Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday July 24, 2019

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

Admitting to mistakes According to the Times of India (June 24), there was this extraordinary admission— Leadership admission of a 400billion-dollar mistake. Which leader, owns up to something of that magnitude? Bill Gates of Microsoft legend did. “You know, in the software world, in particular for platforms, there are winner-take-all markets. So the greatest mistake ever is whatever mismanagement is engaged in, that caused Microsoft not to be what Android is, [meaning] Android is the standard non-Apple operating phone form platform. That was a natural thing for Microsoft to win.” In other words, a strike for six, a home run, an almost automatic fit for Microsoft. Mistake and mismanagement admission from a legend, the third richest man around didn’t have to, not one so successful, so highly regarded, almost godlike to many. Yet he did. All Guyanese should ask of themselves how many major mistakes have been made by political leaders long not held accountable. And further, how much that has cost this society in terms of: a) the visions concretized; b) the policies introduced and implemented; c) the economic and social consequences of such mistaken or clearly misguided policies; and d) how much did such set this country back. First, nobody on the local front is admitting to anything; not small, not large; neither leaders nor losers. Nobody makes mistakes around here. None. Worse still, nobody is calling them out and delivering verdicts that are meaningful, as in ousters. Third, and unlike Bill Gates, none are learning as to what has failed, and seeking to bring about necessary improvements to position this country to compete and to be a player, either regionally or in the international marketplace of ideas, products, and a voice from which there should be listening, with learning usually following. Here, there is contentment with the old and failed; there is satisfaction with not listening and bludgeoning ahead heedlessly. It takes big people, caring leaders, citizenservants to humble themselves to admit to the moment lost, the opportunity not grasped. Those are failures in and of themselves. Instead, the many chronic nonperformers from now and before congratulate themselves (or employ public relations talents to overpower with falsehoods) on how much of a gift they have been to this country. For philanthropy alone, Bill Gates could be considered a good man, if only for his outsized contributions to the world. In some well populated circles, they would award him the halo of greatness. Whether good or great, or merely ordinary, he has shown an all too human touch by owning up to monumental failure. No hedging. No finger pointing. No passing on of falling short to the team, or some hapless subordinate, or unsavory adversary. This has never happened here. Never! From a political perspective, it is always the other man, the next group; winners write histories (and fables). Mistakes and failures are rewarded; with office, with continuing in power to deliver more and more failures. Of course, there is always the feared jumbie man and ole higue of the other side for being responsible and making bad things happen. Such is the backwardness of this retarded society. Many multibillion-dollar political mistakes to be shared all around: airport construction, bridge-building, land valuing and appropriating, tax collections, City Hall laxity, police reform, and one public procurement project after another. And the political confessors? None! Not one. How much better would the poor, economy, governance, and society be if only a fraction of those costly errors were honestly admitted to and fixed? How much better if there was/is real accountability? It does not matter to the voters who are burdened with the bill. Politicians who enrich themselves are welcomed with open arms. They flourish.

Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.

PSC responds to Chief Elections Officer on house-to-house registration To: Mr. Keith Lowenfield Chief Elections Officer Guyana Elections Commission DEAR MR. LOWENFIELD, Thank you for your letter of 22nd July, 2019, and your prompt reply, in response to our letter of 21st July, 2019, on the subject of the commencement of house-tohouse registration by GECOM. You are correct in pointing out that, in fact, we had requested, on several occasions, a meeting with GECOM addressed to the Chairman and not directly to you and wish to assure you that there was no intention on our part to hold you personally responsible for GECOM’s failure to meet with us. Our letter raised a number of both factual and technical issues with you with regard to GECOM’s intention to establish a new National Register of

Registrants Database (NRRD). We raised these issues because of the fact that the current NRRD has been subject to cycles of continuous registration, under your custody, since the 2015 elections and has delivered credible National and Regional Elections and Local Government Elections in 2018. You have, unfortunately, made no attempt in your response to explain or provide any reason for GECOM’s rush to abandon the existing NRRD. Your response has failed to address the concerns which we have raised about the feasibility and credibility of a house-to-house registration exercise under the conditions which it is presently being conducted. GECOM is forcing this registration in isolation from all of the political parties involved, irrespective of the prior engagement of all of the relevant stakeholders,

without independent scrutiny and in the absence of essential public information and education. Your response has failed to address our questioning the credibility of GECOM’s advice to the President claiming that 200,000 entries on the NRRD should not be there on a register which is under your custody and which has benefitted from continuous registration. Your response has also failed to address the fact that the reasonable statutory option of claims and objections would bring the National Register up-to-date in sufficient time to meet constitutionally due elections. Yo u r r e s p o n s e h a s chosen to ignore that as CEO of the Commission, you should properly be directing your attention to your statutory duties and responsibilities to obey and comply with the decision and consequential orders of the Caribbean Court of Justice

(CCJ) with regard to the constitutional requirements of Articles 106 (6) and 106 (7). You must be aware that the Caribbean Court has directed that, consistent with these Articles, General and Regional Elections are required to be held within three (3) months of the date of the ruling of the Court, estimated to be no later than the 18th Day of September, 2019, and that GECOM was a party to the proceedings of the Court. Your response has also chosen to ignore the fact that GECOM’s Counsel appearing before the Caribbean Court of Justice, Mr. Stanley Marcus, SC, notified the Court that the conducting of house-tohouse registration would result in General and Regional Elections not being possible before 25th December, 2019. The behaviour of GECOM under your explicit directions has ignored the (Continued on page 6)

I hope the author of this assault on GECOM will explain the Private Sector Commission’s social myopia DEAR EDITOR, Only a short while ago, some of us were bemoaning the loss of our old time comedians and clowns, they helped lighten the burdens of life these days. We remembered Sam Chase and Ted Roy, Habeeb Khan, The Link Shows, Archie, Bringing up Father Dagwood, and many of us may not access Comic- Com 2019. Thank God we now have a letter calling upon His Excellency President Granger and the cabinet to resign now. When I checked my calendar it wasn’t ‘All Fools Day’, so clearly citizens are now being offered free comedy to enliven their hearts. If we are not to treat this recent foray into the idea of this demand as a joke, then the serious question is, after the President and cabinet resigns who will steer the Ship of state. A few centuries earlier, thinkers proposed that a perfect society with no common system - No Captain on Deck - to put the ship of society out to sea. This could not work and in our real world there must always be a helmsman with a

crew. The alternative is simply – anarchy - a recipe for confusion. My good friend Dr. Jagdeo - and he is my friend - ought to learn that at all times someone needs to be in charge of things. His Excellency David Granger has been gracious and correct. The fact that is he now Heads an Interim Government - it is a government nevertheless with clear guidelines and responsibilities. It is not our first interim government, we had 1953-1957. So let’s settle down, ensure we have a credible list, then on to Election. The other comic relief is the statement made by the Private Sector Commission to task the President. These group of gentlemen should state when and how the President has been in breach of the CCJ ruling, constitution and protocol. From all we have heard, the Private Sector Commission should remove its mask of being representative of the Private Sector. The now recent absurdity of the Private Sector Commission, writing to GECOM, an independent

body, simply is reminiscent of that old gramophone picture of the terrier dog Nipper – listening - ‘His Master’s Voice’- I wish not to liken the leaders of the Private Sector Commission to Nipper. Where were all these leaders of the Private Sector Commission, when at GECOM, ‘new maths’ was employed in 2011 to give the PPP additional votes, not a squeak (forgive the pun), from these Honourable Gentlemen of the Private Sector Commission when they were established in 1992. When the Private Sector Commission was supposed to uphold the lofty principles of democracy, justice and fair play as bulldozers were being used on African ancestral lands at Paradise, East Coast Demerara - not a word. When the Luckhoo swimming pool and property of the Georgetown Municipality were seized while I was Mayor, to build the Marriott, employing 100% Chinese labour - not a word of condemnation from these gentlemen. When state property was distributed by the pre-2015 NICIL to a

handpicked chosen few - not a word. This injustice was applauded. I can fill volumes with the silence on matters of national importance and concern. There is the essay written about the sin of silence. I hope the Author of this assault on GECOM will explain the Private Sector C o m m i s s i o n ’s s o c i a l myopia. The irony of this sad situation is that over time I developed an affection and deep regard for some of the leaders of the Private Sector Commission. I hope that they can erase the perception that they are now guided or inspired by illfounded contentions. To help them, they can do well to read the recent articles by Lincoln Lewis and former GDF officer Harry Paul. I would like to retain my affection and regard I have always held for the Author of the letter to GECOM and other public statements made by others on behalf of the Private Sector Commission. I still cling to my religious upbringing anchored in the firm conviction - the vilest sinner may return. Hamilton Green

Protecting Intellectual Property DEAR EDITOR, While all eyes are mainly focused on elections and oil at this moment in our country’s history, I want to give a reminder that there are other important issues gathering dust on the table of promises as well. We live in a country that does not have a copyright law, which creates a bad situation for our creative minds, hands and voices. Two different parties have governed our country post-independence, and none of them have accomplished this. Imagine a young, upcoming musician who invested his/her university years learning music. Imagine spending further time and resources to record a nice, catchy song. Now imagine waking up one morning and hearing your song being played on the radio under someone else’s name or being used in company advertisements. Imagine not getting paid for your own work and what that can do to

your psyche. That’s our reality here in Guyana today. We should have passed comprehensive Copyright legislation years ago. The US has strictly enforced laws protecting the intellectual rights of the owners/creators of published writing, art, music, sculptures etc. Their creative people are able to make a living off of their work, and even receive huge settlements in the event someone uses their creation without the relevant permission. Even our Caribbean sister nations have some form of copyright law in effect and enforced, and these countries have produced and continue to produce some of the biggest renowned musicians in the world. Meanwhile, many Guyanese artists/artistes are forced to keep a day job to pay the bills. Our next government MUST prioritize the passing of Copyright legislation, and

do so after consulting with the creative community in Guyana to listen to their recommendations. This will allow our local cultural scene to flourish again, and encourage more persons to pursue careers in any creative discipline and enjoy the proper recognition and financial rewards for their efforts. This will also be a step in the right direction to open opportunities for investment in studios, art galleries, theatres and other similar assets that will provide the resources for creatives to get to work.I call on all Guyanese creatives to lend their voices to urge politicians who want their votes to ensure they not only make promises and talk about doing it, but actually present a plan in their manifesto that shows exactly how and by when this will be accomplished. Let’s take care of our people better. Sincerely, Shazaam Ally The Citizenship Initiative

A new formula for selecting the GECOM chair DEAR EDITOR, I am disturbed about the political atmosphere in Guyana at this time. I have been observing politics in Guyana for over 60 years and from that experience, I am convinced that the level of trust between the Government and Opposition has never been lower, and yet most of the comments I read in the media call on the President to select a GECOM Chair from the list presented to him by the Leader of the Opposition. The level of trust is too low, particularly after the Dec

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Wednesday July 24, 2019

2018 successful noconfidence Motion, for President Granger to accept a name from the list provided by the Opposition leader. There is need for a new formula and I am proposing the following as a starter: 1. President Granger, as I understand it, has cleared a number of names for consideration 2. The Opposition Leader should also clear between 3 and 6 names for consideration 3. 6 or 12 names should be sealed and placed in an appropriate container. 4. The opposition leader

will draw two names from the container, and present these to the President for him to select one. I believe that a process of this type will impose upon both leaders the need to propose the persons they judge to be best qualified to perform their duties in an impartial manner Regards A Concerned Observer

Dictatorship? Not again!

DEAR EDITOR, It’s quite late in night and sleep is yet to visit me as I lay awake submerged in the sad reality that life in Guyana has come a full circle and we are once again starkly staring at a fullfledged PNC dictatorship. But this time it is far worse than that which Guyanese had experienced during the period 1964 to 1992. This time it began almost as soon as the PNC-dominated Coalition assumed office, with the complete disdain and utmost defiance of the Supreme Law of the land, which ironically was conceived and given birth during the same dark era of Burnham’s PNC dictatorship rule. The masses in Guyana are poor people, of whom multitudes have fled from their homeland in a courageous quest to bring good to themselves and families and they live abroad with the earnest hope one day those living in poverty will live an improved life in an economically prosperous environment. In 1992, we saw the advent of such a life as Guyanese were taken from dire poverty and oppression into a journey which saw their lives improved almost on a daily basis. Guyana was taken from bankruptcy to prosperity and for 23 years had almost forgotten the 28 years suffered under the PNC dictatorship when it was a crime to eat food! Empty shelves became filled as never before and Guyanese were becoming owners of homes and luxurious items as not only needs but wants were fulfilled. Our national Treasury once again became filled as we moved up the economic ladder to become a middle-income country. Guyanese had started to go to the US on vacation enjoying their ten year Visas. But this came to an end in 2015 which saw the venomous resurgence of the PNC and the diminishing of such holiday visas as Guyanese once again are seen as fleeing from economic hardships. The Coalition’s adamant refusal to abide

by the Constitution and the defiance for the Rule of Law, have exposed its true dictatorial nature, not only to Guyanese but to the world at large. It took a meagre four years for that to materialize. Many Guyanese had thought that in this new era that the PNC, after several baptismal names change, would have learnt an invaluable lesson of the 28 years it was in Government and sought to erase that sinister and catastrophic image it had indelibly carved in their psyche. But that was not to be, since the true PNC characteristic began to emerge on a daily basis as squandermania, corruption, cronyism, criminal activities and harsh taxation measures wreaked havoc as the balance of payments deficit grew, our gross domestic product declined and economic development took a plunge. We now have bigger budgets but equally bigger corruption. It now becomes clear that the Coalition is bent on an illegal trajectory to remain in power, even if it means once again becoming a pariah to the civilized nations of the world. They believe that the revenue from oil will see them through this time around but they are mistaken. Guyanese will not allow the PNC to get away with its dictatorial rule this time. We demand that democracy prevails! We have had enough of poverty and hunger under the PNC and we must now stand up to this monster which once again threatens to gobble this nation. We demand that the GECOM’s Chairman be appointed and Elections be held by September 18th, 2019 as per our Constitution and the CCJ’s rulings. We demand that the delaying tactic of House-to-House Registration be jettisoned immediately! We want no more PNCfabricated delaying tactics! Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

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I challenge these two leaders to bring this nation together for this our finest hour! DEAR EDITOR, I don’t think that Team President Granger and Team Bharrat Jagdeo really understand the impact this process of selecting a Chairman or not selecting a Chairman for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and when to hold elections and when not to hold elections, is having on our people and society. Day after day, night after night; it is what the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) meant or did not mean by the Consequential Orders and whether the Chief Justice was right or wrong that the No Confidence Motion was passed; whether the Court of Appeal was right or wrong; whether there should be House–toHouse registration or not; whether House-to-House registration is constitutional or legal or not. This process is confusing this country and the people of this country and we cannot continue like this; something has to give. If I was an advisor to President Granger and the Leader of the Opposition, my advice would be, to take a day off, give your wise men and wise

women a day off too; and sit down, just the two of you; not as President or Leader of the Opposition, but as two citizens who love your country and your people and simply talk to each other. Say to each other that there is a lot of history between our political parties and there is a lot of history in the country; there is a lot of history among our peoples but the way we are leading, is not transformative, and this is not the legacy we should leave. Say to each other, that with 750,000 people, 83,000 square miles and a country that is about to become one of the richest in the world and for the good of our country, we will work together. Let us stop this divisive way of leading right now, for the good of our country. Let us be the two leaders who change the history of this country. Let us be the two leaders who brought Guyana together. Let us be the leaders who realize the National Motto ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’. Any leader can keep a nation divided but real power, real authority lies in

the hands of those leaders who can bring a nation together. I challenge President Granger and Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo, to bring this nation together for this our finest hour! For this to happen, we would need to start over, let’s wipe the slate clean in 2019. The Government may have to cancel the cases at SARA and SOCU against the PPP/C. PPP/C would have to forgive the PNC and the PNC would have to forgive the PPP and let’s reconcile this nation, let us move on with building this country for the younger generation. One thing that is clear over the past months is that the answer to this country’s problems does not lie in the hands of the Judiciary; it is more a condition of the hearts of our leaders. This is not about winning and losing an election, right now we are all losers. We have been losers for over 60 years…When are we going to start winning…together? Yours faithfully, Citizen Audreyanna Thomas

I hope the author of this assault ... From page 4 dictum of the Caribbean Court of Justice that GECOM is not above, but is subject to the Constitution and, as a consequence, must be in a state of readiness whenever elections are constitutionally due. In fact, GECOM took the policy decision to introduce

the cycles of continuous registration precisely for the purpose of enabling the Commission to hold elections whenever constitutionally necessary. We find it difficult that you would expect the nation to accept that the decision made by the Commission to conduct

house-to-house registration on the 19th February, 2019, and by Order no.25 of 2019, dated 11th June, 2019, has not been overtaken and rendered otiose by the decision and consequential orders of the Caribbean Court. We are quite frankly dismayed that you have found it convenient to be very selective in extracting excerpts from the advice received from your Legal Advisor who, as is publicly known, also advised you that house-to-house registration, in the face of the CCJ rulings, is illegal and should not be proceeded with. While we acknowledge that you serve as a public servant and as an employee of the Commission and that you are subject to the policy directives of the Commission for your actions and behaviour, this does not exempt nor excuse you from your obligation to respect and function under the rule of law. We, therefore, reiterate our admonition that GECOM immediately suspend the house-toh o u s e r e gistration and prepare itself for holding General and Regional Elections within the timeframe prescribed by the Caribbean Court of Justice. Sincerely yours, Capt. Gerald Gouveia Chairman

Wednesday July 24, 2019

COULD OBAMA’S LEGACY BE BIDEN’S ELEGY? DEAR EDITOR, As former Vice President Joe Biden utilizes President Obama’s esteemed status among Democratic voters, as the means of protecting himself from the plethora of candidates jockeying to be the next White House occupant, could he be proclaiming his elegy. In the past few weeks as the presidential race and pace quickened, the Democratic forerunner has had the legacy used against him. But in recent weeks, the Democratic frontrunner has had that legacy used against him, with his competitors highlighting the failings of the last Democratic administration, as evidence that the Vice lacks the spice, and is certainly not up to the task of leading the next one. While evidence abounds that President Obama personally was popular with the Democratic voters, at the same time there is an increasing awareness that income and wealth inequality, climate crisis, and deportations etcetera increased during his eightyear term in office. Within the Democratic circles, the notion that the Obama legacy would be anything other than a huge positive for Biden as he navigates the 2020 Democratic Party has been treated as irrefutable. For a while many of Biden’s fellow Democrats vying for the White House appeared satisfied to simply avoid challenging the former Vice President as he again and again referenced his time in the Obama administration when publicizing his work on health care and beating back attacks over his record on race relations. However, in recent weeks that reluctance has diminished. On issues emanating from immigration to health care and foreign

policy, the 2020 presidential candidates have been progressively critical in their public appraisals of the Obama administration. Additionally, they have also used opportunities from the debate stage to candidate forums to try and swing Biden’s ties to the former president from an astounding asset to something more complex. Senator Kamala Harris challenged Vice-President Biden over the Obama administration deportation policies. Bernie Sanders’ campaign has used Obama’s own words to challenge Biden’s belief that Obamacare simply needs to be built upon. Senator Cory Booker withdrew support for the Obama administration’s 2015 Iran nuclear deal as originally written. And Governor Jay Inslee has fired upon Biden for gullibility about dealing with Republicans—in what has been interpreted as an unspoken rebuke of Obama’s own failure to fully grasp GOP defiance and audacity. The inconspicuous targeting of Biden has occurred as Democratic activists and progressives continue to wrestle with the Obama legacy as well. Expressly, the Trump administration’s family separation policy and heartless conditions in detention facilities have triggered a broader conversation among Democratic voters about whether the Obama administration’s own deportation policies laid the groundwork for the current controversies. In the last month, at least on two occasions, protesters have faced down Biden to demand an apology for the three million deportations that occurred during the Obama administration Already, they have seen

some candidates take a harder look at the Obama legacy. Even Julian Castro who served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Obama, said that he believed the administration had been too harsh when it came to immigration. The critique has protracted beyond the issue of immigration. During the first debate Senator Cory Booker said that the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, a landmark foreign policy achievement in Obama’s second term, could have been better. Many, including Biden, have also introduced sweeping climate change plans with hallmarks of the Green New Deal and taken a No Fossil Fuel Money pledge, which activists have seen as a necessary corrective to the Obama administration’s lack of action on the drastic threat of climate change. A former senior adviser to President Obama Dan Pfeiffer has said that while it may be essential for all Democratic candidates to offer an agenda that builds on what the Obama administration accomplished, and there is room for good faith criticism of what was not done or could have been better done, a strategy to beat Biden by going after the Obama legacy seems unlikely to succeed. Conclusively, if the Democrats do not change their strategy they may unconsciously be giving Trump the victory. The Vice President should take some advice and stop invoking the legacy as it is inflammatory as all can see. Vice President Biden needs to get this straight — What is needed in 2020 is results, not change, as was needed in 2008. Going with the legacy may be tantamount to an elegy. Yvonne Sam

It would appear that elections will be held sooner, rather than later DEAR EDITOR, It would appear that the long-anticipated and NCMmandated general and regional elections will be held sooner, rather than later, and quite possibly before the end of the year. Last Friday, the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission announced the simultaneous preparation for elections and the immediate commencement of house-tohouse registration that would create a new National Register of Registrants (NRR) from which an Official List of Electors (OLE) will be

extracted for the purpose of conducting general and regional elections. The previous list had expired on April 30th, 2019 and the Commission, then led by Chairman Justice James Patterson, voted to adopt this process which had previously been a demand of the PPP/C following its defeat at the 2015 elections. The Patterson-led Commission had, prior to the CCJ handing down its consequential orders on July 12 last, advised the President that elections could not be held earlier than December 2019, and the CCJ, in spite of

the PPP/C’s demand that it overrule this advice and order the President to proclaim a date for elections by September 18, 2019, refused to do so. Instead, the CCJ stipulated that it was for the President, Parliament and GECOM to decide on the issue. The President has always recognized that Article 62 of the Constitution mandates that “Elections shall be independently supervised by the Elections Commission in accordance with the provisions of article 162” and has made clear that it is for (Continued on page 28)

Wednesday July 24, 2019

GRDB expands paddy bug campaign With the interest and welfare of rice farmers at heart, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) is expanding its paddy bug campaigns with intent to completely eradicating the issue. Speaking to GRDB’s Allison Peters, yesterday, this publication was informed that the entity has been meeting with farmers in the ten administrative regions to educate them on the issue. She said that they have now adopted the strategy of using well trained and experienced personnel to conduct spraying. She said GRDB has taken on the responsibility of paying such persons for the service they provide.Peters informed that they are however using a different effective approach of not only spraying the fields, but also the perimeter of such locations (dams, drains etc.) to avoid the bugs getting to the actual rice crop. She said that GRDB has also introduced new ‘wipe out’ chemicals to aid in their exercise. That aside, she explained that they have been engaging in several seminars to better educate both farmers and rice mill employees in the areas of rice grading, checking for dockage, and moisture. She noted that they have already conducted three day workshops in Region 5 and 6, and would soon move to Region Three to continue in that direction. According to Peters, persons will be also trained in the areas of warehouse management, health and safety, with a theory and practical approach in mind. Earlier this year it was reported that some $1.5B was lost to paddy bug infestation in Region Six, and that farmers were forced to dump their harvest. It was said that seventeen Berbice, Region

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GRDB’s Allison Peters Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) rice farmers have been forced to dump their paddy after it was rejected by milers since more than 35 per cent of it was damaged. The region was expected to produce an estimated two million bags of paddy this crop. However, former Rice Producers Association (RPA) Extension Officer, Ramlakhan Singh, had indicated that there was going to be a shortfall of 500,000 bags. Another section of the media had purported that from some 58,000 acres under rice cultivation in the region and the only areas spared of the paddy bug infestation were the East Bank along with East and West Canje, leaving 95 per cent of the production area exposed to the insects. The bugs damage rice by sucking out the contents of developing grains from preflowering spikelets to soft dough stage, therefore causing unfilled or empty grains and discolouration.

Expired voters’ list can be refreshed and used – Lowenfield Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield, has declared that the Official List of Electors, which expired on April 30, 2019, can still be used to execute free and fair General and Regional Elections. Lowenfield was, at the time, speaking to reporters outside of the High Court in Georgetown, following a statement by Chief Justice, Roxane George, on whether a conservatory order, sought by Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram, should be granted, blocking the execution of House to House Registration. Lowenfield, yesterday, was asked whether the expired list is considered ‘bloated’. He responded, “We have a list that was expired… as of April 30… that was used for our election, for registration, etc. Bloat is not a word I’ll affix to it.” Lowenfield was then asked: “Can the list, if refreshed, be used to conduct a free and fair election?”“That’s correct,” he responded, “Always has and always will.”Back in February, Lowenfield had said that GECOM needs 148 days to prepare for elections. At the time, he had said that GECOM would need to be given the Order by the Commission to start the preparations, an Order he had been pleading for. That period, he had explained, would include a 21-day period of claims and objections, not House to House Registration. His most recent statement comes during a highly contentious period. House to House Registration has already seen the participation of over 20,000 people, according to GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward. But the commission has received reports that some persons are reluctant to par-

GECOM’s Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield ticipate in the process, which would see GECOM crafting a new list. This is because of statements by Ram and the political opposition, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) that House to House is illegal. In an advertisement published in Kaieteur News, Ram had said “This exercise is not intended to register persons but rather to deregister Guyanese who are eligible for qualification as electors under the Constitution of Guyana.”Ram’s request was denied, pending further evidence.But the PPP, still adamant that the expired list can be cleansed, insists that a period of claims and objections is enough. The Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo has said that this is the only process that would see elections being held within a three-month timeframe following the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)’s ruling of June 18, 2019.

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Wednesday July 24, 2019

Ministry names Region Eight most moved improved region at 2019 NGSA

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egion Eight, Potaro-Siparuni, has been named the most improved region at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment [NGSA]. Making this announcement was Chief Education Officer [CEO], Marcel Hutson, as he addressed parents, guardians, teachers and the region’s top 10 NGSA students at the Kato Primary School in Region Eight on Monday. The region’s top 10 were each given a token from the Ministry of Education as well as a bursary made possible by the Smalta brand, distributed by Ansa McAL Trading Ltd. The top 10 performers are Celestia Masir of Mahdia Primary with 503 marks. She gained a place at the St Joseph High; Ravindra Dalchan of Monkey Mountain Primary who gained 481 to secure a place at the Paramakatoi Secondary; Rachael Pais Kopinang Primary who gained 466 marks to gain a place at Kato Secondary; also claiming places at Paramakatoi Secondary were Nalas Thomas of Paramakatoi Primary who gained 464 marks, Naziya Cheong of Monkey Mountain Primary

who gained 462 marks and Jazon Ramos of Monkey Mountain Primary who gained 462 marks; Nevin Mc Lean of School of Excellence who gained461 marks for a place at the Mahdia Secondary; Eliza King of the Maikwak Primary who gained 457 to secure placement at the Kato Secondary; Abner Gomes of Kato Primary who gained 456 for placement at Kato Secondary and Vera Domingo of Micobie Primary who secured 453 marks for placement at the Mahdia Secondary. According to Hutson , the performance of the region is a testimony to all the efforts that have been made in education within the region. “I can say without any degree of contention, that when we look at the results for Region Eight, it is the most improved region.” According to Hutson, the Ministry of Education is very keen on closing the gaps in terms of the performance by schools on the coast and those in the hinterland. He said that the Ministry is also keen on achieving the sustainable development goal four that speaks to access, equity and life-long learning. Regarding access to

Minister George Norton and Senior Education Officials pose for a photo with students that gained a spot in the region’s top 10 education, he committed that the Ministry will continue to strive to ensure that the nation’s children have access to education particularly since universal primary education has already been achieved. In terms of quality of education in the region, the CEO noted that though the region may have an issue with quality teachers, the Ministry is not oblivious to the fact. Hutson noted that teachers are being trained in the region at Paramakatoi to become trained teachers.

“We have to be concerned about how our children are educated. Primary is the most basic of education. If you do not have one [primary education] it becomes increasingly difficult to matriculate,” the CEO noted. Teachers, as well as the parents, were congratulated by the CEO for the work done that was done with the children while stressing the point that the teachers are the most influential persons in the education system. Delivering the feature address was Minister of Social

Cohesion, Dr. George Norton. With a 10 percent improvement in the performance of mathematics in the region, Minister Norton expressed his conviction that if children can do well in mathematics, they possess the ability to perform well in the other subject areas. He told the students that the fact that they are in the hinterland is no reason why they should not earn spots at top schools. He said, “Gone were the days when persons in the hinterland were graded differently to get into top

schools in Georgetown.” Minister Norton urged parents to start working with their children from the early stages as they will now enter secondary school. “You have the foundation already.” The parents were encouraged that while they work with the children, they must also ensure that they are involved in extra-curricular activities such as sports. He said that this will result in the children not viewing school as a burden and result in them becoming rounded (Continued on page 29)

Meh shame bad! Meh so shame that meh mek wan decision. Meh decide that meh giving up meh Guyanese citizenship. When the people come around for house-tohouse registration meh gun deny that meh a Guyanese. Meh gun refuse to register because meh disown meh country. Meh nah want to be called a Guyanese. Meh shame bad. Dem cannot charge meh. The law is no ass. Deh ain’t gat no law which seh that you gat to vote. Voting nah compulsory. So why if no one can force meh fuh vote, them ah want to force meh for register to vote? Meh nah register because only Guyanese can register to vote and meh disowning meh nationality. Meh doing so because the government mek meh feel real shame… for the second time. Meh thought me bin a

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Wednesday July 24, 2019

hear it all. Meh friends dem overseas a laugh at meh. Dem taunt meh. Dem seh meh come from a pagalee country. Meh ask them why. Dem seh meh country nah know fuh calculate. Meh ask them how they come to that assumption. Dem start buss laugh. Dem seh that Guyana ah the only country in the world, weh intelligent people ah argue how 34 is a majority of 65. Well meh feel dah one. Meh shame bad. When meh tell me doubting friends how lawyers arguing about this in court, dem laugh meh mo. But meh hold meh head high and meh wait for the ruling of the CCJ, hoping that it would ah stop dem boys from laughing at meh. Meh was wrang. The CCJ judges cause mo people to laugh at meh. One CCJ judge said that he would even venture to suggest that every member of

the Assembly on December 21st knew that a majority of 65 was 33. He seh half plus one nah apply to odd numbers since that can lead to “illogical” results. When meh hear dah man talk them words, meh tun blue. Then meh feel mo shame when another judge seh that dem know a majority when dem see it. And that you nah need no magic to determine what is majority. Meh run and duck when me hear dah because meh know meh friends also hear the same thing and dem go laugh at meh. But meh seh that with time, people ah guh forget all this nonsense about 34 being a majority of 65. Meh seh that something like that nah gun happen ever again. Meh wrang. Meh now mo shame. Something worse happen. Imagine the Constitution seh that the President gat to

Cabinet will not resign – Ramjattan

Cabinet will not resign, says Minister of Public Security and Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan. He was at the time discussing the implications of the December 21, 2018 vote of no confidence with People’s Progressive Party (PPP) stalwart, Juan Edghill. The Opposition had written to the President, requesting that he dissolve Parliament, have Cabinet resign, and have elections held by September 18, 2019. Edghill said, during a radio show, that Cabinet must resign in accordance with the stipulations of the Constitution when a motion of no confidence is passed. Article 106(6) states “The Cabinet, including the President, shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.” Edghill said, “When they [Cabinet] resign, they will have publicly acknowledged that they intend to comply with the rulings of the CCJ, and the Constitution. After their defeat, they become a caretaker Government. A caretaker Government means that the executive – the Cabinet – is disbanded.” “So you have gone into what is called a caretaker government.” Edghill told Ramjattan. The AFC leader, in response, said “On his… point that we have to resign, we are not going to resign. We are still in Government. There is absolutely nothing in the Constitution that indicates a formal resignation. That was gone through by the CCJ, and it was even gone through by the High Court judge.” Edghill continued to implore Ramjattan: “Announce your resignation.” “Announce what?” Ramjattan responded. “Because the next article says notwithstanding that resignation – whatever it is – you continue in Government.” The text in focus, Article 106(7), states that “… notwithstanding its defeat, the government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months.” ”Who will the President send his resignation into?” Ramjattan went on to ask, rhetorically.“I could send in my resignation to the President,

Minister of Public Security and AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan but then I stop becoming a minister that will have any powers whatsoever with a resignation letter.”The Minister iterated that the Constitution does not specifically indicate a formal resignation. “So it’s a kind of a legal fiction that is spoken about in that article. That is what it is because, right after that, you are still a minister performing the functions of a Government and Minister. “So that is the problem with the Opposition. They seem not to understand that. That is also what happened in the Esther Perreira challenge.” In 2001, the 1997 elections were vitiated by Justice Claudette Singh. In her consequential orders, the Government was declared a caretaker Government. In response to this, then President Jagdeo had said, “It is business as usual.” Government had continued with full powers, until the next election. “The Government continued to be holding Cabinet meetings, holding its ministerial functions and all of that.” Ramjattan said. “It’s all there in the Esther Perreira consequential orders… We have been doing as we feel is in accordance with the convention, now that the CCJ has ruled. We are certainly going to abide by that ruling.”

select a name from a list sent by the Leader of the Opposition. But the President now saying that he got right to nominate people fuh guh pun the same list from which he gat fuh pick one. Now take sense out of nonsense. If me pick five names and you pick one name and I send the six names to you choose one, which one you gun pick? Is like if the opposing captain picking yuh

team.Meh never hear so much fart in meh whole life. How ‘you’ want to put name pun ‘me’ list? If that is the case, then the list is no longer ‘me’ list.Meh shame bad when meh hear that is the government want choose name and dem saying that dem gat right fuh do so. Meh thought me bin a hear it all. Meh thought the 34 argument was one fuh the history books. But it look like

somebody want dem boys fuh keep laughing at me. Meh had enough. Meh asking GECOM nah fuh come by meh house. Meh nah live yah no more. Me nah Guyanese no mo. Meh ah wan man without wan country.

DEM BOYS SEH

Confusion can’t done

Guyanese like a conflict. If none don’t exist dem would mek one. Dem boys remember when dem was growing up. Dem use to see people standing pun dem bridge and as soon as somebody look at dem, a war start. Things was such that people use to walk and when dem see somebody else dem use to tun dem face. But that and all use to cause a war. Dem boys remember de lady who send she daughter out on de road to see if she could get into a story. De child barely gun halfway when a man pass and tell de lady good morning. Who tell him to seh that. De next thing people hear is when de woman calling she child. “Come child. You ain’t got to go nowhere. One

walk straight in me mouth.” Is not only people. All this confusion bout elections and house-to-house registration and going to de CCJ is just a case of creating a conflict. When things going too smooth some people does mek sure that things don’t remain smooth fuh too long. Why you think dem criminals does come out whenever de place quiet? Dem love a confusion. De constitution seh de Opposition Leader must select six names suh de President can pick one fuh a chairman of de elections commission. Is not that GECOM didn’t have a chairman but de Opposition like a confusion suh it protest till de one chairman lef de wuk. Things was going good until dem try to get anodda chairman. Couple months af-

ter dem get a chairman was more confusion. De opposition carry de matter to court and de chairman get kick out. Now dem got to get anodda one and is confusion. Is more confusion about when elections coming. Is confusion about if there should be house to house registration or if dem use de old list. Now is confusion even inside de political parties. De KFC got a prime Minister. Dem want to change him. De man ain’t do nutten but dem want change him. De opposition got confusion too. Two big men, one a soulja and de odda a pastor, want tun Prime Minister. Talk half and know that confusion can’t done.

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Wednesday July 24, 2019

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Coconut shells and Movie Towne: This miserable country On Monday morning at 1:00 am, three cars were testing out their engines in the parking lot of Movie Towne complex. Three cars were going round in circles with their engines making noise that could have been heard miles away. This went on for one hour. These drivers didn’t

perform their asininity where they live but where other persons dwell and at an hour where residents were sleeping. It is quite clear to the Guyanese people that the parking lot of Movie Towne complex is becoming a Faustian playground where evil grows and glows. Last month GTT had a

Caribbean concert there where the sound went way beyond UG into Sophia (see my two columns Wednesday, July 3, 2019, “GTT, Movie Towne, the police and shit-hole Guyana and Friday, July 5, 2019, “Nastiness spreads like wild fire in this country.” I don’t know if it is poetic justice but on Monday evening, the sewage system of the complex was in a terrible state with sewage water flowing on the western side of the same car park. On Sunday night, I drove into the car park with my dog, and the scent was odious. So I looked around and there I saw it- the western car park was flooded not with rain water from the day’s powerful showers but filthy water. Even the gods are against the Guyanese people. The sewage infrastructure malfunctioned after the philistinism of the GTT and the uncivilized drivers. Why not before? The uncivilized drivers are part of the Guyanese society. But so much in and of this country is uncivilized. But the uncivilized dimension is not the only part of Guyana’s defective

metabolism. It is the Dostoevskian silence and fatalistic resignation among its citizens. The US is the graphic opposite of Guyana. I told my wife that the US is becoming a frightening place but the culture that Trump ushered in will soon be defeated because the US is full of brave people that will not let that kind of culture overtake their country. Where are the brave souls in Guyana? Take away the UG unions and there is no civil society in this land. I read that one of Guyana’s richest families was fined a million dollars for throwing coconut shells, the waste product from its coconut industry, in the tributary of one of the country’s main rivers. I read that item with overflowing cynicism. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said the perversity was going on for years and the family was warned. According to the EPA, 15,000 shells were dumped into the canals that flow into the Pomeroon River. In a country where flooding comes easily and where that river is a main resource for the people in

that region, such cruelty had to be interpreted by the EPA as a disastrous act of irresponsibility. But apparently not! The wealthy family was visited with a mere million dollar fine. Dr. Vince Adams, the head of the EPA, lived in the United States all his adult life. He knows that if a company was found guilty of such a violation that company would have been assigned a huge fine. On a deleterious environmental situation like that affecting the Pomeroon R i v e r, a stupendously wealthy family was given a mere million dollar fine. If it was a bicycle repair man that was throwing his old tubes into that very river, his business would have been closed down. It goes back to the theme of my last Sunday column where I argued that in countries with small populations, the wealthy class virtually owns the government, the security forces, the law people, and the society in total. One must not forget that we are in the election season where big companies automatically

Frederick Kissoon become the untouchables. They give money to the politicians like when grass springs up in the rainy season. This is the time when the party leaders line up outside the offices of the wealthy folks to collect their campaign perks. The losers of course are the little fools who spend the entire campaign season climbing up electricity poles to nail up party flags and perambulating the streets of Guyana in torrid heat to share out campaign leaflets. After victory is clinched, they go to the party office for employment only to be asked how many qualifications they have. If they said none, they are given money to buy a Chinese fried rice and told to come back in six months’ time. I have witnessed that with my own two eyes after the 2015 election results.

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Guyana commits to Sustainable Development Goals

Guyana’s delegation at the United Nations (l-r Troy Torrington, Sonya Roopnauth, the Honourable Carl Greenidge, the Honourable Dawn Hastings, Dr. Olney Daly, Gerald Gouveia).

Guyana highlighted progress made in its implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), at the High-Level Political Forum of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) recently held at the Organization’s New York Headquarters. During the country’s presentation of its first Voluntary National Review (VNR) report to ECOSOC, Foreign Secretary, Carl B. Greenidge, said that progress had been made in a number of areas, including in the preservation of the environment. He pointed to challenges being faced in the provision of quality education and health services, infrastructure, access to concessionary financing, human capacity, and data gaps. Furthermore, he explained that the preparatory process had proved to be useful in consolidating national progress in implementing the SDGs particularly in the context of Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy – Vision 2040. Leader of the delegation, Minister of State, Dawn Hastings, highlighting her perspective as an indigenous educator with over two decades of experience in the hinterland and as a Government Minister, emphasized that the delivery of educational services was especially challenging. For her part, Director, Office of the Budget, Ministry of Finance, Sonya Roopnauth, elaborated on efforts being made by Guyana to integrate the monitoring of the SDGs in the national planning and budgeting framework. She noted the efforts being taken to address the challenge of significant data gaps. Guyana was one of 47 United Nations Member States to present its report on implementation of the SDGs to the ECOSOC forum. So far, more than 150 States, including five Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, have reported. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for global peace and prosperity. In a report on the post-2015 sustainable development agenda (A/69/700) the United Nations Secretary-General noted that “we must give meaning to the Organization’s promise… to take the world forward to a sustainable future”. Among members of the Guyana delegation were Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Gerald Gouveia; Director, Global and Multilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Troy Torrington; and SDGs Focal Point, Guyana Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Dr. Olney Daly.

T&T insists non-interference in Guyana politics NEWSDAY – The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is insisting on a stance on non-interference in the political impasse in Guyana. Minister in the Attorney General’s Office, Fitzgerald Hinds, said this at a briefing at his ministry yesterday. The CCJ in June ordered fresh elections after the Guyana Government lost a no-confidence vote last November. The Guyana Opposition has alleged foot-dragging and implored CARICOM (Caribbean Community) voices to condemn an alleged “creeping dictatorship.” Saying polls are due by September, the Opposition complained it will take a year to clean the voters’ list, amid an impasse over the chairmanship of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). However Hinds said, “Our position on Venezuela highlighted our foreign affairs position generally. We do not get involved in the internal affairs of another state.” He said in Guyana the matter has gone to the highest court, the CCJ, which has

Minister in the T&T Attorney General’s Office Fitzgerald Hinds pronounced on it. “They are engaged in a process resolving their issues (and) we are quite happy with that. “I don’t know what the Prime Minister of TT or the Minister of Foreign Affairs might say to the matter but for my own part as a minister, I am just happy to see the people of Guyana apparently resolving their issue. That’s good enough for me. We have enough here (TT) to deal with, including this burgeoning crime problem.”

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Nandlall regrets City Constable accused of collusion with criminals withdrawing first A staffer from a Regent Street shoe store is accusing a seen at the outpost in deep conversation with the thief. The City Constable from the Bourda, Georgetown Outpost of aiding two sat huddled together for an extended period, talking in challenge to legality of hushed tones. and abetting with criminals. Just over week ago Stanley Sarius was standing in front of that the constable was also the one who let house-to-house registration his Regent Street worksite when a young man rode up on a himItoutis reported of custody the following morning. Inside sources - in face of GECOM’s failed pledge to abide by CCJ directions Expressing regret that he withdrew an application by private citizen, Bibi Zeenatoum, which sought to challenge the legality and constitutionality of house-tohouse registration, Attorneyat-Law Anil Nandlall told reporters yesterday that he thought the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) would have complied with the clear directions of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ. Nandlall reminded that GECOM said it would act in accordance with the court’s directives and scrap its plans for house-to-house registration. On this basis, Nandlall said he withdrew the application filed in April by Zeenatoum after GECOM had announced its plans to start the registration process in June. Now that GECOM has gone ahead and continues with what he dubbed an illegality, Nandlall expressed, “I regret that decision terribly.” Nonetheless, Nandlall said neither he nor his party, the PPP, will be participating in the illegal national houseto-house registration exercise. In a statement the party said that by doing so it will make the party complicit in aiding and abetting the violation of the rulings of the Caribbean Court of Justices, its consequential orders which uphold the Constitution. Moreover, the PPP held that the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfeld, has embarked on house-to-house registration in defiance of the advice from its internal legal officer, Excellence Dazzell, at a time when there is no functioning Commission in place. The PPP made it clear that it will not accept any voters’ lists generated by this illegal exercise. “We remain resolute in our position that the illegal House-to-House registration must be stopped and that the claims and objection period must commence. GECOM must immediately start preparations for general and regional elections in compliance with Article 106 (7) of the Constitution and the CCJ’s rulings and consequential orders. The Peoples’ Progressive Party urges Guyanese not to support this illegal exercise and calls on all political parties, civil society and other stakeholders, including the international community, to

Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall condemn this unconstitutional act,” the PPP held firm. In the meantime, Nandlall has filed fresh proceedings to block the house-to-house registration process. This time around, his client Attorney-at-Law and Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram, is asking the court to order GECOM from continuing with the registration process since it is in violation with Articles 106 and 107 of the Constitution and contemptuous to the rulings of the Caribbean Court of Justice. Yesterday the Chief Justice refused the order pending provision of further evidence. The court action filed by Zeenatoum against the Respondents, Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield and GECOM, had sought to halt the process of house-to-house registration even before it began. Like Ram, Zeenatoum in her Fixed Date Application had asked the court for a Conservatory Order restraining GECOM from embarking upon house-tohouse registration which was then scheduled to commence in June 2019. The applicant had argued that she was advised by her lawyer that there is no law which requires GECOM to conduct house-to-house registration for the purpose of creating a new National Register of Registrants for election. Rather, she argued, GECOM and its CEO are mandated by law to engage in continuous registration with a baseline of the year 2001 and must follow the criteria established by the law and their own practice. According to her, “I am Continued on page 26

bicycle and snatched his cellular phone. He gave chase assisted by fellow employees as the phone snatcher attempted to escape on a bicycle. Public spirited persons soon joined in the chase and gained their advantage when the thief fell off his bicycle. He was pounced on and given a trashing before being hauled to the Bourda City Constabulary. At the scene a male constable openly verbally abused the victim of the theft, and blasted the Kaieteur News for always trying to expose persons. The constable argued that the thief was a young boy and should be given a chance since it was his first offence. However, credible sources including our reporter had seen the accused amongst a gang of known pick-pockets outside the Stabroek Demico House area, where the gang congregates by nights. The male constable against whom fingers are pointing was

have hinted that the male constable has been seen more than once in the company of criminals, and is also closely affiliated to the phone snatcher. Yesterday Sarius told this newspaper that when he visited the outpost after the weekend of the crime he was told that officers there had sent the thief away because he claimed he was only seventeen years old. Sarius said he was told that Child Welfare was now handling the matter and would advise the City Constabulary about a course of action in due time. Sarius explained that he visited the Welfare Office where he spoke with two representatives there who just mentioned that the matter is being investigated. He said until now nothing has been done with regard to the incident, and that he has not been contacted by the City Constabulary or the Welfare Office representatives.

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Public Utilities Commission fines GPL for operating below standards The Public Utilities Commission, (PUC) has imposed a monetary fine on the Guyana Power and Light, (GPL) over a failure to meet the operating standards set for the year 2018. According to the PUC, in the reporting year 2018, after taking into account inter alia the failure of the company to achieve its Operating Standards and Performance Targets (OSPT) set for the year, the Commission had determined that a penalty of 5% of the total value of dividend payable to the company’s shareholders should be imposed. The Commission noted

that following a hearing held on June 20, 2019, of GPL performance based on standards and targets set, it was determined that the power company had performed below the goals set. The report further outlined that representatives of GPL give explanations as regards each standard not achieved. According to the information, the power company had among other things, set a limit the average number of outages which consumers received during the year 2018 to no more than 70. However, the average number of outages experi-

enced by a consumer during 2018 was 106. Further, GPL set a standard to limit the average duration of outages that a consumer would have received during the year to no more than 80 hours. The average duration experienced by consumers during the year was 112.41 hours. GPL said that the reason for these failures included the absence of adequate back up or redundancy in the generation and transmission systems.According to GPL, significant deficiencies in the design and configuration of some of the substations and the poor state of

a significant portion of the transmission’s infrastructure, its constant failures and maintenance challenges also resulted in the short fall. The Utility body also put voltage standard in place. The voltage standard requires that GPL “shall seek to maintain in stable conditions, voltages of + 5% of the nominal voltage and + 10% following a system disturbance. However, the company maintained it would be difficult to monitor and report on the voltage supplied to each customer. This standard was also not measured in the previous year. At the previous OSPT

hearing in 2018, the company reported that with the installation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) the company would be in a position to randomly access data from the registry of these meters which would then enable the company to report on voltage fluctuations. At this year’s hearing, the company reiterated its commitment to report on this standard using the information provided from the AMI meters. As an alternative to reporting on the standard, GPL has committed to complete 100% of customers’ voltage complaints which range from network reconfigurations, vegetation, upgrade of lines, and additional transformer in no more than 30 days. To this end GPL has reported that 97% of the voltage complaints were completed within the stipulated time frame. Further it was noted that notwithstanding the fact that the standards of System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) and System Average Interruption Dura-

tion Index (SAIDI) were not met for the reporting year 2018, there has been a marked improvement on its 2017 performance as it relates to these standards. The Commission also commended the company for its rollout of some 30,000 Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) which will greatly assist in the company’s reduction of system losses, since the AMI allows for remote monitoring and detection of tampering. The PUC committed to providing the company with the ability in 2019 and succeeding years, to report on the voltage regulation standard. The Commission, however, considers the company’s failure to improve its services in the face of our imposition of a monetary penalty in 2018 of 5% of the total value of the dividends, as a material breach of its obligations to the consumers. The Commission further signaled to the company that its inability to achieve all of the standards as set out in the company’s 2016-2020 (Continued on page 29)

Guyana Watch treats 460 patients in Berbice The Guyana Watch Incorporated medial team yesterday visited the Sheet Anchor Primary School in Berbice, Region 6. There they attended to 40 patients; 232 who were adults; 68 children and 160 persons who saw the four dentists at the outreach. Those dentists spent a lot of

their time executing preventative dental care for patients, with just a few extractions. Yesterday the outreach was quite busy attending to patients between the ages of 55 years and 1. A complete lipid profile was done for all of those patients, which included cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes testing.

Man steals 170lbs of chicken, sentenced in absentia The trial of 23-year-old Omalo Dick, a car wash operator from ‘A’ Field Sophia, Georgetown, yesterday continued in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Rondell Weever. Omalo was charged with stealing 170lbs of chicken. He was out on $10,000 bail. On his first court appearance the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on June 22, 2019, at Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, he stole 170 lbs of chicken valued at $51,680, property of Rawle Burkette. Police prosecutor Adunni Inniss made no objection to bail being granted to the defendant and Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus granted the defendant bail pending the hearing and determination of his trial.

Jailed: Omalo Dick However, during the trial that was conducted by Magistrate Weever found the defendant guilty of the offence and sentenced him in absentia to six months’ imprisonment.

Wednesday July 24, 2019

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Locally registered ship busted in BVI with 97 lbs of cocaine BVI News – Local law enforcement has seized a large number of drugs found concealed among bags of cement on Tortola. “Three pallets containing 200 bags of Thinset were discovered and searched and 44.20 kilograms of cocaine was recovered and seized,” police said in a media release on Tuesday. The drugs were found aboard the motor vessel, Krautsand, in Purcell Estate, Tortola,

last Thursday, July 18. The discovery was the result of a joint operation between the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and Her Majesty’s Customs. There are no reports of any arrests in connection with the find, BVI News understands. “Inquiries are ongoing in this matter,” BVI police have said. Kaieteur News understands that the vessel in question is registered in Guyana.

‘Krautsand’ The cocaine was reportedly found in these packets.

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Doctor to report if man fit to stand trial for beheading brother-in-law

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House for sale, Eccles Housing Scheme. 7 bedrooms, 3 toilets and bathrooms enclosed. $28.5M. Call 642-0391/ 001447587233657/ yasharabhola4@gmail.com House and land available at Parfaite, Tuschen, Diamond etc. Contact Pacific Development Inc. 223-6035/ 604-4909 (1) 3 bedroom house located at Stewartville. Tel#625-3299/ 268-3129 Grove Public Road. Tel#6177678

CAR RENTAL DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL CALL: 225-7126 & 2263693 -DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL @ YAHOO.COM/ W W W . D O L L Y SAUTORENTAL.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FORAIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

VEHICLE FOR SALE 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 1 Nissan Pickup. #653-1347/ 231-0877 HEALTH HERBAL REMEDIES: DIABETES, INFERTILITY, MENSTRUAL DISORDERS, ENLARGED PROSTATE, KIDNEY, GALL STONES & SKIN DISORDERS ETC. CALL SPARMAN #676-5924

Two bedroom fully furnished apartment for rent in Eccles, five minutes from Texila. Call: 665-6406/624-1218

1-male able-bodied clerk. Call: 231-2029/616-5954 Wanted land to buy Parfaite Harmonie, Herstelling, Providence, Farm, Tuschen, Eccles, Uitvlugt, Best price pay cash. Call: 666-2326 Experienced domestic 3 days per week. Excellent salarynegotiable. Call: 500-5519 Driver/Salesman wanted, Automatic van. Please contact# 231-6256 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665/6493750 Security wanted to work in Georgetown. #227-1717 Wanted Industrial electrian to work in Georgetown. #2271717 Experienced live-in waitress to work in bar. Age 18-22 yrs, must have ID. Contact# 2212785/659-1930

Camp St for Offices or other type of business. Commercial spaces available, Enmore Mall. #609-7675/674-1705/233-2614

Bus and Car Driver. #225-3234

LAND FOR SALE

VACANCY

Houselots 3 mil. New Development, payment plans available-no interest #2336997/667-0140

General Domestic to cook and clean for East Bank. Call: 6144358

Parfaite Harmonie transferable $1.9M, $1.5M Business spot $2.5M Parfaite Harmonie with foundation $3.5M. Call: 6662326 Transported land 11.6 acres, Lot 15 Public road #2 Village W.C. B/ce 5 mins from B/ce Bridge. Contact# 686-4818/ 648-7109

EDUCATION STEWART’S ACADEMIC INSTITUTE- SUMMER PROGRAMME: 22nd JULY16th AUGUST 2019) For more information, Contact Mr. Stewart Cell# 697-3801 Summer School (3-14yrs) Ending 30th August, Common Entrance preparation, phonics & reading, Nursery, Primary & Secondary student. Call: 6770296 Care for elderly, care for children. First Aid & CPR. #227-4881

A doctor is expected to give a report on the mental health of Anthony King, who was charged last year November for beheading his brother-in-law. This is to determine if the defendant is fit to stand trial for the offence. King, of Princes Street, Wortmanville, is currently before Principal Magistrate

Female cleaner office & home. Call: 642-9823 Vacancy exist for a Spanish Teacher- must be able to teach (2 & 7) years old. Call: 600-6887 for more information Vacancy for (1) maid must be able to cook Vegetarian meal, Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb St Bourda

CHARGED: Anthony King

VACANCY Industrial Sales Representative, 5 Subject CXC Age 25+ Experience in Sales, must own vehicle, email r e s u m e : vacancy@josarltd.com 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 Experienced Male Porters & Salesgirls with 2 yrs experience. CXC maths & english. Apply @ Christine’s Variety, Lombard St. Contact: 227-8529 Vacancy for 1 massage therapist, 1 hairdresser & 2 nail technician at Natural Beauty Salon & Spa. #652-5800 DemBake @ Land of Canaan is seeking experienced Motor Lorry drivers & Sales agent. Email CV: admin@demerarabakery.com / call: 266-5848 1 experienced cook (live in or out) ECD, 1 Live in cleaner 3045yrs, Salary $25,000 wkly. #610-3974 Accounts Clerk. Contact#2235273/223-5274

Waitress & Cook, preferably carnegie trained & Cashier/ Waitress #225-7933 or visit 172 Sheriff St

Receptionist. Contact#2235273/223-5274

Driver, Factory worker, must have a sound secondary education, for more information. Please call: 2230090

1 Secretary 28-45 yrs old. #2310655/683-8734

General domestic. 3 Days work. Must know to cook. Apply with 2 references. KeyFood McDoom village Vacancy exist for a Full time/ Part time teacher, must be able to teach (2 & 7) years old. Call: 600-6887 for more information Looking for a job & educational services? Contact The Job Centre 43 Croal & Alexander Street or call 5024002/600-8457

Surveyor. Contact#223-5273/ 223-5274

Wanted Live-in maid 40-45 year, must have police clearance & reference. Contact# 688-4525/649-9595 1 Sales representative preferably with motor-cycle $20,000 weekly & comission. 1 female clerk. 1 receptionist $30,000 weekly. #617-5700 LT 40 wood miser operator to work at Mango landing. Call: 609-7675/674-1705/233-2614 Salesgirl. #668-0159

Faith McGusty in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on October 5, last, at Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara he murdered Justin Peterkin. The matter has since been adjourned until later next month for the doctor to report on his findings. According to reports, the accused had allegedly decapitated his brother-in-law at his father-in-law’s Continued on page 29

Nandlall regrets... From page 15 advised by my Attorneys-atlaw and do verily believe that there are no laws that require proof of residency in Guyana as being an element of qualification for registration to the National Register of Registrants.” She had said, “I am advised by my Attorneys-atlaw and do verily believe that I am a registered elector in Guyana and during the Respondents’ proposed house-to-house registration exercise, I will be excluded and will cease to be a registered elector and will be denied the opportunity and right to vote in any upcoming elections in Guyana.” Among other things, Zeenatoum had asked for a declaration that the proposed house-to-house registration exercise to be embarked upon by the respondents in or about June 2019, to create a new National Register of Registrants from which will be extracted a new Official List of Electors, shall be unconstitutional, ultra vires, illegal, null, void and of no effect. She also wanted a declaration that the proposed exercise will exclude existing qualified registrants currently on the National Register of Registrants and on the Official List of Electors, shall be unconstitutional, ultra vires, illegal, null, void and of no effect.

Wednesday July 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

Guyana signs contract for new Instrument Landing System at CJIA The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) will benefit from a new and upgraded Instrument Landing System. To set this in motion on July 18, 2019, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) signed a contract with Intelcan of Montreal, Canada, to install and upgrade its Instrument Landing Systems (ILS). An ILS is an accuracy approach aid employing two radio signals that provide a pilot with vertical and horizontal guidance during the landing phase of an

aircraft. The localiser (LOC) provides azimuth guidance, while the glideslope (GS) defines the correct vertical descent profile. Following the upgrade and extension of the runway at CJIA, the acquisition of this new and modern ILS system will enhance the landing capability of aircraft at the CJIA to alleviate the need for diversions of aircraft in minimal weather conditions. Delivery and installation of the system is scheduled for February 2020.

The GCAA will also acquire a Digital Automatic Terminal Information System (D-ATIS) to provide pilots with real time information on weather and safety. Currently, that information is presented to pilots by the Air Traffic Controllers without automation. The D-ATIS system will provide data automatically every minute to the aircraft and will be updated every hour. Key features of D-ATIS are reduction of the workload for Air Traffic Controllers and Pilots,

Two additional witnesses to testify in ex-policeman’s extradition Two more witnesses are expected to testify in the extradition matter of Shawn Neblett, a former member of the Guyana Police Force, who is wanted by the United States Government for trafficking narcotics. Neblett appeared before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, yesterday, as the matter continued. Attorney-at-law Stacy Goodings, who is representing the Government of United States in the extradition matter, called two more witnesses to testify against the accused. She previously stated that she is in possession of an indictment charge and an arrest warrant for Neblett. The first witness that testified was Ormella Gladstone, a Treaty Officer at the Ministry of Public Security. She spoke comprehensively on receiving several documents from the Minister of Public Security. During yesterday’s proceedings Gladstone was

REMANDED: Shawn Neblett called to the witness box where she was subjected to cross-examination by attorney-at-law Darren Wade, who is representing the defendant. The extradition hearing is being carried out against Neblett after a wanted bulletin was issued for him in the United States in connection with a matter involving trafficking of narcotics through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA),

Timehri. The Guyana Police Force had issued a wanted bulletin for Neblett on February 2, 2017, but he was arrested in May, last, at Moleson Creek, Berbice, while illegally attempting to cross over to Suriname. On the first court appearance attorney-at-law Goodings pleaded that based on advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions; the defendant should be remanded to prison, pending the hearing and determination of his extradition matter. Neblett has been remanded to prison ever since. He previously told the court that he was not aware of any allegations against him for narcotics. He further stated that he only knew about the bulletin whilst in custody and as far as he knew, his attempt to travel to Suriname was being curtailed legally. The matter is set to continue on September 24, 2019, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

provision of timely, accurate, and updated information and reducing the likelihood of human error and runway congestion during the transmission of data to pilots and improving air safety and efficiency. The acquisition of DATIS will align the GCAA with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Global Interoperability Plans, which aims to provide a seamless operation and experience for pilots operating in any part of the world.

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Guyanese woman charged in T&T with misbehaving on flight [Trinidad News Day]- A Guyanese woman appeared before magistrate Cheron Raphael in the Arima Magistrate First Court yesterday charged with misbehaviour while on a flight to Trinidad. The magistrate read the charge that on July 20, Sylvanie Roxanne Shivnarine, behaved in a manner which caused annoyance to passengers on flight BW457 after being requested to cease such behaviour. Shivnarine was not called upon to plead, as the charge was laid indictable. Raphael said as Shivnarine was taken off the flight and did not pass through the country’s Immigration, she could not grant her bail, and she will have to be processed by Immigration first. She was remanded into custody and was taken to the Women’s Prison. She will return to court on Thursday. As she waited to be taken away, Shivanie was visibly seen upset and was seen weeping and looking around the courtroom as if searching for something or someone.

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Wednesday July 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

No Bids Submitted For National Parks Commission Project On the agenda at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) yesterday there was a project for the National Parks Commission for the Rehabilitation of Enclosures and Exhibits for Birds at the Zoological Parks, however this project received no bids. The cages at the Guyana Zoo are in dire need of repairs

however it seems that not a single contractor was willing to take on the job. A few notable projects for which bids were opened were, Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs Supply and Delivery of Uniform Materials- Uniform Related Materials- Ready Made Uniforms Lots 1-6, Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation for the Construction of

Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation Construction of Foundation for a Batch Mix Asphalt Plant

Foundation for a Batch Mix Asphalt Plant and the Ministry of Education Review of the Governance and Coordination Mechanism for the Technical and Vocational Training of Sub-sector Guyana. Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs Supply and Delivery of Uniform Materials- Uniform Related Materials- Ready Made Uniforms Lots 1-6

Civil Aviation Authority - Preparation of a Civil Aviation Master Plan

Audit Office of Guyana - Supply and Delivery of Desktops and Laptops

Ministry of Education - Review of the Governance and Coordination Mechanism for the Technical and Vocational Training of Sub-sector Guyana Ministry of Education - Rehabilitation of Building –Manchester Building-Berbice

Review and Enhancement of the Continuing Education and Second Chance Programmes

Development of a Natural Hazard Risk Profile for the Education Sector Ministry of the Presidency- SCCYS - Rewiring of Building Phase 4, National Cultural Centre, Homestretch Avenue

Consultants for Development and Piloting of a Natural School Safety Programme

Ministry of Finance - Procurement of IT Equipment

Construction of a Washroom, National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

>>>> Continued on page 29 <<<<

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 24, 2019

It would appear that elections will... From page 6 GECOM to advise him of its earliest readiness to deliver credible elections. The Opposition Leader, for his part, seems to be determined to frustrate this process by protests and threatened legal action against the CEO of the GECOM Secretariat for implementing the decisions of the Commission, as well as threats to pursue international condemnation and sanctions. This policy is further exemplified by the patently false claim that the CCJ found that the President had breached the Constitution in the appointment of Justice Patterson to the Chairmanship of GECOM and can, therefore, be removed from office for the violation of the Constitution. The fact is that the CCJ had concluded that the process that resulted in that appointment, specifically the unilateral

determination of the list of 6 candidates by the Opposition Leader, was flawed and in breach of the constitution; the unilateral submission of that list by the Opposition Leader and subsequent unilateral appointment by the President were not disputed by the CCJ and, therefore, the President did not breach the constitution. The correct constitutional procedure, as stipulated by the CCJ, requires the involvement of the President in the nomination of candidates for the position of GECOM Chairman, along with the Opposition Leader. Failure to respect, or to frustrate, the ruling of the CCJ and other disruptive actions can only impede and disrupt the march to general and regional elections that is widely welcomed. Sincerely Oscar Dolphin

Doctor to report if man fit to stand trial... From page 26 1323 Section ‘C’ Block ‘Y’ Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), home around 08:15 hours on the day in question. A neighbour had reportedly said that he saw the suspect with a hammer in his hand, moments before he heard a loud knocking. Upon looking over to inspect the noise the neighbour claimed to have seen the defendant over the victim chopping away on his neck.

“I see he deh over the man chopping away pon the man neck. He got the chopper pon the man neck and he lashing it with de hammer.” Further reports indicated that the accused walked out of the yard after brutally murdering his sister’s spouse and was followed by a neighbour, whom he later threatened to kill. The police later arrived and apprehended the suspect.

Drug dealer “Mama G” jailed again A man who is a known trouble maker and drug dealer, was jailed some time ago for robbing a senior policeman. He has been jailed again. London Davis, called “Mama G”, 27, who told the court that he is a fisherman has been sentenced to four years in jail on a charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. Davis, of Murphy Dam, Rosignol, West Bank Berbice, was charged with being in possession of 107½ grams of cannabis. He appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh in the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court and was found guilty. Prosecutor, Woman Corporal Racquel

Mars, told the court that, on November 6, 2018 police from Blairmont Police Station went to Murphy Dam, where Davis was seen. Upon seeing the ranks, Davis started to run. The ranks gave chase and after a lively pursuit, the culprit was apprehended. A search was conducted on him and a multi-color haversack which he had in his possession was also searched. The narcotic was found inside. He pleaded not guilty and told the court that he does not know of any drug and doesn’t know whose bag it is was. During the trial the man called his wife as a witness. He was found guilty and sentenced to four years in jail.

No Bids Submitted For National... From page 11 Ministry of Public Infrasturcture - Feasibility Study, Design and Construction Supervision for the Rehabilitation of the Charity Market Wharf, Charity, Region 2.

Rehabilitation of Sections of Essequibo Coast Public Roads

Public Utilities Commission fines GPL... From page 16 Development and Expansion Programme, does not auger well for the efficiency of the company vis-a-vis its customers.Whilst the Commission has decided not to impose a further penalty at this time it will continue to closely monitor quarterly the operations of GPL in 2019

with a view to ensuring that there is compliance with all the standards and targets and it intends to take a no tolerance stance with respect to GPL’s less than stellar quality of service reviews. To this end, the Commission requests the timely submission of GPL’s quarterly reports on their standards and targets.

Construction of Joinery Shop

Ministry names Region Eight most... From page 8 individuals in society. Regional Education Officer, Ms. Penelope McIntosh, said that Monday marked a very important day on the calendar of the Ministry of Education and more so the region’s Department of Education. She said that it is important that the 120 primary school teachers in the region

are congratulated for the work done to ensure their pupils perform well. Ms. McIntosh said that she has been inspired by the openness of teachers in the region to take advantage of any training the Department of Education or the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) has to offer. She said that it must be

noted that students in the top 10 came from schools in both sub-regions. Also present to congratulate the region’s top performers were Assistant Chief Education Officer, Ms. Carol Benn, and Toshao of Kato, Mr. Clifton Perreira. While at Kato, Minister Norton also donated some sports gears to the Kato Sports Club.

Reconstruction of Bella Dam Main Access Bridge, WCD, Region 3

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 24, 2019

Under-reporting of disability population exists – official suspects -GRA tax exemptions poised to help address shortcoming Instead of admitting that they are afflicted with a disability, some persons would much rather remain in denial. This, however, does not augur well for the National Commission on Disabilities [NCD’]s data gathering process. This observation was made by member of the Guyana Council of Persons with Disabilities, Ganesh Singh, who also doubles as an Executive Member of the Guyana Society for the Blind, and has a close relationship with the Commission as a result.

Singh was at the time making reference to the findings of a recent survey conducted by the Commission which scrutinised the various disabilities across the regions. Although the general data have not been officially analysed, Singh said that he has personally sought to analyse the data pertaining to the blind and visually impaired faction. Singh, who himself is among the country’s blind statistics, has deduced that the findings are not at all alarming. “To be honest, it was what

we really expected,” said Singh. But there is a plausible reason for this, he went on to explain. “There are still persons living in Guyana who are still not captured...who I believe are living in denial. So I am sure a lot of persons were not captured because they did not want to be a part of that survey and accept that they have a visual disability,” Ganesh speculated. According to him, “They might be seeing but have a lot of difficulty seeing but they still don’t want to accept that they have a visual impair-

Regular returns to jail, this time for break and enter A man who is well known to the authorities and was recently released from jail is again behind bars after he was sent to jail on Monday for 36 months. He was found guilty on a charge of break and enter and larceny. Abdool Zainood, called “Pataroll”, 41 of Lot 35 Shieldstown; West Bank Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh in the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court where he was found guilty. Zainood is accused of between September 20 and September 22, 2018, breaking into the premises of Serine Lilly, a business man of lot 18 Plantain Walk, West Bank Berbice.

Lilly reportedly secured his premises and went out. He subsequently received a call that his place was on fire. He immediately returned home in company with the police. The fire was quickly extinguished. Upon checking he found that the place was ransacked and a number of items missing. Investigations were conducted and the home of the accused was visited and the missing items were found.The man could not give an account of how he came in possession of the items when questioned. He was arrested, tried, found guilty.The matter was prosecuted by woman Police Corporal Racquel Mars.

ment.” In this regard, he expressed his belief that there is still under-reporting of the disabled population, “because of the culture that exists that people do not want to accept that they have a disability.” But there have been deliberate tactics set in motion to address this dilemma, Singh said. This has manifested, he related, through Government’s tightening of the way that persons with disabilities are able to access services available to them. “Government has been making some efforts in this aspect to ensure that persons who want to access Government services must be registered with the Commission. There are people who don’t want to accept that they have a disability but yet still they want to benefit from these services, so in order for them to benefit they have to be registered,” Singh quipped. Registering with the Commission attracts no cost. Recently the Guyana Revenue Authority [GRA] announced that persons with disabilities are eligible for customs and VAT exemptions. But as disclosed by Singh, these persons are only

NCD Member, Ganesh Singh eligible if they are registered with the Commission. Among the items for which customs and VAT exemptions can be accessed are vehicles and phones and, according to GRA, persons must first identify their item of choice then go to http:// www.gra.gov.gy/publications/tax-policies/119-tax-exemptions-policies in order to download and print an exemption application form. Persons can also uplift the relevant form at the Commission’s Croal Street, Georgetown office. Also, once an individual with a disability is desirous of accessing the GRA exemp-

tions, the Commission is tasked with sending them to a medical specialist to certify their disability. The related document, in addition to the exemption application form, is then sent back to the Commission. The Commission is expected to then prepare a package of documents which is taken to an ASYCUDAtrained Customs Broker. The Broker in turn is required to upload the documents to the ASYCUDA system which is accessed by GRA. Once the foregoing steps are properly completed, GRA then conducts an investigation of its own and informs the Commission of its findings, after which the necessary purchase can be made. According to Singh, based on unofficial information, a few persons have already sought to access the GRA exemptions. “About two weeks or so ago, about four persons applied for duty free exemptions from GRA,” Singh shared. These individuals with visual disabilities were not previously registered with the Commission, “so I am sure with this, more persons [with disabilities] will be eventually captured,” Singh theorised.

Wednesday July 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 24, 2019

Wednesday July 24, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Neymar will go to China with PSG despite tensions AFP - Neymar will travel on an upcoming tour of China with Paris-Saint Germain, the club said yesterday, as the troubled Brazilian superstar’s future remains up in the air amid mounting signs he is unhappy at the French champions. The 27-year-old, who has been repeatedly linked to a move to Barcelona, failed to show up to PSG’s pre-season training on July 8, with his camp maintaining he had a prior agreement to stay away. The club threatened 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. N e y m a r, w h o j o i n e d PSG in 2017 for 222 million euros ($264 million at the time), rejoined the team a week later on July 15. He also didn’t help the strained relationship by controversially saying that his best football memory was beating PSG when he played for Barcelona. Just days before rejoining PSG, he cited as his favourite football memory his role in the 2017 Barcelona team that

overturned a 4-0 first-leg deficit by winning 6-1 in the second leg of their last-16 Champions League tie. He also recently posted a 10-second video of himself in a Barcelona shirt and a quote from the Bible: “No weapon turned against you will prosper.” It has been a troubled summer for Neymar. H e m i s s e d B r a z i l ’s triumphant Copa America campaign on home soil due to an ankle injury and was also questioned by Brazilian police over allegations he raped a woman — accusations he denies.

Wednesday July 24, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Suddenly things are coming to a head for you, Aries. The drama is escalating and you aren't sure if you can remember all your lines. Take things one step at a time. Deal with the issues as they come. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Your focus will center on your emotions today, Taurus, although being centered in itself will be quite a challenge. You may feel like a yo-yo in someone else's hand.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) This is an excellent day for you, Libra. Celebrate. Your ego is strong. Beautiful things are flowing your way. You should enjoy a good mood that will attract favorable people and situations to you. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your emotions may be a bit erratic. It may be hard for you to focus on anything today, Scorpio. Things continue to shift from one topic to the next with little resolution.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Maintaining equilibrium may not be the easiest task today, but if anyone can do it, you can. Strong opinions from others could crop up to challenge you. You have a great deal of ammunition in your arsenal.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) There's an extra blast of wind ready to fill your sails today, so make sure you have both hands on the tiller. Whichever way your rudder is pointed is the direction you will go.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Desire is the name of the game today, Cancer. If you want it, you can get it, but it won't come easily. The prize will go to the person who desires it the most. Show the people around you how much you can accomplish.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The energy of the day is erratic, and you will probably be hopping all over the place. Don't worry about trying to firm up any plans at this time. You may feel like you're trying to grab a slippery fish with greased hands.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today is like playing a game on your home field. You have fans supporting you and you know the territory. Take advantage of the little things that you have going for you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Get up and get going today. You have no time to lose. Your mind will be busy tackling many tasks, but this suits you just fine. You're well equipped to deal with the many frantic situations that are likely to come up.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Enlist the help of others today. Information exchange is key to putting the last few puzzle pieces into place. Doing things on your own is important and necessary, but at some point you need to realize that the next major step requires a certain amount of input from others.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your heart could experience some wild fluctuations today, Pisces. It may seem as if your emotions are on a derailing train. The best thing to do if this is the case is sit by yourself and write them down.

PSG referenced the ankle injury in its statement naming the squad on Tu e s d a y, s a y i n g t h a t “daily physical work will continue and complete recovery and integration with the group is scheduled for training in China”. It added that x-rays of the fracture showed “completely normal progress and a very good improvement”. PSG land in Shenzhen, China on Wednesday, and will play friendlies against Inter Milan in Macau on Saturday and Sydney FC in Suzhou on July 30. Their first competitive match of the season will be against Rennes in Shenzhen on August 3 in the Champions Trophy, the traditional curtain-raiser to the French campaign. PSG also announced yesterday that 16-year-old Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons would join the club from Barcelona.

Guinness Football continues tonight... From page 35 Melanie-B [East Coast Demerara winner], Brothers United [West Demerara/East Bank Demerara winner], Trafalgar [Berbice champion] and High Rollers [Linden champion] have sealed automatic berths to the National Championship.

Five New Black Belt Karatekas... From page 39 Parmeshwar Persaud (Canaan) and Mahadeo Ramotar (GFK) for their commitment to the development of Karate and the Karatekas. Meanwhile, Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-a-Tai would be in the country for three months and will be t e a c h i n g o n M o n d a y ’s , Wednesday’s and Friday’s at the Guyana Karate College, while on Tuesday’s and Thursdays he would be at the YMCA. These sessions are in preparation for the upcoming IKD Caribbean Karate Championships scheduled for August 23-25 next at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. While students would be targeted, training for Judges and Instructors would also be done. Karate is not just kicking and punching, it is much more detailed and repeated courses are a prerequisite for instructors. Wi t h o u t t h e s e training courses the IKD Instructors will not be adequately trained to teach Shotokan Karate to the people.

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Wednesday July 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

President Granger 74th Birthday Anniversary

RHTYSC Patron’s Fund shares out over $1.5M worth of bicycles, schools bags, cricket gears The ten cricket teams of Guyana’s leading youth and sports club, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS on Friday last hosted the 3rd Edition of the Club’s Patron Fund. T h e Te a m s a n d t h e Management of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS handed out $1.5M worth of items to youths, Cricket Associations and Clubs. Among the items shared out were bicycles, school bags, trophies, cricket gears and educational materials. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster, MS stated at the simple presentation ceremony that under the Patron Fund, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club makes a positive difference in the lives of youths as part of the celebration of its Paton, His Excellency President David Granger’s Birthday. Over the last two years, the Club has

Cricketers and Students pose with their new bicycles. donated a combined $5M worth of items to Schools NGOs, Churches, Youths and hosted two major cricket tournaments. Due to the lengthy rain season, the Club passed up the hosting of the Cricket Tournament and would be sharing out over $2M worth of items. On Friday and the last weekend, the Club handed out twenty five bicycles, hundreds of

schools bags, educational materials, trophies, cricket gears among others to those selected based on a wide range of guidelines. The Patron Fund also provided sponsorship to two cricket Clubs/ Associations to host cricket academies in their areas and co-sponsored an Award Ceremony for the Port Mourant Public Hospital.

The twenty five cycles were distributed to students and cricketers drawn from across the Ancient County in an effort to cut down on their transportation expenses to school and practice. The Cricketers were from the RHTYSC, MS and sister Clubs like Albion Community Centre, Rose Hall Canje, Port Mourant, D’Edward, Whim, Upper Corentyne and Young Warriors. National Players Matthew Pottaya, Isiah Thorne, Ricardo Ramdehol and Tameshwar Mahadeo were among the cricketers carrying home bicycles. Fifteen pairs batting gloves were distributed to junior cricketers from the RHTYSC, Rose Hall Canje, Port Mourant, Upper Corentyne, Whim, Albion, Edinburgh and Mt. Sinai. The players from the RHTYSC, MS were selected based on the outstanding performance at the Club’s 2 9 t h A n n u a l Aw a r d Ceremony. Hundreds of students also carried away

school bags and educational materials, while the Club also donated school bags and exercise books to several Cricket Clubs including Albion, Port Mourant, Whim, Upper Corentyne, Young Warriors, D’Edward, Mt. Sinai and Edinburgh. Foster urged the students who received the bags to stay in school and complete their education. The ten RHTYSC C r i c k e t Te a m s “ P o o n a i Pharmacy Under-12, Under-13, Farfan & MendesUnder-15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Metro Female, Namilco Thunderbolt Under-21 and First Division also donated over $100,000 worth of items to the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association, D’Edward Cricket Club and Port Mourant Public Hospital for the hosting of Cricket A c a d e m i e s a n d Aw a r d Ceremony respectively.

The RHTYSC, MS and its Teams had also distributed over $400,000 worth of cricket balls to over 30 cricket clubs in Berbice, handed out seventy four food hampers as part of the Patron’s Fund and also hosted its monthly Breakfast Programme for hundreds of Old Age Pensioners as they awaited to uplift pension at the R o s e H a l l To w n P o s t Office. Asst Secretary/CEO and Director of the Fund, Simon Naidu stated that the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club was proud to have the President as its Patron as he had made huge contributions to the rapid development to the Club in a non-political way. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS would like to express gratitude to every person and Companies who contributed to the Fund especially Sentinel Security who donated the bicycles.

Wednesday July 24, 2019

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Kaieteur News

West Indian past cricketers to Fisherman Masters overcome Wellman Masters conduct DCC’s 2019 holiday camp A slew of past West Indian cricketers are set to spearhead the 2019 Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) junior holiday camp. Formally known as the ‘Home of Legends’, DCC will roll out its 2019 edition of the camp from August 12-23. The camp will be conducted by an experienced team of coaches led by Technical Director Mark Harper along with Travis Dowlin, Gavin Nedd, Reon

King, Clyde Butts and Roger Harper. This edition of the camp will be held under the theme “Creating the passion and nurturing the talent” and will seek to inculcate the fundamentals of the game to youth between 7-17 years old. The programme will involve classroom sessions, lectures by a variety of expert presenters, cricket and fitness drills, games simulations, side

games and matches. Applicants are required to pay a fee of $6,000 for the duration of the camp. Beverages, snacks and lunch will be provided daily for participants. Interested persons can register at DCC – New Garden and Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown between 14:00hrs and 21:00hrs daily. Persons can also contact the club directly on 2262006.

The victorious Fisherman Masters unit. Fisherman Masters defeated Wellman Masters by 37 runs when the teams collided in a T20 fixture on Sunday last at Malteenoes Sports Club. Batting first, Fisherman Masters were bowled out for 78 in difficult conditions. John Sumair was the only batsman to reach double figures with 13 as Latchman Kallicharran picked up 3-30. In reply, Wellman Masters were sent

packing for 41 in 19 overs. Greg De Franca made 11 as Nandram Samlall captured four wickets while Stanley Mohabir had 3-5, Danny Thomas 2-16 and Zameer Hassan 1-6. The game was played in honour of Kallicharran who will be migrating to the USA shortly. Kallicharran, who was named man-of-the-match, expressed gratitude to the management and players of

Wellman Masters and the entire softball fraternity. Owner of Wellman Masters Mike Singh thanked Kallicharran for his contribution to his team and the sport. He added that Kallicharran has been one of the most consistent performers in the team and his services will surely be missed. Singh wished him and his family well in their future endeavours.

Albion CC to stage one day 10/10 Second Division Cricket competition The Albion Community Centre Cricket Club (ACCCC) has organised a one day 10/10 cricket competition for Second Division teams in Berbice. Eight of the best second division teams in Berbice are expected to participate in the one day competition which is slated for Sunday 4th August at the Albion Community Center.

Cash, trophies and other incentives will be given to the top teams and outstanding individual players. The names of the teams will be released later. According to the organisers the activity will be used as a fund raising venture for the club. Starting time is 09:00 hrs and the final will be played under lights. (Samuel Whyte)

Roger Harper takes the youngsters through their paces at last year’s camp.

GCF AGM set for August 13 The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) which has been delayed for a few months will finally be convened according to the federation. Tuesday, August 13th is the date from 15:00hrs at the Guyana Olympic Association, Office, Building, Block XXX Lilendall, East Coast Demerara. In the notice sent to its members, each eligible member is entitled to send not more than two (2) delegates of which one would be entitled to vote.

The notice further states that in order for any of the GCF clubs to sit in the AGM and have a vote, they must be in good standing. Resolution (s) must be submitted to the Federation through the General Secretary at least fourteen (14) days before the AGM. High on the agenda would be the election of office bearers for the next four years apart from Report of the Federation (2015 – 2019) and the Audited Financial Statements (2011 – 2019), among other items.

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Kaieteur News

Divine Entertainment double header on tonight at MSC - Clubs hunt semifinal slots as Rockers tackle Blueberry Hill, Eagle oppose Coomacka Two ding dong battles are slated for tonight as the preliminary round of the Divine Entertainment Summer Super Cup football championship nears its end with a double header as Net Rockers and Blueberry United clash in the first game from 19.00hrs and the second will showcase the top seed Eagles United against Coomacka from 21.00hrs at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground. Interest is rife because all four teams are in with a chance of advancing. Eagles United are up against Coomacka after both sides defeated Topp XX in their Group A matches and the winning team tonight is assured of the one semifinal place

available. The other game brings together Blueberry Hill and Rockers who were both held to draws when they played the other team in their group, Amelia’s Ward Panthers, and a win will give them a semifinal slot in this inaugural championship. However, a draw will see all three teams’ level and goal difference will decide the winner of this Group B playoff. At the same time a draw in the first game could also see goal difference being the determining factor so all teams involved tonight are hoping to win their game outright in open play and get a safe passage to the final four.

Wednesday July 24, 2019

NSC, Guyana Table Tennis Association Them Young Table Tennis camp underway The National Sports Commission (NSC) and The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) are holding a ‘Teach Them Young’ five weeks table tennis camp at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) which began on Monday 15th July and is expected to end on Friday 16th August. Sessions are being held from Monday to Friday from 13:00 hrs to 15:00 hrs. Children 16 years and younger are expected to attend. The coordinator is National Table Tennis Coach Lynden Johnson. According to Johnson the camp has a number of aims and objectives. Among them are to increase the number of participants involved in playing the game of table tennis, develop and improving the level of table tennis in the country, to help children with the basic skills of table tennis and be better prepared to participate in future tournaments.

It also aims to create an integrated coaching programme that incorporates the coach’s education and generally develop the players all round skill and ability. Johnson stated that during the camp the players will concentrated on basic skills training, tactics training, general physical fitness, and specific physical skills. He said that the participants will be taught the importance of education which must be given priority. Discipline is a key aspect of the camp and they will also be involved in competitive matches. According to Johnson the youngsters have the right attitude and talent. He stated that over 75 players are participating in the activity. At the end of the camp the participants will receive a certificate. However they must have attained over 90% attendance before they receive the certificate. (Samuel Whyte)

Youngsters being taken through their paces during the Table Tennis Camp.

Youngsters involved in the Table Tennis Camp.

Wednesday July 24, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Regal Stationery and Computer Guinness Football continues tonight at Berlin Tarmac in Charlestown Centre supports Spooner, Algoo

Joel Spooner accepts the bowling boots from Telesha Ousman, Manager, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre in the presence of Shawn Massiah.

Alex Algoo collects equipment from Telesha Ousman. As part of their corporate responsibility Regal Stationery and Computer Centre has thrown their support behind national U19 selectees Joel Spooner and Alex Algoo. Both players were named in an 18-man squad to prepare for the tournament which will be held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. At a simple ceremony held yesterday at the entity’s location at 69 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, both players were the recipient of pieces of cricket equipment. Off-spinner Spooner, who plays for Transport Sports Club in Georgetown, collected a pair of bowling boots, while Berbice opener Alex Algoo received a bat and pair of batting gloves. Spooner, 18, expressed gratitude to Regal Stationery and Computer Centre and said once given the opportunity he will put his best foot forward. He stated that he has been working hard on his game and will always try to improve on his all-round ability and remained committed. Algoo, who plays for Police and Young Warriors Cricket Club, stated that he is happy with the support and pledged to do his best. The right-hander who scored a century in the recently concluded Inter County U19 tournament added that this type of backing serves as a motivation and thanked the entity for their input. Managing Director of Regal Stationery and

Computer Centre, Mahendra Hardyal said they are delighted to lend support to the players. “We at Regal Stationery and Computer Centre would like to congratulate the members of the Guyana under-19 team on their selection and wished them well in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It is a short tournament of only five OneDay matches, but it is an honour to represent your country and we have decided to offer some assistance that will add comfort while away on national duties. Hardyal stated that both Spooner and Algoo have shown that they are capable players. “Spooner has been performing well for Transport Sports Club and we hope that the younger players in the club can follow.” He added that Algoo is another exciting prospect in the long line of talented players that Guyana has produced. “We have seen his potential and hope that he goes on from strength to strength like what so many others have done. This is our first such assistance to him but once he continues to thrive and be an exceptional role model for the game and the younger players, we will continue to support him.” The Guyana team is expected to depart shortly and will play their first match against Windward Islands at Arnos Vale on Sunday. Guyana are the defending 50-over champions.

Following two exciting nights of group stage action, the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Georgetown Championship, continues tonight with the final roundrobin match-day at the Berlin Tarmac. In the opening match, Alexander Village will oppose Charlotte Street at 19:00hrs, while Broad Street battle John Street at 19:30hrs and Albouystown-A tackle Future Stars from 20:00hrs. The fourth affair will pit Sophia against Rising Stars at 20:30hrs, while LA Ballers engage defending champion Gold is Money from 21:00hrs and Leopold Street face-off with Tiger Bay at 21:30hrs. In the final two matches, North East takes aim at Back Circle from 22:00hrs and Sparta Boss match’s skills with Albouystown-B at 22:30hrs. According to an official release from tournament coordinator, Three Peat Promotions, “The ongoing group stage has been the most competitive in the history of the event as several teams have displayed their respective championship credentials ahead of the knockout rounds. We have seen fierce competition from the onset, with the traditional teams being severely tested by the newcomers and emerging units. This has certainly been a treat for the fans.” The release further said, “Also the return of the Berlin tarmac to the list of venues has been another high point

of the event. The residents of the area and respective environs came out in their numbers and supported the decision which is indicative of the community nature and groundings of the tournament.” At the end of the group stage the top two finishers will progress to the knockout round. This will be staged on Friday at the National Cultural Centre tarmac.

Winner of the event will collect $500,000 and the championship trophy, with the second, third and fourth place finisher 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. At the moment Beacons [Bartica Champion], (Continued on page 31)

Point Standings Group-A Team GP W L GF GA GD Pts. LA Ballers 2 2 0 2 1 +1 6 Gold is Money 2 1 1 1 0 +1 3 Broad St. 2 1 1 0 0 0 3 John St. 2 0 2 1 3 -2 0 Group-B Team GP W L GF GA GD Pts. Sparta [Q] 2 2 0 10 2 +8 6 Albouystown-B [Q] 2 2 0 1 0 +1 6 Charlotte St. 2 0 2 1 4 -3 0 Alex. Village 2 0 2 1 7 -6 0 Group-C Team GP W L GF GA GD Pts. Tiger Bay [Q] 2 2 0 5 0 +5 6 Leopold St. [Q] 2 2 0 4 1 +3 6 Future 2 0 2 0 2 -2 0 Albouystown-A 2 0 2 1 7 -6 0 Group-D Team GP W L GF GA GD Pts. North East 2 2 0 3 2 +1 6 Sophia 2 1 1 3 3 0 3 Back Circle 2 1 1 2 2 0 3 Rising Stars 2 0 2 1 2 -1 0 [Q]-Group Qualifier Thursday Berlin Tarmac-25th July (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 Stars-20:30hrs (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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Wednesday July 24, 2019

GFF signs 30-year land lease with New Amsterdam Municipality to build football facility

L-R - GFF’s President Wayne Forde and New Amsterdam Mayor, Winifred Heywood Sign 30-Year Land Lease for home of football in Berbice. The ancient county of Berbice will, for the first time, have a home for football courtesy of a 30year land lease signed yesterday between the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the Mayor and Town Council of New Amsterdam. This lease, signed at the

Municipality building by GFF’s President Wayne Forde and New A m s t e r d a m M a y o r, Winifred Heywood, will see the construction of a football facility at Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam, which will include construction of a field, parameter fence,

Mayor Heywood presents signed Lease to President Forde on the area designated for football development in the presence of BFA and Municipality reps. installation of lighting and construction of a football housing facility. Following the signing, Mayor Heywood, said the signing is an opportunity for the development of the youth of Berbice: “I would like to thank the members of the Council for supporting and endorsing

the application submitted b y t h e G F F. To d a y ’s signing is the first step in providing opportunities for young boys and girls of the community.” For his part, President Forde said the facility, which will be funded under the FIFA Forward Programme, is part of GFF’s overall strategic plan: “I would like to thank everyone who played a role in making this symbolic achievement possible. The GFF recognizes the importance and impact quality infrastructure will have on the overall development of the game and the quality of players we will produce in the years ahead. This is a key pillar of our strategic plan

to change the local landscape of Football.” Present at the signing were representatives of the Berbice Football Association ( B FA ) , including Acting President Shurwin Forde, who offered his endorsement of the initiative: “This is a dream come through for me personally. I almost lost hope in ever seeing a home for football in Berbice. I have played at every level for many years and always knew that a dedicated venue for developmental programmes would dramatically improve Berbice Football. I would like to thank President Wayne Forde for his leadership and

guidance in seeing this process through, which began almost two years ago.” When complete, the venue will be used to house the Academy Training Centre, Elite Referees programme along with other national development and capacitybuilding programmes. Forde said the next step will be the presentation and approval of the conceptual design to and by the BFA Members before construction commences. This is the third land identified and acquired for football development f o l l o w i n g t h e G F F ’s Training Facility at Providence and the recently-acquired 7.4 acres at Durban Park. It is the plan of the GFF to acquire land across Guyana to house football development initiatives.

Wednesday July 24, 2019

2019 Junior CASA

Coach Ince expected Gold from Boys team - Proud of overall team effort After a 12-year winning streak, Guyana lost the team title when were dethroned on home soil by Barbados in 2017 but playing in the 2019 Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Championship in Trinidad, the Guyanese Boys produced a Gold Medal performance while the Girls competed hard to win the silver and Guyana, in their best showing since 2016, finished second place. The Guyanese also had four Gold Medals (2 boys & 2 girls) in the Individual categories. Vastly experienced, committed, Knowledgeable and hard-working, National Squash Coach Carl Ince, was once a guitarist with a band driven across England by former West Indian fast bowler, Roy Gilchrist and later a martial artist before he got involved in Squash due to a taunt in England. The garrulous Ince spoke with Kaieteur Sports yesterday just after the team arrived home on Sunday evening and shared his views on the tournament. “Although I didn’t say this at the time, I was almost certain that we would win because of how well the boys had prepared and the amount of time spent covering all aspects of the game. The girls on the other hand, didn’t have as much time to prepare but nevertheless I thought they had done enough to get to the finals which is all we needed to win the overall,” the proud Coach who is a grandfather to his young charges. The 75-year-old veteran Coach who hails from Plaisance, East Coast Demerara but now resides on the Linden Highway were he has a training facility on his Farm, revealed that the individuals with the outstanding performances were Michael Alphonso and 16-year-old Squash sensation Shomari Wiltshire, who won Guyana two gold medals in the Boys division in the U-15 & U-17s respectively. Wiltshire, the son of former Southern Caribbean Squash Champion Garfield Wiltshire, won the U-15 title

last year before dominating the U-17 category this time around. Kirstin Gomes (U-15) and Abosaide Cadogan (U19) captured Guyana’s other two Gold medals in the Girls division as the South Americans made a clean sweep of the U-15s & U-17s. Coach Ince, left the then British Guiana at age 16 and spent many years in Manchester, England where he got married and had a boy and three girls, Craig, Susan, Caren and Lauraine. He is the grandfather of National U-17 boy’s player Samuel Ince-Carvalhal, who won Bronze for his Country in the Individual event, Samuel is the son of Lauraine. “In the team events they all performed more than satisfactory. So much so that if it hadn’t been for our number one under seventeen girl ( Abosaide Cadogan) having to return to Guyana for an important interview and having to miss our matches between Jamaica and Bermuda, I feel quite sure we would have won the overall title. Our main challenge was being able to beat Barbados boys,” said Ince. “The positives of this trip was our players have reached the level that’s needed to take the title back. As long as we keep training we should still be in that position to win next year’s Casa.” Ince said he believes the overall standard of squash in Guyana is fairly good and is getting better but for it to improve even further, especially for the younger players, there needs to be better access to training facilities and the maintaining the priceless parent support. “I cannot tell you how proud we all are of the maximum effort of the boy’s team namely Shomari, Mohryan, Mikey, Nicholas, Sam, Samaria and not forgetting little Grant. For the girls, who weren’t all available but nevertheless, gave there all for Guyana. Thanks to everyone who played a part in our successful trip,” Coach Ince concluded. (Sean Devers)

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Kaieteur News

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Wednesday July 24, 2019

GMMAKA Alberttown martial arts branch association holds its first karate exam

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Students and Instructors of the Alberttown Martial Arts Academy following their exams.

he Albert town Martial Arts Academy branch of the Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Karate Association, held its first annual karate exam. The exam was conducted by Master Lloyd Ramnarine, Instructor Roman Pollard followed by Zafar Ramnarine, Julie Ramnarine and Alliyah Ramnarine.

The Students did well and here are the results: Vonthe Garraway promoted to yellow belt. Troy Harris promoted to orange belt. Leanna Bernard promoted to orange belt and Whitney Garraway promoted to blue belt. Sensei Roman Pollard will like to extend invitation to the youth of the community to be involved in

Martial Aarts because it’s not all about violence, but discipline. The styles taught are Shotokan, Jujitsu and traditional weapon form. They also thanked Master Lloyd and his family for being there and conducting the exam. The club is open to the public and it is located on 71 Light Street, Alberttown, having started on 11th March 2019. Contact can be made with personnel at the various schools under the GMMAKA banner by calling 668-6952/698-6727

Iron Fist Martial Arts Academy located at the New Grove/Diamond Primary School; 698-6727 The Invisible Kicks Martial Arts Academy located at La Parfait Harmony; 698-6727 The Vreed En Hoop Martial Arts Academy located at the Vreed En Hoop Primary School; 698-6727 The Red Dragon Martial Arts Academy located at the Bell West Nursery School and the new and upcoming branch The Warriors Within Martial Arts Academy located at the Herstelling NDC building 266-2869/638-8707.

West Indies “A” make three changes ahead of first “Test” against India “A”

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T. J O H N ’ S , Antigua – West Indies “A” have been forced to make a number of last-minute changes to their squad for the first “Test” against India “A”, starting today at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground. Opener Kraigg Brathwaite and wicketkeeper/batsman Shane Dowrich have sustained ankle injuries in the last few days and have been ordered to rest for the first “Test”. In addition, John Campbell has been elevated to the senior West Indies squad to face the senior India side in the first two M y Te a m 1 1 Tw e n t y 2 0 Internationals, co-sponsored by Skoda, taking place on August 3 and 4 at the Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida. As a result, the Leeward Islands Hurricanes’ pair of wicketkeeper/batsman Jahmar Hamilton and opener Montcin Hodge will replace Dowrich and Campbell respectively, and Trinidad & Tobago left-handed opener

Jeremy Solozano will replace Brathwaite. Solozano will also act as cover for Brathwaite for the second “Test”, starting the following Wednesday at the Queen’s Park Oval in his native Trinidad. Shamarh Brooks will now captain West Indies “A” in the first “Test” and may also lead the team in the second “Test”, if Brathwaite is unable to play. SQUAD; Shamarh Brooks (Captain), Sunil Ambris, Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Miguel Cummins, Jahmar Hamilton, Montcin Hodge, Chemar Holder, Shermon Lewis, Raymon Reifer, Jeremy Solozano and Jomel Warrican. Team Management Unit; Esuan Crandon (Head Coach), Andrew Richardson (Assistant Coach), Andre Coley (Assistant Coach), N e i l B a r r y, J r (Physiotherapist), Gregory Seale (Strength & Conditioning Coach) and Av e n e s h S e e t a r a m (Analyst).

Wednesday July 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

Students and Instructors following the latest ASK-G Grading Examinations.

Five New Black Belt Karatekas accredited at latest ASK-G Grading Examinations On Sunday last, Head of the IKD, 9th Dan Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-A-Tai assisted by Amir Khouri 7th Dan and Roger Peroune, 4th Dan, conducted another successful round of Karate Grading Examinations at the YMCA, Thomas Lands where some 65 students participated. According to a Press Release from the Association Do Shotokan Karate â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Guyana, an enjoyable day was had by the parents as well as the students. The first half saw White to Blue belts being examined followed by Purple to Dan levels with five (5) students taking the Shodan test. Overall, excellent performances by the examinees brought them success. Following are the full results: Dan Promotions: 1st Dan Promotions - 1. Jared Rambissoon (Albion, Berbice), 2. Kevin Fraser (YMCA), 3. Bevon Jordan (YMCA), 4. Christopher James (YMCA), 5. Bradley Fenty (YMCA). KYU PROMOTIONS: Outstanding Students who skipped are: 10 Kyu to Yellow Belt: Jaden Katon, Samara Siland, Delicia Bailey, Deoanand Geer, Shivraj Brijbhukan, Shivanna Brijbhukan. 10 Kyu to Orange Belt: Annastica Joseph, Allana Margan, Teshana Lake, Aletha Joseph. 10 Kyu to Green Belt: Jessica Tulla. 6 Kyu to Purple Belt: Kyron Thomas, Aishah Persaud, Isaiah Anderson,

Jonathon Morgan. 5 Kyu to Brown Belt (3): Thamishwar Dyasindoo, Joel Harry. 3 Kyu to Brown Belt (1): Luke Seabra Orange Belt: Ephraim James, Decourcey Scotland, Yidiel Beaton, Shaoyu Li, Madison Narine, Aaradhya Samaroo, Suzanna Mohanlall. Green Belt: Isaiah Browne, Kristen Sanasie, Theron Lake, Tyrese Gittens, Mia Bailey, Samuel Klass, Ravindra Lalbachan, Jordon Hargobin. Blue Belt: Saskia Dyasindoo, Nelicia Higgins, Nathaniel Higgins, Mia Singh, Ethan Rosine, Keith Williams, Elijah Rosine, On Beaton, Saif Tulla, Romel Samuels. Purple Belt: Tyler Bess, Izaiah Abrams, Junxi Yang, Tyshaun Bess, Xavier Lambert. Brown (3): Adrian Bhawanidin, Isaiyah Proctor, Joshua Nimar, Kristen Samaroo. Brown (2): Maheshwar Dyasindoo, Nicolai Adolph, Jasmine West, Nicholas Rampersaud, Javed Baksh. Brown (1): Obinna Utoh, Brandon Foo, Nathan Narine, Safira Williams, Anastassia Seabra. ASK-G has extended congratulations to all the Students who were successful as well as Instructors, Roger Peroune, Malcolm Francis, Keith Beaton, Patrick Gurahoo and Wanda Agdomar of the YMCA; Clinton Moriah (New Amsterdam), Hazrat Ali (Albion & Blairmont), (Continued on page 33)

Successful Students and Instructors.

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GFF signs 30-year land lease with New Amsterdam Municipality to build football facility

rt o p S

From Left - Michael DeSouza, Acting Secretary BFA; Shurwin Forde, Acting President, BFA; Wayne Forde GFF President, Kirk Fraser, Councillor, Mayor Winifred Hrywood and Town Clerk Acting, Kerriann Edwards at the signing ceremony.

2019 Junior CASA

Coach Ince expected Gold from Boys team Proud of overall team effort

Team Guyana at the Airport in Trinidad. Coach Carl Ince is at right.

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