Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Saturday March 04, 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 Seeking direction and respectability To say these are challenging times in Guyana would be a gross understatement. All is certainly not well with the people, most of whom are poor and are struggling to put food on the table or a shelter over their heads. It is downright outrageous to still see children living in squalor and so many homeless persons in the streets. The high drama being played out in the streets against City Hall over the parking meter contract and the impending charges of ex-officials and ex-ministers of the last administration coupled with the recent ruling that presidential term limits are unconstitutional could have unsettling consequences on the country. There are unfolding crises that have hamstrung the government. If the people are to believe the warnings of experts at home and abroad, the storm will not go away anytime soon and the impact could be calamitous. Guyana is saddled with some serious problems and it is becoming quite clear that the people and not the government may have to lead the change that is so badly needed. Virtually everyone in the country including vendors, students, housewives, civil servants, entrepreneurs and executives are bending under the pressure and are crying out for solutions, but their cries are falling on deaf ears. What is worse is that the administration in its wisdom or lack thereof has woefully failed to reassure the people of the future direction of the country. The government campaigned on a platform of change, good governance, accountability and transparency, but sadly, it has bungled too many of the key promises. The nation seems fed up with the existing style of governance and is forced to grapple with the current circumstances as though it is business as usual. The government would do well to know that the public is anticipating a comprehensive, realistic, far-reaching plan that will set the country on the right track and move it to the next stage of its development. Guyana needs governance that is open, accountable, responsible and collaborative. The people are outraged with the state of affairs of the country, and many are fedup with the present stagnation. They want to be properly informed and be part of the solution. However, this should be of no comfort to the leader of the opposition whose harsh criticisms of the government are now like the wind that blows hot or cold air, depending on the season. His constant feuding with media operatives and entities who do not bow to his every wish, coupled with his divisive politics, vindictiveness and cussing-down of opponents have continued to raise red flags. The first thing the Opposition would likely do should they return to office will not be to focus on the economy, help the poor or create jobs; they would more than ever want to reestablish their “ownership” of the people. It will be hard for them to prove otherwise. Guyanese will not be enthused to revisit that relatively dark period; they have had enough of the immoral cabal who mismanaged the affairs of the country and state resources. The people sent a message against such indifference towards them in 2015. They showed that they deserve better. They voted for change and they got it. The focus has now changed. They will need to speak out a little more about that which concerns them. If the authorities are serious about improving the well-being of the people, they should take heed and craft economic policies to rescue the country from falling off the precipice. Only real and meaningful action will bring things back to a level of respectability that will allow the citizens to hold their heads up. Maybe it could start with harnessing the skills and talents of the productive among us.

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.

Vincent Alexander on what Gocool Boodhoo tried to do in 2006 and 2011 Dear Editor, The retirement of the Chairman of the Elections Commission and its public announcement has occasioned another flurry, about GECOM, in the Media. Joining that flurry was one Mr Neil Kumar who made three assertions, among others. He asserted that: 1.”The election results were by law supposed to be verified by the Information Technology tabulation and the corresponding manual tabulation. However none of this was done”. 2. “Guyanese must now demand that GECOM tell us how many fake SOPs were discovered. This information must come forward so that we could know the specific areas and the Presiding Officers that were involved in the rigging of the 2015 elections.” 3. “The former Chairman and the Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Election Commission should be held responsible for their actions in allowing fake SOPs to infiltrate the system”

The first observation which I wish to make is that who so ever’s attempt it was to corrupt the system with fake statements of poll, did so on the heels of Mr B o o d h o o ’s a n d t h e C o m m i s s i o n ’ s misappropriation of a Linden Constituency seat in 2006 (an AFC seat was appropriated to the PPP/C) and Mr Boodhoo’s attempt to pass off a fictitious result in 2011 (he sought to allocate the one seat majority to the PPP/C rather than to the opposition to which it rightfully belonged). The fake statement of polls in 2015 continued the corrupt trend of 2006 and 2011. Of interest is that the now vocal Kumar and his comrades in-arms were deafening in their silence in 2006 and 2011. That attitude defies any claim that their interest is free and fair elections. It clearly shows that their singular concern is being declared the winner at all cost. That contention is further fortified by Kumar’s three concerns. The fact of

the matter is that GECOM’s IT division, which was fully operational in 2006 and 2011 when electoral fraud was perpetrated and attempted on the respective occasions, was shut down in 2015 when it was discovered that fake statements had found their way into the system and into the IT unit for the tabulation of the results. What nails Kumar’s fabrication is that in addition to the manual calculations, the CEO resorted to other computers for the purpose of computing the results as required by law and in so doing met the legal requirement, which Kumar falsely or maliciously claimed was not met. By requesting information on which statement of polls were faked, as the basis for identifying the “specific areas and the Presiding Officers that were involved in the rigging of the 2015 elections”, it is logical to conclude that Kumar knows at which stage in the process the fakes entered the system, although his party would

have collected statements at every polling station and did not challenge any of the statements used for tabulating the results at the district counting centres yet he concludes that they were from specific polling stations. If the statements entered the system at the points that Kumar contended that they did, how could he accuse Surujballi and Lowenfield of actions that allowed the infiltration, which by his contention took place at polling places where Surujballi or Lowenfield was not present nor in direct control. Let it be known that the discovery of fakes was done at the Central Command Centre after the statements would have been included in the tabulation of the IT unit. Kumar has successfully spun his own web, which in turn has entrapped him and exposed his fabrications, which he purports to be the truth. He however seems to be a stranger to the truth. Vincent Alexander GECOM Commissioner

The mental gymnastics of the Attorney-General Dear Editor, I have had an opportunity to consider the response of the Attorney General, Mr. Basil Williams, to my interpretation of article 161(2) of the Constitution which I presented to him during an engagement initiated by the President. That response was fully carried in the press. The response spanned four and a half pages, four of which were dedicated to establish that I was wrong in my submission that the ejusdem generis had no application in the interpretation of Article 161(2) of the Constitution with regard to the appointment of a Chairman for the Elections Commission. The AG’s explanation of what he perceives to be the meaning of the ejusdem generis rule is correct. The meaning he offers can readily be accessed from any basic text book on statutory interpretation. It appears from the response of the Attorney General, given the fact that he makes no mention of it, that he did not address his mind to the fact that what was being considered was a provision of the Constitution and that an essential principle of constitutional interpretation which I hope he knows or ought to know, is that the Constitution does not fall to be interpreted as an ordinary statute but rather in a broad, liberal, purposive and generous way. What then has been the interpretation put to Article 161(2) in the half page of a four and a half page opinion. He says “when looking at the construction of the section, one can reason that the categories are in order of preference.”

This is indeed a shocking mystifying construction being put upon Article 161(2). Nothing, absolutely nothing in Article 161(2), establishes any order of preference in relation to the qualifying criteria for eligibility for appointment, attaching to the names of the six persons in the list to be submitted by the Leader of the Opposition to the President. If it was intended that there should have been such a preference, the draftsman would have made that pellucid and not leave it to Mr. Williams, SC, MP, to give Article 161(2) that meaning. It should not come as a surprise, that none of the commentators on Article 161(2) have ever advocated that the Article created any preference. Article 161(2) creates three (3) categories of persons who may be considered eligible for appointment as the Chairman of the Election Commission. They are a judge, former judge, or a person qualified to be appointed a judge or, any other fit and proper person. So, taking the AG’s argument, its logical limits, by arguing for the application of the ejusdem generis rule to the interpretation of Article 161(2), and considering the genus which he contends takes preference in Article 161(2), the question arises as to what kind of person would, therefore, fit the description of “fit and proper person.” The Attorney General does not touch this issue in his attempt at interpretation of Article 161(2), though he does recognize “any other fit and proper

person” to be a category of eligible persons. Having without any proper reason or justifiable basis concluded that Article 161(2) created preferred categories of persons who may be offered for consideration for the Chairmanship of GECOM (note Mr. Williams did not apply the ejusdem generis rule to arrive at this conclusion, Indeed, he demonstrated no application of the ejusdem generis rule), he then for his “preferred category” method of interpretation, found that that method puts an obligation on the Leader of the Opposition to include a judge from what he describes as the “priority category.” This is nothing more than mental gymnastics on the part of the Attorney General. The proviso of Article 161(2) which Mr. Williams, SC, MP refers, is not an aid to the interpretation of the general body of Article 161(2). It is nothing more than a limiting provision on the power of the President which becomes punitive if the Leader of the Opposition fails to provide a list, as provided for, in Article 161(2). Only then the President in that circumstance can appoint a Chairman but in that circumstance, he would be limited to choosing a sitting judge, or former judge or someone qualified to be a judge. It is an opportune moment to point out that there is no failure by the Leader of the Opposition to submit a list, if the President rejects a submitted list. What the proviso targets is the failure of the Leader of the Opposition to submit a list at all Mohabir Anil Nandlall

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This is our balance sheet as constituency councillors DEAR EDITOR, Community Development is noble work. After ten months in office as Councillors of Constituency 14: South Ruimveldt/Ruimveldt Industrial Estate, yours truly and Noelle Chow-Chee have seen tangible gains. As 2017 commenced we have been meeting with community leaders, aimed at producing our Five Year Strategic Plan for Constituency 14, ‘A Strong, Resilient Community’. Such a Plan captures the vision for our Constituency while being a tool for continuity; a working document and a measure for the development of our community. Constituency 14 hopes to be the first in five (5) areas: (1) Producing a Strategic Plan for the Constituency, (2) Publishing its own Newsletter/ Newspaper, (3) A sustainable community sanitation programme, (4) A Flood Resilient Constituency (5) Champion of GREEN initiatives. Security Constituency 14 has two active Community Policing Groups and another in its embryonic stages. It is our hope to create more such groups, which bolster the work of our national police, providing the first line of defence for our residents. We hope to continually provide capacity building by working with the Community Policing Organisation of Guyana (CPOG), and related agencies. We intend to secure Con-

stituency 14 with the utilization of CCTV Cameras with links to a Policing Group Command Center in our Constituency. Communication We will improve our engagement with residents at regular intervals, especially engaging our youths towards community work. Residents’ ideas and feedback are also invaluable. We intend to fully utilize social media assets (residents can follow and participate at Facebook Page, “Constituency 14”) as well as traditional media, such as this ‘Letter to the Editor’. We also believe that a physical newsletter/newspaper has its place in bridging our information and communication gap. Additionally, we are in talks with radio station 93.1, which is headquartered in our Constituency, to allow us a 15 – 30 minutes programme to bring residents up to date with community news. We aim for a culture of engagement and empowerment. Housing Regularization There are two areas in the Constituency where “squatting” is taking place. Our vision is to ensure that both areas meet the minimum housing standard. We have already engaged the Central Housing and Planning Authority CH&PA) for assistance in making sure this is a reality. Additionally, we aim to encourage home builders in our community to ensure as far as is practical that homes

are environmentally friendly, and energy efficient if not totally solar powered, inclusive of lighting used for open spaces. We intend to engage the Guyana Energy Agency towards this end, cognizant that home design, and layout impacts energy cost. Solid Waste Management Our Constituency must be a leader in our solid waste management capabilities. We have been examining the ‘Cleanliness and Citizenship – Community-Led Total Sanitation’ (C&C-CLTS) framework. Such an initiative “presents a programme for communities to progress from clean-up campaigns, to a sustainable environmental programme to motivate, mobilize and organize communities to reduce the practice of ‘Open Garbage Disposal’ (OGD) and clean up communities so they become ‘Open Garbage Disposal Free’ (OGDF) and environmentally friendly; this is done by igniting and sustaining a change in sanitation and environmental behavior,” according to specialist Audreyanna Thomas. More broadly, we will continue to engage our National Integrated Solid Waste Management Strategy, especially focusing on issues like household composting, biogas generation aimed at reducing organic waste, recycling. Additionally, we intend to engage the Ministry of Communities as partners in implementing its

Waiting to see how this fight will end DEAR EDITOR, Looking through the morning newspapers on Sunday, I came across an interesting story from the PPP complaining that the Coalition Government is not really interested in finding out the truth about corruption in recent decades but was more concerned with spiting excabinet ministers and high ranking officials for alleged corruption. Editor, nothing could be further from the truth as it is widely known that every conceivable public infrastructure and other project during the 23 years of that Party in office was publicly

identified as being the dollar gift that kept on giving millions to those in charge. But more importantly Mr. Editor might be the fact that Parliament is about to debate and possibly approve the SARU bill. No doubt this has sent jitters among the ranks of those at Freedom House who are comfortably living on the proceeds of the fat made while in office. SOCU is also doing its thing and has the benefit of the legal advice of none other than Madam Justice Claudette Singh SC in its corner. Readers would recall that the PPP made no real attempt

to pay its Ministers big fat salaries as they appeared to be more concerned with simply having access to the corridors of power since all that could flow from same. Still, a protracted court fight looms and it would be interesting to see the reaction of the Party if and when the first ex-high ranking official is handcuffed and paraded up the steps of any court. The Party has said that “if and when the charges come, they will be strenuously defended.” A very interesting period looms. We shall see how all this ends. Akeem Bennons

public awareness campaign aimed at introducing primary school students to the concept of waste separation and educating them on the benefits of adopting safe waste disposal habits. 100% Rates & Taxes Collection We have an appreciation that a large part of expenditures for services provided by City Hall comes from revenues received from Rates & Taxes. We will continue to encourage residents at every opportunity to do their part in paying their rates and taxes so that they can enjoy all the city services available to them. Flood Resilience With the submission of the Dutch Risk Reduction (DDR) Team’s final report, ‘Analysis of Drainage System in Georgetown, Guyana’ (2016), we seem closer to mitigating floods and their effects from South Ruimveldt since the DRR Team’s work focused primarily on South Ruimveldt as a catchment area. According to the Team’s Final Report, “Using the input from the local drainage system analysis,

measured geometric data and simplified boundary conditions a full model of the South-Ruimveldt catchment was developed. This model can be used to assess and compare the effect of different interventions.” We intend to continue to engage the inter-agency task force put in place to manage and improve the drainage in Georgetown: comprising City Hall, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority and Ministry of Communities. We intend to put together, also, a Community Flood Response Team of Volunteers. Efficient Management of Open Spaces Constituency 14 is a beautifully laid out expanse of real estate. Our trees are priceless, and it is known that they influence meteorological and climatic effects at all scales of a city, from parks to entire neighborhoods. Our open green spaces then become our treasures for our residents, especially our children. We intend to produce a policy that preserves the trees in our Constituency while encour-

aging residents to grow more plants, especially vegetables, ensuring that we are the garden of the Garden City’. These are but some of the broad areas we will be focusing on as well as continuing the work of our Constituency Manager Brenda Williams and her team in the area of our remedial learning programme with free meals for students and a feeding program for children in the locality; as well as our empowerment program with a specific focus on women. We will be capitalizing om the ‘Citizen Security Strengthening Programme’ with it skills training aimed at reducing crime and violence among our youth; and additionally, seek out other opportunities which will benefit our youths. We will continue to work with all our partners who have been integral to our success over the last ten months and we are also eager to bring on board new ones, predominantly those for the Industrial Site area of Constituency 14, as we advance the development of our Constituency together. Councillors, Sherod Duncan; Noelle Chow-Chee

CCJ stresses there must be judicial trained in London where he President’s choice will get the independence ther was called to the Lincoln Inn. nod from the Opposition DEAR EDITOR, While the Guyana government is processing applications for the appointment of a Chancellor and Chief Justice, the Caribbean Court of Justice has commented on impartiality and the importance of judicial appointment and stressed that there must be independence of the judiciary. The comments came a day before the regional court has announced the appointment of a Belizian to replace retiring Trinidadian Justice Rolston Nelson on the court. The new appointee is Denys Barrow, a West Indian trained attorney who will assume office on June 1. It seems as if the Caribbean trained attorney is taking over the judiciary in the region. Three other CCJ Judges were also trained in the Caribbean. Adrian Saunders of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Maureen Ragnauth-Lee of Port of Spain and Jamaican Winston Anderson. Anderson however was fur-

In addition he gained his PhD in Philosophy. And speaking of Caribbean trained lawyers the Heads of the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana (Guyanese Kenneth Benjamin) as well as Belize were also graduates of the Council of Legal Education in the region. Justice Nelson is the fourth CCJ judge to go into retirement: The others were the first President Michael La Bastide, a Trinidadian and two Guyanese, Duke Pollard and Desire Bernard. The present composition of the court Sir Denis Byron of St. Kitts/ Nevis (President), Nelson (who is going into retirement on May 31) Saunders, Jacob Wit of the Netherlands, David Hayton of the UK, Anderson of Jamaica, and Ragnauth of Trinidad and Tobago. It is interesting to see who will be named to Head the judiciary in Guyana and whether the

leader, if not he or she has to act until there is an agreement or if the Constitution is amended to remove “agreement” and be replaced by “in consultation with the opposition leader” as was the case before 2002. There must also be an agreement for the confirmation of Chief Justice as well. However Appellate Court and first instant judges are appointed by the Judicial Services Commission. Oscar Ramjeet

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Solutions for the failed remediation programme in primary schools DEAR EDITOR, I refer to my letter of February 27, 2017 under the heading, “the Failing Remediation Programme in Primary Schools.: Below please find recommended solutions. From my understanding, the aim of a Remediation Programme is to provide learning support to pupils who lag far behind their counterparts in school performance. Hence, it is designed to close the gap between what students know and what they are expected to know. For this Reme d i a t i o n Programme to be effective, students must be removed from their regular classrooms and taught in another setting by professional teachers with specialized training who use planned curricula and appropriate teaching strategies. For best results, remedial classes that teach children the material in the same way they were taught the first time around must be avoided to prevent further student’s frustration (Professor Calkins 2005 and Dr. Siegel 1999). The ministry would not want to stop the automatic promotion of these pupils, thus, they must stream

the classes and allow those weak ones to strive under the care of specialists. They are suffering! These children have short attention span and are easily distracted by other things. They have poor comprehensive power, weak problemsolving skills, and they lack learning motivation and selfconfidence. This is simply because in the absence of literacy there is a general lack of reasoning and understanding. It is best to have experienced literacy teachers work at the students’ pace in the morning session (08:30-11:30) instead of burdening them for six hours with concepts from other subjects. Why give them one hour in the afternoon of what they really need when they can be gainfully occupied during this period? (Professor Calkins 2005 and Dr. Siegel 1999). It is of great importance that the ministry provides the training that teachers need to curb illiteracy. Where are the teachers who majored in Literacy and Special Needs at the Cyril Potter’s College of Education or the University of Guyana? Here is where they are needed. By creating the conditions for the teachers to obtain such training (via seminars, work-shops or internal staff development sessions) they will be encouraging the development of teachers’ ca-

pabilities to deliver in the classroom. In turn, this will serve as a motivator to do better on the job and eventually increase the school’s ability to compete with their private counterpart (Porter 1985 and Pfeiffer 1994). The ministry urgently needs to re-examine the current way in which Head teachers’ performance is measured and implement a better system. Since performance management serves as a strategic tool in an organization, it will link the Head Teachers’ activities with the organization’s mission and goals by identifying results and behaviour needed to achieve the organization’s goals. An effective performance management system will provide information about the strength and weaknesses of all teachers and will best enable the ministry to improve their capabilities (especially Head Teachers) which will help to yield desired performance (Brown 1987, and Martin & Bartol 2001). The creation of sub-objectives within the three divisions of the school (lower, middle and upper) will foster

synergy. These must be linked to the national assessment which is administered at the end of each division. The use of an effective performance management system will strike a balance between the ministry’s strategic objectives and the school’s strategic objectives and prove optimal. Head Teachers in collaboration with the Department of Education can adopt a tailored ‘Balanced Scorecard’ since it is the most widely used framework for balancing objectives. This tool will provide the teacher with clear guidelines about how their jobs are linked to the overall objectives of the organization, so they can contribute most productively to the achievement of these goals. From this the teachers will be able to stretch these objectives and continue to build on the achievements (White 1986, Winter 2003 and Tan et al 2006). The functions of the various levels of any organization are indeed salient to the achievement of good performance. It is for this

simple reason the ministry should engage in bottomup management. Too often officials from the ministry run into schools with the preconceived notion that teachers’ complaints demonstrate nothing more than laziness and Head Teachers are always right. Their main focus is on recordkeeping; they do not listen to or accept any suggests other than what the policy says. Due to this, Head Teachers are victimizing members of staff and the children suffer. In essence, if the ‘leaders’ of an organisation are misfits, would they be able to accomplish the strategic mission of the organisation? A system must be developed to allow teachers to render advice; we are in a better position to identify the issues in and around the classrooms since we are the ones at the operational l e v e l (Dean et al 1996, Armstrong 2006 and Tricker 2012). Conclusion Teachers are being asked to explain why the children failed Mathematics and cor-

respondingly, the ministry has deemed the Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) Programme as a failure. Would the ministry take the next 12 years to realize that the Remediation Programme is also not working? They seem to be happy with the status quo until CXC sets an English Paper that our children cannot cope with and then they will ask the teachers to explain why the children failed English. Why must something terrible happen before our leaders take note? Shouldn’t we extrapolate from past mishaps and try to pre-empt future ones? Policies and programmes are developed and implemented but rarely are they monitored and properly evaluated. As a consequence, years pass without any correction or adjustment is made to the policies, which is slackness because situations change constantly. This seems to be a common characteristic of most government agencies in Guyana. Rodwell Simon BSc. MBA Teacher: Providence Primary School

I was never an employee of the former Bartica IMC DEAR EDITOR, In, Kaieteur News letter column dated 15th February, 2017, letter writer, Olg Fredericks captioned: “I am asserting there is no such company in Bartica.” Two reputable organizations namely, Bartica Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and The National Mine Workers Union of Guyana (NMWUG) were on the receiving end of a public bashing. Unmerited, baseless and confounded allegations were leveled against the spokesman of the former and president of the latter organizations, Sherwyn Delano Downer. The attempted character assassination of myself and the integrity of the above

mentioned organizations were called into question by someone called Olg Fredericks, an unknown person residing in Bartica. The two above mentioned organizations stand ready and willing to reply with a joint response only if and when the real individual, hiding behind the false name comes forward with their true identity. BCCI is affiliated to the Private Sector Commission (PSC) of which the chamber has one seat with voting rights on the PSC. NMWUG is a two year old trade union with three applications pending in the Department of Labour, Social Protection Ministry, awaiting recognition. The writer alluded that I

am a political activist more so a PPP activist and I was rewarded as spokesman for the former Bartica IMC. Mr Editor, I don’t know if the invisible and unknown writer has the level of comprehension to know who or what constitute a political activist. As far as am aware, I am not even among the least of the known political activists in Guyana or Bartica. And even if that was the case, every citizen of Guyana has a right to his/her own political persuasion and should not be subjected to public or in private ridicule. As for me being a paid spokesman of the former Bartica IMC, it’s a lie, stretching as far as the east is from the west. It was a privilege then to be asked to speak for the IMC and it remains the same for the BCCI now. The office of the Bartica Town Clerk must make available to the public if there is any record of Sherwyn Downer being the recipient of a paid

salary or much less an employee of the former IMC.I remain and choose to be part of the solution to the town of my birth and where I am still living and will continue to go above and beyond in bringing attention to and raising issues that is of concern to the masses of residence of Bartica. I do wish to thank a certain office for coming forward without having to request documents and information that Olg Fredricks is a fake writer. I, Sherwyn Delano Downer, remain a testimony of how it is never too late to align your values with your behavior. We are humans and we rely on our courage to be there for us when we need it most. Sadly, the courage of the real person behind the name has failed him/her of being honest and true to oneself and for that I offer my deepest sympathy to the writer. Sherwyn Delano Downer

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Sugar’s future to be considered by National Assembly - regional forum to discuss issue later this month Cane being harvested and off-loaded into punts

The losses in recent years have been mounting up with tough decisions to be made. But total closure of the country’s sugar industry seems a long way off. As a matter of fact, according to the Coalition Government, it is handling the sugar crisis on a number of levels - at the National Assembly and at the regional forums. Both approaches are intended to ensure sugar is viable again after more than a decade and half of poor production and multimillion-dollar losses. On Tuesday, the sugar situation dominated talks at the all-important conference hosted at State House involving government ministers, and which also discussed a number of the major issues facing the country. According Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, Government is planning to very shortly take a White Paper to the National Assembly with regards to the future of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). Speaking during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday, Harmon said that Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder briefed other Ministers of Government on the way forward in relation to the future of GuySuCo’s workers. Government has been bailing out the cash-strapped sugar corporation with billions of dollars in subvention annually. From August 2015 to present, Government has

plugged $32 Billion into GuySuCo. Last year, the state-owned company reported it owed creditors more than $70B. Sugar is also being produced almost twice for what it is sold to its major European buyers. It has been unable to reach annual targets, except for 2015. Last year, it fell 30,000 tonnes compared to the previous year and with the new US$200M Skeldon estate not grinding for the first crop due to technical problems with its power generation, the immediate future looks bleak for sugar. Last year, the new administration closed Wales, the 100-year-old West Demerara estate, saying it was racking up to $2B in losses. The majority of workers were moved to Uitvlugt with a few others made redundant. The private cane farmers there have been offered some of the cane lands to do farming. The matter has been an explosive political one, as more than 17,000 workers involved with the industry were unable to receive bonuses for the first time last year. “The conference was briefed that the matters in relation to GuySuCo are ongoing. It was also informed that a process of consultation with the Opposition, trade unions and other workers’ representatives had been concluded and the options which were advanced by the government, and proposals

submitted by GAWU (Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union) will form the basis of a White Paper that will be laid in the National Assembly shortly,” Harmon explained Thursday. A White Paper is an informational document issued by governments to promote or highlight the features of a solution, product or service. The future of GuySuCo’s workers has been high on the government’s agenda, Harmon stressed. Cabinet took the decision in late 2016 to engage in consultations at the soonest possible time to ensure that the best interest of all stakeholders will be considered. Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan, who led the consultations, accepted proposals from GAWU and others at the final meeting which was held during the month of February. Meanwhile, later this month, Guyana will join the region in exploring options to protect its sugar market. Harmon disclosed that the Agriculture Minister will journey to Jamaica for the two-day conference on sugar in Jamaica, organized by stakeholders and designed to find some solutions.

It is the hope that the conference will determine a pathway on the sugar industries in the region with the aim to ensuring a proper tax on extra-regional imports. It is also the idea to discuss ways to protect local sugar products and diversification. The ideas generated will be forwarded to governments of CARICOM’s member states and the sugar stakeholders, Minister Harmon

said. With regards to the White Paper, there are proposals for estates closure, but these have to be discussed as they are part of several recommendations, Harmon disclosed. He explained that the White Paper will include proposals from GuySuCo, its union GAWU, ideas from the Opposition, and recommendations from a Commission of Inquiry that had been ordered.

According to the Minister of State, also to be conveyed in the National Assembly will be Government’s perspective, cost recovery, transfer of health centres controlled by GuySuCo, Skeldon diversification, lease lands and more importantly, the future of workers. Harmon admitted that the impact of foreign exchange for sugar on the economy was also raised Tuesday.

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Saturday March 04, 2017

Strive for equity and equality in the health sector – PAHO/WHO Rep. urges While equity and equality of health care are goals that the Ministry of Public Health is aiming for, one should not be confused for the other. This assertion was recently made by Resident Representative of the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/ WHO), Dr. William Adu-Krow, when he addressed a gathering of regional health managers. According to Dr. AduKrow, he is of the realisation that “we tend to treat them (equality and equity) as the same but they are not.” He sought to qualify his statement by noting that in Guyana there is the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), a premier public health institution that is available to all and by extension represents health equality. “Everybody can go there,” noted Dr. Adu-Krow. He, however, continued by pointing out that “if you live in Lethem and you have an emergency...let’s say you are in labour and you have to be flown to GPHC and they tell you ‘oh no this is false labour, but since you have risk factors we want to keep you in Georgetown for a while so go to a halfway house or find your own place and you can’t, and therefore you may be forced to go back home [to Lethem], that is not equity.” M o r e o v e r, D r. A d u Krow asserted that while equity on one hand measures fairness, equality on the other hand means that something is there for all to access. “I think we have to be very careful. We have to create both equity and equality.” But Dr. Adu-Krow is convinced that by embracing research conducted by PAHO, the Public Health Ministry through its regional managers could achieve the goals of both equity and equality in the delivery of health care. For this reason, he appealed for the senior officials within the

PAHO/WHO Resident Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow Public Health Ministry to make available the findings of the research to regional officials. Once embraced, Dr. Adu-Krow believes that the public health sector will have in place a suitable format for its health authority. He however asserted that “I think the [existing] health authority system is a good system [but] it may have to be looked at. It was not promulgated the way that it should have been done in its totality. However, the core element of it happens to be a good system.” Although there are improvements that can be made, Dr. Adu-Krow noted that even if the Public Health Ministry is not able to realise the ideal health system, “then let us make the best we can of the present system.” One of the major aspects of having a system that is efficient, Dr. AduKrow said, is the importance of “measuring what we do, where we are, where we come from and where we want to go.” This tactic

has been accepted by the Ministers of Public Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence and Ms. Karen Cummings. And this could be realised, he noted, even if the managers of respective regions are non-clinicians. “Sometimes you have non-clinicians and they do the work and they do it well. I am telling you this because in Jamaica, one such manager realised that she was referring a lot of cases to the capital...so she decided to look at the data over a span of two years, and then she realised that 85 percent of them were either obstetric or gynaecological in nature. All that she did was to ask for an Obstetrician and she used the data to show, and immediately she was given that, and her referrals fell 95 percent,” related Dr. AduKrow, as he stressed the importance of research in effectively managing the health sector. In so doing the PAHO/ WHO Resident Representative has urged that efforts be made to strive for equity and equality.

Saturday March 04, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Townhouses and duplexes will become free housing The decision of the Ministry of Housing to construct townhouses and duplexes is an indication of the level of stifled thinking within APNU+AFC. The coalition government has flattered to deceive when it comes to injecting new thinking. The coalition desperately wants to look and appear different from the PPPC, but it seems that the only original thinking that the coalition is capable of at the moment is to recede into the past, and impose policies and initiatives which have failed this nation. The PNC had a housing programme which provided a lot of houses for its supporters. But there were serious problems with the low income housing schemes which it established. These schemes were virtually turned into slums. The range houses that were constructed festered overcrowding. The

areas in which these houses were located remained low income. For this reason, the properties did not appreciate. It also led to the exodus of middle class persons from surrounding areas, since the values of their properties fell as a result of this same idea of having townhouses and duplexes built by the government for low income public servants. The government has not explained how it intends to manage the 700odd townhouses and duplexes which it plans to construct. It has not said how the beneficiaries will pay for the townhouses and duplexes. But it can be reasonably deduced that, in keeping with past practices under the PNC, the government will build the housing units, allocate it to its supporters who will then be required to repay a monthly sum to the Ministry until such time as the cost is re-

paid. This is where the problem lies. Past experience has shown that when people have to pay government for housing, they do not pay. As such, the arrears mount up, and what ends up happening is that the housing units end up being gifted to the owners. This is the danger of the billion-dollar duplex and townhouses project. If the government spends the money, there will be no incentive for the beneficiaries to repay. They know that government is not inclined to eject them into the streets, since this will lead to a loss of popularity by the government. And so what the housing projects end up becoming is free housing for the poor. This may seem like a good thing, but it is not. All over the world the “projects”, as they are known, become unsafe neighbourhoods. The

Dem boys seh ...

De Coalition got people saying a new prayer There is a saying in one of de good books that ‘De Lord Is My Shepherd, I shall not want’. It mean that de Lord will give you everything. You don’t have to hurt you head, you don’t have to worry. Guyanese use to go to church and learn de same thing. Dem boys been by de cathedral last week when dem hear wha sound like ‘De Lord is my Shepherd.”. Is when dem listen dem realize de people were saying Granger is my Shepherd I shall not want. He leadeth me beside high taxes, parking meter fee and VAT on electricity and water. He leadeth me to de path of unemployment for his party’s sake. Even

though I shall bear more hunger for no money is wid me he anointed my income taxes and my expenses runneth over. S u r e l y, p o v e r t y a n d hardship will follow me all de days of my life and I shall live in de house of my parents forever and ever. Bless de coalition govt. Amen.” But Soulja Bai respond to dem that a tree doesn’t bother about flowers that fall. It always making new flowers blossom. Life is not about what we lost; it’s about what we can still grow. He seh de coalition teach him that. And while he talking Travis Chase talking, too. He write pun Facebook how people trying to stop

him from talking. All because three people seh how he, Travis Chase blackmailing dem parents who children was caught in a sex video scandal. De three people seh how dem write to Soulja Bai, Rum Jattan, de police and de Greene one name Ann. Dem boys seh all who claim that de boy blackmailing people should contact de waterfalls paper. If dem don’t do this by next week then it mean dem lying pun de boy. Travis can contact de Waterfalls paper too because dem boys believe in justice. Ta l k h a l f a n d h o p e Travis got enough money to bail heself.

value of real estate declines and the dwellers invariably do not have titles or transports, and even when they do, the decline in property values render it useless for collateral purposes. Home ownership, rather than helping the dwellers, actually ends up obstructing them from improving their lot. There are many existing homeowners who are asking where the townhouses (ranges) and duplexes are going to be erected. They are afraid of the effect of such housing units on their own properties. They will move out of any area where the property values are degraded. This is why, while the intention of the government to help low income earners may be a good thing, the construction of duplexes and townhouses is not the way to go. A housing model does exist which has helped to improve the lot of the poor. That model is to give poor people subsidized land, keep the in-

terest rates for housing loans low, and reduce taxes on construction materials. It is true that these measures also benefit the rich, but once the land gets into the hands of the poor, the poor can build their own homes and expand over time. Unfortunately, that is the very model that the PPP used to provide housing to over 70,000 families. And it is the very model which the new

government wants to distance itself from.

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Saturday March 04, 2017

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

An action of President Granger that went unnoticed I first read it in Demerara Waves. Then I checked with Suraj Narine who covered the AFC press conference for Kaieteur News. Suraj played the tape and it conforms to what was carried by Demerara Waves . At the first press conference as returned leader of the AFC, held two weeks ago, Raphael Trotman said that outside of Ministerial entitlements carved out in the Cummingsburg Accord, President Granger appointed three Ministers on his own. Trotman named the three ministers as himself, Agricul-

ture Minister Noel Holder and Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, who is the President’s son-in-law. I have no problem with the president choosing his son-in-law to be a Minister. But I honestly feel that it would have been a torrid topic of conversation if a PPP President had done the same. And I do believe there is legitimate reason to ask President Granger that seeing that it was his son-in-law, if it would not have been more plausible and elegant politics for the AFC to do the selection rather than the President himself. The announcement by

Trotman raises many questions which may have acceptable answers, and it would enlighten Guyanese who like to know what their leaders are doing, if the AFC could respond. First, it would appear then, that in the Cabinet there are three layers of Ministers. Those would be Ministers that APNU leadership identified. Those the AFC identified and the three that President Granger personally selected. Secondly, the Cummingsburg Accord assigned forty percent of the Cabinet to AFC and sixty to

APNU. Did that happen? Does the AFC have forty percent? And this cannot include the three Mr. Granger chose because at the press conference, Mr. Trotman did say that the president made those choices outside of the stipulations of the Accord. Thirdly, when the AFC and APNU sat down to look at portfolios, one would have thought it was logical for the two sides to opt for preferences. It was commonsensical politics for the AFC in discussions with APNU, during the drafting of the Cummingsburg Accord, to go for the Agriculture Ministry. The AFC couldn’t be that stupid to think that its votes in 2011 came from other regions than in the agricultural districts of Guyana. The GECOM-released voting pattern for 2011 showed that Berbice played the crucial role in the PPP’s failure to secure a majority. In 2015, the GECOM release would not include the AFC, since the AFC did not contest on its own. Although the GECOM 2015 publication showed the PPP gaining more votes in Berbice than in 2011, they were not sufficient to give it a majority. One can then say that a percentage of

Indians stayed with the AFC and that took the coalition over the 50 percent mark. One can deduce again that such a big part of that percentage came from the agricultural areas of Guyana, particularly Berbice and Essequibo. Against this background, when in May 2015 the two parties sat down to discuss allocation of Ministries, why didn’t the AFC ask for Agriculture because the choice was so logical? Fourthly, does Mr. Noel Holder owe loyalty to the AFC since he was not appointed by them? Rajendra Bisessar, one of the AFC leaders who negotiated the Cummingsburg Accord with APNU, told me over snacks last Saturday at the OMG on Sheriff Street that Mr. Holder has rejected requests from the AFC to have a junior minister. Mr. Bisessar went on to tell me that his name was among the list. Bisessar says this remains Mr. Holder’s position. If what Mr. Bisessar told me is true, then it raises question of the AFC’s reach with Mr. Holder. Fifthly, Raphael Trotman was one of the leading figures in the AFC during the 2015 elections. Trotman has always been a huge figure in the AFC,

Frederick Kissoon and no doubt that played a crucial role in him winning the contest for the leader’s position at the last AFC national conference. During the 2015 election campaign, he represented the AFC in the joint command of the coalition which had its head office in Queenstown. We are getting into murky and intriguing waters here. Why would such a mammoth personality in the leadership of the AFC not have been on the AFC’s list for a ministerial job? After Ramjattan, one would have thought that the next choice of Minister would have been Trotman. But according to Trotman himself, it was the President that made him a Minister, and not a submission by the AFC. I would like to see the answers to these questions.

Saturday March 04, 2017

Motorcyclist among two killed in separate accidents

Dead: Maurice Moseley A 62-year-old motorcyclist was among two people killed in separate road accidents in less than 24 hours. Maurice Moseley of 235 Lamaha Park, East La Penitence, was on his way to work when he was struck down and killed at the intersection of Hadfield and Smyth Streets, Georgetown, around 06:00 hrs yesterday. According to information received, Moseley who worked part-time with a beverage company up the East Coast Demerara, was heading north on Smyth Street when he was struck down by a van driven by a Brazilian National, who was heading east on Hadfield Street. The victim was pronounced dead when he was

Dead: Bernice Gordon taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Kaieteur News understands that the Moseley had the right of way and the driver failed to stop. The driver was taken in police custody where a (Continued on page 15)

Kaieteur News

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Saturday March 04, 2017

Kaieteur News

Thief jailed for stabbing man with ice-pick Jermaine Jeffrey, 23, of 48 Pike Street Kitty, Georgetown, was yesterday sentenced to three years imprisonment after Magistrate Annette Singh found him guilty on an armed robbery charge at the conclu-

sion of the trial in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The court heard that Jeffrey stabbed a man several times with an ice-pick before relieving him of cash and cel-

lular phones during the robbery. The charge stated that on December 15, last, in Queenstown, Georgetown, Jeffrey, while armed with an ice-pick, robbed Keron

Humphrey of two cellular phones, $1,400 cash and other items. The Prosecutor stated that on the day in question Jeffrey confronted Humphrey at Irving and Laluni Streets, Queenstown, and stabbed him several times before relieving him of his cash and cellular phones. The injured man then raised an alarm and publicspirited citizens ran to his rescue and apprehended the accused and handed him over to the police. On Jeffrey’s first appear-

ance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded to prison after Police Prosecutor Jones objected to bail begin granted, citing that the accused was positively identified by the Virtual Complainant (Humphrey) after an identification parade was held. The prosecutor was also opposed to bail being granted based on the nature and gravity of the charge and that the stolen articles were recovered in his possession.

Jailed for three years: Jermaine Jeffrey

Drugs fraud at West Dem. Hospital...

Implicated couple released, but investigation continues – Police The West Demerara Regional Hospital

Although they have been released from police custody, the married couple at the centre of a drug fraud uncovered at the West Demerara Regional Hospital may not be “off the hook” This assertion was yesterday made by a senior police official who revealed that the matter is “still very much under investigation”. The couple was taken into police custody last week following allegations of missing drugs and related irregularities at the main Region Three public health facility. The Guyana Police Force is, moreover, tasked with ascertaining whether the allegation, which is believed to have been carried out over a protracted period, indeed materialised through the couple’s collusion. A police official when asked yesterday was not able to ascertain whether the couple was released on bail or on their own recognisance. The official however asserted that “the matter was not completed; the police was called in to investigate the matter and this is just what the police are doing – investigating.” Based on reports that were filtered to this publication last week, two persons were in police custody assisting with an investigation into the allegations of drug pro-

curement and supply fraud at the West Demerara Regional Hospital. The Ministry of Public Health had confirmed this development in a statement which informed that the hospital’s Pharmacist, Puran Bipath, and his wife, were taken into police custody. The two, according to information out of the Ministry, are employed at the hospital and were fingered in the criminal act after irregularities were discovered by a team from the Public Health Ministry. Reports suggest that the team, acting on the instructions of Senior Minister of Public Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence, had been conducting a fact-finding mission which uncovered several discrepancies during the course of the past week. Mr. John Adams, Member of Parliament representing Region Three, in an invited comment said that the team visited Wednesday of last week and found that there were some inconsistencies in the record-keeping for pharmaceuticals. Following internal investigations, a report was made to the Guyana Police Force and the Ministry of Public Health was cooperating with the authorities to identify and bring to justice those culpable.

Officials at the Ministry’s end of year press conference assured that deliberate moves were apace to ensure that recurring issues of the unavailability of drugs and medical supplies will become a thing of the past this year. Earlier this week, the services of Permanent Secretary within the Public Health Ministry, Mr. Trevor Thomas, was terminated, a development that stemmed from the discovery of mismanagement and financial irregularities within the Ministry. At this week’s Post Cabinet Press briefing Minister of State Joseph Harmon said that the move was prompted by recommendations made in a report of an audit that was conducted at the Ministry. “There are several other consequential recommendations that have been made and the [Senior] Minister of Public Health [Ms. Volda Lawrence] had actually started taking action on some of them,” Minister Harmon related. As part of her intervening efforts, Harmon said that the “she [Minister Lawrence] has gone around to some of the units where procurement is taking place and has actually seen for herself what is happening, and we can expect some radical changes where those things are concerned.”

Saturday March 04, 2017

Food for the Poor Inc. constructed 140 houses in 2016 for less fortunate

Homes constructed under the FFP’s continuing general housing programme during 2016. Despite the many challenges posed during the year 2016, Food for the Poor (Guyana) Incorporated (FFP) met them with proportionate determination. This is according to the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)’s end of year review for 2016. The report stated that a total of 140 houses were constructed under FFP’s continuing general housing programme during 2016. Forty-three of these homes were built under the New Hope Community Development Project at Onderneeming, West Coast Berbice. The project, which also saw the construction of a community centre, was a partnership between FFP and the Joseph Roetheli Lil Red Foundation who funded the project. The report stated that since the FFP commenced its housing programme in 2004, over 3325 housing units have been built. Education The report also stated that a wide variety of school furniture was distributed across the country during the year under review. A combination of chairs, tables, filing cabinets and desks were among the furni-

ture shared to the various schools including Tucville, Comenius, Clonbrook, Parfaite Harmonie and Moblissa Primary Schools; Christ Church and Patentia Secondary; Saint Stanislaus College and North Ruimveldt Multilateral School. Agriculture The members of the Now or Never Farmers Group, The Perth (Central Mahaicony) Farmers Agro-Processing Group and the Woodley Park Farmers Group were the recipients of 17 shade houses and a variety of tools and agro-processing equipment during the month of June as part of FFP’s 25th Anniversary Celebrations. The Perth (Central Mahaicony) Framers Group was also the beneficiary of the upgrading and furnishing of the Farmer’s Agro-Processing Centre. Agricultural tools were donated to farmers, farmers groups, cooperative societies and farmers associations. The tools donated included water pumps, rain boots, pick axes, forks, shovels, machetes, files and hoes. The Kirby Community Development Farmers Group, West Bank Berbice, Shieldstown Cattle Farmers Cooperative Society West

Coast Berbice and Women for Change were just some of the farmers that benefited from the donation. Ten families were provided with income-earning opportunities through the Mibicuri Farmers Group Sheep Project, Black Bush Polder in Corentyne. Each family received three ewes while the group acquired three rams for breeding purposes. Health The health sector also received large quantities of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, as well as over the counter drugs during 2016. Examination tables, dental chairs, gloves, pillows, linen, pampers, sleep chairs, cribs, mattresses, liners and laboratory tools among other essentials were distributed to hospitals and health centres countrywide. FFP’s Wheelchair Programme which was launched in 2015, continued in 2016, when 550 more wheelchairs were distributed to disabled persons across the ten administrative regions of the country, free of cost. Additionally, four medical outreach programmes were successfully launched and held during the year.

Three killed, 15-year-old shot 37 times PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Police were searching for the gunmen that shot and killed three people at a bar in Debe, south of here, on Thursday night as an opposition legislator called for fresh general elections to deal with the rising crime situation in Trinidad and Tobago. Police said that Kevin Fuller, 31, Terry Edwards, 34, and Sanjay Mahabir, 42, were killed as the gunmen entered the Runway 69 Shorts Restaurant and Bar. A fourth pa-

tron, a 19-year-old youth, has been hospitalised. Media reports said that Mahabir, who may have thought it was a robbery, ran from the bar and lay on the road. The killer ran up and shot him in the head. Opposition legislator, Dr Roodal Moonilal, said the country is very unsafe and claimed that the Keith Rowley government which came to power in September 2015, is incapable of handling the crime situation. “The loss of three more

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Kaieteur News

lives to the crime epidemic further highlights the Government’s lack of political will to drive the police service to protect citizens. The killings come in the face of a recent increase in serious crimes in rural communities, including a concerted attack on businessmen,” he said on a local radio station.. He said Thursday night’s murder in Debe shows the inability of Government to take guns off the street, and that the spate of gun violence suggests an increase in illegal weapons.

Former President Rene Preval dies PORTAU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – René Préval, the former president of Haiti died Friday, the Miami Herald Newspaper has reported. He was 74. It quoted his wife, Elisabeth Delatour Préval as confirming his death. Préval died at home in Laboule, a neighbourhood in Port-auPrince. His wife, who wasn’t with him, said she had spoken to him “three times” on Friday. “He was in excellent humor,” said Delatour Préval. “He asked, ‘When are you coming home?’ I refused to believe it. I cannot believe it.” Préval served as president from 1996 to 2001, and again from 2006-2011. He is the only president in Haitian history to have served two full presidential terms and not be jailed, exiled or killed.

René Préval, the former president of Haiti An agronomist by training, Préval devoted h is years out of the presidency to turning bamboo into fur-

niture to create jobs, and to boost the national production of agricultural products.

Government looking for recommendations to deal with foreign exchange reserves BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Barbados government is hoping for recommendations from its social partners to deal with the state of the foreign exchange reserves and the fiscal deficit. Prime Minister Freundel Stuart speaking at the oneday meeting of the Full Social Partnership, said two working groups to study both subjects will be named and that are expected to make recommendations at their end of their deliberations. “Exchanges between members of the social partnership, leaders of the social partnership led us to the conclusion that we should not waste this occasion and zero in on those issues of more immediate relevance to the economy and society of Barbados,” he said. Chairman of the Barbados Private Sector Association, Charles Herbert; is warning that tough decisions will have to be made regarding the future direction of the island. He is urging all stakeholders to ensure that the interest of Barbadians is at the forefront of any decision taken. “Today we must debate our choices openly and honestly. It will be more important to listen to the other parties as we already know our own position but not that of the others. “Let us put distrust and past differences aside and see each other as fellow Barbadian with similar hopes and aspirations for the future. The meeting is also being attended by representatives of the Congress of Trade

Prime MInister Freundel Stuart (center) fwith Finance Minister Chris Sinckler at his right. Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados, and the Barbados Workers’ Union. Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, Cleviston Haynes, is expected to make a presentation, following which discussions will focus on the foreign exchange reserves and the fiscal deficit. Last week, Finance and Economic Affairs Minister, Chris Sinckler, said that the government had noticed some slippage in reserve levels in 2016, following a relatively stable foreign exchange market position in 2014, and for the greater part of 2015. “This was even thought the difference of inflows as against outflows of foreign exchange in the market over the previous

year, remained generally in balance. “In fact, during the past year, unlike 2013 and part of 2014, we did not see any major private sector calls on the country’s reserve levels as oil prices remained low and private foreign inflows started to recover as anticipated projects got set to push off,” he said. Sinckler told reporters that the government saw a decline in public sector inflows as some major foreign-funded public projects failed to start due to legal and administrative delays. Sinckler noted that the Government has met its foreign debt obligations to the tune of B’ds$382 million in 2016.

PAGE 22

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, C a n a da & 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. Building Contractor Estimates, house plan to be drawn give us a call: 2160671/692-8464/622-0267 Repairs to refrigerators washing machine, gas stove, all units. Call Lindon: 641-1086/ 694-2202 Veterinary Services, East Side Animal Clinic @ 147 Section ‘A’ Grove Block ‘Y’ East Bank. Call: 216-4144/ 681-7215

LAND FOR SALE Land @ Soesdyke, 6 lots measuring 135’X175’. Call: 627-3334/696-8935, email:fcranmore@guyana voice.com 1-5 Acres coconut and other fruit bearing, no chemical, lease or sale – Demerara River across Timehri docks. Call: 261-2988

La Parfaite Harmonie - $1.4M, $1.8M, $1.6M, Farm -$6M, Uitvlugt -$2M, Diamond $4M, Herstelling -$5M. Call: 604-6724 La Parfaite Harmonie - $1.3M, $1.8M, $1.6M, $1.1M, Herstelling - $5M, Uitvlugt $2M, Zeelugt -$2M, Zeelugt -$1.6M, all price negotiable. Call: 614-6802 Land for sale @ Dowden Street, Kitty 125’X57’. Call: 619-4152/ 227-1905 Farm (100ftX50ft) - $3M on the East Bank, Cuyuni Mining block -$2.5M. Call: 233-3006/ 658-5897/ 651-1969

1 Lot of land @ Yarrowkabra $950,000. Call: 672-5876

- Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/6605257 The New Creation Unisex Salon: offering courses in cosmetology & nail arts design. Call Sandra: 616-6221

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MIN BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPOTR & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPESTRATE . Call: 698-7807

VEHICLE FOR SALE

VACANCY

Allion, Premio, Blue Bird, IST, Honda CRV, Toyota Spacio, Fielder Wagon, 212 Carina, RZ & Pitbull bus – Call: 650-7501

Accounts Clerk for Eccles, Industrial Site area knowledge of NIS, PAYE, VAT, Quickbooks. Call: 614-4358

1-Leyland DAF GRR Series; excellent condition. Call: 6804101 1 Mitsubishi box Canter for sale. Call: 679-9261/671-1568 1 RZ minibus -$650,000. Call: 601-4929 One new model 212 series; HC - $1.050M negotiable. Call: 264-2954/ 664-1759

Eccles (100ftX50ft) -$7M, Uitvlugt (100ftx50ft) -$2.8M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.3M, Zeelugt -$1M & $2.5M. Call: 233-3006/ 651-1969

La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.3M, Uitvlugt -$2.3M, $2M – Call: 642-1252 SALON

Saturday March 04, 2017

Kaieteur News

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

EDUCATIONAL I.A.E Classes for CSEC June 2017: Mathematics, English A, Business & Science Subject for Students, Adults & repeaters. Call: 683-5742 Electronic Course: starting 14th March. Hands on training repairing all types of TV’s etc. Call: 226-6551/ 2250391

Workers for portable toilet/ Janitorial Company - $2,000 per day- Call: 225-2618 Female assistant, bookkeeper 25-40yrs @dynamic shipping, logistics & marketing co. @ Timehri, knowledge of VAT, PAYE & NIS. Apply @ josephbhaskaran@gmail.com Salesgirls @ D. Singh & Sons. Call: 226-1316

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

Vacancy for one Driver / Expediter contact Leonard- # 609-5123

House for sale & removal at Campbellville 23ftX40ftContact Ganesh: 614-6202

One optical lab technician and ophthalmologist @ 79 Albert & Laluni Street Queenstown. Call: 231-7023/ 622-0445

2 Storey house 35X45 3 bedrooms, 1 self-contained @ 5th Avenue Diamond, H/ Scheme. Call:677-0583/664-5052

Receptionist, Male Security guard age 30-45, 233 South Road Lacytown. Call: 2250198

Quick Sale! 3 Bedrooms house located in East La Penitence, price $15M negotiable, land size – 40X80 – Call: 645-6498 1 Front building & a 2 storey building on 1 (lot) 180 Charlotte Street Bourda W30XL120 $55M negotiable. Call: 624-7341/ 227-6817/226-5183 House/land with business- 5 bedrooms, 2 bath W.C.D, Anna Catherina. Call: 6142466

TAXI SERVICE

Cook/Baker and Kitchen Assistant for interior location. Applicants must be experienced, for details call: 618-2020

Property for sale @ Low lands Hope E.C.D; 4 bedrooms house upstairs and downstairs -$9M negotiable. Call: 647-0655

TO LET Apartment, Great Diamond EBD Contact Thandeka 6030067, Ronique 643-9286 Journey Inn apartments & Car Rental. 1&2 bedroom self contained. Call: 658-0927/ 233-2300/ 718-2301695

Two houses and land for sale at Agriculture Road E.C.D. Call: 642-9633 Goat Creek, Riverfront , 75 Acres land -$7M, Lanaballi River Front, 50 Acres -$9M. Diamond -$7.5M Call: 6880087

Lodge (Vlissengen/ Durban): Professional/Office/ Business (no food retailing) space. Call: 668-7687/ 6779638/697-6421

Riviera Island: 145 Acres $30M, Tuschen property $5.8M, $6M, $15M. Call: 6880087

Melani 2 bedrooms - $10M, Mon Repos -$30M; Mon Repos -$12M. Call: 688-0087

One complete sawmill situated at Yarrowkabra Industrial Site Soesdyke/ Linden Highway. Call: 6441190/ 609-8041 Grease rags, any amount $200 lbs, white spandex cloths 60’’ width, thousand of yards contact Lall’s Garment Enterprise Tel:266-2700,6819130 1 14 feet Aluminum Boat, 1 15 HP Yamaha Outboard Engine (Short Foot), 1 Cummings-10 KVA Generator Call: 664-5807 Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999 Audi A4 Quattro S line, excellent condition. Call: 6104242 One Diesel welder on trailer. Call: 699-4300/228-2734 1 Big music set, owner migrating. Call: 690-5225 CAT 215 Excavator, Leyland DAF 55 Tipper Truck, D4H CAT Bulldozer. Call: 2750538/ 683-7225

Lodge apartments (Vlisssengen/Durban): furnished (visitors) USD$600-$1,000 monthly, unfurnished 1 bedroom $55,000, studio -$40,000 monthly- Call:668-7687/ 6779638/697-6421

Tuschen 5,8,6,2 bedrooms; Hope- 2 bedrooms $7.8M, Hogg Island 20 acres $8M Call: 688-0087

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Executive 2 Bedroom Apartment in exclusive residential area close to Ogle Airport with all modern amenities. Tele: 622-5725. Bins/Tubs. Suitable for icing in all sizes. . Contact Wills: 227-8176 ext 10 Downstairs apartment @ Lot 148cc, Eccles Housing Scheme, prime business place @ Bagotstown, Public Road, E.B.D- Call: 233-2252/ 6623337/680-4375 2 Bedrooms upper flat apartment to rent in Eccles Scheme. Call: 233-2082/ 6631109 For short term rental, 1 selfcontained 2 bedrooms apartment @ Avenue B, Diamond, E.B.D. working couple preferred- Call: 6585452 3-Bedroom apartment at Festival City Entrance, 3Bedrooms top flat at 592 Tucville. Call: 225-6485/6653622/610-5437 Modern, private, selfcontained furnished or unfurnished one bedroom apartment for rent across Zeeburg School. Call: 2770397 1-2 Bedroom apartment to rent fully furnished, including internet, cable, TV, parking available. E.C.D –Call: 6672536

For your packaging needs: Scotch tapes, strapping machines – manual, poly straps, shrink wraps. Contact Wills: 227-8176 ext 10 Sale! Sale! Sale! Seafood Mania!! Fish/Shrimp!! All types and different processes. Call M.Wills: 2278176 ext 10 Almost New! EB6500 Honda Generator, construction series, only 16hours. Call: 261-2988/ 682-8241 2 Leyland Dump truck (55210), 1 Caterpillar Backhoe, owner migrating, very good condition. Call: 672-5876 PEN-PAL

MASSAGE The Gent’s Spa: Massage done by Tiffany, mobile services. Book appointment now! Call: 677-5465

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Lot 14 Croal & Longden Street: 4 Storey building (infront Demico). Call: 663-1876

Need a Friend for a serious relationship. Call Mike: 6046211 (no texting)

ENTERTAINMENT Jubilee Resort: pool, water slide, boating, paintball, games, etc, open daily – 10:00am-6:00pm. Call: 2258915/623-7313 LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages). Continue on page 23

Saturday March 04, 2017

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Kaieteur News

GNBS to enhance business development standards The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has launched a project to enhance the national quality infrastructure (NQI) for economic diversification and trade promotion locally. At a press conference held in the training room of the Bureau on Wednesday last, Executive Director Candelle Bostwick said that the project was realized to support the goals of the Ministry of Business, and designed to create an enabling environment for our local establishments as well as encourage more investment. “This is so local manufacturers are encouraged to be in contact with the GNBS and to ensure that they purchase copies of the product standards that were developed so far. There are a wide range of standards for locally produced products such as salted fish, and dried salted fish, cassava bread, gold jewellery and toys, among others “One of the things we would be working on is to improve our marketing as well as our campaign to promote the benefits of standards, and also to educate and sensitize our consumers, because we would like to see Guyana becoming a standard-driven society like many other devel-

Executive Director of GNBS, Candelle Bostwick (R) and Allison Grant, chair of the National Standards Council oped countries.” Bostwick went on to state, “as it relates to our manufacturers conforming, we would also be depending on regulators from our sister government agencies to use some of these standards as technical regulations. Also, those manufacturers who would be thinking of exporting products will have to implement those requirements in order to access international markets. The project is made possible by a loan for US$40 million that Guyana recently

signed onto with the InterAmerican Development Bank, which will see US$9 million being given to the Ministry of Business. According to Bostwick, with globalization there is urgent need for local businesses to adhere to standards. “We conducted a needs assessment under the support for competitiveness programme a few years ago, and that programme brought to our attention that there is need for a recognized quality infrastructure in Guyana.

And by that, I mean, we need to have a system in place whereas we can have our local manufacturers have access to testing facilities so that they can guarantee the quality and safety of the products that are manufactured, because they don’t have access to all the requisite testing facilities.” “We also found that there was a need for additional metrology and calibration facilities, and it was out of those needs that it was identified, and also recognizing government policies to support lo-

cal business development, we would have had the NQI for economic diversification and trade promotion project realized. A NQI is very critical for any country, for it to ensure that its local products are accepted or have acceptance to international markets, it must be addressed by Guyana, we cannot say that we would like our businesses to be exported and we don’t have the framework to support such.” “So, this project will allow the development or strengthening of a network of laboratories in Guyana. The focus will be on laboratories that are required for testing our locally manufactured products, so it’s very important that our local businesses get on board,” Bostwick emphasised. Meanwhile, according to chair of the National Standards Council, Allison Butters-Grant, standards begin from the procurement of raw material to the cash register, and “as we look at globalization, we are imploring our manufacturers to ensure that they create an environment that is respectful of all the standards. The focal point of GNBS is to ensure that standards are adhered to and written for every process and product.

Annandale man jailed for illegal gun, ammo A 30-year old man of Annandale, East Coast Demerara, was yesterday sent to jail for 18 months after he was convicted on charges of illegal gun and ammunition possession. The convict, Delson Wayne, was also ordered to pay a fine of $60,000 when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Wayne, who was unrepresented throughout the trial, was found guilty of having a .380 pistol and three live .380 rounds in his possession on October 6, 2016, when he was not the holder of a firearm licence. According to court facts, Wayne and one of his friends were stopped and searched by police ranks at an area in Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt. During the search, ranks found the gun in Wayne’s crotch. During her ruling, the Chief Magistrate informed the court that the prosecution was able to prove all elements of the offence. She stated that the prosecution was able to prove that Wayne had physical and custodial possession of the firearm. The Chief

Magistrate also outlined that the prosecution was able to prove that the item was a gun and that Wayne was not a licenced firearm holder. In a synopsis of the evidence, the Chief Magistrate recalled that a police witness testified to finding the illegal gun in Wayne’s crotch. However, when called on to lead a defence, Wayne maintained that the police found no gun in his possession. He had related to the court that he and his friend were stopped by a party of policemen. Wayne claimed that he was assaulted by one of the ranks after he was told to lie face down on the roadway. In a sworn testimony, Wayne stated that he never saw the gun until he was placed before the courts. But Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan informed the court that she disbelieved the story narrated to the court by Wayne. She said that Wayne did not call any witness to support his story, not even the friend who was with him on the day in question. The Chief Magistrate added that the court found no reason for the police wanting to fabricate a story against Wayne.

Before passing the custodial sentence, the Chief Magistrate took into consideration the time Wayne spent on remand pending trial. She also considered the prevalence and nature of the offence; the fact that the gun was a lethal barrel weapon and the concern for public safety. Even after the decision was passed, Delson Wayne maintained that he was innocent of the charge and told the court that he has a family to take care of. “I have a family to take care of. I was never in possession of any firearm. I am innocent of this charge”, he said tearfully. At his first court appearance, Wayne had told the court that he was aware that there was a toy gun in his bag, which he had confiscated from a child on his way to work. He had claimed that the child shot him several times with small pellets from the toy gun. Based on reports, in 2015, Wayne and three other men were charged for illegal arms and ammunition possession. In 2011, police had issued a wanted bulletin for Wayne in relation to robbery underarms.

From page 22

WANTED One driver/porter from Diamond, Grove area. Call: 2161043, 677-6620 Experienced bar/shop worker & handyman for interior, must have ID, Age 18-40 years Call 231-0363 between 9am-4:30pm. Domestic help in Kitty, must have ID, NIS, TIN, Age 1840 years Call 231-0363 between 9am-4:30pm Experienced babysitter/ nanny to work weekends (stay in) -$6,000. Call: 638-9013 We pay immediate cash for land in Eccles, Herstelling, Bartica & Zeelugt. Call: 2333006/ 658-5897/651-1969 1 Cook/pastry maker- Call: 231-4303/ 676-3541 One cosmetology, one nail technician with clientele, Campbellville area, also one seamstress. Call: 616-6221/ 655-2142 Wanted land to buy at Tuschen, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt, La Parfaite Harmonie, best price offered. Call: 657-9594 Mature couple to live in and work at a Resort in Parika. Call: 231-0363 between MonFri 9am-4pm

JAILED: Delson Wayne

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Saturday March 04, 2017

Human remains found at former EU parliament urges visas for home for unwed mothers and babies US citizens visiting Europe

(CNN) Excavations have uncovered “significant quantities of human remains” at a former home for unmarried mothers run by nuns in Ireland, officials said Friday. Tests indicated they belonged to young children. An investigation was opened following public outcry when a local historian said in 2014 that she believed the bodies of 800 children could be buried on the site of the former St. Mary’s Mother

and Baby Home in Tuam, County Galway. The remains were found in the chambers of an underground structure next to a septic tank which could have been used for sewage storage or treatment, the Commission on Mother and Baby Homes said in a statement Friday. “The Commission is shocked by this discovery and is continuing its investigation into who was responsible for the disposal of hu-

man remains in this way,” the statement said. The institution, which operated from 1925 to 1961, was run by the Sisters of Bon Secours. Its former site is now part of a housing estate. Radiocarbon dating of a small number of remains recovered for analysis indicates that they date from the time the home was in operation, with some likely to date to the 1950s, the commission said.

(CNN) Members of the European Parliament have called for the European Commission to impose visas on US citizens visiting Europe amid an ongoing dispute over visa restrictions against five EU nations. MEPs called on Washington to grant the same visafree access to nationals of Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, Romania and Cyprus as enjoyed by citizens of the other 23 EU nations. EU rules require equal treatment for all member states. US citizens can currently visit all EU nations without a visa under the visa waiver programme. The resolution, approved by MEPs Thursday by a show of hands, urges the Commission to adopt the necessary legal measures “within two months” but is non-bind-

ing, according to a European Parliament news release. If applied, it would temporarily impose visa requirements on US travelers until full visa reciprocity is achieved. But EU nations would stand to lose out if tourism and business travel from the United States were impacted. The European Commission has been working toward a resolution of the visa dispute. A European Commission report published in December said the body was “using all opportunities to explore the way ahead and all options or necessary actions to be taken to achieve this objective.” The report cited the US Department of Homeland Security as saying that the five EU nations concerned were not meeting requirements set

out under US law on visa refusals, and so were not eligible to join the visa waiver programme. “The Department of Homeland Security also reiterated that temporarily suspending the visa waiver for U.S. citizens would be highly counterproductive to the achievement of a reciprocal visa waiver,” the report said. The European Commission said it would relaunch its efforts “without delay” once US P r e s i d e n t D o n a l d Trump’s administration was fully in place and noted that the US Congress would also have a central role to play in resolving the situation. Canada also imposes visa requirements on Romanians and Bulgarians but they will be lifted from December this year.

Arkansas plans to execute 8 men over 10 days (CNN) Eight men are scheduled to be executed by lethal injection in Arkansas in the space of just 10 days, according to Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s office. The state — which has not put anyone to death for 11 years — plans to execute

the men in pairs between April 17 and April 27. So many executions in suc h a s h o r t a m o u n t o f time is “unprecedented” in the United States, said a spokesman for a group that monitors US exec u t i o ns. Since the resumption of the use of the death penalty in 1977, only twice has a state conducted eight executions in a single calendar month, said Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center. Texas did so in May and June of 1977. But “no state has ever conducted eight executions over a 10-day period,” Dunham said. Thirty-one states curr e nt l y a d m i n i s t e r t h e death penalty, and lethal injection is the primary means of execution in all of

them. The number of executions carried out in the United States fell to a 25year low in 2016. Death penalty opponents were quick to criticize the planned executions. “The Arkansas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (ACADP) is outraged by ... plans to carry out eight executions within the span of ten days in April,” the organization said. “This planned mass execution is grotesque and unprecedented.” Attorneys for the eight men are attempting to block the executions. They argue that Midazolam — the drug used to render inmates unconscious before they are given two more drugs that paralyze and kill them — does not effectively keep those being executed from experiencing a painful death.

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Andy Murray beats Lucas Pouille to Sensei Woon-a-Tai to host grading exercise reach Dubai Championships final Britain’s Andy Murray beat Frenchman Lucas Pouille 7-5 6-1 to reach his second Dubai Championships final. The world number one, who was involved in a 31-minute tiebreak in his quarter-final, struggled in the first set a g a i n s t s eventh seed Pouille. The pair broke each other twice before Murray took the set after 68 minutes with his third break. The final set was a one-sided affair as the Scot set up a meeting with Fernando Verdasco in today’s final. Spaniard Verdasco, 33, beat Dutchman Robin Haase 7-6 (7-5) 5-7 6-1. ”It was tough and I made

Murray last reached the final in Dubai in 2012, when he lost to Roger Federer. a lot of mistakes,” Murray said. “But there was some good stuff in there. “I think potentially the match yesterday had some-

thing to do with that - sometimes if your legs are a little bit tired, the serve is one of the first things that goes. “As the match went on, I

started serving a bit better a n d t h a t h e l p e d me.” Murray, 29, is into his second final of the year but has never won the title in Dubai, losing to Roger Federer in his previous final appearance in 2012. Playing his first tournam e n t since his fourthround defeat at the Australian Open in January, the Scot could extend his lead at the top of the world rankings with victory today. World number two Novak Djokovic was knocked out of the Mexico Open quarter-finals in straight sets by Australian Nick Kyrgios on Thursday. (BBCsport)

Olympics: IOC Saturday March 04 , 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may find that your plans will cost a little more than you had expected. Short trips to visit others will do the whole family a world of good. Get friends to help you with the preparations. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Sit back and observe, regardless of how hard that might be. Do your job and don't ask for favors. Be aware that a female you work with may be trying to hold you back. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Travel for business purposes may bring the highest returns. Don't make financial contributions in order to impress others. You can make the most headway if you put in some overtime. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Don't share your dilemma with those you work with. Try to enlist the help of those you trust in order to fulfill the demands being made of you. Sign up for courses or join fitness clubs. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You can clear up important legalities and sign contracts today. Don't make large purchases or investments. Family responsibilities are mounting. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You can gain valuable cultural knowledge through dealing with foreigners. You mustn't be so trusting. You can expect to have a passionate time if you go out with

someone you are romantically interested in. LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Take care of the needs or responsibilities of elders. You will have to be careful not to let infatuations with colleagues get out of hand. Your mate may not have been honest with you. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Try not to jump to conclusions. Changes at home will be necessary. You might find that the extra cash will come in handy when an opportunity to invest comes along. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Don't blow situations out of proportion. Don't forget that you've only heard one side of the story. Travel may be confusing. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Things have been moving so quickly that you need to do something physical to release your tension. You will do well with clients today. Don't blow situations out of proportion. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Trouble could be brewing at home. You are best not to confide in anyone right now. You could find yourself having problems with coworkers and employers. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You could find yourself having problems with coworkers and employers. Be cautious when dealing with coworkers. You can make headway in the workforce if you put your mind to it.

(From page 26) possible to say who are the beneficiaries of this scheme,” he said. “Already, however, it’s clear that the Rio Games have nothing to do with this.” Rio became the first South American city to host the Olympic games in August. Despite concerns over the city’s ability to host the Games during Brazil’s worst recession, the Olympics were held without any major problems. However, many of the venues and installations have since been abandoned. (Reuters)

The Association do Shotokan Karate will stage a karate examination tomorrow at the YMCA Thomas Lands. The examination begins at 10.00 hrs. Ninth Degree Black Belt Karate Master Shuseki, Shihan Frank Woon-A-Tai, will be conducting the Examination. He will also be holding a series of seminars and training during his visit to Guyana to uplift the standards of karate in Guyana. Shuseki Woon-A-Tai is scheduled to leave Guyana on March 13.

Yassin urges GSSF to... (From page 31) Association,” Yassin added. He was at the time speaking at a press conference held at Olympic House to disclose the teams for the Islamic Games. He told the media that he indicated to the GSSF that they should change their name to become a member of the GOA. “What I was telling them is that based on the Executive Committee decision and council, change your name to Guyana Archery Federation whatever and they can become a member of the GOA and they will become recognised for the support of Archery,” he said. Yassin identified what the GOA Council believed to be the constitutional flaw that is stalling the acceptance of the GSSF into membership. He indicated that Article 4.2.4 of GSSF constitution states that “this federation shall be representative of the shooter sports within the country.” The long-standing GOA head, who has entered his sixth term at the helm, said that the shooter sports within the country include rifle, pistol everything. “The Guyana Olympic Association has for decades now recognised the Guyana National Rifle Association as the authority and organisation, which deals with rifle, pistols and shooting. We recognise them (rifle association) and we told the sport shooting federation that conflict may be caused,” Yassin noted. “Now when you look at all the members of the GOA; when you look at the names, you know which sport they represent, Judo, Table Tennis, Boxing, Athletics, Football, Lawn Tennis... this one would be not so recognised if they become a member, when you look at the name you don’t know and we already see that there may be a conflict as who will govern shooting,” he noted.

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Saturday March 04, 2017

NBA: Mavs’ Nowitzki closing in on exclusive scoring club Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki was labeled a “soft Euro” by critics early in his career but the grossly misguided perception ultimately fueled the towering German to become one of the NBA’s greatest scorers. The label is laughable now considering Nowitzki, already the highest-scoring NBA player born outside the United States, has blossomed into a win-at-allcosts warrior who redefined the power forward position and is closing in on a scoring milestone. Nowitzki is 48 points shy of becoming only the sixth NBA player to reach 30,000 career points, a feat that would put him in the company of Kareem AbdulJabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. Barring injury, the 38year-old former NBA Most Valuable Player should reach the mark sometime over the next week and join Malone and Bryant as the only players to score 30,000 points with one franchise. ”Dirk Nowitzki is probably one of the most tough-minded NBA players I’ve been around,” Toronto head coach Dwane Casey, who was an assistant coach for the Nowitzki-led

Mavericks team that won an NBA title in 2011, told Reuters. “You’re not going to shake him, you’re not going to get into his head, his psyche.” Nowitzki, who is averaging 13.6 points per game this season, will get his next shot at reaching the milestone later on Friday when Dallas host Memphis in the opener of a five-game home stand. The German’s rise up the all-time scoring charts was not one that many predicted when he made his NBA debut in 1998 when some said he was too soft, not strong enough, couldn’t rebound and had a style of play not suitable for the NBA, where the world’s best basketball players ply their trade. Perhaps some of the “soft” criticism directed at the 7-foot (2.1 meters) Nowitzki was because unlike other players his size, he relied more on his shooting ability rather than mixing it up down low to provide an intimidating presence. Nowitzki’s arsenal and accuracy continued to improve as he blossomed into one of the NBA’s uniquely unstoppable players, a perennial All-Star who defied the parameters of

Lindo is Jonestown/ Handenveldt Dominos Club President Orrin Waldron Lindo was elected President of the Jonestown/Handenveldt Dominoes Club of Mahaica when the organisation held its Annual General Meeting and elections recently at Maxis Gravesande residence. Peter Wilson will serve as First Vice President and Mayon Hunte, Second Vice President. Andel Northe was elected Secretary, Alfred Maxie Gravesande Treasurer, Allison Todd A s s i s t a n t Secretary/Treasurer and Daniel Richmond, Public Relations Officer. Meanwhile, Team Red chalked up 66 games to win t h e c l u b ’s d o m i n o e s

competition which was held prior to the elections. Team White finished second on 62 games and Team Blue third with 59. Andel Northe made the maximum 18 games for the winner while Daniel Richmond contributed 15. Michael Bristol scored 15 and Joseph Lynch 13 for Team Red while Orrin Waldron made the maximum 18 games for Team Blue, Morris Breeze assisted with 15. In a brief remarks following the elections PRO Richmond commended the newly elected executive for taking up the challenge and urged them to organise the sport on a regular basis in the area.

Dirk Nowitzki. Jerome Miron

his position. ”He’s one of the players you almost have to tell to get out of the gym. He’d come back in at night time ... and stay until 10 o’clock at night,” said Casey.

”Back in the day he used to have (fitness equipment) in his living room. A lot of people have TVs and pool tables, he had a Precor. ... so he’s one of the most dedicated, hardworking stars

I’ve ever been around.” Nowitzki’s durability and consistency were on full display in the 2011 NBA Finals, a best-of-seven series in which he produced some of the more defining

moments of his career against a Miami team featuring LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. With Dallas trailing the series 1-0 and down 15 points late in Game Two it was Nowitzki, playing with a torn tendon in his left middle finger, who rallied his team to victory. Five days later, with his team needing a win to avoid going down 3-1, a fever-stricken Nowitzki was at it again, this time shrugging off three miserable quarters before a stunning finish. ”He’s one of the best. As far as tight situations, you can’t think of nobody better to get the ball to than Dirk,” said Casey. “His size, his toughness, his strength. You look at him and he looks slender but he probably has one of the strongest cores you can have. You can’t knock him off balance.” (Reuters)

Olympics: IOC ethics committee looks into Rio payment claims The organisers of the 2016 Rio Olympics denied yesterday that vote buying helped to secure the Games after a French newspaper reported that a Brazilian businessman made payments to the son of an International Olympic Committee member before the vote. Le Monde reported that a company linked to Brazilian businessman Arthur Cesar de Menezes Soares Filho paid $1.5 million to Papa Massata Diack the son of Lamine Diack, the thenpresident of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) three days before a 2009 decision on the host city for the 2016 Games. Rio lost the first vote to Madrid but bounced back to win the nomination on a third ballot, by 66 votes to 32. LE Monde also said that Papa Massata Diack had paid almost $300,000 to prominent IOC member Frankie Fredericks, who said he has done nothing wrong and that the money was for “services rendered”

to promote the sport in Africa. The IOC said on Friday that its commission has started investigating the claims. “The IOC remains fully committed to clarifying this situation, working in cooperation with the (French) prosecutor,” the organization said in a statement. A spokesman for the Rio 2016 Games said the allegations did not affect the choice made by IOC delegates to award the Games to Rio. “Rio’s victory was very clear,” Mario Andrada told Reuters. “ T h e F r e n c h investigation concerns six members of the IOC and six members would not have changed the result at all. The vote was clean.” Le Monde said that three days before the October 2009 vote in Copenhagen, Pamodzi Consulting, a company owned by Papa Massata Diack received the $1.5 million payment from Matlock Capital Group, a holding company based in the British Virgin Islands.

Diack, whose father Lamine is currently awaiting trial in France on aggravated money laundering and corruption charges, also received $500,000 from Matlock Capital Group through a Russian bank account, Le Monde added. Papa Massata Diack was banned for life from athletics last year over multi-million dollar corruption claims. Le Monde said Papa Massata Diack transferred almost $300,000 to a company linked to Fredericks, a multiple Olympic and world medalist over 100 and 200metres. Fredericks, now a member of the IAAF’s ruling Council, told Le Monde the money was paid for work he did to promote athletics in Africa between 2007 and 2011. “The payment has nothing whatsoever to do with the Olympic Games and I was not an IAAF board member at the time and did not breach any regulation or rule of ethics,” he told Le Monde. The IOC said: “As far as

Mr Fredericks is concerned, he informed the IOC and explained the situation and emphasized his innocence immediately upon being contacted by the journalist. ”The IOC trusts that Mr Fredericks will bring all the elements to prove his innocence against these allegations made by Le Monde. ”Immediately after a link was made between this contractual payment and the vote for the host city of the Olympic Games 2016, Mr Fredericks himself also turned to the IOC Ethics Commission which is now following up on all the allegations in order to fully clarify this matter.” Andrada said the ongoing investigation by French authorities was focused on Lamine Diack and did not have any connection with Rio’s candidacy. “The Rio Games have already taken place and filled Brazilians with pride, and only when the French have concluded their investigation will it be (Continued on page 25)

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CPL - Organisers to weigh up Singapore bid for finals Bridgetown, Barbados, CMC – Singapore has emerged as an option to host t h i s y e a r ’s C a r i b b e a n Premier League finals if no viable alternatives are forthcoming from the region, organisers have revealed. To date, the finals of the Twenty20 tournament have never been staged outside of the Caribbean but CPL chief executive officer, Damien O’Donohue, said the government of the glitzy Asian city-state had put forward a bid to host the play-off matches. ”We have an approach from the government of Singapore to look at possibly hosting the finals there. It will be a huge step and one that I would only want to look at as a last resort,” the Irishman told the Nation newspaper here. ”They have a new cricket facility that is absolutely world class and they saw that we took the game successfully to the US, and made an approach to see if we could consider taking the games, especially the finals to Singapore. ”That’s the thing about

these franchise leagues. You can take the games and move them around.” The CPL is in its fifth year following its debut season in 2013, and has morphed into one of the most exciting T20 tournaments on the global calendar. So far, it has managed to attract superstars like South Africans AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn, along with Sri Lankans Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. However, O’Donohue said the tournament was yet to turn a real profit and staging the finals in Singapore could be a huge step towards monetizing the entity. ”For us the Indian market is hugely important. For Singapore, it would open us up to the Indian market,” O’Donohue explained. ”Taking the finals there would be a big step and negative step for CPL because it is a Caribbean tournament and it is the Caribbean that makes it so special.” He continued: “At the end of the day, we have invested a massive amount of money into the CPL. It

CPL finals … could be headed for Singapore if no viable options are found in the Caribbean.

continues to require more investment. We thought we’d break even last year. We haven’t done so yet. ”We need to look at other options if Caribbean countries cannot come up

STAG Nations Cup 2016/17 Presentation

Western Tigers pocket $2M as top four clubs rewarded Over four million dollars in prize monies and trophies were yesterday morning handed out to the top four clubs and outstanding individuals emerging from the 2016/17 edition of the STAG Nations Cup knockout competition which had involved clubs from five of the Guyana Football Federation affiliates. Making a clean sweep of the top four spots was the Georgetown Football Association which saw Western Tigers wining the top prize of 2 Million dollars along with the Most Valuable Player and Best Goalkeeper accolades which went to Phillip Rowley and Troy Carrington, respectively. Santos FC which lost the final 0-3 walked away with 1 Million dollars, the Guyana Police Force Football Club received $500,000 as the third place winner whilst club member Quincy Holder ended as the Highest Goal Scorer with 6 goals and was

duly recognized. Riddim Squad which lost the third place match-up 1-2 collected $300,000. Handing over the prizes was Ansa McAl’s Stag Brand Assistant Keon Persaud who congratulated the teams for their efforts during the competition which also saw teams from Berbice, East Demerara, E a s t B a n k a n d We s t Demerara contesting. Western Tigers Head Coach Calvin Allen in receiving the champion’s cheque credited the teams win to hard work and team spirit. ”I think that Western Tigers always have a talented bunch of players, more so young players and with the blend of the Phillip Rowley’s, Ryan Adolph and the other senior guys around is just about getting the group to work together and a bit harder. I think they were a bit relaxed and took things for granted but are now

working hard.” Allen, who took over the head technical position at the club last July, noted that they players work very hard each session, day in, day out. ”There are a few things that we have implemented that has probably changed the fortunes of the team and the administration of the club has been doing a great job also.” Western Tigers Allen further informed now boasts a revamped and structured youth programme. ”So far I think we have done a marvelous job, we’ve got about 50 to 60 youngsters coming out to the ground on any given day and the female programme we’re focused a lot on. We have females from the age of five, six to about 15 yearold. So it’s a very young female group and we are hoping to mold them into a very strong and competitive group and hopefully a good group for Guyana.”

with the deals that are required to hold some of these games.” The CPL is set to be staged from August 1 to September 9 and will once again feature six franchises –

Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, reigning champions Jamaica Tallawahs, Trinbago Knight Riders, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and St Lucia Zouks. For the first time last year,

matches were staged outside of the Caribbean when Central Broward Regional Park in Florida, United States was used as a venue for some preliminary games.

Sammy’s Zalmi reach final despite Gayle, Pollard cameos Dubai, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Darren Sammy’s Peshawar Zalmi defied cameo knocks from the West Indies pair of Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard, to beat Karachi Kings by 24 runs here yesterday and storm into tomorrow’s final of the Pakistan Super League. Playing in the second playoff qualifier at the Dubai International Stadium, Zalmi were propelled to 181 for three off their 20 overs by opener Kamran Akmal, who blasted 104 from 65 deliveries. West Indies right-hander Marlon Samuels chipped in with an unbeaten 37 while South African Dawid Malan got 36. In reply, the left-handed Gayle smashed 40 off 31 balls at the top of the order before Pollard arrived to lash a 26-ball 47 down the order, but their efforts proved in vain as King could only muster 157 for seven. Barbados-born England all-rounder Chris Jordan helped cripple the innings with an excellent spell of three for 26 from his four overs while seamer Wahab

Kamran Akmal’s 104 was the highest score in the PSL this season © Pakistan Super League

Riaz (3-24) also claimed three wickets. Kings lost the usually prolific Babar Azam cheaply for one in the second over, a dismissal which triggered a slide which saw them slump to 35 for four in the ninth over. However, Gayle then took control of the innings, pummelling two fours and four sixes in an entertaining knock while adding 45 for the fifth wicket with Pollard. When the Jamaican missed a yorker from Wahab and was bowled in the 12th over, Pollard stepped up to energise the run chase with

an innings marked by four fours and three sixes. He seemed to be taking Kings to a sensational victory before Wahab struck again, getting the Trinidadian to edge a full, wide delivery behind. Earlier, Akmal struck six fours and seven sixes to lift Zalmi after they were sent in. He put on 97 with Malan for the first wicket and a further 77 for the second wicket with Samuels who counted three fours and a six in a breezy 22-ball innings. Zalmi now take on Quetta Gladiators in the final in Lahore.

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Saturday March 04, 2017

Windies fizzle in opener despite Mohammed, Carter fifties Sam Billings drives. WICB Media/Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche

Chris Woakes©AFP St John’s, Antigua, CMC – Jason Mohammed hit a maiden One-Day International half-century and Jonathan Carter gathered his third but West Indies failed to come to grips with a challenging run chase, and slumped to a 45-run defeat to England in the opening game of a threematch series here yesterday. Asked to overhaul 297 after England captain Eoin Morgan had struck his 10th ODI hundred, West Indies lost wickets in clusters and were bowled out for 251 in the 48th over, to suffer their sixth one-day defeat in their last eight outings. Mohammed, in only his third ODI and his first international appearance in two years, top-scored with 72 while Carter weighed in with a robust 52 and Shai Hope, 31. The right-handed Mohammed anchored two successive half stands which pulled West Indies around from danger at 39 for three in the 12th over and lifted them into a strong position at 190 for four in the 39th over. But Carter’s dismissal signalled a decline for the hosts and they lost their last wickets for 61 runs in the

space of 54 balls, to fall behind in the series. Seamers Liam Plunkett (4-40) and Chris Woakes (4-47) did nearly all the damage, grabbing four wickets apiece, to underline a potent England performance ahead of Sunday’s second game at the same venue. Sent in, the tourists slumped to 29 for two in the eighth over after speedster Shannon Gabriel struck twice early on but the lefthanded Morgan came to his side’s rescue with a superb 107 off 116 deliveries. All-rounder Ben Stokes hit 55 and opener Sam Billings gathered 52, while Moeen Ali came at the end to produce a cameo unbeaten 31 from 22 balls. Following a half-hour delayed start because of wet run-ups and then rain, England found themselves stunned after Gabriel prised out Jason Roy (13) and Joe Root (4) cheaply. Roy, dropped by captain Jason Holder off a caught and bowled chance in the fifth over, perished in the following over – lbw on the back foot to one which kept low. Gabriel then got the prized wicket of Root, spectacularly bowling the

right-hander with a quick delivery which jagged back and found the batsman rooted to the crease. H o w e v e r, M o rg a n arrived to steady the innings, anchoring three partnerships which ensured England reached the fourth highest total at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium. He put on 67 for the third wicket with Billings, 110 for the fifth wicket with Stokes before adding a further 53 with Moeen Ali for the sixth wicket. Morgan, dropped on four in the 11th over by Kieran Powell at first slip off the first ball of seamer Carlos Brathwaite’s opening spell, made the most of the opportunity to raise his 32nd ODI half-century off 67 balls in the 31st over. He then required only another 45 deliveries to reach three figures, clearing the ropes at midwicket with Brathwaite to bring up the landmark in the 48th over. Morgan eventually perished off the third delivery of the final over, run out after backing up too far. Off-spinner Ashley Nurse (2-57) and the right-arm Gabriel (2-58) picked up two wickets apiece. In reply, West Indies were given a solid if not spectacular start of 36 by left-hander Evin Lewis who made 21 and Kraigg Brathwaite who scored 14. Lewis was looking ominous when against the run of play, he pulled an innocuous delivery from Woakes into the lap of deep mid-wicket in the 10th over. Powell, making a return to international cricket following a three-year break,

failed to impress as he perished in the 11th over for one, caught at point off a leading edge by Jason Roy off Plunkett. And in the following over, Brathwaite found himself in a tangle against an ordinary short ball from Woakes and swatted a simple catch to Adil Rashid at mid-on. Mohammed then instigated a recovery, first in a 69-run, fourth wicket stand with Hope and then in an entertaining 82-run, fifth wicket partnership with Carter. All told, he faced 91 balls and struck seven fours. Hope appeared untroubled before gifting his wicket by cutting a long hop from leg-spinner Rashid to Steven Finn at point but Carter entered to up the tempo, hitting four fours and two sixes in a 47-ball innings. The left-hander started slowly with just five runs from his first 19 deliveries but quickly

Jonathan Carter raced to fifty after a slow start ©Getty Images

went into overdrive and raced to his half-century off 44 balls. He was looking to push on when he held out to mid-

wicket off Plunkett in the 39th and the wicket of a tiring Mohammed in the 42nd helped seal the Windies demise.

Saturday March 04, 2017

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Kaieteur News

GSSF/Archery Guyana Benefits From More Expertise

Canal Number Two SC T20 on today Canal Number Two Sports Club of West Bank Demerara will be hosting a T20 tournament today starting at 11:00hrs. Rising Star, Sawpit SC, Malvern SC and Cultural CC are the teams set to battle for supremacy. Among the players expected to be on show are Anthony Ifill, Kheshram Seyhodan, Chabiraj

Ramcharran, Elroy Fernandes, Marvin Chung, Mohamed Khan, Anthony Ifill and Peter Persaud. A release from the club stated that most of the grounds in the area not in playable condition so they try to accommodate all the teams on a weekly basis which is the reason for them (host club) having to sit out of the competition.

Focus on fairness, developing the game at 131st IFAB AGM Mr. John Annel giving Archery technique tips to members at the National Gymnasium. The Guyana Sport Shooting Federation / Archery Guyana recently collaborated with Mr. John Annel of the Barbados Archery Association (BAA) who visited Guyana for a short period. Mr. Annel, who is a member athlete of World Archery Barbados and pastPresident of the BAA and Level 2 Coach was very happy to share his archery

expertise with the members of Archery Guyana, in order to help raise the standard in Guyana. He was welcomed by Archery Guyana’s Task F o r c e C h a i r m a n M r. Nicholas Hing and committee members at a Meeting at the Sleep-In Hotel, after which he presented the Club with an archery training DVD and

tools to further the development of Archery Training Programmes. He subsequently held two training sessions, one indoor at National Gymnasium and one outdoor session at Carifesta Sports Complex Ground, where he assessed each member individually on various aspects of form or technique that needed to improved on.

Annel was excited to try out Archery Guyana membersmade PVC Training Bows which he had never seen or used before and was duly impressed. The federation wishes to thank Mr. Annel and its sister Caribbean association for the support rendered and for helping Guyana develop this Olympic sports training and developmental programme.

Milo 18 and under Schools Football Competition

Another weekend of exciting action commences today Players battle for ball possession in one of the matches in this year’s Competition.

Another weekend of exciting action is anticipated when play in the Milo 18 and under Schools Football Competition resumes, at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.

Four matches will highlight today’s schedule with Sir Leon Lessons and Brickdam Secondary engagement, being among the feature clashes, former champs St. George’s collision against.

The 131st Annual General Meeting of The IFAB took place yesterday at Wembley Stadium in London, and saw a new strategy approved, which will see the Laws of the Game used to increase fairness and develop the game. The IFAB, which consists of the football associations of England (the FA), Scotland (SFA), Wales (FAW) and Northern Ireland (IFA), as well as FIFA (who represent the 207 remaining national associations) decided upon a close focus on the behaviour of players on the pitch. In particular, this could see the responsibilities of captains enhanced in order to improve on-field behaviour and create better communication between players and referees. Methods to tackle time wasting were also discussed, in response to continuing fan concern around this particular issue. In a groundbreaking move, it was also agreed that member associations will be allowed more freedom to modify the organisational Laws of the Game. This could, for example, see more substitutions allowed and the duration of play altered in order to help develop domestic football by encouraging more people to take part. This would occur at levels below the first team of clubs in the top domestic league, or senior ‘A’ international games. The use of temporary dismissals (sin bins) will now be allowed in youth, grassroots and disability football, as well as return substitutions - further adding to the remit to increase participation on a global scale. One of the other key focuses of the AGM was the implementation of technology across football. The use of electronic communications systems by medical staff in the technical area - medical data and video material on tablet computers for example - was approved in order to assess potential injuries and increase player welfare and safety. The AGM was also updated on the progress of the global experiments of Video Assistant Referees (VARs), with the first phase of experiments now complete. Reports from more than 20 test matches and a number of workshops were presented, with lessons learned from the initial phase to be taken into the ‘live’ experiments starting in almost 20 competitions from around the world throughout 2017. The 132nd Annual General Meeting will be hosted by FIFA in February or March 2018. The modifications to the Laws of the Game made at yesterday’s AGM will come into effect on 1 June 2017, except for competitions which have started before that date. (FIFA)

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Saturday March 04, 2017

GCB/DMLAS/MOE/NSSCL Combined Schools League

Upper Demerara Combine & Highway Combine District clash on Tuesday

Mark Clenkin of St Cuthbert’ Secondary The 2016/2017 Guyana Cricket Board/ Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society/ Ministry Of Education/National Secondary Schools League (GCB/DMLAS/MOE/NSS CL) is set to advance to the Combine school’s stage which is scheduled to commence on Tuesday. Upper Demerara Combine will face the Highway Combine District from 09:30hrs at the Bayroc ground in Mackenzie, Linden in a 50-over contest. The Combine Schools

teams are being assembled by the Selection Committee of the National Secondary Schools’ Cricket League and should be made up of the outstanding players during the National InterSecondary 30-over tournament which is at the National Semi-finals stage. According to the TDO of the GCB, former Test Pacer Colin Stuart, players who demonstrated good promise and has outstanding performances will be earmarked for training and District representation.

David Wilson of President College He added that at the completion of the first phase, teams in the second phase will compete for the National Combined district Trophy. On Wednesday Mahaica Combine will play Mahaicony Combine at the Fairfield ground on the East Coast of Demerara. On Thursday, Upper Demerara-Highway District will battle East Bank Demerara Combine to select the Upper Demerara / East Bank Combine District to f a c e We s t D e m e r a r a Combine.

A f t e r We d n e s d a y ’s match at Fairfield, a Mahaica/Mahaicony Combine District team will be picked to oppose the East Coast Demerara District Team on Friday March 10, at Fairfield. Six districts have already selected their squads: East Coast Demerara: Rajendra Singh, David Wi l s o n ( P re s i d e n t ’s College), Himnauth Dindyal, Mark Ramada, Yo g e n d r a S a m a r o o , Edmond Pearson (Enterprise Primary),

Wiltshire collaborates with GT Sports Bar for Domino tournament

Organiser Mark ‘Jumbie’ Wiltshire (right) receives one of the prizes from GDA President Faye Joseph. Senior Organising Secretary of the Georgetown Domino Association (GDA) Mark ‘Jumbie’ Wiltshire in collaboration with Good Times Sports Bar of Middle Street, Pouderoyen has

organised a one-week Competition scheduled to commence on Monday and end the following Monday, at the Dynasty Sports Club. According to a release from the

Organisers, over $300,000 in prizes and trophies will be up for grabs and teams countrywide could register to participate in the tournament. The release added that a registration fee of $12,000 is being asked for from each team and it must be paid in full before the start of play. Player of the finals will receive $5,000 with one re-entry and all prizes are guaranteed. The winning team is set to receive $175,000 and a trophy, while runner-up and third place team will take home $75,000 and $30,000 respectively. All Guyana National Domino Association rules will be in effect and the finals will be played at the Good Times Domino Club, Pouderoyen. Music by Stitchie One Man Band and Bar-b-Cue and drinks will be on sale. Interested teams could contact Wiltshire on tele#665-5855 or David on #696-1851 for more information.

Elroy Dundas of St Cuthbert’s Secondary Pradesh Balkishun (Bladen Hall Multilateral), Andrews Samaroo, Cummings Lodge, Ronaldo Basdeo, Davanand Khemraj(Cummings Lodge), Chandrapaul Ramraj (Annandale Secondary), Kemroy B r o w n ( B u x t o n Secondary), Diquan France ( L u s i g n a n Secondary),Khemraj Panaram, Daniel Motoo, Asif Sammy, Tameshwar Permaul( Institute Of Business Education -IBE) and Rafeek Azeez (Enterprise Primary Top). Highway Combine Team : Alden Kattow, Keon Kattow, Mark Clenkin, Mickey Ferreira, Mark Ferreira, Attoffio Bernard, Kevin Ferreira, Joshua Sandwell, Elymos Williams, Guby Dundas, Tino Simon, Bryan Ferreira, Keanu Simon) (St Cuthbert Mission), Rendell Yearwood, Joseph Defreitas (Dora Secondary). Upper Demerara Combine Team: Romario Rajmangal (Private School Combine), Ezekiel Isaacs, Romel Ross, Bryan Culpepper, Shemroy Woode, Omar Tollard (Harmony Secondary), Linden Griffith, Jonathan Copeland, Sham Samuel, Odwyn Baird, Neil Corbin (Wisburg Secondary), Vashon Browne, Jason Fung-Kee-Fung, Immanuel Larase (Linden Foundation), Raheem Augus, Shamar Charmon (McKenzie High).

West Coast Demerara: Desroi Hyman, Kevin latchu, Reyaz Khan, Andre Seepersaud, Rajesh Budhram, Ajita Persaud, Parmanand Prabudyal, Waylon Renville, Rajesh Budhram, Vishal Nandram, Jeetendra Ghisiawan, Sajio Mustapha, Shafeek Mohamed, Lachlan Seeram. West Bank Demerara: Aaron Seeprasad, Aftab Basir, Hemraj Persaud, Wazim Rahaman, Ryan Seecharan, Parmanand Gomitiparsad, Denish Persaud, Joel Thomas, Satesh Basdeo, Mark Wong, Keith Boyce, Kurt John, C o l l i s R i m p l e . East Bank Demerara: Ridge Rajaram, Leron Crawford, Neeraj Khan, Romel Rajaram, Ronaldo Blair, John Blair (Soesdyke Secondary), Sachin Lim, Alex Arvinda, John Pillay, Davendra Sankarsingh, Mahendra Ramjet, Joshua Jones (Camille’s Institute), Orlando Ghisrwan, Jonathan Jagdeo, Jamal Scott, Levi Kattow, Jermaine Benjamin, L a l l b a c h a n Arjune(Friendship Secondary), Leonard Thomas (Xenon Academy), Mavendra Dindyal, Mark Fredricks, Akeem Hendricks, Joel Craig, Anil Singh, Phillip Mcturk, Romario Persaud, Brendan Te i x e i ra (Diamond Secondary), Shoaib Roop(Covent Garden Secondary), Jermaine Scott, Shaquille Thuesdec, Ram Mangar, Clemet Nerleihal (Houston Secondary).

Kaieteur News

Saturday March 04, 2017

PAGE 33

Limacol Round Robin / Knockout Competition

Could Police contain Tigers lethal strike force? G/town battle Linden in third place playoff By Rawle Welch Tonight, football fans from near and far are expected to trek down to the Georgetown Football Club ground to witness the highlyanticipated clash between favourites Western Tigers and the Guyana Police Force in the final of this year’s Limacol Round Robin / Knockout Competition. The occasion will mark the end of the month-plus competition which saw sixteen teams take to the starting line in what the organisers Petra Organisation deemed as another step towards improving the standard of the sport locally. However, just before the final, the playoff for third place between Georgetown’s S a n t o s a n d L i n d e n ’s Winners Connection could provide the incentive for a riveting night of action. This encounter will definitely ignite the long standing rivalry between the two communities that has a long history with bragging rights the usual focus of attention.

Quincy Holder The battle for the championship trophy and first prize promises to provide end to end action since both teams are very strong offensively, but the Tigers hold the edge in this department with their marquee player Devon Millington, the most destructive force among the two teams. Millington is coming off a superb semi-final performance after burying a hat-trick to relegate Santos to the third place playoff and he must be feeling confident of duplicating that feat against

Rene Gibbons the Police. Tigers mid-field ace Hubert Pedro is another player playing with supreme confidence and his work rate in the middle has been exemplary and with telling effect. Then there is Andrew Murray Jnr, another player with immense talent and one who could also be a match winner so there is where the edge goes to the Tigers. Linden Picketts and Joshua Britton complete an offensive collection that may prove too lethal for the Lawmen to contain. Police has definitely been the

Ross’ contract as Giftland Mall Ambassador extended for 5th year

Andrew Murray Jnr.

surprise team by anyone’s calculation so the Tigers should heed advice and not underestimate them. They’ve shown consistent form throughout the competition and has made it this far so uppermost on their minds is to go all the way. Captain Dwain Jacobs has performed as a leader and his recent form suggest that he is in no mood to play second fiddle to the Tigers. What more could be said of their leading marksman Quincy Holder, who has delivered when needed so he too could be thinking of another big performance on the big stage, a place he seems to relish very much. Junior Gordon and

Lerone Charles, both were on the score sheet in their semi final encounter against Winners Connection and they too must be eager to show the fans that their success was no fluke. What is certain is the fact that both teams will be ready to treat the fans to a sizzling night of football. In the showdown for third place, Santos, who will be enjoying home court advantage, must be favoured to claim the third prize, but this will not be given without a fight so another fascinating battle is in the making. Players such as O’Kenie Fraser, Ryan October, Keith C a i n e s , J o b C a e s a r,

Devon Millington Dominique Bobb and Orin Yarde will form the core of Santos’s pursuit of goals and ultimate victory. The evergreen Rawle ‘Boney’ Gittens is Winners Connection’s talisman and a player who relishes the spotlight and this kind of scenario so watch out for his offensive raids to get his team the win. His support will no doubt come from the likes of Rene Gibbons, Gary Thompson, Sedrick Hunte and Allon Garrett. The winner of the competition will take home $500,000 and a trophy, while 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed teams collect $250,000, $125,000 and $75,000 respectively and trophies.

Yassin urges GSSF to change name and constitution -to become affiliate of Guyana Olympic Association By Edison Jefford

Giftland Mall’s Chairman Roy Beepat (left) presents the Giftland Mall Ambassador contract to Hugh Ross at the Giftland Sports Maxx yesterday. The Giftland Mall has renewed its contract agreement Guyanese international Bodybuilder Hugh Ross as an Ambassador for Giftland yesterday at their modern East Coast Demerara facility for a fifth consecutive year. Ross, currently Guyana’s most successful and recognised bodybuilder

and an outstanding athlete and in 2015 won the National Amateur Body Builders Association (NABBA) Masters Over-50 competition. The 2012 and 2014 Mr Universe / Masters champion told the gathering that hard work and determination will lead to success and encouraged the youths present at yesterday’s

function to try hard to achieve their goals, reminding them that if they fail the first time they must try harder the next time. M r. R o y B e e p a t , Chairman of the Giftland Mall expressed his appreciation to Ross stating that he is pleased to partner once more with Ross who is a role model in Sports.

President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), K.A. Juman Yassin has urged the Guyana Sport Shooting Federation (GSSF) to change their name and constitution as a means of procuring membership with the Olympic association. President of the GSSF, Vidushi Persaud had stated in a letter that was published in the media that the GOA is not assenting to an application for membership. Persaud indicated that an application has been pending for quite some time. In a widely publicised News Room video, Yassin sought to address the issue, informing that the GOA Executive and Council, foresee a conflict between the Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA)

K.A Juman Yassin

Vidushi Persaud

and GSSF should they accept the later in its current form. ”At two Council meetings when this issue was raised, it was unanimously agreed that the Guyana Sport Shooting Federation should not become a member as presently constituted,” he said.

“Now why? They have submitted their constitution, and we felt, not Juman Yassin, not the Executive, but all the associations felt that there will be conflict with the Guyana Sport Shooting Federation and the Guyana National Rifle (Continued on page 25)

t r o Sp Windies fizzle in opener despite Mohammed, Carter fifties

Eoin Morgan hits 4. WICB Media/Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche

Jason Mohammed. WICB Media/ Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche

STAG Nations Cup 2016/17 Presentation

Western Tigers pocket $2M as top four clubs rewarded

Ansa McAl’s Stag Brand Assistant Keon Persaud (4th right) presents the champion’s cheque to Western Tigers Head Coach Calvin Allen in the presence of other prize recipients.

Limacol Round Robin / Knockout Competition

Could Police contain Tigers lethal strike force? G/town battle Linden in third place playoff Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210