Wednesday July 27, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Expect more of the same from Jagdeo This is old, old political behaviour DEAR EDITOR; Surprise! Former President Jagdeo, as usual, attempted to misinform in order to mislead PPP supporters. He lamented to a gathering, during a Guyana family fun day event in Queens, New York (weekend of 23-24 July) about some ‘… assault on Guyana’s democracy, assault on people of Indian origin and supporters of the PPP, even worse in some regards than the Burnham era…’ Editor, it is not about any of these things. One should expect this from him. He does the same thing at home. This is about a corrupt power drunkard seeking sympathy for himself, his cronies and the government he led, because of the discredit and exposure from the Audits. The recent revelation about a Permanent Secretary in the heart of his Presidency and billions of unexplained dollars is particularly damaging. His antics suggest real panic. He had hoped, even with the change of government that everything would have been swept under the carpet; that ill-gotten unexplained gains from misappropriation of
taxpayers’ money and other resources would have simply disappeared without question and that it would be condoned, excused under his notion of politics. He wants this episode and the withering criticisms to just go away. He is in no position to misuse the power of the state to suppress criticism and scrutiny however, so he resorts to the usual lowest common dominators. He can’t handle a real democracy in action with its high standards of accountability. This is precisely what made him such an awful president. He should have taken the high road and explained to his listeners what the Audits found. One is certain however that they read the reports which are on-line, and while they may have politely listened he did not succeed in deceiving them. The question his listeners could have asked him however, is, who should answer for transgressions against the State of Guyana under PPP administrations, and what should the answer be? Expect more of the same from former President Jagdeo. Ivor Carryl
Eight areas in which the City Council can save millions DEAR EDITOR; These days all one hears from the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown are demands for more incom e , f o r n e w revenue streams and for more financial burdens to be placed on the backs of the poor citizens, many of whom are pensioners, unemployed or struggling to make ends meet. How about if the Council tries a new approach, and that is to exercise fiscal restraint and reduce its expenditure rather increase its income. Here I would like to put forward just a few of over a hundred suggestions that can save the Council tens of millions each month: 1. Curtailing those frequent and unnecessary trips overseas by municipal officials with the provision of per diems and in many instances airline tickets which costs the citizenry substantially and for which hardly any tangible benefits are ever seen.
2. Terminating the lease arrangements with private companies for the provision of luxury toilets and portable toilets around markets, residences of Council’s officials, and other municipal locations replacing them with permanent public conveniences built by the Council. 3. Bringing to an end the leasing of a motor car for hundreds of thousands of dollars a month for a senior officer. 4. Eliminating the considerable entertainment expenditure that is incurred by the administration of the Council, including frequent lunches and dinners at highpriced restaurants. 5. Getting rid of the special contractor who the Council has engaged within the last year to weed our parapets and clear our drains, and who has earned hundreds of millions of dollars to date, by having him replaced by municipal workers who did the job in the past, but who are currently left to idle.
6. Purging the Council’s human resource base of the scores and scores of children, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends of some senior administrators, Councillors who have returned from the last term, and the Mayor; who are being paid super salaries for hardly doing anything. 7. Ending of the illegal, subjective and corrupt granting of interest waivers that are being granted by ‘The Fantastic Four’ to special property owners who are not entitled to such discounts, and which is costing the City Hundreds of millions of dollars. 8 . A n d f i n a l l y, forthwith, withdraw the security and other staff and attendants that are currently being utilized by the former Mayor, paid for by the Council. Surely the Municipality should not carry the wage and other bills of the aforementioned. Still awaiting the forensic audit at this organization. Riley Matthews
DEAR EDITOR; It is with much trepidation that I observe human behaviour is nothing but intractable. I speak of the behaviour of a PNC member on the Regional Democratic Council in Region 5, West Berbice. This behaviour from this specific PNC member brings back memories of the bad old PNC days when that party in classic iconoclastic style, refused to allow the nation to be part of the democratic traditions of the majority of the people around the world. Only over the last few weeks, England has again had the chance to show the tribes how democracy works; it is all about an idea, not the personal whims and fancy of a person. The councilor will be best advised to step away from these debauched attitudes. All she is doing is badly hurting President Granger, unless he is the intellectual author of this sort of covert bullyism in the councils in the local system which the PNC does not control. But, I will try to see the better man in our President. In 2014, when the political opposition activist Mr. Mark Ross, now security advisor to Minister Ramjattan, leader of the now almost dead AFC, called a protest against the prorogation of the Parliaments by the then Ramotar government, it was this same person who undermined that protest. In her words she said that PNC “does not operate in an anyhow manner”. So how come today she is operating is such a low class “anyhow manner” for the past six months? When will the thuggish behaviour depart from the mental minds of these PNC operatives? With political supporters like her, President Granger does not need political enemies, since she singlehandedly has hijacked his social cohesion programme. Today, all forces opposed to this GDFism in government will hold their
nose and vote PPP, even those on the sidelines who do not like Jagdeoism. And the PPP has not missed a beat on this public display of “thugism.” At every bottom house meeting all across rural Guyana, the PPP has shown this video at every bottom house meeting, even on big screen - projector and all. This councilor can learn a lot from a black woman of worth called Mrs. Michelle Obama, who classically rejected “thugism” by illustrating in all her actions an attitude of taking the high road when her opponent takes the low road. Mrs. Obama wins every time and will be leaving the White House as one of the most popular first ladies and maybe first female black President of America. Shame on this councilor! Shame on the PNC! Shame on the APNUAFC government! Shame on President Granger! Shame on Nagamootoo! Today , Nagamootoo and Granger continue to sit idly by as a man from Brooklyn continues to run the Region as the REO totally side stepping the council. Is this not an active effort to marginalise the voice of the majority? Such antidemocratic actions are a stark reminder of the same old PNC from the 1970’s and 1980’s, when these anti-democratic PNC traditions predominated. Is this how the PNC plans to roll in 2020, by bullying people and trampling on democracy? I want to bring this issue to the attention of the Ambassador of the United States. These issues must find their way into the next report of the State Department. PNC gone rogue should be the caption of the email. The facts will show that
the PPP Chairman broke protocol by not welcoming President Granger, but is President Granger too soft to lose his dogs of war on a whole region because one man snubbed him? That is nothing but childish behaviour and I did not expect a person who is the President to condone such behaviour. The business of the Region has to continue and if the councilor and President Granger have a problem with the Chairman, they ought to operate more enlightened and mature. Is it only the laws of the jungle this councilor is schooled in? An entire regional government is being held up because of one thug and her intellectual author in Congress Place. When I watch that video of Ms Joseph singing at the top of her voice to disrupt the official meeting of the council, I knew there and then that the PNC is setting itself up to fail come 2020. By his silence after six months, President Granger also is accountable for this situation. At the end of the day, the buck stops at the President’s desk which is causing Region 5 to retrogress. Or is this a strategy to destroy the rural agriculture based in West Berbice? Now in comes Jagdeo who tells the people that the Coalition Government is antirural Guyana. What do you think? Will his message stick? You the reader can arrive at your own conclusion. What I know is the PPP is gaining political strength and the PNC is looking like a bunch of incompetent fools who can only rely on naked old behaviour rather than brain to get ahead. Shame! Jai (Harry) Lall
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Kaieteur News
The ‘fantastic 4’ of the City Council DEAR EDITOR; Does the Municipal Act, enable the M&C.C to erect barricades without public notification, compatible with prior notification with the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department; Ministries of Public Security; Public Infrastructure and Communities? Was the Shipping Association consulted for a dialogue pertaining to the imposition of the controversial $25,000 container fee and additional charges thereafter? Editor, if the answers are emphatically no in relation to the aforementioned which from all indications seem so, then like the proverbial ostrich continues to bury its head in the sand. While in our local idiom, “leaving its backside exposed”, deservingly the kick they receive. It is justifiable, since it’s another manifestation of; “displaying one’s level of conceit, as a badge of honour, massaging one’s ego publicly, and being confrontational rather than consultational. Meanwhile, local business conglomerate headed by Mr. Roy Beepat in his missive – “There should be public-private cooperation
on national issues such as the container tax” (S.N – 20.07.16) has intervened in the debate. Definitely, sir apart from being commendable, your intervention has simplified it figuratively. A $25,000.00 fee on containers will result in far less than a 0.05% increase in import costs, a very inconsequential cost. With such a startling disclosure emanating from the individual, can it be ascertained if the M&C.C’s Finance Committee was aware of this calculative factor? Sir, from all indications it may not be so, since no public disclosure was made, along with a projected annual income. Of course I would agree that there must be public-private consultations, ahead of cooperation on national issues. An official representative from the GRA, Ministries of Finance, Public Infrastructure, Communities, Private Sector, Manufacturers Association and Shipping Association should have all sat down for brainstorming and meaningful discussion on the impending levying fee on the container tax. At a first glance
Staff and students... From page 4 that the institution is in a financial crisis and looking to cut cost. While cutting cost is a very good thing for anyone in business in this situation, I’m informed it will be detrimental to some workers since it is quite obvious that some will be asked to go home in polite ways and a certain big wig will find frivolous things to fire workers for. That’s a norm so anyone that knows him should not be surprised. Workers constantly hear about the financial situation whenever they make request for materials to get the job done and when items are delayed they are told that they are inefficient. Because of this, several persons have been brought in to do work that the workers are able to do and paid substantially higher rates, while the workers sometimes have to assist or correct faults from the work that would have been done. Paul John
the Shipping Association could have provided the relevant figures indicating how many containers are brought in annually. Thereafter the elementary math could have been done (amt: of containers x $25,000 + additional days x $5,000). With the GRA submitting its figures for taxation and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, the cost per sq. mile for road rehabilitation/ maintenance, both the P.S.C and G.M.A can in a unified voice indicate if a reduction cost is reasonable and businesses along with consumers can indicate if they would or wouldn’t be affected. The Finance Ministry’s contribution is directed to stimulating economic growth. A timely reminder to the M&C.C’s Finance Committee is that the proof in the pudding is the eating. Was a comprehensive study relating to roads assessment being done by a competent individual/firm”? Is there a functioning Roads Maintenance Unit, in the M&CC? Surely, given the previous adversities the “fabulous four” of the City Council faced with the “parking meter” scenario need to answer. At least it should have provided a learning lesson, but from all indications this isn’t so! As a consequence, it’s back to square one-confrontation instead of consultation. Finally, at what juncture would there be a collaborative effort between the M&CC. and the Public Infrastructure Ministry, in redesigning the network of roads for upgrading to sustain the additional tonnage daily, by traversing container trailers, haulers and low bed trailers for heavy duty machinery? Does the M&C.C have the engineering and technical capability that today’s modernization demands? By the way, why only John Fernandes and Muneshwer’s wharves were targeted for the erection of barricades, preventing container trucks from leaving? What of GNIC, DSL and others of its ilk? Would a surcharge be implemented on heavy duty fuel carriers and sand trucks? Lester Sealey
Wednesday July 27, 2016
The drainage dilemma of G/town DEAR EDITOR; The Kingston Citizens’ Task Force was initiated in August 2014 in response to a call by the then Minister of Local Government for citizen participation in the “Clean up My Country” Campaign. The work done by our group is well documented, and the record can be made available, should you so require. Among the interventions made by our Group was a well formulated proposal for the improvement of drainage in Kingston. Unfortunately, however, this proposal was placed “on hold’ by the said Ministry, while Ministry personnel proceeded to apply the usual band aid solution through a team of unsupervised labourers. As law abiding citizens our Group continued to highlight pertinent issues surrounding the clean-up of the Kingston Community in particular, the shoddy and incomplete work done by contractors on the de-silting of the Young Street canal at significant cost to Government. One contractor employed by the PPP Administration who did not complete his contract, was paid one point six million dollars; also the second contractor who also did not do a thorough job, and employed by the present government. Whatever intervention the present Ministers of Infrastructure ordered was just plain rhetoric bordering on lies. The behaviour of previous Government officials and present government officials seem to us to be carbon copy of the same old way of treating citizens as pests – “na better the soft rice, na better the rice pop.” If we are asked we would say that the National Task Force established by this APNU-AFC Government is just another talk shop and a toothless poodle, set up for the employment of has-beens, jobs for the boys. For as they pontificate, Kingston drainage has changed half-way, Cummings Canal on the southern borders of Kingston is silted up from Fort Street right up to the koker door. The dam is visible at low tide. Sussex Street canal is a collection of ponds. Water is full in the canal from the east up to Saffon Street. Laing Avenue canal is always full of water even in the drought just gone by. Alleyways in the city are still over-grown with grass. The worst condition of nonexistent drainage is south Georgetown, where the poorer sections of the population of the City have to endure the high level of water in their midst. The curious should drive around the City to see the truth of what KCTF says. The headman of the Cummingsburg/ Albertown/Queenstown constituency is either too busy with his business or the job of representing his constituents is not his cup of tea. What of the other elected representatives to City Council; how do they see their roles among the electorate? This is the time for those who could not be elected, due to party dominance, to work among the folks to show how they could have done a better job on the City Council. Have they gone into hibernation? Just recall the President’s admonition to the elected Councillors as to their place in the communities. It seems that Central Government has reserved the right to depend on the Dutch
engineers to advise Guyana on drainage issues. A most shameful episode in our modern history, for the Dutch colonisers supervised the task of draining the coastal lands for agriculture and human settlements, of course through the labour of the enslaved centuries ago. They left us with well laid out structures be they canals, kokers etc. All we have to do is maintain them. This City has suffered for 28 plus 23 years from neglect. When the flooding problems started, pumps were installed at the kokers to drain water to the Demerara River. As time progressed and the siltation of drains in the City grew from worse to worst; the great visionaries at City Hall, began to make excuses for the floods that became a way of life. Did they then think of bringing Dutch engineers to relieve the flood situation? Did anyone observe that all the drains, alleyways and canals were silted up? It is to the glory of these same unpaid labourers, our ancestors, to whom we should in paying homage, appreciate that they laid the foundation for proper drainage and irrigation all over our Guyana. They surely would not like the children of their slave masters to now come to impose themselves on us and, attempt to lecture us on the upkeep of our infrastructure. All we need do is maintain the drainage facilities, the outfalls and kokers. Will we learn the lessons of our history? Do we want to be enslaved again? With all the pleadings by our group, some work was done to de-silt an alleyway or two in Kingston. The cleaners removed silt from drains that were filled with water up to the level of the parapets of the drains resulting in the water level dropping in the drains, which themselves, the drains that is, remained halffull of stagnant water. The complaints that Younge Street canal was not completely desilted. This was a situation witnessed by the Clean -up Czar, who told the KCTF that the Minister acting on the advice of some engineer, wanted the inland drains of Kingston cleared of silt, that the water from these drains would flush out Younge Street canal. This could not be desilted completely, as this process would cause the walls or revetments to collapse. Bear in mind that Younge Street canal from the top of Camp Road to the koker at the Demerara River is concreted on both sides and base or bottom of the canal. Kingston is not just another ward or subdivision of the capital city. Over one hundred large organizations are housed here, included are embassies, police headquarters, the list is long. The Minister of Infrastructure in an earlier press release claimed that the City will not flood as in the past this May June long rainy season just gone by. He was right about the flooding. The half baked desilting of canals, drains and some alleyways saw to that boast. Water has remained all over, however, and is still there to be seen in all the drains. It is the duty of the City Council to deal with this drainage issue as one of public health, yes things have improved. More needs to be done, we pay our taxes, we need value for our money. Secretary, Kingston Citizens Task Force
Wednesday July 27, 2016
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Kaieteur News
IMF zeros in on Guyana’s oil dependency …high electricity costs, tariffs attract most attention By Kiana Wilburg Even though it has acknowledged the efforts of the coalition administration in moving towards alternative sources of energy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) still expressed concern during its recent assessment of Guyana’s energy sector. The team noted that Guyana depends heavily on imported oil for its power needs. It was informed by the authorities here that the country’s installed power generation capacity is about 83 percent oil-based and 17 percent biomass (bagasse)fueled. This capacity translates into a generation mix that is almost entirely dominated by oil-based generators, which supply about 95 percent of the country’s power consumption. The IMF representatives stated, however, that the oildependent power generation mix contributes to macroeconomic instability. This means that it is one of those factors which affect the stability of national production and/or profits.
The officials said that high oil prices widen the external current account deficit, increase fiscal transfers to the public utility - Guyana Power and Light (GPL) - and reduce oil tax revenues due to the limited pass-through in the domestic fuel pricing regime. Accordingly, they said that adverse oil price shocks consume foreign exchange and fiscal resources. They said that volatility in oil prices quickly propagates to the external and fiscal sectors. Additionally, the team asserted that high electricity costs and tariffs are a drag on competitiveness and growth. They said that oil price shocks increase the cost of power generation. “When those costs are passed on to users, they increase the cost of production and constrain investment. Average retail electricity prices were among the highest in the region in 2014. GPL’s relatively high rate of technical and commercial losses also contributes to high electricity prices. Although the recent decline in oil prices has
IMF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde provided some respite, Guyana remains exposed to oil price corrections,” the team said. They added, “Oildependent power generation is at odds with the vast renewable energy potential. The country has extensive hydro power potential, estimated at 7600 MW, which by far exceeds its annual consumption and installed capacity.” In the meantime, the IMF has not turned a blind eye to the fact that various studies
have identified 67 sites as suitable for hydro power generation. The IMF believes Guyana’s climate is also suitable for wind and solar power generation, while its sugar and rice industries provide opportunities for cogeneration of electricity from biomass (sugarcane bagasse and rice husk). They said that a transition to a green power matrix will bolster resilience to shocks while reducing its carbon footprint. They noted, however, that the green power matrix has been delayed by various constraints. “Interest in developing Guyana’s hydro potential dates back to the first oil shock of 1974-75. Plans to build a large hydroelectric project at Amaila Falls began in the late 1980s and evolved through several proposals and rounds of negotiations, but implementation has been constrained by the project’s large size, complexity, cost, and Guyana’s limited fiscal space,” the team said. Guyana recently launched a comprehensive review of its
power sector strategy. The government has tasked the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) with a review of its optimal energy matrix. The IDB will assess the optimal power generation mix for the country, looking at a broad array of energy sources. The government has also retained an international consultant for a review of the feasibility of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project. The power sector strategy will draw upon the results of these studies. The government has also taken steps to increase the contribution of renewables to its power generation mix. A recently signed MoU with a private firm provides an
Minister with responsibility for the Energy Sector, David Patterson opportunity for the construction of a 25 MW (continued on page 25)
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday July 27, 2016
West Berbice cane cutter on trial Oil likely sooner for murder of ex-teen lover than projected A West Berbice Cane harvester who in a fit of rage allegedly knifed his ex-lover to death, is on trial in the Berbice High Court on the charge of murder. Shazam Khalil 23, of 53 Shieldstown, West Bank Berbice, is on trial before Justice Jo Ann Barlow and a mixed jury. He is accused of murdering Shazina Mohamed, 19, of Edinburgh Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice. The woman was brutally stabbed on January 17, last year, outside a Chinese restaurant at Rosignol Village, West Bank Berbice. Presenting the State’s case, attorney at law Stacy Goodings, told the court that on the day in question, the woman was ambushed and stabbed by the accused who then fled the scene. The woman was picked up and rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital and was subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital where she succumbed. The state called its first witness, Police Constable Orwin Barton, who testified that during the time of the incident he was stationed at
…Govt. accelerates preparation
Shazam Khalil
Shazina Mohamed
the Blairmont Police Station. He was part of the anti-crime patrol. He said that relative to a report of an alleged murder received, he and a squad of policemen journeyed to the home of the accused at Shieldstown where they arrested Khalil around 04:00 hrs on January 18, last year. Khalil reportedly showed the
cops an injury he sustained to his eye during the altercation. The man was arrested and taken into custody and subsequently charged. A voir dire is being held after defence counsel attorney at law Tajenarine Ramroop made some objections. The matter is continuing.
By Abena RockcliffeCampbell The Government of Guyana has been forced to accelerate its preparations for oil production. This was noted during a recent interview with Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman. The Minister said that Exxon Mobil’s confirmation of Guyana’s oil reserve has sparked excitement from both the government and the oil company. “This tells us that we have to accelerate our preparations,” said Trotman. The Minister admitted that there is much that needs to be done as part of the preparation process. This is both with regards to legislative measures and other transparency measures that need to be implemented. Trotman said that over the last year, “we have been trying to understand what we have and how to manage it, but we now need to move at a faster pace.” As he referenced moves that have already been made
in this regard, Trotman mentioned his recent visit to Uganda, saying that “this was part of the preparation process.” Trotman was accompanied by Minister of Finance Winston Jordan on that trip. It was basically a study mission. The two wanted to observe Uganda’s preparation for oil – the pumping of which is to begin in two years—2018. Talking about more preparations Trotman said that last week he hosted two oil and gas experts who advised the government and will be lending advice over the next few months. The experts met with various persons and agencies involved. Trotman also indicated that later this year, he will be taking legislation to the National Assembly. Among the Bills to be taken to the House is one that will govern the Sovereign Wealth Fund. A Sovereign Wealth Fund is a government-owned investment fund. It has been set up by many countries with oil wealth, and there are
President David Granger
Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman several models to choose from. Trotman also indicated Continued on page 9
Wednesday July 27, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Debate about race should not be criminalized The Capitol News newscast of July 25, 2016, began with the headline that Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had taken the race game to supporters in New York. This was a clear case – and not the first time either – in which that particular news service has editorialized a news item. A better headline would have been: “Opposition Leader accuses government of racial victimization.” But to
say that the Opposition Leader “takes the race game” to supporters in New York is expressing an opinion even before the details of the story are read. The government picked up on this and issued its own interpretation of Jagdeo’s comments. The government stated that the opposition leader was engaging in racebaiting, an act that is a criminal offence under the laws of Guyana.
The government of course is playing politics, just like the Opposition Leader. The government is not prohibited from doing that. But a newscast cannot ‘editorialize’ its news content. It just goes to show how far Guyana’s media has to go to become truly professional. We have a long way to go. Race is a sensitive topic in Guyana, especially if Bharrat Jagdeo is the one
Dem boys seh...
Ash suing from long distance Eye pass can never done. That is why dem old people does seh that when fowl eye pass corn is a bad thing. At first dem boys didn’t understand de saying until a old man tell dem that de corn can stick in de fowl throat. An audit find that a big one wid GPL get a Board member and together dem decide that dem deserve to get some money before de government change. De big one in de electricity company clap he hand pun $27 million. That is wha dem boys seh. By de time de new government realise de money missing and dem call de man a new story begin. De man tell dem he gun pay it back, then he buy plane ticket fuh he, he wife and he children and dem sneak out de country and land in Canada. De Waterfalls paper write de story bout de man and de money. Everything was going good, but monkey can’t watch a marabunta nest and lef it. He got to get a stick and poke it. De GPL man wait almost a whole year then he decide to sue de Waterfalls paper fuh $1 billion—US$5million. Dem boys seh that dem
following de government. Dem don’t want to go to court, so dem gun settle. Court is a waste of time. De boss man fuh de Waterfalls paper seh that de man can come to Guyana and collect, not de whole billion but li’l less, just like how BK accept a li’l less in he settlement. Then people gun call him Ash fuh cash. It can’t be that he bruck and he got to get money wheh he deh hiding. It might be that he hoping to get de one billion and deduct de people
money from that. One thing; dem boys seh that de man got to come and testify. De only man who didn’t testify in he libel case is Jagdeo and he gun lose it. Ash is no Jagdeo, so he got to come to Guyana. Dem boys will prepare an armed escort to bring him from de airport. He don’t have to worry bout accommodation, but it wouldn’t be life in London. Talk half and help Ash come home fuh de libel money.
Oil likely sooner than... From page 8 that President David Granger will soon address the nation to speak about the confirmation of Guyana’s oil reserve. Exxon made its announcement at the end of June. Trotman said that His Excellency will soon put everything into a national context. “I can only give you the resource aspect of it, but I think the President is going to bring everything together in terms of what it means for the economy, social issues and so on.
speaking about it. The mere mention of the word ‘race’ by the former President is greeted with accusations that he is stirring racial disharmony. Just after last year’s elections, he was taken to Court for simply accusing the then opposition of racism. The person complaining ended up being charged for exciting racial animosity. Can you believe that? The danger, of course, is that had the High Court not quashed the case, it could have ended up in a situation where anyone who accuses a government of racism can end up facing criminal charges. The media has to avoid being complicit in these sort of actions. The media, within lawful limits, has to defend the right of persons to comment on race relations. Every time Jagdeo speaks about race, it is greeted with a storm of protests from the media in Guyana. The media has to be careful that it is not engaging in self-censorship.
The media has to be careful. The media should be defending the right of persons to be critical of what they see as racial victimization. But it seems that every time Jagdeo accuses the government of racial victimization, the media goes paranoid. Jagdeo is not the first – and he will not be the last – to accuse the present regime of racial victimization or racial witch-hunting. But it seems only Jagdeo attracts such stern and fierce condemnation. Former President Donald Ramotar has made similar accusations. But he was not accused of race-baiting. Other persons within the PPP have made similar accusations, but they have not attracted the sort of reaction as Jagdeo. The people of New York have heard it all before. In fact, some of them earlier this year took to protests over the dismissal of five IndoGuyanese from a diplomatic mission. Their placards
accused the present government of the exact thing that Jagdeo is now accusing it of. Race, of course, is a sensitive issue, and the media needs to handle it with great care. But it must not editorialize nor must it criminalize debate and discussions about race. People should have a right, without generating race hate or fueling racial prejudice or inflaming racial passions, to express an opinion, supported by evidence of what they may see as racial victimization. We are not going to reduce racial tensions in Guyana by refusing to discuss race, pretending it does not exist, or putting a spin to what the Leader of the Opposition says. We have to confront racism and racial victimization frontally.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday July 27, 2016
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN...
VIOLENT MASQUERADE IN REGION FIVE This county, an obscure one on the world stage, produces the most bizarre spectacles that if it was a known nation in the international arena, it would have made the press in all the big countries around the globe. In the May 2015 general and regional elections, the opposition PPP won the election in Region Five. But its premier, known in local government parlance as the Regional Chairman (RC), cannot govern because of a little incident that has become a circus that is no longer funny. There will always be a basic distinction between morality and legality. If you call a person ugly, it represents a reprehensible descent into moral nastiness, but you have committed no illegality. In politics, moral viciousness is the order of the day. In Guyana, Donald Ramotar in one of the election campaigns ridiculed Ravi Dev’s medically done hair piece on his head. That was morally distasteful. Ramotar never apologized. In American politics, moral descent is common place. Bill Clinton once used the race card during his wife’s contest with Obama for the nomination of the Democratic Party in 2008. Donald Trump mimicked a physically challenged journalist on the political platform who reported negatively on him. What is important to note here is that
Clinton may have been morally wrong to subtly refer to Obama’s ethnicity, but that is a right conferred on him by natural law. In my own writings, I have seen people consistently say things that have convinced me that they prefer the Indianized PPP to rule Guyana than the Africanized PNC. I may be wrong. People may be offended at my choice of words, but I have a right to say who I think embodies instincts of racial bias. Does the RC of any of the 10 Regions in Guyana have a right to snub the President? The unpleasant answer is yes. It is definitely an immoral flaw. The President’s office should be respected and every courtesy shown to him. But it is the right of a politician to do Frederick so, even if he is made of rude stuff. He is breaking a moral law not a legal code. In Parliaments all over the world, probably in all parliaments in all democratic countries, opposition members insult the President or Prime Minister by walking out when the Head of Government is addressing the Parliament. That is equivalent to a snub.
The story in Region Five would have been comical if it wasn’t so dangerous. The RC was not present when President Granger went on an official visit to Region Five to make a certain type of social donation. The APNUAFC councilors said it was insulting and they are demanding an apology. This incident occurred about seven months ago. The RC is on solid ground even if not on moral ground. He said he did not get an invitation. You could choose to call him a liar. But the most important dimension to recognize is that he didn’t admit that he boycotted the President. He could have said he was sick but lied; he was home watching cricket. How can you prove he Kissoon was wrong? The RC is refusing to apologize. However we feel about human conduct, natural law guarantees us certain rights. It is his right to refuse to apologize. He is an elected official, elected by majority vote to administer the affairs of Region Five. Opposition politicians and social activists have been insulting to President Jagdeo on
many occasions but no scenario ever played out as what we are seeing in the meetings of the council of Region Five. For seven months now, the APNU-AFC councilors have denied the RC his right to hold statutory meetings. And the reason is not because they caught him stealing, not because he is always driving dangerously and hitting pedestrians on the road, not because he takes home the computers and coffee, but because he is refusing to apologize to President Granger. The RC has done nothing illegal. The APNU-AFC councilors are the ones that are behaving illegally. The Regional Democratic Council was legally elected and it is illegal to prevent it from administering the government of Region Five. This type of political behavior belongs to the past. The dictatorial PPP Government is out of power and the PNC, AFC and WPA, the major units that form the central government, have an obligation to history to show that its political culture is a break with the past. What is happening in Region Five is a somber reminder that Guyana is a country that is indeed dysfunctional. The APNU-AFC councilors have protested. Now it is time to serve the people of Region Five.
Wednesday July 27, 2016
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Multimillion-dollar upgrade slated for Diamond Hospital Bids were opened yesterday at the Ministry of Finance’s National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). Among the projects which bidders vied for was a contract to upgrade the Diamond Hospital on the East Bank of Demerara, Region Four. The contract will be executed under the Ministry of Public Health. The engineer’s estimate was $24M. The Ministry, through its Regional Health Services Department, had recently announced plans to upgrade several health facilities. This was deemed necessary because of the amount of patients being referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.
There was also a contract for resurfacing works to be conducted in the compound of the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs. The engineer’s estimate was $4.2M.
And finally, under the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), there was a contract for the procurement of office cubicles.
Under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, there was a contract for the maintenance of roads in Bartica, Region Seven. The project was divided into two lots. Lot one was for geometric repairs to the four corners junction at Bartica, Region Seven. Lot two was for the maintenance of the back road at Byderabo, Bartica. The engineer’s estimate for lot one was $22.6M, while the estimate for lot two was $15.3M.
There was also a contract under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure for road repair works for the ‘All- Weather Road’ at Yukuriba Falls, Region number 10. The engineer’s estimate was $66.7M.
The Ministry of Education also put out a contract for the procurement of teachers tablets, mini servers, routers, printers, digital cameras and charging cabinets.
Under the Guyana Livestock Development Authority, there was a contract for the construction and delivery of one Cattle Barge at Ebini, Region 10. The engineer’s estimate was $19.9M.
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Wednesday July 27, 2016
UG needs to tailor courses to benefit the Private Sector – PSC Chairman Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Eddie Boyer, in an interview with Kaieteur News, acknowledged that there are several reasons why tertiary educated Guyanese are migrating. However, he agreed that one such reason for the phenomenon is due to the existence of a mismatch between the skills persons have and the available jobs in the market. Boyer respected the fact that persons cannot be forced into pursuing a particular
career; nonetheless, he does believe that the University of Guyana should offer programmes which suit the local economy. He said that the Private Sector Commission (PSC) is willing to work with the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Ivelaw Griffith, in this regard. Moreover, Boyer is of the belief that more needs to be done by alumni of UG to give back so as to develop the institution. He said that he recognizes the contributions of some past students, but is of the
opinion that if members of the diaspora and business community actively participate in developing the university, it can improve its capacity, thereby offering more and better quality programmes. He identified the Agriculture sector as being big business and suggests that more is done to enhance the programme. Further, he said that the University needs to step up its Information Technology Department. Boyer said that the PSC has done research on the
issue regarding migrating professionals. He said there are many pull factors responsible for the movement away from Guyana. He pointed out that in an economy such as Guyana’s there will always be people looking for greener pastures. He said too that the private sector has absorbed quite a number of people from UG. He emphasized that in most cases these persons begin working and after a short stint they migrate. In most cases, according to Boyer, persons are not interested in building a career, and it is a challenge which
private companies face. Some companies offer an apprenticeship programme for staff, in which they are trained on how to perform their tasks. According to Boyer, as an employer it is tough having to raise the salary of staff members who stay for the duration of the apprenticeship then to move onto another job or to reside abroad. He said that this requires companies to continue training new staff that may or may not stay on the job. Recently, Minister of Education Rupert Roopnaraine expressed similar sentiments to Boyer’s, whereby he recognized the need for a collaborative approach to fixing the skills mismatch which continues to affect Guyana. He said that the issue is not purely ministerial but needs the input from all stakeholders the government, education institutions and the private sector. While acknowledging too that there are many reasons why persons leave Guyana, Roopnaraine described the situation as a national tragedy - for a nation’s educated citizens migrating to other countries to seek employment. He recognized that there needs to be input from all stakeholders, inclusive of the Government, educational institutions and private sector representatives. Back in 2013, the International Monetary Fund’s Article IV Consultation on Guyana reported that Guyana is suffering from a skills mismatch due to the pace of
PSC Chairman, Eddie Boyer change in the Guyanese economy and the adjustment by the education system. The report said that “Improving labour productivity is key for job creation in the private sector”. It was recognized that there needs to be structural reforms in the areas of investment in human capital, improvements in healthcare, and enhancements to the technical and vocational education and training. It was announced recently that Guyana continues to lose a large number of its tertiary educated nationals. Several reasons have been presented to explain why 93% of persons leaving the country are tertiary educated. Several reasons have been put forward to explain this phenomenon. Some are that persons are seeking better remuneration, working conditions and jobs which are in line with person’s particular field of study.
Wednesday July 27, 2016
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GPHC to charge offshore students to use medical facilities — earnings to help procure needful equipment - Chairman The process of regaining accreditation for the University of Guyana (UG)’s School of Medicine is an ongoing one that requires the support of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). And the GPHC has certainly been playing its part in this regard. The School of Medicine lost its accreditation last year and has been instructed by the Jamaica-based Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP), to put a series of measures in place if it is to regain accredited status. Part of the requirement from CAAM-HP to facilitate accreditation is the construction of proper facilities at the GPHC to offer instruction to medical students. A local business has given support to this venture. But according to Chairman of the Board of Directors of the GPHC, Dr. Carl ‘Max’ Hanoman, efforts are being made to make the instructional facility a moneymaking venture. Dr. Hanoman, who in March assumed the Chairmanship of the public hospital, spoke of plans to utilise instructional facilities at the GPHC to train offshore medical students. This of course will be done at a cost, he related. The fee that this
venture attracts will go towards “retooling” the hospital, Dr. Hanoman posited. “We will buy equipment...so in six to eight months’ time different areas of the hospital will be ‘full service’, so that we wouldn’t have a problem when the accreditation team comes,” said an optimistic Dr. Hanoman, who noted that this is especially important for the School of Medicine. This publication had in March of this year reported that CAAM-HP on its website detailed that it “expects the School (of Medicine) to prepare for a full site visit early 2016 if it wishes to have any level of accreditation.” The School of Medicine was first granted ‘Provisional Accreditation’ by the Jamaicabased Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP) in 2008 for a one-year period. By 2009 a decision was taken by the body to afford the MBBS programme the elevated accreditation status of ‘Accredited with Conditions’ until 2012. But by 2011, CAAM-HP expressed disappointment at the absence of a progress report from the local University and pointed out that a condition for the maintenance of accreditation was the
submission of annual reports. Following a site visit in 2013 the School of Medicine was granted ‘Provisional Accreditation’ until 2015. The CAAM-HP details on its website that “at its meeting held July 28, 2014 (it) considered the progress report of the School of Medicine in response to its letter of October 12, 2013. The meeting noted that the Memorandum of Understanding between the University, the GPHC and the Ministry of Health had been drafted. However, the meeting was not satisfied with the apparent lack of progress in addressing most of the issues identified in the October 12, 2013 letter. The School of Medicine was urged by CAAM-HP to prepare for a limited survey visit in early 2015 before a further determination of the school’s accreditation status could have been made. Part of the requirement from CAAM-HP was the construction of facilities at the GPHC. But there was no progress in this regard, among other requisite areas, reported to CAAM-HP in the years 2014 and 2015, thus a decision was made to withdraw accreditation from the School of Medicine altogether. Dr. Hanoman has long had a keen interest in the accreditation status of the
School of Medicine. In fact it was Dr. Hanoman, who was at the time Director of the
School of Medicine and then Vice Chairman of CAAM-HP, along with Dean of Health Sciences, Dr. Emanuel Cummings, who paved the way for the initial
accreditation of the School of Medicine. CAAM-HP had visited UG in 2006 to conduct a survey to verify whether the Continued on page 30
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Wednesday July 27, 2016
Work of Security Oversight Committee being stagnated – Rohee The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on the Security Sector is responsible for examining the policies and the administration of the entities operating under the Ministry of Public Security. This means parliamentary oversight for the disciplined services. According to the opposition point man on security, Clement Rohee, it has not been convened since the opening of the 11th
parliament in June 2015. He described the committee as “just languishing” at present. “The parliamentary oversight security committee has not been made to function under this government,” he said. “And it is just languishing. We have been calling over and over again for them to set it up.” The former Minister of Home Affairs noted that issues like the use of police prosecutors on high profile
- HAS NOT MET SINCE ESTABLISHMENT cases can be discussed in the public domain, on the forum afforded by the oversight committee. Rohee, who has been a member of the committee in both the 10th and 11th parliaments, described this as the way to go in the interest of transparency and accountability. Among recent
developments in the justice sector was the post cabinet announcement that a team of special prosecutors would be set up in order to prosecute high profile cases. Kaieteur News was unable to make contact with Government Chief Whip Amna Ally or Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, the chair of the
committee, to ascertain why the committee has not been meeting. In the 10th parliament, the committee had comprised of Rohee, former Minister of Housing Irfaan Ali, former Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony and former Public Works Minister Robeson Benn. Also sitting on the committee were current Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams, Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix and former Members of Parliament Desmond Trotman, Christopher Jones and Dr. Veersammy Ramayya. Presently, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan chairs the Security Committee. Also sitting on the committee for the coalition are Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder, Junior Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs Valarie Garrido Lowe, Williams and Hemraj Ramkumar. Sitting in for the PPP are
Rohee, former Health Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsaran and current parliamentarians Harry Gill and Joseph Hamilton. The committee came about in 2009 when former Attorney-General Doodnauth Singh tabled the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2009 in the National Assembly. The Bill had provided for the committee’s establishment. It was his final bill before leaving office. The move stemmed from a national stakeholders forum held in 2008 following the Lusignan and Bartica massacres. Recommendations for the committee’s establishment had also been made throughout the years by bodies including the Disciplined Services Commission. The workings of the committee are tied with the British-backed Security Sector Reform Action Plan (SSRAP). When the original plan was developed in 2006 for implementation in 2009; it had included a three-year capacity building plan for a National Security Committee in the National Assembly between 2007 and 2009. This was to ensure some degree of parliamentary oversight.
Wednesday July 27, 2016
RUSAL ACCUSED OF NOT ADHERING TO LABOUR LAWS By Jacquey Bourne The Russian Mining Company, Rusal, is accused of illtreating its employees. Workers at the mining company in Aroaima, are complaining that the company is not adhering to the laws. One employee who wished not to be named said, “The previous government condoned it and we wouldn’t accept it from this government.” The employee, who was the spokesperson, said the union is defunct because the Russians say they don’t want any Union. “And I am saying that we want the union because it is recognized and we want the union back in Aroaima to negotiate for us. It is about seven years now that the company just giving us handouts…three and four percent increase, and they making millions of dollars. We want the Government of the day to look into this matter immediately.” The employee noted that the company dismissed 57 workers and to date those employees are not reinstated or paid. “Manzoor Nadir was the Labour Minister, then, and he said that the union sign an agreement with the company stating that there shall be no strike, but they had two paragraphs (1) the company agree that there shall be no strike and paragraph (2) states, in case there is any strike the union and the company must resolve it. “Manzoor Nadir never mention clause 2, he always sticking to clause 1 of the agreement. Manzoor Nadir is to be blamed for all this that is going on with Rusal.” Employees claim that the Management is not talking with the union and they are not paying them their holiday. “There is an agreement signed that once you work the day before the holiday and the day after, you are entitled to eight hours pay if you are on days off or you work you get double.” According to the disgruntled employees they are being deprived of their entire leave entitlement. They claim they are only paid two weeks, even though some of those who have over ten years of employment are entitled to five weeks pay. The workers claim that for those who work at Kurubuku mines face a serious health hazard because the conditions are deplorable. “It is the worst place I working in the history of me working life. The conditions are terrible. People drinking water from tanks for seven days without changing and nobody cares nothing. The management don’t care. “As a matter of fact you hardly see them at Kurubuku; they don’t go there. If they do, they don’t spend more than fifteen minutes.” The spokesperson compared the camp to a slave camp and pleads with the government to visit, and not stay in Georgetown, because they cannot know what is happening from there. “Come on site and see what is going on. Come through the Berbice River from Kwakwani and don’t tell them when you are coming. If we talk for our rights we get dismiss; they get rid of you. That is what is going on right now.” The workers are pleading for the return of the union to negotiate for them because according to them they are suffering. They claimed that Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, and a team visited Aroaima and Kurubuku. No worker got a chance to speak to them. “Is we put them there; we vote for a change and they never talk to us, they talk to management. We want them to come back and talk to us. We want Harmon to come back there almost immediately and talk to us. We need better conditions.” The workers argued that it is not the company who voted them into Government. Rather, it was them. The government is supposed to talk to them and listen to their concerns, they said. “We want them to come now”. The workers are adamant that the Russians are taking advantage of the situation.
Increased demand causes... From page 3 for adults cost $1,000, no cost is attached to certificates for children below the age of 12. Yellow Fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected Aedes type mosquitoes. The yellow in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some patients. Symptoms of the disease include: fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigues. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a small portion of patients who contract the disease develop severe symptoms and approximately half of those die within seven to 10 days. According to Dr. Persaud, Guyana has the right conditions for the disease to flourish. He pointed out that if only one person arrives from those countries where the outbreak is ongoing, Guyana could find itself in a great deal of problems. The incubation period for the disease is six days by which time persons can start to manifest symptoms.
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Wednesday July 27, 2016
Kaieteur News
East Canje taxi driver stabbed during Shareholders fix salaries failed hijacking - Corporate Secretary Carvil Duncan trial…
for GPL Board It is the shareholders who are authorized by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) by-laws to fix remuneration for the power company’s board of directors. This is according to Lorraine Bancroft, the Corporate Secretary to GPL’s Board of Directors. Bancroft, an attorney by profession, continued testifying yesterday, when the trial of Carvil Duncan, who is accused of stealing over $27M from GPL, continued. The witness testified that the bylaws of GPL provide for its shareholders to decide on salaries for board members. However, her testimony was challenged by Duncan’s attorney Charles Ramson Jr. The lawyer suggested to Bancroft that the by-laws do not state that shareholders can decide on salary structures for board members. In a copy of the statute provided to Bancroft by Police Prosecutor, Shellon Jupiter, the Corporate Secretary maintained that it makes such provision and read aloud a section to support her assertion. Bancroft said that board meetings would be held once per month and explained that special meetings are held when necessary. Her testimony was suspended
The car that was hijacked
tells court
Carvil Duncan by Magistrate Leron Daly until August 5. Duncan, 73, of 1977 Williamstad Road, Festival City, Georgetown, is accused of conspiring with another to commit simple larceny. It is alleged that between May 7 and May 8, 2015 at Georgetown, Duncan conspired with another to steal the sum of $27,757,500, property of GPL. It was also alleged that on March 31, 2015 Duncan stole $984, 900 belonging to GPL. He is currently out on $1M bail.
An East Canje taxi driver nearly lost his life during a failed hijacking of his vehicle yesterday morning at Welfare, East Canje, Berbice, and was stabbed multiple times about the body. Chunilall Dunauth, 40, called ‘Ricky’ is now nursing four stab wounds about his body at the New Amsterdam Hospital. According to information received, shortly after 10:00 am, the suspect clad in black clothing entered his vehicle, a silver Nissan Bluebird Sylphy, bearing licence number HC 4977, in the vicinity of New Street, New Amsterdam, and
requested to be taken into Canje. While arriving at his alleged destination, the man pulled out a knife and proceeded to stab Dudnauth who began shouting for help. Dudnauth tried to fight off the hijacker who threw him out of the vehicle and attempted to drive off, but instead backed the car into a nearby drain. According to one resident in the area, she heard someone shouting ‘thief thief ’ and decided to investigate. “When we look outside, we see a boy running out the street in all
ova black with a red toupe on so dem boys start run behind he but he run in de bush suh we couldn’t catch he. When we come back in de street now, we see Ricky deh in the mud and he holla that he get stab up. We clean he up and carry he hospital and deh trying to call Reliance Police Station but dem ain’t come till a hour later.” Residents stressed that the absence of security is a major concern in the East Canje area and are calling on the relevant authorities to implement strategies to prevent such an incident from reoccurring.
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New languages to be Lightning strike suspected cause added to Indigenous of GT power outages - GPL language revival project Several new indigenous languages are to be added to the Indigenous Language Revival Project in an effort to preserve Guyana’s first peoples’ diverse languages. The preservation of the Indigenous languages is critical to the sustenance of the culture and identity of Guyana’s first people. Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe told the Government Information Agency that the ministry will be focused on preserving the language of the Arawaks, Warraus and Caribs as additions to the project. “We will not only add some more languages, but we have to concentrate on the Arawak communities because that language is not so strong…they don’t really speak it like the Patamonas speak the Patamona and the Wapishiana speak the Wapishiana (language). Even the Makushis speak their language every day, that doesn’t happen in a village of Arawak heritage, so we have to concentrate more on preserving the Arawak language,” Minister GarridoLowe stated. Minister Garrido-Lowe who is spearheading the language revival project added that the Ministry’s 2017 budget will facilitate the additions.
According to the Constitution article 149 g; Indigenous peoples shall have the right to the protection, preservation and promulgation of languages, cultural heritage and way of life. The Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs is committed to seeing the fulfillment of this right. In June 2016, government allocated $2M to boost the Warrau language preservation project in Kamwatta Hill, Region One. Toshaos from all across the country welcomed this initiative saying that indigenous youths will now be able to learn and further preserve their language. One other aspect to be explored for the Language revival project is re-establishing cultural preservation at the University of Guyana. The Makushi Research unit in Region Nine also promotes the preservation of indigenous languages through the teaching of the language in schools. The Language Preservation Project started in 2013, aiming to preserve the Arawak language and also the rich heritage of the people. President David Granger and the Government of Guyana recommenced this project in 2015 with intentions of preserving all Indigenous languages across the country.
Jagdeo stands by statement ... From page 21 factual; every single example that he gave.” Rohee asserted. The General Secretary went on to say that Jagdeo did not say anything that that is not a reality in Guyana, which was something that the PPP/ C has been addressing. “All that Mr. Jagdeo has done is to externalise what is happening at the local level.” Asked if there was any evidence to support these claims, Rohee responded by disclosing that they are now in the process of documenting cases where “witch-hunting was the rule of the day and those most likely will go to the International Human
Rights Organisation.” However, Rohee had been saying this for months. The list that he is compiling is a list of all the pubic officials whom he claimed, were dismissed for “political” reasons - public servants being dismissed for their alleged or perceived political appointment or political association. Despite being asked by media operatives to provide at least one name, Rohee did not. He said that the list will be released at the appropriate time and that the media – who have the resources - should also do their own investigations and compile their list.
IMF zeros in on Guyana’s ... From page 7 wind farm. The government has put in place fiscal incentives to promote solar power and will use solar panels and mini hydro stations in remote communities without grid access. Solar power is also increasingly used by businesses to power their buildings and operations. In this respect, enabling green technology independent power
producers to sell their excess power to the grid could reduce energy losses, increase supply, and lower tariffs. The government is also exploring the modalities of renewing its ground-breaking low carbon partnership with Norway, which has provided grants for developmental projects in exchange for Guyana’s progress in preventing deforestation and reducing the economy’s carbon footprint.
It seems that residents around Georgetown who were plunged into darkness on Monday were the victims of forces of nature. According to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), lightning strikes are suspected to be responsible for lengthy power outages. According to GPL, at approximately 20:56 hours Monday evening a line trip along two Kingston feeders (F3 and F4) resulted in an interruption in the supply of electricity to customers in Kingston, Cummingsburg, Alberttown, Lacytown and
Werk-en-Rust. “A thorough investigation of the feeders revealed five burnt switches that are suspected to have occurred as a result of a lightning strike,” the entity revealed. “Notwithstanding this, the feeders were isolated and restoration efforts commenced last (Monday) evening at approximately 22:16 hours in Kingston with the last area being repowered at 22:57 hours.” “Remedial works began around noon today (yesterday) and were
successfully completed by 13:00hrs, during which time an interruption in the supply of electricity to sections of Lacytown and Werk-en-Rust was unavoidable. GPL sincerely regrets the inconvenience caused.” While GPL’s statement addressed power outages on Monday, there have been complaints of frequent power outages in places such as Republic Park and along the East Coast of Demerara. Some of these instances have gone without any comments from the power company. In 2010 GPL had embarked
on a project to replace its aging transmission lines. Seven sub-stations were also built. The project was conducted by China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC). While the project was touted to improve quality of service among other things, it was plagued with delays. In addition, it went over budget by more than US$9M ($1.8B). Questions have been raised about the extent to which these problems are today affecting electricity supply in key areas.
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Wednesday July 27, 2016
Clinton makes history, wins U.S. Democrats’ White House nomination
South Africa court confirms amount Zuma should repay for upgrades to private home
Reuters - Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton secured the Democratic Party’s 2016 nomination for the White House yesterday, becoming the first woman to head the ticket of a major party in U.S. history. In a symbolic show of party unity, Clinton’s former rival, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, told the chairwoman from the convention floor that Clinton should be selected as the party’s nominee at the dramatic climax of a state-by-state roll call at the Democratic convention in Philadelphia. “I move that Hillary Clinton be selected as the nominee of the Democratic Party for president of the United States,” Sanders told thousands of delegates in the Wells Fargo Center, which erupted in cheers. After a tough battle with Sanders during the state nominating contests, Clinton is now the party’s standardbearer against Republican nominee Donald Trump in the Nov. 8 election. Clinton, who promises to tackle income inequality and rein in Wall Street if she becomes president, is eager to portray Trump, a businessman and former reality TV show host, as too unstable to
Reuters - South Africa’s constitutional Court yesterday approved Treasury’s recommendation that President Jacob Zuma should pay 7.8 million rand ($541,362) for non-security upgrades to his private Nkandla home. The Constitutional Court in Africa’s most industrialised country in March ordered Zuma to pay back some of the $16 million of state money spent upgrading his private home, and asked the Treasury to work out a “reasonable cost”. In a letter dated July 26 to the lawyers involved in the case, the court said it “signifies, with effect from the date of this letter, its approval of the amount of 7,814,155 rand.” Zuma has 45 days, excluding weekends and public holidays, to pay back the money, according to the court’s ruling in March. A spokesman in Zuma’s office was not available to comment. Zuma has previously said he would pay back some of the money used to refurbish the sprawling Nkandla residence, which is in KwaZuluNatal province. In 2014, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, whose of-
A delegate wearing rooster headgear with a picture of Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on the side walks across the floor of the convention during the second night at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., yesterday. REUTERS/Jim Young sit in the Oval Office. But Trump, who has never held elective office, got a boost in opinion polls from his nomination at the Republican convention last week. He had a 2-point lead over Clinton in a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released yesterday, the first time he has been ahead since early May. Sanders has endorsed Clinton, a former first lady and U.S. senator, but some of his supporters protested in Philadelphia against the party leadership’s apparent backing of her during the bitter Democratic primary fight.
Sections of the convention hall were left conspicuously unpopulated last night as delegates from strongly pro-Sanders delegations, including California, walked out after Sanders moved that Clinton be named the nominee. Earlier yesterday, delegates from South Dakota had given Clinton 15 votes, formally ensuring that she had more than the 2,383 votes needed to win the nomination. She emerged with a total of 2,842 votes to Sanders’ 1,865. Delegates chanted:
“Hillary, Hillary” as U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland formally put forward Clinton’s name for the roll-call vote. In nominating Clinton, delegate after delegate made the point that the selection of a woman was a milestone in America’s 240-year-old history. U.S. women got the right to vote in 1920 after ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. “Yes, we do break barriers, I broke a barrier when I became the first Democratic woman elected to the Senate in her own right,” Mikulski said. “So it is with a full heart that I’m here today to nominate Hillary Clinton to be the first woman president,” Mikulski said. Supporters of Clinton say her Washington credentials show she has the experience needed for the White House during troubled times as the United States tries to speed up its economic recovery and faces security challenges abroad. Detractors view her as too cozy with the establishment and say she carries political baggage dating back to the start of her husband President Bill Clinton’s first White House term in the 1990s.
Jacob Zuma fice is a constitutionally mandated anti-corruption watchdog, identified a swimming pool, cattle enclosure, chicken run, amphitheatre and visitor centre as non-security items that Zuma must pay for. Estimates from Madonsela’s report had pegged the bill at around 10 million rand. Discontent with Zuma’s leadership, fanned partly by the Nkandla saga, has risen ahead of local elections next week. Zuma’s African National Congress has also been blamed for record unemployment and a looming recession and analysts say the party, which has been in power since the end of white-minority rule in 1994, is likely to face a stern test at the polls.
Wednesday July 27, 2016
Trini MP Gets Flack For Visiting Jamaica The Gleaner - A Trinidadian Opposition member of parliament is facing pressure to resign following his visit to Jamaica as part of a Trinidadian government delegation last week. Yesterday’s Trinidad Guardian says calls for Prakash Ramadhar to resign as MP, came hours after he returned to Trinidad after a five-day trip to Jamaica, which he attended with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to rekindle a strained relationship between both countries. The calls were reportedly plastered on the Facebook pages of the St Augustine Constituency and the United National Congress (UNC), the
Prakash Ramadhar coalition opposition grouping of which Ramadhar’s party is a member. Several posts described
Ramadhar as a traitor and being disrespectful to Opposition Leader Kamla PersadBissessar for going with the government delegation. They also reminded Ramadhar that if it was not for the UNC he would not have won the seat on a Congress of the People ticket. The Trinidad Guardian says Prakash Ramadhar Monday stated that he would resign if it was the will of his constituents. Ramadhar reportedly made it clear that he had no craving for political office. However, he said those who wanted him to step down as MP should face him directly.
Simpson Miller releases financial records - Portia declares; makes finances public Opposition Jamaica Observer Leader Portia Simpson Miller Monday released 10 years of her statutory declarations to the Integrity Commission which show her holding savings of just under $1 4 m i l l i o n , a s w e l l as stocks and bond investments totalling $48,750. The documents also show Simpson Miller listing a Kingston 6 property which was purchased for $58,000.
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Kaieteur News
However, neither the year the property was bought nor its estimated current market value are stated. Monday, the Opposition leader’s office said that there was no recent valuation d o n e o n t h e p r o p e r t y, which was obviously acquired before December 2006, the date of the first released declaration. The documents also show that over the 10-year period Simpson Miller missed
only one reporting deadline, and that was by eight days in December 2007. That resulted in her being reported to the parliamentary leaders by the commission. There were no liabilities listed on the documents which Simpson Miller made public in keeping with a promise made after Prime Minister Andrew Holness released his last 10 declarations last month.
In Brazil, Leftist Social Movement Plans…
To ‘Shut Down’ Country If President Impeached The leader of one of Brazil’s biggest social movements called on sympathizers to “shut down” the country in the eventual impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff. Joao Pedro Stedile, leader of the Landless Workers Movement, or MST, threatened Monday at a rally alongside Dilma that “if the Senate does not allow for Dilma’s return, we will shut this country down.” Stedile is promoting a general strike, a move that was first proposed by Dilma’s Workers’ Party chairman Rui Falcao only a month prior. It received no fanfare from the Central Workers Union, or CUT, traditional supporters of the Party. Stedile was speaking at a rally alongside Dilma in the northeastern state of Sergipe. Brazil’s first lady president was impeached in the lower house of congress on April 17 in a sideshow that put Brazil’s entire impeachment process under the microscope. While Dilma was technically impeached for her breach of budget laws, a move that a consulting body contracted by the Senate said she did not really do in full, her former political allies and
Dilma Rousseff
rivals impeached her because of her inability to lead through the political crisis. That paralysis was caused by Dilma and her party. That’s because after nearly 14 years of Workers’ Party rule, the country’s biggest corporate power, Petrobras, collapsed under the weight of a corruption scandal never before seen in Brazil. Dozens of A-list executives like Marcelo Odebrecht and political hot shots like Jose Dirceu have been incarcerated as a result of a decades old bribery scandal that stripped billions from public coffers. Petrobras has lost over 80% of its market cap in that 10 year period. There is also recent evi-
dence that Dilma benefited indirectly from the scheme. Her campaign used undocumented donations from lobbyists and corporations that took part in Petrobras contract rigging. The vast majority of Brazilians say Dilma was, at best, asleep at the wheel when the Petrobras crime wave happened under her leadership. If she were facing a criminal corporate malfeasance trial, she would be fined and possibly jailed for gross negligence. This week’s cover of Veja magazine shows Dilma, head down and despondent, with the quote “I want this agony to end”. She will face a Senate impeachment trial next month. (Forbes)
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VACANCY Vacancies exist for workers @ Ice Factory and Meadow Bank Wharf. Call: 231-1408; 642-9191 8am-2pm
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 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 Guytec Repairs Services & Spares to washing machines, pressure washer, dryer, stoves, refrigerator, treadmill, vacuum, etc –Call: 680-2377 Hello the doctor is back! Have your gas stove service and repairs. Call: 601-0595; 220-4073; 220-5785
Wednesday July 27, 2016
Kaieteur News
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
Cashier 6am-3pm & 3pm12pm. Submit application to Shell Station Providence East Bank Demerara, shellramsburg@gmail.com Janitorial Staff with experience, able to work flexible hours. Applications must be sent to PO.BOX 12329 1 Nanny to read, tutor & care for 1 year old baby boy. Apply in person @ Alabama Trading, Ferry Stelling Stabroek. 1 Driver for East Bank AreaCall: 233-2745 1 Male cleaner apply at Technical Services Inc 18-23 Industrial Site Eccles.
WANTED Mini bus driver; 40yrs and older. Call: 665-2619 Office Assistant/Secretary. Call: 609-3650; 600-0051 Buying non working appliances: washing machine, treadmill, refrigerator, pressure washer, etc. whatsapp picture: 6618802 Wanted urgently, general domestic workers, good pay. Call: 641-3687 Salesgirl & porters. Apply with written application at 1E Dennis & Middleton Street, Campbellville.
Corner property in Grove, 1 block from Main Road- Flat House, price negotiable. Call: 1905-626-2572 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 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
Taxi driver wanted – Call A1 Taxi Services: 220-1000
1 Church building in front and 2 story building at the back 30X120, vacant possession, 180 Charolotte Street Bourda. Call:624-7341/227-6817/226-5183
Female room attendant. Tel: 225-0198 or visit 233 South Road, Lacytown.
House Lot For Sale @ Parika, Old Road. Contact#650-0402
Assistant cook. Apply within call: 611-5615; 2257933 or visit us at 173 Sheriff Street Outdoor Salesman for established brand of snack foods, chocolates, biscuits, beverages, etc. Experienced in sales required- Call: 6171809
Property for sale @ lot 32 Princess Street, Werk-enRust. Call: 621-8767 House & land 2 storey concrete building (4 bedrooms; 2 self-contained), semi-furnished in Grove & Diamond New Scheme. Call: 216-1861
Electronic Course. Starting 9th August. Hands-on training repairing all types of TVs,etc.Call:226-6551;225-0391 TO LET
Wanted to buy fresh cuts Wamara & Tonka bean logs. Call: 664-5150, 648-1619
Newly renovated three bedrooms house in safe and healthy environment. Call: 677-6638; 622-6512
Two skilled masons to do fine work, paying $6,000 per day – Call: 695-9996
Two bedrooms apartment unfurnished at Eccles E.B.D -$55,000 – Call: 648-7004
LAND FOR SALE
IAE: Register for full time school (Grades 7-11) CSEC lessons; adults and school leavers CXC classes. Call Mr. Roberts: 683-5742 Summer classes in Maths, English, Phonics, composition writing and much more for slow leaners. Call: 675-4379 Summer Classes: age 5-17 yrs, Phonics classes Forms 1-5 CXC adults classes, all subject area. Call: 690-5008; 693-4588; 621-8809
We have interest in buying lands at Farm & Herstelling. Call: 266-0693 CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO TAXI SERVICE RENTAL@YAHOO. COM GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: Wings 4WD pickup rental: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225679-3525 7878 (24HRS)
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 Rental: 4WD pickup. Call: 698-7807
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
Perkins V8 Turbo Charge 170KVa Generator in working condition, Call 223-7380
SALE! SALE! 2010 IST $2.4M, 2009 NOAH -$2.5M, ARUIS -$2.5M- CALL: 6172891 3 TON CANTER ENCLOSE AND OPEN BACK WITH 4D ENGINE, PRICE -$3.6M, NEVER REGISTERED – CALL: 617-2891 One Hilux E/Cab pick-up, manual, gasoline, A/C. Call: 676-0931 1 L-Touring Wagon (yellow) for sale $750,000 negotiable. Call: 616-0111 1- Toyota IST 2003 $1,950,000, 1-Toyota Alteeza 1999 -$2,000,000. Call: 6145258; 651-8350 1 Model ‘M’ Truck, winch complete –price $800,000 negotiable. Call: 629-1892
Used XBOX 360 and play station 3- $35,000, plastic barrels -$4,000. Call: 6217497; 603-8643 1 Transported property, 1 5L Hilux Pickup, 1 complete music system- Call: 265-3586 1 -580C Hymac), 1-130 KVA Gen Set 4-Cly, 1-55 dump truck with Hiab, 1-600 RR CBR 2010, 1-3 Ton Road Roller. Call: 6411421; 684-4804 1 Craftsman generator 42,000 watts-$50,000. Call: 628-7337 LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. MIX BREED PUPS –CALL: 615-0146 One 6 base music set with QSC amps, RCF speakers. Call: 622-0503; 689-9932
2009 RX8, Allion, Music Bus, Small bus, Motor cycle, Benz. German Shepherd puppies, 1 Call: 265-4979 adult German Shepherd, 2 1 Nissan Blue Bird 2006 adult Rottweiler. Call: 220Model- Call: 674-2170 owner 2277; 220-8904; 629-1471 leaving country Crazy Deal! Dell laptops & desktop computers, loaded with lots of games & educational programs from $49,000. FutureTech: 2312206
FOR RENT
EDUCATIONAL
Kitchen Assistant, preferably living in Diamond New Scheme. Call: 677-5924 between 2pm-5pm
VEHICLE FOR SALE
1-Leyland 45 Truck $1.5 MContact# 650-0402
Maid to work in D’Aguiars Park Houston. Call: 617-1809 for interview for further information.
1 Heavy duty welder, workers for land dredge. Call 694-2310 between 8:30-4:30
Fly wheel 3S gear box. Call: 609-1490; 261-3645
PROPERTY FOR SALE
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Teepee Suites Apartments: Lot 7 Princes Street, Charlestown, Guyana. Call: 592-223-7903/email: teepeesuites@yahoo.com Two bedrooms bottom flat situated at Lot 6 Drysdale Street Charlestown -$50,000 monthly. Call: 677-5031 One business place to rent at Stewartville opposite Stewartville Primary School WCD. Call: 613-5261 One 2 bedroom apartment located at Section ‘A’ Block ‘X’ Great Diamond, E.B.D. For more information, please call: 643-9286; 603-0067 Bobcats & Excavator Rentals. Call: 679-0374; 6832122
FOR RENT Two bedrooms apartment located at Stanleytown, W.C.D. Call: 696-8714
2 Bedrooms bottom flat to rent lot 5 Wallers Delight, W.C.D -$45,000 monthly. Call: 6744929; 662-0187
Sheep & duck for sale. Call: 695-6139 1 Hilux 5L pickup, 1 complete music set & transported property @ Govent Garden, E.B.D. Call: 265-3586
Wednesday July 27, 2016
REGION 5 RDC ROW...
Development being stalled by APNU+AFC Councillors’ continuous disruptions – Chairman
RDC Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal (sitting right); PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee (centre); PPP Member of Parliament, Zulficar Mustapha (sitting left); along with Councillors of the Region Five RDC. Vickchand Ramphal, the Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) for Administrative Region Number Five (Mahaica/Berbice), yesterday stated that the alleged continuous disruptions by Councillors of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) to hold Statutory Meetings, is stalling the development of the Constituency. The Chairman made these assertions at a Press Briefing hosted by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) headquarters – Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown, yesterday in the presence of other Councillors. Ramphal said yesterday that the situation has seen no incisive reaction from the President, “whose honour the unruly Councillors are seeking to have untarnished by extracting an apology from me, the Regional Chairman.” “I feel compelled to publicly highlight that the inability to hold Statutory Meetings of the Council because of the behaviour of the APNU+AFC Councillors (which) has tremendously affected the work of the Council.” The consequences he said, are ‘disastrous’ with the Council being unable to deliver services to residents; services which he said, they are entitled to. He added that the Council has been unable to excavate and clean important canals, drains and trenches that come under its control. This, he said, has
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resulted in millions of dollars in damage due to the recent floods. The council has also been unable to monitor the two hospitals and several health care centres throughout the region. He added that the Council has been unable to execute its community road programmes and as a result, streets throughout the Region have fallen into disrepair and are now in a deplorable condition. “The Council has been unable to address the educational needs in the Region; as a result schools are falling apart throughout the Region; in fact, the children of Mortice, Mahaicony Nursery School have been without a school building for over two months; the Region has been unable to oversee the award of contracts and as a result, contracts continue to be awarded without any scrutiny by the Council. These are only some of the problems which the residents of Region Five endure daily because Statutory Meetings of the Council are not held,” he said. He said the RDC will continue to appeal to President David Granger and Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan to intervene incisively to end the “monstrous” sevenmonth long situation of the RDC. “Needless to say, we will continue to explore all legal and democratic channels available as we continue to challenge this outrage.” On Thursday last, the Statutory Meeting Continued on page 30
Hydromet Unit mulls generating... From page 23 reached beforehand on the appropriate distribution of the revenues which are recovered to all air navigation service providers including meteorological services.” For the time being, the service is guided by the Public Service procedures. But they said that this does not adequately cater for the specialized needs of scientific-based institutions like Hydromet, thus it was recommended by analysts that steps be taken to have this institution function semi autonomously. Additionally, the efficiency and reliability of the Hydrological and Meteorological network was improved with the installation of the Doppler weather radar, satellite imagery reception stations and replacement/training of staff has enhanced the quality of products from the Hydrometeorological Service. But like every entity, the Hydromet Service has experienced its fair share of challenges. High vacancy levels and lack of adequately technically trained staff in every section often affect delivery. Recommendations have since been made by officials there for competent qualified personnel to be maintained in the Aeronautical, Climatological, Agrometeorology, Water Resources Sections and the National Ozone Action Unit (NOAU) to work on activities associated with the Water and Sewage Act 2002 and Restriction of Ozone Depleting Sub-
stances Order made under Trade Act on a full time basis in the coming year. There have also been complaints about difficulties in sourcing contractors for providing services in remote locations. Due to the remoteness of a number of the stations, officials related that maintenance continues to be a challenge for the Service. They said that even when
contractors are available, they may not comply with the requirements stipulated by the National Procurement Act ( e.g. Tax Identification Number etc), or may not be willing to work with the terms of payment because of the high mobilization cost due to transportation of materials. Nevertheless, work is ongoing with primary data processing and digitizing of data sets.
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Wednesday July 27, 2016
Development being stalled by APNU+AFC... Bullet-riddled bodies at Berbice… – as a ‘political function’. From page 29 was disrupted for the seventh time in recent months, he had stated. These disruptions being done allegedly by the hands of the APNU+AFC Councillors, have stemmed from the Chairman supposedly absenting himself from an event earlier this year where the President presented two 30-seater buses to transport schoolchildren. The councillors have since demanded that Ramphal offer a formal apology to the President before normalcy returns to the Council. The Chairman however, is defiant, saying that he will not offer an apology. He said yesterday that during the President’s visit, he was at the time in the backlands engaging several farmers in the Constituency during the El Nino occurrence. He added that he was not formally invited to the event which was deemed by the General Secretary, Clement Rohee – who was also present at the briefing
Rohee brushed aside the question by media operatives about whom the vehicles will benefit by saying that, “it was not the argument’. He went on to say that the bus – which had the colours of the APNU+AFC prominently displayed – was an indication that the event was political and not a State function. Rohee added that the PPP/C has advised its councillors to not attend political functions. He continued that during the event, an APNU+AFC Political Activist (unnamed), was featured on the programme. This activist, Rohee said, was tasked with welcoming the President and his entourage – an undertaking which was supposed to be done by Ramphal. Asked how long this will continue to happen at the Council and who will make the first move to get a handle on the situation, Rohee said that the Government should answer these questions and the persons should “call off their dogs”.
Three more held, seven released on station bail
Police have detained three other suspects in connection with last Friday’s triple-murder at Mibicuri, Berbice, but have released seven others on station bail. This was disclosed yesterday by ‘B’ Division Commander, Ian Amsterdam, who also hinted that investigators have “the
pieces of the puzzle together,” regarding the identity of the killer(s). “We have quite a few leads and we have the pieces of the puzzle. Now all we need is to fit the pieces t o g e t h e r, ” Amsterdam said. Among the motives police have examined, are reports
GPHC to charge offshore... From page 13 School of Medicine met its 139 standards. The standards were created to deal with education resources and staff development among many other areas. In 2007, the University of the West Indies (UWI) was accredited, while UG had to examine some areas of governance and facilities. This was subsequently done. In reviewing their submission, CAAM–HP accredited the medical programme at UG in 2009, essentially allowing for UG to join UWI and St. George’s in Grenada and the Ross University in Dominica, as accredited medical schools in the Caribbean. However, with the loss of the accreditation status, the UG Medical Degree is no longer recognized outside of Guyana, a state of affairs that UG officials hope to have change in the very near future. A total of 46 medical students graduated from UG last year. They will not be able to utilise their degrees outside of Guyana without first sitting the Caribbean Association of Medical Councils (CAMC) examination.
that the men were slain by an irate husband over an extramarital affair one of the slain men was having with the suspect’s spouse. Kaieteur News understands that seven of the ten previous suspects have been released on $50,000 station bail each. Meanwhile, this publication also learnt that forensic experts yesterday began conducting tests for gunshot residue on samples taken from some of the suspects. The bodies of 15-yearold Jaikarran Chandradeo, called ‘Kevin; 33-year-old Naresh Rooplall called ‘Ticka Bai’ and 37-year-old Pawan Chandradeo, called ‘Suresh,’ were discovered on Friday at Kokrit Savannah, Black Bush Polder. The victims bore gaping shotgun injuries. They were slain some hours after going on a fishing trip. They are scheduled to be laid to rest today at Black Bush Polder.
Wednesday July 27, 2016
Kaieteur News
Venezuela govt. aims to sink Maduro recall, opposition protests Reuters - Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro’s socialist government sought yesterday to scupper a push by the opposition to oust him this year via a referendum, while his opponents called for protests to demand the vote. As the OPEC nation faces in an unprecedented economic crisis, both sides are in deadlock over a provision in the constitution allowing a recall referendum halfway through the president’s sixyear term. Government supporters lodged a complaint at the election board saying the Democratic Unity (MUD) coalition falsified signatures in an initial collection to trigger the process. “They are committing grave fraud and corruption,” senior Socialist Party leader Jorge Rodriguez told reporters outside the election council, saying signatures of nearly 11,000 dead people and 3,000 minors were included. Maduro, 53, who won election to replace Hugo Chavez in 2013, has vowed there will be no referendum,
Nicolas Maduro
and the election council has been dragging its feet over the process. The opposition urged supporters to march towards the council’s Caracas headquarters today to demand it validate the first round of signatures, 1 percent of registered voters in each state. “We are waiting for them to speak clearly to the country, to respect Venezuelans and the constitution,” opposition leader Henrique Capriles said in a speech at a public event. “We are in an emergency,” he said. “All the prices are rising and the government does nothing. ... To change this situation, there has to be political change.”
If the referendum process proceeds, the next stage would be for the opposition to obtain 20 percent, or nearly 4 million signatures, asking for the vote. In addition to the fraud accusations, the government said there was not enough time to organise a referendum this year because the opposition had waited too long before activating the mechanism. Capriles has said it would be possible to hold it by Oct. 30 or Nov. 6. The timing is important because if Maduro loses a referendum this year, there would be a new presidential vote - which polls indicate he would likely lose.
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Wednesday July 27, 2016
Wednesday July 27, 2016
Kaieteur News
Turkish troops hunt remaining coup plotters as crackdown widens Reuters - Turkish special forces backed by helicopters, drones and the navy hunted a remaining group of commandos thought to have tried to capture or kill President Tayyip Erdogan during a failed coup, as a crackdown on suspected plotters widened yesterday. More than 1,000 members of the security forces were involved in the manhunt for the 11 rogue soldiers in the hills around the Mediterranean coastal resort of Marmaris, where Erdogan was holidaying on the night of the coup attempt, officials said. Erdogan and the government accuse U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen of orchestrating the attempted power grab and have launched a crackdown on his suspected followers. More than 60,000 soldiers, police, judges and civil servants have been arrested, suspended or put under investigation. The religious affairs directorate removed another 620 staff including preachers and instructors in the Koran yesterday, bringing to more than 1,100 the number of people it has purged since the July 15 coup attempt. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said two Turkish ambassadors, currently in Ankara, had also been removed. Former Istanbul governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu was detained and his house searched. “There is no institution which this structure has not
Turkish soldiers detain Staff Sergeant Erkan Cikat, one of the missing military personnel suspected of being involved in the coup attempt, in Marmaris, Turkey. REUTERS/KENAN GURBUZ infiltrated,” Erdogan’s son-inlaw, Energy Minister Berat Albayrak, said in a televised interview, referring to Gulen’s network of followers. “Every institution is being assessed and will be assessed,” he said. The response from the Turkish authorities would, he said, be just and not amount to a witch-hunt. The coup attempt raised particular questions about the air force, some of whose senior members were deeply involved, and could lead to the re-investigation of past incidents including the downing by the Turkish military of a Russian warplane near the Syrian border last year, Albayrak said. The incident provoked Russian trade sanctions but there are signs of rapprochement, with Turkey thanking Moscow for its solid support during the abortive putsch. By contrast it has frosty ties
with Europe, which has criticised the post-coup crackdown, and with the United States, which it has urged to extradite Gulen. Albayrak made the comments as the highest-level Turkish delegation since the downing of the jet visited Moscow and officials announced a planned meeting between Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin next month. “Erdogan will be eager to send a message to Washington and EU capitals that Turkey has other options,” said Tim Ash, a strategist at Nomura and a veteran Turkey watcher. The Turkish parliament set up yesterday a commission to investigate the coup attempt, with the backing of all political parties. It will also examine the allegations that the Gulen movement infiltrated the government and instigated the coup attempt.
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Wednesday July 27, 2016
Wednesday July 27, 2016
Kaieteur News
Umar Akmal denies Zouks perfect home record at Hero CPL (From page 39) Riders back into the match and when Devcich went Akmal was well supported by Sunil Narine as they reached their victory target with six balls to spare. It was a very sloppy start from the Knight Riders when the Zouks’ batted. They should have dismissed Johnson Charles twice inside the PowerPlay. First when he was on just one when he top edged a ball that three fielders converged on and none of them claimed. Then Charles was out off the bowling of Devcich, brilliantly caught by Dwayne Bravo, but the bowler had overstepped and he was reprieved. When the Knight Riders
did take a wicket it was through some good fortune. Andre Fletcher was coming back for a second run and dove into the crease and made his ground. Unfortunately for Fletcher his bat bounced up as it passed the crease and nothing was behind the line when the bails were removed by Devcich. When Johnson Charles fell mistiming a slower ball bouncer from Bravo that brought together Australian veterans Michael Hussey and Shane Watson. Hussey also benefited from a drop when Devcich failed to cling on to a sharp chance, but he didn’t last long. He holed out at long off trying to hit Kevon Cooper over long off only to
Coach Nixon looks to... (From page 35) coming in. Dale is worldclass, he always was and he always will be. He had a tough time at the
start of the competition because of wet balls and slippery grounds, but as the tournament went on he showed his class.”
find the fielder. There was no sustained period of run scoring by the Zouks through the middle overs of their innings as the Trinbago bowlers kept things tight. It wasn’t until the final three overs that they started to find the boundary which helped them reach 167-6, aided by yet another drop – the fourth in the innings, this time by Umar Akmal.
Epic showdown for final... (From page 35) they are to advance. The Christianburg / Wismar versus Sir Leon Lessons have all the hallmarks of a blockbuster affair, but once again the defending champion holds the edge. They looked way below their best in the early rounds, but has gradually been finding their form and this is an ominous sign for any opposition.
Wednesday July 27, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Let your boss know your goals. Don't hesitate to visit someone who hasn't been well. Concentrate on work.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Real estate should be lucrative for you. Think about taking the time to complete unfinished domestic chores.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Be sure to pay attention to your financial status. You can make sound financial investments if you act fast. Try to put your money away for a rainy day.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Listen to a good friend who is truly looking out for your best interests. You can make personal changes that will enhance your reputation and give you greater self confidence.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Self improvement projects should be your key concern. Resistance leading to conflict will only make it twice as hard to turn the situation around. Don't let your mate bully you into thinking that you owe them your time and your life. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Promotions will be yours if you have acted professionally in times of crisis. Don't let siblings put pressure on you. The answers can only come from within. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Remain calm and you'll shine. Passion should be your goal. Travel opportunities look positive, but be cautious while driving. You may have to explain your actions to your family. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Try not to make waves. Someone may be trying to pull the wool over your eyes. Let go of the past in order to progress.
It was that man Sammy that got the Zouks to a competitive today with 37 (18). He has made 96 runs in his three innings at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground at a strike rate of 174, but thanks to Akmal it wasn’t enough. Scores: Trinbago Knight Riders 168-7 (U Akmal 73, D Johnson 3 for 22) beat St Lucia Zouks 167-6 (D Sammy 37, D Bravo 2 for 34) by three wickets with six balls to spare.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Spend time with friends and relatives. Travel for pleasure. You should get into programs that will enhance your appearance and help you to be the best that you can. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Be cautious of making any residential changes today. A romantic dinner, followed by a quiet evening with the one who is enticing you, should be most satisfying. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Don't upset elders in your family who don't understand your present situation. Do not give your heart to someone who may not live up to your standards. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Expect to pay more than anticipated for entertainment or other purchases. Speak of your future goals, intentions, and commitments. Don't be angry, but be on your guard.
They’ve been to this juncture on many occasions and while they are in a rebuilding phase due to the ineligibility of quite a few players from last year the team still seems to be a formidable one. The in-form Omar Brewley, who scored a wonder goal, is expected to be the lynchpin of their quest for another final berth, while Antwaine Gill, Amar Jones and Jumaine Kingston are all players capable of winning matches. On the other hand, Sir Leon will be relying on the performances of Captain David George and Sylvester Richardson to orchestrate a victory. The two matchups should provide crowd pleasing football for the fans that’re expected to descend in numbers at the facility. The respective band of supporters might be crucial in both games.
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Wednesday July 27, 2016
Kendall’s Union Sports Club Guyana Police Force Inter-Division Championships Headquarters hold on to lead after day two presents awards to top students in Primary School The Kendall’s Union Sports Club located on the East Coast Berbice (No.19 Village) in collaboration with friends overseas and locally continued its community relation programme in giving back to the community in various ways. Kendall’s, which is one of the top second division clubs in Berbice, recently presented prizes and awards to the top five students of the Bohemia Primary School which is located in the area at its recently held graduation
ceremony. The Club’s President Mr. Albert Budhoo stated that they were very excited and happy to be a part of the event. He said that the club recently embarked on a number of community related activities and as such recognizing the top students from the area is in line of what the club has embarked to do. The Executives of the club presented trophies, medals, bags, school supplies and a Lenovo Tablet (top student) to the top five
students. Mr Budhoo encouraged the students to be disciplined, dedicate their time to studies, put God in their lives and get involved in activities of the club which will be beneficial to themselves and community in a positive way. He expressed special thanks to Metro, Mr. S. Baichan (Amar) and Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club for their assistance in making the activity a success. (Samuel Whyte)
Headquarters (HQ) maintained its lead over ‘A’ Division in what has become a two-way battle on the second day of the annual Police InterDivision Championships currently underway at the Police SportsClubGround,EveLeary. After winning the swimming title on Sunday, Headquarters held on to a 40-point lead after day two of the Championships that continued with the athletics competition. HQ is on 187 points at press time yesterday with ‘A’Division on 147 points. Country Division is on 76 points with ‘B’ Division on 29 points. The points are after six finals in the athletics competition with the
swimming and road race results included. Guyana is on 80 and Trinidad 29 points in the ‘A’ Class (international) competition. Headquarters began their title hunt with a sweeping performance in the Discuss Men ‘B’ Class with Kleon Spellen winning with a 36.35m throw ahead of teammates, Warren Duncan (33.68m) and Sherwin Henry (28.99m) respectively. Julio Sinclair won the Men ‘A’ Class event with a 38.39m toss ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Clinton Glasgow (33.39m) and Guyana’s Marvin Tinnis 25.03m. Trinidad’s Joycelyn Huggins won the Women’s event with 32.28m ahead of
Guyana’s, Saphina Vanderstoop (30.58m), and Trinidad’s Nikita Renne (27.89m). Shion Boyer claimed the Women’s 3000m for ‘A’ Division in 13:21.0 while HQ’s Eva Harry (14:49.4) was second and Dellie Williams (15:42.2) third. Cindy Fraser led a sweep of the Long Jump Women for a strong finish of the day for ‘A’ Division. Fraser leaped to 5.38m to win the event with Tandika Burgess second with a 5.19m mark, and Tracy Moses (4.93m) third. Quacy Morian ran 2:07.7 to win the Men’s ‘A’ Class Final ahead of Trevor Scotland (2:10.5) and Larry Josiah (2:12.4) respectively. (Edison Jefford)
Wednesday July 27, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Recipients promised monetary assistance The late Kevin Layne Snr. will be presented this week by City Council to be buried on Monday
Acting Mayor Sherod Duncan Despite the City Council approving donations for persons at the July 5, Statutory meeting, the recipients have not received the much needed assistance over three weeks later. However, a promise was made to have those funds handed over this week. At yesterday’s Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC) Statutory meeting a number
of councillors were visibly concerned that the assistance in the form of money has not yet been handed over to the persons who approached the municipality for help. The two persons who are well known throughout Guyana, professional boxer Clive Atwell and actor Henry Rodney are in need of urgent medical attention overseas.
At the Statutory meeting councillors posed the question as to why the cheques have not been signed and handed over to Atwell and Rodney despite the donations being approved on July 5. Deputy Town Clerk Sharon Harry took note of the complaints and stated that the cheques will be signed and handed over to the persons by Thursday of this week. Another issue raised was the fact that two Labour Unions had approached the M&CC for funds on May Day and have not received the funds to date. This too was rectified at yesterday’s statutory meeting. Speaking to this publication, Acting Mayor Sherod Duncan said that he will be meeting with the unions today. At this meeting he said that they will receive their cheques.
Night of reflection set for Friday at #5 ground Family and friends of the late Kevin Layne Snr., long serving Manager of Monedderlust Football Club (MFC) will bid farewell to the former football administrator on Monday afternoon following a Thanksgiving Service at the F a m i l y Ta b e r n a c l e o f Worship Church, #5 Village, West Coast Berbice from 13:00hrs. A night of reflection will be held at the #5 Ground on Friday evening from 19:00hrs where family, friends and the football fraternity will remember the late Layne and his contributions to the sport. Layne, whose involvement in football spanned over 20-years and managed the club for the last
six years of his life, died at age 38 on Saturday last. He has been credited as one of the main pillars in the history of the club which applied and was chosen as one of the first eight clubs to qualify as an Elite League Club in Guyana. Burial will take place at the #4 Village Cemetery.
Kevin Layne Snr
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday July 27, 2016
More beneficial activities for Berbice Youth as police intervenes Even with limited resources and more work being added to their platter, the police are not shirking from their responsibilities to tackle crime and other social ills that are plaguing the society, especially among the youths. As such, the police in B Division in Berbice under Commander Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam have been launching Youth and Sports groups throughout Berbice in an effort to stay on top of the situation. The initiative also helps in crime fighting. The latest group to be
organized was done at Fyrish Corentyne, Berbice by C o m m a n d e r, A s s i s t a n t Commissioner Ian Amsterdam. H e was accompanied by Officer in Charge of No.2 Sub Division, Deputy Superintendent Marlon Taylor and Community Relations Officer, Woman Inspector Margo Grosvenor. The youth were spoken to by the senior officers in attendance and were told about the purpose, benefits and other importance of getting themselves organized and into groups. They were told of the
importance of having a sound education and the consequences of being involved in illicit activities, the bad effects of drugs, teenage pregnancy, being school drop outs and other social ills. A number of sports gear and educational materials were promised to the youth by the police. The efforts are part of the Police Social Crime Prevention programme to get persons, especially youth involv e d i n a positive lifestyle. (Samuel Whyte)
Another sport and youth group formed in Berbice
Police and other officials having discussions with the youth in Fyrish Corentyne recently.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday July 27, 2016
Coach Nixon looks to maintain winning ways at CPL outing in Florida (Jamaica Observer) Jamaica Tallawahs Head Coach Paul Nixon is pleased with the form of his team heading into their two Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) games in the United States. The Tallawahs, who currently lead the preliminary standing with 13 points from eight games, are scheduled to play third-place St Lucia Zouks (eight points from seven games) on Saturday, and again on Sunday at Central Broward Regional Park in Florida. It is first the staging of CPL games in the US. The Jamaica franchise was particularly dominant at home, winning all four games at Sabina Park. They began the home leg with a five-wicket win over Guyana Amazon Warriors — the only team to have defeated them this season. They then thumped hapless St Kitts and Nevis Patriots by 108 runs, before comfortably dispatching t i t l e - h o l d e r s Tr i n b a g o Knight Riders — formerly Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel — and former winners, Barbados Tridents by 19-run and 36-run margins, respectively. “We are absolutely delighted at winning the four games. We wanted a full bag of points and we won it. That is what I wanted from the outset and this really sets us up for those games in
Paul Nixon (Photo: Michael Gordon) Florida,” Nixon told the Jamaica Observer. “It’s just the old cliché of one game at a time, we’ve got to do the right thing. We keep doing the right things and executing under pressure with calmness and skill. The spirit is right and we can’t wait for [the games in] Florida. The Tallawahs have shown preference for chasing down targets, but on three of those four occasions at Sabina Park they lost the toss and were forced to bat first. Only once did captain and talismanic batsman Christopher Gayle get going. That was when his unbeaten 45, batting at number seven, got the Tallawahs over the line against the Amazon Warriors. But Andre Russell, Kumar Sangakkara, Shakib Al Hasan, Rovman Powell
and Gayle’s opening partner Chadwick Walton, have all contributed meaningfully with the bat. The bowlers have also done well as a team, restricting opponents to low totals. “We’ve shown flexibility in our batting and bowling. We’ve got match winners in this side to post amazing scores and that is outstanding. We did enough with the ball and we had the flexibility. We have some of the best spinners in the competition and they didn’t bowl [against the Tridents]. And it was great captaincy from Chris…[his] captaincy, as we’ve gone on and on, has got better and better and [against the Tridents]; it was absolutely high class,” said the Englishman, who guided t h e Ta l l a w a h s t o t h e inaugural CPL title in 2013. So far, the Tallawahs are the only franchise assured of a place in the knockout phase of the tournament. But they have lost the services of South African great Dale Steyn. The pace bowler, who departed after taking four wickets against the Tridents on July 20, has contractual commitments with Cricket South Africa and is replaced by compatriot Dane Paterson. “Any player in our squad will be a loss, but we’ve got a great man in Dane Paterson (Continued on page 31)
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Epic showdown for final spots anticipated today at Leonora By Rawle Welch The road to the final started on June 10 with close to 160 schools signaling their intentions to make the journey, but forty-seven days later, only four remain with a chance of vying for the ultimate prize on Sunday when the final of this year’s Digicel Schools Football Championship will be played, at the National Stadium. Among the schools that have made it this far is reigning and four-time champions Christianburg / Wismar and while they will be seeking to add another title to their already burgeoning cabinet, they will have to contend with three other formidable opponents in last year’s beaten finalist Chase Academic Foundation, Sir Leon Lessons and Berbice’s Bush Lot Secondary. These four teams have not made it this far through luck, but rather they’ve all
shown superior ability and deserving of their place in the last four which takes place today, at the Leonora Synthetic Track facility, West Demerara. In the opening game from 16:00 hrs, Chase Academic Foundation tackle Bush Lot and this ecounter will be followed by the clash between Christianburg / Wismar and Sir Leon Lessons at 18:00 hrs. The opening game between Chase Academic Foundation and Bush Lot, though some may believe that the former should win in a canter, could prove more difficult than many think. In the world on sports, very often teams that reach this far would have shown the necessary pedigree to make it to this stage so it is easy to envisage a tough and close battle among the two combatants. H o w e v e r, w h a t e v e r advantage there is should go to Chase Academic Foundation, a team loaded
with special talent, but has found the going much tougher in the latter rounds of the champinship. They are stacked with a cadre of national Under-17 players that recently participated in the Caribbean Football Union World Cup qualifiers so they will no doubt be chomping at the bit to get to the fianl once again and even win this time around. On the other hand, Bush Lot has a great opportunity to become the first team from Berbice to make it to the final and this consolation alone could instigate the kind of determination that could reap success. Chase will be depending on the services of Captain Jeremy Garett, Job Caesar, Kelsey Benjamin and Stephon Reynolds to bolster their chances of winning, while Titus Webster, who netted a hat-trick in the quarter-finals for Bush Lot, must play a pivotal role if (Continued on page 31)
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday July 27, 2016
T&T’s Queens wear ‘double crown’ after thrilling last over win against Jamaica By Sean Devers Trinidad & Tobago added the t20 WICB Women’s Championship to their 50-over title when they overcame Jamaica by two wickets in a thrilling finish Monday night at Providence in final of the T20 tournament under lights A fighting 55-run seventh wicket stand between Chinelle Henry, who made 25 not out from 25 balls with two fours and burly wicketkeeper Tameka Sanford whose 24-ball 33, which included two fours, rescued Jamaica from a precarious position of 40-6 in the 13th over to 100-8 in 20 overs. Anisa Mohammed had 2-15 from fours overs despite conceding 10 in her last and got support from Shenelle Lord (2-23). T&T in reply reached 101-8 in 19.4 overs with
Skipper Marissa Aguilleira (26), Renice Boyce (18), Anisa Mohammed (21) and Selene O’Neil (11*) getting into double figures. Shanel Daley (2-13) and Vanessa Watts (2-17) did the damage with the ball for the defending champions who won the last competition in 2014 when they beat Guyana in the final. Jamaica won the toss and watched by a handful of spectators in windy conditions, the girls from Reggie Country were off to an inauspicious start losing four quick wickets including Captain Stafanie Taylor (7) who was bowled with a beauty from Leeann Kirby and the Trinis celebrated the demise of the world’s top t20 batter as if it was Carnival in July. The girls in red had reduced Jamaica, the only team to play unbeaten in preliminary rounds, to 31-4
T&T Skipper Merrisa Agulleira collects the t20 trophy from a WICB rep. on Monday night at Providence.
in the seventh over. Kerbina Alexander removed Jodian Morgan (7) at 7-1, Kirby plucked out Taylor’s stump at 20-2 and Mohammed, who started with a maiden, accounted for Natasha McLean (8) and Chedean Nation (0) in the same over and Jamaica were in ‘a whole heap’ of trouble at 36-4 after 10 overs. Things got progressively worse for the ladies in yellow and green and when Lord got rid of Reshada Williams (3) at 37-5 and the left-handed Daley (13) in consecutive overs and at 406 Jamaica were in dire straits.
WICB Women’s’ t20 final
Henry got going with a boundary off Lord and she and Sanford staged a recovery with Sanford going after Mohammed and hitting her for four off the last ball of her spell as Kirby misjudged the catch at long-off. The burly Sanford played some innovative shots and clobbered Alexander for four and along with Henry who struck Kirby for a boundary in the last over to bring up the 50 partnership before Sanford, who injured her leg while batting, was run out with the score on 95. Henry steered Kirby for four off the final ball to bring up the 100 in an
Shemaine Campbelle collected awards for most runs and highest score. over that cost 11 runs with the last five producing 46 runs. When T&T began the run-chase they slipped to 192 after Vanessa watts removed Stacy Ann King for a duck at 1-1 and Britney Cooper before she had scored and when left-arm spinner Daley trapped Renice Boyce (18) in her first over at 27-2, an epic battle was brewing. Two more wickets fell and after 10 overs T&T were
38-4 but there was still hope for the Trinis as at the same stage Jamaica were 34-4. But once Kirby was LBW to Nation for a duck at 39-5 the pendulum had swung in Jamaica’s favor. Mohammed swept Daley for four and the 50 was posted in the 14th over and they needed 44 from 30 balls. Aguilleira dumped Taylor for six to take nine runs from the over while Mohammed hit Nation for another six to bring the equation to 23 from 18 balls. Mohammed (21) was run out at 78-6 and Taylor bowled Aguilleira (26) next ball, and the pulsating contest was on a knife’s edge. O’Neil (11*) hit Rashana Outar for four which fell inches inside the ropes before Rachel Vincent (3) was run out leaving 11 to win from the last over. Lord (8*) hit Watts for six with six needed from three balls to give T&T the double with two balls to spare. T&T’s Aguilleira & Jamaica’s Sanford copped the Award for Keeper with the most dismissals (4 each), Guyanese Shemaine Campbelle got the Awards for most runs in the tournament (182) and highest score (70), Guyana’s Erva Giddings, Jamaica’s Daley and T&T’s Mohamed shared the most wickets award with 9 each, while Taylor (172 runs & 4 wickets) was adjudged the tournament’s MVP.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday July 27, 2016
German’s restaurant boost for historic female Baseball team German’s Restaurant is continuing its commitment towards the encouragement and development of Guyana’s sportsmen and women. T h e e n t i t y ’s l a t e s t commitment has been manifested in a timely d o n a t i o n t o G u y a n a ’s Women’s Under-21 Baseball team aka the ‘Kanimas’ which is set to make history next month when they compete in the Canadian Women’s Open Invitational tournament. The Kanimas will be the first team in baseball to represent Guyana and Proprietor of German’s Restaurant; Clinton Urling said he was elated to be of support to the team. Urling who handed over the contribution to Kanimas Captain, Ms Nia Gonsalves, also offered words of encouragement to Gonsalves and team noting that, “Sport is a pathway to so many things, education,
Proprietor of German’s Restaurant; Clinton Urling (left) hands over cheque to Kanimas Captain Ms Nia Gonsalves. At right is Guyana Baseball League President, Robin Singh. l i f e ’s l e s s o n s a n d empowerment. I look forward to seeing our ladies represent the Golden Arrowhead with pride and poise,” Urling ended.
Whilst thanking Urling and his company for their continued support towards sports in Guyana, Gonsalves pledged that the Kanimas will make a pathway for
future female baseball teams to follow. The tournament is set to be contested from August 4-8 and will be broadcast live on ENetworks.
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Andrew Lewis Novices Boxing C/Ships start Friday at Gymnasium The second annual Andrew ‘Six-Heads’ Lewis Novices Boxing Championships starts Friday and runs until Sunday at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue. The event was originally set for the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) last weekend but had to be shifted due to several unforeseen circumstances. The young boxers have been preparing at their respective gyms and are eager to get into action. They will be required to present themselves tomorrow for the weigh-in and medicals from 17:00hrs at the Six-Heads Gym in Albouystown. The championships involve 11 gyms from all three Counties and keen competition is anticipated
among the young fighters over the three nights. The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will be keen to mount a successful defence of their title in a tournament which has attracted over 60 young pugilists. The action is set to start at 1 9 : 0 0 h r s n i g h t l y. T h e competition will feature action in both male and female categories. Tw o g y m s f r o m Essequibo, Rose Hall Town from Berbice, two Gyms from the Mining Town of Linden and six from the other parts of Demerara will participate. Admission is $500, while children will be admitted free. Fans are encouraged to come out and support the young boxers.
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Wednesday July 27, 2016
12th IKD Caribbean Karate Championship – Jamaica
Team ASK-G snare 40 medals including 14 gold; Team GKC cop 3 bronze
Proud Moment! Members of the Guyana ASK-G (YMCA and Land of Canaan) and GKC display their medals and certificates won at the 12thInternational Karate Daigaku (IKD) Caribbean Karate Championship in Jamaica. G u y a n a ’s k a r a t e k a s competing at the just concluded 12thInternational Karate Daigaku (IKD) Caribbean Karate Championship held at the UTEC Campus in Kingston, Jamaica from July 18 – 23 turned in outstanding performances which resulted in the two teams
racking in a total of 43 medals. The Association do Shotokan Karate – Guyana ASK-G from the YMCA Dojo Headquarters and its Land of Canaan sub branch which took a team of 14-members hauled in a total of 40 medals inclusive of 14 gold, 19
silver and 7 bronze medals, while the Guyana Karate College (GKC) 3-member team copped 3 bronze medals. The ASK-G team comprised of Leah Shariff, S h a k e e m Wa l c o t t , Kelly-Ann Fortune, Trevon Miller, Minakshi Pooran, Avinash
R a m g o l a m , Ta b i ta Goolsarran, Kemo Cornelius, Daniel Jailall, Shane Wilkinson, Jordan Kong, Roger Peroune, Hodael Agard and Keith Beaton. The GKC members w e r e R o l a n d F a n f a i r, Navindra Soodoo and Leon Burnette.
Australia dismiss Sri Lanka for 117 in opener (Reuters) Australia’s bowlers ripped through Sri Lanka’s brittle batting order to dismiss the home side for 117 on an eventful first day of the opening test at Pallekele on Tuesday that also saw the visitors lose their openers for just seven runs. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood and off-spinner Nathan Lyon claimed three wickets apiece, while Mitchell Starc and Steve O’Keefe picked up two each as the hosts were shot out shortly after lunch. Debutant all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva (24) was the top scorer for Sri Lanka, who have lost their last two test series in New Zealand and England. Australia’s innings also got off to a shaky start as they lost David Warner and Joe
Burns inside the first four overs before captain Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja calmed things down with an unbroken third-wicket stand of 59 runs. S m i t h , t h e w o r l d ’s leading test batsman in the ICC rankings, was on 28 while Khawaja was on 25 at the tea interval with Australia rebuilding on 66-2. Rain then washed away the entire final session of the opening day. E a r l i e r, S r i L a n k a captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and had no hesitation in opting to bat on a dry pitch in the first match of the three-test series. Any hopes Mathews had of enjoying a strong start were shattered, however, when Australia pace duo Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc took full control with
Nathan Lyon got into his groove after lunch, Sri Lanka v Australia, 1st Test, Pallekele, 1st day, July 26, 2016©AFP the new ball to reduce the hosts to 18-3 inside 10 overs. Left-armer Starc, making his comeback after a long injury layoff, sent back Dimuth Karunaratne, with the opening batsman failing to get the umpire’s leg before wicket verdict overturned on review.
The 25-year-old Hazlewood, bowling an impeccable line and length, then dismissed Kusal Mendis and Kaushal Silva and returned for another spell before lunch to lure Dinesh Chandimal into an edge behind to wicketkeeper Peter Nevill.
Left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe, who was included alongside Lyon, was brought on in the ninth over by Smith and got his reward when he dismissed Mathews. Lyon found a lot of turn from the surface and picked up his three wickets from just seven deliveries after lunch
as Sri Lanka’s batsman appeared keen to return to the pavilion as quickly as they departed it. Rangana Herath became Starc’s second victim and Australia’s ninth after Smith successfully overturned the umpire’s ‘not out’ decision for leg before on review. O’Keefe finished off proceedings when he captured his second wicket of the innings with the removal of Nuwan Pradeep. Injury-ravaged Sri Lanka, ranked seventh in the world, also handed a debut to left-arm slow bowler Lakshan Sandakan against the world’s top-ranked test side. Scores: Australia 66 for 2 (Smith 28*, Khawaja 25*) trail Sri Lanka 117 (Lyon 312, Hazlewood 3-21) by 51 runs.
Wednesday July 27, 2016
Kaieteur News
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5th DIGICEL Breast Cancer Awareness Cycle Race set for October 30 By Franklin Wilson For the 5th year, cell phone giants DIGICEL will be bringing into focus Breast Cancer via the medium of sports with cycling being the vehicle to pedal the message. Ye s t e r d a y a t t h e i r Barrack Street headquarters, Senior Sponsorship and Events Manager Ms. Louanna Abrams and Evolution Cycle Club (ECC) President, Keith Fernandes unveiled plans for this year’s race which will be contested on October 30th, next. While the race logistics are yet to be finalized in terms of the distance and route, Ms Abrams, in remarks noted that Digicel has been successfully hosting the Digicel Breast Cancer Awareness Cycle Race for several years and it has proven to be one of their most significant signature events to date.
”We not only give opportunities to our young and budding cyclists and teams but we also make a sizeable contribution to aid in breast cancer awareness and treatment across Guyana,” Ms. Abrams stated. ECC is once again the preferred club to organize and run the event for the second successive year but this time around, the two entities have stepped it up a notch, Ms. Abrams informed. ” E s s e n t i a l l y, t h i s partnership will involve the club spearheading and organising the cycling race as well as providing assistance in several community activities which Digicel is planning. The community activities will enable youths to learn to ride, be exposed to the rules of safety and aspire to be a cyclist which is what our company envisions,
providing opportunities for youth and community development.” It was noted by the Digicel representative that the agreement will last for 12 months and they are looking forward to a productive partnership with ECC. Fernandes expressed thanks on behalf of ECC to Ms Abrams and Digicel for their support as the club embarks on the journey of representing the Digicel brand whilst promoting the sport in Guyana. He noted that the opportunity to once again organise this significant race has sent a wave of excitement throughout the membership of the team and those associated with it. ”We are proud to be partnering with Digicel for this initiative and look forward to working together to increase the awareness of cycling as a health initiative
Partnering with Evolution CC for Community Activities
Digicel’s Senior Sponsorship and Events Manager Ms. Louanna Abrams (left) and Evolution Cycle Club (ECC) President, Keith Fernandes, exchange pleasantries following the inking of the agreement. At right is Club Secretary, Andrew Arjoon. and a sport. Our team is looking forward to contributing to the promotion of cycling safety and skills for the young. We are especially grateful to Ms
Louanna Abrams and Ms Jacqueline James who worked hard to bring this all to fruition.” Team Evolution’s riders have been very dominant in
Guyana in its short history and they are looking forward to continue in this regard whilst also shaping a solid future for the sport on and off the cycling track.
2016 HERO CARIBBEAN PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCH REPORT 24
Umar Akmal denies Zouks perfect home record at Hero CPL CPL - The St Lucia Zouks missed out on making it four wins out of four at the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) against the Trinbago Knight Riders having looked all but assured of victory. A brilliant half century from Umar Akmal saw his team home against an in form Zouks team to keep TKR in the hunt for a knockout spot. Daren Sammy top scored for the Zouks as he continued to dominate the matches played in a stadium named after him, but it wasn’t enough for him to keep a perfect record at the ground as Akmal won this game on his own. Brendon McCullum and William Perkins got the chase of 168 for victory underway for the Knight Riders, but both fell inside
the PowerPlay. McCullum miscuing a drive off Jerome Taylor and Perkins failing to spot a Kyle Mayers slower ball and offering an easy catch. There was a recovery of sorts courtesy of New Zealander Colin Munro but he rode his luck while he was there and was gone for just 21. He was nearly run out and was dropped by Fletcher before another run out opportunity was taken by Sammy – a direct hit finding Munro short of his ground. When Denesh Ramdin went in the same over for four it meant there were two batsmen at the crease who were yet to get off the mark after three wickets fell for 11 runs in the space of 12 balls. Sammy brought himself on to bowl and picked up his sixth wicket in the four
matches in St Lucia when he had Bravo caught gloving a ball down the leg side and the Knight Riders were reeling at 63-5 in the 10th over. It looked like the Knight Riders were finished. Umar Akmal had other ideas as he swung manfully on his way to 73 (35). His partnership with Anton Devcich brought the Knight (Continued on page 31)
Trinbago Knight Riders celebrate during the match which they won to deny the Zouks four straight at home. (CPL)
t r o Sp T&T’s Queens wear ‘double crown’ after thrilling last over win against Jamaica - WICB Women’s’ t20 final
T&T Queens got two crowns after winning the double (50-over & t20 title).
Guyana Police Force Epic showdown for final spots Inter-Division Championships anticipated today at Leonora Headquarters hold on to lead after day two Part of the action in this year’s Digicel Schools Football Championship.
Cindy Fraser
Quacy Morian
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