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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 PHAGWAH CELEBRATIONS Today, Guyanese from all walks of life will join Hindus in India and around the world wherever Hindus live to celebrate Phagwah. Known also as Holi, Phagwah is an ancient religious Hindu festival which originated in India in the month of Phagoon on the Hindu calendar, several hundred years before the birth of Christ. It is the festival of colors in honor of the Hindu God, Vishnu. It is also a festival of love of Radha, the perceived adulterous lover of Lord Krishna, the most widely revered and most popular of all Indian divinities. The festival is sacred to the Hindu religion. The festivities officially usher in the arrival of spring and are the spiritual influence over the environment to aid in successful crops. They are the thanksgiving of a good harvest. The festival date varies from year to year on the Hindu calendar. Typically the festival which lasts for two days is celebrated on the day of the full moon which falls somewhere between the end of February and the middle of March. It is an occasion for people to enjoy the changing seasons and make new friends. For many Hindus, the festival also marks the beginning of the New Year when people renew relationships with old acquaintances. The Phagwah festival has a cultural and spiritual significance among various Hindu traditions of the Indian subcontinent. It is the time to rid oneself of past mistakes, to end conflicts by meeting and greeting others, to forget and forgive other for their past grievances, to pay or forgive debts, as well as deal anew with those in their lives. In Guyana, Phagwah is a national holiday, and although it is a Hindu festival, its public outreach in the country has taken it beyond Hinduism into a national and popular cultural festival celebrated by Guyanese from all walks of life. Days before the festival, Hindus would gather wood and combustible materials for the bonfire which takes place in parks, community centers, near temples and other open spaces. On top of the pyre is an effigy to signify Holika who tricked Prince Prahalad into the fire. Inside their homes are stock piles of pigments, party drinks and festive seasonal foods and other local delicacies. The celebrations start on the night before Phagwah with a bonfire where Hindus gather to do religious rituals and pray that their internal evil be destroyed. The next morning the celebration starts with a free-for-all carnival of colors, where the participants indulge in the throwing of a harmless liquid called abeer on each other. Abeer is a red dye which symbolizes the blood of the tyrannical King Kiranya who was ordered burnt alive by his son, Prince Prahalad, because of the suffering endured by many people during the reign of his father. Powder, perfume and water are also thrown on family, friends and neighbours by the partakers in what is an amusing, good-natured and joyful celebration. The frolic and fight occurs in the open streets, open parks, outside temples and buildings. Groups with drums and other musical instruments would sing and dance in the streets. The celebrations of Phagwah in 2017 in Guyana should help bring the two major races and all in society together and strengthen the secular fabric of the country. It does not differentiate between the rich and poor as everybody regardless of status celebrate the festival together with a spirit of love, friendliness and brotherhood. The celebrations tend to turn enemies into friends by helping them to forget and forgive any of bad feelings that had existed before.

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Friday March 12, 2016

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Arguments for an oil refinery in Guyana Dear Editor, In an article in another section of the media captioned, “Trotman to seek clarity on Guyana utilising Suriname’s oil refinery”, Minister Trotman spoke of the possibility of refining our crude in Surinam or in Trinidad. Refineries are designed in accordance to the type of crude it is going to refine. Trinidad and Suriname’s refinery is designed to refine heavy and sour crude. American Petroleum Institute (API) determines the quality which ranges from 17 to over 50, but 99% of the crude found is between 17 and 46 API. Above 35 API is light. Below 27 API is sour so if the API of the crude is above 36 that is good for us. I happen to know the API but would not disclose same as it’s not my place.

Suffice to say that it is sweet and light. But back to refining; Suriname’s refinery only has a capacity of 15,000 barrels a day so even if it could process our crude it does not have the capacity, since the four wells would be producing around 100,000 barrels a day. There are plans to drill about 16 wells. All sixteen wells would not be producing oil, since about eight wells would be used to pressure in water and gas in order to increase the efficiency of the wells. So we are looking in the long run at about 200,000 barrels a day. We hear Guyana will be getting 50% but I am not sure that is after expenses have been deducted. In any event crude is sold at market price with a little option for negotiation so EXXON can even sell to a Guyanese

refinery. The late President Burnham had a study done in 1978 as to whether an oil refinery here would be feasible. The report says it would be. But even today simple logics would inform us that it would be. I am personally tired that Guyana has remained over the years an exporter of our natural resources. The absence of value added worries me as it limits job creation and has kept Guyana underdeveloped. The question arises what happens when such nonrenewable resources are depleted. What then? An oil refinery to refine 100,000 barrels would cost about 2 Billion USD. It would employ about 2,500 skilled and unskilled workers. It would have by (Continued on page 5)

Sunday March 12, 2017

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If given, which would you choose Arguments for an oil refinery in... ness. Do not abuse your con- the big fancy gate of the From page 4 is Crab Island Refinery. The De- request was made over four they will oppose preacher, etc. Mr. Editor the products such as fertilisers veloper has expended a lot of months ago but apparently he - $80 or $20?stituents, you. $20 for the city comes with which would help sustain and money, did a 300 page environ- has been getting the royal run DEAR EDITOR, I am still trying to figure out how stupid a stupid person can be or how business illiterate a person can be in making certain decisions. I am still trying to figure how dunce a person can be to believe that everyone else is “duncer” (a word I made up) than him or her. It still baffles me as to why a three-year-old child if given an option of which part of a $100 he would choose, when given a $20 in one hand and $80 in the other hand. He would choose the $80 instead of the $20, but still the Mayor and City Councillors would choose the $20 instead of $80. In an attempt to understand under which circumstances I would choose $20 out of every $100, I came up with three circumstances. First circumstance, if the $20 out of every $100 is profit, I will take it. Now this means that after all expenses have been paid by the company, I mean all expenses, overheads, wages, etc. and the $20 is untouched as pure profit. The mayor would have proudly stated that she employed 50 persons and more are being trained. How Council getting only $20 from every $100 and creating new employment? I suggest every pretty young girl pay attention in their class especially if you are aspiring for a top position. More so, every aspiring church boy who intends to be a preacher be stripped of all ignorance with regards to dollars and sense and arrogance as well as deceitful-

Second circumstance, if I am getting a drawback meaning, I get $20 as per record and part of the $80 say $20 for finder’s fee for myself which may not be recorded in the books to be audited. This means that I will get a lifetime drawback and can relax as the cheese rolls in. As small as it may seem, it will become a large cut for me. It just does not make sense. Who works their butt off for $20 out of $100? Not me! So with the behaviour of academically challenged Mayor and the bully boy personality of the Town Clerk as well as the toothless bull dog nature of the Councillors, except for the few who are standing up against the tyranny of the Mayor and City Councillors, it is evident that somebody is getting a huge thing. So everybody who is trumpeting with the house of pain that the parking meters are here to stay, open your eyes. I hope the Honourable Minister of Finance is not supporting the parking meter project because he can use his favourite word more often (VAT). However, I suggest that GRA stops harassing ordinary citizens for the meager outstanding taxes and start going after the parsons getting the drawbacks; property taxes, bank accounts, taxes on

benefits. My Economics lecturers always said; “there is nothing like a free lunch.” So on behalf of the Mayor and City Councillors of Georgetown thanks in advance for paying for the lunch. Third circumstance, I am just dunce. Oh well, not in this day and age. Money illiteracy does not exist, regardless of how poor in Mathematics or Business an individual may be. It appears that the Mayor and City Councillors of Georgetown think that the citizens are the dunce ones and they are the only bright ones. What a shame! I watched Tyler Perry’s, movie, “Why did I get married?”and learned about the 80:20 rule, where some persons trade their 80% they know and experience in their relationship for some 20% they think they know in someone else. Oh shoots! Pat and Roy and the rest of their “We go fishing family” would like us to believe that when they went fishing they found some parking meters which can be used in Georgetown to raise revenue. They did not realize that when they found the parking meters and brought them home, their parents would have enquired as to how they (Continued on page 6)

expand agriculture. It would give us bitumen for our roads and even lipstick for our women; natural Gas for GPL, which will increase our green foot print. It could possibly result in about 10,000 additional jobs. Cheaper fertilisers would reduce the cost of agricultural produce and help GUYSUCO. Lower cost of bitumen would result in savings as we move to build our roads and this savings can fund increases in the pay packet of workers. And definitely we would see a positive balance of trade resulting in huge foreign exchange savings. I almost forgot fibre glass and sulphur-based medical products and sulphuric acid etc. So there is no way we should even consider giving away our crude oil. The oil refinery usually utilises methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) which is used to oxygenate the gasoline so as to raise the octane level that is required for your car to run. MTBE is a carcinogen which is highly cancerous. Ethanol can be used instead of MTBE and this would serve to reduce our carbon foot print. I have knowledge that a developer has been working on the construction of a refinery here in Guyana. The Name of the Project

mental report, has developed a business plan (125 pages) and has obtained a provisional environment permit. The land has been identified and all relevant surveys required by the Guyana Land and Surveys Commission has been done. The final capacity would be 240,000 barrels a day. This would cost about 4 Billion USD but there can be a phased construction. The modules to cater for 100,000 barrels would take about 2 ½ years and cost about 2 Billion USD. A lot of money is being expended as he tries to raise the finances for the project, but as we know it takes a while to raise this kind of money. Fip Motilall took 15 years but this gentleman is not a Fip. He is a professional engineer with a lot of experience in refineries, a Guyanese American who has remigrated to Guyana. He encountered some difficulties under the last regime. He is in negotiation with a few financial companies but because of the change of government and what happened to Amalia Falls they requested a letter of no objections from this government. This

around from Go Invest. The CEO of which seem to be lost at sea. He indicated to me that he will be seeking audience with His Excellency the President as obviously support from the government would obviously give potential investors some increased confidence. I am hoping that in the near future he would get the necessary support from my government. He has indicated that he has no objection to some form of partnership with the government. Even without such a partnership he is prepared to give the government an equity share in the company to be negotiated if the government agrees to sell to it its share of the crude once the project is successful. This could be around 5%. This by itself is a lot of money and of course this is in addition to the cost of the crude supplied. Bear in mind that this project commenced since 2006, way before Exxon sank any well. He has an agreement with a huge foreign company for the purchase of crude and the sale of all downstream products of the refinery. Rajendra Bisessar Bsc Soc LLB

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Sunday March 12, 2017

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The parking meter contract must be revoked

Jagdeo had far exceeded the excesses of Forbes Burnham

DEAR EDITOR, On February 23, 2017, a show which Adam Harris hosted was aired. The guests were Royston King, Amir Oren and a Spanish person on the Thursday night programme on parking meters. Royston King as usual appears to be way in the distance with the truth as well as the Mayor and Amir Oren. King speaks of having consultation in 2015-2016 with mini-bus and taxi drivers which is totally untrue. The reality is that the Georgetown City Council through the town Clerk spoke to a select few taxi drivers and mini bus operators and warned them of the consequences from nonparticipation in the parking

meter scheme. A better approach would have been to invite the President of the United Minibus Union, Mr. Eon Andrews who is also the representative for the Guyana Market Vendors Union along with a few taxi drivers from different locations in the city. A consultation could have also been made with the Private Sector representatives and questionnaires could have been distributed to citizens of Georgetown so as to gain a feedback on the way forward. It is my humble opinion that Pat, Roy and other acolytes try to avoid Eon Andrews (who they believe is a trouble maker) since he asserts himself, stands up for the people, challenges decisions and served on the

Council, which may have made him knowledgeable of the corruption in City Hall etc. I think the church appeal voice of King and Oren which were intended to trick viewers into feeling sorry for them and to believe in their apparent sincerity have just been used to mask their arrogance and conceit; a natural demeanor. The gang of four is simply desperate since delivering on that contract is not optional for obvious reasons (read between the lines) they have to deliver. It is our civic duty as Guyanese to save our Capital City and by extension our country from that corrupt and repressive contract (anchor) that they are seeking to place around our necks. It must be revoked. Osheana Clarke

Mr. Jagdeo has constitutional immunities from criminal prosecution DEAR EDITOR, The provision of subsidized housing has always been a fundamental priority of successive People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Governments since 1953. In the 50s and 60s, it was the PPP which played an instrumental role in moving thousands from the plantations into newly established housing schemes throughout the coastland after successful negotiations with the sugar estates to assist in providing titled house-lots at nominal value. In Georgetown, it was the PPP that built housing schemes in the Ruimveldt area and in Campbellville at hugely subsidized costs to the eventual home owners. From 1992 to 2015, perhaps the greatest legacy of successive PPP Governments was its housing drive designed to provide affordable house-lots, initially, and then homes to the people of this country who did not have a home and most of whom, who never dreamt of owning one. Guyanese from every walk of life and from every ethnic

group, right across the coastland and in Regions nine (9) and ten (10) benefitted from this programme. Conservatively, over one hundred and twenty thousand (120,000) house-lots are estimated to have been distributed. A house-lot in an area where roads, drainage and other infrastructural facilities were built and water and electricity installed, was sold for as low as fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). These areas were converted from cane fields, rice fields, swamps, cow pastures and forest. Hundreds of millions were expended in clearing, filling and building up these lands to prepare them for eventual allocation as houselots. Anyone who believes that fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) was the market value of those lands is insane. As the economy grew the housing drive was adjusted to suit the affordability and demands of a more financially affluent population. Naturally, sizes of house lots were eventually increased and locations closer to the urban cen-

ters, attracted higher value for lots distributed by the Government. With the passage of time, other dimensions were added to the housing programme, such as, the sale of large plots of land to private developers to build housing schemes and gated communities for resale to individuals. Despite its dynamism, one factor remained constant in the Government housing programme: every single plot of land sold, was done so below market value. The PPP Government’s housing programme is the envy of many Caribbean leaders. Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonzalves, have publicly commended it for emulation in other Caribbean territories. Pradoville 2 was no different. It was part of this housing drive. The price at which lots at Pradoville 2 were sold was identical to the price which was generated for a plot of land located at Liliendaal, sold to a private developer through a public bidding process. Liliendaal is (Continued on page 7)

DEAR EDITOR, In Guyana presidential immunity is governed by Article 182 (1) and (2) of the Constitution. Let us deal with the material parts of the respective paragraphs (1) and (2) in turn and briefly. 182 (1)… “The holder of the office of President shall not be personally answerable to any court for the performance of the functions of his or her office or for any act done in the performance of those functions and no proceedings, whether criminal or civil, shall be instituted against him or her in his or her personal capacity in respect thereof either during his or her term of office or thereafter.” This would suggest that the president is immune from personal liability (criminal or civil) ‘for the performance of the functions (official) of his or her office or for any act done in the performance of those (official) functions’ during or after his tenure. Now let’s turn to the other part. (2) ‘Whilst any person holds or performs the functions of the office of President no criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against him or her in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by him or her in his or her private capacity and no civil proceedings shall be instituted or continued in respect of which relief claimed against him or her or anything done or omitted to be done in his or her private capacity’. The second limb of immunity contemplates private acts of the president engaged in while in office and which may give rise to criminal or civil liability. The president may be answerable when he or she demits office for any such private conduct. At the outset it becomes clear that immunity is not absolute. The president is not elevated upon the shoulders of us lesser mortals and deemed to be unreachable by the law. Any such

state of affairs is radically opposed to any civilised concept of democracy. The real question then becomes, can the president enjoy immunity, especially a president who no longer holds office, for criminal or civil liability when his official actions are glaringly and deliberately inconsistent with his oath of office? The question then becomes, did former president Jagdeo acquire his lot in Pradoville 2 as a private citizen like his counterparts or in his capacity as president of Guyana? The second question might the less challenging one to answer. If as a private citizen then this might be collusion with NICIL to defraud the people of Guyana; and otherwise, it would be a clear act of presidential impropriety. Let’s deal with the first question. In Baird –v- Public Service Commission (2001) former Chief Justice Chang reminds us that by virtue of Article 9 of the 1980 Constitution, ‘sovereignty belongs to the people and not to the presidential head of state. The immunities which attach personally to the President under article 182 of the Constitution are for the limited purpose of ensuring effective performance of the functions of his high office, and not for the purpose of granting immunity to the State for any official wrongdoing. The State would still be liable for the President’s wrongdoing, even though the President himself would be immune from the curial process. It is the President, who is immune from the curial process, not his acts.’

Nandlall as recently as February 24, 2017 in his contribution in the Daily News titled ‘Immunities of the President and the State’ quoted the learning in Karunathilka v Commissioner of Elections (1999) relative to Article 35 of the Sri Lankan Constitution which, in his estimation, is strikingly similar Article 182 of our Guyana’s Constitution: “I hold that article 35 only prohibits the institution (or continuation) of legal proceedings against the President while in office; it imposes no bar whatsoever on proceedings(a) against him when he is no longer in office, and (b) other persons at any time. That this is a consequence of the very nature of immunity; immunity is a shield for the doer not for the act. Very different language is used when it is intended to exclude legal proceedings, which seeks to impugn the act. Article 35, therefore, neither transforms the unlawful act into a lawful on, nor renders it one which shall not be questioned in any court. It does not exclude judicial proceedings of the lawfulness or propriety of an impugned act or omission in appropriate proceedings against someone who does not enjoy immunity from suit…” In conclusion, former president Jagdeo has very skillfully positioned himself as the virtually certain presidential candidate of the PPP comes 2020. The PPP/C government, especially under his tenure, is perceived to have been corrupt materially to a greater degree than the (Continued on page 7)

If given, which would... From page 5 found parking meters in a fish pond, or if they stole them. They never thought that they would have to explain how they acquired them, under which circumstance, how much they paid for them, how they will pay for them, at whose expense and so forth. They thought that that they were the bright ones. They never thought that Georgetown had persons who would speak out and stand up

against lies; they never thought that democracy would have spoken so loudly. Oh boy! They don’t think! At least until after the fact. Mr. Editor, please convey my message to the people in charge, next time choose the person who earned the highest points in the interview to be the Town Clerk and elect a less academically challenged person who understands the roles and purpose of a Mayor. Raelene Andrews

Sunday March 12, 2017

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Immunity does not mean the president could do whatever he wants DEAR EDITOR, Presidential immunity has to do with the protection of judgement that comes with the discharge of duty on behalf of the State, not ascribing to oneself the property of the State. The “Immunities of the President” as outlined in Article 182 of the Guyana Constitution could never have been intended to grant the President the power, privilege, or authority to violate the Rule of the Law when in taking the Oath of Office that person has sworn to uphold the Constitution. The Oath of Office reads: “I ………, do hereby solemnly declare that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the People of Guyana, that I will fully execute the office of ……. without fear or favour, affection or ill will and that in the execution of the functions of that office I will honour, uphold and preserve the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.” In Title 4 of the Constitution which deals with “The President” Article 180 allows for “Removal of President for violation of Constitution or gross misconduct.” If the constitution allows immunity for the president to do as he or she feels then it makes an ass of Article 180 that checks the president’s conduct by the people, through the national assembly, in exercising their respon-

sibility to remove him or her. Further,Article 9 which deals with sovereignty expressly says, “Sovereignty belongs to the people, who exercise it through their representatives and the democratic organs established by or under the Constitution.” What this article is telling us, is that the people, as a whole, are supreme to any action taken by any elected official. Elected officials serve as representatives of the people and not supreme leaders of the people. An article in the constitution that is often taken for granted but very essential to our existence is Article 146, which deals with the “Protection of freedom of expression.” This article comes under Title 1 which speaks to the “Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.” Article 146 not only protects the right to share and receive ideas, information and knowledge, but in doing so it allows us to check elected officials, including the president. Behind this backdrop one can appreciate why the media, as an institution, is considered vital to democracy. Because it is through the media, as a mass institution, we participate in the process of sharing ideas, information and

Jagdeo had far exceeded... From page 6 perceived power-drunkenness of the PNC under Burnham. As Professor Bishop used to say to us, ‘perception is often stronger than reality’. Whether SOCU is hunting witches or wizards, the people of Guyana simply should not and cannot be victims of those, be they former or current government officials, whose appetite for plenty in-

spire them to cheat the ordinary man and woman out of little. And in this vein, I dare say that SOCU should assert its independency always, and conduct fair and transparent investigations against any variety of persons who perpetrate wrongs against the collective socioeconomic interests of you my Guyanese brothers and sisters. Ronald J. Daniels

knowledge as to the activities within the countries and the people involved in these and are affected by these. The Sparendaam ‘Pradoville 2’ issue has to do with state land perceived to have been acquired through shady circumstances and former President Bharrat Jagdeo is at the centre of this arrangement. The issue before us as it relates to immunity is that the former president is a direct beneficiary to a process he authorised. The president appoints the ministers and they function on his behalf and he is therefore ultimately responsible for their conduct. The buck stops at the president. This country has laws that

specifically outline how lands are to be acquired and state properties are to be disposed of. Where the president has taken an Oath of Office to obey the constitution he is subject to laws and is duty bound to obey them. This society continues to be done a disservice from the lack of constitutional knowledge and the propaganda that it is a bad constitution, which continues to create tolerant space for people to blame this instrument when others violate it, or when others seek to use it to cover their dastardly conduct. This notion that the enshrining of immunity to a President is a Forbes Burnham thing is wrong. Im-

munity clause is standard for Heads of Government and is written into a constitution and some countries apply as a matter of convention. The absence of knowledge of the constitution goes to the heart of law enforcement in this country, for when Jagdeo advised the State Organised Crime Unit that he will not answer any question pertaining to the investigation of Pradoville 2, when he himself is a beneficiary, law enforcement should have been able to accordingly advise him rather than remaining mum and allowed him to flout his responsibility. Immunity is intended to

protect the president as he uses his judgement in matters of state in the discharge of his day-to-day duty on behalf of the people. But this duty is circumscribed and checked by the Constitution and the laws that flow there from. If immunity meant the president can run wild and do as he pleases then Article 9, 146 and 180 would be meaningless. The president is a creature of the Constitution, not the Constitution a creature of the president. This means the office holder does not operate above this supreme instrument, but operates within the confines of it. Lincoln Lewis

Mr. Jagdeo has constitutional immunities... From page 6 approximately two miles closer to Georgetown, than Pradoville 2. Yet, Pradoville 2 housing project was converted into a huge political scandal by politicians, which was fueled by an abetting media. The scandal drew its sensation from the fact that Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo and many Ministers of the PPP Government and top State Officials were allocated plots of land in the scheme. When the APNU+AFC assumed Government, the project became the subject of a forensic audit. From May 2015, to cur-

rent, this scheme has been the subject of reckless news reports containing all manner of baseless and scandalous information on an almost daily basis in the press. This week, it became the subject of criminal investigations. A former president who has constitutional immunities from the criminal legal process during the tenure of his presidency, was arrested in relation to acts done while those immunities were in force. This arrest is manifestly unlawful. He was detained for questioning. The detention is equally unlawful. Several other

Former Ministers of the PPP Government and current Members of Parliament were also arrested and detained. They were told that the reason for their arrest and detention was questioning in relation to ‘misappropriation of state funds and conspiracy to defraud the state of revenue, to wit: Pradoville 2.’ This is unparalleled ignorance. No matter how they are twisted and manipulated, the facts surrounding the purchase of house-lots from the Government of Guyana at Pradoville 2 by those who did so, can never yield any causal

nexus to the offences which the officers claim they were investigating. Hence I am of the firm view that every single arrest was unlawful and the consequent detention amounted to false imprisonment and the deprivation of those people’s liberty, as guaranteed to them as a fundamental right and freedom by the Constitution of Guyana. In the context of the Government’s housing policy, the fact that these lands were sold and bought below the market value, can never lend itself to the establishment of criminal liability. Anil Nandlall

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Sunday March 12, 2017

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Loggers reject plan to increase fees, ban Purpleheart log exports The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) is proposing a full export ban of logs, on a number of top species and increase in export fees to be paid. However, despite meetings with GFC late last year, loggers yesterday insisted that they have rejected the proposals and will as early as tomorrow be issuing a public statement in rejection. According to the Proposed National Log Export Policy (2016-2020) that is on the website of the GFC - the independent authority that overlooks the country’s forests, given the result of the export policy for the last two phases, the third one, if adopted, will use a combined approach of banning specific species of exports in log form, and instituting a progressively increasing rate of export commission, on specific species. “This option would have the effect of limiting overexploitation of the premium species, while providing an opportunity to develop Guyana’s lesser used species. Valued overseas markets such as the EU and North America will continue to look for hardwood species which meet their needs in terms of strength and appearance. Therefore, today’s lesser used species are potentially future premium species,” the proposed documents say. The seven Schedule A species on which GFC is proposing a full export ban are Purpleheart, Locust, Crabwood, Red Cedar, Washiba, Letterwood and Snakewood. Also proposed is the raising of export commission to 22 percent on five species up to the end of 2018 and to 25 percent from 2019. These species include Wamara, Greenheart, Kabukalli, Shibadan and Bulletwood. It was reportedly at 17 percent. Another schedule proposed seven species that will see export commission being hiked to 18 percent up to 2018 and another two percent by 2019, are Brown Silverballi, Tatabu, Mora, Wallaba, Tauroniro, Limonaballi and

Simarupa. According to the proposed policy, the idea is that the highest value species, like Purpleheart, are used predominantly in added value applications. “The utilization of a mix of schemes with a ban and levy mechanism will allow for adequate transition time and would be available for the sector to move into added value forest production.” GFC is contending that the proposed system is simple and cost effective, resulting in ease of implementation. “The differentiated progressive scheme of export commission will act as a deterrent for log export and will thus encourage value adding in the forest sector. Movement towards value adding will result in increased employment for the local economy, especially in skilled jobs areas.” GFC also believes that there will be little social dislocation (e.g. in employment) owing to the gradual and indirect nature of the proposed mechanism. “Given the analysis presented above, the proposal is made for the following log export policy to be implemented for the period 20162020 with a provision for a midterm review to be conducted in December 2018.” GFC said in the proposed documents that all species not listed in the schedules will attract a rate of two percent. “Export commission will be computed on the free on the board (fob) value of logs and squares. The implementing mechanism under the above Policy will follow the similar system to which the GFC has in place for export commission. It is recommended that the outlined incentives regime outlined in the table in previous section also be considered.” Last year, forestry production declined 30 percent, principally as a result of Barama Company Limited halting the production of logs and the UK’s restriction on greenheart logs originating from Guyana.

Sunday March 12, 2017

Dem boys seh...

Phagali coming and SOCU waiting If nutten more than ever, Jagdeo praying to get back in power. He like a man in jail waiting to come out. Of course dem boys know that waiting is de hardest thing. Some people deh pun remand and all dem want is to get dem name pun de trial list so dem can either come out or get dem sentence. While dem waiting is like de time never coming. That is de situation Jagdeo deh in. After SOCU pull him in he get so vex that he praying to get to elections because he want lock up all dem SOCU people just like how he lock up Benschop fuh five years without trial. And dem boys seh that de man spiteful. He pay a man who use to wuk wid Courts to vote against any decision to free Benschop. All dem other jurors seh not guilty but Jagdeo boy hold out. If was murder Benschop woulda be free. But this was treason. Soulja Bai is a nice guy and he come out to seh that SOCU should never arrest Jagdeo, that dem should find a better way to question him. One man ask if de shoe been pun de other foot if Jagdeo woulda been so nice. That is not de only thing that people talking about; dem talking about de new holiday that gun be celebrated today. De holiday name Phagali. Of course is now people understand wha people mean when dem seh somebody Phagali. It mean that de person confuse and he can’t decide between one thing and de other. If a woman stand up near a cow he can’t decide whether he should kiss de woman or de cow, although dem got nuff men would really prefer to kiss de cow. Nicole combine Phagwah, de festival of colours, wid Diwali, de festival of lights. So de holiday Phagali would be de festival of coloured lights. But to enjoy it de whole country got to have blackout. Talk half and watch how Jagdeo praying to get at SOCU.

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12 Cadet Officers promoted to the rank of Ensign After completing 39 weeks of training, twelve officer cadets from Course 49 were promoted to the rank of Ensign. The course which commenced last April, with 36 cadets, among them six foreign students— three from the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force and three from the Belize Defence Force. The 12 Ensigns were decorated with their new badges by Chief of Staff, Brigadier Patrick West, during a parade held in their honour at the drill square at Base Camp Stephenson. During the period of the training 24 persons either withdrew or failed to achieve the minimum standards. Of the 12 Ensigns who were decorated, two are from the Belize Defence Force and one from Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force.

One of the recipients receiving the Ensign Badge. (GDF’s Facebook photos) The Ensigns who were successful had to complete 39 weeks training which ensured that they were exposed to a series of core values. This prepares them for Officership and to meet the demands of an evolving contemporary

military environment in their field of work. The training was done in three steps over three terms. In Term one of the training, the participants had to cover a series of areas including regimentation, introduction to

basic military training and command at the section level in open country warfare. Term two saw the participants being trained in language, minor staff duties and command at the platoon Continued on page 69

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Sunday March 12, 2017

Kaieteur News

Coalition defends President Granger’s appointments of three ministers A March 4 piece by Kaieteur News columnist Freddie Kissoon titled “An action of President Granger that went unnoticed” on the process used to appoint three ministers has sparked a swift response by the two factions of Government. Both are insisting that the proper procedures were followed and that the coalition remains as strong as ever. Yesterday, the Alliance For Change (AFC), the smaller faction, said it is joining A Partnership for National Unity

(APNU) in refuting the assertions made by Kissoon. Kissoon, in his column, said he listened to a tape recording of AFC Leader, Raphael Trotman, made two weeks ago, who reportedly said that outside of ministerial entitlements carved out in the Cummingsburg Accord, President David Granger had, following the May 2015 General Election, appointed three ministers on his own. Kissoon claimed that Trotman, during the press conference, named the three

Columnist, Freddie Kissoon

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

Leader of AFC, Minister Raphael Trotman

President David Granger

ministers as himself, Agriculture Minister Noel

Holder and Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin. The last happens to be the President’s son-in-law. “I have no problem with the President choosing his son-in-law to be a Minister. But I honestly feel that it would have been a torrid topic of conversation if a PPP President had done the same. And I do believe there is legitimate reason to ask President Granger that seeing that it was his son-in-law, if it would not have been more plausible and elegant politics for the AFC to do the selection rather than the President himself,” Kissoon wrote. The columnist noted that the Cummingsburg Accord, which dictates how the coalition partners operate as a government, assigned forty percent of the Cabinet to AFC and sixty to APNU. “Did that happen? Does the AFC have forty percent? And this cannot include the three Mr. Granger chose because at the press conference, Mr. Trotman did say that the President made those choices outside of the stipulations of the Accord.”

who is the current Minister of Public Security, had submitted recommendations to President Granger and was consulted on all appointments to Cabinet which were assigned to the AFC as per the Cummingsburg Accord. “Further Mr. Ramjattan consulted with the leadership of the AFC on all of the party’s ministerial appointments throughout the process,” AFC stressed. The party said it recognizes that it is the responsibility and prerogative of the President to appoint all ministers. However President Granger acted and continues to act in good faith with regard to the initial appointments and the subsequent adjustments and changes which were effected. “There is a deep level of mutual respect and there exists an overall level of satisfactory engagement, consultation, cooperation and inclusivity within the coalition and the Cabinet as it relates to matters relating of the management of the nation’s affairs,” AFC said it its statement. The party said it is proud of its leaders who currently serve in Cabinet and who work, on a day-to-day basis with our APNU coalition colleagues to achieve the good life for all Guyanese. “The AFC echoes President Granger’s recent statement that the Coalition remains strong and cohesive and committed to working in the best interest of the Guyanese people.” Early last week, APNU had responded, too, to Kissoon’s piece. Minister of State and General Secretary of APNU, Hon. Joseph Harmon refuted claims made by Kaieteur News Columnist, Mr. Freddie Kissoon that the Head of State acted in contravention of the Cummingsburg Accord by arbitrarily appointing three Ministers of Government. Harmon noted, “All appointments of ministers are made by the President. A Minister’s job is to assist the President in the function of his office in a particular

ministry. So all Ministers, their job is to carry out some of the duties that belong to the President so it is the President’s responsibility to appoint Ministers.” Harmon said. “The President did not act on his own so any attempt to assign a label to His Excellency in the performance of his duties is malicious. Mr. Kissoon should clearly speak to those Ministers that he referred to in his article and find out from them what the true facts are.” The minister noted that in his article, Kissoon said that if the President appointed three Ministers in the persons of Trotman, Holder and Gaskin, then it is highly unlikely that the 60-40 ratio in assigning ministries was adhered to as stipulated in the Cummingsburg Accord. “Minister Harmon said that indeed the historic accord provided for certain ministries to be assigned to A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and some to the Alliance for Change (AFC). He went on to explain that in keeping with that arrangement, the AFC was assigned the Ministry of Agriculture for which Mr. Noel Holder was nominated for the position. Similarly, Mr. Dominic Gaskin, an executive member of the AFC, was recommended by his party to head the Ministry of Business which was called the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Commerce under the previous administration.”

AFC recommended However, AFC insisted yesterday that its previous leader, Khemraj Ramjattan,

Granger always consults The minister stressed that President Granger depends on recommendations and consultations. He does not sit down all by himself in some room and make decisions. “He consults with his Cabinet and even after that he takes further consultations from persons who might have a specific interest in an issue so the President is about consultation. He insists on that in this Government, that we must always consult and so this article which seeks to say that the President, on his own, picked these three ministers (continued on page 70)

Sunday March 12, 2017

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US$150M CJIA Expansion Project 56% complete Terminal Building will be

- Runway 55.7% complete constructed. This building is to be completed by - Foundation works for New arrivals scheduled March of next year. Further, the existing terminal building Terminal building complete will be renovated to Construction of New Arrivals Terminal Building

The US$150M Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion Project aimed at modernizing the state’s main airport is on track for a year-end completion with a new terminal building to be commissioned as early as mid-year. The project was inked on November 11, 2011 between the Government of Guyana and China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC). It is being funded partly through the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of China. The Government of Guyana procured the services of engineering consultants – the MMM Group and CEMCO Inc. – taking the total cost of the project to US$150M, up from US$138 million. The Project commenced on January 16, 2013. Works were expected to last for 32 months making the initial completion date – September 16, 2015. However, due to several delays, this has now been extended to the end of this year. Runway The runway – one component of the project – entailed one end of the runway being extended. The initial measurement of the runway was 2270 metres. This design was amended after the contractor encountered difficulties with the terrain. The decision was then taken to extend both ends of the runway – 710 m to the

north-east and 840 m to the south-west.

The Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, during his Budget 2017presentation in December last year, stated that the runway was 50.54 percent complete and is slated to be fully completed by November this year. Through the Ministry, the Project Manager, Carmichael Thorne was asked to provide an update on the works currently ongoing. He revealed that the runway is currently is 55.7 percent complete and this component is on track for its November 2017 deadline. The Minister during his budget presentation also provided a breakdown of the works co mpleted thus

accommodate departures only Thorne reported that the foundation works for the new terminal building are completed, with the installation of the ground beams in progress. The prefabricated steel structure frame installation and floor decking is also in progress, he stated. Meanwhile, works have already commenced on the existing terminal building and according to Thorne, the works will be conducted in three phases which entails works to the ceiling, floor, walls, plumbing, electrical, communication, furniture, equipment etc. Each phase, he explained, will consist of preparatory works and permanent works. “We are in the preparatory works stage of phase one which will be completed at the end

far on this section. He revealed that the excavation and the foundation treatment processes were both completed while the sand backfill process is 68.7 percent completed, at both e n d s o f t h e r u n w a y. T h i s process is expected to be fully concluded by June 2017. Thorne stated that the sand backfill is now 81.57 percent complete and this is also on track for its mid-year deadline. New Arrivals Terminal and works to existing Terminal building Early last year the Ministry of Public Infrastructure had announced that a new Arrivals

of March. Preparatory works are those works required to ensure that the existing operation of the airport is not affected by the rehabilitation. Permanent works to the existing terminal building will commence thereafter. Phase 1 is the rehabilitation of the first half of the Check-In area. Preparatory works for Phase 1 consist of : expanding the existing Check-In area towards the existing departure lounge; the relocating of existing equipment to this new area and; construction of a partition wall to the first half of the Check-In area to allow for permanent work to this

Houses for relocation of residents

area,” Thorne stated. Relocation of residents Two residents within the north-east footprint of the project were already relocated. Contracts were awarded for the relocation of

three other residents. Thorne reported that the construction of the houses for the three other residents is complete and that contract was awarded to Rohit Persaud Construction Service

and Plumbing. The total cost to construct the buildings was $7.3M and the contractor was awarded the contract after a selective bidding process, he stated.

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Sunday March 12, 2017

Kaieteur News

Cop accidentally shoots policewoman A policeman accidentally shot a policewoman yesterday morning when he attempted to clear a weapon taken from a supernumerary constable during a routine stop and search exercise. According to 36-year-old Glenroy Skeete, a supernumerary constable attached to a gold and diamond trading company, around 10:30 am yesterday he was driving his vehicle along Vlissengen Road in the vicinity of Camp Ayangana when he was stopped by a police patrol vehicle. Skeete said that the police signaled him to stop and instructed him to exit his vehicle. He complied. The man said that the three officers that comprised the patrol asked if he was carrying a firearm and he answered in the affirmative. It was at that point that Skeete indicated to the officers that he was license to carry the weapon because of the nature of his work. One of the officers then instructed him to hand over the weapon and as he was attempting to clear the breach of his 9MM pistol he was advised against doing so. The weapon was subsequently taken from him by the officer sitting in the front passenger seat of the vehicle and handed over to another officer identified only as Constable Singh sitting in the back seat of the vehicle. It was at this point that Singh attempted to clear the weapon when it accidentally went off hitting the driver, a policewoman in the

buttocks. “All I hear is pow”, Skeete said at this point he heard the driver exclaimed “Singh you shoot me; wha you shoot me for”. Unaware of his actions the officer responsible for the shooting said, “No; me ain’t shoot you”. When it was realized that the woman was indeed shot an attempt was made to take her to the hospital, but the other two officers could not drive. Skeete said he parked his car and drove the injured woman and the other officers to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC). He opined that had the officers heeded the request for him to clear the weapon the woman would not have been shot. He believes that the over exuberance of the officer to clear the weapon could have resulted in the death of his colleague. The man said that it must have been that the attempt to clear the weapon was not done according to normal procedures. Had the officer cleared the weapon training it downwards or upwards as in standard operating procedure the accident would not have occurred. At the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), the police officers there were mum on the issue. A staff at the hospital said that the woman was being treated and was not in a serious condition. According to reports the police have since taken a statement from the officer who accidentally fired the weapon. (Brushell Blackman)

Sunday March 12, 2017

Kaieteur News

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Ansa McAL is only company to ever provide cold storage facilities for drugs – Lawrence The collusion between moles in the public health system and a few crooked suppliers of pharmaceuticals is what led to the Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, taking a controversial route in the recent procurement of emergency pharmaceuticals for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). The minister made this statement to the press yesterday in an effort to correct misleading comments in some sections in the media. The misguided comments, she said, were in relation to certain documents which were leaked to the media, giving the false impression that the hospital tried to procure drugs from Ansa McAl Trading Limited through sole sourcing. Lawrence stressed however that Ansa McAl was among four companies from which these emergency supplies were procured. The other companies were New GPC, Health 2000 and Chirosyn Discovery. The Minister of Public Health said that other companies were not a part of this process due to ongoing investigations into their late/ or non-delivery of critical drugs which they were contracted to procure for GPHC during 2016. She said that some of these pharmaceuticals were overdue by as much as six months, which exacerbated the drug shortage at the hospital. She explained that moves were made to fast track the procurement of these pharmaceuticals to minimise the negative effects on patients due to the shortage of some critical drugs. “This influenced the decision to seek the green light from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) for Ansa McAl to supply drugs and pharmaceuticals to the tune of some $605M.” Lawrence explained that Ansa McAl is one of only two companies in Guyana that can provide the cold chain storage necessary to maintain the integrity of a wide range of pharmaceuticals that are critical in the health care sector, in Guyana. “Ansa McAl not only air freighted the drugs (this helped spike the cost to import the items) for the public health sector, but also donated four refrigerators to GPHC to store the emergency supplies at the internationally acceptable temperature of 20 to 80C. No other company in the history of the institution has provided cold storage facilities at the hospital even though, at least one of them (NEW GPC) was the sole

— Even though NEW GPC was sole supplier for over 20 years — Other companies were not a part of contract for emergency drugs due to ongoing investigations

Minister of Public, Volda Lawrence supplier of pharmaceuticals to the institution for over 20 years.” Lawrence said that all pharmaceuticals for the entire nation was sole-sourced from that company for billions of tax-payers’ dollars. During that period, she said that GPHC used icepacks to store these sensitive drugs at the facility, because the main refrigerator was in poor condition and unable to maintain the correct temperature for these drugs endangering their efficacy, potency and integrity. Lawrence stressed that she was unwilling to jeopardise the sector and patients’ lives and took what may appear to be the nowcontroversial route. MOLES With regard to moles at the GPHC procurement system, the Minster said that she is aware that they have been constantly leaking information to the media with the aim of discrediting officials of the institution and often-times it is misinformation. She stressed that the tender process was never breached and the route to procure the emergency supplies was fast tracked. Lawrence said that the National Procurement and Tender Board Act makes provision for such, and the same suppliers would have emerged. “My priority is to ensure the nation’s health is given top priority. The health system will not be held hostage by unprincipled persons and therefore I made the decision to shortlist the critical but unavailable items and the suppliers with the ability to provide them on time to avert deepening the drug demand difficulties,” Lawrence explained. She added that the Public Health system needs urgent and massive overhaul. She found that several procurement officials are not only unqualified for the job, but also unwilling to follow protocols and processes thus

helping to “create a sand storm” within the health sector. Consequently “slippages are many and gaps are very wide” Lawrence said. The slippages, Lawrence said, still exist “because health is a lucrative sector and a magnet for corrupt individuals and venal firms. Hence, many have fallen victim to the allure of dishonest gain.” “Without a shadow of doubt this shortage is manmade and created to cheat the country of medical supplies and cash…but I am not for sale,” Lawrence said. The Public Health Minister said that the engineered shortage of drugs in the system meant that drugs that should have been in the public health system since 2016 to cater for demands in the first quarter of this year are not there and this has far reaching implications for the tender process for drugs. She said that she is bracing for a fierce fight from suppliers and inflexible staff opposition because they now feel threatened by the new course being chartered for the public health system. The fresh wind of change she said has brought open tender, a proper procurement policy which includes computerisation of information, storage of critical drugs under internationally acceptable conditions and the placement of pharmacists in wards of the GPHC. The Pan American Health Organisation and World Health Organisation (PAHO/ WHO) are throwing their support behind local efforts to help develop a proper and accountable public health system. PAHO/WHO is helping to shape policy directions in the areas of procurement, distribution, storage and managing consumption levels of pharmaceuticals at the GPHC. Lawrence said that the current difficulties in the public health system are compounded by an inability to forecast future needs accurately as a result of its reliance on a manual system which is rarely updated. Lawrence wants this ended immediately and has promised new measures to accomplish this. The first step was taken Friday last when she met with several delinquent suppliers at her Brickdam, Georgetown office. “The policy and standards will be rigorously applied to guarantee the safety of the Guyanese people who are my first interest,” Lawrence said.

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Sunday March 12, 2017

AFC gears to ‘buck the system’ …for stronger representation of its people By Abena RockcliffeCampbell Newly elected leader of the Alliance For Chance (AFC), Raphael Trotman has his work cut out for him. The demand is for Trotman to champion a transition that will see the AFC standing strong as an independent and boisterous party while preserving a good relationship with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) in order to maintain a “strong coalition.” But even with such high expectations to fulfill, Trotman, in a recent interview with Kaieteur News, exuded high confidence that he is fit, proper, ready and willing to lead the Party. The AFC leader who also sits in Cabinet as a senior Minister said that his party’s rank and file members are demanding “a more boisterous leadership.” Trotman claims that the AFC executive, “in its entirety, will respond to that demand.” The politician said that at the party’s most recent National Conference, the vast majority of AFC’s members voiced that they expect fair, proper and stronger representation. Trotman said that this demand is not a new one. “The demand was being made for a while, and I think the outcome of the elections is a statement to that effect. People said that we needed to buck the system. So the party

is transitioning and it has to be able to the needs of the constituency in a much faster and meaningful way.” Trotman said that while his people expect the AFC to be close to its coalition partner and to support the work of the coalition, “they also expect us to ensure that the coalition partner supports our work. The intention is to make government stronger, more responsible and responsive to the cries and concerns of the people.” Trotman said that while it is a heavy task, he and his leadership team are not afraid of - neither do they intend to run away from - the fact that there might be a few ups and downs in trying to strike a balance between maintaining a strong and unique identity while singing harmony in a coalition. “There will always be requests, sometimes even strident demands, made but each has to be weighed and responded to on its merit, there will be no one size fit all response to this,” said Trotman. He continued, “But the objective is to make sure that the party is strong so that the coalition is strong. A strong partner in a strong coalition means not to ignore the voices of our members but not to do anything that imperils the coalition by shooting ourselves in the foot.

Unprincipled importers, crooked... (From page 3) referral hospital and available from suppliers whose products were of an inferior quality, were often compromised during production, transportation and delivery to the Public Health sector and sold at high prices. She said that these poor quality pharmaceuticals have often-times negatively impacted the lives of patients and resulted in increased health care cost to the nation. After meeting with public health officials around the country and at GPHC, the Minister was compelled in the interest of the health of the people of Guyana, to ensure that an adequate supply of drugs was immediately available in the country to meet the current crisis. She said that this is what led to the recent procurement by the GPHC for emergency pharmaceuticals.

Sunday March 12, 2017

Senior Superintendent Maxine Graham inspecting the graduating ranks yesterday

New police recruits urged to be professional and maintain integrity Eighty-five young men and women who graduated from the Felix Austin Police College yesterday, were encouraged to be professional in the execution of their duties and to uphold their integrity. Senior Superintendent Maxine Graham, DSM, who delivered the feature address at the Passing-out parade for recruit courses 351, 352 and 353 yesterday at the College at Eve Leary, Georgetown. For Course 351, the Best Student was Constable Downer, the Runner-Up, Constable Browne and the Most Improved, Constable Clement. Constable Lacon was awarded the Best Student for Course 352 while Constables Hector and Lindie were adjudged the R u n n e r - u p a n d M o s t Improved respectively. In Course 353, Constable Bess was awarded Best Student, Constable Smith the RunnerUp and Constable Profitt, the Most Improved. Senior Superintendent Graham told the new ranks that they now have a unique opportunity since they can greatly save and change someone’s life in a positive way. “Always remember these key words, professionalism, integrity, courteous, discipline, honesty, be focused and alert. Let those words be your motivating factor through your tour in this organisation.” Senior Superintendent Graham said that the ranks have now been transformed from a civilian to a law enforcement officer. “You have passed all your evaluations; you survived the physical and mental training of the college; you sacrificed a lot during the last four months and you have successfully arrived at this moment in your life.” She urged the 85 graduating ranks not to throw away or forget the rules that they were taught nor the sworn oath from this point until the day they

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Kaieteur News

would retire. Graham said that every act or omission by the ranks would be subject to intense scrutiny and thus they should avoid any embarrassment. Giving the introductory remarks was Assistant Commissioner and Force Training Officer, Paul Williams. He said that it is important to see how young men and women from different backgrounds can be taken and moulded into one unit or team. He thanked the relatives of the ranks for offering support despite some were not totally in favour of their loved one joining the force initially. According to Williams, the recruit programme would have equ i p p e d t h e m w i t h t h e necessary skills and knowledge for them to embark into the world of policing for a probationary period of two years. “During the probationary period they will be closely monitored and supervised and it is expected that during that period they would exercise what

they would have learned and also inculcate and embrace good practices.”

He warned that if the ranks are to conduct themselves in any way that is not in keeping with the standard that is required of them, they can be easily dismissed at the discretion of the Commissioner. “Discipline is paramount. I tell my staff it doesn’t matter how bright you are, how many subjects you have, discipline is always paramount, and if you are indiscipline, I am not willing to work with you. These ranks would have exhibited the high level of discipline that they are able to make this graduation (yesterday).”

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Sunday March 12, 2017

Kaieteur News

President honours 2017 SILK awardees President David Granger shares a light moment with Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland and former Speaker, Mr. Ralph Ramkarran

President David Granger recently hosted a special luncheon in honour of the nine legal practitioners, who were elevated to the status of Senior Counsel, or awarded SILK in January. The event, which was held in the Baridi Benab at State House, saw the attendance of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland; several Government Ministers, members of the Guyana Bar Association and other members of the legal profession. The President emphasised the State’s appreciation for the service of members of the legal fraternity and reiterated that it is his intention to ensure that SILK is awarded to deserving persons regularly. “I am very proud and pleased that we were able to restart this tradition… I think our Bar is big enough; people have served long enough. The award of Senior Counsel should not be controversial

and should not be episodic. I want to say that as far as I am concerned and my Government is concerned, there will be the award of Senior Counsel every year, based on recommendations and of course, based on the merit of persons, who have been nominated,” he said. Last December, the President announced that the award of SILK will be conferred on nine distinguished legal professionals, whose average individual service is some 37½ years. This announcement came after a 20-year hiatus. Notably among the awardees were three women; the first time in the country’s history that this honour has been bestowed on female members of the legal profession. They are Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire, Ms. Rosalie Robertson and Justice Claudette Singh. “It seemed to me to be incredible, that after 50 years of Independence we could not have found a single

female Senior Counsel,” President Granger said. Justice Claudette Singh said that in a world where the issue of gender equality continues to be a concern and the fight for the recognition of women in their respective professional fields is an ongoing challenge, Guyana has demonstrated that it values its women and their contributions. “While we still have a long way to go, we can regard ourselves as one of the more progressive countries in the Caribbean for the opportunity of women’s advancement at the administrative, professional and technical levels of our society in being orchestrated more and more on a level playing field,” she said. This year, in addition to the three women, Attorney General, Mr. Basil Williams, Mr. Neil Aubrey Boston, Mr. Charles Fung-A-Fat, Mr. Clifton Llewellyn John, Mr. Rafiq Khan and Mr. Vidyanand Persaud were the other awardees.

President David Granger interacting with members of the legal profession

Sunday March 12, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Advanced technology available to tackle a “silent killer of sight” By Sharmain Grainger “Safeguard your eyes,” is the warning of many eye doctors. This, however, translates to having your eyes screened regularly so that if it becomes necessary, early treatment can be introduced, since the healthiest of diets or other healthy practices are not nearly enough to safeguard your eyesight. This is especially when it comes to glaucoma, according to Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Dr. Balwant Singh Hospital, Dr. Neeraj Jain. Glaucoma is deemed a “silent killer of sight” and essentially is a disease that manifests with increased pressure within the eyeball, causing gradual loss of vision. Many Guyanese of African and Asian descent are particularly prone to glaucoma. “There are some reports which state that among the Afro-Caribbean populations, the prevalence of glaucoma is nearly six percent; in the Asian population which includes the Chinese as well as the Indians, nearly three to four percent of persons may have glaucoma. If you see the population mix of Guyana, it definitely makes a point that we should step up and diagnose early and help to save sight,” Dr. Jain said on Friday when he spoke to a few members of the media. He explained that it is im-

portant to detect and treat glaucoma early, because this condition has been linked to irreversible blindness. “If you don’t treat it early, what is lost, is lost forever,” Dr. Jain said, as he stressed the need for awareness about this condition. “If you don’t know about glaucoma, probably you will not go to any eye specialist, so what we are suggesting is that people check their eyes on a regular basis, even if they don’t have a history of the condition in their family,” Dr. Jain related. He however noted that an individual would be more predisposed to the condition if they have a family member with glaucoma. These family members are referred to as ‘First Degree Relatives’ or FDRs. “For the past couple of years we have concentrated on FDRs for one good reason: while anyone has a 2.3 percent lifetime risk of glaucoma, those with a FDR have a 10fold increase in that risk,” the Ophthalmologist revealed. And Dr. Jain, who hails from India, would know, since he claims to have vast training and years of experience in the eye care arena. In fact, he has been offering his service at the privately-operated hospital for more than a decade, which has been helping to pioneer a number of medical ventures in Guyana, including treatment and surgeries

that have been attracting not only local clients, but some from as far as North America. The latest advanced service that has been introduced by the hospital comes in the form of an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) machine.Administered by Dr. Jain, OCT is a non-invasive imaging test that uses light waves to take cross-section pictures of the retina - the light-sensitive tissues lining the back of the eyes. An OCT examination, he explained, is very quick and easy. “It requires the eyes to be dilated, and after that it takes just five to 10 minutes...it is an office-based procedure that is non-invasive and has no side effects.” The OCT machine, according to Dr. Jain, was acquired at an approximate cost of US$50,000 and is believed to be the first of its kind in Guyana. This technology is said to have resolution of five microns, thus enabling experts to visualise what is not visible to the naked eye. Dr. Jain took time out on Friday to explain and demonstrate the capabilities of this technology, even as he informed of its ability to help the local glaucoma problem. He pointed out that it is strongly suggested that persons, after the age of 40, seek to ensure that their eyes are screened for glaucoma. “If it is diagnosed early,

The Baccoo Speaks If anyone denies that there has been a marked drop in crime that person is living in another world. But there are those who want to perpetuate the criminal situation, so they are going to travel to the eastern part of the country where the scrutiny is somewhat less. The result is that the police are going to recover even more guns in the coming days. They will also arrest two men who had just stepped out of jail but who

were in the process of committing another crime. ** There is going to be a freak accident, because a man

is going to be working on a tall building without any safety gear. He will fall, much to the horror of his companions and his employer. ** A major bank in the country is going to attempt to keep a fraud under cover, but such things always come out in the open. The suspect would have already pilfered millions of dollars from an account that had been lying dormant since the change in government.

Dr Neeraj Jain explains how glaucoma is diagnosed there is a good chance that you will be seeing all your life, but if you miss those early years there may be a possibility that your vision may be threatened because of this disease.” There are many different types of glaucoma including open angle, angle closure, secondary, pigmentary, normal-tension, congenital, exfoliative, neovascular, uveitic and traumatic glaucoma. Angle closure glaucoma or narrow angle glaucoma is said to be a rare form of the disease, and is characterised by the blockage of drainage canals and the sudden rise in eye pressure, according to Dr. Jain. He said that ‘open angle’ is the most common form and is responsible for at least 90 percent of all cases reported. “It is caused when drainage canals slowly clog, thereby gradually increasing eye pressure. This condition is irreversible and persists lifelong.” In addition to those of African or Asian descent, persons who are generally at high

risk for glaucoma include those who have experienced trauma to the eye, those who are on steroids; those with diabetes or myopia, and of course, those who are a member of a family with a history of glaucoma. Given the latter at-risk suspects, Dr. Jain said that it is important for them to be aware of the need for glaucoma optic nerve testing. Added to this, he amplified the need for those diagnosed with the condition to inform their family members that they could be at risk, a move that could help prevent the advancement of sight loss. According to Dr. Jain, OCT has a very important role in guiding the treatment of many retinal conditions. He explained that it can recreate three-dimensional views of the retina and underlying pathologies linked to age, diabetes among others. “OCT utilises the detailed optic nerve evaluation, retinal nerve fibre layer analysis and ganglion cell complex analysis, which can diagnose glaucoma even before the con-

ventional methods can diagnose it,” Dr. Jain pointed out. Currently OCT is being offered at the East Street, Georgetown Dr. Balwant Singh Hospital at a cost of $5,000 per eye but, according to Dr. Mahdu Singh, the Medical Director of the private hospital, for Glaucoma Week (which is being observed from today), clients could be eligible for a special offer which will be advertised in this newspaper. Glaucoma Week will span the period March 12th through 18th. If a patient undergoes the test and glaucoma is detected, they will be able to access treatment offered at the very hospital. The three major types of treatment include: medical management, laser and surgical. Dr. Jain is of the firm belief that if people were made more aware of the improved quality of life that is possible for a person diagnosed with glaucoma, it is likely that more people would seek to be screened and access available treatment.

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Sunday March 12, 2017

Kaieteur News

The boys who never came home – two unsolved murders still haunt these Sophia families One boy was running an errand for his mother. The other was returning home from a game of cricket. But these lads never made it home. They were later found dead: sodomised and dumped in trenches. Seven-year-old Dacwaun Sutherland and 13-year-old Letroy Harris both lived in Sophia and their killers have never been caught. The two unsolved cases have been thrust back in the limelight following the murder of nine-year-old Shaquan Gittens, who was abducted, bound, sodomised and dumped in a trench in the South Ruimveldt backlands in April 2015. His alleged killer has been committed to stand trial, but the families of Dacwaun Sutherland and Letroy Harris have never gotten such closure. Sophia residents who knew Zon Park, a security guard, said that she apparently never let her only child, Dacwaun, out of her sight. But, as one woman would later say, there is always an unguarded moment. That unguarded moment

Dacwaun Sutherland: Slain and dumped in a canal in 2010

Letroy Harris, slain in 2006

came at around 13:30 hrs on Wednesday, June 30, 2010, when the seven-year-old visited his mom’s worksite, and she sent him home alone with some perishables that she had bought at Stabroek Market. She also instructed him to return. When night fell and he failed to return, Ms. Park made a report at the Turkeyen Police Station, while she continued her search into the night. She resumed her search the following day and while walking through ‘B’ Field, Sophia,

she heard some residents saying that a boy’s body was in a trench. She immediately headed for the location. There she saw her son, who had left home wearing a pair of camouflage trousers and a white vest, lying in a canal and clad only his briefs. A post mortem revealed that he was sodomised and apparently submerged in the canal until he drowned. Death was due to drowning, compounded by a compression injury to the neck. Some residents recalled

seeing the child at around 17:00 hours on the day that he had disappeared. One woman said that she saw the boy around 13:30 hours carrying two water bottles. Another woman said she noticed the same bottles floating in the canal at around 16.00 hrs that day. Two days later, police detained a 24-year-old Sophia man who lived near the murder scene, after reports surfaced that the child was last seen in his company. But police were unable to link the suspect to Dacwaun Sutherland’s death. He was released on $20,000 station bail. Police also questioned five Sophia youths about Sutherland’s death, but got nowhere. At the time, Zon Park was adamant that her child was slain in broad daylight. She also believed that a man in her community held the answers to her son’s death. She still does. She had claimed that previous allegations of sexual molestation of young boys had been made against the individual, who lived a short distance from the murder scene. Ms. Park’s theory was that the killer concealed her son in his house and then disposed of his remains when night fell. According to Ms. Park, police had detained the suspect and searched his home. He was subsequently released with instructions that he report to the police daily. ”Someone had to see something. I am asking anyone with information to come forward because I need justice. I still hope that the truth will be revealed.” Zon Park told me last Saturday that she is still waiting for that answer. But at another home in ‘A’ Field, Sophia, the mother of another murdered boy seems resigned to the fact that she would never have justice for her

boy’s death, almost eleven years ago. Thirteen-year-old Letroy Hinds-Harris loved cricket. His mother, Regina Hinds, recalled that the St. Winefride’s High student was selected to represent that team in Trinidad and Tobago. “He was trying to put in a little extra work to further impress the coach. Every day from school he would meet up with the team and practice before he went home,” Mrs. Hinds said. But on Tuesday, October 31, 2006, the 13-year-old did not return home from practice. His mother thought that he had decided to spend the night at his sister’s residence, since he would sometimes stay there. But when she called the following day, the sister revealed that Letroy wasn’t there. A search was subsequently carried out and a missing person report was made. “All the time we searching and I decided to go by his friends (who live a stone’s throw from Harris’ home) and when I asked them, the three boys said that they didn’t see my son, but I know my son doesn’t go to practice without them.” But just as she was about to leave, the father of the three boys came outside and said her son had visited his home, but had left to go to practice with his sons. ”When he said that, the boys then said that they went practice together, but they had left him at the ground,” the mother of two said. For two days, relatives and friends searched futilely for the teen. On the third day, the lad’s battered and naked body was found in a Thomas Road canal, near the National Park. His clothes were also found in the trench. A post mortem

examination revealed that he was beaten and sodomized. His neck was also broken. Police questioned several people, including the slain lad’s coach, but never came close to solving his murder. Mrs. Hinds believes she knows who killed her son. She still believes her suspicions can be proven with a little hard work from the police. But tired of getting no answers, Hinds said that she stopped enquiring into her son’s case. “You have to have money to go after these things, because the police not helping…when I talked to one policeman (back then) he said that they had over 200 unsolved murders and I will have to wait,” a still traumatized Hinds recalled. Even after ten years, she is still hoping that one day the police will find her son’s killers. The woman said that she was struck by the similarities between the murder of nineyear-old Shaquan Gittens and her boy. “It was just like my son. He went missing and then his body was found. The only difference was that my son’s case was never solved and his penis was not severed.” She’s tried to move on, but still thinks about how she tragically lost her son in 2006. 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 2258465, 22-58473 and 22-58458. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email a d d r e s s : mjdragon@hotmail.com

Sunday March 12, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Fate can deal one a mercilessly cruel hand I read that a prisoner lost one of his hands a week before he was due to be released. He was sentenced to two six-month stints to run consecutively, meaning he spent a year. The charge was simple larceny. He lost his hand in a cement mixer. Life can be really cruel. You read the newspapers and you see what a sanatorium of psychological miasma this country is and will continue to be. One of the persons I have known a long time at Kaieteur News told me she was annoyed at a column of mine last week, captioned, “Living in Guyana is a living hell.” She saw it as a running down of Guyana. The next day, I was a guest of Stan Gouveia, on his radio programme, “The Hot Seat,” on Hits and Jam Radio, and I repeated my overall assessment of my country as a place of extreme nihilism. Just to repeat it in case you didn’t get it, “my country.” The county in which I have lived all my life, married a Guyanese woman, fathered a Guyanese child, only have a Guyanese passport and gave 26 years to

public service, meaning, working for the State. My country in which the physical, political and legal violations I have endured are countless. There was an interesting emanation from Stan Gouveia just before we went on air. I asked him if the only job he has is at the radio station; he said yes. Then I said that the NCN has an obligation to him for what the PPP Government did to him when they dismissed him from NCN Radio for refusing to preach PPP propaganda. Stan laughed and spoke of how flippant a minister had been to him a few weeks ago. His customary smile turned into a serious visage when he intoned; “where was this woman when we were fighting for change?” I hear that sentiment all the time and when I do, like Stan, my visage turns formidable too. So what has this discussion got to do with the opening line of this article and the column my Kaieteur News colleague didn’t like? The connection is that the prisoner’s sentence and Stan’s reaction are the reasons I describe my country as a living hell.

Admitting that you cannot steal your neighbour’s property, these petty thieves have their lives ruined while the sharks murder their neighbour, steal millions from their neighbour, and are treated as untouchables and when people like Stan speak, ministers are insulting. Stan called the name of the minister who behaved like that and I can tell the nation she was nonexistent or was a no-show during the reign of terror under the PPP cabals. Let me tell readers some things about David Granger that may have political importance. During the reign of Ramotar, I met opposition leader Granger coming out of Bakewell. Although I was campaigning for the AFC, I stopped him and offered my support anytime he called on me. When President Ramotar prorogued Parliament to prevent a no-confidence motion, Mr. Granger held a weekly picket outside the Office of the President on Vlissengen Road. Ninety percent of the people Granger now surrounds himself with never

joined the picket. When I participated, Mr. Granger came up and thanked me. For two consecutive years, I attended Mr. Granger’s birthday at Congress Place; me and Dr. David Hinds. On both occasion Mr. Granger thanked me for coming. Ninety percent of the people Mr. Granger now surrounds himself with never graced that birthday occasion. When Mr. Granger became President in 2015, he held his birthday celebration at Camp Ayanganna. The ‘Who’s Who’ in Guyana were invited; included on the list was ‘Buddy’ Shivraj, who attended. I did not receive

an invitation. As David Hinds put it to me; “you are always in the face of the ministers because you write a daily column.” I do not attend those state occasions, so I would not have gone, but somehow Mr. Granger forgot my name. That is alright with me; I do classify myself as a working class boy, forever in blue jeans. Mr. Granger didn’t communicate an invitation to me, but he found it appropriate to reply to one of my columns through Minister Harmon, in which I was accused of writing that the President patronized his son-in-law by giving him a ministerial job. I did not pen such a statement. I quoted from Minister Trotman

Frederick Kissoon (see my column yesterday). This is the nature of Guyana. I feel sorry for the prisoner who lost his hand. This is the lot of the poor. In Guyana, he won’t be the last such victim.

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Sunday March 12, 2017

Kaieteur News

Independent and Strong: The AFC remains true to its core values In recent months there has been some public discourse on the performance of the Alliance For Change as a key partner in the Coalition Government. While the genesis of this discourse is very likely the PPP’s propaganda and misinformation machinery, this focus on the AFC is evidence of widespread public attention and support. It also shows us that the general public has high expectations of us which has not diminished. There has been some concern that the AFC, because of its comparatively smaller size (in number), is being subsumed by our larger Coalition partner, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). While understandable, this concern could not be farther from the truth. It is not based on fact or reality. So let’s deal with this issue frontally. It could be argued, credibly too, that the AFC has been the leading light in Government, and that our Ministers have been performing at a visibly consistent high level. The eight (8) AFC

Ministers directly manage a considerable amount of the national budget and beyond question have been managing their respective sectors most creditably, including Public Infrastructure, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and Telecommunications. It could also be reasonably argued that the AFC has hesitated to state its positions on several public issues, which we would have done as members of the Opposition before May 2015. The reasons for this stand are many, but we encourage you to make a comparison between the young, rambunctious AFC of 2011 with the more mature version that carries weighty responsibilities. You will find that our ears and hearts have not left the ground. We are fully aware of the discomforts of our citizens, the matters that disappoint you, the events that result in your anger, and even those times when you are convinced that the AFC, as in local parlance, “does not have your back”.

We are aware of your impatience to see justice done and for the government to recover stolen assets; you want speedy resolutions to the damning scandals involving members of the opposition, e.g. the Pradoville 2, NICIL, balance payment for GTT shares sale, and the East Bank and East Coast Demerara land distribution skullduggery. The AFC, just like you, wants to see a quick end to these scandalous acts that have robbed the treasury of a huge chunk of money. The wheels of justice turn very slowly and the processes, including new legislation, take a long time. This past week we saw some movement in the right direction. It is going to be a long process that will take more time and a lot more investigation. We are sure that you would agree that the charges must stick so that none of the guilty is able to slither out. We have begun to achieve some of the objectives that we set more than two years ago. In several

cases we have gone past the first stages of making the conditions right, e.g. addressing the concerns of the hundreds of small scale gold and diamond miners. This too is a process that will get better as we go along. Equally, it was through the consistent disapproval of the AFC via our member Sherod Duncan as Deputy Mayor which has led to the citizens’ revolt against the Parking Meters. We remain opposed to the scheme as it is configured. Former A F C L e a d e r, M i n i s t e r Khemraj Ramjattan is on public record (August 2016) announcing that Mr. Duncan has been speaking for the party and that he enjoys our full confidence and backing. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has also come out opposed to the Parking scheme. This has not been the only issue on which the AFC has demonstrated independence. While our leaders have been careful to act responsibly and have avoided rushing to the press, there has been very robust representation

and objections to several issues internally, but in keeping with the accepted norms of public behaviour, we will always act in a civil and responsible manner. The AFC is a vital part of government; our members are working diligently in Cabinet alongside our Coalition partners to effect the positive changes that we promised. This remains our first priority. This approach changes sometimes so that we could stay in step with global changes, Caribbean events, and even changing circumstances in Guyana. However, in no way have the goals, principles and core values of the AFC been eroded, changed, diminished or subjugated! Far from being subsumed, the AFC stays at the forefront of every effort to transform our national economy and the political landscape into a progressive, modern ensemble which can compare favourably to any CARICOM sister state. At Cabinet, our Ministers have been working well along-

side their APNU counterparts on this objective which has turned out to be much bigger than we could have seen from the opposition benches. Nevertheless, we are intent on changing Guyana’s international image, and changing the previous narco-based economy which was inherited in 2015. We are on the way to creating a stable, robust and credible economy in which local and foreign investors would be truly confident. Any objective analysis of the AFC’s performance and status in government will conclude that the party has retained its independence and that we steadfastly represent the interests of Guyanese people in a responsible and judicious manner. The party remains strong, credible, independent and progressive. The AFC is here to stay and we will remain true to our raison d’être , i.e. to represent in the strongest ways, our Guyanese people from Waini to Windsor Forest, from Parika to Paramakatoi, from Lethem to Liliendaal, and from Mabaruma to Moraikobai, Skeldon to Supenaam.

Sunday March 12, 2017

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Kaieteur News

My column

When one points a finger, three fingers are pointing back The introduction of parking meters in the city is being blamed for just about everything, from a decline in business to a potential hit on the economy. Many businessmen in the city, as I mentioned recently, are claiming that their business has declined by as much as fifty percent since the introduction of the parking meters. For one, these businesses are telling us that most of their shoppers are people who drive, when the reality is that eighty percent of shoppers are people who walk. They travel to the shopping centres by minibus, do their shopping, then head to the bus parks. The few drivers who shop are people who would buy some small item. If indeed they use the supermarkets, then they may object to paying to park, but I doubt that anyone who needs something would refrain from buying it because of parking meters. If indeed the bulk of the shoppers were motorists, then Guyana is ahead of most countries in the world. People in those countries go shopping with their vehicles and use the car parks provided by the centre. H o w e v e r, o n e c a n count the number of cars and arrive at a conclusion when one goes inside the shopping centres. There is no way those cars could have transported all those people. Assuming that the shopper would park and walk around to the various stores and make the purchases, that would now amount to forty or fifty percent of the current sales, then that would be to

stretch the imagination. Besides, those businessmen who are reporting such a whopping drop in business must have been making tons of money to be able to continue at the present rate of their perceived loss. I am also to see a fifty percent decline in imports, because if there is this drop in business, then there must be a corresponding drop in imports, because most of what we sell is imported. I remember the hue and cry, when, as part of the beautification of the city, the council cordoned areas that were once parking places for people going to the municipal markets. The cry was that people would now have nowhere to park, so shopping at the markets would decline. More than a year has passed; people are still going to the market with their cars and finding parking places. The truth is that business is thriving. Many stores are capitalizing on the new influx of shoppers to the extent that they open their doors on Sundays. I see these shoppers and I hear the criticisms of the Chinese. It has to do with what is being offered for sale. I contend that our businessmen seem unable to attract the volume of shoppers because of what they offer. Besides, they have been accustomed to a hefty markup. The new business people go for a lower mark-up and thus enjoy a higher volume of sales. The average shopper always looks for bargains. So it may be appropriate to blame the value added tax, but then again, the

businessmen do not lower their prices to accommodate the lower VAT. They simply aim to make even more money without trying. It should not escape notice that many shopping outlets are popping up in rural Guyana. Where there are the new housing schemes, there are shopping centres offering many of the things that the city businesses once offered. In fact, people are leaving the city to shop at some of those outof-town businesses. I have seen the crowds trekking to Giftland on the lower East Coast Demerara. I have also seen the steady throng of shoppers heading to locations on East Bank Demerara. Some go as far as Parika, routinely. It is a tradition to blame every other thing for our decline. The whipping boy at this time is the parking meter. Prior to this, it was the government who was not injecting enough money into the system to spur growth. Finance Minister Winston Jordan was at pains to show that people are getting more money than they did by May 2015. They have to be spending more, so I am at a loss to understand this drop in business due to the parking meter. If people are withdrawing money, they must be doing so for a purpose. The money must be going to the business places. It depends on which business places. There are parking meters outside the commercial banks, but I do not see a drop in the number of customers. There should have been a decline in people. More of

them could have gone for bank cards and so avoid going to the banks to make withdrawals. Perhaps the time is right for some of the businesses to ascertain the rate of online shopping. The days when women flocked the boutiques are slowly declining. I know because I have friends who shop online and they say that they are getting things cheaply, and they are getting their money’s worth. Advertising has always been known to help boost sales. This is not a premium for

many local businessmen, who feel that people will simply walk off the streets. Another thing is display. I am certain that if some of them spend money on making their business place attractive they will see amazing results. Lights and tinsel can do a lot. Music also helps. Nothing beats shopping to music in the background. Pleasant assistants are a bonus. I know of people who say that they will never go to certain business places because an assistant actually suggested that they were there to shoplift. If indeed business is as bad as some people make out

Adam Harris to be, then it is time for those business places to take stock of their operations.

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Sunday March 12, 2017

Kaieteur News

We must move much farther forward and much faster (International Women’s Day Address by HE David Granger) Guyanese women have moved forward since the presentation of the State Paper on Equality of Women to the National Assembly on 15th January 1976. The State Paper – which was described as forward-looking forty-one years ago – was aimed, among other things, at: “...making sex discrimination unlawful in employment, recruitment, training, education and the provision of housing, goods, services and facilities to the public.” Legislation was passed; discrimination declined; political participation improved and policies for the promotion of women’s equality were promulgated. Women advanced economically, politically and socially in our nation. Guyana, today, happily joins the rest of humanity in

celebrating International Women’s Day. We endorse, totally, the United Nations’ theme of this year’s observance –”Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030". Guyana, at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, at the United Nations Headquarters in September 2015, reaffirmed its commitment: “…to build a country in which women and girls can expect to live in safety, to be protected from abuse, such as trafficking in persons, domestic violence and workplace hazards.” Guyana, in September 2015, adopted the UN Resolution – Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Guyana reasserts its total commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal

No. 5, to: “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” and Goal No. 4, to: “Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.” Guyana will honour its commitment to achieve gender equality and to empower women and to educate and protect girls. Guyana will continue to work towards eliminating inequality, unemployment, illiteracy and poverty and towards promoting political empowerment. Guyana must move beyond the mere passage of legislation. It must move to dismantle the structural impediments to gender equality in order to fulfil its commitment under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Guyana’s approach is to move forward along four fronts: · Equality: Gender

equality must be made a paramount policy of government. Gender parity cannot be achieved in the absence of a more equal society. Enforcement of legislation to protect women, to prevent abuse and to promote greater equality must be more robust. The disparities between hinterland and coastland and between rural and urban communities, for example, must be reduced. · Education: Gender equality can be achieved mainly by ensuring unimpeded access to education. Education will open opportunities for women and allow them to rise more rapidly to the highest levels of the occupations and professions. The surest and quickest means of enhancing the status of women and providing them with greater opportunities for upward mobility is through education. · Employment. Gender equality can be achieved, also, by breaking the cycle of poverty. Poor people produce poor chil-

dren and these poor children in turn produce more poor children. It is a vicious cycle of ‘hereditary poverty.’ The burden of poverty falls heavily on women. The vicious cycle of poverty has to be broken in order to create a virtuous cycle of gender equality. Jobs are necessary to enable poor women to enjoy sustainable incomes and to have a chance at exiting poverty. · Empowerment: Women must be empowered to embrace their role in political decision-making. Women must be empowered to assume leadership in their communities and in non-governmental and state institutions. Citizens’ constitutional right to participate in the governance of their communities at local government elections was restored last year. Local democracy is empowering women by encouraging their participation in political processes. We can move much further towards: - creating an educated nation by ensuring that ev-

ery girl child completes primary and secondary school; - removing the barriers to gender equality by ensuring that geographical, occupational, political and racial differences are diminished; - empowering women by ensuring that our committees, commissions and councils are more representative; and providing more opportunities for women’s employment by ensuring developing small- and micro-industries in communities and by encouraging corporations to promote qualified women to executive positions. Guyana is committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Sustainable Development Goal No. 5. We can, we must and we will “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.” We extend best wishes to all the women of Guyana on International Women’s Day 2017. The struggle for equality and parity continues! God Bless Guyanese women!

Sunday March 12, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Witnessing a Motor Vehicle Collision: What you can do By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Our roadways are becoming more saturated with vehicles. There are more errant drivers with less road space to maneuver and unfortunately, there are drunk drivers out there. Lives are lost or changed daily because of motor vehicle collisions on our roadways. On any given day, there is a patient in the emergency room who is the victim of a motor vehicle collision (MVC). Road accidents account for close to five percent of deaths in Guyana; making us the number four ranked country in the world with respect to road deaths. This is very unfortunate, but it is the reality. If you are reading this article, then chances are you may have witnessed a motor vehicle collision or were at the scene of one. If the scenario comes up that you are at the scene of a motor vehicle collision, would you know what to do? In the event that you do witness a MVC, the following steps may help you deliver emergency first responder

care to the victim(s): ENSURE THE SCENE IS SAFE As much as you may want to render assistance, it is imperative that you ensure that the scene of the MVC is safe for you to enter. Ensuring there aren’t fuel leaks, impending explosions, exposed electrical wires, spilled dangerous chemicals etc. may be the difference between you becoming a victim instead of a rescuer. Once the scene is safe for you, ensure you safely retrieve the victim and bring them to a safer area also. CALL FOR HELP Getting assistance will be vital in performing a rescue. Two hands are better than one, utilizing the help that is available is very vital in an emergency setting. The most experienced person at the scene should try to be handsoff, if possible, and direct the proceedings. Giving others tasks and ensuring they’re completed in a safe and timely manner is very important in these emergency settings. It is important that a call be placed to the 912 emergency response number. The Emergency Medical Ser-

vice (EMS) is housed under the Guyana Fire Service. Trained Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) will respond to the scene in approximately 15 minutes if 912 is called. Unfortunately, the EMS service only covers from Mon Repos to Little Diamond currently. Our goal is to have coverage of the entire region four by year end and national coverage within the next four years. If you are within the coverage area, then you should try to wait on assistance as much as possible; unless the situation demands that you act immediately to save victim(s) life/lives. If you do not have access to EMS service, then you will need to act in the safest manner possible. You can perform the following actions in chronological order as stated in the rest of this article: CHECK FOR RESPONSIVENESS All the victims of the MVC should be checked for responsiveness. Unfortunately, research has shown that victims of trauma who are unresponsive and not breathing have a low chance of sur-

vival. What this means is that attention should be given to those that are breathing first. Victims that can talk and walk should be guided to a safe retrieval scene. PERFORM CPR The intention of this article is to not teach CPR, but if you are CPR-trained and victims are in need of CPR, then you should assist or direct the delivery of same. Stabilizing the victim’s neck to prevent unnecessary movements, compressing and wrapping all bleeding wounds, and ensuring the victim lies on a flat surface with his/her limbs close to their body are some of the interventions that can be done by anyone to assist in medical care. If someone is bleeding excessively from a limb and it cannot be controlled by compression, then tie off the limb as tight as possible above the bleeding site and

elevate the limb. TRANSPORT THE PATIENT INATIMELY MANNER The victim should be transported to the nearest hospital in a safe but efficient manner. If there are emergency-trained personnel available to transport the patient, then let them take over the scene. All patients should be transported lying flat, but towards their left of right side, if possible. By lying sideways, these patients can vomit and not choke on it. HANDOVER THE PATIENT AT THE HOSPITAL It is important that you educate medical personnel at the hospital about the events of the accident and what you may know about the patient. Do not leave without doing this. Your information may be the most vital piece of the patient care that the Doctors

Dr. Zulfikar Bux or Nurses may have to begin with. Ensure you give your contact information before you leave. By doing these actions in the expressed sequence, it may be the difference between life and death. Being able to save a life is quite possibly the greatest gift you can ever give someone. So read and be prepared if you are ever called upon.

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Kaieteur News

pressures.

SUNDAY SPECIAL

MONDAY EDITION

EXXONMOBIL OIL AGREEMENT…GUYANATO GET 50% OF OIL OR PROFITS Under the agreement signed between the government and ExxonMobil and its partners, Guyana will be entitled to 50 per cent of the proceeds from whatever oil and gas resources are extracted by the company in the Stabroek Block. This is ensured under the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) which exists between Guyana and the company, according to Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman. The Minister was at the time addressing the media at a breakfast forum organised by his Ministry at the Herdmanston Lodge. A PSA is usually signed between governments and companies involved in resource extraction to determine how much of that resource the parties will receive. The Minister said that Guyana may choose to receive its portion in oil after which the country would have to make a decision as to where the oil would be refined. Currently there is a consultancy being done to determine whether Guyana should invest in its own oil refinery. However, Trotman informed that taking that direction may not be economical in the future. He said that the government is considering sending its share of oil to either Trinidad and Tobago or Suriname. Trotman informed the media that based on the agreement, Exxon and its partners will share 50 per cent between themselves and the Government of Guyana will share the remaining 50 per cent. According to the Minister this arrangement is not unreasonable. Further, he stressed that calculating 800 million barrels of oil at a cost of US$50 per barrel should give Guyanese an idea of how much money the country stands to make and the value of the oil. He clarified that the 50 per cent stake will be taken after cost recovery is done. According to Trotman, the cost of developing the well will have to be taken out first before any division is done. On the issue of making the contract public, the Minister said that the contract applies to the entire Stabroek Block. Therefore, whatever is found in that area by ExxonMobil and its partners will be subject to that contract. He added that government has started the process of reviewing the contract in order to update it so that any future arrangement will be contemporary with what is prevailing in the industry. This process he said is being done by both local and foreign experts. NO GECOM CHAIRPERSON SHOULD EXPERIENCE SUCH VENOM – FORMER CHAIRMAN, DR. SURUJBALLY After more than a decade and a half as the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM),

Sunday March 12, 2017

MAJOR SHAKE-UP IN PUBLIC SERVICE MINISTRIES…AGRI. MINISTRY PS, DEPUTY FINANCE PS SENT ON LEAVE, OTHERS REASSIGNED

lending a fiery brand to one of the toughest public positions, Dr. Steve Surujbally, on Tuesday, March 2 spent his last day. It had not been an easy road with Dr Surujbally, who said that he wants to now spend time with his wife, and made it clear that no GECOM chairperson should ever experience some of things that he has faced. These include persons who journeyed to his city home to protest elections results a few years ago. ”The truth be told, no Chairman should be subjected unabatedly and relentlessly, with ever increasing venom, to the type of harassment and provocation which are solely based on disgruntlement over the outcome of the polls — (without reason),” Dr. Surujbally said during a media engagement in GECOM’s Boardroom, Kingston, last week. His departure has created a political stalemate with the Coalition Government and Opposition disagreeing on the interpretation of Constitution on the criteria used to select a new Chairperson. President David Granger has rejected a list submitted by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, saying that the candidates do not meet the requirements. The two sides are unable to agree whether the candidates should be a judge or have qualities of a judge. Dr Surujbally, a veterinarian by profession, made it clear that he has experienced a number of attacks as chairman. While not naming anyone or a political party, he said, “Of course, there will be those who will migrate from under the rocks where they were hiding, and they will in their emergence carry out attacks with which they were too cowardly to confront me when I was in office. I dare say that any such damnation, well spiced with calumnies and unfounded allegations, will come from persons [groups] who have an agenda, the principal constituent of which is to besmirch GECOM’s achievements.” He pointed to a few false Statements of Poll (SoPs) which suddenly appeared with the “sole objective of

tarnishing our image, an image which we assiduously cultivated by ensuring that all the necessary elements associated with credible elections were developed and placed into the whole structure of optimal elections management.” According to the former chairman, “Everyone” knew that those SOPs could never have passed through the “rigorous scrutiny” of the commissioners and GECOM staff. ”They could never have been counted and could never have been included in the final total. Right at the commencement of my term in office, some scandalous utterances were made — none of which had even an iota of credence.” One particular time stood deep in his memory - December 2011. It was shortly after national elections in which the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) returned to Government but lost its parliamentary majority by one seat to the Opposition. ”I have experienced people of unknown origin and without any group claiming responsibility for their actions coming to my home, with their supposedly meaningful (spiritual) incantations, accompanied with eggs, rice, fire and water mumbo-jumbo, to denounce my decisions (and not realizing that such fetishism can only work on subjects who believe in such invocations). ”What their despicable actions served to do, however, was terrorize the neighbourhood, frighten young impressionable children and disturb ailing old people, and making Guyana the laughing stock of the Caribbean and further afield.” He also spoke of the protests of the PPP after the May 2015 elections. ”The Chairman has had, over the last few months, to withstand “picketers” and “protestors”, a motley bunch of placard carriers, chanting that he must go — without ever being able to spell his name correctly. (We have the pictures and the footage). Now, please understand that personally I can withstand such

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon last Sunday announced the reassignment of several Permanent Secretaries, a move he said is aimed at ensuring efficiency and accountability in the public service sector. The reassignments have affected the Ministries of Agriculture, Education, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Legal Affairs, Public Health and the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, a GINA release stated. The Minister, who was particularly disappointed with budgeted spending, said that with effect from March 1, 2017, Ms. Joylyn Nestor Burrowes has taken up the post of Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, replacing Mr. George Jervis, who along with the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Finance), Ms. Prema Roopnarine have been asked to proceed on leave. Ms. Collette Adams will now serve as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health following the removal of former Permanent Secretary, Mr. Trevor Thomas. Ms. Delma Nedd, former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education will now function as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, while Mr. Alfred King, who was previously Permanent Secretary of the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, will now serve in the same capacity at the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs. Mr. Vibert Welch, who served in the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, has now been moved to the Ministry of Edu-

cation. Ms. Melissa Tucker, the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Legal Affairs will now function as the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport. Former Head of the Works Services Group of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Mr. Geoffrey Vaughn has been elevated to the position of Permanent Secretary for that Ministry, while Ms. Marlyn Stephens from the Public Service Commission has now been assigned to the Public/ Police Service Commission as the Secretary and Ms. Sophia Hunte is now the acting Secretary of the Teaching Service Commission. The Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Social Protection, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Communities, Ministry of Business, Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Public Service and the Ministry of Public Telecommunications, all remain the same. The Minister, who made the announcement at the closing ceremony of a three-day retreat and workshop at Splashmins Eco Park for top management employees of Ministries, Agencies and Departments of the Government, said that changes in the public service sector are critical to the provision of improved services to citizens. He referenced the performance of the Ministries during 2016, where less than 50 percent of budgetary allocations were spent. JAGDEO LAMBASTS GOVT. AT BABU JAAN – NO TRIBUTES TO LATE PRESIDENT CHEDDI JAGAN Those who turned up at the Babu John memorial site to hear tributes to the late President Cheddi Jagan were utterly disappointed as (Continued on page 33)

Sunday March 12, 2017

(From page 32) most of the speakers turned the occasion into a political rally. The close to 2000 persons heard speaker after speaker wading into the present Government about the ills of society and the mismanagement of the country. Former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who was the main speaker, in his 45 minute-speech reminded those in attendance that Jagan’s achievements were many, but he would not spend time regaling them on what the late president had achieved. He said his time would be spent on looking at what is prevailing in the country and the ideas of the present PPP party. He immediately launched into a broadside of the APNU/AFC government, accusing the coalition of mismanagement, corruption, victimization, intimidation and fear that is being carried out on the population. He warned that the Opposition People Progressive Party (PPP) will mobilize its supporters to take to the streets in mass protest for a number of reasons if the situation continues. The Opposition Leader said that in less than two years a pattern is emerging of the present government carrying out a campaign of using state agencies to drive fear into the population. Jagdeo queried why the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) is “raiding businessmen’s homes and taking them into the Office of the President,” and questioning them “about their dealings with the GRA”. ”Why sugar workers are being told that if they strike they will close the industry; why introduce VAT on education and when people protest the Minister of Finance is threatening to come after the school for tax evasion; why when people protest against the corrupt parking meter deal, the president says they are tax dodgers and the government will come after them?” ”The Attorney General mentioned that “we put them deh” in an effort to intimidate judges that they have to give ruling that is favourable to the government and then launches an attack on them if they rule against the government,” he said. He also alleged that Trade Unionist and former Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC) Carvil Duncan was called to the Office of the President and “being bribed to resign”, then “the president saying he doesn’t want blood on the carpet; the miners, after threatening to strike being bullied and threatened by the GRA that they will be taxed heavily, SARU threatening to go after person with tall buildings.” Jagdeo told his followers that what is emerging is a dictatorship “like in the Burnham era,” and urged his followers to stand up and fight against the dictatorship.

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TUESDAY EDITION BERBICE CARPENTER MURDER… CASEAGAINST ALLEGED US-BASED MASTERMIND DISCHARGED – PI COMMENCES FOR FIVEACCUSED A decision taken by Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court in Berbice last Monday resulted in the discharge of the murder indictment against US-based Guyanese Marcus Bisram. Bisram was charged along with Radesh Motie, 39; Diadatt Datt, 18; Harri Paul Parsram, 49; Orlando Dickie and Niran Yacoob 37 for the murder of Faiyaz Narinedatt. The decision was based on an application by Attorney-at-law, Sanjeev Datadin. Datadin is representing the five accused persons, who were charged jointly with Bisram for the murder. According to the charge, between October 31 and November 1, at number 70 Village, Corentyne Berbice, the five accused murdered Narinedatt. The men, it is alleged, were procured by Bisram to commit the murder. There have been several adjournments for the commencement of the PI into the matter. However, in his application on Monday, Datadin contended that Bisram, who was also charged jointly with his clients, has failed to enter an appearance in the matter before the court. The lawyer stressed that Bisram‘s lack of attendance has resulted in the stall of the Preliminary hearing into the matter. He said that it is unreasonable for the court to “hold up” the matter based on the non-appearance of a

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single co –accused. As such, he requested a discharge of the indictment against Bisram and a commencement of the PI. The Magistrate ruled in favour of Datadin’s application after which the PI commenced Monday. It was noted, nonetheless, that there is a possibility that charges can be reinstituted against Bisram, who currently resides overseas.

The same date was given for the continuation of the matter between the New Building Society and M&CC. WEDNESDAY EDITION

COURT REFUSES APPLICATION TO HALT PARKING METER PROJECT

As the Pradoville fraud investigations deepen, former president Bharrat Jagdeo and former Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, were on Tuesday arrested by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), after they failed to submit themselves for interviews. SOCU also hauled in the General Manager of the Guyana Gold Board, Lisaveta Ramotar, daughter of former President Donald Ramotar; former Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud; former Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Ramesh Dookoo and Dr Ghansham Singh; the son of former Minister of Labour, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, for questioning. They were all being questioned into allegations of conspiracy to defraud the state of revenue. Jagdeo was written to by SOCU to attend his interview over the weekend but did not report when instructed. He instead chose to host a press conference about the same investigations when he should have been at SOCU. Head of SOCU, Assistant Commissioner, Sydney James, in the company of other officers promptly descended on the Opposition Leader’s office, Church Street, and arrested him. Speaking to the media after leaving SOCU, Jagdeo said that the investigations are a political witch hunt. The former president said that his party will not be cowered into not highlighting the wrongs of the present administration and that they will fight the charges vigorously. Jagdeo stated that he was questioned about his Pradoville 2 home at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, and matters pertaining to NICIL. The former head of state insisted that he is immune from prosecution during his time as president, and warned that if any attempts are made at undoing that immunity, many issues will be called into question. Meanwhile, a very frail Luncheon, who was arrested minutes before at the Opposition Leader’s office, during a press conference with Jagdeo, subsequently arrived at SOCU and was questioned for over one hour. Luncheon told the media he was asked about matters pertaining to Pradoville Two, Guyana Power and Light (GPL), the G u y a n a Wa t e r I n c o r p o r a t e d (GWI) and a number of other investigations. He said that he was released on his own recognizance and has been told to remain in (Continued on page 34)

Justice Brassington Reynolds on Monday refused an application to grant an order which will temporarily halt the implementation of terms of the contract signed between Smart City Solutions (SCS) and the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown (M&CC). The Judge overruled the application which was based on a request by Attorney-at-law, Kamal Ramkarran. Ramkarran is representing Mohendra Arjune in a matter which was brought against the Council last month, challenging the terms and conditions of the parking meter project. The contract between the M&CC and Smart City Solutions (SCS) was signed on May 13, 2016. It gave the company exclusive rights to conduct paid public parking within Georgetown and includes the rights to installation of parking meters. The project has since attracted widespread public debate, with members of civil society calling for the terms and conditions of the venture to be recanted. Many described the project as “nothing short of burdensome to the citizens of Georgetown.

PRADOVILLE 2 INVESTIGATIONS…JAGDEO, LUNCHEONARRESTED … OTHERS QUESTIONED BY SOCU

“A number of legal proceedings were consequently filed against the M&CC as it relates to the implementation of parking meters. One such action was filed by Arjune. Through his Attorney at- law, Arjune had been granted an “Order Nisi” by the Court to quash the decision of the M&CC to enter into a contract with Smart City Solutions (SCS) Incorporated, unless the council could give just cause why it should be so. The Order Nisi was granted by Chief Justice (ag), Yonette Cummings-Edwards. However the matter is continuing before Justice Reynolds at the High Court in Georgetown. At the initial hearing before Justice Reynolds, attorney Ramkarran had requested that a temporary order be granted to stop the SCS from charging fees for parking in areas of the city, booting vehicles or implementing any other terms of the contract it entered with the municipality until the hearing and determination of the case. The Judge made the ruling Monday based on that application by Ramkarran. In his ruling, Justice Reynolds explained that at this juncture of the proceedings, the Court will not grant such Orders, based on the fact that the initial Order granted only allows for the Court to grant a stay of execution as it relates to legal proceedings in Tribunal, Summary Courts and other such forums. The Orders granted (orders of Prohibition and Certiorari) the Judge said, do not relate to Executive Powers, as is exercised by the M&CC. In l i g h t o f t h e r u l i n g , Ramkarran requested that the substantive matter before the Court, be dealt with expeditiously. The matter has been adjourned to March 20, for the arguments on the substantive issue.

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Sunday March 12, 2017

(From page 33) contact with SOCU. JAGDEO SAYS… SOCU ARRESTS POLITICAL WITCH-HUNT “This is all a political witch-hunt, it’s as clear as day.” Those were the words used by Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, to describe the arrest of seven beneficiaries of land from the Sparendaam land distribution scheme popularly known as “Pradoville Two”. The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) arrested the persons Tuesday as the entity continued its probe into the matter. They were all accused of “Conspiracy to defraud the state of revenue”. Jagdeo expressed his views on the arrests at an impromptu press conference held at the Leader of the Opposition’s Office, Church Street, following the arrest of Dr. Roger Luncheon who was seated in the boardroom. According to Jagdeo, the arrest is government’s way of distracting Guyanese from its failings as an administration in every area in the country. Jagdeo said that as a result, the government is presently facing the wrath of PPP supporters and APNU-AFC supporters for not delivering on the many promises made during the 2015 election campaign trail. ”It (APNU-AFC administration) can’t lead this country to a prosperous future. People’s welfare is declining, more and more people are protesting its action. You have people protesting its education policy, now the parking meters and

the sugar workers. The country is in economic disarray and we’ve seen a steady and insidious move to erode our constitutional rights.” Jagdeo said that Luncheon’s arrest will long be remembered as one of the greatest injustices Guyana has seen. The former President said that Luncheon was arrested for a house lot which he received in one of Guyana’s many housing schemes. He believes that the SOCU investigators have bigger issues which they can direct their attention to instead of investigating how house lots were distributed. ”This Special Organised Crime Unit was set up under the police force with the purpose of supporting the FIU (Financial Intelligence Unit) because APNU claimed that our entire economy was based on drug money. ”Today, one of their henchmen, Eric Phillips, spoke about billions of US dollars lost through the smuggling of gold, 15,000 ounces of gold per week, that’s close to US$1B per year. Yet we have not witnessed in two years of this government a single action taken by SOCU against any drug dealer, against any money launderer, against any person who would have smuggled all of these billions of dollars of gold, but we have seen today the arrest of Dr Roger Luncheon by SOCU, because the government believes that he got a house lot at Pradoville fraudulently.” Jagdeo explained that several persons were asked to report to SOCU Headquarters on Camp Road. However, lawyers responded, suggesting that the requested PPP members of Parliament would be present at the Leader of the Opposition’s office to facilitate questioning.

Jagdeo said that despite this, SOCU refused that suggestion and maintained that the persons go down to the Camp Road office. Jagdeo said that in different situations, persons were questioned at their homes. He believes, however, that the request for the persons to be at SOCU’s office was as a result of some political directive. GOVT. DISMISSES POLITICAL VENDETTAACCUSATIONS: INSISTS SOCU IS INDEPENDENT Following the arrests and questioning on Tuesday of seven persons in the “Pradoville Two” land distribution case, by the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU), the Administration has dismissed claims that the actions were politically motivated. In a statement, government insisted that SOCU is independent and that the assets of the state “belong to the people of Guyana and under no circumstances will it condone or overlook any action which resulted in the improper, illegal or unjust distribution of same”. The statement from Government, in its entirety, is as follows: ”The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana has been informed of the on-going investigations by the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU). The Government has been informed that SOCU has conducted interviews with a number of agencies and individuals in relation to the ‘Pradoville 2’ Forensic Audit which was referred to the unit. SOCU, the Government has been informed, has conducted interviews with the Department of Housing, the Central Housing and Planning Authority, National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), the Betterhope/Sparendaam Neighbourhood Democratic Council, Guyana Power and Light, Guyana Water Inc, National Communications Network and various other agencies and individuals in an effort to, among other things, determine the market value of the Pradoville 2 com-

plex. Interviews, the government has been informed, are on-going. The Government has further been informed that specific individuals were invited to the SOCU Office at Eve Leary for questioning during the course of this week and that some of the individuals complied while some did not. The Government has been specifically informed that in the case of two prominent former government officials – former President Bharrat Jagdeo and former Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon – they declined to visit the SOCU office for questioning and were arrested, questioned and subsequently released on their own recognizance. The Government notes SOCU’s meticulous, fair and independent work in investigating this immensely serious matter relating to state assets and looks forward to a thorough and comprehensive investigation and for the law to take its course and justice to be served. The Government notes spurious allegations of political vendetta and harassment and dismisses same as SOCU is operating independently and without any interference or direction. The Government reaffirms its stated position that the assets of the state belong to the people of Guyana and under no circumstances will it condone or overlook any action which resulted in the improper, illegal or unjust distribution of same.” THURSDAY EDITION DAY TWO, PRADOVILLE 2 PROBE… FORMER PM HINDS, SIX EX-MINISTERS QUESTIONED As the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) continues its investigations into matters related to the Pradoville 2 housing scheme, former Prime Minister, under the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration, Samuel Hinds was questioned for over two hours at

SOCU headquarters on Camp Road Wednesday. Also questioned were former Minister of Housing Irfaan Ali, former Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, former Minister of Tourism Shaik Baksh, former Minister of Labour Nanda Gopaul and former Public Service Minister Jennifer Westford. Hinds, who was Prime Minister for a number of years under the PPP/ C administration, arrived at the SOCU headquartersand greeted the large press corps that was camped outside. Speaking to the media after his interrogation, Hinds said that he was asked to explain why he in part facilitated the move of the National Communications Network (NCN) transmission tower that was stationed at Pradoville. Hinds explained that the movement of the tower was mooted since the presidency of the late president Cheddi Jagan. The former PM said that in 2004 it was decided that the tower needed to be moved to facilitate the Ogle airport expansion, since the tower would have been in the flight path of incoming aircraft. The National Investment and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) reportedly paid over $100M to relocate the tower to Dairy Road, La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara and that charge was borne by NCN. Ali who arrived at SOCU very early Wednesday morning, clearly did not want the attention that the waiting media would have provided. He was the Minister of Housing at the time when the Pradoville 2 lands were allocated and was also at the helm of that ministry when the subsequent infrastructural works were done in the controversial scheme. According to reports, significant amount of state funds were spent on the construction of roads, drainage networks and other works at Pradoville 2. The developed house lots, complete with infrastructure, were then sold below market value to former president Jagdeo, several (Continued on page 35)

Sunday March 12, 2017

(From page 34) ministers, government officials and friends. There was no evidence that the house lots sale was advertised or what procedures were used in the allocations. Ali did not speak to the media, and left hurriedly in his waiting sport utility vehicle. After her interrogation was completed, former Minister of Education Priya Manickchand told the media that the investigations are “malicious” and are “designed to embarrassed former government ministers”. ”Why arrest Roger Luncheon, he is clearly not a flight risk?” Heaping disgust on the current administration, Manickchand said that the APNU + AFC coalition came to power with a ‘sexy’ pitch that she had even believed at some point. However the former Education Minister said that the nation is now being confronted by the realities of value added tax (VAT) on private tuition fees, VAT on services and a number of other anti-progressive measures. On the land that she purchased and subsequently built a property and sold it for much more than the price paid, Manickchand said that she did nothing wrong and is confident that she will be exonerated when the investigations are completed. POLICE IN FULL CONTROL OF SOCU INVESTIGATIONS – UK EXPERT United Kingdom-based Financial Crime Expert Sam Sittlington said unequivocally Wednesday that the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), which comes under the Guyana Police Force, is making all its decisions independently. Sittlington is the director of an Ireland-based fraud company which provided training and expert advice to SOCU, a specialised entity set up to investigate financial crimes. According to the fraud expert, the current investigations being carried out by SOCU into the Pradoville 2 land distribution scheme and other matters are solely police matters and any decision concerning them will be made by the police. He was further asked where exactly SOCU takes instructions from, to which Sittlington said, “The police entity.” He added that instructions would specifically come from the Commissioner of Police. It was only Wednesday that former Attorney-General Anil Nandlall said that he spoke with Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud and was told by Persaud that he knows nothing of SOCU’s activities relating to the arrests and questioning of ‘Pradoville 2’ beneficiaries. Sittlington said that any clarification on whether Persaud knew of the activities, the police force would have to provide it. The fraud expert was further questioned by the media on whether he foresees charges being laid against those persons being investigated to which he responded, “I

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can’t comment on that. Under the police Act, the police have the power to arrest without a warrant for someone suspected of committing a misdemeanour. Whenever the police require them for an interview and they refuse to, then they are breaching that, and the police can come in and arrest them. The whole point is to bring someone in to gather evidence because you suspect them of committing a criminal offence.” Sittlington was reminded that members of the Opposition had asked to be interviewed in a different location from SOCU’s Headquarters. He explained that three or four weeks ago the Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, said that he would be willing to assist in the investigations. However, the expert justified the need for the questioning at SOCU’s headquarters by saying, “This is a police investigation; this is not a PPP investigation. The police dictate where they interview the suspects, not the individuals. Also all the exhibits are here, so they (police) can’t transport them all around the country to do that. It makes sense to do the investigations at the police station where you have all the materials; your recording equipment and visual equipment as well.” He said that persons who were not arrested went into SOCU voluntarily. Asked to clarify why some persons who handed over themselves to the police were still arrested, Sittlington said that it had to do with the investigators and how they were talking to the investigators. According to Sittlington, the investigations are moving along smoothly and at the end, he will be making a statement. When arrests begun on Tuesday, members of the PPP/C had accused the government of issuing political directives to SOCU officers to arrest persons of interest in the matter. The government had also dispelled the claims made by the PPP/C in a statement saying that SOCU is

conducting fair, meticulous and independent work in investigating an immensely serious matter relating to state assets. FRIDAY EDITION DAY 3 OF PRADOVILLE 2 PROBE…ROBERT PERSAUD DOES NOT RULE OUT PAYING MARKET PRICE FOR HOUSE LOT …KWAME MCCOY, ANDREW BISHOP QUESTIONED As the probe into the Sparendaam Land distribution scheme continues, former Minister of Natural Resources Robert Persaud has not ruled out paying the market price for the house lot he bought in the area now dubbed “Pradoville 2.” Persaud made this public in a Facebook post where he said that his legal advisor indicated to him that should the state establish that the price paid for the house lot was below market value, discussions can be entered into for a mutually acceptable resolution of the matter. The former Minister sought to explain how he came to own a plot of land in the area. According to Persaud sometime between 2007 and 2008, he applied for a government house lot as at that time he was occupying a government residence and not the owner of any house lot issued by the state or one acquired from a private source. He added,” I paid in full the asking price for a house lot in the Sparendaam-Goedverwagting area referred to as ‘Pradoville 2’. This was the first time I ever purchased a house lot directly from the state. Due to a number of factors, including financial constraints, after the building was erected on the said plot, it was sold. I never occupied the residence at Pradoville 2.” Persaud said that all the necessary permissions were sought from the Ministry of Housing and a financial

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penalty was paid for the early disposal of the plot and building. The former Minister is one of 14 persons who have been questioned so far in relation to the acquisition of house lots in the Pradoville 2 housing scheme. On Thursday, People’s Progressive Party Civic member and former Information Liaison to the Office of the President, Kwame McCoy was required to visit the Camp Street office of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) regarding the matter. Also questioned by SOCU was another beneficiary of land, Andrew Bishop. PROTESTERS CHANT ‘DEATH TO PARKING METER BY-LAWS’ …AS PROTEST HITS SIXTH WEEK In its sixth week of protesting against the implementation of parking meters in the City of Georgetown, the Movement against Parking Meters has made their plea much more colourful by calling for the death of the parking meter by-laws. This message was communicated vividly Thursday with the enactment of a funeral procession in-front of the City Hall on Regent Street. A significant number of protesters were clad in black bottoms and white tops bearing the word ‘Undertaker’. Participants in the mock funeral also had three mini coffins; one covered with the words ‘by-laws’, another had a makeshift parking meter inside while the third had a replica of City Hall sitting in it. They lifted the props and paraded around the other protesters who were standing in the middle of the road. The scene resembled the funeral that was enacted for former Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba in 2014. Sooba had accused the then Mayor Hamilton Green and Deputy Mayor Patricia-Chase-Green of instigating the act. Chase-Green is now the Mayor of the Capital City.

The ‘undertakers’ added flair to their demonstration by wailing and crying as persons who are in mourning would at a funeral. One of them held up a sign which spoke about the Biblical Scripture, 1 Samuel Chapter 17 Verse 48 to 49. The placard read, “David took out a stone. He slung it and killed Goliath. We are calling on our David to remove the Philistines from G/T. Remove G/T Goliaths.” Those in the procession even went as far as to sing ‘Amazing Grace’. At the stroke of 13:00Hrs, the protesters sang a stanza of the National Anthem before departing the location. This series of protests began six weeks ago by MAPM who said that it is an apolitical group calling for the revocation of the parking meter contract. The group is calling for a feasibility study to be produced which justifies the implementation of parking meters in Georgetown. SATURDAY EDITION DESPITE DECADES-OLD PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY LAW… JAGDEO HAS OPENED HIMSELF FOR PROSECUTION BY RE-ENTERING POLITICS -HARMON As several high-ranking members continue to be questioned by investigators into the use of state funds to develop an exclusive housing community at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, it appears that the administration is not too worried about a clause in the 1980 constitution which offers immunity to a sitting president. According to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, the Constitutional immunity protection argument may become harder to defend if the former president re-enters the political arena. The issue has reared its head in recent days as former President (Continued on page 36)

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Bharrat Jagdeo and several of his ministers and a number of others were called in for questioning into the roles they played in the housing development. Jagdeo who was Tuesday arrested and escorted to the Camp Road office of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), an arm of the police that has been investigating money laundering and other crimes, has invoked the immunity protection. It is believed that Jagdeo, who ended his Constitutional two-terms in 2011, oversaw a plot that saw state funds used to develop an ocean-side plot of prime property at Sparendaam. Several of his ministers were reportedly sold plots at what appeared to be below the market price. There was no evidence that the lands were open for sale to other Guyanese. Jagdeo himself received one of the largest plots, and built his mansion overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It is the use of state funds to develop the lands and the manner in which the plots of land were distributed that has SOCU investigating. Questioned Friday about the administration’s thoughts of the controversial law, Harmon during the post-Cabinet’s press briefing, explained that the Constitution is “very clear” regarding the immunity of a sitting president who takes certain steps while he is in office. “We respect that,” he said. However, the administration may be looking to amend those immunity laws during the Constitutional reform process which is expected to take off shortly. Harmon, a lawyer, noted that there must be exception. “One cannot commit an egregious act in office which can be deemed as such in an international court and still believe that nothing can happen locally.” “The constitution can be looked at in a certain way.” He said that the Coalition Government has always held the view that the laws give the President immunity while he or she is in office. However, the situation in Guyana has evolved with the feeling that the framers of the Constitution believing that a

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president once he or she has demitted office will “basically” lead a quieter, more sedate life. “So how can you claim immunity while actively engaged in day-to-day politics?” Jagdeo, who has made it clear that he was retiring from politics, returned to the scene after his party’s - the People’s Progressive Party - devastating one-seat loss in 2015 after more than two-decades in power. Jagdeo’s rule was dotted by accusations of cronyism and corruption. Harmon noted that there is even a former president who writes weekly in the newspapers. According to Harmon, it is not unusual for a former president to be granted a certain level of courtesy. “…But if in fact by then after they leave office they descend into the arena, then I would say they have to be dealt with by the persons in the arena,” he warned. TWO MORE HIGH-POWERED WEAPONS UNEARTHED -TWO MENARRESTED Just a day after police unearthed two as-

sault rifles at a house at Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, police have found more high-powered weapons, this time on the East Coast Demerara. A release stated that ranks of the Major Crime Unit, Criminal Investigation Department headquarters unearthed an AK-47 rifle and a .223 Ruger Rifle, wrapped in plastic garbage bags in the corner of a trench in Cummings Lodge, Turkeyen. Two persons are currently in police custody assisting with the investigation. The two rifles are currently being examined by the Guyana Police Force’s Firearm Examination Experts. Ballistic experts are said to be still examining an AK-47 and an M-70 Assault rifle that were found on Thursday at the Meten-MeerZorg, West Coast Demerara home of a former associate of convicted drug kingpin, Shaheed ‘Roger’ Khan. The discovery was made after a female occupant told the police that she had found the firearm while cleaning the home located at First Street, Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara. The weapons were found in a duffel bag, along with two magazines. The detained man is the owner of a fast food business. He was taken into custody in December 2002 after army ranks intercepted Roger Khan, Haroon Yahya, and policeman Sean Belfield, in a pickup truck at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, with a massive arms cache. The cache included M-16 assault rifles with night vision devices; Uzi sub-machine gun with silencer; Glock 9mm pistols; 12-gauge shotgun; other small calibre weapons; bulletproof vests; helmets; a computer and other electronic gadgetry with digitised electronic maps and plans of Georgetown and certain East Coast villages. They were never charged. DETECTIVE THWARTS PLOT TO ROB, EXECUTE BERBICE BUSINESSMAN -THREE HELD, GUNAND STOLEN MOTORCYCLE RETRIEVED An alert detective constable on Thursday thwarted the robbery and execution of a Rose Hall Town, Berbice businessman, by a gunman, who was allegedly hired by a Jamaican national. Commander of B Division, Ian Amsterdam, disclosed that sometime around 16:30 hrs on Thursday a Detective Constable was driving

Sunday March 12, 2017

along the Corentyne Highway in the vicinity of Albion when he observed a motorcyclist trailing a car. A release identified the vehicle as Toyota Premio PPP 2239, driven by Daneshwar Seitaram, 23, of Lot 16 Miss Phoebe, Port Mourant. When the driver attempted to make a Uturn, the motorcyclist rode into the car and fell to the ground. He then got up, but the detective observed that the motorcyclist was acting in a strange manner and appeared to be somewhat “nervous”. A police release indicated that the motorcyclist removed his helmet, and the detective recognized him as an individual who was once convicted for armed robbery. According to Amsterdam, the Detective also observed that the motorcyclist had left the bike on the road and entered the car he collided with. The suspicious detective proceeded to trail the car, which stopped near the Hampshire playground. It is alleged that the passenger exited, pulled out what appeared to be a firearm and threw it into a nearby trench. By then, the detective had already called for back-up, and a sergeant at the Rose Hall Outpost responded and the man was arrested. The detective then went to the area where the firearm was thrown and found a .38 revolver with four matching rounds. The suspect was taken to the Albion Police Station where he remains in custody. Commander Amsterdam said that further investigation revealed that the motorcycle had a false number plate and was reported stolen from Reliance, East Canje Berbice last Sunday. After questioning the suspect, investigators reportedly learnt that he was involved in a plan to rob and execute a popular Berbice businessman from Rose Hall Town. “He revealed that they had a plan and they were supposed to go to the businessman to rob and execute him. It was a plan initiated by a Jamaican.” It is alleged that the businessman owes the Jamaican a sum of money which resulted in the Jamaican arranging the hit on the businessman. Commander Amsterdam also stated that police detained two other individuals. However, the Jamaican is said to be out of the country. “We were able to save a life, recover a gun and a motorcycle, but the probe intensifies,” Amsterdam said.

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Revisiting key economic issues raised by the IMF By Kiana Wilburg A delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is currently in Guyana until March 17. And just as they did last year, the body will be reviewing Guyana’s economic health and issue a report on its findings. As we await the 2017 report, it is imperative to revisit some of the key issues raised by the delegation in last year. GUYSUCO In its 2016 report, the IMF welcomed the progress made by the Government on public enterprise reforms. In the same breath, it noted with some degree of concern that transfers to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) were equivalent to 1.8 percent of GDP in 2015

and was budgeted to be about 1.3 percent of the GDP for last year. The IMF Staff urged the authorities to adopt a restructuring plan for the sector that will improve cost efficiency, productivity, and alternative revenues streams, drawing upon the reforms proposed by the Commission of Inquiry. The international delegation said that the scope and pace of reform should take into account social implications. In this regard, it appears that the Government is making “some” headway. Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, opined that based on the allocation for sugar in the 2017 budget, government has indeed started the process of reducing the billion-dollar bailouts to the sector.

He said, “When we started in 2015, we started with $12B; then 2016 we had $11B going towards the sector; and for 2017 we have $9B. So there is a process of reduction that is taking place and I dare say that for as long as GuySuCo exists, in whatever shape or form, there will have to be a process of transfers until it can be brought into a better state. It is what we call too big to fail…” The Finance Minister said that the sector is one which has too much history for it to simply be abandoned. He said that it is a considerable part of the economy, both in terms of the Gross Domestic Product and employment. Even in the area of foreign exchange earnings, the Finance Minister said that the sugar industry plays a part in

that. The economist noted that while sugar is too big to fail and transfers would continue in some form, future allocations would have to be targeted to a substantial improvement in the state of the company. He expounded, “The transfers can’t continue to go down a black hole as Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has said on several occasions. Indeed, any structural adjustment of the kind that has to take place in GuySuCo is going to be extremely painful. All that we can do is ease the pain and hope that the measures that will be put in place will yield early fruit.” POWER SECTOR According to the IMF, Guyana depends heavily on imported oil for its power needs. The body said that the nation’s installed power generation capacity is about

83 percent oil-based and 17 percent biomass (bagasse) fueled. This capacity translates into a generation mix that is almost entirely dominated by oil based generators, which supply about 95 percent of the country’s power consumption. The IMF said that the oildependent power generation mix contributes to macroeconomic volatility. It said that high oil prices widen the external current account deficit, increase fiscal transfers to the public utility Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and reduce oil tax revenues due to the limited pass-through in the domestic fuel pricing regime. Accordingly, it advised the authorities here that adverse oil price shocks consume foreign exchange and fiscal resources. Volatility in oil prices quickly propagates to the external and fiscal sectors.

Additionally, the IMF said that high electricity costs and tariffs are a drag on competitiveness and growth. In this regard, it pointed out that oil price shocks increase the cost of power generation. When those costs are passed on to users, the body said that they increase the cost of production and constrain investment. Interestingly, the IMF pointed out that the average retail electricity prices were among the highest in the region in 2014. The body said that GPL’s relatively high rate of technical and commercial losses also contributes to high electricity prices. “Although the recent decline in oil prices has provided some respite, Guyana remains exposed to oil price corrections. Oildependent power generation is at odds with the vast renewable energy potential. The country has extensive (continued on page 66)

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Court orders AG to appoint Board of Deeds and Commercial Registry The High Court of Guyana has granted an Order Nisi of Mandamus on Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams to appoint the members of the Governing Board of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority. The matter, which was heard before Justice Brassington Reynolds, was filed by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall on March 6, last, and granted on March 8. Nandlall was represented by Attorneys-atlaw Mursaline Bacchus, Bibi Shadick, Priya Manickchand, Adrian Anamayah, Euclin Gomes, Sase Gunraj, Manoj Narayan, C.V Satram, Mark Conway, Sasha MahadeoNarayan and Rajendra Jaigobin. In his application, Nandlall said that the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority Act 2013, Act No. 4 of 2013 establishes the Deeds and Commercial

Registry as a corporate body, to establish and promote the efficient and orderly operation of the Deeds Registry and the Commercial Registry, to establish the conditions governing the employment of officers and employees of the Authority. He noted that Section 5(1) of the Act establishes a Governing Board of the said Authority, which shall have the function of ensuring the proper and efficient performance of the functions of the Authority. The Board is supposed to consist of a Chairman, Registrar of Deeds, Registrar of the Commercial Registry, a nominee of the Ministry of Finance, a nominee of the Ministry of Finance, a nominee of the Ministry of Housing and Water, a nominee of the Guyana Bar Association, a nominee of the Guyana Association of Legal Professionals and a nominee of the private sector. The

Chairman is appointed by the Minister of Legal Affairs. According to Nandlall, apart from the ex-officio members, the tenure of the members of the Governing Board who were last appointed during June 2013 expired in June 2016, and they were never re-appointed by the Minister, in accordance with Section 6 of the Act. When he made the application, Nandlall said that the Board is non-functional, not properly constituted, and has not held a meeting for over a year. Further, Nandlall stated that the conduct by the Minister not to appoint a Board constitutes multiple breaches of the Deeds and Commercial RegistriesAuthority

Act. He added that an omission to perform such duties imposed by the said Act, constitutes an abuse of power, and conflicts with the policy of the Act and constitutes misfeasance in public office. As a result of the Board not functioning, Nandlall said that there is inefficiency in the services rendered at the said Registries, which has an adverse impact on his practice and his ability to discharge his duties to clients competently and diligently. In addition for an order to be granted compelling Williams to appoint members to the Board, Nandlall had also asked for an order nisi of Mandamus compelling the Board to discharge functions

Attorney General, Basil Williams

Former AG, Anil Nandlall

devolving upon it, in accordance with, and as

mandated by the provisions of the Act.

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Heart Disease Kicks in Earlier for Obese People Overweight and obese people tend to develop heart disease at an earlier age, living with chronic illness for much longer than those of a healthy weight, a new study shows. People carrying excess pounds do tend to live similar or only slightly shorter life spans compared to folks with normal body weight, the researchers found. But heart disease begins 1.8 years earlier in overweight middle-aged women compared with normal-weight women, and 4.3 years earlier for those who are obese, they added. Meanwhile, obese middleaged men suffer heart disease 3.1 years earlier than normalweight men. However, overweight men tended to develop heart disease at about the same rate and live about as long as normal-weight men. These findings show that even though some may benefit from an “obesity paradox” — where people with excess weight live longer than those of normal weight — those extra years of life could be filled with illness and misery, said lead researcher Dr. Sadiya Khan, an instructor at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. “Individuals in the overweight category really live about the same amount of time,” Khan said. “It was really the difference about how

long they lived with cardiovascular disease because they developed the disease earlier in life.” For this study, Khan and her colleagues pooled together participants from 10 different research projects, coming up with a group of almost 73,000 middle-aged people with an average age of 55. All participants were healthy and free of cardiovascular disease when they enrolled in the study. Average body mass index or BMI (a measure of body fat based on weight and height) was 27.4 for men and 27.1 for women. A BMI above 25 is considered overweight, and above 30 obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During years of follow-up, just over 13,450 people suffered a heart health event, defined as either heart failure, a stroke or a diagnosis of heart disease. Compared to people with normal BMI, lifetime risks for developing heart disease were higher in overweight and obese adults, the researchers found. For example, overweight middle-aged women were 32 percent more likely to develop heart disease in their lifetime compared to women of normal weight, while overweight men were 21 percent more likely to develop heart disease. Obese men and women

were 67 percent and 85 percent more likely to develop heart disease, respectively. On average, people with normal BMI also tended to enjoy more years free of heart disease. The overweight and obese people “developed [heart disease] at a younger age and lived longer with [heart disease], with a higher risk of conditions like coronary artery disease and heart failure,” Khan said. People with excess weight likely benefit from a heart health event, in that their heart attack or stroke forces their doctor to step up their medical care, said Dr. Robert Eckel, chair of atherosclerosis at the University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus. He was not involved with the study. “If you’re obese or overweight, your years of survival after you have a cardiovascular disease event may be a bit higher, but I think that’s because these people are more aggressively treated for risk factors,” said Eckel, who is also director of the Lipid Clinic at the University of Colorado Hospital. Khan was to present the findings at the an American Heart Association meeting in Portland, Ore. Research presented at meetings is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. https://medlineplus.gov/ news/fullstory_164003.html.

The Downside to Gluten-Free Diets “Gluten-free” may be the latest diet fad, but new research casts some doubt on its presumed health benefits. In a large study of U.S. health professionals, scientists found that those with the least gluten in their diets actually had a slightly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes over a few decades. The findings do not prove that a low-gluten diet somehow contributes to diabetes. But the study raises questions about the long-term benefits of avoiding gluten, which many people assume to be a healthy move. Some people — namely, those with the digestive disorder celiac disease — do have to shun gluten, said lead researcher Geng Zong. But there is little research on whether other people stand to gain from going gluten-free, said Zong. He is a research fellow in nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in Boston. That’s a big evidence gap, according to Zong — given the popularity and expense of

gluten-free foods. Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, rye and barley. Gluten-free diets are a must for people with celiac disease — an autoimmune disorder in which gluten-containing foods cause the immune system to attack the small intestine. But gluten-free, or at least gluten-light, diets have caught on as a way for anyone to lose weight and improve their health. One recent study found that the number of Americans who say they’ve gone glutenfree tripled between 2009 and 2014. The new findings are based on nearly 200,000 U.S. health professionals whose health and lifestyle habits were followed over three decades. The low-gluten fad did not exist when the study period began, in the 1980s, Zong pointed out. But participants’ gluten intake naturally varied, based on how often they ate foods like bread, cereal and pasta.

Over 30 years, just under 16,000 study participants developed type 2 diabetes — a disease in which blood sugar levels are persistently too high. Obesity is one of the major risk factors. When Zong’s team looked at people’s gluten intake, the investigators found study participants who ate the least of it actually had a somewhat higher risk of developing diabetes over time. Most people consumed no more than 12 grams of gluten each day, with the average being 6 to 7 grams. Those in the top 20 percent for gluten intake were 13 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes, versus those in the bottom 20 percent — who typically ate fewer than 4 grams of gluten each day, the findings showed. Zong’s team did try to account for other factors, including people’s exercise habits, weight, typical calorie intake and family history of diabetes.

Sunday March 12, 2017

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High Commission of India to host Sari Draping Demonstration and Exhibition The High Commission of India, Georgetown is pleased to announce that it will be hosting a Sari Draping Demonstration and Exhibition on Saturday, March 25, and Sunday, March 26, 2017 at the Kalyan Centre and Shopping Plaza, Lot 162, Lamaha Street, Georgetown from 11.00am to 8.00pm on both days. This exhibition comes as a result of the numerous requests to the Mission for tutorials on Draping of Saris by persons who do not know how to properly drape Saris and would like to learn from Experts. As part of the

Exhibition, there will be Documentaries, Special Demonstrations on Sari Draping and display of various styles of wearing Saris by trained Models at 3.00pm on both days. There will also be Food and Drink Stalls and Indian Garments on display among other attractions. Admission is free and the general public is invited to attend this event. The Mission would also like to invite the Media to cover the event since it would be educational and informative to a wider cross section of the public.

Nicki Minaj Responds to Remy Ma’s Diss Track and Makes a $500,000 Bet Nicki Minaj went H.A.M. on Remy Ma. On Feb. 25, Remy released “Shether,” in which she accused Minaj of everything from plastic surgery to infidelity. The rappers’ feud dates back to 2007, when Minaj called out Ma on “Dirty Money.” In the song, she rapped, “Tell that b&&ch with the crown to run it like Chris Brown,” while sampling one of Terror Squad songs, “Yeah Yeah Yeah.” In 2015, less than a year after Ma was released from prison, she free-styled over Minaj’s “Truffle Butter.” Ma’s “Shether” was released in response to Minaj’s “Make Love” and “Swalla” lyrics, which were aimed at her rival. Minaj responded Thursday by releasing three diss tracks of her own. The 34-year-old rapper recruited her Big three partners Drake and Lil Wayne for “No Frauds,” in which she mocked her 36-year-old enemy’s follow-up single. “You can’t be Pablo if your work ain’t sellin’ / I would’ve helped you out that pit you fell in / I am the generous Queen! Ask Ms. Ellen / Tried to drop ‘Another One,’ you was itchin’ to scrap / You exposed your ghostwriter, now you wish it was scrapped,” she raps. “Heard your p&&$y on ‘Yuck,’ I guess you needed a Pap / What type of bum b&&&h shoot a friend over a rack? / What type of mother leave her one son over a stack? / Lil Boogie down basic b&&&h thinkin’ she back / Back to back, oh you mean, back to wack? / ‘Back to Back’? Me and Drizzy laughed at that.” Minaj also released “Regret in Your Tears” (about ex Meek Mill) and “Changed It,” which features Wayne. Days ago, Ma told Another Round she was “not particularly proud” of their beef. “I do not condone or recommend the tearing down of another female. That’s not what I do,” she said. “Anybody that knows me knows that I embrace females. I al-

ways want to do some girloriented thing. I think we work so much better when we work together and when we help each other.” Ma added that she’s always “happy” to see someone who came “from the bottom” and “managed to make something of yourself,” just as she once did. “It just makes me all mushy inside. However, in the event that you piss me off and we become archenemies, run for cover.” After Minaj dropped her diss tracks, she shared a message for Ma on social media, w r i t i n g , “#YoungMoneyTilTheDeathOfMe committing perjury #IGotB4andafterPicturesOfYourSurgery #StopSurgeryShamingB4IPostThem #Fraud diss records can’t be lies. Great diss records are FACTS. But here @ Young Money, we don’t do diss records, we drop HIT RECORDS & diss u ON them. I got a bunch more on cock.

Pauz. The greats took three months to respond to diss records. Queens don’t move on peasant time. Queens shut down Paris, then drop hits on #QueenTime.” Minaj also shared her thoughts on “Regret in Your Tears.” As she told her 75.7 million Instagram followers, “This just became my favorite song of all time. We been drinking pina coladas listening to it non stop GETTING L I F E ! ! ! ! ! ! ! # R e g r e t I n Yo u r Te a r s @ c a n d i w o r l d @justinepeacock dedicated to all the bad ass, intelligent, strong, loyal women out there. When a man loses us, he loses so much more. Love YOURSELF! You’re worth being treated like the QUEEN u are. Never forget that. They gotta APPRECIATE your magic. Or get the steppin. With Love.” Just no love for Ma. http:/ /www.eonline.com.

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Revisiting key economic ... From page 46 hydro power potential, estimated at 7600 MW, which by far exceeds its annual consumption and installed capacity. “Various studies have identified 67 sites as suitable for hydro power generation. Guyana’s climate is also suitable for wind and solar power generation while its sugar and rice industries provide opportunities for cogeneration of electricity from biomass (sugarcane bagasse and rice husk).” The IMF added, “A transition to a green power matrix will bolster resilience to shocks while reducing its carbon footprint, but has been delayed by various constraints. Interest in developing Guyana’s hydro potential dates back to the first oil shock of 1974-75.” The body noted that plans to build a large hydroelectric project at Amaila Falls began in the late 1980s and evolved through several proposals and rounds of negotiations, but implementation had been constrained by the project’s large size, complexity, cost, and Guyana’s limited fiscal space. NATIONAL ACCOUNTS The IMF noted that the compilation of national accounts has been strengthened in the past decade, but some limitations remain in certain areas. In 2010, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was rebased with 2006 prices to reflect the structural changes since the transition to a market-based economy. The Fund asserted that this resulted in a more than sixty percent increase compared to the old GDP, based on 1988 prices. The IMF stated that Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Center (CARTAC) missions have provided technical assistance on national accounts, which helped strengthen production-side GDP compilation, the rebasing of national accounts and medium-term projections. It recommended in 2016 that further work could entail compilation of expenditureside GDP and quarterly GDP. Additionally, the body stated that the Bureau of Statistics (BOS) could increase the coverage of surveys, particularly with respect to the services sector. Since January 2010, the BOS has adopted a new household income and expenditure survey (HIES) and has expanded the basket of the Consumer Price Index and revised its weights. Furthermore, the IMF said that the coverage of the CPI could be further broadened to reflect price movements in areas other than Georgetown. It said that there is also room

to improve the timeliness of statistics on labour markets, gender and poverty. REFORMS There is scope for productivity-enhancing reforms in key sectors. With this in mind, the Fund noted during its review, the importance of lowering production costs in the sugar and rice sector given their high social impact and deteriorating market outlook. The mission pointed out that Guyana’s extensive renewable energy resources could help achieve a durable reduction in electricity costs, which are among the highest in the region. It said that this could strengthen competitiveness by promoting value added industries. The staff said, too, that improving the connectivity of small green technology electricity generators to the grid could help increase supply and reduce energy losses. It also stressed the potential of business o u t s o u r c i n g , telecommunications and ICT services as other areas for diversification. Additionally, it was pointed out that population aging will put pressure on the National Insurance Scheme. In this regard, it recommended that increasing the statutory retirement age can help place finances on a more sustainable economic footing, and also contribute to a higher potential output. BUSINESS CLIMATE The IMF will also be focusing its attention in the area of Guyana’s business climate. In its 2016 report, the body said that it encouraged the authorities to further strengthen the business climate in priority areas. At the time, it cited the World Bank’s 2015 Doing Business Report which ranked Guyana 137th out of 189 countries in terms of ease of doing business. The IMF staff noted several areas in which Guyana lags behind its regional peers, such as access to electricity and credit, and resolving insolvencies. Furthermore the 2015–16 World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report ranked Guyana 121st out of 140 countries in terms of competitiveness, noting weaknesses in transport infrastructure, electricity and telecommunications, institutional quality, ICT, and innovation. The IMF last year recommended that the public investment programme can help relieve structural bottlenecks such as transportation and electricity that have long been identified as impediments to growth and economic diversification. (To be continued)

Sunday March 12, 2017

By Dr. Neromini Fagu Dental caries affects all populations on earth and it is considered one of the most prevalent chronic oral diseases and the second most common disease after the common cold. There are a number of factors involved in the occurrence of dental caries, with the three main ones being sugar, bacteria and time. Foods that are high in refined sugars are not good for our teeth, and such sugars are found in a lot of the foods and drinks that we consume on a daily basis. There are over 500 species of good and bad bacteria in our mouths, and when the bad ones outnumber the good onesthe balance is tipped in favour of tooth destruction. When these two causes are combined for a period of time, the acids that the bacteria produce when breaking down the sugars lead to tooth demineralization and eventually dental caries. Tooth demineralization and remineralization are a naturally occurring cycle. Demineralization is a process whereby the minerals—

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ACTIVE CARIES VS. ARRESTED CARIES calcium, phosphate and fluoride are lost from the enamel making it more susceptible to crumbling. As the structure of the tooth weakens, it becomes more sensitive and the chances of pulpal exposure increases. Remineralization is the repairing of the teeth with these minerals. The calcium, phosphate and fluoride are contained in bonds in the enamel, and when these bonds are broken by demineralization they are repaired with calcium and phosphates found in our saliva. When our bodies don’t have sufficient amounts of these minerals the process of remineralization slows down or stops altogether, eventually resulting in tooth decay. When preventive measures are followed and steps are taken to reverse the conditions in your mouth that led to the decay, the decay may be stabilized and prevented from progressing further. Preventive management strategies can effectively arrest and even completely reverse the caries process if the lesion is still contained within the enamel.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ACTIVE ANDARRESTED (INACTIVE) CARIES · Active lesions tend to be whitish or yellowish in colour and opaque (non-glossy). Inactive lesions can be whitish, yellowish or darkened in colour but tend to be shiny or glossy. · Active lesions are located close to the gingival margin (gum line) when the lesion is in a smooth surface. Inactive lesions are located farther away from the gingival margin. · Active lesions feel rough when the tip of the explorer is moved gently across their surface while inactive lesions feel hard and less rough. · Active lesions show evidence of progression or change over time, while arrested lesions do not. · Active lesions may show an obvious hole in the tooth and caries may extend into the dentine while inactive lesions will have no apparent progression into enamel when viewed on the x-ray. The caries process occurs in varying stages and can only be stopped or arrested in the early stages which usually means only when it is in the enamel. The

progress of the lesion is from a healthy tooth to one with a non-cavitated lesion, from a non-cavitated lesion to a cavitated lesion, and from a cavitated lesion to irreversible pulpal infection or loss of tooth. It is also possible to have arrested dentine caries but it is much rarer and generally occurs on

root surfaces and the easyto-clean fronts and sides of the teeth. In order to arrest caries, plaque must regularly be removed from the tooth surface and in between the teeth. Also, good nutrition plays a part in preventing as well as arresting decay. Only active caries lesions require treatment. Arrested caries is often a dark brown stain that seems ingrained in the tooth and won’t come off when it is polished. It is often seen on the easy-to-clean surfaces such as the fronts and sides of your teeth, or inbetween teeth where the conditions have now changed such as a tooth been extracted and so food/ plaque is no-longer getting stuck. Since the caries is no

… teen to be charged with murder

GNBS – Providing services to protect the Rights of Consumers ensure that the declarations made regarding the karat or purity are true. In addition, capacity is being built to test concrete (hollow) blocks and this will improve the quality of blocks available for construction of buildings, fences and other structures. To provide confidence to consumers, products are certified to National Standards, and the National Standards Mark is affixed, which tells consumers that these products have been inspected and tested, and comply with the requirements set out in the respective national standards. This also assists consumers to make wise choices regarding the quality of products they purchase. The GNBS offers protection to consumers through education and information. Utilizing the print and electronic media, the Bureau issues timely advisories and warnings concerning defective or unsafe products and services. According to Consumer International, “World Consumer Rights Day is a time for promoting the basic rights of consumers, for demanding that those rights are respected and protected, and for protesting the market abuses and social injustices which undermine consumers.” Like Consumer International, the GNBS strongly believes that the protection of consumers is a 24/7 business that is all encompassing. Consumer protection is necessary to ensure the right goods and services are available, and all financial and other private information is protected as consumers conduct business transactions in the digital world.

Dr. Neromini Fagu longer active or progressing it only needs to be addressed if it poses anaesthetic problem. Interestingly, studies have shown that these arrested lesions are actually more resistant than a normal tooth to future caries. For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to nerominifagu@hotmail.com.

Corentyne man dies five months after beating

STANDARDS IN FOCUS

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) as the National Standards Body is mandated to provide consumer protection through the services it offers. As Guyana joins the rest of the world in commemorating World Consumer Rights Day on Wednesday March 15, 2017, under the theme “Building a Digital World Consumers can Trust” lets us salute Consumer Bodies for their efforts in protecting consumer rights. The GNBS has been at the forefront in the protection of consumers through facilitating the development of standards and acts to make many of these standards compulsory. When standards are made compulsory (Technical Requirement) they are enforced by various regulatory agencies, including the Bureau, to protect the health and safety of consumers (e.g. labelling standards). Consumers are also protected through the verification of weighing and measuring devices used in trade such as scales, weights, measures and fuel pumps. Accuracy and fitness for use is established when these devices are verified by the GNBS, and this prevents consumers from being cheated. Through its standards Compliance Programme, the Bureau monitors a number of products including household electrical appliances, cellular phones and gas stoves to ensure compliance with requirements outlined in national labeling and quality standards. In addition, complaints made by consumers regarding such products are investigated to provide the necessary redress. The Bureau also provides testing services including the testing of gold jewellery to

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ACCUSED: Haresh Persaud

DEAD: Aslam Gaffour

A Corentyne man, who was attacked and brutally beaten into unconsciousness five months ago by four men, has since died. The man, Aslam Gaffour, 22, a cane harvester and father of two of Lot 235 No. 77 Corentyne, Berbice, died on Wednesday in the Georgetown Public Hospital, even after undergoing a number of surgeries. After the incident, one man was subsequently charged with attempted murder and granted bail in the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on his first appearance. This was despite the victim lying critically ill in an unconscious state in the Hospital. Gaffour was ambushed and beaten around 17:30 hrs on October 21, last, by the men with pieces of wood and a lug spanner which was subsequently flung at him and left stuck in his head. The incident occurred in the No. 77 Housing Scheme area.

The four men were subsequently arrested, but only Haresh Persaud, 19, of Lot 5 No. 75 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was charged. He appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh in the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on a charge of attempted murder and was granted bail in the sum of $500,000. The man has since been re-arrested and taken into custody as the file was prepared and sent for advice to charge the accused for murder. He is being represented by Attorney at Law Krisendat Persaud. According to Gaffour’s mother, Bibi N Shakemohamed, the accused began threatening her son over a year ago. This was after he was warned not to interfere with her daughter. The accused began to threaten to kill her son. On two previous occasions the accused and his colleagues attacked Gaffour and damaged his

motorcycle in the process. The matter was reported. However, the police advised him to forget about the matter since the case will take a long time in the court. The man’s wife, Tarzanna Nazrudeen, had stated that her husband was at a school sports event at Skeldon when the accused, his brother and two others approached him to fight. The man refused and left the sports on his motorcycle with the men trailing him in a car. Gaffour sought refuge at a relative in the Housing Scheme. The men attempted to damage his bike which he left on the road. In an attempt to retrieve his bike he was attacked and beaten. When he tried to escape, a lug spanner was thrown at him. The spanner got stuck in his head. He was floored as the perpetrators escaped. The woman said that her husband was picked up in an unconscious condition with blood oozing from his body and rushed to the Skeldon Hospital. He was immediately transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital and then to the Georgetown Public Hospital Intensive Care Unit for emergency surgery. He was subsequently transferred to the High Dependency Unit. The man underwent a number of surgeries to his head due to internal bleeding and swelling on his brain. Attorney at Law Mursalene Bacchus has been retained by the family to look into their interest.

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SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Repairs to refrigerators washing machine, gas stove, all units. Call Lindon: 6411086/ 694-2202 Eagle’s: Re-gas -$8,000, Washing machine repairs, Gas Stove, Plasma flat Screen & more. Call: 697-2969/6460966 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Veterinary Services, East Side Animal Clinic @ 147 Section ‘A’ Grove Block ‘Y’ East Bank. Call: 216-4144/ 681-7215 Building Contractor Estimates, house plan to be drawn give us a call: 2160671/692-8464/622-0267 Passport application services and consultancy – Call: 233-6517

LAND FOR SALE Land for sale @ Dowden Street, Kitty 125’X57’. Call: 619-4152/ 227-1905 La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.3M, Uitvlugt -$2.3M, $2M – Call: 642-1252 1 Lot of land @ Yarrowkabra -$950,000. Call: 672-5876 Transported corner lot with approved building plan @ 90 Garnett & Republic Streets, Newtown Kitty. Call: 6016000/227-3305 Transported land for sale size 37X270 @ Coglan Dam, Vreed-en-Hoop, W.B.D. Call: 650-5644/677-9938 La Parfaite Harmonie - $1.4M, $1.8M, $1.3M, Uitvlugt -$2M, Diamond -$4M, Providence $4M, Zeelught $1.6M. Call: 614-6802 La Parfaite Harmonie - $1.4M, $1.8M, $1.3M, Uitvlugt -$2M, Providence -$3.5M, Zeelugt .6M, New Road V/Hoop -$27M. Call: 604-6724 Land at Lot 20 Philippi Corentyne Coast, situated on both sides of the highway. Call: 333-3717 Puruni Gold Land for sale, 833 Acres. Call: 676-0455 Farm (East Bank) -$3M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.3M, Uitvlugt -$2.8M, Pearl (with concrete fence) -$3M. Call: 233-3006/ 658-5897/ 651-1969 1-5 Acres coconut and other fruit bearing, no chemical, lease or sale – Demerara River across Timehri docks. Call: 261-2988 1-5 Acres coconut and other fruit bearing, no chemical, lease or sale – Demerara River across Timehri docks. Call: 261-2988

ENTERTAINMENT Jubilee Resort: pool, water slide, boating, paintball, games, etc, open daily – 10:00am-6:00pm. Call: 2258915/623-7313

East ½ 84 David Street, back lot for sale- Contact: 84davidstreet@gmail.com Land for sale @ Yarrowkabra, size 200X300. Call: 645-0489 Turkeyen/Transported could huge chicken pen, apartment or approximately five 30’X20’ building. Call: 609-0794

VEHICLE FOR SALE

FOR SALE

FOR RENT

WANTED

1-Leyland DAF GRR Series; excellent condition. Call: 6804101 1 New model Vitz, press start, A/C, excellent condition $1.5M, good for bank purchases, 1 Toyota Verossa -$2.3M. Call: 639-2490

LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. CAT 215 Excavator, Leyland DAF 55 Tipper Truck, D4H CAT Bulldozer. Call: 275-0538/ 683-7225

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Lot 14 Croal & Longden Street: 4 Storey building (infront Demico). Call: 6631876

1- CAT 320 BL Excavators, 428- CAT Backhoe, 1 CAT 930 Front End, 9 wheeled pneumatic roller, Double Steel drum compactor- Call: 275-0538/ 683-7225 2 Leyland Dump truck (55210), 1 Caterpillar Backhoe, owner migrating, very good condition. Call: 672-5876 Berkley 6inch high pressure pump with 855 Cummings engine only 500 hours EX USA fire station, price -$2M. Call: 652-4540 Generator 855 Cummings only 700 house. EX USA standby 250KW, price -$2.5M. Call: 652-4540 Salon Equipment. Call: 2653586 8am-4pm 44FT Banga Boat, 500lbs fiber glass box. Call: 2593164/ 685-1946 1 White new model Passo 2009, working condition also 1 transported houselot @ W.C.D – Call: 602-3000/ 600-2931

1-2 Bedroom apartment to rent fully furnished, including internet, cable, TV, parking available. E.C.D –Call: 6672536 Vreed-en-Hoop Junction: office, storage bond, lesson place, church -$20,000 per month. Call: 603-6400 3 Bedrooms upper flat located at Vreed-en-Hoop, 3rd Building in from Junction. Call: 673-3064 1-3 Storey building located at 128 Akawini and Sheriff Street. Call: 652-1504/ 2200365 2 Bedrooms executive furnished with all modern conveniences. Call: 622-5725/ 664-1070 House for rent @ 112 Duke Street Kingstown G/Town: 3 bedrooms. Call: 603-7147/ 665-6433 Newly refurbished 2 bedroom apartment D’urban Street Lodge, secure parking. Call: 687-4050 Apartment for rent @ First Street Mon Repos, E.C.D – Call: 602-4105/ 614-0005 2 Bedrooms apartment to rent on E.C.D - Call: 684-8906

One driver/porter from Diamond, Grove area. Call: 2161043, 677-6620 Wanted land to buy at Tuschen, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt, La Parfaite Harmonie, best price offered. Call: 657-9594 Experienced straight stitch sewing machine operator. Call: 627-9621 Urgently needed workers to work at Ice Company @ Meadow Bank Wharf, training provided. Call: 2311408/ 642-9191/ between 8am-1pm.

Nissan Pathfinder Jeep, Toyota Vigo pickup, great bargain. C all: 609-7766 One Nissan Duke, lady driven in immaculate condition, PTT Series, low mileage, price -$3M. Call: 6530018/666-7748 Dwayne Stephen Auto Sales! New Shipment of Vehicle: Rush, Blue Bird, Note, Axio, Allion. Call: 665-2330/ 6486869 Unregistered Fielder -$2.5M, Axela 2011 -$2.7M, all dark interior. Call: 617-5536

ACCOMMODATION Secret Villa apartments fully furnished, hot & cold water, Jacuzzi, air condition from $20USD daily. Call: 225-6337/ 266-5244/668-0306 Harmony Inn: Furnished self contained apartments & rooms from $20USD daily. Call: 218-1400/ 694-7817

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 6471773/660-5257

CAR RENTAL

EDUCATIONAL Electronic Course: starting 14th March. Hands on training repairing all types of TV’s etc. Call: 226-6551/ 225-0391

Sunday March 12, 2017

Kaieteur News

LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 6222872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).

DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIALOFFERS FOR THE SEASON. CALL: 690-6494

Fibre-Tech 220 9192/6907. Fiberglass, Resin materials in any quantity all for your repairs. Two Massey Ferguson tractors 4299 and 290. Price negotiable- Call:611-1277

PEN PAL Male looking for female age 35-55 old, companionship, possible marriage. Call/Text/ Whatsapp: 668-9020

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 ,EMAIL:PRO_ A U T O R E N T A L @YAHOO.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL: PICKUP, 9-11 SEAT MIN BUS, GOOD FORAIRPOTR & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

TO LET 3 Bedrooms apartment for rent, bottom flat. Call:2258084/689-6001 Lodge apartments (Vlisssengen/Durban): furnished (visitors) USD$600-$1,000 monthly, unfurnished 2 bedrooms $60,000, studio -$40,000 monthly- Call:668-7687/ 6779638/697-6421 Lodge (Vlissengen/ Durban): Professional/Office/ Business (no food retailing) space. Call: 668-7687/ 6779638/697-6421 One bedroom apartment fully grilled and tiled -$35,000 monthly. Call: 672-3699

Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 One shop assistant to work in the Interior, must have experienced. Call: 678-0565 A tutor is needed for a 13year old boy from overseas. Call: 218-0192/ 696-1479 1 Canteen for rent in Georgetown. Call: 679-9762 Drivers and cars wanted, soliciting contracts from companies for taxi service. Call: 219-2712/ 682-6747 Now Hiring: cashier, porters & driver for canters. Apply at Nimbus, 79 Albert & Laluni Streets. Call: 231-7002 Drivers for canter truck to work on W.C.D -$25,000 weekly. Call: 684-8231/ 6629341 Two hundred 8inX4inX2in, Clay Bricks. Call Edward: 6534797/ 223-0952 1 Gas/Arch welder @ Broad Street Charlestown, Fat man Welding Shop. Call: 2235595/643-9125 Female worker wanted sound secondary education, computer literate-Tel: 6225518 For up to $1M, Pawn your land if it’s in Eccles, Herstelling, Providence, Zeelugt and Bartica. Call: 2333006/ 658-5897/651-1969 Help for snackette @ 26 Saffon and Sussex Streets, next to Lady B’s Fashion. Enquiries between 8:00 and 11:00 on Sundays. Driver needed (stick gear) to operate smoothie business. Be your own boss, fixed location, preferably someone EBD- call: 628-1479 1 Live in nanny/domestic to take care of children & home, must know to cook various dishes 38-48yrs. Call: 600-1898 Live-in waitress with secondary education, salary $80,000 monthly. Boarding & lodging free. Age 18-25 years- Tel:610-3974 TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS) Continued on page 69

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Kaieteur News

CONSUMER CONCERNS

World Wildlife Day message of special importance to Guyana BY PAT DIAL On Friday March 3, World Wildlife Day was commemorated worldwide. The theme of this year’s commemoration was “Listen to young voices” when serious effort would be made to engage young people in the philosophy and practice of the protection and conservation of Wildlife. In Guyana, the leadership of this effort falls under the aegis of the Wildlife Division which is associated with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of plants and animals (CITES). In the Western World we have only comparatively recently discovered the importance of the protection and conservation of wildlife. In ancient societies, as for example the Buddhist-Hindu Tradition, they believed all Life to be one, analogous to the flame of one candle lighting a thousand, the flame of each candle being the same as the others. Doing violence to any lifeform is therefore ultimately doing violence to one’s self and to others. Ancient Buddhist societies therefore

maintained animal hospitals and protected trees, especially medicinal ones, in special groves. In the West, we are now forcefully discovering as John Donne, the Metaphysical Poet puts it “No man is an island”. Environmentalists and Ecologists state the same concept pointing out the interdependency of all Life. Every living thing - tree or animal - plays its part in achieving a Balance of Nature and makes life of Man more secure and safer. No one knows exactly the role of these myriads of life-forms and how they enrich, protect and stabilize human existence. For example, in New England in the United States, many years ago, the apple orchards were being attacked by insects and they successfully eliminated them. The next year, however, they had a very poor crop since the bees and other insects which pollinated the blossoms had all been eliminated. It was only then that the farmers realized that a bountiful crop depended on the insects. World Wildlife Day is more important to Guyana than most other countries in

the world. Guyana is one of the very few countries where most of its territory is covered with pristine forests containing many rare and endangered plants and where many endangered animals still dwell. This is a unique national resource of which immediate use could be made and other uses still awaiting discovery. For example, there are many medicinal plants in our forests and many more still to be discovered. There are many unique animal species such as the Giant Anteater or the Arapaima, the largest freshwater fish in the world, or many strange and colourful birds. The Canje Pheasant, the National Bird, for example, is a rare bird whose body has some of the characteristics of an animal. Guyana presents to the world a unique laboratory where scientists of many disciplines could do notable work and probably make new discoveries. Among the many offerings which the pristine flora and fauna of the Guyana Hinterland holds out is EcoTourism which the Government of Guyana and commercial interests have taken with enthusiasm. Sun-

and-sand tourism which has brought prosperity to several Caribbean islands is unstable and has many negative social effects. Eco-tourism is not only a more profitable form of tourism but has many positive social effects. The promotional and marketing material published by the Tourism Ministry and the Tourism Association is educational and informative and the public would do well to read them. One would understand why Guyana is a bird-watchers’ paradise and know more about the Harpy, the largest of the world’s eagles, or the Arapaima, the world’s freshwater fish. In giving greater meaning to this year’s World Wildlife Day’s theme “Listen to Young Voices”, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Tourism and the Tourism Association should cooperate in having ecology and protection of endangered species be made a part of the syllabus of the Teachers’ College and the school system. Once this is done, the population would come to recognize the value of protecting all life-forms and would realize the economic value of such effort.

Economic and environmental impact (From page 63) to the old Mongomery mines, where the machine shop, though defunct, still stands imposingly, like a huge welcome sign to this remote community. Considered the most prominent of the other ‘mines villages’, Coomacka boasts a huge sand beach that was not there thirty or forty years ago. That beach is a result of all the sand that has washed down from the mines over the years. The sand formed part of the overburden that had to be cleared or excavated to get to

the bauxite below. In the early days a Wheel Excavator was utilized to remove the overburden of sand, through a system of conveyor belts that deposited the latter several hundred yards away. The sand of course ended up in the nearby Demerara River, where its accumulation soon resulted in the beach we see today. Now the river is under threat of being bridged by the beach! This phenomenon has created a huge problem, as there is severe flooding whenever there is incessant rain-

Laudable developmental... (From page 61) fortuitous that the occasion also marked International Women’s Day and showcased the importance of women to the development of Guyana. In a few comments, Khelawan and Greene also highlighted the alignment that allowed women to be the focus of this graduation ceremony, and the successes yielded by the collaborative efforts of BIT and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs – this being one of many programmes across the country. Various training programmes requested by the village councils are also being delivered in Moruca and Matthew’s Ridge, in Region One; Kamarang, Jawalla, Warawatta and Waramadong, in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni); at Paramakatoi and Kato, in Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni); and Aishalton in Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo). Each of these programmes have a specific purpose in focusing on developing the skills of local persons in particular trade areas needed for the community and region’s development.

fall coupled with high tides. Naturally, the beach impedes the smooth and fast flow of the river-hence the backup of water that floods the community. Apart from the issue of flooding, the beach poses a serious threat to river craft, especially those that navigate at nights. Regional Chairman, Rennis Morian, reflecting on the issue of flooding at Coomacka said that such a state of affairs has been thirty years in the making (alluding to the massive sand build up that now forms an encumbrance to the free flow of water). BLUE LAKES A unique aspect of Linden’s Landscape is its picturesque Blue Lakes, which can be found on both the Mackenzie and Wismar shores. The lakes, like the beach at Coomacka, are a direct re-

sult of mining activity, but where the beach was formed from sand washing down from the mines, the lakes were formed after abandoned mined out pits accumulated water. The “blue water”, according to some, is as a result of the sky reflecting in the water. These lakes are so beautiful that quite a few persons have touted them as possible tourist attractions. They have become very popular over the years, especially with the young people, quite a few of whom have entered their treacherous depths, for a swim that ended tragically. However, despite all that, Lindeners love these Lakes and many can’t wait for the day, when they are officially declared tourists’ destinations- complete with life guards and all the necessary safety appurtenances.

From page 68

PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 House for sale & removal at Campbellville 23ftX40ftContact Ganesh: 614-6202 1 Front building & a 2 storey building on 1 (lot) 180 Charlotte Street Bourda W30XL120 $55M negotiable. Call: 624-7341/2276817/226-5183 House/land with business- 5 bedrooms, 2 bath W.C.D, Anna Catherina. Call: 6142466 House for sale 2482 North Ruimveldt, 2 flat, no flooding , 6 feet fence, in secure area. Price $21M negotiable. Call: 233-5400/ 618-0595 Goat Creek, Riverfront , 75 Acres land -$7M, Lanaballi River Front, 50 Acres -$9M. Diamond -$7.5M Call: 6880087 Riviera Island: 145 Acres $30M, Tuschen property $5.8M, $6M, $15M. Call: 6880087 Tuschen 5,8,6,2 bedrooms; Hope- 2 bedrooms $7.8M, Hogg Island 20 acres $8M Call: 688-0087 Melani 2 bedrooms - $10M, Tuschen $11.5M & $25M, Canal #2 (15 acres) -$9M. Call: 688-0087 10 Minutes away from Georgetown, you can own your own home, now in construction, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath, concrete house. Call: 675-1510 One Roadside, 2 storey building @ V/Hoop (ideally business/residence). Call: 614-0107

VACANCY Earn 5k-20K daily at home. Call: 233-6517/622-1957/ www.jobfairworldwide.com Now Hiring: Marketing Agents. Models/Media Reps. Call: 233-6517

12 Cadet Officers promoted... From page 9 level in Open Country warfare. The final term saw the cadets being exposed to training in Close Country Warfare and internal security. Chief of Staff, Brigadier Patrick West who decorated the Ensigns with the badges urged them all to strive to familiarize themselves with documents within the army’s arsenal that will be able to guide them as they transition to becoming young officers of the Force. Brigadier West also spoke about the values, the Defence Act and the Standard Operation Procedures of the Force.

FOR SALE/FOR RENT Large 3 Bedrooms house for rent or sale @ La Parfaite Harmonie, W.B.D, upstairs + downstairs -$40,000 monthly. Call: 690-5061

VACANCY Sales Representative needed for hardware related item, good working vehicle needed, attractive compensation. Call: 602-4337 Cook/Baker and Kitchen Assistant for interior location. Applicants must be experienced, for details call: 618-2020 Receptionist, Male Security guard age 30-45, 233 South Road Lacytown. Call: 225-0198 Woodmizer and moulder, operator, porters @ Eccles, E.B.D. Call Richard: 6097675/ 674-1705/233-2614 Accounts Clerk for Eccles, Industrial Site area knowledge of NIS, PAYE, VAT, Quickbooks. Call: 6144358 Experienced Hire Car Drivers/Dispatchers. Call: 622-6413 Refrigeration & Ice Machine maintenance workers age 25 & older. Call: 231-1408/ 6429191 between 8 to 1pm One experienced legal computer clerk. Call: 6247087/ 226-4283/258-0213/ email:husainsaphier@ yahoo.com

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Kaieteur News

Three confess to killing Rose Hall resident a year ago Police have arrested three persons in connection with the murder of a Rose Hall Town resident over a year ago. Caitanya Kishundyal, 21, of Lot 28 First Street, Swamp Section, Rose Hall, Berbice succumbed on February 5, last year, at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) Intensive Care Unit (ICU) two days after he was shot to the abdomen by a lone gunman who attacked him at his home. The armed suspect was reportedly confronted by Kisundyal when a scuffle ensued resulting in the latter being shot. The man who had accomplices at the time of the invasion was said to be hiding near the fence of his home. The men escaped and Kishundyal, despite being shot, followed them, he subsequently collapsed. He was taken to the Port Mourant Hospital and transferred to the GPH the

following day where he eventually succumbed. On Saturday the Station Sergeant attached to the Rose Hall Outpost acting on information received, placed a man in custody, it was then during an interrogation that the man confessed to being

Murdered: Caitanya Kishundyal present when Kishundyal was killed. Divisional Commander Ian Amsterdam stated that the man also named his accomplices. Amsterdam added that the two persons were then taken into custody. He stated that so far all three men have confessed to being present at the time of the attempted robbery/ murder but they are now pointing fingers at each other. The men are likely to be charged shortly.

Coalition defends President Granger’s appointments of ... From page 10 and gave them those Ministries is malicious,” the Minister of State said. With regard to Mr. Trotman’s appointment, Minister Harmon clarified that he was left unassigned after the AFC was allocated its full quota of ministries. “...However, based on the recommendation of the party’s then leadership, President Granger appointed Mr. Trotman as the Minister of Governance within the Ministry of the Presidency. All of these recommendations were made by the AFC.” The Minister also condemned Kissoon’s attempt to convey the impression that there was some nepotism at play with the Head of State’s appointment of Mr. Gaskin, who is his son-in-law. “Minister Gaskin is an executive member of the AFC; he was the treasurer of the AFC when we went into elections; he was always a

high-ranking member of that party, so it has nothing to do with him being the son-in-law of the President. “This is a very subtle attempt to put a label of nepotism unto the President and we must roundly reject it, that’s my position,” Minister Harmon said. Yesterday, however, Kissoon when contacted asserted that there is a level of dishonesty in both the AFC’s and APNU’s reaction to his column. “First, on Saturday, March 11, the AFC responded to my March 4 article but chose to ignore my March 11 column which openly challenges APNU to refute what Minister Trotman said. It meant the AFC chose to ignore the contents of my March 11 commentary which goes far beyond what I wrote in my March piece. In all their outbursts, the AFC and APNU are ignoring the fact that I merely repeated what Minister Trotman said and that was the President created three ministers on his own, one of which is the President’s son-in-law. The tape of the AFC press conference is available and the Guyanese people should demand an honest acknowledgement of what Minister Trotman pronounced on.”

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Kaieteur News

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PHAGWAH MESSAGES Today we join our Hindu brothers and sisters in celebrating the joyous and colourful festival of Phagwah. A number of organisations and individuals have also extended Holi greetings. Some of these messages are published below:

PRIME MINISTER and FIRST VICE PRESIDENT, Moses Nagamootoo The Government of Guyana extends Phagwah Greetings to all Guyanese at home and abroad, especially our Hindu brothers and sisters. This is indeed a happy, auspicious time in the Hindu calendar when we blend colours with chowtal and celebrate togetherness. Holi is a time when we mix joyfully and celebrate with each other with affection and goodwill. This year’s celebration coincides with the observance of the 100th Anniversary of the Abolition of Indian Indentureship. The ending of that system of

exploitation of cheap labour, is indeed a triumph of good over evil. We are forever indebted to our Indian ancestors for preserving, against great odds, their religion, their rituals and their festivities, such as Phagwah, and Diwali, Mother Kali Puja and Yesu Katha, Eid-ulAdha, Youman Nabi as well as other Christian ceremonies. These are all respected and observed in Guyana, and serve to promote the culture of diversity, tolerance and cohesion. Today, when dark clouds hang over many countries, when many are deemed aliens

and refugees, we celebrate freely, not constricted by colour, caste or creed. Though we face our challenges, we must all work together to overcome them, and to realize our common hope for the good life for all. So, as we celebrate Phagwah, let us recognize our rich cultural traditions and weave them into symbols of our pride as a multi-ethnic Guyanese Nation. We share our generosity and our kindness, and momentarily, we embrace in oneness. Let us rekindle these sentiments once again. Enjoy the celebrations. Happy Holi!

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PEOPLE’S NATIONAL CONGRESS REFORM The People’s National Congress Reform extends sincere Holi greetings to the Hindu Community of Guyana, in particular, and Guyanese in general, on the occasion of the celebration of the Festival of Phagwah in Guyana. The significance of Phagwah is two-fold. Its secular significance lies in the advent of the season of spring, and its real and allegorical implications of fertility rebirth, renewal and regeneration. The religious significance of Holi lies in the conquest of good over evil,

manifested by the destruction by Prahalada of his demonic father, King Hiranyakashipu. As the celebrated Indian national, Kulapati Vani wrote many years ago, “… festivals are gatherings for refreshing the spirit and enjoying life.” We urge all Guyanese to use this occasion to refresh their spirit and enjoy life and to participate fully in this colorful festival and enjoy the rich elements of our religious and cultural diversity. Happy Holi to all Guyanese!

ALLIANCE FOR CHANGE The Alliance For Change extends Phagwah greetings to our Hindu brothers and sisters and all Guyanese in Guyana and in the Diaspora. On the occasion of the festival of colours we celebrate this vibrant and electric Hindu holiday with passion, brotherhood, love and fervour. The enthusiastic celebration of Holi is a demonstration of our nation’s unyielding commitment to our strong cultural foundations and roots. That Phagwah is on our annual calendar as a national holiday cements the nation’s motto that indeed we are one people, one nation with one destiny. In addition to the triumph

of good over evil, Phagwah also has its origins in the celebration of a period of long desired rainfall and relief after a period of drought which caused stress and hardship. As a result of our recent natural resources discoveries, Guyana is preparing to embark on a period of prosperity in the coming years when all Guyanese will benefit from improved and elevated living conditions. The AFC therefore calls on the society to learn from the lesson of Holi and utilize this time to prepare for the new and prosperous Guyana which beckons and when we will all be able to celebrate a better, develo p e d and progressive Guyana in which we can all

thrive and advance unhindered and unfettered by political or other encumbrances caused by divisiveness and discord. Phagwah also allows us as a people to shine as a culturally diverse nation. Not only do our Hindu brothers and sisters celebrate Holi with water and powder of all colours but so do Guyanese of all religions, ethnic backgrounds, political persuasions, geographic locations and gender orientation. We join in friendly embrace and a spirit of tog e t h e r n e s s a s w e apply colourful abeer to our friends, neighbours, colleagues and countrymen. May this spirit remains with us all year round.

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MINISTER within the MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, Nicolette Henry Guyana joins the rest of the world in observing the festival of Spring more culturally titled Phagwah, it is a time for triumph, feasting and that quintessential splashing of bright colours and or water. Here in Guyana, it is a time for our Hindu community to

reflect and reconnect. Through these rituals, Phagwah remains a vibrant strand in our diverse community. As we enjoy the festivity, I wish to pay tribute to all Guyanese for shaping and building a strong and suc-

cessful nation. Guyana’s history is powerfully influenced by the distinct narratives of its people, from all ethnicities, experiences, cultures, customs and religions. A safe and enjoyable Holi celebration to one and all.

PEOPLE’S PROGRESSIVE PARTY The People’s Progressive Our Party is cognizant fulfillment will be reached. Party (PPP) takes this oppor- that the values of the occaThis year, Phagwah comes tunity to extend best wishes sion of Phagwah are empha- at the same time the 100th for the festival of Phagwah to sized to promote the well-be- anniversary of the Abolition all Guyanese especially the ing of all mankind and the cel- of Indian Indentureship in Hindu community. As our ebration is also associated Guyana is being observed. people celebrate this truly with welcoming of the spring The nation’s East Indian ancolourful festival, the PPP season which brings joy and cestors brought these rich urges that its deep signifi- delight to all living being. religious and cultural tradicance through its pertinent Phagwah also reminds us of tions and preserved them messages be reflected upon the triumph of good over evil through untold sacrifices and be seen as a source of through the story of Prahalad, while being oppressed. They inspiration. who defied his father, a des- remained resolute and never It is most unfortunate that potic King. This defiance lost hope despite the adverthis celebratory inclusive fes- continues to be a source of sities foisted upon them. tival comes at a time when our inspiration in the face of adAs we reflect and comcountry is being divided by versity reminding that there memorate, let’s also draw indiscriminatory polices im- is always a road to fulfillment. spiration from their relentlessposed by the Administration. On this occasion, our Party ness. Our Party once again It comes at a time when un- calls on all Guyanese to be uses this opportunity to excertainty prevails and fear is inspired by the significance tend best wishes for instilled; when humanity is of Phagwah and not to lose Phagwah to all and calls on being trampled upon; when hope. Our Party believes that Guyanese not to be deterred freedoms are threatened; such inspiration would fortify by the prevailing climate of when people are being demor- our resolve and belief; that uncertainty. alized and despondency en- good will once again triumph People’s Progressive gulfs. over evil and that the road to Party *****************************************************************************************

MINISTER OF SOCIAL COHESION, Dr. George Norton

Guyanese throughout the unique fabric of the Guyanese we also celebrate the 100th annilength and breadth of the coun- society. Phagwah can be con- versary of the abolition of Indian try today observe the Hindu reli- sidered as an occasion, which Indentureship in this country. There is, no doubt, heightgious Festival of ‘Holi’ – a cel- sees the manifestation of the ebration of the triumph of good unity of our people and this ened appreciation among over evil. This spring festival, is certainly worth celebrating. members of the Indian comwhich is also referred to as It is important that we as a munity for their culture and Phagwah, is a joyful celebration people preserve every aspect the contributions of their fore that provides the opportunity for of our culture and use it to parents. It is without a doubt that this group has made sigpersons to rid themselves of past bring us closer together. We must let this good-na- nificant contributions to our errors and to mend broken relationships. The observance of this tured celebration set the tone dear land both in the form of culfestival is not only important to for the surrendering of old ture and the shaping of our the Hindu community, but has grievances, as we continue to economy. So let us all join together as grown into an important celebra- march steadily with a united front. Let it allow us to have a one people to celebrate Phagwah tion for all Guyanese. Guyanese from all walks of greater appreciation of our and the 100th Anniversary of the of Indian life, Hindus and non-Hindus relationships with family, Abolition alike, friends and strangers unite friends, workmates and other Indentureship in Guyana. Let us as one to indulge in the tradi- persons in our lives. It is impor- do this in the true spirit of one tional colouring of each other tant to note that Indian inden- people, in one nation, working with dry powder and coloured tured immigrants brought towards one destiny. Happy Holi to all of Guyana water. This forms a part of the Phagwah to Guyana and today *****************************************************************************************

GUYANA AGRICULTURAL AND GENERAL WORKERS UNION

The festival of Holi – known as Phagwah – is once again upon us. In Guyana, this festival has been a fixture in the country’s calendar of holidays. While this festival is of Hindu origin and celebrated by the Hindus primarily, today the Holi festivities attract, increasingly, non-Hindus in Guyana and elsewhere in the world. We are drawn to Holi’s colourful expressions and the exuberance and joy that electrify the celebrations everywhere. But, Holi’s significance lies in the embrace of life’s many positive values which provides sustenance to the human existence. Over the years, Holi has come to be seen as an enduring reminder of the triumph of good over evil. Its inspiring message where ‘good’ is promoted and embraced is as relevant as ever today. Around us, these days, are many evildoers of various stripes and many injustices which seem to be growing rather than diminishing. As life’s burdens grow heavier for the masses, and new threats hang over their

heads, the message of Holi gives us hope, strengthens our faith that wrongs can be overcome, and imbue us with the courage to go on in the face of adversities and triumph. This year’s Phagwah activities find the GAWU facing various challenges in the sugar industry. However, we are optimistic as the message of Phagwah reminds us, that success in the future will come from our principled struggles. At this time, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) takes pleasure in wishing all Hindus, indeed all Guyanese a Happy Holi 2017. The fact that this Holi festival appeals to a cross sector of our diverse religious and cultural makeup is significant. Any event that can promote togetherness and tolerance should be encouraged. In the circumstances of today, our unity to overcome injustices is essential as we continue along the challenging path to a joyful, bright and prosperous future. Happy Holi to all Guyana from GAWU.

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Kaieteur News

PHAGWAH MESSAGE

Plot to kill Rose Hall Town businessman...

MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF GEORGETOWN

Jamaican placed in custody

It is an honour to extend Phagwah greetings to my Hindu brothers and sisters. This is a very special occasion, in the Hindu calendar of activities, where purity of heart and the attitude of giving are emphasized. It is my sincere wish that as we celebrate, purity would be reflected in our Local Communities and in general aesthetics of the city. The manner in which we keep our environment should confirm to environmental health standards. We should endeavour to show care

and caution for the environment in which we live, work and play. As we celebrate this special occasion, let it bring us closer together in unity regardless of our race, colour or religious persuasion; let us remember that in unity there is strength. As we celebrate let us pray for peace and become instruments of peace, let us not concede to grounds of division, we must do everything to ensure unity, harmony and peace. Once again Happy Phagwah.

Georgetown Mayor’s son shot, robbed Richard Mittleholzer, 46, the son of Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green was shot and robbed around 1:00 AM yesterday at a bar at Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara. According to ‘D’ Division Commander Leslie James, Mittleholzer was having a few drinks at a popular night spot in the area when he was approached by a lone male carrying a firearm. James said that the gunman accosted Mittleholzer who resisted and was shot in the abdomen. He was also robbed of a chain and a wrist band. The Commander said that the injured man was t r a n s p o r t e d t o We s t Demerara Hospital and was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was listed in a

Richard Mittleholzer serious but stable condition. James said that the bandit fled and no one has been arrested as the police continue to investigate the incident. Speaking to Kaieteur

News, Ms. Chase-Green said she was informed about the incident around 1:30 AM yesterday and was told that her son was with a female companion and another friend when the incident occurred. She said that Mittleholzer was celebrating his birthday and having a few drinks when he wa s a p p r o a c h e d b y male demanding valuables. A c c o r d i n g to the Mayor, Mittleholzer is not in a critical condition, but he is still not out of danger. According to reports, emergency surgery was performed on the injured man to remove the bullet that was lodged in his abdomen. Chase-Green said that she is worried as any parent but has to stay strong and is hopeful for her son’s speedy recovery.

Commander of B Division, Ian Amsterdam, has confirmed that the Jamaican national for whom the police were on the hunt returned to Guyana yesterday and was immediately arrested at Moleson Creek. He stated that the other three persons that were arrested on Thursday are still in police custody. According to the police, the Jamaican National is allegedly the mastermind behind the plot to execute and rob the businessman. The “hitman” was taken into custody after a detective observed his suspicious behaviour. The man identified

as Curtis Fraser of New Amsterdam, collided with a car on the Albion Public Road. However, it was when he asked a driver of a car for a lift to Hampshire and left his motorcycle on the road, that the detective began following him. He was trailed to two villages away when upon seeing the detective who was behind him, threw what appeared to be a firearm in the trench nearby. By that time back-up which was summoned by the detectives arrived on the scene and placed the man under arrest. A .38 revolver, with four matching rounds were retrieved from the trench.

While in custody Fraser told investigators that the Jamaican National hired him to execute and rob the businessman. He also named two other persons, who were involved in the plot. The plot was developed after reports received stated that the businessman had owed the Jamaican money. However, the businessman disclosed on Friday, that he is not in business with the Jamaican but is rather a close friend of his. The businessman noted that he does not believe the Jamaican would want to kill him. He also denied owing money to the Jamaican.

Dutch PM bars Turkish foreign minister in escalation of rally row Reuters - The Netherlands barred Turkey’s foreign minister from landing in Rotterdam yesterday in a row over Ankara’s political campaigning among Turkish emigres, leading President Tayyip Erdogan to brand the fellow NATO member a “Nazi remnant”. The extraordinary incident came hours after Mevlut Cavusoglu said he would fly to Rotterdam despite being banned from a rally there to marshal support for sweeping new powers Erdogan seeks. Europe, he said, must be rid of its “boss-like attitude”. Cavusoglu, who was

barred from a similar meeting in Hamburg last week but spoke instead from the Turkish consulate, accused the Dutch of treating the many Turkish citizens in the country like “hostages”, cutting them off from Ankara. “I sent them so they could contribute to your economy,” he told CNN Turk TV, days ahead of Dutch polls where immigration may play a significant part. “They’re not your captives.” “If my going will increase tensions, let it be ... I am a foreign minister and I can go wherever I want,” he added hours before his planned

flight to Rotterdam was banned. Cavusoglu threatened harsh economic and political sanctions if the Dutch refused him entry, a threat that proved decisive for the Netherlands government. It cited public order and security concerns in withdrawing landing rights for Cavusoglu’s flight. But it said the sanctions threat made the search for a reasonable solution impossible. “This decision is a scandal and unacceptable in every way. It does not abide by diplomatic practices,” Cavusoglu told reporters in Istanbul yesterday evening. Dutch anti-Muslim politician Geert Wilders, polling second ahead of Wednesday’s elections, said in a tweet yesterday: “To all Turks in the Netherlands who agree with Erdogan: Go to Turkey and NEVER come back!!” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said:

Sunday March 12, 2017

Kaieteur News

Rev Paul Hanniford sentenced to 20 years for having sex with 13-year-old girl Jamaica Observer - Rev Paul Hanniford Saturday sentenced to 20 years in prison for having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl two years ago. The sentence was handed down by Justice Lorna Shelly Williams when Hanniford appeared in the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston. The Pentecostal City Mission Church pastor was on January 24 convicted by a seven-member jury for having sexual intercourse with the girl, who was three years below the age of consent. The court was told that the minor was a member of the pastor’s Pentecostal City Mission Church and was baptised by him. According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), the complainant, who is now 15 years old, testified in court that on March 12, 2015, she and her five-year-old brother went to the church for choir practice and after the rehearsal they asked Pastor Hanniford for a drive-out in his van. The pastor, the ODPP said, took the children to his house in Kingston and all three went inside the building. “The pastor gave the fiveyear-old some cornflakes to eat. The complainant re-

Rev Paul Hanniford quested the use of the bathroom and while there in the bathroom the pastor entered. The complainant was pushed by the pastor outside the bathroom onto a bed that was inside a nearby bedroom and sexually assaulted her,” the ODPP said in a release following the pastor’s conviction in January. Prosecutors led evidence that the complainant began crying for help. The court was told that her cries of “help, help” were overheard by her brother, who had climbed onto a chair and peeped through a hole in the door and observed Pas-

tor Hanniford sexually assaulting his sister which made him feel “sad”. According to the evidence presented to the court, after the complainant managed to leave the room, and rejoin her brother, the pastor gave them some cornflakes to eat and later warned the complainant not to tell anyone as it was their “secret”. Later Pastor Hanniford, the court heard, took the complainant and her brother back to the church where the mother of the children met them. The complainant’s brother made a report to his mother in the presence of the pastor about what he had seen. The following day a meeting was convened at the church with the bishop, the pastor, the complainant, her brother and the children’s parents. On April 14, 2015, a report was made to the police and the pastor was arrested. He was subsequently charged and when he was cautioned he made no statement. In his defence at the incamera trial, the pastor denied having sexual intercourse with the complainant and said that he had given the children a drive-out but not on the day in question.

WTO wants vigilance against Zika virus to in a country and in fact mosremain high quitos that are established GENEVA - CMC – The World Health Organisation (WTO) is urging Caribbean countries to continue to be vigilant although there has been a decline in case of the mosquito-borne Zika virus. The WTO has issued new guidance on the virus that has been linked to birth defects and neurological complications. The new WHO data also lists countries where the Aedes aegypti mosquito is present but where there is no sign of the virus. The insect is considered to be the main transmitter of the disease, which has been identified in more than 80 countries to date, WHO said, adding that overall, the global risk assessment has not changed. “The (Zika virus) continues to spread geographically to areas where competent vectors are present. The current data adds some 70 countries to the list of those considered to be “atrisk,” according to the UN. It said that these are countries where there’s no sign of the virus but where the Aedes aegypti mosquito is

Monika Gehner present; it is considered to be the main carrier of the virus. WHO technical Officer Monika Gehner, said the new guidance will help “because now we can assess risks more precisely, “Now, even if you do not have Zika virus transmission, but if you have the Aedes aegypti mosquito, you are at risk of Zika virus transmission.” Gehner stressed that, amid surging global travel, “a traveler who is infected with Zika virus may go to an area

there, and a mosquito can then transmit to other people and so on, so you have a cycle of transmission.” The WHO said that the aim of this new guidance is not to spread alarm. Instead, it’s a call to governments to do more to prevent the spread of Zika,. “This requires greater surveillance of mosquito populations and research into suspected Zika infections, as well as better diagnostic techniques and updated health advice to at-risk communities and travelers.” WHO first declared Zika an international public health emergency in February last year. Since it was detected in Brazil late last year, WHO said the virus has spread through the Americas and the Caribbean to other regions, including Africa, Oceania and Asia.

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Trump’s revised travel ban dealt first court setback Reuters - A federal judge in Wisconsin dealt the first legal blow to President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban on Friday, barring enforcement of the policy to deny U.S. entry to the wife and child of a Syrian refugee already granted asylum in the United States. The temporary restraining order, granted by U.S. District Judge William Conley in Madison, applies only to the family of the Syrian refugee, who brought the case anonymously to protect the identities of his wife and daughter, still living in the war-torn Syrian city of Aleppo. But it represents the first of several challenges brought against Trump’s newly amended executive order, issued on March 6 and due to go into effect on March 16, to draw a court ruling in opposition to its enforcement. Conley, chief judge of the federal court in Wisconsin’s western district and an appointee of former President

Judge William Conley Barack Obama, concluded the plaintiff “has presented some likelihood of success on the merits” of his case and that his family faces “significant risk of irreparable harm” if forced to remain in Syria. The plaintiff, a Sunni Muslim, fled Syria to the United States in 2014 to “escape near-certain death” at the

hands of sectarian military forces fighting the Syrian government in Aleppo, according to his lawsuit. He subsequently obtained asylum for his wife and their only surviving child, a daughter, and their application had cleared the security vetting process and was headed for final processing when it was halted by Trump’s original travel ban on Jan. 27. That executive order sought to ban admission to the United States of citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries - Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and Iraq - for 120 days and to suspend entry of all refugees indefinitely. The original travel ban, which caused widespread chaos and protests at airports when first implemented, was rescinded after the state of Washington won a nationwide federal court order blocking further enforcement of the policy.

Opponents of South Korea’s ousted Park rally to call for her arrest SEOUL (Reuters) - Opponents of South Korea’s ousted leader, Park Geun-hye rallied in the capital, Seoul, yesterday to demand that she be arrested, a day after she was thrown out of office over a corruption scandal involving the country’s conglomerates. Park’s critics were out in central Seoul yesterday, where they have been gathering every weekend for months, while the former president’s conservative supporters also took to the streets not far away, though fewer in number. Police were out in force with riot shields but there were no reports of trouble. “Impeachment is not the end. We’ve not dispersed, we’re still going forward, united,” said one anti-Park protester who gave his name as T.H. Kim. “She’s a citizen now. If she’s done something wrong, she has to be arrested.” Park, 65, is South Korea’s first democratically elected leader to be forced from office. Her ouster followed months of political paralysis and turmoil over a corruption scandal that also landed the head of the Samsung conglomerate in jail and facing trial. The court ruling marked a dramatic fall from grace of South Korea’s first woman president and daughter of

Cold War military dictator Park Chung-hee. She served as his first lady after the 1974 assassination of her mother. At times, Park and her supporters have bridled at associating her with her father, who seized power in a 1961 coup and ruled for 18 years until he was gunned down by his security chief in 1979. Though she has spent years in the public eye, she has remained an enigma. Now, having lost presidential immunity, she could face criminal charges over bribery, extortion and abuse of power in connection with allegations of conspiring with her friend, Choi Soon-sil. Both women denied wrongdoing. Hwang has called for calm and promised that a snap presidential election, which has to be held within 60 days, would be smooth. The chairman of the National Election Commission, Kim Yong-deok, said the vote would be free and fair and held by May 9 at the latest. He said he was concerned differences could lead to an “overheated” atmosphere and called on the public to overcome conflict. Park’s supporters want her to stay in power. Some want the court decision overturned and her case heard again by new judges. “We strongly request the

trial is held again,” said Chung Kwang Yong, a spokesman for organizers of rallies backing Park. Leading in opinion polls to succeed her is prominent liberal politician, Moon Jaein, who advocates reconciliation with North Korea. Relations with China and the United States could dominate the presidential campaign, after South Korea this month began deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system in response to North Korea’s stepped up missile and nuclear tests. Beijing has vigorously protested against the deployment, fearing its radar could see into its missile deployments. China has curbed travel to South Korea and targeted Korean companies in the mainland, prompting retaliatory measures from Seoul. Reform of the country’s giant conglomerates, known as “chaebol”, will also be an election issue. Park was accused of soliciting bribes from the head of the Samsung Group, the country’s largest conglomerate, for government favors. Samsung Group leader Jay Y. Lee has been accused of bribery and embezzlement in connection with the scandal and is in detention. His trial began on Thursday. He and Samsung have denied wrongdoing.

Sunday March 12, 2017

Kaieteur News

CDB launches US$436.7 million country strategy for Trinidad and Tobago

From left to right: Dr Justin Ram, Director of Economics, CDB; Joanne Deoraj, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Planning and Development; Claire Davidson-Williams, Administrator, Division of Finance and the Economy of the Tobago House of Assembly; Camille RobinsonRegis, Minister of Planning and Development; Patricia McKenzie, Vice-President Operations, CDB and Daniel Best, Director of Projects, CDB, chat during the launch of the country strategy in Tobago. SCARBOROUGH, Tobago — The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), in partnership with the government of Trinidad and Tobago, has formally launched a country strategy for the nation, which proposes financial support of US$436.7 million for the period 2017 to 2021. Last week, stakeholders from CDB and the government attended a launch event in Lowlands, Tobago, during which the bank outlined the programme of support. The programme of assistance, on which Dr Justin Ram, director of Economics, CDB made a presentation at the event, aims to achieve five primary development outcomes: • improved quality of, and access to, education and training; • strengthened social protection; • increased productivity, competitiveness and economic diversification; • improved evidencebased development planning and institutional development; and • strengthened environmental management

supported by safe and resilient infrastructure. Gender equality, as well as energy security and citizen security considerations, will be mainstreamed in CDB’s interventions delivered under the strategy. ”Today’s interaction is really for you to understand what the country strategy is all about for Trinidad and Tobago and, in particular, and also for you to seek any clarification that you may have for your ministries so that you may access the grant resources and the loan resources that are available to shore up the development programme in our various ministries,” said Camille Robinson-Regis, minister of planning and development during her remarks. The launch event preceded talks between a CDB delegation and officials from the Tobago House of Assembly, which took place on March 10, during which they planned and discussed their engagement over the next four to five years.

These discussions build on earlier extensive dialogue on the strategy with officials from the government of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as other stakeholders and development partners, prior to its approval by the bank’s board of directors in December 2016. Under the country strategy arrangement, governments gain access to resources available under the programme, subject to the bank’s appraisal of individual projects. If those projects are determined to be viable, CDB’s board of directors approves the interventions. Disbursements commence after conditions agreed to between the country and the bank have been satisfied. The country strategy for Trinidad and Tobago aligns with CDB’s strategic objectives of supporting inclusive and sustainable growth and development, and promoting good governance. It builds on the government of Trinidad and Tobago’s National Development Plan Vision 2030. (Caribbean News)

IMPACT Justice moving to next level with restorative practices training in Barbados BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — The Canadian government-funded project Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) is hosting two workshops each in restorative practices and restorative justice conference facilitation in Barbados as part of its broader alternative dispute resolution (ADR) programme being executed in Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states. IMPACT Justice is a regional jus-

tice sector reform project that is being implemented from within the Caribbean Law Institute Centre, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus. Restorative practices is an offshoot of restorative justice that focuses on reducing and resolving conflict at the earliest possible stage, while seeking to avoid blame and trying to find constructive solutions to issues. It promotes effective communication and working towards positive outcomes.

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Sunday March 12, 2017

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Fernandes raps with KS about hosting 2017 Indoor... (From page 75) discussed specific dollar amounts as we, the GHB, are still putting together our budget for the tournament. While we have a rough idea of the major expenses, we are discussing the details with PAHF to ensure we capture every responsibility of the host nation. Once this is complete we will be meeting with all the major stakeholders, including the Ministry and the GOA, to discuss what is possible. KS- The sport over the past few years has really come on leaps and bounds and we are now considered to be serious contenders at the regional and Pan Am levels, what has been responsible for this encouraging forward thrust? PF-One of the major reasons that we have been able to produce such encouraging results in the indoor version of the game is because we have facilities on which to train. While access to the National Gymnasium is limited since several sports share the venue, there is no substitute to preparation on surfaces similar to those being used in competition. In the outdoor game, the contrast between the grass fields which are used for preparation locally and the artificial

hockey pitches used for all international competition is vast. This places our teams in a position of great disparity and makes it very hard to match the performance development of nations with artificial pitches. In addition, we have had a string of excellent coaches including Timothy McIntosh and Robert Fernandes who understand indoor hockey and have been able to ingrain the right habits and bring out the best performances from our players. This coupled with an abundance of local talent coming out of our junior national team which benefitted from a GOA assisted Olympic Solidarity team support grant makes up a winning formula. KS- I know facilities have always been a challenge, but now that we have been declared host do you think we can get everything ready to be an excellent host and perhaps leave a lasting legacy in the minds of visiting teams? PF-I believe that our hospitality and ability to coordinate the event can match any nation in the region. The major challenge does come down to the quality of the playing facility which does not only include the playing

area, but the basic services such as clean, reliable power, good washroom facilities, a proper secured recreational area with good food and beverage options available to our guests. These will be the major focus in the early months as they will be largely responsible for the kind of memories that are left in the minds of our visitors. I think that these are all achievable targets and I am excited to transform our facility into an exciting oasis of good hockey, comfortable accommodation and pleasant memories. KS- Have you been able to work out an approximate cost of hosting such a high profile event? PF-We are still finalising our budget, but we anticipate at this point being able to stage the tournament for a figure between $5M to $10M. This figure will heavily depend on how many teams enter the competition as there are several costs like transportation, insurance etc that are specific to the number of persons. While such costs may seem substantial, hosting the tournament here in Guyana removes the heavy travel costs of our teams which always have to raise the funds to compete while pro-

Sunday March 12, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You will meet new friends and enjoy a multitude of new activities. Expect your workload to be heavy. You will have the ability to capture the interest of others.

someone you live with.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Your disciplined attention to jobs will enhance your position. Take a look at the possibilities of starting a small part time business with friends or relatives.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You could be your own worst enemy if you overreact to something you're told.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Do some research if you want to find information that you can apply against the opposition you face.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Visit friends or relatives you don't get to see very often. Entertainment could be pleasing if it is of an energetic nature.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Try looking into new ways to make extra money. The emotional state of peers may cause a problem for you. Avoid any gossip and be careful that you aren't misinterpreted.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You will need to finalize important deals today. Go out with friends who are positive and supportive. Your family needs to spend some time with you, too.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) It's a good time for long awaited relationships to begin. Tempers will mount if you're too pushy at work or at home. You can invest in profitable ventures.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Do you really want to start something with someone you can't reason with? You may need to lend an ear to an old friend. Stay mellow.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Try to be precise in your communications. You may have problems with those you live with. Secret enemies will be eager to spread rumors about you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may overspend if you travel today; however, the trip will be one to remember. You may have some difficulties with

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) It won't take much to upset your lover. Enlist the aid of family members and consider the feelings of your mate.

viding us with a multitude of additional benefits, some of which I mentioned earlier. KS- Have you begun to put in place a Local Organising Committee (LOC) that will be responsible for releases and updates leading up to the event? PF- Yes. We have an organising committee in place which has been functioning to stage the Diamond Mineral Water International Hockey Festival every year and so we do have local experience and expertise. In addition I have reached out to former hockey players and officials including Troy Peters, Bruce Lovell along with Chris Fernandes and Conrad Plummer, who were among the major organisers of our last local international tournament held here in Guyana in 1988. We have been having many supporters of the game offering assistance and I feel confident that we will have an even stronger organising committee for this event than we have ever had. I expect to have this full committee in place before the end of the month. KS- How soon could we see the teams announced to commence preparations to excel in the tournament? PF-All teams will have a deadline of April 30th in which to indicate their participation in the tournament. In the meantime, an official from PAHF will be visiting during the last week of March to have a look at the facilities and infrastructure and to meet with the local Federation on related matters to the tournament. This means that by April we will have a clear direction and can begin serious preparation for the competition. KS- Is there any other matter of relevance? PF-Guyanese hockey players have been robbed the opportunity to compete on the international stage in front of their own fan base for many years. The last time we hosted an international competition in Guyana was back in 1988 where I myself made my international debut. It was an experience like no other in my life and I am very excited to be able to provide our current crop of national hockey players a similar opportunity. We do hope that Guyanese take the opportunity to come out and see what the game is all about while they cheer on our boys and girls to victory. Additionally, while the men’s team was fortunate to play in international competitions of this nature and with some measure of success, our women have not had this opportunity so I guess it is a good feeling to know that they will have this chance to play at this level and in front of home support.

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Milo football resumes today with four more matches Play in this year’s Milo 18 and under Schools Football Competition resumes today with four more matches at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue. Below are the fixtures: 11:00 hrs East Riumveldt Secondary v/s St. Mary’s Secondary School 12:30 hrs St John’s College v/s Pure Masters 14:00 hrs Lodge Secondary School v/s Kingston Secondary 15:30 hrs Morgan Learning Centre v/s Tucville secondary

Assistant Commissioner... (From page 78) season and we need to start thinking about these things,” Williams said. Asked what is helping the Police to succeed in Football, he alluded to proper management. “There’s a Strategic Plan for Football in the Police Force. Assistant Commissioner, Brian Joseph is in charge of the team. Joseph is doing the right thing because what I know is that,

like what we spoke of earlier; there is a recruitment process in place,” Williams continued. He informed that currently the Police can easily field an ‘A’ and ‘B’ team in Football because of the amount of players who have shown an interest in their programme. The Police Force recently lost 0-1 to Western Tigers in the Petra Organisation Limacol Final.

Floyd Mayweather is ‘out of... (From page 74) place, archrival Nate Diaz. Boxer Andre Ward hosted a show on CSN Bay Area called “The Fight Game,” in which he interviewed Diaz and fellow UFC fighter Gilbert Melendez, and Diaz said McGregor had a chance to win early in a bout. It wasn’t a full-throated endorsement by any means, but he gave McGregor a shot to win, which is more than most have done. “I think it is a big publicity stunt, but my take on a

boxing match between the two is that McGregor, I think he’s got a good chance to make something happen in the first two or three rounds,” Diaz said. “If anything, two or three rounds. But he’s got an amateur style where he’s only got the good movement, good punches for six, eight minutes. I think that’s too amateur for Mayweather. I’m just saying he’s got a puncher’s chance, if anything.” Melendez laughed and said, “Yeah, a lucky punch.”

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Sunday March 12, 2017

Floyd Mayweather is ‘out of retirement,’ calls for June fight with Conor McGregor

Floyd Mayweather has set his sights, yet again, on UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor. (Getty Images) Yahoo Sports - The story that will never die reared its ugly head again yesterday, when Floyd Mayweather announced in England that he is coming out of retirement. This, of course, is massive news for boxing, given that Mayweather is the greatest boxer of his era and one of the best of all-time. And, being the showman he is, he played it for all it’s worth. “Everybody get your phone out,” Mayweather says. “Post this to the internet as soon as possible.” But he’s not coming out to face unified welterweight champion Keith Thurman. Or rising prospect Errol Spence. Or even a super welterweight fight with Canelo Alvarez or Gennady Golovkin. No, Mayweather has set his sights, yet again, on UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor. And then he went into a long and tortured explanation of how he, and not McGregor, would be the A-side in the fight. If you’re a boxing fan, it’s familiar talk. He said it all multiple times in the six years that fans were clamoring for him to fight Manny Pacquiao. “When I faced Arturo Gatti [in 2005 in Atlantic City, N.J.], I went to his turf,” Mayweather said. “He was the Aside. I was the B-side. I beat him. I didn’t cry. I didn’t complain. When I faced Oscar De La Hoya [in Las Vegas in 2007], he was the A-side and I was the B-side. I didn’t cry. I didn’t complain. I beat him and I became the A-side. “For Conor McGregor, I’m coming out of retirement, just to fight Conor McGregor. I don’t want to hear no more excuses about the money, about the UFC. Sign the paper with the UFC so you can fight me in June. Simple and plain, let’s fight in June. You’re the B-side. I’m the A-side. We’re not here to cry about money. I’m tired of all this crying about money and saying you want to fight. You’re blowing smoke up everyone’s [butt], if you want to fight, sign the paperwork.” Mayweather went on to describe how he was at home and seeing news reports that McGregor wanted to fight him. Of course, he threw a little zinger in with it as he told the story. “I probably had silk pajamas on and they kept saying that, ‘Conor McGregor wants to fight. Conor McGregor wants to fight. Conor McGregor wants to fight,’ “ Mayweather said. “And to be honest, when they kept saying that, I was really like, to be honest, ‘I don’t know who the [expletive] that is.” Mayweather said two members of his security teams are UFC fans and he had them pull clips of McGregor to fight. He said he didn’t think McGregor was serious. “He’s using my name for leverage,” Mayweather said. That’s true, of course, just as Mayweather, who has been retired since defeating Andre Berto on Sept. 12, 2015, is using McGregor’s name for leverage.It’s a joke of a fight under any circumstance because they’re different sports. Boxing and MMA are related, just as softball and baseball are related, but it would be unreasonable to expect the best fast-pitch softball hitter in the world to go into Major League Baseball and hit pitchers like Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner. McGregor has yet to respond, though he took a little shot at Mayweather with a tweet the other day. He posted a photo of one of Mayweather’s ‘The Money Team,’ vans after it was set on fire in England. As for how the fight would play out, most neutral observers think it’s a one-sided bout in favor of Mayweather, given that McGregor has never boxed before, amateur or pro. But the Irishman did get support from an unexpected (Continued on page 73)

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Fernandes raps with KS about hosting 2017 Indoor Pan American Cups By Rawle Welch Following the disclosure that Guyana has won the bid to host the 2017 Indoor Pan American Cups from October 14-22, Kaieteur Sport (KS) posed some questions to President of the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) Philip Fernandes (PF) in relation to the staging of the event and preparations leading up to its hosting and here are his responses. KS- Now that Guyana has been awarded the rights to host the 2017 Pan American Indoor Cups what does it mean for the sport of hockey to be hosting such a high level tournament? PF-Over the years, the Guyana Hockey Board has been appealing to the Global and Regional Federations of the sport for assistance with an artificial turf for hockey. An artificial surface became mandatory for international hockey competition over 25 years ago and Guyana has been struggling ever since to keep abreast with the game competitively, largely as a

result of not having such a surface. Now that indoor hockey has been gaining more recognition on the international calendar, Guyana is finally in a position once again to host an international competition as we do have indoor facilities. Having the Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Championships every year since 2004 has given us the confidence that we can host a successful tournament and also gave the Pan American Hockey F e d e r a t i o n ( PA H F ) confidence in us. This tournament is of great importance to local hockey and to the country. Depending on how many teams enter, this tournament can bring an estimated 400 to 700 people to Guyana as it accommodates a maximum of 24 teams, each comprising of 12 players and a minimum 3 officials plus a number of Tournament and PA H F o f f i c i a l s a n d spectators. We intend to showcase Guyana as an excellent choice as host

country. The competition is going to be streamed live online and so we will receive global exposure. Thousands of people witnessed the last Pan Am Indoor four years ago and with the growing reputation of this version of the game, we expect bigger numbers this time around. We have a lot of young people who have started playing hockey through our schools programme and who will be afforded the opportunity for the first time to see the game’s stars performing live. This opportunity will no doubt go a far way to exciting and encouraging our new players and broadening the sport’s fan base. KS- I know personally you’ve been working for years to host such an event what challenge (s) does it pose for the GHB? PF-The biggest challenge I see for the GHB is to ensure that the playing facility is brought up to international standard. This will require quite a bit of work as we are currently

Part of the action at the proposed National Gymnasium. considering the National Gymnasium, where indoor hockey has been played for the past 5 years, as our first option. Specifically, the areas to be addressed in the gymnasium are the playing surface, the washroom facilities, the power supply to the building and the changing and officials rooms. Some of these will require very minor upgrades and will result in a much improved facility from which local sports can benefit well after the tournament has been

completed. KS- I guess by now you would have apprised the Ministry of Sport and the NSC of this new development, could you say what was their response? P F - We h a v e h a d meetings with the Director of Sport prior to submitting Guyana’s bid as a host nation to ensure that the Ministry and NSC would embrace the opportunity. The Director has been very positive in his outlook and very supportive of our idea to host. Since the bid has been awarded we

Philip Fernandes have been in contact and plan to have a walkthrough of both the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and Gymnasium to measure the benefits of each option. Whatever we decide together will of course take into consideration costeffectiveness, while trying not to compromise the quality of the tournament. KS- Have they consented to add unmitigated support towards the hosting of the event and to what extent? PF-We have not (Continued on page 73)

Milestone man Romello Crawford wins feature 35-lap Herath spins Lanka to Galle victory race; Curtis Dey cops juvenile race 12th DMW National Park Cycle Meet

Organiser Hassan Mohamed (right) with winners and other recipients of prizes following the presentation yesterday at the National Park. The Berbice based Trojan Cycle Club enjoyed a fruitful day on the inner circuit of Guyana premier cycling track when Curtis Dey and Romello Crawford stormed to victory in the juvenile 10-lap and feature school boys and invitation 35-lap race yesterday. Crawford’s victory brought the curtains down on the 12th edition of the annual Demerara Distillers Limited Diamond Mineral Water 11 Race National Park Cycle Meet. Competing against a bevy of experienced campaigners, Crawford won

the contest in One Hour 16 Minutes 24 Seconds lowering last year’s winning time of 1’ 19.58" set by Orville Hinds who had to settle for 5th place this time around. Trailing Crawford to the

line was reigning National Road Race champion Geron Williams followed by Stephano Husbands, Shaquel Agard in fourth position with Hamza Eastman closing out the top six positions.

Dey, who has been ruling the roost at the junior level for a few races now, did so once again with victory in the juvenile 10-lap contest ahead of Briton John and Adealie Hodge, winning in 25 Minutes.

(Reuters) Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath became the most successful left-arm spinner in test cricket yesterday, claiming six for 59 to bowl his team to an emphatic 259-run victory against Bangladesh in the first test at the Galle International Stadium. Leading the side in the absence of injured regular skipper Angelo Mathews, Herath mowed down the Bangladesh middle and lower order as the tourists, chasing a mammoth 457-run victory target, collapsed for 197 an hour after the lunch break. Bangladesh began the final day needing 390 runs for an improbable win at a ground where no team has scored more than 300 in the fourth innings. They received an early jolt, losing opener Soumya Sarkar to the second delivery of the day. Sarkar could not add to his overnight score of 53 and was bowled by Asela Gunaratne and the tourists kept losing wickets regularly. Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim (34) joined forces with Liton Das (35) to hold off Sri Lanka’s victory charge for 19-odd overs before the wheels came off. Herath struck twice in the 27th over, dismissing Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah in the space of three balls to equal New Zealander Daniel Vettori’s 362 test wicket mark. Herath, who turns 39 on March 19, dismissed Liton to enter the record books and went on to complete a nine-wicket match haul which took his tally to 366 in 79 matches. Colombo hosts the second and final test from Wednesday. Scores: Sri Lanka 494 (Mendis 194, Mehedi 4-112) and 274 for 6 declared (Tharanga 115, Mehedi 2-77) beat Bangladesh 312 (Mushfiqur 85, Perera 3-53) and 197 (Liton 35, Mushfiqur 34, Herath 6-59) by 259 runs.

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National Women’s Development League

Paiwomak Warriors and GDF for today’s final; Conquerors and St. Ignatius battle for 3rd By Franklin Wilson Paiwomak Warriors Football Club based at Annai in the Rupununi will battle the Guyana Defence Force in today’s final of the N a t i o n a l Wo m e n ’s Developmental League which will take place at the GDF ground, today. Paiwomak defeated Conquerors Females 2-1 in yesterday’s feature semi final with the GDF getting the better of St. Ignatius Sports Club of Lethem 2-0 on kicks from the penalty mark following an exciting 2-2 tie in regulation and extra time. Competing with 7 players utalising the full length of the pitch was always going to be a challenge for the players but they warmed to the c h a l l e n g e a d m i r a b l y, exciting the fans who were on hand to witness the action including GFF President Wayne Forde and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Ivan Persaud. Battling for 30 minutes, two equal halves of 15 minutes, a Samantha Roberts double propelled Paiwomak Warriors to victory in a competition that has been supported by the world governing body FIFA which saw all the competing teams receiving a complete set of gear and other equipment towards their

Samantha Roberts (left) and Jillian Hawker – Paiwomak Warriors FC participation in the competition. Whilst Roberts who rocked the nets in the 13th and 24th minute was rampant at the top against the Conquerors defence, the Warriors had the solid Jillian Hawker controlling proceedings at the back as she negated many a promising efforts from the Conquerors forwards especially in the second half. Conquerors’ Nathalie Nedd was able to pull one back in the 26th minute and for a while looked as they were going to equalise but the Warriors kept the home team at bay for the win. The opening match saw end to end action which went down to the wire where the

Army side only needed to score two of their three penalties through their star player Abeocia Heywood and Kendra Thomas; St. Ignatius missed both of theirs which were taken by Sonia Griffith who went wide of the upright and Amanda Cabral who sent her shot way over the cross bar. During regulation time the GDF’s star forward Heywood handed her side the lead five minutes into the match, her speed and control of the ball never allowing the St. Ignatius side, led by Amika Semple in defence, to contain her. But one minute after assuming the lead, the GDF hadn’t a choice but watch the

Guyana Defence Force Female Football Team Lethem based girls neutralise that advantage when Vanessa Scipio beat former Lady Jag custodian, Ronette Cort. On the stroke of half time, St. Ignatius assumed the lead on account of Sonia Griffith’s powerfully taken penalty which Cort could not deny. The momentum was now with the Lethem girls but after the brief break, the Army lasses were intent on changing that as they played a more aggressive game by pressing high. The quickness of the GDF to the ball and their

ability to cover more ground than their opponents saw the equalizing goal being scored by none other than Heywood in the 25th minute, custodian Natasha Rodrigues, well beaten. However, St. Ignatius never gave up and were able to contain the GDF ladies for the remainder of the match and the six minutes of extra time that was played before kicks from the penalty mark were taken to decide the winner. The third place match today will kick off at 16:00hrs between

Conquerors and St. Ignatius which would be followed by the grand final pitting Paiwomak Warriors against the home team, GDF. This would be followed the final of the STAG Elite League, League Leaders tournament between the Guyana Defence Force and Fruta Conquerors. A total of 13 teams from seven (7) associations participated, the most from the Rupununi (4) with U D FA , B e r b i c e a n d Georgetown with two each, while there was one apiece from East Bank, West Demerara and Bartica.

Dunedin test poised for intriguing final day (Reuters) Dean Elgar failed to join a select group of South Africa batsman while New Zealand took three late wickets to leave the first test at University Oval delicately poised at the end of the fourth day yesterday. South Africa were 224 for six at the close of play in a chilly Dunedin with a lead of 191 runs entering the final day on a pitch that is turning but offering little assistance for the pace bowlers and is proving difficult to score from. Captain Faf du Plessis was on 56 at the close of play, with Vernon Philander on one after New Zealand had taken three wickets after tea, including Elgar, who was dropped twice and

Dean Elgar’s caught behind decision was overturned on review in the last over before tea, New Zealand v South Africa, 1st Test, Dunedin, 3rd day, ©Getty Images overturned a caught behind decision during his innings. The 29-year-old had been seeking to become the sixth South Africa batsman

to score a century in both innings of a test but fell short when he was caught by Kane Williamson for 89 from offspinner Jeetan Patel. He

scored 140 in the first innings. Temba Bavuma was then bowled by Mitchell Santner for six and Quinton de Kock

also bowled by Patel for four in gloomy conditions, with players leaving the field with nine overs remaining. South Africa had begun the day with a five-run lead and nine wickets in hand and with rain forecast for the final day on Sunday, the hosts needed to make the most of their opportunities to trytodismissthevisitorscheaply. New Zealand, however, only had themselves to blame for not being in a better position having dropped Elgar twice and JP Duminy once. The hosts were also further hampered with opening bowler Trent Boult trudging off the field from midway through the middle session with a groin strain. It is also debatable

whether batsman Ross Taylor would bat in the second innings after he suffered a torn calf muscle in the first. South Africa lost just two wickets in the first two sessions when Duminy was trapped in front by Neil Wagner for 39 after lunch, while Hashim Amla was dismissed for 24 early in a disrupted first session. Play had been due to begin 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled start of 1100 (2200 GMT) after a fire alarm in the main stand forced the evacuation of the entire venue and held up play for about 30 minutes on Friday. Scores: South Africa 308 and 224 for 6 (Elgar 89, du Plessis 56*) lead New Zealand 341 by 191 runs.

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GuyanaNRA receive timely donation from Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc. As the Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) continues to prepare the Timehri Rifle Ranges for its 150th Anniversary celebrations later this year, the business community is beginning to respond to calls for assistance to complete the massive infrastructural works. At the first Statutory Meeting of the newly elected Executive Council held at the Guyana Defence Force Conference Room, CEO of Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc. Mr. Harold Hopkinson made a sizable donation towards the works. President of the GuyanaNRA, Brig. Patrick West, received the cheque on behalf of the association. Mr. Hopkinson, who is also a former Smallbore Captain of the association and presently the association’s IPSC Regional Director, stated that he sees his contribution going a long way towards the development of the shooting sport in Guyana. A section of the range is being developed with multiple berms being built to

facilitate the various stages of smallbore competition. With the completion of the new smallbore range it would enable the association to host smallbore championships at an international level. I n a d d i t i o n , M r. Hopkinson made another donation towards the training of Mr. Lennox Braithwaite. This will enable the Commonwealth Games bound shooter, as part of his training to participate in the a n n u a l B i s l e y Championships in England. B r i g . P a t r i c k We s t expressed gratitude on behalf of the association for the donations from Mr. Hopkinson whilst challenging other businesses to also come on board with the association as it prepares to host the Anniversary Shoot in October. Meanwhile, the Executive Council also named its two man shooting Team to represent Guyana at the Commonwealth Games in March 2018 set for Australia. Fullbore Captain Mahendra Persaud and

Regional four-day championship – 2nd day, 6th round BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Summarised scores at the close on the second day of the sixth round of matches in the Regional four-day c h a m p i o n s h i p yesterday show Guyana Jaguars with a slight edge over the Jamaica Scorpions after taking first innings honours. T&T Red Force had a commanding lead over the Volcanoes, while Barbados Pride had a 300 plus score against the Hurricanes. Scores: At Sabina Park (KINGSTON): Scorpions lead by 54 runs. J A M A I C A SCORPIONS 255 (Chadwick Walton 101, Brandon King 30, Jermaine Blackwood 29, Devon Thomas 26; Keon Joseph 7-53) and 61 for one (John Campbell 26, Jermaine Blackwood 25 not out)

GUYANA JAGUARS 262 (Shimron Hetmyer 74, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 58, Shiv Chanderpaul 57, Raymon Reifer 28, Nikita Miller 4-69, Andre McCarthy 3-18) At N a t i o n a l S t a d i u m ( S T GEORGE’S): Red Force lead by 194 runs. RED FORCE 275 (Yannic Cariah 102 not out, Steven Katwaroo 59, Khary Pierre 50, Isaiah Rajah 29; Kyle Mayers 4-24, Sherman Lewis 3-53) and 23 for one. VOLCANOES 104 all out (Shane Shillingford 34, Kyle Mayers 31; Sheldon Cottrell 3-30, Marlon Richards 2-14) PRIDE 302 for eight (Shamarh Brooks 63, Roston Chase 49, Jonathan Carter 46, Kevin Stoute 41, Justin Greaves 30 not out, Jomel Warrican 30 not out; G a v i n To n g e 3 - 2 9 , Alzarri Joseph 2-29) vs HURRICANES.

Braithwaite were selected from a shortlist of five shooters, the others were, Ransford Goodluck, Fullbore vice captain Dylan Fields and Leo Romalho. The selectees will commence preparation with the completion of the fullbore ranges. The Guyana Olympic Association has also made a contribution towards Persaud and Braithwaite’s training.

Brig. Patrick West receives the donation from CEO of Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc., Mr. Harold Hopkinson.

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Assistant Commissioner Williams wants Strategic Plan to develop sports in Police Force By Edison Jefford

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Paul Williams (right) addressing the media along with Mixed Martial Arts Champion, Police trainee, Shenese Bobb last week.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Paul Williams believes that a Strategic Plan is needed to take sports within the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to the next level because the organisation obviously has the natural talent to compete against the best athletes and teams. Williams was at the time speaking to the media after

the successful sojourn of Mixed Martial Arts practitioner, police trainee, Shenese Bobb in Trinidad and Tobago. Williams informed that ‘talent’ is abundant within the Felix Austin Police Training College. He singled out the College because, in his view, it should be one of the main focuses of Strategic Plan to develop sports in the Police

Force; the Assistant Commissioner was addressing questions on the slump of the Police at the Inter-Service Annual Athletics Championships (ISAAC), where their last victory came in 2013 at Eve Leary. “The three years we lost ISAAC is unprecedented and I have spoken to ASP Williams (the Force Sports Officer) because the Sports Department needs to develop a Strategic Plan,” Williams said, adding that some changes need to be made as it relates to team selection. The Assistant Commissioner, who is credited with re-introducing Rugby and other disciplines

to the Force, said that some of the new talent coming through the Training College need to be more exposed to competition so that there is consistent recruitment. Williams revealed that when he examined how the soldiers were able to beat the Police for three consecutive years, what surfaced is the success of robust athletic recruitment drive of the Guyana Defence Force. Williams said the Police Force has similar talent at the Training College, but they need the right training and exposure. He noted that a Plan will address all of that. “As a former national athlete, I know every sport has a (Continued on page 73)

AIBA certifies Agard, Braithwaite

Ramona Agard and Richard Braithwaite (left). Local referee/judges Ramona Agard and Richard Braithwaite were on Tuesday certified One Star by AIBA, the world governing body for boxing. In an official correspondence to Guyana Boxing Association president Steve Ninvalle, AIBA Executive Director Wi l l i a m L o u i s - M a r i e declared Agard and Braithwaite were both successful at the exams held on December 6 last in Barbados. “The following R&J(s) have successfully passed the exam to obtain their AIBA certification,” the correspondence stated. The letter was carbon copied to AIBA president Dr. ChingKuo Wu and Chairman of the AIBA Referee and Judges Commission Osvaldo Bisbal. In an invited comment Ninvalle said that he was verbally informed of the certification while in

Switzerland last year. “We welcome the good news for boxing and Guyana. I can attest that it was not an easy road but with discipline and dedication they were able to achieve. On behalf of my executive I say to Miss Agard and Mr. Braithwaite heartiest congratulations,” Ninvalle explained. The GBA boss assured that the association will not rest on its laurels as three other RJs are earmarked for One Star certification. “Our intention is to have five One Stars by the end of 2017. In addition, our push would be to have Braithwaite and Agard move up to Two Star.” The recent certification has made Agard and Braithwaite the two highest ranked officials in Guyana. Agard is the Chairperson of the local RJs Commission. She has been invited to officiate in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Championship late in April.

Sunday March 12, 2017

Kaieteur News

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NSC/Den Amstel FC Mash KO Cup

Den Amstel and Uitvlugt to clash in today’s final; Lanferman blasts 5 A new champion in the National Sports Commission / Den Amstel Football Club Mash knockout Cup will be crowned tonight when host club Den Amstel battle old rivals Uitvlugt Warriors following respective semi finals wins on Friday night at the Leonora Track and Field F a c i l i t y, We s t C o a s t Demerara. Following up on his hattrick in their 13-0 drubbing of Wales United in their quarter final match, Den Amstel’s Delon Lanferman improved on that showing by blasting five against Eagles FC in Friday night’s to seal their final date and a shot at the top prize worth $200,000, the loser will take home $100,000. Uitvlugt, the top league side on the West Side advanced on a more conservative score line, 2-1 over Pouderoyen in their semi final clash; Pouderoyen and Eagles will battle in the third place game from 18:00hrs today with purses of $75,000 and $50,000 up for grabs. Individual prizes will be presented to the Most Valuable Player, Highest Goal Scorer, Best Goalkeeper, Best Coach as well as the Most Disciplined Team. The unstoppable

Lanferman rocked the nets in the 3rd, 16th, 26th, 36th, 60th minute in another dismissive display up front and has sent a strong message to his fellow villagers in Uitvlugt that he means business so they had better be prepared for what is to come tonight, having already taken his tally to eight (8) goals in two matches. Supporting Lanferman were Kester Jacobs (44th), Quincy Ashley (45+1) and Travis Hilliman on the stroke of full time. Eagles did not go out without a fight as they hit home five goals of their own. Jeffrey Adams hit the back of the nets in the 22nd minute, an own goal off the boot of Wycliffe Simon accounted for goal number two in the 57th minute, Orette Stephenson scored in the 72nd minute, Daniel Clark in the 84th and Chris Macy in the 90+2. Uitvlugt controlled proceedings against Pouderoyen which was only able to pull one back on the stroke of full time through Kevin Humphrey’s goal but it was a situation of too little too late as Uitvlugt had done enough in the preceding 89 minutes to seal their place in tonight’s final. Shawn Brower had sent them {Uitvlugt}ahead in the 12th minute with the

Indoor games day at Sha’veh Entertainment Centre Corentyne Berbice As part of its Social Cohesion initiative the popular Sha’veh Entertainment Center and business entity, will be sponsoring an indoor games day today at their Lot 33, Portuguese Quarters, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice location. According to the organizers the activity has been organised to keep with t h e c o u n t r y ’s S o c i a l Cohesive initiative in mind. In addition to seeking to bring people together, the idea is to bring more unity and togetherness which is lacking in the community. Not much is there to be d o n e o n We e k e n d s

especially on Sundays and the games will also be used as a form of relaxation for persons and take them away from stress. According to Sha’veh another reason for the day is to help quell the scourge of suicide and other illicit activities which are also prevalent in the area. He is willing to sponsor e activity on a weekly basis. Indoor games of all sorts will be played including whist, dominoes, draughts, checkers, and chess among others. Teams and players are encouraged to be present from 10:00 hrs. (Samuel Whyte)

inspirational Trayon Bobb scoring the second in the 73rd minute. The organizing club is expressing gratitude to the following sponsors for partnering with them to make this competition the success it has been so far; National Sports

Commission, Director of Sport Christopher Jones, Family Care Pharmacy of Leonora, Regional Administration - Region # 3, Banks DIH, Tiwari Drugs Store of Uitvlugt and the Director Leonora Track and Field Facility, Trevor Williams.

Trayon Bobb - Uitvlugt Warriors FC

Delon Lanferman - Den Amstel FC

t r o Sp National Women’s Development League

Paiwomak Warriors and GDF for today’s final; Conquerors and St. Ignatius battle for 3rd

Abeocia Heywood (2nd let) scores for the GDF against St. Ignatius yesterday at the Conquerors ground.

12th DMW National Park Cycle Meet

Romello Crawford wins feature 35-lap race; Curtis Dey cops juvenile race

Romello Crawford

Milestone man Herath spins Lanka to Galle victory

Rangana Herath became the most successful left-arm spinner in Test cricket, Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, 1st Test, Galle, 5th day, ©AFP

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