Kaieteur News

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Thursday June 08, 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

OVER-CONFIDENT It is clear that when a government is over confident about victory in elections, it would behave as though there is no longer any need to listen to the people or address their problems. History is replete with examples of ruling elites whose over confidence have been severely punished by an electorate which they have taken for granted. Such is the behaviour of the government. This is an awful precedence that will come back to haunt those in power, because with victory there is also defeat. The leadership of the PPP was a classic example of over confidence while in power for 23 years. Its over confidence led its leaders to believe that no matter how poorly they treated the people, they would win elections. There is no compelling reason to be over confident and ignore the problems facing the nation. To the contrary, the government has every reason to address the problems facing the nation, given the extremely solid support it received from them in the last election. However, its promise to grow the economy, create jobs, improve the well-being of the people and bring the country into a level of prosperity that has hitherto evaded the nation seems to be stalled and perhaps is in limbo. When in opposition, the coalition never ceased to pride itself on its willingness to listen to the people. It still listens. Ministers meet with the public statutorily one day a week. Then there are the community outreaches. Meeting with people and listening to them is a norm. The government has indeed addressed some problems facing the masses, with the possibility of winning over them in the electorate. While it is true that fulfilling its election promises to the masses will take time, it should not only be about pleasing the people. Labour unions, the Private Sector Commission and non-governmental organizations have not been overly aggressive to the government. These are groups which, like the masses, can pressure the government to behave in a certain manner. But nothing will happen because many in the business community and in the unions prefer this administration because it is seen as the lesser of two evils. The charges of corruption do not hang over this government as it did during the tenure of the previous administration. There is no fear of victimization and a desire to see a trained public service. Many appreciate the fair nature of the tender board. The government has also started a programme designed to help the school child. Many have received bicycles; some have been provided with buses to take them to school free of charge; some have boats to get to school under better conditions. Then there are the meals programmes because some parents have problems with feeding their children adequately. In school, the administration is ensuring that all are properly fed so that learning can take place. The government is indeed markedly from its predecessor but as is the case with politics, efforts are being made to paint the government with a universal brush— all governments are bad, The government’s decision to pay the tuition fees for ministers has been attacked. Its defenders say that the previous administration did the same. But in addition to paying the tuition fees of ministers, the government is giving precedence to the construction of modern infrastructures, especially roads and bridges to meet the challenges of increasing traffic congestion. It is improving the poor health-care services to prevent deaths from simple illness, and it is fixing the dilapidated structures at the University of Guyana.

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

Political violence in Guyana has come from both sides DEAR EDITOR, Columnist Frederick Kissoon’s piece, “Trump’s head: Dangerous, deadly moment in politics,” (KN, June 7, 2017), which used US comedian, Kathy Griffin’s recent political faux pas, perhaps even a gaffe, featuring US President Donald Trump’s head in a gory image, certainly underscored the importance of recognizing and respecting the boundaries that prevent violence or even death in politics. Mr. Kissoon went on to highlight episodes of inflammatory rhetoric by the late Ronald Waddell and physical attacks on the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan during a speech to augment his point of both the cause and effects of politically inspired violence. Mr. Waddell would even-

tually be gunned down, as Selwyn Vaughn’s New York Court testimony would reveal, after an arranged hit that was arranged by Roger Khan, now serving time for shipping drugs from Guyana to America. This gunning down obviously perpetuated the ugliness of politically inspired violence, and I thought it would have been mentioned in Mr. Kissoon’s piece. In fact, I think there are many episodes of political violence in Guyana, from both sides of the ethnic divide, with the political fingerprints of both the PPP and PNC in their battle to rule Guyana. If we were to enumerate each one, it could fill pages of Kaieteur News, but the point must be reinforced against individuals who cross the red line in the sand by either

spewing rhetoric capable of inciting or inviting violence and death, or those willing to play the role of executors of the violence and death. In New York, a stranger was looking at the front page of one of the tabloids (New York Daily News) that featured Griffin’s story, and I casually took a peek, when the stranger said, “She may be wrong, but the funny thing is, she expressed a thought being held secretly by many.” I looked at the guy, smiled and shuffled on. For many people, both in and out of America, President Trump, when he was candidate Trump, literally promoted violence on the campaign trail, so what Griffin did was in line with Trump’s own rhetoric. At the outset of his campaign, he actually boasted

that he could kill someone on 5th Avenue, in Manhattan, and get away with it. What presidential candidate uses that kind of deadly language to boost his personal profile? On the campaign trail, things heated up to the point where Trump supporters at rallies started physically attacking people, and he even encouraged his supporters to deal with hecklers. Then came a dark, disturbing moment when Trump suggested that the Secret Service detail assigned to protect Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton, should have their guns taken away and then everyone will see what will happen to Mrs. Clinton. He was advocating violence against Mrs. Clinton. Trump went a step Continued on page 6

NATIONAL AWARDS; HULLABALOO OF CYNICISM DEAR EDITOR, Media reports and other commentaries on the recent award of ‘National Honours’ indicated a hullabaloo of cynicism and apparent boomerang in the public domain regarding the conception, implementation and consequences of this and other typically routine annual rituals. I wish to share some of my own thoughts: R e c o g n i t i o n , acknowledgement and celebration of people’s achievements are normally powerful processes to generate and sustain positive behavior. (Interestingly, Bruce Fogle’s book on “The Dog’s Mind” confirms similar cause & effect correlations in animal behavior); however, injudicious awards/rewards can have the opposite effect on

the many who perceive themselves as equally good, if not better than those who were singled out for the awards. I believe a case can be made for an overhaul of current practices. For a start, I think it will help if the decision-makers can pay more attention to context and what already obtains in order to reduce the unintended fall-outs. A few examples might be helpful here: In the context of people in ‘paid employment’ which as far as I know was the case of the majority in the last list, their differential levels/quality of work are already variously recognized by differentiated compensation, opportunistic promotion and other forms of recognition within their companies/organiza-

tions; some employers have other in-house programs of recognition. It is natural to find some dissatisfaction with their implementation but mechanisms are in place or can be put in place to resolve these. It is a double-dip for the State to super-impose “National Honours” for paid work. A distinction must be drawn for ‘contractual’, expressed and implied duties and responsibilities in regular employment. For example: a policeman/ fireman is paid to save people from crime and fires unlike the neighbor or passer-by who voluntarily does the same things out of good neighborliness or senses of civic duty/ responsibility. Obviously, national honours are more germane to

the latter. Similarly, the doctors who save lives by their professional practice are not the same as the numerous, public spirited citizens who also save lives in other circumstances and by ‘nonmedical’ means. Consultants, engineers, lawyers, contractors and businessmen etc collect fees, commissions, profits. In the field of professional sports, sportsmen/women compete for selection and are compensated (in some cases extremely handsomely) for excellence and differential performances. In the field of music and literature, commissions and royalties are by no means insignificant. And, it is difficult to resist mentioning the Continued on page 6

We are appealing to the Govt. to stop the eviction from our homes DEAR EDITOR, We the residence of Timehri Hilltop who are occupying the government quarters which was given to us by the Ministry of Works through the Region 4 RDC, would like to draw to the attention of the Regional Chairman, President and Minister of Housing, the housing problems that we are facing. Some residents formerly worked with the Ministry while some worked with the airport. Those who worked with the Ministry were transferred to the airport but we are all occupying the range houses on the Hilltop. A few persons retired after serving over forty years

employment with the government while others resigned. All the residents that are occupying those houses connected their own lights, water and to some extent their phone lines at their expense. The houses were just a shell and after spending money to make it a home the airport is now claiming ownership. These apartments were repaired by the occupants and not by the airport or the Ministry of Works. This was due to the past administration that did not see it fit to spend money to repair the said apartments. Now that we are no longer employed by the airport, the airport authority through the Chief Executive Officer Mr.

Ramesh Ghir is claiming ownership of the apartments stating that they belong to the airport. Notices were served to the persons that formerly worked with the airport to remove by May 31, 2017. This is not the first time that the airport is doing this nonsense. A few years ago the airport authority ordered the maintenance staff to forcefully remove Mr. Maurice Lovell, former Superintendent of Works from his home along with another occupant from one of the apartments. There is a management official of the airport that has a house on the same Hilltop which is being cleaned, repaired and maintained at the expense of the airport. This

house is not occupied by the official. The lights are on 24 hours a day. The house is cleaned by the contracted team which was selected to clean the airport. This move by the airport authority is malicious due to the fact that it knows that we are the persons that voted for the APNU/AFC government. We know for a fact that there are notices sent to the occupants to vacate but they refused saying that there are not moving. We are calling on the President, The Minister of Housing and the Regional Chairman of Region 4 to investigate this matter. Hilltop Residents

Thursday June 08, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Abuse will continue against people with mental illness unless…. The old dispensary at Supenaam is a historical site DEAR EDITOR, I published a letter two years ago in the Kaieteur News and other papers, in which I basically said that the building that formerly housed the Supenaam Dispensary should be renovated and used for or converted into a police outpost or any other facility that the general public would derive some benefit, and should not be privatized or used for any other purpose that would only serve the purpose of one person or a group of persons financial interest. It was a building that housed the dispensary and from my recollection of more than six decades, one of the few medical institutions that the Medical Personnel used to make himself available twenty four hours per day. Its rich architectural and historical value should be preserved. The history of this village would not be properly or truly written with that building not being mentioned or given prominent space and more than a mouthful said about many dispensaries, midwives and support staff who worked there. Lo and behold! The building was left to deteriorate, the compound left unattended and became the home and nesting ground for many insects including the dreaded African Bees, and reptiles and even snakes; an elephant could have stood there unnoticed. The zinc sheets from the roof were

vandalized and the interior of it was left to the forces of nature. It would sound unbelievable, but it’s certainly true that the building was a mere six or at the most, seven rods from where the Parika to Supenaam speed boat lands and leaves. Also an exit and entry point to the Region used by most people including tourists, both local and foreign, and most regional and national officials, and also Ministers of Government; It was an eye sore. It was embarrassment to the administration both at the National and Regional Level. I was reliably informed that about eight years ago the Commissioner of Police and the Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force visited the building (and site) and it was agreed that the area is most suited for a police outpost and the required repairs and renovation and/ or modification would be done. Unfortunately about two years ago, this building was dismantled; the outpost is yet to be constructed and any other facility that the general public would benefit from is still to be erected. I have to mention that a new and bigger building was constructed, that houses the dispensary not too far away. I hope that the general public and also the national and regional officials would advocate strongly for that much needed out post. Archie W. Cordis Former A.F.C. Councillor Region 2

DEAR EDITOR, With reference to an article titled: “Education PS sees nothing wrong with half million-dollar guard hut” published in the Kaieteur News on 6th June, 2017, this is a deeply disturbing discovery of dubious spending. The first thought that came to mind after reading the article was whether the PS could use taxpayers’ dollars to have a security hut constructed at his private property. Because money from the state was used, is this hut then the property of the state? What happens when the PS is terminated or retires, does the state reclaim its property? And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It is quite clear from images published within the article that the ministry would have overpaid by the

hundreds of thousands for this simple wooden structure. It is also clear that dubious spending and bad practices do not end with a simple change of government. I am calling for all persons who were involved in this thing to face a thorough investigation, and they should be terminated immediately if found culpable, not sent on paid leave which amounts to a paid vacation, and is a waste of time. More needs to be done to stamp out wastage of taxpayers’ dollars. Even if one dollar of state monies is taken away, then that is an unforgivable sin. It is time for an example to be set. The PS should know that this will not be brushed under the rug, and he must be made to answer for his actions. Frustrated Citizen

Every cent of public money must be carefully spent

DEAR EDITOR, Our colonial past left its footprints buried deep in the archives of our subconscious. According to WHOAIMS report (2008) on the state of mental illness in Guyana, an outdated Mental Health Ordinance of 1930 still exist- which fails to include many basic elements of protection in its legislation. “A commitment and willingness by our political leaders to update its law books is the first responsible step in the process of showing commitment to protecting the mentally ill. Areas with insufficient protection include: confidentiality, informed consent, conditions in mental health facilities, safeguards to protect against abuse, appropriate and accessible care within communities, and equality in opportunities for access to care, to employment, to shelter and to justice.” In the absence of this piece of legislative protection abuse and discrimination will continue to be melted out to persons suffering from a mental disorder. This article is intended to educate the layman/ laywoman on this least understood field of practice in Guyana mental health. Meet Joann age 51 a single parent mother of three. Everything was going fine

as in any other family, parenting and maintaining a career at the same time. Joann’s middle child Jay-Jay (call name) was around age 16 when she first observed his unusual behaviour, talking and singing loud to himself one minute and crying continuously the next. It took another two years before Joann finally took her son to the GPHC outpatient clinic upon the recommendation of a friend. Joann said that was seven years ago, since then Jay-Jay has been on a medication rolla-coaster and had been admitted on more than one occasion to the national psychiatric hospital. Joann said things have gotten worst over the years, her longtime partner told her he had enough of being neglected and has chosen to move on. Her other two children too have decided to move on after Jay-Jay broke every piece of furniture in their home over the years. The countless number of sleepless nights has also taken its toll on the family, the embarrassment to invite friends over, and the shame to participate in community life have reduced Joann to a life of loneliness. Since Jay-Jay has been attending the outpatient clinic Joann has not been told what mental disorder her son is suffering from—yet she

could identify which medication produces certain reactions. Joann said her trouble comes when Jay-Jay would experience a good period of wellness and would demand a bit of freedom like normal young people his age. The moment her back is turned he would slip out the house Joann has to stop whatever she’s doing and go searching for him. On several occasions he was given Banko and High wine along with a smoke by persons in the community who would then encourage him to do mischief. This is when Jay-Jay would become physically aggressive and must be restrained. Joann continued, on one occasion another young man grabbed ahold of Jay-Jay and began to physically assault him in view of bystanders. She said it took several persons to free Jay-Jay from his grip, only to learn that the young man was recently discharged from the national psychiatric hospital. Joann reported that in the past four years she gradually began showing up late for work, on many occasions she was a no show at her middle management career position. While at work, she would be on edge and most of the time not focused on her task she snapped easily at her

junior staff and the general public with no apologies for her behaviour. Joann described some of the symptoms she experienced on a continuum—frustration, stress, fearful and worried that something terrible was going to happened, people were talking about her, difficulty concentrating, and often had a need for sleep while at work. She said she was just putting her time in and waiting till it’s her turn to retire. Joann never received any therapeutic intervention (education) support services to learn how to cope with the stressors of life while caring for a love one (child) who is mentally challenged. The community (grassroots) never received any therapeutic intervention via (religious leaders, teachers, PTA, police, and coaches (sports) etc.) on coping with mental illness. Joann recently went on preretirement leave to care for Jay-Jay fulltime. With fortitude in her voice she said she will never give up on her child but feels trapped that there are no respite care facilities in Guyana. Studies show, there are no mental health consumer or family associations in Guyana. However, there are 2 NGOs in the country involved Continued on page 6

Enable our aspirations with deeds that nurture social cohesion DEAR EDITOR, No doubt I am one of many whose concerns and fears have been heightened by our President Granger finding unacceptable the second list of nominees put by our Leader of the Opposition (LOP) from which our President could choose our next Chairman of GECOM. This adds to concerns and fears about the different but related matter of how, with the greatest of respect, our President appears to have ignored for over a year the recommendation of the then Judicial Service Commission (JSC), to all appearances seeming to wait out the retirement of the then Chief Justice and Chancellor to create a JSC apparently of his own liking. For my position to be clear let me first join in extending congratulations to them, our fellow citizens who have taken the oath to serve us at their high levels “without fear or favour, affection or ill will”, most unnatural for us Humans especially so for us Guyanese. Our prayers must be with them. But this is not only an issue of the individuals who have been appointed Judges,

Chief Justice, Chancellor – but is no less a question of procedure and process, procedures and processes which seek to keep and enhance the faith and trust of our different and differing people in eventually attaining our aspiration of great social cohesion. The most important ones constrain the highest person in our land, our President. Our LOP has shared with us his great reluctance when as our President he received the recommendation from the JSC to appoint then attorney Mr. Bovell-Drakes as a Judge, someone who had been known to be from his youth a leading person in the PNC and its organs. Could a Justice Drakes get beyond the reality and perception of being biased in favour of the PNC? President Jagdeo resisted his appointment but in time acceded to the advice that he should conform with the provisions of our Constitution which allowed him to return the name to the JSC with his written concerns about Mr. Drakes for their reconsideration. When the JSC (much the same one seemingly spurned

by our current President) returned the name of Mr. Drakes, President Jagdeo conformed and appointed Justice Drakes. It is such acts of conformity and faith, often contrary to our better judgement, which build trust and encourage and enable greater social cohesion.In these matters (as in other nations) our practices and law, both in letter and in spirit, arise out of resolving frightful experiences – moreso in our Guyana where we, fragments from six differ-

ent peoples, have been working at accommodating our different sentiments, experiences and expectations. Our accommodations to our insecurities in the appointments of the Chairman of GECOM and of Judges are now under great strain. Perhaps I am extra sensitive and anxious about these accommodations because besides being crucial to the continued convergence of our peoples I feel them as part of me. Continued on page 6

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Thursday June 08, 2017

Kaieteur News

Political violence in Guyana...

Is the State Paper on GuySuCo a misguided document?

From page 4 farther when, on August 10, 2016, the Guardian newspaper headlined, “Donald Trump hints at assassination of Hillary Clinton by gun rights supporters.” He was using the hot button Second Amendment issue over gun restrictions in the wake of violent gun attacks in America to argue that if Clinton were to be elected President, she will appoint a US Supreme Court judge who would undermine gun owners’ rights. So, when Griffin made her faux pas and many responded in anger, some actually viewed the anger as not about protecting Trump, the person, but about protecting Trump, the President or the holder of the office of the presidency of the United States, and that’s where some continue to draw a distinction. But make no mistake about it when I say that President Donald Trump crossed many red lines separating civility from criminality on his way to the presidency. Getting back to Guyana, I think what happened to Mr. Kissoon the night of the fecal matter attack on his person crossed a line that never existed, and there were other acts of intimidation and violence perpetrated by PPP agents, including the use of a vehicle as a weapon during the putting up of campaign posters, the discharge of a firearm by a minister, the receipt of a phone call by another minister to confirm that Ronald Waddell was assassinated, and the complaint lodged with the police by the

DEAR EDITOR, The recently tabled State Paper on the future of the sugar industry in the National Assembly clearly demonstrates the Govt’s illfounded destiny for the industry. Sugar output, according to the paper, will be reduced to 147,000 t/annum produced by amalgamated cultivations and 3 factories (Albion, Blairmont & Uitvlugt) with focus on direct consumption, value-added sugars and electricity production. Editor, in this contribution, I will examine whether Govt’s proposals as outlined in the State Paper to efficiently produce quantities of direct consumption, value added sugars and electricity using 3 factories is possible taking into account the present configuration of the

late Courtney Crum-Ewing that a middle level Office of the President employee threatened his life. CrumEwing would be eventually gunned down in an obvious hit job. So, while it was not always the big, bad wolf PNC that perpetrated acts of violence or utilized intimidatory tactics against opponents, the point about crossing clearly demarcated red lines in the political sphere cannot be overemphasized by Mr. Kissoon or anyone. Kaieteur News, itself, has been the target of deadly violence when it lost five workers in a gun attack. Then it was threatened with violence by the former Attorney-General whose remarks were caught on tape. During the 2015 campaign, Bharrat Jagdeo told a gathering of PPP supporters at Babu Jaan that if the Coalition got elected, then army officers will go kicking down their doors and the PPP cannot save such supporters. How was that not an invitation to not only vote for the PPP but to caricature the army as enemies of Indian Guyanese, and expose army officers to hate and worse? When it comes to political violence anywhere in this world, political leaders are just as guilty as ordinary players. Even media houses and commentators’ rhetoric can inspire violence by facilitating ad hominem attacks against public and private persons, other media houses and proponents of a different view. The only antidote is to dial back the caustic rhetoric, which is totally different from calling out public officials whose office demand they be subjected to scrutiny, resulting in either complimentary or critical remarks. Emile Mervin

3 estates given the Government’s abhorrence in maintaining this important state industry. In terms of direct consumption, value added sugars, of the 3 estates identified only Blairmont, at this time, is capable of producing such quality of sugar. That estate as currently configured can produce about 37,000t of this type of sugar. Uitvlugt’s factory is only capable of producing bagged sugar which is only suitable for the local market; whereas Albion can only produce raw bulk sugar at this time. In terms of electricity production, none of the factories are currently capable to export power to the national grid. With these present-day realities and no commitment to invest and upgrade the

85,000t and production capacity of 37,000t, there is an obvious deficit. Where will the remainder 38-48,000t come from? GuySuCo’s myopic IMC and its platoon of executive continue to misguide the Govt at the expense of taxpayers. Clearly, the Administration is out at sea when it comes to sugar. Estates which are capable of production direct consumption, value added sugars and supplying electricity to the national grid are being closed and sold off – Enmore and Skeldon respectively. Rather than harnessing capacity for a secured future the political hierarchy is shooting in the dark and putting at grave risk the lives of thousands of ordinary people. Sookram Persaud

Enable our aspirations with deeds that nurture social cohesion From page 5 I started my political career participating in a protest calling on then Chairman of GECOM, Justice Harry Bollers (the father of my workmate colleague and friend, and a friend of my most important benefactor) to resign and go. I stayed apart of the various manouveurings and meanderings which led to the procedure by which Mr Collins became Chairman GECOM and which procedure served us well with little or no differences nor questions until now. The strength of this Carter formula lies in what our President and our LOP implicitly say to us, the electorate, in the list(s) presented by the LOP and the acceptance of someone or the total rejection by the President. Arrangements in politics can hardly be perfect. Our

electorate should be pondering why our President could not find that he could live with someone of the twelve named persons as Chairman GECOM. Recall the run-up to the 1997 elections of December 15, the rising intensity of unrest and violence as election day drew nigh. Our National Poet Martin Carter had died a week or two before that election. Ms. Janet Jagan, then my Prime Minister and our Presidential candidate, in seeking to attend the funeral of her colleague from the early days was advised on her way to the internment at our ‘Seven Ponds’, to pause a while at the Office of the President. She said to me that she was getting a feeling of a rerun of the 1957/61/64 period, in that while the PNC supporters eventually tolerated the PPP win in 1957, things began to heat up when they

substance use disorders - the Salvation Army and Phoenix Recovery. Both NGOs participated in the drafting of the draft mental health policy and plan. Yet, there are no day treatment facilities in the country and no community residential facilities available in the country with trained professionals and paraprofessionals which offers non-invasive treatment and support services to families. Editor I now refer to an article in the media of March, 2017 and I quote, “I decided to write on schizophrenia this week as more of these cases are seen at GPHC weekly. My hope is to again reach out to those who may be suffering or watching their loved ones suffer from this disorder. People with this disorder will seem as though

they have (more often than not) lost touch with reality. My research shows that in 2013, there were 23.6 million people suffering from schizophrenia world -wide. While people with schizophrenia do tend to overuse drugs, the use of drugs can also bring on schizophrenia. It is not caused by any particular gene but is more likely to develop when a child is premature or has problems during birth, especially viruses. They may have had personal trauma such as physical or sexual abuse, which could be the trigger for development.” (unquote) Ingrid Goodman, BSc., MSW, ABA, CSME Executive Director PAT O I S / W O M E N S ’ REFUGE

Abuse will continue against people with mental illness...

From page 5 in individual assistance activities such as counselling, housing, and support groups for persons affected by

factories, the ‘Minataurised GuySuCo’ with Albion, Blairmont & Uitvlugt have limited capabilities and can practically deliver only 37,000t direct consumption, value added sugars and zero kilowatts of electricity to the national grid at best. It therefore means some enhancement would be required but for whatever reason was not alluded to in the paper. The Honourable Minister of Agriculture asserts in his paper that 25,000t of value added, direct consumption sugar will go towards the local market and 50-60,000t to the CARICOM & Regional markets. This follows that 7585,000t or 51-58% of the newly proposed production must be direct consumption value added grade sugars. With a market of 75-

contemplated the PPP winning again in 1961. When the PPP/C won the elections of 1997, there were two charges on which the “slow fire and more fire” disturbances were predicated – that the PPP/C had won by rigging, and whether rigged or not our system was unfair because the PPP/C would always win. This was the background to Caricom putting to us, the PPP/C, what became known as the Herdmanston Accord - that the parties would amend our Constitution to ameliorate the insecurity of the minority, by avoiding the perception that rule by majority could become dictatorship by the majority. Amongst other things, we would continue to observe the Carter formula, the LOP would be granted veto rights over the appointments of the Chief Justice and the Chancellor, and the President would appoint as Judges

such persons as are recommended to him by the JSC. Elections were to be held after a given menu of amendments would have been enacted, hence the early elections of 2001. It may not be too early for Caricom to provide some wise counselling. For a number of reasons not many of us were with President Janet Jagan that fateful night when she accepted the Herdmanston Accord. Acceding to the Herdmanston Accord took two years off our term after the 1997 elections. It was difficult to accept but we put people and country first. We of the PPP/C have been making contributions which are not trivial, to our aspirations for greater social cohesion and keeping our nation together. Samuel A. A. Hinds Former Prime Minister and Former President

NATIONAL AWARDS; HULLABALOO... From page 4 ‘personally profitable’ field of politics so much in vogue these days, where it appears that opportunities for aggrandizement, sycophantic adulation and, as we know only too well in Guyana, pecuniary benefits are unlimited! Another ‘negative’ is the cheapening of National Honours by the excessive numbers awarded: 70 per annum for our tiny population? One wonders what the number is or would be for an average- sized population. However, the main thrust of this letter is that in virtually every sphere of human activity, there are already mechanisms in place that inherently provide the necessary incentives and recognition,

thus obviating the need for another layer like our ‘National Awards’ . What is indeed eminently deserving of consideration and attention is a scheme to promote and recognize VOLUNTEERISM and SELFLESSNESS especially at the grass-root, community levels where the prime mover for action is altruism and/or where the initiators /participants in community development and individual/social services to the hapless or underprivileged are suitably honored by the Nation for selfless services and altruistic leadership. I therefore strongly recommend a thorough review of our National Honours scheme. Nowrang Persaud

Thursday June 08, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Suspected Pradoville ‘schemers’ closer to climbing court steps …as SOCU recommends charges for Brassington and Ashni Singh and others

The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) has completed its Pradoville 2 investigations and has sent that file to the police legal adviser (PLA) recommending that 12 persons be charged. Among the 12 recommended for charges are former Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh; and former head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Winston Brassington. According to a well placed source the files were sent to the PLA, Rtd. Justice Claudette Singh. However, Justice Singh is still to make a decision on the matter. But Justice Singh has said she has not seen any files in

relation to the Pradoville 2 probe. She explained that the files could have been sent but have to go through certain channels before they get to her. According to the source while SOCU can recommend charges it is left to the legal opinion of Justice Singh to determine if the charges are strong enough to be laid. The source said that it is important that the files be properly studied so that the correct decision is arrived at. Further the source said that although SOCU has its own position on the investigation the PLA has to determine if there is sufficient evidence of criminality to warrant a charge. The source noted that it is the same benchmark that the police (SOCU) are guided by when they make their recommendation to the PLA. With the recommendation for Singh and Brassington to be charged, the police will have issues making that a reality since both men are no longer living in Guyana. Brassington now lives in Miami Florida and Singh is said

Guyana has been named among seven Caribbean territories where health facilities will be selected to be suitably transformed to cater to health care delivery in the advent of a disaster. This is according to information that has been disseminated by the Pan American Health Organisation [PAHO]. Based on information seen by this publication, this venture will be financed by a United Kingdom-funded PAHO project which will make safer and greener health facilities in the Dominica, Belize, Grenada, Guyana,

Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia to deliver care in disasters. It has been revealed that PAHO has already selected 16 hospitals and health centres in seven Caribbean countries to make them safer, greener and more resilient to natural disasters, under the framework of the Smart Health Care Facilities Project, an initiative backed by UKaid, the UK Department for International Development. The project is being financially supported by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and

Former Minister of Finance Ashni Singh

to be working in Washington. Initial reports had placed him in the oil rich country of Dubai. Brassington was at the helm at NICIL when the controversial Pradoville 2 scheme was conceptualized. There were whispers among Government members that the former head has a lot to answer for in relation to the Sparendaam Scheme. The contention was and still is that the lands that were sold to former government ministers and close friends of the PPP/C administration was seriously undervalued. Ashni Singh was the Minister of Finance at the infancy stage of the project and is believed to be a recipient of one of those plots overlooking the sea. Prior to stepping down in November 2011, at the end of his constitutional two terms in office, Jagdeo and his administration decided to build a community for himself, his ministers and friends, but stumbled on a big problem. Sitting on the land was a huge transmitting tower belonging to the state-owned

National Communications Network (NCN). A decision was taken to move the tower to Dairy Road, La Parafaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara. NICIL reportedly paid over $100M to take down the tower and build the new transmitting facility and charge the expense to NCN. Significant sums from the state were spent also on the construction of roads, drainage network and other works at Pradoville 2. The developed house lots, complete with infrastructure, were then sold below market value to Jagdeo, several ministers and Government officials and friends. There is no evidence that the house lots sale was advertised or what procedures were used in the allocations of the parcels of the ocean front properties. There are also no details of whether the recipients were owners of properties at the time. If they were, they would have been barred from buying the lands under regulations of the Central Housing and Planning Authority.

Guyana to get PAHO-funded disaster health facility implemented through the PAHO Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief Department in partnership with the Ministry of Health in each target country. Health facilities were selected by PAHO after analyzing the safety situation of nearly 350 hospitals and health centers, and their likelihood of continuing to function in disasters. They include the La Plaine Clinic in Dominica; The Princess Alicia Hospital in Granada; The Chateaubelair Hospital in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and the Comfort

Bay nursing home in St. Lucia. In addition, interventions will be carried out at 12 health centres in Saint Lucia to improve disaster resilience, and to save energy and water. However, it was noted that the selection of facilities that will be part of the project in Jamaica, Guyana and Belize is still in process. It is expected that by 2020, more than 600 hospitals and health facilities will be evaluated and 50 will be transformed to be safer and more environmentally friendly under the project, whose Continued on page 12

There are several other investigations, spurred by other forensic audits, and conducted by SOCU, that are ongoing. Some other former government officials are currently facing the courts. According to details of the Pradoville 2 allocations, Jagdeo received two parcels equivalent to two acres. On it, he built an imposing mansion, complete with swimming pool overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. He paid a total of $9.8M. He had already owned a property along the Ogle Airport Road in the community that was known as ‘Pradoville One’. However, he is claiming that he sold that property to Trinidadian advertising executive, Ernie Ross. There is no confirmation whether the former President paid the Capital Gains tax on the profits he made on sale of the mansion or whether the 10-year timeframe had passed in which he could have sold the property. In effect, Jagdeo and his Pradoville 2 colleagues paid three times less than what ordinary citizens in the Diamond and Grove Housing Schemes, East Bank Demerara would have been required to fork out. Jagdeo paid $114 per square foot for the Pradoville 2 parcels; the ordinary citizens paid $317 per square foot for their plots while remigrants paid more than ten times the price Jagdeo paid for the same size house lot. They paid $1,111 per square foot. Other beneficiaries included Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack; former Public Ser-

Former Head of NICIL Winston Brassington vice Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford; Compton Bourne, former Head of the Caribbean Development Bank and UG Chancellor; and Florrie Loretta Ramnauth. Ali-Hack and her husband, Moeen ul Hack, a top figure in the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG), paid $1,488,744 for a piece of land. Former Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee; former GWI boss, Sheik Baksh and former Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, also received lots, paying just over $1.5M each. So too did former Army Chief, Rear Admiral Gary Best and sacked Chief Executive Officer of the embattled Guyana Sugar Corporation, Dr. Rajendra Singh. Also named in the list were Andrew Bishop, f o r m e r Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission; Safraaz Khan and George Hallaq, s a i d t o b e the country’s former Middle East envoy, and a company called Future Developers International Guyana Inc.

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Thursday June 08, 2017

Kaieteur News

ExxonMobil and Guyana…

Publish all contract drafts; make negotiations accountable to Parliament –TIGI urges Considering that contract secrecy can be injurious to countries rich with natural resources such as oil, Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI) is urging the government to publish all contract drafts with USA oil giant, ExxonMobil.

of the company that invented the oil industry and a key player and superpower in this global sector. Exxon will have more information – a vital element of negotiation – than the Guyana officials will ever dream exists.” The transparency body

TIGI Head, Dr. Troy Thomas The body is also calling for Parliament to be able to shine a light of transparency on all negotiations between Guyana and the said company. TIGI expressed the view that Exxon, the major player, has a reputation to protect and would shun corrupt transactions. It said, “While we hope this is true, corruption is not the only problem Guyana has to worry about when dealing with oil companies. One of these is the ability of a small country like Guyana to negotiate with a titan like Exxon.” The local charter continued, “Most of the cards the government is keeping to its chest are stacked in Exxon’s favour. Exxon is a descendant

added, “An indispensable approach to even the odds that are stacked against Guyana in the negotiations is to publish the contract drafts and make the negotiations accountable to Parliament. “In this way, Guyanese in the Diaspora whose knowledge is vast in this area will be able to make contributions to the process and thus protect our country’s interest.” TIGI also pointed out that it finds it hard to swallow, some of the reasons proffered in the media by Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman for the Exxon Contract not being released. In this regard, the body said that the explanation of the non-disclosure being tied to “national security,” is not

convincing. TIGI contended that it is near impossible to undervalue the amount of the oil potential that has already been disclosed to the public, by the international press and in investment circles. It said that Venezuela has already played its hand in furtherance of its claim to Guyanese patrimony; it is claiming the entire seaway far beyond its original claim to Essequibo. TIGI argued that the amount of information about this oil discovery that can excite the avarice of neighbours is already publicly available. “It is however, exceeded by the amount of information that was made publicly available in the newspapers of the world when Venezuela celebrated her satisfaction with the ruling of the 1899 award that she considered to be in her favour and which, on the prompting of the world powers of the 1960s, she found it convenient to vitiate,” expressed the Transparency body. TIGI said, too, that a security risk may also stem from physical presence in the oil exploration zone as experienced when Suriname moved against the CGX operations a few years ago. “However, ExxonMobil is currently operating in the Stabroek Block. The link between release of the contract and security risk is tenuous and this calls into question the true motivation for secrecy.” The body said that the government’s willingness to ignore the mountain of evidence against contract secrecy and the potential ills associated with a developing oil industry is baffling. “This is especially so given its stated commitment to transparency and accountability. We call for a full release of the contract with ExxonMobil and its partners.”

Media Monitoring Unit needs enforcement powers – Carter Centre

The Media Monitoring Unit (MMU) is an arm of the Guyana Elections Commission “There is much room for improvement in the work of the media-monitoring unit (MMU), as it lacks any power to sanction or discipline the media actors in any way.” This is the position of the Carter Centre which has finalised its report on the 2015 General and Regional Elections. According to the report, without the power to sanction media operatives for breaching journalistic codes, the MMU could not have done anything substantial during the 2015 elections where a number of media entities appeared partisan in their election coverage. The Carter Centre said that the tone of some coverage was sensationalist and aimed at reaffirming the narrative of a particular party. Not denying that there was a diverse range of content and opinion across the media, the report said that very little of it was neutral and unbiased. “Daily newspapers carried multiple pages of advertisements from political parties. Further, there were many allegations that state media were biased in favour of the ruling party (The People’s Progressive Party Civic).” The report noted that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) operates the MMU to facilitate the maintenance of a media environ-

ment that is conducive to the democratic process. It was recalled that the Unit was created in 2001 and strengthened in 2006. Among its activities is the daily monitoring of the nation’s mainstream print and broadcast media to ensure that they conform to established best practices that are associated with professional journalism. Further, it was noted that the MMU is tasked with informing media practitioners of instances of breaches in a timely manner and producing periodic reports on the Unit’s findings on how compliant are media practitioners. However, it is the view of the elections observer that this monitoring will go in vain since the Unit is not empowered to sanction media operatives who violate the regulations that apply to them. It was mentioned in the report that the most media personnel are required to do is sign a self-regulatory Media Code of Conduct (MCC) which is to guide coverage and report on election-related issues. “The code aimed to contain media excesses and to assist in levelling the political playing field by encouraging balanced, equitable and fair coverage of the campaigns of all political parties.” The report said that while

the MMU has been a positive contribution, there is much room for improvement in its role and work. “Consideration should be given to strengthening the unit before future elections, particularly regarding its power to establish rules for conduct and professionalism and sanction or discipline media.” Following the May 2015 elections, the MMU had released a report whereby three newspapers along with a programme aired on CNS TV were criticised for breaching the MCC. Prior to the May 2015 elections, then Chairman of GECOM, Dr Steve Surujbally, had said that a lot was done to resuscitate the MMU. A training exercise was planned for February of that year for local media operatives as it relates to covering the elections. This was done in addition to the media representatives signing the code of conduct. During the 2015 elections process the Carter Centre was led by its founder former President of the United States of America, Jimmy Carter, Dame Audrey Glover of the United Kingdom and Dame Billie Miller of Barbados. On Election Day 53 observers hailing from 236 countries made visits to 297 polling stations in all 10 of the Administrative Regions.

Thursday June 08, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Freedom of Information is a myth It has long been believed that a Freedom of Information Act serves the best interests of a democracy by ensuring that persons have greater access to information. This is a myth. Freedom of Information does not improve public access to information; it is merely a façade used by western governments to bolster their credentials as a free society. It is now more than thirtyeight years since Jonestown and yet there are critical pieces of information that are still being treated as top secret. How much has Freedom of Information facilitated the release of information to the American public? The very Act, which obligates Governments to facilitate information release, also gives the government an excuse to not

release information. That excuse is usually national security considerations. So, do you want to know about British intelligence in the run up to the war on Iraq? Do you want to know whether the Iraqi dossier was sexed up? Well information can be denied on the grounds that it will impinge on national security considerations. Just after the PPP came to power, a number of documents were declassified by the Americans and the British. These documents confirmed what was known: that both governments encouraged the destabilisation of the PPP government because of fears of communism. The documents released the details of funding for opposition parties, and even mentioned a proposal to kidnap the Jagans and fly them

to Venezuela. All of these things were, however, known long before the documents were declassified. For a long time the United States had accused the Burnham regime of allowing the refueling of Cuban plans en route to Angola. The Burnham Government consistently denied these allegations. Well, information is now coming to the fore, which suggests that permission was indeed granted for these refueling stops. But what use is the information now more than 25 years later. When are we going to know what the Americans know about the assassination of Walter Rodney? Next week will mark thirty-seven years since the assassination of this renowned historian and political activist. By the time

Dem boys seh...

Soulja Bai, Rum Jattan, tek off y’all spectacles Never regret being a good person to de wrong people. Your behavior says everything about you, and their behavior says enough about them. Yesterday, de PS behavior, his attitude, his words toward de $540,000 guard hut that dem build at he house tell a lot about him. Dem bank in Georgetown was flooded wid reporters and school leavers. All of dem want loans. Dem want to become contractors and engineers. Some seh dem want to enter de business of renting out bamsie washing machine. When dem boys read bout de guard hut dem confront de PS. Dem ask ee if he think he get value fuh money. He tell dem boys he nah know bout value and suh but he know dem boys use greenheart. Dem boys ask him, “Sir, wha yuh mean? Greenheart or Pine tart?” De estimate fuh de guard hut is now in de open and dem boys hope Soulja Bai and Rum Jattan tek off dem glasses because de information bold as daylight. Dem boys seh is a good thing dis PS and his engineers wasn’t around when Jagdeo build de $69 million NIS flat building pun de Corentyne. That same flat building woulda cost $169 million. De estimate show that dem use six gallon paint and eight pound of putty fuh paint four post pun de guard hut. De full estimate deh

pun page 14. De same PS rent de Bamsie washing machine at a great price monthly. All that putty is fuh putty dem bamsie because it can’t use pun de guard hut. It can’t use nowhere else. Dem boys calling and demanding that SOCU and SARA get involve. SOCU gun jail de contractor and SARA gun mek dem pay back de taxpayers dem money wha dem seh dem spend pun de hut. Dem boys know all PS is de chief planning and financial officer in every ministry. Dem don’t got to tek direction from no govt minister. Suh when this PS gun tell this nation that he is not de engineer and de public works officer and he don’t fix price he eyes pass de nation. He have to sign off all expenditure. Dem boys seh is two things. Is either he corrupt or incompetent. If he corrupt he should go to jail and if he incompetent he should go home and lef de guard hut and de bamsie washing machine. If you got officials doing this to de people of this country through a hut imagine wha dem doing wid millions and billions in contracts. Talk half and never lef yuh mouth close if not dem officials and dem contractahs gun eat you and you children breakfast, lunch plus dinner.

information is released, those responsible and those having a direct hand in the assassination would have already died. Gregory Smith, the agent who it is said gave the explosive device to Rodney, has already died. So what use is the information, other than of historical value, after so many years? Access to information under a Freedom of InformationAct can also be frustrated by administrative delays. You can apply for information but there is no guarantee how long it will take for it to be considered and just what information will be forthcoming. And there is little possibility of holding the government in contempt of the Act. Most acts are so worded as to immunise the executive from sanctions for not supplying the desired information. A Freedom of Information Act is therefore no red-letter

event in our history. What would be achieved by this legislation? Do you ever believe that such anAct would allow the Guyanese people to demand to see the final agreement signed between City Hall and the parking meter investor? Do you believe that it will lead to the immediate tabling in the National Assembly of the agreements signed by the coalition with foreign companies such as Exxon Mobil? Let us be serious, a Freedom of Information Act will only add to the official bureaucracy. Information will only be released as it is deemed necessary. The government can frustrate the release of information to the Commissioner of Information. What Guyana needs is not to mimic what obtains in developed countries. What Guyana needs is not a Freedom of Information Act. What Guyana needs is the freedom of public officials

to freely release information to the public.However progressive is our constitution, we do not have such independence in the official bureaucracy nor do we have a similar degree of checks and balances that would facilitate an accountable governmental institutional culture. A Freedom of Information Act does not change institutional culture within a society; it is but a mere reflection of that culture. So, those seeking to imitate without knowing or understanding what facilitates access to public information, should understand that freedom of information legislation does not necessarily change the institutional culture of the government to make it more open and transparent.

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Thursday June 08, 2017

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

No other police force in the world like Guyana’s Always in the night, I travel north on Lombard Street when I leave Kaieteur News offices; Monday night was no exception. As I turned east into Hadfield Street, a traffic rank pulled me aside. I did not pull into the corner but stopped in the middle of the road. When he came to the driver’s window, I asked him in a loud tone; “Why did you stop me?” I uttered those words because I knew he pulled me over at random. I committed no infringement and there was nothing suspicious about me or my aging RAV4. After those words, he said, “Oh, Mr. Kissoon, oh, carry on.” I replied, “Sir, tell

me why you pulled me over.” He intoned, “It’s alright Mr. Kissoon, you can go” to which I replied, “Sir, you haven’t told me why you stopped the car; you made a random stop and you cannot do that.” He said, “Man, Mr. Kissoon let’s be reasonable.” I don’t know why he said that and what he meant, but he uttered those words. I left him with a parting advice; “You have to tell people why you stop them; you cannot stop them at random.” As I moved off, I saw four more ranks, stationed in different positions outside Parliament and the Georgetown Magistrate Court, stopping drivers at random.

I drove straight to Brickdam Police Station. I asked for the traffic officer in charge. I knew the officer a long time now. We met when she regulated the traffic outside Marian Academy when my kid attended that high school. Over the years, she would always say hello to me. She was a friend of Dale Andrews but to tell the truth, I could not remember her name as I spoke to her at the station. I had in my hands a number of newspaper articles over a three-year period in which Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud, and Assistant Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine have ad-

dressed the random traffic stop anomaly. She declined to see the items but acknowledged that drivers cannot be stopped in routine fashion. She agreed to send for that particular cop that was stationed outside of the southern gate of Parliament on Hadfield Street. I told her I didn’t see the necessity for that since I plan to take the matter up with the police hierarchy. When I drove away it occurred to me that in writing a column about this incident I would need to name her. I didn’t have Brickdam station number in my phone book; I have Sparendaam police station number since that is the station that has jurisdiction where I live in Turkeyen. I called Sparendaam for the number for Brickdam’s traffic office. Corporal Brown answered and said he didn’t know it. No one answered the phone at traffic head office at Eve Leary. I eventually got the number only to be told by Constable Shivbarran that her shift ended but he gave me her name – Corporal Simpson.

The next day I called the Commissioner of Police. He said that the people at fault in the random stop aberration are the senior officers. He indicated that these

Frederick Kissoon officers know that drivers cannot be pulled over unless there is suspicion or the occurrence of a violation but they do not instruct the traffic patrols to this effect. He asserted that the problem continues because citizens do not come into the station with a written statement. He assured me that once that is done, the ranks would be disciplined. In my incident, he said he would ask the Office of Professional Responsibility to

investigate and interview Corporal Simpson. Immediately after speaking to the Police Commissioner, I spoke with the Traffic Chief. He saw the missed call and got in touch. I appreciate that kind of professional courtesy. I reminded him that I did an entire column on him two years ago in which I mentioned that he gave me his word he would issue a country wide edict preventing traffic patrols from pulling motorists over at random. His position was crystal clear – the men and women in the Guyana Police Force have been told that a vehicle could only be stopped by a traffic policeman on patrol if the rank believes or has seen the committal of an infringement or is suspicious of a vehicle. Like the Police Commissioner, he promised to investigate what I saw on Monday night. Let me end with perhaps the funny or alarming side to this random stop thing. Over the past three years, I did six columns on the issue and submitted two statements to the police. What next?

Thursday June 08, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Bids in for purchasing of two fiberglass vessels for GDF - Several Parks to be constructed

Tenders were also submitted for the supply and delivery of computers, printers and accessories for the Health Ministry.

During the opening of tenders at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), tenders were submitted for the contract to procure two fiberglass vessels for the Guyana Defense Force (GDF). The name of the bidder and their respective bids are as follows:

The GDF was also listed as the procuring entity for the repairs to several fiberglass boats in the army’s fleet. The Ministry of Communities was listed as the procuring entity for several contracts including: the construction of a Green Park at Number 76 Village, Corriverton East Berbice Corentyne:

Tenders were also submitted for the docking of the GDFS 1022 Barracuda, an army vessel.

The Ministry of Business was listed as the procuring entity for the consultancy to review, design and supervision of Works at Business Incubator Centre, Belvedere Industrial Estate, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne). Financial proposals were submitted.

Upgrading of Esplanade Park, New Amsterdam:

Expressions of Interest, Consultancy for Valuation and Compilation of Fixed Assets Registration were also submitted for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Construction of Lethem Declaration Park, Upper Tatatu:

The Parliament Office of Guyana was listed as the procuring entity for the supply of meals and snacks for sittings of the National Assembly and Meetings of Parliamentary Committees.

The Office is also the procuring entity for the supply of meals and snacks for sittings of the National Assembly and Meetings of Parliamentary Committees and staff.

Construction of Sparta Recreational Park, Anna Regina

Tenders were open for the supply and delivery of a motor vehicle for the Ministry of Public Health.

<<<<<< Continued on page 23 >>>>>

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Thursday June 08, 2017

Kaieteur News

GECOM composition not ideal but it works – Commissioner By Murtland Haley Since 1992 six Commissioners on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) have been appointed by the parliamentary political parties and the President acting in his own deliberate judgment; three from each side. The seventh member, the GECOM Chairperson, is selected from a list of six persons nominated by the Leader of the Opposition from which the President must choose, provided that the list is not unacceptable to him in accordance with Article 161(2) of Guyana’s Constitution. It had been suggested over 10 years ago that the composition of GECOM should change thereby removing the political appointees. This was reiterated in the Final Report on the 2015 elec-

tions by the elections observer body, the Carter Centre. It is the view of GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander, that the current system is not ideal but it is a system that works best in the Guyanese context. Currently, the members of the Commission are Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin, Sandra Jones, Bibi Shadick, Robeson Benn and Sase Gunraj. Alexander and Corbin were appointed when the People’s National Congress Reform was the opposition party and Jones was appointed while the A Partnership for National Unity was in opposition. The PNC is the largest party within the APNU coalition. Meanwhile, Shadick, Benn and Gunraj were nominated

by the People’s Progressive Party Civic. Alexander admitted that it is true that the presence of political actors can cause hiccups and bring some partiality to the process. Despite this, Alexander said that one has to be conscious of the Guyana landscape. “I don’t think that we are the country that necessarily has sufficient people being unbiased. Even if you don’t have parties making nominations, you will still have people who will carry political views into the process. Therefore, the present situation, is not ideal but at least, it addresses the reality in the country of distrust.” He said that with the six Commissioners being appointed through a political process, the appointment of

the Chairperson is of critical importance. Referring to the current process to appoint a GECOM Chairman, Alexander said, “Now if we have a difficulty selecting one person (Chairperson) who is supposed to be unbiased, you can imagine how much difficulty we would have selecting seven.” Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo submitted two lists to President David Granger. Both have been rejected. According to Alexander, ideally, reforming the composition of GECOM is a direction which Guyana must move. However, he is contending that the country is not ready for such a step in terms of its political culture. He said that the confidence in people who are not identified to be political must be measured against the confidence persons have in those have been identified as such. He said that as it is now, the system is more reliable. “Though you have a political presence, you know what you have; you don’t know what you will get.” The Commissioner said that evidence has shown that persons who are Commissioners for extended periods eventually become a part of GECOM and as a consequence, tend to lose some degree of their biasness. “The fact that the PPP/C has removed some of its Commissioners in the past is a reflection of that kind of development, where those Commissioners were becoming more a part of GECOM rather than mainly bringing their political persuasion in GECOM.”In September 2015, the People’s Progressive Party had nominated two of its members to be Commissioners after two others would have resigned from the Commission. According to Oppo-

GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander sition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, Mahmood Shaw and Athmaram Mangar had resigned from their positions. To replace them, the party appointed former Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn and former PPP/C Parliamentarian, Bibi Shaddick. He said that this move reflected that the former Commissioners were shifting into a different mode whereby they were no longer purely political in their deliberations. He said that Commissioners after being appointed cannot be removed by their parties unless such persons subject themselves to being removed. According to him, as a result, Commissioners have the freedom to take an impartial position on matters. A 2005 study prepared for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) by former Chief Elections Officer of Jamaica, Carl Dundas had concluded that the Carter-Price formula, which governs GECOM appointments has outlived its usefulness. The Carter-Price formula

is the brainchild of former United States of America President, Jimmy Carter and former Prime Minister of Belize, George Price. It was introduced as a consensus measure to ensure Guyana had a multiparty democratic General and Regional election in 1992. It was suggested that the system be replaced with an independent Electoral Management Body whereby a four-member panel would receive nominations through advertisements from political parties and civil society, according to the report, The panel will then choose no more than seven names from the list of nominees and submit them to a committee within the National Assembly. Three or five names would then be presented to the National Assembly for approval by a twothirds majority and those names would be submitted to the President for approval. The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson will be selected by secret ballot from members of the Commission.

Guyana to get PAHO-funded... From page 7 budget amounts to just over 38 million pound sterling. In Latin America and the Caribbean, seven out of 10 hospitals are located in areas at high risk of disasters, which can leave them out of service in the event of a hurricane, earthquake or flood. “By becoming ‘smart hospitals’, selected health centers will lower operating costs, reduce risks that can occur in case of disasters, and protect the environment,” said Dana Van Alphen, PAHO Project Coordinator. A health facility is considered ‘smart’ when it combines structural and operational safety with environmentally friendly interventions with a reasonable cost-benefit ratio. In ‘green’ hospitals, air quality

improves, staff work under more favourable conditions, and costs for energy and water consumption decrease. These benefits also affect the decision of the people to go to health centres. As part of the initiative, participating hospitals are expected to reinforce roofs and windows so they will not be damaged when there are hurricanes. They will also be required to work on installing water tanks to collect rainwater for services such as laundry and gardens, as well as to install solar panels, provide accessibility for people with disabilities, use LED bulbs that consume less energy and replace old air conditioning equipment with more efficient models. The initiative builds on

the Smart Project, which began as a pilot in 2012 and improved structural safety and reduced energy and water use in hospitals in Georgetown in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Pogson in Saint Kitts and Nevis. In this second phase, which began in 2015, in addition to analyzing the safety situation of nearly 350 hospitals and health centers in seven countries, PAHO trained more than 200 people from various sectors construction, public officials, private sector - in energy and water conservation, use of the Smart toolkit, and contingencies for health facilities. The project is currently ready to commence refurbishment work at selected facilities.

Thursday June 08, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Ex-FBI head Comey accuses Trump of pressure on Russia probe (Reuters) Former FBI Director James Comey said yesterday that U.S. President Donald Trump asked him to drop an investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn as part of a probe into Russia’s alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election. In written testimony, Comey said Trump told him at a meeting in the White House in February: “I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go.” The testimony from Comey, who will appear in person before a Senate panel today, puts more pressure on the Republican whose presidency has been overshadowed by allegations that Moscow helped him win last year’s election. But Trump, through his outside counsel, said he felt “completely and totally vindicated” by the account. “The president is pleased that Mr. Comey has finally publicly confirmed his private reports that the president was not under investigation in any Russian probe,” Marc

Kasowitz, Trump’s attorney, said in a statement. Trump fired Flynn in February in a controversy over contacts between the retired general and the Russian ambassador to the United States. The FBI has been investigating Flynn as it looks into allegations of links between Russia and the Trump campaign. In his statement, posted on the Senate Intelligence Committee’s website, Comey said Trump also called him on March 30 to say he had nothing to do with Russia and asked what “we could do to lift the cloud” of the FBI’s Russia investigation. During that phone call, Comey said he told Trump the FBI was not investigating the president personally. “He repeatedly told me: ‘We need to get that fact out,’” Comey said. Comey said he had told Trump on three occasions he was not being investigated, confirming an earlier account from the president. Several congressional committees, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and a special counsel, are looking into reports that Rus-

sia tried to tilt last November’s election in Trump’s favor, using means such as hacking into the emails of senior Democrats. Trump and the Kremlin have separately denied any collusion. LEGALFALLOUT? Some legal experts said Comey’s written statement could be used to show that Trump engaged in obstruction of justice. “It shows the president was doing everything he could to shut down the Flynn investigation,” said Andrew Wright, a professor of criminal law at Savannah Law School. Bruce Green, a professor of law at Fordham University School of Law, said, however, it would be difficult to show that Trump intended to obstruct justice. Trump could say he was merely vouching for Flynn’s character and voicing concerns about how the probe was interfering with his ability to function effectively as president, Green said. While a sitting president is unlikely to face criminal

Former FBI Director James Comey (L) and U.S. President Donald Trump (CNN photos) prosecution, obstruction of justice is an offense that could lead to impeachment hearings. In impeachment proceedings, Congress must determine that a president committed a “high crime or misdemeanor.” Comey said Trump told him at a one-on-one dinner on Jan. 27, a week after the presi-

dent took office, that: “I need loyalty. I expect loyalty.” During the dinner, the president asked him if he wanted to stay on as FBI director, Comey said. The former FBI head said he became concerned that Trump was trying to create “some sort of patronage relationship.” After a Feb. 14 meeting on counterterrorism in the

Oval Office, Trump dismissed all the participants except Comey, according to the testimony. The president then initiated a conversation about Flynn. Comey quoted Trump as telling him: “I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.”

PAGE 22

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

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigration Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496/ 662-6045 Repairs to refrigerators, gas stoves, A/C units, washing machines. Call Lindon: 6411086/ 694-2202 Hello the doctor is back!! Have your gas stove repaired and service. Call: 601-0595/ 220-4073

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 One house to rent @ Atlantic Gardens. Call: 677-8860/ 6149060 Upper flat for rent 3 bedrooms in Atlantic Gardens- Call: 2274377/227-0613/624-6013 2 & 3 Bedrooms apartment for rent @ Nandy Park. Call: 641-3318

PEN PAL You deserve a relationship filled with love & excitement. Call Harmony Singles: 6262629/676-6312(free registration 21-35yrs female) EDUCATIONAL

CAR RENTAL

Experienced Male workers on farm, age 30yrs and older. Call: 231-1408 between 8am1pm Male workers to work at Ice Factory in Rosignol. Call: 6183800 between 8:00am- 2pm Garbage Truck Drivers, attractive salary and benefits. Call: 227-1717 Experienced curry cook, roti/ puri cook, cleaners & counter servers. Apply @ Hacks Halaal. 5 Commerce St.

Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158

Canadian School of Arts & Science: Summer Classes 2017- Pre-K, Nursery, Primary, Secondary (July 10th – August 11th). Call: 216-6921/ 22 for registration

Thursday June 08, 2017

Kaieteur News

TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)

CAR RENTAL

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

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

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

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

Two nail technicians to work in Salon. Call: 646-5157/ 227-7609 Plumber tiler, mason, painter and a carpenter who knows wooden steps. Call: 625-3705 One domestic cook- Contact: 677-8236 Live in waitress to work in a bar- Call: 604-6606; 6924646 One driver for office in Eccles call 233-2745 must be between the ages of 30- 40yrs. Salesgirls & boys with supermarket experienced , apply with written application to Best Buy Food supplies, Dennis & Middleton Street, Campbellville. Mini bus driver 55yrs and older, 40 Route. Call: 6176760 Hire car driver needed preferably from Georgetown, 35yrs or older. Call: 699-0313 1 Accounts Clerk, preferably from E.B.D – 5 subjects CXC minimum @ gtcareers592@gmail.com

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Lawn grass organic potting soil, supari Palm, foxtail, palm @ $1,000, Crotoon, Ashoka, Ficus, Exora. Call: 626-1044 Office furniture, used computers, display racks & stands for store use. Call:2258066/624-6783

Urgently needed experienced garbage truck drivers, paying $6,000 per day, labours $4,000 per day. Call: 670-7920 1 Diesel Mechanic, must have knowledge of Perkins & Duetz engines, Cat & Doosan Excavator. Call: 2269768/660-2998 FOR SALE/FOR RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578

LAND FOR SALE

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

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

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

La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.3M & $1.6M, Providence (corner lot) -$4M, Herstelling -$3.5M, Farm -$2.6M, Uitvlugt $2.6M. Call: 651-1969/6292881 Land at Well Street Ogle, E.C.D Back Lot 65feetX105feet -$12M. Call: 625-1514

Nissan Pathfinder Jeep, super shape - $1.5M. Call: 609-7766

Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc. Call: 225-9032;647-2943;604-5198 Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, video games & repairs – Call: 672-2566; 265-3231 New rice-field pump with 20’ canvas conveyor and drive shaft sold with 1 stihl motor blower -$500,000. Call: 638-1829 1 Toyota Premio Fully loaded, series HC356 -$1.4M, 1 Spacio fully loaded series PPP 6655 - $1.3M. Call: 6613525/ 610-6886 USA Used tools, TV, Laptop & more. Call: 649-2950/220-2128

TO LET 4 AC Rooms/ 1 extra room, for business/offices @ 21 Seaforth St. C/Ville, Georgetown. Call: 226-1877, 624-7436, 654-9350 Furnished 2 bedroom apartments in Nandy Park, parking available. For further information – Call: 619-4824/ 619-0267/642-7533 Newly built apartment in a safe & health environment. Call: 622-6512/ 698-6496

Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999 One crash Alteeza for sale, one market stall. Call: 6723378 Apple I-phone 6, 6 Plus, 7 Plus, 64GB (like new) (not 16GB), factory unlocked $89,000, $129,000. Call: 6753062

VACANCY Able-bodied Driver/ Salesman for Leyland DAF lorry, involves lifting. Telles Steel. Call: 226-6771 Accountant / Audit Clerk: 8 Subjects (Including Maths & English), experienced an asset- D. Bahadur & Co. Chattered Accountants. Call:225-178-9/ email: info@Drubahadur.com

We pay in $US for land in Eccles, Herstelling, Providence, Farm, Parfaite Harmonie, Zeelugt. Call: 6117223/684-5822 Wanted Driver To Sell Water Must Have Lorry. Apply Nimbus Water. Tel 231-7002/ 622-0445 Experienced salesgirls needed. Kindly Contact: 6707920

VEHICLE FOR SALE

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

Security, Marketing Clerk, Bond Clerk, Labourers, Truck Driver, operator. Interested persons e-mail: chungsvacancy@gmail.com Senior Diesel Mechanic wanted to work in G/Town. Call: 218-1455

House & land at Mon Repos -$19M. Call: 645-8543

Table hand and mixer. Call: 225-7417

7 Bedrooms two story house on double lot, Georgetown close to city, adequate parking. Call: 609-7766

Cook/ Baker and welder/ fabricator for interior. Applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020 for more information

House and land available @ La Parfaite Harmonie, Providence, Etc, We also assist with financing. Contact Pacific Development: 2236035/ 227-8274

One experienced pharmacy assistant to work in a reputable pharmacy in G/ Town (flexible hours). Call: 227-0630

WANTED An experienced excavator operator. Must be between 30 years and 50 years. He must be prepared to work in the interior. Interested persons must call 223-7165

Thursday June 08, 2017

Finance Minister threatened with Contempt proceedings In a matter filed against Central Housing and Planning Authority, (CH&PA), Former Chief Justice (Ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards had awarded the sum of $200,000, to be paid to Linda Persaud for violation of her fundamental rights and freedoms as guaranteed by Article 142 of the Constitution of Guyana, along with costs for those proceedings in the sum of $75,000. The Central Housing and Planning Authority attempted to confiscate Persaud’s property, a core home, located at Lot 3608 Block 8, Plantation Tuschen. However, despite the order by Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards requesting payment of the sums, there was no payment. As a result, Attorney-atlaw, Anil Nandlall, for the Applicant wrote to the Registrar of the Supreme Court requesting transmission to the Minister of Finance a copy of the High Court Order granted by Justice Yonette Cummings-

Edwards and request from the said Minister, the money due owing and payable under the said Order pursuant to Section 14 of the State Liabilities and Proceedings Act Cap 6:05. The letter further requested the Registrar to convey to the Minister of Finance that if the monies are not paid within 21 days then proceedings would be filed compelling the Minister to obey the said Section of the State Liabilities and Proceedings Act. According to information received by Kaieteur News the letter was sent by the Registrar of the Supreme Court to the Minister of Finance on January 24, 2017. In that letter the Registrar called upon the Minister to pay the sums of money awarded in the judgment by a warrant under his hand, in accordance with Section 14 of the State Liabilities Act. Still there was no payment made by the Minister of Finance. On May, 10 last, Persaud again through her Attorney

filed an application to the High Court for an Order Nisi of Mandamus, compelling the Minister of Finance to direct the sum of $275,000, to be paid forthwith, awarded to her as damages for breach of fundamental rights as guaranteed to her by Article 142 of the Constitution of Guyana. The Minister was ordered to show cause why the order should not be made absolute. This Application was heard by Acting Chief Justice George and the said Order was granted on May 19, last and adjourned to the June 6, 2017. On that date no one appeared for the Minister of Finance and the Order Nisi of Mandamus was made absolute. The sum of $100,000 in cost was awarded. Kaieteur News was informed that the Order will now have to be served on the Minister of Finance and if not obeyed then proceedings will be filed against the Minister of Finance seeking to commit him to prison for contempt of Court.

Security guard gets six months for escaping police custody A security guard who was on the run since 2015 yesterday made an appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and was sentenced to six months imprisonment for escaping police custody. Troy Leacock, 30, of New Amsterdam, Berbice, pleaded guilty to the charge which alleged that on July 20, 2015 at Kwakwani Park, Berbice River, while being escorted to the station on a charge of possession of narcotics for

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the purpose of trafficking, he escaped police custody. Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore stated that on the day in question at the said location, police conducted a raid at the camp occupied by Leacock, where they found a quantity of marijuana and cocaine. Leacock was arrested by the police and while taking him to the station a scuffle ensued between the two men and the accused managed to escape with the handcuffs still on his hand.

The court heard that he was recently spotted in the neighbourhood and was subsequently arrested by the police. When given a chance to address the court the unrepresented man told the court that he ran away because he was scared since the police were trying to frame him for the narcotics. The magistrate after considering the fact that the accused entered an early guilty plea sentenced him to six months imprisonment.

Bids in for purchasing of two fiberglass vessels... <<<<<<From page 11>>>>> Construction of Golden Beach Boulevard, Bartica:

Construction of Hosororo Green Space, Mabaruma:

Semi-conscious wife does not remember husband’s death Cindy Dawson, 28, got up Saturday morning and after discovering that her husband was dead, she went into a state of shock. This is the theory the teacher’s friends and family came up with after she failed to communicate what transpired over the weekend. In fact, Dawson doesn’t even remember that her husband, Kevin Dawson died. She is currently in the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)’s Female Surgical Ward. Kaieteur News understands that the teacher is physically fine but her memory is not stable—sometimes she fails to remember people. One of her friends said yesterday that when the woman regained consciousness, she kept asking for her husband. It was only on Tuesday afternoon that a social worker at the hospital broke the devastating news to her. “I asked her what did she do, and she said that she cried. When I looked at her, she seemed blank, like his death didn’t registered,” the friend said. The woman added that when the teacher was discovered, she was very weak and was found with what seemed to be vomit. “She wants to go back to the house but she cannot go. Maybe when she recovers, she can go so that she can get closure,” the friend said while adding that Dawson only remembers what transpired last Friday and on Monday afternoon, when she was found. “Saturday and Sunday—

Cindy Dawson she don’t remember at all. She remembers going to school and going home back, that’s all,” the woman related. She said most likely once Cindy Dawson is discharged from the hospital, she will return to Essequibo with her brother. A Post Mortem examination done yesterday on the remains of the 35-year-old miner revealed that he died as a result typhoid and malaria. Recalling what transpired last Monday, the woman who also lives in Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD)

said that after she did not see or hear from the teacher, she went over to her home. After calling for the teacher, she responded from the kitchen window and shortly collapsed. The woman said that they broke into the house and her husband immediately lifted the 28-yearold woman out of the house and rushed her to the hospital. Neighbours said that the miner had been suffering from typhoid and malaria for the past month since his return from the interior.

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Brazil court split over whether to accept new evidence in campaign

Senator Eunicio Oliveira (L), Brazil’s President Michel Temer (C) and President of the Chamber of Deputies Rodrigo Maia (REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino) (Reuters) Brazil’s top electoral court yesterday was split over whether to allow new evidence in plea-bargain testimony from construction company Odebrecht in an illegal campaign funding case that could lead to President Michel Temer leaving office. The issue delayed proceedings on the second day of sessions by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), which adjourned until today without voting on whether to annul Temer’s ticket in the 2014 election for allegedly receiving under-the-table donations. Temer opponents expect a TSE ruling against the president to force him from office and help Brazil exit a political crisis stoked by graft allegations against the center-right leader. A TSE decision could take weeks if not months and could be appealed by Temer. The judge tasked with spearheading the case, Herman Benjamin, said the additional evidence in plea bargain testimony by

Odebrecht executives was crucial to determine whether former president Dilma Rousseff and her running mate Temer used illicit funds in their 2014 campaign. Benjamin, who is expected to vote to annul the ticket and its 2014 election victory, said Odebrecht was the “biggest parasite” among the companies accused of paying billions in kickbacks from overpriced contracts with state-run oil company Petrobras. But Judge Napoleão Nunes Maia said he would oppose use of the extra plea statements as evidence, arguing that the case would never end if it continued to add information from the avalanche of testimonies in the Car Wash probe. Temer, who replaced Rousseff when she was impeached last year, has said his campaign accounts received no illegal money. The defense team of both Temer and Rousseff requested the testimony be

scrapped, arguing that it went beyond the scope of the original complaint filed by the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) after it lost the 2014 election. The PSDB’s own candidate in that race, Aecio Neves, has since been charged for graft himself, accused of taking millions in bribes from the world’s largest meatpacker, JBS SA. In plea-bargain testimony given in Brazil’s sprawling “Car Wash” graft investigation, Odebrecht executives said the company channeled millions of dollars to the Rousseff-Temer campaign in illegal donations. If the seven-justice tribunal decides that Rousseff and Temer used illegal money to fund their campaign, it could annul the election result and force Temer from office. If Temer is removed from office, lower house Speaker Rodrigo Maia would take over and Congress would have 30 days to pick a caretaker to lead the country until elections in late 2018.

Landmark agreement being signed to support MDGs on Oceans BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Eight intergovernmental organisations, including the Guyana-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM), involved in the management of marine resources in the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+) region are expected to sign a landmark agreement for strengthened coordination and cooperation. The goal of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be to enhance regional collaboration for the improved management of the resources of the Caribbean Sea that form

the basis for fishing, tourism and maritime transportation. Apart from CARICOM, the other regional organisations include the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM); the CentralAmerican Commission for Environment and Development (CCAD); the Central American Fisheries and Aquaculture Organisation (OSPESCA); the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations on behalf of the Western Central Atlantic; the Fishery Commission (FAO-WECAFC); the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational,

Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO-IOC); the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission and the UN Environment represented by its Caribbean Regional Coordinating Unit and Secretariat to the Cartagena Convention (UN Environment Programme CAR/RCU). An OECS statement said that through the agreement, these organisations with technical expertise in areas such as oceans governance, marine spatial planning, pollution prevention, fisheries management, habitat protection and oceans research.

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Region could ill-afford not to be prepared to deal with terrorist activity - Barbados PM BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – The annual military training exercise codenamed “TRADEWINDS” began here on Tuesday with Prime Minister Freundel Stuart indicating that it is a means of protecting Caribbean economies and the way of the life. At least 800 security and military officials as well as disaster response representatives from Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Netherlands, Suriname, St. Vi n c e n t and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago have joined their counterparts from the United States, Canada, France, Mexico, and the United Kingdom in “Exercise TRADEWINDS 2017”. The exercise, whi c h culminates in Trinidad on June 17, is one that is aimed at promoting an efficient, tightly networked interagency partnership between entities with responsibility for emergency response and

defence and security. Prime Minister Stuart speaking at the official launch of the military exercise said Barbados and the region could “ill afford” not to be prepared to confront the multidimensional threat of transnational organised crime; the possibility of terrorist activity by radicalised persons; and the increasing incidence of environmental hazards. Stuart said that he was aware that there were other matters which should engage the attention of regional leaders, but stressed that safeguarding the people of the region must always remain paramount on every nation’s list of priorities. However, he gave the assurance that Barbados remained committed to supporting all security initiatives designed to improve regional cooperation. Making reference to the “unspeakable butchery” perpetrated against dozens in Manchester, England a few weeks ago, and the “gruesome events” at London Bridge over the weekend, the Prime Minister warned that they were examples which underscored

the requirement for Small Island Developing States, including the Caribbean, to collaborate with regional and international partners to ensure the safety of citizens. “In order to fulfil this important mandate, it is vital that we continue to establish and solidify networks across jurisdictions, and maintain active dialogue with these partners to combat the security threats which seek to destabilise our Caribbean, and indeed Western civilisations as a whole,” he said. Stuart said that during its 33-year lifespan, Exercise TRADEWINDS has ensured that the region has been able to provide a united response, whether against transnational organised crime, violent attacks or in the aftermath of a natural or man-made disaster. He noted that the region’s climate and geographical configuration made it susceptible to natural hazards, such as severe weather systems, tsunamis and earthquakes. Stuart maintained that the region’s security, defence and disaster management organisations must continue to be vigilant and linked to respond as a coalition when the need arose.

ECLAC says trade via containers in the Caribbean declines SANTIAGO, Chile (CMC) – The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) says new ports ranking confirms the decline in the region’s foreign trade last year and marks a loss in activity not seen since the crisis of 2009. The throughput of containerized cargo in the ports of Latin America and the Caribbean fell 0.9 per cent in 2016, according to data released by ECLAC. ECLAC said this regional average continues the negative trend of deceleration that has been observed in the last few years and represents the biggest loss since the 2009 crisis. The United Nations body unveiled a new edition of its ranking of container port throughput, published in its “Maritime and Logistics Profile,” which confirms two trends seen in the region in recent years: an overall steepening of the deceleration of foreign trade in container terminals and a high degree of heterogeneity in this activity’s growth rates within the region. ECLAC said the decelera-

tion in the regional average of port throughput began several years ago: six per cent in 2012, 1.3 per cent in 2013, 2.4 per cent in 2014 and 2.5 per cent in 2015. ECLAC said the deterioration in 2016 was mainly determined by a decline in activity in five countries, namely Brazil (-4.4 per cent), Panama (-9.1 per cent), Colombia (-3.6 per cent), Argentina (-6.1 per cent) and the Bahamas (-14.3 per cent). It said these drops were mitigated by the increases seen in some countries of the region, which contributed to raising the total volume: Mexico (3.2 percent rise), Chile (4.8 percent), Peru (8.4 percent), Ecuador (4.5 percent), the Dominican Republic (8.3 percent), Guatemala (8.8 percent), Costa Rica (7.3 percent) and Uruguay (9.5 percent). ECLAC said the total volume of activity in 2016 reached about 47.5 million TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit). TEU is the standard unit of measurement, equivalent to a container of a length of

20 feet, or 6.25 metres, meaning it is a standard-sized metallic box that can be easily transferred between different modes of transportation, such as ships, trains and trucks, ECLAC said. It said the first 40 ports in the ranking represent nearly 90 percent of operations with this type of cargo in the region. The following 100 ports move the remaining 10 percent (4.4 million TEU). “The data compiled by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) points to great heterogeneity in the performance of port throughput, both at a sub-regional level and by country,” the statement said. ECLAC said the sharpest declines in volume of port activity were recorded by the terminals of Buenos Aires in Argentina (-5.7 per cent), Kingston in Jamaica (-5.2 per cent), Freeport in the Bahamas (-14.3 per cent), Santos in Brazil (-6.9 per cent), Cartagena in Colombia (-4.0 per cent), and Colón (-8.9 per cent) and Balboa (-9.2 per cent) in Panama.

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Tucville hammer Sparta Boss to... RHTY&SC/DMLAS Cricket page 29 Plaisance Scorers Bent Scorers one of the favourites to win Dwayne Ali-2nd and 18th Daniel Wilson-2nd and 5th Development Programme bowls off ... astheFrom title. Vincent Thomas-14th Game-5

From page 31 Under the programme, DMLAS is standing the cost of a monthly stipend to the coach and providing balls and coaching equipment for the seasons. Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that the main objectives of the programme are to make sure that every youth in the Club fulfils his/her potential in cricket, to get them to understand their status as sports ambassadors and role models,

to instil the virtue of personal discipline, to promote the importance of physical discipline, to promote the importance of physical fitness and to educate them on topics of importance to them. The Programme includes three days of pitch practice along with fitness workouts, practice matches on selected weekends and classroom lectures to be conducted by senior Club executives. The topics to be covered

include; Drug Abuse, Personal Hygiene, Importance of Education, History of Cricket, Laws of Cricket, Structure of West Indies Cricket, Suicide, Depression among others. The RHTY&SC/ DMLAS Programme would only involve members of the Club, while the Annual Cricket Academy, which is to be held from the 11th to 2 1 s t o f J u l y, w o u l d b e opened to youths across Berbice.

Thursday June 08, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Make changes regarding your friendships. Tone down and put some of that hard earned cash into a safe, long-term investment. TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) Look into some personal changes. Your childlike quality may get you into big trouble today if you neglect your responsibilities. You'll be pleased with the results if you take the time to decorate your home. GEMINI (May 22-June 21) It might be time to do some of those chores at home. Self-deception is likely. Take the time to do something nice for your friends and relatives. CANCER (June 22-July 22) Don't be too quick to sign documents. Beware of someone who is trying to make you look bad. Property investments, insurance, taxes, or inheritance should bring you financial gains. LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Trips will be exciting. Someone may be trying to damage your reputation. Your lover probably won't put up with your behavior. VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Don't play on your partner's emotions. Your emotions may be hard to control if your mate is forcing you to undergo drastic alterations in your relationship. Get back to basics and reevaluate what is important in life.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Use your creative abilities to come up with new ideas and directions. Take time to visit someone who has been confined due to illness. You can help sort out problems that friends are facing. SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You may find it impossible to get the rest you require. Hidden assets can be doubled if you play your cards correctly. If everyone wants to do their own thing, let them. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Entertain those who can provide you with valuable information and knowledge. Start sending out those resumes. You can make gains if you work in conjunction with others. CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) You may have difficulties while traveling or problems dealing with close friends or relatives. Don't let your mate bully you into thinking that you owe them your time and your life. AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) You will also encounter individuals who can help you further your goals. Your ideas may be a little ahead of their time; don't push them, instead just continue working on development. PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Don't put your professional reputation on the line. Patience will be of utmost importance.

Back Circle bounced back from a lacklustre opening game to inflict a crushing 5-0 win over North Ruimveldt, while Broad Street Bullies scraped past Plaisance in another entertaining slugfest. Sophia showed little mercy in their 4-0 drubbing of Agricola Champion Boys to bolster their chance of a quarter-final spot. The winning team will receive $500,000 and the championship trophy, while second, third and fourth placed finishers take home $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) will be given $50,000. The final round of the round robin phase concludes this evening at the same venue. Meanwhile, the fixtures for this evening are as follows: Future Stars versus Plaisance; Agricola vs. Tucville; Albouystown vs. North Ruimveldt; Bent Street vs. Broad Street; Back Circle vs. Tiger Bay and Sparta Boss vs. Sophia. The nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s full results are seen below: Game-1 Plaisance-3 vs Broad Street-4 Broad Scorers Daniel Favourite-3rd and 10th Darren Benjamin-5th Jimmy Gravesande-20th

Game-2 Tiger Bay-0 vs Albouystown-2 Melvorn Ross-13th Devon Dooker-20th Game-3 Back Circle-5 vs North Ruimveldt-0 Jamal Adams-7th and 15th Selwyn Isaacs-8th Jermaine Beckles-18th Curtez Kellman-20th Game-4 Bent Street-2 vs Future Stars-2 Future Scorers Ralph Parris-3rd Jamal Cozier-7th

Sophia-4 vs Agricola-1 Sophia Scorers Omallo Williams-2nd and 3rd Dwayne Lowe-7th Desmond Cottam-14th Agricola Scorer Domini Garnett-8th Game-6 Sparta Boss-2 vs Tucville-4 Tucville Scorers Jahaal Greaves-7th Raphael Edwards-9th Delon Williams-13th Jermain Junior-20th Sparta Scorer Gregory Richardson-1st Eusi Phillips-16th

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Letter to the Sports Editor

I reiterate that Sean Devers lied Dear Mr. Editor, I refer to a letter by Sean Devers in the the 7th June edition of the Kaieteur News captioned “Devers res p o n d s ” . I w o u l d l i k e t o r e i t e r a t e t hat I NEVER had any conversation with this reporter, was NEVER asked a question,

nor did I give any response to any question referenced the subject. Again, I state t h a t D e v e r s l i e d . Yo u r s S i n c e r ely, Omar Hussain. Manager, Demerara Under-19 Squad.

Records don’t matter for record-breaker Nadal

Porte shines on Dauphine time trial as Froome disappoints (Reuters) Australian Richie Porte sent a warning to his Tour de France rivals by winning the Criterium du Dauphine’s fourth stage, a 23.5-km individual time trial, as Chris Froome struggled yesterday. BMC rider Porte clocked a best time of 28 minutes 7 seconds to beat German Tony Martin (Katusha-Alpecin) by 12 seconds and Spain’s Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) by 24. Belgian Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey after the solo effort between La Tour du Pin and BourgoinJallieu. Team Sky’s Froome, the defending champion who tipped Porte as possibly his main rival for the Tour, produced a below-par performance as he finished 37 seconds off the pace. However, results are hard to assess on the Dauphine as top riders usually use it as a Tour warm-up and try not to

Richie Porte (AUS) of Australia prepares for the start of the Men’s Road Race at the Rio Olympics. (REUTERS/Bryn Lennon/Pool/file photo) peak to soon ahead of the gruelling three-week race, which starts on July 1. Spain’s Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) was two

seconds ahead of Froome, while last year’s Tour de France runner-up Romain Bardet (AG2R-La Mondiale) lost almost two minutes.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal in action during his quarter final match against Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta. (Reuters / Benoit Tessier)

Djokovic surrenders in French Open...

with his 100th win in a bestof-five sets match on clay. It is the fewest games the 31-year-old Nadal has lost on his way to the last four on the Paris clay. In 2008, he dropped 25. Swede Bjorn Borg holds the record for the fewest games lost in a winning a French Open campaign, having conceded 32 in 1978, but Nadal’s focus is elsewhere. “I don’t know how many games I lost this year, but I really don’t care about this... I only care that I’m in the semi-finals. That’s a positive event for me already,” he told a news conference. “And my only goal is try to be ready to play my best, no? The rest of the things, we can always find behind the stones. And we are going to find more and more records, but at the end of the day these

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic looks dejected after losing his quarter final match against Austria’s Dominic Thiem. (Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes)

PARIS (Reuters) Rafa Nadal has broken lots of records in his career but they do not matter to the Spaniard, who yesterday strolled into the French Open semi-finals after compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta quit with an injury less than an hour into the match. Nadal, bidding for a record-extending 10th title at Roland Garros, was leading 62, 2-0 when Carreno Busta decided he could not continue after receiving lengthy treatment for an abdominal muscle injury at the end of the first set. Nadal, who next faces Austrian Dominic Thiem after he knocked out holder Novak Djokovic, has spent only about eight hours on court, dropping 22 games, to reach his 10th French Open semi

kind of things are not important. “Now remains probably the toughest part against a very tough opponent in the semi-finals.” Thiem, the sixth seed, is the only player to beat Nadal on clay this season, and he handed second seed Djokovic an embarrassing ‘bagel’ in a 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-0 win in the last eight. “In Rome it was not a good day for me. I was not in a position to play well the way I wanted to,” said Nadal referring to Thiem’s 6-4, 6-3 quarter-final win at last month’s Italian Open. “He put me in a difficult situation, so it’s up to me to avoid being put in uncomfortable situations. I will put pressure upon (his) shoulders immediately.”

Halep roars back against Svitolina to reach... From page 27 an ace. Halep will play second-seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova in the last four, while in the other half of the draw Latvian teenager Jelena Ostapenko will take on Swiss Timea Bacsinszky. Of all the quarter-finalists, none of whom had won a major, Halep looked the more likely champion with her clay court pedigree and a run to the 2014 final when she was beaten by Russian Maria Sharapova. If she needed any more incentive, she can become world number one by winning

the title. Yet when the match started in front of a Suzanne Lenglen court crowd that had just witnessed men’s champion Novak Djokovic being routed by Dominic Thiem, Halep looked to be going out of the tournament in sympathy with the Serb. While there was no obvious sign of the ankle problem the 25-year-old sustained in Rome, she could not get going and slumped 5-0 down before clawing three games back to make the set respectable at least. But Svitolina, bidding to

become Ukraine’s first female grand slam semi-finalist after a stellar year in which she has won four titles, charged into a 5-1 lead in the second set. Again Halep showed her mettle to stay alive but it still seemed in vain until she leveled at 5-5 and then went 40-0 up on Svitolina’s serve before the Ukrainian rallied to take the set into a tiebreak. Once Halep saved the match point, though, the momentum switched completely her way and she polished off the deciding set in 20 minutes.

From page 27 last month and announced shortly before the French he would be working with eighttime major winner Agassi. “It was decided I think in the first set today. I tried. I lost that crucial break in the beginning of the second, and he started serving better, backing it up with the first shot. He deserved to win. He was definitely the better player.” It was Djokovic’s first defeat before the semi-finals in Paris since 2010 when he was also beaten by an Austrian, Juergen Melzer in the quarter-finals. The danger signs were already there in the early stages when Thiem broke the

Djokovic serve in the third game. However, Djokovic responded to break back twice in a row, only to drop his own serve at 4-2 with a forehand error. Djokovic piled on the pressure when Thiem served at 4-5 and he had his man in trouble at 15-40. Thiem saved the first set point with a volley, then forced a backhand error on the second. The tiebreak was nip and tuck with a succession of points against the serve but Thiem took it when Djokovic shovelled a tight-looking backhand into the net. Djokovic dropped serve at the start of the second set and the expected backlash

never materialized as Thiem marched toward the last four with unexpected ease. Djokovic raised his fist to the crowd after winning a point early in the third but it was a hollow gesture. He did save one match point but was already walking toward the net to shake hands when Thiem sent a backhand fizzing past him a few seconds later. Thiem, who has 22 wins in clay court matches this year and reached finals in Barcelona and Madrid where he lost to Nadal, is the second Austrian man to reach multiple grand slam semi-finals after former French Open champion Thomas Muster.

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America’s Cup semi-finals postponed due to high winds

Halep roars back against Svitolina to reach semi-finals

(L-R) Oracle Team USA, Land Rover BAR, Emirates Team New Zealand, Softbank Team Japan and Artemis Racing during the race. (Reuters/Henry Browne/File Photo/Livepic) (Reuters) Racing in the America’s Cup semi-finals was postponed by the organisers yesterday due to winds above the maximum allowed for a race to take place in the competition. The America’s Cup Race

Management (ACRM) confirmed the postponement until today on twitter. The delay will be a relief to Emirates Team New Zealand, who spent all night repairing their catamaran and its “wing” sail after “pitch-

poling” and capsizing during a race against Britain’s Land Rover BAR on Tuesday. The New Zealand crew lead the British team by three races to one in the first-tofive contest. The other semi-final is

being fought out between Sweden’s Artemis Racing and SoftBank Team Japan w h o w e r e s c h e duled to complete two races yesterday. J a p a n is also leading Sweden by three races to one.

CONCACAF, Jamaica Govt hail late Burrell’s legacy KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Continental governing body, CONCACAF, has led an outpouring of tributes for Jamaica Football Federation president, Captain Horace Burrell, who passed away in the United States on Tuesday. Jamaican Burrell, a seminal figure in regional football, served as a senior vice-president on the CONCACAF executive and also sat on the disciplinary committee of football’s world governing body, FIFA. “Captain Burrell’s commitment and vision for the sport contributed to create a strong legacy for the game within the region,” a statement from the Miami-headquartered organisation said. “With his passion and spirit, he was a tireless supporter of his country’s football development.” CONCACAF governs football in North, Central American and the Caribbean. Cricket West Indies also hailed Captain Burrell’s contribution to sports development across the region, noting he had left a strong legacy. “Jamaica’s football made an indelible mark on the world in 1998 – Captain Burrell and his team led that journey,” CWI president, Dave Cameron, said in a statement. “We acknowledge his tremendous efforts to develop and grow the sport, not just in Jamaica, but in the Caribbean region. He stayed close to cricket and always had tips to share. His contribution will always be remembered.” The Jamaica government

Captain Horace Burrell

also paid tribute to Burrell, with Prime Minister Andrew Holness describing the national sporting icon, businessman and philanthropist, as a loss to many communities throughout the island. “Captain dedicated his life to serving Jamaica. He had a dream that Jamaica could compete with the best of the best in the football field,” Holness said. “He was dedicated in ensuring Jamaica realised that dream of being in the World Cup finals with the Reggae Boyz in 1998.” At the time of his death Captain Burrell remained active in his companies as chief executive officer and founder of both Captain’s Bakery and Captain’s Aviation Service. The prime minister said Captain Burrell was one of Jamaica’s finest who was dedicated to Jamaicans. “The nation has lost not only a father of our international football reputation but also a man who invested significantly in community development through Captain’s Bakery by sponsoring many leagues throughout the island.”

Captain Burrell received Jamaica’s fourth highest national honour, the Commander of the Order of Distinction (CD) in 1998. He also received the highest award, Order of Merit, from the world football governing body, FIFA. Former prime minister Portia Simpson Miller said Burrell’s place was cemented in the region’s sporting history as he was the leading force in taking the Reggae Boyz to the 1998 World Cup in France. “Captain Burrell with his flamboyance and bravado achieved this feat because he believed in himself and in the power and skill of the Jamaica people,” Simpson-Miller said in a statement. “He was never afraid to knock on doors and think outside of the box as he tried to make the young Reggae Boyz a success. “Captain Burrell also used his position in CONCACAF to advance Jamaica’s football and ensure that we were treated fairly. “He exhibited admirable corporate social responsibility and

was always giving whether through his bakery or helping young football talents. “Jamaica, Football and the sporting fraternity have lost a giant and I have lost a friend… Walk good my dear Captain! May your soul rest in peace and light perpetual shine upon you,” Simpson Miller added. Another former prime minister, PJ Patterson described Burrell as a “big figure” who would not be easy to replace. “We have suffered a monumental loss. He was a big figure and it’s not going to be easy to replace him but I am sure he would want us to continue on the journey and he would want to reap the eternal rest which he deserves and I personally can attest to the epic quality of his contribution to the development of Jamaica,” said Patterson. “It’s the loss of one who has stood at the very forefront in the cause of advancing the excellence of Jamaica in sports. When he became the president he had a very clear mission and that was to take us to the World Cup Finals in France. “He shared that idea with me as he travelled one afternoon from Jamaica House to Montego Bay for the opening of Jarrett Park as a major centre for sports in western Jamaica and he said to me ‘prime minister, I have one clear ambition – I want the Jamaica football team to be present in France’ and I said to him what can I do to assist in that process and he said I want a coach from Brazil,” Patterson added. Captain Burrell served as JFF president between 1994 and 2003 and then again from 2007 until his passing.

Romania’s Simona Halep in action during her quarter final match against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina. (Reuters/Pascal Rossignol) PARIS (Reuters) Former French Open runner-up Simona Halep staged a remarkable fightback and saved a match point to reach the semi-finals with a 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-0 win over Elina Svitolina yesterday. Romanian third seed Halep trailed by a set and 5-1 against the hard-hitting fifth seed but somehow dug herself out of a hole before storming to victory to set up a semifinal against Czech second

seed Karolina Pliskova. Ukrainian Svitolina saved four set points at 5-6 in the second and then had a match point in the tiebreak which Halep saved with a brave backhand winner that kissed the sideline. A rejuvenated Halep clinched the second set with a forehand winner and predictably swept through the decider as Svitolina’s spirit sagged, sealing victory with (Continued on page 26)

Depleted Sri Lanka seek... From page 28 wait for the results of an MRI scan before making the final call. With Tharanga also serving a two-match suspension, it is more than likely they could go into the game with a batsman short. In the spotlight As evidenced in the game against South Africa, Sri Lanka have had trouble rotating the strike during the middle overs, and it appears part of the reason is the scoring rate of Dinesh Chandimal. Though he had an outstanding 2016, hitting six half-centuries in seven innings at one stage, he has otherwise been modest in the format. Among the 20 players to have faced more than 4000 balls since the start of 2010, Chandimal’s strike rate of 74.85 is the second-lowest. More than 48% of the deliveries he faces are not scored from. Few world batsmen relish playing Sri Lanka more than MS Dhoni. Two of his most memorable innings - the World Cup final knock, and the final-over blitz in the 2013 tri-series in the Caribbean have come against them. His average of 61.35 is also, by a distance, his highest against any opponent in the Champions Trophy. Over 22% of his 9275 runs have also come

against Sri Lanka alone. Even if Sri Lanka’s bowlers can be penetrative early on, on Thursday, they cannot relax until they have dismissed perhaps their greatest tormentor of recent years. Team news If Kapugedara is ruled out, Sri Lanka will probably have to bat Thisara Perera at No. 7. So conservative have they been with their selections in the past two years, there is a chance they will also pick Seekkuge Prasanna in the XI - who is a better batsman than Lakshan Sandakan, but is less of a wicket-taking threat. The frontline pace trio of Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal may remain together. India may consider bringing R Ashwin into the attack in place of Umesh Yadav perhaps - but as the surface has a little grass on it on the eve of the match, they are more than likely to remain unchanged. Pitch and conditions Signs are that the surface might be a little seam-friendly early on, but there are likely to be plenty of runs nonetheless. The weather is forecast to be cloudy but dry, with the temperature hovering around the high teens.

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Windies targeting title but under no pressure, says Selman SOUTHAMPTON, England, CMC – Seasoned fast bowler Shakera Selman says West Indies Women are anxious to add the 50-overs World Cup to their trophy cabinet, but are not under any pressure ahead of the campaign which bowls off here later this month. West Indies stunned the world last year when they beat reigning champions Australia to clinch the T20 World Cup in India and enter this month’s June 24 to July 23 tournament as one of the favourites. “Honestly it would be great if we could win a 50-over World Cup and add it to our T20 championship,” the 27year-old said during the ongoing West Indies Women’s camp at the Ageas Bowl. “I think we’ve been playing 50-over cricket for a while now and it would be good to prove to everyone that we are good 50-over players as well.” West Indies were good enough to reach the final of the last 50-overs World Cup in India four years ago before going down to Australia, and have improved significantly since then. They produced decent enough form to finish fourth in the ICC Women’s Championship and qualify directly for the World Cup. But even though expectations are high, Selman said the Caribbean side would use it to challenge themselves. “I wouldn’t say it would be a burden. Of course the people and the fans back home are expecting us to do well in this World Cup as well but we can turn that into good pressure,” the Barbadian

Fast bowler Shakera Selman … says West Indies Women are eager to add the 50-over title to their collection. pointed out. “It’s good to have the support from the fans back home. More people are finally paying attention to us and I think that can actually motivate us in this tournament.” West Indies open their round-robin campaign against reigning champions Australia on June 26 and take on India three days later also in Taunton. Selman said while all of the teams would provide tough competition, hosts England would probably be the sternest test for the Windies. “I think England will be a very big challenge at home. Most teams have home ad-

vantage,” he noted. “I think the English players have done well. They beat us in the last series back in the Caribbean so I think they will come in with an advantage but we are ready for them.” The veteran of 65 OneDay Internationals and nine years of international cricket has also set her sights on excelling especially in the seamfriendly English conditions. “I’m a swing bowler so I think I would really love these conditions,” she said. “Also, I pride myself in my fielding and these outfields are very good for people who like to dive.”

Djokovic surrenders in French Open quarter-finals PARIS (Reuters) When the time comes, proud champions are supposed to relinquish their crowns after fighting and snarling to the last moment. Novak Djokovic effectively waved the white flag, bowing out of the French Open with a whimper yesterday. The 30-year-old Serb, who has prevailed in some of the sport’s epic battles on the way to 12 major titles, was barely recognizable as he capitulated in a 7-6(5). 6-3, 6-0 defeat by Austrian Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals. After squandering two set points in the opener on a blustery Court Suzanne Lenglen, Djokovic’s renowned fighting spirit ebbed away quickly and he surrendered the third set in 20 min-

Thursday June 08, 2017

Kaieteur News

utes. The result was all the more remarkable as in five previous matches with the 23-year-old he had lost one set and last month thrashed him 6-1, 6-0 in Rome — a result that suggested Djokovic had found his mojo, missing since he won the French a year ago. Sixth seed Thiem, who to be fair played superbly in the first set but must have thought he was facing a Djokovic impersonator thereafter, is yet to drop a set at this year’s tournament but his next task is a daunting one. “It doesn’t get any easier,” Thiem, beaten by Djokovic in last year’s semifinal, said on court when asked to comment on the prospect of facing favourite Rafa Nadal in the semis.

While Thiem’s part in Djokovic’s downfall should not be overlooked, it was the Serbian world number two’s astonishing collapse that was the talk of Roland Garros. Double French Open champion Jim Courier, commentating on the match, said the Serb had shown ‘no fight’. LISTLESS DJOKOVIC That was certainly true after the first set as Djokovic, whose new coach Andre Agassi had already flown home, appeared lost and listless, misfiring a succession of lame backhands. “Obviously nothing was going my way and everything his way. Just pretty bad set,” said Djokovic, who split with his long-term coaching crew (Continued on page 26)

Bolt to run 100m at Golden Spike Prague, Czech Republic (AFP) — Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt will run the 100m at the Golden Spike on June 28, his first European start before A u g u s t ’s Wo r l d C h a m p i o n s h i p s , organisers said Tuesday. “Last weekend, he confirmed he was ready to race,” Miroslav Cernosek, head of the TK Plus agency, said in a statement. This will be Bolt’s ninth — and last — appearance at the event in the eastern Czech steel hub of Ostrava. The 30-year-old nine-time Olympic gold medallist has said he will retire from international competition after the World Championships in London. Other big names at the Golden Spike include reigning 800m Olympic champion

Usain Bolt

David Rudisha of Kenya, Britain’s four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah, and

South Africa’s 400m World record holder Wayde van Niekerk.

Depleted Sri Lanka seek Mathews lift today ESPNcricinfo - Truth be told, Sri Lanka have often had the knack of winding up in the “easy group” in world tournaments. In years gone by, this has meant being clubbed with perhaps England and Bangladesh. They used to skip casually through the group stages, and would generally make a strong push in the back end of a tournament as well. Between 2009 and 2014, Sri Lanka made six ICC tournament semi-finals. Between 2007 and 2014, they played in five major finals. They find themselves in what appears to be the easier of the two groups again, but unusually, they are not sauntering past their opponents. This time, they seem to be among the weaker teams, laying down like stepping stones for other sides to trod on. South Africa have already been given their 96-run win. Now come the other heavyweights in the group, India, who in demolishing Pakistan, and eviscerating their two warm-up opponents, barely seemed to be breaking a sweat.Meanwhile, India have settled on an ODI formula that teams have struggled to upset for now. They are unambitious in the opening 10 overs, venturing no more than 49 during the first Powerplay on average, since the last World Cup. Then, typically with Virat Kohli at the crease, comes a sustained middle-overs surge which yields screeds of brisk but risk-free runs, which form the backbone of the innings. Then, with Yuvraj Singh, Hardik Pandya or MS Dhoni marshalling the death overs, the team eclipses 300 and set themselves up in an imposing position. There is quality in India’s

Dinesh Chandimal plays one through fine leg, Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, 1st ODI, Dambulla, March 25, 2017 ©AFP attack too, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar gleaning swing with the new ball, and Jasprit Bumrah closing innings out. And whatever the present situation between coach Anil Kumble and captain Kohli, on-field performance does not appear to have been affected yet. Sri Lanka will have to spring a major surprise at The Oval. They need an Angelo Mathews mauling, or a Lasith Malinga charge to derail India, and shake the match from the course most expect it to take. They have lost Upul Tharanga from the top order, but perhaps they

will see the loss as an opportunity. With Kusal Perera now likely to partner Niroshan Dickwella at the top of the order, Sri Lanka may do well to consider the outstanding position they might be in, if that rocket-fueled partnership stays intact for a good 15 overs. The likelihood of both those men surviving that long is slim, but upon such margins do Sri Lanka’s hopes rest. They are also sweating over the fitness of Chamara Kapugedara, who injured himself at training on match eve. The team management will (Continued on page 27)

Thursday June 08, 2017

GFCA congratulates Junior Jaguars on Soualiga Tourney triumph The Guyana Football Coaches Association (GFCA) has extended congratulations to the National Under-15 team for their historic tournament triumph in St. Martin on Sunday night last. Following is the full text of the message. ”The Guyana Football Coaches Association is elated to congratulate the National U-15 team and staff for their success in the Soualiga tournament in St. Martin. The Coaches Association is honored to have contrib-

uted to this history making performance by the work of our coaches and particularly those that conduct the Academy Training Centers. It is obvious that the development structure implemented by the Guyana Football Federation is beginning to blossom and in recognition of the vision of the GFF and the hard work and commitment of the Technical Staff; Coaches Association is committed to support the endeavors that will realise the elevation of Guyana’s football.

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This achievement by our Junior Jaguars must be recognised by the Government and business sector whose support is necessary for the holistic development of our football as a small but important step in the journey to establish football and sports in general as a mechanism to boost our economy and develop our country. The Guyana Football Coaches Association wishes Guyana’s football all the best and is looking forward to its continued development.”

Xtreme Clean & Maintenance/GT Beer ‘Gold Rush’Futsal Tournament

Tucville hammer Sparta Boss to leave them clinging for survival - Six more exciting matches on this evening

U-15 footballers receive plaudits from GFF and corporate partners The National Under-15 footballers received plaudits yesterday morning when the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) hosted an Appreciation Event to honour the team following their success in the SOULIGA Cup tournament in St. Martin last weekend. The Federation, supported by its corporate partners treated the players, who created history by becoming to first youth football team from Guyana to win an international tournament. The team led by Joshua Brathwaite defeated St Martin 1-0 in the final Sunday night, with Jermaine Garrett the man on target for the young Jaguars. The victory crowned an outstanding weekend for the Guyanese lads who did not concede a goal all tournament, and scored eight in their six matches. At yesterday’s event, GFF Wayne Forde cautioned the players to remain focused and not let this triumph go to their heads too much. “I want to say a few things that I’m hoping you’d take the right way. At this moment you’re not stars; you’re on the journey to becoming a star. And if anyone tries to fill your heads with the fact that you’ve arrived and you’re now a big superstar in Guyana, that’s going to set you back,” Forde reasoned. He continued, “Exactly who you are before we got to St. Martin and won that tournament, that’s who you need to be moving forward. You need to be disciplined, humble, obedient, work under the guidance of your coach and the TD and work as hard as possible and that is when you’re going to realise you’re true potential, which, if I may add, may not exist in Guyana; it may be somewhere in Europe, but of course coming back to serve Guyana. So this

is one step towards a destiny that awaits each and every one of you if you’re prepared to put the work that is necessary in and remain humble and focus on the task at hand.” National Milling Company (NAMILCO), presented tokens to four players Shawn Adonis, Marcus Wilson, Orville Daniels and Troni Semple and Marketing Consultant of the company, Affeeze Khan, stressed the entity’s commitment to local football. He shared greetings from Managing Director of NAMILCO, Bert Sukhai, noting that the establishment is keen on youth development. Courts Guyana Inc. recognised the efforts of Player-of-the-Tournament Wayne DaSilva and skipper Joshua Brathwaite for his outstanding leadership. Both were presented with tokens by Marketing Manager, Pernell Cummings, who urged the youngsters to always exercise a high level of teamwork and discipline, as that is the only sure way of success. Ansa McAl Trading also embraced the team’s triumph by presenting vouchers to every member, and the company’s representative Sean Abel spoke of the entity’s interest in developing young talent. Abel stated that while Ansa McAl Trading is a major sponsor of the marquee senior football tournament, through the Stag Elite League, it is also an avid supporter of grassroot development, hence the decision to immediately reward them after the GFF reached out to management. Director of Sport Christopher Jones presented specially branded National Sports Commission medals to all the players, signalling the

administration’s commitment to supporting the players in their endeavours. Jones referred to the old adage ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’, explaining that while the GFF’s corporate partners have been supporting the development of the game, the success of the Under-15 boys is just reward for their investment. Scotiabank presented vouchers to all the goalscorers; Orville Daniels, Ronaldo Rodrigues, Tyrel Khan, Kev Salvador, Omari Glasgow, Troni Semple and Jermaine Garrett, and Marketing Manager Jennifer Cipriani advised the young men; “It’s hard getting to the top, but it’s even harder staying on top, So I’m happy to hear Mr. Greenwood saying that the work really now starts because we now have to work harder to stay number one,” she stated. Meanwhile, GFF Technical Director, Ian Greenwood, said Guyana’s success at the tournament was directly due to the efforts made in having the Scotiabank’s Academy Training Centres in every corner of the country. “This is a fantastic achievement for the boys and it’s all been done by teamwork. The most important message coming away from this tournament and this victory is the ‘One Team, One Dream.’ This is everyone pulling together, whether it’s all the coaches, all the support staff and all our sponsors, all going in the right direction. This is being achieved from the ATC (Academy Training Centre) Programme sponsored by Scotiabank,” Greenwood surmised. Another corporate partner, Impressions, presented each member of the team and technical staff with branded caps to mark the occasion.

Tucville’s talisman Jermain Junior (with ball) is closely watched by Sparta Boss’s Solomon Austin during their encounter. Underdogs Tucville produced a top class performance to leave Futsal champs Sparta Boss clinging for survival in the inaugural Xtreme Clean & Maintenance/GT Beer ‘Gold Rush’ Futsal Tournament which continued on Tuesday evening, at the National Gymnasium. Playing in the final game of the night, before another large turnout that included Guyana Football Federation President Wayne Forde and Banks DIH Outdoor Events Manager Mortimer Stewart, Tucville showed the kind of

fortitude that champions are made of, rebounding after falling behind in the very first minute of play to fire four goals past the Sparta Boss custodian to snatch a well deserved 4-2 triumph and tie for the group lead with Sophia. It was a night of impressive performances and the large audience that braved the inclement weather to be present more than got their monies worth. The eagerly anticipated battle between the experienced Bent Street and Future

Stars lived up to all expectations as they traded goals in an electrifying first half which ended 2-2. However, despite creating chances in the final period, none of the teams managed to score any more goals and a draw was the final conclusion. Albouystown produced another solid performance to become the only team in the competition to win both matches so far. By virtue of that display they have now firmly installed themselves (Continued on page 25)

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Enterprise Busta SC congratulates members’ achievement The members of the Enterprise Busta Sports Club wishes to congratulate four of their members on their recent achievement. Those being recognised are young Bhaskar Yadram who was selected to play for the West Indies U19 in the WICB regional Super 50 where he scored a half century. He was then called up to the Guyana Jaguars team for the final two rounds of the PCL, and was then selected for the West Indies U19 team to tour South Africa and Zimbabwe from July to August.

Coach Latchman Yadram who was selected to be part of the management for the Guyana U15 Team (assistant coach/manager), Mark Ramanand who also gained selection in the Guyana U15 team and Pradesh Ballkishun for being selected on the national U17 team which will tour Trinidad and Tobago in July for the Regional tournament. A release from the club stated that the senior team is currently on a two-week tour in Trinidad and Tobago as part of their development programme.

Bhaskar Yadram

Rupununi Club charts a course with Guyana Rush Largest youth soccer club in the world lands in Guyana Rupununi Saints Football Club has now joined the Rush Soccer family and will be known as Guyana Rush Saints Football Club. Chairperson, Rayan Farias, and Saints Member Ken Grant, who is also Rupununi Football Association President, were excited to usher in yet another significant development in the club’s and region’s football history. ”The most important feature of this venture is the creation of “opportunity” for our young players. Every avenue that we have always hoped and strived to create, we can now gain access to, through our Rush Soccer family,” said Rayan Farias, Chairperson. Rush Soccer is the largest youth soccer (football) club in the world. The network of Rush Clubs, which started in Colorado, USA, now crosses the entire globe and can be found in North, Central, & South America, as well as Africa and Asia. Among the benefits of this international support structure is the opportunity for participation in player, coach, tournament, and intellectual property exchange; also of great interest to member clubs is the technical and administrative consulting that is offered. ”Right away we recognized that RUSH attract good

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Kaieteur News

National Schools’ Basketball Festival

President’s College Girls whip School of the Nations President’s College (PC) Girls and Bishops’ High School Under-19 Boys ‘balled’ to respective wins Sunday at the Cliff Anderson’s Sports Hall when the National Schools’ Basketball Festival (NSBF) continued with first round games. A dominant President’s College Girls unit defeated School of the Nations 55-0 after Nations lost their national forward, who fouled out after just fifteen minutes of play. Saffiya Greene top scored with 20 points, 13 rebounds and six steals, Lydia

Roberts and Affiya Wicham contributed with 13 points, nine rebounds and 13 points five steals respectively for the PC Girls. The Nations’ male team didn’t do much better, going down to the Bishops High 2044 with Andre Somrah scoring 14 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Shamal Beaton and Webster McRae added six points and nine rebounds each. Marian Academy then outplayed President’s College 39-24 points with Shemroy Holder top scoring

with 10 points and Akili Haynes adding nine points and eight rebounds. Josiah Daniels contributed eight points and nine rebounds for Marian. Ashriel Burnette scored 10 points, and Rankin Mc Donald added eight points and six rebounds for PC. The Regional NSBF is sponsored by Edward B. Beharry Group of Companies Ltd, and The National Sports Commission. The final weekend of first round games will be played this weekend from 4pm.

Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland receives brush cutter from GCB - Council prepares to manage Development works at Christianburg CC

people with sound approaches. It was former GFF Technical Director, Claude Bolton, that forged the relationship because of his strong belief in our club’s approach to football and the potential of Rupununi players. We are ready to take the next step; this was an opportunity we could not pass on,” Ken Grant, Saints Member and President, Rupununi FA noted. Bolton originally explored the possibility of RUSH being established in West Demerara but initial talks did not find a viable option. He immediately turned to the

Rupununi, as he had spent a great deal of time in the Region. Farias and Grant were excited and appreciative of the time and attention that Brian Lux, Director of Rush Select & International Affairs, gave to them in laying out the criteria and opportunities that this partnership presented. “I understand through Claude, Rayan, and Ken that there has been a great deal of positive developments in Guyana Football recently. Rush is committed to helping provide the best development opportunities for players of all ages and abilities, and this partnership is another step in that direction. We are excited to be a part of Guyana football and we look forward to seeing what we can do together,” Brian Lux, Director Rush Select and International Affairs stated. Guyana Rush Saints FC has commenced the design of a yearly plan and look forward to implementing some of its new programming features over the course of this next coming season, to compliment the foundations that the Saints have always made certain to provide for its players.

Carwyn Holland, Mayor of Linden, (left) receives the Brush Cutter from GCB’s Anand Kalladeen, while GCB Assistant Administrator Avee Fedee-Grimmond (2nd left) and TDO Mr. Colin Stuart share the moment. The Guyana Cricket Board through its Treasurer, Mr. Anand Kalladeen, yesterday presented a Honda Brush Cutter to the Mayor of Linden, Mayor Carwyn Holland. The Brush Cutter is intended to support the Linden Town Council’s initiative to resuscitate the Christianburg Community Centre ground. This club which was formerly a cricket club, continues to place heavy emphasis on cricket, as it seeks to target the sporting and recreational needs of youths in the community. The Council has recognised the need for de-

velopment works to be carried out on the Christianburg CC ground, and has taken a number of measures to address this critical issue. As a result of the interest demonstrated by the Council, the GCB has made this valuable donation, which is expected to be used in the preparation works on the Christianburg ground and to assist with its upkeep. The enhancement of the Christiaburg CC, is apt to promote the hosting of more quality matches in Linden, and as a consequence will be of a great benefit to players of the Christianburg CC, as

well as those from the surrounding communities, a release from the board informed. The GCB has been making its contributions to cricket clubs in Upper Demerara. Bayroc has also been a recipient of such a brush cutter and from all reports and observations, the tool has noticeably served as an invaluable asset to the Bayroc members. Mr. Kalladeen, who is also the President of East Demerara Cricket Association, along with GCB TDO Mr. Colin Stuart is scheduled to visit Linden to assess their current cricket structure so that further assistance can be given to the mining town.

Thursday June 08, 2017

Kaieteur News

Page 33

Champions Trophy, Group B, Edgbaston

Pakistan back in the race as rain helps their cause

Umpires S Ravi and Richard Illingworth call for the covers, Pakistan v South Africa, Champions Trophy, Group B, Edgbaston, ©Getty Images (Reuters) Pakistan edged South Africa by 19 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis method at Edgbaston yesterday to restore their Champions Trophy hopes as rain continued to play havoc with the tournament. Hasan Ali led a disciplined bowling display that helped Pakistan to restrict South Africa to 219 for eight wickets in their 50 overs and they were 119 for three in reply after 27 overs when rain stopped p l a y. T h e m a t c h w a s

abandoned two hours later, as the rain persisted, to hand Pakistan their first points of the tournament and leave them with a chance to go through to the semi-finals if they beat Sri Lanka in Cardiff on Monday in their last group game. Pakistan had lost to India in their opening match on Sunday, suffering a crushing 124-run defeat as they chased a rain revised target. South Africa, who were the top ranked one-day team

going into the tournament, now face a tough fight with India at the Oval on Sunday if they are to advance. South Africa, Pakistan and Group B leaders India, who take on Sri Lanka in their second match on Thursday, are all tied on two points. The top two teams from each group progress to the semi-finals. Hasan Ali took two wickets in successive balls on his way to figures of 3-24 off eight overs while Junaid Khan and

Hasan Ali dismissed JP Duminy and Wayne Parnell off successive balls, Pakistan v South Africa, Champions Trophy, Group B, Edgbaston, ©Getty Images I m a d Wa s i m a l s o contributed with two wickets each. David Miller toiled to keep South Africa’s batting from not imploding further as Pakistan took regular wickets to shackle an impressive batting line-up. Miller finished not out on 75 off 104 balls after a dogged innings that included a 48-run partnership with Kagiso Rabada for the eighth wicket. South Africa suffered two ‘golden ducks’ with captain AB de Villiers dismissed with his first delivery for the first time in

his ODI career, slashing the ball to the Mohammad Hafeez at backward point, and Wayne Parnell also going first ball when he was clean bowled by Hasan Ali. Morne Morkel came on as first change to remove both of Pakistan’s openers in his second over and reduce Pakistan to 41-2 in their reply. Debutant Fakhar Zaman went for 31 and was followed two balls later by Azhar Ali for nine. Morkel had Hafeez caught in the deep for a third wicket but by then Pakistan

had accelerated the run rate and gone ahead of South A f r i c a o n t h e Duckworth/Lewis method. Inclement weather has produced two ‘no result’ matches and interrupted others with a 20 percent probability of rain for today’s India v Sri Lanka showdown in London, according to forecasters. Scores: Pakistan 119 for 3 (Babar 31*, Morkel 3-18) beat South Africa 219 for 8 (Miller 75*, de Kock 33, Hasan 3-24) by 19 runs (DLS method).

RHTY&SC/DMLAS Cricket Development Programme bowls off to rousing start

Coach Delbert Hicks poses with some of his young cricketers. The Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society sponsored Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, M.S Cricket Development Programme bowled off on Thursday 1st of June at the Area ‘H’ Ground to a rousing

start. Senior Club Coach Delbert Hicks with assistance of Club Vice President Mark Papannah successfully supervised over 60 youths in a three hours session of physical exercise, fielding and pitch practise.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster hailed the launching of the RHTY&SC/DMLAS Cricket Development Programme as a major step in making sure that the Club remains its status as one of

Guyana’s leading cricket Clubs. The RHTY&SC has won the Guyana Cricket Club of the Year Award five times – 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2016 and has also won t h r e e n a t i o n a l championships among 50

three major titles since its formation in 1990 by three times Commonwealth Youth Service Awardee, the ST. Francis Community Developers. T h e D M L A S programme runs up to the

end of 2017 and Foster expressed confidence that it would be renewed for 2018 as the RHTY&SC intends to develop a fruitful relationship with the insurance giants. (Continued on page 25)

rt o p S Xtreme Clean & Maintenance/GT Beer ‘Gold Rush’Futsal Tournament

Tucville hammer Sparta Boss to leave them clinging for survival

P.29

- Six more exciting matches on this evening

Agricola’s Kacy John (front) expertly shields the ball from Sophia’s Shemroy Arthur on Tuesday evening at the National Gymnasium.

U-15 footballers receive plaudits from GFF and corporate partners P.29

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