Kaieteur News
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Sunday June 10, 2018
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
ARCHAIC FOREIGN POLICY
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n the age of globalization, technology and a chaotic social-media world, Guyana has to take steps to protect its image and reputation by adopting a foreign policy to advance its economic and political interests overseas. During the 1960s and 1970s, Guyana had a stellar foreign policy at the United Nations (UN) and during its participation in the Non-Aligned Movement. Regionally, Guyana championed the cause for free trade in the Caribbean with the creation of CARIFTA in 1965, which subsequently became CARICOM in 1973. Foreign policy is a strategy or policy implemented by governments to protect its national interest. It sets guidelines on how a particular country deals with other countries in various areas, including trade and economics, immigration, and law enforcement, among others. Foreign policy dictates how a country will act with respect to other countries politically, socially, economically, and militarily, and to a somewhat lesser extent, how it behaves towards non-state actors. In this context, Guyana should formulate a foreign policy for purposes of peaceful and beneficial cooperation. With globalization, the world has become smaller and more interconnected. Most countries have made changes to their foreign policy that allows their ambassadors/high commissioners and other diplomats to interact strategically in the areas of trade, commerce, finance and economics with other countries. In the past, this was not allowed due to the fact that the interaction of diplomats was based on strict protocol. They were not to interfere in the internal affairs of other nations. Today, that has changed. The United States, Canada and British diplomats have intervened on several policy issues in Guyana. Guyana's foreign policy was soundly hatched under the leadership of the late Forbes Burnham in terms of trade, commerce and economic development. Today, the world has changed dramatically but our foreign policy has not changed. It remains inward looking and not about what is happening externally. Guyana needs strong leaders with conviction to change our archaic foreign policy to adapt to the changing circumstances on the world stage. We need a government that would seek partnerships for trade and investment and assistance in the border controversy with Venezuela. We do not need a foreign policy that is akin to a particular ideology, but one that is flexible and adaptable to serving Guyana's best interests. Neither do we need a government that would allow ExxonMobil, Aurora Gold and other conglomerates to rape and pauperize the country. As such, our current foreign policy positions need to be reviewed and the traditional role of our ambassadors/high commissioners must be reassessed to support our best interest. The government must conceptualize a grand foreign policy strategy to support the economic advancement of the country. To achieve such goals, changes must be made to the job description of our diplomats who for decades have been preoccupied with task of signing passports forms and attend ceremonial functions in the countries to which they are posted. It is time for them to mingle with the political, economic and the business communities wherever they may be in order to help establish trade deals and encourage foreign investors to Guyana. The government continues to spend hundreds of millions of dollars per year to pay, transport, house and provide medical benefits to our diplomats who must do more than perform ceremonial functions and enjoy a mighty good living. Guyana needs leaders who understand the importance of foreign policy and who are capable of making changes.
Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.
Donald Trump demands re-negotiations on trade deals but Guyana can’t demand on oil DEAR EDITOR, It is either “a fair deal or no deal.” That is essentially what the Trump administration is saying to Canada and Mexico as it moves to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). However, the mindset of Trump in this regard should not surprise anyone. Everyone wants the best for themselves. So if Trump, one of the
most controversial world leaders of our time can call for deals to be renegotiated so that he can get the best deal for his nation, then what is wrong with the leaders of Guyana? Why is there absolute opposition to renegotiating a deal with ExxonMobil that leaves Guyanese eating crumbs from natural resources that belong to the people?
Has the government forgotten that its duty is to serve the people and not ExxonMobil? I am sure Guyanese would agree that this behaviour from the APNU + AFC party is in stark contrast to the values of transparency and accountability that it promised the people during its 2015 election campaign. Ajay Gopaul
A man whose track record lacked integrity now points fingers Dear Editor, The poet Marmion once wrote, ‘oh what tangle web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.’ It is with some amount of trepidation that I read with interest a missive written by the learned Anil Nandlall, former Attorney General. Mr. Nandlall has always been a stranger to the truth and has sought to in a subtle way to dispense small doses of his poisonous cocktail to the reading public. In his opinion piece, on May 19, 2018, in the Inews edition, he attempts to identify the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA), as one of the many ‘unruly horses’. This is so far
from reality. He tries to make a case that the Director and deputy are unsuited for the position, giving a myriad of misinformed reasons. The fact of the matter is that progress has been made and is being made by the SARA, and this is according to the many media reports. Surely, this is so different from the insipid mouthing of my friend Anil. My own little research has found that this agency has its genesis through a United Nation’s Convention against corruption of which Guyana became a signatory 2003 and was ratified in 2008. Worldwide, people
generally are moving to stamp out this scourge; however, Mr. Nandlall seems bent on trying to discredit the efforts of the new administration, by his attempts at sullying the character of Dr. Thomas and his deputy Mr. Retemeyer and by extension SARA. The tactic of this Attorney-at-law is nothing new, given his bedrock. What is obvious is that this gentleman will stop at nothing to spread mischief. History has recorded him as using, his then office as Attorney General to make violent threats against a media outlet; making sexual innuendoes on his uncle’s
behalf ;to the extent that his then ministerial colleague Ms. Priya Manickchand has been quoted as saying “”I was shocked at what he said and expressed to him how offended and disappointed I was at his remarks,” utilizing state funds for family use among other infractions. Certainly, he cannot walk in the footsteps of those that held that prestigious office, the likes of Dr. Fenton Ramsahoye, Sir Shridat Ramphal, Dr. Mohammed Shahabuddin, Bernard De Santos to name a few. Now, it’s this same person who wants to take up the mantle as messenger of truth. His (Continued on page7)
Sunday June 10, 2018
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After my US trip, the disadvantages of doing business in Georgetown are more glaring DEAR EDITOR, Having just returned from a business trip in the United States, where I observed a large percentage of small medium and large business being very optimistic about the direction in which their business will go in the next 12 months and also very satisfied with the welcoming environment being provided by the cities in which they have set up their business, the complications, hindrances and disadvantages of doing business in Georgetown became more glaring to me upon my return to our capital city. In Atlanta, Georgia, my first stop, I first visited the new headquarters of Mercedes Benz-USA which only last year relocated its
headquarters there, joining other Fortune 500 companies like the Home Depot, United Parcel Service, the Coca Cola Company, Delta Airlines, etc. Many of the businesses I visited there indicated to me that one of the major motivational factors for moving there had to do with the City Council of Atlanta providing walkable neighb o r h o o d s with bike lanes, safe public transit and a mix of good recreational amenities for their employees. I observed the same kind of situation obtaining in other cities that I visited, where companies were setting up their headquarters and branch offices in cities that were safe, well laid out, given tax breaks and incentives, maintained the in-
frastructure of their cities such as sufficient street lighting, maintenance of roads and bridges, provision of adequate security throughout the entire city but in particular the shopping areas and ensured that good public health practices were maintained. And this situation is not only obtaining in the USA but also in Africa, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, South Asia and South-East Asia, and China In Georgetown, which is managed by an inept, unprofessional and bungling City Council and Administration, the only new businesses that are being set up here, are the dog food businesses, which
This statue is an affront to our ancestors and our sovereignty DEAR EDITOR, The person, or persons responsible for throwing red pain on the statue of British Monarch, Queen Victoria, must be congratulated f o r their audacious act. Perhaps they chose red to symbolize the blood of our ancestors. I have long advocated for this statue to be removed from in front of the Supreme Court and placed on the grounds of the British High Commission or at the Haags Bosch dumpsite. This statue is an affront to our ancestors, Amerindian,
African and Indian, and our sovereignty - whatever little is left of it. Under the reign of Queen Victoria, the ruthless British Empire expanded, continuing its genocide a g a i n s t t h e indigenous people in parts of the Americas including Guyana, and throughout Africa and the Indian sub-continent. At one point, she referred to herself as Empress of India. This woman presided over the rape and murder of our peoples. How absurd is it that we have a statue, as if to honour her, on the front lawn of our law courts, where jus-
tice and the law are supposed to be upheld? What is wrong with our psyche that there are those amongst us who insist that this statue must stay because it is a part of our history? Adolf Hitler is a part of German history, does that mean that a statue of him should stand in a place of honour outside their law courts? Statues are erected to honour persons who have contributed in a positive and uplifting way to our history.When our children ask us who this woman is, and what she (Continued on page 6)
are being established at every corner, bottled water and carbonated beverages sold at stop lights, pirated CDs from mobile music carts that roll around the city blasting songs that often contain lewd lyrics, junkies offering to wash your windshields or to sell you wipers, pig rearing in the cemetery and an out of control itinerant vending situation on most of the downtown pavements. With the steeply increased property rates, shipping container taxes, spiked market stall rents and licences for hairdressers, food handlers etc, the pending return of the draconian parking meter albatross, daily robberies around the municipal markets, the chaotic minibus situation in Georgetown, the mosquito infestation at nights, poor street lighting and blocked drains, surely the Georgetown City Council could not be interested in wooing businesses nor tourists to our capital. With local government elections fast approaching, one can only hope for the best; however, it seems that the more things change at City Hall, the more they remain the same. Mark Roopan
Christopher Ram is a national treasure DEAR EDITOR, I would like every Guyanese to recognize the exceptional talent and bravery and champion of all Guyanese, Mr. Christopher Ram. It isOil and Gas Academic, Charles Ramson my firm belief that this nation does not recognize the outstanding contributions of this man as trumpet blower against shady deals and corruption that robs our already impoverished nation more so in the latter days of the previous administration and even today as he holds the current Govt.’s feet to the fire for many of their boneheaded blunders. Editor, I believe we do not recognize the contributions of Mr. Ram and the time and devotion this patriot has to his country. I hope that one day we can truly recognize all of his efforts. Mr. Ram is a tireless champion, while no spring chicken, he has been using his talents foremost as a seasoned and recognized professional accountant to an outspoken champion as it pertains to Guyana’s national patrimony among many other causes. I recall that he was a thorn in the side of the last administration and
he is one of the few people that we as Guyanese can depend on to tell us the truth. We must applaud Mr. Ram for advocating again the disastrous contract the present Govt. had signed with ExxonMobil, we applaud him for speaking out against the many bone headed decisions of the present administration as well as speaking out against the many shady deals of the past administration for which we still pay a tremendous cost. I particularly applaud Mr. Ram in his recent efforts for criticizing the decision to accept ExxonMobil’s pre-contract cost of US$460M without formal audit or due process, that pressure has resulted in a u-turn decision by Govt. and recent announcement from Minister Patterson that those precontract costs and hopefully all future costs will now be audited. Thank you Mr. Ram, on behalf of all Guyanese, we cannot express our gratitude enough to you for your tireless work and drive to place Guyana on the right path. You, my friend are a true patriot and a national treasure. Yours truly Tony Persaud
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THIS DECISION IS A SLAP ON OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM
Guyana’s major problem is economic mismanagement by our major political parties
DEAR EDITOR, I am not a legal person but a common man, who, like the jurors in a criminal matter, must decide on guilt or innocence based on the evidences provided in the particular case. The recent murder case which saw the termination (nolleprosequi) of legal proceedings by the Director of Public Prosecution against two Canadian girls for the murder of their 64 year old father is a slap on our justice system. It is clear from all the evidences that there must have been even a conspiracy to commit the murder or being accessories to it. Therefore, it boggles the mind as to the termination of the prosecution.I have spent 17 years fighting for youths doing what is right and advocating social justice in every sphere of life and it is much to the public and my disap-
pointment that such an injustice should be perpetrated. The law must send a certain message that certain acts cannot be condoned in society. But what is the message are we sending to the public and our youths? That it is Ok to brutally murder your parents since the justice system will be sympathetic to you? This decision is wrong when we look at other cases where persons were convicted for murder based on a conspiracy. An example is the recent case where two women were given life imprisonment for conspiracy to commit murder of a US citizen in Berbice. Another example is the Tain murder of a man where a maid and the man’s wife are charged for conspiracy to commit murder and are on remand. Accessories are as guilty as the principal in any criminal matter and charges should have been recommended by
the DPP to suit the facts of the case presented by the prosecution. This matter should not have been subjected to nolleprosequi. In criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to commit a crime at some time in the future, and in this case, the courts should have been asked to decide whether the intention to commit the murder by the two girls was established, since the actions after the murder would have suggested that the intention existed and continued. This does not speak well about how we dispense justice in the eyes of the public and our young generation. Is it that the legal system failed or the enforcers have failed the system? Yours sincerely, Mr GobinHarbhajan RDC Councillor-Region 6
This statue is an affront to our ... From page 5 did, how will we explain why we chose to erect a statue commemorating someone who was a major player in the genocide of our ancestors and the plunder of our wealth? We must stop acting in a mindless way with regard to both our past and present, blindly following those who colonized us without any thought for our own dignity and understanding of our right to self-determination. It
is this type of mental slavery that has us right where we are today. Forbes Burnham had this statue removed. Unfortunately, he did not destroy it and under President Hoyte, it was resurrected. Perhaps when we remove it this time, the best thing would be to destroy it so that we can rid ourselves once and for all of this hideous monument to our own genocide and destruction. I am calling on the PanAfrican Movement (Guyana Branch), African Cultural and
Development Association(ACDA), Guyana Rastafari Council, Indian Action Committee, Amerindian People’s Association to join with Organization for the Victory of the People to seek the immediate removal of this statue. Let’s at least accomplish this much in this International Decade for People of African Descent. Gerald A. Perreira Organization for the Victory of the People (OVP)
DEAR EDITOR, The Democratic National Congress (DNC) was finally launched on May 23, 2018. The following is a section of the opening remarks, which we are confident is a major step in reconciling our racial divide, because we have exposed the falsehood that our major ethnic groups represent a threat to each other. We have also identified Guyana’s major problem: economic mismanagement by our major political parties, and have offered an alternative vision, which we share below. “Today (May 23, 2018) will finally mark the day in our history when we set aside the politics of race, which has divided us as a nation, and unite under a set of tested policies which have advanced the welfare of the developed nations. Today marks the day when we exchange the racebased policies and lies of the past for a new paradigm, the paradigm, which puts our people first. Today marks the day when we no longer see our different ethnic groups and cultures as threats to each other, but as brothers and sisters in a common struggle. Yes. Today is a different day. Today is the day when we confront and defeat the ills of
our past, which have driven us asunder, and examine and chart the course of our future not as a nation divided nation, but as one people, one nation, with one destiny. Today we finally have an opportunity not only to offer the hope of unity that has long eluded us, but to finally succeed at it, because we finally have a policy framework that can deliver on our dreams and aspirations and stand the test of time as we learn to better manage our nation’s business. Our party has been established on sound economic policies, which see racism as destructive to the intent of our desire for a better standard of living and national unity. We have in the past been cynical about third parties and their short life expectancies, and have been manipulated by fear of each other. It is that same unfounded fear of each other which has brought us full circle with the very real possibility of the failures of our past becoming the course of our future. It is time we examined alternative proposals, which can take us forward. The vision of the Democratic National Congress for Guyana is captured in our theme, Bringing Guyana Into The 21st Century. We are committed, and
will work towards developing Guyana so that Guyanese can enjoy the level of welfare and standard of living achieved in developed economies. This will be realized by marshalling our resources and investing in our human and productive capital to generate national and personal incomes which will fund transformations in our physical infrastructure and allow Guyanese to live comfortable lives where they can afford not only basic necessities, but also enjoy the welfare that derives from acquiring the things that appeal to them. Investment will be targeted in four broad areas: Our Citizens, Government Services, Our Communities, The Productive Sectors. Our people are our most important and transformative asset. In this regard, we are committed to releasing the potential of our citizens by investing directly in their capacities. Incomes and unemployment issues have been placed at the centre of our economic policy framework. Workers have over the decades struggled under the burden of depressed incomes, which has severely restricted their ability to enjoy basic welfare needs in (Contuinued on page 7)
Sunday June 10, 2018
Kaieteur M@ilbox THE SKELETONS ARE FALLING OUT THE CLOSET DEAR EDITOR, I had three kids who attended Mae’s and wrote CXC. When my last kid wrote CXC last year, he was asked to attend school for work study. On his arrival at school, he was asked to leave the school compound because he had beard on his face; he breached the school rules. After 14 years at Mae’s which was his fi-
nal and he is not allowed to graduate. My son always did well at his test and CXC he came out with distinction. I had paid for the next school term, which I didn’t get back. We send our kids to school so they can learn. The President said every child has a right to school but he must ask Mae’s School for a record of how many were put out of that school. Sharmila Persaud
Guyana’s major problem is ... From page 6 many instances. Government under the DNC will work closely with workers’ unions to develop a plan for addressing workers’ income issues by aligning these with what our negotiations can agree on as a ‘living wage’. That is, the incomes of all public sector workers will be adjusted by an amount, which will raise the wages and salaries of the lowest paid public servants up to the level where we can agree they can live comfortably. We will also work closely with the private sector to address bottlenecks to investment and job creation as a means of addressing our pressing national unemployment situation. The Democratic National Congress recognizes that much of the corruption in government services results from the depressed incomes of public servants. We intend to address this directly by paying increased wages and salaries to our public servants. Further, a national governance framework is in-
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tegral to eliminating corruption, minimizing waste of taxpayers’ dollars and maximizing growth and welfare possibilities. In this regard, more weight will be given to the independence of the Public Procurement Commission. All government ministries and agencies will be tasked with drafting governance guidelines for their respective organizations with external assistance where necessary. These will be integrated into the operations of the respective organizations. All staff will be provided with training to ensure that regulations on governance are adhered to. Realizing our vision of bringing Guyana into the 21st century necessarily involves investing in our communities. We will work with regional and municipal administrative bodies to ensure that they embrace the sound governance practices established for central government. They will be consulted regarding their respective budgets and the responsiveness of these in de-
livering on environmental standards for cleanliness and other physical and social infrastructure necessary for increasing the standard of living in these communities. Investment in our productive sectors is crucial for realizing our vision for Guyana. In this respect, we encourage all Guyanese to examine their available productive assets and consider what resources they need to generate wealth. The government of the DNC will hold consultations with all productive sectors, from agriculture to manufacturing, mining and IT, to ensure that every sector has the necessary support to increase production and wherever possible, facilitate access to export markets.” Yours faithfully, Craig Sylvester
Kaieteur M@ilbox A WAKE-UP CALL FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE DEAR EDITOR, I refer to the treatment meted out to the nine year old Amerindian pupil by the Administration of Mae’s School on the occasion of Culture Day. Sir, I want to say that this disrespect and discrimination against our Indigenous people will continue until they take a stand and say enough is enough and we will not be used by politicians from both sides of the divide in the future ever again. Amerindians must be able to stand up and say we are proud of our culture and heritage and the other ethnic groups in this country must understand that and not disrespect us and I therefore call on my Amerindian brothers and sisters for this to happen you have to launch your own political party to empower yourselves and have a say in the affairs of this country. Your vote is 10 percent in this country and imagine the power you will wield as the power broker of the two other ethnic parties in this country. For any one of them to form the next government, they will have to sit down and negotiate with you. You will
hold all the trumps and you will never be disrespected and discriminated ever again. Amerindians are smart, bright and very articulate, especially the young people and I call on them to take the lead. This is your moment, seize it and create a momentous shift in the way this country is governed. Secure yours and your children’s future. The leaders of this country since independence only
care for themselves, their families and their friends and to hell with the poor and vulnerable people of this land and it is time to shake up the status quo and the indigenous people is well positioned to do so. This is a wakeup call to my Amerindian brothers and sisters, rise up and let your voice be heard. Form your own political party. Yours faithfully, Imtiaz Bacchus.
A man whose track... From page 4 track record does not speak to integrity; but it’s this soul that points dirty fingers at a renowned Economist who now heads SARA. The current wave in my country is that of moving to create a society free from corruption and this move must not be hindered by these pontificators. As a nation, we have to guard against such moves that are inimical to the growth and development of our beautiful Guyana. I believe the current trajectory of this country makes wise that we keep focused, not to be side tracked easily and reject out of hand any attempt to stymie the gains made so far. S. Chan
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Trinidad, Barbados main culprits Pregnant moms from Suriname accesses Skeldon’s Ultrasound Dept frustrating movement of CARICOM skilled workers – Gonsalves
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Dr. Ulisas Lopez, Radiologist shows Minister Cummings the Ultrasound Department’s records of ultrasounds done for the year. The Skeldon Hospital in East Berbice has recently seen an influx of persons accessing Ultrasound services at the health facility, during the first five months of this year. As of June 7, 2018, the records show that 1,302 patients have utilised the service, according to a Government release.
According to Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, a report from the radiologist, Dr. Ulisas Lopez, stationed at the medical facility detailed the number of persons accessing the ultrasound services. Dr. Lopez also noted that “in other places, patients would have to pay but here
it’s free so all the pregnant mothers, even from Suriname, come here.” He added that the service is critical since it can be the first step to life saving and other much-needed medical interventions. The Ultrasound service was introduced to the hospital in January, eliminating referrals to the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital. Further, persons no longer have to go to private facilities to pay for the service, since Skeldon is now a hub offering the services free of cost.
rime Minister St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, has singled out Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados as regional countries that continue to frustrate the free movement of skilled Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals. Dr. Gonsalves was at the time responding to questions from regional stakeholders during the two-day consultation, hosted by the CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, with support from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) at the Ramada Princess Hotel. The consultation concluded on Saturday. Under the free movement clause of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), skilled persons are entitled to move and work freely throughout the region using the Free Movement of Skills certificate. The Prime Minister explained that CARICOM nationals continue to face challenges where skilled workers are turned away. “The games which some countries play; I don’t find the problem is relevant in the OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States), but the main culprits in this regard are Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. They twist every
Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves (right) with CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque single CARICOM skilled national certificate upside down inside out as though they are written in Mandarin, Chinese upside down. And some refuse to accept them,” Gonsalves stated. He stated that this is an example where there are practical things in the existing arrangement for the CSME, which can get done. “It will make life better for people. We can’t jump over them,” Dr. Gonsalves noted. The stakeholders reviewed the gaps in implementation of the CSME. Panel discussions throughout the two days ex-
plored matters such as what the CSME objectives and priorities should be and the private sector and labour. They also focused on free movement of persons and public awareness. The findings and recommendations from the Consultation are intended to be considered by the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and also to inform the review of the CSME being undertaken by the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government which will continue in a Special Session at its upcoming meeting next month.
Sunday June 10, 2018
Bandits invade gated community, rob household The empty TV stand from which one of the televisions was removed.
Three bandits armed with guns invaded a Providence Community in the wee hours of Thursday morning and carted off millions of dollars in cash and personal items. Marcia Narine, a 29-yearold businesswoman of 2690 Green Acres, Providence, East Bank Demerara, a gated community, is estimating her total losses in excess of $6.5 million, after three armed bandits invaded her home around 2:30 am Thursday last. Mrs. Narine told this publication that she was awakened by her maid crying and speaking in Spanish, “Please don’t hurt me or the little girl”. Mrs. Narine then attempted to make her way to the room where her maid and eight-year-old daughter were, and was confronted by one of the bandits who had gained entry into her room. It must have been that he used a key from the outside, since the door was locked from inside. By that time, the bandits had already gathered the fourth occupant of the house,(Mrs. Narine’s uncle) and had tied-up the Cuban maid, Mrs. Narine’s eightyear-old daughter and her uncle.Mrs. Narine was left untied while the bandits took her around the house asking for
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money and valuables. In this process, they took US$9,000, $700,000 in local currency, $2.5 million in jewellery, six cell phones, three flat screen TVs, and two Laptops.The bandits also carted off a quantity of clothes and footwear. The whole ordeal lasted for about 90 minutes during which Mrs. Narine and her uncle were beaten and threatened with death several times in the presence of her eightyear-old daughter. Mrs. Narine was even threatened with rape at one time, when one of the bandits made a strange request for her to give him the password to a phone that she had all the information relating to her business contacts. This request was also made for a laptop that she used for her business. Mrs. Narine said, this was very worrying and led her to believe that it was an inside job, since the information on the Phone and Laptop, was vital only to persons in her kind of business.
Mrs. Narine said that she did not know how the bandits left, because she took some time to untie herself, but they would have had to have transportation to move the stuff since it was a lot. She however knew they came over a trench and entered the house through a kitchen window, since the grill was damaged and there were footprints in the yard leading to the window, from the fence, which was at the side of the trench. Mrs. Narine also said when the ordeal was over and she went to the entrance of the community to tell the security guard what had happened and get a call for help, the security guard told her that he did not see anyone strange pass in or out. A report was made to the Providence Police Station and Mrs. Narine told the police of her suspicions of an ex-employee who was fired because of his untrustworthiness. The man has since been arrested but was released on bail, as investigations continue.
Dem boys seh... Guyana giving way de dollar fuh silver coin De richest and most powerful country in the world America deh pun a war path with nations because it trying to upkeep itself at the top.Donald Trump is de man who heading de richest nation although it owe China more than anybody else and dat is wha got Trump vex because he can’t reduce de debt. Dat is how when he travel to Canada couple days ago he talk how Uncle Sam got a bad trade deal with some countries and dat got to change. He seh he country got to get a better deal. From de time he talk, people start to seh how America sliding on the world stage. America is not America it use to be. Was a time when every Tom, Dick and Harrylall use to want to run to de States. Some people sell out dem property to pay fuh get a chance to go backtrack.Dem who get ketch get send back fuh live pun de road. Some commit suicide yet Guyanese prefer to go there and do anything than stay in dis country. Now not even a maid want to stay deh because things more hard there than in Guyana. Anyhow, Trump was de man who beat Hilary because he promise to mek America Number One. Dat is why he now picking war wid
all ee friends. He start taxing everything dem sell to him. Friday, he went and fight with Canada, Mexico and the whole Europe. He forget dat when you trouble marabunta you does got to run and lef de nest nuff time. Dem country was like marabunta. Now dem boys seh is a big trade war going on. Is tax fuh tax. He taxing Canada products and Canada taxing right back. Mexico and Europe in dat same boat too. Everybody fighting fuh a fair deal; dem want de best offer. But dem boys seh Guyana live in a world all by itself. It look like it don’t know wha it want. And because of dat, de oil company and de gold company tekking advantage and de leaders smiling. Is only pagalee people does do things like dat. Dem boys remember when people use to tek way dem children dollar and give dem a shine coin. Dat was what de children know. De coin was solid and de dollar was only paper suh de coin was more valuable. Dem foreign companies come and do de same thing to Guyana but dat got to change. De Guyanese people want back dem dollar. Talk half and wake up de coal-lay-shun…!
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APNU+AFC Government organs act like agents of ExxonMobil - Ramson By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell
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ormer People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP), Charles Ramson, feels that the APNU+AFC Government has aborted its role as the people’s representative. He said that the government and its organs are now acting like “agents” of oil giant, ExxonMobil. During a recent interview, Ramson lamented the “unfortunate” series of events that followed Government’s release of the list of 227 companies that conducted business with ExxonMobil during the first quarter of 2018. Ramson noted that the list was accompanied by an article written by the Department of Public Information (DPI) trying to discredit persons and companies that have refused to be apologists of ExxonMobil or “ExxonMobil sympathizers.” He noted, too, that articles were written by DPI without any sort of
investigation that could have either verified or discredited the content of the list. Ramson said, “What surprises me a b o u t t h e publication of the Department of Public Information lauding the $10B purportedly spent by Exxon in 2017 and 2018 is that; in their haste to be agents of Exxon, the writers did not even check the accuracy of the information on the list.” Further, the oil and gas academic said that if the government and its organ— the DPI—understood an iota of how projects such as Liza phase one work, they would have been ashamed to say that so far, only $10B has been paid to local companies when the project is worth US$4.4B or $880B. Ramson explained, “The major spending from an oil company comes in this phase – called the development phase. But the government seems to be satisfied with the $10B purportedly spent in Guyana by Exxon since 2017 even though this represents just one percent of the project cost.
Oil and Gas Academic, Charles Ramson
APNU+AFC’s advertisement on its Facebook page “They are acting and sounding like agents for Exxon rather than agents of the people.” But, Ramson noted that the “agents” did not leave their “Public Relations” work there. “They took it a step further. Ramson said that he found “absolutely
disgusting,” the fact that there was a paid Facebook advertisement from the APNU+AFC on its official page. It carries the headline, “Kaieteur News, Ram & McRae, Guyana Times & Sleep In Hotel among local companies cashing in on ExxonMobil’s business.” The Government also paid for this article to reach several hundreds of Facebook
viewers. It was written by the DPI too. Ramson said that the post and conversation that followed the article were geared at discrediting Guyanese businesses, which have benefited from some of Exxon’s spending. The Oil and Gas Academic said, “They suggested that people and businesses should not criticize if they are
getting paid. Well, that, to me, is the definition of a sell-out and if this is the group of persons we expect to represent Guyana’s best interest then we can say with certainty that there will not be local content legislation and that the APNU-AFC will continue to give away our natural resources,” Ramson quoted a section of the article, which read, “It is clear that the trickledown effect is that thousands of Guyanese who are either employed or connected to these companies directly are benefitting from ExxonMobil’s presence in Guyana.” The politician then questioned, “Is that what this government is satisfied with? The trickles?
Suriname authorities continue to grill ‘Bolo’ in deadly pirate attacks
Already charged: Nakool ‘Fyah’ Manohar
S
uriname authorities say that they are continuing to question a Guyanese fisherman who they captured in Lelydorp, in the Wanica District on June 2. Also being questioned is the girlfriend of ‘Ganesh B’. According to Surinamese police yesterday, ‘Ganesh B’ is known more popularly as ‘Bolo’, a fisherman from Berbice who operates in Suriname water. On June 2, a Suriname joint police unit, consisting of the Department of Capital Crimes and the Regional Assistance Team took the 30year-old into custody after
One of the main attackers, known as ‘Crackhead’ captured in Suriname during investigations one month ago.
careful planning. The suspect was at an address in Lelydorp where he was hiding for quite some time. During the arrest, Suriname police said in a statement yesterday, his girlfriend tried to hinder the police in their performance. ‘Bolo’ attempted to run away from the police. However, he was cornered near a hen house after warning shots were fired. He surrendered. Along with his girlfriend, he was transferred to the Capital Crimes Division. Police said that under questioning ‘Bolo’ denied being involved in the deadly piracy case.
After consultation with the Public Prosecutor’s office, he was ordered to be detained. Police in Guyana and Suriname are in the midst of major investigation after a feud between Guyanese fishermen who operate between the two countries escalated into a driver by where a Guyanese boat owner living in Suriname was gunned down during a driveby in late March. On April 27, in waters between Suriname and French Guiana, heavily armed men attacked four fishing boats, beating, chopping and throwing the crewmen (Continued on page 71)
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Red Thread on a mission Banks unwilling to transfer US$8.4M to Venezuela to end Domestic Violence Red Thread is slowly moving to establish a systematic and holistic approach to addressing domestic violence in Guyana. The group is currently finalising a report on its twoyear project implemented through funding from the US Department of State. The project titled “Engaging communities for improved implementation of domestic violence laws” engages residents in five communities to provide leadership and transformative action towards adequately addressing domestic violence. The aim of the project includes generating research that could drive policy and identify areas for training and technical assistance to improve the implementation of the Domestic Violence (DV) Laws. An integral activity of the project was to assess the efficacy of the police and judicial systems in addressing DV case. Red Thread has so far assessed, organized and mobilized community monitors in the various communities who have been observing police and court
Red Thread Coordinator, Karen DeSouza practices as it relates to addressing the social scourge. Addressing a conference at the Education Lecture Theatre (ELT), University of Guyana Campus on Friday, Red Thread Coordinator, Karen DeSouza, told the gathering, which included a wide cross-section of representatives of stakeholder groups that although the research is in its finalized stage, the main challenges remain to help the
citizenry understand their role and how to overcome common attitudes towards addressing cases of domestic violence. According to De Souza, in the course of training the victim blaming and shaming attitude mentality by members of public particularly those involved in law enforcement was the most common challenge. She noted that Red Thread is continuing its work with the police and judiciary to develop a more effective approach to Domestic violence An important part of the research is monitoring the police and courts; and their response to such cases … And what we found is that one person got used to the fact there were monitors, there were more requests for monitors. Admitting that addressing domestic violence is a gargantuan task, DeSouza noted that hopefully, the project could be seen as a different mould of work, hopefully, one, which is more sustainable. “This is the last official Continued on page 13
…MONEY PUSHES UP COUNTRY’S PUBLIC DEBT
By Kiana Wilburg As at December 31, 2017, Guyana’s public debt amounted to US$1,670.7M. According to Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, in his End of Year report, this is US$8.4M higher than projected at the time of presenting budget 2018. The Finance Minister explained that this marginal increase was primarily due to higher disbursements from the Export-Import Bank of China, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and CARICOM Development Fund (CDF). Also contributing to this situation is the delayed debt service payments to Venezuela. Jordan said that this is due to sanctions imposed by the United States on debt and securities transactions related to the Spanish speaking country. As a result of those sanctions, Jordan said that Guyana’s international correspondent banks have been unwilling to transfer payments to Venezuela. In the circumstance, Jordan said that earlier this year, the Government opened an account with Bank of Guyana where the payments due to Venezuela are being posted.
Furthermore, the Finance Minister said that for 2017, the total public debt-to-GDP ratio increased marginally to 46.1 percent from the projected 2017 figure of 45.2 percent at the time of the budget 2018. As at December 31, 2017, the Minister said that the external public debt stock stood at US$1,240.6M, marginally higher than the projected 2017 amount of US$1,234.5. He said that the share of external public debt accounted for 74.3 percent of the total public debt stock as at December 31, 2017. On the domestic side, the Finance Minister noted that the domestic public debt stock was US$430.1M as at December 31, 2017, marginally higher by US$2.3M than the projection at budget 2018. Jordan said that this was primarily due to the issuance of a new 91-day Treasury bill. He noted that the share of domestic public debt accounted for 25.7 percent of the total public debt stock as at December 31, 2017. The Finance Minister also noted that at the end of last year, the total public debt service amounted to US$71.7M which was marginally lower (2.5 percent)
Finance Minister, Winston Jordan than the projected 2017 figure of US$73.5M. Giving a further breakdown, the Finance Minister said that external public debt service for 2017 amounted to US$60.8M which is US$1.9M less than projected at the time of budget 2018. For 2017, the economist said that 6.8 percent of total revenue earned, went towards servicing the external debt, marginally increasing from the 6.7 percent that was projected at the time of the presentation of the 2018 budget. He said that domestic debt service payments for 2017, which amounted to US$10.9 M, remained the same as projected.
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Aurora Gold Mine breaches local and international aviation laws …Uses privately registered plane for commercial purposes
The Twin Otter
Currently, Canadian Flyers is the registered owner of the Twin Otter being used by Aurora Gold Mine to shuttle goods and employees in and out of Region Seven daily. That aircraft is registered in Canada but is operating locally. Even more worrying is the fact that the plane is registered for private
use. Operating a plane commercially in Guyana that is registered in another country as a private plane is a serious violation of aviation safety regulations in both countries, according to Guyana’s Civil Aviation Authority. Planes that are registered
privately are required to be maintained at lower standards than planes that are registered commercially. Also, the training requirements for pilots authorized to fly private planes are lower than pilots flying commercial planes. Pilots flying privately do not have to meet the same flight
Red Thread on a mission to... From page 12 activity in the project, even with the germ of an action plan; the police force has been very interested in the criticism, which were made and they are looking at how their operations can improve. Similarly, the judiciary has shown interest in improving and demonstrating their commitment to enforcing the law and improving the
situation of Domestic Violence in Guyana.” Domestic Violence homicide cases are at an alarming proportion in Guyana. The state of affairs requires a multi-stakeholder response. A number of governmental and non- governmental organisations have joined efforts to address the issue. Most recently, Suresh Sugrim, a representative of the
Humanitarian Mission Inc., an overseas-based charity called on the Government to up the ante in providing safe houses for, which victims of domestic violence can find refuge. Through the charity, Sugrim has been working in Guyana since 2005, conducted outreaches, particularly in Berbice, where donors build houses for families in need.
training or medical standards as commercial pilots. Operating a privately registered plane for commercial purposes also has implications for the insurance. If the plane crashes into a house in Guyana, insurance would not cover that accident because the plane’s insurance is private but the accident occurred during a commercial operation. In Canada, Commercial
aviation is defined as the “use of an aircraft for hire or reward.” Transport Canada refers to business aircraft as private-air operators. However, it will only be considered private if the business is using the aircraft for that business only. In other words, from the time that business renders aviation services to another business “for reward,” it is then considered to be commercial. Therefore, the fact that Canadian Flyers is rendering services to Aurora, the aircraft is now flying commercial. This is what Canada Transport said, “If you are Canadian and you operate one or more private aircraft, you are required to register with Transport Canada. This registration process replaced the private air operator certificate for new operators as of May 28, 2014.
“If you are a new private operator, you must apply for a private operator registration document. This registers you with Transport Canada and ensures your compliance with aviation regulations. What you need to know before you start. Private air operations are distinct from commercial air operations. They can be personal or for business. Here are two examples: An individual flies an aircraft for recreation or pleasure. A business operates an aircraft or a fleet of aircraft to transport employees or clients.” Aurora has told Guyana that it owns the aircraft that is found to be registered in the name of Canadian Flyers. Read more at: https:// www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2018/06/03/records-showaurora-gold-mine-does-notown-twin-otter-operating-inguyana/
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US prosecutors impatient with Bisram’s stalling - objects to witnesses testifying via local embassy The US Government is objecting to Marcus Bisram’s attempts to have witnesses testify through the US Embassy in Guyana. In a June 6 response to Bisram’s lawyers application last month, US Attorney, Richard Donoghue, in his letter to Judge Kiyo Matsumoto of the Brook-
lyn Court, said that the fugitive’s request that the US arrange for the complaining witnesses to testify via television or telephone at the United States Embassy in Guyana” is untenable. As an initial matter, Bisram has no right to obtain the testimony he
seeks. “In addition, nothing in the extradition treaty between the United States and Guyana would allow the United States to make such a request. Moreover, even if there were a legal basis for the request, “a court has no authority to order the Executive Branch
to invoke the treaty process to obtain evidence abroad for a private citizen,” the letter to the judge said. According to Donoghue, the process afforded the fugitive during the extradition hearing was consistent with the Constitution and Laws of the United States. “The fugitive had the opportunity to admit evidence during the extradition hearing, and he did in fact did admit an exhibit.” Bisram has a last ditch opportunity via a habeas corpus proceeding to have his extradition to Guyana, ordered last year, to be overturned. If not, the judge as the next step can refer the matter to the US Secretary of State for a final decision for extradition. “The Court should reject the fugitive’s transparent attempt to delay his extradition to face the murder charges that are pending against him in Guyana.” The US attorney said that in October 2016, the fugitive allegedly committed a murder in Guyana. “After the Government of Guyana submitted a request for the fugitive’s extradition to the United States Department of State, in July 2017 the fugitive was arrested in Queens, New York. After numerous extensions requested by the fugitive, the court held an extradition hearing on October 2, 2017.” He argued that the extradition court properly rejected those arguments and certified that the fugitive should be extradited. In fact, Bisram relied on argument and innuendo, waiting nearly a year before raising these “erroneous” claims. “The fugitive’s stalling has gone on long enough. The Court should reject his request for an evidentiary hearing and deny his petition.” Bisram, a millionaire
Fighting extradition: Marcus Bisram philanthropist, is being held for the 2016 murder of a Berbice carpenter, Faiyaz Narinedatt. The Government of Guyana had requested Bisram, who lives in New York, to be extradited. A court ruled that he is extraditable. However, the businessman, who has retained a battery of lawyers i n N e w Yo r k , a n d i n Guyana, had filed habeas corpus proceedings, in last-ditch attempts to be freed. A judge earlier this year gave lawyers until April 16 to file a reply to the US government objections. According to the court documents, in the case against the Metropolitan Detention Center where Bisram is currently being held, his lawyers are arguing that the challenge to the extradition is a limited one. The question before the court is whether there is probable cause to try the accused, not whether he is guilty. The petitioner cannot offer a defence to the charges such as alibi, selfdefence, or insanity – as such defence is not at issue in the case, the lawyers for Bisram contended. At issue, the court documents said, is the evidence demonstrating that the statement from an “illiterate minor”
Killed carpenter: Faiyaz Narinedatt named Chaman Chunilall, called ‘Nicko’ or ‘Bake’. The lawyers claimed that the statement of the lone teenaged eyewitness was “coerced” by the police and prosecutors in Guyana. In fact, the lawyers claimed that Chunilall admitted that his story accusing Bisram of ordering the killing of Narinedatt, is a fabrication. In January, Assistant Legal Advisor of the Department of State, Washington, Tome Heinemann, filed a declaration in which it was disclosed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guyana on January 18, 2018, transmitted its request for the extradition of Bisram. Bisram was arrested at a New York beachfront property, in Far Rockaway, Queens, on July 4, last, after a U.S. Judge issued a warrant for him. Prior to that, Bisram was posted on the Interpol wanted list. He is alleged to have ordered the killing of Faiyaz Narinedatt, a carpenter who rebuffed his sexual advances during a backyard encounter. Narinedatt was beaten, placed in a trunk of car, dumped on the Corentyne Road and ran over to make it look like a hit-a-run. Bisram’s alleged actions in November 2016 in Berbice, caused four men to b e c h a rg e d f o r m u r d e r. They are Radesh Motie; Diadath Datt, 18; Harripaul Parsram, 49, and Niran Yacoob, 37. B i s r a m ’s m o t h e r, Shermella Inderjali, 45, a mother of two, of Number 7 1 Vi l l a g e , C o r e n t y n e , Berbice and Maryanne Lionel, 25, of Number 71 Village, Corentyne, Berbice were arrested during a sting operation. They were charged for willfully attempting to pervert the course of justice. Bisram, a millionaire, was close to Berbice police, making significant donations via his charity.
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Charity organisations reach out to displaced Sugar workers children The Guyana-Florida Hope non-profit organization which is based in the Crabwood Creek, Upper Corentyne, continues to be one of the leading non-governmental charity organisations in the country as it strives to meet the needs of all Guyanese. The body is the local chapter of the US based Florida/ Guyana Hope Incorporated, based in Florida
USA. The group is priding itself in helping its fellow Guyanese in a humanitarian way. During the past months, members of the local chapter have been busy assisting displaced sugar workers and their children who have suddenly found themselves on the breadline and in need. They also continue to assist
less fortunate families and school children in getting their lives back together. Their aim is to touch all aspects of Guyanese life. The President of the group is well-known Berbice businessman George Baijnauth while retired educator Mrs. Carmen Ally is the Secretary. They have has been travelling the length and
Children of displaced sugar workers benefit from the non-profit organisation
PPP to appeal Chief Justice ruling on GECOM top post The opposition People Progressive Party (PPP) disagrees with the recent ruling by Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne George, to uphold the President’s unilateral appointment of 84-year-old Justice (Rtd) James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). PPP member of Parliament and former Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall, has since indicated that an appeal will be filed challenging the High Court’s refusal to deem Justice Patterson’s a p p o i n t m e n t unconstitutional. Nandall said that while the CJ ruling is unfortunate, the party will respect and abide by it. He said that the party will exercise its undoubted right to appeal that ruling to the Court of Appeal and if necessary to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). According to the former AG, the ruling has rendered
the constitutional formula outlined in Article 163 of the Constitution of Guyana, as it regards to appointing a GECOM Chairman, redundant, otiose and irrelevant. He said that this section of the Constitution makes provisions for a Chairman of GECOM to be appointed by a joint exercise and a process that involves the joint input of the President and the Leader of the Opposition. The politician explained that in this case, the President had three lists of names submitted by the Leader of the Opposition and still chose to reject the lists and proceeded to make the unilateral appointment. He emphasized, “The Constitution says that only in rare and exceptional circumstances where no list is provided that the President has the unilateral power of appointment.” The CJ essentially ruled
that under the Constitution of Guyana, the President enjoys the right to reject the lists of names provided by the Leader of the Opposition, and unilaterally appoint someone from the judicial category as Chairman of GECOM. Express profound disappointment at the ruling, the PPP in a statement said that the ruling strikes at the heart of the country’s constitutional and electoral democracy. According to the PPP, the ruling has destroyed that delicate balance, which a Chairman is intended to bring to the Guyana Elections Commission. “The framers of the Constitution intended this Chairman to be appointed through a mechanism, which involves an input from both the President and the Leader of the Opposition, to ultimately produce a person who enjoys the confidence (Continued on page 72)
breadth of Berbice bringing smiles to the faces of scores of underprivileged and less fortunate families. According to Baijnauth the group is not a fly by night organisation and is here to stay. He assured that their
only intention is to assist those in need. The Florida-Guyana group was formed in December 2013 in the USA. The Guyanese chapter was subsequently formed and headed by Baijnauth. Persons in need
can contact members of both the Florida and Guyana groups for assistance. Those in attendance benefitted from the distribution of clothing, footwear, food, bags as well as other necessities.
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AG Chambers fills top three solicitor posts The Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs has announced that steps were taken to fill the top three solicitor posts within the department. The Chambers in a statement yesterday explained that to improve the output of legal calibre and practice three skilful individuals were appointed to hold the senior post of Deputy Solicitor General (DSG); Assistant Solicitor General (ASG); and State Solicitor, Public Trustee/ Official Receiver. According to a statement, the Attorneys Deborah Kumar, Beverley BishopCheddie, and Jennifer Ayana McCalman were appointed to the three top positions respectively. The statement went on to point out that the objective of the Ministry is to ensure value is added and to select candidates who are capable of getting the job done because employee performance is critical to overall success in the public
State Solicitor, Public Trustee/Official Receiver Jennifer Ayana McCalman
Deputy Solicitor, General Deborah Kumar
Assistant Solicitor, General Beverley Bishop-Cheddie
affairs. According to the Ministry, the new Deputy Solicitor General, Deborah Kumar, is a Queen’s College graduate, the holder of Bachelors of Law Degree from the University of Guyana, and a Law Education Certificate at the Hugh
Wooding Law School. Kumar was admitted to the bar since 2001 and the Bar of the Republic of Trinidad on November 12, 2004. “She has a wealth of knowledge and experience within the practice for almost 18 years. Ms. Deborah Kumar has been in private practice
which she embraces as it was the stepping stone for the blossom of her career. She has always had a passion for public service and now assumed and dedicates her time at the Ministry of Legal Affairs. “She could not cease to emphasize her zeal to
selflessly work, dutifully serve and contribute her expertise in the public realm,” the AG Chambers said in a statement. Mrs. Bishop-Cheddie also a Queen’s College graduate, brings with her 11 years of experience and knowledge in the legal profession. She has a first degree in Social Work and a degree in Law at the University of Guyana and a LEC from the Hugh Wooding Law School which she successfully completed in 2006. She was also employed as a Judicial Research Assistant for T&T Judiciary during 2006-2010 at the magistracy and appellate levels. “Upon return to Guyana, she was engaged in private practice as Advocate Attorney where she considered it an honour to represent clients as she is passionate against injustice. She also held the post of temporary Magistrate. Her desire to render service to her country and the people of Guyana places her
at a great advantage to hold the post of Assistant Solicitor General. Bishop-Cheddie has dutifully assumed Assistant Solicitor General at the Ministry.” Similarly, the statement added that State Solicitor, Public Trustee/ Official Receiver Ms. McCalman graduated from the University of Guyana in 2003 and holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree with Distinction. She is the recipient of the University of Guyana Pro-Chancellor’s Medal, graduating as the Best Law Student within the Faculty of Law in 2003. In 2005, she graduated with a Legal Education Certificate (LEC) with Honours from the Hugh Wooding Law School. Miss McCalman was admitted to practice in the Law Courts of the Republic of Guyana on October 20, 2005 and is also admitted to practice as a Solicitor and Barrister within the St. Christopher and Nevis Circuit of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.
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---Hinds’ Sight by Dr. David Hinds---
Walter Rodney on Race, Ethnicity and Class
A
central aspect of Wa l t e r Rodney’s political thought, in relation to Guyana, was his ideas on ethnicity and class, selfemancipation and political violence. These inter-related planks of his thought informed his political practice, which in turn, enriched his ideas. Rodney’s ideas on ethnicity are derived from both his Black Nationalist and Marxist thoughts. His Black nationalism was simultaneously racially grounded and class-based. Insofar as he engaged what he referred to as “White Power” he reached for a racially grounded Black Nationalism that critiqued White racism and affirmed Black humanity and dignity. However, in his articulation of Black Power within the context of neo-colonialism he privileged a class-based Black Nationalism that situated Black empowerment within the class struggles in Africa and the Caribbean. These two approaches were not separate; they flowed from the same source and aimed for the same objective of people’s liberation. In much the same way, his Marxism led him to an embrace of ethnic unity. If Black Nationalism facilitated an overt racial analysis, then Marxism afforded him the opportunity to stress class. But Rodney always struggled for a synthesis of those two approaches. Whether he achieved that objective could only be borne out by his political practice. It is within his context that his Guyana groundings are vital to his wider praxis. Rodney’s Black Nationalist views for the most part reflected those of Marcus Garvey, whom he described as “one of the first advocates of black power” and “the greatest spokesman ever to
have been produced by the movement of black consciousness” (1975:20). Rodney defined Black Power as “the hope of the black man that he should have power over his destines” (1975: 29). For Rodney, Black Power meant three related things—”the break with imperialism which is historically racist; the assumption of power by the black masses of the islands; the cultural reconstruction of the society in the image of blacks” (1975:28). But Rodney grounded his perspective on race in the broader context of class and anti-imperialism. In this regard, he argued that the interests of the Black ruling class were inimical to Black Power, which according to him, must be rooted in the aspirations of the masses: On the issue of cultural nationalism, Rodney’s views were similar to those of Garvey and Malcolm X. As he contended, “The road to Black Power here in the West Indies and everywhere else must begin with a revaluation of ourselves as blacks and with a redefinition of the world from our own standpoint.” (1975: 33-34). Consequently, he was critical of the negative images and stereotypes of blackness among Blacks and echoed Malcolm X’s “selflove. While the ideas he developed during the Guyana years were part of his larger political praxis, the fact that Guyana was a peculiar society riveted by ethnic conflict between two non-white peoples, his emphasis was not the same as when he dealt with conflict between Blacks and Whites. Rodney’s call for unity between African and East Indian Guyanese along class lines was not an abandonment of Black Nationalism; he did not find it a necessary tool in Guyana. During the Jamaica
years he had advocated the inclusion of East Indians in his articulation of Caribbean Black Power. His was, therefore, always a class-based Black Power. Hence his Black Power was racially-oriented as it related to the BlackWhite question and class-oriented in relation to the ethnic conditions in Guyana. Rodney viewed African liberation in Guyana as being tied to working class liberation. He rejected the notion that African Guyanese should not oppose an African Guyanese government and contended that unity between the African and Indian Guyanese working classes was essential. He was adamant that any advance in Guyana had to be premised on unity across ethnic lines. Towards this end, he argued that although external influence and the machinations of the political parties were responsible for ethnic polarization, Guyanese, in the final analysis, must rise above the division. He further contended that the socio-economic problems faced by the Guyanese people had very little to do with race and ethnicity, and more to do with class. But unlike other Marxists, he did not dismiss race and ethnicity as irrelevant; he accepted their salience in Guyanese politics. He argued that ethnicity was institutionalized in the socio-political and economic system, and was critical of those who interpreted the absence of ethnic violence as a reflection of harmony. He drew attention to the linkage between white subjugation of non-white peoples and ethnic polarization between non-white communities, and observed that non-white groups tended to view each other through the lens of the dominant culture As I observed earlier, Rodney had advocated a multi-ethnic position as far
The Baccoo Speaks There is going to be an interesting twist in the reporting of ExxonMobil given the furore over the release of a list of companies solicited by the oil companies. The oil company will set about fashioning the next list it is preparing to release. Guyana will see the actual companies used by the oil company but even then there will be some disappointment, because the suspicion will be that the company is hiding aspects of its dealings with local companies. ** It is surprising that the police seem oblivious to the various infractions of the
minibus drivers. Two were fined for overloading but others will continue because they are in cahoots with some of the traffic ranks. One such overloaded bus would try to avoid a police patrol with serious consequences. The bus would actually veer off the road be-
cause of the speed and the surprise at seeing the police. There will be some injuries. ** Another shooting will occur in the outskirts of the city. A pair of motorcyclists would attack a businessman who would respond with a shooting of his own. This would surprise the motorcyclists who would be forced to abort, but one of them would be wounded. And the police would apprehend a man who had shot at some law enforcers. There were reports that a man was wounded and the wound would make him get apprehended.
back as 1968, when he argued then that Caribbean Black Power must include East Indians. He posited the view that and unity between Indians and Africans was pivotal to Caribbean liberation. He contended that the problem should be tackled at two levels. First, he called for the development of separate ethnic consciousness as a prerequisite for ethnic unity. Second, he advocated the simultaneous development of “integrative” or multiethnic consciousness and political mechanisms based on the socialist principle of social equality. Rodney’s multi-ethnicity, therefore, was premised on the acceptance rather than the rejection of ethnic identity. For him, ethnicity by itself is not necessarily problematic; it is the linkage of ethnicity to political competition that is the crux of the problem in Guyana. He saw no contradiction between the assertion of ethnic identity
and the embrace of multiethnicity; for him the former was necessary for the success of the other. Rodney accused both major parties of exploiting ethnic insecurity to further political ends. He pointed to the fact that although the PNC regime discriminated against Indian Guyanese, Indian merchants and other sections of the Indian Guyanese middle class supported the PNC. He particularly chided African Guyanese for allowing the PNC regime to manipulate their fears to further its political agenda. Although he seldom invoked Black Nationalism in his public discourse on ethnicity, he linked Black dignity to the African Guyanese need to avoid ethnic animosity towards Indian Guyanese. He, however, did not think that cross-ethnic solidarity was impossible. Towards this end, he urged both groups to draw on their common history of struggle against colonialism.
Dr David Hinds Rodney viewed crossethnic solidarity as crucial to ethnic peace and the overall development of Guyana. But he was opposed to a “hypothetical” unity; he preferred an active unity or “unity in struggle.” Rodney, therefore, rejected the superficial unity embraced by the PPP and the PNC such as ethnic tokenism and multi-ethnic rhetoric. More of Dr. Hinds’ writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his w e b s i t e www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.news Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com
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By Michael Jordan here always seemed to be a touch of mystery and sadness in her eyes, and looking at her standing behind the counter of the Chinese Restaurant I sometimes visited, I often wondered what her story was. I never knew that I would write Debra Blackman’s story one day, and that it would be such a tragic one. I first saw her around 2002, when she was working at a Chinese Restaurant, located a short distance from Kaieteur News. Maybe it was the satin-brown skin, or the hint of sadness and allure in her eyes, that reminded me of the actresses who played those femme fatale roles in old black-and-white movies. In reality, Debra Blackman was just a hard-working, struggling mother. At around 8.00 p.m. on Saturday, August 23, 2014, one of my contacts called to say that a waitress had been shot dead in the Delicious Restaurant, located in D’Urban Street, between Haley and Hardina Streets. The next day, there was my sad-eyed friend staring out at me from under the newspaper headline: ‘WAITRESS SHOT DEAD AT BAR’. They say it was around 7.30 p.m., and 48-year-old Debra Blackman was standing behind the bar when two men on a motorcycle rode up to the D’Urban Street restaurant. According to police, the pillion rider entered the restaurant paid for a meal, then shot Blackman in the neck before escaping.
T
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Kaieteur News
- and of a killer hiding in plain sight
The camera image captured of the gunman (at left) and a photo of Shelton George, called ‘Boorie’
Debra Blackman Footage from a security camera showed a man of African ancestry in a black cap, with red peak, going up to the counter and apparently mak-
The wheelchair-bound murder accused at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts ing a purchase. Two other men then came to the counter, and one of them gave Blackman a $5,000 note. The footage showed the appar-
ently nervous men constantly glancing around. According to investigators, all clues indicated that the gunman had entered the restaurant with the sole aim of killing Debra Blackman. Police came up with a number of motives. One was that Mrs. Blackman was slain for something someone else had done. Blackman’s children insisted that they knew of no reason for anyone wanting to kill their mother. “My mother doesn’t own her own house, she doesn’t have jewels, she is not a rich woman, she doesn’t have life insurance, she doesn’t have anything for anyone to want to kill her for, just her life and children,” one distraught daughter had told me. The daughter said that security footage they saw showed the gunman tossing
what appeared to be a moneybag at their mother before shooting her. She says this suggests that the gunman had come to rob the restaurant and had ended up killing her mom. Another suggestion made to me was that one of the bandits was connected to a previous robbery at the restaurant. With the investigation stalled, police released a photograph of the shooter, whom they identified as the man in the black and red cap. Kaieteur News also placed part of the security camera footage on Facebook. Surely, someone knew who he was. Someone did. HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT In early February 2017, almost three years after Blackman was slain, police got a tip that sent them to a premises at South Better Hope, East Coast Demerara. There, they found their suspect, 22-year-old Shelton George, called ‘Boorie. The suspect didn’t try to run when the police entered his mother’s house because he couldn’t. Shelton George had been confined to a wheelchair. He had been shot twice in the back while in Suriname and had lost a kidney. The badly wounded youth reportedly returned to Guyana, and in September 2015, police charged him for armed robbery and he was remanded. According to his mother, he remained on remand until June 2016, when he was released on bail. He was reportedly attending court; literally hiding under the very noses of the police who were looking for Debra Blackman’s killer. Investigators had reportedly received a tip that Blackman’s killer was in prison, but were provided with an incorrect name. On February 8, 2017, seated in a wheelchair with a urine bag hanging between his legs, Shelton George was lifted into the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and charged for the murder of Debra Blackman. He was also
charged for shooting former Magistrate Mohamed Fazil Azeez on April 25, 2015, with intent to commit murder. The accused had reportedly visited a site where Azeez was building a house, under the pretext that he was looking for a job. He had then shot Azeez in the stomach, and fled, leaving a moneybag behind. George was also under investigation for the murder of Bernadette Campbell, 40, who was shot in a minibus at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara in August 2014. Campbell was sitting in the front seat of a minibus when she was shot to the stomach by a bandit who stopped the minibus and demanded that its occupants exit the vehicle, after which two rounds were discharged hitting the woman. G e o rg e ’s a t t o r n e y, Melvin Duke, argued that there were no eyewitnesses to Debra Blackman’s murder. He stated that his client was charged based on video evidence, which was of poor quality. DEAD IN CELL The case never reached the High Court. On Tuesday, August 22, 2017, at around 05.50 a.m. almost exactly three years to the day that Debra Blackman was slain - crippled murder accused Shelton George was found motionless in his cell at the Lusignan Prison. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead. No marks of violence were found on the inmate’s body. If you have any information about any other unusual case, please contact Kaieteur News by letter or telephone at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown offices. Our numbers are 2258465, 22-58473 and 2258458. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email a d d r e s s e s mjdragon@hotmail.com, or kamarangnight@gmail.com
Sunday June 10, 2018
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Kaieteur News
==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==
Guyana at 52: Are we a shithole country? 52 years ago, we became a sovereign nation. By any stretch of the imagination, in any sphere of life - national, individual, professional, building, etc., 52 years is a long, long time. If you went into a freezing chamber in 1966 and woke up in 2018, you would not recognize the world. There is no longer apartheid. Blacks are in charge of South Africa. The superpower, the USSR, is no more. A Black man became president of the USA. Cricket has a new format that the world craves - Twenty/20. Marijuana is legal in many countries. China is emerging as the dominant country on the globe. That is the extent to which the world has been transformed since 1966. How has Guyana changed from 52 years ago? It is possible to argue that though in 1966 there wasn’t even one building in Guyana that had six levels, and now we have several, Guyana still has not grown and is still not
modern. It depends on your perspective on how you see a country and the concepts you use to assess the existence of modernity and the progress of civilization. I have been around a long time in Guyana to have at least a plausible body of knowledge to assess its level of civilization. The perspective I would use is a philosophical one. That is what I as trained in. I am not a medical doctor or an engineer. A medical doctor can marvel at the staggering levels we have reached in medical treatment since 1966 and conclude Guyana has progressed very deeply. That doctor is not wrong. But on the other hand, I can use other methodologies to arrive at opposite conclusions. I am driven always to examine a nation by its adherence to certain values which I think hold civilization together. I have no place in my analysis for the plethora of fast food outlets, large high-
rise buildings, exotic tourist resorts etc. A country is not more civilized than others because of those manifestations. I look at the presence of humanity in the country’s citizenry; the visionary nature of its leadership; the depth of its moral fulcrums; its role in nurturing its young to change the world for the better, its protection of the poor and powerless; its embrace of the freedoms and liberties that allow civilization to progress; its adherence to the fundamental principles that govern justice and fairness etc.As an academic, not as a media operative and social activist, my conclusion would be that in terms of the non-physical outlay provided above, Guyana not only is retrogressing, but is a not a modern land. I would go so far as to say this land is a 21st century failure. On Wednesday night, Michael Carrington, my dog and I were having a fish and chip dinner on the bonnet of
my car on Durey Lane in Campbellville, when a young lady drove into a deep hole in the parapet. As we discussed ways of pulling her out, she sent for her brother. As we chatted, I saw the future of Guyana in these young people, but as they shook hands and went away, my mind went into a spiral decline. When they go abroad and see the modern, civilized ways other nations treat their citizens, will they come back? I knew the answer. President Trump has left a phrase that has found popular expression in journalism – “shithole country.” I read a lot of newspapers online from different outlets and the phrase is quite popular among commentators and journalists, always being
used in the cynical and ironic way. Because of Trump, people now ask – is this or that country a shithole land. Is my land a shithole country? From what I see Guyana has become, if you read my columns you know where I stand. This country sees happenings, events and incidents every day that sicken you to the point of utter and total disgust. It has to be a shithole country when a stupid thing like an envelope with a post office stamp has become one of the most precious pieces of paper to have to do the most important transactions in Guyana, overriding even the a letter from the President or the Commissioner of Police. And not one leader, not even one, in government, has the commonsense to say, ‘wait,
Frederick Kissoon this is the 21st century, what nonsense is this?” I end with a sad comparison. A man kills his father-inlaw and his friend disposes of the body. The friend pleads guilty and gets two years for accessory to murder. A teen pleads guilty to possession of a smoking utensil and gets three years. Are we a shithole country? Yes!
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Sunday June 10, 2018
Kaieteur News
This scourge has been continuing for far too long For at least two days last week, large parts of commercial Georgetown were plagued by blackouts. Standby power generators whirred and the traffic lights system went on the blink. For many in our beloved Guyanese society, this scourge has been continuing for far too long. Old-timers say that the first indication that the system at the then Guyana Electricity Corporation (GEC) had started to develop major
problems occurred one Old Year’s night around 1970-71 when the lights went out completely, killing most parties and functions ushering in the new year. In recent weeks, the GPL, the successor company to the GEC, has been dishing out blackouts to various parts of the City, the coast, Demerara River bank areas and others, as it undertakes major maintenance works to cater for related development projects or as its system crashes.
And although the Company has definitely now developed the ability to properly forewarn consumers and subscribers about impending planned power outages, it is those that come upon patrons like the ‘Biblical thief in the night’, destroying programmes and plans of thousands that upset all and sundry. These breakdowns cause massive levels of aggravation to the citizenry as some plans have to be postponed when the lights
go out for extended periods. Businesses lose money. Going forward, it is clear that our main electricity provider would need all the help it can get, sooner rather than later, to improve its levels of efficiency. The transmission and distribution problems have bedeviled the utility for far too long. Guyanese have even made migration decisions because of blackouts.Engineers in the know say that some of the main problems include the need for redundancy power line systems, better forward planning between the Company and agencies like the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) to cater new housing sub divisions, and the acquisition of equipment to cater for increased demands on the power grid. Should one of the major power line systems go down in the current engineering set up, for example, it often carries large parts of the system or the entire one with it, resulting in total blackouts. Engineers in the know say that there is urgent need for redundancy lines. If these are available, it would allow for areas with generating or transmission and distribution problems to be
isolated while repairs are being undertaken, rather than affect the whole. The remainder of the grid would be largely unaffected. Additionally, they say, there is need for a new generation of larger conductors and insulators to cater for increased load in the system from services being established in new housing schemes across the country. The old ones now being asked to carry increased load factors are under pressure and often conk out. But the GPL needs a major infusion of hard American dollars. Albert Gordon, its new CEO says that the utility would need a whooping US$110 million to fix the shaky transmission and distribution network and other deficiencies. Infrastructure Minister David Patterson has vowed to take the matter in hand by asking his finance colleague, Mr. Winston Jordan to find the money to fix the GPL once and for all. With the economy getting ready to switch to one dominated by oil and gas instead of the traditional pillars like gold, sugar, bauxite and rice, the need to fix the GPL becomes all the more important. And even if gas from offshore oil fields is brought ashore in the coming years to generate power for
the GPL, consumers might still have to live with blackouts if transmission and distribution problems continue to bedevil the utility. Mr. Gordon also said that nearly half of the generating capacity at the GPL will have to be replaced in the near future because of age. For last year alone, there were 25 total, complete shutdowns of the system.No one, we are sure, ants persistent blackouts, high voltage surges and low voltage episodes to become a campaign issue in 2020. It could well be if the GPL is not fixed before that crucial issue of national importance. The time to act is now. At his induction ceremony as CEO earlier this year, Mr. Gordon complained about the systems in place for power generation, transmission and distribution saying that substations are needed in the system to breakdown power produced directly from generators. “That’s not how you configure a power system,” he said, noting that if a tree falls on a high powered line, it takes down the entire system. In other places, a redundancy system would be in place and subscribers would not even be aware that there was a problem in the system as the problem could be isolated until fixed.
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Kaieteur News
My column
Looking at the impact of ExxonMobil Guyana has been a poor country for a long time, although to look at and to talk to the people, you would believe that Guyanese are like everyone else. Indeed, we find money to enjoy ourselves and we dress to emulate those who live in the affluent countries. There are those of us who feel that life should be better if only we could get better pay. We seek to work with companies that pay better than others because we value our labour. However, we still have the problem of people refusing to take certain jobs regardless of their qualification. It goes without saying that many are not qualified for the jobs they want, but to them that is not important. So it is that when the announcement came that Guyana had oil and that it would be coming to the surface in a while, all eyes were turned to the employment opportunities. People began to seek to develop skills that would have lain dormant had the oil company not announced its discovery. And the oil company did build up hopes. It announced that it had provided employment, either directly or indirectly, to hundreds of Guyanese. It caused some graduates of the Carnegie School of Home Economics to land jobs as caterers. There were Guyanese from the Government Techni-
cal Institute who secured jobs on the oil rig and on the onshore facilities. New companies emerged and there were jobs for secretaries and office assistants, but there was the view that enough was not done.Yet we do not have the numbers; we do not know if the numbers are worth talking about. The result is that there was pressure for information on the extent of jobs that the oil company had caused to be created. The result was a list of every area of expenditure linked to the oil company. We saw the oil company declaring the money it spent or caused to be spent at Bourda Market and with individuals, some of whom were not aware that they were recipients of the oil company’s largesse. What was interesting was the reaction of the government spokesperson. He pounded on the fact that Kaieteur News was a beneficiary by virtue of the advertisements that the company may have placed in the newspaper. At that stage I wondered whether the newspaper would have been listed as a beneficiary if a freelance writer had submitted an article for publication. Reporters began to ask about local content and found out that Guyana at this point does not have a definition for local content, but that it is working on one that would be fashioned by the wider society.
Indeed, local content is important. If one is going to exploit oil, then the least one can do is to use local services. We do not expect that the oil company would seek to use those services that we cannot provide at the expected level.For example, we do not have the helicopters that can shuttle between shore and the rig; we do not have the level of engineers to undertake work in the area of oil exploration but we do have brokers and technicians that can effect the necessary maintenance services. There are local businesses that are investing in certain onshore facilities. Whether this is being done in consultation with the oil company is not known, at least by me. These local companies will create jobs for many, but the potential employees have work to do. The University of Guyana is required to train people for oil. I looked at Trinidad and saw the people living it up because there was oil money. Many did not think about capitalizing on the money by enhancing those things that existed before. The result is that the country’s agriculture declined, as did other areas. There was pressure on the government to keep the people happy, and it did until the bottom fell out recently. Guyana has a booming agriculture sector, so the farmers are well placed to capital-
ize on the oil money. For sure we do not expect the oil company to import food. That would be a travesty and an insult to Guyana. We do not expect to see an influx of canned foods. Accommodation is available. All of a sudden some of the leading hotels are reporting an increase in business. Attention is on the local aircraft companies. They will be needed, but earlier we noticed ExxonMobil has moved to lease space at the Ogle Airport. The belief is that the oil company may wish to bring in its own aircraft, and that will not do well for Guyana.
Local content demands that the foreign investor use what is available locally once the cost is not above what it would normally be. It goes without saying that additional money is flowing into the country. I see more and more developments at the personal level. One gauge is the night life. Night clubs are doing good business, yet I want to see more people using this threat of an economic boom to further their skills development. There is something that is bothering me, though. We have young people who seem unable to be wedded to a job.
Adam Harris At the first sign of discomfort they walk away. That was not how it was; people got a job and did everything to keep it. I shudder to think that the same thing will happen at a time when we will need every available skill.
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Kaieteur News
Government-issued licence plates - a step in the right direction
T
he Government has signaled its inten tion to take measures to regulate and centrally control the issuance of licence plates for motor vehicles. In time we will be apprised of control measures
and by who and where, the plates will be manufactured and the security features that will be put in place, but this is a step in the right direction. The old system where one purchased his or her own licence plate from an
independent plate-maker has out lived its usefulness. The large influx of vehicles being added to the rolls at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), on a daily basis, cries out for a more secure and effective system of licensing and rev-
enue collection. In the United States of America and most of Europe, selling of Vehicle Registration Plates (also known as number plates or licence plates) by the government is not only a huge revenue earner, but it is also used as a means of identification and compliance. In the more developed world, governments realised that some form of regulation was becoming necessary, as more and more vehicles entered the system. Automobiles, horses, and pedestrians were causing roads to deteriorate rapidly, and regulations—and funds—were needed to correct the problem. Public safety was also a grave issue, and law enforcement officials needed a device to help them keep records regarding vehicle owners and their actions. Licence plates came into existence in 1903 when it became apparent that motor vehicles were sure to replace horse-drawn carriages and that a system of registering and taxing them and their drivers was needed. In several jurisdictions, plates have a special decal or grouping of numbers or letters that indicate the geographical origin of the vehicle. Title and Registration
Bureaus, agencies akin to the GRA, regulate the issuance of vehicle licence plates. Once you have titled and registered your vehicle and paid all taxes and fees, the Revenue Authority gives you your plates. Regular licence plates are sold for a standard fee. In several countries, drivers can choose from a number of licence plates, ranging from the standard plate to designs that reflect their military service or show their support for a College, sports team or community organization. These personalized plates are available for an additional fee. Licence plates stay with the owner and may be transferred to another vehicle only when the vehicle is properly registered. In many jurisdictions, special decals are issued annually, these are usually placed on the rear plate of the vehicle and serve to indicate that the owner of the vehicle has paid all the taxes and fees for that year. The central manufacturing and issuance of licence plates by our government will also be an opportunity to create jobs. One would hope that there would be standardiza-
tion in the manufacturing process and the roadside vendors would be offered employment or sub-contracted to produce plates under supervised conditions. The biggest beneficiaries of a well-coordinated and government-controlled licence plate system will be law enforcement and the Treasury. One would hope that the new design would have special codes to identify whether a vehicle is from the BarimaWaini (Region No.1) or whether it is from DemeraraMahaica (Region No.4). The codes, whether they be numerical or otherwise, must tell law enforcement the name and address of the owner of the vehicle and whether or not the motor vehicle is in compliance with the law (taxes, registration etc.). If done correctly, it will also facilitate the easy detection of stolen vehicles and allow for nation-wide broadcast, targeting stolen vehicles or vehicles engaged in criminal activity. The proposed advent of the CRG (Cooperative Republic of Guyana) plates for government vehicles will assist the government to not only have a proper inventory of its assets, but also serve as a means of tracking this category of vehicle and monitoring their use. Special plates for persons with physical disabilities may be one of the things that the government may want to consider, along with special parking for disabled drivers at public places and other private enterprises. Licence plates are a law enforcement tool and a big revenue source and they are here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future. The government must make this project a priority. This tried-and-true method of tracking vehicle ownership and operation is useful for a variety of taxes, registration, and other data collection. The future may see devices like bar codes or scanner codes incorporated into licence plates or directly into vehicles. When the code is read by a scanner (a handheld model for police officers and fixed models for other applications), the complete history of the vehicle and information about its ope r a t i on and ownership would be available by computer almost instantly. But for now, we have the plate, and so we look forward to the speedy implementation by the Guyana Revenue Authority.
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Kaieteur News
Commonly asked questions about sexually transmitted infections By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
S
exually transmitted infections, often called STIs, are infections you can catch during sex. They are also called sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs. Some STIs are caused by bacteria, and others are caused by viruses. The most common STIs include: · Chlamydia · Gonorrhea · Genital herpes, also called “herpes simplex virus” or “HSV” · Genital warts, also called “Human papillomavirus” or “HPV” – Some types of HPV can cause cervical cancer in women. · Hepatitis A, B, and C · Syphilis · Trichomoniasis · Human immunodeficiency virus, also called “HIV” – This is the virus that causes AIDS. Many of these infections can be transmitted through any type of sex. That includes not just penis-in-vagina or penisin-anus sex, but also oral sex and other types of sex play. HIV and hepatitis can be transmitted in other ways, too, such as exposure to body fluids. WHO SHOULD BE SCREENED FOR STIs? Different screening tests are appropriate for different people, depending on their
gender and sex habits. · All men and women (including teenagers) that are sexually active should get screened for HIV. · All girls and women younger than 26 years who have had sex should be screened every year for gonorrhea and chlamydia. · Older women who have sex with more than one partner and do not use condoms should be screened every year for gonorrhea and chlamydia. · All men and women who are having sex and either do not have a stable partner or are having sex with more than one partner should get screened for hepatitis B. · Anyone who has had sex with a person infected with hepatitis C should be screened for it. · Pregnant women should be screened for syphilis, chlamydia, HIV, and hepatitis B. Some pregnant women might also need to be screened for other infections depending on their sex habits. · Men who have sex with men should be screened at least once for hepatitis A, B, and C. They should also be screened at least once a year for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. The list above includes some general guidelines, but some people might need other screening tests depending on their sex habits and other fac-
tors. If you are unsure whether you should be screened, and for what, ask your doctor or nurse for advice. WHERE CAN I GET SCREENED? If you have a doctor or nurse you see regularly, he or she should be able to screen you. But if you prefer to have screening done without your regular doctor or nurse, or if you don’t have one, you can go to a clinic or health centre. WHAT SYMPTOMS SHOULD I WATCH FOR? In general, watch out for any genital itching, burning, sores, or discharge. But be aware that many STIs do not cause any symptoms. The best way to know for sure if you have an STI is to be screened. WHAT IF I HAVE AN STI? If you have an STI, you will need treatment. The right treatment will depend on the type of STI you have. Treatment might include antibiotics or medicines called antivirals, which fight viruses. Treatment will cure your infection or keep it from getting worse. It will also reduce the chances that you spread your infection to others. If you do have an infection, you might need to tell the people you could have infected. Your doctor or nurse can help you figure out which partners you need to tell based on when you last had
sex with them. CAN STIs BE PREVENTED? There is no surefire way to prevent all STIs, but there are things you can do to reduce your chances of catching one. · The most important thing you can do is to wear a condom every time you have sex. Both male and female condoms can protect against STIs. But be aware that male condoms made out of “natural materials,” such as sheep intestine, do not protect against STIs. · Ask your doctor if there
are any vaccines you should have. If you are 26 years old or younger, you can get a vaccine to protect against HPV, the virus that causes genital warts. If you do not have hepatitis A or B and have not already gotten the vaccine for hepatitis A or B, you can get those vaccines, too. · If your partner has herpes, he or she can reduce the chances of infecting you by taking an antiviral medicine. · If you are at very high risk of catching HIV, you might be able to take a pill every day to reduce the chances that you will get
Dr. Zulfikar Bux HIV. This is an option only for very few at-risk people. If you are interested in this, talk to your doctor. Having a STI is never a good experience. Prevention is obviously better than cure. Be prepared and avoid risky sexual practices.
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SUNDAY Oil and Gas will require a robust Integrity Commission…Ram bemoans the sluggish enforcement of disclosure laws for public officials When it comes to the Oil and Gas sector, nations have been cautioned by institutions to take effective measures to deter, detect and prosecute corruption. The Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) for example, has said that an Integrity Commission will be crucial to keeping public officials in check. But while some locals agree with this notion, they proffer that the APNU+AFC government has not dedicated enough resources to the Integrity Commission so that it can be effective in its duties. Specifically making this comment was Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram. The lawyer believes that there is a need for stronger enforcement of the Integrity Commission Law. Ram said, too, that the oil and gas sector will demand a more robust Commission. He said, “Politicians seem to think they must comply (with the disclosure laws under the Integrity Commission Act) when it is convenient and they should be prosecuted for breach of the law.” The Attorney-at-Law believes that “if the law is not going to be enforced, then it is not a law.” Ram stated that he is disappointed with the government’s approach to the Integrity Commission, while reiterating that it needs to be strengthened. He said, too, that after all the promises and accusations
Sunday June 10, 2018
Kaieteur News
made against the previous administration regarding stolen assets, there should have been more action from the Integrity Commission. GGMC supervisor sends nude photos to female colleague – police investigating sexual harassment claims The police are investigating a case of sexual harassment made by a female staffer of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). The case has been generating concerns at the commission with the male supervisor accused of sending naked photos of himself to the woman. When she refused his sexual advances, the woman claimed that she was targeted and harassed at her job in the ensuing months. She even had to apologise to him, after out of concern, she showed the nude photos to a colleague. The matter has even ended up with the non-governmental organization for abuse, Red Thread. While the woman has declined to comment over the weekend, officials familiar with the matter confirmed that the police are investigating. The woman, said to be in her 40s, reportedly started working at GGMC, Brickdam in 2013 or 2014 and was shifted between locations of the commission. The woman is claiming that in September 2015, she was addressing her supervisor when he started to make sexual remarks to her. “(He)…began to make sexual remarks towards me saying I am a nice big woman and since I started working here, he was admiring me, he
From left Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Chairman of the Commission, Kumar Doraisami; Commissioners, Rosemary Benjamin- Noble , Pandit Rabindranauth Persaud and Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan. (Ministry of the Presidency photo) then asked me to have an intimate relationship with him.” In statements, the alleged victim said that after resisting the superior, he assured her that he had been intimate with other “big women” at GGMC and the relationships had remained secret. The man, in his 30s, invited the worker to view a movie on his phone. She refused. He then told her that he had sent something on her phone and she should enjoy. When the female worker checked her phone, she discovered naked photos of the supervisor, one with him in the shower, in his full glory. The matter was reported to GGMC’s management and after little action, later to Red Thread. Red Thread contacted Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman.
During a meeting with the woman and representatives of GGMC management, including from the Human Resource Department, they were told to apologise to each other. The woman was also asked not to show the photos to her work colleagues. According to the claims of the woman, while the sexual advances stopped, it did not halt the sexual remarks that were thrown her way by the man. Piles being driven for $1.2B water treatment plant at Sheet Anchor The construction of a water treatment plant at a cost of US$6 M has commenced at Sheet Anchor Village, East Canje Berbice. This was disclosed during a site visit by officials from the Guyana
Water Incorporated (GWI). Fourteen thousand residents stretching from No. 19 Public Road to Goed Bananan Land, East Canje is set to benefit from the new development. Riaz Zalil, Project Engineer for GWI explained that construction began in January and some five percent of work is completed thus far with the remainder to be completed by the last quarter in 2019. “Currently at the sheet anchor water treatment plant we installing piles here right now since the pile design has been approved, pile construction has been completed for the sedimentation filter and the filter tank,” he said. According to the engineer the inclement weather is one of the major setbacks but they are currently on schedule. EITI alarmed by ExxonMobil, other oil majors’ refusal to comply with principles
Works currently ongoing at the site.
Head of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), Fredrik Reinfeldt, finds it troubling that USA oil majors such as ExxonMobil and Chevron have refused to come clean on payments made to the American government. Reinfeldt says this behaviour is not only “unprecedented” but a “serious” matter. He intends to take this matter to the Board at its next meeting. Reinfeldt’s statement comes in wake of a letter he received on February 7. The letter which was signed by various civil society bodies, notes that ExxonMobil and Chevron were members of the US-EITI Multi-Stakeholder Group from its creation in December 2011 to its disband-
ment in November 2017. Both companies are members of the EITI International Board’s industry constituency and have served in that role, with a few brief exceptions, since its creation in 2003. It was further noted that from its founding, EITI and its Standard have required comprehensive disclosure of material payments from companies to governments, including taxes. In fact, no EITI implementation has ever excluded the disclosure of tax payments. However, in the US-EITI report issued in 2016, only 12 of the 38 eligible companies disclosed their taxes. In the USEITI report issued in 2015, one dozen of the 41 eligible companies disclosed their taxes. ExxonMobil and Chevron were among the companies that refused to disclose their tax payments in both cases. The groups said that this is enough for EITI to remove the companies from the Board and even the EITI fold since their actions contradict the EITI standards. MONDAY ExxonMobil open to audit of US$460M pre-contract costs ExxonMobil’s Head of Public and Government Affairs, Kimberly Brasington says that the oil giant is open to auditing of its US$460M pre-contract costs. In fact, Brasington told Kaieteur News that government has the right and even the ability to audit every aspect of its operations. “You ask about an audit? Bring it on! That is expected (Continued on page 33)
Sunday June 10, 2018
From page 32 and customary in our industry. We welcome audits as it demonstrates transparency and helps build trust. The accusation that the US$460 million is not accounted for is inaccurate and uniformed. ExxonMobil and our partners will continue to be accountable to the Guyanese people. I continue to say it; we will only operate with the highest standards of ethics and accountability.” The ExxonMobil official noted that there has been a lot of speculation and headlines about the US$460 million figure. “It’s a big number and a new industry. So I think it is good people are asking tough questions,” expressed Brasington. The ExxonMobil official was responding to Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram, who has contended for some time that the Government must undertake a special audit of the US$460M precontract costs which were incurred by ExxonMobil and its partners from 1999 to 2015. The Government is yet to say if it will conduct a review on the figure.Ram is also of the opinion that Guyana may very well incur more pre-contract costs. He reminded that the US$460M only accounts for 1999 to 2015. He noted, however, that the contract was revised and signed in late 2016. Ram said that there could be more costs from January 2016 to October 2016. But Brasington did not agree with this conclusion. The ExxonMobil official said, “There is no additional precontract cost that is not included in the US$460M cost…There is nothing else…” Brasington noted, however, that costs continue to be incurred from 2016 to now. She said this is towards the development of the Liza Phase One Project. She said that this will be added on top of the US$460M which are all cost recoverable.
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Natural Resources Ministry awaits further tests on suspected mercury-related deaths In the face of continued safety concerns, the Guyana Government is not swayed into believing that the deaths of four workers attached to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) are mercury-related. The four workers died over a six-month period. The majority of the staff at that entity believe that these deaths can be linked to the high levels of mercury emission that pollute the GGMC compound and its environs. The Ministry of Natural Resources said that no official or formal report of this matter has been received about the deaths being mercury related. “The Ministry of Natural Resources will await a report to this effect from the GGMC and will again engage the workers about any grievances that may exist,” the Ministry stated.Workers are not taking the Government’s word this time, given that there was no public announcement when workers were found with elevated levels of mercury in their blood. However, after media reports, GGMC admitted the incident. Workers complained that despite many of them being in danger, the matter was not being treated with urgency. On the deaths, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) also believes that they are mercury related. The party has expressed “profound concern at the untimely deaths” of four Guyana Geology and Mines Commission staffers – Mr. Dwayne De Jonge (ranger), Mr. Latchman Chiti (surveyor), Mr. Leroy Green (carpenter) and Mr. Clement Proffit (lab technician).“The deaths of these staffers, who were documented to have been affected by mercury poisoning, make
WOMAN ACTIVIST: Nicole cole
MURDERED: Rosemary Rudder
MURDERED: Ursilla Padarat
MURDERED: Onica King
MURDERED: Reona Payne
MURDERED: Dharmattie Persaud
MURDERED: Dianna Hernandez
MURDERED: Deonarine ‘Priya’ Inderpaul
it clear that every effort must be made to ensure that working conditions are safe.” The party said that the deaths over “a short period of time,” should be a cause for serious concern. This newspaper had contacted sources at GGMC who said that De Jonge, Chiti and Green are “almost confirmed” to be victims of mercury pollution. De Jonge died last month; Latchman died last week; Green died earlier in the year and Proffit died a few days ago.
there is no concrete comprehensive prevention plan to arrest and stem the tide of violence against women and girls,” said Nicole Cole, Clinical Socia l Wo r k e r a n d Women’s Right Activist. Cole stated that it is a violation of women’s human rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women to which violence against women is the most pervasive. She added that the state has a duty to protect women because it has signed and ratified the C E D AW C o n v e n t i o n a l , which is enshrined in the Constitution of Guyana. “There must be prevention at the Primary, Seconda r y a n d Te r t i a r y l e v e l s which requires human and financial resources,” Cole added. Cole stated that in 2013, the former Government held a national conference on interpersonal violence to which 55 recommendations were crafted; thereafter, a National committee for the prevention of Interpersonal Violence was instituted and began to function in 2014, however, when New Government came in office it ceased functioning. Cole stressed that Guyana needs to do more advocacies on a monthly basis and everyone should wear orange to fight violence against women.
TUESDAY
fair questions had been asked by civic-minded Guyanese about the pre-contract costs and they should be answered. Today, I reiterate my call for the Government to resist its proclivity towards secrecy and ensure that the answers to these questions are given.” said Jagdeo. Further, Jagdeo said that he finds it “surprising” that ExxonMobil has been relaying information to the Coalition Government, on a quarterly basis, “given the reticence of this Administration when it comes to keeping the Guyanese public informed of the developments in the oil and gas sector. “ The Opposition Leader noted that despite calls by him and other members of civil society for the names of the 309 companies, being engaged by ExxonMobil to be made public, Trotman continues to keep the information secret. “Guyanese would recall that, last month, when asked about his failure to make the disclosure, Minister Trotman was flippant in saying that he ‘did not know why Exxon had not released the names’ of the local companies it engaged. It is only over the past several days that Guyanese became aware that Minister Trotman was, in fact, in possession of the information,” said Jagdeo. The politician continued, “I feel firmly that his hiding behind the Chairman of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources is another excuse for (Continued on page 34)
Ten Guyanese women murdered in five months One woman being murdered at the hands of her partner is one too many, but ten in the first five months of this year has set off alarm bells. “These killings are occurring with impunity because
A Route 44 minibus on the roundabout
ExxonMobil’s “openness” to audit highlights govt.’s failure to protect Guyana’s wealth – Jagdeo Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has noted ExxonMobil’s position that it is open to audits of its $460M pre-contract, saying that audits are “expected and customary” in the oil sector. Jagdeo thinks that this announcement highlights, once again, the fact that the Coalition Government “failed the Guyanese people in the renegotiation of the oil contract.” Jagdeo reasoned that if ExxonMobil is not opposed to an audit, that means that the company would not have put up a resistance if government had requested an audit of the US$460M. The Opposition Leader asked, “If ExxonMobil is open to an audit, why wasn’t this done? Why did the Coalition Government not audit the precontract costs, before including it in the renegotiated contract? Why was there no verification done? There was clearly no pushback from ExxonMobil.” Jagdeo said that given this state of affairs, there is reason for alarm regarding the quality of representation Guyanese received from the Coalition Government in the renegotiation of the contract, which Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman regarded as a simple “update”. “Last month I stated that
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From page 33 not making the information public. It is a flimsy excuse and it exposes his reluctance to act. There is nothing stopping his release of the names of the local companies. I wish to repeat my call for the list of 309 local companies used by ExxonMobil in 2017 and the 227 used during the first quarter of 2018 to be released.” Kitty roundabout officially opens Georgetown’s first major roundabout – at the junction of Vlissengen Road and Carifesta Avenue – officially opened Monday, four weeks ahead of schedule. According to Government officials, it will significantly improve the flow of vehicles, and two others are planned – one on Sheriff Street under the Sheriff/ Mandela Avenue road project and another at Timehri. At the opening ceremony, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson said the $79Million roundabout was not quite complete with some outstanding items remaining, including landscaping of the centre. “We decided that the landscaping will depict flowers of the Caribbean in keeping with the Carifesta theme; a suitable private company will be selected to execute that. Traffic lights will be installed and the painting of the medians and curbs with reflective paints will be done by the ministry shortly.” The final phase is the waterfront development, in which the seawall area from the Kitty pump station to the Pegasus Hotel will be upgraded into a commercial space. Work on that project is yet to commence, but the consultancy has been awarded, and a first report is expected in October. Patterson recalled that the first phase began with the LOCAL CONTENT? ExxonMobil said it did business with Cevon’s, Puran’s and the Haags Bosch dumpsite
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upgrading of Carifesta Avenue in 2016 for over $182Million, including new street lights. Following that, extensive pipe works were conducted in the vicinity of the roundabout after a sinkhole developed in December due to the failure of three pipes feeding the Kitty pump station. That entailed the installation of culverts along Kitty, Vlissingen Road and Carifesta Avenue leading to the pump station in order to improve drainage in the outlying areas and to create a firm base for the roundabout. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, Minister of Public Telecommunications Cathy Hughes, and members of the diplomatic corps were also in attendance at the opening ceremony. The contract was completed by S Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Constructing Services. WEDNESDAY ExxonMobil submits padded list to Gov’t on local content…Bourda Market, Haags Bosch Dumpsite, Shanta’s Roti Shop among ‘companies’ listed USA oil and gas giant, ExxonMobil, has provided the Government of Guyana with a list of companies it used as part of its local content obligations in the first quarter of 2018. But the list of “registered companies” is padded with the names of 41 individuals. These include Dennis Charran, Mokesh Daby, Colin Daniels, Colvin Lockhart, Kembleton Clyne, Kurt Branker, Ramesh Seebarran, Ganesh Ajodha, Gary De Jesus, and Stan Gouveia. It also duplicates the name of Ram and McRae, an
Cutting the ceremonial ribbon
accounting firm. It is listed as Ram & Mcrae and three spaces later as Rams and McRae. Speaking with Kaieteur News, on Tuesday, two international local content experts said, “The number of companies used by ExxonMobil is immaterial. The crux of the matter is ‘the value of the investment’ made by ExxonMobil. In this regard, they said that Guyana’s Parliamentarians should call on the company to give a detailed breakdown of how many companies benefitted from US$1M, US$500,000, US$100,000 and under US$50,000. “With that breakdown, you will be able to see if the country is getting chicken feed or real investment… With meaningful investment, the sectors that support the operations of the company would be able to see real expansion and development,” one of the Local Content expert explained.
Local content is not Ads, publications, catering and taxi services On Monday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo called for the Government to publish the list of 309 companies ExxonMobil said it used last year to support its operations. Instead, the Government released, Tuesday, a list of what it said were registered companies used by the oil giant for the first quarter of 2018. That list includes Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, Guyana Times, Camex Restaurant Limited, K’s Restaurant, Maggie’s Snackette and Catering, Palm Court Restaurant and Bar, Pegasus Hotel among others. But International Local Content Expert, Rene Tissot told Kaieteur News Tuesday night that “ads in newspapers and catering and hotel services are low hanging fruits…” Tissot said it is important for Governments to under-
stand the difference between local content and spending that benefits the local economy. “If an oil company wants to do advertising for jobs or advertise something about its local branch in Guyana, then it has to utilize the media in that country. You don’t expect them to put the advertisements in the New York Times.” Also, there are some services such as those provided by hotels and restaurants that they just don’t have a choice but to use. “This is money they would have spent anyway and it benefits the local economy. But please, this is not local content.” Tissot added, “Local Content on the other hand, goes much deeper than this. The heart of Local Content speaks to the development of local skills, the transfer and use of technology, the expansion of local manpower and the growth of local manufacturing. “Local Content looks at the ‘value’ of the investment into these areas to such a degree that it is lasting. Local Content promotes industrialization…” The Local Content Expert said, “The depth of the investment and/or the value of the investment are crucial when referring to something as local content.” The International Advisor also said that a list with restaurants, hotels and media houses would be best described as “shallow in terms of value creation.” He said, “I would be disappointed to look back 15 years from now and see that local content in Guyana refers to ads in newspapers, catering services etc.”
THURSDAY ExxonMobil has its own definition of Local Content – Brasington “Money invested in the economy” is what qualifies as local content for USA oil giant, ExxonMobil. This was explained on Wednesday by the company’s head of Public and Government Relations, Kimberly Brasington. Her comments come in wake of harsh criticisms of a list of nearly 227 names of individuals and local companies ExxonMobil submitted to the government for the first quarter of 2018. The list was part of the company’s local content reporting requirements. Local critics and Regional experts noted that ExxonMobil’s list of companies which includes media houses, eateries, taxi services, and supplies stores does not constitute local content. This is especially when one takes into consideration, the globally accepted definition of local content. Brasington was told that international local content experts define local content as the meaningful investment into the development of local skills, manpower and services. To this, the ExxonMobil official said, “I have to say that I agree with those experts and critics because local content is many things and to ExxonMobil, local content means three main things, one of which is reflected in this list. “The way we define local content is…investing in your local economy. So it is using local businesses and services (Continued on page 35)
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From page 34 to support your industry… you are investing and putting money into the economy and that is what that list represents…” She noted however, that the list does not represent the company’s full local content plans. Ms. Brasington said that a different approach is taken to capacity building and community development. She said that these additional areas also encompass ExxonMobil’s definition of local content. The official clarified, however, that the list of 227 companies represents the “infusion of money into the economy.” Man goes berserk, hammers wife and stabs daughter to death, then hangs self Berbicians are in utter shock after the gruesome murder of a woman and her daughter Wednesday, committed by a man residents described as “quiet”. The man later hung himself. Dead are 38-year-old Bhindomattie Seetaram, her daughter Aneila Khan, 21, and Jainarine Seetaram called ‘Rado’, all of lot 1078 Glasgow Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice. Seetaram’s 11-year-old son, Mahesh, managed to escape an attempt by his own father to end his life. Authorities say that sometime around 9:30 am Wednesday, an argument erupted in the bottom flat of the twostorey wooden house, between the unemployed Seetaram and his wife, about her having an alleged affair. The two children were in the upper flat. Mahesh Seetaram told police that while they were upstairs, he heard his mother tell his father “move from next to me”. This prompted both himself and his sister to venture to the lower flat. It was there that he saw his father, armed with a hammer, standing over his mother who was sitting in a hammock, and striking her head several times with the tool. He said his mother slumped to the ground and his father in a rage, turned his attention to him and tried to lash him with the hammer, but he managed to escape to his grandmother’s house, located a street away. There he informed her of what took place and they both ventured back to the house. As they walked in, they discovered his sister, who appeared to have been stabbed, with blood about her body and face, lying unconscious in a pool of blood near his
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mother who appeared to be already dead. There was no sight of his father, since residents who had already gathered told them that he escaped with a knife in hand and a canvas rope. It was the residents who alerted the police that the man was seen running away, and the direction in which he went. He was found hanging from a beam in an abandoned house, three streets away from the crime scene with one of the murder weapons (a knife) tucked in the beam. Aneila Khan succumbed to her injuries on the way to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital while her mother died on the spot.
The house where the grisly crime occurred
Deadly high seas attack… Key teenage ‘witness’ charged with murder More than one month after one of the most deadly high seas pirate attacks in the region, police on Wednesday charged a teen with murder. However, from all indications the investigators and prosecutors will be using the teen as a key witness in the case. Late Wednesday afternoon, police escorted the teen, who was without handcuffs and shackles, to the courtroom of Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs Marcus, who read him a murder charge. Nineteen-year-old Alexander De Harte of 79 Village West Coast Berbice, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which states that between April 21 and May 3, while being in Guyana’s territorial waters, he murdered Tilacknauth Mohabir called ‘Caiman’ during the course of a robbery. The charge was filed under Section Three of the Hijacking and Piracy Act Chapter 10:08. Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that the case file is still incomplete. The teenager is due back in court on June 13 when he will appear at Springlands. Mae’s apologises to schoolboy, parents Proprietor of Mae’s Schools, Stacey French, has officially apologised to student Joshua Chacon and his parents. Chacon, who is of Amerindian heritage, was reportedly evicted from the school during a recent Culture Day activity after he showed up in his indigenous attire, which the Mae’s administration deemed to be inappropriate. As a result the school attracted protests and criticism from members of the wider public for ethnic and cultural
DEAD: Daughter, Aniela Khan discrimination. On Wednesday, the leadership of the school met with officials of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social Cohesion to resolve the matter concerning the child which occurred on Friday May 25th, 2018 at the school. Ms. French apologised to the parents of the child, Ms. Karen Small and Mr. Jason Chacon, in the presence of the officials. This was done in the boardroom of the Ministry of Education’s Brickdam office following a meeting with the parents. While making her apology, Ms. French stated that ultimately what is important is protecting children. Both parents accepted the apology given, while Mr. Chacon went further to state that he would like to see more traction to bring awareness to culture in Guyana. Also present at the engagement was Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson, Deputy Chief Education Officer (Admin), Ingrid Trotman, Ministry of Education’s Legal Officer, Kelly-ann Payne-Hercules, Private School Coordinator within the Ministry of Education, Doodmattie Singh, Programme Coordinator – Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport, Sharon Patterson and
DEAD: Wife, Bhindomattie Seetaram Administrator of Mae’s Schools, Lucinda Mc Curdy. FRIDAY Jagdeo rubbishes ExxonMobil’s rationale for local content…Says, “I hire over 250 companies a month” Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo agrees with those who have bemoaned the sad state of affairs in Guyana, particularly as it relates to local content or lack thereof. The former President said he is so disappointed with the government’s approach to local content that he has refused to even read the second draft of the local content policy that was recently released. “I have not looked at it and I would not be looking at it until there is a final policy, because this government is not sure about what it wants; today it is this, tomorrow it is that. I will look at the final policy whenever it is released.” Jagdeo even said he is “fed up” looking at the mediocre work of this “incompetent government.” Jagdeo said that government has further displayed its incompetence when it accepted ExxonMobil’s definition of local content and the recently released list of companies that ExxonMobil has
DEAD: Jainarine Seetaram called ‘Rado’ supposedly ‘worked with.’ He said, “It is not ExxonMobil (that Guyanese need to be disappointed in), it is our government. The (Ministers of Government) are shameless.” Jagdeo also rubbished ExxonMobil’s rationale for what qualifies to be local content. In fact, he mocked the rationale. Jagdeo said, “By the way, I hire 250 companies a month. My sister goes to Mon Repos and Mahaica Market and shop. And it seems as though if I pay someone and they shop at another person’s place—because they are my subcontractors—and they come and buy two mangoes from a man, I will have to list the man selling the mangoes as my employee. That is all I am going to say.” Check the motivation of consultancy companies predicting glory for Guyana - Jagdeo “Everything must not be taken at face value,” said Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday as he spoke about a recently highlighted report from a Norwegian company, Rystad Energy. The report predicts that Guyana will do extremely well post 2020 when oil production is expected to be in full swing. Jagdeo said, “I saw the thing about Rystad Energy
and people are questioning linkages.” He continued, “Not because a foreign consultancy company puts out a favourable report we must all latch on to it. We have to question the motivation of these companies, particularly consultancies for oil and gas sectors. Some would want to put out favourable reports because they get most of their business from oil companies.” Jagdeo said that companies can be compensated for publishing reports that can benefit a selected few. The politician expressed disappointment that some local newspapers republished aspects of the report “as though it was gospel.” Jagdeo also noted that the Department of Public Information, which he described as a “waste agency,” was “running all over the place saying we should have given away everything just to get ExxonMobil here. “I just want to caution; we should not take these things as gospel, we must check to see the ties these companies have.” Customs officials shot in anti-smuggling operation on East Coast Two Customs enforcement officers were shot Thursday evening during an anti-smuggling exercise on (Continued on page 36)
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From page 35 the East Coast of Demerara.According to reports, the officials were in a coordinated operation to apprehend a gang of smugglers. The smugglers were reportedly waiting for a pickup of smuggled goods at an East Coast Demerara seashore, around the Strathspey area. However, the Customs officials, working on intelligence, managed to track the smugglers who were in a car. The men reportedly used a shotgun to open fire on the vehicle with the Customs officers. Two of them reportedly received injuries from the shotgun pellets. According to reports, police on the East Coast were activated and were searching for the gunmen. Commissioner-General Godfrey Statia, declined to go into details, and would only confirm two of his men were injured.
SANATA Complex
Deadly high seas attack… Ring leader ‘Sanbad’ captured by Berbice police An intelligence-led operation has aided in the capture of the wanted ringleader for the pirate gang that attacked four fishing vessels in Suriname waters. That attack left more than a dozen dead, their bodies still not found. In police custody is Premnauth Persaud alias “Sanbad”. He was arrested some time Wednesday night. According to a senior police source, the suspected ringleader of the pirate gang was apprehended at Number 68 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. He is accused of heading the gang that robbed, beat, burnt with scalding hot oil, chopped, tied up and dumped more than a dozen fishermen overboard in Suriname waters on April 27, last. He was wanted by local authorities and Suriname authorities since the deadly attack. Divisional Commander Lyndon Alves confirmed that the suspect has since been transported to CID Headquarters in Georgetown where he will be grilled. ‘Sanbad’ was among people such as ‘Crackhead’ who was arrested, and ‘Bolo’ and ‘Dick’ wanted by Guyanese and Suriname authorities. Survivors from the deadly attack had revealed their names to authorities.
SATURDAY SOCU prepares to charge Singh, Brassington for selling Sanata Complex below value One month after two of the highest ranking officials of the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government were slapped with charges of Misconduct in Public Office, Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) Prosecutors are prepared to institute another charge against Former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh and former head of National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Winston Brassington. On Friday, SOCU Prosecutor Lawrence Harris appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs Marcus with the new charge. However the men were not in court for the matter to be read to them by the Magistrate. The two men are already facing three similar charges of Misconduct in Public Office. However Justice Franklyn Holder has put a temporarily halt on those criminal proceedings against the Former Ministers.
This ruling has halted Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan from proceeding with the matters, until the hearing and determination of the substantive challenge over the validity of the charges which is before Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George. On this fresh charge that was brought to the court yesterday, Brassington and Singh are being accused of wrongdoing in the Sanata Textiles deal with Queens Atlantic Investment Inc. Queens Atlantic Investment Inc. is owned by Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop and Dr. Randy Singh, who are close friends of former President Bharrat Jagdeo. The new charge against the duo states that, “Dr. Ashni Singh, being and performing duties of Minister of Finance, and Chairman of the National Indu s t r i a l a n d Commercial Investments Limited, a company owned by the Government of Guyana; and Brassington, being and performing duties as the Chief Executive of NICIL, a company owned by the Government of Guyana, between October 26, 2010 and December 20, 2010 at Lot 126 Barrack Street, Kingston, Georgetown, by way of Agreement of Sale and Purchase, acted recklessly when they sold to Queens Atlantic Investment Inc, Sanata Textiles Complex, with building and erections thereon, that is to say, Parcel 4702, Part of Plantation Ruimveldt, situated on the East Bank Demerara, being
18.871 acres, being $697,864,800.00 plus VAT, knowing that the said property was valued at the sum of $1,042,403,500.00, and was therefore being sold at a price that was grossly undervalued, thereby creating a breach of their duties”. Attorney-at-Law Stanley Moore, who is one of the lawyers representing the defendants, told the court that his clients were not aware that they were to appear in Court; hence they will be notified and will be present on the next court date. SOCU Prosecutor Harris told the court that the new charge was filed on Thursday. Magistrate Marcus adjourned that matter until June 29 when the duo are expected to appear before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for the charge to be read to them. Last month, both Brassington and Singh were slapped with three charges for Misconduct in Public Office and were each granted $6M bail. Govt., citizenry will help fashion national interpretation of local content Harmon…Meanwhile, ExxonMobil continues to apply its own version According to oil giant, ExxonMobil, all moneys it invests into the local economy can be considered “local content”. This interpretation is what influenced the list of 227 companies it submitted to the government. While the company has
its own version of what local content is, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon says that the government and the people of Guyana will help fashion the “correct interpretation” of local content. The Cabinet Secretary made this remark during his post-Cabinet meeting which was held on Friday at the Ministry of Presidency. There, Kaieteur News asked Harmon if Government agrees with the interpretation of local content as portrayed by ExxonMobil in the list of 227 companies it submitted. The Cabinet Secretary did not comment on Government’s position, but stated that every entity looking at local content will have an interpretation of what it is. “We are on the cusp of something that is very good for the country and that is the question of defining for ourselves, what local content is. In that regard, discussions taking place in the public space will help us in defining that particular issue. But the matter of what it is and what it is not, we will eventually come to that point when we have the legislation debated in the National Assembly…” “I would not like to speculate as to an interpretation, but a publication has been made about companies benefitting from the investment taking place and beyond that I would not wish to state further,” Harmon asserted. US$460M pre-contract costs will be audited - Minister Patterson
Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson revealed yesterday that the government will be conducting an audit on the US$460M pre-contract costs. He was at the time, responding to questions posed by this newspaper on the matter. During a post-Cabinet press briefing which was held at the Ministry of the Presidency, Minister Patterson noted that the government intends to audit all cost recovery bills submitted by ExxonMobil. The Minister was also asked to state why the government failed to conduct an audit of the pre-contract costs before it was entered into the contract. Patterson briefly stated, “We can audit at any time. Putting it (US$460M pre-contract costs) into the contract does not mean it is un-auditable.” Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram was one of the first persons who issued a call for the pre-contract costs to undergo a special audit. In his recent writings, Ram said that there is need for a special audit to be done on the pre-contract costs, since, based on his analysis, several things aren’t adding up. He said that this is necessary, as the sum can be recovered by ExxonMobil without the approval of the Minister. With the use of financial statements, Ram was able to show how ExxonMobil’s precontract cost opens itself to much question and suspicion.
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Aeronautical Engineering School celebrates notable achievements on 25th anniversary The Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School (AW&HWAES) at the Eugene F. Correia International Ogle, East Coast Demerara is celebrating its Silver Jubilee this Year with notable achievements. The highlight of its 25th Anniversary is the Approval and Recognition of the School by the Guyana National Accreditation Council of the Ministry of Education. This School, having been registered with the NAC-G, since July 2016, has been certified as a Candidate for Institutional Accreditation. The Ab-Initio Training Programme offered by the School is a Level 6 – Associate Degree. This along with its approved training for an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s Licence, is now able to bridge the gap between Air Transport Certification for Licences and that of Higher Education with an Associate Degree. For Graduates, this means Credits can be transferred for a Bachelor’s Degree. The Board of Directors of the Engineering School applauded its Management Team, Staff and Instructors who “continue to advance this School as a Premier Learn-
The Art Williams and Harry Wendt Academy
ing Institution in Aviation in Guyana”. The School is the First Tertiary Educational Institution in CARICOM with an ISO 9001 Certified Quality Management System and has maintained this approval to date. This pioneering institution which opened its doors to training in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering in 1993, is approved as an Aviation Training Organisation (ATO), by the Guyana Civil Aviation
Authority (GCAA), the Caribbean Aviation Safety Oversight System of CARICOM (CASSOS), Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA), the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Suriname (CASAS) and the Trinidad & Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA). This School is also a full Member of Flight Safety Foundation, based in Virginia, USA. This School is approved under the Rules and Regula-
tions of the Guyana Aviation Requirements and is working together with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority to develop and transition to the Training Guidelines set out in the International Civil Aviation Organisation, (ICAO) Doc. 7192, Part D1. The School was certified on July 24, 2006 by the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards for its ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems. The AW&HWAES has assisted in
staffing the operations at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, with qualifiedAircraft Engineers. The Guyana Defence Force, Air Corps has, since 1999, sponsored students in various levels of the Ab-Initio Programme. The School continues to provide Modular Training to GDF students in various categories of licensing. The Department of Public Service, Guyana, has continuously sponsored students
who some have since graduated and are now employed with the GDFAir Corps. Regionally, the School has trained students sponsored by LIAT (1974) Ltd. Airlines, from Barbados, St. Vincent and Antigua and under an Apprenticeship Programme with Caribbean Airlines Ltd. in Trinidad and Tobago. The Antigua Board of Education had also sponsored students over the last six years.
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Construction codes must meet international standards – Min. Patterson As Guyana’s construction codes undergo review, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson says they must meet international standards to ensure durability and safety. The Minister was speaking at a leg of the American Society for Testing and Materials International (ASTM) Inaugural Caribbean Road Show which saw local attendees gaining information on sustainable construction and international building codes. The event at the Pegasus Hotel was held in collaboration with the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS). “In Guyana these (ASTM) standards are used in the manufacturing and construction sector to enhance energy efficiency, water conservation, materials management, and building safety. Particularly with Guyana making steady strides towards the realization of our full oil and gas potential, ASTM international standards will play an even bigger role in ensuring the highest delivery of quality,” Minister Patterson said. He noted that his ministry has already been following the ASTM’s standards to enhance the infrastructure sector as they play a pivotal role towards the delivery of quality roads, bridges, fences, buildings and other
A number of the attendees at the event infrastructure works. The government is also committed to having agencies equipped
with up-to-date versions of each standard, and personnel equally qualified in the use of
these standards. ASTM International is one of the world’s leading standards organiza-
tions. The roadshow includes outreach, training and education, student forums, and is
focused on the growing use of ASTM International standards and ICC codes.
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Sugar: should we eliminate it from our diet? Sugar seems to have developed a reputation as the big bad wolf in relation to health. Medical News Today
have reported on numerous studies associating sugar intake with increased aging, cardiovascular disease, obe-
sity and even cancer. Such research has led to many health experts around the globe calling for reductions
in recommended sugar intake, with some saying we should cut out sugar completely. But is it really that bad for our health? We investigate. Put simply, sugar is a crystalline carbohydrate that makes foods taste sweet. There are many different types of sugar, including glucose, fructose, lactose, maltose and sucrose - also known as table sugar. Some of these sugars, such as glucose, fructose and lactose, occur naturally in fruits, vegetables and other foods. But many of the foods we consume contain “added” sugars - sugar that we add to a product ourselves to enhance the flavor or sugar that has been added to a product by a manufacturer. The most common sources of added sugars include soft drinks, cakes, pies, chocolate, fruit drinks and desserts. Just a single can of cola can contain up to 7 tsps of added sugar, while an average-sized chocolate bar can contain up to 6 tsps. It is added sugars that have been cited as a contributor to many health problems. In December 2014, MNT reported on a study in the journal Open Heart claiming added sugars may increase the risk of high blood pressure, even more so than sodium. And in February 2014, a study led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) associated high added sugar intake with increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Perhaps most strongly, added sugars have been associated with the significant increase in obesity. In the US, more than a third of adults are obese, while the rate of childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents over the past 30 years. A 2013 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggested that consumption of sugarsweetened beverages increases weight gain in both children and adults, while a review paper from the World Health Organization (WHO) notes an increase in the consumption of such beverages correlates with the increase in obesity.In support of these associations is Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of California-San Francisco and author of the book Fat Chance: The Hidden Truth About Sugar, who claims sugar is a “toxic” substance that we are becoming addicted to.A 2008 study by researchers from Princeton University, NJ, found rats used to consuming a high-sugar diet displayed signs of binging, craving and withdrawal when
their sugar intake was reduced. “We need to wean ourselves off. We need to desweeten our lives. We need to make sugar a treat, not a diet staple,” Dr. Lustig told The Guardian in 2013. “The food industry has made it into a diet staple because they know when they do you buy more,” he added. “This is their hook. If some unscrupulous cereal manufacturer went out and laced your breakfast cereal with morphine to get you to buy more, what would you think of that? They do it with sugar instead.” In her popular blog, Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow cites sugar addiction as one of the reasons she decided to quit sugar completely.“The bottom line is that sugar works the addiction and reward pathways in the brain in much the same way as many illegal drugs,” she writes. “Sugar is basically a socially acceptable, legal, recreational drug with deadly consequences.” Statistics show that we are certainly a nation of added-sugar lovers. According to a report from the CDC, adults in the US consumed around 13% of their total daily calorie intake from added sugars between 2005-2010, while 16% of children’s and adolescents’ total calorie intake came from added sugars between 2005-2008. These levels are well above those currently recommended by WHO, which state we should consume no more than 10% of total daily calories from “free” sugars both naturally occurring sugars and those that are added to products by the manufacturer.In 2013, however, MNT reported on a study by Prof. Wayne Potts and colleagues from the University of Utah, claiming that even consuming added sugars at recommended levels may be harmful to health, after finding that such levels reduced lifespan in mice. Is eliminating sugar from our diet healthy? The array of studies reporting the negative implications of added sugar led to WHO making a proposal to revise their added sugar recommendations in 2014. The organization issued a draft
guideline stating they would like to halve their recommended daily free sugar intake from 10% to 5%. “The objective of this guideline is to provide recommendations on the consumption of free sugars to reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases in adults and children,” WHO explained, “with a particular focus on the prevention and control of weight gain and dental caries.” In addition, it seems many health experts, nutritionists and even celebrities like Gwyneth have jumped on a “no sugar” bandwagon. But is it even possible to completely eliminate sugar from a diet? And is it safe? Biochemist Leah Fitzsimmons, of the University of Birmingham in the UK, told The Daily Mail: “Cutting all sugar from your diet would be very difficult to achieve. Fruits, vegetables, dairy products and dairy replacements, eggs, alcohol and nuts all contain sugar, which would leave you with little other than meat and fats to eat - definitely not very healthy.” Many people turn to artificial sweeteners as a sugar alternative, but according to a study reported by MNT in 2014, these sweeteners may still drive diabetes and obesity.The study, published in the journal Nature, suggests artificial sweeteners including saccharin, sucralose and aspartame - interfere with gut bacteria, increasing the activity of pathways associated with obesity and diabetes.What is more, they found long-term consumption of artificial sweeteners was associated with increased weight, abdominal obesity, higher fasting blood glucose levels and increased glycosylated hemoglobin levels.“Together with other major shifts that occurred in human nutrition, this increase in artificial sweetener consumption coincides with the dramatic increase in the obesity and diabetes epidemics,” the authors note. “Our findings suggest that artificial sweeteners may have directly contributed to enhancing the exact epidemic that they themselves were intended to fight.” http:// www.medicalnewstoday.com.
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Kaieteur News
KREATIVE ARTS TO PERFORM ON DEDICATION TO DADDY 2 CONCERT Veteran dancer and dance choreographer, Jonathan Hamer is gearing up to thrill the audience when he and his son perform at the Dedication to Daddy 2 concert which will be held under the theme “Picture Perfect”. This married father of five, is currently the co-founder/ co-producer of Kreative Arts Dance Troupe, and has captured attention with his skills and techniques in recent years, and the producers of the father day event, to be held at 8.00pm on Sunday 17th June, 2018, at the National Cultural Centre, are quite optimistic that he will be sensational. H&T Theatre Arts Group, a production company around since 2012, is currently in the midst of preparation for a successful presentation of Song, Dance and Drama, and promises treats for all dads who will be attending. Five fathers will be honoured on that evening who, in the opinion of the Director, have been exemplary in their conduct as fathers. This will be an element of surprise as only family members of these fathers have been
informed and they themselves are in the dark. Vocal renditions will be done nby singers Delisha Wright, Colin Ambrose, Cleveland Hutson, Barbara Lee, Simone Dowding, Pheona Da Silva and Keon Heywood. There will also be dance performances including a Ballroom rendition. Dramatic performers are Sonia Yarde, Max Massiah, Nelan Benjamin, Simone
Dowding, Paul Budnah, and Leslyn Johnson. Appearing on the programme also is MsSafishaCastello and little Felicity Grainger. This dynamic cast is working assiduously with the aim of celebrating our fathers, while encouraging others to “Stand UP”. Tickets costs $1500, and are available at the National Cultural Centre or any member of the cast. The production is family oriented.
A Game of Thrones Prequel Is Officially Happening Game of Thrones fans, get ready, because E! News has confirmed that HBO has officially given a a pilot order to a currently-untitled prequel, created by George R.R. Martin and Jane Goldman(Kingsman: The Secret Service). Go on and celebrate, we’ll wait. OK, ready to know what the buzzed-about prequel will be about? Prepare to go way back in Westeros’ history, as the series will be set thousands of years before the events of GOT, chronicling the descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. “Only one thing is for sure: from the horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history to the true origin of the White Walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend… it’s not the story we think we know,” a cryptic logline reads. In June 2017, it was revealed that HBO plans to produce a prequel series and was weighing five possible ideas. While a prequel is definitely in the works, don’t expect to see a spinoff or revival of Game of Thrones after the juggernaut hit ends its run. In an interview with The
A prequel is coming
Hollywood Reporter, HBO president Casey Bloys said a door being left open for future revivals or undoing the finale is “not happening. “This story, A Song of Fire and Ice, is done. There’s no revival, reboot, spinoff talk,” he said. But fans shouldn’t expect to see the prequel launch during or even near the end of GOT’s epic run, with Bloys telling EW, “We’re not using
the final season to launch a new show or anything like that. There’s going to be a separation between the two. These are among the best writers working and I’m hopeful.” Game of Thrones’ final season is expected to premiere in 2019. https:// www.eonline.com/news/ 942672/a-game-of-thronesprequel-is-officially-happening.
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Youth Explosion: There was a massive turnout yesterday at the Region Three Youth Explosion. Held at Parika, under the theme: “Youth: Unlocking our Minds, Releasing our Potential”, the event was attended by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who exchanged ideas with the crowd.
Third accused on trial for 2010 ‘Watermelon Man’ murder A 12-member mixed jury has been empanelled to begin hearing the case of the murder that was committed in 2010. On trial is Stafford Harry called “Bilall” 40, of Hampshire, Corentyne, Berbice. He is accused of murdering Hansraj Samaroo, called “Buddy” or “Long Hair”, of 63 Hampshire Squatting Area, Corentyne, Berbice. The crime is alleged to have been committed between March 27 and March 28, 2010.
He is on trial before Justice Brassington Reynolds and a mixed jury. After the jury was empanelled and the indictment read, the matter was adjourned to Monday. Samaroo, a watermelon and fruits vendor in the New Amsterdam market, was reportedly killed by bandits following a home invasion. State Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy is presenting the state’s case.
Accused: Stafford Harry
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Observing Guyana’s 52nd Guyana Consulate in Toronto hosted the annual flag raising ceremony held on Saturday, May 26 2018, at Toronto City Hall, Canada. The occasion was Guyana’s 52nd Independence anniversary. The Honour Guard comprised members of the Guyana Ex-Soldiers Association of Canada.
From left to right: Lt.(ret.) Michael Narain, Col. (ret.) Carl Morgan, W.O 1 (ret.) Gordon Winter, Cpl (ret.) David Allen, Cpl (ret.) Pertab Singh, LCpl (ret.) Courtney Larjeia. Raising the flag is Col (ret.) Cecil ‘Pluto’ Martindale (Photo Khalilah Megan Campbell)
Ex-cop accused of theft helps victim search for missing articles A former member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) who allegedly stole from a woman known to him, then helped her search for the missing articles was on Friday charged and released on $130,000 bail. Twenty-five- year-old Imran Khan, of 1753 Second Alley, West Minister, West Bank Demerara, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly, who read two charges to him. The first charge alleged that on May 22, last, at Independence Boulevard, Georgetown, he broke and entered the dwelling house of Natasha Himchand and stole $500,000 in cash and other articles. It was further alleged that on May 26, last, at Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, he assaulted Police Lance Corporal, Mark Moses, who was acting in the execution of his duty. Khan denied both allegations after they were read to him. He was represented by Attorney-at-law Gordon
- court hears Gilhuys, who asked that his client be released on reasonable bail. The court heard that at the time of the break and enter, the defendant was a serving member of the GPF. Police Prosecutor, Richard Harris, had no objection to bail being granted to the defendant but asked that it be in a substantial amount. The court heard that the victim and the defendant are known to e a c h o t h e r, s i n c e K h a n would normally spend time at the victim’s home. On May 22, last, the woman secured her home and went out, leaving the articles inside. Later in the day, when the woman returned home, she saw Khan and asked him to assist her to take some boxes into the house. The court heard that when Khan opened that door, he drop the boxes and ran towards her shouting, “Thief! Thief! It look like thief went
in the house.” The woman said that she raised an alarm and the defendant went into the house and spent hours searching for the missing articles. The teary woman went on to tell the court that the defendant spent nights at her home “in case the thief man comes back.” It was days later that neighbours told the victim that they saw the defendant and another individual breaking into her home and leaving with a bag. The matter was then reported to the Ruimveldt Police Station and an investigation was carried out and Khan was arrested. Last week, a friend of Khan was also placed before the same Magistrate where he was also slapped with the same break and entry charge. Guy Edmondson, of Lot 97 Pineapple Street, East Ruimveldt, is currently out on $80,000 bail. Both men were instructed to make their next court appearance on June 14.
Sunday June 10, 2018
Businessman charged with causing death of pedal cyclist Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman on Friday granted a businessman $1M bail after he was slapped with a causing death by dangerous driving charge. Ramanand Jagdeo, 44, of 3036 Section ‘C’ Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on February 22 last, at Peter’s Hall, Public Road, East Bank Demerara, he drove motorcar PRR 4395 in a manner dangerous to the public causing the death of Alexander Appiah. Police Prosecutor, Arvin Moore, stated that on February 22, last, about 21:00 hrs. The defendant who was the driver of motorcar PRR 4395 was proceeding south
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along the eastern carriageway of Peters Hall, Public Road, EBD, when he collided with the pedal cyclist who was riding in the same direction. The court heard that the left side front of the car hit the cyclist, hurling him from his bike and to fall onto the roadway. That prosecutor added that because of the collision, the cyclist right leg was severed. He was then picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was admitted a patient. Appiah died one week later at the institution and as a result the defendant was arrested and charged for the offence.
STANDARDS IN FOCUS
CHARGED: Ramanand Jagdeo The father of four was instructed to make his next court appearance on June 19 when he will appear before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
The Significance of World Accreditation Day
– DELIVERING A SAFER WORLD Yesterday Standards and Conformity Assessment Institutions like the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) joined in commemorating World Accreditation Day (WAD) under the theme “Delivering a Safer World”. The relevance of this theme to Guyana must be emphasized. During this year, some of our human resources, our most valuable assets would have been lost to unsafe work environment. The question is, were safer working systems implemented as a result? Worldwide, there are more than 2.78 million deaths per year because of occupational accidents or work-related diseases. Approximately 125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos – in the workplace, resulting in an estimate of several thousand deaths from asbestos-related lung cancer each year. Globally, WAD is an initiative established by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), to raise awareness of the importance of accreditation. The GNBS will commemorate WAD 2018 with an Accreditation Forum on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at the National Library, Georgetown. This forum will address the benefits of having a safe working environment and how conformity assessment practices enhance and promote the implementation of standards to ensure safety in organizations. The expectation of safe workplaces, safe products, safe transport, safe food, in fact all aspects of our lives are universally shared. Safety is a critical issue, which affects workers, in all occupations and the aim is to ensure that a safe environment exists, which promotes the mental, physical and psychosocial wellbeing of the worker. Businesses have a responsibility to ensure that their employees, visitors, and customers are able to enjoy freedom from injury or disease. How can we ensure that we deliver a safer world? The effective implementation of standards demonstrates that processes and systems are in place to assure safety of employers, workers and consumers. Some of the standards developed by the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) are part of a coherent system of ISO management standards, which addresses sectors, ranging from Information Security (ISO/IEC 27001) and Food Safety (ISO 22000), to the recently-published ISO 45001 — Occupational Safety and Health Standard. For many, certification or accreditation is the means of demonstrating to interested parties that their services and products are backed by standards. While certification is not compulsory, many choose to engage an independent expert to verify the procedures and processes that they have in place. Another key question is, what processes exist for making sure that independent experts really are just that? The answer lies in accreditation, where certifying bodies are themselves assessed and approved to provide certification services. The organizations responsible for coordinating accreditation activities on a global scale are the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). Closer to home the Ministry of Social Protection has finalized the National Policy on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH).This the policy will set in motion a fiveyear action plan for OSH development in Guyana, training and public education activities. It is expected that this OSH policy will improve the quality of life of workers by preventing social and economic losses, workrelated accidents and injuries. Furthermore, the policy will create safer and healthier work environments through the development of a positive national culture of prevention of occupational accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences. The GNBS encourages every citizen to let Standards be the means of consistently ensuring safety in our society. For further information on how standards and accreditation can help improve your business operations, contact the Conformity Assessment Department, Guyana National Bureau of Standards on telephone 592-219-0064-0066 or email info@gnbsgy.org.
De Sinco clerk slapped with 13 fraud charges
One month after a former clerk of De Sinco Limited, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was slapped with two fraud charges, he was back before a City Magistrate, last Friday where 13 additional frauds charges were read to him. Thirty-three-year-old Rawle Peters, of 22 Hardina Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. It is alleged that between February 14 and March 28, while being a clerk or servant at De Sinco Limited, he fraudulently embezzled a total of $1.6 M, money taken by him in the name of the company. Peters denied the allegations after they were read to him. Attorney-at-law Adrian Thompson asked the court to grant his client reasonable bail citing that his client is
CHARGED: Rawle Peters currently unemployed. He added that his client was recently charge and was released on $200,000 bail by the Chief Magistrate. However, Police
Prosecutor, Gordon Mansfield, told the court that based on the serious nature of the offence, he asked that bail be granted in a substantial amount. Magistrate Daly after listening to the prosecutor granted the defendant bail in the sum of $330,000. He was instructed to make his next court appearance on June 13 for report. Last month, Peters appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan where two charges were read to him. The first allegation stated that on February 22, 2018 at Georgetown while being a clerk at De Sinco Limited, Peters fraudulently embezzled $164,000, taken by him in the name of the company. It was further alleged that on February 25, 2018 at Georgetown while being the clerk or servant, Peters fraudulently embezzled $288,000 taken by him in the name of De Sinco Limited.
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CONSUMER CONCERNS
Evolution of and necessity for humane treatment of animals by PAT DIAL In the Western World today, and as an important adjunct to Western Civilization, the protection of animal species and the treatment of individual animals with kindliness and humanity have become a norm. The raison d’etre of this attitude to species and animals is the realization that if species are exterminated or allowed to disappear, the ecological balance of Nature is harmed and will eventually adversely affect human beings. Also, that the treatment of animals with kindliness and humanity is a civilizing force and helps to make Man more humane to his fellow Man. For instance, if one beats up his horse or donkey or dog or starves such animals, it is inevitable that such actions will manifest themselves in domestic violence or violent criminal activity. The value of the protection and the humane treatment of animals was known and practised in the
ancient world. In the Buddhist Tradition, for example, in the famous sermon on loving-kindness (the Metta Sutra), Lord Buddha enjoins the world to treat every living being with loving-kindness. And this humane teaching was practised by Buddhist monks, laymen and rulers. For example, the Emperor Asoka whose Empire stretched over the Indian sub-continent and in parts of the surrounding countries had hospitals for birds and other animals. This humane attitude to animals had the sanction of philosophy and metaphysics of these ancient Faiths. They understood all life to be One and the life of an animal and a human being was the same though their minds and bodies may differ. This could be seen if a chicken or animal is to be killed or slaughtered and it realizes what is threatening, it begins to wail and beg for its life. And nearer home in Guyana, we could see this ancient wisdom manifested in
the funerary (Shraad) ceremonies of the Hindu religion. Towards the end of the ceremony which is done on the thirteenth day of death, the purohit (priest) allocates food which had been prepared, to the birds of the air, the animals of the field and the creatures of the water. The main mourners take the food outside of the house and symbolically leave one portion on any open space for the animals of the field, another portion is thrown into any canal or river for the creatures of the water and the third portion is left on any elevated place for the birds of the air. This symbolic sharing of food is meant to remind people to be caring and respectful to the animal kingdom and to reinforce it with the sanction of religion and spirituality. Guyana is only 400 years old which is a very tiny fraction of the span of human history. For most of those years, it has been subject to violent and inhumane treatment of Man and Man and Man and animals by the
system of Slavery and Indenture. It is only towards the end of the 19th century when Guyana began to develop a profile of its own that the national psyche began to gradually exorcise this culture of violence. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were very few motorcars, buses and lorries. Most of the transportation of people and goods was done by animaldrawn carts and cabs. Most of the animals used were donkeys and to a much lesser extent horses and mules. The drivers of these carts very often beat their animals savagely and sadistically, the poor donkeys crying out in great pain. Members of the colonial administration who had come from Britain, a country where the humane treatment of animals had advanced a great way, introduced that ethic and the Laws were amended to provide for the protection of animals. The Royal Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals (RSPCA) was
established, later to become The Guyana Society (GSPCA) at Independence. The RSPCA and later the GSPCA began to revolutionize the kindly treatment to animals and many cartmen and other citizens were prosecuted for ill-treating their animals. The message of humane treatment of animals was steadily spread until today it is a norm in Guyanese society. The GSPCA is chaired by Mr Oliver Insanally and the staff are mainly young people who are giving voluntary service. They do veterinary services and give homes to cats, dogs and other pets which are brought to the GSPCA facility. They also offer a spay and neuter service to prevent animals from having unwanted pregnancies. Many families have gotten their pets and even guard dogs from the GSPCA . The pets, especially the cats and dogs, bring a great deal of pleasure and delight to young children who have faithful and friendly companions and many adults
discover the pleasure of having such pets. The GSPCA welcomes volunteers at all times and new volunteers would be integrated into a delightful group of people. The GSPCA facilities are in Robb Street, Georgetown, quite close to the Bourda Market and the public could choose their pets there without cost. Teachers will do well to introduce the GSPCA to their fifth and sixth form pupils. There are a number of animal rights activists, who though associated with the GSPCA, act on their own. One of the most known of these is Ms Syeda Manbodh, who at her own expense and use of her own resources has been saving the lives and bringing happiness to many a sick or lost or abandoned animal. Her name has become a household word. She was recently accorded national recognition and a National Honour. Protecting animals and birds, both domesticated and in the wild is one of the most satisfying of human activities.
Remembering the ‘Brink: Oil and a Whole Lotta Gas’ moves to Linden today
After five successful shows at the newly refurbished home in Kingston, Georgetown, the Theatre Guild’s Workshop Ensemble will perform “Remembering the Brink: Oil and a Whole Lotta Gas’ in Linden and Berbice. The show will travel to Linden’s Lichas Hall, today and then to Line Path Secondary at Skeldon on Saturday June 22. Both shows will be performed at 5pm and are free to the public. ‘Oil and a Whole Lotta Gas’ is comedic forum theatre piece which seeks to begin the process of popular engagement with the issues surrounding oil and gas in a non-
political but very entertaining way. The show revolves around 8 sharp skits, two monologues, two quickies and several scintillating dances by a cast and crew of about 40. Big audience hits have so far been “Tek Back We Cat-Fish” with a series of comic characters rifting off a script written by award winning writer, Mosa Telford. “Wendell”, played by Clinton Duncan, comments coyly on several matters of importance to Guyana. He comments on immigration, migration, foreign policy and economics. He talks about the aspiration of Guyanese to take their place of pride
as leaders and as a global destination with a great future. Several other pieces gesture to the possible social problems Guyana may face soon but the Theatre Guild now steep in theatre for education and action techniques never stop at just describing problems. All offer possibilities and solutions. Another huge hit of the show has been the work of Frederick Minity who plays “The Preacher” in the hilarious “ Ten Commandments of The Oil” written by Clinton Duncan with inputs from the ensemble. This piece cleverly deals with all of the lessons to be
learned for management, fiscal, governance and economic policies to manage Guyana’s expected wealth. It makes the point, however, that expectations must be managed and gives guidelines as to how. Three great favourites of the children shows have been the very comedic spoof off of Dora the Explorer – into “Mora de Explora” played by veteran prizewinning actress and director, Simone Dowding, as “Mora”, Osafa Dos Santos “ as “Diego” and Gregory Eastman as “Boots”. “Oil and Gas University” dealing with key terms in the industry plays
off a script developed by Sherwin Adams featuring Shivina DeMendonca, Jennifer Langevine and Tristana Roberts. Veteran director and actor, Godfrey Naughton’s quickie, “Oily”, is written by Coleen Humprey who plays a well-known Guyanese social media personality in “Boom Out from the Royal Wedding”. The research and development of the production as well as the facilitation of free shows for school children has been underwritten by CGX Energy in support of the arts and public education about the industry.
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Female workers wanted just finish writing CXC exam 2018. Call: 622-5518 Seamstress and Tailor. Contact: 689-5877/223-4390 Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm Experienced canter driver wanted for water canter & 1 experienced Porter Contact: 622-5428 Part time cook and security wanted. Contact # 231-5857/ 231-5866 1 Bus driver. Route 42. Tel# 685-0569/604-7018 A babysitter to work 5 days a week @ a residence in Eccles. Contact# 660-9136 for details. One experienced bulldozer operator to work in interior. Call: 223-7165 1 experienced cook. Call 6238654 between 8-4pm. Husband & Wife to live on farm in Mahaicony. Call: 6244633 Driver with Motor bus licence living in Parika area or close by. #664-0802
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Sunday June 10, 2018
Kaieteur News
Surinamese jailed 12 years for Bandit who shot at door-to-door goldsmith jailed fatal shooting of ‘DJ Cheddie’ We l l k n o w n f e l o n Delroy Thomas, 24, of Second Street, No2 Village, East Canje, Berbice has been jailed for six years on two charges. Thomas, a mason, was on trial before Magistrate Renita Singh at the Reliance M a g i s t r a t e ’s C o u r t o n two charges—-discharging a loaded firearm and attempting to commit a felony. He was found guilty and sentenced to three years in jail on each charge. The sentences will run concurrently. The case for the prosecution as presented by
Inspector Althea Solomon, was that the mason was on February 1 1 , 2 0 1 8 , i n We l f a r e Street, Canefield Settlement, East Canje, Berbice when he unlawfully and maliciously discharged a loaded firearm on at Namdeo Dilchand with the intent to maim, disfigure or cause him grievous bodily harm. The second charge read that he attempted to commit robbery under arms on Dilchand at the same place and time. The court was told that Dilchand who hails f r o m t h e We s t C o a s t Berbice is a door-to-door
goldsmith. On the day in question, the man was plying his trade in the area when he was attacked by Thomas who was armed with a gun. The bandit fired a shot at the man injuring him. However, Thomas was unable to steal anything since the gunshot sound and the m a n ’s c r i e s a t t r a c t e d residents. Dilchand was picked up and rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he underwent surgery. Thomas escaped, but was subsequently nabbed while hiding in a fowl pen in his home village of Number Two Village, East Canje, Berbice. He told the magistrate that he was not hiding , but had returned home late the night and was locked out of the house so he had to sleep in the fowl pen.
Omar Williams, formerly of Abanastraat, “K” Flight, Paramaribo, Suriname, was on Friday handed a 12-year jail sentence after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter. In other words, Williams, 36, a father of seven, accepted that he unlawfully killed 37year-old Sheldon Cheddie also known as ‘DJ Cheddie’ of Lot JC-946 Jackson Street, Tucville, Georgetown on September 9, 2013. Williams who was represented by Attorney-atlaw, Mark Waldron, appeared before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the High Court in Georgetown where he was indicted on a murder charge. He however, opted to plead guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter. In brief remarks to the court, Williams begged for forgiveness, not only from the family of the deceased but also from the State. He expressed that not a day goes by without him thinking of what he could have done differently on that tragic day.
JAILED: Omar Williams State Prosecutor Lisa Cave told the court that on the night of September 9, 2013, Williams and others were outside of the Selassie Snackette in ‘Turning Point’ Tucville, Georgetown where they were conversing.
The prosecutor said that Williams walked up to Cheddie who was sitting with some friends and pointed a gun at him. According to the Prosecutor, Williams discharged several rounds at Cheddie who sustained injuries and was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was pronounced dead in arrival. His cause of death was given as haemorrhage and shock due to multiple gunshot wounds. During a plea of mitigation, Waldron told the court that his client has been extremely remorseful for this unfortunate incident. He said that his client who has been incarcerated since 2013 seized the earliest opportunity to take responsibility for his actions. In this regard, the lawyer begged of the court to temper justice with mercy. Justice Kissoon in calculating a sentence for Williams started at a base of 25 years. The judge then deducted 1/3 of that amount having considered Williams’ early guilty. The judge then arrived at a 12-year custodial sentence having made further deductions for mitigating factors. Prosecutor Orinthia Schmidt appeared in association with Prosecutor Cave.
Sunday June 10, 2018
Kaieteur News
Suriname authorities continue to...
From page 10 overboard. The attackers also stole the catches and a boat. One crewman was sunk with a battery attached to his body. About 20 men were thrown overboard. Five survived while the rest are missing and feared dead. Only four bodies were found. All the missing men, except one, are Guyanese. It is said to be the deadliest attack in recent times with investigators believing that the attack was a revenge act for the drive by shooting death of one of their own.. In Guyana, the dead boat owner’s brother,
Nakool ‘Fyah’ Manohar, was arrested as a main organizer of the attack. He was slapped with murder charges. He has been suspected in other cases. A teen, said to be a key witness, has also been charged. In Suriname, several fishermen suspected to be part of the gang of attackers are in Suriname authority’s custody. Investigators between the two countries have travelled between both sides to gather information for the case. Several families in Guyana remain in anguish over their missing ones.
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Sunday June 10, 2018
Kaieteur News
PPP to appeal Chief Justice ruling ...
Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne George From page 15 of both. This is the reason why this Chairman is endowed with the power of a casting vote to break deadlocks at a bi-partisan Commission,” the statement said. “Unfortunately, this ruling, in violation of the letter and spirit of the Constitution, seeks to legitimize a unilateral appointment of a GECOM Chairman and has crushed that crucial balance in the makeup of the Commission. A
Former AG Anil Nandall
Chairman of GECOM: James Patterson
unilateral appointment is contemplated by the Constitution only in the rare and exceptional circumstance, where the Leader of the Opposition fails to provide a list of nominees to the President.” The PPP added, “We note, with deep regret, the great focus wh i c h t h e r u l i n g placed on inconsequential issues and the glossing over of the more fundamental questions. Although the Chief Justice recognized in her ruling the mandatory obliga-
tion of the President to give reasons for the rejection of a list and found that a failure to give such reasons can cause a decision of the President arising there from to be set aside by a court.” The political party said that the ruling has paved the way for more Executive unilateral appointments in situations where the Constitution requires agreement between the President and Leader of the Opposition.
Sunday June 10, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Lumber trucks to use Linden back roads - decision to be enforced from June 15
Other stakeholders attending the meeting
G
overnment is seeking to repair back roads in Wisroc and Noitgedacht in Linden for trucks to traverse, especially those transporting lumber. This is expected to be effective from June 15. This move will minimise contact with motorists and pedestrians on the other roadways while preserving the physical state of the thoroughfares in the town. This decision was made at a high-level multi-stakeholder meeting held on May 6 between the Regional Democratic Council of Region 10 and several stakeholders. Present at the gathering
was Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes; Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valarie Yearwood; Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira; Regional Chairman, Rennis Morian and other Regional Councillors , Mayor of Linden Waneka Arindell and other Municipal Councillors, representatives from the Guyana Forestry Commission; the Guyana Police Force; Region 10’s Road Safety Association; Linmine Secretariat; Linden Chamber of Commerce and other stake holders. Representing the logging associations at the meeting
was Mr.Winston Smith. The May 6 meeting was convened, two weeks after a similar meeting was held to discuss, the issue of accidents on the LindenSoesdyke Highway. The discussion focused on measures to reduce the number of road accidents caused by logging trucks. Suggestions were put forward for markings on the 45-mile long Highway, a speed limit review, a provision of statistics by the police, and a follow-up meeting with the Loggers Association and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. At this forum, there was a unanimous decision to have
The head table at the multi-stakeholder meeting (from left) Chairman of the Local Government Commission Mortimor Mingo, Minister Simona Broomes, Minister Valarie Yearwood, Regional Chairman Renis Morian and Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira. trucks use the back roads to park at designated spots to allow for the weighing of lumber or cargo. “We do not want the trucks to use the Winifred Gaskin Road; we want the trucks to use the old traditional mines road…the logging trucks will not traverse Casuarina Drive, they will be using Noitgedacht back road and that is the road we will be upgrading,” Morian affirmed. The police also committed to playing their role in enforcing the new policies.
Traffic Chief Ramesh Ashram committed to clamping down on drivers using bright lights at nights and those not furnished with the requisite illuminating equipment such as reflector cones. Also any driver transporting lumber longer than the required 12 feet and that is improperly strapped will be prosecuted. The police were also called on to commence a robust highway patrol to effect stricter monitoring of lawless drivers. Calls were also made for the SoesdykeLinden Highway to be
equipped with signage, road markings and for overhanging trees to be cleared. Minister Broomes assured the stakeholders that government has a long-term plan in place for the complete revamping of the Linden Highway. A task force will be established to monitor enforcement. Future meetings will also be convened with more loggers so they can voice their concerns. Logging is an important economic activity to the development of Region Ten.
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Sunday June 10, 2018
Sunday June 10, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Justify wins the Triple Crown
Justify became the 13th horse to win the Triple Crown. (AP) Yahoo Sports - ELMONT, N.Y. — Justify’s career started late, but he’s more than made up for lost time.
The strapping chestnut colt who did not race at age 2 completed the Triple Crown quest yesterday by winning
the Belmont Stakes, adding that to the Kentucky Derby and Preakness victories to become just the 13th horse in
Sunday June 10, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Perhaps your family is far away and you miss them a lot, Aries. You need to realize that you can count on your friends. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) That little child you once were and that you're trying so desperately to forget is still causing you problems, Taurus. Why do you try so hard to deny that sweet and tender part of you GEMINI(May 21–June 2 0 ) You'll have all the inspiration you need to get to work on some of the problems that have been plaguing your group lately CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your family is encouraging you to reconsider some of your long-term plans. In fact, some of your loved ones' needs are changing. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Without a doubt, your day will have important consequences for the future of your love life. The doubts you may have todayare likely to push you to think about thingsare likely to push you to think about things VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You're naturally involved in things and bursting with energy. You're also trying to work on how you relate to other people. However, you tend to want to get too involved in their lives at home and at work.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today you may be wondering just how much you should get involved in a certain conflict between family members or in your career. There's a lot of pressure on you to find an answer to this problem. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You need to cut down on stress and stop getting upset over nothing, Scorpio. Even if up until now you haven't been able to figure out what is really bothering you SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Those arrogant types really need to watch out around you, Sagittarius. Even if they don't mean you any harm CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) This is an important day for you, Capricorn, especially if you're an artist. The work you have already begun is beginning to escape your grasp. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Are you an intellectual or a poet, a novelist or a playwright, Aquarius? The celestial energy leaves you alone with your anxieties and questions. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Have you been working yourself too hard and denying yourself many of the pleasures that you see others enjoying that you'd like to have? Is there a new pair of shoes calling to you ?
history to sweep those three races. In the process, Justify carried trainer Bob Baffert into an unprecedented place in the annals of thoroughbred racing. Justify won the Belmont wire-to-wire, starting from the No. 1 spot, bolting to the lead right from the gate, and never relinquishing it throughout the mile-and-a-half gallop. “It’s just amazing, so proud to be an American, to feel this wave. It’s very emotional to me,” Baffert said. “It never gets old. American Pharoah, he’ll always be my first love. … But [jockey] Mike Smith, he deserved something like this.” Gronkowski — named after the football player — fin-
GABF refuses... From page 76 teams’ participation in the championships which will be held in Paramaribo. “For too long GABF has accepted meagre sums of monies from GOA”, noted head of the federation, Nigel Hinds, in the correspondence. He further highlighted that Barbados gives US$35,000 annually to basketball, a country that has a population of less than 300,000. “We in the Basketball fraternity have received too little for too long from GOA and we will not accept it anymore,” he reiterated.
Halep fights... From page 80 Stephens hit a backhand wide on set point. Halep, who was beaten in the 2017 final despite holding a set and 3-0 lead against Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, kept up the momentum in the third set to open up a 50 lead before earning a match point with a raging smash. Stevens netted a service return to bow out.
ished second. Hofburg took third. Baffert now has won 15 Triple Crown races, most of any trainer. It also was his second Triple Crown, having won it three years ago with American Pharoah; this triumph ties Baffert with “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons as the only men to win the Crown more than once. Fitzsimmons won it in 1930 with Gallant Fox and ’35 with Omaha. Baffert has had five career chances to win the Triple Crown, losing the first three at the Belmont with Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (’98) and War Emblem (2002). Needless to say, his luck at this track has improved dramatically. Justify becomes just the second horse to win the Triple Crown with an undefeated career record, joining Seattle Slew in 1977. Justify
is perfect through six races, not running his first race until Feb. 18. He has rocketed from anonymity to legendary status in a span of just 112 days. After plowing through the slop in both the Derby and Preakness, Justify finally got a dry track to run on yesterday and it showcased his brilliance under jockey Mike Smith.In addition to the $800,000 winner’s purse, the Triple Crown achievement further enhanced the bank accounts of owners WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Head of Plains Stables and Starlight Racing. Justify earned a minimum $15 million bonus (and reportedly a s high as $25 million) from Coolmore Stud, which previously paid $60 million for the colt’s breeding rights last month.
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Sunday June 10, 2018
Kaieteur News
ExxonMobil U-14 football off Fireworks reign as Unity Cup to a resounding start continues -Big wins for Buxton, St Georges
Play during the opening day of the ExxonMobin Under-14 football tourney. The ExxonMobil U-14 Boys’ and Girls’ football tournament commenced yesterday at the Ministry of Education ground with big wins for Buxton Youth Developers and St Georges. The tournament was officially opened this morning with a march past ceremony and kick off by ExxonMobil’s Nicholas Yearwood. In the first game of the day, Tyrese Dennis (1st, 8th, 20th and 30th) helped Buxton overcame Tutorial 10-0. There were goals for Makhaya Jarvis (11th and 23rd), Samuel Garnett (12th), Rodwell Weekes (37th) and 2 own goals (36, 39). Game two saw Marian Academy win 1-0 over Uitvlugt thanks to Daniel Lowe (5th), while game three saw Dolphin beat Friendship
4-3. Dolphin had Dwayne James (15), Nicholas Tappin (19, 31) and Ian Ward (27) on the score sheet, while Prince Ford (13, 36) and Shane Harper (25) replied for Friendship. Ann’s Grove were also winners on the opening day, beating Charlestown 3-2 thanks to Treshawn Cudsoe (28, 33, 36), while Sheldon Bowen (3) and Mickel Prince (38) were on the scorecard as well for the losers. Both Annandale and Vergenoegen won via walkovers from Bishops and Carmel respectively with Brickdam winning 4-2 against New Campbellville thanks to Akeem Henry (12, 22) and Shoran James (27,35). New Campbellville had Lexus Fortune (8) and Antonio McArthur (36) on the score sheet. Tucville drew Queenstown 1-1 with Garfield Cesar scoring for the former and Tyrese Hardy responding
in the 40th. Chase Academy also drew with St John’s after Shem Doris 5th minute goal was cancelled out by Sean Cato in the 36th. North Ruimveldt (Multi) won via walkover from School of the Nations, while Simeon Darlington (26), Dexter Hector (28), Tyrese Joseph (36) and an own goal in the 39th helped St Georges beat East Ruimveldt 4-1. Ome Harris scored for the losers. South Ruimveldt on the other hand beat Kingston 3-1 thanks to R. David (9), Nashawn Manderson (20) and Anthowne Bernard (39). Joash James (5) put Kingston ahead before the surge saw them lose by two goals. Matches continue next Saturday at the Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue. The tournament is also sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health and Demerara Distillers Limited under its Pepsi brand.
GABF refuses meager funding from GOA In a correspondence to Kaieteur Sport, the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) has noted that they will refuse a US$1,500 funding that has been approved by Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) for their participation in the 2018 Caribbean Basketball Confedera-
tion (CBC) Championships which will be held in Suriname. The GABF had set out a very subsidized budget of $10million (US $50,000) for funding after financing many of the provisions needed for Guyana’s male and female (Continued on page 75)
The Unity Cup organized by the Guyana Softball League continued in the various areas despite the inclement weather making it a challenge for the areas to complete the various rounds. Results are as follows: Upper East Coast: Cane Grove defeated Helena Stars by 5 wkts: Helena Stars won the toss and batted scoring 113-7 in 10 overs (Avinash Singh 42 (3x6;2x4); Mahesh Boodram picked up 3-32 in 2 overs. In reply Cane Grove found their groove after stuttering initially reaching 114-5 in 9 overs with Onkar Narine blasting 47 which included 5 massive sixes. Morris Jones supported with 40 (4x6) Extras were a healthy 18. No bowlers were spared. Adventure defeated Good Hope XI by a massive 94 runs: Adventure batted first and amassed 183-7 in 10 overs with Ramkumar Jairam scoring a scintillating 67 (8x6) and with Seon Smith 53 (4x6) as they ran riot on the Hapless Good Hope bowling. Good Hope in their turn were so shell shocked that they could only muster 89 all out in 7 overs. Unstoppable defeated Unity Farmers by 8 wkts: Farmers batted first and scored 93 all out in 9.5 overs with Troy Ford 2-7 and Sean Bristol 4-29 ripping the heart out of the batting. In reply Unstoppable cruised to 94 for the loss of two wickets with Kumar Persaud scoring 40 (4x6). Lower East Coast/ Georgetown/ East Bank/ Linden: Success Enforcers defeated Success Warriors by 6 wkts: Warriors batted first and
made 117-7 in 10 overs with Dinesh John contributing 51 (5x6;1x4). Saif Zobia took 214 from 2 overs. Davendra Deosarran also contributed with the ball taking 2-16 from his 2 overs. Farm XI playing unbeaten, defeated Success Youths by 5 wkts: Success Youths batted first and scored a meager 60 all out in 8.4 overs with Joseph Ramlall scoring 21 not out (2x6). Bowling for Farm was Rawle Reid who took 417 from 2 overs. Sheldon Adams supported with 2-19 from his 2 overs. N/A /Canje: Edinburgh defeated N/A Rising Stars by 16 runs: Edinburgh batted first and made 109-4 in 10 overs: Keshan Yadram top scored with 21(2x6;1x4). In reply N/A Rising Stars were limited to 93-4 in their 10 overs. Romel Dagiar with 47 (4x6;2x4) offered some hope, but with the fall of his wicket going for a slog and being caught on the long on boundary, everything went downhill. Rotterdam defeated Angoy’s Avenue by 62 runs in a nail biter: Rotterdam batted first but were limited to 46 -4 in their overs. Michael Adams top scored with 16 (1x6). In replyAngoy’s avenue were somewhat complacent and were bundled out for 44 in their overs. West Coast Demerara: Speedboat defeated Diesel XI by 29 runs: Speedboat batted first and made 122-5 in 10 overs. Anand Bharat top scored with 39 (5x6). Diesel in reply were held to 93-7 in their 10 overs. VR Squad defeated Marics XI by 5 runs: Marics XI were invited to bat and were limited to 60 all out in 9.3 overs. In reply VR Squad made 65-5 in 7 overs. Unknown Squad defeated Rangers by 39 runs: Unknown squad batted first and compiled 125-8 in 10 overs; In reply, Rangers playing a very youthful and
inexperienced squad, were limited to 86 all out in 8 overs. Bar-B-Q XI defeated Unknown Squad by 24 runs: Bar – B- Q XI batted first and made 130 all out in 10 overs In reply Unknown Squad playing their second game of the day were limited 105 in their 10 overs making it a 1win-1loss day. VR All Stars defeated Rangers by 8 wkts: Rangers XI batted first and made 84 all out in 9 overs. In reply VR All Stars raced to 90-2 in 4 overs. Fixtures for today: Upper East Coast: Helena Ground: Helena #1 Mandir vs BWL XI Supply Superkings XI vs DeHoop Adventure XI Cane Grove vs Unstoppable Female: Cane Grove Clean of Boundary vs Backstreet Girls West Coast Demerara Parika Ground: Superbet vs VR All Stars Unknown Squad vs Omesh XI Diesel XI vs Cross Breed XI Bar-B-Q XI vs Speedboat. N/A Canje: Meanwhile, 4 male and 5 female under-15 teams in the N/A /Canje area will be competing the week. Teams wishing more information can contact the following persons: West Demerara – Ravendra Ramgobin – 276-1381; Premnauth Bimchan (Pampalam)– 670-9982; Rawle Higgins – 667-6374; Nadir Baksh (Gas)– 672-0378;Lower East Coast demerara up to Enmore as well as East Bank demerara/ Georgetown –/ Linden – Rafman Ally – 6542233/ Darmin Ramnarine – 642-3165;Upper East Coast Herman Persaud – 6433033;Linden – Mortimer Denny – 687-3326/442-1562; Canje/ Berbice- Corentyne – Pinkey Arthur-615-2493/ Ravi Ramkumar – 642-1206/ Celeb Morris – 615- 2874.
FACC Pre Father’s Day cycling Event set for Berbice today Cycling action returns to Berbice today when the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) in collaboration with a number of businesses and former members stages a Pre father’s day 40 miles cycle road race along the Corentyne Coast. The event is for club cyclists only. The race will pedal off from the junction of Main
and Alexander Street in New Amsterdam; proceed along the Corentyne Coast to Adventure Police Station before returning to finish at its place of origin. Prizes will be available for the first five finishers, the first two veterans over 60 along with other outstanding performers. There will be eight sprint point prizes up for grabs. Among sponsors on
board are Fix It Electronics Store and the Gadget World and Rental Store. The coordinator is Randolph Roberts. The FA C C , which was founded by Roberts, is the leading cycling club in Berbice and one of the top clubs in the Country and organises almost all the cycling events in Berbice.
Sunday June 10, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Warriors sweep Cavs to cement Kusal Mendis keeps SL fighting in improbable chase dynasty as LeBron ponders future ESPNcricinfo - Setting Sri Lanka a monumental 453 to chase before removing three top-order wickets, West Indies continued to stride towards victory in Trinidad. The man who stood in their way on day four was Kusal Mendis. He sruvived two nicks behind the wicket to move to 94 not out by stumps. He forged 50-plus stands with Angelo Mathews and Roshen Silva, but neither of those batsmen appeared as comfortable at the crease as Mendis. The only other batsman who looked in good touch was Dinesh Chandimal. He retired ill after facing 23 deliveries, however, due to symptoms of sun-stroke. Chandimal did not bat for the remainder of the day, but is expected to return to the crease on Monday. As has been the case throughout the Test, West Indies’ progress was driven by an array of players. Kieran Powell, who resumed on 64, added a further 24 runs to the score, before miscuing a Dilruwan Perera ball to midwicket. Jason Holder played an aggressive innings to help set up the declaration - four fours and a six in his 40-ball 39. Devendra Bishoo and Kemar Roach added 16 and 11 respectively as well, hoisting the lead beyond 450 just after lunch. The quicks were not as intense early in the second innings as they had been in the first, but were nevertheless menacing in patches. Shannon Gabriel took Kusal Perera’s wicket with an away-seamer in the fourth over, and tested all the Sri Lanka top-order batsmen with short deliveries. Kemar Roach, Miguel Cummins and Jason Holder also found movement with the new ball and caused occasional discomfort - all three making use of the short ball on a track that still had some bounce in it. Holder, in fact, would take a wicket with a waist-high ball, Mathews unable to get more than a glove to a delivery angled down legside. Bishoo, who for the first time in the Test was getting turn out of this surface, also claimed a wicket with a modest delivery. Spotting a shortish legbreak, Roshen bunted an easy catch back to the bowler in the twilight, when he could have quite easily defended. Mendis had two major moments of good fortune
during his innings. The first came in the fourth over of the innings, in which Shannon Gabriel had earlier had Kusal Perera caught in the slips. Squaring Mendis up with a rib-height delivery, Gabriel had the ball graze Mendis’ edge on its way to the keeper, but although West Indies were raucous in appeal, they opted not to review the not out decision. Much later, when Mendis was on 46, he got a toe-end to a turning Bishoo delivery, only for wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich to fumble the chance. At other times he had his edge beaten, or had the ball leap up to take his splice. But mostly he was secure in defence. Although this was a more reserved innings than he often plays, he did not shelve the aggression entirely. When there were cuts or
drives to be ventured, those shots fetched him plenty of runs. Towards the end of the day, when Kemar Roach tried to bounce him, Mendis even played a pull shot for six. Of Mendis’ four Test hundreds so far, three are scores of 170plus. Sri Lanka will need a similar effort on Monday, if they are to make anything of this game. In the morning, West Indies suffered regular dismissals, but marched smartly to their enormous lead. Powell was out for 88, having been less fluent on day four than he had been the previous evening. But it was low-stakes cricket for them. The hosts had begun the day with a lead of 360; the objective in delaying the declaration had been largely to tire out the Sri Lanka outfit.
Stephen Curry celebrates after beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the NBA finals. (Kyle Terada USA Today Sports) CLEVELAND (Reuters) The Golden State Warriors secured their status as an NBA dynasty on Friday by steamrolling the Cleveland Cavaliers to claim a third title in four years, and one that might send LeBron James elsewhere to seek championships. The fourth consecutive NBA Finals match-up between the two rivals proved to be the most lopsided as the Warriors clinched the best-ofseven series in the minimum number of games with a 10885 victory in Cleveland to repeat as champions. “We all want something that’s bigger than ourselves. I think we love to see each other succeed,” NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant told reporters. “We love to come together and figure stuff out on the basketball court.” After a sub-par performance in Game Three, Warriors guard Stephen Curry responded with a spectacular shooting night by scoring a game-high 37 points, while James had a team-high 23. The Cavaliers clawed back from an 11-point deficit before pulling in front on a slam dunk from James near the midway mark of the second quarter that brought the home crowd to their feet. But it was only a matter of time before the Warriors, who boast perhaps the most potent offense the NBA has ever
seen, took over, using a dominant third quarter to build a 21-point cushion that left the Cavs’ hopes of a comeback in their wake. “We knew that they were going to come out with a tough first punch and we answered it and ran right back at them and set the tone for the whole game,” Curry said. “They made so many runs over the course of 48 minutes but our will took over. Unbelievable feeling to come in here on a mission and get the job done.” The Cavs had successfully faced down elimination three times this season but were unable to mount any threat of a rally in this one as the Warriors simply possessed too much firepower. “Sometimes you can give everything you’ve got and still come up short, and I thought that’s what our group of guys did in this series,” Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue lamented. “That’s about it.” ‘BROKEN HAND’ James later revealed that he played the final three contests with a serious and selfinflicted hand injury suffered after a Game One overtime loss in which J.R. Smith ran down the clock rather than attempt a game-winning shot as time expired. “I had emotions of you just don’t get an opportunity like this on the road versus Golden State to be able to get
a Game One, and I let the emotions get the best of me,” said James, wearing a brace on his right hand at his post-game conference. “Pretty much played the last three games with a broken hand.” For Cleveland, the loss sends the team into an offseason of great uncertainty as James, the best player of his generation, could sign elsewhere as a free agent after July 1, which is widely expected given the relative lack of talent on the roster. James, who was playing in his eighth consecutive NBA Finals and fourth straight with the Cavs, has carried the team since he returned in 2014 but would likely need to see some key additions to keep him with his hometown team. When James, who only attempted three shots from the floor during the second half, left the game with about four minutes to play, he did so to a standing ovation from a home crowd that were chanting “M-V-P, M-V-P.” James said he did not yet know where he would play next season. “When I decide what I’m going to do with my future, my family and the folks that have been with me for the last, you know, 20 years, pretty much, will have a say-so,” he said. “Then it will ultimately come down to me, and so we’ll see what happens.”
GDF clinch Bounty Farms XVs title with walkover win The final game of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) 2017 Bounty Farm XVs season ended in anticlimactic fashion after Guyana Defence Force (GDF) earned a walkover against Yamaha Caribs who didn’t had enough players to contest the
match. Heading into yesterday’s match at National Park R u g b y f i e l d , G D F needed a win to solidify successfully defend their XVs title and Caribs who finished the season in last, showed no intent in bettering their dis-
appointing position and gifted GDF 5 points in their must win game. The final points standing read, GDF 36 points, Panthers 31, Police Falcons 14, Pepsi Hornets 11 and Yamaha Caribs 6. The 2018 season begins today with Hornets versus Panthers at the National Park from 16:30hrs.
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Sunday June 10, 2018
Kaieteur News
Missigher edges out Thomas at ‘5k’ Fun Run’
Winston Missigher receiving his prize from President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Aubrey Hutson. (Vishwanauth Babulall photos)
Aliza Persaud receiving her first-place trophy DPI, Guyana, - Winston Missigher nosed out his competition at the Aquatic Starz Shine 5k ‘Fun Run’, with a sprint to the finish line. Missigher clocked in at 15 minutes 16 seconds, just edging out Cleveland Thomas who came in second at 15 minutes 17 seconds and Marlon Nicholson who at third place clocked in 15 minutes 32 seconds. The race which began and concluded at the Diamond Tarmac, East Bank Demerara
saw over 150 participants ranging in age from seven to 50 years. Missigher said the 5k was very tough since his last race was on May 26 and he was not fully prepared. His training was hindered training due to abscesses under his arm. Nevertheless, Missigher said, “I relied on my experience and my little fitness from when I ran earlier in the year. That is what carried me through the race successfully.” To keep up with his
main rival Cleveland Thomas, Missigher explained that his strategy was to stay and keep pace with him and ensure he did not have a huge lead. Also participating in the event was Uttamkumar Isurdeen, who is wheelchair bound but no stranger to such events. Isurdeen said he was happy to participate in the 5k since races such as these which help to keep him fit. His first place win, in the wheelchair category, he said, was
as a result of hard work. “I did a lot of training and it is as a result of that training I am successful today,” Isurdeen explained. Twelve-year-old Aliza Persaud dominated her competition in the 11 to 16 category finishing in first place in 22 minutes and 12 seconds. Donna Lowe placed second with a time of 24 minutes 51 seconds, while Aliyah Clarke came in third clocking 26 minutes 31 seconds. Persaud who is also a
swimmer said the race “was not that hard because I normally do six minutes of running at the swimming pool… at the finish of the race, a girl tried to hold me off but people kept cheering me on, so I put my head down and I passed her.” Kerry Scott, Chief Executive Officer of Aquatic Starz said that he was pleased with the turnout by the athletes and the support the event received which he deemed a success. Scott said that the
Shine 5K is the first of four events slated to happen this year. “We are thankful for the persons that actually came out. Apart from that, a lot of persons registered late and we had to close off to ensure the event a success. However, I am confident that next year it is going to be bigger and better. From the ‘word on the ground’, we are expecting about 500 participants next year.” (Isaiah Braithwaite)
CBC C/Ships warm up Nervous Guyana lose to Barbados 93-76 Guyana went down by 17 points in the first of a threematch warm up series away to Barbados as preparations for the Caribbean Basketball Confederation Championships heighten with the event set to tip off in less than a week in Suriname. Despite a team-high 19 points and 15 rebounds from Anthony Moe, Guyana went down 76 – 93 to Barbados at the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex on Friday evening. Barbados were led by captain and point guard Jeremy Gill who finished the night with a game-high 22 points and according to the coach of the team, Junior Hercules, the Bajans outplayed Guyana in every department. The Bajans led the score in every quarter with the first finishing 23 – 19. In the second period, Moe had his way with the Barbados defence and along with Adams, kept Guyana in the game after Barbados made a run to close the half with an 11 points lead (44 – 33). Moe had gotten into foul trouble, including picking up
a technical from referee Jennifer Hackett for his continuous outburst, since he felt the whistles were one-sided in favour of the home team. Hercules confirmed to Kaieteur Sport that he too felt that the officiating was poor as Barbados led the game at the end of the third quarter 69-58.Stanton Rose, the 18year-old captain, had a quiet game but Coach Hercules explained to Kaieteur Sport that he believed that his side was nervous in the first game but he expects them to bounce back and some new faces were expected to be in game two’s line up for the Guyana. Rose, Moe, Adams, Orlan Glasgow (7) and Shaine Webster (13), Travis Burnett (9) tried to bring Guyana back in the game, but things took a turn when Guyana lost their primary scorer (Moe) since he was fouled out. Adams and Burnett were also fouled out, but at the time, the game was already out of reach. The results of game two which was played last evening will be featured in tomorrow’s edition of
Team Guyana pose for a photo op at the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex before going down to the Bajans 93-76 on Friday night. Kaieteur Sport. Both Guyana and Barbados are using the series as preparation for the June 24 –
30 Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Men’s Championships. At the CBC tournament in
Suriname, the Guyanese Men are in Group A, with hosts and rivals Suriname, St Lucia, Grenada and St Vincent and
the Grenadines, while Group B comprises Barbados, Bermuda, Antigua & Barbuda, Haiti and Montserrat.
Kaieteur News
Sunday June 10, 2018
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Diamond Secondary takes inaugural REO Inter Secondary School title
I
n a tantalising and sizzling a ff a i r, t h e i n a u g u r a l Regional Democratic Council (RDC)/ Lloyd Britton/ Devcon Construction/ Regional Executive Officer (REO) Region Four Inter-Secondary Schools Tournament came to an end when Diamond Secondary defeated Annandale Secondary in a tense and captivating final played at the Everest Cricket Club ground. The match, which was watched by third and fourth place teams Hope and Friendship secondary, students of other schools that competed and supporters of their teams, saw those in attendance being treated to excellent cricket with both teams evidently seeking to capture the coveted title. Batting first, Friendship Secondary managed 145-5 off their allotted 35 overs. Mahendra Singh made 50, while D. Prashad got 32 and R. Datterdeen 27. Diamond Secondary responded with 146-8 in 30 overs. Phillip Mc Turk scored 35, while K. Singh got 23, M. Dindyal 17 and M. Fredericks 16; Mahendra Singh snared 4-19 and Chanderpaul Ramraj 2-22. Mavindra Dindyal 95 runs, nine wickets and two stumpings was named the MVP, while Scott Singh with 13 wickets (best 7-12) took the best bowler prize and Pradesh Balkishun 142 runs (best 139) was the most outstanding batsman. At the presentation, initiator of the competition Lloyd Britton stressed the importance of such competitions recollecting past years when competitions were regular features among a number of secondary schools. He gave the assurance to the REO Ms PaulineLucas, players and other
Champion School Diamond Secondary poses with REO Pauline Lucas and sponsor Nolan Lancaster.
sponsors that he will be supporting the competition again, urging other regions to emulate the example that has been taken by the REO and the Region by extension. “This is a great initiative and I am happyto have been involved, I would like to guarantee that come next year I will be here again,” he said to loud applause from the players. Another Sponsor in Nolan Lancaster of DEVCON Construction stressed that he was very happy to have played a role in the competition. “I urge you to be
disciplined to be committed and to be dedicated as these qualities will certainly boost your character and ultimate personality as you continue to develop yourself,” he said. REO Pauline Lucas also complimented the teams for their stellar performances while thanking those who showed their support and dedication to make the event a success. She repeated sentiments echoed by Regional E d u c a t i o n O ff i c e r Ti ff a n y Favourite-Harvey that the
competition will return next year promising more prizes and an increased number of teams. The teachers at Friendship and Annandale secondary were awarded the leadership award for their sterling and impressive services during the competition, while the most discipline team award was shared between Lancaster and Hope Secondary schools. The participating schools recognised sponsors Alex Mahaica of SKI Construction, Nolan
Lancaster of DEC+VCON and initiator of the competition Lloyd Britton, while they also gave a special award to the REO for what they deemed as her sterling significant, continuous and dedicated support to sport and youth development within the region. The awards to the sponsors were for their continuous, significant, devoted and remarkable support to youth development and empowerment within Region Four.
GFF looking to host Primary Schools Football programme
T
he Guyana F o o t b a l l Federation (GFF) has shown great interest in hosting a Primary Schools Football Programme and that interest was communicated to the Minister of Education, Hon. Nicolette Henry in her Brickdam office. Representing the GFF during that engagement was the entity’s President, Mr. Wayne Forde, Technical Director, Mr. Ian Greenwood and Youth Development Officer, Mr. Brian Joseph. Giving an overview of the Programme was Mr. Greenwood, who said that the programme will support football development in Guyana at all levels starting from grassroots all the way up to the senior level. H e s a i d t h a t implementing the programme will result in the increase of player population
in the sport and improve the quality of youth coaching. According to Mr. Greenwood, within the vision of the programme is to propel youth development and to increase the population of persons, male and female, involved in the game countrywide. Mr. Greenwood said that the programme aims to produce players that have the ability to play at a high tempo, can deal with the stress of playing to win, have athletic potential, have an efficient based passing game, have a balanced view of success and failure and possess excellent technical ability. The programme will involve a pre-season programme which will entail staff training and a regional competition and finals. The GFF will also assist in providing both material support to the schools as it
relates to gears and coaching education to teachers. Following the presentation, Minister Henry thanked the GFF for approaching the Ministry with the initiative and said that the programme aligns with the policy of the Ministry. She said that it has been the policy of government to have Physical Education be a core curriculum subject since 2015. Minister Henry said that the Ministry of Education is willing to provide any support that is necessary to ensure the programme is executed successfully. The education Minister committed to engaging the relevant officers within the Ministry of Education to start the process so that the GFF’s programme can be accommodated and executed with the requisite level of support.
GFF Technical Director, Mr. Ian Greenwood presenting an overview of the programme to Minister Henry.
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Sunday June 10, 2018
All set for Inaugural UCCA Awards Milo Skills tourney held in Guyana and Presentation Ceremony today - BCB President Foster to deliver feature address All is set for the inaugural Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) Awards and Presentation Ceremony today at the popular Taj Mahal Hotel on the Upper Corentyne. Starting time is 13:00 hrs. The ceremony which is the brain child of President of the Berbice Cricket Board, Hilbert Foster, has received sponsorship from the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS, the Berbice Cricket Board and some other well-wishers. Among the Awards to be presented are Under-15 Player of the Year, Under-17 Player of the Year, Under-19 Player of the Year, School of the Year and Cricketer of the Year. The Awardees would receive trophies and medals, while the Cricketer of the Year would also carry home a bicycle. The Association would create history when it unveils the Upper Corentyne Cricket Hall of Fame to honour Players who have represented Guyana and have since retired. They include former wicketkeeper batsmen Sydney Jackman and Maxwell Georgeson and off spinner Imran Jafarally. Ex Berbice Players including Bhim George, Kawal
Prashad and Esmond Winter would also be recognised and honoured by the UCCA. Primary and Secondary Schools who participated in the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association organised tournaments would also be honoured, while the sponsors and other supporters would receive Certificates of Appreciation. Jackman, who is an executive member of the UCCA and Chairman of the UCCA Competitions Committee, is expected to present a comprehensive report on the work of the sub-association and plans for the future. President Hilbert Foster has been invited to be the Guest Speaker; Foster is also expected to hand over cricket balls to clubs along with educational posters. Foster during his Face the Clubs Meeting on the Upper Corentyne had committed himself and the BCB to organising cricket at the 20/20, 40-Overs and Double Wicket levels in the Association and other plans throughout the County. Emphasis would be placed on coaching and putting other support mechanisms in place for clubs. The Berbice Cricket Board has already acquired sponsorship for all of the promised Cricket Tournaments, while the Coaching Programmes have started and clubs are already receiving balls and other gear among other support.
Izekeil Brown going through his paces The Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary was the venue for the Milo Skills football tournament yesterday where a number of children from various communities across Guyana got a chance to test their expertise at the sport. Following the conclusion of the one-day competition, the student with the highest number of points will be afforded a trip to Barcelona for the two-day school academy. Among the skill sets they were being tested on are dribbling, passing and controlling from which scores were accumulated. Senior Marketing Manager of Milo, Trinidadian, Geysha
Geysha Thomas- Davis Thomas-Davis told Kaieteur Sport that this is the second activity of its kind with the first being held last year when Martin King was chosen to attend the Barcelona school academy.
Fabiana Larsan in action She added that this year’s clinic has attracted over 120 children between the ages of 7-12 and prizes will be given to the top 10 students. She informed that the competition is also being held in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Jamaica. She is pleased with the turn out. “The skill set and passion is very good and I must thank the Guyana Football Federation for their support. I am urging the parents and teachers to encourage the children because it is at this level where stars are born.” She said the skill sets are the same throughout the Caribbean. (Zaheer Mohamed)
Halep fights back to finally clinch French Open title PARIS (Reuters) - World number one Simona Halep ended years of heartache to clinch her first Grand Slam title with 3-6 6-4 6-1 victory over American Sloane Stephens in the French Open final yesterday. The popular Romanian, who had lost three major finals before yesterday, showed signs of nerves at first but recovered to outclass her 10th-seeded opponent. “Thanks guys it was amazing and I felt your support,” Halep, twice a runner-up in Paris before yesterday, told the crowd who were chanting her name. “In the last game I couldn’t breathe, I just didn’t want to repeat what happened the other years. I dreamed of this moment since I started to play tennis and I can’t believe it.” U.S. Open champion Stephens used her powerful game to full effect to take the first set but then ran out of
Romania’s Simona Halep (right) and Sloane Stephens of the U.S. pose for photographs with their trophies. (REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol) steam as Romania’s Halep completed a memorable victory. The American, who will break into the top five for the first time when the new rankings are released tomorrow, broke Halep in
the fourth game before taking the first set after 41 minutes. The second set was tighter as the players traded breaks until Halep finally got back on level terms when (Continued on page 75)
Kaieteur News
Sunday June 10, 2018
Bragging rights and national pride at stake come June 23, 24 & July 1 The marquee event on the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) calendar, the national championships is set for later this month when cyclists battle for top honours in the various categories that lasts for one year. Senior men, masters, juniors, juveniles and ladies will be facing starter’s orders for the Individual Time Trials that will be contested on the Linden Soesdyke Highway on June 23. The following day, June 24, attention will turn to the Road Race for the juveniles, juniors, masters and ladies, while the following Sunday, July 1, the senior men’s Road Race would be contested. The Time Trails for the senior men, juniors and masters would be for a distance of 12.43 miles or 20km, while the ladies would do a distance of 6.21 miles or 10km. The starting and finishing point would be the Yarrowkabra Police Outpost from 09:00hrs. The Road Race route Sunday, for the masters, juniors, juveniles and ladies will commence at Homestretch Avenue from 07:30hrs in front of the National Sports Commission, proceed East along Homestretch Avenue, right into Mandela Avenue, left at DSL into the East Bank Carriageway, South along Houston Public Road all the way to Timehri where cyclists will turn around at the end of the double road. Return to the Linden Soesdyke Junction, make a right onto the Linden Soesdyke Highway and turn
around at Long Creek before returning to the starting line at Homestretch Avenue for the finish. After turning at Timehri, juveniles and ladies will not make the right turn onto the Linden Soesdyke Highway, they will continue on the downward journey to Homestretch Avenue for the finish. The masters and juniors will cover a distance of 80 miles (128.75km) while the juveniles and ladies will battle over 52 miles (83.69km). The GCF has stated that junior and juvenile cyclists will not be allowed to compete at these championships without junior gears. The federation has indicated that this is UCI rule that would be enforced, noting that clubs would have been encouraged to follow this rule for three years now. The route for the senior men’s Road Race on July 1 which starts at 07:30hrs: start at Homestretch Avenue and follow the same route as the juniors and masters. The s e n i o r s h o w e v e r, w i l l proceed to Mobilissa on the Linden Soesdyke Highway before returning to the starting line at Homestretch Avenue for the finish, a distance of 110 miles (177.03km). The respective defending champions are Raynauth Jeffrey (Senior RR and ITT), Clair Fraser-Green (Ladies RR and ITT), Briton John (Junior RR), Curtis Dey (Junior ITT), David Hicks (Juvenile RR), Warren Mc Kay (Masters U-45 RR), Lear Nunes (Masters ITT), Gordon Spencer (O-45 RR).
6th LGC Club Tournament for 2018 set for today To d a y, w e a t h e r permitting golfers will compete for points in a build up to the Lusignan Golf C l u b ’s A n n u a l C l u b Champion title. So far the top 6 contenders are Aleem Hussain, Mike Mangal, Patrick Prashad, Rabindranath Persaud, Maurice Solomon and Joaan Deo. However, with the improvements in play being observed from many players, it is expected that David Harry, Brian Hackett, Haresh Tewari and Parmanand Persaud could push their way
into the limelight. As usual an exciting tournament is envisaged, and the public is welcome to come view the event FREE of charge and to enjoy the ambience of the Lusignan Golf Club. Awards/benefits for the Club Champion(s) of the year include umbrellas, golf clubs, golf bag, $50,000 cash, preferred parking spot, free locker, 5% Off Assuria Discount Card (good at 60+ locations), a trophy and of course, a full year of bragging rights, as quoted by President Aleem Hussain.
Cyclists at the starting line before the start of the 2017 Senior Road Race. (Franklin Wilson photo)
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GDF clinch Bounty Farms XVs title with walkover win P. 77
GDF, Bounty Farms XVs 2017 Champions, pose yesterday at the National Park following their walkover.
Warriors sweep Cavs to cement dynasty as LeBron ponders future P. 77
Golden State Warriors owner Peter Guber kisses the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy after beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Kusal Mendis keeps SL fighting in improbable chase
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