Kaieteur News

PAGE 04

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 14, 2017

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL FEARING DEPORTATION Since President Trump issued his first executive order to protect the United States from foreign terrorist entry into the country, many Guyanese fear being deported especially since Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) officials have deported many illegals from the country. It was perhaps the harshest executive order signed by a US President. It banned travelers who are citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the U.S. for 90 days; barred admission of refugees from Syria from entering the US indefinitely and attempted to suspend U.S. admission of refugees from any other country. President Trump has claimed that his executive order is not a travel ban on Muslims, but many believed that it was part of his election campaign to ban Muslims from entering the US. They are outraged over the fact that the seven countries from which the executive order restricts travel to the U.S. are all Muslim-majority nations. The executive order resulted in green-card holders or permanent residents mostly Muslims being detained at U.S. airports. However, federal judges in New York, Seattle, Washington and Baltimore succeeded in blocking the deportation of people in the U.S. with valid visas or refugee status. The Justice Department filed an appeal, but it was denied by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Six weeks after the signing of the original executive order which caused chaos at airports nation-wide, President Trump signed a new executive order on March 6 that bans immigration from six Muslim-majority countries—Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Iraq which was included in the previous order, was removed from the list due to pressure from senior national security officials who argued that the restriction could adversely affect US security relations with Iraq as a key anti-ISIS partner. The new order takes effect on March 16. It explicitly stated all lawful permanent residents from the six banned countries or who have valid visas to enter the US, including those whose visas were revoked during the original executive order will be allowed in the U.S. However, it bars new visa seekers from the six majority-Muslim countries for 90 days and suspended refugees from those countries for 120 days. The executive order also suspends the U.S. Visa Interview Waiver Programme, which is designed to make it easier for some travelers to enter the U.S. without being reinterviewed. The order made it clear that the US will not compromise on its security by allowing visitors entry when their own governments are unable or unwilling to provide the information needed to vet them responsibly, or when those governments actively support terrorism. The order allows for the arrest and removal of those convicted of a crime or charged with one, or those who have engaged in fraud or willful misrepresentation before a government body, abused a public benefits programme, have a final order of removal or in the judgment of an immigration officer pose a risk to public safety or national security. However, many have been arrested and deported by ICE for non-felony offences including illegal entry into the country, violation of visas protocols, driving without a license or using a fake Social Security number. The deportation of several persons from the neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Richmond Hill and Ozone Park by ICE has driven fear and heightened tension among many Guyanese most of whom lived in those localities. While Guyanese are not the focus of the immigration crackdown, those who are illegal or have committed crimes are afraid to leave their homes for fear of being deported. Some have quit their jobs and have not ventured out in the streets or even to the barber shops or grocery stores. Others have sneaked across the Canadian borders late at night into Canada. Businesses in the Richmond Hill area are feeling the effects of a decline in sales. However, in an attempt to calm their fears, the Guyana Consulate has urged those with immigration problems to call its office.

Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.

Aurora police station took my sheep away Dear Editor, The police in my area, Region 2 district made a wrong decision which will now cause me to lose two of my own (Ram) sheep, with a market value of ninety thousand dollars ($90,000.00) in this hard guava season, when it could well have been avoided had the proper course of action being taken. These two animals had been reared in my flock from birth and were tied by my adult son on October 16, last to graze just two lots away from my home at Lot 83, Good Hope, Essequibo Coast. About an hour later, the two sheep were discovered missing and information surfaced that a woman and her son from the same village were seen

taking them in the direction of their home. My immediate reaction was to make a report at the Aurora station where a statement was taken from me. While there, a rank that lives in the area was contacted. He brought in the mother and her son along with the ram sheep which were impounded. Much to my surprise the woman claimed ownership to one of the sheep with another woman simultaneously doing so as well to the other thereby causing a dispute of property. Some three months later on January 21, 2017 the police returned one sheep each to the two women but what was the criterion used for doing so? After consulting a lawyer, it was revealed that where a

dispute arises, evidence had to be taken by a Magistrate to make a decision and it was wrong for the police to take that line of action. My firm contention is that from the stance taken by the police anyone can lay claim to my remaining sheep and become the owner. But furthermore and of significant importance too, no report was ever made by either of the two woman to the police of their sheep being stolen or missing at any time. There was no justifiable reason for the police to make such a decision when out of necessity the law must be allowed to take its full course with no short cut to it as was done here. Chandrika Persaud

Eliminating street violence and violent crimes Mr. Editor, I seek to fulfill a promise made in my letter of 31st January 2017 in which I promised to direct my next letter to suggesting steps for eliminating some form/s of crime. I am disgusted at constantly reading in the local newspapers, politicians, the business community and persons described as criminal justice p r o f e s s i o n a l s o ff e r i n g criminal justice reform as the vehicle for eliminating crime. The criminal justice system has its place in our overall fight against crime, however, the criminal justice system was never designed or was intended to respond to the root cause of crime. Criminal Justice approach to crime at best achieves a fluctuation in crime over a given period, and this is true for every country in the world that has embraced the criminal justice approach to crime fighting. Why we continue to offer citizens this criminal justice approach to eliminating crime is confounding especially when we read: (a) – Caption “more young people turning to sex work because of economic circumstances ………,” (b) “Guyana has a recidivist rate of between 75 -80%.” (c) Kaieteur News 8th February “Unemployed teen bandit remorseful, says he has to

support family” and (d) Kaieteur News 19th February 2017 quotes the crime chief saying that new “gangs have taken the place of several others that the police had disbanded.” These headlines seem to scream to us the inability of the justice system to eliminate crime. So, the question for us is if not the justice system what is to be done? And in our desire to eliminate or significantly reduce its occurrence what can we learn from the experiences of other countries? On several occasions, I have made it clear that I identify with the argument that the environment is the main contributor to street violence and violent crimes in Guyana. Indeed, where these crimes are concerned the clear majority of offenders come from depressed parts of the city and its outskirts. These areas are known for their elevated level of unemployment and underemployment, dysfunctional families and a sense of powerlessness among inhabitants. Street crimes are generally being undertaken to satisfy material needs. From the young men who, at gun point rob businessmen, to those robbing their fellow poor, who seem to be doing a little

better materially, to the soldiers caught stealing milk. These acts have been mostly under taken to satisfy material needs of self and loved ones. Seemingly in support of my above contention, sociologists Judith and Peter Blau found that a significant proportion of all murders committed in metropolitan America are related to income inequalities. Further, criminologist Elliott Currie concludes “increasing equality goes hand in hand with lower risks of homicide.” So, in the absence of a more equitable division of wealth in Guyana, achieved by the presence of a mixture of good paying jobs and social policy and programs designed to offset the effects of debilitating poverty, there will be street crimes. Poverty is tied to the issue of social justice. So, when and where poverty gives rise to “voicelessness,” disrespect, citizens seen as only having relevance to the political process on Election Day, social justice is absent. As criminologists are inclined to remind us – persons who have a sense of their importance are unlikely to commit street crime. When for example the poor see that their role in the nation’s politics as merely voters every five years, we

are signaling to them our disrespect for them and this give rise to resentment. And, as the Jamaican criminologist Dr. Headley observed “resentment has a way of developing into acrimony and bitterness, and a general sense of unfeeling attitude.” Mr. Editor, it should not miss our attention that of the 10 countries with the lowest level of crime based on figures at May 2014, five (5) of those countries are Nordic countries – countries in which there is significant concern for equitable distribution of wealth. Indeed, in Iceland for example a survey concluded “There is virtually no difference among upper, middle and lower class in Iceland.” The study further stated that only 1.5% of Icelanders saw themselves as lower class. Iceland’s homicide rate between 1999 -2009 never went beyond 1.8 per 100000 (Denmark has a homicide rate of 0.1). Perhaps, most interesting for us in CARICOM is the fact that between 1944, when Iceland gained its independence and 2013 (a period of 69 years) there was only 1 police shooting in the country. While, in Jamaica from 1st January to the early March 2017 the police have already killed 30 citizens. (Continued on page 5)

President Granger is wholly lacking in vision Dear Editor, I would be happy if you published this letter in your newspaper for me. I read elsewhere that Granger was warning about the destructive nature of some ‘restless, provocative’ calls from society. The man has not grasped that the PNC-led coalition only got into power because the PPP’s corruption and human rights abuses had become more than Guyanese could take. Granger has disappointed many Guyanese. As has already

been observed in the press, Granger has shown himself to be wholly lacking in vision, political perspective and leadership skills necessary to move his party away from its selfdestructive politics, which is itself necessary for forcing political and social change at the national level. The question is; who next should be chosen as our president? Where are our political leaders? Because the politics of Jagdeo’s PPP is just as bad as Granger’s PNC-led Coalition. Lance Cumberbatch.

Tuesday March 14, 2017

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

The drug supply situation is alarming The former Attorney-General is seeking to DEAR EDITOR, APNU+AFC is hiding the truth from the public. Information is now reaching us that the state-of-the-art medical warehouse at Diamond which was built during the PPP’s term in office is less than 40% occupied and the $15M per month “house” baptized as a medical warehouse is still mostly empty, barely occupied with some contraceptives and condoms. Unfortunately, not only are these expensive warehouses scantily filled, hospitals, including GPHC, and health centers continue to experience poor supply of medicines. This is in spite of the fact that Budgets 2016 and 2017 established new records for the highest ever allocation for procurement of medicines and medical supplies. Reports of poor supply of medicines and medical supplies in the public health sector are presently surging. This past week, doctors and other staff members of the Region 3 Public Health system bemoaned this situation of medicines and medical supplies. Some doctors reported that there are even times when syringes are limited. But Region 3 is not an isolated case. Every region in Guyana continues to experience significant delay of medicines and medical supplies. Last week, this situation with medicines and medical supplies were also forthcoming from Regions 2, 5, 6 and 10. Medical supplies have become

chronically short in every public health facility across Guyana. In addition to complaints from Public Health staff, complaints are also coming from Regional Government representatives, the public and Members of Parliament (both from the PPP and APNU+AFC). There is no shortage of promises from APNU+AFC to fix the system. But with each new promise, the problem worsens. In the meanwhile, APNU+AFC’s Ministers of Health continue to blame everyone else. In fact, the Permanent Secretary has been made the fall guy for the total failure of APNU+AFC to manage the procurement, storage and distribution of medicines and medical supplies. He has been sent packing, being blamed for the lamentable failure of APNU+AFC in resolving the shortage crisis that has existed for the entire period of APNU+AFC in government. Imagine a diabetic or high blood pressure patient, a patient with a serious infection, a very sick child and they have to wait for treatment. Imagine a patient in need of surgery or a pregnant woman in need of a Caesarean operation, but the surgeon is hindered because of poor supplies necessary for the safe functioning of the operating room. These are only some consequences of poor medical supply and, unfortunately, these scenarios are now common in our public health sys-

tem under APNU+AFC. Poor supply of critical supplies, including life-saving medicines and medical supplies will create a sustained crisis in the public health sector. The inadequate supply include laboratory test kits, like HIV test kits, vaccines like yellow fever vaccines, medicines like diabetes and high blood pressure medicines and antibiotics. The medical list often times includes analgesics such as aspiring. Patients’ families are now being given prescriptions to obtain supplies at private pharmacies or at private clinics and hospitals. Patients are often referred to GPHC and operation rooms have often been hit with the problem. Drug and medical supply shortages directly reduce the quality of patient care, but they also contribute to indirect costs on the system by requiring time and money to be spent hunting down alternatives, rescheduling procedures, or modifying drug usage protocols. Some drug shortages have dire consequences for patients because there are no substitutes. The time has come for the public health system to be provided with the supplies it needs to provide quality care. APNU+AFC has abdicated its responsibility to ensure consistent supply of quality medicine for the people. It is another of a long list of betrayals of their promises for a “better life” for all. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

Eliminating street violence and... From page 4 What has led these Nordic countries to continuously score impressively among nations with the lowest crime rate? Researchers point to the fact that these countries’ social welfare and education systems promote an egalitarian culture which is the product of their people’s high sense of community. Indeed, outside of the Nordic countries Japan is also a country in which street crime is “almost unheard of.” Coupled with its economic prosperity the same observation has been made about Japan – its people have an intense sense of community. This seems to be suggesting that where there is a strong sense of community, crime (street violence and violent crimes) is low. Now this is an important observation. If we accept this argument then as Guyanese we must ask ourselves a couple of questions. For example, what happened in Guyana that

led to the dilution in our sense of community (my letter of 12th August 2007 dealt with the characteristics of a community). And importantly, what can be

done to revitalize this sense of community among our people. I will give my opinion on these matters in a later letter. Claudius Prince

fool Berbicians DEAR EDITOR, The former AG, Anil Nandlall seems not to be all there when he stated on NTN television in Berbice, that PM Nagamootoo does not deserve a pension. Can the PPP and the former AG tell the people of Berbice and Guyana about the large amount of monies (including other benefits) Mr. Sam Hinds is collecting per month as a former PM and President? It was a television program that seemed like a circus in town with a clown. He then said something that struck me further, and that was, the PPP will welcome those that are with the APNU+AFC, back into their party/family and he mentioned a doctor’s name. Well, that doctor maybe looking for fame because he’s jumping from branch to branch for gain and sympathy. He also said that the doctor and others will need to repent for what they had done to the PPP if they want salvation. Well the only thing that the PPP will get from some especially hardcore APNU+AFC supporters like me is the truth and that is the PPP cannot excuse itself, so why would anyone think that they (PPP) can rescue us. SOCU only arrested some of them for an interview and they are crying. The PPP should be ashamed to see the hundreds of sugar workers that are crying for house lots that are not available and they took lands to create a multibillionaire complex at Pradoville 2. They should be ashamed to buy those lands way below the market value and the poor farmer and worker can not get land of any sort. He told Berbicians to be prepared to take to the streets

if it comes to that and they should not be afraid to do so. The anger in the man’s face alone tells me he is ready to war. Guyana is a good country Mr. Nandlall and we are living as one. Why would you want to divide our people and create problems among them? Berbicians are not stupid to take to the streets to defend a group of corrupt officials that stole the wealth of our nation. I don’t think workers will allow you and the PPP to destroy their lives and those of their families also. I do believe that GNBA needs to look into these political programs especially by the PPP that is driving fear and panic into the lives of people (esp. Indians), by trying to create political unrest by asking members of the public to take to the streets to protest. GNBA should bring charges against those persons. Imagine the former AG who wanted to be Senior Counsel, told the farmers to support the PPP by taking their tractors and combines in protest action against the MMA It’s shameful to see a man that claims to be for the people trying to derail their livelihoods. It’s shocking to hear a former AG saying those words because under their watch in government everything was right for them and wrong for the people. They punish some for politi-

cal gains and give to those that they like. He told the viewers that the PPP government left millions of dollars from the EU to build the East Bank Berbice Road and nothing is being done to date. He said that the state of the road is worse than when the PPP left office. Well, this man is out of touch with reality, because if there was EU funding for the road, rebuilding of the road would have been started by the PPP at election time. Why is it that an international agency recently completed an assessment study on the road under this APNU+AFC government to fund it? The PPP and its affiliates need to stop the lies and deception because people are intelligent enough to know what they are trying hard to get at. The former AG needs to show respect as an MP and stop degrading and calling the present AG names; stop saying that the man is stupid. Because if people really look and listen to your program carefully, they will know who is the stupid one. I will like to advise - with SOCU now shaping up – that members of the former cabinet should really seek medical assistance and advice for a better future with truth and the people at heart. Abel Seetaram APNU+AFC Regional Councilor Region 5

PAGE 6

Frustrated and angry with GTT’s poor service DEAR EDITOR, Last Saturday I noticed my internet went down very early in the morning. I unplugged all the wires from the modem and router and put it on back but it was just the same. I tried the modem alone; it was worse. I thought it was just a minor problem but it grew worse. I called the 0488 DSL number around 9 AM but was greeted by voice mail and I had to select several numbers to follow some steps. After about 30 minutes someone answered the phone and I was told they were experiencing technical difficulties which I understood. I called up some friends as far as Berbice and they told me was worse there. My children were assigned lots of research for their homework and I had a number of emails to reply to and a sermon to research. Around mid-day, I called GTT again waiting like a drowning rat on a straw to get an answer; after about 40 minutes a man told me their server crashed and was not sure when it would be restored. I have many questions which are as follows: Why is GTT on voice mail when we the Guyanese people call for emer-

gency purposes? Do we still pay for holding that line we call on for 30 minutes? I was told they charge for it? I wonder if they understand the meaning of the word emergency- so why this voice mail with all these stupid steps to follow? Why do we now have to pay for a phone they formerly gave us free? Why are their bills always 2 months late? My internet was off for about 16 hours last Saturday and it’s not the first time. Will I and all Guyanese be given back that time of service lost? We are paying for a service that we are not receiving; the internet which they claim has been improved is extremely sluggish, it is slower than in any other country in the Caribbean. In my personal opinion the internet service GTT is offering to this nation is not worth even a $1000 Guyana dollars and they need to be taken to court for their sloppy and inefficient service to this nation. They are doing all this because they think they are the boss or we are in the ‘lion mouth’ so they treat customers as they please. If customers fail to pay their bills by just a day or a few hours they are cut off.

GTT is very efficient when it comes to cutting off your service but inefficient in responding to our emergency calls. This monopoly they have with the government needs to be broken and Digicel and other companies should offer DSL services, then GTT will have to step up their game but at present they have no game plan and their services get worse all the time. On March 7th, I visited the GTT office in Fogarty’s at 2:35 PM. I joined a line for 35 minutes that was not moving. I wanted to buy a GTT land line phone card. When I approached the cashier he told me they don’t sell cards there but I have to join another long un-moving line where they pay bills. I asked the cashier if that was the case then why they did not put up a notice that cards are not sold in that direction. I refused to go join a next line and told him I will write about this and expose their negligence, he quickly called security and ordered them to bring me a card. He did that because I challenged him and people began to voice their agreement with me. I said to myself only in Guyana these imbeciles can be found.

Now I come to the line where you pay the bills in a very hot room full of human sweat comingling in the moist stink air. I counted 5 booths and only 2 cashiers working; then one cashier will leave and go away for over one hour then the next one and a line of over 50 people will stand there like fools. In all the GTT offices from Berbice to Essequibo I see the same lame dead operation. When you call to report a problem they say they will come in three to seven working days, but months pass and until you pester them will they come. GTT, GPL and GWI are basically the same and we now pay VAT on these, sadly however we don’t get adequate service. I am calling on the Minister of Telecommunications, the Hon. Cathy Hughes, to address these matters. It is my firm opinion that all the GTT top managers and the CEO should be fired immediately and replaced or this sole phone company wall crash very soon. Too long people are earning FAT CAT salaries for just sitting in their chairs. Rev. Gideon

The Pradoville 2 land sale cannot be legally defended DEAR EDITOR, In a letter in the Kaieteur News dated March 12 and captioned “Mr, Jagdeo has constitutional immunities from criminal prosecut i o n s ” , Anil Nandlall first dealt with the housing policies of the PPP government and goes on to defend the sale of land to those in Pradoville 2 at way below market value. He argues that these sales were within the framework of government policies giving subsidised land to its people. He says; “The provision of subsidized housing has always been a fundamental priority of successive People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Governments since 1953". I must concur. The Housing drive would have been handled by the Ministry of Housing. On the other hand, and

Tuesday March 14, 2017

Kaieteur News

if I am not mistaken, NICIL started as a privatisation unit to sell the people’s property at the best possible price. State land would be lodged with NICIL and it is supposed to sell same on the market to realise the best possible price. Maybe Anil Nandalal could share with us the documents that assigned NICIL with the task of sharing out subsidised house lots. And even if indeed it was so tasked should there not have been transparency and equal opportunity for all. Could Anil say if the sale of these plots of land at Prodoville 2 was advertised and if not would this not constitute a breach? For one to obtain subsidised land from the Minstry of Housing there were certain procedures that allowed for fair distribution. There are also certain conditionalities that were in place. One is that one cannot have a property in his or her name. The other is that one would not have sold a property that

he or she owned. One had to swear an affidavit to the effect. I would like to ask the learned Anil Nandalall if he would agree that there is a distinct difference between the functions of these two institutions. I ask the following questions and am hoping the prolific writer Anil Nandalall would provide us with some answers. Did those persons who obtain house lots in Pradoville 2 sign any affidavit? Is it not a fact that Mr. Bharat Jahdeo obtained a house lot at Pradoville One and that he built a house, never lived in it and sold it at a fantastic profit? Is it not true that other persons who obtained the “subsidised” property at Pradoville 2 also were the owners of other properties? Would the issue of land to them not therefore constitute a breach of the conditionalities set by the Government? Conditionalities set to prevent speculation and we have information that a number of them have already sold their

Pradoville properties at considerable profits. Would it not seem that the people of this country were being robbed by not getting money for value? From where I stand, it is possible that the sale of these properties could be considered as a well planned conspiracy to defraud the people of this country; I am at a loss why ordinary poor people would want to support the giveaway of their land, the sale of which at market value would have provided funds to enhance their well being. Wi t h r e g a r d s t o t h e constitutional immunity of the president, I have a previous letter arguing that the immunity of the President from prosecution for criminal and civil private acts is stayed for the duration of his presidency, but I will do so again in another letter. Just ask yourself if the President were to kill or rape someone would he be immune from prosecution? Rajendra Bisessar BSc Sociology, LLB

The Exxon agreement should be made public DEAR EDITOR, Given the recent comments on EITI progress by the Ministry of Finance, it is clear the details of the Exxon agreement should be available for public scrutiny. An exploration agreement should be separate from an extraction and a possible processing agreement. Prior to the execution of an extraction agreement an estimate on Demand and sourced Supply for the local economy should be forecasted with multiple scenarios and the sustainability strategy that it enables, needs to be finalized. These prudent steps will enable the government to make estimates of revenue generation from over capacity sales from the Sector and associated savings to the national budget. This will also be informative to adjacent sectors and help lay plans for their development. As for the subsequent execution of an extraction agreement, an open bid process should be implemented to allow for public scrutiny and parliamentary debate that is clearly tied to a long term sustainability strategy. The same should go for any subsequent processing contracts. The financing of any pro-

cessing center should be both part of the processing agreement and the government’s environmental protection strategy and near term agenda. This is essential given the current stage of development in the bauxite mining industry’s environmental safeguards for the affected local population. In recent years some residents have shown the affects of long term exposure to unhealthy environmental conditions created by the extraction of natural resources for the generation of national income. This income is also supposed to ensure the effective execution of a safe environmental policy and the partners used in the sector are supposed to also be sourced based on their proven internal capability to provide the implementation of a strong environmental protection strategy and good human rights record. Maybe this would have prevented the labour strike in Linden over poor bauxite industry working conditions. These points are some of the essential must-haves for a company or corporation to be given any consideration in the open bid process. Jamil Changlee

Outrageous opinion from a former Attorney-General DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me to express my disgust with an article published in KN 13/03/ 2017 titled “Every Guyanese should pay market value for land if Pradoville 2 recipients have to” I also want to disclaim that I am not an affiliated person of any political party system or structure in this country. I do not know if the former AG ever listened or re-read his statements or articles whenever he so desires to voice his opinion or concerns. In what I would describe as, someone who once had statue has now brought himself into the realm of ghetto or urban mind thinking intellectuals. Mind you there may be better intellectuals produced from these sections of society, but the former AG has now shown his ratings are below rock bottom. In this article, the former AG is simply saying that everyone should pay the market value for a plot of land. This is by far the most outrageous opinion from an individual who should have known better to make such statement. In a nutshell the daily tyrannical exposure of the former Administration actions is now coming back to haunt them in all dimension, thanks to the great

work from Kaieteur News. The destruction of this country has nothing to do with politicians; the blame should be laid squarely at the feet of every voting citizen. They have accepted it and by virtue of the fact continue to support these individuals holistically. Does the former AG need to be schooled again that in every country there are various class of earners such as Lower, Middle and Upper class citizens? Or is he of the opinion that economically it is ok to spend billions of dollars to develop a plot of land, then sell it as lower income value, then construct sprawling mansions? This is similar to you are buying bora at Bourda Market for 200.00 per parcel and going into a supermarket and expecting you should pay the same 200.00 for bora. I believe the AG is barking like a Chihuahua in a pitbull domain in an effort to re-direct the attention of atrocities they have levelled at the cost of tax payers. It is time however these individuals who were once leaders and those who are currently leading to stop making a mockery of Guyanese intellectuals, YES! It makes us look stupid too. Lakshman Persaud

Tuesday March 14, 2017

PAGE 7

Kaieteur News

622 cases disposed of at Night Courts - as five Magistrates successfully attack backlog A total 622 cases were heard in the Night Courts from the period October 19, 2016 to February 28, 2017 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The Magistrates who were assigned to tackle the backlog were Magistrate Beverly Bishop-Cheddie, Magistrate Brendon Glasford, Magistrate Madan Kissoon, Magistrate Leslie Benjamin and Magistrate Liza Hanoman. Magistrate Kissoon heard 113 matters in Courts 10 and 11; Magistrate BishopCheddie heard 110 matters in Court Six, Magistrate Glasford heard 146 matters in Court 12, Magistrate Benjamin heard 149 matters in Courts Eight and Nine and Magistrate Hanoman heard a total of 105 matters in Court Seven. The introduction of night court has helped to ease the delay and cleared the backlog that had been accumalating for some time. The number of cases reaching the court increased and it was becoming an insurmountable task to have timely trials. In order to reduce that huge backlog of cases, prosecutors should strive to minimize the extent of postponements. All too often defence lawyers and prosecutors complain about not being ready for trial, one magistrate said. After almost six months in

Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts

operation the last sitting of the Night Court was held on February 28 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The first sitting of the Night Court was held on October 19, last, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Madan Kissoon With the conclusion of the Night Court all the matters that were unable to be completed was transferred to Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, for reassignment to the day court Magistrates. Kaieteur News understands that if there is further accumulation of cases, the

Night Court will resume to tackle these matters. Some of the summary matters that have been heard at the Night Courts are assault causing actual bodily harm, simple larceny, threatening and abusive language, threatening language, attempt to commit a felony, robbery with violence, fraudulent conversion, break and entry, unlawfully and maliciously wounding. The need for a Night Court was amplified after the March 3, 2016 prison unrest at the Georgetown Prison at Camp and D’Urban Streets when 17 inmates on remand, lost their lives.

Out of the Commission of Inquiry into the unrest, one of the solutions highlighted was for the Government to undertake initiatives to reduce the quantum of backlogged cases. After a high level meeting was held between the representative of Government and the Judiciary the Night Court was established. A total of $25M was secured by the Government to finance the payment of salaries of the five temporary magistrates and ancillary staff. President David Granger had communicated his favourable assurance towards

Caribbean Airlines cancels NY flights as massive snowstorm barrels in A massive snowstorm threatening the US yesterday forced Trinidadian-owned Caribbean Airlines to cancel a number of flights yesterday at the JFK airport, New York. According to the airline, which is one of the main carriers from Guyana to North America, the cancellations include BW 528, a flight from Trinidad; BW 011- from Montego Bay, Jamaica; BW 521- from New York to Trinidad, scheduled today; BW 524 – from Trinidad; BW 525- from Trinidad to New York and BW 010- New York to Montego Bay, Jamaica. “Passengers booked and ticketed to travel between (yesterday) and Thursday, will be permitted to make changes to their reservations without penalty,” CAL advised yesterday. However, passengers must already be in possession of a ticket with confirmed reservations issued on or before Saturday March 11, 2017. For passengers booked to travel to and from New York

New Yorkers were stockpiling supplies as a massive snowstorm is expected. during the period Monday, March 13 and Thursday, March 16, the airline said that changes may be made up to tomorrow. Caribbean Airlines warned that it will only give full refunds if the flight cancels. “However if they do not wish to travel we will refund with the US$50

administration fee.” The airline also advised that it will not be responsible for arrangements to and from an alternate airport or for any hotel and overnight expenses incurred. “Passengers with totally unused tickets who elect not to travel during the

specified period may have their tickets placed on hold for future travel on Caribbean Airlines up to one year from the original date of issue. Any difference, including change penalty between the original ticket and the new ticket must be collected.”

the establishment of the Night Court. For many years the issue of backlogged cases was found to be responsible for the high prison population which resulted in the overcrowding of the penal system. Meanwhile, the daily sitting of the court is expected to continue Monday- Fridays from 09:00hrs to0 14:30hrs. The Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Justice Carl Singh said that Night Court has fulfilled its purpose. After the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into 2016 the unrest was completed, it was revealed that 60 percent of inmates were on remand. Of that amount, 50 percent had been awaiting trial for more than three years and a further 30 percent for more than four

years. The report said that these figures and the lack of effective – or even ineffective action to remedy them pointed to serious dysfunction in the administration of justice. It was highlighted that delayed trials contributed significantly to the overcrowding. Also, failures on the part of agencies of the state had contributed to the state of the prison. These include the Judiciary, Magistracy, Probation Service, the Parole Board, Prison Visiting Committees and the Ministry of Public Health. Following a high level meeting between representatives of Government and the Judiciary was held and it was announced that night courts will be established.

PAGE 8

Tuesday March 14, 2017

Kaieteur News

Debunching payment...

Teachers’ Union convinced government taking it for a ride “Just say exactly what is happening and let’s move on from there.” This is the appeal being made by the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) to Government in light of a protracted delay of payment of debunching monies. The debunching money was part of an agreement that the GTU had with the previous administration. Since teachers are paid based on their qualifications, this means that a teacher who has just entered the system is paid the same salary of another that has been in the system for 10 years. With the debunching payment, it is expected that teachers will be eligible for payment based on their years of service. The payment which was outstanding for a number of years was assured by the previous administration but was denied during the run-up to the 2015 elections. Before and upon entering office, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change Government had committed to the agreement the GTU had with its predecessor. To date there has been no payment. Speaking to this publication recently GTU General Secretary, Ms. Coretta McDonald, said, “There has been no new development on the way forward with regards to the debunching payment and I am not even sure there is going to be a way forward.” GTU President, Mr. Mark Lyte, had explained last year that “the Union and the Ministry [of Education] agreed to have the debunching payout of one per cent of all teachers’ salaries beginning from 2011 to 2015…this

Ms Coretta McDonald means that for each month they will get one per cent of whatever salary they are receiving in that year.” But according to McDonald, “We are talking about hundreds of millions of dollars. This payment is for a number of years and not payment...this is 2017. These monies are payable to all the teachers in the public education system which amounts to in excess of 13,000 teachers.” “I am not sure where the government is going to find that kind of money to pay,” considered the GTU General Secretary as she pointed out that “the issue that we have at the GTU is, we have been submitting this document on debunching; we have been redefining and redefining this document to make this document as perfectly refined a document that we want it to be and this is not just the GTU’s doing. But we have been working with officers of the Ministry of Education.” McDonald pointed out that in trying to refine the debunching document, efforts have been made to “cut back here and cut there and cut so...all sorts of cutting would have been done.”

But the issue, according to the GTU General Secretary, is that although it has been recognised that Government may not be able to pay the amount owed, “at least in all fairness to us we expected that somebody would say to us ‘look GTU, look partner, here is where we are at...We can’t reach there, we don’t have it, but we can offer ‘A or B’...let’s work around this; let’s talk around this.’ But nobody is saying anything to us!” An evidently upset McDonald said that “all that we are getting is ‘okay it is at Cabinet; we are waiting for Cabinet’s decision; okay Cabinet asked us to furnish them with some more information; oh Cabinet asked us to do this; oh Cabinet resent the documents and we are doing some more adjustments’...” The whole situation, according to McDonald, is tantamount to “eye pass...It has really been an ‘eye pass’ and persons have really been taking us for granted with regards to this debunching issue.” “We are saying that as major stakeholders in this business of education we are up for discussion, we are here to sit and look at what is there, look at what is realistic and to have it happen,” related McDonald. According to the GTU General Secretary, the Union will prefer realistic action rather than empty promises. “We don’t need promises that we will get it tomorrow, next week, next month or next year... stop taking us for a ride because we are not going to accept it any longer from you,” added McDonald.

Attorney conducts domestic violence research at G/Town Magistrates’ Courts

Chandrawattie Persaud LLB, LEC, MPH making her presentation It has been established that the vast majority of domestic violence cases involve male perpetrators. Studies show that domestic violence occurs in every culture, country, and age group. It affects people from all socioeconomic, educational and religious backgrounds. Children and people living with disabilities are also affected by domestic violence, even if they are not abused or do not witness it directly. Between 2013 and 2014 a number of domestic violence cases against women were filed at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. In observance of Intern a t i o n a l Wo m e n ’s D a y (IWD), the University of Guyana in collaboration with the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) hosted a public presentation on research done on ‘The Prosecution of Domestic Violence Cases Against Women in Guyana: Successes and Lessons Learnt.’ The event was held at the Theatre Guild last week Wednesday. The research conducted by Attorney-at-Law Chandrawattie Persaud assessed the prosecution rate of perpetrators of domestic violence against women at the City Court. Present at the event were newly appointed Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne George-Wiltshire; Minister of Social Protection, Dr George Norton; Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr. Barbara Reynolds; Deputy Vice Chancellor of Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement (PACE), Professor Paloma Mohamed among others. Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana Professor Ivelaw Griffith was not present at the event. But a video was shown with him sending out greetings for IWD. The forum was at-

tended mostly by women. The audience was allowed interactive discussion with members on a panel of which included Justice George-Wiltshire. During her presentation, Persaud pointed out that the research was intended to find the prosecution rate of perpetrators of domestic violence against women at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for the period 2013 and 2014. T h e s t u d y, s h e s a i d , also looked at factors that might have affected the successful outcome of the cases. Currently there is general data on the number of domestic violence matters filed at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts but no statistical data. “The study was done as a cross sectional design. Such a design resulted in the selection of all case jackets for women victim cases of domestic violence using a structured questionnaire. “Descriptive statistics and tables were used to present the findings for complaints and charges, the outcomes and prosecutors’ training.” The questionnaires were also used to gather information from prosecutors. She said that at the time of conceptualization of the research, she wanted to look at information over a period of five years and what was the positive outcome of the Domestic Violence Act of 1996. Persaud added that while domestic violence matters are filed under the Domestic Violence Act, many criminal charges are filed against perpetrators of domestic violence against women under the Criminal Law Offences Act. As far as Persaud is aware, this is the first study of its kind being done at the city court as well as the first electronic data base on such type of information in

Guyana. She however acknowledged that the data may be limited. During her presentation, she reminded that domestic violence has received much prominence over the past two decades since it has been placed on the national agenda. According to her, because of the sensitive nature of the issue, there is significant under reporting of domestic violence. Globally published figures suggest that women victims far outweigh men victims, she noted. Persaud stated that data on the prosecution of domestic violence matter exist mostly in North America; while there is some data on prosecution in Latin America and the Caribbean. She however, said the question of the success rate of prosecution in these regions remains unanswered. She explained that domestic violence is a serious public health issue and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality of women globally. She added that previously, injuries were seen as the only health outcome of violence “But this changed as research found that calculated illnesses were associated with intimate partner violence and sexual abuse of women. These illnesses included drug and alcohol abuse, unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, mental health, emotional health and gynecological problems…” Persaud continued, “These studies found that women in relationships with violence are four times at risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection than women who are n o t i n v i o l e nt relationships.” The findings of the research conducted at the City Court will be published in a later edition.

Tuesday March 14, 2017

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Time for the unions to press for negotiations on wage increases At the same time that the government is complaining about a fiscal crisis, the teachers and public service unions are still unclear as to when wages, salaries and benefits negotiations will recommence. The Guyana Public Service Union is on record as saying that there has been no agreement on wages negotiations for 2016. The government did make an arbitrary payout to the workers last year but this has been treated by the union as an interim payout on its demands for higher wages for public servants. Negotiations with the teachers are yet to conclude. In the meantime, the 2017

Budget unleashed a series of taxes on the Guyanese working class, many of which they are only now waking up to discover. The government has imposed VAT on water and on electricity consumption above certain levels. VAT is now being charged on fees for private education. The imposition of a revised environmental tax has led to an increase for items sold in plastic bottles and boxes. These changes have led to an overall increase in prices in the market because the businesses, for example, are simply passing on the increased VAT they have to pay for electricity and water. Wages have

increased but it may not compensate for the additional costs which are being borne by consumers. In the face of these increases, the unions ought to be very eager to commence negotiations on the incomplete negotiations for wages in 2016 and for wage increases in 2017. But to date we have heard of no such demands on the part of the teachers and public service unions to recommence the negotiations. This demand, if it exists, needs to be made public. The Guyana Teachers Union, in particular, cannot afford to wait until the term or the

Dem boys seh ...

Cussing is okay in de Education Ministry, ask Roopnaraine Some strange things use to happen when dem boys was growing up. If dem only try to do big man things like whistle or walk wid dem hands in dem pocket was blows. Then times change but some things didn’t change. Parents use to cuss dem children but dem children couldn’t cuss back. More things change and when some parents cuss dem children de children use to cuss dem back. That was a big breakdown in discipline because when other children try it nuff of dem use to lose teeth because de parents use to knock dem out. That is when some use to say, “Do as I say and not as I do.” De other day de whole of Guyana get a video that somebody tek out in de highest Education place in de land. This is de place that does mek rules fuh all dem teachers, does decide when schools open and close, and does decide who get promotion and who don’t get. It was a lesson in cussing. Now dem boys know that people does only cuss when dem

vocab limited. If that is de case, de senior officer dem see in de video don’t have any vocabulary. De woman use some words that even dem market people does use on rare occasions. That video mek dem boys realize why dem school children does behave like that. Dem even want to know if de Minister or any other senior person gun tek action. Already dem know that dem have policemen who do de gods and still got de wuk. One of dem cuss a traffic policemen and threaten to kill him but he still got de wuk. De system break down and Soulja Bai got he hands in fire, because if he don’t promote some of dem, then dey gun say he don’t like young people. Dem boys seh de official was a young cuss bird. She should not even been promoted if that was she behavior but then again she probably learn from she boss. Talk half and don’t fuss if you school child come home cussing.

Stalemate over GECOM Chairmanship Govt, opposition must rise above the differences and agree on a Chairman- Former Speaker Even as the apparent gridlock over the selection of a Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) continues, former Speaker of the National Assembly and Attorney-atlaw, Ralph Ramkarran believes the time has come for the leaders of the two main political groups to rise above the differences and agree on a Chair of the Elections Commission. The seat of the GECOM Chairmanship was left vacant with the departure of Dr. Steve Surujbally, last month. Dr. Surujbally retired from GECOM after fulfilling more than a decade as Chairman. However there has been a stalemate between Government and Opposition over the selection of a Chair for the body which overlooks the production of National Identification Cards, and manages local and general elections. At the heart of the matter is interpretation of the

Former Speaker, Ralph Ramkarran Constitution with regards to the qualifications and merits of the candidates. A list of candidates submitted by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, was rejected by President David Granger. There have been several meetings between members of the government and the opposition but it has since proven futile. The ruling party had indicated that a person eligible to be Chairman of the Elections Commission

according to Article 161 (2) shall be a judge or a person who has held office as judge, or a person who has the qualifications to be a judge, or any other fit and proper person. However, the political opposition says this is not so. The Opposition has argued that the Constitution makes provision for “any fit and proper person” to fill the vacancy; that person does not have to be a judge or qualified as such. In his recent writings on his blog site Conversation Tree, former Speaker of the National Assembly and Attorney-at- aw, Ralph Ramkarran, outlined that the country’s long history of struggle for electoral democracy. “We have seen at first hand the devastating impact of manipulated elections on a country’s development and the psyche of a people. As it is, it will take several generations in the future for the suspicions and accusations over elections to disappear. It is not something that Guyana needs ever (Continued on page 21)

school year ends to begin negotiations. Once the CXC examinations commence, the teachers will lose whatever leverage they can exercise to demand significant wage increases. The government has already said that taxes which it is collecting from private fees for education can be seen as an investment in education generally. Teachers should therefore be demanding that the taxes from VAT on private education should go towards helping them enjoy increases in wages, not that it will stretch very far. But the principle is far more important. If the government is serious about education, it should increase the salaries of teachers by 50%. It should not make excuses about where the money will come from. It should find the money even if it means making judicious on its capital Budget by abandoning that “great wall” that it is constructing. There is a great deal of wastage in public expenditure from which the funds can be found to pay increased wages to teachers. The police need a 100%

increase in salaries. If the government is serious about reducing crime, it will try to find the money to pay these increases and stop hiding, like the PPP/C used to do, behind the excuse of its inability to sustain any increases. The public bureaucracy is bloated. There are too many one-to-one-reporting relationships, that is, one person is reporting to one person. There are too many positions with the titles beginning with deputy and assistant. There needs to be an evaluation of these positions and those which are found to be unnecessary should go. For example, why does one need a Deputy Director of Sport in a small country like Guyana? That position should go. All it will take is for the government to look at its organization chart and to find ways of removing unnecessary appointments. The monies can be found to fund increased wages for teachers, police and public servants. If the government, however, wants to be cautious, it can commit to paying teachers and the police a sig-

nificant increase this year with nurses next year and other personnel in 2019. But something should be done immediately about teachers and police pay. These things will not happen unless the unions become more militant and unless the workers are prepared to take action to press for increased wages. The unions are only as strong as the willingness of its membership to take action to press its demands. But the unions must be the first to request that negotiations commence on wages and salaries for 2017, otherwise we will end up as was done for so long under the PPP/C, the imposition of wage increases outside of negotiations with the unions.

PAGE 10

Tuesday March 14, 2017

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Remake of ‘Soylent Green’ starring Bharrat Jagdeo There is a 1973 science fiction movie named Soylent Green. It was about what pollution did to the world in 2022. The world falls apart with destruction all around. People hunt in the streets for food. All the streets and highways are overtaken with mountains of debris. One assumes that a good percentage of Guyanese who saw that movie in 1973 when they were young are still alive. There was a scene in that movie that bore an uncanny resemblance to the streets of Georgetown when the PPP ruled. That science fiction movie projected what will happen to the globe in 2022 but it happened in real life in Guyana in 2014. If you lived in Georgetown in 2014 and you had seen Soylent Green in 1973 your mind would have gone through a weird transformation. Georgetown under Mr. Jagdeo’s 15-year-old he-

gemony was what the writers of that film saw happening to the world in 2022. I saw streets, highways and roadways in Guyana overtaken by garbage that was simply beyond imagination. This was what Mr. Jagdeo brought Guyana to. No one who thought of investing here or returning to live after retirement could have missed the Soylent Green effects in Georgetown and Guyana. I thought it was only Georgetown that had the unbelievable sight of ubiquitous miasma until I saw a horror show at Rosignol. I will never forget what I saw in Rosignol. When I read that Jagdeo told the dinner of the Guyana Manufacturing Association last Friday that he wants the PPP to return to power, my mind flashed back to that Soylent Green sight at Rosignol. The car pulled up a few

yards before the Rosignol stelling. On the southern side of the road the entire stretch of parapet was overflowing with garbage, debris and animal feces with dozens of pigs in the middle of the mountainous miasma enjoying themselves. This was a country in the 21st century. The president at the time was Jagdeo and that very man wants to rule Guyana again. Stink, rotten garbage destroyed Georgetown under Mr. Jagdeo’s tyranny and this man had the temerity to tell his audience that he wants the PPP to come back to power. If Jagdeo had the temerity to say that, the diners had the mental vacuum to listen to that depravity. Mr. Jagdeo told his listeners he is at a loss to understand where the country is heading. The country knew where it was heading under Jagdeo and that was the

abyss and that is why the country voted the way it did in 2011 and 2016. Where were those invitees when this oligarch ruled Guyana? The invitees were mostly business people and their families. Wasn’t it under Jagdeo Guyana became the country with the most expensive kilowatts? Wasn’t it under Jagdeo that UG collapsed? Wasn’t it under Jagdeo that the waiting period at A&E of the Georgetown Hospital was ten hours? Wasn’t it under Jagdeo that private school multiplied rapidly because public schools were in a terrible condition? Wasn’t it under Jagdeo that our exchange rate reached $200 for one American dollar? Wasn’t it under Jagdeo that you could not distinguish the underground economy from the formal economy? Wasn’t it under Jagdeo that a known drug trafficker, now jailed in

the US, had undue influence in the police force? Was it not under Jagdeo that then Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, described Guyana as an international beggar? Was it not under Jagdeo that the sugar industry died? Was it not under Jagdeo that the NIS from 2013 began to pay out more money that it earned because Jagdeo wasted $6 billion of NIS money in a failed venture with a failed Trinidadian tycoon? One could go on. The point is that this is the man who told the GMA diners that he wants the PPP to return to office. Now mind you; in that address not even a tiny apology was offered for the oceans of failed policies and outlandish spending under Jagdeo. What future this country had under Jagdeo when he took billions of dollars from the Treasury and built a hotel.

Frederick Kissoon Didn’t anyone at that dinner had the courage to say to Jagdeo, “But sir, with the need for a strong manufacturing base, the need to fix GPL, the need to have thriving diversified agricultural sectors including aqua-culture, why did you want a hotel?” I wonder if anyone in the audience had bought a house lot in Pradovile 2 courtesy of Jagdeo. Maybe they have, that is why they invited him to address them.

Guyana among top performers at CCJ’s Inter’l Moot Competition

Guyana was among the top performing teams at CCJ’s moot competition from left Kristal Abrams, Dexter Lindo, Attorney at law Teni Housty and Jason Barnes Guyanese law students are among the four top teams to perform at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) International Law Moot Competition. The three-member team representing the University of Guyana (Turkeyen Campus) comprised of Kristal Abrams, Dexter Lindo and Jason Barnes. The team was led by Ms. Abrams (Mistress of Moot). University of Guyana Lecturer and Attor-

ney- at Law, Teni Housty, accompanied the team to Trinidad and Tobago for the competition held at the CCJ’s Headquarters in Trinidad on March 10, last. According to information outlined by Moot Court Guyana, the local team won their round of the IX Annual CCJ’s International Law Moot Competition against University of Technology, Jamaica. According to one legal definition, Moot Court is the law school’s courtroom. Moot court is an extracurricular activity at many law schools in which participants take part in simulated court proceedings, usually involving drafting memorials or memoranda and participating in oral argument. The CCJ’s annual International Law Moot Court Competition was inaugurated in March 2009, to encourage budding attorneys to become familiar with the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC), and other areas of Community and International Law. The CCJ’s Law Moot provides the law students with the opportunity to appear and present before the region’s highest court on original jurisdiction matters. The Original Jurisdiction of the CCJ gives the Court the

sole authority to interpret and apply the rules set out in the RTC, which governs the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). This year’s “fictitious case” dealt with issues surrounding the freedom of movement within the Caribbean region of a Belizeanbased company with shareholders and employees of varying nationalities. Eugene Dupuch Law School of the Bahamas won the Ninth Annual CCJ International Law Moot Competition. The all-female team— Raven Rolle, Megan Curry, and Janessa Murray with advisor Ms. Raquel Williams gained a fifth victory for the law school mere days after worldwide celebration of female achievements on International Women’s Day. Eight teams representing law schools and law faculties from throughout the Caribbean participated. Those teams were drawn from the Faculty of Law of the University of Technology (Jamaica); Faculty of Law of the University of Guyana; Faculty of Law of the University of the West Indies (St Augustine); Faculty of Law of the University of the West Indies (Mona Campus); Faculty of Law of the University of the West Indies (Cave Hill); Eugene Dupuch Law School (The Bahamas); Hugh Wooding Law School (Trinidad & Tobago); and Norman Manley Law School (Jamaica). Arguments were presented before a panel of CCJ Judges: the Honourable Messrs. Justice Rolston Nelson, Jacob Wit and David Hayton. The opening remarks were made by Sir Dennis Byron, President of the CCJ.

Tuesday March 14, 2017

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

G/Town men claim wrongful Minister of Finance faces contempt beating by Canal No. 1 residents -say they were racially targeted Assaulted, Dameion Gordon

Assaulted, Vernon Beckles On Phagwah Day, Sunday, Dameion Gordon and Vernon Beckles, both residents of Georgetown, journeyed to Canal No. 1 Polder, West Bank Demerara to celebrate the Hindu festival of colours, with friends. But what was supposed to have been a fun evening, turned into a painful and embarrassing one for the two men. They were allegedly beaten and had racial slurs hurled at them by residents who accused the two of stealing a pair of rear view mirrors from a car parked along the road. “We did drinking in Alberttown, and then one ah we partner, who is a soldier, come and seh how he got a li’l session on the 17th (of April), and that we should come…We ain’t too familiar with the place, so he seh leh we mek a quick dash over and he gon show we is where, so that when the time come, we gon know how to find the place,” Beckles told Kaieteur News. He explained that after they had seen the location for the “session,” the group of friends decided to continue their enjoyment by having a drink at a “bottom house rum shop” further down Canal No. 1 road. This was some time around 19:00hrs. “We come out of the car, and the friend who lives in the area, start leading the way with his wife, he brother-inlaw and another friend. Me, and Dameion went following them from behind. Next thing I know, some guys rushing up to we saying that me and Dameion thief their car mirrors.” The car, they were referring to, Beckles recalled, was parked a short distance away from the drinking spot

where he and his friends were headed. “Somebody said how they see we trying fuh take off the mirrors…then somebody else seh how they find the mirror in the car we were in, which is the soldier boy’s car. Then another person seh how the mirror was found next to the car that they said it get thief from, so I really don’t know wha is the truth,” Beckles said. He explained that after being aggressively accused of being thieves, he and his friend, Gordon instinctively put up a defence, which subsequently resulted in a scuffle. “Before I could even ketch me self properly, somebody bruk a bottle in my head,” Beckles related. According to the Georgetown residents, they were pounced on by a group of the village’s men who gave them a sound thrashing. “They threw us into the canal and continue beating us. They beat us fuh several minutes,” Gordon told this newspaper. He said that at this point, his other friends were attempting to reason with the men. “The military friend and the other boy just keep telling them to leave we alone, that we don’t thief and that we’re

their friends and so, but they didn’t listen…Them men just kept hitting at we,” Gordon added. The 29-year-old, who is currently pursuing a degree in Business, said that throughout the ordeal, he and Beckles were repeatedly being told that they had to be thieves, “because we black. That just isn’t right man. That is racism to the highest.” Beckles told this newspaper that even after members of the Community Policing Group showed up and handcuffed him and Gordon, the beating still continued. “Is only when the real police come then they leave us…if the police didn’t come in time, we woulda been dead by today,” Beckles, who is a construction worker said. The two men also complained of being treated like hardcore criminals by police officers who didn’t know who they were, and more importantly, had no evidence of the claims made by the Canal No. 1 Polder residents. As of late last night, police officials of that Division were not available for comments. Gordon and Beckles are however, seeking justice with the hope that their names would also be cleared.

Two upset families are in the process of filing contempt charges in the High Court to have the Minister of Finance committed to jail if a sum of $150,000 owed to each family by the Guyana Government as a judicial settlement. The money is owed since 2014 when the previous PPP government was in office. Yadram Rooney of No 2 Village East Canje was shot by police inspector Cumberbatch on March 15, 2011 at his home. Rooney was at home when a car driven by a gas station owner with Cumberbatch inside pulled up in front of his house. The men accosted him and demanded that he enter the car. The man refused and was shot by Cumberbatch. Police from New Amsterdam subsequently arrived and took Cumberbatch and others into custody. Cumberbatch was released without being charged. Rooney who was seriously injured was hospitalized. At the time Cumberbatch was working as an enforcer for a gas station owner on the East Coast Demerara. The family, through their attorney Mursalene Bacchus, filed a $50M lawsuit in 2011 on the Attorney General of Guyana, at the time, Anil Nandlall for damages and compensation for trespass (Assault and battery) to the person, resulting in injuries, losses and injury to his person. The other matter involved Rawle Carter who was a teen at the time. He was picked up by a joint services patrol on the evening of Sunday June 19, 2011 whilst on his way home on his bicycle. He was dumped into a police pickup and thrown into the lock up with others at the Central Police Station. He was never told why he was arrested.

His request for a phone call was met with expletives. He and his cellmates were subsequently taken out and told to take off their clothes, where they were checked for marks, and or tattoos before being thrown back into the lock ups. He was locked up for two days without food and water and was not allowed a phone call. Carter was never read his rights (about having a lawyer, his parents or the right to remain silent). His relatives had no clue where he was. Around twilight on Monday he was escorted out of the lock ups and questioned again. He was then told to go home and to return the following Tuesday. When he complied he was then told to return again on Wednesday. On Wednesday a senior officer apologized on behalf of the Guyana Police Force for the tardiness of the ranks on duty and the ill treatment meted out to the teen who was then told that the matter was finished. The family through attorney-at-law Mursalene Bacchus filed a $5M lawsuit in the High Court of Guyana against the Attorney General and the Guyana Police Force. The lawsuit stated that on June 19, 2011 a member of the Guyana Police Force unlawfully arrested his client at Cumberland, East Canje Berbice and imprisoned him at Central Police Station lockup until June 20, 2011. The claim against the state is for wrongful arrest and imprisonment, trespass to the person (False Imprisonment) of the plaintiff by a member of the Guyana Police Force, an agent or servant of the state at Cumberland East Canje, Berbice and at New Amsterdam Berbice resulting in loss and damage to the plaintiff.

After mutual agreement, in chambers, both matters were settled for meager sums of $150,000 each with no cost before Justice Sandra Kurtzious in the Berbice High Court on December 8, 2014. . However then Attorney General in the PPP government Anil Nandalall refused to pay or budge when contacted even though he was written to by attorney-at-law Mursalene Bacchus and reminded on numerous occasion about the sum owed. Mr. Nandalall showed no care or concern. When the PPP was booted out of officer in May 2015, present Attorney General Basil Williams was written to and also reminded on numerous occasions about the meager sum owed to the plaintiffs. However like his predecessor has also refused to raise an eyebrow. Now, the families through their attorney Mursalene Bacchus are prepared to go ahead and file contempt proceeding in the high court against the Minister of Finance to recoup the money or have the Minister committed to jail.

PAGE 12

Tuesday March 14, 2017

Kaieteur News

Port Mourant man, two others injured in Borlam Turn accident Dead Shazam Ishmail

What remains of the car. The Borlam Turn along the Corentyne Highway has claimed yet another life. Two people were injured following the accident on Sunday night. Dead is Shazam Ishmail, aka “Imran” of Lot 17 Portuguese Quarter, Port Mourant. The injured have been identified as Randy Seecharan, 22, of Seawell Village and Anthony Ramlochan , 23, of Canje. Reports are that a white Toyota 212 bearing licence plate PMM 865 driven by Randy Seecharan was speeding along the Borlam Turn when it spun out of control and slammed into a utility pole on Sunday night. Brahas Baijanauth, mother of the dead Shazam Ishmail who was said to be sitting in the front passenger seat when he died, said that her son had called her around 16:00 hrs on Sunday to leave instructions for his brother to take care of his livestock and that he will be home soon. According to her she received a call from her s o n ’s e m p l o y e r a t a p proximately 19:00 hrs in-

forming her that Ishmail had met with an accident. “Me niece then call and seh he dead and then me go out on the road and come in back because me na able fuh see meh son in dat condition.” The devastated woman said that the driver, Randy Seecharan, is a close friend of her son. He would normally come by their home to pick up Ishmail. She stated that her son was intoxicated along with his other two friends in the car since they had been imbibing earlier in the day. “Dem binna drink and then dem guh Satesh and then by he (Seecharan) mother and he binna bring meh son home when dem run into ah pole”. Her son repor t e d l y d i e d o n t he spot whilst Seecharan received injuries about his body and Ramlochan sustained broken limbs and other injuries. He was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he remains in a stable condition. Relatives of Seecharan h o w e v e r, r e f u s e d t o speak to media operatives at the New Amsterdam where he remains a guarded patient.

Guyana, 51 other countries observed Commonwealth Day

Injured driver: Randy Seecharan

Commonwealth Day was observed, yesterday by more than 50 Commonwealth member states under the theme, “A Peace-building Commonwealth”. The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 52 independent and sovereign countries. Member States have agreed to pursue shared goals such as development, democracy and peace. These values are expressed in the Commonwealth Charter. The Commonwealth spans the globe, including both advanced economies and developing countries, in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, Europe and the Pacific. The combined population is 2.4 billion, of which more than 60 percent is under the age of 30. Thirty members are small states, each with a population under two million, of which 24 are island nations. Most countries have similar legal and governance systems and a shared language. Although they have much in common, every country is unique. A network of more than 80 intergovernmental, civil society, cultural and professional organisations help countries to put Commonwealth values and principles into action. Below is a message by Patricia Scotland QC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth: “This Commonwealth Day, I near the completion of my first year in office as Secretary-General, serving the governments and people of more than fifty Commonwealth member states. During this time, it has been uplifting to see – in a

Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, the Honourable Patricia Scotland QC. (flickr photo) remarkable range of circumstances and contexts – the strength of Commonwealth connection flourishing and in action for the benefit of all. Our shared values and language, similar institutions of democratic governance and administration, and the Common Law, make it easy for us to understand one another, to discuss obstacles and opportunities, and to work together for the common good. This results in what we call ‘Commonwealth Advantage’, with the interoperability of our systems facilitating mutual support and cooperation, and boosting levels of trade and commerce among our member states. Most importantly, in times of promise and of peril, it raises awareness and (Continued on page 23)

Tuesday March 14, 2017

Republican health plan to make millions more uninsured: U.S. congressional report

U.S. President Donald Trump looks up during a meeting about healthcare at the White House in Washington, yesterday. (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque) (Reuters) Millions of Americans would lose medical insurance under a Republican plan to dismantle Obamacare, the nonpartisan U.S. Congressional Budget Office said yesterday in a report that dealt a potential setback to President Donald Trump’s first major legislative initiative. The eagerly awaited CBO report forecast that 14 million more people would be uninsured in 2018 and 24 million more in 2026 if the plan being considered in the House of Representatives were adopted. Obamacare enabled about 20 million previously uninsured Americans to obtain medical insurance. The CBO projected that

52 million people would be uninsured by 2026 if the bill became law, compared to 28 million who would not have coverage that year if former President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law remained unchanged. Two House of Representatives committees have approved the legislation to dismantle Obamacare that was unveiled by Republican leaders a week ago, but it faces opposition from not only Democrats but also medical providers including doctors and hospitals and many conservatives. The CBO report’s findings could make the Republican plan a harder sell in Congress. The agency, however,

said federal deficits would fall by a net $337 billion in the 2017-2026 period under the Republican bill. Some Republicans worry a misfire on the Republican healthcare legislation could hobble Trump’s presidency and set the stage for losses for the party in the 2018 congressional elections. Trump attempted to rally support for the Republican bill yesterday before the CBO report’s release. “The House bill to repeal and replace Obamacare will provide you and your fellow citizens with more choices far more choices - at lower cost,” the Republican president said at a White House meeting with people opposed to Obamacare.

Stalemate over GECOM... From page 9 again,” Ramkarran emphasized. The former Speaker however noted that in 1990s there were many reforms which brought about free and fair elections in Guyana; two of the most fundamental reforms were an agreed Chair of the Elections Commission and counting of the votes at the place of poll. “These were, of course, supplemented by many other laws, regulations and practices that were agreed to between the two main political parties and enshrined in the Constitution or in the Representation of the People Act.” Throughout that period, Ramkarran noted that there were no difficulties with the main political groups in agreeing to a Chair of the Elections Commission. Back

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

then, a constitutional formula of selection, he said was formed. He pointed out further that the formula has never failed and four GECOM chairs were agreed to under the said method. But, the lawyer noted that while the formula for selecting a Chair is constitutionally enshrined and at the end of the day must be formally adhered to, it does not preclude the leaders from informally suggesting names and one of those names finding its way on the list. Ramkarran asserted, “If the stalemate in the appointment of a Chair eventually leads to the unilateral appointment of a Chair of the Elections Commission, all that, so many thousands of people have fought for and for such a long time, will be placed in serious

jeopardy. All bets about tolerating elections results, however truculently, will be off.” The former Speaker further opined that if the situation arises where the President seeks to appoint a Judge, a former Judge or a person qualified to be a Judge, Guyana’s entire future as a democratic polity, albeit with profound challenges, will be at risk. He therefore stressed that the unwritten rule that fundamental changes to electoral practices since 1992 should not be undertaken without broad consensus, notwithstanding the letter of the law, must not be allowed to fall apart. “Our leaders have an obligation to rise above the differences and agree on a Chair of the Elections Commission.”

Turkey threatens Netherlands with diplomatic sanctions as ‘Nazi’ row escalate Turkey’s Tayyip Erdogan yesterday threatened to impose sanctions on the Netherlands and take it to the European Court of Human Rights over a ban on his ministers speaking at rallies in Dutch cities, deepening a row with a NATO ally. Erdogan, who is seeking support from Turks in a referendum on boosting his powers as president, had previously accused the Dutch government of acting like “Nazi remnants” for barring his ministers from addressing expatriate Turks to drum up votes. The row marks another low point in relations between Turkey and Europe, further dimming Ankara’s prospects of joining the EU. It also comes as Turkey is caught up by security concerns over militant attacks and the war in neighboring Syria. “We will carry out whatever our diplomatic sanctions are ... We will make sure the Netherlands are rapidly held accountable for this,” Erdogan said in comments broadcast live on tele-

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a ceremony in Istanbul, on Sunday. (Kayhan Ozer/Presidential Palace/Handout via REUTERS) vision. “They use international law whenever it suits them, they make excuses for it. We will go to the European Court of Human Rights as well. Our friends are currently making the necessary preparations.”

He did not say whether the government would also impose economic measures against the Netherlands. A source in Ankara had earlier said sanctions could affect cultural activities, and military and technological cooperation.

PAGE 22

Tuesday March 14, 2017

Kaieteur News

FOR RENT VEHICLE FOR SALE

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

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

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

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

1-Leyland DAF GRR Series; excellent condition. Call: 6804101 1 New model Vitz, press start, A/C, excellent condition $1.5M, good for bank purchases, 1 Toyota Verossa -$2.3M. Call: 639-2490 One Nissan Duke, lady driven in immaculate condition, PTT Series, low mileage, price -$3M. Call: 6530018/666-7748 Dwayne Stephen Auto Sales! New Shipment of Vehicle: Rush, Blue Bird, Note, Axio, Allion. Call: 665-2330/ 6486869 Unregistered Fielder -$2.5M, Axela 2011 -$2.7M, all dark interior. Call: 617-5536

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

LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. CAT 215 Excavator, Leyland DAF 55 Tipper Truck, D4H CAT Bulldozer. Call: 275-0538/ 683-7225 1- CAT 320 BL Excavators, 428- CAT Backhoe, 1 CAT 930 Front End, 9 wheeled pneumatic roller, Double Steel drum compactor- Call: 275-0538/ 683-7225 2 Leyland Dump truck (55210), 1 Caterpillar Backhoe, owner migrating, very good condition. Call: 672-5876 Salon Equipment. Call: 2653586 8am-4pm 44FT Banga Boat, 500lbs fiber glass box. Call: 2593164/ 685-1946 1 White new model Passo 2009, working condition also 1 transported houselot @ W.C.D – Call: 602-3000/ 600-2931

ACCOMMODATION Secret Villa apartments fully furnished, hot & cold water, Jacuzzi, air condition from $20USD daily. Call: 225-6337/ 266-5244/668-0306

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

Harmony Inn: Furnished self contained apartments & rooms from $20USD daily. Call: 218-1400/ 694-7817

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

CAR RENTAL

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

FOR SALE

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

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Lot 14 Croal & Longden Street: 4 Storey building (infront Demico). Call: 6631876 1-2 Bedroom apartment to rent fully furnished, including internet, cable, TV, parking available. E.C.D –Call: 6672536 Vreed-en-Hoop Junction: office, storage bond, lesson place, church -$20,000 per month. Call: 603-6400 3 Bedrooms upper flat located at Vreed-en-Hoop, 3rd Building in from Junction. Call: 673-3064 1-3 Storey building located at 128 Akawini and Sheriff Street. Call: 652-1504/ 2200365 2 Bedrooms executive furnished with all modern conveniences. Call: 622-5725/ 664-1070 House for rent @ 112 Duke Street Kingstown G/Town: 3 bedrooms. Call: 603-7147/ 665-6433 Newly refurbished 2 bedroom apartment D’urban Street Lodge, secure parking. Call: 687-4050 Apartment for rent @ First Street Mon Repos, E.C.D – Call: 602-4105/ 614-0005 2 Bedrooms apartment to rent on E.C.D - Call: 684-8906

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

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

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

WANTED One driver/porter from Diamond, Grove area. Call: 2161043, 677-6620 Wanted land to buy at Tuschen, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt, La Parfaite Harmonie, best price offered. Call: 657-9594 Urgently needed workers to work at Ice Company @ Meadow Bank Wharf, training provided. Call: 2311408/ 642-9191/ between 8am-1pm. Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 One shop assistant to work in the Interior, must have experienced. Call: 678-0565 A tutor is needed for a 13year old boy from overseas. Call: 218-0192/ 696-1479 1 Canteen for rent in Georgetown. Call: 679-9762 Now Hiring: cashier, porters & driver for canters. Apply at Nimbus, 79 Albert & Laluni Streets. Call: 231-7002 Drivers for canter truck to work on W.C.D -$25,000 weekly. Call: 684-8231/ 6629341 Two hundred 8inX4inX2in, Clay Bricks. Call Edward: 6534797/ 223-0952 Female worker wanted sound secondary education, computer literate-Tel: 6225518 For up to $1M, Pawn your land if it’s in Eccles, Herstelling, Providence, Zeelugt and Bartica. Call: 2333006/ 658-5897/651-1969 Help for snackette @ 26 Saffon and Sussex Streets, next to Lady B’s Fashion. Enquiries between 8:00 and 11:00 on Sundays. Driver needed (stick gear) to operate smoothie business. Be your own boss, fixed location, preferably someone EBD- call: 628-1479 1 Live in nanny/domestic to take care of children & home, must know to cook various dishes 38-48yrs. Call: 600-1898 Live-in waitress with secondary education, salary $80,000 monthly. Boarding & lodging free. Age 18-25 years- Tel:610-3974

FOR SALE/FOR RENT Large 3 Bedrooms house for rent or sale @ La Parfaite Harmonie, W.B.D, upstairs + downstairs -$40,000 monthly. Call: 690-5061 Continued on page 23

Tuesday March 14, 2017

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Fmr. Health Minister gets two-month reprieve on sentencing Former Health Minister, Dr. Noel Blackman, who was set to be sentenced next Friday, March 24, for running an illegal prescription drugs racket in New York, will get a two-month reprieve. This was after a New York court judge, Joanna Seybert, approved a delay that Blackman’s lawyer asked for. His lawyer, John Bergendahl, in a motion to adjourn sentencing pointed out that his client was set to be sentenced on March 24, 2017. However, the lawyer said that he is currently scheduled to begin trial in the Eastern District of Kentucky on March 21, 2017, in the matter of United States v. Sonia Castellon. Castellon is facing charges in a racket to dispense oxycodone, a highly addictive drug that can only be prescribed. The lawyer said that prosecutors have no objections. The court approved the new sentencing date to April 25, 2017. Blackman, who is facing jail time in New York for illegally prescribing drugs for hundreds of persons while practising in that US state, is currently being held in custody at Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn. Blackman, who served under the Desmond Hoyteled People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) administration, had signalled his intentions back in August to change his plea on charges relating to the dealing of drugs. In court documents filed in a New York court,

Blackman, who was arrested last year February, as he was about to board a JFK airport flight to Guyana, said that he had managed to reach a plea agreement with the US prosecutors. The doctor was arrested while on his way to Guyana after being named as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Federal authorities took the 69-year-old doctor into custody after they ordered a Guyana-bound jet, taxiing for takeoff, to return to an airport terminal. Prior to his arrest, investigators had the doctor and his Brooklyn office under surveillance for weeks. The David Granger administration subsequently named Dr. Carl ‘Max’ Hanoman as the new GPHC Chairman. Prosecutors said that Blackman had illegally prescribed vast amounts of painkiller drugs in what has been described as a “drug-dealing enterprise spanning three States.” According to court documents, Judge Joanna Seybert, in allowing the application for the doctor to change his plea, also agreed for him to cancel a status hearing on the case, which was scheduled for yesterday. Blackman and his 31-yearold assistant, Eva Torres, of the Bronx, were indicted on two counts: conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and distribution of a controlled substance. Prosecutors had signalled intentions to seize Blackman’s assets that would have come

Dr. Noel Blackman from the illegal activities. There were reports that he prescribed oxycodone to some patients he hadn’t seen, which was especially troubling, since the addictive drug could cause life-threatening breathing problems during the first 72 hours of treatment and anytime the dose is increased. He was also accused of failing to declare more than US$30,000 which he carrying at the time of his arrest on his way to Guyana in February. Records show Dr. Blackman wrote 114 prescriptions in 2014 for about 3,800 oxycodone pills and nearly 2,500 prescriptions for about 365,000 pills last year. US Magistrate Anne Shields had ordered Dr. Blackman held as a flight risk, pending future hearings. Until his arrest, Dr. Blackman had practised surgery and pain management from offices in Franklin Square, Elmhurst and Brooklyn, and most recently lived in Far Rockaway,

but was a longtime resident of Valley Stream, New York. Blackman’s arrest, at the time, was the latest in a string of cases involving Long Island doctors charged with illegally doling out highly addictive prescription painkillers. In Blackman’s case, Torres was stopped and searched at Kennedy Airport in December 2015, returning from visiting him in Guyana, with more than 40 oxycodone prescriptions signed by Dr. Blackman for patients, according to court papers. Agents checking the names of those for whom Dr. Blackman wrote prescriptions found that some lived in the Bronx and New Jersey, and as far away as Florida. When his assistant was arrested at her Bronx home, she told agents an unnamed person, identified only as John Doe One, would give her a list of names, and Dr. Blackman would write oxycodone prescriptions without examining the recipients, the court papers said. Torres said Dr. Blackman was paid $300 for each of those prescriptions, the papers said. After he was arrested at the airport, Dr. Blackman told agents that “It was possible that some of his patients were addicted to oxycodone, and that he charged approximately $300 to see patients at his ‘pain management’ practice, and that he typically saw approximately 100 patients per day, which he estimated was about one patient every six minutes,” according to the papers.

Guyana, 51 other countries observed Commonwealth... From page 12 appreciation of our interdependence, and the need for exchange and reciprocity. Deep-rooted and resilient, Commonwealth solidarity bears us up individually and collectively. It helps us in troubled and troubling times to make the world a safer place. That is why this year we are celebrating ‘A Peacebuilding Commonwealth’. By linking governments and institutions – both public and private – and bringing together in a spirit of goodwill people of all ages and from all walks of life, Commonwealth gatherings and networks lay foundations of respect and understanding that enable lasting peace to be built. In working to find ways of eliminating violence, we draw on wisdom and traditions from a wide range of cultural inheritances in our member states to develop inclusive approaches to peace-build-

ing. A special area of focus is on ending all forms of domestic violence, because unless there is fairness and peace in our homes we cannot expect to enjoy good community relations, or peace at national and regional level. Every single one of us has a contribution to make. Imagine the impact we can make as a Commonwealth of 2.4 billion people in over fifty countries by saying no to abuse or violence in our homes; taking action against all forms of violence against women, men and children; making bullying unacceptable in our school or workplace; and ensuring that senior citizens are safe from intimidation. ‘Commonwealth’ is another way of saying ‘common good’. ‘A Peace-building Commonwealth’ starts with each one of us taking individual responsibility, then joining with others so that with mutual support and en-

couragement we share the good from home to community, then ever more widely to the world. This Commonwealth Day, as we share our joy in belonging to this great global family – wherever we are and whatever our position – let us commit ourselves afresh through its opportunities and immense potential, and through our own friendships and networks, to thinking and acting as proud and active members of ‘A Peace-building Commonwealth’.”

Meanwhile, in keeping with this year’s theme, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Guyana Branch, has planned a number of activities to be held today. These plans include a panel discussion on the theme: “A Peace – Building Commonwealth”; poster and essay competitions for participants between the ages of seven and eleven; and poster and essay competitions for participants between the ages of 12 and 17.

From page 22

PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 House for sale & removal at Campbellville 23ftX40ftContact Ganesh: 614-6202 1 Front building & a 2 storey building on 1 (lot) 180 Charlotte Street Bourda W30XL120 $55M negotiable. Call: 624-7341/2276817/226-5183 House/land with business- 5 bedrooms, 2 bath W.C.D, Anna Catherina. Call: 6142466 House for sale 2482 North Ruimveldt, 2 flat, no flooding , 6 feet fence, in secure area. Price $21M negotiable. Call: 233-5400/ 618-0595 10 Minutes away from Georgetown, you can own your own home, now in construction, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath, concrete house. Call: 675-1510 One Roadside, 2 storey building @ V/Hoop (ideally business/residence). Call: 614-0107

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

VACANCY Sales Representative needed for hardware related item, good working vehicle needed, attractive compensation. Call: 602-4337 Cook/Baker and Kitchen Assistant for interior location. Applicants must be experienced, for details call: 618-2020 Receptionist, Male Security guard age 30-45, 233 South Road Lacytown. Call: 225-0198 Woodmizer and moulder, operator, porters @ Eccles, E.B.D. Call Richard: 6097675/ 674-1705/233-2614 Accounts Clerk for Eccles, Industrial Site area knowledge of NIS, PAYE, VAT, Quickbooks. Call: 6144358 Experienced Hire Car Drivers/Dispatchers. Call: 622-6413 Refrigeration & Ice Machine maintenance workers age 25 & older. Call: 231-1408/ 6429191 between 8 to 1pm TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)

PAGE 24

Tuesday March 14, 2017

Kaieteur News

Cuba agrees to extension on New study shows poor school infrastructure in Latin America and Caribbean trade agreement with CARICOM

Delegates at the CARICOM-Cuba ministerial meeting HAVANA, Cuba (CMC) – Cuba is providing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries with an extension of the agreement on trade and economic cooperation which facilitates access to the Cuban market for hundreds of CARICOM products, according to an official statement issued here yesterday. It said that the issue was discussed at the fifth CARICOM-Cuba Ministerial meeting that was held here last Saturday. According to the statement, the agreement also provides for trade between the parties. Last month, the Guyanabased Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat said the 15-member regional integration movement had reached an agreement with Cuba on the expansion of preferential access to each other’s markets. In a brief statement, the Secretariat said that the agreement was reached during the 10th meeting of the Joint Commission established under the Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement between CARICOM and Cuba

held in Guyana late last month. “A significant number of items from the Community, including beer, fish and other agricultural products, and manufactured goods, have been approved for entry into the Cuban market free of duty once both sides formalise the agreement. “CARICOM member states have also agreed to grant duty-free access to Cuban goods, including pharmaceuticals. More developed countries (MDC) in the community will also determine the level of preference they will grant to Cuba on a number of other items,” the secretariat said. In the statement released by the Cuban government, Havana said its cooperation with the Caribbean has a “high social impact” and made reference to the number of Caribbean nationals undergoing study here in various fields including medicine and sport. The weekend meeting coincided with the ministerial meeting of the Trinidad-based Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and the statement noted that “projects were approved by the Association of Caribbean

States to protect the sandy coasts of the Caribbean, coral reefs and for the control of the sargassum, and invasive species. “Both parties worked on the identification of financial and technological resources to implement cooperation,” the statement added. “The high level Caribbean meetings in Havana also highlighted the need for Latin America and the Caribbean to unite to face external challenges, international uncertainty and to guarantee the independence, development and well-being of our region.” The statement noted that the Latin American and Caribbean region was ratified as a zone of peace and that Cuba wanted to thank the “Caribbean for its solidarity and courageous support, and will continue to share its modest achievements with the Caribbean”. “It was agreed that the sixth CARICOM-Cuba Summit will be convened in Antigua and Barbuda in December 2017,” the statement said, noting that the first was held in 2002, and every three years afterwards.

Govt. appoints committee to review operations of PETROTRIN PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The Trinidad and Tobago government yesterday announced it had appointed a seven member committee to review the operations of the state-owned Petroleum Company Limited (PETROTRIN). A brief government statement noted that Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley presented the instruments of appointments to the committee that is being

chaired by Selwyn Lashley, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy & Energy Affairs and includes Robert Riley, Head of Safety and Operational Risk, Competency and Capability Development at the BP Group in London and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BPTT. The committee members also include Gregory Marchan and David Abdullah of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) that has been calling for a probe of the loss-making

oil company. “This appointment honours a Cabinet decision made on February 23rd 2017 to review operations at the company in light of falling revenues, allegations of mismanagement and decreasing oil prices worldwide. “The committee is tasked with making recommendations for restructuring of the company and its first report is scheduled to be submitted on June 1st 2017,” the statement added.

WASHINGTON (CMC) – A new study has found that only one in four students in basic education in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) attends an educational center with sufficient school infrastructure. The study undertaken by the Education Division of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in Latin America and the Caribbean involved a comparative analysis of the relation between the state of school infrastructure in the region and learning among students from 15 countries. The research involved a comparison of students’ results in the assessments of the Third Regional Comparative and Explanatory Study (TERCE) and school infrastructure characteristics and it revolved around the concepts of sufficiency, equity, and effectiveness. The TERCE study was carried out by the Latin American Laboratory for

Assessment of the Quality of Education (LLECE), which is coordinated by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in Latin America and the Caribbean. The study concludes that only one in four students in basic education in the region attend an educational center with sufficient school i n f r a s t r u c t u r e . ”Sufficiency is a concept related to access to six infrastructure categories: water and sanitation; connection to services; educational or academic spaces; offices areas; multipurpose rooms, and classroom equipment. In contrast, almost one third of the students in basic education attend schools with only two or less categories that met sufficiency levels of school infrastructure.” Similarly, the analysis reveals significant inequalities in access to the different categories of school infrastructure, both in terms of students’ socioeconomic status and the geographic location of schools. In

general, lower income students from countries that participated in TERCE attend schools with infrastructure in poor conditions. The study also confirmed that most of the school infrastructure categories are positively and significantly associated with the students’ learning achievements. “Although the situation is slightly different in each country, pedagogical and educational spaces (other than classrooms), followed by connection to services and the presence of multipurpose classrooms, are the infrastructure categories that are most often associated with higher learning achievements,” the report noted.. The IDB and UNESCO note that the research “highlights that the challenges for countries in the region lie not only in the provision of school infrastructure, but also in ensuring that these facilities truly become spaces and environments that promote a quality education”.

T&T Police, army to deal with extortion threat Gang leaders and rogue elements have been extorting money from Ministry of Works and Transport contractors, stalling several road projects across the country. In some cases, contractors who refuse to give into the illegal demands of gang leaders and their members are being threatened, causing them to abandon their projects. So far, one contractor has terminated his contract because of fear. There are those who cave in to the demands and pay a coward tax. It is an issue Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan admits has been ongoing for some time and that he said he intends to stamp out. “There are some rogue elements who are threatening the contractors. And it is happening all over Trinidad. It has been happening for a while now,” Sinanan said. “What I did...we called in the contractors who have been complaining and I think they have found a solution in going forward.” Sinanan said he has asked National Security Minister Edmund Dillon to “take a keen interest into the areas where contractors are being threatened and being blackmailed to pay money in

order to get the job done. We are not going to tolerate that at all. We are going to have a meeting with the Commissioner of Police as well...to let him know that we are very concerned that this is a growing trend in Trinidad and Tobago. It has been ongoing for quite a while, but it seems to be getting worse.” Sinanan admitted that the criminal elements have been asking contractors to pay a “coward tax” which is illegal. “They cannot afford to b e p a y i n g t h i s k i n d of money. This is what we have an army and police for. I see this as a threat.” Sinanan said “a lot of contractors” had been threatened and forced to fork out money to do their work in peace. “Some of them (contractors) had threatened to give back the job. I have one contractor who has terminated the contract because he is fearful for his life,” Sinanan said. “We are not going to tolerate people threatening contractors and then we have to pay security and then withdraw the contract. We are not doing that. We have to take a stand on it,” Sinanan said. Sinanan said his main focus was to get the affected contractors back on the job.

He said ministry will not condone criminals to delay or hinder the ministry’s work flow. Sinanan said citizens cannot operate above the law or do what they please. Some of the areas that are frequently targeted are Point Fortin, Fyzabad, La Brea, Belmont, Diego Martin and Laventille. A source in the North Eastern region confirmed that a contractor who was awarded a drainage contract from Monte Video to Sans Souci had to flee the project last month after threats were made on his life. The contractor is from Sangre Grande. “These men stopped the project. They are notorious drug dealers. Why two or three people have to hold an entire community to ransom? Young people now don’t want to work. All they want is fast and easy money. The contractor had to take his equipment and workforce and run. So right now the work is on hold,” said the source. Contracts are awarded by the ministry for construction of box drains, pavements, bridges, road paving, road rehabilitation and resurfacing works, slope stabilization, alternative access routes, bridge reconstruction and pedestrian overpass construction.

Tuesday March 14, 2017

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 14, 2017

Tuesday March 14, 2017

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

Karty shines but Hurricanes slip... The 50th Anniversary of Frank... (From page 29) yesterday. The 19-year-old struck the top score of 79 as Hurricanes, resuming the day on 16 for four, were dismissed for 124 about 45 minutes after lunch on the final day of the sixth round encounter at Kensington Oval, to suffer an innings and 26-run defeat. He was one of just three batsmen in double figures with wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton and Akeal Hosein both getting 15. All told, Carty struck 12 boundaries in an innings spanning 181 balls and nearly four hours. Man-of-the-Match fast bowler Kemar Roach was the leading bowler with four for 18 from 16 overs while offspinner Roston Chase finished with two for 37. Starting the penultimate

day of the sixth round contest staring at defeat, Hurricanes lost two more quick wickets to slump to 38 for six. In the fourth over of the morning, Roach bowled Gavin Tonge for two after the nightwatchman had resumed on nought and the resurgent Test bowler then sent back Jamaican Nkrumah Bonner for five to a catch at the wicket. Carty anchored two small stands to get Hurricanes to 94 for seven at the interval, adding 35 with Hamilton for the seventh wicket and a further 48 for the eighth wicket with Hosein. About half-hour before lunch, Hamilton fell to another catch at the wicket off seamer Justin Greaves and Hosein followed after the break, driving chase to Jomel

Warrican at cover. Carty, who started the day on 12, was unbeaten on 58 at lunch and was eventually last out – giving wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich his fifth catch of the innings when he nicked a push at Roach. For the second time in the game, captain Kieran Powell was unable to bat because of illness. Scores: PRIDE 313 (Shamarh Brooks 63, Roston Chase 49, Jonathan Carter 46, Kevin Stoute 41, Justin Greaves 38, Jomel Warrican 32; Alzarri Joseph 5-42, Gavin Tonge 3-29, Nkrumah Bonner 246). HURRICANES 163 all out (Nkrumah Bonner 70, Jason Campbell 39 not out; Kemar Roach 3-29, Miguel Cummins 334, Kevin Stoute 2-29) and 124 (Kacey Carty 79; Kemar Roach 4-18, Roston Chase 2-37).

Tuesday March 14, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today is a great time to form or strengthen romantic relationships, Aries. If you aren't involved, chances are you will meet someone. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) This is an ideal day to begin a creative venture. You've had many ideas and creative urges. Today it's time to choose one and take the first step to making your vision a reality. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your naturally loving nature gets a boost today, Gemini. You could look especially attractive, so don't be surprised if you draw admiring looks from strangers. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your energy might turn toward beautifying your home, Cancer. Perhaps you've decided to repaint or go in a completely new direction in your decorating taste. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) A number of loving communications may come your way from people who live in distant states or exotic lands. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) A small amount of money might come your way today, Virgo. It could be a gift, dividend, or bonus. You may want to squander it on gifts for yourself and others rather than put it to more practical use, which is perfectly fine! LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

You should feel and look great today, Libra. Your charm and social skills are at a high level, and your joviality and gift for conversation should make you a welcome guest at any social event. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your psychic abilities and imagination are operating at a very high level, Scorpio. You face other people with a profound, spiritual love. They will return it! SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Some friends associated with a group you admire might take you to some kind of rally, Sagittarius. This could be a lot of fun for you. You could make some new friends. CAPRI (Dec.22–Jan.19) You're naturally a kind, compassionate person, Capricorn. Today your feelings are likely to be focused not only on those close to you but also on all the world's population. TUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) With today's planetary aspects, Aquarius, you're likely to feel a rush of love. This includes love for family, friends, partner, and all life forms. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your psychic and intuitive faculties are wide open and receptive. Don't be surprised by what you pick up today, even from strangers.

(From page 27) against him.” When Frank returned to the Caribbean he further improved the team and later joined a select band of captains that won all five tests in a series. Furthermore, he created a winning culture that Sobers, Lloyd and Richards carried on. What were the personal attributes that made Worrell such a great leader? First, he possessed a high level of integrity, a powerful set of core values, a healthy level of selfconfidence and a strong sense of self-acceptance and self-belief. Second, he had extensive knowledge of the game and its history, a sharp understanding of his players, their culture and the things that made them tick. Third, he had wide experience and a tremendous track record; he knew how to control himself and how to stay calm and focused under pressure. Fourth, he had the ability to create harmonious, cooperative and stimulating relationships within the team. Fifth, he had a keen mind, strong analytical abilities, good judgment and the capacity to think simply, clearly and strategically. Sixth, but by no means least, he possessed high levels of motivation and self-discipline, two of the most important factors in performance at the

Bolt to skip World Relays (From page 29) World Championships. “Everything is going smooth, so the key thing is to stay injury free. I am just going to continue pushing myself and pushing my body and I hope it will work out,” he said. Bolt, the world record holder, successfully defended his Olympic 100m, 200m and 4x100m crowns at last year’s Rio de Janeiro Games.

highest levels of sport. And he did his best to imprint some of these qualities into the minds of his players. It is quite rare for leaders to have all of these personal qualities. But successful leaders who have limitations in some of these areas usually appoint people to the leadership team who have the skills to make up for their limitations. Although Worrell had these great personal qualities he knew that he would only be successful if he could use them to get the players to execute his plans and strategies. He had great confidence in his players’ ability but he first had to get them to see the talent that they had within, and then stimulate them to express it effectively to deal with the many challenges they were likely to face on and off the field. Frank was a great “manmanager” and soon accomplished those goals. At the end of the Australian tour, he said. “This is one of the happiest teams I have ever toured with, and the response from every player was tremendous whatever the circumstances or the result of any particular

match.” Worrell had a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve for West Indies cricket and how he wanted his team to play the game. When he shared that vision with his players and clarified their roles and responsibilities he created an awareness of purpose and a strong feeling of belonging. The players then brought passion and commitment with them because they believed that they could truly make a difference to the performance of the team. And when Frank directed and focused these energies to the tasks and challenges at hand, a major requirement for success was satisfied. West Indies cricket is in urgent need of revival. The Board, coaches and players should make a point of revisiting the Worrell era to see what they could learn from the past to jumpstart this revival, since human performance is not only influenced by goals or models formulating the future, but also by history and past experiences. (Dr. Rudi Webster)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 28

Tuesday March 14, 2017

NBA roundup: Harden leads Rockets with triple-double The Sports Xchange Houston Rockets 117, Cleveland Cavaliers 112 HOUSTON — James Harden recorded his 16th triple-double on the season, and the Houston Rockets grabbed a season-high 20 offensive rebounds to claim a tense back-and-fourth affair with the Cleveland C a v a l i e r s 11 7 - 11 2 o n Sunday night. Harden scored a gamehigh 38 points and added 10 rebounds and 11 assists as Houston split the season series with Cleveland. His 11-point third quarter helped the Rockets erase a ninepoint halftime deficit and his steady hand in the final period enabled Houston to pull away down the stretch. Six Rockets scored in double figures, including Eric Gordon (13 points) and Nene (12) off the bench. LeBron James led the Cavaliers with 30 points and added seven rebounds and five assists. Kyrie Irving chipped in 28 points and eight assists for Cleveland, which lost for the fourth time in five games. Boston Celtics 100, Chicago Bulls 80 BOSTON — After scoring the first 13 points of the game, Boston cruised past Chicago, handing the

Bulls their season-worst fifth straight loss. Isaiah Thomas finished with 22 points, and Avery Bradley scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds in the win. The Bulls scored 26 points in the first half and didn’t make any noise until late in a 31-point third quarter. Robin Lopez and D e n z e l Va l e n t i n e l e d Chicago with 13 points apiece. Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade, who came in averaging a combined 42.6 points per game, were a combined 6 of 22 from the floor and had five and eight points, respectively. Indiana Pacers 102, Miami Heat 98 INDIANAPOLIS — Paul George scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to power Indiana past Miami. Myles Turner chipped in 15 points and eight rebounds for the Pacers. The Heat played without leading scorer Goran Dragic, who was sidelined due to an orbital contusion in his right eye. Hassan Whiteside led Miami with 26 points and 21 rebounds. Dion Waiters added 20 points and Wayne Ellington 19 for the Heat. Brooklyn Nets 120, New York Knicks 112 NEW YORK — Brook

Lopez hit his first six 3-point attempts and scored 25 points as Brooklyn stopped a franchise-record, 16-game home losing streak with a victory over New York. Lopez, who missed his first game of the season due to injury Friday, returned from a sprained right ankle. He became the 12th player in NBA history to hit at least 100 3-pointers and block 100 shots. Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 27 points and became the seventh player in team history to get at least 10,000 points. Kristaps Porzingis added 19 before fouling out as New York lost for the sixth time in nine games. Portland Trail Blazers 110, Phoenix Suns 101 PHOENIX — Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum combined for 65 points, and Portland avoided blowing a big lead for the second straight night by beating Phoenix. Lillard scored 39 points and McCollum had 10 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, including seven during a late 13-5 run to put the game away. The Blazers blew a 21-point lead at home to the Washington Wizards in a 125-124 loss on Saturday and gave back an

Isaiah Thomas finished with 22 points as the Boston Celtics cruised past Chicago, handing the Bulls their season-worst fifth straight loss. (File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI) 18-point lead Sunday before regrouping for the win. Devin Booker had 28 points and Eric Bledsoe added 19 for the Suns, who led twice in the fourth quarter but couldn’t stop Portland’s backcourt duo. Philadelphia 76ers 118, Los Angeles Lakers 116 LOS ANGELES —

Dario Saric scored a careerhigh 29 points, and Philadelphia ended a fourgame losing streak by beating Los Angeles. Saric also had seven rebounds and five assists. Jahlil Okafor contributed 23 points and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot added 18 points for the 76ers,

who moved in front for good on T.J. McConnell’s bucket on a drive with 50 seconds left. Jordan Clarkson matched his career best with 30 points to pace the Lakers, who lost for the ninth time in 10 contests. Julius Randle collected 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Misery for Mourinho as Chelsea beat United to reach Cup semis LONDON (Reuters) Antonio Conte got the better of Jose Mourinho for the second time this season as Chelsea beat 10-man Manchester United 1-0 at Stamford Bridge to reach the FA C u p s e m i - f i n a l s yesterday. N’Golo Kante’s fine 51st minute strike was enough for Conte’s double-chasing side to break United’s resistance after the visitors had Ander Herrera sent off after 35 minutes for a second yellow card — both for crude fouls on Eden Hazard. Runaway Premier League leaders’ Chelsea’s reward was a Wembley clash with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, while the other semi-final will be between Arsenal and Manchester City. United, who face a Europa League last 16 tie on Thursday against Russian club Rostov, were missing the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic and injured Wayne Rooney and offered little threat once Kante had beaten David de Gea with a

Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates. (Action Images via Reuters / John Sibley) precise low shot. While Mourinho was spared the humiliation of the 4-0 thrashing his old club dished out in October’s Premier League meeting — his first return to Stamford Bridge since being sacked last season — he was again found wanting as Chelsea’s fans delighted in chanting

the name of his successor Conte. Mourinho’s frustration boiled over at times and the Portuguese and Italian Conte had to be separated after an angry exchange shortly after Herrera’s sending off. Chelsea dominated possession and could have

scored more goals, though FA Cup holders United, who have already lifted the League Cup this season, had their moments and battled gamely despite being a man down for most of the contest. Their best chance fell to Marcus Rashford on the hour but, after leaving David Luiz

and Gary Cahill trailing, he was denied by a smart save from an otherwise untroubled Thibaut Courtois. LIVEWIRE HAZARD Much was made of United’s lack of striking options ahead of the game but Mourinho’s somewhat depleted side started in confident fashion and Hen r i k h M k h i t a r y a n fired jus t w ide in the 13th minute follow ing a strong run by Ras hford. That escape sparked Chelsea into life though, especially the livewire Hazard who was soon skipping his way past defenders to force De Gea into a great save from his deflected shot. United’s keeper then did equally well to claw out Nemanja Matic’s low shot from the resulting corner. Hazard was causing real alarm in the United defence and Herrera took matters into his own hands. After being harshly booked for a foul on Hazard,

the Spaniard then followed that with a rash tackle that gave referee Michael Oliver little option but to reach for his pocket again. When Belgium forward Hazard went to ground again it proved too much for a furious Mourinho who raced across his technical area where he was met by an equally impassioned Conte. “You’re not special anymore,” Chelsea’s fans sang to Mourinho, who responded by holding up three fingers to his tormentors — his tally of P r emier Leag u e titles delivered in two spells at Stamford Bridge. Mourinho reacted quickly to Herrera’s red card, hauling off Mkhitaryan and sending on the combative Marouane Fellaini. United camped deep in Chelsea’s half looking to frustrate their opponents but were undone six minutes after the break when Kante was given too much space and he nipped across the turf before dispatching a shot beyond the reach of De Gea.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 14, 2017

PAGE 29

Guyana Karate College conducts Grading Exercise for its students

Guyana Karate College students and instructors take a photo after a recent grading exercise. Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-A-Tai, 9th Degree B l a c k B e l t F o u n d e r, Chairman and Chief Instructor of the International Karate Daigaku, has recently graded 95 Karatekas of the Guyana Karate College. He was assisted by the College’s Vice Chairman and Vice

Chief Instructor Sensei Jeffrey Wong 6th Degree Black Belt, Sensei Dr. Guy Low 5th Degree Black Belt and Sensei Kenrick Cheeks 2nd Degree Black Belt. Students came from the GKC’s Carifesta Sports Complex and Cornelia Ida’s Dojos. Leading the promotions

for this grading exercise was 2nd Degree John McGrath who turned in a scintillating performance to earn a 3rd Degree Black Belt or Sandan Ranking. He was followed by the sister and brother pair of Alyssa Kristy and Aiden Davendra Singh, Otho Harris, Deron Austin Samuel

Austin and Jayden Hurry all of whom were advanced from 1st Degree to 2nd degree black belts or the Nidan Ranking. And then Jonathan Ng-aFook, Diego De Nobrega and Taissa De Nobrega, who were elevated from 1st kyu brown belts to 1st Degree Black Belts or the Shodan

The 50th Anniversary of Frank Worrell’s Death On March 13, fifty years ago, Sir Frank Worrell passed away. He was loved and admired by cricket enthusiasts around the world and will not be forgotten. In the Caribbean his achievements are constantly extolled in numerous cricket discussions and memorial lectures. This is extremely important. But most of these lectures have taken on too much of an academic slant. Consequently, the practical application of the cricket c u l t u r e t h a t Wo r r e l l developed as well as his principles for cricket development and performance enhancement have been forgotten or lost. This is unfortunate. The skills of ‘literacy’ – knowledge, information gathering and dissemination are very important, but are different from the skills of ‘operacy’ – doing or executing. Both are needed for successful performance. Sadly, the current West Indies Cricket Board has consistently neglected both of these things, hence the very poor state of West Indies cricket. In 1960, the West Indies Cricket Board of Control abandoned its policy of

Sir Frank Worrel, April 24, 1963 ©Getty Images appointing captains only from European ranks and selected Frank Worrell as its thirteenth captain of the West Indies team. Frank then led the team in Australia and what a series it was! That tour revived cricket down under and although West Indies lost the series approximately half a million people lined the streets of Melbourne to bid farewell to the players and to implore them to “Come back soon.” This was quite amazing because when the

players arrived in Australia hardly any them had much of a reputation, but by the end of the series they were all stars or superstars. After that series Richie Benaud, Australia’s captain declared, “I don’t think it would be uncharitable to say that Worrell’s turn as captain was long overdue. Worrell has been a fine cricketer for West Indies for many years but this was the first time he had been given the opportunity of leading his

c o u n t r y, a n d h o w wonderfully he justified the confidence placed in him. However it is possible that over the years the part he played in his side’s triumph may fade. That should not happen because he was the main cementing agent of the successful teamwork of his side. He is a man of stature, not frightened to say what he feels about any particular matter, and prepared to stand by his opinion. Above all, on this tour, he held to the maxim of not telling the team something that is patently incorrect. There is nothing of the “Con” man about Worrell. He pointed out to them (his players) all through the tour that the Australians could be beaten, but only if the side of individuals played as a team… to say that he was right would be to understate the case.” Richie added, “Worrell will quite rightly go down in cricket annals as one of the best captains we have ever seen. His quiet, happy disposition and fine public relations have done much not only for the game of cricket, but also for many who have played with and (Continued on page 25)

Rank. Being promoted from 10kyu to 8kyu were Nathan Taitt, Janiya Lee, Kissiah J o r d a n , J a r e d H u r r y, Jonathan Wong whilst Louis Alexandro Da Silva was promoted from 10kyu to 7thkyu. The 9th kyu karatakas that were promoted to 8kyu were Ameer Shariff, Amosdanial, Darnell Klass whilst from 9th kyu to 7th kyu Eli Jordan, Prosper Jacobus, Rizwan Mahadeo, Anusha Jodhan, Chinelo Enekwechi. Mia Ritchie was promoted from 7th kyu to 4th kyu whilst the 6th kyu promoted to 5thkyu were Lemuel Wilson, Jerome Blyden, Rishabh Ramessar, Micaiah De Peazer, Omar Shariff and Joshua Aaron. Moving from 5th kyu to 4th kyu was Laurence Baptiste, whilst those elevated from 5th Kyu to 3th kyu were Angelina Campayne, Jared Bird, Daniel Gonsalves, Jadon Lee, Aretha Trisho Persaud, Najuma Gibbs and Jermain Holder. From 4th kyu to 3rd kyu Randolph Scott whilst from 4th kyu to 2nd kyu was Jose Rodrigues. Moving from 3rd kyu to 2nd kyu were Mekhi Ritchie and Daniel Denny, whilst those elevated from 3rd kyu to 1st kyu were Sophia Mittelholzer, Joshua Gibbs, Somlata Bispat and William Grant Sr. Those who were promoted from 2nd kyu to 1st kyu were Damale Denny, Nalini Rampersaud, Brandon Yong and Paula Louis-Grant. From the Cornelia Ida

Dojo were as follows moving from 10th kyu to 8th kyu are Sandeep Parsram, Mirta Cecil, Justin Persaud, Roy Khadoo, John Saugh, Pramod Hanoman, Chitra Devi Persaud, Jessica Seetahal, Amrita Teekaram, Layshtianna Hansraj, Smriti Devanand, Sanjana Persaud, Karuna Lall, Yogini Devi Dolai, Rehana Bascom, Navita Gunraj, Harshani Danpaul, Chitradevi Alli, Heimala Dookie, Yugdarnhani O’Brian, Kelly B r i d g e w a t e r, N a m r a t a Parsram, Jasmini O’Brian, Abbas Nazarallie. Moving from 7th kyu to 5th kyu were Sadiea Ajodah and Sharda Persaud. Moving from 6th kyu to 5th kyu were Amarnauth Madh, Said Jeffers, Raveena Persaud, Geetanjalee Motielall, Sharda Ranglall. Rising from 5th kyu to 4th kyu were Shalena Sookdeo, Sarah Persaud, Darchani Chetram, Rajmattie Chintaman, the sole person to go from 4th kyu to 3rd kyu was Sabreena Mohamed. Whilst heading from 3rd kyu to 2nd kyu were Chameli Dahaniram, Gavena Doodnauth, Leah Bisesar, Vanita Chulie, Manoj Nachhman, Omadai Kukul, Danesha Doodnauth Jayanti Ram. Whilst Rajnie Brijmohan moved from 3rdkyu to 1st kyu. Master Woon-a-Tai has now left for Suriname where he continues his journey to nine other countries in the region where he shall be conducting more training sessions and grading exercises.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 30

Tuesday March 14, 2017

Romello Crawford record breaking ride seals Benjamin Cycle race in close finish

What a finish as Romello Crawford edges out Paul De Nobrega and Hamza Eastman in a tight dash for the line.

By Samuel Whyte Berbice’s own Romello Crawford made good use of home conditions to edge out a very competitive field in a fierce sprint home to take the fourth annual Benjamin Sports Store cycle event in a record time of one hour 54 minutes and 29 seconds. The race, which was sponsored by overseas based former National cycling champion Wilbert Benjamin, was staged to coincide with the opening of the Benjamin Fitness Gym and Car Wash to compliment the Benjamin

Sports Store which was opened a few years ago. As expected it was fireworks from start to finish as the multitude of riders, numbering 58 took to the starting line. The 50 miles event rode off from in front of the Benjamin Sports Store at Lot 220 Courtland Vi l l a g e , C o r e n t y n e , Berbice, proceed to the No,51 Police station before returning to its place of origin. There was a flying start as the riders rode for about a mile in the opposite direction before turning back as they

were sent on their way by Ashley Benjamin, daughter of the sponsor. It was not long after the riders were off, that a bunch made up of Geron Williams, Jamal John and Silvio Inniss broke away. The leading bunch continued to pedal away until the turn back point. However, the chasing pack was closing in quickly and it was not long after they were caught by Crawford, Paul De Nobrega, Hamza Eastman, Shakeel Agard and Andrew Hicks. It was tough going after that as the leaders

Jaguars retake lead courtesy Vishaul fifty KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Vishaul Singh struck an unbeaten half-century as reigning champions Guyana Jaguars brushed aside Jamaica Scorpions by seven wickets to regain top spot in the Regional four-day championship here yesterday. Playing on the final day of their sixth round game at Sabina Park, Jaguars successfully chased down a target of 182 to depose Scorpions as leaders, with Vishaul ending unbeaten on 63. They lost just one wicket – that of veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul for five – but Vishaul found an ally in

Barbadian all-rounder Raymon Reifer to see Jaguars home in an unbroken 78-run, fourth wicket partnership. Reifer, who was adjudged Man-of-theMatch for his fine allrounder efforts in the contest, was unbeaten on 37. All told, Vishaul faced 103 deliveries in a trifle over three hours at the crease and struck eight fours while fellow left-hander Reifer counted three fours and a six in a 63-ball innings. Jaguars had resumed the day on 79 for two and benefitted initially from a 27-run partnership between Vishaul and Chanderpaul.

S c o re s : J A M A I C A SCORPIONS 255 (Chadwick Walton 101, Brandon King 30, Jermaine Blackwood 29, Devon Thomas 26; Keon Joseph 753) and 188 (Jermaine Blackwood 37, Devon Thomas 32, John Campbell 26, Brandon King 22; Raymon Reifer 5-60, Veerasammy Permaul 3-40). GUYANA JAGUARS 262 (Shimron Hetmyer 74, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 58, Shiv Chanderpaul 57, Raymon Reifer 28, Nikita Miller 4-69, Andre McCarthy 3-18) and 184 for three (Vishaul Singh 63 not out, Shimron Hetmyer 42, Raymon Reifer 37 not out).

continued to battle at great speed in their bid to outdo each other. There were no quarters asked and none given as the leaders pushed forward in their effort to gain the advantage. However, no one was able to make the break on the downward journey. The riders were literally locked together until about 200M out when Crawford used his knowledge of the home conditions to jump the field to edge home in one of the closest finish, beating De Nobrega and Eastman by a wheel. Williams, Agard, Hicks, John and Inniss completed that sprint. Stephano Husbands and Mark Harris rounded out the first 10. In the veterans category, the evergreen Junior Niles took the top podium position

as he crossed the finishing line with Ian Jackson second. The other four places were taken by Jaikarran Sookhai, Paul Choo-wee-Nam and Ralph Williams. Zaman Khan won the Juvenile category ahead of Corwin Collins. Among the 12-14 riders, it was David Dick that won from Jamar Helliger and Joel Thom. The mountain bike race was taken by Ozia McAuley from Keon Thomas, Julio Melville and Michael Holder. On the distaff side it Deance Welch rode home ahead of Shenika Tiexeira to take top honours with Nyanza Poyer third. Jamal John rode away with five of the prime point prizes with Inniss, Eastman and Geron Williams taking

one each. The females, the mountain bike riders and the 12-14 cyclists rode from the starting line to Tain, UG Campus and back to the finish point. The event was organised by the Flying Ace Cycling Club. Former New Amsterdam Mayor and Businessman Errol Alphonso officiated in the activity and also delivered remarks. Benjamin once again was happy to be home and be able to contribute to his country. He also thanked all the participants for taking part in the event. Cyclists were drawn from throughout Guyana. The police led by Inspector Rose and Sergeant Ali also came in for honourable mention in their control of traffic.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 14, 2017

PAGE 31

Yadram, Balkishun guide Enterprise SC to Tropical Spring U19 crown

Members of the victorious Enterprise U19 team. By Zaheer Mohamed A six-wicket haul by Bhaskar Yadram coupled by a fine half century from Pradesh Balkishun guided Enterprise SC to their fifth consecutive East Coast Cricket Committee U19 triumph after they completed a 39-run victory over host Fairfield in the final of the Tropical Spring tournament on Sunday. Pacer Windell Fordyce removed opener Srichand Gangaram (02) before Himnauth Dindyal was run

out for 12 as Enterprise lost their second wicket with the score on 45. Balkishun then added 37 for the third-wicket with Yadram before the right-handed Yadram was lbw to Andrew Gibbons after hitting one four and three sixes in scoring 26. Shoaib Shaw trapped Bhaskar Deodat lbw for one before Chatterpaul Durga removed Suraj Dookram (05) and Navindra Singh (01) in quick succession to leave the visitors in trouble. However, as wickets continued to fall around him, Balkishun held

the innings together with sensible batting on a moist pitch. He struck five fours and one six before he became the eight wicket to fall with the score on 145. Balkishun slammed five fours and one six in scoring 64 as Enterprise managed 145-9 off their allotted 40 overs. Fordyce snared 4-17 and Durga 2-23. Avenash Singh drove Yadram exquisitely to the cover boundary but was caught at fine leg hooking at the next delivery; he departed for five as Fairfield

lost their first wicket with the score on 16. Shaw was then caught off Vinood Sundar for five before Yadram trapped Ramnarine Chatura lbw for two to reduce the home team to 29-4. Fordyce was then bowled by Bhaskar Deodat for 10, but Rajendra Singh and Trevon Charles took the score to 106 to with levelheaded batting to keep their team in the hunt before rain interrupted in the 32nd over. Following the resumption Yadram bowled Charles for 13 with the score on 109. Singh batted with

Bhaskar Yadram accepts his man-of-the-match award from Jitlall Jawahirlall. maturity, hitting three fours and one six but soon after reaching his well deserved half century he fell to Yadram for 51. Fairfield needed a further 29 for victory with four wickets intact, however Yadram produced a decisive spell to

see his team home. His efforts were assisted with two crucial run outs as Fairfield were bowled out for 125 in 35.2 overs. Yadram bagged 6-28 to earn the man-of-the-match award, while Vinood Sudan and Deodat had one each.

Karty shines but Hurricanes slip to heavy loss

Bolt to skip World Relays Usain Bolt (file photo)

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP) — Usain Bolt is poised to skip next month’s IAAF World Relays in the Bahamas as he prepares to retire from the sport later this

year. The reigning Olympic 100m and 200m champion told reporters at a track meeting in Kingston on Saturday that he was

unlikely to feature in the Jamaica squad for the twoday championship set for April 22-23. “My coach hasn’t said anything about it (World

Relays), so I doubt that I will be competing there this year. I am just trying to stay injury free,” said Bolt, who is looking forward to his final race on Jamaican soil, the Racers Track Club Grand Prix set for June 10. “It’s just going to be exciting and emotional, I think it might be a little bit emotional, but I am looking forward to it, it’s my coach’s meet, so I am excited to be a part of it.” As the reigning world champion over 100m and 200m, Bolt qualifies automatically for the World Championships in London and will not take part at the Jamaican Championships qualifying event in June. The 30-year-old said he was happy with his training for the final few months of his career, which will end with his retirement after the (Continued on page 25)

Man-of-the-Match fast bowler, Kemar Roach.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Youth World Cup star Keacy Carty’s second first class half-century was not enough

to prevent Leeward Islands Hurricanes from a heavy innings defeat to Barbados Pride inside three days here (Continued on page 25)

PAGE 32

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 14, 2017

Adams half century propels Bomb Khan leads Red Force crushing Squad to Canal Number Two SC T20 title of Volcanoes

Leg-spinner Imran Khan … picked up five wickets in Red Force’s win. ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Leg-spinner Imran Khan’s five-wicket haul led Trinidad and Tobago Red Force to a 172-run crushing of Windward Islands Volcanoes here yesterday, as they hauled themselves off the bottom of the Regional four-day standings. Set an improbable 375 for victory at the National Stadium, Volcanoes folded for 202 in their second innings with the 32-year-old Khan picking up five for 67 – his 16th five-wicket haul in first class cricket. He received great support from off-spinner Bryan Charles with four for 79 in only his second first class game and second in two years. Veteran opener Devon Smith failed to convert his overnight 41 into a score of substance, falling for 49 and it was left to Shane Shillingford with 46 to give the total some respectability. Rookie Taryck Gabriel added just eight to his overnight 24 while wicketkeeper Sunil Ambris got 24. Resuming the final morning of the sixth round clash on 68 for one, Smith and Gabriel extended their second wicket stand to 80 before being separated, when Gabriel departed in the 10th over. His dismissal set in train the slide which saw three wickets fell for 10 runs in the space of 18 deliveries. Ambris then propped up the innings in a 36-run fourth wicket stand with captain Liam Sebastien (21) but Khan struck just as the partnership was threatening, removing both batsmen in successive overs. Tottering on 134 for six at lunch, Volcanoes were lifted afterward by Shillingford who went on the attack, smashing two fours and four sixes in a 65-ball knock. He put on 34 for the eighth wicket with Delorn Johnson (5) but once they were separated, Red Force quickly wrapped up the tail. Scores: RED FORCE 275 (Yannic Cariah 102 not out, Steven Katwaroo 59, Khary Pierre 50, Isaiah Rajah 29; Kyle Mayers 4-24, Sherman Lewis 3-53) and 203 for five decl. (Kyle Hope 105 not out, Yannic Cariah 47, Isaiah Rajah 30). VOLCANOES 104 all out (Shane Shillingford 34, Kyle Mayers 31; Sheldon Cottrell 3-30, Marlon Richards 214) and 202 (Devon Smith 49, Shane Shillingford 46, Taryck Gabriel 32, Sunil Ambris 24; Imran Khan 5-67, Brian Charles 4-79).

The victorious Bomb Squad side.

By Zaheer Mohamed An attacking half century by all-rounder Ricardo Adams handed Bomb Squad a 59-run victory over Rising Star when the final of the Canal Number Two SC T20 tournament was contested on Saturday night. Opener Malcolm Hubbard provided Bomb Squad with a brisk start before Adams provided much need impetus to the innings which carried them to 143-9 after they decided to bat in a match which was reduced to 15 overs. Hubbard hit Nickosie Major for maximums before driving Jevon Hector through the cover and flicking him to square leg for fours. He then struck Major for two more sixes before Richie Looknauth was lbw to the said bowler for five. Bomb Squad then lost Looknauth Chinkoo for 10 before Hubbard was dismissed for 27 which came off nine balls with one four and three sixes. Bomb Squad then lost a few quick wickets before Adams took charge. The left-hander who hails from Wakenaam, started off cautiously, picking up runs with nudges and pushes before unleashing some thunderous sixes. He hoisted Shaquille Brisport for sixes over long-on before smashing Balram Kisson for three sixes in one over as he

shared in a 55-run sevenwicket stand with Mark Jeffers. Adams drove Hector for four before he was bowled by the said bowler attempting to glide him towards fine leg in the penultimate over. Adams hit one four and five sixes in scoring 51 off 31 balls. Jeffers made 10 as Marvin Cheon had 2-13, Hector 225, Delon Dalrymple 2-17 and Brisport 2-27. Opener Chabiraj Ramcharran hit Adams for a straight six while Elroy Fernando hoisted Richie Looknauth over mid-wicket in the next over as Rising Star commenced their reply in fine fashion. However, Looknauth handed his team the breakthrough when he had Ramcharran caught for eight by a diving Chinkoo at mid-wicket. Fernando could have been taken twice off Adams, but the close in fielders were not as watchful as they should have been, however, undaunted the lefthanded Fernando smashed Adams for a four and a six in the said over before he was caught by wicket-keeper Jai Singh off Kelvin Shewpersaud for 21. Kissoon (08) who hit Looknauth for six over longon was taken at mid-wicket off the said bowler-another fine catch by Chinkoo. Rising Star then suffered a collapse and were bowled

out for 84 in 12.3 overs with only Cheon 20 showing any fight. Shewpersaud claimed 3-6, Looknauth 3-8, Jeffers 2-14 and Chinkoo 2-14. Adams was named man-ofthe-match. Bomb Squad beat Malvern SC by 85 runs in the first semi final. Bomb Squad batted first and scored 188-9 in 15 overs. Malcolm Hubbard struck 42 (2x4,4x6), Ricardo Adams 36 off 11 balls (1x4,5x6), Looknauth Chinkoo 32 and Mark Jeffers 28. Victor Dass captured 4-31, A. Redman 334 and Peter Persaud 2-44. M a l v e r n S C responded with 103-7.

Ry a n H e m r a j g ot 35, Redman 30 and P. Singh 16. Jeffers had 3-22 and Arshad Azim 2-9. Rising Star overcame Mc Gill Super Star by eight wickets in their semi final game. Mc Gill Super Star took first strike and managed 105-5 off their reduced quota of 15 overs. Travis Persaud made 32 not out, Ronaldo Renee 20 and Balram Aron 15. Brisport took two wickets. Rising Star replied with 107-2 in 11.2 overs. Elroy Fernando slammed 50 (3x4, 5x6) while Jevon Hector made 32 and Chabiraj Ramcharran 16. Ryan Deen had two wickets.

Elroy Fernando

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 14, 2017

WE WILL MAKE FOOTBALL NUMBER ONE IN GUYANA -FORDE Georgetown: Football will become the most successful and popular sport in Guyana as reform and development programmes bear fruit in coming years, Guyana Football Federation President Wayne Forde said, ahead of the launch of the GFF-Pele Alumni Frank Watson Memorial IntraAssociation U-15 Tournament today. With increased funding from world governing body FIFA and a stable administration in place, the GFF is working to lay a sustainable foundation for football across Guyana through grassroots and youth development, as well as stricter regulations and governance reform. CONCACAF President and FIFA Vice-President Victor Montagliani will today launch the second GFF nationwide youth tournament to be established in the last year, with the GFF-Pele Alumni Frank Watson Memorial U-15 Tournament adding another layer for development alongside the GFF/NAMILCO “Thunderbolt Flour Power” Intra Association Under-17 League. “By the time my tenure is over as the president of this fraternity, football will be the number one sport in Guyana – I have no doubt in my mind,” said GFF President Forde in an in-house interview. “I think that is something, as an Executive Committee, we will be able to do successfully.” Forde said the public support and encouragement the GFF had received from FIFA and CONCACAF was instrumental in raising confidence in the sport and the national governing body after years of underperformance. “People are starting to take notice that Guyana is getting serious about football,” Forde said. “I’m very happy that both FIFA and, with the pending visit of (CONCACAF) President Montagliani, they are essentially saying to us that we have seen what you have been doing and we are pleased, and we are here to support you, and we want everyone to know that we are satisfied with what is taking place in Guyana.” Forde said plans were now in place to strengthen and reform football governance at all levels around the country so that development programmes could have a long-term and sustainable impact on the growth of the sport. “The reform process is very relevant to where Guyana football is at the moment and where it needs to be in another couple of years. We will get there,” he said. “There were credibility issues and it’s important that we break that cycle. Guyana is a country that needs to register its presence, and I have made it a specific responsibility of mine to set a serious tone for Guyana football.”

PAGE 33

Queen launches Commonwealth Games relay as Durban pulls out of 2022

Retired cysclist Anna Mears from Australia carries the baton after receiving it from Britain’s Queen Elizabeth during the launch of the Queen’s baton Relay for the XX1 Commonwealth Games to be held on Australia’s Gold Coast next year, on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in London, March 13, 2017. (REUTERS/Toby Melville) ( R e u t e r s ) B r i t a i n ’s Queen Elizabeth launched the 2018 Commonwealth Games baton relay yesterday as the South African city of Durban lost the right to host the 2022 edition of the multisport event. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the 2022 Games, the 90-year-old monarch started the countdown to next year’s showpiece on the Gold Coast, Australia with a message of “respect and understanding” for others as part of a day of events commemorating the 52country alliance. The baton was given to Australia’s double Olympic champion Anna Meares by Queen Elizabeth in Buckingham Palace, before being processed t h r o u g h We s t m i n s t e r Abbey by 2012 British Olympic gold medalist Jessica Ennis-Hill. The theme of the Commonwealth Service was “a Peace-building Commonwealth.”

“The cornerstones on which peace is founded are, quite simply, respect and understanding for one another,” the Queen wrote in her Commonwealth Day message. “Working together, we

build peace by defending the dignity of every individual and community.” The baton will travel to Sierra Leone, before visiting all the nations and territories of the Commonwealth ahead of

the tournament’s opening ceremony on the Gold Coast, Queensland on April 4 next year. Singer-songwriter Cody Simpson, who hails from the Gold Coast, performed at yesterday’s ceremony.

Retired cysclist Anna Mears from Australia receives the baton from Britain’s Queen Elizabeth as Louise Martin, the President of the Commonwealth Games Federation looks on during the launch of the Queen’s baton Relay for the XX1 Commonwealth Games to be held on Australia’s Gold Coast next year, on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in London, March 13, 2017. (REUTERS/John Stillwell/Pool)

CAS slaps life ban on Russian doping ‘mastermind’ L A U S A N N E , Switzerland (AFP) — The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said yesterday it had issued a life ban against doctor Sergei Portugalov, an alleged mastermind of statesponsored doping in Russian track and field. The Lausanne-based court said in a statement it had slapped Portugalov with a “lifetime period of ineligibility” beginning March 10, 2017, for having supplied athletes with banned substances. CAS said that

Portugalov, who had served as the head of the Russian a t h l e t i c s f e d e r a t i o n ’s me d i c a l c o m m i s s i o n , had been found to have violated several articles of the IAAF a n t i - d o p i n g regulations, including the possession, trafficking and administration of prohibited substances. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had recommended in a 2015 report that Portugalov take no part in any state sports programme after it found he had been key to rampant

doping among Russian track and field athletes. WADA said Portugalov was “very active in the conspiracy to cover up athletes’ positive tests in exchange for a percentage of their winnings.” The agency said that Portugalov administered the doping programmes and “even injected athletes himself.” Russia has been barred from international track and field competition, including the Rio Olympics, since November 2015 following the

damning WADA report presenting evidence of state-sponsored doping in the sport. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the world governing body of athletics, last month cleared three Russians — pole vaulter Anzhelika Sidorova, sprinter Kristina Sivkova and Aleksei Sokirskii — to compete internationally under a neutral flag. The IAAF said that the trio had met the “exceptional eligibility

criteria” it had established for Russians to compete on the international stage. Russian authorities have recognised the

existence of doping in sport but vehemently deny any state complicity in athletes’ use of performance enhancing drugs.

t r o Sp

Jaguars retake lead Romello Crawford record breaking ride courtesy Vishaul fifty seals Benjamin Cycle race in close finish

Jaguars left-hander Vishaul Singh.

Romello Crawford receives his winning prize from a daughter of sponsor Wilbert Benjamin.

Guyana Karate College conducts Grading Exercise for its students

Participants of the Cornelia Ida Dojo take a photo op with Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-A-Tai following their grading. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210