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Kaieteur News
Saturday March 25, 2017
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL Do what is necessary Since taking office more than twenty months ago, the government had to face a population with high expectations and with the characteristics of everyone for him or herself. It inherited a failing economy, a high crime rate, a collapsing infrastructure, poor education and health care systems, massive corrupt practices at almost every government department and state agency. The country was in a parlous and frightening state. And while it seems that there was no quick fix to the problems, the government moved quickly to instill some balance in order to calm the fears of the people. However, since the elections, there has been relative calm but there has been a negative approach in regards to cooperation or the lack thereof between the government and the opposition on almost all issues. The opposition seems to believe that by not cooperating the stage would be set for another sharply divided elections contest. Given the poor state of the economy and the high crime rate in 2015, the government did take some immediate corrective measures to reduce crime and prevent any further slide of the economy. It devoted its first year in office to steadying the ship of state by reducing spending in line with much lower revenue projection. The massive amounts spent on the jubilee celebrations, especially on the D’Urban Park project were viewed as a blip on tight financial control until people sent the word that the country was fifty years old and would never be fifty years old again. The nation is witnessing lower production output, a shortfall in revenues which have negatively impacted infrastructure development, health care and education and a claim of foreign currency shortage. There are other negative issues which need to be corrected. A wise person once said that humility is not a popular virtue with most people, but it is needed to get the job done. Not only are some ministers arrogant, but they are also in denial. Those who believe that they can fool the people have ended up fooling themselves. The government seems to be inundated with complaints, especially about the parking meters, but finding solutions for the good and the betterment of society seems to be a great challenge. There are simplistic solutions to most of the country’s problems but it means having the best qualified people on the job. The truth is the government is very slow to take corrective action in critical areas. Guyana has an effective and profitable private sector so how is it that in the same country there is an inefficient public sector? Although they are not the same, the modus operandi of effective management should always apply. There are several underdeveloped countries that have probably encountered and solved some of the same problems, so why not Guyana. The government should hire experienced and qualified personnel locally and from the diaspora to help solve some of the problems facing the country. Those in authority should humble themselves and ask for help. Yet there are those who fail to see that they are as important as the government when it comes to national development. These are the people who must challenge those who are seeking to do everything to block progress. How can dedicated people sit back and watch persons try to siphon all the foreign currency and so force the cost of living to rise. They want to make the government fail. As things go, should the government take the appropriate action there is bound to be a complaint of victimization as is the case whenever the Opposition Leader comments on an issue. Sometimes a government has to do whatever is necessary. Things are no different now.
Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.
Welcoming the proposed animal welfare legislation Dear Editor, I refer to my letter in your edition of March 23, captioned, “A brief history of my involvement in animal protection,” and would appreciate the publication of my conclusion here. Often Dr. Emmanuel Cummings and I struggled to cope with the large amount of companion animals which arrived at the SPCA. I recalled registering 64 animals one Tuesday afternoon, they included many exotic species which included caimans, snakes, tiger cats and wild hogs among others; it was blows! We soon enlisted the assistance of two friends and we still worked very hard. I wrote the British SPCA and solicited training for two persons but only secured funding for one and Mr. Noel Marques pursued training in London. While at the SPCA, the need was felt for stricter animal welfare legislation, many persons who had the money to buy animals just bought them and
mistreated them. There was one gentleman who bought a dog and a tiger, raised them both, and then put them to mate, the tiger just ate the dog! Then persons were mating dogs of incompatible types, such indiscriminate breeding only produced –monstrosities – in the words of the then vice president of the SPCA Steve Surujbally. This exposed the animal to great discomfort and dirty the bloodlines which requires foreign exchange to replenish. It is in this context that the proposed animal welfare legislation, once properly crafted, will assist Guyana to develop. All middle income countries have such legislation. For example, Guyana has produced some very good breeders of dogs and cats, a few exported animals with great difficulties; others just stop breeding out of sheer frustration. The proposed legislation will provide protection to unsuspecting persons who purchase companion
animals, many of whom are habitually ripped off in the absence of such legislation. Professional breeders will also be able to protect the intellectual property and purity of their bloodlines, which is very important to a breeder. Guyanese breeders will be able to obtain very high quality breeding stock from overseas because international breeders will have a guarantee that agreements of sale and ‘farming out’ agreements will be honoured by the laws of Guyana, so they will have greater confidence in the system as well. A lot of work was done to this end over the years, when the Canine Club sought to register dogs which originate overseas; we had to fulfill some rigid criteria. In 1994, we needed an official attestation from the government. We took this up with the government and Dr. Cheddi Jagan instructed then (Continued on page 6)
There are poor service standards in Guyana Dear Editor, In the light of deteriorated service standards, an exceptional event was captured and published on the front page of Kaieteur News’ Monday, March 20, 2017 edition captioned ‘Steady as she goes’. It was the photograph of a young policeman, in full gear, using his free hand to assist a senior citizen to cross the roadway. The scenario served as a timely reminder of what the Guyana Police Force’s motto ascribes “Service and Protection”. The action of that policeman is particularly commendable since it is often worrisome when some servicemen are observed turning a blind eye on matters within their mandate. Hence, his exceptional service is not just noteworthy but exemplary. We are all too familiar with shoddy customer service even from representatives of supposedly reputable entities. Most of the disservice is directly related to a lack of professionalism. There are a number of factors that contribute to poor professional behavior. The most common factor often cited as a justification by defaulters is inadequate
remuneration. What I suspect though is t h a t c o m p l a c e n c y, a r r o g a n c e , incompetence and insensitivity are the main evil forces that haunt our service sectors. Service ethics, practices, standards and recourse mechanisms seem to be at an all time low in probably all sectors. With regularity one can write to an entity or enter an office and the service staff seems unreservedly reluctant to provide the relevant attention. When and if they do, without prompting, standard courtesies or greetings are often faint to absent. The service one receives thereafter is often guided by the initial greeting, or mood of the providers. A troubling reality is the evident oblivion, where our society seems to be in an advanced stage of acceptance to those unsatisfactory and uncultured substandard trends of disservice. It has become so endemic across sectors that there is often stout resistance or retribution to anyone who dares object to poor quality of services and standards. Such is the situation in some mini-bus zones. Such is the situation with a nine (9) month old report to GPL under reference # 344235
(which I shall detail in a subsequent article). Government is urged to engage key representatives within the Public and Private Sectors to implement mechanisms that will require their agents, staff and representatives to provide good services and serve the Guyanese public with deserving courtesy and professionalism. The implementation of corrective systems, whether meritorious or punitive as a means of attitudinal improvement, should be considered. Poor service standards have adverse socio-economic effects. They create discouragement, dissatisfaction and frustration. They stymie entrepreneurship and affect investors’ confidence. The action of that captioned policeman assisting a member of the public should serve as a societal inspiration to those of us who serve. Individual and corporate service providers should challenge themselves daily to serve with honour, despite any underlying personal or institutional challenges. Service should be dispensed the way we would like to receive it! Orette Cutting
President Granger may be committing presidential malfeasance Dear Editor, David Granger has now formally declared in writing that he is ignoring the constitutional provision (Article 161) that the Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) must be appointed by the President from a list of persons who meet one of three qualifications: a person who is or was a judge, a person qualified to be a judge or a person who is considered because of other qualifications to be fit and proper to serve as the GECOM Chair. In effect, by his letter to the Leader of the Opposition, Granger has signaled his intention of not adhering to a certain part of the constitution. For me this is Executive Lawlessness and PRESIDENTIAL MALFEASANCE. In addition to effectively ignoring
article 161, Granger has also essentially re-inserted a provision previously deleted more than 20 years ago in 1995 by a unanimous vote of Parliament. The deleted provision in the 1980 constitution provided that the only person qualified to be the Chair of the elections commission was a person who is or was a judge or a person eligible to be a judge. In his letter to the Leader of the Opposition this past week, Granger essentially imposed this deleted provision of the Constitution, in effect, declaring he is disavowing the 1995 Constitutional amendment of article 161. Under an agreement in 1991 brokered by former US President, Jimmy Carter, it was agreed to extend the pool of persons who could be
considered qualified by the addition of a third category of qualifications. This was formalized by a Constitutional Amendment in 1995 by a Parliamentary vote in which every member voted in favor. Desmond Hoyte voted to make this change. While Granger was not a Parliamentarian at the time, Nagamootoo, his Prime Minister now, and Rupert Roopnarine, his Minister of Education, were and they voted for this change. Since 1991, using this constitutional provision, more than 90% of the persons nominated to serve as the Chair of GECOM have been persons who satisfied the third category of qualifications. David Granger himself was twice nominated in this category. (Continued on page 6)
Saturday March 25, 2017
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President Granger’s six characteristics are impossible to comprehend DEAR EDITOR, By now, Article 161(2) of the Constitution of Guyana must be one of the most familiar provisions of that document to the populace. Nevertheless, in light of recent events, I find myself compelled to recite it, again, for public consumption. The relevant portion provides: ”…the Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge, or any other fit and proper person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation with the non-governmental political parties represented in the National Assembly.” It is instructive to note that Justice Duke Pollard, a retired Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), whose interpretation of this
Article, initially, differed from mine because he utilized the ejusdem generis cannon of construction to conclude that the different category of persons contemplated by the Article must flow from the same genus, in his latest letter in the press, conceded that Section 5 of the Interpretation and General Clauses Act, abolished the ejusdem generis rule in Guyana. Justice Pollard credited yours truly for bringing this issue to the nation’s attention. I assume that Justice Pollard and I are now at ad idem on the interpretation of this Article. I take comfort from the fact that his was the only opinion of substance which departed from mine on the interpretation of Article 161(2) of the Constitution of Guyana. It is now public knowledge that President David Granger has furnished the Leader of the Opposition with his opinion ”…of the qualities that the candidate to be Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission should possess.” In a part of the missive captioned: ”Qualities of the Chairman of the Guyana Election Commission”, the
President makes three statements, which are numbered sequentially and expressed in such curious language that I can do no better than set it out verbatim: “(1) The candidate should be a person who is qualified to be a Judge of the High Court under Article 129 of the Constitution and under Section 5 of the High Court Act, Cap. 3:02; (2) The person should have been an Attorney-atLaw for a minimum of 7 years according to Section 5 of the High Court Act, Cap. 3:02; (3) In the absence of 1 and 2 above ‘any other fit and proper person’ should be appointed according to Article 161 (2) of the Constitution.” Section 5 of the High Court Act provides, that for a person to be qualified to be appointed as a Judge, under Article 129 of the Constitution, that person must be an Attorney-at-Law of at least seven (7) years standing. Two quick observations must be made in respect of (1, 2 & 3) above. Firstly, one would recognize that its flawed language aside, (2) above is otiose, redundant and unnecessary.
Secondly, there is absolutely nothing in Article 161 (2) of the Constitution, which lends to the view, either expressly or by implication, that only in the absence of a Judge, or a former Judge or a person qualified to be such a Judge, then one must resort to the ‘fit and proper’ person category, as is insinuated in (3) above. The continued conferment of some measure of precedence and priority upon one category of persons over the other is not provided for, contemplated or countenance by
Article 161 (2) and it is simply ultra vires to do so. The framers intended for the different categories of persons to be treated equally and they are equally qualified to be appointed Chairman. No amount of political machinations will pollute the clear language of the Constitution. The President’s missive continues: “The categories of persons specified above are necessary because such persons should have the following characteristics”. Six (6) different sets of characteris-
tics are next set out in the document. But before I venture there, I must point out that even the favoured category of the President, that is, a Judge, a former Judge or a person qualified to be a Judge, does not appear to meet the President’s requirements, although, Article 161 (2) clearly qualifies them without any additional requirements. Indeed, the word ”other” which follows in Article 161(2) them and (Continued on page 6)
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More descriptions of blocked canals in Georgetown DEAR EDITOR, I refer to my letter of March 24, in your newspaper, captioned, “A description of blocked canals in Georgetown.” Please permit a continuation of my description. Georgetowners should not dismiss North Road and South Road canals. While we are discussing canals, so vital to our drainage system, take a look at low tide of the one on Main/High Street, just in front of City Hall, one will witness the silt reaching up to the edge of the concreted canal. Princess Street canal at its eastern points is always filled with water, which means that there is blockage toward the Demerara River end. Sussex Street from the top at Mandela to the multi-million dollar drug bond is always full, being that from Saffon Street bridge to the koker, there is blockage. The koker attendant remarked that Sussex Street is a collection of ponds. Figure out that statement. Any little bit of rainfall and Albouystown is flooded. Ruimveldt Canal can never be excavated because
of the hundreds of squatters who have to eke out an existence on both sides up to Cemetery Road at least, and beyond eastward. That these Guyanese have lived there for several years is a serious embarrassment to successive Central Governments. Has any effort been made to resettle them close to Georgetown? A paper was presented to the President signed by residents of Tiger Bay to re-settle all who live in such conditions on land where they could form a community and be productive citizens. Perhaps we should resubmit the document for all to read. When officials wring their hands and lament that they cannot excavate this Ruimveldt canal which will lessen the drainage problems of South Georgetown, they abdicate their humanity. For how many more years would these folks have to endure indignity by living in these horrific conditions? There are matters like the congestion of what we refer to as downtown Georgetown, perhaps meaning the Stabroek Market area.
All are fighting for this hallowed space, pedestrians, Fire Service, mini-buses, produce and other vendors and others, not to exclude the East Bank Demerara hire cars. In an article in 1987-01-26, Mayor Robert Williams stated that street vendors on the road leading to the stelling have an unfair advantage over legitimate stall-holders of the market. Since that time more and more vendors have been plying their trades not only on the road to the stelling, all along Water Street the competition for the roadway continues. In 1998, the government of the day invited Trinidad and Tobago Chief Planning Engineer to help with the congestion caused by the mini-buses. He had much to say, all of which were put aside for us to inherit the chaos as at present. Mayor Green wanted to place the mini-buses on Hadfield Steet. This effort was thwarted through Court action by lawyers operating on Hadfield Street. Justice Persaud threw out the objection citing the ruling of a Mumbai High Court Judge,
President Granger may be committing... From page 4 Moreover, ALL of the appointed Chair of GECOM since 1991 have come from this category. Until now, no one ever asserted the asinine idea that the constitution prefers only a judge. No law or any amendment of the Constitution can be made by the President by himself and in his own deliberate judgment. Only Parliament can make laws. The constitution cannot be changed, except by Parliament or by a National Referendum. David Granger is acting unlawfully when he decides that he prefers a disavowed law to the actual law. He is committing PRESIDENTIAL MALFEASANCE. He is effectively discarding the constitution approved by the Parliament for one created by an Executive Order. I am encouraged that a private citizen, who happens to be the brother of Granger’s son-inlaw, an APNU+AFC Minister, has decided to challenge in court this behaviour of the President. The Leader of the
Opposition had previously recommended to the President that the government and the opposition jointly approach the CCJ to provide guidance on the constitutional requirement for persons eligible to be the GECOM Chair. One wonders why Granger and APNU+AFC are afraid to accept this recommendation. For Granger, presumably on the advice of Basil Williams, his Attorney General, to insist that the GECOM Chair must be a Judge is offensive. If this is what the stakeholders meant or intended, then why did they agree to a new formula which was implemented in 1990 and which was statutorized in the constitution by a unanimous vote in 1995? I was present at the meeting with Jimmy Carter when the intention was agreed to. Cheddi Jagan, Gail Teixeira and Rupert Roopnarine were there too. There was no ambiguity. It was never intended then or in any way suggested that a Judge or someone who could
be a Judge was a preferred person. For anyone to read the 1995 constitutional requirement as a preference for a Judge only is absolute hypocrisy and sheer stupidity and willful abrogation of the constitution. The truth is APNU+AFC has already decided who they want to be the Chair of GECOM. It is part of a broad strategy to deal with the 2020 elections. This obfuscation is setting the stage to reject the second list from Bharat Jagdeo. Even if the Leader of the Opposition nominates six judges, they all will be rejected and Granger will appoint the Chair in his own deliberate judgment. But in so doing he will be acting as a dictator, in total contravention of the Constitution. By insisting that the nominees must be a judge or someone who could be a judge, Granger is imposing his own law. He is guilty of PRESIDENTIAL MALFEASANCE. When anyone disrespects and disobeys the constitution, a nation’s democracy is threatened. When that someone is the President, the country is doomed. We must as a people resist this confounded nonsense. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
who said a Municipality has the right to provide services to its citizens without restraint. The matter was taken to Appeals Court, where it may have found permanent residence. At the same Hadfield Street parapets, there is a filling station, now being enlarged, a trade union office, a car sales oultet, a cement block manufacturing and another repairs facility. The congestion of the municipal markets and the spread out of marketing facilities into parts of the City to meet the requirements of its citizens is vitally important. All of South Georgetown has to find transportation to Stabroek or Bourda. The LaPenitence Market is at the extreme end of the population of Albouystown, Charlestown and other nearby areas. There are other sore issues which need to be addressed, such matters as playfields in communities and so on. When would the remaining lands east of Cuffy Square be prepared for the people of Lodge, as playfields? Editor, we wish to commend those brave persons who came out to condemn the imposition of parking meters without propriety. That Central Government has finally acted on the matter is indication that we the people have scored our proper place in the scheme that Government at all levels must respect our wishes, after all we have the vote in our favour, a situation that those kind persons who availed themselves for the last Georgetown elections seem to be trampling in the dust. Would you say sour grapes/mango? Hafiz Rahman Rural People organization
Saturday March 25, 2017
I am not an operative of the opposition party DEAR EDITOR, One Ras Blackman has taken it upon himself to insinuate that I am a political operative of the Opposition because I rightly pointed out that Granger was wholly lacking in the vision required to move Guyana forward. Ras Blackman himself is obviously an apologist for the PNC-led Coalition and is quite content to skirt the real issues central to Guyana’s political and social advancement in favor of retaining what is so far turning out to be a grossly incompetent government on
both the political and economic fronts. Ras Blackman would be advised that far from being an operative for the Opposition, I find the politics of both the Peoples National Congress and the Peoples Progressive Party personally repugnant, and destructive to Guyana’s political and economic progress. I intend to establish a political party to contest the 2020 elections to offer Guyanese the opportunity to reclaim their country and take control of their future. Lance Cumberbatch
President Granger’s... From page 5 which precedes the words ”fit and proper person”, clearly means that these persons are already deemed fit and proper persons by the Article. Yet, the President is imposing additionally requirements upon them before, in his view, they are qualified for appointment. It is without doubt that in relation to these persons, the characteristics outlined by the President are in violation of and ultra vires of the Constitution. The matter is further compounded by the fact that the President’s letter implies that before a person qualifies he must possess All SIX of the characteristics outlined therein. I have examined these six (6) characteristics closely, and I say, without any equivocation, that I know of no person in Guyana who possesses all six (6) of those characteristics. A person is bound to fail in
at least one (1). Indeed, I doubt that the President himself can find a person who would fit the bill. Space will not permit me to examine all six (6) sets of characteristics so I will have to follow it up with another letter. Suffice it to say for now that some are even impossible to comprehend while others are in conflict with other provisions of the Constitution. For example, let us take the first one: “(a) That person is deemed to have wide electoral knowledge, capable of handling electoral matters because he or she is qualified to excise unlimited jurisdiction in civil matters;” Apart from the dubious language in which this statement is expressed, it is difficult to comprehend what manner of hybrid-being is contemplated therein. Anil Nandlall
Welcoming the proposed animal... From page 4 minister of agriculture Mr. Clinton Collymore to issue those documents to the relevant authorities. We also tried to invite a cruise ship which ferry dogs and owners to shows around the world. The then minister of home affairs provided a guarantee to the tour operators that the government was willing to do everything possible to make their visit here a success. We successfully lobbied the ministry of agriculture for Trinidad and Suriname to be removed from the restricted schedule which prevented
dogs being imported from those jurisdictions. The senior officers who addressed that matter were Dr. Lennox Applewaithe and Dr. Linden Dodson. Then came another problem, whenever a dog was imported, one had to leave the animal at the Timehri international airport to engage customs in Georgetown, this often took several days. We took the matter up with Messrs Bahadur, Linton and Bancroft and persons were allowed to remove the dogs to a safe environment then deal with customs, which brought much relief. So that things were being dealt with in a symptomatic and onerous manner. We even assisted persons who had pet shops to justify their case at commercial banks, since the banks did not understand the nuances of the pet and companion animal in-
dustry. We also started an animal journal which was more popular overseas than at home because of the general lack of awareness. In the end the economy could not support such a high end sport and we decided to lay the organisation to rest until such time that there is sufficient need for such a highly specialized service. When word of the proposed legislation was made public several enthusiasts met and took a decision to resuscitate the Guyana Canine Club. In summary, the proposed legislation will address matters as it relate to animals in its totality many of which currently negatively affect the lives of the average Guyanese, without our involvement in or knowledge of it. Clairmont Featherstone
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AG denies media report As conflicting testimonies surface in wake of reported threat to Judge Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, has denied ever making death threats to Justice Franklin Holder during the High Court matter involving Carvil Duncan. He has promised to take legal actions against Kaieteur News and another newspaper over reports which suggest that he threatened the Judge. During a press conference at the National Communications Network (NCN), yesterday, Williams said that he had taken over the custody of the Carvil Duncan versus the State case from the Deputy Solicitor General, Prithima Kissoon – who is on administrative leave – when he learnt that a cross examination was ordered. Williams related that he was accompanied by three lawyers and was forced to deal with Duncan’s lawyer, the former AG, Anil Nandlall, whom he said, was frequently “disturbing” the court. “Now when the judge said he was going to adjourn, I asked the judge if he could allow me one last question. At the time I was cross-examining the secretary for Minister Duncan. “She had said that every correspondence and mail that went to Mr. Duncan (and) anyone taking those mails to the Public Service Commission would directly give them to her. And so my final question to her was, whether she made records of any mail she received for Mr. Duncan and her answer was no.” Williams said that he was satisfied with the answer and returned to his seat.
Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams.
Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall.
“I saw the judge was about to leave and so I said sir, “Ex abundante cautela” out of excessive caution – could I inquire whether the answer ‘no’ was recorded. The Judge to my surprise, said, ‘Mr. Williams, you’re not in charge of my court’,” The AG said that the Judge took umbrage asking if it meant that he (the judge) had intentions of deliberately not recording the answer given by the Secretary. Williams said that he informed the Judge of his intentions and to solidify this, he made mention of an incident some years ago when he was cited for contempt by another judge whose interpretation differed from what Williams had conveyed. The AG said that he informed Justice Holder that the Judge in his tale is dead now. Nandlall’s account The Minister’s account seems to differ from the account of Nandlall, who de-
scribes the utterances by Williams to Justice Holder as an unfortunate, unprofessional and unethical outburst. Nandlall posited that this seems to be the “modus operandi” of the AG “when he loses a case or his incompetence is exposed, or he misbehaves. In his attempt to deflect blame from himself, he blames others.” Williams’s predecessor said that the utterances to Justice Holder were witnessed by at least two State Counsel of the AG’s Chambers. “I have no doubt he will either be forced to remain silent, or lie for him. Carvil Duncan, Carvil Duncan’s Confidential Secretary, Diana Persaud, Rajendra Jaigobin, Attorney-at-Law, members of the press, two Marshals of the High Court, my Personal Assistant Shivun Hutson, and a few persons who are unknown to me. These persons were all in the Court.”
Carvil Duncan Nandlall in a statement yesterday relayed his account of what transpired. “After nearly three hours of futile and ineffective crossexamination which yielded no answer supportive of his case, Mr. Williams started to get
agitated and accused the Judge of not accurately recording an answer from the witness. The Judge took umbrage to the accusation and an angry Williams in a loud tone of voice repeated the accusations. The Judge, again admonished him about the accusation and about his tone of voice, Williams then blurted out loudly, “I will speak how I want and say what I want anywhere I want… Furthermore the last Magistrate who did that to me was later found dead… and I am saying so… that the last Magistrate who did this to me was found dead,”Nandlall said. The Opposition Member of Parliament’s recollection was confirmed by Duncan yesterday during an interview. Nandlall said that the Judge walked off the bench, without adjourning the matter. “I had absolutely nothing
to do with the Judge walking off the Bench. I maintain that the above is a fair representation of what transpired based upon my recollection. I note, that the AG is threatening to go to Court. I challenge him to do so. I have no doubt that I will be vindicated.” Duncan was accused of being involved in the alleged purloining of $27M from the Guyana Power and Light (GPL). As a result, he was charged and a letter was sent to him by the Prime Minister – the designated authority – for him to show cause why a tribunal should not be set up by the President to look at the question of his removal from those constitutional offices that he held, including the Public Service Commission, the Judicial Service Commission and the Guyana Defence Force Commission. As a result, the matter was taken to court on behalf of Duncan. That matter has been engaging the courts.
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Cops step up hunt for shallow grave suspect Police have stepped up the hunt for the prime suspect in the bizarre murder of his cousin, whose corpse, with an arrow in the body, was found last Thursday in a shallow grave in the Central Rupununi. A senior police official disclosed that police had scoured areas at Moca Moca, Lethem on Thursday, where they were told the 28-year-old suspect was hiding, but came up empty-handed. However, the source appeared optimistic of an arrest soon. While police have an eyewitness, they are still to ascertain the motive for the kill-
ing. The body of Arnold Gordon, 24, a labourer of Crapaud Pond, Kumu Village, Central Rupununi, was found in a grave around 16.30hrs on Friday, in an area known as Tiger Plate, Central Rupununi. The victim was shot with an arrow under his right armpit. An iron rod was also found near the murder scene. The sole eyewitness to the killing is said to be a sixyear-old boy, who is the slain man’s cousin. According to reports, Gordon and his six-year-old cousin left home around 17:00hrs on Thursday to fish at a pond next to the Tiger
Plate area. While in the area, Gordon encountered the 28 year old cousin, who is unemployed, and an argument ensued. It is alleged that the suspect picked up a piece of wood and a metal rod and struck Gordon. The six year old, who was with Gordon, ran back home and told his grandmother. When Gordon failed to return home the following day, his mother reported the matter to a Toshao, who informed the police. The Toshao and a team conducted a search for Gordon and eventually located the corpse in a grave which was about two
feet deep. There have been six ‘disorderly’ murders for the year in ‘F’ Division. On Wednesday, February 1, the body of Henry Samuels, 69, with a stab wound to neck, was found in his home at Hosororo Hill, North West District. On February 12, Joseph Duncan, a 30-year-old block maker of Tabatinga, Rupununi, Essequibo, allegedly fatally stabbed Cheddi Glasgow, during an altercation. On February 18, the body of Justina Leonard, 47, of Shulinab Village, Central Rupununi was found on a
roadway. A post mortem examination revealed that Leonard died of blunt trauma and a fractured skull. Her husband, Peter Juan was subsequently charged with his spouse’s murder. On February 21, Lee Anton, 21, of Bon Fim, Brazil, and a sibling had left a drinking establishment and were walking along a trail at Takatu, Lethem, when a group of men attacked them. The attackers reportedly threw stones at the siblings. The brother said that he managed to escape, while Anton was clubbed to death. His killers are still at large, and there are reports that they may
have fled to Brazil. Two Fridays ago, the mutilated body of 52-year-old Ganga Persaud Changa, of Santa Rosa Village, was found on the trail to his farm in the Moruca Sub-district, Region One (Barima/Waini). According to reports, Changa was heading to his farm at Koko Island, when he was approached by a man who was armed with a cutlass. The man reportedly chopped Persaud about his body, severing the farmer’s left hand and feet. The alleged killer, who reportedly still had the bloody cutlass, was apprehended the same day.
Complaints about Ministers should be written to Govt. – Harmon
Anyone having complaints against Ministers are advised to write the government highlighting the matter If citizens or politicians have any complaints to make against a sitting Minister of Government, they are advised to do so in writing and send such information to the government and await a response or requisite action. This is the position of Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Thursday at the post Cabinet press briefing after he was asked about complaints being l e v e l l e d against Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, on many occasions, repeatedly insisted that Ramjattan has breached the code of conduct. He went as far as to accuse the Minister of selling firearm licenses. According to Harmon, the accusations made against Ramjattan are very serious and therefore Jagdeo or anyone who has information which seeks to impugn the character of a minister, should (make a formal report.) The Minister of State said, “You do not expect the Leader of the Opposition to go on television and rant and rave and you expect a Minister to now be called upon to explain. If in fact there is information, then write saying that this is the information
available to me and write so that we can answer it.” Harmon said that government should not be expected to respond to every allegation made by the Leader of the Opposition during his press conferences or other engagements with the media. He said, “We have an agenda for the development of this country and that agenda is set by the government.” In September 2015, Jagdeo was reported as accusing Ramjattan of selling gun licenses which has contributed to the Minister’s supposedly overwhelming wealth of resources. Jagdeo had asked that Ramjattan’s wealth of resources be placed under the microscope. Meanwhile, Ramjattan had begun making efforts to address the issue of having a large number of unregistered firearms in society in the hands of Guyanese. Ramjattan had said that there are too many guns on the streets and had announced that the process will begin to repossess the licenses of those no longer eligible to have a weapon. That decision was reportedly birthed in weekly Cabinet discussions and lobbying by fellow Ministers of Government. He had mentioned that some firearm
holders are depressed people who randomly decide to act out and shoot themselves and others. In early 2016, the National Assembly had passed legislation paving the way for an increase in gun licenses fees. The fee for a shotgun licence has moved from $2000 to $5000; the cost for pistol and revolver licences go from $5000 to $25,000; rifle fees will be increased from $7,500 to $40,000 and dealer’s licences will be issued at a cost of $150,000, up from $20,000. During his presentation to the Assembly, Ramjattan explained that there is a threestage process when applying for a firearm license. He said that it starts with the application letter being sent to the Commander of the Division who assigns a rank to go check on the applicant’s character in his or her community. That application is then sent to the Commissioner’s office to ensure that the applicant’s antecedents are positive in the sense that there were no previous convictions. The application then goes to the Firearm Licensing Board. It is then decided, at that stage, whether the applicant is fit. If so, the application is sent to the Minister for the final stamp of approval.
Saturday March 25, 2017
PAGE 9
Kaieteur News
The government should consider a temporary ban on certain imports The Guyana dollar is sliding. The slide is as a result of the unavailability of foreign currency. The government is denying that there is a shortage. It has been denying this for some time now but it is, also contradicting this position by contending that the foreign exchange market is being manipulated. The government while denying that there is a shortage was forced to pass regulations limiting the spread between the buying and selling rates of banks and cambios. The spread is now a maximum of $3. It means that the banks and cambios cannot sell currency for more than $3 higher than their existing buying rate. Unfortunately, this measure is not working to reduce the decline in the Guyana dol-
lar. In fact, things have gotten worse. The government continues to deny that there is a shortage of foreign exchange. It says that the US$1 – G$230 is the rate which is being used for a small fraction of commercial banking transactions such as credit card payments. The fact remains, however, that this rate should not be high. It shows that there is a problem. Whatever the causes, the fact exists that people who want foreign exchange to buy from the banks cannot get it readily and therefore this mere fact alone will tend to put pressure on the rate. The government is trying to avoid panic in the market which can lead to a further deterioration. Both the government and consumers need to take action to arrest this slide. If this
does not happen, the situation will get worse. The government needs to pump more foreign currency into the system. The government should maintain international reserves at a mere three months of imports. This will free up foreign exchange which can be injected into the local foreign exchange market to stem the currency slide. Everyone is going to be hurt if the value of the Guyana dollar, relative to the US dollar declines further. The government should also decide whether it will allow the market to “right” itself, which will mean devaluation or it will intervene to ensure that the public interest in preserved and the Guyana dollar appreciates. The priority of the government should be stabilization, not total control of the
Dem boys seh ...
Basil de Willie got a problem Basil de Willie always giving people something to talk. He like de gyal from Agricola who does sing de song how she give dem more to talk. He go in de court de other day and get into trouble wid a judge. De thing reach de stage wheh de judge didn’t even adjourn de court so de witness lef standing up in de box and de clerk and all of dem still sitting down. Normally, de judge does set de date fuh de next court appearance. That didn’t even happen. Basil de Willie mek that happen. Dem boys seh that just before de judge close de court Basil de Willie ask him a question. Is that question start de whole story. Nobody ain’t want to believe that wha dem read is de truth; how somebody
threaten somebody wid death. Basil de Willie call a press conference to explain heself but it look like if he mek matters worse because he number one enemy pick he up an even challenge he. This enemy is de Chat-3 and seh he been in de court and he hear every word. Well dem boys seh if he hear wha he think Basil de Willie tell de judge and if Basil de Willie hear wha he think he tell de judge it gun be one big dem seh, he seh story. Of
course one of dem boys seh that Basil de Willie was talking about he obeah powers. But then again, if he was such a good obeah man he woulda win some case that he lose unless obeah is not fuh de courts and if obeah is not fuh de courts then it can’t trouble a judge. One thing certain, de judge at de centre going to de court of appeal fuh Basil de Willie. Dem boys waiting fuh de outcome. Talk half and watch how trouble mek Basil eat pepper
foreign exchange market. It should implement measures over the next six months to ensure stability in the local foreign exchange market. The government should identity non-essential imports on which restrictions can be placed for the next six months. This would curb demand. One of those areas is the importation of motor vehicles . A temporary six-month ban on the importation of motor vehicles would help to reduce the need for foreign currency. It will however hurt government revenues but the government can afford this hit. The government should also cut back on its investment programme. The government should establish a team to go through all the projects which are being executed and determine which of these require significant imports. Those identified should then be prioritized to determine which can be deferred for six months so as to reduce the need for foreign currency for these projects. The government should also demand that foreign gold
companies repatriate through the banking system a minimum of 10% of their exports. This should be a temporary measure for a mere six months. The Guyanese people have power to help. They can reverse this slide of the Guyana dollars by doing a few things. The basic principle involved is to reduce the purchase and consumption of foreign items and to reduce energy consumption. The first is to dedicate one day of the week to not using or buying any imported item. Guyanese consumers should try not to use any imported item, even if it is oil you need to cook. Go out and get some local vegetable oil. Use only local foods on that day. They should also not buy imported items on that day. In this way, they will reduce demand and this will eventually, over a few weeks, feed right back into the system by reducing imports and the need for foreign currency to fund these imports. Second, Guyanese should imitate what other countries are doing. They
should turn off all of their lights and electrical appliances for one hour on a specified date and time, each week. This will mean that the country will require less fossil fuel for importation and therefore less need for foreign exchange. Third, Guyanese should walk a little more. If there is a journey which you can undertake once a week which can be done by walking, then do so. This too will result in less fuel consumption and when aggregated across the whole country will allow for reduction in fossil fuel use. So try walking to the supermarket, shops and stores at least once a week.
PAGE 10
Saturday March 25, 2017
Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Fidel Castro is in Guyana in 2017 I would never understand why people who fought for freedom, justice, and liberation and who were learned in the ways of the world couldn’t see the huge fault in Fidel Castro. He mestastasised from liberation hero into what Latin America always knew and only knows – the oligarch. It is like Russia. Experts on places like Singapore and Russia argue that the only culture they understand and are happy with is the generous strongman. These experts would tell
you that Vladimir Putin was inevitable. Russian history has been the history of a Leviathan; Russia will always have a Leviathan; there will be moments of power distribution and democracy but the strongman will return. It still boggles the mind why after almost fifty years in power, Castro still wanted to rule Cuba and only fate could have stopped him. If illness didn’t intervene then Cuba would have had a ruler way into his nineties. Whether you love
Castro, think he was superbly great as a Third World leader, believed he removed poverty, the stupendous fact that was as large as the combined oceans of the world was, that he was enchanted with power and refused to give it up to the new generation. It was this obsession with power that should have raised our suspicion that Castro was not as great as his admirers wanted us to believe. Barack Obama in his last interview with 60 Minutes
said he thought he could have won a third term but believed in the US term limits for President; he felt others should have the right to lead. The three great masters in this thinking were Mahatma Gandhi, Mikhail Gorbachev and Nelson Mandela. Today in Guyana we have dozens of little Fidel Castros running around all the over the place. More than half of the population wasn’t born when Komal Chand became the leader of GAWU; Patrick Yarde, the Guyana Public Service Union; and Mike Mc Cormack, the GHRA. Not too far behind them is Mr. J u m a n Ya s s i n o f t h e Guyana Olympic Association. People like Clement Rohee, Indra Chandarpal and Gail Teixeira have been parliamentarians for more than thirty years. There is no question in my mind that if the PPP wins another general election, Rohee and Teixeira would fight to become ministers. Ya s s i n h a s b e e n r e elected. After this term he would have completed thirty years. Chand has been reelected. After his current term ends, he would have chalked up thirty-five years at the helm o f G AW U . M i k e M c Cormack has gone past thirty-five years as the mover and shaker behind
the Guyana Human Rights Association. The positive yet negative thing about the elections of Chand and Yassin is that people, real, live, educated people, who are not illiterate and who have good jobs with decent families went with their eyes wide open and voted for Yassin and Chand to lead their organizations after twenty-five and thirtyyears of rulership, respectively. I wonder what arguments could sugar workers put up to tell me that they are happy with having a leader lead them for thirtyfive years. I fervently believe Wales estate workers, all of them, should be given their severance pay benefits but I would like to ask them why they do not want new blood and fresh faces in their battle to save sugar? So Patrick Yarde is going for yet another term of office. Yarde, Chand and Mc Cormack are virtual failures. Could Chand tell us what were his crowning achievements? Chand should have been dismissed by his union a long time ago because a long time ago, his party which held power for twenty-three years and which Chand represented in Parliament for over thirty years undermined the viability of the sugar industry. This same barefaced man
Frederick Kissoon wants another government to save sugar. In saving sugar, Chand is saved also. I don’t think sugar can be saved but if it can, Chand has to go. What is Yarde’s balance sheet? His union should have removed him after the 1999 strike ended in ignominious failure. There was the public spectacle of Yarde and Ramon “Rambo” Gaskin fighting over the direction of the strike. To think that Yarde could have put faith in Ramon Gaskin. For the twenty-three years the PPP has been in power, and this includes the Cheddi Jagan presidency, it set about to dismantle the GPSU. Then Jagdeo came along and came close to doing so by first taking away agency shop dues which financially crippled the union. Today this same man wants another term. About Mc Cormack? Well the least said the better.
Saturday March 25, 2017
PAGE 11
Kaieteur News
More damage found as $1.4B Arthur Chung centre rehab remains on track The ongoing repairs at the Liliendaal facility.
Minister Cathy Hughes at the convention centre yesterday, with engineers and other officials from the contracting firm. Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes, yesterday paid a visit to the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) to check on the rehabilitation works. She was met by the oversight engineer from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, and the engineering team from the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation. The engineers conducted the Minister and team on a tour of the premises, principally to see the new foundations, sub-structures and bases that will gird every building in the complex. “As was expected, addi-
tional damage had been discovered when the badly cracked perimeter flooring was raised. Now the sewage network also has to be replaced along with the plumbing, several walls, stairs and flooring.” The minister was
assured that the original configuration of the centre will remain. The repairs are being funded by the Chinese government, to the tune of $1.4B. The Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC) was closed on December 1, 2016
to facilitate major rehabilitation that is expected to last for some two years. The complex was constructed between 2004 and 2006, and funded entirely by the government of the People’s Re-
public of China. The rehabilitation which was written into the 2004 agreement is being funded entirely by the same means – grant aid. It has hosted several regional heads meetings along with a
number of local conferences. The Conference Center was a gift to Guyana. “Our only financial contribution is the provision of security services on site while the repairs are ongoing,” the ministry assured.
PAGE 12
Saturday March 25, 2017
Kaieteur News
Jagdeo accuses Govt of spreading racism …provides no evidence to support claim By Brushell Blackman Opposition leader Bharrat Jagdeo has accused the government of using internet trolls to spread racism across the country. At a recent press conference Jagdeo said that the clandestine operation is being undertaken by the Department of Public Information (DPI) who has a secret budget set aside for this operation. The former president said that he was reliably informed by a source that the Department of Public Infrastructure is paying about 50 trolls who are using Indo and Afro Guyanese sounding names to canvas the internet and they are using the most hateful and racist language to polarize the society. Jagdeo said the trolls are fake and are enticing people to chat by using the photographs of pretty women. When Jagdeo was asked to elaborate on the ‘secret budget’ he could not give a figure. He indicated that he was not going to divulge. He also accused another newspaper of being complicit with the DPI. In the same vein the Opposition Leader could not direct members of the media to one of these ‘fake’ profiles but indicated that he knows about the budget. Jagdeo suggested that most profiles that are currently online are not authen-
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo tic. “The majority of the people you see online have fake profiles. It’s an industry generated by the DPI to polarize our people.” The former president believes that this latest move is strategic and comes at a time when the ruling administration is coming under pressure for the performance of the economy. He said that the government is losing support from all fronts of the society and the ‘race card’ is to deflect attention away from an underperforming economy. “If you are Afro Guyanese or Indo Guyanese it affects you, if you are PPP or PNC it (economy) affects you.” According to Jagdeo the
expression the government is hearing is that it is losing support because of the economy. “ We h e a r o n t h e ground people say we are done with them (APNU+AFC). They are not stupid in that regard.” It is for this reason Jagdeo believes that racism is being used to project the government in a favorable manner and his party in a negative way. The opposition leader believes that if the nation is polarized racially there will be apprehension to go across on the other side of the divide. “If you polarize people they will say I lost my job, but the other side is racist so I better don’t cross”. He said that the foregoing is a carefully crafted strategy and will ensure that the troubles with the economy are not ventilated. He accused the government of being experts in ‘attention deflection’. The opposition leader said that his party condemns all forms of racism and is calling on the government to do the same with regards to the alleged ‘fake’ profiles. Jagdeo boasted that his party will not tread that path since their achievements can be presented admirably and his party has enough argument to highlight the corruption and ineptitude of the ruling party. He urged citizens not to fall victims to the government trap and urged that cordial discourses be embraced by the citizenry.
Saturday March 25, 2017
PAGE 21
Kaieteur News
Republicans pull healthcare legislation plan in blow to Trump (Reuters) President Donald Trump suffered a stunning political setback yesterday in a Congress controlled by his own party when Republican leaders pulled legislation to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system, a major 2016 election campaign promise of the president and his allies. Republican leaders of the House of Representatives pulled the legislation due to a shortage of votes despite desperate lobbying by the White House and its allies in Congress, ensuring that Trump’s first major legislative initiative since taking office on Jan. 20 ended in failure. House Republicans had planned a vote on the measure after Trump late on Thursday cut off negotiations with Republicans who had balked at the plan and issued an ultimatum to vote yesterday, win or lose. Republican moderates as well as the most conservative lawmakers had objected to the legislation. The White House and House leaders were unable to come up with a plan that satisfied both moderates and conservatives, despite Trump’s
vaunted image as a deal maker. “We learned a lot about loyalty. We learned a lot about the vote-getting process,” Trump told reporters at the White House, although he sought to shift the blame to the Democrats, who were unified in their opposition, even though his party controls the White House, the House and the Senate. Amid a chaotic scramble for votes, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, who championed the bill, met with Trump at the White House before the bill was pulled from the House floor after hours of debate. Ryan said he recommended that the legislation be withdrawn from the House floor because he did not have the votes to pass it, and that Trump agreed. “There were things in this bill that I didn’t particularly like,” Trump added, without specifying what those were, but expressed confidence in Ryan’s leadership. “Perhaps the best thing that could happen is exactly what happened today, because we’ll end up with a truly great healthcare bill in the fu-
President Trump reacts to the AHCA health care bill being pulled by Congressional Republicans before a vote (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque) ture after this mess known as Obamacare explodes,” Trump said. Yesterday’s events cast doubt on whether Ryan can get major legislation approved by fractious Republican lawmakers. “I will not sugarcoat this. This is a disappointing day for us,” Ryan said at a news
London attacker was criminal who wasn’t seen as threat (Reuters) Before he killed four people in Britain’s deadliest attack since the 2005 London bombings, Khalid Masood was considered by intelligence officers to be a criminal who posed little serious threat. A British-born convert to Islam, Masood had shown up on the periphery of previous terrorism investigations that brought him to the attention of Britain’s MI5 spy agency. But the 52-year-old was not under investigation when he sped across Westminster Bridge on Wednesday, mowing down pedestrians with a hired car before running into the grounds of parliament and fatally stabbing an unarmed policeman. He was shot dead by police. “Our investigation focuses on understanding his motivation, his operation and his associates,” Britain’s senior counter-terrorism police officer, Mark Rowley, told reporters. A European government source familiar with the investigation said Masood’s name had cropped up about five years ago on the margins of an MI5 counter-terrorism investigation but interest in him had swiftly dissipated. At the time of the attack, British authorities had “no intelligence about how he got to this point,” the source said,
A mugshot of Khalid Masood (REUTERS photo) adding that investigators were now rushing to piece together his background and contacts. The Saudi Arabian embassy in London said Masood had spent time working in the kingdom but did not come to the attention of the security services there. He was there for two one-year periods, from November 2005 and April 2008, when he worked as an English teacher, and also visited briefly in March 2015. A U.S. government source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said although Masood’s associates included people suspected of being keen to travel to join
jihadi groups overseas, he himself never did. Islamic State claimed responsibility for Masood’s attack, although it was unclear what links - if any - he had with the militant group. Police said there had been no prior intelligence about his intent to mount an attack. “An act of terrorism tried to silence our democracy,” Prime Minister Theresa May told parliament. “He took out his rage indiscriminately.” BRITISH-BORN KILLER Born Adrian Russell Ajao in Kent, southeast of London, on Christmas Day in 1964, he moved though several addresses in England and lived recently in Birmingham, central England. The Daily Mail newspaper said he was brought up by his single mother in the town of Rye on England’s south coast, later converting to Islam and changing his name. Other media reports said he was a married fatherof-three and into bodybuilding. Police have released few details about Masood and what might have led him to carry out Wednesday’s attack, the deadliest in Britain since four young British Islamists killed 52 people in the 2005 London suicide bombings.
conference, adding that his fellow Republicans are experiencing what he called “growing pains” transitioning from an opposition party to a governing party. “Doing big things is hard,” Ryan added, noting that he got close but failed to muster the 216 votes needed
to pass it. Ryan said he did not know what the next steps would be on healthcare, but called Obamacare so flawed that it would be hard to prop up. Without the bill’s passage in Congress, Democratic former President Barack Obama’s signature domestic policy achievement, the 2010
Affordable Care Act - known as Obamacare - remains in place despite seven years of Republican promises to dismantle it. Repealing and replacing Obamacare was a top campaign promise by Trump in last year’s presidential election, as well as by most Republican candidates, “from dog-catcher on up,” as White House spokesman Sean Spicer put it during a briefing yesterday. AGENDA AT RISK The House failure to pass the measure called into question Trump’s ability to get other key parts of his agenda, including tax cuts and a boost in infrastructure spending, through Congress. News that the bill had been pulled before a final vote was greeted initially with a small sigh of relief by U.S. equity investors, who earlier in the week had been fretful that an outright defeat would damage Trump’s other priorities, such as tax cuts and infrastructure spending. Benchmark U.S. stock market indexes ended the session mixed after rallying back from session lows following the news.
Mubarak, Egypt’s toppled Pharaoh, is free after final charges dropped (Reuters) Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president overthrown in 2011 and the first leader to face trial after the Arab Spring uprisings that swept the region, was freed on Friday after six years in detention, his lawyer said. The 88-year-old was cleared of the final murder charges against him this month, after facing trial in a litany of cases ranging from corruption to the killing of protesters whose 18-day revolt stunned the world and ended his 30-year rule. “Yes, he is now in his home in Heliopolis,” Mubarak’s lawyer, Farid El Deeb told Reuters when asked if Mubarak had left Maadi Military hospital in southern Cairo where he had been detained. Heliopolis is an upscale neighborhood where the main presidential palace from which Mubarak once governed is located. Mubarak was initially arrested in April 2011, two months after leaving office, and has since been held in prison and in military hospitals under heavy guard. Many Egyptians who lived through his presidency view it as a period of stagnation, autocracy and crony capitalism. Arabs watched enraptured
Ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. (REUTERS/ Mohamed Abd El Ghany) when the first images of the former air force commander, Egypt’s modern-day Pharaoh, were beamed live on television, showing him bed-bound in his courtroom cage. The overthrow of Mubarak, one of a series of military men to rule Egypt since the 1952 abolition of the monarchy, embodied the hopes of the Arab Spring uprisings that shook autocrats from Tuni-
sia to the Gulf and briefly raised hopes of a new era of democracy and social justice. His release takes that journey full circle, marking what his critics say is the return of the old order to Egypt, where authorities have crushed Mubarak’s enemies in the Muslim Brotherhood, killing hundreds and jailing thousands, while his allies regain influence.
PAGE 22
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VACANCY Accounts Clerk for Eccles, Industrial Site area knowledge of NIS, PAYE, VAT, Quickbooks. Call: 6144358 Gardener , watchman, handyman, guard – Call: 2237500 Monday – Friday 8:154:15pm, Saturday 8:15am1:15pm High-level client care management support specialists wanted. Contact jobs@expresstruckingcorp.com or 227-6025 for inquiries Pump attendant Call: 6240033/ 680-3863 1 Company driver, 1 porter. Call: 680-3863 1-Cook, 1 Cleaner, Customer Sales assistant. Call: 6240033 Security Guard, office clerk, bilingual person, bus driver. Call: 638-5303/ 227-7380
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FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Lot 14 Croal & Longden Street: 4 Storey building (infront Demico). Call: 663-1876 Vreed-en-Hoop Junction: office, storage bond, lesson place, church -$20,000 per month. Call: 603-6400 Bottom flat house @ 25 North Road & Oronoque Street, fully furnished/ air condition/ residence /business.Call: 226-7012 Fully furnished three bedrooms, top flat, opposite Georgetown Hospital School of Nursing. Call: 225-3756/ 662-0973 Upper flat for rent 3 bedrooms in Atlantic Gardens- Call: 2274377/227-0613/624-6013
Exist for sewing machine operators, persons with intermediate level training will be considered. Call: 2255948/ 644-4398
2 Bedroom Executive furnished Apartment in residential Area, close to Ogle Airport with all modern amenities.Call:622-5725/6641070
One experienced legal computer clerk. Call: 6247087/ 226-4283/258-0213/ email:husainsaphier@ yahoo.com
2 Bedroom upper flat located at 261 Golden Grove , Tank Street (3rd corner). Call: 2335802/ 600-4984/ 641-1476
Canter Driver/Salesmen, Data Entry clerk with knowledge of Microsoft Excel & Accounting Software. Call: 617-1809 Cook/Baker and Kitchen Assistant for interior location. Applicants must be experienced, for details call: 618-2020
Spacious 3 bedrooms lower apartment, prime location @ Diamond E.B.D - $62,000. Call Romona 6pm – 642-2054 Self-contained rooms in Prashad Nagar. Tel: 227-2993 Apartment for rent at Lot 656 Diamond, 4th Avenue, E.B.D: 2 bedrooms with AC. Call 2164563/685-1640. Three storey 75ftX30ft concrete building, open floors, two offices, two washrooms, driveway @ 25B Princes St., Charlestown. Call: 223-0654/225-0605
Kobelco 210, Perkins 4 CYL, Yangdong 4CYL, Miller Welder, HondaATV, asking -$18,000,000. Call: 651-4699/ 677-8104
We are buying lands in Eccles, Herstelling, Farm, Zeelugt, Bartica, Providence. Call: 648-5822/629-2881.
Riviera Island: 145 Acres $30M, Tuschen property $5.8M, $6M, $15M. Call: 6880087
TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
Saturday March 25, 2017
Kaieteur News
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 677-7827, 6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL: PICKUP, 9-11 SEAT MIN BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPOTR & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).
Fully furnished vacation home with all amenities Call during working hours 227-1218 1 Bedroom apartment well secured for working person $35,000 monthly, light, garbage included. Call: 638-8858
PEN PAL Indian Male is seeking a serious relationship with female between age 20-30. Call: 653-0975 Decent Elderly Indian Christian widow is seeking honest respectful widower. Please no block numbers, no messages. Call: 668-1110 Continued on page 23
Saturday March 25, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Miner remanded for illegal possession of ammunition A miner was on Thursday remanded to prison for having in her possession illegal ammunition. The woman 27-year-old Alana Edwards, of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the charge. The charge read that on September, 16, 2016 at Lot 3272 Lamaha Place, South Ruimveldt, she had in her possession 50 rounds of .40 ammunition and 19 rounds of 7.62X51 ammunition without being the holder of a firearm license. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to her
by the Magistrate. She was represented by Attorney- atLaw Leslie Benjamin, who in her bail application for her client told the court that Edwards is 27-years-old, and a miner assistant who has never been in any other court before. The attorney further stated that her client was not present at the time of the search. Her roommate, Carlotta Brown, was arrested and held for 72 hours. Benjamin further told the court that her client was in the interior and when she came out she was arrested and charged for the offence. Facts presented by Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore stated that police ranks act-
ing on information went to the home of the defendant and conducted a search during which they found the ammunition in a bag. The prosecutor further stated that when the article was found the defendant told them that the bag was given to her by a friend. The prosecutor further stated that the defendant was only arrested on March 19, 2017 when she returned from the interior. The woman was remanded to prison and she will make her next court appearance on April 21 before Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
From page 22
LAND FOR SALE 1 Lot of land @ Yarrowkabra -$950,000. Call: 672-5876 Transported land for sale size 37X270 @ Coglan Dam, Vreed-en-Hoop, W.B.D. Call: 650-5644/677-9938
Remanded to prison, Alana Edwards
Bothers on bail for allegedly stealing employer’s gold Alex Anthony Feidtkou, 23 and Leon Alleyne, 21, both of Essequibo were yesterday granted $ 100,000 bail each by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a simple larceny charge. The charge read that on March 20, last, at Waini Backdam, Essequibo, they stole 73 pennyweights of gold valued at $803,000 from their employer, Zaheer Khan. The unrepresented men pleaded not guilty. Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones had no objection to bail being granted to the defendants. He told the court that the item was recov-
ered in the defendants’ possession. Jones further stated that police acting on information stopped the defendants at Supenaam, Essequibo and when a search was conducted on them, the gold was found. Jones added that when the discovery was made, the men could not give an account of where they got the item from. This, he said, raised suspicions. Subsequently the men were arrested and charged for the offence. The duo will make their next court appearance on April 4 at the Acquero Magistrate’s Court.
Republic of Italy passports in the name of Arshad and Ahsan bearing their photographs to show that these were issued by the Government of Italy, knowing same to be forged. Arshad told the court that he was very guilty of the charge and begged for forgiveness. He further stated that he has refugee status in Brazil and wanted to go back. While his brother told the court he left Pakistan when he was 11-years-old for a better life. He further stated that he has refugee status in Brazil and wanted to go back. Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore stated that the defendants came from Brazil into
Providence -$5M, Herstelling -$6M, La Parfaite Harmonie $1.4M, Uitvlugt -$3M, Farm (East Bank) -$3M. Call: 6845822/ 629-2881
1-Leyland DAF GRR Series; excellent condition. Call: 6804101 Dwayne Stephen Auto Sales! New Shipment of Vehicle: Rush, Blue Bird, Note, Axio, Allion. Call: 665-2330/ 6486869 Tractor Foreign used Massey Ferguson 165- $1.7M, MF 135$1.2M, MF 265-$2.2M, MF 165 Loader Tractor -$2.4M. Call: 6825230, 628-9596 2005 Tacoma from Canada $2.4M ford 150 sports -$1.6M, Ford Ranger Sports - $1.5M. Call: 682-5230, , 628-9596
CAR RENTAL
Released on bail: Leon Alleyne
Released on bail: Alex Anthony Fiedtkou
Pakistani brothers fined for forged passports Two brothers were on Thursday fined $100,000 each with an alternative of serving eight weeks’ imprisonment for the possession of two forged Italian passport. The men Arshad Mehood Mughal, 40, and Ahsan Riaz Mughal, 23, both appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where they both pleaded guilty to the charge after it was read to them. The charge read that on March 21, last, at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, Arshad Mughal and Ahsan Riaz Mughal uttered to Collin Lovell, a fly Jamaica Airline representative, two
Transported corner lot with approved building plan @ 90 Garnett & Republic Streets, Newtown Kitty. Call: 601-6000/227-3305
VEHICLE FOR SALE
Guyana via Lethem using their Italy passports and were granted one month stay in Guyana. The prosecutor further stated that the passports were reported loss or stolen. Moore said that checks were made with INTERPOL which revealed that the passports belong to Marian Cele, who was born on May 28, 1970 in Barletta Rome. The brothers told the court that they bought the passport in Dubai for $US9,000 each. The Chief Magistrate then ordered that the passports be confiscated and that the duo be escorted to the nearest port of exit upon payment of the fine or serving the default prison term.
Not working Vehicles: 1 Surf, 2 Pathfinders, 1 Bobcat, 3 Toyota Cars, 1 Canter, 1 Fiber glass boat. Call: 227-4377/ 624-6013
DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIALOFFERS FOR THE SEASON. CALL: 690-6494
TO LET Bottom Flat – 2 Bedroom with toilet and bath, fully grilled, C.I, W.C.D. Call: 6999128/ 277-0108 Lodge apartments (Vlisssengen/Durban): furnished (visitors) USD$600-$1,000 monthly, unfurnished 2 bedroom $60,000, studio -$40,000 monthly- Call:668-7687/ 6779638/697-6421 Lodge (Vlissengen/ Durban): Professional/ Office/Business (no food retailing) space. Call: 6687687/ 677-9638/697-6421
Ahsan Riaz Mughal
'Unions are tired of window shopping' - UGWU... From page 17 and Learning Complex for Science and Mathematics; a Students' Social Complex; and a new Maintenance Building. Also approved were rehabilitation of the Pere Street property, and rehabilitation works to the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. Important, too, are the broader enhancements, such as Turkeyen and Tain Talks and the Undergraduate Research Programme,” the
statement highlighted. Other recent developments detailed in the statement include Wifi access across the Turkeyen campus via E-Governance, the placement of a fiber optic link between the Turkeyen and Berbice campuses, the creation of The University of Guyana Press, and the launch of the UG/Giftland VIP Card, which provides staffers and students with special discounts on purchases, part of a
broader partnership being developed with the Giftland Group. Despite all of the measures that have already been put in place, the UG administration has asserted that it re-
mains committed to improving the salaries and working conditions at the university and to enhancing the quality of staff performance to deliver quality educational services to students.
ACCOMMODATION Harmony Inn: Furnished self contained apartments & rooms from $20USD daily. Call: 218-1400/ 694-7817 Secret Villa apartments fully furnished, hot & cold water, Jacuzzi, air condition from $20USD daily. Call: 225-6337/ 266-5244/668-0306 Hilton Int’l Hotel, “your home away from home”: rooms fully self contained - $20USD. Call: 225-9211
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Saturday March 25, 2017
Authorities step up search Venezuela increased fuel exports to for oil offshore Jamaica allies even as supply crunch loomed
The Harrier Explorer will be the vessel used to carry out the 2D seismic surveys offshore Jamaica. (Jamaica Observer Photo: Michael Gordon) (Jamaica Observer) The search for oil offshore southern Jamaica continues as a second series of exploration activities, specifically 2D seismic surveys, are expected to begin before the end of this week. The exploration activities, which are being underatken by Tullow Oil — an independent oil and gas exploration and production company based in the United Kingdom — as part of a Production Sharing Agreement that it
signed with the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) in 2014, are forms of marine surveys conducted to identify sub-surface structures that may contain hydrocarbon (oil and gas) deposits. The search is expected to cover a marine area of approximately 32,065 square kilometres of the Walter Morant area, comprising of 11 individual blocks. In 2015, Tullow Oil conducted a series of exploration
activities, including a bathymetric (sea floor) survey, soil sampling and an environmental survey, to assess priority habitats and species, fishing activity and seabed habitats in the area. Tullow Oil acquired 3,000 kilometres of 2D seismic data in the first quarter of last year and is now planning to acquire an additional 670 kilometres of 2D seismic data to further develop an understanding of the area.
A police officer controls the traffic as people wait in line to fill the tanks of their cars at a gas station of the state oil company PDVSA in Caracas, Venezuela. (REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins) (Reuters – Exclusive) A gasoline shortage in OPEC member Venezuela was exacerbated by an increase in fuel exports to foreign allies such as Cuba and Nicaragua and an exodus of crucial personnel from state-run energy company PDVSA, according to internal PDVSA documents and sources familiar with its operations. Leftist-run Venezuela sells its citizens the world’s cheapest gasoline. Fuel supplies have continued flowing despite a domestic oil industry in turmoil and a deepening economic crisis under President Nicolas Maduro that has left the South American country with scant supplies of many basic necessities. That changed on Wednesday, when Venezuelans faced their first nationwide shortage of motor fuel since an explosion ripped through one of the world’s largest refineries five years ago. At the time, the government of then-President Hugo Chavez curbed exports to guarantee there was enough fuel at home. This week’s shortage was also mainly due to problems at refineries, as a mix of plant glitches and maintenance cut fuel production in half. Unlike five years ago, Caracas has continued exporting fuel to political allies and even raised the volume of shipments last month despite warnings within the government-run company that doing so could trigger a domestic supply crunch. Shipments from refineries to the domestic market needed to be redirected to meet those export commitments, the internal docu-
ments showed. “Should this additional volume ... be exported, it would impact a cargo scheduled for the local market,” read one email sent from an official in the company’s domestic marketing department to its international trade unit. Venezuela last month exported 88,000 barrels per day (bpd) of fuels - equivalent to a fifth of its domestic consumption - to Cuba, Nicaragua and other countries, according to internal PDVSA documents seen by Reuters. That was up 22,000 bpd on the volumes Venezuela had been shipping to those two countries under accords struck by Chavez to expand his diplomatic clout by lowering their fuel costs through cheap supplies of crude and fuel. The order to increase exports came from PDVSA’s top executives, according to the internal emails seen by Reuters. Venezuela’s oil ministry and state-run PDVSA, formally known as Petroleos de Venezuela SA, did not reply to requests for comment for this story. FUEL STRAIN, BRAIN DRAIN The strain on the country’s fuel system has been worsened by the departure of staff in PDVSA’s trade and supply unit who are key to ensuring fuel gets to where it is needed and making payments for imports, three sources close to the company said. The unit has seen around a dozen key staffers depart since Maduro shook up PDVSA’s top management in January. Among those who left was the head of budget
and payments, two sources said. “Every week someone leaves for one reason or another,” said a PDVSA source familiar with the unit’s operations. Some have been fired, while others have left since the shake-up inserted political and military officials into top positions and bolstered Maduro’s grip on the company that powers the nation’s economy. The imposition of leaders with little or no experience in the industry has further disillusioned some of the company’s experienced professionals and accelerated an exodus that had already taken hold as economic and social conditions in Venezuela worsened.A recent internal PDVSA report seen by Reuters mentioned “a low capacity to retain key personnel,” amid salaries of a few dozen dollars a month at the black market rate. UNPAID BILLS The departure of staff responsible for paying suppliers, as well as a cash crunch in the company and the country, have led to an accumulation of unpaid bills for fuel imports into Venezuela. Had those bills been paid, the supply crunch would have been less acute, the company sources said. About 10 tankers are waiting near PDVSA ports in Venezuela and the Caribbean to discharge fuel for domestic consumption and for oil blending. Only one vessel bringing fuel imports has been discharged since the beginning of the week, shipping data showed.
Saturday March 25, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Saturday March 25, 2017
Saturday March 25, 2017
GT Beer confirms association with Petra... (From page 31) Knockout Football Tournament albeit in difficult times, an effort he said must be applauded. According to the Petra official, “It just shows their continued commitment to sports and social responsibility to the public at large so on behalf of the football fraternity, the communities at large and the GFF, thanks to the executive of Banks DIH for coming on board to deliver another grassroots programme that will benefit the football fraternity.” Peters in his address said the event plays right into one of the objectives of the company which is to organise sporting events that target communities. “We are extremely pleased to be part of the competition because we know the players in those communities want
something to do. This is where we see it fit to offer our support and an organisation like Petra that plan these events, see the need to have the wards involved. We look forward to continuing the relationship with Petra and look forward to a grand finish in the next few days,” Peters added. He further stated that the competing teams should be applauded for the manner in which they have displayed a high level of discipline throughout the tournament. Meanwhile, the event resumes tonight at the National Gymnasium with the second round of group matches. At 19:30hrs, Tiger Bay collide with Agricola Champion Boys and this will be followed by the clash betweenTucville and West Back Road from 20:15hrs. In the third encounter,
Sophia go up against Broad Street Bullies at 21:00hrs, while holders Bent Street clash with Albouystown at 21:45hrs. The final two fixtures will see West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’ oppose North East La Penitence at 22:30hrs and Sparta Boss take on Back Circle at 23:15hrs. At the end of the roundrobin stage, the top two finishers and the two best third placed teams from the respective groups will advance to the quarter-finals. Winner of the tournament will receive $400,000 and the championship trophy, while the runner-up takes home $200,000 and a trophy. The third and fourth place finishers walk away with $100,000 and $50,000 respectively. The event is slated to conclude on April 15th.
Saturday March 25 , 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Correspondence may not clear up issues. Short trips to visit others will do the whole family a world of good. Children will be of major concern if you haven't kept the lines of communication open. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You would be best to work late in order to avoid such disharmony. You should be able to get involved in an interesting proposition today. Concentrate on getting ahead financially and let your personal life settle down for a while. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may have a problem with someone you live with if you don't include them in your gathering. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You could find yourself having problems with coworkers and employers. Put your time and energy into travel, philosophy, and soul-searching. Your energy will be high. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) This will not be the best day to try to push your ideas or concerns. Your partner may make you feel jealous and unloved. Try to enlist the support of your coworkers first. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Delve into worthwhile causes that will show results if you put in the effort. Your intuition will be right on. Follow your feelings in matters pertaining to financial invest-
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ments. Ferret out information that will hold them responsible. LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Accept the inevitable. It's time to reconnect with some of the people you used to know. Keep tabs on your spending. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You may have difficulties with someone close to you. You may be thinking of starting your own business. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Back off if you want to keep the relationship intact. Do things you enjoy instead of being a chameleon. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Your efforts will be rewarded handsomely. Don't get depressed, get busy. You can accomplish a lot if you're willing to put in a little extra time. Someone is trying to pull the wool over your eyes, and if you're gullible, it may cost you. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Your home may be in an uproar and you are best to stay out of the line of fire if at all possible. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Residential moves will be favorable, and larger quarters the most probable direction. Romantic opportunities may not be as they appear. You will feel tired and rundown if you have allowed yourself to get into a financial mess.
MYO/Trophy Stall Inter- Jamaat 7 a side Tapeball commences next week The Muslim Youth Organization (MYO) of Guyana seven-a-side six overs InterJamaat Tapeball round robin cricket competition sponsored by Trophy Stall will commence on April 2nd at the M.Y.O. ground, Woolford Avenue, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.
Teams desirable in participating are urged to make contact with the persons below as registration closes on Thursday March 30th. In addition to this starting on April 2nd, The MYO will be holding its annual BarBe-Cue and sweet meat sale on the said day. Tickets cost $1,000.
Members of the public are encouraged to come out and enjoy some finger licking BarBe-Cue and watch some entertaining cricket. Teams are asked to make contact with Bro. Imran Ally on 689-7425 or Bro. Azad Ibrahim on 624-3362 for information on registration.
Austin defies cold to cop historic speed skating gold at Winter Games Jamaica Observer GRAZ, Austria — Jamaica’s speed skater Romaine Austin led post to post to win a historic gold medal for Jamaica Thursday in division 15 of the 500m race inside Liebenau ice rink stadium here at the Special Olympics World Winter Games. Austin, a novice on ice, stopped the clock at 1:18.971 minutes, ahead of three competitors from Hong Kong. Wing Ho Lee won silver in 1:22.840 minutes, while Antony Sze-Yuen Tsoi (1:25.684) and Tsz Fai Yip (1:25.915) were third and fourth, respectively. Austin’s feat represents the tropical country’s first gold medal on ice at the Special Olympics World Games. Only two months ago, the 19-year-old Austin and Jamaica speed skating teammate Dave Oddman, who won silver in division 23 of the 222m event on Wednesday, had their first training session on ice during a oneweek stint in Florida. Otherwise, the two practice using roller wheel skates on concrete or asphalt in Jamaica. The long-limbed Austin, who did 1:22 minutes in the preliminary 500m race on Saturday, said the relatively brisk time in the final was a surprise. “I’m very excited, but I didn’t know I would have done it so fast,” the skater, battling cold symptoms, told the Jamaica Observer yesterday. He said the aim was to start quickly, but he explained that the contingency plan was to go all out for the lead over the final two laps had he been trailing. “It was the plan to get out quickly, but I also knew that if I wasn’t in first place from early on, then I would have waited until the two final laps and then start to overtake from there. But that didn’t happen because I took the lead first,” he said, while sporting a broad smile. Austin, who along with his father, is a goat farmer in the Bernard Lodge area of St Catherine, gave dedication to his family, Special Olympics Jamaica (SOJ) and speed skating coach Jacqueline Bennett.
“This gold means a lot to me, and it is also for my mother, the rest of the family, everybody. SOJ and coach believed in me, and she told me ‘well done’ when I was finished,” Austin said. Oddman, 35, secured Jamaica’s first medal at these Austria 2017 Games. However, Austin took it a step further yesterday as a handful of long strides from a standing start powered him to the front. In almost no time he had a 20-metre lead. Thereafter, it was merely a matter of maintaining composure and not falling, though on at least two occasions he almost lost balance while negotiating the bends. By the final lap it became certain that the best the Hong Kong trio could do was to jostle for the remaining two
medal positions as Austin went into cruise mode. Austin and Oddman are expected to compete in separate divisions on today’s final day of competition for a shot at gold in the 333m event, also at the Liebenau venue. Under the guidance of Coach Bennett, Jamaica stunningly won silver medals in two ice figure skating categories at the 2013 Winter Games in Republic of Korea. Special Olympics empowers people with intellectual disabilities by promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect across the world. The movement aims to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with these disabilities.
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Saturday March 25, 2017
Good Success and Sans Souci clash for WCC Farmers Cup tomorrow
Wayne Osbounre
Imran Khan Good Success and Sans Souci will renew their rivalry when they go head to head for the Wakenaam Cricket Committee inaugural Farmers T20 Cup tomorrow at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground. A keen contested is
anticipated on a pitch that is expected to be of assistance both the fast men and spinners. Good S u c c e s s w i l l depend on skipper Imran Khan who recently copped the best bowler award for Hawian Artic CC in Canada, the experience of
Nazeer Mohamed and Wa z i r K h a n , C h a r l e s Benjamin and Vickram Ramnarine. Sans Souci will look the like of Wayne Osbourne, Seon Venture, Varounie Sasepaul and Keddernauth Narain to give them glory. The Farmers Cup is
Nazeer Mohamed being sponsored by a number of ground provision farmers on the island of Wakenaam. Teams; Good Success SC; Imran Khan (C), Wazir Khan, Nazeer Mohamed, Vi c k r a m R a m n a r i n e , Ejaz Mohamed, Charles Benjamin, Mahase
Devon Rambarran Ramnarine, Shazaam Mohamed, Alex Hill, Gurnauth Khemraj, David Chalitar, Shoaib Namaz and Arshaad Mohamed. The manager is Chandrika Persaud. Sans Souci; Wayne Osbourne (c), Kleon
Venture, Devon Rambarran, Seon Venture, Reon Venture, Nkoise Dazzell, Va r o u n i e S a s e p a u l , Keddernauth Narain, Jermaine Wolf, Roopnarine Persaud and Rahul Dinban. The manager is Asif Ahmad.
Hamilton and Mercedes throw down gauntlet M E L B O U R N E (Reuters) Three-times world champion Lewis Hamilton dominated practice at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix yesterday, putting Mercedes on top of the timesheets and leaving his Formula One rivals with plenty to ponder before the weekend. Ferrari had the pre-race buzz with their impressive pace during winter testing but Hamilton’s times at Albert Park will give Mercedes early hope of extending their three-year dominance into another season. The Briton led new team mate Valtteri Bottas in a
Mercedes one-two in the first session and raised the pace on slicker tires in the second to be comfortably quicker than Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel on a cloudy day at the lakeside circuit. Hamilton’s fastest lap of one minute 23.62 seconds was more than half a second clear of four-times world champion Vettel, who edged Bottas into third. A thrilled Hamilton said the day was “99 percent perfect”. “After struggling with some issues in Barcelona, we didn’t know if we’d have the same thing here,” he said. “What’s really encouraging is that we’ve
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain laps the circuit during the first practice session. (REUTERS/Jason Reed)
arrived at the track just a week later and the car is
Regional Cricket round-up
Scorpions (210) vs Red Force 79-3 — 1st day, 8th round P O R T O F S PA I N , Trinidad, CMC — Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, replying to Jamaica Scorpions’ 210 all out, were 79 for three in their first innings at the close on the opening day of their eighth round Regional four-day match at Q u e e n ’s P a r k O v a l yesterday. Scores: SCORPIONS 210
(Jermaine Blackwood 68, Derval Green 53, Devon Thomas 23; Imran Khan 428, Sheldon Cottrell 3-34) RED FORCE 79 for three (Kyle Hope 33 not out) Volcanoes 371-5 vs Hurricanes — 1st day, 8th round BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC — Windward Islands Volcanoes, sent in by Leeward Islands Hurricanes, reached 371 for five at the
close on the opening day of their eighth round game in the Regional four-day championship a t Wa r n e r P a r k h e r e yesterday. Scores: VOLCANOES 371 for five (Sunil Ambris 155 not out, Devon Smith 65, Liam Sebastien 33 not out, Tyrone Theophile 30; Rahkeem Cornwall 3-110) vs HURRICANES.
exactly where it should be.” Finn Bottas, who replaced champion Nico Rosberg after the German’s shock retirement last year, remarked this week that he felt no pressure stepping up from his former team Williams. He may feel the heat now, after being well shaded by his team mate. The 2007 championship winner Kimi Raikkonen was fourth fastest for Ferrari in the second session, improving on his fifth placing earlier. Red Bull drivers Dan Ricciardo and Max Verstappen were third and fourth quickest in the first session but dropped down the timesheets to fifth and
sixth later after changes to their cars between the sessions. Dutch teenager Verstappen skidded into the grass in FP2 and team principal Christian Horner said neither he nor Ricciardo had appreciated the tweaks in the garage. “Max did a little grassmowing (but) yes, we’re generally quite encouraged,” he told reporters. The first session was largely incident-free but there were plenty of problems later, with Renault driver Jolyon Palmer having a particularly tough day. With his FP1 cut short by a seal problem, FP2 was also over quickly when Palmer skidded at turn 16. He
slammed into a barrier, scattering debris on the track and the red flag was raised until his wrecked car was hauled off. Felipe Massa’s Williams car stopped half an hour into the second session. Tw i c e c h a m p i o n Fernando Alonso was 12th fastest in FP2 and may have been buoyed by the result after arriving in Melbourne anxious after a dreary winter testing for the Woking-based team. With fatter tires and improved aerodynamics, the speed of the new cars was impressive. Hamilton’s fastest lap was just shy of Vettel’s pole record of 1:23.529 set at Albert Park in 2011.
Saturday March 25, 2017
Kaieteur News
PAGE 29
MOE/NSC host cricket coaching Badree, Narine key to clinic at West Demerara Windies attack: Radford
Participants with Coach Latchman Yadram standing at right following the clinic. The Ministry of Education/National Sports Commission recently held a cricket coaching programme at the West Demerara Secondary school. The three-day
programme, which concluded Thursday, saw male and female teachers from 16 schools ranging from Wales to Crane being tutored on the basics of cricket. Sessions were
conducted by Latchman Yadram who said that the clinic sought to give a start in the foundation of coaching in both theory and practical. The participants thanked Yadram and the NSC.
West Indies look to revive fortunes against depleted Pakistan BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP) — World champions West Indies will be seeking to erase the recent memory of a pitiful showing in the United Arab Emirates when they commence a T20 International series against Pakistan at Kensington Oval in Barbados tomorrow. With their strife-torn squad obliterated in all three matches at the start of the campaign in the UAE last September, Carlos Brathwaite’s team has the opportunity to make an immediate statement on home soil against a Pakistan side that has also been inactive as a national unit since those comprehensive triumphs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. However, a cloud hangs over the visitors in the aftermath of a corruption scandal that emerged during last month’s Pakistan Super League with five players, including regular internationals Sharjeel Khan and Mohammad Irfan, prevented from leaving their homeland as investigations continue into spot-fixing allegations. Their absence presents an opportunity, either for players emerging from a period in the wilderness, like opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad and veteran allrounder Mohammad Hafeez, or newcomers like Shadab Khan and Fakhar Zaman to stake their claims to regular international duty.
Tomorrow’s match is the first of four –- a rarity in bilateral T20 International series –- with the remaining three at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad at the end of the week. Yet for all the excitement and hype generated by cricket’s most abbreviated and lucrative format, it is fair to suggest that both teams will have a greater level of focus and intensity in the three-match One-day International series that follows in Guyana, especially with the West Indies desperate to stay in the hunt for an automatic qualifying spot for the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England. - Humiliation Trounced 3-0 in their own backyard by the English just two weeks ago, including a 186-run humiliation at Kensington Oval in the final match, the two-time former Wo r l d C u p w i n n e r s continue to languish in ninth spot in the rankings on 84 points, five behind the Pakistanis, who will want to ensure they maintain that eighth spot and even improve to advance automatically to the World Cup. Pakistan have already pipped the West Indies for the last available spot at June’s Champions Trophy in England, and although the Caribbean side will still have the chance to get to the World Cup via the qualifying tournament in Bangladesh
next year, failing to qualify as one of the top eight teams will be seen as yet another embarrassment for the onetime undisputed kings of the game. In what is believed will be his final series before bowing out of the international game, Misbah ul Haq will then lead Pakistan in three Tests at the conclusion of the ODI duel as the visitors seek to make history by winning a Test series in the Caribbean for the first time. Pakistan briefly reigned at the top of the Test rankings during the series against the West Indies in the UAE last November, although defeat to Jason Holder’s men in the final Test in Sharjah not only halted their quest for a clean sweep of the entire campaign but triggered a decline with the Pakistanis being swept in two Tests in New Zealand and three in Australia. Teams: West Indies - Carlos Brathwaite (captain), Evin Lewis, Chadwick Walton (wicketkeeper), Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Jason Mohammed, Kieron Pollard, Rovman Powell, Kesrick Williams, Sunil Narine, Samuel Badree. Pakistan Sarfraz Ahmed (captain/wicketkeeper), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Sohail Tanvir, Rumman Raees, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados,— West Indies a s s i s t a n t c o a c h To b y Radford sees the spin duo of Sunil Narine and Samuel Badree as trump cards in the upcoming four-match Twenty20 series against Pakistan starting here today. The pair are among the best in the world in the shortest format with legspinner Badree ranked number three and offspinner Narine ranked seventh, and Radford said he expected them to be a handful for the Pakistani batsmen. “They are guys who have been there and won World Cups. They’ve played i n a l l t h e Tw e n t y 2 0 tournaments around the world,” Radford said here. “They are quality players and they will know who they are bowling at here [because] they would have played against these Pakistan batters before so there’s lot of experience, lot of quality and you can’t buy that. “So it’s great to have
Spin twin Sunil Narine (left) and Samuel Badree. those in the side and the younger guys will obviously learn from them and pick up a lot from their skill.” The 36-year-old Badree is a T20 specialist with 32 internationals to his name along with 42 wickets at an economy rate of just over five-and-a-half runs an over. All told, he has taken 151 wickets in 154 T20s. F e l l o w Tr i n i d a d i a n Narine has taken 40 wickets from 39 T20Is at an economy rate of six, and has hauled in 264 scalps in 212 T20s overall. Selectors have also surprisingly included left-
arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul in the 16-man squad and Radford said he was pleased to see the 27-yearold in the Windies set-up. “Permaul I remember him from the HPC when we ran the HPC here in Barbados four or five years ago,” the Englishman recalled. “He was always a quality spinner so I’m delighted he’s getting an opportunity.” The opening T20I bowls off at Kensington Oval here with the remaining three set for Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad on March 30, April 1 and 2.
Blairmont CC congratulates cricketers for success in U-15 Inter County tourney
Akash Harrilall The President and executives of the Blairmont Cricket Club expressed congratulations to club members Marvan Prashad and Akash Harrilall on their recent success in leading Berbice to capture the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Dave West Indian Imports inter county U-15 50-over tournament 2017. Marvan Prashad, the club’s U-15 captain, led the Berbice team with distinction. He was named man of the tournament, player of the
Marvan Prashad final and also received another man of the match award in the preliminary round. He scored 106 runs from three innings at an average of 53. Prashad, right arm off spin also earned him four wickets during the tournament. Left arm spinner Akash Harrilall, took the most wickets during the tournament accounting for 10 scalps. He also claimed a man of the match award in the preliminary rounds. The BCC wishes the two
youngsters a bright future in their cricketing endeavors. The BCC has branded 2017 “The year of youths” as such the club continues to invest in its member’s welfare in order to be better cricketers and individuals in the community. As such the clubs encourages its U-17 members to continue training and be disciplined as they continue to participate in the upcoming U-17 Inter County tournament. (Samuel Whyte)
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Saturday March 25, 2017
Hope’s 2nd ‘double’ leads Pride to 480-3 dec Jaguars still 212 away from follow-on By Sean Devers in Barbados In association with Stag Beer (logo) & Vnet communications (logo) The Guyana Jaguars top order again failed yesterday after a brilliant unbeaten second double century from 23-year-old Shai Hope lifted Barbados Pride to an impregnable position at the end of the second day of their eighth round Digicel Regional First-Class match at the Kensington Oval. Hope, who shared in a 154-run third-wicket stand with Shamarh Brooks (67) and an unfinished 74-run fourth partnership with Roston Chase (33*), faced 391 balls, batted for 485 minutes, reached the boundary 24 times and cleared it thrice to register the highest score by a Bajan against Guyana. Brooks’ innings lasted 198 minutes, 124 balls and included nine fours and a six, while Chase’s cameo took 43 balls with a four and a six. Romero Shepherd toiled long and hard to finish with 2-111, while left arm seamer Raymon Reifer, the Jaguars’ best bowler, took 1-99. Clinton Pestano had an inauspicious debut ending with 0-90 although he should have had Hope’s wicket. Hope’s run-spree lifted his team to 480-3 declared at 13:51hrs and by the close the
Jaguars were in a precarious position on 119-4. The left-handed pair of Reifer (25) and Chanderpaul (15) carried their team safely to the close with an unbroken stand of 35 from 38 minutes and at stumps the South American Franchise were 112 runs adrift of the followon target. Shemron Hetymer was caught at short-leg off Miguel Cummins and Rajendra Chandrika (24), who faced 52 balls, batted for 77 minutes with two fours was caught at midwicket off Chase when well set to bat himself back to form. C h a n d r i k a ’s t w o boundaries came in the same over off debutant pacer Keon Hardin; an edge boundary and a confident cut behind point, as he and his Captain Leon Johnson brought up the 50 in the 14th over before Chandrika departed at 562. Johnson, who pleasantly drove Cummins to the cover boundary in his 53-ball 15, was trapped LBW to Chase as the Jaguars slipped to 64-3 as Johnson’s patchy form in year ’s tournament continued. Vishaul Singh (15) was next to go when he provided a leg-side catch to the Keeper off Kevin Stoute at 86-4 before Chanderpaul and Reifer began ‘operation rebuild’.
Debutant Keon Hardin has Rajendra Chandrika in trouble before he fell for 24 yesterday.
Earlier, on a flat track and lightening fast outfield Pride resumed on 293-2 from 94 overs with Hope on 118 and Brooks on 14 and by Lunch the pair was still together after adding 103 runs in the first session under clear blue skies with Hope on 172 and Brooks on 65, and the host 400-2. The day began with the Jaguars looking for early wickets but that ploy soon changed to restricting the scoring by bowling wide of off stump as the Bajans put their foot on the accelerator to get as much batting points as possible in the first 110
overs. Things got progressively worse for the Jaguars when Hope, who was dropped by Keeper Anthony Bramble on 35 off Pestano on Thursday, was again let off by the Keeper on 162 off Reifer. The score was then 368-2 in the second over with the new ball which was taken after 112 overs and Hope made them pay dearly. By the completion of 110 overs, Pride had raced to 357-2 as the Jaguars became the first team in this tournament not to get a bowling point. The third wicket stand
Keeper Anthony Bramble and Vishaul Singh watch as Shamarh Brooks pulls for four in his entertaining innings yesterday at the Kensington Oval.
flourished after Kraigg Braithwaite and Hope had put together 205 on the opening day and the home team collected four batting points. Brooks stroked Shepherd for a boundary down the ground before lofting him over long-on for six off the next ball, while Hope reached 150 from 302 balls and 355 minutes with 17 fours and two sixes as the stand progressed rapidly against a bowling attack which wilted under the onslaught. The 28 year-old Brooks, who seemed destined to play Test cricket as a youth player, soon reached his 12th fifty from 167 minutes and 102 balls with six fours and a six as he played with ‘Carl Hooper like’ elegance. Brooks celebrated his 50 by punching Pestano for four past cover and stroking Reifer past extra cover before edging him past slip for consecutive boundaries. Hope’s bat looked as broad as the sightscreen and he swiveled and pulled Pestano for four and smashed him to the midwicket boundary in the same over before a wide by Shepherd, which landed on the other pitch, brought up the 400 in 119.5 overs and the 150 partnership from 255 balls and 188 minutes and at Lunch Pride were in the ascendency. After the interval Hope smashed Reifer imperiously through cover and struck
Shepherd like a bullet past his ankles for a boundary. However, seven minutes after Lunch, Brooks was taken at mid-on as Shepherd, who worked hard all day despite the state of the game, finally made the breakthrough at 404-3. Chase joined Hope and the pair continued to flow with an array of audacious shots with Chase lofting Gudakesh Motie for six but with the score on 463-3, he was dropped by Johnson at slip off Bishoo on 26. Hope reached his second double century thanks to a misfield from Motie at cover, from 463 minutes and 378 balls with 24 fours and two sixes and when he reached 205 he surpassed Sir Garfield Sobers and Peter Lashley to become the Bajan with highest score against Guyana. The declaration came after Hope climbed into Bishoo and deposited him for six with him 25 short of Desmond Haynes’ 246 against the Wi n d w a r d s i n 1 9 9 3 which remains the highest score in Regional cricket by a Bajan. Today is the third day and play is scheduled to commence at 10:00hrs. Scores: PRIDE 480 for three decl. (Shai Hope 215 not out, Kraigg Brathwaite 143, Shamarh Brooks 67; Romario Shepherd 2-111). JAGUARS 119 for four (Raymon Reifer 25 not out, Rajindra Chandrika 24; Roston Chase 2-26).
Saturday March 25, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Christian, Drakes guide Tuschen South Side to EBECC Lochan Memorial U-19 title
Troy Drakes accepts his prizes from Vice Chairman of the EBECC and Coach of the winning South Side team Terry Newton. Kevin Christian struck a fine half century, while Troy Drakes captured seven wickets as Tuschen South Side defeated Vergenoegen by 149 runs to win the final of the East Bank Essequibo Cricket Committee Lochan Memorial U-19 40-over tournament on Sunday. Christian hit a top score of 71 as Tuschen South Side posted a challenging 227,
batting first. Ameer Singh supported with 36 and Elian Whyte 34. Ve r g e n o e g e n w e r e bowled out for 78 in reply. Joshua Reddy and L. Alfred made 17 and 15 respectively. Drakes proved almost unplayable capturing 7-16. Drakes took the award for being the best bowler and scoring the highest individual score (88) in the
The victorious Tuschen South Side U-19 team with their hardware. Assistant Secretary Treasurer of the EBECC Timeka Johnson is standing far left.
tournament. Assistant Secretary Treasurer of the EBECC Timeka Johnson
congratulated the winning team and urged the players to remain committed. She t h a n k e d t h e s p o n s o r,
overseas based Guyanese Dwarka (only name provided) who sponsored the competition in memory of
the late Lochan (only name provided) who was a former cricketer on the East Bank of Essequibo.
Delroy Tyrrell to represent T&T at Regal Sports softball fixtures for tomorrow Carifta Swimming Championships Guyana born Delroy Ty r r e l l w i l l r e p r e s e n t Trinidad and Tobago at the Carifta Swimming championships to be held in Bahamas from April 14 to 19. Tyrrell achieved this feat after participating in the National Age Group Long Course Championship held at the National Aquatic Centre, Couva Trinidad. The ASATT sponsored
meet took place from March 15-19. Competing in the boys 13-14 age group, Delroy swam a best time in the 200 backstroke of 2:26.99 seconds, achieving the qualifying mark and was the only boy in his age group to acquire a 200 backstroke time. He also achieved a 50m fly qualifying time, clocking 28.32 sec.
Delroy also narrowly missed the 100 backstroke time with a personal best of 107.74. He copped the third place high point trophy. Tyrrell, who represented T&T at four consecutive Goodwill Championships, is coached by veteran coach Hazel Haynes, CEO and founder of Tidal Wave Aquatics of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Regal Sports softball tournament will commence tomorrow at the G a n d h i Yo u t h Organisation and Demerara Cricket Club grounds.
A t 0 9 : 3 0 h r s , Unstoppable will face Friends and Ariel Masters will take on Amazon Warriors at 13:30hrs at GYO. At DCC, Regal Masters
will play HS Masters at 09:30hrs, Mosia XI will battle Good Hope Hustlers (open) at 13:00hrs and Accomplishments will challenge Farm at 14:30hrs.
GCA NHS second division final on this weekend
Flying Ace Cycle Club holds annual awards and presentation ceremony today The Flying Ace Cycle Club of Berbice will today hold their Annual presentation and awards ceremony at the Club’s Office in New Amsterdam, Berbice; beginning at 19:00 hrs. High on the agenda is the reports of the President, Secretary and Treasurer. A review of the club performance for the past year will also be undertaken. While ways and means to have the club functioning
better will also be undertaken. Awards will be presented to the top performers in the senior and junior categories as well as the females and veteran cyclists. Top juniors, top juveniles and most outstanding BMX riders will also be rewarded. The club will also be showing appreciation to its sponsors and supporters who assisted to make their performance a success story during the year. Prominent officials in
Berbice including Divisional C o m m a n d e r, A s s i s t a n t Commissioner Ian Amsterdam, former Mayor and prominent businessman Errol Alphonso among others are expected to be in attendance. Club Coach and founder, Randolph Roberts, is expected to give an overview of the Club since its formation some 32 years ago. Today it is one of the leading clubs in Guyana. (Samuel Whyte)
Oslyn Batson The Georgetown Cricket Association Noble House Sea Foods second division two-day final will be contested this weekend with Transport SC facing GNIC SC at Bourda. TSC will be led by Shawn Massiah and includes Ryan Hemraj, Oslyn Batson, Clyde Hoyte, Mark Ramsammy, Adrian Hinds and Kevin Ross while GNIC
Dwayne Dick SC consist Quincy Ovid Richardson, Jason George, David Dick, Dwayne Dick and Christian Husbands. Play starts at 11:00hrs each day and Ryan Banwarie and Javed Persaud are the men in charge of the action on-field with Ravishwar Latif as the stand by. Meanwhile, the Carib Beer first division T20 continues with Malteenoes
SC travelling to Everest (Matthew Kissoon and Deon Feassal) and UG playing Police at Eve Leary (Clyde Layne and Joseph Jeffrey) on Saturday. On Sunday MSC will entertain GDF (Cyril Garnath and Hortence Isaacs) and Everest will host GCC (Shannon Crawford and Goberdhan). All matches start at 13:30hrs.
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Saturday March 25, 2017
Bel Air Lions Domino Tournament starts today With a large field from across the country anticipated to register for the start of competition today in the Bel Air Lions/Supligen Domino Tournament, the organisers are predicting a very competitive event. The competition which is being organised to raise funds for much needed community projects is already touted to exceed last year’s entries including teams from Linden, Berbice and Essequibo. The tournament is scheduled to end tomorrow and the venue is the Bel Air Lions Den, Enachu Street, Section ‘N’ Campbellville. Lion Orlando James, who spoke with Kaieteur Sport, recently confirmed that they will easily surpass the original target of 32 teams with teams still registering even beyond yesterday’s deadline.
Already, main sponsor Supligen had announced its i n t e n t i o n t o o ff e r a s incentive 12 packets of Supligen for teams registering early and they’ve responded positively. Defending champion Sheriff Street Saga Boys said they are confident that they will retain the title won at the inaugural tournament and has picked a strong side to ensure that the trophy remains with them. The proceeds will go towards community projects that are geared to benefit the lesser fortunate within the society. Among the teams invited to participate are: Killers, Upper Level, Sherriff Street Saga Boys, Masters, Scramblers, Ray’s One Stop, All Seasons, GGMC, Thunder, Strikers, F&H Supremes, Impressers, Frankie’s, Lions A, Spartans, Lions B, Transport,
Bosai Inter Department Basketball
Champs Services face Operations, Mines meet Plant maintenance tonight at MSC The BOSAI Minerals Group (Guyana) Inc annual inter department basketball championship will begin with the reigning champions General Services taking on Plant Operations in the first game and the other will place Mines against Plant Maintenance. The opening game at 18:30 hrs will see the General Services having among their players Marlon Persaud, Jamal Bethune, Alfie Robertson, Theodore Tappin, Jermaine Dowden, Clive McCalman, Deon Moire, Seon Sutton, Randy Johnson and Damain Webster. The Plant Operations side is Weslie Bobb, Germaine Chan, Omisi
Williams, Patrice Rickett, Own Williams, Devon McClean, Mtron Prescott, Rawleston Slowe and Quincy Datson. The second game will feature the Mines who will have such players like Marvin Russell, Collin Barker, Kurt Lewis, John Knights, Chan, Marlon Pollydore, Melroy Ross, Earl Isaacs, Kevin Jackman and Dennis Anderson to choose from. They will be up against the Plant Maintenance side which will have in their team Jarryle Williamson, Anson Durant, Neil Granville, Larnelle Turner, Orin Scott, Dave Hopkinson, Ryan Noel and Jamal McCalmont.
Members of the Bel Air Lions Club and GDA President Faye Joseph (right) pose with Saga Boys team Captain (centre) at the conclusion of last year’s competition. Freddie’s 6, Police and NIS. Over $500,000 in total prize monies are up for grabs with the winning team set to
receive $250,000, 2nd place $150,000 and 3rd place $100,000 along with trophies.
Entrance fee is $12,000 per team and the Most Valuable Player will receive $10,000 and a case of
Supligen. The tournament is being run by the Georgetown Dominoes Association.
Milo 18 and under Schools Football Competition
Round 16 action commences today Part of the action in this year’s Milo 18 and under Schools Football Competition.
With the finish line fast approaching, the business end of this year’s Milo 18 and under Schools Football Competition starts in earnest today with four Round of 16 matches planned for the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue. Highlighting today’s action is the Dolphin versus Sir Leon Lessons, while the East Ruimveldt and Morgan Learning Centre encounter
should be an interesting affair as well. Another game that should produce fireworks is the Carmel versus Lodge collision. Meanwhile, four more games are planned for tomorrow, at the same venue. The game that will most likely draw much attention is the clash between defending champion Chase
Academy and South Ruimveldt. The champs have been in
sparkling form so far and this shape is expected to continue.
Kaieteur News
Saturday March 25, 2017
PAGE 33
GT Beer confirms association Kcaysha Medas-King with Petra Futsal Competition says thanks to Guyana
Petra Organisation official Mark Alleyne (left) receives the cheque from Banks DIH Limited Communications Director Troy Peters (right) in the presence of Petra Organisation Co-Director Troy Mendonca. The Petra Organisation Futsal Competition received a timely boost when Banks DIH Limited under its GT Beer Brand confirmed its association with the event, during a simple ceremony that was conducted, at the Company’s Head Office, at Thirst Park.
The occasion had in attendance the Company’s Communications Director Troy Peters and Petra officials Troy Mendonca and Mark Alleyne. Mendonca in his remarks thanked the Company for its continued support for the Organisation’s programmes,
noting that it is testimony that the relationship between the two entities which dates back many years is still going strong. He spoke of the C o m p a n y ’s a s s i s t a n c e during the recently concluded GT Beer/Limacol (Continued on page 25)
On the 19th of March 2017 at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island New York Kcaysha Medas-King was crowned Overall Athlete of the Year for the New York City USATF Association. It was a well attended event by many big name Coaches and athletes on this special day. On behalf of her Parents Kcaysha Medas-King has expressed thanks to the Guyanese public for their support and prayers expressed as she continue this journey of aiming to become a successful Olympic Medalist for Guyana. As the presenter read out her Achievements that got her the Nomination, while setting a record in the process of being the fastest 9-10 female athlete in New York history since times have been recorded, she expressed pleasure at being able to share this with Guyana. Kcaysha was also a finalist in the just concluded Hershey’s Indoor Nationals in the 400m where she ran a102.36 to get to the finals which was won by former Olympian Bershawn
Kcaysha Medas-King collects her overall Athlete of the year award at the New York City USATF Association awards programme recently. “ B a t m a n ” J a c k s o n ’s daughter in a time of 58 sec for the 11-12 yr old girls. The event was also attended by Sonya Richards-Ross and many others including several formers Olympians, top coaches and technical advisors were there to witness the 400m finals. It was a well accomplished feat since Kcaysha is at the bottom of
the age group 10yrs, so in order to even make it to the finals was great when taking into consideration some of these athletes have more financial support, equipment and supplies in comparison. Kcaysha also ran in the 200m in 28.04 and in the 800m clocked 2:36.02 which was not good enough to get her on the podium and into the finals.
Manohar agrees to stay on temporarily as ICC chairman
Shashank Manohar has decided to stay on as ICC chairman, for a while at least © IDI/Getty Images ESPNCRICINFO Shashank Manohar has agreed to defer his resignation as ICC chairman until the body’s annual conference in June this year. That, cricket’s leading administrators hope, will give them enough time to implement the changes to the governance and financial models of the ICC, changes behind which Manohar has
been a significant presence. The u-turn in Manohar’s stanc e , f o l l o w i n g h i s surprise resignation earlier this month, came after an ICC board resolution earlier this week that requested him t o s t a y w i t h “overwhelming support”. “I respect the sentiments expressed by the Directors and the confidence they have
reposed in me. In the light of this, and although my decision to depart due to perso n a l r e a s o n s h a s not changed, I am willing to continue as Chairman till the responsibility as per the resolution is c o m p l e t e , ” M a nohar said in an ICC release. “I have a duty to work with my colleagues to enable
a smooth transition and continue our work on the governance of the ICC.” E ff o r t s t o t r y a n d convince Manohar to change his mind had begun almost as soon as his resignation was made official. A number of board directors have been in touch with him since. Those contacts were supplemented by a meeting in India a few days ago between Manohar and the CA chairman David Peever and ICC Development Committee head Imran Khwaja, which is believed to have been an important one in convincing him. On March 15, Manohar had caught much of the cricket world by surprise when he announced his decision to step down as ICC chairman, offering nothing more than “personal reasons” as an explanation. The development raised concerns over whether the new ICC constitution, for which Manohar was the driving force, would be passed at the April meetings, when specific points in the document will come up for
vote. In principle the constitution had passed at the ICC board meeting in F e b r u a r y. S e v e n F u l l Members had voted in favour but the BCCI and Sri Lanka Cricket had voted against the new constitution, while Zimbabwe Cricket abstained. Since then, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has expressed reservations against some aspects of the new constitution. The Indian board’s primary objection to the new constitution is the financial model, according to which the BCCI stood to make substantially less than it did under the existing model, which was devised by the Big Three. It was revealed that Manohar had met with the B C C I ’s C o m m i t t e e o f Administrators the evening before he announced his resignation to discuss the new ICC constitution, though he said he had already made up his mind to quit before the meeting. Significantly, the BCCI,
with whom Manohar has had a complex relationship since he became an independent ICC chairman last year, endorsed the decision, along with other major directors. “It is important that the current issues are resolved to everyone’s satisfaction,” Vikram Limaye, a member of the BCCI’s CoA, said. “We had a productive meeting with Mr Manohar recently wherein we outlined the concerns of BCCI on the financial model and governance issues and our suggestions for r e s o l u t i o n . We a r e committed to working with ICC for a satisfactory resolution of these issues.” On Wednesday, the CoA had also spoken of how they intend to proceed on issues related to the ICC in the run up to the April board meeting. The tone of those messages suggested a shift from the more abrasive stance the BCCI has employed towards the ICC in recent years, to a more conciliatory one.
t r o Sp Hope’s 2nd ‘double’ leads Pride to 480-3 dec Jaguars still 212 away from follow-on
Shivnarine Chanderpaul defends to Royston Chase and will need to play a match winning knock for the Jaguars today. Shai Hope punches through cover during his enterprising unbeaten double century yesterday. (Photos by Sean Devers)
West Indies look to revive fortunes against depleted Pakistan
West Indies Team. (Photo: AFP) Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210