Kaieteur News
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Friday March 10, 2017
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
SAFETY TRUMPS PRIVACY There are many in Guyana who believe that they are living in a failed state. Others are convinced that Guyana is not a failed State. Some in the Diaspora feel that it is very painful to hear that their beloved country is a failed state and that nothing seems to be working right. Poor services and the lawless activity that is ravaging the country do not make Guyana a failed state. But there can be no more excuses, the authorities must get things right or else Guyana could become a failed state. By definition, a failed state is one that has disintegrated to a point where basic conditions and responsibilities of a government no longer function properly. That said, some of the characteristics of a failed state include the loss of control of its territory, monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force, erosion of legitimate authority to make collective decisions, inability to provide public services, administer the finances of the country and to interact with other states as a full member of the international community. This could lead to widespread corruption and criminality and a sharp decline in the economy. The reason why some Guyanese have labelled Guyana a failed state is because they have not seen much improvement since the country gained its independence 50 years ago. They believe that both political parties have taken turns to mismanage the country and its economy by mostly selling out the state’s assets to foreign interests for a pittance, while using the country’s massive resources to enrich themselves, relatives and friends. Today, there are still long lines to obtain services everywhere, including the public hospitals. Unemployment is high, crime and corruption are rampant, power outages are frequent and water shortage is prevalent, especially in the rural areas of the country. The roads are in atrocious condition and improvement in social services is at a standstill. The disrespect for life by criminals has reached a level which defies all reasoning. There is an unbelievable lack of conscience among some public officials who seem to be unaware of the problems. Either they are highly dysfunctional, uncaring or are living in a different world. The government must lead the way in reducing crime. No country can develop and prosper without safety. And by all indications Guyana is definitely not safe. For example, last year, there were over 100 murders and there is no let-up in crime. Criminal gangs are robbing and terrorizing people on a daily basis and there is no end to this lawlessness. One of the worst things the opposition could do is to politicize the issue of crime to score political points. Instead, they should join with the government and try to solve crime rather than to say that the country was safer under the PPP administration. Who are they kidding? Guyana recorded its highest crime rate under the last administration to the extent that some members of the Guyanese Diaspora were scared to return home on any occasion. And there were hundreds of extra-judicial murders. In all fairness, the present government inherited the crime situation from the last government and therefore it should not be blamed exclusively for it. However, the government must act swiftly to solve crime or else, it will be seen as a failure like its predecessor. Many in society seem to believe that Guyana is a paradise for criminals and that crime actually pays. We hope that all stakeholders, including the Church, the business community, the opposition and the people will join with the government to curtail crime which continues to plague the nation. It is said that safety trumps privacy.
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.
His attack on me was far lower than any of the PPP’s Dear Editor; I crave your indulgence to respond to some remarks directed to me by Mr. Christopher Ram in a letter published ‘on FRIDAY, March 3rd, 2017 captioned, “Phillips misrepresented the contents of the SARA bill”. In his letter Ram referred to a telephone conversation between the two of us in which he tried to convey an impression that was not entirely true. I had appreciated Ram’s call and the very brief discourse that it entailed. At the time I treated it as a genuine attempt by him to mend fences. However, after having read his letter I am now forced to consider his sincerity and motive for calling me. It is not true in our conversation that I raised the issue of Ram establishing a
third force/party. It was Ram himself who raised this matter and expressed his disappointment that I would make such a claim in my letter. He asked me, if I believed that he would do such a thing. Because I did not respond to him immediately, he pressed me for a response and I said to him “yes”. I went on to inform him that I have received information that he was actively engaged in trying to establish another political party in Guyana. He told me that he expected better from me and he was not forming any political party. At that point our discourse ended. In his recent letter, said “….it appears that his problem with me is a concern that I am engaged in the formation of a third party”. Here Ram, had deliberately
set out to mislead the public by trying to give the impression that it was based on our discourse he concluded my concern was about him forming a political party. As I have just stated this is misleading and wrong since that was not the central theme in my letter of March 1st, 2017.I am sure that everyone who read my letter which Ram is very peeved about, would not have missed the premise of my response to him since I had spelt that out clearly. Given the position Ram is taking on this matter, I will now reiterate, in a concise way, the reasons for writing the letter. My response was motivated and influenced by the low political culture displayed by Ram in his uncomradely attack on Prof. Clive Thomas and the WPA
relative to the SARA bill. Ram wrote, “I never thought that the exercise of a democratic right of a citizen would cause such a concern to a genuine freedom and resistance fighter, and I can only guess at the effect political power, absolute loyalty and employment have on people.” I find this sentence offensive, it is politically loaded with insults and Ram’s intent is clear. However, I will only address here his contention that my employment in SARU is responsible for my reply to his letter. Ram is fully aware of my political history and that his remarks are not true but he prefers to go in that direction in an attempt to give credence to his remarks and is nothing but a smokescreen. He knows that whether (Continued on page 5)
Questionable relationships in Region One Dear Editor, I wish to address the matter of the PAC Chairman embarrassing the Region One Executive Officer for not being in a position to defend the fact that some delinquent contractors were overpaid and that no monies were recouped from them. One of the named contractors has come out via his attorney to state his case. In the letter of defence the Contractor, Aruka Investments, mentioned that the
Government owed the firm millions of dollars. The Attorney even stated that some of the monies owed are involved in a situation where fraud was committed. The person involved in this instance is a known PPP supporter and the matter had secured the attention of senior officials in the Finance Ministry and the Police. What happened after is everybody’s guess. Incidentally, more business people are owed payments due to similar fraud (forging of signatures)
by the same PPP supporter. She knows herself.This situation should be investigated so that the Contractor and the other persons could be paid. Then there is the notice of the bidders for a new contract – the Morawhanna Stelling Works and I see one of the named delinquent contractors has tendered. Will his tender be accepted? We hope not. Thank you. Celeste McIntosh.
Government preparing for the eventuality of oil spills, mishaps Dear Editor, The Ministry of Natural Resources thanks Ms Melinda Janki for raising her very valid concerns in a letter to the Editor ‘“Not comfortable with the Minister’s assurance on oil spills.” in Kaieteur News’ of March 8, 2017 Guyana is committed to advancing its green agenda hence the preservation of the environment is foremost among any concerns in consideration of any economic or infrastructural activity. As we embark on oil and gas exploration and production these considerations take on a heightened relevance and it is for this reason that the government is carefully and assiduously building the capacity of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and is working with private service providers who have expressed an interest in assisting with spill response. The government expects to be as prepared as can be at the time of “first oil” in a few years ahead. While we recognise that there is no well, offshore or onshore, that is 100 percent fool-proof or spill-safe, we do not take lightly our obligation to ensure
that we make our best effort at putting world class safeguards in place. It is encouraging to see that Ms Janki believes ExxonMobil and its partners Hess and Nexen “must be made to carry out this oil venture in compliance with the law, using the best available technology, and with systems designed to protect, not damage, the environment.” This is the mandate given to the operators both by contract and by legislation. We believe this is a standard that is achievable. It is for this reason that we are seeking the best knowledge on the subject of safety and environmental stewardship as we develop the sector. Guyana is currently building local capacity at various levels in terms of its response to a spill. While it is a fact that the operator is contractually obligated to be the first responder to a mishap, this in no way removes the obligation of the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana from taking all of the necessary measures to ensure that a national response can be triggered should the need arise. As mentioned by the letter writer, national and regional agencies
comprise the local Civil Defence Commission and the regional Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) - these can and will be activated as needed. We also expect to have bilateral arrangements with the Governments of the United States of America and Trinidad and Tobago whose scope will include capacity building in spill response and operational support in the event of a mishap. Regarding Ms Janki’s concerns about the use of the oil funds for the preservation of the environment, we share her view and are working with the guidance of our overseas partners to craft a Sovereign Wealth Fund that will ensure that not only the environment benefit from the revenues garnered from oil, but also the people of Guyana for now and generations to come. Indeed, the Environmental Trust Fund established under the Environmental Protection Agency Act is expected to receive adequate deposits, from natural resources revenues, to be used to protect our precious biodiversity. N. Johann Earle Public Affairs and Communications Officer Ministry of Natural Resources
Friday March 10, 2017
UG students and staff deserve better from the institution DEAR EDITOR; Good day. Students attending the University of Guyana pay G$50,000 each as “facilities fee” yet there are many classrooms at UG without adequate furniture; blackboards/whiteboards; lecterns; projectors; even bins!
Why is this? We are One People, One Nation and One Destiny but who are responsible for lack of improvements in classrooms at UG even though annually a lot of money is collected by UG as “facilities fee”? Why is our progress
is this regard hampered, 50 years after independence? Please highlight this terrible state of affairs at UG. The students and staff and Guyanese deserve better. C. R. Narine Recipient of 25 years long service award at UG
STEM application an educational move in the right direction DEAR EDITOR, Permit me to laud the Guyanese school system on adapting the STEM Mathematics app into its school curriculum (Stabroek News, February 28, 2017). As a former educator and speaking from an academically correct stance, this is a move in the right direction, and if continued would augur well for the future of Guyanese youth, regardless of gender. The benefits of the STEM program is borne out in the movie Hidden Figures, that despite being the story of how three African American women actually helped launch NASA astronauts into space and bring them back safely to Earth speaks to us from so many angles. Besides being set in the 1960’s an extremely significant decade in American history, yet it still carries a message that is significantly relevant to present day educational systems. It is much more than a feel good history film. The movie highlights not just the struggles of women in the NASA Space Program,
but also brilliantly shows the value and application of their education, the reasons underlying the importance of educational degrees, the importance of regular library contact to learn new things and applying them to real world situations along with a personal and individual responsibility to prepare for the future. This movie merits being seen and should be applied to the learning initiatives in all schools, to allow students to see why they need to be serious about their education and the vision for their dreams of success. Girls will equally take away many lessons from the movie, especially how history was changed not merely by protests , but by going to school to gain advanced degrees, being familiar with the laws of the land, displaying proper elocution in the absence of profanity, the relevance of family unity and support and setting goals that everyone aspires towards. Another key of prime importance is to behave and act as if there is intelligence, cultural
pride and self-respect. Throughout the movie there are multiple scenes where, working with many types of math and integrating mathematical equations that sometimes had to be created, and following discovery and recognition of their analytic abilities, the women were called computers. These achievements bear out the fact that girls and women have the skill sets and analytical abilities to function in complex and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) areas that demand creativity and innovation. Hidden Figures also celebrate mathematics in a special way as instruments for making the world better. What separates STEM from the traditional science and math education is the blended learning environment and showing students how the scientific method can be applied to everyday life. Mathematics cross gender and color lines and can be utilized by anyone who chooses to learn its ways. (Continued on page 6)
His attack on me was far lower than... From page 4 or not I am employed in SARU I would have confronted him. In spite of this knowledge but in keeping with his present corrosive political culture, he has chosen to reduce my polemic with him to my employment and to what he knows best, “dollars and cents”. If truth be known I am not entirely surprised by his line of attack. To date not even the PPP has attacked me in that manner. Thank you “Comrade Ram” for declaring that you are now one of my low life political detractors. You are in good company. I end by saying to Mr. Christopher Ram that his assurance of not establishing a political party is unnecessary
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and as he correctly proclaimed, is his “right”. I do not and have not challenged his exercise of that right; notwithstanding the fact that the information I have of his most recent activism of trying to form a political party is months old. I have never in that period or, in earlier times, penned a single line on that matter and that was because I have always respected his democratic right to do so, even when he did so in the most clandestine manner. However, for the record I now issue a challenge to Mr. Ram. Is this your first endeavor in this direction? If he chooses to deny that he was so involved let me use this opportunity to remind Chris-
topher Ram, the self-proclaimed paragon of virtue, of his duplicitous behavior in the past. Christopher Ram knows that during the period - 2005 to 2006 –he functioned as a WPA Executive Member and in the process, participated in making decisions that one way or the other impacted national life. Yet, while he was so involved with the WPA he actively engaged in the formation of the Alliance For Change (AFC). For years Ram had chosen to deny his involvement in the formation of the AFC until the then leader of that Party, Mr. Khemraj Ramattan, reminded him on air on one of his Plain Talk programs that he was so involved. Tacuma Ogunseye
Customer wants his money back from GTT DEAR EDITOR, On Wednesday, January 25, 2017 my GTT DSL service went down. I thought it would have been a temporary disruption and opted not to report it immediately. By Saturday the service had not regularized and I realized that my actual telephone line 220-0178 was laden with static. I visited the GTT outlet at the Giftland Mall to report it and was told that they cannot take the complaint and that I needed to report it via telephone #0488. This was duly done on Sunday, January 29, 2017 and I was given Ref# 1894357. I was told that it will take 3-5 days to fix, and should it not
be rectified within that timeframe, I should follow-up by calling 0907 and give the representative my reference number. I have called 0907 at least once every three days over the span of four weeks and have received a myriad of excuses and promises from the people manning that number. At the time of losing service, my DSL was paid ahead by more than a month. Will I get my money back for all the time that service was disrupted? After countless weeks without service I am still at a loss as to when my service will resume. My son cannot do basic research on the internet. The odds are stacked against these kids. If it is not GTT it is GPL with the constant complete
shutdowns...CONSTANT COMPLETE SHUTDOWNS. It means that my son cannot pack up and run to his grandparent’s house, or a friend’s house to escape the backwardness that seem to be consuming this stinking cesspool of a country because these days when you get power outages, it is not just your neighbourhood or village that gets blackout, it’s the whole damn coastline! Dear Mr. Nedd, the CEO of GTT, I need to have my telephone line/DSL fixed; your service and response time is atrocious. Your people know very well that my service has been down for almost 7 weeks now and, YES, I need my money back! Stanton Seepersaud
The current crop of politicians does not have Guyana at heart DEAR EDITOR, Mr. Jagdeo, more than any other Guyanese politician, knows corruption, cronyism and incestuous power when he sees them. For twelve consecutive years he was mired in the putrefying stench of gross political dishonesty, Therefore, I totally and completely believe him when he says that the Parking Meter deal is designed to fund the PNC’s political campaign. Jagdeo knows a scam when he smells one. Jagdeo knows that the Granger-led administration is connected to the City Council’s the parking meter conspirators. That is exactly what the PPP did when they were in power. The Berbice Bridge embezzlement scheme that the taxpayers are now subsidizing, is one such parallel. That single project saw billions of dollars going into the coffers of Jagdeo’s friends. They are still bleeding the country by tens of millions of dollars every year. The Marriott Hotel is another such scheme. The tax payers lost billions of dollars that went into the pockets of the cronies of the PPP. Please be reminded that for all the millions spent, that project is still incomplete. Then we have the failed Amelia Falls Project, which saw another set of money, amounting to tens of billions, being directly
funneled into the bank accounts of those favored by Jagdeo. So I honestly believe Jagdeo when he says that the Granger-led administration is engaging in the same kind of dishonest behavior as the PPP. Not because you have a dislike for a person does it means that the person is always wrong. Even a fool could be right sometimes. So this time, Jagdeo is correct in his observation. What I would like you to note, is that the two parties are playing the Guyanese people for fools. Jadgeo just about ran this country off the Transparency International scale with the rampant corruption that was taking place under his watch. Guyana is the worse Caribbean country, based on every single index that is used to gauge countries. We are always the most corrupt, the least transparent and the most backwards of our Caribbean neighbors. This has been Guyana’s legacy for almost as long as we were an independent nation. Hands down, our politicians are the biggest thieves in the Caribbean. However, during the Jagdeo’s reign, we became seismically worse. Therefore what Jagdeo is doing, in highlighting the Coalition’s financial opaqueness is political genius. If
Jagdeo fingers the Coalition, then his own crookishness becomes less blatant than the Coalition’s crookishness. The fact is that none of these political figures can honestly declare that either is innocent of the charges against them. Jagdeo is noting the BK trickery, Norton’s Bond fraud, the Jubilee Park scam, the Fiber optic Cable deceit and the ever mounting cases of direct short-changing of the citizens of this country. And he (Jagdeo), is just annoyed that the PNC has their hands on the levers that allow them to get the kinds of kickbacks that the PPP was accustomed to. So the interest that Jagdeo is showing, by highlighting the Granger-led administration’s current behaviour, is not born out of patriotism or out of some genuine concern for the people of Guyana. What Jagdeo is doing is creating a situation for the PNC-Coalition to be adjudged as, just as corrupt as the PPP. Then the elections will not be on the issues facing Guyana (Continued on page 6)
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HIDING BEHIND THE VEIL OF PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY DEAR EDITOR; The Special Organised Crimes Unit (SOCU) has launched an investigation into allegations of corruption/ fraud by members of the former PPP/C government in the development of the prime waterfront property at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, popularly known as Pradoville 2; and the sale of house lots at this location, fully equipped with infrastructure, to former government officials, including former president Jagdeo, well below market value for the said lots. You would recall that the Coalition Government, when it assumed office, paid lots of your tax dollars to conduct widespread audits of government ministries. The government represented that the audits disclosed massive acts of corruption and misuse of your money by the former administration. The Pradoville
project is deemed to be one such misuse of public funds by high ranking former government officials. In brief, the audit of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) spent quite a large sum of your money to develop the area and then sold the house lots to high ranking former government officials and their allies for far less money than you and I pay for house lots in Guyana. NICIL is a really big entity and it is involved in considerably more areas of Guyana’s economic life than we may ordinarily be aware of. But this talk is not really about NICIL. What you should, however, know about NICIL is that it was set-up as a company in 1990 to manage the assets of the state; as a result it has the power to sell state assets as it did with Pradoville 2. One of the chief concerns is that
there was no transparency with the sale of the Pradoville 2 house lots. It is alleged that there was no advertising of the lots for sale, or no indication of how those who acquired the lots were selected for same. There is also the concern that if this were an ordinary allocation process then it should have been similar to that which obtains at Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) whereby one who already owns a house lot would be barred from acquiring another. And there is the suggestion that among those who acquired lots at Pradoville 2 there were persons who already owned house lots through prior allocation. Former president Jagdeo is deemed to be one such person relative to his supposed allocation of a lot at Pradoville 1 upon which he built the infamous mansion
The City Council audit must be all embracing DEAR EDITOR; One should take the recent announcement by the Georgetown Town Clerk of allowing an audit of the Council with cautious sanguinity and hope that it is not just another stunt to pull wool over the eyes of the citizens. In any event, these auditors will have their work cut out for them as the Council is well known for its poor fiscal management, non-adherence t o t e n d e r procedures and bidding processes, rampant nepotism, cronyism and favoritism, and reckless use of its resources. A few areas that the auditors should pay attention to include their tax collecting system where an examination should be made of all the persons who were granted tax waivers to determine whether all the persons who enjoyed
this largesse were duly authorized and lawfully entitled to do so. All contracts should be punctiliously examined including the parking meter arrangement, the contracts given to super contractors, and even to some Councillors and their children for cleaning the city, cemetery, desilting of drains and construction works, and for legal and consultancy services. A careful examination should be done of the Council’s payroll process, to ascertain whether any phantoms exist, to determine the basis on which selective increases were given, to see whether persons are being paid by the Co u n c i l w h o n o l o n g e r work there, or still attached to former officials, to determine whether there are still unpaid loans and ad-
vances by officers etc. Also checks should be made of employee deductions and whether they are remitted in a timely manner to agencies such as GRA, NIS, Credit Union etc S p e c i a l a t t ention ought to be placed by the auditors on the Council’s procurement processes to determine whether all items purchased and paid for by the Council were indeed received and delivered to the rightful place. The auditors should look warily at the markets’ revenue system to see whether all fees collected are placed in the coffers of Council, and at their assets register to determine the state of their immoveable assets such as land, their equipment, their use of fuel, etc. The audit should read overall forensic audit. James McOnnell
The current crop of politicians does... From page 5 but rather on who is more corrupt than whom. The PPP lost largely because they are a corrupt party. If Jagdeo can show that the Coalition is also as corrupt, then he stands a real chance of getting his hands back on the country’s money. Does any Guyanese really think that the PPP and the PNC-Coalition are any different? Does any Guyanese really believe that these two parties have the full de-
velopment of the country at heart? Most of the Guyanese politicians are not a bunch of self-serving autocrats? I believe that Guyana and Guyanese deserve better. These two parties have proven that they cannot be allowed to operate without parliamentary checks and balances. They have proven that none of them will do right by Guyana. Administratively, it is not in their nature. Dr. Vishnu Bandhu
which was in turn sold at a pregnant price. Most of the persons who acquired lots at Pradoville 2 are high ranking officials and allies of the former government. It is also reported that the average price per house lot was about $1.5 million. Now this is a far cry from what some folks paid at Diamond, East Bank Demerara for house lots not remotely as exquisite. This should concern all of us. SOCU invited (or arrested) former president Jagdeo, former head of the presidential secretariat Luncheon, former natural resources minister Persaud, among others to visit its office for inquiries. Several of those invited did the honourable thing and attended; while others resisted the invitation. What concerns me more than anything else at this stage of SOCU’s progress is former president Jagdeo’s declaration that he declined to answer certain questions as a consequence of presidential immunity. Perhaps an insight into the nature and scope of presidential immunity will make clearer the cause of my concern. Presidential immunity is
most common in countries with a democratic system of government and a president as the head of government. It is really a reflection of the immunity enjoyed by the monarch in societies ruled by monarchs, and especially the UK. One may argue that the territories which were colonised by the British, including the self-styled world’s leading democracy, the US, retained for their presidents the equivalent of the immunity enjoyed by the monarch. It wasn’t until 1973 that the US, in the case of the United States –v- Nixon that presidential immunity was formally recognised. What presidential immunity seeks to do is to safeguard the president from being distracted from his or her busy schedule in managing the affairs of the country by having to take time off to defend him/herself in civil litigation or criminal prosecution. Generally, and in the more civilised democracies, presidents are protected from civil litigation for things done in their official capacity as president; not for their private actions. As a matter of fact, in Clinton –v- Jones
(19970, president Clinton as he then was, was sued by Ms. Jones for making sexual advances at her. The court rejected the arguments of broad immunity by his attorneys and stated firmly that no president enjoys immunity for private conduct giving rise to civil litigation. The court suggested that as a matter of convenience the court can be flexible enough to accommodate the president at his or her convenience to give evidence once required, and that this could be done remotely by some technological means. And mind you, this is in reference to a sitting president. President Nixon was compelled to surrender tapes recordings of conversations which he claimed enjoyed immunity privilege in the conduct of a criminal investigation. In other parts of the world, like the Philippines for instance, presidential immunity is deemed to be so elemental to the democratic process that it is recognised as a primary enjoyment of any president whether or not guaranteed by the constitution or any other legislation Ronald J. Daniels
Private schools must not be allowed to exploit students DEAR EDITOR, I appreciate being able to air my view on the problematic matter of tax on private education through your medium. At first, it could not be internalized as to why a government preaching self -development with claims of aspiring to a well- educated nation, would want to add to the already high cost of private education. It was later realized that private schools were having a free-for-all. Out of 57 schools only 8 were GRA compliant. Some, although operating as a business and making surpluses, are registered as not-for-profit organisations. Some are not even registered with the GRA and not recognized by the
Education Ministry. It was a further shame to hear that some schools are already charging VAT on their services and even on zerorated items, double-dipping yet still, not compliant with GRA. Now there is a huge outcry about VAT on private education. Many of these private schools use the same teachers trained with national resources and are charging huge sums; as much as $60,000 a term at kindergarten level. Kudos to those parents who make the sacrifice to send their kids to private schools. It is in that same vein however that parents must not allow unconscionable private schools to pass the 14
percent VAT on to them. These schools are businesses; they pay no corporation tax, and dodge all others. Instead of protesting the government, people should be demanding more answers from their private schools. Parents should be concerned that they are spending all this money and the schools are not fulfilling their obligations thus ending up on GRA’s radar and causing them to feel the squeeze. This situation is just another glimpse into the depths of Guyana’s economic and moral deterioration over the years. There is so much to be done to make Guyana an honest economy again. Akeem Bennons
STEM application an educational... From page 5 Mathematics is the only truly universal language, symbolic of the power of education, as evidenced by the chalk being handed from one person to another, a recurring motif in the movie. An insufficiency of mathematical skill and understanding affects one’s ability to make critically important educational, life, and career decisions. STEM programs that are being applied in the educa-
tional cultures of schools is not only career necessary but vitally important. Time will tell. The figures will no longer be hidden. President Obama from very early in his administration made STEM education a top priority, as he believed every student deserved access to a high quality education in STEM for their future as well as the future of the nation. Taking a similar stand was the British Government who said that if
the U.K was to remain a world leader in research and technology then a future generation that is passionate about, and skilled in, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is needed. The application of the STEM program in schools in Guyana will tell its own story in the future, but at least they are on the road and headed in the right direction. Yvonne Sam
Friday March 10, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Marking of SBAs... Just the facts on Indentureship Event DEAR EDITOR, I thought long and hard about replying to Mr. Freddie Kissoon’s polemic “If Guyana cannot confront people like Ryhaan Shah and Ravi Dev, it will explode”, (KN 3-7-17) to correct some of his claims. The article repeats views the author has expressed so many times before, I doubt it will have any effect on his conclusions, but I hope he will at least check their premises. He claimed the End of Indian Immigration event at the Cultural Centre was “funded by some businessmen who accumulated vast wealth from Bharrat Jagdeo’s oligarchic rule”. This claim formed the basis of much of his polemic, such as me serving the said “oligarchs’ interest” by riling up Indians, etc. However, the event “Garv aur Izzat”/Pride and Dignity”, hosted by an ad hoc 18-member group GIIAA, was funded by the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Indian High Commission. Both these two institutions are to be commended. PM Moses Nagamootoo, Minister George Norton, Min Kathy Hughes, and Min Jaipaul Sharma, from the government benches were also at the event, as was Adrian Anamayah, representing the Opposition Leader. The PM and Minister Norton also spoke, to an audience that included the US Ambassador and the British HC, among others. Hardly the local Indian sans cullotte, to be exhorted to revolution. Another claim was “ninety percent of the Guyanese economy is in the hands of Guyanese Indian business people”. I would like to know the source of this tidbit, since I am sure Mr Kissoon wouldn’t have made it up, even if it does seem outlandish. He then claims there is, “no exclusive Amerindian, African, Chinese or European school in Guyana, but there is a huge Hindu school at Cornelia Ida owned and operated by a Hindu priest, Aksharananda,” but in so doing, he is comparing apples and oranges - national origin with the Hindu religion. There are numerous Christian Schools, and even a Baha’i one, for instance. Mr Kissoon claims when I asked “Indians to rise up”, I “didn’t distinguish the
ordinary Indian folks like me and hundreds of thousands like us who have nothing and got nothing under Jagdeo and Ramotar.” Yet the Chronicle criticised me for talking about Wales workers - which I did who I think qualify as “ordinary Indian folks”. The Chronicle, however parsed my statement for not talking about “African Wales workers.” You just cannot please some people. Mr Kissoon also ignored the wider context of my presentation where, according to one report, I “explained that during indentureship, Indian protests against the planters’ exploitation were actually protests against the British colonial state which underwrote sugar interests. The killings of 1939 at Plantation Leonora led to a widening of the franchise in 1947 by the Moyne Commission and the Enmore killings in 1948 to the struggle for independence and democracy. Their descendants therefore had a responsibility to protect democracy. “The essence of democracy must be nourished through protest and through the populace, who have earned and fought for their freedom, to guard their freedom jealously. Today we will do our foreparents the greatest honour to maintain our garv (our pride) and our izzat (our dignity) if we were to take our responsibility, take that inheritance and to rise up and do what is necessary to protect what we have built.” Lastly, Mr Kissoon says, “Unfortunately, Black leaders did not urge Black Guyanese to do what Dev is instilling in Indians to do.” Meaning rise up and protect what they built? He really insults stalwarts, who I respect for their fidelity to the cause like David Hinds, Tacuma Ogunseye, Eric Phillips et al. He would remember he wrote a series of articles about a friend of his he dubbed the “Wild man”, who instigated the violence emanating from Buxton for an African Resistance to overthrow the state between 2002 and 2008. On the “Black Youths” killed during that period, I would also remind him that I called at the Square of the Revolution at the Rule of law march, for an Inquiry into the then endemic violence. But sadly had to remind that audience, Indians had also been killed. Ravi Dev
CUT continues advocacy for CXC to pay teachers
“It is not an easy battle but we will continue to push to ensure that teachers are justly rewarded for the jobs that they perform.” This is the assertion of Third Vice President of the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT), Ms. Coretta McDonald. McDonald’s disclosure was in response to a question about the controversy surrounding the failure of the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) to pay teachers for marking School Based Assessments. Although teachers have for years been tasked with marking the SBAs presented by students as part of the Caribbean Secondary Education Examination (CSEC), a few years back a call was made for CXC to financially compensate the teachers. But CXC has not embraced the notion that it should pay for the services rendered by teachers. McDonald disclosed that CXC has, instead, been directing the calls for payment to the governments of the respective CXC territories. “I know (CUT) would have had our engagements with CXC in Barbados and they have said to us at that level that we should be engaging our Ministers of Education in the various territories...They have said that we should be engaging our Governments because they are the ones who should be paying and not CXC,” McDonald said. But CUT is convinced that CXC has the financial wherewithal to pay, McDonald intimated. The CUT Vice President said, “When you look at what is happening now, CXC is making huge sums of money. As a matter of fact CXC has started e-marking which will cost them far less because they don’t have to pay for accommodation and meals and all of that for persons anymore, so they have the money to pay.” In light of this development, McDonald said that CUT will continue to advocate for teachers to be paid. “We will continue to push our Ministers of Education and our Governments to look into this matter.” At the local level, she disclosed that Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), a body on which she sits as the General Secretary, has had discussions with the Minister of Education. She recalled that the issue was brought to the attention of
- CXC insists governments should pay
Ms. Coretta McDonald two Education Ministers – the current MInister and the Minister under the previous regime. McDonald is however concerned that the CXC territories have failed to adopt a united approach to deal with the payment matter. “I think what is happening when the Ministers of Education meet at Caricom forums is causing a breakdown of this advocacy...While some territories are saying that they are going to take on the responsibility for paying the teachers, others are saying we are not going to do that and I think that is where the problem is. “Some are for it and some are against it; no decision has been arrived at, hence this is where the situation of marking of SBAs is,” said McDonald. Although unsure what course of action the Ministers of Education will eventually take, McDonald said with certainty, “I think it is going to reach the stage
where teachers just decide we are not marking anymore, full stop.” “It is quite unfair because there are other people who invigilate other aspects of the examinations and are paid to do so but teachers who are manning the entire process and completing the projects are not being paid at all,” McDonald highlighted. According to her, “Teachers are saying ‘for too long we have been taken for granted.’ We know that it can have an adverse effect on students but what teachers are prepared to do is to help complete the process but refuse to mark. When CXC sends for the samples the teachers will just send them without putting any scores to them...let them (CXC) do the scoring.” The marking controversy has been an issue that has been on the front burner for some time. Teachers, according to McDonald, have been complaining about the additional work that is expected of them. (Their job) not only includes them having to prepare the students and take them through the process of
having the SBAs completed but also marking same. This is in light of the fact that SBAs do not constitute an internal examination but rather is an external examination. McDonald noted, “At our various executive council meetings we have argued back and forth about this situation but where it is at right now, it is at a level where Barbados has been pushing for payment and they will continue to push for payment for marking SBAs.” Guyana has also been pushing for payment, according to McDonald, “We have other units now coming on board.” “Here in Guyana, we have started our own bit. Our teachers are saying, especially when you look at the sciences, there are a lot of components as it relates to the SBAs where you have to do several labs and all of these are work that you have to do to add up to complete the SBAs. And having spoken to teachers in Georgetown quite a lot of them are prepared to take the children through the process but not mark the actual SBA,” McDonald asserted.
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Kaieteur News
Tax Committee zeros in on high ‘revenue loss’ through exemptions to diplomats, remigrants, others Within the last two decades, questions have been raised about the benefits derived from the grant of millions worth in tax incentives and holidays to certain groups of people. To gather a greater understanding of Guyana’s tax incentive system in this regard, a Tax Reform Committee (TRC), which was established by the Government examined the revenue loss incurred by the country when these exemptions are granted. The Committee said that the most important revenue loss pertained to duty exempted goods. It said that this is partly related to the extreme openness of the Guyana economy and the high propensity to import, as seen over the years in the case of companies/businesses. The Committee said however, the weighting for imports is even greater in the case of diplomats, public officials/officers and re-migrants, probably due to the high rate of exemption on vehicles for these categories of persons. The body said that the revenue loss for exemptions granted to diplomats for the year 2014 alone was $1.4B. The revenue loss for incentives granted to re-migrants and public officials was $2.1B and $1.4B respectively. With respect to incentives, the Committee explained that these are typically provided to companies and businessmen, in the expectation that they would
lead to greater volumes of investment and re-investment, than would otherwise be the case. The Committee noted that the incentives may relate to both foreign and local investors. It said that these can be designed to be more generous, depending on the expected benefits, in terms of level of investment, number of jobs to be created, the vintage nature of the technology to be transferred, the number of employees to be trained, etc. The Committee said that the latter conditions may be expressly stated in the form of performance requirements for the receipt of the incentives. In addition, the Committee commented that the types of incentives may comprise exemptions of various sorts, such as customs duties, value added tax (VAT), and excise taxes. It said that customs duties are concentrated in fuel products, industrial inputs and passenger cars; VAT in industrial inputs; and excise tax in fuel products and passenger cars. The committee also noted that there are investments and accelerated depreciation allowances, along with ExportProcessing Zone (EPZ)-type infrastructure facilities, and the incentives mix, which may depend on whether the economic activity is included in the incentives legislative and regulatory framework. Besides the aforementioned exemptions, the TRC said that the other major in-
Chartered Accountant , Chris Ram
NICIL Chairman, Dr. Maurice Odle
GRA Boss, Godfrey Statia
centives tool relates to the granting of tax holidays. Based on data provided by the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Committee pointed out that companies and businesses accounted for about 78 per cent of the total value of exemptions, in terms of revenue lost to the national treasury in 2014. The Committee said that the types
of exemptions responsible for the revenue loss related to customs duties, VAT, excise taxes and stamp duty foregone. The Committee said, “Revenue loss would also pertain to the granting of tax holidays. Because of the failure to comply with the requirement in the Investment Act for an audit of tax holi-
days granted and the laying of the report thereon in the National Assembly, it is not possible to determine the revenue foregone in the granting of tax holidays in Guyana.” The Committee continued, “The entities that are involved in the granting of tax holidays are GO-Invest, the Guyana Revenue Authority
Day 3 of Pradoville 2 probe…
Robert Persaud does not rule out paying market price for house lot …Kwame McCoy, Andrew Bishop questioned
Prison Officers arrested …after package thrown over prison fence Three prison officers attached to the New Amsterdam Prison were on Tuesday afternoon arrested by the hierarchy of the institution and handed over to the police under suspicion of being involved in corruption. According to reports around 14:00 hrs persons in and around of the Penitentiary, including, guards noticed something being thrown over the fence of the prison. An alarm was raised and checks were made in the area, but nothing was found. However the prison officers who
were supposed to be working in the specific area in which the package was thrown were questioned and could not give any clear indication about the whereabouts of the package. The men were taken into custody. The police were informed and a team of officers led by a senior officer responded immediately and searched the prison, but the package was not found. The prison officers were handed over to the police and taken to the Central Police Station and were being grilled.
and the Ministry of Finance. However, it does not appear that there is any mechanism in place for any post-approval audit or review.” It added, “For the year 2014, the revenue loss from exemptions, alone, relating to companies/businesses was equivalent to $43.2 billion, and for all beneficiary categories, $55.6 billion. In 2015, the revenue loss from exemptions alone, relating to companies/ businesses, was $56.6 billion.” Additionally, the TRC said that the total corporate tax remissions/exemptions were equivalent to 31 percent of Central Government tax revenue and exceeded actual corporate tax revenue in 2014. The Tax Reform Committee was established in August 2015. It was chaired by economist, Dr. Maurice Odle, and included tax specialists such as Christopher Ram, GRA Boss Godfrey Statia and Dr. Thomas Singh.
PPP Member, Kwame McCoy
Andrew Bishop
Former Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud
As the probe into the Sparendaam Land distribution scheme continues, former Minister of Natural Resources Robert Persaud has not ruled out paying the market price for the house lot he bought in the area now dubbed “Pradoville 2.” Persaud made this public in a Facebook post where he said that his legal advisor indicated to him that should the state establish that the price paid for the house lot was below market value, discussions can be entered into for
a mutually acceptable resolution of the matter. The former Minister sought to explain how he came to own a plot of land in the area. According to Persaud some time between 2007 and 2008, he applied for a government house lot as at that time he was occupying a government residence and not the owner of any house lot issued by the state or one acquired from a private source. He added,” I paid in full the asking price for a house
lot in the SparendaamGoedverwagting area referred to as ‘Pradoville 2’. This was the first time I ever purchased a house lot directly from the state. Due to a number of factors, including financial constraints, after the building was erected on the said plot, it was sold. I never occupied the residence at Pradoville 2.” Persaud said that all the necessary permissions were sought from the Ministry of Housing and a financial penalty was paid for the early disposal of the plot and build-
ing. The former Minister is one of 14 persons who have been questioned so far in relation to the acquisition of house lots in the Pradoville 2 housing scheme. Yesterday, People’s Progressive Party Civic member and former Information Liaison to the Office of the President, Kwame McCoy was required to visit the Camp Street office of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) regarding the matter. Also questioned by SOCU was another beneficiary of land, Andrew Bishop. On Wednesday, those questioned included former Ministers of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali, former Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, former Minister of Tourism Sheik Baksh, former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, former Minister of Public Service, Jennifer Westford, former Minister of Labour, Nanda Gopaul and former Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee. The questioning had begun on Tuesday when some persons were actually arrested. Those arrested and questioned were former Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Roger Luncheon; (Continued on page 9)
Friday March 10, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Donald Trump’s Wall is being built in Guyana. For those who were wondering when the wall that Donald Trump promised would have been constructed, the good news is that it has started. The bad news is that it is not being built along the Mexican border nor is it being built by the Americans. The “mother of all walls” is being built right here in Georgetown at the Ministry of the Presidency. A massive, fortified concrete wall is being constructed around the old building which Burnham had built as his office. The wall is impenetrable. Huge cranes were pouring concrete into the massive columns. Just why such a wall has to be constructed is anyone’s guess. The old chain link structures boosted by heavily armed personnel had done a good job over the years in keeping out intruders. It had also allowed passersby to see what was going on inside this most important compound which is the seat of executive authority in Guyana. In due course, one can expect the media to ask the government why such a wall is needed, what will happen behind this wall and, more importantly, what is the price tag for that structure. Are we building a new Presidential Palace behind these walls? Guyana is supposed to be
going green and all this concrete work is flying in the face of all the talk about greenness. The PPP had decided that Durban Park would become a green zone. This was actually announced publicly. The PPP however allowed this area to descend into a mini- rainforest in the city. The new government, with its green flags and green agenda came into office and decided that the Durban Park “jungle” had to be cleared and converted, not into playgrounds and a recreational park which it was under Burnham, but into a military drill square to host public events. The greenery was overlaid with sand and crusher run, asphalted lanes were put down and wooden structures were erected creating an ugly and unsightly appearance. The place has an unappealing and unattractive ambience. It has no character. It is part of the concrete revolution which is enveloping the city. The Demerara Cricket Club Ground used to be a pleasing sight in the city. This ground has produced West Indian greats such as Clive Lloyd and Lance Gibbs and later the Harper brothers. It was an inviting patch of greenery within the city. You could be passing on your way from work and stop on the
road and look and see an exciting finish to a game. Not anymore! A massive concrete wall has been erected around the facility. Further up in Thomas Lands, the old Cosmos Sports Club which used to be cricket ground and hockey field has been tuned to a mini go- kart motor racing course. A structure has been erected on the
from two of the suspects. Some of the gang’s other victims include a Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara woman, who was relieved of $1M; 60year-old G and J Phone Card store Christopher Marks, who was shot in the arm on February 3, during a foiled attack on his employer outside the Citizen’s Bank branch at Mandela Avenue; John Brian, a contractor, who was shot and robbed in the Finance Ministry compound last December , after uplifting some $3M from the Republic Bank in Water Street; Rudolph Dyal of Station Street, Kitty, who was robbed of $4M and a loaded firearm last February in Station Street, Kitty, by gunmen in a car. The Crime Chief recently disclosed that police have
government will daub a coat of green paint over the concrete walls and structures which are being erected, to create a façade of greenness. For those who are wondering where the monies from the increased VAT on private education and health care are going, the answer is obvious. It is going to build a Trumpstyled wall around the Minis-
try of the Presidency. All in the name of the green economy!
New markets open up for grain …during GRDB’s first business mission to Mexico
The Guyana Rice Development Board’s booth in full action at the Expo ANTAD 2017 Over the past three days, the first ever business delegation of grain producers and exporters from Guyana was able to successfully
Casino robbery suspect, five others linked to commercial bank attacks Police are preparing to lay charges against a six-man gang that is said to be linked to several recent robberies, including attacks on individuals leaving commercial banks. The suspects include Richard Junior Stewart, who is on bail in connection with the April, 2016, multi-million dollar heist at the Princess Casino at Providence, East Bank Demerara. Stewart and four others were detained last Saturday after robbing a customer who had just withdrawn $330,000 from a commercial bank at Diamond, East Bank Demerara. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said that the suspects were linked to six other robberies. Blanhum revealed that police had seized several licence plates
northwestern side of the ground. Somebody needs to explain how all those things are being permitted to destroy the traditional ambience of the city and how all this conforms to the greening of Guyana. It does look as if instead of greening we are having a graying, the graying of concrete structures. Perhaps the wise
dismantled six other gangs that have been targeting commercial bank customers. But he said that other gangs have taken the place of the dismantled groups. He also stated that police intelligence indicated that the robbers comprised a group of men, who were “randomly selecting their victims.” Last month, investigators detained an alleged ringleader, who allegedly acted as the facilitator for his group, by providing them with firearms and motorcycles. This gang leader was allegedly fingered in an attempted robbery/murder at Fogarty’s, along with three other matters, where individuals leaving banks with large sums of cash were robbed.
participate in the largest trade fair for food retailers in Latin America and the Caribbean. This has led to the opening up for new markets for grain. Joint efforts by the Mexican Embassy here and the Guyana Rice Development Board saw the Guyana team having access to the usually anticipated Expo ANTAD 2017. This drew more than 50,000 visitors from 40 countries around the world to the Expo Guadalajara facilities in Mexico, providing significant new opportunities to tap into the Mexican market and other destinations. According to the Agriculture Ministry, GRDB representatives manned a dedicated booth, which displayed samples of
Guyanese produce and provided information about the rice and paddy sector in Guyana to professional purchasers. Contacts which were established even prior to the trade fair made it possible for the Guyanese delegation to have business meetings with entities such as Oxxo, which has the largest chain of convenience stores in Mexico. It manages an average of 14,000 locations. The Guyana team also met with representatives from Commercial Mexicana and Soriana. These are some of the leading brands in food retailing in Mexico. They operate in excess of 650 supermarkets in more than 200 cities. Rice and paddy
consumption in Mexico exceeds one million tons per year, the Agriculture Ministry said. It noted too that Mexico imports more than 80 percent of its rice and paddy consumption. It was only on March 1, 2017, that the Mexican government gazetted the authorization to import, 150,000 tons of rice and paddy, duty free, before the end of December 2017. Additionally, in order to further expand business contacts, GRDB representatives and other Guyanese exporters visited Verde Valle, the largest rice packaging plant in Western Mexico. Business conversations were also had with the senior leadership of the Mexican Rice Council, which is the single largest association of rice and paddy importers in Mexico. Beyond Mexico, the Guyanese business delegation was also able to established contacts with rice traders in Central American countries such as Nicaragua and Panamá. “Phytosanitary procedures and business contacts for Guyanese rice and paddy made significant progress as a result of the official visit by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo to Mexico in October 2015,” the Agriculture Ministry said.
Robert Persaud does not rule out ... From page 8 former Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Ramesh Dookoo; daughter of former President Donald Ramotar and General Manager of Guyana Gold Board, Lisaveta Ramotar; and son of former Labour Minister Nanda Gopaul, Dr Gansham Singh. Based on information, the recipients of
Pradoville 2 lands paid one-third what ordinary citizens in the Diamond and Grove Housing Schemes, East Bank Demerara would have paid. It was reported that Rohee, Baksh and Manickchand paid just over $1.5M each and so did, former Army Chief, Rear Admiral Gary Best and sacked Chief Executive Officer of Guyana Sugar Corporation, Dr Rajendra Singh.
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Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
The evil that men do live after them Anil Nandlall leant his frame against the rail of the High Court balcony. This was about the third or fourth day of the hearing of the libel that Bharrat Jagdeo, then, President Jagdeo, brought against me for one of my columns in which I had referred to him as an ideological racist. What is seldom mentioned when people discuss the libel is that the column was a description of an event that went on the day before. I was doing a presentation at an academic forum for the Guyana Research and Historical Society at the National Library when a group of about six persons began to disrupt my talk. Included in the group was Charles Ramson Jr. They disrupted the event. It was a dreadful reminder to me and so many others of the days of the House of Israel. There are untold numbers of fools out there whose minds are so rotten that all they can write and speak about is the violence of the
time when Forbes Burnham was president. Some of these fools didn’t see any violence because they ran away to foreign lands. Today their minds are warped and one-dimensional. They know only about the bad days when the PNC was in power, not the horrible days when Jagdeo ruled this land and his critics were assaulted, dismissed from their employment, arrested and charged. Sorry about the diversion but let’s return to Anil Nandlall. With a satisfying grin on his face, he said to me be before the court went into session, “Bharrat (he didn’t say the President) gun tek yuh house.” He was referring to a victory and I would not be able to pay Jagdeo so Jagdeo would levy on my house. That was in 2010. Today, I still have my house and I can write about probable charges
against Jagdeo and Luncheon and their acolytes. When I saw on Leonard Gildarie’s computer the way Luncheon was being helped up the stairs of SOCU, my mind went back to how the police helped him up the stairs of the High Court each day of his testimony on behalf of Jagdeo in the libel trial. The identical situation was so uncanny. I stared at this man who was helping Jagdeo to win a libel suit against me thus jeapordizing, as Nandlall put it, my house. As I mentioned the word, staring, I recalled as Luncheon passed me for seven days in that court house, he never looked directly at me. He would chat away with my lawyers, the court officials, the spectators but he never acknowledged my presence. Was he ashamed at what he was doing thus could not bring himself to look at me? I don’t know but this I know; Luncheon has gone down in history for saying in that trial that in 2010 there wasn’t an African Guyanese living in Guyana that was qualified to be an ambassador. To this day, Luncheon never
apologized for that cruel remark. Once the news was out that Jagdeo and Luncheon were ordered to SOCU head office, I have been stopped each day wherever I go for an opinion of what I think. I can say most honestly; every questioner has a pleasurable smile as he/she spoke to me. It is as if each knows that the king has fallen and that for me it is poetic justice. The long arm of the law has caught up with tyrants who reminded me of the Shakespearean p l a y, Macbeth. Jagdeo is Macbeth. Desmond Hoyte is King Duncan of Scotland. The three witches are the PPP. Jagdeo inherited a country that Desmond Hoyte had fashioned to allow democracy to grow. But Jagdeo murdered the life of democracy when he took over. The PPP informed Macbeth that he was destined for greatness. The climax of Jagdeo’s desecration was his throne of corruption. The witches fooled Jagdeo. Like Macbeth, he was destined only for downfall. When he walked into SOCU’s head office after being compelled to attend, his words were far removed from Macbeth’s last moments;
Jagdeo was defiant. But Macbeth’s final words are bound to haunt him as SOCU closes in. Here is Macbeth final uttering; “To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no
Frederick Kissoon more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury Signifying nothing.” Macbeth (Act 5, Scene 5)
Dem boys seh ...
Kwame pay a personal visit to SOCU Labba Lip Kwame go in to SOCU yesterday fuh questioning. He lef de place vex. In fact he was vex from de start. Since Tuesday SOCU was arresting people and dem wasn’t even calling Kwame. Dem boys see when he put heself near Jagdeo and Luncheon hoping that SOCU woulda carry him down and dem ignore him. De man was vex even before Tuesday. When he go to court and de magistrate find him for assaulting Bencock, he get vex and not because of de f i n e . To u n d e r s t a n d people got to understand t h a t y e s t e r d a y, S O C U didn’t call Kwame; he go by heself. This is a man who like to be in a room wid nuff men. When he decide to go to SOCU yesterday, de staff coming out and he pushing to go in. Dem boys suggest that is because de James boy look strong that Kwame eye light up and so he decide to visit after hours. He didn’t bargain to see the British expert in de room. Dem boys seh that is
not today he got he eye pun James; that is why he was very disappointed when SOCU didn’t call him in de first place. Dem boys now understand why Kwame was vex wid de fine. He did prefer a jail sentence. De situation getting more drastic. Is de same thing happen de other day. Jagdeo did mek a speech about protest. He call some people from Berbice and tell dem to protest outside Ohh Pee. That was good until de people realize that Soulja Bai don’t got here because de place under repair. Dem decide to visit Jagdeo to ask fuh advice. De same time dem see two traffic police riding going bout dem own business. Dem boys seh dem never see people scatter so fast. De people did done hear that de police coming to arrest Jagdeo. Dem is de same people who got to protest when SOCU decide to jail Jagdeo and he kavakamites. Talk half and help Kwame wid he eye pun Jamesey.
Friday March 10, 2017
Disgraced Sussex Lord charged over messages sent to Guyana-born anti-Brexit campaigner United Kingdom (theargus.co.uk) - THE man charged with sending racially aggravated messages directed at Brexit court campaigner, Gina Miller, has been revealed as disgraced Sussex Lord. Rhodri Colwyn Philipps, 50, was charged on Tuesday with sending malicious communications with racially aggravated factors, the Metropolitan Police said. Phillips, the 4th Viscount St Davids, is also known as a keen polo player. He previously owned a £3.6 million ten-bedroom property in Northchapel, near Petworth. He has experienced a number of financial problems in the past, having been declared bankrupt in 2011 for the second time in his life. In the same year, his 10bedroom property, Strange Place, in Northchapel, West Sussex – which is worth £3.6million – was repossessed by Barclays Bank. Back in 2008 he was given a two-year suspended sentence in Germany after an epic spending spree that led to the ruin of his engineering firm Hans Brochier. He spent more than a year in prison while claims that he used company funds - more than £350,000 on promoting an opera singer, £12,000 to rent a private jet and £5,000 on a shotgun from James Purdey - were investigated. Now living in Kensington, the viscount is known for his love of polo and is married to interior designer Sarah Louise Butcher. He also holds the titles Lord Strange of Knockin, Lord Hungerford, and Lord de Moleyns. Phillips is part of one of the oldest aristocratic families in Wales, whose ancestors
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Kaieteur News
Gina Miller
Charged: Rhodri Colwyn Philipps
can be dated back to the Normans. Members of his family have served as MPs and have sat in the Lords. Ms Miller, 51, complained of receiving a series of racist messages following her decision to spearhead the legal challenge, which resulted in an historic Supreme Court defeat for the Government over Brexit in January. The Guyana-born mother of three became the face of the first successful legal battle against Brexit. However she said in a radio interview that it had resulted in her becoming “apparently the most hated woman in Britain”. Philipps was arrested by officers from the Met’s Operation Falcon on January 25 after a complaint was received concerning alleged threats made online against a 51-year-old woman. Phillips has been bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 4. This week Peers inflicted a second defeat on
the Government’s Brexit Bill by demanding a “meaningful” parliamentary vote on the final divorce deal. Voting was 366 to 268, at the end of a passionate and sometimes bad tempered three-hour debate in a crowded House of Lords on Tuesday. The amendment to the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill was approved with Labour, Liberal Democrat and some Tory backing. The latest reverse represents a double blow for Prime Minister Theresa May and it could put at risk her timetable to start talks on quitting the EU later this month. MPs will now have to decide whether to overturn both defeats when the Bill, which will allows the Government to trigger the Article 50 process of leaving the EU, goes back before them next week. Miller is the daughter of former Attorney General of Guyana, the late Senior Counsel Doodnauth Singh.
Former Roger Khan associate held after AK-47, M-70 found in home A former associate of convicted drug kingpin, Shaheed ‘Roger’ Khan was detained yesterday after police unearthed two high-powered weapons and magazines at his home. The discovery was made around 15.00 hrs yesterday, after a female occupant told the police that she had found the firearm while cleaning the home located at First Street, Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara. The weapons were found in a duffel bag, along with two magazines. Crime Chief confirmed the arrest of “a Meten-MeerZorg businessman,” adding that ballistic tests are to be conducted on the seized firearms. Kaieteur News understands that the detained man is the owner of a fast food business. A source confirmed that the suspect, and others, were taken into custody in December, 2002, after army ranks intercepted Roger Khan, Haroon Yahya, and policeman Sean Belfield, in a pickup at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, with a massive arms cache. The cache included M-16 assault rifles with night vision devices; Uzi sub-machine gun with silencer; Glock 9mm pis-
tols; 12-gauge shotgun; other small calibre weapons; bulletproof vests; helmets; a computer and other electronic gadgetry with digitised electronic maps and plans of Georgetown and certain East Coast villages. They were never charged. In an affidavit, Khan’s attorneys described him as the
Director of Classic Development Inc (CDI), a construction firm engaged in the building of houses throughout the country. The businessman presently under arrest was also listed as being employed by Classic Developers and Contractors (CDC) as a procurer of building materials.
Vulnerable group to be targeted for World Glaucoma Day Glaucoma is a disease that is known to damage the optic nerve. While many are vulnerable to this condition, there are several who are particularly predisposed to it. This is according to information disseminated by Dr. Shailendra Sugrim, Head of Department and Glaucoma Specialist at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). According to Dr. Sugrim, in Guyanese patients
‘Open Angle’ Glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma and individuals of AfroGuyanese origin are more prone to develop it. These individuals are more likely to have family members suffering from glaucoma. ‘Open-angle’ means that the angle where the iris meets the cornea is as wide and as open as it should be but the eye’s drainage canals become clogged over time, causing an
increase in internal eye pressure and subsequent damage to the optic nerve. ‘Openangle’ glaucoma is also called primary or chronic glaucoma. Individuals suffering from this condition are more likely to have family members suffering from glaucoma. It has also been found that glaucoma in Afro-Guyanese patients is usually very severe and more difficult to treat. (Continued on page 31)
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Anti-corruption watchdog sheds light on ExxonMobil’s questionable deals with Nigeria With the coming of an oil sector that is expected to bring Guyana great wealth, the Government of the day has been paying close attention to the mistakes made by other nations such as Trinidad and Tobago. However, some anti-corruption advocates are also urging that perhaps the coalition administration and even the citizenry would be wise to pay keen attention to the case of Nigeria and Exxon Mobil. Shedding a light of transparency on this matter is the Global Witness (GW). This is an international organization that conducts in-depth investigations in an effort to expose and fight off corruption in the environmental sector. It also exposes the abuse of human rights. The body documented its findings between Nigeria and Exxon Mobil in a report titled Probe into murky ExxonMobil deal shows why strong U.S. transparency rules are needed
for oil companies. The report said that a major oil deal which was inked between ExxonMobil and the Nigerian Government is being investigated by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (NEFCC). According to the Global Witness, the probe centres on a controversial deal agreed to by ExxonMobil and the Nigerian Government in 2009 to renew three lucrative oil licences, which at the time accounted for around 25 per cent of Nigeria’s entire oil production. The Global Witness said that ExxonMobil reportedly agreed to pay US$600 million to renew the licences and to construct a power plant at a cost of US$900 million to the company. However, documents seen by the Global Witness indicate that the Nigerian Government may have valued the licenses at $2.55 billion, and that the Chinese oil ma-
Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge jor Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) offered to pay $3.75 billion for the same licences – over six times the amount reportedly paid by ExxonMobil. In Nigeria alone, an estimated US$400 billion in oil revenues has been lost to corruption and mismanagement since 1960.
Chairman of EITI, Fredrik Reinfeldt
U.S President, Donald Trump
According to the Global Witness, media reports state that Rilwanu Lukman, Nigeria’s senior-most Oil Minister at the time of Exxon’s deal, refused to endorse the agreement, stating that in his opinion, the US$600 million renewal fee was too low and would deprive Nigeria of the full benefits of the licences. The Global Witness said that the difference between Exxon’s reported renewal fee and CNOOC’s counter-offer of US$3.75 billion is more than Nigeria’s entire health and education budget combined. Global Witness approached ExxonMobil with a request for comment on the Nigerian deal. According to GW, the US Company stated that following extensive discussions with the Nigerian Government to renew the licences, an agreement was reached and legally executed. In reaching the agreement, ExxonMobil fully complied with Nigerian law. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, has since expressed that he is “absolutely confident” that oil giant, ExxonMobil will cooperate with Guyana when it comes to the nation’s application for membership with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). He made this, among other statements, during a recent interview. Greenidge’s comments come in wake of the fact that the coalition administration has taken note of the recent action by U.S. President, Donald Trump to repeal a key piece of disclosure law which no longer strong-arms American companies in the extractive sector to divulge what they are paying to foreign governments. The Government has also acknowledged that Trump’s action will have an impact on all countries which are implementing the principles of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). One of the key requirements of any country that is part of the EITI fold is to al-
low scrutiny of Government’s records of what it receives from companies in the extractive sectors. Guyana is currently applying to be part of the EITI. While Trump’s action could have an impact on Guyana’s application, and all countries implementing EITI principles and standards, the Government is saying that the impact would not be a “fatal one”. Greenidge who is advising Government on the matter said that he is sure the administration would have Exxon’s support when it comes to the EITI principles being implemented here. The Foreign Affairs Minister said, “The point I want to make is that Exxon is a large multibillion-dollar company. It is a company which has commercial obligations in relation to its shareholders and to the market place. “It also has responsibilities as a corporate entity. We are not starting from the assumption that they will not cooperate because they no longer find themselves in a position where they have a gun to their head from the USA to disclose certain information.” Greenidge continued, “We have a good relationship with Exxon. And given their activities here, we expect that it will be pretty profitable. From where I sit, we are not anticipating any malfeasance. We need to remember that they started working with us in difficult times. “So in terms of the way forward, I am not worried. I believe we will continue to seek to have a cooperative and fruitful relationship and on both sides. We will respect best international practices.” Since the law was repealed by Trump, it has attracted much criticism from anti-corruption bodies, including EITI. In fact, Chairman of EITI, Fredrik Reinfeldt, has since spoken against Trump’s move. Reinfeldt said that the law, which had allowed for American companies to dis-
close what they are paying foreign governments, was a complement to the EITI disclosure requirements. He added, “I reiterate earlier held EITI positions on this matter. Our aim is to ensure responsible and transparent resource governance and this requires multiple efforts. The SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) took great care in drafting these rules in consultation with industry to ensure that they complement the EITI’s efforts and avoid unnecessary duplication. I would urge Congress to consider this matter thoroughly, and to ensure that any action does not undermine the hard-won gains in this arena.” GUYANA’S APPLICATION With the emergence of a multibillion-dollar oil sector, the government is of the belief that EITI is necessary. As such, it is doing everything possible to safeguard the earnings from oil and gas by working to fast track Guyana’s application to EITI. The Government’s action in this regard is spurred particularly by the declaration of significant oil finds by one of the richest American oil companies in the world, ExxonMobil. Should Guyana become a member of EITI, it will be required to ask all companies in the extractive sector, including Exxon Mobil, to reveal what it is paying the government, among other things. While there are a few more stages left to go through, Guyana certainly made significant headway recently as it relates to its application for membership to the EITI with the launching of Guyana’s very own Multi-stakeholder Group (MSG). This is one of the requirements for Guyana to make it into the EITI fold. Speaking to the importance of the initiative, Dr. Rudy Jadoopat, National Coordinator of Guyana’s EITI Secretariat, said that EITI brings together a number of groups. He said that these include oil and gas companies, representatives of government, local and international stakeholders and assessment management companies. The National Director stressed that the objective of the EITI is to bring international and acceptable standards for transparency to the oil, gas and mining sector. The National Director said: “EITI creates opportunities for the building of trust among stakeholders and indeed the community at large. ”Companies are required to disclose what they pay to government and the (Continued on page 31)
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CJIA’s new arrival terminal for mid-year NDIA proposes to completion; runway is halfway finished jail squatters An artistic impression of the completed project.
The foundation works are ongoing for the new Arrivals Building.
A multi-billion-dollar contract to modernize the country’s main airport is on track for a year-end completion with a new terminal building to be commissioned as early as mid-year. According to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) yesterday, the foundation works are moving apace with the new terminal building expected to be completed by mid-year. The deadline for the entire project, which includes a longer main runway and new terminal building, had been pushed back by the new administration to this year-
end. The new building is being constructed in close vicinity to the existing terminal building. With regards to the runway extension, it is just 56 percent completed, CJIA explained yesterday. “Upon completion the runway would be extended from 2270m to 3360m to accommodate aircraft up to B747-400; aircraft would navigate on Turning Pads at the runway ends instead of using a parallel taxiway; a new remote apron would be constructed to accommodate aircraft up to B747-400; two boarding bridges would be
installed and major renovations to the existing terminal building, which would transformed into the Departures Building,” the airport disclosed. The US$150M project funded by a Chinese loan with a contribution from Guyana, was launched four years ago in March 2013, and should have been finished since 2015. However, the contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) ran into problems with the runway extension. Poor soil conditions were a major factor. A decision was taken to shift a major part of the
runway extension from the north to south end. The new administration on entering office in May 2015 halted the project which was overshadowed by accidents and even an industrial death after a Chinese worker was buried alive. The previous administration had argued that the short runway and congested terminal building is impeding Guyana from becoming a hub to Africa and attracting more airlines. The modernized airport will boast aircraft bridges, and more spaces for immigration and check in booths.
National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has issued a strong warning to persons who continue to dwell and produce food on the drainage reserves illegally. They will face jail time once the practice remains, NDIA said. According to Fredrick Flatts, Chief Executive Officer of NDIA, anyone caught dwelling on the reserves would have to pay a fine of $25,000, and serve three months in jail, “We have spoken to people in the past about these behaviors and they refuse to desist. They don’t understand the seriousness of what they are doing. By refusing to move they are hindering the works of the NDIA,” Flatts said. Flatts added that persons normally plant crops on the reserves which has proven to be difficult in trying to get them to remove. “Some of them even threaten us by saying that if we remove their crops we would have to compensate them for their losses. “One farmer even said to some of the NDIA workers that he will chop them up if they damage his produce. That among complaints by workers are some reasons NDIA decide to go in this direction,” Flatts said that this move is crucial “as we continued to work towards permanently improving the drainage situation in Guyana.” “We want people to understand that it is necessary to get our 2017 budgeted drainage programme up and running. Given the number of unlawfully constructed structures for domestic and commercial purposes, drainage work has been hindered. As a result, many areas have been prone to have flooding which resulted in millions being injected to offset damage to homes and other businesses.” According to a farmer, the government just wants to pressure its people. “They are giving us a hard time to get a piece of farm land, and when we try to make a living on a small section of land they want jail us for that,” the farmer lamented.
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Linmine, NICIL get new heads “In the circumstances,” the Board of the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Inc. (NICIL) has found it best to appoint Horace James as the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). A public missive released by NICIL noted that at a meeting held on Friday, the Board of Directors made two appointments, James as CEO of NICIL and Emmet Alves as Head of Linmine Secretariat. James has been performing the duties of Officer-in Charge of NICIL since January 2016 following the departure of Winston Brassington. His appointment is effective from March 1. NICIL said that over the last few months, the
NICIL’s new CEO, Horace James technical and management skills and experience of 14 external and internal candidates were evaluated by both the Board and independent assessors “and finally James emerged as the most suitable in the circumstances.”
James is a United Kingdom-trained engineer. He serves as Head of Linmine Secretariat and CEO of the Linden Electricity Company from 2003 to 2015. No mention was made about the qualifications and experiences of James competitors. Emmet Alves who has been performing the duties of the Head of the Linmine Secretariat since January has been confirmed in that position with effect from March 1. Alves is a UG and Russia trained mining engineer, who since 2003 had been responsible for managing a number of Linmine engineering and environmentally related projects, including the Mackenzie-Wismar bridge.
Excavator operator remanded for illegal gun and ammo Stephen Atkinson, 35, was yesterday remanded to prison after he was arraigned before Magistrate Fabayo Azore in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. It is alleged that on March 7 at Omai Landing, Essequibo , he had in his possession one Taurus millennium .45 pistol and six 45 live rounds in his possession without being a licensed firearm holder at the time. The man, who was represented by Attorney-AtLaw Latchmi Rahamat, in her application to secure bail for her client, told the court that Atkinson, is the father of three and the sole breadwinner for his family. Rahamat further stated
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Kaieteur News
that at the time of the discovery her client was at a shop in the company of four other persons when the articles were discovered on a table. Rahamat told the court that based on information she received from her client, the articles were not discovered on his person. However Police Prosecutor Simone Payne objected to bail being granted to the defendant citing the nature and prevalence of the matter. Payne further stated that on the day in question Police acting on information conducted a searched on the defendant and the articles were discovered on him and
Remanded to prison Stephen Atkinson he was arrested and charged for the offence. He will make his next court appearance today before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for reassignment.
St. Francis Community Developers to embark on several major projects for 2017 The St Francis Community Developers with the help of Food for the Poor (Guyana) and other international donors have over the years provided a service to Berbice, particularly Region Six that can be considered second to none. The Non Governmental Organization which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year will be looking to expand and improve several services within the region as a means of fostering development. The Chief Executive Officer, Alex Montgomery Foster, during a recent activity held at the St Francis Community Developers Head Office in Port Mourant rolled out his organization’s plans for 2017. According to the CEO the club has received the go ahead and funding for 21 projects that will see much cooperation from the Government of Guyana, Overseas donors and Food For the Poor Guyana. Just recently three families received the keys to their new homes as part of his housing plan for the less fortunate. This was in conjunction with Food for the Poor Guyana and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission. A National Suicide Conference was launched a week ago as a medium of St Francis to tackle the scourge of suicide in the Region. He noted that with suicide not being an independent matter but rather an incorporated activity, St Francis will eventually work to eliminate the stigma and discrimination associated with persons trying to access their services. Other projects that took place and are slated to continue this year include the distribution of combination furniture to several institutions. The beneficiaries of this programme included the Fyrish Primary School, which through the Department of Education, received 50 pairs of combination furniture. The Guysuco Training Centre received 80 pairs of furniture that is currently
- Region Six to see the implementation of its first Tilapia Nursery
CEO of St Francis Community Developers Alex Foster being utilized at the hostel for evening studies. The Felix Austin Training College, Adventure, Corentyne, received 107 pairs of combination furniture as well. One hundred and twentyfive writing desks, along with 175 cupboards, and 80 bookshelves were also distributed this year to the GUYSUCO Training Centre, Felix Austin Training College, New Amsterdam Traffic Dept and the Corriverton Amerindian Students Hostel. The New Amsterdam Prison also benefited from 10 ceiling fans with twelve more to be distributed shortly to twelve play schools in Region Six. A career centre is also expected to take shape to complement the present services of St Francis. The centre will be constructed to facilitate a music room to house four pianos, two marching bands and other musical instruments. The second part of the building will accommodate an Information Technology Centre whilst the third section of the edifice will see an inland fishing and greenhouse shade house developmental centre. Foster also revealed that he was asked by two Government Ministers to share his expertise with all ten regions in the country. This will be effective when practical demonstrations and practical teaching can be executed, thus a resource
centre will be created. Another major projected that will take place will be the creation a tilapia nursery. Two ponds have already taken shape. This will be the first Tilapia Nursery in Region Six that will support the St Francis Tilapia Extensions at Limlair Village. The latter is a project that is supported by Food for the Poor Guyana, New Amsterdam Olenderff Carriers and the Australian Government. The tilapia nursery will have the capacity to produce 10,000 fingerlings every eight weeks or 60,000 per year. Also, the government together with the Ministry of Social Protection will see the construction of 10 shade houses for families in Region Six, the shade houses are expected to be completed within a few weeks. Another project to be completed by the NGO includes the construction of a two-storey building that will house a preservation centre. By October the centre will be able to see the production of ketchup, pepper, casreep, cassava bread, baby feed and much more. The building will also have a training workshop for the purpose of training carpenters and craft men. Foster also stated that they are looking to also improve the present facilities of St Francis with it being the only organization in the country that can fully self sustain all of its operational costs. Some of the other major projects and activities include the launching of St Francis International in the United States of America, the launching of St. Francis Consultancies Service and Community Development and the launching of the first early childhood and development training centre in Guyana with twelve play schools already established. Foster expressed gratitude towards the CEO Of Food for the Poor Mr. Ken Vincent for their faith and confidence in St Francis.
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Kaieteur News
Father, son among four charged in South R/veldt ganja bust Remanded to prison: Keith and Oliver Bazilio
Remanded to Prison: Shemroy Robertson
Remanded to Prison: Clinton Chase
Four men were yesterday remanded to prison for allegedly having over eight pounds of marijuana which was found at Lot 261 Blue Sackie Drive, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown after ranks from the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit conducted a raid at the said address. The men Keith Bazilio, 65, a boxing producer and a father of 22 who resides at Lot 261 Blue Sackie Drive, South Ruimveldt; Oliver Bazilio, 32, of Lot 261 Blue Sackie Drive, South Ruimveldt, a clothes vendor; Shemroy Robertson, 32, of Lot 101 Mandela Avenue, Georgetown a Real Estate Agent and Clinton Chase, 66, of East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme were all arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford stated that on the day in question the men had in their possession 4Kg, 734 grams of Marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. They all pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to them by the Magistrate. Meanwhile Oliver Bazilio was charged separately for having in his possession 10 grams of marijuana a charge to which he pleaded not guilty.
Also charged separately was Shemroy Robertson for having 440 grams of marijuana in his possession for the purpose of trafficking, a charge to which he also pleaded not guilty to. Both Bazilio’s were represented by Attorney-AtLaw George Thomson who asked that his client be released on reasonable bail citing to the fact that they were multiple persons residing at the home where the marijuana was found. Thomson further stated that at the time of the raid Clinton Chase was only a visitor at the home. Prosecutor Sandiford objected to bail being granted to all the defendants citing that no special reasons were provided for the court to consider bail. Sandiford also told the court that Shemroy Robertson is currently out on $600,000 bail pending High Court trial for the possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.The prosecutor further stated that the case file in the matter is still incomplete. Bail was refused by Chief Magistrate and the defendants were all remanded to prison. They will make their next court appearance on March 27 for reports and statements.
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Sugar workers picket Ministry of the Presidency, Parliament Workers from the Wales and Enmore/La Bonne Intention Estates, along with officials of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), staged picketing exercises outside of the Ministry of the Presidency and outside of the Parliament buildings yesterday. Taking part in the protests also, were children. Many were seen holding placards and chanting alongside their parents. This created quite a scene as passers-by stopped to catch a glimpse. The Wales workers – cane cutters and cane transport employees – are calling on the Government to have the state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) discharge its legal obligation by providing them with their severance payments. According to the GAWU, the workers’ jobs at Wales, West Bank of Demerara, have become redundant following the “cessation” of cane growing and sugar processing at the end of 2016. GAWU reiterated that the Corporation’s “forceful demand” for the workers to take up work at Uitvlugt Estate, some 22 miles away from Wales, is not in keeping with the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA). “That Act at Section 21(4)(b) advises that an employer is required to provide workers with their severance payments if the employer is unable to provide a similar job ”at the same place of employment or within a 10-milke radius therefrom under no less favourable conditions than those such employee enjoyed immediately prior to the termination”. GAWU Stated. The Union further stated that given GuySuCo’s
“admission” that the workers’ jobs are redundant and Uitvlugt is beyond the lawful radius, then it follows that the workers severance pay demand is in order. “On the other hand, the Enmore/LBI workers are concerned very much about their and their family’s future in view of a proposal, possibly a decision, to close their Estate and another at year-end. The workers and the Union are staunchly opposed to the closure and sell-out of sugar estates and are committed to resist decisions in this direction. Such a move, we contend, will engender harsh and grave repercussions for the thousands of Guyanese and the scores of communities connected to the sugar estates in question. Moreover, the contemplation of enlarging the already sizeable unemployed pool in our country defies logic especially at this time when it is agreed that our economic fortunes are on the decline,” the Union stated. GAWU reiterated that there is no comprehensive plan, at this time, to address the fallout from sugar estates closure and divestment. “The intentions by GuySuCo to become involved, once again, in nonsugar ventures, if Wales is used as a barometer, give us very little comfort as there is no sign, as far as we are aware, of implementation of the touted endeavours. “Non-sugar ventures, is a non-starter, given GuySuCo’s past experiences and clearly very little thought going into this idea. To condemn thousands of our compatriots in ‘ventures’ in circumstances where there are so many unanswered questions is not only callous, but immoral as well.” The Union said that it
Some of the children that were part of the protests yesterday.
Protestors outside of the Ministry of the Presidency yesterday morning.
firmly believes that the sugar industry has all the possibilities to be placed on a viable and sustainable path. GAWU, has already
shared with the Government of Guyana and the public its proposals. “It seems that our proposals were not
considered, possibly not even read, by the powersthat-be who remain headstrong on a decision that will harm Guyana and Guyanese for generations to
come. At this time, we urge, as we have done before, that we secure our sugar industry for ourselves and our posterity,” GAWU said.
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Region Three records reduced suicide rate Region Three suicide rate has been significantly reduced through the collaborative efforts of several organisations, according to the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Denis Jaikaran. The Region Three REO said that there is more need for collaboration on the issue; however all the stakeholders involved are working towards reducing teen suicide, since the country is considered to have the highest suicide rate in the Americas. Region Three is one of three regions with the largest prevalence of suicide. It was reported that over the past recent years, Region Three accounted for 25.6 per cent of the attempted suicide cases in the country. Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings, offered the statistics during a presentation to the National Assembly on suicide prevention and awareness in 2016. Jaikaran noted that based on the region’s statistics on the suicide rates; they are able to scope out different persons. “We are trying in this region at different levels with the churches, schools, youth groups, police and any other organisation that will accommodate the youths,” Jaikaran explained. There are plans to spread suicide prevention awareness by placing
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Mr. Denis Jaikaran, Region Three REO posters at strategic points within the region to promote awareness against committing suicide. “We want to coordinate with the Department of Education and youth groups, so we can hold a number of seminars and workshops, and there will also be a number of role plays in this case, not saying to them or giving to them, but role plays to bring out how it is that we, (Region Three Administration) can prevent suicide,” Jaikaran said. It was reported that most persons who committed suicide ingested Gramoxone, a non-selective herbicide that is used by millions of growers. It is used in approximately 100 countries on more than 100 crops. The Region Three REO added that the Administration hopes to create a partnership with the parents through the
Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) to assist in addressing their children’s behaviour, and how to address suicide. Singh highlighted that, “we are also planning to do a number of marches on the road against suicide and in support of life and good living which might help.” The Region Three administration will also be coordinating with the Ministries of Public Health, Education, and other youth organisations to continue in their cause to reduce the suicide rates in the region. Statistics from the Ministry of Public Health have shown that during 20032007, there were 946 reported suicide deaths in Guyana amongst young persons between ages of 15 and 24. During that period, Region Six consisted of the highest numbers of suicides followed by Region Two. Region Three had the third highest rate, followed closely by Region Five, and Region Four. Last year, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and other Government officials attended ”Voices against Violence Candlelight Vigil” organised by the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC) in collaboration with the Caribbean Voice (TCV) to send a strong message against domestic violence, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse. The Prime Minister said, “There is no one cause of suicide; suicide is sometimes done for the most pathetic reasons. I have had suicide in my family. One committed suicide for the sake of love. There is no such thing as love suicide. It is death and not love and even if you play around or fool around, you can do that with any other thing, not your life.” (GINA)
Former Deputy REO enters plea deal with Texas prosecutor Former Deputy Region Three Executive Officer (REO) Ameena Hinds, has struck a plea deal with the US prosecutors, admitting earlier this month of conspiring to distribute cocaine. The official was busted last October in Texas, US, after travelling from Trinidad. According a plea agreement dated March 2 and filed in a Texas court, Hinds is hoping to stave off up to 20 years th a t s h e would have faced had she decided to go through with a trial. She could have also faced a statutory maximum penalty of up to US$1M and supervised release of up to three years. Hinds will likely face deportation when she has completed her sentence and has agreed to cooperate with US authorities and even a grand jury on any other probe. She agrees, in the 12page plea agreement that she may be denied citizenship and even admission to the US in the future. Her sentencing is set for May 26 before Judge Sim Lake. Hinds, on October 29, last, was busted at a Texas, US airport with almost three pounds of cocaine hidden in her suitcase. According to court documents, after her arrest, the former Region Three official told security officials that she took a chance with the drugs after a number of persons she owed, came knocking to collect. She was
Plea deal struck: Ameena Hinds supposed to receive US$2,500 for the job. According to US court documents, on October 29, at Harris Country, in the Southern District of Texas, Hinds knowingly and intentionally imported into the US over 500 grams of coke. The court documents said that the Deputy REO touched down at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport around 13:45hrs on a United Airlines flight from Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. She was singled out for a secondary inspection. Around 15:00hrs, her luggage was subject to an xray inspection and a strange rectangular shape was seen at the bottom between the suitcase wheels. That part of the suitcase appeared shaded on the x-ray machines when it was
supposed to be clear. Officials later inserted a metal probe and discovered a white powdery substance. They field tested it positive for cocaine. Hinds was immediately arrested and after the cocaine was weighed, it was found to be 1.49 kilograms (three pounds). The court documents said that Hinds was willing to answer questions without an attorney present. She claimed that she owed US$5000 in personal debt and persons were pressuring her to pay. In July, she met up with an unknown man whom she described as “Mystery Man”. She was offered US$2,500 ($500,000) to take a suitcase with drugs to the US. However, the former Deputy REO was nervous and it was not until in October when she was contacted again by the “Mystery Man” that she relented. She was given a ticket by a female and later flew to Trinidad. There, she met “Mystery Man” who gave her another suitcase. Her personal items were placed in this suitcase. She was told to travel to New York and to stay at a hotel where she would be contacted and paid, after the suitcase and drugs would have been handed over. In court back in November, the official pleaded not guilty to her indictment and was held without bail in November.
2012 Diamond Housing Scheme murder...
Accused had used knife to stab victim - CS Murder accused, Christopher Da Silva had told the police in a statement that he took a knife away from another man and stabbed Riad Khan. Khan died moments later at Diamond Housing Scheme East Bank Demerara. The trial into his murder is ongoing at the High Court in Georgetown. Da Silva is facing Justice Navindra Singh and a mixed jury for the murder. The accused is represented by Attorneys at -law Maxwell Mc Kay and Mark Waldron. State Prosecutors, Siand Dhurjon and Tuanna Hardy are set to call 12 witnesses during the course of the trial. Yesterday Da Silva’s Caution Statement, (CS) was admitted into evidence before Justice Singh and the mixed jury. Da Silva had been indicted for murdering Khan. The incident occurred on June 28, 2012 at 17th Avenue
Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara. Khan was fatally stabbed in the chest with a broken bottle. The accused and Khan had been involved in a misunderstanding. According to the statement Da Silva gave to the police, he was with his girl when he was confronted by Khan and two of his friends. “I was talking to her when Riad came up and ask if I want done it now. He slap me. Two guys were with he; one of them went at the back of me, he had a knife. I tek it away and push he down and go back and bore Riad who had the gun and run away. I throw away the knife in the yard.” On Monday, Police Detective Desmond Johnny told the court that he was the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Eve Leary in June 2 0 1 2 w h e n h e received certain information which led to him visiting a crime scene at Diamond
Housing Scheme. He said that while there he observed what appeared to be spots of blood on the roadway. The witness said that he took photographs of the suspected blood spots. Not too far away, Johnny said that he saw a “right side pink slipper and a white cap” in some grass; there were also spots of what appeared to blood around the grass. The following day, Detective Johnny told the court he returned to the crime scene. On this occasion, the policeman said that further checks were made to the yard where the crime allegedly occurred. He said that while there he found a bunch of keys on a black string and he observed what appeared to be spatters of blood in the yard. The policeman recalled that photographs were also taken of the suspected blood spots found in the yard.
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Civil Aviation Bill sent to Special Select Committee During the sitting of the 62nd sitting of the National Assembly yesterday, the Civil Aviation Bill 2017 was sent to a special select committee for further scrutiny after this was recommended by the Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson. Patterson on behalf of the government tabled the Bill in the National Assembly on January 30, last. The Minister requested that the Bill spends no more than four weeks before making another appearance in the National Assembly. Patterson said that he envisages no amendments and explained that the special select committee’s intervention is to allow the Bill to attract further consultation. The Bill makes provision for offences relating to the safety and security of passengers, aircraft and airports, for the regulation,
Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson
Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira
control and early development of civil aviation in Guyana and related matters. It also addresses the issue of accident investigations that the provisions for the enablement of the Chicago Convention and the Agreement establishing the
Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System. It also seeks to repeal and replace the Civil Aviation Act 2000 and bring Guyana’s aviation law into conformity with primary legislation regulating civil aviation currently found in other parts
Man sent to jail for threatening to burn mother’s house Campton Mingo, a West Berbice man was on Thursday sentenced to prison for threatening to set his mother’s house on fire. The accused was found guilty as charged when he appeared in the Weldaad Magistrate Court, West Coast Berbice, and was sentenced to four months in prison for making use of threatening language against his mother, as well as threatening to set fire to her dwelling house.
Mingo, 42, of Number Four Village, West Coast Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Rondel Weever at the Weldaad Magistrate Court to answer to the charge. According to the case presented by the prosecution, Mingo and his mother both reside at Number Four Village, West Coast Berbice, but in separate dwellings. Mingo, however, would from time to time visit his mother and demand
money to satisfy a habit, and would abuse her when she does not yield to his demands. On the day in question, March 7, last, the accused visited his mother and demanded money. Mingo became angry after his mother refused to accede to his request. Not only was he abusive. He also threatened to set fire to her dwelling. The matter was reported to the police and Mingo was arrested and charged.
Loan Company head allegedly defrauds customer of six vehicles Clayton Alleyne, 56, of Lot 179 South Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, was yesterday arraigned before Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he pleaded not guilty to a charge of fraud. The charge read that between December 2 and December 13, last, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he obtained from Jeetendra Ram, of Fantasy Auto Spares six motor cars valued at $26.3 million using a forged Republic Bank manger’s cheque drawn for the said sum in favour of Fantasy Auto Spares. The Chairman of Micro Business Developers and Consultant Corporation pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to him. Police Prosecutor, Deniro Jones, told the court that Alleyne entered into an agreement of sales to purchase the six vehicles from Jeetendra Ram. The Prosecutor further
Released on $400,000 bail: Clayton Alleyne stated that the defendant paid the Virtual Complainant with a manager’s cheque which was discovered to be forged. Alleyne was represented by Attorney-at-Law Paul Fung-a-Fat who asked that his client be released on reasonable bail. During the attorney bail application he told the court that his client is the father of seven and a successful businessman. Fung-a-Fat told the court
that his client is not a flight risk and if granted bail he will lodge his passport and land transport with the Police until the completion of the trial but then the court heard that the defendant is not an owner of a passport neither a transport. Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones had no objection to bail being granted to Alleyne but asked that it be in a substantial amount. Jones further told the court that three of the six vehicles were recovered and returned to Ram. Chief Magistrate then granted bail to the defendant in the sum of $400,000 and ordered him to report to the fraud squad every Friday until the completion of the trial. Last Friday, the Guyana Police Fraud had issued a wanted bulletin for Alleyne for questioning in relation to fraud committed on Jeetendra Ram Alleyne will make his next court appearance on March 27, for statements.
GCAA’s DirectorGeneral, Colonel (Retd.) Egbert Field of the world. Opposition Member of Parliament, Clement Rohee, during his contribution , said that at the level of the special select committee, the issue of cyber-attack on aircrafts will be examined and provided for. Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, spoke about the need for protocols to be much clearer with regards to investigations into aviationrelated incidents and the issue of liability. She brought into question also, the protocols in place to handle a scenario of someone’s home being destroyed by an aircraft or a person being injured by an aircraft. These issues will have to be brought under the
committee’s microscope, she said. The Parliamentarian also spoke about challenges with regards to policy directions and the “ambiguity” in relation to the role of the board, the Minister, and the Director-General. She opined that the Bill seems to expand beyond its remit. Patterson responded to a query made by Teixeira over a copy of the Bill which was sent to the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO). “This draft was shared with ICAO in November...They reviewed it and what they said is that the draft Bill, as it printed, was enacted, Guyana would have a more substantial increase in its effective implementation. In other words, they’ve seen it, reviewed it and approved it in its current form. It is (was) passed, we would have received further credits on our path to (achieving) category One.” He added further, that the accident and investigation is a separate Bill and will be tabled in the National Assembly shortly. The Bill was tabled at a time when the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is working to strengthen its capacity. The GCAA’s operations were audited, recently, by the International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO) to ensure compliance with the international body’s standards and recommended practices. At a press briefing last December, GCAA’s DirectorGeneral, Colonel (Retd.) Egbert Field, noted that the aviation body is working overtime to develop its status. He added that results of the audit saw Guyana achieving a score of 64.44, a marked improvement from the 44.44 it had scored previously. He said the recent score is above average for the Caribbean. According to Col. Field, the oversight systems within the GCAA are being examined as key towards advancement of the body’s status. “We are moving forward by trying to establish a robust oversight system, a robust authority,” he said. He explained that if the body does not strengthen its position, it would not be able to face the challenges that could arise in another two to three years. According to Col. Field, the GCAA is looking towards the prospect of employing experts to assist in further strengthening its capacity, adding that the government has placed its full support behind development of the sector.
UG Educator proposes separate schools for boys and girls “We need to reconsider whether we need at least one or two boy schools and girl schools in this country.” This was the sentiment shared by Dr. Barbara Reynolds, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Planning of International Engagement, of the University of Guyana. “Not remand schools,” she explained. She told a gathering of women’s rights activists, parliamentarians and civil society members that perhaps not all children might be able to fully explore their academic capabilities and talents by studying in a co-education institution. “I am a fan of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, but I don’t think that every school in the country can be co-ed and we get away with it,” Dr. Reynolds said. She explained that the growth between men and women, girls and boys are different, and that there should be separate schools that cater to their uniqueness. “…Schools that enhances the trajectory…the natural, biological, emotional, intellection, and developmental trajectories, that are different between
boys and girls.” Dr. Reynolds went further to say, “We know that boys mature later than girls and when they get locked in a cycle of failing while their female classmates succeed, they are going to exit school, because they don’t want to fail. They are not ready yet to learn.” Dr. Reynolds told the attendees of a Women’s Roundtable Discussion to commemorate International Women’s Day, that she is fully cognizant of the fact that her view to have separate gender schools does not “come over very, very well.” She is of the strong belief however, that the all boys schools in particular, will help in keeping more young men in school, and therefore, reduce the dropout figures among males. “I know from talking to men, that they clock out if they are seeming to fail…not because they don’t have a good brain, but because they are consumed with football, or swimming, or whatever.” The University of Guyana official went further to explain, “I know that when we were kids, we used to be amazed at the QC (Queen’s College)
Deputy Vice Chancellor of UG, Dr. Barbara Reynolds boys. They would fool around and fool around and then they ended up with more ‘O’ Level passes than we did. Why? Because their lifecycle has a different trajectory,” Dr. Reynolds pointed out. Queen’s College, which was established in 1844, as the Queen’s College Grammar School for boys. It was founded by William Piercy Austin, D.D. - Bishop of the Anglican diocese of then British Guiana. Another allboys school was the St. Stanislaus College. The female equivalent to these schools at that time, were The Bishops’ High School and the St. Joseph High School.
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U.S. Marines deploy as U.N. urged to prepare North Syrian forces near Raqqa Korea case for alleged crimes against humanity
Syrian Democratic Forces fighters hold up their weapons in the north of Raqqa city, Syria. REUTERS/Rodi Said (Reuters) U.S.-backed Syrian forces said yesterday they were closing in on Islamic State-held Raqqa and expected to reach the city outskirts in a few weeks, as a U.S. Marines artillery unit deployed to help the campaign. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a militia alliance including the Kurdish YPG, is the main U.S. partner in the war against Islamic State in Syria. Since November it has been working with the U.S.led coalition to encircle Raqqa. SDF spokesman Talal Silo said: “We expect that within a few weeks there will be a siege of the city.” Coalition spokesman U.S. Air Force Colonel John Dorrian said the additional U.S. forces would be working with local partners in Syria the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian Arab Coalition - and would not have a front line role. Some 500 U.S. personnel are already in Syria to help the fight against IS. A 400-strong additional deployment which arrived in recent days comprised both Marines and Army Rangers, Dorrian said, adding they were there temporarily. Coalition airstrikes killed 23 civilians, including eight children, in the countryside north of Raqqa yesterday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor said. The coalition said it was investigating the incident. Islamic State is also being fought in Syria by the Russian-backed Syrian military, and by Syrian rebel groups
fighting under the Free Syrian Army banner with Turkish backing in northern Syria and Jordanian backing in southern Syria. On the other major flank of the assault on IS, Iraqi forces aim to dislodge the militant group from west Mosul within a month. This week, the SDF cut the road between Raqqa and the jihadists’ stronghold of Deir al-Zor province - the last main road out of the city which is bordered to the south by the Euphrates River. Dorrian said the effort to isolate Raqqa was “going very very well” and could be completed in a few weeks. “Then the decision to move in can be made,” he told Reuters by telephone. The artillery will help “expedite the defeat of ISIS in Raqqa”, he said, using another acronym for Islamic State. The Marines were armed with 155-millimetre artillery guns. Asked if they had been used yet, Dorrian said he did not believe so. “We have had what I would describe as a pretty relentless air campaign to destroy enemy capabilities and to kill enemy fighters in that area already. That is something that we are going to continue and intensify with this new capability.” A Kurdish military source told Reuters that further U.S. reinforcements were expected to arrive in the coming days. SDF RULED OUT TURKEY ROLE The U.S. military alliance
with the SDF and YPG has strained relations with U.S. ally Turkey, which views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) which has waged a three-decade insurgency in Turkey. Fearing deepening Kurdish influence in northern Syria, Turkey has been pressing Washington for a role in the final assault on Raqqa. SDF spokesman Silo said the SDF had ruled out that idea during a meeting with U.S. officials last month. “The Turkish side is an occupation force and it cannot be allowed to occupy more Syrian land,” he told Reuters. The meeting in northern Syria was attended by U.S. Senator John McCain and U.S. military officials, he said. Dorrian said the Army Rangers were on a different mission to the Marines in a previously announced deployment near the city of Manbij to “create some reassurance” for Turkey and U.S. partners in Syria - a reference to the SDF. Turkey says the Kurdish militia maintains a presence in Manbij. The YPG denies this. Dorrian said a possible role for Turkey “remains a point of discussion at military leadership and diplomatic levels”. He added that a new shipment of armored personnel carriers had been supplied to the Syrian Arab Coalition, part of the SDF which has been vetted by the U.S.-led coalition, since an earlier delivery was announced in late January.
(Reuters) A veteran investigator urged the United Nations yesterday to appoint an international legal expert to prepare judicial proceedings against North Korea’s leadership for documented crimes against humanity. His call came amid an international furor over the murder of Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and critic of his rule, in Malaysia last month. A U.N. commission of inquiry, in a 2014 report issued after it conducted interviews and public hearings with defectors, cataloged massive violations in North Korea - including large prison camps, starvation and executions - that it said should be brought to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Marzuki Darusman, a former Indonesian attorneygeneral who served on the U.N. commission of inquiry on North Korea, said the U.N. Human Rights Council must
pursue North Korean accountability during its current session. “There is a need for the Human Rights Council to appoint an independent special expert to oversee the judicial prosecutorial process which will lead up to an eventual mechanism of accountability,” Marzuki told a panel held on the sidelines of the Geneva forum. The landmark 2014 report, rejected by Pyongyang, said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un might be personally responsible for crimes against humanity. Evidence recorded over the past decade or more by U.N. investigators should be given to a new U.N. mechanism for prosecution, he said, adding: “Let us prevail in the end-game.” Experts hope an ad hoc tribunal on North Korea may be set up someday, as China would be expected to veto any move in the U.N. Security Council to refer its ally to the ICC.
The “assassination” of Kim Jong Nam ought to be a “wake-up call”, Lee JungHoon, South Korean ambassador for North Korean human rights, told the event. “That is why I think this assassination is such a gamechanger because a general audience is seeing for the first time live what kind of regime we are really dealing with,” Lee said. “If North Korea is able to do this to the older brother of Kim, to the uncle of Kim (Jang Song Thaek executed in 2013), and all the elite purging left and right, can you imagine what life might be like if you are a prisoner in a North Korean p r i s o n c a m p , w ith over 100,000 of them?” he said. Australian Justice Michael Kirby, who chaired the 2014 inquiry, said witness statements would be used once a tribunal and prosecutor were appointed. “Accountability is the name of the game in human rights, otherwise it’s all rhetoric.”
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VEHICLE FOR SALE 1-Leyland DAF GRR Series; excellent condition. Call: 6804101
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, C a n a da & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Repairs to refrigerators washing machine, gas stove, all units. Call Lindon: 641-1086/ 694-2202 Repairs to washers, dryers, stoves, deep fryers, control system etc. Call: 619-0793/ 699-8802 Eagle’s: Re-gas -$8,000, Washing machine repairs, Gas Stove, Plasma flat Screen & more. Call: 6972969/646-0966 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
LAND FOR SALE Land @ Soesdyke, 6 lots measuring 135’X175’. Call: 627-3334/696-8935, email:fcranmore@guyana voice.com Land for sale @ Dowden Street, Kitty 125’X57’. Call: 619-4152/ 227-1905 La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.3M, Uitvlugt -$2.3M, $2M – Call: 642-1252 1 Lot of land @ Yarrowkabra $950,000. Call: 672-5876 Transported corner lot with approved building plan @ 90 Garnett & Republic Streets, Newtown Kitty. Call: 6016000/227-3305
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TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
CAR RENTAL CAR RENTAL
Friday March 10, 2017
Kaieteur News
SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 6471773/660-5257
PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 ACCOMMODATION Secret Villa apartments fully furnished, hot & cold water, Jacuzzi, air condition from $20USD daily. Call: 225-6337/ 266-5244/668-0306 Harmony Inn: Furnished self contained apartments & rooms from $20USD daily. Call: 218-1400/ 694-7817
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TO LET 3 Bedrooms apartment for rent, bottom flat. Call:2258084/689-6001 2 Bedrooms apartment in Eccles New Scheme, rooms in Alberttown. Call: 225-3234 Fully furnished vacation home with all amenities Call during working hours 2271218 Continued on page 31
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Kaieteur News
President warns soldiers to guard the environment …as GDF Officers’ conference kicks off From page 30
VACANCY
President David Granger (seated centre) is flanked by Minister of Public Security, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan and Attorney General, Mr. Basil Williams. Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon is next to Minister Williams and Brigadier Patrick West is next to Minister Ramjattan. Standing behind are officers of the Guyana Defence Force
President David Granger receiving the Presidential salute upon his arrival at Base Camp Ayanganna Commander In Chief of the armed forces, President David Granger, told those attending the opening session of the Guyana Defence Force Annual Officers’ conference that ranks also have to keep a watchful eye on threats to the environment. “Guyana is becoming a green state, and threats could arise from illegal activities, which result in the pollution of our water ways or damage to our protected areas and national park,” the retired Brigadier said, making reference to the recent mining activities
detected at the Kaieteur National Park. “The force therefore, shares responsibility for exercising guardianship over our flora and fauna and of our marine and natural resources.” Meanwhile, President Granger echoed what he said was the intention of Chief of Staff, Brigadier Patrick West, to reestablish the army’s reserve force. “The Defence Act prescribes that the GDF (Guyana Defence Force), shall consist of a regular force and a reserve force, and my Minister of Legal
Affairs, reminded me that the word- ‘shall’ implies an absence of options or choice. It is mandatory. It was therefore the intention of the framers of the act, that the reserve force should ever be dissolved…should ever be diminished.” The actual statement given by Brigadier West was not heard by the independent media. As a matter of fact, the media was only allowed into the conference area during the end of President Granger’s speech. Only the Government Information
Agency (GINA) was present for the entire opening of the forum. Nonetheless, the Head of State said, “Given our limited financial and material resources and by force of circumstance, the Defence Doctrine must be based on maintaining a small regular force and a relatively large reserve force which can be deployed to all parts of the country to respond to emergencies.” Granger noted too that there would be army reserves in each of the 10 administrative regions, which would allow for ranks to respond promptly to natural or
any man-made disasters, such as incursions. Granger hopes that the reserve force is kept at its “sufficient strength” in the capital town of every administrative region. This includes technical capability of the Coast Guard as well as Air, Artillery and Engineer Corps being up to date, in addition to ensuring that the efficiency of the troops stationed on the ground. Granger expressed confidence that over the next three years, friendly governments would assist the army in its effort to strengthen its technical arms.
Anti-corruption watchdog... From page 12 government must in turn disclose what receipts from the companies are made.” ”These figures are then compared to discover any discrepancies, and the information made public as a way to foster public scrutiny and greater accountability over natural resource profits earned by governments…” The Director said, too, that Guyana has already satisfied a number of requirements. However, there are still
a few steps which need to be completed. These include adapting the terms of reference of the MSG, determining the materiality and scope, to review and finalize a draft work plan, to prepare a communication strategy and plan for it, to review and ensure the finalization of the scoping study which was commissioned and prepared by a consulting firm etc. The National Director assured that the Secretariat will provide support to the MSG.
Vulnerable group to be targeted for World Glaucoma... From page 11 But, according to Dr. Sugrim, there are many ways to treat ‘open angle’ glaucoma. He disclosed that over the past years, patients at the hospital have been exposed to the two common methods of treating glaucoma which are medications (eyedrops), laser procedures and glaucoma surgery. Moreover, as World Glaucoma Day 2017 nears, the GPHC is preparing to offer its screening services to patients who could be vulnerable to glaucoma. World Glaucoma Week will be observed from March 12, 2017. For the past six years the hospital has been offering an enhanced glaucoma service at the Eye Clinic, according to Dr. Sugrim. In honour of this week, the hospital will be involved in two activities: a week of Free Glaucoma Screening Sessions and Glaucoma CME Symposium for
Health Professionals. Screening sessions, according to Dr. Sugrim, will be held during the coming week from Tuesday March 14 to Friday March 17, 2017 between the hours of 09:00hrs to 13:00hrs at the GPHC, Eye Clinic. The staff ophthalmologists, he said, will be screening approximately 50 patients per day including: vision testing, eye pressure testing and examination of the eye nerve. The process usually entails patients arriving at the clinic after which they are required to register with the clerks and then given a slip for the screening process. Registration, Dr. Sugrim said, will be limited to the daily quotas and eligible individuals for screening will include: all individuals who are 40 years or older; individuals below 40 years who have risk factors including: blood relatives diagnosed with glaucoma, per-
sons of African descent and persons suspected to have glaucoma. However, persons already diagnosed with glaucoma are not eligible for screening. During the course of the week the hospital will also facilitate a Glaucoma CME Symposium for Health Professionals which will be done in collaboration with Optique Vison Care. Eye care professionals attached to the hospital will also be hosted to a lunch on Sunday March 19, 2017. This World Glaucoma Week campaign was chosen because of the fact that many people suffer with glaucoma and they still do not know it, Dr. Sugrim noted. Called “invisible” glaucoma, the disease acts silently by causing damage to the optic nerve (the eye nerve which allows us to see) without the patient having any notable symptoms. Moreover, Dr. Sugrim noted that “bit by bit over the years this damage continues, unknown to
the patient, until almost the entire nerve is destroyed.” “This nerve damage (called glaucomatous optic neuropathy) is permanent and cannot be reversed. Hence, at that time when the patient begins to start experiencing visual symptoms, they would already have had significant nerve damage. Thus, the need for early screening of the disease,” Dr. Surgim related. He added that once glaucoma is diagnosed early, treatment can be started early, and hence prevent persons from becoming unnecessarily blind. Glaucoma can be controlled with treatment so that patients can enjoy comfortable vision throughout their life. At the Georgetown Public Hospital, the Department of Ophthalmology offers services for diagnosing and treating Glaucoma. The hospital offers daily eye clinics on weekdays where patients can be given eye exami-
Dr. Shailendra Sugrim nations for the detection of Glaucoma. Patients, according to the Eye Specialist, need to be referred to the hospital before they can obtain an appointment for any service. These referrals can be obtained from general physicians.
Sales Representative needed for hardware related item, good working vehicle needed, attractive compensation. Call: 602-4337 Cook/Baker and Kitchen Assistant for interior location. Applicants must be experienced, for details call: 618-2020 Receptionist, Male Security guard age 30-45, 233 South Road Lacytown. Call: 225-0198 1 Female cleaner for office in Eccles and home. Call: 233-2745 Woodmizer and moulder, operator, porters @ Eccles, E.B.D. Call Richard: 6097675/ 674-1705/233-2614 Accounts Clerk for Eccles, Industrial Site area knowledge of NIS, PAYE, VAT, Quickbooks. Call: 6144358
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Friday March 10, 2017
Kaieteur News
House approves Hammie’s “pension” bill Former Prime Minister Hamilton Green will now be paid a pension commensurate with the office he once held between 1985 and 1992. The Bill was presented by Minister of Finance Winston Jordan yesterday in the National Assembly. Green will now be provided pension, benefits and other facilities to enable him to live in keeping with the high office he occupied. During his presentation Jordan said that Green became the fourth Prime Minister of Guyana on August 6, 1985 and served until October 9, 1992. He recounted that when the Bill was first introduced it attracted unnecessary controversy, particularly from the Guyana Human Rights Association and Transparency International Guyana Inc. According to Jordan, it took a very incisive commentary by Kaieteur News Editorin-Chief, Adam Harris, in Kaieteur News November 27, 2016 edition to put the issue in some proper perspective. Further, Jordan backed up his justification by quoting an article written by former Member of Parliament, Henry Jeffrey, in Stabroek News who
said, “As a matter of principle I do not believe that someone’s pension should be encumbered by all manner of emotionally subjective characterisation.” Jordan urged his fellow members not to besmirch the character of Green and to direct their focus on principle and not personality. The Finance Minister directed the Assembly to the Pensions, President, Parliamentary and Special Officers Act 1969 as amended in 2011. “Therein it states, 1. Every person who having held the office of President on or after the 16th of December 1966 or who having held office of Prime Minister on or after 22nd December 1965 ceases at any time after such a date to be President or Prime Minister shall be paid a pension under this Act with effect from the date he ceases to be President or Prime Minister as the case may be and subject to subsection two, such a pension shall be continued to be paid during the lifetime of that person.” Further, Jordan said that Section four of the Act states that the pension for a former President or Prime Minister
Former Prime Minister Hamilton Green shall be 7/8 of the highest annual rate of salary paid to such persons at any time as President or Prime Minister as the case may be or $204,000 per annum whichever is greater. The Minister explained that at the time Green demitted office in 1992 he was given a calculated pension of $21,114 based on a salary of $32,174. He said that this figure had increased annually in line with announced increase in pension for other categories
of retired persons. “As of January 2017 Mr Green was in receipt of a pension of $165,868. Thus even though Mr Green’s pension had been increased by nearly 700 per cent in 25 years it was still equated to the monthly salary of, for example an Administrative Officer or Community Development Officer in the public service.” He said that his research showed that Green’s pension was erroneously calculated for the past 25 years. Jordan
added that the then People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/ C) government removed the pension and benefits of the president were removed from the Pensions, President, Parliamentary and Special Officers Act and catered for in a newly created Act styled Pensions, President, Parliamentary and Special Officers Act 2004. “It is that act which provides for pension to ex-presidents to be calculated as 7/8 not of their last salary but of the current President’s salary. Having accomplished this objective, the next move in this cunningly contrived manoeuvre was to massively increase the salary of the President. Thus, between 2006 when he was re-elected and 2007, now Honourable member Bharrat Jagdeo’s salary rose astronomically from $223,783 in 2006 to $908,784 in 2007 an increase of 306 per cent.” He said by 2011 Jagdeo’s salary grew by a further 25 per cent to $1,630,935. Today, he said that ex-Presidents Jagdeo, Samuel Hinds and Donald Ramotar each receive a monthly pension of $1,513,406 which is nine times the pension of former Prime Minister Hamilton Green. Also
he said that Jagdeo, Hinds and Ramotar receive benefits which Green is not afforded. Meanwhile, Opposition Member of Parliament, Anil Nandlall said that if there is any discrepancy with the pension Green currently receives, then a package can be created to pay Green all of the money he should have received and is entitled to in the future, rather than trying to achieve the objective through a specific Bill. “To bring this and call it a Pension Bill, is simply wrong. If you want to give Hamilton Green a package and you want to bring it here for us to baptise it, well say so, don’t call it a Pension Bill because it is not a pension Bill. Because Mr Green’s last salary has nothing to do with the pension he is getting here. The pension that he is getting here is connected to the current Prime Minister.” Following presentations by a number of speakers, capitalising on its majority presence in the Assembly, the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change government v oted for the Bill to be passed.
Venezuela lawyer says WikiLeaks offers CIA hacking Exxon damages tools to tech companies: Assange $1.4B award overturned
(Reuters) Wikileaks will provide technology companies with exclusive access to CIA hacking tools that it possesses so they can patch software flaws, founder Julian Assange said yesterday, presenting Silicon Valley with a potential dilemma on how to deal with the anti-secrecy group. If the offer is legitimate, it would place technology companies in the unusual position of relying on Assange, a man believed by some U.S. officials and lawmakers to be an untrustworthy pawn of Russian President Vladimir Putin, to share cyber vulnerabilities stockpiled by a secretive U.S. spy agency. It was not clear how WikiLeaks intended to cooperate with the companies. The group published documents on Tuesday describing secret Central Intelligence Agency hacking tools and snippets of computer code. It did not publish the full programs that
would be needed to actually conduct cyber exploits against phones, computers and Internet-connected televisions. “Considering what we think is the best way to proceed and hearing these calls from some of the manufacturers, we have decided to work with them to give them some exclusive access to the additional technical details that we have so that the fixes can be developed and pushed out, so people can be secure,” Assange said during an online press conference from the Ecuadorean embassy in London. Assange took refuge at the embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over allegations of rape, which he denies. Microsoft Corp and Cisco Systems Inc, whose wares are subject to attacks described in the documents, said in response to Assange that they wel-
comed submissions of any vulnerabilities through normal reporting channels. “ We’ve seen Julian Assange’s statement and have not yet been contacted,” a Microsoft representative said. “Our preferred method for anyone with knowledge of security issues, including the CIA or Wikileaks, is to submit details to us at secure@microsoft.com so we can review information and take any necessary steps to protect customers.” Representatives of Alphabet Inc’s Google, Apple Inc, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Huawei, whose products were also featured in the CIA catalog, did not answer requests for comment. Responding to Assange, CIA spokesman Jonathan Liu, said in a statement: “As we’ve said previously, Julian Assange is not exactly a bastion of truth and
Protesters chant 'Death tc... From page 3 project. The contract also gives SCS the power to establish distinct and multiple geographic Parking Zones within the territory of the City which shall be subject to distinct
Metered Parking Fees and Parking Fines. Further, the company can begin charging for parking beyond 19:00hrs. This can be done in places classified as “nocturnal areas” which are typically frequented dur-
ing evening hours. The parking meter project has been filled with controversy due to how the representatives from the council dealt with the company in terms of ensuring due diligence was done and stakeholders consulted.
integrity.” “Despite the efforts of Assange and his ilk, CIA continues to aggressively collect foreign intelligence overseas to protect America from terrorists, hostile nation states and other adversaries.” WikiLeaks’ disclosures this week caused alarmed in the technology world and among consumers because of the potential privacy implications of the cyber espionage tactics that were described. One file described a program known as Weeping Angel that purportedly could take over a Samsung smart television, making it appear it was off when in fact it was recording conversations in the room. Other documents described ways to hack into Apple iPhones, devices running Google’s Android software and other gadgets in a way that could observe communications before they are protected by end-toend encryption offered by messaging apps like Signal or WhatsApp. Several companies have already said they are confident that their recent security updates have accounted for the purported flaws described in the CIA documents. Apple said in a statement on Tuesday that “many of the issues” leaked had already been patched in the latest version of its operating system.
CARACAS (Reuters) - A World Bank tribunal’s order for Venezuela to pay $1.4 billion in damages to Exxon Mobil Corp over nationalizations has been annulled, a lawyer for the Venezuelan government said yesterday. There was no immediate confirmation from the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) that is handling the case, one of many arising from nationalizations during late President Hugo Chavez’s 1999-2013 rule of the SouthAmerican OPEC member country. “We were confident all along that our position was correct and are very pleased that the annulment committee agreed,” Venezuela’s lawyer George Kahale told Reuters by email. An annulment of the Exxon award would be welcome news to President Nicolas Maduro’s cashstrapped government as it faces a heavy foreign debt repayment schedule amid a deep economic recession that has led to widespread shortages. A spokesman for the U.S.based oil company, Todd Spitler, did not confirm the decision, but said: “ExxonMobil will continue to evaluate its legal rights and determine next steps.”
Venezuela had challenged the 2014 award with various arguments, including that a previous decision from Parisbased International Chamber of Commerce to award Exxon $908 million should be deducted from the ICSID award. Chavez, the firebrand socialist leader whose rule was cut short by death from cancer, nationalized a range of oil ventures, including the Cerro Negro heavy crude project and a smaller project called La Ceiba, both operated by Exxon. Despite its appeal of the World Bank court’s initial ruling in the Exxon case, Venezuela’s government had hailed that as a success because the company had been seeking compensation of up to $10 billion. Chavez led a wave of takeovers that also encompassed the electricity, telecoms, metal and agricultural sectors. Many companies deemed the takeovers unlawful, and Venezuela faces more than 20 international arbitration cases. Supporters of Chavez’s nationalizations say he was right to take back control of Venezuela’s commodities riches to channel the profits into social programs at home rather than profits for multinational companies.
Friday March 10, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Friday March 10, 2017
Kaieteur News
WADA chief urges Russia to Williamson, Malinga and Morris quicken anti-doping reforms in CPL as marquee players Russia has initiated antidoping reforms but they are not happening fast enough, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) director general Olivier Niggli has said. WADA released late last year the second part of Richard McLaren’s investigation into doping in the country, which concluded there had been systematic doping and coverups in Russian sport over a five-year period. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), along with several other federations, has banned Russian athletes
from international competition until the country meets anti-doping requirements. ”It’s not happening at the speed I would have liked to see but it is happening,” Niggli told the BBC. The McLaren report also revealed more than 1,000 Russian athletes competing in summer, winter and paralympic sport were benefited from an institutional conspiracy to conceal positive doping tests. Russia’s sport leaders, as well as President Vladimir Putin, have acknowledged the country’s doping system was not working and needed
an overhaul but have denied allegations of a state-sponsored doping program. ”We are working with them to see if things can be put into place and a credible system be reinstated in Russia in the coming months,” Niggli added when asked about next year’s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. ”We will see where they are when we get closer to the Games. They still have a number of months to do the right thing. The ball is in their camp, they know what they have to do.” (Reuters)
GAPF Bench Press Competition... (From page 39) and a successful, 2017.” Mack expressed the federation’s gratitude to Fernandes and is calling on all fans, lovers and supporters of the sport to come out on Sunday March 19th to
participate or cheer on their favourite athlete. Bar-b-que would be on sale from 13:00 to 17:00hrs while the weigh-in for the novelty bench press competition will begin at 11:00hrs and last until 12:30hrs with
action pressing off at 13:00hrs. At stake would be trophies, cash and supplement hampers and competitors are being notified that the International Powerliftinmg Federation under whose rules the GAPF operates, would be relaxed pertaining to the execution of the lift. However, competitors would be informed of the technical rules that will govern this novelty event prior to the start. Meanwhile, longstanding corporate partner of the federation, Fitness Express is once again on board according to Mack and the federation is continually grateful to Managing Director of Fitness Express, Jamie Mc Donald for his and his company’s investment.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga and South Africa allrounder Chris Morris have been signed up as marquee players in the Caribbean Premier League, a day before the draft. The tournament is scheduled to run from August 1 to September 9. Williamson and Morris are set for their maiden CPL season, having been recruited by Barbados Tridents and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots respectively. Malinga will be part of the St. Lucia Stars (formerly St. Lucia Zouks) set-up in the upcoming season, having previously represented Guyana Amazon Warriors. Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, and Kumar Sangakkara, meanwhile, have been retained by Guyana,
Trinbago Knight Riders, and Jamaica Tallawahs respectively. Chris Gayle, who led Tallawahs to the title in 2016, will now play for the Patriots, the side that finished bottom last season. England T20 specialist Tymal Mills and several Afghanistan players - including IPL-bound Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi - are among the big names in the CPL draft. Marquee CPL players in 2017: Martin Guptill (Guyana Amazon Warriors), Lasith Malinga (St. Lucia Stars), Brendon McCullum (Trinbago Knight Riders), Chris Morris (St Kitts & Nevis Patriots), Kumar Sangakkara (Jamaica Tallawahs), Kane Williamson (Barbados Tridents). (ESPNcricinfo)
Lasith Malinga ©Getty Images
Friday March 10 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Having your own business is a good idea. You will be overly sensitive when dealing with your personal life. You need to concentrate on your business ventures more than on your relationship today. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Secret affairs may be brought out in the open. You can make new friends and get involved in new hobbies successfully. Losses are likely if you have left your financial affairs in other people's hands. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Don't be too quick to spend money. Arguments could prevail. You can make money if you get involved in real estate deals. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You can handle situations that require contact with institutions or large corporations. Balance is required if you want stability. You will meet new romantic partners if you get involved in seminars or travel. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) It's time to make professional changes. You're in a high cycle for romance. You can make it up to them later. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Trouble could be brewing at home. Travel will promote new romantic encounters and additional cultural knowledge. You can pick up some overtime today.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Changes in your home may be alarming at first. Personal problems may be hanging over your head but don't confront the situation. Your fun loving approach will be admired and appreciated by others. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You may find that your generosity has been taken for granted. Don't be afraid to make a move if you aren't happy with your emotional situation. Opportunities to make financial gains will develop through your connections with other people. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Attempt to face key issues with lovers or problems could escalate. You will get out of shape easily if you don't keep on top of things. You should put your efforts into creative projects. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Look into the cost factor, but don't try to get backing yet. Turn things around, make sure that they do their share. Changes in your home environment may cause friction. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Short trips will be educational. Opportunities to make financial gains will develop through your connections with other people. Reevaluate your motives. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your mind is on moneymaking ventures. Upheavals may occupy your day. Don't let situations get out of control.
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Kaieteur News
Friday March 10, 2017
Bangladesh avoid follow-on but Sri Lanka in control Rain, and a 106-run seventh-wicket stand between Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehedi Hasan put the brakes on Sri Lanka’s advance in Galle, but loose dismissals from the Bangladesh top order had already gifted the hosts an imposing position. When the rains came to wash out the third session of day three, the first innings had been completed, and Sri Lanka led by 182 runs. Nevertheless, they may have to move quickly if they are to turn their dominance into a win - more rain is forecast for today and tomorrow. Bangladesh had begun the day with a little over a quarter of Sri Lanka’s score knocked off, for the loss of two wickets, but quickly did they unravel in the first session. Soumya Sarkar played the first poor stroke, swatting Suranga Lakmal heedlessly off his hips to pick out the fine leg fielder. Shakib Al Hasan batted positively for 18 deliveries, but got himself caught down the legside off the bowling of
Lakshan Sandakan. Mahmudullah and Liton Das then both fell playing footless shots - Liton poking at Herath only to send slip a catch; Mahmudullah missing a straight ball from Lahiru Kumara, which had been angled in from wide of the crease. Defying Sri Lanka, and fitting the innings with some semblance of a backbone, was Mushfiqur. He was largely passive through the first session, even as Sandakan sent down a feast of loose deliveries in between several unplayable ones. He scored only 21 runs in 70 balls as the four morning wickets fell, but became livelier after lunch. Herath was launched into the sightscreen in the first over of the session, and Mushfiqur rarely let a scoring opportunity slip by him over the next few overs: he’d score 47 runs in as many balls, hitting eight boundaries while completing a 16th career fifty. He went on to make 85. Fresh from a good
batting outing in Hyderabad, Mehedi fed off the senior man’s productivity, and compiled 41 runs of his own - venturing five boundaries in all. The partnership not only helped stem a collapse, but also eliminated the option of the follow-on. Sandakan and Kumara S r i L a n k a ’s y o u t h f u l wildcard bowlers - had helped rattle Bangladesh in the morning, but were perhaps guilty of the waywardness that allowed this stand to gain a foothold. Once this partnership was broken, however, the end came swiftly, thanks in part to Dilruwan Perera, who was kept out of the attack for the first 40 overs, but made substantial impact when he did arrive. In his third over of the day, he nailed Mehedi in front of the stumps with a quicker ball that turned. Taskin was given not out when rapped on the pad next ball, but Herath reviewed that decision, and the ball was found to be taking out enough of leg stump to overturn that call.
World Boxing Super Series: New $50m event to ‘change boxing world’ – organisers
A similar Super Six World Boxing Classic, held between 2009 and 2011, saw Andre Ward beat Britain’s Carl Froch in the final A new shootout tournament with 16 of the world’s best fighters competing for $50m (£41m) will “change the world of boxing”, say those behind the plan. Comosa AG - a new venture involving some of the biggest names in boxing promotion, is behind the event. ”It is Comosa’s ambition to turn the World Boxing Super Series into the world’s biggest and best boxing tournament,” said Roberto
Dalmiglio, Comosa’s head of management board. It could start as early as September. The event will take a shootout format and involve eight fighters in two yet-tobe-decided weight classes. The winners will receive the Muhammad Ali Trophy, named after the former heavyweight world champion who died last year. ”The World Boxing Super Series will change the world
of boxing,” said Dalmiglio. A similar Super Six World Boxing Classic was held between 2009 and 2011. Richard Schaefer, the former Golden Boy promotions chief executive, is among those involved in the venture. ”Boxing has really been missing a big tournament like the World Boxing Super Series. Every major sport has one,” he said. (BBCsport)
Mushfiqur Rahim battled through the day to help his side avoid the follow-on © AFP
With No. 10 batsman Suba s h i s R o y v i s i b l y uncomfortable at the crease, Mushfiqur attempted to farm the strike, but was perhaps caught in two minds when he came down the crease to Herath in the waning overs of the session. He could have hit Herath’s slider down the
ground, but instead had the ball dip on it and slip beneath his bat and into off stump. A break for bad-light came just before tea was scheduled to be taken, but before the rains could come down, a brief break in the clouds allowed the teams to play the two further deliveries required to wipe out the Bangladesh innings -
Herath having Mustafizur Rehman freakishly caught at short leg. Both he and Perera finished with three wickets from the innings. The rain came just as the second innings was about to begin. An hour-long shower washed out the rest of the day. (ESPNcricinfo)
‘Charismatic’ Sammy key for Stars, says Watson Bridgetown, Barbados, CMC – Australian allrounder Shane Watson has praised the captaincy of Darren Sammy as he gears up for another campaign in the Caribbean Premier League starting in August. Watson, the marquee signing last season for St Lucia Zouks – now rebranded St Lucia Stars – is expected to be a key part of the franchise’s bid this year for their first ever CPL title. Speaking ahead of Friday’s draft here, the 35-year-old said Sammy had been crucial to the St Lucia franchise’s success last season where they reached the playoffs for the first time ever. ”Darren Sammy has had an incredible amount of success especially in the shorter formats for West Indies. I’ve always played against Darren but I’ve never got the chance to get to know him away from the game so to be able to be captained by him [was great],” Watson said. ”He is a very charismatic guy, a strong leader says things that needs to be said at the right time and on the field he absorbs pressure very
Darren Sammy well, is a great decisionmaker under pressure which we have all seen for the West Indies as well.” He added: “But then to be able to have someone like Mike Hussey who comes in with his experience and also the combination of Stuart Williams (coach) with Darren as well was a great combination. They both know the things that need to occur within a team.” Watson had a decent outing last season for Zouks, scoring 287 runs at an average of 31 while picking up 12 wickets with his medium pace. Along with leading scorers Johnson
Charles (441) and Andre Fletcher (324), Watson helped ensure Zouks finished fourth in the standings after the preliminaries, and qualify for the playoffs. Watson said it had been a rewarding experience helping to bring some level of success to the St Lucia franchise after a barren run. “Going to St Lucia I knew obviously how things had panned out in the previous few tournaments where we didn’t have that much success,” Watson explained. ”But to be able to get some belief within the group and get the combinations right, it took us a little while to get it exactly right at the start of the tournament but once we did, we played some awesome cricket. We beat the Tallawahs twice – they ended up winning the tournament. The great thing is that our squad isn’t changing that much from last year so we should be really able to continue to build on what we built last year.” The new CPL season will run from August 1 to September 9.
Kaieteur News
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Female ruggers celebrate International Women’s Day
Friday March 10, 2017
Trinidad-Barbados friendly crucial to preparations, says Lawrence
Leave today for French Guiana along with the Under-19 15s National Team While some were at home relaxing, shopping, in the salon, and perhaps chilling with friends, Guyana’s female rugby players chose to celebrate International Women’s Day by participating in a Sevens match, at the National Park. The disciplined, dedicated, strong and passionate women of the sport braved the inclement
weather to showcase their skills and at the same time celebrate the occasion with more than 2.2 million women and girls who play the game around the world. President of the GRFU Peter Green in his address to the players urged them to continue to assist in marketing the sport even as the union strives to expand and develop the sport
locally. The Guyana female ruggers ranked 27th of 49 countries in the world that the game is played according to World Rugby, is set to compete this weekend in French Guiana along with the Under-19 15s National Team. The teams and their respective management are set to depart Guyana today and return on Monday.
U.S. must allow access if it bids for 2026 World Cup – FIFA
Gianni Infantino The United States would have to grant entry to players , officials and fans from any country that qualified if it won the right to host the 2026 World Cup finals, soccer body FIFA said yesterday. Responding to a question about President Donald Trump’s order banning citizens from six Muslimmajority nations from traveling to the United States, FIFA boss Gianni Infantino said any nation bidding for the tournament would have clear rules. ”We are now in the process of defining the bid requirements,” he said. “In the world there are certainly many countries with travel bans, visa requirements and so on and s o f o r t h . ”What is obvious is that when it comes to the World Cup, like the Olympic Games ... any team, including the supporters and officials of that team who have qualified, need to have access to the
Donald Trump country. Otherwise there is no World Cup.” C O N C A C A F, t h e governing body for soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean, is mulling a three-way joint bid for the 2026 World Cup between the United States, Mexico and Canada. FIFA has ruled out a bid from Europe or Asia, leaving the CONCACAF region as frontrunner for a tournament set to expand to 48 nations from 32. The United States last hosted the World Cup in 1994 and Mexico in 1986. Los Angeles is also bidding against Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics with a vote on that due in September. Victor Montagliani, the CONCACAF president, said last month that a wall planned by Trump along the U.S.-Mexico border would not present an obstacle to co-hosting the event. Regional soccer officials have, however, been tight-
lipped about the executive order. The head of European soccer body UEFA warned last month that restrictions could damage any U.S. bid. ”It will be part of the evaluation, and I am sure it will not help the United States to get the World Cup,” UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin told the New York Times. ”If players cannot come because of political decisions, or populist decisions, then the World Cup cannot be played there.” Iran, one of the six countries named, have played in three World Cups including the 2014 finals in Brazil while Syria beat China last October in a qualifier. ”The requirements will b e c l e a r. T h e n e a c h country can make up their decision whether they want to bid or not,” said Infantino. “It’s nothing to do with the U.S. or not the U . S . , i t ’s a g e n e r a l sporting criteria.” (Reuters)
Dennis Lawrence Port of Spain, Trinidad, CMC – Head coach Dennis Lawrence believes today’s friendly international against Barbados here will be a good test for Trinidad and Tobago ahead of their crucial World Cup qualifiers later this month. The national squad has been in training over the last three weeks and Lawrence said the contest at the At Boldon Stadium would provide the opportunity to put into action the ideas which had been laid out in practice.
”It is going to be exciting for the players. I think the work we have done over the time should have prepared them for a game of this magnitude,” said Lawrence. ”I’m looking forward it to see how much the boys have taken on board over the last few weeks we’ve been working.” The game represents the first in charge for Lawrence who was appointed head coach in January, following the shock resignation of Belgian Tom Saintfiet after just five weeks in the post.
An outstanding former national defender, Lawrence commended the players on their attitude in training and said it was now time to focus on execution. ”I think from a commitment point they have given enough focus and attention to the work that we’ve tried to do,” he noted. “Now it’s all about execution and it’s for the players to go out now and concentrate on the work that we’ve done and deliver.” Lawrence will use a 22man squad as he tries to assess each player with bigger assignments against Panama and Mexico looming. ”The idea is to make sure that everybody gets a good portion of the game because I think that’s only fair, the work that’s been done, to give them the opportunity to present themselves and say to myself and Trinidad and Tobago they are ready for selection come March 24 and 28,” stressed Lawrence. Trinidad will clash with Panama on March 24 and with Mexico four days later, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Jadeja and Ashwin jointly top Test rankings
Ravindra Jadeja ©AFP Ravindra Jadeja has climbed one place to join R Ashwin at No.1 in the ICC rankings for Test bowlers in what is the f i r s t i n s tance of two spinners jointly claiming the top spot. Jadeja’s seven wickets, including a first-innings sixfor, in the second Test against Australia helped him
occupy the top rank and assured India the No.1 spot in the ICC Test Team rankings for the annual April 1 c u t - o f f . He shares the top spot with Ashwin, whose eightwicket haul took him past Bishan Bedi as the fifthhighest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 269 scalps. However, Ashwin’s
poor returns with the bat - 20 in the last four innings meant he has dropped behind Shakib Al Hasan o n t h e l i s t o f Te s t allrounders. The last time two bowlers shared the No.1 rank was in April 2008, when Dale Steyn and Muttiah Muralitharan were at 897 points. Jadeja and Ashwin are currently at 892 points each, and lead Australia’s Josh Hazlewood at No. 3 by 29 points. In the rankings for Test b a t s m e n , Vi r a t K o h l i lost his second spot to Joe Root after managing only 40 in his last two Tests. Steven Smith maintained his reign at the top for the 77th Test, edging past Ricky Ponting’s 76 matches as the third longest stint at the top among Australians after Steve Waugh (94) and Don Bradman (93). (ESPNcricinfo)
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Windies tumble to worst-ever England defeat
England’s victorious cricketers pose with the series trophy, West Indies v England, 3rd ODI, Barbados, March 9, 2017 © AFP Bridgetown, Barbados, CMC – An inept West Indies suffered their heaviest OneDay International defeat to England, when they crashed to a 186-run loss in a lopsided series finale here yesterday. Reserving their worst performance of the threematch series for the historic Kensington Oval, the hosts batted and bowled with equal indifference, as England pulled off their first-ever clean sweep of an ODI series in the Caribbean. Sent in, England equaled their highest-ever total against the West Indies and the highest ever at the venue with 328 all out off their 50 overs, with fit-again opener Alex Hales gathering 110 and Joe Root, 101. The pair dominated the West Indies bowling, adding 192 for the second wicket to pull their side around from the early loss of Jason Roy for 17 in the sixth over with 27 runs on the board. Twenty-year-old fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, playing his first game of the series in place of the injured Shannon Gabriel, claimed four for 76 while captain and fellow seamer Jason Holder picked up three for 41. Having never successfully chased a total in excess of 300 to win an ODI, West
Indies buckled under the weight of history and collapsed for 142 all out off 39.2 overs – narrowly avoiding their lowest-ever venue total of 141, 23 years ago. Only left-hander Jonathan Carter with 46 showed any enterprise but he was the sole batsman to pass 20 and one of just three to reach double figures. West Indies were tormented by seamers Chris Woakes (316) and Liam Plunkett (3-27) who finished with three wickets apiece while Steven Finn claimed two for 35. Once the hosts collapsed to 45 for six in the 17th over, the mission became one of avoiding embarrassment, and they needed Joseph’s entertaining unbeaten 22 off 13 balls at number 11, to avert total disaster. Left-hander Kieran Powell (6) failed for the third straight game when he defensively pushed the third delivery of the innings from Finn in to Hales’ hands at short square leg. In the very next over, new batsman Evin Lewis tugged an attempted pull back to bowler Woakes without scoring and when opener Kraigg Brathwaite’s nondescript waft at Plunkett found Root at mid-wicket, West Indies were tottering on 13 for three in the fourth
over. Jason Mohammed, already with two halfcenturies under pressure in the series, failed to deliver this time as he missed a drive at Plunkett and was bowled for 10 at 32 for four in the 13th over and Shai Hope (16) and Holder (0) fell to Plunkett off successive deliveries in the 17th over, to leave the innings in strife. Carter, who finished as his side’s leading run-scorer with 137 runs, faced 77 balls and struck eight fours while adding 30 for the seventh wicket with Carlos Brathwaite (7). But seamer Ben Stokes trapped Brathwaite lbw on review and Carter was eventually ninth out, caught in the deep pulling at Finn in the 36th over. Hales and Root had earlier put England in control, with Stokes weighing in with a cameo 20-ball 34. Not for the first time in the series, the tourists lost an early wicket when Roy drove Joseph into Holder’s lap at mid-off but Hales and Root overcame a tough period to dominate. In his first match of the series after sufficiently recovering from a broken hand sustained on the recent tour of India, Hales faced 107 deliveries and crunched nine
fours and five sixes to record his fifth ODI hundred. Root, meanwhile, coming off an unbeaten 90 in the second game in Antigua last Sunday, counted 10 fours in a 108ball knock to post his eighth ODI hundred. Hales started slowly but quickly grew in confidence to reach his half-century off 52 balls with a cover-driven boundary off expensive legspinner Devendra Bishoo in the 21st over which leaked 18 runs. Given out on 93 in the 34th over, lbw to part-time off-spinner Kraigg Brathwaite, Hales gained a reprieve via DRS and raised triple figures off 99 balls with a top-edged six over the keeper’s head off Joseph. He was beginning to open his shoulders even further when he was caught at fine leg by Nurse off Joseph. Root, dropped twice before he had reached 20, strolled to his half-century off 71 deliveries but stepped on the gas and required only another 36 deliveries to reach three figures. On 241 for three at the end of the 40th over, England seemed poised for a total well in excess of 350 but underachieved in the last 10 overs, with only 87 runs coming for the loss of seven wickets.
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Montagliani: Gold Cup is pinnacle of our CONCACAF football
Victor Montagliani CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani opened the official event to announce the group-stage matches and complete schedule for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The announcement was held Tuesday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA – first time host of the Gold Cup final. ”Gold Cup is pinnacle of our CONCACAF f o o t b a l l. Since the inaugural edition in 1991, the competition has produced many memorable moments and equally stunning results,” said
Montagliani to the group composed of football and city dignitaries, representatives and head coaches from the qualified nations. “This is a day to celebrate the teams a c h i e v e m e n t s , congratulations to all of you.” The procedures were conducted by CONCACAF General Secretary Philippe Moggio. The event featured U.S. national team legend Cobi Jones, San Francisco 49ers President Al Guido, and San Jose Earthquakes President Dave Kaval. The President underscored
the competition’s importance to raise competitiveness and further develop the game across the Confederation. Furthermore, he spoke briefly about the ONE CONCACAF Vision, which focuses attention on good governance, football investment, solid leadership and strategic planning. ”Our aim is at ensuring that we continue broadening participation for our Member Associations, while increasing competitiveness through development opportunities,” said Montagliani. Fourteen stadiums in 13 metropolitan areas across the United States will host the next Gold Cup to be played from July 7-26, 2017. Taking place every two years, the Gold Cup has established itself as the region’s most popular national team tournament. F e a t u r i n g t h e Confederation’s best players from 12 top nations, the competition routinely draws capacity crowds and millions of television viewers across the region and around the world.
Friday March 10, 2017
Guinness Bar, Mendonca Creole support Gittens dominos
Lyall Gittens (center) accepts the trophy from staff members of Guinness Bar. Guinness Bar and Mendonca Creole both of Durban Street have lent support to the Lyall Gittens dominos competition which is set for Sunday at Leguan Stelling, Essequibo River. Gittens received a trophy
which will be given to one of the top teams in the tournament. The competition which is being held in collaboration with Dr. Narine will commence at 10:00hrs. Entrance fee is $12,000
and the winning team will take home a trophy and $80,000, runner up a trophy and $40,000 and third place a trophy and $20,000. The MVP will pocket $5,000. Teams can contact Dr. Narine on 697 2929 for more information.
PSG left stunned by ‘unspeakable’ meltdown in Barcelona This was supposed to be the year Paris St Germain joined the European elite with a statement victory in the Champions League, yet the French champions f l u ff e d t h e i r l i n e s i n spectacular fashion and were trampled in the dust by a Catalan juggernaut. After swatting aside Barcelona 4-0 in an exhilarating first leg display, an incredible meltdown in the latter stages of Wednesday’s return leg ended with the home side marching triumphantly into the quarter-finals with a 6-5 aggregate win. Qatar-backed PSG have invested heavily in a squad designed to compete at the highest level, yet once again they were found wanting against the very best and were eliminated by Barcelona in the knockout stages for the third time in five years. The French side paid for their passive approach as Barcelona raced to a 3-0 lead before striker Edinson Cavani netted what appeared to be a decisive away goal mid-way through the second
half to leave the home side needing to score three more. The visitors held on until the 88th minute but Barcelona simply refused to be denied and when Sergi Roberto prodded home the side’s third goal in a devastating seven-minute spell, Paris St Germain were left licking their wounds once more. ”I want to apologize to the fans,” said midfielder Marco Verratti, who had been instrumental in the first leg but was a pale shadow of his brilliant self in the Nou Camp. “We are ashamed.” Sports daily L’Equipe needed just one word to sum up the capitulation with the headline “Unspeakable”. The statistics do not make pretty reading for PSG, who completed just four passes, three of them kickoffs, from the 85th minute as midfielder Adrien Rabiot struggled to come to terms with the shocking denouement. ”Between 3-1 and 6-1, I do not know what happened,” he said. “We were not supposed to sit back like this, i t was not the plan.”
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi scores their third goal from the penalty spot. Reuters / Sergio Perez Livepic PSG were furious that a theatrical Luis Suarez tumble was rewarded with a stoppagetime penalty that Neymar converted to put Barca within one goal of victory, but first-season coach Unai Emery said the game was lost e l s e w h e r e . ”The referee’s decisions were
against us but this is not why we are eliminated,” the three-times Europa Leaguewinning coach with Sevilla admitted. Fullback Thomas Meunier bemoaned the sides lack of professionalism, while the club’s hierarchy said PSG needed to reluctantly accept the result.
”It is a nightmare. I don’t believe this happened but we are not going to look for excuses,” club president Nasser al Khelaifi lamented. PSG now face a tricky end to the season to salvage some pride and appease their s u p p o r t e r s . In recent years they were
almost guaranteed a Ligue 1 title to soothe the disappointment of regular early Champions League exits but this time they trail an impressive Monaco side by three points. “I hope this setback will not weigh on us mentally,” winger Hatem BenArfa said. (Reuters)
Kaieteur News
Friday March 10, 2017
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NSC/Den Amstel FC Mash KO Cup
Uitvlugt and Eagles storm into today’s semis vs Pouderoyen and Den Amstel Defending champions Pouderoyen will; receive their sternest test yet when they tangle with the red hot Uitvlugt Warriors in the first semi final of the 2017 edition of the National Sports Commission sponsored Den Amstel Football Club organized Mash knock-out competition. The two arch rivals will collide tonight from 18:30hrs at the Leonora Track and Field Football Field from 18:30hrs with the final match of the night bringing together the host club and Eagles FC of S t e w a r t v i l l e , Pouderoyen had defeated Stewartville 5-0 whilst Den Amstel had waltzed to a huge 13-0 triumph over Wales United in their respective quarter finals. In the final two quarter final matches contested on Wednesday night at the same venue, Uitvlugt Warriors eased to an almost effortless 6-0 win over Golden Warriors of West Bank while Eagles had to leave it late to get past another West Bank
Jamal Harvey (left) and Trayon Bobb - Uitvlugt Warriors FC b a s e d s i d e , Yo u n g Achievers, 2-0. Uitvlugt was led into the semis by Jamal Harvey who blasted a hat-trick but featuring in three of the goals along with one of his own was the indefatigable Trayon Bobb whose energy and high work ethic was very visible. Bobb served the opening
corner that allowed Harvey to tuck in the first of his three goals in the 7th minute as well as the cross that saw Harvey netting his brace two minutes later. Smart work and split second thinking by Boob saw him lengthening the lead on 31 minutes by simply flicking the ball over the advancing goalkeeper’s
Orette Stephenson (left) and Andrew Adelph - Eagles FC WDFA head into the open nets. With the match 35 minutes old, Harvey made it 4-0 when he netted his third from the penalty spot as Uitvlugt continued their rampage to show who the real warriors were. Daniel Floy added his
name to the score sheet in the 40th minute (5-0) whilst the deal was sealed in terms of the final score line and Uitvlugt’s semi final place when Seon Bobb, Trayon’s brother converted in the 54th minute. In the opening match, Eagles were kept at bay by a d e t e r m i n e d Yo u n g
Achievers begfore the latter eventually cracked allowing the Eagles to hit in two unanswered goals to seal the win. Scoring for Eagles were Orette Stephenson in the 58th minute and Andrew Adelph in the 66th minute. (Franklin Wilson)
Smalta U-14 Indoor Hockey League
St Joseph’s and SHC Scalpels remain undefeated In a major upset last Friday at St Stanislaus College, GCC Warriors overpowered Marian Academy in one of the hottest girls Under-14 games of the night. Despite leading the game 3-1 at one point Marian Academy failed to defend their lead ending the game 4-6. The GCC Warriors’ dynamic duo Kirsten Gomes and Alana Cheung both scored hat-tricks during the match guaranteeing them a tie for this week’s Smalta’s female top scorers of the day. SHC Sensations was able to secure three additional points after thrashing Hikers 7-0 which now ties them with Marian Academy for second place in the current standings. SHC Silencers continue to lead the group undefeated and will meet Marian Academy today at St. Joseph High School. In the Boy’s Division, St Joseph’s and SHC Scalpels maintain their lead on the
Part of the action in the clash between GCC and St. Joseph’s High School.
points table as they continued to be undefeated after Friday night’s games. SHC Samurai was able to defend an early lead against SHC Scorchers to defeat
them 2-1 removing the Scorchers from a three-way tie with St Joseph and SHC Scalpels in points. HHC Garnett Street’s Baraka Garnett, one of the
brothers who gave this team their name, was the Smalta’s male top scorer of the day scoring three goals in his team’s defeat of GCC War Dogs 8-1.
The league has already seen some significant improvement in players’ skills since its start earlier last month. It is a very promising endeavour for the
future of hockey in schools and for future national teams. Games continue today, at St Joseph’s High School from 16:0019:00hrs.
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Friday March 10, 2017
Trainee police on her way to Menezes has now Mixed Martial Arts stardom become the hunted GMR&SC ‘Reaction’ Drag Meet
By Edison Jefford
Superbike racer Mark Menezes poses on his 600cc CBR following the demolition of all contenders at last October Drag Meet.
Having dominated the Superbike category in the season ending Drag Meet last October, Mark Menezes will no doubt be aiming to continue his dominance of the division when the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) stages its ‘Reaction’ Meet next Sunday, at the South Dakota Circuit. Menezes swept aside all challenges and even offered to confront the powerful
Toyota Caldina of champion driver Sean Persaud, but found out that he was no match for Persaud’s car. Menezes was simply superb and due to that u n f o r g e t t a b l e performance will now understandably become the hunted so he will have to be on top of his game to repel those coming after his crown. The confirmation of the Dutch competitors will add
to the excitement since they too have some very fast machines and it will be interesting to see how Menezes fare against them. What is certain is that he never backs down from a challenge and fans, just as they had witnessed the last time, will be in for a real treat, especially with Menezes 600cc CBR anticipated to be in the lineup.
Declou is back as GBBC stages WBC 2nd edition professional/amateur tourney A bevy of boxing stars will take to the ‘square jungle’ when the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) stages the 2nd edition of the World Boxing Council (WBC) amateur tournament following a successful launch in Trinidad and Tobago last February 28. This much was revealed by GBBC official, Eion Jardine who explained that the 1st edition saw Venezuelan boxers matching skills against their Trinidadian counterparts with the former country enforcing its dominance. The imminent card is scheduled for Sunday April 9 and will be staged at the Giftland Office Max open air arena, Liliendaal, ECD. Jardine assured that much thought have gone into the planning stages and the final
composition of fighters will entail an action packed night of fistic fury. Former local and Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) bantamweight champion, Dexter Marques will engage Venezuelan, Luis Alberto Requena in a 10 rounds flyweight scrap and the Ve n e z u e l a n ’s r e s u m e suggests an action packed encounter. This is the main bout and the main preliminary will see former CABOFE middleweight king, Edmond Declou, returning from a self-imposed hiatus to match g l o v e s w i t h Wi n s t o n Pompey in a 6 rounds super/middleweight clash. The latter fighter recently returned to Guyana after a successful sojourn in Paris, France and is confident that he could take care of Declou.
The other bout, a 6 rounds lightweight clash between Imran ‘Magic’ Khan and Keeve ‘Killer’ Allicock is an interesting affair as both fighters have contrasting styles—Allicock the fighter against Khan the boxer, and this could develop into an interesting shindig. T h e o p e n i n g professional clash will have Anson Greene going after Barbadian, Charwyn Estwick in a 4 rounds catchweight encounter. Meanwhile, the organisers have already dispatched the requisite correspondence to officials of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) and will soon receive the names of the 6 amateur boxers. The professional squad has already commenced training at their respective gyms.
Shenese Bobb’s personality belies the fierce fighter she has become, but what is now clear is that the trainee police officer is well on her way to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) stardom after winning a gold medal in the Ruff and Tuff battle in Trinidad and Tobago. Bobb fought in the 132 lbs weight category and while still considered an amateur, the athlete will continue to put in the necessary training in Shotokan Karate, to ensure her ascendancy to the next level, as she intends to take the gruelling sport seriously. The affable and wellmannered 20-year-old also competes in track and field, but stated that she is taking MMA seriously based on her outstanding performance in Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o recently; a performance that Assistant Commissioner of Police, Paul Williams called historic for the Guyana Police Force. “Well, for the first time I was scared, but when I gathered myself, and did what I was coached to do, I overcame those fears to win. It was fun and now I look forward to future fights,” Bobb told Kaieteur Sport in a brief interview yesterday. The trainee Police Officer, who is still enrolled at the Felix Austin Police Training College, went to the Ruff and Tuff Promotion affair with Paul Ignatius, who fought his way to a silver medal in the 155 lbs category. “For a female fighter to leave this country, and do so well feels good to me, and I will ensure that it is a beneficial experience. Once I commit to something, I
Shenese Bobb usually do my best, but I didn’t think that I would have done so well,” the softspoken Bobb continued. The Trinidad and Tobago MMA Federation coordinated the event. The MMA in the Caribbean is affiliated to the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), which is the international governing body for the sport that also regulates the super popular UFC. A s s i s t a n t Commissioner, Williams indicated that Bobb emerged as a result of his reintroduction of self-defence into the training college. “I am very pleased with Bobb’s performance. I think she is
the first female police to win an international kick-boxing title,” he said. “She has made the entire Guyana proud and it is not just Bobb, we have lots of police with black belts in the Force. I’m happy that we’re doing well in terms of introducing new sports within the Force,” Williams added. Sensei Babb is Bobb’s trainer. Guyana will have its own view of MMA fighting when the Fight Central team, which is the Guyanese extension of the regional body, introduces the activity to the country later this month. Details of this development were promised later.
Bandroom cop GPF Headquarters Inter Department dominos title Bandroom chalked up 78 games win the final of the Guyana Police Force Headquarters Inter Department dominos competition which was contested recently at Eve Leary. Mounted Branch placed second on 73 games while COP/Combined finished third on 72 games. Beverly Smith 16, Colin
Benjamin 15 and Gordon Richards 14 were the leading players for the winners while Rockwell Delph made 16 and Jacob Doris 14 for Mounted Branch. Esmond Cooper got 16 games for COP/Cooper. COP/Combined marked 81 games to win the semi final encounter ahead of Bandroom 74 and Force
Control 68. Esmond Cooper made the maximum 18 games for COP/Combined while Rodwell Henry and Linden Wilson assisted with 14 and 13, respectively. Beverly Smith and Anthony Nelson scored 16 and 14 games in that order for Bandroom while Dewayne Roberts got 14 and Guy Nurse 13 for Force Control.
Kaieteur News
Friday March 10, 2017
PAGE 41
Thunderbolt Flour Power National U-17s pay courtesy call on NAMILCO Urged to strive for excellence by MD Bert Sukhai
NAMILCO’s MD Bert Sukhai (7th right), Finance Controller Fitzroy McLeod (7th left) and Engineer Ralph Hemsing (centre) pose with some members of the Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 team and Management team following their courtesy call on the company yesterday. GFF Competitions Director Rev. Ian Alves is 6th left. Some members of the Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 team which just returned from the To u r n o i P a u l C h i l l a n Invitational tournament in Martinique yesterday paid a courtesy call on title sponsor of the National Intra A s s o c i a t i o n U n d e r- 1 7 League, National Milling Company of Guyana, NAMILCO. Accompanied by Coach Bryan Joseph and Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Competitions Director, Rev. Ian Alves, the team took the
opportunity to brief the top brass of NAMILCO on their recent performance whilst also presenting a detailed report to the company on the first round of two of the inaugural National League. Present for the company were Managing Director Bert Sukhai, Finance Controller Fitzroy McLeod a n d E n g i n e e r, R a l p h Hemsing. In his remarks, Sukhai told the attentive youths that NAMILCO has been attending to the needs of the
Guyanese public by providing quality products in the flour line for the past 48 years and has been able to do so because they have been striving for excellence and to do better. ”I think you should use the same objectives that we have at your level. Always strive to do your best. We will try our best to ensure you do your best with the help of the GFF.” McLeod in offering congratulations to the players and management staff reminded them that they
are the first batch of players from the intra association league which he believes can change the fortunes and shape of Guyana’s football. ”The objective is to see Guyana’s football develop and get to that point, that status internationally that we think its capable of occupying; that does credit to the talent pool that is available. The ardent football lover said that whilst the players would have conducted themselves as true ambassadors and have
performed creditably, it is also important that they celebrate this moment as a means of motivation. ”Because what is really is about is development, where will you go to, where can the talent take you and so its very important that you recognize that the message from this event is that your abundant talent when combined with discipline and good instruction can take you much further others who have trod this path before has gone.”
GAPF Bench Press Competition set for Fitness Revolution Gym Bounty Farm Ltd. on board The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) in its continuing efforts to achieve some level of self sustenance will be embarking on a fund raising Bench Press Competition come Sunday March 19, 2017. The venue will be the brand new Fitness Revolution Gym located opposite GWI at LBI on the East Coast of Demerara; owner, Dion Dutt expressed delight in making his facility available to the GAPF for this event. Meanwhile, Public R e l a t i o n s Officer/Organising Secretary of the federation, Dr. Osmond Mack informed that they have been able to
re-ignite corporate support from former long standing partner, Bounty Farm Ltd. Mack said that this fund raising event will have barb-que on sale and this is possible with a generous donation from Bounty Farm Ltd. through Manager Mr. Keith Fernandes who commented. ”Bounty Farm Ltd. is proud to be associated with the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation, we have always been an avid supporter of sports and its development in Guyana and would continue to play our part from a corporate perspective. We would like to wish you luck on your upcoming fundraising event (Continued on page 32)
Bounty Farm Ltd. Manager Keith Fernandes (right) hands over sponsorship cheque to GAPF’s Dr. Osmond Mack.
He noted that the kind of opportunities available to the players at this juncture, many others would have loved to have had it but they didn’t have it. ”So you have an opportunity, if you will hone your skills, if you would bring that self control, that discipline to the mix; if you make yourself available to be taught, to be guided by those who have been there before, by those who know the road that you have an opportunity to really see yourselves in position that would make you the envy of your peers.” Captain Joshua Ferreira in the vote of thanks on behalf of his colleagues and coaching staff thanked Mr. S u k h a i , h i s s t a ff a n d NAMILCO for their investment in the team and promised to continue aiming high and striving for excellence. In Martinique, Guyana ended the competition on a high having defeated one of the Caribbean toughest and accomplished football nations, Haiti, 3-1; this is after suffering close defeats to home team Martinique 2-1 and 0-1 to Guadeloupe. The Thunderbolt Flour Power side named the most disciplined team and collected the Fair Play trophy for their efforts while also having two players on the competition’s best X1 in Jeremy Garrett and Raushan Ritch.
t r o Sp
Windies tumble to worst-ever England defeat
Alzarri Joseph claimed four wickets in a fiery spell ©AFP
Jonathan Carter kept England waiting with 46 from 77 balls ©AFP
Female ruggers celebrate International Women’s Day Leave today for French Guiana along with the Under-19 15s National Team
Guyana’s female ruggers seen in action during the International Women’s Day planned Sevens game at the National Park. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210