Kaieteur News by GxMedia

Kaieteur News

PAGE 04

Wednesday June 06, 2018

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

ADDRESSING SEXUAL MOLESTATION Sexual harassment in our society is still somewhat muddled in terms of what behaviour is or is not acceptable within our wider societal culture. There are clear lines and prohibitions in society about sexual harassment and other types of behaviour that are not acceptable or should not even be tolerated. And while there are severe sanctions, including dismissal for those who cross the line, yet many do, hoping that they would get away with it. Sexual harassment whether in the workplace or on the streets or elsewhere is an uninvited behaviour. It is perpetrated in many forms and its pervasiveness creates an unsafe or hostile working environment. There should be zero tolerance in handling of such behaviour, which could become culturally disruptive to the workplace and society in general. We are aware of some powerful personalities in the United States, including the popular comedian Bill Cosby and the movie mogul, Harvey Weinstein who in recent times, have had several public allegations of rape, sexual harassment, inappropriate conduct and even criminal assault made against them. Bill Cosby has been found guilty of sexual allegations in a court of law. Sexual harassment allegations against powerful notables mirror the imbalance of power in the workplace and the broader societies. These allegations fit well with the long-accepted belief that such offensive conduct is onesided and thrives best in a relationship between the powerful and the subordinate. However, what stands out is that in almost all of the cases, the victims feel powerless, weak and ashamed for a wrong done to them. When such allegations become public, overt attempts are made to sweep them under the rug and shame the victims. The vast majority of this type of misconduct in the workplace apparently is never reported. The reason is there is a stigma attached to this behaviour. Twenty–two percent of workers have experienced sexual harassment on the job, but 72 percent of that number do not report it to their employers. While few statistics on sexual harassment in this country are available, no one should believe that sexual harassment is perpetrated only against women by men. There are reported cases of misconduct against women by women and men by men. Sexual harassment is very difficult to prove and it is a very sensitive issue. Not only do victims bear the brunt of the burden, but also a person’s character is at stake. But turning a blind eye or being complicit to such misbehaviour does in no way help make the work environment any safer for workers, especially females. Workers who experience sexual harassment should be able to feel comfortable going to their bosses to resolve the problem. Locally, the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) is again at the centre of a sexual molestation allegation. This time, it involved an NIS officer and a woman seeking to obtain her husband’s death benefits. The officer in question had promised to fast-track her claim if she submitted to his sexual molestation advances. The 33-year-old mother of four had tolerated the sexual molestation advances, hoping that the officer would indeed fast-track her claim. But after a year, she was told by another officer that there was no trace of her claim being processed. However, in light of a report, the NIS has opened an investigation into sexual molestation allegation against the officer and has promised that she would receive her death benefits within a week. It seems that the same officer has had a troubled past because he was scolded for other similar incidents.

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

Disregarding the authority of the court is unbecoming of persons who know better DEAR EDITOR, I find it astonishing that several articles concerning matters pending before the court are freely published in the Guyana press without any apparent inhibition – with no thought given to any repercussions that may flow from breaches of the Contempt of Court Act. An attorney defending someone charged with serious criminal offences is seemingly free to criticize the Prosecution’s right to charge and state the detail of his client’s case in the press. Is this uniquely Guyanese practice explained away by the fact that the litigant who alleges contempt, and likewise the Attorney-General were he to do so, must prove contempt to the higher criminal standard rather than on a balance of probabilities? The Collins English Dictionary defines contempt of court as “the willful disregard of or disrespect for the authority of a court of law

or legislative body”. It was firmly established at common law that the publication of material calculated to prejudice the fair trial of a pending case was an absolute offence. That intent may be inferred; however, without the need for overt proof or a desire to interfere with the course of justice – so long as the act of publication creates a real risk of prejudice to the administration of justice. Criminal trials on indictment are heard by juries comprising randomly selected citizens of Guyana, many of whom will inevitably be readers, and thus influenced by the content, of the national daily and weekly newspapers. Part III of Chapter 5:05 of the Laws of Guyana, provides that certain publications that would otherwise be a contempt of Court are not so. Thus, for example, if at the time of publication the publisher neither had any

knowledge nor had any reasonable grounds for suspecting that proceedings were pending before the court, he would have a defence. Another example would be where at the time of distribution of the publication, a person neither knew nor suspected that the publication contained, or was likely to contain, material that amounts to a contempt of court. It would be implausible to think that a defendant’s attorney could claim such unawareness – certainly not an attorney with the legal brilliance of one Anil Nandlall. The practice is not limited to criminal matters, such as in respect of the misconduct charges brought against former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh and former CEO of NICIL, Winston Brassington. The learned former Attorney-General has also commented in the press that

both the Director and Deputy Director of the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) are holding their posts unlawfully – presumably knowing fully well that legal proceedings challenging the constitutionality of some provisions of the SARA legislation are pending in the High Court. Editor, one is left to w o n d e r w h e t h e r M r. Nandlall is merely campaigning politically, testing the AttorneyGeneral’s tolerance, or just holding up a middle finger to the legal system of Guyana. He is no doubt confident that he would not be jailed for up to 3 months – and clearly knows he can afford the maximum GYD 250,000 fine that the court may impose were he to be found guilty of Contempt of Court. Whatever the real reason(s) may be, disregarding the authority of the court is unbecoming of persons who know better. QC Old Boy

Looking beyond Mae’s — Now the Govt. should have its say DEAR EDITOR, When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers, an ancient proverb of the Kikuyu people, a tribal group in Kenya, Africa, is as applicable today in the Mae’s school case as when the words were first spoken, perhaps thousands of years ago. We have all been caught up in the highly controversial incident surrounding a student who was reportedly turned away from the school for being attired in his Indigenous wear, which was deemed “inappropriate.” The outfit was being worn during the school’s ‘Culture Day’. Guyanese were quick to express their anger in diverse ways—from walking and talking, to mouthing and shouting, demanding an apology, and picketing for all to see r e j e c t i o n o f G u y a n a ’s cultural diversity. T h e s c h o o l administration proffered a response that needed immediate resuscitation on arrival. On a more serious note, one wonders if the students are being taught what they ought. The behaviour of the teaching staff beggars description,

and is certainly symbolic of the festering malady that currently ails the land. Etched deeply in the cranial hall and memory recall of every Guyanese, not only in Guyana but throughout the diaspora, is the fact that the Amerindians are representative of an entire race of people, and above all were the first people of Guyana. Closer to both truth and reality, historian Vere Daly in his 1974 book “The Making of Guyana” states that the word Guiana is derived from the Amerindian root word “winna” meaning water or watery country. On May 29, Starbucks the world’s biggest coffee company closed its 8,000 company-owned cafés for one afternoon in order to educate its 175,000 employees about racial bias. This decision followed an incident in one of its Philadelphia stores, where two black men were arrested after the store’s manager called police because they were sitting in the store without ordering anything. The men had initially requested to use the bathroom as they waited on a business associate, but were

told that the bathroom was for paying customers only. They then occupied a table without making a purchase and were later arrested on suspicion of trespassing, but no charges were filed. While an apology from the Principal of Mae’s School may be a good start, it will be a far way off from a

cure of what is ailing Guyana and Guyanese. The demonstrated bias is by no means an isolated incident, although we would like it to be viewed as such. Instead, it is emblematic of the prejudice faced by certain races on a daily basis in the very land of their birth. Some (Continued on page 06)

This behaviour by GTT could only create disrespect for my fellow Guyanese DEAR EDITOR, I had decided some time ago to remain silent on the issue of GTT sending messages to me, encouraging me to call my relatives and friends who reside in North America and ask them to top up my cell phone account so that it can be multiplied three or four times over. This behaviour by GTT could only create disrespect for my fellow Guyanese. Why must we be seen as mendicants? Are we not proud enough or responsible enough a people to pay our phone bills? I can recall being in New

York on more than one occasion when this embarrassing topic arose. As a nation, we are trying to rebuild the way we were proud and responsible. Let us not be seen as irresponsible beggars. I take umbrage with the marketing strategy by this service provider. I have no account with Digicel, so I will not speak about them. To GTT management; please be advised that if I receive one other such message I will report same to the Public Utilities Commission. This nonsense must cease immediately. Orin Major

Wednesday June 06, 2018

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

We can’t continue governing with our IAC seeks clarification on Indian he monument, with heads buried in the sand like this Immigration Monument tcompletion expected in time

DEAR EDITOR, I refer to a letter from Andrew McBean captioned “Cheaper, cleaner and Guyanese: What a gas-topower plant would mean for electricity” The selling price of electricity in Trinidad is highly subsidized by the government. We should not be looking there for our strategy, we should be looking at Venezuela, which since the 1960’s took the oil money which is finite, and they built the Guri Dam which is in line with our latitude, and therefore in basically the same mountain chain. From it, they produce 10 Megawatts per hour [the fifth largest hydropower dam in the world], which according to reports, generates 98% of Venezuela’s electrical requirements. And the reason is simple. In the most recent study in the US entitled “Average Power Plant Operating Expenses for Major U.S. Investor-Owned Electric Utilities, 2006 through 2016” the following was discovered: the numbers are quoted in Mills per Kilowatthour; Nuclear 19.57; Fossil Stream 29.85; Hydropower 6.46; Gas turbine 59.56. As can be seen, Hydropower is by far the cheapest way to generate power, four times less than fossil steam and more than nine times less than Gas turbine. A Mill is

equal to 1/1,000 of a U.S. dollar, or 1/10 of one cent. To convert mills per kWh, to cents per kWh, divide mills per kWh by 10. But most importantly which part of forever versus limited time don’t these people understand? (https://www.eia.gov/ electricity/annual/html/ epa_08_04.html) The oil find in Guyana at the extraction rate quoted is estimated to last 15 years. You do not use the gas to build electrical generation, you use the oil money to build Hydropower once you have the potential, and you sell the gas to less fortunate people. With hydropower generation, we will give our business community electricity at less than 4 cents a kilowatt, and still not be subsidizing it, and our businesses will flourish more competitively as a result. We c a n n o t c o n t i n u e governing with our heads buried in the sand like this. At this very moment, the fisheries industry in Guyana has been asking for duty-free fuel for processing - which they were getting under the PPP - to continue, since they can’t compete with overseas fish processors who have access to cheap electrical power, but they have been told no, that the government needs the revenue.

This means that to collect the pittance in duties on fuel which they are collecting from our fish processors who are competing with international processors, and are forced to generate their own power, since the GPL is unreliable and expensive, Govt. is prepared to let our fish processors close down rather than waive the diesel fuel tax. It means more foreign exchange losses for Guyana. In this same country during the early years after independence, to fuel the growth of agriculture, all diesel was tax-free. To deny this duty-free request now, this close to our being an OPEC nation, defies all logic. The economy will not expand by 3.8 % in 2018, as predicted in the 2018 budget. I agree with the analysts, it will probably contract even further than the 2.1 in 2017, and then we will restrict money leaving the country and start that nonsense all over again. It means that in two years, 2016 and 2017, this government mismanaged the economy badly, and now the numbers which are coming up, are supporting the cries we have been hearing from our business community as early as January 2017, that “tings bad”. Yours faithfully Tony Vieira

Great fanfare for opening a roundabout DEAR EDITOR, I noticed the great fanfare that surrounded the opening of the Carifesta Avenue roundabout. The press reported that several Ministers attended and our ‘hard-working’ Prime Minister cut the ribbon, something he seems to be doing a lot of. For me, it is perplexing that something as simple as declaring opening a stretch of road attracted such a

high-level Government presence. Certainly, the Ministers and the Prime Minister could have been at their desks doing the people’s work. But then again the Administration needs a stage show to tell us that the “Journey to the Good Life continues”. Maybe had our Government been harder at work, they may have had much more to show for themselves than

a roundabout; or ‘green’ buildings; or a hardly used drill square, etc. I cannot help but wonder whether we will next see our Ministers commissioning dog kennels, pigsties and cow pens. I want to urge our highly rewarded Ministers to work hard and you will have more than roundabouts to talk about. Yours faithfully, Liebert Alleyne

DEAR EDITOR, The Indian Action Committee (IAC) having made numerous enquiries through meetings and correspondence with the Government of Guyana (GOG) regarding the installation of the Indian Immigration Monument at Palmyra, is sensing some amount of confusion surrounding the project, and therefore seeks clarification. The IAC raised the matter of the monument with H.E. President David Granger in August 2016, and noted its desire for the project to be completed in time for the centenary of the end of Indian Indentureship, which was observed in March 2017. The IAC was advised to meet with the then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry responsible for Culture, Youth and Sport, Mr. Alfred King. The IAC later in September 2016, met with and was informed by the First Secretary of the High Commission of India, Mr Tashi Dandi Bhutia, that the bronze components of the monument had arrived in Guyana. He also noted that the Government of India (GOI) suggested technical persons from India for the overlooking of the installation. The IAC also met with former Minister within the Ministry of Education with responsibility for Culture,

Youth and Sport, Nicolette Henry, in July 2017. While the honourable Minister did not provide an exact timeline for completion, she gave assurance that the installation would be ready by early 2018. She also pointed out that “soil testing was not done on the land” and there was a lot of outstanding work. Minister Henry stated that the bronze components were in safe keeping at the Guyana National Stadium and a sum of GY$100M had already been allocated for the project, which the government had planned to complete as early as possible. The IAC, in January 2018, met with Minister Dr. George Norton, who assumed responsibility for Culture, for an update and was told that he submitted a detailed investigative report with recommendations from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) to the High Commissioner of India. Minister Norton asserted that he was not in a position to give a definitive answer, but noted that he would raise the IAC’s concerns with his government. Through an article that appeared in the Monday, June 4, 2018, edition of the Stabroek News, the IAC learnt that the MPI will now oversee the construction of

for October. While the IAC would welcome, even though cautiously, this new development, it adds to the perceived confusion as to what really transpired to prevent the completion of the monument. The IAC would be challenged to hide its disappointment, as the monument remains incomplete as two major milestones passed; the 100th anniversary of the abolition of Indian Indentureship and the 180th anniversary of the arrival of Indian in Guyana observed on May 5, 2018. The IAC believes that the completion could have been effected at least for the second milestone had the efforts been sustained, despite the setback of the collapsed foundation. The IAC therefore seek some answers regarding the role, if any, of the GOI henceforth, including the presence of its engineers; if the construction of the monument park is catered for in the new deadline as reflected in the newspaper article, and if the time period between now and October is adequate for the quantum and thorough work needed. Also, it would be remiss (Continued on page 06)

PAGE 6

Wednesday June 06, 2018

Kaieteur News

The Coalition Administration is tying our feet and asking us to run DEAR EDITOR, Economic policies establish the framework upon, which government intends to address a country’s growth and development prospects. They get into office on these, and they also get booted for noncompliance or failure to realize commitments. One of the things about which few if any of us can disagree on, is that we have been lied to by the Coalition Administration on the campaign trail going into the 2015 elections.Nowhere on their campaign trail did they ever mention that they would be returning to Burnham’s policies and ideas on development. They have also made a complete u-turn on their commitment to addressing unemployment. Many older Guyanese can remember the slow, grinding halt, and subsequent debilitating contraction Guyana experienced under Burnham’s policies in the 70’s and 80’s. We remember Hoyte

scrapping Burnham’s ideas after his death, and implementing punishing economic reforms, which sent the country reeling by the mid-1990s as declining exchange rates and sharp bouts of inflation destroyed the value of our incomes. Yet it is these same set of ideas, which Hoyte rejected that Granger and the People’s National Congress have picked up to try again. The accompanying table summarizes the performance of some banking system indicators for the Coalition Administration’s 2 years 9 months of administration, and allows for a comparison of what obtained in the preceding years. Growth in private sector loans, an indicator of economic activity, plunged from an average of G$17.4 billion in the two and a half years prior to June 2015 to an average of G$7.6 billion for the two and a half years of the Coalition’s Administration ended December 2015.

Net domestic credit to t h e t o t a l p u b l i c s e c t o r, which is total loans and advances less deposits, shows that the entire public sector had a net deposit position of G$25.2 billion at the end of June 2015. By March 2018, this changed to a net credit of G$46.8 billion, as net borrowing by the entire public sector increased by G$72

Looking beyond Mae’s — Now the... From page 04 are distinctly played out in our political arenas, while others are succinct and voiced via social media. It is of prime importance that we recognize the fact that addressing such bias cannot end on a spoken or written apology. The reality is bigger than Mae’s School, its personnel or the child. Focusing on the action of any one individual is an important step, but is grossly insufficient if what is desired is to

truly transform the status quo. The required work is tantamount to a marathon and not a sprint, and as such requires, commitment, time and investment. The government of Guyana has a role to play in addressing the incident, and as a consequence is hereby called upon to seriously take the issue in hand. Fixing a crack in the floor of a house is useless if the house was initially constructed on an uneven foundation. Both

must be fixed. On the issue of race, it is not just about biased individuals, but also biased systems. This recent incident involving a young learner and future earner could be termed a watershed moment. Now the government must take the lead and work diligently in fulfilling the need; in implementing policies ensuring that never would there a recurrence be, hindering Guyana’s six races from dwelling in harmony. In conclusion, no school or learning institution should be let off the hook, the Education Minister should reopen the book and commit over the long term to work with teachers/principals/ educators in advancing to advancing solutions that combat prejudice.According to Jane Addams, dubbed “The Mother of Social Work”. The child becomes largely what it is taught; hence we must watch what we teach it, and how we live before it. In the end, as any successful teacher will tell you, you can only teach the things that you are. Yvonne Sam

billion. Central government accounted for the majority of this borrowing as it ran up its credit facility with the banking system by G$61.8 billion, carrying an overdraft with the Bank of Guyana of close to G$46.4 billion at the end of March 2018. This compares with a net deposit position of G$8.5 billion in June 2015. Central government’s net borrowing with the entire banking system increased to G$G$101.2 billion, or G$101,172,000,000 at end-June 2018.

Deposits of the central government with commercial banks totaled G$10.2 billion by March 2018. Deposits of the public enterprises with commercial banks, which stood at G$49.4 billion in June 2015, contracted by G$22 billion to G$27.4 billion at the end of March 2018. Our net international reserves, which stood at US$619 million in June 2015, also contracted by US$121.5 million by March 2018, to US$498.5 million. In 2012, the economy grew by 4.82 percent. This fell to 3.17 percent in 2015, and declined further to 2.1 percent last year. The first major concern with all of this information is government’s willy-nilly attitude to destroying our nation’s wealth by running up its overdraft facilities with the Bank of Guyana. Because at the rate the economy is going, there is little if any likelihood of this money ever being recovered by 2020. Secondly, increases in deficit financing by governments typically give rise to increased economic activity, which is usually

underpinned by increased private sector borrowing. This is not happening. Finally, based on current trends, it seems reasonable to assume the Coalition Administration will continue its ill-informed policy of abusing its overdraft facilities with the Bank of Guyana. The last thing Guyanese seriously expect is that the G$30 billion the Administration is investing in GuySuCo will return the company to global competitiveness and profitability. It would be irresponsible of me or anyone to say that our economy has crashed, or is crashing, but the figures presented, which were extracted from the banking system statistics published by the Bank of Guyana, suggests exactly this. It seems pretty clear that the Administration’s fiscal programme is not generating growth, and worse, is destroying our n a t i o n ’s f i n a n c i a l r e sources. The Coalition Administration is tying our feet and asking us to run. Yours faithfully, Craig Sylvester

To thine own self, be true DEAR EDITOR, I have a big problem with your ‘Comments’ and ‘Start The Discussion…’ areas of your various news items. The problem? It seems that persons making posts thereto are wasting their time. So why do you have it as an encouragement to readers to start and/or join a discussion? Totally and absolutely false and pretentious! A few moons ago I was quite active in that section, then without notice it disappeared. Some time earlier this year I discovered by accident that it was once again alive, and more particularly with Freddie Kissoon’s articles. So I rejoined the ‘Comments’ and ‘Start The Discussion…’ and had just a sprinkling of my writings published. I wondered why, for as an experienced writer and contributor, I eschewed vitriol while writing in a style that

would require very little editing. I said sprinkling, but I should be more pertinent, for that sprinkling was but a few, given the numbers I have written. I wondered and came to the conclusion that you have been making a completely false representation as very little Comment/Join the discussion is ever published. I looked at all the news items (despite my having made several comments) and noted that no comment/ discussion appeared under any single item on a daily basis!! I deem my conclusion to be absolutely correct, that you have been making a false representation as you have absolutely no intention of publishing any comment/discussion under that section of your news articles etc, as you do not, apparently cannot, and will not publish any discus-

sion/comment. Time for you to remove this falsity from your paper which I read every day. It is my suggestion that you delete that adjunct you have under your news items. This above all, to thine own self, be true. Carl Veecock 35 Eastwood Crescent Markham, Ontario Canada

IAC seeks... From page 05 of the IAC if it doesn’t politely ask if the much anticipated visit to Guyana by the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Damodardas Modi had not been reportedly scheduled for November 2018, if this intervention would have been forthcoming, given the extensive delays over the years. Indian Action Committee

PAGE 8

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 06, 2018

PAHO to lead investigation into mercury emission - Govt will spare no expense to ensure workers safety T

wo teams from the Pan American H e a l t h Organisation (PAHO) will be investigating mercury emission at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Brickdam complex. The Ministry of Public Health has taken the lead on the issue. Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, at a joint press briefing today with Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman, said the first team is expected in Guyana within days. That team will assess the

clean-up efforts that were completed last week at the GGMC Brickdam complex after the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) ceased gold burning in April due to health and safety concerns. “They can be able to give a validation to the pronouncements issued by our local body. That team will then set the stage for the other investigative team that will come in and look at the protocol, standards of our PPE and so on,” Minister Lawrence explained. The PAHO team will be working closely with the

GGMC and GGB. Additionally, the two ministries will examine their databases to determine previous mercury levels and exposures with the aim of reviewing same to ensure it meets international standards, Minister Lawrence noted.Minister Trotman said the government will spare no effort to ensure the safety of workers and those who come into contact with mercury across the mining industry. “Ultimately, we wish to restore confidence both in the

Ministers of Public Health Volda Lawrence and Natural Resources Raphael Trotman. workers and in the public that this issue is being addressed,” he said. No evidence that the deaths are mercury-related. Minister Trotman reinforced, “There is no evidence to say anyone has died.” He made the statement in relation to recent reports in local media outlets attributing the deaths of four GGMC work-

ers to mercury exposure. The Ministry has previously noted, “there is simply no existing empirical data which establish that mercury is responsible for the deaths of miners and GGMC workers in recent times”. The Public Health Board will conduct a review of pathology reports of those deaths to address these con-

cerns effectively. However, Minister Lawrence cautioned media practitioners not to alarm persons with the information they are releasing. “At the Ministry of Public Health, we are open; so, please call for any clarification that you may need, so we can help you to put your information out there,” she said.

Wednesday June 06, 2018

he incident involv ing a child who was denied entry to his school because he turned up shirtless even though his costume was intended to display indigenous wear, has led to public consternation. The child was reportedly turned ba c k a t t h e school’s gate because he was shirtless . This aspect of the c h i l d ’s e x p e r i e n c e h a s been featured prominently in the media, even attracting a protest from indigenous groups. But there is the more serious aspect which has to do with how that child was made to feel by her peers. When his parents came to pick him up after school, the child complained that he was mocked by his peers. By the time school was dis-

missed, the mockery and ridicule had overwhelmed him. He stripped himself of the indigenous wear that he had donned earlier in the day because he was jeered and made to feel embarrassed by his own peers. Children can be extremely cruel to each other. The violence can be both physical and emotional, the latter involving the callous use to mockery, jeering, tantalize and ridicule. Guyana’s schools are some of the country most violent institutions. Some of the cruelest incidents in any child’s lives take place at school. Children can be unkind to each other. And there is need for action at the level of policy to address the varied forms of bullying which take place daily at school. Teachers need to be trained to identify

this behaviour since it can affect a child’s performance. They must stop it when it occurs because it constitutes emotional violence against the child. The trauma of being bullied can have lifelong effects. Children need, also, to be made aware of the dangers and viciousness of bullying. The victims of such behaviour need to be encouraged to report such incidents. They must be heard and given redress. All schoolchildren need guidance as to how their behaviour can impact negatively on others. This sort of training and guidance is not being provided adequately within our education system and this is why we have so many problems in society today. Children are leaving school with disturb-

DEM BOYS SEH

Exxon lef out Sandy’s, Lyken, Merriman and de Cemetery Nothing worse can happen to Guyana under dis coalition govt. De list from ExxonMobil released by de govt yesterday, is de worse thing to happen to Guyana. Please tell de nation dat de list is a mistake and dat de statement put out by Imran Khan didn’t come from de govt. Please tell de nation dat de list come from a mental institution cause only a lunatic would present something like dat and only anoder lunatic would release to de people of dis country. Dem boys seh buying cassava ball, plantain chip and chicken foot from Bourda

Market vendors is not local content. However, dem boys seh if de list get de ok from de coalition govt, den God be with de future of de children of dis country. Dat list mek Jagdeo dat scamp, and ee people look like angels from above. When an oil company can pay all four newspapers to publish de questionable findings from a report by a consultancy firm and call de payment to de newspapers local content and de govt buys dat, den check dem brains. When de oil company can patch a tyre at a vulcanizing shop and seh dat is local con-

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

tent and de govt buys dat den check dem mouth. When dem buy coffee from a cafeteria and call dat local content den check dem eyes. When dem seh dem doing business wid de Haags Bosch landfill dumps i t e and call dat local cont e n t , den is de coalition govt dem dem doing business wid. De only people de oil company ain’t report dat it do business wid is Lyken, Sandy, Merriman and de cemetery. Talk half and tell Soulja Bai to leh dem bring a real list; not one dat dem copy from de telephone directory.

ing experiences. In the case of the child at Mae’s School, he was made to feel ashamed of his cultural wear by his peers. This is an assault, psychologically, on this child and he needs to receive counselling. Further action needs to be taken to ensure that these practices are eradicated from our school system. It is not going to be easy but a start has to be made. Children learn what they see and this is the behaviour which they learn from their elders in society and which they imitate. Children who are bullied in school, endure fear and trepidation each day which they attend school. They are afraid of attending to school. For them, school is a frightening experience. They have trouble concentrating during class because they are worried about what will happen during recess and when school is dismissed. Some of the torment takes place within the classroom itself. We have had tragic incidents in the past. Children are tormented for all manner of things, including what they wear and the social class to

which they belong. In one incident, many years ago, a young schoolgirl killed herself because her parents did not buy a name brand boots for her to wear to school. She must have been scared to go to school and face the disdainful look of her peers. In another well-known incident, some rich schoolgirls urinated in one of their peers’ water bottle. This is the level of cruelty, which is meted out to children each day at school. Children are also physically bullied. Small and weak children are physically ‘roughed up’ by older ones. Sometimes deprived of their money and belongings; others are hit on by their classmates. Many of these children do not report these things for fear of retribution. A poor mother whose child was the victim of a road accident and who is now incapacitated, related that she had to make arrangements to send her child to a private school since he was constantly bullied at the public school which he had previously attended. The other children kept

taking away his personal things. The public school, she said, was not responsive to her complaints. A national policy on bullying in schools should be developed. Civil society should be asked to provide guidance counsellors to help launch a campaign against bullying in schools. The Amerindian child at the centre of the controversy at Mae’s was offended not just by the administration of the school but also by his own schoolmates, the cruel ones who mocked and ridiculed him for wearing indigenous wear, reducing the child to tears. That sort of cruelty and emotional violence can be just as traumatic as being physically assaulted. It is all part of the bullying to which thousands of children are subjected each day and which go unnoticed by our extremely ‘busy’ teachers.

PAGE 10

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 06, 2018

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Two East Indian politicians and the PNC leadership

his is the conclu sion of the column published on Wednesday, captioned, “Ganja law: African Guyanese and their political leadership.” I indicated that part two of the argument was forthcoming. This is it. The contestation in that article was that there are things that are of deep concern to African Guyanese that historically, their Black government deliberately neglected. I trace the syndrome from

the Burnham regime and ended with the attitude of David Granger, Joe Harmon and Basil Williams on the amendment to the drug law to lessen the penalty for possession of small amounts of ganja. The leader of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan, had championed the amendment and in late 2015, it was worked on and ready for presentation to Parliament. It was placed on the order paper in 2016. Mr. Ramjattan is currently the Chairman of the AFC and at his presentation two weeks

ago at his party’s Press Conference; he again voiced strong disapproval of the mandatory jail term for conviction of a few grams of the grass. He assured the nation that the Bill would be put to the National Assembly this month. After that, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo held his Press Conference and promised that the Opposition will vote for the changes in the sentence structure that the amendment carries. So here, you have two East Indian politicians want-

ing to change a law that victimizes young Guyanese and the top leader is against the changes. This is not only amazing, it is horrible. And a poll should be done to ascertain how African Guyanese feel about this enigmatic betrayal. What is unfolding in Guyana is a transfer nihilistic mechanism of ethnic suicide. There are incidents you never forget in your praxis. They just implant themselves on the walls on your mind and they stay with you. I will never forget that woman from Berbice. Her husband and brother-in-law were killed by errant drivers, on separate occasions; there were no prosecutions. She was going blind from diabetes and I helped to get her state assistance to go to Trinidad. She told me the PPP’s Berbice representative was cruelly disinterested. In the 2015 election campaign, she knew I was doing work for the AFC. I didn’t want to request her vote for the AFC but inquired politely how she will vote. Without any movement in her eyes on any emotion on her face, she told me there is only one way to vote. She meant for the PPP. I never saw her again and I don’t think I can recognize her if we meet in the future

but she personified the permanent tragedy of Guyana. African Guyanese are now personifying this tragedy. David Granger said he went to Trinidad for a medical check up to get it out of the way so he can concentrate on the local government elections. He will campaign for reelection of the PNC councillors. Granger, Basil Williams and Joe Harmon who oppose the changes in the marijuana legislation will ask African Guyanese to vote for the PNC in 2020. Why after such tsunamic incompetence at City Hall would African Guyanese vote back for those councillors? Why would African youths root for Granger, Williams and Harmon given their inflexible opposition to the change in the marijuana law? Why would Black people vote for the PNC after what happened with David Hinds and Lincoln Lewis at the Chronicle? The answer is the transfer nihilistic mechanism of ethnic suicide. Guyanese Indians embodied it for twentythree years. They stood silent as the PPP leaders enriched themselves to billions of dollars while the country’s only university became a donkey stable. They supported the PPP for ethnic reasons while get-

Frederick Kissoon ting a passport for a Berbician was nightmare. They voted solidly for the PPP while they borrowed money to send their children to private schools. They refused to part with their leaders while Berbicians were easy victims of rampaging killing criminals. They turned a blind eye to the atrocities and abominations of the PPP while running to Caribbean countries that had African leaders. They ran to the US that had for eight years an African president. But they didn’t want an African ruler in Guyana. Caught in such a drowning pool, they didn’t care about twenty-three years of PPP failures. They voted once more for their party in 2015. This psychic damage, African Guyanese are happy to borrow from their Indian counterparts. So in 2020, the mother whose son is in prison serving three years for eight grams of cocaine, will take breakfast for him in jail then go off to vote for the PNC.

Wednesday June 06, 2018

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

A ray of hope for cycle champion

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 06, 2018

Taxi driver freed of causing the death of a British citizen

…biopsy results show tumor not cancerous “We have to give God praise for what he has done” were the words uttered by the 15year-old three-time gold medalist, Beyonce Ross, from her bed in Rose Hall Town when she heard the news that her tumor is not cancerous. This was confirmed by the teen’s mother, Yonette Clarke, during a telephone conversation. According to Ross’s mother, the biopsy results came back on Monday and showed that the tumor was not malignant (cancerous). The biopsy was carried out by Dr. IvanCrandon who is currently in Guyana from Jamaica. She explained that when the results returned, her daughter was in praise of the Almighty. However, she noted that a surgery still has to be done to remove the tumor and they are currently looking at hospital options to do so. She also stated that they are now waiting on the relevant Ministry to determine their way forward in getting the surgery done since they are also looking for one that can be done at a reasonable cost. She added, “We are very happy that the Ministry reached out to us a few days ago.” Beyonce Ross took ill in February with various symptoms similar to that of a brain tumor. Her worried mother, Yonette Clarke, decided not to wait any longer and rushed her to the nearest hospitals, the Port Mourant and New Amsterdam Hospitals respectively. There, the girl was treated for stomach aches and ulcers.

Beyonce Ross

Bibi Haroon O’ Donovan

As time elapsed, her condition worsened, she then decided to take her daughter to a private doctor in the city. An MRI scan was recommended by the doctor and the results of the test were not what they were expecting. It revealed that young Ross had a developing tumor in her brain that could possibly be malignant (cancerous). However, they wouldn’t know until the result of the biopsy, which was done by (Continue don page 26)

Haroon Essack, the taxi driver who had been arraigned on charges of causing the death of a British citizen almost two years ago, has been freed on a no-case submission.The no-case submission was presented by Attorney-at-law Sonia Parag at the Mahaica Magistrate‘s Court. The lawyer had essentially told the court that evidence against her client amounts to no case against him. Yesterday, Magistrate Wanda Fortune upheld the no case submission. Essack, 66, had faced a trial for causing the death of a 58-year-old female British citizen, Bibi Haroon O’ Donovan. O’Donovan was killed and her daughter injured

The badly damaged motorcar HC 6753 while on their way to the airport, when the vehicle in which they were travelling, crashed into a parked truck on the Chelsea Public Road, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, around 05:15 hours on August 17, 2016. According to police reports, the motorcar HC 6753 was proceeding west along the Chelsea Public Road, at a fast rate, when the driver lost control and crashed into the rear of a stationary lorry, on the opposite side of the road. Essack was the driver of the taxi, which was transporting the mother and daughter to the airport.

O’Donovan, whose local address was given as Lot 15 Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice, was pronounced dead on arrival at Mahaicony Public Hospital. Her daughter, 23-year-old Scheneza Lewis, also a British Citizen, sustained fractures of the neck, jawbone and ribs. Lewis was referred to the GPHC, in an unconscious state but survived the accident. O’Donovan and her daughter migrated to England more than 20 years ago. At the time of the accident, they were returning to their home, having spent three weeks in Guyana.

PAGE 13

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 06, 2018

After more than three decades in fishing, exporting…

Over 350 workers given notice as BEV calls it a day

uyana’s oldest and privately-owned fishing company, BEV Processors, is winding down its operations, with workers over the weekend given six weeks’ notice. The closure of the Houston operations would be a big blow for the fishing sector in Guyana. It would come at a time when Guyana is under pressure to be internationally certified in order to access the key US and Europe markets. According to 67-year-old Bruce Vieira, Chairman and Managing Director of BEV Processors, the decision is hard one for him. With almost 380 workers and a business in operations for 34 years, the process of winding down started a year ago with the company halting the processing and export of fish. It continued to concentrate on its seabob shrimp. Over the weekend, Vieira met with staffers informing them of the mid-July closure. Owners of the contracted 17 private trawlers have also been informed. On Monday, the workers’ union, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) was written to. BEV has been selling its shrimp to the Caribbean, US and Europe, the official disclosed. The company is third behind Pritipaul Singh Investments and Noble House, in terms of operations. Speaking on the challenges, the businessman admitted that these have been growing in recent years with Guyana given a deadline of December 31, 2019 to be certified under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). MSC

Workers in the BEV compound yesterday.

BEV’s owner, Bruce Vieira is an independent non-profit organization which sets a standard for sustainable fishing. Fisheries that wish to demonstrate that they are well-managed and sustainable compared to the sciencebased MSC standard are assessed by a team of experts who are independent of both the fishery and the MSC. Seafood products can display the blue MSC ecolabel only if that seafood can be traced back through the supply chain to a fishery that has been certified against the MSC standard. For Guyana to access the US and Europe markets, the MSC certification is a must, Vieira said. “MSC is very important milestone for us to have. In fact, our US customers have told us in no uncertain terms that by December 31st 2019, they will not buy any shrimp from Guyana unless Guyana has been certified by this MSC ecolabel.”

The certification compels fisheries to put into place a number of things to ensure they remain compliant, the official explained. “As an example, recently not because of the government but because of a requirement, of the MSC, it was found that we need to go out deeper to fish.” This was to ensure that other marine lives are protected, like stingrays. “We have to outfit our boats with cameras and TEDs (Turtle Excluder Devices).” Another requirement is that Guyana has to pass key legislations for fishing, including tougher penalties. Vieira said that another reason for the decision to close is the major challenge in the market. There was a time when seabob shrimp were in high demand, with customers begging to buy. The market has opened with shrimp being supplied from all over the world now,

with a reduction in the demand from countries like Guyana.“I have for instance 600,000 pounds of small baby shrimp…can’t sell in stock. It may take up to a year to sell. Most of our storage is ramjam packed.” With regards to tougher monitoring to ensure Guyana is compliant, there will be more inspection of trawlers and audits.“We were given six months to introduce cameras on the trawlers. The deadline

is this month.” According to Vieira, BEV is different from other fishing operations in Guyana, as it does not own boats. Rather, the catches are brought in by private operators. “We secure fuel, spares, supplies, water and provide also electricity to them.” “The requirements of MSC meant that BEV will have had to step up its game so the age issue comes in. If I were much younger, I know down the

road that things would have improved. Things would have gone down for us before improving. “We could have lost a lot of money very fast if you can’t sell shrimp. We could end up in a big debt. It could take years to repay. I don’t have those years.” BEV is sitting on prime property north of where Gafoors is in Houston, on a three-acre plot. It is self-sufficient in terms (Continued on page 29)

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 06, 2018

Judge gives State five days to produce evidence of fraud against former GRDB Head

ustice Navindra Singh has granted the State five days to produce the forensic audit report, which formed the basis for which former Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Official Guyana Rice Development Board, (GRDB) Madanlall Ramraj is charged. Failure to produce the

evidence will result in a permanent stay quashing, and set aside the charges of fraudulent omission against Ramraj.Last year, Ramraj a former Deputy General of GRDB and People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/ C) member was arraigned on 34 fraud-related charges. He was charged jointly

with the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) General Manager Jagnarine Singh and Peter Ramcharran, a former accountant, who is in custody in Canada, pending extradition. According to 17 charges which alleged that between 2011 and 2012, at Lot 16-17 Cowan Street, Kingstown,

they omitted to enter, or to make true entries of over $4.2M into the company’s ledger, knowing that it was contrary to standard operating procedures. The other 17 charges state that during the same period, the three officials are alleged to have fraudulently taken $5.1M or applied the money for their own use and benefit or any use and purpose, other than that of the GRDB. The three managers were not required to plead to the charges. However Ramraj, through his team of lawyers approached the High Court seeking a declaration that the failure of the Prosecution to disclose a copy of the forensic audit report on the GRDB prepared by Nigel Hinds, Forensic Auditor, which formed the basis for certain investigations launched by the Special Organised Crime Unite (SOCU) against him, constitutes a violation of Article 144 of the Constitution of Guyana, more particularly, the right of the Applicant to be afforded facilities for the preparation of his defence and other protections of the law secured under and guaranteed by the said Article 144. The applicant also sought orders for a permanent stay of proceedings, or an order quashing, vacating or setting aside the charges of

Former GRDB Deputy Madanlall Ramraj

Fraudulent Omission, contrary to Section 104 of the Criminal Law Offences Act, Chapter 8. Yesterday, Justice Singh heard the Fixed Date Application,(FDA) filed against the State by attorneys representing Ramraj. After reading all the Affidavits and hearing arguments from the lawyers on both sides, the Judge found that the failure by the Prosecution to produce the Forensic Audit Report violates the applicant’s rights under Article 144 of the Constitution, that is to say, that an accused person must be afforded adequate facilities for the preparation of his defence. In view of this, the Judge ordered that unless the

forensic audit report as done by Nigel Hinds is produced by the Prosecution to either Madanlall Ramraj or his legal representatives within five days, a permanent stay will be granted, quashing, vacating and setting aside the charges of Fraudulent Omission, contrary to Section 104 of the Criminal Law Offences Act, Chapter 8, for which Ramraj is charged. Mr Madanlall Ramraj was represented by Attorneys-atlaw, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, Manoj Narayan and Rajendra Jaigobin and the Attorney General was represented by Attorney-at-law, Oneka Archer-Caulder. The matter is set to continue on 8th June, 2018. Last year, Jagnarine and Ramraj, were charged and placed on $500,000 bail each for allegedly failing to make a proper entry into a register of a company with the intent to defraud $362M from the entity’s Republic Bank account. The six officials also included General Secretary of the Producers Association (RPA) and PPP/C Member of Parliament, Dharamkumar Seeraj; former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and PPP/ C Member of Parliament, Nigel Dharamlall; former General Manager of the Guyana Oil Company Badrie Persaud; and the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Finance Ministry of Agriculture, Prema Roopnarine. The accused all pleaded not guilty to the charges which alleged that between January 1 and December 31, 2012, with intent to defraud, they omitted or concurred to be omitted $77.3M from the general ledger of the GRDB’s Republic Bank account. Similarly, between 2013, 2014 and 2015 with intent to defraud the entity, they are alleged to have omitted or concurred to be omitted from the said Republic Bank account, $9.7M, $130M and $145M for three respective years. (Rehanna Ramsay)

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 06, 2018

Mother claims foul play ... WANT

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK;Guyanapassport application. G r a p h i c s design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6004212: We create A/works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Eagle’s: Re-gas –low prices, washing machine repairs, gas stove, plasma flat Screen, computer repairs & more. Call: 697-2969/646-0966 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Have your house,fence & yard to pressure wash? Call: 666-2326

FOR SALE 1 Long base canter, very good condition, owner leaving country or 1 canter driver needed for hire. #6091040 35 ft boat flat bottom 400 pound cat guts seine. Contact# 676-6002/665-6585 Gold and Diamond mining,Claim virgin land in the Quartz stone, Cuyuni mining district Guyana for sale. Contact#592-671-9478 2 gallon air compressor $25,000 3000 watt inverter $35,000 Reciprocating saw $15,000 Cordless ratchet $18,000 Tel#694-1748

FOR RENT

WANTED

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620

Diamond/Grove EBD truck driver wanted. Call: 677-6620/ 216-1043

2 & 3 bedroom fully furnished luxury apartments short and long term rental Tel# 6642143,691-1432,666-7028 Hair station, Barber station to rent or furnished salon to rent. Contact# 616-7151 2 & 1 bedroom Apt furnished in Providence. Call #6721906, 216-2299/Whatsapp #1246-833-9739 3 bedroom apartment located in Section ‘K’ C/ville, fully furnished $160,000 monthly. Call: 672-1920 Display rack, space & parking lot to rent. Contact# 624-6783

One Hiab 2 ton Mitsubishi canter PWW series $3.9M neg. Tel#676-0455

Fully furnished apartment in South (AC, Cable & Internet) #689-5877/223-4390

Mixing machine 200 lbs capacity, Industrial slicing machine, Rounder divider 60 rolls per min. Tel# 264-2475/ 264-2536/658-0644

LAND FOR SALE Continental Park (Double) $24M Land of Canaan (acres) $5.5M Schnoord $3.5M First St, Triumph Seaside. #2312199/608-0772

Bread trays, brick oven for removal and other items for bakery. Tel#264-2475/2642536/658-0644

Two weeks workshop for cosmetology. One Barber space for rent from the East Coast. Contact: 698-3018

Parfaite Harmonie $1.3M $1.5M $2.5M $3M Farm $3.5M Herstelling 2nd Bridge $4M Uivlugt $2.8M. Call: 666-2326 Tuschen house $5M Tuschen corner lot $1.5M Diamond $4M Eccles $6M. Call: 6662326

TOLET 2 bedroom house fully A/c in Somerset court. Herstelling EBD Tel#6614849

Tuschen $1.5M Uitvlugt $2.8M Parfaite Harmonie $1.8M Tel#697-6311

DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL:225-7126/ 226-3693DOLLYSAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM/ WWW.D OLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM IAE- Register for CXC, full time evening & adult classes. Mathematics, English, Business & Science subjects #683-5742/621-7365 Computer classes age 6-11 $5000 monthly (3 month course) located @ 64 Durban St. Contact#615-3192

PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/ 6 5 6 - 0 0 8 7 , ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table for sale & rent. Tel# 277-0578

TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)

1 Mechanic to work in the interior, must know about Cummings/Perkins & Deutz engine. #699-4718 Experience Cashier, Drivers, Roti/Puri cook. Apply Hack’s Halaal with H/written application 5 Commerce St.

One Financial Investor for mineral land in the Mazaruni area. Phone: 672-8844 Pastry Chef, apply @ Shanta’s 225 Camp St. One security guard for private residence. #609-3650

VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 RZ Minibus BNN excellent condition. Call: 233-3430 1 Nissan Dualis 2007 #6229951/689-9447, lady driven. Mazda Axela - $1.4M Neg Nissan Bluebird - $1.75M Neg. Cars in excellent condition. Tel#233-2793/615-8502 (1) 4x4 Tundra Excellent condition $2 Million #6181395/639-2490 One enclosed canter 3 ton wide base, Good condition #604-0204/264-0041

From page 16 the Sukhdeos listed no employment income for Dhaneshwar Sukhdeo, who

VACANCY Pump attendant (Shift work 7am-3pm & 3pm-11pm) submit application : Shell Service Station Providence EBD E m a i l : Shellramsburg@gmail.com

Drivers, Porters, Office clerk. Apply to Lot 10 Vlissengen Rd Survival Wholesale Depot

One general domestic, One gardener. Apply @ R.Sookraj & Sons. 108 Regent Street, Georgetown.

Land to buy within the vicinity of Tuschen and Zeelugt Scheme. Tel#678-3958/6534820

Female cleaner, Office in Eccles. #233-2745

One cook needed to work at Itabali. Contact: 665-6444 Drivers with car, private/hire to work @ New Taxi base in Central Georgetown. Call: 6088294/610-8294

Driver wanted for water canter preferably from West side. Contact: 622-5428 Part time cook and security wanted. Contact # 231-5857/ 231-5866 Casting call, part time models needed for advertising purposes. Call Mars: 646-7494 Video production, need a video commercial, infomercial, promotional video, event or wedding video? Call: 646-7494 Learn Graphics, Photography, Film making & video editing, One-on-one training. Call: 6467494

and was taken to the GPHC where he too was admitted and is a patient in the Intensive Care Unit. Thom’s mother claims, she cannot believe what the Prison Authorities are telling her about the actions of her son, since she does not know him to be an aggressive person. The Guyana Prison Services has since confirmed that the police have been called in and investigations into the incidents that have led to two prisoners being patients at the GPHC have commenced.

Queens couple charged ...

One General Domestic, must know to cook. Apply @ Keyfood, next door to Post Office, McDoom

Seamstress and Tailor. Contact: 689-5877/223-4390 Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm

MASSAGE/HEALTH Herbal remedies: Diabetes, Hypertension, Infertility, Menstrual disorders, enlarged prostate, Kidney & Gall stones etc. Call Sparman #676-5924

Looking to buy a house or empty land, Preferences-EBD Public road. Buyer #1917-6225810/694-3331

Female workers wanted just finish writing CXC exam 2018. Call: 622-5518

CAR RENTAL

EDUCATION

1 Air compressor 15HP 3 Phase 230/220 volts. Call: 6281486/698-1134.

From page 24 Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels in relation to claims that Prison Officers might have had something to do with Thom’s present state, Mr. Samuels said, prison officers are in no way involved with what happened to Thom.He also confirmed that Thom was in an altercation with three prisoners, one of whom he stabbed. That prisoner was taken to GPHC where he was admitted and received treatment for his injuries. Subsequent to that, Thom was found injured in his cell

One professional seamstress at an expanding company, working experience is required. Age 28-45. Contact#672-4695 Female supervisor 35-55, male desks staff 30-48 233 South road, Lacytown. Tel#225-0198. Experience waiter/waitress, chef/assistant cook. Call us 225-7933 or visit 172 Sheriff Street. PROPERTY FOR SALE Lot 15 Public road #2 Village. West Coast Berbice. 49ft by 10,314ft. $18M. Contact:6487109/686-4818 3 storey buliding located in Laluni street, Queenstown. Price $90 million neg. Call: 672-1920 5 bedroom house located in 19th Ave Diamond. Price $25 Million neg. Call: 672-1920 Corner Lot Diamond, EBD Land 61’x110'- House 30’x50' G$32M Furnished Serious enquiries only. #613-6631/6182603 3 story commercial building,120ftX60ft Building 62ftX30ft Location- Lot 1486, Plot B Herstelling, EBD, reduced price Contact: 6093777/686-0522

was indeed receiving income as an electrical contractor. Altogether, the Sukhdeos received $75,864.74 in Medicaid and $16,132 in food stamps to which they were not entitled. The Sukhdeos were both arraigned on the charges in Queens Criminal Court Monday evening and released on their own recognizance pending their reappearance in court on June 12. The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. Inspector General Leahy Scott thanked the New York City Human Resources Administration for their assistance with the investigation, and Queens County District Attorney Brown and his office for their assistance with the investigation and for prosecuting this matter.

A ray of hope for cycle ... From page 12 Dr. Ivan-Crandon, a Jamaicabased Guyanese. Clarke explained that the MRI scan had revealed that the tumor was situated in the centre of the brain and there was excessive fluid retention. They were referred to the leading Neurosurgeon in the country, Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi. The three-time junior gold medalist underwent her first surgery on April 13, 2018 at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Her condition, her mother said, improved a little. It was then that Ross’ case was referred by Dr. Dhuki to Dr. Crandon who was visiting from Jamaica. “Dr. Crandon did the biopsy (two) Wednesdays ago, Dr. Dukhi had indicated to us that where the tumor is located, it is in a critical spot in the centre of the brain,” Clarke explained. Persons desirous of making contact with Ross and her mother and those willing to assist her in any way can do so on telephone numbers 592-337-4456 or 592-683-6106.

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 06, 2018

Customs or ker s meet to discuss Customs,, postal w wor ork ers oved rrela ela tions ce impr impro elations tions,, e-Commer e-Commerce

ustoms and postal officers from the Caribbean, met in Guyana for round table discussions aimed at helping the postal services improve working relations with Customs to meet the demand of customers, improve revenue streams and protect borders. The occasion was the joint World Customs Organisation (WCO) Universal Postal Union (UPU) workshop where delegates from both sides discussed data exchange for smoother clearance of goods and the establishment of an agreed system of operation that will better the working relations between Customs and Post. The one-week engagement was attended by UPU experts from North America

Minister Hughes with the participants of the recent workshop. and Europe who deliberated on the exchange of electronic data, the Customs Declaration System (CDS), security and ecommerce among other modern best practices, the Guyana Revenue Authority disclosed of the event.

“These important discussions come at a time when the GRA has commenced the implementation of the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) World. This internet-based solution

will enable the GRA to improve clearance times for cargo and strengthen revenue collection. Having already launched the Manifest Module of ASYCUDA, the GRA is moving next to pilot the Single Administrative Document (SAD) in August 2018.” At the opening ceremony on May 28, remarks were offered by Minister of Public

Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes; GRA’s Deputy Commissioner-General, Hema Khan; UPU Regional Programme Coordinator, Owena Beepot-Pryce; WCO Technical Officer, Pashupati N. Pandey; and LaPoste Americas Area Manager, Georges Benoit and Postmaster General Karen Brown. Also in attendance were representatives from re-

nowned postal services such as Royal Mail, Canada Post and the United States Postal Service (USPS). UPU is an agency of the United Nations (UN) that coordinates postal policies. It also works with key stakeholders through Operational Readiness for e-Commerce (ORE) with the aim of improving operational efficiency of postal operators.

Queens couple charged with welfare fraud New York - New York State Inspector General, Catherine Leahy Scott, and Queens County District Attorney, Richard A. Brown, has announced the arrest of a Queens husband and wife accused of stealing nearly $92,000 in welfare food stamp and healthcare benefits by concealing income the couple earned through employment. Dhaneshwar Sukhdeo, 42, and Samantha Sukhdeo, 46, of Lefferts Boulevard, were each arrested and charged with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, Welfare Fraud in the Second Degree, Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree and twelve counts each of Falsifying Business

Records in the First Degree and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, all felonies. The charges allege the couple falsified applications for public assistance benefits enabling them to receive $16,132 in food stamp benefits and $75,864 in Medicaid coverage to which they were not entitled. “Through a brazen fraud, these defendants concealed their employment income so they could steal taxpayer funded public benefits to which they were not entitled,” said Inspector General Leahy Scott. “I will continue to use all of the resources at my

disposal to protect the integrity of the public benefits system for those who are truly in the most need of financial assistance.” “Food stamps and medicaid benefits are intended to help the truly needy. The defendants in this case, however, are alleged to have taken advantage of the system by downplaying their income to collect assistance – making all taxpayers victims of their con,” said District Attorney Brown. “I want to thank Inspector General Leahy Scott and her office for their commitment to uncovering welfare fraud. My office will continue to work diligently with our law enforcement partners to stop those who would game the system for their own financial gain.” An investigation by Inspector General Leahy Scott found that between 2009 and 2016, the Sukhdeos fraudulently obtained $91,996 in welfare benefits to which they were not entitled by repeatedly submitting documents falsifying and concealing their household income when applying for food stamps (also known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP) and Medicaid coverage. Medicaid is a joint federalstate programme that provides health coverage for low income and at-risk individuals. In repeated applications and recertifications for the benefits, (Continued on page 26)

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 06, 2018

Woman, spouse on trial for killing her uncle

One-year-old feud leads to stabbing death

Vishwantie Ragnauth, Nyron’s reputed wife

ishwantie Ragnauth and her reputed husband, Nyron Thakurdyal, will go on trial this morning for the murder of her 39 yearold uncle who was stabbed to death almost four years ago, at Patentia, West Bank Demerara. The two murder accused were arraigned before Justice Sandil Kissoon yesterday, hours after a ceremonial parade which marked the opening of the Demerara Assizes.The indictment against the two was presented by Prosecutor Lisa Cave in association with Prosecutor Orinthia Schmidt. It is alleged that on December

MURDER ACCUSED: Nyron Thakurdyal

26, 2014 (Boxing Day), at Patentia, West Bank Demerara, they murdered Sunil Ramsundar, an uncle of Ragnauth. Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes has been retained to represent Ragnauth and Thakurdyal, who both pleaded not guilty to the charge.A total of 10 witnesses including police ranks and civilians are expected to testify on behalf of the state. According to reports, on Boxing Day 2014, Ramsundar was allegedly stabbed and killed by his niece and her spouse, after he attempted to settle a disagreement. It was reported that on the fatal day, Ragnauth

assaulted her mother, who is Ramsundar’s sister. Upon seeing his sister crying, the now dead man had approached her to inquire of the problem. After an explanation was given to him, Ramsundar then confronted his niece and an argument ensued between them. Things escalated, and Ragnauth’s spouse and Ramsundar became involved in a scuffle, during which Ramsundar was allegedly stabbed about the body by his niece and the man. The injured man collapsed and was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

one-year-old feud between 20-yearold Richard Noel and Timothy McKenzie, over Noel’s sister ended on Monday with McKenzie in the company of another friend, stabbing Noel in the vicinity of the Stabroek Bus Park. Noel died later that day as a result of injuries received. The suspect and deceased were known to each other, both being residents of Kitty. Noel resided at 39 William Street, Kitty and McKenzie, at Thomas Street, Kitty. The two men first crossed swords a year ago, when McKenzie hit Noel’s sister, Tatyann Green, which resulted in the suspect and deceased getting into a fight. Tatyann Green, who was the centre of this contention, told this publication, that as recent as last Sunday, McKenzie approached her brother (Noel) on the seawalls while (Noel) was with another brother and asked him if he wanted problems. Her brother (Noel) did not take on the suspect and the two brothers left the seawalls.Ms. Green said she learnt of what happened to her brother, from friends he was with at the time. Sometime around 1:15 pm on Monday, in the vicinity of the Number 32 and Number 42 Bus Parks on Cornhill Streets, Stabroek, McKenzie and Randy Bowen approached Noel and asked him if he wanted problems.Noel walked away from the suspects, which seemed to aggravate the two suspects, causing them to go after Noel and stabbing him two times to the chest.Noel fell to the ground. The suspects were then seen stomping Noel in the chest.Noel was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the

Stabbing Victim (Noel Richard) Georgetown Public Hospital Cooperation (GPHC), where he was seen by a doctor and admitted in a critical condition.Noel’s mother, Geranium Cliffe, was at the hospital around 9:00pm on Monday night, hoping that her son would have recovered when she received the news from doctors that her son died from complications in relation to his injuries. Police in a statement had confirmed initial reports of a wounding committed on Richard Noel a vendor of Kitty, by Timothy McKenzie also of Kitty, but have since updated their statement to confirm Noel’s death at the (GPHC). Attempts were made to locate the main suspect at his home, but have since proven futile. Investigations are continuing.

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 06, 2018

Mother claims foul play ... WANT

FOR RENT

WANTED

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.- CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620