Kaieteur News

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Court AIETEUR Appeal rules 2 to 1...

NEWS

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most Justice popular weekly Yonette CummingsEdwards

Saturday Edition March 23, 2019 - Vol. 13 No. 12

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Price $80 Justice Rishi Persaud

Justice Dawn Gregory

Online readership yesterday 109,663

GOVT. REMAINS - No-confidence IN OFFICE vote invalid PPP stages countrywide protests against 'illegal govt'

PPP’s Presidential candidate Irfaan Ali leading the way on the West Bank of Demerara yesterday

We’re going straight to the CCJ - Nandlall - APNU+AFC Govt. can hang around for a while but the outcome is inevitable - Jagdeo

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Kaieteur News

Saturday March 23, 2019

Kaieteur News

Saturday March 23, 2019

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Appeal Court rules 2 - 1…

Govt. remains in office

By Rehanna Ramsay

G

uyana got its a n s w e r yesterday afternoon from the nation's highest court. An “absolute majority” of 34 votes is required. With that, the Court of Appeal by majority decision of 2-1 disagreed with the reckoning that 33 Members of Parliament (MPs) can effectively pass a No-Confidence Motion against the Government.

The ruling which lasted close to three hours resulted in mixed reactions from the attorneys, media operatives and members of the public present at Court of Appeal in Kingston, Georgetown.

This came on the heels of 90-days expiration date set out in the Constitution following the initial passage of a no-confidence motion on December 21, last.

Even as the Appeal Court handed down the decision, yesterday, Opposition-led protests were being held countrywide. The Opposition has been calling for the holding of general elections, but as a matter of urgency, removal of the government which it deemed illegal from March 21.

But in a twist of events, Appellate Judges, Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Dawn Gregory upheld the argument that an absolute majority is required for the passage of no-confidence motion against the Government.

The two Judges agreed an absolute majority in the context, calls for 34; not 33 votes of all elected members of the National Assembly.

Justice Rishi Persaud, on the other hand disagreed. He ruled the no-confidence motion was validly passed by 33 to 32 votes. That decision was previously handed down by Chief Justice Roxane George at the High Court.

On January 31 last, Chief Justice (CJ) George declared that “In our 65-member N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y, a majority of all elected members, in accordance with the principle of 'one over all rivals combined', is thirty-three (33) members.”

The CJ had ruled in three matters stemming from the no confidence motion passed in the National Assembly on December 21 last.

In the first case, Compton Reid, a private citizen, had challenged the

vote of expelled Alliance For C h a n g e ( A F C ) Parliamentarian Charrandass Persaud.

Persaud had cast a vote in favour of the no-confidence motion against the Coalition Government, which he represented.

Reid challenged the validity of the motion on the basis that Persaud is not qualified for elections as a member of the National Assembly due to his dual citizenship by virtue of his allegiance to Canada, a foreign power.

In another case, the Government had approached the Court for an interpretation of the Constitution as it relates to the majority vote count for the successful passage of noconfidence motion.

And the third case, Attorney-at-law Christopher Ram called for a declaration that the passage of the noconfidence motion requires the resignation of the Cabinet including the President with all convenient speed.

Ram asked the court to declare that the general elections be held within 90 days from the passage of the motion or within such extended period as the National Assembly shall determine by resolution support, by not less than twothirds of the votes of all elected members, which was stipulated by the constitution.

Ram contended that he has several grounds for the application which includes that on December 21, 2018, on a vote of all elected members of the National Assembly, the government was defeated on a vote of confidence brought on a motion by the Leader of the Opposition, which was passed with 33 votes in favour and 32 against.

Ram argued that under Article 106 (6) of the Constitution of Guyana, the cabinet, including the President, has to resign if the Government is defeated on a vote of no-confidence.

However in her ruling y e s t e r d a y, J u s t i c e Cummings-Edwards said the Chief Justice's calculation of 33 votes was for a “simple majority.” She held that a noconfidence motion cannot be upheld using the same yardstick that is applied for the passage of ordinary legislation, since it results in much more grave

- No-confidence vote invalid

Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards

Justice Rishi Persaud

Justice Dawn Gregory

Aftermath: Attorney Anil Nandlall and Attorney General, Basil Williams swarmed by reporters at the Court of Appeal yesterday following the ruling.

circumstances --- the toppling of a government.

Both Appellate Judges (Cummings-Edwards and Gregory) alluded to the submissions proffered by Queen's Counsel (QC) Dr. Francis Alexis, a former Attorney General of Grenada, who has been hired by the Attorney General of Guyana Basil Williams, to argue the government's case at the Court of Appeal in relation to the no-confidence motion matters.

The Queen's Counsel had amplified the arguments that were already raised at the High Court.

He insisted that there was a miscalculation of votes, and that in order for the motion to be passed, an “absolute majority” of all elected members was required.

According to him, in calculating the “absolute majority”, the 65 members of the National Assembly had to be divided by two, which would result in 32.5, but since the .5 represents half and there is no halfmember, that number needs to rounded off to 33, and add one more, making the majority 34 --an absolute majority.

QC Alexis had also submitted, “But you can only round up if a fraction is the result. A fraction comes into the exercise. You cannot get away from that. A fraction is rounded up, not down, left alone. That's why the fraction was rounded up in the case of Hughes v Rogers.”

He argued that the Chief Justice failed to apply this rule when arriving at a majority, since, in her judgment, she explained that it was not required, given that it was an odd number House.

The longstanding jurist

also argued that passing a noconfidence motion is not on the same level as passing ordinary laws which would require a simple majority, that is, a majority of all elected members present and voting on a particular exercise.

The lawyer had insisted that Justice George was erroneous in making such a ruling. He also rebutted arguments presented by attorney Anil Nandlall who appeared on behalf of leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo.

Meanwhile in affirming (continued on page 24)

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Saturday March 23, 2019

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

The world wide web: we wove a tangle (Republished from The Guardian – International Edition)

F

or once, the hype was justified. The world wide web really did transform the world in a way that can be compared to the impact of the printing press, or the mass media of the 20th century. The internet existed before the web, of course, but it was hardly used.

The genius of Tim Berners-Lee was to glimpse, 30 years ago last week, how it might be brought to life by a simple scheme to allow every part to find, and talk with, every other part, using words, sounds, pictures or anything else that can be digitised.

This was useful enough. Two further developments made it indispensable. The first was the development of graphical browsers, allowing the web to be navigated through pictures with a mouse; the second was its indexing and organisation by search engines.

A world in which anyone can publish anything to anyone else falls rapidly into overwhelming chaos. A corresponding demand for order soon appears.

This was answered within 10 years, when the babel of the early web was mapped and by this mapping shaped by the first search engines, and eventually by the latecomer Google.

Google’s original advantage was that it understood and worked with the central innovation of the web, which was the link. There had been multimedia forms of computing before the web, and for some years they provided a much better experience, too. But Sir Tim’s invention disrupted not merely the business of multimedia but the substance of it, too. Once anything on the web could be linked to anything else, what was displayed on screen could consist of little fragments brought together from computers all over the world.

This discovery was later the foundation of the modern advertising economy; and the web has nourished the growth of digital advertising until it will be larger in the US than all other forms put together this year. It has also made possible the sizeable malware industry.

The linking at the heart of the web has fundamentally changed the way that we understand the construction of knowledge. It has of course also made possible the construction of counterknowledge, but as Sir Tim points out in his letter to mark the 30th anniversary of his idea, the use of propaganda by hostile states or even malicious individuals was not invented with the internet. Leni Riefenstahl made her films before Donald Trump was even born.

What seems to Sir Tim to subvert the whole intention of the web has been its capture by the attention economy, in which the interest of the public becomes the only measure of success, however much damage this may do to the public interest.

The underlying protocols of the web, and its ability to link content of every kind from everywhere into an apparently seamless whole, emerged from a largely benevolent academic atmosphere. They seemed to its early users to be animated by the values of the communities that built them.

In the last 30 years, we have learned that they were not. The same protocols allow this page to be read and the surveillance cameras of Xinjiang to maintain the police state there. But it would be wrong to say the technology is entirely neutral.

By shortening the loop between urge and action, the web has had a particularly infantilising effect on its users. This is reflected in the extraordinary degree of polarisation, and indeed cruelty, seen online. It is an impulse uncontroller. It has brought enormous benefits to society and will continue to do so. But it has also done harm. Society, and all of us, must also discover a degree of maturity if these great powers are not to work against us.

WITH OIL MONEY COMING, THE POLITICAL STAKES COULD NOT BE HIGHER DEAR EDITOR, With oil money coming, the political stakes could not be higher, as most of our citizens know and feel that they could be cheated of their God given rights to the opportunities and wealth of our Republic.

Some of our “experts” decry the financial and technological arrangements, which we have with ExxonMobil, finding fault and opposing this great investment- these malcontents should understand that over the next two years, ExxonMobil will invest over 35 Billion US dollars in worldwide oil exploration without a clear prospect of oil recovery and with the price of oil not yet $60 a barrel, the investments are not always profitable.

We in Guyana, should be proud and excited that the largest company in the world is investing real money into our economy- this will eventually attract other good foreign investments and trade to our Republic in areas like agro-industry, mineral extraction, our water potential, our fishing potential, our forest

potential and other new avenues to make up for lost time and lost opportunity. Foreign investment and trade along with the private sector as the engine of growth is the only way to boost our incomes, from rich to poor citizens, and to turn our country to a much better place to live.

Any government we have has to facilitate this notion and keep government committed to filling its ranks with younger professionals dedicated to the modern world and new ideas while decentralizing power from the central government to our villages, towns and communities.

That is why investments in education has to be a mission of utmost importance to any government because young people are our future and our destiny; with wealth coming, adequate money has to be set aside for scholarships (based strictly on merit) for our brightest to go abroad to the best universities in the world and to return to take the mantle of leadership in our dear Republic.

Editor, we will be now preparing for new elections and the above observations should reflect the manifestos of each party- but this is not so with certain parties based on the record we can examine. The PPP/C only demitted power 3 years ago so it is pretty easy to show that the Gang of 8 who run that party are against the very concepts, which I put forward above; under their aegis, there was no real foreign investment and trade and no intention of facilitating the economy so that the private sector could really become “the engine of growth” and more young people left these shores as no real investments in education was ever done.

The free computer giveaway under Jagdeo was a farce, the shoddy “fixing” of schools was a joke, no buses to take o u r c h i l d r e n t o school, no hot meal for our schoolchildren and on and on, compounded by (as President Cheddi always said) “squandermania” as exhibited by such failures as the Skeldon sugar fiasco, Jagdeo’s brainchild. Our big-

gest industry, the sugar industry, where the workers support the PPP/C, took plenty blows when Jagdeo was in power and the sugar workers were treated with contempt while the industry went broke and became a drag on our economy- Jagdeo never brought innovations, market adjustments and better pay and conditions for our brothers and sisters in the sugar industry and himself and Komal Chand (both members of the Gang of 8) conspired to have the workers’ union (GAWU) leadership be a part of the government which was really the employer- a real betrayal of the rights of the sugar workers who are really taken for granted every time elections are held.

And in this period, they have the nerve to celebrate the life of President Cheddi while doing the opposite of what he would have longed for. The voters of our Republic will reject the do-nothings who dominate the PPP todaythe Gang of 8.

Yours faithfully, Cheddi (Joey) Jagan (Jr.)

ERC urges tolerance and maturity during this period DEAR EDITOR, The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) remains cognizant of the current political situation in our country. As we traverse this period, the Commission, like all Guyanese, desires the prevailing calm to remain a hallmark in a demonstration of our ability as a people to resolve our challenges in a mature way.

This would ensure that the

welfare of our dear nation and all Guyanese be placed foremost.

The Commission therefore takes this opportunity to remind all involved of the need to exercise utmost care to not exacerbate tensions and incite; to be tolerant of our differences and the right to amicably disagree, and to demonstrate mutual respect for each other when making

public utterances keeping in mind the impact of influence.

Importantly, this sense of being thoroughly responsible must not be confined to meetings and the traditional media outlets, but be extended to social media as well. The Commission reminds that its Monitoring Department will continue to stringently monitor pronouncements captured through the various outlets

alluded to.

Mindful of the need for maturity even in disagreement, the Commission remains optimistic that time will reveal, that, as a nation, these challenges will be resolved through our common goals for peace and unity for Guyana and Guyanese deserve nothing less.

Ethnic Relations Commission

DISCERN BEFORE YOU DECIDE DEAR EDITOR, It is disheartening to read horrific stories of ending another’s life through violence. The fundamental question is why does anyone be violent against other? It is baffling as to why some turn violent or as we call, ‘no blood in the eye.’ This chronic issue is pervading humanity and problem vests on perpetrator with his background.

I would like to hail the theory of ‘warrior genes’ by scientist Prof. Jim Fallon who learns from an extensive experiment with the psychopaths from behind bars.

The violent criminals and the psychopaths have or inherit “warrior genes” by birth.

They are unique people with some little impulsive disorder.

These warrior genes take priority in their lives. Their genes feed on the abuses and bad experience from their childhood. And they grow up to

be violent having nourished their warrior genes. This triggers their brain to act in a different manner. They don’t feel but they think. Any feeling is the same feeling for this, whether its murder, or a table, it’s the same.

This is an extraordinary problem, which leads them to act violently even to the extreme of killing other fellow humans. If at all they had been treated well in their childhood, they would have turned out to be good people. In the case of marines, these warrior genes are trained and motivated so that they would be able to combat the opponents without fear.

This may be the case with sports. The team must be trained to possess these genes to fight against the opposite team.

If not managed in time, anger can lead to rage. Anger is not an evil feeling but con-

sequences of anger matters.

The consequences of anger can be detrimental. Much ink has been spilled on this topic.

Each one needs to have tools to manage anger. If not managed, anger can control us and it can be disastrous. Like any other emotions, anger can blank our reason hence causing us to act not on reason but on emotion. Our emotions must be reasonable and this to happen we must dis-

cern and not decide. It is good to be slow than sorry.

‘Child is the father of man’. Children learn from imitating from parents and adults. It is imperative that the child has a safe environment where one cannot inherit or breed these warrior genes. In any case, if a child learns to be violent, it is important to ‘nip in the bud.’

Jerri Dias Georgetown

No water to celebrate Holi, a travesty DEAR EDITOR, It is very disturbing to witness the suffering for water especially during the short Holiday Season, can you imagine no water and in the Homes of people at Eccles Old Road near to the Oxygen Company?

Why this must be so? People have NO WATER in their homes to celebrate the Holiday, can you believe it, not a drop of water at certain times of the day and none at all during the (Continued on page 5)

Saturday March 23, 2019

ARE VIOLENT FILMS AND VIDEO GAMES THE CAUSE OF VIOLENT CRIMES AMONG THE YOUNG? DEAR EDITOR, At the outset, let me express my sincere sadness and sympathy at the violent attack on Dr. Brian O’Toole. I was introduced to Brian by a mutual friend – Terrance Simmons, and the few occasions I happened to be in his company were enough for me to develop a deep appreciation of his humanity and commitment to Guyana’s development. Brian, I pray for your speedy return to good health, Guyana could ill afford to lose citizens of your calibre to senseless violent acts.

Since the incident involving Dr. O’Toole, the debate on the role of movies and video games in the perpetuation of violent crimes has been reignited. Indeed, Dr. O’Toole, in urging parents to pay some attention to the type of video games their children play, has contributed to the resurgence of this debate.

While studies have indicated that constant exposure to violent movies and video games do play a role in influencing some young people to behave violently, I know of no study that establishes that, by themselves, viewing violent films or playing violent video games causes anyone to commit violent crimes. To argue that being involved in these activities causes crime, begs the question – ‘so why don’t the vast majority of youths who are regularly involved in such activities, commit violent crimes?

The fact that viewing violent films and playing video games laced with violence do not lead to the majority of youths being involved in violent acts, suggest that something else is involved here.

The violence we observe from the few must be influenced by their hours of exposure to violence plus something else. The question is what could this something else be?

In an attempt to help the criminologist answer this question, social psychology has offered a number of explanations for consideration.

Among these is its theory on frustration. Frustration occurs

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when one is prevented from obtaining a desired thing, or performing some act or going somewhere. Social psychologists hold that it is frustration that gives rise to uncontrolled anger, which in turn give rise to what we refer to as senseless violence.

It is economic condition that is a leading contributor to frustration. This is why it is among the unemployed, the underemployed and the poor that high levels of frustration and anger are mostly observed. Thus, it is members of these groups who are mostly guilty of committing senseless violent crimes.

Taking a lead from my earlier observation, one would be right to respond to the above argument, by noting that even though frustration is highest among the poor, the majority of poor people do not commit violent crimes.

The response to this correct observation, demands that we give attention to another proposition of the social psychologist.

Most of us learn to restrain our frustration, our anger through our tendency to imitate others, specifically those we respect and with whom we share a close relationship. Thus, our parents are generally the people we first learn to imitate. It is the way we observe our parents dealing with frustration and anger that, at least initially, is imitated by many of us. For, example, it is widely held that children who come from abusive homes, are more likely than those who do not, to become abusers as adults.

Of course as we mature, other persons influence who we are. Sometimes these new persons’ influence could override that of our parents, example our religious leaders, school teachers, etc. However, that early impact on our behaviour that our parents influence, should not be

trivialized.

As I understand it, the attacker made no attempt to relieve Dr. O’Toole of any of his possessions. That fact coupled with recent occurrences, and since School of the Nation is seen as mostly catering for the children of the ‘well offs,’ led many to suspect that Dr. O’Toole’s attacker might have been a child from a well-to-do family, who harboured some grudge.

Since my earlier argument speaks to the link between one’s economic condition and frustration, leading ultimately to senseless violence, how do we explain the violence of youths from wealthy families?

One way of explaining the above, is for the criminologist to again turn to social psychology for help. The theory of attribution holds that our reaction to another’s behaviour towards us is influenced by the meaning we give to the behaviour. Thus, if we perceive that the motive, the intention behind another’s action is to hurt us, we will react angrily towards him/her.

Here is an example we can all appreciate. During a cricket match the batsmen attempt to take a sharp single, the bowler, too late, perceives their intent, swoops down, collects the ball and hurls it at the wicket, misses same and strikes the batsman. The batsman is not offended; in fact, he laughs, and the umpire takes no action.

Alternatively, the batsmen scamper a quick single (we say ‘thief a single’) because of a lackadaisical bowler, the spectators laugh, the bowler is embarrassed. Therefore, even though the run is completed, he hurls the ball at a batsman, who he perceives as the cause of his embarrassment. The batsman charges towards him menacingly, the umpire intervenes and (Contiinued on page 6 )

Ecumenism is alive DEAR EDITOR, A few weeks ago, several churches in Mahaica officially presented washroom facilities (for both males and females), complete with a concrete walkway lined with flowers and a rail, to the Mahaica Post Office at a simple ceremony. This project is intended to benefit the many pensioners who visit the Post Office on a monthly basis to transact their business and who, often must endure several

hours of waiting.

The washroom facilities are welcomed additions to a comfortable Waiting Area that was earlier presented by a few concerned residents of the community, also for the comfort of the pensioners.

Please permit me to commend the initiators and the efforts of all others who contributed and provided their labour (gratis).

Thanks is also extended to the Post Mistress (Ms. Joy Neptune) who gave her

unstinted support at every step of the way.

This deed of love exhibited by the churches from different denominations demonstrated that ecumenism is alive, but more importantly, the community will recognize Christians by their love. May the church roll on and take the lead in reforming the nation.

Yours faithfully, Bernel L.H Wickham (Convener of the Church project)

Kwakwani plagued by constant power outages and water shortage DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me to simply start by saying the Hon. Minister of Infrastructure was in Kwakwani last year around June - July month to commission two small ‘Doosan’ generators at the power plant where he said to Kwakwani residence that they will now received 24 /7 electricity and water. However, a few days after those generators were commissioned, we started to experience power outages until December 2018. The Hon. Minister of Infrastructure came to Kwakwani and held a meeting at the workers club where he said to residents again that the power company, which is Kwakwani Utilities Inc. [KUI], is in a hole which means that they don’t have money to buy fuel and that the company was in debt.

He also said to the residents that due to that we will have to get load shedding for one hour.

From last year to now, this community on a daily basis has been getting power outages for more than 10 hours and when the power does come on, there is serious low voltage causing residents’ appliances to be damaged.

Our meat and other food items have been spoiling and we have not been getting water for more than four days.

Our teachers and students are suffering on a daily basis in Kwakwani because

there is no water to bathe, drink, cook or to even flush our toilets. Since 2017, the new general manager Fitz Hubert McPherson took over this company, KUI. This community is suffering a lot from the lack of electricity and water. One resident asked an official, ‘When are we going to get water?’ And the reply was he was going to “piss” in the tank. That is the kind of treatment this community is faced with.

Reports suggest that government funds budgeted to run the company was instead used to host old age pensioners and children’s parties and fuel has been going missing from the power plant.

There have also been reports of employees stealing the starter from the engine and transformer has gone missing from the power plant.

Also employees are being threatened with dismissal thus they are working under fear. In December of 2018, approximately 10 employees were dismissed without reason and new persons were hired.

Our main concern here in Kwakwani; however is ‘why must our children suffer?’

Without electricity, our children cannot study many nights.

We are concerned too about political appointees with no qualification for holding certain positions. We are now calling on his Excellency President David Granger to look into this matter as urgent as possible as we are suffering and we need an investigation to be launched into our concerns.

Concerned Kwakwani Resident

No water to celebrate...

From page 4 balance of the days. Can you imagine that several telephone calls were made to the company but all went unanswered when communicated with during this period? I know of an acquaintance who I have faith in and who is an employee of GWI; however, not even he is answering his phone. The situation remains this way until 10:00 AM this morning, 22nd March 2019, I hope someone would look into the possibility of returning wa-

ter to normalcy not even a drop of water we are receiving. How ridiculous! And imagine G.W.I is attached to the Eccles PUMP! Yours very truly S.M.V Nasseer

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THERE IS NO CONSTITUTION CRISIS DEAR EDITOR, On Friday the 15th March, 2019 the Honourable Mr. Justice Rishi Persaud (Court of Appeal) granted my application to appear and make submission as Amicus Curaiein the matters before the Court of Appeal in respect to the No Confidence Motion.

That the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo filed a No Confidence Motion in Parliament in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana Article 106..

That the motion was debated and on the 21st December, 2018 a vote was taken of all the elected members of the National Assembly and 33 (thirty three) voted “YES” and 32 (thirty two) voted “NO”.

The question arose as to whether a “No Confidence Motion” acquired a majority of all the elected members by 33 (thirty three) votes in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana Article 106 (6) as distinguished from Article 168 (1) of the Constitution.

That Parliament was reconvened for the Speaker to decide whether 34 (thirty four) votes or 33 (thirty three) votes were sufficient to be qualified as the majority.

The Honorable Speaker admitted he has jurisdiction to make such a decision but decline jurisdiction went on to say: - “That the issues we

now face cause us to look outside of Parliament. The issues involve choice of interpretation. These issues involve final interpretation of particular Articles of the Constitution which involve cases, etc. Full, final and complete settlement that these issues by a Court of competent jurisdiction would place beyond doubt any question which exist and served to give guidance to the Speaker and to the National Assembly of the future.”

This is not new evidence since it was referred to by the Honourable Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne George Wilshire in the decision of A.G v. Dr. Scotland 2019-HC-DEM-CIVFDA-22 of page 7.

I submit that a person in public office making a statement is bound by the statement in this case to the effect that the final determination rest with the Court of competent jurisdiction. The decision of the Honourable Speaker is consequently not final and conclusive until it is finally determined by a Court of competent jurisdiction to the final stage. Lord Denning in R v. Liverpool Corporation, ex parte Liverpool Taxi Fleet Operators’ Association, [1972] 2 QB 299 states to the effect that “The corporation would not resile from their statement” and gives a legitimate expectation. In the in-

stant case there is no final determination of a No Confidence Motion as it has not been finally reviewed as requested by the Speaker when he stated: “Full, final and complete settlement of these issues by a Court of competent jurisdiction would place beyond doubt any question which exist.” The reference jurisdiction has been dealt with by several articles.

The Appeal before the Court consequently ought to be treated as arising out of reference by the Speaker of the House Civil Procedures Rule 2016 61:03. For this reason it is imperative that the Court of Appeal grant a Stay in these matters at every stage of the proceedings until final determination.

The Court also has to interpret Article 106 (6) of the Constitution which states:“The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence”.

Article 10(7) of the Constitution states: “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall be resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

There must be an explanation of the word election in accordance with Anisminic Ltd. v. Foreign Compensation Commission [1969] 2 A.C. 147 In Anisminic the Court had to decide the meaning of determination and concluded that in the context it means a genuine determination. In Article 106 (6) the word election means a genuine election.

This is supported by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 21 (3) which guarantees periodic and genuine election to all member states. The Constitution of Guyana stipulates that convention and treaties will be referred to interpretation of the Constitution.

Peter W. Hogg Constitutional Law of Canada Thomas Carswell 2004 Student Edition pages 852 to 856 under the heading TEMPORARY VALIDITY refer to the cases in which the court granted a Stay of the Order to ensure the continuity in the rule of law “It is therefore necessary in order to preserve the rule of law to have a period of temporary validity from the date of judgment to a period during which it would be possible to hold a genuine election defactum doctrine will not by itself preserve and protect the continuity of the Government”.

Re Manitoba [1985] 1 S.C.R 721 at page 724 stated: “That from the date of the judgment the Province of Manitoba had an invalid and therefore ineffectual legal system until the Legislature is able to translate, re-enact, print and publish its current laws in both official languages. The Constitutional principle of the rule of law would be violated by these consequences”.

The principle of the Rule of Law is recognized in the

Constitution of Guyana and has always been a principle of the Guyana Constitutional Acts and Order. Court must recognize the unconstitutionality of the Guyana Government when the cases are determined to its finality. The legislators have a duty to comply with the Supreme law of the country while avoiding a legal vacuum and ensuring the continuity of the rule of law.

The rule of law in this context does not mean everyone is subject to the same law but is the second Limb of Dicey’s tabulation of the rule of law i.e. a state has to be governed by law.

In the case of Esther Pierreira 36-P of 1998 Demerara, the Honourable

Justice Claudette Singh on the 26th January, 2001 in the Order of Court paragraphs 5, 6, 7 and 8 set out the principles on which the then illegal Government was temporarily validated until the new election was completed. The situation today is identical and the court must act consistent with the Esther Pierreira decision.

The arguments for Interim Stay must consider the constitutional question of Interim Validity to preserve the Rule of Law. The court must grant the Stay in circumstance to prevent anarchy and/or irretrievable damage to the Nation.

Mr. Saphier Husain Subedar Leader of the National Independent Party

An example of unity in the face of adversity DEAR EDITOR The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, might not be tall, but she certainly stood tall for her country and particularly the Muslim community, following the recent horrific terrorist attacks on two mosques in that country.

She led from the front on how a country can be one, by her many acts of caring, sharing and commiserating with her nation thus unifying a nation and people during this difficult time.Her swift and decisive actions in reforming and revamping gun laws must be seen as and go down as her shining moment and one of the hallmarks of her tenure.

Now in a further act of unity the Muslim call to prayer was broadcast live on Friday, the one week anniversary of the attacks. There are many lessons to be garnered from the simple but important acts on how to band together in the face of adversity.

Shamshun Mohamed

ARE VIOLENT FILMS ...

From page 5 sanctions the bowler. In this case, the bowler’s violent behaviour is fuelled by the meaning he gives to the batsmen action, ‘they intentionally embarrassed me.’

The above example gives us a possible understanding of some of the senseless violence of the rich and well to do. The rich tend to have a high sense of their own importance and right to privileges.

Many are quick to see acts of others that prevent them from having their own way, as proof of hostility towards them, a desire to embarrass them or intended to deny them what they see as having a right to.

Just like children of the poor, children from rich homes also imitate their parents.

Thus, they take offence, become angry, and sometimes seek to do harm to those who dare to sanction their behaviour. The violence they indulge in while playing video games merely reinforce what they copy from their parents or it merely suggests to them a form that their behaviour can take, in what they see, as their legitimate desire to strike back.

Yours faithfully, Claudius Prince

Saturday March 23, 2019

No evidence Charrandass Persaud knew he did not belong in Parliament

-Court of Appeal The Court of Appeal has affirmed a ruling by Chief Justice Roxane George in which she outlined that there was no evidence before the court which suggests that expelled Alliance for Change (AFC) parliamentarian, Charrandass Persaud knew he was disqualified from being a member of the National Assembly owing to him being a dual citizen of Guyana and Canada.

Sitting on the panel of Judges were Chancellor of the Judiciary Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justices of Appeal Rishi Persaud and Dawn Gregory, who yesterday, delivered individual rulings in three matters which originated after the passage of the NoConfidence Motion in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018.

Like the Chief Justice, the panel of Judges said that their findings were based on Article 155 (1) (a) of the Constitution of Guyana which states, “No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.”

According to the Chief Justice, there was evidence before the court that Persaud identifies himself as a Guyanese/Canadian.

Justice George had reasoned that Persaud became a citizen of Canada

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when he took the oath of allegiance, “I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance To Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen.”

The rulings by the Judges were in response to an application filed by private citizen Compton Reid who had asked the High Court to quash the No-Confidence Motion against the government on the ground that Persaud, who voted with the Parliamentary Opposition, has been a Canadian citizen for almost 20 years.

In support of this contention, Reid, through Senior Counsel Neil Boston, submitted that Persaud is the holder of a valid Canadian passport No. AC773625 issued by the Government of Canada on October 25, 2017, which will expire on October 25, 2022 and was a replacement of the previous passport No. JX818124, which was issued to him on January 29, 2013, and expired on January 29, 2018.

The panel agreed with the Chief Justice who ruled that Persaud’s “yes” vote on the no-confidence motion against the government is valid, since it was safeguarded by the provisions set out in Article 165 (2) of the Constitution.

According to that Article, “The Assembly may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership … (even)

Expelled AFC Parliamentarian: Charrandass Persaud after any dissolution of Parliament and the presence or participation of any person not entitled to be present or to participate in the proceedings of the Assembly, shall not invalidate those proceedings.”

Dismissing arguments by Boston, who described Persaud as a usurper, a person who takes a position of power or importance illegally or by force, Justice Persaud said that such an argument may be subject to review since there are reports of other parliamentarians holding dual citizenship, a concern, which he said, is now being addressed by political parties.

The Chief Justice in her ruling had declared that by swearing allegiance to another state, a dual citizen is not eligible to be elected to serve in the National Assembly. The ruling, she said, is applicable to other persons holding dual citizenship in the National Assembly.

Apparent high prevalence of HIV linked to patients living longer The Ministry of Public Health recently published an article in the media pertaining to the number of persons affected and living with HIV/ AIDS in Guyana.

Dr. Karen GordonCampbell, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), noted in this article, that this apparent high prevalence was not as a result of an increase in the rates of HIV infection, but that persons infected are living longer due to treatment with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART).

Further, Dr. Rhonda Moore, Programme Manager of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) endorsed the DCMO’s statement, indicating that there has been a steady decline in new infections since 2016, and that the new initiatives such as the Treat All, the reestablishment of the Loss to Follow Up Programme, as well as the extended hours of clinic at the National Care and Treatment Centre, have all contributed to the decrease in new infections.Despite the great progress made in the fight against HIV/ AIDS, ov er the years in Guyana, the Ministry of Public Health is concerned about the growing rates of infection amongst another vulnerable group; the adolescent population ages 15 -24.

The Ministry is therefore seeking to partner with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport and civil society organizations to reach in and out of school youth with HIV prevention messages and awareness programmes.

– Ministry clarifies —Public/private partnership launched to sustain gains made

Dr. Karen Gordon-Campbell, Deputy Chief Medical Officer.

Moreover, the Ministry of Public Health will seek to combine its efforts with Non Governmental Organisations [NGOs] and partners to achieve the shared global vision of Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination and Zero AIDS-related deaths - to end AIDS by 2030.

This World Health Organization’s ‘Treat All Policy’ has motivated government to embark on a high level Sustainability Plan to combat HIV. According to

information out of the Ministry, this plan has been endorsed by Cabinet.

Arising from the sustainability plans and the donor partnerships, there will be a pilot for social contracting where the Government of Guyana will contract NGOs to implement HIV prevention programmes targeting vulnerable and mobile populations.

Another initiative being piloted is the Public/Private Partnership [PPP], which will (Continued on page 24)

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Saturday March 23, 2019

Kaieteur News

Hydromet Dept. receives 21 new automatic weather stations -as Guyana observes World Water Day

US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch hands over one of the pieces of equipment to Agri Minister, Noel Holder Yesterday, Guyana joined the rest of the world in observing World Water Day 2019 under the theme ‘Leaving no one behind’.

As part of the observances, the Hydrometeorological Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund, hosted a World Water Day Symposium to discuss some of the issues pertaining to Guyana’s water resources.

The event which comprised three parts, saw newly- accredited United States Ambassador to Guyana, H.E. Sarah-Ann Lynch, on behalf of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), handing over 21 new automatic weather stations to the Hydrometeorological Department.

While delivering remarks, Ambassador Lynch said that, “the event represents an important step in strengthening climate science networks that are necessary to protect this country’s vast assets from natural hazards.

It also signals the enduring partnership the U.S.

Government has with the Government, and the people, of Guyana.”

She also noted the importance of having the automatic stations in the data collection process.

“To start, weather forecasts are more credible based on data collected over long periods. The data produced will be used to make predictions about future weather events, which will be important for planning across all sectors, including agriculture, aquaculture, water resources, coastal zone management, tourism, and health sectors,” Ambassador Lynch said.

Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder while delivering the feature address, stated that the Ministry continues to execute its mandate to promote responsible use of water resources for agricultural activities.

“The Ministry of Agriculture, as the custodian of the nation’s water resources has the responsibility of increasing agricultural production without placing further stress on our environment; or destroying our natural forests; and, without further diminishing our water resources.”

Minister Holder also pointed out that all persons and organizations involved in water use of this nature should be authorized (licensed) by the Service (Hydromet Dept.).

“We are aware that there are several large industrial and commercial users of water in Guyana that are paying absolutely nothing for the water they consume and resell for which the profits are huge. While they continue to do so, our resources continue to be depleted. This state of affairs will have to be addressed to ensure that responsible water management practices are implemented. I believe that most of these entities are responsible and would support any effort to regularize the management of the country’s freshwater resources.”

The donation of the stateof–the-art equipment is a part of USAID’s Climate Change Adaptation Program (CCAP) which seeks to reduce risks to human and natural assets resulting from climate change vulnerability. USAID has partnered with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) to address some of the challenges (Continued on page 24)

Saturday March 23, 2019

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Such is the way of the world

B

ased on the lens you use, you will see the present crisis in different lights. If you use a partisan lens, then the crisis will be viewed merely in terms of whose interests are best served rather than in the sense of justice.

This is why it is always wise to step back and view things from a different angle.

It would then be possible to make a more objective analysis of the situation.

Two important reports were handed in yesterday.

One was done in the United States and the other in Guyana. The latter decision involved the decision of the Court of Appeal which ruled by majority, that 34 votes were needed to pass the no-

confidence motion.

Guyana is a most interesting country to live in, politically. Very few people would have expected yet another twist in this ongoing saga of the no confidence motion.

But many would have been hoping for the end result.

No matter which lens is used, there would have always been those pleased with the decision, while there would have been others who would not have been pleased.

In terms of a legal lens, there will be some who will agree on legal grounds with the decision, and others who will not. In terms of interests, some will see the decision as being in their interest, while

others will see it as not being in their interest.

It is possible also to be viewing an issue through the same lens – in the case of the legal lens – and still see things differently. So it is not only the lens which shapes one’s perspective.

That is the way the world works. And so it is important for every person to examine the lens through which they view developments in our society. But also to expect that subjective conditions could force a different outlook.

The decision of the Court of Appeal defuses tensions in society. The no confidence motion as presently stands is not valid, until a higher court rules otherwise.

If the higher Court

Dem boys seh ...

De court teach Guyana bout Constitutional Maths People now thinking about a majority and dem asking when is a majority not a majority.

Couple weeks ago, dem boys read de Constitution and dem find out dat de majority was 33. But when you got lawyers even black and white is not black and white.

Lawyers does talk about de various shades and all dem meanings wha something could have.

Dem is de people who does tell relatives how a man ain’t dead but how he resting.Now Soulja Bai know bout lawyers but Jagdeo didn’t know dem. He only understand law when things going in he favour.

When he had a man go to court to challenge why Jagdeo couldn’t serve a third term, de lawyers fuh Jagdeo explain fine, fine why de constitution wrong.

De High Court rule in dem favour and right away Jagdeo begin mekking preparations.

De odda people challenge and de matter go to de court of Appeal. constitution and dat Jagdeo should run fuh president.

Dem boys seh dis is one time Jagdeo vex dat he go to de CCJ. If de Court of Appeal was de only court, put you pot pon de fire Jagdeo woulda be de presidential candidate whenever elections come.

But he go to de CCJ and de same CCJ tell he plain and straight dat he can’t run fuh a third term.Old people does always seh you does get wha you wish fuh. Jagdeo tell people all over de world dat he had no interest in serving a third term. De Creator hear him and grant him his wish.

De whole thing about the no confidence is bout Maths.

Dem boys went to school and do ordinary Maths, dem do Additional Maths, dem do Pure Maths and some do Modern Maths.

Neither dem boys nor Jagdeo ever do Constitutional Maths. Dat is how de whole question of absolute majority come about—Constitutional Maths.

Dis time, de Chief Justice rule in he favour but de Court of Appeal rule against him.

De verdict going to depend on de CCJ. People protest all over de country yesterday. Dem was calling fuh de government to get out of office.

All de money wha spend to feed and transport dem gone down de drain. But when all is said and done, de protest do nuff damage.

De country divided.

Talk half and watch how politics divide we country.

overturns the decision of the Court of Appeal, it will create a greater crisis, since it would have meant that the motion was valid, and that the period by which elections were to be held would have passed.

Questions would then again be raised as to the validity of the government. As for now, that issue is temporarily settled.

The decision of the Court of Appeal throws the controversy over the no confidence motion into the hands of the Caribbean Court of Justice, whose decision will be final and binding.

It means that there is no

need until that Court rules for any protests. Life can go back to normalcy.

If the CCJ overturns the decision, the controversy will be resurrected. But for the time being, the no confidence motion has been invalidated.

This is the way of the world. This is how Bernard De Santos would have wanted things to be settled – in the hallowed chambers of the courtroom rather than in the streets. Miles Fitzpatrick, would have seen the opportunity in the Chief Justice’s decision, as he did with the decision in the election petition case of 1997,

as another opportunity to ask the court to order power sharing.

Both men, eminent lawyers in their own right, would have being seeing a case through the same lens, yet arrived at different perspectives.

Such is the way of the world. As of now, 34 is a majority of 65.

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Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Interesting to see how APNU+AFC interprets the new ruling The Court of Appeal has ruled that the no-confidence vote (NCV) was not valid. The APNU+AFC government is legal up to the 2020 Elections.

But, there is a but, because the final court is yet to pronounce, that is the CCJ. Here is where things get interesting.When the High Court decided that the NCV was valid and elections must be held and did not grant a stay, the APNU+AFC leadership did not act on the court’s decision. Even when Court of Appeal judge, Rishi Persaud denied a stay, the status quo was maintained by

the political leadership of the government.

Now with the appellate court striking down the NCV, will the president still identify a date in 2019 for elections?

Will they say that they have won, there was no successful NCV and therefore it is business as usual? If they take this direction, then they are ignoring the CCJ angle.

What if the CCJ decided that the December 21 NCV was valid? Here is where Granger’s character will be tested.

If the APNU+AFC leadership didn’t accept the High

Court’s ruling and did not comply with the three months’ requirement to hold elections because there was an appeal, why should this same leadership preserve the status quo, knowing it could lose because the final appeal is yet to be made?

My point is APNU+AFC cannot say we did not comply with the Chief Justice’s ruling because there was an appeal, but we will adhere to the judgment of the appellate court when they know that an appeal is around the corner.

However, you look at it, the APNU+AFC is on safer

ground now that it has won round two. But this country will be in trouble if the CCJ takes a long time to hear the case and when it does, the judgment upholds the Chief Justice’s ruling. From this day onwards, without even a moment’s delay, GECOM should start preparing for elections, whenever it comes.

The new ruling allows the government to convene parliament, and it should do so immediately to provide GECOM with whatever it wants, but more importantly, to deal with the question of dual citizenship. The Attorney-General did not appeal the Chief Justice’s decision that the constitution disapproves of dual citizens, therefore members with this kind of status cannot sit. What it means is that morality should be on show for the whole world to see when parliament convenes.The PPP and APNU should now inform the head of the list, Professor Harold Lutchman, that they are replacing their foreign citizens in the House. The Opposition Leader has stated that he is willing to remove his quota of dual citizens.

APNU has not said one word on the matter, which makes its conduct questionable. It was

the APNU+AFC leadership of the Government that requested the court to decide on the legality of dual citizenship. The court has so ruled.

It would be moral profanity on both, the opposition and APNU+AFC, if the National Assembly is convened and these dual nationals take their seat. The Court of Appeal ruling should galvanize major parties to return to the House and fulfill immediately, the promises they made to the people of Guyana – constitutional reform. The CCJ’s decision in the presidential term limit case means that there are sections of the constitution that can be changed by a twothirds majority of the National Assembly.

One of the promises made by both the PNC and AFC in the 2015 campaign is that there will be changes to the anti-narcotic law to dissolve mandatory prison for possession of small amounts of ganja. In fact, while the court was giving its decision of the NCV, magistrate Leron Daly jailed another youth found guilty of possessing a small amount of marijuana.

It is left to be seen if the ruling coalition will now wallow in prodigious comfort and cease their election campaign.

Frederick Kissoon The APNU+AFC bandwagon has been campaigning frenetically the past month, targeting Amerindian areas. The subtitle of this column is, “Who’s Afraid of Lennox Shuman?” The Chronicle on Thursday carried a photograph of Volda Lawrence speaking to three youths. The background tells you she was in a low-income enclave. What did Volda have to say and what did the three young men tell her?

If you look closely at the impressions on the faces of the youths, they didn’t seem elated. That is how I read it.

So will the APNU+AFC throw back and continue in their old ways or will the countless meet-the-people tours continue, where goodies are shared out as if a hurricane struck and wiped out a poor village?

Saturday March 23, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Active year ahead for Guyana; 14 wells to be drilled - Financial Analyst 2019 is expected to be a most active year for offshore Guyana as approximately 14 exploration and appraisal wells will be drilled.

This is according to a report that was produced by Financial Analyst, Jenny Xenos, of Canaccord Genuity Corporation which is based in Canada.

Canaccord Genuity is a boutique investment banking firm that offers financial advisory services. The firm provides initial public offering, private placement, financial restructuring, fund raising, and mergers and acquisitions advisory services. It caters to metals and mining, energy, technology, financial, real estate, and healthcare sectors.

In an Industry Update report, the author stated that up to nine wells will be drilled on the prolific Stabroek Block, two of which are currently being drilled. The

Stabroek Block is operated by ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Hess and CNOOC. Furthermore, two wells are slated for drilling on the Orinduik Block which is under the licensed control of Tullow Oil, Total and Eco Atlantic.

One well is planned for the Kanuku Block by Repsol and Tullow Oil. The Corentyne Block also has one well planned for drilling by its operators CGX and Frontera Energy.

The Canje Block will also see one well being drilled by ExxonMobil, Total JHI and MidAtlantic.

The author in her report said, “At this time, we are not aware of any wells planned to be drilled offshore Suriname in 2019. In the near term, we believe the focus

will be on the offshore Guyana where significant discoveries have been made to date. The planned wells will further define the basin’s resource potential and de-risk a number of prospects upon success.”

The Financial Analyst continued, “We expect operators to prioritize high-potential prospects in close proximity to existing discoveries in order to establish opportunities for material and efficient development. To quote an old petroleum industry maxim, the best places to find oil are in spots where it’s already been found.”

She added that much of ExxonMobil and partners’ activities will be focused in the southeastern part of the Stabroek bBock. She said, too, that ExxonMobil has not released the schedule for its 2019 drilling programme.

Saturday March 23, 2019

Saturday March 23, 2019

Kaieteur News

We’re going straight to the CCJ – Nandlall - APNU+AFC Govt. can hang around for a while but the outcome is inevitable – Jagdeo The Court of Appeal halted the bid of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) for a possible early return to power, yesterday, in majority rulings making it clear that a no-confidence motion was not properly carried on the evening of December 21, 2018.

Rather, of the 65 seats, the absolute majority needed to carry a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly is 34—not 33.

The PPP is now making its intentions clear – the party is going to the Caribbean Court of Justice - the final judicial review, for the ultimate opinion.

In effect, the opinions of the three Court of Appeal judges have allowed the Government to continue business as usual.

Around 18:00hrs, lead counsel for the Opposition, Anil Nandlall, a former Attorney General, emerged from the courtroom, and said that he is “disappointed” as it was always felt that 33 has always constituted a majority in the National Assembly, since independence.

He said that the development of the Court yesterday has upturned the belief of what a majority was.

“So while we won on all issues of law, we have lost on Maths…and I never thought that this was a case of Maths.

I thought it was a case of law.”

According to Nandlall, he has been arguing that nowhere in the Constitution was the term or prefix “absolute” used in front to the word majority.

He said that the framers of

Attorney-at-law Anil Nandlall Attorney-at-law Neil Boston the Constitution did so deliberately. He said that if the framers had wanted to use the term “absolute majority”, they would have done so.

“Instead, they said a majority of all members of the National Assembly, and a majority of all members of the National Assembly, when the whole is 65, the majority is 33.”

According to Nandlall, the Opposition has always said that the matter will be going to the Caribbean Court of Justice, if that is what it takes.

He said that he will be taking one issue and it can be heard in a matter of days.

He admitted that the effect of the decisions in the Court yesterday is that the no-confidence motion was not validly passed.

LAW EXTREME Meanwhile, Attorney

General, Basil Williams, told reporters that the case had stretched the extremities of the law.The proper principle has been applied to the compilation and calculation of a vote.

“We always believed that it was the right way. We had to find the road to satisfy the court and I think we did that very well.”

Williams sidestepped questions about what is next in context of the planned announcement by President David Granger about early elections brought on by no confidence vote.

He said the president and his colleagues will address t h a t .

One of the lawyers for Compton Reid, a farmer who challenged the legality of the vote, explained that there were questions of the Court of Appeal’s jurisdiction.

To satisfy the court, a (Continued on page 22)

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Saturday March 23, 2019

UK guarantees Guyana rums in new deal with Caribbean countries

The UK yesterday signed a trade continuity agreement with a series of countries in the Caribbean, including Guyana. UK businesses and consumers will benefit from a trade continuity agreement maintaining current arrangements with countries in the Caribbean soon after Britain leaves the EU. Trade Policy Minister, George Hollingbery, signed the CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with ministers and representatives from Barbados, Belize, The Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The news has been welcomed by businesses and business groups including the West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers Association (WIRSPA), one of the oldest private sector trade associations in the Caribbean.

WIRSPA represent some brands well known to UK consumers including El Dorado, Appleton, Angostura and Mount Gay Rum.

The agreement will allow these businesses and many others across the Caribbean to trade like they do now, without any additional barriers or tariffs.

It eliminates all tariffs on all goods imported from the signing CARIFORUM States into the UK, while those Caribbean states will continue gradually to cut import tariffs on most of the region’s imports from the UK. The UK is an important export market for the Caribbean, and the UK bought 100% of Saint Lucia’s banana exports, as well as 69% of Belize’s banana exports in 2017. In addition, 81% of Guyana, and 64% Jamaican sugar cane exports went to the UK. In a statement yesterday, the UK government explained these preferential terms are part of its commitment to supporting developing countries to reduce poverty through trade. It will help them to grow their economies, create jobs, increase incomes and reduce reliance on overseas aid in the long-term.

DDL chairman, Komal Samaroo Komal Samaroo, Chairman of Demerara Distillers Limited in Guyana and the West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers Association (WIRSPA), said: “We’re extremely happy to see the culmination of this agreement which both sides have worked hard to achieve.

The UK is a major export destination for our rums and we

are pleased that the trade provisions will maintain our continued access to that market.”

The rum industry is the region’s premier export industry and its largest export earner after minerals, as well as a significant employer.

“The preferential provisions in the agreement will continue to give our authentic rum producers a muchneeded boost vis-à-vis subsidised products from other countries,” Samaroo explained.

In 2017, total trade between the UK and the region was worth around £2.5 billion. Replicating this deal will allow the UK to continue building the trading relationship with its Commonwealth partners.

Based on current trade flows, exporters of bananas

and other fruits and nuts could save over £14 million a year in tariff charges that could apply if the agreement wasn’t in place, while exporters of sugarcane and other sugar products could save more than £20 million.

Consumers in the UK will continue to benefit from more choice and lower prices for products from these countries.

The agreement also covers the services sector, including tourism, which will benefit Brits who spend £900 million a year during some 900,000 visits to the Caribbean.

It will help small and medium businesses in the Caribbean to promote sustainable tourism and follow international environmental and quality standards.

The UK is seeking to provide continuity for existing EU trade agreements covering more than 70 countries that account for 11% of total UK trade.

The UK has recently signed agreements with Switzerland and Israel.

“Like all these agreements, the new CARIFORUM-UK EPA replicates the existing trading arrangements as far as possible.

It is expected to come into effect as soon as the implementation period ends in January 2021, or from as soon as possible after the UK leaves the EU if we leave without a deal,” Minister for Trade Policy, George Hollingbery said.

“I am delighted to sign

this agreement today as it will allow businesses to continue trading like they do today after we leave the European Union.”

Hollingbery said it will help to support jobs in the UK and throughout the Caribbean, as well as ensuring that the British supermarkets shelves continue to be stocked with the best Caribbean produce such as bananas, sugar and rum.

“We have a long-standing commitment to reduce poverty through trade and this agreement will support jobs in key Commonwealth countries, such as Saint Lucia, Belize, Grenada, Dominica, Barbados and Guyana for whom the UK currently accounts for more than a quarter of their trade in goods with the EU.” One company set to benefit from the Caribbean continuity agreement is Belize Sugar Industries.

Mac McLachlan, Vice President, International Relations, ASR Gro u p s a i d : “Belize Sugar Industries warmly welcomes signature of this agreement. For many years BSI has shipped sugar to the UK. For an industry which supports the livelihoods of around 15% of the Belizean population and is the mainstay of the Northern Belize economy, retaining the opportunity for continued trade is essential. This long-term relationship is hugely important to us and other Caribbean sugar producing countries.”

Saturday March 23, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Saturday March 23, 2019

(See story

Scenes from the PPP’s countrywide protests yesterday on page 11)

Linden Ministry of the Presidency

Fort Wellington Bartica

Region 6

West Bank Demerara

Kaieteur News

Saturday March 23, 2019

Fort Wellington

Mabaruma

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Saturday March 23, 2019

Saturday March 23, 2019

Kaieteur News

Two men get three years each for ganja possession

From left: Martin Ishmael (remanded), Navindra Harrichan and Michael Gouveia Three men yesterday made appearances in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly to answer their individual charges of being in possession of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Firstly, Navindra Harrichan, a painter of 7 Owen Street, Kitty, Georgetown, and Martin Ishmael, a labourer of Foulis, East Coast Demerara, both 30, were jointly charged.

It was alleged that on March 20, 2019 at Owen Street, Kitty, they had in their possession 140.13 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Harrichan pleaded guilty while Ishmael entered a not guilty plea.

According to the facts of the charge, police ranks acting on information received went to the aforementioned location where a search was conducted on the premises in the presence of the two men.

The suspected cannabis was found in the first room of the house in a ward-

robe drawer. A quantity of stems, leaves and seeds were found.

The men were taken into police custody where Harrichan gave a caution statement admitting ownership of the marijuana.

In the statement he claimed that, “I is a poor man selling the ‘weed’ because I don’t get to work.”

He asked the magistrate to be lenient with him as it was his first time before the court.

Magistrate Daly then sentenced Harrichan to prison for three years and fined him a sum of $30, 000.

Ishmael was remanded to prison until April 26 for the next court hearing.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old Michael Gouveia of Lot 13 ‘ A’ S h e l l R o a d , K i t t y, Georgetown, was yesterday sentenced to prison by the same Magistrate after he admitted to being in possession of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

It was alleged that on March 20, 2019 at Owen

Street, Kitty, Georgetown, Gouveia had in his possession 8.69 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

On the day in question, at about 10:30hrs, police ranks were on patrol duties in the area. Gouveia, who was walking along Owen Street, was observed acting in a suspicious manner and this resulted in him being stopped.

During a search of his person five small Ziploc bags were found in his right-side pants pocket containing stems, leaves, and seeds suspected to be cannabis.

He was told of the allegation and he admitted that it belonged to him. Gouveia was arrested and taken to the police station where the narcotics were tested, weighed in his presence and the charge was later instituted against him.

Senior Magistrate Daly then sentenced Gouveia to three years in prison and imposed a fine of $30,000.

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Kaieteur News

Berbice father of two dies after bee attack It was only last August that a father of a seven-yearold and a two-year-old was hospitalised for two days following a bee attack at his worksite. He survived that episode, but another stroke of luck did not come his way a second time around.

Rameshwar Poonoo called “Presley” of Lot 7 Grassfield, Port Mourant, Berbice, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Port Mourant Hospital after a swarm of bees overwhelmed him at the Ankerville Guysuco cultivation backdam on Thursday.

According to an uncle of the now dead man, Sukraj Poonoo, his relative left for work around 6:30 am Thursday and it was a mere three hours later that they received a call informing them that something had happened to Rameshwar at the backdam.

“He and two other of he workmate dem was clearing bush with cutlasses to make a track for the planters to go in the field. So like when dem was chopping it disturb some bee nest and dem raise up and swarm dem, dem bai seh how dem tell ‘Presley’ fuh

Dead: Rameshwar Poonoo called “Presley” run, but he run and fall down in the water and dem bees went around he. Afterwards, dem get to go near he and dem carry he hospital, but we get the call when he bin done deh at the hospital and dem bin pronounce he dead”, the uncle said.

In a Guysuco report seen by this publication, it detailed that Poonoo was attached to the #6 Water Management Gang and reported to work at 7:00 that morning along with two others. They were instructed by

the field superintendent to build two-foot bridges and cut a track on the resource middle walk dam.

The report detailed, “while in the process of building the foot bridge at Ankerville East, it is alleged that Poonoo along with two workmates were attacked by a swarm of bees. The two workers were able to escape the attack but with a few stings while Poonoo remained in the water”.

The workmates rushed to the field superintendent and informed him, he then alerted other workers and attempts were made to render assistance to Poonoo, however, there was still a heavy presence of bees.

Approximately 10 minutes later the workers were able to access Poonoo but they found him face down in the water (18 inches deep) in an unconscious state. He was picked up and rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Kaieteur News understands that the management of the Albion Estate has since visited the family of Poonoo.

He was the sole breadwinner of the home that he shared with his children and wife.

Saturday March 23, 2019

CARICOM organisation releases new energy efficiency standards Washington, D.C. –The International Code Council, ASHRAE, the CARICOM Secretariat Energy Unit and the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) announced yesterday the release of new standards for energy efficient buildings for its Member States.

The 2018 CARICOM Regional Energy Efficiency Building Code (CREEBC), which will cover both commercial and residential construction, is a joint effort by the CROSQ, the Code Council and ASHRAE. A press release yesterday indicated that these standards for energy efficient buildings reflect the unique energy requirements of tropical environments and will ultimately increase adoption rates of more effectual technologies for renewable energy and energy conservation, CEO of CROSQ, Mr. Deryck Omar in the release stated that the adoption of these codes will go a long way toward allowing their members to mitigate the impacts of a changing climate. He noted that it also demonstrates the importance of bringing quality measures into the region’s energy sector and the potential benefits that can accrue when that happens.

As defined in the release, the

CREEBC, which was developed through collaboration between the CROSQ and the Energy Unit of the CARICOM Secretariat, is meant to meet the specific needs of nations in the Caribbean and other countries with tropical climates. It establishes minimum energy efficiency requirements for buildings, including the building envelope, cooling system, ventilation, pumping, lighting and the service water-heating systems.

Head of the Energy Unit at the CARICOM Secretariat, Dr. Devon Gardner, noted that the CREEBC is envisioned to lead to an era of better quality building designs within the Caribbean Community, noting that the ability of buildings to minimize the energy requirements for the services for which they were intended would reduce the exposure to climate and disaster risks. He added that, as an example, energy efficient measures and systems, such as daytime lighting and improvements in ventilation, can facilitate the comfort of occupants in buildings even during periods of natural disaster related stress on the electricity grids.

He noted that they were pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate with their col-

leagues at the CROSQ to help adapt the Code Council’s latest energy standards to help their members improve the efficiency and sustainability of their buildings. Code Council CEO Dominic Sims, CBO indicated via the release that their codes are not onesize-fits-all, but are starting points for developing standards that meet the individual needs of regions around the world.

2018-2019 ASHRAE President Sheila J. Hayter, said improving energy efficiency is a global challenge, with buildings professionals serving as a crucial contributor toward the establishment of standards that affect building systems operations. She added that the CREEBC and ASHRAE’s collaboration with partnering organizations represent their long standing dedication to global sustainability and leadership in use of integrated building design resources.”

The development of the CREEBC is part of the ongoing implementation of the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Roadmap and Strategy (C-SERM), a CARICOM program aimed at increasing political will and private sector input for the adoption of more effective technologies for renewable energy, energy conservation and efficiency.

Saturday March 23, 2019

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Kaieteur News

PPP stages countrywide protests against ‘Illegal Government’

E

ven as all Guyana awaited the ruling by the Court of Appeal on the ‘No Confidence Motion’ yesterday, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) took to the streets in protest in almost every administrative region.

As word of the protest spread from region to region, windows and doors were flung open to view the colourful spectacle, as PPP supporte r s marched through streets, with placards, voicing their opinion that the APNU/AFC Government became illegal as of yesterday.

A major political situation has been ongoing since December 21, when a No Confidence Motion by the Leader of the Opposition was carried in the National Assembly. This was after a parliamentarian for the Coalition Government, Charrandass Persaud, joined with the Opposition to support the motion.

This development was supposed to have triggered

elections as catered for under the Constitution of Guyana, to be held within 90 days.

In January this year, Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland upheld the passage of the No Confidence Motion resolution, declining a request by Government to reverse the decision.

Sometime after Resolution No. 1 was issued (this is a certification by Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs that the No Confidence motion was validly passed by a majority vote).

Later that same month Chief Justice Roxanne George ruled that the No Confidence Motion was validly passed in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018, by a majority of all 65 elected members, which she underscored is 33 and not 34 as the Government had insisted.

On Wednesday last Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had written to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, informing that President David

Granger is preparing the date for Regional Elections, and the Opposition in a quickfire response had reiterated that this was totally unacceptable, since elections were likely to be held nearer to yearend.

The letter had also suggested that Granger would be likely veering toward what Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson had informed him this week that based on the fact that house-to-house registration will take some time, no elections can be held before late November of this year.

Yesterday Region # 10 was a hub of activity as PPP supporters took to the streets, loudly proclaiming that the APNU/AFC Government was illegal, even though the Appeal Court at that time was deliberating on the No Confidence Motion.

In Essequibo in the areas of Anna Regina, Charity and their immediate environs, the protests were also very lively.

Corriverton, Berbice residents were not left out of the countrywide upsurge, as they took protest e d i n agreement with their sister PPP sister groups in other locations. In Region # 5 PPP supporters thronged the streets at Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice and other areas, as they too voiced their pleasure that the APNU Government was still actually in office. It was the same picture at New Amsterdam, Berbice, Region # 6 as protesters filed along peacefully in the streets of the town voicing their opinion that the present Government was illegal.

Residents in Region # 9 also picketed against the illegal and unconstitutional APNU+AFC government, while supporters of the Opposition came out in their

numbers in Bartica, all supporting the said cause. In Georgetown, Region # 4, a large gathering picketed the Ministry of the Presidency, the GECOM Head Office and other areas, led by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and other party members.

Led by PPP Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali, large masses marched along the West Demerara Public Road, and even marched across the Demerara Harbour Bridge to support the stance that the supposed, ‘Illegal Government’ should go.

Similar protests were also reportedly staged in Toronto, Canada, and New York, USA, as supporters overseas fully backed the decision to protest by the PPP. In New York protesters stationed themselves outside of the Guyana Con-

sulate.

On the PPP Facebook page on Thursday night supporters were asked to, “Remember, at 12.01 am let’s all set our Facebook profile photo and cover to all black.

Let’s all do the same for Instagram and post a photo there that is simply black.

We will then post the following as a status: “This is a dark day for Guyana. Our government is now illegal and they have effectively executed a coup d’etat by blatantly violating the Constitution. Our jobs, investments, rights and freedom are now at risk.

Ministerial and Presidential decisions and orders are now illegal. Join the protests for our democracy.”

(See related photos on centre pages)

PAGE 22

Saturday March 23, 2019

Kaieteur News

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From page 13 Constitutional motion was filed alleging a violation of the Constitution.

Boston was confident of the same positive outcomes at the Caribbean Court of Justice.

GECOM MUST BE READY Meanwhile, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, in a Facebook post, said that APNU+AFC Government can hang around for a while but the outcome of the next General and Regional Elections will be inevitable.

In spite of this ruling, Jagdeo said that the People’s Progressive Party will move swiftly to the CCJ for an early review of the Appeal Court’s ruling.

He said, too, that calls will continue for early elections and that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) should not pause or halt its preparations for elections in this regard.

Jagdeo said that the CCJ could very well overturn the ruling of the Appellate Court.

“We will continue to call for early elections, and there is a great possibility that this adverse ruling could be overturned at the CCJ, and if it is overturned there and they (GECOM) are not prepared, then that would mean further delays in conducting elections. We will continue to press for early elections preparations. If they (Government) prevail, then we simply don’t have to go to elections.”

Further to this, Jagdeo expressed disagreement with the argument used by the court.

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House on a vote of Confidence.

“By all calculations of right thinking Guyanese, it is acknowledged that the majority of the 65 members who make up the National Assembly is 33.”

Yet, Jagdeo said, the Appeal Court deemed that the majority of 65 is 34.

“No strange mathematics can change what the Constitution says. There was widespread acknowledgement of this in Guyana by President David Granger in 2014...and many others...”

Additionally, Jagdeo said that he had expected that if the High Court’s ruling that the no-confidence motion was valid had to be overturned, perhaps some other technicality would have been used. He thought that the argument of the dual citizenship status of former AFC Member, Charrandass Persaud who voted in support of the motion would have been used.

“I never thought that this issue of 34 votes is needed now to pass a No-Confidence vote. It is probably the weakest argument...We will be respectful of the ruling of the court, but one of the reasons we joined the CCJ is to have external reviews and we think we will be able to convince the CCJ that the no confidence motion was validly passed and that this strange insertion of a simple versus majority, when the Constitution says majority is not enough. This weird interpretation is not enough to invalidate the vote.”

Jagdeo vowed to intensify the struggle to dislodge the Coalition.

“They can’t hide forever.

They have a record of mismanagement, large scale corruption, hopelessness in the country, loss of jobs, welfare etc. The outcome is inevitable and they have seen this. The elections will come whenever they come. I am appealing to my members not be demoralized , keep working , keeping going into the APNU strongholds, because people need our guidance and support there too.”

Saturday March 23, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Road Upgrades for Region Five Five areas are slated for road upgrades in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice). The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) received 10 bids for that project. Other significant projects from Tuesday’s tender opening include the supply of a new, refrigerated canter truck for Region Two, and extension of the Wakapoa Mission Secondary School in the same region.

Rehabilitation of Administrative Offices - Faculty of Engineering and Technology (UG) Regional Democratic Council - Region 5 Upgrading and Rehabilitation of Roads, Lots 1-5

Ministry of Public Infrastructure Provision of Security Services

Rehabilitation of Allied Arts Building

Supply and Delivery of Cement and BRC Fabric for the Port Kaituma Hospital Road, Region 1 (Retender)

Ministry of Education Supply, Delivery, Installation and Testing of School Equipment, Lot 1-3

(continued on page 24)

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Saturday March 23, 2019

Kaieteur News

Road Upgrades for Region Five From page 23 Construction of Building - UG (Berbice)

Supply and Delivery of IEC Materials Supply and Delivery of Stationery Supplies

Supply and Delivery of Dietary and Janitorial Supplies

Ministry of Public Health Supply and Delivery of Full Cream Milk Powder (2500g)

Supply and Delivery of Nutritional Supplies

Supply and Delivery of Drugs & Medical Supplies

Apparent high prevalence of HIV linked to...

From page 7 see the Ministry partnering with private physicians to join the fight against HIV. This partnership will allow patients reluctant to seek treatment at public facilities to access quality treatment, according to national treatment guidelines at authorized private facilities.

These patients will pay the normal consultation and laboratory fees but will access treatment free of charge.

This initiative is aimed at increasing access to HIV services to a population group that may be in a better position financially, but who would still be able to access anti retroviral

therapy free of cost. These partnerships will also allay the real fears some patients have of discrimination or breach of confidentiality in the public system or even in some private hospitals.

The Ministry, moreover, said that it is currently on a campaign to sensitize the public to the PPP, and it has therefore, appreciation for those physicians who have agreed to be an integral part of this pilot project. In this way, the Ministry anticipates that it will be able to make a significant impact and difference in the lives of those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Hydromet Dept. receives 21 new automatic....

From page 8 through the provision of up to US$10M over three years which commenced July 12, 2016 and is expected to conclude September 30, 2019.

Deputy Director of the CCCCC, Dr. Ulric Trotz, while delivering remarks, outlined the three technical components of the CCAP.“Component one speaks to promoting the use of climate data and information for the use in decision-making, component two deals with support for innovative adaptation approaches which demonstrate proof of concepts necessary to secure additional financing, and component three deals

with fostering climate financing to support scale up and replication of sustainable adaptation initiatives.”

Chief Hydrometeorological Officer (ag) Dr. Garvin Cummings, in his opening remarks, said that three of the 21 automatic weather stations have already been installed and the others will be installed at strategic points is regions across the country.

The event also included a mini exhibition of climatological equipment and a symposium that featured speakers from various agencies involved in water resources management in Guyana and around the Caribbean.

Govt. remains in office From page 3 the ruling by Chief Justice, Justice Rishi Persaud said, “With the greatest respect to Dr Alexis, the formula of firstly dividing by half then rounding up to the nearest whole (number) plus 1 has no application here. It does not amount to logic and common sense where there is an uneven number of members, unless of course that specific formula is prescribed.”

Additionally in relation to the dual citizenship issue, all of the Judges noted that there was no evidence before the court which suggests that former government parliamentarian Charrandass Persaud knew he was disqualified from being a

member of the National Assembly owing to him being a dual citizen of Guyana and Canada.

They agreed that Persaud's dual citizenship would not invalidate his vote on the grounds set out in Article 165 (2) of the Constitution.

According to that Article, “The Assembly may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership … (even) after any dissolution of Parliament and the presence or participation of any person not entitled to be present or to participate in the proceedings of the Assembly, shall not invalidate those proceedings.”

Regional Democratic Council - Region 7 Procurement of Dietary Supplies for D.C. Fox Secondary School

Regional Democratic Council - Region 2 Extension of Wakapoa Mission Secondary School, Wakapoa Mission, Lower Pomeroom River, Pomeroon Supenaam

Supply and Delivery of One new Refrigerated Canter Truck

Saturday March 23, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Saturday March 23, 2019

Saturday March 23, 2019

Jamaica tight-lipped on support despite as elections draw nearer KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The outcome of tomorrow’s Cricket West Indies presidential elections is likely to rest on the Jamaica votes but the cricket association here has remained tight-lipped on their support.

Both the incumbent president Dave Cameron and challenger Ricky Skerritt met with the JCA last week to present their plans, with the local governing body subsequently holding a vote on Monday to decide which candidate would receive its two votes.

However, the JCA said it was still not in a position to communicate the result of that vote by its body.

“I can’t give that

information. The process is not yet completed, as soon as that process is complete, I will communicate with the executive,” honourary secretary, Diahann Campbell told the Gleaner newspaper here. “The returning officer has not submitted the information, as soon as that is done, the executive will be communicated to.”

The official added: “The JCA isn’t holding on to the information. The JCA has embarked on a process and that process is not yet completed. I would have to speak to the returning officer [to know when it will be completed].”

Cameron and vicepresident Emmanuel Nanthan has already received public

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Kaieteur News

backing from Barbados, Guyana and the Windward Islands, handing them six of the 12 votes up for grabs.

Skerritt, a former St Kitts and Nevis government minister, along with running mate Dr Kishore Shallow, have secured the support of Trinidad and Tobago and Leeward Islands.

The JCA was the only association to reserve its support until it heard the plans of both presidential candidates.

Cameron is seeking a fourth successive term in charge of CWI after taking up the position in 2013 when he toppled former St Lucian diplomat, Dr Julian Hunte, to whom he had previously served as vice-president.

Saturday March 23, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Educational or spiritual growth on your part is likely to attract new friends who could become close companions. There could even be a new romantic partner in the bunch.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Group activities like rallies or festivals could take place in your neighborhood today.

You may attend, Libra, and you could learn some new concepts that give impetus to your spiritual growth.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) An increase in your financial status could lead to changes in your household. You might choose to redecorate or purchase new furniture or move to a better place.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) The development of a talent that you've neglected could have surprising results, Scorpio. You could find that it's just what you need in order to expand your horizons.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Inner transformation is likely to make a big difference in your communications right now. Your relationships could improve because you're more open and honest without being too blunt.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) A period of great inner transformation and powerful upheaval in your outer life is coming upon you now. A part of you wants to welcome it and charge ahead, while another part holds back.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your physical, emotional, and spiritual health should be very good right now. Your quality of life is likely to be improving. Go with the flow.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Your intuition should be growing by leaps and bounds. Today you may get psychic messages from everywhere, both personal and universal.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) If you're in a committed relationship, expect to feel a new sense of mutual purpose and make some new friends. If you aren't involved, Leo, love could come into your life today.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) A number of new and exciting relationships could appear in your life now, some of them showing promise of becoming close. Old ones seem to be fading.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Positive emotions like love, enthusiasm, or optimism that have been repressed for years could surface today, bringing a new sense of joy and anticipation for the future

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You experience the warm feeling that comes from deep satisfaction and knowing that you deserve everything wonderful that's happening.

Reading FC star Callum Harriott to debut for Guyana against Belize English Football League Championship and former England U19 forward Callum Harriott will make his senior debut for Guyana in the crucial Concacaf Gold Cup and Nations League qualifier against Belize today.

Harriott, who plays for Reading FC in the Championship, was cleared to represent Guyana by FIFA this week and will boost the home squad’s preparations ahead of the most significant match in the history of the senior men’s national team. Victory for the Golden Jaguars at the Leonora National Stadium should guarantee a first ever qualification to the Concacaf Gold Cup for the men’s side.

“I felt that this was an opportunity that I had to grasp and I’m excited to get going,” Harriott said.

“I hope to bring a lot of goals, playing good football and getting the right results.”

The 25-year-old Harriott, who made three appearances for England at youth level, is an exciting attacking player who recently caught the eye in Reading’s third-round F.A. Cup tie against English Premier League giants Manchester United. He is eligible to play for Guyana through his maternal grandparents.

“To have somebody of Callum’s calibre involved in the international set up is a massive boost for Guyana, the players and the staff,” said Golden Jaguars Head Coach Michael Johnson.

“This player comes highly recommended from Reading and has the ability to go past opponents and score goals.”

Harriott started his career at Charlton Athletic before joining Championship side Reading in

Callum Harriott will turn out for Guyana this evening.

2016.

“Callum brings a tremendous attacking threat and a new dimension in the final third, but what stands out the most is his character and desire to represent Guyana,” said GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood.

“Callum’s addition to the Golden Jaguars is testimony to the excellent work we have been doing to professionalise

the entire operations of the senior men’s national team.”

GFF Head of Recruitment Faizal Khan said: “Callum is the type of player that can take and keep the Guyana national men’s team at the very top of regional international football.

Knowing Callum’s ability and personality, I foresee him becoming a fans’ favourite here in Guyana.”

PAGE 28

Saturday March 23, 2019

Kaieteur News

Athletics: U.N.-backed Semenya optimistic of CAS success in battle with IAAF CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Double Olympic 800-metres champion Caster Semenya is “optimistic” of success in her appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over eligibility regulations in athletics for female classification.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) contends that Semenya and other female athletes that are classed as having differences in sexual development (DSDs) gain an unfair advantage due to their higher testosterone levels, but only in races between 400 and 1,000metres.

Under its new rules, which are currently suspended pending the outcome of the CAS case, athletes classed as having DSDs must medically reduce their blood testosterone level for a continuous period of six months before they can

compete.

“Caster Semenya remains optimistic that CAS will declare the IAAF’s Regulations unlawful, invalid and of no effect,” Semenya’s lawyers said in a statement yesterday, confirming at the same time that the athlete had made additional submissions to CAS following “posthearing communications from the IAAF”.

They did not go into detail as to what those submissions were in relation to.

Semenya received support from the United Nations this week as they adopted a resolution tabled

by South Africa “aimed at eliminating discrimination against women and girls in sport, giving significant global weight from a human rights perspective to Caster Semenya’s case”, according to a media r e l e a se from the South African government.

The resolution was cosponsored by Eswatini

(formerly known as Swaziland), Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Burundi, India, Iceland and Canada.

“The international campaign to preserve Caster’s right to participate in global sports is a struggle for all women in the world against discrimination, sexism, and patriarchy,” South Africa’s minister of international relations and cooperation, Lindiwe Sisulu, said.

CAS has called the hearing one of its most pivotal cases that could have a wide reaching consequence, not just for the future of athletics, but sport in general.

The court postponed its verdict from the five-day hearing in February, due to be delivered next week, until the end of April, with no fixed date set.

The IAAF has said that, given the delay, it would alter the six-month rule for the world championships in Qatar in September and introduce a “special

South Africa’s Caster Semenya wins the Women’s 800m at the Diamond League at Monaco’s Stade Louis II - July 20, 2018. (REUTERS/Eric Gaillard) transitional period” so that affected athletes could still compete.

It added that, assuming

its new regulations were upheld, affected athletes who comply with the new limit from one week after the final CAS

decision until the start of the world championships in September would be allowed to take part.

NBA roundup: Cousins returns, leads Warriors to win DeMarcus Cousins contributed six points to a third-quarter runaway in his return to the lineup Thursday night, helping the Golden State Warriors blow out the Indiana Pacers 112-89 in Oakland, Calif.

All five starters scored in double figures as the Warriors were able to retain a half-game lead over Denver in their duel for best record in the Western Conference. The Pacers saw their lead over Boston trimmed to a half-game in

their fight for the fourth seed in the East.

Cousins, who had missed the final two games o f G o l d e n St a t e ’s j u s t completed four-game trip with a sore ankle, recorded 19 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes of action.

Klay Thompson had 18 points, and Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry each scored 15 for the Warriors.

Tyreke Evans had a gamehigh 20 points off the bench, and Thaddeus Young 18 for the Pacers, who went 0-4 on a

Western swing.

Hawks 117, Jazz 114 Rookie Trae Young scored 23 points, including the goahead three-point play with 1:47 remaining, and Atlanta hung on to beat visiting Utah.

Dewayne Dedmon made a free throw with 6.2 seconds left to give the Hawks a 117114 lead. Utah’s Kyle Korver then missed two free throws, the second on purpose, and Donovan Mitchell missed a 3-pointer that was rebounded

by Atlanta’s Kent Bazemore as the clock expired.

Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins (0) attempts to drive past Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis (11) in the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. (Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports)

The win broke Atlanta’s three-game losing streak and snapped Utah’s five-game winning streak. The Jazz got 34 points from Mitchell, his second straight 30-point game.

Nuggets 113, Wizards 108 Nikola Jokic had 15 points and 11 assists, and visiting Denver held off Washington for its fifth straight win.

Eight Nuggets scored in double figures, including Paul Millsap, Gary Harris, Jamal Murray and Torrey Craig at 15 points each.

Bradley Beal scored 25 points for the Wizards, who have lost three straight.

Thomas Bryant added 22.

Hornets 113, Timberwolves 106 Kemba Walker scored 31 points, and host Charlotte rolled to a much-needed victory over Minnesota.

The Hornets scored seven straight points early in the fourth quarter to gain a working margin, and then they went on to lead by as many as 11 down the stretch, the latest at 111-100.

The Hornets had lost four of their previous five and 11 of their previous 15.

The Timberwolves, who got 21 points and 16 rebounds from KarlAnthony Towns, have lost five straight.

Kings 116, Mavericks 100 Buddy Hield scored 29 points, and host Sacramento took care of Dallas. The Kings

bounced back after blowing a 25-point, fourth-quarter lead in their last outing against visiting Brooklyn on Tuesday, resulting in a 123-121 loss.

Hield connected on seven 3-pointers and now has made 238 treys.

He trails Peja Stojakovic by only two for the most in a single season in Kings history. Marvin Bagley III came off the Sacramento bench to score 22 points and grab 12 rebounds, and Willie Cauley-Stein had 10 points and 18 rebounds.

Former Kings forward Justin Jackson led the Mavericks with 19 points.

L u k a D o n c i c scored 13 points and hauled down 10

boards.

Pistons 118, Suns 98 Wayne Ellington scored 23 points, hitting six 3pointers, and Detroit pulled away for a win at Phoenix.

Detroit’s Blake Griffin had 17 points, seven rebounds and eight assists despite shooting 4 of 17 from the field. Andre Drummond supplied 16 points and 19 rebounds, and Luke Kennard also scored 16 points to help the Pistons win for the third time in four games.

Devin Booker led the Suns with 26 points, and rookie Deandre Ayton contributed 20 points and eight rebounds.

(Field Level Media)

GBBFF to hold AGM and Elections tomorrow at Giftland Mall Admin building The Guyana Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation will be hosting its AGM and elections at the Giftland Mall Administration Building, Turkeyen, ECD at 11:00AM tomorrow, 24th March 2019.

All stakeholders in the sport are urged to come out and participate, and ventilate matters pertinent to the sport of bodybuilding in Guyana.

Person’s will have an

opportunity to freely engage and question current members and vying members for the various post, to seek clarity on all front burner issues relating to the sport.

Agenda 1. President’s Report 2. Minutes of previous AGM 3. Treasurer’s Report 4. Motions 5. Elections of the new Board Members 6. Any other business.

Saturday March 23, 2019

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Secure Innovations & Concepts Inc. supports Covent Garden Primary to witness Guyana v Belize clash A number of students and teachers would be attending this evening’s match of the Concacaf Nations League between Guyana’s Golden Jaguars and the Belize Jaguars, thanks to the largesse of Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc. through its Managing Director, Harold Hopkinson.

The businessman acquiesced to a request by the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) to purchase tickets for some of the students and teachers of the Covent Garden Primary School to attend this evening’s match.

Mr. Hopkinson in accepting the request said that while it is part of his company’s social responsibility to give back to society, he was happy for the fact that students would be able to be a part of history and be able to roar with the Golden Jaguars to victory.

“My company has always been giving back to sports

and when we were approached to be a part of this event we had no hesitation in supporting especially with youths being involved. Our company would like to wish the team and Guyana the best in their quest to create history on Saturday night.”

HM of Covent Garden Primary, Gonsalves-Ibrahim expressed sincere thanks to Mr. Hopkinson, Secure Innovations and Concepts and the EBFA for affording her students and teachers the opportunity to be a part of today’s huge match.

Meanwhile, the GFF has partnered with bus operators to provide a service for those who want to witness the game but may have transportation difficulties. A reasonable return cost is attached.

Attached is a scheduled of the bus schedule from several areas on the East Coast and East Bank Demerara and cost.

HM of Covent Garden Primary School, Stacey Gonsalves-Ibrahim receives the tickets from GFF EBFA TDO, Devnon Winter.

Janet Jagan Memorial Windball cricket on today at Gymnasium The National Sports Commission Department of Social Cohesion MOTP Sponsored Janet Jagan Memorial Schools Windball Cricket clash of the Champions one day programme is set for today. The programme will get on the way at 10:00am inside the National Gymnasium as scheduled. Director of Sports Christopher Jones will be at the venue for 11:30 to declare the event open.

“Over the last two tournaments, which were the Forbes Burnham Foundation and the Cheddi Jagan Memorial, we have seen a high level of

sportsmanship from our schools, which were drawn from Region 3, East Coast, Bank Demerara and Georgetown and also the Region 1 teams. Those Tournaments transcends sports, it show that it promotes Unity, Harmony and Oneness in keeping with the Motto of Guyana and we will continue to do everything to keep that among our young Guyanese, not only in the regions mentioned, but in the others such as Regions 2, 3, 5, 6 and 10,” an official of the organisers stated.

At stake are trophies and medals in both the Female & Male divisions.

Police Commissioner Birthday Inter-Division T20

Yesterday’s matches postponed due to Police duties Day five matches in the Commissioner of Police Birth Anniversary Inter-Division and Branches T20 cricket tournament, which were scheduled for yesterday at Eve Leary, were postponed due Police duties.

The next round is set for Tuesday but yesterday’s fixture could be played before then (possible Monday) if all the players are available.

Yesterday ‘C’ Division was set the battle ‘E’ Division in the morning game from 09:00hrs before ‘D’ Division played TSU. President Guards are the defending Champions.

Malteenoes sixes cricket bowls off today at MSC - Johnson, Barnwell & Jacobs to headline Event All roads lead to the Malteenoes Sports Club from 10:00hrs today for the Thomas Road Club’s eagerly anticipated fund raising sixes cricket competition in which the winner walks away with cash, a beautiful Trophy and bragging rights.

The runners-up will collect a trophy, while the funds raised will be used for Malteenoes’ club renovation and soon to be completed All-Weather practice facility behind the club house, Take-away lunches will be sold.

Pulsating Music will entertain what is expected to be a full house today and the entire family is encouraged to turn out to see what should be a day of scintillating cricket

on the field and fun and folic beyond the boundary. Come and see the record breaking Guyana Jaguars Captain Leon Johnson whose five consecutive First-Class titles is the most by any Regional Skipper as he hopes to lead GCC to the $100,000 winners prise. Chris Barnwell, the pugnacious DCC, Guyana and West Indies T20 power hitter will want show why he is called the domestic bully. The pair, along with Malteenoes Captain Steve Jacobs will headline the day’s event which will include the Host GCC, DCC, GINIC and TSC battling for top honours.

(Sean Devers)

Leon Johnson will hope to lead GCC to the $100,000 winner’s prize today.

PAGE 30

Saturday March 23, 2019

Kaieteur News

Industrial Safety Supplies Inc. ensures 30 students from Diamond Sec. & St. John’s College back the Golden Jaguars tonight Guyana’s quest to create history by qualifying for the Concacaf Gold Cup next month for the first time ever will have the backing of dozens of students from schools on the East Bank, West Demerara and Georgetown.

Quite a number of business entities have heeded the call of the Guyana Football Federation to purchase tickets and distribute to schools to afford students the opportunity to be a part of history as well as to fuel the Golden Jaguars to victory this evening when they take on Belize from 18:30hrs at the Leonora Track and Field Facility, Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

Industrial Safety Supplies Inc. of 226 Camp Street, North Cummingsburg has ensured that students and teachers from Diamond Secondary and St. John’s College attend the match this evening to rally around their Golden Jaguars.

Yesterday, Technical Development Officer of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) attached to the East Bank Football Association ( E B FA ) , D e v n o n Wi n t e r h a n d e d over 15 tickets to Head Mistress of Diamond Secondary School, Ms. Lesline Collins.

E B FA President Franklin Wilson, in brief remarks during the schools

assembly, informed the students and teachers of the importance of today’s match, citing the historical nature of same. Wilson encouraged all the students, even those who will not be there, to rally around the Guyanese team and propel them to victory.

St. John’s College was also the recipient of a similar amount of tickets and they too, through their HM expressed gratitude for the gesture of the sponsor to have them as one of the school to benefit.

Manager of Industrial Safety Supplies Inc. Hemant Narine said that his company was very pleased to partner with the GFF to ensure that students and some teachers can attend today’s match and support the Golden Jaguars to whom he extended best of luck to on behalf of his staff.

Guyana is 90 minutes from creating history in the 117th year of its existence by qualifying for the Concacaf Gold Cup. Standing in its path is Belize which is also chasing down a spot at the Gold Cup; but the home team is confident of getting past this final hurdle and with the support of the students, teachers and the thousands of other Guyanese expected to invade Leonora, victory will be accomplished easier.

Diamond Secondary School HM, Lesline Collins accepts the tickets from GFF/EBFA TDO, Devnon Winter in the presence of students.

Physical Education Teacher of St. John’s College and some of the students that will be attending today’s match show off their ticket.

MILO Schools Football tournament NSC assists Guyana Table Tennis Round of sixteen matches commence Association The National Sports Commission (NSC), and by extension the Director of Sports, Christopher Jones yesterday handed over a cheque to Mr. Godfrey Munroe (President) of the Guyana Table Tennis Association.

This is in support of the 61st Senior Caribbean Ta b l e Te n n i s Championships and Pan Am Qualification event which will see teams from Guyana, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica Barbados St Vincent, St Kitts, Trinidad a n d To b a g o , A r u b a , Dominican Republic, St Lucia, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Suriname, French Guiana and Haiti participating.

The event is slated to start Monday March 25, and conclude on Sunday, March 31, and will be held a t t h e C l i ff A n d e r s o n

today

Charlestown Secondary and Golden Grove Secondary will open the round-of-sixteen phase of the current Milo Schools Football tournament today.

Set for 11:00hrs at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground, Carifesta Avenue, the double header will also

Director of Sports Christopher Jones (right) presents the cheque to Godfrey Munroe of the GTTA. Sports Hall, Homestretch Av e n u e w i t h a c t i o n starting at 2:00pm.

The NSC wishes the best of luck to all teams

participating and urges the public to come out and support our athletes as they represent Guyana to their best ability.

feature Cummings Lodge taking on The Bishops’ High School.

On Sunday, four matches are carded with the opening game featuring East Coast’s Annandale Secondary and East Bank’s Friendship Secondary.

The unbeaten Christianburg/Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) will be up next at 13:00hrs as

The round-of-sixteen action in the MILO schools football tournament begins today at the Ministry of Education Ground Carifesta Avenue.

they play Canje Secondary for a spot in the quarterfinals.

St Cuthbert’s Mission and Vergenoegen will match skills at 15:00hrs, while the last game of the day will pit President’s College and Queen’s College at 17:00hrs.

On Monday at 15:30hrs St John’s College will take on St Stanislaus College, while from 17:30hrs Lodge Secondary go up against Tucville.

Saturday March 23, 2019

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

GABA/Let’s Bet Sports knockout tournament

Mixed results for Pepsi Sonics

Pepsi Sonics.

The Guyana Amateur Basketball Association (GABA)/Let’s Bet Sports First and Second Division Knockout Tournament commenced under lights at the Burnham Hard Court on Tuesday night, on Carmichael Street as the Vikings and Sonics advanced to the next round of the competition.

In the first Second Division match-up of the night, Sonics lost to the Vikings 74-69 in a one-sided affair.

At the beginning of the match, the Vikings had the upper hand and were able to maintain it throughout the first quarter leading 15-12.

Going into the second quarter, Vikings lost their way as they practically handed the Sonics the entire session 25-12, heading into the third period with the Sonics leading 37-24.

But the Vikings pulled it back in the third quarter 1911 as they put the rubber to the road and upped the ante on their play.

With the score at 48-43 still favouring the Sonics, the Vikings were looking at a potential upset, but it was at that exact moment that they pulled the rug from under the

feet of the Sonics as they switched gears, winning the final period 28-21 and securing another match against the Guardians.

Top-scoring for the Vikings were Leon Lee and Jeffery Wilkinson with 17 and 8 points respectively, despite an effort from Sonics’ Shamar Anderson and Jacques Vincente with 20 and 11 points individually.

In the First Division, the Sonics brushed aside the Trojans 70-62.

Heading into the first quarter the Trojans won 1211 but only leading by one point meant that the window of opportunity was still open to anyone.

The Sonics bounced back as they led the second half 23-16 to put themselves in contention for victory, but

miraculously the Trojans won the third quarter 14-9 leaving the score still in favour of the Sonics at 43-42, heading into the final round. Eventually, the pressure got to the Trojans as they lost the final round 20-27 to hand the Sonics victory and their ticket into the next round of the tournament.

The Sonics will now go on to play the Ravens.

Hamilton Green Cup starts April 7 at Den Amstel Co-ordinator of the upcoming Hamilton Green 9a-side Cup, Lennox Arthur, is promising fans three days of exciting action when the tournament kicks off on April 7, at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground.

The annual Inter-Ward / Village extravaganza will see teams battle for prize monies in excess of $500,000 with the winners set to receive $300,000 and the John Fernandes Ltd trophy, while second, third and fourth place finishers will take home $100,000, $60,000 and $40,000 respectively.

They will also be presented with the Courtney Benn, Techno Mills and Ready Mix trophies respectively, while the winner and runner-up will be given hampers compliments of Ricks & Sari Ltd. The Most Valuable Player will receive Dinette chairs, while the Best Goalkeeper will win a trophy donated by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Among the sponsors on board are: National Sports Commission, Minister of State, Prime Minister, Minister of Legal Affairs, New Thriving Restaurant, Top Brandz, IPA, Sattaur Gafoor, Guyana Police Force, Michael Cummings Electrical, Alfro Alphonso,& Sons, NaMilCo, B.E.V. Investments, BK International, E.C. Vieira, Sparta Family, Starr Computers, Star Party Rentals, E-Networks and A.H &L Kissoon.

Lennox Arthur Meanwhile, fixtures for the first two days are seen below: Vergenoegen versus Timehri Soesdyke vs. Jetty De Kindren vs. Lilliendaal Kuru Kururu vs.

Stewartville North East La Penitence vs. Agricola Sara Lodge vs. Mocha Goed Fortuin vs. Back Street Kings Winner of 1 vs. 3 Winner of 2 vs. 4 Winner of 5 vs. 7 Winner of 6 vs. 8 Sunday, April 14 Bagotsville vs. Sophia Wales vs. Mahaica Plaisance vs. Belle West Stars Kitty vs. Sparta Family Mahaicony vs. Crane Pouderoyen vs. Vreed-enHoop Uitvlugt vs. Lima Dam Den Amstel vs. West Side Masters Winner of 1 vs. 3 Winner of 2 vs. 4 Winner of 5 vs. 7 Winner of 6 vs. 8

University of Guyana Trojans.

International Kyokushinkai Martial Arts Academy holds Health Walk April 7th The Guyana International Kyokushinkai Martial Arts Academy would like to invite the general public to their Annual Health and Fitness Walk on the 7th April. The purpose of this walk is to raise awareness for a healthy lifestyle and well-being.

They have invited numerous talented professionals and distinguished organisations to participate in this event as they aim to link young people with elders in an array of specialized areas in an attempt to: i) Motivate and inspire Guyanese from all walks of life to work together ii) To encourage collaboration in the spirit of unity and social cohesion

iii) To raise awareness of health and well-being nationwide.

Assembly time 5:30am and the walk commence 6:00am.

The route for the walk would be as follows: starting from Parade Ground onto Church Street, around Vlissengen Road, then to Lamaha Street and return to the Parade ground. There will be Work Outs by various groups, Self Defence Displays by senior instructors and special addresses from special invitees.

For additional information, please feel free to contact the Organizing Secretary, Ms. Maranda Benett on 675-5872 or at bennett.maranda@hotmail.com or Soke, NazimYassim on 6627211 or at n_yassim@hotmail.com.

Hamilton Green

PAGE 32

Saturday March 23, 2019

Kaieteur News

Bakewell and Digicel give tickets for Concacaf Nations League - BV, Linden, Kingston and Tiger Bay youths benefit Clash of the Jaguars Yesterday Bakewell of Beterverwagting (BV) on the East Coast and Telephone Company Digicel made presentations of tickets to youths from several communities including BV, Linden, Kingston and Tiger Bay in the city to witness the Concacaf Nations League Guyana vs Belize – Clash of the Jaguars football game today at the Leonora Track and Field Football ground.

Digicel Guyana handed over a quantity of tickets to several youths of the Kingston Football Development Academy Camp

which will afford youngsters from the Kingston and Tiger Bay Communities a rewarding experience to see the Golden Jaguars secure a spot for a chance to qualify for the Gold Cup. Mr. Forrester who is very instrumental in reviving the “Kingston Community Football Development Academy” has assured that this will be an opportunity of a lifetime for some of the children, “…they love football so this will be very exciting for them to witness a game of this magnitude first hand”. Forrester noted that

Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major (right) presents the ticket to Mayor of Linden Waneka Arrindell in the presence of her deputy Mr. Wayne Bethune.

this experience will go a long way for the young ones.

Digicel believes in imparting positive experiences that will impact youths in communities across Guyana. In the simple handing over it was noted by Vidya Sanichara that Kingston is very special to Digicel and opportunities such as these are never taken for granted, since this is a significant game for the Jaguars we are delighted to be able to provide the opportunity to these young ones.

Meanwhile, up on the East Coast at the Bakewell head office at BV, Roy Van Tull, Sales Manager of the company, presented tickets to representatives of the BV community for youngsters in that area to get the chance to see the contest.

Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major in turn gave tickets sponsored by Bakewell to Mayor of Linden Waneka Arrindell in the presence of her deputy Mr. Wayne Bethune. These tickets will be afforded to youngsters from the Linden area. Bakewell over the years has been very supportive of sports.

These business entities have heeded the call by the Football Federation to rally behind the team buy purchasing match tickets and donating to mainly youths around the country.

Herstelling and Nandy Park to clash in ISG Sterling Products Ltd T20 final tomorrow Herstelling and Nandy Park will clash in the final of the ISG Sterling Products Ltd T20 final tomorrow at Laluni.

Herstelling will be led by Anand Bharat and include Quazim Yusuf, Safraz Esau, Roman Daniels, Rondel Daniels, Trevor Parris, Ricky Sergeant, Delroy Williams, Sunil Narine, Reaz Esau and Narendra Puran.

Nandy Park will look to the likes of Rohan Sarjoo, Mark Robhe, Romain Muniram, John Champagne, Ryan Shun, Keon Morris and Eon Rodrigues. The game commences at 11:00hrs.

Roy Van Tull (centre) Sales Manager at Bakewell hands over the tickets to reps of the BV community.

Banks Beer jockeys with Jumbo Jet Triple Crown 2nd leg - ‘Not This Time’ looking to maintain top record This week, during a simple but significant press brief at Banks DIH’s head office at Thirst Park, the company which has been a long serving patron of horseracing, renewed their support by backing the second leg of the anticipated Jumbo Jet Triple Crown horserace meet which gallops off tomorrow at the Rising Sun Turf Club (RSTC) in West Coast Berbice (45 minutes from Georgetown).

Present at the ceremony were Chairman of the race meet’s organising committee; Nasrudeen Mohamed Jr., and Outdoor Events Manager of Banks DIH Mortimer Stewart along with other representatives of the company.

Mohamed expressed gratitude on behalf of the

organisers, while noting that good relationships with sponsors are needed as the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee (JJTRC) looks to develop horseracing in Guyana significantly in the not so distant future.

Tomorrow’s Triple Crown second leg will see the invasion of jockeys from Trinidad & Tobago along with a commentator from the twinisland republic and the return of ‘Vera’s Finally’ that is undefeated at the RSTC. In addition, during an invited comment yesterday, Mohamed shared that the 2018 three-year-old horse of the year, ‘Not this time’ from Sophia will be in action rearing and ready to go.

Almost 70 entries have been registered and it was

shared by Mohamed Jr. that the track is in good condition and it will maintain its standard once good weather upholds. Over $20million in cash and prizes are up grabs over the three legs of the Triple Crown event with the grand finale slated for Easter Sunday, April 21, at the Port Mourant Turf Club.

Tomorrow’s feature race will attract a total prize purse of almost $2million with the winner of that ‘C’ Class and Lower contest pocketing $1million. The winner of the three-year-old Guyana bred race will pocket $400,000, the ‘F’ Class winner; $350,000, ‘H’ Class; $300,000, ‘I’ Class; $250,000, ‘J’ class; $230,000, ‘K’ Class; $220,000, ‘L’ Class; $200,000, ‘L’ Class and lower; $140,000.

Kaieteur News

Saturday March 23, 2019

GMR&SC Drag Championship

‘Mad Max’ returns to the Strip Having dominated the Superbike category in 2016 and 2017, Mark ‘Mad Max’ Menezes will no doubt be aiming to continue his dominance of the division tomorrow, when the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) stages its first

Performance vehicle.

The confirmation of the Dutch competitors will add to the excitement of tomorrow’s meet but the headline with be Team Mohamed’s and their pair of Nissan GTR cars.

Cars were seen testing on

Superbike racer, Mark ‘Mad Max’ Menezes poses on his 600cc CBR during a previous meet.

round of the National Drag Championship at the South Dakota Circuit’s recently upgraded drag strip.

Menezes didn’t compete in 2018 but his return comes just after the club has recently installed a launch pad which cost in excess of $20million.

In the past, ‘Mad Max’ in his CBR 600cc bike has swept aside all challenges and had even offered to confront the powerful Toyota Caldina of Champion 8-second class Driver Shawn Persaud, but found out that he was no match for the S&D

the venue Thursday and yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s meet and the feedback on the traction was of general satisfaction.

Ticket prices for fans desirous of witnessing the action will cost $1000 for adults, $500 for children, while there is VIP seating available at $4000.

The sponsors for the event include Mohamed’s Enterprise, BM Soat Auto Sales, Motor Trend Service Centre, Delco Ice Factory, Trans-Pacific Motor Spares, Supreme Ventures, Air Services Limited,

PowerLine Auto, Cyril’s Taxi, Omega Brokers, ENetworks, Prem’s Electrical, Miracle Optical, Choke Gas Station and Super Bet, R. Kissoon Contracting Services, Hand-in-Hand Insurance and Top Brandz Distributors.

PAGE 33

t r o Sp

Banks Beer jockeys with Jumbo Jet Triple Crown 2nd leg P.

‘Not This Time’ looking to maintain top record

Nasrudeen Mohamed Jr. (second right) alongside Mortimer Stewart of Banks (right) pose with the championship trophy during the presentation earlier in the week.

30

Not this time will be in action tomorrow at Rising Sun Turf Club in West Coast Berbice.

Bakewell and Digicel give tickets for Concacaf Nations League Clash of the Jaguars

GABA/Let’s Bet Sports knockout tournament

P. 30

BV, Linden, Kingston and Tiger Bay youths benefit

A dunk from Darren Vanderstoop against Vikings in a losing effort for his side Pepsi Sonics.

P.

29

Mixed results for Pepsi Sonics

Youths from the Kingston and Tiger Bay community receive their Concacaf Nations League Guyana vs. Belize tickets at Digicel’s Head office in Kingston.

GMR&SC Drag Championship

P.

31

‘Mad Max’ returns to the Strip

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