and showed it to Webster; he (Webster) said that it belonged to his sister.

As a result, he was arrested and charged.

PAGE 24

Thursday July 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

Indian airline technician dies after Sri Lanka is measles-free, World Health Organization says getting trapped in plane door (CNN) A technician for Indian airline SpiceJet died in a freak accident in Kolkata on Wednesday morning, after accidentally getting trapped in a plane door.

Rohit Pandey was performing maintenance work on the aircraft at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, when a hydraulic door “inadvertently” closed and he got stuck between the

door flaps, according to a SpiceJet spokesperson.

A doctor was called immediately after the incident was reported at about 1:45 a.m., said Kaushik Bhattacharya, director of the Kolkata airport. “The body could not be pulled out and the doors had to be cut by mechanics,” Bhattacharya added.

Pandey was declared

dead shortly after the doors were broken.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), a federal regulatory body, has launched an investigation into the accident.

In a statement, SpiceJet said it was “extremely saddened” by the news and that “the entire SpiceJet family stands together in grief in this unfortunate incident.”

Ukraine president kicks official out of meeting over criminal record KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had a regional official expelled from a meeting broadcast live on television on Wednesday because of a past criminal record.

“Get out of here, rogue!

Are you not hearing me correctly?” he told Yaroslav Hodunok, to applause from other officials present at the otherwise routine meeting.

The official threatened legal action against Zelenskiy, telling a newspaper the 2002 case against him was wrong.

A comedian and actor, Zelenskiy won election in April promising to root out corruption. His Servant of the People party is on course to win a July 21 parliamentary election.

Zelenskiy was meeting officials from the Kiev region to dis-

cuss projects including a new city hospital yet to be built.

Hodunok, local council secretary and member of the Fatherland party of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, said there were problems with financing.

Zelenskiy said Hodunok talked a lot but did nothing, then read from his phone what he said was his criminal record for robbery and violence.

(CNN) Sri Lanka has defied the global trend in the battle against measles, with the country declared free of the highly infectious disease by the World Health Organization on Tuesday.

The country reported its last homegrown case of the virus in May 2016, WHO said in a statement. Sporadic cases reported in the last three years were imported from abroad but were quickly detected, investigated and received a rapid response, WHO added.

“Sri Lanka’s achievement comes at a time when globally measles cases are increasing,” Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director WHO SouthEast Asia, said in a statement.

“The country’s success demonstrates its commitment, and the determination of its health workforce and parents to protect children against measles,” she said.

The highly contagious viral disease has made a comeback across the globe — in high-income countries in the Americas and Europe, as well as in some low- and middle-

income countries in Asia and Africa — fueled in part by fear of and lack of access to vaccines, and complacency.

This year, the United States, where measles was declared eliminated in 2000, has experienced the highest number of measles cases since 1992. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Monday that the number of measles cases this year has reached 1,109 across 28 states.

Europe has also seen a resurgence of cases, with Ukraine experiencing the worst outbreak in the region, totaling more than 25,000 cases recorded in the first two months of 2019.

WHO attributed Sri Lanka’s success to its efforts to ensure maximum coverage with two doses of measles and rubella vaccines being provided in the country’s childhood immunization programme.

It said vaccination coverage was consistently high — more than 95%.

However, the global

health body said that Sri Lanka would have to remain vigilant to keep its measlesfree status.

“The risk of importations of measles virus from countries near and far will remain, specially from those that have significant population movement with Sri Lanka,” Singh said.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases and the virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes. If someone who is not immune to the virus breathes that air or touches an infected surface, they can become infected.

To protect yourself against the measles, doctors recommend getting vaccinated. Other steps include washing your hands often or using hand sanitizer, avoiding touching your eyes and mouth, disinfecting surfaces and toys with standard household products, and refraining from coming into close contact with anyone who’s sick.

Thursday July 11, 2019

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

Opposition asks CCJ to order election by Sept. 18 - Maintains no need for House-to-House registration The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has maintained that it will be in a position to hold credible general and regional elections anytime after Christmas, December 25, when an Official List of Electors (OLE) will become available following House-to-House registration.

The Opposition, however, is saying that this is unacceptable. In fact, lawyers for the Opposition are asking the CCJ to make an order that the President, by proclamation, appoint a date for the holding of elections no later than September 18.

The Opposition, through Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, in its submissions on Consequential Orders advanced that the Cabinet, including the President shall resign, but remain in office and hold an election for members of the National Assembly within three months of June 18—when the CCJ affirmed that the NoConfidence Motion was properly passed.

The Senior Counsel said that in accordance with Section 7 (1) of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act No.15 of 2000, as amended by Section 7 of the Act No. 10 of 2018., the OLE would only have been subject to revision after six months from October 31, 2018, and accordingly would have been the list used for the election if it had been held on or before March 21— given than election was initially due with 90 days from December 21, 2018, the date the motion was passed.

Mendes held, “…It is respectfully submitted that in

order so far as possible to ensure compliance with the constitutional mandate to hold an election no later that 21st March 2019, the election which must now be held, ought to be ordered to be held on the basis of the Official List of Electors in existence on 21st March 2 0 1 9 . T h a t w a y, a n y argument concerning what list is now to be used is avoided.”

According to the Opposition, there is no need for a new OLE. Against this backdrop, the Senior Counsel maintained that there is no requirement for GECOM to hold Houseto-House registration.

Mendes said that the consequences of the vote on the No-Confidence Motion are spelled out in Article 106 (7) of the Constitution of Guyana.

Article 106 (6) says, “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”

Article 106 (7), on the other hand reads, “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following

the election.”

Mendes pointed out that there was no vote by the National Assembly extending the period during which election was to be held. He therefore maintained that in obedience to Article 106 (7), an election ought to have been held no later than March 21. The Senior Counsel added that no attempts were made by government to hold an election after Chief Justice Roxane George ruled that the No-Confidence motion was valid.

“The Attorney General (Basil Williams) appealed that decision and despite there being no stay of the requirements of Articles 106 (6) and (7), still no attempt was made to hold an election. Neither did the Cabinet, including the President, resign.”

He noted that it is without a doubt that after the Court of Appeal ruled that the vote was invalid, the Government was no longer obligated to hold an election.

However, now that the Chief Justice’s ruling has been restored, Mendes is asking the CCJ to fashion such Consequential Orders to ensure that, as far as possible, the requirements of Articles 106 (6) and (7), are enforced.

Given that an election was to be held on or before March 21, and that date has already elapsed, Mendes reasoned, “The only order which would comply with the spirit and

Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes intent of Article 106 (7) is an order requiring an election to be held within a reasonable time, but certainly not later than three months from the date on which the (CCJ) reversed the decision of the Court of Appeal…”

The Senior Counsel is essentially seeking an order that an election be held within three months of June 18, as though the NoConfidence Motion was passed on that same date.

According to Mendes, Williams and GECOM have both canvassed for Consequential Orders which would permit an election to be held at some

yet unspecified time after December 25.

Mendes submitted, “They say this is made necessary by the alleged fact that the official list of electors is not ready and can only be made ready after the completion of house to house registration exercise which cannot be completed before 25th December, 2019, an exercise which, mind you has not yet begun and is only carded to begin in July 2019.

They say that fixing a date for the election in accordance with their timetable will not violate the Constitution because Articles 106 (6) and 106 (7)

are to be interpreted as director only, by which they mean, presumably, that the requirements of those Articles may be ignored without legal consequences.”

“The obvious consequence of the stance taken by the Attorney General and the assumed independent Elections Commission is to ask the (CCJ) to participate in a sanction to further violation of the Constitution,” Mendes put forward in his submissions. Mendes said, too, that general elections are due in the first half of next year, and the Consequential Orders being sought by Williams and GECOM are for elections to be held at a point which would render the vote of no confidence entirely ineffective and otiose.

He continued, “Whereas the vote of no confidence, if given effect to, would have shortened the term of office of the Government by at least one year, the effect of the consequential order which they seek would be to permit the Government to serve out its full five year term.

This Honourable Court is urged the sanction such a cynical and indeed transparent attempt to subvert the Constitution.”

PAGE 26

UK ambassador to US resigns in Trump leaks row (BBC) Sir Kim Darroch has resigned as UK ambassador to the US, as a row over leaked emails critical of President Trump’s administration escalates.

Theresa May said Sir Kim’s departure was “a matter of deep regret” after the ambassador said it was “impossible” for him to continue.

Tory leadership candidate Boris Johnson has faced strong criticism for failing to fully support him.

President Trump said on Monday that the US would not deal with Sir Kim.

Thursday July 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

The US president had branded him “a very stupid guy” after confidential emails emerged where the ambassador had called his administration “clumsy and inept”.

In a letter to the Foreign Office, Sir Kim said he wanted to end speculation about his position: “The current situation is making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like.”

His resignation has prompted widespread support for Sir Kim as well as criticism of Tory frontrunner Boris Johnson.

According to some

Whitehall sources, Sir Kim decided to resign after Mr Johnson refused to support him during the Tory leadership debate on Tuesday night, said BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale.

Mr Johnson was asked repeatedly by fellow leadership candidate Jeremy Hunt whether he would keep Sir Kim in the post if he became prime minister, but refused to answer.

It is understood Mr Johnson spoke to Sir Kim on the phone on Wednesday afternoon.

U.S. holding 200 children at border, down from 2,500 in May (Reuters) - U.S. immigration authorities held about 200 unaccompanied children at locations along the southwest border as of Wednesday, down from more than 2,500 in May as funding increases enabled a U.S. health agency to take custody of them.

The reduction in detainees as reported by a senior U.S. Customs and Border Protection official follows a pair of recent internal government inspections that revealed overcrowding and filthy conditions for immigrants that inflamed

the debate about President Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration policy.

Almost all detained unaccompanied children picked up by border officers are being turned over to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials within 72 hours of apprehension, the official told reporters on a conference call, speaking on the condition he not be named.

Criticism mounted after government inspectors and immigration lawyers found evidence children were being held long past legal limits at border facilities not equipped to house them.

Increasing numbers of mostly Central American families and children traveling alone - many seeking asylum in the United States

- have overwhelmed authorities at a time when the Trump administration is pushing to limit legal and illegal immigration.

From late May to early June, the United States held about 2,500 to 2,700 children wh o w e r e detained after crossing the border by themselves or who were separated from adults who were not their parents, the official said.

“To see these numbers currently at about 200 is v e r y p o s i t i v e . T h a t ’s a huge difference since HHS has received their funding,” the official said. “Our goal is to get these individuals out of our custody as quickly as possible to HHS so they can have all the proper care and the long-term needs met for them.”

Thursday July 11, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Djokovic into ninth Wimbledon semi as Federer, Nadal eye match-up

AFP - Four-time champion Novak Djokovic reached the Wimbledon semi-finals for the ninth time yesterday, racking up his 70th career win at the All England Club in the process.

The top seed and world number one hit back from a break down in the first set to carve out a commanding 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 win over 21st seed David Goffin of Belgium.

In a ruthless display, the defending champion reeled off 15 of the last 17 games to secure a place in the semi-finals of the majors for the 36th time.

Next up is Spanish 23rd seed Roberto Bautista Agut, who made his first Grand Slam semi-final with a 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 over Argentina’s Guido

Pella.

“He started well and was dictating play from the baseline,” 32-year-old Djokovic said of Goffin.

“Things could have gone a different way if I had lost the first set but I was very pleased with the second and third.

He added: “I had a tough match in the third round (against Hubert Hurkacz).

Other than that, I’ve won in straight sets and played really well throughout the tournament.

“It’s exactly what I wanted and hopefully I can go in the right direction in the semis as well.”

Goffin was on top in the early stages as he sensed the opportunity to become the

Roberto Bautista celebrates after beating Argentina’s Guido Pella.

(AFP / Ben Stansall) first Belgian man to make the semi-finals at a Slam since Xavier Malisse at Wimbledon in 2002.

The 28-year-old broke for a 4-3 lead but 16-time Slam winner Djokovic then reeled

Thursday July 11, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today you've decided to change things around you, Aries. You're about to make radical changes to your life.

You feel that you're almost invulnerable, that nothing can resist you.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Taurus, you will have the opportunity to set the record straight with some of your relatives. Sometimes some of them take advantage of your kindness, and you serve without even a thought for yourself.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your philanthropic side is fading. You're used to thinking about others before thinking about yourself, but today, things are about to change. I CANCER (June 21–July 22) Haven't you wondered how it would feel to be omniscient, Cancer? Well, today you're about to have this experience.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today could provide an interesting opportunity to show your assets in a professional setting. People will be impressed by your personality and may even offer you a new job or exciting business proposal.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today you may have to commit to some values close to your heart, Virgo. As a child, you were aware of the role you had to play in society.

You were greatly concerned about others.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may feel your life is full of uninteresting people.

You think they're all alike and fit perfectly within a conservative society.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You might think you're the most intelligent person in the world. You hover over the notions that bind us.

You're transformed into an artist who's able to have great ideas.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Everybody knows that you're very strong willed.

You've always had a very active disposition.

You have the ability to surmount all obstacles and soak up all the energy that comes to your aid.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Your family life will give you a lot of work today. Some of your relatives may express a desire for independence and some might even try to rebel.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You aren't the kind of person who likes to lead an ordinary life. You aren't afraid of the unknown.

You like to open up to new worlds and cultures.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You shouldn't try to stay alone today, Pisces.

Once in a while you need to spend some time alone t o p o n d e r your life, to dream and wish for better things to come.

Power-packed: Novak Djokovic celebrates winning a game against David Goffin. (AFP / Daniel Leal-Olivas) off the next nine games, taking the first set, and the second in which he allowed the Belgian just four points on his serve.

- Federer v Nadal in semis? The contest was over by the time Djokovic broke for a 3-1 lead in the third set.

Bautista Agut, 31, booked his first appearance in a Slam last-four at the 27th attempt by seeing off Pella, who had never previously reached a

quarter-final at the majors.

“Novak is the number one in the world and he’s playing really well on grass,” said Bautista Agut, who has a 3-7 record against the Serb.

However, two of those wins came this year in Doha and Miami.

Roger Federer can rack up his 100th win at Wimbledon later Wednesday and set-up a blockbuster semi-final against Rafael Nadal.

If it does happen, it will

be their first match at the All England Club since 2008 when Nadal triumphed in what is widely regarded as the greatest-ever Wimbledon final.

However, before they reach that stage, eight-time champion Federer has to get past Kei Nishikori while Nadal, a two-time winner, tackles bighitting Sam Querrey.

At 37, Federer is the oldest quarter-finalist since Jimmy Connors in 1991.

He reached his 17th quarter-final at the All England Club — and 55th at the majors — with a 74-minute demolition of Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, dropping just five games.

Federer will take a 7-3 record over seventh-seeded Nishikori into his quarter-final.

Nishikori, playing in his second successive Wimbledon quarter-final, defeated the Swiss great in the ATP Finals last year, ending a drought which had stretched to almost five years.

He is bidding to become the first Japanese man since Jiro Satoh in 1933 to make the semi-finals.

Nadal, playing in his seventh Wimbledon quarter-final, faces Querrey backed up by a 4-1 record over the 65thranked American.

Querrey made the semi-finals in 2017, beating then world number one Andy Murray in the last-eight before falling to Marin Cilic.

The American has pounded down 100 aces so far at the tournament, dropped serve just once and accounted for fifth seed Dominic Thiem in the first round.

“When he plays well, he can be very, very dangerous on all surfaces,” said Nadal, whose recent 12th French Open title took him to 18 majors, just two back from Federer’s record.

Querrey hopes to be the first unseeded player in the semi-finals since Marat Safin and Rainer Schuettler both made it in 2008.

PAGE 28

Concacaf announces format for 2022 FIFA World Cup Confederation Qualifiers Qualifiers will determine the 3 ½ reps in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Miami – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) yesterday announced the format for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Confederation Qualifiers.

The restructured competition will be composed of two parts, which will take place simultaneously during the FIFAmatch windows in 2020 and 2021. The first part of the Concacaf qualifiers, which will be played in a Hexagonal format, will be contested between the top six ranked Concacaf Member Associations based on the FIFA Ranking published after the FIFA window of June 2020.

After home-and-away round robin play during the FIFA Match windows of September, October and November of 2020 and March and September of 2021, the top three teams will qualify directly to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.

The second part of the qualifiers, played across a Group Stage and knockout phase, will involve the Concacaf Member Associations ranked 7-35 according to

the FIFA Ranking published after the FIFA window of June 2020. For the group stage, these 29 participating Concacaf Member Associations will be divided into eight groups (five groups of four teams and three groups of three teams). After home-andaway round robin play during the FIFA Match windows of September, October and November of 2020, the first-place finishers in each of the eight group will qualify for the knock out stage.

The quarter finals, semifinals and final matches of the knock out phase will all be played in a home-and-away direct elimination format, during the FIFA Match windows of March, June and September 2021.

The winner of the knockout phase will face the fourthplace finisher of the Hexagonal group to determine the Concacaf representative in the FIFA intercontinental playoff. The home-and-away playoff matches between the two Concacaf representatives will take place during the FIFA Match Window of October 2021. ”The love for the game in

this region is growing rapidly and our diverse and dynamic communities want a clear pathway to world-class football.

Through our freshly designed formats — across FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Concacaf Nations League and Concacaf Gold Cup — we are staging more competitive international matches than ever-before to help these communities fulfill their potential,” said Concacaf President Victor Montagliani. ”This new FIFA World Cup Qualifying format, based on the FIFA rankings, makes every competitive match count.

Alongside the Concacaf Nations League, and our expanded Gold Cup, it will raise standards of play to unprecedented levels and develop the sport across the region.

Making the leading Concacaf nations stronger on the global stage, while giving our emerging footballing nations the chance to pursue their dreams of playing at a World Cup.”The date, location and procedures for the draw which will determine the groups and match schedule for the Hexagonal will be announced later this year.

LGC to stage 2-day tournament this weekend in preparation for Lusignan Open

I

n anticipation and preparation for the grand 2-day Lusignan Open on Saturday and Sunday July 20, 21, 2019, the LGC will hold two exciting tournaments this weekend on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14, July 2019.

Teeing off at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday July 13, the LGC Appreciation Day golf tournament will take place, in honour of sterling and noteworthy contributions - which rescued the Grounds after heavy torrential rains last week - from Grounds Staff Avinash, Barney, Boodhoo and Mahgo, as well as from Mrs Padmawattie Joree and her son Sachin, in addition to Maurice Solomon, Robert Hanoman, Per Persaud, Dr. Anwar Hussain, Rudy Ramalingum, Mr. A. Persaud, Hardeo ‘Curry’ Ganpat from Global Auto Spares, Ronald Machine Shop, Macorp and the Lusignan NDC. Teeing off at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday July 14, the held over (due to rain) Caricom Day tournament, will take place.

Up for grabs in both tournaments, are 1st and 2nd Net places in each Flight, in addition to the Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin specialty prizes.

Thursday July 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

This weekend’s two-day experience will prime golfers for the international standard Lusignan Open of July 20, 21.

The Lusignan Open - which was resuscitated in 2018, under President Aleem Hussain’s initiative, after being off the LGC’s annual calendar for several years - is one of the two premier tournaments now held annually at the Club, the other being the 2-day Guyana Open, normally held in October/November.

This level of Open Tournament allows every amateur golfer in the region to compete – Club members, nonmembers, visitors, caddies, overseas golfers – so that the title and honor as well as the bragging rights for being this 2-day champion are much more significant than for normal tournaments. Current and previous Guyana Open champions will be passionately competing so that Avinash Persaud, Mohanlall Dinanauth and Mike Mangal – male champions, as well as Christine Sukhram, Joaan Deo and Shanella Webster-London – female champions, are in the lineup.

Meanwhile, this year’s regular weekend 1-day champions who are certainly expected to seek to stamp their

dominance or well-honed skills on the Course for the Lusignan Open, include; Aleem Hussain, Aasrodeen Shaw, Carlos Carbo, Clifford Reis, Guillermo Escarraga, Ian Gouveia, Imtiaz Subhan, Kassim Khan, Kevin Dinanauth, Lekhnarine Shivraj, Mahindra Bhagwandin, Mahindranauth Tewari, Maurice Solomon, Maxim Mangra, Parmanand Persaud, Patrick Prashad, Per Persaud, Pope-Emanuel London, Rabindranauth Persaud,Richard Haniff, Robert Hanoman, Roy Cummings and Troy Cadogan.

The Ministry of Tourism, under the Director General Donald St Clair, will be amongst the main sponsors for this year’s Lusignan Open, and some 70 golfers and hundreds of spectators are anticipated to be in attendance.

The public is invited to enjoy observing this weekend’s tournaments free of cost. For more information on the LGC, on how to become a member, how to learn the basics of golfing free of charge, how to contribute to the Club, or how to use the facilities, please visit the LGC’s Facebook page at lusignangolfclub or call 2205660.

Federer overcomes shaky start to join Gram Slam 100 club LONDON (Reuters) Roger Federer chalked up another monumental milestone to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals yesterday, recovering to beat Japan’s Kei Nishikori 4-6 6-1 6-4 6-4 and become the first man to record a century of singles wins at any Grand Slam.

Number two seed Federer was so poor in the first set that the eighth-seeded Nishikori may have felt the 37-year-old Swiss’s advancing years had finally caught up with him.

Yet the remainder of the contest had just enough flourishes of pure brilliance from the eight times champion to make it a worthy occasion for him to become the sole male member of the Grand Slam 100 club.

Federer’s victory raised the prospect that Wimbledon may once again play host to

Switzerland’s Roger Federer in action during his quarter final match against Japan’s Kei Nishikori. (REUTERS/Tony O’Brien) one of the sport’s greatest rivalries, provided Rafa Nadal overcomes b i g - s e r v i n g American Sam Querrey to tee up a clash against his old Swiss foe in the semi-finals.

The duo have not met at the All England Club since their titanic tussle in the 2008 final, when Nadal outlasted Federer over five thrilling sets that finished in the late evening gloom.

Hamilton Green 9-a-side Inter Ward Cup final fixed for Sunday at Den Amstel Dennis Edwards and the Sparta Family have taken a major role in sponsoring Sunday programme of the final day of competition in the Hamilton Green Inter Ward/ Village 9-a-side Knockout Football Tournament which will conclude with eight matches at the Den Amstel ground, West Coast Demerara.

Action starts at 3:00pm with the remaining playoff games followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and final under lights provided by Brian Tiwari of BK International Company.

The 30-minute games, which will be divided into 15minute halves with a 5-minute interval, opens with Mahaicony coming up against Bagotville at 3:00pm followed by Timehri against Charlestown, Soesdyke face Lilliendaal, Pouderoyen versus Sophia, Goed Fortuin play De Kinderen, Bourda Blues take on Mocha, Den Amstel Back Street battle Zeelugt and Uitvlugt oppose Vreed-en-Hoop. The winners of these games advance to the quarters, with the respective winners going onto challenge for a spot in the final.

Sudden death penalties will be used to separate the sides in the event of a draw at the end of full time. The no offside rule and all of the FIFA rules will be in effect.

The champions will take home $300,000, while the runners-up team will collect $100,000 with both teams getting the Prime Minister’s Tro-

Dennis Edwards and Sparta Family sponsors’ day’s activity

Tyrone Khan phies which were donated by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

The third place team will receive $60,000 sponsored by Techno mills, while the team that finishes fourth will get $40,000 donated by Ready Mix along with Trophies.

The player with the Most Goals will receive a Home Dinette Chair from China Trading, while the footballer who scores the second most goals will be presented with a Lazy Boy chair from AH&L Kissoon. The Best Goalkeeper will collect the Minister of Natural Resources trophy.

Trayon Bobb (4), Adrian Aaron (3), Jamal Harvey (2) and Tyrone Khan (2) are the current top goal scorers in the tournament.

Among the sponsors of the tournament are: John Fernandes, Courtney Benn,

Jamal Harvey

Trayon Bobb Techno mills, Ready mix, Sattaur Gafoor, Sparta Family, E.C Vieira, BEV Enterprises, BK International, IPA, New Thriving, Ricks and Sari, ENetworks, Star Computers, NAMILCO, Cummings Electrical, National Sports Commission, Star Entertainment, Alfro Alphonso and the Prime Minister.

Thursday July 11, 2019

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Poor preparation the bugbear again for ‘Green Machine’ Team now turn to Pan American games in Peru

Head of the GRFU, Peter Green.

The Guyana Rugby Football Federation (GRFU) held a customary press conference yesterday at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) to update the media on their performances at the just concluded the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens tournament that was contested last weekend at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in the Cayman Islands.

Guyana’s ruggers that are known as the ‘Green Machine’ finished sixth in the tournament, continuing their horrid form of recent, losing 19-7 to Trinidad & Tobago (T&T), 14-12 to Cayman Islands before being crushed 42-7 by Jamaica and 47-5 by Canada. The Guyanese managed one win against T&T in the plate semifinals before

Player/coach; Claudius Butts

losing the plate final to a sixman Cayman Islands.

However, both the Captain of the team; Jamal Angus along with Player/Coach; Claudius Butts, noted that poor preparation and lack of domestic tournaments were the major factors towards a sub-par performance by the teams.

Guyana last won the RAN tournament in 2016 but lost agonisingly in the 2017 and 2018 finals which made this 2019 performance even more shocking.

Butts noted that, “We tried to do something different. We had a two-day camp comprising of 14-players in the Cayman Islands and judging on our performances, I think it was simple mistakes that led to our downfall. The same

Captain of the Green Machine; Jamal Angus.

things that we would have worked on during the campus we failed to execute efficiently.”

The player/coach further posited that, “We need to go back to our domestic rugby.

We need to be playing consistently. We also need high level training matches against some good opposition in our region like Canada, Venezuela etc.”

Next on the GRFU radar is the men’s Sevens team participation in the 18th Pan American Games which will

be held in Peru from the 26th of this month to the 12th of August.Head of the GRFU, Peter Green, shared with the media during yesterday’s brief that he has made a request to the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to

use their National Training Center’s artificial turf at Providence to help the team prepare in dry conditions during the current wet season.

The GRFU boss noted during the brief that the executive is willing to work along with all stakeholders to help get Guyana’s rugby back on track.

The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) are funding the arrival of three overseas players to Guyana on the 15th of this month but Green disclosed that last weekend’s RAN championship which also served as an Olympic qualifier, was enough international exposure for the Green Machine heading into the Pan Am games with the likes of Canada, Jamaica participating.

(Calvin Chapman)

Jamaica’s ‘spoilt’ male sprinters need to work harder - Bolt KINGSTON (Reuters) Olympic sprint great Usain Bolt sees struggle ahead for Jamaica’s men at the world championships, claiming the Caribbean nation’s “spoiled” young sprinters lack the discipline to train and the hunger for success.

Bolt, who won eight Olympic gold medals and led Jamaica through a golden era in sprinting, said he felt motivation levels had fallen since his retirement after the London world championships in 2017.

“I don’t think it is going to get any better because I think these youngsters are a little bit spoiled,” the 32-yearold told Reuters from his home in Kingston on Tuesday, pointing to their attitude to training.

“I must say yes about that when it comes to sprinting in Jamaica right now on the male side.“When I was around I think the motivation was there

and we worked hard and the level was high, but now that I have left the sport, I feel like it has dropped.

“Not that I’m saying (it’s) because I left the sport, but now that I have left, it has dropped for me and Glen Mills, who is a top coach that I look up to.”The 100 and 200 metres world record holder’s comments echoed sentiments put forward by Jamaican sprint coaches Mills and Stephen Francis, who feel the nation’s male sprinters are not cutting it at the highest level.

Bolt bowed out of London with a bronze in the 100m and suffered a hamstring injury during the 4x100 relay as Jamaica’s men’s team missed out on a medal for the first time since 2005 in Helsinki.

The Jamaican men also had a disappointing Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast last year, picking up bronzes in both the 100m

Gold medalist Usain Bolt (JAM) of Jamaica bites his medal at the Olympic Stadium - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

(REUTERS/ Alessandro Bianchi)

individual and relay events despite the relatively weak fields.Bolt was more positive about Jamaica’s hopes in the women’s events at the Sept.

28-Oct. 6 world championships in Doha, with ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson jointly holding the year’s best time of 10.73 seconds in the 100m.

“Again I think that the females will do well,” said Bolt.

“If we are going to fail, it will be on the male side, but I feel like the females will hold up their end and will do well,

but we’ll see what happens.”

Bolt said Jamaica’s women simply had more ambition and drive than their male counterparts.

“It’s the fact the females, I must say, are smarter,” he added.

“I personally believe that because they want to be rich ... They want to be great, they want to accomplish things in life so they work towards certain things.“They want to develop and go on to do big things. I don’t think that the males are there.”

Sir Garfield Sobers International Schools’ tournament

QC remain unbeaten, Business School lose to Dominica school Guyanese Schools Queen’s College and the Business School had contrasting fortunes in the second round of the 33rd Sir Garfield Sobers 40-over International Schools tournament in Barbados.

In ZONE A At Lears: - Queen’s College (Guyana) beat Presentation College by 10 wickets.

Presentation College from Trinidad made 89-9 in 40 overs as Kyle Jaltan scored 29 and Ravi Kadoo contributing 15.

Bowling for the Guyanese, who are being coached by former First-Class batsman Mark Harper, Navindra Persaud (3-13), Vinash Jaikaran (3-26) and Idris Allen (2-20) had a good

day at Class.

Queen’s College in reply, reached 90-0 in 20.5 overs as Brandon Jaikaran unbeaten on 35 and Navindra Persaud with 33 not out, featured in an unbroken half-century opening stand.

In Zone B At Gall Hill: Dominica Schools beat The Business School (Guyana) by eight wickets.The Business School 119 all out in 31 overs (Wayne McPherson 26, Ariel Tilku 23, Andsuegga Rodrigues 11, Neo Davis 4-28, Lincoln Abe Durand 2-10, Ashton Auguste 2-21).

Dominica Schools 120-2 in 22.3 overs (Stephan Pascal 56 not out, Malacai Xavier 33, Micah Joseph 10).

CFU 2019 Girls’ Under14 Challenge Series

Guyana drawn in Group 5 to be hosted by Dom. Rep. from August 5

Bridgetown, Barbados – Guyana has been drawn in Group 5 of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) 2019 Girls’ Under 14 Challenge Series which would take place from August 513, 2019 across five venues in the region. A total of 22 teams will take part in the competition.

The developmental tournament will be played in Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis and the Dominican Republic. ”This competition follows last year’s Women’s Challenge Series and drills down on the CFU’s commitment to grassroots football generally and the advancement of the women’s game specifically. Just under 400 girls from across the Caribbean will get the chance to pit their skills against their counterparts, and this will also foster their growth and development both on and off the football pitch,” CFU President Randolph Harris said. ”This competition is also important for us from a developmental perspective, as it gives us the opportunity to appoint budding referees from the respective territories to officiate in the matches. This will shore up their skills and give them some of the much-needed practical experience required to advance to the next tier,” President Harris added.

Guyana, which drew the bye in their first match, will come up against the host nation, Grenada, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago with all matches to be played at the Carol Morgan School.

PAGE 30

Thursday July 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

Bris-o Promotions presents Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Georgetown Zone Bikini boxing on Saturday All set for an exhilarating contest Pro Boxer Dexter Marques to feature at Event

Seon Bristol of Bris-O promotions.

By Sean Devers New York-based Guyanese boxing promoter, Seon Bristol, has confirmed that his Briso Promotion Company will be staging a Bikini boxing card on Saturday July 13 at the La Famila ground on Aubrey Barker Street in South Ruimveldt During this event which is scheduled to commence at 18:00hrs, Flyweight pugilist Dexter Marques is expected to showcase his boxing skills in two Execibition bouts on the night.

Marques is preparing for possible title fight on Boxing Day 2019, when Bris-O Promotions collaborates with the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) to stage a Pro-AM Card which includes Bikini Boxing, something that has never before done.

“This type of Event is not focused on Sports; it’s simply entertainment with a flavour of Sports since Sports have regulations. I am aware that the minimum length of a Boxing match is three rounds

Dexter Marques will feature on the Bikini Boxing Card on Saturday night in South Ruimveldt.

with two minute rounds but here I have three one-minute rounds for all participants,” informed Bristol, the nephew of former Commonwealth light middleweight Champions Kenny Bristol.

Even though its entertainment, many of the young ladies might not know of medical issues that they might have... so for that reason we will have a medical team at Ringside.

Bristol, who fought in the Amateur Ranks, explained that the girls participates with a balloon type glove and said after this event was staged last year many females responded well to placing emphasis on physical training which would help to build self-confidence.

“This (bikini boxing) can open up avenues where the ladies, all Guyanese, can talk to each other if something is bothering them. They can also talk to their trainer (former world Champion Shondel Alfred) in addition to mummy, auntie, sister…. So

there are more options to make use of,” Bristol said.

The ladies will be more equipped to attend jobs interviews so this is a surround benefit for them as you know society tends to focus more on males. This is one of the areas we are now focusing on the ladies.

Marques, has fought 19 times at the Professional level since making debut at the National Park in 2007 when he registered a TKO verdict over Carlton Skeete but he has not boxed Professionally since January last year when he won a unanimous decision against Dionis Martinez at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

In his 19 fights only US Elton Dharry and Leon Moore has beaten Marques who has dabbled a bit as Boxing Promoter but says his focus is training hard and doing the work for his return to the Ring.

Tickets cost $1,000 and $5,000 for VIPs and the event is scheduled to commence at 18:00hrs.

Bermuda slump to another heavy defeat TORONTO, Canada, CMC – Bermuda slumped to their second successive defeat at the five-nation ICC Americas Region qualifiers for next year’s Under-19 World Cup in South Africa after losing by nine wickets to the United States on Tuesday.

Bermuda, who lost to Canada by nine wickets in their opener on Monday, were bowled out for 71 off 30 overs after being put in to bat at the Maple Leaf North-West Ground in King City.

Opener Sharye Paynter was the only Bermuda batsman to reach double figures, scoring a run-a-ball 21. Extras

were the next highest score with 19.

Leg-break bowler Shashank Vittaladevaram was the pick of the US bowlers, claiming three for 13 off eight overs. It took the US just 8.1 overs to overhaul Bermuda’s total, losing only the wicket of Vatsal Vaghela, who was bowled by seam bowler Nirobi Smith-Mills for five.

Saiteja Mukkamalla top scored with 32 not out off 31 balls, while Majjid Subair hit 26 not out off 16 balls.

Canada, meanwhile, continued their perfect start by beating Argentina by seven wickets. Argentina were

skittled out for 33 in 21 overs, with Raqib Shamsudeen taking five for three off five overs. The hosts reached their target for the loss of three wickets in just four overs.

Bermuda next face the Cayman Islands, who lost to the US by 10 wickets on Monday, before taking on Argentina in their final qualifier the following day.

The top team in the group will advance to the Under-19 World Cup in next January and February.

Eleven years ago Bermuda, captained by Rodney Trott, competed at the Under19 World Cup in Malaysia.

T

he Guinness ‘Great est of the Streets’ football tournament turns 10 this year and sponsor; Banks DIH is optimistic of having record turnouts and preparations are set for tomorrow’s Georgetown Zone elimination matches kick off at the National Cultural Center tarmac from 19:00hrs.

The organisers; Three Peat Promotions, and Banks DIH representatives held a joint press conference at the company’s Sports Club, Thirst Park yesterday morning.

Banks DIH Communications Manager Troy Peters revealed that the company is, “Very happy to say it has made its mark in Guyana”, after enduring for a decade which has seen much expansion throughout the country

with the tournament now covering six zones inclusive of the Capital City.

As is the norm, 32 teams are participating in the tournament with 16 gaining automatic qualification by virtue of their sterling performances at last year’s championship, while the remaining 16 spots were claimed by victorious teams at last Friday’s ‘qualifiers’.

The winners of the Georgetown Championship will walk away with a trophy and $500,000, while the runners-up will pocket $300,000 with the third place copping $200,000.

Fourth place finishers will find themselves $100,000 richer, while the contestants in the ‘Plate’ section will have an opportunity to win a prize equal to the same amount.

The venues for this year’s tournament are the National Cultural Center tarmac, the Burnham Court tarmac and a debutant venue, the National Racquet Center.

Speaking on behalf of the officials, head referee Wayne Griffith asked teams to, “Be present at least 15 minutes before game time.”

As is normal, the game will last a total of 20 minutes with each team allowed two fouls with a third foul resulting in a penalty being awarded to the opposing team.

The event will last for seven days with the other playing dates being Saturday (July 13), July 19, 20, 26 and 27, with the grand final scheduled for August 3. The first two nights of the competition, which features 32 teams, will be used for elimination.

British Grand Prix: New Silverstone deal announced until 2024 Lewis Hamilton has won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone five times. (PA Media)

BBC Sport - The future of the British Grand Prix has been secured for the next five years with a new agreement between Formula 1 and Silverstone.

This weekend’s event was due to be the last after Silverstone ended its contract because it was too expensive.

But after two years of negotiations, Silverstone and F1 bosses signed a new deal until 2024 in London on Tuesday.

F1 chairman Chase Carey described the race at Silverstone as “an integral part” of the future of the sport.

Carey said: “We have always said that, if it is to have a long-term future, our sport must preserve its historic venues and Silverstone and Great Britain represent the cradle of this sport, its starting point back in 1950.”

John Grant, chairman of Silverstone’s owners, the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC), said: “Silverstone is one of the most iconic Grands Prix on the F1 calendar and with such a rich heritage it would have been disastrous

for the sport and fans had we not managed to find a way forward.”

Silverstone had been on the brink of signing a new contract last month only to pause when F1 informed the track of plans to hold a race in London in the next few years.

The BRDC had been concerned that another race in the UK would hit spectator numbers and make the British Grand Prix less financially viable.

But the track and F1 have found a way out of the impasse.

Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle said: “We’ve been given sufficient comfort in the event that F1 can bring an additional race in the UK on to the calendar that it is additional, and the fears we had have been sufficiently addressed in the contract.“We are not against trying to grow the fan base in the UK and if a second race helps achieve that, great.

“But we have taken a lot of commercial risk and we need to be protected.

“All the aims we set ourselves two years ago have been met to our satisfaction.”

F1 owner Liberty Media pledged to protect the future of the sport’s historic European races when it bought the sport in 2017.

However, Silverstone’s future has continued to be a bone of contention, as it was for previous F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone for many years.

In 2017, Silverstone exercised a break clause in a contract that could have run until 2026 because it said the “escalator” clause in the deal, which saw the price rise by 5% each year, made it unaffordable.

Both Silverstone and F1 have always maintained that they wanted to keep the race on the calendar but it has taken two years to find a solution that satisfies both parties.The announcement about Silverstone comes after F1 said earlier this year that it had agreed terms on a deal to secure the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the oldest race on the calendar, until 2024.

Thursday July 11, 2019

Nadal sets up Federer Wimbledon semi-final clash AFP - Rafael Nadal will play great rival Roger Federer in a blockbuster Wimbledon semi-final after beating Sam Querrey 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 yesterday.

The 33-year-old Spaniard will face Federer at Wimbledon for the first time since their epic 2008 final.

Nadal’s victory also keeps alive his hopes of emulating Bjorn Borg in winning the French Open and Wimbledon titles back to back three times.

“It’s great,” said Nadal of meeting Federer again.

“Difficult to imagine to be again in that situation and here we are.

“I’m excited about the victory of today right now but of course excited to play against Roger here at Wimbledon again after such a long time.”

With Roberto Bautista Agut also reaching the semifinals earlier on Wednesday it is the first time two Spaniards have reached the last four of the tournament.

Nadal — who is two off Federer’s record Grand Slam haul of 20 — even spared a

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moment to reflect on how special it would be for Bautista Agut as he lost his mother just over a year ago.

“I’m very happy for him,” Nadal said of Agut.

“If there is a player who deserves something like this, it’s him after all the things he went through.

“It’s amazing how strong he is and how passionate he is about his game.”

Nadal — who convincingly beat Federer the last time they met at the French Open semi-finals — was quickly into his stride against his American opponent and broke him early in the first set.

Querrey — who had only been broken once during the tournament prior to Wednesday — responded by saving four set points and broke Nadal for good measure to level at 5-5.

However, the Spaniard broke him immediately and this time served out the set — relief mixed with joy in his celebrating by crouching down and letting out a mighty roar.

Querrey may have dis-

pensed with French Open finalist Dominic Thiem in the first round but his limited serve and volley game was no match for the man who beat Thiem in the Paris final has he out-classed his opponent.

There was even time for a giggle from Nadal in the third set when a spectator yelled out ‘Come on Roger’.

“I’m very happy to be in that semi-final again,” sad Nadal.

“A good match against a very difficult opponent.

“I saved a couple of dangerous situations at the end of the first set and then I think I played great again.

“My service got better and better.”

Federer and Nadal have met 39 times in their careers but just three times at Wimbledon.

The Swiss star won their first two encounters in the 2006 and 2007 finals before Nadal famously triumphed in 2008 in a five-set epic which is widely regarded as the greatest Slam final ever played.

Murray and Williams’ Wimbledon dream over Andy Murray and Serena Williams talk as they play Bruno Soares and Nicole Melichar during their mixed doubles third round match.

(AFP / Glyn Kirk)

AFP - Andy Murray and Serena Williams’ mixed doubles dream team came unstuck at Wimbledon yesterday when the star pairing were knocked out by the top seeds.

The pair lost 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 to Bruno

Soares of Brazil and Nicole Melichar of the United States, who progress to the quarter-finals.

The third round match was played out

on the 4,000-seater Court Two sunken bowl — a rare appearance outside the Centre Court and Court One big show courts for the likes of multiple former champions Murray and Williams.

British home favourite Murray, a former world number one, is easing his way back into tennis via the doubles after undergoing radical hip resurfacing surgery.

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Thursday July 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

Gueye takes Senegal to first Cup of Nations semi-final in 13 years AFP - Senegal reached the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals for the first time since 2006 when Idrissa Gueye scored to deliver a 1-0 lasteight win over Benin in Cairo yesterday.

Everton midfielder Gueye struck on 70 minutes, sidefooting the ball into the net from close range after being set up by Liverpool star Sadio Mane.

This was the first Cup of Nations match to use the VAR (video assistant referee) system and there were no controversial incidents.

Benin were reduced to 10 men in the closing stages when Olivier Verdon was given a straight red card for a last-defender foul.

Senegal coach Aliou Cisse made one change to the team that defeated Uganda to reach the last-eight stage with Keita Balde replacing fellow forward Ismaila Sarr.

Benin boss Michel Dussuyer changed three of the team that shocked Morocco after a penalty shootout to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.

Khaled Adenon missed out due to a suspension and Seibou Mama and Jodel Dossou were benched with Seidou Baraze, Sessi D’Almeida and Steve Mounie taking their places.

This was only the third time the countries met in a competitive match with Senegal winning 1-0 at home and drawing 1-1 away in 2002 World Cup qualifying.

Senegal applied most of the early pressure with Benin content to sit back and soak it

up before a small crowd at the 30,000-capacity 30 June Stadium in the Egyptian capital.

But the first scare for Benin was self-inflicted as goalkeeper Owolabi Kassifa fumbled a weak shot and had to swiftly regain possession as Mane darted forward.

- Agonisingly close Mickael Pote, the veteran Benin forward who bagged a brace in a group draw with Ghana, came agonisingly close to putting the Squirrels ahead midway through the opening half.

He cleverly backheeled a free-kick driven low into the box and the ball flew just wide with goalkeeper Alfred Gomis beaten.A free-kick at the other end offered Kalidou Koulibaly a chance to break the deadlock, but he narrowly failed to connect with the ball after it eluded the defensive wall.There was intense Senegal pressure as the opening half drew to a close with Verdon coming to the rescue by clearing a Henri Saivet cross.Verdon and his fellow defenders then blocked three close-range attempts by the Teranga Lions to end the stalemate before the break.

Senegal did get the ball in the net nine minutes after halftime, but the Algerian referee blew for offside and VAR confirmed that his decision was correct.A howler from Gomis nearly gifted Benin a mid-second-half lead as he miscued his clearance of a back-pass and the ball trickled just wide of the goal.

Soon after, Senegal were rewarded for their dominance of possession and territory

Midfielder Idrissa Gueye scores the goal in Cairo that took Senegal to the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals. (AFP / Javier Soriano) when Gueye burst into the box and fired over Kassifa.

Benin were lucky not to fall further behind in the fol-

lowing few minutes as Senegal had a shot cleared off the line

and Mane was denied by a marginal offside call.

JACK WARNER ORDERED TO PAY TT $474 MILLION BY US COURT

NEW YORK (AP) — A former Caribbean soccer official fighting extradition in the FIFA bribery scandal has been ordered to pay US $79 million (TT $474M) in damages from a related U.S. lawsuit.

U.S. District Judge William Kuntz ordered the default judgment against Jack Warner in the 2017 civil action accusing him of embezzling tens of millions of dollars from the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football. The written ruling was issued in federal court in Brooklyn on Tuesday after Warner failed to contest the claim.

The soccer association “intends to pursue all available avenues to enforce the judgment in any jurisdiction where CONCACAF has reason to believe Mr. Warner may have assets,” plaintiff lawyer John Kuster said in a statement yesterday.Warner, 76, is a defendant in a sprawling criminal investigation that has resulted in convictions of several top soccer officials. He’s out on bail while challenging a U.S. extradition request to Trinidad and Tobago, where he’s denied any wrongdoing.There was no immediate response yesterday to

an email sent to one of his lawyers.The suit accused Warner and Chuck Blazer, another soccer official who died after it was filed, of negotiating bribes and kickbacks in connection with lucrative broadcasting rights for tournaments including the confederation’s Gold Cup championship. Allegations in the suit also mirrored criminal charges saying that Warner, while he and Blazer were members of FIFA’s executive committee, took a $10 million payment to influence voting on which country should host the World Cup. Warner “agreed to provide Blazer with $1 million of the $10 million bribe,” according to the suit. “Unsurprisingly, when the FIFA Executive Committee vote was held on May 15, 2004, South Africa was selected over Morocco to host the 2010 World Cup. Warner and Blazer both voted for South Africa.”

Blazer’s estate agreed earlier this year to pay $20 million in damages in the civil case.Warner’s sons, Daryll and Daryan, pleaded guilty to fraud charges in the criminal case in 2013 as part of a cooperation deal. They’re both out on bail with travel restrictions within the U.S. and are awaiting sentencing.

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 11, 2019

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RFA-GBTI Annual U13 Finals Paiwomak Warriors FC crowned Champions

P

aiwomak Warriors F C e d g e d Tabatinga FC by a 3-2 margin following kicks from the penalty mark to be crowned champions of the Rupununi Football Association (RFA)/Guyana Bank For Trade and Industry (GBTI) Under-13 Championship on Saturday last at the St. Ignatius Ground, Lethem.

At the end of the allotted 20minute match and 10-minute extra-time, the teams were tied 1-1 in extra time with goals from Matrim Martin for Tabatinga FC and Glensford Peterson for P a i w o m a k Wa r r i o r s .

In order to arrive at a winner, kicks from the penalty mark were required. Scoring for Paiwomak Warriors were Peterson, Josh Glasgow and Guy Moses, while Martin a n d R e y e s Wi l l i a m s converted for Tabatinga FC. The final was preceded by

two semi-final action matches between Tabatinga FC and Basin FC, and Paiwomak Warriors FC and Gladiators FC with Tabatinga FC and Paiwomak Warriors FC each winning by similar 2-0 margins.

Scorers in the first semi-final were Reyes Williams in the 15th minute and Matrim Martin in the 18th minute, while the second semi-final saw Nathan Alcides scoring an own goal in the 12th minute giving Paiwomak the lead and Glendsford Peterson extending that lead in the 16th minute for the eventual victors.

Prior to the start of the championship, the teams were welcomed by RFA’s President, Rayan Farias and S h a r o n K i n g , G B T I ’s Lethem Branch Manager.

King, in brief remarks, said football is part of their corporate social responsibility: “We chose

Paiwomak Warriors receiving the championship trophy from GBTI’s Lethem Brach Manager, Ms. Sharon King. football because we recognize that football is a popular sport in the Region, and the most-played sport in the world.

We believe that early exposure will help to instill discipline and inspire the youths to higher levels of performance, while giving them a chance to showcase t h e i r s k i l l s . ”

Farias expressed gratitude to the sponsor and said the tournament was part of the pathway to national selection: “This is the start of the process to be considered for national selection as when you display your talents in football at this level, you give yourself a better opportunity to be part of the

national teams and further represent Guyana on the national and international stages.”

He reminded all parents to see football as a step in the right direction for their child or children’s benefit. He stressed that the “beautiful game” can help anyone to have a disciplined life. In closing, Farias also

expressed thanks to the match officials and encouraged more corporate and individual partnerships to ensure football is developed in the region.

The annual tournament saw the participation of 18 clubs from the five sub-districts: Central (5), East Central (5), North (4), Deep South (2) and South Central (2)

t r o Sp

Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Georgetown Zone

All set for an exhilarating contest P.30

From left, Head Referee Wayne Griffith, Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste, Colours Boutique representative Creanna Damon, Three-peat Promotions director Rawle Welch and Banks DIH Communications manager Troy Peters pose for a photo at yesterday’s launch.

Nadal sets up Federer Jack Warner ordered to pay Wimbledon semi-final clash TT $474 million by US court P.31

P.32

Jack Warner gestures during a news conference at the airport in Port-ofSpain, Trinidad and Tobago. (AP Photo/ Shirley Bahadur, File)

It’s Federer v Nadal again as Spanish legend reaches Wimbledon semi-finals. (AFP / Ben Stansall)

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