Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

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Friday June 23, 2017

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

INTEGRITY In Guyana, the behaviour or conduct by some in authority shows that they have very little integrity, which is defined as “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles and moral uprightness.” It is the adherence to a code of moral or artistic values, which eliminates any association with corruption or bribery in any form. It is generally a personal choice to hold oneself to consistent moral and ethical standards. According to Wikipedia, the word integrity evolved from the Latin adjective “integer” which means whole or complete. It is also stated that in ethics, integrity is regarded by many people as the honesty, truthfulness or accuracy of one’s actions. Integrity is said to be consistent with virtue. In this context, integrity is described as the inner sense of wholeness deriving from qualities such as honesty and good character. As such, one may have integrity to the extent that he/she acts according to the values, beliefs and principles they claim to hold. Integrity is important for our politicians because they are chosen, appointed or elected to serve us in society. We elect them and in so doing, we have given them power and have placed them in positions to make and execute decisions or control policy. They have the power to influence something or someone. However, some have used this power to achieve personal gains rather than to serve the people who elected them. It is expected that those in whom authority is vested should be guided by the accepted norms of the society, defined principles, standards, rules and regulations and the law of the land. Although Guyana is not a utopia or a perfect place, still much is expected of those who assume political leadership roles in society. The same can be said for persons in the business sector or leaders of our communities. That said, all persons, regardless of whether or not they assume a leadership role in society are expected to have misgivings. However, dishonesty is one thing that should not be practiced by our leaders or anyone else. It cuts across all streams of society and is not limited to cheating, stealing or committing fraudulent acts, but extends to telling lies, misleading, deceiving, and even being a traitor to others. The integrity of our leaders should always be scrutinized when those whom they lead have doubts about their credibility. This is based strictly on their actions and misgivings and on how they present and portray themselves to the general public. The perceptions they lead people to have of them should not be different from what they communicate to their constituents and the various members of public or what they do. There should be no sympathy for those leaders who knowingly undertake to walk the path of dishonesty or to act without reason, fair play, respect for rules, law and order, or care about the pain and agony they inflict on others. Basically, those are selfish, egocentric and dishonest leaders who sometimes are more concerned about being a popular spectacle or, moreover, getting what they can for themselves, and at any cost. It is at this point that one can say that they have no integrity or that integrity fails to have meaning, because they have simply thrown it out of the window and are overtaken by selfishness, greed and corruption. It is absurd to think that our elected politicians would be so disdainful to the nation to put their self-interests over and above the interests of the people. It is even worse when they abuse their positions because of the power vested in them or just simply refusing to follow procedures or misusing their authority in more ways than one. It is no secret that many believe that many of our politicians are corrupt and that they have little or no integrity.

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.

The real reasons why PPP Parliamentarians stood up Dear Editor, There needs to be corrections made in the media to reflect the real reason why Opposition Parliamentarians stood up in protest of the Speaker’s decision to silence one of their own. This incident occurred during the debate on the revocation of the Commission of Inquiry surrounding the claims of Amerindian Land Titling, and the Joint or Communal Ownership of Lands Acquired by Free Africans and Any Other Land Titling in Guyana. According to the Kaieteur News editorial, “The incident that prompted the Speaker to vacate Parliament stemmed from the opposition MP, Nigel Dharamlall’s refusal to obey the directives of the Speaker. He was asked to use another term instead of ‘decimate’ but he chose to refuse, thus showing his contempt for the House.” This is the same propaganda that was fed to the press corp by Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, who was obviously parroting the news media without checking the facts. Nagamootoo’s press statement was maliciously misleading as he was there, and he knew what happened. An article with a similar explanation was published in another newspaper on June 17, but an apology was given by the

e d i t o r f o r t h e “misrepresentation” after my colleague, the Hon Nigel Dharamlall had written a letter in which he articulated the facts. The bigger story that needs to be told is that of the Speaker of the National Assembly, whose rulings have now become blatantly biased against Members of the Parliamentary Opposition. To put it simply, our actions can be best compared to the eruption of a volcano after the lava within has reached its boiling point. As one of the few moderates in the House, the Speaker should now be concerned that I have chosen to publicly condemn this partisan behaviour, which frankly has now become quite overbearing. My friend and colleague, the Hon Nigel Dharamlall gave an eloquent explanation in the letter he wrote which states, “The fact of the matter is there was obvious discomfort expressed by the Government side of the House when I sought to represent the plight of the 17,000 sugar workers within the context of the Terms of Reference of the CoI. The unrepentant and inhumane policy to close sugar estates rendering thousands of workers jobless and without significant opportunities of gainful employment must be addressed within the context of their need to own and access

lands as a means of securing a livelihood. Unfortunately, I was not allowed by the Speaker to make this justification since I was ordered to take my seat.” It is true that earlier, Minister Harmon correctly objected to Dharamlall’s use of the derogatory word “decimate”, but after he was instructed by the Speaker to withdraw this adjective, he did so and replaced it with a less offensive word. But it was his reference to land for sugar workers that caused the speaker to remind Dharamlall that he should be relevant to the Motion being debated. Dharamlall insisted that land for sugar workers was relevant in his interpretation of the CoI Terms of Reference which reads, “to examine and make recommendations to resolve all issues and uncertainties surrounding the claims of Amerindian land titling, the individual, joint or communal ownership of lands acquired by freed Africans and any matters relating to land titling in Guyana.” It was at this point that the Speaker asked Dharamlall to take his seat. This was immediately followed by the rise of every Opposition Parliamentarian to protest what was perceived to be a vindictive act by the Speaker of the National Assembly. For less than 24

hours earlier, the Hon Raphael Trotman unmasked his usual calm, distinguished image to unleash a blistering personal attack on the Leader of the Opposition without any interference by Speaker, Dr. Barton Scotland. Trotman was not even told once to direct his comments to the Speaker as Members of the Opposition are often told to do. Speaker Scotland allowed the irate Trotman to “decimate” the decorum of the National Assembly, which I believe encouraged the making of the disgraceful satire video by a sitting Minister which has now gone viral in the social media. I await the Speaker’s condemnation of the making of this video by its actor/director and producer Minister Simona Broomes, and urge that she be sent to the Parliamentary Committee of Privileges to prevent any further attempt to use the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly to denigrate the Leader of the Opposition or any other Member of this August House. The Speaker of the National Assembly cannot have it both ways, respect is earned; it should not be taken for granted. HARRY GILL, MP PPP/C Member of Parliament

Friday June 23, 2017

GuySuCo invites workers to meet with management at Head Office DEAR EDITOR, The Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuSuCo) has taken note that one of the Unions that represents a large section of our work force, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), has taken the lead in organising protest action to advocate on matters purported to be associated with the Corporation. However, while to some extent the Corporation understands the Unions’ position, it holds a strong view that GAWU is entangling the sugar industry and its workers into matters that have less to do with the business of sugar and more bearing on other matters. The Union has over the past month organized and led protests in Rose Hall, Enmore and Skeldon and is currently mobilizing residents, according to a flyer that is being circulated, to March and Rally to defend the sellout and closure of Albion Estate. Now, it was made pellucid clear in the State Paper on the Future of GuySuCo, that the sugar component will include an amalgamation of estates - AlbionRose Hall, Blairmont and Uitvlugt-Wales estates. The targeted annual production is projected at 147,000 tonnes of sugar to satisfy the demand in the local markets (25,000 tonnes), CARICOM and regional (50,000 - 60,000 tonnes), United States ofAmerica (12,500 tonnes) and the World Market (50,000) tonnes. Focus would also be on producing for direct consumption, value-added sugars and providing electricity to the national grid (co-generation). A diversification component is also proposed. Currently studies are being conducted to determine the viability of integrating cogeneration components at Albion and Uitvlugt Estates. Recently, a Report on the Feasibility Study for Aquaculture as one aspect of the diversification programme, was submitted to GuySuCo and the government by AquaSol Cor-

poration Inc., the company that conducted the study, and from all indications this will be a viable business venture. GuySuCo has also indicated that other areas being considered for diversification ventures are: dairy farming, livestock farming and the cultivation of fruit crops and seed paddy. It is proposed that employees will be leased lands for engaging in agricultural areas which will be a part of GuySuCo’s diversification programme. None of the above supports GAWU’s claims of the SUGAR INDUSTRY TO BE SOLD OUT OR CLOSED DOWN. In the specific instance of Albion Estate, the State Paper is clear that Albion Estate is one of the three estates that will remain in sugar; however, the Union is organising a March and Rally on 20 June, 2017 to oppose the closure and sell out of Albion Estate. GuySuCo’s dilemma with GAWU is that as the largest workers’ representative Union in the industry, it is becoming clearer that its motives and motivations does not support GuySuCo’s efforts to increase production and productivity in sugar and to design and implement a diversification programme to build more resilience and sustainability into the Corporation and more specifically the business of sugar. GuySuCo provides daily transportation and free medical for employees and their families, once the workers achieve targets on their estates, they earn Weekly Production Incentives (WPI) and a range of other benefits are available. The Corporation has an acute labour problem at all estates, this is further compounded by low attendance at all estates, however, instead of GAWU encouraging our employees who are members of the Union to improve their attendance, and contribute towards the growth of their Corporation, they are encouraged to take

My stove was defective but the store wasn’t helpful DEAR EDITOR, I penned this letter with a heavy heart because of the great injustice that was done to me by the management of a business located in Rosignol in relation to a gas stove I purchased. The next day, I realized that the burner was not turning off unless you turn off the source of the gas itself, the gas bottle. Sir, I realized that this is a safety hazard for my family and my home. I went back to the store to check for help but when I

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got there. I learnt that there was no warranty available plus the receipt I received was from the cash register and not a receipt with a valid revenue stamp and no manual for the gas stove. The value of the item is $65,000cash. I need the relevant authority to look into this matter because I need value for my money. The people are being cheated and I like to bring this to the attention of the Guyana REVENUE AUTHORITY. T.MOORE

strike action and protest. In 2016 alone, there were almost 150 strikes. Strikes average between150 to 250 annually. Strikes, protests, sabotage, customs and practices are to a large extent, unnecessary impediments and grave hindrances to the productivity of the business and also nurture an unstable environment. At some point, very soon, the management of GuySuCo will demand a higher level and more analytical and less adversarial service from GAWU for our workers. GuySuCo is inviting workers who feel that they are being misled for reasons not related to sugar, to meet with management at Head Office or on estates for further discussions. More specifically, workers who are members of GAWU and are of the view that they are being misled on the future of the Corporation, are encouraged to meet with management on estates or at the Head Office. Further, the management would like to inform members of the public, that it will continue to manage the Corporation as a business; 150 to 250 strikes per year, 40,000 to 130,000 man-days being lost per year, the wanton loss of sugar due to workers being called out to strike or protest while sugar is being processed in the factory and which could result in the loss of over G$17M a day, will not continue! GAWU’s engagement with the Corporation has to be elevated to provide more mentorship and at an advisory level in keeping with the aims and objectives of making GuySuCo sustainable. The management is aware that the Corporation cannot be successful without order and discipline. Finally, GuySuCo is appealing to members of the public who are participating in protest action relative to the sugar industry, to assist the Corporation by engaging in efforts to encourage our employees in their communities, mainly our workers in the Agriculture Departments on estates, to improve their attendance for the Second Crop 2017 which starts midJuly, so that estates can achieve their targets. Audreyanna Thomas Senior Communications Officer Communications Department

Father’s Day has passed but let’s look at the state of our fathers DEAR EDITOR, Father’s Day just passed and the United Republican Party (URP) would first like to say how proud we are of the men who did not only fathered children but more so, parented those children. The role of fathers has always been challenging. Not only internationally but more particularly in Guyana. The Guyanese Father has always had an unparalleled struggle as compared to any other father across the Caribbean. The Guyanese father makes the least amount in salaries and wages. The Guyanese father has less access to proper health care. As a result of this, the Guyanese father has a predictably shorter life span than any other male in the region. The Guyanese father is more susceptible to being the victim of crime. He is also more likely to commit suicide and murder than any other father in the Caribbean. All of these negative realities which the Guyanese father face are as a direct result of the repressive, narrowminded, autocratic and greedy kind of political leadership to which the Guyanese populace has been subjected, for more than half of a century. The average Guyanese father is a very broken man. The proof of this can be visible any evening, particularly on the weekends. Pass by any

rum shop, pub or beer garden and see the endemic decimation of the average Guyanese male. It is as if rum is now the substitute for even the desire for religious or political involvement. Most of the conversations that take place around the rum and beer bottles are political in nature, however, the gutter-most depth to which the political arena has sunken in Guyana, is a deterrent to many. So they would rather sit and imbibe alcohol and talk about politics, rather than get up from the rum-table and actually get involved. Many of the alcoholics and budding alcoholics know that Guyana is in a political mess. Their conversations fluctuate back and forth between those realities. They also know that if they cast aside their own political ideology and racial biases, they can effect a movement that would substantially change the political trajectory of this Guyana wasteland. However, they have been abused and beaten down for so long (50+ years) that they feel powerless of doing anything other than drink their sorry lives away. It will be a while until the average Guyanese man is made to feel like a real man. It is nowhere in the near future that the average Guyanese man will be able to achieve a living wage and live a life

comparable to the work he puts in. Guyana has seen neither the kind of transformative leaders nor those with the political will to so turn around the fortunes of the average Guyanese man. Yes, the politicians, the contractors, the cronies of the politicians and the family of those connected will make it. They will travel (if their visas are not revoked), build impressive homes and experience the good life. In even the most autocratic and vile societies, they are those who manage to squeeze out a decent living. However, in these kinds of politically subversive societies, where objective views are frowned upon and where any opposition to the powers-that-be are taken as insurrection, many are left on the breadline and asked to be thankful for the crumbs that fall from the masters’ table. So notwithstanding the naked realities of the suffering of the average Guyanese man, the URP would like to belatedly wish the fathers a Happy Fathers’ Day and we hope and pray that as we move forward in this thing we call a democracy, that we will put our shoulders to the wheel and do what we know needs to be done to improve the lives of all men; not just the privileged and well connected. Dr. Vishnu Bandhu Leader, URP

Children should focus on subjects which will nurture their abilities DEAREDITOR, Children should be allowed to focus on subjects for which their developed abilities are capable. Children are generally smart, but in Guyana this brilliance is influenced by the attention placed by parents on their children’s academic performance, in addition to being undermined by disparities in the quality of education across schools. For example, senior secondary schools generally have better teachers, so that children of equally capable mental capacities in junior secondary schools may turn out ‘not as brilliant’. This rationale also applies to primary schools. This said, every child should

be allowed to focus on those subjects likely to provide the best outcome for their careers. Naturally there are core subjects. However, if a child is brilliant, but still wants to pursue a vocational career, the child’s creativity will very probably result in him/her becoming an entrepreneur, versus a doctor, lawyer, etc. If the child is brilliant but is not interested in vocational subjects, then the child should not be forced to write these additional subjects, as they become a source of unnecessary stress. Further it is probably widely noted in the Caribbean education system the fatigue and distress presented by the SBA component of CXC exams for chil-

dren writing large numbers of subjects. The Ministry of Education could consider lobbying CXC to offer a single subject focused on research, versus the current arrangement where students engage in research in almost CXC subjects. Alternatively, they could explore testing at GCE. Guyana needs to put itself first and stop being trapped by someone else’s ideas. Craig Sylvester.

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The magistrate was in order to refuse the DPP’s request DEAR EDITOR, After some 56 years of obeying, unquestioningly, the orders of the DPP to reopen and commit for trial a discharged accused, some might consider the disobedience of Magistrate Latchman heresy. Not me. I congratulate her. She is right in law. The Director of Public Prosecution is right in practice. But the practice is, plainly under the 1980 constitution, unconstitutional. The constitutional requirement of the fair administration of justice required that the accused (Regan Rodrigues) be discharged, for the offence of murder of Courtney Crum-Ewing and be a free man; until and unless, a Judge quashes his discharge. After all, the Magistrate court being an inferior court, her decision to discharge is susceptible to prerogative orders – (not, I daresay, here any mandamus to comply with the DPP’s order to commit; blind unquestioning obedience, in this matter, is not her constitutional duty). The crux of this matter, is an accused’s fundamental right (having been charged with a criminal offence) to be “afforded a FAIR HEARIMG…. by an INDEPENDENT and IMPARTIAL COURT estab-

lished by law” (Article 144(1)). So, let us ask the following questions and answer them. First, was Rodrigues charged with a Criminal offence? Answer – Yes (murder). Second, is the magistrate court that conducted the preliminary Inquiry (Magistrate Latchman presiding) into the Rodrigues murder charge an independent and impartial court established by law? Answer – Yes (Summary Jurisdiction (Magistrates) Act Cap 3:05; and article 154 of the Constitution so defines “court” as to include a Magistrate court). Third, is the office of the DPP (created by (now) article 187) an independent and impartial COURT? Answer – No; it is not a Court within the definition in article 154; it falls within the ambit of the Executive branch of government; not the Judiciary branch, the DPP is a prosecuting authority; not a hearing one. Fourth, can the Judiciary (call the magistrate/court the lower Judiciary or inferior court) be seen to be independent, if it is directed to and ordered (in the exercise of its judicial function) by the DPP in relation to the Rodrigues’ PI? Answer – No. I quote as relevant to that

fourth question, article 122 A(1) in full: “All courts and all persons presiding over the courts shall exercise their functions independently of the CONTROL and DIRECTION of any other person or authority, and shall be free and independent from political, EXECUTIVE and any other form of direction and control.” I stress the point that it is settled that in our constitutional jurisprudence, the DPP is an officer of the Executive branch (Ali and Rasool V. the Queen (1992) 2 AC, 94 PC). So, I turn now to what lawyers know as the doctrine or principle of separation of powers as distributed among the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary branches of Government. Since that famous decision in Hinds V. the Queen (1976) it is settled that the Executive cannot be permitted (by mere statutory authority) to exercise, what in substance and effect, amounts to judicial powers. The statutory power (ie section 72(2)(ii)(a)) of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act under which the DPP purports to direct inquiring magistrate and purported to direct magistrates, Latchman, is such a mere statutory power.

Something is fishy about this project DEAR EDITOR, It is with interest I read an article captioned “Ministry seeks supplementary funding for GPL smart meter project published in your newspapers on Monday June 19th, 2017. From the onset let me express my appreciation to your newspaper and your contributing journalist who have wasted no time in taking a keen look at this project. It is my belief that something is amiss with this project, and I believe even the Inter-American Development Bank and the European Union also believe that they have unwittingly supported a tender which is shrouded in cor-

ruption. I remember following the articles you published earlier in the year when this project which has taken over a year to be evaluated and was subsequently awarded to a Chinese company who bid over G$1 billion over the engineer’s estimate. Added to this is the court case which followed the award which also adds to the disturbing nature of the award given the magistrates ruling. The real issue I am writing here today Mr. Editor is about the government’s move to ask for a 2 billion dollars supplementary for this project. It is stated in the governments paper that this

supplementary is to facilitate “payment of mobilization advance and other areas under the programme, including supervision for civil works, management strengthening, and lot b works.” I find it strange that the government will ask for a 2 billion supplementary to pay for the above mentioned components. I would be grateful if your newspaper can enquire from Government of Guyana if one billion out of this two billion supplementary is to pay for the difference in the engineer’s estimate. I would also like for your newspaper, to enquire from the IDB if its ethical or in keeping with their procurement practices that they can approve an award of this nature when the government offers to pay the difference in the loans budget to a favored contractor. Mike Singh

Editor, section 72 of the criminal Law (Procedure) Act Cap. 10:01 is plainly inconsistent with article 144(1) and cannot stand unless (as a saved pre – 6th October 1980 law (what lawyers know technically as an “existing law”) it is interpreted with the necessary modifications, exception, adaptation, qualification to bring it into conformity with the “independent and impartial” requirement (article 122 A (ii)); and the fundamental “fair hearing” right in article 144 (1) (see section 7 (1) of the Constitution Act, Cap 1:01, the Privy Council employed this conformity method in Reynolds (1980) case; and instructively for the learned reader minded to do some research, the 1966 Constitution has no such conformity requirement counterpart). If the DPP’s order to commit is obeyed, this means, in effect and substance, that it is the DPP (a prosecuting authority) by her decision to commit (foisted upon the Magistrate) who has conducted the PI despite not being a Court; and obviously despite, not seeing or hearing a single witness. If that does not offend the separation of powers principle, then that principle is a dead letter. When taking witness deposition, demeanour when testifying could be a most crucial factor, of which

only the inquiring Magistrate has the benefit. (in my experience on the Bench I know empirically that demeanour can be a very critical tell-tale factor when assessing the credibility and veracity of crucial police witness such as ASP Ceasar in this Rodrigues PI matter). Lord Griffiths in the Privy Council in a Jamaican case put the matter of the forensic role and probative value of the senses of seeing/hearing, most eloquently when he wrote: “It is a fundamental requirement of the fair administration of justice that those charged with returning a verdict in a criminal case, be they judge, magistrates, or jurors should have seen and heard all the witnesses. If they have not had the opportunity to evaluate the reliability and veracity of a witness by seeing and hearing him give evidence, they lack a part of the vital material upon which their verdict should be based” (R V.Beswick (1987) 30 WIR 318). None dare doubt or dispute the seminal relevance and applicability of that passage to PI’s (albeit the magistrate is not conducting a trial per se; and is not returning a “verdict” technically speaking). The fair administration of justice, is, and must be just as fundamental a requirement at the PI stage, as it would be

at the trial stage if the accused Rodrigues was committed to stand trial for Crumg – Ewing’s murder in the High Court. The “fair hearing” right begins at the PI: not at any subsequent trial. Editor, I am acutely aware of the desirability and reasoned justification for some oversight authority of the DPP over magistrates in these matters. The public interest in justice working for both the accused, and prosecution alike, demands some over sight. But oversight is not virtuous if it is practiced by some unconstitutional process of giving directions to magistrates. For, there is no fairness or virtue, in unconstitutionality. Magistrate Latchman’s disobedience may, perhaps, be the catalyst for the C.C.J settling this contentious issue: given the presumption of constitutionality of section 72(2)(ii)(a) which operates in the DPP’s favour even, as article 187 of the Constitution which vests the DPP with prosecuting authority does not to any extent whatsoever, countenance any judicial duties such as an inquiring Magistrate performs at PI’s, of deciding on the basis of evidence whether a sufficient case has been made out to commit the accused for trial. Maxwell Edwards (Attorney – at – Law)

Georgetowners’ money going down a going, down a portable be reminded that he has the kingly toilet are king’s toilet that Royston authority to lay charges DEAR EDITOR, The citizens of Georgetown are expecting this developing story to be treated seriously since as was mentioned in my previous letters not only the mismanagement of municipal funds by this town clerk but deliberate act to live the life of a bank executive in an organisation that lacks the human resource composition to generate revenue. The town clerk should be aware of the financial woes the city is facing since he ardently pleaded with citizens to pay up their rates and taxes day after day in all forms of the mediums. Now the citizens are aware where the urgency of paying these taxes

King impudently placed in front of his premises instead of maintaining the many clogged drains, pumps and kokers. The Minister of Communities and his team should let this matter be a warning to all other government functionaries under the local government arm that dismissal is not enough rather criminal charges be laid since this act warrant such or he will be held accountable. The Minister should also use this opportunity to go in depth on further financial transaction City Hall is having with other business entities and by extension the whole of the Georgetown municipality. The Minister should also

against the kings at City Hall since they remain the overarching heads of all local government organs in the absent of a local government commission and not the Mayor, Patricia Chase Green who for some reason would love for this story to remain quiet since it adds another embarrassment to her tenure. Royston King should face the full force of the law for this act and be taught as a lesson to all other government functionaries the penalty for breaching government ethics as was done to a few officers being suspended as scapegoats to cover up his financial wildness in the expenditure of municipal funds. Terrell Waveney Roberts

Friday June 23, 2017

Guyana, World Bank ink US$13.3M loan agreement to recapture UG Medical School accreditation The Government of Guyana and the World Bank yesterday inked a US$13.3M loan agreement which is going to aid the University of Guyana (UG)’s School of Medicine in recapturing its full accreditation ability. The agreement has been dubbed the Guyana Education Sector Improvement Project. The accreditation is one of the two aspects that will be addressed under this agreement. UG’s Medical School lost its accreditation in April 2014 after a visit by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine (CAAEM) revealed that a number of recommendations to improve the institution were not adhered to. This had resulted in medical degrees being issued by the institution not being recognised beyond Guyana’s borders. Students were required to sit the Caribbean Association of Medical Councils (CAMC) examination before moving forward. The school was served

Ministry of Finance’s Director of Projects, Tarachand Balgobin with provisional accreditation powers until 2015 by the CAAEM. The Ministry of Finance’s Director of Projects, Tarachand Balgobin, said yesterday that the loan will facilitate the construction of a new Medical Health Sciences Building for UG as part of its reaccreditation drive. “You would be aware that

Granger rules out overseas person for GECOM Chairperson President David Granger has ruled out considering appointing a foreigner to assume the position of Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission. Granger was asked during an interview for his Public Interest televised programme to respond to claims that he intends to choose a foreigner for the position. He said that choosing someone who lives out of Guyana is not necessary, “I dont think it is possible, I dont think it is desirable.” Addressing the two lists of nominees that were pre-

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sented to him by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, Granger said that one danger which exists is that some names may appear on the list which do not conform to the criteria and that narrows his choice. “I have to have six names from which to choose, and if five of them are unqualified, or not considered to be fit and proper, I have no choice.” Granger said that if all six names do not qualify, Jagdeo therefore drives him into picking one person. The (Cotninued on page 14)

the University of Guyana has had some problems with accreditation of its medical programme. One of the critical aspects of re-establishing that accreditation is a new health facility. This loan is going (towards) the building (of) a brand new medical Health Sciences Building for the University of Guyana, and (will) support the curriculum for medicine so (that) the medical programme of the University of Guyana could come back and be accredited as it used to be in the past.” Balgobin explained. The other aspect of the agreement signed yesterday, will also see the development of a new curriculum for schools. “You know what is happening in the education system and this is one effort to design a new curriculum; training for teachers; capacity building; and institutional development within the Ministry of Education,” the Director said. The inking of this agreement would come on the heels of a loan agreement that was signed previously for the Secondary Education Reform Programme (SERP) – which is currently being implemented. Balgobin said also that the loan agreement signed yesterday will support the SERP and another previous loan – the University of Guyana Science and Technology Programme. These programmes will work collectively in ensuring that the state has a “proper” education sector.

PUC orders six-month limit to GTT promotion …as Digicel complains of anti-competitive rates The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has ordered a six-month limit to a promotion of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) which began on February 22, 2017. The promotion will come to an end on August 22, 2017. The order was handed down on June 15, 2017.

then the effective rates of such calls would be significantly below the PUC-approved retail rates to the two destinations. The PUC said that Digicel took the position that the promotion is anti-competitive, since GTT, which still holds a monopoly in the market for

provide any services to which the license relates. GTT has a legitimate expectation that it should be allowed to enjoy this right and that Government and the regulatory agencies will enforce it. As such, GTT will continue to insist on even-handed treatment in the sector and the

According to the order issued by the PUC, the promotion “Get More Pay Less” offered a bundled package, comprising three services to GTT consumers. “The promotion was for varying durations and each plan was individually priced. Consumers, therefore, had the option of choosing a plan best suited to their individual needs.” Learning of the promotion, Digicel complained to the PUC objecting to the international bound component of the promotion as being anti-competitive. According to the PUC, Digicel complained that the promotion promises to provide all of GTT’s customers with minutes that could be utilised to make calls to the United States of America and Canada. The company told the PUC that if all the minutes provided for in the promotion were used exclusively to make calls to the US and Canada,

international services in Guyana, is providing Digicel with a wholesale rate which is considerably in excess of the highest possible retail rate its customers would pay. Further, Digicel made an appeal to the PUC for GTT to suspend or terminate the promotion. However, in the event that this was not possible, Digicel asked that an order be made that all current and future promotions regarding international rates be extended by GTT to Digicel so that those rates can be offered to their customers as part of bundled minutes. Responding to the complaint, GTT quoted Section 6.2 of the agreement between Guyana and Atlantic Tele Network Agreement which states: “The license granted GTT in respect of the services referred to in sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of Section 6.1, during the period of the license issued to GTT, no other company, nor Government, shall

consistent application of the rule of law”. A hearing was then held on March 21, 2017 to further address the matter. There, the PUC heard from Digicel representatives that if GTT customers took advantage of the promotion to make calls to the USA and Canada, they will be doing so with the cost per minute being substantially below the PUC set rates. As such, the PUC ordered that GTT submits to the Commission on a monthly basis the number of subscribers to the bundled plan and the distribution of minutes for both local and international minutes. Further, Digicel has ordered by the PUC to provide information showing the impact that GTT’s promotion would have on the outbound section of its business. When the promotion comes to an end in August, the PUC has asked to be advised as soon as this happens.

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Friday June 23, 2017

Kaieteur News

Granger: I am not militarising the country - says PPP started tradition of appointing past and current army officials The administration has denied a deliberate plan to fill key state jobs with persons with army experience. Fielding questions yesterday during a taped interview of “Public Interest”, President David Granger made it clear that his government will not discriminate when it comes to hiring. Rather, the perception of “militarising” is totally wrong. The government is merely continuing the “tradition” started under consecutive regimes of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C), of choosing experienced persons. The Coalition Government, which charged to power in May 2015, vowing to stamp out corruption and nepotism, has been facing criticisms, from especially the Opposition, about a number of former army officials being appointed to key positions. At the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), former army chief, Brigadier George Lewis, is now performing the duties

of the CEO. Lewis was appointed as Deputy CEO a few weeks ago. At the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), the new CEO is Lt. Colonel (ret’d) Lelon Saul. There are also a number of advisors with military background at the Ministry of the Presidency, and Commissions of Inquiries are in many cases headed by former army officials. Asked to respond on the criticisms and whether it was “jobs for the boys”, President Granger, a former army chief, stressed that he had nothing to do with Lewis’ appointment. “I have nothing to do with the appointment of the GPHC person or CH&PA’s (appointment). They are human beings; they are citizens of Guyana. I did not ask for them to be appointed. In fact, one of them was kind enough to say…”Oh I am sorry I did not notify you before I am applying for such and such a post”. So these were not my nominees.” Granger disagreed with

the use of the word ‘militarise’, saying that it does not simply mean the presence of army persons. “I don’t want to go into definitions now, but it means that it gives the impression that the country is being militarized which is not true. We are still civil. Have you seen me in a uniform in the last five years? No. So the country is not being militarized. The mere appointment of persons who had military services is not a sign of militarisation.” The Head of State pointed to his Cabinet of Ministers had only two persons with military experience. “There are five lawyers…I am not legalizing the Cabinet because we have five lawyers.” He insisted that the practice of recruiting former military officers was not started by the coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) + Alliance for Change (AFC). Rather, former army chief, Major General (ret’d) Joseph Singh was there before the

President David Granger Coalition Government got in. “Major General (Michael) Atherley was there before I got in. And Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup was at the CDC (Civil Defence Commission). Colonel Francis Abrahams was in the CDC.” Granger also listed Colonel Ann McLennan who is now Chief Magistrate. “Colonel Jawahar Persaud

(former Accountant General…in fact there were two serving officers that were not even retired yet (that were appointed).” According to President Granger, turning to experienced army officials and persons with army background is nothing new. “So when you look at the list…when you look at the nominal role…who were employed by the (Bharrat) Jagdeo/ (Donald) Ramotar regime, you will see they have been doing a lot of poaching not only from the veterans of the (Guyana) Defence Force, but also from the serving officers of the (Guyana) Defence Force.” Granger made it clear that his administration merely carried on the tradition because “as far as we are concerned they are citizens of Guyana, and if they are felt to be competent in a particular function…in a Commission of Inquiry…why should I discriminate against persons? We need to look at all Guyanese and judge them on the basis of merits, not based

on some profession they held in the past.” He said that he is certainly not bent on militarising the country. “I look for the best, qualified persons. Look back and see what the PPP was doing, including the appointment of Mr Ronald Gajraj…he served under me. He was a former Minister of Home Affairs.” “Public Interest”, a weekly programme with the Head of State, would be aired this evening on the National Communications Network (NCN) after several weeks without one. Granger said Wednesday that he has been busy as Chairman of CARICOM and has promised to hold a longawaited press conference on his return from the regional summit to be held next month in Grenada. Participating in the programme yesterday were Leonard Gildarie, Senior Reporter/Assistant Editor of Kaieteur News and Janelle Persaud, News Editor of NCN.

US$ transactions account for 94 percent of overall market activity …as CARICOM currency transactions see decline While the Bank of Guyana did not purchase any foreign currency, it sold a whopping US$7.2 million to commercial banks in the first quarter of 2017. This is a strong indication of the overwhelming activity in the market involving the American currency. Central Bank also stated in its Quarterly Report and

Statistical Bulletin for 2017 that the debits and credits of authorized foreign currency to commercial banks were US$296.2 million and US$276.1 million respectively. This indicated net purchases of US$20.1 million on these accounts. The Bank of Guyana noted in its report that the

corresponding period last year recorded debits and credits of these accounts at US$275.3 million and US$287.7 million respectively. Interbank trade on the other hand, amounted to US$1.4 million in 2017 when compared with US$5.7 million for the same period last year. Furthermore, Central Bank

stated that the US dollar was the most traded currency on the market. In fact, US dollar transactions accounted for 94.2 percent of the overall market activity. The report of the Bank said that the market share of the Pound Sterling, Canadian dollar and the Euro was 1.5 percent, 2.1 percent and 2.2 percent respectively. On the other hand, CARICOM currency transac-

tions declined by 7.2 percent to US$6.4 million from US$6.9 million as at end-March 2016. The report said, “The market share of the Trinidad & Tobago dollar was 52 percent, followed by the Barbadian dollar with 37 percent and the EC dollar with 11 percent of the aggregate turnover. The Guyana dollar vis-à-vis the United States dollar depreciated by 3.1 percent to G$213.” It continued, “The Bank’s weighted mid-rate, which is the reference for official transactions, was unchanged at G$206.50 during the first quarter of 2017. The un-weighted rate experienced a deprecia-

tion of 2.4 percent, from $205.75 at the end of December 2016 to $210.75 at the end of March 2017.” The Central Bank added that the local banks and nonbanks reported higher buying and selling rates during the review period. It said that the difference in the selling rates of the bank and non-bank cambios was $2.92 compared with $1.70 for 2016. It was further stated that the banks’ spread was higher at $4.25 compared with the non-banks’ spread was $2.18. The total market spread increased to $3.22 compared with $2.08 at the end of 2016.

Friday June 23, 2017

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Kaieteur News

The new economic strategy The government has an economic strategy. The title of the strategy consists of a mere three words. Those words are NOT “the green state”. The words are “wait for oil”. The economic strategy of APNU+AFC can be summed up in the words “wait for oil”. This is the master plan of the government: wait for oil. ExxonMobil has told the government what it wants to hear. It says it will be investing billions in the production of oil from the Liza well. The government has the investment decision for which it was waiting. It now has no need to bother with any economic strategy, because it has a sure winner in the petroleum industry. The government therefore does not have to worry about developing any national development strategy. It has to worry about finding the people and the money to design such a national development strategy. Gold production is growing the economy all by itself; it does not need help. The growth problem is therefore

taken care of. The next problem is to find revenues, and this is where the oil revenues will come in. The government’s problem is therefore solved. Why have to worry about industrialization and all that jazz when Guyana can simply produce oil and spend the proceeds. The “wait for oil” strategy is not as dumb as it may seem. In fact, it is a very smart strategy. Why commit to costly economic ventures which may fail when there is a sure hit, oil, which will not fail. Instead of taking economic risks, the government will allow the investor, ExxonMobil, to take the risk and it will reap the benefits. This is a smart economic strategy on the part of government, one which requires no risk-taking and therefore no chance of failure. The “wait for oil” strategy does not require any investment on the part of the government. It does not entail attracting any additional foreign direct investment. The government has an investor. It has ExxonMobil. The “wait for oil” strategy

is far better than having to go and beg Guyanese in the diaspora to come and invest in Guyana. What will the diaspora invest in Guyana? What is there to invest in Guyana? Nothing! You cannot even invest in agriculture. What will you do with the production? Where will you sell it? An American-based Guyanese seeing the size of the diaspora population in the USA had a proposal to invest in growing peppers and exporting it to the USA. Well, guess what, the Americans have stopped the importation of pepper? GuySuco is growing rice as part of its diversification plan. Where will it find markets for this rice? It also plans aquaculture and says that Brazil is a possible market. Why would anyone produce fish at Wales when they can find adequate lands in the Rupununi to produce aquaculture for export to neighbouring Brazil? What else can Guyana produce which can compete? We cannot compete with anybody right now, because the

Family Court caters for applicants without attorneys - system can handle filings for divorce, other matters

At the Family Court, persons desirous of initiating legal proceeding can walk into the Registry without an Attorney and file applications for a number of issues including divorce, division of property, legal maintenance, custody and guardianship. Since it became operational, the Court has facilitated a number of “walk-in applicants.” Walk-in applicants are fast becoming a popular feature at the Family Court Division, since the system has proven affordable to those who cannot afford to retain the services of attorneys. With the assistance of Customer Care staff, applicants can walk into the Family Court Registry located at the north eastern end of the Georgetown Supreme Court compound and file for divorce

and other family-related disputes. Persons filing matters without the aid of attorneys are required to bring the necessary documents when filing matters, these include birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc. In addition a filing fee is attached to the process. There are also fees attached for a sworn affidavit and Marshal Service . However under the Family Court rules, the cost for filing a matter has increased “but it is still affordable to those seeking relief via the court”. On a daily basis, staff at the Family Court Registry handles hundreds of applications for divorce, custody and division of property. Within the first year of operation, the Specialised Division within the Supreme

Court is boasting of changing the legal landscape to cater specifically to the needs of the family. Within the first six months, the Unit has seen a significant number of cases resolved, particularly divorce matters; divorce proceedings accounted for 92.2 % of the matters filed; the percentage represented 413 cases. Additionally, of the 529 matters were filed at the Family Court, 83 were resolved; 18 were dismissed or withdrawn; 183 are Interim Nisi Orders; 237 are still pending and eight were struck out. The rules which govern the Family Court, also allow for efficient case management practices to ensure that matters which deserve the attention of the courts receive the necessary attention, resulting in the timely resolution (Continued on page 11)

cost of production is too high. It is for this reason that the wait for oil strategy is a smart strategy. Oil will be produced and exported. Forget about the refinery. That will not float. The ‘wait for oil” strategy is better than the green state plans. The green state is not an economic strategy. In fact, not many people understand what this green state is all

about and they do not understand it, because it is not a strategy. The “wait for oil” strategy, on the other hand, means that Guyanese do not have to worry about creating jobs for young people. Those who are not working will, when the oil revenues begin to flow, receive a healthy unemployment benefit each month in the mail. Why work when you can stay

at home and receive a fat check from the government, compliments of the oil revenues. Now what can be better than that!

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Friday June 23, 2017

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

UG one year after new leadership This month marks one year since the University of Guyana has been endowed with a brand new administration. I used the word, “administration” rather than administrator for two reasons; I do not want to personalize this column, even though the month marks one year of the tenure of Professor Ivelaw Griffith. The second reason is that “administration” is more appropriate, because there has been a change in the format of leadership structure at UG over the past year. UG now has what academics and leaders in the two unions have referred to as a top-heavy bureaucracy befitting very large North American universities with billions of American dollars at its disposal. This becomes an area of analysis when one considers two factors; the extreme smallness of the university. I need to dwell on this a little longer. It was once observed in an opinion piece years ago that less than two percent of Guyana’s population attends UG. It is easy to come up with a specific figure in a country with less than 800,000 citizens.

When one examines the bureaucratic structure, it truly cries out for discussion against the backdrop of less than 5,000 students and less than 300 staff members. Yet many larger universities do not have that kind of leadership format we see at UG. Space would not allow for a comprehensive description, but it includes a Vice Chancellor, three deputy Vice Chancellors, Registrar, four deputy Registrars, Vice Chancellor’s Cabinet, Vice Chancellor’s Chief of Staff, Director for Strategic Initiative, Director for Corporate Relations, among many other top posts. As recent as two Sundays ago, there was an advertisement for “academic advisors,” with one union leader questioning if this new “addition” has been approved by the Finance and General Purpose Committee. This week there were more advertisements; one for a Supplies and Logistics Officer and a Business Development Officer. The advertisement describes the Business Development Officer’s role as one that will assist the university with partnership with commercial entities. So

doesn’t UG have a Director of Corporate Relations? And what do the three deputy Vice Chancellors do? On top of this central body is the fact that each faculty has its own management stratum, and UG now has an additional faculty that goes under the name School of Entrepreneurship. That new arrangement will carry its own academic staff and bureaucratic leadership too. I honestly believe this bureaucracy, one year after it came into being, needs societal assessment. The second factor to consider after the small number of staff and students is the source of funding. Unless we are told the contrary, it would appear that the new leadership at UG has continued with the tradition of relying on the state to fund the university. The state has acceded to the request of the university in the 2016 budget and has increased its allocation. I would hope this reliance on and “patronage” from the state becomes a thing of the past. Study after study produced by UG over the past thirty years has recommended that the university

cannot go on living off state allocations. The inevitable advice is that UG must seek to get resources from outside of its traditional source, that is, the Treasury. It would be useful if the university can produce a document for both the government and the taxpayers, meaning the citizens, (it is their money the state spends) to show if resources of a meaningful nature have come UG’s way in the past year. I want to complete this column without cynicism or pungent criticism, but some pitfalls the past year at UG stare us in the face and, when we look at the line faults and fault lines, our memory goes back to our modern founding fathers – Jagan and Burnham.

Both men saw the future of Guyana in agriculture, science and technology. Burnham’s record is larger than Dr. Cheddi Jagan, because Burnham was in power longer. Burnham stands out for adding two relevant faculties at UG - Agriculture and Health Sciences. If he was alive, he probably would have added more relevant ones. I seriously doubt that as president, Burnham and Jagan would have approved UG renting a place for six million monthly to house a school of business. I conclude with two observations. I refer readers to a letter carried in the June 18 edition of this newspaper by a student who identified himself, captioned, “Something is

Frederick Kissoon deadly wrong with the services and operations at UG.” It does not make for optimistic reading. Secondly, I have been informed that serious grumblings by the staff may soon result in industrial action. The question must be asked; have things changed for the better one year after new leadership at UG?

Dem boys seh ...

Guyana graduate when it come to thiefing These days everybody does talk about dem constitutional rights. Even Jagdeo get a man to go to court to claim how he constitutional rights affected because Jagdeo sign a law which seh he and no other president can run fuh a third term. When thief man get ketch and people beat him de human rights people does seh he got rights too. Dem does seh people ain’t got no right to beat him when dem ketch him. Dem seh people must love dem de way dem boys love Jagdeo, Ashni and Brassington. I s d e m s a m e h u man rights people got thief man using car fuh rob a man wha walking. Three man come in a car from over de river, see a ordinary man walking wid a Nike track boots, stop de car

beat up de man, run through he pocket and get a lunch money, a copper chain he had pun he neck, and de man boots. De one wha haul off de man Nike track boots had on a rubber slipper. Dem boys seh when crime reach to dis level Jagdeo got to smile. This type of crime involving car and track boots never happen in he time. In he time dem man use to wear Nike track boots to thief car, not car fuh thief track boots. Also in he time he use to give people wuk to thief money. Bee Kay get a job to build 27 bridge in Parika Back dam. He get US$15 million to build dem bridges. Dem boys damage up 27 track boots to find dem bridges. Dem use seven Nike, ten Addidas, and ten New Balance because dem had to

balance demself to navigate through de back dam just to see dem high class and sophisticated bridges. Dem is yet to see one. Dem did ask Bee Kay and he cuss up. It look like if it is de same thing wid dem well. Dem boys remember when dem go to look fuh dem well last week dem had to wear rubber slippers. All de track boots did wear out. De next time dem boys got to check pun any other project dem boys seh dem ain’t spending any money pun footwear. Dem intend to go straight to State House and pick up Soulja Bai footwear. Jagdeo seh he lef nuff when he move out. Donald foot was too small and Soulja Bai foot too big. Talk half and stand up fuh you rights.

Overloaded heavy-duty vehicles on hinterland roads costing govt. large sums The Ministry of Public Infrastructure is again calling on vehicles using hinterland roads to adhere to the weight limits of the roads. Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI)/Government Information Agency (GINA), Senior Hinterland Officer, Jeffrey Walcott said the overloaded vehicles on the hinterland roadways, especially in this rainy season, are costing the Ministry more. Walcott explained that the Ministry has a finite budget from which a portion is allocated for maintenance works. However, if more emergency works arises from overloading then the funds would have to go towards this. This would affect the execution of capital projects and restricts

other maintenance works, Walcott pointed out. Earlier this Year, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure announced that the National Road Policy will be revised in a bid to address the issue of overloaded vehicles using roadways and highways. The Senior Hinterland Officer said the Ministry is continuing discussions with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Forestry and the Gold and Diamond Miners Association to devise a solution for more responsible use of the hinterland roads. According to Walcott, the roads are usually designed to carry a certain axle load, which is the total weight felt by the roadway for all wheels connected to a

given axle. He added that when the weight of the vehicle exceeds the structural capacity of the road it causes severe damage to the roads and bridges also. “If the weight of the load that the vehicle is carrying exceeds the structural capacity of the road, it will fail prematurely, and most times you find that a truck would carry double the recommended load and that not only destroy roads during wet weather but breaks bridges,” Walcott emphasised. The existing bridges were constructed to withstand 50 tonnes. The Ministry has invested $2.3B this year on interior and hinterland roads to improve access for miners and others who use the interior roads.

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Kaieteur News

Lands COI…

Granger tells Indigenous organisations govt. had no plans to exclude them In an effort to address several issues which have been raised about the Lands Commission of Inquiry (CoI), representatives from a number of Indigenous Organisations met with President David Granger yesterday at State House. In a media release from the Ministry of the Presidency, it was said that the President explained to the delegation that contrary what is being said in the public, his government never intended to set up a Commission to deal with Indigenous lands and not involve Indigenous peoples. He said that the Commission is mandated to engage communities in order to examine and make recommendations to resolve issues and uncertainties surrounding the individual, joint or communal ownership of lands and Amerindian land titling issues. The release said that Granger also spoke of the five-point plan which he proposed to the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) last Wednesday. “This plan includes: a review of all existing agreements and conventions relating to Amerindian lands, a review of the Terms of Reference of the Commission, endorsement of the principal of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), reconciliation of the positions of the NTC and the Government on the objectives of the Commission of Inquiry and a review of the Amerindian Act.” Further, the government

President David Granger flanked by Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon and representatives from the Indigenous Organisations. statement said that Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, described the meeting as a step in the right direction. Along with the President, Allicock and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon represented the government. Allicock said, “It’s about understanding the issues and coming together to discuss the said issues. That is what is really important here. I think

that for too long we have not been communicating the way we should and I look forward for the continuation of this kind of dialogue.” NTC Chairman stated after the meeting that he was pleased to have the opportunity to discuss a number of issues which surround the Land COI with the President including mining and governance. “I want to say that the

Family Court caters for applicants... From page 9 of such matters. Clause 2.6(1) of the rules states that the court may deal with a case at any place that it considers appropriate. “This is applicable even to children involved in a family dispute. The rules are sensitive and try to remain applicable to different situations and facts which may arise from each particular case brought before the bench.” Additionally, the court seeks to promote the overriding objective of ensuring that parties are on equal footing and not prejudiced by financial positions. Since its establishment, the division has been outfitted w i t h a C h i l d c a r e a n d P r o t e c t i o n O fficer, personnel who can assist persons with walk-in procedures, and a childcare room and staff. The court currently has a full complement of staff, a Registry, and is operated under selected Judges. Within the past year, the Court was specifically fitted with a Directions Hear-

ing (D.H) room which has been instrumental in resolving a significant number of divorce–related matters. Recently this newspaper was told that of all the matters filed within the past year, only four are pending trial. “All the others were resolved by way of Directions Hearings.” The D.H room provides an opportunity for issues to be ventilated outside the courtroom setting. Family Court J u d g e Sandra Kurtzious had explained that the mechanism is useful, particularly in

cases of divorce. What happens in this setting provides an opportunity for direct discussions between the parties involved, their legal teams and the Judge. Under this arrangement, the family is priority; the aim is to have parties discuss and decide where they want to take their lives. Much like other fixtures, at the Family Court, with Directions Hearings from the time the matter is filed, a date is fixed for the matter to be heard, thereby expediting the process. (Rehanna Ramsay)

NTC had the opportunity to bring these matters to him so that we can see how best these organisations, who represent the Indigenous peoples, can all work together with the Government in addressing some of them.” Attending the meeting yesterday was Chairman of the National Toshaos Coun-

cil (NTC), Joel Fredericks, President of the National Amerindian Development Foundation, Ashton Simon, Toshao of Shulinab Village, Nicholas Fredericks, Toshao of St Cuthbert’s Mission and NTC Vice-Chairman, Lennox Shuman, Toshao of Chenapau, Edward McGarrel, Coordinator of the National

Amerindian Development Foundation, Ms. Zelita Debedin, Executive Director of the Amerindian People’s Association (APA), Ms. Jean La Rose, Mr. Colin Klautky from the Guyana Organisation of Indigenous Peoples (GOIP) and Mr. Peter Persaud from the Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana.

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Friday June 23, 2017

Kaieteur News

Deadly prison attack on brothers stemmed from murder plot – prison official The New Amsterdam Prison brawl that turned deadly was allegedly fueled by an ongoing grievance. This is according to a Prison Official. Neshan Jagmohan, an inmate on remand for murder was stabbed to death while his brother, Ramnarine Jagmohan, also in for murder, was stabbed about his body by three other inmates, leaving him in a critical condition. The attackers were identified as Dillon Boucher, 25, of Haslington Village, East Coast Demerara; Ramchand Latchman, 23, of #65 Village Corentyne, and Rooplall Abrahim, 24, of Bath Settlement West Coast Berbice. They are all on remand for murder. According to the prison official, statements were taken from the injured Jagmohan, and he reportedly told investigators that there was no issue between the trio and them. He related to investigators that it was his brother, Neshan, whom they attacked first, explaining that there was no argument or cross-talk after they returned from court and while they were in the “strong cell”. However, according to the source, investigators have received information that on Tuesday plans were being made by another inmate to purchase an improvised weapon from one of the Jagmohan brothers to allegedly eliminate Dillon

Boucher. From reports gathered, Boucher got hold of the plan to execute him and allegedly thrashed the issue out with Jagmohan. The matter was never reported to prison authorities, the source said. He stated that this may have been the source of the stabbing, with Boucher believing that the Jagmohans and the other inmate were together planning to kill him, hence Boucher seeking the services of his fellow inmates to retaliate. Meanwhile, Divisional Commander Ian Amsterdam confirmed with this publication that statements were taken from the inmates who carried out the attack and will be laying the allegations before them. They are likely to face additional murder and attempted murder charges respectively. Additionally, Amsterdam disclosed that, “the brothers were very aggressive towards other inmates while serving and I understand that they dominated”. Initial reports state that the Jagmohan brothers had just returned from court at approximately 14:00 hrs and were in the “strong cell area” together with other inmates when they were attacked by the trio. Using improvised weapons (jukers), the men dealt multiple stabs about their bodies rendering Neshan unconscious and his brother

Neshan Jagmohan (r) with brother Ramnarine during a court appearance. Ramnarine critically injured. Prison wardens were alerted by the injured Ramnarine and they were both rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital. Neshan was pronounced dead on arrival while Ramnarine remained in a stable condition. The Jagmohan brothers were on remand for the murder of Devindra Deodat aka ‘Dave’, a Hampshire businessman who was shot during the course of a robbery committed on his premises. In late 2015, Neshan Jagmohan had escaped from the New Amsterdam Prison and was later recaptured at an abandoned house in Rose Hall. Following his rearrest he was questioned in connection with another mur-

der of a businessman on the Corentyne committed early in 2016. The brothers were also

named in an attack in January where they reportedly stabbed, beat and chopped

another inmate over a cell phone issue. Another inmate was also injured during the fracas. Rooplall Abrahim was charged in January 2016 together with Gocoul Madanpaul with the murder of Anita Baichan, she was burnt to death during the course of a robbery. Abrahim is also serving time for the double murder of 81-year-old Doodnauth Rajkumar and his wife Diane Chamanlall, of Bushlot Village, WCB. They were discovered with gaping wounds in a pool of blood. They were chopped about their bodies. Ramchand Latchman was charged with four others for the murder, under the piracy act, of Hemchand Sookdeo, in Corentyne waters.

Venezuelan troops fire on protesters at airbase, one killed (Reuters) Venezuelan troops yesterday fired what appeared to be rubber bullets at protesters attacking the perimeter of an airbase and a demonstrator was killed, bringing renewed scrutiny of the force used to control riots that have killed at least 76 people. At least two soldiers shot long firearms through the fence at protesters from a distance of just a few feet. One man collapsed to the ground and was carried off by other protesters, television footage showed. Paramedics took at least two other injured people to a hospital, a Reuters witness said. The protesters who attacked the fence outside La Carlota airbase in the wealthy east of Caracas, earlier burned a truck and a motorbike when security forces broke up a march destined for the attorney general’s office. David Jose Vallenilla, 22, died after arriving at a hospital in the Chacao municipality where the protest happened, the mayor said. “He died at a private clinic where he arrived in very bad condition,” said Mayor Ramon Muchacho. Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have taken to the streets over the past months to protest a clampdown on the opposition, shortages of food

and medicine and President Nicolas Maduro’s plan to overhaul the constitution. The reaction of the security forces to provocation from protesters has been in the spotlight since images showed a national guard pointing a pistol at protesters on Monday. Opposition lawmaker Jose Manuel Olivares said Vallenilla had been killed by the national guard firing rubber bullets at point blank range. Olivares, whose arm was wounded in the protest, called for sit-ins on highways on Friday and protests at military bases on Saturday. Vallenilla suffered wounds to the lungs and heart, a doctor who attended him told Reuters. Reuters could not independently confirm that Vallenilla was the shooting victim shown in television footage. The attorney general’s office said he was shot three times. “The troops found responsible for crimes will be presented before the law,” said Interior Minister Nestor Reverol, calling on the opposition to stop violent protests. Maduro says the violence is part of a foreign-led plot to overthrow his government. A small group of protesters throwing petrol bombs and powerful fireworks from behind flimsy homemade shields was able to

rip down a section of the fence surrounding the airbase, despite volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets. At least one soldier aimed a shotgun through the fence, Reuters pictures showed. The national guard uses shotgun cartridges filled with small rubber balls in protests. Venezuela’s national guard is a wing of the military charged with internal public order. It mainly uses tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets to control protests that frequently escalate into riots. On Monday, a teenager died during another protest in the same area after footage showed a national guard soldier pointing a pistol at protesters. After that incident, Maduro moved the head of the national guard to a new position looking after security in the capital, part of a reshuffle that brought several more military figures into his cabinet. The government is investigating troops involved in Monday’s incident. “I have ordered an investigation to see if there was a conspiracy behind this,” Maduro said earlier yesterday, saying the men involved in Monday’s shooting had been detained.

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GWI to install 40,000 meters by end of this year The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has announced plans to install some 40,000 meters by the end of this year in an effort to reduce Non-Revenue Water (NRW) across the country. The entity in its mid-year report, noted that it has been boosting its efforts to ensure the reduction of NRW, which will aid in more water to become available in supply systems for customers. Non-revenue water is defined as water produced by the company, for which it receives no money in return, but is lost through factors such as leaks and meter malfunctions. The installation of these meters is expected to enhance the quality of service pro-

vided to Guyanese which will see service delivery move from 12 to 24 hours, the entity reported. Further, the entity is already carrying “an aggressive” leak detection programme. GWI’s plans to drastically reduce NRW, would come one year after a critical forensic report had called on the stateowned entity to pull out all stops to bring down its NRW losses from an alarming 70 percent to 45 percent within five years. The report, prepared by HLB R. Seebarran & Co, was released in May 2016 by the Ministry of Finance, and is one of several forensic audits ordered by the coalition government in 2015 into the op-

Low income homes to be provided for squatters The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) is currently engaging financial agencies, including the InterAmerican Bank (IDB,) to secure funding for low cost housing. This is to assist persons squatting on Government reserves. Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Adams-Patterson told the Department of Public Information/Government Information Agency (DPI/GINA) that the intention is to improve the conditions under which the people live. Specific emphasis, she said, will be placed on Sophia, East and West Ruimveldt in Georgetown. “It makes no sense you remove a squatter and give them a piece of land, they are going to move the very shack they’re living to that location, … you are just transferring a shanty town from one area to the next, and that is not what this government wants for our people….. So, my belief is that we must be able to have some low-cost houses built, whether what form we use, self-help or others…We build the house and then we relocate that squatter,” Minister Patterson said. It is the view of the CHPA that the people’s standard of living must be raised and provided with all the necessary amenities, in keeping with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of ensuring access to safe and affordable housing, Minister Adams-Patterson explained. From data collected, CH&PA is looking at the relocation of close to 12,000 persons. These include

people from East and West Ruimveldt, Sophia and Diamond on the East Bank Demerara. However, this figure only accounts for those persons who have been squatting for a certain number of years, not those who continue to build on squatting areas or those that rebuild on areas previous cleared of squatters. Minister AdamsPatterson made it clear that those persons, who are not on the ministry’s inventory, will be served notice to dismantle and remove. “Since we’ve been saying that we will be relocating those persons, there has been a mad rush for squatting and overnight some shacks are being erected. You are not on the inventory and you will be served contravention notice to dismantle and if you don’t, we will dismantle you,” the minister warned. Industry is one of the areas identified to have those houses built, because it is in close proximity to Sophia and East and West Ruimveldt, Minister Adams-Patterson explained. She said that it is the intention of CHPA to have this project included in its 2018 budget in December, so that works can begin early next year. While CH&PA has been working to relocate persons living in zero tolerance areas, (on government reserves) the authority has also been working to regularise a number of areas including Angoy’s Avenue (Cow Dam) which is the largest squatter settlement in Region Six, and has approximately 1010 lots.

erations of state entities. According to the forensic report, losses from non-revenue water had accounted for 70 percent of actual production. It is still unclear, in monetary terms, how much was being lost through NRW. The forensic report had stated that the 70 percent loss is to be blamed on a number of reasons including: leakages in water mains and home connections; illegal connections and non-billing of these; and over 50 percent of customers not metered which results in fixed billings. IMPROVING WATER QUALITY

Meanwhile, the GWI in its mid-year report stated that for the first half of this year, focus had been placed heavily on improving the quality of water and at the same time, implementing measures to increase water production and distribution. At present, works are being undertaken at several treatment plants such as Shelterbelt, Linden, Eccles, Sophia, Central Ruimveldt and New Amsterdam, to ensure that the water quality conforms to World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. Additionally, GWI has introduced the use of a new

treatment product called SeaQuest, which is currently being implemented at some pumping stations including Ithaca, Agricola, Bachelor’s Adventure and Clonbrook. This product, research shows, helps to maintain the clear quality of the water without the iron being oxidized. GWI is also advancing a programme for the construction and expansion of new water treatment plants across the country. This includes construction of new treatment plants at Sheet Anchor, Diamond and Uitvlugt. CUSTOMER SERVICES On the customer services front, GWI has recorded a 20

percent increase in its collections figure for the first half of 2017, when compared to the same period last year. GWI’s Customer Services and Commercial Relations Department has also commenced plans for the undertaking of a customer service satisfaction survey, even as its Customer Call Centre conducts feedback surveys with callers. In addition, the GWI said that steps are being taken to increase and improve customer interaction through the remodeling of the company’s website, community outreaches and radio and television call-in programs.

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US$6M from World Bank to improve electronic cash transfers With critical technological advances being made every day, countries are forced to augment their current systems with these developments in order to better answer the calls being made by their populace. Over the years, several systems would have been merged with technology in order to provide effective and efficient services. The global financial system has not been immune to these mergers. In fact, one of the spinoffs from this hybrid, have borne fruit for countries that are grappling with corruption, money laundering, terrorism and other things that are criminal in nature. There have been calls for the rest of the world to shift from paper to plastic and from physical to electronic transactions. These conversions in other jurisdictions, have aided law enforcement entities in carrying out their work. Guyana is seemingly getting on board with this global trend. The Government yesterday inked a US$6M loan agreement with the World Bank through the

“Finance Minister Winston Jordan (centre), inking the agreement with a World Bank official in the presence of government ministers and World Bank representatives.

International Development Association (IDA) to improve Guyana’s national payments system (NPS). Finance Minister Winston Jordan, signed this agreement on behalf of the State, at his Ministry, on High Street, Georgetown. Attending the event, were representatives the World Bank, Bank of Guyana, and the Ministry of Education. The objective of the project is to improve Guyana’s NPS by enhancing

safety and efficiency of payments. Kaieteur News was informed that the Government of Guyana could save up to $266 million (0.04 % of GDP) annually by switching from paper-based payment mechanisms to electronic payments. Further, the Banking System will have the capability of settling transactions across banks in real time, benefitting a wide range of consumers, including individuals and

small businesses, Commercial Banks, Money Transfer Agencies and the Business Community. Speaking to the media after the inking of the agreement, was the Director of Projects attached to the Finance Minister, Tarachand Balgobin, who explained that the project will also look at the legal and regulatory framework, the mechanisms, the policies, and the procedures associated with the switch. He noted also that this mechanism has the

potential to solve the issue of security and insecurity that comes with the handling of large volumes of cash. The inking of this agreement would come months after the country was experiencing an upsurge of ‘trailing’ robberies where bank customers would be followed and robbed. The Guyana Police Force disbanded at least six groups in February this year, with many of the perpetrators now in jail. There would have been at least nine attacks on

persons leaving commercial banks between May 2016 and January 2017. Balgobin said yesterday also, that initially, the mechanism will be applied to the government system. “The Ministry of Finance’s payroll, the pension scheme system, the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) etcetera…It is expected that this will roll out into the private sector in time to come,” the official said.

CEO reiterates position of allowing children into schools at 3 years 6 months While there are different views on the prescribed age which children should start school, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Marcel Hutson has said that he does not subscribe to the notion that children should wait for an extended period before they enter the school system.

Mr. Huston was at the time addressing thirty-eight Early Childhood Educators and District Education Officers during a closing ceremony of a five-day master trainer workshop facilitated by the Guyana Early Childhood Education Project at the Regency Hotel.

In his remarks, the CEO reiterated that while there are different schools indicating that children should not enter at a certain age, he does not subscribe to the notion that children should wait for an extended period before they start to attend school. He pointed out that sev-

Granger rules out overseas... (From page 7) President said that he will not be driven into picking from one person; he needs to have a choice of six. “That is what the constitution calls for and that is what I insist on.” When asked whether he has indicated to Jagdeo names which might be acceptable or those that are not, Granger said that the appointment of the GECOM Chairperson could have been settled in a week. However, this was not possible since the two lists submitted were not consistent with the constitution. He reminded that when the first list was rejected, he was asked by Jagdeo to define

President David Granger his criteria. “I sent a list of my criteria and they have not been chal-

lenged. My criteria have not been challenged. So when the second list came…even a blind man could see that there were names on the list which could not conform to the criteria.” Meanwhile, the Guyana Bar Association has made amicus submissions in the matter involving businessman Marcel Gaskin, Attorney General, Basil Williams and Jagdeo. Gaskin had approached the court asking for an interpretation of the term fit and proper person contained in Article 161 (2) of Guyanas Constitution. This article speaks to the appointment of the GECOM Chairperson.

eral years ago the Ministry had changed the age for entry into a nursery school to 3 years 6 months. “Some persons had a difficulty with that,” Hutson said, adding that where education delivery is concerned, there is no room for division. “Together we can do the extraordinary.” The CEO emphasised that “if we catch them in the early stages of their lives we surely will be able to make an impact.” “(If) our children are able to learn at a very tender age, we must not deprive them of making the inroads we would want them to make.” Hutson went on to express “that we are in a very good place with respect to getting it right at the most fundamental/basic level and that is at the nursery level.” To add credence to his position on the matter, Hutson pointed to research that indicates that numeracy skills emerge during infancy and pre-school years when children are exposed to quantitative and spatial relationships in everyday activities. “They have also

Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson recognised that early development of numeracy can provide early childhood educators and elementary school teachers with the tools they need to nurture mathematical thinking. This workshop was the right thing to do and I am almost sure that out of this workshop we will see changes,” the CEO posited. “You must break the status quo and you must work in a way that we will see a transformation in our education sector. I believe if we get it right at the most basic level

we will make an impact for the better,” he urged. Mr Hutson indicated that he is hopeful that with the right foundation, the face of education and its delivery can be changed, once everyone is committed and dedicated. Teachers were also urged to see the opportunity as more than just another workshop and to create a working community that can bring about positive change. The Guyana Early Childhood Education Project seeks to improve emergent literacy and numeracy outcomes for children at the nursery level and primary grade one in Hinterland Regions and Targeted Remote Riverine Areas. This is being achieved through strengthening of the capacity and effectiveness of nursery and Grade 1 teachers, providing additional teaching and learning materials to nursery and Grade 1 classes, and reinforcing primary caregiver engagement in children’s early learning. The project is funded by the Global Partnership for Education, managed by the World Bank, and executed by the Ministry of Education.

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Kaieteur News

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GRA boss pulls in support of former cops for investigative dept. The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has taken the decision to implement a crucial internal affairs department which would investigate staff members who are caught in certain “suspicious” circumstances. This is according to GRA’s Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia. In an interview with Kaieteur News, Statia explained that such a department is absolutely necessary for the Authority as it seeks to restore the confidence of the public in the entity as well as improve its day to day operations. Statia said, too, that he is interested in accountability and transparency, and it is in this light that he will be seeking to not only catch those taxpayers trying to cheat the system, but even those officials within GRA who may be working along with them. The Commissioner-General said, “We need a proper internal affairs department that properly investigates our staff to see who is living above their means and what is actually taking place. I have been in discussions with former police officers and I have been able to get the former Crime Chief Mr. Henry Chester and he would head that team.” Speaking to the importance of such a department, Statia reminded of some of the damning discoveries he made when he took over as Commissioner-General. In this regard, he cited the fact that there were corrupt practices involving certain GRA staff in the Customs Department, which has resulted in tremendous revenue leakages. The tax boss noted that the Customs Department was one area which was fraught with such schemes. “When I got there, I did a few set of analyses and I found that in the area of cus-

Friday June 23, 2017

Kaieteur News

GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia toms, there was lots of misclassification of imports. Based on the codes, you know that they misclassified a lot of items, and this was so that (importers) either get zero rates or lower rates,” Statia disclosed. The GRA Commissioner-General said he found that the misclassification of imports was due to two reasons; ignorance or collusion. With respect to collusion, Statia found that there were instances where some officers were placed at the wharves just to collect benefits for their superiors. “What we have also found is that some of the supervisors and some of the heads and wharf managers… they have their people, whether or not you like it. People were transferred to wharves strictly to collect (benefits) for their managers and their heads. I know the entire trick…” To address the issue of collusion, the CommissionerGeneral said that he had to put in place a system of staff rotation. “What that approach does, is it enables you to move people around, so that by doing so, those who take over from them have the opportunity of checking to see the work that was done before,” Statia had said. (Kiana Wilburg)

Proper procurement planning needed in tendering process Chairman of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Berkeley Wickham noted yesterday that there needs to be proper procurement planning within the national procurement process. Wickham said this during an orientation exercise held at the Police Officers Training Complex on Camp Street. The event was organised by NPTAB to sensitise persons interested in becoming evaluators to assess tenders for public projects. Procurement planning is the third step in the procurement process. According to the NPTAB Chairman, poor procurement

- NPTAB Chairman solution. Speaking on the need for proper procurement planning, Wickham said that if these government agencies know they need something they should work backwards, so as to ascertain when they should start the process. He said that if it is that infrastructure works needs to be done, then the procuring entities (government agencies) can get their designs in order, prepare the necessary documents, and get proper engineers estimates. According to Wickham, if this is done, the tendering

be no rush to evaluate bids, leading to emergency purchases being made. He said that from 2018, proper procurement planning will be mandatory. Moreover, Wickham informed the prospective evaluators that there is an economic significance of public procurement. He said that it is a critical part of economic development of Guyana and is estimated in the order of 20 to 30 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product. He said that this is so, since Guyana has a comparatively weak private sector and

The Chairman stressed that as evaluators the attendees will have to ensure that detailed written records are kept in the form of evaluation reports to achieve transparency. This means that minutes, among other things, must detail the actions of the evaluation panel throughout the procurement process. He said that this will ensure that any discriminatory behaviour can be prevented or at least monitored. Offering further clarity to the process, Wickham said that the public procurement process ends with the contract award. He said that activities which follow are re-

Prospective evaluators attentive during the presentations yesterday

planning is something that is hurting the tendering process. During his presentation, Wickham said that public procurement is the process whereby the government identifies needs and problems for which the acquisition of goods, services and work are the appropriate solution. He said that after the needs are identified, the government engages the market to identify suppliers for the relevant

process can begin, evaluators can evaluate the submitted bids and the recommendations can be made to the procuring entity in a timely manner. He said that when the procuring entity approves the recommendation it is returned to NPTAB for approval. However, if the cost of the contract award is above $15M, the recommendation must be forwarded to Cabinet for its no objection, before returning to NPTAB for final award. Wickham said that if government agencies start working at a certain time, there will

government therefore acts as a primary economic driver. The NPTAB Chairman added that there are a number of stakeholders involved in the procurement process. Wickham added that the key concepts of public procurement are outlined in the Procurement Act of 2003. These concepts include the maximisation of the economy and efficiency in procurement, achievement of transparency in the procedures relating to procurement and the promotion of competition among suppliers and contractors.

ferred to as contract administration. Also addressing the prospective evaluators was Chief Executive Officer of NPTAB, Donald De Clou. He reiterated the point that detailed records must be kept by evaluators so as to build public confidence in the procurement process. He said that ideally there should be a chairperson to lead the process and a secretary to provide support to the chairperson. He informed the attendees that the evaluation committee has one job and that is to make recommendations to the procuring entity. He said that the committee is appointed the day before the opening of tenders and a recommendation of the lowest evaluated tender is expected to be made to the procuring entity no later than 14 days. The NPTAB had recently advertised in the print media for persons interested in being evaluators. According to the Boards Chairman, the appeal to the public is geared towards widening the scope of available evaluators. He said that currently, the majority of evaluators are persons found within the public service. Each evaluator will be paid $3000 per evaluation.

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Govt. chips in with $2.5M for Washington-bound robotics team

STEM participants and First Lady, Mrs Sandra Granger, were present yesterday when Education Minister (ag), Nicolette Henry, presented the $2.5M cheque. Guyana is set to field a team to the first International Robot Olympics for high school students scheduled for Washington D.C from July 16 to 28, 2017. There they will compete against 160 other nations. Yesterday, the Ministry of Education made a donation of $2.5M to the Guyana STEM Robotics at the Office of First Lady, State House, to support the process. According to the ministry, this tangible contribution was handed over to the seven team members by Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry in the presence of First Lady, Mrs Sandra Granger. Minister Henry, in encouraging the team, noted that her Ministry is pleased to lend

support. The minister said that she urged that they grab the opportunity to serve as ambassadors since “the experience would be valuable to their development.” The seven students selected to compete on Guyana’s team are Shawn Singh, Arianna Mahase, Anthony Frank, Chris Nelson, Deviknandan Ramnarase, Horace Moseley, Farnaz Baksh and Ricky Chand from STEM Guyana. The students will be building and programming a robot. The FIRST Global Challenge is an international robotics event where students from nearly 160 nations worldwide will travel to Washington, D.C. this July to partici-

pate in the inaugural game. It is the organisers’ hope to ensure that it becomes an event that will be held in different nations annually. Teams comprise high school students, with the goal of increasing their knowledge of STEM so they can become the next generation of scientific leaders who will work together to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems. Established in 2016, STEM Guyana, with support from the government as well as local and overseas sponsors, prepares young people in Guyana to use their creativity, brilliance, and innovative spirits to create technologyrelated solutions to problems in their community.

PM lauds Carter Center for crucial role in Guyana’s political life Jason Calder, country representative of the Carter Center, is wrapping up his stint in promoting transparency and multi- stakeholder cooperation in Guyana. During a meeting with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Wednesday, Calder recalled his Center’s role in esta b l i s h i n g t h e Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GEITI), as Guyana heads towards being an oil and gas economy. Prime Minister Nagamootoo expressed gratitude for the critical work of the Carter Center in bringing good governance to Guyana, and conveyed his personal appreciation to former President Jimmy Carter for his outstanding role in the political life of Guyana. The First Vice President also applauded the initiative by Calder in promoting understanding of the constitutional reform process, and indicated willingness to work

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Jason Calder, country representative of the Carter Center with the Carter Center in the future, to realize the goals of the process which includes government – opposition co-

operation. Calder leaves Guyana next month after his one-year stint.

ECLAC chief calls for rethinking economic model for the C’bean MEXICO CITY (CMC) – The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Alicia Bárcena, has called for rethinking the economic model and implementing a new paradigm for the region that contributes to putting an end to economic, social and environmental inequalities, and moving toward sustainable development. On Wednesday, ECLAC said that the senior United Nations official participated in a high-level event, entitled “Fractures in globalization and their implications for emerging economies,” held here in the framework of the 18th World Congress of the International Economic Association (IEA), organized jointly with the Mexican Center for Research and Teaching of Economics (CIDE). While speaking on the first panel on “Rethinking global finance – The perspectives of emerging economies,” ECLAC said Bárcena affirmed that “capitalism and hyperglobalization have led us to social, political and environmental problems that are not sustainable, which means we must reimagine ourselves as a society in terms of consumption and production.” She said the region needs an industrial policy and a serious policy for productive diversification, aimed at greater growth and

development. In her analysis, ECLAC’s top representative called for forging a new social compact that manages to halt the growing gap between rich and poor. Bárcena said this gap is reaching new extremes, citing Credit Suisse figures that recently revealed that the richest 1 percent has accumulated more wealth than the rest of the world. “Meanwhile, the wealth of the lower half of humanity has fallen in the last six years. This is just the latest evidence showing that today we live in a world with inequality levels that perhaps have not been seen in more than a century,” Bárcena warned. She added that, according to Forbes magazine, eight individuals alone concentrate an amount of wealth that is equivalent to that of humanity’s poorer half and, among these billionaires, six are linked to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industries. Bárcena said that macroeconomic management and industrial, innovation- and technologyrelated policies are crucial for resolving social problems, warning that the heterogeneity of productive structures among countries is accentuated due to the current technological revolution of the digital economy. Furthermore, she said that globalization is increasingly being

ECLAC chief Alicia Bárcena questioned, mainly in developed countries, “which has provoked an increase in nationalism, opposition to new trade agreements, resistance to immigration and the emergence of antiglobalization movements,” according to ECLAC. In light of this scenario, Bárcena said international cooperation is the key for making progress on the regulation of markets, administering tensions, reducing inequalities and consolidating an open international system that protects public goods and shared and inclusive prosperity. Bárcena also called for moving toward an open multilateralism, “an essential mechanism for confronting the economic, social and environmental tensions provoked by the uncertain international situation.”

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Laudable work of Ptolemy Reid Centre recognised ...as Rehab Week is observed

An external view of the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre

A differently able child being exposed to a fun rehabilitative routine. Fifty years ago, the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre was a small operation catering to the needs of persons who had fallen victim to poliomyelitis [polio]. The infectious disease, which has had deadly outcomes, has also been referred to as infantile paralysis, since it has been known to attack mainly children. But the Centre 50 years later has evolved considerably. This is according to the Rehabilitation Officer in charge of the daily operation of the Centre, Ms. Cynthia Massay. During an interview with this publication on Wednesday, Massay disclosed that the Centre started its jubilee celebration since January. The celebratory mode started off with an interfaith service and brunch. A number of other activities have since been held in observance of its 50 years of existence. Wednesday was the most recent, which saw Minister of Public Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence, touring the facility as part of Rehabilitation Week which is currently being observed under the theme “Reaching out, empowering communities.” Even as she spoke of the evolution of the Centre, Massay disclosed that “it has now become a national rehabilitation complex, because it has grown beyond what it was. It is an organisation that provides rehabilitation services firstly to children with physical and development disabilities”. In fact the facility today provides a range of services including: speech therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. The centre also provides temporary accommodation for some children

who arrive there on Monday mornings and return to the care of their families on Friday afternoons. “They stay all week and they have their therapy done,” Massay explained, even as she disclosed that these differently-able children can also access the Harold B. Davis Special School which is also situated within the Carmichael Street, Georgetown, Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Complex. As she divulged the various services offered, Massay noted, “a lot of people do not know what goes on here...a lot of people do not know that the kids come here and they go to school too.” Some 60 children are enrolled at the school at three levels. Added to this, Massay said that “We also have a vocational training unit also for children with physical and development disabilities.” But even more is offered at the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre. About 10 children are offered permanent residence there and a Day Care Centre service is offered to several others. The latter is especially important, Massay said, since “day care centres in and around Georgetown will not accept a child with a disability because they have no idea how to manage that child. So the parents bring their children in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon...” Currently the Centre’s Day Care caters to some 35 children with disabilities. But the Centre has been even more of a saviour to many more through its National Orthotic and Prosthetic Appliance Workshop. According to Massay, “that workshop caters to all persons in Guyana who need

prosthetic and orthotics [devices].” “When we started as a little polio centre there was a little unit for that, now we have a whole new shop....it’s a big shop that provides to the entire population of persons with disabilities that need our service,” Massay said. The Board-operated Centre receives an annual subvention from Government which also pays the salaries of the health and teaching staff at the facilities. Currently about 60 individuals make up the health staff and 12 represent the teaching staff. However, since the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre is registered as a not for profit non-governmental organisation, those accessing the services are expected to pay a user charge. But according to Massay, “it is not the true economic cost, because all they pay for is the replacement materials; they don’t pay for labour, overheads or anything else.” However, Massay informed that “we don’t deny any person an appliance because they can’t afford it, be-

Minister Volda Lawrence [at left] in the company of Ms Cynthia Massay and Mr. John Browman upon her arrival at the Centre on Wednesday. cause we have a number of safety nets.” Among its supporters are the Ministry of Social Protection, the Ministry of Public Health and a few other organisations. Currently the Centre has been working closely with the Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Church to facilitate a project which will see the church, based on the Centre’s

recommendation, paying for the appliance for an individual in need. Stressing the importance of the Centre, Vice Chairman of the Centre’s Board of Directors, Mr. John Browman, said that “the public at large in Guyana needs to ensure that it utilises the information that we have been putting out about the Centre, because the

Centre offers a range of activities that are badly needed in our society.” He continued, “I believe that the difficulties, however, might well be in terms of the fact that people do not really look on the persons who are differently challenged in the way that they should, and we suffer as a result in that regard.”

ACP-EU call on US to renew position of global climate deal MALTA (CMC) – The United States has been urged to review its position on climate change. The call was made on Wednesday following a meeting of the ACP-EU joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) held here. The JPA brings together members of the European Parliament along with members of parliament from the 78 African Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP). In a declaration from the ACP-EU, the JPA said that climate change is a global phenomenon, which continue to have dramatic effects the environment, of all countries. “The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly reaffirms its total commitment to full implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change and calls on the global community to maintain the momentum for ambitious action.” The Assembly reaffirmed its unequivocal support for the Agreement reached at COP 21 in Paris in 2015. “The Assembly therefore profoundly regrets the decision of the current US Administration to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. This decision has been met with astonishment, disappointment and outcry from the international community, which has expressed continued solidarity and commitment to implement the Paris Agreement in all its elements.” The declaration also notes that the business community and certain states in the USA have on the whole reaffirmed

their commitment to address the effects of climate change. As a result, the Government of the United States has been urged to review its position and re-commit itself to the Paris Agreement. “The Assembly henceforth invites the EU and the ACP states to start collaborating with American actors who wish to do so on the implementation of the COP 21 objectives. The Assembly emphasises that concerted global action is necessary to combat greenhouse gas emissions and prevent negative impacts of climate change. Delivering on the long term goals of the Paris Agreement is paramount.” The Assembly said that they key objective of the next UN climate conference in November this year (COP23) should be to maintain momentum and cohesiveness towards the commitment to implement the Paris Agreement and, in particular, to address the challenges faced by the most vulnerable countries, including Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries, land-locked countries and coastal countries. “The Assembly therefore urges all parties and stakeholders to move forward with the economy-wide lowcarbon transition measures needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure all nations are provided with the support they need for implementation, so that no one is left behind,” the declaration states.

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Friday June 23, 2017

St. Vincent’s sole death row inmate gets favourable Privy Council ruling KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ only death row prisoner will benefit from a Privy Council ruling that found unconstitutional, a law excluding persons in the country sentenced to death from applying for an extension of time to have their case reviewed by a higher court. The ruling relates to Patrick Lovelace, who was convicted of the 2002 murder of 12-year-old Lokeisha Nanton, whose nude body was found hanging from a tree in Sion Hill. With the Privy Council ruling, the matter will be remitted to the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, which will decide whether to grant an extension of time in this case. Lovelace was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 2004. His conviction and sentence were initially quashed but then re-imposed following a re-trial in 2009. Lovelace appealed unsuccessfully against his conviction in 2012, and then, in 2014, applied for an extension of time to appeal against his death sentence, as his previous appeal did not address

this. This application was denied on the basis that the court had no jurisdiction to grant an extension of time in death penalty cases. In SVG, a person must apply for permission to appeal within 14 days of the date of their conviction. While there is a provision allowing individuals to apply for an extension of time in other cases, death row prisoners are explicitly exempted from exercising this right. The London-based Death Penalty Project, an independent international human rights organisation, challenged the constitutionality of this legal provision to the Privy Council. The Death Penalty Project, which was instructed by prominent Vincentian lawyer Kay Bacchus-Baptiste, a human rights activist, argued that the legal provision exempting death row prisoners from exercising the right to apply for an extension of time to file an appeal amounted to a denial of due process for death row prisoners. “In its judgment, the Court found the rule to be ‘rigid’ and ‘inflexible’ and the offending section of the law

was considered unconstitutional. The Privy Council’s decision is consistent with the approach taken by the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal in Cannonier & Others, one of our previous cases from St Kitts and Nevis which successfully addressed the same issue,” the Death Penalty Project said. Bacchus-Baptiste told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that she thinks that the Privy Council ruling “has far-reaching implications because it means now a person who is on death row who appeals out of time now has a chance to apply to the court to extend the time within which to appeal. “Before, that couldn’t happen once it was too late. And I really don’t understand the reason for it because I think it should be even. I think it was discriminatory against death row persons. And that’s why the Privy Council said it was contrary to the Constitution, and I agree with them. “I think that in the future, if something like that happens, then it would not deprive someone who has been sentenced to death to appeal out of time.”

US releases comprehensive Multi-Year Strategy for Engagement with the Caribbean WASHINGTON, CMC – In keeping with a mandate from the US–Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act, or HR 4939, which became Public Law 114-29, after being signed last year by former United States President Barack Obama, the US has released a “Multi-Year Strategy for Engagement with the Caribbean.” On Wednesday, the US Department of State said that it has, in coordination with the US Agency for International Development (USAID), submitted the strategy to the US Congress “that establishes a framework for enhancing the security a n d p r o sperity of the United States and its Caribbean partners. “Considered the ‘third border’ of the United States, the Caribbean is a vital part of our efforts to counter organized crime and illicit trafficking, support democracy throughout the Western hemisphere, strengthen energy security, and create jobs through increased trade and invest-

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ment,” said the State Department in a media note. “A secure and stable Caribbean contributes to a safer and more prosperous United States by securing the US border, protecting US citizens abroad, and increasing opportunities for US exports,” it added. “The United States will continue to work with the Caribbean region to support commitments in the multi-year strategy; encourage private sector-led growth and job creation; reduc e energy costs through diversification, regulatory reform, and public-private partnerships; and maximize partnerships in health and education for more sustainable growth and development in the Western Hemisphere.” The State Department said the US Congress mandated this Caribbean strategy “underscores US interest in enhanced relations with the governments of the Caribbean, the Caribbean Diaspora, the private sector and civil society.”

Former Haitian Rebel Leader Jailed in US For Money Laundering Conspiracy

Guy Philippe FLORIDA, United States,– Former Haitian coup leader and senior police officer Guy Philippe is set to begin a nineyear jail term in the United States after being sentenced on a drug-related, money laundering conspiracy charge. US District Judge Cecilia Altonaga handed down the ruling on 49-year-old Philippe who was arrested in Haiti in January just days before be-

ing sworn in as a senator, which would have given him immunity from prosecution. After initially pleading not guilty, he changed his tune in April and reached a plea deal with prosecutors to avoid the possibility of life in prison. Philippe confessed that he accepted between $1.5 million and $3.5 million in cocaine profits from Colombian traffickers for allowing

them to use Haiti to ship cocaine to Miami and other parts of the United States between 1999 and 2003. According to a statement filed with his plea deal, Philippe admitted that he not only shared the bribes from narco-traffickers with fellow officers in the Haitian National Police, but he also wired hundreds of thousands of dollars to the United States to buy a home in Broward County and support his family. Philippe wired $376,000 from banks in Haiti and Ecuador to a joint account with his wife, Natalie, at First Union in Miami. To avoid detection, he used the names of others to wire the funds to his account. Philippe also admitted that he deposited more than $70,000 into his account in a series of transactions of less than $10,000 to avoid federal reporting requirements. (Caribbean360)

Jamaica and Guatemala sign visa waiver agreement KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – A visa abolition agreement has been expanded between Jamaica and Guatemala that will now see holders of diplomatic and official passports being granted visa ex-

emptions. The agreement was signed in Mexico on Wednesday by Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith and Guatemalan Foreign Minister, Carlos

Raúl Morales Moscoso . Jamaica and Guatemala already have a Visa Abolishment Agreement for citizens who travel between the two countries for tourism purposes.

PAGE 30

FOR SALE

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

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 6471773/660-5257

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. For all your landscaping, weeding yards and empty lots, spraying for weeds and insects. Call Chris: 628-5990 Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigration Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496/ 662-6045

LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Nine (9) pure bred German shepherd pups, location: La Grange, W.B.D – Call: 654-6354 Mixed breed pups- Tel: 6469002/ 601-9414 Bully dogs mix with pit-bull puppies. Call: 684-9994/6878320 ask for Keno (1) 600 amps automatic transfer switch, price negotiable. Call: 627-7835

VEHICLE FOR SALE 3.5 TON & 4 TON CANTER, OPEN BACK WITH 4D35 & 4D34 ENGINE, PRICE -$3.8M & $4.2M. CALL: 617-2891 TOYOTA FIELDER – 2009 WITH BODY KIT & RIMS $2.5M, SIENTA -$2.1M. CALL: 617-2891 Suzuki Escudo fully powered, mag rims, excellent condition. Call: 625-7380 1 Hilux Surf 3Y Engine. Call: 626-3644

Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, video games & repairs – Call: 672-2566; 265-3231 Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999 AT 192 Car, Price $450,000.00 negotiable. Tel: 643-4049 6 Cows for sale @ La Penitence, G/Town. Call: 6947796/231-0597/671-0614

Cheapest new model Toyota IST, Fielder Wagon, Super G.L Buses, Long base and Base canter TM truck. Call: 616-7635 TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)

ACCOMMODATION Journey Inn apartment rental, short term with AC & Kitchen, as low as -$15US. Call: 6421783/ 646-3011634/7182301695

CAR RENTAL

Friday June 23, 2017

Kaieteur News

LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages). FOR SALE/FOR RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578

CAR RENTAL

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

DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM

PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 677-7827, 6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM

AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

WANTED 1 Accounts Clerk, preferably from E.B.D – 5 subjects CXC minimum @ gtcareers592@gmail.com

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

Hairdresser/Nail Technician apply at West Shore Plaza, 15 Public Road, Ruimzeight, W.C.D. Call: 269-1524/656-3561

Property @ the corner of 172 Zohora St. & Market St. Better Hope, East Coast Dem - $11.5M neg. Call: 220-1583 between 7am-5pm only.

Experienced caterpillar mechanic contact 223-5273/4 One cleaner to work at hotel contact 223-5273/4 Truck driver for TM and Model M trucks contact 2235273/74 Canter Driver; must have a lorry License contact 2235273/74 One live in domestic and gardener to work in Mahaicony River. Call: 6559419/ 225-6571 One experienced cook for various types of vegetarian dishes, working hours from 7:00am-2:00pm, Monday Saturday 623-1615 Experienced salesgirls @ Christine’s Variety Store, Lombard Street. Call: 2278529

PROPERTY FOR SALE

2 Story building with extralarge land in well built $74.5M. Call: 220-1583 between 7am-5pm only. Beautiful 2 storey concrete, 4 bedroom property for sale at Rumzeight Garden, W.C.D with AC/ Hot & Cold water. Call: 699-9666/ 269-0189 House for sale, 2 flat, no flooding, 6ft fence, price $18M negotiable. Call: 2335400, 218-0595 One three bedroom concrete house for sale Contact Mala: 917-254-2909, location: Vryheid’s Lust, North. Call: 699-4111/626-2208 Aubrey Barker - $28M, Greenheart -$25M, Norton Street -$11M, ½ Mile - $16M, Atlanticville - $28M, Kitty $10M, $30M. Call: 231-7805/ 618-7483

Female worker wanted that finished CXC 2017. Call: 6225518

VACANCY One experienced pharmacy assistant to work in a reputable pharmacy in G/ Town (flexible hours). Call: 227-0630 Office Assistant: passes in Maths and English, computer Literacy, submit CV: ifsvs@hotmail.com One female cleaner for office in Eccles call 233-2745. Immediate vacancy for 2 females to work @ Ice Factory in Blairmont, must have Maths, English. Call: 231-1408/642-9191 Accounts clerk: English A (Grade 1) , Mathematics, P.O.A (Grade 2), knowledge of NIS, PAYE, VAT &QuickBooks @ Technical Services, Eccles. Call 6144358 Maid for Nandy Park. Please call 614-4358 Janitor/Cleaner @ Shakoor’s Seafood, Eccles. Call: 233-2546 Female sales representative for fashion boutique age 1830, demonstrate passion for fashion. Call: 614-2986/email a p p l i c a t i o n : warren.wintz@gmail.com

One live in domestic, must know to cook “roti & curry” from county side, 18yrs-25yrs old. Call: 680-7402 EDUCATIONAL Canadian School of Arts & Science: Summer Classes 2017- Pre-K, Nursery, Primary, Secondary (July 10th – August 11th). Call: 216-6921/ 22 for registration I.A.E – Registered now for full-time secondary school, lessons, CXC/CSEC classes, adults, students, repeaters. Call: 683-5742/621-7365 9 Course, Diploma in computer- office 2016, windows 10 -$20,000 off for CXC students 2017 @ MicroGraphics, Vreed-enHoop. Call: 264-3057

Security to work at hotel. Call: 626-1501 2 Waitresses ages 18-30yrs old. Apply in person @ Flatshop, 245 Sheriff St., C/ Ville (between Pike & John Smith Sts.) Opposite Sankar’s. Call: 697-4576 One maid attractive salary offered. Call: 663-4876 We are buying land anywhere in Guyana, residential house lots & others. Call: 651-1969/ 6292881 Waitress to work in Superbet Bar. Call: 628-4776

Summer Computer Glasses for age 5-14 early registration -$8,500 @ MicroGraphics, Vreed-en-Hoop. Call: 2643057

Hardworking, pleasant, physically fit, literate, team player (Plant Shop Staff) 1825 years. Tel: 646-2108, Georgetown

Computerized Accounting, PC Repairs, graphics courses. Register Now @ MicroGraphics, Vreed-enHoop. Call: 264-3057/Study in Canada or USA Call Now!

One female domestic to work in Trinidad. ages between 25 40yrs. Free accommodation. Call or whatsap: 1868- 683-1528

WANTED 1 Handyman, ages 30-40yrs½ day, preferably in G/Town, Monday-Saturday, apply in person 21 Seaforth Street C/ Ville. Call: 624-7436/226-1877

Experienced Handyboy @ Christine’s Variety @ Lombard Street. Call: 227-8529 Middle age couple (40-50) to live and work on farm/resort at Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke Highway. Call: 643-0333/6978008

LAND FOR SALE

FOR RENT

Prime Gold & Diamond Mining Land for sale contact 223-5273/74

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 4 Rooms for rental on top flat, bottom flat for business, 230 South Road Bourda. Call: 653-4366/ 690-9948

Land at 42 Coglan Dam, size: 37X270 price -$5.5M negotiable. Call Mr. Howes: 677-9938 or Mrs Clarke: +13473870537 Land for sale at Block “12” Lot 176, First Street, Non Pariel, E.C.D- Call: 669-5532/ 270-5302 La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.4M, Farm -$2.8M, Herstelling $4M, Uivlugt -$2.6M, Bartica -$3M. Call: 651-1969/ 6292881 La Parfaite Harmonie, main road, business spot - $2M, $1.4M, $1.2M, $1M, Farm $3.5M, Tuschen -$1.3M, Herstelling - $3.5M. Call: 6662326 La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.8M, $1.4M, $1.2M, $1M, Herstelling $3.5M, Tuschen Phase II -$1.2M, Eccles $5.5M. Call: 604-6724/ 6869608 MASSAGE Neisha’s Massage Spa. Call: 674-8147

3 Bedrooms bottom flat apartment, fully refurbished $65,000 monthly with 2 months security.Call: 2201583 between 7am-5pm only 2 Bedrooms bottom flat @ Happy Acres, E.C.D. Call: 220-3690 or 667-9539 New 2 Bedrooms house for rent with grill (low cost rental) @ Kuru Kururu. Call: 6271050/626-1027 2 Bedrooms apartment including water and internet, price - $40,000, location: Diamond Scheme, E.B.D. Call: 602-7135 Business spots to rent on Public Road, 15X15 space with A/C, PVC ceiling, 40X12 PVC Ceiling, running water. Call: 613-0448/672-8625 Continued on Page 31

Friday June 23, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Over 700 errant drivers nabbed by city’s CCTVs so far A total of 711 errant drivers have been charged due to the efficiency of the video surveillance of the Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras as compared to 487 in 2016. The figures represent the period January 01, 2017 to June 22, 2017 and January 01, 2016 to June 22, 2016 respectively which represents an increase of 224 more drivers being charged. This was disclosed by Traffic Chief Dion Moore dur-

ing an interview with the Department of Public Information/Government Information Agency (DPI/GINA). Moore explained that the cameras are “playing a major role in assisting us in detecting errant drivers who would have committed a traffic violation”. The Traffic Chief added that, “we have in place a monitoring system where we simultaneously, when the offence is being committed, have someone monitoring it and

then we communicate with ranks who are on the ground to nab those errant drivers”. The Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP), according to a government statement, which comes under the Ministry of Public Security is currently collaborating with stakeholders to initiate their ‘Safe City Project”. The ‘Safe City Project’ is a surveillance project integrated with patrol management. It essentially aims to aid

in the reduction of crime by utilising technology. This will see an additional 300 CCTV added to what already exists. Project Manager of CSSP Clement Henry said that they working with National Data Management Authority to determine the specification of the cameras to be procured. Funding for this project will be facilitated through the CSSP and the government of Guyana. The CSSP is a five-year programme funded by the In-

ter-American Development Bank (IDB) to the tune of US$15M. The CSSP is designed to increase the capacity of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in criminal investigation practices and crime prevention strategies. It focuses on skills training to improve community engagement and cooperation as well as systems strengthening to more effectively use data to proactively prevent and investigate crime and violence.

First Lady lauds Miss World Guyana contestants for focusing on social issues

From Page 30

TO LET 4 AC Rooms/ 1 extra room, for business/offices @ 21 Seaforth St. C/Ville, Georgetown. Call: 2261877, 624-7436, 654-9350 1 Bedroom bottom flat apartment -$45,000, 1 Bedroom upstairs apartment - $50,000, Garnett street, N/ town Kitty. Call: 226-2421, 652-5778 2 & 3 Bedrooms apartment, recently renovated, fully tiled & free Wi-Fi @ Nandy Park. Call: 641-3318 Alberttown - $50,000, $80,000, $40,000; Mandela -$80,000, ($250,000 – business), South - $100,000, Eccles, Durban Backland & many more. Call: 231-2199/ 660-7710 Huge one bedroom upper flat apartment in Bougainvillea in Park, Farm, E.B.D, Available as of July. Call: 616-7635

LEARN TO DANCE Dance to keep fit, lose weight build self-esteem while having fun, variety of styles. Call: 626-2629/676-6312 Learn Latin dancing in 2 months starting June 26, 2017 at 5:30pm Every Monday & Thursday For more info call 695-1325

First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger and the Miss World Guyana 2017 contestants. National Director of the pageant, Ms. Natasha Martindale is also pictured at far right. First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, recently applauded the Miss World Guyana 2017 contestants for selecting complex social issues that are affecting Guyanese to be the focus for their “Beauty with a Purpose” one-year projects. Mrs. Granger made these comments when nine of the 10 contestants vying for the Miss World Guyana crown on Sunday, paid a courtesy call at her State House office. The projects they discussed are required as part of the competition and range from domestic, sexual and child abuse, teen suicide, hunger and malnutrition and chronic diseases. The First Lady urged the young ladies, who have been dubbed beauty ambassadors, to ensure that they use empirical data to carefully plan

and execute the projects they are undertaking. “When people are asking you questions, you can answer and defend yourself better and promote your platform by saying I am focusing on this community [and] this is what we have,” the First Lady said. The First Lady told the contestants that to better address the social issues they have chosen, they must understand the complexities of each and how these are linked to other social problems. Making reference specifically to child abuse, Mrs. Granger said that, “In my experience we have had children being abused by a relative and the parent not taking any notice of it, because the person may be giving them groceries every month or

helping them out in some way, so they will turn their eyes away.” In this regard, she urged the beauty ambassadors to be cognizant of what is taking place in both the rural and urban communities. She further encouraged them to carefully research the regions that they are representing, so that they can adequately represent the various peculiarities that make each one unique. National Director of the Miss World Guyana Pageant, Ms. Natasha Martindale said that while the traditional view is that the women involved in pageantry are constantly bombarding each other with negativity, the coordinators are taking a different approach by promoting oneness and building a sister-

hood among the contestants. “Miss World Guyana would only be given to one of them, but at the end of the day they have embraced this journey and all of the ups and downs and they have learnt so much about each other. They are like sisters. It was a real bonding experience,” she told the First Lady. The contestants, who each represent one of the 10 administrative regions of Guyana, expressed gratitude to the First Lady for accom-

modating them and keeping an informative session that will help them to further develop and execute their projects in the respective communities. This year’s contestants, in chronological order, representing regions one to ten are Delisha Wright, Sharda Pramdeo, Hemwantie Seodat, Vena Mookram, Joelly Valentine, Thamesha Watson, Ariell Ghanie, Crystal Wills, Manisha Mai Lee Wong and Nitifah Thompson.

PEN PAL You deserve a relationship filled with love & excitement. Call Harmony Singles: 6262629/676-6312

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Kaieteur News

NATO jet intercepts Russian minister’s plane

Anger in Mosul as Islamic State destroys historic mosque Mosul’s destroyed Grand al-Nuri Mosque is seen in Mosul,

Washington (CNN) A Polish NATO F-16 fighter jet tried to intercept the plane of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in the Baltic Sea Wednesday, according to Russian state media. Correspondents for RIA and TASS both reported the incident based on what they saw from the minister’s plane. They said the NATO jet was “driven off” by a Russian Su-27 fighter, which “demonstrated” its armament by swinging its wings.

A NATO official confirmed that three Russian aircraft, including two fighters, were tracked over the Baltic Sea Wednesday. “As the aircraft did not identify themselves or respond to air traffic control, NATO fighter jets scrambled to identify them, according to standard procedures. NATO has no information as to who was on board. We assess the Russian pilots’ behaviour as safe and professional,” the official said. The same NATO official added that all sides involved

acted in a safe and professional manner, When asked by CNN if the NATO jet was chased away, the official said: “Once identification of the aircraft was complete, our jets broke away as it is standard procedure.” The Russian Defense Ministry has not responded to requests for comment from CNN. A television network run by the ministry released a video online that it described as showing the incident.

The leaning al-Hadba minaret that towered over Mosul for 850 years lay in ruins on Thursday, demolished by retreating Islamic State militants, but Iraq’s prime minister said the act marked their final defeat in the city. “In the early morning, I climbed up to the roof of my house and was stunned to see the Hadba minaret had gone,” Nashwan, a day-laborer who lives near the mosque, said by phone. “I felt I had lost a son of mine.” His words echoed the shock and anger of many over the destruction of the Grand al-Nuri Mosque along with its famous minaret, known affectionately as “the hunchback” by Iraqis. The demolition came on Wednesday night as Iraqi

forces closed in on the mosque, which carried enormous symbolic importance for Islamic State (IS). It was there that its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a “caliphate” as militants seized swathes of Syria and Iraq. He proclaimed himself the caliph, ruler of all Muslims, from the mosque’s pulpit. His black flag had been flying on the 150-foot (45metre) minaret since June 2014, after Islamic State fighters surged across Iraq. Russia said on Thursday there was a high degree of certainty Baghdadi was dead, according to RIA news agency. Moscow said last week its forces might have killed him, but Western and Iraqi officials are skeptical. Baghdadi has left the

fighting in Mosul to local commanders and is believed to be hiding in the border area between Iraq and Syria. LIBERATION “IN DAYS” Some analysts said the destruction of the mosque could in fact speed the advance of government forces, which had been slowed by fear of damaging it. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi went further. “Blowing up the al-Hadba minaret and the al-Nuri mosque amounts to an official acknowledgement of defeat,” he said on his website. “It’s a matter of a few days and we will announce the total liberation of Mosul,” he later told reporters in Baghdad, pledging to rebuild the mosque and other historical sites destroyed by the insurgents.

Intel chiefs tell investigators Trump suggested they refute collusion with Russians (CNN) Two of the nation’s top intelligence officials told Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team and Senate investigators, in separate meetings last week, that President Donald Trump suggested they say publicly there was no collusion between his campaign and the Russians, according to multiple sources. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and National Security Agency Director Adm. Mike Rogers described their interactions with the President about the Russia investigation as odd and uncomfortable, but said they did not believe the President gave them orders to interfere, according to multiple sources familiar with their accounts. Sources say both men went further than they did in

June 7 public hearings, when they provided little detail about the interactions. The sources gave CNN the first glimpse of what the intelligence chiefs said to Mueller’s investigators when they did separate interviews last week. Both men told Mueller’s team they were surprised the President would suggest that they publicly declare he was not involved in collusion, sources said. Mueller’s team, which is in the early stages of its investigation, will ultimately decide whether the interactions are relevant to the inquiry. Coats and Rogers also met individually last week with the Senate intelligence committee in two closed briefings that were described to CNN by Democratic and Republican congressional

sources. One source said that Trump wanted them to say publicly what then-FBI Director James Comey had told the President privately: that he was not under investigation for collusion. However, sources said that neither Coats nor Rogers raised concerns that Trump was pushing them to do something they did not want to do. They did not act on the President’s alleged suggestion. Trump has said repeatedly that no collusion occurred. “After seven months of investigations & committee hearings about my ‘collusion with the Russians,’ nobody has been able to show any proof. Sad!” he tweeted June 16. The White House did not comment for this story. The DNI, NSA and Mueller’s office also did not comment.

Friday June 23, 2017

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PAGE 34

Bottas predicts a ‘mess’ in challenging Azerbaijan Grand Prix (Reuters) Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas is expecting Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix to produce more drama than last year, when Nico Rosberg cruised to victory from pole position, and says drivers will not be put off by the track’s reputation. Last year, despite driver complaints about the safety of the Baku circuit, 18 of 22 cars finished the challenging anticlockwise track, which runs along the shores of the Caspian Sea and around the walls of the medieval old town. “We got kind of lucky,” Bottas told a news conference yesterday. “There was not much action. “It’s a track where, normally, things will happen, so my guess is that we’re going to see a bit more of a mess

Friday June 23, 2017

Kaieteur News

than before.” In 2016, Bottas’s Mercedes teammate, title contender Lewis Hamilton, started the race in 10th after clipping the barriers during qualifying, leaving his main rival Nico Rosberg on pole, and able to cruise to victory in a subdued race. Haas driver Romain Grosjean agreed that this year’s race should be more open. “Rosberg last year was far ahead and Lewis was at the back with various issues, so there weren’t many fights around the field.” During last year’s Baku qualifying, Bottas, then with Williams, registered the highest speed ever recorded in a Formula One session, reaching 373 km/h (234 mph) on what is the longest stretch of

any race on the calendar. The Finn drove superbly to claim victory on the streetstyle circuit in Sochi, Russia, in April, but, perhaps demonstrating Mercedes’ inconsistencies, last month his teammate Hamilton all but disappeared on a similar track, in Monaco. “It’s definitely a challenge here, it’s one of those places like Monaco or Singapore that there’s places where you can’t afford any kind of mistakes,” Bottas said. “You’re going so close to the walls and it’s sometimes even like touching them. That’s always a challenge ... You need to take some risks, and can’t lose focus at all.” Hamilton and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel each have three wins from seven races so far this season.

Windies in need of confidence ahead... (From page 33) Indies player pointed out. “Anisa bowled well today, seemed to have good control. We took some wickets there and created some pressure so it would have been interesting to see if we had a score on the board how the game would have panned out.” With captain Stafanie Taylor sitting out the contest

with a slight ankle injury, Drakes said it was important to give as many players an opportunity as possible to press their case. “We did not play with Stafanie Taylor. We’re still looking at the combinations and giving the ladies opportunities because they haven’t played much cricket back home and obviously to get the oppor-

tunity to play cricket here going into competition I think that is a positive for us.” Scores: WEST INDIES WOMEN 63 all out off 23.5 overs (Hayley Matthews 19; Masabata Klaas 4-14). SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN 65 for four off 19 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 26 not out; Anisa Mohammed 2-6).

Annual Olympic Day Cycling on... (From page 37) in the Olympic Charter in 1978 encouraging all National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to organise activities which promote the Olympic Movement. Tomorrow’s first event will be for BMX Boys 6-9

for the top individual performers. Meanwhile, the GOA in association with the Athletics Association of Guyana will host its annual 10k Team Run and Fun Walk-Jog-Run on Sunday commencing at 6:00am.

years and they will compete for 2-laps followed by races for 9-12 and 12-14 year olds, 3-laps apiece. Mountain Bike riders will test each other over the usual 5-laps, while the junior/juvenile contest will be a 10-lap affair. Trophies will be at stake

All plans are falling into place for... (From page 35) Printery. Banners promoting the tournament have been set up across Berbice, while television advertisement would start shortly. The winning team would take home $500,000 and the Patron’s trophy, the 1st runner-up prize is $300,000 and trophy, the 2nd runner-up would pocket $100,000 and trophy, while the 3rd runner-up will receive $50,000 and also collect a trophy. As part of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club celebration of its Patron 72nd Birthday, its eight cricket

teams would be publishing a Youth Information Booklet on Climate Change and Guyana’s Green Economy effort. The Booklet to be edited by the Club’s Secretary/CEO would be distributed free of cost to youths across Guyana in an effort to educate them on the effects of Climate Change on humanity. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club would also be sharing out 25 (twenty five) bicycles and 500 (five hundred) school bags to less fortunate students in Berbice, while cricket clubs would also receive donations of cricket

balls. The total package would be worth about $2M and would be done under the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club’s Patron Fund. A modern concrete scoreboard is also been constructed on the Area ‘H’ Ground under the Patron’s Fund. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club would like to express gratitude to all the cricket officials in Berbice who worked tirelessly to obtain official permission for the tournament. Foster is urging all cricket fans to support the cricket tournament as entrance would be free. Lucky Patrons at the finals would also receive prizes.

Hassan makes donation to... (From page 39) for athletes to succeed, so he hopes that his efforts will help to enhance the performance of the players. He promised to continue to assist the club and urged the youngsters to balance sports with education in order to become wellrounded individuals. Club Captain Mohamed told Kaieteur Sport that members of the club are elated about the gesture, adding that it will be of tremendous benefit to them. He said that acquiring quality equipment can be a challenge and expressed gratitude to Hassan and his wife Shabana Hassan, who is a former member of the club. Sans Souci Jaguars is one of the leading clubs in Wakenaam and participates in all cricket competitions organised by the Wakenaam Cricket Committee. (Zaheer Mohamed)

Friday June 23, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Being married to someone for many years takes work, Aries. No one said it was going to be easy. Hollywood promotes a fantasyland that can make your life look drab and boring by comparison.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Don't keep playing along with the games if you no longer want to repeat the same drama. By placing yourself in a victim role, you're opening yourself up to manipulation and control by others.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Today is a great day to make your big move, Taurus. If there's something in the love and romance department that you feel you need to act on, this is the day to do it. It's now or never.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today is excellent for you, Scorpio. You should be encouraged to take action in any artistic realm. Cook a scrumptious dinner and share it with a loved one.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Take your focus off you and concentrate on someone else for a day, Gemini. This doesn't mean focusing so the person will stop and pay attention to you.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Go weed the garden, Sagittarius. If you don't have a garden, start one. It's important for you to get into the Earth today, so roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) It might take an extra few minutes to get out of bed today, Cancer, but it will be worth it when you do. You will find that the more honest you've been with people, the more payoffs you will receive.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) There's great opportunity for romance today, Capricorn. Love the people you're with, but don't smother them. The more you loosen your grip on a situation, the more you will gain control of it.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Don't try to fit into a mold you simply don't belong in, Leo. You may have gone through a major transformation lately in which you went from being a square peg to a round peg.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) The active and receptive natures of your being are coming together, Aquarius. There's a balance between these two aspects.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) There may be subtle messages in people's words today that you need to attend to. Other people could be trying to send you hints in order to push your buttons. Confront them on this behavior.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Today is a fantastic day for you. Your sensual, caring nature will be appreciated, Pisces. Whether you actively pursue it or sit back and relax, you will receive the love and good fortune you desire.

Kaieteur News

Friday June 23, 2017

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Bolt to run in Monaco Windies in need of confidence before World Championships ahead of opener: Drakes Championships in London

Usain Bolt does his trademark ‘Lightning Bolt’ pose. (facebook) Paris, France (AFP) — Eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt will run the 100 metres at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco on July 21, organisers announced

Wednesday. The Jamaican sprinting legend is competing in his final season before retirement and will use the Monaco event as a warm-up f o r t h e W o r l d

that start on August 5. The world-record holder (9.58sec) won his first race of the year in Kingston earlier this month in 10.03sec, and is also due to run in Ostrava on June 28. Bolt, who has won three Olympic 100m-200m doubles, will only compete in the 100m for his farewell at the worlds. The 30-year-old saw his tally of Olympic gold medals reduced from nine to eight earlier this year, when the Jamaican team were stripped of their 2008 4x100m medals a f t e r N e s t a C a r t e r ’s disqualification for doping.

Match Officials Announced for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup Guyanese Gladwyn Johnson selected as part of TRAP Fast rising Guyanese referee, Gladwyn Johnson will be part of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Gold Cup as one of 12 Targeted Advanced Referee Program (TARP). TARP referees are part of the development strategy of the Confederation to provide an opportunity of working with elite officials in order to prepare them for future competitions. Game assignments will be announced prior to each match. Last month (May 11-14) Johnson participated in a TRAP programme that was held in Dallas Texas ahead of the Gold Cup. For the first time in the tournament history, all match officials will be stationed at a referee headquarters in Dallas, Texas, and travel to assigned games across the United States. C O N C A C A F announced the referee designations for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, featuring 17 experienced match officials from 10 countries within the region. These elite match officials were required to pass several assessments including the FIFA World Cup Candidate Fitness test, so that they could potentially be considered for an appointment to C O N C A C A F ’s m o s t important competition. The tournament will be played from July 7-26, 2017 in 14 stadiums in 13 metropolitan areas across the United

Gladwyn Johnson States. ”CONCACAF has selected top-class referees to officiate at the Confederation’s premier championship. These officials have undergone strenuous preparation and vetting as our commitment is to ensure consistent highquality performance on the field,” said CONCACAF Director of Refereeing, Brian Hall. “For the 14th edition of Gold Cup, officials will be based in Dallas in an effort to maximize the training and flow of crucial information to enhance game management.” The CONCACAF Referee Committee approved the list of participants, who were reviewed and selected by the CONCACAF Referee Technical Advisory Team, a cross regional group of refereeing experts. This team includes 60

participants, 17 referees, 25 assistant referees, six assessors and 12 members of the Targeted Advanced Referee Program (TARP). Taking place every two years, the CONCACAF Gold Cup is the official national team championship of the region, which includes North and Central America and the Caribbean, and will be broadcast in the United States on the FOX and Univision family of networks. TARGETED ADVANCED REFEREE PROGRAM (TARP) Juan Gabriel Calderon (CRC); Ismael Cornejo (SLV); Ismail Elfath (USA); Rodphin Harris (TRI); Gladwyn Johnson (GUY); Jose Kellys (PAN); Bryan Lopez (GUA); Hector Said Martinez (HON); Daneon Parchment (JAM); Michel Rodriguez Rogue (CUB); Ariel Ameth Sanchez (PAN)

Opener Hayley Matthews misses a stroke and is bowled during West Indies Women’s warm-up game against South Africa on Thursday. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)

OAKHAM, England, CMC – Head coach Vasbert Drakes says the challenge for the struggling West Indies Women will be to find confidence, as they desperately search for winning form ahead of opening game of the ICC Women’s World Cup next Monday against reigning champions Australia Women. Yesterday, the Caribbean slide plunged to their second loss of the official warm-ups and fifth defeat overall in four weeks, to be without a single win heading into the June 24 to July 23 tournament. “Like anything else we wanted to win the cricket game. We wanted to get into the game today. We didn’t do that from a batting perspective,” Drakes said

following the four-wicket defeat. “We didn’t put the runs on the board to be able to control the game so we’re a little disappointed in today’s effort as a batting unit.” He continued: “I don’t think it’s a matter of turning it around, it’s just a matter of getting them to understand what it takes to build a batting innings, construct a score, put a target on the board where we can defend. “It’s about building confidence. Certainly over the next couple of days it would be getting them to focus on playing positive cricket, playing brave cricket and also playing smart cricket.” West Indies slumped to an embarrassing 63 all out off 23.5 overs after opting to bat first at Lime Kilns

Ground. They lost their last seven wickets for three runs in the space of 49 deliveries. In-form openers Hayley Matthews (19) and Felicia Walters (14) put on 35 for the first wicket but were two of only three players in double figures. Off-spinner Anisa Mohammed then took two wickets as South Africa lost four wickets before reaching their target in the 19 over. Drakes said despite the loss, there were signs West Indies had what it took to compete effectively. “Felicia is developing nicely and Hayley so far on tour she’s been getting some starts and she knows if she carries on she’s going to put this team in a strong position,” the former West (Continued on page 32) th

GBA to stage Shuttle Time programme to observe Olympic Day The Guyana Badminton Association will be running off the Badminton World Federation & Pan American Shuttle Time Programme in observance of Olympic Day which will be conducted by Mr. Richard Wong (BWF Shuttle Time Tutor & Coach) today to Sunday. Shuttle Time offers school teachers access to free resources, training and equipment, which support the teaching of enjoyable, safe and inclusive badminton activities to children aged 5-15 years old. Shuttle Time lessons are designed to provide children with a positive image of badminton through many opportunities to have fun,

engage with others, and experience success. The programme (June 23-25, 2017) scheduled for today to Sunday will see sessions in the morning from: 9:30am-12:30pm (theory) with a break for lunch at 1230:pm and the afternoon sessions

(practical): -3:00pm 7:00pm today, tomorrow 1:30 - 5:00pm and Sunday 1:30 - 5:00pm. The morning sessions are fixed for the GOA Headquarters on High Street Kingston for the Theoretical part, while the afternoon sessions are at the National Gymnasium for the Practical work. It will give P.E. teachers the opportunity to use Badminton during P.E sessions and also teach it to the Students writing a Sport for CSEC/Cape Exams and also help them with understanding Badminton. Certificates will be issued at the end of the Programme.

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Friday June 23, 2017

Athletics association bankrupt after hosting South American Junior Championships By Edison Jefford If you are an avid sport enthusiast, you will know of the deplorable state of facilities and then the inevitable bankruptcy in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil after that city hosted the 2016 Olympic Games. It seems to be the recurring theme of countries, which seek to host major sport events outside of the developed, capitalist and industrial world. The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) has been exposed to this type of insolvency after it hosted the South American Junior Championships here, June 3-4, at the National Track and Field Centre at L e o n o r a , We s t C o a s t Demerara. The association faces a mountain of bills with the service providers and even some officials, who worked at the international meet, still to be paid. But most regrettably, the burden of AAG debt is resting on the shoulders of Guyana’s senior national athletes. Most of those athletes will have to miss the South American Senior Championships this weekend in Paraguay because the association claims to be too broke to send them. Because of that poor financial standing,

athletes who could have afforded to pay their own way will represent Guyana at the meet. Those athletes included United States-based, Winston George (200m, 400m), Jenea McCammon (100m, 400m hurdles) and Owen Adonis (100m, 200m). The AAG had indicated before that it is sending six athletes to the Championship, but was forced to renege on that decision, allowing the athletes who are willing to stand their expenses to compete. The situation has prompted stern rejections of the association from the senior athletes, who were aiming to use the competition as a means of qualification for the World Championship in August in London, England. The athletes vented their frustrations on social media. Context is important at this point. Guyana was not originally scheduled to host the junior South American competition. Guyana lobbied to host after Bolivia, the original hosts, went back on its commitment to put on the competition. It was a brave move from the athletics association, which is now proving to be an illadvised decision. From the beginning, the

Aubrey Hutson association’s decision to host such a major competition with just months to prepare had to be weighed with a feasibility study since there would have always been positive and negative consequences from taking up such an offer with short notice. The positive results are in no doubt Guyana’s performance at the meet, where the country got the most medals at that level in the history of the competition. In addition, Guyana will receive much

Jenea McCammon needed international attention from hosting the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)-sanctioned event. But on the flip side of the coin, against an economic crunch, no major financial support from the Government, no major sponsorship, and an absence of a plan to generate revenue, the association basically trekked its own path to bankruptcy. There was no consultation with these magnanimous stakeholders before the association

accepted to host the event. An understanding of the local environment through a feasibility study prior to its proposal to host such an occasion would have given the association the right perspective. It would have informed them of the kind of support it would receive with a successful proposal. But the illusion of an influx of revenue, simply on the basis of hosting an international event may have created some amount of myopia for the association, so much so that AAG

Winston George President Aubrey Hutson went blindfolded into negotiations with CONSUDATLE –The South American Athletics Confederation. The revenue did not come as expected because it had to be generated, which required much more work than was done. Now the association is saddled with more debt than it has money to pay and unfortunately, this state of affairs has trickled down to the ones who are always adversely affected – the athletes.

Regal All Stars and Masters set to defend NYSCL Independence titles Regal All Stars and Masters’ teams will be aware of the challenges when they depart Guyana shortly to defend their New York Softball Cricket League Independence Cup Masters and Open titles. The tournament is set to be played on June 30, July 1 and July 2 at Roy Wilkins Park. Regal who won the Open and Masters’ titles in the Florida Cup 2016 have named their teams for both categories. Teams - Regal All Stars; Fazal Rafiek (Capt.), Richard Latif, Navin Singh, Sachin Singh, Rohit Dutchin, Sewchand Budhu, Safraz Esau, Marvin Babb, Delroy Perreira, Amir Nizamudeen, Patrick Rooplall, Privnauth Motilall and Davindra Ramnauth. Parmanand Persaud

(Manager). Masters; Troy Kippins (Capt.), Mahendra Hardyal, Mohendra Arjune, David H a r p e r, E r i c T h o m a s , Mahase Chunilall, Eon Abel, Fazleem Mohamed, Rudolph Baker, Laurie Singh, Abdool Samad, Parsram Persaud, Shaun Massiah and Rudy Rodrigues. Clyde Butts (Manager). Inderjeet Persaud (Media liaison.) Regal All Stars defeated the New York All Stars to win last year’s final. After restricting the home team to 194, Regal were precariously placed at 67-7, but recovered through an excellent partnership between Richard Latif and Safraz Esau to win the title. Latif scored 70 and Esau 67 not out. Regal Masters defeated

Regal All Stars and Masters’ teams will look to defend their titles at the NYSCL Independence Cup. Floodlights to win the M a s t e r s c a t e g o r y. Floodlights managed 151 batting first and Regal Masters responded with 1525 with Mahendra Hardyal

scoring 52 and Eric Thomas 36. Meanwhile, the management would like to thank Ricks and Sari, MYO, GNIC SC, Crown Mining,

Grey Wolf Resources, Top Brandz, Star Party Rentals, Elegant Jewellery and Pawn Shop, Veisa Stationery Cologne Panama, Quick Stationery Panama, HC

Furnishing Panama, Mae’s Shopping Centre Cologne Panama, Regal Sport, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre and fans for their support.

Kaieteur News

Friday June 23, 2017

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MoE/NSC/ AlSport Schools Windball Cricket

F.E. Pollard, St. Ann’s, N/Georgetown among winners F.E. Pollard, St. Ann’s, North Georgetown and St. Stephen’s were in winners’ row when play in the Ministry of Education (MoE), National Sports Commission (NSC) and AL Sport & Tour Promotions 20th Annual End of School Year Primary Schools Day/Night Overhand Windball Cricket Competition continued recently. In full results: Girls - : St. Stephen’s upset Enterprise, beating them by 67 runs to book a place in the last 8. St. Stephen’s after being invited to take first strike made 96-0, with Odelli Straughn 40, Chanle Barry 12. Enterprise in their turn at the wicket was restricted to 29. O. Straughn picked up 2 wkts. St. Ann’s beat Thomas More by 10 wickets. Thomas More 61-3, Shaquanna Codrington 28. Angelique Morris 2-5. St. Ann’s in reply, ended on 64-0, Melissa Clarke 38, A Morris 18. F. E . P o l l a r d t h e n

defeated Winfer Gardens by 10 wickets. Winfer Gardens batted first and made 80-1, Keasha Jones 58. F. E. Pollard replied with 86-0, Cadranessa Benn 64 (10x6s), Condelezza Dos Santos 16. North Georgetown scraped past Graham’s Hall by 8 runs. North Georgetown took first strike and posted 98-6, Tiffany Johnson 28, Naiomi Barckoy 26 and Anya McKenzie 24. Graham’s Hall in their turn at the crease reached 904 when the allotted overs expired. Susanna Ketwaroo 25, Tawana Courtman 20 and Marcia Katwaroo 24 were the principal scorers. Boys- : St. Ambrose then beat F.E. Pollard by 9 wickets. F. E. Pollard 91-3, Oswald George 38, Rasheed Bristol 32. St. Ambrose 94-1, Sherwin Gomes 40, Rovin Henry 36. NSC Sports Officer Allister Munroe is the Organiser of the competition.

Director of Sport Christopher Jones (centre) takes a photo op with students from the participating schools in this year’s MoE/NSC/ AlSport Schools Windball Cricket.

GT Motorsports’ Endurance Rental Cup

King, Rahaman, Vieira participation creating buzz

Patron’s Green Economy Cricket Tournament

All plans are falling into place for event – RHTY&SC Plans for the hosting of the first ever Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Patron’s Green Economy Cricket Tournament are falling into place with the event expected to bowl off on Saturday 1st July, 2017, at the Albion Sports Complex. Club Secretary Hilbert Foster, who is spearheading the planning of the historic tournament along with Vice President Mark Papannah, has disclosed that the Tournament has received the official blessings of the Berbice Cricket Board and as such 8 (eight) First Division Teams would participate. The tournament is being organised in honour of the Patron of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, His Excellency President David Granger 72nd Birth Anniversary on the 15th July, 2017. The eight teams that would be part of the

tournament are Rose Hall To w n , We s t B e r b i c e , Blairmont, Tucber Park, Young Warriors, Albion, Port Mourant and Upper Corentyne. The first round of matches and the two semifinals would be played using the 10/10 format, while the 3rd place playoff and the finals would be 20/20 and played on the 8th July. The tournament would be organised with the assistance of the Berbice Cricket Board Competitions Committee and the club has named Mr. Collis Butts to be its representative for the competition. Each of the teams would be outfitted with coloured polo shirts sponsored by KSM Investment and Bakewell. The two teams in the finals would also receive caps compliments of Impression (Continued on page 32)

Karters battle during a race at the previous Meet. Drivers the calibre of Andrew King, Cyril Angoy, Jad Rahaman, Wayne Vieira and Harold Hopkinson, all former outstanding competitors in motorsports are expected to present young fans with the opportunity to witness their skills. These retired motor racers will be competing in tonight’s GT Motorsports’ Endurance Rental Cup which will be staged, at the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club on Albert Street and Thomas Lands. They will compete in the Hall of Fame event and

already there is a buzz among racing fans that this event could steal the spotlight on a night that is expected to provide exciting entertainment for the fans. Also expected to supply plenty action is the All-girls race, a welcome addition to the programme. Among the teams set to participate are: MMR, Gizmos & Gadgets, Palm Court, Nexus and Rent-aTent. The event is sponsored by Secure Innovations & Concepts and E-Racing. Team Nexus swept both

the 500lb and 600lb categories at the last event in March. Brian Ten Pow, Gregory Mohamed and Carlos Rodrigues were the drivers that represented the Team in the 500lbs Class, while Rodrigues, Steven Nobrega and Matthew Phang competed for them in the 600lbs category. Ten Pow and Phang recorded the fastest lap times in their respective categories. Meanwhile, interested teams and individuals desirous of participating are asked to inbox GT

Motorsports on Facebook or contact Stephen (669-1900) or Roger (601-8084) to register. “You do not need to own a kart to participate; our Rental Karts are inclusive of participating in this competition,” GT Motorsports said in a Facebook post. The Endurance Rental Cup is being sponsored by Secure Innovations and Concepts, Karcher, ENetworks and the Track Bar, and organised by GT Motorsports. Admission to the venue is free.

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NSC / Arthur Chung Memorial Football for West Dem. on Sunday Four Clubs to contest

President Arthur Raymond Chung, OE The Leonora Track and Field Facility, Football Field is the venue for Sunday’s Arthur Chung Memorial Football that will see the top four clubs in the West Demerara Football A s s o c i a t i o n ( W D FA ) battling for top honours. The National Sports Commission (NSC) organised event, which is in association with the WDFA, will be played a few villages away from the birth village of Guyana’s first President who was born at Windsor F o r e s t , We s t C o a s t Demerara on January 10, 1918 and died on June 23, 2008. The first President of Guyana from 1970 to 1980, would be remembered during what is anticipated to be an exciting football

showdown among sides that have had the chance to battle each other over the past few months and are relishing yet another chance to engage in combat. The draw has already been done by the executive of the WDFA and will see Pouderoyen battling Den Amstel in the first semi-final of the one-day tournament from 15:00hrs which would be followed by a clash between Uitvlugt Warriors and Eagles FC of Stewartville. Both matches would be played for 40 minutes, two equal halves of 20 minutes. The respective losers will then take the field for the third place playoff which would be played for 60 minutes while the semi final winners will earn the right to face off in the final that will last for 80 minutes. Kicks from the penalty mark would be employed in event matches are tied at the end of regulation time; three (3) each in the semi finals and five (5) each in the third place and final. Attractive prizes are on offer for all the teams that will be on show as first to fourth place will be rewarded. Additionally, individual prizes will go to the best goalkeeper, highest goal scorer and best young player on show. Kick off time is 15:00hrs.

Berbice Cricket Board Senior 50-over competition continues this weekend The Competitions Committee of the Berbice Cricket Board has announced its fixtures for Sunday 25th June, 2017 with four matches scheduled to be contested at venues around the County. The Albion Cricket Club will do battle against Young Warriors Cricket Club at the Albion Community Center, Port Mourant Cricket Club will be hosted by Blairmont Cricket Club at the Blairmont Community C e n t e r, We s t B e r b i c e Cricket Association and Bush Lot will compete at Bush Lot Community Center, Tucber Park will engage Police Cricket Club at the Port Mourant Community Center and

Rose Hall Estate Cricket Club will meet hosts Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club at the Area H Ground, in Rose Hall Town. The competition is played in the fifty (50) over format, and contested by 12 first division teams in the county. Teams are mandated to play on a round robin basis in their respective zones before qualifying for the next round of competition. Two Teams from each of the two zones will qualify for the quarter final stage. Matches are scheduled to start at 09:30 hrs and teams are encouraged to be punctual, since penalties are attached for lateness and other forms of negligence.

Friday June 23, 2017

Afghanistan, Ireland get Test status ESPNCRICINFO Afghanistan and Ireland have been approved as Full Members by the ICC, meaning they have become cricket’s 11th and 12th Testplaying nations. This was signed off on by the ICC Board in London on Thursday, during the ICC’s AGM. Afghanistan and Ireland’s boards had applied to the ICC to have their status upgraded from Associates, and this was put to vote at the meeting on Thursday and unanimously supported. Ireland first gained ODI status in 2005 after finishing runners-up in the ICC Trophy tournament, which they hosted, to gain their first World Cup berth. Two years later they scored a shock upset of Pakistan on St Patrick’s Day in Jamaica and they’ve never looked back, qualifying for two subsequent World Cups in which they defeated England and West Indies to further press their case that they could maintain competitiveness with other Test nations. Afghanistan’s rise has been even sharper having first gained ODI status in 2009 with a sixth-place finish at that year’s World Cup Qualifier in South Africa. It followed three consecutive promotions over the previous year when they began in Division Five of the World Cricket

League. Like Ireland, they have demonstrated the talent to stand toe-to-toe with Full Member nations, securing three straight ODI and T20I series wins over Zimbabwe as well as a win over eventual champion West Indies at the 2016 World T20. Most recently they drew their maiden ODI series in West Indies.

However, the vote is not just an endorsement of each country’s respective on field talents but a seal of approval for efforts made in recent years to build up their domestic structures. In the last three years, both countries have started a multi-day competition with each receiving first-class designation from the ICC in

the last year, a harbinger of Thursday’s Full Member affirmation. Since 2005, both c o u n t r i e s h a v e demonstrated their readiness for five-day cricket through their dominance in the Intercontinental Cup, the ICC’s first-class competition for Associates.

Ireland and Afghanistan join the Test club © ESPNcricinfo Ltd

AAG hopes to adequately reward athletes at Senior Championships An already cashstrapped Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) is hoping to dole out adequate prize monies next weekend when it hosts its National Senior Championships from 10:00am at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora. This was disclosed yesterday at the launch of the competition when CoChairman of the event, James Cole invited the corporate community to support the event. It was disclosed the AAG will be giving monetary prizes to athletes finishing 1-3 in 36 events. “Now that we have officially launched our National Senior Championships, we are asking the business

community to come on board and give us their support because as it stands right now our budget is $5.5 million, and we are starting at $0,” Cole said. “We are asking all possible, small or large, to come on board with us and help to make this a success,” he continued. Each event will carry a total purse of $20,000, with $10,000 allotted to the winner, $6,000 for second place and $4,000 for third place. President of the AAG, Aubrey Hutson said he anticipates a very large participation from senior athletes. The meet is for athletes age 16 and above. Hutson said that outside of the normal events, they are looking to re-introduce steeplechase, hurdles and the

hammer throw. “We hope to reward the top three places in each event with money,” Hutson also indicated, but with juniors expected to participate, he said that monies won would be administered to the clubs and the clubs will issue same in the form of a grant to athletes. “But to make it clear, we are not encouraging our junior athletes to run for money, but the IAAF implores us to have athletes from 16 up run at these meets. For instance, if Kadecia Baird had won World Championships, the IAAF would pay the money to us and we find ways to develop Baird, but to make it clear the clubs will receive the money,” he explained. According to him,

overseas-based athletes have some flexibility in competing at the N a t i o n a l Championships to gain international selection. “While it is one of the rules we want to be more stringent with, we want to have more flexibility because of athletes like Troy Doris that might not have the competition to push them here, so in cases like that where the excuse is valid we can accept,” he said, but offered no explanation for the cases that may have no excuse. Patrons can either purchase a ticket for $1000 to gain access to the venue, which will include the barbeque, or otherwise pay $500 for entrance. The event is scheduled to begin at 11:00am on Sunday.

Kaieteur News

Friday June 23, 2017

Annual Olympic Day Cycling on tomorrow @ National Park

Flashback! The top performers from the 2015 edition of the Olympic Day Cycling Meet at the National Park with GCF Racing Secretary, Hassan Mohamed. Five races are carded for the 2017 edition of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), annual Olympic Day cycling programme that will be held at the inner circuit of Guyana’s #1 cycling track at

the National Park from 09:30hrs, tomorrow. Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) Racing Secretary Hassan Mohamed M.S informed that the GOA as usual will be the sole sponsor of the event that is a

part of Olympic Day which is celebrated around the world on June 23 every year; the first World Olympic Day was celebrated in 1948. The celebration of Olympic Day was included (Continued on page 32)

PAGE 39

PAGE 40 Part of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ action.

Kaieteur News

Friday June 23, 2017

Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ moves to Bartica The Bartica Community Centre Tarmac will come alive tonight when the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition hits Region 7. This will mark the end of zone competitions in the event with the national finals set to commence shortly after its completion. Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste said that fans in Bartica can expect an exciting weekend of football. “We expect an exciting tournament and the residents of the community will prove that they are “Made of More” as they support the teams in their quest for glory,” he added. Sixteen teams will battle for top honours with the top team advancing to the national playoffs set for next month. Six matches are scheduled for tonight with the opening fixture bringing together Almanac Kings versus Time Square at

19:00hrs and this encounter will be followed by Campbellville squaring off against Street Kings at 19:30 hours. River View then take on Lotto Arcade at 20:00 hours, before Plantain Slice oppose Young Guns. Police and Beacon One Love collide at 21:00 hours, while All Stars and Beacon Die Hard bring down the curtains at 21:30 hours. Tomorrow two preliminary matches will be played featuring Potaro Strikers against Lazio at 19:00 hours and Impact versus Ballers, before the start of the quarter finals. The semi-finals and finals will be played on Sunday along with the third place playoff and several exhibition matches. The Zone winners will join those from the Georgetown, East Coast Demerara, Linden, Berbice and West Demerara/East Bank Demerara zones.

Guyana Beverage Co. 60 miles Tampico Cycle fixed for Caricom Day July 3 Guyana Beverage Company 60 miles Tampico Cycle road race has been fixed for Caricom Day July 3 and not July 2 as was previously stated. The Guyana Beverage Company in Guyana, which is a subsidiary of the Trinidad based SM Jaleel and Company with business in many Caricom Countries, is living up to its reputation as a true Caribbean Company and has partnered with organisers the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) u n d e r t h e C o m p a n y ’s Tampico Brand to stage the event. According to organiser Randolph Robert, this is opportune that a company with many subsidiaries in other Caribbean Countries will be part of the race to be held on Caricom Day. Roberts said that when the thought was put to Managing Director Robert Selman, he readily agreed with the idea. The event, which was held annually in Berbice,

was off the radar for a few years. This was mainly due to the absence of Mr. Selman who had returned to his native Trinidad. Now with Selman back in the fray the event has returned to the c a l e n d a r . The riders will pedal off from in front of the company’s Berbice office at Palmyra, East Coast, Berbice, proceed to the No51 Police Station and back for the finish. An official handing over of the sponsorship is slated for during this week at the C o m p a n y ’s o ff i c e . Guyana Beverage Co. distributes the popular Busta soft drinks, Fruta, Tampico, Viva, Island Mist water, Kool Kids, Cran Water and American Classic brands among others.

Kaieteur News

Friday June 23, 2017

Hassan makes donation to SS Jaguars SC

Club Captain Safraz Mohamed (left) and former player Hydar Ally display the equipment. Former Essequibo Islands Secondary School student Farood Hassan recently made a timely donation to the Sans Souci Jaguars Sports Club of Wakenaam. Hassan, who

currently resides in England, donated a quantity of cricket equipment including bats, bags, pads, batting gloves, helmets, and wicket-keeping gloves to Captain of the club Safraz Mohamed.

Hassan informed that on a recent visit here he was impressed with the attitude and talent of the players and is happy to lend support. “I am aware that sports equipment can be difficult to

obtain, I saw this as an opportunity to give back to my community and I am very happy to assist,” he stated. Hassan noted that suitable equipment is vital (Continued on page 32)

PAGE 41

Rising Sun Turf Club meet postponed to July 9 due to inclement weather The Rising Sun Turf Club in collaboration with the Guyana Association of Women’s Police grand one day horserace meet fixed for this Sunday, June 25 at the Rising Sun West Coast, Berbice track, has been postponed to July 9 as a result of the current heavy rainfall. According to Compton Sancho of the organisers, continuous rainfall over the past few days has left the track soggy and unfit good racing. Entries closed on Monday last with well over 50 horses registered. The feature event is the G class race, but the 3 years and I class races are expected to produce excellent competition. Six races are carded with over three million dollars in cash and trophies up for the taking. The feature event is for horses classified G class and lower over a distance of one mile for a top prize of $300,000. The runner up will take home $150,000 and third prize $75,000. Other events listed are the I class and three-year old Guyana bred, J 1 and lower, K class and lower, L 1 and lower and L 2 and the unclassified. Among the top horses slated to take part are Settling Star, Appling Harvest, Got to go, T and T, Cat Massiah, Bird Man, Chelsea, Red Jet, Red Regent, Something Special, Bridal Stone Corner, Party Time, Puppy Tail, Richie Poo, Seven Dust, Little Star and Unruly. Some other upstarts in the lineup looking to upstage the favourites are Big Man in Town, Not This time, Stormy Breeze, Lil Boy, Timely, Royal Prince and Bounty be True among others. Information can be accessed by contacting Cynthia Kelly 622 5975, Compton Sancho 691 1174, Fazal Habibulla 657 7010 or Niketa Ross 662 4668.

t r o Sp AAG AAG hopes hopes to to adequately adequately reward reward athletes athletes at at Senior Senior Championships Championships

Sitting from left at Head Table, Coach Julian Edmonds, AAG Secretary, Mayfield Taylor-Trim, President, Aubrey Hutson, Event Co-Chairman, James Cole and Competitions Director, Yvonne October launch the National Senior Championships yesterday at Hutson Office with some of the athletes in the background.

Afghanistan, King, Rahaman, Vieira Ireland get participation creating buzz Test status GT Motorsports’ Endurance Rental Cup

Athletics association bankrupt after hosting South American Junior Championships

Stephon Jeffrey and Carlos Rodrigues seen engaged in battle for supremacy at the last GT Motorsports’ Endurance Rental Cup.

Windies in need of confidence ahead of opener: Drakes

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