Kaieteur News
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Friday June 30, 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 A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS Suicide has affected all segments of our population, but the suicide of a nursery school teacher earlier this week once again highlighted the fact that young adults are particularly vulnerable. For us to get a handle on this problem, we must acknowledge the need to increase public awareness of mental health issues, reduce the stigma associated with the illness, and provide adequate resources to treat those in need. Exactly three weeks after her husband succumbed to typhoid and malaria, the young teacher committed suicide. It was another tragic loss of life. It is no secret that suicide has become a public health crisis. The public is aware of how critical the problem is, but the system has continued to fail those with mental health illness. While the State spends billions on healthcare annually, interventions are rare, and monitoring and treatment are infrequent. Very little is done in terms of psychological and counselling services. But there is a role for the wider society to play. Too often people are afraid to talk about their mental health issues due to all sorts of pressure and expectations. Studies show that most men are outraged when discussing their emotions because they view it as an affront to their masculinity. Women are afraid of being perceived as weak or overly temperamental. The truth is there are too many stereotypes at work when it comes to mental health issues. Efforts must be made to address them. The incidence of suicide shows that mental health issues should have the same primacy as matters of life and death. The impact of suicide cannot be overestimated because when it happens, entire families and communities are irreparably damaged. The trauma that persists after a suicide is committed has often manifested itself in insidious ways, and at unpredictable intervals. It could do untold harm to productivity, but more importantly, a great promise is unfilled and maybe a bright future is lost forever. One of the major challenges when it comes to tackling mental health issues, especially among teenagers, is the accompanying stigma. We reiterate that mental health is a serious public health concern and until it is seen as such, we will continue to lose lives needlessly. Too often in society, clear signs of distress amid the hustle and bustle of modern-day stresses are being missed. We treat mental health issues as fleeting when they may reflect long-term patterns. Many with mental health problems are often misdiagnosed and efforts to find solutions to the problem have not been successful. The young teacher’s recent demise should be the catalyst for us all to arm ourselves with the knowledge of mental health issues and spread the word to those who would not have heard. Knowing the warning signs is important, and there are several of them, including withdrawal from friends and family members; trouble in maintaining romantic relationships; difficulty getting along with others; changes in the quality of schoolwork or low grades; rebellious behaviour; being bored or distracted; running away from home; changes in eating habits; dramatic personality changes in appearance; sleep disturbances; drug or alcohol abuse and even talk of suicide. One of the basic things we as a people can do is not treat suicide and mental health issues as being taboo. Talking about suicide is important in order to understand the pain and grief experienced by those who would have taken their lives. This is an issue that is not going away anytime soon. According to the World Health Organization, by 2020, there will be more than 1.5 million deaths worldwide by suicide. In Guyana, suicide has taken far too many of our loved ones. We must do what we can to prevent these tragic and devastating losses.
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.
I confess; my party’s leadership is on trial Dear Editor, It is no secret that the WPA as a party and its leadership – the executive committee - have been subjected to public and on occasions, very hostile criticisms, for what our detractors have interpreted, as our silence in relation to the coalition government’s actions and/or inactions on important matters affecting Guyana and its citizens. These criticisms have also been directed at the executive from members of the party and supporters, both at home and abroad. The recent action by President David Granger to remove WPA Co-Leader, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, from the Ministry of Education without consulting the party, and the announcement of his decision during the party’s annual - June 13th commemoration of the assassination of Comrade Walter Rodney have only served to add fuel to the “fire”. The President’s actions, whether deliberate or not, have “objectively” shifted the balance of forces in the WPA and weakened the present leadership. The consequence of this development for the APNU, the wider coalition and the country, is at this time,
difficult to predict. What is undoubtedly true at this juncture in the party’s life is that its present leadership, which I am part of, is on trial both in and out of the party. I believe that it is pointless for us in the leadership to engage in the blame game. We must accept that it is our own inaction, tactical or whatever, that has led to this state of affairs in the party. In confronting this issue we must bite the bullet and do what we have always done in the past. Our forte over the years resides in our ability to indulge in criticisms and self-criticisms and then move forward. This we have done both privately and publicly and will forever be an important part of our political culture. Now is no different. Over the two years of the life of the APNU+AFC government we, in the WPA, have acted with caution in relation to matters of the coalition and government, in the interest of the nation. In doing so we are accused of betrayal of the party’s historic principles, and its commitment to the working people, the poor and powerless in the society, and the Rodney legacy. While I do not agree with that interpretation of our
politics, these serious accusations cannot be ignored. Politically, we in the WPA are now in a situation where if we don’t assert our right to independent thought and action, we will in (2020) face the damning accusation of bringing nothing to the fortunes of the APNU+AFC coalition. We have to be mindful that in the present construct of the APNU, there is no objective way to determine the electoral or political strength of the smaller parties in the alliance. These parties are at a disadvantage since there is no way to determining what votes they bring to the collective. Small parties are relegated to our last known election performance. Added to this difficulty, we operate in a political culture which shows little value for “ideas”. In this cultural paradigm, politics is simply about votes, and bigmoney. These are erroneously seen as the only tools for victory in elections. Given this reality the WPA has to return to activism in the communities like it used to do in the early days, and become a visible political force on the ground, acting in its own name. This
in no way means abandoning our commitment to the APNU and the APNU+AFC coalition. The engagements between the parties which were involved in the discussions that led to the formation of the APNU recognized the right of parties to independent lines of actions even as they remain members of the APNU. In my view there is no other way out for the party at this point in its history. We also have to be cognizant of the fact that the backward political culture prevailing in the society and the logic inherent in this culture are unlikely to change in the near future. In concluding, it is my contention that the need for the WPA to reassert itself in the political life of the country is becoming more urgent and should, for its own survival, and for the success of the APNU+AFC coalition in the 2020 General and Regional elections, be given a high priority. In exercising its right to independent thought and actions, it will change the public’s perception of the party and its leadership. More so it would be addressing the often asked question, Is the WPA dead? TacumaOgunseye
These seven considerations I need the President to address Dear Editor, As a young Guyanese, who love my country very much, and wish so much to see it prosper and progress, I am bothered by a number of things that have occurred recently, in our society, and others that continue to capture our attention, at the political level. 1. Appointment of a Gecom Chairman: why is it that H.E. President David Granger continues to engage in semantics as it relates to the selection of a candidate for the filling of this critically important vacant post? Is it that he has a specific person in mind for this post, and since that name is not appearing on the lists being submitted, he flagrantly disregards all other options? If the appointee is found to not be impartial in the discharge of the duties of the post, surely there must be some provision for his or her removal. I do not believe there is anyone out there who is not
sympathetic to one political party or the other. 2. Loss of life: the almost daily shedding of blood and loss of life by premeditation or in accidents should be cause of concern for us all, as a people of faith. As a Christian, we believe that our adversary, the devil, is there to steal, kill and destroy, and he roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. I, therefore, take this opportunity to call on churches country-wide to engage in more prayer for our people, against the shedding of blood and loss of precious lives, across our country, and for us to be drawn closer to the Lord. 3.Conduct of Minister R a p h a e l Tr o t m a n : t h e manner in which senior Minister Raphael Trotman chose to conduct himself recently in Parliament was nothing short of vitriolic, a display of pure arrogance and a show of utter disrespect for a former President of Guyana. And
the Speaker said nothing! We may not like a person holding a certain office, but as a civilized people we must accord respect to the particular office. You mean to say former President Jagdeo did not do even one good for our country that Mr. Trotman, someone I considered sophisticated, had to attempt to disparage him? Undoubtedly, Mr. Trotman only did himself harm. As parliamentarians, they might as well stop referring to members as “honourable”. 4. Conduct of Minister Simona Judy Broomes: to date, there has been no indication that the actions of Minister Simona Judy Broomes, and United States honouree, who brought the Guyana Parliament into disrepute, with her video making skills, has been dealt with. The nation is watching, Your Excellency, President Granger, and Hon. Dr. Bartland Scotland. I am prompted to wonder about
the status of the highly touted Code of Conduct for Ministers. 5. Big spending: it is no surprise that the President was prompted to hold discussions with Permanent Secretaries regarding the curbing of Government spending. The ‘cadillac’ lifestyle enjoyed by a select group in this small, developing country is simply too much for the ordinary citizen to comprehend and accept, especially when that lifestyle is financed with public funds. Almost all the Ministers have gained weight; clearly, they are enjoying “the good life”. The latest splurge coming to light is the $500,000 property rental for two (2) junior Ministers. With all the excesses, no wonder the ordinary people were all flooded out, because no one cared to spend monies preparing the pumps and drainage system in anticipation of floods from (Continued on page 5)
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Salary administration in the Public Service in Guyana DEAR EDITOR, The Commission Inquiry (COI) into the Public Service of Guyana, 2016 considered, in keeping with its terms of reference, the principles on which wages and salaries of the public service should be fixed. The COI reviewed past studies and went into details of the compensation system in the public service including the determination of wages and salaries, current salary structure for the various levels of public servants, job grading, staff performance evaluation, and pay for performance for incremental movement within the salary scales. The COI recommended organizational restructuring by rationalizing the status of pensionable employees and contract employees, and the ‘de-bunching’ of employees in the salary structure as the first phase. The COl specifically recommended that contract workers on all grades holding public service positions be absorbed into the pensionable service, subject to their being suitably qualified to fill established positions; and to correct “bunching of salaries” at various levels by placing the affected employees between the minimum and mid-point of the salary range based on years of service. There should be a determined professional ap-
proach to identify about 75 bench mark positions, and classify and place each position in the public service in one of the seventy-five bench mark positions, all placed within the 14-grade salary structure. This should correct any anomalous situation determined by objective weighting, value and worth for each job in the public service. These should be done in consultation with the recognized Trade Union for Public Servants. Thereafter, the principles of collective bargaining should be employed in good faith in keeping with the established procedural arrangements between the GPSU and the Ministry/ Department of the Public Service for negotiations and final resolution. The COI recommended that the collective bargaining negotiations and industrial relations in the public service should be conducted in keeping with National, CARICOM, and ILO labour standards relating to fundamental freedoms, principles and rights at work. The COI affirms that the system of industrial relations in the Public Service must be informed, influenced, and functions within the norms of national legislation, regional and international labour standards. Immediately, the COI recommended first phase should
GTT must know this is “hard guava season” DEAR EDITOR, Scores of GT T land line customers in Region 2 including myself are questioning the rationale behind a newly imposed charge of forty dollars for every receipt on the payment of bills at Post Offices in the district. The “extra charge” was considered to be unreasonable and should be rescinded forthwith having regard to the irrefutable fact that it would create further financial burden on them in this “hard guava season.” Poor me as a housewife from the Richmond Housing Scheme left home with the exact amount as stated on the bill to make payment at the Anna Regina Post Office but it was not possible to do so; not having enough money for the “extra” charge. Undoubtedly this ugly experience of embarrassment had to be shared as well with other customers who like me had to re-
turn on another day to make payment all because of monopoly in a can’t do better situation. The “extra” charge is a pellucid demonstration of the company’s interest to improve its financial position while neglecting to bring about improvements to the defective service which can well be considered as being far from good by not functioning at all ever so often. Even more worrying is the inordinate delay for corrective measures to be taken with the further aggravation of stress and frustration in a situation nothing less than adding insult to injury when better needs to be done. Lynette Agard
be undertaken without delay. This should include addressing the recommendations of the COI on contract employees, the age of retirement; the minimum pensions currently paid to retired public servants to be related to the minimum wage paid to public servants. The COI recommended a thorough review of the staffing level in the public service to objectively determine the requirements of the full complement of suitably qualified staff in each office, unit, department, division, and ministry with the appropriate organizational structure for each. Surplus staff should be redeployed as may be possible to other public agencies if suitably qualified to fill vacancies or be paid the severance benefits in keeping with law. The existing fourteengrade salary structure should
be maintained with a more rational and attractive dollar value placed on the minimum, mid-point and maximum based on appropriate differentials to avoid overlapping. The bench mark for the highest public service position should be at the minimum of the salary scale no less than 10% lower than a senior minister’s salary which is set by Cabinet for itself (self-interest, conflict of interest). The COl recommended that the salaries of the President, Prime Minister, Ministers, Leader of the Opposition, Members of the National Assembly, Permanent Secretaries, Regional Chairmen, and Regional Executive Officers be set by the National Assembly on the recommendations of a Salary Review Commission. The terms of reference of such a Commission should also include all other
aspects of remuneration/allowances. Trinidad and Tobago provides an excellent example in this connection, thereby removing any actual or perceived conflict of interest and self-interest. This first phase as outlined above should be undertaken without delay. It provides a basis for negotiations between the Government and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) executives whose mouths seem to have been muzzled by inherent conflict of interest, and other considerations, much to the discomfort of public servants. Mr. Patrick Yarde who has been President of the GPSU for some 30 years is also now acting Chairman of the Public Service Commission. The Union membership is calling on him again to represent the substantive interests of public servants. But the
conflict is that he at the same time he recruits employees of the public service into membership of the GPSU. The permanent mission of the Union is to boldly represent and defend public servants against actions/decisions of the Public Service Commission at the Commission itself, and at the Public Service Appellate Tribunal. Oh what a tangled web of conflict of interest in full view of the public! The COI recommended a second phase of the restructuring process through a job evaluation exercise with some detailed guidelines emanating from other related recommendations on a sequential step by step approach. This will be a longer and comprehensive process, while the necessary first phase can be accomplished within a reasonably acceptable time frame. Joshua Singh
Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths Weldaad, Seafield, Bushlot a daunting endeavour on ac- Harmon, whom it is underneeded and Hopetown. I am aware count of the absence of the stood is responsible for such DEAR EDITOR The three Neighbourhood Democratic Councils from Profit to Naarstigheid, spanning some forty Villages on the West Coast of Berbice, have been without the services of Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths to affidavits for over seven years. Amongst the villages affected are: Eldorado, Belladrum,
that applications have been made to fill these vacancies but to date no one has been appointed. The services of JPs and COAs are sorely needed in our district. Those of us needing these services have to travel miles to obtain same. This is often costly and much to our discomfort. Signing and stamping of documents or obtaining affidavits can be
services JPs and COAs in our district. It was hoped that with the advent of the new Government there would have been some movement in this regard by now. But after two years no one has been appointed to these offices in our district. One can only hope that this missive can catch the attention of the Minister of State, The Honourable Joseph
appointments and that some action would be taken to alleviate this situation. H. W. Whinfield Editor’s note; two such officials, Renae McAlman and Patricia Lynch were appointed. They were sworn in last week by Magistrate Rhondel Weever. They will operate in Region 5. Please see Thursday, June 29 edition of Kaieteur News; page 23.
These seven considerations I need the President to... From page 4 heavy rainfall, in areas outside of Georgetown. After the damage was done, then we heard that pumps were not working. How unconscionable! 6. Flooding: as if the village of Buxton was the only flood affected village, we heard that two (2) Ministers would hold an outreach to that village. The President who should be leading by example was nowhere to be seen. Who is really advising him? So much for him being a “popular” President, as Mr. Joseph Harmon pronounced. His absence spoke volumes and suggests to the ordinary man that he is very much elitist.
7. Robberies: the bandits seem to be having free reign, with reports of robberies, daily. Where are the police patrols? My fellow citizens are urged to not make themselves easy targets for the bandits. The seawall sites seem to now be their chosen place of seeking victims. Editor, Guyanese deserve better from our office holders, who must all remember that they are the servants of the people. This is why they were
placed there. Scriptures tell us that promotion does not come from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he “putteth down one, and setteth up another.” If God had not allowed your ascension to high office, it would
not have happened. So, govern righteously, govern justly! And be more Christlike, as the majority of Cabinet members and parliamentarians are Christians. May God bless our country and its people! Marcia Fernadez
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When Region 5 was flooded, these two were missing in action DEAR EDITOR, I wish to respond to a letter by the Region 5 REO, Mr. Ovid Morrison, published on June 16, 2017 captioned “Once budget is approved REO does not have to go to council to ratify every project execution. “But before I dwell on the content of his letter, Morrison must explain to the flood victims of Region 5 why, at a time of disaster when farmers are suffering the loss of millions of dollars in crop and livestock due to heavy flooding, he was seen in extracurricular mode in Mahaica Creek with his buddy, APNU+AFC Councillor, Abel Seetaram. The REO had earlier refused to meet with the Regional Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal who heads the Regional Disaster Management Committee to discuss the plight of those communities under water in Region 5, and he refused to allow his officers to participate in the emergency meeting of this committee. Because of Morrison’s insistence that the Regional Chairman apologize to him
before they meet, monies that Morrison controls could not have been released to the communities to aid in flood relief. Minister Bulkan, when are you going to rein in this out-of-control REO and save Region 5 from disaster? Now to his letter. The Chief Executive Officer of a region is the Clerk to the Regional Democratic Council and Clerk to all committees of the RDC. The committees of the RDC are responsible for the proper management of the affairs of the programmes identified and approved by the council. The Regional Budget once approved, is given to the RDC to implement its programmes for the year. In the interest of transparency and accountability, it is incumbent upon the REO to ensure that the RDC committees monitor and ratify every policy and project approved by the Council. The Chief Executive Officer therefore has no authority to implement a project on his own, and must first seek the approval of the Council so that progress can
be monitored and ratified by the Works Committee. By law, the management and development of the RDC resources are the responsibility of the RDC and not the Regional Executive Officer alone. The REO, Mr Ovid Morrison should be guided by the Local Democratic Organs Act, chapter 28:09 section (33) which reads: “In the management and development of its region, every council shall be guided by the general policies of the Government and the national objectives as set by the Government, and shall devise its development plans and programmes to ensure consistency with such policies and objectives; and in the performance of his functions each councillor shall endeavour to co-operate with every other councillor and with all socioeconomic institutions in the area.” In his letter, Morrisson admitted that monies were used from the Regional Budget to clear away the land at the Naarstigheid site after the cash-crop farmers were
evicted. This was done sometime in the month of February 2017. I urge the Auditor General to carry out an investigation on how the money was spent, and to determine why the Works Committee of the RDC was not involved in this project and therefore could not have monitored the work carried out there. Despite what the REO want us to believe, the work that was done at this site was of a capital nature. Fresh vegetation and large trees were cleared and new drains were put in. And since the RDC had never done any works there before, monies expended on this project could not be justified as “maintenance” work. These were Capital Expenditure not Current. What is puzzling is that there are many play grounds, canals and health centers under the direct control of the Region, which are in bad condition and need cleaning. These include the Hope Town School canal; the No. 5 school compound; and the Woodley Park Playground. Why did the REO not clean those instead?
We need to know what the inside of these houses to no regards concern- services available to the home size of the lots they are on; looks like little ing the most significant as- buyer in the U.S market. pictures of what the inside DEAR EDITOR, In reference to the turn key homes article I read in your newspaper, it worries me that in this information age we are still placing a great deal of emphasis on what a home looks like on the outside and
pects of a home; what it looks like and feels like on the inside. It never fails to amaze me how Guyanese seem to want to pattern the pricing of homes in the US market, yet come up painfully short on every detail, condition and
In the above stated article, you displayed colorful photos of the outside structure of two supposedly low income homes but failed to give your readers information such as the square footage of these homes (special reference), the
looks like; (inside architectural lay out) and available utilities if any. I think we need a complete change of culture in the housing industry in Guyana. I hope the University of Guyana with its new management could make an impact in this area. Just for your information and guidance, I have included an ad of a 15K = 3 million GYD home in the Detroit, MI area Mark Wyatt
Mr. Morrison needs to remind himself that the Regional Chairman is not the RDC alone. There are other Councilors who should be representing the people in every community of Region 5. But often now, the RDC statutory meetings are broken up by this very REO and the APNU+AFC Councilors he control. The real issues affecting the people of Region 5 cannot be represented by the elected representative of the people while the REO stubbornly and childishly insist on an apology from the Regional Chairman. His theory of conflict resolution as it relates to the teachers’ protest should be evidence base, because the Prime Minister of Guyana does not share the same view. When the teachers protested in front of the PM’s residence, he came out and spoke to the teachers. But unlike the Prime Minister, Morrison knows nothing of diplomacy and arrogantly denied the teachers an audience with him when he was called to do so. And although he has since recanted under relentless pressure by the Teach-
ers Union and the Laws that proved him wrong, Morrison has yet to apologize to the teachers and hundreds of students whose lives he disrupted during this ordeal. Now that everyone knows he broke the Law by withholding teachers’ salaries, and then telling the government and the Public Accounts Committee about the $80 million that he claimed was overpaid to teachers in order to justify his actions, I wait patiently to see what disciplinary action will be levied against the REO, Ovid Morrison by the Finance Secretary, Dr. Hector Butts in a similar no-nonsense approach he took to terminate the services of former REO Raphael Downes. Or will Minister of Communities, the Hon. Ronald Bulkan interfere and remain silent on Morrison’s autocratic leadership that resulted in his vindictive transfer of Staff Nurse/Midwife Sherilyn Marks without due process, and covered up Morrison’s activities like the Carrol Joseph drug abuse to protect one of their own. Harry Gil Member of Parliament, PPP
VISION OF A MORE EFFICIENT GUYANA DEAR EDITOR, On June 26, 2017, media reports quoted our President’s ‘vision of a more efficient Guyana’ in the context of procurement spending and greater supervision of projects etc. and that in his scheduled meeting with Cabinet on the 27thJune, he plans to include the Permanent Secretaries and Accounting staff to ‘discuss the adoption of cost-cutting measures within their spheres of operation’. This is indeed very commendable and must be music to the ears of beleaguered taxpayers and the citizenry at large in whose behalf I thank the President for his welcome
initiative and wish him well for the benefit of all Guyanese. Additionally, I cannot let this opportunity slip by and trust that it is not too late, to implore the President, the Cabinet and senior staff in Government to extend their
focus beyond “procurement and spending” to include the recruitment, deployment and management of human resources and, very urgently, ‘systems and modus operandi’ with particular reference to digitization and all other aspects of Information Technology (IT) for a leaner, more focused, efficient and motivated public service. I have had the privilege of some inside experience of the service which informs me, without any doubt, that there is definite room for the latter focus in a big way. Nowrang Persaud
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NICIL probe…
Contact me for info on Ashni Singh - Nandlall tells SOCU Investigators’ attempts to speak to former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, in the ongoing probe of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), will not be straightforward. Rather, the investigators will have to go through his lawyer, former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall. That is, if Nandlall has his way. The lawyer, who himself was charged following SOCU’s investigations into 15 Commonwealth Law Reports that he has in his possession, yesterday wrote the unit. He said he is the attorney-at-law for the former Finance Minister, a one-time colleague in the Cabinet of Ministers under the Donald Ramotar administration. “Although my client is out of the jurisdiction, he always was and remains accessible, ready, able and willing to provide all, or any information at his disposal which your Unit may require,” Nandlall said in his letter yesterday to SOCU. The letter was released to media houses. Nandlall went further: “In the circumstances, please feel free to contract me for any information you may require from, or questions you may wish to ask of my client.” The letter was addressed to Lt. Colonel Sydney James, Head of SOCU, and copied to the Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud. James and head of the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU), Aubrey Retemyer, reportedly travelled to Florida earlier this week to talk to Winston Brassington, former head of NICIL. It is unclear whether the investigators were moving to bring back Brassington
SOCU’S head, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sydney James
SARU’s head, Aubrey Retemyer
Former Executive Director of NICIL, Winston Brassington
Former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh
Former AG: Attorney-at-law, Anil Nandlall to Guyana. Brassington is now working in that US state. He reportedly moved there since late 2015, months after the Coalition Government took office and had ordered a number of forensic audits to be conducted, including into NICIL’s operations. NICIL is the state agency that overlooks investments and privatizations for the Government and under the previous administration. The former Finance Minister was an integral part of the Board of Directors. Together, the two (Singh and Brassington) would have overseen several transactions, worth billions, that SOCU is now investigating. The forensic audit report in NICIL had highlighted several transactions, including the Pradoville Two sale of lands to former government officials and their relatives; the construction of a High Street building at a cost of several hundred million dollars and the sale of two Duke Street properties to businessman, Gerry Gouveia, among
others. Investigators would also want to talk to Brassington about billions of dollars in dividends from state companies that NICIL collected and proceeds from the sale of scores of state properties. Brassington, who would have also overseen the building of the Berbice Bridge and the troubled Marriott Hotel, is said to be a permanent resident of the US, and not a citizen. Singh is said to be working in the US - either Washington or New York, in a major financial institution. The administration, while in Opposition, had insisted that billions of dollars were
siphoned off and not accounted for, because of the deals, with the country’s best interests not taken care of. Several former government ministers and officials and even ex-President Bharrat Jagdeo and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, have been hauled in for questioning by SOCU. The Opposition has denied wrongdoing and has accused the administration of being on a campaign of witchhunting.
Brexit won’t affect EU support to Guyana As Britain remains resolute to leave the European Union (EU), most countries that receive aid from the global bloc, are questioning whether this will change. The EU in Guyana’s case has been a major contributor to several sectors, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, energy, and support to civil society, water and capacity building. The EU would have already granted, and will be granting billions of Guyana dollars to develop these and other areas. These funds go directly into the State’s treasury. During a press conference at the EU Delegation Office at Sendall Place Stabroek, Georgetown, EU Ambassador to Guyana Jernej Videtic, was quizzed if Brexit (the process by which the United Kingdom withdraws from the European Union) will somehow “diminish” the EU’s aid to Guyana. The Ambassador was at the time hosting a conference on the “Future of EU/ Guyana Cooperation” “From everything that is now ongoing about the future of aid from the EU to the world, I don’t see that there will be any change in the policies of the European Union,” he said. Christof Stock, EU’s Head of Cooperation, referred to a statement made by the political leaders in the EU
- Envoy assures stating that even in postBrexit, the EU will still be the world’s biggest donor. “So assistance will remain one of the core areas of the EU,” he said. The EU is an economic and political partnership involving 28 European countries. It began after World War Two to foster economic co-operation, with the idea that countries which trade together are more likely to avoid going to war with each other. It has since grown to become a "single market" allowing goods and people to move around, basically as if the member states were one country. The British government led by David Cameron, held a referendum on the issue on 23 June 2016; a “modest” majority was said to have voted to leave the EU and on 19 June 2017, negotiations to leave the bloc started. The UK remains a full member of the bloc as the terms of withdrawal are being negotiated. British Prime Minister Theresa May said that the UK government would not seek permanent membership of the single market or of the customs union and promised a Great Repeal Bill that would repeal the European Communities Act and incorporate existing EU law into UK domestic law.
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Cabinet briefed on economy as budget preparations start Assessments, adjustments and achievements in relation to the public sector’s work programme was the main focus at this month’s Ministerial Conference as the Government commences preparations for the new budget cycle. The conference, which was convened yesterday at State House, also saw the participation of Permanent Secretaries, heads of various agencies and high-level technical and financial officers in a bid to assess and review, ministry by ministry, the status of Public Sector Investments Projects (PSIPs). In a brief comment to the Press and Publicity Unit, Minister of State Joseph Harmon explained that given the fact the fiscal year is already at the halfway point, it is necessary to take stock of what currently obtains, particularly as it relates to the $56B, which was allocated for PSIPs, so as to plan efficiently and prudently for 2018. “The Finance Minister pointed out that in the ab-
The Government’s monthly Ministerial Conference that was held yesterday at the Baridi Benab, State House. sence of enhanced spending by the private sector it is the Government’s spending that will drive economic growth. We needed to ensure that the monies were spent so that the economy will be driven in a specific way. The Minister of
Finance gave us some projections for the rest of 2017 and an outlook for 2018. He had his entire team of technical officers from the Ministry, so we have a very good sense of where we are now and what we need to do to complete
these projects by the end of the year,” Minister Harmon said. With regards to the 2018 National Budget, the Minister disclosed that the groundwork has already commenced. He noted that since this is the
Coalition Government’s third budget, since it came into Office in 2015, they are now in better and more informed position to identify and analyse areas of expenditure and to chart the way forward in terms of expediting public sector
projects. Minister Harmon, according to the Ministry of the Presidency, also took on Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, with regard to his criticisms of the Government’s move to have the budget presented in Parliament in November. Jagdeo is quoted as saying that there are many downsides of having a budget presented early. Minister Harmon described the Opposition Leader’s remark as “disingenuous”, noting that as a former Minister of Finance, himself, Jagdeo would understand the value of an early budget in so far as planning and execution of Government projects are concerned. “An early budget allows you an entire year to actually spend monies, whereas a late budget would not give you a complete year. In the previous administration, the budget came out in February sometimes in March. So after you go through all of the Government processes you really can’t start spending until sometime in April or May. What this meant was that in the first quarter of the year, you are spending onetwelfth of what you would have received in the previous year,” the Minister explained. He added that the presentation of the budget in November allows for spending for the fiscal year to commence in January of that year, since budget debates and consideration of estimates are likely to be completed by the end of the preceding year. “I believe that this is a good thing. In fact, in most civilised countries of the world the budget is finished by November. It is the certain level of competence and efficiency that we have brought to the process that is allowing us to have a budget so early. This is really what efficiency is all about and I think he (Mr. Jagdeo) is running from that,” the Minister of State said.
Friday June 30, 2017
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Kaieteur News
The secret deal One year ago, I met a young man who had just left school. He said that he was looking for a job and asked me if I knew of any openings. He had ten subjects at the CSEC, all with impressive grades. He had sent out close to eighty job applications, but received no favorable response. He said that he was desperate for a job. He showed me his hands. They were soft. He said even though he had never done a day’s hard work in his life, he would be willing even to take on a manual work just to get his foot in the job market. I saw him again this past week. My first question to him was whether he had nailed down a job. He answered in the negative. But he added that he was no
longer interested in a job. Puzzled, I asked him why. He looked at me with an equally astonished look. He said, “You didn’t hear that Guyana discovered oil?” I asked him what that had to do with him not seeking a job. He said, “I hear that when the oil revenues begin to flow that the unemployment relief will be US$5,000 per month.” There are lots of Guyanese like him. They are of the view that every month, they will get a cheque in the mail. There are even some Guyanese pensioners in the USA who are of the belief that Granger will pay old age pensioners in Guyana US$5,000 per month. Many of them are planning to come back to Guyana to register for old age pensions so that when the
windfall comes, they can cash in. All these persons, and those like that young unemployed man who are no longer interested in working, had better wake up and smell the coffee. By the time ExxonMobil is finished with Guyana and its oil, there is no certainty how much money Guyana will obtain. Guyanese are speculating about oil riches. There is no information out there as to what Guyana will obtain under the deal it has made or is making with the oil giant ExxonMobil. The whole deal is being kept under tabs as if it is a state secret. The first question Guyanese should be asking is just what is in store for the people. Just how much Guyana will be receiving and
how will Guyana know that this is what it is entitled to under the deal. What is the rate of royalties to be paid? And how does this compare to what is paid around the world? Guyana is new to oil. The only oil Guyanese have ever produced is coconut oil, crab oil, linseed oil and, of course, the most popular of all, snake oil. Trinidad and Tobago had an oil industry even before they gained Independence. They therefore took over an oil industry with people who had institutional knowledge. Guyana is starting from scratch and if it does not look out, it may end up with nothing, because from what has been made public, whatever Guyana is due to receive will be dependent on the honesty
Vice Chancellor justifies several senior appointments at national university Some basic things to ensure the efficient management of the University of Guyana [UG] have been neglected for so many years that some people have accepted them as the norm. This was the assertion of Vice Chancellor of the national university, Professor Ivelaw Griffith. “There are some things for the management; for the efficiency of the economics and operations [that] we have neglected for years, so much so that people think it’s normal. It is a university that has been so accustomed to managing on a shoe-string budget that people think that anytime you do a little, you are being profligate.” The Vice Chancellor’s remarks were forthcoming in response to concerns about allegations that his appointment of a number of senior
officials at the national university has resulted in the institution becoming ‘top heavy’. The University last year released information to the effect that on August 22, 2016, the Finance and General Purpose Committee (F&GPC) the second highest policymaking body after the Council - approved a proposal by the Vice Chancellor Griffith to comprehensively restructure the university’s leadership. This move, it was revealed, was designed to create greater levels of efficiency and effectiveness and set the stage for innovation in academic and non-academic areas. The changes, which became effective on October 1, 2016, entailed having Dr Michael Scott, the immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, become Deputy Vice- Chancellor (DVC) of Academic Engage-
ment. The former DVC of Academics, Dr Barbara Reynolds, was named DVC for Planning and International Engagement, a new entity intended to streamline and extend UG’s international relationships and build new grant, research, and other relationships with other universities and with international organizations. Dr Paloma Mohamed, a former Director for the Centre for Communication Studies and a former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, now occupies the newly-created position of DVC of Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement (PACE), which has the mandate to enhance UG’s fund-raising, rebranding, alumni relationships, and public interchange, all of which are said to be crucial to the University’s renaissance. Added to this, the new
administrative team was expected to be strengthened with the establishment of an Office of Strategic Initiatives in the Vice Chancellery, to undertake institutional strengthening, project management, and allied (Continued on page 21)
of ExxonMobil in declaring what they have invested and the cost of extracting the oil. The next question to be asked is what mechanisms are in place to ensure that Guyana can verify just how much oil is pumped, the cost of production, and the actual investment which ExxonMobil has made. The statement made by a top government official, that suggests the government will rely on the honesty of the oil company, is frightening. It shows the government does not appreciate fully just who it is dealing with. Kaieteur News will come
in for a lot of flak for the series that it has run to apprise Guyanese of some of the things to which they should be paying attention. Kaieteur News is doing the public a service. The government, however, needs to put itself in order before it starts to receive orders from ExxonMobil.
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Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Boom out, baby! You have a small mind! The English philosopher, John Stuart wrote; “How can great minds be produced in a country where the test of great minds is agreeing in the opinions of small minds?” One of the greatest French writers ever, Victor Hugo, wrote; “Wide horizons lead the soul to broad ideas; circumscribed horizons engender narrow ideas; this sometimes condemn great hearts to become small minded.” Because I live in Guyana and I see the asininities that are interwoven in the nation’s fabric, I find three quotations on small minds poetically beautiful in their relevance to Guyana. I am particularly fond of what a former Prime Minister of the UK, Benjamin Disraeli once observed; “Small things affect small minds.” English writer Doris Lessing also observed; “Small things amuse small minds.” The great religious figure Sathya Sai Baba once noted that; “Small minds select narrow roads.” People here demonstrate the infinitesimal minds they live with when you see their priorities. In Guyana, heartbreaking events compete with hilarities for the attention of the population, and pre-
dictably, the preoccupation is with the facetious, inconsequential dimensions of existence. There is only one word to describe the nature of such a land, “tragic.” Minister Broomes manufactured a ‘selfie’ in Parliament in which she constantly repeats the expression, “boom out” in satirical mockery of Bharrat Jagdeo (given his track record and what he did to Varshnie Singh can you blame people who caricature him?). Social media saw a plethora of condemnations and the mainstream media was deluged with harsh criticisms. The main points – not in Parliament, and she is a minister. Point taken! And very seriously too. If I was asked if I agree with what she did, I would definitely say no. But there are extremely sad things that take place daily in Guyana, and the playfield of social media is deserted and the mainstream press will go out of business if they wait to see a letter of interest. Not one person thought it was necessary to write to the newspapers
enquiring why a 10-yearold child kicked in the stomach was sent home the same day from the hospital. She died days after and the post mortem revealed internal poisoning from ruptured organs. This child died because of medical incompetence at the Georgetown Hospital. No one sent in an enraged missive to the newspapers, but people are fuming about Broomes’ “boom out” selfie. The stories of unnecessary death at the hands of incompetent doctors at public hospitals are a national disgrace. How about one of those who didn’t like the “boom out” selfie write the press asking for a Commission of Inquiry? I don’t think we will see that. Small minds only concentrate on small things. Magistrates all over this wasteland are sending people to jail, a majority of whom are pretty young; we don’t see even half a letter. Really! Who cares about Broomes and her “boom out” selfie? Oh yes. I beg your pardon! There are people who care. Those with tiny minds.
We are living in self-destructive times in this country. I haven’t seen one comment from anyone outside of the political arena, that is, society itself, that condemned the licence feerise for animal-drawn carts. The government has to get revenue, but don’t tell me one of the ways is upping the tax on animal-drawn carriages. I haven’t seen a letter in the press the past twenty years inquiring why we do not have an active consumer affairs association. I haven’t seen a comment in the media the past twenty years lamenting the absence of an active human rights b o d y. After Broomes, who next will we
write on? Certainly not erring doctors. Certainly not erring magistrates. Certainly not the things that break the hearts of the average human being. It tantalizes my mind that someone can read about people dying unnecessarily at the Georgetown Hospital, but can actually take the time to send in a letter on the “boom out” selfie. It lacerates my soul that a poor person appears without a lawyer in front of a magistrate and is put on $100,000 bail for stealing a $60,000 watch and goes to the Camp Street lock up because they cannot raise that amount. But former ministers charged with stealing over $600 million
Frederick Kissoon of public money are granted a million in bail. So who next is going to do a “boom out” selfie, say in one of the ministries or at the Pegasus or Marriott? I want to see a minister doing a selfie in the zoo, to see what reaction that will generate. “Boom out”, until tomorrow’s column.
Dem boys seh ...
Chat-3 big bull run SOCU offisa off de farm De manner in which a search warrant was handled a few days ago give de accused a heads up so he coulda mek ee move. Everybody know SOCU was about to go after things wha dem seh de Chat-3 ain’t supposed to have in ee possession but as we all know, when yuh have friends in high places all things are possible. Dem boys hear ee send way the stuff at ee father farm in Mahaica to hide. SOCU get a wire and de boss man send up a team to search de farm. Dem boys hear when de officers reach at de farm dem meet up with the Chat-3 daddy. One of de offisa tell de d a d d y, “ We c o m e f u h
carry out ah raid pun yuh farm. We a look fuh books, drugs and guns.” The Chat-3 daddy calmly seh, “okay offisa, but ah don’t want yuh to go in de field over deh so...”, as he pointed out the area. Dem boys hear the SOCU offisa verbally explode and seh, “Leh me tell yuh dis. Me have de authority of the Guyana government !” Reaching into ee pocket, the arrogant offisa pull out ee badge and proudly display it in front de big man face “See dis badge yah?! Dis badge mean me can go anyway me want... In the air, sea and any land! Me is a SoCooo offisa! No question asked, no answers given! Yu h handastan wha meh seh old
bai?!” The Chat-3 daddy apologize and continue to go about ee business. Moments later de daddy hear loud screams. He looked up and see de SOCU Offisa running fuh ee life, with Chat-3 daddy Big Bull right pun ee backside...... With every step de bull was gaining ground on the offisa, and it was likely that he woulda get kill before ee reach de farm gate. De offisa frighten like hell. The Chat-3 father throw down ee cutlass, run as fast as he could to the fence, and shout at de top of ee lungs...... “YUH BADGE! SHOW EE YUH BADGE!” Talk half and remember don’t go fuh search fuh book pun farm
Fraud charges against businessman dismissed A businessman was yesterday able to breathe a little easier after seven charges of obtaining money by false pretence against him were dismissed by City Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Twenty-eight yearold Iqwas Arkhan of Eccles, East Bank Demerara, who is the proprietor of a spare parts store, was accused of uttering several Bank of Nova Scotia cheques in the sum of 14.5M to Farouk Yusuf, knowing that he did not have the
said sum to satisfy the amounts. Arkhan had pleaded not guilty to the allegations after they were read to him on his first appearance and was granted bail in the sum of $700,000 by the magistrate. However, the matter was subsequently dismissed after the virtual complainant (Yusuf) refused to provide the court with evidence against the defendant. Arkhan was represented by Attorney-at-law Sonia Parag.
Iqwas Arkhan
Friday June 30, 2017
Kaieteur News
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US$150M expansion…
CJIA shifts to temporary terminal amid continuing works The US$150M expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, which is set to be completed this year, is entering a critical phase. The new temporary terminal for arrivals became operational as of yesterday, to allow the contractor to complete works on the new building. As a result of the schedule works, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) disclosed that its Baggage Scanner at the arrival terminal will be relocated from its current position to the temporary facility. That location is east of the current terminal. “CJIA Management has advised that the new Temporary Arrival Terminal, may be operational between Thursday, June 29, 2017 and Sunday, July 2, 2017,” GRA dis-
closed yesterday. GRA said that the relocation of the scanner scheduled for yesterday would have resulted in its shutdown on advice of the technical personnel. “This action, which is necessary so as to ensure a safe and secure relocation, will result in a minimum down-time/ disruption of important service to travelers, stakeholders, importers, exporters, consolidators, and bond operators.” The authority also disclosed that the CJIA expansion project is also likely to impact the day-to-day duties and functions of Customs Operations since the area which Customs and other CJIA operations currently occupy will soon be demolished and superseded by a larger and more modern departure area.
An aerial shot of the expansion works at the airport taken earlier this year. (CJIA photo)
The airport officials have been meeting with the Red Cap porters and taxi drivers to keep them updated on the temporary Arrivals Building, the airport says. The expansion, including a longer runway, is set to be completed this yearend.
Businessman’s project to combat flooding worries neighbours Flooding due to incessant rainfall was the reason a city businessman decided to invest in a project to raise the shoulders of the alleyway between Cummings Street and Orange Walk, Georgetown. But although the project was regarded as a noble one, even by the Mayor and City Councillors of Georgetown [M&CC], it is now a subject of concern. Complaints have reportedly been directed to the municipality regarding the project. Officials of the Guyana Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [GSPCA] have also been among those complaining about the project. Speaking to this publication yesterday, Treasurer of the Animal Shelter and Clinic, Ms. Dominique Ahmad, said that up to yesterday, “We don’t know what is really being done.” But according to Ahmad, based on a conversation she had with one of the workers on the site, the work was being done to safeguard the fence of a nearby business place. Ahmad said that she initially approached the worker because she needed to determine whether the works being done would affect the drainage situation in the area. She was also worried about the fact that the ongoing works required that part of the GSPCA fence be dam-
- City Council to intervene, despite giving approval aged. According to Ahmad, during her enquiry, she was bluntly told that GPSCA should have been aware that the nature of the work would have warranted part of its fence being damaged. Ahmad said, too, that she was informed that the works were approved by the Georgetown municipality. She is however worried that consideration was not given for the security of the Animal Shelter, since the previously near six-foot fence has been lowered because of the ‘building up’ work being done. According to the GSPCA Treasurer, although the
project could be one that will be beneficial, “we just don’t know, because nobody has told us anything. The person responsible for it has communicated nothing to us.” Moreover, Ahmad said that the concerns of the GSPCA have been shared with the Georgetown Municipality. She said although she was informed that there were plans for someone from the municipality to visit the site, by early afternoon yesterday this had not happened. Added to this, she observed that no work was done on the project yesterday. Also, (Continued on page 12)
Airport officials briefing taxi drivers on the new arrangements this week. (CJIA photo)
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Friday June 30, 2017
Kaieteur News
Craftsmen anticipate needed exposure at Carifesta XIII Guyana is expected to take a sizeable delegation to Carifesta XIII slated for Barbados in August. Among those who will be showcasing their work will be some talented craftsmen, including 60-year-old Brian Van Rossum. Van Rossum, like a few others, has over the years utilised the Main Street Avenue in Georgetown to showcase their craft. He, however, has high expectations that the exposure at the Barbadoshosted Caribbean Festival of Arts (Carifesta) will help his business to evolve considerably. Van Rossum has been involved in the craft business for over 30 years. Business, according to him, is usually slow, but there are some people who continue to have an appreciation for handicraft.
When asked why he chose to be involved in the craft arena, Van Rossum quickly quipped, “If you are not creative you will be destructive and I don’t want to be a destructive element...So I decided to lean on the positive side of my mind.” He claimed that he had long realised that he had a creative side, even as he added that he was well prepared for this path of life since “I got my degree in all faculties of life.” Among his first pieces were hand-crafted plant hangers. Also, he and his brother Paul, who now resides overseas, have collaborated in the past to do some outstanding interior decoration. In fact, Van Rossum revealed that among the most outstanding projects that the duo was hired to do was a carpet for the Bank of Guyana.
Brian Van Rossum displays some of his jewellery that he intends to take to Carifesta XIII
Norman Vieira [L] and Marvin Phillips are craftsmen who hope to have their work showcased too. However, as a solo craftsman, Van Rossum concentrates mostly on the production of hand-crafted jewellery these days. Yesterday he was anxious to show off some of his pieces which he anticipates will earn him a ‘pretty penny’ at Carifesta XIII. This is in spite of the fact that his attendance at Carifesta XI in Suriname in 2013 did not bring him much financial gain. This, he explained, was due to the fact that the initial plan to have the event at a central location did not materialise. “It was nice, but it was not
at the central point that we had expected. They had it in different regions and so I didn’t get what I expected,” said Van Rossum of his earnings. Van Rossum did not participate in Carifesta XII in Haiti in 2015, but he insisted that his expectation for this year will not be daunted. Also slated to be part of the Guyanese Barbados delegation is 68-year-old Norman Vieira. According to Vieira, he has been engaged in leather sculpture for over 50 years. And he revealed yesterday that he can create just about any object including flowers,
fish or even birds. “I have been doing this for a long time and so it is natural for me to create any form,” he shared. He too is anxious to be a part of the arts festival, which he believes will help to give his work meaningful attention and boost sales too. Vieira, like Van Rossum, is a common feature along the avenue since they ply their craft trade there on a daily basis. Sixty-two year-old Marvin
Phillips has also been similarly engaged for some 30 years and he, like the other two craftsmen mentioned, is anxious to have his work exposed at the upcoming art festival in Barbados too. According to Phillips, although he will not be able to grace the event in person, he hopes his name will be recognised for the wooden sculptures he intends to have showcased.
Businessman’s project to... (From page 11) when this publication visited the site yesterday, no work was being done. When contacted yester-
day, a representative of Alabama Trading, believed to be its owner, Mr Wooed Phillip, said that the project, which was granted approval from
the relevant authority, was merely intended to combat the flooding situation that the area is predisposed to. Added to this, he said that the investment, which he is happy to be associated with, is one that will essentially help to enhance the environment. In response to concerns from the GSPCA about security, the Alabama Trading representative said that he would be willing to give support to remedy that concern. Public Relations Officer of the Mayor and City Council, Ms. Debra Lewis, in an invited comment to this publication yesterday, said that indeed the works being done by Alabama Trading was endorsed by the engineers’ department of the municipality. The project proposed, she said, was to raise the sides of the drains that run through the alleyway between Orange Walk and Cummings Street. But according to Lewis, several persons including those associated with the GSPCA, have since voiced concerns about the project. Officials of the municipality, she said, were scheduled to visit the work site for the purpose of inspection yesterday and moves will be made to address the concerns.
Friday June 30, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Armed bandits invade #46 grocery
- Elderly couple traumatized An elderly couple running a grocery store along the Number 46 public road was yesterday afternoon traumatised by two armed men demanding cash and jewellery. Brandishing a gun and a knife, the intruders tied up the couple during the 20-minute ordeal. The robbery took place at around 13:30 hrs. Fifty-seven year-old Kumarie Kamaldeo told reporters that she was in the bottom flat with her husband Kamaldeo, 58, when the men entered the premises under the pretence of being customers. “One come up to me with a knife and seh don’t scream, don’t mek no noise or me guh bore yuh”. She said that she attempted to get up, but was pushed to the floor and told
not to move. “Dem tell me nah scream or dem guh shoot we and kill we. Den dem tek de tape and tape meh two hand and mouth and he shove meh ah ground again,” she recounted. The woman recalled that the men then demanded cash and jewellery while also holding her husband at gunpoint. “Me show dem weh de money deh and me tell dem it get $10,000 upstairs, but dem tell me how me got to get more jewellery”. At that point she handed over her two gold rings and a bangle she was wearing at the time. Kamaldeo related that she and her husband pleaded with the men to not kill them. One of the perpetrators then tied up her husband while the other escorted her to the upper flat in search of
Robbed: Kumarie Kamaldeo more valuables. “Me tell dem tek wha’eva dem want,” she said. By that time a customer had ventured into the shop, but the two victims were not allowed to speak while they were tied up and hidden in
The couple’s grocery store
the house. The customer eventually left. The woman told Kaieteur News that only one of the men was masked, and both kept asking her if she knew them she told them no.
After robbing the couple, the men left them tied up and calmly walked out the yard. Not long after, another customer came in and they managed to alert him. They were subsequently untied and
the police were contacted. The men reportedly escaped with $43,000 in local currency, jewellery, and $22,000 in phone cards. Investigations are continuing.
Iraq declares end of caliphate after capture of Mosul mosque Reuters - After eight months of grinding urban warfare, Iraqi government troops yesterday captured the ruined mosque at the heart of Islamic State’s de facto capital Mosul, and the prime minister declared the group’s self-styled caliphate at an end. Iraqi authorities expect the long battle for Mosul to end in coming days as remaining Islamic State fighters are bottled up in just a handful of neighbourhoods of the Old City. The seizure of the nearly 850-year-old Grand al-Nuri Mosque — from where Is-
lamic State proclaimed the caliphate nearly three years ago to the day — is a huge symbolic victory. “The return of al-Nuri Mosque and al-Hadba minaret to the fold of the nation marks the end of the Daesh state of falsehood,” Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a statement, referring to the hardline Sunni Mulsim group by an Arabic acronym. The fall of Mosul would in effect mark the end of the Iraqi half of the IS caliphate, although the group still controls territory west and south
of the city, ruling over hundreds of thousands of people. Its stronghold in Syria, Raqqa, is also close to falling. A U.S.-backed Kurdishled coalition besieging Raqqa on Thursday fully encircled it after closing the militants’ last way out from the south, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said. These setbacks have reduced Islamic State’s territory by 60 percent from its peak two years ago and its revenue by 80 percent, to just
Auditor General studies GECOM... From page 13 almost everything. According to Government figures, the Brasse brothers were awarded at least 40 percent of the total contracts paid out by GECOM in 2015. There also appeared to be evidence that GECOM conducted contract-splitting to hide a number of questionable purchases from the Cabinet. Among some of the purchases were pliers, Duracell batteries, toners and even office equipment. INFLATED PRICES In almost all the cases, there was evidence that the prices were highly inflated, as in the case of the radios. Some of the radios supplied by Brasse at the time were retailing for $300,000. Yet GECOM paid on average $2M apiece. Former GECOM Chairman, Dr. Surujbally had emphasised that it was the Secretariat that handled purchasing of items and services. The glaring breaches were not for the radios alone. Ac-
cording to official figures of contracts awarded in 2015, there were two payments for Duracell batteries by GECOM. One contract was awarded on April 23, 2015, about three weeks before the elections, for $14,529,000. This contract was awarded to Mobile Authority, a business also owned by Brasse. There was another contract awarded to the same entity for $9,180,518 on May 21, 2015, making it a total of $23,709,518 paid for Duracell batteries in 2015. With regards to the contract date of May 21, the big question according to GECOM officials was, 'Why would the entity want to enter into a contract for the batteries after the elections?' GECOM was left with several boxes of the Duracell batteries delivered by Brasse. Investigations by Kaieteur News revealed that GECOM and taxpayers paid millions of dollars more for those batteries than what they could have been ac-
quired for. Three weeks prior to the election, the entity doled out $14.8M for the purchase of nippers/pliers from a King Street, Lacytown business called Standard Distributors. The owner is the brother of Brasse. It appeared that GECOM paid out an average of $6,000 apiece for those pliers when they could have been acquired on the local market for $600. It was not even a familiar brand. Michael Brasse's Mobile Authority, M-Tech Business Solutions and Mibra Trading received up to $290M in contracts in 2015. GECOM, tasked with running elections in Guyana, had refused to respond to the charges of irregularities, saying that there is an active investigation by state auditors. The revelations would continue to rock GECOM which until now has been doing well to keep a tight rein on its inner workings.
$16 million a month, said IHS Markit. “Their fictitious state has fallen,” an Iraqi military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Rasool, told state TV. However, it still occupies an area as big as Belgium, across Iraq and Syria, accord-
ing to IHS Markit, an analytics firm. Islamic State fighters blew up the medieval mosque and its famed leaning minaret a week ago as U.S.backed Iraqi forces started a push in its direction. Their black flag
had been flying from alHadba (The Hunchback) minaret since June 2014. Much of the mosque and brickwork minaret was reduced to rubble, said a Reuters TV reporter who went to the site with the elite units that captured it.
Vice Chancellor justifies several... From page 9 services. Appointed to head this area is Dr. Fitzgerald Yaw, Consultant on Governance, Sustainability, and Economic Development, who has worked across the Americas and the Caribbean. Added to this, Ms Karen Wishart, who was the Programme Officer in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, was promoted to the first Chief of Staff in the Vice-Chancellery. This promotion was said to coincide with the renaming of the Senior Administrative Group to the ViceChancellor’s Cabinet, which includes the DVCs, Registrar, Bursar, Human Resources Director, Director of the Berbice Campus, the Legal Officer— another new position—the Director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives, and the Chief of Staff. But there have been numerous concerns voiced that the size of the university does not warrant the magnitude of appointments. Vice Chancellor Griffith, however, made it clear that while the proposal was his to present, it certainly wasn’t suddenly conjured up upon his appointment as the principal of the university. He explained that the University over the years benefited from a number of as-
sessment studies intended to help improve its operation. Among the most recent, was one completed by Hamilton Associates in 2012. The assessment in question, Professor Griffith said, not only recognised that the university was neglected in terms of its human capital, but went on to outline that it did not have sufficient lecturers or administrators for that matter. He underscored that the one of the things that the Hamilton Report highlighted is that “the university is too big and part of why it has not done well is that it is running on a shoe-string budget, both on the lecturers’ side and on the administrative side.” Part of the recommendation to help address the shortcomings of the University that is detailed in the Report is the appointment of at least four Deputy Vice Chancellors in addition to the Vice Chancellor. But according to Professor Griffith, although he saw the need for the recommended measures to be implemented, “I said we can’t afford four [but] let’s move from one to three.” In fact, he noted that among the neglected human resource area of the university is the lack of a Civil Engineer, an Attorney and even a Chief Accountant.
“Partly because of the low salaries at this university, both on the teaching and administrative sides, we have had difficulty recruiting people,” said Professor Griffith, as he related that the recommendation for an augmented staff did not even taken into consideration the university’s current 8,000plus student population. Moreover, Professor Griffith has said, “what I have begun to do, and I make no apologies for doing this, is to try to right-size both the teaching staff and the administrative staff.” “How are we going to get grants if we don’t have people to write them? How do you get the alumni to give back if you don’t have the mechanisms? How do you get the corporations to give, if you don’t have people who will wine and dine them and follow up with them?” questioned the Vice Chancellor as he added, “There is a lot of vacuous, misinformed commentary about big spending.” The Vice Chancellor also made it clear that “I am going to always make the right decisions for the right reasons, irrespective of the criticisms, because sometimes the people don’t know the facts...So I would say to anyone the documents are there.”
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SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 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. Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigration Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496/ 662-6045 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:629-4946 or 225-4822 A Power’s Repairs & Services: repairs done on fridges, washers, freezers, stove, A/C. located 114 Bruche Dam, E.C.D. Call: 6852588/669-0477
WANTED 1 Accounts Clerk, preferably from E.B.D – 5 subjects CXC minimum @ gtcareers592@gmail.com Hairdresser/Nail Technician apply at West Shore Plaza, 15 Public Road, Ruimzeight, W.C.D. Call: 269-1524/656-3561 Hardworking, pleasant, physically fit, literate, team player (Plant Shop Staff) 1825 years. Tel: 646-2108, Georgetown One female domestic to work in Trinidad. ages between 25 40yrs. Free accommodation. Call or whatsap: 1868- 683-1528 Hairdressers and nail technicians to work at Modern Hair Fashion Salon. Call: 227-8613 or 226-1931 Water dredge operator, sailor, watchman for interior. Call: 675-0587/225-9304 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 GT Express wanted contract cars, dispatcher, drivers. Tel: 231-0316/ 231-0002
DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIAL OFFERS FOR THE SEASON. CALL: 690-6494 AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPESTRATE . Call: 698-7807 TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
FOR SALE
FOR RENT
PROPERTY FOR SALE
LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461
Bully dogs mix with pit-bull puppies. Call: 684-9994/6878320 ask for Keno
Sawmill for rent in Linden: Ripsaw, portable mill, molder in excellent condition. Call: 673-9401
AT 192 Car, Price $450,000.00 negotiable. Tel: 643-4049 Paint Sale! Until supplies last! Coloured latex paint, 50% discount. Call: 265-3541/ 6954785/616-3411 Sale! Laptops from -$40,000, netbooks -$29,000, Dell Desktop Computers with 19" Screen - $49,000 free games, etc. Call Futuretech: 231-2206 Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999 One 65KVA generator, one double head planer, one 4 head planer. Call: 222-3644/ 613-5535 Three (3) pure bred female German shepherd pups, location: La Grange, W.B.D. Call: 654-6354 German Shepherd pups. Call: 665-4747/681-4762
Buying fresh wamara logs and square. Call: 664-5150 Contract cars at City Taxi Service, 8 Vlissengen Road. Call: 227-6868 We are buying residential house lots from $500,000.00$10M, priorities for Eccles & Providence. Call:629-2881/ 651-1969
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 677-7827, 6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM
Friday June 30, 2017
Kaieteur News
Experienced dispatcher, drivers and cars needed A.S.A.P. Contact 682-6747, 615-4252, 2192712.
VEHICLE FOR SALE
1 2 Bedroom house to rent at Grove, E.B.D – Call: 266-0892/ 681-1047 Two bedroom apartment to rent @ Herstelling New Scheme. Call: 627-3882/ 6412311 Hair & nails stations available for rental to experienced hairdressers & nail technicians. Call: 6283092/ 683-7033
TOYOTA FIELDER – 2009 WITH BODY KIT & RIMS $2.5M, SIENTA -$2.1M. CALL: 617-2891 1 Hilux extra cab, GVV series, 5L diesel, good condition. Call: 673-3335/233-6218
One part-time domestic from Diamond/Grove area. Call: 656-7329
1 Toyota Vigo, price -$2.5M, 4 wheel drive immaculate condition. Call: 225-3234
Arc/Acetylene Welder with fabrication skills. Call: 227-1830
Oswin J’s Auto Imports, new arrivals: Premio 2009, Allion 2009/2010, X-Trail 2009, Vitz 2013, 1 Bus 05/09. Call: 6092815/696-4659 2004 Honda Fit for sale, price negotiable. Call Akimo: 6226453 or Michael: 685-0088
1 & 2 Bedroom apartment available @ Charlestown. Call: 681-4275/ 231-4432/6015857 1 Three bedrooms upper flat @ Lusignan, E.C.D. Call: 6298240 2 Bedrooms apartment including water and internet, price - $40,000, location: Diamond Scheme, E.B.D. Call: 602-7135
PEN PAL 43yrs old male looking for vegetarian wife. Call: 690-7175
One driver that lives on Essequibo Coast to drive distribution vehicle. Call: 623-1615
House for sale, 2 flat, no flooding, 6ft fence, price $18M negotiable. Call: 2335400, 218-0595
Admin officer, business associate/customer services, computer operator, brilliant & detailed oriented. Apply @ Executive office Services. Call: 623-3574
1 Flat concrete house @ La Parfaite Harmonie, 3 bedrooms with 1 Master room, grilled PVC ceiling etc $12.5M negotiable. Call: 2533052/ 662-6818
LAND FOR SALE Land at 42 Coglan Dam, size: 37X270 price -$5.5M negotiable. Call Mr. Howes: 677-9938 or Mrs Clarke: +13473870537 2 ½ Acres riverside land, 5 Acres land with 5,000 sq.ft building. Call: 653-2477/685-6874 Herstelling (100ftX50ft) $3.2M, Farm (East Bank) $2.8M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1M, $1.4M, $1.6M, Uitvlugt -$2.6M. Call: 629-2881/6511969
FOR SALE/FOR RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578
Land in Friendship E.B.D, land size 50ftX198ft, price -$3.9M negotiable. Call: 645-6498
Large 3 bedrooms house for rent or sale in La Parfaite W.B.D -$40,000 per monthly. Call: 690-5061/667-0022
La Parfaite Harmonie -$1M, Zeelugt -$2M, Tuschen house & land - $3.5M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.7M. Call: 642-1252
One furnished liquor restaurant and bar for sale $20M or rent, location: E.C.DCall: 600-7228 Semi-furnished 5 bedrooms, 4 bathroom, camera, alarm, grill, garage. Call John: 6521504
Immediate vacancy exists for labourers t work at Ice Factory, Meadowbank. Call: 231-1408/642-9191 between 8am-1pm 1 live in couple & 2 male assistant with driver’s license to work @ outdoor grill, weekend included. Call: 6569313/675-2550 1 General domestic, must know to cook. Call: 638-6891 Chef and assistant cook. Call: 225-7933 or visit us at 173 Sheriff St. Sewing machine operator & 1 trainee draftsman/cutter, consideration given to persons with intermediate level training. Call: 225-5948/ 644-4398/333-4170 Experienced bartender. Call: 225-8572 between 7am-9am Cook, female with housekeeping experienced, age 25-45years old. Call: 6299450 from June 30th , 2017 to July 5th , 2017 ACCOMMODATION Journey Inn apartment rental, short term with AC & Kitchen, as low as -$15US. Call: 642-1783/ 646-3011634/718-2301695
TO LET Newly constructed apartments in a safe & healthy environment. Call: 698-6496/622-6512
MASSAGE Neisha’s Massage Spa. Call: 674-8147
One experienced cook various types of vegetarian dishes Monday –Saturday. Call: 623-1615 Cook/ Baker for interior. Applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020
Land at Well Street Ogle, E.C.D, back lot, 65feetX105feet - $12M. Call: 625-1514
Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pit-bull – Call: 650-7501 1 Pit-bull mini bus (BWW) giveaway price -$3,200,000 cash or part payment acceptable. Call: 604-7501/666-5634
House and land available @ La Parfaite Harmonie, Providence, Etc, We also assist with financing. Contact Pacific Development: 2236035/ 227-8274
1 House – upper flat 3 bedrooms, Pike Street Kitty. Call: 234-0733
3.5 TON & 4 TON CANTER, OPEN BACK WITH 4D35 & 4D34 ENGINE, PRICE -$3.8M & $4.2M. CALL: 617-2891
Wanted now! Female bartender $18,000 weekly live in or out, free meal & accommodation in G.T. Call: 681-1312
Experienced curry cook roti/ puri cook, counter servers, waiters (day shift only). Apply Hacks Halaal, 5 Commerce Streets.
Three storey 75ftX30ft building/bond, open floor, 2 offices & 2 washrooms, driveway @ 25B Princes St., Charlestown. Call: 223-0654/ 225-0605
One three bedroom concrete house for sale Contact Mala: 917-254-2909, location: Vryheid’s Lust, North. Call: 699-4111/626-2208
VACANCY One experienced pharmacy assistant to work in a reputable pharmacy in G/ Town (flexible hours). Call: 227-0630 Immediate vacancy for 2 females to work @ Ice Factory in Blairmont, must have Maths, English. Call: 2311408/642-9191
2 Bedrooms apartment Middle Road La Penitence $25,000 working person only. Call: 601-4661
LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 6222872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages). Continued on Page 23
Friday June 30, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Govt. starts dialogue with farmers on flooding, Skeldon estate privatisation - outreach attracts picketers Agriculture Minister Noel Holder on Wednesday conducted an outreach to Crabwood Creek, Region Six, to shed some light on government’s plans to revamp the sugar industry. During a meeting which was held at the Crabwood Creek Primary School, Minister Holder attempted to set the record straight on a number of issues including government’s plans to privatize the Skeldon factory. “Privatization is going to save the operations at the Skeldon estate. We have big companies that have expressed interest in utilizing the assets established at Skeldon. The government is prepared to facilitate this through lease agreements. These companies will need workers, so we are urging you not to become influenced by political forces. Come on board as everyone stands to benefit from such a move,” the Minister stated. Holder indicated that the companies that will be carrying out operations at Skeldon as a result of privatization will have to be producing commodities that earn foreign exchange. “Once privatization takes place, the company will be obligated to provide employment opportunities for persons in the community. In addition to job opportunities, the company will have to be producing commodities that will earn foreign exchange for the country.” Holder added. During the meeting, it was also revealed that action is being taken to combat flooding in the region, as many areas are flooded due to continuous rainfall. Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Fredrick Flatts indicated that the authority is striving to ensure that all of the drainage structures are operable, while noting the constant rainfall over the past few days. “As a result of heavy rainfall, there has been much flooding in the region. The drainage system currently has the ability to drain 1 ½ inches of water in 24 hours. However, over 8 inches of water has accumulated over the past few days in certain communities due to continuous rainfall. It is not an easy task to move pumps around as there is flooding in many parts of the country. What we are striving to do is to ensure that all our structures are operable but having continuous rainfall is not helping,” Flatts said. Minister Holder, while expressing that mitigation is
From Page 22
Three of the picketers
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Agriculture Minister Noel Holder (L) engages Region Six farmers on flooding and sugar estate privatisation needed to relieve flooding, revealed that 14 pumps that will enhance drainage capacities are expected to arrive from India. Mr. Flatts, while addressing Water Users’ Association issues, disclosed that since the area was established, there have been three sluices constructed to facilitate irrigation in the area. One sluice was closed off due to it not being utilized at the time. With more lands being made available for agricultural practices, the two remaining sluices are no longer sufficient to irrigate the lands. He further indicated that the anticipated Black Bush Polder Water Users’ Election for that area is going to take place in the near future. Farmers expressed concerns about the limited work carried out by authorities in farming areas between Crabwood Creek and Moleson Creek as it relates to irrigation matters. Minister
Holder committed to taking steps to correct this by having the area officially declared a production area. “As it is now, this large area has not officially been declared a production area. I am going to look into having this area declared a production area so that the authorities can go in and do all that you need us to do.” Minister Holder said. But it was not all smooth sailing for the outreach. Members of the opposition together with several farmers and sugar workers picketed the Minister’s arrival. Zamal Hussain, Region Six PPP/C supervisor, told reporters, that the main reason for their picketing exercise was to highlight “the hardships that the farmers and residents are facing”. He said, “Cash crop is in a serious crisis right now, they (government) killing out the industries, also rice is in serious
crisis and the government seems not to do anything”. Hussein questioned the reason that the minister chose to visit Crabwood Creek, when several other flooded areas in the Region also need attention. “The situation in the country is getting harder for the people and then now because of this flooding, farmers are being affected, then also we see the sugar workers protesting against the selling out of the Skeldon sugar estate”. Meanwhile, PPP Member of Parliament, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, also part of the picketing exercise stated that they will continue to stand in solidarity with the farmers and sugar workers. “Issues that can be dealt with, such as the
flooding… issues with rice and sugar, are not being dealt with.” Mahadeo mentioned that Minister Holder and the other government officials are yet to come on the ground and consult with the working people, the people whose lives will directly be affected by the decisions the government makes in parliament. Mahadeo stressed once more, that “GAWU has been saying they have alternative solutions”. “We are here offering our solidarity. I don’t expect anything to come out of the (minister’s) meeting. This is a government of false promises, failed promises, don’t expect anything,” the picketers stated.
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Corruption charges filed against Brazil’s president Brasília (AFP) - Brazil’s Supreme Court yesterday sent a corruption charge against President Michel Temer to Congress for it to decide whether the president should be put on trial. Although just a formality, the handover of the case meant one more step forward in the growing crisis that threatens to bring down Temer just over a year after he took power following his predecessor’s impeachment. The centre-right leader this week became the first sitting president in Brazil’s history to be indicted for a crime. Prosecutors, who have already uncovered a vast network of bribery and embezzlement in top political and business circles, say Temer took bribes from the JBS meatpacking company. Temer denies the allegation, calling it “fiction.”
Michel Temer Next, a lower house committee will take up the case, hearing arguments by Temer’s defense team before voting a recommendation on how to proceed. The full chamber will then vote on whether to accept the
charge. A two thirds majority would be needed to trigger the suspension of Temer for six months and the start of a trial in the Supreme Court. If that vote fails to carry, Temer would be free to continue his presidency.
More resources for security forces, social intervention, says PM KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Prime Minister Andrew Holness says that additional resources will be provided to the security forces and for implementation of social intervention programmes as part of efforts to address crime. “The Government will have to provide resources to the police, to the army and to the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA),” he said. “More so, we will have to make some special allocation for social intervention. We are also going to insist that the force uses the resources that they get far more efficiently than they presently do,” he added. The prime minister was speaking in the House of Representatives on Wednesday during the debate on the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Bill, which was passed with 18 amendments. The Bill gives members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) certain powers that are required to address serious crimes, while at the same time upholding the rule of law and protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens. It provides for a prime minister to declare any geographically defined area as a Zone of Special Operations, and empowers members of the joint security forces to search a person, vehicle, or place
Friday June 30, 2017
Kaieteur News
“Party’s over” for millions, as India launches biggest-ever tax reform Reuters - Rakesh Sachdeva sells auto parts in a busy market in central Delhi, just a few miles from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office. Yet despite having a flourishing business he does not pay any tax. Until now, his rundown premises and small scale operation has kept the business below the radar of India’s tax officials. Come July 1, however, “the party will be over”, says the 51-year-old, with a resigned shrug. A nationwide Goods and Services Tax (GST), set to come into effect tomorrow, has faced criticism for its complex design. But the country’s biggest tax reform since independence is promising to bring millions of firms like Sachdeva’s into the tax net, boosting government revenues and India’s sovereign credit profile. The new tax will require firms to upload their invoices every month to a portal that will match them with those of their suppliers or vendors. Because a tax number is needed for a firm to claim a credit on the cost of its inputs, many companies are refusing to buy from unregistered businesses. Those who don’t sign up risk losing any customer who has. “I have no option, but to
Narendra Modi register with the new system,” said Sachdeva, who spoke to Reuters on condition the name and precise location of his shop were not disclosed. Improved tax compliance should shore up public finances, augmenting resources for welfare and development spending and giving a lift to the $2 trillion economy. India currently has one of the worst tax-to-GDP ratios among major economies at 16.6 percent, less the half the 34 percent average for the members of the OECD and also below many emerging economies. While there is no official estimate of the potential fiscal gain, some tax experts say the measure, after the initial
teething trouble, would lift the tax-to-GDP ratio by as much as 4 percentage points as the number of tax filers is estimated to more than treble to 30 million. “In future, compliance is going to be extremely crucial,” Rajiv Nair, chief executive officer at Kaya Ltd. (KAYA.NS), told Reuters. “Since we are also responsible for compliance across the supply chain, we have to ensure that the suppliers we have are in a position to work with us in a compliant manner.” Nair’s company, which makes beauty and personal care products, has just streamlined its supply chain, dropping vendors that were not going to be GST-compliant. Other companies are doing the same. Elior Group (ELIOR.PA), a French catering and food service company, said it has mandated GST-compliance as one of the eligibility criteria for its orders. The unorganised sector of India’s economy is vast, employing an estimated nine out of 10 workers. While staying outside the GST regime risks losing business, joining it will necessitate an overhaul of firms’ accounting systems and an investment in technology.
Trump to press South Korea leader on trade as North Korea looms Prime Minister Andrew Holness, emphasises a point as he contributes to the debate on the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Bill in the House of Representatives Wednesdsay. (JIS) without a warrant, within a Zone, if they reasonably suspect that an offence has been, is being, or is about to be committed. It also provides that a joint command may establish a cordon and declare a curfew in a Zone; promote social and economic development in a Zone through the efforts of the various Government agencies and civil society; and provide for the establishment of a Social Intervention Committee to, among other things, develop a sustainable plan for the Zone. The debate on the Bill followed the tabling of two separate reports from the Joint Select Committee, which was established to examine the legislation.
In opening the debate, Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck said the country is seeing not only an escalation of crime, but that there is no regard to gender, age or circumstances. “We are in a situation where gunmen are rampaging through communities and the frightening thing is this culture of silence. Communities are under siege and the people across Jamaica are afraid,” Chuck said. “These communities are crying out for the leadership of this country to do something. There is no doubt that our security forces must go into the belly of these communities, if necessary, and set up base for extended periods, if necessary,” he added.
Reuters - U.S. President Donald Trump will press South Korean President Moon Jae-in to solve trade differences over cars and steel in meetings in Washington focussing on the nuclear threat from North Korea. Concerns about the U.S. military’s THAAD missile defence system and China’s role in the region also are likely to come up in talks between Trump and Moon at the White House. Moon, making his first trip to the United States since becoming his country’s president in May, joined Trump and his wife, Melania, for dinner in the White House State Dining Room yesterday evening ahead of further talks today. “I know you’ve been discussing with our people some of the complexities of North Korea and trade and other things, and we’ll be discussing them all as we progress, and it could be very well late into the evening,” Trump told Moon. “I’d like to also congratu-
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes South Korean President Moon Jae-in to the White House in Washington, U.S., yesterday. REUTERS/Carlos Barria late you upon your election victory. It was a great victory, and you did a fantastic job. A lot of people didn’t expect that, and I did expect it. I thought that was going to happen.” Both men have an interest in building a strong relationship but tensions could puncture that effort. Trump has spoken harshly about U.S. trade imbalances with South Korea and threatened to tear up a trade agreement with the
country. Moon has taken a wary stance on the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system that the United States deployed in South Korea in March. “I think they’ll have a friendly and frank discussion about the trade relationship,” a White House official told reporters on Wednesday, noting concerns about barriers to U.S. auto sales and surplus Chinese steel that arrives in the United States via South Korea.
Friday June 30, 2017
Kaieteur News
Controversial Foreign Exchange Levy in Barbados Delayed BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Barbadians have got a temporary reprieve from Government’s implementation of the controversial two per cent levy on foreign exchange transactions. The tax, which was announced among a series of measures outlined in the May budget presented by Finance Minister Chris Sinckler, was scheduled to take effect on July 1. However, in a statement issued Thursday, the Central Bank said the measure would now be implemented in two phases, beginning with its application to cash, bank drafts and wire transfers on July 17, 2017. “Credit, debit and travel c Cleviston Haynes ards will become subject to the fee from September 1,” it added. Acting Governor Cleviston Haynes, whose organization will oversee the rollout of the fee, said the additional two weeks “will give us the opportunity to educate Barbadians about the foreign exchange fee (FXF), so that they are clear on what types of transactions it relates to and how it will be applied. “This will help to ensure that there is a smooth and orderly introduction of the FXF,” he added, in the wake of concerns expressed by
Cleviston Haynes various sectors about how the levy would be applied. Haynes revealed that the extended lead time for credit, debit and travel cards was to allow commercial banks and other credit card providers a longer window to adjust their computer systems. He further explained that the levy would be applied to the Barbados value of the foreign currency transaction. For example, persons buying US$500 in cash at a rate of 2.02857 will pay $1,034.57 instead of $1,014.30, he said, adding that “all persons conducting purchases of foreign currency will be required to pay the FXF, except residents and non-residents making payments from their foreign
Venezuela prosecutor charging ex-national guard chief CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s renegade chief prosecutor charged the former head of the country’s national guard yesterday with systemically violating human rights during three months of anti-government protests that have left nearly 80 people dead.Luisa Ortega Diaz’s office announced the charges against Antonio Benavides Torres a day after the nation’s Supreme Court declared it was barring her from leaving Venezuela and ordering her bank accounts frozen. Ortega Diaz, a longtime loyalist of the socialist government who recently broke ranks with President Nicolas Maduro, said police and military officials are responsible for 23 protest deaths to date as well as 853 injuries. The charges are likely to further escalate tensions between Maduro and Ortega Diaz, who has become one the president’s most vocal critics. She has filed numerous motions to the government-packed Supreme Court challenging Maduro’s call for
a special assembly to rewrite Venezuela’s constitution, all of which have been rejected. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is proceeding with a complaint filed against her by socialist party lawmaker Pedro Carreno. Maduro announced he was replacing Benavides Torres last week and instead assigning him as government head of the capital district.
currency accounts, including entities in the International Business and Financial Services sector. (Caribbean360)
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U.S. envoy slams U.N. Security Council for inaction on Iran Reuters - U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley slammed the Security Council yesterday for failing to take any action against Iran, which she said had “repeatedly and deliberately violated” sanctions imposed by the body. “The Security Council has failed to even take minimal steps to respond to these violations,” Haley told a council briefing on Iran. “We must ... show Iran that we will not tolerate their egregious flaunting of U.N. resolutions.” Most U.N. sanctions were lifted 18 months ago under a deal Iran made with key world powers to curb its nuclear programme. But Iran is still subject to an arms embargo and other restrictions, which are not technically part of the nuclear agreement. U.N. political affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman briefed the council yesterday on Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ third six-monthly report on the implementation of the remaining sanctions and restrictions, enshrined in resolution 2231. “The secretary-general’s report makes clear that Iran is in violation of the Security
Nikki Haley Council resolution 2231 and so the question becomes ‘what is the Security Council going to do about it?’” Haley said. No council members have proposed taking any action against Iran. Diplomats say veto-powers Russia and China were unlikely to agree to more measures. Russia yesterday questioned some of the findings of Guterres’ report. Feltman told the council that in relation to a weapons seizure by the French Navy in the northern Indian Ocean
in March 2016, the United Nations was “confident that the weapons seized are of Iranian origin and were shipped from Iran.” The report also looked at Iran’s Jan. 29 launch of a ballistic missile and noted there was no consensus within the Security Council on how the launch related to resolution 2231. “I call upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to avoid such ballistic missile launches, which have the potential to increase tensions,” Guterres said in the report.
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2017 Jr CASA serves off in Guyana... Windies Women misery increases with... (From page 26) youth development and is looking forward to Guyana making it 13 in a row. Abel noted that Ansa McAl has always been a supporter of sports from the ground up while Peters said he began following Squash in the 1980’s as a journalist and has never seen so many young people involved. Banks DIH has been supporting not only tournaments but individuals over the years and presently Rebecca Low, a member of the Guyana team, is one of the Brand Ambassadors for Banks DIH, disclosed Peters. Guyana took the title from Barbados in 2004 and the Bajans should provide Guyana with its stiffest challenge this year. Coach Carl Ince has been the Coach since
ing at home allows them to have a much larger team than if they had to travel overseas. The Guyana team read – Boys: Shiloh Asregado, Chad De Abreu, Nathan Rahaman, Louis Da Silva, Mohryan Baksh, Demetrius De Abreu, James Mekdeci, Michael Alphonso, Ethan Jonas, Shomari Wiltshire, Gianni Carpenter, Samuel InceCarvalhal, Lucas Jonas, Daniel Islam, Anthony Islam, Ben Mekdeci, Alexander Cheeks and Rithew Saywack. Girls: Christiana Fernandes, Isabella Ramjohn, Beau Fernandes, Kirsten Gomes, Paige Fernandes, Aliyah Persaud, Abosaide Cadogan, Madison Fernandes, Haley Carpenter, Makeda Harding, Sarah Lewis, Rebecca Low and Taylor Fernandes.
1998 when the team played in the Bahamas and is quietly confident that Guyana will extend their winning streak. “While we are on par with the previous years all of the teams are also improving and Barbados is always saying that if any team takes back the title from us it will be them since we started our winning streak by beating them” Ince disclosed. ”I am satisfied with the three months of preparation we had for this tournament although at times it was affected by exams but everyone is eager to get on the court and I think our best will come from the U-15 Boys” Ince stated. Guyana will compete in the Girls and Boys U-13, 15, 17 and 19 categories and be-
Friday June 30, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You can make professional decisions today that will affect your position An older loved one may be having problems. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You must be extremely careful not to let relatives or friends interfere in your personal life. You will meet new and exciting people if you attend social activities or sporting events. A little rest will do wonders. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Don't let your partner start any arguments. Passion should be redirected positively. Sudden changes regarding your domestic scene are probable. Minor fevers or infections will develop if you're overstressed. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Use your energy wisely. You may find yourself in a heated dispute with a friend if you try to change your mind. Your desire for excitement and adventure may be expensive. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Someone may be trying to damage your reputation. It's time to reevaluate your own motives and make changes to yourself first. You may be upset if someone has borrowed something that belongs to you. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You will need a little competition today. Get involved in activities that will stretch your stamina. If you put your energy into physical outlets you will avoid confrontations. You may be offered opportunities that will
result in a higher earning potential. LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Put all your energy into moneymaking ventures. Be sure to get involved in self improvement programs that will bring you in contact with interesting people. Go out with friends or family. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Make sure any presentation you have is ready. You can make a difference if you offer your help at functions that involve children. Take a look at your legal position. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Overstatement will be your downfall. You can ask for favors or run your ideas by those who will be able to support your objectives. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You can expect changes in your living arrangements. Don't use the interstate as a racetrack. Try to concentrate on research and acquiring information that will be of value in your chosen field. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) It's time to reevaluate your motives. Chances are you split up the last time because you didn't really want to make a commitment. You will be able to contribute a great deal to organizations that you join. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You need some excitement in your life, and meeting new people in exotic destinations will certainly satisfy your desires. Romance may be likely if you travel.
(From page 30) whose innings came from 88 deliveries and included three fours. When Raj mis-hit a full toss from off-spinner Matthews to Fletcher at midoff in the 34th over, Mandhana combined with Mona Meshram (18 not out) in an unbroken 45-run, fourth wicket stand which saw India to their second straight win. They lie second on four points in the eight-team standings behind defending champions Australia Women who are also on four points, with West Indies languishing sixth without a point – along with Sri Lanka Women and Pakistan Women. Hoping to turn the page on a tame batting effort in their opener against Australia last Monday, the Windies managed only more of the same. Rookie Felicia Walters scratched around 27 balls for her nine before nicking a
swish at a wide delivery from left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht and going caught behind at 29 for one in the seventh over. Matthews, who looked in fine touch, then dominated a 40-run second wicket stand with captain Taylor who made 16, as West Indies eased to 69 without further loss. The right-handed Matthews struck seven delightful boundaries on both sides of the wicket in an attractive 57ball innings before perishing in the 19th over to a tame return catch off Sharma. With her gone, West Indies lost their way as five wickets crashed for just 22 runs. Taylor and Deandra Dottin (7), both appearing in their landmark 100th ODI, never looked the part and each soaked up a plethora of deliveries without hitting a single boundary. Taylor faced 42 balls before going run out by Mandhana’s direct hit at the
non-striker’s end in the 21st at 70 for three and Dottin laboured for 48 deliveries before picking out long-on with Yadav in the 34th over, with her first shot in anger at 91 for five. In between, Merissa Aguilleira missed a charge at Yadav and was smartly stumped for six at 80 for four in the 28th over. When Kaur removed both Kyshona Knight (5) and Chedean Nation (12), the Windies were in strife at 121 for seven but Daley and then Fletcher arrived to rescue the innings. The left-handed Daley struck five fours off 37 balls while the brave Fletcher faced just 23 deliveries and cracked five fours – three of which came in the final over off Kaur which leaked 18 runs. West Indies have little time to turn their form around as they take on South Africa in Leicester on Sunday.
Desperate Windies search for breakthrough... (From page 27) year, making it hard for selectors to ignore him. Nevertheless, they join batting line-up that struggled in the threematch Afghanistan series earlier this month and which need a significant boost in order to start producing in the series. Jason Mohammed, the Windies’ most consistent batsman this year, has had lean returns of recent with just nine runs in his three outings and Evin Lewis has gotten starts but still not passed 33. With every defeat, West Indies’ chances of an automatic qualfiication for the 2019 World Cup diminish even further, as they need to
be in the top eight in the ICC rankings by September 30. They are currently ranked number nine after winning just three of their last 16 ODIs, and a series loss will just about write off their chances of an automatic berth. WEST INDIES – Jason Holder (captain), Devendra Bishoo, Sunil Ambris, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed,
Ashley Nurse, Kyle Hope, Rovman Powell, Kesrick Williams. INDIA – Virat Kohli (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Kedar Jadhav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Umesh Yadav.
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Friday June 30, 2017
2017 Jr CASA serves off in Guyana Sunday Host aiming for 13th consecutive team title By Sean Devers President of the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) Robin Low yesterday assured the Media and Sponsors that everything is
in place for hosting of the 2017 Junior CASA tournament which will be contested from Sunday July 2 to Saturday July 8 at the Georgetown Club and the National Racquet Centre.
Low, speaking at the launching of this year’s tournament at the Georgetown Club on Camp Street, said he was very proud that Guyana is once again the host the
competition which will see Barbados, Jamaica, B e r m u d a , Tr i n i d a d & Tobago, Cayman Islands and the OECS pressing to dethrone 12-times defending Champions Guyana. The tournament was last contested in Guyana in 2011 and Low said that this was an opportunity not only showcase Guyana’s Squash but Guyana as country. He thanked the sponsors for supporting the event, especially ExxonMobil, on board for the first time. The other sponsors are Digicel, Banks DIH, Ansa McAl, Bounty Farm and the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA). The team matches and finals will be played at the Georgetown Club which will serve as the main venue while only the individual matches will be staged at the Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue. The individuals will run from Sunday to Tuesday
Girls and Boys Captains Taylor Fernandes and Ben Mekdeci at the podium during the launch. while the team competition is scheduled from Wednesday to Saturday and action starts from 09:00hrs to 13:00hrs in the mornings and resumes from 16:00hrs in the afternoon and should conclude around 20:00hrs. The opening ceremony is set for the Georgetown Club o n We d n e s d a y f r o m 16:00hrs and the visiting teams were scheduled to start arriving here from last evening. Ben Mekdeci, who did not train with the team due to overseas commitments for the last 10
months, will lead the boy’s team while Taylor Fernandes will captain the female team. Both players along with representatives from the sponsors; Kimberly Brasington (ExxonMobil), Troy Peters (Banks DIH), Sean Abel (Ansa McAl), David Fernandes (Bounty Farm) and Garfield Wilshire (GOA) were present yesterday. Brasington said that ExxonMobil was pleased to be approached since they are passionate about supporting (Continued on page 25)
Wozniacki ends Halep’s hopes of number one spot Caroline Wozniacki ended Simona Halep’s immediate hopes of taking over the world number one ranking by beating the Romanian 5-7 6-4 6-1 to reach the semi-finals of the Aegon International tournament at Eastbourne yesterday. Halep could have ousted Angelique Kerber from the number one slot had she reached the final and the German lost to Britain’s Johanna Konta in the quarter-finals. Instead, the sixth-seeded Dane fought back from a set down to reach the last four. ”She came out with some amazing shots and I lost the first set, and she had the momentum in the second. But I kept grinding and kept digging in there and somehow managed to turn it around,” said Wozniacki. Konta, Britain’s big hope in the women’s draw at Wimbledon starting next week, was playing Kerber in her second match of the day after beating French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 7-5 3-6 6-4. Two days of rain delays at the south coast grass court event have left a backlog of matches with Konta, who
Caroline Wozniacki. Reuters/Matthew Childs grew up in Eastbourne, one of several facing a punishing schedule. ”I’m not the only one in this position today, so I’m sure everyone’s playing mainly on adrenaline,” the Australian-born fifth seed said after her match against Ostapenko. Konta, set to become the first British woman ranked in the world’s top 10 at Wimbledon since 1984, had to rally from a break down in the deciding set to end the L a t v i a n ’s e i g h t - m a t c h winning streak. She then won the final four games and saved a break point in the tense final one, in which Ostapenko also saved two match points, before clinching victory in two hours and 18 minutes.
”I think the scoreline and the match itself shows that it was an incredibly tough battle and there was very little in it,” said Konta. “Against a player like her who has such a big game, sometimes it’s difficult to accept that you haven’t got much say in some points.” Lauren Davis, of the United States, overcame eighth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 7-6 6-1 in a rain-delayed match before then losing in the third round to Barbora Strycova, of the Czech Republic, 7-5 62 . British number three Heather Watson gave the home fans another quarterfinalist by beating Russian 14th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4 6-3. (Reuters)
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Friday June 30, 2017
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Australia v Sri Lanka, Women’s World Cup, Bristol
Lanning 152* trumps Atapattu 178* This was a mismatch on paper. Sri Lanka were ranked eighth. They had never beaten Australia, the defending champions, in eight previous meetings. Chamari Atapattu, however, showed cricket isn’t played on paper, but out o n t h e f i e l d . By smashing the thirdhighest score in women’s ODIs - an unbeaten 178, two more than Sri Lanka’s previous highest of 176 against Australia - she gave them more than a shout of pulling off a mighty upset with a score of 257 for 9. But, as was the case against New Zealand, poor fielding and catching let them down, and the defending champions broke open the deadlock and razed to an eight-wicket win in Bristol. Nicole Bolton should have been out on 4 when wicketkeeper P r a s a d i n i We e r a k k o d y fluffed a straightforward chance in the third over.
Bolton made Sri Lanka pay by going on to make 60 her second successive fiftyplus score of the tournament. While she couldn’t carry on, Meg Lanning, scratchy to begin with - scoring runs off edges - recovered from early rust to bring up her 11th hundred, the most in women’s ODIs. That meant Australia didn’t even have to flex their muscle to kill Sri Lanka’s hopes halfway through the chase. Lanning fittingly finished it off with a six, ending on her personal ODI best of 152 not out. Lanning and Bolton exposed Sri Lanka’s onedimensional spin-based attack during the course of their 133-run second-wicket stand. Ellyse Perry, who had an off day with the ball conceding 52 off her eight overs - made up by backing the captain in an unbeaten 124-run stand. She remained unbeaten on 39 as Australia, who won
Meg Lanning goes over the top ©Getty Images/ICC
Youth Basketball Guyana National Schools Festival
Plaisance, Marian Academy march into final Plaisance Secondary and Marian Academy will clash in the final of the Youth Basketball Guyana National Schools Festival tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall following victories in their respective semi final encounters last night at the said venue. Plaisance Secondary defeated President’s College 52-47 while Marian Academy saw off a torrid second half to register a 3429 win over Government Technical Institute (GTI). P r e s i d e n t ’s C o l l e g e dominated the early proceedings and led 24-19 at half time, but Plaisance Secondary rose to the challenge in the second stanza grabbing 33 points while President’s College got 23. Nigel Bowen registered a game high 24 points including 10 rebounds for the winners while Reuben Reid and Andrew Johnson had 10 each. Anton Fileene scored 19 points with seven rebounds for President’s College while Akeem Crandon made 14 with 11 rebounds and Kennon Roberts nine.
Nigel Bowen made the game high 24 points for Plaisance. Marian Academy made their intentions known from the opening whistle as they raced to sizeable lead finishing the 20-minute first half 22-06. However GTI reduced the lead considerably in the second half. They picked up 18 points in succession and with six minutes and seven seconds remaining, they were two points from drawing level.
Marian Academy then scored their first point in the second half and went on to pick up eight more to prevail despite the courageous effort from GTI students. Timothy Thompson and Jether Harris scored 10 each w h i l e J a h l e e l Yo u n g e contributed nine for Marian Academy. Shamar Huntley grabbed 15 points with six rebounds for GTI.
with 37 balls to spare, hauled themselves to the top of the points table thanks to a superior net run rate after two rounds. The manner in which Lanning asserted her authority early against spin, particularly off Shashikala Siriwardene, was the hallmark of her effort. Where Atapattu was all belligerence, Lanning punctured the bowling softly. She used her feet well to get to the pitch of the ball and drive inside-out, and put away anything in her driving arc on a surface where Australia’s spinners exposed a hint of grip if tossed up. Bolton slipped into the role of an accumulator, but was equally punishing against the long hops that came in routinely. This meant there was no pressure on Australia for most of the chase, not even when Sri Lanka finally got a breakthrough with Bolton’s wicket in the 26th over. Yet,
for its sheer audacity, Atapattu’s third ODI century was the standout innings of the game. During the course of her 143-ball vigil, she effortlessly showed different elements of her game timing, ability to rotate strike and muscle in the end overs. She laid down the marker early, off Perry, who was getting the ball to bend back in to the left-hander. She followed a streaky top edge to fine leg with two glorious drives on the up. But her partners didn’t help one bit, by throwing away wickets, some to injudicious shots: the cream of the top order was out sweeping to full deliveries. Lanning and Australia were briefly caught off guard by Sri Lanka’s fightback in the form of a 52-run stand for the fifth wicket between Siriwardene and Atapattu, before Sri Lanka lost two wickets in the space of four deliveries. At 130 for 6, Atapattu had no option but to
go for broke. She lined herself to play the pull on demand and, on a flat deck, Australia were guilty of feeding her short balls, which she nonchalantly pulled. She hit 22 fours and six sixes in all to make up for close to 70% of her team’s runs, a record. The other batsmen combined to make 60 off 157 balls, and it was perhaps there that Sri Lanka, despite Atapattu’s heroics, lost the plot. Sri Lanka’s best chance was to make early inroads and expose the middle order against the new ball, but that wasn’t to be. It wasn’t quite a mismatch, yet Australia’s utter dominance exposed the gulf that exists between both sides, who were at opposite ends of the points table early in the tournament. Scores: Australia 262 for 2 (Lanning 152*, Bolton 60, Perry 45*) beat Sri Lanka 257 for 9 (Atapattu 178*, Bolton 2-18) by eight wickets. (ESPNcricinfo)
Desperate Windies search for breakthrough win St John’s, Antigua, CMC – Struggling West Indies face powerhouses India in the pivotal third One-Day International here today, desperately needing a victory to halt the rot and make an actual contest of the five-match series. They enter the first game of the doubleheader at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium 1-0 down following their 105-run defeat in the second ODI in Trinidad last Sunday, and another defeat here will allow India to put one hand on the series trophy. That defeat at Queen’s Park Oval – after the first game was rained out – highlighted perfectly the gulf between the two teams. In a game reduced to 43 overs per side because of rain, India piled up 310 and West Indies stuttered and stumbled their way to 205 for six in reply. With much left in the series to play for, however, captain Jason Holder urged improvement especially from his bowlers. “We’re only 1-0 down after the first game was rain-interrupted. It’s just obviously a situation where we need to tighten up a bit more on our bowling,” the 25-year-old all-rounder said. ”Obviously chasing 300-odd in 43 overs is a tough ask.
Kyle Hope (left) chats with his younger brother Shai during a practice session in preparation for the third ODI. (Photo courtesy CWI Media) You need to be getting off to a much better start than we did in the last game. We were never able to get off to the good start we were looking for and hence we kept losing wickets in the middle and never got the momentum going into trying to chase 300-odd.” In an attempt to turn around their fortunes, West Indies have made two changes to their 13-man squad from the Trinidad doubleheader, calling up the uncapped pair of Kyle Hope and Sunil Ambris at the expense of the out-of-form duo of Kieran Powell and Jonathan Carter. Opener Hope, the 28-year-
old brother of Windies star Shai Hope, could make his debut in Powell’s absence and Holder he would be an asset to the side. “He brings youthful exuberarance, he’s an energetic fielder and obviously a very good player,” Holder pointed out. ”He’s done well for us in domestic cricket for a number of years, he’s playing a lot of cricket in Trinidad being a part of that franchise. I played a lot of youth cricket with him …. and he’s always been a phenomenonal scorer.” Ambris, too, has scored heavily in both the first class and one-day competition this (Continued on page 25)
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Friday June 30, 2017
Usain Bolt in battle to be fit and firing in London Usain Bolt flew to Germany yesterday for an appointment with the controversial doctor HansWilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt in a bid to get his farewell season back on track ahead of the World Championships in London in five weeks. The sprint legend is fast running out of time to find his form and fitness after admitting his sluggish 10.06sec performance in the 100m in Ostrava on Wednesday was hampered by a tight back. The problem is not considered overly serious, as demonstrated by Bolt making two attempts at the long jump for his own amusement at the conclusion of the Golden Spike meet. But he immediately revealed the issue with his back after his second underwhelming performance in 2017 followed his 10.03sec run in his season-opener in Jamaica earlier this month. He took a private jet out of the Czech Republic yesterday with MullerWohlfahrt’s clinic the next stop for treatments before he has his final warm-up run in Monaco in three weeks. Bolt said: ‘I know he will fix every problem - all I need to do is train hard and getting
myself into some shape. I’m going to see the doctor in Germany and continue t r a i n i n g . ‘I tell you guys year after year, one run doesn’t really matter to me - it always comes down to the championship. For me it is all about getting myself into great shape and that is the focus for me right now.’ The eight-time Olympic champion, 30, also backed South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk to replace him as the track’s biggest star after the Olympic 400m champion broke Michael Johnson’s 17year-old world record in the 300m in the Czech Republic. He is also the only athlete in history to run sub-10sec in the 100m, sub-20sec in the 200m and sub-44sec in the 400m. Bolt said: ‘For sure he is the next superstar. I think he really wants to be a sprinter. He is showing he is ready for the challenge. He is really down to earth, he is humble, he is a great person. He listens and he wants to be good. He is on the right track and if he continues like this he will take over track and f i e l d . ’ Mo Farah, meanwhile, admitted he was ‘rusty’ after running 26 seconds outside his personal best in his solid
Sprint legend insists controversial doc can fix back problem
Usain Bolt flew to Germany with his team on Thursday following unconvincing win in Ostrava. but unspectacular win in the 10,000m in Ostrava. The four-time Olympic champion, who is chasing a 5,000m and 10,000m double in his last track meet in London, said: ‘I still need to do a lot more work. I’m not quite there yet and it showed. I was a bit rusty. There’s a bit more work to do and then the London 3,000m (at the Anniversary Games on July 9) to sharpen up. Hopefully I’ve got enough time.’ (MailOnline)
Chanderpaul goes undefeated as rain forces last-day washout London, CMC – Veteran former West Indies lefthander Shiv Chanderpaul missed out on the opportunity to extend his heavy scoring when rain forced the abandonment of the final day of Lancashire’s clash with Warwickshire yesterday. Set to resume unbeaten on 24 with the visitors on 178 for four, Chanderpaul was frustrated as all-day rain in Birmingham kept players off the field at Edgbaston before the day/night encounter was called off at 4 pm. It meant the 42-year-old Guyanese ended the match without being dismissed, following his excellent unbeaten 117 in Lancashire’s first inings of 273. Batting under lights, Chanderpaul faced 151 balls in a shade over four hours and struck 16 fours, to notch his third hundred of the County season and the 76th of his remarkable first class career. He has gathered 559 runs so far in the campaign at an average of nearly 80. Chanderpaul, who played
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
the last of his record 164 Tests two years ago, was also among the leading rungetters in the West Indies first class championship this year. At Hove, Barbadian seamers Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan both took a brace of wickets as Sussex’s contest with Gloucestershire ended in a draw. Following the visitors’ declaration at their overnight 150 for one in response to Sussex’s 358, the home side rattled up 142 for one declared in their second innings. Bermudian opener Delray Rawlins struck a swift 24 from 15 balls with six fours while partner Harry
Finch ended unbeaten on 74 off 59 balls. Set 351 for victory, Gloucestershire were tottering on 117 for six before recovering to finish on 212 without further loss. Jack Taylor struck an unbeaten 69 to prop up the innings in a 95-run stand with Kieran Noema-Barnett (37 not out). The brilliant Archer (2-32), in his first full season of County cricket, took of the first four wickets to fall as Gloucestershire slumped to 46 for four. Jordan (2-47) then followed up with key strikes to seriously hurt the innings. There was no play on Tuesday’s second day due to rain.
Letter to the Sports Editor
The AAG is being untruthful Dear Editor, On the eve of its hosting of its National Senior Championships, The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) through its General Secretary has found it prudent to respond to an article I wrote entitled “Athletics association bankrupt after hosting South American Junior Championships”. The response is a third perspective on the financial realities of the AAG. Mr. Editor, we have a third official from the association giving us alternative facts from two others last week in a letter circulated in the media. According to that letter, the association has “cash flow issues” and is not bankrupt and “The AAG must maintain funds in its coffers to participate in international competition”. This is giving the impression that the association is financially sound. That view is different from the insights of the AAG President and Event CoChairman on separate occasions last week. Maybe the association’s financial fortunes have changed in a week, but let us quote from the public statements of the other two officials. In an article that appeared in the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday June 21, 2017, AAG President, Aubrey Hutson is quoted thus: “We don’t have money... we don’t even have money to clear our bills for the last
(South American Junior) Championships, so I wasn’t going to incur an additional debt and financial burden on the future of athletics in Guyana”. Hutson was speaking about the association’s inability to send athletes to the South American Senior Championships in Paraguay because of an absence of funds. Three athletes eventually paid their own expenses to compete at the meet. Mr. Editor, any basic Accountant would proffer that if there is a situation debts cannot be repaid because of insufficient funds, it is a state of bankruptcy. Suffice it to say that the indebted and insolvent financial position of the association that Hutson described last week was a description of bankruptcy. Following that pronouncement, CoChairman of the National Senior Championships and an AAG Official, James Cole gave another view at the launch of that event on Thursday, June 22, 2017. “Now 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, so we are asking all possible, small or large, to come on board with us...” Cole said. Now again, if there is a situation where there is a budget of $5.5 million and
there is zero dollars to begin with, what do you call that situation, Mr. Editor? Isn’t that another classic description of bankruptcy? Maybe the association and its officials are trying to manipulate the English Language, and in so doing, hoodwink the nation, but linguistics is a competency that would not allow for the setting up of such smokescreen as in to go on to describe all that it has achieved, which was irrelevant to the issues I addressed in my analysis. But do not take it from me and what I know from my investigations. Here there are two senior officials from the athletics association, including the President, describing the bankrupt state of the association. Now we are hearing a different position from the General Secretary, Mayfield TaylorTrim. With three varying positions on the state of the association’s accounts from three senior officials, the truth is obscured. What should pundits, enthusiasts, stakeholders, readers and even journalists believe when there are three people giving three different views on the same issue? If indeed the association has money in its coffers as the General Secretary seems to be implying that will be a welcomed development for service providers and all the people who are still owed from the South American Junior Championships. Yours Respectfully, Edison Jefford
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GCB child protection courses commence By Zaheer Mohamed Child protection is the protection of children from abuse, harm or neglect. It is the responsibility of coaches to care for children in such a way that neither they nor others cause harm to children, and to report and record all concerns related to a child being harmed. More so when a child’s parent or guardian leaves their charge in the coaches’ care for a morning or afternoon of cricket, that parent expects that his or her son or daughter will be in a safe and protected environment during the time that they are under their supervision. A lack of commitment by coaches to ensure that the parent’s expectations are met may result in serious consequences. With this in mind, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has held the first in a series of Child Protection courses across that would be held across the country, yesterday. The first course commenced at the GCB boardroom and is intended to target individuals who interact with children on a regular basis, such as cricket coaches, players and teachers who act as coaches. Yesterday’s programme involved current national coaches, assistant coaches/managers, and Cricket Guyana Inc. contracted and academy players including Assad Fudadin, Leon Johnson, Raymond Refier, Keon Joseph, Rajindra Chandrika, Christopher Barnwell, Keemo Paul, Nazeer Mohamed, Esuan Crandon, Michael Hyles and Rayon Griffith and Orin Bailey. According to GCB Territorial Development Officer (TDO) Colin Stuart, the aim of the programme is
to provide coaches with the necessary tools and to be aware of the expected requirements when coaching since children’s welfare is very important. Stuart pointed out that it is vital to provide a safe environment when coaching, to ensure that parents’ requirements are met as well as air play. He further explained that it is necessary for coaches to recognise that abuse can occur when children are at any age and everyone connected to the programme has a responsibility to ensure the safety of children. He further noted that that child abuse take several forms including physical and verbal harm, emotional or psychological harm, sexual molestation or exploitation and neglect. Taaliba Speede a Child Care and Protection Officer attached to the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) said they are happy to be part of the programme and to impart knowledge so coaches can be well equipped to deal with a situation as it arise. Apart from Speede, other facilitators were Nicholas Fraser of Allied Arts and Head of the Physical Department in the Ministry of Education and Phillip Anthony, another CC&PA Officer. The programme is being sponsored by Cricket West Indies and UNICEF. The courses will continue in Berbice and West Demerara on July 10 and 11 respectively, the GCB’s Board Room on July 12, Upper Demerara on July 13 and one day later on the Essequibo. The Child Protection and First Aid courses are required modules of the CWI Coaching Certification and both have a validity of three years.
Guyana Jaguars Captain Leon Johnson (standing right) interacts with Nicholas Fraser during yesterday’s session.
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GuyanaNRA Spoon Shoot
Goodluck edges Braithwaite and Felicien for top spot Ransford Goodluck at the Timehri Rifle Ranges.
Ransford Goodluck bythe closest of margins emerged winner of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) June Spoon Shoot competition which was held at the Timehri Rifle and Pistol Ranges recently. Goodluck’s score of 115.6v edged Lennox Braithwaite who shot 114.13v by just one point. Goodluck’s consistency paid off as he had dropped three points after the 300yards range and one point each at 600 and 1000 yards. Braithwaite however did not drop any points after the first two ranges, having shot a possible each at the 300 and
600 yards; 50.7v and 35.6v, respectively. The 1000 yards once more continues to challenge Braithwaite as he managed just 29.0. The consistent Sherwin Filicien was also tied with Braithwaite on 114 points but had three less Vs. ViceCaptain Dylan Fields was closely behind with the tight grouping with a score of
113.11v. This Sunday the rifle shooters will return to the ranges to once more battle the conditions as the marksmen continue preparations towards the upcoming 150 anniversary of the GuyanaNRA and eth We s t I n d i e s F u l l b o r e Shooting Championships in October here. th
Friday June 30, 2017
Windies Women misery increases with India defeat Taunton, England, CMC – West Indies Women’s misery at the ICC Women’s Wo r l d C u p c o n t i n u e d unabated when they tumbled to a seven-wicket defeat to India Women in their second match here yesterday. Once again, the Caribbean side struggled with both bat and ball to slump to their second loss in four days and extend their losing streak on tour to seven straight including warm-up matches, leaving their campaign at the crossroads. Sent in at County Ground, the Windies rallied to 183 for eight off their 50 overs with Hayley Matthews topscoring with 43, Afy Fletcher hitting an invaluable unbeaten 36 and Shanel Daley, 33. At one stage, they were slumping at 121 for seven in the 40 before Fletcher at number nine provided late resistance with bold striking. India’s slow bowlers turned the screws on West Indies with off-spinners Deepti Sharma (2-27) and Harmanpreet Kaur (2-42), along with leg-spinner Poonam Yadav (2-19) all finishing with two wickets each. In reply, India stormed to their target courtesy of a superb unbeaten hundred from left-handed opener Smriti Mandhana who ended on 106 not out, while th
Hayley Matthews ©Getty Images
Captain Mitahli Raj chipped in with 46. The Windies struck with the fifth ball of the innings when fast bowler Shamilia Connell had Punam Raut caught at the wicket of a top edge without a run on the board. And when off-spinner Stafanie Taylor bowled Sharma for six at 33 for two
in the eighth, the game became wide open as a contest. But 20-year-old Mandhana carved out her second one-day hundred, hitting 13 fours and two sixes in a 108-ball knock, as she put on a match-winning 103 for the third wicket with Raj (Continued on page 25)
Kaieteur News
Friday June 30, 2017
PAGE 35
GBA’s Nat. Novices Boxing C/ships
GDF well placed to retain title; talented Khan gives Williams walk-over
Referee Maynard Wilson about the save Quami Cumerbatch from further punishment as GDF’s Delon Garraway cranks up for a big right in the second round. (Sean Devers photo) By Sean Devers Creditable performances by the GDF pugilists on the penultimate night of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) National Novices three-night Championships kept them well positioned to retain the team title at the National Gymnasium while a huge disappointment on Wednesday night was the walk-over conceded by Ishaun Khan to Trevor Williams. On another night that started late and had fewer fans in the stands than on the opening night, the anticipated match-up between talented 18-yearold Khan from Harpy Eagles and Republican Williams had set tongues wagging. Khan, the younger brother National Lightweight Champion Imran ‘Magic’ Khan had caught the eyes of boxing pundits with his last round knock-out of solider Jason Mickle on the opening night but failed to attend the mandatory daily weight-in at 07:00hrs at the Gymnasium thus giving the walk-over. President of the GBA Steve Neville said that while Khan was one of the outstanding talents that has emerged out of these tournaments, rules are rules and every boxer must be disciplined enough to respect them. With the now expected usual fanfare between the drum beating and trumpet blowing GDF and the Republican supporters, the only youth contest of the
night opened the proceedings with a win on points by VBG’s Christopher Moore over Republican, Ryan Albert. GDF began their march to a possible repeat title when Delroy Murphy, with an array of aggressive shots, pummeled Republican’s Orin Rodrigues who was subjected to a couple of ‘standing 8 counts’ before the fight was stopped at 2:22 seconds of the second round. Kelvin Moore of VBG completely dominated Clinton Clarke from the Army, who was bullied from start to finish. Moore began with several quick combinations which had his man stepping backwards for most of the first stanza. Clarke attempted some long range shots but was out of range to make any telling impact and was given two standing 8 counts in the second and third round but survived to lose on points. Another Soldier, Delon Garraway and Republican’s Quami Cumerbatch traded punches as they went toe-totoe in the 64kg category, the most action-packed fight of the night. A left jab by Cumerbatch and a right to the head resulted in the referee administering a standing 8 count on Garraway in the first round. Garraway was again hurt and suffered another standing 8 count in the same round and seemed relieved to hear the bell. But the solider came out with all guns blazing in the next round backed up by the GDF
Drum Corp and supporters who were on their feet. A brutal right cross to the head and a couple of hard body blows had Cumerbatch enduring standing 8 counts twice in the second round before referee Maynard Wilson stopped the fight at 2:30 of the round. In an all GDF affair between Darnell Jessamy and Kevin McKenzie, the towel was thrown in by McKenzie’s corner after they felt their charge had taken enough blows. The battle between GDF’s Toney Gills and Republican Travis Stewart in the 69kg began in entertaining fashion with several punishing punches being thrown by both boxers in an epic display of fistic fury. Stewart was the initial aggressor with nice clean jabs and plenty of shots to body before Gills retaliated with shots of his own towards the closing stages of the opening round and the fight promised much but flattered to deceive and fizzled out as a damp squib in the next two rounds. Wi t h b o t h p a r t i e s showing fatigue from their hectic pace in the first round they opted to employ the holding tactics and had the referee working for his money as he frequently had to break clinches as the pair waltzed around the ring. To be fair, it was Stewart who initiated most of the holding and in the end Gills got the decision. In other results: GDF’s Okimey Barker got a walk-
GDF’s Toney Gills (right) and Travis Stewart of Republican went toe to toe in the first round before the contest fizzled like a damp squib with Gills winning on points. (Sean Devers photo) over from Republican Nikel Ames while GDF’s Joel Peters beat his stable-mate Joseph McKenzie, Republican’s Germaine
William defeated GDF’s Damieon Johnson, Aubrey Headley got the better of Brian Tappin in an all GDF c o n t e s t , R e p u b l i c a n ’s
Oswald Yaw threw in the t o w e l a g a i n s t G D F ’s Emerson Farley and GDF’s Anthonio Williams beat CBG’s Ejad Allie.
t r o Sp 2017 Jr CASA serves off in Guyana Sunday Host aiming for 13th consecutive team title
Team Guyana with officials and representatives of sponsors at yesterday’s launching at the Georgetown Club.
Youth Basketball Guyana National Schools Festival
Plaisance, Marian Academy march into final
Timothy Thompson (#18) blocks a shot from Shemar Huntley (5). (Zaheer Mohamed photo) Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210