Kaieteur News
PAGE 04
Friday June 22, 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
GRANDMOTHERS: UNSUNG HEROES OF SOCIETY
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n Guyana as in other countries, the ideal family unit comprises a father and a mother. The father is expected to provide financial security, physical protection, safety and to be a strong male figure. They expect to be emulated by their sons. The primary role of the mother is to provide the nurturing aspect for the children. In these modern times, even when men are playing their fatherly roles, mothers are usually forced to work outside the home in order to help provide financial support due to the high cost of living and more so, if the father is not earning a decent salary. As we celebrated Father’s Day last Sunday, the really sad thing is that, from all indications, many fathers are not facing up to their essential roles of taking care of their family. In fact, many have abandoned their families, leaving the mother to fulfill the fatherly role, in addition to being the mother. Try as hard as they might, mothers cannot fulfill the role of fathers in the home, which has many negative implications for society. What is even more disturbing is that there are a number of mothers who, in spite of their best efforts, simply cannot manage and need help from their mother, the children’s grandmother. And, there are some mothers who would literally abandon their children into the care of their grandmother for one reason or another. Grandmothers have to provide financial support from their meagre pensions or salary; they have to discipline and nurture their grandchildren. It is estimated that about 27 percent of children in Guyana are raised directly by grandmothers and a significant number of them are being supported indirectly by grandparents. Most grandmothers are not young women; many of them do not have well-paying jobs. Quite a few are retired. Many are not capable of running behind their very active grandchildren and therefore cannot keep track of all of them. Their homes are veritable nurseries supported by their meagre income. In spite of the many serious challenges most grandmothers face, they fulfill their responsibilities to take care of their grandchildren with impressive courage and resolve even though they receive little support from their children and nothing from the fathers of those children. The stress most grandmothers encounter taking care of their grandchildren from neonates to full-grown adults would overwhelm the average parent. These brave and sacrificial grandmothers are the backbone of our society. They are the ones who end up raising and nurturing an indeterminate number of our nation’s children to become productive and law abiding citizens. The positive side is that grandmothers are trying to provide a home, food, clothes and an education for many children. On the negative side, some cannot even provide for themselves, yet they are thrust into the extremely demanding and difficult role of parenting at a time when times are much tougher for them. Only a few grandfathers have taken on the role of parenting their grandchildren. Most of us have fond memories of our grandmothers. They are a special breed of people who have mellowed with age but possess a wealth of experience and knowledge that society could draw on to raise and nurture children and build a better Guyana. They are the silent and unsung heroes within society, without whom society would have been worse off than it is today. Guyana should commemorate a national day for grandmothers and there should be an international day for them.
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.
Is the Venezuela refugee crisis a Maduro ruse? DEAR EDITOR, A strange and troubling situation is developing in which people fleeing from Venezuela are coming here and claiming to be citizens of Guyana. The media recently reported that 70 such persons are occupying tents in a mineral-rich area of Guyana, claiming to belong to one family and that the land is their ancestral property. Up to the time of this letter, another 182 are reportedly camping out at the border, eagerly waiting to come across and stake their claim to our land. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Carl Greenidge was quite right when he said that these people must verify their citizenship. People have a right to remigrate to the country of their birth, but if they left many years ago and do not have valid Guyanese identification documents, they must prove their citizenship. That is how it is done all over the world. What makes Guyana different?Wouldn’t it be peculiar if none of the 70 people already in Guyana claiming land, and none of the 182 waiting to come over and claim, can prove their citizenship? Not even one?
How strange. Something does not smell right here. I am interested in the findings of the team sent to investigate and report on this matter led by Minister Ms. Valerie Garrido-Lowe. It seems very strange to me that these people are claiming ownership of mineral-rich lands as their ancestral property. Don’t they know that when they packed up and migrated to Venezuela decades ago, they willingly and wastefully abandoned the lands of their ancestors? Don’t they understand that the State has a right to seize all nonproductive lands in the public’s interest and use them productively or give others the legal right to do so? I have an even deeper concern. These people claiming to be Guyanese might be, in fact, just plain ‘hard-back’ Venezuelan foot soldiers of the Maduro Government sent here to steal our lands surreptitiously. Perhaps they expect Guyanese fools to present it to them giftwrapped on a platter without doing due diligence, so Venezuela could later claim that their citizens are living here, unchallenged, right on the disputed land.Has anyone considered that these
so-called refugees might be El Sindicato operatives working in cahoots with Maduro to promote Venezuela’s interests? On that note, what is the extent of the influence of El Sindicato here anyway? Is it true that this gang already controls significant areas in Region One? Does this Venezuelan cartel already have a vice-like grip on local miners and residents of remote communities in the Barima-Waini area? Large groups of fake refugees, or even real ones, can easily create little Spanish-speaking villages in our country. Each one would be a ‘little Venezuela’, so to speak, and that would constitute a monumentally dangerous national security risk. How in God’s name could we even think of allowing Venezuelan refugee camps or ‘little Venezuela’ communities to take root in the very same territory that Venezuela wants to steal from us? Imagine hundreds more so-called refugees, thousands more, tens of thousands more swarming into our land and setting up squatter communities. Imagine if they start to put up Venezuelan (Continued on page 6)
Time for forensic audit and criminal charges in Region 6 DEAR EDITOR, In 2016 when the Auditor’s General Report was presented in the National Assembly , it stated among other things that 79 contracts totaling $147.586 million were not awarded to the lowest or the most competitive bidders and it also stated the reason why the lowest bidder was not awarded, the contract was ‘inadvertently not included in the Regional Tender Board minutes’. The REO blamed the scribe who took the minutes!In that year I made it clear at the RDC Statutory meeting that Section 39(6) (a) of the Procurement Act makes it pellucid that ‘all evaluation criteria for the procurement of goods, works and services in addition to price, will be qualified in monetary terms and the tender will be awarded to the lowest evaluated bid’. I further gave circumstances where this subsection has been blatantly violated, attesting to cronyism and corruption, and I gave clear examples where this was done on 7th July, 2016. In April this year it was reported in the media that the Auditor’s General’s Report for 2016 showed overpayments of salaries amounted to $345,000 and now the PAC has discovered that there was contract splitting to frustrate the
objectives of Procurement Act and hence illegal. A contract of $8.3 million for surgical gloves was split in three to fall below the $8 million ceiling which the Regional Tender Board can award, and though the REO denied this fact, she later admitted to the PAC that there was contract splitting. This brings to mind the various versions of the bulldozer story. Similar to the bulldozer and true to form, she blamed the previous REO, Dr Ramayya. Then there is an upsurge of new ‘contractors’ in Region 6, some of whom barely have access to a hammer. However, don’t be mistaken. Many of these new
‘contractors’ are actually ‘fronts’ for the favoured contractors. The Procurement Act Section (5) pronounces on the qualifications contractors should possess, and many of these contractors lack the capacity so they sub-contract the works to the real contractors who should have gotten the contracts in the first place. Therefore, this scenario now creates ‘middlemen’ who will sell the contract. What in effect is happening is that substandard work will result, since the contract price has to accommodate this split. Undoubtedly, there is an urgent need for a forensic audit of the Tender Board in
Region 6 to dig into the various questionable practices. The entire tendering process should be investigated and the awards of contracts and the background, experience and qualifications of these contractors should come under microscopic scrutiny. Finally, should the Region’s REO not be charged with misconduct in public office? Should the RDC not move a vote of no confidence against her? Dr Ramayya was the recipient of several such motions for far less. Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councilor Region 6
Issue has to do with absence of fairness in process that led to hiring of GECOM DCEO DEAR EDITOR, With respect to the controversial appointment of Roxanne Myers as Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), I’ve noticed that the defence has shifted its argument to one of academic superiority. This position - like the earlier one about merit – cannot hold sway, as both candidates received their degrees from institutions that are not top-rated. In fact, an online search revealed that the UN-mandated University for Peace which Myers obtained her Master’s Degree from is ranked 3756 by Ranking Web of Universities o n l i n e ( S e e http://www.webometrics.info/en). The same site ranks the Anglia Ruskin University which Vishnu Persaud obtained his Master’s at
1178. This brings me back to the view of Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo who was quoted as saying that the issue at hand has more to do with the absence of fairness in the entire process – a position I agree with. Mr. Persaud met all the advertised criteria. He has a post graduate degree, qualification in elections management, experience in the management of national elections and much more. He is therefore the more ‘superior’, ‘fit and proper’ candidate. In spite of this, he was sidelined in favour of Myers. Clearly this shows that there was no fairness involved in the process, and that persons in spite of their experience and qualifications are being sidestepped. Regards Attiya Baksh
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Kaieteur News
Friday June 22, 2018
SAFETY AND HEALTH IN THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT DEAR EDITOR, Every year, led by the UN International Labour Organization (ILO), on 28 April there are International observances of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Day; and 12th June as World Day against Child Labour. The combined thrust this year was the promotion of safety and health in the working environment with an emphasis on safety of young workers and to end child labour. It is the legal and moral obligation of employers in the private and public sectors and Government agencies to provide and maintain high standards in occupational safety and health in workplaces and the working environment. The aim should also be to sustain a culture of prevention. Together with the relevant state agencies and the representatives of workers and employers, national drives
should be supported to promote high standards in OSH at work. In keeping with international standards, the recording and notification of occupational accidents, occupational diseases, dangerous workplace occurrences, and suspected cases of occupational diseases are essential requirements in the monitoring, evaluation, adopting preventative and corrective measures for a safe and healthy working environment. It is widely known that work-related statistical information point to the incidence of accidents, injuries, diseases and deaths, which are part of the reality of the world of work with severe social, economic and human consequences not only for workers and their families, but also for the national community. It impacts on costs relating to production and productivity and on the national and private
social security systems. While it is a responsibility of employers to establish an effective OSH management system for safe workplaces and the working environment, it is also the responsibility of the State and workers and their Trade Unions to encourage compliance and build a culture of safety that would prevent exposure, risks, and hazards without adequate safety precaution and protective measures including appropriate safety devices and safety wear. Together they can formulate, implement and periodically review coherent national policies and programmes to prevent dangerous occupational exposures, accidents and injuries to employees by minimizing hazards and risks, as far as is possible. SAFETY POLICY In line with Guyana’s Labour legislation including the Occupational Safety and
FREDDIE KISSOON ON THE SUBJECT OF “GONADS” DEAR EDITOR, I fear that Mr Freddie Kissoon was not paying attention in his Biology classes at school. Note what he writes - “The plural noun, gonads, have (sic) been used been used historically, traditionally, journalistically and in common parlance to mean the male testicles. Gonads in the plural cannot be used to mean the sperm-producing organ in a woman. It has to be singular because gonad means a reproductive organ in the human. In the female it is the ovary. A woman carries one womb in her body. That is her gonad. When used in the plural and the subject is a man, it means the male testicles.” Okay. So let us start at the beginning. Mr Kissoon, please look up the meaning of “gonad” in a dictionary. You will find that whether in the singular or the plural the word, regardless of whoever uses the word, whether historians, traditionalists, journalists or anyone else, the word means: an organ that produces gametes; a testis or ovary (Oxford English Dictio-
nary). And a “gamete” is a male or female germ cell that unites with one from the opposite sex in sexual reproduction. I agree with Mr Kissoon that “Gonads cannot be used to mean the sperm-producing organ in a woman”. Indeed it cannot, since women do NOT have a sperm producing organ. Sperm is produced by the male of the species. Ovaries do not produce sperm; they produce ova or eggs. The egg moves from the ovary to the Fallopian tube where it is fertilized by sperm from the male to create an embryo which then travels down the Fallopian tube to the uterus or womb where it embeds itself to grow into a new human being. The uterus or womb is therefore NOT the gonad as Mr Kissoon says. The ovary is the gonad. And as all
women have two ovaries (unless one was removed for a medical reason) then yes, the woman has gonads, in the plural. Testes (singular testis) and ovaries are both gonads. Each produces a germ cell, the two germ cells uniting to form the new offspring. The womb is the organ in which the multiplying cells grow and diversify, being nourished from the mother’s body until they are capable of independent existence as a newborn baby. If you speak of “the female reproductive system” then yes, the womb is part of that. But the gonad it is not. In fact, without ovaries the womb is useless - unless, that is, one utilizes the very modern method of in vitro fertilization. But historically and traditionally that option was not available. Pat Robinson Commissiong
Health Act No. 32 of 1997 and ratified ILO Conventions, which are International Treaties, Public and private sector employers should be committed to develop and work within a policy framework which includes the principles contained in the following statements: • The public and private sector employers regard the promotion of Occupational, Safety and Health and the prevention of occupational hazards within their workplaces and environs as essential responsibilities and mutual objective of management and all employees of the enterprise. • The policy is to do all that is reasonably practical to prevent personal injury and damage to property and to protect everyone from foreseeable work hazards and risks, including the public in so far as they come in contact with the enterprise or its products.
• The public and private sector should be committed to: provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions at each of its locations in keeping with the relevant statutory requirements; provide integrated safety, job training and instructions for all employees and additional safety training where appropriate; provide all safety devices and protective equipment required by statute and supervise their use; ensure that articles and substances purchased for use at work have been so designed and constructed as to be safe and without risk to health, and that full information is made available to suppliers where additional precautions are required; and maintain continuing attention to all aspects of safety and interactions with staff by:
regular internal safety inspections of all work locations and offices by suitably qualified persons, consulting and keeping employees informed on safety matters, ensuring that all entry and exit points are known and visible to all employees, customers and other persons using the premises; establishing and meeting regularly with the enterprise Safety Committees; and providing and maintaining a work place that is safe, stress free and without risks to health and occupational diseases and with adequate facilities for the welfare of all employees. OBLIGATIONS OF EMPLOYEES Every employee also has a responsibility to exercise reasonable skill and care for the health and safety of (Continued on page 6)
More evidence about Jagdeo/ Ramotar no rules, no integrity era DEAR EDITOR, Permit me a bit of space in your publication to comment on an issue that is very current. Mr. Roy Beepat of the Giftland Mall on the East Coast, has raised some pertinent questions regarding preferences which were given to the MovieTowne Group versus what Giftland and other major investors were accorded during the previous administration. I am interested in one major aspect of this issue and it has to do with the preferences and benefits given to close friends and families during the Jagdeo/Ramotar era. Despite what the former president may wish to say at his weekly press conferences, the evidence that all men and women were not equal during his time in office from 1999 to 2011 is overwhelming. Some benefitted far more than others.
Those who in particular had refused to bend the rules to suit the whims and demands of those in power back then, were given the royal run around. Those who pledged support to the PPP, involved the boys, girls, their friends and families in their projects as beneficiaries, were well treated and given preferences. These preferences gave them head starts way above others. Mr. Beepat is clearly not one of these. As the MovieTowne issue demonstrates, this investor was favoured.I therefore urge the Coalition to immediately release the facts on any project, any decisions made
by Mr. Jagdeo during his time that would show the reading public what had obtained during his tenure, as he constantly pontificates about how politically and administratively pious he was during his time as president. It is time that he is put in his place. The evidence shows otherwise. I also expect that the GRA would investigate claims that some of the materials and equipment which were set aside for the Airport improvement project ended up at MovieTowne. Again it was during the time of the JagdeoRamotar era. Still they are so pious. Earl Hamilton
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Kaieteur News
JAGDEO IS NOT MORALLY QUALIFIED TO LECTURE ANYONE DEAR EDITOR, On Monday June 19, 2018 an article was published in another section of the media headlined “Jagdeo criticises Henry for racializing issue”, in which the opposition leader alleges the Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry is racializing overstaying Foreign Nationals. To the best of my knowledge it was at the Meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs that Minister of Education Nicolette Henry asked why are Haitians being singled out by PPP/C Chief Whip and Chairperson of the Committee, Gail Teixeira, and why not the Bangladeshis? There are a few issues that I wish to clarify based on the contents of the article. Foremost, the opposition leader, who these days seem to have a proclivity for the media spotlight, is alleging that the Minister of Educ a t ion Nicolette Henry was being racial because she enquired why the emphasis was being focused on a particular group of Foreign Nationals rather than looking at the issue in a holistic manner, so as to include other nationalities such as the Bangladeshis. Editor, to assist readers in understanding the issue in its entirety, it is important for the public to understand that it was the opposition party through its committee member and current chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Ms. Gail Teixeira who singled
out the Haitians. As a matter of fact, Ms. Teixeira had the issue of the amount of Haitians overstaying their time in Guyana on her agenda as an item to be discussed. It is important for readers to understand that based on the information provided by the Ministry of Citizenship, 7255 Cubans and 3224 Haitians overstayed their time in Guyana in 2017 compared to 11 Bangladeshis. Of the 12,585 illegal aliens recorded as domiciled in Guyana in 2017, 83 per cent of them, or 10,479, are Cubans and Haitians. So why did the opposition party single out the Haitians? Could it be presumed that this is primarily because that party believes that there is some nefarious plan afoot by the ruling administration to utilize Haitians for voting purposes at the next general elections? The Opposition Leader, who is looking to remain relevant to the populace, seeks every opportunity to discredit anything the current administration does. What Mr. Jagdeo fails to understand is that people do not take him and his rhetoric ranting seriously anymore, and his party will realize that he (Jagdeo) is bad for business and he is hurting the PPP rather than helping it. How could Minister Henry be racializing the aforementioned issue just because she advised that the statistics provided be
looked at in its entirety rather than cherry picking the information for their (the Opposition’s) benefit? It is clear that for the Minister of Education the issue is not one of race or nationality but one rooted in principle. Any ‘over-stayer’ is one too many and whether it’s Haitians, Cubans or Bangladeshis the issue should and will be addressed in a non-partisan manner, disregarding all other irrelevant factors. Jagdeo in the article said that Minister Henry showed no comprehension skills. Well as the Minister of Education, she must exhibit more than just comprehension skills to lead the largest ministry in the government which provides the human resource for all other sectors and agencies. So, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, as Minister Henry continues to take the Education system to heights never attained under the previous administration which was led by Jagdeo. Jagdeo’s utterances about Minister Henry remind me of this question, “Have you ever seen a little boy pelting at an empty tree? Well no, the tree must be loaded with fruits for the boy to take notice. Jagdeo’s ranting is but vain imaginings of “what if” and “if only”, as Guyana is now on the true path of redevelopment that is 23 years overdue. This nation knows that Jagdeo is an irrelevant relic from the past, destined to fade away, even though we have to tolerate the noisy attention seeking rhetoric from time to time. I humbly suggest that he puts a sock in it and take several seats as he witnesses Guyana’s rise from the ashes. Regards, Tracy Franklin
Friday June 22, 2018
When you point a finger, three others are pointing back at you DEAR EDITOR, I read an article in KN on June 20th,”The final chapter of the junk Bulldozer’. This story is centred at the heart of our failure to make any progress since independence. It is the story of how infectious and trivial corruption has become, eating away at the sinews of the concept of what is right and what is wrong. The citizenry just don’t seem to care. The caption, “The final chapter of the junk bulldozer”, is expressive of the writer’s opinion that the REO will not be penalized for wasting State funds. The accumulation of hundreds of stories of civil servants creaming monies from the treasury with no resultant effort to stop corrupt practices has made them conclude that any effort to stop same, will be futile and attract vin-
dictive responses from the rulers of the State. They are right in their assumption. If the Government has no interest in stopping corruption, it will never stop. Any attempt by the citizens to make a stand will be met by reprisals and victimization by the Government. We have seen this happen in the case of Maurice Arjoon and the PPP in the Berbice Bridge fiasco. This coalition Government is no different. Both Governments have always been protective of their cabals. They have never been known to point an accusing finger at each other because they have similar agendas. They all know that when you point a finger, three others are pointing back at you, they all have skeletons in their closet to protect. This REO clearly lied
about the ownership of the Junk Bulldozer, evidenced by the fact that she had to sign cheques for the company to be paid long before it was brought in the vicinity of the regional HQ to be denied by the REO. The article mentioned that procurement regulations were breached. I feel that the PAC should be the body to direct SOCU to investigate, and lay charges, in wake of all the discrepancies the PAC are unearthing in the running of the business of the State. What h a p p e n e d t o SARA after its mystery walk against corruption? Is 15 million dollars of state funds spent on a piece of scrap metal (junk bulldozer) not worth recovering? Or is SARA incapable of seeing such sins? Rudolph Singh
Is the Venezuela refugee ... From page 4 flags! Imagine if they block Guyanese from entering those communities. Can Guyana really afford to have communities of Venezuelans here, considering our dispute with their home country? Commonsense tells me no. From what I can see, the problem with Venezuela is not going anywhere in a hurry. We will always have problems with that neighbour. As our President Brigadier (ret’d) David Granger so clearly stated, Venezuela will always be a monkey on our back. Let us not forget that it is a tricky monkey. Let us make sure that we are not being taken for fools by Venezuelan invaders masquerading as refugees. So, I agree with Minister Greenidge. Meticulous checks must be made to verify these people’s claim to be Guyanese. They must prove citizenship
Safety and Health... From page 5 himself/herself, and of all other persons at workplaces. Employees must also co-operate with management in its statutory duties to maintain a high standard of safety and health at work. They must report all accidents that have led to, or may lead to injury, illness and any infection; and to co-operate in the investigation of accidents and diseases with the view of preventing a recurrence. There is therefore the need for the national system to provide for strong, well trained and adequately staffed labour inspectorates with the financial and material means to enable them to discharge their advisory, technical, promotional, and investigative work effectively. Indeed, it is the individual and joint responsibility of the governments, and the social partners, represented by employers’ and workers’ organizations, Churches/religious organizations and civil society to address the problems relating to Occupational safety and health in workplaces, and to end Child Labour which denies childhood development and education in the national community interest. Samuel J. Goolsarran
beyond reasonable doubt or they must be deported immediately. If they are allowed to remain, they should be made to swear allegiance to Guyana only and sign to the effect that they are not Venezuelans and have no further ties with that country. They cannot be allowed to occupy our land without approval and permission. Already, 70 of them, including pregnant women and children, are occupying land without permission and it seems that they are insisting on living there. What if these people are not really Guyanese? What if they are coming with bullying tactics or playing mind games to exploit our sympathy, sentiments and emotions? What if their true mission is to con us and carry out a covert occupation of Guyana’s territory for their true motherland Venezuela? Then our Government must do what any responsible government would do. Expel the imposters forcefully and promptly and let them reapply for re-migrant status or as refugees through the legal channels. Let’s not forget that they abandoned Guyana decades or generations ago, looking for greener pastures. Venezuelans are very familiar with ‘bully-ism tactics’. They have been exposed to decades of dictatorial, tyrannical and tricky governments. Generations of Venezuelans have grown up in the bosom of trickiness and they know how to apply brute-force and/ or deception. We have to think of our self-preservation. We have no choice; we have to
‘watch them with four eyes’, especially when they present themselves as Guyanese. Remember, they were ruled by a military government for years. Long term exposure to such rule changes the mindset of a people, making them more aggressive. I firmly believe that Guyana should try to accommodate Venezuelans who genuinely seek refugee status. But I also advocate careful management of this, bearing in mind that we have an unresolved territorial dispute with an aggressive, desperate nation that can easily flood our system. Venezuela’s population in 2016 was 31.57 million; ours is not even one million. Many of them might even share their Government’s point of view in relation to that country’s claim on Guyana. Perhaps all Maduro has to do to get Essequibo is bulldoze pathways through the jungle and point his people in our direction. Whether they enter legally or fraudulently, we must always bear in mind that Maduro could be setting up military nests and cells in various parts of Guyana. He can then activate them at any point in time to destabilise our democracy and country. Careful management is therefore needed. Help them, yes. But let’s put systems in place so that we can control the flow. If we don’t deal effectively with this Venezuelan refugee situation right now, we can live to regret it by losing our cultural demographics and our country. Sincerely, Roshan Khan Snr.
Kaieteur News
Friday June 22, 2018
PPP open to scrutiny of oil blocks awarded during its time - Jagdeo
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pposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, says that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) would be open to scrutiny of any contracts it had signed as it relates to oil blocks. Jagdeo’s comments come in wake of a call by former Presidential Advisor, Dr. Jan Mangal for an investigation into all oil blocks given out under the PPP. Dr. Mangal in a statement to the media over the week-
end, said he suspects that Guyana lost out on tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars due to highly inappropriate or corrupt practices by the PPP regime. But the Opposition Leader believes that the former Presidential Advisor is only making such comments in hopes of regaining employment with the government after the summer. Jagdeo said, “I think he wants to get his contract renewed. Why didn’t he say
that all along? If he did say this, then I find it strange that he wouldn’t give more commentary on the existing contracts…”The Opposition Leader said, too, that Dr. Mangal should note the fact that the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with ExxonMobil is far worse that 1999 PSA signed by the PPP. Be that as it may, Jagdeo said, “I would suspect that the PPP has no issue with any contract that we signed being examined and if people are
‘Nasty Man’ guilty of ‘Warlock’ murder Delon Henry, called ‘Nasty Man,’ who was charged for the murder of a ‘Back Circle’ footballer, Dexter Griffith, three years ago, was found guilty yesterday. Henry killed Griffith, formerly of Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, on September 29, 2015 at ‘Warlock’, East Ruimveldt Georgetown. Yesterday, a mixed 12member jury panel returned with a unanimous verdict before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Georgetown High Court. However, prior to arriving at the guilty verdict, the panel, which had spent hours in deliberation had announced to the Courtroom that the members could not reach a decision in the matter. The jury was deadlocked six-six but, Justice Kissoon inquired from the panel whether he could assist them with further directions to help them to arrive at a verdict. In response, the foreperson detailed the difficulty that members of the panel had with certain aspects of the evidence presented in the trial. The Judge obliged the jurors on the questions asked and the jurors retired for a second time to deliberate. This time, the panel took less than 45 minutes to deliberate and return to the courtroom with a guilty verdict. The judge nonetheless did not proceed to pass sentence because an attorney for Henry requested a probation report. The request was granted and the matter was adjourned to July 5, 2018 for sentencing. During his trial, Henry denied any involvement in the crime. Earlier this week, pointing out that he was nowhere close to where the shooting took place, Henry told the court, “I living till on the East Bank (of Demerara), and I don’t even know the area, ‘Warlock’.” He said that during his time in police custody, he
Dexter Griffith complained to police ranks and he told them, “I don’t know about this murder. I did not shoot anybody.” Through his lawyer, Adrian Thompson, Henry indicated that he had no witnesses to call on his behalf. State witness, Police Corporal Munilall Persaud testified that on October 6, 2015, he was performing duties when he received certain instructions from Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Trevor Reid. Based on what he was told by his superior, Corporal Persaud told the court that he contacted Henry who was in custody at CID, Headquarters. The witness went on to tell the court that in his presence, ASP Reid informed Henry that he would be conducting an identification parade, and that his photograph will be placed among those of other persons of similar description. The court heard from the police witness that Henry was informed that investigation into the murder of Griffith was the reason for his photograph being placed on an identification parade.
Delon Henry, called Nasty Man The murder accused was cautioned and had no objections to this being done, the witness disclosed. Detailing the lineup of the identification parade, Corporal Persaud recalled that a photograph of Henry was placed in the #10 position, and that Keshawn Griffith, the brother of the deceased, later went on to point out Henry as a suspect in the killing. He added that Henry was once again cautioned by ASP Reid, who had informed him that he was identified as a suspect. During cross-examination by counsel for the murder accused, it was put to Corporal Persaud that Henry did not tell ASP Reid he had “no problem” with the identification parade. In fact, the counsel suggested to the witness that his client had only told police that his photograph was published, the day (on October 5, 2015) prior to the identification parade, in the newspapers in which he was labelled a suspect. The matter was presented by State Prosecutors Lisa Cave and Orinthia Schmidt.
not doing what they are supposed to do in accordance with the contract, then take back the properties…” WORD OF CAUTION While Dr. Mangal had called for an investigation, he also issued a word of caution to the current administration as it relates to the announcement by the Ministry of Natural Resources to hire a consultant to help negotiate the remaining blocks. Dr. Mangal said that this is not the way to go. He said that all efforts in this regard should be halted. The former Presidential Advisor said, “There is no rush to award the remaining blocks, and there is time to do it properly. The current administration risks repeating the same mistakes if they rush.” The Oil and Gas Consultant insists that before this is to take place, Guyana must equip itself with the most ethical and professional individu-
als in the industry. Further to this, Dr. Mangal said he believes this new industry can be tremendously transformative for the poor people of Guyana if handled well. He noted however that the only way this new industry will be successful and sustainable in a way that benefits the poor people of Guyana, is for local authorities to negotiate hard , be prepared to walk away from a particular negotiating table, and for the authorities to hire the best and the most ethical, etc. ”If we do not get a fair deal, and also prove that we can manage the revenues well, it will backfire. Already we are seeing many negative signs. The cost of living is increasing but the salaries of
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Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo the majority are unlikely to be, hence the poor may already have started to get poorer. This is unacceptable, especially since there are so many lessons from around the world on how to manage things well, and on how not to manage things.”
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Kaieteur News
Friday June 22, 2018
Release GGMC, all other forensic audits - Opposition Leader By Kiana Wilburg Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, wants the Government of Guyana to release all the forensic audit reports it commissioned when it assumed office in 2015. The former President made this remark during a Press Conference that was held yesterday at his Church Street office. There, the politician was
asked to give his take on the fact that the government has selectively withheld from the public, forensic audits on key agencies such as the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). Jagdeo said, “They should release all the forensic audit reports. Look at the case they built against some of our Members of Parliament using ostensibly, a forensic audit report into
the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and then they are refusing to give it to the defence.” The Opposition Leader continued, “The defence had to go to court to order a copy and that is fair…but then they redacted most of the report. What is so secret about these audits? What do you have to redact? “If you find corruption,
then you find it. It is as simple as that…Make all the forensic audit reports public. We have been saying this for a while. And then people will see how shoddy some of these works are.” It was in May 2015 that the Granger-led Administration began expending millions of taxpayers’ dollars on 45 of its 50 forensic audits to ascertain how the assets of the state were sold, disposed of, or transferred under the previous administration. The remaining five audits were supposed to be sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Some of the firms contracted to conduct the forensic audits included Nigel Hinds Financial Service, Ram and McRae and HLB Seebarran and Co. Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran along with Harryman Parmesar were also
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo contracted to conduct several forensic audits. Nigel Hinds Financial Service audited agencies such as the Guyana Oil Company Limited (Guyoil), the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) and the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest). Ram and McRae audited
the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Gold Board and the E-Governance Project among others. Several audits were also launched in July 2015 while others started in later weeks of that year. While the report on NICIL for some time now, criminal proceedings are still to take shape. Those on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) have been completed for a longer period. The Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma, had said that the revelations of some of the forensic audits thus far, confirmed the fears the APNU+AFC had regarding the lack of accountability under the previous administration as well as the stench of corruption in some agencies.
Jagdeo denies Ramroop’s involvement in Marriott syndicated deal
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pposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, who oversaw the controversial construction of the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, yesterday denied that his close friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop is involved in the hotel deal. In response to Kaieteur News, Jagdeo questioned how the Coalition Government, after three years in office, has no knowledge of the ‘so called’ investors. “Three years into this Government, they ought to know the share structure of the Marriott Hotel. The Government is not as bad as Kaieteur News. They said that the hotel is owned 100% by the Government of Guyana,” Jagdeo stated.He continued, “Not by anyone else. Not Jagdeo. Not Ramroop. Not Glenn Lall, but 100% by the Government of Guyana.” It is true that Government through Atlantic Hotels Incorporated (AHI), established under the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), controls the hotel. F o r m e r h e a d o f N I C I L , Wi n s t o n Brassington, was CEO of Atlantic Hotels Incorporated (AHI) and he is now before the courts on fraud charges. There continues to be mounting questions about the players who were behind the syndicated loan used to inject funding into the hotel. The deal has been shrouded in secrecy with the Ministry of the Presidency indicating that the Government since coming to office in 2015 has been unable to uncover the players involved in the syndicated investment .But officials in the banking sector say that it is impossible for the government not to know the smallest detail about the Marriott project. And indeed, Government officials say that the government knows every detail.Jagdeo noted that the idea behind the Marriott was to sell the hotel off through an open public bid, take the money and move on to another project. Opened in early 2015, the 197-room hotel ran into early problems of not making enough money to repay the almost US$27M-plus funding from Republic Bank (Trinidad.)
Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop The Hotel was on the verge of being taken over by the bank last year because of nonpayments. However, some tough negotiations ended up with the hotel being granted some legroom, Government officials have confirmed.With the renegotiation, the hotel has managed to bring down its interest rates from a hefty nine percent to just over six percent. The Coalition Administration has been facing pressure to give up the hotel. The hotel was birthed under the Jagdeo administration with promises of local jobs being created. However, save for a few contracts for sand and other material, the jobs went mostly to the Shanghai Construction Group (SCG) and its imported Chinese workers.Even the landscaping jobs were handled by them. The hotel cost over US$50M to build, with total costs including land running up US$80M, government officials said. That meant excluding the loan, the people of Guyana injected almost US$50M in land and cash worth. The government is now admitting that it will be difficult to sell the hotel and recoup the costs.
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Kaieteur News
Friday June 22, 2018
It is not over until the court decides
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number of Guyanese are confused over the implications of the decision of Venezuela not to participate in the case brought by Guyana and which is concerned with the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award between United Kingdom, Venezuela and then British Guiana. Some Guyanese are of the opinion that Venezuela’s decision means that, in boxing terms, Venezuela has “thrown in the towel” and in effect is not defending the action. They are further assuming that it is merely now a formality that the Court will rule in Guyana’s behalf given that Venezuela is not a party to the proceedings. First, what has taken place is not a trial. It is a mere procedural hearing which has to be followed in all contentious cases before the ICJ. The procedural hearing is tantamount to having a brief by the Court to the parties concerned, explaining to them the procedures to be followed. It is not a commencement of the case. Second, Venezuela has made it clear that it does not recognize the jurisdiction of the Court and therefore there is nothing to defend. Venezuela made its position, on the
jurisdiction on the Court, known by way of a Declaration something which the Court, whenever the case commences would have to note. Venezuela said that it rejects totally the jurisdiction of the Court over any matter involving it. In further emphasizing its point about the lack of jurisdiction, Venezuela stated that Guyana’s application to the Court is unilateral and does not have its consent. While Venezuela will therefore not be appearing, its Declaration in which it clearly refuses to consent to the jurisdiction of the Court will be noted.Third, as mentioned above, a great many Guyanese are confused and believe that since Venezuela is not appearing that the absence of its participation means that Guyana’s position will inevitably prevail. This is far from so. Guyana has hurdles to cross. Despite the fact that Venezuela will not be appearing before the Court, Guyana still has to argue on the question of the Court’s jurisdiction. One newspaper has incorrectly assumed that because the Court had invited Guyana and Venezu-
GNIC completes fabrication of 40 buoys in record ... (From page 3) Export Cargo as Agency Representative for various International Shipping Lines.” “With respect to the way forward, we are continuously engaging a number of vendors and service providers in the Oil and Gas Sector with a view to expand our services by Logistics and Storage for Pipes, other repairs and maintenance, on-shore facility for Supply Crafts between the Oil Rigs and the Land Base Operations.”Williams said that GNIC believes that the movement in this direction will prove to be beneficial not only by expanding the company’s contribution to national development but also by providing increased employment through a new range of services for these Sectors.
ela to the procedural hearing that this implied that the Court accepted its jurisdiction to hear the case. This is not so. The Court has made no pronouncement, not even considered as yet, the issue of jurisdiction. Guyana is no doubt hoping to convince the Court that it has jurisdiction to hear the case by virtue of the Geneva Agreement of 1966, which invests in the Secretary General of the United Nations, the right to choose a peaceful means of settlement to the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela over
the Essequibo. But as pointed out before, in this column, the right to choose the ICJ as the means of resolving the issue, does not automatically vest jurisdiction in the ICJ. Guyana, therefore, is still required to establish jurisdiction, more so since Venezuela has made it clear to the Court that it has not consented to the Court hearing the matter, nor has it ever consented to the jurisdiction of the ICJ hearing any matter involving Venezuela. If Guyana fails on the jurisdiction issue that effec-
tively ends the case. It is over. The ICJ cannot pronounce on anything once it rules there is no jurisdiction. The situation will return to the status quo ante. Guyana is hoping that it can convince the Court of the Court’s jurisdiction to hear the case. If Guyana does succeed, then it can begin making its case in front of the ICJ. The fact that Venezuela will not be present does not create a fait accompli. There is no automatic victory for Guyana as some deluded Guyanese believe.
Guyana still has to argue the merits of its contention that the 1899 Award is not a nullity. The ICJ will not, as some Guyanese misguidedly believe, take the position that because Venezuela has opted out, then Guyana has no case to prove. Guyana does have a case to prove, once it overcomes the jurisdictional hurdle.
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Kaieteur News
Friday June 22, 2018
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Sparse turnout for Lindo Creek church service
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n Wednesday af ternoon at 2PM, the families of the eight murdered Lindo Creek miners held a church service in memory of the victims ten years after their death. It was held at the Brickdam Cathedral. I invited Dr. David Hinds to accompany me. I would say the eight victims had about three relatives representing each of them. If you count in the Lindo Creek Commissioner, Justice Trotman, his assistant, the Commissioner ’s lawyer, Patrice Henry, myself and David plus twenty others, that was the congregation. For such a terrible tragedy in which eight miners were senselessly slaughtered, I would say that was a disappointing turn out. In any country, such a national tragedy would have brought out more than two hundred persons in that church. There was no one that I saw from the Government, the Opposition, individual political parties (David Hinds was there on his own behalf and not representing the WPA), the Bar Association, the Women’s Lawyers Association, the Gold Miners Association, trade unions, any of the groups in Guyana that say they are involved in human rights advocacy. My count of such groups would include the Justice Institute, SASOD, Guyana Human Rights Association, Red
Thread, etc. Why such a small attendance for such a national tragedy? I think it has to do with the class structure of Guyanese society. I never went outside the confines of my poor, working class environment in Wortmanville in South Georgetown until I entered the University of Guyana. It was like an entirely different country I was in. I grew up seeing what my dad went through when he worked at the Georgetown Cricket Club and the Portuguese Club on Woolford Avenue in the sixties and early seventies. Then I experienced his experience when I became a UG freshman. It was virtual apartheid at UG. Colour and class dominated UG in the era that I attended that institution. I graduated from UG earning myself only one middle class friend - Carl Singh, who later became Chancellor of the Judiciary. And though, I was very close to Carl at UG and we were good friends. I wasn’t classy enough to be invited to his wedding. That was one of the memories I have of middle class snobbery that is lodged in my mind. What I saw at UG in 1974 never went away in Guyana. It has always been there and it will always be there. Those who think Burnham and Jagan extirpated it are fooling themselves,
maybe hiding their hurt by pretending that the great Jagan and Burnham decolonized Guyana. I left UG, went abroad and studied at some top class universities, came home and became a UG lecturer but class and colour reminded me that I must know my place. I saw class and colour and their potency when I was in the Working People’s Alliance. I saw them in action when I was a columnist at both the Catholic Standard and Stabroek News. But Father Andrew Morrison of the Catholic Standard never made me felt uncomfortable. He was a different Portuguese. The Lindo Creek victims were small income earners. Even the owner of the camp was not a wealthy gold miner at all. If those dead men were from the rich mining class, the Brickdam Cathedral would have been transformed last Wednesday into an Italian fashion fair - fancy women dressed in expensive black dresses imported from Miami with matching tiaras imported from Milan. Their husbands’ Kenneth Cole shirts imported from New York would have cost more than a year’s income of a sugar worker. This is class and colour in Guyana. This is post-colonial Guyana where Burnham and Jagan were supposed to make us proud that we were a working a class nation and black
was beautiful. That since 1966 has been and is a mirage. If the state wrongfully demolishes a housing area in Sophia, you can bet your last dollar, only Nigel Hughes would take the case pro bono. If a middle class woman of light complexion is wrongfully arrested by a traffic cop, lawyers would line up outside her house to do the case for her. Make no mistake, if some
of those murdered miners were relatives of the wealthy gold industry, the streets outside the Brickdam Cathedral would have been ringed with SUVs, some of which would take a public servant one million years to buy. I go to the National Park each day, having to pass the motor racing club directly opposite the park. Inside the club has a gym. When I look at the members going in and
Frederick Kissoon going out, it makes me wonder where the Black Power movement of the sixties is buried.
DEM BOYS SEH
A man gone into hiding Moon does run till day ketch it. Old people got another saying how every day bucket does go to well; one day de bottom gun drop out. People wukking wid govt does always hustle de treasury. De smart ones know how to try to hide de money dem thief. Some of dem does build guard hut. Dem boys realize that whenever de see a govt project, dem know that de real price is much less. A guard hut wid some slab and two price of glass cost $1 million. De real price was $250,000. Somebody mek a bright small piece. Dem had another scheme fuh rob de govt. De
govt decide to feed school children. It share out nuff contract. People suddenly realize de govt stupid suh when a box of food worth $40 dem charge de govt $400. Some of dem mek more money than dem ever see in dem life. But as old people seh, de longest rope got an end. Soulja Bai ask some of he people to carry out a forensic audit. De findings mek some people faint. It mek people suddenly realize that dem friend who was always buying drinks and food was spending de extra money. Now dem boys hear a man gone home and dem hear he carry more money than he
salary. He was a man who anybody can call and he always answer he phone. Last night dem boys want to know if this man gone to de moon because all de calls go to voice mail. Of course, dem boys know that all that was free call and dem decide dem would call till he answer but dem realize that de story buss out and when things like that happen people does get serious belly wuk. De man gone home and if Soulja Bai get he own way de police would collect every cent but dem and all does siphon off. Talk half and watch how a rope come to an end.
Friday June 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Friday June 22, 2018
Balloons released for Lindo Creek victims Scenes from ten year Memorial Service
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fter a memorial service at the Brickdam Cathedral on Wednesday, relatives and friends of those who lost their lives in the Lindo Creek massacre gathered at Square of the Revolution to march in remembrance. Although faced with inclement weather, the walk began at Square of the Revolution at noon and proceeded along Vlissingen Road towards Le Repentir Cemetery. After arrival at the cemetery, the family and friends visited the tombs and shared comforting words to those who still have the deaths fresh in their minds. There were tears and balloons were released in the air, as part
of the 10th anniversary observances. The men, Bonny Harry, Horace Drakes, Dax Arokium, Cecil Arokium, Nigel Torres, Clifton Wong, Lancelot Lee and Compton Spiers, were killed, then burnt at a mining camp at Lindo Creek, Upper Berbice River on or about June 21, 2008. The killings saw the Coalition Government ordering an Inquiry to determine who was culpable. There were accusations that army ranks were involved. Others said it was wanted man, Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins who was hiding up in the Upper Berbice River area, at the time. Rawlins was later killed in the Timehri area.
Friday June 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Abusive Babu Jaan man burns home down, attempts to kill wife
Suspect on the run: Lionel Thomas
Attacked: Omawattie Alvin
A woman is now fearful for her life after her ex-husband of 28 years attempted to kill her at her home yesterday in Babu Jaan, Port Mourant. He later set her home on fire and escaped. Injured is Omawattie Alvin, 47, and her sevenmonth pregnant 17-year-old daughter, Leana Thomas, of 192 Area R Babu Jaan, Port Mourant, Berbice. The suspect has been identified as Lionel Thomas, 62, of Rose Hall Town. According to reports, Thomas, who was expected to appear in court yesterday for a matter involving Alvin and him, was released by the Rose Hall Outpost Wednesday. Upon his release, he ventured to Alvin’s home and began arguing with her. He subsequently grabbed her and the two ended up in a scuffle when Thomas pulled out a knife and attempted to stab her. Alvin’s daughter who was in the upper flat of the twostoreyed building heard the commotion downstairs and retreated. In an attempt to save her mother, she intervened but was hit in the head with a champagne bottle by her father. The two managed to escape from the suspect and he subsequently ran into the nearby bushes. A fearful Omawattie relayed that Thomas and her separated in 2016 but since
then he continuously harassed and made threats towards her. The cause of their separation, she said, was due to his violent behaviour towards her during their domestic disputes. According to her, Thomas was scheduled to appear in court yesterday on another matter for attacking her a week ago at the Port Mourant Market. “Me went and give statement yesterday (Wednesday) and when I was coming home around 6:30 time, place bin li’l dark so I go home and went in the kitchen downstairs when I hear footsteps”. She said she paid it no mind since she thought it was her daughter but then she heard a voice shout, “Which side you ah come from? Every time you mek me get lock up; me gon kill you today”. Alvin said the man grabbed her and they both ended up in a scuffle, when her daughter ran downstairs and held on to her father. ”He pull out the knife and bore me on me belly and me daughter hold on, and the knife cut she finger. It had a bicycle bar here and he tek it and lash me in my head and then he tek a champagne bottle and go fuh lash me but me daughter throw sheself and it lash she instead,” the woman explained. Alvin disclosed that he (Continued on page 14)
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Friday June 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
PAHO teams begin mercury investigation at GGMC complex
The meeting with the Ministers of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman and Public Health, Volda Lawrence, and Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott and the PAHO team. A team from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) is currently assessing the mercury clean-up efforts at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Brickdam complex. The team, which comprises two industrial hygienists, two physicians and a mining engineer, is conducting tests to determine if any trace of mercury remains at the complex. The team arrived on Wednesday and met with the Ministers of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman and Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence; Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott. PAHO/WHO Country Representative Dr. William AduKrow was also present. Minister Trotman explained that the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department within the Ministry of Social Protection had cleaned and certified the area to be free of mercury. However, a third-party opinion is needed to approve the certification and provide guidance on the way forward, Minister
Trotman explained. “This has been a wakeup call for us. It is a matter that has been ongoing for perhaps decades, we cannot postpone any longer or pretend that it is not an issue in Guyana. So, your presence here is to look at the compound and its environs and provide some guidance to the government and its agents as to how to proceed,” Minister Trotman told the team. Industrial Hygienist and head of the team, Catherine Beecham, said the team will be familiarising itself with the entire process of retrieving and burning the gold. The members will also be meeting with the staff to know the history of what the complaint is about and what has been done. A drone mercury vapour analyzer will be used to see if there are any more detectable levels of mercury at the facility. Beecham emphasised, “We are not here specifically to say it is safe to return. What we can say is what the current levels are based on, our best measurements,
Industrial Hygienist and Head of the team, Catherine Beecham and we can make recommendations to reduce exposures if they are occurring and how to prevent exposure. We are hoping to go to the site where persons are working.” The Guyana Gold Board (GGB) ceased the burning of gold at the GGMC complex in April following health and safety concerns. The GGB is currently sourcing alternative facilities. Other issues to be looked at are SOPs and standards regarding mining and the use of mercury. Another PAHO team is expected to work with the government in this regard following the conclusion of Beecham’s investigations. Guyana has committed to the eventual removal of mercury and will replace its usage with alternative methods that increase recovery of gold. (Synieka Thorne).
Abusive Babu Jaan man burns...
The remains of Alvin’s home after the fire From page 13 attempted to slit her throat with the knife but both her and her daughter escaped while he ran to the nearby bushes. The woman revealed that she subsequently made a report on the said day of the attack and was advised by the police not to return home. Alvin disclosed that she
retreated to a close relative’s house and shortly after she received a call that her house was on fire. When she arrived at the scene Wednesday night, the house was already engulfed in flames and nothing could be saved. She is suspecting that Thomas set the house ablaze. ”Right now I am looking
for somewhere to hide until the police find he. His intention is to kill me. Every time I take him to court, he breaking the bond or he getting release,” she stressed. The woman and her pregnant daughter are nursing several injuries. Police are hunting for the suspect.
Friday June 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Education Ministry PS contract not renewed In a surprise move, Government has not renewed the contract of Vibert Welch, Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Education. The PS, who was moved to that key ministry last year in a shakeup by the Coalition Government, reportedly will be spending his last day on the job today. The PS is the second most powerful person in the Ministry after the Minister, responsible for the purse strings. Ultimately, he is the one who is supposed to be running the operations of the Ministry, while the Minister is supposed to be charged with policy-making. The Education Ministry’s Public Relations Department yesterday said that Minister Nicolette Henry was out of the country. It could not confirm anything on Welch. Calls to Welch’s phone went unanswered. However, a senior Government official disclosed that the official’s contract had expired and it was not renewed. The Ministry is one of the biggest ones for Government. It is highly unusual for the contract of a PS not to be renewed in a middle of the financial year. However, similar to the Health Ministry, the Education Ministry has been coming under fire in recent months for problems with contracts and spending. Welch came under scrutiny last year for a $500,000 guard hut for his city home. At this Health Ministry, earlier this week, Minister Volda Lawrence announced that she is calling in the police and auditors of the Ministry of Finance. While officials were tightlipped yesterday, sources indicate that the Administration was unhappy with the management of the school feeding programme
PS Vibert Welch and the accounting of the resources, including food, and the costs attached. Millions of dollars are being expended annually for the programme, which has been rolled out in all the regions. In March 2017, it was announced that Welch being moved from the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs to the Ministry of Education. It was part of a major reshuffle to ensure efficiency and accountability in the public service sector, the Ministry of the Presidency had said. The reassignments had affected the Ministries of Agriculture, Education, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Legal Affairs, Public Health and the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport. The Government, in making the announcements, said that they were particularly disappointed with budgeted spending. In 2016, less than 50 percent of budgetary allocations were spent by ministries. In the last three years, the Administration has been insisting on more training for the public service, of which the Permanent Secretaries are part of. A Public Service College has been launched and with several policies being reviewed.
The guard hut at the PS’ home that came under the spotlight last year.
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Friday June 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Bartica residents urged to own ‘greening’ of town ...as Climate Change C takes awareness session to Region Seven Head of the Office of Climate Change (OCC), Janelle Christian, on Wednesday charged the residents of Bartica, Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven) to take ownership for the Transitioning to National Energy Security (TNES): Bartica as a model ‘Green’ Town Project and the ‘greening’ of their town. She noted that while the
Government is working to achieve the vision of making Bartica the first ‘green’ town in Guyana and Caribbean, its sustainability depends on the people. Christian was at the time speaking to key stakeholders and residents of Bartica at the second part of the TNES Project, for which the international consultants are in the
country to commence work. The TNES Project is being implemented by the OCC in partnership with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) and funded by the Government of Italy under the Italy-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Partnership Programme. The objective of the project is to gather and compile data on
energy use in Bartica, which will be used to inform evidence-based decision making for the future implementation of projects and programmes. In her remarks to stakeholders, Christian said that community ownership is critical if the project is to be successful. “What is important is community ownership. This is a project that is specifically for Bartica and while you will be working with national institutions, it is for the residents here to embrace, to inform and have the leadership to take it forward because whatever is done here will have to be sustained by the municipality and its people,” she said. The Head of the OCC noted that it is important for all stakeholders to work together, putting personal differences aside so that the vision for the town can be realised. “We have to really renew our thinking and see the possibilities beyond the challenges that we have had as a country. We have been our own worst enemies in that we have not learnt to work together and that is what I am asking for. “Despite our political differences, this is a place I am sure you would want your children to inherit and what they receive will be a reflection of what we did and didn’t do. We talk about sustainable development, development that meet the present needs without jeopardising the future but it’s more of leaving the environment at a level that they can even enjoy a future than the one we have. We need your support and involvement,” she said. Christian noted that the work, which commenced yesterday, will assist Government to make informed choices and decisions particularly in the area of ‘green’ development, particularly as it pursues a ‘green’ agenda. She said, “We need to ensure that the solutions that
we bring are really addressing the needs of the community. We do not want to do guess work. We need to look at what is applicable to our country and this part of the country.” Gifford Marshall, Mayor of Bartica, echoed these sentiments as he noted that residents and Guyanese as a whole, must come together to combat climate change, its effects on the environment and the human race. He noted that every citizen has a role to play and as such, called on residents of Bartica to embrace the work, which will be ongoing over the next six months. “Our environment is not the same. If things have changed in just about 14 to 15 years then what type of environment are we going to leave for our children? As a people, we have to choose in which direction we are going and today I want to say that we all have a responsibility to our environment. Greening is not just about planting trees or waste management. One of the effects on our environment is our dependence on fossil fuels and we have as a people to choose our destiny and choose it carefully. “We have destroyed our environment enough. Let us take care of our environment. Let us change the way in which we do business and apply principles and policies that protect our environment. “The Municipality has tried to pilot projects so residents of Bartica can catch the vision. This is the direction we are going in. We do not want to make decisions based on what we feel or think but rather on facts and data and this project will provide that information for us to move ahead aggressively,” the Mayor said. Mr. Gavin Bovell, Project Manager of the TNES, said that the work over the coming months will focus on household baseline surveys, energy and transport audits. The energy audits, he noted, will focus primarily on government institutions and
buildings. On this note, Canadabased consultant from environmental engineering and design consultancy, CBCL Limited, Mr. Anthony Hlahatsi, said that his group will be focusing on energy audits in the town to pave the way for efficient energy use policies and initiatives. “Our task is to audit the public facilities, municipal buildings and infrastructure, the police station as well as schools within the area. This will continue until Sunday. We are also going to do a socio economic study and determine what the benefits are for the people here. “We will try to get data on energy consumption to date in this area. We are starting with government buildings because I believe the government wants to show that the local government is leading by example. We will also look at the scope for other renewable projects and build on and augment the existing ones,” he said. Consultant from Institute of Environment and Development (IDAD) based in Portugal, Mr. Miguel Coutinho spoke on the development of an energy efficient transportation sector. “Transportation is a very important issue as far as climate change is concerned… Almost 40 per cent of imported fuel goes to transportation… as citizens, all of us have a role to play. “When we decide to go to a certain place using a certain mode of transportation, that decision has… a strong impact on climate change… We want to understand… how people in Bartica move around… and why they do it and to try to understand if it’s possible to make recommendations to change this system,” he said. 2R Productions Incorporated is tasked with the documentation of the project, preparation of the projections content manual and formulation of the communication plan for the way forward. Communication Consultant, Mr. Huntley Medley said that (Continued on page 27)
Residents of Bartica and others at the event.
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Friday June 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Desmond Sears is new PSC Chairman The Private Sector Commission (PSC) yesterday at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Marriott Hotel elected Desmond Sears, Chairman. Sears served as Vice Chairman of the Commission for the last two years. He is the President of the Shipping Association of Guyana and the Executive Director of Delmur Company Limited. Deodat Indar was e l e c t e d Vi c e - C h a i r m a n while Komal Singh and Zulfikar Ali were elected Secretary and Treasurer respectively. During a speech, he gave about an hour before the new executive was elected, former Chairman, Eddie Boyer said that his main objective for 2018 is to ensure that the PSC would continue to promote prosperity and economic stability within Guyana, and to champion the Private Sector as a significant element of growth.
New PSC Chairman, Desmond Sears He said that much of the focus this year was to become prepared for the mammoth opportunities open to Guyanese businesses as the country heralds its first oil. Boyer said that the PSC worked diligently to ensure that its members were
aware of the opportunities. He said, “We encouraged the development of the entrepreneurial skills that need to be addressed. We emphasized the importance of the local content policy, as we need to make as much use of this as possible.” He said that he ensured that businesses received full exposure, through a number of activities including the Guyana Business Summit. Boyer noted that the PSC also participated in GIPEX, which saw a number of Canadian based oil
Former PSC Chairman, Eddie Boyer and gas related companies making presentations. “We were also part of a
team that went to Newfoundland, to look firsthand, at the nature of oil
and gas operations. We met with ministers of the Government, members of the diplomatic communities and executives of foreign businesses, to share our thoughts and gain meaningful exposure.” Boyer was also keen to note that the PSC demonstrated its desire to work with Government at all levels, to improve “the conditions prevailing today.” He then took the opportunity to compliment Government on a number of its accomplishments, including local government elections, establishment of the Procurement Commission, and reduction of Corporate and Personal taxes, increase of the personal threshold and lowering the VAT percentage.”
Case dismissed against businessman for 2012 killing of Mahaica trucker Magistrate Wanda Fortune has dismissed murder charges against businessman Amarnauth Bhopaul for the killing of truck driver, Jadesh Dass, almost six years ago. He was discharged yesterday after appearing in the Mahaica Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Kaieteur News understands that the Magistrate had heard claims that another individual was beaten to sign a statement implicating Bhopaul. Bhopaul, 47, of Lot ‘A’ Section ‘B’ Chelsea Park, Mahaica, and Nanda Kumar Ganesh, 30, a mechanic of Albouystown, were charged in July 2016, for the murder of
Jadesh Dass, a 31-year-old truck driver of Chelsea Park, Mahaica, on April 17, 2012. Dass, who was employed by one of Bhopaul’s brothers, was shot in the head and dumped on a parapet at New Road, Mahaica. Police had allegedly received reports that Dass was slain because of an affair that he was having with a sisterin-law of Amarnauth Bhopaul. Police had alleged that Bhopaul paid Ganesh $500,000 to kill Dass. Police had also detained, but later released, other members of the Bhopaul household, as well as Nanda Kumar Ganesh’s sister.
Murdered: Jadesh Dass
Suddie Hospital receives new generator The Suddie Regional Hospital, Region Two, received a new 2,000-Amp Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) and a 750 KVA Caterpillar Generator unit to boost the delivery of its service. The items were procured at a cost of $25 million. The transfer switch will replace the 1200-amp ATS presently in use by the hospital complex.
According to Regional Executive Officer (REO), Rupert Hopkinson, “The arrival of the unit and the return of the rented set that was being used will result in savings to the hospital expenditure.” Hopkinson noted that patients and medical staff would benefit from a reliable supply of electricity to all sections of the hospital complex. The contract for instal-
lation of the equipment was awarded to H. Balgobin Contracting Service. The REO said that the contractor would install the unit in the shortest possible time. REO Hopkinson said the administration would continue to work assiduously to improve the delivery of healthcare services and ensure that the region’s health services are accessible and to all its residents. In order to ensure this is achieved, Hopkinson said there will be further training of regional health personnel. The presentation of the equipment follows a recent inter-regional consultation between Regions One and Two. The Suddie Regional Hospital is the main health facility in PomeroonSupenaam and also offers services to residents of Wakenaam, Region Three and Moruca, Region One.
Friday June 22, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Substance abuse intervention for Lusignan inmates
Lusignan inmates and presenters at the workshop, yesterday. Inmates of the Lusignan Prison are currently benefitting from a three-day substance prevention programme. The programme is being executed by the Ministry of Social Protection, Probation and Social Services Department. Senior Probation and Social Services Officer, Deborah Joseph, explained that the role of probation officers in the prison is critical to the reintegration of inmates. As a result, programmes such as the one being executed are organized to assist in that process. She urged inmates to look at where they stand as an opportunity to correct
wrongs and to access second chances where possible. “The prison system most times provides a temporary stay. By this, I mean you are here only for a period of time, after which you are expected to be reintegrated into your households, communities and wider society… It is a place that will allow you to turn a new page in your life and a place you’re not expected to return to,” Joseph said. Sandra Braithwaite, an officer attached to the Phoenix Recovery Project, a substance abuse recovery organization, said her organization will also be working with the inmates throughout the next
three days to assist with several substance recovery methods and general awareness. Braithwaite explained that she struggled with substance addiction for several years but was able to stop after partaking in the first female substance abuse programme 10 years ago. She has since joined Phoenix and is an advocate against substance abuse. Phillip Drayton, a recovery specialist attached to Phoenix told of the numerous effects of illicit substances and the process of addiction. He underscored that although many times persons start substance abuse as a coping mechanism for an issue, they
are faced with, long after that issue is gone, an addiction remains. He said the culture, which perpetuates substance abuse as the cool thing to do, specifically through music, is a very misleading one that fails to mention the harmful effects. An inmate thanked the Ministry for its intervention and said he expects to learn much from the sessions since he struggles with addiction. The programme is a follow up to an intervention earlier in April, where inmates had a special family visit supervised by the Probation and Social Services Officer of the Ministry attached to the prison.
Couple ID neighbours as rape/robbery suspects …cops puzzled by some elements of case An East Bank Essequibo couple, yesterday, pointed out two neighbours whom they claim carried out last Tuesday’s rape/ robbery in their home. The suspects were picked out during an identification parade. Police have sought legal advice on the matter and a decision is likely to be known today. But police are reportedly puzzled about certain aspects of the case. They are said to be baffled about the failure of the intruders to cover their faces, since they would have been easily identified. An official also confirmed that the alleged victims claimed that the robbers attempted to take them from the scene in their own car. However, the victims said that the robbers were forced to flee after the vehicle broke down. According to reports, the three robbers escaped with
$12,000 and a gold ring after beating the husband and sexually assaulting his spouse in the couple’s home. Police said the attack occurred around 2:30 hrs on Tuesday. It is alleged that the intruders struck the sleeping husband to the head. They then demanded money, and the man handed over $12,000 and a ring. ”During the ordeal, the husband was struck to the head and his spouse was allegedly sexually assaulted,” police said. ”It was further alleged that the suspects placed the victims into their (victims’) vehicle and drove away but the vehicle reportedly broke down and the perpetrators escaped.” The victims were medically examined, treated and sent away. Based on investigation gathered, investigators arrested two men who reside in the same community.
Bartica residents urged... From page 16 simplicity is the key to disseminating information and keeping all levels of society abreast and involved. “It’s really about unifying, simplifying, and amplifying. We have to take all these materials and unify them to see how they fit into one big picture. We have to simplify it so people understand [that]… there are practical, everyday applications that are beneficial in everyday life. “The amplification is to tell it repeatedly and get people involved in telling the story themselves… The people themselves become so involved that they are also replicating the information,” he said. The OCC has over the past two years been implementing two initiatives aimed at realising President David Granger’s vision to create a green economy throughout Guyana.
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Kaieteur News
Port Kaituma man remanded on robbery charge
A
repeated offender who was recently released from prison after serving a 24month jail term was yesterday back before a City Magistrate, this time to answer to a robbery charge. Twenty-four-year-old Junior Robertson, a porter of Port Kaituma, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The allegation against Robertson sta t e d t h a t between May 15 and May 16 at Water Front, Port Kaituma, in the North West Magisterial District, he stole four excavator bucket pins worth $304,000 and other articles valuing $819,000, property of Evel Rodrigues. Robertson (Continued on page 30)
Remanded: Junior Robertson
Friday June 22, 2018
Friday June 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
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PAGE 30
Friday June 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Teen to stand trial for attempted murder
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FOR SALE 1 Transport property and 1 Hilux Vehicle. Tel# 265-3586 Spare for washing machine, suspension, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc. Call:225-9032;647-2943;6045198 Yamaha Outboard engine 250. No: 662-5524/627-8000/6556522 Two 7 1/2 Tons Air Conditioner. Contact# 6621991/641-4952 1 CAT Skid steer loader 236B $1.5M 1 Canter $3M 1 S2000 Honda Sport car $2.7M House Lots @ Blankenburg. Contact# 650-0402/603-1402
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2 bedrooms furnished Apt Providence, 3 bedroom selfcontain upstairs house Diamond, furnished utility bills included. Tel#690-3639, 682-6238 Air conditioned room $3000 daily Fully furnished apartments $6000 daily. Contact# 223-0994/678-5827 2 bedroom semi furnished apartment located in Charlestown, Lyng Street, fully secured. Interested persons only #601-1585/6746394 1 (3) bedroom apt in Enmore. No: 662-5524/627-8000/6556522 WANTED 1 Air compressor 5HP 3 Phase 230/220 volts. Call: 628-1486/698-1134.
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Drivers, Porters, Office clerk. Apply to Lot 10 Vlissengen Rd Survival Wholesale Depot
Cook for interior location, applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020 Data Entry/ Accounts clerk Tel# 616-5595. Email: rraghubansee@gmail.com Maid for East Bank area to cook and clean #614-4358 Driver & Female cleaner for office in Eccles #233-2745 Jos-el Educational Institute needs trained & experienced teachers for Nursery, Primary, Secondary departments. Call: 226-7868/226-7794 Experienced salesgirls with CXC qualifications & 2 yrs experience. Apply @ Christine’s Variety, Lombard St. Contact: 227-8529 Experience Bartenders and Cleaners. Call: 225-8572 between 7am - 9am 1 General worker (maid) 1 Receptionist, living in town, Apply with written application to Hilton Crest Hotel. Tel# 225-9211 Laborer, Maintenance workers, Farm workers, Travel agent, Cosmetologist, Security. Tel# 265-3586
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Calvin George As a result of the argument, George became annoyed and armed himself with a knife and dealt the victim several stabs to his abdomen. The victim was picked up by public-spirited persons and was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre before being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he underwent surgery. George is currently out on $150,000 bail, pending the outcome of the trial in the High Court. He will stand trial at the next practical sitting of the Demerara Assizes.
Port Kaituma man... From page 28 denied the allegation after it was read to him by the Magistrate. Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that the virtual VACANCY Crane Operator. Must have valid driver’s license not less than (5) years. Call: 226-1100/ 226-5380 Inventory clerk to work in worshop in Georgetown #227-1717 (2) Security officers to work in Georgetown #227-1717 PROPERTY FOR SALE Herstelling EBD One Two storey concrete building in residential area. Building is incomplete. Call: 647-1074. Price Negotiable.
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Nineteen-year-old Calvin George of 859 Grove, East Bank Demerara was yesterday committed to stand trial in the High Court by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. George is accused of attempting to murder Orwin Peters, whom he allegedly stabbed several times to his abdomen after an argument. George was not required to plead to the charge which alleged that on April 11, last, at Kaneville, East Bank Demerara, with intent to commit murder, he unlawfully wounded Orwin Peters. The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the offence concluded yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The Chief Magistrate ruled that after revision of the evidence, which was led by Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers, the court was of the opinion that a prima facie case had been established against the accused. The Magistrate added that she relied on the evidence given to the court by the prosecution witnesses, which was sufficient to build a strong case against the accused. According to reports, on the day in question, the victim and the accused who are known to each other had an argument after George allegedly used his toilet, which is situated in the victim’s yard.
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complainant is a businessman and he sells mining parts. The court heard that the defendant went to the business establishment and removed the articles, which were in a met a l c a g e between the days mentioned in the charge and sold them to persons in the neighbourhood. The victim, on realizing the articles were missing, reported the matter to the Port Kaituma Police Station. An investigation was then carried out, and based on information received; the police were able to recover some of the stolen articles. The defendant was later arrested and taken to the station where he admitted to the offence after the allegation was put to him. Prosecuto r Mansfield strongly objected to bail being granted to the defendant citing the prevalence of the offence and the fact the defendant recently came out of prison for a similar offence. The Magistrate after listening to the prosecutor submission remanded Robertson to prison. He was instructed to make his next court appearance on June 27 for statements.
Friday June 22, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Guyanese among six charged with 800 pounds marijuana plot in Barbados Barbados (Barbados Today)- Despite being offered bail, six men, including a teenager, have been remanded to Dodds on a number of offences connected to $1.5 million in drugs. Raoul Hardat Singh, 54, of Strathclyde Drive, St Michael; Joshua Aaron Singh,19, of No. 24 Coral Land, Haggatt Hall, St Michael and Richard Trevor Nurse, 50, of 5th Avenue, Holders Land, Brandons, St. Michael, are accused of possession, possession with intent to traffic and possession with intent to supply 800 pounds of cannabis on June 14. David Edward Forde, 50, of Risk Road, Fitts Village, St. James is accused of committing a preparatory act for the purpose of trafficking cannabis and trafficking of the drug on the same date. Dale Eugene Gill, 46, of No. 26 Oleander Drive, Enterprise, Christ Church, and Ryan O’Neal Griffith, 44, of Lucas Street, St Philip are accused of committing the same offences as Forde between June 13 and 14, while Griffith and Gill are accused of importing cannabis on June 14. The accused men were not required to plead to the indictable charges when they appeared before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant this morning with their attorneys. The prosecutor, Sergeant Cameron Gibbons, objected to bail based on the seriousness of the charges and the quantum of the illegal drugs
involved, which he said had an estimated street value of $1.5 million. He also said lawmen were still searching for other suspects and the accused men could hamper investigations if granted bail. He further stated that Nurse was a national of Guyana who arrived here back in April for a six month stay, while Forde had dual citizenship – here and in England. However, Andrew Pilgrim, QC, who is representing Nurse and the Singhs, argued that his clients were fit candidates for bail as they had no previous convictions. Pilgrim said it would be “an affront to commonsense” to remand 19-year-old Singh who has never been before the courts and that the Crown was requesting that he be remanded knowing that “matters do not go to trial within three years”. Nurse, he said, was a regular visitor to the island and had never before ran afoul of the law and had substantial family ties here, while Raoul Singh had a matter pending in the court for over two years. “There is no justification for keeping them in custody,” the prominent attorney stated. Attorney-at-law Steve Gollop, who is representing Griffith, also submitted that his client’s criminal record was clean and the prosecutor had to go further than to say
Remanded: Joshua Singh and Raoul Hardat Singh the matters before the court were serious. “In 2018, it is not enough for one to lose his liberty after the prosecutor says that the charge is serious. Griffith comes to court with a clean record . . . and is a fit and proper candidate for bail with the appropriate conditions,” Gollop said. Meanwhile, Arthur Holder, the legal counsel for Forde and Gill, argued that bail had
Evidence of Political Interference... (From page 18) Mainstay elections, Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe refuted claims that Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, campaigned while on a visit there. Minister Garrido-Lowe said while Government did not in any way influence Village Elections, “we had the Opposition interfering in every way. They campaigned all over and they are not supposed to do that. They were in every region. “Right here in Pakuri, they barefacedly tried to ensure that their people were chosen and many of them were not chosen. Toshaos, whether they are PPP or not, decided that they want to go pro-development rather than party politics and they are working with us.” What was also brought to the fore was the Opposition was impressing on the minds of the people not to cooperate with, and not
support the Government, but according to the Ministers, the indigenous people are thinking for themselves and they know what is required in order to foster development. They came in for high praise for standing up for what is right from both Government Ministers. Both Ministers unilaterally agreed that the Government will continue to promote unity nationwide despite Opposition elements attempting to bring discord among the nation’s first people. Minister Allicock encouraged the indigenous people “to think more and to know what their dreams are and in unity work towards their leadership.” Meanwhile, nearly all of the indigenous villages across the hinterland have completed the National Village Council Elections as mandated by the Amerindian Act of 2006. All 115 villages and 46 went to the polls from May 15
to June 15. One village located in the Mabaruma Sub-district was expected to go to the polls yesterday. Thirty four Toshaos were re-elected, 102 were men and 14 women were elected to lead their respective villages. Nine female councillors have joined the ranks. Two villages that were recognized for their traditional practices of choosing their leaders were Masakenari Village in Region Nine and Cashew Island Village in Region Six. The residents of the two villages confirmed that their current leaders are recognized as their true representatives and would not vote for another person until a successor is acknowledged by the community. All elected Toshaos and senior councillors are scheduled to gather for the 2018 National Toshaos Council Conference from July 16 at the Arthur Chung International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.
been granted to other persons in the past accused of possession of higher quantities of drugs and “not one went to jail for a day”. “There needs to be consistency . . . We need to be realistic. One cannot use remand as a punishment or sentence. They are dutiful people with jobs . . . People who can
Remanded: Guyanese Richard Nurse and David Forde work to get this country out of this economic rut,” Holder submitted, adding that stringent conditions could be imposed to secure their attendance at court. Following the submissions, the magistrate ruled in favour of the defence and set bail at a million dollars each with strict conditions.
Nurse and Joshua Singh are to be placed on curfew, while all six men must hand their passports over to the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court and report to a police station three times a week. However, the accused were unable to post the bail sum today and were remanded until July 18.
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Kaieteur News
Friday June 22, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Friday June 22, 2018
Corentyne farmer stabs spouse to death, attempts suicide …police did not take previous reports seriously
The suspected killer and the now deceased woman. By Malisa Playter Harry A 28-year-old mother of four is dead after being stabbed by her former common law partner, a farmer of Limlair Village, Corentyne, Berbice. Dead is Tovonie Alexce Simmons, of Lot 10 Second Street, Limlair, Berbice. Her former partner who is currently hospitalized at the Port Mourant Hospital after he committed the brazen act has been identified as Imran Lyte, called ‘Jabbar’, 30, also from Limlair. He attempted suicide. Reports from the police are that shortly before midnight Simmons was at home with her mother Jacquelyn Henry, 55, a vendor, when Lyte arrived to discuss an issue that had occurred on Sunday, between he and his ex brother-in-law. It was during the discussion about the issue that an argument erupted between Lyte and Simmons, who reportedly whipped out a knife from his left side pants waist and dealt several stabs to the mother of four. In her bid to escape, she ran towards the verandah and plunged over. She managed to get up from the fall and at that point began running again. The suspect ran after her and slit her throat. He subsequently escaped in an easterly direction towards the backlands. Simmons was picked up and rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. At the home, neighbours, relatives and friends were gathered as the news circulated that yet another woman was murdered at the hands of a man that she once shared a relationship with, the father of her children.
Killed: Tovonie Simmons The blood soaked clothing was tucked away in a bucket while the detective was gathering information from the mother of the deceased young woman. Simmons’s devastated mother explained that Lyte’s sister brought him to their home around 20:30 hrs to resolve an issue that took place on Sunday. ”They (Simmons and Lyte) come and they talk over their business and they were sitting on the table and me and Rhonda (the suspect’s sister) were sitting here in the living room. Couple minutes after, he grab she and she scream. When me look, she try fuh jump on top of me, from the chair, suh me try fuh block he and he fire at me. “She run and go pon the verandah and me run behind she and me tek a chair and brace he (Lyte) and then she jump over the verandah and we tell she ‘run, run’,” Henry detailed. According to her, Lyte managed to free himself from her and ran after her daughter who was already on the street, some distance away, “and he ketch she and slit s h e t h r o a t a n d g e t away.” \The 55-year-old woman disclosed that Lyte left her daughter and their four
Mother: Jacquelyn Henry children sometime in December to live with another woman, a neighbour. This she said was one of the major problems that sparked arguments between the deceased and the suspect. ”He moved on with he life and still when my daughter walk on the road, he does molest she. One time he come, break up she phone. He accused she friend dem of threatening he girl (lover), and he seh how it does affect he lover,” she said. Henry told reporters that her daughter made several reports at the Whim Police Station after Lyte continuously threatened her. ”Plenty time, she mek report and dem send police. When dem come, dem ask if Imran there people telling dem he inside the house and dem police ain’t going in”. It was also understood that Simmons had requested help from the police to secure a restraining order against Lyte after she had an encounter with him. He reportedly attacked her once before but she screamed for help and eventually escaped. A report was also made about the incident. Lyte also attacked the dead woman’s brother while he was riding home on Sunday. He dealt the young man several stabs about his body but was n e v e r arrested. Some relatives and residents stated that when previous reports were made, “so much police don’t come, but look how much deh hay now!” The deceased received 12 wounds, one to the neck , two to her left breast, three to the back , one to the left hip, one to the left forearm, right chest and chin. The murder weapon has not yet been recovered and the suspect is stable at the Port Mourant Hospital.
The home of Tovonie Simmons and the verandah she scaled to escape her attacker.
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Friday June 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
ICC to introduce World Test Championship and ODI League London, CMC – The International Cricket Council (ICC) will be introducing a World Test Championship as well as an ODI League as part of its Future Tours Programme (FTP) from 20182023.Nine top-ranked sides will participate in the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship, which will run from July 15, 2019 to April 30, 2020. The sides will play six series in the two-year cycle on a home and away basis against opponents they have mutually selected. The two top-ranked sides will then progress to the June 2021 final to decide the World Test champions. Additionally, the 12 Test playing nations, along with
the Netherlands, will participate in the 13-team ODI League, which will run from May 1 2020, to March 31, 2022. All sides will play eight series over a two-year cycle on a home and away basis against mutually agreed opponents. The ODI League will also act as a qualification pathway for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which is set to be held in India. The hosts along with the seven highest ranked sides in the ODI League as of March 31, 2020, will qualify directly for the tournament, while the bottom five will have to play in the ICC’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier. The West Indies’ opening series in the World Test Cham-
pionship will be against India at home in July 2019, and their first ODI series in the League will be against Netherlands in the Netherlands in July 2020. In a release, the ICC said the new tournaments came about as a result of a significant collective effort from the Members, with support from the ICC. ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said, “Bringing context to bilateral cricket is not a new challenge, but with the release of this FTP, our members have found a genuine solution that gives the fans around the world the chance to engage regularly with international cricket that has meaning and the possibility of a global title at the end.”
Friday June 22, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) This is a fantastic day for you, Aries. You'll have a great deal of physical power. Engage in activities that put this strength to good use. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) This is a good day to stand up for yourself and make it known that you aren't a pushover, Taurus. Use the powerful energy of the day to follow through on projects that may have lost momentum. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) If you want to shine brightly, then do so. Maintaining balance includes sometimes being a bit selfish. Feel free to radiate your beauty to the world. If you aren't in a situation that makes you happy CANCER(June21–July22) People would be wise to get out of your way today. You might find yourself feeling like a steam engine that's stoked to the brim with fiery hot coals. You're likely to be adamant about your course
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Arguments that have been brewing are coming to a climactic point for you, Libra. Don't be surprised if heated opposition rears its head today. This is likely a result of your own doing. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) There is no need to frown when another person walks by just because you don't know that person, Scorpio. You must break the habit of living your life in fear. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) A blast of energy is headed your way today. You'll find that there is no shortage of adrenaline in your system. Don't delay - there are opportunities now that may not be there for you later. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You could run into some emotional roadblocks today. This could be due to a lack of honesty on your part.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) The fiery energy of the day is helping you press on with projects you have in the works. Set things in motion now, Leo.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) There is a fun-loving, boisterous energy to the day that should give you a great deal of power and self-confidence. You'll be extremely effective in everything you put your hand to, Aquarius.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You might be charged with energy but feel you have nowhere to aim it, Virgo. The force is there, but the goal may not be. Talking with others may only confuse you. Listen to yourself. You know yourself better than anyone else does.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You might be getting a bit forceful with your emotions today, Pisces. Don't be surprised if you're like a fire-breathing dragon when you speak. Sparks are apt to fly. Strong feelings have been building up inside you.
GCB donate brush cutter to LBI Community Centre Cricket Club The Guyana Cricket Board, on Wednesday last donated a Honda brush cutter to the LBI Community Center Cricket Club (LBICCCC). The brief presentation took place at the GCB office on Regent Road, Bourda. President of the club, Mr. Yeuraj Khemraj, received the gift on behalf of his members noting that it would come in useful for the maintenance of the ground. The GCB has donated brush cutters to several clubs across Guyana including Bayroc and East Bank as well as the University of Guyana-Turkeyen Campus, with the aim of assisting in the maintenance and up-keep of cricket grounds in these areas. The GCB hopes that cricketers in the area would benefit from this donation and that the club would be able to function effectively to prepare its facility in a timely manner to accommodate matches and practice sessions.
Carlton Sinclair... From page 36 Special Events Committee Chairperson Angela Haniff congratulated Sinclair on his award and expressed thanks to the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) for sponsoring the programme. The RHTY&SC, since February 2018, has invested over $1M of its own funds to assist Berbice cricket. The club had also sponsored BCB Mother of the Year Award during the month of May.
Rawle Toney... From page 37 monitor of power. Toney needs to embrace this principle.I close with a few extracts from the epic poem “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou: “You may shoot me with your words… But still, like air, I’ll rise. Just like Moons and like suns, with the certainty of tides, just like hopes springing high, Still I’ll rise”. Nigel Hinds
LBICCCC President Mr. Yeuraj Khemraj (left) receives the brush cutter from GCB Rep., Alexce Bobb.
Friday June 22, 2018
PAGE 35
Kaieteur News
France are flying!
Denmark 1-1 Australia
Jedinak equalises with penalty Mbappe fires Les Bleus into controversially awarded by VAR after World Cup KO stages as they kill Christian Eriksen’s superb strike off dream of minnows Peru
Mile Jedinak maintained his 100 per cent penalty record as the World Cup’s latest VAR controversy helped Australia earn a deserved draw against Denmark. Aston Villa’s Jedinak cancelled out Christian Eriksen’s stunning opener after referee Antonio Mateu decided on review that Yussuf Poulsen’s handball had been deliberate – even though the Denmark player was facing the other way when Matthew Leckie’s header struck his hand. After protests – and some haranguing from Kasper Schmeichel towards the taker – Jedinak wrongfooted the keeper for 16th career penalty from 16 attempts. He is the only player at the World Cup with a perfect record and it was his second successful spot-kick of the tournament having also netted against France. Though Australia’s goal was controversial – TV pundit Martin O’Neill was among those who didn’t think Poulsen had intentionally handled – they were the better team in Samara against the world’s 12th-ranked side. Indeed, Schmeichel had to make late saves from Aaron Mooy, Daniel Arzani and Leckie to ensure Denmark left with a valuable point. They will book their place in the last 16 with a draw against France in their final fixture while Australia need to beat Peru to
Denmark’s Christian Eriksen celebrates after he opened the scoring against Australia with a spectacular strike in the first half. have any chance of remaining in the competition. It had all started so well for Denmark, who had put the loss of injured midfielder William Kvist behind them with a cracking opening goal after just seven minutes. Australia’s midfield screen of Jedinak and Huddersfield’s Mooy were bypassed with Nicolai Jorgensen brilliantly flicking a pass to Eriksen as he arrived in the box. The 26-year-old Tottenham star then struck a brilliant rising half-volley with his left foot that flew past Mathew Ryan before the Brighton goalkeeper could react. It was Eriksen’s 17th goal in his last 20
internationals and Denmark could have put the game to bed midway through the half when Jorgensen headed wide from Henrik Dalsgaard’s excellent cross. Instead, Australia – who fought valiantly in defeat against France – upped their game and pushed hard for an equaliser. Robbie Kruse had already had one shot blocked by Andreas Christensen when VAR came to the Socceroos aid after 38 minutes.There was no doubt that Leckie’s header hit Poulsen on the arm but the question of intent was more questionable as the Danish defender was looking away, albeit with an extended arm.
The 33-year-old Aston Villa midfielder jumps for joy after his penalty saw Australia pull level in their clash with Denmark.
Much is expected of Mbappe in Russia with some tipping him to be the stand-out and he looks to be embracing the pressure. Kylian Mbappe was not yet born when the French conquered the world in 1998 but he created his own piece of history with the opening goal against Peru. As he tapped the ball into an empty net from a yard or two, in the 34th minute, Mbappe became the first teenager to score for his country at a World Cup finals and their youngest goalscorer in any major tournament. He is already a French title winner and the subject of a £167million transfer from Monaco to Paris SaintGermain. He will not be 20 until December and this is unlikely to be his last contribution to this competition. Mbappe is comfortably set in football’s fast lane although the Peruvian supporters did not agree when he made a painfully slow exit, shook hands with virtually every player on the pitch when he was replaced in the 75th minute. By then, Peru were pushing for an equaliser but it never came and, although they have made an impression Russia with their remarkable support and attacking intent, they will head for home after the group stages having lost their first two games. France who held onto their lead and secured a
place in the last 16 with their second victory in Group C, and performed with a little more fluency than they did in their opening game against Australia. Olivier Giroud, one of two changes made to the team by Didier Deschamps, gave them more physical presence up front and linked up well with Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann. Ngolo Kante performed with his trademark intensity, Paul Pogba made a positive impact and they defended coolly when under pressure in the second half. In front of goal, there is room for improvement. France started against Peru by squandering a cluster of early chances. Griezmann, Pogba and Rafael Varane all missed the target and Griezmann was unable to beat the goalkeeper with a good opportunity created by Giroud. Peru survived and improved. Paolo Guerrero eased past Samuel Umtiti in the penalty area and forced the first save of the game from Hugo Lloris, who was winning his 100th cap for his country. The value of the Lloris save was emphasised moments later when France took the lead. Pogba won possession from Guerrero in midfield and had the
awareness to play a simple pass to release Giroud, who was played onside by centre-half Alberto Rodriguez, dawdling out a little too slowly at the back. Giroud went for goal on the turn and a partial block by Rodriguez sent his effort spinning over goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. It may have bounced into the net without Mbappe’s help but the teenager was quick to pounce and make sure. France deserved their lead and might have extended it before the interval. Gallese dashed out to stop Giroud applying the final touch to a slick counter-attack involving Mbappe and Griezmann and saved from left-back Lucas Hernandez after another good move. Peru boss Ricardo Gareca responded with two half-time substitutions, sending on striker Jefferson Farfan and replacing Rodriguez at the back. They came very close to an equaliser soon after the restart when Pedro Aquino’s swerving drive from distance hit the woodwork near the top of a post. Peru seized the initiative and went forward with purpose but France restricted them mainly to shots from distance. (Mailonline)
PAGE 36
Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh Coaching Programme
BCB to host spinners and batsmen Clinics this weekend, dozens of youths to benefit The Albion Community Centre Cricket Ground, would be a hive of activity this weekend as the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) continues its effort to ensure players potential is fulfilled on the field. The BCB would be hosting Coaching Clinics for spinners and batsmen as part of the comprehensive Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh Countywide Coaching Programme. The spinning clinic for left arm spinners, leg spinners and off spinners would be held tomorrow while the batting Clinic would be held on Sunday. Level III Coach Winston Smith would conduct the Clinics after earlier conducting similar clinics for wicket-keepers and fast bowlers. Board President Hilbert Foster who is spearheading the coaching programme, is urging all spinners and batsmen to take advantage of the clinics. While the main objective is to develop the talent of players, it is also the start of prepa-
ration for the 2019 Inter County season at the Under15, 17 and 19, levels. Foster, disclosed that a total of 20 wicket-keepers and 36 six fast bowlers attended the first two clinics, while two-day coaching sessions have been hosted in the Upper Corentyne and Lower Corentyne Sub-Associations. Similar sessions would be hosted in the next few weeks in the New Amsterdam and West Berbice areas which would complete the Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh Coaching Programme. The BCB at the completion of the programme, would select 70 youths to attend a one-week Academy at the Albion Ground from July 23 - 27, 2018. Clubs are asked to send their players and are reminded that attendance at these coaching sessions would give them an advantage for selection in 2019. The BCB has selected several players
whose participation shall be compulsory. Those selected are: Spinners - Nigel Deodat, Seon Glasgow, Kevin Umroa, Kevin Sinclair, Keith Simpson, Jonathan Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Jeremy Sandia, Matthew Pattaya, Karran Arjpaul, Zeymul Ramsammy, Ramnauth Rampertab, Doorsammy Mahadeo, Privadi Ganesh, Gooovran Ramesh and Alex Algoo. Batsmen are - Junior Sinclair, Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Javes Karim, Jonathan Rampersaud, Zeymul Ramsammy, Abdul Ramsammy, Seon Glasgow, Marvin Prashad, Vettori Latchman, Chanderpaul Govindan, Alex Algoo, Steve Deonarine, Garfield Benjamin, Keith Simpson, Leon Swammy, Tommani Ceasar, Ramnauth Rampertab, Darius Joseph, Kevin Sewraj, Fawaz Gafoor, Ricardo Ramdehol, Jeron France, Mahendra Goordial and Chandra Saffiek.
Carlton Sinclair is BCB Father of the Year The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) on Saturday last, honoured 71 year-old Carlton Sinclair as its 2018 Father of the Year under its Tribute to Heroes Programme. The event was organised by the Special Events Committee headed by Executive Member Angela Haniff and sponsored by the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS. Carlton Sinclair is the grandfather of Berbice Under19 Captain and National Junior player, Kevin Sinclair who has represented Berbice and Guyana at the Under-15, 17 and 19 levels and recently led Berbice to the Guyana Cricket Board U-19 double championship by winning the respective Inter County tournaments. The elder Sinclair has been looking after his talented grandson for over seven years and has served as his role model, mentor and even cricket coach and has seen encouraging rewards with the young Sinclair improving his batting and offspin. Sinclair, for years also worked with the Police Cricket Club as a Coach and has assisted dozens of youths who have gone on to play First Division Cricket in Berbice and also for Berbice and Guyana. Carlton Sinclair, who is employed as a Security guard
Friday June 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Carlton Sinclair receives his Award from Angela Haniff in the presence of his grandson, Kevin Sinclair. stated that he was delighted to be honoured by the Berbice Cricket Board. He stated that the Board is once again, a highly respected organisation and as such he felt quite honoured. BCB President Hilbert Foster stated that while their main objective is to develop Berbice cricket on the field, it is also important to recognise the contribution of every single stakeholder including parents who looked after players. He hailed Carlton Sinclair as a true hero of Berbice cricket as he has guided the career of not only his grandson, but others. Noting that
Kevin is a hardworking, disciplined and focused youth cricketer, he urged other parents to follow in the 2018 BCB Father of the Year Awardee, footsteps. Foster stated that parents are a child’s best role model and as such they must lead by example. He urged parents to be their children best friends and also to instill in their children the importance of hard work, discipline, education and having a relationship with God. The BCB, under his leadership would continue to invest in social programmes to make a positive difference. (Continued on page 34)
Shai Hope, Stafanie Taylor clean up at CWI Awards - Keemo Paul is Emerging Player of the year Shai Hope was the biggest winner at the West Indies Players’ Association/Cricket West Indies’ Awards night held on June 20 in Barbados, winning the three biggest prizes. The 24-year old Barbadian was named the Cricketer of the Year, the Test Cricketer of the Year and the ODI Cricketer of the Year. The T20 Cricketer-of-theYear award went to explosive left-handed opener Evin Lewis, who scored 234 runs in three T20I innings in the last 12 months, averaging 117. For the second successive year, captain Stafanie Taylor was named the Women’s Cricketer of the Year, as well as the Women’s ODI cricketer of the Year. The Women’s T20 Cricketer-ofthe-Year award was won by allrounder Deandra Dottin. The Emerging Cricketer of the Year went to 20-year old Guyanese Keemo Paul. After a shaky start to his international career, Hope has had an outstanding last 12 months, particularly in Test cricket. He has accumulated 727 runs in just nine matches over the year. The highlight came last August at Leeds, where West Indies chased down 322 on the last day to beat England by five wickets. Hope was the standout performer, scoring hundreds in each innings - 147 followed by an unbeaten 118 to steer his side to a famous win. In the following series, he scored an unbeaten 90 in Bulawayo in the first Test to ensure West Indies started the series with a win. Taylor, who has been a consistent performer for West Indies over the past decade,
Stafanie Taylor is all smiles with the World T20 and the Player-of-theSeries trophies ©IDI/ Getty Images
Shai Hope leans into a cover drive AFP consolidated her position as their leading female cricketer. In ODIs over the last 12 months, she averaged 41.50 with the bat, scoring five halfcenturies from 13 innings, including four on the trot from October to March against Sri Lanka and New Zealand. With the ball, she averaged 24.25, taking 16 wickets. Dottin, the Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year, averaged 33.42 with the bat with a strike rate of 147.16, scoring one hundred (112 off 67) against Sri Lanka in October, and took six wickets at 20.66. (ESPNcricinfo) Following is the full list of awardees: Windies Cricketer-of-theYear – Shai Hope Windies Test Cricketer-ofthe-Year – Shai Hope Windies ODI Cricketer-ofthe-Year – Shai Hope Windies T20 Cricketer-ofthe-Year – Evin Lewis Windies Emerging Cricketer-of-the-Year – Keemo Paul Windies Women’s T20 Cricketer-of-the-Year – Deandra Dottin Windies Women’s ODI
Cricketer-of-the-Year – Stafanie Taylor Windies Women Cricketer-of-the-Year – Stafanie Taylor CWI Lifetime Achievement Award – Carol WhilbyMaxwell WIPA Lifetime Achievement Award – Dawnley Joseph First Class Team-of-theYear – Guyana Regional Under-19 Teamof-the-Year – Guyana First Class Four Day Cricketer-of-the-Year – Devon Smith First Class 50 Over Cricketer-of-the-Year – Roston Chase Caribbean T20 Cricketerof-the-Year – Chadwick Walton Windies Under-19 Cricketer-of-the-Year – Kirstan Kallicharan Atlantic/WIPA In The Community Awardee – Rodney Sieunarine CWI/WIPA Outstanding Foundation Awardee – The Marlon Samuels Foundation Windies Umpire-of-theYear – Joel Wilson
Friday June 22, 2018
PAGE 37
Kaieteur News
Messi’s World Cup dream left in tatters
Argentina on the brink of shock elimination as Caballero’s clanger helps Croatia to victory When the brutal indignity of it all had ended, Lionel Messi was the first off the pitch. He walked with his head down, casting just the briefest look behind him to be sure that others were following, because it was nothing less than an embarrassment: a display of tactical and technical ineptitude which leaves Argentina’s presence here in extreme peril and marks the end of a generation. The team’s presence in Russia is hanging by a thread, though the inquisition into how a generation of gilded players has failed to lift silverware will run for years, along with question of why a manager tactically so unsuited to their talents came to be installed. Not since a 6-1 defeat to Czechoslovakia in 1958 have Argentina lost so heavily in the group stage of a World Cup. But never have they suffered embarrassment like this. There had been the usual wild Argentinian bombast on the planes, the trains and the streets of this city all day, though it masked some existential questions about an ageing team which has not won a trophy of any description for 25 years and is being coached by a man, Jorge Sampaoli, whose pressing ethos runs against the nature of the players. The pained look behind
Messi’s eyes - a struggle to raise a smile when he finally emerged; the closed eyes as he mouthed some words - telegraphed the apprehension. His individual struggle and penalty miss in the opening draw against Mexico has been the source of such a national inquisition that his mother has taken it upon herself to speak for him this week. If it is true, as they say, that he has been withdrawn in these past days, then it did not take long for his worst fears about the Argentinian team to be confirmed. The logic behind Sampaoli’s reversion to a three-man defence was that a width would be generated to stretch the pitch and help the talisman, though instead it exposed the South American nation as defensively inept - opening vast open spaces in the wide areas for their opponents to exploit. The nervous tension bordered on blind panic in the first half hour, by which time they would have conceded twice had Croatia’s finishing not been equally grim. With Diego Maradona, Sampaoli’s arch critic, helpfully gesticulating up in the stands, the right wing back Eduardo Salvio was nowhere to be found in the game’s opening minutes as Ivan Perisic race down the left and dispatched a shot which Willy Caballero
Argentina captain Lionel Messi looks furious after seeing his side go behind in farcical circumstances to Croatia. palmed away. Better opportunities than that were spurned with the Albiceleste back line oblivious to the Croatians racing in behind them. Mario Mandukic was alone at the back post when Marcos Acuna allowed Sime Vrsaljiko time and space to send a cross from the right which reached him. He closed his eyes and dived to send wide a header which they’ll be replaying for years after this tournament is
finished. Croatia’s own defence hardly looked indestructible. Enzo Perez was given free sight of goal after Domagoj Vida headed straight into his path and fire wide. But with Messi and Sergio Aguero bystanders this looked a desperately poor team and the first half concluded with another Argentine gift. Eduardo Salvio crashed a shot over after another ball across the back line was allowed to run through
Rawle Toney Thinks the Young Women Representing Guyana in Basketball were “Humiliated” One of the headlines in the Sports section of Guyana Chronicle, “The Nation’s Paper” dated June 21, 2018; claimed “Guyana humiliated 24-112 by Dominican Republic”. The Cambridge English Dictionary defines humiliation as: “To make someone feel ashamed or lose respect for himself or herself”. Our young women certainly were not ashamed of their performance nor did they lose respect for themselves at the June 2018 Caribbean Basketball Confederation Women Championships hosted by Suriname; instead the Guyanese girls showed the fighting spirit that defines Guyanese; by giving their best effort and playing with a never quit attitude. Dominican Republic has medaled thirteen of the twenty two times they participated in the much higher level Centrobasket, where national teams from Central America
and the Caribbean have competed since 1965. Dominican Republic won the Championships three times 1977, 2004 and 2012, after first contesting 1969.Guyana has competed twice at Centrobasket: 1971 and 1973. Toney’s use of the word humiliation is unsuitable and thoughtless to describe the loss by our young women - to one of the most dominant teams in Central American and Caribbean Basketball. If Guyana ever gets an opportunity to play Brazil National Football Team and lose 10-1; Guyanese will celebrate the one goal scored by Guyana. We must look for the positive at all times, and especially in challenging times. Of the twelve players listed on the Guyana Team in their contest against The Dominican Republic, seven are High Schoolers, re: President’s College – four; Marian Academy – one;
McKenzie High School 1; and Bishops’ High School – 1. The experience these young ladies gained from withstanding the battle charge of the Dominican Republic, by rising again and again to the challenge, augers well for their academic development and their contribution to the development of Guyana. The Guyanese young women in their game against Suriname were leading by one point at half time and had stunned and impressed all in attendance. The Guyanese Women overcame many obstacles to participate in the June 2018 FIBA Caribbean Basketball Confederation Women Championships hosted by Suriname, and the character strengthening experience, reflected Guyana in a positive way, as the young women showed admirable self-esteem, courage and perseverance.
History will show Guyana participated and competed in the Championships; and the experience and benefits gained can never be taken away. To credit and paraphrase Robert A. Heinleinit is worth repeating “Victory in defeat, there is none higher. Our young women represent all the unsung heroes who couldn’t make it, but never quit.” Toney is the same journalist who failed to write an article on the fact that our Government did not provide needed funding, to support Guyana’s participation in the June 2018 FIBA Caribbean Basketball Confederation Championships hosted by Suriname. Thus, in my opinion, Rawle Toney lacks the courage to challenge spoon feeding authority. A fundamental principle of journalism is to serve as an independent (Continued on page 34)
to him. The goal, when it eventually came, was as pitiful as the performance had been. Caballero’s own anxiety had revealed itself early on, as he played out weakly to an unsuspecting Nicolas Tagliafico, who was nearly charged down by Mandzukic. But what transpired on 53 minutes was catastrophic - the Chelsea goalkeeper receiving a back pass as Croatia pushed up after a long ball and attempting to lift a return pass to Gabriel Mercado. He succeeded only in delivering it up into the ambit of Ante Rebic, who span on it and sent back an imperious, dipping volley over the goalkeeper’s head. Rebic should have been dismissed soon afterwards for a dreadful challenge on Salvio - for which VAR was not called in - and he was substituted because of it. The breakthrough also did finally bring a fleeting vim into Argentina’s game. Gonzalo Higuain arrived for Aguero, who had been anonymous, and there was the trademark Messi slalom run down the left side of the Croatian box just beyond the hour, with Croats in pursuit before he laid it off to the substitute, whose cross was poor. Then Higuain, making an immediate impression, cut back a ball Enzo Perez laid into the left side of the area. Maxi
Meza made a half connection, Daniel Subasic saved with his knees and Messi was almost able to pounce before the ball ran out of play. Paulo Dybala, whose arrival for Enzo Perez also provided Messi with a better supply line, began contributing. But Argentina now found themselves up against the dimension which they most palpably lack - a muscular defensive shield. There were many Croatian heroes in this famous victory but Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic were the prime ones, calm and assured as they held the line. The game had ten minutes to run when Modric finished it. Again, no defensive cover where the right back should have been, from where the ball was delivered square for the Real Madrid player, who drifted easily inside Nicolas Otamendi and Nicolas Tagliafico and with his second touch arced a shot low to Cabellero’s right. There was still time for Rakitic to curl a free kick onto Caballero’s cross bar and then for Rakitic to race through the space where a South American defence should have been, exchange passes with substitute Mateo Kovacic, and tap in a third. Ecstasy for Croatia. An era-defining and era-ending defeat for the vanquished side. (Mailonline)
Third Edition of Aliann Pompey Invitational launched - 25 Countries to compete at Leonora Grenada’s 400M Olympics and World Championships Gold Medallist 25-yearold Kirani James and USA born Guyanese 2018 Commonwealth Games Triple Jump Gold Medallist Troy Doris will headline a field of 100 athletes representing 25 Countries when the third Edition of the Aliann Pompey Invitational gets underway next Saturday at the Leonora Stadium.The 40-year-old Pompey was the last Guyanese before Doris to win a Commonwealth Gold which she did in 2002 in England, informed that the 2018 Championships will have 17 Events and will commence at 15:00hrs. According to Pompey who represented Guyana in four Olympics (2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012) and participated five times at the World
Championships, James’ participation very big for a locally held event since is one of the top ranked Athletes in the world. ”We have several new Countries including Cuba, Columbia, Haiti, Martinique, Nigeria and Porto Rico coming for this event and I am very grateful for the Support from the Sponsors” Pompey said.General Admission is $1,000 while for the VIP section cost $5,000 with the feature event being the 400m race and in addition to those Countries mentioned, athletes from the USA, Canada, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia and Jamaica will battle for supremacy in what promises to be a riveting contest on the track with lots of entertainment for what could be capacity crowd of 3,000 fans.
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Friday June 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Caribbean Premier League matches confirmed for Guyana By Zaheer Mohamed Dubbed the biggest party in sport, the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will be staging at least five matches in Guyana this year. Local cricket lovers can now breathe a sigh of relief as this disclosure was made yesterday at the office of the Ministry of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport in Main Street. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ms. Melissa Tucker and Team Operations Manager of the Guyana Amazon Warriors Omar Khan signed the Host Venue Agreement. Also present at the official signing ceremony were Director of Sport (DoS) Christopher Jones, Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. George Norton and Assistant Director of Sport Melissa Dowe-Richardson. The five matches confirmed for Guyana so far pits The local franchise against St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots on August 9, St. Lucia Stars
on August 11, Barbados Tridents on August 12, Jamaica Tallawahs on September 8 and Trinbago Knight Riders on September 9. Additionally, it was disclosed that there is a possibility of Guyana hosting two playoff matches on September 11 and 12, however that will be confirmed shortly by the CPL. Speaking at the ceremony, Khan said he is happy that they could get the full support from the Minister and the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport to sign off the agreement. “It is an integral part for us to be able to host the games in Guyana. We are happy to bring CPL to Guyana once again, it has been one unifying force that brings the people together, we have had some tremendous support from the Guyanese public in the past and we do look forward to their continued support,” he added. Khan stated that the agreement is essential to the local franchise, since it provides home advantage. Khan
CPL Team Operations Manager Omar Khan (center) and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ms. Melissa Tucker (2nd right) signs the venue agreement in the presence of from right DoS Christopher Jones (right), Minister Dr. George Norton (2nd left) and Assistant DoS Melissa Dowe-Richardson. indicated that tickets for the games here could go on sale by the first week in July and the team will be encamped here from August 2-7.
Dr. Norton said that the Government of Guyana is excited to be a part of the tournament which has been deemed a success for Guyana
over the years and they are hoping to have similar crowds in this year’s edition of the tournament. This year marks the sixth
edition of the CPL and the Guyana Amazon Warriors are yet to win the title having reached the final on several occasions.
GOA observes Olympic Day with a number of activities - 10K Team, Fun Run, Jog & Walk on Sunday
Flashback! GOA VP Dr. Karen Pilgrim (seated on BMX 2nd left) take time out for a photo with the winners and other top performers at last year’s GCF Olympic Day Race Meet at the National Park. The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) would be joining other affiliates of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in observing Olympic Day which is celebrated worldwide on June
23rd, each year. As stated on the IOC website: “Olympic Day is much more than just a sports event, it is a day for the world to get active, learn about Olympic values and discover
new sports. Based on the three pillars move, learn and discover, national Olympic Committees are organising sports, cultural and educational activities throughout the world.”
The highlight of Olympic Day in Guyana will be the 10k Walk/Jog/Run this Sunday (June 24) where all are invited to participate. Start time is 06:00am (06:00hrs) and in order to participate persons
must be 10 years and older. Following is the race Route: Starting at the Thomas Lands YMCA, Thomas Road, north on Camp Street, east along Carifesta Av e n u e a n d t h e R u p e r t Craig Highway to turn in the vicinity of the Access Road, Liliendaal. The course then continues west via Kitty Public Road, south into Vlissengen Road, then east into Thomas Road to finish at the Start Line. Awards: All participants will receive an IOC certificate; the first 400 will receive a Tshirt. Prizes for the Team Run are: 1st placed Team - $72,000; 2nd placed Team - $48,000; 3rd placed Team - $36,000. Teams must comprise four (4) male and two (2) female runners. Meanwhile, affiliates of the GOA are also invited to organise activities to commemorate Olympic Day and the spirit of Olympism. Following is a list of other activities being held to commemorate Olympic Day are: 1. Badminton - Activity: Open male, female and mixed doubles tournament. Location: National Gymnasium. Date/Time: June 22nd/7:0010:00pm; June 23rd/1:005:00pm. 2. Athletics - Activity:
National Senior Championships. Location: Leonora Stadium. Date/Time: June 22nd/ 6:30-10:00pm. 3. Weightlifting - Activity: Development competition and Fitness Challenge. Location: Ogle Community Centre. Date/Time: June 23rd/9:00am. 4. Rugby - Activity: 7-aside matches: Senior female; U-18 Boys; U-18 Girls. Location: National Park. Date/ Time: June 23rd/4:00-6:00pm. 5. Volleyball - Activity: 6a-side Knockout Competition. Location: Linden. Date/ Time: June 24th/11:00am5:00pm. 6. Cycling - Activity: Youth cycling programme. Location: National Park Circuit. Date/Time: June 30th/ 10:00am. 7. Swimming - Activity: Splash Fun competition. Location: Dr Haynes Sports Complex, Amelia’s Ward, Linden. Date/Time: July 1st/ 11:00am-5:00pm. 8. Taekwondo - Activity: Taekwondo tournament – Poomse and Gyrugi categories. Location: Guyana Teachers’ Union Hall. Date/Time: June July 8th/12:00-7:00pm. 9. Table Tennis - Activity: Cadet and Juniors Table Tennis Tournament. Location: National Gymnasium/Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Date/ Time: June.
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Friday June 22, 2018
Guyana’s CBC Men’s Player Profiles
club, Bounty Colts winning three consecutive National Championships.
NAME: Travis ‘Blur’Burnett Age: 29 Position: Guard Bio: Burnett has been the driving force in local club Kobras, carrying them to back to back third place playoffs in the National Club Championship in 2017 and 2018. Burnett is known for his scoring ability but Coach Junior Hercules has opted to utilise his solid defensive capabilities instead.
NAME: Denzel Devonish Age: 25 Position: Point Guard Bio: Devonish is one of the more experienced players on Guyana’s national team after playing four years at the College level for Pace University in New York City, USA. He has scored 1349 points, made 400 assists while snatching 100 steals. He was also part of Pace ’s 2012 team that made the College playoffs. This will be his first tournament for Guyana. NAME: Travis Belgrave Age: 19 Position: Point Guard Bio: Belgrave began playing first division basketball this year before
helping his club, Eagles qualify for the Guyana’s National Club Basketball Championships. He has been the leader for his team since then and has been described as a player, “Who can give you more with less” by Guyana’s Head Coach, Junior Hercules. This is B e l g r a v e ’s f i r s t C B C Championship selection.
NAME: Orlon Glasgow Age: 32 Position: Small Forward Bio: Glasgow has been one of the standout players in Linden’s Victory Valley Royals team that lost the 2017 National Club Championship finals to Colts and finished third this year at the same competition. In 2017 Glasgow was the highest scorer at the National Championships. NAME: Shaine Webster Age: 30 Position: Center Bio: Playing in his 3rd CBC Championship, Shaine Webster has emerged as the best local player over the years. He won back to back Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards in 2017 and 2018 after playing a big role in his
Position: Point Guard Bio: In the 2017/18 season, Hamilton has played professionally with Potters Steelers Basketball Club in Antigua & Barbuda where he has helped the 2016/17 champions reach the semifinals of this year’s championship. He would be making his debut for the Golden Arrowhead.
being named the youngest senior Captain in Guyana’s basketball history that Stanton Rose would be pressured a bit. However, the young Colts guard who hails from Kwakwani and was the Finals MVP during the N a t i o n a l C l u b Championships, is continuing to grow from strength to strength. Head Coach Junior Hercules stated that, “I’m in awe of his rapid development.”
Guyana’s Senior Men’s Team would be contesting the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships from June 23-30 at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal, Paramaribo, Suriname. Kaieteur Sport is pleased to present the team to you.
NAME: Timothy Thompson Age: 19 Position: Center Bio: This Marian Academy sixth form student came up from the Under-23 and first division ranks at Bounty Colts this year to make his 1st Division debut. Thompson knows what it’s like to taste success at the national level after being part of the team that won silver in the inaugural FIBA 3×3 Lesser Antilles Under-18 Championships in St. Lucia. On debut at this CBC Championship, he will be looking to aid Guyana to more podium finishes.
NAME: Stanton Rose Age: 18 Position: Point Guard Bio: One may think that after
NAME: Ray Victor Age: 30 Position: Guard Bio: This former College basketball player last won the Club Championship with Kings Basketball Club of the British Virgins Islands (BVI) in 2016. The 6’ 1" player will bring much experience to the team.
NAME: Harold Adams Age: 29 Position: Power Forward Bio: Part of Linden Victory Valley Royals’ firepower, Adams is capable of single-handedly turning around a game. In September last, he scored a record 111 points as Royals destroyed Falcons 206-46 during a Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) league game. This is Adams’ first CBC call up.
NAME: Kevon Wiggins Age: 17 Position: Shooting Guard Bio: The overseas based Wiggins who hails from the Ancient County of Berbice, attends the Evander Childs University in the Bronx, New York. Wiggins is known for his heart and if he is given the opportunity to run in Suriname, he will take all challenges head on.
NAME: Felix Hamilton Age: 33
NAME: Anthony Moe Age: 28 Position: Power Forward Bio: Moe is the CoCaptain of the team and rightfully so. He scored a game high 27-points and grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds during his team’s (Dyna’s Ravens) losing effort against Bounty Colts in the 2018 National Championship. Moe’s height and tactical awareness make him one of the better defenders in the Guyana team.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 40
Friday June 22, 2018
Hard Work, commitment and discipline paid off for Keemo Paul By Zaheer Mohamed Keemo Mandela Angus Paul became Guyana’s latest West Indies test recruit; he was called up on Tuesday last for the final Test against Sri Lanka in Barbados. The game will commence tomorrow and is the first day/night Test that will be played in the Caribbean. From the tender age of eight Paul left his birth place of Saxacalli for the Essequibo River island of Wakenaam where he started his cricketing career, and from a boy running around on cricket grounds on the island, Paul has worked his way to the pinnacle of the game thereby becoming the first Essequibo cricketer to achieve the feat. Paul, who attended the Essequibo Islands’ Secondary in Wakenaam, was encouraged by the author of this article, a certified Coach, to get involved in the game in his initial days in Wakenaam. He joined the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Digicel Grassroots and Scotiabank Kiddy Coaching
programmes that were conducted by Mohamed and Nandkishore Andrews, with the former programme being done at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground. He has always shown commitment and discipline and never showed signs of giving up, such was his courage that when he was not selected to play for the Essequibo U15 team, the first time he was called to trials he worked harder and became the county’s Captain the following year. At a tender age, he had a somewhat difficult time in getting into the starting eleven of some clubs for tournaments in Wakenaam, but this did not deter him; he soon became a member of the Noitgedacht Sports Club (NSC) and was given the opportunity to hone his skills. He later became a member of the Demerara Cricket Club. Paul first represented Guyana at the U15 level as a batsman who also bowled off-spin, but started to bowl fast when he was asked to do so by Coach Garvin Nedd in
Keemo Paul displays his accolade after being named Emerging Cricketer of the year at the annual Cricket West Indies Awards/WIPA. the nets following his selection on the Guyana U17 team; he subsequently became the team’s premier all-rounder in the said tournament.
Paul was then selected to play for Guyana at the U19 level and notched up his highest score (97) against the Leeward Islands at Providence. He won the MVP award in that tournament and was later named Vice Captain of the West Indies U19 side for the CWC World Cup in 2016. It was in this tournament he caught the eyes of many with his all-round display and his knowledge of the game was showcased when he mankad a Zimbabwean lower order batman to ensure West Indies made it to the quarterfinals. The dismissal sparked debates among players as well as commentators, but his action is well covered within the laws of the game. The West Indies went on to win their first U19 World Cup and Paul played an integral role in the final against India.
Following that showing, Paul was next on the radar of the Guyana Cricket Board Local Franchise League, and he made his first-class debut for Guyana in the 2016–17 Regional Four Day Competition on 18 March 2017. He made his Twenty20 debut for Guyana Amazon Wa r r i o r s i n t h e 2 0 1 7 Caribbean Premier League on 5 August 2017 and in October 2017, he scored his maiden century in first-class cricket against Jamaica. Born on February 21, 1998, Paul was encouraged by his father David Paul and other family members while his teacher in Saxacalli, Joylin Fiedtkou told him that he would one day play Test cricket. His dad has always been there for him and continues to be the driving force behind his career. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport from Barbados, Paul expressed delight on his call up to the Test team. ”It came as a surprise, I didn’t expect it so soon, but I am looking forward to the challenge, I have put in the hard work and it has paid off. I must thank God for reaching this far and playing Test cricket is a great achievement,” he added. Paul recalled his boyhood days in Saxacalli, “Everyday as soon as I woke up I would play cricket with my family, I used to bat a lot even when I was dismissed I was asked to continue batting. When I returned from school I would continue to bat until dusk. The all-rounder remembered his initial playing days in Wakenaam. “I was encouraged by Zaheer Mohamed to take the sport seriously. Many days I would be the only student that turned up for practice sessions and I have seen the
result today.” Apart from the President of the NSC Trevor Stewart and friends, Paul was also given much support by V Net Communications Chief Executive Officer Safraz Sheriffudeen who made him the brand Ambassador of his company. ”V Net Communications has always been there for me, they have given me tremendous support and I am very thankful for all those who have supported me including the NSC, DCC, Wa k e n a a m C r i c k e t Committee, Essequibo Cricket Board and GCB,” In an invited comment, Sheriffudeen told Kaieteur Sport that Paul is a very positive cricketer who knows what he wants to accomplish, he sets his goals and works extremely hard towards them. “I first took note of the name when he played for the Essequibo Islands Secondary School in two T20 games scoring 80 odd and a century. I first saw him when he played in one of our T20 tournaments in Wakenaam and so impressed I was, that I decided to offer my support,” he stated. Sheriffudeen said Paul is always committed, whether on or off the field and has always been working towards improving his game. He made his One Day International (ODI) debut for the West Indies against Afghanistan in the World Cup Qualifier on 15 March and made his T20I debut for the West Indies against Pakistan on 1 April. Paul was named the Emerging Cricketer of the Year at the annual Cricket West Indies’ Awards on Wednesday night last. This is just the stepping stone for bigger things to come in the career of the talented Keemo Paul.
GCUSA to hold interactive session on Sunday
T
he Georgetown Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association (GCUSA) in an effort to encourage young people to take up Umpiring, has organised a ‘Continuous Umpiring Education’ Session on June 24 which would be held at the Local Government Union Hall, Wo o l f o r d Av e n u e , Georgetown from 10:00hrs to 14:00hrs. The session is geared as a launch for the annual
training programme for new umpires which is scheduled to commence next Tuesday as well as a forum for knowledge sharing among the present umpires and players; Captains are encouraged to attend. Regional Cricket Umpires Shannon Crawford and Ryan Banwarie and Match Referee former Test player Reon King are the facilitators. At a time when persons can earn a comfortable standard of life
from Umpiring, scoring and being a Match Referee, the public and especially aspiring young Umpires are encouraged to attend the workshop which is free. One of the highlights of the day’s activity would be a feedback segment by King a n d G u y a n a J a g u a r ’s Captain Leon Johnson. Persons desirous of attending can contact Match Referee and President of GCUSA Arligh Rutherford on 622-6969.
Kaieteur News
Friday June 22, 2018
GCF National Championships 2018
Activade Energy Drink on board as official drink, ITT set for tomorrow Sueria Manufacturing Inc. of Eccles Industrial Area, East Bank Demerara, under their Activade Sports Drink brand has joined with the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) for its marquee event, the National Championships which pedals off tomorrow with the Individual Time Trials on the Linden Soesdyke Highway. Brand Manager Selwyn Bobb yesterday handed over cases of the drink to Assistant Racing Secretary of the GCF Joseph Britton at the company’s Industrial Site Bond. ”Sueria Manufacturing Inc. is proud to be part of the GCF Championships having sponsored recently, the United We Stand Cycle Club’s Three Stage Race, under our brand, Activate Energy Drink. At Sueria it is our mandate to give back to the society in which we operate and one sure way of giving back is through the sponsorship of sports.” Bobb noted that Activade offers all athletes’ energy as it revives and hydrates. “At Sueria, we believe in offering our consumers premium and affordable brands. Activade is available countrywide at an affordable price hence allowing all athletes to access a quality energy drink.Activade is well known in the sports fraternity and it’s the official energy drink of several sports teams.” Bobb conclude that Sureia is confident that their sponsorship under the Activade brand will go a far way in assisting the athletes participating in this cycling championships. Britton extended gratitude to Sureia and Boob for their partnership with the federation to ensure that the cyclists will be adequately hydrated during the three day event.The nation’s best cyclists will be battling for top honours and bragging rights in the senior men, masters, juniors, juveniles and ladies categories commencing with the Individual Time Trials, tomorrow. The following day, Sunday 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).
Sueria Manufacturing Inc. Brand Manager Selwyn Bobb (right) hands over some of the Activade Energy Drink to GCF Assistant Racing Secretary, Joseph Britton.
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Third Edition of Aliann Pompey Invitational launched 25 countries to compete at Leonora
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Aliann Pompey (3rd right) makes a point at yesterday’s launch of the Aliann Pompey Invitational at Sleep Inn yesterday.
GCF National C/ships 2018
Activade Energy Drink on board as official drink, ITT set for tomorrow P. 41
Messi’s World Cup dream left in tatters
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Argentina on the brink of shock elimination as Caballero’s clanger helps Croatia to victory
Argentina and Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero was able to get a hand to the shot and push it behind for a corner kick.
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