Kaieteur News
PAGE 04
Wednesday March 06, 2019
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
It’s all about the election date The things that obsess the leaders of this country are revealing. Currently, the life-and-death issue is all about a nonnegotiable date for elections. It just cannot be any date; it had better be an acceptable one, and one that is rapidly forthcoming. Any constructive citizen would subscribe to the position that a date is of importance. Yet in view of the harsh rush of events, and the unalterable paramountcy of personal and political interests, this fixation with a date furnishes evidence of how lost, dismal, and troublingly self-serving are politicians in this country. At bottom, this stridency and obsession on a date, at the expense of all else, is about power; about the opportunity to trample upon (again); and about the keys to the Treasury (again). It is also about the flood of evils held in abeyance and threatening to endanger (again). Listen intently; notice carefully; and something startling becomes obvious, painfully so: other than the shrill, insistent quest for a date, there is nothing else. There is nothing about what is most relevant and vital to this society; nothing about healing and possibly knitting together against the tide, against all the odds and barriers, in an all-out effort to unify. No! All out efforts are furiously concentrated on and powered by a date demanded, a date finalized. It is illuminating that self-absorbed and self-centered political leaders, groups, and forces do not spare a single moment to construct and couch their language and determination about a date in the more wholesome terms of what matters. They do not spare even spurious ones that emphasize a vision and thrust pervaded by the unifying. Never articulated and never heard is anything along the same urgency, indeed immediacy, attached to a date about the imperative of the elections being an opportunity and channel for mending, reconciling, and unifying. Amidst all the loud blasts and foci on date, no one is saying that I (whomsoever that may be) dedicate myself to making this the uppermost priority and hard reality. Or, at least, I personally commit to making such a start, as difficult as that is going to be for the mere thinking and attempting. Having deceived so much on other matters, what is one more deception? Instead, there are the patented unrealities, or great exaggerations, about tens of thousands of jobs; about observance of democratic norms; and about clean governance. Where? In which village, sector, or region? And under whose watch? By whose horribly tainted hands? Nevertheless, a date it has to be, and now. Citizens hear and understand that. Meantime, there should be sifting as to either the so-called positives embedded, or the worst possibilities that may be imagined. The moment is seized first to ponder and then to ask: for what long-term purpose? To what unfolding on the ground is the bitter aftermath promised? From every appearance and sentiment, it can only be more of the same of before, but at a higher intensity: the cacophony of hostile spirits; the pervasive antagonisms of both the successful and the thwarted; and the unyielding, warring segments groomed, aroused, and reinvigorated. Again! Since it is a date; then let it be. Those are the lean and hungry fanaticisms that conspire and drool over the prize of political ascendancy and political power, and which soars in this society. For Guyana and torn, paralyzed Guyanese, they are no less dangerous. For political power in this country translates to racial power of one over the other. For once, genuine leaders in this country have an opportunity to separate from the pack, and distinguish themselves through advocating and exemplifying what is best for all Guyanese.
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.
A possible long term fix for our political impasse DEAR EDITOR, It is with great consternation that I have been monitoring the current political impasse in Guyana, post the December passage of the controversial No Confidence Motion (NCM). I daresay that imbibing of the toxic spirits so obviously evident in the ongoing discourse is most definitely not for the faint of heart or the calmness of the soul. Be it well known that fools rush in where wise men fear to tread, therefore only the extremely foolhardy or bravest of men would dare to think that adding another perspective appealing to reason and rationality can succeed where wiser counsel and more brilliant minds have failed. With the greatest of trepidation punctuated with more than a few deep sighs, I am hereby offering an alternative view of a possible long term solution to our post-colonial ethnic dilemma which has been ruthlessly exploited by the two major political factions. It is patently obvious that the political bickering and infighting has largely contributed to not only our evident underdevelopment, but the anywhere-but-
Guyana mindset which has given us the infamous notoriety of having quite possibly the greatest “Brain Drain” in the world. Consuming the Editorials, Letters, Blogs and comments in the local media and dare I say even in the larger Guyanese Diaspora, it is apparent to me that the views can be broken down into three groupings. First there are the “Apologists” who are the known political partisans whose every economic and political future is directly tied to maintaining the status quo and the rest of Guyana be damned. These opportunists from both sides of the ethnic divide see no evil or hear no evil of their cohorts while gleefully pointing out the mistakes, incompetency and failures of the other side. These “Apologists” are the most inflexible and have absolutely no interest in bridging the divide. It would therefore be foolhardy to expect any advocacy on their part of compromising with the other to find consensus, with the greater national good being of utmost importance. Next, there are the “Rationalists” whose innate decency leads to the thought
process of respect for the rule of law being paramount in any democracy, with respect for the Constitution and the judicial system taking precedence over any narrow political interests. While this school of thought might be morally laudable, it most definitely does absolutely nothing to provide long term solutions to our seemingly flawed democracy. Indeed, even if the Constitution is respected and elections are called within the mandated time frame, the winner-takes-all situation that exists would only be delaying the inevitable future conflict, especially with the potential of greater spoils to fight over in the not too distant future. Lastly, there are the “Solutionists” who rather than seeing the NCM as a hindrance to the present Administration or an opportunity for the Opposition, consider this a blessing in disguise. May I inject here that I am firmly in this camp. “Solutionists” look at our current flawed Constitution as being the biggest hindrance to our ongoing battle for political dominance, and hence the economic largesse of the
state to be used to maintain power ad infinitum. Since the introduction of the tainted 1980 Constitution, every Opposition faction has ridiculed its obvious flaws and maintained the urgent need for it to be reformed to better reflect our peculiar legacy of ethnic polarization. However, once the said entities accede, reform is relegated to the back burners faster than you can shout let the celebrations begin. The most honest and sincere inputs with regards to the current impasse is Dr. David Hinds, and even his learned dissertations have been handily rejected by the absolutists for refusing to toe the party line, and questioning seeming moral and political failings. Now, it would be useless for me to take up valuable column inches by rehashing the same old reminders of the i m p o r t a n c e o f “Constitutional Reform” and “Shared Governance” when the major players seem hellbent on mutual destruction. I would start my advocacy by using an analogy as old as life itself: That is, the unending feuding of couples who easily forget (Continued on page 6)
The month of March is very significant for the People’s Progressive Party DEAR EDITOR, The month of March is very significant for the People’s Progressive Party. It was on March 22, 1918 that Dr. Cheddi Jagan was born and he also passed away on March 6, 1997. As fate would have it, his wife Janet also passed away on March 28, 2009. As we observe yet another birth and death anniversary of Dr. Jagan, it is important that we not only celebrate his life and works but also draw useful lessons from the struggles of this illustrious son of the soil, who together with his wife Janet, gave over a hundred years of dedicated and selfless service to the cause of a free and democratic Guyana. One of the lessons to be learnt is that freedom and democracy do not come easy. It has to be fought for and won. In the early 1950’s it was the struggle for the right to vote, which prior to 1953,
was only limited to the propertied class. It was only after robust representation made by the newly-formed PPP that the British Government agreed to a number of constitutional changes prior to the 1953 elections which included the granting of universal adult suffrage and the introduction of the ministerial system of governance. The PPP won a landslide victory in the 1953 elections gaining 18 out 24 seats. That victory was shortlived due to a constitutional coup which overthrew the PPP from the seat of power after a mere 133 days in office. The reason advanced by the British Government for the suspension of the Constitution was that PPP was pursuing a ‘leftist’ agenda which was considered unacceptable and irresponsible at that time given the country’s location in what was perceived to be
the US backyard. The constitution was again manipulated by the British Government to remove the PPP from office in the 1964 elections even though the PPP won a plurality of the votes as it did in previous elections. The introduction of Proportional Representation in 1964 was a well-calculated ploy to prevent the PPP from winning. The PNC teamed up with the United Force to form a coalition government which lasted until 1968 when the United Force was unceremoniously booted out from the coalition government, but not before the PNC took full control of the electoral machinery. All elections since 1968 were blatantly rigged and Dr. Jagan and the PPP was kept in the political wilderness for almost three decades until democracy was finally restored to the country on October 5, 1992, thanks to
the intervention of the United States and other western powers. The country is once again facing an impending constitutional crisis. There is a fair measure of anxiety among Guyanese as to whether the days of rigged elections are once again rearing its ugly head and whether it will take another three decades before democratic rule becomes a reality. Such fears are fuelled by the manner in which the Chairman of GECOM was appointed and how the Commission is treating with the issue of elections which are constitutionally due before March 19 following the successful passage of the no-confidence vote. The words of the late Dr. Jagan seem once again to resonate among party supporters. ‘The struggle will be long and hard, but victory is inevitable.’ Hydar Ally
Wednesday March 06, 2019
That base will have to be built over my dead body DEAR EDITOR, After reading the article, ‘Britain’s Brexit Military Base Plan in Chaos’ (Stabroek News, 4/3/2019), I decided to visit the online edition of the British newspaper, The Morning Star (25/1/19) to read the first-hand account. Journalist, Phil Miller, reported that “officials from Guyana have refused to comment on a report that G a v i n Wi l l i a m s o n h a s plans for Britain to establish a military base in the South American country”. For those Guyanese who do not know Williamson; he is the British Defence Secretary. Let me say in very plain and straight language, that as a true patriot, nationalist and revolutionary PanAfricanist, once the breath of life that Almighty God gave to me is with me, that base will have to be built over my dead body and the
body of many more true patriots. Not here! It will not happen. Our peoples did not resist e n s l a v e m e n t , indentureship, colonialism - all manifestations of white supremacy, so that the neo-colonial satraps who administer this country can trample on our dignity, sovereignty and independence. We will not allow it. I am putting the APNU+AFC government and any other government that enters office on notice, they will be in for a rough ride if they attempt such a move. The people will organize and mobilize against this military base in a way that has not been seen for a long time in Guyana. We will resist the establishment of a British or American military base in Guyana in the name of Kofi (Cuffy),
Accabre, Atta, the Enmore Martyrs, Forbes Burnham, Cheddi Jagan, Walter Rodney and every son and daughter of Guyana who resisted colonialism. Our brothers and sisters in Ghana, under the leadership of Samia Nkrumah, the daughter of Kwame Nkrumah, first president of Ghana, marched in their hundreds of thousands in opposition to plans for an American military base in their country. As a result of the people’s resistance, the plan was thwarted, just as it will be here in Guyana. Instead of trying to establish a military base in Guyana, let the British government acknowledge the trade in captured Africans as a crime against humanity, and then address our demands for reparations. Gerald A. Perreira Organization for the Victory of the People (OVP)
Lent is a time of reconciliation DEAR EDITOR, Today we begin the Season of Lent. It is one of the important seasons for many Christian denominations. Lent means ‘spring’; it is a springtime where we are renewed and refreshed through the Lenten observances. We are washed clean so that we enter into paschal mysteries of Christ’s death and resurrection. The Latin-based language uses the word “Quaresma” for Lent, which simply means 40 days. After the baptism, Jesus was tempted and tried in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights whilst he was in prayer and fasting. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. On this
day, the faithful are imposed with ashes on their foreheads as a reminder for repentance and fragility of humankind. The four pillars of Lent prayer, penance, almsgiving and fasting - help not only the people in need, but make us empathize with the poor and needy people. The Season of Lent ends when the Holy Week begins on Maundy Thursday leading up to the Easter Celebrations. Christians tend to keep
PAGE 5
Kaieteur News
fast on certain days in Lent or at least forgo something like meat, chocolate, sweets and help the people who cannot afford such food. This is to benefit one’s spiritual and philanthropic growth. A crucial aspect of Lent is reconciliation and peace. Our world needs to be reconciled between nations and peoples. Here is an opportunity to embrace each other with paternal love. Jerri Dias
It is reasonable to conclude that this investigation was lopsided DEAR EDITOR, The Stabroek News of Wednesday, 27th February, 2019 on page 13 carried a story under the caption “Internal probe clears G.R.D.B. Staff in erroneous Panama Rice Shipment, and as I read the story, some paragraphs more than one time, I paused and tried to remember the last time I read so much trash as it relates to an investigation. When one looks at the amount of containers – thirty-three - the negative effect on the rice industry will more than likely trickle down to our rice farmers. If we are going to have departments and agencies investigating themselves, it is like having a case with the Devil and the court is in hell, and the judge and jurors are relatives and friends of his (the devil). I subscribe to the age-old doctrine, that justice must not only be done, it must also appear to be have been done. I can remember a Rice Board official on a visit to the Essequibo Coast telling the gathering (rice farmers) that the delivery of the wrong quality or kind of rice would not affect the market we have to that country, Panama. We all hope that it will not, but it goes far beyond that.The public needs to know - and
the Guyana Rice Development Board owes it to them - how such a mistake occurred; at what place; during what period and under whose custody and/or supervision this suspected switching took place. If careful inspection or inspection was done then the contents of thirty-three containers seem very impossible - not being detected. In the ‘70s there were some Detective Corporals stationed at Suddie Police Station with whom I worked, namely Cpl. Barran, Samsundar, Harris and a few others, who would have fully investigated an incident of this nature and put up a report within a month.It is reasonable to assume and conclude that this investigation was lopsided. If at our ports of entry or exit our security personnel and other officials cannot monitor thirty-three containers entering or leaving, then how on earth would they detect suitcases of arms and ammunition or illegal substances? It is reasonable to assume that no inspection was ever done or it was with some level of collusion that this embarrassing incident occurred. Archie W. Cordis
WHY THE DAILY BURNING AT LE REPENTIR CEMETERY? DEAR EDITOR, I pen this letter to highlight a very annoying issue. For the past week or so there has been daily burning of debris at Le Repentir Cemetery by persons cleaning. This issue is an ongoing one, since every time, the exercise of cleaning this place usually results in debris being burnt daily until the exercise is completed. Now this constant smoke and debris blowing as a result of these fires is affecting persons both near and far,
both young and old. Healthwise it is causing discomfort with constant sneezing, running eyes and noses due to allergic reactions to the smoke. Further, homes are under constant threat from debris blowing into homes and onto clothes and other materials. There was a time when this same cemetery used to be cleaned and nothing like this was so prevalent. I can
recall large waste disposal receptacles being filled with the grass and taken away, so why this now? I am therefore calling on City Council and whoever else is responsible for the maintenance of this place to cease and desist from this disturbing trend. It’s affecting persons daily. Thank you, Disgruntled citizen
PAGE 6
Kaieteur News
Respect for the rule of law, the constitution, and electoral transparency paint the way forward for Guyana DEAR EDITOR, Permit me space to respond to some of the false assertions and political spins that pervade the letter columns across the spectrum of print-media in recent days. In particular, I would like to address one that suggested that the Burnham-style dictatorship was a solution to ethno-political and constitutional crises during the earlier postindependence era. Such an assertion rests on unsound foundation; it is flawed and may even be malicious. Editor, I submit that those who subscribe to the view that the aforementioned dictatorship during which “Burnham solved the problem by installing paramountcy of the party over the courts and the constitution” need their mental state examined. While pre-independence elections run-ups were characterized by ethnic divisions, the rationale for such behaviour cannot be equated with the ethnic polarization that occurred during the Burnham dictatorship post-independence era. The ethnic division of the earlier pre-independence era was instigated by the divide and rule/control policy of foreign powers that sought to retain geopolitical and economic control and influence over Guyana. On the other hand, the Burnham era saw the emergence of a deep-seated ethnic polarization, which today still pervades our society. I must say, however, that an objective examination of the populace today would most likely reveal that the aging, and in many cases, the passing of the generation(s) that had experienced ethnic polarization have paved the way for ethnic reconciliation. If we look back at the Jagdeo-led administration, we were bound to find evidence of across-ethnic-lines support and popularity for the PPP/C. We cannot say the same for the “party-paramountcy” era, during which the
PNC administration controlled the courts and forced non-African and non-PNC supporters to obtain PNC Party cards as prerequisites for employment in the public service. Undoubtedly, such policy has had an enormous negative impact on non-Africans and non-PNC supporters. Furthermore, given the extended period of about two decades during which this policy existed, deep-seated ethnic resentments emerged and ultimately polarized the nation. Thus, ethnic division, polarization and voting became the order of the day, and as correctly pointed out, are very visible during the run-ups to elections. Furthermore, the assertion that neither ethnic group would accept losing position in the elections is treading on dangerous ground and could even be malicious. The correct perspective should be the call for respect for the constitution, the rule of law, and open, free and transparent electoral processes. Such a call should, however, be underscored by relevant education/information dissemination geared to inform and educate the populace so that they can take informed decisions on the way forward for their future. Such a programme would engender confidence in the system and the people involved. In a nutshell, dictatorship, whether Burnham-style or otherwise, is inimical to our socio-economic and political freedom, our prosperity and the future of Guyana. To such end, the populace should be informed and educated to take political decisions based on policies and programmes geared to address and advance their individual and collective socio-economic needs and aspirations. So far, only the PPP/C administrations have offered such realization to all ethnic groups in Guyana. Yours sincerely, Ronald Singh
A possible long term fix for our political... From page 4 that they had sworn to love each other, till death do us part. Now once the situation has progressed to the point of irreconcilable differences, the parties involved continually engage in finger-pointing, recriminations and accusations born of absolute contempt. Under such circumstances, the only possibility of finding a lasting solution to the hostilities is the intervention of a non-partisan mediator. President Jimmy Carter where art thou? I am therefore insinuating that tripartite discussions be priority number one, with possible mediators coming from the ABC countries to begin the long overdue commencement of a necessary dialogue for the seemingly intractable, proceeding to at least a temporary détente. Priority number two is for the Ruling Coalition to resign forthwith and a temporary Government of National Unity to be drawn from both of the major players to serve as an interim Government for a period to be agreed upon or duration to be determined. Once this temporary Administration has become functional, taking into consideration that we are heading into uncharted territory, the required “Constitutional Reform” should begin in haste with the required inputs of all concerned parties. S uch reform should entail long term solutions to the pervading ethnic dilemma by ensuring truly representative, shared Governance, with the first pass the post system being condemned to the dustbin of history. Having progressed thus far, then and only then should fresh elections come into consideration. This of course is all wishful thinking on my part, if the vested interests continue their
self-righteous indignation and condemnation of their opponents with nary a thought of putting country before self, and an unquenchable thirst for power. Statesmen prepared to bury their oversized egos for the betterment of the country’s journey to realizing its innate potential, are rarer than sightings of the Loch Ness monster. It is oft times said that we can choose our friends but you don’t have the same prerogative in choosing your family. In the wise words of Martin Luther King, “We might have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now”. The paddles are in the hands of our political leadership on both sides, to either row the boat to safety or like the decadent Roman Emperor Nero: “Fiddle while Rome burned”. While the choice might indeed seem obvious, men convinced against their will are of the same opinion still. Refusal to compromise and the lack of willingness to give a little to get a lot, have kept our Dear Land of Guyana stagnant and underdeveloped for too long, and while life has given us lemons, the decision is ours to make about whether to make refreshing lemonade or bitter vinegar. History and time will not reflect kindly on our political leadership if their narrowmindedness and lack of magnanimity condemns our beautiful country to being an eternally backward ‘could-have-been’. But alas, stubbornness and lack of vision ensure that we never will be.Be aware, be well aware that we are all going to winners here, or losers again and again. We shall either prosper together or we will all be consumed by our intransigence. Kenneth Frank
Wednesday March 06, 2019
We need no more evidence that the PPP is not fit to govern DEAR EDITOR, As a young woman in politics very rarely am I surprised by an act done by or a statement released from the Opposition. Surely I shouldn’t have to explain why since the PPP, while I was sitting in the House in the presence of the Speaker and the Diplomatic community, loudly heckled and protested with placards the President of Guyana while he addressed Parliament, and are no longer capable of embarrassing themselves or their constituencies. However, two things have recently raised my brows: the first being the Leader of the Opposition’s insistence on peddling propaganda that Guyana will be plunged into a constitutional crisis by this Government if general elections are not held by March 19th 2019. He is backtracking on that doomsday sermon and is now demanding that the President call an election before April 30th. Editor, before GECOM announced their decision to conduct house-to-house registration, the entity through their representatives made it explicit that they cannot be prepared for an election within
90 days. The Opposition continued to bombard this Government to announce a date for general elections on or before March 19th in spite of this announcement and trampled upon the fact that young people all across Guyana would have been disenfranchised if they got an election within the 90 days period. The Opposition called upon the Government to uphold and respect the Constitution but only insofar as it suits them. As though the youth vote did not matter, the Opposition went so far as to meet with diplomats, investors and the business community preaching doom and gloom if elections weren’t held within the 90 days, saying the country will be in a constitutional crisis thereafter, all the while ignoring the very Constitution that stipulates that all Guyanese who are the age of 18 or upwards be allowed to vote (Article 59). In my opinion, these acts were nothing short of a political body using fear and intimidation to bend the Government to their own will and self-interest. Any political body that is willing to sacrifice the youth population of Guyana for any purpose should not be a fit body to be
Our Stabroek Market Clock DEAR EDITOR, The new Mayor and the Councillors of the City of Georgetown have done one of the best things, to forfeit the grant made by the kind courtesy of the American Embassy of Georgetown, Guyana, through its former Ambassador, Mr. Perry Halloway. The grant was to restore the historic Stabroek Market clock that sits on a peaked steel-structured tower frame and at the edge of the Demerara River, hovering over downtown Georgetown like a prayer. It is a meeting place, a synergy of subcultures, an inheritance passed from generation to stallholding generation.It was found that the cost was quite exorbitant. We the citizens of Guyana will like to see a group of international organizations coming on board to build a new tower and clock for Guyana’s Stabroek Market. Yours Co-operatively, Parmanand Ram
Breach sealed at Providence DEAR EDITOR, During springtide, a section of the earthen embankment was breached at Providence, East Bank Demerara, along the Demerara River, which resulted in localized flooding. However, residents in proximity of the breach were not affected. The Sea and River Defence Department immediately mobilized a contractor with an excavator to seal the breach. The breach was successfully sealed on February 21, 2019, before the next springtide, and currently works are ongoing which entails the incorporation of timber revetment to fortify and stabilize the vulnerable sections. The Sea and River Defence are currently carrying out a condition assessment of the river defence along the East Bank of Demerara to prevent recurrence of such situation. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure, along with the Sea and River Defence Department, wishes to advise residents within the coastal areas to desist from cutting of the natural mangrove and to refrain from squatting along the river defence and/or reserves. Yours Faithfully, Krest Cummings Ministry of Public Infrastructure Public Relations Officer
elected to govern us. While if in opposition, there cannot be country first over self-interest and wants, then greater will be the transgression once elected to govern. Secondly, my brows have risen at the fact that persons who are non-party members, have continuously ignored the full text of Article 106(7) of the Constitution and have been in defence of the Leader of the Opposition’s call for elections on or before March 19th.Editor, the Constitution couldn’t have been clearer in giving the Government two options, were it in audio format as opposed to the written text we know it as today. According to Article 106(7), the first option is to have an election held within 90 days of a defeat on a vote of confidence by a majority of all elected members of the National Assembly (yes, it must be read together with Article 106(6)). The second option is that an election date can be set beyond that initial 90 days period as the “National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all elected members of the National Assembly determine”. GECOM has announced that house-tohouse registration is in the best interest of the electorate, thus giving the Opposition enough reason to agree with the Government of Guyana that a reasonable election date beyond March 19th , and surely not as soon as April 30th, is imperative to allow the Elections Commission to conduct its affairs in the prescribed manner. The Opposition should join the Government in a reasonable compromise and select a date in future that will accommodate GECOM’s process to prepare and conduct an election in their in-house prescribed timeframe that both ensures the list is clean and that no Guyanese is disenfranchised. Both sides can then put the resolution to the National Assembly as the Constitution stipulates for an agreed future date for elections by two-thirds majority.Instead, the Leader of the Opposition and those who have magically jumped on his bandwagon as though it is so easy to forget the past, have resorted to spreading fear and uncertainty among the Guyanese people and the international community and making ‘my way or the highway’ demands against the President.If there is any more evidence that one needs to realize that the PPP is not fit to govern, then one is in denial that the only interests that the PPP would advance are those that directly benefit the PPP! Respectfully, Cynthia Rutherford
PAGE 7
Kaieteur News
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Govt.: Landing fees discounts not unusual in industry
- Opposition demands American Airlines be released
G
overnment has defended a decision to grant American Airlines discounts on airport landing fees. Yesterday, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) said that the discount is not unusual and is consistent with a practice of assisting airlines now coming. The ministry was responding to an article headlined ‘Govt. grants American Airlines 90% concession on landing fees’, carried in the Kaieteur News edition on Sunday. “The discount on landing fees offered to airlines is not unusual and is done as a measure to help offset the initial startup expense for new air services into a destination. A cursory check of the industry will reveal that this is a very common and well accepted practice adopted by airports worldwide.” In fact, the ministry said, many airports go as far as providing ‘Revenue Guarantees’ to airlines so they can fly to their destination. AA came here last November, with flights to and from Miami, Florida, targeting the oil executives who have been coming. “The discounts offered to new carriers are progressively reduced and are usually for the first year or two of operations. Similar concessions were also offered to other new entrants into the Georgetown market. They included Dynamic Airways and COPA Airlines.” The ministry said that since its commencement of flight operations in November 2018, American Airlines has added an additional 15,000 seats to the Guyana market and provided direct and indirect employment opportunities for over 100 Guyanese. “The additional airlift has also added competition on the route and offers passengers an advantage of selecting their choice of carrier. Over
the past few years, the Government of Guyana has worked assiduously to attract new carriers and will continue to do so, and ensure that air travel is accessible and affordable for Guyanese,
t r a n s p a r e n c y . ”The ministry must tell the nation by way of a release of the agreement, what are the terms and conditions that led to this 90 percent concession on landing fees and other
ExxonMobil, as ultimately Guyana pays. “What we would like to know, is if the agreement with American Airlines entails not going for a Jet Blue or Skywest or a return of Delta
the market. We have to safeguard Guyana’s interest in terms of how we benefit. We have an airport to pay for.” He pointed out that it is a fact now that airlines have to increase its fares to charge for
There is nothing unusual in American Airlines being granted a discount on landing fees, Government said yesterday.
Juan Edghill
visitors and businesses alike.” There have been questions about the fairness for the discounts especially as other airlines are required to pay them. According to officials over the weekend, the airport waived landing and other fees for AA flights to Timehri. Instead of paying the required US$425 every time there is a landing, AA instead was told to pay US$42. The discount would have come at a time when the Cheddi Jagan International Airport has told operators that there will soon be an increase in security and other fees. This meant that passengers would have to pay more on their tickets. Yesterday, Opposition parliamentarian charged with oversight of the aviation industry, Juan Edghill, said that the recent disclosures have made it clear that Guyana needs a known aviation policy. “As I sit here today that is not known. We are still developing our market, so we need to bring in carriers. We need to bring in people.” According to the former Junior Finance Minister, he is concerned about the lack of
things for American Airlines.” He pointed out that it must be made known how the discounts will improve airfares and ultimately benefit Guyana. “We need to know if the same thing applied to other airlines that operate in Guyana. If so, why is there such a need for a concession to operate in Guyana? We need AA. I am not chasing them away. They have the hub, the spread, they have the reach. And it is good for Guyana. But you don’t want to bring in an American Airlines that kills the traditional airlines that have been serving Guyana.” Edghill said he is fearful that prices for the Miami trips could go up as AA is targeting the “high-end” passengers. “They are…the carrier that is moving ExxonMobil workers and it is ExxonMobil which is paying for those tickets. Eventually, the people of Guyana will be paying for those tickets as it will eventually become part of cost oil.” The Opposition official said that Guyana needs to be careful that it is not encouraging a situation that helps inflate prices for the benefit of a sub-contractor for
to ensure that there is competition.” He pointed out that the AA has an advantage to raise its prices or lower them, because of the concessions. “So we have to safeguard
the use of the airport. “Of course, you know we are not happy with what we got…a renovated airport instead of a new one. Any concession in order to attract
the kind of airline must be across the board and must be well thought out. And my call is a call for transparency, a call to make the contract known and for the ministry. Why was it necessary for AA and was it across the b o a r d ? ” He said that if everything is above board, the Government should be bringing out the conditions…not wait until it is found out.
PAGE 8
Kaieteur News
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Clampdown on pilots after recent crashes…
GCAA deploys flight trackers; threatens to yank licences
F
or years, it was a public secret in the aviation sector. Pilots would log to fly to a specific area in the hinterlands. However, during the time, a number of them would make dashes to other locations, shuttling fuel, or helping a miner move gold. It was all highly a no-no. It was all about making a little something on the side. However, two recent plane crashes have sparked authorities to announce a number of measures that will likely make pilots think twice about deviating from their flight paths. They could lose their licence and the operator’s permits could be cancelled too.
The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) yesterday announced that it has put into operations a flight tracking system which although in testing phase will work fine. It is expected to be fully operational by mid-year. The regulator also has introduced a hotline where persons can call and complain about operations of pilots and by extension, the behaviour of aviation operators. Up to recently, planes flying in the hinterlands were left largely to themselves…well largely unchecked. This is all about to change, with immediate effect. According to DirectorGeneral, Lt. Colonel (Ret’d),
Killed: Randy Liverpool Egbert Field, the country has a ADS-last, B system (automatic dependent surveillance—broadcast (ADS–B)
Survived: Captain Lincoln Gomez in place. The system is a surveillance technology in which an aircraft determines its position via satellite navigation and periodically broadcasts it, enabling it to be tracked. The information can be received by air traffic control ground stations as a replacement for secondary surveillance radar, as no interrogation signal is needed from the ground. It can also be received by other aircraft to provide situational awareness and allow self-separation. Other than the main Air Traffic tower at Timehri, there will be four repeater stationsat Kaieteur, Annai, Port Kaituma and Kamarang. According to Field, the decision was taken to move to immediate implementation after two accidents within a matter of days. The first, on February 18, saw a Guyana Adventist Medical Aviation Services, (GAMAS) plane- Cessna 182 bearing registration number
GCAA’s head, Lt. Colonel (Ret’d) Egbert Field N8704T, going down in Region Three, in the water conservancy area. The pilot and a policeman were in the plane with the body of a missionary when it ran out of fuel. Both men suffered injuries in the evening crash but were rescued. On February 21, last, a Cessna 206 aircraft, belonging to Domestic Airways, crashed in the Eteringbang area. Killed was Captain Randy Liverpool. Investigating the crashes is former GCAA head, Paula McAdam. According to the Director-General, it is a fact that over the year that Guyana would have enjoyed an unprecedented level of safety within the domestic aviation sector. Returning from overseas recently, the official met Monday evening with pilots and operators. According to Field, they were told that more stringent oversight is coming, beyond the work of GCAA inspectors. The official admitted that the authority is limited in per-
sonnel. Immediately, the authority has also introduced a programme called “See Something, Say Something, Stepup, Save A Life”. Field explained that the programme involves the public playing a role, by providing tips to the hotline on 6084222. The authority will investigate all calls about deviations and violations of the airspace, from ground-level to 60,000 feet. According to the Director-General, new powers under the amended aviation laws, will allow him to exercise sanctions against pilots and operators. Another area that the authority is moving to is having more of the experienced pilots to mentor younger ones. GCAA has also stepped up inspections and will be posting educational literature at aerodromes at strategic points.Field explained that currently, only about 65 percent of aircraft are equipped to be tracked by the ADS-B. The planes have to comply by July.
PAGE 9
Kaieteur News
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Jagdeo to meet with President Granger today
Despite the firm position he took last week that there will be no meeting unless it is about a date for elections, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo will be shaking hands with President David Granger today. The Office of the Leader of the Opposition indicated that yesterday afternoon, it received a reply from Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, stating that “the content of these letters has been conveyed to the President who advises that he is prepared to meet with you on Wednesday March 6th at 11:00 hours at the Ministry of the Presidency and to discuss the issues raised in your aforementioned letters.” The missive read, “Many people believe that nothing positive will come out of the meeting tomorrow given the track-record of duplicity of the Granger administration thus far. The Opposition Leader shares some of these misgivings.
“Nevertheless, having been approached by many Guyanese, civil society bodies and members of the diplomatic corps to make one last attempt to avert the constitutional crisis that the President, with a complicit GECOM, is leading our nation into, the Leader of the Opposition is prepared to make one more good-faith attempt in the interest of the nation, and, will attend the meeting. “This is the last attempt by the Parliamentary Opposition to offer the government a way out of the constitutional crisis and to keep Guyana in the democratic fold of nations. “If the meeting fails, the true nature of the government will be seen by all those who urged the Opposition Leader to meet. “Tomorrow will be a test of the integrity, credibility and sincerity of the President; he will be tested as to whether he can be trusted “as a man of his word” to put our na-
tion, its future and its people first on a foundation of constitutional and parliamentary democracy. This will be a test as to whether the constitution or ‘power lust’ wins out.” Based on a missive that was released from Jagdeo’s office, the President still has not indicated conclusively that he will be setting a date for General and Regional Elections now or soon. The missive stated that Jagdeo “rejected” the grounds for meeting with the President as outlined in a letter dated February 25. The president wanted to discuss “The National Assembly’s constitutional role in the present situation; and the Guyana Elections Commission’s readiness and requirement for funding to enable it to conduct General and Regional elections”. “The Opposition rejected these grounds for the meeting in light of the apparent reluctance of the President to
DEM BOYS SEH
People want to know wha dem getting Everybody know Exxon find oil and boasting how much million barrels it gun produce. It building some big boats to transport de oil and when it sell Guyana suppose to get money.But de problem is that Guyana is just like dem li’l gyal who going out in de world fuh de first time. Dem got to mix wid tricksters and con men. Dem gun see people smiling and mekking offers but as old people seh, “All skin teeth nah laugh.” When Exxon come and it mek de promise to Guyana de politicians smile. That oil is wha causing de problems today. Guyana didn’t believe that she had all of wha Exxon find suh de visitors had a nice time. Now people want to know wha dem getting. Dem know Exxon getting pre contract cost, dem getting odda cost and dem getting a big percentage. De question is wha Guyana getting. When Bookers been here and was producing sugar, Guyanese use to get de job to cut de cane and fetch it to de factors. Book-
ers use to allow dem to ketch couple fish in de estate trench. De people never see one cent of de money that dem produce. That as fuh de big managers and dem family. Bookers use to pay plane ticket fuh dem family to go home to England pun holidays. It also use to pay fuh de children to go to England and study. Times change but de conditions is almost de same. All de big ones in de oil industry is still de foreigners and de people who going home by plane fuh de holidays is still de foreigners. De Guyanese is still de labourers and if dem get a li’l office wuk de most dem gun get to do is drive de company vehicle. That is why dem boys want people to ask, every chance dem get, is wha dem really getting from de farrin companies that wukking in Guyana. Rusal done seh that it ain’t giving Guyanese nutten. Talk half and don’t settle fuh next to nutten.
name a date for elections in accordance with article 106 (6) and 106 (7). Recognizing that the date of March 21, 2019 was fast approaching without any indication by the President nor GECOM to meet the three months deadline, the Leader of the Opposition offered a reasonable and feasible proposal to the President in the national interest and to prevent the country slipping into a constitutional crisis,” the missive read. Jagdeo wrote, “”I am proposing to the President for his consideration, the following:- The date of the general (Continued on page 29)
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo
President David Granger
PAGE 10
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Kaieteur News
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
GECOM and the bloodthirsty ignorance of history by the PPP It is this writer’s opinion that GECOM is not being candid about elections preparations. This columnist did not support President Granger’s action outside of the Carter formula to appoint a GECOM chairman. My feeling at the time was that Granger had his point man all the time waiting that is why he kept rejecting simple, plain, comprehensible words in the constitution that graphically informs the reader of the constitution that the
GECOM chairman does not necessarily have to come from a person who was or is a judge (see my column of Tuesday, October 24, 2017 captioned, “The mystery Dr. Clive Thomas and the AFC should explain.”) I believe given all that has gone down with GECOM since the ruling coalition lost the no confidence vote (NCV) on December 21, last year, we have returned, not returning, but have gone back to the era of GECOM and its chair,
Justice Harold Bollers. Stabroek News editorial of February 11, 2019 was not diplomatic. It thinks the GECOM chairman was selected for reasons of partisanship. I quote; “Between them, President Granger and Justice Patterson have managed to recreate the spectre of the three-man commission headed by Sir Harold Bollers, which commission presided over the last rigged general elections in 1985.” When Granger went
outside the Carter tradition of selecting chairmanships, the PPP must have had an emotional tsunami. From Cheddi Jagan in 1992 to Ramotar in 2015, a span of 23 years, the PPP resisted the advice of the OAS, and other foreign and local organization that the Carter formula was a contextual arrangement of a particular moment of the last part of the 20th century and had outlived its purpose in the 21st century. To have two political parties as the main decisionmakers for the country’s national elections has to be a monstrous mockery and tragic farce. What happens when one of those two parties feels it will lose? As one half of the machinery of administration, it can frustrate the elections. This columnist was told by someone who was close to the US Embassy in 2015 that the fake statements of poll were deliberately placed in GECOM’s operation room by persons who had the authority to be any and everywhere in the GECOM war room. So assured that it would never lose election, the PPP’s four substantial presidents (excluding Sam Hinds) – Cheddi and Janet Jagan, Jagdeo and Ramotar – showed not a scintilla of
interest in inventing a new GECOM structure with consultations from the opposition and other stakeholders. So embedded in the PPP’s psyche was the instinct of electoral invincibility that when the constitution was being amended, the PPP sanctioned the inclusion of the unilateral right of the president to select the GECOM chair (see my column of Thursday, November 1, 2018, headlined, “Aubrey Norton nowhasachancetoavoid history’s recurrences.”) On the night of December 21, 2018, the PPP sensed that power was knocking on its door. But since that date, it hasn’t worked out smoothly. There is a chairman of GECOM that there are controversies about. He was selected by the president. When in office, the PPP didn’t mind the president appointing the chairman after all, that prerogative will always be bestowed on the PPP because the PPP never lost a free national poll and never will. It is predictable that there will be no March election. There will not be an election even in July. This will be the majority decision in the GECOM Commission. Would it have been different with a different chairman? There can be no definite
Frederick Kissoon answer just one’s opinion and my view is that I am not assured that Chairman Patterson is operating according to the constitution since the (NCV). What this situation points to, is the deplorable, unfortunate, selfish journey of power possessors. They just seem to feel that they can dictate the dialectics. They cannot. Jean Paul Sartre says man makes the dialectics and the dialectics make man. The human has not got the power or will ever get the power to dictate how history moves as if it is a toy in their hands. The PPP may not be back in power long into the distant future. Would it have been otherwise if they had changed the Carter blueprint a long time ago? It had 23 years to do so. But they couldn’t and didn’t want to learn from history. The APNU+AFC got in to power and they chose not to change the structures the previous regimes put in place for selfish reasons of power. They criticized NICIL when in opposition. They embrace NICIL when in power. They didn’t even change the name.
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Kaieteur News
PAGE 11
PAGE 12
Kaieteur News
Wednesday March 06, 2019
McDoom robbers jailed for 3 years
From left: Anthony Damon, Eion Trotman and Kevin Abraham
Three men were each sent to prison for three years yesterday after they were found guilty of a robbery under-arms charge, at the conclusion of a trial in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The men, Anthony Damon, 21, a fisherman of Lot 2 Water Agricola, East Bank Demerara; Eion Trotman, 27, a labourer of B Field Sophia; and Kevin Abraham, 26, of Queenstown, Georgetown, were on trial before Senior Magistrate Dylon Bess. They were convicted of robbing three passengers at Middle Street, McDoom, East Bank Demerara, on December 13, 2017. On December 13, 2017, at McDoom Public Road, East Bank Demerara, the three while being armed with guns, robbed Ryan Thomas of $4,000 cash. On the same day, the three men at the same location, robbed Seyedia Azeez of a quantity of articles valued $43,000. And also on the same day, again at McDoom Public Road, East Bank Demerara, the trio while being in company of each other and armed with guns, robbed Luthi Persaud of a quantity of articles valued $55,000. The men had denied the charges on their first court appearance before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, hence they were granted bail and their matters were transferred to Magistrate Bess. It was reported that after the robbery, the
men were caught in a house at Agricola, East Bank Demerara, covered in sheets and pretending to be asleep. The Magistrate in coming to his ruling told the court that he was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the trio committed the offence. He added that the Prosecution was able to lead sufficient evidence against them; hence he sentenced them to three years’ imprisonment each. According to information, on the day in question, the men boarded a minibus at the Stabroek Market square around 10:00 hrs. When the vehicle stopped at McDoom, the three men requested to disembark at Middle Street, McDoom. It was reported that after the men exited the vehicle, one of them drew a handgun from his waist and relieved the driver of $4,000 cash and robbed the other passengers of their valuables, before making good their escape. A patrol commander who was passing at the time gave chase behind the trio. They were all arrested in a house at Second Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara. It was reported that on entering the home, one of them was covered with a sheet, pretending to be asleep and the other two were found relaxing in the living room. The stolen items were also recovered at the house. They were all arrested and taken to the police station.
Wednesday March 06, 2019
PAGE 13
Kaieteur News
Peter Ramsaroop questioned at CID Headquarters in Charrandass probe
Peter Ramsaroop (left) accompanying Charrandass Persaud out of Parliament Building compound.
People’s Progressive Party supporter Peter Ramsaroop was questioned yesterday at CID Headquarters, Eve Leary, in connection with what police say is an ongoing investigation into allegations against former AFC member, Charrandass Persaud. Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, confirmed to Kaieteur News that Ramsaroop was questioned, and promised more information shortly. In a press conference last January, the Top Cop had said that police received ‘corroboration’ from gold dealers who were interviewed during an ongoing probe into bribery and other allegations against Persaud. At the time, James had said that the investigation
had “gone a significant way,” and that the police may approach Canadian officials ‘if necessary’ to have Persaud extradited for questioning. James confirmed that Persaud, a Canadian citizen, is under investigation into allegations of bribery and the reported shipping of gold out of Guyana. James had described the matter as one of “national security.” But it is unclear what information police may be seeking from Ramsaroop regarding the probe police are said to be conducting.
The allegations against Persaud surfaced shortly after the former AFC MP shocked his colleagues by supporting the Opposition PPP’s noconfidence motion in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018. Ramsaroop later accompanied Persaud through the rear entrance of Parliament Building. They then entered a waiting car. Ramsaroop later accompanied Persaud to a Barbados-bound airplane at the Ogle International Airport.
Charrandass Persaud
PAGE 14
Kaieteur News
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Gender Equality Strategy takes center stage at local Beijing +25 Summit As Guyana undertakes a comprehensive national-level review, the process and the achievements made in gender equality and the empowerment of women is taking center stage. The topic was highlighted at Regional Gender Equality Strategy and BEIJING+25 Summit, yesterday, at the Herdmanston Lodge, Peter Rose Street, Queenstown
Georgetown. The Summit was jointly convened by the Ministry of Social Protection, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, Cuso International and the UN Women Multi-Country Office of the Caribbean. The Beijing declaration and platform for action of 1995 is a visionary agenda for the empowerment of women. It still remains today the most
comprehensive global policy framework and roadmap for action, and is a current source of guidance and inspiration to realize gender equality and the human rights of women and girls, everywhere. And its stature and significance as a roadmap for the achievement of gender equality remains undiminished. The 25th anniversary of the Beijing platform of action
represents a milestone in the global movement towards gender equality. In 2020, the global community will observe the 25th anniversary of the fourth world conference on women and adoption of the Beijing declaration and platform for action (1995). A five-year milestone will be reached towards achieving the sustainable development goals of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Thus, 2020 will be a crucial year for the progressive realization of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, globally. Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, in her address to the forum, noted that Guyana is exploring ways to achieve the full realization of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and gender equality.
“[The agenda] will enable us to identify the current challenges and gaps as well as examine future plans to accelerate implementation at the national level.” According to Ally, Guyana has made significant progress in the status of women since the adoption of the Beijing declaration and platform for action. “I wish to note that the government of Guyana remains committed to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women in all spheres of life. “Government policies and programmes focus on reducing poverty and improving and equalizing access to goods and services throughout the country to all, but most especially the poor and vulnerable.” “Initiatives and programmes to enhance the
Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally livelihoods have been prominent themes in our national budgets; however, these have significantly expanded recently. There have been several key and progressive interventions to Continued on page 29
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Kaieteur News
PAGE 15
Women played critical role in designing Timehri roundabout The Ministry of Public Infrastructure is rapidly advancing the completion of the second of three roundabout projects to be executed by the government. Senior Engineer within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Sherod Parkinson, provided the Department of Public Information (DPI) with an exclusive on-site interview on the status of the Timehri roundabout. Parkinson added that the project is in its final stages. “We are roughly 90 per cent complete”. He said there is anticipation that the roundabout will be fully operational by April. With International Women’s Day approaching, the senior engineer credited women within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure that have contributed to the project’s success. “In the design department at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, there are several women employed. They would have played an integral part in designing this roundabout,” Parkinson explained. Citing some of the obstacles faced during the project, the Senior Engineer said though the project began in 2017, there were “major delays with the relocation of the GTT and GWI pipeworks”. Regarding the overview of the project, Parkinson stated, “The major works
involved the construction of the roundabout itself. Unlike the Kitty location, this [Timehri] location is not so big.” He further explained that the workers at the roundabout are currently installing light poles and conducting works on the median. “They should be working on putting the soil in the centre of the roundabout and median to bring (that aspect) close to completion”. Commenting on the new exit road being constructed from the airport that leads to the roundabout, Parkinson added that “it will all be a seamless flow of traffic,” as the nearby project would not interrupt commuters using the roundabout. In comparison to the road safety features of the Kitty roundabout, Parkinson noted: “Signages are part of the project and the contractor will be installing those shortly.” Lauding works done by the ministry, Parkinson added that people travelling in the area can expect “a smoother flow, proper signage, proper lighting… generally easier access to and from the airport”. The contract for the Timehri roundabout project was approved by the National Procurement and
View of the nearly completed Timehri roundabout.
Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) on August 2, 2017, at a cost of $74M. Georgetown’s first major roundabout at the junction of Vlissingen Road and Carifesta Avenue officially opened on June 4, 2018, and saw significant improvement in the flow of traffic. The roundabout allows for reduced delays, reduced travel times and fuel consumption, and is also geared at reducing the severity of collisions. The third roundabout is to be constructed at Sheriff Street under the SheriffMandela Avenue road project. (DPI)
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
PAGE 16
Kaieteur News
Residents capture bandit after Sophia teacher robbed of motorcycle, chain Sophia residents arrested a bandit on Monday shortly after he robbed a teacher. Police are searching for his accomplice now, it was disclosed yesterday. According to the police, on Monday, a 20-year-old teacher of ‘D’ Field Sophia, East Coast Demerara, was accosted and relieved of her necklace and motorcycle in front of the school she teaches in the area.
Police said that one of the perpetrators was promptly apprehended with the motorcycle by public-spirited citizens and handed over. The other suspect who goes by the alias “Red Man” is currently being sought. The crime was committed about 14:30h Monday whilst the victim was in the process of leaving the school premises. The 33-year-old suspect
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Magistrate to rule on no case submission
of Front Road, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown is cooperating with investigations. He is also being questioned in relation to several similar offences. “The Guyana Police Force wishes to publicly commend those citizens who have responded to the victim’s calls for assistance, for their brave and courageous actions and for supporting law enforcement.”
Charged: Rick Seecharran Yesterday police prosecutor Neville Jeffers responded to the no-case submission by attorney-at-law Sanjeev Datadin that there is not sufficient evidence for his client Rick Seecharran to face a High Court trial. Seecharran, 21, is accused of unlawfully killing his girlfriend, Sasia Adams. On his first appearance he was arraigned in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan last June. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on June 10, 2018, he unlawfully killed Sasia Adams. The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) continued before the very magistrate after the charge was recommended by the Di-
Dead: Sasia Adams
rector of Public Prosecutions (DPP), when the police forwarded a file to the chambers. Attorney Datadin told the court that the Prosecution failed to prove their case against his client and he should not be called upon to lead a defence in the matter. The lawyer added, that there is no evidence that his client committed the offence and as such, the matter should be dismissed. However, prosecutor Jeffers in his response to the submission first highlighted that the defendant was given an opportunity to say something but, in his statement to the court he mentioned, “I told the police everything in my statement.” It is from this that the prosecutor stated that what
Seecharran is saying differs from what the witnesses mentioned to the court. Also the final words of the deceased do not support what the defendant is saying and it was given as evidence to the witnesses.The prosecutor continued that the facts of the different version of events proves as direct result of death and the injuries sustained, and the accused was the last person with the deceased.After listening to the response of the prosecution, magistrate McLennan is to rule on the matter next Monday on the sufficient evidence presented whether Seecharran should be processed for the High Court. Adams, 19, formerly of East Street, Georgetown, had (Continued on page 28)
Wednesday March 06, 2019
PAGE 25
Kaieteur News
Court of Appeal affirms rape convictions, 37-year sentence Dissatisfied that his appeal against two rape convictions and one of sexual assault, as well as a 37-year jail sentence was affirmed by the Court of Appeal yesterday, 53-year-old Linton Pompey will be challenging the decision at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). In September 2015, Pompey, 53, who is said to be a father of 12, was convicted by a 12- person jury on two counts of rape committed on a 14-year-old girl. He was also found guilty by the jury of sexually assaulting the minor. He inserted his penis into the girl’s vagina between June 1 and June 13, 2011 and January 10, 2012, respectively. He also fondled the girl’s breast between May 1 and May 21, 2011. Trial Judge Jo-Ann Barlow later imposed separate sentences for each of the offences. The judge, however, ordered that the prison terms run consecutively, hence they amounted to 37 years. In affirming the convictions, Chief Justice Roxane George and Justices of Appeal Rishi Persaud and Dawn Gregory, said that the convictions can be supported by the evidence adduced by the prosecution during the
Linton Pompey trial. Pompey’s Attorney-atLaw Nigel Hughes had asked the Court of Appeal to reverse, set aside and/or discharge the decision of the High Court. The lawyer had argued that the trial judge failed to adequately put the defence of his client to the jury. However, this argument was rejected by the Judges who agreed that the trial Judge during summing up told the jury to consider that Pompey had denied committing the offence when called upon to lead a defence. The Appellate Judges also said that records indicate that the trial Judge also asked the jury to consider the testimony of a witness who testified on behalf of Pompey.
According to the Judges, the prosecution’s evidence was strong, and that the summation of the evidence
by the trial judge did not jeopardize the case. During a rehash of the evidence, the Chief Justice said that as it relates to rape committed between June 1 and June 13, 2011, Pompey threatened to tell the girl’s mother something, which (the girl) considered a threat. Further, the Chief Justice said that in relation to the second count of rape, Pompey showed the girl a $1,000 note after committing the act which was witnessed by a man, who was called to testify by the prosecution. Hughes had also argued that the sentences were excessive given that they are
to run consecutively. But the Chief Justice disagreed and pointed out that the conduct of Pompey resulted in ongoing sexual acts on the young girl. In affirming the 37-year sentence, the Chief Justice said that rape is a prevalent offence and the courts must send a strong message that such an offence would not be tolerated. At an earlier court hearing, Hughes had contended that consecutive sentences are only warranted when there is some level of extreme violence. However, the Chief Justice had sought to remind Hughes that rape, by itself, is
a violent offence. During initial arguments, State Prosecutor Natasha Backer disagreed that the sentences were excessive given the nature of the offence. Citing a case from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Backer said that it was reasoned that consecutive sentences may be given if the offences occurred in unrelated acts. She explained that in Pompey’s case, he committed the acts on the girl, 14, during different intervals. Backer had pointed out that a considerable amount of time would have elapsed between the commissioning of the acts.
PAGE 26
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Kaieteur News
Mother of five remanded for allegedly selling ganja
SERVICES
FOR SALE
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
Piles for sale- 40-45ft $1000 50-55ft $1,100 60-65ft $1200 Tel#699-6505
Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisement, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.
2010 Ducati 796, Black. 2015 CBR 300R, Red. 2012 250 Ninja, White/Black. 610-5370
ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.
Property for sale, 32 James St, Albouystown. #682-8236
Jay’s Welding Est specialized in: Grills, Gates, Rails, Fencing, Razor wire, Repairs etc. Tel#698-0501 Bihair Service for Interior Location. Contact#666-7131 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
Original pure breed rotweiler pups for sale. Price $150,000. Tel: 609-2815, 696-4659
PROPERTY FOR SALE
FOR RENT
WANTED
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
Wanted experienced hire car drivers, bus drivers and dispatchers at Ramada Princess Hotel. Contact on #256-7075/616-5419
1-1 Bedroom apartment, Uitvlugt Housing Scheme, WCD Tel#276-0400/698-2802 3 Bedroom upstairs, fully grilled, master bedroom, fenced concrete yard, parking space in Tuschen. Contact# 692-5525, 266-3965 Bottom flat house to rent. Parfaite Harmony. Tel# 6193258/614-8104 VEHICLE FOR SALE
Property for sale, located on 18th Street on the 8th Cross St Diamond. Contact# 6805944/656-4211
1 Live in domestic between 3540 yrs. Must know to cook and wash. Contact 673-1131 Urgently needed soursop leaves and stem from 50lbs to 1000lbs. Tel#609-8281 One Farm Manager to work on Coconut Plantation in Pomeroon River. Experience in Farming. Contact# 226-9768/ 665-6082 Male and Female Counter Staff, Kitchen Assistant, Apply Shanta’s 225 Camp St
House for sale, Eccles Housing Scheme. 7 bedrooms, 3 toilets and bathrooms enclosed. $28.5M. Call 642-0391/ 001447587233657 House and land available at Parfaite, Tuschen, Diamond etc. Contact Pacific Development Inc. 223-6035/ 604-4909
Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665/6493750
Bus driver wanted. 604-1469, 267-1446 Bedford TL Truck GHH 6776, engine in perfect condition. Tacoma 2005, excellent condtion GTT 1295. Tel#687-3146 Honda Suv, PTT Series.Call: 623-0368/225-9230/225-1005
Wanted land to buy on the East Bank or West Coast. Tel: 642-1252 Experienced cashier, counter server, roti/puri cook, cleaner. Apply @ Hack’s Halaal with h/written application. 5 Commerce St Live in or Live out, Domestic worker. Call from MondaySaturday between 8:154:15pm #223-7500
LAND FOR SALE Parfaite Harmonie $1.6M Dairy- with Foundation & Fence $2M Schnoord $4M Farm (East Bank) $3.5M Tel#656-0701/651-1969 CAR RENTAL EDUCATION Electronic Course, Registering now, limited space available, Abdul Electronics Tel#226-6551/ 687-9992 ACCOMODATION Fully Furnished apts $5000 and $6000 daily, air condition room $3000 per day #2230994 or 678-5827 HEALTH HERBAL REMEDIES: Diabetes, Hypertension, Infertility, Menstrual disorders, Enlarged prostate, Kidney,Gall stones & Arthritis etc. Call Sparman #676-5924 LEARN TO DRIVE N. Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square. Affordable package. Call: 644-5166/6912561
Parfaite Harmonie (transferable) 2.3M, Parfaite Harmonie 1.8M, 1.6M, 2M, Lust-en-Rust Corner Lot 1.2M Call 666-2326 Tuschen phase II 1.4M, Province (incompleted house) 6M, Farm 3.5M, Herstelling 5.5M Call 6662326 Transported land 11.6 acres. Lot 15 public road. #2 Village W.C.B. Price $18M. Contact 686-4818, 648-7109 Parfaite Harmonie Dairy 10 yrs $1.500 10 yrs $1.800 Transpot land, Best Village, Vreed-enhoop $2.600 105x41 #672-0416 Uitvlugt - $2.3M, Zeelugt $1.1M, Parfaith Harmony $1.3M 697-6311
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/6560087, ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL:225-7126/ 2263 6 9 3 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM/ WWW.D OLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
VACANCY Operation supervisor to work in Georgetown, Apply to a.mccullock@cevons.com Female cleaner office & home age 25to 50 Tel# 233-2745
Experienced skilled carpenters, Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street, Fabs Rental, Beterverwagting Bourda ECD Cars from $4000 #604Salon for Rental- Hair stations, 0883 Nail stations, Barber stations available for rent. Tel#699AIDAN’S CAR 6505/615-1872 New Market RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 Street SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FORAIRPORT & FAMILY Tutor/Nanny to work from OUTINGS, CHEAPEST 9:00am to 5:00pm. Apply at RATE . Call: 698-7807 Alabama Trading 65 Robb WING’S CAR & PICKUP Street RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP Chef & assistant cook R AT E S , S P E C I A L preferably Carnegie trained. OFFERS! . CALL: 690#225-7933 or visit 172 Sheriff 6494 Street
A mother of five children was on Monday remanded to prison by Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty after a sting operation by members of the police force allegedly exposed her for selling narcotics. Rosalyn Berkley appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and denied the charge which alleged that on March 1, 2019, she had in her possession 611 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. The accused was represented by attorney at law Dexter Todd. He informed the court that Berkley is 49
years of age. He went on to say that the mother of five is a shop owner. According to the attorney the police found the narcotics in the yard which houses over 20 persons. The attorney pushed to say that he was instructed by Berkley that the arresting rank threatened to get her in prison even if it is not on this charge. Police prosecutor Quinn Harris related that on the day in question the police went to a shop which is known for selling narcotics. Under the pretence of making a purchase of narcotics the accused was approached by a police officer in plain clothing. Berkley allegedly went to another female who then went away in a motor car for about 15 minutes and returned with a black bulky bag. It was opened by the VACANCY undercover police where it was revealed that the bag Vacancy exist for (1) Manager contained a quantity of to work at Hotel Purple Heart stems, leaves and seeds Restaurant & Bar on the suspected to be narcotics. Essequibo Coast #665-6082 The officer then alerted others who were at specific Surveyor Technician. Must locations. They then gathered know to use GPS. Contact 223and presented themselves as 5273/74 police in plainclothes. The female allegedly ran through General domestic with the crowd at that point and cooking experience for East made good her escape. Bank. #614-4358 The accused was 2 Experienced welder cautioned and admitted to the fabricators & 2 riggers with allegation after it was put to experience to do height work her. She was arrested and urgent. Contact 697-4258 taken into custody where the One cleaner. Apply at charge was later made out Alabama Trading. 65 Robb against her. Attorney Todd objected Street to the fact that the shop is Accounts clerk. Apply in known for selling drugs as person at Alabama Trading. there were no charges made. 65 Robb Street, Bourda He also mentioned that Accounts Clerk/ Customer nothing was weighed in his Service Rep in Linden, 5 client’s presence and there is Subject CXC, Accounting & no written caution statement. Moreover, the attorney Quickbooks experience an moved to say that based on asset. info@cevons.com his instructions, on the day Operators supervisor, in question someone logistic/bond clerk, approached his client to make operations manager assistant. a purchase. Contact Number: 218-5120/ Berkley then observed the 6 0 3 - 4 5 4 1 . money he handed over to be chungsvacancy@gmail.com counterfeit. The customer Receptionist. Ages 25-50. upon reaching into his pocket #225-0198. 233 South Road she observed a gun. From a past experience of being Lacytown robbed the defendant shoved Male factory worker needed, the person and attempted to must have police clearance. run. For more info, call: 223-0090 The person held unto her Outdoor salesman. Apply at by the hair and they got into Dharmendra Variety Store. a scuffle. Other persons Lot B7-9, Avenue of the intervened and only then did Republic, Lacytown, they identify themselves as police officers. Georgetown. Prosecutor Harris Urgently needed: one office objected to bail based on the assistant. Age 25-30. One live fact that no special reason in domestic. Age 28-38. was given to the police when Attractive salary offer. Tel:603- the accused was arrested. 2590 Magistrate McGusty then Industrial Sales upheld the submission made Representative, 5 Subject by the prosecutor and CXC Age 25+ Experience in remanded Berkley to prison. Sales, must own vehicle, email The matter was adjourned r e s u m e : until March 11, 2019 for the next court hearing. vacancy@josarltd.com
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Kaieteur News
PAGE 27
PAGE 28
Kaieteur News
Kay’s Diamond Enterprise shooting death…
Trio who went to scene with slain bandit released
Police have released the three men who were arrested outside of Kay’s Diamond Enterprise after Saturday’s bungled robbery. An official said that they were released on cash bail yesterday afternoon after the 72-hour period that they could be held ended.They have been instructed to report daily to the Alberttown Police Station. The men were detained shortly after their friend, Gerally Johanison Henry, was shot dead inside the diamond establishment while attempting to rob the owner. But although the three men had accompanied Henry to the location, police have found no evidence that they knew of his plan to rob the jeweller.One of the men alleged that Henry had claimed he was going to sell the businessman some gold.According to reports, Henry had met one of the men, known as ‘Bow-foot’, on Friday. The two men were acquaintances from prison. Henry had reportedly shown ‘Bow Foot’ a quantity of gold that he claimed that he would sell, and that he planned to go to the interior afterwards. On Saturday, Henry and ‘Bow Foot,’ and a driver, who was among the detained men,
Gerally Johanison Henry went to Thomas and Middle Streets, where Kay’s Diamond Enterprise is located. Henry contacted the jeweler by cell phone and indicated that he had some gold to sell. Henry and the jewel store owner had reportedly met previously, when Henry had indicated that he wanted to go into the mining business. Because he was known to the owner, Henry was allowed to enter the premises. Kaieteur News understands that the robber was aware that the building would not have been heavily guarded at that hour.It is alleged that on entering, Henry immediately asked to use the washroom, and this aroused some suspicion.According to one report, when Henry exited the
washroom, he pointed a gun at the dealer. However, the dealer reportedly managed to distract Henry and shot him dead. Because the building is soundproof, Henry’s friends did not hear the gunfire and remained waiting. Meanwhile, the businessman alerted ranks from the Alberttown Police Station, who arrived and arrested the trio.While police said they recovered a 9mm pistol, with eight rounds in the magazine from the slain Henry, they found no firearms on the three men.Kaieteur News understands that surveillance cameras on the premises recorded Henry and the three acquaintances arriving in the car. However, there were reportedly no cameras inside the premises to record the dramatic shootout. The individual known as ‘Bow Foot’ was convicted in 2014 in connection with a robbery in which he and two others, Adrian Bishop, and Devon Forde, had relieved their victim of cash, jewellery and a Toyota Spacio. He was later accused of robbing a woman of her cell phone.‘Bow Foot’ was the only one present at his sentencing, since both his accomplices, Forde and Bishop, were killed.
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Bus driver charged over causing death of passengers in accident Forty-seven-year-old minibus driver, Denzil Clarke, was yesterday charged in relation to the death of two passengers, when he appeared before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts. It is alleged that Clarke, of Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, on March 3, last, at Success, East Coast Demerara (ECD), drove minibus BTT 4910 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of 58-year-old Denise Cully of Vigilance, ECD, and 59-yearold Patricia Ellis of Haslington ECD.He pleaded not guilty to both charges after they were read to him, and was thereafter remanded to prison. The horrific accident occurred around 07:30hrs on March 3, last.Ellis died while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), while Cully, a vendor and mother of three, died on the spot. One of Cully’s arms and other body parts were severed. Police said that sometime around 07:30 hrs, the minibus was proceeding west along the southern drive lane of the southern carriageway, reportedly at a fast rate of speed.It is alleged that
Dead Patricia Ellis another driver overtook the minibus from the left side and struck the left rear wheel causing him to lose control and slam into the median. It was reported that Cully was flung out of the bus window and ended up in the northern carriageway. The minibus toppled several times before landing on Cully’s body. It then skidded for some distance before coming to a halt.The vehicle was then turned over by public spirited persons and Cully’s mangled body was removed. It was reported that the bus may have suffered a blow out.The other passengers injured in the accident were
Dead Denise Cully Jaden Moffatt , seven, a student of Golden Grove Primary School ; Laffanna Williams, 22, a Police Constable of Lot 175 Haslington ECD ; June Abel ,60, of Lot 8 Good Hope ECD ; Wayne Blair ,38, of Lot 38 Fernandez Street, Golden Grove ECD and Jordan Beaton,17, of Golden Grove, ECD. Beaton, who reportedly lost several fingers, was rushed to the Woodlands Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.The other injured passengers reportedly suffered from laceration about their bodies. Clarke was remanded to prison until March 15.
Man fined $15,000 for beating Man freed of narcotics charge errant wife
Udoc Anthony Nedd walked out of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts a free man yesterday after a drug trafficking charge against him was dismissed by City Magistrate Dylon Bess who upheld a no-case submission presented by Nedd’s Attorney-at-Law, Siand Dhurjon. Police had contended that on March 27, 2018, they visited Nedd’s Campbellville, Georgetown home where they conducted a raid and found 444 grams of cannabis sativa (marijuana) on a kitchen counter in a jar and under a bed in the home.As a result of the discovery, Nedd was charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.At Nedd’s first
FREED: Udoc Nedd arraignment before a Magistrate he had been refused bail and was remanded to prison. His lawyer, Dhurjon, however made a successful petition for
bail before a Judge at the High Court in Georgetown. In upholding the no-case submission, Magistrate Bess stated that the prosecution failed to lead sufficient evidence to establish the elements of the offence. The Magistrate also stated that the prosecution failed to prove that Nedd was in possession of the marijuana, for which the amount could not be proven. Added to that, the Magistrate excluded from evidence photographs of the alleged narcotics as well as an oral admission police alleged Nedd gave, after certain objections were made by Dhurjon as it relates to admissibility. Nedd’s trial commenced last year May.
Magistrate to rule on no... From page 16 been employed at the Princess Ramada Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara. According to a statement from the police, on the night of June 10, 2018, Adams and her boyfriend were travelling west along Lamaha Street, Georgetown, in a white Toyota 212 motorcar, when she opened the door and leapt from the car, landing on the southern side of the road. The police said that the boyfriend picked
up the woman and transported her to the hospital where she died. Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh gave her cause of death as blunt trauma to the head. Based on reports, the police sought several extensions to further detain the boyfriend after there were conflicting reports surrounding the death of the teenager. It was reported that Adams, who was admitted to the hospital in a conscious state, told doctors that she had fallen down at home.
John Williams yesterday appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with allegedly assaulting his common-law wife with a cutlass. It was alleged that on February 27, 2019 at Hell Hill Matthew’s Ridge, the accused unlawfully assaulted Joan Glasgow to cause her actual bodily harm. He pleaded guilty. Williams told the court that he is 31years old, that he resides at Matthew’s Ridge and does mining as his source of income.Police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield informed the court that the parties share a common-law relationship. On the day in question around 06:00hrs the parties had a misunderstanding after which the defendant armed himself with a cutlass and dealt the victim several lashes to the head, shoulder and leg. Glasgow at the time was holding their nine-month-old baby. After the incident the accused ran away and the matter was reported to the police.On March 2, 2019 about 14:00hrs the victim was in her home lying on her bed when Williams walked in the house and snatched Glasgow
John Williams by the hair. The victim then raised an alarm and the defendant again ran away. Once again he made good his escape and another report was made to the police. Investigations were carried out which led to the arrest of the accused. The allegation was put to him and he admitted to it. The injuries the victim sustained are swelling to the forehead, and blood under the skin at the shoulder and thigh. Williams was later escorted to Georgetown where
the present charge was made out against him.When given a chance to explain himself the defendant stated that, “I don’t understand the big words the officer used just now when he talk but, this thing is a steady thing with this woman.” He went on to say that, “She does go out and deh with next man. We have four children together and she nearly killed me because I went out with a next woman. I admit I am wrong for going out with another woman but when she nearly killed me, because I love her I didn’t make a report. ”The accused later mentioned that his common-law wife usually go out and imbibe alcohol while leaving their baby with the 10-yearold daughter. Before sentence was passed Magistrate McLennan instructed a probation officer to investigate the allegations into the welfare of the children. She also advised Williams to not have his anger push him so far to beat up persons. “You are not allowed to take the law into your own hands. You can’t go beating up people like you are their parent.”Williams was fined of $15,000 for the offence. He was given two weeks to pay the fine or in default spend three weeks in prison.
Wednesday March 06, 2019
PAGE 29
Kaieteur News
Progress of HIV/AIDS fight to be amplified at PANCAP meeting
W
ith a view of sharing the progress of the fight against HIV/AIDS, the Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS [PANCAP] will host the Seventh meeting of National AIDS Programme [NAP] Managers and Key partners during the period March 11 – 13, 2019. The event, which will be held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, will include over 130 NAP Managers, Chief Medical Officers, Permanent Secretaries, Development and Regional Partners, Implementing Partners such as civil society organizations that work with people living with HIV and key population groups, including youths. The purpose of the meeting is to update programme managers and all stakeholders involved in the HIV response on national and regional commitments, progress on current global strategies. The meeting will also seek to identify innovative
ways to address gaps identified in the UNAIDS 2018 Global AIDS Monitoring [GAM] Report and to strengthen the Caribbean regional HIV response. The Meeting will facilitate information and best practice sharing; peer learning and technical cooperation among countries to strengthen ownership; improve harmonisation and sustainability of the Region’s HIV response. Critical issues highlighted by the GAM report, which will form the basis of discussion, include the fact that there is an estimated 310,000 people living with HIV in the Caribbean at the end of 2017. The gap to achieving the first 90 of the 90-90-90 Targets in 2017 was 54,800 people living with HIV who did not know their status. The gap to achieving the second 90 in 2017 is 74,400 people living with HIV who were not on treatment. The gap to achieving the third 90 in 2017 was attaining viral suppression of an
additional 103,000 people living with HIV. The targets speaks to 90 percent of the estimated number of people living with HIV being aware of their status; that 90 percent of those aware of their status are on sustained antiretroviral therapy, and of those on antiretroviral 90 percent must be virally suppressed. According to information released by PANCAP, participants will be engaged in discussions on strategies for addressing these gaps as well as exploring what sustainability means for individual countries in the context of their existing economic realities and creating a roadmap for integration as a key strategy for sustainability. Stakeholders will also receive updates on the achievements and synergies of the PANCAP, Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition [CVC-COIN] and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States [OECS] Global Fund grants and the
Jagdeo to meet with President... From page 9 and regional elections to be held before the expiration of the present voters’ list on April 30, 2019; No new contracts to be awarded by the State, including Regional Democratic Councils, and, State-owned corporations after March 21, 2019; No new agreements, loans, grants, land leases, or any other such agreements or contracts after March 21, 2019, that bind Government; No abuse of State resources for partisan activities/purposes; and Access to the
State-owned media by all the contesting political parties.” Jagdeo told President Granger that on the agreement of the Government to the proposals, the Parliamentary Opposition will be prepared to lend its support for the two-thirds majority required to comply with Article 106 (7) for an extension beyond March 21, 2019. “I, therefore, am proposing that the meeting focus exclusively on the date for these elections. Further, l believe that my proposal to hold
general and regional elections before April 30, 2019 is reasonable and feasible with a claims and objections period, provided that GECOM acts in good-faith and in conformity with its mandate and the Constitution. This proposal will ensure that the Constitution remains intact and prevents our nation slipping into a constitutional crisis. If my proposal finds favour with the President, l shall be prepared to meet him on March 6, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. or at any other time.”
Gender Equality Strategy takes center ... From page 14 strengthen the programmes and policies to support our women and girls.” The Minister spoke too about the empowerment of women through Guyana women’s leadership institute. “In 2018 the institute hosted workshops in all the administrative regions on gender and local government: entitled “female decision makers”. These workshops were geared to promote a platform that equips women with the requisite skills and knowledge to improve their individual and institutional competence within their communities. The workshop also helped women develop skills to function at the different sectoral areas, throughout the various stages of any community undertaking. “A total of 460 women have benefitted to date.” Minister Ally noted that in strengthening the national
machinery, government has developed a National Gender and Social Inclusion Policy. The National Gender and Social Inclusion Policy is expected to be implemented during the second quarter of 2019 and will aim to mainstream gender issues into all sectors in order to eliminate all negative economic, social and cultural practices that impede equality and equity. “It will strengthen links between Government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector in mainstreaming of gender, in the respective sectors and develop, maintain and provide gender sensitive information and gender disaggregated data for use in planning and project implementation at all levels and in all sectors,” Ally added. Meanwhile, in accordance with the international plan, Guyana continues to make progress
on the status of women in public life and has been maintaining steady ratings with regards to representation of women in parliament. As such, Ally said it is well ahead of many developed countries on the women in national parliament index. According to the 2018 index women hold 31.9% of seats in the National Assembly in Guyana.Also of importance, is the role education plays in changing a girl’s life and society at large can never be understated. “That is why I am happy that Guyana now has a policy for the reintegration of teenage mothers. This policy has support measures that will enable teenage mothers to continue their secondary education in schools. “In addition to that, I wish to note that Government will continue to work with our partners to address sexual and reproductive health and rights.”
transfer of regional public goods developed under these grants. Development and regional partners will also provide updates on programmes and activities that are contributing to the achievements of the goals and targets of the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV [CRSF]. Ms. Aldora Robinson, NAP Coordinator, Turks and Caicos Islands and the National AIDS Programme Managers Representative on the PANCAP Governance Bodies, believes that the meeting could be a “game changer” at this critical point in the region’s HIV response. “In an environment of reduced international funding for HIV, calls for country ownership, and the global vision of an AIDS-Free Generation, NAP Managers
and CSOs must work together to establish innovative ways to address the gaps in the response as highlighted in the GAM report,” stated Robinson. She added that the critical issues for discussion include: increasing access to HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections [STI] testing for key populations, including transgender and youth, and scaling-up [STI] testing within the HIV combination prevention approach. Countries will also commit to implementing innovative strategies for reaching, testing and retaining persons on treatment and for preventing HIV among key populations and reporting on progress. The meeting is expected to culminate with an agreement by all stakeholders on strategies for addressing gaps
PANCAP Director, Mr. Derek Springer in achieving the 90-90-90 Targets, a critical element of PANCAP’s vision for an AIDS-free Caribbean.
PAGE 30
Kaieteur News
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Spring Garden residents save 40-year-old house following apartment fire
“the home which was saved.”
The residents of Spring Garden saved a home from being engulfed in flames last Sunday night, after the bottom flat mysteriously ignited. Some-time around 20:45 hrs on Sunday night, the bottom flat of the home, which is located at Spring Garden on the Essequibo Coast, ignited. Based on reports, the double flat home is owned by 76-year- old Madai Sharma. This publication understands that at the time of the fire, the woman was in Georgetown, spending time with her relatives. Nevertheless, the woman’s relative, 22-year-old Kujeshwar, better known as Naresh, was alone at home when the fire started. It is believed that Naresh occupies the single room apartment down stairs, where the fire reportedly started. The young man told reporters yesterday that he was cooking on a kerosene stove. He further claimed that he subsequently left for the road, and it was upon his return that he saw his apartment on fire. It is believed that the fire was first spotted by the woman’s son, Gowkarran Sharma, who lives with his family right next door to his mother’s home. The 40-year-old man told reporters that when he saw the apartment on fire, he immediately raised an alarm and then proceeded to save the home. Sharma with the help of neighbours and even his family, quickly managed to bring the fire under control before it complete engulfed the home, which is believed to be 40 years old.The Guyana Fire Service on the other hand was commended for its timely response, which family members claim was within a 15-minute time frame. It was noted that Spring Garden is located at least 15 miles from Anna Regina, where the Fire Station is located. Based on reports, the entire bottom flat was completely destroyed along with a number of house hold and electrical items, which included a bed, gas stove, fridge, microwave and music set. The fire department has since launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
Miner gets 7 years for manslaughter In an act of mercy, the Suddie High Court yesterday granted a reduced sentence of seven years, to a miner who pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The accused, 23-year-old Devanand Singh was charged with killing his brother Devendra Alfred, 22. The accused when he appeared before Judge Sandil Kissoon yesterday, pleaded guilty to the charge. The court heard that on June 15, 2014, the accused just being 18 years old at that time, was consuming alcohol with his older brother in a mining camp located at Sand Hill, Cuyuni River. At 1 am on June 16, 2014, an argument erupted between the accused and the deceased. After both parties ran for weapons, the accused inflicted a stab wound to his brother’s left side abdomen. The court also heard that his brother died as a result of the injury, which was reported from the autopsy examination as bleeding from a raptured spleen. On the said day, June 16, 2014, the accused Devanand Singh detailed in his caution statement the events leading to his brother’s death. The accused also on that day expressed remorse for what he had done and he said they were both high.In his
plea for a lenient sentence, the defense council, Lachmin Dindyal, pointed out that his client was remorseful and that he had already spent five years in prison. Dindyal also noted that while in prison, his client had already successfully completed a course in anger management and would have pursued a number of courses to enhance his technical skills. The attorney also highlighted that his client’s behaviour has been excellent and that he had no previous convictions. Even in his own plea, Singh begged Judge Kissoon that the court grant him mercy. He said that he didn’t willfully murder his brother. Rather they were both intoxicated and he had no idea what came next. The Judge considered a number of factors before passing a lenient sentence. He took into account the accused honesty in pleading guilty and the fact that he had already served 5 years for the crime against him. He also noted that the injury inflicted was a single injury. Judge Kissoon after considering the factors for a reduced penalty, reduced Singh’s sentence by 10 years, and instead imposed a sentence of seven years imprisonment.
Wednesday March 06, 2019
PAGE 31
Kaieteur News
Presidency and Security Ministries receive multi-million-dollar bids for vehicles
The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) received bids for 27 projects yesterday, most notably for the purchase of over a dozen vehicles and motorcycles for the Ministries of the Presidency and Public Security. Ministry of the Presidency Procurement of Twelve (12) New Vehicles
Design and Supervision Services for the Rehabilitation of Mahdia Divisional Head Quarter - Guyana Police Force
Design and Supervision Services for the Extension of Storage Bond, Georgetown Prisons
Ministry of Public Security Procurement of New Vehicles, Motorcycles, ATV & Flashlights with Siren, Lots 1-3, GPF
Design and Supervision Services for the Rehabilitation of Selected Police Stations in Region 4
Design and Supervision Services for the Construction of Fort Wellington Divisional Head Quarter - Guyana Police Force Procurement of Office Equipment and Furniture, GFS
Design and Supervision Services for the Rehabilitation of Leonora Police Station
Procurement of Equipment and Furniture - GPF
Design and Supervision Services for the Rehabilitation of Anna Regina Police Station
Design and Supervision Services for the Rehabilitation of Mabaruma Divisional Head Quarter - Guyana Police Force
Design and Supervision Services for the Construction of Exercise Bay, Mazaruni Prisons
>>>> To be continued tomorrow <<<<
PAGE 32
Kaieteur News
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Kaieteur News
Pro wrestling legend King Kong Bundy dies at 61 Christopher Pallies, better known as pro wrestling legend King Kong Bundy, died Monday at the age of 61, World Wrestling Entertainment announced. The cause of death was not immediately known. Bundy, who also earned the moniker “walking condominium” due to his 6foot-4, 458-pound frame, made his professional debut in 1981 under the name Chris Canyon before changing his name. Bundy was best known for his steel-cage match against Hulk Hogan in WrestleMania 2 in 1986, won by Hogan. He also eschewed the three-count pin, demanding referees count to 5 to show off his dominance over a fallen foe.
Hogan, among others, took to Twitter yesterday to express his condolences. “Overwhelmed by King Kong Bundy’s passing, only great memories. RIP big man, until we meet again.” Bundy debuted with the WWF and competed in the first ever WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden in 1985. Bundy wrestled with or against wrestling’s biggest stars, including Andre the Giant, The Undertaker, “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. Bundy semi-retired from wrestling in 1988 before returning to the WWF in 1994 as part of The Million Dollar Corporation. Bundy left the WWF in 1995 and
wrestled independently until 2007. Bundy was also a standup comedian and actor. He appeared on the hit TV show “Married ... with Children” as well as “Boy Meets World” and starred in commercials. He also appeared in the movie “Moving” with Richard Pryor in 1988. Bundy was part of a classaction lawsuit filed against the WWE in 2016 over claims that the company failed to take care of wrestlers suffering from head injuries. The suit was dismissed in 2018. He was scheduled to appear at WrestleCon next month in New York. Pallies was born in Atlantic City, N.J., in 1957. (Field Level Media)
Wednesday March 06, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your physical and mental energies overflow today. You may want to tackle every possible project that could bring advancement along whatever lines you want. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Chances to pursue opportunities to bring whatever creative work you do best to the public could come up today GEMINI (May 21–June 20) The chance to take a trip by air with friends or members of a group could come your way today, Gemini. This might involve an exhibition of some kind, as well as a chance to advance your knowledge in some way. CANCER(June21–July22) You could complete some personal projects that involve a lot of paperwork today. This could increase your income considerably. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Opportunities for new partnerships concerning a personal project of yours could come to you from far away, Leo. Contracts, agreements, and other legal matters work in your favor VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Mundane and perhaps boring tasks could take up much of your morning, but you will need to get them out of the way so you can move on to more exciting projects. More paperwork might be required in order to get these things started
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) A get-together with a current or potential romantic partner could lead to some stimulating discussions of concepts that interest you both. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today you might toy with the idea of doing some renovation on your home, perhaps for your enjoyment, but primarily to increase its value. Decorating, landscaping, or both might be on the agenda. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Creative energy, especially involving writing or speaking, could overflow today. Ideas could come thick and fast, and you might want to phone some friends and discuss your thoughts. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) If you own your home, the value of your equity may have gone up in the recent past, Capricorn. Income through land or property is strongly indicated. This is likely to change your life in a subtle but positive way. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) A lot of letters, calls, or emails could come your way from all over, Aquarius, bringing lots of good news and useful information. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) An opportunity to earn extra money in a creative way may come today from an unexpected and perhaps even previously unknown source, Pisces.
Spooner, Hinds slam centuries... From page 37 Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) by 22 runs. Transport SC took first knock and were bowled out for 99. Spooner made 38 with six fours and one six as Daniel Mootoo picked up 3-10, Muniram Singh 3-18, Ashmead Nedd 2-17 and Dequan Bamfield 2-22. DCC were sent packing for 77 in reply with Garrick Persaud scoring 13 and Nedd 12; Adams bagged 511, Akeem Clarke 3-28 and Spooner 2-13.
Guinness Greatest of... From page 40 three nights of action and we are urging fans to be early to witness some very exciting games,” he added. Baptiste added that this is the second sub-Meet for 2019 following the successful hosting of the West Demerara/ East Bank zone last month at Pouderoyen tarmac in West Demerara where Brothers United emerged as the champions and will advance to the national playoffs later this year. The winners of the Berbice zone will also book a place in the playoffs. The tournament’s coordinator is former national goalkeeper Philip Carrington and the sponsors are Banks DIH Limited through its Guinness Brand and Colours Boutique of Robb Street, Georgetown.
PAGE 33
PAGE 34
Kaieteur News
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Woodpecker Products Women’s First Division Hockey League
GBTI GCC humble Spartans 9-1 on Monday Play in the Woodpecker Products Women’s 1st Division Outdoor Hockey League continued on Monday night at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground on Shivnarine Chanderpaul Drive with one match. Favourites GBTI GCC enjoyed a massive 9-1 victory over the B side GCC Spartans with braces from Gabriella Xavier, Carina Moller and Sonia Jardine, while Shebiki Baptiste, Dominque DeGroot and Marzana Fiedtkou each banged in one goal.
The Spartans contained GBTI somewhat in the early stages of the game, conceding just one goal during the first 15-minute quarter of play, but from the second period of play onwards, the more seasoned side began to dominate. Meanwhile, in the four games played during last weekend, Pepsi Hikers and Saints men stood out in the Farfan & Mendes 1st division league, while Saints defeated Old Fort. The Hikers pummeled Old
Fort 11-0 in a very lopsided contest. Bounty GCC and Saints played to a 0-0 stalemate on Saturday and Pepsi Hikers grabbed their second win of the weekend by beating the developmental Supernova team 2-0. On Sunday, Saints handed the developing Old Fort side their second loss of the weekend during the 4-2 result. In the points’ table, Saints sit atop the Farfan & Mendes men’s table with four points after the second round, while GBTI’s GCC are top of the Woodpecker Products women’s division with six points.
GBTI GCC’s Gabriella Xavier (on the ball) scored a brace in her team’s 9-1 win against Spartans.
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Concacaf Nations League Countdown
Golden Jaguars to engage Suriname in warm up match - Engaged Fruta Conquerors in training match The Guyana National Senior Men’s Team, commonly known as the Golden Jaguars, has completed a third training match against the Fruta Conquerors Football Club on Saturday last and while Guyana-based Assistant Coach Charles Pollard said the match “had a lot of positives,” he was disappointed with some individual performances. This view was expressed following the match on Saturday at the GFF National Training Centre, which saw the technical team focusing on specific technical and tactical areas. According to Pollard, the team had a good first half and while they are areas to improve, the team’s attitude is encouraging: “I think we had a solid first 45 minutes. We were good with the possession percentage but need to get the team to concentrate for longer periods; this is an area where attention needs to be focused on. I understand we’re asking the team to show something different and I also understand
PAGE 35
Kaieteur News
that the learning process will take a while but it’s a process we must engage. However, the team’s attitude is great and that’s an important element.” Meanwhile, a training match is scheduled against a Suriname Senior Men’s Team on March 16 from 16:00hrs in Suriname: “The match against Suriname will be a good test for the Guyana-based squad,” said Pollard. “The fitness level has progressed very well and is getting to the point required. I think the fitness coach has been doing a great job. I was very impressed with most of the guys’ fitness level in the weekend fixture.”More details of the scheduled training match with the Suriname senior squad will be disseminated during the week. The training matches are part of the preparation for Guyana’s final Concacaf Nations League qualifier against Belize on March 23 at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora. Match time is set for 18:30hrs and admission will be $1,500.
FUP One day cricket competition and Fun day set for Sunday The recently launched Federal United Party (FED –UP), which is predominantly based in Berbice at the moment, is using sports at the moment to get its message over to the Guyanese population. The organisation has organised a number of sporting activities across Berbice. The first activity will be held on the Corentyne. Using cricket as the launching pad the first event will be a one day, 10 overs softball cricket competition and fun day slated for Sunday 10th March. T h e v e n u e is the Friendship ball field Corentyne Berbice. Starting time is 09:00 hrs. A number of teams have confirmed their participation so far including teams from Limlair, Friendship, Bush
Lot, Tain, Whim, Kildonan, Black Bush Polder Canje and Crabwood Creek. Top teams will receive trophies, cash incentives and other rewards, while there will also be incentives for the top
individual players. Bar B Que, Fish and Chips will be on sale during t h e d a y ’s p r o g r a m m e , while there will be activities for children. (Samuel Whyte)
PAGE 36
BCB/New Building Society Ltd 40-Overs Cricket Tournament
D’Edward crush Young Warriors to advance to Final - face Rose Hall Town Bakewell for title D’Edward Cricket Club of West Bank Berbice on Sunday last, created history by becoming the first Club from Region 5 to reach the Final of the New Building Society Ltd countywide 40Overs Cricket Tournament. They defeated favourite Young Warriors of Canje by nine wickets at the D’Edward Cricket Ground in the Semifinals. Rose Hall Town Bakewell had earlier in the year reached the final by defeated Ramnarine Memorial and No. 72 Cut and Load in the Quarterfinals and Semifinals respectively. The home team won the toss and invited Young Warriors Cricket Club to take first strike. They lost National Under-19 Player Alex Algoo, Ricardo Ramdial 01, Vishal Mohabir 03 and Trevon Stanislaus 05 to be reduced to 31 for 4 but steady batting from former National Under19 batsman Sanjay Khan 36 and Skipper Suresh Dhanai spearheaded them to 160 all out in 39.4 Overs. Khemraj struck three huge sixes and a boundary, while Dhanai also struck three sixes and two boundaries. Aaron Beharry supported with 22 and Carl Gilegous scored 10. Bowling for D’Edward, medium pacer Keith Fraser took 2 for 24, Heerilall Bridgelall 4 for 5, while Devindra Lalsa, Hemraj Harilall, Narin Rampersaud and Ramesh Boodram all took a wicket each for 19, 25, 42 an 45 runs respectively. D’Edward Cricket Club in response, raced to 164 for 1 in just 18.5 Overs as Altaf Khan blazed his way to 75 with four boundaries and five sixes. His fellow opener Lakeraj Sookra was unbeaten on 74 with three boundaries and seven maximum as the pair shared in a 150 opening partnership in seventeen overs. Khan was dismissed by left arm medium pacer Devendra Ramoutar who ended with one wicket for 26 runs from four overs. Heeralall Bridgelall was the other unbeaten batsman with three runs when victory was achieved. D’Edward had earlier in the week defeated Bush Lot United by 31 runs in the Quarterfinals. They amassed 209 all out in 34.4 overs with Keith Fraser 45, Derrick Lalsa
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Kaieteur News
49 being the main scores. Bowling for Bush Lot United, H. Darran took 3 for 52, J. Dilchan 2 for 26 and A. Rambarran 3 for 38. Bush Lot United in response was bowled out for 178 with R. Hemraj 38, J. Dilchan 41 and R. Kishun 21 topscoring. D. Lalsa 2 for 17, H. Harilall 4 for 38 and Keith Fraser 3 for 39 were the main wicket takers for the D’Edward Team. The New Building Society Final between D’Edward and Rose Hall Town Bakewell would be played on Sunday 17th March at the Albion Community Centre Ground from 11.00 hours. The experienced D’Edward Cricket Club would depend heavily on Lakeraj Sookra, Altaf Khan, Heeralall Bridgelall, Devendra Lalsa, Jaipaul Heeralall and Keith Fraser. The youthful Rose Hall Town Bakewell would feature National Youth Players Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Kevin Sinclair, Keith Simpson, Sylus Tyndall, Jeremy Sandia, Mahendra Gopilall and Jonathan Rampersaud. BCB President Hilbert Foster has hailed the NBS Tournament as a great success as the Board has been able to bring the Tournament to its Final in just a few months despite over 90 teams participating in the biggest cricket tournament in Guyana.
NBA roundup: Suns stun Bucks Kelly Oubre Jr. recorded 27 points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots, and Devin Booker scored 22 points as the lowly Phoenix Suns pulled off a stunning 114-105 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. Deandre Ayton registered 19 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots, and Josh Jackson scored 16 for Phoenix. The Suns have won three of four since enduring a franchise-worst, 17-game losing streak. Tyler Johnson had 13 points and four steals and also knocked down the tiebreaking basket for the Suns, who outscored Milwaukee 38-23 in the fourth quarter. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 21 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and three steals for the NBA-best Bucks, who have lost two straight after winning 19 of the previous 21 games. Malcolm Brogdon scored 19 points. Spurs 104, Nuggets 103 DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points, and LaMarcus Aldridge added 22 points as San Antonio outlasted visiting Denver to capture its third straight victory. San Antonio led by 21 points in the second quarter and by 17 with 9:10 to go in the game, but Denver got within one point when Jamal Murray canned a 3-pointer with 49.6 seconds left. The Nuggets then missed four shots at a win in the remaining time. Murray scored 25 points, and Nikola Jokic had 22 points and 10 rebounds for Denver, which has lost three games in a row. Pelicans 115, Jazz 112 Jrue Holiday and Julius Randle each scored 30 points
Phoenix Suns forward Kelly Oubre Jr. celebrates against the Milwaukee Bucks at Talking Stick Resort Arena. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports) to lead New Orleans to a 115112 come-from-behind victory over Utah in Salt Lake City. Anthony Davis totaled 15 points and 11 rebounds in only three quarters for the Pelicans, who won their third straight. Davis did not play the entire fourth quarter. The Jazz led by 17 points in the second quarter and by 14 early in the fourth. Jae Crowder and Kyle Korver totaled 20 points apiece off the bench to lead Utah. Rudy Gobert scored 19 points and collected 19 rebounds, and Donovan Mitchell added 19 points with nine assists. Clippers 113, Lakers 105 Danilo Gallinari scored 23 points, and the visiting Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers for
their third consecutive victory. Lou Williams scored 21 points off the bench, and Montrezl Harrell added 14 points and 11 rebounds in a reserve role for the Clippers. Rajon Rondo scored a season-high 24 points to go with 10 rebounds and 12 assists for his first tripledouble with the Lakers. LeBron James finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Kings 115, Knicks 108 Harry Giles III contributed a dunk and a hook shot to an eight-point run that opened the fourth quarter, and Sacramento finally was able to pull away from visiting New York. Buddy Hield had 28 points and Harrison Barnes contributed 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Kings, who
had lost three in a row, including two straight to begin a key four-game homestand. Knicks rookie Allonzo Trier led all scorers with 29 points. Heat 114, Hawks 113 Dwyane Wade scored 14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter as host Miami won consecutive games for the first time since January, defeating Atlanta. Josh Richardson added 19 points, and Justise Winslow added 18 for Miami, which finally beat Atlanta after losing the first three games of this season’s four-game series. The Hawks fell just short of what would have been their first 4-0 sweep of Miami since 1990-91. Vince Carter, 42, led Atlanta with 21 points and made a season-high seven 3pointers. Carter surpassed Jamal Crawford for sixth place in NBA history in terms of career 3-pointers, ending the night with 2,199. Crawford has 2,195 treys. Carter also surpassed Reggie Miller (25,279 points) for 20th place in scoring, winding up with 25,292 points. Nets 127, Mavericks 88 DeMarre Carroll matched a season high with 22 points as Brooklyn coasted to a victory over Dallas in New York. Rodions Kurucs added 19 points and became the third rookie in Nets franchise history to hit at least five 3-pointers in a game, going 5 of 7 from long range. D’Angelo Russell collected 13 points and 11 assists as the Nets posted their most lopsided win since moving from New Jersey in 2012. Dwight Powell paced Dallas with 20 points, and rookie Luca Doncic added 16. (Field Level Media)
Radford says batting group on upward trajectory GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – Batting coach Toby Radford says he is pleased with the manner in which West Indies’ batting has developed during the England series, and says this is a positive for the side especially with the ICC World Cup looming on the horizon. Pointing to the intent and the aggression, Radford said the batting group had made major strides not only in the just concluded fivematch one-day series but in the preceding three-Test rubber which the hosts won 2-1 to regain the Wisden Trophy. “I think we’ve been very positive and the mindset of the players to not let
England settle and to take them off their line and length, to be very positive and put bad balls away [has been a great approach],” Radford said. “To show intent all the way through the innings and we’ve done that and lots of people have contributed. I think we set the tone in the Test series and we can go b a c k a s f a r a s J a s o n ’s (Holder) 200 in Barbados which put pressure on E n g l a n d ’s b o w l e r s a n d we’ve done it all the way through the series. “It would be nice in these T20s if we can do more of that.” We s t I n d i e s ’ b a t t i n g was exhilarating in the one-day series which they
came from behind to tie 22, after the third match in Grenada was abandoned due to rain. They posted their joint third-highest total in ODIs in the opener in Bridgetown in a losing effort and then topped that performance in the fourth match in Grenada, when they bowled out for an alltime best 389 chasing a record 419 for victory. Ve teran Chris Gayle, returning to the squad for the series following a sevenmonth break, smashed 424 runs with two hundreds and two half-centuries, to average 106. In the final ODI here last weekend, he blitzed a 19-ball fifty – the fastest ever by a
West Indian in ODIs – as the hosts overhauled England’s paltry 113 to tie the series. With the same ODI squad retained for the three-match Twenty20 series bowling off here Tuesday at 4 pm, Radford said he was expecting the Windies form to continue. “Hopefully we can take some of the same positive play that we’ve shown over the last five or six weeks into this [series]. The guys are full of confidence and we’ll be looking to dominate in a format that we’ve been very strong in over the last few years,” he noted. “I think people can expect fireworks. They’ve already seen it in the last few games. Chris has probably been in
the best form of his career. He’s played magnificently and so many of the other lads. “We have some exciting young players like (Shimron) Hetmyer and (Nicholas) Pooran so I think we can expect a lot of really good shots and exciting cricket.” Radford reiterated the position of selectors, pointing out that the current series was also being contested with World Cup preparation in mind. “I think the intention here with the squad is to keep the squad together. We’ve got a World Cup coming up so we’ve got a core of players that the board is looking at with that in mind.”
Wednesday March 06, 2019
PAGE 37
Kaieteur News
Wimbledon targeting juniors to make sure future is green LONDON (Reuters) Roger Federer would probably make tennis look easy on a court of broken glass so grass definitely holds no fears, as his 18 career titles on the greensward illustrate. Such is Federer’s ease on the surface that had “lawn tennis” remained loyal to its roots and the sport was still played extensively on grass then it’s likely he would have accumulated more than his 100 titles. Eight-time Wimbledon champion Federer is a one-off though. The vast majority of players on Tour do not possess his sleight of hand or his powers of improvisation and for them grass remains a conundrum, especially when opportunities to master the surface are rare. O f t h e 5 8 AT P To u r events in 2019, a player can play a maximum of four on grass. Since the U.S Open switched from grass to hard in 1975 and the Australian Open followed suit in 1988, Wimbledon remains the only Grand Slam played on lawns. It is a similar story on the WTA Tour which offers only five grasscourt tournaments in a three-week block before Wimbledon. For international juniors opportunities are even more scarce, which is why the All England Club, in collaboration with the Lawn Tennis Association, is acting to protect and promote
grasscourt tennis and ensure “the future is green”. This year, a new ITF junior grass international event will be hosted in Nottingham, the week before a similar event in Roehampton which until now had been the only lead-in tournament for players heading to the Wimbledon junior championships. “It’s a really exciting development for junior tennis,” Leon Smith, Britain’s Davis Cup-winning captain and former coach of twice Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, told Reuters at the All England Club. “It’s a big step forward in giving more players the opportunity to learn the nuances of grasscourt tennis.” From 2022 a new event for under 14s will be staged at the All England Club during the second week of the Championships. Also, the Road to Wimbledon, a massparticipation grassroots event played since 2002 by thousands of youngsters in parks, schools and local clubs and culminating at the All England Club, has been expanded to Hong Kong, India, China and Japan. It is all about keeping grasscourt skills alive in a world full of baseline bashers, says Smith, and ensuring Wimbledon remains the pinnacle of world tennis, not an anomaly. “Make no mistake, when juniors play on grass they have an absolute ball,” Smith said. “It’s unique and I can tell
General view during the first round of Wimbledon at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London. (REUTERS/Tony O’Brien file photo) you if there were more grasscourt opportunities juniors would love to play on it. “They love to try different shots and grass has the nuances you don’t get on the other surfaces, the ability to throw in some serve and volley, the ability to use a bit more variety, keep the ball low, play on the front foot. “We have seen the dominance of the baseline game, but people enjoy watching players with the ability to win in other ways. We have seen that here
Spooner, Hinds slam centuries Adams grabs 5 Centuries by Joel Spooner and Adrian Hinds and a five-wicket haul from Jonathan Adams crowned a fine weekend for Transport Sports Club when the Georgetown Cricket Association Noble House Sea Foods Generation Next U19 tournament continued. Transport SC and Queen’s College played to a draw at Gandhi Youth Organisation ground on Sunday. Batting first, Transport SC piled up 361-9 in 43 overs declared. Spooner struck 10 fours and 11 sixes in a top
Jonathan Adams
Joel Spooner (right) and Adrian Hinds score of 126, while Hinds made an even hundred which included eight fours and five sixes. Alex Persaud contributed 43 and Riyad Latif 26. Vickash Jaikaran claimed 3-60, Jadon Alves 2-79 and Navindra Persaud 2-85. Queen’s College responded with 175-7 off their reduced quota of 41 overs following a rain interruption. El Nathan Suknandan slammed 66 not out while Bhedesh Persaud got 29 and Navindra Persaud 27. Akeem Clarke captured 3-37 while Latif, Adams and Spooner had one each. On Saturday, Transport SC overcame host (Continued on page 33)
illustrated beautifully by Roger and when Andy won he brought a whole mix to the court.” Lower-ranked players are already benefiting from an extended grasscourt season with a plethora of ATP Challengers and ITF events staged Britain in June after the French Open. PIMPLED SHOES But Smith says juniors, the majority drilled into baseline warfare on highbouncing clay or hardcourts, also need a pathway on which to hone the required skills for
grass. “It’s about developing players so that grass is something on their mind,” Smith said. “It’s not just grabbing the pimpled shoes for one week in the year. It’s about getting used to it, growing up to understanding what grasscourt tennis is. “The new events will help create a grasscourt pathway.” The All England Club has evolved into one of the world’s greatest sporting venues and Court One will unveil its new roof in a few
weeks. The tournament has been lucky to have Federer, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Murray and Serena Williams gracing the grass for more than a decade. But will future champions really embrace grass or just be the “least uncomfortable” on it. “We don’t want to just see the best players at Wimbledon, we want to see the best players able to play their best tennis,” Smith added. “Otherwise it’s not fair to them or the fans.”
Night swims for National Aquatic Centre soon DPI, Guyana, - Local swimmers will soon have the opportunity to further hone their skills during the late hours of the day, as the National Sports Commission (NSC) is set to install pool lights at the National Aquatic Centre, Lilliendaal, East Coast Demerara. This project is expected to be completed by the first quarter of this year. Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Director of Sport, Christopher Jones said: “We will be erecting a 40-foot tower or should I say a pole at the National Aquatic Centre and the installation of the lights which will afford the activities beyond sundown to continue.” The Sport Director explained that the decision was taken after several local swim clubs indicated their desire to have night swims/training
introduced at the facility. “Currently, we have perimeter lighting around the facility but the various swim clubs would have indicated to us [NSC] that they want to introduce night swims not only for practices but to also conduct competitions,” he explained. Jones noted that the Aquatic Centre has made a huge impact on the country’s local swimmers since its official opening on November 4, 2011. The swimming facility boasts an Olympic size 50-metre pool and is one of the few located in the Caribbean. Since its opening, a number of prestigious swim meets were hosted at the swimming facility which includes the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) games and the 23rdCaribbean Junior Swim Meet in 2017 which featured swimmers from Guyana, Barbados, St. Vincent and the
Director of Sport, Christopher Jones. (DPI photo) Grenadines, St. Lucia, Grenada, Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago. The pool is also available to the public and can be utilised on Thursdays from 10:00hrs to 15:00hrs and on Sundays from 10:00hrs to 17:00hrs at a minimal cost of $1,000 per person 15 years and older. (Neola Damon/DPI)
PAGE 38
Kaieteur News
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Jonny Bairstow leads England to four-wicket win after bowlers restrict West Indies ESPNcricinfo - GROS ISLET, St Lucia - A quick-fire half-century by Jonny Bairstow led England to a comfortable four-wicket victory against West Indies in the opening game of their three-match T20I series in St Lucia. After Nicholas Pooran’s impressive fifty anchored West Indies’ innings in the face of a strong all-round England bowling performance, led by Tom Curran’s 4 for 36, Bairstow charged towards the target of 161 from the outset. West Indies were not helped by some loose bowling and even more costly fielding. They got wickets, too, as Bairstow lost batting partners Alex Hales, Joe Root and Eoin Morgan as well as being dropped twice but he did not even flinch, racing to his fifty off 27 balls and reaching 68 off 40 before lofting Ashley Nurse to Carlos Brathwaite on the boundary. While the danger wasn’t completely removed for England, Bairstow had set them off to such a strong start that nothing short of a serious colllapse would see them beaten. Kent team-mates Joe
Tom Curran sealed England’s four-wicket win ©AFP Denly and Sam Billings all but completed the job with a 50run partnership for the fifth wicket so that when Jason Holder had Denly caught by Pooran for 30 off 29 balls, England needed just eight runs to win. But there were nervous moments to come when Billings was dropped on Holder’s next ball by Oshane Thomas, whose one-handed attempt at deep square leg was a mess.
Board vote reason behind... From page 39 said Cameron had secured the support of four boards after being twice nominated – first by the Windwards and Guyana Cricket Board, and then by the Jamaica Cricket Association and Barbados. Shallow, the president of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association, said such a move was “unprecedented” and raised questions about the use of Cameron’s power during the nomination process. “This type of blind, unrelenting support without even exploring leadership options or alternative ideas contradicts the democratic process and is probably not reflective of the majority base of members who they represent,” Shallow said. “Cricket leaders should seek more information from the base and should explore new strategies in order to push the game at the local and regional levels forward.” Each of the six territorial board wield two votes at this month’s elections. Skerritt and Shallow were nominated by the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board and the Leeward Islands Cricket Association.
Then Sheldon Cottrell added his third wicket with his first ball back into the attack, bowling Billings for 18. England still only needed seven runs but four byes off Cottrell eased the tension and they reached the target with seven balls to spare. West Indies kept the squad which drew the ODI series 2-2 with England but made two key tweaks to the side that won in St Lucia on Saturday, bringing in Pooran
and Fabian Allen for John Campbell and Devendra Bishoo. Shai Hope opened in Campbell’s place alongside Chris Gayle and immediately received a second chance when Adil Rashid dropped a sitter at third man off David Willey in the first over. Fortunately for England, however, Root held on to a leading edge at midwicket off Curran in the next over and Hope was sent packing with
West Indies 7 for 1. Surprisingly, with Gayle at the other end, it was Shimron Hetmyer who hit the first six three balls later. But, sure enough, Gayle chimed in with two of his own in the following over and it looked like the slog-fest promised by his 39 sixes in the one-day series would continue in the shorter format. It was not to be, however, and when Gayle fell just a short time later, caught by Rashid at gully off Chris Jordan for just 15 off 12 balls, Pooran’s inclusion became key. After a stuttering start to his international career because of an 18-month layoff after injuring both his legs in a horror car accident in 2015, the 23-year-old Pooran made his ODI debut in the first fixture of the series against England in Barbados last month, scoring a duck, dropping a catch and holding another. But, playing his ninth T20I, he stepped into the void left by Gayle’s dismissal, bringing up his 50 off just 32 deliveries then slapping the next ball for a mammoth 111m six off Curran, which cleared the roof of the stands. Pooran was out three balls
later, however, bowled by Curran with a clever delivery that took the top of middle stump for 58 off 37 balls, his highest T20I score. Pooran shared a 64-run partnership with Darren Bravo, who was out to a spectacular piece of fielding by Jordan off his own bowling. Jordan’s slower ball enticed a leading edge from Bravo and the bowler had to change direction on his follow-through to take a diving catch in his outstretched right hand. Jordan was impressive, bowling just three overs to claim 2 for 16, while Rashid was also excellent with 1 for 15 off his four. Denly claimed the handy wicket of Allen off his three overs but the pick of England’s bowlers was Curran with all of his wickets being dangerous batsmen in Hope, Hetmyer, Pooran and Jason Holder. Scores: WEST INDIES 160 for eight off 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 58, Darren Bravo 28; Tom Curran 4-36, Chris Jordan 2-16). ENGLAND 161 for six off 18.5 overs (Jonny Bairstow 68, Joe Denly 30; Sheldon Cottrell 3-29).
BCB/Hetmyer Intermediate Cricket Tournament
Dukestown Warriors, No. 70 Spartan, Tucber Park and Betsy Ground register victories The Berbice Cricket Board’s Shimron Hetmyer Intermediate Cricket Tournament continued last weekend with several matches being played across the ancient county. The tournament is being contested by close to fifty teams and served as a bridge between the Second Division and First Division levels. Teams are allowed to play four First Division Players who are not debarred by the Berbice Cricket Board, while Under19 Players are not considered First Division Players. West Indies batting star and Young Warriors Cricket Club member Shimron Hetmyer has sponsored the tournament as part of his effort to express gratitude to Berbice Cricket. Four teams, Dukestown
Warriors Cricket Club, No. 70 Spartan Cricket Club, Tucber Park Cricket Club and Betsy Ground Cricket Club recorded wins. K. Gangaram scored a brilliant 138 for Betsy Ground, while other outstanding performance by batsmen included R. Jugusteen 70 and Kwesi Mickle 55. Guyana Under-17 medium pacer Leon Swammy took 6 wickets for 4 runs for Tucber Park versus Edinburgh. Scores from matches played were: 1. No. 72 Cut and Load 135 all out in 33.5 Overs. Ikram Khan 29, D. Chatterpaul 31, V. Persaud 25. Rayan Yacoob 3 for 33, Omesh Khemraj 3 for 36, O. K. Mathura 3 for 15. No. 70 Spartan scored 136 for 6 in 20.5 Overs. Tameshwar Ramoutar 40 not out, Akash Persaud 27. Victor Pedro 3 for 39, A. Paresar 2 for 23. 2. Betsy Ground
defeated Goed Bananen Land by 146 runs at the latter’s venue. Betsy Ground 360 for 6 in 35 Overs. K. Gangaram 139, R. Jugisteer 70, S. Sanichara 38, D. Emandin 32. D. Cyril 3 for 37 from seven Overs. Goed Bananen Land 114 all in 23 Overs. D. Cyril 45. D. Emandin 3 for 19, K. Gangaram 2 for 27 and L. Jugisteer 2 for 18. 3. At No. 72 Cut and Load Ground: Dukestown Warriors crushed No. 64 Cricket Club by 7 wickets. No. 64 Cricket Club 66 all out in 23.2 Overs. Jason Itwaru topscored with 10 as extras contributed 21 vital runs. Jermain Reid 2 for 14,Vandam Narine 3 for 19, Errol Byass 2 for 12, Wayne Garnette 2 for 7. Dukestown Warriors Cricket Club 71 for 3 in 16.4 Overs. Clarence Beresford 17 not out Budram Sukhdeo 15
not out. Ramzan Subhan 2 for 26. 4. At Edinburgh Community Centre: Tucber Park 205 for 8 in 40 Overs. Kwesi Mickle 55, Clinton Lindie 26, Leon Swammy 32, Zeymul Ramsammy 25. C. Hope 3 for 37 and S. Nicoson 2 for 30. Edinburgh 56 all out in 20.2 Overs. A. Drepaul 18, J. Henry 19. Leon Swammy 6 for 4. 5. At Canje: Rose Hall Canje defeated Mt. Sinai by 4 wickets. Mt. Sinai 152 all out in 35.4 Overs. Winston Mingo 31, Mark Barker 18 and Ricky Baleer 24. Michael Campbelle 2 for 27, Balram Samaroo 3 for 17, Charran Singh 2 for 28, Ameer Rahaman 3 for 24. Rose Hall Canje scored 153 for 6 in 38 Overs. Michael Campbelle 47, Ameer Rahaman 36 not out. Stamon Daniels 3 for 17.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday March 06, 2019
PAGE 39
Fisherman Masters claim Trophy Stall Mash softball title Man-of-the-match Jagdesh Persaud.
The victorious Fisherman Masters team with their hardware.
F
isherman Masters e m e r g e d champions of the Trophy Stall Mash Cup softball competition which was contested on Sunday last. Following victories in their opening encounters, the fast improving Fisherman Masters and Regal Masters contested the final at the Malteenoes Sports Club. Led by a fine all-round
performance by Jagdesh Persaud, Fisherman Masters won the encounter by six wickets. Batting first, Regal Masters posted 201-9 off their allocation of 20 overs. Samuel Kingston struck 43, while Eric Thomas made 41 and Randolph Baker 32. Puran Singh claimed 3-29 and Jagdesh Persaud 3-39. Fisherman Masters responded with 202-4 in 18.4 overs. Persaud
returned to slam an unbeaten 57, while Ewie Sharma made 47 not out and Unnis Yusuf 34. Khalid Haslim picked up 3-35 and Ty r o n e S a n a s i e 1 - 5 0 . Persaud was named man-ofthe-match. E a r l i e r, F i s h e r m a n Masters beat HS Masters by 53 runs. Fisherman Masters managed 154-6, batting first with Ramo Malone scoring 60, Troy Ramsaywack 32 and Robert Mohan 18. HS Masters were restricted for 1 0 1 - 8 i n r e p l y. E j a z Mohamed scored 27 and S.
Fisherman Masters skipper Puran Singh (left) accepts the trophy from Paul Budhan, Trophy Stall Canadian representative.
Kumar 20. Jagdesh Persaud grabbed 4-27 and Zameer Hassan 3-15.
Regal Masters beat Wellman Masters in their encounter.
Fisherman Masters received a trophy and $45,000.
Board vote reason behind Skerritt snub, says BCA chief BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Barbados Cricket Association president, Conde Riley, said his board’s decision to support the incumbent Dave Cameron in this month’s Cricket West Indies presidential elections, negated any need to entertain the proposals of challenger Ricky Skerritt and running mate Dr Kishore Shallow. Last week, Skerritt and Shallow claimed the BCA, along with the Guyana Cricket Board and the Windward Islands Cricket Board, had rejected their written request to present their plans for West Indies cricket, in the lead up to the March 24 elections in Jamaica. However, Riley said his board had taken a vote last month to support Cameron and incumbent vice president, Emmanuel Nanthan, making it unnecessary to accept the request from Skerritt and Shallow. “Once the board decided that they were supporting the incumbents, that was it. You can’t come out and go against something that has been agreed on a vote by the full BCA board,” Riley told the Daily Nation here. “My board made a decision, not Conde Riley. The decision was made based on two things. The expansion of the regional firstclass season from five matches to ten and the professionalism of regional cricket where instead of just 15 Test cricketers being paid substantial salaries, each of the 15 young cricketers in the six franchises would now be given a salary and be able to earn a living.” He added: “This was done under the current president and vice-president in 2014. In addition, CWI is also paying the female cricketers. “Having served under several presidents since 2006, he (Cameron) was the one who professionalised regional cricket and while
Barbados Cricket Association president, Conde Riley. we have not turned the corner yet, you are now seeing the fruits with our recent performances.” Skerritt said they had reached out to the three boards with the hope of presenting their plans for West Indies cricket prior to the nomination process but had been blocked from doing so. The former Cabinet minister in St Kitts said they had not been seeking support for their nomination, only to put forward their ideas for the “reform of the game in the Caribbean”. “Three boards – Barbados, Guyana and Windward Islands – wrote back in a matter of days, all turning down our request, almost in tandem.”Skerritt said.“In the case of Guyana, we noted that they had chosen to nominate Dave even before the nomination process was open. “The three presidents confirmed their unwavering support for the incumbents and very respectfully said no thanks to our request to present.” A recent CWI release (Continued on page 36)
Kaieteur News
PAGE 40
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Berbice Volleyball Association holds successful awards ceremony
The Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA), which is touted as one of the most active sporting organisation in the County, held its annual awards ceremony at the Guysuco Apprentice Hostel venue, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice. The activity, which was held on Saturday March 2nd began at 15:00 hrs and was chaired by Linden Murray, saw the outstanding clubs and players for the year 2018 being rewarded for the outstanding contribution. Acting BVA President Errol Fingall presented the annual review of the organisation which saw the B VA h a v i n g a n o t h e r outstanding year. A number of clubs, which included both males and females players, toured various parts of the Caribbean including Barbados and neighbouring Suriname and French
Guiana. The BVA select team, both male and female also made a number of trips overseas. A number of players, both males and females from Berbice were selected to represent Guyana in the various competitions that were held, including U19 and senior. Volleyball stalwart and former President Levi Nedd was elevated to the position of President of the Guyana Vo l l e y b a l l F e d e r a t i o n (GVF). Nedd spoke on behalf of the GVF and apart from congratulating the awardees encouraged them to be disciplined and continue to work hard. Former President, long serving volleyball official and BVA Patron Gregory Rambarran also spoke at the ceremony. The following awards were presented - Male Champion club is Port
Mourant Training Center 1(PMTC1). Female champion club awarded went to Corriverton Jets. Male volley ballplayer award went was presented to Shemroy Ross. The Female volleyballer for the year is Philana Simpson. The award for the Champion B division team went to No.47 Challengers. Most improved player is Mr. Williams. The top young player of the year was adjudged as Andy Rohoman. The top sponsor of the year was recognised as Spready’s Bakery. The Vote of thanks was delivered by Mr. Shemroy Ross, President of the PMTC 1 Volleyball Club. The National Sports Commission was also commended for its sterling support towards the sustenance of volleyball in Berbice and the donation of
The outstanding performers pose with their trophies and other silverware after the awards ceremony. trophies for the function. The outstanding
performers were all presented with trophies and
other incentives. (Samuel Whyte)
GMR&SC Drag Race C/Ship
Quarter mile action at South Dakota next Sunday
When the lights change the drag racing season will power off on March 17 at South Dakota Circuit.
Last Sunday’s first leg of the National Race of Champions was fairly successful for the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) and with round one of the National Drag Championship set for March 17th, mechanics will be working assiduously to bring their machines up to speed. The first round of the Drags Championship was originally scheduled to rev off last month but the Executive Committee of the GMR&SC, as a precaution due to the constant showers to the lead up, postponed the event to this date. Already, 30 entries have been registered for the meet, according to a source within the GMR&SC and everyone will be looking to dethrone the undisputed King of
The victorious All Stars team with their prizes.
All Stars are Wakenaam NDC Dominoes champ the drag strip, Team Mohamed’s GTR. There has been some worrying news for competitors in the unlimited class with Team Mohamed’s, holders of the Drag strip record, rumored to have a new and faster car set to debut at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri. The winners for the last season’s final drag race meet, King of the Strip 3, are as follows. 15 seconds class – Elton Prashad 14 seconds – Balram Ramdeo 13 seconds – Narindranauth Mangar 12 seconds – Anil Singh 11 seconds – Chet Singh 10 seconds – Damion Singh 9 seconds – Randal Daby Unlimited – Terrence Cox (Team Mohamed’s)
All Stars won the final of the Wakenaam Neighbourhood Democratic Council Dominoes competition which was contested on Sunday last at Carlosh Sports Bar in Good Success. All Stars chalked up 71 games with Mohamed Kalam and Tom Singh scoring 16 each and Lakeram Kubeer 15. Underdog took the runner up spot on 65
games with Alex Chung and James Ramnarine marking 14 apiece. Seawall Boys placed third with 63 games. Suraj Narine and Khalid Zaman made 14 each. The love birds were Salim Chan and Krishendat Hansraj of Underdog and Andrew Osborne of Seawall Boys. Kalam was named the Most Valuable Player.
Guinness Greatest of the Streets Berbice Zone kicks off Friday Eight exciting matches are carded for Friday on the opening night of the Guinness Greatest of the Streets football Berbice SubMeet at the New Amsterdam Stelling tarmac. Defending champions Trafalgar will open their title defence against Rose Hall starting at 19:00 hours. Sixteen teams from East and West Berbice will battle for
supremacy over three days of competition, Friday, Saturday and March 16thto see who will be “Made of More” in the regional sub-meet. The teams in Group A are Trafalgar, Rose Hall, Litchfield, Canje, Hopetown, Black Sharks, Bam Boys and NA Kings ‘B’, while Group ‘B’ will feature NA Kings, Fast Seven, Outsiders, Goalers,
East Bank Gunners, Constab, Twenties and Top Form. Guinness Brand Executive Lee Baptiste disclosed that all systems are place for the competition which has become a popular event on the sports calendar in the Ancient County. “Berbicians and football lovers alike can expect an entertaining (Continued on page 31)
Wednesday March 06, 2019
Kaieteur News
PAGE 41
Basketball on the rise in Bartica – BBA President Kenneth Williams - Benefits of enhanced facilities bouncing in
The Basketball Court and Stand at the Bartica Community ground in the foreground. The base for the new stand is also seen.
President of the Bartica Basketball Association (BBA) Kenneth Williams is resolute in ensuring the young athletes in the sport are afforded the requisite exposure and facilities in order to attain the highest possible levels in Guyana. Just days ago, a young team from the area contested the Five’s championship in the City and narrowly lost in the final to Kwakwani. Williams is of the view that their performance was as a result of enhanced facilities at the Bartica Community Center Ground, compliments of the Mayor and Town Council. “This is testimony to the work that we have been doing in this community and as an association we are very
17
pleased with the support we have been getting from the Mayor and Town Council, RDC, and from the government in helping to promote the sport and empower our youths.” Williams informed that the Basketball surface at the Centre complex is still good as new along with a pavilion which can seat over 300 persons. He further informed that the seating capacity would be enhanced with the construction of a double sided stand that would seat persons facing the basketball court as well as the football field. This stand would be named in honour of the late former national footballer, Neil Hernandez. “We know that it’s being multi used right now, lots of
activities on the basketball court but primarily we are very happy that we can host big tournaments. We see this as a jump start to having even bigger tournaments here in Bartica.
We’re very pleased with what is going on in terms of our youths developing, the double sided stand through the hard work of the municipality and the RDC and Government, bringing
more sports facilities to the region which augurs well in terms of our young athletes improving. Good facilities encourage our youths to get i n v o l v e d , i t ’s a l s o a distraction from the negatives
in society.” Presently, there are three clubs in Bartica but plans are in train to increase this number and to also get them fully functional from an administrative perspective.
t r o Sp Woodpecker Products Women’s First Division Hockey League
Concacaf Nations League Countdown
Golden Jaguars to engage GBTI GCC humble Suriname in warm up match Spartans 9-1 on
Monday Delon Lanferman attacks the ball surrounded by Fruta Conquerors’ players.
- Engaged Fruta Conquerors in training match Chris Jordan took an athletic caught-and-bowled to dismiss Darren Bravo ©AFP
Nicholas Pooran smashed a spirited half-century to help lift West Indies to 160 for 8 ©Getty Images
GBTI’s Marzana Fiedtkou being tracked by Spartan’s Kirsten Gomes.
Joe Denly steadied the chase with a 50-partnership ... ©Getty Images
Jonny Bairstow leads England to four-wicket win after bowlers restrict West Indies
Jonny Bairstow flicks another boundary off his toes. (Getty Images)
Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.