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AIETEUR NEWS

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Tuesday Edition

threatens to boycott Jagdeo

March 12, 2019 - Vol. 12 No. 12

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Jagdeo's threats at Babu Jaan inflammatory - Govt files complaint to ERC

- PPP, in turn, asks Commission to probe Coalition Over 100 Fight erupts Go-Invest as boyfriend investments, facilitated export leads walks free on secured from $89.4B in manslaughter overseas investments charge trade missions for 2018 The Venezuelan survivors

73-year-old Phyllis Archer and her husband, Carl Archer, who is still missing

Authorities continue search for missing Captain, others Still to come on stream...

Lethem Audit Unit has its work cut out Appointing AG as External Auditor for Natural Resource Fund a wrong move - NRGI

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday March 12, 2019

Go-Invest facilitated $89.4B in investments for 2018

T

he Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest) facilitated $89.4B in investments for 2018. This was noted yesterday by the agency's Chief Executive O ff i c e r ( C E O ) , O w e n Verwey, during a press conference at Duke Lodge.

The official noted that the $89.4 Billion accounts for all applications received while $52.2 Billion of that sum came from 56 executed

investments, i.e. all signed investment agreements, across all platforms and sectors of Guyana's economy.

According to year-end performance indicators based on investors' figures, Verwey said that these investments are expected to create 1,644 jobs when the projects are fully operational. He said that these new jobs and associated training

opportunities, will amplify Guyana's human resource capabilities across key sectors including Agriculture, Light Manufacturing, Tourism, Services, Forestry and Energy.

In terms of the 56 executed investments, Verwey shared that 38 were local, I5 were Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), and three were joint ventures.

He said that the FDI

agreements were predominantly within the Agriculture, Services and Manufacturing sectors, along with one in the Information and Communication Technology sector.

Verwey said, “Among FDI projects were the manufacturing of pre-cast concrete construction materials, coco peat from coconut shells, ventures in Transshipment and Aviation as well as Business Process Outsourcing Services (call centre) sector. Joint venture agreements executed were in the Energy, Tourism and Manufacturing sectors.�

According to investors' projections, the Go-Invest CEO said that the value of FDI projects totaled $11.3B while joint ventures totaled $2.3 Billion. He said, too, that investors' figures also indicated that the value of local investments in 2018 was $38.5 Billion, primarily in the Agriculture, Energy and Light Manufacturing sectors. He said that these projects are expected to create at least 1,056 jobs when fully operational.

Go-Invest CEO, Owen Verwey Further to this, Verwey said that GO-Invest made substantial progress in promoting Guyana's exports in international markets in2018.

He said that the Agency matched 56 local businesses with overseas clients.

Verwey said that these were involved in the supply of gold, diamonds, coffee, coconut- oil, heart-of-palm, pepper, fruit-pulp, dressedlumber, noodles, beverages, and clay brick among other products.

To complement these activities, the Go-Invest CEO said that GO-Invest completed a robust programme of inward and

outward missions that year to explore mutually beneficial investment opportunities and implement trade-related activities aimed at obtaining new markets and increasing exports.

Verwey said that this resulted in 36 Guyanese entrepreneurs in the Agroprocessing, Mining and Tourism sectors attaining direct access to selected export markets offering the best sales opportunities for their products and services.

He said that the missions resulted in significant gains for both large and small enterprises with new markets secured for ventures of all sizes-from rice and other food and beverages to scented candles.

Additionally, Verwey said that one mission resulted in the establishment of a joint venture agreement with a Brazilian company.

Verwey said that the Agency facilitated the improvement of local exporters' marketing, networking, and monitoring tools and capabilities.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 12, 2019

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Jagdeo's threats at Babu Jaan - Govt files inflammatory complaint to ERC G

overnment has condemned as belligerent and “inciting” what it says are inflammatory statements made by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, Sunday, at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six).

The Opposition Leader was at the time addressing residents of Region Six who gathered to commemorate the birth anniversary of late President Dr. Cheddi Jagan.

However, the People's Progressive Party (PPP), in Opposition, has denied that the statements are inflammatory and insisted that the Government is running scared.

According to the Ministry of the Presidency, Jagdeo is quoted on Sunday as saying: “Here in Berbice and right across Guyana when the ministers or [President David] Granger or [Prime Minister Moses] Nagamootoo come here after the 21st of March, you say to them, chase them out…”

“The Government deems as irresponsible, the call by Mr. Jagdeo for citizens to “chase” President David Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo or any government official. Mr. Jagdeo's inciting can result in a breach of the law and must be condemned as unacceptable, malicious and mischievous.”

The Government said that Jagdeo has a “history” of wanton utterances and his most recent at Babu Jaan has serious implications on peace, race relations and n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y, particularly in an election year.

“The Government notes that any call to violence or a breach of public order must be deplored.

All Guyanese can be assured, that law enforcement agencies will take action against anyone who engages in unlawful behaviour and any attempts to “chase” the President, Prime Minster or ministers of the government out of any region of Guyana.”

Meanwhile, a released letter indicated that Barbara Pilgrim, a parliamentarian for the A Partnership For National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) has written Lloyd Smith, Legal Investigations Officer of the Ethnic Relations

- PPP, in turn, asks Commission to probe Coalition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, at Babu Jaan, Corentyne on Sunday

Government Parliamentarian, Barbara Pilgrim Commission (ERC), complaining.

Pilgrim said that at a meeting held at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant, Berbice on Sunday, Jagdeo made the following statement: “We are going here in Berbice and right across Guyana. When the ministers or Granger or Nagamootoo come here after the 21stMarch, say to them, walk behind them, chase them out. They're gonna be illegal”.

Pilgrim said that she believes that the statement runs counter to the country's values of ethnic relations and social cohesion.

“This statement will only serve to create ethnic tensions and confusion in Region Six where I reside, and can be interpreted to mean that government and other persons not connected to the People's Progressive Party Civic PPP/C must not be allowed in this region.

“I am therefore asking the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) to apply its strongest possible sanctions available against the maker of this statement.”

The PPP, meanwhile,

also issued a statement rejecting the Ministry of the Presidency's misleading characterization of comments made by Jagdeo.

“The PPP General Secretary was clear in his call for peaceful protests by party members and supporters after March 21, 2019 – the constitutionally mandated deadline for General and Regional Elections, following the passage of the no-confidence motion.

“The PPP General Secretary was clear in his message – after March 21, 2019, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government becomes illegal, illegitimate and unconstitutional.”

PPP stressed that the statement by the Ministry of the Presidency that Jagdeo's inciting can result in a breach of the law and must be condemned as unacceptable, malicious and mischievous, is misplaced.

“Mr. Jagdeo said clearly: 'We are not accepting a delay in the election. Let me make it clear, if you go for Houseto House registration until 2020, the People's

Progressive Party will not go back to the Parliament to extend the life of this government; and they need us to extend the life of the government or else the government becomes illegal, unconstitutional…

'Here in Berbice and right across Guyana, when the ministers or (President David) Granger or (Prime Minister Moses) Nagamootoo come here after the 21st of March, you say to them, walk behind them, chase them out. They are going to be illegal.

'Say to them, 'You are illegal! Free up the country!

You are undemocratic!'”

PPP said that Guyanese people have a right to peacefully protest.

“That Guyana is on the precipice of a constitutional crisis makes it necessary for Guyanese to be able to send a clear message to the current Administration, including at times when APNU+AFC Coalition officials visit communities in Guyana, wastefully expending taxpayers' monies.

“Our people have a right

to their views about the 'group of interlopers' sitting in Government offices and refusing to respect and abide by the Constitution they swore to uphold.”

The PPP said that Coalition Government is clearly running scared of the consequences that will follow after March 21, 2019.

“It has also, already, demonstrated fear of the Guyanese electorate by advancing tactics to delay constitutionally mandated General and Regional (continued on page 20)

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Tuesday March 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

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

The independence of GECOM is under threat The independence of GECOM is under question. This is more than provocative terrain; it is a dismal slope that lays siege to claims of democratic norms in this country.

Great care has to be taken with the condemnatory regarding an organization of this sensitivity.

For the whole idea of the will of the people through the exercise of suffrage is not just subverted, but circumvented.

Now that the independence of GECOM is hinted as being compromised at this early disputatious stage, the groundwork is laid where any process, any result, comes under reflexive dismissal as flawed, fraudulent, and unacceptable. This is grievous.

For ages, the composition, pronouncements and actions of the people at GECOM have attracted concentrated fire as to trustworthiness and objectivity. Now the road to a decision on a final date is littered with sinkholes and boobytraps; this does not augur well for a satisfying elections result, if this is the current tone and temperature.

In view of the turbulent flashpoint where all the evidence indicates that this society is heading, it would be helpful if everyone refrains from the instigating, which can only upend a never-receptive populace that instantaneously assumes the worst.

This is beyond an appeal for leaders to abstain from the escalation of rhetoric; it is imperative that narratives be temperate, given the overstrung state of the political environment. In this crucible, GECOM should present a schedule of three available dates (scenarios) accompanied with the shortcomings of each.

Compel the parties to decide. If not, GECOM must say ‘Enough!’ From then forward, the toughest voice belongs to GECOM, this must be its finest hour.

Since the unmoving consensus on both sides of the electoral divide is that political leaders of the other side are conspiring to disadvantage; GECOM has the opportunity to announce an inflexible line. Who is there willing to approach the issue at hand from an honorable perspective?

Who among the learned decision-makers is ready to go beyond the party and be about the country? Trampled constitutional cries aside, each party has had more than its share of castigations, from various quarters, for seeking to extend (or shorten) the clock regarding the finalization of a date.

This has added fuel to the unquenchable fires of suspicion and apprehensions. The thinking at the intellectual heights and down in the trenches of the streets is that the interminable delays, the volunteered rationalizations, the structural construct and other conditions prevailing at GECOM, the state of its readiness (even competence, objectives, possible collusive practices, and ethics in general) leave much to be desired.

It must be remembered that, without defending or rationalizing in any way what is happening here in Guyana, this is some of what characterizes the thinking, strategies, and behaviours of administrations the world over.

They operate and control the machinery of elections.

Or at least, these have been the harsh denunciations of frustrated adversaries. Democracy and independence are all relative terms, and heavily contingent on the circumstances on the ground, the respective records, and the ultimate objectives. Call these the messages, lessons, and realities of realpolitik.

And real politik in this land is disfigured and not for the idealistic nor principled nor squeamish. Remember: no justification, no advocacy. For anyone.

Now that the elections apparatus has drawn a continuing barrage of blows, and matters appear to be heading into more stridently negative territory, there is legitimate concern that other delicately positioned state agencies could find themselves under the same unforgiving glare. These are easy to call, and once executed, are supremely difficult to retract. Damage done. Objective achieved. Next controversy. That is why prudence and principle must be the order of the day, and particularly, as such relates to GECOM.

Guyana’s current constitutional malaise may lead to political crisis DEAR EDITOR, I use this opportunity to comment on the ongoing constitutional crisis which seems to have evaded the prefixed vision of several commentators across the spectrum of print media, social and discussion forums Generally speaking, a constitutional crisis results from a political crisis which invariably centres on government officials’ promulgating and promoting activities in contravention of constitutional provisions.

At this juncture, most of us have our eyes glued to March 20 and beyond, as the commencement of constitutional malaise. This,

however, may not materialize once the other constitutional provisions are followed.

Meanwhile, the ongoing constitutional crisis resulted from the ministerial plenary meetings or ghost cabinets which are attempts to resurrect the Cabinet.

While such meetings may be in order, decisions taken cannot be used in furtherance of national socio-economic/ development policies and programs.

To do so would be usurping the powers vested in the Cabinet which died on December 21. Therefore, beginning with the publication of the Official Gazette on March 9, and the

subsequent appointments of members to several Boards contravene the constitution, and are consequently, unlawful.

This can and may potentially transform the constitutional crisis into a sociopolitical crisis.

In essence, these and other similar acts of the APNU+AFC would be subjected to revocation by the next government for two reasons: unlawfulness, and political expediency. Given that the current government is acting in contravention of the constitution, thus unlawfully, the next government (highly likely to be PPP/C) must of necessity use the appropriate means to revoke these appointments.

Furthermore, no government would want to have their Boards and Commissions pre-stacked with opposing members, as such skewed situation could stymie national socioeconomic development/ progress.

In a nutshell, while corrective actions would be necessary, doing so would likely receive a negative political spin and lead to a political and potentially socio-ethnic crisis.

Notwithstanding their unlawful appointments, these members would resist removal and likely accuse the new government of “witch hunting”.

Regards, Ronald Singh

No future for sugar in Guyana under APNU + AFC - another reason for no-confidence DEAR EDITOR, Just before the May 2015 General Elections, I warned that the Granger-led APNU+AFC had a sinister plan to close the sugar industry (SUGAR) in Guyana. David Granger and Moses Nagamootoo vehemently denied any plans to close sugar. In their four years in Government, they have downsized SUGAR by more than 50%, as a first step towards the goal to close sugar. As General Elections loom again in Guyana, I again repeat my warning, APNU+AFC is determined to end SUGAR in Guyana.

APNU+AFC is deliberately mismanaging GUYSUCO, engineering its excuse to close SUGAR. While three sugar estates continue to operate, APNU+AFC is keen on finding an excuse to also close these estates. For more than 300 years, SUGAR was the most important industry in Guyana.

The potential for SUGAR being an important industry for many decades more in Guyana still exists. It is foolhardy and reckless for anyone to give up on SUGAR. APNU+AFC wants to end SUGAR in Guyana for political reasons, resulting from their anti-Jagan, anti-PPP obsession. But while spiteful and petty, closure of SUGAR in Guyana, with downsizing as a first step, has horrendous consequences - the Guyanese people being collateral damage.

For example, the starting of SUGAR closure, at the end of 2015, precipitated an unemployment problem. Four years into the APNU+AFC term in office, Guyana is mired in an unemployment crisis, a crisis that started in 2015 and

catapulted in 2016 by the closure of the first of the four sugar estates that are now closed. The total closure of SUGAR, if the Guyanese people allow APNU+AFC to achieve this goal, will mean that the unemployment crisis will be sustained for generations to come. OIL will not be able to rescue us.

Even as RUSAL is threatening to close operations in Guyana, causing a loss of another 500 jobs, GUYSUCO, still the largest single employer in Guyana, is bleeding from deliberate mismanagement, facing a precarious future.

The last four years have not been good news for GUYSUCO and for employment in Guyana.

More than 37,000 jobs have been lost, according to conservative estimates, with SUGAR accounting for more than 7,000 direct jobs and many thousands more indirectly. With the uncertainty of elections, a constitutional crisis after March 21st and possibly an illegal government by then, business activities have dropped by as much as 50%, with hundreds being laid off.

Meanwhile, Guyanese are dismayed at the sustained ugly disinterest APNU+AFC has shown towards GUYSUCO. This deliberate disinterest by the Government has contributed to the overall mismanagement and incompetence in the operations of GUYSUCO. Even as the operating estates are bleeding for more machinery, such as tractors, excavators etc., SPU/NICIL are selling off this same machinery, already owned by GUYSUCO, from the closed estates.

This is not incompetence and mismanagement, it is deliberate suffocation.

The reported theft of

significant amounts of sugar produced at the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate, far from being an isolated case, is symptomatic of everyday niggling and serious problems impacting the industry.

These mounting problems will continue as disinterest sickens the industry.

While insisting the treasury will not invest in GUYSUCO, APNU+AFC, curiously, allowed SPU/NICIL to borrow $30B on behalf of GUYSUCO. No one knows where the money is and what the SPU has done with the money. In the midst of suspicion and anger about the whereabouts of the money and what it is being used for, GUYSUCO continues to claim they have not benefitted from any serious influx of funding from the $30B. Several weeks ago the Leader of the Opposition had to ask publicly for an explanation and the whereabouts of the $30B. I have continued to ask for some more than a year now the same question - where is the $30B? The President has ignored these questions. APNU+AFC behaves as if it is no one’s business to ask. The Minister of Agriculture has made clear he has no idea where the money is, why the loan was taken and by whom, and emphatically pronounced he does not want to know.

Ignoring the queries from the workers, from the trade unions and from the management of GUYSUCO is inexcusable, but behaving as if citizens have no right to know the whereabouts of one of the biggest single loans ever in Guyanese history is political disorder at the highest level.

Just this week, GUYSUCO’s management, out of utter frustration,

berated the relationship with the SPU/NICIL, particularly with the SPU head, who is also now the acting head of NICIL. This same man, about a year ago, announced and published a whole page advertisement that there was a new GUYSUCO Board to replace the Clive Thomas-led, Cabinet-appointed Board.

The Minister of the Presidency was forced to disown the SPU-appointed Board. It took the cabinet almost a year after that to itself appoint a new board.

Cabinet announced they would clarify who was in charge, the Ministry of Agriculture or SPU/NICIL. Nothing has happened. Such risible behaviour makes a mockery of one of the largest industries in Guyana, unless it is a deliberate strategy to end SUGAR. The treatment of GUYSUCO by the SPU/ NICIL, the disinterest in GUYSUCO by the Government, in fact, reflects the long-standing strategy of the PNC to end SUGAR in Guyana. It said so in 2014, and now in government for four years, APNU+AFC has done everything to end SUGAR. Just like the Government’s deliberate strategy towards a constitutional crisis in its management of the elections timeline, the Government’s seeming disinterest is a deliberate strategy to end SUGAR. Clearly, APNU+AFC appears to have engineered an economic strategy in which OIL is the new economic pillar, and that Guyana’s economy will be an OIL economy. There is no future for SUGAR under APNU+AFC. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

Tuesday March 12, 2019

Marijuana and criminalization of our youth population DEAR EDITOR, Our young people represent our national engine of growth and should be treated likewise by the State.

No effort is seriously made by the state to decriminalise the use of small amounts of marijuana for medical and recreational use. Those who continue to support these draconian laws to incarcerate young people must come to the realisation that all across the world marijuana is legalised or decriminalised.

In countries such as Portugal, Holland, Uruguay, Antigua, Jamaica, Canada and the USA in 46 states, weed is legal, with the majority allowing for medical use.

Recreational use is allowed in Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Washington DC and Vermont.

States that have decriminalised are Nebraska, Ohio, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and other states too numerous to mention.

My concern is the highhandedness of the Judiciary to continue to treat black youths as slaves in these third world countries. When I say black youths, I refer to all those who are not white.

Quite recently I saw in the press where a young man has been sent to prison to spend three years for having in his possession 12 grams of marijuana. When will this wickedness end? Then it is reported that the police kicked out the teeth from a Rasville youth and bruk up his jaw, because he ran when he realized he was under police surveillance - they chased him and almost killed him for having a spliff.

At the last CARICOM heads of Government summit, our President from Jamaica announced that there would have been noncustodial sanctions for those held for small amounts of ganja, unfortunately the laws remain and the brutality meted out against our youths is at this point unbearable.

Look at that picture of the youth with a broken jaw and lost teeth. Those who committed that act should be brought to justice, they are not fit to serve and protect our young people; they are a threat to our democracy. We must bring an end to police brutality.

It seems as though we are striving to live as primitives in a modern world.

There is a generation gap that exists between the young and old. The old cherish the use of

AFC condemns Jagdeo for Babu Jaan ‘hate speech’ DEAR EDITOR, The Alliance For Change condemns Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo for his irresponsible and reckless comments at Babu Jaan on Sunday, March 10th. Mr. Jagdeo used inflammatory

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Kaieteur News

language which can incite persons to violence.

Further the AFC roundly condemns Mr. Jagdeo for his hateful and divisive speech which defiled the occasion which ought to have been a (Continued on page 6)

rum and cigarettes - known killers of human beings - while the young adore the good Ganja herb which is for the healing of the nation.

We use our state radio and television to promote songs glorifying the use of the good herb, and then the state condemns the use of herb and use the Ganja law to create criminals of our youth. Lord, is it so difficult to understand how we are systematically undermining the development of our youth and the nation as a whole?

Times have changed. We are living in a new age - the age of information technology, and as such the world will transform. The activities of today’s youth were never dreamt of by the youth of the 1940s, 50s and 60s. The oppression of the Marijuana industry started with the extraction and use of fossil fuel.

Marijuana was now being categorized as a narcotic substance, hence destroying an industry that built the United States of America, making way for fossil fuel and replacing a green economy.

It must be noted that in all these countries legalizing and decriminalizing marijuana, there has not been increase in criminal activities and less people will be affected by non-communicable diseases such as cancer, hypertension and diabetes.

Please educate and train these young policemen to serve and protect the citizens of this bountiful country.

RAS Aaron Blackman

No matter how you try, Mr. Duncan, you can mislead no one DEAR EDITOR, I refer to Mr. Sherod Duncan’s letter of 2019-03-11 in which he said he “used to read” my columns and further said: “For Ramkarran is an honourable man.” In substituting my name for that of Brutus, Mr. Duncan implies that I once was, but am not now, an honourable man. Mr. Duncan must also know, as a student of Shakespeare, that Mark Anthony also said of Brutus in the same speech: “You all did love him once, not without cause.”

I don’t know what Mr. Duncan means by “used to read.” He clearly continues to do so avidly, because this is the second letter he has written in as many weeks about my columns.

I am honoured to have the esteemed former Deputy Mayor and the Manager of the Chronicle pay attention to my humble offerings. He obviously has time on his hands, being on leave from the Chronicle for, among other claims of overspending, seeking to invoke the blessings of the Almighty at a Prayer Breakfast that allegedly cost too much.

Hopefully, Mr. Duncan will soon return to the Chronicle to share his talent, if he has not yet done so, by first undertaking to modify the cost of genuflecting to the Deity.

Mr. Duncan is apparently accusing me of withholding facts (“a deficit of facts”) in the era of “fake news” when I

referred to the “lawful Janet Jagan Government in 1999.”

He suggests that “in January 2001 Chief Justice (sic) Claudette Singh voided the 1997 general and regional elections hence the Janet Jagan Government became illegal and thus unconstitutional.”

The use of the word “lawful” appears to have troubled Mr. Duncan because the Janet Jagan Government was subsequently declared to have been elected in 1997 under an unconstitutional voter ID law, which was supported by the PNC, and then subsequently challenged.

Mr. Duncan quoted what I actually said at the end of the second paragraph of his letter, but apparently didn’t understand it. I said: “Caricom may be forced to take a stand against an unlawful Government having failed to do so between the 1970s and 1980s against the PNC and then eagerly doing so against a ‘then’ lawful Janet Jagan Government in 1999.”

It’s simple, Mr. Duncan; when the Herdmanston Accord was signed in 1999 at the instance of Caricom, the Janet Jagan Government was “then” lawfully in place.

That is what I said and what I meant. Whether it became unlawful from 1997 by virtue of Justice Singh’s decision in 2001 is a moot point.

Mr. Duncan seeks to somehow justify the defiance by the APNU+AFC Government of Guyana’s Constitution by conjuring up an irrelevant 20-year old case.

But no matter how he and his party try, he can mislead no one.

In 2001 Justice Claudette Singh ruled that the Janet Jagan was elected under an unconstitutional law.

In 2001, a few months after, new elections were held.

The Government did not seek to unlawfully and unconstitutionally extend its life in office, as the APNU+AFC Government is now doing.

Yours truly, Ralph Ramkarran

PAGE 6

Freedom of expression is limited for all Guyanese except the Opposition Leader DEAR EDITOR, I wonder why it is that freedom of expression is limited for all Guyanese except the Leader of the Opposition.

The opposition constantly quotes sections of the Constitution that suits them and the interests they wish to advance (of course those that directly benefit the PPP) and conveniently block from their minds and the actual text, the parts they seem to deem to be above of.

The evidence of this has been overwhelming of recent.

I have mentioned in previous correspondence their efforts to bombard the Government to hold elections on or before March 21st after which doomsday, or on or before April 30th after which delayed doomsday as they have been peddling to their supporters, the media and the international community. But this letter is to specifically highlight another episode in the series of unfortunate things the Leader of the Opposition have said/done.

The opposition, led by a former president who did not condone opposition himself, has completely ignored the second option available to the Government: to hold election beyond the 90-day period should the National Assembly, by way of a resolution supported by no less than two-thirds of the votes of all elected members of the National Assembly, determine.

Editor, the only reason the opposition would ignore Article 106(7) in part is because they seek to manipulate the Government into dictating the affairs of an autonomous body by inciting

Tuesday March 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

hostility towards this Granger/Nagamootoo-led Administration by the people of Guyana.

Instead of trying to come to a suitable compromise with the Government on a possible date for the holding of election in an effort to present a resolution to the National Assembly proposing election beyond March 21st and surely not before April 30th a compromise that will afford GECOM time to conduct its affairs in preparations for those elections - the former president has resorted to announcing to his supporters that an extension for the life of the Government is not his interest.

What the Opposition Leader fails to inform his supporters, is that by refusing to come to a mature compromise on the issue with the Government after being advised by GECOM, is that he himself is creating chaos and crisis amongst the Guyanese people. That is not only irresponsible as a former president but also unpatriotic to the very core!

The Leader of the Opposition and bandwagonists, continue to lay pressure at the feet of the Government to call general elections before the expiration of the 90 days, irrespective of the fact that GECOM has announced its decision to conduct houseto-house registration; irrespective of the fact that moneys were not allocated for the holding of an election in 2019; irrespective of the fact that the very Cabinet that he says is no longer lawful will have to recommend or consent to a Bill presented by

the Finance Minister to the National Assembly that charges the Consolidated Fund for the holding of said elections.

So much so is the selfinterest of the PPP to have an election within 90 days, that they are seeking to use the people of Guyana to intimidate the Government to break several provisions of the Constitution in order to fulfill one of two options afforded to this Administration by the very Constitution that the Opposition Leader has resorted to exciting hostile behaviour towards this Administration.

This is not a farfetched conclusion. The Leader of the Opposition is reported in the March 11th Edition of the Stabroek News under the headline “Jagdeo plans pickets of gov’t officials ‘everywhere’ after March 21st” as instructing PPP supporters to ‘chase’ Government Ministers and Officials out should they visit the Berbice region after March 21st and to picket them everywhere including their homes.

Yes, the Constitution affords the fundamental right of the freedom of expression to all.

However, that right is subject to limitations. The favourite book of the opposition – the Constitution – in Article 146(3) states in clear language that the freedom of expression does not “relate to hate speeches or other expressions, in whatever form, capable of exciting hostility or ill-will against any person or class of persons”.

What would have Mr. Jagdeo done if the tables were turned?

Time and time again, the opposition continues to show us who they are. When are we going to believe them?

The PPP is not the party to govern us.

To Guyanese citizens, do with this information what you will!

Sincerely, Cynthia Rutherford

Our youths are being deprived of making mistakes and gaining experience DEAR EDITOR Both of our major political parties behave as if they own the people of Guyana and the country as a whole. On the administrative body of every public institution, they have their members occupying key positions, even if these members have little or no relevant experience, leaving little room for other eligible Guyanese.

More than that, most of these party representatives belong to the past, while our youths are not given the opportunity to make mistakes and gain experience.

For over fifty years, they have embedded our country in the storming stage. While they battle with each other, feathering their nests, helping themselves, their families, relatives and friends, they leave a few crumbs for the

general population.

Both of these parties and their leaders behave as masters, living in luxury, and having their house and yard servants devouring the sustenance of the poor field workers and enjoying fire in their bellies. The young people have to be proactive and take steps to prevent these wolves and leeches from continuing to fool them and leave them in a stupor.

As a pensioner, I cannot understand why our old folks are working themselves to death for, after all is said and done, they cannot enjoy the loot they gain by taking over the jobs of our youths.

Therefore, I urge our young people to vote for other parties and prevent the two tigers from keeping us storming for another 50+ years.

Youths are the majority, so let the old folks vote for their traditional ethnic parties.

Youths must vote for the other parties so that we can have more no-confidence motions to force the political masters to walk the talk, talk the walk and muddy their shining shoes.

If the youths can vote for other parties, development will come to their doorsteps.

Our country will not find itself in the horrible mess we now experience and our people will not be taken for extremely unpleasant, spinechilling and terrible rides at election time.

Also, our retired, rehired folks will spend more time with their grandchildren as opposed to working themselves to death.

Sincerely, Ed Singh

Historical misrepresentation in the Indian Arrival Monument DEAR EDITOR, I believe that the picture shown in the Indian Arrival Monument at Palmyra in Berbice does not give a true reflection of the actual event in several aspects, including the headwear of the male immigrant.

The male immigrant is shown wearing a head-dress reminiscent of what India’s first

Prime Minister, the late Jawaharlal Nehru, initiated and popularized as the “Nehru cap”; I do not think that cap existed when the Indian immigrants came to British Guiana from India.

As far as I know the male immigrants wore a piece of cloth which they tied around their heads.

Nowrang Persaud

“Go back where you come from” DEAR EDITOR, It is nice to know that Guyanese can stand up and say, enough is enough.

I have been following the situation, with Rusal workers, blocking the river and being on strike. I am very proud of them and hope that they will prevail.

So many times you can read of foreigners, investing in smaller countries and taking advantage of the workers. I hope the Government takes hold of this and other similar situations.

Being in Canada for over forty years, I can remember being in many conflicts, at work, with other drivers, shopping, travelling in public

transportation, even in classrooms. My fellow Canadians, would say to me and to others, in a fight or disagreement, “ Why don’t you go back where you come from.” I must say, I find it very

funny today, just to entertain the thought of my fellow Guyanese saying to the foreigners, “Go back where you come from.”

JC. Grant-Stuart Snr. Toronto, Canada

AFC condemns...

From page 5 sombre reflection of former President Dr. Cheddi Jagan.

The party notes the public outcry and backlash which Mr. Jagdeo has rightly received in the aftermath of his now annual hate speech.

The AFC hails Dr. Jagan as a national hero who dedicated his life towards the betterment of the Guyanese people. Dr. Jagan was widely respected and embraced across political, ethnic, religious and other divides and the party is saddened that his legacy is betrayed by the current iteration of the PPP under Jagdeo.

The AFC also notes that a large number of senior leaders of the PPP stayed away from the event, clearly signalling their displeasure with Jagdeo’s divisive and authoritarian leadership of the PPP. The AFC makes an open call to all disaffected members of the PPP to join us as we work harmoniously towards moving Guyana forward after a dark period of division, corruption and victimization, particularly under the Jagdeo Presidency.

Alliance For Change Public Relations Committee

Tuesday March 12, 2019

PAGE 7

Kaieteur News

Ministry records an estimated 8,000 Guyanese with HIV in 2018 Last year, the number of people living with HIV in Guyana was 8,369. Of these 5,557, inclusive of children, were on treatment.

This is according to information released by the Ministry of Public Health’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer [DCMO], Dr. Karen Campbell.

She said that the estimated HIV prevalence in 2017 was 1.7 percent up from 1.4 percent in 2014.

This apparent increase in H I V p r e v a l e n c e , D r.

Campbell noted, was not due to an increase in the rates of HIV infection but rather to persons infected with HIV living longer due to treatment with Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy [HAART].

But according to Programme Manager of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat [NAPS], Dr. Rhonda Moore, Guyana has seen a steady decrease in new infections since 2016.

This, she said, can be attributed to new initiatives s u c h a s ‘ Tr e a t A l l ’ , pregnant women who test positive during pregnancy r e c e i v i n g H A A RT t o prevent their unborn infants from becoming infected, the establishment of a “loss to follow up” programme and to the extended hours of clinic at the National Care and Treatment Centre.

The ‘Loss to Follow Up’ initiative was revamped in 2017 with support from the Centre of Disease Control. The

DCMO, Dr. Karen Campbell. programme tracks patients who missed clinic appointments from 2002 to 2016.

The ‘Treat All’ initiative on the other hand started officially in May 2018.

Under this initiative patients start treatment as early as five days after enrolment at a treatment site.

P r i o r t o ‘ Tr e a t A l l ’ patients were not placed on anti-retroviral treatment until their immune system had started to decline.

Wi t h t h e ‘ Tr e a t A l l ’ initiative, persons who test positive are started on treatment after being counselled and deemed ready.

Once a person living

with HIV adheres to the treatment they can suppress the virus from multiplying. Keeping the viral load low reduces the risk of spreading HIV through unprotected sex.

A c c o r d i n g t o D r.

Campbell, as part of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission policy of the Public Health M i n i s t r y, a l l p r e g n a n t women are required to have an HIV test during the course of their pregnancy.

“Any woman found to be HIV infected is placed on treatment to protect her unborn child from becoming infected and to preserve her immune system,” said Dr. Campbell who also disclosed that

“male partners of pregnant women are also tested so they too can be placed on treatment, if positive.”

Under the Prevention of Mother to Child Initiative, pregnant women are also required to be tested for sexually transmitted infections and once placed on HAART during pregnancy, a woman stays on treatment for the rest of her life.

Added to this, Social workers from the Ministry are tasked with calling and visiting patients who default to encourage them to return for treatment.

According to information released by the Ministry, 80 percent of the defaulters targeted successfully returned. It was revealed, too, that the National Care and Treatment Centre in Region Four initiated extended clinic hours in June of last year in order to facilitate attendance from working men and women.

The extended clinic hours are on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays are from 16:30 to 20:30 hours.

“This welcomed initiative has seen an additional 356 persons accessing care and treatment at the Centre,” Dr. Campbell shared.

PAGE 8

Tuesday March 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

Over 100 investments, export leads secured from overseas trade missions - Go-Invest CEO The Guyana Office For Investment (Go-Invest) embarked on a number of overseas trade missions last year, all of which have turned out to be a success. This was noted yesterday by GoInvest’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Owen Verwey.

He was at the time delivering remarks at a press conference which was facilitated at Duke Lodge in Kingstown.

Verwey said that as a result of the missions and other activities, Go-Invest was able to secure 115 investment leads and 56 export leads, including significant leads for traditional exports like rum, as well as non-traditional exports like frozen fruit pulp.

He said that follow-up activities to capitalize on these leads have commenced.

Elaborating further, Verwey said that important inward missions facilitated by GO-Invest in 2018 were from Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Canada, Brazil, China, French Guiana and Aruba. He said that these included privately organized missions.

Verwey said that there were also pivotal outward missions to the Caribbean, Latin America, China, Cuba,

North America and others, especially to promote forestry, food products, and large-scale agriculture.

The Go-Invest CEO said that the success of the Agency’s activities in 2018 was heavily based on a commitment to responsible management of funds in order to get maximum mileage from Current and Capital Subventions amounting to $218,750,000. He said that strategic participation in trade and investment events in several nations and other key activities were based on best-value considerations.

Verwey said that among the major events attended was the first annual China International Import Expo at which Guyana was represented by public and private sector delegates led by the Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin.

He said that the nation’s wood products, rum and processed foods were well received at the event.

Another significant mission, he said, was to the 201 8 Trinidad Investment Convention.

Through collaboration with the Guyana Rice Development Board, Verwey said that GO-Invest along with six Guyanese Rice

Go-Invest CEO, Owen Verwey Producers successfully attended Expo Antad, a Food and Beverage Exposition that is held in Mexico.

To promote mining, Verwey said that GO-Invest attended the annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), and facilitated a Guyana Mining Day event to showcase projects in Guyana to prospective investors. He said that that event featured five mining companies operating in Guyana.

In terms of tourism promotion, Verwey said that GO-Invest attended the Hotel Opportunities Latin America (HOLA) and Caribbean Hotel and Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) held in Miami and showcased four Guyanese tourism projects.

He said, too, that GO-Invest also attended the Havana International Fair (FIHAV) in Cuba along with several local companies, and found market opportunities were available for exporting Guyana’s sorrel, forestry products, tourism, rum, as well as poultry.

In addition, the CEO said that the Agency conducted a strong promotion campaign for local

food and beverages that included attendance to events like IMBIBE LIVE 2018 in the UK; SIAL, a food and beverage show in Canada; and LAC Flavors, among others.

Further to this, Verwey said that other core promotion events and presentations organized or facilitated by GO-Invest in 2018 included the inaugural Guyana International Petroleum Expo at the Guyana Marriott Hotel attended by over 500 Delegates in the Oil and Gas Industry which realized a number of partnerships and joint ventures.

He said, too, that GO-Invest collaborated with the National Exhibition Centre and the Caribbean Export Development Agency to host the inaugural Guyana Trade and Investment Exhibition (GUYTIE) at the Guyana Marriott Hotel.

He said that this event facilitated over 200 Businessto-Business (B2B) meetings and attracted 56 Guyanese companies and 113 buyers from multiple countries including Barbados, Trinidad, Brazil, Venezuela, Korea, Cuba, India, St Lucia and Canada.

Verwey said that GO-Invest participated in several events across Guyana in 2018 to move trade and investment forward, such as the Regional Agriculture and Commerce Expo (RACE); the Guyana Timber Expo, Essequibo Agro and Trade Expo; the Guyana Revenue Authority Retire-

ment Seminar; the Rose Hall Career and Business Fair; the Moruca Expo; and the Indigenous Village 2018: Lethem Town Week and Career Day. He said that this participation involved highlighting services and opportunities available from GO-Invest, awareness of investment incentives and some general market awareness information.

Apart from the successful 2018 programme of activities, Verwey said that the Agency is also engaged in a number of ongoing activities across several years. He said, “For example, GO-Invest is a member of Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA), which provides training in areas related to investment and export promotion, assists with funding for attachments to learn best practices and hosting of promotional activities.”

At this point, Verwey said that GO-Invest is preparing for several major events including the Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit and Exhibition (GIPEX) 2019.

He said, too, that the Agency is also actively engaged in hiring consultants for the Trade and Investment Framework and the Investment Review and Export Strategy under the National Quality Infrastructure Project.

Tuesday March 12, 2019

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

The government is hoping for a mircale The President of Guyana finds himself between a rock and a hard place. He is now being increasingly isolated domestically because of his failure to call general and regional elections as required in light of the passage of a no confidence motion in his government.

At the same time he is faced with a divided GECOM which is unable to agree on a date for elections.

It is the President who has to call elections. He can call elections at any time, no confidence motion of not. He can call snap elections anytime. GECOM is the one who has to be ready. If it is not ready then it has to make itself ready. And that is something which any President has to take into consideration.

As it stands, GECOM has been given an ultimatum by the President even though, as he says, he cannot direct the body. He has indicated to GECOM that he desires elections in the shortest possible time. It is for GECOM to deliver on that ultimatum.

But as is expected, GECOM will not deliver because it is divided on whether there should be house-to- house registration or whether the ex-

isting list can be sanitized and used for the elections.

Yesterday, a grouping of civil society organizations issued a statement on the situation which now faces the nation.

The point was emphasized that while house to house registration may be desirable for credible elections, it is not essential.

But do not tell that to the government-nominated Commissioners.

They are holding firm to the view that there must be house to house registration after April 30.

GECOM will most likely vote, when it does, for house-to house registration. It will end up doing so because the delicate balance which existed under the old system of appointing the Commission was uprooted when President Granger made a unilateral appointment of a Chairman of GECOM. Constitutional rule has come under threat since the APNU+AFC came into office. It is unbecoming for any person within the government to be taking the position that they will act in accordance with their interpretation of the Constitution, notwithstanding an interpretation which has been made

by the Court.

A confidence motion is provided for by the Constitution and is well established as a constitutional convention within the Commonwealth. It was theref0re unpardonable for the government to have been challenged the constitutional validity of the no confidence motion on specious grounds on specious grounds.

It was equally appalling to read that one Government official has said that the constitution was wrong, in that the framers made a mistake when they sought to place the burden of calling elections on the President.

The APNU+AFC is sending the wrong signals about its willingness to adhere to the Constitution.

While all of this happening, the government’s clock is ticking on the deadline for the government to remain in office outside of an extension grante d b y t h e National Assembly.

The government hardly seems bothered.

Its spit press continues to misrepresent past events in a desperate attempt to convince its supporters that there are justifiable grounds to support its actions or inactions.

In the meantime, the

Dem boys seh ...

De Linden to Lethem is a Chinee tool Fishing is a nice pastime. It call fuh patience but when you hook something you does feel too nice. China is a big country and it got a big hook. Guyana is a pond wid politicians who behaving like fish. That is how this country deh in all that trouble today.

Fun years dem Chinee was coming to Guyana. Nuff of dem end up living here. Dem even mek children who is more Guyanese than some Guyanese.

China know Brazil got a big population but just like how you can’t walk into some people house just like that, China can’t walk into Brazil. Suh it decide to use Guyana as the key. It sit down and plan then it lower de hook in this pond called Guyana. De hook got money.

Dem boys seh couple politicians get hook real tight. And de more de Chinee hook is de more dem lower de hook. Dem done see Lethem as de gateway to Brazil. That is how nuff Chinee businesses open in Lethem. And dem doing good business but that is only de

bait.

Dem Guyana politicians who get hook fall fuh de offer of a road linking Linden and Lethem. This is wheh de hook sink in. Guyana borrowing money from China to build a road to benefit de Chinese. And of course, Guyana gun be paying fuh de Chinese labourers pun de road.

Once de road build, China gun ship good to Guyana and use de road to get de goods into Brazil. Dem boys know while this happening Guyana ain’t getting nutten. Dem who operating in Lethem already not paying taxes. Dem claim how de tax pay in Georgetown.

While de goods flowing through to Brazil, this country getting nutten; no tax; no nutten but it got to pay back de money China use to build de road.

And de talk sweet. De politicians gun be telling de people how dem getting benefits.

And dem gun be smiling because dem pocket full.

Talk half and study that road to Lethem

Opposition has resigned itself for the long haul.

It has told its supporters to be patient. Unlike other countries where the unwillingness of a government to comply w i t h t h e C onstitution would have led to mass protests, the Opposition is promising only picketing exercises against government Ministers.

The opposition lacks muscle. More importantly it lacks the leadership which builds broad-based alliances on issues of national importance. It is unable to

forge a coalition in defense of democracy and constitutional rule.

And so the government will do as it pleases. The government is hoping for a miracle. It has had almost three months to try to undo its growing lack of popular appeal following the mauling it took in the local government elections.

Its prevarication and legal shenanigans in calling elections has been matched by its inability to swing public opinion in its favour. Instead of

public sympathy, it now stands isolated before the country and the world.

The writing is on the wall for the APNU+AFC. It matters not when it decides to hold elections; it cannot and will not retain office, through fair and free means.

PAGE 10

Tuesday March 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

The Freudian mind of the PPP The announcement at Babu Jaan didn’t come. The PPP is on auto-pilot. The PPP is in self-destruct mode. This means the PPP will not be in power in 2019. But could it get power in 2019? I honestly don’t know. But the Jagdeoite PPP is not doing anything to make that possibility and that probability come to life.

Guyana is facing an imminent election. A party with a sordid past and gargantuan baggage has to reshape its image to win that election. It is becoming pellucid with the pass-

ing of each day that the Freudian carcinoma that has been eating away at the PPP since Jagan’s horrendous strategic mistakes in the fifties is still chewing at the liver of the PPP. The exceptional moment for the PPP was 1991.

The Cold War was over.

China and Vietnam were not interested in communist command economies.

Russia had now become a capitalist country. Cuba had to do soul-searching as it never did before. But still the Americans did not trust Cheddi Jagan and the

WPA. So what did Uncle Sam do?

It did away with the WPA, approved of a PPP Government but insisted that Jagan must solemnly pursue two pathways – embrace unconditionally neo-liberal economics even deepening the structural adjustment programme of President Hoyte and share power with a group of people referred to as the Civic Component.

It only lasted a few years. Under Mrs. Janet Jagan, Roger Luncheon and Bharrat Jagdeo, the PPP pursued directions and underwent character transformation that the Americans were uneasy with. The Wikileaks cables release is a fantastic goldmine for those who want to write about that period of the PPP’s history.

The Americans decided to look for alternatives. The US literally invented and bankrolled the Alliance For Change (AFC) because it didn’t respect and wanted to work with the PNC under Robert Corbin. When Granger took over the PNC, the US got a double whammy. The decision to remove the Jagdeoite

PPP was made. Perhaps the most graphic evidence of this was the one-vote situation in Region Eight that caused the PPP to lose the majority in Parliament.

PPP leaders were only left to physically maul GECOM Chairman Surujbally over a recount. They literally coerced, commandeered and begged him to order a recount.

But the US Embassy’s shadow was the only thing Surujbally saw when he opened his eyes. The rest is history. We come now to two dates in the 2019 calendar that support the theory that the PPP will not be in power in 2019.

The first one is January 19. Irfaan Ali is elected to become the PPP’s presidential candidate. The explosive news was overshadowed the next day by what Frank Anthony and Vindya Persaud told close relatives and friends – they were asked to withdraw. This columnist has incontrovertible evidence of this admission by Anthony and Persaud. The second date is last Sunday - March 10.

Not one of the speakers turned back the clock and re-

assured the world that the PPP during the Jagdeo and Ramotar presidencies (or is it singular – Jagdeo presidency 1999-2015?) is not the same PPP in 2019. No apologies came from any speaker lamenting some mistakes of the period that Jagdeo and Ramotar reigned in.

Speaker after speaker displayed the Freudian mind on the podium last Sunday that Cheddi Jagan shaped the PPP since he won the 1957 election. It goes like this – the PPP is the political vanguard of Guyana, it is unbeatable and irrepressible. It will suffer setbacks but will rise from the ashes like the Phoenix. The PPP will always win.

From Sam Hinds, the longest serving Prime Minister in Guyana, to Bharrat Jagdeo, the longest serving executive president in this country, there was no necessity, no requirement, no obligation to invoke regrets of the past.

Jagdeo lost an election in 2011 when he installed Ramotar over the winnable candidacy of Ramkarran.

Jagdeo lost another election in 2015 when he insisted that the PPP did not lose in 2011; it is only that Berbicians did

Frederick Kissoon not vote because they felt the PPP would have won anyway. So Jagdeo refused to change Ramotar in the 2015 poll, the most lackluster head of government the Caricom region ever experienced even more that Bernard St. John in Barbados and George Chambers in Trinidad.

In 2015, Jagdeo lost another election. In 2019, Jagdeo chose Mr. Ali over winnable candidates like Anthony, Persaud and the towering personality of a learned lawyer, Anil Nandlall.

In 2019 Jagdeo will lose another election. Jagdeo is living out the Freudian instincts of 1957. The PPP can never lose.

The PPP will always win.

Of course not only is the PPP self-destructive, the man, Jagdeo is also.

Tuesday March 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Tuesday March 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

Still to come on stream Lethem GAWU concerned about lack Audit Unit has its work cut out of competitive bidding for movable GuySuCo assets

As part of an overall vision to squeeze the rightful tax belonging to the nation out of all entrepreneurs, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is looking to get a handle on the town of Lethem.

This newspaper understands that along with other initiatives, GRA will soon be establishing an Audit Unit at its Lethem branch.

But this newspaper is of the fair and legitimate understanding that that audit unit will have its work cut out for it.

A lot needs to be regularized in Lethem. As was recently published, the entrepreneurs operating there—mainly Chinese nationals—are paying little or no taxes.

Value Added Taxes are not paid. In fact, the businesses up there are not even registered.

Many of the stores are

said to be “subsidiaries” of commercial establishments in Georgetown and have ‘temporary’ licences.

Therefore, when goods are being transported to Lethem from Georgetown, no taxes are paid as it is assumed that relevant taxes were paid in Georgetown.

Further, contributions are not being made to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) on behalf of those locals working as sales representatives in the stores.

A GRA official recently told Kaieteur News, “Very soon there will be an audit unit here so we can deal with things specifically.”

The Official said that there are already a few things identified to be checked upon.

“There are a few things that we know will have to be examined off the bat. Some of the big businesses are bringing

in goods that may not be handled right. There is a s u s p i cion that even though they are benefitting they are still trying to do underhand transactions.

“Therefore, I am told that we are going to do some comprehensive checks. For example, you bring 10 cases here, do you have bills to substantiate that the 10 cases were sold in Lethem.”

Funnily, this newspaper knows that from that example given, the audit team will have an uphill task.

When this newspaper v i s i t e d Lethem recently, items were purchased from a few of the Chinese stores. In all instances, without exception, money was collected, product was handed over but no bill was given.

There were not even cash registers.

Therefore, it is unclear what will be audited.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is complaining about the suspected lack of competitive bidding in the sale of assets belonging to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Yesterday, GAWU voiced its discovery that the Sugar Special Purpose Unit (SPU) of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) has been disposing of movable assets from the closed Skeldon, Rose Hall, East Demerara and Wales Estates.

These estates under the watch of NICIL-SPU had a number of movable fixed and current assets when they were closed in 2017.

GAWU claims that it is in receipt of information indicating that over the last few weeks, NICIL-SPU has been selling, among other things, serviceable tractors, motor-

cycles, and agricultural implements such as ploughs and harrows.

The Union’s understanding is that the assets are being disposed of without any competitive bidding.

“In fact, we disturbingly learnt that many of the items sold would have attracted superior prices had they been placed on auction. If our information is indeed accurate it is a serious cause for concern and we hasten to wonder whether the sale prices have any resemblance to the values that were assigned to the assets in question by the recently-completed valuation exercise that was conducted

by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC),” GAWU said.

Moreover, GAWU said that the sale of these useful assets comes at a time when GuySuCo rehabilitation programme has been severely hamstrung by a lack of equip-

ment.

“Indeed, we learnt too that the Corporation had expressed interest in utilizing the equipment that was lying idle at the closed estates to further its plans to improve production and productivity.”

GAWU hastened to ask, “Who approved the sale transactions? Were they fully considered by the Board of NICIL and, if so, what justifications were advanced to dispose of the assets in what seems to be a fire sale?”

GAWU said that it also learnt that in recent times, NICIL-SPU has been selling former sugar lands and had engaged in a programme of scrap metal disposal.

GAWU said that the apparent conduct by NICILSPU gives rise to “serious concerns about the sale of the estates themselves and (Continued on page 22)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 12, 2019

Press Association threatens boycott of Jagdeo

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo's recent attack on President of the Guyana Press Association (GPA), Nazima Raghubir, has prompted a stern statement from the GPA threatening boycott.

G PA y e s t e r d a y condemned the continued attacks on media professionals by Jagdeo.

The association said that it views the continued attacks as encouraging threats to the lives and livelihoods of media professionals.

GPA said that it has been documenting the attacks made by Jagdeo over the last few months. These are consistent with attacks he made in the past as a sitting Head of State. These were and are not limited to referring to journalists as “Carrion crows and vultures” and as “opposition media” and singling out media houses.

GPA noted that over the months, Jagdeo has referred to private media outlets as “fake news”, “biased news”, or “government aligned news”. He is on record saying that he will call on his supporters to boycott one newscast and its parent company.

He has singled out the privately owned Kaieteur News, state owned Chronicle and former GPA President Gordon Moseley with accusations of being “government aligned”.

GPA further noted that Jagdeo's comments are complemented by equally vitriolic and dangerous statements carried on his personal and party social media pages. In two recent posts, a news entity was referred to as “fake news”

President of GPA, Nazima Raghubir

and a journalist as a “propagandist”. Both of these have attracted negative and threatening comments.

G PA s a i d t h a t i t “recognises that the hierarchy of the Jagdeo's party supports these attacks as we note its continued silence on Jagdeo's attacks on the free press and freedom of expression. We wish to remind this Jagdeo-led party that a free press whose work is done without hindrance and attacks is among the the basic tenets of democracy that the party preaches about.”

Further, the association said that it will hold Jagdeo accountable if any harm is brought to media workers in keeping with his attacks.

GPA said too, “If these attacks continue we will not hesitate to call on our members to boycott press events involving the Leader of the Opposition.

Additionally, we stand by editorial sanctions media houses see fit to take in response to any continued attacks on the press.

“At this time, the GPA would like to remind all political parties, politicians and personalities that journalists have a right to conduct their duties without fear of intimidation and in this case without attack.”

At a recent press conference, Jagdeo faced questions on his Pradoville mansion. At least three members of the media posed questions to Jagdeo on this matter.

He became irritated. He eventually lashed out at Raghubir as she questioned him.

Jagdeo was asked whether the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) offered him to settle in

having him pay the state the difference as SARA believes that he was given the Ogle land at a price below market value.

Jagdeo responded, “I had preempted that by saying even if they offer me to pay one cent more to settle it (he would refuse). They never did (asked). I preempted that.”

This is when it became most uncomfortable for the former president.

Raghubir asked, “On what basis were you going to reject it? “ He responded, “That is my position.”

Raghubir: “I just wanted to clarify on what basis you rejected the payment?”

Jagdeo: “Because I rejected it. I do not have no basis.

What kind of stupid question is that?”

Raghubir: “That is not a stupid question, it is a logical question. You made a statement and I am asking you to clarify.”

Jagdeo: “I said it is political; you have to use deductive reasoning, if it is a political thing. I get impatient with silly questions.”

Raghubir interrupted: “I get impatient with stupid statements.”

Jagdeo continued: “If it is a political matter, it's an adventure. Why would I waste my time behind an adventure which is a political matter? That is the reason I rejected it.”

PAGE 13

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Tuesday March 12, 2019

President cannot delegate power to call elections to GECOM - Civil Society Group

T

he Civil Society Forum, (CSF), which is made up of religious and civil organizations is calling President David Granger to name a date for the upcoming Regional and General Elections.

In a statement the group noted that the President cannot delegate the power to call elections to Guyana Elections Commission.

“The Civil Society Forum believes that deferring the exercise of Presidential responsibility to set the date for elections to such time as GECOM determines its own readiness is unacceptable.

“The constitutions mandate GECOM to be ready within ninety days and there is no provision that allows the President to amend that provision as a

pretext for not announcing a date for national elections.”

The group noted that rather than identify the specific technical or administrative tasks whose 'unreadiness' is inhibiting announcement of a date for elections, the President pointed to the 'unreadiness' o f G E C O M Commissioners.

The CSF which listed Red Thread​; Aircraft Owners Association of Guyana; RISE Guyana; the Anglican Church of Guyana​​; Guyana Human Rights A s s o c i a t i o n ; Movement Against Parking Meter; ​ ​ I nter-Religious O rg a n i z a t i o n ; G u y a n a Presbyterian Church​​​​; Roman Catholic Church; Transparency Institute of Guyana Incorporated; among its supporters, called on the President and the

Leader of the Opposition “to recognize their respective responsibilities to honour the Constitution and uphold the law and to hold themselves accountable for finding a solution to this growing crisis which endangers our democracy.”

Following the last meeting with the Opposition Leader, President David Granger noted that the engagement focused largely on the role of GECOM, because it is an independent a g e n c y, w h i c h c o u l d determine when elections would be held.

“The President or the Executive or anybody, cannot intervene, cannot intrude, cannot interfere with the work of GECOM, so we have to allow GECOM to do its work. In that regard, the Leader of the Opposition was insistent that a date be

set and he is in all fairness, prepared to vary the date based on a vote by the National Assembly.”

However leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, later stated that with the diplomatic community warning that the current delays in finding a solution are hampering investments, and the business community complaining over what they say is a sharp drop in business, there is not good news…there appears to be no imminent end.

“The meeting degenerated into one of the usual statutory meetings of the Commission, where no urgency is ever given to the holding of elections as is

constitutionally mandated, but instead, focus was placed on a house-to- house registration exercise.”

The statement said that the Opposition-nominated commissioners attempted to submit a written proposal, which contemplates the holding of elections in the shortest possible time, that is, before the expiration of the current Official List of Electors on April 30, 2019.

“This submission was not allowed. Instead, the Government-nominated Commissioners insisted that house-to-house registration was necessary before the conduct of elections.”

The Opposition said that it is appropriate to note that

any house-to-house exercise will take in excess of nine months.

“To our surprise, the President then asked each of the Ministers present to share their views.

Almost all of them spoke of the need for house-tohouse registration. Instead of the expected consultation with GECOM to determine its readiness, the engagement manifested into an obvious attempt to pressure the Oppositionnominated Commissioners and GECOM into adopting the position being advocated by the Government and the APNU, AFC regarding House-to-House Registration.”

Appeals Court extension further delayed

T

he extension of the building that houses the Guyana Court of Appeal has been further pushed back due to a dispute over land which extends to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. The Court currently houses one main courtroom.

These delays have seen the Chancellor of the Judiciary, take decisions to move towards the construction of other court buildings outside Georgetown.

Due to the delays to the Appeals Court project, C h a n c e l l o r Yo n e t t e Cummings-Edwards (ag), took the decision to construct a Magistrate's Court and living quarters at Mahdia, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) at a cost of $193.7M. It is expected that 4,000 persons living in the

region will benefit, including the nearby Amerindian village of Campbell Town which is governed by a village council with a Toshao at its helm. Court is currently held in a section of the Mahdia Police Station.

Another project that is being pursued by the Judiciary in light of the delays to the Appeals Court extensions and the Diamond/Grove facility, is a facility at Kwakwani for a court house and living quarters.

An abandoned flat building which is owned by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and land by GL&SC are being processed to use the facility.

According to the Supreme Court's budgetary submissions, the delay in

commencement of the extension of the Court of Appeal Building at Kingston is due to issues surrounding land.

According to the submissions, given the Appeal Court delay along with the issuing of a delay order by engineers for the construction of the Diamond/Grove Magistrate's Court due to bad weather, the Chancellor in April decided to construct a Magistrate's Court and living quarters at Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The projected cost for the Bartica facility is pegged at $204.5M. According to the budget plan, members of the Judiciary and representatives from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) visited Bartica and identified a piece of land for which the final stages of preparation work are being carried out on the Bill of Quantity and drawings.

Conductor gets another charge for allegedly assaulting police officer

T

roy Peters, one of the individuals charged for assaulting a police constable following a video that went viral on social media, yesterday returned to court and answered another charge, this time of resisting arrest.

Peters, 26, and bus driver Carlos Bacchus, 29, first appeared on February 18, 2019 before Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus in the Georgetown

Magistrates' Courts where they denied the charges that included assault, obstructing traffic and resisting arrest.

The new charge for Peters alleged that on February 13, 2019 at Robb and Camp Street the accused obstructed a police constable who was acting in the execution of his duties.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read out to him by Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs(continued on page 17)

Troy Peters

Tuesday March 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Tuesday March 12, 2019

Authorities continue search for missing Captain, others The vessel that exploded in the Waini River on Sunday

The survivors photographed here are all female Venezuelans

A

uthorities are continuing their search for the passengers who disappeared

following a boat explosion on Sunday.

Kaieteur News understands that the missing

have been identified as Carl Archer who was returning home with his wife, and boat captain known as “Sakie.”

A source close to the incident noted among the missing may also be several Venezuelans.

“Locals are tight-lipped about the issue in these parts because some of the persons may be a part of a trafficking ring. So they are fearful of releasing the names of the persons involved in the accident. The maritime administration is working with police to determine circumstances surrounding the incident, even as the search continues,” the source claimed.

Ranks from the Police Marine Division were up to late yesterday scouring the Waini River for possible survivors from the boat explosion that has reportedly left at least one person dead and several others missing.

Kaieteur News understands that the explosion occurred around 08:00 hrs on Sunday, shortly after the vessel, which had ferried some 24 passengers from Venezuela, arrived at Barima/Waini, Region One. The vessel left San Felix, Puerto Ordaz located near the Venezuela border, around 11:00 hrs on Saturday. The vessel, captained by a Guyanese, left for Charity via the Barima River around 04:00 hrs. Sources said that the body of an unidentified man, with lacerations to the legs, was taken to Mabaruma Hospital.

Police later reported that the body of a badly burnt man, identified as Antonio Wells, a Venezuelan, washed ashore at Shell Beach.

The captain of the vessel is said to be among the

missing.

Kaieteur News was told that at least 13 other passengers made it to shore.

Among them was 73-yearold Phyllis Archer, who suffered burns to the face and hands. She was treated at the Mabaruma Hospital before being transported around 17:00 hrs to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

A police release issued later confirmed that 19 of the passengers were Venezuelans who were subsequently rescued by a Venezuelan vessel.

Reports indicate that the elderly, Mrs. Archer lived in Ve n e z u e l a a n d w a s travelling with her husband, Carl Archer, who is blind, when the mishap occurred.

She has reportedly said she was holding onto her husband, but was forced to release him. Her last sight of her spouse was seeing “his head on fire.”

There is speculation that sparks may have ignited the gasoline-fuelled vessel.

The passengers included five Guyanese, while the others were Venezuelans.

Phyllis Archer and her husband were sitting in the back seat when she heard an explosion.

The boat immediately burst into flames and she saw passengers jumping overboard. The elderly woman remained in the boat as it began to sink and suffered burns to her body.

She was rescued but there was no sign of her husband.

An earlier photograph of 73-year-old Phyllis Archer and her husband, Carl Archer, who is still missing

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 12, 2019

PAGE 17

DDL Group profits rise 26 percent - building digitally-controlled blending plant

D

e m e r a r a Distillers Limited (DDL) has announced that last year, the Group recorded its highest revenue ever.

Total revenue for the year was $21.862 billion, an increase of $2.378 billion or a 12% increase on the total revenue of $19.569 billion recorded in the previous year. The Group Profit after tax was $3.279 billion compared to$2.6 billion in 2017, an increase of $679 million, or 26%.

Group Profit before tax was for the year was $4.362 billion compared to $3.551 billion in the previous year, an increase of $810 million, or 23%. Earnings per share were $4.26 compared to $3.38 the previous year.

In the just released Annual Report, DDL Group Chairman, Komal Samaroo, said to shareholders that the 2018 financial year was another successful year. “Revenue, both local and international, continued to show encouraging growth while significant progress was made in key areas of diversification.�

During 2018, DDL said it focused on capital projects that support the core business as well as projects that are a part of the ongoing p r o g r a m m e o f diversification.

On March 16, 2018 a barrel warehouse facility was commissioned.

The construction and commissioning of the new warehouse serves to increase

The sprawling DDL compound at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

rum aging capacity by another 30,000 barrels.

In October, preparatory work for the construction of a new and modern blending plant started.

According to DDL, the plant will utilize the latest digital technology to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs and will also replace the existing blending operations.

This new blending plant, which is estimated to cost $465m, is expected to be completed by the end of June 2019. For 2018, Shareholders Funds increased by 16%. Capital Expenditure totaling $2.187 billion, incurred during the year, was all financed by self-generated funds.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, b a n k borrowing, in the form of loans and overdraft, was reduced by $1.437 billion from funds generated by the Group in the year. The net debt to equity ratio at the end of the year improved from 0.13:1 in 2017 to 0.06:1 in 2018.

The DDL group is involved in the production of the world-renowned El Dorado line of rums, juices, with the franchise on Pepsi.

It also is involved in distribution and shipping.

Conductor gets another charge for allegedly assaulting...

From page 14 Marcus.

Police prosecutor Adduni Innis had no objections to bail being granted to the accused. Therefore, Magistrate Marcus released Peters on self-bail and instructed that he returns to court on April 1, 2019.

The facts of the charge indicated that on the day in question the police officer who was fully dressed in his uniform, was executing his duties in the area when he

observed a minibus bearing registration numbers PTT 9295 loading passengers on the southern side of the street. This vehicle was allegedly obstructing traffic.

As a result, the officer went over and told the two accused of the offence. The duo reportedly became annoyed and began behaving disorderly. They were warned. Then they allegedly began assaulting the traffic cop, who attempted to arrest them both.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Tuesday March 12, 2019

IDB praises Guyana's efforts to strengthen oil and gas sector

P

resident David G r a n g e r , yesterday, met with President of the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), Luis Alberto Moreno, who commended his leadership in ensuring that the necessary systems and policies are put in place to manage the looming oil and gas sector and the wealth which will be accrued.

At a meeting held at State House, Moreno said that the President's leadership in this area particularly, cannot be understated and the benefits of it will be seen in the management of the sector when it comes on stream.

“I think when people write the history of Guyana some years from now, they will look at this period in time and see how the Guyanese people and the Guyanese leadership thought about how they can deal with one of those things that can only happen in once in a lifetime.

“It is in this regard that we have been privileged to work with you, President Granger, as you prepare things that are so timely like your Sovereign Wealth Fund and as you continue to push forward.

“Your leadership in this has been very central and we are very happy to be side to side with you. I am convinced that the best days of Guyana are ahead of us and they would be materialised largely for all the work that you have been doing to cement that future for the Guyanese people,” he said.

President Granger said that he welcomes the support of the Bank and looks forward to working more closely with the institution in the coming months in other areas such as climate related financing, infrastructure development and support for migrants.

“I want to express our appreciation to you for your concern towards Guyana.

We are certainly very appreciative of your stewardship and we wouldn't have gotten this far if you didn't have Guyana at heart.

We have a long-standing relationship with the Bank and especially with your support in the oil and gas sector.

“The Bank has been at the forefront and has given significant support. We will continue to look forward to your support as we try to

build very strong, sturdy and robust policies for the sector,” President Granger said.

Moreno assured that the Government can look forward to continued support from the entity as it seeks to enable the country to benefit in the best ways possible.

President Granger and Moreno also used the opportunity to discuss the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy as well as support and possible areas of collaboration for climate financing and to advance dialogue on the 'Guiana Shield.’

Meanwhile, at a special luncheon held at the Baridi Benab immediately after the meeting, Minister of Finance, Mr. Winston Jordan, in his remarks said that Moreno's visit is the first under this administration and serves as a testimony of the long and enduring friendship between the Bank and Guyana.

“It signals the Bank's commitment to the development of Guyana and is also an indication of your deep interest in the development of Latin American and Caribbean countries. During your

President David Granger makes a point to Mr. Luis Alberto Moreno, President of the IDB as they walk the grounds of State House stewardship, much has been achieved including a major increase in the Bank's capital and increased emphasis on climate related matters, which are dear to Guyana.

“As Guyana stands on the cusp of a transformative development, made possible by our growing oil resources, the Government will be looking to its development

partners such as the IDB to assist in strengthening institutions, policies, legislations and systems toward ensuring that the Guyanese populace from the country's endowment,” Minister Jordan said.

Just last month, Minister Jordan signed two loans with the bank to the value of US$31M for the establishment of an Electronic Single Window for Trade and the Energy Matrix Diversification and Institutional Strengthening of the Department of Energy.

In December 2018, an agreement was signed for a US$11.6 million loan, which will prepare Guyana for its transition towards becoming a major oil and gas producing State. The project is designed to support the strengthening and the sustainability of the energy sector in Guyana by contributing to the institutional development of oil and gas governance and the development of cleaner energy sources for electricity generation.

M o r e n o w a s accompanied to the meeting

by IDB's Country Representative, Sophie Makonnen.

Residents urge Anna Regina Town council to take strict action against polluters

“The pile of rubbish on the roadway to Mainstay.”

W

hile the Region Two Tourism Association is striving to promote tourism through a clean environment, there are a number of persons who are reportedly still dumping garbage in prominent tourist locations.

Based on reports, residents within the Anna Regina Community have been dumping garbage along a main carriage way, which leads to the Mainstay Lake Resort.

The Mainstay Lake Resort which is located within the Mainstay/Whyaka community plays an integral role in promoting tourism within the region. While

riding to the resort, one would see huge piles of garbage dumped at the side of the roadway.

Regional Executive Officer, Denis Jaikaran, said that he received complaints from the residents of Anna Regina New Housing Scheme and commuters along the mainstay access road that person and businesses are dumping massive amounts of garbage along the roadway.

Residents nevertheless are still calling on the Anna Regina Town Council to look into this matter and punish the culprits for their actions for illegally dumping garbage is a felony

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 12, 2019

PAGE 19

Police deny beating teen on Ituni loggers get extension America Street of logging concession The injured Shamar Tanner

T

he police have issued an official statement that denied that ranks had contract with a teen who is now in the hospital with a broken jaw and missing teeth.

Shamar Tanner, 19, claimed he was gunbutted till he passed out on Friday night.

He was reportedly taken to the hospital by a minibus. However, police said that ranks escorted him.

The police “denied” ranks had any physical contact with the injured person, Shamar Tanner. They said that apart from escorting him to the GPHC, a thorough investigation has since been launched by Commander 'A' Division, Assistant Commissioner Marlon Chapman.

“On Friday March 8, 2019, about 20:00hrs, Police ranks conducting foot patrol on America Street G/T, observed the suspicious actions of Tanner whom upon being approached, ran in an eastern direction.

During the process of running away, a male who has since been identified and is currently being sought, reportedly hurled a piece of iron at Tanner which struck him in the face, resulting in his injuries.”

- Min. Trotman met with the association to address their concerns

M

The police said that it fully respects the human rights of everyone and takes prompt and condign actions against anyone who violates such rights.

“Tanner is presently recuperating at the Georgetown Public Hospital, a further update will be given shortly.”

Tanner had claimed that he ran from police on America Street because he had a joint of marijuana in his pocket.

Canje cattle farmers protest after animals impounded

F

rustrated cattle farmers from East Canje, Berbice, yesterday picketed the Reliance Police Station after their animals were impounded by ranks on Saturday. They said that the situation has become overbearing since they are forced to pay hefty sums to have the animals released.

According to cattle farmer Indranauth Ramishwar, 55, of New Area Canefield Settlement, East Canje Berbice, 11 cows were impounded by ranks of the Reliance Police Station.

He explained that he returned home around 2:00 in the afternoon and was chasing his animals out when the police stopped him.

"Me see the police jeep come. When me go see, them say the cow deh from the roadway. So me tell them man (that) me deh behind

them cow. Me get me water; me get breakfast; me get me flag." The ranks reportedly ignored the farmer and chased the animals to the station and subsequently informed Ramishwar that he would need to pay $8000 per head to have them released.

The farmer explained that he was also told the additional cost attached for every day the animals remained at the station. He added that his animals were not being fed and given water, thus pushing him to gather $108,000 to release them back into his care.

Deonand Mohaber, also of Canefield Settlement, East Canje, told the media, while on the protest line, "Whole day me a deh with me animals. Them man this know that; them does pass and see me deh whole day."

He explained that he is a former employee of Rose

Hall Estate and after receiving severance pay he used it to invest in cattle farming.

"Me na get job, so me buy this cow and me say me go go savannah but them savannah them trench dry no water and the cow a walk over them man a do rice and farming deh so me na want that.

"So me say when rain fall me gun go in back. Me a deh with me animal. Nah say them unprotected. Me fed up, me confused.

Let me tell you personally; me only get cholesterol problem and it raise presently. You a try to live one honest life and grow children and these people want tek bread out yuh mouth," the aggravated farmer uttered.

Efforts to contact the Commander of B' Division to comment on the matter were unsuccessful.

Elderly man succumbs from snake bite

A

farmer, who was formerly of Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, died on Saturday after he was reportedly bitten by a venomous snake on his Baramanie farm, Region One. The dead man has since been identified as Leslie Valentine Seymour, 50.

Based on reports, around 10:00 hrs last Friday morning, Seymour and his wife were reaping cabbage from their farm, when he was

bitten twice by a snake.

The man's wife Dianne Henry said that he was bitten once on his thumb and once on the index finger by a labaria snake, some 3ft. in length.

The woman said that she then paddled more than 40 miles from Baramanie to the nearest hospital in Kumaka.

The woman said that she arrived at the Kumaka hospital at 10:00hrs the following day with her husband, who was at that time unconscious.

According to Henry, when she arrived at Kumaka, the hospital was unable to treat her husband's snake bite.The man was subsequently transferred to the Oscar Joseph District Hospital, Charity Essequibo Coast, then to the Suddie Public Hospital, where he later died while receiving medical attention.

The body of Leslie Va l e n t i n e S e y m o u r i s presently at the Suddie Mortuary awaiting a postmortem examination.

inister of N a t u r a l Resources, Raphael Trotman's, recent visit to Ituni was to meet with residents and the Ituni Small Loggers Association, following a request from the body to address matters affecting them.

“The meeting was actually prompted by a letter received from the Ituni Small Loggers Association complaining about the inability to harvest logs,” explained Minister Trotman.

The community, the Minister said, depends solely on logging hence the importance of meeting with them at the earliest possible time.

As stated in their letter and reiterated at the meeting, the concession time was short and posed difficulties for the loggers.

Minister Trotman forwarded the matter which was discussed with the

Commissioner of Forests who referred it to the Board of Directors. As a result an agreement was made to give them an extension.

“Their time limit for harvesting is two years, so we took a decision to extend it to three years so that they have a chance to harvest some more logs,” noted Minister Trotman.

The government's role is to facilitate trade and commerce, and honest living, and the minister was happy to make this possible.

In the meantime, the loggers were urged to get their house in order.

“If it is that they have been violating; cutting logs illegally, that has to stop… they have to ensure that they are an organised body having held elections and so forth… We are expecting that the organisation, itself, is up to scratch and we will do our part,” noted Minister Trotman.

During the meeting, residents along with members of the Ituni Small Loggers Association expressed their gratitude to the government for the extension.

“I think, not only myself but this entire community, would have received that announcement with an open heart and much gladness,” stated one member of the association.

Other matters raised by the residents, such as the need for a resident medical professional (doctor) and an ambulance, were noted by the minister, who promised to raise these matters with his respective Cabinet colleagues.

Tuesday March 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

CDC delivers more aid to Venezuelan migrants The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) continues to render assistance to the Venezuela migrants crossing Guyana’s borders in an effort to escape the social and economic crisis in their homelands.

On Saturday, 12 migrant families in Kamwatta, Barima-Waini, Region One, received much-needed hampers from the CDC. Additional supplies are currently being mobilised to be delivered to communities in the region as well as in Region Seven in the coming week.

The National Multi-Sectoral Coordinating Committee, through the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), has been providing relief to migrants in the border regions.

Over the last few months, Guyana has seen an increase in the number of Venezuelans crossing the border to escape the political and socio-economic crisis in their homeland. (DPI)

Talk to Pakistan, former Modi ally urges India amid Kashmir tension SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - India should talk to Pakistan and separatists in Kashmir to defuse tension arising from a suicide attack on an Indian paramilitary convoy that was claimed by Pakistan-based militants, a former chief minister of the state said.

Mehbooba Mufti, who was chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir from early 2014 to June last year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party withdrew support for her regional p a r t y, s a i d a n o n g o i n g crackdown on militants and those supporting secession could further alienate the people.

India has vowed to kill all the militants in the country’s only Muslimmajority state if they do not give up arms, after a 20year-old local man killed 40 paramilitary troopers in a suicide attack last month.

Indian security forces have killed 18 militants in Kashmir since then, the army said on Monday.

The attack nearly led to another war between archrival India and Pakistan, both of which claim the Himalayan region in full but rule in part.

“I strongly feel that there has to be a dialogue process internally as well as e x t e r n a l l y, with Pakistan,” Mufti said in an interview on Friday. “The situation is going to get worse if some kind of political process is not initiated on the ground now.”

Indian officials have repeatedly ruled out talks

with Pakistan unless it acts against militant groups based there. India says its warplanes late last month bombed a militant camp in Pakistan, which responded with an aerial attack the next day.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met in Washington with Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and told him the United States stands with India against terrorism.

“Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Secretary Gokhale discussed the importance of bringing those responsible for the attack to justice and the urgency of Pakistan taking meaningful action against terrorist groups operating on its soil,” the State Department said in a statement.

Gokhale said on the day of the strike that it had killed many Jaish-eMohammed “terrorists”.

Pakistan said no one was killed.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has sought to speak with Modi amid the hostility, said no militant group would be allowed to operate from his country to carry out attacks abroad, days after his government announced a sweeping crackdown against Islamist militant organizations.

“This confrontational attitude - no talks, no discussion -has an impact,” Mufti said.

“Whatever relationship we have with Pakistan, it has a direct impact on Jammu and Kashmir and we are the worst sufferers of this

animosity.”

Indian authorities have arrested many separatist leaders in Kashmir in the past few weeks, and the chief of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said recently that the government had made it clear to them that “if they want to live in India, they will have to speak the language of India, not Pakistan’s”.

Mufti, whose father was also a chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said the tough stance by India would only lead to “some calm on the surface”. India killed 248 militants in Kashmir in 2018 - the highest in a decade.

“Once you start choking the space for dissent in a democracy, people feel pushed to the wall and then it leads to further dissent and alienation,” she said.

M u f t i s a i d I n d i a ’s general election - starting April 11 and whose results will be declared on May 23 - could delay the process of any inter-party talks on Kashmir. ‘ E L I M I N AT I N G MILITANTS’ Lieutenant-General Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon, I n d i a ’s t o p m i l i t a r y commander in Kashmir, said on Monday that security forces had killed 10 local and eight foreign militants in the region in the past three weeks.

He said most of the dead were from Jaish-eMohammed, which claimed responsibility for the attack on the paramilitary convoy in the district of Pulwama on Feb. 14.

PAGE 22

Tuesday March 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

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For more info, call: 223-0090 Outdoor salesman. Apply at Dharmendra Variety Store.

Lot B7-9, Avenue of the Republic, Lacytown, Georgetown. 675-3440, 6708862 Urgent 1 male & female with creole cooking experince to multitask, flexible hours.

Contact X’s Grill and Cuisine #695-6550/656-9313 One experience truck/tractor driver to drive distribution vehicle. Apply @ 65-67 Robb Street Bourda 1 qualified female teacher/ tutor to teach/care for 3yr old boy. Apply 65-67 Robb St Bourda Alabama Experienced accounts clerk.

Must have passes in maths & english. Apply @ Alabama Trading 65-67 Robb Street Bourda One experienced female shop attendant. 18-25 yrs from E.C.D. Salary $20,000 wkly.

610-3974 Tutor/Nanny to work from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street Industrial Sales Representative, 5 Subject CXC Age 25+ Experience in Sales, must own vehicle, email resume: vacancy@josarltd.com Female cleaner office & home age 25to 50 Tel# 2332745

From page 12 whether maximum value would be sought. Undoubtedly, NICIL-SPU, as the agent of the Guyanese people, needs to be most concerned with this objective.”

The Union contends that the assets under the auspices of NICIL-SPU ultimately belong to the Guyanese people and it is in the people’s interest that this identified authority secures the best possible returns for these assets.

GAWU said that consideration of the highlighted situation cannot ignore the compelling view that the major sale of state assets should not be pursued “due to the Constitutional issue that is presently in the public domain.

“In fact, until there is clarity on the matter, the Union is of the view that the equipment should be released to the Corporation towards its field rehabilitation programme which is necessary at this time.”

Tuesday March 12, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Woman speaks of brother’s rage before he was shot The sister of the now dead Security Guard of Lot 13 Nurney Vi l l a g e , Corentyne, Berbice, believes that the police tried their best to calm down her raging brother who was brandishing a machete Saturday night.

The situation escalated and resulted in the man being shot several times to his foot. He succumbed the following day at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.

Dead is Mark Johnson, called “Hamin”, 48.

While concerns and opinions began to circulate across Berbice and social media on the incident, many were of the opinion that the police used excessive force in the situation and that it could have been handled better.

Others living in the neighbourhood in Nurney stated that Johnson was the aggressor in the situation.

Kaieteur News spoke with the sister of the dead man, Debra Johnson, who said that her brother was not adhering to the request of the police to drop the cutlass he had in hand.

According to her, her brother had earlier in the day visited his friends’ house a street away and was brought to his Nurney residence by three friends. He was lifted and brought into the yard, she said.

“My sister has a shop downstairs and he lives up-

stairs but I was there with my sister downstairs. Like around 9:30 in the night his friends came hoisting him and bringing him in the yard; three of them. They put him on the ground and said he drunk and fall in a drain. So he whole skin was in mud, all his hair.

“He is a Rasta and all over had mud. So they ask that they would like to have some water so I get up and I take about four buckets water to them. They wash out he hair and after that they take him upstairs,” Johnson recalled.

She added that one friend remained with him upstairs but after some time they heard loud noises emanating from the upper flat.

“We start hearing loud noise, knock down and so upstairs; breaking up things, so we didn’t get up. But my sister decide to go home and I went home too.

“When I reach home I hear like he come out on the veranda so one of my granddaughter call and she, “Grans, look Uncle Mark come out on the veranda, he gon fall. So I got out the house and went on my veranda but he was making a set of noise and talking up, cursing up and so on.”

Johnson said she decided to call out to her brother and told him he was drunk and that he should go back inside his house but this apparently angered the security guard and he began to hurl whatever he caught hold of, towards her house.

Shot: Mark Johnson “He pull out the antenna and throw it on my house and bottles at my window. One of my daughters came upstairs and she went on the veranda and was talking to him, telling him that she don’t want to see him go to jail so he started using threatening words to her.

“Then he went inside and take his cutlass and come out and was threatening her with the cutlass,” the woman said.

It was while the commotion was playing out that they noticed a police vehicle patrolling and they called out to alert them of the situation which she said was getting out of hand.

She stated that after the police vehicle stopped, her brother ran down the steps with the cutlass in hand but

a policeman exited the vehicle and entered the yard.

He was attempting to quell the situation by talking to the irate and armed Johnson.

“The (policeman) was hanging over my fence and telling Mark to calm down and put down the cutlass. I went on my veranda still and the police was telling him ‘Hello, hello, drop the cutlass.’ “I was also telling him to put down the cutlass but he was not listening to any of us”, the man’s sister said.

According to the woman, she decided to go back in her house but then she heard several shots fired which prompted her to “run back out the house.”

She told this publication that she ran down her steps and unto the road and there she saw her brother being assisted by police ranks into their pick-up to be taken to the hospital.

“I ask them if he get shot and they said yes. I notice shots on the foot but I know he was alive.” She explained, “The way how my brother was behaving you could have expected anything because I was scared for my life.

I never saw him in that state; he don’t really drink too.” He

was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital and admitted.

He succumbed on Sunday morning. She said that the Constable who reportedly shot her brother, showed up at the hospital and told her that it was him that fired the shots.

He apologized to the family but stated that it was not his intention to kill him.

Johnson’s body is at the New Amsterdam Mortuary.

Officer-in-charge of Crime in Berbice, Chabinauth Singh, confirmed that there was a shooting and that contact should be made with the Commander since he is no

longer authorized to provide any details to the media on matters occurring in Berbice.

He said, “They stop us from giving out information; you got to call the Commander for that.” Several attempts were made to contact the Commander Paul Langevine, but all calls went unanswered. Although there has been a difficulty with making contact with senior police officials in the division, this publication was told by a police source that statements were taken from the relatives of the deceased.

The matter is currently under investigation.

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Tuesday March 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

Venezuelan blackout hits oil exports, residents scramble for food CARACAS/SAN CRISTOBAL, Venezuela (Reuters) - Much of Venezuela, including parts of the capital Caracas, remained without power yesterday for a fifth day, crimping vital oil exports and leaving people struggling to obtain water and food.

President Nicolas Maduro, who has blamed the unprecedented blackout on sabotage by the United States at Venezuela’s Guri hydroelectric dam, ordered the suspension of classes and the working day, as he had on Friday.

Sources in the oil sector, OPEC member Venezuela’s main source of foreign earnings and a vital generator of revenue for M a d u r o ’s g o v e r n m e n t , said that exports from the primary port of Jose had been halted by the blackouts.

The oppositioncontrolled congress called an emergency session to discuss the power cuts,

People collect water released through a sewage drain that feeds into the Guaire River, which carries most of the city’s wastewater, in Caracas, Venezuela yesterday. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins blaming negligence by M a d u r o ’s socialist government.

The blackout, which began Thursday afternoon,

has heightened frustration among Venezuelans already suffering widespread food and medicine shortages, as the once-prosperous

nation’s economy suffers a hyperinflationary collapse.

Food has rotted in refrigerators, hospitals have struggled to keep

equipment operating, and people have clustered on the streets of Caracas to pick up patchy telephone signals to reach relatives abroad.

Ye s t e r d a y, people formed lines to fill containers with water from the streams cascading down the mountain overlooking Caracas.

“This is driving me crazy,” said Naile Gonzalez in Chacaito, a commercial neighbourhood of Caracas.

“The government doesn’t want to accept that this is their fault because they haven’t carried out any maintenance in years.”

Experts consulted by Reuters believe the nationwide blackout originated in transmission lines that transport energy from the Guri hydroelectric plant to the Venezuelan south.

A s o u r c e at state oil company PDVSA also said the government had decided to ration electricity, in part to

supply power to the Jose oil export terminal.

The Information Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

The collapse in crucial crude exports comes after the United States slapped sanctions on PDVSA in January in a bid to cut off cash to the government and oust Maduro from p o w e r. Ye s t e r d a y, i t imposed sanctions on a Russian bank over its dealings with PDVSA. “The United States will not stand idly by while foreign financial institutions facilitate illegitimate transactions that benefit Maduro and his cronies, and perpetuate the corruption that has devastated Venezuela,” U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton wrote on Twitter.

The lack of electricity has aggravated a crisis in Venezuelan hospitals, already lacking investment and maintenance in addition to the shortage of medicines.

Govt. denies involvement Drug testing for police officers in land grab policy NASSAU, Bahamas CMC – The Bahamas government yesterday denied reports circulating on the social media that it was engaged in a land grab policy insisting that “these reports are completely fictitious” “The government’s position on developing a modern land registry and improving access to Crown Land in The Bahamas is a matter of public record,” according to a statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister.

Last weekend, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis met with residents of Andros and Eleuthera providing an update on the Mid-Year Budget Statement and the recent 30th Inter-Sessional Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit held in Kitts and Nevis.

“Some of you have been leasing land for many years and have even built homes and businesses on the land.

You were promised you would get the land, but nothing ever happened,” he told the residents, adding ‘ we are prepared to give you free title to that land so you can

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) yesterday said it would begin conducting random drug testing on police officers and that Police Commissioner Gary Griffith will be the first to be tested.

In a statement, the TTPS said that the drug testing, which will begin in two

months’ time and continue “indefinitely,” is a “proactive approach aimed at minimizing the possibility of police officers being addicted to illegal drugs”.

It said it is also aimed at ensuring that ‘officers do not commit actions which will cause them to be involved in any type of criminal activity.

“In a similar manner to the polygraph test…the COP has

requested that he be the first person to be polygraphed and drug tested,” the statement said. It warned that police officers found to be under the influence of any dangerous drugs whilst on duty “will be disciplined”.

The statement said that the drug testing will be conducted on both regular and Special Reserve Police (SRP) officers.

CAL cancels flights to Venezuela Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis take that to the bank and borrow money to expand your home or business”.

Minnis said that as part of its process to establish a modern land registry, his administration will commence a land investigation and audit to establish land that is owned or leased by the government.

He said that information in respect of Crown Lands, will be used in the determination of outstanding land applications, at the Department of Lands and Surveys.

Minnis said the government’s ambitious affordable housing programme will also provide additional land ownership opportunities for Family Island residents.

The government is reported to be in the process of developing subdivisions in New Providence and Family Islands, featuring lots – complete with infrastructure – for sale at less than US$30,000.“We want you to have a home,” Minnis said.

In the statement denying any involvement in land grabbing, the government said “the Office of the Prime Minister denounces the use of false information and the undue concerns such untruths can cause throughout the country”.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – The state-owned Caribbean Airlines (CAL) yesterday said that it had cancelled all flights to Venezuela yesterday following an electricity blackout that has hit the South American country where the opposition is seeking to force President Nicolas Maduro out of office.

In a brief statement, CAL said it had taken the decision “due to no electricity or backup electricity supply at the Simon Bolivar International Airport” It said that its flights BW 300 (Trinidad to Venezuela) and BW 301 (Venezuela to

Trinidad) for yesterday “are cancelled” and that “the affected passengers will be accommodated on other services”.

The airline gave no indication as to how long it would cancel its flights to the South American country.

The Trinidad and Tobago government has long indicated that it would not interfere in the internal affairs of Venezuela and has adopted the position of the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping of non-interference and urging dialogue in the ongoing political and economic turmoil in that country.

Eleven dead as Brazil’s largest city flooded SAO PAULO (Reuters) Intense floods in Latin America’s business hub Sao Paulo killed at least 11 people, turned roads into rivers and tossed cars atop buildings and into trees, with authorities bracing for more rain Monday evening.

Five people drowned. The others, including at least one infant, were buried alive in

mudslides, according to the Sao Paulo state security secretariat.

Nearly 110 millimetres - over 4 inches - of rain fell from Sunday afternoon to yesterday afternoon, 70 percent of the amount expected for the entire month of March, authorities said.

That caused chaos in Sao Paulo’s already clogged traffic, as commuter trains were partially shut down, and buses and cars were stuck in gridlocked streets.

Rain is forecast for at least another two days.

The Mercedes Benz truck and bus factory in Sao Bernardo do Campo was flooded and activity partially suspended, according to the local metalworkers’ union.

The German automaker is the largest manufacturer of trucks and buses in Brazil, having sold 21,153 vehicles last year.

Tuesday March 12, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Fight erupts as boyfriend walks free on manslaughter charge Three weeks after Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan ruled that a prima facie case was established against the boyfriend of the teen, who allegedly jumped from a moving car, the said magistrate yesterday discharged the matter.

Rick Sewcharran, 21, of Diamond, East Bank Demerara, was the subject of a preliminary inquiry having been charged for manslaughter.

Particulars of the charge against the young man had alleged that on June 10, 2018 he unlawfully killed 19-year-old Sasia Adams, his girlfriend.

Adams, formerly of East Street, Georgetown, was employed at the Princess Ramada Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

The charge was recommended by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), after the police completed investigations and forwarded a file to the chambers.

Yesterday when the matter was called in the Chief Magistrate’s courtroom, the Magistrate ruled that after perusing the evidence she was not satisfied that the prosecution was able to prove their case against the young man, hence, the charge was discharged.

Magistrate McLennan ruled three weeks ago that a prima facie case had been made out against the young man for the offence; hence he was called upon to lead a defence.

Yesterday, the Magistrate reversed her decision and told the court that the prosecution was unable to lead sufficient evidence in the matter.

hospital in a conscious state, told doctors that she had fallen down at home.

Her family, however, are adamant that Adams was pushed out of the moving car by her boyfriend whom they have publicly described as an

Rick Sewcharran

Dead Sasia Adams

Sewcharran was seated in the prisoner’s dock. Upon hearing the ruling, he turned to his family who was seated in court and began to laugh. The relatives of the deceased who were also seated in the courtroom began crying.

Soon after both families exited the courtroom and made their way down into the compound.

While in the court compound, the mother of the deceased was crying uncontrollably when she grabbed on to Sewcharran and began shouting, “You kill my daughter and walk free of the charge.” The woman and Sewcharran fell to the ground but were quickly picked up by family members.

The now free man and his lawyer then went to the police outpost at the court and reported that the woman assaulted him.

He was advised to go and report

the matter to the Brickdam Police Station.

According to a statement from the police, on the night of June 10, 2018 Adams and her boyfriend were travelling west along Lamaha Street, Georgetown in a white Toyota 212 motorcar when she opened the door and leapt from the car, landing on the southern side of the road.

The police said that the boyfriend picked up the woman and transported her to the hospital where she died.

Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh gave her cause of death as blunt trauma to the head.

Based on reports, the police sought several extensions to further detain the boyfriend after there were conflicting reports surrounding the death of the teenager.

It was reported that Adams who was admitted to the

“animal.”

Throughout the hearing Sewcharran was represented by Attorney-at-law Sanjeev Datadin.

The lawyer had always argued that his client found himself at the centre of an

unfortunate accident, noting too, that his client has at all times maintained his innocence.

According to the lawyer, his client has maintained that his girlfriend jumped from the moving car, which caused her to sustain severe head injuries.

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Tuesday March 12, 2019

Tuesday March 12, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Diamond League to cut meetings, disciplines by 2020 (Reuters) - Athletics’ Diamond League circuit will have a trimmer look and fewer meetings beginning in 2020 as the one-day competitions aim for a more consistent, fast moving format, the IAAF said yesterday.

Meetings will be reduced from 14 to 12 competitions plus a final under concepts approved by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Council in Doha. The number of disciplines will also be cut from 32 to 24 with 12 each for men and women and the longest event will be 3,000 meters.

There will also be a new focus on out-of-stadium/city center field events where fans can be closer to the action and meetings will be limited

to one per week.

“This elite circuit of quality events (will) attract the best athletes which in turn gives our fans a compelling reason to tune in and follow their stars over the next decade and beyond,” IAAF president Sebastian Coe said in a statement. There was no indication which meeting would be dropped or what disciplines would be eliminated.

An end of the season examination this year will assess the quality of each meeting with the aim of focusing on the best 12 meetings plus a final with all 24 disciplines, the IAAF said.

The Diamond League, which will celebrate its 10th season beginning in May,

currently features nine races for men and women, including the 3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m, and seven field events - high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus throw and javelin throw.

Not all events are held at each meeting.

The circuit, the IAAF’s top competition outside the Olympics and world championships, at present has two end-of-season finals, with Zurich hosting one-half of the disciplines and Brussels the other.

“The market very much told us at the moment the current two finals should be replaced by one thrilling night of athletics,” IAAF chief executive Jon Ridgeon, who

Tuesday March 12, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Love, passion, romance, and marriage - your mind will focus on these matters all day even if there's no special person in your life right now.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) A group of friends may invite you to attend a festival or workshop involving the creative arts or metaphysical studies, or perhaps both.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) The approach of a very special visitor might cause you to thoroughly clean your house, Taurus. Afterward, you could look for new and interesting ways to dress it up with some new plants.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) If you've considered a career in healing, psychic, or spiritual studies or the creative arts, Scorpio, today the opportunity to make that dream a reality could come your way. A close friend could open the door for you.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Romantic novels and movies could be more appealing than usual today, Gemini.

You're in an especially intense mindset.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Romance could be on your mind today, Sagittarius. This could be due to a recent wonderful encounter with a love partner.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your financial situation could get a strong boost today, Cancer. This might be due to a contract you've just signed, perhaps involving some work you will do on your own rather than for an employer.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) A very beautiful, romantic dream could inspire exalted artistic activities today. You might want to paint, draw, write, compose music, sew, or cook up a new recipe.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today you may decide to study healing, Leo. You could read about alternative methods regarding diet, herbs, aromatherapy, massage, or acupuncture. You might decide to learn some hands-on methods.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today you might decide to sign up for an advanced course of some kind, Virgo.

This might include world religions or perhaps meditation. Stay out of bookstores, both physical and online.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) A rush of intense love and romantic passion for a special someone might turn your mind toward marriage.

The wedding of a friend may contribute to these thoughts.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Today you could experience a strong desire to clear your psyche of past traumas that limit you. You may decide to register for a seminar or workshop of some kind. If you sign up today, all signs are that you will not only attain the results you want but you will also meet some interesting new people.

Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech and Fancy Cherono in action during the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the IAAF Diamond League Final - King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium - August 31, 2018. (REUTERS/Francois Lenoir/file photo) co-chaired a year-long review of the circuit, told a news conference.

Qualification and entry standards for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics also were approved by the IAAF Council at its

Curtis Dey...

From page 31 and Paul Choo-Wee-Nam. The lone female competitor was Shenika Teixeira, while Steve Bhimsain received a special prize as one of the veteran competitors.

Assisting with the presentation of prizes were members of the PPP Executive including Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali.

Defending champion...

From page 32 tactical combinations to win the exchange of a Rook vs a Knight but could not have converted this advantage since Ethan gained enough drawing chances from an outside passed pawn. Round 3 will be contested on Friday.

Aurora Knight Riders, Jaguars...

From page 33 proved that nothing was going to stop them as Husbard Thomas batting at number 6 hammered 48 and together with Gary Persaud, ensured the Jaguars posted a competitive 152-9. Fortune grabbed 216 and Mosey Persaud 2-37.

In reply, Young Guns found the going as tough as asking a boy to climb an ‘awara’ tree. Only Saheed Hakh with 27 offered resistance as the guns ran out of ammunition when on 94 in 15.3 overs. Bowling for the Jaguars, Mohamed claimed 3-15, while Man of the Match Thomas supported with 2-19.

weekend meeting.

Athletes will be able to qualify for the next Olympics either by meeting entry standards or by virtue of their position in the new IAAF world rankings.

The Council also agreed

to change race walking distances for senior competitions from 20 and 50km to two of the following 10, 20, 30 or 35km - after 2022 while maintaining four medal disciplines with two for men and two for women.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 12, 2019

F1 to award point to driver who Federer wins Indian Wells opener, Nishikori survives three-setter sets fastest lap in a grand prix

Lewis Hamilton (left) and Sebastian Vettel are again expected to be two of the main protagonists in the battle for the F1 drivers’ title. (PA) BBC Sport - Formula 1 has confirmed it will change its scoring system this year by giving a point to the driver who sets the fastest lap in a grand prix.

The move is part of an attempt to make the sport more appealing and so grow audiences.

Drivers will only receive the extra point if they also finish in the top 10 in the race.

It was formally confirmed yesterday after the FIA’s world motor sport council (WMSC) approved it last week.F1 managing director Ross Brawn said the idea could “improve the show while maintaining the integrity of the sport”. Brawn, the former Mercedes team boss and Ferrari technical director, said: “We have been considering this solution which represents a response to detailed research carried out with thousands of our fans around the world - for a number of months.

“How many times have we heard the drivers on the radio ask the team about who holds the fastest lap?

“Now it will no longer be only a matter of record and prestige, but there will be a concrete motivation that will make the final part of the race even more interesting.

Sometimes it is useful to remind ourselves of the heritage of our sport to move forward. “ The rule will be in place for the start of this season at the Australian Grand Prix, 15-17 March.It will be the first time a point has been awarded for the fastest lap since the first 10 years of the F1 world championship in 1950-59. The feeling among senior figures in F1 is that the change may add extra interest towards the end of a race, when the action can tend to die down following the end of all the pit stops.

Bosses accept there could

be negatives to the idea - such as a championship being decided by a fastest-lap point, or a title contender’s team-mate - who is not in championship contention - setting a fastest lap to disadvantage a rival from another team.

But the feeling was that all teams and drivers would be aware of this issue and any of them could choose to take action.

The idea was one of many that were put to fans in surveys conducted by F1 last year.

The feedback was that it was an idea worth discussing, and F1’s senior stakeholders at the strategy group of six leading teams, FIA and F1 concluded it should be adopted.

After the world council voted it through last week, an evote of the strategy group and F1 Commission, a body that includes representatives of the FIA, F1, Ferrari, sponsors and circuits gave unanimous approval on Monday, according to the FIA. What difference could it have made in previous seasons? - analysis Last year, the answer is none whatsoever, in terms of the outcome of the championship.

But in 2008, it would have made Felipe Massa champion rather than Lewis Hamilton, who famously pipped the Brazilian at

the last corner of the final race and won the title by a single point. Massa had two fastest laps in 2008 and Hamilton one.

But that’s a fallacious argument, because in 2008 there was not a point for fastest lap and, had there been, the teams and drivers would have conducted the season differently based on that knowledge.

That was a point made to BBC Sport by a senior figure in F1 on Friday when asked whether the sport’s bosses had done any research into the potential effect of this change before deciding on it.

What did inform the decision was a desire to increase F1’s entertainment value. Everyone in F1 accepts the show could do with being improved.

The feeling of F1’s owners Liberty Media is that there is no silver bullet, and that lots of changes - big and small - are needed. Big ones are coming in 2021 - to revenue distribution, to team spending and to the cars themselves.This is a small one.

Some will argue it is unnecessary, even a gimmick. The counterpoint is that it might add a new dimension to races and the season and make for an extra talking point.

The verdict will come at the end of the season.

Roger Federer (SUI) during his second round match against Roger Gojowczyk (not pictured) in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports) (Reuters) - Roger Federer began his campaign for a record sixth Indian Wells title by defeating German Peter Gojowczyk 6-1 7-5 in the BNP Paribas Open in California on Sunday.

Fresh from earning his 100th ATP singles title a week ago in Dubai, the Swiss fourth seed repelled a tough second set challenge from the world No. 85 to book his third-round place.

World number two Rafa Nadal brushed aside American Jared Donaldson 6-1 6-1 and will next face Diego Schwartzman after the Argentine beat Roberto Carballes 6-3 6-1.

Earlier in the day, Japan’s Kei Nishikori narrowly avoided a second round defeat to Frenchman Adrian Mannarino before battling through 6-4 4-6 7-6(4).

Federer said he was happy to get into his stride early in the tournament.

“For the first round I actually felt really good,” he told reporters. “If I maybe would have served a little bit better, I think things would have gone faster.

“But at the end it was a tough second set, and it’s maybe exactly what I needed.”

Federer, who won the last of his Indian Wells titles two years ago but lost in the 2018 final, used his backhand slice to keep Gojowczk from gaining any rhythm in the first set.

Yet the second proved more of a challenge as the German saved four break points in his first service game, then used his momentum to break for a 3-1 lead.

Federer immediately broke back before later benefiting from an untimely double fault for another break and serving out for victory in just over an hour and a quarter.

World number seven Nishikori was not at his best, with the left-handed Mannarino’s flat groundstrokes neutralizing his attacks and the Frenchman seemed to be heading for victory when he served for the match at 6-5.

Yet he double faulted on the third break point he faced in the game and Nishikori raced into a 6-2 lead in the deciding tiebreak.

Still, Mannarino kept fighting, saving two match points before the Japanese finally wrapped up victory after two hours and 33 minutes.

“I was really focused on that last tiebreak,” Nishikori said. “I think we both played good, and I think in the tiebreak I played the best tennis.”

Eighth seeded American John Isner swept past Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-0 6-2, 10th seeded Croatian Marin Cilic beat Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 6-3 6-4, while Russia’s 14th seed Danill Medvedev beat American Mackenzie McDonald 7-5 6-0.

Floodlights to tour Antigua The Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) will embark on a tour to Antigua this week.

Hosted by the Antigua &Barbuda Softball Association, the GFSCA will play the host team in four (4) softball games.

Two will be contested using the underhand bowling method and the other two will be using the overhand bowling. The team departs tomorrow. A number of seasoned players will make the trip to Antigua including Anil Beharry who is the captain of the side.

The Floodlights squad will come from: Anil Beharry Capt., Anand Persaud Vice/Capt, Pooran Singh, Rakesh Goverdhan Arjune, Ricky Deonarain, Kenrick Persaud, Roger Dobay, Patrick Khan, Vishnu Hardyal, Valmicky Dilchandr, Dennis De Andrade, Vicky Bharosay, Ramchand Ragbeer and Khemwantie Singh who is the Manager.

Kei Nishikori (JPN) during his second round match against Adrian Mannarino (not pictured) in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)

Tuesday March 12, 2019

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Kaieteur News

NBA roundup: Suns end years of futility in beating Warriors Devin Booker’s jumper with 5:01 remaining gave Phoenix the lead for good Sunday night as the Suns snapped an 18-game losing streak to the Golden State Warriors with a 115-111 victory in Oakland, Calif.

Playing the second night of a back-to-back, the Suns found the energy to outlast the Warriors after having trailed by as many as 16 points.

The Suns hadn’t beaten the Warriors since November 2014, and hadn’t won in Oakland since February 2011.

The loss was the Warriors’ second in six days, sandwiching a 122-105 home win over Denver on Friday.

Booker finished with a game-high 37 points, including 13 consecutive Suns points during a stretch of the fourth quarter in which Phoenix took charge of the game. Klay Thompson had 28 points and Kevin Durant 25 for the Warriors.

76ers 106, Pacers 89 Joel Embiid returned from an eight-game absence to score 33 points and grab 12 rebounds as host Philadelphia defeated Indiana.

Embiid had been out with a sore left knee but came back to post his league-best 49th double-double of the season as the Sixers snapped a twogame losing streak.

With the win, the Sixers moved into third place in the Eastern Conference, holding a tiebreaker over the Pacers.

Bojan Bogdanovic led the Pacers with 18 points while Darren Collison added 14.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) controls the ball between Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) and forward Draymond Green (23) during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. (Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports) Spurs 121, Bucks 114 LaMarcus Aldridge poured in 29 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, and DeMar DeRozan added 28 points as host San Antonio turned back Milwaukee for its fifth straight win.

The Spurs trailed the entire first half but took the lead in the third quarter and led by four points heading to the fourth. Marco Belinelli and Patty Mills hit for 16 points each for the Spurs, while Bryn Forbes added 12.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 27 points and 13 rebounds. Eric Bledsoe scored 21 points, Khris Middleton tallied 15,

Pat Connaughton hit for 14 points, Brook Lopez added 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Nikola Mirotic contributed 10 points.

Rockets 94, Mavericks 93 Eric Gordon scored a game-high 26 points as Houston extended its winning streak to a seasonbest eight games by edging host Dallas.

James Harden, who picked up his fifth foul in the opening seconds of the third quarter, missed 18 of his 25 shots and took just three free throws in finishing with 20 points.

Center Clint Capela added 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Luka Doncic, who was hobbling late in the game, led

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) trips over Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) chasing a loose ball during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. (Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports)

the Mavericks with 19 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists.

He didn’t have a good shooting game, going 5 of 16 overall and 1 of 6 from beyond the arc. Rookie Jalen Brunson scored 18 points with seven rebounds.

Magic 105, Grizzlies 97 Mike Conley brought host Memphis from behind to steal a win from Orlando, giving the Grizzlies their fourth win in their last five games.

Memphis trailed 95-88 with 3:06 remaining but closed out the game on a 17-2 run. Conley had 26 points, eight assists and five rebounds, and Avery Bradley added 21 points for the Grizzlies.

Nikola Vucevic led Orlando with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and Terrence Ross added 15 points off the bench. The Magic have lost three of their last four games, though they sit just one game out of the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Hawks 128, Pelicans 116 John Collins had his second straight doubledouble and Kevin Huerter scored 27 points to help host Atlanta break its three-game losing streak by knocking off New Orleans.

Collins followed Saturday’s performance of 33 points and 20 rebounds against Brooklyn by getting

23 points and 10 rebounds for his 27th double-double. He also had four blocks, two of them in the final quarter when the Pelicans were trying to mount a comeback.

New Orleans center Anthony Davis returned after a missing a game with back spasms and finished with 15 points and eight rebounds.

Davis played only 21 minutes.

The Pelicans were led by Frank Jackson and Julius Randle, who each scored 23 points.

In other results: Timberwolves 103, Knicks 92 Raptors 125, Heat 104 Pistons 131, Bulls 108 (Field Level Media)

Peter Persaud wins Guyana Conflict hurting CWI’s focus on cricket, says Skerritt NRA Recorded Shoot The Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) recently held its first Recorded Shoot for 2019 at the Timehri Rifle Ranges, Ya r r o w c a b r a , Linden Soesdyke Highway. The competition was shot over the 300 and 600 yards ranges with a maximum total score of 100.20 attainable.

After the smoke from the rifle nozzles had cleared, it was Peter Persaud who had outshot the sharp shooters.

Persaud has been having good scores in recent months as a result of his dedicated training.

He edged seasoned campaigner Lennox Braithwaite by a single point to win the

Peter Persaud competition, amassing 98 points with 6 VBulls. At the 300 yards range, Persaud recorded a score of 49.2 and followed up with 49.4 score at the 600 yards.

Braithwaite amassed 97.10 having shot 49.5 at the 300 and 48.5 at the 600

yards.

Three other shooters, vice captain Dylan Fields, Ransford Goodluck and Leo Romalho had a photo finish, each tallying 96 points but were separated by VBulls.

Fields shot 8Vs, four more that Goodluck with Romalho getting 2. At 300 yards, Fields shot 49.5 and 47.3 at 600 yards.

Goodluck accumulated 47.2 at 300 yards and 49.2 at 600 yards, while Romalho notched 47.1 at 300 yards and 49.1 at 600 yards.

According to a Guyana NRA release, it was a keenly contested competition and the shooters are now awaiting the next Recorded Shoot to try and better scores attained in the first shoot.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Cricket West Indies presidential hopeful, Ricky Skerritt, believes the current administration has immersed itself in unnecessary conflict to the detriment of cricket development across the region.

Skerritt, who is seeking to topple the incumbent Dave Cameron at elections in Jamaica later this month, said there were a number of key elements being overlooked by the current CWI administration because of the constant distractions.

“One of the things that jumps out is the fact that Cricket West Indies is fighting too many battles with too many stakeholders,” said Skerritt, a former St Kitts and Nevis Cabinet minister.

“The only battles we should be fighting, with any sort of contention, should be on the field of play.” He added: “The grassroots cricket, the development requirements, the coaching development, the high performance system – all the key ingredients that are necessary, that are essential for building what I would call a sustainable approach to cricket development – [is where the focus should be].

“So we are producing over the next several years and into the foreseeable future, all of the future young players and all of the future young

West Indians who love cricket and are proud of cricket, whether they have become stars or not.”

Most notably, CWI has clashed with CARICOM in recent years over the contentious issue of governance reform, all the while rejecting any government inference in its affairs.

This stemmed from the CARICOMcommissioned Governance Review Report which among other recommendations, called for the “immediate dissolution” of the CWI board.

CWI subsequently lambasted the report’s chief recommendation as “impractical” and an “unnecessary and intrusive demand”.

Further, the regional governing body has had several stand-offs with players, leading to a strained relationship between several senior players and the board.

Skerritt said CWI was no longer observing its most important mandate.

“Unfortunately, Cricket West Indies has lost its focus on cricket,” he stressed.

CWI elections are set for March 24 and Skerritt will have as his running mate, St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association president, Dr Kishore Shallow.

Vice-president Emmanuel Nanthan will again partner Cameron.

PAGE 30

Dhanraj, Persaud, Jaikarran slam centuries as ECO Champs and QC contest drawn Mitra Dhanraj, Saeed Persaud and Brandon Jaikarran struck centuries as ECO Champs and Queen’s College played to a draw when action in the Georgetown Cricket Association/Noble House Sea Foods Generation Next 100-over U19 tournament continued at Gandhi Youth Organisation ground last weekend.

Eco Champs elected to bat and were reduced to 15-3 with Vikash Jaikarran picking up all three wickets to fall. However, opener and skipper of the ECO champs side, 14-yearold Mitra Dhanraj and 18year-old Saeed Persaud combined to add 290 for the fourth-wicket to steady the innings. Persaud struck 11 fours and five sixes before he was bowled by Jayden Alves for 116.

Tuesday March 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

Dhanraj and national female player Cherry Ann Fraser added a further 40 with Fraser striking five fours and one six before she was lbw to Brandon Jaikarran for 26.

Dhanraj displayed immense concentration as he carried his bat for the entire 55 overs which spanned four hours for 138; his chanceless innings contained 19 fours and four sixes as Eco Champs scored 373-5 including 75 extras.

Vikash Jaikarran claimed 3-43.

Queen’s College responded brilliantly with openers Brandon Jaikarran and Bhedesh Persaud adding 201 off 29 overs before Persaud fell to 12-year old leg spinner Fabian Housein after hitting 13 fours and four sixes in scoring 88.

Brandon Jaikarran and Vikash Jaikarran put on 50 for

Four Clubs Contesting WDFA U-11 Tourney - Den Amstel record huge eight goal win over Pouderoyen

Mitra Dhanraj and Saeed Persaud were outstanding. the third wicket before Vikash Jaikarran fell to Ryan Seecharran for 13. Despite Seecharran picking up two more quick wickets, Brandon Jaikarran continued to play his shots and soon reached his triple figure mark and along with Areeb Ali batted

their team to safety as they finished on 314-5. Brandon Jaikarran, who was let off the hook thrice, remained unbeaten on 137. He struck 14 fours and five sixes, while Ali made three not out.

Seecharan grabbed 3-22 and Housein 2-20.

Play in the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) Under-11 League commenced with a number of matches at the Den Amstel Community Centre Ground where the home team pieced together the largest margin of victory.

Den Amstel are unbeaten having also defeated Eagles Football Club of Stewartville 3-1. Uitvlugt Warriors also recorded two wins, getting past Pouderoyen 4-1 and edging Eagles, 2-1.

Beavers did not show up for their match.

The goal scorers for Den Amstel against Pouderoyen were Jeremiah Damon with the first helmet-trick of the tournament, he scored 14th, 18th, 20th, and 30th minute.

Aaron Sampson There was a double off the boot of Nicholas Adams (32th and 35th) and one each for Jason Adams (19) and Matthew Duncan (33).

Uitvlugt, in their narrow win over Eagles, got goals from Akeem McKend in the 23rd minute and Aaron Sampson, two minutes later.

Den Amstel goal scorers

Singh slams ton, Bishundial grabs 6 as MYO and GYO draw Host Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) and Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) played to a draw when the Georgetown Cricket Association Noble House Sea Foods Second Division twoday competition continued last weekend.

Batting first, MYO managed 200 all out in 40.2 overs. Randolph Singh stroked 76 including nine fours and one six, while Vinash Rampersaud made a robust 50 with eight fours and two sixes. Kumar Bishundial bagged six wickets and Rohan Sukhandand had two. GYO responded with 318 all out in 45.5 overs; a lead of 118. J. Thomas slammed 13 fours and six sixes in a top score of 90, while V. Kissoon made 51 with 11 fours, Kumar Bishundial contributed 47, Ricky Hoyte 34, Daniel Barker 27 and R. Muniram 20. B. Bowen picked up four wickets and Chris Surat two.

MYO posted 290 all out,

Randolph Singh batting a second time.

Randolph Singh slammed 110 with 13 fours and three sixes, while Khemraj Ramdeen made 75 including 13 fours, Saheed Gittens got 34 and J. Gardner 20; K. Sukhandand bagged five wickets and Rohan Sukhandand two.

Needing 173 to win, GYO managed to hold on for a draw as they finished on 1477 at stumps. Kumar Bishundial made 54 with four fours and one six, while R. Muniram made 39 and V. Kissoon 18. Gittens, Chris Surat and B. Bowen took two wicketseach.

Tuesday March 12, 2019

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

Aurora Knight Riders Cricket Club Turns 9 With its motto being “Aiming for success through hard work and discipline”, the well organized, properly structured and ever progressive Aurora Knight Riders Cricket Club of the Essequibo Coast is celebrating its 9th a n n i v e r s a r y. T h e c l u b which was founded on the 12th March, 2010 by Mr. Reshad Ally and Mr. Anwar Buksh, has gained tremendous support not only for its performance on the field, but also for its off field friendly and honest culture.

At the initial stage of its memorable journey, the Knight Riders had seven members, mainly youths who wanted to be involved in sports rather than being part of the negatives of society. Today, the club’s membership has grown to twenty one, of which nineteen are youths from t h e A u r o r a c o m m u n i t y.

This club, which has become a household name on the Essequibo Coast, is widely known for the many community activities it would have completed; namely the bus shed, garbage bins and benches for the Aurora Primary School along with the painting of several pedestrian crossings, all for the comfort and safety of our Guyanese citizens.

This popular cricket club has also over the years presented hampers and other supplies to mothers on Mothers’ Day, fathers on Fathers’ Day and mothers of new born babies every Mothers’ Day. In addition, the club holds it Christmas Dinner a n d Aw a r d C e r e m o n y annually to recognize the efforts of its players as well as the achievements of the many outstanding pupils and students of the neighboring schools since the club believes that

Some members of the Aurora Knightriders Cricket Club. education is the vehicle which can eliminate p o v e r t y, i g n o r a n c e a n d dishonestly.

Because of these

Carnegie School of Home Economics overcome Queenstown Secondary Carnegie School of Home Economics, Carmel Secondary and Tucville Secondary registered victories when play in the National Sports Commission AL Sport and Tour Promotions Cheddi Jagan Memorial five-over Windball competition commenced recently at the National Gymnasium.

In the male segment, Carnegie School of Home Economics recorded there first win in the sport, defeating Queenstown Secondary off the last ball.

Queenstown Secondary batted first and scored 88 without loss with Jahvan Worrell scoring 59. Carnegie School of Home Economics responded with 89-5; Jamal Booker made 36.

Carmel Secondary beat Soesdyke Secondary by 10 wickets. Soesdyke Secondary

Karen Jupiter

Kizian London

took first strike and posted 971; Shane Persaud scored 54.

Carmel Secondary replied with 101 without loss. Jamal Dos Santos got 32.

In the female category, Tucville Secondary defeated Carnegie School of Home Economics by 33 runs.

Tucville Secondary rattled up 128-1, batting first. Kizian London struck 72, while Karen Jupiter made 45.

Carnegie School of Home Economics were restricted for 95-3, in reply. Mellisa Persaud made 42 and Odessa Joe 26.

Carmel Secondary beat Queenstown Secondary by nine wickets. Batting first, Queenstown Secondary got 53-3. Siana Abrams took two wickets. Carmel Secondary responded with 54-1.

The competition continues on Saturday.

Cheddi Jagan 55-Mile Memorial Road Race – Berbice Leg

Curtis Dey tops senior field, Ralph Seenarine (junior), Alex Mendes (veteran); Shenika Teixeira is lone female The Berbice leg of the 22nd annual Cheddi Jagan Memorial Cycle Road Race on Sunday last saw the home town riders dominating the 55-mile event which was won by Curtis Dey winning in a time of Two Hours 23 Minutes 35 Seconds.

Fellow Berbician Romello Crawford followed Dey to the line with the other top six spots filled by Christopher Griffith, Michael

Anthony, Andrew Hicks and Balram Narine.

The event pedaled off at Freedom House in New Amsterdam, preceded to #55 Village before turning around to end at Port Mourant.

The top junior was Ralph Seenarine who was followed by Kevin Ross and David Hicks.

Alex Mendes took the top podium spot in the veterans class, winning ahead of Junior Niles (Continued on page 27)

activities and more, cooperate sponsors such as R. Ganesh Mining Enterprise, Safeway Supermarket, Timur Speed Boat Service, Gold is Gold Hotel and Restaurant and Wazeer Hussain and Sons Rice Milling Complex are

proud to be associated with this club. Mr. Reshad Ally, who is the president of the club, would like to thank all their fans and sponsors for the massive support a n d love given over the years.

The club pledges to continue providing for the

youths of this wonderful community in an effort to eradicate society ills and foster love, trust and unity among its people. May God continue to bless us all and more importantly, May God bless Aurora Knight Riders Cricket Club.

PAGE 32

Tuesday March 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

No shame despite T20 whitewash: Holder BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Skipper Jason Holder says while West Indies’ batting was a huge disappointment in the Twenty20 series, it could not overshadow the massive strides made by the Caribbean side during the overall tour against England.

West Indies crumbled for record lows in the two final T20 Internationals here at Warner Park to suffer comprehensive defeats, and ultimately, a 3-0 series

whitewash.

But with the Windies – written off by pundits before the tour – stunning England 2-1 in the three-Test series to regain the Wisden Trophy, and coming from behind in the one-day series to earn a 2-2 draw in the five-match rubber against the world number one side, Holder said there was little reason for his side to be ashamed.

“The Test series was exceptional, the ODI series was equally as good,” Holder

told reporters following the final T20 here Sunday.

“We arguably let ourselves down in the ODI series but England still played some very good cricket as well, and the T20 series just wasn’t ours to be fair – we were outplayed – but overall I’m pretty pleased,” He continued: “We just weren’t good enough [in the T20 series]. We didn’t adjust to the wicket – I felt it was a bit two-paced – and I felt England bowled a really hard

length and asked us to hit them off their lengths and we just didn’t adjust to what the wicket threw at us and we didn’t really play well.

“I still feel the batsmen are fairly confident. We didn’t play the surface as well as we would’ve liked but I’m not too disheartened by the performance. Obviously we’re disappointed to be rolled over on home court in two games but overall the guys had a pretty good ODI leg of the series and there’s a

lot to build on.”

West Indies lost the opening T20 in St Lucia by four wickets but batting meltdowns here ensured the series was a virtual nocontest. In last Friday’s second match, they were dismissed for 45 – the second lowest total in T20s – to lose by 137 runs.

On Sunday, they were rolled over for 71 – their third lowest T20 total – as England strolled to a comfortable eight-wicket win.

Holder said while the Windies had prepared and executed well in the ODIs, they failed to make the adjustment to the shortest format – especially after

opting to retain the one-day squad for the T20s in order to further their World Cup preparations.

“We probably just didn’t adjust to the T20 format – we had our plans pretty much nailed down for the ODIs and I felt we played a really good ODI series,” the all-rounder pointed out.

“There is still a lot of improvement to be had and fielding is obviously one of our key points to really, really touch up on going into England (World Cup) and obviously we need to be a little bit tighter at the top [of the order] to build a few more partnerships and dig a bit deeper up front.”

National Junior Chess Championship

Defending champion Joshua Gopaul loses twice, Jaganandan, Allijohn and Lee share lead Defending national junior champion Joshua Gopaul got an awakening call when he returned to the chessboard last weekend in the opening rounds of the National Junior Chess Championship when he was defeated by Andre Jagnandan and Ethan Lee. In round one, playing with the White Pieces against a Grunfeld Defence, Gopaul missed the simple 5, Bxf6 Bxf6 and 6, Cxd5, winning a simple pawn through the basic tactics of removing the defender.

However, the tactical Lee was ruthless when hunting Gopaul’s uncastled king thereby forcing him to resign on move 14.

Gopaul’s second game was longer than his first, played with a lot of inaccuracies which the informed Andre was keen to spot. Again, playing with the White Pieces, Gopaul went for the Queen’ s Gambit, however Andre Jaganandan went for the Chameleon Defence using his opponent’s inaccuracies to slowly grind his way to victory.

Jaganandan won his first round game against the higher FIDE rated player Jaden Taylor. Taylor with the Black Pieces went for the active and solid Grunfeld Defence but lost his way playing an inferior variation which the inform Jaganandan spotted and capitalised on.

Ghansham Allijohn got off to a perfect start as well. In round one he opted for the Scotch Game with White against fellow club mate Jarell

Troyer. After early Queen’s exchanges, Allijohn outplayed his opponent strategically and positioned to secure his first win.

Even with the Black Pieces, he maintained his solidness to fend off some aggressive chess by Jaden Taylor as well in round two.

Queens College’ Rajiv Lee is also sharing the lead after round 2. In round one against Chelsea Juma, he played the Scotch Game as well.

However, inaccuracies by both players saw the initiative being pushed from player to player.

However, Juma missed her winning chance on move 14 when she played the defensive 14...c6 instead of the counter attacking 14...d5 which would have blasted the center open for her better developed pieces against the opponent’s uncastled king.

This is failing to seize the moment and the initiative for a winning chance in chess.

As a result, Juma lost an undefended Knight through a skewer. In round 2, Rajiv Lee fought hard for over 50 moves to secure his second point against the challenging Jaden Taylor.

Ethan Lee and Chelsea Juma’s round 2 match up was highly anticipated as well since the two players have almost the same FIDE ratings.

Against d4, young Juma went for the tricky and counter aggressive Chigorin Variation of the Queens Gambit Decline.

Juma was able through (Continued on page 27)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 12, 2019

Aurora Knight Riders, Jaguars record victories in South Essequibo T/20 Cricket

Husbard Thomas Played in sweltering heat on an excellent batting track, Aurora Knight Riders and Jaguars emerged victorious in their respective matchups when play in the South Essequibo T/20 cricket Competition continued last Sunday at the popular Pomona Cricket Ground.

In the first match, the Knight Riders got the better of GT Warriors by 7 wickets.

Sent in to bat, the Warriors were off to a decent start when opener Uriah Stoll dumped pacer Saieef Ally for four,a shot which raced to the boundary like a bullet, much to the delight of the fans in the stands.

But the introduction of off spinner Deoraj Dindyal quickly accounted for Stoll, Narendra Sarabjeet and Saad Baksh. Skipper Govindra Sharma and Andy Dass tried to stage ‘operation rebuild’ with a fighting 36 runs partnership. However, when on 16, Sharma was well taken at point off spinner Reshad Ally who also bowled Eh-Wass Baksh to leave the Warriors stunned on 59-5.

Seamer Imtiaaz Ally continued to keep things t i g h t a s t h e Wa r r i o r s surrendered for 114-9 when their overs expired. Dindyal claimed 3-31, Reshad Ally 212, Imtiaaz Ally 2-14, while Garfield Phillips and Chaitram Ramdanie had a wicket apiece.

The Knight Riders started their reply in a ‘no

11

Reshad Ally nonsense’ mood with opener Mohamed Timur Gafoor dispatching anything loose.

However, with the score on 23, fellow opener Dindyal played down the wrong line and was LBW to off spinner Sarabjeet for 5. Gafoor soon followed as Sarabjeet who bowled with good control had him caught at cover for 26. Ravi Beharry and Anand Manniram then entertained the handful of spectators with some exciting strokeplay as they added 51 for the fourth wicket.

Beharry on 47, lost his composure and was caught off Ishwar Kawal.

Gangabeharry Ramdanie (19) and Manniram (15) ensured there was no further trouble as the target of 115 was achieved in 14 overs.

Beharry was named Man of the Match.

In the second game, Jaguars mauled Young Guns by 58 runs. Opting to take first strike, the Jaguars were off to a shaky start when opener Norman Fredericks was taken at extra cover off left arm spinner Joel Fortune for 10.

However, Feizal Mohamed who was given two ‘lives’ held the innings together in spite of some tidy bowling by Fortune and Shane Wong. A cluster of wickets then fell as the Jaguars without regular skipper Chandie Jairam found themselves wounded at 96-6. But the Jaguars (Continued on page 27)

PAGE 33

t r o Sp No shame despite T20 whitewash: Holder

National Junior Chess Championship

Defending champion Joshua Gopaul loses twice, Jaganandan, Allijohn and Lee share lead

West Indies captain Jason Holder … proud of the team’s development despite T20 whitewash.

Diamond League to cut meetings, disciplines by 2020

Andre Jaganandan contemplates his next move.

Cheddi Jagan 55-Mile Memorial Road Race – Berbice Leg

Curtis Dey tops senior field, Ralph Seenarine (junior), Alex Mendes (veteran); Shenika Teixeira is lone female

Category winners and other leading finishers pose with Executive Members of the PPP including Presidential candidate Irfaan Ali following the presentation of prizes.

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