Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR

US$150M CJIA renovation…

Saturday Edition

Harmon “will talk to” Patterson about releasing modified design

June 01, 2019 - Vol. 13 No. 21

NEWS

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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

Price $80

Online readership yesterday 148,022

Ramotar fails to explain giveaway of oil blocks to unknown companies School book contracts…

Third slain bandit from Norton Govt. awaiting Street shootout identified - Ramjattan lauds cops, community, but cautions “battle not yet won,” audit report on National Printers before pronouncing 29 of 259 cases disposed at April session of Dem. Criminal Assizes Junior Nurse

Wesley Griffith

Shawn Browne Jr.

- 301 cases to be heard at upcoming session

Deadly Norton St. shootout…

Border residents, Govt. considers Victim in botched miners face hurdles replacement for robbery recounts to source cheap fuel dreadful experience Suriname ferry - $5,000 per gallon in Matthews Ridge

Transfer of US$18M signing bonus occurred at “appropriate time”- Harmon

Kaieteur News

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Saturday June 01, 2019

Third slain bandit from Norton St. - Ramjattan lauds cops, community, shootout identified but cautions “battle not yet won,” P

olice have now identified all of the bandits from Thursday night's deadly shootout at Norton Street, Lodge, as officials released f u r t h e r details of the incident.

A release identified the third slain man as Leslie Griffith, 24, of Lot 165 William Street, Kitty. He

was identified by his mother. Other sources have identified the slain man as Wesley Griffith, also 24, but said he was from Linden.

Wesley Griffith was linked to several armed robberies.

In 2014, at the age of 19, he was accused of robbing Derek Haley of $200,000 and $77,000 worth in

electronic gadgets in North Sophia.

Wesley Griffith was also linked to a $5M Amelia Ward's armed robbery and armed carjacking. He was also charged for gun and ammunition possession.

While making an appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts in July, 2014, the

accused assaulted his victim, Derek Haley. He was jailed for the assault, and for robbery with aggravation.

At the time, he was also before the courts on six other armed robbery charges. The other two slain men were identified shortly after the shootout as Shawn Browne Jr. and

Junior Nurse Junior Nurse. Browne is said to be the son of notorious gunman Shawn Browne, one of the five 'Mash Day' escapees who triggered a major crime wave.

Junior Nurse, said to be 26 of Hill Street, Albouystown, was linked in 2014 robbery in which he relieved Ramanand Jagdeo of three gold rings, one gold chain, one cell phone, one vacuum cleaner with compressor, $315,000 and a quantity of goods all together valuing $1,754,000 and one Toyota Spacio motor car number PPP 4395 valued $3.7 M. Nurse was also remanded on February 26 for robbing Champawattie Singh of a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, valued $60,000, and using personal violence against the woman.

He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment.

Brown, Nurse and Griffith were slain after police cornered them in the Lot 46, Norton Street, Lodge home of Neville Leslie, a construction worker.

During the attack, the gunmen had threatened to kill Leslie and his five-yearold son. The family was rescued by a passing police patrol that was alerted about the attack.

The bandits were slain after an almost hour-long shootout, during which they were repeatedly ordered to surrender. Police said they recovered three handguns.

A police rank was shot in the leg during the standoff.

According to Divisional Commander Marlon Chapman, police received information that suggested that a car transported the gunmen to the area.

Shawn Browne Jr. The driver reportedly waited in Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge, but fled the scene after the shootout started.

Explaining Thursday night's rapid response, Crime Chief Lyndon Alves had told Kaieteur News that senior officials “have saturated the town and environs with police. We have ranks operating covertly and overtly.”

In a statement yesterday, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan lauded the police, but cautioned that “the battle is not yet won.”

“The Public Security Ministry wishes to commend the work done by the Guyana Police Force last evening in Lodge, Georgetown.

“The responsiveness of the Police Force certainly resulted in the prevention of harm to an innocent family.

Unfortunately, but with e v e r y j ustification, it resulted in the demise of three individuals whose intentions were to rob and probably kill.”

“The Ministry is very thankful for the community support which was received last evening, firstly, for their giving of relevant and necessary information to the Policemen involved in the actions taken; and, secondly, for rallying around the Police Force's efforts in rescuing that family.

“Community support is extremely necessary to fight crime in Guyana. This support realised success in Black Bush Polder recently, as it did on this instance.

“The battle is not yet won. But the collaborative efforts of the public, Police Force and the Ministry will continue unabated until it is.”

Kaieteur News

Saturday June 01, 2019

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US$150M CJIA renovation…

Harmon “will talk to” Patterson about releasing modified design D

irector General of the Ministry o f t h e Presidency, Joseph Harmon, said that he will talk to Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, about the release of the modified design for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) renovation.

That project, at US$150M (and counting), is one of the biggest investments in Guyana's history. It was started by the Jagdeo-led administration in 2011. In 2019, the completion of that project is four years past the first completion date. That date has been pushed back multiple times.

In the interest of public accountability, Kaieteur News asked Harmon yesterday whether the government would release the modified design. He said that he will “rely on the judgment of the Minister

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson with responsibility for Public Infrastructure, Minister Patterson. If in fact, it is a matter of public interest and concern, the Minister will bring that to cabinet.”

He added that, “Once Cabinet makes a decision on the matter; I'll certainly report it to you and to the

Director General, Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon nation.”

Kaieteur News had uncovered that Jagdeo's administration agreed to a contract with the contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), with bloated prices for materials and works.

Patterson also said that Government found a mere

seven percent of the work done, with CHEC laying claims to more than half the money – US$90M. In s tead of a brand new terminal building for the Arrivals and Departures along with a longer runway, there was renovation of the old terminal buildings and a smaller structure for the Arrivals.

The number of passenger bridges has been reduced from eight to four and the fancy, energy–saving glass roof that CHEC promised is yet to be seen.

The Opposition insisted that Government illegally modified the fixed price contract with CHEC. One would have expected that, even with those bloated prices, the US$150M price tag would still have been able to cover a decent renovation.

But then, in 2015, when this government assumed office, it modified the design. That modification

Aftermath of deadly shootout…

Victim in botched robbery recounts dreadful experience

By Alex Wayne

N

orton Street, Lodge resident Neville Leslie sat for an interview with this publication yesterday and recounted his experience after he and his five year-old son were attacked by three gun-toting bandits who eventually met their demise, after an hour-long shootout with police ranks on Thursday night.

Perched up on a sofa with his calf and instep area in cast (after sustaining a broken toe), Leslie took deep breaths, affirming that it was indeed a difficult ordeal to take himself back to that night when both he and son could have been killed.

“I was in the bottom flat of my home at around 20:00 hrs when a man with a gun suddenly entered through an open door demanding cash. I froze, since I just could not believe my eyes, immediately my mind ran on my five year-old son, who was in a bedroom upstairs.

I was not really panicking for myself, but really for the safety of my son. He pointed his gun in my face, and it was then two other men entered…At least one of them had a gun in his hand, but I am not sure if the third man was armed too.

The two that entered ran upstairs and I was forced at gunpoint by the third man, to follow.

By this time, my son was hollering and the men got angry. They kept shouting to the top of their voices that

they will kill us both if my son did not remain quiet.

Then they tied me up and waving their weapons in our faces kept demanding cash and jewellery. They took away my wallet, which had $30,000 inside, and also collected two laptops, and a cellular phone.

They also kept asking where the foreign woman who came in the other day was. I kept telling them, I don't wear no gold jewellery as they were indicating, and one of them mentioned that

they would have to do to me what they do to other victims. I guess they were talking about killing me… and I closed my eyes and prayed even harder in my mind…all the time my son (continued on page 17)

was not announced when it was done. When it was finally known to the public, government claimed that changes had to be made to correct severe issues in the original plan.

It seems that time after time, the airport encounters some new issue. One day, it was flooding. Another, it was air bridges that were out of order.

It is unclear what deficiencies were corrected, as these issues still exist. And throughout this, travelers have been required to pay an additional fee, which will automatically be included in the ticket price, from July 1, 2019.

During a recent press conference weeks ago, Kaieteur News posed the question to members of the Alliance for Change (AFC) whether it would demand the release of the modified design, in light of the

structural issues CJIA currently faces.

Cathy Hughes, Minister o f P u b l i c Telecommunications, said that Patterson would be “on top of” any issues being faced at the airport, and that she would raise the question with Patterson.

Minister Hughes had stressed that Guyana has a terrible history of corruption, but that this administration is committed to changing it.

The Opposition Leader, last week, demanded that government release the modified design. Yet, there has been no response from Patterson.

It is unclear why the government would have reservations about releasing the design, but contractors have come forward saying that what has been done on the airport so far could have been done for 3.3 percent of the price tag (just US$5M).

Lane closure tomorrow on Rupert Craig Public Road, UG Access Road

T

he Ministry of P u b l i c Infrastructure is advising that tomorrow, June 2nd, from 6:00hrs. to 18:00 hrs., a section of the northern and southern lanes of Rupert Craig and UG Access Road will be partially closed.

“The purpose of this partial closure is to facilitate electrical works. As a result, traffic detours will be in effect in this proximity.

Traffic proceeding westbound (heading to Georgetown) will be directed to the inner lane.

Eastbound traffic (heading to Berbice) will continue on the inner lane.”

According to the ministry, motorists and pedestrians are asked to exercise caution and observe all safety and directional signs, particularly in the vicinity of the works.

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Saturday June 01, 2019

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Stage 4 doesn’t have to be the end

T

here is this ongoing deluge of warm and encouraging media coverage from Reuters to Newsweek to Yahoo Online. It is over the inspiring story, the miraculous story of the hugely successful TV gameshow Jeopardy and the travails of the program’s host, Alex Trebek. This is one of those feel-good stories of a remarkable journey - indeed, struggle - with pancreatic cancer. It should give hope to those whose hopes have faded to the lowest of ebbs, bring comfort to those who wonder how bad did things get, and how worse it could not be.

All cancers are rough; it does not get any rougher than pancreatic cancer. It can be difficult to detect, takes a long time of probing and narrowing. All the while, the pain marches forward, intensifying by remorseless, relentless degrees. The very location of pancreatic cancer has posed a challenge to arrive at what usually is a horrifying diagnosis.

The related numbers are not helpful: they are grim.

According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic cancer has a five-year survival rate of 9%. For emphasis, that is a measly 9%. And this means that nine out of ten diagnosed and studied in a review ranging from 2008 to 2014 are now gone. Dead. According to the Pancreatic Cancer Society, the survival rate for this specific type of cancer is 3%. Whether 3% or 9% that does not - should not - translate to a death sentence.

For here is the story of the pancreatic cancer travels of Alex Trebek. He is nowhere to five years since his diagnosis. But that comes with a qualifier, an ominous one. Mr. Trebek was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

Usually that means the end of the line is not too far off in the future.

After several rounds of chemotherapy, the reports are that the tumours have shrunk by 50%. A miracle by itself, that is called; a lucky man that awes even the medical professionals.

No! Pancreatic cancer does not have to be a death sentence. Not stage 4 of that one. Nor of any other type of cancer (or disease) for that matter. The prognosis is that he should be near full remission after a few more rounds of chemotherapy. Medical marvels do happen, and now he should be able to join the ranks of survivors.

There are several messages, prayers, and pillars that emerge from a story like this one that involves a highprofile figure, a TV celebrity.

There is sharp visibility to the tribulations of flesh and faith that can overwhelm, but do not; are not allowed to.

There is a powerful muscularity to the vines of hope that cling in even the starkest of times and take to the distant remoteness of human existence; to that place rarely seen and felt in public, but which does exist.

Celebrity and prominence lend a commanding aura to the everyday challenges of those less fortunate, less ready to face the fires that flare with jarring suddenness along life’s pathways. Guyana’s own President Granger has had his rounds of treatment for cancer, too. His prognosis is also favourable.

Illnesses do touch one and all, without regard for standing, for fame, for money.

And money is a severe and enfeebling problem for many Guyanese suffering from this dreaded disease. The cost of chemo, the type of drugs, the kind of access to the most advanced treatments, and all of the other associated charges that add and multiply way out of reach. Unlike Alex Trebek and David Granger, the regular, toiling citizen is limited to what, where, and how much he or she can touch, so as to be touched by the healings that just may be possible.

Where they, too, can be part of those uplifting words of “near complete remission” and some better, brighter percentage of beating the odds, of living for one more day and one more year. And who knows, many more than was believed before.

Disastrous negotiations with Exxon may have the Honourable to justify hiding a signing cost Guyana US$120B assist Minister, here are simple bonus of a mere U.S.$18 DEAR EDITOR, The Honourable Minister Trotman, in the Guyana Standard online publication on the 28th May 2019, said “… at no point during his tenure did he (Jan Mangal) ever request that capacity be developed or that the relevant expertise be hired to ensure independent reviews of data on the Stabroek Block which would be submitted by ExxonMobil.”

Are we to believe that Hon. Minister Trotman, willingly taking taxpayers’ money to fund his salary and healthcare, believes that it was the job of an adviser to the President to request capacity development of the Honourable Minister’s ministry? Wasn’t that the Honourable Minister’s paying job?

The Honourable Minister was already “responsible” for gold, diamonds, timber, etc., and if we assume those commodities generate about US$500 million per year (for example), and the Honourable

Minister has about 100 people working to manage these responsibilities (for example), then why would the Honourable Minister not have a clue that he needed to hire more people for oil which could add an additional US$1,000 million (one billion U.S. dollars) per year in the near future?

If the Honourable Minister did not grasp that he needed to hire more people for this tremendously important new commodity (i.e., oil), then the current Ministry of Natural Resources may be even more completely rudderless than the Honourable Minister’s “defence” might suggest.

Before I was hired by President Granger in March 2017, I spent a week in July 2016 on a fact-finding mission with Mr Anthony Paul who was assessing Guyana’s readiness for oil and gas. Mr Paul was commissioned by Minister Trotman’s own ministry, and Mr Paul’s report clearly described the need for capacity and competency. To

questions about Mr. Paul’s report. Where is that report?

Why is the report not public?

Why was the report not acted on by the Honourable Minister Trotman?

Thoughtful readers can easily understand President Granger’s confidence in the Honourable Minister when the President took the decision not only to establish the new Department of Energy, but to remove oil & gas from the Honourable Minister’s remit. Moreover, it has since come to my attention that an independent global watchdog organisation, headquartered in the U.K., is now estimating that the actions of the very Honourable Minister, ostensibly advised by a former minister and a current Sir, may have forfeited Guyana some US$120,000 million (U.S.$120 billion) for the entire Stabroek Block by their disastrous negotiations with Exxon without engaging competent advice.

We recall the drivel used

million around the time when, comparably, Brazil received a signing bonus of U.S.$1 billion from the very Exxon.

History has already judged that collective wisdom and put a dollar amount to it.

Guyanese citizens, however, are still stuck paying not only the honourable gentlemen’s salaries (said at one point to be U.S.$1 million for the current Sir), but forfeiting nearly U.S.$1 billion that could instead be used now to build schools, hospitals, homes, roads, bridges, and to better the pay of hardworking Guyanese.

Back to capacity building for oil and gas. Presuming already widespread consciousness of the Honourable Minister ’s truthfulness, are thoughtful readers really any less than perfectly confident that the minister did not receive more than one correspondence about the need to develop capacity?

Faithfully, Jan Mangal

Truth remains absolute whether we embrace it or not!

DEAR EDITOR, Happenings over the past months (the Charrandas vote, Cabinet reshuffle, decisions involving GECOM, CCJ engagements, etc.) remind us that man at his best is flawed and finite and that The Almighty God has the final say.

We totter at the edge of becoming an all but God-fearing Nation when we are propelled by the fear of man, become men pleasers, and shy away from absolutes - right or wrong!!

Truth is not relative. We cannot bend truth to suit our whims and fancies or the pressures and patterns from overseas. Truth remains absolute whether we embrace it or not!

God who says ‘I AM THE TRUTH’ has been merciful to our dear land. Time and time again we have been spared natural disasters as He heeded the cries of those who call on His name (like those in the book of Jonah who repented at the prophet Jonah’s preaching and were spared

natural disaster).

Let’s not court God’s wrath by encouraging the hurting, the misguided, and the queer to display their rejection of God’s divine order by parading through the streets of our dear land, shaking the proverbial defiant fist in God’s face while mocking at our consciences, commonsense and Constitution.

Let’s not hesitate to say to them: “I love you too much to condone your attempt at

reversing God’s unchanging and unchangeable standards; I love you too much to remain silent and watch you take a destructive path; you may be reeling from the pain of rejection and abuse - sexual or otherwise, but God loves you and longs for you to be set free!! Cry out to Him. He’s closer than your next breath…

Help, healing and hope are within our reach.

Claudia Heywood

THE TROUBLE WITH STRAY ANIMALS DEAR EDITOR, On Thursday, 30th May, 2019 about 11:30 a.m., I was at my home at Lot 54 Aurora Village, Essequibo Coast, when a woman passing informed me that some goats were in the yard of another property, which I own not far away from where I reside eating the plants and flowers.

I left immediately and saw three goats in the yard, one with rope and the other two without, I was able to catch the goat with the rope and the other two ran away. It was not the first time that these animals would go into my yard once the gate is left opened by the children of the tenant who live there, and despite several complaints to the owner, nothing was ever done. So I was forced to take the animal to the pound at the Aurora Police Station about a quarter of a mile from the yard in question.

On arrival at the Police Station with the goat, I was told by the Subordinate Officer-in-Charge, Sgt. Madray, that the station do not have a pound and that since the old Police Station was dismantled so as to enable the construction of the new building, the pound was also broken down, and the building that is currently used, at the Aurora Police Station has no makeshift pound was built and that I must take the animal to the Suddie Police Station to be impounded.

Now for readers who may not know the Essequibo Coast well, I have to let you know that the building that currently houses the Aurora Police Station to the Suddie Police Station is about eight miles away and for a sixty nine (69) years old man to be told by the Subordinate Officer to take an animal to that Station knowing full well cars and minibuses do not transport animals, something has to be wrong with his way of thinking. It must be accepted that the S/O, is not responsible for

this Station not having a pound, but the law requires that all strays that are caught must be impounded at a Police Station and the Subordinate Officer-in-Charge is the pound-keeper.

There is no way I was going to take this animal back to my yard or to release it on the public road or on other people’s property, so I tied the goat in the compound of the building that houses the Police Station in the presence of Sgt. Madray and left. The question is catching a stray animal in your yard that had damaged growing trees or plants, where it must be taken. Well I am certain it is not the Post Office or the Health Centre, the school or the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Office.It is important to note that one making a report to the Aurora Police Station (the makeshift building), be it a crime or misdemeanour, your report would be taken, if necessary arrests would be made and the suspects would be taken to the Suddie Police Station or the Anna Regina Police Station a further twenty (20) miles from Aurora.

I am convinced that the decision I made to leave the goat in the compound of the Aurora Police with Sgt. Madray was correct.On a related issue on Wednesday, 29th May, during the Ministerial Visit to Region # 2 while at the Ministry of Public Security area, I had a conversation with an individual who is attached to the Stray Catchers Department or Division and the revelations he made, had left much to be desired. I am not sure if the once much touted Unit had ever operated on the Essequibo Coast, but I am sure that if Police Traffic Department in this Region is to publicise the number of accidents that occurred, fatal, serious, damage and minor that were caused mainly by these strays and unbranded animals, you would be unpleasantly surprised.

Archie W. Cordis

Saturday June 01, 2019

EUROPE IS RESILIENT DEAR EDITOR, When the Euro Zone was locked in crisis and, later, when a million migrants fled to Europe from the Syrian war and elsewhere, many predicted that the European Union would not be able to stand the strain.

When these crises were followed by the Brexit vote and the election of Donald Trump, it was common to say – especially in the Englishspeaking world – that this was only the start, and that other European countries would also succumb to a domino effect of their own nativist revolts and populist demagogues, and that this would hasten the probable disintegration of the post 1945 European project.

It would be extremely foolish, even now, to pretend such a thing could never happen.

After all, the political mood across Europe is still volatile.

Confidence in rulers remains mostly at a low ebb. Nevertheless, it is also clear that those earlier prophecies of EU doom were wrong.

Europe did stand the strain.

The disintegration did not continue. The populists did not storm the ramparts.

The European Parliament elections of May 2019 show many things, and the results add up to a complex picture.

But they show a Europe that is largely holding together even as it undergoes many changes.

Last week, fifty-one percent, of Europeans took part in these elections. That’s definitely not a great turnout, but it was markedly better than the 43% last time, and it was

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the best turnout figure this century.

The percentage went up in 21 of the 28 countries, with spectacular increases in diverse places like Spain, Hungary, Germany and Poland.

Warnings about voter disengagement proved mostly to be wide of the mark.

Those who were worried that renewed voter engagement might create more problems than voter disengagement were proved wrong too. The much-touted tide of populism, in which reactionary nationalists were predicted to flood to Brussels from all quarters, has not materialised.

True, in some countries – France, Italy and Britain among them – there were large votes for anti-EU and hard-right parties. Yet these votes were not new; France and Britain have sent such MEPs to Brussels in the past.

Nor, in spite of some gains, were they very numerous this time. On the most generous estimate, they now have around 170 seats in the new 751-seat parliament. That’s significant, but it is not decisive. It is a long way short of some earlier overblown claims.

The populist right parties have not swept across Europe. Nor have those of the left.

But the old centre has not held either. It has been shrunk – again. That process is familiar too, including from the British results.

The two big groupings in many previous parliaments – the centre-right of JeanClaude Junker and Angela Merkel, and the centre-left

S&D, in which Labour sits alongside Europe’s social democrats – shrank from 412 seats for the two parties together to 328, and lost their majority.

The old carve-up is no longer so easy as a result.

That is a good development.

But those other forces will not be the nationalists and anti-Europeans.

They are far more likely to include the pro-European ALDE liberal alliance, and the pro-European Greens, if those changes seem familiar, then so they should. Britain’s results partly contributed to that change too, with faith in the old parties giving way to greater pluralism and resulting in a more balanced parliament.

None of this should be taken to imply business as usual for the EU. The old integrationist idealism is mostly gone, and rightly so. There are now many ‘Europes’ – west and east, north and south, left and right, core and peripheral – not just one.

Even if the nations of Europe face many challenges in common, the politics of one country is always different from those of the next. Yet, although there is not yet a single European demos, these results suggest that most Europeans, even in Britain, can cope with and accept multiple levels of political identity.

These elections show that the European project is heading in a more multifaceted and less federal direction. But they show that Europe is also resilient.

Yours Rooplall Dudhnath

I MADE NO NEGATIVE STATEMENTS AGAINST ANYONE DEAR EDITOR, My feet are firmly planted in the camp of the Alliance For Change and the altruistic and sometimes idealistic, values espoused by the party.

In a Freddie Kisson column published yesterday, May 31, it is alleged that at the AFC’s Region 4 elections held on May 25, I made unacceptable utterances against the new Regional Chairman, Amar Chinkan.

This statement is unequivocally false.

I made no negative statements against anyone on the day or any day following. At the elections, during and after, I would have been heard proclaiming loudly, “Democracy is alive and well in the AFC.” I said this several times and this can be confirmed by anyone present.

Unfortunately, the column is laden with inaccuracies, to

refute each would be very time-consuming. It would be easier to confirm the truths, as they are fewer. Yes, Amar Chinkan and Sherod Duncan did emerge victorious in their challenge for the Regional Chair and the Georgetown Chair, respectively. I congratulate both men, again, and will continue to work with the AFC to improve Guyana and the lives of its citizens.

Michael A. Leonard

One year on, questions still remain about CCJ’s impartiality DEAR EDITOR, I appreciate consideration of my letter for publication in your newspaper.

On May 21, 2018, the Kaieteur News graciously published my letter that called attention to the linkage between an individual at the Caribbean Court of Justice and the APNU/AFC Coalition Government. Now, a year later, questions on the same matter remain unanswered.

I remind that in 2012, according to a Stabroek News article, dated October 13, 2012, it was Senior Counsel Donald Trotman (Minister Raphael Trotman’s father) and retired Judge James Patterson – current Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission – who presented the petition for Patterson’s grandson, Mr. Richard Layne, to be admitted to the local Bar.Mr. Layne – whose grandfather’s appointment is currently

challenged and is currently before the Caribbean Court of Justice - is currently a Judicial Assistant attached the very Court.According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr. Layne, among other things, conducts research for the President of the Court on all legal matters impacting the work of the Court and prepares legal opinions and advice to the President on matters brought to the attention of the Court.

The Caribbean Court of Justice is expected to rule on the challenge to Mr. Layne’s grandfather’s appointment as the Chairman of GECOM soon. In Guyana’s case, can we expect a fair decision on this matter? Will Mr. Layne

present an unbiased legal opinion to the Caribbean Court of Justice or will Mr. Layne work in his grandfather’s interest and say ‘to hell’ with our country’s Constitution?

These questions ought to be answered in order to remove doubts as to the fairness and impartiality of the CCJ. Such concerns have been raised not only in respect to Guyana alone, but several other Caribbean Islands. It is these very concerns, which have seen several Caribbean governments express reservations about making the CCJ their final legal arbiter.

R e g a r d s Todd A. Morgan

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Development studies and my dream to attend King’s College London DEAR EDITOR, What do you think of when you hear the term development studies? The examination of issues such as poverty, inequality, economic growth and good governance are key concepts that immediately pop into your mind.

However, on a more nuanced note development studies seeks to identify why we live in a world of haves and have-nots.

Development studies draws on environmental studies, history, sociology, anthropology, geography and of course economics as well as political science to understand why a world of unparalleled wealth and opportunity sits side by side with a world of unjustifiable social and economic injustice. In addition, to understanding why, development studies seek to advise the people that are trying, no matter how imperfectly, to change things for the better.

As a 22-year-old young man from the rural part of Guyana, pursuing a career in development studies was never on my agenda growing up. For most of my life, I was content with the idea of becoming an entrepreneur but moving overseas has opened my eyes to what truly interests me and heartened me to pursue those interests furiously. Taking a step back is widely credited with allowing us to see things clearly and leaving Guyana has provided me with a similar experience. Living abroad helped me realised just how immensely I cared about my country and people, while highlighting to me opportunities for our socioeconomic development. That is why since returning home, I have committed to play my

Saturday June 01, 2019

Kaieteur News

role in developing Guyana.

My goal is to pursue an undergraduate and eventually master’s degree in the development field to become a Policy Analyst. As a policy analyst, I will have the freedom to engage in activities such as the systematic analysis of society while influencing legislation and stimulating positive growth and development for all. Earlier this year, I was fortunate to be accepted to read for the BA in International Development at King’s College London; a feat I was unsure about accomplishing. King’s College is ranked as the 7th, 9th and 31st best university in the UK, Europe and the world respectively and while I am elated about the offer, the challenges that arise in financing my education has presented a major barrier.

My family and I were the victims of hurricanes Irma and Maria while living in the Virgin Islands, and the hurricanes have had a significant impact on my ability to pay for college, in conjunction with other factors.

Academically speaking, I have a 3.51/4.0 GPA from my community college tenure, and I am a member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honours Society. I would be truly grateful for any assistance that I can get to fund my tuition and accommodation needs while attending King’s College. The value of an education is not lost on me and if given the support, I plan to apply the same level of diligence to my collegiate studies as I have to this point, making education and service to others my top priority.

Sincerely, Tevin Skeete

GTT needs to regularise its call centre workers DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me space to expose the continuous violations being committed by GTT+. The Guyana Postal & Telecommunication Workers’ Union (GPTWU) which represents non-management workers within the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT+) continues to be very perturbed with the actions of the Management of the Company in relation to the continuous violations of the extant Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) between the parties. GTT+ overtime has hired approximately seventy two Customer Service Representatives, within its Call Centre, each, on a nine months contract. This is the largest concentration of contract employees within the company. The Call Centre Division falls within the Union’s Bargaining Unit.

The CLA clearly states at Article # 36:1, “Contract work shall be held to a minimum and the Company agrees there shall be no contract work allocated to outside contractors which would result in interference with the employment or promotion of permanent employees.”

DANGEROUS PRACTICE AT CRIME SCENES DEAR EDITOR, I sat and watch with amazement at the various live feeds of the shootout last night at Norton Street between the police and those who are supposedly bandits. Crime has really escalated and incidents must warrant our attention. What is disgusting is to see the scant regards onlookers have for their lives and others.

This is a norm in Guyana and we must desist from this practice. Last night’s scene, bullets could be heard firing rapidly and the onlookers and media operatives could be seen heading closer to the scene, some walking openly and could

be caught in line of fire (being hit with a bullet). Now the police are there doing their job and some have to turn their backs towards the threat and concentrate on getting the onlookers to step back away from the scene.

Not only are the onlookers putting their lives at risk, they are also putting the lawmen’s lives at risk also by their careless actions.

They onlookers should desist from this careless action.

The way they operate, I could have sworn that they were going to deliver the bullets to the targets.

Sahadeo Bates

This practice by GTT+ is clearly designed to trample on the rights of the workers.

These workers are continuously employed on a contractual basis without any effort on the part of management for confirmation. They are not represented by the Union since they are contract employees. The Union has been engaging the Department of Labour in an effort to have the contracted workers brought on permanently to the establishment, but to date, the Department of Labour has failed to deal with the issue in a decisive manner. As a result, the Company is emboldened and continues with this violation.

Management continues to show gross disrespect to the Ministry by not providing documentation requested by the Department, in addition to not showing up for conciliation meetings, called by the said Department.

The contract employees, whose contract are in total breach of the Law are forced to accept the following:*Monthly salary, which is way below what is being paid to permanent employees who are performing duties at the same level across the Company. *They are not on the Company’s Pension or Group Life Scheme, even though many of them are working with GTT+ for a number of years. *They are dismissed without due process being allowed.Those are just some of the infractions that are meted out to these workers

without any intervention by the Department of Labour, even though they are aware of all the issues. The status of these workers needs to be regularised. There can be no other position on this issue. The Department of Labour must be effective in its mandate by addressing this issue.

Just recently, the world saw how the matter involving Rusal and GB&GWU was handled. The Department of Labour MUST not appear to be selective and or naive when dealing with the multinationals. The Department of Labour is aware of all the illegalities and infractions being perpetuated by GTT+ but continues to turn a blind eye to the plight of the workers.

This violation among others shall be made public and the Company must be made to respect the law.

This union will continue to expose the continued arrogance being displayed by GTT+. This issue of the large influx of contract workers was raised with the Ministry of Labour, now the Department of Labour, over the years.

The Membership is calling on the Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, with responsibility for Labour, Honourable Mr. Keith Scott to address the issues with the authority vested in him, soonest.Workers’ of this country must not be taken advantage of.

Regards, Harold Shepherd President GPTWU

Season of promises DEAR EDITOR, This is the season of promises. Things that were not done for years will now be done or appear to be done.

There will be several Ministerial and Cabinet outreaches in areas that were hitherto unknown. It is what some describe as the political mango season.This is not entirely unusual or uncommon in the run-up to elections. This is one time of the year in which

incumbency is an advantage.

The governing party under the guise of promoting development has the national coffers at its disposal along with the State media. Babies will be lifted in the caring hands of politicians in full media glare.

Jobs will be promised and young people will be elevated to the front row. Women and the elderly will be will be given due prominence and respect. There will be national awards for ‘outstanding’ Guyanese. And if these were not enough, education will be promised free of cost from kindergarten to university.In the final analysis, however, it will all boil down to trust; which of the competing political parties can be trusted to deliver on its promises. The acid test of electoral support will be on elections day in free, fair and verified elections. All indications are that elections are around the corner. What else can explain this newly found love for the masses, the so-called wretched of the earth?

Hydar Ally

Saturday June 01, 2019

29 of 259 cases disposed at April session of Demerara Criminal Assizes

O

f the 259 cases listed to be heard at the April session of the Demerara Criminal Assizes which commenced on Tuesday, April 2, 29 of them were disposed.

This is according to a statement released yesterday by the chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

According to the statement of the 29 matters completed, the DPP presented 25 in the High Court in Demerara, while four of them were discontinued. Of the 25 cases presented, 15 were for murder, eight for sexual offences and two for manslaughter. There were 10 guilty pleas, five convictions, three not guilty verdicts by jury and four formal verdicts of not guilty.

Before Justice Navindra Singh, State Counsel Tuanna Hardy, Abigail Gibbs, Teriq Mohammed and Sarah Martin presented 15 matters. Of these, 13 were for murder, while two were for manslaughter. Nine of the 13 murder accused pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.

Three of these accused were each sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, another

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Kaieteur News

-301 cases to be heard at upcoming session two to 14 years’ imprisonment each. The others were respectively sentenced to terms of 15 years, 10 years, nine years and 16 years and eight months.

In another three separate murder cases, the accused were all found guilty by the jury.

In one of these three cases, there were two accused who were indicted together; the number one accused was sentenced to 65 years’ imprisonment, while his co-accused was found guilty on the lesser count of manslaughter and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment.

In the other two cases, one accused was sentenced to 75 years’ imprisonment, while the other accused is awaiting sentencing. In one other separate murder case, the trial judge upheld a nocase submission and directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

In one of the two trials for manslaughter, the jury returned a guilty verdict for the

accused; he also awaits sentencing. In the other case, the trial judge up held a no-case submission and directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

Moreover, eight cases for sexual offences were presented by State Counsel Lisa Cave, Seeta Bishundial and Sarah Martin before Justice Brassington Reynolds in the Sexual Offences Court. In one of these cases, the accused, who was indicted on four counts, was found guilty by the jury on all counts and sentenced to 29 years in prison.

In another three cases, the accused persons were acquitted by the jury, while in two other trials, the trial judge directed the jury to return formal verdicts of not guilty. In one of these two matters, the trial judge upheld a no-case submission. In the other matter, the virtual complainant testified that she did not wish to proceed with the evidence.

Two matters are still in (Continued on page 24)

President Granger has a very capable team working for him … we are thankful for Jagdeo’s concerns about his health – Harmon President David Granger’s health condition is in a favourable state. He is being assisted by a very capable team, led by Cabinet.

This is according to Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon.

He was yesterday, responding to concerns by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo that the President’s health condition could impede his ability to lead the development of the framework necessary to sustain the oil sector.

The President’s medical team had told him last month that he should keep his workload light, as he had just finished a bout of treatment for his illness.

During a post-Cabinet press briefing, Harmon said that Granger is not just the President for the oil sector, but all of Guyana. He noted that, in the exercise of his duties, “[the President] appoints persons, commissions and boards, and gives them the responsibility to deal with matters on a day-to-day ba-

sis”.

Jagdeo had said last Thursday, that the President should only be setting policies and that the implementation of those should be done by an independent, technical commission.

Harmon said that the President is very much involved with matters related to policy, and that he is assisted by that meets every week to consider matters of policy in

relation to all sectors of Guyana. “[Jagdeo] is now giving out medical advice,” Harmon quipped, “But I want to say that we are very thankful for the concerns which he has for the health of His Excellency, the President. He can be satisfied and assured that the President is in fact in a careful manner, dealing with his national responsibilities and the condition with respect to his health.”

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Saturday June 01, 2019

Kaieteur News

Border residents, miners face hurdles to source cheap fuel -$5,000 per gallon in Matthews Ridge The Guyana Energy Agency is monitoring the situation in border area, including Eteringbang, Region 7, and communities of Region 1.

In Matthews Ridge, residents said that they are paying as much as $5,000 for a gallon of gas.

The Region One administration has been forced to suspend work because of gas shortage, Chairman Brentnol Ashley has reported.

The regions have over the years been sourcing fuel from Venezuela, but that

neighbouring country, which has been facing major political and economic problems, has drastically reduced its production from around three million barrels daily to about one million.

Miners and residents alike from both regions have called on Government to intervene in the situation, which has threatened to halt gold mining operations and other key services.

Yesterday, Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, disclosed that the govern-

ment is paying attention to the situation in Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9.

Harmon said that there was evidence of some amount of rationing of gas that is allowed to cross through the border to Guyana.

The fuel that came from Venezuela has been not only for residents, but has been filtering down to miners, loggers and others.

So far, since the complaints of fuel shortage, Government has dispatched officials from the Guyana Energy

Port Kaituma is reportedly one of the communities facing problems sourcing fuel.

Agency, who have advised that they are monitoring the situation for another week.

“There are still some concerns, from the miners in particular, that there is tax placed on fuel that comes from Venezuela to Guyana and therefore that they are asking for a removal of the tax. GEA and GRA (Guyana Revenue Authority) will have to consider.

Certainly, it is our concern that the interest of our miners, our residents, in Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9; that they do not suffer any hardship because of what is happening in Venezuela.”Harmon, while noting there are several options to boost the fuel supplies in those outlying communities, warned that there is a cost to send fuel from the c i t y .

The situation appears to be occurring in the Cuyuni, Region Seven, nearer to the Venezuela border, and in areas of Region One.Earlier this week, Ashley, in a Facebook plea, disclosed that the gas shortage has developed into a crisis. He said that residents are

paying between $8,000 and $10,000 for a five-gallon container in Mabaruma and Moruca, and $12,000 to $15,000 in Matarkai.

“This current situation has caused the transportation fares to hike significantly placing additional burdens on citizens and causing more decay into an already stagnant regional economy…”

According to Ashley, he is imploring Government for an intervention geared at providing an urgent solution. He said that taxis have raised fares and schoolchildren are paying much more.

He noted that fuel dealers and retailers are paying between $60,000 and $80,000 for a drum of gasoline.

In fact, he said the Regional Administration has started to reduce its service because of the fuel shortage.

Among other things, the Chairman called for an immediate relaxation on the $5,000 tax on every barrel of fuel by the Guyana Revenue Authority. He called on the Guyana Energy Agency to closely

monitor the ships that are coming to the Waini area, Region One, and purchase unmarked fuel, taking it even to Suriname, thereby disrupting the supplies.

Ashley said that the Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil) should consider sending supplies to the area. “Guyoil should seek to provide an urgent supply to the Region since there is a very limited supply left,” he added.

While that is happening in Region One, there is a similar situation brewing in the Eteringbang area, which borders Venezuela. A brisk fuel trade had developed over the years in the area, leading to the establishment of an army post.Miners, especially in the gold-rich Cuyuni, have been depending on Venezuela for supplies.However, scores of miners would now be under threat from the situation.

In fact, one miner said that he is forced to pay up to US$240 (almost $49,000) per barrel of fuel when in normal times he would have paid US$120 ($24,000).

Saturday June 01, 2019

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Guyanese love freeness There is an old saying that it is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. It is better to provide someone with the means to earn a dollar than to have to always give him a dollar.

The decision of the PNCR to distribute free tickets for the Buju Banton show is another example of a bad precedent. The ruling party is encouraging a freeness syndrome.

It is estimated that the PNCR distributed more than 8,000 free tickets at a total value of $40M. The tickets were distributed mainly in the strongholds of the ruling party.

It is not as if the cost of the tickets to the show were costly. The general admission cost was within reach of the ordinary man. But why buy a ticket when you can get it free? Why go and catch fish when you can stay home and have free fish delivered to your door?

The free distribution of tickets for major events is nothing new. During last year’s CPL, the government also distributed free tickets.

The free distribution of tickets by the thousands en-

courages mendicancy or begging. The government and the PNCR are turning the nation into bums. Last weekend, persons were frantically calling their friends and relations, calling even strangers and asking about free tickets.

Some persons only attend certain events if it is free.

Once they have to pay, they are not going.

The distribution of free tickets will create a feeling of entitlement in the future. Once someone gets a free pass this time around, they will look out for the possibility of a free ticket the next time around. It is human nature.

Persons have grown so accustomed to the freeness that they now expect that whenever there is a major show or cricket match, the government or the ruling party will provide free tickets for them and their friends.

One man went on Facebook asking for the phone numbers of two government ministers who he felt could have provided him with tickets for himself and extended family. He was looking for ten tickets. He and his family will buy the drinks, all they want is the free tickets.

This is the same thing that happened during the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) cricket last year. Many persons were begging for free tickets back then. Some even sold some of the free tickets they got.

Most of the persons seeking freeness can damn well afford to pay the entrance free for these major events. But why buy tickets when you can get it free from either the government or the ruling party?

For the Buju show, the PNCR actually went into communities to share tickets. This has caused disaffection in those areas, which were left out of the distribution process. The people in those areas are asking why they were not given tickets.

The ruling party may itself have had to beg for those same tickets it was sharing out. It is hardly likely that the PNCR could have afforded to spend that large amount of money to provide free tickets for its supporters. So it may have gotten complimentary tickets.

The government has to be wary that it does not create a dependency syndrome

Dem boys seh ...

Donald going to jail fuh snatching Everybody complaining how crime on de rise. A man thief and end up in front de magistrate.

De magistrate feel sorry fuh him and put de SOB on bail. He get a man to bail him and he come outside.

Dem boys know if somebody pay you bail, you got to find a way of paying back de man he bail money.

Dis man can’t get wuk because he done label as a thief. So de only thing he can return to in order to pay he friend is to thief again.

Dat is how he snatch de lady chain and get ketch. He end up back in front de same magistrate. Dem boys hear when de magistrate tell him, “I remember dis face.” De man tell de magistrate, “Yes

Ma’am, you did put me pon bail de odda day fuh thiefing.”

De magistrate tell him, “De first time I put you on bail, I really thought you woulda learn a lesson and change you habit and become a good citizen.

You don’t look like you gon change. You went straight back to you wicked ways. Dis time, any thiefing you do would be in de jail.”

And dem boys believe he gon meet Donald Dumb, Jagdeo and Rob de Earth who will end up joining dat li’l thief.

Dem snatch de oil blocks from Guyana and dem boys don’t know who hands dem put de blocks in.

When dem go to jail, de only difference is dat de li’l

snatcher gon come out way before dem. De three of dem will rot in prison fuh thiefing oil blocks.

De snatcher thief from one person. De trio thief from de whole of Guyana, including de li’l thief.

De coalition did promise to show how dem people gon get jail. Ram Jhat talk loud how he gon jail Jagdeo and all de oddas.

He was very vocal about Skeldon, de zinc sheet airport, Enmore packaging plant, and de $69 million NIS renovation among so much odda things.

Today he colleagues thiefing just like dem before.

He eye barely opening but he mouth still shut.

Talk half and prepare to mind dem politicians in jail.

whereby every time there is a major show or event that people will look to either them or the ruling party for free tickets. The CPL 2019 is scheduled to be held in September and October, and given the large numbers of free tickets, which were shared out last year, there is going to be an expectation that this year again there will be freeness.

People have to support promotions. Otherwise, the promoters are not going to bring artistes and big tournaments to Guyana. The government therefore should resist this urge to continue to distribute free tickets, because people will look for freeness and not want to support the shows.

Guyana’s cultural industries, including sport, are not going to be developed if people are not prepared to support activities. They can-

not always be looking for freeness and handouts. This is not the way in which our cultural industries are going to be developed.

Cricket World Cup is now being played. And persons are asking why it is that the government could not have procured the telecast rights for the state-owned television station so that the vast majority of the population who do not have access to cable television can see the matches.

Last month, the Indian Premier League, the most viewed T20 franchise in the world was held. Poor Guyanese in outlying areas were not able to see the matches because the stateowned television station did not air the tournament.

This would not have been freeness on the part of government. The cost of transmit-

ting the matches can be recouped by advertisements.

The ruling party has opened up a Pandora’s Box by distributing free tickets. It will face increasing demands for more freeness whenever the next big artiste comes here.

And if the government and the ruling party cannot deliver that freeness in the future, it will end up attracting displeasure rather than support, because nothing irks a Guyanese more than to know that his neighbour or friend has a free ticket and he or she does not.

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Saturday June 01, 2019

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

I don’t fancy Modi but I’m glad the Congress Party lost I made my feelings clear when Narendra Modi won in 2014 that I didn’t fancy him. I penned a column of my attitude to him. I believe Modi has pro-Hindi, anti-Muslim instincts in him. He was Chief Minister of Gujarat when antiMuslim riots broke out, and it is my view that he acted with deliberate slowness in sending out the security forces to put down horrible anti-Muslim violence. The US was convinced that it was genocide and his visa was abrogated.

The BJP should have selected someone else to lead it.

As it happened, he won in 2014. He has just won again.

A poor boy steeped in childhood poverty, he has risen to lead the most exceptional country in the world (some may say that China is more exceptional, but I would choose India because it is a free country; China is not). I am glad someone from Modi’s background has risen to world power, but the thought of what he did in Gujarat

haunts me whenever I think of his leadership.

The Congress Party has lost again and all humans in the world must breathe a sigh a relief. What is going on in India with the Congress Party is stuff you only read in novels and in sci-fi movies. The man who led the Congress Party into the 2019 election was Rahul Gandhi. One hundred years ago, Rahul’s great, great grandfather, Motilal Nehru, became the head of that party.

Jawaharlal Nehru, Rahul’s great grandfather was Prime Minister. Rahul’s grandmother, Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister. Rahul’s father, Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister. Now a hundred years of dynasty in the Congress Party would have seen the consolidation of that dynasty in 2019 if Rahul had become the Prime Minister. It should be mentioned that Rahul’s mother is the Chairperson of the Congress Party.

The great folks of India in

2019 defeated dynasty. There was wonderful news for those who think dynasty is a bad thing. Rahul lost his seat in the north Indian constituency of Amethi, which for over fifty years voted for members of the Nehru/Gandhi dynasty. I always remember the autobiography of our genius cricketer - Viv Richards.

He wrote that when you look into the eyes of the poorer folks of India you see contentment. In their own modest way in Amethi, they knew dynasty was bad for India.

Compare these folks to the post-modern robots in France, the UK and America that vote for politicians who have not an ounce of interest in the citizens’ well-being.

In the 2019 general elections, it was the poor village boy.

Modi, who came a long way versus the Cambridgeeducated Rahul Gandhi. It must be public knowledge in India that members of the Nehru/Gandhi dynasty go to the UK to do their first degree.

Why not in the great land of India, their own country?

Rahul’s great grandfather, Jawaharlal, went to Cambridge.

Rahul’s grandmother studied at Oxford. Rahul’s father, Rajiv attended Cambridge. Rahul too touched down at Cambridge.

How can you compare an aristocratic family competing for control of India against a politician that was born into poverty and in a country where a large percentage of the 900 million voters are not even from the middle class stratum of Indian society? It appears that Modi milked that

Frederick Kissoon image in his campaign. But even if Modi didn’t use that contrast, it was there in the psyche of the average 21st century Indian.

Indian has a striking demographic similarity with Guyana. A majority of Indians are about age 35. They have no knowledge of that field that fertilized the Nehru/ Gandhi dynasty a hundred years ago.

In Guyana, our youths do not have a working knowledge of Papa Cheddi and his wife aunty Janet, and Papa Forbes and his magic wand.

Maybe for this reason, the Congress Party should have fielded someone from outside the dynastic family.

Is the world seeing the end of this enduring dynasty? It must always be remembered that for some inexplicable reason, Indians have a fascination with dynasties.

Dynastic culture permeates the Bollywood film industry and the Indian businesses. If you check on the leading actors in Bollywood, their grandparents ruled the waves in the sixties and seventies.

It is the same for business.

But in all of this, a striking irony stands out.

Actually, the Congress Party is not a racist party and has more progressive thinkers than Modi’s BJP. The Congress Party has never embraced Hindu jingoism the way both Modi and his party have.

The Congress Party has more democratic credentials than the BJP, whose secondtier leaders are anti-Muslim and Hindu fanatics. The Congress Party should come again, but without its dynastic clothes on.

Saturday June 01, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Saturday June 01, 2019

Kaieteur News

Schoolbook contracts…

Govt. awaiting audit on National Printers before pronouncing The Government is not immediately pronouncing on the issue of a number of government contracts for

schoolbooks awarded to state-owned Guyana National Printers Limited (GNPL).

Rather, Director General of

the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, said yesterday, the government will wait on the

report of state auditors, who are conducting a probe currently before commenting.

Harmon was responding to questions about Governments thoughts of subsidized state companies competing for business with private ones.

The official noted that with regards to the issue with exercise books, GNPL has issued an expansive statement after a number of published reports about the award of contracts and claims by local printers that they were not getting any work.

Harmon said that in the absence of any contrary information to go with that, and pending the audit report, Government will stand by what GNPL said.

“Whether it is a good thing

or not, I understand the Audit Office will do an investigation and let us see what they come back with.”

The issue is much more than an embarrassing one.

Since 2017, Government pumped almost $100M into GNPL, once a powerhouse to help turn its fortunes around.

The company had been printing exercise and textbooks and has the contract for registration forms for the Guyana Elections Commission. However, GNPL has also been handed the contract, without it being tendered, for exercise books.

Local printers, including Kimoke Printery, F&H Printing Establishment and Kaieteur Books, have complained that GNPL is unfairly competing, and in any case does not have the

capacity to print the exercise and school books.

The local printers said that GNPL went to Trinidad and ordered books, sidelining them, thereby most likely breaching procurement rules.

The money involved in the printing of books for the Ministry of Education is to the tune of tens of millions of dollars.

In fact, this year alone, almost $600M has been allocated for the printing of books.

There has been emerging evidence that not only is GNPL printing or subcontracting to others, but also the cost paid was way above what local printers could have done it for.

Local printers have rejected GNPLs assertion that they do not have capacity to handle book orders.

The printing of school books over the years has been flagged time and again by state auditors who found poor storage and management, and other issues pointing to corruption.

Saturday June 01, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Saturday June 01, 2019

Kaieteur News

Govt. considers replacement for Suriname ferry Government has not ruled out placing one of the countrys ferries on the Corentyne River to take passengers and vehicles from Moleson Creek to Suriname.

The MV Canawaima has

been out of commission for several days now because of mechanical and other issues.

In its wake, scores of passengers have been left stranded with their vehicles and goods on both sides.

The ferry, under a joint operation between Guyana and Suriname, has been critical in boosting trade and tourism between the two countries with plans for a bridge across the Corentyne

River on the table.

To cater for the stranded persons and vehicles, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure recently announced that it will place the MB Sandaka for work over the weekend. After then, the MB Sandaka will be taken off the route until further notice.

The containers that would come and go on the MV Canawaima will remain stranded.

Yesterday, government spokesman, Joseph Harmon, disclosed that this matter was discussed at Cabinet this week. He noted that the MV Canawaima was limping along for some time and it was being

towed by a tug that moves the vessel between Guyana and Suriname, along the Corentyne River.

He said that the issues in relation to the ferry itself are issues which have engaged the attention of the leaders of the two countries President David Granger and (Continued on page 24)

The MV Canawaima is down for repairs

Saturday June 01, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Saturday June 01, 2019

Ramotar fails to explain giveaway of oil blocks to unknown companies

By Kiana Wilburg

I

n a three-page statement to the media yesterday, Former President Donald Ramotar took time to pronounce on the application and approval process that was followed when he signed away two key oil blocks just days before the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

He even dedicated several paragraphs to the APNU+AFC Government's poor management of the oil sector. But the multibilliondollar question Ramotar avoided answering was why he signed away oil blocks in very deep waters to firms which do not have experience in deepwater exploration. The Canje block was awarded to MidAtlantic while the Kaieteur Block was awarded to Ratio Energy.

This newspaper carried a comprehensive report yesterday exposing the fact that Ramotar told the media on several occasions that he had no idea oil was found when he signed away the blocks. However, the State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA) which is investigating the matter has its hands on an

advertisement that was published in all the local newspapers on May 8, 2015 with the screaming headline: “....U.S OIL GIANT EXXON STRIKES OIL IN GUYANA...” This ad, which contradicts Ramotar's comments in the media, is one of the reasons why SARA is moving ahead with its probe.

But Ramotar insists that his actions were transparent.

He explained in his missive to the media that the applications by companies for exploration in the Kaieteur and Canje Blocks date back to 2012 and 2013 respectively.

The former President said that both applications were processed and approved by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations around late 2013.

He said that all fees paid were fixed by law and were paid to the GGMC, not to any private accounts.

Further to this, Ramotar said that while the applications were in the system since 2013 and 2014, delays in the signing of the agreements were due to matters surrounding Venezuela's navy seizure of

Former President Donald Ramotar Anandarko contracted seismic vessel Technic Pardana in late 2013.

PPP MAY 8, 2015 AD Ramotar said that at the time of application, processing, approval and signing of the Petroleum Prospecting Licenses for the Kaieteur and Canje blocks in Guyana's offshore basin, there was no confirmed commercial petroleum discovery in the area by ExxonMobil or any other company.

He even pointed to the PPP/C advertisement, saying that it substantiates his position. The former President quoted the advertisement, in part: “An

Exxon oil exploration well …offshore Guyana has discovered hydrocarbons, a strong indicator of the evidence of oil.”

What the former President fails to highlight is that the same advertisement which was carried just days after he approved the licenses, carries a headline in bolded caps which state: “ B R E A K I N G NEWS....U.S OIL GIANT

EXXON STRIKES OIL IN GUYANA...”

PROBE WELCOMED Like Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, Ramotar said that he welcomes any investigation that is done on the matter but stressed that it should be conducted by an independent and impartial international firm.

He said, “...No Guyanese can expect a non-partisan

investigation by SARA. Any unbiased, professional independent review will once more confirm all due legal processes were followed and during the PPP/C time in office the country's best interest was served, given the realities of the day...”

The former President concluded that the PPP/C has nothing to fear from an independent investigation.

Kaieteur News

Saturday June 01, 2019

PAGE 17

Victim in botched robbery...

From page 3 kept weeping and asking,' Daddy, they going to kill we?'

I was weeping for my child, but I keep telling him that everything was going to be okay. They were making a lot of noise in the home, and I thank God for that neighbour who alerted a police patrol vehicle that happen to be passing as all this was happening. All the time I was praying in my mind, I have

never really prayed to God before like I did that night.

When I heard the voice of policemen outside, I almost died with relief. One of the men looked through a window and pointed his gun at the police and I heard gunshots.

They had moved to the other bedroom, so I could not see much of what was happening, but suddenly I heard one of them shout, 'Oh gosh bai, is police, I get shoot

bai…' And he began groaning.

I used this distraction to untie myself. I removed a few window panes from the bedroom I was in, and when I looked out a police pointed his gun at me, so I shouted, 'Don't shoot, just save my son. I slung my son through the window and held him there until the officers below were ready to catch him before I let go. Then I let myself through the window,

The window from which Leslie first lowered his 5-year-old son to safety and subsequently jumped.

Robbery victim Neville Leslie relaxing at his home yesterday

but I had to jump, and so I landed on the wooden fence outside and fractured one of my toes. I was too scared and traumatised to notice I had the injury at that time” THE MELEE By this time, a large crowd gathered at the scene and the police officers had the time of their lives to restrain them from breaking the perimeter set up around

the crime scene. As shots rang out, the crowd darted for cover, and both police and media operatives could be seen taking evasive action behind several vehicles.

All around, onlookers were supportive of the police, who were doing all they could to get the bandits to surrender. “Kill them, kill dem backside…” were the shouts of many of those present.

Soon after, there were loud shouts, screams and loud applause from spectators as the police ranks came out with one of the injured bandits who had apparently surrendered shortly after the bodies of his two accomplices were brought out. The large gathering echoed, 'Well done, well done… Good work officers!” The injured bandit later succumbed.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Saturday June 01, 2019

Private sector Guyana's 53rd Independence wage Anniversary celebrated in Barbados forminimum further increase

G

uyanese in B a r b a d o s celebrated Guyana's 53rd Independence Anniversary at a reception hosted by Ms. Cita Pilgrim, Consul General at the Consulate last Wednesday evening.

The Hon. Sandra Husbands M.P., Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, gave remarks on behalf of the Government of Barbados.

Ms. Pilgrim in her remarks on behalf of the Government of Guyana, told the gathering that “For all Guyanese, the 26th of May holds a special place in our hearts. On the 26th of May 1966, the nation of Guyana was born.

On that day our national flag, the Golden Arrowhead, was hoisted for the first time and with that soared the hopes of the Guyanese people that together we would chart our own destiny and build a nation of which Guyanese could be proud”.

She also pointed out that Barbados was among the first set of countries with whom Guyana established diplomatic relations after achieving independence and the value that is placed on the ties, and relationship with

- up to 400 workplace inspections, 500 complaints filed

M

Guyana's Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder and Barbados' Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Sandra Husbands in discussion, in the presence of Ms. Cita Pilgrim, Guyana's Consul General to Barbados.

Barbados and the appreciation for the support that Barbados and the regional family have provided to Guyana over the years.

She stressed that the two countries share a firm commitment to deepening the regional integration process and since the establishment of the consulate in Barbados in 2012, there has been a further deepening of bilateral relations and a steady growing interest on the part of Barbadians about opportunities in Guyana especially in the area of agriculture.

Ms. Pilgrim reiterated that “Guyana stands ready to help Barbados in any way it can in reducing its import bill in agricultural produce and to benefit from Barbadian investment in the agroprocessing and other sectors in Guyana.

Both of our countries are keen to expand our cooperation not only in the previously mentioned areas of agriculture and tourism, but in renewable energy, education, culture and sport to the benefit of our people”.

She said that the next s e s s i o n o f t h e Guyana/Barbados joint

commission will be hosted later this year in Georgetown.

Also in attendance were the Hon. Edmund Hinkson, M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Dwight Sutherland, Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce, Senator Lucille Moe, Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Public Affairs, members of the Diplomatic Corps and members of Regional & International organisations.

The Hon. Noel Holder, M.P., Minister of Agriculture, represented the Government of Guyana at the function.

inimum wage in the private sector is set to receive another boost as consultations for an increase progress.

The Ministry of Social Protection's Labour Department is currently engaging employers and unions to increase the minimum wage from the current $44,200.

According to the ministry yesterday, in January 2017, the private sector's minimum wage was increased from an hourly rate of $202 to $255 taking the monthly wage from $35,000 to $44,200.

Consultant of the Labour Department at the Ministry, Francis Carryl, explained that the economy is vastly changing and another increase is crucial at this time.

“We're not sure when the consultations will be completed, but we are working assiduously to raise the private sector's minimum wage, to bring it up to speed with the 2019 economic circumstances. We don't want to excite anyone, but all the parties including the unions, employers and the government are interested with what has been brought to the table. As soon as the consultations are completed we will announce the increase,” Carryl related.

Meanwhile, the Labour Department said it has recorded notable achievements during the first quarter.

Senior Labour Officer, Dexter Semple, said this includes the establishment of three new offices in Regions Two, Eight and Nine, which will help the residents to access services on a regular basis.

Outreaches were conducted in those regions to raise awareness about the labour laws and responsibilities of employers and employees under the labour laws.

Additionally, to date, the Labour Department has investigated in excess of 500 complaints and conducted

Senior Labour Officer, Dexter Semple about 300 to 400 workplace inspections.

Semple noted that during the inspections some persons who were caught in violation of the labour laws were sensitized and given opportunities to make corrections. On the other hand, others were placed before the court.

Further, the Labour Department has conducted several weekly workplace workshops where employers and employees were educated on their responsibilities and duties and were also introduced to the Decent Work Country Programme which Guyana signed on to at the end of 2018.

Currently, the department is continuing its collaboration with the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) for the transformation from an informal to formal economy. “ We m e e t p e r s o n s operating in the forest sector, including loggers, coals operators; whose work are not in the formal setting, and therefore, they are not paying National Insurance Scheme (NIS) taxes, or are not registered in any regulatory body. This has to change, so we have been engaging them and showing them the pros and cons of being formalized. This is ongoing with the help of NIS and the Guyana Revenue A u t h o r i t y, ” S e m p l e explained.

The department's greatest limitation is the lack of cooperation by employers who refuse to attend workshops and meetings when necessary. In this regard, the department is working on having a law in place to make the attendance necessary.

Saturday June 01, 2019

Kaieteur News

GTT reports increase in Mobile Money scams - Customers advised to stay alert and secure pins The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) yesterday reported a hike in scamming reports from customers in the Mobile Money Department.

In light of the increasing reports of scams, the telephone company has taken several measures to encourage customers to stay alert of fraudsters, said Vice President of Customer Experience at GTT, Orson Ferguson. He explained that since the start of 2019, the company has ventured into an intense campaign to have customers stay alert. “We did and continue to do constant posts on social media, newspaper and even the radio because we want to reach all of our customers,” Ferguson said. “Mobile Money has long pledged to make the lives of all Guyanese easy, allowing persons to make everyday payments in an innovative, safe and secure way with unrivaled convenience. We ask of all customers to be vigilant, protect yourself and stay alert as you continue to use our great service,” he added.

GTT is strongly advising its MMG customers to never share their Personal Identification Number (PIN) with anyone, as this can compromise the security of their mobilewallet.

In the event a customers PIN is compromised, the company encourages the consumers to make contact

with GTT Call Centre at 0488 to assist in resetting their PIN number; or the MMG user can use the “MyWallet” option in the Menu to change their PINs. Additionally, MMG customers are also being warned to beware of persons pretending to be MMG/ GTT Staff, Government Officials and MMG Agents asking them to transfer, deposit or disclose their PIN. MMG Manager, Nicola Duggan disclosed that latelymostofthescamreportssurroundedthatofpersons pretending to be government officials or GTTstaff. “We will never ask our customers to credit, transfer or deposit money to other numbers for any of our promotions; and the government officials have confirmed the same on their part.”

Duggan added, “We want to assure our customers that we will continue to work assiduously with law enforcement to reduce and if possible put a complete stop to these scams. But for now we will continue to educate our users to protect their money in their account by staying alert.”

“GTTwouldliketoreassurethepublicthattheMobile Money Service remains a convenient, safe and secure option to store money and execute payments anytime, anywhere.”

PAGE 19

PAGE 20

Saturday June 01, 2019

Kaieteur News

School of the Nations given $45M contract for Inmate Rehab Project - Among 13 contracts awarded by Govt.

School of the Nations has been granted a US$222,950 (approx. G$45M) contract to design and support the Implementation of an Inmates Rehabilitation and Reintegration Model for the Guyana Prison Service. This project falls under the purview of the Ministry of Public Security. School of the Nations has already, according to Principal Brian OToole, been assisting the Ministry with the professional development of the Guyana Police Force.

Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, announced this award among 13 con-

tracts that have been awarded by government and noted by cabinet, during a post-Cabinet press briefing.

The Ministry of Communities is presiding over five projects, for which contracts were awarded.

3D Construction was awarded a $24,966,760 contract to construct living quarters at Annai, North Rupununi, and a $32,913,500 contract to extend the Aishalton Secondary School Building, both at Upper Takutu Upper Essequibo, Region Nine.

S&K Construction Services was awarded a

$32,621,994 for the construction of the Bagotville Primary School, West Bank Demerara.

K&P Project Management was awarded a $29,118,010 contract for the construction of a primary school at Kato, Upper Mazaruni, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Region Seven.

For the rehabilitation of roads at East Berbice-Corentyne, Region Six, contract awards were made for four separate lots.

Associated Construction Services was awarded a $15,350,500 contract to rehabilitate Gibraltar Village Road (lot 1).

KP Jagdeo General Contractor was awarded a $19,759,830 con-

tract to rehabilitate No. 72 Village Second Street, East and West Street (lot 2), as well as $17,690,200 to rehabilitate No. 2 Village Section of Sukhu Street (lot 4). A&A Engineering was awarded a $21,346,100 contract to rehabilitate No. 51 Village Road (lot 3).

International Imports and Supplies was awarded a $26,808,555 contract to construct a timber bridge at Kaburi 72 Miles, CuyuniMazaruni, Region Seven.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is presiding over two projects, for which contracts were awarded.

Compustruct Engineering Incorporated was awarded a $69,683,945 contract for the expansion of office at the Civil Defence Commission Headquarters, Georgetown.

R. Kissoon Contracting Services was awarded a $96,354,270 contract for the construction of a regional warehouse for the CDC at Lethem.

The Ministry of Agriculture is presiding over three projects, for which contracts were awarded.

KB&B was awarded a $17,709,720 contract to do repairs to sections of the Ruby Main Road, Ruby Back Area, East Bank Essequibo, Region Three. Mohammad Fawaaz Bacchus Construction and Transportation Services was awarded a $43,735,800 contract for the upgrading of Kent Dam Road, Parika Back Area, East Bank Essequibo, Region three.

Shereaz Bacchus General Contractor was awarded a $110,214,000 contract to rehabilitate the Onverwagt Access Road Extension, West Coast Berbice, Region Five.

Cabinet also noted that the road extension will include an upgrade 1.8km of access from mud dam and crusher run to an asphaltic concrete surface. The width of the road is 6m with a crusher

run base and white sand subbase and is designed to cater for the heavy loads associated with rice cultivation and rural farming.

It is expected that as a result, rice and cattle farmers will have better access to approximately 40,000 acres of rice land and 10,000 head of cattle, when this project comes to fruition. This is also expected to reduce the cost of production and transportation during harvesting and land preparation, and the 125 residents living on the left and right bank of the Abary River are expecting better access to traverse the area.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure is presiding over one project, for which one contract was awarded. That is the award of $57,188,120 to Bardon Construction Services for the construction of a tarmac for the market and parking lot at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, Region Four.

Saturday June 01, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

PAGE 22

FOR RENT

SERVICES

FOR SALE

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

1 Honda 450 Atv bike, 1 Cat 215 excavator, 1 Cat 428 back hoe, 1 Mack mixer truck 8 cuyds Tel#275-0367/683-7225

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

1 Double steel wheel roller, 1 pnuematic 9 wheel roller, 2- tar kettles, small &large. 215-excavator spares, 1-3304 Cat Di engine Tel#275-0367/683-7225 (1) House Non-Pariel- 5 beds, 4 full baths. Call: 229-2772 or whatsapp #616-3094 1 Pitbull, 1 I-Phone 8, adults & kids clothing. Contact #6100901/675-1023

Professional Repair Service: Computers, Tv’s (LCD & LED), Cellphones & Other Electronics.Ph#629-6470/ 696-2843.Email: akinscott@outlook.com

VEHICLE FOR SALE

CAR RENTAL DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL CALL: 225-7126 & 2263693 -DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL @ YAHOO.COM/ W W W . D O L L Y SAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’sPER DAY- CALL: 656-0087 / 6435122,EMAIL:PRO_ A U T O R E N T A L @YAHOO.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

1 shortbase supercustom WING’S CAR & PICKUP minibus for parts. #664-0802 RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP Axio PXX series, reverse RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . camera, fog lamps, owner CALL: 690-6494 leaving country. 2010 model LAND FOR SALE $2.2M neg Tel#611-7106 V/Hoop WCD. 48ft x 1300ft.

Toyota Avensis in Excellent Call: 609-5672 Condition.Well Transported land 11.6 acres. maintained.Call#645-0240/ Lot 15 public road. #2 Village 685-0942.

W.C.B. Price $18M. Contact 1 Rav 4L PHH series. Price 686-4818, 648-7109 negotiable. Contact #6462131,630-0915 Parfaite Harmonie $1.4M Dairy $2M Schnoord $3.6M Honda Accord 2011-2000cc Farm $3M Tel#656-0701/648PWW series $3.2M 1635 Negotiable, owner leaving Parfaite Harmonie $1.5M country. Tel#600-2606 $3M $2.7M Herstelling $4M $5.5M Providence Eccles 5 Leyland DAF Flatbed $6.5M Farm $5M. Lorries, 10 Guysuco Lorry Heppiecycle & axle for 60 Earl Court (E.C.Dem) Success DAF Lorries.Excellent (E.C.Dem) Call: 229-2772 or condition 228-5655/615-6683 whatsapp #616-3094

PROPERTY FOR SALE

LEGAL NOTICE 1 CONTD

LEGAL NOTICE 2 CONTD

House for sale, Eccles Housing Scheme. 7 bedrooms, 3 toilets and bathrooms enclosed. $28.5M. Call 642-0391/ 001447587233657/ yasharabhola4@gmail.com

of the second and final publication of this Notice

of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FUTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry) Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 28(twentyeight) days after the date of the second and final publication of this Notice

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

Lot 89 Robb Street, Lacytown, Georgetown.

Next door to Mike’s Pharmacy.Land size- 3431.25 Sq.ft. Phone: 617-5323, 6668052.

4205 Parfaite Harmonie Tel#619-3258/686-7384

Lot 14 Section B Non-Pariel ECD Public road. #619-8391

2 bedroom house for rent $35K per month, water & light at 2043 Block (c) Herstelling. #696-1680 Three bedroom top flat apt, Albertown area. $80,000 monthly, two months security, one month rent. #613-7555 One Four bedroom concrete cottage, unfurnished for rent, located at 26 Continential Park, Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara. Tel#233-5808 TO LET Office space to let.74 Brickdam opposite GT&T, 2 Floors fully Air conditioned, Generator, parking available.Call:226-6771/2264537.

We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING FOR $15,000, BULIDING ESTIMATE FOR $8000.

CALL: 694-9843/225-1972.

E M A I L : horizongt@gmail.com

Saturday June 01, 2019

Kaieteur News

For Official type of Business, Camp St and Commercial space, Enmore Mall ECD. Call Richard #609-7675/674-1705/2332614 Newly constructed 2 bedroom apt in a safe and healthy environment. Call: 698-6496/ 622-6512 WANTED Salesgirls & porters. Apply with written application at Best Buy Food Supplies 1E Dennis & Middleton Sts, Campbellville 1 Security personnel to work shift. 6 Days a week. Tel# 2275536/ 223-0504 1 Noah or Voxy to Rent for 2 months. #646-8748 Buying Wamara, Darina, Crabwood, Purpleheart, Tonkabean Logs. Contact #664-5150/691-5349 Experienced cook 25-50 yrs Salary starts at $25,000 weekly preferably live in or live out, must be from ECD. #610-3974 1 Gardener/handyman to work at Friendship East Bank Demerara. Tel#266-2217 1 cashier, 2 cleaners. Contact #625-9683 1 Live-in couple, captain & maid, for Essequibo resort.

Tel#225-3557 One Houselot - 100ft x 50ft in upscale Providence housing area. Sugrim #621-4802

Transported houselots for sale- payment plans available, 200k downpayment, 20k monthly #233-6997/622-1957 LEGAL NOTICE 1 2019-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-460 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND M AT R I M O N I A L JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO. FD-460 BETWEEN (GANISHAM) DEWAN Petitioner –and(GANISHAM) PADMOUTIE Nee BEHARRY Respondent TO: PADMOUTIE GANISHAM nee BEHARRY (Last Known Address) Lot 240 Plantation Housing Scheme Enmore East Coast Demerara TAKE NOTICE that on the 5th day of April, 2019 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by DEWAN GANISHAM the Petitioner/Applicant, in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 13th day of May,2019 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of his Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) Consecutive issues of a daily Newspaper printed, published and of general circulation in and around Guyana.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorneyat-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FUTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry) Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 28(twentyeight) days after the date

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Tuesday the 9th June,2019 at 9:30am before the Honourable Madam Justice Kurtizious in the Directions Hearing Room of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown.

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/ Notice of Intention to Defend Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts, [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 14th day of May, 2019

LEGAL NOTICE 2 2019-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-383 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO. FD-383 BETWEEN (BACCHUS) SAVITRI nee PACHAI Petitioner –and(BACCHUS) AIZAM Respondent AIZAM BACCHUS Last Known Address Kaneville, East Bank Demerara, Guyana TAKE NOTICE that on the 22nd day of March, 2019 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by SAVITRI BACCHUS nee PACHAI the Petitioner/Applicant, in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 15th day of May,2019 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of his Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issue of the Kaieteur News Newspaper, a daily Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the Worldwide Web (Online) AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorneyat-Law at the Registry

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Monday the 15th July,2019 at 9:00am before the Honourable Madam Justice Sandra Kurtizious in the Directions Hearing Room of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown.

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/ Notice of Intention to Defend Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts, [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 16th day of May, 2 0 1 9

VACANCY VACANCY FOR A FULL TIME/PARTTIME WAITER/ WAITRESS TO WORK AT AAGMAN RESTAURANT. CALL: 219-0158 (1) Couple to work & Live on a farm. Tel#673-1131 Pump attendant & cashier, shifts rotated weekly (6am3pm & 3pm-11pm) Apply @ Shell Service Station P r o v i d e n c e : Shellramsburg@gmail.com Live-in Domestic, must be able to prepare all type of Indian and Creole dishes. Call Richard #609-7675/674-1705 continued on the next page

Saturday June 01, 2019

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Man jailed 25 years for fatally shooting Sparendaam mason Following his conviction two weeks ago for the 2013 murder of Michael Hamilton, a mason of Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, a 28-year-old man was yesterday sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment for the crime.

With the possibility of being eligible for parole after serving 15 years, Junior Anthony Henry was left in tears after trial Judge James Bovell-Drakes handed down the sentence at the High Court in Georgetown.

Hamilton was gunned down two corners away from

his home. His killer had reportedly fled the scene of the shooting. According to re p o r t s , police investigations had revealed that Hamilton, 21, of Lot 128 Sparendaam Housing Scheme was shot twice on October 7, 2013 by a gang member with whom he had an ongoing feud for several months.

The facts of the case are that during the confrontation, Henry opened fire, grazing Hamilton on the leg.

Hamilton reportedly

Court hears teen used bail opportunity to steal chain

followed his attacker to Second Street, Sparendaam, where he was shot dead.

According to a senior probation officer, Henry told her that Hamilton along with his friends used to threaten to kill him with a gun whenever he visited the community to check on the mother of his second child. The probation officer further told the court that Henry s relatives said they made several reports to the police station, but they were to no avail.

Henry admitted to the probation officer that he acted in self defence. He said that he lashed Hamilton with a piece of wood before escaping. He however said that he was shocked after being informed that Hamilton

died of gunshot wounds, since he was not armed with a gun. On the other h a n d , H e n r y s l a w y e r, Ly n d o n Amsterdam begged the court to temper justice with mercy.

The lawyer asked the court to consider the circumstances of the case and the fact that his clients actions were not premeditated, but rather spontaneous. Amsterdam reminded the court that Hamiltons sister testified that he (Hamilton) was armed with a cutlass and was running behind Henry.

Though he acknowledged that the court must deliver justice to the family of the dead man, Amsterdam said there were several mitigating factors in favour of his client.

State Prosecutor Sarah

Martin asked the court to impose a sentence that reflected the serious nature and gravity of the offence. The prosecutor asked the court to consider that a firearm was used during the commissioning of the crime and the fact that Hamilton was only 21 years old when he met his demise.

For his part, Justice Bovell-Drakes reasoned that the jury returned a reasonable verdict in accordance with the law. The judge stressed the fact that a young man lost his life after receiving gunshot wounds, which punctured specific organs.

After imposing the prison term, the judge advised Henry to use his time in prison to reflect on what he did with the intention of improving himself.

VACANCY Experienced male sales attendant, stocktaking knowledge, computer literate, excellent service attitude, able bodied.Key Food McDoom Village.

General domestic. 3 Days work. Must know to cook.

Apply with 2 references.

KeyFood McDoom village Accounts Clerk.

Requirements: CAT/ACCA Level 2, Quickbooks POS & Accounts proficient, salary negotiable. (2) Driver/ Salesman. Tel#623-8780 Security for interior.

Requirements 30 years and over. Police/GDF experience, formal firearm training. Call: 223-7165 Experienced Goldsmith Jacob’s Jewellery. Tel#2278748/622-4970. 16 Pike St, Kitty G/town VACANCYFOR FULLTIME HOUSEKEEPER TO WORK AT AAGMAN RESTAURANT, SHERIFF ST. CALL: 219-0158 Vacancy exist for 2 kitchen assistants at People’s Choice Kitchen 88 James St, Albouystown. Tel#679-9449/ 231-3059

Akeem Williams A teen who sells in the Stabroek Market with his father was yesterday remanded to prison after he was charged for stealing a gold chain while he was out on bail for robbery under arms.

Akeem Williams, 18, of Lot 46 Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown, appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts and denied the charge that was read to him.

The charge stated that on May 13, last, at Lot 321 North East La Penitence, Georgetown, while armed with a gun, Williams robbed Kevin Edwards of one gold chain valued at $50,000.

The defendant is being represented by attorney-atlaw Paul Fung-a-fat. According to the lawyer, his client was supposed to be charged with simple larceny and not armed robbery.

He further stated that the police allegedly brought a victim who claimed that his client is the person that robbed him. Attorney Funga-fat said that the prosecution has no case against Williams, who has a proper alibi.

According to police prosecutor Sanj Singh, Williams has another charge of rob-

bery under arms before the courts. He was released on bail for that matter and it is while on bail that Williams allegedly committed the recent robbery.

Objections were made for bail to be granted to the defendant by the prosecutor based on the aforementioned fact, as well as the seriousness and nature of the offence.

After listening to the facts of the matter, Senior Magistrate Daly refused bail and remanded Williams to prison until June 21.

Earlier this year Williams was charged for robbing a woman of a motorcycle. It was alleged that on January 19, at Rasville Housing Scheme, Georgetown, armed with a gun, he robbed Akisha Moore of one motorcycle valued at $285,000 property of Shaheed Mohammed.

On the day in question, the victim borrowed the motorcycle, and while in the area where the incident took place, it is alleged that Williams and others approached her. Williams then allegedly pointed a gun at her and relieved her of the motorcycle. He was released on $200,000 bail in relation to that case.

1 part time kitchen asst/cook & 1 live-in domestic.2035yrs.Contact Mr.Khan.6956550/656-9313.

1 Ice Machine operator to work at Mon Repos. Tel#2203459/616-2222 Office Clerk. Requirements: CXC Math & English.

Experience in DacEasy & Excel an asset. Telles Steel & Hardware. Call: 226-6771/2264537 Experienced Nail tec & Hairdressers, Apply at West Shore Plaza, 15 Public road, Riumzeight. Tel#269-1524/ 1602 or 656-3561 Female cleaner office & home.

Call: 642-9823 General Domestic to cook & clean for East Bank. Call: 6144358 Persons needed for Interior.

Age 21-40. Phone #674-1767/ 661-7265 1 Bus driver. Tel#604-1469/ 267-1446

PAGE 24

29 of 259 cases disposed at April session ... from page 7 progress before Justice Reynolds.

Furthermore, State Counsel Tiffini Lyken and Sarah Martin completed two cases for murder before Justice James Bovell-Drakes.

In one of the cases, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty for the accused who was sentenced to 25 years.

The other accused pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter and will be sentenced on Monday, June 3. The four matters

Saturday June 01, 2019

Kaieteur News

nolle prosequi by the DPP were for sexual offences. In these matters, the virtual complainants submitted written statements indicating that they did not wish to proceed with their matters.

According to the statement, the June session of the Demerara Criminal Assizes will commence on Tuesday, June 4. Justices Simone Morris-Ramlall, Brassington Reynolds and James Bovell-Drakes have been rostered to sit. There are 301 cases listed to be heard.

Govt. considers replacement for Suriname ...

From page 14 President Desi Bouterse.

A high level meeting was held right here in Guyana, where it was agreed that two Good Officers would be appointed to further the issues.

According to Harmon, there are issues of financing of the ferry and related activities which the two countries will have to work out.

“We have completed…we have done what we need to do as our obligations under the arrangements.”

According to Harmon, work will have to be done to get the two sides together and recognize that the ferry

operation is a service which the people of both countries depend on.

The Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency did not rule out the possibility of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure placing one of the countrys ferries to ensure that there is a service.

The official made it clear that the government will not encourage the current backtrack operations on the Corentyne which allows Guyanese to travel to Suriname on speedboats.

The arrangements are informal and while Suriname has arrangements to check who enters the country,

Guyana has nothing.

Guyana may contemplate regularizing the arrangements, he said.

The Canawaima Ferry Service Inc. was incorporated in Guyana on October 28, 1998 under the Companies Act No. 29 of 1991 of the Laws of Guyana. It is jointly owned by the Governments of Guyana and Suriname.

It is the holding company for the Canawaima Management Company N.V, a wholly owned subsidiary which was incorporated in Suriname.

The Canawaima Management Company N.V in turn wholly owns two (2) subsidiaries - Transport and Harbours Department Inc. which was incorporated in Guyana and Scheepvaart Maatschappij Suriname (SMS NV) which was incorporated in Suriname.

Saturday June 01, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Transfer of US$18M signing bonus occurred at “appropriate time” - Harmon In light of the recent revelation by Kaieteur News that the government transferred the controversial US$18M signing bonus it got in 2016 to the Consolidated Fund this year, critics were wondering why this was not done in the first place.

Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon answered this question at a press conference yesterday, saying that it was not the right time. The official said that government was never opposed to it being placed into the Consolidated Fund, but said that it would be done at the “appropriate time” which happened

to be January last.

Harmon said that budgetrelated matters, the coming of oil and the passage of the Natural Resource Fund law were factors that influenced the transfer this year.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan told Kaieteur News on Thursday afternoon that the transfer was without prejudice to the pending High Court ruling on whether keeping the signing bonus outside of the Consolidated Fund is lawful.

In addition to this, documents seen by Kaieteur News reveal that when the government received the bonus from Exxon, it was placed into an

account at Central Bank which subsequently opened a special account to manage proceeds from investments.

In November 2016, US$15.8M was transferred to the investment account and expended to purchase overseas bonds. The balance of US$2.176M stayed in a cash account.

This newspaper understands that the Government earned an interest of US$498,775 from its investments during the period November 2016 to December 2018. The interest on the cash account totaled US$2,889.

On December 28, 2018, Bank of Guyana received in-

158% increase in consumer complaints since 2015 The market for goods and services in Guyana is undergoing a rapid transformation due to the intensification of international trade and the rapid growth of e-commerce.

This has led to new distribution systems for goods and services, thus offering consumers tremendous new opportunities.

Consequently, this has increased consumers’ vulnerability to new forms of unfair trade and unscrupulous business practices, according to Consumer Affairs Unit (CAU)’s Feyona Austin-Paul.

As stated by Paul, this is evident as complaints over the past four years have increased exponentially. She dictated that when compared to 2015, there has been a substantial 158% increase in consumer complaints, while the pecuniary value has more than tripled. As a result, the Consumer Affairs Unit has undergone a profound revolution in order to combat this growing issue. The unit has moved away from the norm of primarily solving complaints to being a pioneer in consumer advocacy as well as sensitising suppliers of their duties through countrywide business inspections For the financial year of 2018 alone, the Consumer Affairs Unit has received 289 complaints with an aggregate monetary value of $ 91,868,324, according to a report provided.

Complaints received increased by 22% when compared to 2017 while the value decreased by 25%. Of these complaints, 90% were product-based while the remaining 10% were service-based.

Furthermore, the monthly complaints received averaged 24 complaints. This exceeded previous years which were recorded at 19 complaints in 2017, 12 complaints in 2016 and 9 complaints in 2015.

Head of the Consumer Affairs Unit, Feyona Austin-Paul Mrs. Paul noted that the CAU has undertaken a regulatory framework which is led by facts based on technical evidence and is outcome-focused. This she said, incorporates the utilisation of data and information based on complaints, research and analysis and field work assessment; in order to better evaluate contravention trends, thus allowing the development of outcome focus strategies and programs in the sphere of consumer protection.

In other words, the unit has integrated a system where information about contraventions, complaints trends, and specific groups of offenders is analysed and then paired with executive strategies.

This is to appropriately direct actions and resources for the purpose of creating an impact of compliance by reducing, eliminating, and preventing contraventions of the Consumer Affairs Act. She said their goal is to strategically position Guyana for takeoff in 2019; to be on par with more developed countries in the mould of consumer awareness and redressal. She advised that to a great extent this is already being achieved.

Administering and enforc-

ing the Consumer Affairs Act has taken shape in many dynamics, with the addition of countrywide business compliance inspections in 2018.

The challenges faced, especially non-compliance by suppliers, have caused the remodeling of their modus operandi resulting in a more proactive, and results-driven approach. Mrs. Paul noted that Consumer protection in Guyana is not only steadily becoming a culture, but also that the goal of their becoming a household name is being realised. She explained that the average Guyanese is aware that there is a consumer protection body in Guyana and they can have access to the services. Consumers are demanding their rights, evident in the increase in both complaints and inquiries that the Consumer Affairs Unit has received for the year 2018, according to Paul.

In highlighting the status of complaints received for 2018, she said that despite reflecting a percentage change of 5% when compared to 2017, a notable 79% of complaints received were resolved, equivalent to a value of $ 59,857,075. 17% of the complaints are ongoing, which is primarily due to the unwillingness of some suppliers to comply.

structions from the Finance Ministry to transfer US$3.78M from the cash account to the Consolidated Fund. This left the cash account with a balance of US$112,480. Furthermore, in January last, the value of government’s investments appreciated to US$14.545M from US$414.477M. The Bank subsequently received instructions to transfer all moneys being held to the Consolidated Fund. The total transfer was US$18.480M. The transfer occurred before the High Court ruled that the No-Confidence Motion was validly passed.

Several anticorruption advocates such as Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram and Transparency Inter-

Ministry of the Presidency’s DirectorGeneral, Joseph Harmon national Guyana Inc. have been extremely critical of the government for keeping the money out of the Consolidated Fund and in a special account at Central Bank.

But Minister Jordan had

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan insisted that the decision taken by Government to use a special account was one that was above board and was representative of its commitment to transparency and accountability.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday June 01, 2019

Saturday June 01, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Second seed Pliskova slides to defeat by Martic

Croatia’s Petra Martic gestures after her third round match against Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)

PA R I S ( R e u t e r s ) Karolina Pliskova’s quest for a maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open came to an end yesterday as the second seed lost 6-3 6 - 3 t o C r o a t i a ’s P e t r a Martic.

The powerful Czech struggled throughout to find the range on her feared serve and forehand as 31st seed Martic matched her best performance by reaching the last 16.

Martic broke in the seventh game and then again two games later as Pliskova hit a backhand long to drop the opener.

A lackluster Pliskova then dropped serve again at the start of the second set before hitting back with a flurry of winners to break

Saturday June 01, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Something strange may happen today. Someone in your family may reproach you for having chosen your profession.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Authorities who have been your guides up to now may confront you. The hour is here to set aside your fears and lead yourself along your path.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) The day is likely to be confrontational. The latest developments in your career have offered you so little encouragement that you're tempted to cut back on your efforts, but your financial situation is forcing you to try even harder.

CANCER(June21–July22) You're likely to experience a day of thoughtfulness and reflection. Your state of mind will resemble that of a person who has just rebelled against everything and is now in search of a new vehicle for self-fulfillment.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may have planned to isolate yourself in order to get things done, but that won't be possible. It's like a force is destabilizing your professional life. Nothing seems to go right today.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) People seem fussy about your way of doing things today. Try as you might, it seems there's no pleasing the authorities.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your characteristic independence may play some tricks on you today, Sagittarius.

What you say won't be approved of as easily as usual.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Here is a day that may make you think you aren't exactly in the right place in your profession. Could it be that your current position is too traditional?

You're someone who wants to expand on all the ideas that you have at any given moment.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) The day may give you great insight into the decisions you face concerning your future.

Now is the time to decide on your priorities. Do you want a career right away or would you prefer to continue your studies?

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Some past stories may come back to haunt you today, Aquarius. If you once held a government post, for example, a journalist could undercover some error that you made years ago and publish it in today's newspaper!

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Prepare for a somewhat stressful day, Virgo. Your family life may be marred by some disagreements. There's some likelihood you will feel as though your territory is being invaded and your range of action limited.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may be taking stock of your professional life. If this is so, be careful to balance strategy with personal objectives. If you're a journalist, think about writing for yourself as well as the paper.

her 28-year-old opponent twice in a row.

The fightback did not last though and Martic regained control with two more breaks before serving it out at 5-3.

“I think the score was closer than it looked in the end,” a disappointed Pliskova told reporters. “I had chances in a couple of games but it was difficult for me today.”

The 27-year-old Czech made twice as many unforced errors as Martic and complained that the Philippe-Chatrier court was slow, and therefore did not suit her game.

“She (Martic) played clever. She was patient too.

I just made too many mistakes,” added Pliskova, who came to Paris having won in Rome.

Martic, who will play an unseeded player next, either Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi or Russian Veronika Kudermetova, tried to dominate Pliskova and mostly the tactic worked.

“The key was to focus on my game and try to dictate instead of letting her dictate, which is her biggest strength,” said the Croat.

“I had to kind of try to take it away from her, and at times it was difficult, especially when she broke me and when she got a few winners, which she’s known for.

“And I’m just happy that I managed in the end to hold my nerves and to finish it off.”

There was better news for Pliskova’s fellow Czech Marketa Vondrousova as the 19-year-old reached the last 16 with a 6-4 6-4 defeat of Spanish 28th seed Carla Suarez Navarro.

Optimism Gayle, Russell...

From page 31 yesterday’s win, grabbing two for four in a hostile threeover burst as West Indies mowed down Pakistan for a paltry 105 off 21.4 overs.

Gayle, meanwhile, looked in discomfort towards the end of the innings for 50 off 34 deliveries as the Caribbean side easily chased down their target off 13.4 overs.

Holder said the 39-yearold would undergo the necessary treatment to facilitate his recovery.

“I’m not exactly sure what’s going on with Chris, as well, too. But the mere fact they sent the physio back off the field is promising signs, as well, too,” He noted.

“So again, we’ve got five days to see how he pulls up in the next couple days.”

D’Andrade wins Prison 9k road race

Lionel D’Andrade is about to cross the finish line ahead of his competitors.

Guyanese Lionel D’Andrade produced an outstanding performance to win the Prison 9k road race which was contested recently in Trinidad and Tobago. D’ Andrade clocked 32 minutes 41 seconds to finish ahead of

Errol Williams of St. Vincent and Shaquille Roberts of the host nation who finished in 36:04.

Seventy three athletes started the race; D’Andrade’s next assignment is the Metronomes 5k on Sunday.

PAGE 28

Nadal drops set but powers past Goffin PARIS (Reuters) Defending champion Rafael Nadal dropped his first set at this year’s French Open but stayed firmly on course for title number 12 with a 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-3 defeat of David Goffin yesterday.

Nadal began at a frightening pace and dropped one point on serve in the opening set and try as he might Goffin could not get much closer to the marauding Mallorcan in the second.

It had looked like the boxing equivalent of a heavyweight taking on a lightweight, but Goffin showed some steel to go with his silky strokes to punch his way back into contention.

With the crowd offering the Belgian plenty of backing, he broke Nadal’s serve out of nowhere at 4-4 and then held to extend the contest into the early evening sunshine.

It was 10 years to the day that Nadal lost to Robin

Saturday June 01, 2019

Kaieteur News

Spain’s Rafael Nadal in action during his third round match against Belgium’s David Goffin. (REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes) Soderling, one of only two defeats he has suffered in Paris during his long reign as the king of clay, but any flicker of hope Goffin had of making it three was quickly extinguished.

Nadal, realizing he was suddenly in a battle, stamped

his authority back on the contest and opened up a commanding lead in the fourth that he never relinquished.

The second seed finished if off on his first match point when Goffin skewed a backhand wide.

Federer beats Ruud, becomes oldest man to reach French Open fourth round since 1972 PARIS (Reuters) - Roger Federer eased past Norway’s Casper Ruud 6-3 6-1 7-6(10-8) yesterday to become the oldest male player to reach the fourth round at the French Open in almost 50 years.

Playing in his 400th Grand Slam match, the 37-year-old showed little mercy to his 20year-old Norwegian opponent, whose father Christian reached the third round when Federer first played on the ‘terre battue’ of Roland Garros as a wild card entrant in 1999.

Federer needed little more than an hour to pick up the first two sets, but a rare lapse in concentration allowed Ruud, ranked 63 in the world, to pick up an early break in the third set. The Swiss reeled the youngster back in, forcing the game to a tie-break where he squandered three match points before winning 10-8.

As he signed autographs at the end, a female fan said: “Roger, I’ve never seen you sweat before, this is crazy.”

Federer quipped back: “I know, I don’t know what’s going on, I must be getting old!” Federer was making his

Switzerland’s Roger Federer gestures after his third round match against Norway’s Casper Ruud. (REUTERS/Benoit Tessier) first appearance at Roland Garros since he reached the quarter-finals in 2015. He withdrew from the event in 2016 and missed the entire clay court season in 2017 and 2018 to focus on grass.

Sounding relaxed in a post-match interview, Federer, one of tennis’ most elegant playmakers, praised his opponent’s tenacity - and his grunt-free ball-hitting.

“He doesn’t make any noise. I love that,” he said.

Federer is vying for his second French Open title 10 years after his first in 2009 and to set a record for the longest gap between winning a second title at a Grand Slam in the Open era. He will meet either French wild card Nicolas Mahut or Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer in the fourth round.

Germany beat Chile 2-0 in final women’s World Cup warmup REGENSBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Germany scored twice in a strong first half to beat Chile 2-0 in their last w o m e n ’s Wo r l d C u p warmup match on Thursday, stretching their unbeaten run to 12 games ahead of the start of the tournament next week.

Captain Alexandra Popp fired in with a fine first touch from a corner in the 29th minute and Carolin Simon added another when she

whipped in a deep cross from the left and the ball sailed over the keeper and went in off the post in first-half stoppage time.

The Germans enjoyed a strong first half and had several more chances to score again.

First-choice goalkeeper Almuth Schult was in the starting lineup as she works her way back to full fitness after a shoulder injury, with her World Cup participation

still unclear.

The tournament in France kicks off on June 7.

Germany, who won the World Cup in 2003 and 2007 but were eliminated in the quarter-finals in 2011 and finished fourth in 2015, have been drawn in Group B with Spain, China and South Africa.

Chile, ranked 39th in the world, are in Group F along with Thailand, United States and Sweden.

Corona Futsal Tournament

Semifinal action kicks off tonight Tonight the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue will be transformed into a battleground as four teams fight to get one step closer to half a million dollars.

The battle will go down as the fourth annual Corona Futsal Tournament heads into the semifinal round tonight. The two clashes are expected to be monumental as a mixture of experience and new found talent heads into the playing field.

Two exhibition games

will be played prior to the first semifinal fixture that will see Tiger Bay who defeated Sparta Boss in their quarterfinal, coming up against Future Stars at 22:30hrs.

The second of the two semifinal games will see defending champions Bent Street going toe to toe with Back Circle. Bent Street are no stranger to this format of the game and have proven time and time again that they are one of the top futsal teams in the country. However, Back

Circle is right up among the top team with Bent street.

The two teams that will move on to next Saturday’s final will battle for a chance to win half a million dollars.

On the other hand, second place will walk away with $250,000.

Third and fourth place will pocket $125,000 and $75,000 respectively. The MVP of the tournament will ride away with a Hero Honda 150cc Motorcycle, compliments of Rose Ramdehol Auto Sales.

Saturday June 01, 2019

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Kaieteur News

As final battle closes in, data makes way for emotion MADRID (Reuters) Preparation in the modern game involves a remarkable amount of technical and tactical detail, but when the big moment draws near football’s more traditional methods take centre stage.

Both teams in today’s Champions League final, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, have travelled to Madrid with their armies of analysts and their laptops packed with data.

Yet in the final 24 hours before kickoff, the long-since collected information makes way for the human element — emotion.

Mark Leyland, Liverpool’s post-match analyst, says the transmission of knowledge is usually done well ahead of the day before a game.

“Usually match days are quite relaxed for us in terms of analysis,” he told Reuters.

“We normally have enough time beforehand to prepare. The information that we provide tactically, we get that out of the way as soon as we can. “This is a unique circumstance for us. But today is fairly relaxed for us.

Everything we feel we need to give to them, we hope they have got that by now,” he said. Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp and his Tottenham counterpart Mauricio Pochettino are fully engaged with the use of data analysis and other modern innovations in match preparation.

Yet they know that as the clock ticks down, players sense the battle is near and detail might not be what they

need to hear.

“The players when they arrive very close to the competition, they are closed,” said Pochettino.

The Argentine said there would be little point “trying to replicate everything we will do tomorrow” in training nor in delivering an “unbelievable emotional speech, motivational speech” before the game.

“It’s difficult because they are focussed on the competition, it is about what you have already prepared because under stress, always there is some degree of automatic pilot,” he said.

“The most important thing is to be free, to play like you were young, a child, seven, eight, nine years old, the key is not to feel that there are a billion people watching you,” he said.

MAN-MANAGEMENT His German counterpart Klopp is more of a believer in the power of a speech to fire up his players and his oratory before the 4-0 semi-final, second-leg win over Barcelona, was cited by his players as a crucial factor.

“He lifted us up so much.

He just said ‘Believe - put it in your mind that you can do it’. We never heard that from him before,” said defender Dejan Lovren.

“He said ‘Boys, belief.

One, two goals. Even if we don’t score in the first 15 or 20 minutes. Believe in the 65, 66, 67 minutes that we can score. With Anfield behind us, trust me guys, we can do it...’ — and we did it!” said the Croatian.

General view of Tottenham Hotspur players during training. (REUTERS/Carl Recine) Klopp and Pochettino will focus on motivation, manmanagement and the methods needed to get players to burst their lungs for 90 minutes on the biggest stage in the club game. But the pressure is not off for long for the laptop legion. “It all starts again with the final whistle,” says Leyland, checking the video feed from the broadcasters is working for his staff.

Once the game is underway, for all that Klopp and Pochettino may be yelling their instructions, the data men, are back at work.

Just before halftime, along with colleague Harrison Kingston, Leyland will prepare video clips to show Klopp at the interval.

The tactical detail can be crucial information in unlocking an opposition defence and Pochettino will

Liverpool players during training for today’s Champions League final. (REUTERS/Susana Vera) also get his own briefing from his experts. Yet while both teams will be superbly prepared, the Spurs manager

Report: Durant could return for Game 3 Kevin Durant could return from a calf injury as soon as Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Yahoo Sports reported.

Durant was hurt May 8, in the fifth game of the Western Conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets.

Durant, sidelined for the past six games, traveled with the Golden State Warriors to Toronto but will not play in either of the first two games of the best-of-seven series.

Head coach Steve Kerr said Durant would be considered a real “long shot” to suit up for Game 2 after Toronto opened the Finals with a win to take a 1-0 lead.

Yahoo reported there is optimism within the organization that Durant could play in Game 3, which is June 5. But the stronger possibility considering conditioning and risk of reinjury is Game 4 (June 7) of the series is more logical.

The Warriors had been 50 without Durant in these playoffs until Thursday’s defeat.

“KD’s an all-time great player on both ends of the floor, so I could sit here and talk for days about what he adds to our roster,” Steph Curry said after Game 1. “We obviously have proven that when he’s out, we can have guys step up and that’s going to be the case until he gets back.”

Durant has come up huge in the Finals for the past two seasons and is averaging 34.2 points per game this postseason. He was named Finals MVP each of the past two seasons, which ended with the Warriors hoisting the O’Brien Trophy.

“It’s good to have Kevin here. Obviously he’s a huge part of our team and the guys are all pulling for him,” Kerr said Thursday. “It’s such a

Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets in game four of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center.

(Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports/file photo) privilege to be here and play in the NBA Finals for all of these guys. You grow up dreaming about this that you hate that anybody is injured.

You want everybody to be healthy and have a lot more

opportunity. More than anything, we want Kevin to be healthy, be back and enjoy at least part of the series. He’s pretty good. It wouldn’t hurt to have him back.”

(Field Level Media)

does not expect a cagey tactical encounter today.

“We are two teams that know each other well, so no

tactics are going to be a surprise. The emotional side is going to be fundamental in this game.”

PAGE 30

Saturday June 01, 2019

Kaieteur News

Aggressive Windies clobber Pakistan to win opener

Oshane Thomas celebrates Babar Azam’s wicket © Getty Images

NOTTINGHAM, E n g l a n d , C M C – We s t Indies fast bowlers unleashed a hostile pace salvo to stun a shellshocked Pakistan before Chris Gayle’s 33-ball fifty inflicted further misery, as the Caribbean side made a winning start to their World Cup campaign with dominant seven-wicket here yesterday.

Opting to bowl first on a fresh pitch under overcast skies at Trent B r i d g e , t h e Wi n d i e s needed just under two hours to bundle Pakistan out for a dismal 105 off 21.4 overs – their second lowest-ever score in World Cup history.

Rookie fast bowler Oshane Thomas, in only his 10th One-Day International, grabbed four for 27 in a Man-of-theMatch performance, while Captain Jason Holder picked up three for 42 and Andre Russell, two for four.

Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam, both of whom made 22, were two of just four players to reach double figures, as West Indies struck at regular intervals leaving Pakistan unable to arrest the carnage.

In reply, veteran opener Gayle struck exactly 50 to set the tone while fellow left-hander Nicholas Pooran hit a breezy 19-ball unbeaten 34 as West Indies reached their target in the 14th over, to notch their first points of the tournament.

Gayle belted six fours and three sixes, posting 36 off 27 balls for the first wicket with Shai Hope (11)

and a further 31 for the third wicket with Pooran.

His first two boundaries were streaky shots to third man off pacer Hassan Ali in the second over but there was no lack of conviction when he clubbed back-to-back leg side sixes in the bowler’s next over.

He lost Hope in the fifth over caught at mid-off attempting to loft seamer Mohammad Amir (3-26) over the top and then watched as the out-of-form Darren Bravo nicked one to Babar Azam at second slip in the seventh over without scoring.

Gayle reached his 53rd ODI half-century in the 11th over before holing out a few balls later, skying Amir to point with West Indies already in sight of victory at 77 for three.

Pooran, batting at number four, then assumed responsibility for the innings as he saw the Wi n d i e s h o m e i n a n unbroken 31-run, fourth wicket stand with Shimron Hetmyer (seven not out).

Pooran struck four fours and ended the contest in style by swatting left-arm seamer Wa h a b R i a z o v e r m i d wicket for the last of his two sixes.

Earlier, there was no sign of the debacle to unfold when the lefthanded Fakhar whipped Holder off his legs and cleared the square leg boundary in the second over.

But left-arm speedster Sheldon Cottrell got the breakthrough when he claimed Imam-ul-Haq for two with the score on 17 in

Veteran batsman Chris Gayle led the run chase with a 50 from 34 ball for West Indies. (AFP/Getty Images) the third over, caught by wicketkeeper Hope down the leg side gloving a pull.

Russell then turned the game on its head with an incisive three-over burst which cost just four runs and yielded the key wickets of Fakhar and Haris Sohail for eight.

Bowling with pace and extracting generous bounce, he first accounted for Fakhar, the left-hander bowled in the sixth over after edging a pull onto the grill of his helmet and the ball rebounding onto the stumps.

Russell then struck again in the 10th over when he prised out Sohail to a catch at the wicket, the lefthander sparring at one which bounced sharply at 45 for three.

Perhaps West Indies’ only blemish came in the 11th over when Hetmyer put down a simple catch at point when Babar, on 12, slapped seamer Carlos Brathwaite square.

And at 62 for three in the 13th over, Pakistan still looked like rescuing the

innings especially with Babar still at the crease.

However, once the righthander nicked a leadenfooted drive at a wide ball from Thomas in the following over, the last seven wickets tumbled for 44 runs.

Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed followed for eight in the 17th over, caught down the leg-side on review off Holder and in the same over, Imad Wasim was taken at slip by Gayle running back after topedging a pull, to leave Pakistan on 77 for six.

Three balls later in the next over with a single run added, Shadab Khan stayed back when he should have been forward and was hit in front by Thomas for a first ball ‘duck’ and Hassan Ali gave Holder his third wicket in the next over when he holed out to Cottrell at midoff.

Thomas then polished off the tail, knocking over Mohammad Hafeez for 16 and Amir for three in successive overs.

Jason Holder has a laugh as Andre Russell and Darren Bravo have some fun. (AFP)

Saturday June 01, 2019

Guyanese Trio set for one-month Pre-Season Camp at Madureira Esporte Clube, Brazil Following on the heels of an historic visit to Brazil last week where Guyana Football Federation President, Wayne Forde met with Brazilian Football Federation (Confederação Brasileira de Futebol – CBF) President Rogerio Caboclo, the Brazilian partnership has already begun to bear fruits.

The GFF is proud to announce that Ryan Hackett of Fruta Conquerors, Kelsey Benjamin (Georgetown Football Club) and Sese Norville of Milerock FC in Linden will spend one-month at Brazilian second-division side, Madureira Esporte Clube where they will undergo pre-season training.

The trio, who have been part of the senior national Golden Jaguar set up will be exposed to another level of training over a four-week period with the possibility of landing a Pro-Contract based on their performances during the period of exposure.

As a matter of fact, the trio would have been part of the historic Brazil Tran and Play Camp last August when the Senior National Te a m s p e n t t w o w e e k s there and would have played against the said club in a practice match.

In hailing this historic venture, President Forde said that this is the first of many such initiatives and the goal of the GFF, which has also presented an MoU to CBF President Rogerio Caboclo

aimed at holistic development of the sport on and off the field of play, is to ensure that as much as forty (40) players between the ages of 18 – 22 gain exposure in Brazil over the coming months and years.

Ideally, we would prefer to have the players enter into the Brazilian Football system much younger, but unfortunately, language challenges, immigration Laws and parental consideration are yet to be fully explored.”

Forde commented: “The GFF is very pleased that our work to develop a partnership with our Brazilian neighbors has started to bear fruit. This is a wonderful opportunity for the players ahead of our preparations for the Olympic Under-23 Qualifying competition in July. I would like to join the rest of Guyana in congratulating these players and wish them every success whilst in Brazil.”

President Forde in also offering congratulations to the management of the respective clubs, Milerock FC, Georgetown Football Club and Fruta Conquerors and thanking them for the work they have put into molding these players, indicated that the young Guyanese will likely feature in a friendly match Madureira Esporte Clube would play against the Qatar national team on June 9th.

Qatar was invited along with Japan to play in the world’s oldest continental

tournament – Copa America, the 46th edition of the event which will be played in six stadiums across five cities in Brazil. The stadiums are Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Sao Paulo.

The opening is set for the Morumbi Stadium (Sao Paulo) while the final will be held at the Maracaná Stadium (Rio de Janeiro).

About Madureira Esporte Clube: Madureira was founded on August 8, 1914 as Fidalgo Madureira Atlético Clube. ... Madureira competed in the Federação Metropolitana de Futebol (Metropolitan Football Federation) state championship in 1939, winning the amateur competition and the Torneio Início, which is disputed by professional players.

Madureira Esporte Clube was founded on October 12, 1971, after Madureira Atlético Clube, Madureira Tênis Clube, and Imperial Basquete Clube fused. The foundation date was determined to be, again, August 8, 1914.

Madureira beat Americano 1–0 on March 29, 2006, winning the Taça Rio for the first time, and qualifying to play the Campeonato Estadual do Rio de Janeiro final against Botafogo. In the final, played on April 2, 2006 and on April 9, 2006 the club was defeated in both legs, finishing as the competition runner-up.

Fisherman Masters four-team tourney set for tomorrow Fisherman Masters will be hosting a 15-over softball tournament tomorrow at Malteenoes Sports Club, starting at 09:30hrs.

Savage, HS Masters, Regal Masters and Wellman Masters will battle for supremacy; the two semi finals will be played simultaneously followed by the final.

Fisherman Masters have gained the backing of Chand’s Printing Service for the staging of the competition.

Chand’s Printing has donated the trophies for the competition and their representative Ganesh Persaud said they are happy to lend support, especially since the team will be going on their first overseas trip. He wished them well while Fisherman Masters representative Uma Lam

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Kaieteur News

Uma Lam and Ganesh Persaud display the trophies. expressed gratitude to the sponsors.

She is urging the fans to support the venture and informed that food and drinks will be on sale.

The team will also be drawing their raffle which is being used to help raise funds for their participation in the upcoming New York Softball Cricket League tournament.

GFF/EBFA Senior League 2019

Mocha Champs and Grove Hi Tech notch two wins each; matches continue this weekend Mocha Champs and Grove Hi Tech have both recorded a pair of wins each as play in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) sponsored East Bank Football Association First Division League continues.

Matches are slated for today and tomorrow at the GFF National Training Facility, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

From 08:00hrs today, Timehri Panthers will play their first match of the season when they come up against a young Diamond United which lost their opening match to Mocha Champs, 14-0.

There would be a break for a couple of KFC/GFF East Demerara Football Association matches after which Soesdyke Falcons will suit up against Agricola Red Triangle, the former already winning their opening match whilst Agricola suffered a heavy loss in their opener against Grove Hi Tech, 10-0.

Tomorrow from 08:00hrs, Friendship All Stars which lost 2-6 to Soesdyke Falcons will seek to pocket their first points when they take on Diamond Upsetters which gifted a walk over to Mocha Champs in their first match.

From 10:00hrs, Herstelling Raiders, which drew their first match 3-3 with Kuru Kururu Warriors with Shoran James Latest Points Standings Teams P Mocha Champs 2 Grove Hi Tech 2 Soesdyke Falcons 1 Herstelling Raiders 1 Kuru Kururu 2 Diamond Upsetters 1 Agricola 1 Diamond United 1 Timehri Panthers 0

Marvin Squires – Grove Hi Tech FC

Shoran James – Herstelling Raiders FC

blasting all three goals for the Raiders, will take on Mocha Champs in what is anticipated to be a fierce battle.

Following are the results of matches played to date: Mocha Champs 14, Diamond United 0; Scorers for Mocha Champs - Junior Sears led with a helmet-trick, Ulrick Griffith scored a hattrick, Elton Gordon and Pernel Gordon had a double each, while there was one each for Matthew Robertson, Stephen Daniels and Jermaine James.

Mocha Champs won by walk over from Diamond Upsetters. Soesdyke Falcons 6, Friendship All Stars 3; Scorers for Soesdyke Falcons – Tyrone Khan (18th, 62nd, 89th), Marvin Joseph (40th, 69th), Kelsey

Benson (16th). Friendship All Stars goals came from Michael Moses in the 24th and Jamal Scott, 44th.

Grove Hi Tech 10, Agricola Red Triangle 0; Grove Hi Tech scorers – Marvin Squires (29th, 32nd, 56th), Akeem James (84th, 88th, 90th), Joel Dick (38th, 44th), Darren McPherson (50th), Denzil Crawford (70th).

Grove Hi Tech 6, Kuru Kururu Warriors 3; Grove Hi Tech scorers – Darren Mc Pherson (17th, 37th), Jonathan Bailey (19th), Delroy Dodson (25th), Nicholai Matthews (43rd), Marvin Squires (46th). Kuru Kururu Warriors goal scorers – Christopher Alleyne (62nd), Joseph Walker (87th), Kevon Walker (91st).

W 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

L 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0

D 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0

GF 17 16 6 3 6 0 0 0 0

GA 0 3 2 3 9 3 10 14 0

GD +17 +13 +4 0 -3 -3 -10 -14 0

Pts 6 6 3 1 1 0 0 0 0

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Saturday June 01, 2019

Kaieteur News

Aggression name of the game for Windies, says Holder NOTTINGHAM, England, CMC – Captain Jason Holder said the aggression displayed in Friday’s seven-wicket victory over Pakistan was a blueprint of the type of cricket West Indies hoped to produce going forward in the ICC World Cup. Bowling with pace and hostility, the Caribbean side needed less than two hours to crush Pakistan for 105 off 21.4 overs, and then raced to their target in the 14th over with veteran opener Chris Gayle lashing a stroke-filled 33-ball fifty.

“I think our style was just to be aggressive. We just want to be aggressive with whoever we’re playing against. It’s just something that we need to do in order to pick up wickets,” Holder told a post-match media conference.

“I think with the modernday game, if you are not picking wickets up throughout the innings you’re going to struggle to contain teams. So we just want to be aggressive even if we give up a few runs up front, trying to get wickets.

“One of the things we’ve spoken about in the recent

past is just trying to have that mindset to take wickets because if you’re not taking wickets you’re going to struggle.”

He continued: “I think every single team in the competition that’s going to be looking to pick up wickets throughout the entire innings has been a common trend. If you don’t get wickets continuously going throughout the innings, you’re going to struggle to contain teams at the very back end. “ I t ’s s o m e t h i n g y o u have to do, whether it be through spin, which is the way a lot of teams have gone, or whether it be through good fast bowling, which is the direction we’ve been going.”

Rookie speedster Oshane Thomas revelled in a fresh pitch and overcast conditions, roughing up the Pakistani batsmen to end with four for 27 while Holder picked up three for 42.

Andre Russell was sensational in a pacy threeover burst, taking two for four to initiate the Pakistan collapse.

“I thought we bowled really well. We got wickets

with the new ball and really set them back, slowed their momentum and quite fortunate for us we were able to keep picking wickets up and they never recovered from the position they were in at the very beginning,” Holder said.

“I think when we batted it was a clinical performance as well, obviously started nicely

by Chris. He put the accelerator on them and was supported by (Nicholas) Pooran in the very end.”

He added: “[Thomas] has been excellent. The last game he got five wickets and then he comes and follows it up with four wickets here today. It was great to see him running in and bowling fast. That’s one thing we ask of him, just to be aggressive in those middle overs, as I said before.

“He’s working out quite nicely for us. It’s just a matter for us to be consistent with it, and at times not get carried away with it in terms of overdoing it. “[Andre’s] spell had great impact, obviously. It started the slide for Pakistan, and again, he’s one of those players that runs in and gives

it his all.

He has a lot of force going through his body, and he’s one of those players that he will give you 110 per cent every time he steps up to the plate.”

West Indies, rated underdogs in the tournament, will now face title-holders Australia in their second match next Thursday also at Trent Bridge.

And despite Friday’s convincing victory, Holder said West Indies would remain grounded, especially with a long way to go in the tournament.

“I’m not thinking too far ahead. We’ve got Australia in the next encounter. As I said to the guys, we’ve got a long tournament here, it’s just a matter for us to take it game by game, and I’m not getting ahead of myself,” he pointed out.

“We just want to be consistent. The only thing we can focus on and control is cricket, and we’ve got three departments to make sure we’re clinical in terms of our batting, bowling and fielding, and I just want us to be the best we can in terms of performing our roles for the team.”

West Indies fast bowler Andre Russell celebrates one of this two wickets on Friday at Trent Bridge.

Raptors beat Warriors in landmark NBA Finals opener TORONTO (Reuters) - The Toronto Raptors, with the support of an entire nation behind them, won the first NBA Finals game played outside the United States with a thrilling 118-109 victory over the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors on Thursday.

Toronto were led by Cameroonian forward Pascal Siakam, who scored a playoff career-high 32 points while Golden State’s sharpshooting duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson failed to find their usual groove in opening game of the series.

The Raptors led by 10 points at the half and Siakam, who two years ago was playing in the NBA’s development league, did his part to prevent the Warriors from closing the gap as he went a perfect 6-for-6 shooting in the third quarter.

“It just proves that if you put the work in, man, and it’s something that it’s so cliche most of the time, but that’s the story of my life,” said Siakam, whose total point were the most in an NBA Finals game by an NBA G League alumni.

“Just going out there every single night, working hard to get to this level, and knowing that I have so much to learn and I have so much room to improve and grow.”

Toronto led nearly the entire way and built a 12-point lead, their largest of the game, when Danny Green drained a three-pointer from the corner that whipped the crowd into a frenzy with seven-and-a-half

minutes to play.

The Warriors, who are trying to become the first NBA team to win three consecutive titles since the Los Angeles Lakers did it in 2002, got to within eight points but the Raptors held firm and padded their lead in the closing minutes.

“Their defense was great and it wasn’t our best night, but we just got outplayed, so simple as that,” said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.

“Move on to the next one.”

The Warriors, who played the Cleveland Cavaliers in each of the last four NBA Finals, are not too familiar with the Raptors and were largely undone by 16 turnovers and a weak transition defense that surrendered 24 fastbreak points.

Toronto, came out firing in their Finals debut and were not intimidated by a talent-laden Warriors team who are playing in the NBA’s championship series for a fifth consecutive season.

Playing in front of a raucous crowd that included two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, the Raptors used a bevy of early three-pointers to take control and while the Warriors did well to keep it close Toronto closed the half on a wild 19-8 run.

“I love it because the one thing that we must do in this series that we need to do is go for it, and that just showed our no hesitancy, confidence, and willing to just kind of go for it,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said about the early slew of

Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) shoots the ball against the Golden State Warriors in game one of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena. (Gregory Shamus/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports) three-point attempts.

For the Warriors, who were playing without injured Kevin Durant, the loss snapped a streak of 12 consecutive Game One victories and so puts them in an unfamiliar position.

But there was no sense of panic in the team and Curry said he felt

good about the vibe in the Warriors locker-room in terms of everybody focusing on what they need to do differently for Game Two. “Obviously the bad is we’re down 0-1 but it’s not the end of the world,” said Curry, who went 8-for18 from the field for a game-high 34 points.

“New experiences for us all the way through, but we have proven our resiliency and ability to win games that we need to, and kind of answer the bell and learn from nights like tonight.”

Game Two of the best-of-seven championship series in on Sunday in Toronto.

Kaieteur News

Saturday June 01, 2019

PAGE 33

GMR&SC Drag Championship round 2

Early registration being touted by executive committee Competitors for the second installment of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GMR&SC) Drag Racing championship round two have been asked to get registered early.

Executive Committee member, Motilall Deodass, who spoke about preparations yesterday, said that it is integral that competitors get registered early.

“We saw what happened at round one earlier this year.

We saw the volume of competitors that showed up and we know that there are a lot more guys building cars since we have the full quarter (mile)”, the former Endurance Champion noted.

Deodass further explained that, “What we (the executive committee of the GMR&SC) are trying to avoid is the last minute confusion of getting cars registered and then sorting them and what’s not. We want to have things rolling as smoothly as possible.”

He stated that already, the club has begun to put things in place to ensure an even smoother running of the event.

“We have more things that we are putting in place ahead of the second round; additional barriers to keep

spectators out of the danger zone and so many other things.

We see this as a dry run for the International (Drag racing) event that we have later this year (August). We want to know that we can accommodate a certain number of cars and we want to know we can run an event smoothly.

That’s why we are asking competitors to register early, get their forms in and ensure that we don’t leave anyone out also.”

During the last round, Vickey Persaud won the 16 second class while the 15second class was picked up

by Ramesh Persaud.

The Surinamese pair of E r i c Wa t c h m a n a n d Raymond John took the 14 and 13 -second classes respectively while Avi Samaroo picked up the 10second class.

The 11-second class belongs to Damian Persaud with Peter Daby taking the 10 second class while Terrance Cox of Team Mohamed’s Enterprise took the unlimited class to ensure his team remains undefeated.

Mark Menezes took both bike categories.

The second round of the championship is billed for June 23.

Team Trans Pacific (left) and Team Mohamed’s (right) will be some of the top competitors during round two of the championship this on the 23rd.

Part of the action during round one of the 2019 championship in March.

Regal Stationery and Computer Center Optimism Gayle, Russell can backs Fisherman Masters recover for Aussie clash Talismanic opener Chris Gayle.

Zameer Hassan (right) accepts the cheque from Alex Boodhoo.

Regal Stationery and Computer Centre has supported Fisherman Masters for their participation in the upcoming New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) Independence Cup which is slated to commence on June 28.

The entity’s representative Alex Boodhoo recently presented a cheque to Marketing Manager of Fisherman Masters Zameer Hassan at their 69 Seaforth Street, Campbellville location.

Hassan expressed gratitude to the company for their assistance and said the players are very positive going into their first tournament on foreign soil. He added that their preparation has been going well and they will take it step by step as they look to return victorious. Boodhoo added that they are happy to lend support and wished the team well. The tournament will be played at Roy Wilkins Park and Canarsie and will conclude on June 30.

NOTTINGHAM, England, CMC – Chris Gayle and Andre Russell are both expected to recover in time for next Thursday’s clash with Australia, after picking up niggling injuries in West Indies’ World Cup opener against Pakistan here yesterday.

The left-handed Gayle has a stiff back while Russell experienced a flare up of his long-term knee problem during the sevenwicket victory at Trent Bridge.

Both will be monitored and treated over the next several days, in an effort to have them

available for the contest against the Aussies at the same venue here.

“I’ve more than enough time to get my knee back to normal and get it settled,” Russell said afterwards.

Captain Jason Holder also said everything would be done to get Russell back on the park.

“We’ve got five days before our next game, so we’ll just assess him over the next few days, and we’ll see what happens,” he told media. Russell was instrumental in’ (Continued on page 25)

t r o Sp

Aggressive Windies clobber Pakistan to win opener

West Indies celebrate the wicket of Imad Wasim for a score of just one off Jason Holder. (Ray Lawrence/TGS Photo/REX)

GFF President Wayne Forde (2nd right) pictured with the players and other officials from right, Toledo Wilson (Director of Coaches Education), Ryan Hackett, Kelsey Benjamin, Ryan Hackett and GFF Technical Director, Ian Greenwood.

Guyanese Trio set for one-month Pre-Season Camp at Madureira Esporte Clube, Brazil Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.