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Tuesday July 31, 2018
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
LGE should be about real issues Local government elections (LGE) are about three months away and potential voters are anxiously waiting for the political parties to reveal their community development strategies. Elections are critical to the survival of our democracy and every eligible voter should embrace the opportunity to participate. Casting a ballot enables one to have a say on the issues that matter most to them and determine who has put forward the best programme to address their concerns. Thus, the right to vote must be taken seriously. In this election, there will be no shortage of serious questions facing the politicians such as the struggling economy, the future of GuySuCo and the rice and mining industries, leadership, good governance, corruption, crime and security, healthcare and educational issues, and the moral breakdown in society, among other issues. The charges and counter-charges, mud-slinging, controversies, propaganda, distortions, untruths and insults that are likely to inundate the campaign, will undoubtedly leave voters hard pressed to contemplate on the economic and social challenges facing the country There is no question that this election campaign will be defined by the two main political parties dodging the real questions facing the country and appealing to their racial bases for support. While there will be catchy party tunes, attractive Tshirts, funny ads and big concerts, the campaign will unlikely provide any insight into what the parties have to offer. There will be promises of providing better conditions and salary increases for civil/public servants, reducing crime and corruption, ending homelessness and improving the plight of the poor, among others. But if history is any guide, most of these promises will not be fulfilled. The truth is people have lost interest in politics after repeated promises are broken, pledges made in manifestos are forgotten, and elected officials fail to maintain contacts with their constituents. It is no wonder that some disenchanted, eligible voters who voted in the last elections have declared they would not vote this time around? The reason being the political leaders have abandoned many of their supporters, especially youths. There are huge stakes in the upcoming LGE scheduled for November 12, and politicians from both sides of the aisle have to be concerned about the outcome and about the future of the country. They have a responsibility to raise the bar and solve the serious problems affecting the people. The electorate deserves better and should demand more. Many are tired of hearing about past achievements and the casting of blame on each other for the lack of achievement. People are fed up and are eager to change this old style of politics. While this LGE will be a referendum on the government, there is the need for voices of reason; politicians of goodwill and standard bearers to speak up and ensure that the real issues come to the fore and people get real answers. Whether or not the leaders choose to engage one another in organized debates, and by all means they should, they need to be candid, honest and serious about how they will address the problems affecting the regions. Under our system of government, the people are ultimately the source of all power. They must use their power to teach politicians who have insulted their intelligence over the years a deserving lesson. They must shrug off racial and partisan politics and force candidates to discuss the issues. They must assert themselves, because for too long, politicians have put their interests first. It is time for voters to take control and let the politicians know that the country should be their priority and not their personal aspirations.
Repackaging foods against the rules Dear Editor, I am reading in the news about food safety and the stringent requirements the US FDA is imposing on businesses. In Guyana we seem to turn the other way on Food Safety. The regulatory body, the Guyana Food and Drug Department, seems to be faced with tremendous adversities to act expeditiously on issues. The repackaging of bulk products should be done under their supervision and stringent rules should be followed. We see repackaged flour, sugar, salt, milk etc. being done in unlabeled plastic bags. These are products that cannot be washed before use and the consumer, not consid-
ering food safety, looks at the small price difference in choosing the unlabeled products. Little do they realize, to use the British phrase, they are being penny wise and pound foolish as most times they get cheated on the weight. My visit to the markets where this seems more prevalent abounds with these products though some supermarkets also practice this unhealthy habit although properly packaged and labelled products are available. Recently I picked up a 5 kg bag of flour being sold in the city. The label at the back states “Repackaged and Distributed by ALABAMA
TRADING 6 Coverden, East Bank Demerara”. It also states “Manufacturer: MENEBA with an address in Rotterdam (presumably Holland). I looked at the 2 kg. version which states “Country of Origin The Netherlands”. Both packages have a one year duration between production and expiry. The first main question that came to my mind, “Is the production date the date of repacking the flour?” If so how would I know the actual date of production in Holland? Could I be buying a product which has passed its shelf life and thus become a Food Safety risk? My second main question is where in Coverden is this
repackaging done as I know Coverden well. I decided to look for this place only to find it is a small shop opposite a gas station. The attendant in the shop claimed he knows of no repackaging there and did not even know what the product looked like. Why would this importer want to place the wrong address on the package? This brings me back to the importance of Food safety and the need for strict enforcement. Consumers could be falling sick from hidden causes such as salmonella poisoning without knowing it came from the repackaged food they eat. Yours Truly, Akeem Noordwy
Genuine concern of opposition politics? Dear Editor, The Stabroek News on Thursday, July 26, 2018, reported on alarming news. A former member of the National Tosahos Council (NTC) Executive, Mr. Lennon Shuman, revealed that the APNU+AFC Government was lobbying to ensure that the new Chairman of the NTC is someone whom it can control. First, Mr. Lennox Shuman said that the old NTC Executive did work to counter this lobbying, but I respectfully disagree with him when he says that the counter-efforts were successful. I say this because of the photograph that has surfaced and shows the new Chairman of the NTC, a top member of the Amerindian People’s Association (APA), Jean La Rose, and President David Granger socializing. Imagine the former NTC
Executive could not get a meeting with President David Granger but a sit-down could be arranged to involve ONLY the new NTC Chairman – not the NEW NTC Executive – and the President. Second, the APA is clearly playing politics here with the NTC with the elected body that represents the rights and interests of Amerindians in Guyana. The reason I say playing politics is because the new NTC Chairman is also associated with the APA. Amerindians in Guyana can only hope that there is no sabotage of what should be a strong agenda of the new NTC Executive. Third, no one has forgotten that it is Jean La Rose who is the deputy head of the APNU+AFC List, which was presented at the 2015 General and Regional Elections; the same Jean La Rose who is in
the leadership of the APA. The same APA has been SILENT on all of the transgressions visited upon Amerindians in Guyana by this APNU+AFC Government. When the controversial Land COI issue came up and concerns were raised about the possible threat to Amerindian land rights, President David Granger did not meet with the NTC – the elected body that represents the rights and interests of Amerindians in Guyana. President David Granger, instead, met with the APA – a charade to show that he has engaged a body that is supposedly dealing with Amerindian issues. Both President David Granger and the APA insulted the intelligence of the Guyanese people because nothing has been done since
that meeting to substantially address the Amerindians’ concerns about land rights; and the APA said nothing about the controversial Land COI. Finally, the international organisations funding the APA as a non-governmental organisation, including the European Union and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), should recognise that they are funding a political group – not a sincere nongovernmental organisation that works to advance the interests of Amerindians in Guyana. What other evidence do you need to see that the APA is a political group when Guyanese know that a key leader, Jean La Rose, is also the deputy head of the APNU+AFC elections list? Sincerely Anson Paul
The special prosecutors A nuisance in Region are riding a gravy train Two Dear Editor, The report published by the Kaieteur News on July 22, 2018 – ‘SOCU completes Pradoville 2 file, charges ready to be laid’ – has inspired questions regarding the work of the Special Prosecutors. Last month, the Kaieteur News also reported that the six special prosecutors working on these cases – Patrice Henry (brother of a sitting Government Minister); Michael Somersall; Hewley Griffith; Lawrence Harris; Compton Richardson; and Trenton Lake – are all paid $2million as a retainer, PLUS another $20,000 per hour for work on these cases. Imagine a retainer of $2 million per case, plus another $20,000 per hour of work – all paid for by taxpayers. By the time this ‘SOCU train’ hits the
dead end it is heading for (based on the failures to date in the Courts) these men will be multi-millionaires – all on the back of Guyanese taxpayers. My main question is: Do these special prosecutors, who are aligned to the APNU/ AFC Coalition Government (not only Patrice Henry, but the others who worked on the Chambers of Ministers Basil Williams and Joseph Harmon), not have a vested interest in bringing more cases? They are already advising on what cases to bring. The more cases they bring, substandard or not, the more money they make. Editor, the Guyanese people cannot really be expected to take all of this lying down, can they? Regards, Baldeo Matura
Dear Editor, Not one but two young female health workers are attached to the Good Hope/ Pomona NDC in Region Two, but even with their presence, no action is being taken on a complaint I made of being faced with a health hazard. My next door neighbour is rearing poultry on a large scale. The cleanings from the pens are dumped by my back fence where the stench becomes unbearable. The situation causes the infestation of flies.The situation is so much dangerous if only because it promotes the transmission of germs and makes my home at Lot 23 Dryshore miserable. I have to endure considerable discomfort inconvenience and suffering which could well be avoided with proper administrative health work. It is not even comfortable
to have a proper meal with some of the flies landing on the food items being consumed. Although it was made known to the health workers that fumigation could help as well as other ways to solve this problem once and for all, it just seemed to be like a big joke to them to laugh about. No inspection is made and the owner is not being contacted after more than two weeks. These two officers seem to be under the delusion that I am begging a favour, when in fact they are under obligation and duty bound to be of service to the community. With so much being said to promote a healthy environment, it cannot be achieved from such a lackadaisical manner when better needs to be done. Yours faithfully, Name Withheld
Tuesday July 31, 2018
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$27 BILLION FROM THE There must be a vending policy KINDOM OF NORWAY...who says the forest is doing badly? Dear Editor, Please permit me to express congratulations to the Government team that recently visited the Kingdom of Norway. The team included the Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who upheld the President’s vision of the Green State Development Strategy; the Hon Minister of Natural Resources whose portfolio includes forestry, and Minister David Patterson with responsibility for infrastructure including electricity and the national grid. Also present were the Chairwoman of the Guyana Forestry Commission Board of Directors Ms. Jocelyn Dow and Ms Pradeepa Bholanath who is our lead person in the GFC for the monitoring,
reporting and verification component of the Guyana Norway Agreement. We at the FPA were very pleased with the result of their visit and would like to congratulate them all on their success. Guyana needs a new agreement with Norway that would recognize the work done in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Now that we have unlocked the money for energy and a grid that will include solar generation we hope that we can proceed to a new round. As the forest producers in Guyana we would like to see some of these old and new payments spent back into the forest sector. The GFC and all those involved in the forest need improved technology, less costly access to money,
‘The $20 Billion Question for Guyana’ brought tears to my eyes. Dear Editor, Clifford Krauss’- The $20 Billion Question for Guyana” presents a grim reality of Guyana present and future. Every Guyanese who is concerned about the future of our Children and country should read this article. It is an honest and priceless piece of literature that presents excitement, a feeling of nostalgia, fear, hope, national pride and much uncertainty. It vindicates the writings of Ram, Arjoon, Mangal etal. It is a timely reminder of our unpreparedness and inexperience to handle the enormous and unimaginable potential of oil wealth. It is a call for true national unity and
true togetherness, if the Cooperative Republic of Guyana is truly to be given that second chance at a good life. It presents an equal balance between what is perceived by some to be ‘beautiful Guyana’ and what is actually understood to be Guyana by the men and women under the Stabroek clock, those on the Demerara Harbour Bridge stuck in traffic, those in the route 45 mini-bus, those in the line of duty along our borders, those in foreign lands seeking a better life for their family and those in their dormitories at colleges and campuses beyond these shores who are seeing true development in (Continued on page 6)
increased training to access foreign markets, the creation of downstream forest products and other forms of assistance to manage our forest resource even better than we do. The entire sector has worked so hard to get us the current low deforestation rate and get no funds from this money directly. We have called for a revolving fund that would be a public private partnership. This will make a big difference to all of us and especially the community loggers who have the toughest time getting needed credit. Finally, we would like to acknowledge the Kingdom of Norway for this initiative of 2009 and their continued relationship with Guyana. We also recognize the important role that WWF and CI play in this relationship. We look forward to a new round and urge the Government to work towards this. Respectfully, Deonarine Ramsaroop President of the Forest Products Association of Guyana
Dear Editor, In 2015, the citizens of Georgetown voted for change which includes change in systems, projects and programmes that would advance the interest of the City. It is a quite worrisome situation; no policy has been crafted to address a growing socio-economic situation that pervades the City for decades. While some Councilors are infighting, vendors are languishing for a proper roof over their heads to conduct business. The fact is every person deserves an opportunity to earn a livelihood in an environment that is conducive.It is unacceptable for the Chairman of the Markets Committee not to be able to come up with a policy document that would help the state of affairs in the City. For too long, street vending is being done in an ad hoc manner and without proper guidelines. A Street vending policy would bring order on the City streets. During the festive season the streets evolve into a place of chaos and confusion. A policy would provide an opportunity for Council to exercise some measure of control and provide benefits to the vendors. The streets of the City are overcrowded and cluttered. On a daily basis, the vend-
ing population is steadily increasing and legitimate store owners are complaining bitterly about blocking of entrances and slowing down of business. Also, the Municipal District Council Act is archaic and should be revised to address the social, economic and political dynamics of a developing City. Hence, a vending policy would bridge the gap and provide some guidelines and rules for vendors to operate In the near future, Georgetown would become the oil and gas capital of this nation. I would like to know if the incumbent Markets and Public Health Committee of the Council has considered the sociological, economical and environmental implication of the inevitable and has crafted environmental policies to address the these changes. Further, if the honorable Deputy Mayor Gentleman lacks the knowledge to craft a vending policy, the least he can do is to seek some help from the experts within his own constituency.
In most instances the issues that Councilors gripe about would not facilitate the social, spiritual and economic upliftment of the City and its residents. The fact is, it is the minority Councilors AFC and PPP/C that are causing raucous and hindering progress in the City. Or maybe, it is strategy and a deliberate effort of the PPP/C to divide the APNU at the Local Government level and advance to the national level. The political divide between the APU and AFC is obvious. The election for Mayor and Deputy is a clear indication of this already known fact. Further, I am of the view that there is subtle move by minority Councilors of the AFC and PPPC to stymie the progress of the City. My reasons are after two years The Deputy Mayor who is Chairman of the Markets Committee and who is a representative of the AFC has not submitted a policy on vending. This can be considered is a travesty and insult to local democracy. Mortimer Thomside
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The media should pick up on some calls for help Dear Editor, On July 24, Voices Against Violence (the collection of organizations and entities that spearhead the Annual National Anti-Violence Candlelight Vigil to mark World Suicide Prevention Day, to be held on September 9, this year) sent an email to media across Guyana, with a link to a Facebook post alleging rape by a Route #42 minibus driver. It was our hope that all media would have, at least, carried an article on the allegation, if not do their own investigative reporting, since the person making the allegation was identifiable via her FB page. As far as we are aware, only one newspaper carried a report, but it was not investigative. Now we hope the police would contact the newspaper to get the FB link and carry out an investigation, so that any possible recurrence of an incident like the alleged would not happen. A few weeks ago we sent another email to selected media with three FB links and supporting photos alleging gender based violence. Unfortunately none of the newspapers published any reports on any of the allegations. But aren’t these the kinds of issues that media needs to highlight, if not investigate, as part of their social responsibility? When alleged victims are too scared to go to the police shouldn’t the media be their recourse, if others choose to inform the media
Tuesday July 31, 2018
Kaieteur News
of the allegations? The fact is that social media on the whole and FB in particular are dotted with allegations of rape and abuse, but often, when we are able to contact the alleged victims they refuse to talk and/or to take action. Voices Against Violence has also learned of several cases including one of a young lady allegedly raped and murdered by a businessman who then allegedly bribed the police to drop the case. We learnt about this long after the fact, but because no details were provided we could not go to the media or the police. The Caribbean Voice has also encountered many cases with the same kind of responses. We particularly recall a case where a woman was badly beaten by her husband because she set up an appointment with a counselor for both of them, so they could work towards resolving issues that had arisen in their relationship. The husband brutalized her because he felt she should not have done that and that he did not need counseling because there was nothing wrong with him. In fact The Caribbean Vo i c e h a s f o u n d t h a t Guyanese on the whole are very skeptical of counseling, with some thinking t h a t ’s o n l y f o r ‘ m a a d people’ and some alleging that counselors do not hold to confidentiality.
Oftentimes, when we deal with cases, they make it clear that they only want The Caribbean Voice to provide counseling, and they absolutely refuse to contact the Suicide Helpline. This particular woman approached The Caribbean Voice for help but she refused to go to the police whom she did not trust. So, in collaboration with another NGO we persuaded her to seek medical health at the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was kept for treatment. It was our hope that once she was treated and discharged we would still be able to persuade her to go to the police. Sadly she took self-discharge from the hospital without our knowledge and took her life. There can be no doubt that lack of trust in the police is a huge issue in Guyana and something that the police top brass and the Minister of Public security need to urgently address, not in a piecemeal ad hoc manner but via an ongoing, concerted campaign. However the media can play a significant role in helping victims to get justice and counseling as well as encourage the general public to become reporters by responding to all reports sent to them. Social responsibility aside, there are the issues of humanity and conscience, of helping to drive social change, of the watchdog role encompassing social issues and of reportage that concretely serves the population. So both Voices Against Violence and The Caribbean Voice will continue to report allegations of rape and abuse to the media with the hope that the media will investigate, publicize, and liaise with police to bring perpetrators to trial. Of course we are aware that there may always be allegations that may be fake but the media and the police should be able to ferret out those. Sincerely Voices Against Violence The Caribbean Voice
Unhelpful staff at Port Mourant NIS Dear Editor, I would like to bring to the attention of this newspaper and to the public the issue of the NATIONAL INSURANCE SCHEME. The part which really bothers me is the claims department at Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice. My father was employed at the Rose Hall Estate but upon the closing down he was transferred to the Albion Estate. He had a work accident and was unable to work for a few weeks. He had made his NIS claim at the New Amsterdam office. The claim was then subsequently transferred to the Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice. This claim was filed since in March and we are now at July 30. It is so frustrating because he has to get a car
from New Amsterdam to Port Mourant just to find out his claim is not ready. Now you may ask why not call? Let me enlighten you about “what a wonderful experience” that is. The first time we called 336-6577 the staff said to call 336-6578. I tried that number for an entire day it either rang out or the busy tone came on. The next day I called back the 333-6577 and told the staff of my experience. She was kind enough to take my information and assist me but my mistake was I didn’t take her name. She had advised me to call back the following week which I did. Again I was told to call 336-6578 and it came as no surprise that I didn’t get through. I took it even further to call the Brickdam office and
I was advised that they cannot help me, that I have to call the same number until I get through. What kind of customer service ares these people offering to the public who every month have to pay up their contributions? If my dad has to take a car every week to go and find out if his claim is ready who will compensate him for his expense? Or if it has a query how will he know? This is really hard on the poor hard working citizens of Guyana and I am sure my father is not the first case and that there are a lot of persons who have similar cases. I would really appreciate if someone can look into this matter. Kind regards, Kelly Ally.
Mourn for the criminals Dear Editor, This is going to be controversial. I was chatting with a friend recently about the high crime rate in Guyana. I was trying to give another perspective. He rubbished my argument. Hence my reason for going public. I asked him if he ever went days hungry? If he ever had to scavenge the markets for discarded food? He never had to. I did.Now try to imagine that you have six young hungry eyes staring at you. You have bills to pay; you have rent to pay; you have other expenses. You do not have an education through no fault of yours. You cannot find a job. The politicians don’t care. PPP, PNC, APNU, or AFC. None of them cares. They used you for votes. Three days gone. No food. Kids crying from hunger. Child mother frustrated. Landlord banging on your door for rent. GPL took your power. You are gifted an AK47. What will you do? I will not justify crime but I can understand it. It is an act of desperate people who have no hope; who feel used by those who have. It’s a harsh reality. Unless you experienced it, you will not understand.I was lucky. I am academically gifted. I got an education at Queen’s College; I became a doctor; a consultant at a top hospital in the UK. It was not meant to be. Society dealt me a oneway ticket to prison. I saw hope. I did not get caught up with crime. My deceased fa-
ther did. My deceased brother followed suit. Many of my friends did. The education system failed them. They did not have a powerful mama and dada. No private tutor. As a result they had to contend with failing schools; High school dropout. No vacational colleges available; no skills to learn. Uneducated, they made bad choices. Children, the result. Can we blame them? Promises made by the politicians to get their votes. Discarded like toilet tissue. Flushed down the social sewer. Forgotten. Their only choice is crime. Society complains. See their actions. Ignore their circumstances. The police armed with big guns. Kill them. Five recently; three on the seawall a few months ago. Problem not solved. More rastas waiting to take their places. Why? We treat the symptom and not the diagnosis. We treat the cough and not the pneumonia. Patient dies. Society suffers a social death. Go on. Kill them all. The problem will never go away. Give them hope. Social programmes. Financial and social support. Give them a ladder to climb out of that despair. Rehabilitation when they go awry. Among other programmes. The aristocrats have spoken. The elites have spoken. No one is there to speak for us the ghetto youths. I will take that mantle if they want me to. Listen to what we are saying. I will quote Bounty Killa from his hit ‘Look’. Can-
not quote Shakespeare since thou, art and thee are not part of our vernacular. Bounty Killa said: Look into my eyes, tell me what you see? Can you feel my pain? Am I your enemy? Give us a better way, things are really bad The only friend I know, is this gun I have Listen to my voice, this is not a threat Now you see the .9, are you worried yet? You’ve been talking ‘bout you want the war to cease But when you show us hope, then we will show you peace. Do not ignore the ghetto youths. Listen to what they are saying; their cries for help. Ignore them if you wish. You will do so at your peril. So next time a bandit is killed. Don’t celebrate. Cry! Because we have failed them as a society. We have tied their hands. What did we expect them to be? Regards Dr. Mark Devonish MBBS MSc MRCP(UK) Consultant Acute Medicine Nottingham University Hospital UK
‘The $20 Billion... From page 5 other parts of the world while chasing after their dreams. If there is nothing else you will read about Oil and Gas, then please read ‘The $20 Billion Question for Guyana.’ It brought tears to my eyes for many reasons. Request for name and address to be withheld Kevin Morgan
Tuesday July 31, 2018
Govt. rejects spending $10M now to save $1B in the future - Mangal tells Al Jazeera By Abena RockcliffeCampbell His rationale is similar to that used by persons who choose to impose security measures at their homes. While it may be costly, it is for the protection of resources considered more valuable. But former Presidential Advisor on Petroleum, Jan Mangal says that government is opposed to going this route. Mangal said this yesterday during a live interview conducted by Al Jazeera, an international and well credited media entity. Mangal was on a panel which included attorney-at-law, Christopher Ram, Director of Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, Lisa Sachs and Director of Public Information, Imran Khan. Al Jazeera’s host said, “Oil companies have identified massive offshore reserves in Guyana, one of South America’s poorest nations. New estimates last week report that more than 4 billion barrels of oil could be extracted from a region known as the Stabroek block, where ExxonMobil expects to start pumping crude in 2020. The country is poised to become a major energy supplier, but not everyone is optimistic about the potential for oil revenue to benefit Guyanese citizens. So what can Guyana do to avoid becoming another poor, yet resource-rich nation?”
Former Presidential Advisor, Jan Mangal Khan was first to speak on the interview, he attempted to speak on all the plans that the APNU+AFC government has for Guyana. But, before he could have finished his speech, Khan was interrupted. He was saying, “We are ensuring we are getting the best advice from global experts to ensure that this transformation opportunity for infrastructural, social and economical change is not squandered.” Mangal interjected, “What Imran says there are all good words, but when you look at what is happening on the ground it’s a different story.
Imran mentioned the need for having experts. In fact there are consultants coming and going, but there are zero oil and gas experts—people with 15 to 30 years plus experience—on the ground working full time in decision making roles in the government.” Mangal said that, “Unfortunately, there seems to be huge reluctance hiring the required capacity.” Khan tried to defend government’s position. He pointed out that experts have been engaged. He said that Mangal “…has been and I am sure he will be in the future. There are experts giving advice on short term basis.” Khan noted that internationally recognized Paul Collier has been to Guyana and briefed the President and his Cabinet. But, both Ram and Mangal said that this is not enough. Mangal said, “These names are being thrown out and that is what the government is good at, throwing these names around. But, where is the substance?” He continued, “Having a trip for one day is insufficient. We need people on the ground working there on one- and two-year contracts. Guyana can spend $10M now and save $1B in the future. But the government is unwilling to do this.”
Friendship man found floating in trench
The Body of Vernon just after being fished out of the trench. Sixty-year-old Vernon Jackson aka “Beard man” of Church Street, Friendship, East Bank Demerara, was yesterday fished out of a trench, mere feet from where he lived. Jackson’s body was discovered around 08:00 hrs by some friends who are known to come out early in the morning and have drinks on the corner. When passing and looking for Jackson they saw him in the trench floating on his back, the police were summoned and they in turn called the undertakers who removed
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the body from the trench and took it to the Lyken’s Funeral Home where it awaits a post mortem. One resident said Jackson worked somewhere around the area doing odd jobs. When asked where he lived, the residents pointed to a small table-like structure that was not too far from where his body was pulled from the trench, and said that is where he used to stay. The police issued a statement late last night saying, “investigation revealed that
Vernon Jackson lives under a tree at Friendship EBD that has a trench to the south of it .The trench runs east to west and is about fifteen feet wide and about eight feet deep. Vernon Jackson was last seen alive on Friday around 12:00 hrs, when he visited his cousin Marilyn King who lives at Friendship EBD. On Monday about 08:00 hrs Marilyn King received information that Vernon Jackson was found floating in the Friendship trench next to where he lives.”
Murder charge against former GDF Captain....
Five witnesses remaining in PI Police Prosecutor, Shawn Gonsalves is expected to call five remaining witnesses to testify into the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of Reona Payne, a travel agent, who was shot 14 times about her body, allegedly by former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Captain Orwain Sandy. Sandy, who was also the Special Assistant to the Chiefof-Staff, is currently on trial before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Yesterday when the matter was called, a member of the GDF gave brief testimony. Andy Pompey, a Major, was called to the stand. The witness told the court that he is the Commanding Officer for the Intelligence Corps. The witness then went on to give the court a detailed explanation outlying the role he played in the murder investigation. His evidence was then suspended. The murder accused, who is being represented by At-
Former GDF Captain Orwain Sandy torney-at-Law James Bond, has not been required to plead to the indictable charge. The PI into the murder will continue today. Government Psychiatrist, Dr. Bhiro Harry, after evaluating Sandy on several occasions, deemed him fit to stand
trial for the capital offence. According to reports, the incident occurred between 10:15 hours and 10:45 hours in the vicinity of a Masjid at Alexander Village, Georgetown. Sources say that Sandy and Payne were in (Payne’s) car when the two got into an argument during which Sandy whipped out his firearm and shot the woman several times, killing her on the spot. Sandy then drove himself to the Ruimveldt Police Station where he reported the matter to the police and was taken into custody. Payne was a mother of three, she worked as a Travel Agent at Muneshwer’s Travel Service for a number of years. Payne and Sandy were not married, but were living together for about three years. The Guyana Defence Force, in a release just after the incident, said that Sandy was immediately interdicted from duty. The army said that it was saddened by the incident, but noted that Sandy’s action was not reflective of the values and standards of the GDF.
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Berbice Bridge Company likely breached agreement by failing maintenance programme More than 12 years ago, the Bharrat Jagdeo-led administration, signed a concession agreement with the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. Representing the Government was the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (now Ministry of Public Infrastructure). Under that agreement, which was a closely guarded secret by the previous governments of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, there were strict clauses as to how the bridge company should have gone about maintaining the floating structure which was commissioned in 2009 at a cost of around US$40M. The bridge had been welcomed by Berbicians but the financing structure has placed the facility in deep trouble now with the only option being - according to its board - to raise tolls. In fact, the returns of investments were upwards of 18 percent for some investors. It appears now based on the document that the bridge company breached the concession agreement by failing to carry out the required maintenance. Earlier this year, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, disclosed that the bridge company had
The Berbice River Bridge
approached his ministry for help in the maintenance of its pontoons. The pontoons, almost 50 of them, have to be taken out and cleaned and repaired in accordance with the Operations and Maintenance schedule. However, since being commissioned, it appeared that the bridge
company failed to carry out this basic maintenance. It could not only have been about the money. It is publicly reported that the bridge company has paid dividends to shareholders. Recently, the bridge made the news again with the board asking for a hefty toll increase, in keeping with its
concession agreement. However, the current government has made it clear that it will not be approving the raising of tolls for the company. According to the
Operations and Maintenance (O&M) section of the concession agreement, the bridge company as the concessionaire shall be obliged at its own expense to operate and maintain the toll
bridge in accordance with the construction specification. The agreement said that the concessionaire warrants that the operations and maintenance specifications must comply with the good engineering and operating practices. The agreement went further: “The concessionaire shall ensure on a continuing basis that at all times during the concession period, its maintenance and operating procedures are sufficient to ensure that, save as expressly provided otherwise by this agreement, the O&M requirements are continuously met.” Failure to properly maintain the bridge could result in the company being written to, with continuing failure opening the doors for termination of the agreement. The toll bridge, which connects at D’Edward, on West Berbice to Crab Island, East Berbice, had landed in the control of the Queens Atlantic Investments Inc, a company which has close ties with former president, Bharrat Jagdeo. The bridge, through a number of directors, had been in control of the Queens Atlantic group.
Two perish in Bee Hive smash-up Thirty-seven year old Satyanand Harripersaud and 19 year old Varsha ‘Shelly’ Khemraj died in a smash-up Sunday night on the Bee Hive Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The accident which occurred around 22:00 hrs also involved a vehicle driven by a 24 year-old resident of Atlantic Gardens, ECD. The police in a statement indicated that, “Enquiries disclosed that motor car PSS 9153 (driven by Harripersaud) was proceeding east along the northern carriageway on the Bee Hive Public road and motor car PTT 5270 was proceeding in the opposite direction. The driver of PTT 5270 alleged that the other vehicle suddenly swerved into his
40
Dead: Varsha ‘Shelly’ Khemraj
Dead: Satyanand Harripersaud
path and collided with the front right side of his vehicle
after which it careened north into a canal. Both occupants of PSS 9153 (Harripersaud and Khemraj) were removed from the vehicle in an unconscious state, taken to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital and pronounced dead on arrival. The driver of PTT 5270 who was unhurt, is in custody assisting with the investigation; a breathalyzer test was conducted and no alcohol detected in his breath. The bodies are presently at Lyken’s Funeral Home where autopsies are to be conducted on Friday.”
Tuesday July 31, 2018
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Kaieteur News
A heavyweight should head the proposed Department of Energy Are Guyanese people really interested in good governance? Or are they really interested in ensuring that the party or parties which they support rule? Each day we see missteps by the government, yet its supporters seem unconcerned that these mistakes can have major economic consequences for the nation. The government is not being pressured from within to correct what seem to be glaring gaffes
On the other hand, Kaieteur News has been maligned by pro-government lackeys and sycophants. And for what? For simply exposing the fact that Guyana was outclassed and outfoxed by Exxon Mobil during the renegotiation of the oil contract. Exxon had the superior negotiators. They took full advantage of Guyana’s weakness to seal a deal which is overwhelmingly in their favour. Even when it came to the
signing bonus and social responsibility contributions by Exxon, Guyana was outmaneuvered. Conservation International was able to receive US$10M from Exxon Mobil’s Trust Fund. In contrast, Guyana’s negotiators could only manage to squeeze a parsimonious US$18M signing bonus for rights to our four billion barrels of oil. No mass protests greeted the bungling of the renegotiation on the Exxon
Dem boys seh ...
De Speaker like de devil trying he own case When de Speaker talk let no damn dog bark. That is what de people in de national Assembly now saying. One MP decide to write a letter in de newspaper talking bout how de speaker twoface. De letter claim how when de government side do something and de opposition object, de Speaker does tell de opposition to sit down and to shut up. De same letter writer claim that when de opposition seh something and de government object, de Speaker does tell de opposition to withdraw dem comment. Indeed, de man who write de letter provide couple example of what he was talking about. Old people got a saying,
“When yuh see snake in de grass keep yuh distance.” Dem boys seh all dem people been in de parliament longer than Harry—that is de man who write de letter—and none of dem ever dream to write a letter criticising de Speaker. When de Speaker seh something all of dem does quietly pull dem tail between dem legs. But not Harry. He tek lead up and he write de letter. People don’t know if he believe de Speaker don’t read de newspaper, but as soon as Parliament call yesterday, de Speaker jump pun Harry. He tell Harry how he can criticize but only in Parliament, because that is de case all over de world. But Harry friends know that from de time Harry did
open he mouth de Speaker woulda tell him to shut up and tek he seat. He coulda behave like Ten Edghill and refuse and cause de Speaker to call de police but then again, after Edghill find out that he lose he pay nobody gun tek that chance again. Harry sit down and tek de busing. But de PPP put anodda lash pun de Speaker. This time he can’t seh is a MP because de statement ain’t got no name. But de statement right. You can’t call pun de devil to try a case in hell. In de same way de Speaker can’t be de judge fuh he own case. De story gun get sweet. Talk half and watch de Speaker trying to be judge, jury and executioner.
Post mortem conducted on last of five bandits An autopsy conducted yesterday on Levy Braithwaite, one of the five bandits that were killed in a shootout with police after they attempted to break into a property at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, revealed six gunshot wounds, and that he died as a result of haemorrhage and shock due to multiple gunshot injuries. The men were killed after their attempt to break into a property at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown. Last Friday autopsies were conducted on Adrian Daly, Jermaine Doobay, Ian Forde and Timo-
thy St. Hill. The autopsies found that they all died from haemorrhage and shock due to multiple gunshot wounds. An autopsy was not conducted on Levy Braithwaite last Friday with the other men, since family members had not yet identified his body. Yesterday when family members finally turned up, there was some confusion that had to be quelled by hospital staff after family members found the dead man’s remains had decomposed as a result of the morgue’s unit malfunctioning.
Levy Braithwaite
Crowd runs right, Guyana goes... From page 3 institutional structure. Secondly, China prefers to negotiate the OBOR projects in bilateral arrangements, which was also confirmed in the summit. This does not favour the establishment of a multilateral dialogue which the EU espouses. Also, there is a lack of transparency in decisionmaking combined with an insufficient level of communication by Chinese authorities regarding OBOR. Conse-
quently, it seems that China cooperates with EU institutions when it finds it suitable for its objectives, otherwise it deals with individual states. An effective OBOR dialogue platform between the EU and China is still missing. This would ensure that the EU's economic actors have a fair chance to compete for business through open, transparent and non-discriminatory procurement procedures with Chinese competi-
tors. As long as China doesn't make any effort to bridge the gap between OBOR and different EU approaches, move toward multilateralism, and address the EU values based on good governance, the rule of law, human rights and democracy, skepticism regarding OBOR will persist.” Despite the literature against the project and the obvious concern of many participating countries, Guyana has still signed on.
contract. People seemed unperturbed. Perhaps they agreed with the government that better would be done in the future and that lessons of the poor handling of the Exxon Mobil deal would be learnt. The lesson of those negotiations was that in the future Guyana should ensure it has the best negotiators when dealing with oil multinationals. When the President therefore announced that he was establishing a Department of Energy, it was hoped that such an important office would be headed by a heavyweight in oil and gas matters. The news now emerging out of social media is that the government is soon to appoint an environmental economist to head its Department of Energy. This is a stunning development. It is not what many people would have expected. Perhaps it is the shock or the hope that the information provided is somehow incorrect, which has not led to a firestorm of criticisms as
yet. If the news is to be believed, then the government has many questions to answer. First, they will have to indicate whether such a critical post was advertised internationally and who were the candidates who were shortlisted; who were the members of the interviewing panel, what were the skill sets which were being sought and why an environmental economist was chosen and not someone who has had experience in negotiating or managing a national oil and gas industry. The American media is at present having a field day in criticizing the mess Donald Trump is making with his hiring and firing of persons. He is said to be going for persons without White House experience. And this is ironic, because it is known that in his personal business, Trump has been very savvy with his hiring practices. In his private business, he has shown a preference for hiring persons
with the right experience and who have achievements to their names, as against those who come with impressive academic qualifications but little practical experience in the fields in which they are expected to perform. Whoever is hired to head the Department of Energy must be a heavyweight. Guyanese must have confidence in that person’s ability – and that person’s ability alone – to secure the best deal for Guyana in future negotiations and dealings with oil multinationals who hire the very best. The person chosen must be able to command the respect as an equal with those on the other side of the negotiating table.
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Tuesday July 31, 2018
Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
The Freudian authoritarian instinct that guides this country Examine with a meticulous eye, legislation, ministerial edicts, governmental guidelines and related action, and you will see there is hardly the intention to maximize freedom and to allow for the decentralization of authority, and to let power devolve to what the ancient Greek philosophers called the “DEMOS,” that is, communities and the people in general. We had no legislation covering cybercrime. We now do. Look what it encapsulated - a frightening dimension that curtails free speech. After some serious hollering from soc i e t y, t h e i n t e r n e c i n e clause was removed. But the fact that it was put there in the first place tells you about the Freudian in-
stincts that have governed this county from colonial domination to fifty-two years of Independence. It is the instinct of authoritarian possession of power. This assault on free speech in the cybercrime Bill is a frightening specter when you think of who put it there. It was the action of a set of politicians who arose to power after exposing the autocratic mentality of two former presidents – J a g d e o a n d R a m o t a r. These two past presidents would have seen that obnoxious clause as normal legislation. Take a second example. The University administration has proposed to the government an amendment to the University of Guyana Act to remove sectoral rep-
resentation on the Council o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y. A t present, lawyers, doctors, women, Indigenous folks, farmers, parliamentary opposition, current government in office etc., each have a voting presence on the Council. The university contends that it constitutes interference in the administration. Removing that clause is commonsense and need not detain any further. What is appalling is that in the proposed restructuring, there is no blueprint for the devolution of power in the university system. It means that the head of the university has total administrative jurisdiction that cannot be challenged. Our leaders simply have a sickening habit of not learning from the past. The current head of the university may not practice hegemony after the Act is passed, but down the years we may very well have one who loves power. Parliament will amend the Act and not
one, not one politician from the ruling coalition will have the intellectual decency to put mechanisms in place to stop administrative hegemony. What is at work in this country since British colonialism is the Freudian love for power. Let’s take yet another example. The Bar Association attacked, and one can say viciously too, the statement from the Deputy Director of SARA, that the judiciary’s decisions in relation to money laundering investigation are a cause for concern. One of the silly aspects of the Bar Association’s statement is that the pronouncement can intimidate the judiciary. The Bar Association cannot see how it has ridiculed Guyana in the eyes of the world. If judges in this land can be scared of what is said about their rulings, then Guyana is further down the road to nihilism than I ever thought of. The Bar Association wants the SARA official to apologize. Here clearly we see the Freudian fascination with
power. The Bar Association is deeply contemptuous of free speech. Nowhere in the SARA statement was a particular judge named or a particular case cited. Yet for voicing an opinion of disagreement with the judiciary, the Bar Association wants the SARA official to apologize. If he does that, where does that leave the existence of free speech? In which society other than a naked, nasty, oligarchic state, can a citizen or an organizational head or a minister not voice a dissenting view of a judicial decision? Why is the judiciary in a democratic society above being scrutinized? How can a society remain democratic if rulings by the judiciary cannot be commented on? President Bush said he disagreed with a judge who ruled that the plug cannot be taken off from a brain dead patient. Ruling politicians voiced dissent at the court finding that parliament has to rule on the acceptance of Brexit. There was widespread
Frederick Kissoon denunciation of a judge’s decision to give probation to a youth after he drove onto a pavement killing four persons. Magistrates and judges are extremely powerful people in any country. Only the constitution is above the judiciary. The judiciary can strike down any act of parliament or any proclamation issued by a prime minister or president or any edict from the Cabinet as being unconstitutional. To have such an institution remain insulated from public criticism is a dangerous turn into a sea of deadly waters. Judges and magistrates are no different from any other humans. They can be wrong. They can be careless. They can make awful decisions that are very bad in law. Why can’t they be criticized?
Tuesday July 31, 2018
Kaieteur News
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GPSU calls out govt. over unfulfilled promises “Since 2015 all we have had is impositions, nothing has changed…” This was the assertion of President of the Guyana Public Service Union [GPSU], Mr. Patrick Yarde, as he presided over a press conference yesterday where he accused the ruling administration of operating in a manner “not unlike its predecessor.” The GPSU’s concern is one that has been evoked by government’s announcement of an early 2019 budget. “It is baffling that this is being treated as a priority, when promises made in the 2015 budget to address allowances have not been dealt with to date and negotiations for wages and salaries and allowances for 2018 have not even commenced,” said Yarde at the yesterday’s press conference held in the GPSU’s headquarters, at Shiv Chanderpaul Drive and Regent Street, Georgetown. In addition to government’s shortcomings to realistically address the longstanding issues of wages and salaries and allowances for public servants, Yarde also alluded to what he described as “the now utterly scandalous matter of the seeming indifference to better the material conditions of the category of public servants known as sweeper/cleaners.” The GPSU President even voiced concerns over government’s failure to lend continuity to the outcomes of the highly publicized Public Service Commission of Inquiry which he said “appears to have accomplished little and which has vanished completely from the public space.” He added, “Clearly these unfulfilled important responsibilities are causes of concern and appear to be blatantly lip service that has been given to such real and daunting situations.” A c c o r d i n g t o Ya r d e , “rather than either move to honour its own stated commitments and, moreover, to negotiate with the union from a perspective of fairness and principle, the administration has opted for impositions that do no more than further frustrate public servants.” This state of affairs he intimated yesterday has essentially created the impression that government is insensitive to the concerns of the workers. “Leaving aside the assorted baggage inherited from its predecessor the PPP/C regime, it is the considered opinion of the GPSU that the incumbent political administration has been considerably inattentive to addressing the plight of the public servants, so that apart from
failing to alleviate the material suffering of its own workers, the government has, it would appear, been unmindful of the nexus between a suitably equipped and motivated public service and the efficiency and effectiveness of its own administration.” As he lashed out at g o v e r n m e n t y e s t e r d a y, Yarde accused government of one-sided encounters and blamed it for oftentimes making public servants its scapegoats. But Yarde when asked to detail a few such instances was unable to do so. But even in his riled up state, he did not share any plans to instigate strike action. In fact he disclosed that the way in which the union operates may in fact give the impression to some people that it is “lukewarm.” He however assured, “we are deliberate in what we do and we accept full responsibility without excuse with the way we do things.” In fact, Yarde emphasized yesterday that “no other union has matched the industrial action of GPSU.” He however added, “When we take action, we recognize the broad-based effect it will have, because this is the Public Service Union…” But it is Yarde’s opinion that clearly there is a conspiracy to undermine that broad-based effect because “politically there are elements who are trying to undermine the relationship within the union, the membership’s harmony and ultimately its effectiveness, and we have been looking at this for quite some time, over a year, and we are very clear about what we are up against and what we will encounter, overcome and defeat.” But despite the glaring issues, Yarde said that he is yet optimistic that the union’s move to communicate its concerns through the media would be effect i v e e n o u g h . Ya r d e i n formed that the union has found it necessary to take
GPSU’s President, Mr. Patrick Yarde, is flanked by other officials [from left: Senior Probation Officer, Dennis English; Executive Secretary, Indira Thakurdin; Second Vice President, Dawn Gardener and First Vice President, Mortimer Livan ] at the press conference yesterday. action, because since its ascension to office in 2015, the government has proven to be “deaf to the appeals of the union when it comes to the welfare of public servants and by extension the public sector.” Giving the gamut of concerns, Yarde shared his view that new strategies will have to be derived to cause the administration to come to terms with the gravity of the existing situation facing public sector employees. The situation, according to the GPSU President, is one that poses a danger to the efficiency and effectiveness of the government at a time when enhanced governance structures are sorely needed. “The prevailing crisis is prevalent and must be addressed even-handedly and not confined to the GPSU bargaining unit…” said Yarde. He disclosed yesterday that the existing situation has even been extended to uniformed public servants whom the GPSU does not represent, such as those within the Police Force, Army, Fire Service and Prison Service. Yarde said yesterday too that since the prevailing situation has far-reaching effects, it must be given urgent positive attention. “We call on the government to be caring to its workers and to display a much more desirable approach/conduct in discharging its mandate to address the welfare of employees,” Yarde added.
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Tuesday July 31, 2018
Kaieteur News
New High Court trial over case of suspended magistrate By Rehanna Ramsay The Court of Appeal yesterday remitted a case, filed by former Magistrate Chandra Sohan over his suspension from duties by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), to the High Court for a new trial. In 2014, Sohan, was suspended from performing the duties of magistrate by the JSC, but sought an Order Nisi via the High Court to quash that decision. The matter was heard in the High Court by Justice Nareshwar Harnanan, who refused to grant the order requested by the former magistrate. In 2014, the JSC outlined four matters in which the commission claimed Sohan acted in violation of his duties as a magistrate. The JSC had requested a meeting with him to explain his unauthorized absence from work between 28/12/2013 and 7/1/2014; the issue of him leaving the country during December 2013 without permission; his ‘conduct’ in a named case in the Vreed-enHoop Magistrate’s Court and discrepancies between fines recorded by him on
Chandra Sohan case jackets and those recorded on police case jackets, occurring at Court 7 in Georgetown. Sohan had responded via his attorney-at-law, Mr Bernard De Santos SC, asking the JSC further particulars on the matters outlined. “He said that the JSC was scheduled to hear the matter on January 29, 2014. However two days before the scheduled hearing the
appellant was notified that it was postponed and that he would be notified of the new date. He had reportedly requested a deferral of the meeting in light of the short notice and the inability of his lawyer to attend, and also because he had still not received any response to his letter requesting particulars, but his request was refused and the meeting went ahead on December 3rd. In seeking a Writ of Certiorari to quash the decision of the JSC, Sohan claimed (inter alia) that the said decision was arbitrary, unfair, made in breach of the rules of natural justice and of no legal effect. On these grounds, Sohan had appealed the High Court decision. The ruling was delivered yesterday by Justices of Appeal Arif Bulkan, Dawn Gregory and Rafiq Khan. In handing down the judgment, Justice Bulkan addressed a number of issues, including the work and importance of the magistracy in the judicial system. The Judge noted that magistrates are unques-
tionably a vital component of judiciary and their work impacts a significantly larger part of the population. “In terms of both quantity and quality, their jurisdiction is significant, impacting upon a far larger segment of the population than the work of judges of the Supreme Court …” “All told, therefore, theirs is an enormous workload, so much so that one Jamaican Chief Justice has described equivalent courts in Jamaica as being the donkey courts.” In the case of Sohan, the Judge noted that the appellant was appointed a magistrate for Guyana in February 2000 and promoted sometime after to the position of Senior Magistrate. As a magistrate, Sohan worked at Courts in Corentyne, Berbice and Vreed -enHoop, West Demerara. He however suggested that he was treated unfairly in the nature of postings, remuneration and lack of promotion within the magistracy. The Appeal Court nonetheless did not focus on these matters. Instead the Court, addressed matters in relation to the actions taken by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in the course of disciplining him for various alleged infractions. In review of the facts presented, the Court noted that ten months had elapsed between the time Sohan was first notified of
t h e J S C ’s m e e t i n g a n d when it actually took place. It was also pointed out that although the appellant did not specify if any period of deliberation preceded the giving of notice, the rapid action of the JSC raises questions as to whether the meeting was a mere formality. “In other words, was the appellant truly afforded a hearing?” In his affidavit, the appellant, (Sohan) had outlined requesting a deferral of the meeting in light of the short notice and the inability of his lawyer to attend, and also because he had still not received any response to his letter requesting particulars. But his request was refused and the meeting went ahead on December 3rd. He claimed that at that meeting, he secured the s e r v i c e s o f M r. N i g e l Hughes in place of Mr. De Santos. The Court noted therefore that Sohan raised some serious allegations regarding the conduct of that meeting. According to him, he was asked, “tell us why you should not be suspended?” And Mr Hughes was forbidden from speaking. Without any more questions, Sohan was then handed a notice dated December 3rd, 2014 which informed him that he would be forthwith suspended from his duties. He had specified that his absence from duty for
the specified period was so that he could attend the funeral of his grandfather in Canada, and prior to leaving he had sought permission from both the acting Chancellor and Chief Justice. He noted however that the Chancellor was then himself out of Guyana while he received no response from the Chief Justice. He then sought permission from the Chief Magistrate, and arrangements were in fact put in place to have another magistrate act for him over the period of his absence. The appellant also noted that he was unable to respond to the allegation of discrepancies regarding fines recorded, since he was given no details of this by the JSC. In handing down the decision, the Appeal Court relied on a number of authorities and highlighted the seeming irregularities with regards to the appellant’s claims. The Court however stated that it could not make certain determinations since there was no service of the matter on the JSC and therefore no representation in Court on their behalf. In the circumstances, the Court granted the appeal and the Order Nisi sought for by Sohan, and remitted the case to the High Court for a full hearing on the merits after service on the appropriate parties.
Former soldier convicted of fatally shooting friend with army weapon A 12-member mixed jury yesterday convicted former soldier Allister Woolford of manslaughter for fatally shooting his friend, Devon Howell, in 2014. The incident occurred at Lot 100 Republic and D’Andrade Streets, Newtown. The verdict was in the proportion 10 guilty to two not guilty. Howell died on December 8, 2014. Based on reports, a gun went off and Howell was shot in his neck. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he eventually succumbed almost three weeks after the incident. His upper spinal cord was reportedly damaged as a result of the shot and he never regained consciousness. During November 2014, Woolford was charged with Attempting to Commit murder after Howell remained in a critical state at the Georgetown Public Hospital, days after the shooting.
However, after Howell succumbed, the charge of Attempting to Commit murder was withdrawn, and a new charge of manslaughter was instituted against Woolford. Based on evidence coming out of the trial, Howell was shot with a gun that belonged to the GDF. Jonathan Williams who was also emp l o y e d w i t h the GDF during 2014 testified that he had signed for and uplifted the gun from the armory at Base Camp Ayanganna, Georgetown. Williams had told the court that he and Woolford were friends, more like ‘squaddies’, since they trained together in the army. According to him, he left and went over to 100 Republic and D’Andrade Streets, Newtown, where he met Woolford and Howell. Williams testified that he needed to use the washroom and so he left the gun in care of Woolford, whom he trusted.
Minutes after, Williams told the jury that he heard a gun go off and he immediately exited the washroom to inquire about what had happened. Williams added that he saw Howell lying on the ground and that Woolford was applying first aid. He told the court that he inquired about what happened and Woolford told him that he shot Howell. The witness recalled that he panicked and picked up the gun from the floor and returned it to Base Camp Ayanganna, where he “rectified” certain things. During an unsworn testimony, Woolford had told the court that he was just joking around with the gun when he shot at Howell. He had told the court that he trusted that his friend would not have given him a gun with live rounds inside. The trial was h e a r d before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the High Court in Georgetown.
Tuesday July 31, 2018
Pomeroon drug bust.... Colombians fined for overstaying, one ordered deported
Yeison Sanchez
Reginaldo Jaramillo
Wilinton Reyes
Days after four Colombians were freed by a Magistrate in the Suddie Magistrate’s Court for aiding a carpenter who allegedly trafficked over 25 pounds of cocaine, they were yesterday charged for overstaying. It is alleged that between September 18, 2017 and January last, Colombian Nationals Yeison Sanchez, 27, a driver; Jesus Amaya, 52, a farmer, and Reginaldo Jaramillo , a t Lethem, failed to comply with conditions subject to which a permit was granted - having to stay in Guyana for one month, they overstayed their time. The three men appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where they pleaded guilty to the charge after it was read to them. Facts presented by Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield stated that the defendants came to Guyana legally through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and were permitted to stay in Guyana for one month.
The court heard that on January 2, last, ranks from CANU carried out a raid at Grant Woodland, Pomeroon, where a quantity of narcotics was unearthed. The defendants were arrested and taken into custody, where they were later charged for aiding a cocaine trafficker and were remanded to prison. The prosecutor added that the defendants were released from prison last Friday and they were taken into custody for overstaying. The Magistrate after listening to the prosecutor fined the defendants $20,000 each or in default, eight weeks imprisonment. Meanwhile, thirty-sixyear-old Wilinton Reyes, 36, a farmer, made his appearance before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman where the overstaying charge was read to him. It is alleged that between October 23, 2017 and January 2, last, at Georgetown, he failed to comply with conditions, subject to which a permit had been granted - having been permitted to stay in
Guyana from October 23, 2017 to November 23, 2017, he overstayed the said period. He pleaded guilty to the charge. The court heard that Reyes also came to Guyana legally and was granted a one month stay, but he overstayed the period. His lawyer, Bernard DaSilva in a bid to not get his client deported told the Magistrate that his client’s travel documents are still in possession of the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU). He added that the Chief Magistrate was lenient when she did not deport the first three defendants. Magistrate Latchman fined the defendant $50,000 or in default one month imprisonment. The Magistrate told the defendant that upon paying the fine or spending the time, he will be taken to the nearest port of exit and deported back to Colombia. The four men were previously charged for aiding a carpenter who allegedly trafficked 25 pounds of cocaine.
New Top Cop says he wants no honeymoon period as top cop PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Former national security minister, Gary Griffith, Monday welcomed Parliament’s approval of his nomination to be the next Commissioner of Police in Trinidad and Tobago, saying he had no intention of seeking a honeymoon period to deal with the criminal activities on the oil rich twin island republic. “I do ask that you endure with me until the appointment is made official, and the handover is complete, as there is an Acting Commissioner of Police in the chair presently leading the Police Service, and it would be inappropriate for me to say much more regarding my aim and methods to be used in the direction of Law Enforcement Operational Policies and re branding the direction of the Service at this time,” Griffith said in a statement.
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Parliament Monday gave the green light to the Police Service Commission (PSC) to appoint Griffith as the new police commissioner even though his former colleagues abstained in the vote. Griffith, who was dismissed as national security minister by then prime minister Kamla Persad Bissessar in 2015 amid the controversy over allegations that former attorney general Anand Ramlogan had sought to pervert the course of justice, failed to receive the support of the opposition legislators. According to the voting in the Parliament, 19 members of the government, who were present voted in support of Griffith, a former captain in the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, while the 13 opposition legislators who were present abstained. There were no votes against the nomina-
tion. Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley had defended the decision of his administration to support for the former government minister, saying he had also instructed members of the ruling People’s National Movement) (PNM) to vote freely in the exercise. On three previous occasions, the government had used its majority to vote against three other nominees including the Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, who had placed third on the merit list as approved by the PSC. Parliament had earlier this year accepted the report of a Select Committee of the Parliament that found the procedure followed by the PSC to be “unsound, unsafe, unsatisfactory and illogical” in seeking a replacement for Canadian Dwayne Gibbs, who resigned as Police Commissioner in 2012.
Four remanded for 255 lbs of ganja in wooden vessel, car
Jason Dhanpat
Inderjet Beepat
Four men who were recently busted by ranks of Custom Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) with 255 pounds of marijuana in a wooden vessel and a taxi, yesterday appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh, in the Vigilance Magistrates’ Courts, where they were charged and remanded to prison for the offence. Those charged are Jason Dhanpat, 30; Inderjet Beepat, 34; Jermain Hikel; 29 and Teairre Ackeem Cush, 24. It is alleged that on July 28 last, at Hope/ NootenzulLowlands, East Coast Demerara, they had in their possession 116.294 kilograms of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. The unrepresented men all denied the allegation after it was read to them by the Magistrate. CANU Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford, objected to bail being granted to the defendants citing the prevalence of the offence. She
added that based on the quantity of the narcotics, if bail is granted, the defendants would not return to court for the trial. However, after the prosecutor made her submission, the Magistrate asked the defendants if they have any special reason as to why bail should be granted to them and they all said yes. Beepat told the court that he was involved in an accident sometime back and he injured his left leg. He added that because of his injury, he is unable to use the washroom properly and should be granted bail. Meanwhile Hikel and Cush stated that officers placed them to lie on the floor and kicked them about their bodies to confess to the crime. According to information, on the day in question, CANU ranks conducted a raid operation on the East Coast of Demerara, where they found a wooden vessel and a taxi with several bulky bags containing a quantity of
Jermain Hikel
Ackeem Cush leaves, seeds and stems of marijuana. The prosecution’s objection was upheld by the Magistrate and the defendants were remanded to prison. They were instructed to make their next court appearance on August 8 at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court.
Caribbean American legislator to begin trial for immigration protest arrest NEW YORK, CMC – A Caribbean American legislator is to begin trial here on Tuesday for charges related to his arrest while trying to stop what he describes as “the unlawful detention and imminent deportation” of Trinidadian immigrant rights activist Ravi Ragbir. New York City Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, the son of Grenadian immigrants, will go on trial in New York County Criminal Court in Manhattan. Williams, a candidate for New York State Lieutenant Governor who represents the predominantly 45th Council District in Brooklyn, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) on Sunday that he now faces charges of obstruction of an emergency vehicle and obstructing government administration.” He is represented by attorneys Rhiya Trivedi
and Ron Kuby. On January 11, Williams was arrested along with17 others, including New York City Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, as he protested the detention and imminent deportation of Ragbir outside the Jacob K. Javitz US Federal Building in lower Manhattan. In March, he pleaded not guilty to charges of obstructing an emergency medical vehicle stemming from the January protest. Rodriguez appeared in court appearance late February and pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, which is a violation rather than a crime. The other protesters accepted an ACD (Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal), while informing the court of their intention to continue to protest actions they find “unjust”, Williams told CMC. He said he had pleaded not guilty, stating that his ac-
tions were “in opposition to the immoral deportation of Ravi Ragbir”. The arrest and detention of Ragbir was later ruled unconstitutional by US District Judge Kathleen Forrest, who compared the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) actions to “regimes we revile as unjust; regimes where those who have long lived in a country may be taken without notice and sent away.” Williams said he intends to continue to raise issues of immigrant rights, deportation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) abuses, and sanctuary cities throughout the legal process. “Those of us with a public position and voice have a moral obligation to defend communities who are disadvantaged and attacked,” Williams said.
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Tuesday July 31, 2018
Kaieteur News
Assault accused granted bail
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Fifty-eight year old, Mark Khan of West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, appeared yesterday before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, to face assault charges. It is alleged that on July 03, last, Khan, at West
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Ruimveldt, unlawfully and maliciously wounded Frank Farouk Mohamed and Bibi Shaqram. He pleaded not guilty to the two charges. The Prosecutor indicated that Khan and Mohamed are known to each other. On the day in question, Mohamed heard a loud banging on his door, and before he attempted to open the door, Khan shouted “open this f***ing door”. When he opened it, Khan began to punch Mohamed to his face and about his body. The second virtual complainant, Bibi Shaqram, came to Mohamed’s rescue by trying to pull the two apart from each other, and without any hesitation, Khan also dealt a few punches to Shaqram. Khan was granted bail to the tune of $160,000 and is scheduled to make his next court appearance on August 13.
Tuesday July 31, 2018
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Kaieteur News
CEO attends $120M contracts for slashing of road shoulders should be recalled Regional Meetings of Education Ministers
- Region Six PM rep
A section of the Number 19 Road that was cleared
The Prime Minister’s representative of Region Six, Gobin Harbhajan is calling for the contract for cleaning of road shoulders to be recalled after information surfaced that the contracts were not tendered. “The road shoulder contract issue has been raised at our RDC Statutory Meeting, if this contract is not properly tendered for as was mentioned at the RDC, then I’m calling on the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to recall all contracts regarding the slashing of the road shoulders, because other contractors and persons are complaining that only one set of
persons receive the contracts”. He added that over the years, complaints of corruption in Berbice were highlighted by him and he will continue to bring it to the public’s attention. ”If this particular contract was not awarded properly then it doesn’t look good in the eyes of the public. The perception out there is that Berbice is the breeding ground for corruption and we need to put a stop to this, during the past few election campaigns I have fought against corruption and I refuse to turn a blind eye on any sort of corruption. Based on information I received from
Chief Education Officer, Mr. Marcel Hutson
the RDC Statutory meeting, I wrote a letter to the Hon. Prime Minister Mr. Moses Nagamootoo and brought this issue to his attention”, Harbhajan lamented. The claim is that approximately $120M in contracts were “served on a platter” to several contractors in Berbice. Regional Chairman, David Armogan, commenting on the developments, claimed that persons were selected based on their political affiliation and this has raised eyebrows within the region. ”When we asked the Ministry of Public Infrastructure for information as to how these people were selected,
we are not getting any information. Our understanding is that the contract is for $120 million for eight or nine people who have been given the contract for the road shoulders”, Armogan said. He opined that persons who are equipped to do the job should have been given the go ahead to tender for the contract, “this is clear nepotism”, he said. Armogan further added that, “if you want to help your own, it should not be a problem, but you have to do it in a transparent manner… but these people are doing what they want to do and we are gonna expose them”.
Chief Education Officer (CEO), Mr Marcel Hutson, recently represented Minister of Education, Hon. Nicolette Henry, at a high-level Technical Meeting and also at the Regional Meeting of Ministers of Education of Latin America and the Caribbean in Cochabamba, Plurinational State of Bolivia. The purpose of the meetings was to develop action recommendations and build consensus on regional cooperation to support member states in the development, financing and monitoring of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Further, the meeting was intended to craft a roadmap for Latin America and the Caribbean countries in response to the region’s realities, expectations and priorities. Additionally, it is hoped that the meetings will pave the way for the building and upgrading of education facilities that are child-, disability- and gendersensitive and provide a safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environment for all. The Education Ministers also discussed expanding globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries with a focus on technical and vocational training, Information and Communication Technology, Engineering and scientific programmes.
Christianburg Wismar Secondary to offer CAPE from new school year Christianburg Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) has now joined Mackenzie High in Region 10 to offer the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) this year. The region now has two institutions offering CAPE. The move comes even as the Ministry of Education (MoE) takes yet another step towards closing the gap in education delivery across Guyana. This intervention comes at a time when Guyana is expected to experience a ‘purple patch’ with the emerging Oil and Gas sector. The MoE recognized that the educational thrust of Guyana is along the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) path. Therefore it is important
that the schools’ curricula respond to the needs of the society. The subjects that will be taught for the September 2018 CAPE programme at CWSS are: Geometrical and Mechanical Engineering Drawing, Electrical and E l e c t r o n i c Te c h n o l o g y, Computer Science and Pure Mathematics. This ultimately would lead to an Associate Degree in Technical Studies from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). Additionally, such pursuits will allow for the exemption from courses at the University of Guyana should the students go on to that territory institution. Region 10 has a secondary school population of 4,138. While all seven
secondary schools there are offering the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC); only the one senior secondary school, the Mackenzie High school, was offering CAPE. The CWSS has one of the strongest technical vocational education programmes in Region 10. This is evident in the CSEC results in the technical subjects. The school is equipped with four large workshops and two Information Technology laboratories to offer a multilateral programme. The school is a grade [B] institution, with a matriculation rate that ranks high among the other list [A] grade Schools in Guyana. Matriculation is
defined by CXC as a pass of at least five CSEC subjects, at one sitting, at Grades I to III, including English A and Mathematics. Over the past five years the school recorded a consistent improvement in stu-
dent matriculation. In 2013, only 29 percent of the CSEC candidates matriculated. By 2017, 48 percent matriculated. Over the past three years a total of 233 students matriculated from this school. Thirty-one percent or 72
of the students, who matriculated from the school over the past three years, were from the Industrial Technology Department. In 2015 and 2016, 83 percent of the candidates passed and in 2017 all the candidates (100 percent) passed.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday July 31, 2018
Tuesday July 31, 2018
Zimbabwe election: High turnout in first post-Mugabe poll (BBC) Voter turnout was 75% in Zimbabwe’s first general election since long-serving ruler Robert Mugabe was ousted, officials say. Polls have closed and counting is now under way. It is expected to be a tight contest between the incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa and his main rival, Nelson Chamisa. Foreign observers have hailed the election as an opportunity for Zimbabwe to break with its repressive past. The official result is due within five days. A run-off
election will be held on 8 September should none of the 23 candidates win more than 50% of the votes. Parliamentary and local elections were also taking place on Monday. Polls officially shut at 17:00 GMT but some remained open to allow people already in queues to vote. Opinion polls gave Mr Mnangagwa, who heads the ruling Zanu-PF party, a narrow lead over Mr Chamisa, the candidate of the opposition MDC Alliance. Both leaders are running for the presi-
dency for the first time. On Sunday, Mr Mugabe, who first came to power after independence in 1980, said he would not vote for his successor. Mr Mugabe, regarded as one of the last “Big Men” of African politics, was forced out of office last November by Mr Mnangagwa with the help of the military. Photo in tuesday as Zimbabwe poll Caption: Some people joined queues at 02:00 local time waiting for the polls to open at 07:00 local time
Chinese company recalls tainted heart medicine from stores worldwide (CNN)A medicine manufacturer in China is undertaking an international recall of active substances used in a commonly-used heart medicine which were found to contain traces of a dangerous carcinogen, the government announced Sunday. It is the second major Chinese medical controversy in less than a month, after hundreds of thousands of children’s vaccines were revealed to be faulty, putting an unknown number of infants at risk. Valsartan, a drug used to treat high-blood pressure and prevent heart failure, was recalled in 22 countries across Europe and North America earlier in July after batches were found to contain Nnitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), an organic chemical that belongs to a family of potent carcinogens. The substances were supplied by Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals (ZHP), based in Linhai, in eastern China, who said they notified authorities as soon as they identified the impurity. “We published our recall notice at midday on July 13 in China and overseas, and published the US market re-
call notice on July 14 Beijing time ... all the drug materials for the Chinese market were recalled by July 23,” the company said in a statement to the Shanghai stock exchange Monday. On July 16, ZHP said it had pulled all Valsartan products from US pharmacies, a market worth $20 million in sales for the company in 2017. Animal studies using NDMA have shown it to cause liver, kidney and respiratory track tumors. Following the revelation, China’s Food and Drug Administration said it had conducted a screening of all the country’s suppliers of the Valsartan ingredients, including ZHP. The early recall involved around 2,300 batches of the ingredient. Among the countries it was sent to were Germany, Canada, France, and Sweden. According to Xinhua, ZHP has taken “needed measures” to put it back in line with regulations. The recent drug scandals come at a time when the Chinese government is attempting to rebuild trust, both domestically and internationally, in the quality of the country’s products.
The government announced in mid-July it had discovered an estimated 250,000 doses of a diphtheria and tetanus (DPT) vaccine made by Changchun Changsheng Biotechnology and intended for young children were faulty, sparking widespread panic. So far, 15 people have been detained, including the company’s chairman, Gao Junfang, but the reaction on China’s social media was fast and fierce before censors intervened. “My home country, how can I trust you? You just let me down again and again,” one user commented on social media. Just days before the DPT vaccine announcement, more than 100,000 doses of a rabies vaccine produced by the same company were also found to be defective. Major international scandals have badly damaged the country’s reputation, such as the 2008 tainted milk formula scandal which put thousands of children at risk. More recently in 2016, a criminal organization was found to be selling millions of improperly stored vaccines.
Firefighters gain on sprawling California wildfire, six dead REDDING, Calif. (Reuters) - California firefighters on Monday gained ground on a massive wildfire that has killed six people and destroyed hundreds of homes, while rescuers searched for at least seven missing people. The Carr Fire ignited a week ago outside Redding, about 150 miles (240 km) north of Sacramento, and
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Kaieteur News
doubled in size over the weekend, charring an area half the size of New York City and forcing 38,000 people to flee their homes. Two firefighters, a 70year-old woman and her two young great-grandchildren were among the dead. Authorities have yet to identify the sixth fatality. California is bearing the brunt of an extreme run of wildfires across the U.S.
West, with erratic winds and record high temperatures charging blazes that have blackened nearly 410,000 acres, the state’s highest year-to-date level in a decade.Four wildland firefighters have been killed in California in 2018, twice as many as in all of 2017, with Carr Fire deaths blamed on swift-moving “firenado” whirlwinds of flames and ash.
US airport security’s ‘Quiet Skies’ programme tracks passengers (BBC) The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is facing criticism for secretly tracking Americans on flights, US media report. The “Quiet Skies” programme reportedly uses an unknown algorithm to flag flyers without any criminal record for surveillance on domestic flights. Air marshals tasked with carrying out surveillance have pushed back against the programme, according to US media. TSA denies any racial profiling and says it is a “practical” method. “With routine reviews and active management via legal, privacy and civil rights and liberties offices, the programme is a practical method of keeping another act of terrorism from occurring at 30,000 feet,” the agency said to the BBC in a statement. What is the programme? Under “Quiet Skies”, federal air marshals have been shadowing travellers on their flights and reporting any suspicious behaviour to TSA, the
Boston Globe first reported on Sunday. These travellers - who are in some cases American citizens - are not part of terrorist screening databases nor are they suspected of any wrongdoings, according to the newspaper.
Travellers are not notified when they have been added to the “Quiet Skies” list, which US media report contains fewer than 50 people. The programme had been a previously undisclosed TSA operation, but has been in place since 2010.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday July 31, 2018
Tuesday July 31, 2018
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Kaieteur News
FIFPro complains of insufficient break for Mustafizur returns to Bangladesh T20 side for World Cup players ZURICH (Reuters) - Global footballers’ union FIFPro says that at least 15 World Cup players have taken part in UEFA club competitions less than four weeks after returning from Russia, leaving without a sufficient close season break. The union reiterated its call for a mandatory rest period of at least four weeks between the final game of one season and the start of preseason training for the next. “Players are coming under too much pressure, caught between the needs of their clubs and their own personal
meaning that the two seasons in effect overlapped by a few days.Iceland’s Arnor Traustason played — and scored — for Swedish champions Malmo in a 3-0 win away to Kosovar side Drita in a Champions League qualifier on July 10. Serbia World Cup squad members Nemanja Radonjic and Milan Rodic played for Red Star Belgrade in a Champions League qualifier on July 11 and compatriot Vladimir Stojkovic played for Partizan in the Europa League the following day. While clubs from smaller leagues are already involved in European qualifiers, big clubs are on lucrative tours
well-being,” said the union in a statement. “While FIFPro understands the financial implications of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League for clubs, the health of these players is being put at risk because of such a congested match schedule.” The group stage of the World Cup in Russia, which was officially part of last season, finished on June 28 while the final was played on July 15. The first round of qualifying for this season’s Champions League began on July 10,
Tuesday July 31, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You have a passionate nature. Sometimes it's difficult for you when other people don't share your exuberance. This is a good time to tone things down a notch. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) This is going to be a rather intense day, Taurus. On the positive side, you'll accomplish a lot. On the less positive side, you may be exhausted by the end of the day. You're advised to try and pace yourself. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today it's important that you make your own decisions and stick with them. Much as you prefer to depend on others, your judgment really is best. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You're a dreamer, Cancer. Everyone loves you for it, but today the planetary aspects urge practicality. There are personal issues to resolve, and it does no good to have your head in the clouds. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Much has happened recently, Leo. Have you allowed enough time to process it? It's likely that big changes are brewing at home or work. Stay focused on the job at hand rather than fret about events over which you have no control. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You've made progress these past few weeks, especially where your temper is concerned, Virgo. It has taken some effort, but it does seem that you can overcome your tendency to speak before thinking. Don't lose the ground you've gained.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) This is likely to be an intense day, Libra. Family and friends may seem testy, so you're advised to stay out of their way. Don't worry - it isn't anything you've done. It's the planetary energy. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) This isn't the most cheerful time, because important issues are rearing their heads again and forcing you to address them. You'd rather not, but you can't wish them away. The time has come to deal with them once and for all. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Don't try to force anything or anyone right now, Sagittarius. You'll find that today's elements are just as stubborn as you are. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You're incredibly productive, with good business sense, Capricorn. However, lately you may have felt dissatisfied with where you are in life. As you look around, you might wish you had more possessions to show for all your hard work. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You have a keen analytical mind that has served you well in business. Alas, Aquarius, this characteristic doesn't always serve you well in your personal life. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) This is the beginning of an exciting period in your love life, Pisces. Your relationship with a significant other may have been in a rut lately, but that's about to change. Both of you are ready for something big.
abroad. On Sunday, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said his team’s World Cup participants should consider cutting their holidays short to help the depleted team in the opening stages of the Premier League season. Several players from United’s first-choice starting line-up, including Frenchman Paul Pogba, Belgian Romelu Lukaku and Englishman Jesse Lingard could miss the opening league fixture against Leicester City in less than two weeks’ time. England defender Phil Jones and forward Marcus Rashford are expected to return early to help prepare for the start of the season. Mourinho, frustrated after seeing his side lose 4-1 to Liverpool in the U.S. on Saturday, has suggested that others should do the same.
In-form Hetmyer... From page 30 scored 52 in the opening ODI which the hosts lost by 48 runs, and chipped in with 30 in Saturday’s last match when the Windies slipped to a 18run defeat to concede the series 2-1. Hetmyer made his ODI debut last December on the tour of New Zealand and has since played 12 matches. Veteran Chris Gayle also gained in the rankings, leaping 12 places to 66th after scores of 40, 29 and 73 while Shai Hope moved up five spots to 45th, after scoring 148 runs at an average of 31, including a half-century in the final contest. The right-handed Hope is the highest-ranked West Indies batsman, with the Marlon Samuels, who missed the series through injury, the next best at 52nd. In the bowling charts, offspinner Ashley Nurse jumped into the top 50 after moving up 25 places to 38th while legspinner Devendra Bishoo broke into the top 100 at 92nd, after climbing 31 spots. Nurse finished with three wickets and Bishoo, four, while captain and fast bowler Jason Holder also ended with four scalps. Again, there are no West Indies players in the top 20, with Holder the highestranked at 27th. India’s Jasprit Bumrah tops the rankings in an unchanged top 10. Meanwhile, Bangladesh star opener Tamim Iqbal was rewarded for his two centuries in amassing 287 runs, jumping four places to a career-best 13th.
Windies clashes
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AFP) — Fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman will return to Bangladesh’s squad for a three-match Twenty20 series against West Indies next month, the Bangladesh Cricket Board said Sunday. Mustafizur missed the T20 series against Afghanistan in June due to a toe injury suffered while playing for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League in May. He also missed the Test series in the West Indies, but played a vital role in Bangladesh’s 2-1 win in their
One-Day International series with five wickets in three matches. “He looks fully fit now, so we did not consider giving him a rest,” said chief selector Minhajul Abedin. Bangladesh squad: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehedi Hasan, Nazmul Islam Apu, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Haider, Abu Jayed and Ariful Haque.
DCC to honour four on national Under-19 cricket team Four members of the Demerara Cricket Club have been selected to tour with the Guyana Under-19 Cricket team for this year’s tournament. The four are Ashmead Nedd, Qumar Torrington, Sachin Singh and Joshua Persaud. To mark the occasion the Demerara Cricket Club would be hosting an appreciation ceremony and presentation this evening. The venue is the DCC Club Pavilion. President Roger Harper, Coach Garvin Nedd, and Chairperson of Cricket Development Mark Harper will be the main presenters on the occasion. The programme begins at 18:30 hours.
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THAG endorses Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee 12th Annual Guyana Cup Over the past 12 editions of the Guyana Cup, the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee has been expanding to cater to increasing numbers of visitors – new and returning – having received approximately 12,000 at last year’s event. The Tourism and Hospitality Association (THAG) was pleased to endorse the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee in its hosting of the 12th Annual Guyana Cup in collaboration with the Rising Sun Turf Club on August 19, 2018 a release informed. The Annual Guyana Cup is a successful tourism event in its own right having been responsible for bringing a unique niche of visitors to the destination following the offspring of their internationally bred horses from the USA, Suriname, Trinidad, Canada and other locations. It is with delight that THAG endorses this sporting tourism initiative hosted by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee and proposes that it should be added, the release noted. THAG members, during their meeting with the Cup’s Organising Committee members, wanted the event as a calendar event for fans of horseracing and families alike seeking new experiences while in Guyana. Sport tourism refers to the
Tuesday July 31, 2018
Kaieteur News
experience of travel to engage in or view sport-related activities. It is generally recognised that there are three types of sport tourism including sport event tourism, active sport tourism, and nostalgia sport tourism. Sport event tourism includes hallmark events such as the Olympic Games and the World Cup football championships. Since the early 1990s, international sporting events such as the World Cups and the Olympic Games were actively promoted as tourist attractions bringing large numbers of people to the destination following their team or in this case, favourite horse. In addition to these major hallmark events, sponsored tournaments such as the IPL Twenty20 cricket and tennis have also joined the plethora of this spectator-based sector of sport tourism. Similarly, tourism associated with professional sport teams and athletics namely the Digicel Meet in Jamaica are part of this type of sports tourism. Who is to say that the Annual Guyana Cup cannot attain these heights? Given that the Cup is a family-oriented and key tourism event for Berbice, THAG encourages all patrons to have a designated driver; if you drink, drink responsibly and travel safely when departing the event, the release concluded.
WDFA AGM now set for August 15 The West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) will now host its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday August 15 in the Boardroom at the Leonora Track and Field Facility from 18:00hrs.Presentation of the 2017 Audited Financial Report, Activity Report and Elections will be among the highlights of the AGM.
TSC Management... From page 29 his talent and skills in helping Guyana to win and retain both titles. They urged him to be focused and to be his best on and off the field and thanked Dave Jagernauth, Linden Fraser and Derrick Andre Edwards of the USA Tri State Team who made donation of Cricket gears to Adrian. Adrian joined TSC in 2012 as an 11-year-old and played with passion in all the GCA Competitions from U-13 to U-17. He scored a brilliant 116 vs DCC and 93 vs GYO in the U15s and a brutal 90 vs Everest in the U-17 T/20.Hinds has played both second and first division matches and played with the USA Tri State Team last year and represented North Ruimveldt Multilateral where he performed excellently with the bat, keeping and bowling left arm spin. He played in the GCB Inter County Under-19 tourney. (Sean Devers)
Nand Persaud Karibee Rice stable T and T, Golden Blue Echo take top comes out on top two position in feature race
Mr. and Mrs. Mohendra Persaud (left) of the Karibee Stable receives the winning trophy for T and T’s win in the feature event as Yap Drepaul aboard T and T and Ross on top Golden Blue Echo shares the moment. The Nand Persaud Karibee Rice Horseracing stable continues to show that it is one of the best in the Country and is improving by leaps and bounds when it took top honours at the Kennard Memorial Turf Club one day Horserace meet on Sunday last. Led by the ever improving T and T, trained by Mohendra Persaud and ridden by Yap “Old Boy” Drepaul the animal led a one two with Golden Blue Echo running in second in the feature E and lower event. Although being an H class animal and for some strange reason being denied participation in the H class event earlier, T and T made full use of the opportunity to whip the field as it took charge down the homestretch for an easy win in the 7 furlongs race. For the win T and T took home the $600,000 first prize and the DDL trophy. Golden Blue Echo was also impressive, finishing second with Isn’t She Charming beaten into third.Lucky Star from the R. Pooran stable with Jamaican Jockey Brian Blake in the saddles did its thing in the H and lower event to win from Seven Dust and Isn’t She Charming. The three-year-old Guyana bred and J2 and Lower race saw Slim Shady with Yap Drepaul on the
hunch beating out Not This Time and King Stanley. Victoria with Julius made sure that it lived up to its name when it crossed the finish line ahead of the field in the event for two-year-old Guyana bred horses. Occupying the other positions were Princess Tasha, Star Quality and perfection. Guava Ground Gal ridden by Paul Delph was in winners row in the L class open event, beating off Barbarosa,
Masapeque Dr and Red Region for the top position. The L non-winners’ race was taken by Byron of the C. Collins Stables as The Rock and Red Weasel had to settle for the other positions. There was also a race for the L Class and Lower nonwinners and three-year-old maiden earners. The winner was Secret Flyer of the C. Jorree Stables with Strike Again and See the Moon rounding out the money.
The Nand Persaud Karibee Rice sable was adjudged the best stable on show as it swept the plate in the prize giving ceremony taking the Champion Stable, Champion Trainer with Mohendra Persaud and Yap Drepaul the champion jockey on show. They were all presented with trophies and other incentives compliments of the Trophy Stall and the organisers.
Mrs. Nekita Ross (right) presents the winning trophy in the H class event to the connections of Lucky Star.
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Kaieteur News
Jamal John takes fifth annual Grenville Felix Memorial Cycle race Jamal John rode a tactical race as he stayed with the leading bunch until he sprinted away from the lead pack to win the fifth annual Grenville Felix Memorial Cycle road race which was staged on Sunday in East Berbice. The event, which was organised by The Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) was sponsored by the Felix Family in Guyana and overseas. John’s winning time was two hours, 15 minutes and 11.49 seconds (2:15: 11.49 sec). Second was one arm wonder Walter Grant Stuart, with Paul De Nobrega third, Michael Anthony fourth, Andrew Hicks fifth, with Andre Green, Curtis Dey, Alonzo Ambrose, Romello Crawford and Christopher Griffith rounding out the first 10 that received prizes. The start of the event which was delayed for hours due to the late arrival of the police saw the cyclists peddling off with a rolling start around 14:30hrs from Betsy Ground, East Canje, Berbice in front of the late Felix boyhood place of residence. At his former residence at Canefield, East Canje the 29 riders were given the starters flag as they proceeded to the No51 Police Station and back for the finishing line at Canefield. A small bunch which included John, Stuart, De Nobrega and Anthony made an early break but were not allowed to get far as they were quickly swallowed in by the
Jamal John displays the winning Felix Memorial trophy as the other outstanding participants, sponsors, family members and organisers share the moment. pack. It was a ding dong battle for most of the event as the cyclists continuously made the jump to get an advantage, but was quickly roped in by the rest of the peloton. The riders stayed together for most of the event until the downward journey on the No19 straight road when the first four riders again made a move. It was John that was able to out duel Stuart to cross the finish line first for the win with De Nobrega edging out Anthony in a close tussle for third and fourth.
The junior category saw Ajay Gopilall winning from Ralph Seenarine and Donovan Fraser. The 12-14 category was won by Jeremiah Joseph with Steve Bhimsein second and Mario Washington third. There was a special race for club cyclists which saw Balram Narine continuing his dominance as Ralph Seenarine finished second and Syborne Fernandes third. The BMX Category saw Neshaun Rigby taking the checkered flag ahead of
Sachin Kara, Troy David and Daniel Blair. Arfaan Blair received a special prize for being the only U-6 rider. The prime point prize were taken by John and Narine with two each, while there was one each for Jaikaran Sookhai, Marcus Keider, Dey, Ambrose, De Nobrega and Jornel Yearwood.At the presentation ceremony, Children of Grenville Felix thanked the cyclists for participating in the event. Thanks was also expressed to the hundreds of
spectators and supporters for being a part of the event. They expressed gratitude to Coordinator Randolph Roberts, the FACC and Guyana Police Force for doing a wonderful job and gave the assurance that they will continue the partnership in the future. Rawle Felix spoke glowingly of his late father who was a retired Engineered with Guysuco and had a passion for his church, community activities and cycling. Ovid Felix and relative Claville Francis assisted in the distri-
bution of the prizes. Roberts thanked the Felix family for the faith shown in his club and undertook to continue to try his best. This is the seventh year for the event, the first two was held on his birthday and after he died the family decided to stage the event as a memorial race. The lien trophy would be given to the first rider that wins the event three times. De Nobrega was the defending champion he has so far won the race twice. (Samuel Whyte)
James fulfills promise with opening of school in Akron West Indies announce LeBron James the basketball player has left Ohio. But on Monday morning, the footprint of LeBron James, the philanthropist, got even bigger in his home state. The I Promise School, started in conjunction with James’ foundation and Akron Public Schools, opened Monday for 240 third- and fourth-grade students. The school will add grade levels each academic year, and by 2022 is expected to educate children in first through eighth grades. Much has been written about James’ turbulent childhood in Akron, Ohio. In fourth grade, for example, he missed more than 16 weeks worth of school days. The LeBron James Family Foundation sought a way to help families like the one he grew up in, providing children with an education, a path to college and support services for them and their parents. “We are going to be that groundbreaking school that will be a nationally recognized model for urban and public
LeBron James shoots during a game. (Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports) school excellence,” I Promise principal and Akron native Brandi Davis told USA Today. “We are letting people know it is about true wrap-around support, true family integration and true compassion.” Students were selected for the inaugural class based on their academic history. “Looking at reading
data, we identified students who were a year, two years behind in reading,” Keith Liechty, the Akron Public Schools’ liaison to James’ foundation, told the newspaper. “From that, we had more than 120 kids. We had to put a cap on it so we could fit under one roof. We did a random selection
of all students who met that criteria and got to make these awesome phone calls to parents and say, ‘How would you like to be part of something different, the I Promise School.’” James moved from the hometown Cleveland Cavaliers to the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency this offseason. Still a big chunk of his heart is in Akron. On Sunday, James, 33, tweeted this: “The jitters before the first day of school are real right now!!! Tomorrow is going to be one of the greatest moments (if not the greatest) of my life when we open the #IPROMISE School. This skinny kid from Akron who missed 83 days of school in the 4th grade had big dreams.” The school year will run from July 30 through May 17, and then will resume for a seven-week summer school. Students will attend weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Field Level Media)
T20 squad ST JOHN’S, ANTIGUA – WINDIES will now turn its attention to the three T20s remaining on the Bangladesh tour of the region with one match in St Kitts and the other two in Florida, starting tomorrow at 20:00hrs. The Selection Panel has assembled a 13-man squad to face the visitors. The squad reads: Carlos Brathwaite – Captain, Samuel Badree, Sheldon Cottrell, Andre Fletcher, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Chadwick Walton and Kesrick Williams. Chairman of Selectors, Courtney Browne, says “we have rested Chris Gayle and have added leftarm pacer, Sheldon Cottrell for variety to the bowling attack. The team reflects the last squad that performed well in the charity match in the UK.”
Going forward, the panel thinks the talent pool for the T20 version is widening and acknowledges “The strong performances of the young players in the WINDIES B team during the T20 series in the C a n a d a ’s G l o b a l T 2 0 League and this augurs well for our T20 game.” Head Coach, Stuart Law has not hidden his disappointment in the 1-2 loss in the ODI but is “optimistic that the players are beginning to understand the direction they need to go. The players are gradually working harder and we expect the results to turn in our favor.” The schedule for the three-matches is: Tue, Jul 31 - 1st Twenty20 International – Warner Park (8 pm) Sat, Aug 4 - 2nd Twenty20 International – Central Broward Regional Park, United States (8 pm) Sun, Aug 5 - 3rd Twenty20 International – Central Broward Regional Park (8 pm)
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RHTY&SC/6th Gregory Gaskin Memorial Sports Awards ”Sports is the best way that we can get our youths to reject satan and his evil ways. In today’s world, where the temptation to do evil is across every corner, it is very important that we promote sports as an alternative to a life on the road. It is also important that all our sporting heroes be role models to their peers and in return be recognised and honoured during their lifetime.” Those were the words of Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster as he addressed the presentation ceremony at the Sixth Gregory Gaskin Memorial Berbice Sports Awards which took place at the St. Francis Community Developers Training Hall and was sponsored by Mrs. Noreen Gaskin of Sentinel Security Ltd. in memory of her late husband. Foster, stated that the Gregory Gaskin Memorial Award is one of the top awards of the RHTY&SC and is the most prestigious for Sports in the Ancient County. The Award is administered by the ten cricket teams of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation. Members of the public were invited to submit nominations for five awards and then a panel of judges headed by veteran Television Reporter Gregory Rambarran
Hetmyer and Texeira are top awardees
Awardees pictured with representatives of Sentinel Security Ltd. selected the Awardees for 2017. West Indies Player Shimron Hetmyer was named Sportsman of the Year for his outstanding performance for Guyana and the West Indies, while Shineka Texeira carried home the Sportswoman of the Year Award. Texeira won three gold medals as Champion cyclist at the National School Athletics Championships organised by the Ministry of
In-form Hetmyer makes huge strides in ODI rankings Rising batting star Shimron Hetmyer.
LONDON, CMC – Rising batting star Shimron Hetmyer’s heavy scoring in the recent one-day series against Bangladesh has seen him jump a massive 77 places in the ICC batting rankings. The 21-year-old lefthander was the biggest mover in the latest release of the rankings, and now lies 59th in the charts currently topped by Indian stroke-maker Virat Kohli.
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Kaieteur News
Hetmyer found a purple patch in the three-match series against the Tigers, pummeling 207 runs at an average of 69. He struck his second ODI hundred (125) in the second match in his native Georgetown last Wednesday, helping the Windies to a narrow three-run series-levelling victory. The former ICC Under-19 World Cup-winning captain (Continued on page 25)
Education and the Guyana Teachers Union. National Under-19 Cricket Coach Julian Moore was named Sports Personality of the Year; the Sports Association for 2017 Awardee was the Berbice Volleyball Association while Linden Murray copped the Lifetime Sports Award. Moore coached the Under-19 Team to double championship, while the Berbice Volleyball Associa-
tion was the dominant sports organisation in the county. Murray is known across Berbice for the role he plays in the promotion of sports in the Upper Corentyne area. Foster congratulated the five Awardees and urged them to not only uphold the high standards they have set themselves but to share their experiences with others. He also pledged that the RHTY&SC would continue to
promote sports in every area in Berbice and assist the less fortunate youths to fulfill their potential in education and sports. He also expressed gratitude to Mrs. Gaskin and Sentinel Security Services for their sponsorship and pledged that the RHTY&SC would work harder to expand the Awards in the future. Mr. James of the Berbice Office of Sentinel Security thanked the Club for honouring the late
Gregory Gaskin and congratulated the Awardees. He stated that the late Gaskin was a passionate lover of sports and as such it was a fitting way to honour the late CEO of Cops Security. Gaskin passed away six years ago in a motorcycle accident at the Timehri Circuit. Each of the Awardees received a trophy, medal, framed Certificate of Excellence and a collection of gifts.
More sponsors get on board for Nand Persaud Sky Plus Sprint Classic As the racing date gets closer a number of sponsors have come on board to join with the Nand Persaud Group of Companies and their Sky Plus Promotion Group for their Sixth Mega Sprint Classic Horserace meet. The latest set of sponsors includes Retired Jockey Abdul Latiff and businessmen Deo Persaud, Jaikaran Sergobin (Raymond) and Jaikishan Persaud (Ricky). They join Beverage Giants Ansa McAl Guyana Limited and Trophy giants the Trophy Stall of Bourda Market for the much anticipated event dubbed the ‘Nand Persaud Karibee Sprint Classic’, slated for Sunday August 12th at the Company’s, No 36 Village, Macedonia Estate, Corentyne, Berbice Racing Facility. Seven races are listed for the day with over $4M in cash, trophies and other incentives up for grabs. The feature event is for horses classified D and lower over 880yards or four Furlongs for a winning purse of $400,000 and trophy.
Some of the trophies to be contested for on race day on display.
The other races will see the horses competing in the H and lower category for a take home prize of $260,000 and trophy over 3 Furlongs. There is an event for 3 yearold animals which will see the horses galloping for a winning take of $200,000 and trophy also over 3 Furlongs. The 2 year-old animals will be competing for a similar winner’s purse of $200,000 and trophy over 4 Furlongs. The K Class and Lower animals will have at stake a first prize of $140,000 and trophy over 3 Furlongs.There are two events for animals classified L and Lower. One for male horses over 4 Furlongs, while the female animals will be galloping over 3 Furlongs both for $100,000 and trophy. The Trophy Stall will be presenting a number of trophies to top performers including top trainer, stable and jockeys.Interested persons can make contact with Nick on 600-7280 or Amanda on 618-5916. The Coordinator is Mohendra ‘Mohin’ Persaud. (Samuel Whyte)
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Kaieteur News
45th CAC Championships
Bruce Whatley snaps up Pro Card after gold in Masters & Middleweight classes
P abst R acing shine at Pabst Racing Mid Ohio USF2000 series
- Campbell good for bronze
Calvin Ming in his race car at the Ohio event.
Top three Men’s Physique athletes in the Under 174cm class, at far right is Emmerson Campbell. Opting not to defend his 2017 Mr. Guyana title but focusing his energies on the 45th edition of the CAC Body Building & Fitness Championships, Guyana’s USA based Bruce Whatley flexed his way to a Pro Card following gold medal performances in the Masters and Middleweight categories. The seasoned campaigner placed 2nd Overall behind winner Damion Daniel of Grenada who also received his Pro Card. On Saturday, Whatley successfully defended his Masters title which he won in 2016 in the Dominican Republic and returned to the stage
on Sunday to capture the Middleweight gold before ending 2nd in the Overall showdown. The annual championship was cancelled last year following the hurricanes that ravaged parts of the Caribbean and the earthquakes in Mexico. Emmerson Campbell, who recaptured the Mr. Guyana Men’s Physique title this year from Yannick Grimes who dethroned him last year, ended with the bronze (Under 174cm Class) medal in Mexico on the weekend. Campbell had won silver in the Dominican Republic in 2016.
Campbell has expressed thanks to Fitness Express, the National Sports Commission/ Ministry of Social Cohesion, Bounty Farm Ltd and the GABBFF among others for making his attendance in Mexico possible. The other two athletes that made their way to Mexico, Caerus Cipriani ended just outside the medals, 4th place in the Under 182cm Men’s Physique competition, while Alisha Fortune did not get past the pre judging phase in the Body Fitness contest. Next year’s CAC Championships will be hosted by the Puerto Rico federation.
The Pabst Racing team had a successful weekend in the penultimate round of the 2018 USF2000 series at the Mid Ohio circuit in Bellville, Ohio. The circuit is over 2.25 miles long with 12 turns over very undulating terrain, with a vertical drop of 140 feet from turn #1 to turn #6. Participating in the three
races during the weekend the Pabst team drivers Lucas Kohl of Brazil, Rasmus Lindh of Sweden, Kaylen Frederick of the USA, and Calvin Ming of Guyana captured two second place and two third place podium finishes. Calvin finished third in the first race, fifth in the second and seventh in the third. Lucas finished second in the
first and second races and sixth in the third. Rasmus finished eleventh in the first, fourth in the second and third in the third. Kaylen had a DNF in the first and second races and eighteenth in the third. There were twenty-four drivers competing in each race, which was run for 20 laps over a distance of approximately 45 miles.
TSC Management makes donation to Nat U-19 batsman Hinds
Freedom Cup set for tomorrow at Enmore Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club (ECCCC) and Blairmont Centre Cricket Club (BCCC) will lock horns tomorrow in a 30/30 battle for the inaugural “FREEDOM CUP” at the Enmore community Centre Ground to recognize the emancipation of slaves in 1838. The executives of the two clubs finalized the event last Saturday, agreeing to build a relationship from this match. ECCCC and BCCC have only played one match against each other in the last eight years with BCCC winning then by 2 wickets.
Devindra Lalsa was the man of match making 51 and picking up three wickets including the scalp of former West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul who returned to take five wickets. The entrance for the FREEDOM CUP is free and the crowd will be treated with a 10/10 encounter after the feature game. The first game is expected to start at 11:00hrs, while the 10/10 game will start at 16:00hrs. Colored clothing, white ball and lighted bails will be used. There will be other attractions such as Table Tennis Se-
nior and Junior, Cartoon Character Walk around, Live ball by ball updates by Inderjeet Persaud. ECCCC squad: B. Ramkelawan (Capt), A. Khan, R. Singh, R. Hiralall, N. Gobin, C. Surat, S. Jainarine, V. Moonsammy, M. Jeenarine, D. Managal, S. Jainarine, V. Ishwardin, C. Mars, Y. Dyal, D. Narine and I. Hassan. BCCC squad: K Jawahir (capt), Z. Inshan, W. Hassan, P. Ramdhan, N. Deodat, M. Prashad, S. Baksh, I. Khan, S. Dhani, F.Subhan, S. Glasgow jr, D. Mc Calmon, R. Chatura, D.Clements, and A. Harrilal.
National U-19 batsman Adrian Hinds (2nd left) with his dad (2nd from right) TSC Captain Shawn Massiah (left) & Derrick Edwards at the presentation. The Management Committee of Transport and General Sports Club headed by Mr. Ivor English President, Vice Presidents Kenrick Fraser & Gladstone George, Secretary Abiola Craig, Asst Sec. Brian Galloway, Treasurer Ms Newland, Asst. Treasurer and Club Captain Mr. Shaun Massiah and Committee member Mr. Richard Samuels
made a monetary donation to young Adrian Hinds on his selection to the Guyana U19 Squad to take part in the CWI Regional tournament. The Management Committee wished Hinds all the best and hopes that he would grasp this opportunity to showcase (Continued on page 26)
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Tuesday July 31, 2018
Kaieteur News
Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Karate Association concludes E Level Instructors course The Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Karate Association recently conducted an instructor’s course where several students from 3kyu brown belt to black belts. The students who were successful are: Chandrapaul Sukhu, Adrian Rambarran, Mahendra Gorakh, Tyrese Harris, Isaiah Busby, Raul Joseph, Jaffar Ramnarine, Zafar Ramnarine, Altaf Singh, Aliya Ramnarine and Someshram Banasar. Master Lloyd Ramnarine would like to congratulate all the students who did well in their course. He said that this is a big achievement for his students because one can become an instructor which is something very important in our society. The next course will be a judging and refereeing course scheduled for November. The next event is an international tournament in Suriname. The association is soliciting assistance from any person or business entity who would like to help sponsor the team. Contact can be made with Master Lloyd Ramnarine on telephone number 698-6727.
Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Karate Association students and officials after the completion of the course.
RHTY&SC Cricket Teams, Nand Persaud assist Young Cricketers under Patron’s Fund Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS has joined hands with Nand Persaud Group of Companies to assist young cricketers with their
own cricket bats. The distribution of the bats would be done in early August and would be part of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club celebration of its Patron, President David Granger 73rd
Birthday. The Club under its Patron’s Fund would be sharing out school bags, exercise books, bicycles and cricket bats. The Club would also be sponsoring the Patron’s Green Economy Cricket Tournament which would be organised by the Berbice Cricket Board as part of its packed 2018 Cricket Season. Club Secretary/CEO Hilb e r t F o s t e r, w h o a l s o serves as President of the Berbice Cricket Board, stated that the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club is by far, the largest supporter of Berbice Cricket and its record of assistance to Clubs and Cricketers are unmatched across the Caribbean. The Club over the last two decades has assisted over one hundred Cricket Clubs and countless players with cricket gears, balls, scorebooks, stumps, trophies, medals and prizes. This, Foster stated is part of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club effort to make sure that every youth fulfills his/her full potentials on the cricket field. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sport Club has also invested heavily in its own membership and every junior member has received their own cricket bat. The Club would continue to do so in
Representatives of Nand Persaud Co. Ltd hands over sponsorship to RHTYSC Vice President Mark Papannah. the future and Foster hailed the cooperation of longtime sponsor Nand Persaud Co. Ltd. Special mention was made of Managing Director Mohindra Persaud and Marketing Officer, Ms Amanda. In an effort to assist those who need assistance the
most, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club is inviting Cricket Clubs to submit the names of Under-15 Players who have great potential and is discipline, hard working and dedicated. The Awardees would be selecting by a committee
headed by Vice President Mark Papannah and includes Asst Secretary Simon Naidu and Cricket Manager Robby Kissoonlall. Names can be submitted to email: fosterhilbert@yahoo.com or telephone 337-4562.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday July 31, 2018
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The GT Beer/ Keep Your Five Alive Competition
Four potentially explosive quarter-finals encounters on this evening
Part of the action in this year’s GT Beer/ Keep Your Five Alive Competition currently being played at the National Gymnasium.
T
he lineup for tonight’s round of matches in the quarter-finals of the GT Beer/ Keep Your Five Alive Competition could very well light up the National Gymnasium. Following the conclusion of Round of 16 action, attention is now paid to the business end where the survivors of this phase is into
the money so there is a lot to play for. In the opening game, East Bank-based Rhythm Stars go up against Leopold Street and this clash is predicted to be the perfect start for the night. Sceyon Hope, Steffon R a m s a y, O r v i l l e a n d Dorville Stewart are the key players expected to carry the weight of the Rhythm Stars
Dindyal, Persaud hit half centuries as Ariel Masters thump Narine Masters
Peter Persaud Half centuries from Keme Dindyal and Richard Persaud handed Ariel Masters a comfortable victory over Narine Masters when the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. (GSCL Inc.) Crown Mining Supplies, Elegant Jewellery and Pawn and Ink Plus softball tournament continued on Sunday at Malteenoes Sports Club. Dindyal struck five fours and three sixes in a top score of 60, while Persaud hammered one four and six sixes in scoring a fluent 59 as Ariel Masters rattled up 161-7 in 20 overs, batting first. Raghunandan Narine snared 3-16 and Dereck Mangar 2-16. Narine Masters were skittled for 39 in 7.2 overs in reply. Dharam Persaud claimed 3-7, Peter Persaud 2-3 and Raymond Harper 2-11 for Ariel who won by 12 runs.
quest to progress, while Okanie Fraser, Omallo Williams, Goalkeeper Travis Bess and Carl Tudor will bear the bulk of the responsibility for Leopold Street’s ambition to advance. In the next game, Sparta B o s s t a k e o n We s t Demerara’s Showstoppers and clearly the former is the overwhelming favourite to move on with the likes of the nippy Eusi Phillips, Sheldon Shepherd, Denis Edwards, Gregory Richardson, Jermin Junor, all part of one of the most lethal attacking force in the format. Stephon Jupiter and Marvin Josiah are the marquee players for
Showstoppers and they will need to play at an unbelievable level to put them in a position to progress. H o w e v e r, t h e y a r e capable of producing that required level so counting them out is at your own peril. The Future Stars versus Tiger Bay encounter is undoubtedly the most eagerly anticipated matchup of the evening and choosing a winner in this game is a difficult task. Future Stars have a deadly strike force led by Jamal Cozier that also includes Akeemo Anthony, Akosi Jarvis, Jamal Codrington and Josiah
Charles and they are among the most feared in the shorter version. However, Tiger Bay’s combination which is led by the skilful Deon Alfred, Godfrey Powers, James Meredith and Orin Moore are equally efficient in scoring goals and this is why this clash has the potential to be blockbuster. In the final quarter-final, Back Circle square off against Albouystown and fans are certain to get their money’s worth to bring the curtains down for the night. S e l w y n Wi l l i a m s , Stephan McLean, Jermaine Samuels and Jamal Adams will be the spearhead of the
East Ruimveldt-based unit, while the speedy and instrumental leader Devon Dooker will shepherd Albouystown’s assault on the opposition along with the efforts of Marlon Nedd, Melvorn Ross, Sean Turney and Lenox Cort. A few exhibition games will precede quarter-final action. The night’s fixtures are seen below: Rhythm Stars versus Leopold Street Sparta Boos vs. Showstoppers Future Stars vs. Tiger Bay Back Circle vs. Albouystown
rt o p S 45th Bruce Whatley snaps up Pro Card after gold in Masters CAC C/ships & Middleweight classes - Campbell good for bronze P. 31
Bruce Whatley after he successfully defended the CAC Masters title in Mexico.
Proud Moment! 2018 CAC Middleweight winner Bruce Whatley poses with the 2nd and 3rd place finishers.
Pabst Racing shine at Mid Ohio USF2000 series
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Pabst Racing team celebrate their success.
The GT Beer/ Keep Your Five Alive Competition
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Four potentially explosive quarter-finals encounters on this evening Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.