Recent board K NEWS appointments are unlawful - Datadin
Sunday Edition
AIETEUR
March 10, 2019
Online: www.kaieteurnews.com
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Going forward …
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Why Guyana remains poor
GECOM will have to be more G vigilant on dual citizenship - Commissioner status of candidates Alexander Indian Arrival Monument finally completed
Kudos for talents: The local Guyanese artists, Winslow Craig and Philbert Gajadhar, who created the designs of the Indian Monument, Palmyra, East Berbice.
uyana is blessed with enormous natural resources. Yet, it remains among the poorest countries in the western hemisphere. Why should a country endowed with so much wealth have to endure the ignominy of being poor? The answer to that question lies in the fact that the wealth has been exploited in a manner which shortchanges the nation and enriches foreign firms. The wealth which Guyana possesses should have been able to guarantee a comfortable life for every citizen. That this has not happened is due in no small measure to the rape of our country's resources by foreign firms. Most of these firms show profits on their external balance sheets. Yet, despite enjoying generous tax holidays and other fiscal concessions, their local operations always seem to be declaring losses. And these 'declared losses deprive the nation of the revenues to which it is entitled. Many foreign firms have historically been complicit in ripping the nation off and robbing its people of their just entitlements. The pillage is not confined to firms operating in the natural resources sector. It is also prevalent in some public infrastructure projects which are being undertaken by foreign companies and which involve the blatant overpricing of projects. Guyanese, therefore, have to look beyond the promises of few hundred jobs for its nationals. They have to examine whether these jobs are not merely a smokescreen for the continued plunder of economic resources and the rip-off of the nation. If Guyana were to receive a fraction of what is due to us, every citizen would be able to live a happy life with all the comforts each desires. But this is not happening because most of the wealth which should have been retained for our people is being exported by the foreign investors to enrich foreign shareholders. Kaieteur News calls on Guyanese to wake up to the ongoing rape of Guyana's resources and the overpricing of infrastructural projects. Until, the larger picture is recognized, and until corrective action is taken to demand that Guyanese get a fair deal, Guyana will remain poor.
Schoolgirl raped Truck crushes Misleading the on Ogle seawall, porter at Kara stock market is a serious offence suspect arrested Kara toll booth - Guyana Goldfields Shareholders
Rusal has history of disrespect - decision time this in third world countries week on impasse
Kaieteur News
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Sunday March 10, 2019
IDB flags auctioning of un-prospected lands to small miners By Kiana Wilburg
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h e I n t e r A m e r i c a n Development Bank (IDB) is concerned about the challenges facing small and medium scale miners who often find it hard to access funds for their budding operations. In its report titled, “Toward the Greening of the Gold Mining Sector of Guyana: Transition Issues and Challenges,” the Bank
noted that one major issue is the fact that mining concessions are often let or auctioned without prospecting. It said that small and m e d i u m - s i z e d concessionaires assume higher risks and costs, acquiring parcels whose true mineral wealth is unknown. The Bank argued that this adds to the economic and cost constraints of following sustainable and responsible practices and
cleaner technology. The Bank highlighted that currently, small miners lack the capacity to finance needed surveys and have to resort to the 'hit or miss' approach. Given the risk associated with this method, the Bank said that small-scale miners invest in technologies that require minimal capital outlays to minimize potential losses if the operation is subsequently found to be uneconomical.
The Bank said, “Some also move to other locations outside their claims, thereby making it difficult to effectively regulate their operations.” To address this issue, the IDB suggests that instead of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) issuing claims to small miners whose operations are scattered across mining districts, the Government should encourage clusters in
designated areas with proven minerals. To make the clusters more attractive, the Bank proposed that GGMC with the support from international agencies, should undertake geological surveys in areas identified for small-scale mining. Once the minerals are available in sufficient quantities, the IDB said that GGMC should then identify the best technology for harnessing them. At this stage, the Bank said that GGMC should develop an appropriate environmental management plan and/or environmental impact assessment to ensure that the environmental impact from mining is minimized. The Financial Institution added, “The total cost for setting up the operation should then be determined and miners brought together to share expenses by forming a private limited company or partnership. “Alternatively, the initial cost should be financed through the issuance of shares to the public, allowing small-scale miners to invest in the operation.” The Bank said that the latter approach may allow the establishment of largescale mining operations with small-scale miners and Guyanese generally.
By organizing smallscale miners into clusters, the IDB said that several benefits may accrue. It said, “First, it would allow the miners to benefit from economies of scale while sharing risk. Second, it would make monitoring easier for the regulatory agency (GGMC). Third, since the cost will be lower for each investor (miner), it would enhance the attractiveness of greener technologies.” The Bank added, “Fourth, the cluster arrangement would allow the Guyanese people to benefit optimally from the wealth created by the mineral sector. “Fifth, miners may be better positioned to negotiate for more fiscal concessions (e.g., tax waiver on fuel, parts).” The Bank noted that access to credit for small and medium scale miners to finance the needed investments, could be improved by establishing a revolving credit as well as a partial guarantee scheme with commercial banks. Once the financing is raised, the IDB said that the operation should be established with appropriate technologies and systems (e.g., tailing ponds) to harness the minerals. Sixth and last, the Bank said that organizing smaller miners into clusters, companies, or cooperatives would allow those who implement “green practices” to certify and brand themselves in the international marketplace and demand a price premium for sustainably mined gold, i.e. “green gold”.
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 10, 2019
Going forward …
GECOM will have to be more vigilant on dual citizenship status of candidates - Commissioner Alexander
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ommissioner on the Guyana E l e c t i o n s Commission (GECOM), Vincent Alexander, has noted that the independent body will have to pay closer attention to the issue of dual citizenship. During an interview with this newspaper, Alexander said, “I think that GECOM may have to pay greater attention to that issue. Basically, when someone comes forward, that person comes forward as a Guyanese. “So we do not on the face of the documentation observe someone to be a dual citizenship. The issue here is one of declaration and if the declaration is proven to be fraudulent then I suppose the person could be sanctioned.” Alexander then reiterated that GECOM has to pay closer attention to the dual citizenship requirement while acknowledging that there are examples which demonstrate that one cannot rely on persons to declare their status truthfully. Early last month, attorney-at-law Christopher Ram lodged a formal c o m p l a i n t w i t h Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, regarding possible violations by Members of Parliament and
GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander their dual citizenship. Ram named four ministers and three Opposition Members of Parliament who he said likely made a false declaration as part of the process to be sworn in, back in 2015. The four government officials are Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin; Minister of F o r e i g n A ff a i r s , C a r l Greenidge; and Minister Rupert Roopnaraine. The MPs for the People's Progressive Party are Adrian Anamayah, Odinga Lumumba and Gail Teixeira.
In his statement to the press, Ram had said, “I have lodged with the Commissioner of Police a formal complaint of possible violations of the laws of Guyana by members of the National Assembly who hold dual citizenship. In a constitutional action brought by a fellow citizen Mr. Compton Reid, the Honourable Chief Justice (ag.) ruled that “anyone who holds dual citizenship, that is citizenship of Guyana and of a foreign power or state, as envisaged by Article 155 (1) (a) and therefore falls in this category of disqualified person pursuant to Article 156 (1) (d) should not and cannot be a member of the National Assembly ….” Reid's action was prompted by the PPP NoConfidence vote on December 21, last, which toppled the APNU+AFC Administration after one of its own MPs, Charrandass Persaud, voted for the motion. The Government then moved to the courts to challenge the validity of the motion, citing Persaud's dual citizenship with Canada. The Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George, in a judgment, made it clear that one cannot hold the post of an MP while having another passport.
Food for thought Success is fueled by self confidence
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here was a b u s i n e s s executive who was deep in debt and could see no way out. Creditors were closing in on him. Suppliers were demanding payment. He sat on the park bench, head in hands, wondering if anything could save his company from bankruptcy. Suddenly an old man appeared before him. “I can see that something is troubling you,” he said. After listening to the executive's woes, the old man said, “I believe I can help you.” He asked the man his name, wrote out a check, and pushed it into his hand saying, “Take this money. Meet me here exactly one year from today, and you can pay me back at that time.” Then he turned and disappeared as quickly as he
had come. The business executive saw in his hand a cheque for $500,000, signed by John D. Rockefeller, then one of the richest men in the world! “I can erase my money worries in an instant!” he realized. But instead, the executive decided to put the uncashed check in his safe. Just knowing it was there might give him the strength to work out a way to save his business, he thought. With renewed optimism, he negotiated better deals and extended terms of payment. He closed several big sales. Within a few months, he was out of debt and making money once again. Exactly one year later, he returned to the park with the uncashed cheque. At the agreed-upon time, the old man appeared. But just as the
executive was about to hand back the cheque and share his success story, a nurse came running up and grabbed the old man. “I'm so glad I caught him!” she cried. “I hope he hasn't been bothering you. He's always escaping from the rest home and telling people he's John D. Rockefeller.” And she led the old man away by the arm. The astonished executive just stood there, stunned. All year long he'd been wheeling and dealing, buying and selling, convinced he had half a million dollars behind him. Suddenly, he realized that it wasn't the money, real or imagined, that had turned his life around. It was his newfound self-confidence that gave him the power to achieve anything he went after. [Author Unknown]
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Andyville is lit! - nearly 300 to benefit from electricity in Linden community
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hrough t h e collaborat ive efforts of the Ministry of Andyville, Region Ten, Infrastructure and received electricity for the Ministry of the first time yesterday. Finance, residents of Andyville, Linden, Region Ten were for the first time equipped with electricity. At a Saturday morning ceremony, scores of persons from the community turned out for the commissioning of Andyville's new power station, which is slated to benefit a l m o s t 3 0 0 c o m m u n i t y members. Michael Greene, Chairman of Andyville, delivered a passionate summary on the journey his community has travelled to arrive at the historic moment. Greene noted the Minister Patterson told failed promises community dwellers endured under the Andyville's residents, “On previous administration and March 21, I'm going to open expressed his delight in a new [power] plant in Anna seeing their efforts brought Regina, and in the next t o f r u i t i o n . W h i l e month we are going to open a acknowledging the relentless new [power] plant in spirit of those in Andyville, Bartica.” Additionally, Minister Green stated, “People need to support more and stop Patterson noted that the criticizing,” with respect to Granger-led administration is not interested in giving community service. “handouts”, but instead is Minister of Public Infrastructure, David c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e Patterson, highlighted the development of its citizens. “We want to empower efforts by the Coalition you,” Minister Patterson Government to provide emphasized. electricity to areas that never Minister of Finance, had. One day before, the minister commissioned a 5.5 Winston Jordan, stated, “We megawatt power plant in are a government of all the people.” Canefield, Canje, Berbice.
He reaffirmed the government's commitment to the transformation of the lives of its citizens. Also, in attendance were the Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell, and Chairman of Linden's Electricity Company, Tracey Johnson, who both welcomed the government's involvement in fostering the progress of Linden. After securing $39Billion in budgetary allocations, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure remains dedicated to enhancing the living conditions of Guyanese through its projects and initiatives. (DPI)
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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
Why no elections date?
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Sunday March 10, 2019
Kaieteur News
here are much-anticipated meetings of leaders followed by the now normal falloff and letdown. There is an established pattern: the actualities of pre-meeting speeches, then meetings, and last more speeches for the benefit of media and target audience. A peak of high interest and the inevitable descent into a low valley of the dispiriting; there are lots of language, and in the wake of those come the flotsam of the baggage that this nation is unable to carry. At this point, all Guyanese, other than the acutely incapacitated, are aware that this is over a date, an elections date. Nothing forthcoming, nothing doing. For starters, the constitution has to be thrown out the door. After being subjected to one desecration after another, by the same battling political adversaries, that sanctuary and authority is out of bounds. Any pretense or insistence upon relevance and applicability and binding force would be the height of political and leadership hypocrisy. Nevertheless, worst things have been tried and have succeeded in this disturbed entity named Guyana. Sure, a constitution is always there as a convenient smokescreen; except that this time, no citizen and no segment, other than the increasingly busy judiciary, possesses the interest or the patience to muster anything beyond lip service to what should have been sacred. Hearts are not into that façade; and so are most heads. It leaves in a terribly bad place. Since there is no guiding—indeed, compelling-force, or no high principle at work— then the door is open for a Pandora’s Box of perversities to take over what passes for discourse and deliberations at the leadership levels. Now it is wide open territory for the whimsical, the arbitrary, and the capricious to seize the day and upper ground. All of these elements have first infiltrated and next, quickly saturated the exchanges about an elections date. From all appearances and the sharply acidic reports, there is entrenched unilateralism, but coming from two directions at the same time. Thus, a divided citizenry looks on (depending on the section of the perimeter inhabited) helplessly, worriedly, angrily, disbelievingly, or gleefully at the collision of irresistible force and immovable object. This is not about theoretical physics; rather, it is the relentless bludgeon of domestic politics and in the same unsparing force field of collision. It does not matter that the partisan, excited or their grim opposite, either have no sense of the fire being played with; or lack a panoramic vision that allows for an appreciation (or healthy fear) of the endgame. Great collateral damage usually ensues. What matters is that a date continues to elude because men approach the table of engagement with irrefutable first dates. They are far apart in the preconceived and precalculated dates that work for one side or the other only; they comfort only those offering them. If there are any fallback second options as to a timely and mutually satisfactory date, they are still to be heard publicly. The emphasis has to be on mutual. For what had to have occurred is that any counteroffers made by either group represented merely inching along from the earlier false starts; the gap is so wide as to be unbridgeable. For one thing, the close-door conversations are too short; leaders have to demonstrate to a watching and intrigued nation that they are serious about this crucial business of the people, and which involves the welfare of those same people. They have to stay behind those doors and hammer out compromise dates until there is glimmer of progress, if not finality.
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GECOM Commissioners should examine how Election Officials in other countries handle similar situations DEAR EDITOR, I read with intrepid interest the daily newspapers of Saturday 9 March, 2019, of the situation faced by GECOM which, as all Guyanese know, is tasked with holding ELECTIONS particularly in relation to the position of house to house registration taken by a few Commissioners, and of the passing of Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos, with a heavy heart. There could be a simple solution and a rather straightforward one to the situation faced by GECOM. The Commissioners should be looking at how other Election Officials deal with the Guyana situation in their jurisdictions, and scrutinize the local pertinent three legislations affecting its work, and make a decision concern-
ing a specific date which must be reasonable, while simultaneously addressing the issue of the more than 40,000 new Voters. GECOM is supposed to be neutral and make decisions based on fairness, or else Guyana can be seen as undemocratic, which is truly not in Guyana’s best interest. I would therefore suggest viewing the decision-making processes employed of those personnel attached to decision-making of their respective countries when it came to the very important time of the calling of their national elections, and in identifying a suitable day, save and except any Sunday, which is always set aside as the Lord’s Day, in particular, some of the English originated countries like Zimbabwe, Zambia, Somalia,
South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, Nevis & Anguilla, and Jamaica. The Charter expresses the commitment of member states to the development of free and democratic societies and the promotion of peace and prosperity to improve the lives of all peoples of the Commonwealth. The Charter also acknowledges the role of civil society in supporting the goals and values of the Commonwealth. On a personal front, I have worked with ELECTIONS CANADA since 1978 in various roles during all three strata of electoral elections, i.e., municipal, provincial and federal, and would suggest that GECOM cater for the (expected to be at least 40,000 voters) persons who are not on the List Of Electors by
SPECIAL BALLOT. This process would allow Guyana to avoid house to house registration yet cater for these aforesaid voters. For example, Canada has been using Special Ballot. It takes an additional five minutes for that particular voter (as such a voter is directed to a special Table set up beside the Returning Officer or Deputy Returning which is manned by a Special Poll Clerk who is tasked with taking particulars of the voter – i.e., things like driver’s license, utility letter showing name and address, etc.) to get authenticated, and then issued a ballot. Also, a period of one week is usually set aside prior to the Date of Election to allow any of those desirous to vote from either stream (Contiinued on page 7)
Sunday 2019 SundayFebruary March 10,24, 2019
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This action of the Ministries of Public Health and Education needs to be stopped immediately
The Government, and Government alone has created the impending constitutional crisis
DEAR EDITOR, I recently heard reports of staff of the Ministry of Public Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, vaccinating underage children with the anti-HPV vaccine without first obtaining parental permission. In some areas, parents/guardians who don’t want their child(ren) to get this vaccine are being tasked with writing and sending letters to the authoritiesthe ‘opt-out’ approach; otherwise their child will get vaccinated. Especially troubling are reports from the hinterland regions about parents only receiving information about this vaccine after their children have already been vaccinated. This is a clear violation of both child and parental rights, as well as a potentially very dangerous approach- children’s medical histories, potential allergies, etc, are not being taken into proper consideration. It is important to have this information as it can determine whether or not the child should receive the vaccine, and alert caregivers to potential negative side effects. The fact is that EVERY drug/medicine/vaccine has side effects, some more serious than others, depending on each individual’s genetics, medical history, etc. Gardasil, the anti-HPV vaccine, is no exception. While most of the reported side effects have been relatively minor thus far, some more serious effects have been reported. Responsible and ethical healthcare providers would inform people- including the adults and guardians of underage children- of these, al-
lowing them to make an informed decision. Responsible and ethical healthcare providers would also follow up and provide treatment for side effects that children may experience. It is not clear that this is being done in Guyana, especially in the hinterland areas. This vaccine is a relatively new one, and although some amount of safety testing has been done by its manufacturer, research is still being conducted. Some side effects may not show up immediately but after some time; when side effects aren’t tracked properly, the long-term safety of the vaccine becomes questionable. Vaccine side effects and safely concerns aside- the issue of consent remains. Consent is, theoretically, a very simple concept- giving permission, saying yes or no to things affecting you. In sexual matters, not getting consent from someone equals rape. Consent is something we train youth- and adults- to ask for and obtain, as responsible and ethical persons. This is especially necessary in a nation like ours that’s suffering from an epidemic of sexual abuse. Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) is also a very important right of indigenous people in particular. It has been recognized in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and
highlights the importance of respectful inclusion of indigenous people in decision making on issues affecting them. Key to FPIC is not being coerced, threatened, or manipulated, and of being informed before any decision is made. Administering the anti-HPV vaccine to underage childrenindigenous and non-indigenous- without parental permission is a clear violation of FPIC, as well as potentially dangerous, health-wise. This action of the Ministries of Public Health and Education needs to be stopped immediately. Parents/guardians of children nationwide, but especially in the hinterland regions where indigenous languagesnot standard English- often predominate, must not be forced to write ‘opt in’ letters to the authorities. All information about potential vaccine side effects must be provided to parents/guardians and no child should be vaccinated without their parents’ free, prior, and informed consent. To do otherwise is to disrespect child and parental rights, and potentially harm children. Surely this is not what the caring authorities intend. Sincerely, S. Nageer
DEAR EDITOR, The PNC Plenary racing towards illegal status in twelve days, is a problem created by the PNC and PNC alone. Once the government was defeated on December 21, it became a PNC problem for Cabinet to resign and for the President to call fast track, emergency elections in 90 days, in this special circumstance. The current impasse is a PNC problem, not a PPP problem. It is the PNC that is using maximum delaying tactics and it is Mr. Granger who said the government isn’t going anywhere. Fast track elections can be held with assistance from Caricom, OAS, Commonwealth, the UN, the Carter Center and other NGOs. GECOM can bring in Surujbally and Vishnu Persaud to help out. Where there is a will, there is a way. Later, we can investigate if GECOM staff had been twiddling their thumbs in between elections and why they have not been cleaning and updating lists all along. What happened to the investigations of buying outdated radios and expensive clippers? Mr. Granger cannot think he would meet with the Opposition Leader two weeks before the government becomes illegitimate, and magi-
cally hope or expect that the PPP would bail them out by voting for unlimited extension. Mr. Jagdeo met with Mr. Granger before and instead of getting on the fast track towards elections, they are filing frivolous appeals repeating that 33 is not greater than 32, and have done nothing to make sure election preparations are in high gear. After its defeat, the PNC top leaders said they would respect the Constitution, and the Deputy Chief Elections Officer said GECOM would be ready to deliver new elections. Then they changed their tune and move towards maximum obstructionism to early elections. For a government that has great disdain for clean, proper election lists in the riggeritis days of PNC rigging, when dead people, donkeys, and horses were on the overseas voters’ lists, suddenly, the PNC is feigning interest in pure lists, as it wants to hold on to the good life as long as it could. We are disappointed that Mr. Jagdeo met with Granger a second time knowing that Granger had no intention to follow the mandates of the Constitution. But it shows the willingness of the PPP side to be reasonable. Granger, how-
ever, has no intention to meet constitutional timelines. Remember that it was Mr. Jagdeo who, like a puppy dog, humbly submitted 3 lists for the GECOM Chairman and the allpowerful Granger rejected them all, refusing to follow the Carter formula. The current situation reveals why it was important to Mr. Granger to have his puppet in the Chair’s position, why former deputy Chief Elections Officer, Vishnu Persaud, was not reappointed, and why there is lack of diversity in GECOM staffing. We are pleased that the PPP has started to alert the international community of an impending constitutional crisis. Granger and Harmon must be in serious denial to keep saying that we are not in the twilight of a constitutional crisis. I trust Mr. Jagdeo will not embarrass himself by going to another one of Granger’s gimmick meetings. This is the first time the PNC has any legitimacy as a government, and it’s back again to becoming an illegal regime as March 21 creeps up on us. The PPP is to be commended for its patience, and willingness to meet with Granger twice, although the meetings did not produce any good faith effort on Granger’s part. Jerry Singh
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Our youths are being deprived of making mistakes and gaining experience
SERENDIPITY OR THE BEGINNING OF A DICTATORSHIP?
DEAR EDITOR Both of our major political parties behave as if they own the people of Guyana and the country as a whole. On the administrative body of every public institution, they have their members occupying key positions, leaving little room for other eligible Guyanese, even if these members have little or no intelligence and relevant experience. More than that, most of these party representatives are obsolete human stock or belong to the past, are retired persons wearing pampers and having great difficulty in ‘peeing straight’ while our youths are not given the opportunity to make mistakes and gain experience. For over fifty years, they have embedded our country in the storming stage. While they battle with each other, feathering their nests, helping themselves, their families, relatives and friends, they
leave a few crumbs for the general population. Both of these parties and their leaders behave as slave masters, living in luxury, and having their house and yard slaves devouring the sustenance of the poor field slaves and enjoying fire in their bellies. The young people have to be proactive and take steps to prevent these wolves and leaches from continuing to fool them and leave them in a stupor. As a pensioner, I cannot understand why our old folks are working themselves to death for, after all is said and done; they cannot enjoy the loot they gain by taking over the jobs of our youths. Therefore, I urge our young people to vote for other parties and prevent the two tigers from keeping us storming for another 50+ years. Youths are the majority so let the old folks vote for their traditional ethnic parties.
Youths must vote for the other parties so that we can have more no-confidence motions to force the political masters, their house and yard slaves to walk the talk, talk the walk and muddy their shining shoes. If the youths can vote for other parties, development will come to their doorsteps and our political masters will not wait for ‘their own fart to wake them’. Our country will not find itself in the horrible mess we now experience and our people will not be taken for extremely unpleasant, spine-chilling and terrible rides at election time. Also, our retired rehired pampers-wearing folks will spend more time with their grandchildren as opposed to working themselves to death ‘while peeing on their own shoes’. Sincerely, Ed Singh
AN UNWARRANTED ATTACK ON STEMGUYANA DEAR EDITOR, I read with some measure of shame the unwarranted attack on STEMGuyana by an obviously fake profile advocating for the Ministry Education. Two years ago, my then 11-year-old begged me to take him to Georgetown for a robotics exhibition. We live in New Amsterdam, so it was with some effort that we managed to attend. That exhibition was life-changing for my son who has since become a Lego building fan and now insists that he wants to be an engineer. Since 2017, I have been enquiring
about a club for New Amsterdam and last weekend one was finally launched. Editor, over 50 children attended, and I’m proud to say my son was one of them. I said all that to say that it is clear that the STEMGuyana leaders have made a significant sacrifice to roll out this programme all across Guyana, and I want to say unequivocally that we are grateful. Ugly attacks like the one launched by the fake profile dissuade good people from contributing. It is shameful and we should stop it. Ashamed, Patriotic Guyanese
DEAR EDITOR, It seems the president would have the nation believe that his reluctance to announce a date for election is merely serendipity in motion -induced by his majesty, for the good of the Nation! Having asserted that there is no crisis. The president in his meeting with the opposition leader said, “GECOM is an independent agency and there is no part of the Constitution which gives the president or executive in general, authority to interfere, intervene or intrude in the work of the election commission.” The president is portraying to the public that the onus is on GECOM to supply him with a date by which GECOM could deliver “credible elections” for him to announce a date for same. Is the president trying to suggest that the last LGE, not six months ago by GECOM was not credible? I don’t recall any such complaint by the president when those results were out. Neither do I recall any condemnation by the president of the validity of list of electors when GECOM CEO (Lowinfield) said it will be valid until March 31st . If the president truly believe in the independence of GECOM that s t atement from the CEO should have been reassuring. Clearly! The president, if he is not
leading the charge on the delaying tactics by calling for GECOM to do new registration, he has joined the bandwagon on the issue. The president seems oblivious of the Constitution he had sworn to uphold and protect which had generated a NCM, which decreed that elections be held in not more than 90 days from December 21st 2018. The president by alluding that himself “ or anybody, cannot intervene, cannot intrude, cannot interfere with the work of Gecom,” in his effort to assert the independence of GECOM, should be seen as a valiant attempt to divert or erase from the memory of the masses, the fact that he had usurp the 23 years old orthodoxy in the appointment of a GECOM chairman by unilaterally appointing Patterson to the post. He should be aware that his unilateral appointment has severely compromised the independence of GECOM. His pronouncement of GECOM’S independence now, is picturesque of the president holding up a smokescreen. GECOM in an independent
mode has a constitutional mandate to be ready to deliver credible elections to the people whenever it is called on. The president is entitled to make that call. The irony and ludicrousness of him attempting to exact confirmation of GECOM’S readiness before setting a date was exposed, prior to his meeting with the opposition leader, by one of his own party commissioner at GECOM. The commissioner, Vincent Alexander had told the media that it is the president who has to set a date for elections and GECOM has to deliver on that date. The NCM constitutional timeline ticks on! After the 90 days the authority to set a date for election would be constitutionally out of his jurisdiction. But this is Guyana! With a president known for disregarding the Constitution, the Nation stand in awe. The fact that the president does not see a constitutional crisis looming on the horizon while everyone else does, is an ominous sign. Could this be the beginning of a dictatorship? Rudolph Singh
Some crucial traffic lights are inoperable DEAR EDITOR, For some time now, the traffic lights controlling the junction of the Rupert Craig Highway and Sheriff Street has not been working. This remains an extremely dangerous situation. Traffic travelling North on Sheriff Street and attempting to enter and cross the Rupert Craig Highway do so at the peril of their lives. There are other traffic lights on Sheriff Street that are not working for some considerable time, for instance, at the crossing of Duncan and Sheriff Streets. There is also a traffic light, which controls the crossing of the Railway Embankment Road and Ogle Airport Road which is left permanently flashing. The result is that anyone attempting to cross the Railway Embankment Road and the Ogle Airport Road, again, does so at the risk of their life. The Ogle Airport Road is the main road with appreciable traffic to and from the Eugene F. Correia International Airport. At peak traffic hours in the morning and in the afternoon, this light should be turned on to full operation. It’s noteworthy that as a result of the repairs being carried out on Sheriff Street, the Police Traffic Department has placed officers at the Sheriff Street and crossing roads in the early morning hours, but only up to 9:00 a.m. Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento
Sunday March 10, 2019
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Kaieteur M@ilbox
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Politicians and the Judiciary have been extremely disappointing in our Cricket Crisis DEAR EDITOR, Our Cricket - How Politics and the Judiciary have adversely impacted the Development of our youths in Linden, East Coast Demerara, Georgetown and Berbice. In 2011 a cabal of ‘businessmen’ hijacked the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB). Since then there has not been any democratically held elections of the GCB. Naturally the then PPP/C government was not too anxious to intervene since their boys were in total control and their constituents were the beneficiaries in Essequibo, West Demerara and East Bank Demerara, where the hijackers came from. All other stakeholders in cricket playing areas such as Berbice, East Coast Demerara, Georgetown and Linden were deliberately ostracized because they dared to oppose the illegality. They still are. Berbice Cricket Board eventually challenged the hijacking in August 2011 but to date this alarming illegality still exists. After constant pressure by the stakeholders and the ruling of Chief Justice Ag Ian Chang, the PPP/C Government eventually intro-
duced a Bill for legalizing our cricket as a way of returning it to normalcy. After twenty-two (22) meetings of the Parliamentary Cricket Sub-committee the Law was passed and assented to by President Donald Ramotar in August 2014, with full support from the majority opposition. The GCB immediately challenged the law citing the Attorney General and Minister of Sport as defendants because it was not in their interest to have legality in the cricket structure. This matter lasted until May 2017 under the present APNU/AFC Government when that challenge was dismissed as abandoned. Yet to date this group of cricket hijackers continue to control our cricket with blatant discrimination and lawlessness whilst politicians of both the previous and current governments and the courts seem palpably impotent in resolving this unacceptable state of affairs. The PPP/C government is silent on this issue, despite their public stand on democratically held elections, maybe because: (a) 95% of the group that
GECOM Commissioners should examine how ElectionOfficials in other... From page 4 Special Ballot or Regular ballot to cast ADVANCE VOTE. Whatever the route GECOM takes, I am not perturbed in any way, as I see seven excellent persons grappling with the issue of completing the ELECTIONS in reasonable SPEED, some being former MINISTERS OF GOV’T. According to our current law, which is based on a Westminster Model from our former mother country, England, Guyana needs to hold an election anytime after Mar 20, so a date must now be set by the said seven persons. In this way, whichever date is chosen whether in early July, 2019, which seems to me a reasonable one, given the current stalemate between the GECOM Commissioners, the date of the elections will be set, and thus, all candidates can then get themselves into campaigning mode OFFICIALLY. Guyanese are very lucky people, because in some countries, several people who are responsible for holding elections either get fired immediately or dismissed shortly thereafter when they do not perform diligently at their paid job functions. If the Honorable Chief Justice Chambers, tremendously busy as those Chambers are, could have ruled in the relevant court case due to the aftermath of the NCM, within a mere 25 business days, why can’t the relevant official in his/her neutral and nonpartisan capacity and tasked with the job of holding elections not do so I ask. I was under the impression that those two wonderful politicians, Amna Ally and Gail Teixeira, were supposed to have sorted out this matter by now, as the two major parties in parliament try to find headway in our Nation’s affairs. Perhaps, the seven persons dealing with this matter should consider having a tri-partite Meeting with themselves + Ms Ally + Ms. Teixeira. Yours truly, M. Shabeer Zafar, Barrister and Solicitor, (Ontario) former Berbice attorney-at-law
hijacked the GCB is a certain sect looking at the composition of the Boards they represent. (b) The youths in their constituencies benefit from gears, funds etc, while those in Linden, Georgetown, Buxton, Golden Grove, Providence, Plasiance, BV and some Berbice clubs have been totally excluded for years. Despite the inclusion of Linden as a lawful member of the cricket administration act 2014, the youngsters of that region have not been allowed to participate in any cricket tournaments, and subsequently are not favoured with any opportunity to represent their county, country or the West Indies (WI). (c) They evidently recognize and appreciate the negative impact that frustrating the youngsters in the predominantly APNU/AFC constituencies could have on the general elections. Meanwhile the current government: (a) Despite the proven illegality of the current GCB. (b) Despite the leadership’s helplessness of their ability to ensure that the youngsters are treated fairly. (c) Despite government’s recognition (by Affidavit ofDefense -: 2018-HC-DEMCIV-FDA) of the illegality of the current cricket hijackers, they willingly embrace the hijackers by attending/supporting their functions. How could the Prime Minister and the Minster of Sport attend the GCB awards Ceremony knowing that the Executive are illegally occupying the positions, and the Minister of Sport quoted as praising the illegal members of “keeping cricket alive”. Are the youngsters who suffer in Linden, East Coast, Georgetown and Berbice, be-
ing kept alive by this despotic group? Evidently the Hon. Minister is not aware that cricket has been “kept alive” by the magnificent efforts of Roger Harper Georgetown Cricket Association, Bissoondyal Singh East Coast Cricket Board, and Keith Foster, Anil Beharry and now Hilbert Foster of the Berbice Cricket Board. A routine check of the newspapers for the past ten (10) years will reveal which areas have been playing cricket and from where our national cricketers have been provided, despite the lawlessness. Certainly not from Essequibo, West Demerara nor East Bank areas that have, notwithstanding provided all the current illegal administrators, without any semblance of a democratic process. With regards to the judiciary, the illegality of the GCB had been languishing in the courts for three (3) years until the law was passed in 2014 and a further four and a half (4 ½) years since then totaling approx. eight (8) years to date. Is it fair to the youngsters of Guyana who have been promised so many opportunities? The PPP/C is turning Hell and High water to have an early general election, but sits mum on the long outstanding need for Democratic Elections of the Guyana Cricket Board. How does this look? In this time of fixed date applications new court system that is supposed to expedite the process of justice and fair play, what is delaying the process? What is evident and strange is that cricket matters take exceptionally long in Georgetown but not Berbice where the cricket illegality
there was expeditiously handled and the Democratic process is presently working positively for cricket in Berbice. However, an application made to the high court for a ruling on the GCB and the appointment of the Ombudsman is extremely important for establishing the illegitimacy of GCB especially with Elections of Officials at the West Indies Cricket Board to be held on 24th March, 2019. Why is it taking so long for our courts to rule? The implication for order and legality of Cricket West Indies would be seriously challenged if our illegal hijackers are allowed to attend and vote at these upcoming elec-
tions, without a ruling on the current matter before the court. I ask the Politicians of the PPP/C, APNU/AFC, the judiciary the media and indeed all fair-minded Guyanese what we are doing for our cricket. There seems to be more questions than answers, whilst the GCB continues its lawlessness and decadence in our beloved cricket. Our youngsters are very much aggrieved; they deserve much better. Winston G. Boston
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Sunday March 10, 2019
Kaieteur News
Rusal has history of disrespect in third world countries - decision time this week on impasse UC Rusal’s track record in a number of countries is painting a picture of strongarm tactics by that Russian company. Coming to Guyana in 2006, it acquired 90 percent of the Berbice operations at Aroaima and Kurubuka, in the Kwakwani, Upper Berbice area. Since then, it never declared a profit. Strangely, Guyana seemed never to be too concerned it was getting little. Maybe it was because the local operating company, Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI), owned 80 percent by Rusal, had hired as its advisor former Chief Labour Officer, Mohamed Akeel. In 2009, the company fired 57 workers, a number of them supervisors, for protesting for better working conditions and pay. Ten years later, the company, again took the ultimate step…to terminate
the services of 91 workers. For three weeks now, scores of workers are at Aroaima, a housing area for Rusal staffers, are refusing orders of the Russian managers to vacate the premises. The stalemate has got Government in the act now with a decision likely this week that could seal the fate of Rusal in Guyana, unless the company accedes to demands of the unions to reinstate workers. Government is examining the legal implications of Rusal sending home workers. Rusal has been refusing for a decade now to recognize the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union, the bargaining unit that is acknowledged by the trade union regulator. Going back, Rusal, said to be the second largest aluminium company in the world, does not have a flattering track record.
Minister Raphael Trotman with workers and others at the Kwakwani waterfront yesterday. In fact, there are two prominent cases- in Guinea and closer to home, in Jamaica, which would shed light on the behaviour of the company. Jamaica and Guinea
Rusal workers and residents lit a bonfire Friday night to galvanise support against defiant Rusal. In Jamaica, a court case is coming up on March 19. The court battle is looming between the Government and UC Rusal over Jamaica’s decision to revoke the mining licence that was issued to the Russian owners of West Indies Aluminium Company (Windalco) nearly 18 years ago, according to the Jamaican Gleaner in January. The decision to yank the licence was based on Section 42(b) of the Mining Act, which authorises the minister to take such action “if the holder [of the lease] wholly ceases work in, on, or under the land subject of the lease during a continuous period of six months, without the written consent of the minister”. The Jamaican government said that Rusal held on to the property but did not mine for over eight years. UC Rusal is claiming that during the eight year period it spent US$1.2 million on land-reclamation and restoration activities and a further US$1.9 million last year for asset-preservation activities. UC Rusal argues that the
minister failed to establish the precedent as required by the Act when he moved to revoke the company’s mining licence. In Guinea, Africa, the government had asked for hundreds of millions of dollars that the company owed for bauxite it mined but for which the country got little or nothing. The Guinean government has weighed in on UC Rusal’s $2.2bn initial public offering, demanding that part of the proceeds go towards clearing $860m it says it is owed in damages by the Russian aluminium company. Rusal acquired the Friguia bauxite mine and alumina refinery from Guinea in 2006. In 2009, a Guinean court declared the sale null and void, backing a government suit that the deal had breached privatisation rules. Alex Stewart International, auditors hired by the government, calculates that $830m worth of minerals have been mined since the sale, including interest. Other claims, including alleged environmental damage, could push potential damages over
$1bn. Yesterday, visiting the workers who have been holing out at Aroaima, was Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman. Decision time President of the union, Ephraim Velloza, said that the minister spoke with workers, conducted a fact-finding mission and inspected the Kwakwani waterfront area. The Berbice River, used to transport the mined bauxite, has been blocked by workers with drums and a wire-rope. A vessel with logs from a Chinese concession has been caught up in this protest action. Another vessel that has come for bauxite is there also waiting on word that it can proceed.According to Velloza, on Friday night, workers and residents of Laddersville, a Kwakwani waterfront area, lit a large bonfire to encourage staffers and others who depend on the bauxite activities that “there is light at the end of the tunnel”.With them was union leader, Lincoln Lewis. “I can tell you that (Continued on page 10)
Sunday March 10, 2019
Royston King challenges dismissal Former Town Clerk, Royston King, has challenged the Local Government Commission’s decision to dismiss him from duty. Last January, King was fired by the (LGC) following recommendations made by officials, who conducted a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into operations of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, (M&CC). King was the centre of major revelations last year in a Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice (Ret’d) Cecil Kennard. The report calls for officers to be disciplined even as that audit is being conducted. The senior officers listed included King, who was sent on leave to facilitate the CoI. King is cited for gross misconduct, abuse of office, recklessness, dishonesty, conspiracy, and misappropriation of funds. However, in a move to challenge the dismissal King claims that among other things the Commission violated his right to a hearing and that the Commission has no right to cite him for Gross Misconduct in Public Office since the charge is linked to a criminal offence under the common laws. He claimed too, that that he was removed from office solely on the basis of the COI but since he is a pensionable employee it is a violation of his rights under the constitution of Guyana. The former Town Clerk is contending, too, that based on the Terms of Reference (TOR) the Commission stepped outside its boundaries when it moved on the recommended criminal charges. The challenge is being heard in the High Court by Justice Simone MorrisRamlall. King is being represented by Attorneys- at-law Maxwell Edwards and Patrice Henry. The Attorney General is named as the legal representative of the LGC. In his report following the COI, Justice Kennard recommended a detailed forensic audit be done into all transactions between April 1, 2015, and October 31, 2018. “I have found that there is prima facie evidence to support skullduggery. Moreover, where there is evidence of such activities, criminal and or civil proceedings should commence forthwith,” Kennard outlined. As it relates to King, the CoI report stated that while it is ‘the easiest of recommendation to make’, he should be terminated, and criminal charges should be laid against him in respect of his actions. The report recommends that the State Assets Recov-
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Kaieteur News
Royston King ery Agency (SARA) and the Guyana Police Force should lead a joint probe to ascertain the relevant criminal charge(s) to be laid. According to the report, the Town Clerk and other officers including former Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green, appeared to have committed the tort of misfeasance and should be dealt with in that context. The CoI found that documents it received indicated that contracts were awarded to friends and associates of key officials of the Council, such as the son of the Mayor, the son of the Chairman of the Finance sub-committee, the friend of the son of the Mayor, Ingrid and Brian Chase, who were embroiled in a land saga with the Town Clerk, and friends of the Town Clerk and the Mayor. Further, it also appeared from documents seen by the COI, which were provided by the Acting City Treasurer that the Town Clerk was reckless, in granting leases to several persons far below fair market prices. In some cases, he rented these lands for no fees to businessmen who can afford. “This to my mind is a fundamental breach of his duty of care for the Council, particularly given the state of the Council’s finances. This fur-
ther warrants investigation and I believe the auditors of the State Assets Recovery Agency should be called in to probe further, the issuing of leases and contracts to ascertain whether the Town Clerk and other officers are benefiting from perquisite of office,” the CoI report stated. Kennard stated that it appears that the Town Clerk has been acting beyond the scope of his Terms of Reference (TOR).“He seemed to be doing the work of the Treasurer, Engineer and HR Manager,” the report found. Also listed in the report are Acting Town Clerk, Sharon Harry-Munroe who is cited for dereliction of duty and incompetence; Assistant Town Clerk, Sherry Jerrick for dereliction of duty and incompetence; Internal Auditor, Omodele Umojo-Newton for incompetence and conspiracy; Chief Constable, Andrew Foo for dereliction of duty and incompetence; Human Resources Manager, Paulette Braithwaite for incompetence; City Engineer, Colvern Venture for incompetence and dereliction of duty; and Rashid Kelman for conspiracy. Further, the report noted that City Treasurer, Ron Mc Calmon, should proceed on early retirement as he is unwell.
Dem boys seh ...
De Russians start de war in Guyana Is only a matter of time before Guyana get tek over by foreigners. Dem boys hear bout dem long ago days when de whole country use to believe that dem foreigners was bigger than God. If dem seh jump, people use to ask “How high.” Dem days gone but some countries ain’t get de message. Russia is one because Rusal believe that it own Guyana and can treat people anyhow. Imagine it give dem workers a one per cent increase. If dem workers was getting a million dollars a month then people could understand de one per cent. But when dem barely mekking $100,000 a month, one per cent is just $1,000. That is de pay increase de company give dem
workers. When dem strike de company claim that dem ungrateful and fire nuff of dem. Dem boys seh de government should fire Rusal just like wha happening now in Jamaica. Rusal refusing to listen to de government and to de unions. Dem boys want dem Russians to know that Guyana can refuse to listen. Is not only dem Russians coming to tek over. De Brazilians and de Venezuelans come already but dem is neighbours. Dem Chinese been coming fuh a while now. All of dem is businessmen. Dem boys never see a Chinee man walking wid a tool bag or wid a solder bolt. He wouldn’t even be seen wid a bolt of cloth. But Guyana getting oil and
dem coming in droves. Was de same thing happen in Ghana. De men go to Ghana without women. Some do business wedding fuh get to stay permanent. And some of dem actually get de women pregnant. It starting to happen in Guyana. Some people getting baby fuh dem Chinee men. Wha happening now is like wha happen in de interior when dem porkknockers enter. To this day anybody can see de impact of de porkknocker. That is how de foreigners gun try to tek over de country and we young men helping because dem stretching out dem hand and refusing to go to school. Talk half and pick a war wid dem Russians.
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Sunday March 10, 2019
Kaieteur News
City constabulary concerned over increase in youth criminal activities The City Constabulary is concerned over a growing number of juveniles committing criminal acts in and around the municipal markets. Officials attached to the City Constabulary, admitted recently, at a press briefing that the City is facing challenges as it finds more juveniles committing criminal acts. “What we are finding now is that a number of crimes are being committed by the
youth. The pick pockets and phone snatchers particularly at the Stabroek Market are under 18 years. Some of them are even in their school uniform.” Chief Constable Andrew Foo noted, that the constabulary in working with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) ensures that the arrest and processing of Juveniles are done in keeping with the Juvenile Justice laws. “These laws provide for proper system to hold minors… their well-being is paramount whenever the authorities make decisions on offering rehabilitation, reintegration and education for juveniles. The Act sees the involvement of parents in the cases of juveniles as pertinent for the advancement of a better society. Akin to this, the Juvenile Justice Bill seeks to hold juveniles accountable for their actions by measures that reemphasize respect for societal values. The criminal capacity of the law presumes that no child under the age of fourteen be deemed capable or guilty of committing an offence. Consequently, the attorney repre-
senting the child will request that an evaluation be done, assessing the child’s social, emotional and cognitive development. The act repeals the 1931 Juvenile Offenders Act and the Training School Act. Last week, members of the Constabulary joined the Guyana Police Force to conduct a sting operation at the Stabroek Market. This was done in light of the numerous complaints about illegal activities and constant robberies in and around the market. Police ranks were stationed at the entrances to the market while the operation was carried out. The police also had sniffer dogs assisting in the search even as the police prison truck was parked a short distance away. The operation also saw searches being done at the Ferry Stelling area and route 31, 32, 40, 41, and 44 minibus parks. During the search, a quantity of marijuana seeds amounting to 128 grams and 561 grams of cannabis were found. The operation resulted in 13 persons being arrested in relation to several offences.
Fortunate: Young Narindra Datadin is recovering in a city hospital following Thursday’s accident at the Guyana School of Agriculture during a school tour. A window with bars from one of the buildings fell and pinned him resulting in injuries. He is suffering from back pain and swollen feet, apart from a deep wound to the head. (Zaheer Khan Facebook photo)
Rusal has history of ...
From page 8 nothing is passing until we have the workers who were sent home back on the job,” Velloza said.While Rusal has reportedly told its headquarters that operations has stopped, it is still stripping the ore and stockpiling.”The minister saw for himself the situation and has a better understanding now. The operation is not closed; Rusal is operating like nothing happen. We are not allowing shipments.”Velloza warned that the situation is not good.“We have agitated people who are not working and have not been paid and Rusal is paying some workers.”Rusal has refused to be part of any meeting with the union.They have been criticized by the Government for refusing to engage the union and demanding the waterway be reopened without any commitments to reinstate the fired workers.
Sunday March 10, 2019
Kaieteur News
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Sunday March 10, 2019
Kaieteur News
Ram petitions court to block Govt. contracts over $15M Attorney at Law and Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram has secured the services of former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, to seek to block the
APNU+AFC government from issuing contracts beyond $15M. Also, Ram is seeking to prevent payments for contracts issued after the
passage of the Bharrat Jagdeo-sponsored noconfidence motion. Through an urgent fixed date application made with notice, Ram is seeking several
High Court declarations. He wants the court to declare that with effect from the evening of December 21, 2018 when the motion was passed, all functions or duties
provided in any law to be performed specifically by Cabinet have ceased from that time by virtue of Article 106 (6) of the Constitution. He also wants the court to declare that all Government procurements (contracts) in excess of $15M require Cabinet’s review and approval pursuant to Section 54(1) of the Procurement Act, Cap. 73:05 and that any contract in excess of $15M approved by a “purported Cabinet” after the evening of December 21, 2018, is unconstitutional, unlawful, null, void and is of no legal effect; Further, Ram is seeking an order restraining Permanent Secretaries within all ministries from making any payment towards any contract in excess of $15M approved by a purported Cabinet after the evening of December 21, 2018; The grounds of the application are, among other things, that section 54 (1) of the Procurement Act stipulates that “the Cabinet shall have the right to review all procurements the value of which exceeds fifteen million Guyana dollars...” and that Cabinet has the right to review and approve all procurements (contracts) in excess of $15M in accordance with section 54 (1) of the Procurement Act. Ram and his lawyers are also citing that Article 106 (6) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana provides that: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.” Ram and his lawyer noted the “ruling of the Speaker of the National Assembly, that the motion of no confidence debated in the National Assembly on 21st December, 2018, was carried by a vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly is lawful and valid, and that the motion of no confidence upon a division vote of 33:32 Members of the National Assembly was validly passed as the requisite majority pursuant to Article 106 (6) of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana was obtained.” The writ further stated that by virtue of the above paragraph the President and the Ministers who constitute
Attorney at Law, Christopher Ram
Ram’s lawyer, Anil Nandlall
Attorney General, Basil Williams the Cabinet were compelled to resign their functions in Cabinet, but retain their office until elections are held and that that all procurements (contract) in excess of fifteen million Guyana dollars (G$15,000,000) cannot be approved by a purported Cabinet after the evening of 21st December, 2018, until elections are held and a new Cabinet appointed.” Attorney General, Basil Williams and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency were named as respondents.
Sunday March 10, 2019
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Kaieteur News
Misleading the stock market is a serious offence By Kiana Wilburg A group of concerned shareholders who hold no less than five percent shares in the Canada-based Guyana Goldfields Inc., is concerned about the firm’s misleading statements on an Environmental Permit it was granted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Its comments in this regard are in wake of a Kaieteur News article on the matter. This newspaper had reported that the company gave the impression that it received the permit to continue with its underground mining initiative. It was later revealed by EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams, that the permit was only for the company to collect data that would inform its underground mining proposal. Adding to what Kaieteur News revealed, the concerned shareholders highlighted that the company even claimed in a new investor presentation dated February/March 2019 that it has “received EPA approval for underground development” and that it is now “fully licensed and permitted for underground development.” The shareholders said that these statements clearly imply that the company received the necessary permit to resume certain activities at the Aurora Gold Mine, which directly contradict specific statements made by
Guyanese government officials. The Concerned Shareholders said that they are deeply unsettled by this gross disconnect in statements. They said, “Whether or not the company is legally able to carry on operations at, and execute on its business plan for the Aurora Gold Mine, is a material fact that goes to the core of the Company’s business. “Incomplete and/or misleading disclosure on a fundamental material fact is extremely serious and troubling.” WORSENING RELATIONSHIP The concerned shareholders also noted that the company’s relationship with the government in Guyana has taken several blows over the past year as a result of a series of missteps by the Company, including a history of non-compliance with EPA regulations and a mass-firing of 80 local workers last summer. The concerned shareholders said they are worried that, along with this latest blunder, the company’s mounting transgressions may yield serious and longterm consequences for Guyana Goldfields’ mining operations. “The fact that this story is splashed on the front pages of the Guyanese media and that Government officials are publicly chastising Guyana Goldfields, is not only embarrassing but it further
– Guyana Goldfields Shareholders puts into jeopardy, the Company’s relationship with the government. “With its primary asset in Guyana, it’s essential that they have good relationships with Guyanese officials and abide by all rules and regulations,” said Patrick Sheridan, one of the largest shareholders and former Executive Chairman and former director of the Company. He added, “Potentially misleading the (stock) market is a serious offence. It’s becoming more and clearer that shareholders need a new board and management team with a fresh and honest approach to dealing with government officials, shareholders and the public at large. It’s time for change.” ONGOING PATTERN OF MISLEADING SHAREHOLDERS The concerned shareholders also believe that Guyana Goldfields’ latest claims are just another example of the current Board of Directors misleading shareholders. The concerned shareholders believe that the Board has consistently and deliberately twisted or omitted the reasons for the company’s poor results, including excuses such as the rainy season, slow equipment mobilization and most recently, problems with the resource model.
Victims of cemetery robbery drop case against teen
Derrick Austin, Desiree Austin and Elton David on Wednesday returned to court and decided to drop the case against, 19-year-old Mario Walters who allegedly robbed them at gunpoint of their jewellery, cash and other articles while they were painting a relative’s tomb. Walters, who claims to be a chef at a fast food establishment, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty where the three charges were read to him. Last Wednesday the victims told the magistrate that they decided to give the accused a second chance and drop the case. Desiree stated, “I look at him and think that this could be my son and all they just need is guidance so I decided to let it go.” According to Derrick, “He is a young person and we all need a second chance.” The third victim, David, claimed that he did not get to speak with the
FREED: Mario Walters young man as yet however; he is looking to do the same as the others. Walters, from ‘D’ Field, Sophia, Georgetown, denied all the charges after they were read out to him when he first appeared. The first charge alleged that on February 17, 2019, in Le Repentir Cemetery at Cemetery Road, Georgetown, while being in company of others and armed with a gun,
Walters robbed Derrick Austin of jewellery, cash and other articles amounting to $240,000. It was also alleged that the accused, on the same date and at the same location, in company of others and armed with a gun, robbed Elton David of $24,000 in cash and a cell phone valued $7,000 a total of $31,000. Finally, it was alleged that Walters also robbed Desiree Austin of two gold rings among other items all a total value of $51,500. Police prosecutor Seon Blackman related the facts of the charge, which stated that on the day in question; the alleged victims were at the cemetery painting the tomb of a close relative. The accused along with others approached the victims and held them at gunpoint. They then relieved the persons of the articles mentioned in the charges and made good their escape. A police report was later made.
They said, too, that the company also recently issued a press release
mischaracterizing Concerned Shareholder Patrick Sheridan’s tenure with the
Company, desperately trying to distract shareholders from the massive value destruction of over $1 billion since 2016 that Guyana Goldfields’ shareholders have had to endure.
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Sunday March 10, 2019
Kaieteur News
Strip club owner accused of human trafficking will have to serve four years for illegal gun and ammo possession With the owner of the Diamond Strip Club now being accused of human trafficking, one month after he was granted a four-year suspended sentenced, according to the laws of Guyana he will have to serve the jail time since it is now alleged that he committed another offence. Freeman Fordyce, 41, of
Lot 99 Collingswood Avenue, Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara, is accused of trafficking two Venezuelans for sexual exploitation at his club. According to Chapter 11:05 of the Criminal Law Form Part 3. (1) Subject to the provision of this section, and section 10, where any court passes on any person a sentence of imprisonment for a
term of not more than two years for an offence, it may order that the sentence shall not take effect unless, during a period specified in the order, being not less than one year or more than two years from the date of the order, such person commits in Guyana another offence punishable with imprisonment and thereafter a court having
power to do so orders under section 4 that the original sentence shall take effect with or without variation of its term. (2) A court shall not, on passing a sentence of imprisonment on any person for an offence, make an order under subsection (1) if it is proved that he has been previously convicted of any offence for which a sentence of imprisonment has been passed on him. (3) A court shall, before it makes an order under subsection (1) in respect of a person convicted by or before it, ascertain whether that person has been previously convicted of any offence for which a sentence of imprisonment has been passed on him and for that purpose may, where it becomes necessary, defer the passing of sentence on him. Last Friday, the trafficking in person’s matters was called in the courtroom of Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. However, Fordyce was not present to answer to the charges; hence a summons was issued for him to attend court. Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers told the court that Fordyce’s whereabouts is presently unknown. He added that Fordyce was released on his own recognizance (self-bail) in relation to the new charges, and was instructed to report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), pending his arraignment in court. The court heard that Fordyce failed to show up at CID and police are now looking for him. The matter has been adjourned until March 14. According to information, police carried out a raid at the Club Diamond last month, which led to the arrest of 15
Charged Freeman Fordyce women, all said to be foreign nationals. This was after a video circulated on social media, showed a woman jumping over a locked gate to get into the Diamond Hotel and Night Club compound. The woman was being assisted by four of her friends who were on the other side of the fence. They were holding up the security barbed wire so that the woman could have gained entry. Hours after the video hit social media, police raided the compound and detained the 15 women, whom investigators suspected to be victims of trafficking in persons (TIP). The woman, Dailyn Garcia, 25, a Venezuelan, who was seen climbing the fence, was later charged for overstaying her time in Guyana. She was fined $30,000 for the offence or in default six months imprisonment. Upon paying the fine or spending the time, Garcia will be escorted to the nearest port of exit and deported to her homeland. In January, Fiona Hopkinson, an employee of the night club, was charged for trafficking four Venezuelan women and forcing them
to work as strippers. She was also charged for withholding the women’s travel documents. In 2018, Hopkinson and Rodwell Dempster, another employee of the entity, were jointly charged for trafficking five Venezuelans for sexual exploitation at the same night club and hotel. Fordyce was handed the suspended sentence recently by a City Magistrate on the illegal gun and ammo charge, after he was found guilty. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has since appealed the Magistrate’s decision. This ruling was handed down by Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the conclusion of the trial in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. It is alleged that Fordyce on May 5, last, at George and Princes Streets, Georgetown, had in his possession one Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol without being a licensed firearm holder at the time. It was further alleged that, on the same day, he had in his possession 15 live rounds of 9mm ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence. Fordyce, who is also the proprietor of a Jewellery and Pawn Shop, had denied both charges on his first court appearance before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman. The Magistrate ruled that after perusing the evidence presented by Police Prosecutor Sean Blackman, she was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Fordyce had the illegal gun and ammunition in his possession. His Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes had asked the Magistrate to be lenient with his client citing that he is a prominent businessman. It was reported that (Continued on page 71)
Sunday March 10, 2019
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Kaieteur News
Ramjattan justifies the court challenge to the no-confidence vote Adam: Mr. Ramjattan as a senior Government official and an Attorney, the feeling is that your Coalition Government is deliberately stretching out the litigation arising from the noconfidence vote with the oblique motive of wanting to delay holding of general elections. How accurate is this conclusion? KR: Adam, the many legal and constitutional issues arising out of the no-confidence vote have to be settled once and for all. Finality has to be brought so that this Government, like future Governments and the Opposition, will rest comfortably knowing for certain what is the legal position surrounding these various issues.It is not motivated to delay elections. It is motivated by the desire to enhance this democracy and the rule of law. Adam: Just identify for me what are these constitutional issues. KR: There are a number of them, almost all of which have been canvassed publicly, and dealt with in the recent judgment of our Chief Justice. Frankly, I must admit some are very novel and I never paid any attention to them, previously. But as we lawyers will tell you, the novelty of any argument is no embarrassment to its validity. That is how the law develops and evolves. First, is whether that noconfidence motion is properly a “vote of confidence” as provided for in article 106(6) of our Constitution. Under our Independence Constitution, the tenure of Ministers and the Government could be halted once the National Assembly passes a Resolution declaring that it has no confidence in the Government by the votes of a majority of all the elected members. This formulation was altered in 2000 to bring in our existing article 106 (6), which provides for a “vote of confidence”. Is this “vote of confidence” equivalent to a “vote of no-confidence”? Taking our peculiar constitutional system into account, it being a mix of Parliamentarism and Presidentialism, consequent upon the 1980 Constitution, this question must be given an interpretation which will bring finality to it. Academic and judicial literature points to a difference and distinction between the two. The effect of this has certain consequences which can have a favourable outcome for Government. Second, if indeed a noconfidence vote is catered for, is the threshold vote 34 members of the Assembly, or 33? This issue has made the rounds. A lasting, certain meaning must be given to the words “the vote of a majority of all the elected members of
the National Assembly”. You have heard it repeated ad nauseam recently. Those on one side say it means 33 and those on the other side say 34. Our Chief Justice too has held it at 33. But another higher Court can be impressed with 34. Upon applying the juridical reasoning that goes along with construing these matters of the Constitution, an opposite but still cogent and compelling higher number of 34 can be the pronouncement. What is the principle applicable? It is the “half plus one” principle. Applying this, the mathematical outcome is 33.5. Since there is never .5 or half of a National Assembly member, then the next principle to be applied must be, what I call the Saunders principle (out of the Hughes v Rogers case), that is, rounding up to the next whole number which will take it to 34. Why take away from the Government this .5? This half or .5 certainly has a value and must mean something. What would King Solomon have done especially in the context of the wisdom that came from his lesson that the child must not be cut in two? We all know that he gave the whole child to one of the two parties disputing it. One was left without. And so by analogy a similar thing ought to happen in circumstances like these. One can proffer the argument that for stability and avoidance of anarchy and crisis, this should be the special threshold. Adam: But Saunders. President of the CCJ, can change his mind, or his colleagues sitting with him can be of a different opinion? KR: Indeed. But the opportunity must be given for us to reach there to test that. This same Constitution gives us a right of access to the highest court for rulings on these important public issues which have such far-reaching consequences, and which if determined today will make for certainty and finality tomorrow. This right is not subordinate to others in the Constitution. And then again, just think of the scenario of having to go to an Elections with all the expenses, and trauma and so much more, and then having the final court, in the midst of it all, finding favour with these arguments. Do we un-dissolve a dissolved Assembly? Adam: What are some other issues which will be resolved one way or the other by this litigation that is ongoing? KR: A big third one has to do with the issue of whether a dual citizen’s vote is a valid vote which should be counted or not in the proceeding in which it was cast. It was a major contention in the recent High Court. The ruling was
This past week, Adam Harris, Editor in Chief, secured an interview on No-Confidence litigation with Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan. that Charrandass’s vote was valid. In my opinion, there are similarly strong arguments to the contrary. Here again finality and certainty will be brought when the appeal reaches the highest level. Adam: Could you just in simple and summary form tell me what this is all about? The public needs some elucidation too. KR: This is how it goes. The High Court made a finding that Charrandass held dual citizenship, and hence was disqualified (by article 155 of the Constitution) from being nominated or elected and even sitting in the Assembly. However, notwithstanding having so ruled, the Court validated and allowed the count of his vote in that proceeding. It rationalized this by using a provision namely article 165(2) which provides that … “the presence or participation of any person not entitled to be present at or to participate in the proceedings of the Assembly shall not invalidate the proceedings”. Another Court can interpret that selfsame article 165(2) and rule that Charrandass’s vote is not saved nor validated. What is validated and saved is the proceeding in which such a person as Charrandass was present and participated in. So his one “YES! YES! YES!” vote by logical deduction should not be counted, he being a person who was not even fit to be nominated, or elected as a member. That is the interpretation that can be put to that article. And with all due deference to the Learned Judge, I believe that will be the case ultimately. Adam: So that brings the vote in the Assembly on that famous night back to 32:32? KR: Yes. Adam: Is there any other issue of significance in your mind? KR: Adam, I believe the irreconcilable formulations in article 106(6) and 106(7) should be settled by a judicial interpretation from our highest court; just like what happened in the term limit case which settled the issue that Jagdeo or any other can run a third term. We in Government and the public at large must know without any bothersome potential disputation what is the meaning of (6) and (7). Of course one says we must resign and the other say we must resign until another President is sworn in. It is an unsatisfactory state of affairs which
ought to be resolved by the highest court. And whatever the decision, we will all adhere to.
I will tell you, Adam, whatever the decision at the highest level, it will be liked by one half of this country and dis-
liked by the other half. But knowing my countrymen, it will be respected by all. And that will be so not because the reasoning might be necessarily right, but simply because it is final. These are some of those issues which certainty and finality will be brought to by permitting the litigation to proceed to our highest court. Adam: Thank you. KR: You are welcome.
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Sunday March 10, 2019
Kaieteur News
Recent board appointments are unlawful- Datadin By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell Attorney At Law Sanjeev Datadin is of the opinion that recent Board appointments are unlawful. This is mainly
because the “ministerial plenary” took over a role that is not prescribed in the constitution. The Official Gazette of March 9, 2019 notes that appointment of boards and com-
mittees. The appointments of the Board for the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Guyana Prison Service Sentence Management were noted. Appointments for the
Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Committee and National Tripartite Committee were also made. Yesterday, in an invited comment, Datadin said, “The position is quite simple. Ev-
erybody knows Article 106 which is the foundation of everything going on. Article 106 says that Cabinet shall resign.” Datadin said, too, that the effect of the Chief Justice ruling is that Cabinet is resigned. He said that Article 107 however keeps the government in place. Datadin stressed that there is a distinction between Cabinet—which is executive authority—and government. “All the civil servants work with the government and they do not change, or should not change when a different party takes control.” He said that the power exercised by the ministerial plenary which “approved” the appointments is actually an exercise of executive authority. Datadin said that such powers ought not to be exercised now because the effect of the no confidence motion is to bring executive authority to an end. “Government must run, people must be paid, and taxes must be collected, but executive powers must cease,” said
Attorney at Law, Sanjeev Datadin Datadin. The lawyer said that the so called ministerial plenary acted unlawfully. Further, Datadin was keen to note, “The life of boards can go several years. What this government is appearing to do is load the boards with their personnel so notwithstanding whatever happens with an election they are going to have their persons in control of state boards.”
Former cameraman convicted for child rape appeals 25-year sentence Former television cameraman and reporter, Andre Hetsberger, who was convicted in 2016 and sentenced to 25 years in jail for having sex with a minor female, has appealed his case. The matter comes up for hearing on April 01 at the Court of Appeal in Kingston. The offence was committed in 2014 and came to light after the girl, then 13, had alleged that Hetsberger had sexually molested her. To prove its case, the prosecution relied on serious circumstantial evidence, and the testimony of the victim insisted that the convict penetrated her one day in 2014. When the matter first surfaced, people close to the 39-year-old Hetsberger and
Andre Hetsberger even his friends doubted his guilt. In fact, after he managed to secure bail, his employers re-employed him. He continued to work up until he was sentenced.
Sunday March 10, 2019
Kaieteur News
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Integrity Commission names editor, several agencies’ heads as failing to declare assets Yet again, the Integrity Commission has published names of officials who have failed to declare their assets in keeping with regulations. In the latest publications in the Official Gazette of Guyana, the commission named 163 persons, including the Editor-in-Chief of the Guyana Chronicle, Nigel Williams; and the head of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Ramesh Ghir. Public officers listed under the Integrity Commission Act have to disclose their financial assets and liabilities on or before June 30, each year. When a public officer ceases to be a person in public life, he/she should disclose his/her assets and liabilities to the Commission within 30 days from the date that individual cease to be a person in public life. The entities targeted for scrutiny in the publication include the Bureau of Statistics; the Burrowes School of Art; Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation;
Cyril Potter College of Education; Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation; Dependent Pension Fund; Environmental Protection Agency; Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation; Guyana Civil Aviation Authority; Guyana Gold Board; Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission; Guyana Livestock Development Authority and the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority.Also named were senior officials from the Guyana National Newspaper Limited; Guyana National Shipping Corporation; Guyana Office for Investment; Guyana Oil Company;Guyana Post Office Corporation and the Guyana Power and Light Corporation. Included in the names were: at the Bureau of Statistics, Chief Statistician Lennox Benjamin; Burrowes School of Art administrator, Ivor Thom; CJIA’s chief, Ramesh Ghir and deputy, Andre Kellman; Demerara Harbour Bridge head, Rawlston Adams; GPHC’s chief, George
Lewis and deputy, Elizabeth Gonsalves; GCAA’s Director General, Egbert Field; Head of Lab at the Guyana Gold Board, Dawn Shepherd; GL&SC Commissioner, Trevor Benn; GLDA’s Dr. Dwight Walrond; GNBA’s chairman, Leslie Sobers; GNBS’ director, Candelle Walcott-Bostwick; GNNL’s GM, Sherod Duncan and editor, Nigel Williams; GNSC’s Managing Director, Andrew Astwood; CEO for the GO-Invest, Owen Verwey; GuyOil’s Corporate Manager, Shaundell Brotherson; GPO’s Postmaster General, Karen Browne and GPL’s chief, Albert Gordon.
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Sunday March 10, 2019
Kaieteur News
Region Four RDC to host symposium to address women issues In order to address a number of critical issues in Region Four, the Regional Four Democratic Council [RDC] will later this month, stage a symposium for female employees. The symposium which was birthed through a luncheon organised by the Regional Education Officer [REDO], Tiffany Harvey, will aim to address a number of issues affecting women. The symposium is the brainchild of Regional Chairman, Ms. Genevieve Allen, who during an address at the recent luncheon, spoke about the importance of women celebrating themselves. She said
that too many times women wait on others for validation and are always doing and reaching out to others resulting in many instances leaving themselves undone or last. “Let me urge you all to celebrate yourself, whether you are in your born suit or in a sexy outfit, take sometime during the day and admire yourself in the mirror. We have and continue to see that women keep the wheel going. “Therefore, take time and reflect on your achievements, on your accomplishments, because you need to celebrate yourself not wait on the approval or endorsement from
anyone to celebrate,” the Regional Chairman said. The Regional Chairman spoke about the numerous contributions that have been made by women to the growth of the Region, pointing out that among some of them include the Regional Executive Officer, Pauline Lucas; Regional Education Officer, Tiffany Harvey; PAS Finance Sharon Wills; Deputy Principal Personnel Officer Kaye Watson; among others. “These women are a testimony of the reality that we can do it as we have been doing it for years and will continue to do it and I want to assure all of you that it’s important to celebrate and motivate our sisters so that they can continue doing what they are doing,” she said. The Regional Chairman added that what she said has been a common practice by a number of women where they are prepared to give their support faster to the opposite sex instead of their ‘sisters’ while discrediting and refusing to lend valuable support to other
women in their pursuit of development. “Let me say this; I have seen too many times we as sisters are quick and ready to criticise and discredit the progress and achievements of our sisters and I would like to appeal to all of you to let us desist from such a practice so that we can help to motivate our sisters so that they can pursue their dreams. “We have a responsibility to lend support and assistance and it is my wish that we would help to further enhance the lives of other women,” she urged. In commenting on the upcoming symposium, the Regional Chairman pointed out that every female employee would be invited to participate in what she dubbed a “timely and very important” symposium. She noted that with a number of social and other ills affecting many women today it is important that they can better understand some of the challenges that women within the employ of the RDC is facing. “We must be cognisant that the life of a woman is
never easy as many times you have children to deal with, work and some co-workers to deal with, husband or spouse among other things, thus being a woman has a number of challenges which has the potential of affecting your output at work. “As the Regional Chairman I would like us to see how we can address several of these challenges so as to ensure that our women can deliver at a very high level at work,” she reasoned. She informed REO Lucas that the planned symposium is very important noting that with the increase of domestic violence that targets mainly women and children such a forum is even more pivotal as it would be able to address a number of burning concerns that plague several of the women within RDC Region Four. “We must be able to reach out to our women, we must be able to seek avenues and ways in ensuring that issues of pivotal importance is addressed thus, ensuring that these women irrespective of their challenges and difficul-
ties can continue to deliver effectively and efficiently,” RC Allen said.In endorsing the initiative, REO Lucas assured all that arrangements would be put in place so as to accommodate the symposium. “Madam Chair, I fully support such an initiative as we recognise that there are a number of difficulties and challenges that face our women within this region thus, such a symposium would benefit all and be of great importance,” Lucas said. The Regional Executive Officer thanked the Regional Chairman for what she described as her continuous and longstanding support declaring that as the REO she will seek to reach out to every woman within the RDC as they seek to execute such a symposium which she believes will be used to better understand a number of women related issues, while ensuring that moving forward that challenges and difficulties faced by them at home and elsewhere can be reduced significantly.
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 10, 2019
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Indian Arrival Monument finally completed The monument at Palmyra has been completed, government says.
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lmost three years after construction started on the Indian Arrival Day monument at Palmyra, East Bank Berbice, it has finally been completed. In early 2017, poor workmanship saw the base collapse. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure disclosed this weekend that the works have finally been completed. L a s t y e a r, s e v e r a l ministers of the government paid a visit to the site where the monument is located on the
eastern end of the approach road to the Berbice River Bridge. The monument collapsed during its construction stage in April 2017 when the foundation weakened, causing the cylindrical structure to crumble to the ground. Government had raised the issue of the collapsed monument during a visit to India in February 2018. “We committed to have this monument completed, and in February the government of India offered to have an
engineer, architect and sculptor assigned to the project,” Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Tr o t m a n , h a d n o t e d . The monument was supposed to be completed last year in time for a yearend visit of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, to Guyana. That visit was cancelled. It will be recalled that a cooperation agreement was signed between the governments of Guyana and India under the previous government. The statues weigh a whopping 17 tonnes.
After the unexpected collapse of the base of the monument, Cabinet had made the decision that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure would assume responsibility for oversight of the project. It was disclosed that the construction of the base represented Phase 2 of the project. Phase 1 was the construction of the access road – approximately 60 per cent of which has been completed to date by the contractor for this phase – Civil Engineering Works (CEW). Phase 3 concerns landscaping but works were suspended. BK International
was contracted for Phase 3. It was found that in Phase 1, the budgeted amount was for $43,027,544 The second phase, contracted to Alternate Contracting Enterprise
(ACE), was for a budgeted $42,232,239. The internal monument base was to have been an eight-inch thick reinforced concrete wall and not mortar-filled block work.
Kaieteur News
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Sunday March 10, 2019
Miner walks free on manslaughter charge
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miner who was charged for manslaughter, walked free on Thursday after a jury of 12 in the Suddie High Court, unanimously found the accused not guilty. The accused, Thurston Kendrick Williams, who was charged for manslaughter committed on Charles Major, 57, maintained his innocence as he appeared before Judge Sandil Kissoon. The court heard that Williams had allegedly murdered the 57-year-old
man at Dickman Hill in the Madhia Backdam, some time between March 5 and March 6, 2015. More than a year later, on May 16, 2016 the accused was arrested. In his caution statement to police on the said day, the accused allegedly said, 'Charles [deceased] rape my aunty Jenny, plus he use to take away my gold, so me and Dougla [alleged accomplice] went and kill him.' During the trial, the defense attorney, Melvin Duke, suggested that the
caution statement was made up by the police in an effort to create a motive for the crime. He also told the jury that there is no physical evidence, which ties his client to the involvement in Major's death. The prosecutor's case rode primarily on the testimony of the sister of the accused. The sister said that on March 5, 2015 about 11:30 hrs she was at home when the accused came out from the Backdam and started to curse. He allegedly said, “This 'jackass' call the
police.� Williams told the court that she then asked who he was referring to and the accused indicated that he was referring to the deceased. The prosecution used this claim to highlight that there may have been a disagreement with the accused and deceased, which prompted him [deceased] to phone the police. The sister further laid claims that on the said date, around 7pm, the accused left to go in the Backdam and he returned home around 9 pm with a friend. She said that the accused later indicated that 'he and Alex go and chop the man.' The defense attorney again pointed out that the
woman's story may have been fabricated and in collusion with that of the police. In the witness box l a s t We d n e s d a y t h e prosecution's primary witness was cross examined. D u r i n g c r o s s examination the witness seemed somewhat unsure of the details that transpired on the said day. At times when asked key questions she replied saying, 'I don't know about that,' or 'I can't remember.' The witness at one point replied saying, “I did not understand what was written on the statement;' referring to the statement she allegedly gave and signed. After hearing both cases, the jury after deliberating for m o r e t h a n a n h o u r, unanimously returned a
Freed: Thurston Kendrick Williams verdict of not guilty. The deceased Charles Major was butchered. The state pathologist reported that he received 41 incised wounds across the body, which may have been caused by a sharp object such as a cutlass. Major received injures to the brain, neck, head, arteries, lungs, hands, right knee, and the middle finger of his hand was almost severed, barely held together by a piece of skin. After three years the killer may still be at large.
Kaieteur News
Odessa Grogan
Sunday March 10, 2019
Meet the alluring Odessa Grogan. This Guyanese beauty enjoys modeling, reading and hanging out with close friends. Her favourite quote is, "Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education."
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Kaieteur News
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Sunday March 10, 2019
On a mission to mould the nation's children,
‘Sir’ Harrinarine By Sharmain Grainger “Celebrate 49 with victory in mind” was the theme under which Mashramani was celebrated this year. Mashramani is a carnival-type celebration d e d i c a t e d t o commemorating the date that Guyana became a Cooperative Republic [February 23, 1970], and each year a special theme is assigned to the celebration. Last year the theme was “Let's cooperate and celebrate Republic 48”. What some people may not know, however, is that the two most recent themes were the handiwork of a very ambitious man. His name is Harrinarine, and although he is a small-statured man, his achievements as an educator have been colossal. He hails from Independence Street, La Grange, situated on the West Bank of Demerara, where he had a modest upbringing as the fifth of six children born to parents Lucky and Lackdai Narine. He was born on February 13, 1970 – a few days before Guyana became a Cooperative Republic. For this very reason Harrinarine has had a fondness for Mashramani celebration. “I always feel honoured to be contributing to nationhood... When the country is preparing to celebrate its Republic anniversary, I am celebrating my birthday,” said a smiling Harrinarine during a recent interview. FOUNDATION In fact, during that very interview, he recalled that he
is a 'Special Person' was the only one of his siblings to benefit from secondary, tertiary and posttertiary levels of education, compliments of his hardworking parents. Lucky, his father, was a labourer at the Versailles Sugar Estate, and his mother, Lackdai, was a vendor at Bourda Market. Although he felt privileged to attend school, the young Harrinarine couldn't see himself developing a passion for academics. This,
that, I think, is what changed the course of my life. I got first place in all my classes as I progressed to fourth form,” Harrinarine recalled. He was allowed to write the Secondary School Entrance Examination and gained a place at Patentia Secondary School, where he really became intrigued by his learning experience. He became such a dedicated and focused student that he even became a head prefect.
“Teaching is very challenging and school is not without difficulties, but as a teacher, even as a head teacher, I have tried my best to be what you call a servant leader. I get involved, I try to help... There are so many teachers who talk about the stress of teaching, but I really love teaching, and I like to see my students succeed.” however, was just a passing phase of his life. He recalled attending La Grange Primary School and was as playful as the next child. “I wasn't that interested in education, but I went through the paces,” Harrinarine noted, as he recounted securing placement at Vreed en Hoop Community High School after writing the Common Entrance Examination in 1981. “I was not ambitious to be an educated person, but my parents gave me the opportunity to attend the Vreed en Hoop school. In my first year I got first place and
Among the recipients of awards for more than 28 years of service to the education sector
TEACHING Harrinarine wrote the Caribbean Examinations Council [CXC]'s exam in 1989, after which he was given the opportunity to attend the Guyana National Service Senior Cadet Camp. By this time, he had developed an unadulterated passion for education, and understandably was eager to delve into its delivery. He, moreover, applied to become an acting teacher at his former secondary school – Patentia Secondary – where he was employed as an acting teacher under the tenure of then Headmaster Sydney Williams. Williams, according to Harrinarine,
was his mentor, as was another educator – Krishnanand Persaud. He would teach for two years before moving on to elevate himself as a trained teacher at the Cyril Potter College of Education [CPCE]. His stint at CPCE was particularly accommodating, given the fact that his parents were not financially sound enough to meet all of their children's needs. “I must express thanks to former principal Myrna Bernard, wife of Deryck Bernard [deceased] who was a former Education Minister, who allowed me the opportunity to be a residential student, even though I was in Region Three. I don't think my parents could have afforded it...so I am always grateful to her,” he intimated. After completing CPCE in 1993, Harrinarine was given the opportunity to return to his old school as a trained teacher. In fact, he was among the dedicated teaching staff of the school who helped Patentia to become the most improved Junior Secondary School in 1997. Even as he reminisced on the efforts that led to the school's improved performance, Harrinarine recalled that in 2005 the school was able to produce the third best student in the country. But according to him, the focus was never on uplifting students academically alone, but in other areas as well, with the view of making them wellrounded individuals. “I was very happy in
Meeting with Education Minister, Nicolette Henry.
'Sir' Harrinarine is a 'Special Person'
promoting that country school that did well both in academics and in extracurricular activities and athletics too,” recalled Harrinarine. However, despite driven by a passion to improve his alma mater, by 2007 he sought a transfer to teach at West Demerara Secondary School, also situated on the West Bank of Demerara. At West Demerara Secondary, Harrinarine was able to move up the teaching ranks and before long was named the Head of Department for Business. PASSION By 2008 he was offered a Ministry of Education scholarship to complete a Master's in Education at the University of Guyana, in collaboration with South Eas tern U nivers ity of Florida. Prior to this, Harrinarine had completed certificate and degree programmes in education. In 2009 he was selected to be a part of the Ministry of Education's Cadet programme. Being a cadet officer means that a teacher has been selected for training to become a District
Education Officer, Subject Specialist, Test Development officer or some other crucial position in the education sector. He, however, lasted a mere three months in this area, before his desire for teaching became too overwhelming for him to be out of the classroom. This saw Harrinarine in 2011 applying for and easily securing the vacant Deputy Headteacher position at West Demerara Secondary. By 2014, there was an opening for the Headmaster position at the very school, for which Harrinarine applied and was appointed. “I want to say that I don't think there is anything in education that I have applied for or attempted that I haven't gotten through with,” recalled Harrinarine, whose outstanding work as an educator has been well documented and recognised over the years. In 2015, for instance, he was awarded best teacher of the year by the Guyana Teachers' Union (GTU) in collaboration with the Ministry of the Presidency. This, of course, came as no (continued on page 59)
Receiving a plaque for best attendance
Sunday March 10, 2019
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
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“As we forgive” Prelude “As we forgive” is the title of a 264-page work by Catherine Claire Larson on the Rwandan genocide. It is a narrative of seven interrelated stories of unparalleled horror and unmatched terror at the hands of former neighbours and friends and countrymen mutated into killing machines; and of 800,000 murdered in 100 days, while a world ignored or denied this African holocaust. It is also the great heartwarming story of
mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation following in the dark blood-drenched shadow of death. This 7-part feature is part book commentary, part exploratory, part prayer, and part hope that other troubled nations could-and wouldlearn from what happened in Rwanda. The Greek tragedies were painted in profound searing masterpieces by Sophocles and Aeschylus; in way less limited prose, this series and essayist struggles to emphasize and project the
fear and hope, the agony and mercy; the forgiving and reliving; and that in some way other unsettled nations can avoid a similar fate, and become sanctuaries of healing and reconciling. Part I - Rwanda: context and crisis, history and hate Rwanda is a land, an earthly garden, of magical beauty and haunting agony; of unimaginable pain and unbearable sorrow. It was also a nation of some six million Hutus and Tutsis in
1994. Where to start? From 800,000 dead victims? From many more numbed, broken, maddened survivors? How to select one or a thousand to tell this tale? From the perpetrators: whether jailed or freed or escaped or restored? In which ones can there be found redeeming features and the power to forgive them for doing what they did know could only be wrong? And yet, as indescribably poignant as this tragedy was, as Ms. Larson's book
Sunday March 10, 2019 highlights, and this puny media series tries to convey, from those rivers of blood, there still remains that invincible, indefatigable human spirit that conquers all. It is of mending: patching one tear at a time; stitching one tendril of hope at a time so that there can be enough to overwhelm what is left of a shattered lifetime, a desecrated spirit, and hearts that beat, but matters not. A country is reborn, a society renewed, a people rescued. May Rwanda never be repeated or relived anywhere. Anywhere on the face of this God's green earth. The author, Ms. Larson quoted Steve Matthews from the “Companions of the Pilgrimage:” through the memorable exhortation: “to listen a person's soul into existence.” The first story is about Rosaria. The older, best forgotten story is that of the colonial powers: Germans first, but mainly Belgians, who came later, and their bloodstained hands and soiled souls that form an integral part of the Rwandan g e n o c i d e h i s t o r y. Introduced in 1926, ethnic identity cards became mandatory in 1933. The distinction between Hutu and Tutsi: one taller, more educated, more
favoured. More powerful, too. Like the biblical Cain and Abel: one a herder, the other a farmer. Thus, the stage was set. The machetes came later; fifty thousand in one batch imported from Tanzania in premeditated readying for the slaughter that awaited. That is a whole lot of machetes; there was a whole world of killing in mind. The resentments built and raged providing the foundations for the hatreds and evils that hungered for a spark, any spark. Sections of the media stoked the ethnic furnace; the men and women of the cloth did not work hard enough to cool the passions, to preach and practice love of neighbour in even a vain effort to dilute the volcanic rage building and building. And still building towards broadening towering crests. Remember Rosaria? Time to hear her faint lonely echo in the keening scream of a nation in pain; lost, and not knowing how to find itself. A nation so enfeebled, as to be unable to lift itself out of the gore and stench of death; yet willing to try. Rosaria lost everything: her sick son was killed; her three other children perished violently; her husband, too. So did her sister and her (continued on page 57)
Sunday March 10, 2019
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Kaieteur News
---Hinds’ Sight by Dr. David Hinds---
The Constitution, GECOM, and the memory of Dr. Jagan In a letter to the press this past week I sought to make the point that what some commentators are calling a constitutional crisis in Guyana is really a deep political crisis which would ultimately have to be solved by the politicians. Since that letter, the president met with the PPP leader and GECOM. The meeting with Mr. Jagdeo expectedly ended in a stalemate, largely because the two leaders could not agree on a date for the next election. Jagdeo is relying on the outcome of the No Confidence Vote (NCV) to determine the date, while Granger is relying on GECOM. Both sides are on solid ground. The constitution is clear about when an election should be held following a successful NCV. But it also makes allowance for that timeline to be altered via a two-thirds vote of the National Assembly. The question at hand is this: is GECOM’s unpreparedness for an election enough ground to force an extension of the constitutionally-mandated timeline following the NCV? The answer to that question has to do with whether
the disenfranchisement of electors is inherent in the unpreparedness. No constitution would explicitly or implicitly sanction an election in which the voters’ list is compromised to the point where citizens are disenfranchised. Any interpretation of the constitution to the contrary represents the narrowest reading of the document. The government-appointed CECOM commissioners have told us that the Voters’ List needs to be sanitized. They have also claimed that to use the current list for an important general election would in fact disenfranchise those voters who attained voting age since the last registration exercise. Should the PPP commissioners also be concerned about the state of the list? The answer should be a resounding YES. But this is Guyana—our GECOM is intensely partisan. So here we are. In a few days, the three-month deadline mandated by the constitution would expire. Since the two leaders could not agree on an extension, the government stays in place—the country must have a government, even if it has restricted powers. The PPP will tell the
world that Guyana has an illegal government and the latter would have to defend its decision to remain in power. I predict that the Coalition would only name an election date after it gets the green light from GECOM. But it must be prepared to live with the fallout from that course of action. The PPP would be relentless. We could well witness some street demonstrations that would test the resolve of the government and the coercive arm of the State. In the end, the leaders would have to strike an agreement, perhaps at the urgings of external forces. As I observed last week, whenever the elections are held, there would be a winner and a loser. The loser is not likely to accept the results. We are in for some dread times. Last week I commented on the fact that March is the birth-month of Walter Rodney. It is also the month in which another Guyanese treasure, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, was born. I remember Cheddi Jagan as an apostle of the working people’s struggle for bread and justice; a tireless worker for the emancipation of the
The Baccoo Speaks These days are full of surprises. It would come as a surprise when a young man decides to barefacedly try to steal from a woman in a busy downtown area. When caught and thrashed he would say that someone sent him. The police would be unable to locate the someone. ** Another fraud would be uncovered in yet another government department. This one would involve a
large sum of cash. But the surprising thing would be the number of people involved. The authorities would suddenly realize that the
present political situation is giving rise to these things, as people believe they can get away with just about anything, courtesy of comments on the political front. ** There would be an accident in the mining area. A boat would collide with another, dumping some people into the river. Carelessness would be to blame. Of course there would be the investigation.
poor and powerless. Many have made claim to that mantle, but Cheddi has earned it. He fought the poor man’s fight, even when it was not fashionable to do so. And he was not ashamed to identify himself with that much hated but deeply misunderstood word: COMMUNISM. His was an unshakable belief in the right of the toilers, the hewers of wood and fetchers of water, to stand in the front ranks of humanity. In so doing, he challenged the very basis upon which modern accumulation of wealth rested. That was no easy thing to do in a world dominated by an imperial order and bent on turning back the tide of working-class resistance. Dr. Jagan was a different kind of anticolonial leader. He
did not seek mere constitutional independence from Britain, for he had the vision to realize that without economic independence based on a fair distribution of wealth, constitutional independence would be meaningless. On this score, he stands apart from his contemporaries. If the working peoples of Guyana and the Caribbean enjoy any dignity today, it is largely because Jagan had the courage to stand in their ranks and proclaim their cause. And he inspired other fortunate members of the society to put their skills and talents to the service of the less fortunate. His was a full life of service, selfless service. Death comes, as it must come, but the spirit, life and legacy of Dr. Jagan will continue to defy death. He died
Dr David Hinds knowing that he left this world a better place than he met it. We who are left behind must not squander such a splendid legacy. More of Dr. Hinds’ writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his website www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.news. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com
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Sunday March 10, 2019
The secret of Jankie Mahadeo By Michael Jordan The seawalls that protect Guyana’s coastlands from the Atlantic hold decades upon decades of secrets…secrets of hidden love affairs…of rites to unseen forces…and of murder. And if these walls could somehow talk, they would perhaps spill the secret of who took Jankie Mahadeo there almost 14 years ago. On the morning of Friday, August 19, 2005, members of a police patrol stumbled upon the body of a middle-aged woman in the vicinity of the Everest Cricket Club. She was fully clothed and police could discern no marks of violence. However, they did notice that there was froth at the victim’s mouth and this led them to suspect that she had been poisoned. Two days passed before a family from Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, came forward to identify the victim. She was Jankie Mahadeo, called ‘Anita’, a mother of three who had migrated to Trinidad some 25 years ago. According to the relatives, Mahadeo, accompanied by her five-year-old daughter, had arrived in Guyana about a week prior to her death. She had stayed at the relatives’ Pouderoyen home. She had
informed the relatives that she intended to renew her passport and visit her mother, who was ill. According to a female relative, at around 08:00 hrs on Friday, August 19, the cousin’s husband took Mahadeo to the Immigration Office to have her passport renewed. He then left her there. On instructions from her husband, the cousin said that she went to the Immigration Office to check on Mahadeo. The woman, who had a stall in Water Street, said that she checked on Mahadeo and then left the Immigration Office. At around noon, Jankie Mahadeo arrived at her cousin’s stall, where she had lunch. According to the cousin’s story, her husband eventually arrived and took Mahadeo to have two pictures taken for her passport. Mahadeo reportedly then caught a route 45 minibus with the intention of returning to the Immigration Office. That was the last time that the relatives would see her alive. The relatives recalled that Jankie Mahadeo had left home with $20,000 in local currency and US$100. She was also wearing a quantity
Jankie Mahadeo called ‘Anita’ of jewellery, including a diamond ring. The cash and jewellery were missing when Mahadeo’s corpse was found. The family members began to worry when several hours passed and the woman failed to return to their home. One relative remembered that Mahadeo had promised to visit a North Road, Bourda family who had taken care of her when she was a child. On checking at the home they were told by a male occupant that the woman had indeed visited, but that she had left shortly after making a call to a brother who lived in the United States. The man said
that Mahadeo had indicated that she was going to look after her passport. The same man confirmed that Mahadeo had visited him that day. According to him, the woman was in a jovial mood and “was hugging everybody.” He said that Mahadeo asked to make a phone call to her brother in the US and he allowed her to make the call. He also recalled that Mahadeo was repeatedly checking the time, and that she said that she had to go and see her mother. She also said that a taxi was waiting for her and eventually left after promising to return another day. The man said that he did not follow Mahadeo outside, and so had no description of the car or of the driver who picked her up. But the plot thickened a few days later when Mahadeo’s eldest daughter arrived in Guyana and alleged that she had come to see ‘Ma’, a Guyanese woman with whom Mahadeo had grown up. The woman was the mother of the same man whose home Mahadeo had visited. According to the daughter, her mother had stated that ‘Ma’ had a ‘Will’ for her. She said that some of her relatives were suspicious of the man’s account of Mahadeo’s
visit to his home. Five days after Mahadeo’s body was found, a pathologist examined the corpse and determined that she had been manually strangled. Detectives promptly arrested the man who Mahadeo had visited on the day she went missing. They suspected that Mahadeo might have been caught in the middle of a family dispute over a will, and that this dispute might have led to her being slain. Checking further, detectives discovered that the old woman who had taken care of Mahadeo as a child had died several years prior to Mahadeo’s visit. The old woman had reportedly indeed left a Will. The man who police had detained and his brother reportedly both had copies of the Will. However, Jankie Mahadeo’s name was not included on any of the documents. On Friday, August 26, 2005, detectives released the man after determining that he was not involved in
Mahadeo’s murder. And according to some detectives, it appeared that the taxi driver who picked up Mahadeo from the North Road home might have vital information about her death. Police said that they had information that Mahadeo had a relationship with a taxi driver. The official said that detectives attempted to locate the taxi driver. They failed to find him. Like I said, if the seawalls could talk, they would perhaps lead police to the man who strangled and dumped Jankie Mahadeo’s body nearly 14 years ago. If you have any information about this or any other unusual case, please contact Kaieteur News by letter or telephone at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown offices. Our numbers are 2258458, 22-58465, 22-58473 and 22-58491. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email address: kamarangnight@gmail.com.
Sunday March 10, 2019
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Kaieteur News
==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==
Jagan, Manickchand, Jagdeo: Facts for fighters When I was very young, the Mirror, the newspaper of the PPP, carried a weekly column written by Cheddi Jagan with the title, “Facts for Fighters.” Someone needs to do a similar column in one of the two independent newspapers, Kaieteur News or Stabroek News, with the exact title, and provide facts to the current PPP leadership that they ought to be ashamed of, just as Cheddi wrote his facts to shame the leaders in the PNC government from the late sixties onwards. I wouldn’t mind doing such a weekly column for the Chronicle, but I may end up like David Hinds and Lincoln Lewis. But I am made of different substance to both of these gentlemen who have been my friends for more than forty years. David said he is not interested in confronting Nagamootoo and the two bigwigs from APNU+AFC that took the decision to oust him from the Chronicle. Lincoln said to me at the wake of former PNC youth leader, Bevon Currie; “I have nothing to say to Moses.” I, on the other hand, would definitely confront any minister, from David Granger right down, who would have made the decision to drop “Facts for Fighters” in the Chronicle. Unlike David and Lincoln, I would not shut my mouth and let the egregiousness go without a fight. Well there isn’t going to be a showdown, because I could do “Facts for Fighters” on my own page right here in Kaieteur News. I could do an episodic “Fights for Fight-
ers” in the space of my own column. Here is the first “Facts for Fighters” done with the specific intention of shaming the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabals that made a mess of governance from 2002 to 2015. When the APNU+AFC government began to investigate Pradoville 2, Jagdeo cited lands at the back of the Botanic Gardens that the PNC administration awarded the family of President Burnham. The real story is that the family left the land unused for more than thirty years and a huge part of it is still idle and squatters have hijacked a section of it. Now here are facts for fighters. The Jagdeoite state used hundreds of millions of dollars to landscape Pradoville 2, then, sold the plots far below the market value. But there is a dimension here to this story that is not as clear cut as it looks. One of the Jagdeo ministers can claim that it is human nature to buy something cheaply if the seller doesn’t know the exact value. That minister can say I got a plot of public land cheaply, why blame me for taking advantage of that. Enter Priya Manickchand. Manickchand got public land to build a house. But guess what? She turned around and sold what she built on it for a reported one million American dollars to a businessman, David Narine. Here is where President Jagdeo should have stepped in and said, “I thought you wanted a roof over your head, why did you sell the asset
you got from the government as a concession?” Now here are more facts for fighters. Clement Rohee was awarded a piece at Pradoville 2 when under the regulation, you cannot get another plot if you already had one, and Rohee had one on which he built a house at Eccles. Jagdeo was not interested in sanctioning Manickchand because of the nature of his character. He could not have castigated Manickchand when, he, Jagdeo invited a man working in Barbados for a corpo-
rate salary in American terms, to have a plot in Pradoville 2. Jagdeo left all the patriotic police officers, army officers, retired public servants and gave Dr. Compton Bourne a parcel in the area. Surely, with his salary, Bourne could have easily bought real estate at any high-priced location in Guyana. Here are more facts for fighters. It is coming to four years since the APNU+AFC regime is in power and the two children of David Granger are nowhere to be seen or heard from. Both are holders of uni-
versity degrees. But as soon as Ramotar became president, his children were slotted into some high-paying state jobs. And talking about children, one of the top public servants in Guyana, Jagdeoite confidante, Khurshid Sattaur, had three family members working at the GRA where he was the boss. Are there any more facts for fighters that we can use to shame Jagdeo, Ramotar, Manickchand, Teixeira, Roger Luncheon, Irfaan Ali? The answer is a gargantuan yes. But the list is endless. I will
Frederick Kissoon end with the concession Jagdeo’s friend got, and when the Guyanese icon, Yesu Persaud said they were not backed by law, Jagdeo called him ignorant.
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Sunday March 10, 2019
No, Mr. Rohee, NCIRT is a functioning part of GoG’s cyber security architecture Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes, took former Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee to task for his “hypocritical and disingenuous attempt to mislead the nation, to scare citizens and dissuade them from using Government’s online services”. The former Minister had wrongly assumed, and has accused the Government of disbanding the National Cyber Security Incident Response Team (NCIRT), leaving Guyana vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Minister Hughes took the opportunity in her response to Mr. Rohee’s letter, to lay the mechanisms and architecture that are in place in the Cyber Security Division of
the National Data Management Authority (NDMA). Following is an abridgement of the Minister’s own letter of response. “Mr. Rohee’s claim that former staffers of NCIRT were “Left jobless … [and] went off to seek their fortunes where their skills were needed”, is a blatant attempt to sow seeds of discord. The truth is that Mr. Rohee’s “small, but highly qualified team of computer experts, engineers and programmers” according to him, was made up of One Head, One Engineer, and One Technician. The Head abandoned NCIRT by tendering her resignation when she was informed of its merger with the NDMA. The Technician resigned two months after the
merger. The Engineer remains on staff at the NDMA. Permit me to enlighten Mr. Rohee and explain to the public how the Cyber Security framework functions. In recognition of the critical role that ICTs would play in the development of our country, President Granger in January 2016 established the Ministry of Public Telecommunications. This administration understood clearly that a concerted approach was needed to leapfrog Guyana into the digital age after 23 years of wastage and mismanagement of ICT initiatives. The latter was most noticeable in the failed US$5M Dense Wavelength Division Multiplex (DWDM) fibre cable that was landed at Lethem from Brazil
in 2011. (Read article at https:/ / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2014/12/10/brazilguyana-fibre-cable-project-collapses/ for a comprehensive background). Then there was the USD32M e-Government network which was built by Huawei Technologies in 2012/ 3 but remained un-utilised as it began to deteriorate. Thankfully, the e-Government network was salvaged when this coalition Government took office in 2015. However, that fibre optic cable landed from Brazil was so badly damaged from bad handling and poor installation that none of it could be salvaged. The Ministry of Public Telecommunications is responsible for Internet governance, digital skills, digital promotion, digital entrepreneurship, e-Government, postal services, telecommunications, and cyber security. One of the first tasks we undertook in 2016 was to harmonize and rationalize Guyana’s ICT investments and operations, bringing all under the umbrella of the e-Government/National Data Management Authority (NDMA). Those initiatives included: - The same NCIRT that Mr. Rohee claims is non-existent - The One Laptop per Family project which was rebranded as the One Laptop per Teacher programme - Construction of towers in certain communities The e-Government Unit was merged in 2017 with the NDMA, a deliberate decision to advance our well-structured e-Government agenda. NDMA, created by an Act of Parliament in 1983, is mandated to inter alia see to the “establishment and maintenance of reliable communica-
tion linkages in the Public Sector in order to achieve optimal utilization and deployment of computer resources”. So, after our inauguration in 2016, the MOPT (Ministry of Public Telecommunications), began to clean up the mess created by the previous administration and set out on a progressive path to digitizing this nation. We recruited over 100 ICT professionals including 70+ Engineers and Technicians, and we expended considerable effort and resources to: 1. Salvage and operationalize the e-Government network 2. Establish over 170 Community ICT Hubs (to date) which provide free Internet access to citizens across the country 3. Provide Internet access to over 300 educational institutions at the primary, secondary, tech/voc and tertiary levels 4. Provide secure connectivity to over 120 government agencies 5. Establish the Public Sector’s first IT Leadership Technical Working Group (TWG) Of particular note is the fact that given our now expansive online presence, we anticipate an increased number of threats to the national ICT infrastructure, and we have taken several steps to mitigate and respond adequately. Our preparedness includes: 1. Establishment of a Cyber Security technical working group to create and promote standards, policies, guidelines and best practices for all other governmental bodies 2. Development of an incident reporting system to enable Government to provide
resilient mechanisms to constantly assess and monitor Guyana’s cyber-threat landscape so that our available resources could be directed there 3. Continually issue cyber security tips and guidelines on NCIRT’s and NDMA’s websites and social media platforms b. Prepare and disseminate cyber security brochures in communities across Guyana c. Implement web filtering mechanisms for safe online environments in schools and community hubs d. Provide guidelines to public sector technicians to counter new and emergent cyber threats or attacks 4. Leveraging our international and regional partnerships with ITU, LACNIC, OAS-CICTE, IDB, Governments of India, China, Israel, and the USA to strengthen Guyana’s capabilities through multi-tiered training in areas including: a. Type-specific network security b. U ified Threat Management c. Log Analysis d. Security Awareness e. Security Vulnerability Assessment f. Incident Response and Threat Intelligence g. Network Intrusion & Digital Forensics h. Reducing Cybercrime i. Security Strategy & Leadership 5. Establishment of our 24/7 cyber security and network operations centre to proactively monitor and respond to incidents on our network infrastructure. In these instances, the NCIRT team works closely with/advises entities and implements remediation measures. All of these investments and programmes reflect our comprehensive approach to Government’s Management of Cyber Security, which is a far cry from the three-person team lauded by Mr. Rohee. It is clear that the former Minister does not understand the complexity of modern cyber architecture which is required to protect this nation. In this era of politically motivated cyber-attacks, nothing can (or should) be ruled out. NCIRT can be contacted by Telephone (592)-231-6860, email: info@cirt.gy, and through its website: https:// cirt.gy.
Sunday March 10, 2019
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Kaieteur News
My column
The bullying of David Alexander, a blind and dumb man I grew up hearing the saying that blood is thicker than water. This is indeed so in reality, and early in my life I often wondered why people said this, until I realized that people were talking about relations. I heard my mother also say that teeth and tongue does bite, but when it is all over they still live together. I travelled to the Corentyne on Friday to meet with a woman whom I met some years ago after I attempted to review a book she wrote. This is a simple woman who spoke about the rough life she had growing up and the strides she made later in life. This was a woman whom Joyce Hoyte and her husband, the late Desmond Hoyte, helped escape a very abusive relationship. But while this woman managed to escape with her children, she was forced to leave other members of her close family behind. Two of them have since died, but a third, her older brother is having such a torrid tome that this woman had to fly in from Florida where she now resides to rescue her brother who, as fate would
have it, is deaf and blind. He is 78-year-old David Alexander. With her children, this woman, Wynette Alexander, who wrote a book, Before I forget, burst into tears when I turned up at her home on Friday. She had set up home at 5 Lancaster, Corentyne. She never wiped the Guyana dust from her feet, so she built a home on a plot of land that her grandfather had secured. This plot of land has five house lots, all allocated to relatives. As Wynette told it, her grandfather happened on this plot of land and having built his home, invited other relatives—his brothers and an uncle—to join him. He was a man who recognized that relatives was all he had, and he wanted everyone to be together. Today, years after he has gone to the great beyond, his kind deed has turned out to be a nightmare for a great-grandson. Wynette with the support of her three children, built a comfortable home on the plot of land her father secured. She included an apartment for her handicapped brother. Because of his blindness and the fact that he was forced to live alone, she erected some posts
along the path leading to the house. To them, she attached a length of wire that would serve as a guide rope for her brother to go to the front of the yard. What caused her to come home was the fact that a relative who lives at the front of the yard cut the posts and the wire, contending that they were on her plot of land. Blind David could no longer walk to the front of the yard where Wynette had constructed a seat for him to enjoy the late afternoon. This relative once lived in the bottom flat of her home, but a major disagreement caused an eviction and the move to the house at the front of the yard. Things became acrimonious and continue to be to this day. A pipeline leading to Wynette’s home so that David could access water was ripped up and burnt. Blind David was in a quandary. On three occasions Guyana Water Inc. made the reconnection, and on each occasion the lines were ripped up and burnt. The relative claimed that the line was passing through her land, although she has no evidence of ownership. And in any
case, the water was serving a relative whose ancestor wanted everyone to be together or in close proximity. The police were summoned; they warned the errant relative, but nothing seemed to get better. So Wynette hired a surveyor, caused the properties to be surveyed and erected a fence separating the relative from the rest of the property. The fence also served to contain the pit bulls that the relative’s sons reared and which they loosed whenever they wanted to prevent anyone from executing a programme to help David. GWI could no longer install yet another pipeline until the police intervened once more. Bad does not always attract evil. Wynette had built a large concrete bridge to accommodate all who lived in the yard. When she erected the fence she wanted to demolish the section of the bridge that was of no use to her. The very tormentor begged that the bridge not be demolished and so it remained. Wynette should have left for Florida last week; she deferred her departure to ensure that her blind brother was
comfortable. She told me some horror stories. She spoke of the tormentor taking the money. On one occasion, someone gave him two one-thousand dollar notes. One of the tormentor’s children took away the money and replaced them with two twenty-dollar notes. On another occasion they took a pair of boots that she had bought for her brother. When she saw it on the feet of one of the sons of the relative, the young man casually asked, “What David want with these boots?” Another time they beat him within an inch of his life because he refused to part with some money he had. The police got nowhere because David was scared to identify his attacker who wanted the money to buy alcohol. Other reports got nowhere, because this relative is a member of the Neighbourhood Police. But the supervisors would have none of the bullying. Wynette praised Lyndon Alves, who is now at the Criminal Investigations Department in the city, for
Adam Harris actually helping to protect her brother. But it has not always been easy. On one occasion, she said that a police rank at Whim actually told her that the police could do nothing, because nothing criminal had occurred. If there was no criminal act against David, then one must wonder what is. Wynette left yesterday with one request. She asked me to speak for David. I am doing so now. He lives alone in the apartment. Another relative is providing him with his meals. Up until yesterday the fence was keeping out the predators. But now that she has left, would the situation remain calm? I hope so. And I will be checking on David.
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Sunday March 10, 2019
Kaieteur News
Women deserve a good life International Women’s Day (8 March) was held this year under the theme “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change”. The following are excerpts from an address by His Excellency David Granger President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the ‘Women and Gender Equality conference’ held on August 27, 2015. Women have made some
significant strides over the past four decades and there is now a much greater awareness of women’s rights. There is however, still a long way to go for women to achieve full equality. The gap in economic, social and political achievement between men and women remains wide. Inequality persists. The enforcement of enabling legislation is often ineffectual. The momentum for
change has slowed and the economic and political gap between men and women is still too wide. Women and girls, despite a few remarkable exceptions are still being left behind and are relatively disadvantaged. Episodic initiatives to promote women’s rights and offer them greater opportunities have failed to bring about full equality. A comprehensive long-term gender policy,
aimed at opening opportunities, promoting empowerment and providing protection for women is needed. The proposed National Gender Policy should aim to eradicate discrimination against women. It should be used to safeguard emotional and mental integrity and physical safety in women. It should result in women having a greater say in the decision making at all levels of society. There should be no shortage of legislation to protect women and to promote their rights. A major obstacle to equality is the prevalence and persistence of poverty. Poverty impacts significantly on the well-being of mothers and babies across the country. It is a well-known fact that children born to mothers living in poverty, among whom are mothers who head single-parent households, face greater challenges to everyday survival. Poverty reduction, ought to be an important means to lift the living standards of women and children in the poorest communities. This aspect of government policy, however, has not had its intended effect. Measured against five indicators: · Poverty level · Cost of living · Household income · Children’s formal schooling · Children’s post schooling employment The quality of life of many mothers and their families in Guyana can be described as low. It is a modern-day miracle, that many mothers manage their families on their meagre earnings in the face of massive impediments in our society. Women must be provided with greater opportunities if they are to escape from poverty. Your government proposes to consider various measures to assists women to lift their families out of poverty. · We will encourage greater entrepreneurship. · We will encourage the establishment of micro credit facilities and access to small business loans which can all have a positive effect on poor households headed by women. Your government is also prepared to negotiate concessionary financing through
microcredit organisations for lending to women. In addition, we are prepared to expand existing microcredit schemes targeting women and single-parent households. Thousands of our women can lift their families out of poverty and join the numbers of happy families and happy households through such measures. Your government wants more women at work. Many women cannot find satisfactory jobs nowadays. Young mothers, in increasing numbers have been travelling to the eastern Caribbean and bordering states, Suriname, Venezuela and Brazil in search of work. Their contribution of remittances to support their families and as an element in the gross national income is substantial, but this contribution comes at a cost. It is a symptom of serious social problems and through prolonged separation can have an adverse impact on their children’s upbringing. Young female school leavers also might have received education, practical skills and social orientation, but the economy has not been providing enough jobs even to those graduates. Your government intends to establish employment centres in the coming years in all our administrative regions to allow for persons seeking jobs to be matched with available employment opportunities. Through this process we anticipate that women will be able to find jobs closer to their homes and will not have to work far away from where they live. Your government also recognizes that many women are unable to take up full time employment because they have to take care of children. These responsibilities require them to stay closer to home or at home. Your government is prepared to consider offering tax rebates to companies which establish day-care centres for women, for mothers, so that women do not have to leave their children unattended when they are in the workplace. We want to make women happy when they’re at work. If they are worrying about the wellbeing of their children it will affect their work. We want happy women. Happy women will head happy families and happy
households. Women have already made their mark in education and through education, but there must be increased access to education by girls if we are to have greater equality. Women have narrowed the education gap but there is still a gap. They have made considerable strides because of their performance which you can see in the results every year, but far too many girls are still being left out, particularly in the hinterland and some of them unfortunately have fallen victim to trafficking. Your government wants to ensure that successes, particularly for disadvantaged women are magnified. We are keen on ensuring that those women who would benefit, who had not benefited from a formal education, who have dropped out of school for some reason or the other and did not complete their schooling can have access to remedial programmes that focus on numeracy and literacy. This access would allow them to improve their situation and allow them to enjoy employment opportunities that they do not now enjoy. Your government will also actively encourage women to enter technical professions such as architecture, agriculture and engineering, in which they are now underrepresented. In short, your government over the next five years will remain committed to achieving the objectives of full equality for women, of building happy families and happy households throughout the country. The proposed National Gender and Development Policy which we have met here to discuss crafting should contribute most of all, to promoting greater equality. As we pursue this policy let us bear in mind that the struggle for equality is not for women alone, it is a national goal. Let us join hands therefore with our sisters in all ten regions to promote greater equality. Let us consolidate these objectives; let us consolidate our efforts in the five years ahead by crafting this National Gender and Development Policy. One that could be relevant to our circumstances and our conditions, and we should also embrace the high ideals that women have struggled for over the last hundred years in Guyana. Women deserve a good life. May God bless Guyanese women.
Sunday March 10, 2019
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Kaieteur News
Cough Medicines: How do you know which is the right one? Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine We have all had the unpleasant experience of having a cough. Sometimes it becomes annoying and we need help to suppress or get rid of it. Cough medicines are usually our number one choice. However, we are not always sure which is the best option for our cough. Today, I will share some information on cough medicines so that you can be better informed when you are choosing a cough medicine. WHAT IS A COUGH? A cough is an automatic response to irritation of the airways in the lungs. Having a cough is the main symptom of an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). However, a cough can also be a symptom of other conditions such as asthma or other lung diseases. When you have a cough caused by a URTI, it may be described as being either a chesty cough or a dry cough. If you have a chesty cough this usually means that your lungs are producing more phlegm or mucus (cold) than normal, because you have an infection, and you are coughing up extra mucus and debris from the infection. If you have a dry cough this usually means that you are coughing a lot,
but nothing comes out when you cough. WHAT ARE COUGH MEDICINES? Cough medicines aim either to suppress a dry cough, or to help you to cough up the extra phlegm (mucus) of a chesty cough when you have a URTI. There is little good evidence that they do help. This is partly because many coughs get better quickly on their own anyway, so it is hard to tell if the medicine has helped or if the cold has simply got better. A glycerin, honey and lemon cough medicine is also available to buy. This preparation does not have an active ingredient as such. It is thought to have a soothing action. Cough medicines can also contain other medicines such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Some contain alcohol. HOW DO COUGH MEDICINES WORK? If cough medicines do work, they are thought to work in different ways, depending on what the active ingredient is: 路 Antitussives are said to work by reducing the cough reflex. For example, dextromethorphan or pholcodine. 路 Expectorants try to help loosen secretions, so you cough up the excessive mucus (cold) - for ex-
ample, guaifenesin or ipecacuanha. 路 Antihistamines reduce histamine release. This r e d u c e s c ongestion and decreases the amount of secretions (cold) made by the lungs. Examples are brompheniramine, chlorphenamine, diphenhydramine, doxylamine and promethazine.路 Decongestants cause the blood vessels in the lungs and nose to narrow (constrict), and this reduces congestion. Examples are phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, oxymetazoline or xylometazoline. WHICH COUGH MEDICINE SHOULD YOU BUY? If you have a dry cough, a preparation containing an antitussive such as dextromethorphan or pholcodine is the most suitable to try. If you have a chesty cough, a preparation containing an expectorant such as guaifenesin or ipecacuanha is the most suitable to try. Your pharmacist can advise you which one may be suitable for you. WHAT COUGH MEDICINE CAN CHILDREN USE? For children under 6 years of age, its best to give them simple preparations such as glycerin,
honey, and lemon. Do not give children who are younger than 6 years old cough medicines with any of the active ingredients listed above (antitussives, expectorants, antihistamines, or decongestants). This is because the risk of a young child having a side-effect to one these preparations is greater than any possible benefit of the medicine. Children older than 6 years old can usually take cough medicines safely. WHAT ARE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS?
Most people who take cough medicines do not have side-effects. Some cough preparations (for example, pholcodine and diphenhydramine) can cause drowsiness. If you are drowsy after taking a cough medicine, you should not drive and you should not operate machinery. The leaflet that comes with your medicine will state if the medicine can cause drowsiness. Pholcodine may cause constipation. As with all medicines, cough medicines should only be taken for the shortest period of time neces-
Dr. Zulfikar Bux sary, and most people only need to use a cough medicine for a few days. In general, most coughs do not last more than 2-3 weeks. If your cough does last longer than this, or there are other symptoms such as shortness of breath and/ or high fever, then you should go to see your doctor.
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SUNDAY Ghana lost US$50M in taxes through “deficient” ring-fencing laws… Guyana moves to first oil without any safeguards As Guyana prepares for first oil, international observers continue to the call for key laws to be strengthened. Oxfam America, a transparency advocate for the extractive sector, has said that robust laws pertaining to ring-fencing are critical if countries are to have a fighting chance against oil firms and their manipulative tactics. (When ring fencing provisions are in place, the oil company cannot offset costs incurred in contract one area/ project against the profits made from another area/ project.) To prove its point, the firm showed how Ghana lost US$50M in taxes because the nation’s laws on ring fencing were “deficient.” Oxfam America noted that UK oil firm, Tullow has multiple oil projects in Ghana’s world class Jubilee Field. Two of these were the Deepwater Tano (DWT) and the Tweneboa Enyenra Ntomme (TEN) Oil Field. After conducting an audit on Tullow’s costs, it was discovered by Ghanaian authorities that the company was transferring its exploration and development costs from the TEN Field to the DWT. This move by the oil firm resulted in Ghana losing US$50 million in taxes. Of course, the African state tried to recover the money. The country’s Revenue Authority argued that Tullow had to pay up since its ring fencing laws prevents costs from being transferred from one project to the other. But Ghana’s Revenue Authority had it all wrong. Its Petroleum Income Tax Law said that oil companies could
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Kaieteur News
not transfer costs accrued under one oil contract to another. Nothing in the law said that costs could not be transferred among multiple oil fields owned by an operator. After paying the price for this deficiency in its law, Ghana’s Revenue Authority revised the law to ring-fence by field rather than by Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). Considering the aforementioned, Oxfam America noted that Ghana could have averted the ringfencing problem by amending the law or issuing guidance on its interpretation. In the absence of doing so, the transparency advocate said Ghana’s government was unable to stop its revenues from being deferred by Tullow. Putting the Brazil to Georgetown road into perspective… Chinese take over Lethem’s Commercial Zone Decades ago, Marlon Jardine’s rendition, “Guyana looking just like China,” became very popular locally. This year, this hit remains relevant as Chinese construction companies, restaurants, clothing and hardware stores get even more comfortable in here. A recent trip to Lethem revealed that China’s heavy presence is not relegated to Georgetown. Chinese dominate several areas— Lethem is one of the main locations. Locals inhabiting Lethem say that Chinese nationals began appearing some 15 years ago. However, they say that the Chinese nationals have been managing to increase their strength each year with operations growing in size and number. Now, the Chinese enjoy almost full control of Lethem’s main economic activity. Lethem only became a town less than two years ago—on October 20, 2017. The town, which is still
One of the many Chinese owned and operated stores at Lethem. Notice, all the vehicles parked there, carry Brazilian number plates considered a remote area, has just about 1,158 persons living there. But, no less than 20 stores are owned and operated by Chinese in the Lethem Commercial Zone. These stores are big and well stocked. In fact, some of them can even be compared to a few of the better known Chinese stores on Regent and Robb Streets in the city. China’s market is Brazil. This newspaper understands that 90 percent of Chinese customers are Brazilians. Brazil has over 209 million people. The three towns in Brazil closest to the Guyana border are Bonfim (just as you cross the Takutu Bridge), then there are Boa Vista, and Manaus. Manaus alone boasts a population of 1.7 million people. The other two towns—Bonfim and Boa Vista—have 10,951 and 277,799 people respectively. Now that is a good market. The demand can be measured by the fact that no fewer than three truckloads of goods go to Lethem per week. So good is the network of Chinese Nationals in Georgetown and Lethem that “the one set of trucks supply all the stores. So they use about two or three trucks and those bring goods for everyone.” Bandit shot dead inside Kay’s Diamond Enterprise -three accomplices captured while waiting in vehicle
International oil and Gas Consultant, Anthony Paul
What seemed like the perfect robbery went badly wrong when a 27-year-old gunman was riddled with bullets around 12:15 hrs Saturday. The shooting occurred inside of Kay’s Diamond Enterprise, located at Lot 288 Middle and Thomas Streets. Gerally Johanison Henry, who police said was a miner, had gained entry into the businessman’s office under
the pretext of wanting to buy diamonds. But when he drew a handgun, the businessman who owns a licensed firearm, shot him first. Henry was reportedly shot at least six times in the upper body. Police then arrested Henry’s three accomplices, who were waiting outside in a black Fielder Wagon. Police sources said that all those arrested are from Albouystown. A 9mm pistol, with eight rounds in the magazine, was recovered from the slain Henry. Police said that Henry had first contacted the dealer by telephone and indicated that he wanted to buy some diamonds. There are reports that Henry had transacted business at least three times with the dealer. After receiving two calls, the businessman let Henry into his office, located on the first floor. According to police, Henry then told the diamond dealer that he wanted to use the washroom. According to one report, when Henry exited the washroom, he pointed a gun at the dealer and discharged a round, which missed and struck a wall. The dealer, who reportedly already had his Glock pistol at the ready, then shot the bandit dead. Because the building is soundproof, Henry’s accomplices did not hear the gunfire and remained waiting. Meanwhile, the businessman alerted ranks from the Alberttown Police Station, who arrived and arrested the suspects. By then a crowd had gathered. One resident who lived nearby was overheard saying, “He (the businessman) should have killed all three of them. They ain’t mean to look for a wuk. Them like nuisance to society.”
MONDAY Guyana is in deep political crisis – Dr. Hinds The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has made it clear that General and Regional Elections is not possible for March 19. But political forces such as Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo are insisting that once that March 19 deadline is missed, Guyana would be heading into unconstitutional territory. There are other critics however, who do not agree with Jagdeo’s position. One such person is Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds. He believes that what the country is witnessing—a constitutional dilemma—is actually a manifestation of a really deep political crisis. The political activist said ,too, that while many people are sweating over the impending “constitutional crisis” on March 19, in his opinion, there is already a constitutional crisis—the two political titans (APNU+AFC and the PPP) are interpreting the Constitution differently. Expounding further, Dr. Hinds said that since Constitutions by their very nature are not as explicit as other documents, this disagreement is to be expected. He said that is where judicial review comes in—the judicial branch of government is expected to break the deadlock. But invariably, the political activist said that the courts come down on one side of the argument. The University professor said, “Because the Executive is a co-equal branch of government, it has some scope to get around the verdict of the courts. In other words, despite the rhetoric about constitutional rule and the rule of law, ultimately
those cannot make much sense outside of the larger political and historical contexts.” “My problem with the PPP and the commentators who are holding the government to constitutional standards is that they are presenting their case as if the government’s non-adherence to the dictates of the constitution is the sum-total of the problem we face. Any honest overview of our modern political history would show that we have been in a permanent state of ‘constitutional crisis’ since 1953, simply because there has been a dissonance between our constitutional declarations and our political praxis.” Dr. Hinds added, “Burnham solved the problem by installing paramountcy of the party over the courts and the Constitution which ultimately led to a full-blown authoritarian order that survives to this day. Since the return to so-called free and fair elections, we have witnessed at least three other big manifestations of ‘constitutional crises’— 1990-92, 1997-2001 and 20112015.” Addressing transfer pricing in oil sector…Implement provision to adjust costs between related parties – Int’l Policy Advisor If first-time oil producers like Guyana are really serious about addressing transfer pricing by operators, then they will ensure that they will put a provision in place to adjust costs between related parties. This is according to Oxfam America, an international body that advocates for transparency in the extractive sector. The organization said, (Continued on page 33)
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From page 32 “Bearing in mind the challenges of implementing this arms-length principle, the government should also explore the feasibility of adopting alternative tax policy rules that are clear, objectively verifiable, and easier to administer.” Expounding further on this matter to Kaieteur News was one of Oxfam’s Senior Policy Advisor, Daniel Mulé. The Tax and Extractive Industries Advisor said that if the Government will be using cost audits as a means of controlling issues like transfer mispricing, then indeed, legal controls to contain costs are important. He said that readers should bear in mind that costs represent at least 40 cents on each dollar of revenues, as such, even small gains could have big impacts for host country governments. Mulé said, “It’s also important to have a strong auditing framework in order to effectively audit. Governments should have clear legal provisions, good interagency coordination between tax authorities and petroleum regulators, strong human and technical capacity for auditing costs, reliable benchmark data, a proactive and timely approach to auditing, and transparency and public oversight mechanisms to ensure accountability.” However, if governments lack those elements and find administering cost audits and securing adjustments is too difficult, the Tax Advisor said that they may consider other alternatives. He said that one potential alternative might be to adopt a gross split method, as has been done recently in Indonesia. He noted however, that this is more likely to be feasible for new projects under negotiation. He warned that stabilization provisions might impede making such a change for existing projects. Also speaking on this issue with Kaieteur News was International Oil and Gas Consultant, Anthony Paul. He said that one way Guyana might learn from its sister territory, Trinidad and Tobago, is that failing to implement rules and regulations can be extremely costly. Two women dead after horrific bus crash – child, cop, teen with severed fingers among injured passengers Two persons were killed and several passengers hospitalized after a minibus in which they were travelling slammed into a median at Success, East Coast of Demerara (ECD).
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The horrific accident occurred at around 07:30hrs Sunday. The dead persons have been identified as Patricia Ellis, 59, of Lot 30 Harlington East Coast Demerara and 58-year-old Denise Cully of Vigilance, East Coast Demerara. Ellis died while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), while Cully, a vendor and a mother of three, died on the spot. One of Cully’s arms and other body parts were severed. Ellis and Cully were among several passengers in a route 44 minibus bearing registration number BTT 4910. Police said that sometime around 07:30 hrs, the minibus was proceeding west along the southern drive lane of the southern carriageway, reportedly at a fast rate of speed. It is alleged that another driver overtook the minibus from the left side and struck his left rear wheel causing him to lose control and slam into the median. It was reported that Cully was flung out of the bus window and ended up in the northern carriageway. The minibus toppled several times before landing on Cully’s body. It then skidded for some distance before coming to a halt. The vehicle was then turned over by public spirited persons and Cully’s mangled body was removed. It was reported that the bus may have suffered a blow out. The other passengers injured are, Jaden Moffatt , seven, a student of Golden
Grove Primary School ; Laffanna Williams, 22, a Police Constable of Lot 175 Haslington ECD ; June Abel ,60, of Lot 8 Good Hope ECD ; Wayne Blair ,38, of Lot 38 Fernandez Street, Golden Grove ECD and Jordon Beaton,17, of Golden Grove, ECD. Beaton, who reportedly lost several fingers, was rushed to the Woodlands Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. TUESDAY Rusal again refuses to sit with union -Workers continue blocking of Berbice River Pack up and ship out if you don’t want to talk. That is the message trade unions of Guyana have sent to Rusal/Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI) after another attempt to bring the company and the union to the table failed once again. Rusal officials insisted Monday that they are not talking to the union once Lincoln Lewis, the General Secretary, is there. Rusal fired 61 workers last month after objections to a measly one percent increase. Some 30 more were let go even as Government tried to intervene. Workers were angry that their bargaining representative, the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU), was not consulted and worse yet, the union has been derecognized. The company and workers are at a standoff with operations at almost a
standstill. The company has attempted to work with a skeleton staff, but residents of Kwakwani, a nearby community to the Kurubuka mine, in the Berbice River, have blocked the waterway with wire ropes and drums. Fired workers have been refusing to leave the Aroaima location where Rusal is providing housing. The Department of Labour and Government had met to diffuse the situation, but in vain. Monday, a meeting was scheduled at the Department of Labour between Chief Labour Officer, the union and the company. However, Rusal stuck to its guns and insisted no meeting would be held with the union. General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Coretta McDonald, who was one of the representatives of other unions that are attempting to diffuse the situation, and who was present for the meeting, was exasperated. She said that the union rejected calls for unblocking of the river. “Unless the union is recognized, there will be no talks…no unblocking of the river,” she told Kaieteur News. The Berbice River is where their mined bauxite is moved to vessels at the New Amsterdam area. According to McDonald, Rusal is to submit a document to Government now and this will be transmitted to the GB&GWU. “We appreciate the stand of Government. However, we are disappointed that the
necessary clauses and laws that can be invoked, were not. The Department of Labour is a little too slow and is accommodating them, where the company does not want to sit and recognize the union.” According to the union leader, it is a show of disrespect for Guyana. WEDNESDAY Clampdown on pilots after recent crashes… GCAA deploys flight trackers; threatens to yank licences For years, it was a public secret in the aviation sector. Pilots would log to fly to a specific area in the hinterlands. However, during the time, a number of them would make dashes to other locations, shuttling fuel, or helping a miner move gold. It was all highly a no-no. It was all about making a little something on the side. However, two recent plane crashes have sparked authorities to announce a number of measures that will likely make pilots think twice about deviating from their flight paths. They could lose their licence and the operator’s permits could be cancelled too. The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Tuesday announced that it has put into operations a flight tracking system which although in testing phase will work fine. It is expected to be fully operational by mid-year. The regulator also has introduced a hotline where persons can call and
complain about operations of pilots and by extension, the behaviour of aviation operators. Up to recently, planes flying in the hinterlands were left largely to themselves…well largely unchecked. This is all about to change, with immediate effect. According to DirectorGeneral, Lt. Colonel (Ret’d), Egbert Field, the country has a ADS-last, B system (automatic dependent surveillance—broadcast (ADS–B) in place. The system is a surveillance technology in which an aircraft determines its position via satellite navigation and periodically broadcasts it, enabling it to be tracked. The information can be received by air traffic control ground stations as a replacement for secondary surveillance radar, as no interrogation signal is needed from the ground. It can also be received by other aircraft to provide situational awareness and allow selfseparation. Other than the main Air Traffic tower at Timehri, there will be four repeater stationsat Kaieteur, Annai, Port Kaituma and Kamarang. Peter Ramsaroop questioned at CID Headquarters in Charrandass probe People’s Progressive Party supporter Peter Ramsaroop was questioned Tuesday at CID Headquarters, Eve Leary, in connection with what police (Continued on page 34)
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From page 33 say is an ongoing investigation into allegations against former AFC member, Charrandass Persaud. Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, confirmed to Kaieteur News that Ramsaroop was questioned, and promised more information shortly. In a press conference last January, the Top Cop had said that police received ‘corroboration’ from gold dealers who were interviewed during an ongoing probe into bribery and other allegations against Persaud. At the time, James had said that the investigation had “gone a significant way,” and that the police may approach Canadian officials ‘if necessary’ to have Persaud extradited for questioning. James confirmed that Persaud, a Canadian citizen, is under investigation into allegations of bribery and the reported shipping of gold out of Guyana. James had described the matter as one of “national security.” But it is unclear what information police may be seeking from Ramsaroop regarding the probe police are said to be conducting. THURSDAY Granger, Jagdeo meeting ends without election date President to engage GECOM commissioners A critical meeting Wednesday between Government and the Opposition did not bear fruit, with President David Granger stating that he will be meeting with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to be advised on a date for polls. The meeting was later described by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, as a futile affair. (See related story on page 7) With the diplomatic community warning that the current delays in finding a solution are hampering investments, and the business community complaining over what they say is a sharp drop in business, there is not good news…there appears to be no imminent end. Shortly after the meeting at the Ministry of the Presidency, President Granger and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who was also part of the team that met with Jagdeo and his group, issued a statement, describing the meeting as “fruitful”. It was a sharp contrast to what Jagdeo said later. “I am happy to say that the engagement between the Government side and the
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Opposition side was very useful and very fruitful. Both sides are working towards the solution of the issues which now confront us and I think we had a very positive approach. As you know there are four processes taking place; one is the importance of the National Assembly; second is the judicial process; third is the executive process and fourth is GECOM (Guyana Elections Commission),” the President asserted. According to Granger, the engagement Wednesday morning, focused largely on the role of GECOM, because it is an independent agency, which could determine when elections would be held. “The President or the Executive or anybody, cannot intervene, cannot intrude, cannot interfere with the work of GECOM, so we have to allow GECOM to do its work. In that regard, the Leader of the Opposition was insistent that a date be set and he is in all fairness, prepared to vary the date based on a vote by the National Assembly.” Multi-billion$ Petro Caribe probe… Extradited GRDB accountant whisked from airport to SOCU to jail -39 charges read A former accountant of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) who was ordered extradited by Canadian courts last December, has been refused bail here. Peter Ramcharran landed shortly after 7am Wednesday on a Caribbean Airlines flight from that North American country. He was escorted by two Canadian border officials, including a female. At the Timehri airport, he was handed over to officials of the police’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), placed in a tinted vehicle and escorted to the unit’s headquarters on Camp Road. With an hour or so, he was taken to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. He had been detained by the Canadian authorities, at the behest of the Government of Guyana, since 2017. Guyana asked for his extradition to face fraudrelated charges pertaining to his duties at GRDB, which was the executing agency for a major oil-for-rice deal worth billions with Venezuela. That deal was ended suddenly in 2015 by a hostile Venezuela after this Coalition Government came to office. At the court yesterday, after an arrest warrant had been issued for him, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan read a total of 39 charges to
the accused. He was represented by attorney-atlaw Sase Gunraj. Ramcharran was dressed in a formal shirt and khaki long pants. Representing the State for the matter was attorney-atlaw Patrice Henry, one of the special prosecutors retained by Government to work with SOCU on a number of forensic audit files on state agencies. The hearing began just after 10am. Before the charges were read, Magistrate McLennan asked the defendant to explain why he had been evading the courts. In his response, Ramcharran stated, “I was not informed by any official of Guyana about these charges.” His attorney moved to give context, as he stated his client learnt of an arrest warrant being issued for him through the public media. “My client had to learn of these charges and arrest warrant being issued by public media. After learning of this, Mr. Ramcharran had no other option but to take conditions to prepare himself.” A heated exchange ensued for about 10 minutes between Gunraj and the magistrate. The magistrate wanted to know if the defence was accusing the investigating rank into the matter of lying under oath. HEKNEW According to the Special Prosecutor, Ramcharran was very much aware that he was wanted. In fact, a lawyer had visited SOCU’s office on his behalf. In the prisoners’ dock, the defendant stood quietly as all 39 charges were read out to him. The charges took the magistrate a period of about 20 minutes to read out. Ramcharran was charged for fraudulent conversion and misappropriation that allegedly took place between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2015, and involving tens of millions of dollars. The total is said to be over $400M. Persons in the courtroom could be heard gasping at the sums of money mentioned in the charges. The accused was not required to plead to the charges as they were all indictable. Major step in telecoms liberalization as Govt., GTT sign Memorandum of Understanding Major headway appears to have been made with plans to open the telecoms sector by allowing competition in the mobile and internet field. With the so-called
Rusal representatives, Vladimir Permyakov and Mikhail Krupenin leaving the office of the Department of Labour liberalization process dragging on for seven years, Wednesday the Coalition Government and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) announced that they have inked an agreement. While the Memorandum of Understanding is nonbinding, it will spell significant advancement in the ongoing negotiations. GTT, a US-controlled company that has been here for 28 years, taking over the crumbling state-owned Guyana Telecommunication Corporation in the early 1990s, has been insisting on a number of concessions, including more spectrum, and reportedly tax breaks, to give up its monopoly on landline and international calls. Several companies have been applying to operate internet TV, mobile services, and the landing of submarine cables to bring data. However, the ongoing talks have stalled the processing of the applications. Wednesday, a joint statement was issued by Government and GTT. “The Cooperative Republic of Guyana (GoG) and Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the GoG’s planned liberalization of the telecommunications market.” The statement noted that the agreement, while “nonbinding”, represents a major step toward fully liberalizing G u y a n a ’ s telecommunications market. “The parties have further agreed to continue discussions on all
outstanding issues with the objective of reaching a binding agreement.” Minister of Public Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , Catherine Hughes stated: “After many years of delays, this Government has brought the country one step closer to achieving a fully open telecommunications market. While more work needs to be done, the Government is committed to continuing discussions and completing the process of liberalization for the citizens of Guyana.” “I am very pleased we have reached this milestone”, said Justin Nedd, GTT’s Chief Executive Officer. Learn from Ghana… Demand approval for all subcontracting agreements to avoid exploitation – Oxfam America When it comes to costs being incurred by oil companies, transparency advocates for the extractive sector are of the view that Governments and their relevant authorities have the right to know every detail. This “right” however, must be protected with rigid provisions in contracts and laws. Pointing this out was Oxfam America. The entity is a confederation of 20 independent charitable organizations, which seek to fight some of the factors that lead to poverty, one of them being the poor governance of extractive wealth. To lend credence to its argument, Oxfam showed how the hands of Ghana’s Petroleum Commission were tied when it came to
verifying, much less reducing costs charged upon the African country, since it had no legal basis for access to s u b c o n t r a c t i n g agreements from oil and gas companies. Oxfam noted that it is common for drilling rigs to experience mechanical downtime. It s a i d t h a t t y p i c a l l y, t h e drilling subcontractor must be compensated by the oil operator for nonproduction time if it exceeds one percent in a given year for example. The Federation continued, “…Because G h a n a ’s Petroleum Commission could not access these drilling service agreements, it was unable to confirm the terms and conditions of compensation. Assuming a rig is down for 10 percent of the year, at US$100,000 to US$200,000 a day, the cost could be as high as US$7 million.” The transparency advocate added, “However, the Commission had no information on the extent to which the companies had been reimbursed for nonproduction time by the oil operators. To overcome this challenge, the Commission now requires approval of all subcontracting agreements.” It is along this vein that Oxfam America urges all firsttime oil producers like Guyana to demand the approval of all subcontracting agreements as well as ensure that it introduces and enforces, clear, comprehensive, standardized reporting and (Continued on page 35)
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From page 34 documentation requirements in relation to those s u b c o n t r a c t i n g arrangements. FRIDAY ExxonMobil estimate jumps to 5.5B barrels The gross recoverable resource from the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana has now increased to approximately 5.5 billion oilequivalent barrels. This is according to Deedra Moe, the Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs at Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL). EEPGL is a subsidiary of ExxonMobil. Moe said that this estimated resource update includes the recent Tilapia-1 and Haimara-1 discoveries. She said, “Exploration activity in the Stabroek Block is continuing. The Noble Tom Madden drillship will next drill the Yellowtail-1 well, approximately six miles (10 kilometers) west of Tilapia-1 in the Turbot area. “The Stena Caren will next return to the Longtail discovery to complete a well test. Baseline 4-D seismic data acquisition is also underway.” The Senior Director of Government Affairs said that there is potential for at least five floating, production storage and offloading vessels (FPSO) on the Stabroek Block producing more than 750,000 barrels of oil per day by 2025. Further to this, Moe said that the Liza Phase One development is progressing on schedule and is expected to begin producing up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day in early 2020, utilizing the Liza Destiny FPSO. Pending government and regulatory approvals, the Senior Director said that Liza Phase Two will use a second FPSO designed to produce up to 220,000 barrels per day. She noted that start-up is expected by mid-2022. Moe said that a third development, Payara, is being planned, with startup expected as early as 2023. Rusal stand-off enters third week…Govt. contemplates compulsory arbitration Friday marked three weeks since Rusal workers clashed with management over an arbitrary one percent pay hike that was rejected. There has been no respite. None of the sides is willing to budge. The Berbice River, in the Kwakwani area, Region Ten, has been blocked, stopping Rusal from exporting bauxite until a resolution.
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As of Thursday, 90-plus workers remained fired for daring to ask for a meeting with management to discuss the one percent. The workers who were fired were asked to leave the housing area at Aroaima. The kitchen was told to stop cooking for them. Three weeks later, the residents of Region Ten, the government to some extent, and the workers themselves have stayed on at Aroaima, cooking for themselves. Thursday, General Secretary of the recognized bargaining body, the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU), Lincoln Lewis, who visited the area again to update workers, said that they have to be prepared for the long haul. “I am to meet with workers (today) again as a place called the “Crack”. The workers who are refusing to move have placed themselves into three shifts and are watching to make sure no vessels of Rusal enter and leave the mine site.” According to the union leader, who is not being recognized by the Russiancontrolled Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI), the communities surrounding the bauxite area in Region Ten are giving food and other items to the workers. Many of the workers have not been able to come out to meet with their families. Many of the 500 workers don’t know when they will get their next pay. Lewis said that the latest meeting with Government on Wednesday resulted in some positives. “We are told that Government is concerned about the workers and that the matter may be taken to c o m p u l s o r y arbitration…meaning that it will be ordered by Government. The company is continuing to show disrespect.” SATURDAY No headway…Election date depends on consensus in GECOM–President Granger tells commissioners The engagement between Government and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Friday to determine a date for elections ended without one. The Chairman and six commissioners who met President David Granger and team at the Ministry of the Presidency were told to find common ground and come back. Wi t h a M a r c h 2 1 deadline that the Opposition says will throw Guyana into a crisis
President David Granger and his team meeting with the Opposition representatives, led by Bharrat Jagdeo. situation unless a resolution can be met, the ongoing back-and-forth is not spelling good news. It will hold at bay a country that is about to enter oil production for the first time. Following the meeting, Granger and the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, were clear that the ball is in the court of the commissioners. “The Government had a very enlightening and useful engagement with the Guyana Elections Commission this morning. The Commission was invited by the Government to examine the ways and means of having credible elections in as shortest time as possible, and we sought guidance from the Elections Commission as to what they would need. It appeared to the Government side that there are some differences,” Granger said in a statement. It was not believed that the differences are irreconcilable, but rather, there is a need for a fresh search for agreement between the competing opinions in the Commission. “Much attention was focused on the (Voters’) List. Naturally, the list is central to elections. We feel that elections are a normal part of democracy, but we don’t want any citizen to feel disenfranchised, and it is evident from the evidence provided in the meeting this morning that the list is bloated… given the size of our population, and much
attention is focused on sanitising that list.” Findings on GPHC Cancer deaths… Doctors failed to follow protocol; shortage of trained medical personnel highlighted The deaths of three children, all cancer patients, who received treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) were due to failure by doctors to follow the protocol necessary for the administration of the drugs, Vincristine and Methotrexate. At a press conference Friday, the media was briefed on the investigations’ findings by a committee of officials from GPHC and the Ministry of Public Health. It was revealed by that committee that the failure to follow hospital protocol was due to a shortage of trained medical personnel. The three patients were treated from the period January 3-4, 2019. Following the administration of these drugs, all three children suffered adverse reactions, which the medical staff of GPHC noticed on or around January 5, 2019. Kerwayne Edwards, 7, died on January 8 while in the Pediatric Ward, while Roshanie Seegobin, 3, and Sharezer Mendonca, 6, died on January 18 and 24, respectively, in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). They were treated by the same team of medical doctors. Chairperson of GPHC’s board of directors, Kesaundra Alves said that, following the passing of Edwards and the deterioration of the other two
patients, the hospital’s administration launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the treatment of the patients, and their adverse reactions. She said that GPHC had also immediately suspended the use of the two drugs as a precautionary measure. Doctor Fawcett Jeffrey, the Director of Medical and Professional Services, spearheaded this investigation through the Offices of the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, the Assistant Director of Nursing Services, Head of the Paediatric Department, the Pharmacy Manager, and other relevant departmental heads. The investigation included the collection of statements from all parties, directly or indirectly involved, and other witnesses otherwise privy to personal information, Alves said. Dr. Jeffrey submitted his final report to the Chief Executive Officer, George Lewis, on January 28, 2019. Alves said that that report blamed “human deficiencies and systemic challenges” for the children’s deaths. Asked to expound on these deficiencies and challenges, the Hospital’s head of Quality Management, Ms. Holder, said that the hospital faces a shortage of staff, which at the time, caused the available personnel to be spread thinly across patients and duties. As a result, a senior doctor was not there to supervise the administration of the medication, though this is what is considered ideal. The doctor who administered the drugs, administered
Vincristine, an intravenous drug, intrathecally (to the spinal canal). This is what caused adverse reactions. It is important to note that the drug is marketed with instructions not to administer it intrathecally, because it is highly dangerous to do so. Alves said that the committee executed a factfinding mission through the review of each patient, their charts, and interviews with involved staff members of the hospital, as well as the parents of the patients. She said that the committee submitted its preliminary report on February 22 and its final report to the Chief Medical Officer on February 28. It is this final report, which concluded that the GPHC protocols for the delivery of chemotherapy were not adhered to. She said that the report recommended a number of measures to prevent this from reoccurring. Consequently, the medical practitioners involved were “relieved of their duties” and sent on administrative leave on January 29, pending further review of the report and possible disciplinary action. On the same day, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, acted on instructions from the Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, to launch a second investigation into the circumstances surrounding the children’s deaths, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO). This time, Dr. Karen GordonCampbell, Deputy Chief (Continued on page 36)
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The meeting at the Ministry of the Presidency From page 35 Medical Officer, spearheaded the investigation. The committee noted that there were no differences in the findings of the two investigations. On Friday, officials from GPHC and the Ministry of Public Health formally informed the families of the patients on the findings of the investigations, and apologised for their deaths. The committee informed the media that the next stage is for the hospital administration to engage with its Board of Directors about the reports. The board will decide whether disciplinary action is to be taken against the medical personnel involved, and whether the families will be compensated. Additionally, the PAHO
office in Guyana is currently conducting an evaluation to identify the additional deficiencies in terms of building the human resource capacity of the hospital. Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos dies at 80 Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos died Friday evening at a city hospital after he was taken to the institution having complained of feeling unwell. He was 80. A legal luminary, Mr. De Santos served for five years as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs in the Dr. Cheddi Jagan-led PPP government. After b e c o m i n g A G, h e h e l d several appointments which included Member of the Constitutional Reform
Commission, Member of the Sub Committee on Governance, Member of the United Nations Permanent Court of Council, and Member of the Sectoral Committees on Constitutional Reform and Foreign Relations. After resigning as AG, De Santos returned to private practice. In 1991, then President Desmond Hoyte appointed De Santos as a senior counsel. Also in 1991 Dr Cheddi Jagan requested that De Santos join the civic component of the People’s Progressive Party. In 1992 he was put forward as a candidate in the party and helped campaign. After the PPP/C’s victory in October 1992, De Santos was appointed Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs.
Roshanie Seegobin (left) and Sharezer Mendonca are two of the three children who died as a result of misadministration of drugs at GPHC.
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COUNTRYMAN
- Stories about life in m and out of Guyana, fro ve a Guyanese perspecti
Surreal encounter in the Guyana bush (PT. TWO) By Dennis Nichols “Kanaima! The dreaded name jumped at me. My heart stopped for a moment, and then began to race as I stared at the figure. Behind it, a long tail swished – like a cat watching its prey. Then a d e e p , g u rg l i n g s o u n d swelled up around me. It seemed to come from everywhere at once, like waves rising and falling from the creature, the trees; the earth beneath my feet. It was the most unnatural sound I'd ever heard. I began to feel sick. My body started rocking slowly back and forth. I tried to turn my head to look away from the creature's eyes, but they were like magnets. I knew my grandfather's spirit had left me, replaced now by these strange actions and feelings, and I knew something bad was about to happen. It did. I fell forward – and blackness swallowed me.
How long I lay on the jungle floor I had no idea, but when I came to myself, I felt I was really dreaming this time, because there was complete darkness and silence. The half-moon had
no need for the torchlight but now in the pitch-black night, I thanked God that I had put in new batteries earlier in the afternoon. As the blackness swirled around me, I knew at that moment that a source of
“I saw a man standing where just moments before the jaguar had crouched …. And his eyes, like ice and fire, burned into my own” (Surreal Encounter - Pt. 1) disappeared, and if the 'manimal' was still there I could not see or sense it. Fear rose in me again. I didn't know which was worse – the presence of the creature with its inhuman eyes, or the absence of any sign of life, including mine it seemed. Was I dead? Was this what death felt like? But I soon realized I was alive when I forced myself to turn and felt my shotgun and torchlight on the ground close by. Up to that point I'd had
light was more important than a gun to lift me out of the nightmare I was experiencing. But before I could take them up, I was aware of someone or something behind me. Again fear shot through me. Again I felt m y s e l f l o s i n g consciousness, but before I could, I felt strong hands grip and lift my body clear off the ground. I didn't black out completely, and was barely aware of being carried rapidly away from where I
had fallen. Strangely enough, the fear began to leave me as we moved swiftly and silently through the jungle. At some point I must have fallen asleep, and slept deeply, because when I awoke streaks of sunlight were pouring through numerous spaces in the thatched roof of an old, rickety benab. Near to me on a rough wooden table were my torchlight and gun. My 'rescuer' whoever he, she, or it was, had vanished, and for the third time I wondered if the whole thing had been a bad dream. I soon found out it wasn't. Suddenly realizing that I was very hungry, I glanced at my watch, and was shocked to see that it was almost midday. I had probably slept for about 12 hours. I got to my feet, determined to somehow find something to eat, and to force from my mind the thought that I was
lost, hungry and scared, in a part of the jungle that I was totally unfamiliar with. As soon as I stood up, I felt my head spinning again, and had to lie down back quickly. It was then I noticed with a rush of panic that I wasn't alone. In a corner of the benab sat someone - a wrinkled, shrunken human form. It was a woman maybe a hundred years old, or more, and almost toothless when she opened her mouth to speak to me. “Son,” she whispered, “don't be afraid. I know what happen to you last night. Listen to me.” She spoke slowly, as if in physical pain, and my fear began to lessen. “The kan---, that thing – is after me.” She paused. “I tired running from it … can't fight it no more. No magic, no bina … nothing. My grandson-inlaw send it to kill me for something I do a long time ago. Dead woman can't talk so the living got to pay, and I
Dennis Nichols tired, I so tired son. He coming back tonight. I want you to see, to witness, and when you get back to Matthew's Ridge, tell my grandson it over. Tell him leave my children alone. I pay the price… Look, I know you hungry. Eat this.” She didn't speak again, but reached behind her for a small pot and pushed it towards me. It was a stew of some kind of bush meat, and it looked very tasty. I had never felt so hungry in my life, and in ten minutes I had (continued on page 57)
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BCGI workers’ struggle continues - reflection as the campfire blazes in Aroaima
I
t is Friday night and I am around the campfire outside of the barricade set up by a resilient group of workers employed by the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI). For the third straight week this nation witnesses the redoubling of commitment to not retreat or surrender until the just demands are met. Workers need respect for their basic rights (to a union of choice and collective bargaining) and improved conditions of work. The thinking behind the event is that of reinforcing their determination, and a community that has shown unwavering solidarity, that RUSAL either shape up or ship out. The barricade is to ensure while the impasse remains, not one tonne of bauxite will be transported to the transshipment at Crab Island for export. Where for the past nine-plus years (since December 2009) numerous entreaties to resolve the impasse fell on deaf ears, the time came to intensify the just demands to respect local labour as equals and the sovereignty of Guyana. You cannot want to do business with Guyana and treat Guyanese as though we are lesser than and hold in contempt the laws we are obliged to honour and obey. Watching the camaraderie of the workers and members of
the community, it is evident that when a people are united, they cannot be defeated. The community too has problems with RUSAL management and cited instances of its poor corporate citizenship. For instance, it wasn't until residents protested, by blocking the road, the company allowed access to its television signals. Another instance was, it took protest action to cause the company to allow for the use of the waste materials from the mines to maintain the internal roads, which have always been a feature of these communities. As I listened to these stories, it is no wonder the BCGI management does not want the media or unions involved in its engagement with the Government. They don't want the affected to articulate, the media to report on, and the world to know. On a lighter note, this strike has made master cooks of men, revealing skills some never thought they possessed. In the “Crack�, attendees of the campfire event are feasting on peas and rice and fish broth washed down with an array of locally produced beverages. The night is dark and as we watched the sky, we welcomed the sparks from the fire, these reminded us of the fireworks that heralded
The campfire set up by a resilient group of workers employed by BCGI
in our independence and republican status. We are a free people and we must remain free. I journeyed, once again, from the East Coast of
Demerara to be amongst those who elected me their leader, but this journey paled in comparison to those who come from the different surroundings, in the dark,
paddling their boats to ensure their presence and make known their solidarity. Bearing witness to this sent a surge of pride throughout my entire being, as to the
capacity and determination of our people. We are Guyanese and to underestimate the passion propelling what has been (continued on page 48)
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g .. n i t s. s re ure e t t In rea C
Pampas Fox
T
he pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus), also known as Azara's fox, or Azara's zorro, is a mediumsized zorro, or "false" fox, native to the South American pampas. The alternative common names are references to Spanish naturalist Felix de Azara. The pampas fox resembles the culpeo or Andean fox in appearance and size, but has a proportionately wider snout, reddish fur on the head and neck, and a black mark on the muzzle. It has short, dense fur that is grey over most of the body, with a black line running down the back and onto the tail, and pale, almost white, underparts. The ears are t r i a n g u l a r, b r o a d a n d relatively large, and are reddish on the outer surface and white on the inner surface. The inner surfaces of the legs are similar in colour to the underparts, while the outer surface is reddish on the forelimbs, and grey on the hind limbs; the lower hind limb also bears a distinctive black spot. Adults range from 51 to 80 centimetres (20 to 31 in) in body length, and weigh 2.4 to 8 kilograms (5.3 to 17.6 lb); males are approximately 10 per cent heavier than females. In the northern part of its range, the pampas fox is more richly coloured than in the southern part. The pampas fox can be found in northern and central Argentina, Uruguay, eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. It prefers open pampas habitats, often close to agricultural land, but can also be found in montane or chaco forest, dry scrubland, and wetland habitats. It is most common below 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) elevation, but can inhabit puna grasslands up to 3,500 metres (11,500 ft). Five subspecies are currently recognised, although the geographic range of each is unclear, and the type of localities of three of them lies outside the present-day range of the s p e c i e s : Ly c a l o p e x gymnocercus gymnocercus northeastern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil; Lycalopex gymnocercus antiquus - central Argentina; Lycalopex gymnocercus domeykoanus - first
(Lycalopex gymnocercus)
described from northern Chile; Lycalopex gymnocercus gracilis - first described from western Argentina and Lycalopex gymnocercus maulinicus first described from central Chile. Fossils of this species are known from the late Pliocene to early Pleistocene of Argentina. In the Spanish-speaking areas of its habitat, the pampas fox is known by the common names of zorro de las pampas or zorro gris pampeano. In Portugesespeaking Brazil, it is called by the common names of graxaim or sorro. The pampas foxes mostly live a solitary life, but come together as monogamous pairs in the breeding season to raise their young. They are mainly nocturnal, becoming active at dusk, although it may also be active during the day. They den in any available cavity, including caves, hollow trees, and the burrows of viscachas or armadillos. Even when raising young together, adult foxes generally hunt alone, marking their territory by defecating at specific latrine sites. Although there is considerable variation, the home range of a typical pampas fox has been estimated at around 260 hectares (640 acres). Pampas foxes are more omnivorous than most other canids, and have a varied and opportunistic diet. Their primary prey consists of birds, rodents, hares, fruit, carrion, and insects, although they will also eat lizards, armadillos, snails and other invertebrates, lambs, and the eggs of ground-nesting birds. Their primary predators are pumas and domestic dogs. Pampas foxes breed in the early spring, with the female coming into heat just once each year. After a gestation period of 55 to 60 days, the mother gives birth to a litter of up to eight kits. The young are born between September and December, and are weaned at around two months of age. Females reach sexual maturity in their first year, and animals have lived for up to 14 years in captivity. Pups will hunt with parents when they are three months old. The males bring food to their females who stay at the den with kits.
The main threats to the pampas fox comes from humans hunting them for their fur, to prevent them from attacking livestock, and may be affected by the loss of its natural habitat, although, because they remain common in most areas where it has been studied, the pampas fox is not presently considered a threatened species. [Source: Wikipedia]
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K O
BO
Book: Around Harvard Square Author: C.J. Farley Critic: Glenville Ashby, PhD
C
.J. Farley's 'Around Harvard Square' is a witty and artful narrative of a society on the crossroads of change. In one of the most prestigious universities, values collide, and those on the fringes of society go mainstream. As Harvard University goes, so does the wider society, maybe, in reverse order. What is certain, is that a new zeitgeist is poised to supplant centuries-old traditions. P r o t a g o n i s t To s h Livingston, a Jamaican teen, recalls his freshman year with a comic flair that is imaginatively colorful, and his sidekicks, Meera and Lao, lend a cosmopolitan veneer that that sets the tone for more than a clash of ideas. Around Harvard Square is Farley's 'sous rature,' a definitive commentary on society's struggle for meaning that is obfuscated in deftly crafted language and imagery.
Sunday March 10, 2019
Society's Struggle to Find Meaning
Volumes of banter and levity do little to sway Farley's work from its philosophical bearing. Indeed, there is enough epistemological enquiry for a lifetime of reflection. Still, we savour those light moments. Livingston's musings are as funny as they get. “I was going to Harvard, but in reality my ass was ashy and broke, and not broke like white-people broke...I mean Black broke, like the lights in my house got turned off broke, like eating sardines for dinner again broke…” And in one over-the-top comedic exchange with his roommate, Lao, we are left in stitches: “I woke up in the dark later that night and the mattress above me was rocking.” Livingston compares the sounds “to the intensity of the grunting during a long rally at a Women's Grand Slam Tennis Final.” The dialogue is riveting: “You woke me up. You were moving around so much I thought the top bunk was going to collapse. What are you doing up there?” His Asian friend retorts, “What you don't j--k off in America?”
“Of course, but we don't talk about it....Learn the rules!” B u t a g a i n , A ro u n d Harvard Square is anything but chatter. There is the perennial specter of race and gender politics. Of the former, Livingston has it all figured out: “Sometimes, when you're talking to certain white people, they'll say microaggressively racist stuff, like they are probing your defenses. If you call them out in their sh-t, they'll be on their guard around you from then on out, and who knows what they are saying behind your back. If you say n o t h i n g , t h e microaggressions go macro and pretty soon you can never say anything because you've let too much go...” Campus life proves far more complex than race and gender relations. The new students learn that they must peer into the mind of others. They are reminded of Professor Bell's counsel, “People from different religious faiths, political parties, economic groups, racial background, or gender identifications can look at the same set of facts and draw radically different conclusions about what it all means.” They must adapt lest they become irrelevant “This is Examined Life,” students read, “a journey, a quest up and down the
forking paths your lives could take.” And a touch of Eastern teachings lends mystique to the learning experience: “The Book of Tao tells us, The Way that is planned is not that…” But for all life's vicissitudes, they must strive toward inviduation as inscribed in the biblical adage scratched into the stall door, “For thou has made him a little lower than angels, and has crowned him with glory ad honor.” Livingston and friends navigate choppy waters. Campus life is overly challenging. They compete for a writing position in Harpoon, a campus publication defined by its edgy, dark humor. It is a grueling, exhausting undertaking that leaves them compromised and vulnerable. But there is something inviting about their struggle to fit in, to find meaning in their creative output. They learn fast, absorbing every word: “When you put out something political in a joke, it's less threatening. But in a way it's more threatening because jokes can spread like diseases. Most people won't share political pamphlets, but they'll share a joke. That's the purpose of art - you slip in messages that they say you can't say.” They learn that they must throw their hat into the ring, be daring and thick-skinned;
that they could garner something useful from Spooner, a brash young man who sits precariously at the helm of Harpoon: “People fear other races, other cultures and others. They are afraid they will say something racist or sexist or homophobic or, worst of all, some phobic that they haven't come up with yet so there is no way to guard against it.” They listen, attentively, “It's funny when someone slips on a banana peel - not funny when someone falls on a padded mat. If you have safe spaces and political correctness you can't have pain and you can't have humor. I don't want to go to a college like that, and I don't want the Harpoon to become like that.” And as students of a philosophy class taught by an eccentric personality dubbed, 'Chair,' they must dive intellectually into the labyrinth of existence. It is here that “tragedy is comedy, madness is genius and life is a joke” Around Harvard Square speaks to a society in the throes of fast-paced transition. As conservatism buckles under pressure from a liberal agenda, some, even left-of-center sympathizers, begin to wonder if the word 'liberal' is a misnomer; that maybe liberalism is a skewed form of conservatism, equally guarded and intolerant; and
that liberalism's u b e r s e c t i o n a l i t y, a n idealized concept of humanity is delusional. Was it not on a stall door that a penis was drawn along with the words, “Ubersectionality will F—k yr azz?” Throughout, identity politics run amok. “Where have been for the last century? Rich, white guys are the last people it's okay to mock, am I right? I would give any ball sack not to be a white man. We're about to be a demographic minority and we get no support,” one Harpoon member argues. He is up against liberals, pontificating and beating their chest in a zero-sum confrontation. The struggle for control is up for grabs and Farley reminds us that ultimately seizing power can be delicate, calculative and even brazen. Livingston and friends, not unlike the wider electorate, are merely pawns in a game of chess. F e e d b a c k : glenvilleashby@gmail.co m or follow him on Twitter Around Harvard Square by C.J. Farley © Copyright 2019 C.J. Farley Publisher: Akashic Books, Brooklyn, NY ISBN: 978-1-61775714-3 Available at Amazon Ratings: A Must Read
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STORY WITHIN THE
We are a jokey country By Leonard Gildarie
M
ore than a week ago, two B o u r d a vendors died after a crash involving a minibus that turned turtle, on the East Coast of Demerara. There was anger and then it was quickly forgotten. On Vlissengen Road, a minibus slammed into a car and ended up in a nearby trench. A pregnant woman was among the persons rescued. On Regent and Albert, an ambulance heading along Albert Street crashed into a minibus on Regent Street. A security camera video showed the horror. This is a topic that we come to again and again. Forget me. Our policy makers, and politicians, on both sides of the divide, have to start opening their mouths. It should not all be fancy speeches at a bottomhouse meeting or roadside rally. We have some real issues that our people are faced w i t h . Yo u a r e o u r representatives. Yet we get lost in the red tape and bureaucracy and shrug these off, leaving it to the next person to address. There is a really big problem happening on our roadways and there is deafening silence by the powers that be. Six days a week I leave my home at Diamond and drive to Kaieteur News. I return in the evenings. At Herstelling, one lane is invariably closed to traffic because of commercial activities taking place. A tyre shop, a hardware store and an auto repair shop are located a
stone's throw away from each other. Two of them happen to be people I know and respect. But we are talking here about the bigger picture. I will lose a few friends, but it comes with the territory. Around the corner at Providence, the policemen are likely standing on the road with speed guns or stopping vehicles. It is random road checks, they say. Here is the problem. It is all about traffic violations and not so much about crime control, as the policemen are not armed. Nothing is being done about Herstelling and that one lane of traffic. D a i l y, w e s e e t h e madness on the roads. A minibus overtakes you, then suddenly signals to get into the corner to pick up a passenger. The drivers are stony-faced. People would tell you stories about drivers with a Guinness or two, with a few drivers using marijuana. Want to hear something shocking? Well, it is a public secret. Many of the minibus and hire care drivers have bought their licences. Here is a simple way to find out. Pull them in, ask them how they got their licences. Want to go a little further? Administer the theoretical Drivers' Licence test and see what happens. Somebody has to bell the cat. The fact that many policemen and women own those minibuses should tell you about the reluctance to address the situation. And while we are on this, why are we not thinking of a moratorium on the number
Leonard Gildarie of minibuses operating? The government has been talking big buses. We took some hard decisions with the sugar industry. The fact is that is master plan to improve the city and rid the issues of transportation and parking. One of the proposals was the barring of minibuses from parts of the city. Rather, they would drop passengers off at designated areas and big buses would shuttle the passengers to different points. It would reduce the problems of congestion at key points, like Stabroek. These are ideas that we need to seriously consider if we are talking about improving this country, taking it to the next level. Sometimes the right decision may not necessarily be the most popular decision. I hold this country dear. We have taken on big companies - Rusal, Exxon and even BaiShanLin. We have taken the US, China and India to task because we believe that a better deal should be had. On Friday, the Official Gazette of Guyana, which publishes notices for the Government, released a list of public officials in Guyana who failed to declare their assets. According to the Integrity Commission Act, public officers should disclose their financial assets and liabilities on or before June 30, each year. When a public officer ceases to be a person in public life, he/she should disclose his/her assets and liabilities to the Commission within thirty days from the date that individual cease to be a person in public life. It is very clear. Yet we have about 500 public officials whose names have been published for not complying. Let me put it into perspective. As part of the tool to fight corruption in public office, many countries introduced the integrity laws. In essence, we want to know what our (continued on page 57)
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Linden loggers sensitised on forest management Representatives of logging concessions and associations in Coomacka, Rockstone, Blueberry Hill, all of Linden, Region 10, participated in a capacity building workshop on the e n v i r o n m e n t a l authorisation process in Guyana. The workshop, the second of its kind in Linden, saw about 40 participants, and was facilitated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through the FA O – E U F L E G T Programme. Among the other stake-
holders present were representatives of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) According to EPA’s senior Environmental Officer, Collis Primo, the aim of the workshop is to present information on how forest producers can familiarise themselves with the requirements of the EU FLEGT agreement. This arrangement stipulates that any forest-produced item that is being exported, must subscribe to a legal system, since it
allows for tractability of the project, from the logging point to the export point. “The intention is to also build capacity within these communities so that there can be resource people within those areas, who understand the process and can assist them in executing the application,” Primo explained. The FAO/ EU FLEGT agreement does not only focus on the environmental aspect of the industry but also considers legal procedures such as NIS and GRA registration.
“So, it is a multiplicity of requirements that forest producers and forest organisations are required to subscribe to,” he related. The information sessions included an overview of the work of the EPA and value of the natural environment and more so, demonstration sessions on how they must become authorised. At the end of the oneday workshop, participants were expected to gain basic knowledge on completing the application form and would be able to sub-
scribe to the process as well as to establish environmental safeguards within their logging operations. The aim is to also
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increase authorised logging concessions in the region. This workshop will be duplicated across the country.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday March 10, 2019
BCGI workers struggle continues From page 39 happening at Aroaima the past weeks, is to forget that coursing through our veins are the sons and daughters of the braves. Sitting here, I can't help but reflect on September 1969. In Kwakwani, another site of BCGI and 12 miles away from Aroaima, there was a major strike by workers employed by the USA Reynolds Mines. That strike saw the dismissal of workers and the involvement of Minister of Labour Winslow Carrington to bring an end to the impasse. Reynolds' management was summoned to the Minister's office in Georgetown and advised that the dismissals had to be withdrawn. The company complied. Conditions of work were not only deserving of improvement, but the residents in the community were also deserving of better treatment. Reynolds had rules as to who could enter the community and how long they could stay (a pass
system), separate days for local and foreigners to shop at the commissary, and who could be treated at the hospital. That October month of 1969, Prime Minister Forbes Burnham and a team journeyed to the area to get firsthand knowledge of what was going on. The first thing Burnham did on arrival was to walk around the community, stop and engage the residents, including workers, and invited himself into persons' homes to hear of their grievances. And though Reynolds prepared meals for him and team they opted to partake of the meals prepared by the women in the community. After listening to the people, Burnham invited them to a meeting that evening at the Sports club. At that meeting he made three major announcements, which put in place the toppling of barriers and being discriminated against. The hospital had to see any resident
that needed service, and there was the abolition of separate shopping day and the pass system to enter the community. Stories like aforesaid, residents and workers feel duty bound to pass on from generation to generation. These stories not only marked a significant turning point in our country's history or noted the public unity of support for Burnham's actions by Minority Leader Cheddi Jagan, but signalled the crossing of a major hurdle by a people who have come to accept that whatever they achieve had to be fought for. Having made such strides and come thus far, we cannot turn back now or surrender what have been achieved. We are all a better people from these experiences and made stronger when we unite around the historical struggles, achievements and development of this nation and vow never, ever to return to those ugly days. Aluta continua!
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What’s it like to have a parent on one of the biggest shows on TV? Many of the kids of the Grey’s Anatomy cast have known no other life, since the show has been on for most of their entire lives. When E! News visited the set of the series for the milestone 332nd episode, when Grey’s beat ER as the longest-running medical drama. So do any of the kids have any clue what a big deal any of this is? The short answer is not really. “Being like a social media generation that they are, they kind of look at it from that perspective,” Chandra Wilson tells us. “My girls are old enough that they knew a life before Grey’s, whereas my son, that’s all that he’s known, so he’s like, whatevs. I don’t think he understands, as far as accomplishments are concerned, what that means.” Wilson’s daughters were born in 1992 and 1998, and her son was born in 2005, after Grey’swas already on the air. “I think since they were such a young age when we started, they don’t really know much. They’re very happy for...hey, I’m paying for college,” Justin Chambers says of his five kids, the old-
est of whom was born in 1994 and the youngest in 2002. “But do they think you’re cool?” Camilla Luddington asked, getting to the real important questions. “No,” he said. “And nor should your child think their parent is too cool.” Caterina Scorsone’s kids, born in 2012 and 2016, are still too young to watch the show, but they know something’s going on. “They’re aware because there’s some fan love that happens occasionally near them, so they’re aware that there’s a lot of emotion about it,” she says. “But mostly, she doesn’t know the impact of the show, thankfully. Mostly, she’s like can you be fired so you can spend more time with me?” “My kids don’t watch it,” Kevin McKidd adds. “My daughter finds it weird watching her dad make out with different people.” Ellen Pompeo says her kids are still too young to really understand the significance of anything their mother does, but she does have a lesson she can’t wait to share with them when
they’re older. “I think the biggest lesson is you know...I think when you’re young, you think you have your life all figured out.
You think you know exactly what you want, what you’re going to do, and then the truth is your destiny takes over,” she says to E!’s Zuri Hall. “No matter what you think you want for yourself...of course there are choices that we make, but I just did not envision me staying on the show for this long.” Pompeo goes on to explain that she didn’t think the show would survive a lot of what it went through in the early years, but she’s so proud of what the show has now become. “I don’t think it’s any secret that in the first seven years of this show, we had quite a lot of drama. Because
the nature of the long hours that we work and actors are sensitive people, and this was a huge smash out the gate...there’s just a lot going on. There’s nothing that’s anyone’s fault, it’s the press, its’ the actors, it’s just everything. For some people I’m sure it was a bad experience here, and there was something about being able to continue this and changing the ending to the story. So this chapter of my life...didn’t end with a bad story or a negative story. For me, what I’m grateful for is being able to say I get the opportunity to keep doing this, and I get to change the way we do it, and I get to
change the experience for people, and we get to make this a different work culture, a different work place, and I think the evolution of Shonda and I together...We’ve been able to continue this show and make it a workplace and make it be an example for other workplaces for how you treat your actors, how to let moms be moms, how to let dads be dads.” Raise your hand if you wish Ellen Pompeo would adopt you! Press play above for more from the cast. Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on ABC. (www.eonline.com)
Wine of the week … The Antigal 1 (Uno) Malbec : An Argentine Masterpiece If you’re looking for a wine that’s a perfect blend of sharp rapture and elegance, then the Antigual Uno Malbec is the perfect pick. It was birthed in the historic winery called Bodega Antigal which is located in Maipú, Mendoza – Argentina. Its origins date back to 1897. With a completed remodeling in the 2000s, the Bodega Antigal was able to achieve the very best in high-tech functionality and houses a state-of-the-art facility whose gravity-flow platform system allows for a largely “hands off” approach to winemaking thereby eliminating the need for forceful pumps and crush-
ers. Since 2007, the company started the exports of its mouth-watering treasure mainly to the US market, and quickly became a statewide recognized quality brand from Argentina, with its signature UNO Malbec. In fact, UNO Malbec, received its first recognition by the prestigious US Magazine Wine Enthusiast. Additionally, Antigal has been recognized worldwide for its quality, with a strong presence in America, Europe and Asia. But that’s enough history for you. Let’s get down to the more interesting part: taste and what to pair it with. This
wine undoubtedly showcases the optimally ripe grapes of Argentina’s vineyards. It has an intense, almost blood red colour and carries a powerhouse taste of red fruit, cedar, and vanilla spice. But this boldness is beautifully tapered off by smooth firm tannins. It is perfect for pairing with pasta and red meats. This Argentine masterpiece can be found at the Wine Vault located at the Marriott Hotel for $8300 VAT inclusive. You can also find it at the Hibiscus Restaurant, Nice Restaurant and Bar, Palm Court and other leading hotels and bars.
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Grapefruit: Health Benefits & Nutrition Facts Grapefruit is a popular citrus fruit that is a terrific source of vitamins, fiber and other nutrients. Grapefruit is known for its antioxidant- and immunity-boosting capabilities as well as its digestive and cholesterol-lowering benefits. Grapefruit provides vitamins A and C, folate (B9), fiber, choline, limonins and lycopene, according to Alissa Rumsey, a New York Citybased registered dietitian, certified strength and conditioning specialist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “Grapefruit has been hailed as a popular diet food for many years because it is widely believed to boost weight loss,” said Rumsey. “While a grapefruit diet is far too extreme, the fruit can be added to one’s diet for a healthy weight loss plan.” - See more at: http:// www.livescience.com/54746grapefruit- nutrition. html # s t h a s h . u3vvZAmc.dpufGrapefruit gets its name from the way it grows. Grapefruits grow on tree branches in grape-like clusters, according to the Library of Congress. Puzzling history Grapefruit is an accidental hybrid between the orange and the pomelo, but no one is sure when it was first grown. It was first documented in 1750 by a Welshman in Barbados who described it as a “forbidden fruit,” according to the Purdue University horticulture department. Until the 19th century, it was also called the shaddock, named after a sea captain who is said to have brought the seeds of a pomelo to Jamaica. It has also been called paradise fruit. It was given the scientific name,
Citrus paradisi, but in the 1940s when research confirmed that it was hybrid, the name was changed to Citrus x paradisi — the x indicates that it is a hybrid. Grapefruit grows in warm climates; Florida and southern areas of China are the world’s top producers. There are several varieties of grapefruit, including white, ruby red and pink, which have varying levels of sourness and sweetness. “Try topping it with savory seasonings, like cilantro or chili powder, to offset the tangy flavor,” Rumsey suggested. She noted that grapefruits go well with seafood dishes, too. According to the George Mateljan Foundation’s World’s Healthiest Foods website, half a medium-size grapefruit provides 59 percent of your daily vitamin C needs. “Vitamin C is plays a role in immunity and helps neutralize free radicals in our body,” said Rumsey. According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, vitamin C stimulates the production of white blood cells and may protect the integrity of immune cells. Vitamin C helps also protect leukocytes, which produces antiviral substances. Heart health Vitamin C is linked to a re-
duced risk of cardiovascular disease, said Rumsey. A 2015 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at more than 100,000 people and found that those who ate the most fruits and vegetables had a 15 percent lower risk of developing heart disease. Those with the highest vitamin C levels in their plasma had even more reduced rates of heart disease. Kidney stones According to University of Wisconsin Health, citric acid, which is found in grapefruit, may deter stone formation and also break up small stones that are forming. The more citric acid in your urine, the more protected you may be from forming new kidney stones. A study published in theBritish Journal of Nutrition found that women who drank one-half to one liter of grapefruit, orange or apple juice each day saw their urinary pH value and citric acid excretion increase, which significantly lowered their risk of forming kidney stones. Cancer According to Rumsey, vitamin C and beta-carotene may lead to a reduced risk of esophageal cancer. A study published in the Journal of Chemotherapy found that vitamin C supplementation ex-
erted a chemotherapy-like effect on esophageal cancer cells. The researchers suggested that vitamin C might improve the efficacy of chemotherapy. According to the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine, red and pink grapefruit is one of the best sources for lycopene after tomatoes.”Lycopene has been linked to a decreased risk of prostate cancer,” said Rumsey. A large-scale study of nearly 50,000 men published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found an inverse relationship between lycopene (in this study, the lycopene was from tomatoes) and prostate cancer risk. Men with the highest levels of lycopene were 21 percent less likely to develop prostate cancer than those with the lowest lycopene levels. The lycopene in grapefruits may also contribute to reducing risk of stomach cancer, according to a review in the Journal of Cancer Prevention. Researchers looked primarily at participants who smoked, suffered from chronic inflammation or had elevated levels of stomach bacteria Helicobacter pylori, though they noted that poor diet and family history could also be risk factors lessened by lycopene. Animal studies have suggested that grapefruit may have a reduction effect on colon cancer cells. A study published in the journal Carcinogensis found that grapefruit increased the death of cancer cells in rats whose colons had been injected with carcinogens. “There are numerous studies being conducted to understand the role folate plays
in cancer reduction,” Rumsey said. A 2007 article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition noted that folate’s possible cancer-reducing properties are likely linked to its role in the production of substances that silence cancer DNA. Limonins have also been linked to a decrease in cancer risk, said Rumsey. A 2012 article in the Journal of Nurtigenetics and Nutrigenomics looked at limonins in breast cancer cells and found that they could be a helpful aid to chemotherapy. Pregnancy health “Folate is essential for pregnant women in order to prevent neural tube defects,” said Rumsey. While folate is present in prenatal vitamins, consuming it through whole foods is an excellent way to make sure the body absorbs it. Antioxidants An article in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry evaluated the phenolic compounds in 13 fruit juices. Grapefruit juice ranked among the best juices. Phenolic compounds act as antioxidants, which are molecules that safely interact with free radicals to stop the condition of oxidative stress, according to an article in Pharmacognosy Review. Free radicals cause cell damage and disruption that can contribute to diseases. Vitamin C is also a potent antioxidant. Hydration “Grapefruit is 91 percent water, so can help with hydration,” said Rumsey. Digestion The fiber and water in grapefruit can aid digestion and help relieve or prevent constipation, according to
the Mayo Clinic. Weight loss “Grapefruit is naturally high in fiber, which contributes to feelings of satiation which can prevent overeating,” said Rumsey. “Fiber also helps stabilize blood sugar levels, preventing spikes that contribute to hunger.” A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food looked at 91 obese patients who took either grapefruit capsules, grapefruit juice, half of a fresh grapefruit or placebo capsules. All grapefruit-taking patients lost more weight than the placebo group, with those eating fresh grapefruit losing the most and those drinking grapefruit juice losing nearly as much. The grapefruit groups also saw improved insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Cholesterol “Grapefruit contains pectin, a fiber that is can reduce LDL cholesterol levels and decrease triglycerides,” said Rumsey. A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry looked at 57 hyperlipidemic patients after coronary bypass surgery and found that supplementing their diets with either white or red grapefruit every day for 30 days lowered LDL cholesterol levels. Eating red grapefruit lowered LDL cholesterol levels more, and also lowered triglycerides. Skin, hair and wound healing According to a study published in the British Journal of Community Nursing, vitamin C is essential throughout the wound-healing process, largely because it contributes toward collagen synthesis and development. Collagen is also essential for healthy skin and hair.
What Teen Girls Should Eat to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk Fruits and vegetables are staples in a healthy diet, and that includes one aimed at preventing cancer. Many studies have documented the lower risk of various cancers among people who eat more fresh produce, and avoid things like red and processed meat. But the majority of those studies have focused on adults, and it’s becoming clear that many of cancer’s drivers start early in life, with genes and even with childhood exposures to potential carcinogens. To investigate this further, Maryam Farvid, a research associate at Massachusetts General Hospital and a visiting scientist at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of
Public Health, and her colleagues decided to study how diet during adolescence might affect cancer risk. In a study reported in the BMJ, they plumbed the Nurses’ Health Study, a massive survey of nurses who filled out questionnaires on their diet and were followed for various health outcomes, including cancer. About half of the 90,000 women who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study also answered questions about their typical diet while they were teens. Those who reported eating nearly three servings of fruit a day on average had a 25 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer than those who ate half a serving of fruit.
Certain fruits seemed to confer the biggest protection against breast cancer — apples, bananas and grapes were associated with the greatest reduction in risk while kale and oranges in adulthood also contributed to reduced breast cancer risk. Farvid says that apples, bananas and grapes contain fiber, which could help to lower cancer risk; they are also high in flavonoids, which act as antioxidants to combat damage to cells that can trigger abnormal growth. Kale and oranges are high in vitamin C, another antioxidant. “This study underscores the importance of what a young girl eats for her future health,” says Farvid. “This study also has
an important message for schools and the need to provide students with the opportunity to consume more fruits and vegetables as part of the school meal program.” Farvid wasn’t able to document a strong relationship between vegetables and lower breast cancer risk, but says that may be because the study wasn’t powered enough to detect an effect. The findings are among the first to look at how diet during adolescence can affect health later, and highlights the importance of establishing healthy habits from a young age, especially since many of the chronic diseases occur over many years and get rooted early in life. The results also
underscore the importance of eating whole fruit, rather than fruit juice. In the study, Farvid and her team could not find any significant relationship between fruit juice and breast cancer risk; that may be because fruit’s anti-cancer effects may have to do with the fiber found in the whole fruit, which is stripped out of juice. In the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans, however, government nutritionists equated servings of whole fruit with fruit juice. “We recommend whole fruit and not fruit juice,” says Farvid, “because maybe one of the most important ways that fruit decreases risk of breast cancer is through fiber, and even natural fruit juice often
has no fiber in it.” In another study also published in the BMJ, a separate group of researchers found that among 22,000 Danish women, those who added two alcoholic drinks a day on average increased their risk of developing breast cancer by 30 percent over five years. The added risk of cancer, however, was counterbalanced by a lower risk of heart disease. Taken together, the results show how critical diet can be in modulating risk of breast cancer. While challenging, changing diet can be a relatively easy way to alter a woman’s breast cancer risk equation, beginning even at a young age.
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Sunday March 10, 2019
How To Use A Beauty Blender
U
se Different Areas Of The Beauty Blender For Different Things
The Beauty Blender is shaped like an egg for a reason. You can use the rounded edges to apply makeup to larger areas of your face, like your cheeks and forehead. Use the pointed edge for hard-to-reach areas that need precision, like the sides of your nose, your under eyes, and along the lips. Blend it all out and put its egg shape to good use! Stipple Away! If you drag or wipe the Beauty Blender across your face with a heavy hand, you’re doing it wrong. What you should do is stipple. The stippling motion involves brief patting motions to deposit the makeup onto your skin and blend it out at the same time. Stippling gives you a softer finish and makes your foundation look more like skin. This technique also helps you achieve more coverage with lesser product. If you love wearing cream blush, applying it with a damp Beauty Blender in stippling motions makes it look like a gorgeous, natural flush of color. And if you are sculpting your face, use the pointy end of the sponge to draw the contour with your product, and use the larger end to blend away any harsh lines. Use It To Boost Your Skin Care Nobody said the Beauty Blender is only supposed to be used for makeup. The Beauty Blender ‘Nude’ was originally designed for estheticians to apply skin care products quickly and evenly. Make sure you dampen the sponge before you use it to apply your pricey anti-aging serum and moisturizers. This way, the sponge won’t soak the up the products, and your skin will thank you. This is a gentler way of applying skin care products and is a great technique for sensitive skin. Choose Your Color Wisely Did you know that different-colored Beauty Blenders serve different purposes? The signature pink one is called the Original, and it works wonders with any product. However, if you want to use dark foundations or selftanners, it’s best to go for the black Beauty Blender aka Pro as it is less prone to staining. The white sponge (or Pure) is dye-free and designed specifically for applying skin care products like moisturizers and serums. Keep It Clean! Each time you finish using your Beauty Blender, clean it with a pea-sized amount of baby shampoo and water or with the Beauty Blender cleaning solution. Warm water works best to kill germs and bacteria that tend to build up over time. Make sure it’s fully dry before you store it back in its container. Yes, the container is designed for storage. Besides, storing the sponge in a dark and damp environment is an invitation for mold and bacteria.
SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S WORD SEARCH
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Surreal encounter in the Guyana... From page 38 devoured every scrap of it. The old woman sat watching me for a while, and then she gradually fell asleep, snoring peacefully. I was unaware when I did the same. When the jaguar came back that night, I knew exactly what it was, and in two minds as to what I should do. I had my shotgun loaded and ready, if needed, to bury a dozen pellets in its head, but I immediately knew if any death followed it would be mine. And I'd promised the old woman. So I did nothing. I simply witnessed the terrifying, brutal, brief encounter. She was crouched in a corner of the benab, eyes wide open, staring. She didn't appear frightened but when the creature pounced, she let out a whimpering cry as its claws and fangs ripped into her. (I discovered later that she didn't die right away, but may have suffered a slow,
painful death after two days of poisonous inflammation and unbearable pain. And that I was one of the very few people to witness such an attack) The jaguar paid me no attention, but after the bloody strike it went and stood at the entrance of the enclosure. Without understanding how, I knew it was waiting for me to follow. I picked up my shotgun and torchlight and advanced to a few feet behind it. It slowly began to move away from the benab, and headed for a path it appeared to know well. I found it easy to follow, trailing behind. After about half an hour it stopped, and turned to face me. In the moonlight its eyes held no terror now, and I knew my nightmare was ending. But it was waiting for me to do something first, and again, I knew what I had to do. I looked away as it disappeared behind a huge rock nearby for maybe two seconds, and
when I looked back, it was gone. Then I saw it by the rock – the man-thing I had seen the night before, now turned slightly away from me, the muscles, from massive neck to bulging thighs, rippling in the moonlight, shimmering silver-green like some giant, alien reptile. A deep gurgling sound arose and spread through the night air in pulsating waves. Suddenly it reared its head and emitted three sharp, whistling cries. Then with a couple of huge leaps it disappeared, melting silently into the jungle darkness. Immediately, I heard a voice call my name - a human one from the bushes directly behind me. It was one of my campmates, a member of the search party out looking for me. Emotion overcame me, and for the third time in two days, I collapsed, but this time with relief. The encounter was over.
“As we forgive” From page 24 children. Cockroaches all to be hunted down, crushed, hacked, exterminated. Using m a c h e t e s m a i n l y, a n d systematic, manual, labourintensive brutality, the Rwandan Hutus killed more Tutsis in 100 days in 1994 than the Germans did utilizing their mechanized, superbly engineered gas chambers. The Nazi Germans were exceeded five times over. Any Hutu friend, relation, or neighbour who sought to either conceal or protect or not engage in the killing sprees were considered traitors and earmarked for a similar gruesome death at the hands of a now bloodthirsty, crazed human swarm. There was no such thing as neutrality. Intermarriage relationships meant nothing; massacre or be massacred. Them and us trapped in a bloodcurdling orgy of death
and more death. Amidst her massive inhuman and unbearable losses, there were two things that Rosaria did not lose during her ordeals. Somehow, she did not lose her mind; or all of it in the tsunamis of violence that immersed her, and the impenetrable shroud of grief that enveloped her. That by itself was a divine miracle. But there was a still greater miracle for this wounded wretched woman of Rwanda: she did not lose the blessed child she was carrying in her womb; a fetus that survived flights, ambushes, mass murders, left for dead, and more. In the crucible of the dark valley of overwhelming death, of the dying and dead, there came the mystery and miracle of life. Life came in the silhouette of a baby, a girl named Cadeaux; against the odds, in
defiance of the devil and circumstances and all that is wrong and wicked about man, and of man against man; that immortal, immoral conflict of brother against brother. Cain killing Abel. Bloodlust unleashed and repeatedly. Life extinguished; the harrowing accompanied by the dehumanizing. Nothing else left. Rwanda reeled and retched blood in 1994. After two incredible miracles, there followed still one more to lift the Stygian gloom of the stricken Rosaria. This one takes the breath away: it is of Saveri, a different breed of survivor. He was a perpetrator, now no longer a faceless mass murderer. Who said there is no God? Next week: Part II: Saveri and Rosaria: two tortured souls; one transcendent word: forgiving….
We are a jokey country From page 44 public officials , including politicians, own before they entered office or were appointed. We also want to know what they own after they left. We know that there are many ingenious ways to hide assets, but it is a start.Here is the eye pass. We have heads of our institutions, including the Guyana Power and Light Inc.; the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and even GO-Invest, who are not complying. Months ago, the Integrity Commission published names of the Permanent Secretaries who are not complying with filing a declaration of their assets.Yes, we do have politicians too. Here is another vexing angle. We are paying the Integrity Commission millions per year to operate, with a specific
law passed empowering it to operate and do certain things. I had long thought about the headline – “We are a jokey country”. We are a proud people who are beginning to understand our worth. We have no choice than to protect this country, all that it stands for. We have some good things going. We have good examples of how not to do things. We also have people who are hell-bent on breaking the laws. If our public officers, 163 according to the latest list, refuse to comply, what kind of message are we transmitting to the citizens of this country?In fact, even the foreigners come here and do what they want. Ihave good friends at GPL. The chief is a Jamaican. His name was listed as one of those who failed to declare his assets. Are we a jokey country?
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On a mission to mould the nation's children,
‘Sir’ Harrinarine From page 22 surprise to Harrinarine, or even his peers for that matter, as he is often recognised for his efforts as a committed educator. For the past two years he was awarded by the Region Three Department of Education for being the teacher with the best attendance at the secondary level. While for some educators the work can prove to be burdensome, Harrinarine is convinced that he was born for this. He is able to be continually outstanding at what he does, since he had long learnt to embrace the motto of the GTU which speaks to moulding the nation. “We mould the nation...I believe that education is important ... It is a pathway to success and I am happy to be a part of that.” INSPIRATION In fact, he confided that he was inspired to become a teacher because he had long found that “Education can help to change lives. Education gives you the opportunity to change your life, it empowers and helps to build capacity; it can help students realise their dreams and helps them to overcome challenges in life.” Even as he referenced an old adage “what the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve,” Harrinarine shared his belief that each of his students has the potential to achieve whatever they set their minds to. He, however,
is a 'Special Person' stressed the importance of support to propel them to the place of achievement. “ Te a c h i n g i s v e r y challenging and school is not without difficulties, but as a teacher, even as a head teacher, I have tried my best to be what you call a servant leader. I get involved, I try to help...There are so many teachers who talk about the stress of teaching, but I really love teaching, and I like to see my students succeed,” Harrinarine said. He added, “I always aim to motivate and empower, so that my students can see themselves as something significant. I usually urge each of my students not to see themselves as a failure but as a success,” Harrinarine shared. In fact it is the view of this astute educator that any productive classroom should never be quiet, but rather, be an interactive environment. “A classroom should encourage the sharing of ideas and experiences...there must be a two-way conversation [between teacher and students]...I believe we must allow children to express themselves,” Harrinarine added.
they cannot only focus on the academics, but extracurricular activities are equally important. “In my master's thesis, I looked at the correlation between extra-curricular activities and academics. It showed that if students play they will not necessarily have high grades, but you will see potential in that child to bat, bowl or kick a football, to make a speech, to become a leader, and that is what helps to make a well-rounded child; and that is in tune with the vision of the education s e c t o r r i g h t n o w, ” Harrinarine asserted. M o r e o v e r, a t We s t D e m e r a r a S e c o n d a r y, students are exposed to a great deal more than just academics, thanks to Harrinarine. Listing some of the
Graduating with his Master's degree
EXTRACURRICULAR He made it clear that in order for a student to reach his or her fullest potential,
In the company of students and other officials.
Being congratulated by Culture Minister, Dr. George Norton, for his Mashramani theme last year.
extra-curricular activities offered at the school, he spoke of his school's outstanding involvement in sports such as cricket, volleyball, chess, table tennis and athletics. In fact, the school has been just as outstanding in activities such as steel pan and has even competed on a national level. The school also has a vibrant choir, Harrinarine noted, adding “Come September we will be at the National Cultural Centre singing our hearts out.” But despite his years of efforts to educate the nation's children, Harrinarine noted that there are still a few
things he hopes to achieve before his teaching years are over at West Demerara Secondary. As such, he shared his intent to continue to lead his school of 43 teachers and a student population of 614 to even more successes. Among the areas that Harrinarine has his sights on, is to achieve 100 percent passes at Maths and English. Already the school is halfway there, as it recorded a 100 percent pass rate at both English A and English B at the last examination sitting. A c c o r d i n g t o Harrinarine, “I want to see every child who writes
Mathematics and English passing, and I am optimistic it will happen this year or come very close.” Harrinarine is also hopeful that his school could one day become a Sixth Form School. In this regard, the school has already started to put measures in place. “I am happy to say I met with [Education] Minister [Nicolette] Henry already on this matter. She is willing to accept our proposal to have our school accredited as an A level centre in the future,” said Harrinarine, who asserted that a school can record laudable achievements if support
from various stakeholders is forthcoming. S u p p o r t f o r We s t Demerara Secondary has not been deficient since, according to Harrinarine, “I really appreciate the support the school gets from the Board and PTA. Parents, they are a very important stakeholders, and I like the support we get from them, and I would appeal for more parents to come on board to push our children, and by extension our school,” said Harrinarine. To show our appreciation for his efforts as an educator, today we at Kaieteur News bestow 'Sir' Harrinarine with our title of 'Special Person'.
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Immigration Tips - Do not‌ By Attorney Gail S. Seeram
E
ntering the United States as a first-time visitor can be an exciting experience. However, if you decide to overstay or fall into
unlawful immigration status, then you should take the advice of an experience i m m i g r a t i o n l a w y e r. Immigration Law Offices of Gail S. Seeram offers five (5) immigration tips for anyone who is seeking lawful permanent resident status in
the United States. 1. Do not violate any immigration laws or criminal laws in the U.S. Specifically, do not claim to be a U.S. Citizen on Form I-9 so you can work, do not drive without a valid driver's
license, do not submit any fraudulent immigration documents, and do not commit any crimes that may potentially lead to a denial of your immigration case. Additionally, do not lie on your B-1/B-2 visa application as this amounts
to fraud and can lead to future denial of a green card. 2. Do not use an immigration service provider. Hire experienced immigration attorneys to prepare and file your immigration petitions and to represent you during your interview or court hearing. Remember, only an immigration lawyer can appear with you in court and at any required appearance before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Immigration service providers cannot offer legal advice, are not legally trained, are not accountable for errors made in your case and often make many filing mistakes. 3. Do not forget to notify immigration of your change of address within ten (10) days of moving to new residence. This can be done on Form AR-11. Alternatively, immigration attorneys can submit a change of address on-line. 4. Do not attend your interview or immigration court hearing without an attorney. For an interview, the immigration attorneys can prepare you for questions that will be asked by the immigration officer. For a court hearing, the immigration attorneys will present legal waiver or relief to the immigration judge. 5. Do not forget to
Gail S. Seeram keep copies of ALL petitions and documents submitted to immigration and always keep original certified copies on-hand. Immigration only accepts copies of your original documents (such a birth certificates, marriage certificates, final judgment of divorce, name change decrees, etc.) since all documents submitted are not returned to the applicant. The exception to this rule is that original certified arrest and court records must always be submitted to immigration. Original certified copies must be brought to interview and court hearing to prove authenticity of the documents. For more information, contact Gail Law Firm: E m a i l : Gail@GailLaw.com Phone: 1-877-GAILLAW or 407-292-7730 www.MyOrlandoImmi grationLawyer.com FREE in-office consultation – FREE Live Chat
Sunday March 10, 2019
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Guyana woos Smithsonian Institution to build marine research capacity
O
fficials from the Smithsonian Institute on Friday met with Minister of State, Joseph Harmon. at his office at the Ministry of the Presidency, with a view to expanding collaboration in a number of areas, including marine and biodiversity studies. Head of the delegation, Research Scientist, Michael Braun, in an invited comment, said that the meeting began with discussions “on the longterm investment in research and exploration here in Guyana that the Smithsonian has been involved in for more than 30 years. “Our goal with this particular meeting is to explore with the Government, the opportunities for using those long-term resources and data information to help inform policy making for the future of Guyana in terms of sustainable development,
conservation, sustainable livelihoods for both the people in the hinterland and the coastland.” In welcoming the team, which has already conducted n u m e r ous studies and research in Guyana, Minister Harmon said that it is his hope that the organisation can place some focus on the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development (IICRCD), where the Government foresees an international biodiversity centre being built. “The Centre itself was meant to have two layers of development. One is tourism but it's the biodiversity aspect that needs that filling. The Centre was meant to be a centre of international research and for students to come and study in an environment that is still pristine. Iwokrama is an area in which your entity can have a great impact in whatever you plan to do
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon makes a point during his meeting with representatives from the Smithsonian Institution, at the Ministry of the Presidency. going forward. We continue to cherish the support that we have always gotten from you,” he said. Head of the Department of the Environment, Ms. Ndibi Schwiers, who also attended the meeting, said th at w h ile G u y an a is
pursuing a 'green' state and protection of its biodiversity, there is no available data on the extent of its marine resources. She therefore noted that the Government can use its expertise in the research and documentation of its
resources in this area. In addition to assisting with work on the Stabroek Market clock, the Smithsonian Institution has assisted the University of Guyana (UG) in the area of research as well as the documentation of the rare
Red Siskin bird in Guyana. Braun was accompanied by Mr. Steven Carty, Programme Coordinator, Marine Conservation Programme and Mr. Brian Coyle, Programme M a n a g e r, S m i t h s o n i a n Conservation Common.
Govt. disregarding Indigenous land rights in favour of profit
I
ndigenous people's traditional and ancestral land rights are being disregarded, in favour of profits gleaned from mining activities. This contention, from
representatives of Indigenous communities across the country to the Association of Padawong Amuk (APA), was one of the hotly discussed issues at the organisation's 10th General
Meeting held last week at Camp Kayuka on the Soesdyke- Linden Highway. The organisation, which recently changed its name from Amerindian People's Association, stated that it is
urging the government to resolve longstanding land issues that indigenous communities have with the government and mining companies, particularly foreign companies. The APA is urging a quick resolution to a 20-year long litigation over traditional lands in the Upper Mazaruni area. In 1967, the government instituted an Amerindian Lands Commission, tasked with mapping and suggesting titles to be issued to Indigenous communities. In 1991, title was granted individually to each community, though they requested holding collective title to their traditional territory. The Villages of Paruima, Waramadong, Kamarang (Warawatta), Kako, Jawalla and Phillipai in the Upper Mazaruni have long sought legal title over the area defined by the 1959 Amerindian District as one Akawaio/Arecuna district. Being dissatisfied that their wishes weren't granted, the Arekuna and Akawaio people brought a landmark case to court for those lands. In 2008, when they appeared in court again; the issue was adjourned. When they met in 2012 and the community brought forth an anthropologist to provide expert evidence on their claims to their ancestral lands; the government's
- APA representatives defence team disqualified her as a witness and caused the matter to be adjourned once again. Fast forward to 2017, the government filed a submission in defence of its claim. October 2018 marked 20 years since the Indigenous peoples of the Upper Mazaruni filed a court action against the government of Guyana, seeking legal recognition to their traditional and ancestral lands. Communications and Visibility Officer of the APA, Dennis Glasgow, said that the government has issued mining rights to miners who are not native to the traditional Akawaio and Arekuna territory, without their free, prior and informed consent (FPIC), even though the legal dispute is ongoing. A release from the APA said that the government has been receiving revenue from mining activities on the lands. The APA also contends that many neighbouring communities like the villages of Chinowieng, Omanaik, Kambaru and Imbaimadai also suffer insecure land tenure rights. A 2014 report from the APA and the Forest People's Programme (FPP), called “Indigenous Peoples' Rights,
Forests And Climate Policies In Guyana” states that “there is a proliferation of roads and destructive mining across the region generating resource conflicts, water pollution, environmental damage, deforestation and social harm”, and that government actions to address these problems are “wholly inadequate or absent”. The APA maintains that these issues exist across both the current political administration and the previous one. Three notable recommendations of that report were for the “suspension of all mining concessions affecting Amerindian land, territory and natural resources until there has been an effective opportunity for the indigenous peoples to give their consent based on the principles of FPIC”, “Annulment of mineral rights issued to third parties on customary lands without community consent, and restitution of these lands back to the full control of the Akawaios and Arekunas” and “Urgent reform of relevant policies and legislation to protect and promote the rights of indigenous peoples to their (continued on page 72)
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Schoolgirl raped on Ogle seawall, suspect in police custody A man has been arrested by police on suspicion of rape, following an incident that occurred on the East Coast seawall, last Friday afternoon.
Reports reaching this publication indicate that, on the day in question, three female students from a secondary school on the East Coast of Demerara sat on
A schoolgirl was raped on the Ogle seawall, Friday afternoon.
the seawall, working on an assignment related to the environment. After a while, the girls were apprehended by a man who is said to have been
wielding a knife. He reportedly told them not to move, but the girls moved to escape and two of them got away. The third girl was captured, and the man allegedly raped her on the seawall, in bright daylight.
After he left the scene, former Georgetown Mayor, Sherod Duncan, an off-duty policeman and a woman, found the girl in a state of shock. Duncan described the girl as being in a state of fear and
shock, with “dark blood cascading” down her leg, onto her socks and shoes. With her in Duncan’s vehicle, they attempted to pursue the assailant, but he had already made good his escape.
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Truck crushes porter at Kara Kara toll booth A fatal accident occurred in the vicinity of the Kara Kara toll booth, in Linden, shortly after noon yesterday, involving a truck, GSS 1407,with trailer TMM 2242. The victim has reportedly been identified as Jomal Anthony. According to a police source, the driver of the truck, Floyd Rodney, said that the man, who was a porter, was only recently employed and he was therefore not too familiar with him. Rodney said that he only knew that the victim was from somewhere on the East Coast of Demerara. An eyewitness said that the now dead man had jumped off the truck at the toll booth to pay the toll, when the accident occurred. “ Wa s t w o c o n t a i n e r trucks; one de already stop and one was coming behind. So this guy jump off, went and pay and was getting back on the truck, when he slipped and fell. The other truck, which was right behind, ran over
Killed: Jomal Anthony him.” The man said that it was impossible for the truck to stop as it was “coming in too close” to the truck in front. He added that from all appearances, both of the trucks belonged to the same company as the guy was told that he had to pay $ 10,000, but he indicated that he only had $4,000. Another source however
The accident scene with the body of the porter on the ground at Kara Kara toll booth yesterday. (Photo courtesy of Gordon Moseley) indicated that the victim was run over by the trailer of the very truck that he was working on. In a release, the police stated that the incident occurred about 12:45hrs on the Kara Kara Public Road Mackenzie, Linden, involving motor lorry GSS 1407 owned by Frank Hugh of 74 Republic Drive, Beterverwagting, East
Coast Demerara and driven by Floyd Rodney of Lot 121 Ogle Street Triumph E.C.D, along with an unidentified porter of African descent . According to the release motor lorry GSS 1407 (articulated) along with trailer TMM 2242 was proceeding east along the northern side of the said road when it was alleged by the driver, that the porter disembarked the lorry,
to pay toll fees. He subsequently jumped up on the said lorry on the gas tank, situated on the left side of the lorry, whilst it was in motion. The porter reportedly lost his grip, causing him to fall between the lorry a n d t r a i l e r, o n t o t h e roadway, where he was run over by the trailer. As a result, he sustained
injuries about his body, and was pronounced dead on the scene by doctor Karen Perreira, a GMO attached to the Linden Hospital Complex. The body was subsequently taken to the Wismar hospital mortuary. The driver was tested for alcohol and cleared. The driver is presently in police custody assisting with investigations.
Sunday March 10, 2019
Kaieteur News
Guyanese on trial for murder of Belize pastor
Belize (Reporter.bz) - On Tuesday, March 12, five men accused of a gruesome murder which shocked and outraged the nation will appear in Court in Belmopan before Justice Antonette Moore to face justice. In July 2016, William ‘Danny’ Mason, and four
men said to be in his employ – Terence Fernandez, Ashton Vanegas, Keiron Fernandez and Ernest Castillo – were arrested and charged for the murder of Belmopan pastor Llewellyn Lucas. When Police searched a vehicle belonging to Mason, in which he and the other men
had arrived at a bar in Belmopan, they found Lucas’s head in a plastic bag in a bucket. It was believed that Lucas had been kidnapped and killed earlier that day at a ranch on the Phillip Goldson Highway belonging to Mason. Police (Cotninued on page 72)
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State partners with private donor to develop playground for Samatta Point The community of Samatta Point, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, on Friday received a significant monetary donation towards the development of a playfield and recreational centre for the area. The Government of Guyana with assistance from a private donor, reached out to the members of the community to make the generous handover. Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, visited Samatta Point to release the cheque
for $1.5M to the residents. These funds will be used to commence works on a plot of land that will be used for sporting and recreational activities. According to Mr. Eric Francois who received the cheque on behalf of the community, the financial assistance was greatly needed and the residents are very pleased for the help. He indicated that works on the plot of land will be done in two phases. “The first phase will be the development The plot of land to be used for the playground. of the land so that sports and recreational activities can be held.” Mr. Francois added, “In the next phase we will be adding lights, sanitary
facilities and pavilions. Following those phases we will be doing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) hubs and much more as the funds
come.” He also mentioned that a committee was launched to manage the playground and funds going towards its development.
LABOURER GRANTED BAIL FOR PHONE THEFT Kevin Smith made an appearance Friday in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly and was granted bail after denying a charge accusing him of stealing a woman’s phone. It was alleged that on March 6, last, at Regent Street, Georgetown, Smith stole from Jeanna Razak one Samsung J7 cell phone valued at $70,000. The accused informed the court that he is 22 years of age and is a labourer by profession. Police prosecutor Christopher Morris objected to bail being granted under the grounds of the seriousness of the offence,
and if granted bail Smith may not return to court for his trail. He went on to say that the accused was previously charged for a similar offence. However, the prosecutor asked that if bail is to be granted to Smith there should be reporting conditions attached to it. Bail was granted in the sum of $40,000 and the defendant was instructed to report to the Brickdam Police Station Criminal Investigations Department every Monday. The matter was adjourned to March 29, 2019 when Smith is expected to make his next court appearance.
Courts Optical to donate 250 spectacles to students, teachers annually In a continued dedication towards providing the best eye care service in Guyana, Courts Optical has launched yet another programme aimed at reaching out to the nation and helping those in need. On Friday, Courts Optical commenced its ‘Courts Optical Brighter View Programme’ where it distributed a quantity of spectacles to students of the St. Rose’s High School and St. Mary’s Primary School. Through an invited comment, the Customer Experience Manager, Shonelle Bacchus, for Unicomer, which is the mother company for Courts Optical, said that this exceptional initiative will be done annually every year. “This initiative will be
done annually. We will be collaborating with different schools to learn about students and teachers in great need for spectacles. Persons in orphanages or shelters will also benefit from this.” “Every year we will be handing out 250 spectacles to students and teachers as part of us giving back to the public.” Courts Optical will be reaching out to persons around their branches in Georgetown, Parika, New Amsterdam and Linden. Ms. Bacchus said that if persons miss a year they should not feel left out as in the upcoming years they may benefit from this very initiative. “We will be coming every
Habits are not the product of one decision — They’re the result of repeated choices that eventually become automatic responses. How can you know your true spiritual condition? By the company you keep and the choices you make. When you’re free to go, where do you choose to go? Whose company do you prefer?
year and we are trying to get everyone not only those close to our branches.” The manager moved also to share a personal experience about the initiative, “Yesterday as I looked at the children just staring in the mirrors looking at themselves in glasses it was amazing. I believe that they were thinking to themselves mommy or daddy couldn’t afford this but here I have one freely.” “To know that Courts Optical has aided to have someone see better is indeed a priceless memory to experience.” Courts Optical has only been operational in Guyana for the past four years. It currently offers free comprehensive eye examinations, a full range of eyewear and contact lenses. It offers the leading international brands of eyewear including Ann Taylor, Converse, Michael Kors, Oakley, Perry Ellis, Polo, Prada, Ralph Lauren and Ray Ban.
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The legal mettle of Bernard De Santos In 1982, at the age of 22, I prosecuted my first case at the DPP Chambers as State Counsel. It was a murder case, and I was “thrust into the deep to sink or swim.” My then supervisors, Manny Ramao S.C. and George Jackman S.C. sympathized. Moreover, the defense attorney was my very learned friend, Bernard DeSantos S.C, an advocate I always admired. It was a baptism of fire. He was one of the most knowledgeable lawyers in the criminal law, and was an adroit cross examiner.
He would confuse and wear the witnesses down, and get them to contradict the evidence from sheer frustration and tiredness when the case was going against him. To see Bernard DeSantos at his best, exuding the guile, class and style, and morbid fear in the hearts of the witnesses, (and sometimes juries), made you stop and admire a legal entertainer, who could destroy any case. He was a showman, scholar and advocate, all rolled into one. He knew the
criminal law, would explode into frequent objections, and would never back down from a fight. They don’t make them like Bernard anymore. He belongs right up there with advocates like Doodnath Singh S.C, Rex McKay S.C, Donald Robinson S.C, Miles Fitzpatrick S.C, Jailall Kissoon, JOF Haynes Q.C, Fred Wills Q.C, Sir Lionel Luckhoo, Peter Britton S.C, Charles Ramson S.C, and the other worthy legal luminaries Guyana has so proudly produced in the criminal law. In the same way,
STANDARDS IN FOCUS
Trusted Smart Products As we prepare to celebrate World Consumer Rights 2019, on March 15, under the theme ‘Trusted Smart Products’, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) encourages all consumers to embrace technology and become knowledgeable about the smart products that are taking over our marketplace. Smart products are data processing objects, which have several interactive functions. A smart product combines the physical and software interfaces. The usage of a smart product is interactive and requires also some cognitive work by the user. Smart products are dedicated to certain functionality – they are not up-gradable. Today, consumers are quickly gravitating towards the use of smart products such as televisions, smart phones, watches, refrigerators, washers and other electronic devices that operate by themselves to make once considered only human tasks, easier. Consumers purchase these products firstly because of trust in how they will perform and secondly because of the convenience they provide in the execution of everyday tasks. Trust is enhanced by the product reviews past consumers provide. This year, Consumers International joins with other consumer protection bodies
around the world to highlight what consumers want and need from a connected world and how important it is to put them at the heart of the development of these digital products and services. According to Consumers International, smart products are connected to the internet and receive, collect and send data. Globally, there are currently 23.1 billion smart products in the world, outnumbering people three to one. Therefore, as more people come online across the world and our connection to the internet becomes better and faster, smart products will become more of a day-to-day reality for consumers everywhere, marking a major change in the way many consumers interact with products and services. Indeed, the advancement in technology has been exceptionally fast in the 20th and 21st century. Every day another company brings out something more advanced in an attempt to win the consumer war against another company. This consumerism is driving the rate of advancement faster and faster each year. The emergence of these smart technologies brings many opportunities for consumers; which include access to new services, more responsive products, greater convenience and choice. The availability of these products, however, creates some
significant causes for concern such as the lack of security, privacy and meaningful choice over how we use them, as well as a lack of clarity about who is responsible when things go wrong. To ensure that the best choices are made when purchasing smart products consumers should make sure that products are meeting the relevant standards and test requirements. A good visual guide would be the presence of a Standards Mark in the label affixed to the product. In addition, the best choice also include the selection of products that are compatible to those that are already available and used. These products must be purchased from trusted companies. As the National Standards Body, the GNBS helps to ensure that consumers are protected through a wide range of consumer products standards, which offer guidance on manufacturing, labelling, testing, and inspection of products; including smart products. The GNBS will continue to develop and promote these standards to manufacturers and suppliers and to monitor product quality and labelling to prevent consumers from purchasing substandard items. For further information on this subject, contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0065 or 219-0064.
distinguished colleagues like Sir Fenton Ramsahoye, Hon. Mohamed Shahabudeen, Sir Sonny Ramphal, Ashton Chase S.C, B.O. Adams S.C, Lloyd Luckhoo S.C, Clarence Hughes S.C, Ralph Ramkarran S.C, and others have adorned the civil bar. Soon after that initiation, I tried a case where Bernard, Doodnath and Rex were for the three accused in a single case. I had the privilege of seeing them up close, and seeing how they can dissect a case. It was like facing Michael Holding, Andy Roberts and Malcolm Marshall at the same time.
However, I repelled them like Gavaskar. To say I scored a century will be inappropriate, for prosecutors do not win or lose. They only serve justice. Their clients were all convicted. But it was more like facing Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and Mike Tyson in the same ring. You had to roll with the punches and fight back, however bloodied. Of the three, Bernard gave the best performance, which is saying a lot. I have also seen many advocates here in the USA, and in other parts of the
world. They hardly effuse the commanding presence and execute the withering assault on their clients’ cases, like Bernard would. Nor do they have his track record of success. Indeed, they pale in comparison. Bernard DeSantos was the quintessential advocate for the accused. This short tribute only deals with his skill as a practising lawyer. When you factor in his achievements as Guyana’s AG, and a mentor to younger lawyers, his contribution to Guyana is even more remarkable. (Albert Baldeo)
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PROPERTY FOR SALE House and land available at Parfaite, Tuschen, Diamond etc. Contact Pacific Development Inc. 223-6035/ 604-4909
SERVICES
FOR SALE
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
Piles for sale- 40-45ft $1000 50-55ft $1,100 60-65ft $1200 Tel#699-6505
Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisement, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.
Pure breed german shepherd puppies, 7 weeks old, fully vaccinated and dewormed. Contact No# 619-9203
ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Jay’s Welding Est specialized in: Grills, Gates, Rails, Fencing, Razor wire, Repairs etc. Tel#698-0501 REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIR CONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINE, FREEZER, SALE OFAC’S. TEL#629-4946,225-4822 HOUSE PLAN TO DRAW UPOR ESTIMATES? GIVE US A CALL 216-0671, 6928464, 622-0267 ACCOMODATION Fully Furnished apts $5000 and $6000 daily, air condition room $3000 per day #223-0994 or 678-5827 LEARN TO DRIVE N. Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square. Affordable package. Call: 644-5166/6912561 HEALTH HERBAL REMEDIES: Diabetes, Hypertension, Infertility, Menstrual disorders, Enlarged prostate, Kidney,Gall stones & Arthritis etc. Call Sparman #676-5924 For doctoring erectile disfunction problems. Asthma burns, hearing & hair loss. Call Bush doc. Tel 231-9348 PEN PAL
Original pure breed rotweiler pups for sale. Price $150,000. Tel: 609-2815, 696-4659
1-45 Leyland Daf truck without engine & gearbox $800,000, 1-60 Kva generator (English made) with Perkins engine $2M Contact#6500402/603-1402 Boat for sale- 1 Steel hull cargo boat 50’x13’x6' with GM671 marine engine165 HP.Contact#603-1445 Second hand Tacoma Parts in good condition. Contact Felix Perry on Tel#266-2367 at Grove LAND FOR SALE House lots for sale. New development. 200k down. 20k monthly. www.jobfairworldwide.com 233-6997/622-1957 Parfaite Harmonie $1.6M Dairy- with Foundation & Fence $2M Schnoord $4M Farm (East Bank) $3.5M Tel#656-0701/651-1969 Parfaite Harmonie (transferable) 2.3M, Parfaite Harmonie 1.8M, 1.6M, 2M, Lust-en-Rust Corner Lot 1.2M Call 666-2326 Tuschen phase II 1.4M, Province (incompleted house) 6M, Farm 3.5M, Herstelling 5.5M Call 6662326 Transported land 11.6 acres. Lot 15 public road. #2 Village W.C.B. Price $18M. Contact 686-4818, 648-7109 House lot for Sale. Providence high income area. 60x100. Price 5.5mil. Contact 602-1749 Land for sale at public roadside. 161x45 feet. Call/ Whatsapp: +597-862-9044
Man seeking a female. Age 30 up for serious relationship. 675-2046
10 1/2 acres of riverside land at McKenzie, Linden. Price $20 Million negotiable. Call #6458050
FOR SALE/RENT
House lots at Middle Rd, La Penitence G/town, Enterprise and Paradise ECD. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685
Vacant land for rent 58ft x 122 ft, Georgetown #661-2828
FOR RENT
WANTED
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
Wanted experienced hire car drivers, bus drivers and dispatchers at Ramada Princess Hotel. Contact on #256-7075/616-5419
Spacious 2-bedroom apartment in Festival City. Asking $70,000 monthly. Call 619-2141 3 bedroom apt, unfurnished, can be used for storage. Rent Negotiable, $55,000 Lusignan ECD #695-6550/ 656-9313 Newly renovated apartment for rental at Peters Hall. 2239677,698-5800/648-1391 Salon for Rental- Hair stations, Nail stations, Barber stations available for rent. Tel#6996505/615-1872 New Market Street 4 bedroom newly built house 5th Avenue Diamond EBD. Fully grilled, hot & cold water system $180,000 per month. #696-3915 House and apartment to rent West Minister WBD, all amenities, Call #647-5779 to bus route from 15th March 2019 Barber & hair dresser stations to rent in nice large, clean & spacious salon. Call 227-4075, 227-1509
1 Live in domestic between 3540 yrs. Must know to cook and wash. Contact 673-1131 Male and Female Counter Staff, Kitchen Assistant, Apply Shanta’s 225 Camp St Live in or Live out, Domestic worker. Call from MondaySaturday between 8:154:15pm #223-7500 1 Electrician. Must have experience in both domestic & industrial wiring. Please contact Keith on 644-9084 or 664-9635 1 Experienced cook. 1 counter staff wanted. Call 623-8654 Experienced cook/chef. Apply to the Manager Herdmanston Lodge 1 General domestic (housekeeping) Ages 30-45. Tel 673-5300 1 Working female to share an apartment. #672-3445 Minibus driver for 42 bus route. #664-0802
One apartment for rent, Lot 10 Mon Repos EBD First Street (Market) Tel#602-4105/2207330
Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665/6493750
4 Bedroom upper flat in Grove. Call 693-4075
Wanted land to buy: Parfaite Harmonie, Herstelling, Providence, Tuschen, Eccles, Farm, Zeelugt, Uitvlugt, best price pay. Call: 666-2326
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/6560087, ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL:225-7126/ 2263 6 9 3 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM/ WWW.D OLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM Fabs Rental, Beterverwagting ECD Cars from $4000 #604-0883 AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FORAIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP R AT E S , S P E C I A L OFFERS! . CALL: 6906494
(1) salesgirl from G/t EBD or WBD #223-9677 New 2nd hand bike. Call: 2319348 (1) Captain to fly from Georgetown-Bartica. Contact#650-0402/603-1402 VACANCY
House for sale, Eccles Housing Scheme. 7 bedrooms, One (1) seamstress to work for 3 toilets and bathrooms an established company. enclosed. $28.5M. Call 642Must have experience. Call 0391/ 001447587233657 672-4695 for more information Property for sale, 32 James Surveyor Technician. Must St, Albouystown. #682-8236 know to use GPS. Contact 223Property for sale, located on 5273/74 18th Street on the 8th Cross St Diamond. Contact# 680General domestic with 5944/656-4211 cooking experience for East Bank. #614-4358 Norton street $16M, Atlantic Ville $17M, Roxanne 2 Experienced welder Burnham $18.5M, Diamond fabricators & 2 riggers with $14M, Stewartville, experience to do height work Campbellville $40M, urgent. Contact 697-4258 Durban. 231-2199, 618-7483 VACANCY
One cleaner. Apply at Alabama Trading. 65 Robb Street Vacancies exist at Nirva Superstore for cashiers and supermarket helpers. Apply in person with written application. Tel#227-5775
2 storey building, Broad St (Business area) Georgetown. Contact Ray’s Realty #6279685 2 storey concrete property 11 (classey) self contained rooms, Broad St, Georgetown. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685
Vacancy for mason. Apply at Alabama Trading. 65 Robb St Bourda
Well kept 3 bedroom home, Melanie ECD. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685
Sales girl. Apply at Alabama Trading 65-67 Robb Street Bourda
VACANCY
Receptionist. Ages 25-50. #225-0198. 233 South Road Lacytown Male factory worker needed, must have police clearance. For more info, call: 223-0090 Outdoor salesman. Apply at Dharmendra Variety Store. Lot B7-9, Avenue of the Republic, Lacytown, Georgetown. 675-3440, 6708862 Urgent 1 male & female with creole cooking experince to multitask, flexible hours. Contact X’s Grill and Cuisine #695-6550/656-9313 One experience truck/tractor driver to drive distribution vehicle. Apply @ 65-67 Robb Street Bourda 1 qualified female teacher/ tutor to teach/care for 3yr old boy. Apply 65-67 Robb St Bourda Alabama
Accounts clerk. Apply in person at Alabama Trading. 65 Robb Street, Bourda
Experienced accounts clerk. Must have passes in maths & english. Apply @ Alabama Trading 65-67 Robb Street Bourda
Urgently needed: one office assistant. Age 25-30. One live in domestic. Age 28-38. Attractive salary offer. Tel:603-2590
1 Cook and 1 domestic at University Garden. Workers needed from surrounding area. Call 231-8737
Employment opportunity! Great opportunity for anyone over 18! Request information Email: caribbiz@gmail.com
Accounts Clerk. 5 subjects CXC, CAT an asset.2-3 years experience in accounting. Call: 231-1368/223-1938 for more info
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Sunday March 10, 2019
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CONSUMER CONCERNS
SQUATTING IS ANTI-NATIONAL By PAT DIAL In his end-of-year statement, the Commissioner of Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), Mr Trevor Benn, feelingly complained that defaulting lessees and squatters had hampered the progress of GLSC. Lessees have not been paying their rents or have not gainfully been using the land and in many cases have been subletting the land in contravention of the Law. Squatters have been occupying State lands, even in Central Georgetown and in particular along the Soesdyke-Linden highway and even in the Interior mining regions. In many cases, these squatters have “sold” the land to others and the victims only know of the fraud when they meet GLSC inspectors. The illegalities committed on State lands have many and varied implications. An example of this is the sandmining along the SoesdykeLinden highway where both legal lessees and squatters have been mining far too close to the road. As a result, these miners have been weakening the foundations of the road which has already become undulating and may some day suddenly collapse into sink holes. The work of the GLSC is greatly challenged by the inadequate human and financial resources allocated to it. Consumer advocates fully empathize with the plight of the GLSC and would recommend that very strong measures be taken against these squatters who are antinational. The difficulties which
private land owners have to face from squatters are even more acute than those suffered by the State. The GLSC has the prestige of being a State Corporation when confronting squatters. It could call upon the help of the Police when necessary and in any case, State land is protected from prescriptive claims. It should be mentioned that when the State was protecting itself from prescription by squatters, there was an omission to extend some protection to private land owners. Until about the 1940s, squatting on both public and private land and claiming prescriptive titles thereto was a comparative rarity. This culture of squatting first made its appearance in the 1960s when most of the country became enveloped in raciopolitical disturbances whereby there was consolidated movement of various racial groups between villages. From then onwards, people began to imagine they were entitled to occupy any unoccupied land, irrespective to whom it belonged. In the 1970s when Sir Joseph Luckhoo was Chief Justice, the English legislation of making occupation for 12 years the basis for prescription was mechanistically adopted and this led to an upsurge of
prescriptive claims on private land. In Guyana before the 12year rule was adopted, a squatter had to be in undisturbed possession of private land for 33years and for state land, for even longer before any prescriptive claim could be made in the Courts. With the new 12-year rule, squatting became a profession from which to make money and had little to do with any need. Whole families would invade any unoccupied land, each member staking out his/her own claim. Close friends were also invited to participate in this illegal enterprise. When owners attempted to visit their land, they were often confronted with frightening threats of violence! Indeed, some of these squatters actually began to “sell” some of the land they had squatted upon. A great deal of this squatting occurred on East Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara and parts of Berbice. The 12-year rule, as pointed out above, was adopted from English legislation. The Rule however turned out to be inappropriate to Guyana. Guyana was still an agricultural and rural society while England was highly urbanized. The 12-year rule, in addition to being inappropriate to a rural
society, was even more so because of the heavy emigration which Guyana suffered where in a comparatively short time, more than half of the population emigrated leaving their properties in the care of others. Squatting, in the majority of cases is theft, and has nothing to do with need. Guyana has a surfeit of land for which the relevant State agencies are willing to grant leases at very reasonable rentals and are open to the entire population. Yet, the squatters would not even contemplate leasing State land because they are actuated by speculatory greed and would prefer to
occupy State or private land. A good example of the manifestation of such greed occurred in 2016 when the new Coalition Government came into office. Within a few days of the new Government’s accession to office, hundreds of squatters invaded GUYSUCO’s land on the East Coast Demerara claiming that they had a right to do so, The Police took resolute action to eject them and returned matters to normal. Squatting erodes Law and Order in any society and should never be countenanced. In the case of State Lands, Government needs to act firmly and quickly since squatting could
hold up or diminish the value of developmental works as happened with the road reserves of Mandela Avenue or the squatters at the Cheddi Jagan airport. The message should always be underlined that it is impossible to prescribe on State Lands. The 33-year rule of occupation before any prescriptive claim could be made on private land should be restored for the reasons given above. Until the 33-year rule is restored, the Police should always be prepared to intervene if summoned to a squatting situation since most squatters always threaten violence to owners.
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US citizens will need to register to visit parts of Europe starting in 2021 (CNN) — US citizens visiting parts of Europe will need authorization from the European Union come 2021. The EU announced last year it was creating a European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS, that will require “pretravel screening for security and migration risks of travellers benefiting from visa-free
access to the Schengen area.” The Schengen Area is a zone of 26 European countries that do not have internal borders and allow people to move between them freely, including countries such as Spain, France, Greece, Germany, Italy and Poland. Currently, US citizens can travel to Europe for up to 90 days without any sort of travel
authorization. ETIAS will change that. Visa-free travelers, including US citizens, will need to request ETIAS authorization before visiting the Schengen Area. They can complete an application and pay a service fee of 7 euros (about $8) online. The authorization is valid for three years. “Completing the online
application should not take more than 10 minutes with automatic approval being given in over 95% of cases,” the European Commission said in a statement. The United States has a similar system called the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA. “We are aware of the European Union’s plan to implement its own travel information and authorization system, similar to the U.S. ESTA, to contribute to a more efficient management of the EU’s external borders and improve internal security,” a US State Department official said in a statement. “Each country has the right to determine its standards for entry.” The official added that the “ETIAS authorization is not a visa.”The United States won’t be the only country affected by the changes. From 2021, citizens from 60 countries will be required to apply for the ETIAS before entering the Schengen Area. Brazil,
The Schengen area consists of 26 European States Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Israel and Mauritius are among those countries. The European Parliament agreed to establish ETIAS in July. At the time, Dimitris Avramopoulos, the European commissioner for migration, home affairs and citizenship, indicated that the requirement
was put in place for security reasons. “The new ETIAS will ensure that we no longer have an information gap on visafree travelers,” he said in a statement. “Anyone who poses a migratory or security risk will be identified before they even travel to EU borders.”
Sunday March 10, 2019
Kaieteur News
Strip club owner accused of... From page 14 members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on the day in question, went to his Jewellery and Pawn Shop where contact was made and a search was conducted. It was when a physical search was done on the businessman that it was discovered that he had one Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol along with 15 live 9mm ammunition concealed in his pants crotch. Fordyce is also currently on trial for assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest. He
was charged after a video footage showed him (Fordyce) resisting being searched and then punching Inspector Prem Narine in the face. According to information, on the day in question, the Inspector along with other policemen went to search the club after four Venezuelan women complained that the businessman seized their passports and had threatened to kill them and their families if they refused to work as prostitutes.
It was reported that the revelation came to light when two of the entertainers escaped from the club. It was their statements that led to ranks carrying out the raid at the Strip Club. It was while the Inspector was searching the premises that Fordyce became annoyed and allegedly punch him to his neck. The entire ordeal was recorded on surveillance camera. The trial is currently on going before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.
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Govt. disregarding Indigenous land... From page 62 lands, territories and resources in the Upper Mazaruni and throughout Guyana”. Former President of the APA, Mario Hastings, told this publication that the judiciary is supposed to be independent but that politics still has its influence on the process. He said that he believes the government is acting more in favour of profits from mining companies, than for the interests of indigenous people's rights to traditional and ancestral lands. He said, “They are looking at investment and we have been told that mining brings a lot of money to the country they keep saying that - but the health of the people is at stake.”
The APA's advocacy for the respect of traditional land rights for Indigenous people extends beyond the Upper Mazaruni area. A recent release stated that it will urge “the Protected Areas Commission to meet with Chenapou Village and the North Pakaraimas District Council with the aim of signing an agreement that 1) resolves the conflicts over the use of Patamona traditional land in the area the Government has designated as Kaieteur National Park; and 2) sets out a mechanism for the sharing of benefits derived from the use of Patamona traditional land as a tourist landmark; and urge the Guyana Forestry Commission to recognize Bethany Village's traditional lands (including both titled and un-
titled lands) and to cease interfering with the use by the village of its own forestry resources”. The APA has also resolved to work toward having the government establish independent mechanisms so that the Indigenous communities in Region One are “protected from the c o n s e quences of oil and gas extractive activities,” including the possibility of an oil spill or other environmental hazard that could result from extractive work near the area. Laura George, of the APA, said that there has been limited outreach with the communities in that region to have them involved in research for environmental and impact assessments.
Guyanese on trial... From page 65 never found the rest of Lucas’ body but believe it was burnt on the ranch. The arrest of Mason made headlines for a long time, not only because of the sensational nature of the murder, but because he was a personal friend and business partner of Minister of National
Security, John Saldivar, and many other Cabinet Ministers. Subsequent investigations revealed that Mason, originally from Guyana, was known as a con-man and extortionist. His wife, believed to have been involved in the kidnapping and murder, was detained for a time but released without charges.
Sunday March 10, 2019
Kaieteur News
Region Ten lends support to striking Rusal workers A number of employees who are striking for improved wages and working conditions at Rusal have received a timely donation of food items. This development was made possible through the Region Ten Democratic Council [RDC] which at its most recent statutory meeting voted in favour to assist the striking employees. The employees have been requesting assistance and support from various groups and agencies. At the meeting, several Regional Councillors expressed their frustration over the fact that despite several interventions, Rusal continues to act irresponsibly, thus severely affecting the economic livelihood of several persons and by extension Region Ten. The Councillors stressed that with a number of past and present employees coming from within the Region they are of the firm view that Rusal has deliberately taken a position of not flexing, so as to assist the many workers who have given and continue to give significant service to the company. As such, several persons suggested that Rusal should be ‘kicked out’ of Guyana as its presence continues to demoralise and affects the rights of workers in an unfair manner. Regional Councillor and Trade Unionist, Charles Sampson, openly said that he has had several encounters with Rusal. He noted that the initial senior managers who came with the company in the early days were extremely ‘nice’ to the workers and were also very respectful. Sampson said that the current set of managers there is deliberately unfair and seems bent on dismissing anyone who attempts to challenge them regarding wages and working conditions. He said that it is clear that Rusal has no respect for the labour laws of Guyana. Government would have to make a determination as to how long they would allow RUSAL to continue disrespecting and breaking these labour laws. Councillor Charles Sampson expressed the view that a former Chief Labour Officer now employed by Rusal seems to be encouraging the company to break labour laws. He mirrored this to similar situations at other companies to which the individual in question was or is affiliated. He declared that it is clear that this official is bent on allowing foreign companies to “take their eyes and pass Guyanese workers because
there is a perception that people are desperate for work so anything goes.” “We as a Region, and more so as a RDC, cannot continue like this. I am urging my fellow councillors to step up and together we will take action. Government may be limited in the action that they can take but this is our region, it’s our people, it’s our resources and we will not allow this further,” Sampson declared to the acknowledgement of several other councillors. Regional Chairman Renis Morian told the Councillors that the Rusal situation is a sad one and the entire Region 10 feels for the affected workers. He, however, pledged, along with his councillors, that the RDC will stand firmly behind them and will weather the storm along with them. The Regional Chairman after reviewing the request for assistance and the endorsement by the entire council immediately started to put together a large donation of food items, which included rice, sugar, flour, oil, milk, biscuits, peas and other food related materials. He declared that the RDC will not stand by and see workers or residents who are in need of food having to starve because they have stood up for their rights. “I will not allow under my watch workers being taken advantage of and being blatantly disrespected, especially by a foreign company, go without our assistance. “As the Regional Chairman of Region Ten it is my duty to lend whatever assistance that we can provide as Region Ten is not only Linden. Kwakwani also forms part of this Region and together we will help,” he assured. Several employees who spoke to the Regional Chairman after the meeting stressed that they are very satisfied with the work of their Union and while some persons said that the Union’s Rep, Lincoln Lewis, approach at times may seem aggressive, they commended him for such a stance declaring that because of the Russians perception and derogatory remarks that they are known to make towards employees such an approach is warranted. “At times Lincoln Lewis can be seen as being too aggressive but we can say that with the Russians he is the man that is needed to fix them. If he doesn’t take an aggressive approach towards them they would continue to treat us anyhow,” several affected employees said. Morian declared that over the next few days he and his council will be monitoring, closely, the situation and with
the Regional Vice Chairman being from Kwakwani he is happy that he too would be closely monitoring the situation. “What I would add, is that we the people of Region 10 have taken too much from RUSAL as it is not the first time that they fired workers because they had strike. This development occurred in 2007 as Councillor Charles Sampson had pointed out and they got away with it but (Continued on page 73)
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Regional Chairman, Renis Morian handing over some of the food items to two representatives for the striking workers while Regional Vice Chairman, Elroy Adolph, looks on with appreciation.
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Region Ten lends... From page 73 noted this time it’s a different story. “What we would like Government to do is allow us to deal with them because we have simple straight forward strategies as no company, irrespective of how big or significant that company, will be allowed any more to come into this region and feel that the people of Region Ten can be taken advantage of as the RDC will show them what we are capable of doing,” the evidently frustrated Regional
Chairman said. The Regional Chairman in handing over the food items thanked the workers for their patience while urging them that they are not alone in their struggle as the RDC stands in solidarity with them. He said that the RDC will continue to lend valuable assistance to them as they seek to have their issues addressed in an amicable manner. “Remain strong and don’t forget that the people of Region 10 stand firmly with you on this matter,” Morian assured.
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Wawrinka comes from behind to advance at Indian Wells Stan Wawrinka (SUI) on the practice court in preparation for the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. (Jayne KaminOncea-USA TODAY Sports)
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (Reuters) - Stan Wawrinka battled back to defeat British qualifier Dan Evans 6-7(4) 6-3 6-3 at the BNP Paribas Open on Friday as the Swiss continued his slow climb back up the world rankings after a disappointing 2018. The world number 40’s powerful serve was the difference on a sunny and windy day in Indian Wells as
Gonsalves backs...
Sunday March 10, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Like a surfer who wants to ride the endless wave, you must first prepare yourself before you jump into the ocean with your board. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Your gracious, tender nature is likely to be extremely appreciated today, Taurus. You may feel as if your head is so far up in the clouds that you can't get anything done. GEMINI (May 21–June 2 0 ) - If you need to do errands, don't drag others along with you. Complete your mission solo. You will find that you're more efficient if you don't have to carry the extra burden around. CANCER(June21–July22) Don't take no for an answer today, Cancer. Chances are you won't have to. People will be more understanding of your situation and have compassion for your cause. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) It may be difficult to deal with people who seem spaced out and confused today. This confusion can be contagious. You will find that no matter how much logic you apply to the situation, if it doesn't feel right, it won't happen. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Take your mind off your stressful duties and responsibilities today, Virgo. This is a time for emotions and ego to connect in harmony. Don't let other people's problems ruin your good mood. There's a need for you to consciously let your mind and body be at ease.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) All the knowledge in the world will be no match for the emotional energy in the air on a day like today, Libra. You may be carried away into a mystical realm where feelings take precedence over facts. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Treat yourself to something special, whether a gourmet meal, new outfit, or latest gadget. Today is your day and you shouldn't deprive yourself of anything. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) There's an emotional, sensual feeling to the day that is sure to tickle your heart, Sagittarius. Try not to be too abrasive when dealing with others. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) The different parts of your personality should work harmoniously today, Capricorn. It's important that there be an equal amount of give and take in your world. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You probably aren't going to impress people with your fast talk and quick facts today, Aquarius. You will likely get further if you express the emotions that lie behind your words. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your ego should be strengthened by your emotions, and vice versa, today. Be yourself in every capacity and situation, Pisces. Things should flow quite smoothly for you as long as you keep the energy moving within you.
From page 75 Grenada’s Dr Keith Mitchell and Trinidad and Tobago’s Dr. Keith Rowley, who have been critical of Cameron during his controversial tenure. Ahead of his bid for a second term back in 2015, Gonsalves slammed the Jamaican’s leadership of CWI as “extremely poor” and suggested he step down. However, Cameron went on to defeat legendary former West Indies fast bowler, Joel Garner, before securing a third straight term in 2017 when he was re-elected unopposed. The three prime ministers have called for specific governance change in West Indies cricket administration, in keeping with a CARICOMcommissioned Governance Review Report, which proposed a radical overhaul of the board structure. Their current push is to replicate the successful legal argument and case in India involving the Lodha Commission versus the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI), as to why sports organizations cannot be considered private bodies while conducting a public function. CWI is currently a private organization registered in the British Virgin Islands and the Cameron-led body has consistently pushed back against government involvement in its affairs.
he won 83 percent of his first service points and fired down seven aces to beat Briton Evans, losing finalist at Delray Beach last month. Three-times Grand Slam champion Wawrinka saw his ranking go into freefall following knee surgery in late 2017 and he finished last year as number 66 in the world. The Swiss said he was feeling more confident after reaching the title-decider at last month’s Rotterdam Open, his first final since the operation. “It was great to make the final there and win those matches against the top players,” the former world number three told reporters after the match. “But every tournament is a new tournament. You need
to start from the beginning,” he added. “Today was a tough match against a tough player in tough conditions.” Next up for Wawrinka is Hungarian 29th-seed Marton Fucsovics, who the 33-yearold has defeated in two of their three career meetings. Feliciano Lopez came out on the winning side of two tie breakers for a 7-6(3) 7-6(2) victory over Tomas Berdych in his first round match. In a battle of two tour veterans, Lopez’s 15 aces and sharper execution in the tiebreakers gave him the edge. The Spaniard will next play 12th seed Karen Khachanov. American Steve Johnson, German Peter Gojowczyk and 19-year-old Australian Alexei Popyrin were among the other first-round winners on Friday.
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Serena backs U.S. women in soccer gender discrimination lawsuit INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (Reuters) Serena Wi l l i a m s and other prominent American tennis players past and present on Friday expressed support for a lawsuit filed b y t h e U . S . w o m e n ’s national soccer team against their federation that alleges gender discrimination in wages and conditions. All 28 members of the United States squad were named as plaintiffs in federal court in Los Angeles on International Women’s Day. Williams said pioneers in her sport stood up for pay equality in the 1970s and that the time may be right for soccer to level its playing field. “The pay discrepancy is ludicrous,” the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion told reporters
Serena Williams gives an interview in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., January 31, 2019. (REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs) after her second-round victory at the BNP Paribas Open. “ I t ’s a b a t t l e , i t ’s a fight,” she said. “I think at some point,
in every sport, you have to have those pioneers and maybe it’s time for soccer,” she said. “I’m playing because someone else stood up and
so what they are doing right now is hopefully for t h e f u t u r e o f w o m e n ’s soccer.” The best known of those pioneers, Bille Jean King, also welcomed the lawsuit while attending the tournament in the Southern California desert. “What better day than International Women’s Day for this lawsuit,” the 75year-old, who won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, posted on Twitter. “Sports are a m i c r o c o s m o f s o c i e t y. What is happening with the USWNT is happening in the workplace. The time has come to give these athletes what they deserve: equality.” The work of King and her allies resulted in equal prize money for women and
men at all four Grand Slams in 2007 when Wimbledon fell in line. The issue still occasionally surfaces, however, and Indian Wells tournament chief Raymond Moore quit under a cloud in 2016 after saying women’s tennis rode “on the coat-tails of the men”. Former U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens also sent her encouragement to the soccer team on Friday. “I think there should be equal pay across the board for everyone, male or female,” the world number four said after her second-round loss at a tournament that has offered equal prize money to women and men since 2009. “But I’m happy for them. I hope they win.” The thrust of Friday’s
lawsuit was that the women had consistently been paid less money than their male counterparts even though their performance had been superior. The U.S. won the 2015 women’s World Cup, a title they will defend in France in June, while the men failed to qualify for the last edition of F I FA’s showpiece event in Russia in 2018. The lawsuit outlines years of alleged institutionalized gender discrimination, claiming travel conditions, medical personnel, promotion of games and training are less favorable for female players compared to the men. The U.S. Soccer Federation has yet to comment on the lawsuit.
Perez double inspires remarkable Newcastle comeback
Newcastle United’s Ayoze Perez scores their third goal against Everton at St James Park. (Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes) (Reuters) - Newcastle United 3 Everton 2 Newcastle United produced a remarkable second-half fightback to overturn a two-goal deficit and beat Everton 3-2, their fifth successive home win in the Premier League, yesterday. A goal from Salomon Rondon and a late double from Ayoze Perez completely transformed the game after the home side were feeling aggrieved about going two down after a controversial first-half incident. First-half goals from Dominic CalvertLewin and Richarlison seemed to be easing Everton’s path to victory as Newcastle were left raging about the visitors’ England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who could have been sent off on the half-hour. Everton were leading through CalvertLewin’s 18th minute glancing header from Lucas Digne’s cross when Pickford, failing to punch the ball clear, clattered into Rondon and gave away a penalty.
No punishment was taken against Pickford, who then picked himself up to save Matt Ritchie’s 31st-minute spot kick with his feet. Richarlison then struck within 71 seconds at the other end before Newcastle came on strong after the break, with the in-form Rondon reducing the deficit in the 65th minute with his eighth of the season. Perez then hammered his quick-fire double in the final 10 minutes of the match to help Newcastle ease further clear of the relegation zone. In results from yesterday: Crystal Palace1 – Brighton 2 Cardiff 2 - West Ham 0 Huddersfield 0 – Bournemouth 2 Leicester 3 – Fulham 1 Newcastle 3 - Everton 2 Southampton 2 – Tottenham 1 Man City 3 – Watford 1
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NBA roundup: Rockets top 76ers for seventh straight win James Harden scored 31 points, Eric Gordon chipped in 17 with five 3-pointers, and the Houston Rockets extended their winning streak to a season-best seven games with their 107-91 victory over the visiting Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. Harden added 10 rebounds, seven assists and two steals for the Rockets, who seized control with a 142 spurt midway through the first quarter. Philadelphia played its eighth consecutive game without All-Star center Joel Embiid (left knee), falling to 4-4 in that stretch. A combination of lethargic defense and errant shooting did the 76ers in, particularly early. While Houston rolled to a 37-point opening period on 56.5 percent shooting, Philadelphia missed all four of its 3-point attempts in the first quarter while shooting 10 of 24 (41.7 percent) overall. The 76ers’ shooting did not improve throughout the course of the game, with Philadelphia finishing 3 of 26 from behind the arc while shooting 36.8 percent from the floor. Tobias Harris paced the 76ers with 22 points and nine rebounds.
Warriors 122, Nuggets 105 Klay Thompson poured in 27 of his game-high 39 points in the first half Friday night, allowing Golden State to run away from Denver en route to a blowout win in Oakland, Calif. The win allowed the Warriors to increase their lead over the Nuggets atop the Western Conference playoff race to two games. Thompson sank 9 of 11 3-point attempts for Golden State, which also got 26 points from Kevin Durant. Malik Beasley and Monte Morris each scored 17 points to lead Denver. Clippers 118, Thunder 110 Lou Williams scored 40 points off the bench, and Los Angeles defeated visiting Oklahoma City to move into sole possession of seventh place in the Western Conference. Danilo Gallinari scored a season-high 34 points and Ivica Zubac added 14 points and seven rebounds for the Clippers, who have won seven of nine. Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook had 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists before fouling out with 54 seconds left and the Thunder trailing by three points. Paul
Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) elevates for a dunk against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. (Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports) George scored 15 points on 5for-16 shooting before fouling out with 3:49 left and the Thunder down a point. Raptors 127, Pelicans 104 Kawhi Leonard scored 31
Gonsalves backs Skerritt, Shallow as “very good” choices for CWI leadership BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Outspoken St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, has labelled Ricky Skerritt and Dr. Kishore Shallow as “two very good candidates”, in reaction to news the duo will be contesting the top posts in Cricket West Indies presidential elections later this month. Skerritt, a former Cabinet minister in St Kitts, will be seeking to topple incumbent CWI president Dave Cameron while Shallow, the president of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association, will be up against Emmanuel Nathan for the vice-presidency. Gonsalves, the chairman of the CARICOM subcommittee on cricket, said Skerritt and Shallow were “modern Caribbean personalities steeped within our Caribbean civilization”, and possessed the ideas to take West Indies cricket forward. “Well, I nor do the people of the region have a vote. It’s an indirect election of a kind which ought to change. Even the people in cricket are saying this,” Gonsalves told
CMC Sports. “We are seeing two very good candidates in Mr. Ricky Skerritt and Dr. Kishore Shallow. Both of them are much steeped in cricket historically, they are concerned about the finances in cricket, cricket development, have a very good approach to people, engaging, listen and want to be on good terms with all the governments and fans.” He continued: “They have very progressive ideas on how West Indies cricket should move forward in the plan they have put out. These are serious people – modern Caribbean personalities, steeped within our Caribbean civilization.” Skerritt and Shallow have advanced a 10-point Cricket First Plan which among other objectives, places renewed focus on cricket at the grassroots level, the modernisation of coaching education and enhancement of the current franchise system. They have also signalled their intention to improve transparency in CWI and rectify relations with players and regional fans. The duo have already gained support from the
Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board and the Leeward Islands Cricket Association, with 12 votes up for grabs at the March 24 elections in Jamaica. Each board has two votes. Gonsalves has been one of three Caribbean prime ministers, along with (Continued on page 73)
points and visiting Toronto pulled away from shorthanded New Orleans in the second half of a blowout victory. Leonard scored 24 firsthalf points and finished 14 of 20 from the floor. Kyle Lowry added a triple-double with 13 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds while Pascal Siakam scored 19 points. The Pelicans played without three starters. Jrue Holiday (abdominal strain) and E’Twaun Moore (quad contusion) were ruled out for
at least a week to 10 days, and Anthony Davis was a lastminute scratch because of back spasms. Frank Johnson led New Orleans with 20 points. Hornets 112, Wizards 111 Marvin Williams erupted for a season-high 30 points and career-high seven 3pointers as Charlotte held on in the closing seconds for a victory over visiting Washington. The Hornets won when Washington’s Bradley Beal missed a drive in heavy traffic
with three seconds remaining. Jeremy Lamb had given the Hornets a 112-111 lead on a 3-pointer with 51.5 seconds remaining. The Hornets had lost nine of their previous 12. Bobby Portis had 23 points and nine rebounds to lead the Wizards. Beal scored 15 points but hit just 4 of 21 field-goal attempts. In other scores: Pistons 112, Bulls 104 Heat 126, Cavaliers 110 Magic 111, Mavericks 106 Grizzlies 114, Jazz 104 (Field Level Media)
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Sunday March 10, 2019
Kaieteur News
GFF President highlights gender balance in International Women’s Day message International Women’s Day is not just another day to celebrate women, a day where the world stops to honour the social, economic and political contributions of women, but it is a day when radical and sustainable change is often birthed. This year, the world is accelerating the call for gender balance in all spheres of life through the #BalanceForBetter Campaign and, in football, it is no different. This is an achievable goal and, we at the Guyana Football Federation, have been deliberately engaging a process to create balance at all levels of football; ensuring both equity and equality are emphasized. Over the last year, we have steadfastly and deliberately reengaged girls and women across the spectrum of the beautiful game – from grassroots to seniors – including, but not limited to, the Lady Jags’ favourable participation in the CFU Women’s Challenge Series; the U15 girls’ participation in the Concacaf U15 Girls Championship, a feat accomplished after a protracted period; the GFF-Always Women’s Development League, capacity building for female coaches, female medical personnel and other technical personnel in both Concacaf and FIFA-facilitated programmes, grassroots football sessions; honoring women and girls
Wayne Forde President, GFF at the GFF Awards ceremony and cash and kind contributions made to various women’s teams and initiatives, both on the coast and in the hinterland region. Noting the importance of education to the overall achievement of #BalanceForBetter, the GFF has contributed to the academic pursuits of one of our national senior women’s Goalkeeper, Natalie Nedd, who has been awarded a scholarship to Graceland University in the USA. Nedd’s scholarship was done in partnership with the GFF’s International Support Group led by Paul Beresford. She is the first female football player in Guyana’s history to be signed to a scholarship at an American University. Additionally, for the third consecutive year, the GFF has
recognized the inextricable link between sport and health especially for women and has partnered with the Guyana Cancer Foundation to promote breast cancer awareness. For the first time in our history, we had a successful month-long observance – from the tree-wrapping on Camp Street, participating in the ‘Wear It Pink’ Day and the awareness walk to the sensitization session held with staff and representatives of Regional Member Associations on the importance of preventative and curative measures to ensure they’re not only cancerfree but strong and healthy. These initiatives underscore not only the Executive Committee’s commitment to this year’s theme of #BalanceForBetter but also its overall commitment to the conscious engagement and development of women in all aspects of their life – socially, economically, culturally etc. In fact, women’s football development is enshrined in every component of our Strategic Plan 2017 – 2021. Is everything perfect or as progressive as we would like them to be? Absolutely not but we will continue to be deliberate in our efforts to ensure that a space for women in football in secured and preserved, both on and off the field, not merely because they are women but because they have earned it and deserving of same. Like last year, the GFF will engage in a month-long observance of honoring women in football
Adidas to pay equal bonuses for women’s soccer World Cup winners (Reuters) - Adidas-sponsored players on the team that wins the FIFA Women’s World Cup this year will receive the same performance bonus payments as their male counterparts, the sportswear company said on Friday.The announcement follows news that the U.S. women’s national soccer team is suing their federation with allegations of gender discrimination, where all 28 members of the squad were named as plaintiffs in federal court.The lawsuit filed by the team includes complaints about wages. The players said they had been consistently paid less than their male counterparts even though their performances have been superior. Adidas’ head of global brands Eric Liedtke said the company wanted to help encourage
the next generation of sportswomen. “Today we are announcing that all Adidas athletes on the winning 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup team will receive the same performance bonus payout as their male peers,” Liedtke said in the statement. “We believe in inspiring and enabling the next generation of female athletes, creators and leaders through breaking barriers.” The U.S. team’s lawsuit has found support from prominent American tennis players past and present, including Serena Williams, Bille Jean King and Sloane Stephens. While the men’s soccer team failed to qualify for the World Cup in Russia last year, the U.S. women’s team will be defending their 2015 crown in France in June.
through mass and social media features and the restart of the GFFAlways Women’s Development League. These are meant to showcase the strength, determination and courage of the
women involved in the beautiful game. Happy International Women’s Day to all women, especially the strong, hard-working and committed women in football, Forde said in his message.
Pool players gearing for Shooters Pool Club Easter tournament on April 13 Leading Pools players are gearing for the Shooters Club along with Chris Prashad of California, USA collaboration when they host an Easter Pool tournament set for Saturday, April 13th. The tournament will be staged at Jupats Bar in New Diamond Housing Scheme on the East Bank of Demerara and all the games are expected to be aired via live streaming.
Over $200,000 in cash prizes are up for grabs. There will be trophies for the first to fifth place finishers along with prizes for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and fans will be treated to attractive giveaways. The action promises to be keenly contests as a number of the country’s top Pools players are due to be in attendance.
Hurricanes beat Volcanoes by six wickets – 3rd day, 10th round NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – Leeward Islands Hurricanes defeated Windward Islands Volcanoes by six wickets on the penultimate day of their 10th round match in the Regional FourDay Championship at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium here yesterday. Scores: VOLCANOES 200 (Sunil Ambris 92, Kimani Melius 29, Dennis Smith 27; Sheno Berridge 4-34, Alzarri Joseph 3-36) and 226
(Audy Alexander 50 not out, Alick Athanaze 32, Sunil Ambris 31, Ray Jordan 29, Devon Smith 27; Alzarri Joseph 5-66, Quinton Boatswain 2-46). HURRICANES 261 (Devon Thomas 69, Jaison Peters 59 not out, Terrance Warde 40; Ray Jordan 3-40, Alick Athanaze 2-21) and 168 for four (Devon Thomas 117 not out, Terrance Warde 38 not out; Sherman Lewis 3-19).
Olympic champion Liu breaks 50km gold in Rio, clocked three hours, 59 minutes 15 seconds for the longer race, the IAAF world record: IAAF and said in a statement, clipping more than five (Reuters) - Rio Olympics race walk champion Liu Hong broke the 50km world record and became the first woman to dip under the four-hour mark at an event in Haungshan yesterday, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said. Liu, who won the Olympic distance 20km
minutes off the previous record (4:04:36) set by compatriot Liang Rui in Taicang last year. The 31-year-old now holds the world record for both the 20km and 50km distances, having clocked 1:24:38 in La Coruna, Spain in 2015 for the shorter distance. She also won the 20km gold at the 2011 and 2015 World Championships.
Sunday March 10, 2019
PAGE 79
Kaieteur News
Windies First-Class C/Ships
Johnson’s 76 lead Jaguars to likely record equalling title - Shepherd named MOM for his match haul of 8-76 By Sean Devers Four-times defending Champions Guyana Jaguars defeated Trinidad Red Force by six wickets on the third day of their final round Windies Regional First-Class Cricket Championships to be on verge of registering a record equalling fifth consecutive title and 12th overall since Rohan Kanhai led Guyana to its first in 1973. This season was not as smooth sailing as the Jaguars would have wanted but unless Hurricanes, who beat Volcanoes in Antigua yesterday, gets an improbable maximum 24 points in their final game against Barbados from next Thursday, yesterday’s emphatic win at Providence will equal Jamaica’s five-year run from 2008-2012, while Johnson’s possible five successive titles would be one more than Nakita Miller’s four after Chris Gayle led Jamaica to Championship honours in 2008. The win was mainly due to an111-run third wicket partnership between Johnson, who made 76 from 125 balls, 126 minutes with 14 boundaries and Chanderpaul (43not out) who faced 150 balls and batted 198 minutes and hit six fours to end the season with 521 runs. Anthony Bramble, who hit Bryan Charles for six to the finish the game on stroke of the first break, remained undefeated on 20 with two sixes to take his aggregate to 560 runs, the most for the Jaguars. The 24-year-old Romario
The tournament’s leading pacer Romario Shepherd was named MOM. Shepherd followed up his 524 in the first innings with 352 for a match haul of 8-76 to take the Man-of-the-Match award and finish with 37 wickets, the most by a fast bowler. Scores: 120 & 206; Jaguars 165 & 163-4. With Cotton Wool like clouds drifting over the Providence sward in extreme heat, Jaguars, set 162 to win their seventh game of the season, resumed on 69-2, needing another 93 runs for victory. Johnson was on 37, in sight of his fourth fifty of what has been a below par season for the left-hander from Kamuni Creek, while Tagenarine Chanderpaul was with him on 22. Johnson cut off spinner Charles behind point for four
before Chanderpaul’s imperious straight drive off Charles raced across the lightning fast outfield on its way to the ropes. Johnson, batting with the flair that brought over 800 runs and Windies recall a few seasons ago, executed backto-back cuts off Charles for boundaries, the second one bringing up his 37th fifty at this level. His half-century was posted off 72 balls, 71 minutes and decorated with 11 gorgeous boundaries. When Chanderpaul defended, his bat seemed as broad as the black sightscreen behind him as he played the support role with responsible batting in the context of the match situation. Johnson, who has been playing at this level for 15
Leon Johnson made 76 in his best innings of the season yesterday. years, leaned onto his front foot and caressed pacer Tion Webster to the extra cover boundary to the delight of the small but vocal gathering in Green Stand. Johnson swivelled and dismissively pulled Webster to the mid-wicket boundary to move into the seventies, but when well set for his sixth First-Class hundred he genuflected and missed a sweep to Charles and was LBW for 76 at 123-3. Barnwell (12) got going with a ferocious off drive which was followed up by an on-drive off Webster for boundaries. But injudicious shot selection orchestrated his demise when he tried to hit a six off Khan for Phillip to take a brilliant catch after going
over the rope at long-on and parrying the ball back into play before returning to the field to complete the catch to leave Guyana on 136-4. Chanderpaul and Bramble added 27 between them before Bramble hit Khan into the Red Stand and finished the game with his second six off Charles. Anthony Bramble finished with most dismissals by a Wicketkeeper (43), while left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul’s 44 wickets is only second to Leewards Hurricanes off-spinning allrounder, Rakeem Cornwall the only bowler to reach 50 wickets. Johnson is the fifth Guyana Captain to win Regional First-Class titles; the others being Kanhai (1973),
Clive Lloyd (1975 & 1983), Roger Harper (1987 & 1993) and Carl Hooper (2002). Johnson has won from 20152018 and unless the Hurricanes miraculously achieve the maximum points in their final game, he should be the winning skipper again this season. Scores: RED FORCE 120 (Imran Khan 37, Tion Webster 30; Romario Shepherd 5-24) and 206 (Daniel St Clair 31 not out, Khary Pierre 30, Jason Mohammed 27, Joshua Da Silva 25; Romario Shepherd 352, Raymon Reifer 2-43). JAGUARS 165 (Anthony Bramble 62; Daniel St Clair 329, Odean Smith 3-37) and 163 for four (Leon Johnson 76, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 43 not out, Anthony Bramble 20 not out).
Mikaela Shiffrin: American breaks record for World Cup wins in a single season BBC Sport - American Mikaela Shiffrin set a new record for the most Alpine Skiing World Cup victories in a season as she won the slalom in Spindleruv Mlyn in the Czech Republic yesterday. The 23-year-old finished in one minute 38.98 seconds to secure her 15th triumph of the campaign. Shiffrin overtakes Swiss legend Vreni Schneider’s 14 race wins in 198889.Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener and Petra Vlhova of Slovakia finished second and third respectively yesterday.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul sweeps during his unbeaten 43 to pass 500 runs this season.
Shiffrin (pictured) had previously been tied with Swiss legend Vreni Schneider’s 14 race wins in the 1988-89 season. (Getty Images)
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Sunday March 10, 2019
Kaieteur News
Race of Champions top drivers receive rewards - Launch pad road to be completed this week The top drivers of last Sunday’s first round of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) Race of Champions received there trophies and prizes on Friday last, during a simple but significant ceremony at GT Motorsports on Thomas Lands and Albert Street. In addition, the champion bikers in the Mohamed’s Enterprise sponsored class received a total of $275,000 in cash prizes. After some deliberation by the GMR&SC, Dowayne Caesar was adjudged winners of the novices with three first place finishes, while Romeo Singh was second overall, Romel Singh third and Shem Chattersingh was fourth overall. President of the Club, Rameez Mohamed, during his address expressed thanks to everyone who supported the first round of the Race of Champions and noted that all eyes are now shifted to the
first round of the anticipated Drag Championship. The first round was scheduled to speed off next Sunday but due to several positive reasons, it was decided that the meet be pushed back to the 24th. Mohamed noted that the biggest reason was the arrival of Team Mohamed’s third Nissan GTR car which is the fastest of its kind in the world, capable of clocking well under seven seconds on the drag strip. This machine has created much buzz on all forms of media and neighbouring Suriname that has a drag meet scheduled for the 17th has reached out to the GMR&SC since they want to challenge the ‘white’ GTR. Furthermore, Rameez noted that with the increase of high powered cars on the local drag strip, a launch pad is needed to help these
Mohamed’s Enterprise novice bikers from left Dowayne Caesar (first overall), Romeo Singh (second overall), Romel Singh (third overall) and Shem Chattersingh (fourth overall). vehicles with more horsepower to be more controlled, “We completed the launch pad last year which cost a total of $12.5million and now we are building the road
Sterling hat-trick sends Man City four clear of Liverpool MANCHESTER CITY 3 WATFORD 1 (Reuters) Raheem Sterling struck a second half hat-trick as champions Manchester City put pressure on title rivals Liverpool with a 3-1 win over Watford at the Etihad Stadium yesterday. The win moved Premier League leaders City four points clear of Liverpool ahead of their home game against Burnley today — a match Juergen Klopp’s side can ill-afford not to win. Watford manager Javi
Gracia made seven changes to his side and let out key forwards Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu, and the visitors’ deep defending frustrated City in the opening half. Within a minute of the restart, however, Sterling put City ahead with a controversial goal that was initially ruled out for offside before referee Paul Tierney changed his mind after lengthy consultation with his assistant. There was no argument about Sterling’s second as he
tapped in a Riyad Mahrez cross from close range. The England winger completed his hat-trick in the 59th minute — cutting in from the left, behind Daryl Janmaat, to latch on to a fine David Silva pass, and ghosting across two defenders before drilling home. Gracia threw on Deeney and Deulofeu in the 66th minute and it took 17 seconds for them to make an impact, Deeney heading down to the Spaniard who slotted home.
that connects the launch pad to the road which has been pegged at $10.5 million by the contractor, who has assured that he will be able to complete the project for the
first meet. Having a launch pad is a big, big plus for drag racing locally.” The president explained that with the help of sponsors including Mohamed’s
Enterprise, Delco Ice Factory, B.M. Soat Auto Sales and Cemco Engineering, the Club has been able to raise most of the funds needed for the project.
Farfan & Mendes Men’s Hockey League
Hikers and Supernova latest winners The Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) organised Farfan and Mendes Men’s Hockey League continued yesterday at the Saints Stanislaus College (SSC) ground on Carifesta Avenue with three more matches. Pepsi Hikers played two of the three matches and recorded comfortable victories in the opening and
feature games of the day. In first clash, Hikers defeated Saints Hockey Club (SHC) 6-0. Aroydy Branford banged in a hat-trick as his side picked up three points, while Devin Munroe, Jamarj Assanah and Randy Hope netted one field goal (FG) each in the rout. Hikers’ second win was a 3-0 win over Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Vintage. A brace from Assanah and one goal from Branford was
enough to see the league leaders strengthen their hold at the top. Supernova added to the woes of Old Fort Hockey Club (OFHC) men’s side after inflicting a 2-0 defeat on the rebuilding team. On the score sheet for Supernova, the national development side, were Meshach Sargeant and Steffon Simmons. The men’s league continues today with three more matches at SSC ground.
Supernova’s Samuel Woodroffe (left) being challenged by Old Fort’s Deheron Wilkinson.
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 10, 2019
PAGE 81
Milo Schools’ football tourney
Lodge, Annandale, PC and Canje through to knockout round
T
he seventh annual Milo Schools’ football tourney is in its penultimate round of group matches and after yesterday’s play concluded at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground on Carifesta Av e n u e , A n n a n d a l e Secondary, Canje and Lodge Secondary have secured their spots into the knockouts with favourable results. In the feature match of the day, Lodge, led by a brace from Dorwin George in the 44th and 49th minutes defeated President’s College (PC) 2-0. PC didn’t help themselves much during the match, missing some good chances, including a penalty which was skied on the stroke of the first half. Lodge finished Group E top with nine points, while PC finished second with four points. The opening match of the
day was a goalless affair between St. Joseph High and Canje Secondary. St. Joseph needed a win to advance to the next round ahead of Canje (five points) but couldn’t pull it off. Finishing top of Group A just ahead of Canje is Annandale with seven points. The East Coast lads played to a 2-2 draw against S o u th R u imv eld t w h o finished Group A in the cellar position. Jomal Crum-Ewing netted a brace for South Ruimveldt, while Jerome Harrigon and Tiquan Taylor scored one each for Annandale. The tournament which is being supported by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) through their ‘Stop gender based violence’ campaign continues this afternoon with three more matches.
Letter to the Sports Editor
Guyanese reps on the now Cricket West Indies is not about the game’s development Dear Editor, The West Indies in the late 1970s, had a side recognized as unofficial world champions, a reputation they retained throughout the1980s. The 1990s and 2000s, however West Indies cricket declined, largely owing to the failure of the West Indies Board to move the game to a professional sport. Victories in the 2014 Champions Trophy and runner-up in 2016 Champions Trophy left some hopeful, but it was not until the inception of Twenty20 cricket that the West Indies regained a place among the cricketing elite
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and as a added bonus, the West Indies also became the first to win both the men’s a n d w o m e n ’ s Wo r l d Twenty20 on the same day, as the women team beat three-time defending champion Australia for their first ICC title. With the Annual General Meeting of Cricket West Indies around the corner, I do hope representatives from Guyana Cricket Board if legal, and thinking about prosperous developments, then Mr. Dave Cameron must be voted out and what is also a matter of concern is the women’s position. Yours -in- Sport, Parmanand Ram.
President’s College’s custodian gobbles up a poor cross from Lodge Secondary during a corner set-piece.
t r o Sp Windies First-Class C/Ships
Likely Champions Guyana Jaguars after their win over Red Force yesterday.
Johnson’s 76 lead Jaguars to likely record equalling title - Shepherd named MOM for his match haul of 8-76
Race of Champions top drivers receive rewards
Winners of the GMR&SC Race of Champions.
- Launch pad road to be completed this week Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.