Kaieteur News
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Friday June 08, 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
PEG RETIREMENT AGE AT 60 The last five decades have seen a rapid increase in lifespan in Guyana. People are living as much as a decade longer and have been staying much healthier later in life, yet the retirement age remains at 55 in Guyana for public servants. It is not because aging has been slowed or reversed, but because people in general around the world are staying healthy at a more advanced age. Retiring at age 55 in Guyana has been an indoctrinated British policy which Britain bequeathed to most of its colonies in the Caribbean, Africa and elsewhere. At 55, most people are in the prime of their life, energetic and experienced. The better health in older age stems from public health efforts globally to improve living conditions and prevent disease, and from improved medical interventions. In the past half century, life span in most countries, including Guyana has grown at a rate of 2.5 years per decade, or about six hours per day. Except for Guyana and a few other countries, the average retirement age is 65 years or older. In Britain, Europe, the U.S. and Canada, the average retirement age is 65 years. It is possible that if we continue to make progress in reducing mortality in Guyana, then most children born in the 1990s will live to see their 100th birthday in the 22nd century. And if gains in life expectancy continue to be made at the same pace as during the last century, more than half of the children alive today may see 100 candles on their birthday cake. In Guyana, the average lifespan has increased from 56 years in 1960 to 68 years in 2016. Given the increase in the life span of Guyanese, the government should increase the retirement age to at least 60 years. Most people born in the 1990s might live past 90 and be in good health up to 75 or 80 years; therefore, it makes sense for the government to rethink its policies on retirement. It might make more sense to mix education, work and child-rearing across more years of life instead of devoting the first two and half decades exclusively to education, the next three decades to career and parenting, and the last three or more decades solely to leisure. Judges enjoy an advantage over public servants in that when they are usually allowed to retire at 65 years of age depending on whether they are appointed Chancellor. Therefore, extending the age of retirement of public servants to that age or even to 60 so that they too can enjoy their benefits from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) is a recommendation. This is quite unlike the situation, which currently exists in the public service where tenured public servants are required to retire at the age of 55 years. Many of them are still in their prime and feel that they have many more productive years ahead. Their retirement age should be extended to make it consistent with that of judges. As things now stand, public servants, teachers and nurses retiring at the age of 55 have to wait another five years before they could receive their NIS pension. These are the most difficult five years for them because if after retirement at age 55, they take a job that pays less than what they were earning when they retired, then at age 60 when they are due for NIS pension, they would receive less NIS benefits because they are paid on the average salary of the last five years of employment.
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.
Addressing the issue of violence against women in Guyana DEAR EDITOR, Wo m e n i n G u y a n a continue to be murdered at the hands of our men and something needs to be done urgently to address this issue. Our most recent case is that of the killing of Bindomattie Seetaram and Serojdeo Khan by Jainarine Seetaram in Glasgow Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice. As reported, the weapons used were a hammer and a knife. I do not have any solutions to the issue of violence against our women, but I do have some suggestions on a possible way forward: 1. ‘ M e n r e a c h i n g men’ approach: Nationally-
organised community-level meetings should be held in each of the regions of Guyana where men speak to men about domestic violence. Topics covered could include: the sanctity of life, conflict resolution, anger management, coping mechanisms/stress relief, masculinity and identity, gender roles and gender stereotypes, self-respect and a respect for others, love versus possessiveness, family life, etc. These sessions should be interactive so that the concerns and questions of men could be heard, and so that any issue that is raised could be addressed. The rationale for this approach is
that men may be more open to discuss their concerns with other men. Rapporteurs, Counsellors and other professionals should be present at such sessions so that follow-up action could be taken. 2. ‘Women reaching women’ approach: Similar to the approach mentioned above, a safe haven should be provided so that women could discuss issues such as, but not limited to, the following: domestic violence, warning signs of abuse, strategies that could be used to come out of situations of domestic violence, support systems that are available, and social and financial empowerment. 3. If not done already, a study needs to be done on the root causes of domestic
violence in Guyana. This study should include the interviewing of the families of victims, as well as an identification of domestic violence trends as derived from newspaper reports over the years. I am aware that some men are also victims of domestic violence, so it is recommended that all awareness-raising/solutionoriented initiatives also include a focus on the prevention of violence against men. What are some of the other approaches that could be used to prevent domestic violence in Guyana in general, and violence against women in particular? How could we move forward? Regards, Loria-Mae Heywood
Region 2 farmers continue to suffer from non-payment by millers DEAR EDITOR, The stigma of Cinderella seems reluctant to leave Essequibo Coast. Ministers of Government rarely visit there, even from the era of the PPP. A group of concerned farmers agitating for prompt payment by millers had to block the road and burn tyres to get President Ramotar to visit. When he visited he made no commitment, as a result the number one obstacle, late payment to rice farmers, continues to put the latter through great distress. At this moment, many rice farmers are waiting payment from millers to replant for the May/June to September crop. Those who have twice the working capital (two times the cash required to crop their lands) have replanted. The others are languishing in distress waiting for the millers to pay, while the May/June planting season goes by. This has been the Achilles heel of the rice industry on the Essequibo coast. This has been the main reason for stress-related illness and the slow turnaround of economic activity in Region two, because the region is highly dependent on the rice industry. The road to prompt payment by millers to farmers has been long, arduous and never-ending. I recall in his first attempt at tabling the Rice Factories Act, a PPP MP had asked for millers to get four months
(120 days) to pay farmers b e f o r e a n y p e n a l t y. Outrageous! Almost all varieties of rice take less than 120 days from sowing to harvesting. Totally out of context, the Rice Factories Act was reduced to 40 days and 2% interest over normal bank rates. No miller has ever honoured this arrangement in late payment to farmers. The PPP missed a glorious opportunity to solve this problem when they had received a large grant from the EU, around 2008, to assist the rice industry. These monies could have been put in a revolving fund and loaned to millers to pay farmers promptly at a low interest rate. A little was shared to farmers and the lure of 10% kickback inspired them to spend it on two double-door kokers and replacement of the Dawa Pumps. The APNU/AFC alliance had made many promises to farmers during their campaign. When the PPP exited in 2015, the first assistance to the rice industry by the coalition was to declare it as a private i n d u s t r y, i n w h i c h Government has no hands. In recognition of this, farmers ceased any form of agitation to get better conditions in the industry. They have accepted their fate and are suffering in silence. Farmers are faced with the high cost of productionrising prices on fuel and fertilizers, and the Coalition
had vatted agro chemicals too. Profit margin in the industry is very small. At this moment, the 50% paid by some millers to farmers on paddy sold is totally inadequate to finance them to go back into cultivation. They have to watch this May/June sowing time go by in grief. Livelihoods are being affected and there is no one to help! The industry remains in limbo. The injustice to farmers continues. They have to invest monies to acquire their inputs to produce paddy. The millers take their paddy as a raw material without investing a
dime. The millers process the paddy, sell rice, broken, chips and bran (products derived from paddy), then pay the farmers when and how they feel like. In short, the miller, after building a factory, does not have to invest a dime to purchase raw material to do business. Farmers sometimes borrow from the banks to cultivate paddy. Sometimes they are being paid 3 months after harvesting - this would cause them to pay 3 months of extra interest through no fault of theirs. Added to that, it is important that paddy is (Continued on page 05)
Was Burnham’s slate cleaner than Queen Victoria’s? DEAR EDITOR, Since Independence in 1966, did Guyana ever stand on its own without returning to the British Government for assistance of any kind? Would it have been best that President David Granger turned down the invitation to the recent Commonwealth meeting and visit to the Queen? Should Guyana sever ties with England and have the British High Commission removed from the soil? I just read a Stabroek News correspondence by one Gerald A. Perreira captioned ‘Statue of Queen Victoria should be removed’ and dated June 7, 2018. I do respect the writer’s
point, but I will not join in support in any way to have the historical statue removed from its current location. Having no affiliation with ACDA, Guyana Rastafari Council, Indian Action Committee, Amerindian People’s Association or the OVP (Organisation for the Victory of the People), it is their respective right if they choose to support this appeal by the writer, but from a Tourism perspective, we should be very careful with our decision. I ask the writer this very simple question. Did the late President L.F.S Burnham have a clean slate during his governance of Guyana? T. Pemberton
Friday June 08, 2018
The PPP has ulterior motives in calling for this ‘balance’ DEAR EDITOR, Bereft of any credibility or sane policy to move Guyana forward, the PPP continuously spews nonsensical verbiage to attract attention and hoodwink the Guyanese populace. A case in point is their most recent position that there is a deliberate attempt to staff the Guyana Elections Commission with AfroGuyanese, and keep IndoGuyanese from being employed there. It started with Robeson Benn saying that there is a need to have ethnic balance in the employees at GECOM. Then the party recently said that the Commissioners nominated by the governing party scores IndoGuyanese low and AfroGuyanese high when conducting interviews. I hope the Guyanese people are paying attention to the absurd views coming out of that party. The GECOM hires based on expertise and competence, not race. One should not be hired because they will bring ‘ethnic balance’, but because they possess the skills set and technical competence required of the position.
I f G E C O M i s indeed s t a ff e d most AfroGuyanese, this conforms with the ethnic-cultural dynamics in Guyana. Traditional public service and government department jobs have always been attractive to AfroGuyanese, while Indians are culturally drawn to agriculture and independent commercial ventures, hence the bulk of the public service being dominated by Afro-Guyanese (I am not sure if that is still the case). It would therefore stand to reason that Afro-Guyanese would outnumber IndoGuyanese in applying for jobs at GECOM, and may even have more experience. What is noteworthy is that Indians continue to dominate the commercial and agricultural sectors in Guyana, but you never hear the PPP and their apparatchiks calling for ethnic balance in those areas of national life. They tend to insinuate that there is a conspiracy of black tribalism orchestrated to deny them power. No one will buy that nonsensical theory. The PPP while calling for this ‘ethnic balance’ in GECOM staffing, has never tried to lead by example and provide ethnic balance in
the leadership of GECOM. In fact, ever since the establishment of the post-independence Elections Commission, Benn might be the first Afro-Guyanese to represent the PPP on the Commission. Further, the four times a PPP president appointed a Chairman of the Commission, they never selected an Afro-Guyanese to chair the Elections Commission. There were many qualified Afro-Guyanese that were submitted to various PPP presidents, but they never bothered to give any of them the opportunity. Did the PNC and AfroGuyanese cry foul? No, the appointees were duly accepted for their competence, and not their e t h n i c i t y. S o h e r e , y o u have the PPP calling for ethnic balance in the Commission staff, and they have never demonstrated balancing the leadership of GECOM. How hypocritical! I believe that anyone who is fit and competent enough, regardless of race should be given a position they applied for. The most qualified deserve to be hired. The PPP has ulterior motives in calling for this ‘balance’. Yours truly Jerrick Rutherford
Region 2 farmers continue to suffer from non-payment by millers... From page 04 planted within its season to be in unison with the weather for harvesting. Late payment commits many farmers to plant late - many have lost their crops in the past because of planting late and being caught by rains when it is time to harvest. One does not have to be a rocket scientist to see that the farmers are the
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Kaieteur News
losers in the above scenario. Successive governments have failed to address this grave disadvantage to farmers. Will the
Coalition change its hands-off approach and do something for the poor farmers? Rudolph Singh
Ethnicity and GECOM DEAR EDITOR, The Guyana Elections Commission is a constitutional commission established by Article 161 of the Constitution. Its functional responsibilities are set out in Article 162. In short, it is the machinery responsible for the conduct of elections, beginning with the registration of electors and concluding with the declaration of results and allocation of seats in the National Assembly. Article 162 (b) mandates it to discharge its functions with “impartiality” and “fairness”. Indeed, the Commission is composed in such a way to achieve this functional objective of “impartiality” and “fairness”. It comprises 3 Commissioners nominated by the Government and 3 Commissioners nominated by the Political Opposition. The Chairman is appointed by a unique formula which ensures that such an appointment enjoys the confidence of both the Leader of the Opposition and the President. The rationale is simple: this Chairman is intended to maintain that delicate but fundamental balance in the Commission. Thus, he is empowered with a casting vote. It is common knowledge that the current Chairman was not appointed in accordance with this formula. He was unilaterally appointed by the President. Expectedly, the appointment precipitated public uproar of dissent. It has been challenged in the Constitutional Court. The decision is set to be handed down today. The power to appoint important staff to the Secretariat of the Commission resides with the Commission. The political and electoral reality of Guyana is that Guyanese
vote, largely, along racial/ethnic lines. Anyone who disputes this reality is unworthy of note and should be ignored. Against this political and electoral reality, it is a fundamental prerequisite that the staff at GECOM must reflect the face of the Guyanese constituency in order for the electoral machinery to enjoy the confidence of the electorate which is so vital, not only for the integrity of the institution and the electoral process, but also for peace and stability in this land. Recently, I had cause to dispatch a letter to GECOM’s Secretariat, Main Street, Kingston, Georgetown. The letter was delivered by my driver. Upon his return, his first remark to me was that based on his observation, excepting one female staff, every staff he saw at GECOM was from one ethnic group. He proceeded to inform me of the electoral ramifications of his observations. Whether he is right or wrong is immaterial. That is the view of an ordinary Guyanese voter. I have no doubt that such view replicates itself thousands of times over across the length and breadth of this land. GECOM is in the process of hiring senior persons for important positions in the hierarchical structure of the Secretariat. The PPP is in receipt of certain crucial information regarding this process. As a result, Dr. Roger Luncheon was moved to issue a public statement. I endorse, fully, the sentiments
expressed by my senior colleague. This staff recruitment process at GECOM was visited by another unsavory incident. Commissioner Robeson Benn, at another forum, raised the vexed question of the ethnic composition that dominates the staff at the Secretariat of GECOM, as he is entitled to do. At a meeting of the Commission, the Chairman took issue with Commissioner Benn on his observation and disputes that one ethnic group dominated the staff at the Secretariat. Speaking for myself, this Chairman is unsuited for the position. I said so the moment he was appointed. Again, I am vindicated. Only the blind will not see that one ethnic grouping preponderates the staffing at GECOM Secretariat. I simply refuse to believe that only one ethnic group is applying for jobs at that institution. I know of dozens of persons from one ethnic group, duly qualified, who have applied for advertised positions at the Secretariat but were unsuccessful. Back to the Chairman. As a result of the interaction between the Chairman and Commissioner Benn, the Chairman prohibited Benn from participating in the remainder of the meeting. This caused the PPP Commissioners to walk out. One is not sure for how long this prohibition will last. Crucial decisions regarding impending Local Government Elections have to be made by (Continued on page 06)
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About the Kitty Roundabout DEAR EDITOR, I am not a little perplexed by what the Minister of Public Infrastructure has reported to have said on the occasion of the opening of the Kitty roundabout, especially the part about making right turns at its entrances and exits. My confusion stems from the fact that since Guyana drives on the left hand side, all traffic entering the roundabout will turn left, flow clockwise within the circle, and exit left at the desired point, with drivers remembering always that those in the circle have the right of way; that those about to enter it must yield to them; and that both be ever mindful of the fact that neither side is at the race track.
Any right turn in this system would create two opposing streams of traffic and endless opportunities for collisions. If the system is to serve its purpose of keeping traffic constantly on the move, drivers must follow a simple rule turn left as you enter, drive slowly, give way to vehicles on your right, and turn left as you leave - a rule that would ensure that everyone is happy and safe in this new merry-go-round. Moreover, to further enhance the travelling experience of motorists, the roundabout must function as an oasis where rush hour drivers can calm their tattered nerves, a state of mind that
can be subliminally induced by transforming the circle into a lush island of colorful perennials around which streams of traffic meander and eventually trail off along flowering entrances and exits. Enough local landscape artistes are waiting to help. In closing, let me hasten to say that the intent of these comments is to, within the context of the existing left hand drive culture, lay out my own view of how the roundabout can best contribute to better traffic management at the Kitty junction, and never to pour scorn on what the Minister is reported to have said or done. Fitzroy Collins
Private ownership in the sugar industry was far from “halcyonic” DEAR EDITOR, Mr Nowrang Persaud in a letter, which appeared in the May 30, 2018 in another section of the media, contended that for the sugar industry to return to its “halcyonic days” it must either be privatized or managed by an independent management contractor. Having read some of Mr. Persaud’s appearances in the press, over time, I gather that his stance is fuelled largely by
Ethnicity and... From page 05 GECOM over the next few weeks. If one Commissioner cannot contribute, the pivotal balance in the Commission is lost. In any event, as I pointed out above, the ethnic composition of GECOM staff must at all times be a fundamentally material consideration for discussion. It is deplorable for the Chairman to guillotine a discussion of this matter. Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP Attorney-at-Law
Friday June 08, 2018
Kaieteur News
his own experience. I recall him writing about being among those selected in pursuit of the ‘Guyanisation’ of the sugar industry. Indeed, I imagine for him and those selected, it was a terrific honour and certainly a privilege to be invited to join the then foreign owners in managing the industry. The atmosphere at such managerial level for Mr. Persaud, who previously spoke of his humble beginnings, must have been an entirely exciting new experience. It is, therefore not surprising to me, that Mr. Persaud and those of his ilk would advocate a return to those times. But while Mr. Persaud speaks about the “halcyonic” times of private ownership, for the masses it was a completely different world and time. History speaks about the attitude, contempt and disdain the then owners, and even some of the promoted Guyanese managers, had for the workers. Every advancement or gain secured was not given charitably or gratuitously as some make it seem,
but, on the contrary, was birthed in the struggles of the workers. In a few days’ time, the Enmore Martyrs would be recalled and is an incident, which serves to remind us of where we have come from and what workers went through in order to secure decent lives. That struggle led to several improvements that emanated not from the plantocracy but from the Venn Commission, which had a first-hand look at the squalid living conditions and the abhorrent working conditions of the time. Certainly, if things were as good as Mr. Persaud says they were, then workers wouldn’t have called for and supported the nationalization of the industry. The workers wouldn’t have had the need to struggle to be treated fairly. Workers, undoubtedly, wouldn’t have lost their lives as they sought justice for themselves and their families. Unlike, Mr. Persaud, for the workers, private ownership was far from “halcyonic”, in fact it was downright abominable. Yours faithfully Patricia Persaud
Social Compact demands Government sincerity DEAR EDITOR, The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) recognized that President David Granger in his remarks to an activity he hosted in honour of the GPSU’s 95th Anniversary is quoted by Demerara Waves to have said, “We need to establish ourselves some form of social compact…we have to work together…we are all partners in administering and running Guyana”. Later in the news story, the President reportedly said ”…the Government and the Unions are partners with a common objective; not competitors of rivals”. The President’s remarks, on the surface, seem reasonable. Indeed, all the stakeholders have a vested interest in our country’s progress and development and undoubtedly need to have a place at the decisionmaking table. On that score, we know that the notion of a Social Compact, which is not by any means new to Guyana, seeks to encapsulate such an arrangement. We recall, over the years, the issue has reared its head
on several occasions. We are also aware that a Social Compact has been negotiated in Barbados involving the tripartite partners – the Government, the Workers Movement, and the Business Sector – since the 1990s. At the same time, we are not unaware of the view that the fruits of progress have not flowed equitably, especially from the workers point-ofview. That being said, this does not mean we should throw cold water on the initiative. But we recognise too that for there to be any real movement on this front, foremost there must be equity among the partners.On this score, we have seen the President ignoring the request of the trade unions to meet him on several matters of concern. Then, we cannot forget that the Government has, seemingly, closed its mind to the sustained calls for the establishment of a Labour Ministry. Another important element to the realization of a ‘Social Compact’ is the fulfillment of commitments. This is an area, which the Government has fallen woefully short on. For
instance, the promise of Collective Bargaining remains unfulfilled. The commitment to safeguarding the sugar industry was thrown under the bus. And, the undertaking of giving us all a ‘Good Life’ has so far proven itself to be elusive. Quite clearly, the Government has to do a lot on this front if it is to be serious really in its utterances. Nevertheless, the FITUG does believe it is not wise to throw the baby out with the bathwater, but at the same time recognizes the difficulty of Unions to engage in meaningful discussions, if indeed the President is serious, given the actions of the Government. We believe that there is a great need to find common ground and workable solutions to the pressing matters that affect all Guyanese, but the Government must demonstrate its sincerity to listen and to act in a fair and equitable manner and with the working-people’s interests uppermost in its mind. The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG)
A reminder of a worthy erstwhile royal empress DEAR EDITOR, One of history’s most iconic monarchs, Queen Victoria (1819-1901) ruled for more than sixty years. She was empress of the world’s largest ever empire, and her name denotes an entire era of British history Her statue at the Guyana High Court compound sho u l d t h e r e f o r e b e r e spected, preserved and cared for in a dignified manner for generations to come. It was during her reign as Queen of England that she abolished slavery and put an end to the undignified slave trade that some European governments and monarchs started and enriched themselves with the exploits.
She also abolished the inhuman indignities of slavery to her credit Here in Guyana her statue was at one time, while our nation was in a nationalistic mood, during the sixties, pulled down and placed in the back of Botanic Gardens to gather moss and grime. I think that her majestic statue in the Victoria Courts compound should be cleaned and preserved to remind future generations that while Europe had some despots as head of state, she was a unique Queen. Many would be pleased if that statue would be cleaned and left to be preserved in dignity worthy of Queen Victoria Guyanese should at least respect her statue as a reminder of this worthy erstwhile royal empress. Yours, Rooplall Dudhnath
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Friday June 08, 2018
Rusal workers plead for attention amid poor working conditions
Bauxite workers in the Upper Berbice area, are calling for urgent attention to their working conditions. While a task force has been announced and headed by the Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, the deteriorating conditions at the Aroaima and Kurubuka mine sites are continuing. According to workers, Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI), which is the Russian-owned subsidiary operating the mines, has some 400-plus workers. Despite a poll and a recognition of a union, the company is refusing to deal with it. “There are so many things wrongs here. We need jobs, but the fact that the people of Guyana own 10 percent of BCGI, appears to mean nothing. Nobody cares about our working conditions and benefits,” said a spokesperson of the group of workers that visited Kaieteur News.
Rusal’s equipment in Region 10.
One of the grouses of the workers is the payment of taxfree overtime. Government had agreed that workers at Rusal would be entitled to that but Rusal said it had remitted the monies already to the Guyana Revenue Authority. After Government intervened last year, the company made a few payments and then stopped. “We have Minister
Broomes and her senior minister, Raphael Trotman, visit us in April to talk about conditions. We learnt that a task force would be formed. We are hearing little.” On the mine sites, the workers said that they are being asked to work in very dangerous conditions. “We have equipment which are enclosed and has no air condition or anything. We have new workers being
Ferguson inspects Bartica stelling, power plant projects
M
inister within the Ministry of Pub lic Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, yesterday visited CuyuniMazaruni area, Region Seven. During the trip, the Minister was accompanied by the Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford and number of other regional officers. The Minister inspected a number of MPI projects including 5 Miles road and power distribution projects. Very soon, the Ministry said, the 5 Miles housing scheme will for the first time have electrical power distributed to homes by a Government. Electrical poles have already been planted throughout the community. Minister Ferguson also visited the $205M Bartica Stelling project. The Stelling had been in a dangerous state. The Minister was also accompanied by Deputy Mayor of Region Seven, Nageshwari Lochanprashad. When completed, the new facility will have two floating ramps – one for speedboats and the other for ferries. In addition to the new ramps, the Stelling will be outfitted with a modern air-conditioned waiting area with seating. There will also be an immigration outpost along with an area to house the Maritime Administration Department
Minister Ferguson on the Bartica Stelling project yesterday during an inspection visit to the area. (MARAD), in keeping with regulations to ensure that safety on the river is addressed. The structure is being
built by Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited (CBCSL). The project is expected to be completed by year-end.
told that they have to find their own accommodations by the Personnel Department.” According to workers, the absence of an active union is taking a toll. “We are human beings too. This administration promised to correct some of the discriminations and pressures were faced but they have done little in three years to improve labour conditions in the bauxite industry. We are pleading for attention,” one of the workers, from East Berbice said.
Workers at the two mine sites come from Linden and East Berbice, especially. Rusal has been clashing with consecutive governments over labour conditions. Over 50 protesting workers were fired in 2009.
The company has been refusing to budge. The situation of the Rusal workers has been simmering for a while now and would come with the increased attention that locals are getting from foreign investors.
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Friday June 08, 2018
Full benefits as unions, BEV seek alternative for workers GAWU meeting with workers yesterday to brief them.
T
he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) says it is disheartened after learning of the decision by businessman Bruce Vieira to shut his BEV Processors Inc., at Houston, East Bank Demerara. “For the approximate 390strong workforce, it was an unexpected, and certainly an unwelcome, shock when they learnt of the sad news that their jobs, in a few weeks’ time, would cease to exist. For nearly all of the workers, it probably was the
last thought on their mind, if it were a thought at all when they entered the workplace and subsequently learnt that the company was being closed,” GAWU disclosed yesterday in a statement. The workforce is largely made of up women, many of whom are single parents, and are already hard pressed with the circumstances of life, the union said. The GAWU relationship with BEV would have gone back nearly 25 years when the union became the bargaining agent for the workers
employed by the company. “Over the years, our union and the company have generally enjoyed cordial relations and through those relations were able to advance the workers’ lot. In fact, just a few weeks ago, the union and the company concluded their 2018 negotiations, which resulted in an eight percent pay hike, among other improvements. At that time, there wasn’t the faintest of idea that a few weeks later that the workforce would be made redundant,” the statement said.
Yesterday, the company, in keeping with its obligations as outlined in the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act and the Trade Union Recognition Act, officially engaged the union on its intentions. The GAWU was represented by its President, Komal Chand; General Secretary, Seepaul Narine and other officials, and members of the BEV’s GAWU Branch. “The company explained that several factors influenced its decision to close its operations. Mr. Vieira contended that in the last few months, there has been a substantial decline in the prices being received from his customers locally and abroad.” GAWU said that the low prices have resulted in the company having some 600,000 pounds of shrimp on hand. “Moreover, the Company is required by year-end to have Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. On that matter, he shared that MSC certification process is tedious and it would take about 18 months to complete. He shared too that sales to overseas markets would be
severely curtailed unless the MSC certification is obtained.” The union disclosed that Vieira was also concerned whether the Government would renew at year-end the concession through which fishing companies are allowed to purchase fuel under arrangements whereby lesser taxes are paid. “Mr. Vieira, in the circumstances, expressed deep fear that his company could suffer heavy losses and huge debts.” GAWU disclosed that through the union and company engagement, apart from the statutorily required redundancy payments, the company has agreed to pay workers for their full year’s annual leave, though the years’ service would be incomplete when operations cease. “The workers would receive, too, their full incentive payment for July 2018, though the Company would end operations around July 15, 2018. Also, the Company agreed to pay the workers 100 hours of their pay rates that they would usually receive during the closed season despite the shutting
down of the Company’s operations before the season commences.” The closed season, which would last from August to October, sees a temporary cessation of fishing operations to allow fish to spawn. “Following the engagement with the company, the union met with the workforce and apprised them of the outcome of the engagement between the union and the company. The union shared with the workers its dismay that the situation has reached such a sad end. Some workers lamented what life could become if they are unable to secure new jobs.” The union in its statement said that it has committed itself to ensuring that the workers’ rights were protected and vowed to stand in their corner. “The workers obviously upset by the sudden closure decision but were nevertheless, in the circumstances, heartened that the union managed to secure additional payments on their behalf.” According to the union, the company is also working to secure jobs for the employees. “Some of the workers may have an opportunity to be employed by Noble House Seafoods Limited, an entity where GAWU also enjoys bargaining rights. This possibility will be confirmed early next week. Additionally, BEV is reaching out to other employers with a view to secure jobs for the now redundant workers.” According to the union, the loss of jobs could not have come at a more distressing time.“Over the last few months, several thousand sugar workers became jobless from an unwise policy to minimize the industry. Separately, more workers have lost their jobs arising from the economic circumstances that are prevailing at this time.”
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Friday June 08, 2018
Local content is not ‘spending’ in the economy
L
ocal content is a concept which is peculiar to foreign investment. A local company cannot be engaged in local content since conceptually local content is concerned with the portion of a foreign company’s operations which are sourced locally. This brings us to the second notion about local content. It is not so much how much is spent but how much, relative to the overall spending in an area. If for example, a company spends $20M per year in aviation services but only $100,000 of that comes from local content, then the local input is half of one percent which really cannot then be classified as local content since it is much too small. Buying local is not local content per se. All foreign companies are bound to spend locally in the economy. You cannot operate in an economy and not spend something in the market, shops or stores. When one speaks of local content, then the spending has to be sub-
stantial. A foreign company employee taking a special hire from the head office to his home less than two miles away is not local content. Local content is not about spending in the economy. It is about the local component of value added to the oil sector and to other sectors. Local content presupposes that there is a foreign entity, which can supply the goods or services required but that a choice is made by the investor to utilize the services of a local player. Which external company is going to come and build a hospital just to provide medical services to Exxon’s employees? Which foreign company is going to build a hotel just so that the Exxon’s high-level guests can be accommodated? Which foreign newspaper is going to come and run a newspaper so that Exxon can advertise that its corporate social responsibility? Local content then involves a choice for a local service when the same service can be pro-
vided by a local. Local content is about the links, which the foreign company establishes with other sectors. Thus, ExxonMobil needs shipping services; its needs technical services. To what extent are these being provided locally and to what extent is this local content expanding the sectors concerned? One of the reasons why countries incorporate local content requirements in oil and gas contracts is because five years ago the World Bank warned that in the oil and gas sector, local content in resource-rich countries had mixed results. The World Bank had pointed out that the oil and gas industry is highly specialized and that the needs of the high technology used in the industry are usually sourced from globally integrated supply chains. Logically, this excludes local suppliers. Since supplier concentration tends to be high, this further crowds out local content. However, in
Customs officials shot in anti-smuggling operation on East Coast Two Customs enforcement officers were shot last evening during an anti-smuggling exercise on the East Coast of Demerara. According to reports, the officials were in a coordinated operation to apprehend a gang of smugglers. The smugglers were reportedly waiting for a pickup
of smuggled goods at an East Coast Demerara seashore, around the Strathspey area. However, the Customs officials, working on intelligence, managed to track the smugglers who were in a car.The men reportedly used a shotgun to open fire on the vehicle with the Customs officers.Two of them
reportedly received shotgun blasts. According to reports, police on the East Coast were activated and were searching for the gunmen, up to press time. Commissioner-General Godfrey Statia, declined to go into details, and would only confirm two of his men were injured.
fairness to the companies, if local content requirements are too rigid, it can, according to the World Bank lead to supply bottlenecks. The blame for poor local content in Guyana’s oil and gas sector cannot be shouldered exclusively by ExxonMobil. The government has to take some blame because all it has been concerned about is how much will be its revenue take from the sector. Little attention has been paid to developing a policy framework, which would allow for the development of local content for the
sector. The government has to promote this development. It cannot wish it and hope that by magic somehow local content capacity will develop overnight. Unfortunately, Guyana has no industrialization policy much less one geared to promote local content in the highly specialized oil and gas sector. Guyana has already failed to obtain a decent deal from Exxon. We are shouldered with a 2% royalty and with high levels of cost recovery. This is all the more reasons
why local content has to be emphasized. Nevertheless, the mistake, which seems to be made at present is that the government is confusing spending in the economy with local content. The two are not the same. Unless there is conceptual clarity on this point, market concentration in the oil and gas sector will be to Guyana’s disadvantage.
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Friday June 08, 2018
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
This is the most violent, immoral, ravished country in the entire world
A
young lady broke a bottle and stabbed her best friend to death in the presence of the victim’s threeyear-old daughter; she pleads guilty and gets 10 years. A man brutalizes his girlfriend’s father with an axe. His friend transports the body and dumps it on the roadside. They both plead guilty; the killer gets 12 years, his friend gets two. The two girls who were charged for accessory to murder in this situation left on a plane for Canada because according to the DPP, the boyfriend admitted to murder so there was no case against the girls any longer. These are just two cases in which violent homicides resulted in guilty pleas and the prison terms were less than fifteen years (for more on this, see my columns - Thursday, August 10, 2017, “The evidence of our self-destruction is everywhere”; July 23, 2017, “The cruel, uncaring, indifferent society that never learns”; Wednesday, May 17, 2017, “Sad tales from a tragic country”). You kill a man with an axe and get 12 years. A year is le-
gally nine months in our prison system. Do you want more proof of a nihilistic wasteland? I met a judge in Survival Supermarket and I raised with him the light sentences he assigns for pathological, gruesome murders after a guilty plea is entered. In similar cases, he is draconian when there is conviction after a trial. He said, you show remorse, you don’t waste the court’s time. He also said there is a guideline laid down in such situations by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). I plan to look for that guideline. Even if I find it, I am in complete rejection mood against the judicial nonsense that is taking place in this country. Space will not allow it but I can provide you with literally dozens of examples of unspeakable killings in this land and a guilty plea brings 10 to 12 to 15 years. A convict hardly gets 25 years for a gruesome murder. Research will show in this country that jail terms for conviction for sex with an underaged person carries between 40 years and life imprisonment even with a guilty plea. I know of one case in
which there was finger penetration. Under the Sexual Offence, finger penetration of the vagina of a minor is classified as rape. The convicted man was given 45 consecutive years. I think there is a mad rush for “blood” in this country for those convicted of child sex. Can this be interpreted as a kind of legal vigilante style justice? Just asking! Rape is a heinous crime that carries a long prison sentence. However, I cannot and will not accept 40 years to life imprisonment for sex with a minor. This is my way of seeing things in Guyana. In my opinion, it is excessive and exceedingly cruel in a judicial system where the most savage and sadistic murders after an admission of guilt, result in punishment of ten years jail time. It is happening because the society is calling for “blood” in these under-aged sex cases as if we do not live in the modern world. The very judges that are wont to assign fifty years for sex with a minor and are prepared to give 20 years to a wife killer once there is a guilty plea.
Teenagers are put away for possession of a smoking utensil or for having seven grams of ganja yet two girls who conspired to kill their father and were charged for murder have walked. They didn’t face a trial despite being charged. The DPP discontinued the case. Article 187 of the Constitution allows the DPP to do that. But should the public accept it? Does the Constitution allow the President to inquire into an action by the DPP that appears very
strange?According to the report in this newspaper, quoting from the DPP’s office, once the two men pleaded guilty, the girls’ trial was discontinued and they were set free. The Kaieteur News reporting did not carry any further explanation why the men’s guilty pleas resulted in the case against two girls being discontinued. I am learning about the law in Guyana though I remind myself of that famous quotation that “the law is an ass.” Harry lures his es-
Frederick Kissoon tranged wife to his house so Paul and John can kill her and Harry can inherit her property. Paul kills her. John gets rid of the body. Paul, John and Harry are charged for murder. Paul and John plead guilty. Harry does have to face a trial; he is freed. The law is indeed an ass.
DEM BOYS SEH
Exxon, Jagdeo and de Coal-lay-shun got a lot in common De best way to get anything out of anybody is to seh something good about dem. People get promotion and some people get fancy gifts all because dem talk nice about somebody. One consultancy talk good bout Guyana oil and Exxon run mad. Exxon tek de statement and mek a full page advertisement. Is like when somebody holdup a banner big and bold wid dem photo pun it. Was like when Soulja Bai put he face pun some kite and share dem out to dem children. When dem boys see de advertisement, right away dem know dat if a crappo did seh something good ‘bout Exxon, de woman who does talk wid de press woulda put on lipstick and powder pun de crappo and parade it through de streets. Dem boys seh is not only Exxon stay suh. Jagdeo stay de same way. He get rid of some people who criticize him. Dem boys remember when Dr. Yesu tell him how he practice faulty economics. Jagdeo get suh vex, dat he order Khurshid to investigate all Yesu company. Was dig after dig. But Kwame always talk nice bout Jagdeo,
suh he get a house which he sell since de government change. Dem boys seh when people think about it, dem see de same thing wid some people in de Coal-lay-shun. When you talk good bout dem is sheer skin teeth, but mek mistake and seh anything bad. Exxon gon vex wid Jagdeo. He refuse to talk nice bout de list wha de company release and seh is local content. Indeed, everybody know is a stupid list but dem didn’t expect de Coal-lay-shun woulda jump and support it. De government hold up de list and seh de Waterfalls paper in de thick of things wid Exxon. Well dem boys seh Exxon only point out 227 companies, de Waterfalls paper does wuk wid 3,000 companies. It even feed money to Palm Court, Marriott, Pegasus. And dem boys ain’t count de gas stations wheh dem buy gas, dem ain’t count de taxis dem use and dem ain’t count de Chinee food dem buy, plus Church’s Chicken and de rest ah dem. Talk half and bet dat de next list wha Exxon put out gon be a proppa list. Unless dem eyes pass de Guyanese people.
Friday June 08, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Friday June 08, 2018
CID officers graduate from Canada-based JES training programme Twenty-one officers from the Guyana Police Force, (GPF) have successfully completed the Key Opinion Leaders programme which is organized by the Canada- based, Justice Education Society, (JES) project. As part of their training, the officers were exposed to information and best practices as it relates to efficient case management, forensic video evidence analysis crime scene management notes taking, and police prosecution.The officers were presented with certificates during the closing ceremony at the Guyana Police Officers’ Training Centre, Camp Road and Young Street, Eve Leary, yesterday. Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, Political and Economic Counsellor attached to the United States Embassy, Alexandra King; JES Project Manager Evelyn Neaman and Acting Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine were the main players at the closing ceremony. Commissioner Ramnarine challenged the graduates to do their best, to continue to use and share the knowledge, which they ac-
quired during their training. The acting Top Cop urged the officers to put what they were taught to good use. “Use your knowledge and skills to improve your level of professionalism because these days, the Guyana Police Force, (GPF) is increasingly under the microscope.” “As the saying goes, if you give a man a fish all the time, you’re not helping him but if you teach him to fish and then you equip him with whatever he needs to catch the fish, you’re not only helping him and his family, you will probably help a community and a nation by extension,” he added. Ramnarine noted that it is absolutely necessary for the intellectual capacity of the GPF to improve continuously. He said too the JES and US Government must be lauded for their support in this regard. “The exposure to best practices helps to develop a more positive role as the Force seeks to enhance the service provided to the citizenry. “Training must be remedial; it must be relevant and geared to prepare human (resources). It must be geared for
Seated at front row from Left: JES project Manager Evelyn Neaman; US Embassy Political and Economic Chief Alexandra King; Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan; and Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine, flanked by the Police officers who successfully completed training offered by the Canada-based JES project. a qualitative response. We all know that change is the only constant and this training programme over the past three months is part of that change,” Ramnarine said. Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan noted the Government of Guyana and by extension, the Guyana Police Force is grateful for the continued support and cooperation of their overseas stakeholders.“We must inter-
relate and cooperate to learn more from those that have the knowledge. It is in that context I want you to see yourselves as lamps that have been lit that will go out there and light other lamps.” The Public Security Minister said too that the sustainability of the project is important to ensure that there are more Key Opinion Leaders in Guyana Police Force. “We should look to ensure the sustainably of these
programmes even after the key players leave these shores. We must prepare the ground and ensure it is always ready for continuous harvest. We must have a set of personnel like you who will ensure that it flows from here.” While congratulating the participants of the training programme, JES project Manager Evelyn Neaman noted the venture forms a key part of the objective of the Canada – based Justice Education
Society.The Government of Canada, through its AntiCrime Capacity Building Programme (ACCBP), has been providing funds to Canadian NGO, the Justice Education Society (JES), to implement these projects in Guyana and other parts of the Region .The goal of the JES project is to develop the technical capacity of the police, police prosecutors, state (Continued on page 28 )
GPHC Psychiatric Clinic to be relocated to Mental Health Unit - counselling and occupational therapy available
The Mental Health Institute in Quamina Street. The Georgetown Public Hospital’s Psychiatric Clinic will soon be relocated to the recently constructed Mental Health Institute, located at Lot 252 Quamina Street, South Cummingsburg. The Psychiatric Clinic, a unit at the GPHC for several years, offers services both on an in-patient and out-patient basis. The vision is to recognise the new location as a
specialised unit treating patients according to their level of diagnosis, a government release said. Built at the cost of $61.2M, the Mental Health Institute has been touted by the Ministry of Public Health as one that will provide a higher standard of mental health service. Steps are being taken to adequately address mental health issues, with a focus on
patient-centered outpatient services. In addition to training for specialists and other relevant mental health practitioners, the institute will offer counselling and occupational therapy. The building was occupied by the Mental Health Unit during the month of February after internal works were done. The official opening of the institute is expected shortly.
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Kaieteur News
Friend of murdered teacher testifies as PI continues A friend of murdered High School teacher, Kescia Branche, whose battered body was found in a cemetery last year November, went into the witness box yesterday as the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder continued. Briana Michael told the court that she and Branche were friends for two years and that they used to go out on many occasions. The witness added that they
also worked together for a period of time. The witness also spoke extensively about how she got to know the accused and about the confrontation that was held at the station between her and the accused. The evidence of the witness was suspended until today when the matter is expected to continue. Forty-seven-year-old Matthew Munroe, of Diamond Housing Scheme has
been charged with the capital offence. He is alleged to have murdered Branche on November, 7, 2017, at Georgetown. The PI is being conducted before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. According to reports, her injuries appeared to be consistent with those inflicted by the impact of a vehicle. A post mortem revealed that she succumbed to brain haemorrhage, caused by
Venezuela remains part of the OAS; Belize abstains The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has survived an attempt by the United States Government to have it suspended from the Organization of American States (OAS). The US had proposed a motion at the OAS General Assembly to suspend Venezuela from the organism and doesn’t acknowledge the legitimacy of the May 20 elections, in which incumbent President Nicolas Maduro was re-elected. The General Assembly
approved the motion but could not get the support of 24 of 35 foreign ministers that were required to make the suspension official. The U.S. proposed the motion, which was backed by Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Saint Lucia, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Jamaica and Barbados. Eleven countries abstained, including Suriname,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Uruguay, Antigua and Barbuda, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Haiti and Nicaragua. Venezuela, Bolivia, Dominica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines voted against the motion. The failed suspension was of little consequence because Venezuela already announced that it will voluntarily leave the OAS next y e a r . (breakingbelizenews.com)
Ministry of Health establishes Medicinal Cannabis Unit KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The Ministry of Health has established a Medicinal Cannabis Unit (MCU) as part of measures to facilitate the medical marijuana industry’s development in Jamaica. This was disclosed in a ministry paper tabled by Portfolio Minister, Dr Christopher Tufton, in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. To date, the MCU has registered approximately 61 medicinal cannabis products, manufactured locally and overseas. The ministry paper informed that permits for locally manufactured products must be obtained from the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) and Pharmacy Council. It added that without the permits, companies supplying registered products have no choice but to import these for local distribution. “Import permits, granted by the MCU, and distribution licences will be required for companies to import drugs produced overseas. Distribution licences are obtained from the Ministry of Health and Pharmacy Council. This has been a hindrance in the local production and availability of these products for use by patients,” the ministry paper stated. Though not mandatory,
the ministry strongly recommends training in the area of medicinal cannabis for all persons involved in providing these products for patients. Training can be done locally, overseas, face-to-face or online. “A registry of trained persons is kept at the ministry. To date, 137 persons have been trained in the use of medicinal cannabis, which includes physicians, pharmacists and researchers,” the document said. Since July 2017, the MCU has done or facilitated the following activities: the registration of 61 medicinal cannabis products and five medicinal cannabis applicators (devices); and providing two local manufacturing entities with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification for producing medicinal cannabis products. Additionally, more than 30 travel permits were awarded to tourists/visitors/ returning residents to bring in prescription products not available locally; and five per-
mits have been granted to local residents to use medicinal cannabis as recommended by their physicians. “These patients have also been facilitated with importation permits for their prescription items due to local unavailability. Draft Ethical Guidelines for Medicinal Cannabis Research have been completed by a local consultant to facilitate local clinical trials involving medicinal cannabis,” the ministry paper informed. Meanwhile, the document noted that a public education strategy is urgently required to address the implications of changes in the treatment of cannabis for various groups in the society, particularly youth, as well as to address the wide societal perception that marijuana is a safe drug. It noted that all components of the programme should emphasise prevention of use by the vulnerable – children, pregnant mothers, and persons living with or predisposed to mental illness — among other key groups.
blunt trauma to the head. Police impounded Munroe’s vehicle, which had sustained damage, and had a missing bumper. Munroe reportedly told police that he had driven into a pothole on East Coast Demerara. He was reportedly unable to show police the location.
Matthew Munroe; Murdered: Kescia Branche
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Kaieteur News
Oil Companies must make disaster response, compensation plans public-NRGI Minister of State, Joseph Harmon
The Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) is of the firm view that oil companies should allow the government and civil society to hold them to account for their mitigation strategies. To do this, the New Yorkbased entity stressed that oil companies must ensure that all impact assessments, monitoring plans, disaster response plans, compensation and/or resettlement plans, and project closure plans are well-prepared, timely, and publicly available. The entity stressed in one of its reports to emerging oil producing countries, Guyana included, that a request from companies in this regard is considered an international best practice. Further to this, it called on Governments to ensure that operators have available funds for mitigation commitments throughout the life cycle of oil projects. As for the public, the transparency body said that every citizen has the right to question if the government’s
policy on impact mitigation is of a high standard, and if oil companies follow it. If the government’s policy is not of a high standard, NRGI said that citizens should seek answers on whether the company instead, takes the necessary extra steps to meet a strong international standard. NATIONAL PLAN Even though oil production is set to kick off in 2020, the Government is still to complete a national oil spill response plan. This was confirmed recently by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon. He was at the time, responding to questions from this newspaper as it relates to the oil spill response plan and a timeline for its completion. The Minister of State noted that while he could not provide a timeline for the completion of the project, “it remains a work in progress.” Harmon said, “(Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael) Trotman addressed
Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman
this at the Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit (GIPEX) that work is going on in that regard and it involves the Civil Defence Commission, the communities that are part of an ongoing outreach by not only ExxonMobil but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Environment…” The Cabinet Secretary added, “So the plan is not complete. It is a work in progress and we trust that at the end of it, we will all have a plan that we are all comfortable with. I can say that we are getting good advice on international best practices in this regard…” OPTIMISM From all indications, it appears that the coalition administration is confident that the necessary safeguards are in place to deal with any possible environmental implication that would result from petroleum operations offshore Guyana. In fact, Minister of Natu-
ral Resources, Raphael Trotman noted a few weeks ago that like many members of civil society, the topic of oil spill response and preparedness is something he is concerned about. The Minister stated, “I know there have been different interpretations but ExxonMobil has demonstrated that it is doing all that it can do and it has acquired the very best of technology that the world has to offer to date for design and construction of FPSO and various subsea architecture to deploy…We are also working with the Civil Defense Commission while preparing a national response plan.” Trotman added, “I have seen a draft of it and it is in various stages of development. We are also seeking training from the US Coast Guards and speaking with other Governments for support…We are not at all taking this for granted. It is something that we are very concerned about…”
IDB to fund Bartica Solar Farm The Inter American Development Bank (IDB) is set to fund the construction of the first Photovoltaic (solar farm) in Bartica, Region Seven. Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford, said the solar farm could be up and running by March 2020. On Monday, the Chairman and bank representatives visited the 14-acre plot of land at Daag Point, Bartica to assess the proposed site. Bradford said, “We have to get the stakeholders on
board, including the Mayor and City Council and the business community. There will be meetings to discuss the project.” The Chairman said IDB needed to ensure that the land is not “under contention” before it moves ahead with the project. He explained, “We have 14 acres of land reserved for that. The land has already been applied for and cleared. IDB or any funding agency would not spend money on a land that is contentious.”
According to Bradford, upon its completion, power from the solar farm will be fed into the Guyana Power and Light grid. He said the region is seeking to minimize its dependence on fossil fuel as much as possible, which currently flies in the face of the town’s pursuit for green energy. “Clean and green energy is important. If we want to woo investors into our region, we must have a reliable supply of energy”, he added. “The region has been talking about a new power plant since 2001 and now, here it is!” In the same area at Daag Point, he explained that construction has begun on the new GPL power plant, which will house three 3.5 megawatt engines. This, he said, is more than enough to satisfy the local demand. The solar farm he said would an additional 100 megawatts to the township.
Gordon Bradford The Bartica Solar farm would be the second to be completed, following the construction of the Mabaruma Solar farm, which is expected to be commissioned in August. This $264M farm will supply all-day power to over 700 residents, who are currently receiving only eight hours of power from the Mabaruma Power Company.
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Kaieteur News
Commission lauds whistle-blowing, “Me-Too” women In the wake of a number of persons coming out and claiming harassment, the Women and Gender Equality Commission (W&GEC) said it hoping that the National Assembly adopt key sexual harassment legislation. According to the Commission, it has taken note, with concerns, the allegations of sexual harassment by officials of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, (GGMC). “The allegations were made public through letters by the victims and this signals a red letter day for women who have endured abuse but stayed quiet because of the dire consequences. The Commission would like to commend these women for their courage in coming forward to report these acts of sexual harassment.” The body said it is cognizant of the problems of sexual harassment. As a result, it initiated a number of activities that were intended to encourage victims to come forward and report these cases. “Unfortunately, victims were afraid to come forward and even when they were bold enough to start the process they chose to walk away rather than pursue to the end.” Recent initiatives such as the #Me Too movement, which is an international movement against sexual harassment and assault that was launched in October 2017, has created a fillip for those who were victims and who felt that they had to endure this harassment. “The fact that dozens of women have come forward and are speaking out against powerful men signal a new paradigm in dealing with this demeaning phenomenon.” The Commission disclosed that in keeping with its mandate to recommend and promote the implementation of legislation and the formulation of policies to enhance and protect the status of women, it has completed a
The “Me-Too” movement has been sweeping especially North America. review of the Gender Legislations, which recommends that Guyana needs to put in place a Sexual Harassment Legislation. m “While we note that the Discrimination Act of 1997 has sections dealing with Sexual Harassment, we feel that there needs to be a standalone legislation. This is one of the many proposals, which we are recommending to Parliament for implementation.” In fulfilling its constitutional mandate to promote women’s concerns in the wider spectrum of economic and social development and address the needs of women as being different from those of men, the Commission said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Guyana to support the institutionalization of a Sexual Harassment Policy. “We have also collaborated with the Social Sector Committee of the Parliament of Guyana to promote training and awareness among legislators in order to signal at the highest level that sexual harassment will not be condoned.” The Commission, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, also initiated a campaign in 2015 where
posters were printed and distributed to places of work and schools in an effort to remind the public about this violation. “We also established suggestion boxes at prominent sites such as the University of Guyana, Turkeyen and Tain Campuses, the Guyana Post Office Corporation, the National Library, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and outside of the Women and Gender Equality Commission, Peter Rose and Anira Streets as well as in all the Regions of Guyana.” The two instances of the women coming forward in the pieces published by Kaieteur News recently, expose the harassment, which is taking place. “The women of Guyana like the women in other parts of the world are no longer prepared to accept these violations sitting down. Let us all take a stand against sexual harassment and no one should be afraid to speak up against this abuse.” In the case of GGMC, a woman is complaining of being sent nude photos by a male colleague. She is unhappy how the (Continued on page 26)
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Check the motivation of consultancy companies predicting glory for Guyana- Jagdeo By Abena RockcliffeCampbell “Everything must not be taken at face value,” said Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday as he spoke about a recently highlighted report from a Norwegian company, Rystad Energy. The report predicts that Guyana will do extremely well post 2020 when oil production is expected to be in full swing. Jagdeo said, “I saw the thing about Rystad Energy and people are questioning linkages.” He continued, “Not because a foreign consultancy company puts out a favourable report we must all latch on to it. We have to question the motivation of these companies, particularly consultancies for oil and gas sectors. Some would want to put out favourable reports because they get most of their business from oil companies.” Jagdeo said that companies can be compensated for publishing reports that can benefit a selected few. The politician expressed disappointment that some local newspapers republished aspects of the report “as though it was gospel.”
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Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo Jagdeo also noted that the Department of Public Information, which he described as a “waste agency,” was “running all over the place saying we should have given away everything just to get ExxonMobil here. “I just want to caution; we should not take these things as gospel, we must check to see the ties these companies have.” The Norwegian oil and gas research firm, Rystad Energy predicted that that Guyana could rake in billions of dollars annually in oil revenue as the USbased oil giant, ExxonMobil, builds on its “stunning exploration success” offshore. Rystad Energy said
Guyana’s policy to “sweeten the pot with favourable fiscal terms” has worked at kick-starting an industry that will bring in revenue many times the country’s annual budget of US$1.3 billion. “ExxonMobil’s discovery of the Liza field in 2015 truly put Guyana on the global energy map,” said Espen Erlingsen, head of Upstream Research at Rystad Energy. ”We predict Guyana’s total oil production to surpass 600,000 barrels per day by the end of the next decade. These volumes could generate total annual revenue of US$15 billion from the oil and gas industry. After all costs are paid, around US$10 billion of profit could thus be split between the companies and the government,” Erlingsen said. He said that in the current fiscal regime, the government collects its share through a two percent royalty and a 50 percent profit oil levy. Much of what Rystad said contradicts the findings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Among other things, IMF considers some of the provisions of the contract to be overly favourable and only advantageous to ExxonMobil.
Police slap several charges on driver, conductor -after video shows children ‘packed like sardines’ in minibus
Packing Sardines? Children being crammed into the already overloaded bus A disturbing Facebook video of schoolchildren “packed like sardines” in a minibus has resulted in the arrest of the driver and conductor of minibus vehicle BWW 7259 . They have both been charged with numerous offences. A release by the Force stated that “the Guyana Police Force notes with much concern, a disturbing video of
an overloaded minibus with school children circulating on social media on June 6.” The release notified the public that the culprits have been charged with: overcrowded front seat, breach of insurance, untidy driver, overloaded minibus, untidy conductor, unlicensed conductor. The driver, Leon Jaggernaught, 38, of Laluni Highway and conductor Joshua Khan, 22, of 560
Golden Grove EBD will make their court appearance today at Court Two of the Providence Magistrates’ Court. “The article on Facebook stated that 45 school children were in the minibus. However, both driver and conductor told Police that there were 24 children in the bus. “But looking at the video, it seemed clear that the children were packed like sardines,” police said.
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Contractor allegedly forges signature on $10M pre-qualification letter An Alliance For Change executive member and contractor of Quad Constructions in Berbice, has come under scrutiny for allegedly forging a businessman’s signature on a $10M pre-qualification letter that was submitted to several ministries. The issue was brought up at the Regional Democratic Council’s monthly statutory meeting yesterday under the works committee report. Acting Chairman Dennis Deroop was sitting at the Head of the Committee. PPP Zamal Hussain and APNU/AFC Gobin Harbhajan both argued on the issue that it ought to be handled at the highest level. According to reports reaching this publication, the contractor drafted a pre-qualification letter and affixed a signature as if the businessman signed the piece of document himself. The businessman in question has since denied signing the document. A regional source stated, “This letter, he did not supply it to the Region for prequalification; he supplied it to the Ministry of Communities so that is where the businessman got back a copy of the letter. So apparently, he is using it for all the ministries- Public Infrastructure,
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Kaieteur News
PPP Councillor Zamal Hussain
APNU/AFC Councillor Gobin Harbhajan
Communities and Public Security.” This, the source stated, is “fraud at the highest level”. The letter allowed the individual to pre-qualify as a contractor, “although he is pre-qualified at the region, the letter did not come here”. PPP Councillor Zamal Hussain while raising the issue at the RDC, said that the letter was drafted by the contractor “to give credit security in the sum of $10M”. He disclosed that the supplier is “very annoyed with what is happening here and he is will-
ing to come forward to ensure that the letter is not used by the Ministry of Communities, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, the Ministry of Communities and the Ministry of Agriculture”. Hussain claimed that the contractor is being given contracts based on fraudulent activities. According to him, documents were perused pertaining to pre-qualification and the letter did not show up in the file for the contractor/AFC executive, “we have cleared this in terms of the regional tender board.”
In support of Hussain’s call to deal with the matter urgently, APNU/AFC councillor Gobin Harbhajan stated that he met with the owner of the business who is the alleged victim of the fraudulent activity and he showed him the letter that was signed by the contractor using his name. ”I don’t care which political party this person supports but if found guilty of this offence, I want to send a strong message that the full penalty of the law should be given to this individual because we have been talking about corruption and now we actually have proof,” Harbhajan lamented. He questioned how many places the letter would have already been sent to and how many times it was done before. Efforts to contact the contractor/AFC member on the allegations against him were futile. Prequalification is used to identify contractors who would be allowed to tender for certain contracts. Once a company is pre-qualified for a particular contract, it is then eligible to tender for that contract. A firm applying for prequalification has no expectation to be awarded any contract on the basis of the application for prequalification. Its only expectation is that once it has been approved for prequalification, then it is free to bid for the contract. Only prequalified firms are eligible to bid on a contract.
Reporters Without Borders urge Guyana to amend controversial Cybercrime Bill Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urges the Guyanese Parliament to amend its draft Cybercrime Bill, which could have a damaging effect on press freedom. On June 7, RSF sent a letter to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo outlining its concerns with the legislation. Top of Form While the Guyanese government has a legitimate interest in regulating the internet to ensure certain criminal activity—such as computer fraud, identity theft, and child pornography— don’t take place, RSF is concerned with several provisions of this proposed legislation that could have a deterrent effect on journalists’ reporting. Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form For example, Section 9 criminalizes receiving data one is not “authorised” to receive, regardless of whether that person knows the data was obtained by “unauthorised” means from the sender. This could pose a threat to press freedom if used to penalize journalists for publishing reports based on information from confidential sources. Equally alarming, Section
18 allows officials to prosecute online speech they believe to excite “disaffection” toward the government, and without a clear definition of “disaffection,” the range of punishable speech is effectively unlimited. Even worse, it could create a significant liability risk for journalists publishing articles that may be deemed critical of the state. “RSF has sent this letter to Prime Minister Nagamootoo because, as it exists, the proposed cybercrime legislation could have a serious chilling effect on press freedom in Guyana,” said Margaux Ewen, RSF’s North America Director. “Provisions like Section 18, the Sedition Clause, could pose significant risks for journalists publishing articles that may be deemed critical of the state or government officials, especially given the letter’s vague and subjective language.” These provisions are all the more dangerous because the Bill provides for wideranging jurisdiction and gives the police and judicial authorities broad authority to access the personal data of those under investigation. Section 37, for example, gives (Cotinued on page 30)
Commission lauds whistle-blowing... From page 15 matter was handled in 2015. She claimed that the harassment started because of her stance. The male employee has since denied the accusations. In the case of NIS, a woman who went to claim benefits after her husband died, said that a male staffer
invited her to lunch and to wanted a relationship with her. He did little to help her fast-track her benefits. The Two Brothers Corporation also suffered a different kind of incident when a newly hired Human Resources Manager was allegedly inappropriate with a woman, 21, who was
applying for her first job. He invited her out after telling her she had the job. The manager was fired after Two Brothers received a complaint from the woman. The problem of sexual harassment at work places seemed significant, with more persons speaking out.
Friday June 08, 2018
Attempted murder accused freed on armed robbery charges An attempted murder accused who was recently committed to stand trial in the High Court for unlawfully and maliciously wounding an onduty security guard, yesterday, got two robbery underarms matters dismissed against him. Kevin France, 28, of East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown, was on trial in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly. It is alleged that on October 28, 2016 at Water Street, Georgetown, France unlawfully and maliciously wounded Quacy Joseph, with intent to murder him. According to reports, Joseph was an on-duty security guard at Fogarty’s building, Water Street, Georgetown, when he was shot by a fleeing bandit after a robbery within the Electronic City store. At the conclusion of the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) before City Magistrate, Daly, she ruled that there was sufficient evidence against him for him to stand trial before a judge and jury. France will go trial at the next practicable sitting
FREED: Kevin France of the Demerara Assizes. Yesterday, the same Magistrate dismissed two robbery matters against the attempted murder accused. It is alleged that on October 12, 2016 at Church Street, Georgetown, while being in company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Bibi Jahbar of $6,000 cash. Further, France is accused of robbing Roopnarine Budhoo of $800,000 while he was armed with a gun and in the company of others on October 1, 2016, at Robb and Alexander Streets, Georgetown. The Magistrate told the
court that while Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh was able to prove certain aspects of the case, some essential elements were lacking. She added that the virtual complainants in the matters were unable to identify France as the person who robbed them since no identification parade or confrontation was held. Hence the Magistrate found that there was insufficient evidence against him and dismissed the matters. France’s lawyer had also contended that his client was never placed on an identification parade nor did he provide detectives with a confession statement. In August 2015, France had a murder charge discharged against him in the Magistrates’ Court by Magistrate Judy Latchman. He was at the time accused of killing Bharrat Ramcharran, a salesman attached to Patsan Trading Services. According to reports, bandits on a CG motorcycle gunned down 57-year-old Ramcharran outside the (Continued on page 30)
Suspect held for fatal stabbing of Kitty youth Police have apprehended the Kitty resident who allegedly ended the life of 20-yearold Richard Noel last Monday over a dispute they had a year ago. A police official said that the suspect, Timothy McKenzie, was arrested on Wednesday night. He is likely to be charged following a postmortem on his alleged victim. It is alleged that Noel, of Lot 39 William Street, Kitty, was in the vicinity of the Stabroek Bus Park at around 13:15 hrs on Monday when the suspect and another man approached him.
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Richard Noel The suspect reportedly asked, “If Noel wanted problems?”
While the youth was walking away, the suspect allegedly followed and stabbed Noel twice in the chest. They reportedly also stomped him when he collapsed. The injured youth succumbed on Monday night at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Noel’s relatives alleged that the feud started last year after the suspect struck Noel’s sister. The sister, Tatyann Green, said that the two men also had a confrontation near the Kitty seawalls last Sunday.
Govt. proposes to increase local authority areas Government anticipates redrawing some boundaries to provide for an increase in the number of local authority areas for the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE). According to Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, this was communicated to the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice James Patterson (ret’d) during a meeting to discuss preparations for LGE. “GECOM has been forewarned and alerted and they have been asked specific questions based on the schedule of organs that has been provided to themiftheyanticipateorforeseeany challenges for the holding of elections in any of these in what will be actually be 80 areas and not 71 as was the case in 2016,” Bulkan pointed out. At the 2016 LGE, there were 71 Local authority areas which comprised six Municipalities and 65 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). “I have not had a formal response from the Commission save to except that I have heard that they anticipate no challenges to ensure the successful holding of these elections,” the Minister pointed. During the meeting with the GECOM Chairman, Bulkan stated that he indicated the
Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan intention of the administration to ensure that LGE is held by the constitutional due period, which is no later than the December 7. “I went further to say that the date we are looking at is somewhere around the middle of November, but the administration at the level of Cabinet has not made a determination as to what would be the precise date,” Bulkan stated. OPPOSITION WORRY Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, said the People’s Progressive Party is very concerned about attempts to tamper with the local government
bodies to gerrymander boundaries to suit the Government. According to Jagdeo, the parties that form the Coalition Government suffered a crushing defeat at the 2016 LGE polls with the PPP winning 48 of the 65 NDCs, tied seven others and won three of the townships. “Clearly,thisbotheredthemand they know that they are facing another defeat in the future so to ensure that the optics is different; I heard Bulkan has been having discussions with GECOM that they want to create ten new local government bodies. Onceagain,theywillgotoplaces likeMahdiawheretheybelievethere are pockets of strong support and without any consultation declared Mahdia as a township. He stated that this was done in Lethem, Mabaruma and Bartica. According to Jagdeo, in many areas where you may have a village that voted predominately APNU in the last election they want to germander the boundary and create two new NDCs.‘That is what is happening now because they fear another crushing defeat. We’re watching this closely like everything else in this Government, it’s murky. He [Bulkan] should be meeting with the Opposition to talk about these things to discuss boundaries and where they are drawn,” Jagdeo stated.
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Friday June 08, 2018
CID officers graduate.. From page 12 prosecutors and magistrates to collect, and analyse and present forensic evidence as a means of decreasing impunity rates. The JES team has been visiting Guyana since September 2015 and has conducting training activities with the Guyana Police Force on Major Case Management, Forensic Video Analysis and Crime Scene Management. The JES programme in Central America has resulted in increased efficiency of criminal investigations, greater collaboration between institutions and reduced impunity rates. For example, in Guatemala, between 2009 and 2013, the conviction rate for violent crimes increased from five to 29 per cent. The project is being implemented here in collaboration with the Ministries of Public Security and Legal Affairs. Over the years, the GPF has been the beneficiary of a number of training programmes. The JES is a non-profit organization with a 25-year history of working to strengthen justice systems in Canada and abroad.
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Friday June 08, 2018
Public-Private Partnership Policy to ensure value for money in public sector projects - Jordan By Kiana Wilburg
I
n an effort to fulfill its development objec tives for Guyana, the Government will have to form partnerships with private partners. This collaboration will see private sector members participating more fully in procuring and financing infrastructural projects and services in the public sector. To guide this Public Private Partnership (PPP), the Government recently adopted a policy framework that is intended to ensure value for every dollar invested in the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP). This was recently expressed by Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, at the 48th annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The event was held in St. George’s, Grenada. The Finance Minister shared that the framework was laid in Parliament on April 26, 2018. He said that the document provides a structured platform for the local and external private sector to meaningfully engage the Government in achieving its national development agenda. As Guyana rapidly approaches oil producer status, with the attendant massive inflow of new resources, Jordan said that the inclusiveness of all stakeholders in national development becomes a pressing imperative. As such, Jordan noted that the document is a timely one. According to the document, it is Government’s intention to encourage innovation in as many areas as possible. The Government noted that traditionally, PPPs have been applied to the infrastructure sector - in particular, in infrastructure, electricity, telecommunication, water, transport and solid waste sectors, and increasingly in the social (health and education) and Information sectors. In the early stages of developing PPPs, Government said it will focus on the following key areas of development: the Demerara Harbour Bridge, the Linden-Lethem road link, the Deep Water Harbour and Container Port, the Mini and Maxi Hydro Plants and Energy Farms, Plantation Agriculture, the Modernization and Dredging of Port Georgetown, the Milk Plant for Guyana, the Information Technology farm; and Agroindustrial and Small Manufacturing arks. The Government notes that the benefits and advantages of PPPs can be signifi-
cant when they are well designed and implemented in a balanced regulatory framework. It noted; however, that those positive outcomes have to be earned through projects that can catalyze development, are financially viable, will minimize impact on the national debt and can favourably affect Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. To achieve this, the Government said that creative, competitive and transparent procurement processes as well as clearly articulated policies and procedures followed by thorough due diligence, must be applied. It said that there are, therefore, certain key pre-conditions that need to be present in the policy framework for PPPs, as they are critical to delivering successful outcomes. It said that these preconditions have been identified as affordability, the legislative environment, institutional arrangements and capacity building. On the issue of affordability, the Government pointed out that this is a key requirement of all PPP projects. It said that the options must be affordable both to Government, and the public, given competing priorities and commitments. The Government said that the rationale for PPPs is im-
proved management of scarce resources, better risk allocation and more efficient and cost-effective delivery of services. The Government said however, it should be noted that while the private sector may be willing to finance and deliver infrastructure and services through PPPs, only users or taxpayers can pay for these goods and services. It stressed that affordability, therefore, acts as a real constraint, and public bodies will need to give considerable thought to the selection of potential PPP projects, ensuring always that their choices are in line with Government’s policy priorities and objectives. With respect to the legislative environment, the Government said that Guyana already has many of the ingredients required for a successful PPP programme: a stable administration; an independent judiciary; a robust Procurement Act and mechanism; and reasonably wellperforming public institutions. “However, political and regulatory risks can be potential barriers to effective PPP implementation. A new PPP regulatory framework will be approved to provide further and concrete evidence of Government’s commitment to a PPP policy and to establish the principles and rules with which all
public bodies will be required to comply.” As for institutional arrangements, the Government contended in its policy that international experience suggests that identifying and establishing clear and unambiguous institutional functions at the onset of a county’s PPP programme, greatly assists in successful PPP implementation. It said that while institutional roles and responsibilities may change over time, as Government’s experience
with PPP’s grow, the following public institutions will have integral roles in the programme: the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Public Infrastructure, and the Ministry of Business. The Government said that strategic direction of the Government’s PPP programme will be the responsibility of a Steering Committee. A PPP Core Team, within the Ministry of Finance will act as the Secretariat to the Steering Committee and as a focal point for the day-to-day
Finance Minister, Winston Jordan management programme.
of
the
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Friday June 08, 2018
Kaieteur News
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
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 One Hiab 2 ton Mitsubishi canter PWW series $3.9M neg. Tel#676-0455 Mixing machine 200 lbs capacity, Industrial slicing machine, Rounder divider 60 rolls per min. Tel# 264-2475/ 264-2536/658-0644 Bread trays, brick oven for removal and other items for bakery. Tel#264-2475/2642536/658-0644 Pure Breed Rotweiler puppies for sale. Interested persons kindly call: 695-3150
Have your house,fence & yard to pressure wash? Call: 666-2326 Two weeks workshop for cosmetology. One Barber space for rent from the East Coast. Contact: 698-3018 CAR RENTAL
EDUCATION
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
IAE- Register for CXC, full time evening & adult classes. Mathematics, English, Business & Science subjects #683-5742/621-7365
DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL:225-7126/ 226-3693DOLLYSAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM/ WWW.D OLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
Computer classes age 6-11 $5000 monthly (3 month course) located @ 64 Durban St. Contact#615-3192
AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807
PEN PAL American Citizen, Christian 61 seeks Indian/Amerindian, Wife/Companion18-35 Tx Msg: 660-8607
WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494 HEALTH
TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)
Herbal remedies: Diabetes, Hypertension, Infertility, Menstrual disorders, enlarged prostate, Kidney & Gall stones etc. Call Sparman #676-5924
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 2 & 1 bedroom Apt furnished in Providence. Call #6721906, 216-2299/Whatsapp #1246-833-9739
1 Air compressor 5HP 3 Phase 230/220 volts. Call: 628-1486/ 698-1134. One General Domestic, must know to cook. Apply @ Keyfood, next door to Post Office, McDoom One Financial Investor for mineral land in the Mazaruni area. Phone: 672-8844
Display rack, space & parking lot to rent. Contact# 624-6783
Pastry Chef, apply @ Shanta’s 225 Camp St.
Fully furnished apartment in South (AC, Cable & Internet) #689-5877/223-4390
Drivers, Porters, Office clerk. Apply to Lot 10 Vlissengen Rd Survival Wholesale Depot
LAND FOR SALE
Land to buy within the vicinity of Tuschen and Zeelugt Scheme. Tel#678-3958/6534820
Continental Park (Double) $24M Land of Canaan (acres) $5.5M Schnoord $3.5M First St, Triumph Seaside. #2312199/608-0772 Parfaite Harmonie $1.3M $1.5M $2.5M $3M Farm $3.5M Herstelling 2nd Bridge $4M Uivlugt $2.8M. Call: 666-2326
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
Tuschen house $5M Tuschen corner lot $1.5M Diamond $4M Eccles $6M. Call: 6662326 Tuschen $1.5M Uitvlugt $2.8M Parfaite Harmonie $1.8M Tel#697-6311
Female workers wanted just finish writing CXC exam 2018. Call: 622-5518
2 acres of title land situated @ 1st St Garden of Eden EBD $6.5M Neg. Call Terrence #6387836. email: Latchmanrich@gmail.com
Driver wanted for water canter preferably from West side. Contact: 622-5428
Parfaite Harmonie. $1.3M Farm (East Bank) $2.8M Schnoord $2.2M Herstelling $4.5M & $1.8M Uivlugt $2.2M Tel#6561345
Seamstress and Tailor. Contact: 689-5877/223-4390 Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm
Part time cook and security wanted. Contact # 231-5857/ 231-5866 1 Bus driver. Route 42. Tel# 685-0569/604-7018
VEHICLE FOR SALE
VACANCY
1 RZ Minibus BNN excellent condition. Call: 233-3430 (1) 4x4 Tundra Excellent condition $2 Million #6181395/639-2490
One professional seamstress at an expanding company, working experience is required. Age 28-45. Contact#672-4695
One enclosed canter 3 ton wide base, Good condition #604-0204/264-0041
Female supervisor 35-55, male desks staff 30-48 233 South road, Lacytown. Tel#225-0198.
1 Nissan,long base canter, excellent condition. Price $1.1 M Neg. Contact 628-4436
Experience waiter/waitress, chef/assistant cook. Call us 225-7933 or visit 172 Sheriff Street.
VACANCY 1 girl for cleaning & ironing. Call: 231-0734 Wanted male and female to work in interior salary $80,000 monthly. Call: 674-1767/6932138
One general domestic, One gardener. Apply @ R.Sookraj & Sons. 108 Regent Street, Georgetown. Female cleaner, Office in Eccles. #233-2745
Hung jury for East Bank businessman charged with attempted murder After six long hours of deliberation, the jury in the attempted murder trial of businessman Deryck Jaisingh, were still unable to reach a verdict of guilty or not guilty as it relates to the offence. According to the particulars, Jaisingh fired shots at two men at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara on November 2, 2014. He allegedly discharged a loaded firearm at Sherwin Hamilton, called ‘Nasty Man’, with intent to commit murder. On the same day, at the same location, he discharged a loaded firearm at Welton Edwards, with intent to commit murder. As such, the businessman was arraigned on two counts of attempt to commit murder. He underwent a trial before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the High Court in Georgetown. However, as a result of the hung jury, which was delivered yesterday, Jaisingh is expected to undergo another trial during another sitting of the Demerara Criminal Assizes. He is currently out on $800,000 bail. According to the details of the case, on the day in question, virtual complainants, Sherwin Hamilton and Welton Edwards, were at Old Road, Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara when they received information that one of their relatives was being as-
Businessman Deryck Jaisingh saulted on the Land of Canaan Public Road. When they arrived, the two men and Jaisingh allegedly became involved in a confrontation. As a result, it is alleged that Jaisingh, who was a licensed firearm holder at the time, took out his weapon and discharged 13 rounds in the victims’ direction, causing them severe bodily harm. The attempted murder accused was represented by Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes, in association with Attorney-at-law Ganesh Hira. State Counsel Lisa Cave led the case for the prosecution in association with State Counsel Orinthia Schmidt. Eight witnesses, including police ranks, and civilians testified during the trial.
Reporters Without Borders urge Guyana... From page 26 broad authority to a judge to “remove, or disable access to” user-generated content hosted or stored on their services, while Section 38 authorizes the use of remote forensic tools to intercept private data. When reviewed alongside the potential harm provisions like Section 9 or 18 may WANTED One experienced bulldozer operator to work in the interior. Call 223-7165 PROPERTY FOR SALE Lot 15 Public road #2 Village. West Coast Berbice. 49ft by 10,314ft. $18M. Contact:6487109/686-4818 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
have on journalistic activities, it is clear that the Cybercrime Bill must be amended to include exemptions that allow reporting to continue to flourish in Guyana. Guyana ranks 55th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2018 World Press Freedom Index.
Attempted murder... From page 27 business place, before escaping with a bag of money, on April 24, 2014. Ramcharran of Enterprise, East Coast Demerara, was shot in the back after he threw a bag of money over the gate of the John Smith Street, Campbellville premises to prevent the bandits from making off with the cash. The salesman was later rushed to Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Randolph Marques, 20, was however, committed to stand trial at the High Court for this same murder.
Friday June 08, 2018
Police photographer testifies in causing death trial The trial of a minibus driver who was previously charged with causing the death of a 42-yearold pedal cyclist, continued yesterday before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Jamal John, of 53 Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge, denied the charge which alleged that on December 18, last, at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, he drove minibus, BTT 8476, in a manner dangerous to the public, causing the death of Desmond Grandsoult. It was reported that after the accident, John escaped from the scene and police issued a wanted bulletin for his arrest. He was arrested two months ago and placed before a City Magistrate where the charge was read to him. He is currently on remand for the offence. Yesterday, Police Constable Richards told the Court that he is stationed at Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and attached to the Crime Lab as a photographer. Richards told the Court that on December 18, last, he was on duty when he received certain information, and as a result he uplifted a camera and proceeded to Kitty Police Station. The witness added that on arrival at the sta-
tion, he was showed a white bus and a pedal cycle. He added that he then took his camera and shot multiple photographic exposures of the bus and bike. Magistrate Latchman then suspended the witness evidence until June 15. According to reports, John was previously charged and fined for dangerous driving after being found guilty of the offence. On December 18, last, John who was the driver of minibus BTT 8476 was proceeding south along Vlissengen Road at a fast rate while the pedal cyclist (Grandsoult) was proceeding in the same direction, in front of the minibus. Grandsoult then attempted to cross the road from east to west when the accident occurred. The police in a statement said that the left front of the minibus collided with the rear of the pedal cycle, which resulted in Grandsoult falling on the roadway, causing the minibus to run over his body. The driver then swerved into the trench. Grandsoult was picked up in an unconscious condition and taken to the GPHC where he was admitted to the High Dependency Unit at the hospital where he eventually succumbed to his injuries.
Exxon selling out of Tanzanian gas field to focus on Mozambique, Guyana LONDON (Reuters) ExxonMobil is seeking buyers for its stake in a large undeveloped gas field off Tanzania, according to three banking and industry sources, as the company focuses on the development of an even bigger project in neighbouring Mozambique. The planned sale is an example of Chief Executive Darren Woods’s strategy of freeing up cash and narrowing the American firm’s focus on a number of giant projects around the world deemed to have the best prospects, including in Mozambique, Guyana and U.S. shale. Woods, who became CEO in January 2017 after predecessor Rex Tillerson retired and became U.S. Secretary of State, has come under heavy pressure from investors over the past
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year to turn around the world’s largest publiclytraded oil and gas company as its output and earnings sagged. Exxon holds a 35 percent stake in Tanzania’s deepwater Block 2 field that was discovered earlier this decade. It holds an estimated 23 trillion cubic feet of gas, according to the website of Norway’s Equinor (EQNR.OL, which operates the block and holds a 65 percent stake). The prospect has faced repeated delays in recent years due mainly to a lack of infrastructure and regulation for the country’s nascent oil and gas sector, complicating any sale. The sources said the value of the asset was unclear due to early stage of development and uncertain future. Exxon declined to com-
ment. A spokesman for Equinor declined to comment on the sale process. He said the company had not changed its plans in Tanzania. Tanzania has moved down the priority list for Exxon after it acquired a 25 percent stake in the gas-rich Area 4 development offshore Mozambique $2.8 billion from Eni last year. Area 4, holding an estimated 85 trillion cubic feet of gas, is one of the world’s largest gas discoveries in recent years, and far bigger than the Tanzanian field. The project is also far more advanced - it is already under development and expected to start production in 2022. Houston-based Exxon has also taken charge of the development of the liquefied natural gas plant at the site.
Arthur Chung Conference... (From page 21) but, also, to the enduring friendship between our two republics. “China remains a constant friend of Guyana. China’s commitment to the development of our country – as evident in this magnificent structure – has been substantial. China’s assistance has covered the fields of culture, defence, the economy, public education, public health, public infrastructure, public security and public telecommunications.” Granger said that President Chung with his quiet and calm common touch helped to shape the country’s national identity amid the heady changes taking place within the local economy, society and growing international obligations during his time. “Arthur Chung guided Guyana to assume its rightful place within the global community of nations. His tenure coincided with the Independence of many former colonies, which began to establish diplomatic relations with one another and with other countries of the world. “Arthur Chung became President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana a mere four years after Guyana became an Independent state. It was a period of transformation. It was during his tenure that Guyana established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. He paid an official visit to the People’s Republic of China, meeting President Hua Guofeng, helping to extend Guyana’s global outreach,” President Granger said. Providing a brief biography of Guyana’s first President, the Head of State said that Arthur Chung,
who was born at Windsor Forest, West Demerara was the son of Chinese immigrants, with his father being a foreman on a private rice estate. He attended the nearby Blankenburg and Windsor Forest Primary schools and the Modern High School in Georgetown before graduating in 1938. “He saved enough from his work to be able to pursue his legal studies in the United Kingdom, reading law at the Middle Temple, Inns of Court and qualifying as a barrister (attorneyat-law) in 1947. He worked for a short period in London as an assistant legal examiner with the British Civil Service and then returned to his homeland in October 1948 where he was admitted to the local bar and started his local, legal practice.” He later became a magistrate and then a judge. Friendship Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Cui Jianchun, said that this is just one of the many areas of cooperation between the two countries as he noted that the bilateral ties have been characterised by cooperation, cohesion and commitment. “I have hope and the expectation that after this handing over ceremony here today, that there will be increased cooperation
and we promise that if there is something wrong, we will try to solve it. I am very, very happy that the President has paid respect to the Arthur Chung family and to history. I also thank you for showing your confidence in the Chinese community here in Guyana.” Leila Walker, niece of the late President Chung, said that despite the fact that the first Chinese President was born to immigrant parents, he served his country proudly and with distinction. “As President of Guyana, he served with dignity and distinction. In 1980, he received the prestigious national award, the Order of Excellence. “Guyana’s first President died at the age of 90 but he will be remembered for his contributions to Guyana in the transition period from colonial rule to independence. Anyone who reads about the Arthur Chung Convention Centre will be able to remember something of this son of the soil, Guyana’s first President,” she said. The event was attended by Prime Minister, Mr. Moses Nagamootoo and Mrs. Sita Nagamootoo, members of the Chung family, Ministers of Government, members of the Diplomatic Corps and other special invitees.
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Kaepernick expected to subpoena Trump, Pence Reuters Colin Kaepernick’s collusion case against the NFL could soon make its way to the White House. Kaepernick’s legal team is expected to seek federal subpoenas to get testimony from President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence among other officials, according to a Yahoo Sports report. The purpose of the testimony would be to determine the Trump administration’s involvement with NFL owners regarding Kaepernick’s free agency and player protests during the national anthem. The subpoenas would come under the Federal Arbitration Act. Several NFL owners revealed in depositions that
Trump spoke with them about how to handle protests during the national anthem, the Wall Street Journal reported last week. Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross testified that Trump’s comments “changed the dialogue,” adding that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft had also discussed the anthem with Trump. ”This is very winning, strong issue for me,” Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Trump told him during a phone call. “Tell everybody, you can’t win this one. This one lifts me.” The NFL recently issued a new policy requiring players, coaches and personnel on the field to stand when the national anthem is played.
The policy permits teams to choose to stay in the locker room during the national anthem, but calls for fines and punishment for any mode of disrespect. ”I think that’s good,” Trump said of the policy in an interview with ‘Fox & Friends.’ “I don’t think people should be staying in the locker rooms, but still I think it’s good. You have to stand proudly for the national anthem. Or you shouldn’t be playing, you shouldn’t be there. Maybe you shouldn’t be in the country.” Kaepernick, 30, first sat during the anthem in the 2016 season and then knelt. Eventually he was joined by some San Francisco 49ers teammates, including safety Eric
Colin Kaepernick and President Donald Trump Reid, and players on other teams followed suit. Kaepernick, who led the
Imam Bacchus... Friday June 08, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You should be feeling especially passionate today, Aries, so don't be surprised if you can't get sex and romance out of your mind.. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Long-buried emotions from the past, some of them pleasant and some in need of release, could well up from your subconscious today, Taurus. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Some exciting social events or group activities could take place in your neighborhood today, Gemini. You'll definitely want to attend. You may go with some close friends or a romantic partner. CANCER(June21–July22) Your business and financial interests definitely get a big boost today, Cancer, perhaps through contacts with friends. Career matters are skyrocketing and your financial future looks promising. Keep up the good work. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Love and romance are apt to be your primary focus today, Leo. If you're currently romantically involved, expect a wonderfully intense evening with your special someone. If you aren't involved, don't be surprised if someone new and exciting comes into your life VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today dreams, visions, and intuitive insights enrich your innovative side and interactions with others. Don't hesitate to put your ideas into motion, Virgo, even if they seem a bit too ambitious.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) A neighbor or relative you haven't spoken to for a while might suggest attending a social event together, Libra. Make the time, as it could open up doors for you that you wouldn't normally expect. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Scorpio, your working life and income are likely to be enhanced today through the influence of people who live in distant states or foreign countries. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Romance is front and center today, Sagittarius, as you're probably feeling especially passionate. This is a great day to plan an intimate evening with a lover. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You're likely to be feeling especially romantic today, Capricorn. If you're currently involved, plan an intimate evening at home with your lover. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today you might find that your social life takes a definite turn for the better. You could receive more than one invitation to parties or group activities PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Business and money matters may seem too good to be true, Pisces. Success and good fortune in these departments are for you today. If you've been trying to get a break in a creative or artistic field, it may finally manifest.
From page 40 Balgobin claimed 3-10 while Dharamdeo Lall, V. Lall and L. Singh captured two wickets each. The other quarterfinal spots will be decided on Sunday when Cotton Field SC battle Rising Stars at Cotton Field (10:30hrs), Reliance Hustlers face Reliance Sports Club at Reliance (10:30hrs), Young Achievers tackle Jaguars SC at Imam Bacchus SC (10:00hrs) and Bush Lot Trensetters play Sparwin (14:00hrs) at the said venue.
49ers to the Super Bowl after the 2012 season, was out of the NFL for all of 2017. Reid, 26, appeared in 13 games for
San Francisco last season but is currently unsigned and has also filed a grievance against the NFL.
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Rashid defends eight off the Simona Halep to play Sloane Stephens in final last over to seal 3-0 whitewash Wo r l d n u m b e r o n e Simona Halep has another chance to finally land her first Grand Slam title after beating Garbine Muguruza in the French Open semifinals. The Romanian, 26, won 6-1 6-4 against the Spanish third seed. She will now face Sloane Stephens in tomorrow’s final after the US Open champion beat Madison Keys 6-4 6-4. Halep has lost three previous Grand Slam finals, including two at Roland Garros in 2014 and 2017. The Romanian arrived in Paris as the top seed and the leading player on the WTA Tour this year, hoping this would be the moment she finally lands her first major. She further proved her credentials with a dominant, yet gutsy, win over 2016 champion Muguruza, who failed to hold serve in the first set. ”I think I played one of my best matches on clay,” Halep said. “Every day I play better and that makes m e h a p p y. ” O n e t h i n g Halep will not want to dwell on is the fact she has won only one of her past eight finals - including a defeat by Jelena Ostapenko in last year’s Roland Garros showpiece. Halep also lost to fivetime Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova in 2014, while she was also beaten in this year ’s Australian Open final by Caroline Wozniacki. “I have more experience now,” she said. “I feel calm. I feel that I have to enjoy this victory because it’s a great match. ”And I have two more days until I will play the final. So I will relax and then we will see what is going to happen Saturday. But for sure, I will fight for every ball.” Halep spent an hour longer on court than Muguruza in their respec-
Sloane Stephens tive quarter-finals on Wednesday, needing three sets to beat German 12th seed Angelique Kerber. By contrast, Muguruza breezed past Sharapova in a ruthless victory, but any thoughts those differing levels of energy burned would hinder Halep and motivate Muguruza were swiftly dismissed. Wimbledon champion Muguruza, considered the slight favourite by many, handed her serve over in the first game with a double fault on break point and Halep raced 5-0 ahead in the opening set. Halep lost focus to allow Muguruza to claw back one break, only to break again herself to seal the first set in 36 minutes. ”She started playing very well immediately and I wasn’t able to reach the level that she was playing at. It was just lightning,” said Muguruza. The 24year-old improved in the early stages of the second set, holding serve for the first time and backing it up with a break on her way to a 3-1 lead. That became 4-2 before Halep broke back for 4-4 and then held serve in a 14minute game which went to a seventh deuce and saw Muguruza blow three break points. It was a gutsy hold which proved pivotal in the
Simona Halep
match and - if Halep goes on to win the final - in her career. Halep broke to love as Muguruza wilted in the next game, sealing her third final appearance at Roland Garros and ensuring she will stay as world number one after the tournament. “I think it was the most important game of the match,” Halep said on the penultimate game. ”The fact that I could win that long game, I won the next one easy, so it was a little bit of a mental part in the last game. I just didn’t give up.” In a re-run of last year’s US Open final, Stephens once again got the better of her fellow American Madison Keys in two sets. Tenth seed Stephens broke in the third game to gain an early grip on the first set, eventually serving it out and sealing it when Keys netted a forehand. The second set followed a similar pattern as Keys lost her first service game, although there was brief hope for the 13th seed when she broke for the first time when Stephens was serving for the match at 52. But ultimately she paid the price of 41 unforced errors as Stephens served out the match at the second time of asking, sealing victory with a backhand down the line. It was the first time two American women had reached the last four at Roland Garros since 2002, when Serena Williams beat sister Venus in the final. ”It’s always hard playing someone from your country and your friend. I was pleased to get through that and play some good tennis,” Stephens, 25, said. “This is one of my favourite tournaments. I’ve got another great opportunity on Saturday and I’m really looking forward to it.” (BBCsport)
Nazmul Islam took 2 for 18 Raton Gomes/BCB With four runs needed off the last ball, Ariful Haque swung Rashid Khan towards long-on. Were Bangladesh going to deny Afghanistan a 3-0 whitewash? Not quite. With two athletic interventions at the boundary, Shafiqullah prevented the ball from going over the boundary for six and then from rolling past it for four. Then the ball somehow made its way to the wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad before Bangladesh could complete the match-tying third run. This wasn’t quite over, though. The third umpire was called in to see if Shafiqullah had stepped beyond the boundary when he flicked the ball back into the field of play. It was a matter of an inch, but he had not. Afghanistan had completed the perfect finish to the series, winning by one wicket and sealing a 3-0 scoreline. The third T20 burst into life in the last two overs, which began with Bangladesh needing 30 to win. Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, who had put on Bangladesh’s only 50-plus stand of the series, knew the penultimate over was do-ordie as Rashid was due to bowl the last over. Mushfiqur blasted Karim Janat over point and then pulled him and drove him through and over long-on to pick up four consecutive boundaries. It became five in a row when Mushfiqur brought out an inch-perfect reversesweep to bisect backward point and short third man. The 21-run over brought the
equation down to nine runs off the last over, but it was against Rashid. Mushfiqur fell off the first ball, caught at deep midwicket slog-sweeping, and neither Ariful nor Mahmudullah could find the boundary off the next four balls, leaving the newcomer on strike with four needed off the last ball. Ariful finally managed a meaty hit, but Shafiqullah ensured he would have the final word. Bangladesh’s chase of 146 did not begin well. Tamim Iqbal’s quiet series ended with a catch driven to extracover in the third over, off Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Soumya Sarkar became the third Bangladesh No. 3 in three matches, and he promised much when he switch-hit Mujeeb for six in the fifth over. But in the space of four balls in the sixth over, Bangladesh were in tatters, Soumya and Liton Das runout, one after another in nearidentical fashion, both sprinting out too eagerly from the non-striker’s end when the batsman played Mohammad Nabi towards short fine leg. Samiullah Shenwari then took a superb catch at cover to send back Shakib Al Hasan, leaving Bangladesh 53 for four in the ninth over. Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah took control from that point, tackling Rashid, Mujeeb and Nabi sensibly and laying into the other bowlers. Mahmudullah pressed the accelerator in the 17th over, hitting Aftab Alam for a six and four, but then Rashid conceded just three runs in the next over, leaving Bangladesh with a very tough ask in the last two overs.
Having chosen to bat first, Afghanistan began with a bang - more accurately, three bangs - as Mohammad Shahzad struck Mehidy Hasan Miraz for two fours and a six over long-on in the first over. Shahzad hit one more four before falling to a poor decision in the eighth over, given out leg-before to Nazmul Islam even though he had gloved a reverse-sweep. Shahzad’s opening partner Usman Ghani fell in the next over for 19 off 26 balls, caught behind trying to pull Abu Jayed. Asghar Stanikzai helped Bangladesh recover, hammering three sixes - two over long-on and one over cover before falling to part-timer Ariful in the 13th over. Asghar made 27 off 17. Nabi’s dismissal in the 15th over, Mahmudullah taking a good diving catch at mid-off, was another crucial blow for Bangladesh but the in-form Samiullah Shenwari and Najibullah Zadran brought Afghanistan back with some big hits, taking a combined 26 off the 17th and 18th overs. Just when a total in excess of 150 looked likely, Bangladesh pulled them back with spin as Shakib and Nazmul conceded only 10 off the last two overs. The two left-arm spinners finished with a combined 3 for 34 in their eight overs, while Jayed was also impressive, using the short ball well to finish with 2 for 27. Afghanistan 145 for 6 (Shenwari 33*, Nazmul 2-18) beat Bangladesh 144 for 6 (Mushfiqur 46, Mahmudullah 46) by 1 run. (ESPNcricinfo)
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Spain stars greeted by locals as squad Gennady Golovkin stripped of IBF arrives in Russia ahead of World Cup world middleweight title after failing Spain have arrived in Russia eight days before their opening World Cup fixture against Portugal. The starstudded squad posed for pictures after their Air Europa flight touched down at Pashkovsky international airport in the town of Krasnodar. Locals gathered at the airport to welcome the players, with one holding up a Real Madrid flag. Spain will be hoping to banish the memories of their last tournament four years ago. They into Brazil 2014 as reigning world and European champions, but exited at the group stage after defeats by Holland and Chile. The squad has been almost entirely overhauled in the years since, however, and Julen Lopetegui’s men are again among the leading candidates to lift the trophy on July 15. David de Gea was only a squad player in Brazil, with Iker Casillas as No 1. Now though the Manchester United stopper is Spain’s first choice, and showed his excitement with picture of the squad together on the plane before they arrived Russia. The snap, posted to Instagram, was captioned: ‘Today we fly to Russia, just four years after my debut with Spain. Thank you all for your support, very excited.’ De Gea was not the only Spain player to share a behind-the-scenes picture from the plane, with captain Sergio Ramos also posing with several teammates. The Spain players were all in comfortable travelling gear — tee-shirts and shorts —
to face mandatory challenger
Gennady Golovkin
The players pose for a photograph after stepping off their Air Europa flight in Krasnodar. having changed out of the official team suits they wore to board the flight. A picture of the 23 stood on the runway in Spain was shared on Twitter by the FA, captioned: ‘We embark on our way to Russia 2018! In the suitcases we carry dreams, sacrifices
and all your support. We hope to come back with a new star!’ The star refers to the embroidery above the national team logo, signifying how many World Cups a nation has won. Spain currently have one — for 2010. (Mailonline)
Thrills all the way with meeting...
Dina Asher-Smith (r) finished second at Oslo Diamond League but broke 100m British record. From page 37 League qualification with 23 points. Norway’s Amalie Iuel will be pleased with her personal best of 55.26. Olympic Champion, Caterine Ibarguen jumped a season’s best 14.89m in the women’s triple jump to take the victory and another
maximum eight Diamond League points. USA’s Tori Franklin was second with a leap of 14.57m with Kimberley Williams of Jamaica third with her jump of 14.50m. The IAAF Diamond League moves on to Stockholm where the Bauhaus Galen takes place on Sunday 10 June. (IAAF)
The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has stripped Gennady Golovkin of his middleweight title after he failed to set up a mandatory defence against Ukrainian Sergiy Derevyanchenko. Golovkin was scheduled for a rematch against his WBC mandatory challenger Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on May 5 but the Mexican withdrew from the fight after being suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in April. Golovkin, who had held
the IBF title since October 2015, defended his WBA, WBC and IBO belts against Vanes Martirosyan instead in a fight that was not sanctioned by the IBF. The IBF’s mandatory challenger bout was next in the rotation and the organisation ruled in a meeting on May 22 that Golovkin had until June 6 to agree fight terms with Derevyanchenko. ’After a lengthy review and period of deliberation, the International Boxing Federa-
tion has vacated the IBF Middleweight title held by Gennady Golovkin,’ the IBF said in a statement on Wednesday.’The IBF had to enforce the penalty under Rule 5H for Golovkin having participated in an unsanctioned contest within his weight class and declare the IBF Middleweight title vacant.’The IBF will identify the two leading available contenders and order them to negotiate to fight for the vacant title.’ (Mailonline)
Jamaica to Host Final Round of the 2018 Concacaf Caribbean Women’s Qualifier Miami – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) has announced that Jamaica will host the final round of the 2018 Concacaf Caribbean Women’s Qualifier, scheduled to be played August 25 – September 2, 2018. The final round, to be disputed among the five firstround group winners, Antigua & Barbuda, Bermuda, Cuba, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago, in a round-robin format, will qualify three Caribbean teams to the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship. The road to the road Concacaf Women’s Championship began last month in Antigua & Barbuda, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago each hosted a group of the first round. The participants
in each group were sorted during the official draw earlier this year. Jamaica won Group B of the first round stage staged last month in Haiti, when they played unbeaten to to top the group ahead of the hosts. Similarly, Antigua played unbeaten en route to winning all three games to capture Group D at home in St John’s while Bermuda topped Group E in Guyana. Cuba, meanwhile, won Group A staged in the Dominican Republic while Trinidad and Tobago edged St Kitts and Nevis in Port of Spain to win Group C. The United States will welcome the region’s top women’s national teams for the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship, which will crown a regional champion and qualify three teams directly for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France
2019, plus the fourth-place finisher to an intercontinental playoff. The Women’s Championship is scheduled to be played October 4-17, 2018 in Cary, N.C., Edinburg, Texas, and Frisco, Texas. As part of a year of women’s football in Concacaf, which includes the expanded Girls’ Under-15 Championship, and the Women’s Under-17 and Under-20 Championship, the Caribbean Regional Qualifier will provide access to top level international football to 22 Caribbean Member Associations. This includes over 300 players, thus enhancing an excellent opportunity for development and growth of the women’s game in the region. In total, nearly 2000 female athletes will participate in the Concacaf championships this year across the region.
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Juan Martin Del Potro beats Marin Thrills all the way with meeting Cilic in French Open to set up records for Samba and Walsh; semi-final meeting with Rafael Nadal Manangoi wins Dream mile
Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro came through a clash of the titans against Marin Cilic to reach his first French Open semi-final for nine years yesterday, winning a rain-delayed duel 7-6(5) 5-7 6-3 7-5. The 29-year-old powerhouse’s eighth successive defeat of Cilic set up a clash with 10-times champion Rafael Nadal. Play resumed on a sunny Court Suzanne Lenglen with the towering fifth and third seeds locked at 5-5 in the first set tiebreak after rain had curtailed their high-octane clash on Wednesday. Del Potro needed only two points to pocket the first set as Cilic blinked first, netting a routine forehand a 5-6. The second set like, the first was dominated by serve until Cilic fired himself up to break at 4-4 — a furious Del Potro throwing his racket at the changeover. Croatian Cilic played an awful game when serving for the set, making four unforced errors, but he was gifted another chance to serve for the set after breaking Del Potro again and at the second time of asking he levelled the match. Del Potro dipped at the start of the third and Cilic had points for a double break but the burly Argentine, roared on by chants of ‘Delpo Delpo’ recovered his drive to hit back from 0-2 and take the third set. Former Roland Garros junior champion Cilic, bidding to reach the semi-finals for the first time after falling in the last eight 12 months ago, kept his nose in front in the fourth. He
Juan Martin Del Potro buckled at 5-5 though and sent a backhand long on break point, leaving Del Potro to serve for the match, which he did with ease as Cilic sent three more backhands out. Rafael Nadal blasts back to beat Diego Schwartzman It was a case of different day, different Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros as the 10-times champion came out swinging to claim his place in yet another French Open semi-final. Nadal is through 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 after resuming in the relatively perilous position of 64, 3-5 against diminutive Argentinian Diego Schwartzman, who could not sustain his challenge after giving the great Spaniard a major scare on Wednesday. Following this victory Nadal will now take on Juan Martin Del Potro in the semifinal today after the Argentine got the better of Marin Cilic.
In brighter and quicker conditions than those of Wednesday, Nadal’s experience told as he came out more aggressively and swept away his 5ft 7in opponent, who had made such a gallant run to the last eight. The key was the opening phase of play at the midday restart on Court Philippe Chatrier. Nadal quickly finished off the second set and then broke immediately at the start of the third – winning 12 of the first 13 points that were played. He was hitting deeper into the corners than on Wednesday and Schwartzman was left to rue the match’s first rain break that stopped the competition when he was leading 3-2 in the second set with a break. He caused problems until the end but went down in a total of three hours and 42 minutes. (Mailonline)
Nadal fought back from one set down to stay on course for his 11th Roland Garros title.
Elijah Motonei Manangoi winning the Bislett Dream Mile in 3:56.95. Christian Haukeli With temperatures soaring for the 2018 Bislett Games, the fifth 2018 IAAF Diamond league qualifying event, the sell-out crowd were treated to a night of excitement, records and local heroics. Men’s 400m hurdles - The men’s 400m hurdles lived up to its top billing with Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba continuing his scintillating form to take the victory in a meeting record of 47.60 and continue his amazing run of sub-48 finishes. World Champion and local favourite, Karsten Warholm, making his first home appearance since his incredible victory in London last August could not repeat last year’s win at Bislett finishing second in 48.22. Yasmani Copello of Turkey was third in 48.54. Despite his disappointment at second place, Warholm was happy with his race, adding, “This is my second best race of my career. It is fantastic to race here but as you can see I am not running as fast as in Rome. I will sit down with my coach and see where I can improve before Stockholm on Sunday.” Samba leads the IAAF Diamond League standings with 24 points from Copello with 17 and Warholm with 14. Bislett Dream Mile - The evening was brought to a close with pre-race favourite, Elijah Motonei Manangoi taking the Bislett Dream Mile in 3:56.95 from Sadik Mikhou who was second in 3:57.10. In a great battle for third place, Taresa Tolosa held off Filip Ingebrigtsen despite the partisan crowd roaring the local man home. Tolosa of Ethiopia finished in 3:57.92 with
Ingebrigtsen fourth in 3:57.92. Women’s 800m - Caster Semenya built on her Eugene victory with another comfortable win this evening in the 800m in 1:57.25 and secures another maximum eight Diamond League points. Olympic silver medallist Francine Niyonsaba was second in 1:58.57 just ahead of Ethiopia’s Habitam Alemu in third place in 1:58.58. Semenya leads the qualification standings with 16 points from Niyonsaba who has 13. Men’s high jump - In the men’s high jump Mutaz Barshim took first place to continue his maximum points in the Diamond League this year. Barshim of Qatar cleared 2.36m at the first attempt after needing two jumps at the previous two heights as he got into his stride. Danil Lysenko, the World Indoors Champion, was second after clearing 2.33m at his first attempt. Third place went to Donald Thomas of Bahrain on count back after clearing 2.25m. Men’s shot put - The 2017 World Champion Tomas Walsh continued his great 2018 form by winning the men’s shot put with a new meeting record throw of 22.29m. With the World Indoors and Commonwealth gold medals already under his belt he is looking to add the Diamond League crown to his 2018 haul. Olympic Champion, Ryan Crouser of the USA who was second with a throw of 22.21m remains in first place in the Diamond League standings with 15 points to Walsh’s 13. Darrell Hill, USA, stays in third after his third place.
Sprints - In the sprints it took a photo finish to separate Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast and Briton’s Dina Asher-Smith in the women’s 100m. Ahoure was given the win in 10.91 with AsherSmith’s second place of 10.92 a new British record. Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Michelle-Lee Ahye of Trinidad and Tobago was third in 11.06. While in the men’s 200m World Champion Ramil Guliyev of Turkey was first in a season’s best of 19.90 holding off Canada’s Aaron Brown who was an impressive second in a personal best time of 19.98. Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards, who was second in both Eugene and Doha, took third place in 20.19 which is enough to move him into the lead in the IAAF Diamond League standings with 20 points from Brown with 18 and Guliyev with 16. Other events - London 2017 silver medallist Salwa Eid Naser of Burundi won the women’s 400m in a season’s best of 49.98 from the Americans’ Phyllis Francis second in 50.47 and Shakima Wimbley third in 50.53. Francis continues to lead the IAAF Diamond League qualifying standings. Olympic Champion Dalilah Muhammad of the USA won the women’s 400m hurdles in a season’s best, 53.65. Second place, Shamier Little (USA) and Canada’s Sage Watson, who was third, also secured season’s bests in 53.94 and 54.55, respectively. Muhammad remains in first place in the Diamond (Continued on page 36)
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Gov’t says GABF, CBC participation difficult to fund... From page 39 travel and accommodation to attend Caribbean Championships since to represent our country at such events is the ultimate achievement in sports for an athlete.” The men will jet out for their three-game series against Barbados this morning with 18-year-old Stanton Rose selected as the youngest Captain in the history of the men’s side. The full list reads, Stanton Rose (Captain), Anthony Moe (Co-Captain), Shaine Webster (Centre), Timothy Thompson (Centre), Harold Adams (Small Forward), Orlan Glasgow (Small Forward), Kevon Wiggins (Shooting Guard), Dominic Vincente (Shooting Guard), Nikkoloi Smith (Shooting Guard), Travis Burnett (Small Forw a r d ) , C h r i s Wi l l i a m s (Shooting Guard), Domair Gladstone (Point Guard) and Travis Belgrave (Point Guard). Nigel Hinds is the
Team Manager and Dennis Clarke; Assistant Manager. The women squad comprises mostly of local student-athletes, they are: Annalisa Barclay President’s College, Jada Mohan - Marian Academy, Damelza Nicholas - Guyana School of Agriculture, Kenasha Leacock Kwakwani, Makeda Rogers - Kwakwani, Lydia Roberts - President’s College, Lowquantor Gibson Guyana Police Force, Roschelle Campbell President’s College, Carron Bobb-Semple - President’s College, Ashley Khan - St. R o s e ’s H i g h , C l i ff a n n a Hunter - Mackenzie High, Saffiya Greene President’s College, Adela Roache - St. Rose’s High, Kesann Charles - Bishop’s High and Ginelle Ifill - Oklahoma College. Troy Green is the Head Coach while Ann Gordon of Kwakwani will serve as M a n a g e r. (Calvin Chapman)
National Captain Stanton Rose goes for a jump shot for Colts during that club’s two-game series against Suriname last month in Suriname.
England, Portugal enjoy easy warm-up wins, Iceland held Berne (Reuters) - England and Portugal enjoyed comfortable home wins in their final World Cup warm-up matches yesterday, beating Costa Rica 2-0 and Algeria 30 respectively. South Korea were held to an unimpressive 0-0 draw against Bolivia while Iceland, the surprise packages of Euro 2016 who are looking to pull off more upsets in Russia, drew 2-2 at home to Ghana after leading 2-0. A stunning strike from Marcus Rashford and a Danny Welbeck header gave a confident-looking England victory over the Central Americans in a meeting of two World Cup qualifiers in
Leeds. England, whose manager Gareth Southgate made 10 changes from the side which beat Nigeria 2-1 at Wembley on Saturday, dominated possession against a mostly unadventurous Costa Rica side but they created few clear chances. The match was the last for both teams before their World Cup openers, England facing Tunisia on June 18 and Costa Rica meeting Serbia the day before. Forward Goncalo Guedes staked his claim for a place in Portugal’s starting line-up with two goals in the win over Algeria, who missed out on Russia, at a soggy Stadium of Light in Lisbon. Guedes fired the Euro-
The striker was quickly mobbed by his team-mates after his rocketed effort hit the back of the Costa Rica goal. pean champions ahead from Bernardo Silva’s cushioned header and nodded in the third from Raphael Guerreiro’s cross. Captain Cristiano Ronaldo, making his only appearance in the warm-up friendlies, set up the second for Bruno Fernandes to head in. Portugal open their campaign against Spain on June 15. Famed for their physique and set-piece prowess, Ice-
land went ahead in the sixth minute when defender Kari Arnasson headed home a corner via a defender and Alfred Finnbogason made it two before the break. Ghana, who failed to qualify for the World Cup, hit back through Kasim Nuhu before Thomas Partey fired home three minutes from time. Shortly before the match, the Ghanaian government an-
nounced that it would dissolve its FA after officials, including the body’s president, were shown in a documentary taking kickbacks, Information Minister Mustapha AbdulHamid said. The two-hour documentary, “When Greed and Corruption Become the Norm”, was provided to the authorities last month before being screened in public for the first
time on Wednesday. FIFA said it had allocated 2,403,116 World Cup tickets since sales started in September, 2017, with Latin Americans among the biggest nonRussian buyers. Russian fans bought nearly 900,000 tickets, followed by supporters from the United States, Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, China, Australia and England.
PAGE 39
Friday June 08, 2018
NBA Finals
Cavs heading for 4-0 whitewash as Durant runs riot in Golden State Warriors Kevin Durant stood calmly near midcourt - and a very familiar spot as teammates Stephen Curry and Draymond Green screamed at him in celebration. Another momentous shot for Durant, and soon, probably another NBA championship. Durant scored a career playoffhigh 43 points, draining a long 3pointer in the final minute to cap his magnificent performance, and the Warriors beat LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers 110-102 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night to move within a victory of a sweep, their second straight title and third championship in four years. The Warriors are on dynasty’s doorstep. Afterward, the defending champs could be heard loudly celebrating inside their locker room, perhaps a warm-up for a bigger party to come. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, are in a hole that might as well be six feet deep. Teams that have fallen behind 3-0 in the playoffs are 0-131. It might be time for the guys from Northern California to order some champagne from Napa Valley. With the Cavs down 103100, Durant stood defiantly and almost motionless after dropping his 33-footer - just a few feet from where he made one in Game 3 last year - and effectively ended the fourth straight finals matchup between two teams who have gotten to know each other well since 2015. After Durant scored, Curry and Green rushed to his side and the trio walked back toward Golden State’s bench where the other Warriors were hugging and high-fiving. As always Durant stayed cool. ’I don’t want to downplay anything, but I don’t want to act like
this is the end of the road,’ Durant said. ‘So just get back to work tomorrow and figure out a better game plan.’ Durant said the similarity with last year’s shot - a moment that helped define his first championship - didn’t occur to him. ‘No, not at all,’ he said. ‘I just took the shot.’ There was nothing James - not even an extraordinary oop off the backboard glass to himself to score - or the Cavs could dobut think about what might have been after losing two games that were within their reach. ’Tonight will be tough,’ said James, who scored 33 and rolled his right ankle in the first half. ‘Tomorrow I’ll replay some plays and some moments and things of that nature. When I wake up Friday (today) morning I’ll be locked in on the game plan of what needs to be done to help our team win. That’s just who I am.’ Golden State will now have four chances to wrap up its title starting with Game 4 tonight. The Warriors are trying to join a select list of teams to win three championships in four years. Kevin Love added 20 points for the Cavs, who have fallen into a hole in which no team has ever emerged. Cleveland came back from a 31 deficit to stun the Warriors in the 2016 finals, but that was when Durant was in Oklahoma City and James had a different supporting cast. The Warriors won despite a 3of-16 shooting performance from Curry, who did come up big down the stretch as the Cavs were trying to salvage their season. Now Cleveland could be down to one final game with James, who recorded his 10th triple-double in
Durant effectively sealed the win with a three-pointer with less than 60 seconds left to play in Cleveland. the finals. The three-time champion can opt out of his $35.6million contract and test free agency this summer, and it may be time for the 33-yearold to find a team capable of beating the Warriors. These Cavs can’t figure it out. Durant, who tilted this rivalry toward the West Coast when he signed with the Warriors as a free agent before last season, was brilliant from the start. He helped offset a rough night for Curry, who made a finals-record nine 3-pointers in Game 2, but was just 1 of 10 from behind the arc and didn’t score his second field goal until there were under three minutes left. Curry’s scoop shot put the
Warriors up 98-97 and defensive specialist Andre Iguodala, who didn’t play in Games 1 or 2 because of a knee injury, came up with a steal under the basket. Curry finally buried a 3 and after James matched him with a long shot, Iguodala drove the lane for a thundering dunk. Moments later, Durant delivered his dagger to silence Cleveland’s crowd. ’No, that wasn’t the same shot,’ James said when asked to compare Durant’s 3 to last year’s. ‘The one he made tonight was about four or five feet behind the one he made last year. He’s an assassin. That was one of those assassin plays right there.’ Durant scored 24 in the first half, when the Warriors attempted
13 free throws to zero for the Cavs, a disparity that induced further wrath on the officials from Cleveland fans still stinging from the now infamous reversed call in Game 1. James arrived at 6pm dressed more casually - camouflage pants, purple hoodie, ‘Billionaire Boys Club’ baseball cap - than on the road where he and the Cavs have been wearing suits during the postseason. Everything is more relaxed and familiar at home for James and his teammates, who were counting on a return to their own noisy building, where they play better and shoot better, to get them back into the series. The Warriors had other plans. (Mailonline)
Lawrence Okolie wins Commonwealth cruiserweight title with third-round stoppage of Luke Watkins
L
Okolie floored his opponent Luke Watkins twice in the third en route to a third-round stoppage.
awrence Okolie claimed the Commonwealth cruiserweight title with an emphatic third-round stoppage of Luke Watkins. The 25-year-old, a 2016 Olympian for Team GB, sent Watkins to the canvas twice in the third round, continuing his undefeated start to professional boxing. The win means that after just nine fights he has two belts, having already held the WBA Continental title. Wa t k i n s w a s a l s o undefeated but finally suffered a loss in his 13th fight after being overpowered in Bethnal Green. Okolie’s superiority
soon came to the fore and he landed some heavy blows in the opening two rounds. Watkins was sent down with just seconds of the third round gone and then after getting to his feet he was knocked down again, with the reigning champion’s corner throwing the towel in. Okolie told Sky Sports: ‘It was good, there is a lot of my game that you haven’t seen yet. What people don’t understand is to get to the Olympics, turn professional and do what I have done, you have to have something about you and I believe I have. ’Shoutout to Luke Watkins, he asked to fight,
came to the fight, I got the win and much respect to him. ‘People disrespect me in that they think everything has been given to me when I have had to work for it. ’I am just scratching the surface, I still haven’t been hit hard clean, I haven’t had to overcome adversity, knockdowns stuff like that so there is still a lot to be learned. I am ready to learn on the go.’ (Mailonline)
Kaieteur News
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Friday June 08, 2018
Bowlers stun Sri Lanka after Dowrich shines with century Port of Spain, Trinidad, CMC – West Indies rattled Sri Lanka with three quick wickets in a dramatic final hour to take firm control of the opening Test, after Shane Dowrich’s second Test hundred had earlier given them the advantage on a rain-hit second day of the contest at Queen’s Park Oval. Declaring their innings on 414 for eight, just under an hour prior to the rescheduled close with Dowrich left unbeaten on 125, West Indies wrecked the visitors’ top order to leave them against the ropes on 31 for three from the 10 overs possible. Kusal Perera perished off just the second legitimate delivery of the innings from seamer Kemar Roach, carving a wide, loose delivery to Roston Chase at point, to fall without scoring to the first ball he faced. His opening partner Kusal Mendis (4) fared little better, departing to a catch at third slip by captain Jason Holder after failing to negotiate a length delivery from speedster Shannon Gabriel in the fourth over. Controversy surrounded the fall of Sri Lanka’s third wicket, however. Angelo Mathews, dropped first ball by Holder off Gabriel, survived a pace barrage to make 11 before edging an out-swinger from Holder to Chase at third slip. Replays showed Holder appearing to have overstepped but with none of the images conclusive, the dismissal was upheld by
Fast bowler Kemar Roach (2nd right) celebrates the wicket of Kusal Perera with teammates. (Photo courtesy CWI Media) umpires. Captain Dinesh Chandimal battled 31 deliveries to be unbeaten on three at the close and was accompanied by Roshen Silva on one. Sri Lanka head into the third day today, trailing Sri Lanka by 383 runs. For all the drama created by the Windies pacers late on, it was the remarkable hundred by Dowrich which took the spotlight. Resuming the morning on 46, the righthander hardly put a foot wrong as he reached three figures with the last ball before tea in an extended post-lunch session. All told, Dowrich faced 325 deliveries in seven hours and 37 minutes at the crease, striking 12 fours, in a knock marked by superb powers of concentration. More
GCB Senior Female Teamoff to Jamaica for 2018 CWI Women’s T20 Championship The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior Female Team left yesterday for Jamaica to compete in the 2018 Women’s Regional T20 and 50-Overs tournaments. The Guyanese will play their first match on Sunday against home team, Jamaica, at Sabina Park, a T20 match-up. The team previously engaged in a week’s encampment in preparation for this tournament. Over the next couple of weeks Guyana will face Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Windward and Leeward Islands in both formats. The GCB in a release said it wishes the team all the best and looks forward to Guyana returning with the titles.
significantly, he put on a record 102 for the seventh wicket with overnight partner Devendra Bishoo who made 40, before adding a further 75 for the eighth wicket with Roach who scored 39. The two partnerships crushed Sri Lanka’s spirit and enabled West Indies to clinically build on their position of 246 for six at the start. Only about 40 minutes play were possible in the first session as rain forced a near 50-minute delay at the start and then returned half-hour before the scheduled lunch interval. In the time possible, however, Dowrich brought up his half-century off the third ball of the morning when he pulled speedster Suranga Lakmal to the mid-
wicket boundary. He was getting into his stride on 57 when the weather returned to end the session with the Windies on 268 without further loss. On resumption, Dowrich and Bishoo put their heads down to frustrate Sri Lanka in a productive stand, which t o o k We s t I n d i e s comfortably past 300. Bishoo had faced 160 balls in just over 3-1/4 hours and struck five fours when his gritty innings ended as he slashed at one a wide one from Lakmal and was taken at gully by Roshen Silva, at 339 for seven. Dowrich never lost focus, however, moving into the 90s with a swept four off off-spinner Dilruwan Perera but then remained stuck there for 42 balls. Just when
it appeared he would remain on 99 at tea, he turned the last ball before the interval from left-arm spinner Rangana Herath through square for a single to reach three figures, becoming the first Windies keeper to score a century against the Asian side. Afterwards, Roach
flexed his muscle, hammering six fours and the only six of the innings, as West Indies passed 400 runs in the final session to pile the pressure on Sri Lanka. Seamer Lahiru Kumara was the best bowler with four for 95 while Lakmal finished with two for 55.
Imam Bacchus SC, NOC SC and Walton Hall SC through to quarter-finals Imam Bacchus Sports Club, New Opportunity Corps Sports Club and Walton Hall Sports Club have made it through to the quarter finals of the South Essequibo Cricket Committee Invitational T20 tournament. At Imam Bacchus ground recently, Imam Bacchus Sports defeated Imam Bacchus Eagles by 20 runs in a game reduced to 13 overs due to rain. Winning the toss and batting, Imam Bacchus SC made 102-6 in 13 overs. Parmesh Parsotam and Wayne Osbourne struck 23 each with the former hitting one four and the latter one four and two sixes while Neilan Cagodan made 17 not
Wayne Osbourne
Kevon Boodie
out. Bowling for Imam Bacchus Eagles Davindra Narine claimed 3-13. Imam Bacchus Eagles were restricted to 82-6 in reply with Parmanand Motilall scoring 28 (1x4); Khulraj Persaud grabbed 4-16. At the said venue, NOC
SC beat Gunners by six wickets. Batting first after winning the toss, Gunners were bowled out for 74-7 in 13 overs. Sheldon Charles scored 29 with four fours and A. Boodram 10; Joel Fortune bagged 4-15. NOC SC responded with 75-4 in 11
overs. Kevon Boodie slammed one four and two sixes in a top score of 31 while Sheldon Alexander made 26 (1x4 2x6). Bowling for Gunners Hemant Beharry claimed 2-15. At Charity, Walton Hall SC overcame Pomeroon Oil Mill by 50 runs. Walton Hall SC took first turn at the crease after winning the toss and managed 92-9 in 15 overs. Suresh Persaud scored 26 Vishwanauth Lall 21; Gilbert France snared 4-9 while there were two wickets each for Gregory Banjamin and Roland Kanhai. Pomeroon Oil Mill were sent packing for 42 in 12.5 overs in response. Uvindra (Continued on page 34)
Kaieteur News
Friday June 08, 2018
PAGE 41
Golden Jaguars new Head Coach formally introduced by GFF Michael Johnson, the newly appointed Head Coach of Guyana’s Senior M e n ’s t e a m , ‘ G o l d e n Jaguars’, arrived in the ‘Land of Many Waters’ yesterday and was formally introduced to the medai and public by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) at a press conference held at the Sleepin International Hotel and Casino. The Forty-four-year-old British-born Johnson, who is a former Jamaica international, English Premier League and C h a m p i o n s h i p p l a y e r, became the highest qualified national coach in the history of the Golden Jaguars. The former defender, who played more that 550 games combined in England’s top flight league and championship, has a UEFA Pro Licence to go along with his League Managers’ Association Diploma in Football
- Set 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification as priority
Senior Men’s Head Coach Michael Johnson receives his Golden Jaguar jersey from GFF’s Wayne Forde (right). TD Ian Greenwood shares the moment. Management. His references for the role included former England Manager SvenGoran Eriksson, the Premier League and the English
Football Association. The new coach was pleased to be selected from the pool of some 200 applicants and posited that
he was excited to get working. During the press brief, Johnson also stated that, “What I bring to the table is my professionalism
and expertise from being at the top level of football. I will also be able to engage with the (championship) Club Derby County in numerous ways including sports science along with players and coaching exchange so there is a bigger picture here but I understand from match results, is where I am going to be judged.” One of the more immediate aims Johnson stated would be qualification for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup; the region’s premier tournament which the Golden Jaguars has never qualified for. When quizzed about feeling pressured after only now joining the side, the former veteran defender noted that, “I’ve played in environments where pressure has been part of it. Where it has been pressure to get (promotion) to the (English) Premier League or to qualify internationally and I always strive with
pressure.” GFF Technical Director, Ian Greenwood, welcomed Johnson: “We are delighted to have someone of Michael Johnson’s caliber into the GFF’s technical department and the GFF football Family. He is the perfect candidate for the job and he stood out from the 200 applications. With his references and experience at the top level and also playing for Jamaica in the region, I think he will be able to develop and progress the senior programme.” Greenwood further s t a t e d t h a t J o h n s o n ’s background in youth development (after serving as Notts County U-16 Manager in 2008- 09’ and their Youth Team Manager in the 2009- 11’ seasons) will allow him to serve as the missing link between the Academy Training Centers (ATC) and the Senior Men’s team.
Govt. says GABF, CBC participation difficult to fund In light of the Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Sport, Dr. George Norton, stating in the media that the Government of Guyana will be unable to fund the $10 million that Guyana’s senior men and women’s teams need for participation in the 2018 Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships, head of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Nigel Hinds, is hoping that the administration’s reconsiders. ”We hope it’s (the decision) not final. But we assure the athletes and the nation that we will attend the tournament which will be held in Suriname with or without government support,” contended the GABF boss. He further stated that, “We will use funds from the Executive and corporate community to ensure the development programme for the young men and women is not interrupted by the announcement of Minister Norton.” The GABF had written letters to both Social Cohesion and Ministry of the Presidency, neither of these entities has sent a formal response to date. In addition, the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) was approached and Hinds noted that although they have not given a written response, based on talks, it
Coach Troy Greene (left) and Manager Ann Gordon (right) are joined by GABF President Nigel Hinds (back row) for a pic with Guyana’s National Female team. seems as though the GOA will provide assistance. Also, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has pledged its intention to supply buses to take the athletes to Suriname. Currently, for a few weeks now, the GABF has been paying out of pocket to fund the costs towards preparation for the CBC event which adds up to over
$150,000 a day while Nigel Hinds Financial Services sponsored the uniforms to the tune of $1.5 million which includes home and away kits, travel and warmup gear. In addition, as a means of giving the men’s side an added boost, the Federation has funded a trip to Barbados where the Guyanese will battle the home team in a
three-match friendly series. During an interview with Kaieteur Sport yesterday, Hinds reiterated that, “It’s baffling, I was dumbfounded by the response. They haven’t even indicated a willingness to give a portion, not even a dollar. Kids from schools all over the country are part of the national setup and it is a wrong message to send to the lads (by the
government).” He further posited, “It would be silly if my writings on the sugar industry, oil and gas sector to name a few were linked with the disapproved funding and we in the GABF will consider the decision to fund or not to fund final, when President Granger makes a pronouncement.” The $10million adds up
to less that 2% of the $520million that was allocated in the 2018 budget for sport. “Clearly the government has broken their policy”, Hinds explained, referencing the APNU/AFC pre-election manifesto which stated that, “Both m e n ’s a n d w o m e n ’s (national) teams should have guaranteed funding for (Continued on page 36)
rt o p S Bowlers stun Sri Lanka after NBA Finals Cavs heading for 4-0 as Durant runs riot in Dowrich shines with century whitewash P. 39 P. 40 Golden State Warriors Shane Dowrich acknowledges the applause ©AFP
Warriors players celebrate after their win on Wednesday, with surely an even bigger party to come on Friday night.
GCB Senior Female Team off to Jamaica for 2018 CWI Women’s T20 Championship P. 40
Guyana’s Female Cricket Team
P. 41
Golden Jaguars new Head Coach formally introduced by GFF Govt. says GABF, CBC participation difficult to fund
P. 41
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