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Godfrey Statia is new GRA boss

AIETEUR NEWS

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Tuesday Edition July 19, 2016 - Vol. 9 No. 30

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SOCU seeks court orders to probe bank accounts of money laundering suspects Guyana Watch US Medical NICIL yet team touches W.B.D to collect US$16M in bad debts National Assembly to confirm FIU Director, PetroCaribe funds… Deputy Dr. Natasha Tamdji (left) attends to patients at Wales W.B.D yesterday

Every cent can be traced at Ministry of Finance - denies administration made - says Ramotar undocumented withdrawals

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday July 19, 2016

SOCU seeks court orders to probe bank accounts of money laundering suspects Approaches have been made to the High Court for the Special Organised Crime Unit to access to the bank accounts of many people as part of a money laundering investigation.

Head of the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) Lt. Colonel Sydney James’ comments came in the wake of the PPP weekly press conference.

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee had told reporters at the press conference that the coalition government had approached the Courts for warrants to not only probe ex- Ministers’ bank accounts, but also to conduct searches at their respective residences.

When asked to reveal who were the PPP members that were involved, Rohee demurred, claiming that he did not know the

names. Nor could he confirm if the warrants were issued. He reiterated, however, that the courts were approached for warrants.

C o l J a m e s , h o w e v e r, clarified what investigators actually did. He stated that the courts were approached for orders that would allow SOCU to access the bank accounts of a number of people. He emphasised that it was not aimed at former PPP Ministers, but at people who are being probed for money laundering related offences.

Col James also debunked Rohee’s claims that search warrants were sought.

According to the Lt. Colonel, the unit had no need for search warrants at this time.

The PPP cabinet in 2011

These revelations come at a time when a series of damning forensic audits, which were conducted into state entities and covered the time the PPP was in office, have been released.

They also come in the wake of revelations that Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency, Omar Shariff, had billions of dollars in a number of accounts at local banks. It is believed that the monies were deposited over a five-year period.

Shariff was sent off on leave earlier in July, by Minister of State Joseph Harmon in order to facilitate a probe by both SOCU and the State Assets Recovery Unit.

In addition to being questioned, Shariff also had his home searched

by Law Enforcement officers.

Investigators are probing how Shariff, a former candidate of the PPP, ended up with that amount of money in the accounts. From

indications, they are not buying a story that Shariff owned a business that raked in almost $100M annually for the last seven years.

There seemed to be little evidence that taxes were paid.

In addition, there were questions about his role after a major investigation revealed that the Office of the President, under Shariff ’s watch, transferred hundreds of millions of dollars to the Ministry of Public Service, headed by then Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford.

Westford, a sitting PPP Member of Parliament and her assistant Margaret Cummings, are currently before the courts facing 24 simple larceny charges. The charges allege that between August 2011 and April 2015, while being employed in the Public Service of the Government of Guyana, they stole the sum of $639.4M belonging to the state.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 19, 2016

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PetroCaribe funds…

Every cent can be traced at Ministry of Finance - says Ramotar - denies administration made undocumented withdrawals In the wake of revelations that the PetroCaribe fund received over US$400M in funds over a seven-year period, former President Donald Ramotar is adamant that every cent can be accounted for and traced at the Ministry of Finance.

According to the former President, yesterday, the agreement, which was initiated by his predecessor in office Bharrat Jagdeo, was above board. He noted that money derived from oil imports from Venezuela went into the fund.

Ramotar stated that any outflow/monies extracted from the fund were recorded.

The former Head of State went on to say that not only were outflows recorded; there were also records of how the money was used.

He made it clear that money from the fund was used for paying rice farmers, who from 2009 began supplying paddy to millers for processing and export to Ve n e z u e l a . T h i s arrangement, the oil for rice arrangement, was formulated to help Guyana mitigate its debt to Venezuela.

Ramotar pointed to the US$15M which was taken from the fund and plugged into the Hope Canal project.

This project was a fourcomponent development and was touted as being a

solution to the flooding being experienced along Guyana’s coast.

Its structure includes a channel working in conjunction with three other components: a high level sluice outfall structure, the conservancy head regulator and a public bridge. There have been structural problems with the project, however.

Ramotar, who served as President of Guyana from 2011 to 2015, could not give details about these rice payments and how much was used to pay rice farmers.

He did, however, describe the Government’s statements about his party’s management of the fund as “fishing.”

“They are just fishing, instead of concentrating on development,” he said.

“Every single cent can be traced.”

The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) in its annual reports dating from 2007 shows that over the duration of the agreement (20072015); 12,175,027 barrels of oil were imported through the GEA from Venezuela, making Venezuela the single largest source of fuel imports for Guyana.

Over the course of the agreement, the fund recorded an inflow of at least $84.1B. This was disbursed to the Ministry of Finance as part of the financed portion,

after GEA would have facilitated Venezuela being paid its portion.

The reports detail that in 2008, 1,419,868 barrels of oil were imported from Venezuela and there was $16.5B (US$80M) in disbursements to the Ministry of Finance, as the financed portion.

In 2009, the oil imported f r o m Ve n e z u e l a w a s 1,079,252 barrels, representing 28 per cent of total oil imports for the year.

While the 2009 report does not make mention of disbursements, in 2010 $9.1B (US$44.8M) was disbursed to the Ministry under the agreement.

In 2011, 1,451,843 barrels of oil were imported f r o m Ve n e z u e l a , 3 3 . 5 percent of imports. The agency reported that $21.7B (US$105.2M) was disbursed to the Ministry of Finance as the financed portion under the agreement.

In 2012, a mammoth 2,378,982 barrels of oil were imported from the Spanishspeaking country. Venezuela accounted for 76 percent of total imports that year. The report states that $36.8B (US$178.8M) was disbursed to the Ministry.

Meanwhile, for 2013, the oil imported was 1,597,341 barrels. In 2014 that total was 1,749,883 barrels and in 2015, the year the agreement

Former President Donald Ramotar Former Minister of Finance Ashni Singh Former President Bharrat Jagdeo came to a premature end even before it expired, the number was 834,056 barrels.

The reports do not say what was disbursed to the Ministry for these years.

Despite the billions of dollars flowing in, when the

coalition Government took office last year, it had announced that the PetroCaribe fund was completely empty. With there being no monies in the Fund to pay rice farmers, (Continued on page 17)

Tuesday July 19, 2016

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Kaieteur News

ECCLES NEW COMMUNITY UNDER SEIGE

DEAR EDITOR; The front page of the Sunday Stabroek for July 17 contained a headline that included two garbage collection services that caught my attention. The waste management services named in the news item are major players presently involved in the wanton destruction of the roads and other violations in a section of the new Eccles Housing Scheme that runs parallel to the dump site access road, where the government built two flat turnkey and other houses are located. The road was built about two years ago and the destruction started about six months ago when, instead of using the

dump site road, the garbage trucks of these two services resorted to using the community road.

As you might imagine, there are other vehicular traffic, including other garbage collection services that use the road. But by the share volume and frequency, Puran Brothers and Cevon’s Waste Disposal Services have contributed to over 90 percent of the destruction and other violations. The shoulders of large sections of the road is broken off, parapets are damaged, and in one case the electric wire that connects a resident’s house to the Guyana Power and Light pole along with the meter was recklessly ripped

away from where it was secured on the house, by one of these trucks. Although attributed mostly to vehicles that transport garbage in uncovered vehicles and other persons with no regard for cleanliness and good sanitation, there is also the problem of littering, especially along the dump site road.

Editor, the presence of these trucks roaming through the community and emitting a stinking, nauseating smell from very early in the morning to late in the afternoons, seven days a week, even though neither of them is known to provide collection service to the community is contributing to the degradation of the

Innovative Mining Inc....

From page 4 making arrangements for the care of the deceased pending the post mortem.

The writer pointedly enquires further, “Was a post mortem done?” Again, the question betrays an alarming ignorance of facts that are easily ascertainable by simply making enquiry of the Ministry of Health or the Public Hospital Corporation Georgetown, and causes one to speculate about his true motives. In a fatal accident situation, the body cannot be buried or otherwise disposed of without a post mortem. In this case, the post mortem was done by Dr. Nehaul, the Government Pathologist attached to the Criminal Investigation Department, at the mortuary of the Public Hospital Georgetown.

The writer mentions that GGMC’s top officials initially suggested a cover-up. The writer does not say who these “top officials” are, and on what basis they made this startling statement. Perhaps the writer could name these persons and precisely what they confided to him. He should however be careful as the officials of the GGMC would have full recourse to the laws of libel and slander to punish any person who takes liberties with them and the truth.

As to the questions ‘Was the family here when the cre-

ation was done?” and ‘How can we [the writer and who?] verify’, although these are very intrusive enquiries that risk seriously invading the bereaved family’s privacy, should the writer nevertheless wish to enquire further of the family, upon presenting himself at the company’s offices with proper identification, the company is prepared to provide him with the family’s contact information so that he may pry as much personal information from them as he wishes.

Meanwhile, the short answer is yes, the family was informed, came to Guyana, did not wish the deceased’s remains to be interred here, but rather in his native land, and requested the cremation.

They attended and witnessed the post mortem, and afterward, returned to Russia with the ashes of the deceased.

The company did accommo-

date them at the Marriott Hotel at its expense. Perhaps the writers saw something sinister there.

Some of the writer’s enquiries and positions are to say the least insensitive, and the others based on a lack of easily obtainable knowledge.

The company can only speculate as to why the writer did not avail himself of readily available facts and the true state of the law in an area in which he chose to take certain very assertive positions, before taking these positions.

It would certainly save him considerable embarrassment.

Andrew M.F. Pollard, Attorney-at-Law, Innovative Mining Inc.

community rather than its development. According to environmental experts, continued exposure to such condition may cause respiratory and breathing problems. Further, these trucks pose serious noise pollution challenges for us.

Residence are entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of their homes and immediate surroundings but what is happening here runs counter to the concept of living the good life promised by the government. Where is the recently elected NDC representative? Where is the Environmental Protection

Agency? Where is the Ministry of Communities? Are they enjoying their well to do homes and neighbourhoods while ordinary citizens suffer?

Most disheartening is that the truck drivers of these two services seem totally bereft of any sense of responsibility and value and what it cost tax payers to build this road and residence to maintain their parapets. More often than not they drive these trucks at high speeds and that poses additional danger for residence and their property.

I believe the time is ripe for government to take into consideration the social

responsibility and other pertinent record of companies before it awards contracts to them. Clearly, we cannot have a situation where companies are involved in the destruction of public infrastructure or other actions that are inimical to government’s goals and at the same time being award contracts costing tax payers millions of dollars.

Editor, the dump site by itself presents serious challenges to residence in terms of air pollution, littering and other undesirable conditions which we must (Continued on page 6)

The Town Clerk defends...

From page 4 congestion within the city.

Unlike what some may think, the Council is not unique in its approach to applying charges for the misuse of public property.

It is general practice internationally in some of the best cities around the world to institute these charges which in turn help in the proper administration of services for the residents.

However, the Council has had its challenges as it relates to the provision of services and its general adm i n i s t r a t i o n . H o w e v e r, challenges are a part of life.

They help to mold us into who we later become.

And as we work together there will be instances where we all do

not agree on an approach.

But it would be a fallacy to suggest that a mutually beneficial relationship cannot be forged if we all are working towards the main aim of developing Georgetown.

A team united must never self-destruct due to egos and selfish agendas.

I t i s i n f a c t t hrough ‘agreeable disagreements’ that equitable solutions are most often found so that there is maximization of benefits that accrue to all.

The Council welcomes

constructive criticisms and inquisitions from the residents of Georgetown because they are the ones we work to satisfy, they are the ones we turn up every day to serve with pride.

The Council thanks the residents for entrusting their confidence in us and admonishes them to continue giving us their unswerving support as we cooperate for the restoration and development of Georgetown.

Royston King Town Clerk

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Did the rule of law exist under Jagdeo/ Ramotar presidencies?

DEAR EDITOR; Former President Bharat Jagdeo claims that the rule of law is under threat in Guyana.

By stating that the rule of law is under threat he at least acknowledges that it exists today. During the last 15 years of PPP administrations Guyana was ruled but not by law. The party and government he led was the very definition of arbitrariness, so that there was some improvement since the APNU-AFC came to power. He is the last person to credibly talk about the rule of law.

His examples are particularly egregious and they are too many. Editors restrict space so that we can only highlight issues. The records are however abundant, even in the daily newspapers going back to the year 2000.

The Constitution is the supreme law of Guyana and the President must be particularly circumspect in upholding the constitution. One does not know where to begin.

Former Prime Minister Sam Hinds was constitutionally entitled to become President upon vacation of the presidency by former President Janet Jagan.

How come that did not happen? That is not all.

The Constitution expressly prescribes a maximum of two terms for any President of Guyana. Yet, like Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, he is busy contriving all manner of subterfuge in order to spend more time in the presidency.

He takes lessons from these power drunk tyrants,

Tuesday July 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

and not from constitutional conformists in normal democracies who gracefully end their term and proceed honourably to another life.

What about Local Government Elections? There was none throughout the entire duration of his presidency. APNU-AFC held those elections within one year of ascension to power, while he willfully denied the people of Guyana their constitutional right to elect local leaders of their choice.

In addition, he foisted all kinds of naïve political contraptions upon them, based on his ideology of domination and centralism.

What about Parliament and its duty to represent all of the people through both govern m e n t and opposition? Throughout his presidency he denied the right of Parliament to even exercise oversight over the privatisation of eighty (80) percent of G u y a n a ’s e c o n o m y, thereby denying the people any say in what was being done in their name, in such a nationally c o n s e q u e n t i a l m a t t e r.

NICIL effectively usurped the powers of the parliament. Offensive is not the strongest word we want to use in this particular case.

Wo u l d h e s a y f o r example, that the executions and extrajudicial killings during his presidency were representative of the rule of law? Organised crime is a matter of some significance. To establish SOCU the PPP had to accept the principle of necessity to deal with

organized crime, in order to proceed to the stages of policy and a Unit. But did the PPP really intend that it should be effective?

Who was prosecuted for organized crime and money laundering which he now claims the SOCU was established to address?

Did President Jagdeo declare his assets, as required by the Guyana Integrity Commission Act (1997)? As a Member of Parliament and President he was in breach since it became law and he is still in breach.

Guyana’s procurement regime was subject to particular abuse. And what about his treatment of the Fourth Estate, and handling of the Ethnic Relations Commission and the Public Service Commission. People like Dr. David Hinds, Lincoln Lewis and Freddie Kissoon have extensively prosecuted the case against him in these areas so that there is no need to re-litigate here. More generally, he can choose to ignore the fact that the Audits have convicted the PPP as a political organization and government, regarding its abysmal failure to comply with the law. Yet he talks glibly about democracy and rule of law as though he subscribes to their inherent values. He deceives no one. There are some things one must actually believe before one could even sound convincing.

Guyanese indeed want to live in a technologically and economically progressive country and in a culturally mobile society, underpinned by a modern democracy and the rule of law, where leaders practice sophisticated politics and government.

Is he the spokesperson?

Former President Jagdeo is no subscriber to the tenets of the rule of law. Since when did he become a convert? One thought that he is an arch communist like Hugo Chavez, and no respecter of the law.

He only mouths things off the cuff.

There is no evidence of any convictions regarding the rule of law.

The people should therefore prosecute the case against him every time he makes outlandish claims regarding the rule of law, as he is no example of propriety regarding the rule of law.

Ivor Carryl

Roy Beepat in support of container fee policy Dear Editor; Please let me add my two cents to this discussion, a $25,000.00 fee on containers will result in far less than a 0.05% increase in imports cost, a more than inconsequential sum. Objections to this seem to be reactionary and defensive by the importers; there is obvious need for the City to increase their revenue base to support and maintain a clean City, this cannot be supported indefinitely by

Central Government. However, the imposition of the fee is poorly thought out and implemented. This must be done in collaboration with Government, and the fees should be collected by the wharfs, to be paid prior to release of the containers along with other charges and then remitted to the MCC. Roy Beepat, Chairman Giftland Group

My motive was to encourage the Govt. to do better DEAR EDITOR; I am responding to the letter of Mr. Malcolm Alves, “This lady’s traffic plans need adjusting,” KN, Sunday, July 17, 2016. Despite the fact that you have shown negativity by only criticizing my suggestions and offering absolutely no opposing ideas or solutions, I am quite elated that you, at least, read and responded to my piece.

If Guyanese living at home cannot bring themselves to WANT and ACT on change, then as I said before, why should the diaspora contemplate coming home to help? Your comments suggest that Guyanese are all thieves and government unable to manage and govern the country. Not my idea at all!

Yes, past administrations could not run a bus system because their interests were to fill their pockets and they had no intentions of bringing the country to a place of better standards. I am trying to encourage the current administration to do better; to

bring focus to the conditions which exist that can be changed/ enhanced, etc. We cannot give credit to those who do not deserve credit. My suggestions did not include everyone riding a bicycle! People riding the circulator will eventually get off at their destination and walk around peacefully. When they are finished their business, they catch the circulator again back to the parking area to take the “bus” home. And, your comment about traffic free cities, just Google “Traffic Free Cities” you’ll find a long list and of places that are ten or more times larger than Georgetown.

In addition, I am not trying to bring Guyana’s standards to that of other countries.

This copying what the “neighbour” does is not in my DNA and definitely not in my vision for Guyana. I would likeGuyanese to begin thinking positively about the country’s future and thereby planning in that positive direction. Concerning the

subway system that you were so sarcastic about, for your edification dear Malcolm, I am totally aware of the geography of the country. So I’ll be bold enough to say that it is one of our countrymen LIVING THERE who built a building on the koker which is the system that regulates the water flow around the city. He should have consulted with me!!! Don’t you think?

Instead of the defeatist attitude you have displayed by your response, I am excited to suggest that you have conversations with some of your friends and colleagues on how we can solve some of the problems and write me a note to see if I could find some people from the diaspora who will be glad to help. How about that??

And another thing, Brother, the “fat” comment was unnecessary since everybody needs exercise for a well-balanced life. You must try it sometime; you will find it helps with clearer thinking. Stay good!

Lorna Abraham.

We must develop our sports sectors Dear Editor; Permit me to share some of my thoughts on this subject matter. I have noticed the way we treat our sports men and women in Guyana.

This unwarranted treatment must stop now or we would lose the opportunity of actually seeing the good of our young athletes on show.

I therefore suggest that we change the way we operate when it comes to our current and future sports men and women in Guyana. I am also suggesting that we put

together a class (A) and a class (B) list of donors from the business community, and perhaps the government to implement a new law or order that would call for a percentage of all class (A) and (B) businesses to contribute to a specific sport or athlete for the development of sports more so the financial resources for overseas trip to participate and compete at the highest level.

The private sector and civil standing society is also welcome to play their part to

ECCLES NEW COMMUNITY UNDER...

From page 5 face day in and day out.

However, as a small comfort I would greatly appreciate if you can bring the foregoing situation to the attention of the relevant authority with a view to preventing further destruction to our roads, improve air quality, reduced

noise level and eliminate the risk of accidents by speeding garbage trucks. Maintaining good health and a clean environment are prerequisites to the development of strong communities.

Derick Lowe Resident

help in accelerating the drive of the sports sector in Guyana.

However, we choose to put it together, whether through a governmental or privately run agency, it should be made up of former sports men and women who have a vested interest in our sports going forward. Some people seem to think that sports and games are unimportant things that people choose to do, at times when they are not working. Not true but in fact sports and games can be of great value, especially to people who work with their brain most of the day and should not be treated as amusements or callous.

Sports and games make our bodies strong and fit and also prevent us from getting to fat and keep us healthy. In closing these are not their only benefits, or uses. It gives us valuable lessons and practices in making our eyes, brain and muscles work effectively.

Ivan Bentham

Tuesday July 19, 2016

Babita Sarjou murder PI…

Crime Laboratory detective called to testify

MURDERED: Babita Sarjou

Murder Accused: Sharnandand Naraine

Murder Accused: Dorel Pronton

The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of Babita Sarjou who was allegedly killed by her ex-husband six years ago, continued yesterday, before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Detective Deputy Superintendent of Police, Rafeek Alli, was called by Police Prosecutor, Neville Jeffers to testify. Alli is stationed at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown, and attached to the Crime Laboratory.

Alli has received training both locally and overseas in crime scene investigations and evidence collection.

Sharnandand Naraine, called ‘Anand’, and Dorel Pronton, called ‘Yankee’ of Lot 54 Broad Street, Charlestown are currently on remand for the woman’s murder.

Naraine is being represented by Attorney Peter Hugh while Attorney Nigel Hughes is representing Pronton.

The PI continues today.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum was able to crack the case on May 22 when a team of detectives spent five hours digging up a site at Naraine’s home located at Lot 51 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, where they believed Sarjou was buried.

According to reports,

Sarjou had left her home to go to the Diwali motorcade on the eve of November 4, 2010, with Naraine who had called her.

He reportedly picked her up in his car and while she was sitting in the front passenger seat, she was strangled by Pronton who was reportedly seated at the back of the car.

Sarjou’s lifeless body was allegedly transported to Naraine’s house where he resided with his wife and children. Reports had indicated that Naraine had dug Sarjou’s grave two days before she was killed.

Babita Sarjou’s case has received widespread attention from the Guyana populace.

GCCI membership urged to pay taxes The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in a statement issued yesterday called on its membership, and the business community at large, to honour their civic obligations by paying outstanding rates and taxes owed to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

The M&CC has noted that at present, G$16.3 million is owed to it by business owners who are defaulting in their tax payments. “This is an alarming amount,” the GCCI emphasised in its statement.

It also pointed out that “The Chamber understands that rates and taxes account for a large percentage of total revenue for the M&CC’s revenue which is needed to facilitate the provision of

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Kaieteur News

critical services, as well as the restoration of Georgetown.”

According to the GCCI, as one of the leading business support organizations in Guyana, the Chamber is using its voice to urge the business community

to be tax compliant. “As we lend support in this regard, the Chamber also encourages the M&CC to take legitimate action where necessary as long as it is done in a transparent manner,” the statement added.

GRA re-structuring is for greater efficiency -Finance Minister The re-organisation of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is a matter for the Board of Directors of the revenue collection agency. It is meant to make the agency’s services more effective, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan has said. Minister Jordan recently said, “The re-organisation of the Guyana Revenue Authority is a matter for the Board, not the Minister.

(The) Minister is policy, the Board gets the policy and interprets it for the management, and the management executes.”

Minister Jordan had said in May 2016, after the government’s first year in office, that the GRA was in need of restructuring to make the institution more peoplefriendly and efficient.

“Corruption, whether real or perceived, is still rife in the department. Systems are nonexistent, poor or not properly implemented in the agency and I think their PR in many ways could do a rehash.

They do things to me, but it doesn’t get out the way how it should. “People are still complaining… too long lines, VAT refunds are not coming in the way they should. But having said all of that, I think

they are responding, both to the new Board and to myself in terms of the charges I have given to them at least on five or six occasions about where I want GRA to be and how I expect this to come about,” the Minister pointed out.

Responding to the question of whether or not there has been a change in policy at the revenue collection agency, Minister Jordan said, “You don’t have to change policy, what you do is re-organise for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

“You know from day one when we came in (to office) and even before we came in, GRA was a hot bed.

When we came in we said (changes will take place)… the changes intended are going to be gradual over time.” The Minister hastened to point out that changes are usually not readily accepted by all parties involved. “It (changes) will affect people, systems and procedures and some changes people would not like because they will touch on them or particular activity they might be involved in.” Further, the Minister, responding to criticisms of the recent changes made at the tax

collection agency said that it is important for someone to have the courage to oversee the changes necessary for the particular institution to function according to government’s policy. He said persons should desist from personal attacks and insinuations aimed at discrediting the work of the GRA Board Chairman.

“I just think we need to give GRA a chance to breathe rather than run them down.

The way I see some people attempting to run them down, and sometimes you need somebody with the…We in local parlance say ‘guts’ to do some things and I don’t think the caricature and characterisation of Mr. (Rawle) Lucas is (good).

I think it’s unwanted.

Somebody has to do the work and let us see if it works.”Action taken by GRA’s governing Board just recently resulted in the removal and reassignment of several high ranking staff.

Reports have surfaced in the media accusing the Board Chairman of creating a hostile and insecure environment for staff at all levels, resulting in low staff morale and motivation.

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Tuesday July 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

M&CC advises of road closures 150 sign petition to sack ‘nonsupportive’ GPHC Matron to facilitate critical works The Mayor and City Council is pleased to announce that it will be carrying out critical road repairs; a service it has previously been able to render for almost a decade now.

Moreover, the Municipality is advising all stakeholders that road works will commence today at Industrial Site and at the corner of Robb Street and Avenue of the Republic.

For this specific purpose, the mentioned roads will be closed to heavy-duty vehicular traffic. These include single axle heavy duty vehicles, 18-wheelers and other container carriers. The thoroughfares will be resorted to single lane. All are advised to exercise caution, the M&CC said in a statement issued yesterday.

Despite having to make the repairs with the meager funds currently held by the city, the Council said that it is necessary to carry out these works now. “Many of the City road ways have deteriorated from the constant fatigue from heavy duty vehicles. Visits to the Industrial Site location have proven that the road there is almost impassable, with huge potholes, large

stones and the complete erosion of the road surface.

Residents living within the vicinity of Industrial Site, as well as parents of the children of the Council’s child care centre, have expressed concern over the poor mobility in that area,” the Council related in its statement. At the junction of Robb Street and Avenue of the Republic, the Council will repair the railing that borders the bridge there. This railing has been uprooted and continues to be bent out of shape when container carriers brace it while turning off Robb Street onto the Avenue, the Council has observed.

Added to this, it was noted that during the day, there is a large buildup of traffic on that corner, sometimes as a result of heavy duty vehicles trying to maneuver through dense traffic. “The Council will widen this narrow road to allow for better traffic flow,” the statement outlined.

The Municipal body believes that the improvement of city roads will ultimately improve traffic management and reduce road accidents.

Several other roads will be repaired by the Council.

These include sections of Water Street, Regent Street, Campbellville, the Kitty area, among others. These too would be closed to certain traffic during those repairs.

According to the statement, “the City regrets any inconvenience caused to all affected, but urges that road safety remains another priority of the city. Large commercial/container vehicles are reminded of the legally designated streets to be used and the designated 6:00pm to 6:00am, operating time; this will be reinforced by the city Constabulary.”

The road work programme is part of the Council’s wider road and city management programme where certain measures are being put in place to promote smooth mobility in Georgetown.

The road work is also part of an even wider programme to reorganize and improve the capital with better waste management functioning, social and recreational improvement and job creation among other services.

The Mayor and City Council thanks all citizens for their patience and continued support towards a “clean and green” city.

- Chairman convenes meeting to find resolution A crisis is reportedly unfolding at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Reports suggest that the Director of Nursing Services (Matron), Collene Hicks, of the premiere health facility, is at the centre of the state of affairs.

This publication was privy to a series of allegations which imply that not only has the Matron failed to be a team player but she is, from all indications, against moves to have nurses of the facility be exposed to specialists training.

According to medical practitioners attached to the GPHC, the patients are the ones who are being affected by the prevailing situation which has been ongoing for some time.

Reliable information reaching this publication yesterday was that a petition to have the Matron’s service terminated was signed by 150 health care personnel including nurses and doctors attached to the GPHC. Some of them are threatening to resign if the situation is not addressed. The petition has reportedly been forwarded to the Board of Directors of the hospital which is chaired by

GPHC Chairman, Dr. Carl ‘Max’ Hanoman Dr. Carl ‘Max’ Hanoman. The petition was premised on the fact that the Matron has been consistently dismantling the clinical team of the hospital.

This is reportedly demonstrated by her action to re-assign nurses under her charge to other areas other than where the need is demanded. Several doctors attached to the facility have accused the Matron of being unwilling to work with them and that she has been denying them the quota of nurses they request. They

claim that this development opposes a promise the Matron made when she was reinstated to function in that capacity last year. The services of the Matron, under the management of Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michael Khan, was around mid-last year terminated. Khan had said his reason for terminating Hicks’ service was due to “gross insubordination.”

Hicks was appointed to the position of Director of Nursing Services on March 16, 2015 but was terminated on June 15, 2015 when her probation period would have matured. Hicks had, however, refused to accept the letter of termination and had gotten the support of the Guyana Public Service Union which was unrelenting in its representation.

Hicks continued to report for work even after the locks were changed on the door of the Matron’s office to deny her access. However, the Matron was reinstated to her position

by September 2015 and Khan was sent off on administrative leave to facilitate a forensic audit of the hospital.

Acting in the capacity (Continued on page 11)

Tuesday July 19, 2016

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Editorializing with one eye shut The Stabroek News has expectedly but shamelessly come to the defence of the Guyana Revenue Authority over criticisms that are being made in the media about the management of that agency.

In an editorial in yesterday’s edition, the Stabroek News

essays a defence which suggests that it is editorializing with one eye shut. The Stabroek News claims that most of the correspondence on the controversy at the GRA that appeared in the Kaieteur News “has been indirect, rambling and lacking in specificity.” If this is

how Stabroek News feels, it is hard to understand why the Stabroek News would devote an entire editorial to addressing nonspecifics.

This tactic by the Stabroek News is not a novelty. It is part of ploy to dismiss the criticisms made not on merit but on the

Godfrey Statia is new GRA boss Godfrey Statia has been appointed Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authorities. He succeeds Khurshid Sattaur who had served in that position for more than a decade. Statia, who was based in Florida, USA, had applied for the post following an advertisement posted by the GRA. He travelled to Guyana and was interviewed with the other applicants.

Initially, observers concluded that none of the

applicants suited the Board of Directors since the readvertised the position.

Statia was, however, invited to return to Guyana and the advertisement was withdrawn. People close to the GRA said that Statia was initially to meet with the GRA Board of Directors today. He arrived early yesterday morning for that meeting but before it was convened he was informed that he had been appointed Commissioner General. Reports are that he

will still be meeting with the Board Chairman, Rawle Lucas, today. Statia will assume duty on Monday, July 25, next. His terms of employment will be no less favourable than Khurshid Sattaur’s. Statia was formerly employed as Chief Financial Officer of Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company. He moved on to operate a consultancy before migrating to Florida where his wife is a Vice President at a Florida University.

REO abandons Region Six Regional Executive Officer, Dr. Veersammy Ramayya allegedly walked off his job last Friday. This information was revealed to the media by Region Six Vice Chairman Dennis Deroop at a press brief held in the office of the Regional Chairman, Vryman’s, Erven, New Amsterdam, yesterday. The Vice Chairman at a Press Briefing revealed that there was no formal letter issued by the Ministry of Communities approving leave for the REO. “The REO has left, he walked off the job, I would say”.

The Vice- Chairman said that to his knowledge, Ramayya has left the country. He mentioned that the REO had not officially informed him if he applied for leave or whether he will be going on leave. He however, stated, that after Ramayya, did not show up for work in the new week, he

started to inquire. “The Deputy Regional Executive Officer told me that Ramayya said he is taking leave”, Deroop added.

“Leave wasn’t officially approved by the Ministry for him.

I would assume he just walked off the job”. The Vice Chairman stressed, that due to the REO’s absence, some of the Region’s issues have been left unresolved. “The Region has suffered a very big set back now”, Deroop said.

He further stated, that some time back, the REO had indicated to the Regional Chairman, Mr. David Armogan that he was thinking about resigning, since according to him, he was not coping with the responsibilities of being the REO. Deroop said that as a result of the absence of the REO a number of persons including nurses cannot be paid.

He said that those nurses and sweeper cleaners are on contracts and their contracts have ended and have to be signed for them to return to work and be paid.

Deroop also stated that more than 300 cheques had to be returned to the Sub Treasury because they were stale-dated.

Apart from the nurses and sweeper cleaners a number of small suppliers have not been paid because the REO is not signing the cheques on time.

Money was received from the NDIA to pay operators, but they too have not been paid.

Deroop used the opportunity to apologize to the nurses, sweeper cleaners and others affected at this moment.

He assured that the Region is working assiduously to remedy the situation.

Dem boys seh...

SOCU causing panic in de PPP ranks Old people seh that when you throw a brick in hog pen de one that holler is de one that get knock. Rohee holler yesterday morning till he get hoarse. He was talking to dem reporter when he suddenly hear that SOCU get permission from de courts to check de bank accounts of dem money launderers. Dem boys seh that somebody probably ask Rohee if he can justify he bank account because SOCU peeping. Is a good thing he was standing far from de edge of de step that lead to de top flat.

De man holler. And to mek matters wuss he hear how SOCU checking pun all dem PPP ministers account.

This thing cause a panic because dem boys see

Jagdeo with a sewage disposal unit from CEVONS pumping out de septic tank at he Queenstown building.

Jagdeo never use that place more than five times so de septic tank couldn’t full. It had to be another reason fuh him to pump out de tank. And Jagdeo stand up there to watch de pumping. Right away people thought that he was supervising sewage disposal. However, de truth is something else. Dem boys expect SOCU to find out how many of dem buy house in dem momma and daady name.

Some put property in dem cousin name.

Some of dem send money overseas to dem family bank account just to hide. But whatever happen in darkness does come to light.

Nuff things coming to light. Panic does mek people see double. De same Rohee claim how SOCU get a search warrant to search dem ministers homes. People didn’t wait to find out if is true; that is how Jagdeo begin pumping out he septic tank.

When dem boys contact SOCU one man seh that a search warrant is de last thing anybody would go to court for. Dem boys seh that nuff people not sleeping. Dem already lose money when SOCU hold that boy de other day. Now dem losing sleep.

And Rohee know that SOCU peeping. He worried that he gun have to explain how he get all dem house.

Talk half and see how people suddenly start finding money pun de road.

pretext that they lack any supportive or evidential basis because no specifics have been offered. This is of course far from the truth. If Stabroek New wishes to familiarize itself with the specificities of the issues at hand it does not need to go far. It just needs to rehash some of its reporting over the past few weeks.

It was Stabroek News which on June 28, 2016 carried a news item entitled “GRA sacks head of customs, HR” in which it was also indicated that a new Deputy Commissioner was appointed. It is these dismissals and consequential promotions, which have led to the widespread concerns being expressed about the GRA. A number of questions remain unanswered about these dismissals.

Stabroek News remains unconcerned as to whether the full Board of the Guyana Revenue Authority was involved in these decisions. It remains indifferent to the allegations that the basis of these dismissals may not have stemmed from any complaint by the management of the Guyana Revenue Authority.

It remains unperturbed that the heads of the Customs was sent home even though the Minister of Finance has attributed the growth in overall revenues to the tightening up at

the ports, which is essentially a customs function. The Stabroek News remains un-baffled as to how the poor facilities or the decline in revenues account for the dismissal of the Human Resource manager. It is not bothered by the rumor that one of its letter writers from Berbice may be in contention for the position of Human Resource Manager.

The Stabroek News seems to be unmoved by the claims made by the Guyana Public Service Union that there is ‘external interference’ in the work of the Guyana Revenue Authority. It has not had the decency to ask any of the staff members of the GRA about the union’s claims about being demoralized by the current environment at the GRA. Instead, Stabroek News offers an ingenious defence by disguisedly suggesting that the actions which have drawn the ire of the union may be covered by the governing statues of the GRA. The Stabroek News ought to know by now that any powers of monitoring the management by the Board is of a general nature and does not give the Board the right to transgress on the authority of management.

The powers of appointment and dismissals are circumscribed with due regard to due process.

Persons cannot be arbitrarily

dismissed. The Board is only concerned with dismissals for persons above a certain rank, unless of course the Board has now assumed the right to sanction all dismissals and disciplinary acts.

No one is denying the right for changes to be effected but these changes need to justified so that a differentiation can be made about fair and unfair actions.

The Stabroek News - before it lectured its readers about how the governing Board arrives at its decisions - should have first verified whether the majority of the Board members were involved in the recent firings promotions and demotions. This is a central bone of contention.

Who engineered the recent actions and who made the decisions?

Stabroek News may wish to advise what is the “grievance mechanism” available to management that are normally not unionized personnel. They must ask themselves if the Board dismisses then to whom does one appeal?

PAGE 10

Tuesday July 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

The dialectics of the Minister of Business

The last conversation I had with Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin was a couple of days after the 2015 election results. I met him outside the AFC office. He thanked me for my activism and I remember that he distinctly said that the press played its part. I haven’t seen or spoken to him since.

I guess in a few days’ time we may discuss this column when we meet at the wedding reception of Leonard Craig.

To be truthful, I thought as Minister of Business with jurisdiction over GOINVEST, when the Government changed, he would have raised the question with my

wife of her return as Investment Officer at GOINVEST because she was hounded out of her job just before the May 2011 elections

by President Bharrat Jagdeo himself.

No one approached my wife on the GOINVEST offer.

I am not the type of personality to display mendicancy; most of all to people with power. People with power have a deadly wave of the hand that I have gone through life trying to avoid.

It is the wave of the hand to tell you that there is no time for you; you are not needed.

Here is what the Business Minister is quoted in yesterday’s Stabroek as

saying, “Certainly at the Cabinet level there is an obligation, there is a collective responsibility for decisionmaking at that level and therefore …

There can be no division on that level and that is just the reality of a Cabinet.” I’m afraid this is not what a Coalition Government is made of.

Here is an extract from one of my columns (June 21) on the nature of coalition administration; “A Coalition government is seldom solid.

What makes coalition rule unsteady is the very nature of it - it is a coalition.

Any dictionary will inform you that a coalition regime is a number of different organizations that came together with each wanting to use the State, if it wins elections, to implement its ideas and programmes.

The most common example of instabilities that characterize coalition governments is Israel. Each party has its own agenda, and to form a government, the larger parties have to make concessions. Some of these parties are theocratic, some

strongly anti-Palestinian, some pro-compromise.

Italy once had several governments within each year because the coalition entities could never agree thus they would pull out of the formation and new elections would have to be held.

Italy became a joke around the world for the number of governments it would have in each year. One thing is common in coalition administrations – each party must have some of its core values transmitted into policy.

There is no way a coalition would last if one of its units is an environment party and the government refuses to commit itself to climate change.

What brings trouble in multi-party regimes is that each of the units fights in government to keep its raison d’etre.

What the journalist should have asked Minister Gaskin to do was to define “coalition in government.”

M r. G a s k i n m a y b e betraying the old, authoritarian political culture, so perfected by

Forbes Burnham and his PNC and Cheddi and Janet Jagan and their PPP that has destroyed Guyana completely when he made that remark about there cannot be division in the Cabinet.

It is common place in coalition regimes for different parties to speak publicly about disagreements. Mr. Gaskin can do a simple Google search and he will see that multi-party regimes are always quarreling.

There is nothing wrong with that. They are quarreling because it is in the nature of multi-party government to so behave.

They are not afraid of public disagreement out of the fear that they will disintegrate. Disagreement and collapse are not synonymous.

What is happening in Guyana is that the three prominent parties in the power establishment – PNC, AFC a n d WPA a r e a f r a i d t o publicly voice disagreement with policy mistakes and governmental wrongdoing because firstly, historically that has

Frederick Kissoon been the political culture in Guyana.

S e c o n d l y, t h e y a r e afraid that the government may collapse if and when they disagree or that the opposition parties and anti-government critics will be encouraged.

Mr. Gaskin contradicts himself in the end by saying; “I think it could be an issue if we are not careful because no coalition will last forever and whenever that time comes for a separation back into the original entities, you want to at least have a party structure in place that can accommodate that.”

But how do you survive and who supports you when your supporters and the nation no longer know who or what you are?

Tuesday July 19, 2016

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

Cop accused of tying man, EU reopens bid for renovations of City Hall fleeing with cash, jewellery A Police Constable accused of tying up a man before robbing him of cash and jewellery, was released on self bail. He was charged with robbery with violence when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Constable Eulin Carthe, of Lot 53 Plum Park, Sophia, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on January 1, at Bartica Ferry Stelling, he robbed Michael Elliott of $16,000 cash and two silver bands valuing $60,000.

At the time of, during or after the robbery, he allegedly made use of personal violence.

Carthe, who had no legal representation pleaded not guilty to the charge read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

EU has reopened the bidding process for renovations of City Hall

Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis said that repairs to the Solid Waste Management Department building and the Municipal Abattoir are scheduled to begin in the near future. These repairs come shortly after the Ministry of Social Protection’s Department of Labour, Occupational Safety and Health’s (LOSAH) investigation into various departments of City Hall.

LOSAH’s report highlighted the deplorable state of the Solid Waste Management’s building, the Concert Hall at City Hall and the Municipal Abattoir.

Lewis said that when the new administration took up office in City Hall, it observed the derelict state of the buildings and furniture. She noted that the administration subsequently moved to

acquire new furniture and improved the conditions of most of the offices.

Lewis told this publication that the European Union (EU) has reopened bids for the restoration of City Hall. In May 2015, the EU had pledged its support in the restoration of City Hall, but that plan subsequently fell through.

Kaieteur News understands that the bidding process for the restoration of the Concert Hall and City Hall has already started and persons have already submitted bids.

The LOSAH department has given the M&CC a July 31 deadline to correct all breaches of Occupational Safety and Health regulations, and to improve working conditions at the departments that were highlighted in the LOSAH report.

Man dies after ATV crash Urban Benjamin, a/k Doon, of Grant Leicester, Lower Pomeroon River and father of two, died in an accident that occurred while he was heading back to his camp on an allterrain vehicle over the weekend.

The accident occurred at Olive Creek, Upper Mazaruni River, Essequibo.

While details of Benjamin’s death are still not clear, one of his uncles who is a Pastor, disclosed that he learnt that his nephew broke an arm while he was venturing back to his camp.

The dead man’s uncle added that no one had actually witnessed the accident, but the following day Doon’s body was discovered lying next to the ATV. News of the death swiftly traveled to his family who later ventured to the accident scene. Doon’s body was subsequently removed from the scene and transported to a mortuary in the city for a post mortem examination.

“Doon” is survived by his wife and two young children. He worked as a mechanic operator in the interior.

150 sign petition to sack...

From page 8 of CEO ever since is Mr. Alan Johnson. But according to reports out of the health facility, the Matron continues to act in an insubordinate manner. It is alleged that the Matron has elevated some individuals in her charge as a reward for supporting her while she contested her termination.

Moreover, the group calling for Hicks’ termination, is also calling for a review of all those who have been promoted since she resumed the duties of Matron.

There are reports that although the Board is aware of the Matron’s manner of operation, it is reluctant to intervene for fear of having to deal with the Union.

However, when contacted yesterday, Chairman of the Board, Dr. Hanoman, said that he was aware of the concerns at the GPHC. In fact, at the time of reacting to this publication, he revealed that he was preparing to convene a meeting at the

hospital in order to address the prevailing concerns and derive a workable resolution.

Dr. Hanoman, however, acknowledged that there is a tremendous shortage of nurses at the GPHC. He noted too, that while the Matron is an individual with sophisticated views that could work well in first world countries, the shortage situation has over time forced the GPHC to cut around the corners. “She has high standards but the methods may not be ideal for us but we will try to come to a resolution.

We have a tremendous shortage and we have to bite the bullet and do things we shouldn’t sometimes...we will have to adjust,” Dr. Hanoman related.

The Chairman of the Board also divulged plans yesterday to host a press conference tomorrow at which the issues affecting the hospital and the way forward will be addressed.

Elliott claimed that the defendant tied him up before relieving him of the articles mentioned in the charge.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones opposed bail for the defendant citing the gravity of the charge and the fact that personal violence was used.

When asked by the Magistrate why the police took so long to file the charge, Jones said that advice was being sought from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He said that no identification parade was done in relation to the robbery.

Jones said that a brother

of the defendant returned the stolen bands to Elliott.

However, a teary eyed, Carthe pleaded with the Magistrate to release him on bail. He claimed that he did not know the complainant. He told the court that his mother had compensated the complainant in the presence of a Police Sergeant.

Carthe who said he was still on active duty was released into the custody of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

The matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for August 15.

PAGE 12

Tuesday July 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

Minibus driver gets 4 years for killing pensioner in accident A minibus driver was yesterday jailed for four years after he was found guilty of causing the death of a pensioner by dangerous driving. The sentence was imposed by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in a city court, yesterday.

Sherwin Hopkinson, 37, of Lot 78 North Ruimveldt Georgetown, was convicted for causing the death of 78year-old William Trim by dangerous driving on March 5, at Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. On the day in question, Hopkinson was the driver of minibus BVV 1302 which collided with motorcar

PFF 8165 driven by Trim of Wren Avenue, South Ruimveldt. Hopkinson was driving at a fast rate of speed, overtaking other vehicles in his path. He subsequently lost control of the minibus which collided with Trim’s motorcar. The motorcar was hurled several feet away from the point of impact.

Trim was rushed to the Davis Memorial Hospital and then to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Chief Magistrate said that she was satisfied that the injuries Trim received in the accident caused his death.

The post mortem report,

she said, indicated that Trim died as a result of multiple injuries consistent with a motor vehicular accident.

According to the Magistrate, Police Prosecutor, Neville Jeffers, called 10 witnesses, some of whom were police officers.

She said that one of the police witnesses testified that when he arrived on the scene of the accident, both vehicles were in a stationary position with extensive damage. The Magistrate added, that the witness told the court a breathalyzer test was performed on Hopkinson, and he was later taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital

where he identified Trim as the man who was involved in the accident . The police witness, the Magistrate added, said that he took Hopkinson to the East Ruimveldt Police Station where he was served with a notice of intent to prosecute.

The witness was taken back to the accident scene in the company of a police photographer and other investigators, the Magistrate stated. Under caution, Hopkinson admitted to driving the bus along Aubrey Barker Road. He claimed that he attempted to overtake the car driven by Trim, when it made a sudden turn causing the collision.

When called on to lead his defence, Hopkinson called one witness who testified that the motorcar collided with the minibus. However, the Magistrate said that she did

KILLED: William Trim not rely on this witness’s evidence because he was some distance from the scene.

She said that the court did not believe Hopkinson when he told the court that the motorcar drove into the minibus. In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate

underscored that Hopkinson drove the minibus in a manner that fell below the standards of a competent driver. She added that on the day in question, he showed no consideration for other road users. In a plea of mitigation, Hopkinson begged for leniency and forgiveness. He told the court that he has two minor children. “For the past four and a half months I have been in Camp Street Prison. I find it really hard providing for them (his children).”

Hopkinson claimed that he had been driving for nine years prior to the accident and was never involved in any accidents. Having considered the time Hopkinson spent on remand, the Magistrate imposed a four- year prison term on him. During the trial, he was released on $800,000 bail and his driver’s licence was suspended.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 19, 2016

PAGE 13

Patients to benefit from electro-physiology at CHI within weeks CHI Resident Cardiologist, Dr. Mahendra Carpen

N

ot only can it h e l p t o determine the best treatment that could be administered to improve heart health, but cardiac electro-physiology could essentially serve as a cure for some heart conditions. This assertion was recently made

by Resident Cardiologist at the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI), Dr. Mahendra Carpen.

With the recent commissioning of its new Catherisation Laboratory (Cath Lab), CHI is poised to shortly introduce electrophysiology, according to Dr. Carpen.

“I am optimistic that we will be able to do it in a few weeks. I have shortened the timeframe from a year to a few months to now a few weeks, so we are very close,”

declared Dr. Carpen.

This is in light of the fact that the company – Medtronic – that provides the electro-physiology , has recognised that CHI’s installation of the new Cath Lab has bolstered its ability to facilitate the procedure.

“They can actually see practicality of expanding our programme...It is not just a pipe-dream anymore,” said

D r. C a r p e n w h o f i r s t mentioned the possibility of offering the procedure when he joined CHI in 2012.

Electro-physiology is used to test the electrical activity of an individual’s heart in order to determine the origin of an arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat). Once detected, the attending cardiologist could determine whether a patient needs medicine, a pacemaker, an implantable cardioverter defribrillator (ICD), cardiac ablation or surgery.

B u t w i t h t h e advancement of the technique, electrophysiology can help to cure a p a t i e n t ’s ‘ h e a r t a c h e ’ altogether. “This is why I like this particular field of cardiology, it is one of the very few things in cardiology that actually offers a cure and not just control,” said an elated Dr. Carpen during a recent interview with this publication.

Dr. Carpen considers himself fortunate to have training not only in interventional cardiology

but also electro-physiology.

Conducting this procedure is perhaps one that the Cardiologist mostly looks forward to as, according to him, “it is done mainly through the groin. It is not open heart; it is not any surgery, no cutting is involved. The majority of patients are attended to under slight sedation; it is not done under general anaesthesia.”

Dr. Carpen explained that the procedure basically allows a Cardiologist to find the perceived electrical short circuit in the heart of a patient and burn it with radio frequency energy. The end result could be the patient being permanently free of an abnormal heartbeat and, according to Dr. Carpen, “The patient can go home the same day or by the following morning.”

Follow up attention could be as little as two more visits to the Cardiologist in a single year. Generally patients’ condition improves considerably, that they are allowed to desist use of heart

medications they were required to use.

And Dr. Carpen would know this all too well since he has conducted countless of these procedures.

He dedicates one week every month to offer this service to the St. Clair Medical Centre in Trinidad.

Currently, Trinidad and Tobago is the only member state of Caricom that has the capacity to offer electrophysiology.

“Myself and another Trinidadian doctor do these procedures but if you look at the volume of work that is needed, no one doctor could satisfy the need, especially in a population like Trinidad,” related Dr. Carpen.

But although he is the only qualified expert at CHI to conduct the procedure, Dr. Carpen insisted that “this will not prevent us from developing and expanding, because we have a lot of patients who will benefit from this service. It is a life changing type of procedure...”

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 19, 2016

Guyana Watch US Medical team touches W.B.D A

fter hosting a successful clinic on Sunday at Canje/Rose Hall, the United States-based Guyana Medical Watch team conducted another outreach programme on West Bank Demerara, yesterday. The clinic which saw over 450 residents being treated for dental problems including fluoride management for children, rashes, high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and joint pains was held at the Patentia Secondary School.

Apart from being treated for the aforementioned, residents were counselled on the importance of correct nutrition, exercise and taking their medication on time which are essential in order to live a healthy lifestyle.

Vishnu Persaud, who resides in the area, said he is happy with the initiative and called for more such clinics in the Region. “This is a wonderful programme and the services offered are good so the people here are thankful,” he added.

He pointed out that this undertaking is well suited for the elderly. “Sometimes it is difficult for the elderly to visit the hospitals, so the fact that these doctors have reached out to them is second to none,” said Persaud.

He stated that Guyanese sometimes take health issues for granted. That’s why such programmes are important because it helps to educate the people.

The outreach programme continues today at Leonora Secondary School.

Residents turned out in their numbers to the clinic at Patentia Secondary School

Dr. Natasha Tamdji attends to patients at Wales yesterday

Dr. Danielle Carroll examines an elderly patient yesterday

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 19, 2016

GRA meets Linden shop owners Aimed at addressing tax related matters countrywide, the Guyana Revenue Authority met with shop owners in the town of Linden during the Ministry o f t h e P r e s i d e n c y ’s “Government meets the people” outreach exercises.

This was done last Friday at the McKenzie Sports Club.

The GRA delegation comprised Commissioner General (Ag) Ms. Ingrid G r i ff i t h ; M a n a g e r o f Integrated Regional Tax Offices, Satesh Basdeo; Manager of Tax Advisory Services Naresh Bobb-Semple; and C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Officer Fabian Clowes.

In an invited comment, Griffith said, “Anyone with any issue relating to the GRA would be able to have them sorted out here with us... If we are unable to finalise it at this end, we will do the necessary research and ground work back at Head Office and provide the taxpayer with a status update.”

Prior to Friday’s event some shop owners had been engaged by GRA to regularize their compliance and had been asked to take corrective action in this regard. According to a statement issued by GRA, its representatives supplied

the entrepreneurs with relevant information about the documents needed to obtain a shop licence.

First time applicants for a Certificate of Compliance were informed that the licence is now valid for six months instead of three months. According to a statement by the GRA, this change was implemented with the blessing of the Governing Board after an in depth review of its effectiveness. Further, the extension came about in response to concerns which were raised by members of the business community.

Further, taxpayers also inquired about the Mortgage Interest Relief (MIR) facility which targets first time home owners having a mortgage not exceeding $30M. The statement said that residents showed keen interest in the time it would take to access relief from the date of application.

It was reported that the Tax Authority also adopted one of the suggestions made which was the introduction of a transition programme.

This will boost the level of services at the GRA’s Regional Integrated Tax Offices. Currently, one of these is located at Casuarina Drive, Mackenzie.

Pomeroon baby died from natural causes The death of the four-month old Jacklow, Upper Pomeroon River baby last Friday night, was as a result of syndrome due to a heavy cold. The baby was discovered dead at its parents’ home. A post mortem examination was done Monday. The parents of the young child were hauled in for questioning but were released.

Earlier reports have indicated that the child was struck and killed by the woman’s husband, while another report suggested that the child was intentionally harmed.

However, the police have since refuted both reports, maintaining the outcome of the PM report.

PAGE 15

Commissioner General (Ag) Ingrid Griffith reviews documents presented by a taxpayer

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Tuesday July 19, 2016

BIT programmes generated 6,043 occupational skills countrywide – Chairman

O

ver the past three years the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) has focused on intensifying the delivery of relevant occupational, technical and vocational skills training, with a view to addressing entry level occupational skills demand for current and emerging industries and services.

According to the Chairman of BIT, Clinton Williams, as a result of a total of their continuous training opportunities, 6043 occupational skills have been generated countrywide in 2016.

“That brings to a total of over 20,000 Tech Voc Skills from the inception of the NTYPE Programmes in 2006. As regards the traditional 105 Years Old Apprenticeship Programmes, 97 highly skilled craftsmen Skills have been produced and the number of Masters (Apprenticeship Service Providers) has increased from fifteen in 2013 and seventeen in

2016,” Williams said in a statement on the achievements of the BIT. The BIT official outlined the NTYPE Programmes are executed in all of the Regions in Guyana with the exception of Region 8, which is expected to come on stream later this year.

Williams said that for the past three years, the BIT has offered training with a view to addressing entry level occupational skills demand for current and emerging industries/Services, both in the Public and Private Sector.

“For this period, emphasis was placed on vulnerable groups such as school dropouts, youths from depressed communities (including Hinterland Regions) single parents and the differently abled.”

According to the Chairman, key institutions in Region six such as the Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre (UCITC), the Guysuco Training Centre – Port Mourant and NGOs such as the national award winning Roadside

Baptist Skills Training Centre, have enabled significant improvements in qualitative deliverance of programmes.

“In addition, we shall continue our quest to implement cost reduction strategies; thereby, increasing intake via optimizing utilization of publicly owned facilities such as technical and vocational institutions, and Practical Instruction Centers (Ministry of Education) and recognized NGO’s at the expense of privately owned facilities.”

“We are convinced that these actions have not only positively impacted employment generation, entrepreneurship and empowerment, but also contributed to poverty alleviation and crime prevention. These programmes therefore, should be viewed as vital socio economic initiatives at this juncture of the current administration interventions to provide a good life for all of the people of Guyana.”

I n R e g i o n S i x , B I T ’s

OPR preparing report on La Grange -still probing Alpha murder suspect’s escape Hotel shooting death The Police Office for Professional Responsibility (OPR) is preparing a report on the escape two Tuesdays ago of a murder suspect from La Grange Police Station.

Anthony Jhagroo, who was being held for questioning into the murder of 31-year-old mechanic, Yogeshwar Shivcharran, broke out of the lock-ups while the two ranks who were on duty, were at the front of the Police Station.

The two ranks were reportedly placed under close arrest, but have

since been released.

The 20-year-old suspect resides a t B e l l e We s t . Yo g e s h w a r Shivcharran, of Lot 485 Belle West succumbed last week Sunday, days after he was beaten by a group of neighbours.

A post mortem examination revealed that Shivcharran died from blunt trauma to the head.

Kaieteur News understands that Shivcharran, during a mental breakdown, took off his clothes and went to his neighbour’s residence where a group of young men were

having a drink. The men, who were reportedly under the influence of alcohol, became annoyed with the mechanic and started pelting him with beer bottles before beating him in the head and about his body.

The 31-year-old man was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he succumbed.

Meanwhile, the OPR is still to complete its investigation in the fatal shooting of 52-year-old Alvin Joseph, during a drug bust at the Alpha Hotel. Police had stated that Joseph had shot at them, and that they were forced to return fire.

Police stated that they recovered some 5.5 kilograms of cocaine after arresting Joseph and three other hotel employees.

The employees were subsequently released. A police official stated that the cocaine was found in the slain man’s car.

Joseph was a licenced firearm holder and the 9mm handgun that was allegedly retrieved from him was licenced to a First Avenue, Bartica business where Joseph was employed. Joseph’s son, Damien Tim, is alleging that his father had surrendered when he was shot. He also denied that his father was involved in illegal activities.

According to the son, Joseph worked for a mining company in Bartica and would frequently travel to Georgetown to sell gold or to buy spare parts for motor vehicles. Tim alleged that about four men had come to his father ’s North Ruimveldt, Georgetown home and picked him up with a vehicle some hours prior to him being shot.

partnership with the UCITC on the Saturday class programme, Wi l l i a m s s a i d , p r o d u c e d development of technical competencies to now three batches of graduates.

A total of 347 persons has since benefitted from the programme from its advent in 2014 to present.

The main skill profiles for which training was conducted were Engineering, Building Construction, Health Services, Home Economics and Forestry.

“Region Six is also home to the Roadside Baptist Skills Training Centre, (RBSTC) an institution which the BIT and the Ministry of Social Protection have proudly collaborated with for more than four years. In addition to generating employable skills in personal computer repairs and maintenance, electrical installation and plumbing among others, the RBSTC also partners with the Ministry on topical issues facing today’s youth including suicide prevention, gender based violence.”

The ratio of female to male graduates was 55:45 in 2015. BIT continues to target those sectors for which demand was greatest. Over the three-year period the BIT established closer collaboration

Chairman of BIT, Clinton Williams with Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA) and Te c h n i c a l Vo c a t i o n a l a n d Education Training (TVET), in order to obtain credible labour market data in the determination of realistic demand and by extension, o ff e r i n g c o n t i n u i n g c a r e e r guidance to all of our Trainees.

Williams noted that the Heavy Equipment Operation (HDEO) Programme has been leading in this regard with over 50 persons trained at the programme at the UCITC.

Census highlights decline in main ethnic populations

T

he Bureau of Statistics announced, yesterday, its publications of Compendiums One and Two further detailing the findings of the 2012 Census.

In accordance with its commitment to disseminate the Report from June, the Methodological Note on the final Census count and Compendium One were disseminated on the Bureau’s Website in May and June 2016 respectively.

This recent publication, C o m p e n d i u m Tw o , w a s disseminated earlier this month. It provides further information about t h e c o u n t r y ’s p o p u l a t i o n composition in terms of Ethnicity, Age structure, Dependency Ratios & Religion.

Additionally new information about the population trends such as national population size by Region and population growth patterns are also detailed in this latest publication.

The findings of the Census highlight a continued proportionate decline in the populations of the main ethnic groups and a compensatory increase among the Mixed-race and Amerindians\ Indigenous populations.

The final population count stands at 746,955 persons.

Nevertheless, the distribution pattern of the ethnic groups has still remained unaffected since the 2002 Census with Indo-Guyanese remaining as the largest group followed by those of African Heritage, the Mixed Race, the Amerindians\Indigenous peoples and the Portuguese, respectively.

The Final Report for the 2012 Census will be disseminated in four main Compendiums. The upcoming Compendium Three analyses the important Economic Activity profile of the population and will be disseminated by the end of August.

The final Compendium which will address the remaining key Topics such as Education, Fertility, Mortality and Housing will be disseminated by end of November.

Additionally, a table module with data from other interesting topic areas will also be disseminated with Compendium 4.

A plethora of information with accompanying tables is now available for all types of users. The Compendiums are available for free download on the Bureau’s web site http:// www. statistics guyana. gov.gy/.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 19, 2016

Small floating dredges can fix siltation problems - Dutch experts

S

iltation has become synonymous with flooding in Guyana and to address the issue, the Dutch Risk Reduction Team recommends that the government make use of small floating dredges to remedy the recurring problem.

According to the report since dredging has been the standard way to combat siltation, these dredges can be used in channels inaccessible by excavators, thereby, enhancing the country’s ability to deal with siltation.

Silt is the fine sand or clay which is carried by running water and deposited as sediment especially in a channel or harbour.

The DRR Team suggested, too, that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) should exploit its own cutter suction dredge for the maintenance of the outfall channels as well as river and river mouth sections.

If this is done, then the small floating dredges can be used in municipal and residential areas.

The report said that sedimentation reduces the cross-sectional flow area of many drainage channels. It noted, too, that an expanding coastline contributes to siltation in-front of the outfalls which reduce the drainage capacity.

Recently, there were two instances of flooding in Guyana, particularly in the county of Berbice. In June, villages along the coast of Region Five were severely affected by flood waters. The hardest hit communities were

Lovely Lass, Trafalgar and Union.

During the initial stages of the flooding, one complication which arose was the presence of silt at the main sluice located in the village of Trafalgar. It was related to this publication that during the El Nino season the unwanted sediments had built up in the outfall channel of the sluice.

This resulted in a blockage causing water not to run off the land as it should have.

More recently another case of flooding came up in R e g i o n S i x . C u r r e n t l y, Gibraltar and Fyrish villages are affected by flooding. The councillor who contacted Kaieteur News said that the reason for the water not draining off the land was the blockage at the sluice door.

Again, there was a build-up of silt. It was reported that the high tide brings sediments into the land and are lodged at the door.

When drainage by sluice is stalled, there is a greater dependence on the use of pumps to get excess water off the land as was the case in Trafalgar. In Gibraltar a pump had been set up to work round the clock.

Despite dredging the outfall channels as an option to move unwanted silt; the report stated that there will still be an accumulation of the material.

The DRR was approached by the government in October 2015 to examine the state of drainage in Guyana, and to make recommendations which can be implemented to fix the faults in the system.

Every cent can be...

From page 3 the coalition had reportedly been forced to dip into the Consolidated Fund for US$9M to clear off some of the debt owed to them.

Since this initiative was administered under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration, former President Bharrat Jagdeo had defended his party’s use of the fund.

Jagdeo had been quoted in sections of the media as saying “Let’s say oil prices are high, Venezuela said we will give you some credit. If oil prices are high, then 40 per cent of the oil payments can be kept by the country as a loan, 60 per cent you have to pay

over a time span.”

He had gone on to explain that while other Governments in the Caribbean used the funds for development projects, the PPP government placed the money in the PetroCaribe fund at Central Bank, to finance the purchase of rice. This rice was shipped to Venezuela to mitigate Guyana’s debt.

Besides rice purchases, Jagdeo had admitted that the PPP Government had used US$15M from the fund to construct the Hope Canal, E a s t D e m e r a r a Wa t e r Conservancy. This was because the Government, “Saw it as important for the agriculture sector.”

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Woman makes Guyanese claim to Bajan court The woman who now goes by the name Alexis Charles

Is she Guyanese, or is she not? That is the question going through the minds of Barbados immigration officials who have detained this convicted shoplifter, now answering to the name, Alexis Ernestine Charles, with the given age of 32.

The woman early last week, admitted in a Magistrate’s court to stealing nuts and olive oil worth $38,65 (Bar$1 = US.50 cents), but the case of simple larceny then became shrouded in mystery, when the prosecutor revealed that she had three other matters pending under the name she gave during that hearing, as well with Hosanna Songs and Althea Charles.

The mystery deepened when the prosecutor added that in answering to one of the other charges, the woman had given her identify as Guyanese,

and St Lucian in the next instance.

But, under the name Hosanna Songs, she is the holder of a Barbados passport that expires in 2025.

An immigration officer then informed the court that records show that the woman’s passport was issued without the necessary supporting documentation, such as a national identification card.

Nonetheless the woman was in possession of two Barbadian ID cards under the names, Althea Alexis Charles and Althea A. Charles.

She was remanded to a month in prison to give officials time to solve the mystery, but by weekend, the woman was back in court with an Attorney who successfully applied for her to be sent to the Psychiatric Hospital, Black Rock for review and a report.

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday July 19, 2016

Origin of Parika fire still being investigated Investigators from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) are working on two theories as they continue to probe the origin of a fire at Parika Old Road last Thursday. That fire forced four persons to jump from a two-storey building to save their lives.

According to a source from the GFS, they have received information that the fire could have been a deliberate act by a jilted lover of one of the women who was residing at the property at Lot 237 Parika.

Theory two is that the fire could have been electrical in origin. However, the exact origin of the fire which left 10 persons homeless is still being investigated.

Around 20:45 hrs last Thursday, a woman, her partner and their two young children had to be rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, to seek medical attention after jumping through a window from the

top flat of a burning building.

The fire completely destroyed the two-storey house.

According to reports received, the fire started in the lower flat of the building and quickly razed the entire building.

Tanya Barrow and her two children, Shee-an-yal and Samuel Sealey, who resided in the upper flat of the building, received treatment for minor burns and abrasions, while her partner, Oscar King, is said to have suffered a broken leg. Those who resided in the bottom flat of the building were Barrow’s cousin, Samantha Johnson, her boyfriend, Shawn, her children Alexia and Althea Austin, and a cousin, Kerry Ann. No one was in the lower flat of the building at the time of the fire. Those who were residing upstairs were asleep.

According to Maureen Khan, who resides next to

What was left of the building after the blaze

the burnt property, she was about to have a bath when she spotted flames on her neighbour’s back step – the only entrance to the upper flat. ”I started hollering because the entire step was on fire and the downstairs too. I shouting for help and no one ain’t coming out and then I went to the neighbour at the other side and started hollering for her, and then people started to come out,” the woman recalled.

The neighbour said that she was aware that no one was at home in the downstairs but knew the couple and their children were asleep in the upstairs, and panicked when she called and got no answer.

”A minute after I saw the fire on the step, I hear a loud ‘boom’ and then the whole building was on fire,” the neighbour recalled.

Kaieteur News was told that it was when the blaze almost reached the upper flat

of the building that Tanya Barrow and her family got up and, realizing that the only entrance was engulfed by the blaze, decided to jump through a window to safety.

Nothing was saved from the home.

Guyanese woman dies in St. Lucia

after car plunges into sea

A

Guyanese national was killed after the vehicle she was driving plunged into the sea at La Toc on the outskirts of the capital yesterday. Police said that Tanza Campbell suffered injuries after the vehicle spun out of control and flipped into the Castries harbour.

The Guyanese woman had a female passenger with her at the time of the accident. Eyewitnesses said soon after the vehicle flipped into the sea, a female was heard screaming.

Two men went to their rescue, but by the time they pulled out the female passenger she was unresponsive. She was later pronounced dead at the scene by medical officials.

Campbell, a mother of one, worked at KM2 Solutions Saint Lucia, and in a Facebook post the company said, “Today, tragically, we lost a true friend, a close Tanza Campbell colleague and a wonderful leader. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and relatives and of course, the entire KM2 family. We lost a great soul in Tanza Campbell. We will miss her. Sail on in peace!”

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 19, 2016

PAGE 19

Dominicans fined for overstaying, fraud after Rio Hotel raid S

ix citizens of the Dominican Republic who were removed from the Rio Night Club/Inn were yesterday ordered to pay fines of $50,000 each after they pleaded guilty to overstaying their time in Guyana and forging work permits.

The women, Shakira Alcantara; Estefani Orozco; Elizabeth Rosario; Yaliana Parez; Yesenia Holguin and Seleyny Rodrigues, all of whom are over the age of 18, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court accompanied by their Attorney Mark Waldron.

Between February 22 and July 14, the women overstayed their time in Guyana. They also conspired with a person or persons unknown to forge an extension of stay in their Dominican Republic passports, purporting to show that same was issued by the Central Immigration and Passport Office.

The foreigners spoke to the court by aid of a Spanish interpreter facilitated by the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Attorney Waldron explained that his clients’ family had already booked flights for their loved ones to return home today. He said that the women paid a gentleman at the

Estefani Orozco

Seleyny Rodrigues

Yesenia Holguin

aforementioned hotel US$300 for the stamps in their passports which they thought were valid. Waldron begged for leniency and told the court that his clients had been in police custody since last Thursday.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court that the women came to Guyana on different dates via the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Timehri, East Bank Demerara. He said that they were

each granted different stay periods.

According to Jones the women were staying at the Inn located at Forshaw Street, Queenstown, Georgetown.

The Rio Night Club/Inn offers erotic services to its customers.

Jones said that on July 14, the police in collaboration with the Trafficking In Person (TIP) Unit of Ministry of Social Protection raided the hotel and discovered that

the women were illegally in the country. He said that checks were made on their passports and it was discovered that they had fake work permits.The Prosecutor said that the women were escorted to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters where they were cautioned and charged.

It was reported that the women were held at the Rio Night Club where they reportedly worked as

Elizabeth Rosario

strippers and provided other erotic services to clients in exchange for cash. They were each fined $20,000 on the first charge with an alternative of four weeks’ imprisonment.

On the second charge, they were each fined $30,000 with an alternative of eight weeks’ imprisonment.

The prison terms are to run concurrently.

Pilot project slated for digitization of pension fund In an effort to curtail any incidence of fraud with regards to persons collecting Old Age Pension, the Ministry of Social Protection has taken steps to roll out a pilot project for digitization of the monetary scheme.

An official attached to the Ministry confirmed that

efforts are already underway to upgrade the system which was subject to citizens at home and abroad.

The pilot programme is expected to roll out in Region Five. It will not be limited to Old Age Pension but other monetary benefits offered by the Social

Protection Ministry.

Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence had announced that the Ministry will be digitising the pension system to make it more efficient in identifying redundancies in the system.

Lawrence said that the

Social Protection Ministry has engaged the Ministry of Public Telecommunications to ensure that the two agencies can collectively run a pilot of this electronic project.

The digitised database will also indicate to the Ministry, persons who are authorising others to collect

Suspect in 1995 murder jailed for stabbing brother T

hirty-eight-year-old gold miner, Philbert Edwards, has copped a six-month sentence for stabbing his brother, even as police are putting together a case against him for allegedly killing another man 21 years ago.

Edwards, of Princeville, Potaro, was sentenced last Thursday after appearing before Magistrate Fabayo Azore in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

He pleaded guilty to wounding his brother, Sutton Edwards, on July 9, at Princeville, Potaro, with intent to murder him.

It is alleged that the brothers had a scuffle, during which Edwards used a knife to stab his sibling.In court, the accused pleaded with the Magistrate for leniency.

He also expressed regret for his actions, and stated that he was under

the influence of alcohol at the time.

Magistrate Azore then sentenced Edwards to the minimum penalty of six months.

Police said that it was only after Edwards was arrested for wounding his brother that they learnt that he was also wanted for the 1995 murder of another miner. The victim was David Ramcharran, of Seven Miles, Potaro, who was allegedly slain in a quarrel over cigarettes.

It is alleged that Edwards was on ‘the landing’ that day, and he bought two cartons of cigarettes. He then met Ramcharran and another man and they began to consume vodka and water. While they were drinking, Ramcharran allegedly collected Edwards’s cigarettes.

Around 22.00 hrs that day, the three men went to Ramcharran’s house at Seven Miles, Potaro, and while there, Edwards asked for his cigarettes.

According to police, Edwards

alleged that Ramcharran responded by cursing him and also threatened him with a cutlass.

The miner said that he fled and Ramcharran and the other man pursued him using a flashlight in their search.

Ramcharran eventually caught up with Edwards and allegedly tried to chop the miner, who allegedly stabbed Ramcharran in self-defence.

The suspect reportedly returned to Princeville, where he disposed of the knife in the Potaro River. He then headed to the back-dam to work, and later learned that Ramcharran had died.

But Edwards was arrested two Saturdays ago after he stabbed his brother. He was taken to the Mahdia Police Station, where a villager informed the police that the suspect was also wanted for Ramcharran’s murder. Police said that a woman who had witnessed Ramcharran’s murder also gave them a statement.

their pensions, which is an indication that they are not in Guyana.

The digitising of the pension database will also see greater accountability within the pension system.

Probation Officers will have more time to do additional field work and conduct visitations.

The announcement was made following revelations that the Old Age Pension scheme has been a subject of abuse. ”When persons not living in Guyana access pension from both the Guyana government and the country in which they live; it is unfair especially for elderly persons living here,” she said.

Lawrence said that recently the Old Age Pension scheme grew as an host of overseas-based Guyanese, who had returned for the 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations, took advantage to register to draw down the monies. ”These persons are looking to benefit both places; we can’t tolerate the double dipping,” the Minister stressed. She said that the issue of ‘double dipping’ is not limited to accessing

pension, but also public assistance for school aged children.

“In the hinterland Regions we know there are persons with more than one identification card who draw (collect) pension under one name in one Region, then travel to the next and draw under the other name,” Minister Lawrence explained.

She explained that some students are beneficiaries of public assistance in Guyana, but they also benefit from similar assistance in neighbouring Brazil.” To address this, guardians will have to submit an attendance report for the child so that they can continue accessing such assistance,” Minister Lawrence stated.

Last year, the issue was brought to the attention of the staff of the Ministry, who were advised that they will be held responsible and surcharged where books are issued with them knowing the persons do not live in Guyana.

In recent years, there have been accusations that the Government’s Old Age Pension scheme was laced with fraud, with many persons collecting under false pretence.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Tuesday July 19, 2016

NICIL yet to collect US$16M in bad debts The National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) seems to be taking quite some time before it can begin correcting a substantial amount of what was said to have been done wrong under its previous management.

The company is yet to collect over US $16M from various agencies even though it is said to be in need of every cent.

Earlier this year, NICIL

sent one of its Board Members, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, and a Legal Officer to China in an effort to retrieve US $5M. This is money owed by Hong Kong Golden Telecom. The money remains outstanding from the sale of Government’s 20 percent shares it had in GTT. While NICIL has been making efforts to collect this money, going to the extent of sending representatives to China, it is yet to collect

Bicycles and book bags for top Region Seven NGSA pupils The Ministry of Social Cohesion, through the Office of the Presidency, in collaboration with the Regional Department of Education, presented the top Region Seven performers in the Annual Grade Six Assessment 2016 with bicycles and book bags. The occasion was at the St. John the Baptist Primary School.

The top performers were Romel Smith (526) St. John the Baptist Primary, Corena Clementson (500) St. Anthony’s Primary; Indrani Va n l a n g e ( 4 9 3 ) S t .

Anthony’s Primary; Amyeda Clement (488) Jawalla Primary; Navin Baboolall (485) High Achievers Institute; Victoria Outridge (482) St. John the Baptist Primary; Michael Cameron (481) St. John the Baptist Primary; Anil Jerry (477) Jawalla Primary; Nixon Williams (477) Two Miles Primary; and Dino Chambers (476) Paruima Primary.

Each student received a bicycle and a book bag from the Ministry of Social Cohesion.

Region Seven Education Officer, Mr. Charles Holmes congratulated the students.

He urged parents and teachers that from this year, there will be no more drilling because the exam is designed for critical thinking.

He urged teachers to review their strategies to cater to the new examination design. “Congratulations to parents who worked so hard and the school Heads and all persons for grooming our future leaders. The Department of Education places emphasis for children to learn and for them to excel. I have no doubt that these children will excel in their future endeavors. I will be listening in the future for

good things.”

He expressed his gratitude to the Ministry for the donated school bus that makes four trips a day. The Ministry has also made provision of a school boat for Goshen, Essequibo River and footwear to all the schools.

The Department of Education has purchased two 150 Hp engines and a shaded school boat to be available from September for the riverain children.

These initiatives are to boost attendance from the riverain and far flung areas. He charged the top performers, “You who are here have just started (your journey).

Continue studying ahead”.

Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford, outlined to those present that the initiative of the “Bs” is President Granger’s with support from corporate Guyana.

He said, “The President has interest in the people and he wants to give them the opportunity to qualify themselves. You have made this region proud. We want parents to give a little attention to children. We at the administrative level want to see value for money. We want you parents to be active in the child’s performance.

“The President has opted to provide transportation for children. Our Region is the most difficult to administer.

Congratulations to all the students who passed the grade (6) exams.”

The Ministry of Social Cohesion Representative, Shabbir Ali, expressed his thanks to the Regional Education Officer for his input in the Ministry’s initiatives. He informed all present that to date the donations have been 10 school buses, nine boats and nearly 500 bicycles.

monies owed to it by various local companies, both private and state-owned.

Former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran, pointed to these debts in his report of the forens ic audit he conducted into the affairs of NICIL. The forensic auditor reported on several provisions of bad debts quoting various amounts.

Pointing to one set in particular Goolsarran said, “…Included in Related Party Receivable is an amount of $754.398 million shown as provision for bad debts.

These relate to Guyana Electricity Corporation $566.633 million; GT&T $142.738 million; GUYSUCO - $42.968 million; and LINMINE $2.059 million.

It therefore means that the total provision for bad debts as at 31 December 2014 was $3.270 billion.

The comments made earlier about specific Board approval and the Minister’s involvement in relation to these large provisions for bad debts are also relevant.”

Further, Goolsarran commented, “It should not be over-emphasized that a provision for bad debt has the same effect on the results of NICIL’s operations as that

NICIL’s Chairman, Maurice Odle of a write-off and is usually a precursor to the latter, hence the need to involve NICIL’s Board and the Minister.”

In this regard, Goolsarran was referencing to an issue he pointed to in other sections of his report which is that several actions were taken by NICIL’s former management without the approval of the Board and the Minister of Finance.

Some of the debts date way back, but NICIL, under the management of Former

Auditor, Anand Goolsarran Director, Winston Brassington never collected the sums.

Despite the fact that the huge debts were highlighted in the report of the forensic audit, NICIL is still to make moves to collect the monies.

NICIL’s new Chairman, Maurice Odle has been unreachable. However, a source within NICIL has indicated that efforts are still to be made to collect the outstanding sums.

The source attributed the

delay in addressing many of the issues highlighted in the audit report to the fact that a new Director is yet to be appointed.

The employee explained, “You have to remember that a Board does not meet every day or every week; sometimes it doesn’t even meet every month. So it is kind of unreasonable to think that NICIL’s problems can be fixed quickly when it is operating without a substantive director.

National Assembly to confirm FIU Director, Deputy In relation to the appointment of a Director and Deputy Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) within the Anti-money Laundering and Countering the Financial of Terrorism Authority (AML/CFT), Parliament’s Committee on Appointments has submitted its recommendations.

Yesterday’s sitting of the National Assembly saw Mr. Matthew Edward Hugh Langevine, presented as the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and Mr. Abiose Thomas named to the position of Deputy Director.

The FIU operates in collaboration with Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Revenue Authority and the Ministry of Finance in identifying, and assisting in matters that have to do with financial crimes.

The Standing Committee on Appointments was established under the Constitution to address matters relating to the appointment of Members of Commissions in accordance to Article 119C of the Constitution and provisions of the Standing Order 84.

The Committee was given additional responsibilities for appointments to bodies by several statutes enacted by the National Assembly in the 10th and 11th Parliaments.

In particular, the AML/CFT

(Amendment) Act 2015, Act No.1 of 2015, gave the Committee the responsibility to select and recommend persons for appointments as the Director, Deputy Director, Attorney-atLaw and Accountant to the FIU. The Committee’s Second Report provided a systematic breakdown on how the selection of the Director came to be.

It states that the committee met 14 times and on its ninth meeting, held on May 18, 2016; it accepted the spread sheet of applicants for the positions and the matrix of applicants’ response to being a “politically exposed person”.

It was revealed that of 17 candidates for the position, Langevine was found to be the most suitable candidate to fill the position of FIU Director following several rounds of due diligence exercises and interviews and after a background report undertaken by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) ruled out the initial candidate unsuitable for the post.

The current Legal Advisor, Abiose Thomas, was also found by the Committee to be the most suitable person to be appointed Deputy Director.

Members of the Committee on Appointments on the Government’s side includes, the Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton; Minister of

Designate: Matthew Edward Hugh Langevine Social Cohesion, Amna Ally; Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson; Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes; and the Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson.

Members of the Main Parliamentary Opposition - the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) that sit on the Committee includes, Members of Parliament (MPs): the Chief Whip of the PPP/C, Gail Teixeira; Bishop Juan Edghill; Clive Jagan and Ganga Persaud.

Tuesday July 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

Several former J’ca Govt. members to lose their security details (Jamaica Gleaner) The Police High Command has indicated that it is going to pull the bodyguards assigned to several members of the former Portia Simpson Miller-led administration.

The former government members were last week told that the police have determined that they are not facing threats that would require them to be assigned closeprotection officers (bodyguards).

In a letter to those who are to lose their security details, the High Command said the best it could do for them, at this time, was that they should notify the nearest police station if they intend to travel to areas that are considered high security risk areas.

According to the High Command, a review has been conducted in regard to the personal safety of the former government members and it was determined that the threat levels are non-existent or low.

“Based on the findings of the review, several recom-

mendations were made, one of which suggests that there is no need for a security detail to be assigned to you at this time.

“It is against this background that the close-protection officer assigned to you will be withdrawn within 14 days after receipt of this document ...,” the letter to the former government members said in part.

PULLEDAFTER ELECTION The Sunday Gleaner understands that some members of the former administration had their security details pulled shortly after the Jamaica Labour Party was elected to form the new government in February, and several persons who avoided that cut have been caught this time around.

They include former ministers Dr Wykeham McNeill, Morais Guy and Sandrea Falconer, as well as former minister without portfolio Luther Buchanan.

Former state ministers Richard Azan and Colin Fagan have also been notified that they will lose their close-pro-

tection officers.

According to Sunday Gleaner sources, two former ministers have been told that while they will be allowed to retain a security detail the number of close-protection officers will be drastically reduced.

Last week, McNeill confirmed that he had received the notification but had not yet sought clarification on the matter.

“I simply have not had the time to act on the letter. So let me make some checks and I will get back to you,” said McNeill.

A similar confirmation came from Guy. “Yes, I have been notified that the close-protection officer assigned to me will be withdrawn. But I am in no quarrel with anyone,” said Guy. The Police High Command has long signalled its intention to review the assignment of closeprotection officers, and last year then Security Minister Peter Bunting told Parliament that changes were coming.

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SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana p assport application.

Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535.

INNOVATIVEMARKETING& PUBLISHINGINC–TEL:6004212: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:6294946 or 225-4822 RAMDASS VISA APPLICATION & immigration services, room A-4, Maraj Building, Georgetown. Call Samantha: 227-0295; 615-9295

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc.

- Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000.

Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Register now for summer courses in cosmetology and nails between 2nd -25th August – Cost $15,000 Call Abby:619-7603

TO LET Rooms in Albertown & apartment in eccles. Call: 2253234; 698-7807 FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578

Guytec Repairs Services & Spares to washing machines, pressure washer, dryer, stoves, refrigerator, treadmill, vacuum, etc –Call: 680-2377 LEARN TO DRIVE

PROPERTY FOR SALE

FOR SALE

2010 IST -$2.6M, 2011 BLUEBIRD -$2.7M, 2011 RACTIS -$2.6M, 2009 AXIO -$2.4M, 2009 BELTA -2.4M. CALL: 617-2891

Corner property in Grove, 1 block from Main Road- Flat House, price negotiable. Call: 1905-626-2572

LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

SALE! SALE! 2010 IST $2.4M, 2009 NOAH -$2.5M, ARUIS-$2.5M-CALL:617-2891 3 TON CANTER ENCLOSE AND OPEN BACK WITH 4D ENGINE, PRICE -$3.6M, NEVER REGISTERED – CALL: 617-2891 One Corolla Feilder Wagon, year 2010 - $1.8M. Call: 2254816; 676-6379 2004 MITSUBISHI CANTER, 4D 33 ENGINE, 2 TON, UNREGISTERED $2.4M. CALL: 642-7295 2010 TOYOTA FIELDER, BODY KIT, MAGS, CD, FULLY LOADED, UNREGISTERED -$2.5M. CALL: 642-7295 2010 TOYOTA PREMIO, FULLY LOADED, UNREGISTERED -$3.3M. CALL: 642-7295 One Hilux E/Cab pick-up, manual, gasoline, A/C. Call: 676-0931

Toyota Avensis for sale -$2.1M -Call: 645-0078; 603-0078

We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar

All Visa’s Applications: visitors, students, permanent @ Cybertron Immigration Services, Parika –Call: 260-4850; 649-3073

VEHICLE FOR SALE

One Honda CRV, PLL series, year 2001 -$1.4M negotiable.

Call: 624-6099

Narine’s Trucking Service for sand, loam, stone etc.

Delivery-Call: 641-2477

Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158

ACCOMMDATION Harmony Inn: clean, comfortable & affordable apartments/rooms, long & short term – Call: 668-0306; 218-1400; 694-7817

PEN- PAL UK Re-migrant is seeking lady 35-50 for serious relationship must be able to travel around – Call: +447717834480; +592-6905061

Oswin J’s Auto Imports: Premio 2008-2011, Allion 2008-2011, Rush 2008-2009, Fielder -2008, Axio 2008. Call: 609-2815 Closeout Sale! 2002 Premio $2M, 2004 Spacio -$2M, 2007 Belta -$2.1M. Call: 269-0432; 686-0323 One Toyota Raum for sale, HB 9090, in good working condition. Call: 220-7989; 6437741 Long base canter-$2M, Honda Fit -$900,000, 212 Car -$1M, Mitsubishi Car $700,000. Call: 604-6724 LAND FOR SALE 33.6 Acres @ Kuru Kuru, Linden Soesdyke Highway.

Call:679-1151; 225-7794

CAR RENTAL

Shiba Kaleko Rain ForestResort:schoolchildren for Nature Tourism experience @ Rockstone, 45mins from Linden. Call: 618-4499

PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 656-0087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL @YAHOO. COM Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494

High value transported land and 2 bedrooms newly built house, Greater Diamond E.B.D -$16M negotiable. Call: 265-4338 Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 Fully furnished transported commercial/residential property @ 249 Buzz-BeeDam, Craig, E.B.D; also 3 Canter trucks -$240M negotiable. Call: 652-0519/ 628-6847 3 Bedrooms house in Tucville, asking price $15M, needs repairs. Call: 645-6498 Newly built @ Craig E.B.D (land size: 91X50 feet), (House 40X28), 3 rooms, 1 self contained. Call:718-213-6496; 679-8091 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities -$41M –Call: 6629335; 612-3244 House & land for sale $8,000,000, 422 Fourth Street, Herstelling, East Bank Demerara. Call: 677-0792 1 Church building in front and 2 story building at the back 30X120, vacant possession, 180 Charolotte Street Bourda.

Call:624-7341/ 227-6817/2265183 Property for sale @ lot 32 Princess Street, Werk-enRust. Call: 621-8767 Transported property in Regent Street between Wellington & Camp. Call: 6251514 New Road Vreed-en-Hoop $17M, La Parfaite Harmonie $5M, $7M, $20M, Parika$50M, $8.5M, La Grange $18M, $24M, terms available.

Call: 604-6724 Transported property, prime, furnished liquor restaurant & bar, 2 freezers, 1 pools table, double lot @ E.C.D- $20M neg. Call: 600-7228 LAND FOR SALE Land @ La Grange Public Road to Sea Dam, 4 Acres, could be use for commercial /Housing Scheme-Call: 625-1514

Soman, Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997

TOURS

Tuesday July 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL. COM Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807

La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.1M, $1.6M, $2.5M; Tuschen School Street -$2.5M, New Road Vreed-en-Hoop -$26M, $30M. Call: 604-6724 Eccles - $5M, Herstelling$5M, Tuschen front-$5.5M, Leonora -$3M, Zeelugt, Uitvlugt -$2.5M, Zeeburg $5M Call: 604-6724

MIX BREED PUPS –CALL: 615-0146 Rambutan seedlings plants $2,000 per plant. Call: 621-4778

WANTED Night Manager, Security, DJ, waitresses, bartenders, 1 experienced secretary between ages 18-25, must have CXC –Call: 668-8332; 638-5303 Labourer in cabbage & tomato farm must have 2 yrs experienced, paying $5,000$5,500 per day. Call: 695-6139; 674-5052

One 6 base music set with QSC amps, RCF speakers.

Call: 622-0503; 689-9932

Waitress for bar- Call: 6122522

Toyota Hiace (pitbull) bus 2008- $1.5M, down payment $100,000 monthly. Call: 6093650; 226-8953

Porters/Handyman with sound secondary education & able to multi-task. Apply in person @ KeyFood Trading, McDoom, Village.

1-2000 Am general 6X6 truck tractor, price -$5.5M negotiable, 1 Chevy 2500 cargo van – $2.4M. Call: 6736034; 664-5319

Girls to work in bar as waitress, between age 18-25 (walk with ID card). Call: 2564096; 660-6325

Muscovy Ducklings. Call: 602-7203

Contract cars and taxi drivers, also dispatchers. Call: 2310002; 231-0316

Trawler – Call: 616-5954 Dairy cows-high producers, price negotiable. Call 672-6892 to visit site.

1 Hilux 5L pickup, 1 complete music set & transported property @ Govent Garden, E.B.D. Call: 265-3586 Quality German Shepherd pure bred pups available -7 weeks old. Call: 609-2815/ 6964659

EDUCATIONAL

Cleaners between 19-25yrs for 2 weeks from Georgetown area. Call: 231-4933; 691-3550 1 Driver for East Bank AreaCall: 233-2745 One experienced cook to work in snackette & bar – Call: 647-7432; 223-5798 Driver with mini bus license for contract in Georgetown.

Call: 664-0802 OFFICE CLERK MUST BE EXPERINCED IN T E L E M A R K I N G, COMPUTERS, EXCEL, WORD. TWO REFERENCES AND CXC. RUIMVELDT. CALL: 2318529

Electronic Course. Starting 9th August. Hands-on training repairing all types of TVs,etc.Call:226-6551;225-0391 Summer Computer Classes ages 5-14 -$8,000, registration in process, Micrographics, Vreeden-Hoop. Call: 264-3057 IAE (Private Secondary School) register for full time (forms1-5) CXC 2017, classes for adults and repeaters. Call: 683-5742 Summer classes in Maths, English, Phonics, composition writing and much more for slow leaners.

Call: 675-4379 Kids Summer Computer Classes, ages 5-14 a course diploma in Computers $30,000 @ Cybertron, Parika. Call: 260-4850 9 Courses Diploma in computers -$35,000, computerize accounting $35,000, graphics program $35,000 @ Micrographics, Vreed-en-Hoop. Call: 2643057

FOR RENT 1-2 Bedrooms apartment for rent at MonRepos, North E.C.D, price $60,000. Call: 6929295; 688-6005 2 Bedrooms flat house with 1 self contained room & A/C, parking space @129 Diamond Housing Scheme (Street after G3 building).

Call: 688-2141; 642-96216 1-3 Bedrooms apartment for rent at100 D’Andrade Street, Newtown Kitty. Call: 6851769 or 671-6860 2 Bedrooms bottom flat for rent -$40,000 per month. Call: 628-7337 One Three bedrooms house in South. Call: 698-3644; 6696190 Continue page 23

Tuesday July 19, 2016

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Kaieteur News

M&CC claims to have Health and Safety policy ... Contrary to LOSAH report On April 11, last, Chief Labour officer within the Ministry of Social Protection, Charles Ogle, reportedly instructed Labour, Occupational Safety and Health (LOSAH) officers, Roydon Croal and Latoya John, to conduct a “workplace inspection” at the Mayor and City Council.

After inspections at the various departments of City Hall, the report was handed over to Town Clerk, Royston King on July, 1.

According to the report, the objectives of the inspection were to observe and analyse the level of Labour, Occupational Safety and Health compliance by the M&CC through inspections and interactive interviews; to make recommendations and to ensure that all breaches were corrected, to encourage adoption of best practices, as well as to reduce the possible number of workplace accidents and fatalities.

In the report, Croal and John highlighted several discrepancies at various M&CC departments. Among those breaches of LOSAH regulations, it was noted that there were no Health and Safety Policies in place at the Solid Waste Department, Municipal Constabulary Training Centre (Stores) and the Municipal Abattoir.

From page 22

FOR RENT

Investigations were carried out at the Solid Waste Department of City Hall.

Contrary to that aspect of the report, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the M&CC, Debra Lewis said that there is a Health and Safety Policy that regulates all departments of City Hall.

Another recommendation from the LOSAH report states, that the M&CC should “Cause a joint workplace Safety and Health Committee to be established and maintained at the workplace. In addition, there should also be the existence of a safety and health programme and procedures in place and the effectiveness thereof.

“This is in keeping with section 23(4) and (5) (d), of the (Occupational Safety &

Health) OSH Act Chapter 99:10.’’ In accordance with this recommendation, Lewis said that following the submission of LOSAH’s report to Town Clerk Royston King, a Health and Safety Committee was formed.

The Committee she noted subsequently conducted investigations at the Solid Wa s t e Department, Municipal Constabulary Training Centre (Stores), Municipal Abattoir and the Concert Hall.

The Committee then c o m p i l e d a r e p ort and compared it with LOSAH’s report; they then presented their findings and made recommendations to the Town Clerk.

A Memorandum of Agreement inked between Sterling Products Limited (SPL) and the Commercial Workers’ Union (CCWU), on July 12, at the Ministry of Labour, Brickdam, Georgetown, will facilitate a hike in the wages and salaries of SPL employees.

This is according to a statement the company released recently. It disclosed that the agreement which was signed in the presence of Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle, will see SPL employees receiving an increase in wages and salaries of seven per cent for 2016 and 7.5 per cent for 2017.

Mr. Ogle commended SPL and CCWU for working closely to arrive at an agreement that will see workers benefiting, through the process of collective bargaining. “Regardless of the duration of time it takes, this agreement shows that collective bargaining is happening and the union is negotiating,” he said.

SPL, according to the Chief Labour Officer, has been maintaining good relations with workers and the union, noting that he cannot recall the Ministry of Social Protection having to intervene in any dispute regarding the company, over the last 10 years.

CCWU General Secretary, Ann Nelson-Anderson, said the process which the union and SPL went through to arrive at the agreement, is a demonstration of the “true definition of negotiation.”

“Like any union, we would put what we would like to see but then, we have that process of negotiating and even though we took longer than we usually do, the workers played the majority role in this negotiation, because they were the ones who made the decision on this agreement.

Again, I must applaud management for listening to their workers, listening to the union, so that we come again to this next two-year agreement which we are

happy to be signing here today (July 12),” Mrs. Anderson said.

SPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ramsay Ali, said the company, in pursuing agreements that see employees benefiting, has always maintained a “fruitful, cordial and instructive” relationship with the union.

“One thing I think both the union and company can be proud of is the fact, that we can sit down at the table and discuss issues and get to the bottom of them and amicably resolve them.

VACANCY Control Room Assistants and Visiting Officers. Massy Security (Guyana) Inc. Lot 0 Ruimveldt, Georgetown.Tel: 225-5573/6

1-2-4 Bedrooms new house to rent @ West Coast Demerara– Call immediately 276-0818

Popular East Coast Gas Station (Non-Pareil) Day/ Night: pump attendants, sales clerk & office assistant.

Contact: 695-9880

Apartment in Diamond, Section A, Block X: 2 bedrooms apartment -$55,000 monthly. Call: 685-1640 for more info.

Lower 2 bedrooms apartment @ Paradise Public Road, E.C.D. Security Deposit required -$38,000 monthly. Call: 625-9939 G/Town business to rent; ideal top spot for: restaurant/bar/night club/ day& night business. Call: 694-7266

M&CC Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis Lewis continued that the Town Clerk then made recommendations for immediate action.

Sterling Products, CCWU ink agreement - employees to get salary increases for 2016, 2017

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

This agreement took some time because there were a couple of issues that needed to be discussed. At least we have reached an agreement and I am proud to say that the relationship with the union and the management is quite firm,” Mr. Ali stated.

The agreement will also see several categories of workers benefiting from increased allowances, bursary awards and premiums, while paid vacation leave, employees’ health insurance, paid sick leave, education assistance, pension plan, life insurance and other benefits are maintained.

Hotel hospitality, now hiring, front desk agents, waiters, waitress, housekeepers, sous- chef, handyman/ gardener. Call: 603-3205 SENIORACCOUNT CLERK TO WORK IN CHARITY MUST HAVEALEAST FIVE YEARS EXPERIENCE. CONTACT: 223-5273/4 BAR MANAGER WITH AT LEAST 5 YEARS EXPERIENCE CONTACT CONTACT 223-5273/4 OR EMAIL: RTILAK @ ADAMANTIUMHOLDINGS. COM Cashiers for supermarket – Call: 624-0033 & pump attendants. Call: 680-3863 Cook (food handlers certificate) - Assistant Cook, Knowledge in all cuisines.

Salary - $23,000- Contact: 2227334 – 63 Cashier 6am-3pm & 3pm12pm. Submit application to Shell Station Providence E B D , shellramsburg@gmail.com 1 Male Janitor/Cleaner. Apply in person @ Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling.

1 Female Accounts Clerk.

Apply in person @ Alabama Trading Georgetown, Ferry Stelling.

FOR RENT Two bedrooms apartment, bottom flat, E.B.D. Call: 6873017; 646-5147 1-3 Bedrooms house in 1st Field S/E Cummings Lodge $50,000 monthly. Call: 2259748 Teepee Suites Apartments: Lot 7 Princes Street, Charlestown, Guyana. Call: 5 9 2 - 2 2 3 - 7 9 0 3 / email:teepeesuites@yahoo.com

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 19, 2016

Tuesday July 19, 2016

Turkey widens post-coup purge, demands Washington hand over cleric Military personnel, suspected of being involved in the coup attempt, are escorted by policemen as they arrive at the Justice Palace in Ankara, Turkey, yesterday. (Reuters/Baz Ratner)

(Reuters) - Turkey purged its police yesterday after rounding up thousands of soldiers in the wake of a failed military coup, and said it could reconsider its friendship with the United States unless Washington hands over a cleric Ankara blames for the putsch.

Nearly 20,000 members of the police, civil service, judiciary and army have been detained or suspended since Friday night’s coup, in which more than 200 people were killed when a faction of the armed forces tried to seize power.

The broad crackdown and calls to reinstate the death penalty for plotters drew concern from Western allies who said Ankara must uphold the rule of law in the country, a NATO member that is Washington’s most powerful Muslim ally.

Some voiced concern President Tayyip Erdogan was using the opportunity to consolidate his power and further a process of stifling dissent which has already caused tensions with Europe.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister said criticism of the government’s response amounted to backing for the bid to overthrow it.

A senior security official told Reuters that 8,000 police officers, including in the capital Ankara and the biggest city Istanbul, had been removed from their posts on suspicion of links to Friday’s abortive coup.

About 1,500 finance ministry officials had been suspended, a ministry official said, and CNN Turk said 30 governors and more than 50 high-ranking civil servants had been dismissed. Annual leave was suspended for more than 3 million civil servants, while close to 3,000 judges and prosecutors have been suspended.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said 7,543 people had so far been detained, including 6,038 soldiers. Some were shown in photographs stripped to their underpants and handcuffed on the floors

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Kaieteur News

of police buses and a sports hall. A court remanded 26 generals and admirals in custody on Monday, Turkish media said.

Officials in Ankara say former air force chief Akin Ozturk was a co-leader of the coup. The state-run Anadolu agency said yesterday he had confessed, but private broadcaster Haberturk contradicted this, saying he had told prosecutors he tried to prevent the attempted putsch.

The Turkish government says it was masterminded by Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric based in the United States who has a wide following in Turkey. He denies any involvement.

Ankara has demanded Washington hand Gulen over.

Washington says it is prepared to extradite him but only if Turkey provides evidence linking him to crime. Yildirim rejected that demand.

“We would be disappointed if our (American) friends told us to present proof even though members of the assassin organization are trying to destroy an elected government under the directions of that person,” Yildirim said.

“At this stage there could even be a questioning of our friendship,” Yildirim added.

Yildirim said 232 people were killed in Friday night’s violence, 208 of them civilians, police and loyalist soldiers, and a further 24 coup plotters. Officials previously said the overall death toll was more than 290.

ERDOGAN’S PLANE IN REBEL SIGHTS Around 1,400 others were wounded as soldiers commandeered tanks, attack helicopters and warplanes in their bid to seize power, strafing parliament and the intelligence headquarters and trying to seize the main airport and bridges in Istanbul.

The coup crumbled after Erdogan, on holiday at the coast, phoned in to a television news program and called for his followers to take to the streets. He was able to fly into Istanbul in the early hours of

Saturday, after rebel pilots had his plane in their sights but did not shoot it down.

On Sunday, he told supporters that parliament must consider their demands to apply the death penalty for the plotters.

“In democracies, whatever the people say has to happen,” he told a chanting crowd at his house in Istanbul late on Sunday, telling Turks to take to the streets every evening until Friday.

It would be up to parliament to decide on the death penalty, he told international broadcaster CNN international yesterday, and he would approve any decision it made.

Turkey gave up the death penalty in 2004 as part of a program of reforms required to become a candidate to join the EU. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said reinstating it would “in no way” be compatible with Turkey’s goal of EU membership.

The bloodshed shocked the nation of almost 80 million, where the army last used force to stage a successful coup more than 30 years ago, and shattered fragile confidence in the stability of a NATO member state already rocked by Islamic State suicide bombings and an insurgency by Kurdish militants.

Erdogan has long accused Gulen of trying to create a “parallel state” within the courts, police, armed forces and media. Gulen, in turn, has said the coup attempt may have been staged, casting it as an excuse for Erdogan to forge ahead with his purge of the cleric’s supporters from state institutions.

The swift rounding up of judges and others indicated the government had prepared a list beforehand, the EU commissioner dealing with Turkey’s membership bid, Johannes Hahn, said.

“I’m very concerned. It is exactly what we feared,” he said in Brussels. Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu described Hahn’s comments as “unacceptable”.

Telecoms (Amendment) Bill 2016 passed after tumultuous debate

By Jarryl Bryan After tumultuous efforts and motions by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to get the Telecoms (amendment) Bill sent to a special select committee, the Bill was passed last evening with all of its clauses intact in the National Assembly.

This comes after years of the Bill being subject to deliberations, consultations and delays. Meanwhile, there have been clashes between Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T), Guyana’s sole telecommunications service provider over the years, and Digicel.

The Bill is expected to create a competitive playing field in the telecommunications sector, by providing for an open and liberalised sector.

This, it is opined, will serve to attract investors and new entrants to the market.

PPP Member of Parliament Gillian Burton-Persaud argued that the Bill duplicated work done by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

This line was backed up by her colleague, Charles Ramson Jr., (who was repeatedly warned to stay within the merits of the Bill in his submission by Speaker Dr. Barton Scotland). Ramson also argued that the Bill was a public relations flop and that the government missed a chance to fully en-

gage the public and educate them about the particulars of the Bill.

The opposition posited that the Bill gave too much power to the Minister, in this case Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, however countered that the Bill provided for any policy decision made to be rooted in on advise.

Greenidge also stated that advertisements were placed in the print media for consultations regarding the legislation. He said that the Government did make efforts at consultations.

Noting the circumstances under which the Bill was introduced, Greenidge stated that there was no need to send the Bill to a special select committee, but that the matter must be dealt with expeditiously.

PPP Chief Whip Gail Teixeira however stated that with the ever-changing Telecommunications landscape, there was certainly a need to have the Bill sent to a special select committee.

She argued that while the PPP failed in its attempts to improve the sector, such as with the Fibre Optic cable, the government of the day had to be responsible in addressing the issue.

Minister Hughes rebutted

the attacks on the Bill. She chastised the opposition for not bringing the Bill to the floor for years, even as Guyana lagged behind in its telecoms sector.

She also reminded the house that it was former President Bharrat Jagdeo who had closed down small operators back in 2010. At this point Teixeira hurriedly rose, protesting that Hughes statements were a low blow and left the floor.

Hughes did not spare Ransom, querying whether the MP had read the Bill. She noted that when the Bill, along with the Public Utilities Commission Bill is passed, the Minister would be in the clear and not compromised.

The opposition made a last ditch effort, with Teixieira moving a motion to have the Bill sent to a select committee and her colleague Irfaan Ali seconding her motion.

The coalition vociferously voted down the motion and the Bill was considered clause by clause and passed.

Though it preserves the activities of the current providers, the Bill is expected to result in greater choice, better quality of service and lower prices to consumers.

It also addresses telecommunication networks and services expanding into unserved and under-served areas.

Pakistani ‘selfie’ cleric investigated over Qandeel Baloch’s murder

(Reuters) - A prominent Muslim cleric in Pakistan who was censured for appearing in “selfie” photographs with murdered social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch is being investigated in connection with her killing, police said yesterday.

Baloch, 26, described as Pakistan’s Kim Kardashian, divided opinion in the deeply conservative Muslim society with her risqué photos. Her murder on Friday has shocked the country and sparked fresh debate about so-called honour killings.

Baloch’s brother, Muhammad Waseem, told media he drugged and strangled his sister as she had violated their family’s honour with her social media posts, including a series of selfies with cleric Abdul Qavi last month.

One video appears to show her sitting on Qavi’s lap.

Police said Qavi, who was suspended from a prominent Muslim council after the photographs were published, was also part of their investigation into her murder.

“We have decided to widen the scope of the investigation and include Mufti

Murdered social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch

Abdul Qavi in the probe,” Azhar Ikram, the police chief in the town of Multan, where Baloch was killed, told Reuters.

Qavi has denied any involvement in Baloch’s murder but told Reuters yesterday he would present himself to police for questioning if summoned.

Qavi told media on Satu r d a y B a l o c h ’s d e a t h should serve as an example for others who tried to malign the clergy, though he also stated that he had “forgiven her”.

Baloch, who described herself as a modern day feminist, was unapologetic about her bid to push the boundaries of acceptability

for women and change “ t h e t ypical orthodox mindset” of Pakistanis. Her pictures and videos outraged religious conservatives who viewed her as a disgrace to the cultural values of Islam and Pakistan. Others hailed her as a “feminist icon”.

BREADWINNER Police were also investigating Baloch’s o t h e r brother, Muhammad Aslam, who is a junior army officer, Ikram said.

More than 500 people almost all of them women die in “honour killings” in Pakistan every year, usually at the hands of relatives acting over a perception “shame” has been brought on the family.

PAGE 26

Tuesday July 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

Jamaica and T&T PMs end “fruitful” first day of talks KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday held talks with his Trinidad and Tobago counterpart, Dr. Keith Rowley, on a number of issues aimed at improving the bilateral relations between the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries.

“We had a very good meeting and I am pleased to report that we made significant progress. There are issues of course that we will still have to discuss…but in general Prime Minister Rowley and myself have developed a very good friendship and understanding,” Holness told reporters at a brief joint news conference.

Rowley, who is leading a six member-delegation to the talks here, said he wanted to “endorse “ what Holness said about the outcome of yesterday’s deliberations and that he is confident that the foundation has been laid for improved relations.

Holness described the agenda as being “a very heavy” one and that “many of the items discussed require us to do even more work.

“We discussed issues having to do with the CSME

(CARICOM Single Market and Economy), we discussed issues having to do with energy, issues to do with the free movement of labour.

“We will conclude many of those discussions on Thursday. We will have a full statement and sit down with the press to answer your questions,” Holness promised.

Rowley arrived here on Sunday on a four-day visit overshadowed by Kingston’s continued concerns at the treatment of its nationals on arrival in his oil-rich twin island republic.

On the eve of his arrival, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Kamina Johnson-Smith told the Senate that at least 320 Jamaicans were denied entry into the sister CARICOM country last year, while only two Trinidad and Tobago nationals were denied entry during the same period.

She said that between January and June this year, Trinidadian authorities denied entry to 230 Jamaicans and were on track to deny up to two per cent of Jamaicans who sought entry.

But Johnson-Smith said the trend is changing following the intervention of the

Barbados Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite “We all accept that we are going to die, what we fear most is the process, and what we don’t want most is the suffering that we have seen many of our friends and family go through. It is a discussion that we should have as a region and as a country,” he said.

Brathwaite also called on stakeholders to closely examine the issue of organ donation.

“Should we not accept that as a modern country, within a modern context [that] we should make provisions for an individual to donate

court, and also functions as an international tribunal interpreting the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs the regional integration movement, awarded pecuniary damages in the sum of BDS$2,240 (One BDS dollar = US$0.50 cents) and non-pecuniary damages to the tune of BDS$75,000.

“Jamaica has taken certain steps and will continue to ensure the robustness of our framework and Trinidad had also committed to reviewing its processes and updating us,” she said, noting that where energy is concerned, technical matters will be addressed in terms of policy and related issues and how it is treated within CARICOM and third parties.

Prior to his meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Rowley paid a courtesy call on Governor General Sir Patrick Allen and later said he wished Jamaica prosperity.

“My love and very best wishes to all the people of Jamaica, for peace, prosperity and brotherly love, from all the people of Trinidad and Tobago,” Rowley wrote in the official guest book following his 30 minute visit.

A statement from the Office of the Jamaica Prime Minister indicated that the two CARICOM leaders will discuss the signing of a Framework Agreement and the establishment of a Joint Commission, which is currently under negotiation, to provide a structured medium for bilateral discussions and cooperation in areas of mutual interest. The prime ministers are also expected to engage on the CARICOM integration process.

(WSJ) - While most advanced economies struggle to lift inflation, none would want Venezuela‘s situation: Consumer-price inflation is forecast to hit 480% this year and top 1,640% in 2017, according to the International Monetary Fund.

A shortage of medical supplies means infants and other sick patients are dying of treatable illnesses. Soldiers guard empty grocery store shelves.

Inflation is so bad, the government has had to order bolivars by the planeload.

As Caracas extends its declared state of economic emergency, it’s no wonder many economists say the nation will soon have to ask the IMF for a bailout. It’s gotten so bad, the government this month handed over control of food stocks to the military,

ceding even more power to the armed forces.

But Venezuela, whose government severed ties with the IMF nearly a decade ago under its former socialist autocratic leader, Hugo Chávez, hasn’t tried to restore relations with the world’s emergency lender.

“There has been no change in Venezuela’s relationship with the fund,” IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said.

While the IMF has urged Caracas to reestablish a relationship, “the Venezuelan authorities have not contacted us,” he said.

China, seeking to take advantage of poor political relations that many African and Latin American nations have with the U.S. and Westernbased institutions like the IMF, has been giving Venezu-

ela and other commodity exporters cheap loans to help tide them through the commodity slump. Last year, the country supposedly secured $10 billion in cheap credit to help keep it afloat.

While those loans may keep the state budget limping along, including massive costly subsidy programs, and strengthen political ties to Beijing, they don’t require the deep policy overhauls many economists say are vital to repairing the broken economy.

Even if Venezuela had reached out to the fund, given that it has been years since Caracas has allowed the IMF to peer into its finances, Mr. Rice said “it would be difficult to give advice without substantive discussions.”

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness (right) with his Trinidad and Tobago counterpart, Dr. Keith Rowley Jamaican government in March after Port of Spain denied entry to nearly a dozen Jamaicans.

Johnson-Smith and her Trinidad and Tobago counterpart, Dennis Moses, later told reporters that significant progress has been made in ironing out concerns related to immigration issues.

According JohnsonSmith, as promised, immigration officials at the Piarco International Airport in Trinidad will complete their first phase of training today.

Barbados wants debate on euthanasia in the region (CMC) - Barbados Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite, yesterday called for a regional debate on the issue of euthanasia and other health-related laws that involve the rights of the parties involved, as the Caribbean moves to reform its health sectors.

Addressing a two-day regional meeting being hosted by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), Brathwaite said “if we guarantee individuals the freedom of speech, the freedom of property, freedom of movement, should we not guarantee them also the freedom to choose to die, and die with dignity if they so desire”.

The strategy meeting is for “Health-Related Law: Sensitisation, Dissemination and Implementation in the English-Speaking Eastern Caribbean countries”.

Brathwaite who told the audience that his brother is “quite ill”, stressed that at some point, the Caribbean would have to address the issue where persons who are gravely ill are given the freedom to choose whether or not they want to die.

“They have undergone five days of training to ensure that the entire cohort will be upgraded in ensuring the customer experience at the Piarco Airport will be an improved one. They will continue to work on this and CARICOM has also ensured that across the region, that there will be continued phases of training for immigration officers.”

Moses added that the training will be ongoing at all levels for immigration officers in the twin island republic.

“That training will involve 20 to 30 persons per day and also there will be in excess of 100 persons trained, including supervisors….this is a positive development based on the commitments made,” he said.

Johnson-Smith thanked Moses, saying that it’s a mark of good faith when countries agree to solve issues.

She made reference to the role her counterpart played in ensuring that the process were expedited and blockages were

removed to ensure that 15 Jamaicans who were detained in the twin island republic recently returned to Jamaica.

“A further 26 have completed their special enquiry process and will return to Jamaica in the soonest order,” she said, adding “when policies are made and are kept, we must recognise the good faith that comes with it”. She noted that Moses “kept his word” in committing to training the officers and providing facilities to ensure that persons who are not permitted to enter, have dignified accommodations “these were not just words … this bodes well for out path of partnership moving forward”.

She echoed her prime minister in disclosing that other issues explored included the implementation of CSME regime in the region “This of course sets us on a solid path to ensuring that we address trade issues between our countries – there’s more work to be done in that regard and there will be further bilateral meetings during the week.”

She said the two leaders had discussed the implementation of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling in the Shanique Myrie case against the Barbados government and what needs to be done as it relates to community law and how it is rationalized with domestic law in Trinidad and Tobago.

Myrie, a Jamaican national, successfully sued the Barbados government after she was refused entry into the island in 2011.

The CCJ, which was established in 2001 to replace the London-based Privy Council as the region’s final

any or all of his organs upon death?”.

However, he noted that the appropriate legal framework would first need to be in place in order to ensure that the process was transparent and acceptable.

Another area singled out by the Attorney General for discussion was that of decriminalising small quantities of marijuana and urged medical professionals across the region to let their voices be heard on this matter.

“While the legal practitioners are saying let us decriminalise small quantities of marijuana because it is clogging up the legal system, we are not hearing the health professionals say the other side of the coin is you may be exposing more of our young people to risks. I would like to hear from the health professionals in this area across the region.”

The two-day meeting is designed to support member states in the process of reviewing, formulating and reforming national health-related laws and regulations.

Special working group sessions will focus on the areas of mental health, HIV and road safety.

Venezuela’s inflation is set to top 1,600% next year

Tuesday July 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

Mexico president apologizes for scandal, vows to fight graft with new law (Reuters) - Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto apologized yesterday for a damaging conflict-of-interest row in 2014 surrounding his wife’s purchase of a luxury home from a government contractor.

Pena Nieto made what was an unusually frank apology for a Mexican leader over the scandal as he signed into law a new anti-corruption system that the government hopes will boost its credibility in the run-up to 2018 presidential elections.

Addressing political leaders at the unveiling of the new anti-graft rules that increase oversight of politicians, Pena Nieto admitted the scandal had damaged the Mexican people’s faith in the presidency and the government.

“For this reason, with all humility I ask your forgiveness,” he said. “I reiterate my sincere and profound apology for the offense and indignation I have caused you.”

The president stressed he had not broken the law, and pledged to redouble efforts to fight graft in Mexico.

Pena Nieto’s Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI,

Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto (Reuters/Henry Romero) suffered a severe reverse in regional elections last month as voters punished the party for failing to crack down on corruption, impunity and brutal drug gang violence.

Mindful of the need to clean up its image to challenge for the presidency in 2018, the party has since stressed its commitment to battling corruption.

The PRI ruled Mexico for more than seven decades continuously until it was voted out in 2000, by which time the party name had be-

come a byword for corruption.

Pena Nieto, 49, brought the PRI back to power in 2012.

But old criticism of the party returned when it emerged in late 2014 that First Lady Angelica Rivera was buying the multi-million dollar house from Grupo Higa, a major government contractor.

It then emerged that Pena Nieto’s finance minister had also bought a home from the same contractor, and that the president had enjoyed rentfree use of another house owned by the group in 2012.

A government-sponsored investigation later found no evidence of any wrongdoing by the three, though it was panned as a whitewash by the opposition.

Earlier yesterday, the official who led that investigation stood down to make way for the new anti-corruption regime.

The home scandal also damaged Mexico’s relations with China, because it caused the cancellation of a multi-billion dollar contract won by a Chinese-led consortium to build a high-speed rail link.

Grupo Higa was part of the consortium.

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Tuesday July 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

Freedom of navigation patrols may end ‘in disaster’: Chinese admiral

Commander of the Chinese navy, Admiral Wu Shengli (L) introduces his officers to U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson (2nd, L) during a welcome ceremony held at the Chinese Navy Headquarters in Beijing, yesterday. (Reuters/Ng Han Guan Pool) (Reuters) - Freedom of navigation patrols carried out by foreign navies in the South China Sea could end “in disaster”, a senior Chinese admiral has said, a warning to the United States after last week’s ruling against Beijing’s claims in the area.

China has refused to recognize the ruling by an arbitration court in The Hague that invalidated its vast territorial claims in the South China Sea, and did not take part in the proceedings brought by the Philippines.

It has reacted angrily to calls by Western countries and Japan for adherence to the decision.

China has repeatedly blamed the United States for stirring up trouble in the South China Sea, a strategic waterway through which more than $5 trillion of trade moves annually.

China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam all have rival claims, of which China’s is the largest.

The United States has conducted freedom of navigation patrols close to Chineseheld islands, to Beijing’s anger, while China has been bolstering its military presence there.

Speaking behind closed doors at a forum in Beijing on Saturday evening, Sun Jianguo, an admiral and deputy chief of the Joint Staff Department of the powerful Central Military Commission, said the freedom of naviga-

tion issue was bogus and one that certain countries repeatedly hyped up.

“When has freedom of navigation in the South China Sea ever been affected? It has not, whether in the past or now, and in the future there won’t be a problem as long as nobody plays tricks,” he said, according to a transcript of his comments seen by Reuters on Monday.

China is the biggest beneficiary of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and won’t let anybody damage it, Sun said.

“But China consistently opposes so-called military freedom of navigation, which brings with it a military threat and which challenges and disrespects the international law of the sea,” Sun said.

“This kind of military freedom of navigation is damaging to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, and it could even play out in a disastrous way,” he added, without elaborating.

A U.S. Defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States reserved the right to carry out freedom of navigation operations and the Chinese admiral’s comments would not change that.

Sun also said the court case at The Hague must be used by China’s armed forces to improve its capabilities “so that when push comes to shove, the military can play a decisive role in the last moment to defend our national sovereignty and interests”.

Despite the warnings, China and the United States have been maintaining open lines of communication, with U.S. Chief of Naval Operations John Richardson meeting the head of the Chinese navy, Wu Shengli, in Beijing yesterday.

“I think that you can visit China this time at our invitation, that shows both sides attach great concern to maritime security,” Wu told Richardson in brief comments in front of reporters.

In the meeting, Wu said China would not stop building reefs and islands in the sea, state-owned Xinhua news agency reported, with that construction also a part of China’s efforts to bolster its claims.

Separately, China’s Maritime Safety Administration said yesterday that an area just off the east of the island province of Hainan would be a no-sail zone from July 19-21 while military drills take place.

China generally describes its exercises in the South China Sea as routine.

China’s air force also said on its microblog it had recently carried out “normal battle patrols” over the South China Sea involving bombers, spy planes and flying tankers, including over Scarborough Shoal, which is disputed with the Philippines.

Such air patrols would become “a regular practice” in the future, Xinhua reported an air force spokesman as saying.

Tuesday July 19, 2016

Digicel Schools Football Championship

National Playoffs set for tomorrow at various venues Play in the Digicel Schools Football Championship is set to continue tomorrow with four more matches at different locations across the country.

At Mabaruma, four-time and defending champion Christianburg / Wismar trav-

els to Region 1 to take on regional champion North West Secondary School.

Over at Mainstay in Region 2, Charity Secondary tackle DC Caesar Fox (formerly Waramadong) from Region 7, while at Leonora, Vergenoegen (Region 3 cham-

pion) play host to Annai (Region 9) champion.

In the other fixture at Madhia, Bush Lot Secondary (Region 5) champion lock horns with host Madhia Secondary (Region 8) champion.

All matches begin at 16:00hrs.

WADA says IOC should consider declining all Russian athletes in Rio (Reuters) The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Monday recommended that the IOC and International Paralympic Committee should consider banning all athletes entered by the Russian Olympic Commit-

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

tee for next month’s Rio Olympics.

WADA was responding to a damning independent report produced by Richard McLaren and published on Monday that revealed evidence of widespread state-

sponsored doping by Russian athletes at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

WADA also said Russian government officials should also be denied access to international competitions, including Rio 2016.

Tuesday July 19, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You need to get out if you want to meet potential partners. You must lay down ground rules so that you can complete a job. Abrupt changes in your home may send you for a loop.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Be sure to find out all you can before you commit to anything. Any intimate relationships with colleagues will lead to gossip that could easily affect your position.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) If you're single, get out there and you'll meet someone new. You can make wonderful contributions to any organization that you join.

Don't blow situations out of proportion.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Try to stay calm and do the best you can. Don't exaggerate. Don't let anyone take credit for a job you did.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Take time to talk things over.

Travel for business or pleasure. You can develop your creative talents if you take the time to practice your art.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Don't be shy to promote your own interests. Restrictions may be difficult for you to live with. Pleasure trips will be emotionally favorable.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) If you're already in a relationship, use this added energy passionately.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Keep on your toes when dealing with others. Sudden romantic infatuations could lead to a significant and prosperous connection.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Get ready to discover love, passion, and the desire to enjoy all that life has to offer.

Property investments should payoff. You need to start planning that vacation.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Don't divulge secret information. You may want to make changes that will not be to their liking. Remember that no one can walk through your door if there's someone standing in the doorway.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Efforts made to improve yourself will turn out to your satisfaction. Opportunities to get together with friends will be enlightening and entertaining. You can pick up wonderful buys if you really look hard today.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You will meet new romantic partners if you get involved in seminars or travel. Don't be too quick to judge others. You may find that romance will unfold through business connections.

Thousands arrested in global football gambling raids - Interpol (Reuters) More than 4,000 people have been arrested worldwide and more than $13 million (£9.8 million) seized across Asia in operations targeting illegal gambling during the Euro 2016 football tournament, Interpol said on Monday.

The global police cooperation agency, which called the operation the “most significant in recent years”, said more than 4,000 raids were carried out across China, France, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam during Operation SOGA VI (short for soccer gambling) on dens estimated to have handled $649 million worth of bets.

“The number of seizures is the highest and most significant amongst similar operations in recent years. The SOGA operations are important for tackling not just illegal gambling, but also the organised networks behind this and other types of crime,” said Chief Superintendent Chan Lok-wing, Head of Hong Kong’s Organised Crime and Triad Bureau.

A man passes an Interpol logo during the handing over ceremony of the new premises for Interpol’s Global Complex for Innovation, a research and development facility, in Singapore September 30, 2014. (REUTERS/EDGAR SU/FILE PHOTO) A second operation targeted transnational networks behind illegal websites and call-centre type operations, Interpol said in a statement from Bangkok.

Reuters was not able to imm e d i a t e l y reach Thailand’s Interpol director for comment.

The arrests come amid a

record spike in illegal online gambling in China with millions of yuan placed in bets on Euro 2016, a sideeffect of a surge in Chinese interest in global football.

Portugal were crowned the Euro 2016 champions on July 10, defeating host nation France1-0 to win their first major championship.

IOC vows ‘toughest sanctions’...

(From page 26) exceeding the levels produced by the human body”.

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, who was mentioned 21 times in McLaren’s 97-page report, was not immediately available for comment.

In a leaked draft letter intended to be sent to the IOC on Monday, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart calls for a ban on all Russian athletes, not only in track and field.

Paul Melia, head of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports, said the letter was backed by various athletes’ committees and the anti-doping organizations of the United States, Germany, Japan and New Zealand, among others.

However, Russian track and field athletes have appealed against their ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which is due to rule by Thursday.

If it finds in their favor, there would seem to be little chance of a wider ban on Russian competitors holding up.

Bach had indicated last week that he was reluctant to see athletes from one sport punished for the crimes of athletes or officials from another.

Russian President Vladimir Putin staked his reputation on the Sochi Games, which at around $50 billion were the

most expensive in Olympic history. Russia topped the

table with 33 medals, 13 of them gold.

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday July 19, 2016

IOC vows ‘toughest sanctions’ after report confirms Moscow’s broad collusion in doping TORONTO (Reuters) With the Rio Games less than three weeks away, the International Olympic Committee on Monday promised “the toughest sanctions available” after a report found Moscow had concealed the positive doping tests of athletes in many sports in the run-up to the Sochi Winter games.

The IOC did not spell out whether it would heed growing calls for Olympic bans already imposed on Russia’s track and field athletes and weightlifters to be extended to all its competitors in Rio. But IOC President Thomas Bach said the

independent World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) investigation had revealed “a shocking and unprecedented attack on the integrity of sport and on the Olympic Games”.

“Therefore, the IOC will not hesitate to take the toughest sanctions available against any individual or organization implicated.”

WADA itself explicitly urged the IOC to consider banning Russia from the Rio Olympics altogether.

T h e WA D A - b a c k e d report confirmed allegations made by former Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory head Grigory Rodchenkov, who two months ago told the

New York Times that dozens of Russians used performance-enhancing drugs in Sochi with approval from national sports authorities.

It said the catalyst for the development of a system to conceal widespread doping h a d b e e n R u s s i a ’s performance at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, where a country that cherishes its status as a sporting superpower finished 11th, with only three gold medals.

“The surprise result of the Sochi investigation was the revelation of the extent of State oversight and directed control of the Moscow

MoPH Soft Shoe Football Competition

Tucville crowned new champions after thrilling penalty shootout win -Sparta crush Broad Street for third place Just as the two Captains predicted that the final of the Ministry of Public Health ‘Stop Gender-based Violence’ Soft Shoe Football Competition would be a pulsating one, so it was on Sunday evening before a large crowd, at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue.

In the end which was marred by a bit of controversy surrounding a disputed goal in the penalty shootout, Tucville eventually won 2-1 over North East La Penitence after regulation and extra time failed to break a 2-2 deadlock.

Pre-match favourites Tucville got off to a positive start when Captain Delon Williams netted after eight minutes to send their supporters into celebratory frenzy.

Tw o m i n u t e s l a t e r Kareem Knights added another and at that point it seemed that North East La Penitence was in for a long night.

However, the young North East La Penitence team as they are known for, was not willing to go down without a fight and urged on by a large band of supporters got their first goal in the 18th minute through Delon Hult, who beat the opposition goalkeeper to his right.

Buoyed by their initial success, North East La Penitence, the team that slayed inaugural champions Sparta Boss in the semifinals, attacked with more f r e q u e n c y, b u t r o b u s t defending by the experienced Tucville unit kept them at bay and the half came with the latter clinging to a narrow 2-1 advantage.

The start of the final period once again produced fireworks at both ends as the two combatants battled for the ascendancy.

Tucville squandered a few chances, but so did North East La Penitence and just when it looked like the scoreline would remain the same until the final whistle sounded the game was turned on its head.

It occurred five minutes before full time when North East La Penitence’s Calvin Moore fired past the goalkeeper to level the proceedings and send the contest into extra time which still did not produce a winner.

For their efforts, Tucville took home $300,000 and the winning trophy, while North East La Penitence took home $200,000, Sparta Boss $100,000 and Broad Street $50,000.

Tu c v i l l e ’s D e n n i s Edwards won the Most Valuable Player award, while

Gregory Richardson captured the Highest Goalscorer accolade.

Other sponsors of the event included GTT, Lucky Dollar, Nigel Supermarket, Junior’s Jewellery, Star Party Rentals and 2-J’s General Store.

In the night’s full results: Final Tucville-2 vs North East La Penitence-2 Tucville won 2-1 on penalty kicks Tucville Scorers Delon Williams-8th Kareem Knights-10th North East Scorers Delon Hult-18th Calvin Moore-35th 3rd Place Sparta Boss-10 vs Broad Street-3 Sparta Scorers Gregory Richardson-4th, 14th, 32nd and 33rd Jerome Richardson-1st, 16th and 27th Devon Millington-2nd and 5th Roberto Osbourne-40th Broad Street Scorers Leon Richardson-24th and 39th Jimmy Gravesande-15th Individual Awards MVP-Dennis EdwardTucville H G S - G r e g o r y Richardson-Sparta BossGold Chain from Juniors Jewellery

Russia’s team members march during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games February 7, 2014. (REUTERS/BRIAN SNYDER) Laboratory in processing and covering up urine samples of Russian athletes from virtually all sports before and after the Sochi Games,” said the report, unveiled in Toronto.

“FAILSAFE STRATEGY” The report was led by Canadian sports lawyer Richard McLaren, who had sat on the independent commission that last year exposed widespread doping and corruption in Russian track and field, leading to its exclusion from international competition.

He said Russia’s Sports Ministry had overseen the manipulation of athletes’ analytical results for years before Sochi.

“The State implemented a simple failsafe strategy,” the report said. “If all the

operational precautions to promote and permit doping

by Russian athletes proved to have been ineffective for whatever reason, the laboratory provided a failsafe mechanism.

“The State had the ability to transform a positive analytical result into a negative one by ordering that the analytical process of the Moscow Laboratory be altered.”

In Sochi itself, where international observers were scrutinizing the drug tests, positive results could not simply be brushed away, so a system of sample-swapping was put in place with the help of the FSB intelligence service, the report said.

Rodchenkov had spoken of a clandestine night-time operation in which he said staff secretly took urine

samples from the lab via a “mouse hole” cut into a wall, and replaced them with clean samples taken from the same athlete months earlier and sometimes manipulated.

“CREDIBLE WITNESSES” McLaren said Rodchenkov and all other witnesses interviewed had been deemed credible, and the report said the investigators “confirm the general veracity of the published information concerning the sample swapping that went on at the Sochi Laboratory during the Sochi Games”.

The investigations showed that caps had been removed from a number of samples, and that they contained unusually high levels of salt, “significantly (Continued on page 25)

England v Pakistan: James Anderson, Ben Stokes, Adil Rashid are recalled BBC Sport - England have added James Anderson, Ben Stokes and Adil Rashid to their squad for the second Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford, which begins on Friday.

Middlesex bowler Toby Roland-Jones drops out, but both Steven Finn and Jake Ball retain their places.

Both Anderson and Stokes missed the 75-run defeat in the first Test as they continued their recovery from injury by playing for their counties.

Anderson could replace Ball, who picked up a niggle during his Lord’s debut.

Stokes will be hoping to return to England’s top six, w h i l e Yo r k s h i r e l e g spinner Rashid adds options at a ground renowned for being one of the country’s most receptive

Anderson has recovered from a stress fracture of his right shoulder. (Rex Features) to slow bowlers.

Anderson bowled 22 overs for Lancashire over the weekend, taking 3-58, with Stokes proving his fitness by sending down

more than 30.

Full squad: Cook, H a l e s , R o o t , Vi n c e , Ballance, Stokes, Bairstow, Moeen, Rashid, Woakes, Broad, Anderson, Finn, Ball.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 19, 2016

PAGE 31

MAPLES Caribbean Junior Squash Champs 2016

Paige Fernandes and Shomari Wiltshire win Gold for Guyana on day 3

Alex Cheeks

Makeda Harding

Rebecca Low

Pint sized Paige Fernandes provided Guyana with its first Gold Medal at the MAPLES Caribbean Junior Squash Champs in the Cayman Islands yesterday after she beat Shaelah Parchment Henry from the host country 11-5 11-0 13-11 on Court 5 in the Girls U-13 category.

Shomari Wiltshire then joined her as gold medal winner when he successfully defended U-13 title in a later m a t c h y e s t e r d a y. H e defeated Darien Benn of Barbados 11-1, 11-2, 11-3 in straight games (3-0) for a comfortable victory.

Under-15 Kirsten Gomes failed to capture gold, having to settle for silver after she lost to Barbadian Sumairaa Suleman 14-12, 11-7, 11-2 in a competitive encounter.

The 2016 tournament, which commenced last

Saturday and concludes this Saturday, saw Guyana dominate in the play-off with Paige winning the only final played in yesterday’s first session.

Day 3 morning results in the play-off games: BU17: Alex Cheeks (Guyana) beat Nicholas Caddle (Trinidad and Tobago) 8-11 11-6 11-9 10-12 11-8 BU19 Benjamin Griffith (Barbados) beat Benjamin Mekdeci (Guyana) 11-9 119-11-7 GU-11: Paige Fernandes (Guyana) beat Darci Reich (Eastern Caribbean) 11-4 1412 11-2 BU-11 Seth Thong (T&T) beat Mohryan Baksh (Guyana) 11-7 11-4 11-3 BU-11

Michael Alphonso (Guyana) beat Kamir Khan (Guyana) 11-5 11-3 11-9 BU-11 James Mekdeci (Guyana) beat Aman Dhiman (Jamaica) 11-5 8-11 13-11 11-7 BU-13: Samuel Ince-Carvahal (Guyana) beat Luca Reich (Eastern Caribbean) 5-11 117 11-4 11-8 BU-13 Demetrius De Abreu (Guyana) beat Tobias Levy (Jamaica) 11-9 11-5 11-4 GU-17 Rebecca Low (Guyana) beat Mira Handa (Jamaica) 11-8 11-5 11-6 GU-15 Makeda Harding (Guyana) beat Mia Lake (Jamaica) 11-6 11-8 11-5 BU-15 Anaya Smith (Bermuda) beat Anthony Islam

Kirsten Gomes (right) watches as eventual winner Sumairaa Suleman of Barbados plays a shot during the Girls U-15 final.

(Guyana) 12-10 13-11 11-9 BU-15 Ta y l o r C a r r i c k (Bermuda) beat Daniel Islam (Guyana) 8-11 11-5 12-10 13-11 BU-17 Reginald Brewster [3/4] (Barbados) beat Rithew Saywack (Guyana) 8-11 7-

11 11-8 11-1 11-5 GU-13 Abosaide Cadogan (Guyana) beat Madison Fernandes (Guyana) 11-7 511 11-5 11-8 GU-13 Final Paige Fernandes (Guyana) beat Shaelah Parchement Henry (Cayman

Islands) 11-5 11-0 13-11 BU-13 Final S h o m a r i Wi l t s h i r e (Guyana) beat Darien Benn (Barbados) 11-1, 11-2, 11-3 GU-15 Final Kirsten Gomes (Guyana) lost to Sumairaa Suleman (Barbados) 14-12, 11-7, 11-2

Tridents hit by de Villiers, Parnell departures BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Barbados Tridents were on Monday dealt a major blow in their Caribbean Premier League campaign when AB de Villiers was forced out of the tournament because of Cricket South Africa commitments.

Organisers said the 32-year de Villiers, along with Tridents teammate Wayne Parnell and fast bowler Dale Steyn of Jamaica Tallawahs,

had been “recalled by Cricket South Africa to fulfil a contractual obligation to attend the annual Cricket South Africa/South African Cricketers Association Awards ceremony which t a k e s p l a c e i n Johannesburg.” de Villiers and Parnell will be replaced by Pakistan’s Ahmed Shehzad and Proteas fast bowler Marchant de Lange, while Tallawahs have called up another South African, Dane Paterson, for the departing Steyn.

Shehzad, a right-handed opener who has played 140 Tw e n t y 2 0 s , w i l l j o i n Tridents in time for their game on Wednesday against Tallawahs at Sabina Park,

while de Lange will be available from the start of the St Lucia leg on Thursday.

Paterson, meanwhile, will also join the Tallawahs ahead of the St. Lucia leg. de Villiers has been an invaluable member of the Tridents side, gathering 234 runs from five outings, at an average of 58 with two halfcenturies.

With his form, Tridents are currently third in the standings on seven points two adrift of second placed Tallawahs and three behind leaders Guyana Amazon Warriors. de Villiers, South Africa’s Test captain, was picked up in the CPL draft last February for US$130 000.

AB de Villiers leads a Barbados Tridents lap of honour following their victory over St Lucia Zouks, in their final home game at Kensington Oval on Sunday night. (Photo courtesy CPL)

Kaieteur News

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FIFA says Russia’s Alfa Bank is first regional World Cup sponsor ZURICH (Reuters) FIFA, which has struggled to find commercial partners since it was battered by a corruption scandal last year, named a Russian bank as the first of up to 20 regional World Cup sponsors on Monday.

The global soccer body said Alfa Bank would “activate sponsorship initiatives” around the 2018 World Cup, which is being hosted by Russia, although it did not say how much the deal is worth.

FIFA said that under a new commercial strategy for the World Cup, up to four packages were being offered for regional sponsors in each of five regions it listed as Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa, and Asia.

FIFA was thrown into turmoil last year after criminal investigations were launched into the sport in the United States, where several dozen former soccer officials have been indicted, and Switzerland.

It was also forced to

Cars drive past a logo in front of FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland June 8, 2016. (REUTERS/ARND WIEGMANN) reform its bidding process after a December 2010 vote awarded the 2018 and 2022 tournaments to Russia and Qatar respectively.

Gianni Infantino was e l e c t e d t o t h e F I FA presidency in February after promising greater funding for FIFA’s 211 member associations during his campaign.

He said increasing sponsorship revenue would be a priority for his presidency.

FIFA sources have said the federation faces a shortfall of about $500 million in its predictions if it fails to reach sponsorship revenue targets and Infantino’s rivals in the

21st Caribbean Darts Cup

Fitzgerald captures C/bean Singles title -teams up with RamirezMerlano to win Doubles crown

Luis Ramirez-Merlano

Sudesh Fitzgerald

Guyanese darters Sudesh “Kerry” Fitzgerald and Luis Ramirez-Merlano did this country proud as they earned the top spots in the 21st Caribbean Darts Cup which was held in Barbados over the last 10 days.

National champion Fitzgerald, who is a very

experienced player at the regional level, won the Singles title, before teaming up with Ramirez- Merlano to capture the men’s doubles crown.

The team was scheduled to arrive yesterday at the Eugene Correia Airport.

election said his targets were unrealistic.

F I FA’s c o m m e r c i a l structure allows for six to eight top tier partners, of which China’s Wanda Group became the sixth when they signed a deal in March.

P r e v i o u s l y, S o n y a n d Emirates had both left at the end of 2014 after their agreements expired.

These are followed by six to eight World Cup sponsors, although only two of these slots are currently filled.

The regional World Cup sponsors are a further tier below, having replaced the old system of national sponsors from the host nation.

Tuesday July 19, 2016

Hungarian Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton targets Nico Rosberg’s lead BBC Sport - Lewis Hamilton says he is “feeling that fire inside me” as he tries to leapfrog Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg at the top of the drivers’ championship in Hungary this weekend.

Since the pair crashed in Spain in May, Hamilton has won four out of five races to move to within one point of Rosberg.

“Ever since the low of Barcelona I’ve been able to cultivate this really strong mental attitude,” he said.

“I’m feeling fresh, powerful and confident heading to Hungary.”

Wo r l d c h a m p i o n Hamilton, 31, has won four times in Hungary, but his last victory at the circuit came in 2013 and he was sixth last year.

“I have incredible support there, so I can’t wait to get out on track,” said the Briton.

“The past couple of years I haven’t had the smoothest of weekends in Budapest - but I know I’ve

Lewis Hamilton won his home British Grand Prix to narrow the gap on Rosberg. (Getty Images) got the pace, so I’m gunning to turn that around this time.”

German Rosberg, 31, finished eighth in Hungary las t y e a r a n d h a s a highest-placed finish of f o u r t h a t t h e Hungagoring.

He said: “The battle is on with Lewis and I’m feeling great in myself and great in the car - so bring it on.”

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff is expecting a tough

challenge this weekend and said the track “plays to the strength of our rivals”.

He added: “The Red Bull, for example, is a car that functions well where high drag isn’t penalised as much as at other types of circuit.

“In wet conditions and at low-speed circuits such as the Hungaroring, they are a major threat.

“We will need to be flawless to come out on top.”

Sagan pips Kristoff for third 2016 Tour stage win BERN (Reuters) World champion Peter Sagan claimed his third 2016 Tour de France stage victory when he pi p p e d A l e x a n d e r Kristoff on the line at the end of the 16th stage, a 209-km ride from Moirans-en-Montagne on Monday.

N o r w a y ’s K r i s t o f f (Katusha) celebrated after crossing the line, but it was Slovak Sagan (Tinkoff) who actually finished first after throwing his bike in timely fashion, strengthening his grip on the green jersey for the points classification.

Another Norwegian, Sondre Holst Enger (IAM Cycling), took third place.

Sagan now has 405 points to Briton Mark Cavendish’s 291 and looks set to win a fifth green jersey in Paris.

Briton Chris Froome (Team Sky) retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey after finishing in the leading pack in a twisting course finale in the Swiss

capital.

Fans, officials and riders observed a minute’s silence at 1200 local time, shortly before the start of the race, in memory of the victims of the Bastille Day attack in Nice.

Three-times time trial world champion Tony Martin and his Etixx-Quick Step team mate Julian Alaphilippe, who was denied a possible stage win on Sunday because of a mechanical problem in the final descent, broke away early on.

The duo built a sixminute gap but Frenchman Alaphilippe ran out of steam 30km from the finish and German Martin was caught by the bunch 22.5km from the line.

Former world champion Rui Costa then jumped away from the pack but the Portuguese was reined in with 5km left in the streets of Bern.

Numerous turns and an uphill cobbled section split

Peter Sagan beats Alexander Kristoff on the line the peloton and Sagan was again the strongest in the final sprint.

Today is a rest day ahead of four stages in the Alps.

General classification after stage 16 1. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) 72hrs 40mins 38secs 2. Bauke Mollema (Ned/Trek) +1mins 47secs 3 . A d a m Ya t e s (GB/Orica) +2mins 45secs 4. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) +2mins 59secs

5. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +3mins 17secs 6. Romain Bardet (France / AG2R) +4mins 04secs 7. Richie Porte (Australia / BMC Racing) +4mins 27secs 8. Tejay van Garderen (U.S. / BMC Racing) +4mins 47secs 9. Daniel Martin (Ireland / Etixx - Quick-Step) +5mins 03secs 10. Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana) +5mins 16secs

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 19, 2016

PAGE 33

GCF name strong team for Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships The Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) has named a strong junior team that will represent this nation at the 2016 edition of the Caribbean Junior cycling Championships which will be hosted in St. Lucia, July 30-31.

Reigning National Junior Road Race and Time Trial champion Christopher Cornelius of Team Evolution will headline the Guyanese team which will also include the United Cycle Club duo of Andrew Hicks and Raphael Leung along with Linden Bauxite Flyers Club’s, Jornel Yearwood.

Taking the lone Juvenile spot was Zaman Khan of Flying Ace Cycle Club of Berbice.

Kaieteur Sports understands that the riders will also be contesting the Time Trials.

Officials named to travel with the team are Coach Randolph Roberts and Marc

Jornel Yearwood Sonoram as Manager.

The young Guyanese will be hopeful of outpedaling their counterparts from Barbados, USVI, Antigua and Barbuda,

‘Cornman’ Stephenson gets ready for 10th Emancipation Fitness run He is now 63 years old but ever since he was 53 Carlton ‘Cornman’ Stephenson has staged a one man fitness run that commenced at the famed ‘Red Shop’ in Sophia and culminated at the 4 corner junction in Uitvlugt WCD. D u b b e d t h e ‘Emancipation Day Fitness Run’ Stephenson is set to perform the usual feat on August 1 next. With a physique that belies his age, ‘Cornman’ visited Kaieteur News’ Saffon Street office to launch the 10th edition of the 26 miles event and he is encouraging fellow fitness conscious individuals to join him.

Stephenson said that the objective of the event is to promote health and fitness while instigating mental, physical and spiritual development. He further explained that another batch of junior athletes will commence the race at the Lenora Track and Field athletic facility before proceeding to the finish at the Uitvlugt 4 corner

Carlton ‘Cornman’ Stephenson junction. The winner of this event will receive a trophy and according to Stephenson any athlete winning the accolade three times in a row gets to keep it.

All athletes are invited to participate in the event and the organizer has assured that transportation will be provided. Those seeking further information and/or clarifications may contact ‘Cornman’ at telephone # 672-7322.

Christopher Cornelius Anguilla, Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Jamaica, Martinique and Puerto Rico which will all be represented.

The 10 kilometer Time

Raphael Leung

Trials for boys (15-16) juveniles and the 20 kilometer for junior men will all be held on Saturday July 30 in the afternoon on the Millennium Highway, while the Road

Race will be contested on Sunday July 31st, juveniles will cover a distance of 62.2 kilometers with the juniors expected to battle for 100 kilometers; the course is the

Andrew Hicks Vieux Fort / La Resource Circuit starting and finishing outside the bus terminal on the Vieux Fort-Laborie Highway.

(Franklin Wilson)

NZC ‘big supporter’ of twotier Test system, says CEO ESPNCRICINFO - New Zealand Cricket’s chief executive David White has said his board fully supports the proposed two-tier system in Tests. Such a move, White believed, would add context to the game, but he also underlined the need for ICC to ensure that teams pushed down to the second division don’t suffer financially.

White also advocated trimming Test matches to four days apiece.

“We are big supporters [of the two-tier system],” White, who is also the FullMember representative on the ICC Cricket Committee, told ESPNcricinfo. “There’s already lot of interest in New Zealand in Test cricket, but if we had a competition with promotion and relegation and a winner at the end, it would really increase interest, no doubt about that.

“Everyone agrees we need context, we need something that’s aspirational. [But] the countries who don’t make the top division in the first instance [should not be] not disadvantaged financially that’s really important.”

ICC chief executive

David White: ‘There’s already lot of interest in New Zealand in Test cricket but if we had a competition with promotion and relegation and a winner at the end, it would really increase interest’ © Getty Images David Richardson had put forward the plan in June, saying the governing body was contemplating an increase in the number of countries with Test status and then separating them into two groups - the top seven and the bottom five based on performance. New Zealand, as of July 18, are ranked No. 5 in Tests, which will see them in division one should the proposal be passed.

White said NZC would

support the proposal even if it meant New Zealand were relegated to division two.

“We support meritocracy. If you’re good enough, you’re good enough - if you’re not good enough you shouldn’t be there,” White said. “It’s incumbent upon us to make sure we are good enough.

“It will make people look at their high-performance programmes and their systems, so the product of Test cricket will improve as well.”

Over the past month, the boards of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have both said they are in opposition to the plan. BCB vice-president Mahbubul Anam said Bangladesh’s standard of cricket was likely to “regress” if they were not given the opportunity to play against the top sides - at No. 9, Bangladesh would fall into division two. Sri Lanka are ranked at No. 7, meaning they will make division one, but SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala voiced concerns over the financial ramifications of the proposed system. Instead, the SLC put forward the idea of four-day Tests, which White said appealed to him.

“One of the challenges at the moment is if you play a three-Test series it has to be played over four weeks: four weeks is a long time,” White said. “But if you play a threeTest series of four-day cricket it can be played over three weeks, so you save a week. And, as we know, the calendar is very congested.

There’s a lot of work to be done around this but it’s certainly a concept that’s worth exploring further.”

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday July 19, 2016

RHTYSC, MS, Edward B. Beharry launch Say No and Yes 5/5 Cricket Tournament The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS and the Edward B. Beharry Co. Ltd on Friday last launched their Say No and yes 5/5 Cricket Tournament for second division cricket teams in the ancient county.

The tournament would be hosted as part of the two organisation’s massive 2016 Say No to Suicide, Drugs, Crime and Say Yes to Life, Sports and Education Programme.

Secretary/CEO of the Club, Hilbert Foster hailed the tournament as another red-letter day in life of the RHTYSC, MS and would be o n e o f t h e 3 0 0 project/activities the RHTYSC, MS would be undertaking in 2016.

The tournament would involve 40 teams with the teams divided equally into four sub-zones – West B e r b i c e , N e w Amsterdam/Canje, Lower/Central Corentyne and Upper Corentyne.

The ten teams in each

Sub-Zones would clash against each other to decide the top three to advance to the Grand Finals.

The winner of each SubZone would receive $15,000 while the overall winner would take home $150,000 and a trophy, the 1st runner up $75,000 and trophy and 3rd place - $25,000 and trophy.

The tournament would bowl off on Saturday 13th of August with Sub-Zone matches in West Berbice and New Amsterdam, while Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne would host their matches on Sunday 20th of August. The West Berbice Zone matches would be played at the Blairmont Community Centre, the New Amsterdam/Canje Zone at the Cumberland Ground, and the Lower Corentyne Zone at the Area ‘H’ Ground, while the Skeldon Community Centre would host the Upper Corentyne Matches.

The final is scheduled for

Sunday 27th of August.

Foster is encouraging interested teams to call the Club Office on 337-4562 to register by the end of July.

The experienced sports administrator stated that the organisers would be using the tournament to promote the Say No and Yes Message to villages across Berbice.

Teams would be required to submit a list with fifteen players and would only be allowed two first division players who have played four matches in 2015 and 2016.

Players who are debarred from Berbice Cricket Board Second Division matches would not be allowed to play.

Foster disclosed that for the rest of 2016, the RHTYSC would be hosting at least twelve other cricket tournaments including the Busta Champion of Champions, the Nasir Memorial Cup and the Ministry of Health Under-17 20/20 tournament.

Marketing Manager of

- Bowl off on Saturday 13th August

Satesh Singh, Beharry’s Marketing Manager hands over cheque to RHTYSC’s Mark Papannah. Looking on are Beharry’s Brand Manager Kamini Naresh and RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster.

Beharry Satesh Singh and Brands Manager Kamini Naresh both expressed confidence in the RHTYSC a b i l i t y t o o rg a n i s e a successful tournament and to fulfil every objective.

The company, Singh stated would play its part in

Fearsome Russell knocks Knight Riders out Andre Russell led the way for the Jamaica Tallawahs as they beat the Trinibago Knight Riders by 19 runs at Sabina Park, Kingstown, Jamaica last night. Russell scored an important 44 before returning to take 4-23 to see the Knight Riders off.

Jamaica batted first and lost Skipper and main batsman Chris Gayle for a 0.

But Rovman Powell (44) and Kumar Snagakkara (23) led the fight back as they made 158 for 7 off their 20 overs.

Kevon Cooper took 3 wickets and Dwayne Bravo 2 for the visitors.

Trinbago Knight Riders struggled in their response despite Hashim Amla 42 and Denesh Ramdin 31 leading their charge, they ended at 139 for 9 when their overs

Andre Russell was outstanding against the Trinbago Knight Riders © CPL/Sportsfile

expired. Russell with his 4 wickets and Dale Steyn with

2 -21 along with excellent work in the field saw the

Jamaicans go top of the points table.

promoting the tournament and also making sure that the finals is organised to the highest standards.

Naresh disclosed that she was satisfied with the success of the RHTYSC / Edward B. Beharry Co. Ltd Say No and Yes Campaign

and the effect it was having on youths across Berbice.

She urged cricket Clubs at the second division level to register to be part of the tournament, which features attractive incentives.

Western Tigers FC teams up with Smalta to host holiday Programme

Western Tigers Football Club (WTFC) which is virtually assured of the winning the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Premier League having amassed 30 points from 13 games with one to play is leaving no stone unturned in terms of solidifying its foundation.

To this end, the club will be running off a August holiday Programme targ e t i n g p l a y e r s ages 8-16 and is aimed at imparting

t he requisite skills while grooming players for the future from July 23 to August 30 next.

Sessions will be held at t h e We s t R u i m v e l d t Playfield commencing this Saturday and every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday thereafter from 09:00 to 12:00hrs, sponsored

by Smalta.

Interested players can register on Saturday morning prior to the start at t h e We s t R u i m v e l d t Playfield.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 19, 2016

PAGE 35

RHTYSC, MS host Regional Female Cricketers

Stefanie Taylor receives Dolphin Award of Excellence Merissa Aguilleria inducted as Honorary Member The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS on Saturday last hosted several cricketers drawn from several countries taking part in the 2016 W I C B f e m a l e tournaments.

The players were drawn from Trinidad, Leeward Island, Windward Islands and Guyana teams and included West Indies players Marissa Aguilleria, Shemaine Campbelle, Tr e m a y n e S m a r t t a n d Britney Cooper. West Indies captain Stephanie Taylor was unavoidable absent but was inducted as the ninth awardee of the Club’s prestigious Dolphin Award of Excellence Scheme.

Former West Indies Captain Merissa Aguilleria, who was also honoured by Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, was inducted as an honorary member and received a set of Club souvenirs.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster expressed gratitude to MR. Colin Stuart and MS. Melinda Bishundyal of the Guyana Cricket Board for arranging the visit and stated that it was part of the Club’s effort to expose its membership to positive role models with the hope of inspiring them to fulfil their potentials.

The Four West Indies players – Britney Cooper, Shemaine Campbelle, Merissa Aguilleria and Tremayne Smartt pose during the visit.

Foster provided a comprehensive briefing to the visitors which included the Manager of the Leeward Islands and Trinidad Teams along with the Coach of the Windward Island Team on the history of the RHTYSC, MS, achievements over the years and plans of the future.

He advised the players to continue being a positive role model to youths and to work hard to make a positive difference in the lives of the

less fortunate back in their homeland.

The RHTYSC, he proudly stated would continue to spearhead the effort to guide youths on the correct path and issued an invitation to Taylor and Aguilleria to visit the Club for a working visit to speak to youths.

The former West Indies female captain accepted the offer immediately and has indicated that she would visit by this yearend.

An emotional Aguilleria speaking to Club members, congratulated them on the outstanding work that the RHTYSC was doing and stated that she was delighted to be inducted as an honorary member of such a dynamic and progressive organisation.

The former West Indies captain spoke broadly on the importance of hard work, personal discipline and urged the attentive youth cricketers to always strive to

the highest possible standard.

West Indies player Britney Cooper, who scored the winning runs to win the 2016 20/20 World Cup, also addressed the young cricketers and spoke of the importance of setting goals in life is.

Cooper stated that her own personal goal was to play for Trinidad and the West Indies by the age of 23 years and via hard work she was able to do so.

She urged the RHTYSC members to take every opportunity been given to them and to make sure that they stay in school to obtain an educational background as education was the Key to success.

West Indies Female Captain Stefanie Taylor was awarded the RHTYSC D o l p h i n Aw a r d o f Excellence for guiding the regional team to the World Cup championship and for being a positive role model to youths in the Caribbean.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that the D o l p h i n Aw a r d o f Excellence is the highest and most prestigious of the C l u b ’s t w e l v e a w a r d schemes. It would be given to only twenty five persons who the Club views as rolemodels and inspiration to youths.

Taylor joins former General Manager of Busta Robert Selman, President David Granger, Gizmos and Gadgets CEO Ravi Mangar, Journalists Gregory Rambarran and Franklyn Wilson, Metro CEO Avie Lindee, DDL Marketing Manager Larry Wills and Scotia Bank Marketing Executive Jennifer Cipriani as the awardees to date. The Club also presented special gifts to all the players and officials as souvenirs.

t r o Sp Tucville crowned new champions after thrilling penalty shootout win MoPH Soft Shoe Football Competition

-Sparta crush Broad Street for third place

Petra Organisation Co-Director Troy Mendonca hands over the winning trophy to Tucville Captain Delon Williams in the presence of ecstatic teammates Sunday night, at the Ministry of Education ground.

Paige Fernandes and Shomari Wiltshire win Gold for Guyana on day 3 Paige Fernandes in action.

- MAPLES Caribbean Junior Squash Champs 2016

Shomari Wiltshire (left) about to attack the ball in his U13 final match against Darien Benn of Barbados which he won.

Fearsome Russell knocks Knight Riders out Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210