Kaieteur News
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Friday June 09, 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 Questioning the status quo on governance Poor countries are poor not because they lack resources; surely we in Guyana should know that. They are poor because their laws and institutions of governance are incapable of addressing the specific challenges and opportunities of the world they operate in. Their problems are compounded by opaque and unaccountable governance that often works as a nursery to promote the culture of cronyism and corruption that use various pretexts for selfperpetuation. Former Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew, explained the culture of governance adopted by that paradigmatically successful new state. “We faced,” he explained, “the classic question of governance: whether we put in place a system of laws and institutions that would sanctify rulers as a breed above the rest, and operate the system for promoting their special interests, or devise a system of governance that works for the country as a whole.” In the case of the former eventuality, the rulers — whether civil or military — were to be generally exempted from the application of ordinary laws of the state. In the latter case, all politics and governance had to be conducted under the rule of law, and everybody, including Lee himself as head of government, would be subject to the same laws as everyone else. The founding fathers chose the latter course and undertook reforms in governance to make it real. As Lee later said, it helped to “create assets where none existed” and the results have been there for everyone to s e e . Our founding fathers also correctly recognized that we needed to make changes in our model of governance. But our subsequent experiments never really grappled with our fundamental divisions. The principles of governance bequeathed at independence were quickly jettisoned, as rulers insisted on “moulding” the nation in their vision. They looked at our nation through imported, unadapted “isms” and fulfilled Popper’s aphorism: “Those who try to create heaven on earth invariably end up creating hell.” Because of the dogmas of their Marxist ideology, they underestimated the persistence and the politics of identity. The many years of undemocratic governance, precipitated by the need in some cases to maintain minority governments, did not help. It created powerful vested interests that subverted any positive elements that may have inhered in the bequeathed model of governance, so that even if one wanted to effect meaningful reform, there were entrenched institutional barriers to overcome. The issue, however, is not just one of the differences of interests of various groups: these are present in every society. The problems of governance thrown up by our present model lie in the absence of the acknowledgement of the fundamental type of division in our polity. No solution is in sight. As the last fifty-one years have demonstrated, the unresolved conflicts embedded in this model of governance have been a source of recurring instability in the country. These have worked as the sword of Damocles hanging over every government and leads to sustained unpredictability in governance, which has been playing havoc with the political and economic development of the nation. Irrespective of the good intentions of any ruler, this model of governance cannot simultaneously deliver on conflicting agendas without acknowledging an agreed forum where conflicts of interest could be peacefully resolved to produce harmonious national development.
Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.
The purpose of this man’s letter is to glorify the PPP Dear Editor, I refer to Mr. Hydar Ally’s letter which was published in the Kaieteur News on Monday, June 5th, 2017 under the caption, “This year marks sixty years of the PNC”, in which he dealt with the spilt in the original PPP with Jagan and Burnham at the helm. It is unfortunate that the letter provided no new insight into this important national political event that took place in 1953. However, notwithstanding its shortcomings there are issues Ally addressed in the letter that still require clarification. It is my humble opinion that the Guyanese people are still suffering from this event that has so negatively impacted the nation. Mr. Ally’s letter seems to be motivated to a large degree by (a) the desire to glorify his party, the PPP; and (b) to provide political information to the public, particularly the younger generation of Guyanese. It is
my view that Ally is within his right and should enjoy the greatest latitude in his attempts at glorification of his party. However, in the matter of the dissemination of political information I hold strongly to the view that public education requires objectivity and clarity. It is on this score I invite Mr. Hydar Ally to be more helpful. In his letter Ally wrote, “…The PPP was formed on January 1, 1950 which makes the party the oldest political party in Guyana and among the oldest in the Commonwealth Caribbean”. Given the way the historic political narrative has unfolded and the PPP’s propaganda since the 50s, the average Guyanese has the erroneous view that the PPP was the first political party in the country. While Mr. Ally did not say so explicitly and, since I have respectfully attributed to him the noble intention of educating the public and more so the younger
generation, on our political history, I hope he will reciprocate by responding to the following questions I now pose to him:(1) Is he saying that the PPP is the oldest surviving party in Guyana or (2) is he implying that the PPP was the first political party in Guyana? My knowledge of developments on the political landscape in Guyana informs me that the PPP is not the first political party in the country, neither is it the first party to sweep the pools (landside electoral victory) nor is it the first to be neutralized/robbed of electoral victory by the British colonial power. The claim to that position belongs to the little known Popular Party (PP) which in the 1926 elections won 12 of the 14 seats up for grabs. This success was determined by the colonial powers to be unacceptable, and measures were taken to ensure that the party did not exercise political power based on its victory. The
British ensured that through the courts the popular party lost 5 seats on the grounds of technicalities. In keeping with the need for public political education I refer here to another issue raised in Ally’s letter. He m e n t i o n e d a recommendation made by the Robertson Commission and pointed out that it called for the, “communists and hardliners” in the PPP to be removed and the “moderate” elements be put in control of the party. In the latter part of his letter Mr. Ally stated, “… Suffice it to say that both the British and American administrations badly miscalculated in their assessment and characterization of Dr. Jagan and the PPP in terms of ideological orientation and political philosophy.” The obvious question for Mr. Hydar Ally to answer is this: was Dr. Jagan at the time of the incident at reference a Marxist/Leninist and a Communist? Tacuma Ogunseye
Talk of a good life must be backed by action and policies Dear Editor, I note with interest and at the same time grave concern, the efforts by the APNU+AFC government to forge ahead in making one of the most recent towns, Bartica, a model economy through its ‘green’ focus, while at the same time continuing to ignore the legitimately binding 2012 Agreement between Central Government and the Region 10 Regional Democratic Council. Let me state for the record, there is no objection to the principle and programme for developing Bartica; there is objection to what evidently are acts of treatment of exclusion and contempt for laws and agreements. The talk by this government about a “good life”, national unity and social cohesion must be buttressed by corresponding actions. The continual ignoring of a blue print, where Region 10 could have been a model for the Local Democratic Organs’ having their economic independence, must not be countenanced by the society. If we could have held the PPP/C government accountable for implementing the Agreement, including the then opposition APNU and AFC, we must also hold this government accountable
for doing likewise. Region 10 has within it a town, named Linden, and also the capacity to be a part of the green development. I do not want think, at this stage, that the government’s focus and achievement of financing for the economic thrust of Bartica is because under its leadership this community was made a town (2016), and according to President Granger it should have happened before given an 1887 Ordinance that so proclaimed it. As the President remembers 1887 history he fails to remember the history of 2012. At the same time government actions give rise to speculation that Linden/Region 10 is being stifled because the town is named after Forbes Burnham and the agreement was signed by Sharma Solomon, who Congress Place sees as persona non grata. This agreement is not being realised because it was signed by the PPP/C’s Donald Ramotar government; it is not being realised because of the absence of interest to implement it given the stated and the selective contempt for laws and agreements. Government can find international funding to develop Bartica Township
but refuses to even think about finding the resources to establish the Economic Committee in order that it can develop the Economic Plan for Linden/Region 10 as mandated in the agreement. History shall be unkind to any government who uses the state’s power, granted to it by the people, to settle personal scores. The administration needs to be reminded if it was not for Region 10, which showed the country’s highest percentage voter turnout for the APNU+AFC and lowest for the PPP/C, it would not have been in office. The manner in which you govern and treat people and communities has consequences at the time of elections. The view that many in the government entertain is that Region 10 has no option but to vote for them, however there is also a choice people can make by staying home. These are harsh realities and the government must be told. This government continues to play a very dangerous game in dividing the people of this country and frustrating its own constituents. Just like the PPP/C, people are being made to feel they have to go on their knees to enjoy what the laws say they are entitled to. (Continued on page 5)
If it is further entrenched, this model of governance will most likely continue to create severe imbalances in the functioning of state and society. Without an agreed framework for their peaceful resolution, these imbalances could harden and spread out, weakening the state itself and making the search for solutions so much more difficult. But in the all-consuming passion of power politics and partisanship on display for quite some time, there appears to be a growing realisation that this lingering dilemma in governance needs to be resolved. The serious schisms and imbalances being generated by this model could well be making business as usual a fairytale in the future, as non-peaceful means of advancing different agendas could nurture overwhelming negative forces all around. We must question the status quo on governance.
Kaieteur News
Friday June 09, 2017
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Medical doctors only get 20 hours training in mental health for their degree Dear Editor, Thanks for the publication of my letter (KN, June 8) captioned, “Abuse will continue against people with mental illness unless….” I ended that letter with a quote from another person who failed to further explain her sweeping generalizations which must be supported within context. Again, I refer to WHOAIMS’s report “There is no computerized data entry system in the National Psychiatric Hospital or the GPHC Psychiatric department. Diagnostic information, based on the DSM-IV classification system, is recorded on the patient’s chart but is not a component of the mental health data set submitted to the Ministry of Health statistic department.” A wide
variety of general medical conditions can present with psychotic symptoms. I quote directly from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), “Clinicians assessing the symptoms of Schizophrenia in socioeconomic or cultural situations that are different from their own must take cultural differences into account. Ideas that may appear to be delusional in one culture (sorcery and witchcraft) may be commonly held in another. In some cultures, visual or auditory hallucinations with a religious content may be a normal part of religious experiences.” Even though one may learn something in the classroom doesn’t mean they have it available in their tool-
kit. GPHC is only one source of patient contact and for the writer to arrive at this inaccurate conclusion without any evidence based data is tramping on a dangerous path in this country. This type of practice will encourage wide spread abuse and misdiagnosis among the most vulnerable who often turn to our primary institutions of care for help in their desperate hour of need. Labels can last a life time. C o n f i d e n t i a l i t y, 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 must be treated
The two GECOM lists are a ploy to trap the President Dear Editor, The debate on President David Granger’s rejection of the two lists of nominees for GECOM Chairman is focusing almost exclusively on legal interpretations of the Constitution. In all of this, the basis for the introduction of this system for the selection of the chairman of GECOM seems to have been lost. The method of selection of GECOM‘s Chairman as articulated by the Carter Formula has its genesis in the need to have a Chairman of GECOM who enjoys the confidence of the President and the Leader of the Opposition. However, as opined by another newspaper in its editorial of January 15, 2017, “… this is not a debate about legal interpretation of the constitution; it is about politics.” And indeed, there has been a lot of political maneuvering associated with all of the lists submitted so far and a lot of it has to do with race. In 1995, Opposition Leader, Mr. Desmond Hoyte submitted the names of five Afro-Guyanese and that of one IndoGuyanese, Mr. Doodnauth Singh. President Cheddi Jagan selected Mr. Doodnauth Singh. In 2000, Mr. Hoyte submitted the names of five Afro-Guyanese and that of one Indo-Guyanese, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Joe Singh.
President Bharrat Jagdeo selected Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Singh. In 2001, Mr. Hoyte resubmitted the names of the five Afro-Guyanese from the 2000 list along with Indo-Guyanese Dr. Steve Surujbally. President Jagdeo selected Dr. Steve Surujbally. This pattern suggests that the PPP prefers an Indo-Guyanese as the chairman of GECOM. This perception is reinforced when one considers that Mr. Doodnauth Singh, a known associate of the WPA was selected although a number of the AfroGuyanese on the list were not politically aligned. However, on all three occasions the Indo-Guyanese submitted by Mr. Hoyte were credible professionals who commanded the respect of their peers at the time of their nomination. So far in 2017 Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has submitted two lists. His first list contained the names of four Indo-Guyanese and two Afro-Guyanese in Dr. James Rose, a former PPP Candidate and Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Norman McLean, a former member of the infamous Gadraj Commission. Politically both Dr. Rose and Maj. Gen. (Rtd) McLean were straw candidates since Mr. Jagdeo must have known that politically President Granger would not select either one unless (Continued on page 6)
with urgency. Preambles are incorporated in all professional code of ethics and must be upheld by each individual. Simply using mental health terminologies such as biopsychosocial, affective disorder, mood disorders, and bipolar just to name a few, without an indepth understanding of the meaning of these terms and adherence to its codes and sub-types is psychobabbling. The challenge we face in Guyana is one of cultural insensitivity which includes the following: prejudice, denial, discounting, defensiveness, bias, intolerance, cultural blindness, cultural i n c a p a c i t y, c u l t u r a l destructiveness, cultural incompetence, and individual/institutional racism deeply rooted in our identities. Some of the behaviours rampant in our communities are: increased cases of intrapersonal and interpersonal violence, alcohol and substance abuse, withdrawal, verbal intimidation, profanity, high levels of frustration and stress, and verbal/physical aggression, these are all precursors to depression with increased cases of suicidal thoughts and attempts especially among the vulnerable resulting in children being caught in the crossfire. Editor, more attention must be given to this least
understood field of mental health practice. Attention must also be given to frontline workers who have had to work with this least understood population for years, not recognising that they too may be predisposed either directly/indirectly to mental disorders (unaware) and maybe suffering in the form of extreme burnout. Training must be broadbased and culture-specific, to include all service providers coming into contact with the mentally challenged. I come now to training in mental health care for primary care staff. Only 20 hours of the 4-year training program for medical doctors is devoted to mental health. Approximately 2% of the training for nurses and 4% of the training for nondoctor/non-nurse primary health care workers is devoted to mental health. In terms of refresher training, 43% of primary health care doctors have received at least two days of refresher training in mental health, Page 4 of 4 while 57% of nurses and 3% of nondoctor/non-nurse primary health care workers have received such training. (WHO-AIMS) Guyana 2008. The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family, including
food, clothing, housing, medical care and necessary social services. Further, the right to the highest attainable health was affirmed by the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The Ministry of Health, as the agency of the government, must facilitate the development and realization of rights-based health policies including through ensuring that health systems and services are built on respect for the individual and ethical values. Looking ahead at the next 80 years and beyond, it is up to our policy makers to put stringent measures in place to protect future generations suffering from mental illness. In the short run, a few may benefit from being on stage reciting and echoing their newly acquired language (psycho-babble) knowing fully-well it would take another 10-15 years (2027-2032) before Guyana can produce a competent pool of mental health professionals to serve this nation. This colossal task is achievable with the support of our rich human resource diaspora community whose gaze is fixed upon the horizon; welcome you home! Ingrid Goodman, BSc., MSW, ABA, CSME Executive Director PAT O I S / W O M E N S ’ REFUGE
Talk of a good life must be backed by... From page 4 Some are of the opinion that they have to remain silent in the presence of inequity and injustices or grumble in private because it is their government. Others see it fitting to brush off or ignore misconduct in order to gain what they can from government. I do not subscribe to any of the views because government is elected by the people and are paid by the people and must govern in the interest of every one. The 2012 Agreement should have already been honoured and the childish and spiteful politics must be eradicated from our midst. It is anti-national unity, antisocial cohesion, and anti-development. Lincoln Lewis
Kaieteur News
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Friday June 09, 2017
This woman has made a great contribution to African consciousness Dear Editor; Tc h a i k o K w a y a na had a subtle chiding of Kenya’s Tom Mboya for referring to African Americans as “cousins.” Mboya in his “Challenges of Nationhood,” a collection of essays and speeches, approached African American cultural nationalism with some reasonable critiques but also a tone of smug contempt. Tchaiko reminded that African Americans were “brothers” not “cousins,” and anticipated the contemporary concern that some Africans, more recently from the continent, don’t like the descendants of the enslaved or find them inauthentic. She contested nobody could disinherit Black people from the African heritage if they searched for it, and worked hard to claim and affirm it. It was not a given, as Tchaiko showed, that Africans on the
continent had overcome their own internalized racism and colonialism. “ B l a c k P r i d e ” was published in Toni Cade Bambara’s edited volume The Black Woman (1970) that included contributions from Patricia Robinson, Audre Lorde, Alice Walker, Nikki Giovanni, and Grace Lee Boggs. What did Tchaiko have to say that made this a classic of Black political thought? “Black Pride” explored how in the period of 1968-1970, where “Black revolution” was widely discussed, the search for African identities became a fashion, co-opted by corporate media and consumer culture. “African” fashion shows were adapted to Western conceptions of gender and sexuality. It wasn’t simply “black” culture was being appropriated by white
chauvinists. African Americans were carelessly engaging African symbolism and substance as well. Deeper color complexes within the community, as represented by blow out Afros and skin b l e a c h i n g , Tc h a i k o explained, was covering up an inability to deal with the presence within the black community of anti-black racism. T c h a i k o c r i t i qued what we now know as Afrocentric interpretations of h i s t o r y f o r i t s monumentalism and high modernism, its search for Egyptian pyramids to a p p r o x i m a t e We s t e r n skyscrapers in technology and architecture, and Mali’s Timbuktu to prove that Africans could write. Affirming Blacks were “the first” or “equal to” Western civilization’s standards and achievements sometimes fell short of unveiling the
autonomous thought of the African heritage. A f r i c a n A m e r i can Islam, while encouraging a culture of modesty and discipline Tchaiko could support, was obscuring deeper questions about Islam’s role in facilitating racism and slavery on the African continent. While African American’s antiracist initiative to switch from unquestioned loyalty to Christianity (as a result of its silences on slavery) to openness to Islam was a sign of critical thinking, not enough questions about “monotheism” as Westerners had assimilated it was happening. Tc h a i k o a r g u e d that besides the study of an African language, blacks would better relate to Africa if they did not visit as tourists in air conditional hotels, and related not to the African urban but rural agrarian life found also in the American South. Farming, herding chickens and cattle, shucking peanuts; being aware of Yoruba cosmologies, keeping
in mind that most Africans were peasants who lived by oral history (though precolonial writing systems were present and she would disseminate information about these) would bring Blacks closer to the African heritage. S h e a l s o e x p l ained that traveling in Latin America with the proper mindset could illuminate African cultural retentions just as well as visiting West Africa. Her discussions of her visit with the Djuka of Suriname, a Maroon community hostile to the ways of assimilated middle classes, revealed to Tchaiko their collective memory of African cosmologies and how this informed their sense of independence, defending their own family forms, but also their own sense they were part of an African world. I n h e r 1 9 6 8 s ojourn to South America she also met Abdas Do Nascimento in Brazil. His T.E.N., the black experimental theatre group, was teaching against antiblack racism within Brazil’s
national culture, revealing how colonial legacies, in this case the Portuguese, could promote genocidal thoughts as internalized racism. Tc h a i k o b r o u g ht her independent initiative, in search of African survivals and rejecting white supremacist epistemic burdens to Guyana in 1968, where she met her future husband of 46 years, the Pan African and independent socialist Eusi Kwayana, now 92 years old. Tc h a i k o K w a y a na with her essay on black pride in many ways wrote her husband into African Diaspora History and African World History. Eusi, then Sidney King, had been a minister in the government and co-leader of the Cheddi Jagan’s People’s Progressive Party in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He was a political prisoner when Anglo-American imperialism overthrew their democratically elected government in 1953-1954. Had this not occurred (Continued on page 08)
The two GECOM lists are a ploy to trap the... From page 5 he wanted to commit political harariki. Two other persons on the list, in Ramesh Dookhoo and Rhyaan Shaw, could also be considered straw candidates given their known political alignment. It is apparent that Mr. Jagdeo deliberately gave President Granger the limited option of choosing Chris Ram or Lawrence Latchmansingh both of whom are men of integrity and eligible to be appointed. The point to note here is that Mr. Jagdeo maneuvered his list to give President Granger the option of appointing one of two Indo-Guyanese. Mr. Jagdeo’s second list included one Afro-Guyanese in Attorney-at-Law Oneidge Walrond-Allicock who is the wife of one of the lawyers who filed the action challenging term limits. This court action appeared to be a politically motivated effort aimed at opening the door for Mr. Jagdeo to be eligible to be a presidential candidate once again. So here we go again, the one AfroGuyanese on the list is a straw candidate and President Granger is left with the option of making his selection from a list of five Indo-Guyanese. It is apparent that the PPP
has extended the IndoGuyanese only policy that they adopted while in government to the benches of the opposition. This brings t o m i n d D r. R o g e r Luncheon’s comment, while on the witness stand in then President Jagdeo’s libel against Freddie Kissoon, that there were no AfroGuyanese qualified to be appointed as ambassadors. Or is the PPP suggesting that there are no apolitical AfroGuyanese who have the integrity to serve as the chairman of GECOM? I find this PPP policy to be utterly repugnant and call on all fairminded Guyanese to condemn it. The Stabroek News launched an attack on President Granger in its editorial on Sunday June 4, 2017 because he rejected Mr. Jagdeo’s second list. Their argument is that the President is obliged to select a name from the list submitted by Mr. Jagdeo ignoring the constitutional provision that the names must be “acceptable to the President.” The paper is also ignoring the genesis and basis of this method of select; both the President and the Leader of the Opposition must have confidence in the person appointed Chairman of GECOM.
The paper is suggesting that it is in the Leader of the Opposition the constitution reposes the authority to appoint and to determine if the nominee is acceptable to him or not. The paper is suggesting that the President should choose a name, hold his breath and hope for the best. Surely, this is not how the framers envisaged the process should work, and there is a provision for the President to make a unilateral appointment in the event the Leader of the Opposition refuses to provide a list acceptable to him and allows him to exercise his constitutionally derived authority to make a choice. To be clear, this is not an argument for an African Guyanese to be named chairman of GECOM. In fact, it is recognized that there are many apolitical Indo-Guyanese who are technically and morally qualified. However, for us to proceed with a process where Mr. Jagdeo deliberately orchestrates the exclusion of Afro-Guyanese from serious consideration would mean we are falling for, and perpetuating, Mr. Jagdeo‘s scheme of disrespect for the AfroGuyanese community. James McAllister
Friday June 09, 2017
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Kaieteur News
GNIC settles debt with NICIL GNIC building
GTU writes to Ministry on teachers’ salary issue - says legal action could be a consideration
The Guyana National Industrial Company (GNIC) has settled its debt with National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). The matter which was engaging the attention of Commercial Court Judge, Rishi Persaud, came up for hearing yesterday and the company paid off the interest amounted in the matter, which totalled $9,787,589. Following the payment, attorney for NICIL Timothy Jonas, withdrew the action against the shipping company bringing an end to the matter. The case stemmed from
issues which dated back to 1995. GNIC, a company owned by Laparkan and the Guyana National Industrial Company (employees), purchased the assets of the former Guyana National Engineering Corporation (GNEC) and leased Lots 1-12 Lombard Street as part of the privatisation of GNEC. NICIL reduced the rent due from GNIC by 50 percent in 2000 and the sale price of equipment in 1995 by 30 percent. Despite these concessions, GNIC failed to honour its obligations to pay under the lease. The matter was forwarded to arbitration in July
Special agency to adopt NFMU, enforce Telecoms Act The Ministry of Public Telecommunications is currently working on creating a new regulatory body, a Telecommunications Agency that will manage the telecommunications sector. This was revealed by Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes during her Ministrys mid-year press conference yesterday. She was asked whether concerns are still being raised by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) and Digicel Guyana regarding competition in the marketplace, although the Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s (Amendment) Bill would have been passed in the National Assembly and enacted. Hughes admitted that all of the issues have not been ironed out with the companies, but the process is in motion. She said that the most important thing was passing the legislation that would allow other parties to come into the marketplace thereby increasing competition, resulting in reduced rates. She said that at the level of the Ministry, work is being done to create the new regulatory body. Further, the
Public Telecommunications Minister, Catherine Hughes Minister said that negotiations are moving ahead with Atlantic Tele-Network and GTT. According to Hughes, her Ministry is working with a July 2017 timeframe to create an environment where more players can enter the local market. Giving perspective to the issue, Hughes said that persons must appreciate the importance of having support from companies like GTT and Digicel. “What we are actually doing and what I see is that especially in some hinterland and remote communities (Continued on page 28)
2009. An award of $148,860,870 was made by the Court following the arbitration proceedings between NICIL and GNIC for unpaid rent in 2013. But GNIC had failed to comply with the award. Only recently did the Company pay $108 million to the coffers as part of the settlement. According to court documents, the monies were paid in parts, $60 million and then $48 million. It was later reported that the two entities were unable to come to a settlement over the outstanding amounts. The matter was therefore set for trial. However, last week a cheque for $47 million was handed over to NICIL by Attorney Neil Boston, on behalf of GNIC, for occupying the leased Lombard Street, Georgetown property. That amount aided in settling the balance of the monies owed to NICIL.
The Guyana Teachers’ Union [GTU] has not taken lightly reports that it has received from teachers within the Region Five area, that a reported unconstitutional rule has been implemented within the region that has the potential of considerably infringing on their livelihood. In an invited comment to this publication, President of the GTU, Mr. Mark Lyte, said that teachers of the Region have bitterly complained about a move that will see three months’ salaries being withheld from them if they choose to spend their July/ August vacation overseas. Reports of such a development have however been strongly denied by Regional Executive Officer [REO], Mr. Ovid Morrison. Morrison had explained away the complaints of teachers in this regard, even insisting that he has only implemented a standard public service rule. “I have sought to bring into force the existing rule that if you are leaving the country, you must deposit one month salary in lieu of the leave or one month salary will be held. If you write saying that you are leaving for vacation on July 1, your salary for the month of June will be held,” Morrison said. He had further added, “If you return you will have your salary for the month of June because you would have indicated that you are going. However, if some teachers are interested in spending July and August abroad, I have
nothing to do with that.” But some teachers have since told this publication that they were verbally informed at a regional meeting about the decision to withhold three months instead of the stipulated one month, once they proceed on overseas leave during the July/August holiday. This, according to some of the teachers, will translate to their June, July and August salaries being withheld until they return. Describing such a move as unconstitutional, the GTU President said that he has written to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communities. The regional authority of each region falls under the purview of the Communities Ministry. In fact, Lyte informed this publication that failure to reverse such a decision could even warrant legal action. According to Lyte, complaints have only emanated from teachers within Region Five which suggest something is definitely amiss. While teachers are entitled to one month Whitley Council leave, every four years, during which they could travel abroad, they can also enjoy time during the designated school holidays. However, in order to travel abroad, teachers are required to seek permission from their respective regions since the holidays are not recognised as official leave. A teacher revealed that “the personnel section in the region, once you are not on contract, will give you a letter
saying that you are permitted to leave. They give you a time to leave and a time by which you should come back, which is conducive with the regulations”. Although one month salary is held by law, further salaries are only held after it becomes evident that a teacher would have exceeded the stipulated time granted. “This whole holding your salary in advance decision was taken since earlier this year. Because they want to ensure teachers come back, they start punishing you in advance, but we have need for our money...I understand if a teacher doesn’t come back by the deadline you take action, but you can’t pre-empt the situation,” one teacher lamented. But Morrison in an interview with this publication was adamant that the Region was only seeking to enforce the public service rule of holding one month salary. In fact, he disclosed that “They [teachers] are supposed to give one month notice ahead of leaving, but they have been trying to trick it. They would say they are going on vacation in June, but they wait at the end of May to inform you that they are going, and they would have already collected their salary... that is what they have been doing.” According to Morrison, enforcing the measure is a deliberate means of ensuring that the Region is not accused of overpayment when audits are conducted.
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Kaieteur News
In less than seven years…
2,600 heavy duty machines imported; only 319 registered – GRA By Kiana Wilburg From the year 2010, just about 2600 heavy duty machines were imported. But of this amount, only a paltry sum of 319 was registered with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). This state of affairs was explained by GRA Commissioner-General, Godfrey Statia yesterday. He told media operatives that the authority has been going through its records to see what concessions were granted on heavy duty equipment. Statia said, “From 2010 and more so from 2012, just about 2600 heavy duty equipment was imported, but GRA only has 319 of those as registered. It means that about 2300 are outside there, somewhere. Out of that 2300, about 1200 were granted exemptions and 1000 were not granted exemptions. But out of the 1200 that were granted exemptions, they were moved to sectors that were not granted exemptions.” In this regard, he explained that some persons received exemptions for heavy duty equipment to be used in the Agriculture indus-
try. He said that the industry is one which would be granted exemptions. “A person buys it for agriculture and sells it the next day to miners, and so he takes a windfall. But if these things were registered we would know, and that is why we want them all registered. We were doing some calculations and we are losing close to $3 to $5B on it.” It is for the aforementioned reason that the GRA boss stressed that the area is one which has to be monitored and regulated. Furthermore, the Guyana Revenue Authority recently commenced an exercise geared towards ensuring the registration of all heavy duty vehicles and equipment that were imported and are in use. The revenue-collecting body made this known in an advertisement that was published in the Kaieteur News. The Authority outlined in the ad that these heavy duty equipment and vehicles include backhoes, bulldozers, combines, compactors and cranes. GRA stressed that owners of these heavy duty vehicles and equipment are required to
GRA CommissionerGeneral, Godfrey Statia present a motor vehicle registration form and the relevant import documents and Bill of Sale to the Licence Revenue
Office, on Camp Street, Georgetown, to facilitate the registration process and thereafter have the vehicles/ equipment examined. The Authority said that it will have strategic points to facilitate examination of vehicles/equipment in the interior as well as in regional locations. The exercise is one which comes in wake of the GRA uncovering the racket regarding heavy duty machinery, worth billions of dollars. Kaieteur News understands that for years, there were excavators and other heavy duty machinery and equipment which were not being registered. Statia had explained, “Registration means you have title,
and if you have title it means you can then transfer the title. What happened is that these guys were doing the transfers by way of Bill of Sale or by way of what you would say Power of Attorney and that is one of the ways in which they have been beating it. “It is not only with the heavy duty, but even with many other vehicles. Heavy duty has just been on the forefront for us…so when these excavators go into the interior, if they are not registered then they cannot be traced.” The GRA Commissioner stated, “Additionally, some of the equipment that was free of duty based on these tax exemptions should not really have been granted, simply because they were not regis-
tered, and they could move from one industry to the next…That is a billion-dollar scam that we have come upon.” Statia said that he has spoken with his staff to make efforts to ensure that there is the registration of all excavators and heavy duty machinery, regardless of the industry it is part of, so as to bring an end to “the present lawlessness.” Kaieteur News understands that heavy duty equipment and machinery are utilized by most sectors in Guyana. The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority is one of the biggest utilizers of such equipment and machinery along with the mining sector.
President’s refusal to meet with gold miners leaves him clueless - Jagdeo President David Granger is clueless as to the woes of gold miners. He is yet to understand the real impact that the recently implemented tax measures has made on the mining industry, and this is all because he has refused to meet with the miners themselves and continues to rely on second hand information. This was the assertion of Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo during his press conference yesterday. Jagdeo said that he re-
cently had a meeting with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) and got an understanding of the dire situations that miners are experiencing. Jagdeo said that the miners were happy to get an ear to discuss the issues affecting the sector. “Although we had an anecdotal understanding, (of the issues in the mining industry) we now have a better understanding after the discussion with GGDMA about
how these polices in real life affect miners.” Jagdeo asserted that based on some “unholy” tactic by Junior Minister of Natural Resources Simona Broomes, “the President has refused to meet with the GGDMA.”
He said that as a result, “I do not think he (Granger) has a keen understanding about the impact of his government’s policies on the mining sector. And so there is this mistaken view that miners are making large sums (Continued on page 12)
This woman has made... From page 6 the Cuban Revolution would not have been the first socialist government in the region. In the late 1950s to the early 1960s, King transitioned from a critical supporter of Jagan, to a critical supporter of Forbes Burnham’s People’s National Congress (PNC). King advised Burnham’s PNC in various ways through official independence for Guyana in 1966. King gave Burnham the idea of a cooperative republic or cooperative socialism as the philosophical foundation for the post-independence government. From 1968-1971, when Ann Cook first met Sidney King, he had built an organization called ASCRIA (African Society for Cultural Relations with Independent Africa). In between her travels, in this same period as Ann F. Cook, she was the director of SEEK at City College in Harlem, a program for those who were said to be disadvantaged or underprivileged. Out of these students came the rebellions for Black Studies and open admissions. It was a time when City College, though a campus in Harlem, was still overwhelmingly white.
ASCRIA was first a cultural front around the PNC government, teaching a cultural revolution, very similar to Tchaiko’s thoughts on “black pride.” The contradictions of Black Nationalism and pseudo-socialism of Burnham’s regime unfolded from 1971-1975. Wildcat strikes of landless sugar workers, bauxite workers, and independent cooperatives were coordinated by or supported by ASCRIA in a manner that presented African (and Indian) labor’s selfemancipation as the embodiment of national liberation against Burnham’s increasing populist authoritarian regime. ASCRIA struggled, and was successful, to discard the idea that black power was people of color holding the same elite posts and coveted positions as whites. Great international controversy was fomented as to the split between Eusi Kwayana and Forbes Burnham in 1973-1974. This was a result of Tchaiko Kwayana being instrumental in linking up Guyana with the Black Power movement that was increasingly turning toward Pan Africanism in the early 1970s and critiques of post-civil rights, post-colonial independence regimes. Matthew Quest
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This is how it always will be The political culture of Guyana is not going to change overnight. But change will also not come unless steps are taken to do things differently from what was done during the time of the PPP. It is a well-known fact that when the PPP was in opposition for 28 years, the business class did not want anything to do with them. The business class is an opportunistic class; they move with the tide. This is exactly what happened in 1992 when the PPP came to power. The business class had, under the PNC, proffered its loyalty to that
party. There was even a group of businessmen who had come together to establish a Committee for the Reelection of the President. The people developed an acronym for that committee. They called it CREEP. Some members of CREEP ingratiated themselves into the camp of the PPP minutes after the party won the 1992 elections. It is not surprising, therefore, to learn that a great many of the businesses who were perceived to be close to the PPP, after that party’s loss in the May 2015 elections, were seen rubbing shoulders with government officials. This is how the business
class operates. There are no political loyalties, only business interests. Whoever is in power is going to be courted. There is a perception that the government was aligning itself with supporters of the PPP who have business interests. This is a false perception. The business class’ loyalties are to itself. That is something that both the government and their supporters are misreading. It is being claimed that the government is getting close to certain business interests who were perceived to be close to the previous government. That perception is wrong. It
Nandlall trial delayed - as court grants time to defence counsel to review case file The commencement of trial of former Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall, who is accused of stealing $2M in LexisNexis Law Reports of the Commonwealth belonging to the Ministry of Legal Affairs, has been put off until June 20, as a result of the court granting time to two Attorneys-atLaw to review the case file. The trial was scheduled to commence yesterday. City Magistrate Fabayo Azore granted another adjournment date upon request of Attorney-at-Law Devindra Kissoon, who disclosed that he and Senior Counsel Neil Boston were only retained on Wednesday, and that they needed additional time to review the case file in relation to the matter. The other Attorneys include Murseline Bacchus, Bibi Shaddick, Odai Ramischand, Priya Manickchand, Adrian Anamayah, Euclin Gomes, Sase Gunraj, Manoj Narayan, C.V Satram, L. Mark Conway, Sasha S. Mahadeo-Narayan, Rajendra R. Jaigobin and Glenn Hanoman. Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) prosecutor, Patrice Henry was however ready to proceed with trial having two witnesses ready to testify. Before the new trial date was set, Attorney Hanoman disclosed that the prosecution did not serve all statements on the defence, and argued that it is prejudicial.
Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall There was a bit of disagreement between the battery of lawyers and the prosecutor in setting a date for trial, after some of the lawyers claimed they had matters fixed in other courts on the dates proposed by the court. In one instance, the prosecutor disclosed that he has a matter before the High Court on a date suggested by the Magistrate. Nevertheless, the Magistrate fixed June 20, and affirmed that the trial will commence then. The former AG has been released on self-bail. According to Nandlall, when he took up the post as AG he did so at a loss, and it was for that reason he agitated for the state to pay for the Law Reports. He had said
that the arrangement received the blessings of then-Head of State Donald Ramotar. However, investigators are contending that because the books were bought with state funds they cannot be the property of Nandlall, and in fact, the state should not have entered into such an arrangement in the first place. The Ministry of Legal Affairs is contending that there is no evidence of the agreement between Nandlall and Ramotar, and even assuming that there was such an agreement, the use of public funds in this manner is a flagrant violation of the Financial Management and Accountability Act (FMAA). It was only recently that Nandlall sued Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams for $125M for what he saw as libelous and slanderous claims in relation to the said Law Reports; he also secured a Conservatory Order from the Supreme Court, preventing SOCU from seizing the Law Reports.
does not matter which party is in power, it is in the interest of the business class to align itself to the government. The issue is not about friendship. Friendships can be made and unmade. It is about interests. When you are in power the members of the business class cling to you like bees to a honeycomb. But when you are out, you are “out like south.” The business class donates to both sides of the political fence during election campaign season. It has always had friends in both camps. It has two sets of envelopes at the wait during campaign time: one set for the opposition and the other set for the ruling party. This is the insurance for the business class. It matters not who wins; the business class does not lose. The business class must understand by now (two years later) that it is being used by the current government. It has been used and it is now being kicked around like a football. It has donated and now that it plans to reap its rewards it is being told to go to hell, that it is not
wanted. This is ingratitude. The business class has always felt that it had to be sycophants to the government. It has always felt that it has to “suck up” to the new rulers. It has played along with this role for decades. It is time for the business class to stop being weak. It is time for business persons to stop trying to groom support by ingratiating themselves to the current rulers. They should get the message. They are not wanted. The business class has to get off its knees and not humiliate itself anymore. The business class will not learn. It will sit back and allow itself to be kicked around. Then three years from now, it will
give donations to the same parties that have been kicking it around. The business class cannot help itself. It is a sad and tragic case for which there is no hope. Nothing that the business class can do will change what is about to happen. A new group of business tycoons is going to emerge. The present group has to step aside. This is how it has always been. This is how it always will be.
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=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Nigel Hughes’ post office letter in a dysfunctional Guyana I was on the Camp Street seawall beach walking my doggie when my wife rang. Her tone was a little frantic. She said she had to sign for a letter the post girl brought and the envelope had Nigel Hughes as the sender. Obviously, her mind flew automatically to court matters. She was right. I told her not to worry; I knew what it was about. On May 24, I received a telephone call from Nigel’s secretary informing me that the Jagdeo versus Freddie Kissoon libel trial is for report on May 29, and I should be in attendance. She indicated that a letter to that effect had been sent in the post to me. I went to court on May 29. My wife signed for the letter at our gate on June 3. This is the normal routine of the Guyana Post Office Corporation. There may be exceptions, but the pattern is that people receive their post office correspondence after the date of their specific event. And it goes on non-stop. What would have hap-
pened if it was a very serious matter in which I could have lost a case because I failed to show? If Mr. Hughes’ secretary had not called me about the date, I would not have been in court on May 29, because I received the mail from the post office five days after May 29. Gordon April of the Alliance For Change asked for a recommendation for employment. I seldom see Gordon since the May 2015 elections. He lives in Parfait Harmony. I posted the testimonial at the Campbellville Post Office. One week after, Gordon rang me out of desperation for the document. I told him I posted it. Why should a letter take more than a week from Campbellville to Parfait Harmony which is less than half an hour drive? With the birth of the internet and the smart phone, post office functions worldwide have been reduced to more than sixty percent, perhaps more. There isn’t that volume of posted stuff the post offices in all countries have to handle before the age of high technology.
Let’s look specifically at Guyana. How many envelopes does the post office have to deal with on a daily basis in a small country like this? The answer is not many. In addition, GWI has done away with the post office facility. GWI delivers its bills directly to customers. I know GTT has done the same. It simply boggles the mind why a letter posted from Hadfield Street where Nigel has his law office to me in Turkeyen took five days to reach its destination? Why a letter sent from Campbellville to Parfait Harmony has to take more than a week? The answer lies not within the method of the post office, but the dysfunctional nature of this country. This nation has broken down a long time ago and the collective psychic demise makes for an improbable (I concede not impossible, but I am not optimistic) resuscitation. This country doesn’t function. The court system, the police force, GPL (I keep getting daily blackouts at Turkeyen), GWI, GRA, UG, Min-
istry of Public Infrastructure, CH&PA, City Hall, simply offer non-existent services. I have written it several times before and I am writing it again – the bravest humans in the entire world are Guyanese entrepreneurs. If you are a left-wing radical, you may not be enamoured with the Guyanese capitalist class, but that stratum of citizens are brave people. Imagine investing fifty million or one hundred million or three hundred million in Guyana, where nothing works and the territory is a failed state. That is phenomenal courage. That is patriotism par excellence. How do business people get a water or light connection? How do they
get a document from the offices of the High Court registry? How do they get approval from City Hall? Guyana is an insane land where rationality went out the window sixty years ago. Guyana is Chato’s Land. Guyana is Soylent Green. I live on the Railway Embankment. It was closed to traffic for three months in order to rehabilitate the Liliendaal Bridge. It finally reopened last week. Yesterday morning I didn’t take the Railway Embankment on to my way to the National Park, because I had to gas up at the Rubis station on the Atlantic Highway. Coming back from the park, I took the Railway Embankment only to see a
Frederick Kissoon blockade at the junction with Sherriff Street with the sign, “Road Close” (mind you, not “closed” but “close”). After a three months wait, it opened only to close again. What adjective best describes this wasteland?
Dem boys seh ... PS, BK and Waterfalls security guard tek nuff risk There is a saying, “Take risks.” If you win, you will be happy. If you lose you will be wise. All Jagdeo friends and cohorts wiser today. Dem tek nuff risk and will soon be climbing de court steps. Dem boys know some of de new kids on de block that tek over from Jagdeo and he cohorts have not learned anything from de past. Dem still tekking risk and dem happy. BK tek plenty risk till ee twist. Now he gat Statia trying fuh twist words fuh hide de risk wha BK tek. De PS tek a lot of risk too. Recently he build a guard hut wid four post wha dem boys could build fuh less than $240,000 but he tell de nation he spend $540,000. When dem boys expose this one of he neighbor from de first house tell dem boys if dem think that bad dem should see de first one wha he build
at this house. Is when dem boys dig in dem find out that de first guard hut cost de taxpayers $1.2 million and that one had three post and one window. Dem boys asking de bigger question. Who measuring de skullduggery that tekking place in de land. De other day de standards bureau seize couple hundred scales that was used fuh rob everybody. When you pay fuh a pound you get three-quarter pound and in some case you get half pound. When you pay fuh a pint you get seveneighths. Under de PPP, Jagdeo cultivate a bunch of thieves. At every level and in every sector something get thief. Not one contract dem can honestly defend. De same BK wid de fake number plate, get $3 billion to build some bridge in Den Amstel backdam under de
one and only Rob de Earth. When dem boys question it Rob de Earth carry de reporters and lef dem in de backdam. On to now people can’t see even one of de 27 bridges dem seh dem woulda build at Dem Amstel and Parika backdam. De money disappear in de sun. That is why dem boys can honestly seh de sun and all get kakish. It does look like if it cool but when you step inside is another story. A security guard tek a big risk and sell some newsprint at de Waterfalls paper. He didn’t know he been pun camera. De boss man ask him if he want de police to come or he gun pick up he bag and go in de sun. He prefer Sun Bun than fuh go lie down in Camp Street wid Son Son. Talk half and don’t believe you can tek risk and get away wid it.
PI into ‘maid of honour’ murder begins today
MURDERED: Simone Hackett
MURDER ACCUSED: Ranachal Singh
After a one year delay, the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of Simone Hackett, who was found with her throat slit in a trench at Cummings Lodge, Georgetown, is scheduled to commence today before Magistrate Alisha George in the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts. Cleavaughn Hamilton, 30, of Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and taxi driver,
MURDER ACCUSED: Cleavaughn Hamilton
Ranachal Singh, 31, of Good Hope, ECD, allegedly committed the offence between April 16 and 19, 2016 at Cummings Lodge, Georgetown. According to reports, on April 16, 2016 Hackett left to retrieve a package that was sent by Hamilton for their son from a person named “Dexter”. It was reported that the woman (Continued on page 12)
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Govt. to source internet from GTT for ICT hubs By Murtland Haley After some US$6M (G$1.3B) was wasted under the People’s Progressive Party Civic government on the eGovernment Fibre Optic Cable Project, the current administration is now forced to source its internet facilities from the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT). This was disclosed yesterday by the Head of the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), Floyd Levi. This was during a mid-year press conference held by the Ministry of Public Telecommunications at Colgrain House, Camp Street. The media was briefed on the status of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Hubs being established around Guyana. On this note, Levi was questioned if the supply of free internet to these communities would provide competition for internet providers GTT and Digicel Guyana. However, Levi set the record straight and explained that the internet being provided to these communities is being bought from the sole authorised provider of internet in Guyana, GTT. “Let me make that clear, we actually purchase the internet from GTT. The internet is purchased in a bulk fashion; we actually purchase a one gigabit per second connection from GTT.” Levi said that the internet is being used by government offices during the normal working hours of 08:00 to 16:30. According to the official, when government closes its offices in the afternoon, the internet will become dormant, as it would not be in use. Levi explained that the system is being encouraged in the targeted communities, so as to ensure optimum utilisation of the internet being purchased from GTT. Although this arrangement exists, a different system is used for ICT Hubs in hinterland communities. According to Levi, satellite-based systems have been set up to provide internet to these far-flung areas. Meanwhile, Public Telecommunications Minister,
From left: Director of Community Development and Social Management, Mr Phillip Walcott, Public Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes and Head of the National Data Management Authority, Floyd Levi Cathy Hughes said that her Ministry is advancing rapidly with its digital agenda and the services that are being provided to citizens. “To date we have connected 24 government ministries and agencies onto the eGovernment Fibre Optic Network, 84 Secondary educational institutions, nine TVET (Technical, Vocational Educational and Training) institutions, five regional development offices, 21 Tertiary Educational and Skills Training Institutions and 24 other skills training institutions.” According to Hughes, over the last six months, her Ministry through the eGovernment Unit has been focusing on providing fast, safe and secure internet access to government Ministries, agencies and citizens across Guyana. She said that focus has been placed on connecting communities through the creation of ICT Hubs. Hughes informed that 55 such hubs have been identified and work has begun to install the routers and necessary hardware at these locations. Thirty of these hubs are currently under construction in regions two, three, four, five, six and nine. In addition to promoting research and educational activities, part of the intention of this programme, according to the Minister, is to allow Guyanese the opportunity to develop online entrepreneurial activities in which they
might be involved. The key individual representing the Ministry in these communities is Mr Phillip Walcott, Director of Community Development and Social Management. According to Walcott, the identification of the communities in need of a hub is an involved process. He said that consultation is done with the regional officials and the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). Walcott said that the communities are categorised as poor, remote or hinterland. “Once that community is identified, then we go in and we meet with the community officials; they elect their own persons to work with us and we work with them to establish the hub. That means we work with them to identify the building that the hub will be placed in, and we work with them to ensure the cubicles are set up, security is in place, electricity is provided and every other thing that is necessary to make that hub operational.” Mr Levi added that the process has begun to extend the eGovernment network into the hinterland. He said that so far, seven locations in the hinterland have been connected with Satellite-based internet connections. These are the Iwokrama Research Centre, Annai, Karasabai, Paramakatoi, Sand Creek, St. Ignatius and Waramadong. He said that all of these locations have secondary schools, except Iwokrama,
and that these schools have just been connected to the internet system. When asked how soon the Ministry would be able to measure the effect these hubs will have on the lives of the residents, he said that attempts are currently being made to do just that. He explained that impact is as a consequence of use. “So having set up the Hub, one of the things that we are promoting with the Management Committee is use. We have to actively pro-
Robbers stab technician, steal firearm and cash - victim identifies suspect A 21-year-old man has been positively identified as one of four robbers who stabbed a technician and made off with his firearm at a Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara entertainment bar at around 01.00 hrs yesterday. This was confirmed by ‘G’ Division Commander Leslie James, who said that diligent efforts are being made to apprehend the other suspects. A police release stated that one of the suspects may have sustained gunshot injuries, since the victim had a licenced firearm at the time. A police release stated that the 47-year-old technician and a friend were outside the bar imbibing when the suspects, who went into the bar and returned with a beer each, suddenly attacked the
‘Birdman’ charged for Mocha mechanic’s execution After two years, police were last Wednesday able to capture the second suspect in the execution-style killing of Mocha Arcadia mechanic, Te r r e n c e Lanferman, who was gunned down in his home on June 1, 2015. Acting on information, ranks arrested Sedley Liverpool call ‘Birdman’ at Mabura. At the time of his arrest, he was in a minibus heading to Omai.
- was on the run for two years Liverpool, the cousin of the number one accused Kenkassie Lynch, made an appearance before City Magistrate Fabayo Azore yesterday in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a charge of murder. Liverpool denied the charge which alleged that on the aforementioned date, at Nelson Street, Mo-
cha, East Bank Demerara, he murdered Lanferman. Lanferman was reportedly shot twice, to his neck and chest. This allegedly stemmed from a dispute between him and another man. Lanferman was found lying motionless with gunshot wounds to his body and was rushed to the
mote that Hub to the community. There are some challenges. We are working to overcome such built-in resistance and create use.” Walcott said that once ‘use’ has been created, then the impact will be created. He said that presently, the assessment is about use. “We are constantly measuring how many people are using the Hubs and each Committee is given a target; basically to increase use by so much over such a time, and that is what we are measur-
ing. We want to ensure that we are not putting down white elephants.” During the consideration of the 2017 Budget estimates, Minister Hughes had explained that $314M would be spent on the eGovernment project. Bandwidth is being bought from GTT at a cost of US$145 per megabyte, although the government is paying in total for one gigabyte per second. Initially, the project failed under the PPP/C due to ineffective planning, management and inadequate oversight. These were the reasons given by hired Chartered Accountants Ram and McRae, who conducted a forensic audit into the project. The team that was managing the project were Project Manager Alexei Ramotar, son of former President Donald Ramotar; Deputy Project Manager Anil Singh and Technical Advisor, the late Walter Willis. Also, it was reported that adequate supervision was not conducted and acts of negligence resulted in damage to fibre optic cables and equipment which were expensive to replace, forcing government to now buy internet from GTT.
Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead. L i v e r p o o l ’s c o u s i n , Kenkassie Lynch, has already been committed to stand trial in the High Court for the murder. Magistrate Azore had ruled that a prima facie case had been made out against him. Lynch will go before a judge and jury at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Assizes.
technician. Demanding cash, the robbers also struck their victim with a bottle which broke. The technician was stabbed in the left arm and thigh. The technician, who had a licenced fire-
arm, discharged several rounds at the bandits, who managed to disarm and relieve him of his weapon, money, and mobile phone before fleeing. The victim was treated at the West Demerara Regional Hospital for his injuries and sent away.
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Crum-Ewing murder…
‘Grey Boy’ remains in custody, DPP may order him charged again Despite City Magistrate Judy Latchman ruling that there is insufficient evidence against him, Regan Rodrigues, called ‘Grey Boy’, remained in custody yesterday. Legal sources indicated last night that the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) may have him re-charged, as early as today, for the murder of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing. Kaieteur News understands that he is being detained at the Golden Grove Police Station on the East Bank Demerara. It is the latest twist in the investigation in the Crum-Ewing murder case. On Wednesday, Magistrate Latchman ruled that there was insufficient evidence against Rodrigues for him to stand trial at the High Court. She discharged Rodrigues, also known as ‘Grey Boy’, for the third time in one year on the murder charge. In a June 7, 2017 letter to Magistrate Latchman Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack said: “In accordance with Section 72 (2) (ii) (a) of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act, Chapter 10:01, I hereby remit to Your Worship the abovementioned matter and direct you to comply with Section 65 and 66 of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act, Chapter 10:01 with a view of committing the accused.” However, Magistrate Latchman underscored that while the DPP is of the “opinion” that there is evidence against Rodrigues for the indictable offence, her court maintains there is no evidence against Rodrigues in relation to murder committed on Crum-Ewing. In complying with Section 66 of the Criminal Law
(Procedure) Act, Chapter 10:01, Magistrate Latchman asked Rodrigues if he had anything to say in answer to the charge. An emotional Rodrigues said, “I’m innocent. I don’t know anything. The police (rank) (name called) put a gun in my house and said I swim across the Demerara River. Two times I get free from this charge.” “How much time I got to prove myself innocent in this country?” he asked. Thereafter, Rodrigues behaved in a disorderly manner. According to him, the police know who killed CrumEwing and they should go and look for them. The Magistrate later maintained that there was not sufficient evidence (prima facie case) against Rodrigues and discharged the matter for the second time this week. But under heavy police escort, Rodrigues was placed in the front passenger seat of a police pick-up truck and taken away. Magistrate Latchman had discharged the matter on Monday at the conclusion. During her ruling, then, the Magistrate pointed out that while the court was satisfied that Crum-Ewing was shot with a gun retrieved from a house at Riverview, Ruimveldt which was occupied by Rodrigues. There was no evidence that Rodrigues “used the gun, pulled the trigger and shot Crum-Ewing.” Fourteen oral statements given to police by Rodrigues were admitted to form part and parcel of evidence in the matter by Magistrate Latchman. However, the Magistrate ruled that these oral statements did not implicate Rodrigues in the murder.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack But the following day, the DPP in a letter to Magistrate Latchman directed that she comply in accordance to the law outlined in the correspondence. Kaieteur News understands that the matter came up on Tuesday last, during which Magistrate Latchman declined to comply with the DPP’s order citing that she had already discharged the matter. And that the DPP could not direct her to commit Rodrigues to stand trial under that section of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act, Chapter 10:01. This same Magistrate had also discharged the murder charge against Rodrigues on September 14, 2016 at the end of a Preliminary Inquiry. However, in March the DPP ordered that the matter be reopened for the taking of further evidence from police
Regan ‘Grey Boy’ Rodrigues
Magistrate Judy Latchman
witnesses and to rule on the voluntariness of all oral statements made by Rodrigues. As a result, Rodrigues was arrested on Good Friday and was taken before Magistrate Latchman on April 18, and was remanded to prison. The bullet-riddled body of Crum-Ewing was found at Third Avenue, Diamond New Scheme, East Bank Demerara on March 10, 2015. The 40year-old was shot twice to the temple, once to the back of the head and twice to the stomach. The police in a statement had said that the political activist was accosted by four men in a car, one of whom discharged several rounds, hitting him about the body. It was reported that the killer (s) used a .32 pistol to execute Crum-Ewing.
SOCU busts MURDERED: Courtney Crum-Ewing illegal cambio President’s refusal to meet with gold... in Skeldon From page 8 decline in the industry which for the mining industry. He
The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) raided an illegal cambio at Skeldon, Corentyne, yesterday and seized a large quantity of local and foreign currencies. Operator of the Cambio, Jamal Ramjohn, of Skeldon was reportedly operating this cambio for a long time, trading in the various currencies floating in the border town. When the SOCU team landed on the premises the officials immediately took control of the operations. The ranks set about counting the money on the scene in Ramjohn’s presence. A copy of the transaction was handed to Ramjohn, while SOCU kept the other. The matter has since been forwarded for legal advice. Despite the seizure of the currencies there has been no arrest.
of money, particularly small miners, and therefore there must be a target seems to be the prevailing view in every level of the government.” Jagdeo said that the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, needs to acknowledge that he made a mistake when he put in place some of the most “draconian taxation policies.” The former president said that the tax measures imposed on miners will contribute to a
is the main sector carrying Guyana’s economy. He referred to the 200 percent increase in tributors’ tax, the tax on heavy duty equipment and the fact that miners will now end up paying 28 percent income tax, and said that each of these measures were complained about by the miners. Turning his attention back to the Junior Natural Resources Minister, Jagdeo said that Broomes is bad news
said that she is constantly seeking to undermine the work of the GGDMA, “She keeps mobilizing people who went to the meeting with the Minister of Finance and others and said they were happy to be taxed…that can be traced back to the government, particularly Broomes. We will continue to call for this reversal of taxation policy, hoping the government will accede to it. “
PI into ‘maid of honour’ murder... From page 10 went missing one day before she was supposed to perform the role of maid of honour at her sister’s wedding. It was reported that Singh and the other accused allegedly picked up Hackett at University of Guyana (UG) Access Road on the evening of April 16. The woman was
taken further down the said road where she was killed. The partially decomposed body of the 25-year-old “C” Field Sophia resident was discovered in a trench parallel to UG road, at Fourth Field, Cummings Lodge, on April 19, 2016. It was reported that her throat was slit and there were what appeared to be two stab
wounds to the back of her neck. Hamilton had reportedly confessed to police that he killed the mother of his child. Based on reports, Singh transported Hamilton to Mahdia although he knew that the man had killed Hackett and dumped her body.
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Hundreds of court cases expedited under New CPRs By Rehanna Ramsay Hundreds of court matters have been expeditiously heard and resolved through mechanisms implemented under the New Civil Procedures Rules (CPR). The Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) of 2016 were brought on stream earlier this year. Laid in the National Assembly in November last, they replaced Guyana’s existing rules, which date back to 1955. The changes have brought the new rules in line with similar systems utilised in the Caribbean. The 187-page document contains procedures for settling civil matters and making payments both in and out of court. Under the guidelines brought on stream in February, a number of mechanisms were adapted towards providing speedy hearings, and an
Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne George end to what would have been lengthy civil trials. During a recent press briefing, Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne George explained that with the implementation of mechanisms such as the Fixed Date Applications, (FDAs), matters filed under
the new system are heard expeditiously. Justice George explained, too, that that new rules are channeling a different mindset among attorneys and litigants alike. “The cost for filing a matter is much more and the attorneys have the challenge of ensuring their files are in order, because under the CPR (mechanisms) from the time the matter is filed, a date is fixed for the matter to be heard.” The CJ also stressed that there are not many considerations given for adjournments under the new system. She said that it is therefore imperative that attorneys and litigants make information needed, available, for matters to be dealt with quickly and efficiently. “It’s about allowing matters to flow through the system as fast as possible.”
Jagdeo evades Pradoville questions By Abena RockcliffeCampbell Former President Bharrat Jagdeo refused to accept or deny that the purchasers of plots of prime land at Sparendaam, (Pradoville Two Scheme) had received sweetheart deals. The politician was asked specifically if, setting aside allegations of massive corruption, he was willing to admit that such deals were offered to a selected few. The Opposition Leader went all over the place with his answers. In fact, he touched on at least six other corruption-related issues in response to the question, but failed to give a direct yes or no answer to the question posed to him. In the end, Jagdeo settled by saying that he would leave it for the courts to decide if affiliates of the People Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) benefited from any special deal. This was at a press conference Jagdeo hosted at his Church Street Office yesterday. During his opening statement, Jagdeo referenced an article published in yesterdays edition of the Kaieteur News about former PPP/C government officials that are to be charged. These include former Minister of Finance, Ashni Singh and former Director of the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) Winston Brassington. Jagdeo said that the case that is being made about cor-
ruption is baseless. He was then asked whether he was at least willing to concede that the Pradoville land owners benefitted from a good deal. The politician avoided giving a direct answer. Instead, he said, “A lot of these matters will be dealt with in the court, I do not even want to comment on the charges etc. This government is vindictive.” He said that the government is forced to be vindictive because of all the “baseless” claims it made about the narco-economy and about billions stolen. Jagdeo said that despite all of the allegations about money stolen, the government still cannot come out with evidence. “If you ask them about the evidence, you are going to hear that oh, we are working on something… they are not working on anything!” Still not giving an answer to the question posed, Jagdeo said, “We have heard about the underground economy; well, it does exist. It exists in Washington, it exists in Norway, you have people who sometimes avoid taxes, you have some transactions not recorded etc., and that will continue long after APNU leaves and the PPP returns”. Going on to another issue, and still not answering the question, Jagdeo asked, “Remember the billions they said we stashed abroad? We offered a way to get the evidence for these billons. Contact Interpol, get a specialized agency, trace the billons and
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo then take action against the villains. But we are not hearing about that, because we have asked for them to trace the assets of everyone, former as well as current officials.” Jagdeo then said that the government is just dangling the Pradoville issue “to give the red meat to some supporters that they are going after corruption, but where is the evidence of the claims that there is massive corruption? We have not seen a single person charged for billions, we heard a former PS had billions in his account, where is that story? Before ending what was supposed to be his response to a straightforward question, Jagdeo went on to note his concern that “guilt is determined by the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) and the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) in their public statements long before the investigations take place”.
The CJ nonetheless noted that these matters were all filed afresh. “These are all new matters that are filed as Fixed Date Applications (FDAs)…There have been at least 700 of those applications and the cases are almost complete.” In terms of the old matters that would have contributed to the backlog, the CJ noted that mechanisms are being implemented for those cases to receive much needed attention. “These old matters will still be assigned to judges; they will not come under the new system.” Justice George said, too, that some of the matters will be placed on the list for dismissal and consideration. The CJ noted that what happens is that these cases are left in the system; they appear to contribute to the backlog, even after litigants fail to pursue the course of action, making the cases dead weight. She explained that the idea is to “weed out, dead-
weight cases” that have been abandoned by the attorneys and litigants. Meanwhile, the CJ stressed that litigants filing through the new system will continue to yield benefits under methods such as the FDAs. Under this method, in accordance with the rules, the court is guided by a timeline to lay out a schedule to have matters heard within days after it is sought. When a proceeding is to be commenced by way of an FDA, the applicant (person applying to the court) must attach an affidavit of all of the evidence upon which he/she relies, and attach a draft of the order that the Applicant seeks to have the Court make. According to the rules, where the FDA is made without notice, it need not be served and the Registry must schedule it to be heard within four days of being issued. In the cases of urgent FDAs made on notice, the Registry must schedule it to be heard within seven days of being
issued and the application must be served at least four days before the date scheduled for the hearing.” In any other case, the Registry must schedule it to be heard within 28 days of being issued and the application must be served at least seven days before the date scheduled for the hearing, unless these Rules, a Practice Direction or the Court, otherwise permit. Additionally at the hearing of a FDA, the Court must proceed to determine the application based on the evidence before it; or if there is insufficient evidence to determine the application on its merits, dismiss the application; or otherwise proceed as if the FDA was commenced by way of Statement of Claim and conduct the hearing as a first Case Management Conference. According to the CPR 2016, at the hearing of the FDA, in addition to any other powers that the Court may have, the Court may award costs.
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GRA closer to ending leakage of $$B in taxes in Region One With accelerated moves to open new offices in the Region One area, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is placing itself in a better position to close gaping holes which have allowed for the leakage of billions of dollars in taxes on fuel annually. This announcement was made yesterday by GRAs Commissioner-General, Godfrey Statia. The GRA Boss told the media that an office has been established in Morawhanna. It commenced operations from June 1, last. A second branch has been set up in Eteringbang, and Statia said it is hoped that operations for that branch will begin by the end of July or on August 1. “We had some problems with Eteringbang, because we only get there by air, and you have to make arrangements to get the funds out after collecting them,” Statia expressed. He reminded that the of-
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Kaieteur News
fices are critical, as Guyana loses close to $3B a year through the Eteringbang area. “It is strictly fuel that comes from Venezuela and is sold to the gold mining industry and we dont get the taxes there,” the tax chief explained. He noted, too, that GRA also does not collect taxes on the fuel going into the Morawhanna area. The situation in Region One is one that has existed for over 15 years. Statia in a previous interview with this newspaper had said that the nation is actually losing approximately $40M in taxes every week on fuel at just those two ports in Region One. He had informed this newspaper that the matter was being looked at, with moves being made to have the necessary infrastructure and officials in place. This matter was also one that was raised by the Tax Reform Commission which
was established by the Granger administration. The Tax Committee included the likes of Statia, economist Dr. Thomas Singh, Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram and the Head of National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Dr. Maurice Odle. According to the Commission, excise taxation of petroleum products in Guyana is quite distorted, with a range of exemptions for particular industries and, at least in one case, an entire region. The Committee was informed by the Guyana Revenue Authority that fuel and other items entering Region One attract no tax, a practice which was allowed by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, and which continues. Needless to say, the Commission said that this practice is completely unlawful and recommends its immediate cessation.
Con artist disappears with pensioner’s car A 72-year-old pensioner is at her wits’ end to locate a man whom she entrusted with her Toyota Corolla motorcar to work for hire, so that she could augment her finances. Sukdai Ramsammy, of Sachi Bazaar Street, Prashad Nagar, told Kaieteur News that she placed an advertisement in a local newspaper in late March of this year for a hire car driver, since the vehicle was parked in her yard “doing nothing”. The woman, who had to be assisted up the stairs into Kaieteur News, explained that on April 3, she received a call and a subsequent visit from 31-year-old Oneil Odan Simon, of 1430 Cummings Park on the East Coast of Demerara, expressing his interest in being the driver. Ramsammy said that when Simon came he was accompanied by his young son, and she thought that she was about to make a good decision. Simon, who has not been seen in two months, told the pensioner that apart from “working taxi”, the only other business he would use the car for would be to attend church and to take his children to school. An emotional Ramsammy said that she agreed with the now elusive Simon that he would ‘work’ the car and at the end of the week he would be expected to give her $15,000. Things went well for the first two weeks, so much
Oneil Simon so that the woman even added Simon’s name to her insurance policy. It was at the end of that 14-day period that everything changed for the worse. Simon stopped taking the elderly woman’s calls, and she enlisted her son to help in this regard. The son, who accompanied his mother to this newspaper, said that he managed to make contact with Simon, and was given all assurances that the car would have been returned. Further, the man added that after constantly calling Simon, he was instructed to uplift the vehicle, but when he and the pensioner went to the location provided, all they were confronted with was a track filled with bushes. The man said knowing how the issue had taken a negative effect on his mother, he drove for a few seconds down the desolate pathway, but soon saw a group of men approaching with cutlasses
and he retreated. They soon left, and when Simon was contacted he told the woman’s son ‘don’t call me back’. Not knowing what else to do, the woman said she went to the police and when she showed the ranks at the station the man’s photograph the policemen exclaimed, ‘is dah thief you give your car mommy?’. According to the pensioner, the police informed her that Simon is known to them and he is of questionable character. The police then accompanied the woman to the man’s address, but he was not there. Neighbours said that they had not seen ‘cassava man’ (as he is known to them), in two months, the same length of time that the woman has not seen her car. When Kaieteur News contacted Simon, he said that he gave the car to the woman’s son. But he was unaware that the said young man was at this newspaper at the time. When this was brought to his attention, Simon changed his story and said that he had parked the vehicle somewhere in Georgetown and he had hoped that it would have been collected by the pensioner’s son. Simon said that he has no idea where the car is at the moment and promised to come to this newspaper to clarify what he deemed as an attempt to besmirch his character. Up to press time Simon was nowhere to be seen.
No bail for woman accused of trafficking ganja A 42-year-old housewife yesterday made an appearance before City Magistrate Fabayo Azore and was remanded to prison on a charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. Yonette Bascom of 36 Sussex Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, denied the charge which alleged that on June 7, last, at Charlestown, she had 470 grams of Cannabis sativa in her possession for the purpose of trafficking. Police Prosecutor Simone Payne objected to bail being granted. The court heard that on the day in question, a party of policemen, acting on information, went to the defendants home. The ranks
conducted searches on two buildings in the yard. The court heard that when the defendant arrived home, she met with the police officers who were conducting a search at a house located in front of the yard, and they then proceeded to search her apartment which is located at the back. The court heard that the search was conducted in the presence of the defendant. While conducting their search, the ranks found a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be Cannabis sativa. Twenty-six grams of the drug were reportedly found in a bag in the defendants bedroom and a total of 444
grams were allegedly found in a garbage bin in the kitchen. She was then arrested and charged. Bascoms attorney, in his application to secure bail for his client, argued that the property in which the narcotics were found is occupied by multiple parties. The attorney went on to tell the court that the properties are on an open lot, and the narcotics could have belonged to anyone, since the houses are not secured with a fence. The prosecutions objection was upheld by the magistrate and the defendant was remanded to prison. She will make her next court appearance on June 22.
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Govt. moves to allow minibuses to cross Berbice Bridge for “next to nothing” Berbicians can soon expect a further ease, as negotiations continue between the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI). This was disclosed by Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson, who pointed out that BBCI approached the Ministry for help, and he is using the opportunity to ease the financial strain on Berbicians. According to the Minister, the negotiations are geared towards ensuring that the No. 56 minibuses which traverse the Rosignol to New Amsterdam route, cross the bridge at a minimal cost. Minister Patterson stated that “minibuses must pass
next to nothing”. Once the negotiations are successful, this would positively impact the daily lives of students, teachers, and nurses, among others who utilise the bridge on a daily basis, a statement from Government said yesterday. The Minister said that the BBCI, “were supposed to come back to me at the beginning of this month, so as soon as they come back and as soon that is agreed, I will implement it, so I am hoping that everybody could make a living, and Berbice could make a living.” Additionally, Minister Patterson noted that it is expected that the minibus operators drop the passengers prices to “low gravy” once
The western section of the Berbice Bridge
the deal is done. The government, since taking office in 2015, said it has taken all steps necessary to ease the strain on the pock-
Tullow, partner planning 2018 exploratory well High interest in Guyanas off-shore oil is continuing, with one exploration company announcing yesterday the start of a seismic survey that will help to determine where to drill. The area is not far from where US-owned ExxonMobil discovered a large deposit in 2015 and is now moving to develop. According to Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas, its operating partner, Tullow Oil, has approved a circa 2,550 km2 seismic survey on the companys Orinduik Block, Guyana. The survey is anticipated to commence in the next two weeks and will be completed by Schlumberger Guyana Inc. (Western Geco). Eco Atlantic (Guyana) Inc, a subsidiary of Eco Atlantic, holds a 40% working interest in Orinduik, and Tullow, the operator, holds the remaining 60%. The Orinduik block is located “just a few kilometres” from Exxons recent Liza and Payara discoveries confirming, by Exxons estimates, in excess of 1.5 Billion barrels of recoverable oil. “The company and Tullow have completed the first phase of exploration, including evaluating all existing and regional 2D data. Following the results of this study and the ongoing regional success, both parties have agreed to accelerate and significantly increase the originally proposed 1,000km2 3D survey commitment on the block to circa 2,550 kms2, thus covering the entire block area, fully overlapping current prospective 2D leads and
- next door to Liza1 concession
COO of Eco Atlantic: Colin Kinley downdip trends.” According to Colin Kinley, Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of Eco Atlantic: “We are excited to embark on this very significant 3D survey which is substantially greater than the originally planned survey. In addition to de-risking the existing two defined targets, the survey will hopefully generate additional targets on the Orinduik Block, thereby increasing the prospective oil in place and adding leads for future work programs.” He said that his company
was “keenly interested” in this region of the GuyanaSuriname Basin, even prior to Exxon’s highly successful drilling program, applying for the Orinduik block in 2014 because of its highly prospective Cretaceous canyon and fan plays. “We have since been excited to see Exxon continue to successfully prove out the region in its ongoing drilling program and look forward to results from our own 3D survey, which are expected to come in the next couple of months”. He disclosed that a 2D interpretation has led to at least two significant reservoir leads on the Orinduik block and that “both we and Tullow believe may hold significant oil comparable to the world class regional discoveries identified by Exxon. Eco Atlantic expects to confirm a number of drilling targets with this increased 3D Survey, ahead of drilling of the first well in Orinduik, hopefully in 2018.” ExxonMobil is making preparations for a 2020 production start.
ets of commuters traversing the Berbice Bridge, as the cost to cross the bridge was deemed to be too high. After much deliberation, the toll was eventually reduced by the BBCI in keeping with what was proposed by the government. The 10 percent decrease was welcomed by the bus
drivers of the Route 56 Minibus Association, but they believed that much more could have been done for them. However, the government was faced with the unwillingness by the BBCI to reduce the tolls, even though the government guaranteed the subsidy. The subsidy was put in
place to ensure that the company lost no revenue as a result of the reduction When the 2015 National Budget was passed, the government took the first step which ensured the prices for minibuses to cross was lowered from $2200 to $1900 which represented a 10 percent decrease in the toll.
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West Berbice teachers protest against REO over unpaid salaries A large number of teachers from throughout West Berbice, led by members of the National Executive of the Guyana Teachers’ Union, yesterday afternoon descended upon the Regional Administration office compound calling on the Regional Executive Officer, Ovid Morrison to resign. Members present were President Mark Lyte; First Vice President, Lesmeine Collins; Regional Vice President Demerara, Collis Nicholson; Regional Vice President Berbice, Donette D’Andrade and Chairperson Woman Advisory Committee, Dolene Benjamin According to President Lyte, the union was taking action against what they classified as dictatorial action taken by the REO to withhold three months’ salary of any teacher who wants to travel overseas during school break. Teachers are concerned that - the REO having stated
Teachers during the protest action yesterday. that he will withhold June salary for any teacher who intends to travel overseas during the upcoming school break - it is implied that salary for July and August will also be withheld; a situation that they classify as dictatorial and very unfair to teachers, since persons have bills to
pay and mortgage in many cases. The teachers are contending that it was a unilateral decision made by the REO, and that no such regulation is in place in any other administrative region. REO Morrison, on the
GRA engages police on number plate racket The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to clamping down on a notorious number plate racket. According to GRA Commissioner-General, Godfrey Statia, moves have already been made to engage the attention of the Guyana Police Force on the racket. Statia recalled his earlier statement to this newspaper that over 1000 vehicles have entered Guyana from Brazil and Suriname with foreign number plates, but months later, they cannot be traced. Statia confirmed that the Authority’s investigations indicate that there has been the recycling of local number plates to disguise the ones coming in. He said that efforts will have to be made for the Authority to work with the Guyana Police Force to en-
sure that number plates are not recycled from vehicles which have been involved in car accidents and ‘written off’. The GRA Boss even provided members of the media fraternity with a personal experience, regarding the “number plate culture.” He explained that a few months ago, one of the vehicles assigned to him was involved in an accident. He related that one of his staff members travelled to Suriname, got a replacement, and removed the number plate from his old vehicle and transferred it to the new one. Of course the employee was fired for the illegal act, but Statia stressed that the point of the example was to explain “the society in which we live.” The GRA Boss said that the way forward will have to
include increased checks on warehouses and working along with the Guyana Police Force. With respect to the latter agency, Statia said that GRA has already requested information on vehicles that have been written-off. He said, too, that efforts will have to include working along with the entity’s Surinamese counterparts for information on vehicles which have left the Dutchspeaking nation for Guyana, but did not return. Statia stressed that all vehicles, regardless of the industry they are being used in, must be registered. He insisted that practices to the contrary, rob the state of the requisite taxes. The GRA boss emphasized that the Authority will work feverishly towards bringing an end to this scheme. (Kiana Wilburg)
Special agency to adopt NFMU... (From page 7) where there is very little access for the ICT communities, there are so many other services that can be provided by a new range of local entrepreneurs.” The Minister said that her Ministry is grateful that both companies have played an important role in the development of Guyana s telecommunications landscape. The Telecoms Bill was passed in July 2016 and ended the monopoly GTT held on certain services. The passage of the Bill paved the
way for other companies to enter the Guyanese telecommunications market and compete against GTT and other companies on a level playing field. This is the liberalisation which was wanting for quite some time. Meanwhile, the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) will be placed under the new agency referred to earlier. She said that under the new regulations individuals will have to apply for a license. She said that when it is announced publicly that applications are available for
persons to operate in different areas of telecommunications, Guyana will know exactly who are the players that have an interest in the sector, both local and foreign. The NFMU performs a series of functions which include Radio Inspection, Monitoring, Licencing and Number Administration. In 2016 the agency played a role in preparing Guyana for the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector and to upgrade spectrum monitoring and management capabilities.
other hand, is claiming that he has only been following regulations which have been in place for years now, which allow for public servants to have one month salary to be withheld, when they indicate their desire to travel abroad
on vacation, and the salary is released whenever the officer resumes duty. Mr. Morrison, in an invited comment, said that he did not blame the teachers, and went on to say that there are some people who may have misinterpreted what he would have said, thereby leading to protest action on the part of teachers in West Berbice. The REO has questioned the authority of teachers to have closed schools for half day yesterday to discuss the issue, before assembling at Fort Wellington at around 3:30 in the afternoon. One retired Head Teacher who left the system over ten years ago, said that the regulations, then, allowed for salary paid to the teacher be suspended until that teacher would have resumed duty having been paid for the last month that teacher would have worked. The GTU president
claimed that while no official communication was circulated by the administration informing or reminding teachers about the regulation or policy, the union is in possession of a letter issued to a teacher in relation to the last Easter break, and the union must ensure that the same thing does not happen to teachers during the upcoming July-August break. When asked if the union made any attempts to discuss the matter with the REO, Lyte said that while they were interested in discussing the matter, the REO was not so disposed, hence the protest action. At one point the leadership of the protest group was invited to meet with the REO to discuss the issue, but members declined, stating that the REO needed to address the entire group rather than just a few people.
Gunmen on bikes snatch company payroll In a brazen robbery at around 15.00hrs yesterday, gunmen on motorcycles and in a car escaped with a $910,000 payroll after holding up a security vehicle near Farm, on the East Bank of Demerara. According to reports, the victims were heading to Houston, East Bank Demerara, with cash for work-
-use car to block roadway ers when a car blocked their path. It is alleged that two motorcyclists then went to opposite sides of the vehicle transporting the payroll. One of the bikers then discharged a round from a
handgun and forced the occupants to hand over the money-bag. The robbers then escaped. A police official was unable to confirm whether investigators have detained a suspect.
Traffic management concerns raised over West Dem. Road Project The Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) Chamber of Commerce and Industry (R3CC&I), yesterday held discussions on the impact, the US$46.8M West Demerara Road Expansion Project is having on businesses and residents within the region. The chamber stated that it was brought to their attention that the contractors have not been executing their “Traffic Management Plan” as is stipulated in their contract, causing significant inconvenience to the Region. The road project is being executed by means of a joint venture between Jamaica Construction Firm, Surrey Paving and Aggregate Company (SPA) Limited and its local partner, BK International (SPA/BK). The engagement, which was held at the Caricom Insurance Company building at Ruimzeight, West Coast Demerara, saw top officials from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), chamber officials and the contractors attending. Chamber President, Radesh Rameshwar, noted his concern over the “numer-
ous complaints” his association would have received over the traffic management system which results in the loss of time and money. He also expressed concerns that the lack of these mechanisms may result in the loss of life or limb. Persons in the audience lamented over what they referred to as a “blatant” disregard for traffic rules by some drivers despite the presence of police ranks at several identified “hot-spots”. The Vreed-en-Hoop Junction was listed as one such area that needs more police ranks during the rush-hour periods. The Chamber took the opportunity to request from the ‘D’ Divisional Commander, Leslie James, that additional ranks are placed at strategic positions, not only at the hot-spots, but also at areas leading up to them. It was pointed out by another chamber member, that several signs and barriers are without the necessary reflective materials making it difficult for drivers to navigate the roads at night. Representatives from the two construction firms, as
well as a spokesperson from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, made commitments that better forewarning systems will be set in motion now that the project is approaching crunch-time. Recommendations were also made by the Chamber to the GPF and the contractors, to set in place better or more demarcations on the roadways. There was also a plea to the commander to “make an example” of recalcitrant drivers by imposing more stringent fines and measures. The Commander said that the demarcations are in place but are constantly being destroyed by the tracks of heavy-duty equipment being driven on the roadways. The chamber promised to meet with the farmers’ association in the region to curb this issue and to also address the issue of large chunks of mud being left behind by combines and tractors. As of April this year, the road project was announced at 65 percent complete, with several areas east of Parika and west of Vreed-en-Hoop already completed. The deadline for the project is next year January.
Friday June 09, 2017
Prime Minister Rowley welcomes Court rulings
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, on Wednesday welcomed two rulings by the Court of Appeal in matters that he had said had been brought by opposition figures aimed at seeking to cause “mayhem” in Trinidad and Tobago. “The government is not saying you can’t go to the court…(but) if it is a challenge to prevent the government from exercising its lawful duty, we will act all the way to the Privy Council,” Prime Minister Rowley told reporters following the weekly Cabinet meeting. He insisted that former members of the People’s Partnership government of then prime minister Kamla Persad Bissessar are seeking to use the courts to further their political agenda and asked “what would have been the condition in the country today if the court had ruled in their favour”. Rowley said the opposition members had failed to win the general election in 2015 were now turning to the courts, but assured citizens “we will engage the battle at every term. “This government has a mandate to provide good governance,” he said, adding
that the opposition members were bent on ensuring there’s “mayhem in the country”. The Appeal Court in two judgments this week, overturned two rulings of High Court judge Frank Seepersad on the Property Tax as well as the appointment of two judges following challenges that had been filed by former agriculture minister, Devant Maharaj. The Appeal Court ruled that Justice Seepersad should not have granted an interim stay on the collection process but that the substantive matter for judicial review will be heard on September 21. The Court ruled that the Ministry of Finance could continue to collect the forms, but that the public had to be informed it would be on a voluntary basis, and not mandatory. The Appeal Court instructed that the Ministry of Finance to publish notices in the newspapers, once a week for three weeks, informing the public that the submission of the forms was voluntary and no fines could be imposed. Rowley told reporters that the tax was an issue discussed during the campaign for the last general election and that his People’s National Movement (PNM) had dis-
agreed with the then government on the matter. He said the then government had given waivers regarding the tax and at the end of their term ended the waivers. “The opposition will not run this country. It is the authority of this executive to defend the law,” Rowley said, adding that over the last seven years the tax had not been collected and the country has lost an estimated TT$3.5 billion (One TT dollar =US$0.16 cents). He said the opposition members “have good reasons for not wanting aspects of the tax to be collected” saying they were seeking their own interest and not that of the country. On the issue of the appointment of the two judges under the present composition of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC), Rowley told reporters the members were the same as had been under the former administration. Former attorney general Anand Ramlogan said he plans to file a motion to seek to go before the Privy Council challenging the decision of the Appeal Court to dismiss the injunction blocking the appointment of two new judges. The Court of Appeal late Tuesday allowed an appeal against a 22-page ruling delivered by Justice Seersad in favour of Maharaj blocking the appointment of the two judges. The Appeal Court also dismissed Maharaj’s substantive case in which he was claiming the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC), headed by Chief Justice Ivor Archie, was not properly constituted to make the appointments and advise President Anthony Carmona to swear in the new judges.
LIAT pilots urged to return to work ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The government of Antigua and Barbuda has called on pilots with the regional carrier LIAT, to return to work and continue negotiations with the airline’s management. The call was made in a statement on Thursday as LIAT pilots continue their protest action for the second consecutive day. The pilots and LIAT management are in dispute over money and the timeframe in which payments are to be made. According to the Gaston
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Browne-led administration, the pilots have been offered a reasonable payment schedule. “Instead of exercising restraint and responsibility, the pilots have rejected the offer in an attempt to squeeze the cash-strapped airline to pay them immediately.” The statement added that given the challenges of the airline and the fact that the carrier is dependent on the four owner countries to survive, the expectation of the pilots is unreasonable. “These four states are incapable of making large payments to LIAT at this time,
given the fiscal challenges which they face. It is unreasonable for the pilots to expect the governments to subsidise the excesses of their unreasonable strike action.” The Government also urged the pilots to exercise restraint , noting that failure to do so will destroy the airline and “their own employment options”. On Wednesday over one thousand passengers across the region were affected by the protest action as several flights were either cancelled or delayed.
Tobacco Control Bill to be tabled next Thursday – Minister Lawrence The tabling of a Tobacco Control Bill is slated for next week Thursday. This is according to Minister of Public Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence. Lawrence made this disclosure during an engagement with representatives of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry [GCCI]. The Minister’s response in this regard was prompted when President of the GCCI, Mr. Deodat Indar, raised the issue of the impending Tobacco Control Bill, pointing out that it appears oversized. The Minister in response said that the Bill will be tabled in Parliament on June 15, 2017. She, however, suggested that the GCCI submit their comments in writing about the Bill to her Office. A tobacco control legislation is critical to reduce diseases that are the leading causes of death in Guyana. As such, the Tobacco Control Bill was long in the making, and was touted as a crucial need since in 2009. The Bill gained the attention of at least three other Ministers before Lawrence. Among the other issues that the Minister discussed was a request from Indar, that a representative of the private sector be appointed to the Board. This was premised on the fact, Indar said, that many state Boards have a private sector representative.
Meanwhile, GCCI Vice President, Timothy Tucker, raised issues relating to the operations of the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department [GAF&DD). He lamented that resulting from a prior meeting with the GCCI and the Director of Food and Drug, Mr. Marlan Cole, some issues were left unresolved. These, he said, included complaints made by members of the GCCI on the uneven dispensation of the powers of the office of the Director of Food and Drug. According to him, member companies have complained that they felt that they are targeted. In response, the Minister told the GCCI that “the buck stops with me,” since she is responsible for the Food and Drug Department, and that matters emanating from the department have her attention. Tucker also raised the issue of revision of the regulations for the importation of goods. Minister Lawrence, it was reported, has agreed for the GCCI to review the Food and Drugs Act, and to make recommendations along with other stakeholders. The Minister also agreed that her Ministry will pursue the GCCI’s recommendation on matters that would have a negative impact on the business community. Also addressed at the
meeting was the issue of public procurement practices, as it relates to healthcare supplies. The President of the GCCI said that there are complaints received by member companies that public procurement tendering for supplies is not being done as frequently as it should be, and he asked about the pre-qualification of suppliers. The Minister moreover pointed out that a pre-qualification process will not be used anymore, since the Ministry had undertaken a process of re-designing the bidding process. As such, everyone who is bidding for a contract will have to go through the same process and will be given a fair chance. However, the Minister did note that no system is perfect, thus the Ministry of Public Health was going to review the process every six months to identify areas that can be improved. The meeting concluded with the Minister agreeing to continue quarterly constructive collaboration with the GCCI, which is said to be the leading private sector body in the country. For its part, the GCCI welcomed the opportunity to have a frank, respectful and candid dialogue about its concerns with the Ministry of Public Health, and both parties agreed to review the situation in July 2017.
Customs Officers aren't traffic cops... From page 3 plates was not reported to the police immediately, Statia made it clear that GRA does not do police work. “I have said it before and I am going to say it again…GRA does not do police work. GRA is in the interest of collecting the rightful taxes.” The official stressed that that is where the “demarcation” comes. “I have a fiduciary duty to the taxpayers. I am not supposed to give the taxpayers' information to anybody out there…after all, notwithstanding, they may be a sister agency.” Maintaining that the secrecy laws against divulging tax information is very strict, Statia explained that it was on these same grounds that he had fought against the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), an arm of the police, which had requested tax information earlier this year. The court had agreed that GRA could not just hand over the tax information of a miner. “That is one of the reasons I went to court in the SOCU matter. So you cannot
say that I have a fiduciary duty and I am sworn to secrecy in one area…” He made it clear that reporting to the police is not part of GRA's function. “The police themselves should have been doing the same checks as my officers are doing. My officers are not traffic cops. What the police should do now is seeing that Kaieteur News has raised it, they should say 'come Mr Tiwarie, I will charge you now'. Ask the police now why no charges have been instituted.” Statia did disclose that the number that had been affixed on Tiwarie's vehicle was one issued to another vehicle owned by the contractor. “All he probably did was exchange it from one vehicle to the next.” The Commissioner-General said that the incident would not be the first, or the las t , a n d l i s t e d s e v e r a l cases and instances, including even staffers, now fired, who were caught using false number plates on vehicles. The SUV had reportedly come into the county in 2014 or 2015 and was released to
BK without the proper Customs processes being followed or the taxes paid. No duty free waiver was granted. Yesterday, GRA Chairman, Rawle Lucas, made it clear that the Board has now taken over the monitoring of applications that have to do with Permission For Immediate Delivery (PID). This arrangement in the past was heavily abused and was only supposed to be applicable to perishable goods or equipment, and other items that had to be released for emergency and other reasons. He made it clear that there is no evidence that BK applied for and was granted a PID on the SUV. The incident has raised alarming questions about the independence of GRA which is fighting deep corruption at its wharves. The new administration had vowed to clean up the authority and had installed a new board and management, with several measures in place to widen the tax net to capture evaders. However, there have been a few worrying incidents.
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WANTED Experienced Male workers on farm, age 30yrs and older. Call: 231-1408 between 8am1pm SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620
SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 6471773/660-5257
Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. 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 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
EDUCATIONAL Canadian School of Arts & Science: Summer Classes 2017- Pre-K, Nursery, Primary, Secondary (July 10th – August 11th). Call: 216-6921/ 22 for registration
CAR RENTAL
Friday June 09, 2017
Kaieteur News
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. Live in waitress to work in a bar- Call: 604-6606; 6924646
VACANCY Accountant / Audit Clerk: 8 Subjects (Including Maths & English), experienced an asset- D. Bahadur & Co. Chattered Accountants. Call:225-178-9/ email: info@Drubahadur.com Security, Marketing Clerk, Bond Clerk, Labourers, Truck Driver, operator. Interested persons e-mail: chungsvacancy@gmail.com
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
Senior Diesel Mechanic wanted to work in G/Town. Call: 218-1455
Hire car driver needed preferably from Georgetown, 35yrs or older. Call: 699-0313
Table hand and mixer. Call: 225-7417
1 Accounts Clerk, preferably from E.B.D – 5 subjects CXC minimum @ gtcareers592@gmail.com
Cook/ Baker and welder/ fabricator for interior. Applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020 for more information One experienced pharmacy assistant to work in a reputable pharmacy in G/ Town (flexible hours). Call: 227-0630 WANTED Wanted land to buy: Eccles, Tuschen, Herstelling, Providence, Farm, Uitvlugt, we pay best price. Call: 666-2326 Wanted land to buy: Eccles, Tuschen, Herstelling, Providence, Farm, Uitvlugt, we pay cash. Call: 604-6724/ 686-9608
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
We pay in $US for land in Eccles, Herstelling, Providence, Farm, Parfaite Harmonie, Zeelugt. Call: 6117223/684-5822
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 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc. Call: 225-9032;647-2943;604-5198
An experienced exvator operator. Must be between 30yrs & 50yrs. He must be prepared to work in the Interior. Call: 223-7165
USA Used tools, TV, Laptop & more. Call: 649-2950/220-2128 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 Pit-bull pups for sale. Call: 672-7884
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
2011 ALLION - $3.3M, 2011 RACTIS -$2.5M, 2009 SIENTA - $2.1M, NOAH & VOXY - $2.6M, VEHICLES UNREGISTERED & FULLY LOADED. CALL: 642-7295 1 Hilux Extra Cab- 5L Diesel Pickup, GVV series. Call: 6643808
Land at Well Street Ogle, E.C.D Back Lot 65feetX105feet -$12M. Call: 625-1514 La Parfaite Harmonie Main Road - $1.8M, $1.6M, $1.4, $1M, Herstelling -$3.5M, Eccles - $6.5M, Tuschen $1.2M. Call: 604-6724 or 6869608 La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.7M, $1.4M, $1.2M, Herstelling $3M, Tuschen -$1.2M, house & land in La Parfaite -$17M. Call: 666-2326
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 Two bedroom apartment at Eccles - $55,000 – Call: 6487004 1 2 Bedroom house to rent at Grove, E.B.D – Call: 266-0892/ 681-1047
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
Apartments – $45,000$160,000. Call: 644-5151 PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 House & land at Mon Repos -$19M. Call: 645-8543 House and land available @ La Parfaite Harmonie, Providence, Etc, We also assist with financing. Contact Pacific Development: 2236035/ 227-8274
Middle age couple (40-50) to live and work on farm/resort at Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke Highway. Call: 643-0333/6978008 Looking for a family of four to live & take care of a farm on the Upper Demerara River. Call: 670-7920
Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pit-bull – Call: 650-7501
New rice-field pump with 20’ canvas conveyor and drive shaft sold with 1 stihl motor blower -$500,000. Call: 638-1829
Experienced salesgirls needed. Kindly Contact: 6707920
1 Diesel Mechanic, must have knowledge of Perkins & Duetz engines, Cat & Doosan Excavator. Call: 2269768/660-2998
LAND FOR SALE
Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, video games & repairs – Call: 672-2566; 265-3231
Wanted Driver To Sell Water Must Have Lorry. Apply Nimbus Water. Tel 231-7002/ 622-0445
Urgently needed experienced garbage truck drivers, paying $6,000 per day, labours $4,000 per day. Call: 670-7920
VEHICLE FOR SALE
(1) 3 bedroom top flat house, fully grilled, 1 room, AC $40,000 upstairs toilet & bath @ La Paraite Harmonie. Call: 666-7823/ 266-0392 1 3 Bedrooms self-contained fully furnished upstairs in Diamond, 4-2 bedrooms apartment in Providence, furnished and unfurnished. Call: 672-1906/ 216-2299
GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages). FOR SALE/FOR RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578
PEN PAL TAXI SERVICE
LEARN TO DRIVE
You deserve a relationship filled with love & excitement. Call Harmony Singles: 6262629/676-6312(free registration 21-35yrs female)
Friday June 09, 2017
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Chinese investors eye Guyana’s gold, diamond mining A delegation of Chinese businessmen has expressed confidence, after a successful scouting mission in investing in Guyana’s natural resources sector. On Wednesday, the delegation met with Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources Simona Broomes and a team, from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) including Acting Commissioner, Newell Dennison in GGMC’s boardroom. The Chinese investors have shown interest primarily in gold and diamond mining. They are also interested in bauxite mining, lithium and other lesser known minerals. Head of the delegation Simei Liu, speaking through translator Jeffery Jin, noted that China has the market for Guyana’s “rich” natural resources. “A lot of Chinese want to come here to help Guyana, to invest here, whatever they can get the benefit from Guyana through the investment,” Jin translated for Liu. Wednesday’s meeting, according to a DPI/GINA statement, stems from a meeting between Minister Broomes and Chinese investors during a conference in China last September. “We had some lengthy meetings and discussions about Guyana. They had their concerns about what they heard about coming to
Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, and Acting Commissioner of GGMC, Newell Dennison, with the delegation of Chinese businessmen Guyana and all of that, and I think they managed to get some clarity,” Minister Broomes explained. Since then, a number of Chinese businesses have sent teams to scout investment opportunities in Guyana. Liu explained that the
results of fact-finding explorations have been favourable. He pointed o u t t h a t investor’s confidence has increased after meeting with current Chinese investors locally. Guyana currently has Chinese investors in its
restaurants, hardware, clothing, construction, forestry and mining sectors. Minister Broomes said the delegation also expressed interest in developing Guy a n a ’s renewable energy and infrastructure. Liu pointed out that it would be a “good opportunity” for
Guyana to benefit from the technical skil l s i n t h e s e areas from the Chinese. Additionally, the influx of other international investors to Guyana was another positive indicator to potential investors, Lui explained. The delegation believes
that these investment opportunities can also lead to strengthened relations between Guyana and China. Guyana established diplomatic relations with China on June 27, 1972, the first English-speaking country in the Caribbean country to do so.
Murder of Non Pareil pensioner…
No-case submissions made on behalf of daughter, 13, and taxi driver
MURDER ACCUSED: Veeran Dais Lall and Devon Browne Nineteen-year old Nalini Manikram and her 13-year old sister are accused of murdering their father Roger Manikram, whose body was
found in a drain along the Coldingen Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara in April last year. Charged jointly with them
MURDER ACCUSED: Nalini Manikram for the murder is 24-year-old Veeran Dais Lall also known as Adam, the boyfriend of Nalini Manikram, and Devon Browne, 24, of Crane, We s t Coast Demerara, the taxi driver
MURDERED: Roger Manikram who is alleged to have transported the body of the 64-year-old man. Ye s t e r d a y, before Magistrate Alisha George in the Sparendaam
Magistrates’ Courts, Attorneys Dexter Todd and Collette Marks made no-case submissions on behalf of Browne and the 13-year-old murder accused respectively, when the Preliminary Inquiry continued. During their submissions, both lawyers contended that Police Prosecutor Hattie Anthony failed to present sufficient evidence against their clients to establish the elements of murder. The attorneys argued that their clients should not be called upon to answer to the charge, nor should they be committed to stand trial at the High Court for the indictable offence. Prosecutor Anthony is scheduled to reply to the defence submissions on June 14. There was no legal representation for Nalini
Manikram and her boyfriend. According to reports, the body of Roger Manikram was found on April 3, 2016, in a drain, several corners away from his Lot 237 Section B Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara home. There was reportedly a chop wound to the back of his head. A post mortem examination performed on h i s b o d y revealed that he died as a result of brain haemorrhage due to blunt trauma to the head. There are reports that the father was in the habit of harassing his daughters and they allegedly hatched a plan to kill him. After the pensioner was allegedly hit to the head with an axe by a male suspect, he collapsed to the ground. His body was then wrapped in plastic and dumped in the drain
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Health Ministry to investigate death of elderly man on hospital grounds PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Ministry of Health says it will be investigating the circumstances that led to the death of an 80 year old man on the grounds of the Port of Spain General Hospital on Wednesday. Preliminary reports indicate Christopher Phillip was brought into the hospital late Tuesday via ambulance and was seen at the Accident and Emergency Department. The North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) says he was treated following all protocols of care and was later discharged. The health authority says
Phillip was later seen lying on the floor outside the department and was assisted by members of staff back into the department to be seen a second time. “Mr Phillip then left on his own accord. His body was later discovered on the front lawn of the hospital’s compound”. The NWRHA has since launched an investigation into the incident that also sparked public outrage. The Ministry of Health, in its statement, noted that a separate investigation will be conducted. The Health Ministry said that the findings will shed
light on the “cause of this disturbing occurrence and will inform any critical operational changes which may be required immediately.” Meanwhile, former Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan who called for a full investigation into the death of Phillip, also questioned whether protocol has changed at public health institutions since the September 2015 general elections. Khan said the incident involving Phillip was clearly a case of medical negligence and brutality. The former health minister said action should be taken against those responsible.
Investigation launched into fire at correctional facility
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica fire bridge says an investigation is now underway following a fire that destroyed a section of the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre. The police report that the fire started in a section of the facility that houses 18 inmates , categorized as mentally challenged – the inmates were not injured.
Chairman of the Jamaica Federation of Corrections, Arlington Turner says two correctional officers were injured during their efforts to get the fire under control before the fire brigade arrived. The Ministry of National Security in a release said their injuries are not considered life threatening adding that one of the officers suffered mild
smoke inhalation as a result of the fire. According to Turner, the inmates in affected area have since been relocated to another section of the facility. The Tower Street Adult Correction Centre houses approximately 1,500 prisoners, including several high-profile inmates such as popular dancehall entertainer Vybz Kartel. In the aftermath of the fire, junior minister in the Ministry of National Security Pearnel Charles jr. said several correctional facilities are in need of urgent infrastructural development including the Tower Street facility. According to Charles, an inter-ministerial committee has been established to look at alternative housing for inmates with mental health and other issues, adding that recommendations are forthcoming to deal with the situation.
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Comey says Trump fired him to undermine FBI Russia investigation
(Reuters) Former FBI director James Comey accused President Donald Trump on Thursday of firing him to try to undermine its investigation into possible collusion by his campaign team with Russia’s alleged efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election. In the most eagerly anticipated U.S. congressional hearing in years, Comey told lawmakers the Trump administration had lied and defamed him and the Federal Bureau of Investigation after the president dismissed him on May 9. During more than two hours of testimony, Comey told the Senate Intelligence Committee he believed Trump had directed him in February to drop an FBI probe into the Republican president’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn as part of the broader Russia investigation. Comey would not say whether he thought the president sought to obstruct justice, but added it would be up to special counsel Robert Mueller, who is now investigating the Russia allegations, “to sort that out.” “I don’t think it’s for me to say whether the conversation I had with the president was an effort to obstruct. I took it as a very disturbing thing, very concerning,” Comey testified. Sitting alone at a small table facing a bank of sena-
tors who fired question after question, Comey gave short, deliberative answers. He painted a picture of an overbearing president who he did not trust and who pressured him to stop the FBI Flynn probe. Trump critics say any efforts by the president to hinder an FBI probe could amount to obstruction of justice. Such an offense potentially could lead to Trump being impeach e d b y C o n gress, although his fellow Republicans who control the Senate and House of Representatives have shown little appetite for such a move. Comey did not make major new revelations about any links between Trump or his associates and Russia, an issue that has dogged the president’s first months in office and distracted from his policy goals such as overhauling the U.S. healthcare system and making tax cuts. Nevertheless, the Russia matter likely will continue to overshadow Trump’s presidency, especially as the FBI probe has already ensnared not only Flynn but also Trump’s son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has had to recuse himself from the investigation. After Trump fired Comey, the administration gave differing reasons for his dismissal. Trump later contradicted his own staff and ac-
knowledged on May 11 he fired Comey because of the Russia matter. Asked why he thought Trump fired him, Comey said he did not know for sure. He added, “Again, I take the president’s words. I know I was fired because of something about the way I was conducting the Russia investigation was in some way putting pressure on him, in some way irritating him, and he decided to fire me because of that.” Comey repeatedly said there were details he could not discuss in a public session, making clear he had sensitive information he could disclose only in a closed session with the senators. Russia has denied such interference. The White House as denied any collusion with Moscow. In a speech to supporters across town, Trump vowed to fight on. “We’re under siege ... but we will come out bigger and better and stronger than ever,” he said. “We know how to fight and we will never give up,” Trump added. Trump’s personal lawyer, Marc Kasowi t z , s a i d Comey’s testimony proved the president was not under any investigation and there is no evidence a single vote was changed as a result of Russian interference in last year ’s election. Kasowitz denied Trump ever told Comey he needed and expected his loyalty, as Comey said.
Three men arrested in London on terror charges (CNN) Three men have been arrested on terror charges after overnight raids on three properties in east London. The arrests are not related to last weekend’s attack in London, in which seven people were killed on and
around London Bridge, according to a statement issued by the Metropolitan Police. After Thursday’s raids, two men were arrested at separate addresses in Newham, and a third in the neighborhood of Waltham Forest.
“All three were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism offenses under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000,” the statement said. Police are continuing to search the properties.
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Mayweather shows off his incredible haul of world titles as he prepares to visit ‘the motherland’ Ghana with The Money Team Floyd Mayweather’s illustrious career in the ring was laid bare yesterday when he showed off 19 of his world championship belts ahead of a trip to Ghana. The 40-yearold won his first world title when he captured the WBC super featherweight strap with victory over Genaro Hernandez in 1998. During an incredible unbeaten career that spanned 19 years, ‘Money’ went on to win world titles in four more divisions - lightweight, super lightweight, welterweight and super welterweight. P-REALA, who is part of Mayweather’s Money Team and CEO of his record label
Philthy Rich Records, posted a video on Instagram showing Mayweather ’s incredible collection of titles. Arguing with the champ @floydmayweather about the NBA Finals and he shows me this... I guess that was the end of the convo,’ read the caption. Mayweather has not fought since beating compatriot Andre Berto in September 2015, a win which extended his perfect record to 49-0. Talk of the 40-year-old returning to the ring to face UFC star Conor McGregor in a money-spinning cross-over bout has been rumbling on for months.
For now, however, ‘Money’ looks set to be back on the road in the coming days. Mayweather recently spent time travelling around Europe following Gervonta Davis’ victory over Liam Walsh last month. And in a video on Instagram, the former fiveweight king announced that he will be visiting Ghana in Africa alongside members of his Money Team next week. ‘Africa, Ghana, your man Floyd Mayweather and The Money Team, June 15 and June 16, the motherland,’ the 40-year-old said in the video. (MailOnline)
Mayweather poses with his entire collection of world title belts after retiring in late 2015.
S. Jagmohan Hardware, BK International... (From page 38) successful. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster along with Vice President Mark Papannah who are leading the Planning Committee expressed gratitude to Mr. Brian Tiwari of BK International, Mr. Jagmohan of S. Jagmohan Construction Service and Director of Sports
Christopher Jones. Foster said that all plans are in place for a successful tournament and that every objective would be achieved including assistance to less fortunate students and 20 cricket clubs along with educating youths on Climate Change and Guyana’s Green Economy.
Meanwhile, the RHTY&SC has indicated that the tournament might be played at the Intermediate/Inter Village level as permission to have senior Guyana players participation might not be granted by the relevant authorities in the Guyana cricket structure. Foster stated that his club does not intend to get involved in the turmoil of Guyana’s cricket politics but it seems that the club is paying the price for his statement on Guyana’s cricket at the Annual Awards Ceremony in April. The long serving Secretary/CEO had urged the Government of Guyana to intervene to save the game from the crisis it had found itself in. Under the Intermediate status, teams would be allowed to play six first division players who have not played for Guyana since 2012 while the other players would be second division or junior players. RHTY&SC, Foster indicated would only be inviting teams from Berbice to avoid any problems and as such would be withdrawing the invitations to the two Georgetown based clubs. The teams that would be playing are Rose Hall Town, Young Achievers, Tucker Park, Young Warriors, Police, Upper Corentyne, Kildonan and Blairmont. The organisers are working on all the teams playing the first round on one day at the Albion Ground using the 10/10 format while the 3rd Place and Finals would be T20 affairs. The winning team would take home $500,000 and trophy, 2nd Runner Up $100,000 and Trophy and fourth Runner up $50,000. The man-ofthe-finals would take home $50,000 and a trophy.
Friday June 09, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Be sure to take care of any minor ailments. Hard work will not go unnoticed. You can enjoy your involvement in organizations that make charitable contributions. TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) You will be subject to pushy individuals if you get involved in uncertain organizations. Pleasure trips will ease the tension between you and your mate. Someone may try to damage your reputation. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Don't ignore any emotional issues that could be causing problems. You can be sure that any dealing with large institutions should go well. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You will get upset over trivial matters. Your involvement with groups will raise your self esteem. Do your work at home, if you can. Someone may be trying to make you look bad.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Travel opportunities look positive, but be cautious while driving. Don't expect support from your mate. Get involved in fitness programs that will bring you in contact with new friends. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Disputes may start because of a lack of honesty. Jealous colleagues may try to undermine you. Look for professional guidance if it will help unite the family. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Be prepared to take care of the issues at hand. Rewards for past good deeds will highlight your day. Self-improvement could bring amazing results. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You will learn a great deal from the foreigners you meet. Talk to someone you trust if you need advice about broaching the subject. Expect to have problems with the ones you love.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your trendy style and unique way of doing things will entice new acquaintances. You will be full of energy and you need to find something constructive to do. Use your ingenuity to manipulate things to get what you want. Someone you live with will be impossible.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You can anger others quickly today. Avoid overspending on items for your home. There might be a problem with a will or with an insurance policy. Discover opportunities based on the individuals you mingle with today.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Property investments will payoff. Don't let your emotional partner upset you today. You will have to make changes in order to eliminate the tension.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Pleasure trips will turn out to be better than anticipated. You can meet interesting new friends if you join worthwhile groups. Don't exhaust yourself or minor health problems will set in.
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Master of defense Halep downs Pliskova to reach Paris final Ostapenko blazes past Bacsinszky Romanian Simona Halep showed the full extent of her defensive skills to beat Karolina Pliskova 6-4 3-6 63 and reach her second French Open final, yesterday. The third seed, who will become world number one if she defeats Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko in tomorrow’s showdown, benefited from her opponent’s unforced errors in the first set before Pliskova rediscovered her touch. Overwhelmed by Pliskova’s power in the second set, Halep regained the momentum in the decider, frustrating her second-seeded opponent with her ability to soak up punishment. She ended the contest on her first match point with an unreturnable serve to reach her second Roland Garros final after losing the first one to Maria Sharapova in 2014. Meanwhile, ripping a screaming forehand straight through the tennis textbook, Latvian Jelena Ostapenko blazed into the French Open final with a 7-6(4) 3-6 6-3
Simona Halep celebrates winning her semi final match. Reuters / Christian Hartmann. win over Swiss Timea Bacsinszky in a battle of the birthday girls yesterday. On the day she turned 20 the free-swinging world number 47 launched a fusillade of 50 winners to become the first unseeded player to reach the women’s
singles final at Roland Garros since Mima Jausovec lost to Chris Evert in 1983. But seven-times French Open champion Evert, in Paris commentating for broadcaster Eurosport, would not have recognised the brand of tennis served up
Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko celebrates winning. Reuters / Christian Hartmann by Ostapenko. Mixed in with her scintillating winners, including forehands faster than anything men’s world number one Andy Murray has managed here so far, were 45 unforced errors, some of which could have been included in a video
nasty. At times during a match of 16 service breaks the impetuosity of youth betrayed her as she seemed on the verge of youthful tantrums in the hot Court Philippe Chatrier sunshine, especially when she lost four games in a row
to lose the second set. Bacsinszky, the 30th seed, who needed a bandage applied to her right thigh midway through the first set, looked the more likely winner at that point as she sought to celebrate her 28th birthday by surpassing her semi-final run of 2015. Logic suggested the steady approach she adopted after losing the first-set tiebreak would get the job done for the experienced Swiss, not the white-knuckle rollercoaster tennis Ostapenko was playing. But Ostapenko played fearlessly in the decider and roared home from 3-3, swishing away a forehand to finish an absorbing contest and become the first Latvian to reach a major final. Should she win tomorrow, against either fourth seed Simona Halep, it would be her first title — emulating the feat of Brazilian great Gustavo Kuerten who also announced himself to the world by opening his account at Roland Garros in 1997. (Reuters)
LeBron says Cavs not giving up against Warriors in NBA Finals LeBron James is not one to shy away from a challenge and yesterday said he and his Cleveland Cavaliers would not roll over to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals despite the long odds they face. No NBA team have ever found their way back after losing the first three games of a best-of-seven series but James was not ready to admit defeat. ”My mindset is to try to get every game. Tomorrow’s (today) another important opportunity for us and for m y s e l f , o b v i o u s l y, t o continue the series,” said James, who had a game-high 39 points in the Game Three loss. ”It’s been a long season, and you hate for it to end this way. So mentally and physically, I got to prepare myself for that.” Perhaps most frustrating for the Cavaliers, who host Game Four today, is that after two lopsided losses to open the series they returned home and played their most complete game of the Finals only to blow six-point lead in the closing minutes.
The Cavaliers, however, are no stranger to defying odds. They became the first team to triumph after falling into a 3-1 Finals deficit when they beat the Warriors in seven games last year. But the challenge is far more difficult this time, not only because of the bigger deficit but also given the sheer talent of a Warriors group looking to become the first NBA team to win a title without suffering a single postseason loss. ”I knew it was going to be one of the toughest challenges I’ve had because of the firepower they have, because of the mindset that they were going to have. And they’re a hungry group. You can sense that,” said James. The Warriors beat Cleveland in the 2015 Finals, lost the rematch a year later after putting together a recordsetting 73-win regular season, and then signed fourtimes scoring champion Kevin Durant to bolster a roster overflowing with talent. According to James, the Warriors, who have not lost four consecutive games
since 2013, have all the pieces needed to dominate the NBA for years to come. ”There have been times throughout my career where
I played teams that were just in the midst of something that can last for a long time. And obviously this team
LeBron James shoots the ball against the Golden State Warriors in game three of the 2017 NBA Finals. Ron Schwane/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
is built to be able to do that with the talent that they have,” said James. ”So we’ll see what happens. Obviously you
never know what’s going to happen, but as it stands right now, they look pretty good as far as the future.” (Reuters)
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Friday June 09, 2017
Kevin Durant’s late three-pointer in closing seconds opens up 3-0 lead in NBA Finals Kevin Durant drained the shot of his professional life a three-pointer with 45.3 seconds left - and scored 31 points as the Golden State Warriors moved within one win of post-season perfection and payback by rallying to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 118113 on Wednesday night to take a 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals. The Warriors trailed by six with three minutes left before Durant, who signed with Golden State last summer to win a championship, brought them back, scoring 14 in the fourth. With their 15th straight win, the Warriors have the longest post-season streak for any team in the four major professional sports. And with a victory in Game Four tonight, Golden State can exorcise those haunting demons from last June when the Warriors blew a 3-1 lead in the Finals to the Cavaliers. No team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit. Klay Thompson added 30 points and Stephen Curry had 26 for the Warriors, who are one win from their second title in three years. LeBron James shook off a knee-buckling blow to the chin while scoring 39 and Kyrie Irving added 38 for the
Cavs, who took a 113-107 lead with 3:09 left on the clock after J.R. Smith’s three-pointer. Curry hit a lay-up and after both James and Irving missed for the Cavs, Durant dropped his 3 - a shot that could be the one most remembered in this magnificent run by the Warriors. ’All I was looking at was the bottom of the net,’ Durant said. ‘I’ve been working on that shot my whole life. To see that go in, that was liberating, man. We’ve got one more to go.’ After the Warriors went up, Irving missed a 3 from his favorite spot on the right side and the Warriors closed it out with four free throws in the final 12.9 seconds before celebrating briefly on the floor and then charging down the hallway to their locker room. After winning Games One and Two by a combined 41 points at home, the Warriors had to scrap for all 48 minutes to take down the Cavs, who will need a similar effort to avoid being swept by a team with few weaknesses. James and Irving were relentless in the second-half and it appeared they had done enough to get Cleveland over the top and
perhaps back in the series. Durant, though, was not going to be denied. Not after getting this close, not after enduring so much criticism for leaving Oklahoma City and not with a chance to put the Cavaliers in an insurmountable hole. The 7-footer finished 10 of 18 from the field with eight rebounds and four assists. Curry, who has benefited more than any other player by Durant’s arrival and is healthy in these Finals, added 13 rebounds and six assists. With coach Steve Kerr back on the bench for the second straight game after battling back pain, Golden State, which made a record 9 3-pointers in the first quarter and finished 16 of 33 behind the arc, also got just what it needed from its reserves as Andre Iguodala had several big plays, none bigger than stripping James of the ball on a potential tying 3pointer with 12.6 seconds left. Cleveland had collapsed in the third quarter of the first two games, letting the Warriors run away and hide. Irving didn’t let that happen in Game 3. The Cavaliers, though, couldn’t get far enough ahead in the fourth to get comfortable and the
Stephen Curry (left) and Kevin Durant put their heads together during a dramatic Game Three Warriors kept chipping into their lead before Durant’s defining 3-pointer. James was knocked flat in the first quarter, when he accidentally got blasted in the chin by teammate Tristan Thompson’s shoulder. James dropped to the floor and a hush fell over Cleveland’s crowd as the three-time champ laid in the foul lane like a boxer sprawled on the canvas after taking an upper cut. James
shook it off, got up and slowly walked to the bench, and moments later drove for a layup. Golden State landed the next blows, but the Cavs kept coming back. Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue decided not to change his starting lineup for Game 3, sticking with the slumping Smith at shooting guard. He also insisted that his team was better off playing at a high tempo than trying to slow down the Warriors.
’We want to play fast; we don’t want to play in a hurry,’ Lue said. ‘We want to get good shots. We don’t want to take the long 3s and things like that.’ Showing off his ability to spin in shots high off the backboard, Irving scored 16 in the third quarter and the Cavs held the Warriors to 22 points in their lowest scoring output in any quarter in this postseason. (MailOnline)
Banks Beer partners with GRFU for RAN 15s clash against T&T Banks DIH under its Banks Beer brand confirmed its association with the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) for tomorrow’s RAN 15s clash against Trinidad and Tobago, at the National Park. The Company renewed its long established relationship with the Union following a simple presentation ceremony that was conducted in the e n t i t y ’s B o a r d r o o m yesterday. Present at the occasion were President of the Union Peter Green, Head Coach Kenneth Grant Stuart, Banks Communications Director Troy Peters, Outdoor Events
Manager Mortimer Stewart, Banks Beer representative Rawle Nedd, Referees official Terrence Grant, Captain Ryan Gonsalves, PRO Daniel Anderson and player Elwyn Chase. Peters in his remarks noted that the beverage giant is always eager to support the national men’s squad, commonly referred to as the ‘Green Machine’. “We have been supportive of rugby for as long as I can remember and I know Trinidad brings a rough and rugged game, but I know our boys can handle it,” he stated. Green shortly after thanking the Company for its
continued support disclosed that because of the unceasing inclement weather the Union is in search of a venue since the customary home which is the National Park is currently unfit to host the important game. He added that because of cricket commitments, the National Stadium is unavailable, but was hoping that the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora or the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue be considered as other options. Grant Stuart, however, indicated that the team is ready for the clash, adding that they’ve been able to put
Venue a big issue-Green the “distractions” aside and concentrate on winning the game. “ We k n o w o f t h e distractions, but my job is to help these guys prepare and we are ready... the weather has not affected us because we have been able to balance what we do,” Grant Stuart said. Gonsalves in his remarks stressed the importance of the team remaining “focused”, but underlined the frustration that the players face in such situations. “Knowing that
this is a team that has been good for a long period it can be frustrating and we need persons to help us, thanks to Banks, but somebody needs to help us move forward,” Gonsalves mentioned. Meanwhile, Green told the gathering of media operatives that he was hoping to confirm a venue late yesterday, informing that the Union is pressed for time with the visitors scheduled to arrive this morning for the engagement.
The game is set for tomorrow at 16:00hrs and the main sponsor have undertaken to have giveaways for the fans who are being urged to come out in their usual numbers to rally behind the ‘Green Machine. Guyana beat Barbados 34-26 in their South Zone encounter and must be feeling confident ahead of tomorrow’s clash against a team they had defeated 2318 for the title last year, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
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Bolt treasured by Jamaicans not only for his speed Usain Bolt’s value to Jamaica over the last decade has gone far beyond just winning medals on the track, the island’s leading athletes and politicians said, as the sprint king prepares for his final race on home soil this week. The 30-year-old multiple Olympic gold medalist, who has decided to retire after the world championships in London in August, will bid farewell to the fans in his island home in the 100 meters at tomorrow’s Racers Grand Prix. For Jamaicans he ranks as a national treasure, transcending his sport just as Brazilian Pele did soccer and Muhammad Ali boxing. ”Usain Bolt continues in that great tradition of voices that amplify Jamaica,” Prime Minister Andrew Holness told Reuters in an interview at the Kingston National Stadium on Wednesday. ”Great personalities like Usain Bolt ... make people want to see what else Jamaica has to offer, so he literally opens doors for Jamaica to the rest of the world.” Before Bolt, Don Quarrie was one of Jamaica’s best-known track and field athletes after he won gold in the 200 meters at the 1976 Olympics. Quarrie said Bolt’s impact was as much about his spirit as about his sporting feats. ”He brought so much joy to track and field, not just from his times, but from his personality, which at first people thought was a put-on, but they later realised that it was genuine and they loved it,” Quarrie told Reuters. ”Everybody from every part of the world knows where Jamaica is right now (and) everyone knows who Usain Bolt is and it’s not just because of his speed but because they’re captivated by whom he is.” Tomorrow Jamaicans
will see Bolt run his last competitive race on the Caribbean island. A ‘who’s who’ of modern track greats, including world record holders Wayde Van Niekerk and David Rudisha and double Olympic and world champion Mo Farah, will be among those participating in the meet. INSPIRING THE YOUNG ”He ends his competitive career this year, but he does not end the image, and the legacy of course, that Usain will leave.” Jamaica Olympic Association president Mike Fennell told Reuters. That legacy lies in his ability to inspire youngsters to take up the sport, said Warren Blake, Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association president. ”When he won the double sprint gold medals in Beijing 2008 and then added the sprint relay gold also in record time, it had an effect right across the spectrum in Jamaica because all the high schools reported that the number of athletes coming out to train to make their school teams for Boys and Girls Championship doubled.” Maxine Walters, who has produced all of Bolt’s international commercials in Jamaica, said of the lanky sprinter: “He’s an amazing treasure for Jamaica, not just as an amazingly successful sprinter and the fastest man in the world but as a human being with his contribution to his country.” Twelve years of hard work have brought Bolt the level of supremacy and excellence he has achieved, Glen Mills, his coach since 2005, told Reuters. “But all good things, one day, must come to an end and he has decided that this is it for him,” Mills said. “He has served the sport well and the
CFU mourns the death of Captain Horace Burrell St. John’s, Antigua The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) joins with the global football community to offer sincere condolences to the family of Captain Horace Burrell, who died Tuesday after a prolonged illness. Captain Burrell gave yeoman service in football to his native Jamaica as the President of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) from 1994-2003 and from 2007 until his death. He also served the CFU,
CONCACAF and FIFA with distinction. ”We in the CFU are grateful to have had Captain Burrell among our ranks, and we are certain that his name will forever be etched in the annals of Caribbean football history. We offer our sincere condolences to his family and, by extension, the people of his native Jamaica. We share in your grief and mourn your loss,” Acting President of the CFU Rignaal Francisca said.
sport has served him well and we’ll miss him.” What he will do after retirement is a matter for conjecture but the prime minister said there was an open invitation for him to play a role in government. “The possibilities for him are endless and I’d like to say to him that my door is always open and I have a seat for him anywhere he wants to serve,” Holness added. ”I would love to see him take interest in the sport itself from the leadership, governance and administrative point of view.” (Reuters)
Usain Bolt celebrates winning the Jamaican team’s gold medal in the 4x100m relay. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
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Friday June 09, 2017
Under-20 World Cup: Italy 1-3 England
Solanke (centre) and Ademola Lookman (right) turned the game around for the Young Lions
England reached the final of the Under-20 World Cup for the first time by coming from behind to beat Italy. Paul Simpson’s side dominated the second half with new Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke scoring twice, a calm equaliser and a long-range third. Everton’s Ademola Lookman got the second, tucking home from six yards out on 77 minutes. England will play Venezuela, who beat Uruguay, in Sunday’s final in South Korea. Italy had taken the lead within the first two minutes when Juventus winger Riccardo Orsolini slotted home from inside the area. But England created chance after chance in the second half to become the nation’s first men’s team to reach any World Cup final since the senior side in 1966. England finished top of their group, which included a 3-0 win over sixtime champions Argentina. Manager Simpson had told BBC Sport before the match that reaching the final would be “massive” and their approach and style of play was “changing everyone’s perception of English football”. The scoreline could have been even more emphatic but Solanke flicked a header wide and forced Italy goalkeeper Andrea Zaccagno into a fine save, while Sheyi Ojo struck the outside of the post with a curled effort. The current side have made a total of 72 Premier League appearances to date. Striker Adam Armstrong leads the way with 15, having made his top-flight debut as a late substitute in Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat by Fulham on 15 March 2014. Everton’s Kieran Dowell and Liverpool’s Sheyi Ojo made no senior league appearances this season but both represented their teams in the 2015-16 Premier League campaign. (BBCsport)
American student Christian Coleman smashes college 100m record with 9.82sec dash With Usain Bolt set to hang up his spikes after a t h l e t i c s ’ Wo r l d Championships in London this summer, the search is on for the next superstar to emerge over 100 metres. Step forward Christian Coleman. Still only 21, the American athlete smashed the collegiate record on Wednesday when he ran 9.82secs in the first heat of the men’s 100m semi-final at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene. In doing so the Tennessee sprinter became the fourth-fastest American of all time, with only Tyson Gay, Justin Gatlin, and Maurice Greene having ever run faster than him. Gay holds the US record with a run of 9.69secs. The fastest any Brit has ever run was Linford Christie’s 9.87secs in 1993. Coleman also jointly holds the 60m indoor record at college level, and became
the first person to win both the 60m and 200m at NCAA indoor Championships since Gatlin performed the same in 2002. His ability has not gone unnoticed, and he was part of the USA Olympics team that headed to Rio last summer along with Bolt and other stars of the sport, running the second leg in their 4x100m relay qualifying heat. With the world’s fastest man set to bow out, sprinting his crying out for a new superstar, and the signs are good for the American hot on the scene. Coleman has broken the 10-second barrier at a younger age than the Jamaican, Bolt hitting 9.76secs three months before his 22nd birthday, improving on a personal best of 10.03secs. There is time yet for this Te n n e s s e e t o r p e d o t o improve, too. Sprinting could have found its new king. (MailOnline)
US sprinter Christian Coleman (right) has smashed the collegiate 100metres record
Kaieteur News
Friday June 09, 2017
RHTY&SC cricket teams donate to Enterprise, Skeldon CC; East Bank Football Association
Clinton Pestano hands over donation to Enterprise Busta Cricket Club’s Chandrapaul Tickaram. The eight cricket teams of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) continues to assist their counterparts from other cricket clubs under their Personal Development Programme. The latest clubs to benefit are the Enterprise Busta Sports Club of East Coast Demerara and the Skeldon Community Centre Cricket Club. Both cricket clubs received three trophies and six medals each to assist them to organise a cricket tournament for teams in their respective areas with the main the aim of promoting t h e S a y N O / S a y Ye s Message to youths. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster informed that the RHTY&SC is quite passionate about assisting others to achieve and enjoy the same success as it does. RHTY&SC, despite all of its efforts and passion would be unable to reach youths in all of Guyana and as such needs the assistance of its sister clubs to promote
the Say NO/SAY YES Message. Under the highly successful campaign, the eight cricket teams encourages youths to Say No to Drugs, Suicide, Crime, Alcohol and YES to Education, Life, Sports and Religion. Foster noted that his club, the only sports club in Guyana that has a programme to assist fellow clubs for this year alone has done so for dozens of clubs, sportsmen and women to the tune of over $4M in gear, trophies, medals and other items to assist them to fulfil their respective mandates. The club in April, assisted 12 cricket clubs with over $1.5M worth of cricket balls, bats and stumps while a total of 62 schools, clubs, NGO’s and churches have benefitted from donations of trophies, medals and prizes. Additionally 22 young sportsmen and women have received individual donation of gear, footwear, educational materials and finance under the RHTY&SC, “Dare to Dream” and “We Care” Programmes.
Meanwhile, the RHTY&SC also donated trophies, medals, hand towels and an $18,000 bicycle to the East Bank Football Association for the hosting of a football tournament for females on the East Bank of Demerara, Vice President Mark Papannah who has direct responsibilities for the RHTY&SC Outreach programme stated that they have reached out to other entities in seven of the ten regions in Guyana and would continue to do so in the future. Papannah disclosed that the club would also be assisting over 20 more cricket clubs with gear especially balls after the hosting of the Patron’s Cup, next month. Balls would be distributed as part of a widespread effort to assist in the development of youths. Among the intended beneficiaries are Bush Lot Rising Star, Blairmont, Police, Edinburgh, Tucker Park, Young Warriors, Courtland, Fyrish, Chesney, Whim, Young and Restless, Skeldon and Upper Corentyne.
NSC congratulates national U-15 football team The National Sports Commission (NSC) has extended congratulations to Guyana’s Under-15 team on winning the SOUALIGA tournament in St. Martin last weekend. See full congratulatory message b e l o w : ”The Director of Sport, Mr.
Christopher Jones and Commissioners of the National Sports Commission extend congratulations to the Guyana National Under-15 football team on their successful run in St Martin at t h e S O U A L I G A Tournament.
The Guyana Football Federation must be complemented on their robust grassroots programme, which continues to develop our young and talented players. At this time all Guyana stands proud of our young CHAMPIONS”.
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Sri Lanka pull off stunning victory to beat holders India by chasing down 322 at The Oval The Champions Trophy took another twist as unfancied Sri Lanka swatted aside the holders India on a dramatic day in south London. Less than 24 hours after Pakistan had stunned South Africa at Edgbaston, the Sri Lankans knocked off an imposing target of 322 with seven wickets and eight balls to spare to throw Group B wide open. And it left a crestfallen Indian captain Virat Kohli – who had fallen for a five-ball duck – to admit: ‘We’re not invincible.’ Defeat by South Africa on Sunday and they will be out. Only once before, at Headingley in 2006, had Sri Lanka pulled off a higher one-day chase. That, though, was against a shambolic England team still clueless about the demands of modern one-day cricket. This was against one of the savviest 50-over sides in the world game, in front of a crowd of over 22,000 dominated by Indian fans, and with the memory of their collapse against South Africa at the same venue still fresh. Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews compared the raucous atmosphere to a World Cup final, adding: ‘No one really expected us to win. That took a lot of pressure off us. It doesn’t matter if the opposition respects us or not. We knew underneath we had the talent to beat a fantastic team like India.’ To the delight of the ICC, the
Dhawan blows a kiss to the crowd following his fantastic innings against Sri Lanka. upset leaves Group B exquisitely poised, with the final two matches now in effect quarter-finals. If Sri Lanka bat like they did here, they will have every chance of beating Pakistan at Cardiff on Monday, with a semi-final against England in the Welsh capital two days later the likeliest outcome. Their apparently futile pursuit was based around an audacious second-wicket stand of 159 in just 23 overs between Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis, following the early loss of Niroshan Dickwella. Then, after both men were run out in quick succession by electric Indian fielding, Kusal Perera and Mathews – who had missed the South Africa game with a calf niggle – put on 75, placing valour before caution and hitting India’s seamers off their lengths. Even the normally accurate left-arm spin of Ravindra Jadeja was hit for 52 from six overs as Kohli
searched in vain for a breakthrough – and the Sri Lankan papare band in the OCS Stand turned up the volume. Perera was forced to retire hurt on 47 with hamstring trouble, but Mathews completed a classy 44-ball half-century, and Asela Gunaratne deposited Jasprit Bumrah towards the gas holders over fine leg. The job was completed with something close to disdain. Earlier, Shikhar Dhawan’s 125 off 128 balls had appeared to give India room to breathe as they racked up 321 for six – at that stage the tournament’s highest total. But the pitch was firm, the outfield fast, and Sri Lanka – dogged by rumours about board interference in their selection policy – found the will to upset the odds. ‘I thought we had enough on the board at halfway,’ said Kohli. So did almost everyone at The Oval. After a slow start, this tournament is alive and kicking. (MailOnline)
Trophy Stall Angels, Mike’s Wellwoman, Blue Divas victorious Trophy Stall Angels, Mike’s Wellwoman and Blue Divas recorded victories when the Mike’s Pharmacy, Nauth Motor Spares, Trophy Stall softball tournament continued recently. At Bourda, Trophy Stall Angels beat Glen Eagle’s Warriors by 71 runs. Batting first, Trophy Stall Angels made 160-5. June Ogle struck 57 while Alisa Allen made 49. Glen Eagle’s Warriors were limited to 89-4 in reply. Mike’s Wellwoman defeated 4 R Lioness by 34 runs. Mike’s Wellwoman batted first and managed 134-4 w i t h J o a n Va n s e r t i m a scoring 54 not out, Sherryann Fraser 28 and Latoya Smith 23. 4 R Lioness were restricted to
100-3 in reply. Akaze Thompson got 23. Blue Divas beat Glen Eagle’s Warriors by two runs. Blue Divas took first strike and scored 126-9. Gailann Stanford made 19. Glen Eagle’s Warriors responded with 124-9. Akeima Mc Kenzie took 3-7 and Lisa Gilkes 3-15. In the Masters’ category, Liger Masters overcame Enterprise by one run. Liger Masters batted first and got to 152-7 in 20 overs. Sahadeo Boodhoo struck 45 not out while Kumar Persaud hit 31 and Rajesh Baljit 26; Narine Rupdeo had 2-22. Enterprise replied with 1516. Seemangal Yadram scored 43 and J. Jailall 20; Rahaman Khan had 3-21. In the Open division, Speedboat beat
Glen Eagle’s Warriors. The competition continues on Sunday with Fisherman XI playing Parika Defenders at 10:00hrs and Enterprise playing Sunrisers Masters at 13:00hrs at Hydronie. At Bourda on pitch one at 10:00hrs Floodlight will face Wellman Masters and at 13:00hrs Floodlight will play Narine Masters. On pitch two at 10:00hrs Super XI will take on Glen Eagle’s Boys and at 13:00hrs Super XI will entertain Success. At Malteenoes SC on pitch one at 10:00hrs Regal Masters will face Liger Masters; on pitch two from 10:00hrs Success will take on Regal Allstars and at 13:00hrs Speedboat will challenge Regal Allstars.
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Friday June 09, 2017
Windies aiming for series sweep; Face Afghanistan in first ever ODI today Devendra Bishoo ©Getty Images
By Sean Devers in St Lucia in association with Vnet Communications, Noble House Seafood, Baksh Travel Service, Payless Varity Store and G o l d e n A r ro w H o t e l In 1973 West Indies drew 1all with England in England in their inaugural ODI series but the Caribbean side, winners of the first two World Cups (1975 & 79) and finalists in the third (1983), have not won a ODI series since 2014 when they beat Bangladesh 3-0. In 2013 they defeated Zimbabwe 3-0 but they have not won an ODI series against a team ranked higher than them since beating New Zealand 4-1 in the 2012. Today at the Darren Sammy Stadium, West Indies and Afghanistan will face-off for the first time in ODI cricket in a Day/Night contest from 14:30hrs. The ground is large and the track here usually has ‘pace and carry’ and is expected to offer assistance to the quickies. The first of 27 ODIs at this venue was in 2002 when West Indies beat New Zealand by six wickets and the capacity is about 17,000 but a full house is not
Rashid Khan ©AFP
expected tonight. This is Afghanistan’s first bilateral tour against a full member nation other than Zimbabwe and all three ODIs are scheduled for St Lucia. West Indies failed to win their last four ODIs here but that is expected to change tonight. This is the first team ranked lower than West
Roston Chase ©AFP
Indies that will harbor realistic thoughts of winning a game in this series and their main threat is exciting 18year-old leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who will represent the Guyana Amazon Warriors in this year’s CPL which starts in Florida on August 4. Unlike Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, Afghanistan has never played a Test match
and although the hosts will be favored to win there is not much difference between the teams since Pollard, Samuels, Badree, Narine, Simmons and Carlos Braithwaite, who all played in the T20 series in St Kitts, have not been selected for this series. West Indies, ranked ninth by the ICC, has until
RHTY&SC Patron Green Economy T20 Cricket Tournament
S. Jagmohan Hardware, BK International and National Sports Commission on board
RHTY&SC Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster receives donation from Director of Sports, Christopher Jones. Plans for the hosting of a major T20 cricket tournament in honour of President David Granger’s 72nd birthday on July 15 next on Tuesday last received a major boost with three new sponsors coming on board. The eight cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth
and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), is organising the tournament in honour of the club Patron’s and will highlight efforts to promote a Green Economy and to educate youths about the effects of Climate Change. Funds raised from the tournament would be used to provide less fortunate
Jeevanand Chanderpaul of S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies hand donation to Hilbert Foster. students in Berbice with school bags, exercise books and bicycles in an effort to get them to stay in school and complete their education. The organisers received financial contributions from the Management of BK International of Water Street, Georgetown and S.
Jagmohan Hardware of First Street, Campbellsville. Director of Sports Christopher Jones and the National Sports Commission have also committed to sponsor balls for the tournament along with the other areas to make sure that the event is (Continued on page 32)
September 30 to go ahead of Pakistan to earn automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales. During that period they will have 13 ODIs to play (3 against Afghanistan and 5 against India in the West Indies and 5 against England in England) but a 3nill win here won’t be worth much since Afghanistan is ranked lower than West Indies. If they lose any game here it will be a major embarrassment, even for a depleted side in which their most in-form batsman, 25year-old Roston Chase has never played in an ODI. Chase gets his debut due to ‘Test’ form and his ability bowl useful off-spin since he did not have an outstanding Regional Super50. The Jason Holder led team includes fellow pacers Shannon Gabriel, Miguel Cummins and Alzarri Joseph but there is no place for Antiguan off-spinning allrounder Rakeem Cornwall and the spinning could be done by Ashley Nurse and legspinner Devendra Bishoo, the only Guyanese in the side with back-up from Chase and Jason Mohammed. Bishoo will be keen to impress since his recent 50overs performances for Guyana and West Indies have been below par. The batting will hinge around the talented 23 yearold Shai Hope, already with a hundred and a fifty in only 10 ODIs. Evin Lewis has a ton from 11 matches while Mohammed has reached 50 four times in his eight ODIs. Jonathon Carter, Kieran Powell, Chase and Holder
will also be depended on for runs. The visitors’ batting should be led by Rahmat Shah Zurmatai, who turned 24 last Tuesday and has 2 tons from 27 ODIs and he would expect support from 29 year-old Skipper and middle order batsman Asghar Stenilkzar, Gulbadin Naib, Noor Ali Zadran, Usman Ghani and Mohammad Nabi, who each has an ODI century. Wicket Keeper Shafiqullah could also contribute with the bat. Apart from Khan who played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL and has 54 wickets from 26 ODIs including a best of 6-43, Afghanistan has in their line-up off-spinner Nabi and left-arm spinner Amir Hamza. The pace pack will be led by the experienced Dawlat Zadran and left-arm pacers Fareed Ahmad and Shapoor Zadran. West Indies: Jason Holder (Capt), Kieran Powell, Shannon Gabriel, Miguel Cummins, Alzarri Joseph, Jonathon Carter, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope, Jason Mohammed, Roston Chase, Devendra Bishoo, Jason Mohammed, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse. Afghanistan: Asghar Stanikzai (Capt), Afsar Zazai, Amir Hamza, Dawlat Zadran, Fareed Ahmad, Gulbadin Naib, Javed Ahmadi, Mohammad Nabi, Nasir Jamal, Noor Ali Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Rashid Khan, Samiullah Shenwari, Shafiqullah (wk), Shapoor Zadran, Usman Ghani.
Kaieteur News
Friday June 09, 2017
PAGE 43
Mabaruma claim Matarkai SC T20 title in Region One Mabaruma were crowned champions of the inaugural Matarkai Sports Committee T20 cricket competition which was contested recently in Region One. Witnessed by a sizeable crowd including Region One Sports Organiser Mr. Ryan James, Assistant Regional Executive Officer Mr. Oswald Junior, Mr. Colin Croal MP and MSC Chairman Sherlon Rodrigues, Mabaruma defeated host Port Kaituma in a super over after the scores were level at Fitzburg ground. Mabaruma took first strike and made 96 for 5 on a slow outfield. Elton Brown made 33 while Dario Chacon got 30. Left arm seamer Dick James was the pick of the bowlers grabbing three vital wickets for 10 runs off two overs. In reply, Port Kaituma made 96-7 with Marcus Benjamin hitting a fluent 40 and Owen James13.
Regional Chairman Mr. Brentnol Ashby (right) presents the cash prize and the GBTI sponsored ball and trophy to Mabaruma Cricket Captain Orison Sealy in the presence of his team mates. All-rounder Orison Sealy took 2-30 off three overs. In the super over, Port Kaituma managed only two runs with Orison Sealy accounting for the lone wicket. Mabaruma brushed off
the target with two balls to spare. KTS won the Arrival Day dominoes competition played at Ronaldo Barber Shop, Port Kaituma. Meanwhile, on Sunday Mabaruma CC will take on
Port Kaituma CC in a T20 match; there will also be football featuring North West Secondary against Port Kaituma Secondary while Jungle FC will battle Port Kaituma United at the Jungle
Trophy Stall annual Independence Badminton tourney starts today The Guyana Badminton Associat i o n ( G B A ) Tr o p h y S t a l l a n n u a l I n d e p e n d e n c e Tournament is set to be contested this weekend at the National Gymnasium. This is the third year that Trophy Stall is supporting the development of Badminton. The GBA expressed gratitude for Trophy Stall’s efforts in helping Badminton players to once again have competition to
showcase their skills and improve their game. The senior open men’s and ladies singles will serve off today from 05:30hrs and continue tomorrow from the same time. Under-11, 13 and 15 boys and girls singles would be played tomorrow from 15:00hrs. Following the conclusion of the tournament tomorrow, the presentation would take place.
Mrs. Sunich presenting the prizes for the tournament to Narayan Ramdhani on behalf of the GBA.
Recreational ground. A female football game is also in the making. Games are scheduled to begin at 10:00hrs. Port Kaituma fans are kindly asked to contact MSC Vice Chairman Mr. Kimtse
Castello (Kimtse Barber Shop) to make reservations for transportation. Matarkai SC would like to thank their s p o n s o r s M r. M a r k Rampersaud, Players of Matarkai, Orison Sealy and friends.
t r o Sp Banks Beer partners with GRFU for RAN 15s clash against T&T T&T
Banks Beer representative Rawle Nedd (4th right) hands over the cheque to Union President Peter Green in the presence of Company and Union officials yesterday.
Sri Lanka pull off stunning victory to beat holders India by chasing down 322 at The Oval
Venue a big issue-Green Kevin Durant’s late three-pointer in closing seconds opens up 3-0 lead in NBA Finals
Angelo Mathews celebrates after Sri Lanka pulled off an unlikely chase to overcome India.
Windies aiming for series sweep; Face Afghanistan in first ever ODI today
Durant, who scored 31 points overall, sunk the decisive three-pointer with just 45 seconds left.
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