Kaieteur News

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Saturday June 10, 2017

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL HEARTLESS AND PITIFUL Lest we forget, it was not too long ago when thousands of Guyanese fled these shores for greener pastures in the Caribbean, North America, Europe, Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela, among other countries. The migration of Guyanese began in earnest in the 1970s, but the 1980s saw mass migration due to rapidly deteriorating economic and political conditions, shortages of basic items on a daily basis, and a country in crisis. The mass migration of Guyanese to other countries continued throughout the 1990s and well into the new century. Many entered their adopted countries illegally, yet they were welcomed by the residents. At the time, Guyana’s was in dire straits, unemployment was high, foodstuff was scarce and crime soared. For many, it seemed that there was no future in the homeland. However, this changed. In the last decade, Guyana has seen an influx of immigrants from several countries including Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, Suriname, Brazil, and as far as from India and China. Recently, we have seen hundreds of Venezuelans enter Guyana seeking a better life for their families. This is due to the fact that Venezuela is in the grips of the deepest economic crisis in the country’s history. For over a year, the streets of Caracas have been awash with blood and tear gas. Venezuelans from all walks of life have been protesting nearly every day to vent their anger over the massive shortages of food and basic amenities, violent crime and President Nicolás Maduro’s refusal to call elections. The violent unrest has left at least 67 dead so far, and the political opposition has blamed the deaths on the State security forces and groups of armed pro-government civilians known as “Colectivos.” The sight of elderly Venezuelans joining the street protests and being tear-gassed and beaten by police in riot gear is a sad indication of the worsening conditions in the country. The elderly are angered by the fact that their once prosperous nation has devolved into a country with triple-digit inflation, a worthless currency, and shortages of basic necessities, particularly medicines and food, and having one of the world’s highest homicides rates. In the last year, Venezuela’s diminishing economy has led to a deteriorating public health sector. Maternal mortality has risen by 66 percent over the previous year, with a staggering 756 lives being lost. The deaths were caused by hemorrhages, high blood pressure and infections due to the lack of qualified medical staff. As Venezuela spirals into deeper crisis levels under the socialist administration of President Maduro, most hospitals are without staff, and many Universities are closed, as professors flee the country in droves, thus leaving students to struggle to complete their degrees. Many have sought refuge in neighbouring countries in search of a better life. Although no official emigration figures are available, it is estimated that more than a half million Venezuelans have fled to Spain and the United States, their traditionally popular destinations In light of the ongoing economic crisis and political turmoil in Venezuela, many others have entered Guyana illegally to provide for their ailing families. And while many Guyanese have welcomed them, the administration has been unkind to them. Earlier this year, the government locked up several Venezuelan women who had overstayed their time in Guyana. Instead of offering them refugee status or some form of assistance because of their plight, they were charged, fined and escorted to the nearest port of exit after payment of the fine or serving an alternative of two weeks in prison. It was heart-rending to hear the women apologize and beg for mercy. Not only did they plead guilty, but they explained to the Magistrate that the sole reason for them coming to Guyana was to provide for their families who were in dire need of food and basic necessities for survival. As reported in this publication recently, three more Venezuelans were fined $30,000 for entering Guyana illegally and ordered deported. The same treatment is being meted out to other foreign nationals who are coming from circumstances that normal people should not have to endure. How can the authorities here be so heartless and insensitive to the plight of these people after knowing the situation in their respective countries? It is pitiful.

The EXXON contract must be made available Guyanese trust this gov- how can any Guyanese trust Clearly, government’s lack of to the nation any ernment when it awarded this government when its hir- consistency, credibility and DEAR EDITOR, Guyanese ought to know that the APNU/PNC/AFC Government stifled democracy when it signed a contract with EXXON Mobil but showed resistance to disclosing its details. Such abuse of power enables government to evade accountability. What else? Like most Guyanese, I am befuddled why this contract is not available through The Freedom of Information Act. Government’s dysfunctional decision is unsurprising. And it is one in which dishonesty, arrogance and authoritarian sentiments factored in heavily. A review of a series of questions arising exclusively from government’s reprehensible track record reveals why it is necessary that government must disclose the full details of this contract. First, how can any Guyanese trust this government when it abused over 3 billion from the contingency funds? Second, how can any Guyanese trust this government when it purchased a whopping 1.6 billion in pharmaceutical supplies in 2016 without tender? Third, how can any Guyanese trust this government when it purchased another 605 million in drugs without tender from ANSA Mcal? Fourth, how can

hush-hush scholarships exclusively to its ministers and to its military friends while our youths live in despair? Fifth, how can any Guyanese trust this government when it uses scarce dollars from a 14% VAT on education to rent a useless bottom house drug bond from an alleged political donor for at least 12.5 million per month? Sixth, how can any Guyanese trust this government when one of its vindictive ministers was caught up in an ugly street brawl? Seventh, how can any Guyanese trust this government when it abuses its powers to silence citizens? Last but not least, how can any Guyanese trust this government when it selfishly awarded itself a whopping 50% salary increase but gave the working poor a meager increase of only 5%? It is difficult to comprehend Government’s cruelty when Guyana stands as one of three countries in the world with the highest suicide rate. Government needs to release the full details of this contract amid its moral shortcomings and mental anguish in this country. Another review of government’s notorious track record makes a compelling case why government needs to disclose the oil contract in its entirety. Editor,

ing practices are nepotistic? To this end, government needs to release the full details of this contract. This contract belongs to every Guyanese, not a selected few. Yet another review of government’s diabolical track record reveals that government is two faced and has an affinity for double standards. We all know that when government was in the opposition it vigorously and compulsively fought against lack of transparency and authoritarianism, etc. Today, government revels in such flaws. For example, government’s failure to disclose the full details of the EXXON Mobile contract is a clear case of a lack of transparency. Also, government’s repeated rejection of qualified candidates for the GECOM chairmanship is a clear case demonstrating that government has no regards for democracy. As a matter of fact, government’s insanity pertaining to the GECOM saga fuels widespread speculation that government plans to undemocratically appoint one of its political supporters. Government is obviously harassing the leader of the opposition to get its way. Guyanese need to reject government’s nonsense.

unethical standing render it untrustworthy. Further, social cohesion can never foster under this government who lacks transparency, accountability and integrity. This contract belongs to every Guyanese, not government. Government must release it in its entirety. Moreover, government needs to drop its absurdity. EXXON Mobil will never drill in disputed waters. This is not how EXXON Mobil operates. Government’s contention that if this contract is made public it will cause disputes is simply deceit to evade accountability. Government’s behaviour is powered by dysfunction. The citizens of this country will not buy any fiction from Mr Trotman. Guyanese cannot afford to swallow anymore lies from this government. Government needs to release the full details of this contract. Editor, how can there be any incentives to keep such a dysfunctional government in power? Absolutely, there are none. But countless incentives abound when power is stripped away from such a destructive government. And this we need to do for the betterment of our country and its people. Annie Baliram

These two foreign engagements are politically second event is scheduled to funded by public monies or at a take place on Sunday, 11th June minimum, the travel, accommosuspicious things 2017, from 4:00 PM, to 7:30 PM at dation and subsistence of these DearEditor, My attention was drawn to two fliers, advertising and inviting the public to two events, which will take place over the weekend in the United States of America, and which may be of interest to the Guyanese taxpayers. The first event is scheduled to take place on June 10th 2017, at 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Zen Lounge 117-15101Avenue, Richmond Hill, New York. According to the flier, this event is organised by an entity known as “Bridge the Gap Intercontinental Inc.”, in collaboration with Zen Lounge. The event is described by the flier as, “Health and Human Services Tea Forum – Meet & Greet – Connecting & Collaborating across Boarders.” The flier indicates the “keynote Speakers” to be (verbatim): Her Excellency, First Lady Sandra Granger Hon. Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence Hon. Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally Hon. Attorney General, Basil Williams. Further, the flier contains the following curious phrase, “Suggested donations $20.” I consulted Google to find out more about “Bridge the Gap Intercon-

tinental Inc.” The only information available is that this entity is a “Domestic Not-For-Profit Organisation.” No information is available in respect of who the shareholders are, or in what business or activities this entity is engaged. Significantly, this organization was only incorporated on the 27th June 2016. Since the ‘keynote Speakers’ boasts their official governmental titles and portfolios, as opposed to their political standing within the Peoples National Congress, it is reasonable to assume that they are on official business representing the Government and people of Guyana. One can also assume, therefore, that either public monies are being spent to host the event, or at a minimum, the travel, accommodation and subsistence of these Government officials are financed from public funds. It is hoped that upon their return, these officials will inform the Guyanese people about the nature and purpose of this event; how much this trip cost them; what was the purpose of the donations; the total sum received as donations; what use will be made of the donations; and finally, what benefits will Guyanese enjoy as a consequence of this event. The

a private residence in Southwest Ranches, Florida (Name and Address stated on flier). This event is styled, “Cocktail Reception and Town Hall Meeting.” The invitation to this event is extended by, “Guyanese Patriots & Friends of Guyana.” “Guests Speakers” are listed as, “Hon. Amna Ally, MP, Senior Minister of Social Protection and Hon. Volda Lawerence, MP, Minister of Public Health.” Like the other flier, the following and even more curious phrase appears on this flier as well, “a minimum donation of $35 is required for admission to the event. Please make checks payable to:APNU Guyana Inc… proceeds to benefit the President’s five ‘B’s’ program in Guyana.” Again, the ‘Guest Speakers’ are described in their governmental nomenclature and portfolios. For clarity, I wish to point out that these two officials also hold Executive positions in the People’s National Congress (PNC) but their political appellations were not used. In the circumstances, it is safe to assume that these two persons will be on official Government business, representing the Government and the people of Guyana and that this event is either being

Ministers are financed from the Treasury. However, a few questions would immediately arise in the mind of a probing reader: 1. Why is such an event being held at a private residence? 2. Why cheques are to be made payable to what obviously is a political party’s bank account and not the Government of Guyana? 3. The President’s five ‘B’s’programme is a programme of the Government of Guyana. It has received appropriations from the National Budget and it has been part of the budget speeches of many Ministers of this Government. It is, therefore not the President’s personal philanthropic initiative or his personal charity. Why, then funds raised at such an event be allowed to comingle with funds of APNU Guyana Inc.? 4. Are we now officially embracing party paramountcy, once again as a governmental doctrine? I am sure that the questions which I have raised above will result in some very interesting answers. I hope that they advance the cause of transparency and accountability. I am enclosing a copy of the two fliers. Anil Nandlall

Saturday June 10, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Heated controversies abound in Rama Krisna Primary School DEAREDITOR, We write to express our concern over an issue of abuse of governance and mismanagement at the Rama Krishna Primary School. Evidence has shown that since appointment of the present Head Mistress, Ms. Melanie Cornette, there has been outright and open arrogance by her as it relates to parents, students and teachers. In our opinion, this is a frustrating scenario at a Government school, with nothing being done by the officials from the Ministry of Education to alleviate the

situation by the Head Mistress, since they are aware of her style. In fact, numerous letters of complaints were written by parents and teachers to officers within the Ministry of Education and even to the Hon. Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine. Needless to say, these issues were not addressed. Parents and teachers were left with no other option but to highlight their issues and concerns in the media. Some of the issues that were highlighted in the letters to the Ministry of Education and in

the media include: - In the media, on channel 67, there was an airing about the Head Teacher’s mismanagement and her attitude to the school’s vendors in October, 2015. -Aletter dated March 1, 2016, was written to the Hon. Dr. Rupert Roopnarine and carbon copied to the Hon. Nicolette Henry and the President of the Guyana Teachers Union, by members of the school’s Parent Teachers Association (PTA). This letter sought to bring to the Hon. Minister’s attention the plight of the newly elected PTA

The board of the Georgetown Hospital made a terrible mistake DEAR EDITOR, It was with utter disgust that I read that the Board of the Georgetown Hospital has removed the Chief Executive Officer Mr. Alan Johnson from his post. To add insult to injury, the Board has appointed the newly installed former army officer to act in that position. Firstly, I would like to state categorically that Alan Johnson is an honourable and competent professional who not only has the experience and knowledge to be an excellent Hospital Administrator; he is also a kind, honest, trustworthy and caring individual in the performance of his duties. I say this boldly because I worked with Alan at the hospital for a number of years. As one of his colleagues, I have seen Alan perform his duties with distinction and honor, something that I tried to emulate while I was at the

Hospital. He is a very principled man and will only do what is right for the hospital. I recall seeing the former Board doing the same thing to the former Chief Executive Officer – Michael Khan. Without hesitation, I can proclaim that both Michael Khan and Alan Johnson are two of the most qualified, competent and experienced hospital administrators in our country. They both had the hospital’s best interest at the top of their responsibilities. With this move by the Board to remove Alan Johnson from the position of Chief Executive Officer, the hospital will see a rapid decline of services to the Guyanese public. The new Deputy Chief Executive Officer is new to hospital administration. There are too many complex parts in the puzzle of hospital administration and for the Board to believe that a freshman will be able to navi-

gate the murky waters of this institution is irresponsible. It’s like taking a freshman law student in College and giving him/her the responsibility of lecturing to the final year students in Constitutional law. The only result will be abstract failure. The Board of the hospital has now embarked on that journey. I am appealing to the Board to reinstate Alan Johnson as the Chief Executive O f f i c e r o f t h e Georgetown Public Hospital. If they are not humble enough to do that, then I suggest that they ask Mr. Alan Munroe, a former Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, Dr. Madan Rambaran or Dr. Shiek Amir to be the captain of this ship until good sense prevails. Charles Sugrim, CPA Former Director of Financial Services Georgetown Public Hospital

I want the AFC to look at its 2015 manifesto promises DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me to add my thanks to an industry which has contributed to Guyana’s development that has allowed it to be where it is today. First to begin with it is SUGAR that brought Africans, Chinese, Portuguese and Indians from the poorest parts of our mother countries. The Amerindians were here and the country was all jungle, but today they get all that they wanted and even more; we do not have a problem with that, but why is so much emphasis placed on destroying the livelihood of Afro and Indo Guyanese without having any alternative employment in place? Our Agriculture Minister seems to be stuck in reverse gear. Sugar and rice are foreign exchange earners and also the two industries with the largest list of employees, and when rice and sugar are

doing well every business thrives. I have worked for the AFC and voted for this change because the campaigners of the coalition who are now President ,Prime Minister and Ministers promised voters that they will not close the sugar industry and abandon the rice industry, otherwise I would not have voted for CHANGE . The following is an extract from page (13) of the APNU+AFC Manifesto for 2015 elections. And I quote: “Way Forward for Guysuco. APNU+AFC will convene a Commission of Inquiry into the operations of the Guyana Sugar Corporation and with the support of an expert multi-disciplinary group, review, analyze and recommend the way forward for the Sugar Industry including options for infusing critical investments and the optimum utilisation of its valuable

infrastructure. Appoint an Expert Team to investigate and remedy the problems plaguing the Guysuco Skeldon Factory. Appoint a competent and representative Board of Directors to Guysuco as part of the programme for the depoliticisation of the enterprise...” What has happened to those promises? I ask the coalition to read their Manifesto to refresh their memory of their promises to this nation. They should go to the internet and look how the people are living in Somalia and Haiti and see if that is what they want to bring into Beautiful Guyana. Mr. Prime Minister I suggest you utilise your lavish spare time to read your MANIFESTO and fulfill your promise (IT IS TIME).We would like to know if IT IS TIME TO CRY. Harri P. Beharry

body, which include but is not limited to arrogant words directed to the PTA President and other parents, the refusal of the Head Mistress to allow the PTA to function, the daily overbearing attitude of Ms. Cornette and the high-handed approach to school funds among other issues. However, to date members of the PTA body are yet to receive a response from the Ministers. - Another letter dated March 2, 2016, was written to and received by Mr. Emmanuel Bridgewater ( Principal Education Officer) by members of the PTA on behalf of parents of the Rama Krishna Primary, seeking his urgent intervention with regards to the Head Mistress’s poor managerial and leadership skills, withholding of relevant records from the PTA, no reporting of financial contributions made to the school by parents to offset the school’s telephone bills, the purchase of fuel, the sale of food which was prepared by someone who is not in possession of a food handlers certificate, consumption of alcohol on the school premises by certain people, etc. Again no intervention was made. - In an article dated June 27th, 2016, in the media, a group of parents expressed their concerns and protested outside the Rama Krishna Primary school calling for the Head Mistress to be removed or sanctioned. - Almost one month later a group of Grade Six (6) parents met with reporters of the Kaieteur News in July, 2016, to vent their frustration over the highhanded use of funds that were contributed for their children’s graduation. - Likewise, a letter dated December 7, 2016, was written to the Hon. Minister of

Education, with copies being sent to the Principal Education Officer and District Education officer, relating to an incident which occurred on December 6th, 2016. The letter detailed the behaviour of the Head Mistress as it relates to a staff member in the presence of a parent. Mention was made of the Head Mistress’ insensitive remarks about the teacher. - Another letter dated January 20, 2017, was dispatched to the Principal Education Officer by the parent who witnessed the incident, giving a detailed account of what had transpired on December 6, 2016, in the Head Mistress’s office between her and the aforementioned teacher. Editor, permit me to say that smooth progress of any institution greatly depends on proper management. These management skills are certainly not displayed by Ms. Cornette, hence, the pupils, teachers, parents and PTAof the Rama Krishna Primary School continue to work in an antagonistic environment. Education is the key to personal and social stability and order; therefore a positive input by this Head Mistress would prove to be very significant in the maintenance of respect, cooperation and equality in this institution. However, as evidence has shown, Ms. Cornette’s actions have been quite contrary, and seriously continue to negatively affect the progress of the School. Editor, if there is any doubt as it relates to the veracity of the information outlined above, contact can be made with the under signed to facilitate perusal of the documents, since it is in our position. A number of issues need to be clarified, with the parents and teachers of Rama Krishna Primary School.

These are: 1. Is Ms. Cornette the one and same person who represented the People’s National Congress (PNC) now APNU, on the Region 4, Regional Democratic Council as an elected Councillor? 2. If the Answer to the above question is in the affirmative, is this the reason why no action or response is forthcoming from officials in the Ministry of Education to resolve this problem and bring an end to the complaints? 3. Is this the same Melanie Cornette, who was a teacher at North Georgetown Primary, where problems of a similar nature were reported in the press? 4. If after parents and teachers have utilized all possible official channels, seeking redress and they are met with no response, what should they do next? 5. Is the Ministry of Education’s non-response as a result of instructions from higher up, since a letter to the Minister, himself, went unanswered? 6. Is Ms. Cornette of Rama Krishna Primary indispensible? 7. Is she untouchable, is she a sacred cow? We, having received this information, now use this forum to add our voice to the voices of the affected parents, students, teachers and members of that community to demand a full, independent and through investigation. We remain on watch to ensure there is no victimization or recrimination of parents, teachers and students as a result of this public exposure. We expect responsible and swift action on this matter. Juan Edghill, PPP/C MP (for and on behalf of affected parties

A huge gap between what the president says and does DEAR EDITOR, In 1908 in a remote and rugged mountain village in the Northern Caucasus, Leo Tolstoy, one of the greatest writers of the ages was the guest of a tribal chief. As the village gather around the fire, the chief asked Tolstoy to speak about famous men in history. Tolstoy spoke of Alexander, Caesar, Napoleon and so on. When he was finished, the chief stood up and said “But you have not told us about the greatest general and ruler in the world – Lincoln. This story is to explain that a man’s good deeds always outlive his bad deeds. When President Granger presented himself as a candidate to the people, his message was one of national unity and social cohesion. He even set up a Department of Social Cohesion. But there is a huge

gap between what he said in the past and says now compared to his actions. The actions of this Granger government reflect a commitment to nepotism and to expose this reality, one only has to visit all the state appointments to find adequate evidence that Mr. Granger is a man of empty words and nothing else. These kinds of actions guarantee him a spot in history 10 years from now. He shall be no more than a footnote in the history books. Guyana will always remember Burnham, Hoyte, the Jagans, and Jagdeo. Irrespective of their good and bad attributes, I am now convinced they were committed to a principle of wanting better for the Guyanese people. I cannot say the same for Granger, I get a sense he is only interested in progressing the career of

the ARMY boys. This is why a top professional like Anand Goolsarran cannot find a job in this administration even though he applied for several jobs. Where is the charity of President Granger towards all the people of Guyana? Ryan Basdeo Student

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The state of our cricket not related to the state of our economy DEAR EDITOR, A few weeks ago, a former National Youth Cricketer now a popular Cricket Writer and Commentator stated in his column, that the poor spectator turn out at the National Cricket Stadium is partly to be blamed on the economic state of the country; but his comments or statement is based purely on inaccurate considerations. But while many would concede that the current state of the economy is not that healthy, we are surely seeing that bright light at the end of the tunnel. The quality of West Indies Cricket at present has left much to be desired, and until or unless the players’ performance improve those many empty seats will always be there; while it is my view that the selectors are giving it their best shot, the players themselves are not there yet. In the end we should support them. I was fortunate to see all the test matches and limited overs played at the historical Bourda Cricket Ground, once described as a billiard table

Saturday June 10, 2017

Kaieteur News

and happy hunting ground for batsmen, from the 1965 Australian Tour, a team regarded by many as the best Australian Test Team. It comprised Bobby Thompson, Bill Lawry, Graham McKenzie and Wally Grout. But they were evenly matched by Gary Sobers, Rohan Khanai, Wesley Hall and Jackie Hendricks; and Bourda used to be always full to capacity Because of the distance and the mode of transportation available in those days the people from the regions geographically situated far from Georgetown used to ensure they travelled the day before, cramped into hotels or at the home of relatives or friends; to be in the line to purchase tickets as early as 05:00 hrs. It was worth the wait then; a trend that continued for decades. In the Caribbean cricket will always be our number one sport, particularly in Guyana. I will not mention what to my mind is responsible for the rapid and consistent decline of our cricket in this letter, but definitely in subsequent ones.

Cricket regionally and internationally is competing for the advertising dollar and sponsorship, with other sports, and we have to produce batsmen at least half as good as Brian Lara, and Shiv Chandarpaul, bowlers half as good a Walsh, Holding, Marshall and Garner and wicket/keeper batsman as dependable as Dujon, then and only then we will get back to winning ways and our stadium not only here in Guyana but across the region will again be full to capacity. A lot of people mainly our youths prefer to remain in the confines of their homes and look at basketball matches featuring Curry, James, Westbrook or Durant, or look at football match in Spain with Messi, Neymar, Ronaldo and Bale and a host of others. It is my belief also that a show at the Providence Stadium featuring a Trinidadian Chutney Singer of a Jamaican reggae artiste, the stadium will be filled. I am again saying the economy has nothing to do with it. Archie W.Cordis

Call for the Gaming Authority to investigate this betting company DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me a space in your letter column to highlight a problem with a betting company. I am a customer of this company since they began operating in Guyana and I must say I’m very frustrated and annoyed with the level of service. My game of choice is the popular online game ‘The virtual daily game’. The game is played by picking one number between 0-32 and placing a maximum bet of $1,000 GYD. If your number is chosen your bet is multiplied by 31. For example if one was to choose 13 and placed a bet of $1,000 GYD, and 13 are chosen that person would have total winnings of $31,000 GYD. Editor, this morning while I was playing as I usually do, I encountered the strangest thing. I chose a number and placed my bet and that number wasn’t chosen, so I went on to make another bet. I wanted to choose the number 28 and when I tried to select the number, it wasn’t available. At first, I thought it was

an error on the website or maybe as a result of the poor internet services we have in Guyana. I refreshed my page and went through the process again and to my amazement the same thing occurred. I then called the head office and spoke to a customer service representative and related my problem. She, in a very rude manner, stated, “That is how the game works.” I tried to explain that I’ve been playing this game for a while now and I’ve never encountered this problem, she however maintained her position that this is how the game works and further stated all our agents know this. I am not an agent of the company; I play via their website in the comfort of my home. The issue here is that the company has no rules or terms and conditions online of how the game works, and what are the guidelines. Terms and conditions and game rules are a common component of such facilities. I am a subscriber of many other online sports and game bet-

ting websites and each game contains a section with the rules and terms and conditions. After speaking with the customer service representative I went to an agent and related my problem and the agent informed me that this is a new feature of the game. The agent said that you were unable to choose the number because that number has met the quota of persons who can choose it. I must point out that the agent himself was unaware of what the quota was. Again, this is not in keeping with standard practices and I am of the firm belief that this is ‘rigging’ their games, by not releasing game rules and terms and conditions, so that the ‘house’ can win at all times. I therefore take this opportunity to call on the Guyana Gaming Authority to launch an investigation into this matter and prevent this from giving a raw deal to more Guyanese indirectly by not releasing relevant information pertaining to their games. Abdul Junior

I stand by what I wrote about the evolutionary virtues of the PPP DEAR EDITOR, I am not in the habit of responding to letters in the media but after reading Mr. Tacuma Ogunseye’s letter (Kaieteur News, June 8 2017) I felt obligated to provide some clarification on a few observations made by him. Firstly, I did not state in my letter that the PPP is the oldest political party in Guyana. There was, as he quite correctly observed, the Labour Party of the 1930’s which by the late 1950’s had lost much its militancy and appeal due mainly to the opportunism of several of its leaders. That party had won six of the fourteen seats in the Legislative Assembly but on most issues it sided with the planter-dominated Legislature. As Dr. Jagan noted in his book “The West on Trial” the Party was labour only in

name. The PPP of the 1950’s represented the most broadbased and labour-oriented party that emerged during the colonial era and which survived until today. This obviously makes the Party the oldest and, I wish to add, the largest political party today despite the several attempts to split the PPP and emasculate its leadership. I stand by my views that both the British and the United States administration miscalculated in their assessment and categorization of Dr. Jagan and the PPP during the 1960s when they engineered the removal of the PPP from political office. And while there was no doubt regarding Dr. Jagan’s leftist and “communist” leanings, the fact remained that the PPP at no time, whether in or out of of-

fice, ever advocated a Sovietmodel of political or economic development. In fact, the Party had always embraced political and ideological pluralism, multi-party democracy, a tri-sectoral economy with a dominant role for the private sector which was deemed by Dr. Jagan as the “engine of growth”. Dr. Jagan’s brand of “communism” was fundamentally different from what was practiced in the Soviet Union and other Eastern bloc countries. It took into account the peculiar political and cultural realities of Guyana and the wider Caribbean with one overarching objective, namely, to create a socially just society buttressed by free and fair multi-party elections, good governance and the rule of law. Hydar Ally

Surprised that the post office in Guyana is so slow DEAR EDITOR, I was a bit surprised to learn that letters sent through the Guyana post office can still take so long to arrive at the destination (Freddie Kissoon’s column of June 9, 2017, “Nigel Hughes’s post office letter in dysfunctional Guyana.”) In the late 1990s, while in Guyana, a friend who lived in Crown Street, Queenstown, sent me an invitation to a pre-Christ-

mas ‘drinks evening’, when I lived in Section K, Campbellville: it arrived roughly week after Christmas. She had put it in a letter box in the city, and presumably it was delayed at every stop. I had to apologise profusely afterwards, because not only may it have appeared ill mannered on my part, but I missed a chance to socialise with my small circle of friends which I needed, as

a relief from spending every Christmas day with my plate of pepper pot and rice, a slice of black cake and a drink, on a tray balanced on my knee, watching TV, except one, when visiting UK friends invited me to lunch at their East Coast home. All because of an indifferent post office service.”The more things change ....” Geralda Dennison

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Guyana moves to establish Building Authority to monitor construction The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) hopes to establish a building authority to reinforce the importance of standards and accreditation in the construction and building sector. This was revealed yesterday during the World Accreditation Day (WAD) forum at Cara Lodge Hotel, Quamina Street, for stakeholders in the local building and construction sector in observance of WAD. WAD 2017 is being observed under the theme, “Delivering confidence in construction and the building environment”. Local Economic Development Coordinator attached to the Ministry of Communities, Roger Rogers, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, in his feature address said that the forum will help to highlight the importance of upholding the standards and accreditation in the development of the construction and building sector in Guyana, a DPI/GINA release disclosed. Rogers noted that standards are the foundation used

Roger Rogers

Government is moving to establish a Building Authority to ensure standards in the construction sector. to market services and products available to consumers. “The development of standards and the pursuit for accreditation plays a key role in the development of the country, though it is widely understood that development cannot be achieved without any minimum standards that can lead our societies to advance and organise in a sustainable manner,” he ex-

plained. Rogers pointed out that it is the government’s responsibility to support valued added regulatory environment to ensure that citizens receive value for their money, instead of mediocre services which will cause repeated remedial works to be done. He noted that acquiring environmental accreditation is one example of how Guyana

can transition towards becoming a green state in keeping with the government’s green agenda. Upholding the standards in the construction and building sector is not only aimed at accomplished contracting companies, but small business contractors as well, Rogers pointed out. He disclosed that the Central Planning and Hous-

Health Ministry adopts aggressive approach to suppliers …as Cabinet approves over $1B worth of pharmaceuticals for GPHC The Ministry of Public Health has developed an aggressive approach to dealing with its suppliers of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. This notion was emphasized by Minister of State Joseph Harmon yesterday. Harmon, who was speaking at this week’s Post-Cabinet press briefing, noted that this approach is being championed by Public Health Minister, Ms. Volda Lawrence. “The Minister of Public Health has been very aggressive in so far as actually getting contractors who were awarded these contracts to supply those drugs on time and supply drugs in the right quantities and [with] the right expiry date,” Harmon said. To amplify his point, the Minister informed that “the [Public Health] Ministry is actually taking some very firm measures with respect to the purchasing of pharmaceuticals. They have actually laid out a new system for procurement which I believe is also in the public domain, and once those systems are adhered to, I believe we should have a better flow of pharmaceuticals going to hospitals and health centres for the benefit of the Guyanese people”. Cabinet on Tuesday, according to Harmon, approved in excess of $1 billion pharmaceuticals for the Georgetown Public Hospital

Corporation [GPHC]. In this regard approval has been granted for the procurement of pharmaceuticals as follows: $490,558,680 from the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation Inc.; $326,104,093.35 from International Pharmaceutical Agency; $96,245,200 from ANSA McAl Trading Limited and $26,314,990 from Global Healthcare Supplies Incorporated, all amounting to a total of $939,222,963.35. Another set of pharmaceuticals approved for the hospital will be procured from Global Healthcare Supplies Incorporated at a cost of $3,799,164; Caribbean Medical Supplies Incorporated at a cost of $7,806,000; International Pharmaceutical Agency at a cost of $56,061,340; Meditron at a cost of $12,081,880 and New GPC Incorporated at a cost of $52,072,800, all totaling $131,821,184.00. The two sets of procurement approvals will attract a sum of $1,071,044,147 Even as the Public Health Ministry looks to be more meticulous with its procurement practice, Harmon said that measures are also apace to scale back the rental of storage bonds. He noted that “you would recall during the course of last week that the Minister herself and a team went to the New GPC [New Guyana Pharma-

ceutical] Bond where there was some expired drugs that were being stored and those were recovered, and they had gone through a process of inventorising and those that needed to be destroyed were so destroyed”. He added, “The fact that a bond was being rented, [that meant] rent was being paid by the State…The contract actually came to an end and those pharmaceuticals that were still in the bond [were] actually a hold-over from the contract, and it was important, we felt, to ensure that we did not have anything stored there, so that the company can actually [continue to] bill us for rent.” It was earlier this week that the GPHC, acting on the approach endorsed by the

Public Health Minister, had removed all of its outstanding supplies stored at the New GPC Bond. Minister Lawrence in offering a comment to this publication on the move explained “we have been working to clear our bonds of all expired stuff and as a result of that we have some space and we are looking at how we can remove out of the two rented places [New GPC and Sussex Street Bonds].” The Minister added, “We are hoping to take the money used there and reinvest it in the public health sector. We know we will always need space, so we will need to build more bonds and expand the ones we have,” Minister Lawrence explained.

ing Authority (CH&PA) will collaborate with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to host a workshop to promote awareness of the National Building Codes for small business contractors, through the Ministry of Communities shortly. GNBS Executive Director Candelle WalcottBostwick said that though the initiative created by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperative (ILAC) to foster the importance of accreditation, it also helps to encourage regulators to continue to push for safety and standards in the construction environment. Walcott-Bostwick noted

that the construction and building environment industries provide critical employment opportunities in communications, design, engineering, infrastructure, and transportation, while playing a crucial role in the realisation of safe homes, secure businesses, and reliable platforms for transit, commerce, and education. Faulty construction and inexperienced contractors among other areas were highlighted as weak points in the construction and building environment, which will need to be addressed in the push for building standards and accreditation, WalcottBostwick said.

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GRA board clamps down on applications for PIDs A loophole in the systems at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) that allowed persons to ship in valuable items and collect it immediately without the necessary paperwork being completed is being closely monitored. On Thursday, Chairman of the Governing Board of Directors, Rawle Lucas, made it clear that the system, known as Permission For Immediate Delivery (PID), has been brought under control. As a matter of fact, during a press conference hosted by GRA at its Camp Street headquarters, the chairman said that the board has taken on the responsibility of paying close attention. A recent case has raised questions over the attention being paid by GRA to the issue. Under previous arrangements, Customs used to allow the immediate delivery of perishables, medicines, and even equipment and parts, which were deemed emergency in nature. However, over time, there was evidence that the discretionary system was being abused.

Saturday June 10, 2017

Kaieteur News

The Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) is asking for patience amidst a number of planned outages for the Essequibo coast area over the next few days. The state-owned company announced that on Tuesday, workers found signs of possible insulation failure on the alternator of the No. 1 Generation Set at Anna Regina. “The alternator is to be disassembled for further inspection and repairs with an expected completion time by Sunday, June 18.”

Rawle Lucas

Persons took the opportunity to bring in highend vehicles, heavy duty equipment and even excavators, which would never have been considered in normal circumstances. The files were never closed and GRA lost out on billions of dollars in taxes over time. In fact, state auditors were alarmed at what was clearly a loophole. Lucas said that the board has been monitoring the situation and was satisfied that actions to “perfect” the PIDs were being done expeditiously. With some equipment disappearing into the ‘bush’ and in many cases the items

Week of load-shedding for E’bo coast as alternator develops issues

sold, it was a difficult few years for the GRA to force the importers to submit the necessary documents to close the files. The matter of PIDs had even come up in Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which examines spending of state agencies and ministries, with a view of ensuring procedures are followed. As far back as 2010, GRA had explained that some of the outstanding transactions were from the ministries and agencies, and it was found that mining companies and other businesses were just as guilty. In PAC’s examinations in 2010, the outstanding PIDs related to transactions that were in excess of $2B. These figures related to spending in 2005 and 2006. There were questions asked whether persons who violated the PIDs were allowed to benefit from more.

The remaining generation units, with a combined capacity of 2.5 megawatts, are unable to satisfy demand during peak hours, resulting in scheduled outages that will, on alternate days, affect a number of areas. “Our company seeks the patience of our valu e d c u s t o m e r s a f f e c ted by this regrettable occurrence. We remain cognizant of the inconveniences these interruptions cause and offer our sincere apolo-

gies.” GPL said that arrangements to replace the aged generating units and converting frequency of the supply to 60 Hz, are on stream. “Equipment for a new power station should arrive within the fourth quarter of 2017. Once commissioned, this new plant will lead to an improved power supply for our customers on the Essequibo coast.” The areas to be affected over the next few days are:

Miner murdered over water pump An argument over a water pump has left one man dead and his alleged killer on the run at Omai Landing, Essequibo River. Carlos Wong, 46, a miner of Half Mile Wismar, Linden, succumbed after he was chopped on the right hand at around 09:00hrs yesterday. Police from ‘E’ Division are collaborating with their counterparts in ‘F’ Division to intercept the alleged killer. Investigations have so far revealed that Wong and two men had a misunderstanding over a water pump, when one of the men, who had a cutlass, chopped the miner on his right hand, resulting in his eventual demise. Police statistics indicate that there have been at least 21 disorderly murders for the year.

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Survival of the fittest Capitalism is the law of the jungle. Some have to go under so that others may live. The free market system in its purest form is about survival of the fittest. Only those who can compete successfully will survive. The rest will have to fall by the wayside. The falling by the wayside is all part of the selfregulating side of capitalism. Those who cannot compete simply have to go out of business. Guyana is not a perfect free market system. This is why you have had so many businesses which have for years been suffering losses are yet able to keep their doors open. Even those that

cannot cover their fixed costs stay open. The business in Guyana is losing money, but the storeowner does not shed staff to cut costs. He stays open and hopes for the best. You walk down Regent Street and go into some markets and you will find some businesses which do not get a single sale on some days. The staff and the owners are sitting there watching the world go by. But they are not shutting shop. This is bad for the free market. It amounts to a misallocation of resources. Resources are being left to go idle and unproductive. A country cannot develop this way when businesses refuse

to shut shop, even when they are not doing any business. You will not find that in other countries. Sales drop and immediately workers are laid off. Businesses do not cut corners in other countries. When things begin to dip, the owners fold up and walk away. They move on to other things. We have some dreamers in Guyana. They are always dreaming of a pot of gold. They believe that one day they will hit the jackpot. There are a great many vendors, for example, who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to build their stalls. They are not making any money but they are opening all year long, year after year,

Dem boys seh ...

Officials got guards eating like a slave When people refuse to answer a question is either dem don’t know or dem have to lie. Trump ain’t hold a press conference fuh three weeks because he know he woulda have to answer question on Russia and Comey. He didn’t want lie, suh he avoid de press. Jagdeo, that scamp, used to do de same thing when he was president and it continue up to the other day. He had a press conference Thursday and when dem ask him a question about Pradoville 2 and de two acre wha he build he house pun, he bend down fuh tie he shoelace. When he raise up is then he realize he tie de reporter shoelace. He still ain’t answer de question. Dem boys did ask him to tell de nation wheh he get all that money to build de mansion ee live in. He did promise to answer. De nation still awaits, because dem boys know that all his earnings plus he parents earnings couldn’t build that plus de property in Queenstown, and others. Dem boys also remember asking him or any party member to point out one thing he

do that de nation can be proud of. De Chat-3 attempt many times to answer de question, but every time you call him he drinking rum and he can’t think. As fuh de dummy, don’t ask wha he do, ask wha stupidness lef fuh he do. Soulja Bai heading in that same direction. He not holding press conferences to answer questions about de way he running de country. Dem got some corrupt things happening all over and he ain’t deh fuh see. Dem boys ain’t certain if he hearing, or if he intend to do anything. Things start back to look like when Jagdeo, that scamp, and Donald de Dummy, was in power. Dem boys see a PS spend money to build two hut, but de ordinary man coulda tek that same money and build six. Some officials renting portable toilet fuh dem guards that is more than de guard salary per month. Dem boys want to ask Soulja Bai if dem officials love dem guards so much that they would have dem eat like a slave and sh** like a king. Talk half and answer that question.

Region 10 chairman oversteps authority, insults police rank According to Wikipedia, a Police Force is a constituted body of persons empowered by the state to enforce the law, protect property, and limit civil disorder. However, when a policeman went to the Bayrock ground at Linden on the morning of May 26, last, to enforce the law, he was embarrassed by Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian, and forced to stand down. According to information received, a policeman went to the ground around 07:00 hrs on Independence Day to shut off music, after residents had complained that it had been playing all night and into the morning. In a video recording, Morian could be seen collecting the microphone from the DJ, in the presence of the police rank—after the rank had ordered that the music be switched off. The chairman told the

cheering crowd, “The police can’t stop the music. It is time the police realize that Linden is run by an administration, in which I am the boss, and not the police,” Morian said. The crowd cheered as the chairman made the announcement and the music continued. Someone who was at the party said that what transpired there was a slap in the face of the police rank, and it was clear that he (rank) was embarrassed, because the crowed started laughing at him. Divisional Commander Fizal Karimbaksh could not be reached for a comment.

However, a police source said that the matter had not been raised with any higher authority within the Guyana Police Force. He did make clear that the force is the only body in charge of law enforcement in the country, and not the Regional Democratic Council. Morian, when contacted for a comment, would only say the matter was a “dead issue,” and that it had already been settled with the people in the crowd.

hoping that their fortunes will change. All the while, they are losing money. There are many such businesses in Guyana. They are not covering their expenses. They are running low on cash flow, but they are borrowing just to stay open so that their owners can pretend that they are business people. They have to wake up and smell the coffee. The reality is that if you cannot compete you have to go. The free market is about business rising and business dying. If that is happening, then something is wrong. The government is trying to make the business community in Guyana understand that governments are not there to bail anybody out. The role of government is to regulate the market and to promote development of the country. All of those people who

were looking for government to help them do what they cannot do on their own, will have to look elsewhere. They have to wake up and smell the VAT. The VAT is the vampire at their throats. If they cannot survive in the free market, they will be sucked dry. They will have to fall by the wayside. Guyanese businesses have to become competitive. If you cannot compete on a level playing field, then you have to fall by the wayside. We have far too many businesses in Guyana. Some will have to go because they cannot compete. The free market has to operate like a free market - free from government support. Of course some businesses that are dying are highly profitable. A great many members of the business class in Guyana

export their profits. They do not work for the development of Guyana. They work to sustain a lifestyle for themselves and families overseas. They borrow from the bank, ship some of the capital to buy properties overseas and use the rest to make a dollar in Guyana. The profits are not reinvested. They are sent overseas. After a while, the debts pile up. The banks refuse saving. It has to go under if the market system is to be made less imperfect.

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Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

UK election results: People’s power, no dictator There are plenty of reasons for the final shape of the British election results. But two factors are important – first-past-the-post is the most logical expression in an electoral system of making politicians pay respect and give recognition to the power of the voters. The second one is that voters punish politicians who lie to get into power. We begin with the second one first. I was literally shocked when I read in 2010 that the Lib Dem Party formed a coalition with the Conservatives. These were two British parties that had no ideological similarities. The smaller one was bound to suffer. Nick Clegg, the leader of the Lib Dems became the Deputy Prime Minister. His party won 57 seats, a phenomenal achievement in the recent history of the Liberal Party. While in opposition, he promised gradual phasing out of university tuition. When he became Deputy Prime Minister, his parliamentarians voted for a whopping increase in fees. Then came the 2015 election. A phenomenon became a humiliation. From 57 seats, the Lib Dems got a mere eight. That was a disastrous

loss of 49 seats. Voters thrashed Nick Clegg because he broke his promise to them. Maybe he lied to get votes. Yesterday saw the ignominious end of Nick Clegg; he lost his seat. This is what politics should be about – people marking their ballot based on performance and issues, not on race. Sadly, and most tragically, this kind of civilization is absent in Guyana. In 2015 in Guyana, a party that was in power for 23 years almost won the election. During the reign of that party, (the PPP), a corrupt cabal feasted on the Treasury, public infrastructure fell down, crime went up, education went down and Guyana became a drug-infested state, with illegal money dominating the economy. The PPP lost by four thousand votes (and change, as they say in common parlance). They barely lost or almost won because unlike the UK, we do not kick out unprincipled leaders who share the same ethnicity with us; we do not vote on issues. The pattern is said to be repeated in 2020 with the current leadership - the APNU+AFC Coalition. Somewhere at the back of their minds, the ruling entity be-

lieves that ethnic voting by African Guyanese, with a percentage gained from the Amerindians, will return them to power. This assessment is popular among political pundits, social analysts and political observers for one reason and one reason only - the ruling APNU+AFC is making consistent mistakes of an unpopular nature that they cannot be that stupid not to know that these wrong pathways are alienating people, and that many have lost faith in them. The other important factor to be considered when analyzing the 2017 British election result is the beauty of first-past-the-post (FPTP). This is constituency politics which only Guyana hasn’t got in the CARICOM family of nations. In FPTP, you vote for the candidate in your constituency. The candidate is still canopied under a party, but he/she has to accept what the constituents want. You cannot go to a constituency and echo the nonsense your leader believes in, if that nonsense people are angry with. It is simple. If you campaign in your constituency which has a majority of very young people and tell them that a joint of marijuana is a

bad thing to smoke, and your leader will not remove the punishment for such possession, and your opposing politician is someone who plans to change the sentence structure if he/she gets into power, then the young people will run you out of the constituency. FPTP allows for such accountability in politics. You may lie to them and win a seat, but the next time around they will chase you away. The Conservative Party lost a majority in the elections yesterday because constituents rejected many of the local candidates’ embrace of their Prime Minister’s policies. One commentator

pointed to Theresa May’s support for fox-hunting and a hard line on social welfare. One would like to think too that many constituencies rejected Conservative candidates because of the fear that accompanies the UK’s exit from the EU. The election result shows that there is still sanity in politics. Despite Donald Trump’s macabre success, people want government to be caring and to help share the national pie. The fantastic resurgence of the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in the election, demonstrates beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is an ongoing place in world

Frederick Kissoon politics for the politics and economics of socialism. Mr. Corbyn is an avowed leftwing politician within the socialist genre. One wishes he had become the Prime Minister.

GRA officers to ensure companies pass on VAT reduction to consumers The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will be dispatching its enforcement officers to ensure businesses pass on the benefits of the reduction (from 16 to 14 percent) of the Value Added Tax (VAT) to consumers. This is according to the GRA Commissioner-General, Godfrey Statia. In a statement to the media, the tax chief said that the authority observed that notwithstanding the reduction in the VAT rate, there has not been any incremental reduction in the prices of standard rated goods and services as intended by the 2017 budget measures. GRA reminded that the reduction in the VAT rate by two percent came into effect on February 1, 2017, following amendments to the Value Added Tax Regulations 2016. Additionally, the amendment provides for an increase in the VAT threshold from $10,000,000

to $15,000,000 annually. The revenue collection body said that this new measure now makes it mandatory for businesses to register for VAT if their annual sales are equivalent to or exceed the threshold of fifteen million dollars. The body said, “It was observed that instead of a reduction in prices as intended by the budget changes, businesses have apparently used the two percent reduction in VAT to increase their profit margins rather than passing on the intended benefit to the consumers.” While the authority will be clamping down on this new practice, it sought to advise businesses to take corrective actions. Consumers are also being urged by GRA to assist in being vigilant and report entities that fail to adhere to the changes in the prices of goods and services

Saturday June 10, 2017

Brawl over passenger lands conductor in court A 20-year-old minibus conductor was yesterday placed on $100,000 bail by City Magistrate Leron Daly when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to an assault charge. Troy Castello of KuruKuru, Squatting Area, Linden Highway, initially pleaded guilty (and later changed his plea to not guilty) to the charge which alleged that on May 18 at Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Tennessee De Cunha. Police Prosecutor Preston John told the court that the defendant and the virtual complainant are known to each other, since they both are conductors operating the same route. The prosecutor told the court that on the day in question, around 19:00 hrs, De Cunha was loading his bus when Castello went to De Cunha’s bus and told the passengers to exit that bus and enter the bus which he was loading.

Troy Castello De Cunha after realising what Castello was doing, told him to stop and the two got into an argument which resulted in Castello taking a beer bottle and hitting the victim to his head and hand. The matter was then reported to the station and Castello was arrested and charged. When Castello was given a chance to address the court, he stated “Is only one passenger I took from his bus,

because my bus needed one more to full. He (De Cunha) pushed me first, so I decided to pick up the beer bottle and lash him on his head.” The court was then adjourned for a few minutes and in that time, Castello, who was seated in the prisoner’s dock, was seen interacting with an attorney. After a few minutes, the magistrate returned to the bench and attorney Tiffany Jeffrey told the court that she was representing Castello, and that he would like to change his plea, since he was not aware of the penalty the charge attracts. Magistrate Daly then reread the charge to the defendant and he pleaded not guilty. The attorney in her application to secure bail for her client told the court that he was a first-time offender and is the father of two young children. The prosecutor had no objection to bail being granted. Castello was released on bail and is expected to make his next court appearance on June 23.

Farmer remanded on ganja charge A 47-year-old farmer was yesterday remanded to prison on a charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. Shem John of 147 Swan Soesdyke/Linden Highway, denied the charge which alleged that on June 7 at the same address, he had in his possession 20 grams of Cannabis sativa for the purpose of trafficking. Police prosecutor Preston John told the court that on the day in question a party of police officers went to John’s residence, where they observed him running to the

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back of the house and throwing a bag in the bushes. The bag was retrieved and found to contain a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems

of the Cannabis plant. John was then informed of the offence, arrested and later charged. He will return to court on June 23.

Govt.’s call to Auditor General falls on deaf ears …as concessions granted still not published in the media It was in September 2015 that the Coalition administration issued a stern call to Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, to have all concessions granted within the year, published in the media. But more than two years later, it appears that the Government’s call has fallen on deaf ears. The administration had vowed that under its rule, such negligence by the Auditor General which has been perpetuated for years would be wiped out. Presidential Advisor on Sustainability, Dr. Clive Thomas, had commented on this matter, stating that concessions granted during the year should not only be tabled in the National Assembly as the law stipulates, but also published in the newspaper. He had told Kaieteur News that the “secrecy” and “level of unaccountability” which prevailed under the previous administration in that regard, should remain as a mere characteristic of that “dark past.” Professor Thomas had said, “Under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), you had the former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh and the Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, showing disregard for the laws in this respect”. “Sharma failed in tabling in the National Assembly, the concessions which would have been granted to foreign companies as stipulated by

Auditor General, Deodat Sharma the country’s Investment Act. I am of the belief that all concessions must be published in the newspapers, so that the people can see what is really being granted, and then they will be able to later assess if the nation was properly compensated.” Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram had also criticized Dr. Ashni Singh, the former Finance Minister, and the country’s Auditor General, for having failed, over several years, to adhere to the country’s investment laws. Ram was referring specifically to the sections of that Act that call for transparency surrounding the monitoring and disclosure of tax concessions granted to foreign and local businesses annually.

The lawyer said that Sharma has been pressured on several occasions to report on the tax concessions as stipulated by the country’s tax laws, but he has continuously turned a blind eye to the issue. Guyana’s Investment Act, Section 38 (1) states that the Auditor General, or any suitably qualified person, designated by him for the purpose, shall annually carry out a procedural or process audit of incentives granted under Section 2 of the Income Tax (In Aid of Industry) Act to an investor or an investment enterprise. It goes on to state that the report of the audit carried out, shall be laid in the National Assembly within six months after the end of each financial year. This has never been done. Further, Section 37 of the said Investment Act says that the Government shall publish in the Gazette, information regarding all fiscal incentives granted under Section 2 of the Income Tax (In Aid of Industry) Act. The Chartered Accountant had said that given the failure of both Dr. Singh and Sharma to respect and obey the country’s laws, it becomes imperative for the whole matter of tax concessions to be part and parcel of the tax reform process, with the aim of minimizing the cases for which exorbitant concessions are granted in an ad hoc fashion.

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Duty free concession for Customs head…

“I granted permission”- GRA boss The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has defended the circumstances under which a senior official there was granted a duty free waiver on a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). How the matter became public knowledge also has the authority concerned, and may soon see a policy announced that will restrict the use and presence of smartphones in the offices there. At the heart of the matter is the reported case of Customs head, Lancelot Wills. The official applied to the Department of Public Service last year for a waiver on taxes and duties for a Toyota Harrier, which has an engine capacity of over 2300cc (Cubic Capacity). The application was rejected by the department, which said that the vehicle was older than the 8-year restriction introduced last year by the administration. Additionally, the 2008 model was over the 2000cc limit that Wills would have been entitled to. However, after that rejection, the vehicle was in early January registered as PRR 7091. Wills apparently paid just over $180,000 in taxes and duties. It appeared he was granted a concession.

GRA boss Godfrey Statia

Customs chief, Lancelot Wills

However, from the amount he paid, it appeared he was granted the 10 percent rate that is applied to remigrants. After collecting the vehicle in January, someone at GRA realized that there was a mistake and attempts were made in April to correct the rate. GRA’s system, however, does not easily allow entries to be backdated. Wills was assessed more than $1.8M in taxes and duties. There were immediate questions whether Wills could have been granted a waiver, having been initially rejected by the Department of Public Service late last year. He was subsequently sent on leave.

Mr Wills may be a public servant, but he is a taxpayer too.” Statia made it clear that he has no problem with the press reporting on the bad of GRA, but it must also report on the good too. Wi t h regards to whether GRA has permission to also override the restriction of vehicles that are over eight years old, he said that the CG indeed has discretion. As a matter of fact, GRA has allowed almost 100 vehicles that were just older than eight years into the country. GRA’s Chairman, Rawle Lucas, also made it clear that GRA systems are working and procedures were followed. He said that the mould of the past administration will not work. He stressed that it is a new day that has dawned, a new administration in place and things are being done differently. In the past, the entity has been dogged by allegations of corruption, especially within its Customs Department. From under-invoicing to fake invoices declaring bicycles when it is something else, the rackets have been many. The state lost billions of dollars annually, as a result. Since taking office in 2015, the David Granger administration has vowed zero tolerance on corruption. But it is easier said than done. Statia’s statements on GRA’s flexibility to grant duty free waivers to staffers, according to critics, would contrast sharply with 2003 laws which took the power of granting duty free concessions out the hands of Ministers and other officials. Rather, it was made law, how persons can apply. In other words, once a person meets the criteria, there is no reason to turn down that person from being granted a waiver on duties and taxes that are due.

The SUV that was allowed in for Wills On Thursday, GRA’s officials were questioned about the matter. According to Commissioner-General (CG), Godfrey Statia, the Customs head indeed applied for a concession for the vehicle but according to the public service rules, he was not supposed to be given one over 2000cc. Statia admitted that that was the reason Wills was denied. The top official ex-

plained that previously, only two officers in GRA were entitled to waivers with unlimited CC- he (Statia) and the Deputy Commissioner-General, Hema Khan. Statia said that GRA has made cases for two other senior officers to also be granted waivers on vehicles with unlimited engine capacity. The two were the heads of Customs and the Law Enforcement and Investigations Department (LEID). The reasons are because the officers require all terrain vehicles to conduct their work, which includes going after smugglers and other evaders. According to the CG, it is difficult to go behind a smuggler with a 2000cc vehicle. As matter of fact, Statia said, the 2000cc vehicles are not even made anymore. As such, he decided as the Commissioner-General that since GRA is a body corporate that reports to a Board of Directors, he allowed the concession to Wills. With regards to the initial classification using a remigrant rate, Statia in-

sisted that this was blown out of context. He said that he signed the waiver letter on January 12, but discovered the next day that it should not have been 10 percent. He said that he wrote the Customs head the next day to fix it “immediately”. “Unfortunately, he took two months to fix it.” Wills asked for a payment plan to pay off the balance of $1.7M - so far only two payments have been made. The CG was concerned that information was leaked, and sarcastically remarked th a t t h e p e r s o n s h o u l d have photocopied all of the documents as “only part of the story” was told. Stressing that taxpayers’ information was privileged, he threatened that “very soon there will be no smartphones entering my building”. He said that this will go for both GRA workers and taxpayers. “I will be putting up a smartphone policy very soon,” he reiterated. Any staffer found leaking information will be let go,” he promised. “It is a breach of secrecy. We have a fiduciary duty to taxpayers and whether we like it or not,

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Kaieteur News

Harbour Bridge to be closed for six hours next Saturday The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be completely closed off to both marine and vehicular traffic next Saturday from 08:00hrs to 14:00hrs to facilitate a pontoon exchange project. This was disclosed by the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC)’s General Manager (GM), Rawlston Adams during a press briefing yesterday. Adams, in the company of the maintenance, electrical, mechanical and industrial engineers, told media operatives that the works are part of a two-phased $109M project. The first phase, which is currently in motion, involves the replacement of a pontoon which has been in place at the bridge for over 18 years. He noted that it was “high time for it to be changed”. Adams said that under “normal circumstances” the pontoon would be taken out and replaced by a temporary one without affecting the flow of marine and vehicular traffic. However, due to the

pontoon’s location and purpose, alternative arrangements had to be made. “The pontoon that we are about to change houses all the winches, the hydraulic pipes that facilitate the retraction. You have to replace it and immediately hook up the hydraulic pipes and the winches.” Adams said that the planning for this project started since 2014, when two large pontoons were fabricated to the tune of over $93M. The DHBC has also hired a “special” contractor, Industrial Fabrications (INFAB) to carry out specific aspects of the project. Adams said that INFAB – formerly Industrial Engineering Limited (IEL) – was responsible for the installation of the winches under the bridge’s rehab programme. The company also has all of the schematics, since they would have installed the same pontoon that they are now moving to replace. “So management thought it wise to rehire INFAB at the

- to facilitate $109M pontoon exchange project

DHBC’s GM, Rawlston Adams (Centre) flanked by his technical team during yesterday’s press conference hosted at the DHBC’s main office, Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara. cost of just about $16M.” Next Friday, June 16, will be the bridge’s last retraction. At that stage, works will begin to disassemble the hydraulic pipes and remove the winches.

“On Saturday (June 17), we will then close the bridge for vehicular traffic, because that is when we will be changing out the pontoon. Saturday and Sunday, we will then start our reassembling of the

hydraulic system and hopefully Monday, we will run a test and all things being equal, I expect at that time when I press that button, the bridge starts to retract. During the entire process,

The arrow labelled Ptn #10.2 (Pontoon 10.2) shows the pontoon that will have to be changed.

the bridge will be closed to marine traffic. Adams said that were two rounds of discussion with the marine companies and shipping agents months ago informing them about the works. “So they are aware. And so they would have adjusted their vessel schedule to facilitate this operation,” the GM said. He noted that the weather is a major factor in carrying out the project. He said that if the rains persist, the works will not be called off. However, it will extend the estimated completion time. Adams said that there might be suggestions to do the works at night, but because the works are being carried out under the bridge, there isn’t enough space to add mechanisms for lighting. He noted also the works are ‘delicate’ and need the daylight. “Workers’ safety is paramount. We’re working over the river. We’re not working on the road where you have a lot of space to manoeuvre. So it’s about safety...the delicateness of the work that has to be carried out is very important, so we cannot afford to make mistakes,” he stressed.

Trump targets illegal immigrants who were given reprieves from deportation by Obama (Reuters) In September 2014, Gilberto Velasquez, a 38year-old house painter from El Salvador, received lifechanging news: The U.S. government had decided to shelve its deportation action against him. The move was part of a policy change initiated by then-President Barack Obama in 2011 to pull back from deporting immigrants who had formed deep ties in the United States and whom the government considered no threat to public safety. Instead, the administration

would prioritize illegal immigrants who had committed serious crimes. Last month, things changed again for the painter, who has lived in the United States illegally since 2005 and has a U.S.-born child. He received news that the government wanted to put his deportation case back on the court calendar, citing another shift in priorities, this time by President Donald Trump. The Trump administration has moved to reopen the cases of hundreds of illegal immigrants who, like

Velasquez, had been given a reprieve from deportation, according to government data and court documents reviewed by Reuters and interviews with immigration lawyers. Trump signaled in January that he planned to dramatically widen the net of illegal immigrants targeted for deportation, but his administration has not publicized its efforts to reopen immigration cases. It represents one of the first concrete examples of the crackdown promised by Trump and is likely to stir

fears among tens of thousands of illegal immigrants who thought they were safe from deportation. While cases were reopened during the Obama administration as well, it was generally only if an immigrant had committed a serious crime, immigration attorneys say. The Trump administration has sharply increased the number of cases it is asking the courts to reopen, and its targets appear to include at least some people who have not committed any crimes since their cases were closed.

Between March 1 and May 31, prosecutors moved to reopen 1,329 cases, according to a Reuters’ analysis of data from the Executive Office of Immigration Review, or EOIR. The Obama administration filed 430 similar motions during the same period in 2016. Jennifer Elzea, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, confirmed the agency was now filing motions with immigration courts to reopen cases where illegal immigrants had “since been arrested for or

convicted of a crime.” It is not possible to tell from the EOIR data how many of the cases the Trump administration is seeking to reopen involve immigrants who committed crimes after their cases were closed. Attorneys interviewed by Reuters say indeed some of the cases being reopened are because immigrants were arrested for serious crimes, but they are also seeing cases involving people who haven’t committed crimes or who were cited for minor violations, like traffic tickets.

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LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).

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Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, video games & repairs – Call: 672-2566; 265-3231 New rice-field pump with 20’ canvas conveyor and drive shaft sold with 1 stihl motor blower -$500,000. Call: 638-1829

Security, Marketing Clerk, Bond Clerk, Labourers, Truck Driver, operator. Interested persons e-mail: chungsvacancy@gmail.com

Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999

Senior Diesel Mechanic wanted to work in G/Town. Call: 218-1455

Apple I-phone 6, 6 Plus, 7 Plus, 64GB (like new) (not 16GB), factory unlocked $89,000, $129,000. Call: 6753062

Cook/ Baker and welder/ fabricator for interior. Applicants must be experienced. Call: 6182020 for more information

Pit-bull pups for sale. Call: 672-7884

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One greenheart 3 bedrooms wooden building only with all accessories, grills, sliding door, etc @ bargain price. Call: 227-4285

Refrigeration/ Electrician technician: Apply in person at BM Enterprise Inc. GFl Wharf, Houston East Bank Demerara.

Nine (9) pure bred German shepherd pups, location: La Grange, W.B.D – Call: 6546354 1 White Passo, PSS, 1 -2 door sankey cooler, 1 -280 Sthil slasher, 1 Door upright coole, all brand new. Call: 602-3000/ 690-1038

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Mixed breed pups- Tel: 6469002/ 601-9414

WANTED Experienced Male workers on farm, age 30yrs and older. Call: 231-1408 between 8am1pm Male workers to work at Ice Factory in Rosignol. Call: 6183800 between 8:00am- 2pm Garbage Truck Drivers, attractive salary and benefits. Call: 227-1717

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CAR RENTAL

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VEHICLE FOR SALE

LAND FOR SALE

Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pit-bull – Call: 650-7501

La Parfaite Harmonie -$1M, Zeelugt -$2M, Tuschen Phase 1 and land -$4M. Call: 642-1252

Not working vehicles for sale, 1 small bus, 1 canter, 2 cars, 2 motor bikes, 1 bobcat. Call: 227-4377/624-6013

La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.3M & $1.6M, Providence (corner lot) -$4M, Herstelling -$3.5M, Farm -$2.6M, Uitvlugt $2.6M. Call: 651-1969/6292881

Experienced curry cook, roti/ puri cook, cleaners & counter servers. Apply @ Hacks Halaal. 5 Commerce St.

2011 ALLION - $3.3M, 2011 RACTIS -$2.5M, 2009 SIENTA - $2.1M, NOAH & VOXY - $2.6M, VEHICLES UNREGISTERED & FULLY LOADED. CALL: 642-7295

Live in waitress to work in a bar- Call: 604-6606; 6924646

1 Hilux Extra Cab- 5L Diesel Pickup, GVV series. Call: 6643808

One driver for office in Eccles call 233-2745 must be between the ages of 30- 40yrs.

Nissan X-Trail 2004 -$2.7M negotiable or make an offer. Call Chubby Halley: 671-7290

Salesgirls & boys with supermarket experienced , apply with written application to Best Buy Food supplies, Dennis & Middleton Street, Campbellville.

1 Mitsubishi Lancer Car PJJ, leather interior, silver grey $600,000. Call: 604-1299

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PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461

Land at Well Street Ogle, E.C.D Back Lot 65feetX105feet -$12M. Call: 625-1514 La Parfaite Harmonie Main Road - $1.8M, $1.6M, $1.4, $1M, Herstelling -$3.5M, Eccles $6.5M, Tuschen - $1.2M. Call: 604-6724 or 686-9608

Mini bus driver 55yrs and older, 40 Route. Call: 6176760 1 Accounts Clerk, preferably from E.B.D – 5 subjects CXC minimum @ gtcareers592@gmail.com We pay in $US for land in Eccles, Herstelling, Providence, Farm, Parfaite Harmonie, Zeelugt. Call: 6117223/684-5822 Wanted Driver To Sell Water Must Have Lorry. Apply Nimbus Water. Tel 231-7002/ 622-0445 Experienced salesgirls needed. Kindly Contact: 6707920 Urgently needed experienced garbage truck drivers, paying $6,000 per day, labours $4,000 per day. Call: 670-7920

Furnished 2 bedroom apartments in Nandy Park, parking available. For further information – Call: 619-4824/ 619-0267/642-7533 Newly built apartment in a safe & health environment. Call: 622-6512/ 698-6496

Middle age couple (40-50) to live and work on farm/resort at Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke Highway. Call: 643-0333/697-8008 Looking for a family of four to live & take care of a farm on the Upper Demerara River. Call: 670-7920 Wanted land to buy: Eccles, Tuschen, Herstelling, Providence, Farm, Uitvlugt, we pay cash. Call: 604-6724/ 686-9608

House & land at Mon Repos -$19M. Call: 645-8543 House and land available @ La Parfaite Harmonie, Providence, Etc, We also assist with financing. Contact Pacific Development: 2236035/ 227-8274 House for sale -1 2 flat 3 bedrooms house located @ Belle West #2 W.B.D, asking $9.5M. Call: 604-1299 Goat Creek, Riverfront , 75 Acres land -$7M, Lanaballi River Front, 50 Acres -$9M. Diamond -$7.5M Call: 6880087, 638-8484

1 Diesel Mechanic, must have knowledge of Perkins & Duetz engines, Cat & Doosan Excavator. Call: 2269768/660-2998 An experienced exvator operator. Must be between 30yrs & 50yrs. He must be prepared to work in the Interior. Call: 223-7165

WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIAL OFFERS FOR THE SEASON. CALL: 690-6494

Saturday June 10, 2017

Kaieteur News

WANTED Wanted land to buy: Eccles, Tuschen, Herstelling, Providence, Farm, Uitvlugt, we pay best price. Call: 666-2326 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 Security guard wanted to work in Georgetown. Call: 227-1717 One able bodied labourer. Tel: 219-4533/616-5954/2312029 Hairdresser/Nail Technician apply at West Shore Plaza, 15 Public Road, Ruimzeight, W.C.D. Call: 269-1524/656-3561

Riviera Island: 145 Acres $30M, Tuschen property $5.8M, $6M, $15M. Call: 6880087, 638-8484 Tuschen 2 bedroom flat houses: $10M, land $2M. Call: 688-0087,638-8484 Melani 2 bedrooms - $10M, Tuschen $25M, Canal #2 (15 acres) -$9M. Call:6880087,638-8484 Beautiful transported roadside property; East Canje Berbice with all amenities flower and vegetable gardens. Call: 592-6267450 Continued on Page 23

Saturday June 10, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Omar Shariff, wife refused to comply with former CJ’s order despite reminder - SOCU investigator Former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency, Omar Shariff and his wife refused to comply with a Production Order granted by former Chief Justice (ag) (CJ) Yonette Cummings- Edwards, despite being sent a reminder letter by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sydney James. This was disclosed by Superintendent of Police Robert Tyndall, an investigator attached to the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU). Tyndall was called by SOCU Prosecutor Patrice Henry to give evidence when the trial of Shariff and his wife, Savitri Hardeo, continued before Magistrate Fabayo Azore yesterday. It is alleged that on or after October 14, 2016, in the Georgetown district, Shariff failed to comply with a Production Order dated October, 6, 2016 made by (former) CJ CummingsEdwards to produce certain named documents stated therein to James (Head of SOCU) not later than seven days after service, which Order was served by a Marshal of the High Court, on the said Shariff by leaving

same with him, who contravened the said order without reasonable cause, which he failed to produce. His wife was slapped with a similar charge. Both of them have been released on self bail, with instructions to report to SOCU every Monday. They have also been ordered to lodge their passports with the court. Tyndall told the court that on October 6, 2016, he was shown an Order, made in pursuant of Section 24 of the Anti Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Act, signed by then acting CJ Cummings-Edwards. The police witness said that the order requested of Shariff and his wife to comply with items listed from A-M. Tyndall recalled that on October 7, 2016, he went to the Supreme Court in the company of two policemen from SOCU. The witness said that while there, he met Kevin Henry, a Marshal. “We had a discussion and as a result we went to Lot 36 Dowding Street, Kitty, Georgetown. That is the address of the two defendants (Shariff and Hardeo).” According to Tyndall, on arrival he saw Shariff, who he knows. He said he identified Shariff to the court Marshal and they had a discussion.

Tyndall added that the Marshal gave Shariff an Order for him and another one for his wife, who was not home at the time. The Superintendent of Police stated, “After the Order was handed over. I came back to SOCU. That Order was saying that within seven days these items (listed from A-M) should be produced.” After seven days, Tyndall related that he made checks and discovered that the defendants were in breach of the Order, which resulted in him having a discussion with James. A reminded letter was drafted for Shariff and his wife by the head of SOCU, Tyndall added. More time elapsed, and the investigator recalled making further checks during which he noticed that the Order was still not being complied with by the defendants. “On January 18, 2017, I was given a fiat by the Director of Public Prosecutions (Shalimar AliHack) to charge the two defendants under Section 26 of the Anti Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Act for noncompliance of the (Production) Order.” The SOCU rank recalled that he went to the abovementioned address that same day and arrested Shariff

and Hardeo, and took them to SOCU. He added, “I told them of a charge of failing to comply with a Production Order. They said they would not say anything until they spoke with their lawyer Mr. Sanjeev Datadin.” Under cross examination by Datadin, Tyndall admitted that he could not say whether Hardeo received the Order, since it was not directly delivered to her. This trial continues on June 22. The coalition government terminated the services of Shariff in January. On June 30, 2016, Shariff was sent on leave by Minster of State Joseph Harmon, pending investigation by SOCU. Shariff has been under investigation where over $500M could not be accounted for in payments to the Public Service Ministry. Investigators found several large sums passing through bank accounts and launched a separate probe. That investigation was probing how billions of dollars passed through Shariff’s bank account from as far back as 2010, following records showing that he and his wife purchased shares in companies which were placed in her name. There were hundreds of transactions in several bank accounts which were held at different commercial banks.

Porter charged for fracturing workmate’s jaw A porter was yesterday placed on $150,000 bail by City Magistrate Leron Daly after he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm. Twenty-four-year-old Ron Walker of Kuru-Kuru, Linden Highway, denied the charge, which read that on June 2 at Industrial Site Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously inflicted grievous bodily harm to the virtual complainant, Mohanlall Sohanlall. Police Prosecutor Preston John objected to bail being granted to the defendant citing the serious nature of the offence and the fact that the victim is still hospitalized. Prosecutor John went on to tell the court that the victim received injuries to his face and was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he was treated and sent away, but was later admitted to the in-

stitution on June 8 to undergo an emergency surgery on his face. The defendant was represented by attorney Darren Wade, who in an application to secure bail for his client told the court that his client is the father of two young children and is a first-time offender. The attorney went on to tell the court that his client came to the court of his own free will, and if bail is granted he will return to court for the trial. The court heard that the defendant and victim are known to each other and they both work at the same company. On the day in question, the two men reportedly got into a heated argument over a customer, in which the defendant wanted to fetch sand for the individual. When the customer chose Sohanlall to fetch the sand, Walker got upset and allegedly punched the victim to his face. Walker will make his next court appearance on June 9

Ron Walker

From Page 22

CAKES & PASTRIES Courses in cake decoration, pastry making & cookery also wedding dresses for sale. Call: 670-0798

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 One house to rent @ Atlantic Gardens. Call: 677-8860/ 6149060 Upper flat for rent 3 bedrooms in Atlantic Gardens- Call: 2274377/227-0613/624-6013 2 & 3 Bedrooms apartment for rent @ Nandy Park. Call: 641-3318 Two bedroom apartment at Eccles - $55,000 – Call: 648-7004 1- 2 Bedroom house to rent at Grove, E.B.D – Call: 2660892/ 681-1047 Apartments – $45,000$160,000. Call: 644-5151 (1) 3 bedroom top flat house, fully grilled, 1 room, AC $40,000 upstairs toilet & bath @ La Paraite Harmonie. Call: 666-7823/ 266-0392 1 - 3 Bedrooms selfcontained fully furnished upstairs in Diamond, 4-2 bedrooms apartment in Providence, furnished and unfurnished. Call: 672-1906/ 216-2299 Two bedroom at self contained @ Tuschen $50,000. Call: 688-0087/ 6338484 Rental @ Ogle, 4 Master bedrooms, luxury home $5,000US. Call: 688-0087/ 633-8484 Available 1 bedroom apartment, semi-furnished. Call: 681-4275/ 231-4432

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Saturday June 10, 2017

Kaieteur News

Bermuda Premier Calls Election, Avoiding a Vote of No Confidence

PM Michael Dunkley HAMILTON, Bermuda, 2017 – Bermudians will go to the polls on July 18, Premier Michael Dunkley announced on, a day before his government was to face a vote of no confidence in Parliament. And while the opposition Progressive Labour Party (PLP) conceded that the One Bermuda Alliance (OBA) administration had avoided that vote, it said it would not be able to sidestep the one that is delivered by the electorate. At a press conference called on Tuesday, Dunkley

said he had met with the Governor who accepted his request to dissolve Parliament for the general election. But he refused to say whether the no confidence vote motion, which was to be moved by Opposition Leader David Burt on Thursday, had influenced his decision to ring the election bell. In a prepared statement at the start of the press conference, Dunkley said Bermuda had made significant strides since the election of December 2012 and government

worked hard to turn around a dire situation. However, he charged that progress was threatened by “the politics of destabilization”. “In setting the election date, it is our commitment – if you see fit to give us a mandate – to return to the House of Assembly on July 20, or as soon as practicable, to carry out important items already on our agenda, such as absentee balloting, fixed term elections, the Boundaries Commission report and roadside testing to name a few,” he added. The OBA won 19 seats to the PLP’s 17 in the last general elections, but the two parties ended up with the same number of seats after two OBA MPs left the party to sit in Parliament as Independent MPs. In a statement issued this morning, the PLP said Dunkley had “clearly” called the election to “avoid the results” of the Opposition’s no confidence motion. The PLP charged that Bermuda has suffered for four years under the OBA and cannot “withstand another term of their divisive policies and arrogant leadership”. (Caribbean360)

Man charged with growing marijuana offers Chief Magistrate ganja wine KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – A man charged with cultivating 25 marijuana trees, has told a court here that he had marijuana in his possession to make wine. And he took the opportunity during his trial to ask Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias whether or not she has ever tried the marijuana wine. “No thank you. I am not into that at all,” the chief magistrate told Samuel James during a jovial exchange as she determined what sentence to impose upon the man, who she had commended for his honesty. “I will trust your judgement,” Browne-Matthias further said in reference to James’ comments about the

effectiveness of the drink. James pleaded guilty to the charge that on June 5, 2017 at Carib Mountain, he cultivated 25 marijuana plants in co n t r a v e n t i o n o f t h e Drug Prevention of Misuse Act. He also pleaded guilty to a charge that he had in his possession 1,008 grammes (2.22 pounds) of cannabis with intent to supply it to another. The Serious Offences Court heard that on June 5, members of the Regional Security System (RSS) were on patrol in the Carib Mountain when they saw the defendant in a marijuana field with a cutlass in his right hand. The RSS team continued to observe James and saw him planting cannabis. They later approached him

and told him of their observation and uprooted 25 marijuana plants. During mitigation, the 46year-old man, told the court that he has tried for the longest while to go to a studio to record his songs, but did not have the money to do so. James said that while he does “legitimate farming” he also cultivates some marijuana in Carib Mountain, adding that the marijuana he had at his house was to make wine, while the plants he was growing in the hills was to sell and also make wine. “Unfortunately, I was caught and I must take responsibility for my actions,” James said and asked the court to impose a fine on him and give him some time to pay. The magistrate noted that James had no criminal record, but pointed out that 1,008 grammes is a sizeable amount of marijuana, adding “but cannabis” — suggesting that it is not a harder drug, such as cocaine. James was fined EC$800 (One Ec dollar =US$0.37 cents) for cultivating the 25 marijuana plants.

Regional airline denies leaving pilots stranded

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The cash-strapped regional airline, LIAT, Friday denied that it had “abandoned” it pilots and is working to towards resolving the current impasse that has resulted in cancellation or delays of several of its flights since Wednesday. In a statement, the airline said that it can confirm that some pilots found themselves away from base as a result of the current action called by the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA) and that it was “therefore forced to transfer other pilots to these locations to fly the aircraft to move passengers impacted by the delays and cancellations”.

According to LIAT, it operates 10 ATR aircraft with the ATR72 capable of carrying 68 passengers. “By refusing to fly the ATR72 on the morning of June 7, several aircraft and passengers were delayed at points of departure, including Trinidad, St Vincent, Tortola and Guyana,” the airline said, noting “in this situation, the company’s priority remains to transport our loyal and paying passengers”. LIAT’s acting chief executive officer, Julie Reifer-Jones said the company remains committed to meeting the needs of its pilots away from base while acting on the instructions of the company through its Operations Con-

trol Centre.” LIAT pilots have refused to fly the ATR 72 aircraft that were acquired by the airline in 2013 as a part of the company’s restructuring plans aiming at fleet modernization and network improvements. LIALPA in a letter to airline, said it “is not convinced it should subject its members to further exposure and responsibility without the agreed compensation…the ATR-72 with its increased capacity over the Dash-8 is in fact increased responsibility in terms of passengers and payload.” The union said that its members will not fly the planes until the company honours the salary package agreed to in January. The financially strapped airline, whose major shareholders are the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has since apologised to customers for the delays or cancellations. LIAT’s Corporate Communications Manager Shavar Maloney has warned that more cancellations were expected on Friday, even as the Antigua and Barbuda government appealed to the pilots to immediately resume their duties.

City Surgeons Return Toddler’s Heart To Chest Cavity GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, – Surgeons at Health City Cayman Islands have made history in the Caribbean after performing lifesaving surgery on a child from Nicaragua who was born with his heart outside of his chest cavity. Health City’s Chief Cardiac Surgeon Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil, also fondly known as Dr. Binoy, said the child, Jeremias, had Pentalogy of Cantrell, an extremely rare and life-threatening congenital disorder found in 5.57.9 per million live births. With only 200 reported worldwide, he confirmed that such cases are unheard of by many doctors. “I have seen (this) only once before, when I was in India and I assisted (on) one case,” he said. Restoring 10-month-old Jeremias’ heart to its rightful position in his chest cavity, however, was the first time Dr. Chattuparambil led a surgical team for the complex procedure, though he predicted it would be a success. “This child’s heart was

just beneath the skin,” Dr. Chattuparambil explained. “Any trauma…actually even if you press hard, that can kill the baby. So this is a very rare anomaly.” The surgical challenges for the six-hour operation were numerous. “We removed the outpouching of the heart and repositioned the heart into the normal location with space constraints and reconstruction of the defects of the pericardium, diaphragm, chest and abdominal wall,” he explained. The procedure involved many specialists, including plastic surgeon Dr. Javier Mendoza, a pediatric cardiologist, anesthesiologists, intensive care team, physiotherapists and a radiologist, all who carefully charted a plan for Jeremias’ surgery and post-operative management. Dr. Chattuparambil’s initial prediction was accurate: The surgery and recovery were a textbook success. “His mother sent me a video last week of the child at home play-

ing – he’s like any other normal child.” Post-operative echocardiograms have shown everything to be fine. “The child will have a normal life now.” Jeremias’ mother, Marlen Adelina Lopez, had been anxious since her son was born, scared to let him play or even crawl. “I was very scared of him getting hurt. Now, I see everything very different. Now, he is a normal child…he will be able to play, to walk, to crawl, to run like any other child.” Jeremias’ parents had special words of thanks to Health City and the charities involved in saving their s o n ’s life – Nicaragua’s Bless Back Wo r l d w i d e a n d H a v e a Heart Cayman Islands. “Everyone here has been very special and very attentive,” said Jeremias’ father, Addylson Alberto Ruiz. “I don’t know what I would do if he wasn’t able to get the services he received at this facility.” (Caribbean 360)

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May to form ‘government of certainty’ with DUP backing Theresa May has said she will put together a government with the support of the Democratic Unionists to guide the UK through crucial Brexit talks. Speaking after visiting Buckingham Palace, she said only her party had the “legitimacy” to govern, despite falling eight seats short of a majority. Later, she said she “obviously wanted a different result” and felt “sorry” for colleagues who lost their seats. But Labour said they were the “real winners”. The Lib Dems said Mrs May should be “ashamed” of carrying on. The Tories needed 326 seats to win another majority but they fell short and

must rely on the DUP to continue to rule. In a short statement outside Downing Street after an audience with the Queen, Mrs May said she would join with her DUP “friends” to “get to work” on Brexit. Referring to the “strong relationship” she had with the DUP but giving little detail of how their arrangement might work, she said she intended to form a government which could “provide certainty and lead Britain forward at this critical time for our country”. “Our two parties have enjoyed a strong relationship over many years,” she said. “And this gives me the confidence to believe that we will be able to work together

in the interests of the whole United Kingdom.” It is thought Mrs May will seek some kind of informal arrangement with the DUP that could see it “lend” its support to the Tories on a vote-by-vote basis, known as “confidence and supply”. Later, she told reporters that she had “wanted to achieve a larger majority but that was not the result”. “I’m sorry for all those candidates... who weren’t successful, and also particularly sorry for MPs and ministers who’d contributed so much to our country, and who lost their seats and didn’t deserve to lose their seats. “As I reflect on the results, I will reflect on what I need to do in the future to take the party forward.”

Suicide bomber kills at least 31 in crowded Iraqi market A woman suicide bomber killed at least 31 people and wounded 35 in a crowded market in the town of Musayab, 80 km (50 miles) south of Baghdad, on Friday, security sources said. Islamic State claimed the attack, as well as one at the main bus station in the Shi’ite holy city of Kerbala, just west of Musayab, which killed

three people and wounded 15. A security officer said the bomber in Musayab was a woman and had hidden the bomb under her full-body veil. Islamic State’s statements identified both bombers as men. The hardline Sunni Muslim insurgents declared a selfstyled “caliphate” over parts

of Syria and Iraq three years ago but are now on the brink of losing Mosul, their defacto capital in Iraq, to a U.S.backed Iraqi offensive launched in October. They are also on the back foot in Syria, retreating in the face of a U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led military coalition attacking Raqqa, Islamic State’s urban redoubt there

Saturday June 10, 2017

Kaieteur News

UK election result: How the world reacted The result of the UK election, with the ruling Conservatives unexpectedly losing their overall majority, has sent shockwaves across Europe and beyond. Politicians across the Continent have been questioning the impact on the Brexit talks. Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the European Commission, said he wanted discussions to proceed without delay. “As far as the Commission is concerned we can open negotiations tomorrow morning at half past nine,” he said. “First we have to agree on the divorce and exit modalities, and then we have to envisage the architecture of our future relations. I do hope that the result of the elections will have no major impact on the negotiations we are desperately waiting for.” Sweden’s former Prime Minister Carl Bildt, who now chairs the European Council on Foreign Relations thinktank, called the outcome “messy”. “One mess risks following another. Price to be paid for lack of true leadership,” he tweeted. ‘Another own goal’ Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, who is president of the Alliance of Liberals &

Theresa May Democrats for Europe in the European Parliament, had caustic words for Mrs May. “Yet another own goal, after Cameron now May, will make already complex negotiations even more complicated,” he tweeted. Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator for Brexit, had a more conciliatory message. “#Brexit negotiations should start when UK is

ready; timetable and EU positions are clear. Let’s put our minds together on striking a deal,” he said. European Council President Donald Tusk alluded to the March 2019 deadline for Brexit talks. “We don’t know when Brexit talks start. We know when they must end. Do your best to avoid a ‘no deal’ as result of ‘no negotiations’,” he wrote.

Cosby gave young women Quaaludes, jurors hear at sex assault trial Jurors at Bill Cosby’s sexual assault trial on Friday saw the entertainer’s own sworn statements that he gave young women sedatives before engaging in sexual activity with them. Prosecutors in Norristown, Pennsylvania, showed excerpts from Cosby’s deposition more than a decade ago, in which he said he obtained seven prescriptions for Quaaludes, then provi d e d t h e m t o women rather than take them himself. “When you got the Quaaludes, was it in your mind that you were going to use these Quaaludes for young w o m e n t h a t y o u wanted to have sex with?” Cosby was asked. “Ye s , ” h e a n s w e r e d , though he denied ever do-

ing so without their knowledge and said the sexual encounters were consensual. Cosby is charged with drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, a former administrator at Cosby’s alma mater, Temple University, at his Philadelphia-area home in 2004.

Dozens of women have leveled similar accusations against the 79year-old star of the 1980s television comedy “The Cosby Show.” All b u t C o n s t a n d ’s a r e t o o old to support criminal charges under the statute of limitations.

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Past Black Stallion FC 4-a-side football tourney on tomorrow Past Black Stallion Football Club member 4-a-side football and penalty shoot out competition is set for tomorrow starting at 08:00hrs at Better Hope

Basketball court. Entrance fee is $3000 and six players are allowed per team. Among the teams set to take part are Better H o p e , Vr y h e i d ’s L u s t ,

Plaisance, Ogle and North Sophia. At stake are trophies and medals donated by Trophy Stall of Bourda Market and Tent City.

Wawrinka pierces Murray’s armor to reach French... (From page 30) with a forehand winner. The Swiss netted a forehand return as Murray bagged the opening set. Wawrinka did not dwell on that setback and earned three break points in the seventh game of the second set, converting the first with a trademark backhand winner down the line. Murray could not hold his following service game either, and a perfectly-hit inside-out

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Kaieteur News

forehand gave Wawrinka the second set. A third consecutive break for Wawrinka earned him a 20 lead in the third set as Murray’s frustration grew. He regained his composure to dictate the points and break back, but Wawrinka further increased the pressure to break again for 4-2. Murray was back again thanks to a whizzing backhand winner, and he pulled off a decisive break for 6-5, hold-

ing to take the lead in the match when Wawrinka netted a backhand. There were no break points in the fourth set, but Wawrinka was simply too good in the tiebreak, taking it with a powerful forehand service return. The decider flashed by in just half an hour as Wawrinka leveled his grand slam winloss record against Murray to 3-3 with yet another backhand winner.

Saturday June 10, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Try to be there for someone if they need assistance. Be careful; your ideas are good but make sure that you're realistic and start off on solid ground. TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) Talk to someone you trust in order to see the whole picture. Socializing will be more than just entertaining. This will be a very hectic day if you've made promises to too many people. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) (May 22-June 21) Get back down to earth and to basics. Get out and have some fun. Don't rely on others to handle the workload. CANCER (June 21–July 22) If you're already in a relationship, use this added energy passionately. Be careful disclosing information. Pleasure trips will be most enjoyable if you take them with that special person in your life. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You can make some money if you get involved in a conservative financial prospect that is presented to you. You can make a difference if you take a position of leadership. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Be sure that you have all the facts before you take action. Opportunities to expand your circle of friends will result in possible new romantic encounters. You will not be able to contain your emotions today.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Don't make financial contributions in order to impress others. Travel may be confusing. You should include children in your activities. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You can learn a great deal more if you listen rather than rant and rave. Be prepared to encounter new friendships that will provide you with valuable information. Your need to obtain additional details will lead you into strange topics of conversation. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Be prepared to have relatives or close friends introduce you to new and exciting individuals. An older member of your family may have left you with a pressing situation. You need to be around friends and family. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You may find it difficult to communicate with someone at work. You will be up and down emotionally. Opportunities will unfold; however, you must be willing to pay the price. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your emotional life may be up in the air if your mate has been going through a change of heart. Go to the top if you're being harassed or held back. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) e diplomatic but stem when it comes to giving of yourself. If you can get away for a vacation, do so. Don't let coworkers interfere with your objectives.

Nadal crushes Thiem to setup Wawrinka... (From page 27) yesterday’s semi-final. The 31-year-old Spaniard, ready to reclaim his Roland Garros crown after a two-year hiatus, dispatched the sixth seed in little more than two hours and is on the verge of becoming the first player to win the same grand slam tournament 10 times. He faces Swiss Stan Wawrinka in Sunday’s showpiece match in what will be only his second clash with the Swiss at Roland Garros — having won convincingly four years ago. “Now remains one match against a very tough opponent. He played a very tough match this afternoon, so he will be full of confidence for Sunday,” Nadal told reporters referring to Wawrinka’s fiveset victory over top seed Andy Murray. “He’s a dangerous player because he can hit the ball very hard. I need to play aggressive, if not I’ll be in big trouble.” Thiem, like fourth seed Nadal, had reached the semifinal without dropping a set and had trounced Serbian defending champion Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals. But after starting brightly in the early evening sunshine, his challenge disappeared into the encroaching shadows on Court Philippe Chatrier — an arena on which Nadal has never lost a semi-final or final since his debut in 2005. Nadal has dropped only

29 games to reach the final — surpassing his previous best of 35 in 2012 and only two more than Bjorn Borg’s record set in 1978. Swedish great Borg might still hold that mark but Nadal has long since left the sixtimes French Open champion behind in the Roland Garros record books. Not that he cares too much for that. “I think I don’t need to make more history, no?” Nadal said. “It’s enough. Nine is more than good. Today is not the moment to think about (winning the 10th).” After Nadal’s limp exit to Djokovic in 2015 and the wrist injury that cut short his challenge last year, the Spanish claycourt king looks hungrier than ever to extend his domination on the clay surface where he has no rival. Third seed Wawrinka’s epic battle against Murray had delayed Nadal’s appearance until nearly 6pm local time and there was a sense of “after the Lord Mayor ’s show” as the day’s second semi-final began.

A break for Thiem in the opening game quickly concentrated minds — although any prospect of a tussle to match the drama of the day’s first instalment did not last long as Nadal recovered with two breaks of his own to take the opening set. Thiem, whose elegant single-handed backhand had little effect throughout the contest, had break points early in the second set but Nadal slammed the door shut. The Spaniard, whose only defeat on the red dirt this year came against Thiem in Rome, then broke with a clubbing forehand and lost only three more points on serve as he sealed the set. Thiem’s hopes of emulating compatriot Thomas Muster’s French Open triumph in 1995 were over in a flash as Nadal raced through the third set in 28 one-sided minutes. “Of course I’m disappointed that, first of all, I just didn’t play the way I can play. I was pretty far away from my best tennis today,” Thiem said.

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Saturday June 10, 2017

NAPF/Caribbean and NAPF/FESUPO Powerlifting Championships

Decorated strongmen, Edwards and Stoby aiming to sizzle

Big’ John Edwards in deadlift mode at the just concluded GAPF Masters Championships. By Franklin Wilson Despite bringing off two fund raisers to date, team members of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) are still doing their best to rake in enough that will ensure the federation sends it full 22member team to this year’s NAPF/Caribbean and N A P F / F E S U P O Powerlifting Championships in Orlando Florida from July 3-8, next. Working overtime to ensure that they are part of the team that will be aiming to win the Overall Team title

Winston ‘Little Master’ Stoby squats at the GAPF Masters Championships, 2017. once again are two of Guyana’s most decorated athletes in this sport, ‘Big’ John Edwards who trains out of Space Gym and Winston ‘Little Master’ Stoby, a member of the Kingsrow Barbel Club. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport, both Edwards and Stoby said they are excited to once again be given the opportunity to represent the Golden Arrowhead and are training rigidly to ensure that Guyana maintains its winning edge against the best powerlifters in the Caribbean and North

America. Both have also stated that it is a challenge to raise the requisite funds to take care of t h e i r a i r f a r e , accommodation and meals whilst in Florida but they are not giving up as this is nothing new to them. Stoby commented: “I have always been battling over the years to raise monies to travel and represent my country since not only myself but other athletes train and work hard every day to get the chance to represent at the highest level. This year is no different but we all will give it our best

shot.” Set to compete in the Masters 2 74kg class, Stoby reminded that he has tasted championship glory at the Pan American, North American and Caribbean levels since he started competing way back in 1993. ”I would be aiming to reclaim the deadlift record which I had set at 611kg but it was broken by a Frenchman who upped the standard by 1 ½ lbs. Training has been going according to plans as I am aiming to take care of the opposition and ensure

Guyana reclaims the Team title.” Stoby’s longtime friend and fellow competitor ‘Big’ John Edwards is also in strategic training mode to compete in the Masters 2, 120kg Open, Equipped and Unequipped divisions. The Space Gym athlete reminded that he has brought glory to Guyana in the past and is still on that path to keeping the Golden Arrowhead flying high. Edwards indicated that he is working towards breaking the current South American Raw records in the

120kg Masters 2 class Squat 190kg, benchpress 120kg, deadlift 200kg and total 510kg. Also on his radar are the Commonwealth records in the squat 265kg; benchpress 205kg and total 705kg. Edwards’ main focus though, will be the world benchpress 120kg Raw record which stands at 212.5kg or 467.5lbs. He reminded that all the Caribbean Masters 1 records are held by him except for the deadlift. Edwards would also be competing in the equipped category.

Mahmudullah, Shakib lead Bangladesh to a historic win over NZ (Reuters) Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan shared a superb 224-run partnership to lead Bangladesh to a memorable five-wicket victory over New Zealand who were knocked out of the Champions Trophy yesterday. Chasing 266 to win the Group A game, Bangladesh slumped to 33 for four as Kiwi seamers Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Adam Milne made the new ball swing. Opener Tamim Iqbal, who had scored 128 and 95 in his last two innings, was trapped lbw for nought by Southee in the first over. The 28-year-old Southee ran through the Bangladesh t o p o r d e r, d i s m i s s i n g Soumya Sarkar (3) and Sabbir Rahman (8) before Milne removed Mushfiqur Rahim for 14. But Mahmudullah and Shakib produced a vintage batting display, keeping the required run rate under control as they put together the first 200-run stand for Bangladesh in one-day internationals. S hakib reached his

Ross Taylor lays into a pull, New Zealand v Bangladesh, Group A, Champions Trophy 2017, Cardiff, ©Getty Images

Mahmudullah celebrates a famous victory, New Zealand v Bangladesh, Group A, Champions Trophy 2017, Cardiff, ©Getty Images hundred with a massive six in the 46th over before Boult removed him for 114 and Mahmudullah finished on 102 not out to guide Bangladesh home with 16 balls top spare. New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to bat after the match was delayed by an

hour due to rain. Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed made an early breakthrough when Luke Ronchi gave a catch to midon with 46 runs on the board. Williamson (57) and Ross Taylor added 83 runs for the third wicket before the skipper was run out after

being sent back attempting to sneak a quick a single. Ahmed returned to the attack to dismiss Taylor who made 63 off 82 deliveries. Part-time off-spinner Mosaddek Hossain stunned the Kiwi middle-order, removing Neil Broom (36), Jimmy Neesham (23) and

Corey Anderson, who was trapped lbw for a first-ball duck. New Zealand managed just 62 runs in the final 10 overs, the lowest tally by any team in the this year’s tournament. Bangladesh moved up to second in the standings and will qualify for the semi-

finals if Group A leaders England beat third-placed Australia on Saturday. Scores: Bangladesh 268 f o r 5 ( S h a k i b 11 4 , Mahmudullah 102*, Southee 3-45) beat New Zealand 265 for 8 (Taylor 63, Williamson 57, Mosaddek 3-13) by five wickets.

Kaieteur News

Saturday June 10, 2017

Rain ruins first day’s play

The cover on the pitch at Everest CC says it all.

Constant rain fall in the city prevented any play on the first day of the second round Guyana Cricket Board Hand-in-Hand threeday inter county U-19

tournament yesterday. Demerara were scheduled to play the Guyana select U-17 at Everest, while Berbice were set to take on Essequibo at

Eve Leary, but play at both venues was called off just after lunch. This tournament is being used as a benchmark to select the Guyana U-17

touring party and to shortlist a squad for the regional U19 competition and weather permitting play will commence at 9:30hrs today.

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Nadal crushes Thiem to setup Wawrinka showdown

Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates winning his semi final match against Austria’s Dominic Thiem. (Reuters / Pascal Rossignol) PARIS (Reuters) Rafa Nadal moved to within one victory of ‘La Decima’ at the French Open as he demolished

risi n g A u s t rian Dominic Thiem 6-3 6-4 6-0 with a daunting show of force in (Continued on page 25)

Ahmadi, Khan gives Afghanistan historic victory (From page 29) second five-wicket haul. West Indies passed the 98 they made against Pakistan in Guyana in 2013 as the 100 came up in 32 overs. Jonathon Carter and Joseph inspired hopes of a miracle with a fighting 45run eighth wicket stand before Carter (19) pulled Dawlat to deep square-leg and Joseph (27) fell to Khan as he bettered his previous best of 6-34. And when Cummins (5) was bowled by Khan it was all over as West Indies sunk to an all time low. Earlier, the 28th ODI at this venue commenced in overcast conditions with a strong wind blowing across the sward, Afghanistan opted to bat on a hard track with plenty of grass and a large, lush green and sluggish outfield. West Indies left out Guyanese leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo and Jamaican Rovman Powell from their X1 and the new ball pair of Gabriel and Skipper Holder both extracted pace and bounce in the opening overs. Watched by a small crowd, including a raucous group which traveled from

Trinidad on Thursday, Ahmadi and Noor Ali Zadran were kept on the back f o o t b y s h o r t, lif tin g deliveries. Zadran (5) was well taken by Hope above his head at first slip as Holder made the breakthrough at 13-1. Ramat Shaw joined Ahmadi and the batsmen looked uncomfortable against the disconcerting bounce, but when Holder bowled too short and wide Ahmadi executed a dismissive cut for the game’s first boundary in the eight over. C u m m i n s w a s introduced in the ninth over and greeted Ahmadi with one that reared at him like an angry ‘pit bull’ as he fended off from his neck and after 10 overs the Afghans had crawled to 24-1. On a track with tested the batmen’s technique to the lifting deliveries, the visitors were kept on a tight leash and found free scoring a difficult task but Joseph replaced Holder and strayed on Shaw’s pads and was tickled for four. Ahmadi pivoted and hooked Joseph for four to move into the 20s and when Cummins pitched up

Shaw stroked him elegantly past cover for a couple of runs. Ahmadi, growing in confidence as his innings progressed, eased Joseph to the cover boundary and cut Holder over point for another four to post the 50 in the 17th over as ‘operation rebuild’ began to take shape. A six over long-on by Ahmadi off Joseph brought up the 50 stand off 93 balls and Nurse was brought on after 21 overs in conditions which remained more like England where the ICC Champions Trophy is being played resulting in the lights being turned on at 16:05hrs. When on 17 and the partnership worth 55, Shaw was removed by Gabriel to bring Skipper Asghar Stanikzai to join Ahmadi who was there from start and had weathered the storm of being peppered with bouncers from the inception. T h e r i g h t - h a n d e r, showing good temperament, soon became the first Afghanistan batsman to get an ODI fifty against West Indies when he clobbered Nurse for four to reach his sixth ODI half-century from 71 balls with five fours and a

six. He celebrated by slashing Gabriel over third man for six but Stanikzai (2) was trapped LBW to Nurse at 87-3 before a boundary off Cummins took Ahmadi to 63. When the ball was pitched up Ahmadi demonstrated his elegant front foot shots, while Samiullah Shenwari got going with a thumping straight drive off Nurse which raced to the ropes

despite the slowness of the outfield due to heavy overnight rain. The 100 came up in 28 overs and Ahmadi cut Cummins for four, while Shenwari smashed Nurse over extra cover for six before Cummins induced Ahmadi to edge to the Keeper at 131-4 in the 37th over. His demise ended a promising 44-run partnership but the lads from war-torn Afghanistan, the

41st largest Country in world with 33 million people, added 72 in the last 10 overs as Naib and Nabi counterattacked to ensure this was their most productive period. It was enough in the end. The next match, another day/night affair, is set for tomorrow at the same venue from 14:30hrs. Scores: Afghanistan 212 for 6 (Ahmadi 82, Nurse 2-34) beat West Indies 149 (Rashid 7-18) by 63 runs.

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Xtreme Clean & Maintenance/GT Beer Gold Rush Futsal Tournament

Sparta ease anxiety of supporters after clinical destruction of Sophia

Saturday June 10, 2017

GRFU releases names of players to face T&T today at Saints The Guyana Rugby Football Union has released the names of the players who will represent Guyana in the RAN’s 15s clash against Trinidad and Tobago today, at the St. Stanislaus College ground, Carifesta Avenue. According to a release

the game is scheduled to commence at 16:00 hrs and fans are being urged to come out and support the Green Machine as they seek to continue their dominance against the Trinidadians who they defeated last year in the Twin Island Republic.

GFF offers condolences to JFF on the passing of Burrell

Part of the action between back Circle and Tiger Bay which the former won to advance to the quarter-finals. Exuding the confidence associated with champions, Sparta Boss clinically dismissed a strong Sophia unit 3-0 to ease the anxiety of their supporters as play in the round robin phase of the Xtreme Clean & Maintenance/GT Beer Gold Rush Futsal Tournament ended on Thursday night, at the National Gymnasium. The result meant that the Futsal Kings have made it to the quarter-finals where they will face the up-started Future Stars on Tuesday, at the same venue. Playing in front of what can be described as the biggest crowd to date and in what was a must win situation for them, the ‘Bosses’ quickly underlined the significance of the occasion when Solomon Austin tucked the ball over the goal-line after Gregory Richardson’s cracker had rebounded off the crossbar. That goal came after four minutes. Not to be outdone, Sophia’s Desmond Cottam pair of attempts produced brilliant saves from Sparta B o s s c u s t o d i a n Tr o y Carrington to keep their lead intact at the half. Two minutes after the resumption, Richardson stretched their advantage when he unleashed a rightfoot missile that flew through the legs of the Sophia goalkeeper, before settling in the back of the goal. It was the culmination of a sweeping move that included talisman Devon Millington, who delivered the deadly pass.

That two-goal cushion evoked massive celebrations from their band of supporters and agony for the Sophia faction. Two minutes later, the die was cast when Dennis Edwards fired past the hapless goalkeeper to seal his team’s last eighth spot. However, despite the defeat, Sophia still made it to the knockout phase as well. Also making it to the quarters were Back Circle that looked equally impressive in their 3-0 win over Tiger Bay who failed to qualify, while Bent Street was made to fight in their encounter against a stubborn Broad Street Bullies, before winning 3-2. Tucville drew with Agricola Champion Boys 44 to secure their place in the quarter-finals, while Albouystown cemented their spot with another eyecatching performance against North Ruimveldt who were eliminated. Future Stars defeat of Plaisance guaranteed their place in the last eight as well. The quarterfinal matchups are as follows: Albouystown versus Broad Street at 20:00hrs, while Sophia square off against Bent Street from 20:30hrs. At 21:00hrs, Back Circle battle Tucville and in the final game of the night, Sparta Boss tackle Future Stars from 21:30hrs. The semi-finals will be played on Thursday, June 15th, while the final is set for Saturday, June 17th. The winning team will receive $500,000 and the championship trophy, while

second, third and fourth placed finishers take home $200,000, 100,000 and $50,000 respectively. The Most Valuable Player will collect $50,000. Other sponsors on board are Fas Grafix, Jefford’s Distribution and Sales, Giftland Distribution Store, Windjammer International Cuisine & Hotel and FA R M S U P M i n i n g Investments Inc. The night’s results are seen below: Game-1 Future Stars-6 vs Plaisance4 Future Scorers Akeemo Anthony-2nd and 3rd Jeremy Garrett-5th Keiron Solomon-6th Kevin Cummings-11th Jamal Cozier-18th Plaisance Scorers Cahisle Higgins-3rd, 4th, 14th and 17th Game-2 Albouystown-4 vs North Ruimveldt-2 Albouystown Scorers Lennox Cort-12th and 19th Roy Cassou-13th

Moses Gittens-20th North Scorers Joshua Browne-7th Gerald Gittens-18th Game-3 Agricola-4 vs Tucville-4 Agricola Scorers Orson Francois-3rd and 4th Domini Garnett-1st Lloyd Matthews-8th Tucville Scorers Jermaine Junior-7th and 15th Jahaal Greaves-12th Raphael Edwards-17th Game-4 Bent Street-3 vs Broad Street-2 Bent Scorers Keith Caines-9th Job Caesar-11th Daniel Wilson-16th Broad Scorers Daniel Favourite-4th Rocky Gravesande-10th Game-5 Back Circle-3 vs Tiger Bay0 Selwyn Williams-2nd and 4th Jermaine Beckles-7th Game-6 Sparta Boss-3 vs Sophia-0 Solomon Austin-4th Gregory Richardson-12th Dennis Edwards-14th

The President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde, on behalf of the Guyana Football fraternity has expressed condolences to the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) on the passing of its President, Captain Horace Burrell. In a letter to JFF’s General Secretary, Raymond Grant, President Forde said: “The Football family of Guyana was truly saddened to hear of the loss of your dear President, Captain Horace Burrell. Please allow me, on behalf of the Guyana Football Federation and on my own behalf in my capacity as President, to extend my deepest sympathy to his immediate family and

the football family of Jamaica as you navigate through this period of grief. The “Captain” was a valuable asset to football in the CFU, CONCACAF and FIFA and we mourn his loss with you as friends. Again, we extend our deepest sympathy to you and his family during this time of m o u r n i n g . ” Captain Horace Burrell passed away in the United States on Tuesday. Prior to his passing, he served as a Senior Vice President of CONCACAF, former Vice President of the CFU, m e m b e r o f t h e F I FA Disciplinary Committee and as a Vice President of the Jamaica Olympic Association.

Deion Nurse, Colin McKoy compete at the Pan Am Masters weightlifting championship

Deion Nurse (left) and Colin McKoy. Former General Secretary of the Guyana Amateur Weightlifting Association (GAWA), Deion Nurse and Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, Colin McKoy are vying for honours at the Pan Am Masters weightlifting championship in the Dominican Republic which started last Thursday and concludes Monday. The duo left Guyana two days ago and will compete in

the 55-59 age group, McCoy in the 69kg class and Nurse in the 85kg category. They both commenced their trek for honours yesterday afternoon. Kaieteur Sport spoke with Mr. Nurse yesterday morning and he said that they are primed up and ready for action. He said that the acclimatization period was very minimal but he and his countryman will aspire to give of their best.

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NAMILCO presents sponsorship to GFF for Thunderbolt National U-17 tourney The National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO), the key sponsor of the Thunderbolt Flour Power National U-17 Tournament, has presented its sponsorship cheque to the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to enable the operations of the named intra-association tournament. This was held during a meeting between representatives of the two agencies on Monday last at the conference room of NAMILCO. In giving brief opening remarks, Acting President, Brigadier (ret.) Bruce Lovell said, “I would like to express the GFF’s gratitude for the continued support that NAMILCO plays to football as a whole. We have the U-15 team winning a tournament in St. Martin (over the weekend) so we have started to see the fruits of the partnership; we have two players from the U17 team in the squad –Troni

NAMILCO’s Managing Director Bert Sukhai hands over sponsorship cheque to GFF’s Acting President Brigadier (ret.) Bruce Lovell in the presence of representatives from both NAMILCO and GFF. Semple and Orville Daniels. The meeting discussed the operations of the tournament with key highlights and challenges noted as well as opportunities for greater effectiveness in execution and management of the tournament. Managing Director Bert

Sukhai, in wrapping up, said he was looking forward to the new phase of the tournament. “We wish to give you all the support needed with the plans going forward to effectively execute and manage the tournament and increase visibility of same. We’re open to new

ideas so feel free to share to help stimulate the public’s interest in the tournament and the development of the future of football (youths).” Present at the meeting on behalf of NAMILCO were Fitzroy Mc Leod, Financial Controller and Affeeze Khan,

Marketing Consultant. In addition to First Vice Presid e n t L o v e l l , t h e GFF delegation to the meeting included Ian Alves, Competitions Director; Lyndon France, Coach’s Education and Development Officer; Draio McKlmon, Marketing

Director and Debra Francis, Communications and Public Relations Officer. A presentation of the cheques to the respective Regional Member Associations was done yesterday in the Boardroom of the GFF. The tournament is scheduled to begin today.

Ahmadi, Khan gives Afghanistan historic victory By Sean Devers in St Lucia In association with Vnet Communications Noble House Seafood, Baksh Travel Service, Payless Varity Store & Golden Arrow Inn in St Lucia A courageous 81 from 102 balls with eight fours and two sixes from 25-yearold opener Javed Ahmadi and mesmerizing spell of leg-spin bowling from teenager Rashid Khan provided Afghanistan a historic 63-run victory over West Indies in first ODI last night at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground to give the visitors, ranked below the host, a 1-nil lead in the 3match series. Afghanistan, in their first ODI against West Indies, were led by Ahmadi’s effort and recovered from a slow start to reach 212-6 from 50 overs. Gulbadin Naib struck a 28-ball 41 with three fours and two sixes and along with Mohammad Nabi with a 30ball 27 with two fours shared in an unfinished 48-ball 58run seventh wicket stand. O ff - s p i n n e r A s h l e y Nurse (2-34) bowled well for West Indies who were befuddled by the 18-year-old Khan who captured a career best 7-18 (his second five-

As woeful Windies wobble to 63-run defeat

Javed Ahmadi found a lot of runs square of the wicket, West Indies v Afghanistan, 1st ODI, St Lucia,@AFP

Rashid Khan looked like he would get a wicket with every ball © Getty Images wicket haul in ODIs) and collapsed for 149 from 44.4 overs as they failed to win their fifth consecutive ODI at this venue. Shai Hope top scored with 35, while Alazzrai Joseph made 27. Set 213 to win, the host stared in horrendous fashion when Kieran Powell (2) was lbw to the lively Dawlat Zadran at 3-1, while offspinner Nabi shared the new ball with him. An uppish drive from

Evin Lewis went between the point and cover and Zadran held his head in anguish before an imperious punch by Shai Hope off Naib reached the cover boundary like a bullet. Afghanistan were sharp in the field and made the batsmen work hard for their runs and after 10 overs the score was 23-1. Lewis scored 21 from 47 balls before he was taken at deep cover playing a needless aerial shot and Naib

had struck at 41-2. Jason Mohammed joined Hope knowing that with Khan still to bowl it would not be a walk in the park for the West Indies. Mohammad (4) was given a reprieve when the TV replay overturned a caught behind verdict a he cut at Nabi at 522 in the 20th over. Controlled bowling ensured that just a single boundary was hit in the first 21 overs before Hope

dumped Shenwari for six to break the shackles. Mystery spinner Khan, who play for the Amazon Warriors in the 2017 CPL, had Mohammed (7) caught at first slip off his first ball before debutant Roston Chase played back to a Googlie next ball and was LBW and Khan was on a hattrick as two wickets fell at 68 in the 23rd over which was a maiden. Khan struck again in his

next over when Hope (35 from 63 balls) edged to slip as West Indies slipped to 705. Things got progressively worse as Holder was bowled first ball as Khan was again on a hat-trick. A confident appeal off the hat-trick ball was turned down when Nurse missed a big sweep. Nurse swung Nabi for four before he missed a sweep at Khan and was LBW at 90-7 to give Khan his (Continued on page 27)

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Saturday June 10, 2017

Cyclists to use Albert Rose Memorial 50-miler Wawrinka pierces in Linden as warm up for National C/ships Murray’s armor

to reach French Open final

Cyclists at the recently held Baker Memorial Classic held in Linden. Tomorrow, Albert Rose Memorial 50-mile cycle road race in the Bauxite Mining Town of Linden will be used by riders as warm up ahead of next week’s commencement of the National Cycling Championships. Organised by the Linden Bauxite Flyers Cycle Club (LBFCC), in association with the Rose Family, tomorrow’s race, pedals off from GTT’s entrance at David Rose Street from 08:30hrs, proceeds to Moblissa Hill on the Linden Soesdyke Highway before finishing at Bamia Hill. Seniors, juniors and veterans under-45 will do three laps while females, juveniles and veterans over45 will do one lap on the

circuit. Close to $200,000 in cash and other incentives as well as trophies will be at stake. The senior segment of the race also has at stake 10 prime prizes valued at $2000 each. Albert Rose was one of Guyana’s leading cyclists in the 70s and 80s but died of a heart attack two years ago. To keep his memory alive the LBFCC and the Rose family has organised this event which is in its second year. Michael Anthony won last year’s inaugural race which only attracted Linden riders but from this year on, it would be a national race. Meanwhile, the National Championships will pedal off next weekend with the

O p e n Ti m e Tr i a l s o n Saturday on the Linden Soesdyke Highway, starting at Hararuni and ending at Long Creek. The first rider would be sent on his way at 09:30hrs and will cover a distance of eight (8) miles. On Sunday next, the Road Race for juniors, juveniles, ladies and veterans will be contested. Juniors and veterans will cover a distance of 70 miles, pedaling off from Homestretch Avenue at 08:00hrs proceeding to Camp Wesleyana, Linden Soesdyke Highway before returning to the start line for the finish. Juveniles and ladies will cover a distance of 53 miles from the starting point to Bottle Neck, Timehri and

back to the starting line for the finish. The senior Road Race will be contested on Sunday June 25th when riders will cover a distance of 103.4 miles from Homestretch Avenue to Camp Sewayo, Linden Soesdyke Highway and return. Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n f o r cyclists competing in the Time Trials as well as Race Officials would be provided by the Guyana Cycling Federation for all to Hararuni, next Saturday. The bus will leave the National Sports Commission, Homestretch Avenue at 08:00hrs. The GCF has also indicated that juniors and veterans will be allowed to participate in the senior road race.

Guyana to host CONCACAF women’s U-17 qualifiers in august Guyana will host Group D of the CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Qualifiers from August 9 – 13 comprising Guyana, Barbados and Cuba. The announcement was made even as Guyana seeks to rebuild women’s football under its technical development programme.

President Wayne Forde expressed his pleasure at this announcement: “The GFF welcomes the opportunity to host Group D of the CONCACAF U-17 Women’s tournament. This is yet another clear signal of the regional prominence and respect that Guyana now enjoys. I would like to ask the public to come out

in huge numbers and support the games.” The tournament will feature 18 countries in five groups including Group A: Trinidad and Tobago, US Virgin Islands, Grenada and Curacao; Group B: Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Anguilla and the Bahamas; Group C: St.

Lucia, Bermuda, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba Group D: Guyana, Barbados and Cuba and Group E: St. Vincent & the Grenadines, St. Kitts & Nevis and Jamaica. This will serve to decide the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup; three teams will qualify for the World Cup.

Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka celebrates winning his semi- final match against Great Britain’s Andy Murray. (Reuters/Christian Hartmann) PARIS (Reuters) Stan Wawrinka subjected Andy Murray to a barrage of body blows as he broke down the B r i t o n ’s f o r m i d a b l e defenses to reach the French Open final yesterday, twice coming from a set down to win a high-octane contest 67(6), 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-1. The Swiss 2015 champion hit a staggering 87 winners as he avenged last year’s semi-final defeat by the world number one to set up a final against nine-time champion Rafa Nadal or rising Austrian talent Dominic Thiem. Murray absorbed everything Wawrinka threw at him for most of the four hour and 34 minute contest but after winning a tense f o u r t h s e t , Wa w r i n k a steamed ahead in the decider as the Briton’s armor was finally pierced. The third seed, at 32 the oldest man to reach the Roland Garros final since Niki Pilic finished runner-up in 1973, was long frustrated by Murray but never lost faith despite seeing his opponent rally back from a break down in the first and third sets. “There are two ways of seeing things and I chose to be positive, knowing that I was dominating,” said Wawrinka, who has won the three grand slam finals he has played. Murray, who arrived in Paris on the back of a woeful claycourt season, said he could take a lot of positives from his run to the semis.

“I’m proud of the tournament I had. I did well considering. I was one tiebreak away from getting to the final,” said the Scot, who was runner-up to Novak Djokovic last year. “When I came here I was really struggling. I turned my form around really well and ended up having a good tournament.” M u r r a y, w h o l i k e Wawrinka owns three grand slam titles, made only one unforced error in the first seven games. He suffered a bit of a meltdown in the eighth, though, and Wawrinka pounced to steal his serve. POINT OF THE TOURNAMENT On his second opportunity, the Swiss punished Murray for his illtimed rush to the net with a crosscourt forehand passing shot. Murray broke straight back to eventually force a tiebreak that featured a couple of blazing exchanges that would be in the running for the ‘point of the tournament’. After some fast-paced exchanges at the net, Wawrinka moved to set point with a backhand volley but dinked a routine backhand into the net as Murray leveled for 6-6. On the following point, the Scot was forced to defend again and he turned the rally around with a jawdropping defensive lob before finishing the point (Continued on page 25)

Kaieteur News

Saturday June 10, 2017

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P&P Insurance sponsors uniforms for Lodge Secondary’s Digicel football participation P&P once again continued its support for sports by sponsoring uniforms for Lodge Secondary School to participate in Digicel’s Football Tournament 2017. P&P is well known for its support for events such as this. They recently won an award from the National Sports Commission for its continued support for sporting events countrywide. Making the presentation,

Director of P&P Insurance M r . V i k a s h P a n d a y, expressed his continued support to Lodge Secondary School and wished them best of luck in the tournament. He said, “P&P is once again pleased to come onboard to allow these young men to participate in the tournament. I would like to pledge our continued support for events such as these.” The students thanked Mr. Panday for his support.

Forrester, Nanan help BSL to TTCB South C/ship honours

Winston Forrester Georgetown Cricket Club all-rounder Winston Forrester and left arm spinner Raj Nanan both played leading roles as their Trinidad based team Brasso Flanagin Los Atajos (BFL) won the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board South championship three-day league which ended recently. Forrester, 24, finished the season with 454 runs with his best being 76 not out. He also picked up 26 wickets. The 24year old Nanan grabbed 72 wickets from 13 innings including five 5-wicket and three 10-wicket hauls. He also scored 132 runs. In an invited comment, Forrester said that he enjoyed the stint as it helped to improve his cricket, adding that playing on different surfaces can only be beneficial. Nanan stated that he learnt a lot playing there and his bowling has improved. Both players said that they are happy to contribute meaningfully towards their team’s success.

IOC warns weightlifting federation to tackle doping (Reuters) The governing body of weightlifting (IWF) has been warned that the sport risks exclusion from the 2024 Olympic Games if it does not provide a “satisfactory” report about how it is dealing with doping by December. “The IWF has until December 2017 to deliver a

satisfactory report to the IOC on how they will address the massive doping problem this sport is facing,” IOC President Thomas Bach told reporters. Bach said the report was a condition for weightlifting remaining among the 28 Olympic sports in 2024.

Director of P&P Insurance Mr. Vikash Panday (left) hands over one of the uniforms to a player from Lodge Secondary, while other personnel from the school share the moment.

t r o Sp Xtreme Clean & Maintenance/GT Beer Gold Rush Futsal Tournament

Sparta ease anxiety of supporters after clinical destruction of Sophia Three players from Sparta Boss watch closely the advance of Sophia during their encounter on Thursday night.

-Quarter-finals set for next Tuesday

GRFU releases names of players to face T&T today at Saints

Part of the action from a previous clash between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago which the former won in 2014 at the National Park.

Ahmadi, Khan gives Afghanistan historic victory Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210