Kaieteur News

K

Disrespect for CCJ's NEWS ruling exposes Guyana to grave danger - Jagdeo

Tuesday Edition

AIETEUR

July 16, 2019 - Vol. 12 No. 30

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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

Price $80

Online readership yesterday 111,555

Western diplomats urge actors to abide by CCJ's ruling expeditiously Lloyd Sadloo

Five charged for murder of moneychanger and daughter Paul Chan

Troy Abrams

Selection of GECOM Chair...

Mark Rufino

SARA officials not yet obligated to make declarations to Integrity Commission

Man fires rifle at creek, arrested

On his 74th birthday, Sean Pres. Granger Thomas gifts laptops, printers to five NGSA students Govt.'s disregard for CCJ ruling...

Jagdeo highlights Int'l community Pres. Granger's is now on trial stalling tactics - Opposition Leader

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 16, 2019

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 16, 2019

PAGE 03

Five charged for murder of moneychanger and daughter

I

t was commotion in the courtroom of Magistrate Alicia George at the Sparendaam Magistrates' Courts, yesterday, after the five men charged with the murder of the Better Hope moneychanger and his daughter, made their first appearance to answer charges related to the allegation.

As soon as they were brought into the courtroom and placed in the prisoners' docks they started shouting. “They lying on people. We ain't went nowhere around there.

Them police just trying to cook up a story against we.”

The defendants are Mark Rufino, called 'Mark', 25, a labourer of Parika Facade, East Bank Essequibo; Paul Chan, called 'Long Hair' or 'Anthony', 37, a conductor of 10 Dennis Street Sophia, East Coast Demerara; Troy Abrams, called 'Troy ' or 'Rasta Man', 44, a vendor of 34 Middle Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara; Lloyd Sadloo, 37, self employed of 220 Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara; and Sean Thomas, called 'Yankee',

Lloyd Sadloo

Troy Abrams

Sean Thomas

41 yrs, an electrician of 59 William Street, Kitty.

The men are jointly charged for murder. As the charge was read to them they were not required to plead as it was made indictable. They were all unrepresented.

The charge alleged that on July 4, 2019 at Robert Street, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, they murdered Aaron Latchman and Arianna Latchman, during the course or furtherance of a robbery.

They were remanded to

prison until August 15, next, where statements will be served into the matter.

When the men were escorted out of the courtroom they covered their faces and started shouting again. “I would give y'all things to write because them police lying pon we,” Sadloo shouted to media operatives.

According to reports, Aaron Latchman arrived home around 15:15hrs on the day in question and was attempting to park his car in his yard when two gunmen struck.

One of the gunmen reportedly entered the house and shot Latchman's daughter.

The other, meanwhile, then attacked Latchman, and the two men got into a scuffle which resulted in the gunman's firearm ending up in a neighbour's yard.

The gunman who had shot Latchman's daughter then exited the house and came to his accomplice's aid, shooting Latchman as well. After Latchman fell to the ground the attackers snatched up a bag of cash and fled.

The killers soon disappeared into a waiting car, which reportedly headed east.

The moneychanger and his daughter were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where they were both pronounced dead on arrival.

A post mortem examination performed by Dr. Nehaul Singh revealed that the money changer was shot three times while his daughter, Arianna, received a single shot to her chest.

On July 6, police were alerted to the presence of an abandoned car in D'Urban Backlands.

The vehicle was a white

Correction/Apology

I

n our Monday July 15 edition, under the headline 'Five suspects in murder of moneychanger, daughter…discovery of getaway car led sleuths to gang,” we incorrectly carried the names and photographs of Julian Headecker and Matthew Estwick.

These two were included with the names and photographs of three other individuals, who were deemed to be suspects in the murders of moneychanger Aaron Latchman and his daughter, Arianna.

Neither Julian Headecker nor Matthew Estwick is a suspect in the deaths of the Latchmans.

We wish to unreservedly apologise to Julian

H e a d e c k e r, w h o w a s detained and questioned, and Matthew Estwick over this grave error.

We also apologise for any embarrassment we may have caused them and their families.

Man fires rifle at creek, arrested

A

n evening of celebrations ended unfortunately for a 32-year-old man who became excited and whipped out a rifle and discharged several rounds at a creek along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. It was reported that the man was partying with some friends Sunday evening when he fired off the gun. Luckily, no one was hurt; but police were quickly summoned to the scene.

The man, a mechanic, was arrested and taken into custody. He has since retained

Attorney-at-Law Siand Dhurjon.

The exact weapon was a large automatic rapid fire rifle.

While there, police realized that he was not a licensed firearm holder. The man is presently at the Brickdam Police Station and is expected to appear at the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts tomorrow.

He is expected to be charged with discharging a loaded firearm in a public way; and possession of illegal gun and ammunition.

Mark Rufino Toyota Premio, PNN 1642.

Detectives also found a false number plate, PVV 5130, in the area.

That proved to be the first vital lead to the identity of the gang. Then police dogs sniffed out a bullet casing and warhead that were in the car. Provided with the licence number, detectives then easily tracked down the owner of the abandoned car.

The owner is said to have stated that he took some individuals to North Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, the day before the Latchmans were slain and he also identified one of the individuals to whom he subsequently rented the vehicle.

Paul Chan That led police to the first suspect. The interrogating of that individual caused a domino effect, which led investigators to four others.

After being taken back to the scene of the killing, two of the suspects reportedly showed the investigators how they scaled a back fence to enter the Latchmans' yard.

In 2016, Sadloo was sentenced to four years in prison by Magistrate Judy Latchman for cannabis possession. He however appealed the matter and was granted bail pending pretrial liberty.

Sadloo was also previously held for armed robbery, escaping from police custody, and charged in 2008 with murder.

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Tuesday July 16, 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

A lesson from the World Cup The superlatives flow sweetly, endlessly: a game for the ages; a monumental final of majestic proportions.

Cricketing gladiators in keenly contested, ferocious combat.

The regret is that it came to an end, and that in the two stirring teams that left their hearts on the pitch, there had to be one loser.

There has to be powerful feeling for the underdog, overachieving New Zealanders, even over here.

And it is from this side of the world that serious study, approach, and effort must be applied at all levels of the regional game to recognize what is required, and then to go about making the sons of the Caribbean to be real authentic contenders; contenders and performers that are focused on eking out victory when such looks impossible, that is powered by fundamentals, finances, and the unremitting furnaces of vision and desire.

It is the relentless desire to do more than win; there must be the unflagging desire to conquer new summits, believed unreachable by too many; to nurture the embers of skills to take long-awaited place at the crest of the cricketing world.

The English showed how with a scintillating combination of flair and talent and (oh, yes) application; the Kiwis represented a team largely overshadowed by the swashbuckling, much talked about champions; the Indian machine that ate the minnows like the West Indies; and the New Zealanders, who came within one heartbreaking breath of coming out on top in a dream of a final.

Regional talent is here; balance needed; craftsmanship, discipline, field sense and good sense. Read the conditions.

Players like Boult demonstrated this time and again, and never so well as when India was toppled.

Williamson provided a study in rising to the occasion.

So did the returning Steve Smith and David Warner from Down Under. They had a point to prove, and came close.

Not their year. Not the West Indies’ year either, who flickered, glittered, and then faltered when it counted.

Those opportunities cannot be missed; they have to be capitalized upon with a vengeance: no letup, no mercy, no lapse in concentration or effort or understanding of who has to do what, and how to go about cutting down mountains in the path.

It is known that money is a major problem for the game regionally. Truth be told, nobody is able to match the Indians anymore; that reality may stay so for a long time in the future.

For them, it is no longer a game, but a matter of national spirit, national statement, national prestige.

It seems that they have a bottomless stable of young superstars in waiting and being patiently, wisely groomed for the big time of cricket’s demands on the world’s stage.

In some ways, the travails of the regional game mirrors that of the Pakistanis; many chiefs and countless commanders, with little sense of who really is in charge.

Thus, there is too little sense of direction and a strong guiding hand at the helm to the lead the way forward.

That has showed up glaringly at different times; that has hurt, even embarrassed in what has to be a great disservice to the toilers on the field of battle.

For its part, the West Indies appear to have had its era of uncertainty at the administrative level; for the good of the game, it must be a thing of the past, and now with all minds fixed on preparing (from now) for the many challenges ahead.

There is a nucleus of young promises on which to build; properly harnessed and guided, they can be a world beater.

The right scouts and coaches can identify a nursery (like the Indians); and the regimen and technologies that take the standards to currently unknown heights.

SARA’s Eric Phillips responds to recent publications DEAR EDITOR, It became apparent to me that during my absence from the local shores last week, the PPP and its known propagandists unleashed a preconceived attack on my character.

Kaieteur News, with its usual reckless disengagement of factchecking or due diligence, published an article about the African Business Roundtable’s application for oil blocks in 2016, singling me out as if I was in some conflict of interest in the Preliminary investigation of the Canje and Kaieteur blocks. And of course, Christopher Ram couldn’t wait to add his inconsequential views.

Jagdeo and his henchmen are using age-old political trickery and methods of psychological deflection to take the spotlight off of themselves in their role in the awarding of these blocks, and are now attacking the personalities behind the agencies that are investigating their various questionable deals.

It is common knowledge that there is an investigation into the award of the Canje and Kaieteur oil blocks (worth hundreds of billions of dollars) by the PPP regime during a 6-week period prior to the 2015 elections. Note that these blocks were awarded secretly when then there was no parliamentary oversight, because parliament had been prorogued since November 10, 2014, with elections held on May 11,

2015. Of course, the ‘duplicitous’ PPP former administration has been arguing since December 21, 2018 that no major decisions of this type should be made during a period close to an election.

There are four concerns that I wish to highlight: 1) Why has a particular media house purposefully created a magnificent media masquerade which has been in vogue since the announcement by SARA in Bloomberg News of the United States of an investigation into the award of the Canje and Kaieteur oil blocks?

2) What are the real reasons for the media circus?

3) Is there a concerted effort to prevent the People of Guyana from learning the truth about the oil blocks?

4) Is there an attempt to protect those who have the blocks, and if so, whom are these individuals or business networks, and whose interests is this media campaign trying to protect?

Much of the flurry about the highly touted conflict of interest regarding my involvement with the investigation of the Canje and Kaieteur oil blocks began with a Kaieteur News article that indicated I was part of the African Business Roundtable group that applied for an oil block in October 2016, almost 3 years ago.

An application was made in October 2016 by a group of individuals whom all belong

to the African Business Roundtable (ABR), whose main goal was to ensure that the historical and continual economic genocide of African Guyanese which took place under the PPP is addressed.

It was in this context, the ABR, comprised of established African Guyanese businessmen and businesswomen, applied for a bank license, one of the two remaining oil blocks, a fishing license etc. Under the former PPP regime, these African Guyanese entrepreneurs had long been denied equal access in every sector of the Guyanese economy due to systematic, institutionalized racial marginalization and discrimination.

This institutionalized racism was evidenced by United Nations Special Rapporteur, Gay McDougall in 2008.

Yes, I was a Member of the ABR group that applied, but was not the lead person involved in the application and had very little to do with it since December 2016. My appointment with SARA was May 2017, and so I can only deduce that Kaieteur News was purposefully creating the “perception” of “conflict”, when there is no substance to the claim. Note that we were not awarded any of the oil blocks that we applied for, and that I started working at SARA May 2017.

It is a fact that all of the previous 10 oil blocks have been awarded to only NonAfrican Guyanese.

Most Public servants are respectable working class people, however there are a few that are taking bribes for leaking information about

government officials, and this information is being twisted and used fallaciously in a cheap attempt to destroy the credibility of others.

A June 22, 2013 article in the Stabroek News entitled “Guyana will soon qualify as `Kleptocratic Republic’”Ramkarran” tells us all, and I quote “Former PPP stalwart Ralph Ramkarran says the country will soon qualify to be described as `The Kleptocratic Republic of Guyana’ and the ruling PPP/C will do nothing about corruption as it is being supported by three discrete groups which are fueling this graft.

In his most withering attack to date on the party of which he was a member for nearly 50 years, Ramkarran described one of the groups as follows: “Above all of these is a group of wealthy and influential businessmen who have high political connections. They meet regularly to examine business opportunities and potential deals and map out strategies as to how their plans can go forward, and implement those plans. They have access, through their political connections, to information of the potential opportunities that are likely to emerge in the near to medium term and are in a position to make the investments now so as to cash in on those opportunities down the road.”

Of course, the Kaieteur News has done everything possible, including making false representations, to create the racist belief, that I, (Continued on page 24)

I am afraid that Mr Hussain will have to endure a much more “prolonged silence” DEAR EDITOR, Yesterday’s Kaieteur News carries a letter from Zamal Hussain, commenting on the CCJ’s recent ruling on Guyana’s political impasse, in which Mr Hussain makes the following statement: “The most troubling and worrisome consequence that is prevalent is the prolonged silence of Caricom, that is a clear indication that Caricom is tolerating the APNU/AFC Coalition Government disrespect and disregard for the constitution.”

I am not sure how Mr Hussain reaches this conclusion, but the first thing he needs to do is to understand the difference between Caricom and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Caricom is not a political union. It is basically a trading

agreement the purpose of which is to deepen the economic integration of the Caribbean countries. There is nothing in the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which established Caricom, about the political structure or policies of any of the participating countries.

There was once a political union, before the establishment of Caricom, called the Federation of the West Indies.

Guyana, however, did not join that political federation. The Federation collapsed when Jamaica withdrew and Eric Williams, the PM of Trinidad and Tobago made his famous satirical statement that “One from ten leaves nought”, before withdrawing Trinidad as well.

Out of the shambles that was left after the collapse of the Federation we finally got

a mainly economic partnership, the Caribbean Community. The Treaty of Chaguaramas has NO provision for the Community to make any pronouncements on the political mess that a country like Guyana can produce.

The CCJ was later established as the adjudicator in any disputes over the operation of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, the basis of Caricom. This is termed “the original jurisdiction” of the CCJ. There is also “the appellate jurisdiction” of the CCJ, which is to be the court of final appeal of any Caricom state which no longer wants to have the British Privy Council as its final court of appeal. So far only Belize, Dominica, Barbados and Guyana have made the CCJ their final court of appeal.

(Haiti and Suriname, not being former British colonies, never had the Privy Council).

How then can Caricom, a trading body which has no political or judicial oversight in relation to Guyana, and the majority of whose members have not been willing to have the CCJ as their final court of appeal, now presume to make a pronouncement on what Guyana should or should not do in relation to a ruling of the CCJ? I am afraid that Mr Hussain will have to endure a much more “prolonged silence” on the part of Caricom.

While the members might discuss the situation in camera during a Caricom Heads of Government meeting, it is very unlikely that there will be any official communiqué on this matter.

Pat Robinson Commissiong

Tuesday July 16, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Jagdeo, President Granger step aside, allow neutral leaders to solve crisis DEAR EDITOR, Our nation today stares into the future with uncertain angst, and when we look into the root cause of this sad situation, we see three fundamental causes, bitter, toxic roots that anchor the body politic in choking weeds of discouragement, downcast hope, and a dreadful lack of cooperation.

This concept of cooperation, were we to embrace it as enshrined in the very sanctity of our nationhood as the world’s and history’s in fact, only Cooperative Republic, we would see clearly the solution, the way out of this muddy quagmire that sucks us into a sinking mudbank.

Problem 1: When we consider the fact that our Guyanese body politic remains, after 53 years of stumbling into its formation, unsophisticated, under-developed, and immature, we see the negative impact of that irritating donkey bit in the mouth of the body politic, steering us into whatever direction that fancies the one wielding the reins: personality politics. Both in the Opposition and Government, personalities set themselves up as larger than the nation, as bigger than everybody else, as more important than even good sense.

Thus, today, the nation faces a monumental crisis that revolves around the personalities of Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and President David Granger. The two lack what we declared

we’re about as a people: cooperation.

Problem 2: Ego and selfaggrandizing and selfimportance seem to drive these personalities to such an extent that good sense, selfless sacrifice, and giving up their power positions, in their own self-image, could not be a possibility. Such an idea – to step back and retreat and exit the stage in the interest of the national wellbeing, may be to them unthinkable. So nobody dares raise such a possibility.

Problem 3: With alacrity and grave short-sightedness, the nation pushed back with an immense inferiority complex, any notion that the Diaspora or overseas Guyanese could play a constructive role in national affairs going forward. After the NoConfidence Motion and the ruling of the Judiciary that dual citizens got no call to play politics in Parliament, the zeal locally for Diaspora engagement faded. So the local environment functions with scant regard to any possibility that blindspots could cloud the clear vision of those close to the battlefield, and a far-away concerned Guyanese may see what’s hidden from those up close.

Editor, given these three problems that are root causes for why we’re where we’re at today, here are three possible solutions: Solution 1: Both the Opposition Leader and the President

could sign an Agreement agreeing to step out of the fray, and hand the affairs of choosing a Chairman for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), and of holding national and regional elections, to a neutral team of interested and concerned persons. This dissolves the connotations and emotional hangups of both sides in the current crisis, freeing up cleared emotional and semantic space for rational resolutions. Both the Opposition Leader and the Government harbour serious doubts, suspicions, fears, accusations, dread, and a whole host of other toxic emotions, towards the other.

Thus, a solution becomes impossible. Hence, a new modus operandi seems imperative.

Solution 2: What a magnanimous gesture of selfless love for the nation would he demonstrate were the Opposition Leader to step aside, totally out of the limelight, and retreat into the background, in the interest of dissolving all the negative emotions, suspicions, doubts, connotations, built-up angst and anger and animosity from his leadership style over the years. The Opposition Leader falls into the den of a host of important national enemies, including a wide range of media operatives, from the national daily newspaper Kaieteur News and influential TV station CNS Channel 6, to news websites and radio personalities, and scores of

Forty years later...

DEAR EDITOR, I was there. I sat opposite Father Darke in the staff-room at St. Stanislaus College 40 years ago. We were at our desks marking papers, when we heard sounds in the street.

We looked out. He, lover of photography, picked up his famous camera and went out to see what was going on and to take pictures. I never saw him alive again. He was fatally stabbed. His crime?

Doing what he loved. Taking pictures! What a shame!

What a senseless killing!

Forty years later, I can hardly look at the picture of a beautiful young student, Arianna Latchman, gunned down in the prime of life, along with her father, in another senseless killing. Her crime?

Being in her own home.

Forty years later, we seem not to have learnt the value of life. We can’t give it and yet we wantonly take it away!

We need to get back to basics - the fear of God, sound family values, respect for our neighbour regardless of status, race, or religious persuasion.

We must allow nothing or no-one to divide us! Let us continue along the road of community and co-operation and refuse to entertain the thought of “civil strife”.

Forty years later, our Nation stands at the

crossroads of a momentous opportunity. Will we demonstrate maturity and good sense or contentiousness and foolish pride?

Let’s pray for the leadership of this country Government and Opposition alike - that they be guided by the fear of God and desire for the well-being of our families, and by extension, the wellbeing of the Nation, as they make decisions that will impact us and our children for years to come.

Claudia Heywood

important national Journalists.

The Opposition Leader generated a number of enemies within his own Party, and within the broader political landscape, including deep hatred for him within the Alliance For Change, Working People’s Alliance, and People’s National Congress. Him stepping off the stage would erase these knee-jerk emotional reactions against the Opposition and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic.

Along with him stepping away, his singular pick for the Presidential Candidate of the PPPC, Mr Irfaan Ali, should also exit the stage, freeing up space for a less controversial figure to step forward in the interest of generating national engagement, cooperation, and mutual r e s p e c t . I r f a a n A l i ’s controversies in some quarters in the country, because of his leadership of the PPPC Government’s housing and land sector, generates too much suspicions, toxic emotive reactions, and negative vibes – in the minds of key leaders who influence and direct national affairs.

A team comprising Dr Frank Anthony, Samuel Hinds, Anil Nandlall, former

President Donald Ramotar, Gail Teixeira, Bibi Shadick, Carolyn Rodrigues, and Juan Edghill should represent the PPPC and engage the Government, instead of Mr Jagdeo and Mr Ali. Solution 3: The Government should invite a cadre of Diaspora Guyanese concerned and interested in the nation’s welfare to play a mediating role between the two sides.

This Diaspora team would also comprise local civic leaders from business, academia, and the media.

Our nation now stoops low amidst a swirling stinky political angst, bowed under the weight of a deep constitutional crisis, and one feels that the solution resides in a strong citizen and diaspora engagement to solve the evolving impasse embroiling the Coalition, the Opposition, and the citizenry of Guyana in a cauldron of uncertainty and inflammatory politics in the face of the impending oil economy. In this fiery cauldron that seethes under the sun of the Guyanese nation, we cannot again – like in the 1 9 6 0 ’s , h a n g o n t o personality politics and allow the future of the Guyanese nation to sink

further into a rotting mudbank.

In the ‘60’s and ‘70’s the nation faced a great future, with bauxite promising to make us a global success story. Alas, we messed it up.

Today, we face a great future again, with oil promising us a global success story. Are we staring into a default future, just repeating history? We could change course were we to rid our national corridors of these personalities who, for whatever reason, generate so much toxic emotions in so many citizens and spokespersons and commentators who influence national opinion.

Let’s clear the slate of all negative emotive connotations that reside in the symbol of our well-known national figures, and inject new, fresh faces and voices, new symbols of power and leadership and politics.

This way, our way of being as a unique nation on the world stage, being a people of cooperation, could stand a chance of winning. It’s now urgent time for both President Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to give up their reins and entrust the nation’s future to new interim symbols of power and politics.

Sincerely Shaun Michael Samaroo

Lack of law and order in Our Nation DEAR EDITOR, It is clear that the governance of Guyana is in need of a stronger and more effective judicial system which supports the transparent implementation of the rule of law.

A number of years ago I had applied for land, which was subsequently taken without due process by one of today’s presidential candidates primarily as a result of his influence at the time of application.

In another matter the High Court ruled in my favour for the eviction of a squatter on my property, a ruling which the squatter continues to circumvent with the help of influential friends. Also when given judgement in my favour against a hooligan that assaulted me, the warrant for arrest and enforcement of the

payment by the court gets circumvented due to bribes and corrupt connections.

The lack of a trustworthy system for law and order diminishes key factors that deter criminal activity and gives investors pause when considering placing capital within our borders. Those old enough may remember the difficulties that came about via embargoes after the nationalization of foreign industry in the early part of our country’s independent history.

We should as a country ensure that the legal system remains impartial, transparent and effective in the execution of the laws of the nation, thus providing the confidence in, and the perception and true experience of an effective system of law and order which will encourage both foreign and local investment

in our nation’s economy throughout and beyond the election cycle. This is the best way to garner continuous investment growth that is secure and independent of the political party in power at the time of investment.

It is my hope that the various organizations, which support our system of law and order and span from the legal fraternity to the police ranks, will purge themselves of corrupt members and practices that weaken the law and order of Our Beautiful Guyana.

Best regards, Mr. Changlee

PAGE 6

The public should be clamouring for this!

DEAR EDITOR, The consequential orders issued by the CCJ on the matters of the NCM and Gecom chair had one thing in common that the general public scarcely paid attention to. On three occasions it was dictated that the Attorney General paid costs.

I would not want to think that the CCJ failed to mention the value of these costs. I would rather suspect that the media, caught in the mindset of the general populace, failed to give the value of these costs, because they too dismissed these costs as routine State expenses.

As a people, we will never have accountable governance if we do not struggle to have separation of government from state. How long shall we sit in silence and watch Governments spend state resources wastefully in the furtherance of their own political parties’ interest and not the State and people as it should rightly be.

The amounts were not mentioned, but I suspect the total will run into millions.

I would hope that these monies are not to be paid from the state’s coffers but rather from the Attorney General’s own pocket or his governing political party, which he advised to remain in power

Tuesday July 16, 2019

Kaieteur News

without seeking a fresh mandate from the electorate after the Government had fallen on a No Confidence Motion (NCM).

The state’s coffers should never be burdened with debts incurred by an AG, who unadvisedly attacked the most sacred organ of the state - the Constitution.

There had been cases where former AG’s were taken to court for industrial disputes that were unavoidable and were ordered to pay court cost and compensation in the past. It is understandable that state funds were used to pay those costs and compensation because those exploits or transgressions had occurred in furtherance of the state’s interest - trying to collect revenues or denying some litigant who wants to collect from the state.

In my opinion, these recent matters - the NCM and Gecom chair - were taken to the CCJ as a result of dereliction of duty, and not in the state’s interest. This selfish advice and actions in the interest of a political party remaining in power unconstitutionally should not be paid for by state funds.

The public should be clamouring for this.

Rudolph Singh

Peeping Tom and the PPP are having political nightmares of their pending defeat in the upcoming elections DEAR EDITOR, I have not engaged the writings of “Peeping Tom” for some time, partly because I have seemingly, been banned from the letter pages of Kaieteur News (KN).

Notwithstanding KN’s unexplained, imposed ban on me, I continue to read and have grown accustomed to the Peeper’s pro-PPP rhetoric.

His recent column in KN on Saturday, July 6th, 2019 captioned, “The paper tiger” forced me to rethink my position on how to deal with the Peeper as he continues to express himself in KN, in his ongoing role as the PPPC’s mouthpiece.

It is clear that the PPPC informers were present at the WPA community meeting in Buxton on Thursday, July 4, and furnished the information on the meeting to Peeping Tom. I have no quarrel with this action since it is fair politics. However, what I find interesting is the lack of sophistication between the collaborators. I am also intrigued by the amount of time and political energies the detractors of the WPA have been giving to the party’s functioning, even as some, including the Peeper, have described it as being “The paper tiger”, “dead” or “Dead meat”.

If these descriptions of the WPA are really true, the question I am forced to ask is - why do they waste their precious time with a nonexistent entity? The truth of

the matter is they don’t believe their own propaganda and are bothered by the impact that this non-existent entity has on the evolving political process.

In his column, Peeping Tom listed a number of positions that he attributed to the WPA, which he claimed we have abandoned “…in order to retain a place in the ruling coalition”. He continued, “Even though the WPA has been marginalized and humiliated within the coalition it is still desperate to grovel at the feet of the PNCR and the AFC so as to devour the scraps of political spoils which is being thrown its way.”

This position denies the WPA of any political worth and in so doing, reduces it to simply window dressing in the coalition, and in the logic of the peeper – worthless.

Given this view of the party, why worry about what the WPA does or doesn’t do?

Peeping Tom’s handlers, the PPP, know very well that in their quest to defeat the ruling coalition and return to office, the WPA is the “spoiler”. This realization is what is behind their desperate efforts to negate the potential damage the WPA can do and is doing to that party’s chances of winning the forthcoming elections.

In my opinion, the PPP’s leadership has not learnt from this country’s contemporary political history. One recalls that in the run-up to the 2011 General and Regional

Elections they had resorted to a similar, unsuccessful propaganda campaign. This one will have no effect on the WPA’s efforts at ensuring a victory for the APNU+AFC when the elections results are declared.

The historical compromise between the WPA and the PNCR in 2011 opened the door for the subsequent APNU+AFC coalition that defeated the PPP in the 2015 elections.

Haunted by the WPA’s “ghost” the PPP and Tom are having political nightmares of their pending defeat in the upcoming elections. They have and are investing a lot of political capital in trying to drive a wedge between the WPA and the PNCR. This has proven to be a failed tactic in the lead up to 2011 and 2015.

It will not work now.

WPA’s politics is not driven by the personal interest of its leadership or by narrow partisan politics, instead, we are guided by an informed and objective assessment of what is in the national interest. The PPP’s rule over 23 years spawned a number of problems in Guyana, the existence of which could not be denied or ignored. These included economic and social marginalisation of large sections of the society with particular emphasis on the African and Indigenous communities, and the poor and powerless.

Added to this was their

deliberate criminalisation of the state, their political and economic alliance with known drug-lords and corrupt businessmen, their sponsoring of the phantom death squads and the unprecedented slaughter of the innocents; in their attempts at gaining political hegemony of the state and the society. It was the above that convinced the WPA that the nation’s best interest depended on the defeat of the PPP by its opponents.That eventually occurred in 2015.

Peeping Tom is correct with his observation on the WPA’s present attitude on the upcoming elections. He stated, “In other words, it is saying that the vote in the forthcoming elections should be against the PPPC, regardless of how one feels about the coalition”. Yes, Tom, this is our unapologetic position.

The return to office of the coalition is good for the national interest, while a PPPC victory will be a “national disaster”. This is our view, more so, with the coming of the oil and gas sector and its enormous wealth, which Jagdeo and the PPP and their corrupt allies are waiting to grab and control for themselves. The WPA says they must be stopped from doing so. Our call to the electorate is to vote for the APNU+AFC list of candidates at the elections when they are held.

Tacuma Ogunseye

Tuesday July 16, 2019

PAGE 7

Kaieteur News

Western diplomats urge actors to abide by CCJs rulings expeditiously

US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch Three of the western communities are calling on stakeholders to move expeditiously by abiding on the recently orders by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

The court had been approached after a number of legal challenges starting with the High Court on the December 21 no-confidence motion (NCM) which saw the government fall and provisions of the Constitution of Guyana triggered for elections within three months.

In the orders handed down last week by the Trinidadheadquartered CCJ, the court stopped short of announcing a date for early elections but pointed out that Constitution speaks to how matters should be handled.

In essence, the court told Guyana that “the President and

the Leader of the Opposition should, as soon as possible, embark upon and conclude the process of appointing a new GECOM Chairman.”

Regarding the consolidated matters concerning the noconfidence motion, the CCJ noted that there is clear guidance in Article 106 of Guyanas Constitution on what should happen next. The Court said that “upon the passage of a vote of no confidence, the Article requires the resignation of the Cabinet including the President.

The Article goes on to state, among other things, that notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and that an election shall be held “within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than twothirds of the votes of all the

United Kingdom High Commissioner to Guyana, H.E. Greg Quinn elected members of the National Assembly determine”.

The Court reminded, however, that it had rendered its decision on 18 June 2019. As to the precise orders it should make, the CCJ cautioned, however, that it is, “not the role of the Court to establish a date on, or by which, the elections must be held”.

The CCJ did express the view that it is expected that the Government will continue as a caretaker for the affairs of the country, but that in light of its caretaker role, it should be restrained in the use of its legal authority.

It was also the court s view that a Chairman for GECOM should be embarked upon with “the utmost urgency”.

Yesterday, the US, United Kingdom and the European Union urged that the issue be dealt with.

“The previous Magistrate didnt give us justice so we fight again”- court hears Forty-five-year-old Natasha Blackman, and 43-year-old old Jason Sobers, yesterday appeared in a city court to answer to an assault causing actual bodily harm charge.

The duo appeared before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.

The court heard that they are neighbours. The charge alleged that on June 23, 2019, at Rosemary Lane, South

Cummingsburg, Georgetown, Sobers assaulted Blackman so as to cause her actual bodily harm. On the said date at Rosemary Lane South Cummingsburg, Blackman assaulted Sobers so as to cause him actual bodily harm.

When asked if they had any explanation for their actions, Sobers said, “Moms, is a usual thing. She always fatiguing me.

We had a same matter like this

before but when we went to court the Magistrate did not do anything so this is what happen again.”

Blackman remained silent on the issue.

Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus placed the duo on bond to keep the peace and ordered that they each post $10,000 bail. The matter was then transferred to another court for a trial date.

Man, 63, gets 20 years for sexual activity with girl, 4 A 63-year-old man will be spending the next 20 years behind bars. He admitted, yesterday, that he engaged in sexual activity with a four year-old girl. The man, George Ramkissoon, called “Skeage”, appeared before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the Sexual Offences Court in Demerara.

He admitted that on January 4, 2016, he engaged in sexual activity with the four-year-old girl. In calculating an appropriate sentence for Ramkissoon, the

judge considered his early guilty plea, as well as his age.

He only becomes eligible for parole after serving 15 years of the sentence.

According to information, Ramkissoon is presently serving a jail sentence for indecently and sexually assaulting the same girl.

The confessed rapist was represented by lawyer Rabindra Mohabir, while the case for the prosecution was presented by State Counsel Tuanna Hardy and Sarah Martin.

George Ramkissoon

There was no mention of Canada in the joint statement.

“The United States of America Ambassador to Guyana, Ambassador SarahAnn Lynch, United Kingdom High Commissioner to Guyana, H.E. Greg Quinn, and the Head of Delegation of the European Union to Guyana, Ambassador Jernej Videtiè, issued a joint statement following the issue of the Caribbean Court of Justice Definitive Orders on 12 July 2019.

Head of Delegation of the European Union to Guyana, Ambassador Jernej Videtiè “The Caribbean Court of Justice Guyanas Supreme Court has spoken. It is important for the rule of law that all invoked actors abide by its ruling and the relevant provisions of the Constitution. We urge everyone to do so expeditiously.”

On Friday, President David Granger said he is prepared to hold early elections. However, there must be a new Voters List to be prepared from house-tohouse registration.

The Head of State was also critical of what he says is bad faith from the Opposition on the selection of a new GECOM chairman. The Opposition, on the other hand, is insisting that elections have to be held in three months, by September.

They said that in keeping with the Constitution and the court rulings, Government merely has to perform a caretaker role in those three months until elections.

PAGE 8

Tuesday July 16, 2019

Kaieteur News

SARA officials not yet obligated to make declarations to Integrity Commission

SARA is not a state agency whose officials have been placed on the schedule that is mandated to submit declarations of wealth.

Officials of the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) are not yet bound to submit declarations of their wealth to the Integrity Commission.

This is because the entity has not yet been placed under in the Schedule 1 list of the Integrity Act which spells out which public officials have to declare their assets.

Last week, Chairman of the Integrity Commission, Kumar Doraisami, disclosed that SARA has not yet been included but moves are underway to correct the situation.

Under the laws, public officials, starting from the President, and inclusive of members of the National Assembly, Permanent Secretaries, Ombudsman, Director of Public Prosecution, senior police and army officials, judges and magistrates, and

representatives from the various state arms and agencies, have to submit a declaration of their assets.

The idea is to determine what they entered office with and what they would have left with.

SARA was established in 2017 after a Coalition Government took office and signaled intentions to go after resources it believes would have been stolen from the state.

Recently, a debate has arisen over whether public servants and public officials can play a role in private companies.

A senior SARA official, Eric Phillips, reportedly had interests in two companies, including one which had applied for an offshore oil block.

Another public official, Rawle Lucas, chairman of the Guyana Power and Light Inc., along with Phillips, was also part

of a logistics company involved in the oil business.

There are scores of other cases like this. It is being debated now.

According to the Public Service Rules, persons who have interest in private companies have to seek permission first from their Permanent Secretaries and the Public Service Commission.

For public officials, like Phillips and Lucas, they may have to alert their boards of their interests.

Public officials, also to have to toe the line by reporting their interest to the Integrity Commission.

The Commission itself has been facing difficulties in getting public officials to comply with several hundred names of those who have not, published in the Official Gazette.

Rawle Lucas

SARA’s Eric Phillips

Integrity Commission’s chairman, Kumar Doraisami

Selection of GECOM Chair...

Jagdeo highlights Grangers stalling tactics On July 12, last, the Chief Whip of the Opposition, Gail Teixeira wrote to President David Granger indicating that the Leader of the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo, is willing to meet throughout the weekend of July 13-14 to work on a list of names for consideration for the post of Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chair.

Up to yesterday, Jagdeo said he is still to receive a reply from the Government. The PPP General Secretary expressed disappointment that the weekend was wasted.

He also questioned the Presidents sincerity in treating with the appointment of a next GECOM Chair in an urgent fashion. Jagdeo reminded as well that it was Granger who told the nation that he is prepared to treat with the appointment swiftly.

Further to this, the Opposition Leader said that after a week of talks, he is still unclear on whether the Presi-

President, David Granger dent finds favour with any of his nominees for the vacant post. His nominees include environmentalist Annette Arjoon-Martins; B S Roy (retired Justice of Appeal), businessman Gerry Gouveia; Joseph Singh (Retired Major General and former GECOM Chairman), attorney-at-law Kashir Khan; former magistrate Krisnadatt Persaud;

Lawrence Lachmansingh; Norman McLean (Retired Major General); Onesi La Fleur, private sector executive Ramesh Dookhoo and retired Puisne Judge William Ramlall.

Questioned by this news agency to say if any of Grangers nominees will make it on the final list, Jagdeo said that he will have to examine whether those names are acceptable to him and then make a decision.

The eight names recommended for the post by Granger are former GECOM Chair, Justice (retired) James Patterson; Kesaundra Alves, a lawyer who is the Chair for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation; businessman and former parliamentarian, Kads Khan; former executive of the Peoples National Congress Reform, Stanley Ming; Justices (retd) Claudette La Bennett and Stanley Moore; former Solicitor-General, Kim Kyte and Dr. Aubrey Armstrong, an economist.

Tuesday July 16, 2019

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

The caretaker is in the house!

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has designated the Granger-administration as a caretaker government. A vote of no-confidence alters the nature of the government and imposes restraints on its functions and its tenure.

The court in issuing consequential orders, noted that the government, after a vote of no-confidence, is on a different footing from that which existed prior to that vote. This declaration by the CCJ should at least enlighten the government that it cannot be business as usual.

In explaining the different footing in which the APNU+AFC now finds itself, the CCJ referred to Justice Cummings’s ruling in which she cited the Canadian constitutional expert, Peter Hogg,

who had explained: “…The government continues in office as a caretaker government or an interim government until the next elections ensue and a President is appointed (or reappointed) depending on the results of that election.”

The CCJ continued that: “By convention, the government is expected to behave during this interim period as a caretaker and so restrain the exercise of its legal authority.

It is this caretaker or interim role that explains the three month deadline, in the first instance that the Article lays down, in principle, for the holding of the fresh elections.”

Constitutional conventions have the force of law.

Public officials in Guyana,

must therefore safeguard the legality of their actions in the period between the fall of a government and the holding of elections. They must appreciate the nature of a caretaker government, how long it can last and what it can and cannot do.

In his glossary, Public Administration Terms, Vickram Singh, defines a caretaker government as one “which carries on the necessary functions of government in the period between the resignation of the government and the establishment of a new cabinet enjoying parliamentary support.” A caretaker government therefore implies the resignation of the Cabinet.

Yossi Shain of Tel-Aviv University and Juan Linz of

Dem boys seh ...

Jagdeo fuhget Soulja Bai does got to church Fuh de first time Jagdeo sit down in he house a whole weekend without going anywhere. He was waiting fuh a phone call from Soulja Bai. He sit down after he and Soulja Bai couldn’t agree on who would be de GECOM chairman when dem meet whole week last week. Before de two of dem meet Jagdeo select a team and Soulja Bai select a team to see if dem could select a GECOM chairman.

That didn’t work out.

That is how Jagdeo send to tell Soulja Bai that he would like to meet over de weekend.

That is why he was waiting home all weekend. He don’t go to church but Soulja Bai don’t miss a Sunday.

Then again, de Monday

was Soulja Bai birthday and he didn’t want anybody to spoil he mood before de big day. That is why he didn’t set up no meeting wid Jagdeo.

And while de two of dem dodging one another de Traffic Chief trying to ketch people who riding bicycle without lights and brakes. Fuh decades people stop riding wid brakes and lights. People does stop bicycle wid dem foot.

If dem live in a dark area dem would walk wid a torch light. But most times dem young boys know that if dem can see wha coming dem safe.

De Traffic Chief seh he gun go pun de road and look fuh all dem bicycles that don’t

have lights and brakes.

Dem boys seh he don’t have wuk to do suh he looking fuh wuk. He could get a bicycle and start riding to wuk when de day come. And when de brakes cut he gun find out how good he foot is fuh drag pun de road when he want stop.

He coulda look at dem car wha crashing and dem motorcyclists that riding without helmet. Perhaps dem too fast fuh him. But because he want to show that he doing something he going after bicycles.

That is wha people mean when dem talk bout picking pun poor people.

Talk half and watch dem bicycles embarrass de Traffic Chief.

Yale in their book, “Between States: Interim Governments in Democratic Transitions”, had argued that caretaker governments have two features. The first is that they are temporary and the second is that they are limited in what they can do.

The two professors said that the life or tenure of a caretaker government should have an end date and that this is circumscribed by the holding of elections. In terms of its functions, they noted that caretaker governments cannot make any decision of importance, except those concerned with democratization.

They went on to state that in parliamentary democracies, caretaker governments are expected to deal only with routine and urgent business.

This is an entrenched constitutional convention the former Governor General of Australia, Sir Paul Hasluck had explained that that where there exists the possibility of a change in government (that is, where elections are due),

“no new decisions of matters of major policy should be taken and no appointments to high office should be made.”

He went on to explain the rationale and philosophy behind this convention.

“The common sense of this convention is to avoid a situation in which an expiring government may do something which, a month or so later, an incoming government may immediately try to cancel. The philosophy of it is that if a major question of policy is being put to the electorate at an election, a government should not make final decisions on that question before the electorate has given its answer.”

Guyana now has a caretaker government. It cannot therefore be business as usual. The Court has pronounced on the validity of the vote of no-confidence passed in the National Assembly on 21st December 2018. The Court has indicated that while the government continues in

office until it is either reelected or a new government appointed, it is on a different footing from what existed prior to 21st December 2018.

The APNU+AFC government is a caretaker government. The Cabinet has to resign but the government continues in a caretaking capacity. Caretaker governments have a limited tenure and are constrained in their functions.

They can only engage in routine functions and urgent matters. Their primary purpose is to hold the fort until elections are held and these must be held in accordance with the constitution.

Let us all hope that this convention is not as difficult to understand as determining the minimum majority of 65.

PAGE 10

Tuesday July 16, 2019

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

President Granger is violating the constitution In any country, you are going to find parts of the constitution that gives antagonists opposing each other, grey areas that will ensure adamant embrace of fixed positions.

In my Saturday column, I predicted the APNU+AFC will reject a diminution of power based on the CCJ’s pronouncement of “caretaker” administration.

Out of the maddening back and forth taking place, there is semantic pellucidness, legal simplicity, and grammatical clarity in relation to the constitution. The

CCJ judges have made their clarification explicit. The constitution stipulates that the president of Guyana must choose a name for GECOM chair from a list of nominations submitted by the opposition.

The president can be troublesome or mischievous or even conniving and quarrel endlessly about the names but there is no space in the constitution for him to submit a cluster of selectees on his own. It is a nonsensical violation of the constitution and the people of the world must denounce him for it.

President Granger does

not want an independent chairman encapsulated in the Carter formula that has worked since 1992. I am not a fan of the PPP, will not vote for the PPP but the blazing fact which is part of our history is that successive PPP presidents have accepted the Carter formula and approved the names suggested by the PNC Opposition Leader since 1992 when the PPP formed the government.

I repeat what I told Stan Gouveia on Hits and Jams Radio that names suggested by the PNC opposition under the Carter formula had some

connection to the opposition and yet different PPP presidents accepted them. Joe Singh worked with the PNC state all his life and achieved his iconic status under successive PNC governments.

Steve Surajballi was very close to the WPA and TUF personnel.

The fact that it is incontrovertible is that some names suggested by the Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, have no known connection to the PPP in the past and in the present. Joe Singh is one of them so is Lawrence Latchmansingh.

What has worked smoothly since 1992 has been rejected by the APNU+AFC and it is disturbing.

I am not going to leave readers guessing as to why this is happening. My opinion is that David Granger and those in the PNC and AFC are afraid of losing the upcoming national election and they want a logistical and strategic advantage and they feel they could get it through the GECOM avenue.

Two graphic facts stand out that are dangerous for the future of this country and the world must intervene.

One is Granger’s insistence of his action of submitting a list of his own. Then Khemraj Ramjattan gave it away. He said last week if Jagdeo’s submissions are non-starters Granger can

chose his own person. This is unconstitutional. Granger cannot make a unilateral appointment. But this is the direction he and his colleagues are going into.

It simply boggles the mind why there isn’t a deluge of criticism from more Guyanese and from the region and beyond about this violation of Granger.

For all the criticism over the past fifteen years we have made of presidents Jagdeo and Ramotar, how can those who want a future for this country not see the deviousness in the president’s demand that a GECOM chairman come also from a list of his own choosing?

Why are the people of Guyana silent on this egregiousness?

We cannot allow this flagrant violation of legality to go without speaking out. While the controversy rages on about what it meant by the Cabinet must resign and other related issues, there should be no confusion about the route to the GECOM chair. I now come to the emphasis of my opinion given above.

I do not believe Granger in the coming days will identify a GECOM chairman within the Carter framework. I think we are heading for another unilateral appointment which will find functionalism in the

Frederick Kissoon GECOM Secretariat and that chairperson will do what the APNU+AFC wants – house to house registration which will conclude perhaps by year end or early 2020, then there will be an announcement of election which comes close to the end of the five-year mandate of the APNU+AFC. This columnist has opined in private emails and in his columns that Guyana is heading for instability. I repeat my fear here which I will not be fearful in asserting – Guyana is about to atavistically return to the seventies of rigged elections.

I don’t want that to happen. I sincerely hope it doesn’t happen but this is how I feel and I have the right to express my opinion.

Guyana is heading for trouble.

Tuesday July 16, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Tuesday July 16, 2019

Kaieteur News

Aurora Gold Mines proposes 7.6 % bonus pay to workers

Aurora Gold Mines (AGM) the Canadian Company at the centre of negotiations between workers and the Labour Department, has proposed a 7.6% bonus pay to its workers.

In a letter, the company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Suresh Kalathil, disclosed that a number of preliminary decisions were taken by the company’s management, towards fixing the issues, internally — pursuant to the meeting with the Labour Department on July 8.

In a circular issued to the mines workers, management of Aurora Gold Mines informed that inter alia a 7.6 % bonus on their salaries was proposed as part of improving the terms of employment offered to rank-and-file staffers.

The bonus pay is a quarterly production scheme which is based on an achievement of set production goals, including the ounces of gold produced.

The bonus pay would kick in on July 25, 2019.

According to the correspondence, by July 14, AGM would have met with all the employees to emphasize the company’s core values which include treating all employees in a respectful and inclusive manner.

“Our performance management process ensures regular follow up to ensure behaviour shifts in the right direction and within reasonable period of time.”

As it relates to the concerns over compensation, salary level and pay rates, AGM said that a site compensation committee and mandate will be created and initiated by August 31, 2019 to review compensation-related issues including those related to contract employment.

“A final report with recommendations will be provided for management review by October 31, 2019,” the proposal stated.

The Goldfields Management also proposed a devised plan to further cascade specific goal and objectives to all employees by August 2019.

“In addition, we will hold

A group of AGM workers at a recent meeting with the Labour Department a series of Town Hall and internal communications to ensure that employees are fur-

ther informed of the 2019 objectives to perform and deliver as per our 2019 plan,” AGM added.

With regards to severance packages, the company said that in cases where termination of employment is required, AGM will abide by employment legislation and regulation of Guyana.

AGM also gave a commitment to review the rotation period for workers and actively address the issues re-

lated to payments to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

However, as it relates to the unionisation of workers, the company said that the AGM is happy for the employees to engage in discussion about the “possibility” of union recognition as per the laws and regulations of Guyana.

The Labour Department had promised the workers that it would expedite the ap-

plication process for the workers to be recognized as unionized by the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board.

The workers had expressed an interest to have National Mines Workers’ Union of Guyana (NMWUG), headed by Sherwin Downer, represent them.

The Labour Department is supposed to conduct a survey – which it said it would – to determine the workers’

Govt. and disregard for CCJ Ruling...

Intl community is now on trial-Opposition Leader Guyana has found itself in a full-fledged constitutional crisis, said Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo. Now all eyes will be on the international community to see how it will treat with the “caretaker” APNU+AFC Government.

Speaking to the media at his Church Street Office, yesterday, Jagdeo said that the nation is quite aware at this point, that the administration will continue to defy the rulings of the court.

Jagdeo reminded that the government has officially stated that it intends to hold Cabinet meetings even though the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruled that the No-Confidence Motion was successfully passed on December 21, last. As a result of that ruling, Cabinet is expected to resign with immediate effect.

Jagdeo then stated that the people on trial now will be the international community. The PPP General Secretary questioned whether the

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo members of the international community are prepared to accept the unambiguous judgment of the CCJ which states that elections have to be held in three months, that the government is in caretaker mode, and that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is also required to comply with the holding of elections

within the three month timeframe.

The Opposition Leader stressed that it would be incumbent on the international community to alter the manner in which it engages the administration in light of the ruling. He also expects that the international community would urge the government to respect the CCJs judgment.

Jagdeo also said that the business community which has released a statement calling for respect for the CCJ ruling must also treat with the government in a similar fashion.

In addition, the PPP General Secretary disclosed that he met with the Secretary General of CARICOM, Irwin LaRocque, and expressed his intention to have the CCJ ruling sent to all the heads of the member states.

The Opposition Leader said that this move is being pursued to ensure that doctored versions of the ruling are not fed to the CARICOM members.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 16, 2019

City Hall forensic audit still incomplete...

Local Gov't Commission awaits findings

T

h e L o c a l Government Commission (LGC) is awaiting the findings of a forensic audit before it can determine the course of action which will be taken against officers of the Georgetown Mayor and City Councillors (M&CC).

This is according to Deputy Chairman of the LGC, Andrew Garnett.

Garnett, was at the time, responding to queries about the status of the recommendations made by the Commission of Inquiry, (CoI) into the operations of City Hall. More than six months have gone by since the CoI recommendations were handed to the LGC. The CoI headed by retired Justice Cecil Kennard had recommended disciplinary action for several senior officers of the municipality including former Town Clerk Royston King. King is cited for gross misconduct, abuse of office, recklessness, dishonesty, conspiracy, and misappropriation of funds.

He was eventually dismissed by the LGC. However, while months have passed since LGC took any decisive action with regard to the other recommendations, Garnett explained that the Commission is awaiting the outcome of the forensic audit before it makes any move.

“You would appreciate that these matters take time and we want to ensure as the oversight body that we have a comprehensive view of the matters before taking any

definite action.”

“In the case of the Town Clerk, we acted on recommendations because there was, in our opinion sufficient evidence to warrant his dismissal, the other officers were cited for dereliction of duty.

“So we have to be careful that our action is not premature---or a case where we take administrative action when more serious penalties are warranted.”

Further, the Deputy Chairman noted that the Commission had written to City Hall to ensure that municipality complied with all request of the auditors.

“As you are aware, the auditors had encountered some difficulty getting certain information from the Council. We had written the council about it.

So now the auditors are continuing their work which we hope will conclude soon.

With regard to the officers, Garnett said, the LGC has since written to them as well.

“They have responded in the form of lawyers' letters and as soon as the investigation wraps up, we will take it from there. It is a wide sweeping investigation and we want to ensure that we have covered all bases before making any determination,” Garnett added.

Under the Ministry of Communities, the LGC is established by the Constitution, to oversee, m o n i t o r, i n v e s t i g a t e , examine and take disciplinary actions, where

Andrew Garnett necessary, on officers of some 27 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and ten municipalities.

At present the Commission is looking at recommendations as it relates to the action to be taken against Acting Town Clerk, Sharon HarryMunroe, who is cited for dereliction of duty and incompetence; Assistant Town Clerk, Sherry Jerrick, for dereliction of duty and incompetence; Internal Auditor, Omodele UmojoNewton for incompetence and conspiracy; Chief Constable, Andrew Foo for dereliction of duty and incompetence; Human Resources Manager, Paulette Braithwaite for incompetence; City Engineer, Colvern Venture for incompetence and dereliction of duty; and Rashid Kelman for conspiracy.

Further, the COI report recommended that City Treasurer, Ron Mc Calmont, should proceed on early retirement, as he is unwell.

Serial rapist appeals “severe” 62-year jail sentence

E

xactly three weeks after he was handed a 62year jail term after confessing to raping two girls and a woman, 22-yearold Leon Jordan has now moved to the Court of Appeal where he is challenging the severity of the sentence imposed by High Court Judge Brassington Reynolds.

Apart from severity of sentence, in a Notice of Appeal filed on July 4, Jordan is also arguing that he was given an unfair trial; that the trial judge failed to live up to the plea bargain, and that no medical report was

presented to the court.

Described as “selfish and barbaric” by a probation officer, Jordan was committed to prison for raping two girls aged seven and 14, and a 24-year-old woman. Justice Reynolds imposed a 12-year sentence on Jordan for raping the seven-year-old girl; he was handed a 15-year sentence for raping the teenager and a 35-year jail term for raping the woman. The sentences accumulate to 62 years', and Jordan only becomes eligible for parole completing 30 years.

During a sentence hearing, Justice Reynolds

told Jordan that he cannot imagine what would cause a “handsome young man” to take such a direction in life.

According to the Judge, Jordan showed no emotion while his victims poured their hearts out to the court in relation to how the incidents have left them traumatized.

“But I don't know if you have any feelings. For me, you are less than a human being which you ought to be,” Justice Reynolds had told the confessed rapist, who appeared to be listening attentively. The Judge added, “Seven, 14, 28; was it going to be 56 next,” making (continued on page 23)

PAGE 13

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Tuesday July 16, 2019

US chemical company, John Fernandes to meet residents over planned storage facility

A

US chemical company which is seeking permission to operate a storage facility in Industrial Estate, Georgetown, yesterday said that it will meet with residents this week to address questions.

This was after objections were raised by persons in the communities nearby.

Nalco Champion (Guyana) Inc. yesterday disclosed that it has developed plans for a chemical storage facility in Georgetown, Guyana, that is important for the new oil and gas production that will “support” the Guyana economy and community.

“The company has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for authorization to build and operate the facility.

As part of this review, the E PA w i l l c o n d u c t a n Environmental Impact Assessment to ensure that Nalco Champion's planned operations are safe for the community.”

Nalco Champion (Guyana) and John

Residents of the communities around the Industrial Estate who have expressed concerns.

Fernandes Ltd., the company that owns the site of the proposed warehouse, will be hosting a public meeting with community members later this week to address the questions they have raised about the impact of warehouse on the

surrounding area.

"Our top concern is ensuring safety of the environment and the communities in which we operate,” said Eric Scott, Nalco Champion Guyana's warehouse manager.

“Our people also live and

work here, and we recognize that our neighbours may have questions about our o p e r a t i o n s . We a r e committed to working with the EPA and look forward to the opportunity to share more information with the local community and address any concerns they may have regarding our operations and the safety plans we have in place.”

The proposed facility at John Fernandes Ltd. Inland Terminal at 4055 Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, encompasses 5,000 square meters and will

only warehouse chemical products. Nalco explained that there will be no manufacturing at this site.

The US Company said that the stored chemicals at the location would be very similar to common household items such as rubbing alcohol, paint thinner, gasoline and diesel. “ We r e c o g n i z e t h e importance of being a responsible neighbour in the community and operating in compliance with all Guyanese regulations at our proposed facility,” said John Wa l d v o g e l , N a l c o

Champion Guyana's Country Readiness Manager. Nalco Champion made it clear it responsibly operates similar locations in hundreds of communities today and has a proven track record of safe, sustainable operations and community involvement.

Nalco Champion, an Ecolab company, provides safe, sustainable chemistry programmes and services to the upstream and midstream o i l a n d g a s i n d u s t r y, refineries and petrochemical operations in more than 170 countries around the world.

Linden Chamber of Commerce fully behind NICIL-inspired development plans

T

he regularisation of lands as an asset for business transactions was one of the front-burner issues addressed in-depth when members of the Linden C h a m b e r o f I n d u s t r y, C o m m e r c e a n d Development [LCICD] met recently with Head of the National Industrial and Commercial and Investments Limited [NICIL], Mr. Colvin HeathLondon.

The members of the Chamber are elated about this development. This was intimated by the Chamber's P r e s i d e n t , M r. Vi c t o r Fernandes, who called the recent collaboration “a golden opportunity for the holistic development of Linden”.

Fernandes revealed that he and the entire Chamber are still reeling with excitement from the

outcome of the meeting, adding that the clarification of a number of issues which were addressed have now paved the way for forward movement.

“The Chamber is very pleased to have met with NICIL and more in p a r t i c u l a r, M r H e a t h London. We are heartened by the several excellent responses from our membership about the discussion that we have had, as many felt that it was not only useful but beneficial to both sides,” he asserted.

The Chamber President went on to note that the recent meeting helped members to have a refreshed understanding of NICIL and its role in the continued development of Linden. “ We h a d c a n d i d conversations on several issues of concerns of perceived notion which we are confident will result in a

strengthened and more purposeful relationship,” said Fernandes.

“Mr Heath-London outlined NICIL's role and plans for our community that would be of significant benefit to all,” he added, pointing out that the facilitation for space for investors for business development was another key issue that was addressed.

“NICIL took the lead in enhancing our tourism product by refurbishing our heritage site Watooka House adding to its attraction deck on the river front. This certainly demonstrates genuine interest in forging collaboration and aiding in t h e c o n t i n u e d developmental and enhancement of Linden as a destination town,” the Chamber President shared.

As he turned his attention to the Guyana Initiative (continued on page 21)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 16, 2019

PAGE 15

$186M Hinterland Students' Dormitory

commissioned at Liliendaal

“Education is now moving on the correct path,�

- President David Granger equalizer. While he noted that education is the key to unlocking increased economic opportunities for citizens, he further dictated that it is the best path that

The $186M Dormitory for Tertiary Hinterland students

P

resident David Granger said, yesterday, that the education system in Guyana is now moving on the correct path and is being accorded the highest priority.

He was addressing the Ministry of Indigenous People's Affairs commissioning ceremony of the $186M Dormitory for Te r t i a r y H i n t e r l a n d Students, at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

President Granger said

that more than $170B has been expended on education over the past four years, emphasizing that spending in the education sector has moved from 14.8 % of the national budget in 2014 to 17.0 % in 2017.

The President said that the establishment of the tertiary education dormitory which can accommodate 120 students is affirmation of Government's commitment to improving educational opportunities for hinterland

students.

He added that it also reflects Government's intention to ensure a more equal society by reducing the disparities between the hinterland and coastland through education.

He noted that the Government of Guyana wants to ensure that hinterland residents can enjoy similar public services such as birth registration, business registration, public education, public health,

public infrastructure, public security and social security as citizens on the coastland.

He added that the new facility will ensure a more conducive environment for hinterland students attending the University of Guyana and other tertiary institutions.

President Granger reported that the government's investment in education is due to the fact that it has recognised that education is a great

should be followed when empowering and listing persons out of poverty and marginalization.

He said that Guyana's (continued on page 20)

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 16, 2019

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 16, 2019

PAGE 17

UG has gasifier equipment to help produce electricity

Senior members of the University Counsel at the commissioning of the machine

T

he University of Guyana's Faculty of Agriculture yesterday commissioned a gasifier machine designed

by Dr. Lawrence Lewis and team.

At a ceremony which attracted senior members of the University Council, the a c a d e m i c c o m m u n i t y, donors, students, technical and research team, Dr. Lawrence Lewis explained

the intended use of the gasifier unit.

He said that the mechanical design was a few years in the making and that its output could lead to a long term green energy solution.

The unit will now begin

its test and application phase over the next 12 months.

During this phase it will be tested under different conditions and using chips from several types of wood to make the pellets that act as fuel for the unit.

We a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s yesterday morning created a slight delay in the machines start up during the commissioning, but the machine did fire once the damp conditions began to improve.

The faculty is in the process of creating a Facebook page on the University of Guyana's FB page from which those interested in the project may follow its progress over the (continued on page 19)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Tuesday July 16, 2019

Itaballi to Puruni road remains in a deplorable state

L

ast February the Public Infrastructure Ministry announced that a contract was signed for the rehabilitation of the Puruni Road, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni). This was after weeks of public outcry from miners and other stakeholders regarding the deplorable state of the road surface.

The Contract indeed facilitated the rehabilitation and construction of the Itabali to Puruni Road surface to a point that proper accessibility was enjoyed temporarily. This ended in April when the weather pattern changed.

The works that were done then could not withstand the intense effects of the wet weather conditions. Once again the Road was in a deplorable state.

The responsibility for this Road falls specifically under the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). The trail is mainly used by all to access the Gold Mining Districts of Puruni Number 3, Cuyuni Number 4, and the Middle Mazaruni area from the Papishou Landing.

The Puruni Road runs from the Community of Itaballi, Mazaruni River, through to the Papishou Landing in the (continued on page 19)

The current state of the Itaballi Landing to the Puruni Landing Road

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Tuesday July 16, 2019

West Berbice accident Police in another major driver facing two charges drug eradication exercise

T

he man who was at the wheels of the motor car when he lost control and slammed into a utility pole causing the death of his friend, has been slapped with two charges Shamar Hercules, 21, a former policeman of Seafield Village, West Cast Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh, recently, in the Weldaad Magistrate Court. He is charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

He is accused of causing the death of Lincoln Carmichael, 21, of the same village. He is also charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He pleaded not guilty to both charges and was placed on $300,000 bail.

Hercules was represented by Joel Edmonds. He will have to return to court on August 14.

The case for the prosecution as presented by Corporal Rochelle Mars was that on July 7, last, Hercules was driving motor car PSS 2472 at a fast rate of speed when he lost control and slammed into a utility post on the Golden Grove Public road, causing Carmichael's death.

A post mortem examination performed on Carmichael's body by Government Pathologist, Dr Vivekanand Brijmohan, at the Anthony's Funeral Home gave the cause of death as fracture of the cervical spine, shock and haemorrhage.

The men were reportedly heading home after a night out.

Hercules reportedly died at the Fort Wellington Hospital while Hercules who also received injuries was first taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital then the New Amsterdam Hospital. Carmichael was reportedly in the front passenger seat.

Lincoln Carmichael

T

he police have once a g a i n conducted a major drug eradication exercise up the Berbice River where a number of plants, camps and nurseries were found and destroyed.

The operation featured ranks from Berbice and Georgetown. They conducted the more than 13-hour operation at Kimbia and Kaiwa. The ranks upon arrival at the different locations ventured into the jungle and located three fields measuring about four and half acres in size.

The fields were cultivated with about 25,000 cannabis plants ranging between two and seven feet in height with an estimated weight of 13,000 Kilograms. One nursery with about 3000 seedlings and about 35 Kilograms dried Cannabis were also located.

A total of four camps were also found. The plants, dried Cannabis and camps were all destroyed by fire.

There were no arrests and or incidents.

$186M Hinterland Students' Dormitory From page 15 education policy emphasizes the three 'A's – Access, Attendance and Attainment.

Today's commissioning adds a fourth 'A' which is Accommodation, he added.

The President said that accommodation is being boosted by improvement at the student level.

Dormitories have been constructed at 19 locations in nine regions. These dormitories, he said, allow more hinterland students to benefit from educational services.

Access to education for hinterland students is being facilitated through the provision of Governmentsupported scholarships which provide opportunities for hinterland students to enjoy secondary and tertiary education.

He explained that the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs has increased the number of hinterland scholarships from 120 in 2014, to 186 in 2018.

Hinterland students also have been among the beneficiaries of the 1,599 tertiary-level scholarships offered by the Department of the Public Service since 2015.

Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry noted

President David Granger and Minister of Education, Ms. Nicolette Henry unveil the plaque at the opening of the Dormitory for Tertiary Hinterland students at Liliendaal. Also pictured are (first and second left) Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs, Ms. Valerie Garrido-Lowe and (first and second right) Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Mr. Keith Scott and Minister of State, Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams. that the new dormitory will contribute in a large way to making Guyana a better place. She said that the facility will provide tremendous opportunities for those students whose geographic locations limited their chances of pursuing their dreams of higher education.

She said that the building is in alignment with the government's vision of making education more accessible and affable to disadvantaged, vulnerable and traditionally marginalized groups.

Minister of Indigenous People's Affairs, Sydney Allicock, said that the new

facility comes under the Hinterland Education Support Programme.

He said that the dormitory will allow for additional human resources in technical fields such as agriculture, medicine and engineering.

Minister Allicock said that the government has

embarked on the Green State economy for a good life and that through education, Guyana will realise that dream.

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People's Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, said that the dormitory will allow for economic and social

transformation of indigenous communities.

She said that the government has been allocating more resources towards human capital development to train more indigenous youths in various academic areas.

According to Minister Garrido-Lowe, the 215 hinterland communities across Guyana have been waiting to show what they can do given the access to resources and this dormitory is a step in that direction.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Indigenous People's Affairs, Mr. Alfred King noted that the dormitory will allow students at the secondary level to pursue higher education.

He said that the project was well justified and was officially completed on March 3, 2019. He said that the facility has internet access provided by the eGovernment Department and in a few months will be equipped with a hub which will facilitate an eLibrary.

The building was dedicated by the Retired Reverend. Charles Davidson, Bishop of Guyana who also blessed the President on his 74th Birth Anniversary celebrated yesterday.

Tuesday July 16, 2019

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

‘Behave yourself’ - President tells Parliamentarians

One bar, 39 Venezuelans held Trinidad Express - Forty foreign nationals were held in chaguanas during an anticrime exercise in Chaguanas.

Police held 39 Venezuelan nationals and one Jamaican national. The exercise was coordinated by Snr. Supt.

Samuel Seepersad, and included officers of the Crimi-

nal Investigations Department, Central Division Task Force, the Special Operations Unit, the Canine Branch and Courts and Process Branch.

The officers received intelligence which led them to a bar along Railway Road, Chaguanas, at about 10p.m. on Sunday.

At this location, the officers detained the 40 individuals who were unable to produce documents which would indicate their legal status in this country.

Officials from the Immigration Division were contacted and the suspects were handed over.

Linden Chamber of Commerce fully...

Trinidad Guardian - Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley chats with President Paula-Mae Weekes during the opening ceremony of the 44th annual conference of the Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic Region of the Commonwealth Parliament Association held at Hyatt Regency, yesterday.

At right is, Senate President, Kristine Kangaloo. SHIRLEY BAHADUR Trinidad Express President Paula-Mae Weekes is not impressed with the way Parliamentarians carry about themselves in both the Houses of Representatives and the Senate. She made her opinion very clear yesterday morning at the opening ceremony of the 44th Annual Conference of the Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), held at the Hyatt Regency.

In her 15 minute address, Weekes urged MPs to maintain the highest standards in the Parliament as the nation’s

youth were looking on and “will consider what they see us do to be appropriate and so mimic and perpetuate the standards that we set”. “Even the most casual observer of the proceedings of our Parliament would be concerned about how the people’s business is being conducted.

Those who follow vividly might well be alarmed.

Walkouts, put outs, distrust, thinly-veiled insults, inability to arrive at consensus quickly, if at all, on

the simplest of issues, referrals to the privileges committee, whether to apologise or not, all those seem to take precedence over formulating laws for the good of our citizens,” Weekes said.

She said while there certainly is room for picong and jollity, there has to be alignment between the distinguished and important nature of the work and the conduct exhibited by those who sit in Parliament.

From page 14 Against Climate Change [GIACC], Fernandes said that the Chamber remains united and committed to supporting a number of potential investors of a solar farm and engineering operation.

“It is also in keeping with President [David] Granger's initiative...However we would like consideration to be given to the environmental concerns for our waterways and the Blue Lake of north-east Kara Kara which has become the identity of Linden, far and wide,” the Chamber head noted.

Fernandes, moreover, made it clear that the Lake must be preserved for the people of the Linden community, stressing that any lease agreement should be “minus this facility and its access”.

“The Chamber was reliably informed of NICIL's willingness to consider suitable locations and would like to encourage fruitful dialogue on a

location that is very suitable,” Fernandes stated. He underscored that as a primary stakeholder, the Chamber is of the view that NICIL's role is of utmost importance to the development of the community.

“We stand in support of NICIL and the initiatives that we have agreed on collectively and collaboratively as we are of the firm view that moving ahead with the development of Linden is a role that can see participation from various stakeholders,” he said.

Even as he considered that “NICIL owns a significant portion of lands and properties around,” Fernandes said, “I am very encouraged by the continued efforts of its Head to make things happen and this is the level of spirit and interest that we need to see if holistic development of communities like Linden are going to be achieved.”

In reaffirming the Chamber's commitment and

support to the initiatives and collaboration that have been mooted by NICIL, Fernandes said, “We stand ready with a number of investors who have already expressed interest in investing further in Linden.”

As such, he made a passionate appeal to investors to recognise that Linden has the potential which will result in significant growth and development in another five years or so.

Fernandes said that the Chamber, through its various connections, will reach out and lend any support and/or assistance to investors who are genuinely interested in playing meaningful roles in helping to materialise the plans of making Linden a destination town.

“The Chamber will continue to lend its support to investment that would bring economic and social development to Linden,” Fernandes added.

PAGE 22

Tuesday July 16, 2019

Kaieteur News

Region commences...

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.

Installation, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing Machine, Stove etc. Call Nick 630-1600, 627-3206 Lanscaping Services, Cutting & Spraying, East Bank #6670140 Professional Repair Service: Computers, Tv’s (LCD & LED), Cellphones & Other Electronics.Ph#629-6470/6962843.Email:akinscott@outlook.com

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 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 IMPORTED Pure breed rottweilers for sale. Contact S.S Royal K9 @ 638-1111 Cassava & fine plantain available. Contact#223-5273/ 223-5274

VEHICLE FOR SALE

EDUCATION Edu Care Academy, Now enrolling. Former IBE, Lusignan Public Road.

Enrollment 5-9 August. #6420302/649-5987/676-9909 STEWART’S ACADEMIC INSTITUTE- SUMMER PROGRAMME: 22nd JULY16th AUGUST 2019) For more information, Contact Mr. Stewart Cell# 697-3801 Summer School (3-14 yrs), Common Entrance Preparation, Phonics, Reading, Aftercare (3yrs-6yrs) High School (Forms 1&2) Preparation. Call: 677-0296 LEARN TO DRIVE N. Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square. Affordable package. Call: 644-5166/6912561 TO LET (2) bedroom apartment @ 80 Brutus Street Agricola, next to Anglican Church between 1st & 2nd St. Tel#693-9494/2310051/611-9880

1 Honda CRV. includes TV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, sproiler, crash bar, Low mileage. PTT Series (First Owner) Contact #6490956 1-Toyota Tundra 4 wheel drive $1.9M, 1 BMW 3181 $1.4M, 1 Audi Convertible $2.8M, 1 -416 Cat Tractor loader $3.5M Contact#6500402/603-1402 New model premio, pearl white 2009 registered $2.3M , Toyota Vitz 2010 Black unregistered $1.8M . Tel#2235615/600-4212

FOR RENT

WANTED

VACANCY

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Preferably a couple.

Whatsapp +1-905-3019798

Experienced Salesman to work @ Innovation America, Knowledge in sales & vast experience in hardware atmosphere.

Apply: innovationsamericamng @gmail.com

Industrial Sales Representative, 5 Subject CXC Age 25+ Experience in Sales, must own vehicle, email r e s u m e : vacancy@josarltd.com

(2) bedroom top flat apartment in Riumveldt Tel#227-8529 1 three bedroom apartment for rent in Diamond. Tel#6022563/609-4365

Live in or Live out Domestic worker. Call from MondaySaturday between 8:154:15pm #223-7500 One handyman. Please call #628-9268 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665/6493750

Apartment for rent, Parfaite Harmonie. Tel#603-3912

Live-in Domestic, must know to cook $25,000 wkly #6103974 25-40 yrs

Office & Business space to rent, High street, Georgetown.

Contact Ray’s Realty #6279685

Male & Female to work in Factory, Apply in person to R.P Enterprise, ECD. Tel#2202818

PROPERTY FOR SALE

One assistant to work in snackette, good handler’s skills, NIS & Tin certificate with a pleasant personality.

Call: 226-2320 or 193 Charlotte St, G/town.

House for sale, Eccles Housing Scheme. 7 bedrooms, 3 toilets and bathrooms enclosed. $28.5M. Call 6420391/ 001447587233657/ yasharabhola4@gmail.com House and land available at Parfaite, Tuschen, Diamond etc.

Contact Pacific Development Inc. 223-6035/ 604-4909 One flat unfinished concrete house-Tuschen $4 Million.

Tel#697-6311 Property on the Soesdyke Linden Highway (serious enquiries only) #644-3515/ 698-9711 2 storey building, Broad St (Business area) Georgetown.

Contact Ray’s Realty #6279685 2 storey concrete property 11 (classey) self contained rooms, Broad St, Georgetown.

Contact Ray’s Realty #6279685 Modern 3 bedroom house, business area below & bond behind, Ketley Street, Georgetown. Ray’s Realty #627-9685

One concrete 2 storey 3 Nissan Sylphy 2017, low bedroom Modern home, mileage, fog lamps, $3.7M Call: Melanie (public road) ECD 614-6948 Contact Ray’s Realty #627Nissan Dualis 2011, Lady 9685 Driven, Low Mileage, fog (1) 3 bedroom house located lamps, backup camera. $4.5M at Stewartville. Tel#625-3299/ neg. Call: 630-3584 268-3129

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Call: 642-9823

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HERBAL REMEDIES: DIABETES, INFERTILITY, MENSTRUAL DISORDERS, ENLARGED PROSTATE, KIDNEY, GALL STONES & SKIN DISORDERS ETC. CALL SPARMAN #676-5924

1 experienced cook, 2 counter staff wanted. Call: 623-8654/ 610-0603

Vacancies @ Bonny’s Butchery for sale girls & boys, Apply in person with written application @ 302 Church St. Tel#226-7310

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Tel#227-8748/622-4970 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

From page 19 far as blocking the road during the protest by placing a metal pipe across the road.

They had complained that they have incurred thousands of dollars in expenses after their cars were damaged while traversing the road on a daily basis.

During the rains, it is in a worse state with potholes filled water and mud from the machinery slathered on the road making it almost impossible to drive.

Prior to the protest, the Regional Chairman had instructed, Regional Executive Officer, Kim WilliamsStephens, to begin the process of having the roads done since the Minster of Infrastructure had told viewers on a local television programme that it is the responsibility of the Chairman and Vice Chairman to have it done and not the Ministry.

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

Contact#654-7162 Supervisor to work in Charity.

Contact#654-7162 Surveyor. Contact# 223-5273/ 223-5274 1 General Domestic, must be able to prepare Vegetarian meals, Apply Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St (1) Cashier to work @ Innovations America, must be between ages of 30-45. Send applications/CV’s to: innovationsamericamng @gmail.com Cashier, Ark Enterprise/The Container House. Bring application and police clearance to 17 Lombard Street.

Security needed for the interior and Georgetown. Call: 223-7165 One procurement personnel needed. Call: 223-7165 Experienced Male Porters & Salesgirls with 2 yrs experience. CXC maths & english. Apply @ Christine’s Variety, Lombard St. Contact: 227-8529 Vacancy for experienced mason. Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St Bourda Vacancy for 1 massage therapist, 1 hairdresser & 2 nail technician at Natural Beauty Salon & Spa. #652-5800 Needed 1 experienced grade 6 teacher, 1 multigrade experience teacher for grades 2 & 3 for Summer School. #690-9378

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Tuesday July 16, 2019

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Courtland boy, 12, dies two Mobile asphalt plant makes way to Wakenaam weeks after road accident – to facilitate $60M in road upgrades

The mobile asphalt plant in Wakenaam In keeping with its promise to residents of Wakenaam, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, on Friday evening, dispatched a mobile asphalt plant to the Essequibo Island.

During a community meeting with residents in Maria Johanna last month, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson committed to ensuring the rehabilitation of the main carriagew a y o f Wa k e n a a m . In merely three weeks, that pledge is becoming a reality.

Minister Patterson told residents, “I have about $60Million in our budget for

Wakenaam to fix the main road.”

While noting the largest obstacle to the works is the ongoing rainy season, the Public Infrastructure Minister assured Wakenaam residents that the road upgrades will begin at the commencement of the dry season.

On July 11, the recently reassigned Minister, ‘Jaipaul Sharma, visited Wakenaam to get a first-hand view of the rehabilitative road works to be executed. Engineers accompanied the Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to acquire measurements of the roads

on the island to be rehabilitated.

Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Minister Sharma noted, “Most of the roads here, would not have been maintained for the past eight to ten years.”

He shared that the mobile asphalt plant will be transported to Leguan at the completion of road upgrades in Wakenaam.

With a population of approximately 10,000 people, Wakenaam will represent the first Essequibo Island to benefit from the recently acquired mobile asphalt plant.

Serial rapist appeals “severe”...

From page 13 reference to the age of the females Jordan had violated.

Jordan, nevertheless, received a lighter sentence on the first two charges as the judge considered that he was just a juvenile when he raped the underage girls.

On February 2, 2012, around 14:30hrs, the sevenyear-old girl had just finished school and was waiting to be picked up by her older brother.

The prosecutor added that Jordan would also visit the school to pick up his brother. According to the prosecutor, Jordan rode up to the little girl on a bicycle. He then told her that his mother had sent him to buy chicken.

The prosecutor said that Jordan promised that he would take the little girl home, and then grabbed her hands and forced her onto his bicycle. He threatened the girl by telling her, “If you scream, I will jook you with a knife.” Instead of taking the child home, Jordan took her to the seawalls where he pushed her onto the ground and ripped off her tights and underwear. He then held a knife to her neck and had sexual intercourse with her.

The court heard that after the act, Jordan left the girl under a bus shed. Somehow, the girl made her way home where she collapsed onto the kitchen floor.

The child was revived by her mother to whom she later related

her story. She was also bleeding profusely.

In relation to this incident, the prosecutor noted that Jordan had told police, “I went and pick up my brother and a 'li'l girl asked me to drop she home.

I carry her by a koker and pushed my fingers in her vagina.”

In the second instance, the 14-year-old girl was making her way home on January 13, 2013, when Jordan rode up to her on a bicycle and asked her something. Armed with an ice pick, Jordan forced the teenager onto his bicycle and took her to an isolated area where he pulled off her clothes and had sexual intercourse with her.

She later had profuse vaginal bleeding. Jordan, then, made sure that the area was clear before he allowed the young girl to leave. A medical examination revealed that the teenager's hymen was ruptured.

On October 25, 2016, the 24-year-old woman was heading to work. She was waiting on public transportation when Jordan rode up to her on a bicycle and told her that something was wrong at her home.

The woman made her way back home. She was accosted

by Jordan who dragged her to a bushy area. A struggle ensued between them, and Jordan who was armed with a

knife, bit off the woman's left eyelid and spat it onto the ground.

With blood dripping from her eyes, Jordan forced himself onto the woman and had sexual intercourse with her.

She was left hospitalized for five days and had to undergo corrective surgery to save her sight. A medical examination revealed that she had several lacerations to her vagina.

Probation Officer Zola Cameron-Lubin described Jordan as “selfish and barbaric”. She revealed that one of the underage rape victims was thrown into a koker by Jordan, but luckily it was closed at the time. The Probation Officer said that the rapist had shown no remorse, and had even denied knowing the victims who his actions have left with lifelong psychological scars.

She said that while some persons in Jordan's neighbourhood described him as quiet, others said he used narcotics and associated himself with delinquent friends.

Notwithstanding Jordan's mother portraying him as a good son, the probation officer urged the court to impose a sentence that would serve as a deterrent to like-minded persons. Jordan was previously charged and freed for rape, kidnapping and robbery.

The parents and siblings of a 12-year-old of Courtland Village, Corentyne, Berbice boy were left in a grieving state after the lad succumbed to injuries he sustained during a road accident along the Fyrish Public Road nearly two weeks ago.

Dead is Omally Jonas, of Lot 529 Courtland Village, Berbice.

The lad was on his bicycle riding west along the Fyrish Public Road when he was struck by a car bearing license plate number HC 9414 nearly two weeks ago. Jonas was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital.

Shortly after, he was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he remained in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to the severity of his injuries. Jonas succumbed to his injuries on Sunday.

The lad’s father, Lester Jonas, 41, who could not control his emotions while speaking with reporters, is calling on the police to conduct a proper investigation so that justice could be served to him and family. According to the father of nine, he had just returned out from the back-dam when he received the message that his son was struck down.

“When I come out from the back-dam and got the message I head straight to Port Mourant Hospital and then they move he to New Amsterdam Hospital and then to Georgetown Hospital but since he go he never recover.

He had a fractured skull, fractured shoulder, his two foot was broken,” he said.

Jonas stated that the driver of the car is claiming that his

Omally Jonas in the hospital. son was crossing the road when he was struck. However, an eyewitness said the lad was struck while he was already across the road riding west and heading home.

Jonas’s father tearfully pleaded, “I am looking for justice because we are the ones

going through this. I lost a son and it is very hard on us.

He was a good child. He wrote common entrance this year.”

Meanwhile, the driver of the car that struck the lad down is currently out on station bail.

Kaieteur News Tuesday May 07, 2019

PAGE 24

Tuesday July 16, 2019

We need to review our perspective on Wealth Creation and Wealth Generation DEAR EDITOR, Too many of our leaders are forgetting that they are leaders because they have followers, and that some of these followers are young and impressionable.

I am constantly engaging young people on their views on the political, economic, social, and on Guyana as a whole; and where they see themselves in the current Guyana and the ‘New Guyana’.

My most recent conversation was frank, raw and very interesting. A group of young people asked me if they should still say the ‘National Pledge’ or another pledge which they made up.

The National Pledge says, ‘I pledge myself to honour always the flag of Guyana; and to be loyal to my country, to be obedient to the laws of Guyana, to love my fellow citizens and to dedicate my energies towards the happiness and prosperity of Guyana’.

They indicated that based on the revelations in the press about our leaders and senior public servants, the new pledge is probably, ‘I pledge myself to dishonour the flag of Guyana, to be disobedient to the laws of Guyana, to rob and hate my fellow citizens, and to dedicate my energies towards the sadness and disintegration of Guyana’.

They have also asked if the public service has now become the ‘public disservice’.

Essentially, I think many of our leaders, past and present, and senior public servants and officials, have failed our young people and have not been good role models. This brings me to the point of our perception of wealth creation and wealth generation. I believe that the fact that corruption and crime has been so rampant in public offices and the society as a whole, we need to urgently review our perceptions on wealth creation and wealth generation.

As I read stories in the

40

press about all of these public officials and leaders who are engaging in corrupt practices, I don’t think that these persons and many citizens, really understand that our country is about to become one of the richest countries in the hemisphere and in the world. This is not like a oneor two-year event where people have to scramble to pocket as much as they can before it is finished; this is going to be the development and economic pathway for Guyana for a number of years; and I think that is what we need to mobilise our citizens around. We need to mobilise them around how they can position and educate themselves.

Too many of our young men are selling water and accessories in the streets.

Yes, they are making an honest dollar, but we should want our young men and young people to get more meaning out of work and life.

They should be registering and pursuing training at institutions such as the Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC), we probably need more GITCs. These young men are in the prime of their lives, they should be more involved in nationbuilding activities. Where are the civic education and national policy programmes to orient and mobilise the nation around the ‘New Guyana’ - the Oil and Gas Guyana?

Our country is about to become one of the richest countries in the world and our young people are not seeing and understanding their roles and responsibilities as well as the possibilities for them.

How can they position themselves? How do we position them? What kind of example are our leaders setting for our young people?

How are we mobilizing them around the ‘New Guyana’?

How are we motivating them to be honest and decent citizens or leaders with integrity? What are the messages they are getting?

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs focuses on five key areas; at the lowest level is

‘Physiological Needs’ or the survival stage. These include: air, water, food, shelter, sleep, clothing and reproduction.

The level above that is: ‘Safety Needs’. This includes; personal security, employment, resources, health and property.

The third level is; ‘Love and Belonging’. This includes: friendship, intimacy, family and sense of connection. The fourth level is; ‘Esteem’. This includes: respect, self-esteem, status, recognition, strength and freedom. The fifth level is; ‘Self-actualization’. This is the desire to become the most that one can be.

As one examines corrupt

practices and the pervasiveness of it among government officials and senior public servants, one gets the impression that many persons, even at the level of Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, heads of agencies, managing directors, Chief Executive Offices and heads of departments; are still operating as though they are at the lowest level of Maslow Hierarchy of Needs; this is at the mere survival level.

This is unfortunate because at the level of Minister, Permanent Secretary, head of agency, managing director, Chief Executive Officer, head of

department; this is where these persons are supposed to be demonstrating selfactualization.

In these positions, these leaders and officials are supposed to demonstrate self-actualization. Show our young people that these positions are desirable and that their quality of life can be satisfactory. Instead, they are giving our young people the impression that even at these levels, life is a hustle.

One permanent secretary, I heard, used to sell back the credit from their cellphone.

Another point, with such high levels of corruption among our leaders and public officials, one wonders what is

their ambition as it relates to their professional growth and mobility? Are they not interested in or aspiring to take this breadth and depth of experience, to regional and international organizations?

This is the example they should be showing our young people.

Finally, our leaders and public officials break the laws and rules with such impunity; I wonder, if they really value their freedom. Are they happy to go to jail or to be dragged before the courts?

Or are they above the law? Is this the best example for our young people?

Yours faithfully, Citizen Audreyanna Thomas

SARA’s Eric Phillips responds to recent...

From page 4 Eric Phillips, was the recipient of an oil block and Christopher Ram couldn’t wait to weigh in on the misinformation that was spread about me.

The Kaieteur News even topped its eagerness and tipped its racial bias by highlighting I was a Director of several companies such as a fishing company, a pharmaceutical company, a logistics company, as if this is in anyway related to the application for the oil block or to the Preliminary Investigation into the Canje and Kaieteur blocks.

To make this media masquerade more intense, the Kaieteur News made it seem as if I was doing something illegal in establishing companies, even though these companies were private sector companies that had nothing to do with government business. The general idea was to create a “hurricane of protest” to make it appear as if the formation of a private company in fishing etc., was in conflict with the investigation in the award of the Canje and Kaieteur Blocks.

Can the Kaieteur News or Christopher Ram explain how I am in conflict?

What is even more important is the fact that Kaieteur News was aware that I was not a member of SARU or SARA at the time the oil application was made in 2016, as I joined SARA in May 2017 and had interacted with Kaieteur News several times in my position as Special Assistant to the Presidential Advisor on Sustainable Development, which dealt with the creation of a just inclusive Green Economy.

Why then would the Kaieteur News make it seem that I was in conflict as one of the investigators of the Canje and Kaieteur blocks?

Why did the Kaieteur

News put my Directorships of unassociated companies in the papers and link these to the SARA investigation?

How are these private directorships or Board memberships, linked to the investigation into the awarding of the two blocks?

So, the question becomes: why did Kaieteur News place all these unrelated articles in the public domain, knowing what I have just shared with you, and knowing that they knew most of it?

Why did Kaieteur News, knowing I had no oil block, make it appear as if there was a conflict?

Surely the Kaieteur News would know that Dr. Clive Thomas would have NEVER entrusted me with such an investigation if I was the owner of an oil block.

By the way, none of the companies I am on as a Director, be it the logistics company or the fishing company etc. are the recipients of any grants or assistance from the government of Guyana.

The real reason for this magnificent racial masquerade is centered on one issue…the PPP’s giveaway of the Canje and Kaieteur Blocks. Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP are known around the Caribbean and worldwide for being a lawless cabal. Your tactics are old Jagdeo!

At the time of my commission to be part of the team investigating the corrupt awarding of the two blocks I was no longer an active member of the ABR. Hence the only Conflict of Interest is at the level of perception not in substance.” Since I hold myself to a higher level of public conduct and propriety there are corrective measures that shall flow to dismantle this misperception that is been bandied around. Stay

Tuned!”

Kaieteur News did not create a media frenzy when the PPP had given an Indian company (from India) one million acres of our land or to a certain Brazilian miner whose name is mentioned in the Panama Papers, a lease and 18 licenses for 2.2 million acres of our land to exploit rare earths.

Does Kaieteur News even know about the Panama Papers? Judging from your poor and sensational excuse for journalism, I think not!

When the PPP government gave Blue Wave Inc., another company from India, 60,000 hectares of land at US$12.50( GY$2500.00) per hectare for 199 years.Why was Kaieteur News quiet?

Why is there no uproar when over 900,000 acres of our mining lands were mainly given to a single family of another ethnic group?

Do our Youth know that 12 families own the majority of our rich mining lands and these were given out under the PPP? Why is there such a magnificent masquerade of racism when I, Eric Phillips legitimately, with a bankable business plan, and an overseas investor, apply for agricultural land?

Are Jagdeo and the PPP outrightly saying that African Guyanese are not supposed to be investors or to own businesses or to own oil blocks or banks or mining concessions, or agricultural lands…just like they claimed that we were not qualified to hold Ambassadorial posts?

473,000 of my ancestors Africans - died to build Guyana, withstood over 200 years of brutality, during which time they cleared 18,000 square miles, moved 100 million tons of earth without machinery and cleared 9 million acres of land, much of it swamp. African Guyanese are more than entitled to the

benefit from the wealth of this nation.

Why was Kaieteur News so quiet when 289 Only East Indian Brothers and Sisters were given land in the MMA (Mahaica-Mahaicony Abary) prior to 2015 without paying a cent?

In conclusion Bharrat Jagdeo has an obsession with me, and that obsession will only continue. I am not his competitor nor do I want to be like him. I am far more educated and qualified than Bharrat Jagdeo will ever be.

I attended Queen’s College High School. I have a bachelor’s degree and two masters degrees. I excelled in seven sports and represented Guyana in three, was a White House Fellow, was on the cover of Business Week International, was on the cover of Black Engineering Magazine, have 6 scientific and other awards, have travelled to 70 countries, have established over 25 youth groups, have mentored thousands in entrepreneurship and leadership, co-founded the REFORM Group with Stanley Ming, co-produced the Guyana 21 and Guyana 2030 plans, have taught 8 different subjects to thousands of Guyanese at the University of Guyana over 6 years , and along with Rupert Roopnarine, Andaiye and Sister Yvette Herod, took the Army into Buxton to make Peace during the ‘Fineman’ days and the colonization of Buxton, etc., took food from the Venezuelan Embassy into Buxton when the farms in Buxton were destroyed by Jagdeo and Operation Tourniquet was in place etc.

I can work anywhere and be legitimately well paid. I don’t have to hide the companies I am in or steal state assets or give them to friends and family.

Yours Truly, Eric Phillips

Tuesday July 16, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday July 16, 2019

Kaieteur News

Opposition leader wants Integrity Commission to release summary of his statutory declarations KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The leader of the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP), Dr. Peter Phillips yesterday called on the Integrity Commission to release a summary of his statutory declarations to the public after a call had been made for him and Prime Minister Andrew Holness to do so. “ I am authorising, in fact, they don’t need by authority, but I am urging the Integrity Commission to publish the summary of my integrity reports, as they are required to do by law, so that there can be no doubt that I have no objection whatever to the

publication of my integrity reports,” Phillips said.

Earlier, the executive director of the National Integrity Action (NIC), Professor Trevor Munroe, had said parliamentarians who fail to file statutory returns should not be allowed to run in the next general election.

“I would certainly think that would be an appropriate sanction. What it would require would be an amendment to the Representation of the People’s Act,” said Munroe, whose NIC is regarded as Jamaica’s leading anti-corruption watchdog.

Speaking on an a radio programme here, Munroe said he was also urging the Integrity Commission to publish a summary of the statutory declarations of both Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips.

“Summaries of their statutory declarations, which would summarize their in-

comes, summarise their assets, summarise their liabilities should be published. But there’s not a word of that in the report.

“The public is entitled to ask I am asking when will it be that the summaries of those two will be provided …in accordance with section 42 (3)(B) of the law”.

Munroe said that his reading of the relevant law suggests that “once your statutory declarations have been completed satisfactorily then there have to be published in accordance with the summary…set out in the schedule of the law” Phillips said he believes that “it is important that we demonstrate to the country that the architecture of integrity works and that the country can have good governance and clean government”.

Prime Minister Holness has not yet commented on the matter.

Union says it has plans to force government to negotiating table ROSEAU, Dominica CMC – The Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) yesterday said it had adopted a strategy to force the Roosevelt Skerrit administration into starting negotiations on new salaries and other benefits for public servants.

“The union has decided on a course of action to deal with the situation. The executive and the general membership have agreed as to how we will proceed from where we are,” DPSU general secretary, Thomas Letang told a news conference.

He said that ‘for various reasons, which we will not disclose at this time” the union would not be making public the strategy.

“So we want to make it clear…that yes, we have a plan course of action that we will be embarking on to force the government to come to the table and to negotiate And not only to negotiate, but to come with

a proposal that makes sense,” he told reporters.

Last month, Letang said that the union had written to the government regarding the negotiations for the period 2018-21. He said the union is seeking a 10 per cent salary increase over the period.

The DPSU had also announced last month that it would begin industrial action in the form of workers wearing yellow and orange T-shirts in the first instance and then reduce their “working input…by about 60 per cent”.

He said then that the public officers were owed answers to various questions from the government including the delay in appointing the union’s president, Steve Joseph, to a permanent position in spite of his qualifications, experience, commitment and dedication, is not appointed to a full time post within the service.

Tuesday July 16, 2019

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Kaieteur News

President Granger gifts five NGSA students’ laptops, printers - at celebration to mark his 74th birthday

Little Dhaniram Ramotar from Parika who gained a place at Queen’s College at the recent National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) was one of the beneficiaries.

President David Granger, yesterday afternoon gifted five successful National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) students with laptops and printers as he celebrated his 74th birthday.

The President was the guest of honour at a birthday luncheon hosted by the People’s National Congress (PNC) at the Baridi Benab, State House compound.

The beneficiaries are Suraj

Persaud from Chateau Margot; Dhaniram Ramotar, from Parika and Shaquan Fullerton, from Rosignol; all of whom gained places at Queens College.

Saskiyah Wilkinson from Diamond; and L-Dee Johnson from Clonbrook, gained places at the Bishops’ High School. The laptops and printers were presented as birthday presents from the PNC to the President. The provision of the equipment to the five students is in keeping with President Granger’s thrust to improve access to education.

The President said being able to enhance children’s access to education is the best gift he can give to the nation’s children.

“Today marks the fourth anniversary for the Public Education Transport System (PETS) or what some of you know as the Three B’s. I have 29 buses on the road now and every river has at least one boat taking children to school free so the programme is working well.

“I feel very humbled with everything that has taken place. The students are the best persons to give the

Disrespect for CCJ ruling exposes Guyana to grave danger - Jagdeo It is the view of Oppos i t i o n L e a d e r, B h a r r a t Jagdeo, that the governments failure to respect the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice ( C C J ) , which states t h a t elections must be held within three months and that Cabinet should resign, will place Guyana on a dangerous precipice.

The PPP General Secretary expressed this opinion at a press conference that was held at his Church Street Office yesterday.

There, Jagdeo reminded that Guyana has a case before the International Court

of Justice (ICJ) in defence of its territorial waters against the spurious claims of Venezuela.

On this premise, Jagdeo said, “If we have a ruling in favour of Guyana at the ICJ then Venezuela can do the same thing.

We w o u l d h a v e n o moral authority to argue that they must respect the decision of the ICJ because here you have a government that is not respecting the CCJ s ruling.”

The Opposition Leader added, “They are exposing Guyana to danger but this doesnt affect this corrupt cabal. They don t care

about how we are viewed around the world...Our democratic credentials have now been shattered.”

Be that as it may, the PPP General Secretary disclosed that he met with Foreign Secretary, Carl Greenidge, recently and informe d h i m t h a t w h i l e there is a period of uncertainty given the constitutional crisis Guyana has landed in, the Opposition is unreservedly in support of the governments case before the ICJ. And if a letter to that effect is needed, Jagdeo said he is more than willing to ensure this is done.

computers and this is the best occasion to present computers to the children,” he said.

The Head of State, who was diagnosed with NonHodgkin Lymphoma in 2018, also thanked his wife of 49 years, Mrs. Sandra Granger, his medical team, Cabinet members and all other persons who supported him during his treatment and recovery. President Granger said that as he recovers, it is his desire to continue building a country where

unity, prosperity and sustainability are a norm.

“I am full of gratitude to all these people without whom I would not have been here but I am recovering. We have inherited the biggest, most beautiful, most bountiful country in the Caribbean.

It is an honour and privilege to be the Head of State but it is a tremendous responsibility because I feel duty bound to bequeath what we have to the next generation. We are the trustees; it is not ours,” he

said.

Representatives from the People’s National Congress (PNC), A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance for Change (AFC), extended greetings to the Head of State.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Vice Presidents Khemraj Ramjattan, and Sydney Allicock, other Ministers of the Government and Members of Parliament and some members of the President’s family also attended the luncheon.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 16, 2019

Tuesday July 16, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Brazil moves ahead but rest of South America far behind Europe SAO PAULO (Reuters) Argentina’s long trophy drought, combined with subpar organization, is further evidence that Brazil’s dominance apart, the gulf between South American and European football is growing.

Hosts Brazil wrapped up their ninth Copa America with a solid 3-1 win over Peru at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

On they way to the title they scored 13 goals –- five of them against Peru in the group stages -– and conceded just one.

Brazil’s superiority and depth of talent was evident throughout with the main surprises being Uruguay’s early exit, Venezuela confirming they are no longer the region’s whipping boys and Peru’s advance to their first final since 1975.

Argentina’s semi-final elimination by Brazil was less surprising given the off-thepitch shenanigans that have plagued the side for years.

The Argentines are on their fourth coach in five years with Lionel Scaloni, in his first senior coaching role, still deemed to be a temporary appointment almost a year after taking the post.

Argentina have not won the Copa America since 1993 and they rarely looked like ending that poor run, with Scaloni chopping and changing lineups and their top players, notably Lionel Messi, seemingly incapable of reproducing their club form at international level.

More broadly, the low attendances, controversies over refereeing and general lack of buzz about a tournament that coincided

with both the Women’s World Cup and the Gold Cup in North America should be of concern.

Remarkably, more people attended Mexico’s Gold Cup encounter with Haiti in Phoenix than were at Brazil’s home semi-final against old rivals Argentina.

That match was a classic example of the state of South American football. Moments of individual brilliance by players were quickly forgotten amid bad-tempered clashes and avoidable refereeing controversies.

FALLOUT FROM MESSI’S RED CARD Argentina were denied two penalty claims and were furious at officials for not even consulting the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), something they had been keen to take time over during

Tuesday July 16, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Many projects to complete before a deadline might have you feeling pressured, but your determination is likely to drive you to try to get it all done even if it seems impossible.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You might host a social event in your home tonight.

You may be nervous at first, wondering if all will go well.

Your efforts should produce the results you want.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You've been doing very well, Taurus, but today you might feel more focused than ever. The path ahead seems clear and well defined.

You're anticipating the future with motivation.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Paperwork, perhaps contracts or other legal documents, might need attention so you can move ahead with your projects, Scorpio. These projects could involve writing or speaking.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Some kind of settlement, grant, or bonus that you've anticipated for a long time may finally show up, Gemini.

This should make your day!

You may want to celebrate.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Today you may put a lot of energy into your romantic relationship, Cancer. The astral energy is encouraging you to focus on romance.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Too much work and the resulting pressure over the past few days may have you feeling too tired to do anything more, Leo, although your optimism and enthusiasm are still intact.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Romance blossoms for you, Virgo, perhaps after a long standstill. A new stability and security may settle on love relationships as well as close friendships. Children could be a great source of warmth and pleasure.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your financial picture continues to improve. At some point during the day, Sagittarius, you might have the feeling that you aren't working hard enough to keep up your current forward motion, and you might worry.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Even though all continues to go well for you, Capricorn, your mood may vacillate today. In spite of all the great things in your life, at some time during the day you might feel a little blue.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Trying to get too much work done in the course of the day could prove self-defeating.

Your energy isn't what it usually is, and you're probably operating on adrenaline.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A despondent friend may need some cheering up.

Your ability to nurture and listen sympathetically will definitely prove beneficial, Pisces.

other games.

A highly dubious red card shown to Messi in the thirdplace playoff against Chile only deepened their sense of indignation.

The fallout, with Messi accusing Conmebol of fixing the tournament for the hosts, Brazil coach Tite telling him to show more respect and Conmebol defending itself against Messi’s declaration that Argentina should boycott future competitions organized by what he called a “corrupt” body, again showed that no matter how many gifted players Latin America produces they are all too often overshadowed by the offthe-field circus.

Conmebol’s decision to a l l o w B r a z i l ’s far-right president Jair Bolsonaro to present the trophy to the winners added to the sense of misjudgment.

All this less than a year after Conmebol, cowed by fan violence in Buenos Aires, transferred to Madrid the final

‘Lady Jags’ maintain...

From page 28 players in the second half to maintain their advantage; Tori De Nobrage came in for Jeana Knight, scorer of both Guyana goals against Bermuda. Jessica Myers was replaced by Hailey David, while Khedoo made way for Jaida Brooks.

The final whistle was sounded to loud applause by the fans on hand as they cheered on their ‘Lady Jags’ for another fine performance.

Guyana’s next match will be on Friday night at the same venue from 20:30hrs when they take on St. Lucia, also undefeated and on six points but Guyana leads with a better goal difference.

The St. Lucians notched their second win, downing Bermuda 2-1 on account of a double from their Captain, Krysan St. Louis in the 10th and 13th minutes. Bermuda pulled one back late in the piece, Ryley Simmons scoring in the 87th but it was all too late.

Tomorrow, Antigua will battle St. Lucia from 18:00hrs with the main match between Bermuda and Suriname from 20:30hrs.

of their blue riband event, the final of the Copa Libertadores.

The poor crowds and general lack of excitement can be partially explained by exorbitant ticket prices.

The falling standard of football is harder to explain but every bit as obvious.

A South American team have not won the World Cup since 2002 — a record drought — and only one of the last eight finalists have come from the region that until the new century had won half of all World Cups.

At club level, the demise is equally stark. Only one South American side have won the Club World Cup since 2007 and in two of the last three tournaments no South American side have even reached the final.

The departure of young talents to Europe at an ever younger age is one reason and the questionable administration at Conmebol and national federations is another.

Globalisation — Europe’s

open economies welcome migrants from across the globe while South America is relatively closed -– combined with a media spotlight based in the Old World, gives the Europeans an added advantage.

“There is more and more information about Europe,” said Peru coach Ricardo Gareca. “Our children and grandchildren, the kids, they know more about the European players than those in South America.”

UEFA’s new Nations League has only made it harder for the increasingly isolated South American sides to test themselves against the best Europe has to offers.

In 2019, the 10 South American nations played 38 friendlies but only two were against European sides, according to a study in O Globo last month.

“We always try to look for these match ups,” Brazil coach Tite said. “The schedule sometimes makes it difficult.”

PAGE 30

Bowlers and heart-stopping finale salvage rain-hit World Cup

England’s Eoin Morgan and teammates celebrate winning the World Cup with the trophy at Lord’s. (Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra/File Photo) LONDON (Reuters) - A tournament that appeared predictable and at the mercy of the rain god in its first half got a fresh lease of life in the second and Sunday’s heartstopping finale was the proverbial icing on the cake at this year’s World Cup. A wet World Cup seemed on the cards after a record four matches were either abandoned or called off with the governing International Cricket Council (ICC) drawing flak for no reserve day provision for the group games.

“We put men on the moon, so why can’t we have a reserve day, when actually this tournament is a long tournament?” asked an amused Steve Rhodes, who has since been sacked as Bangladesh coach.

The knockout stage was also played under rain threat.

New Zealand’s semi-final match against India spilled over to reserve day and morning drizzle delayed the start of Sunday’s final by 15 minutes.

Sri Lanka did a massive favour to the organisers by shocking eventual champions England in the group stage to throw open the race to the semi-finals just when it was getting predictable.

Eoin Morgan’s men thumped India and New Zealand to revive their campaign which culminated with their maiden 50-overs World Cup title.

South Africa crashed out early but stunned Australia

Tuesday July 16, 2019

Kaieteur News

on their way out to upset semi-final matchups.

The turgid nature of the pitches used in the tournament drew criticism even though many felt it provided the much needed balance between ball and bat.

New Zealand especially showed how to defend small totals with their disciplined bowling complemented by sharp fielding.

“Sorry, but pitches have been garbage this tournament,” former England player Mark Butcher said.

Butcher was only articulating the feeling of many who expected highscoring games, including batsmen who playfully talked about breaching the 500mark.

In the end, England’s 3976 against Afghanistan in Manchester proved the tournament’s highest total.

Eoin Morgan batted like a man possessed in that match, belting 17 of his side’s 25 sixes in a breathtaking display of batting pyrotechnics.

Among fellow batsmen, Rohit Sharma smashed a record five centuries in a World Cup before the law of average caught up with the India opener in the semifinals.

West Indies’ Carlos Brathwaite’s stunning century nearly snatched a victory against New Zealand while Shakib Al Hasan lit up the tournament with his allround brilliance.

Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga conjured a bowling

masterclass to stun England in his final World Cup, while West Indies’ Chris Gayle and Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik failed to make any impact.

India’s Mohammed Shami and New Zealand’s Trent Boult registered hat-tricks though they would find little solace in it after their teams’ failure to lift the cup.

All’s well that ends well and the organisers could not have imagined a better culmination of six weeks of largely mediocre cricket.

The match began with Chris Woakes starting with a wide and ended with Martin Guptill being run out at the end of a nerve-wracking Super Over as England clinched the World Cup on boundary countback.

In between, umpteen dramas unfolded with Ben Stokes, whose batting heroics earned him player-ofthe-match award, featuring in quite a few of them.

The final was broadcast free-to-air, while the group stage and the semi-finals shattered audience records.

“We are absolutely delighted that the World Cup 2019 has become one of the most watched sporting events in the world across TV and digital platforms,” ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney said in a statement ahead of the final. “These quite extraordinary numbers demonstrate how viewership habits are changing and the smart way cricket has adapted to deliver what fans today expect.”

Reifer heroics futile as Windies A lose again NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – Raymon Reifer’s defiant half-century went in vain as West Indies A produced another inept batting display to slip to their second defeat in four days to India A here Sunday.

In pursuit of 256 at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, West Indies a slumped to 190 all out in the 44th over, to lose by 65 runs and fall behind 2-0 in the fivematch one-day series.

Tottering on 108 for seven in the 30th over, Reifer, promoted to number three, stroked a top score of 71 to rescue some pride for the hosts.

Tail-ender Romario Shepherd hit an accomplished unbeaten 34 while Sunil Ambris got 24, but the Windies A top order failed once again in a spineless display.

The innings was wrecked by fast bowler Navdeep Saini who claimed five for 46 while leg-spinner Rahul Chahar supported with two for 47.

India A had earlier gathered 255 for eight off their 50 overs after being sent in, with Ruturaj Gaikwad topscoring with 85 and opening partner Shubman Gill stroking 62.

Captain Manish Pandey got 27, wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan chipped in with 24 while Hanuma Vihari struck 23.

Fast bowler Shepherd was the leading wicket-taker with four for 36.

Looking to level the series following their meltdown in Thursday’s opening onedayer at Coolidge Cricket Ground, West Indies A were immediately put on the back foot as Gaikwad and Gill put on 151 for the first wicket.

The 22-year-old Gaikwad faced 102 balls and struck five fours and two sixes while Gill counted four fours and a six off 83 deliveries.

Shepherd trapped Gill

West Indies A left-hander, Raymon Reifer. lbw in the 31st over to break the stand and his departure triggered a slide that saw India lose three wickets for two runs in the space of 10 balls.

P a n d e y a n d Vi h a r i rebuild in a 59-run fourth wicket partnership but We s t I n d i e s A k e p t t h e brakes on the innings and the visitors were unable to accelerate at the death.

The hosts were then set back early when impressive left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed removed left hander John Campbell for five with the score on 11 at the end of the second over.

Reifer and Ambris steadied the innings, however, putting on 36 for the second wicket as West Indies A started to find their touch.

Ambris had struck three fours in a 31-ball knock when he was lbw for the second match in a row, hit in front by Navdeep at 47 for two in the 12th over.

The wheels then suddenly came off the West Indies A innings as six wickets tumbled for 61 runs. Captain Roston Chase edged a cut at Chahar and was caught at the wicket for two in the 13th over and left-hander Jonathan

Carter (10) sliced Navdeep to Chahar on the ropes at third man in the 18th over.

With no addition to the score, Rovman Powell gloved the second ball he faced from Navdeep and was caught at the wicket without scoring, at 77 for five, and Test wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich lasted eight balls for his five runs before he was spectacularly yorked by Navdeep, leaving the innings in disarray.

The left-handed Reifer then staged a recovery, punching seven fours and three sixes in an innings lasting 103 deliveries.

Crucially, he put on 24 for the seventh wicket with Rahkeem Cornwall (13) before adding a further 69 for the eighth wicket with Shepherd.

Reifer started cautiously before blossoming to reach his half-century in style, carting Chahar over long on for six and then lifting him over square leg for a four two balls later.

With the partnership beginning to threaten, he was run out by Axar Patel’s direct hit from gully in a mix up over a single with Shepherd in the 41st over, ending West Indies A’s hopes of a comeback win.

Former world champion Whitaker dies after being hit in Virginia (Reuters) - Former U.S. world champion Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker has died after being hit by a vehicle in Virginia Beach, Virginia, according to police.

He was 55.

Whitaker was a world champion in four divisions WBC lightweight, IBF light welterweight, WBC welterweight and WBA light

middleweight. He retired in 2001 after compiling a 40-4-1 record including 17 knockouts and later worked as a trainer.

A member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Whitaker was named boxer of the year by Ring magazine in 1989. He also won an Olympic gold medal in 1984.

Whitaker was pronounced dead at a Vi rg i n i a Beach intersection on Sunday night after police were called to the scene of an accident, a police report said.

The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and the accident is still under investigation, police added.

Tuesday July 16, 2019

National Race of Champions round 2

Stefan Jeffrey joins group-three action Sunny skies are forecasted for this Sunday’s second round of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) National Race of Champions that is scheduled for South Dakota Circuit, Guyana’s only race circuit, which is located at Timehri.

Confirming his participation for the event, which will see international drivers competing, is Stefan Jeffrey. Jeffrey, who is the cousin of Guyana’s first Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) Group 4 champion; Kristian Jeffrey, will be gearing up in the Group three class in his Honda Civic motor car.

This will be Jeffrey’s first appearance since 2017 at the circuit after missing out due to a mechanical issue. “The car didn’t run last year. It had a lot of issues that still needed to be sorted. It was going to run in November then the

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Kaieteur News

gearbox broke.”

Jeffrey burst on to the racing scene when he won his first championship in his debut back in 2007 but after migrating to focus on his studies, he returned home and built his group three car.

The reigning GT Motorsports Grand Prix fourstroke champion explained to this publication that, “It has been a few years developing the car with multiple podiums and a few victories but we’re still sorting through some minor issues with the car before we see its full potential but it is currently good enough to get on the podium this Sunday.”

Stefan’s team of mechanics includes Justin Jardine, Kris Gonsalves, Mario Jardine, Junior Jacobs, while his sponsors include Automotive Art, Brava Lubricants and Cristal car care products.

Also confirming their

participation are Team CAMS from North America. CAMS will have Christopher Lall in the group four and Afraz Ally in the Choke Starlet Cup. On Sunday, for the first time in Guyana, there will be a Time Attack race for street cars that will be part of the 21-race programme. Each participant in this race will have a total of six laps to go all out by themselves on the track and the car that registers the fastest time will be deemed the winner.

The event has seen tremendous support from the business community including E-Networks, Tropical shipping, BM Soat Auto Sales, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Miracle Optical, Choke Gas Station, Special Auto, Prem’s Electrical, Nexus Machine Shop, Blue Spring Water, Motor Trend, Ramchand Auto Spares, Power Line Automotive and KGM security.

England ‘mistakenly’ awarded extra run in World Cup final: former umpire AFP - England were mistakenly awarded an extra run during their nailbiting World Cup win over New Zealand at Lord’s, a member of the sport’s chief rules committee told media yesterday.

A freak fielding deflection off Ben Stokes’ bat that raced to the boundary saw the team awarded six runs with three balls to go in the final over on Sunday.

Scores were tied at the end of regular play and the resulting Super Over shootout, with England then handed their first-ever World Cup victory for their superior boundary count.

But former umpire Simon Taufel told Fox Sports Australia that umpires had made a “clear mistake”, as the batsmen had not crossed for their second run.

“They should have been awarded five runs, not six,” he said, adding that England’s Adil Rashid should have faced the second-last ball instead of Stokes as a result.

Taufel, a five-time winner of the International Cricket Council’s Umpire of the Year award, now sits on the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) laws sub-committee,

The ball deflected off England’s Ben Stokes, to reach the boundary should have resulted in just five runs, not six, says former umpire Simon Taufel. (AFP / Glyn Kirk) the worldwide custodian of cricket’s sometimes obscure rules of play.

The Australian defended the match umpires, who he said had to make a complicated judgement, and said it would be “unfair” to say the decision altered the outcome of the tournament.

“Unfortunately that sort of thing happens from time to time. It’s a part of the game that we play,” Taufel said.

“I don’t wish to nitpick, just hope it never happens in

such moments ever again.”

England, who have often cited a humiliating defeat by New Zealand at the 2015 World Cup as the catalyst for their climb to the top of the one-day international rankings, finally have a World Cup win to go with their three losing appearances in the 1979, 1987 and 1992 finals.

By contrast, defeat is devastating for New Zealand, who were also looking to win the trophy for the first time after being well beaten by Australia in the 2015 showpiece.

World Cup team of the tournament: Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Jason Roy selected

Stefan Jeffrey’s Honda Civic (Mikey Spice Photo).

Neymar returns to PSG training with future still up in the air AFP - Neymar returned to training with Paris SaintGermain yesterday, a week later than his teammates and days after controversially claiming his best football memory was beating PSG when he played for Barcelona.

A video posted on the website of leading sports daily L’Equipe showed the 27-year-old Brazilian — his hair dyed peroxide blonde — getting out of a black Mercedes van at the club’s training ground in the suburbs of the French capital.

Later, the Twitter account of his official website posted photos of Neymar working out in a gym with the caption: “Back to training!”

PSG officially began preseason training last Monday but Neymar, linked with a move back to Barcelona, was not there, with the player’s camp maintaining he had a prior agreement to stay away. The French champions responded last week by threatening to take “appropriate action” against the world’s most expensive player, who said he had stayed in Brazil to attend a charity five-a-side football tournament run by his foundation, the Neymar Institute.

On Saturday, Neymar, who joined PSG for 222 million euros ($264 million at the time) from Barcelona in 2017, made a series of remarks that

strained his relationship further with the club and sparked outrage on social media.

Asked by online sports channel Oh My Goal about his best memory in football, the troubled superstar cited Barcelona’s incredible 2017 Champions League victory over PSG when he was part of the team that overturned a 4-0 first-leg deficit by winning 6-1 in the second leg of their last-16 tie.

Earlier in the day, Neymar posted a 10-second video of himself in a Barcelona shirt and a quote from the Bible: “No weapon turned against you will prosper.”

BBC Sport - England World Cup winners Jofra Archer, Joe Root, Jason Roy and Ben Stokes have made the team of the tournament.

England beat New Zealand in a super over on Sunday after one of the most amazing games of cricket ever played.

Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson - who was named player of the tournament - has been given the captaincy of the XI, which is selected by an International Cricket Council panel. New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is also in the side.

India opening batsman Rohit Sharma and seamer Jasprit Bumrah are included, with Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan the only player from outside the four semi-finalists selected.

Alex Carey has been chosen as the wicketkeeper, while Australia team-mate Mitchell Starc - who was the tournament’s leading wickettaker with 27 - completes the XI. World Cup team of the tournament 1. Jason Roy (England) 443 runs at average of 63.28

Jason Roy scored 443 runs at an average of 63.28 during the World Cup. (Getty Images) 2. Rohit Sharma (India) 648 runs at 81.00 3. Kane Williamson, capt (New Zealand) - 578 runs at 82.57 4. Joe Root (England) 556 runs at 61.77 5. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) - 606 runs at 86.57, 11 wickets at average of 36.27 6. Ben Stokes (England) 465 runs at 66.42, seven

wickets at 35.14 7. Alex Carey (wk) (Australia) - 375 runs at 62.50, 20 dismissals 8.

Mitchell Starc (Australia) - 27 wickets at 18.59 9. Jofra Archer (England) - 20 wickets at 23.05 10. Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand) - 21 wickets at 19.47 11. Jasprit Bumrah (India) - 18 wickets at 20.61

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Tuesday July 16, 2019

Kaieteur News

DOS Jones happy with standard of Schools’ basketball

Richard Semple of President’s College accepts the MVP accolade from DOS Christopher Jones.

By Zaheer Mohamed The recently concluded National Schools’ basketball championship which was organised by Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) was deemed a success.

President’s College won the male U18 final 89-79 against Kwakwani Secondary; a game which had all the ingredients of a final for it was keenly contested.

Despite President’s College ascendency to the title in the latter stages of the game that caused them to win by some margin, did not necessarily reflected the competitiveness of the duel. Such was the standard of the game that it provided much excitement for the fans who were cheering on throughout and Director of Sport Christopher Jones was so impressed that he lauded the youths for such a display.

Jones said at the

presentation ceremony, “What we saw was not just some students playing basketball, we saw some professional athletes at their best.”

Following the presentation ceremony, Jones told Kaieteur Sport that he enjoyed every moment of the game. “Professional, high quality of play, both teams has to be commended and particularly their coaches, what we saw tonight wasn’t just a regular youth game, this was high professional standard. In fact we were there looking at the clock, when you see 77 on the scorecard, you know for that for sure and I want to commend the players, YBG and Chris Bowman for such a tournament, and if it weren’t for this tournament we would not have been able to scout the talent in the Regions.”

Jones was pleased with

the talent available at this level. “We know for sure from what I saw tonight that there is a lot of talent available. The executive of the basketball federation were here and were taking notes of the youths and their performances.

That’s why we lend support to this activity and I would even want to go further to essentially incorporate this in the school district system so we can have all 15 districts involved.”

“YBG have been able to have eight school districts participating and this is where the talent is and we want to create more opportunities for them so they can grow. This is the grassroots level which is important and I am satisfied with what I saw,” he stated.

Coach of President’s College Willon Cameron said hard work with support from the school was mainly responsible for their win.

A section of the crowd at the finals.

“The players, realising that the entire school was rallying behind them, came out and give it their best shot. I can’t asked for nothing more, they saved their best for last.”

“The players carried out the instructions, however the opposition played well, credit must go to them, we knew they were never going to give up so we had to stay focus and make use of the opportunities.”

“We work really hard and as a coach I really pushed my players and I urged them to make the endurance count.

We just had to remember what we practiced and stay calm, so it was just about putting what we practiced into to work. It was a well contested game, the better team won and hopefully we can come back with the same energy next year.”

Marian Academy beat Kwakwani 27-24 to win the

Willon Cameron receives a prize from a representative of Edward B Beharry and Company Ltd for being named coach of the tournament. girls’ final, while Kwakwani won the boys U14 title with a 77-25 victory over St.

Stanislaus College. Credit must be given to Kwakwani who reached all three finals.

Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship – Group A

‘Lady Jags’ maintain hold at the top with victory over ‘The Benna Girls’ - St. Lucia thump Bermuda

By Franklin Wilson Guyana’s ‘Lady Jags’ turned in another encouraging performance which was enough to blank Antigua and Barbuda by a similar score line as their first win against Bermuda when the second day of action in the Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship was contested last evening at the Leonora Track and Field Facility, Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

Witnessed by Director of Sport Christopher Jones among other dignitaries, the ‘Lady Jags’ again won by a 20 margin with goals either side of play yet again in a dominating display, the margin of victory could have easily been wider were it not

for numerous missed chances.

‘The Benna Girls’ were cornered early by the hungry ‘Lady Jags’ who controlled play and were aggressive from early on. Tiandi Smith, playing at the top, created lots of challenges for the Antigua backline.

The lanky player was brought down just outside the box in the 22nd minute and the resulting free kick was directed over the crossbar; but it was not the end of Smith’s presence in the Benna Girls defensive third.

One minute later, Smith was at it again as she took the attack to the Antiguans once again, this time she entered the box and was brought down by the goalkeeper in the

process, the Referee had not hesitation in blowing for the infringement and pointing to the spot.

Captain for the match, Brianne Desa stepped up to take the kick and clinically put the ball past the substitute goalkeeper in the 24th minute.

The starting goalie was substituted after she brought down Smith as she picked up an injury and had to be stretchered off.

In added on time, Aubrey Narine had a chance to double the lead but her shot was brought under control by the goalkeeper. The ‘Lady Jags’ controlled and had more possession of the ball in the second half and did not let up on their offensive pursuits.

Numerous corners were won and chances came by but the awareness in the final

Brianne Desa (left) and Kiana Khedoo - Guyana’s goal scorers against Antigua & Barbuda. third was not as clinical as it could have been but it was just the team’s second match together and it was a huge improvement from their first against Bermuda on Saturday evening last.

St. Lucia’s Captain and goal scorer, Krysan St. Louis (#7).

It was from one of the many corners created that the second goal came. On a quick play, Liana Khedoo was perfectly placed on the first post and on receiving the ball touched it past the goalkeeper

in the 60th minute, doubling the advantage in the process and putting the game well out of reach of the visiting ‘Benna Girls’.

Guyana introduced three (Continued on page 25)

Tuesday July 16, 2019

Delroy Tyrrell wins three gold medals Delroy Tyrrell won gold three times at the just concluded ASATT National Age Group Short Course Swimming Championships held from July 10 to 14 at the National Aquatic Centre in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago.

Swimming in the 15-17 Age Group category, Delroy obliterated his team mates on Thursday evening with a blistering 27.49S in his 50 backstrokes.

He was the only boy to swim 27 seconds. Following up on Saturday evening, the second year 15-17 age group swimmer mesmerized the crowd with a 58.92S in the 100M Backstroke. Again, he was the only boy in this category to drop below the 1:00M mark.

Moreover, the recent graduate of Trinity College East capped off the championship with a tactical swim in the 200 Backstroke.

His time of 2:10.27S was the fastest to earn him his third Gold medal for the competition.

The overseas based Guyanese plans to attend college in America and is working toward receiving a scholarship. The competition concluded on Sunday

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Kaieteur News

Guinness Group Stage Fixtures commence Friday at NCC Tarmac

Action in the Guinness Georgetown Championship promises to be extremely competitive judging from the recent playoff action.

Delroy Tyrrell won three gold medals. evening. ASATT uses this Meet to select the Trinidad and Tobago Goodwill Team

2019 for the event which will be held in Suriname in the month of August.

GBA School/Junior weekend encampment at halfway point Over the weekend training sessions for the national U-16and Junior Squad for the Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors tournament set for the National Sports Hall on August 16-18, continued weekend work in the fifth week.

The Camp, which began on June 1, is at the halfway stage the end of a ten-week training period.

This past weekend training had four sessions, instead of the normal three sessions per week this is due to the closure of schools.

The focus of these sessions were mainly on the technical skills (School boxing/shadow boxing) and the Lower side on endurance.

Sixteen Boxers were a part of this week camp; Abiola Jackman, Ryan Benjamin, Patrick Harvey, Malachi Jones, Jerron McKenzie, Dayne Baptist, Emmanuel Pampy, Alex Butcher, Sherlond Stephen, Mark Crawford, Richard Howard, Jaqwan Milo, Wayne Castillo, Travis Inverary, Keyshawn Fraser and Fitz Heywood.

They were put through their training sessions by Coaches; Sebert Blake, Lennox Daniels and Clive Atwell.

According to Coaches Commission Chairman, Sebert Blake, the boxers have shown a great level of interest in the work at hand and an improvement in discipline.

He recommended that the proposed equipment be supplied because we will be heading into the special preparation phase where we will be doing lots of school combat and sparring.

“GBA should encourage the other gyms to have their boxers to attend the camp. We are having the camp start Thursday afternoon so we have the boxers doing some running early Friday morning,” Coach Blake added.

He thanked the coaching team of Mr. Winston Pompey and Joseph Murray for their support at their respective gyms Young Achievers and the Forgotten Youth Foundation and the others who supporting the team behind the scene. (Sean Devers)

Participants going through their paces during the weekend programme.

The Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Georgetown Championship, group stage, will officially commence on July 19th at the National Cultural Center Tarmac. 16 teams will be divided into four groups of four following the conclusion of the elimination round which lasted for the duration of two nights.

According to an official release from tournament coordinator Three Peat Promotions, “The impending group stage might be the most competitive in the history of the event as several teams have already displayed their championship quality and aspirations during the elimination round.”

The release further said, “We envisage a highly competitive group round where any of the teams can progress to the quarterfinal stage due to their quality. The fans will certainly be treated to pulsating action.”

The round robin stage will also be hosted on July 20th and 26th. The top two finishers from each section will advance to the quarterfinal and subsequent semi-final round.

Winner of the event will collect $500,000 and the championship trophy, with the second, third and fourth

place finishers copping $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively and the corresponding trophy.

They will also automatically seal a place in the National Championship in August.

To date Beacons [Bartica Champion], Melanie-B [East Coast Demerara winner], Brothers United [West Demerara/East Bank Demerara winner], Trafalgar [Berbice champion] and High Rollers [Linden champion] are the teams to have secured automatic berths to the national championship.

Below feature the group assignments and complete fixtures for the group stage.

Group-A Gold is Money Broad Street LA Ballers John Street Group-B Sparta Boss Albouystown-B Alexander Village Charlotte Street Group-C Leopold Street Tiger Bay Future Stars Albouystown-A Group-D North East La Penitence Back Circle Sophia

Rising Stars Friday 19th National Cultural Centre (1)North East vs Rising Stars (2)Charlotte St vs Albouystown-B (3)LA Ballers vs Broad Street (4)Leopold Street vs Albouystown-A (5)Tiger Bay vs Future Stars (6)Gold is Money vs John Street (7)Back Circle vs Sophia (8)Sparta Boss vs Alexander Village Saturday 20th Berlin Tarmac (1)LA Ballers vs John Street-19:00hrs (2)Tiger Bay vs Albouystown-A-19:30hrs (3)Alexander Village vs Albouystown-B-20:00hrs (4)Back Circle vs Rising Stars-20:30hrs (5)Leopold Street vs Future Stars-21:00hrs (6)North East vs Sophia21:30hrs (7)Sparta Boss vs Charlotte St-22:00hrs (8)Gold is Money vs Broad Street-22:30hrs Friday 26th National Cultural Centre (1)Alexander Village vs Charlotte St-19:00hrs (2)Broad Street vs John Street-19:30hrs (3)Albouystown-A vs Future Stars-20:00hrs (4)Sophia vs Rising Stars20:30hrs (5)LA Ballers vs Gold is Money-21:00hrs (6)Leopold Street vs Tiger Bay-21:30hrs (7)North East vs Back Circle-22:00hrs (8)Sparta Boss vs Albouystown-B-22:30hrs

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Tuesday July 16, 2019

Kaieteur News

Bulkan takes champion spot in held-over CARICOM Day Golf tourney Young George Bulkan, son of Minister Ronald Bulkan, executed some fine drives, chips and putts to emerge champion golfer in last Sunday’s held-over Caricom Day tournament, run off with the blessing of radiant sunshine and infectious enthusiasm among the golfers.

Course conditions were much improved over Saturday’s wet grounds, as the weather held off from Saturday right into Sunday’s play, much to the delight of those who were using the 2-day experience in preparation of the Lusignan Open, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday July 20th and 21st.

The day’s activity was also refreshed with both father and son, Bulkan, participating, while it was happily the son who shone

The winners and some students of the ATC. From left: Guillermo Escarraga, Mahindranauth Tewari, George Bulkan, Aleem Hussain and ATC students. to bring first in a tournament in almost 10 years of playing.

In

addition, many student golfers from the Accountancy Training

Preparations underway for sixth Annual Grenville Felix Memorial cycle race Preparations are underway for the sixth Annual Grenville Felix Memorial Cycle Road race which is set for Sunday 21st July. The race is organised by the Flying Ace Cycling Club (FACC) and sponsored by the Felix family.

The event, which is coordinated by cycling coach Randolph Roberts, is being held in honour of the late engineer who passed away six years ago at the age of 96.

The event is expected to begin from Felix Residence at Canefield, East Canje proceed to the No.51 Police Station on the Corentyne before turning back to finish at its place of origin.

The event is open to cyclist throughout the country and all the top riders are expected to be on show since lucrative prizes will be up

for grabs.

Prizes are expected to be awarded to the first 10 finishers, the first three juveniles, while they are expected to be rewards to the top veterans and 12-14 riders. There will also be 10 sprint prizes up for grabs.

The Grenville Felix Memorial Trophy is a lien trophy and will be given to the first person who gets their name on it three times. Felix who was one of Guyana’s first and oldest engineer’s at the time of his demise, worked with Bookers and Guyana Sugar Corporation in Guyana and various parts of the world.

This is the eight cycling event held in his honour. The first two were held in honour of his birthday. It was changed to a memorial event after he passed away. Race time is 12:00noon. (Samuel Whyte)

May hosts victorious England cricket team LONDON (Reuters) British Prime Minister Theresa May hosted the World Cup-winning England cricket team in the garden of her Downing Street residence yesterday, after a “brilliant performance” that her spokesman said would live forever in the country’s sporting history.

England ended their 44year wait for a first 50-overs world title by beating New Zealand in a thrilling final

Super Over on Sunday.

May, a keen cricket fan, was at the match and following the win posted a clip on Twitter of herself dancing.

The British leader, who is due to stand down next week, greeted the players in front of her official residence and posed for pictures with the team and the trophy before the drinks reception began.

“Yesterday was a brilliant performance by a brilliant team. They showed flair, courage and an absolute determination to become world champions. The

achievement delivered in such a thrilling style on home soil will live forever in our sporting history,” May’s spokesman said.

Since being unceremoniously dumped out of the 2015 edition of the marquee tournament in Australia, the England side have reinvented themselves as one-day cricket specialists and headed into the World Cup as overwhelming favourites.

The match, which England won on boundary count, was watched by more than 8 million people in Britain.

C e n t r e ( AT C ) , w h o a r e normally at the Golf Course for golf tuition and practice on Sundays, were involved, some of them participating also in the presentation ceremony.

Instead of Flights, the tournament was played on a straight Medal Play format involving all the golfers.

Prizes for 1st to 4th best net along with the Longest Drive were awarded to the winners. Winners were: 1st – George Bulkan (69/15) who edged out 2nd place M a c o r p ’s Guillermo Escarraga (72/22) and 3rd place Club President Aleem

Hussain (72/8). Guillermo Escarraga also delivered the Longest Drive of the day.

4th place was won by Mahindranauth Tewari (75/ 15).

In anticipation and preparation for the grand 2day Lusignan Open on Saturday and Sunday next, the LGC held two 1-day tournaments last Saturday and Sunday.

The experience was planned to prime golfers for the international standard Lusignan Open this weekend.

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.

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, p l e a s e v i s i t t h e L G C ’s Facebook page at lusignangolfclub or call 220-5660.

Albion Community Centre Cricket Club Academy 2019 ends The Albion Community Centre Cricket Club (ACCCC) successfully held their annual cricket Academy from Monday July 8 to Saturday July 13, 2019.

The academy which was held at the Albion Community Development Center saw 43 youths between the ages of 8 to 18 y e a r s participating. Sessions were held from 08:00 hours to 16:15 hrs daily.

The main objective of the academy was to expose young cricketers to the basic fundamentals of the game.

The academy was financed by West Indies test cricketer Devendra Bishoo, who has been doing so for a number of years.

The Berbice Cricket Board under President Hilbert Foster also assisted with generous donations including a quantity of trophies, medals, information booklets and learning aids, cricket balls

and a bicycle.

The participants were tutored in both theoretical and practical sessions, including the basics of bowling, fielding, catching, batting, wicketkeeping and general physical fitness.

They were also exposed to sessions in the importance of education, basic Mathematics and English, the importance of Physical fitness, a cricketer as an ambassador, discipline, motivation, etiquette and social grace, safety tips, first aid, substance abuse, public speaking and communication, the laws of cricket, leadership and captaincy, among others.

Awards were presented as follows - most discipline participant Shiv Harripersaud, most promising - Tameshwar Mahadeo, most promising spin bowler Kumar Deopershad, most promising fast bowler - Shiv Harrypersaud, most promising batsman - Ari Afrizal Kadir, most promising wicketkeeper - Damion Cecil,

most promising fieldsman Nicholas Leps, best overall attendance and punctuality - Pavendra Ganesh and the student that participated the most Timothy Brigbhukan.

Some of the facilitators and coaches included Orvin Mangru, Angela Haniff, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Bishoo and Anthony Bramble among others.

The ACCCC was launched over five decades ago with the mission to produce vibrant and wellrounded cricketers.

The ACCCC over the years has produced a number of players for the West Indies including Sew Shivnarine, Sewnarine Chatergoon, Narasingh Deonarine, Bishoo and Permaul.

Others such as Sudesh Dhaniram, Leslain Lambert, Bramble, Motie and Johnathan Foo have worn national colours. (Samuel Whyte)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 16, 2019

PAGE 35

Let’s Bet Sports supports Jefford Track & Field Classic

T

he Jefford Track & Field Classic, set for August 11, has attracted the support of the Guyana Lottery Company’s betting platform Let’s Bet Sports.

The event is set for the Mackenzie Sports Club ground, Linden.

At a simple, but significant ceremony on Monday morning, Brand Ambassador of Let’s Bet Sports, Rawle Toney, and coordinator of the Classic, Edison Jefford, spoke of the new partnership.

Toney, addressing the media, said Let’s Bet Sports felt it, “Imperative to be involved in the mainstay of track and field, more so a mainstay of track and field in Linden.”

“Let’s Bet Sports is happy to be affiliated with a company and a brand that would have stuck to its word, stating that irrespective of all that’s happening in track and field in Linden and at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground, that they would not move (from that venue),” Toney asserted.

He added, “By next year this time we should have the

completion of a synthetic track (in Linden), so it’s good to see Edison and his team would have stuck to their plan, hoping that the track would come to fruition, and Let’s Bet Sports, as I mentioned earlier, we’re cementing our place alongside the Jefford Track and Field Classic for the very first year and it would definitely not be the last.”

Jefford pointed that the support from companies like the Guyana Lottery Company would “augers well for the development of our athletes.”

“This goes directly to the two million dollars in cash that we will offer our athletes on August 11. I know for sure they (the athletes) will be ready to burn the track, if you want to put it that way.”

Unlike what previously obtained when clubs benefitted, the cash incentives would now go directly to the athletes.

The top three finishers would receive $40,000, $25,000 and $15,000 respectively. The event will get underway at 09:00h and admission is $1,000 for

adults and $500 for children.

Let’s Bet Sports apart, the event has garnered the support of the National Sports Commission, ANSA McAL Trading, Exxon Mobil, DeSinco Limited under Swiss Brand, Antarctic Maintenance and Repairs, YK Investments Pawn Shop, Jude Bike Shop and Power Producers Distributors Inc.

Edison Jefford (centre) receives the sponsorship from Let’s Bet Sports Brand Manager Ian DeBarros in the presence of Brand Ambassador Rawle Toney.

Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship – Group A

‘Lady Jags’ maintain hold at the top with victory - St. Lucia thump Bermuda over ‘The Benna Girls’

t r o Sp

Captain for the match, Brianne Desa (#4) being congratulated by her teammates after scoring Guyana’s first goal from the penalty spot.

May hosts victorious England cricket team

England’s Eoin Morgan and Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May with the trophy as they pose with the team outside number 10 Downing Street, London. (REUTERS/Peter Nicholls) Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.