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US$150M airport renovation...

US$35M charged for sand is fraudulent Supenaam Development Project Two Govt’s later... to be completed by month end IDB exposes

unaddressed issues plaguing indigenous peoples Businessman's killer gets 80 years

The section of the waterfront project that was already railed

Killer vehicle leaves Remorseful prison Ex-insurance manager number plate behind graduate gets 12 years allegedly flees with $40M, after hit-and-run for killing drinking buddy arrest warrant issued p.

20

p.

24

Use of taxi, market purchases will not be regarded as

local content - EITI Analyst

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 26, 2019

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 26, 2019

PAGE 03

US$150M airport renovation…

US$35M charged for sand is fraudulent G

uyana spent a staggering U S $ 3 5 M , according to one report, on sand for the Timehri airport expansion but like everything else associated with the project, it could have been done way, way cheaper.

According to Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, one million truckloads of sand had been used on the airport at $7,000 per truckload.

While those one million truckloads would raise eyebrows in many quarters; it is angering quite a few truckers who fetch sand. “ T h i s i s ridiculous…With the kind of arrangements that the contractor got, we could do it for $3,000 or $4,000 a truckload,” one truck driver said.

He has a single axle truck which holds up to 15 cubic yards of sand. He charges between $13,000 and $15,000 to bring it to the city.

But China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), the contractor of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CHEC) doesn't have that distance to cover.

In fact, the sand pits are located right in the vicinity

of the runway that was extended, and the airport terminal itself.

Government made the pit available free of cost to CHEC. It did not stop there, too. CHEC was granted duty free concessions on equipment, including trucks and excavators.

It is unclear whether there were fuel concessions, also, which would have been an added incentive. What is known is that for normal truckers, there is a charge for loading sand onto their trays from the sand pits that are controlled by third parties.

Those charges range from $2,000 to $3,000 each.

In the case of CHEC, it is not saddled with those charges.

“There is another thing, too. If you ask me to bring one million truckloads of sand from Timehri to Georgetown, I would give you a big discount. If I charging you $12,000 for a truckload then it gone come down to about $6,000 to bring it to GT. It cannot be $7,000 to drop one truckload. That is fraud, plain and simple,” another truck driver who operates from the Ruimveldt area said yesterday.

The airport project has s p a n n e d t h r e e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s n o w,

The US$35M price tag for just sand at the Timehri airport is tantamount to fraud, truckers said yesterday

Minister David Patterson

Sand truck operators are angry over cost of material that CHEC charged the people of Guyana

starting since 2011.

Actual construction began in 2013 with CHEC telling the Guyana Government, under former President Bharrat Jagdeo, that it can build a new terminal building for arrivals and departures and eight passenger bridges, along with a longer runway for wide-body jets, for US$150M. However, Guyana is not getting that. Instead of an entire, two-storey terminal, it got less than half of that.

New attractive, energy saving features like skylights have not been installed.

Rather, the old terminal

building has been gutted and refitted. There are only four passenger bridges.

Flat screen televisions for use to display flight information were set to cost at $1.3M, way above the $300,000 price.

Guyana is getting a way smaller airport but there have been details from the Government why it adjusted the scope of works so drastically. What is known is that the contractor and the Government have both not been talking much about the new designs.

Guyana, at the end of the day, will still have to repay the loan to China.

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Tuesday March 26, 2019

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

It is criminal to ignore some necessary requests After 36 years in prison an innocent man is set free. It did not have to be this long. All that was required was for those who have such authority to give the man a listening, and giving him a chance. A chance to prove his innocence.

Except that they prosecutors in Baton Rouge, LA did not.

That should be a crime. (NY Times article dated March 22nd and titled, “He spent 36 years in prison. Fingerprint database cleared him”).

It should be a crime to extend--so carelessly, so thoughtlessly--what amounted to another 20 years in the hell of jail at the expense of the liberty and reputation of an innocent man for he had asked as early as 1999. Denied.

What effort was required? What harm could come other than the justice of exoneration? Or guilt confirmed? Case closed. What was called for was for prosecutors to seek a comparison and match against the national fingerprint database. They did not.

It should be a crime when officers of the state wield the power of the state, misuse it actually--sometimes mistakenly, sometimes deliberately--to delay and thwart and undermine. Sabotage is a stronger word, a more familiar one.

Why not give a chance to a man insisting on an opportunity to prove his innocence? Who screams to the world, that part which would listen and care: I am wronged.

I am victimized.

That was the ignored cry of a man accused of felony rape and stabbing.

That context allows for a timely segue into GECOM and its now apparently shoddy and tawdry way of going about its personnel business. White collar abuses are no less insidious; they rise beyond mere misdemeanors.

Discrimination in any form by anyone is not simply condemnable; it has to be cursed.

The matter of the former Deputy Chief Elections Officer is a case of continued denial: no questions allowed, no answers forthcoming, no documents presented. Looks ugly. Smells pungently. And now, it is both of those things and the worst conclusions.

The grounds on which the man was removed seem shaky. What are the real grounds? Comfort level? Strategic visions and plans? A better way could have been found to get rid of him; to ease him out to pasture; to bridge toward the desired transition.

The benefit of the doubt as to the uncorroborated subjective (shifty and the rest) no longer applies. Mischief was afoot and leaves the door open for any manner of conjecture to follow.

In view of what has unfolded before that visit by members of the Ethnic Relations Commission, and what subsequently unraveled, there is only the scurrilous and racially treacherous that can be ascribed; the dirtiest possible motives.

This is neither constructive nor comforting for an institution as sensitive, as suspected, as alternately scorned and savored as the Guyana Elections Commission.

Its history speaks; its present dumbfounds.

In the political Guyana of today, the shoe is on one foot of the divide.

The promise is that as these cycles come and go, that same shoe would find a similarly perfect fit on another foot, one that is just as accommodating, but no less inimical to whatever morsel of racial progress may be attainable in this deboned nation.

Unfortunately, the 360 circles of partisan dissonance and the societally destructive continue unabated. As in all 360-degree revolutions, it is back to the same place from which started.

Guyana’s ordeal is endless and timeless.

Obscuring and stonewalling and mystifying should be made violations of the law under those circumstances of grave injustice, of aggravated personal grievances inflicted.

APNU+AFC cannot now wish away the CCJ DEAR EDITOR, In spite of the clear, publicly-announced intention by relevant stakeholders that the constitutional challenge to the December 21st, 2018 NoConfidence Motion is going the full journey to the CCJ, APNU+AFC is poised to wish away the CCJ. APNU+AFC brazenly behaves as if the CCJ does not exist and that any ruling of the CCJ does not matter. In announcing that Parliament is about to be resumed, APNU+AFC is behaving as if the matter is at an end, that they can resume business as usual.

This same APNU+AFC used an appeal of the Chief Justice’s ruling of January 31st, 2019 as life support, to illegally avert the consequences of the NoConfidence motion as described in Articles 106 (6) and 106 (7). But they want to treat the appeal to the CCJ as having no impact on their resumption of business as usual.

On December 21st, 2018, the National Assembly of Guyana passed a noConfidence motion, setting the stage for elections within 90 days, by March 21st, 2019.

APNU+AFC, after first acknowledging the validity of the No-Confidence Motion, challenged the legitimacy of

the No-Confidence Motion in Court.

The Chief Justice on January 31st, 2019 dismissed the challenge by APNU+AFC, that the NoConfidence Motion was invalid on the basis that the majority in the 65-seat parliament is not 33, but 34.

David Granger, Moses Nagamootoo and the entire APNU+AFC leadership insisted after the Chief Justice and the High Court ruling that the consequences of the NoConfidence Motion cannot come into effect until the court matters are totally adjudicated all the way to the CCJ. On this basis, and having appealed the Chief Justice’s ruling, they ran the calendar down and exhausted the entire time period for holding elections, using the court as a life support.

On the principle they will not act until the matter is totally exhausted in the final court, APNU+AFC refused to set a date and hold elections, as required under the constitution (Article 106 (6) and (7) because of the NoConfidence Motion and as ordered by the Chief Justice).

APNU+AFC’s adopted position was that the legal options must be fully ventilated and exhausted before the consequences of the No-Confidence Motion can be effected. They created

their own illegal posture that the calendar had become suspended once they entered the matter in court and that they intended to knock on the doors of the Court of Appeal and the CCJ. Their strategy was clear - to buy time - by forcing all the courts to consider the matter.

But, suddenly, after the split decision in the Court of Appeal which favours them, APNU+AFC insists everyone must respect the court and that the matter has come to an end. APNU+AFC no longer finds it “fit and proper” to await the results of the CCJ adjudication. They now argue that the decision of the court of appeal permits them to carry on with business as usual.

On this basis, they announced that Parliament will resume shortly, following the decision of the Appeal Court which ruled that the Parliament needed 34 votes to pass the No-Confidence Motion.

It is amazing the rapidity with which APNU+AFC is proceeding to disavow the No-Confidence motion on the basis of the Guyana Court of Appeal’s split decision, disregarding that relevant stakeholders have indicated publicly their intention to appeal the recent decision.

Yet, on January 31st when the Chief Justice ruled that 33

is a valid vote to pass the NoConfidence Motion and that the government should proceed to name a date for elections within the 90 days from December 21st, this same APNU+AFC disregarded the ruling, insisting they will not start the calendar count and will not name a date for elections, will carry on with business as usual, until the court matter was settled.

With a ruling against them, APNU+AFC argued that no court decision can be enforced until all the courts have exhausted their review of the decisions. They made it known they will not act until the final court, the CCJ, has completed its review of the matter. But now they are whimsically wishing away the CCJ. With the new ruling in their favour for now, APNU+AFC is disregarding the salient fact that the PPP and others are appealing the decision of the Courts of Appeal, and, that APNU+AFC itself has signaled it will appeal certain aspects of the Court of Appeal decision.

Parliament was resigned on December 21 2018 and, while there is a judicial setback, the Parliament remains resigned until the Caribbean Court of Justice rules. What goes for the (Continued on page 6)

Inherently flawed assumptions in arriving at the number 34 DEAR EDITOR, The 50% plus 1 formula used to calculate the Absolute Majority is standard practice in most Democratic Societies, however the assumptions used in Guyana to arrive at the number 34 are inherently flawed.

There seems to be a misunderstanding about what exactly is an Absolute Majority and a Simple Majority so I will start my thesis by stating the generally acceptable definitions as follows: Absolute majority: This refers to a majority of more than 50% of the total membership of the house.

Simple Majority: This refers to the majority of more than 50% of the members present and voting.

As stated above, it is standard practice in most Democratic Societies to use the formula of 50% plus 1 to calculate the Absolute Majority and Simple Majority.

To calculate 50%, one simply divides by two as was done

by Dr. Francis Alexis. He then correctly stated that, “the 65 members of the National

Assembly had to be divided by two, which would result in 32.5, but since the .5 represents half and there is no half-member”. He then proceeded to round up this non-existing half member and made him whole and then stated “that number needs to rounded off to 33, and add one more, making the majority 34 – an absolute majority”.

The inherent flaw in Dr. Francis Alexis’ argument is that it is humanly impossible to divide a person in two and then make them whole again.

That being the case, it is compulsory to ignore the .5 and then add 1 to the result which would make the Absolute Majority 32 +1 = 33.

This would be 50.77% and is greater than 50%!

I would like to use the following examples to calculate Simple Majority to reinforce my case: 1. If we were to assume that only 60 Members of Parliament turned up on a particular date and all voted to pass a minor bill. Then the Simple Majority required to pass that bill would be 60 divided by two, which would

result in 30 and then we add on 1 more making the Simple Majority 31.

2. If we were to then assume that of the 60 Members of Parliament that turned up on that particular date, only 59 voted to pass the minor bill while one abstained. Then the Simple Majority required to pass that bill would be 59 divided by two, which would result in 29.5. If we used the correct procedure and ignore the non-existing half member and added 1 to 29, then the Simple Majority would be 30.

However, if we were to use the inherently flawed argument postulated by Dr. Francis Alexis, then we would round up the 29.5 to 30 and then add 1 to get a Simple Majority of 31.

The examples above clearly demonstrate the inherent flaw in Dr. Francis Alexis’ arguments since it is not mathematically possible for the Simple Majority of both 60 and 59 to be the same number 31!

It is pellucid that the attorneys in this case did not properly research this matter.

A cursory search of Google provided the following

example of how Lok Sabha, the Lower House of India’s Parliament calculates Absolute Majority; https:// www.clearias.com/majoritiesindian-parliament/ “Absolute majority It refers to a majority of more than 50% of the total membership of the house. For example, as the total membership of Lok Sabha is 545, an absolute majority in Lok Sabha means – 50% of 545 plus 1, i.e. 273.”

If we were to apply the inherently flawed argument postulated by Dr. Francis Alexis in this example, then 545 divided by 2 is 272.5, rounding this up would give 273 and adding 1 would result in an answer of 274 which is obviously incorrect since in Lok Sabha, the absolute majority of 545 is 273.

It is my fervent hope that the Guyanese attorneys who will argue this matter in the CCJ would properly research this topic and will not display the level of gullibility, shown recently in the High Court, and which has made us the laughing stock in the Caribbean.

Yours truly T. Singh

Tuesday March 26, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Several issues on the no-confidence We must respect the edict of the accept the judicial rulings of motion are settled among those the Courts, whether we think Court of Appeal they are right or whether some DEAR EDITOR, Court of Appeal. Innocent attorneys believe that the who are informed and objective It has been a serious, persons were hanged, terrible judgement was wrong. We

DEAR EDITOR, SN’s editorial of March 25th, captioned “The Court of Appeal ruling and its aftermath”, was poorly informed and reasoned in key places. For brevity, I will dwell on just two of its flaws.

First, it is flawed and groundless to conclude that the Appeal Court’s definition of an absolute majority (half + 1) now applies to every instance where formallyconstituted bodies have to make decisions of high importance.

Many in the blogosphere and now SN (with its example of a three-judge panel) have brushed up their high-school maths to show how the half +1 formula produces strange results if applied to other numbers.

That the Appeal Court ruled on a specific matter in a specific context in a specific

document has been ignored by our maths geniuses. SN and others evidently believe that an edict should now be issued to all organizations countrywide instructing that henceforth every important decision they make requires an absolute majority, regardless of what is written in their own rulebooks or constitutions. SN should know better not to engage in this thoughtlessness that the Appeal Court’s ruling on Article 106 (6) now somehow applies outside the text and context in which the ruling was made.

SN’s second flaw lurks in its statement “It remains the case that those who have argued for 34 as a majority have inserted the word ‘absolute’ into their pleadings where this term is not present in the article in question and is hardly implied in the rest of

the constitution.”

But both legal teams did agree that an absolute majority is required for the passage of the no-confidence motion. The debate centred on how to compute it. But even so, does SN not understand the legal concept of levels of entrenchment?

Does SN not know that to sometimes understand the text of a legal provision, its context and intent matter; moreover, that a constitution must be interpreted in its entirety to discern its scheme?

Differences of opinion will forever remain on the noconfidence motion among reasonable people. But several of its issues are settled and straightforward among those who care to be objective and informed.

Yours faithfully, Sherwood Lowe

Unnecessary inconvenience at the Parika Ferry Stelling DEAR EDITOR, On Saturday 23rd March, 2019, about 06:60 hours I was at the Parika Ferry Stelling as a passenger that travelled early that morning. The tide was unusually high, but to a level we had seen before, and I guess it was somewhere near that level on Thursday and Friday before that Saturday morning.

I can remember that the Maritime officials long before that period had issued an advisory, particularly to all the Captains, farmers, fishermen and people that live in the low-lying areas, among other persons, to be on high alert. But it appears that the Management of Transport and Harbours Department did not read that advisory or probably didn’t care about the people travelling during that period of time.

The water was more than six inches in height at the area nearest to the main gate - that is where the office is located, and everyone that I spoke to, I was certain is employed by

the department, apart from a couple who seemed unconcerned about the situation. That was very confusing and much to the inconvenience of the travelling public, the senior citizens, the pregnant mothers, the mothers with babies, the little children, including motorists.

The touts with the hand carts were fetching people in the carts for $100 per head across that area that was no longer than three rods long for a period of about one and half hour until the tide receded.

It is beyond the comprehension of any right thinking person that with all the warning, the expectations, the benefits of hindsight, and based on those factors, management could have easily provided a temporary or makeshift walk way that would have negated the grave inconvenience caused during that period and time of the day.

Managers in the Public Sector must do introspection.

I am sure that in the private sector the situation would have been different.

Archie W. Cordis

tumultuously, exciting, worrisome, and painful period for the people of this country over the past three months since the passing of the no confidence motion. The Universal Peace Federation will not comment on the legality or illegality of the motion but noted that the Speaker of the House adjudicated according to his understanding and interpretation of the rules governing parliament.

The Chief Justice in her ruling gave some very wise guidance, explanations, and instructions. By way of jurisprudence and our system of democracy and law, we have a Court of Appeal and the Government, exercising its constitutional right, went to the Court of Appeal to interpret the understanding of what constitutes a majority.

We do not wish to comment on any of these legal factors. The Universal Peace Federation is concerned with universal peace, harmony, goodwill, cooperation, and respect for all in the country. It is imperative that all Guyanese respect the rule of law and the edict of the Judges. There was a division of opinion by the three judges - two agreed and one disagreed.

I am cognizant of the fact that Judges are human beings.

Judges have made mistakes nationally and internationally even as high up as the highest

things done to countries and citizens, peoples’ lives and families. Many, unfortunately, were known to have been hanged or given lethal injection as a result of legal mistakes in the courts.

We are tired of the fighting between the two major political parties - the PNC/R and the PPP/ C. Since both political parties were “birthed from the same womb, they need to find a way to come together, to unite this country. An ambiance of goodwill needs to be created between these two major political parties for the progress of the country.

But if disagreements persist between these two major political parties, The Universal Peace Federation would like to volunteer its mediating skills.

I have no doubt some of the other national and international organizations such as the Inter Religious Organization in Guyana, The Carter Center, countries of repute like the United Kingdom and Norway, may be able to offer their mediating skills to work for the betterment of this country.

The Universal Peace Federation calls upon all Citizens of Guyana to respect the rule of law and to accept the judges’ decision whether you disagree with it or not. In our modern civilization, the element that keeps humanity out of a state of anarchy (the Wild West scenario) is the Courts. We therefore, have to

have to respect it! And we must respect the learned persons appointed to represent the legal rights of the people of this country that pass such legal judgements whether they are right or wrong.

The people of Guyana must cooperate and work along with each other in respect and dignity.

Hopefully, by the time the next election comes around, both the Opposition and Government, should not be merely throwing out ‘goodies and promises’ to citizens, much of which they could never keep. We should embrace each other in unity and raise the morale of our country and cause our people to be truly ‘One People, One Nation, and One Destiny.’

Sincerely, Haji Roshan Khan Snr. National Chairman: Universal Peace Federation (Guyana) General Secretary, Pastor Ronald McGarrell

PAGE 6

Elections are not something that you want every two, three years DEAR EDITOR, I am no legal person, but commonsense tells me that if the PPP appeals the Appeal Court’s NCM decision (to the CCJ) , the Government should also file an appeal - for the other matters that the Appeal Court rejected - i.e. the dual citizenship matter, voting against one’s own list issue etc. By doing this the Govt. will ensure that the CCJ hears three, four, five or six matters - and not just one.

Personally I sincerely hope that elections are held till next year. Elections are not something that you want every two, three years business and life in general is severally disrupted. On the other hand I am aware of the fact that those opposition politicians wouldn’t mind if elections are held every year - once they get a chance at regaining power.

Yours faithfully, Trevor Charles

APNU+AFC cannot now...

From page 4 goose must go for the gander.

Just as APNU+AFC lived by the principle that until the court matters are finally decided by all courts, they will not abide by the NoConfidence Motion and hold elections within the 90 days limit, so must they now wait for the CCJ before they can resume Parliament.

For the majority of Guyanese citizens, there is every expectation that the CCJ will overrule the decision of the Court of Appeal.

Hopefully, the CCJ will move rapidly to resolve this matter which is negatively impacting on the lives of the people.

More importantly, the newly discovered understanding by APNU+AFC that the decision of the court must be respected must be something all citizens, regardless of political affiliation, race, ethnicity, religion, must hold them to.

APNU+AFC must not be permitted to define principles based on whether court decisions go their way or not.

When the court decisions went against APNU+AFC in January, they chose to ignore

Tuesday March 26, 2019

Kaieteur News

those decisions and publicly chided those who insisted they act in accordance with the decision of the courts.

Now, without any hesitation, APNU+AFC has found its moral groove and demands everyone respect the decisions of the court, insisting there is no need to wait for the CCJ. The Parliament passed the No-Confidence Motion and that cannot be reversed by any court. The split decision ruling will now be scrutinized by the highest court in our judiciary system, the CCJ. Until then, it is reckless for APNU+AFC to behave as if the CCJ does not exist and that the CCJ is of no material consequence.

The status of animated suspension that Guyana has experienced since December 21st 2018 cannot now expire simply because the court ruling favours APNU+AFC. Should APNU+AFC proceed to Parliament on the basis of the decision of the court of appeal and they enact significant legislation, they must consider what happens if the CCJ rules against them.

Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

Trump, allies attack president’s critics after he is cleared of Russia collusion WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump, cleared by Special Counsel Robert Mueller of conspiring with Russia in the 2016 U.S. election, vented his anger yesterday at the inquiry and vowed investigations into unnamed political enemies who did “evil” and “treasonous things.”

The Republican president and his allies in Congress went on the offensive a day after the release of a summary of Mueller’s report gave him a political victory ahead of his 2020 re-election bid, with no allegations of criminal wrongdoing brought against him at the end of a nearly twoyear-long inquiry.

U.S. Attorney General William Barr on Sunday released a four-page summary of the findings of the investigation that detailed Russian interference in the 2016 election.

“There are a lot of people out there that have done some very, very evil things, very bad things, I would say treasonous things against our country,” Trump told reporters at the White House, without mentioning anyone by name or citing specific actions.

Senator Lindsey Graham, the Republican Senate Judiciary Committee chairman and a Trump ally, told reporters he would ask Barr to appoint a special counsel to investigate the origins of the Russia probe.

Graham said Barr told him in a telephone call that he would be willing to testify to the judiciary panel about the Mueller probe, according to a spokesman for the senator.

Trump pledged new investigations but did not specify who would conduct them or who should be targeted.

Trump in the past has called for investigations of Hillary Clinton, the Democrat he defeated in 2016.

“Those people will

certainly be looked at. I’ve been looking at them for a long time,” Trump said in the Oval Office sitting alongside visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “And I’m saying: Why haven’t they been looked at? They lied to Congress. Many of them. You know who they are.”

TRUMP CRITICS White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders called for congressional hearings to investigate prominent Trump critics including former U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former CIA Director John Brennan, Comey and other FBI figures.

In an appearance on NBC’s “Today” program, Sanders said: “The media and Democrats have called the president an agent of a foreign government. That is an action equal to treason, which is punishable by death in this country.”

Asked if Trump owed Mueller an apology, Sanders added: “I think Democrats and the liberal media owe the president and they owe the American people an apology.”

The end of the Mueller inquiry did not spell the end of the investigative pressure on Trump. Democrats gave no indication of easing up on their multiple congressional investigations into his business and personal dealings.

Graham said it was time to look at the Clinton campaign and the origins of a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant for former Trump adviser Carter Page, which was based in part on information in a dossier compiled by Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence officer who cofounded a private intelligence firm.

The inquiry was first handled by the FBI and then

by Mueller after the president

fired the agency’s director, James Comey, in May 2017.

Republicans said the FBI failed to disclose that Steele was hired by a firm funded by Democrats to do opposition research on Trump’s business dealings.

“I love this country as much I can love anything: my family, my country, my God,” Trump said. “But what they did. It was a false narrative. It was terrible thing. We can never let this happen to another president again.”

Trump had repeatedly accused Mueller, a former FBI director, of running a “witch hunt” with a team of “thugs” and having conflicts of interest. But asked on Monday if Mueller had acted honorably, Trump said: “Yes.” Trump also said he had not thought about pardoning anyone convicted or who pleaded guilty in the Mueller probe. They include several of his former aides such as former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former personal lawyer Michael Cohen. The special counsel also detailed extensive contacts between Trump associates and Russia.

FIGHT OVER MUELLER REPORT A fierce fight was brewing over how much of Mueller’s findings should be made public, and Democratic lawmakers who control the U.S. House of Representatives, were likely to face a protracted legal battle that will turn on Trump’s right to keep communications with his advisers private, legal and political experts said.

One of Trump’s lawyers, Jay Sekulow, said at least part of the report should be withheld.

Sekulow said it “would be very inappropriate” to release the president’s written answers to questions posed

by the special counsel, calling the responses provided in November confidential. After lengthy negotiations, Trump reversed his previous stance that he would be willing to submit to an in-person interview with the Mueller team, ultimately agreeing only to provide written answers.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday blocked a second attempt by Democrats to pass a measure aimed at prodding the Justice Department to publicly release the full report. The House of Representatives earlier in March voted 420-0 in favor of making the report public.

Mueller, who submitted his confidential report on his findings to Barr on Friday, neither accused Trump of obstruction of justice in trying to impede the investigation nor exonerated him of obstruction, according to the summary.

Barr said he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller, concluded the investigation’s evidence “is not sufficient to establish that the president committed an obstruction-of-justice offense.”

The Mueller investigation had cast a cloud over Trump’s presidency but he has declared himself fully exonerated, despite what Barr’s summary said on the obstruction of justice issue.

On March 5, Mueller visited the Department of Justice’s main office in Washington to meet with Barr and Rosenstein and told them he would not be reaching a conclusion with respect to obstruction, a decision that was unexpected, a department official said.

A person familiar with the matter said there were no plans at this time to show the Mueller report to the White House.

British lawmakers vote to seize control of Brexit for a day LONDON (Reuters) - British lawmakers voted yesterday to wrest control of Brexit from Prime Minister Theresa May for a day in a bid to find a way through the European Union divorce impasse that a majority in parliament could support.

Lawmakers should now vote on a range of Brexit options tomorrow, giving parliament a chance to indicate whether it can agree on a deal with closer ties to Brussels, and then try to push the government in that direction.

The move underlined to what extent May has lost her authority, although she said the government would not be bound

by the results of the so-called indicative votes on Wednesday.

M o n d a y ’s v o t e w a s p u t forward by Oliver Letwin, a lawmaker in May’s Conservative Party, and came after the prime minister admitted that the deal she had agreed with the EU after two years of talks still did not have enough support to pass.

Lawmakers backed Letwin’s proposal by 329 votes to 302, and were almost certain to confirm their decision in the final vote of the evening on the overall “motion as amended”.

Earlier, May said the proposal would set an unwelcome precedent and could lead to support for an outcome to which

the EU itself would not agree.

“No government could give a blank check to commit to an outcome without knowing what it is,” May said before the vote.

“So I cannot commit the government to delivering the outcome of any votes held by this house.”

Last week, the EU agreed to delay Britain’s original March 29 departure date because of the deadlock.

Now, it will leave the EU on May 22 if May’s deal is approved by parliament this week. If not, it will have until April 12 to outline its plans.

M o n d a y ’s v o t e w a s a n attempt to find a way to come up

with such a plan European Council President Donald Tusk said last week that all Brexit options were still open for Britain until April 12, including a deal, a departure with no deal, a long extension - or even revoking Article 50 and remaining in the EU. But nearly three years after the 2016 EU membership referendum and four days before Britain was supposed to leave the bloc, it was still unclear how, when or if Brexit would take place, with parliament and the nation still bitterly divided.

May’s deal was defeated in parliament by 149 votes on March 12 and by 230 votes on Jan. 15,

but she had signaled that she would bring it back a third time this week.

To get her deal passed, May must win over at least 75 MPs who voted against her on March 12 - dozens of rebels in her C o n s e r v a t i v e P a r t y, s o m e opposition Labour Party MPs and the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up her minority government but has voted against the deal so far.

“Why would the prime minister ever expect us to give support to an agreement which is based on a lie?” DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson told BBC television.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 26, 2019

PAGE 07

Over $15.6B reaped from oil and gas sector thus far - Energy Director G

uyana has thus far benefitted from more than $15.6 Billion (US$75M) directly from the oil and gas sector.

This was disclosed by Director of the Energy Department Dr. Mark Bynoe as he addressed residents of the Albouystown community on the oil and gas sector, at the Heavenly Light World Outreach Centre, on March 23.

The statement has debunked the notion being peddled that Guyana and its citizens are going to be ripped off and will receive little or no benefits from the production of oil and gas which is just months away, according to a government report.

According to Dr. Bynoe, the $15.6 Billion (US$75M) does not include downstream impacts of the industry such as works in mechanics, electrical work, welding and technical warehousing, among others.

With that, he urged the residents to position themselves so that they can benefit from the indirect benefits of the sector, while at

A few of the persons at Sunday's event

Director of the Energy Department Dr. Mark Bynoe the same time, assisting in transforming the economy. “…The sector employs a fairly small number of persons because most of it is highly mechanized. What we should be training ourselves for, is the expansion of the investment that is coming and that has already started as well as the new Guyana that is to come” Dr. Bynoe stated.

However, he said that skills building and certification are necessary,

adding that if they want to be absorbed, they need to start heading in that direction. Dr. Bynoe pointed out that the Department of Energy is “more than willing to work with any institution to create that opportunity for more of our Guyanese people not just to be aware but to build the requisite capacity going

forward.”

Currently, 54 percent of the persons directly employed in the oil and gas sector are Guyanese.

By the year 2020, the target of the Department of Energy is to have that number increased to 75 percent or greater.

Recently, 25 Guyanese

were recruited to work on the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which would have between 100 and 150 persons on board.

An FPSO is basically a floating vessel that stores barrels of oil. The vessel is

expected to meet Guyana's shores later this year.

The Department of Energy has been hosting sensitisation sessions across the country to educate, inform and prepare citizens for the production of oil in 2020.

ExxonMobil gets Environmental Permit to drill Yellowtail-1 well --but on condition

By Kiana Wilburg

E

xxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), along with its other two partners on the Stabroek Block, Hess and CNOOC, received an Environmental Permit yesterday from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to drill its planned Yellowtail-1 well.

It is approximately six miles (10 kilometers) west of Exxon's Tilapia-1 in the Turbot area.

Speaking with Kaieteur News last night, EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams said that the permit was granted on the condition that the issue of acquiring insurance through a local broker will be addressed steadfastly.

Dr. Adams said, “They got a permit on the condition that they are going to get the insurance policy through a local person. They have to go through a process and they

EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams are showing good faith in meeting all the requirements.

“If we wait until that is fixed before granting the permit it would hold up everything. It is not realistic and it is not something you would want to do; that is, to delay exploration.”

The EPA Head added, “Now that we have established a language where this matter is concerned, we can use it for the Liza Two Permit that

both sides have been working on. Exxon has been forthcoming and cooperative and the established language will be used as part of the model for all future permits.”

Asked to say if there is a timeframe by which the oil operator is expected to address the insurance policy, Dr. Adams answered in the negative.

He said, “They don't have any control over the process and neither do I...Bank of Guyana is providing, giving guidance on how to proceed on this front. Central Bank Governor, Dr. Gobind Ganga and Exxon have been in communication too. And the oil company has shown a willingness to satisfy all the EPA requirements.”

Dr. Adams added that ExxonMobil has committed to providing insurance over and beyond the US$2.4B that was initially acquired for EEPGL. Since taking over the reins of the EPA last year, Dr.

Adams has maintained a firm on ensuring that there is adequate coverage in place to cover any type of liability that would result from the offshore petroleum operations.

Also in agreement with his position is Former Director of Mexico's Agency for Security, Energy and the Environment (ASEA), Carlos De Regules.

De Regules who is now a Consultant for the EPA said, that it would be in Guyana's interest to make insurance policies mandatory for the oil and gas sector.

De Regules said, “With self-insurance, companies showing their own balance sheet as a guarantee, and that we (Mexico) will not accept as a valid guarantee. We always insist on having an insurance policy. Selfinsurance is not good enough. You must show a policy that is in line with international standards…”

Stressing the importance of insurance policies, the

former ASEA Director noted that there is an international law or understanding that you cannot claim abroad what you do not claim domestically.

He said, “If a country expects to demand compensation for an oil spill or accident, it needs to have a domestic framework to show if that happened domestically, they would be claiming response and remediation and that is very important to bear in mind.”

The former ASEA Director said that setting the appropriate obligations to ensure oil and gas operators are capable of responding in a timely manner to oil spills is hinged on two things: insurance policies and making it mandatory for the operators to have sufficient technical capacity to respond to emergencies. He said that this means the country must have trained personnel, materials and equipment to be deployed within the first hours of an emergency.

De Regules said, “This is very important and it is a lesson that can be learned from any of the major oil spills that occurred around the world. You can contain a crisis more efficiently when you are prepared. So making those two things, insurance policies and technical capacity, mandatory are the two ingredients for preparing for an emergency in this industry…”

In sharing a bit of the Mexican experience, the former Oil and Gas regulator also said that it would also be important for Guyana to have a robust system in place to review insurance policies.

He said, “In Mexico, you must have an insurance policy before a permit is granted. In fact, companies have to comply with our insurance regulations and our SEMS which stands for Safety Environmental Management Systems Regulations.”

The former ASEA (continued on page 8)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Tuesday March 26, 2019

Telecoms Agency takes over NFMU from May 10 G

o v e r n m e n t ’s overhaul of the telecoms sector is continuing. On May 10, the National Frequency Management Unity (NFMU) will cease to exist under its current construct.

It will be taken over by the Telecommunications Agency.

According to a notice in the Official Gazette of Guyana, on March 18th, Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes, signed a c o m m e n c e m e n t o r d e r, appointing May 10 as the date when the unit, which licences broadcasters and

manages the spectrum waves for the state, will be placed under the agency.

In 2016, new telecoms laws were passed, as part of a wider push to modernize the sector.

Part of the modernization includes allowing new telephone and cable companies to operate.

According to the Telecommunication Act, with effect from the appointed day – which in this case is May 10th- the No. 79 of 1990 (a) the Guyana Frequency Management Unit Order 1990 shall stand revoked.

As a result, the NFMU,

Minister Cathy Hughes which was established by that order, shall stand dissolved. All the assets,

The NFMU office on Charlotte Street, Bourda. It will fall under the Telecoms Agency from May 10th including rights and interests of the Unit will be transferred to and vested in the Telecoms Agency.

These assets include furniture and other furnishings, voice and communications equipment, motor vehicles and other means of transportation owned by the NFMU. It will also include all money and records.

According to the 2016 Te l e c o m s A c t : “Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other written law or contract t o t h e c o n t r a r y, t h e appointment of all the officers and employees employed by the Unit

immediately before the appointed day shall stand terminated with effect from the appointed day: Provided that any person whose appointment stands terminated under this subsection may apply for employment by the Agency in any position on or after the appointed day, and the Agency, after consultation with the Minister, shall determine in its discretion which, if any, of such persons shall be employed by the Agency, on such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between any such persons and the Agency.”

With regards to the

Te l e c o m s A g e n c y, i t s functions shall be discharged by a board of nine members appointed by the minister and comprising three persons named by the said Minister, one of whom shall be designated as chair of the board.

On the board, also, should be two persons named by the Leader of the Opposition after consultation with the Opposition Parties in the National Assembly.

The Director of Telecommunications of the agency will also be part of the board.

The Telecoms laws (continued on page 12)

ExxonMobil gets Environmental...

From page 7 Director said that the oil operators also have to go through a rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and provide an appropriate design for their project. He said that once they comply with all those things, and a thorough review is done, then it is a go.

COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE International donor agencies such as the World Bank have also called for Guyana to demand insurance policies from operators which are comprehensive.

In this regard, the organization warned that operators have often sought insurance which only covers certain activities. These may

include third party legal liability and control of wells, re-drill, and cleanup of sudden and accidental pollution from a well out of control. It cautioned that industry regulators must ensure that an operator's insurance covers every possible eventuality since “for some operators, their insurance excludes blowout or subsurface pollution or below-wellhead risk.”

T h e Wo r l d B a n k highlighted that there is insurance that covers a blowout from an oil project.

It is referred to as Operators' Extra Expense (OEE) insurance.

The World Bank said that emerging oil producers such as Guyana would want to ensure that this is in place

especially when one considers how other nations suffered in the absence of this. In this regard, the financial institution cited the case of the major oil spill which occurred in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico. The spill led to a loss of 53,000 barrels of oil a day for many weeks.

It covered 6,500 square kilometers and involved five million barrels of oil.

The source, the Deepwater Horizon field, was operated by BP under a joint operating agreement with Anadarko Petroleum and Mitsui Oil Corporation.

The financial consequence of the spill was more than US$8 billion since the insurance of the operator did not cover pollution following a blowout.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 26, 2019

PAGE 09

Big government

I

t costs taxpayers $500M per day just t o r u n t h e government. Considering the problems, that is far too extravagant a sum to be spending on the government bureaucracy.

The government is becoming too big. And the bigger it becomes the more costly it will be upkeep. The more costly it is to upkeep, the more government will have to tax citizens. Higher taxes mean less disposable income.

Less disposable income mean a contraction of business. Less business means that the circulation of money in the economy is

reduced.

With less money circulating in the economy, domestic investment will suffer. When domestic investment suffers, jobs will be reduced. When jobs are lost and new ones are not created, unemployment increases. When unemployment increases, people will end up on the breadline.

Big government is also inefficient. Government is not as driven towards profits as private enterprise.

Government then becomes a drain on the economy rather than a contributor of efficiency and exports.

Big government must be

downsized. It is a drain on resources for development.

It takes way too many resources from citizens and leads to delays in accessing services.

Guyana has a big government. The size of government is expanding.

Instead of the government bureaucracy becoming smaller it is becoming bigger, with more and more entities being established.

Advertisements have gone out for persons to apply for employment at the Department of Energy. The advertisement says the professions which are required. But there are no positions advertised. The

Department of Energy does not seem to understand that you do not advertise for economists. You advertise for a position in the organization and then you state what skills you require.

What position will the prospective apply for? It is not stated in the advertisement. `Instead of government getting smaller it is becoming bigger. This cannot be good for taxpayers and for the private sector.

A number of private sector entities have shrunk the size of their workforce, because they no longer need as many workers to do the same work as they did

before. Yet the government bureaucracy has not been shrinking markedly. Any decline in numbers would be very small.

The government should commission a team to go through every single government department and see whether they are overstaffed and how savings can be made. There is too much wastage within government.

A reduction in savings can force a reduction in taxes and this will be beneficial to everyone concerned.

Government needs to get out of certain businesses.

The government should not be competing with the

p r i v a t e s e c t o r. T h e government should be promoting policies which allow for the private sector to have a bigger role in the economy. Big government crowds out the private sector.

And that cannot be good for any economy.

Big government means too much power in the hands of the government. Too much power in the hands of the government can be abused and used to trample on the rights of citizens.

Use of taxi, market purchases will not be regarded as local content – EITI Analyst

By Kiana Wilburg

C

o m p a n i e s operating in G u y a n a ' s extractive sector are required to give first preference to the country's local goods and services before trying to acquire same overseas. They are also expected to make contributions which will transform the lives of citizens. This is usually referred to as local content and it will be well documented in Guyana's first report which has to be submitted to the Extractive

Independent Administrator, Rached Maalej

Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) next month.

The EITI represents a body of standards which informs the way the natural resources sector is governed.

Overall, the standards dictate that the nation's resources, such as oil, gas and minerals, should benefit all citizens.

Rached Maalej, who has been hired as the Independent Administrator to prepare Guyana's first EITI report, said that a company putting advertisements in a newspaper, using taxi

Dem boys seh...

Guyanese businessmen selling out Guyana and Statia backing dem When dem boys talk bout de business climate people does seh how dem racist.

And is not that dem boys talking bout Black people and East Indian people. Dem boys know that when dem start up business in Guyana dem does employ Guyanese.

But de new set of business people does keep it in dem family. Dem gun only employ one Guyanese to act as translator and one to wuk as security guard. Dem does also sell cheap to knock out de local business people and when dem control de market is then people gun see wha de real price is.

De odda day dem boys see how de new people does operate. When dem first come to Guyana dem use to sell salt beef and pigtail.

Dem later graduate to food.

Dem boys see so much restaurant that a man mek a song name 'Guyana looking just like China'.

De thing that bothering dem boys is when dem politicians hollering how dem don't have jobs fuh young people. Dem can't have jobs when in de first place people give over dem business to Chinese businessmen.

It had to be a case of a Chinee man walking and looking around because in BV, across de road from Halagala, dem had a li'l shop selling sweet drink and sweetie. Sometimes you would get mettai or polourie.

A Chinee man see de place, offer de man some money and he start to put up a supermarket.

Chinee businessmen who got

supermarket does sell everything. In Tucville dem have one supermarket that mek people don't even want to go to town. That is de case.

And while local people complaining how business bad dem same Chinee attracting dem Cubans wid US dollars. That is wha fretting dem boys because Statia not checking pun dem Chinee. Dem is de only people who selling in US dollars and not paying de tax.

And dem boys want people to notice that every Chinee business place got a man wid either a machine gun or some rifle. Some got two.

Dem boys seh is de Chinee mek Nigel Supermarket close down. And that is only one local business that dead.

Talk half and watch how Guyanese losing dem jobs.

services or making purchases at the local markets would not be regarded as local content and therefore, would not be documented in Guyana's first report.

Maalej, who also works

with UK accounting and business advisory firm, BDO LLP, said, “The final objective of the report is for one to see how the people are benefitting from the extractive industries, for people to see how the money

the government is earning from the sector is transforming their lives. In fact, the entire report is about that...”

The Tunisian continued, “So let me give you some (continued on page 24)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Tuesday March 26, 2019

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Guyana secretly buries dead foreign prisoners

I

am going to speak to Nigel Hughes, Christopher Ram and other lawyer friends of mine to see if I can file a complaint against the Government of Guyana for criminal violation of international laws.

What you are about to read is a horror story for which every Guyanese citizen in and out of this land

should hold their head in shame for knowing that they belong to this country and are allowing their government to get away with what could be termed crimes against humanity.

If any lawyer is reading this please contact me at fredkissoon@yahoo.com.

My cell is 614-5927. My home is 222-1615-2221616. If you are reading this

from any part of the world, please assist in exposing the Guyana Government for what in my opinion is obvious criminal perversity.

Here are the facts that I have uncovered through research over the past two weeks.

At several police stations in Guyana, visitors who entered Guyana illegally or overstayed their time are placed in the stations' cell

and held there until the fund their own airfare. Almost a hundred percent cannot afford it and they are languishing there for months and in some cases for years.

Some have died. Some have lost their minds.

It is easy to die in a police station remand because it is not a jail cell in an established prison. These are holding compartments for accused denied bail then transferred to larger prisons after they would have been charged.

One Bangladeshi, one South African, and a Pakistani have died in their cells after spending more than a year. All three were not given post-mortems but were secretly buried. This columnist was informed that they died from tuberculosis.

The Bangladeshi couldn't take the confinement and literally lost his mind and subsequently died in his cell.

Yo u w i l l d i e f r o m tuberculosis if you have to sleep in a bare concrete cell for a year. The human body cannot withstand such long exposure to the elements.

These men are not allowed to go out their cells for sunshine or to take in fresh air. I spoke to Nazar Mohammed, famous gold magnate whose nickname is “Shell.” He recalls buying the return ticket for a Bangladeshi, a Nigerian and a Jamaican, all of whom

were at the Diamond police station holding centre for a long time.

Shell told me he cannot account for what happened to the other Bangladeshis but he did say that the Jamaican was so poor he didn't have a cent and would have had to remain there if he didn't offer to buy the airfare. Shell also said that a South African was languishing there and he decided to employ him with his gold company.

I wanted to talk to the six men who are at the Diamond station since last year. Four are Venezuelans, one is from Switzerland, the other from the Dominican Republic. All are imprisoned because they cannot fund their return ticket. They have been there since early 2018. All six persons are emaciated and look sick. The immigration department gives them a meal a day but most times, they are hungry.

The Dominican Republican guy has an interesting story to tell. He has a Guyanese commonlaw wife and a Guyanese child born in Guyana but was still detained, went through the court system and ordered deported. He has no money to buy a ticket.

I spoke to ASP, Rovin Dass who is in charge of Diamond police station.

Dass has refused an interview. In my talk with him, here is what Das said

Frederick Kissoon and refused to speak further.

He acknowledged that there are deportees held up in his station but refused to tell me how many and which countries they are from. He uttered these words three times; “You have to speak to my superiors.”

I did say something to ASP Dass and his countenance changed markedly. I said; “Do you know three prisoners from this station died from TB?” He appeared nonplussed then spoke; “I don't know anything about that, was not told about that when I took over this station; I know nothing about that.”

My sincere advice to police officials working at the Diamond police station is to take a TB test. So what happens next? Do we leave those deportees to live in those bare cells to sleep on a concrete floor until they die?

Or do we as civilized citizens of Guyana confront our government and demand they finance these people's airfare?

Where are those who jump around Guyana like parrots, denouncing the death penalty? Those deportees are facing, in reality, a death sentence.

Three of them have died.

Tuesday March 26, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Tuesday March 26, 2019

Food and Drug Department to address 'free for all' drug distribution by pharmacies

W

est Demerara District Regional Health Officer (RHO), yesterday, disclosed that he will be working in close collaboration with the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department to address the issue of 'free for all' distribution of drugs to the public by pharmacies operating on the Westside.

Addressing the issue yesterday, Mc Watt said that

the issue is one that requires urgent attention, emphasising the health risks persons can face when they are allowed to diagnose themselves and receive medication for proposed illnesses which are not certified by a doctor's prescription or hospital referral.

Yesterday, Mc Watt noted that a recent survey conducted in an extensive area showed that only one

pharmacy was adhering to International Food and Drug policies as required by law.

He expressed grave concern yesterday over the risks persons are taking on creating their own diagnosis, without no medical experience to correctly ascertain same.

He added that while guilty pharmacists are putting persons at risk by allowing this practice, they are also heightening the

risking of patients receiving the wrong medication since their conditions might be totally the opposite of what they might be proclaiming.

He explained that in such cases, persons accessing treatment in the 'free for all' over the counter manner, can directly contribute to serious bodily harm and even death as a result of ingesting the wrong drug or treatment for any specific condition.

McWatt indicated that he will be working closely with the Government Analyst Food and Drug entity to track down pharmacies on the Westside, indulging in this unlawful practice, and guilty operators will be severely penalised by the relevant authorities.

Over the weekend there were visits to pharmacies at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Bank Demerara, Parika, Goed Fortuin and other villages, to obtain medication for varying suggested ailments and was shocked to discover that one was actually able to easily access antibiotics and other drugs that according to law, can only be issued with a prescription.

All that had to be done was to ask for the manager, whisper whatever ailment came to mind, and wait to collect practically any

medication that would have been readily handed over.

Mc Watt intends to ensure the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department conducts inspections to ensure that pharmacists operating along the West Demerara District are legally licensed to operate, and also to enforce that they are indeed operating within the confines of the law.

There are reports that some pharmacies in the West Demerara District are even staffed with backup employees who are not certified to work in such entities. This is another issue Mc Watt intends to address in his bid to ensure citizens are not put at risk when soliciting medical attention.

The Government Analyst- Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) has announced that all drugs imported into Guyana must be registered with the Department in compliance with a New Drug Registration requirement, Food and Drug Act Chap 34:03-Regulations 1977, Regulation 78.

The Department is reliant on full drug assessment for safety, efficacy and quality from the listed reference authorities

such as the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia.

This is according to Food and Drug Regulations No. 10 of 1977 Cap. (34:03), Part III, Regulation 78: 2 (K).

Characteristics of the drugs assessed are the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (A.P.I), Clinical trials, Bioavailability, Stability, Bioequivalence inter-alia.

In cases where UK, US, Canada and Australia compliance are not met, the department would be reliant on PAHO/WHO system of prequalification/recommend ation from recognized reference authorities via the Caribbean Regulatory System (CRS), a statement from the Department said.

The Government Analyst Food and Drug Department not so long ago stated that consumers are advised to purchase drugs- Prescription and over the counter medicines that are adequately labelled according to the Food and Drug Regulation 18, having a Brand and Generic Name, the list of ingredients, storage instructions, Expiry Date, the Address of Manufacturer, the Country of Origin and this information must be the English Language.

Telecoms Agency takes over NFMU from May 10 From page 8 explained that the Minister shall after seeking the written a d v i c e a n d recommendations of the agency, develop telecommunications and spectrum-related policies at the national, bilateral, regional and international levels, consistent with the purposes of this Act. The minister and agency will also make final determinations regarding granting or denying a p p l i c a t i o n s f o r, a n d

amending, renewing, suspending and terminating, licences, exemptions and frequency authorizations.

The toughening of laws has been dragging on for years with legislations finally passed under this Coalition Government.

The Telecoms Sector is being seen as a major driver of economy because of the internet connectivity, virtual classrooms and possibilities that will come.

A number of telephone and cable companies are

standing by. The company with the monopoly on internet, landline and international calls now is the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT).

That US-controlled company is competing with Irish-owned Digicel in the lucrative mobile service market.

Government is currently negotiating with the GTT to end the monopoly but the negotiations are dragging on with one deadline after another being passed.

Late manifestation of HPV causes ...

From page 11 protocols, administer the ones with the closest expiry date first, and the ones with longer shelf lives later,� the Ministry noted.

It pointed out that this process of HPV vaccination is part of the national immunisation programme and will continue to be a part of its National Vaccination Schedule offered to every Guyanese child.

The Ministry said that it views the administration of this vaccine as a basic human right for citizens to access. For this reason, the Ministry said that it is calling on

parents who have maintained faith in its service and demand the accustomed high standard of service delivery. “To our skeptics we assure you that we will continue working hard to win and in some instances, regain, your trust,� the Ministry added even as it vowed to continue its fight against the virus.

The World Health Organisation [WHO] has estimated that 630,000 new HPV-related cancers occurred in women seven years ago and its 2012 statistics showed that 84 percent or 530,000 of that figure were women with cervical cancer.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 26, 2019

PAGE 13

Berbice cops investigating threats by AFC member against fellow member ‌General Secretary says it was "two men arguing about personal issues" The member stated that the issues began to boil over when there was an RMC election that was held in February.

Derek Basdeo was the Returning Officer but after that election was concluded and Omesh Orilall was declared the Chairman of the committee, a new meeting

Devin Sukhraj Derek Basdeo

Lindon Jones

P

olice in Berbice are currently investigating a report filed by two members of the Alliance For Change that they were threatened by a fellow member after a party meeting in New Amsterdam Saturday night.

Commander of the Division, Paul Langevine, has since confirmed that a report was made on the incident and that they are investigating.

Last Saturday evening, Derek Basdeo, was sitting in front of Devin Sukraj's business place at Main and New Street, New Amsterdam.

A meeting had just concluded when Lindon Jones, another member of the party, began to hurl insults and threaten Basdeo in the presence of the General Secretary of the AFC Marlon Williams.

This is according to Devin Sukhraj of the AFC. Sukhraj confirmed that Jones threatened him and Basdeo and also cursed out Williams. This, he said, prompted him to retreat to the upper flat of his building to avoid a confrontation.

He added that the issue

General Secretary, Marlon Williams stemmed from an announcement that was made by the General Secretary during the meeting Saturday night.

The announcement was that an election for the AFC Regional Management Committee (RMC) which was held last week declaring Jones as the new Chairman was null and void. It was also announced that a new election will have to take place.

This reportedly incensed Jones, Sukhraj said, and he reacted by hurling expletives and insults at his own party members after the meeting concluded.

Sukhraj said that it was done in the presence of Marlon Williams. Shortly after, Sukhraj and Basdeo filed a report at the Central Police Station.

However, when Kaieteur News contacted Williams regarding the events that unfolded that night, he contradicted Sukhraj and denied that the incident was premised on information uttered at their meeting that the previous RMC election was null and void and a new election will take place.

In fact, Williams stated, "I don't know anything about no battle or so. When I left there were two guys verbally arguing and I went my way.

It was just two guys arguing about personal things.

Based on the report that I received there was no physical altercation, it was just two men arguing and it was nothing in relation to what was reported in the media."

Efforts to contact the alleged aggressor, Lindon Jones, proved futile since several calls to his cell phone went unanswered. Kaieteur News was told that a meeting was convened between party executives yesterday to discuss the way forward in light of the incident.

Over the past few months, members of the Alliance for Change in Berbice have been reaching out to this publication and claiming that there is a "breaking out in the party".

According to a member, the issues that are currently brewing are bound to leave a bad impression. "What will people out there say when we are fighting among ourselves?".

was called by Williams and that election was recorded as null and void.

The second election was held a week ago, where Derek Basdeo and Devin Sukhraj along with several other members of the party walked out. Lindon Jones was voted in as the new RMC Chairman after the

walk-out.

However, at a meeting held last Saturday when the incident took place, that election was also declared null and void. Sukhraj confirmed that it due to the fact that they walked out.

The RMC will now have a third election to elect a new Chairman.

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 26, 2019

Guyanese man, 62, arrested in Phuket for 'black money scam'

Immigration Bureau Chief Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn presented details of the arrest to the press in Bangkok on Friday.

P

H U K E T , Thailand: Police are investigating a network still using the old “black money” scam after a 62-year-old man from Guyana was arrested in Phuket and is now under investigation for fraud reportedly amounting to B9 million.

The black money scam has been in use for more than two decades, convincing people to pay money for banknotes that the con artists insist have been removed from circulation and have been washed with black ink to make them unusable, but with the right chemicals the banknotes could be washed clean and used again.

The con artists have people make initial payments to make the banknotes available, but withhold the chemicals until the big – final – payment is made.

Usually, the “banknotes” are just regular paper literally washed in black ink.

The latest incident was announced by Immigration Bureau Chief Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn presenting details of the arrest to the press in Bangkok on Friday.

The presentation to the press was posted on Gen Surchate's personal Facebook page, and not through the Immigration Bureau.

The Guyanese national arrested was named as Abdul Kalam Azad Sattaur, 62.

However, Thalang Police confirmed yesterday that Sattaur remains in Phuket, and has done so since his arrest on March 14. He did not travel to Bangkok to be presented to the press.

Sattaur's arrest came on the same day that the owner

of a local language school in Phuket – who police have not named – filed a complaint with the Thalang Police, reporting that she had been cheated out of B20 million, Thalang Police Deputy Superintended Lt Col Anukul Nuket explained yesterday.

“A woman came to complain about it at Thalang Police Station on March 14.

She said that she had transferred about B9 million to different bank accounts outside the country,” Col Anukul said. “ We t r a c k e d h i m (Sattaur) down and found him at Eakkamon Mansion on Phang Nga Rd in Phuket Town at 2pm the same day,” he added.

Sattaur is accused of using a fake Facebook and LINE account to pretend to be an American man who had worked in Syria, Col Anukul said.

He allegedly claimed to send the woman a security box containing the “blackwashed banknotes” with a special liquid to wash the “banknotes” clean.

The total value of the “banknotes” was reportedly given as US$650,000, equivalent to about B20mn – which the Phuket language school owner would acquire for the bargain price of B9mn.

However, the woman said that Sattaur would not send the security box containing the “banknotes” until he received payment first. She obliged and made payments amounting to B 9 m n t o 1 0 o ff s h o r e accounts.

However, the security box never arrived.

Sattaur now stands accused of fraud, and is being held in custody in the

detention cells at Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town, where he has remained since his arrest on Mar 14, and will remain while the investigation against him continues.

“He is charged with fraud by impersonating another person,” Col Anukul told The Phuket News today.

Col Anukul added that police have the “black money” seized as evidence, which has now been forwarded to officers in Bangkok for further investigation.

“His behaviour is connected to a network in Bangkok, but I need to question him further (today),” Col Anukul said.

Col Anukul declined to confirm whether Sattaur had confessed to the charge against him.

Sattaur's current predicament first came to the attention of The Phuket News after his son contacted the newspaper concerned for his father's welfare as Sattaur had not been in contact with his family for several days – which the family had found strange, and wanted to know if he were missing in Phuket.

“I believe he is missing because he is always on line and talks to my mom every day. Since the last time, she never heard back from him,” the son wrote.

Copies of Sattaur's boarding pass and tourist visa issued in Malaysia provided to The Phuket News confirmed that Sattaur arrived in Phuket on a flight from Kuala Lumpur on March 13 – the day before his arrest.

The Phuket News has yet to receive a reply on how the family has received the news of Sattaur's arrest. (www.thephuketnews.com)

Tuesday March 26, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Two Governments later...

Tuesday March 26, 2019

Map 1. Geographic Concentration of Indigenous Tribes in Guyana

IDB exposes unaddressed issues plaguing indigenous peoples

By Kiana Wilburg

administration.

T

LAND RIGHTS The IDB said that the lack of land tenure security is a central concern for Amerindian peoples. It said that the lands that have been titled and demarcated are generally restricted to residential lands. Only Amerindian hunting and fishing grounds, vital for secure livelihoods and food security, largely remain without legal title.

The Bank noted that there are 27 villages with unresolved applications for extension to their lands. It said that the original lands titled and demarcated might have only represented a portion of the total lands claimed or their population has grown since the titles were granted, necessitating an extension or addition to their titled lands.

It said that there are also 20 other settlements that do not meet the criteria under the Act for titling, that is, the villages have not been in existence for at least 25 years or their population is less than 150 people.

Considering this, the Bank said that there is a need to establish effective, fair, and transparent mechanisms for clarifying and securing Amerindian land and territorial rights in a timely a n d e ff i c i e n t m a n n e r.

Although the Amerindian Act provides for villages to apply to the Minister of Amerindian Affairs for a grant of communal land title over their traditionally held

h e I n t e r A m e r i c a n Development Bank (IDB) has highlighted in one of its latest reports that Guyana's Indigenous villages continue to face serious underdevelopment challenges due to deficient infrastructure, limited human capital, and lack of access to capital for investment.

This report which was prepared by Elton Bollers, Dillon Clarke, Teniesha Johnny, and Mark Wenner was published by the financial institution last month.

The report presents the results of a survey administered to 11 I n d i g e n o u s Vi l l a g e Leadership Councils and 867 households.

The objectives of the survey were to better understand the situation of indigenous peoples in Guyana and to support the work of the Bank and the government of Guyana in designing programmes, policies, and interventions leading to improvements in the lives of all of Guyana's citizens, with emphasis on p r o g r a m m e s t a rg e t i n g indigenous peoples and hinterland regions.

While the report highlights the findings of a 2014 survey, which would have been under the People's Progressive Party (PPP), it also makes mention of actions that were taken by the David Granger

lands, the Bank stressed that there are no clear, transparent, and systematic criteria for deciding whether title should be granted or, more importantly, how the precise boundaries of any grant of land should be determined.

The Bank said that some communities have repudiated the process under the Act. “For example, six villages in the Upper Mazaruni Region (Region Seven) are pursuing a court claim for recognition of Amerindian title. “Upcoming plans to m o v e i n t o t h e implementation phase of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) will increase the urgency of resolving outstanding land claims and boundary disputes because communities may only opt into the LCDS if their lands have been formally titled,� the Bank noted.

In addition, the financial institution said that there remains uncertainty over the ownership of carbon revenues generated from projects on claimed or disputed lands and whether carbon contained in these areas would even be eligible for REDD+ payments under donor agreements, such as, for example, the NorwayGuyana agreement regarding the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF).

In its Readiness Preparation Proposal (R-PP) for the Forest Carbon

Partnership Facility, the Bank noted that the government of Guyana has acknowledged the critical importance of facilitating mechanisms for the fair and timely resolution of outstanding Amerindian land claims as part of the national REDD+ Strategy.

Further to this, the Bank highlighted that between 2013 and 2016, an Amerindian Titling programme valued at US$10.7 million was supposed to cover 68 villages. By project end, the Bank noted that titles had been granted in only a quarter of the target villages.

The IDB said that the

two main reasons for d e l a y s w e r e e n c u m b r an ces d u e to overlapping land use grants and concessions made by state entities, namely the Guyana Forest Commission and Guyana Geological and Mining Commission, and the time-consuming nature of adhering to the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) principle.

In March 2017, the IDB noted that the Granger administration established a Commission of Inquiry on Land under the Commission of Inquiry Act to examine and make recommendations to resolve all issues and uncertainties surrounding

the claims of Amerindian land titling, the individual, joint, or communal ownership of lands acquired by freed Africans, and any matters relating to land titling in Guyana with a report deadline of November 1, 2017.

The IDB said that a preliminary report was submitted in October 2017 along with a request for more time. It said that no final report had been submitted as of this writing which concluded last month.

Without security of land tenure, the IDB said that economic development and land improvement (continued on page 23)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 26, 2019

PAGE 17

Supenaam Development Project to be completed by month end

The huts to be used for vending

T

he Minister of P u b l i c Infrastructure, David Patterson, recently announced that phase one of the Supenaam Development project is scheduled to be completed by the end of this month.

The Minister at the time of this announcement was consulting with the residents o f R e g i o n Tw o [Pomeroon/Supenaam], at a stakeholder meeting.

Patterson said, “Phase one is scheduled to be completed by the end of this month. When that is finished there will be a new water front development with a new boat house, as well as parking and roadway. A decision was already taken to continue the project, heading northward along the waterfront.”

According to the Chief River and Sea Defense officer, Kevin Samad, one primary aspect of Phase one of the project, is the construction of a river defence which runs from along a section of the Supenaam water front.

The section of the waterfront project that was already railed Phase one also includes a boat landing, vending huts walkway with rails, along with five washroom facilities, which also cater for persons with disabilities.

Since Supenaam is a key port of entry into Region Two, it is believed that the multi-million-dollar project, once completed, will aid tremendously in boosting the region's tourism sector.

During construction, a number of taxi operators endured a few challenges due to them being relocated.

Speaking on this the Minister said, “When I went on the ground I spoke to the taxi drivers, their concerns were where the taxis had to park during construction period and after frank discussions it was agreed between us and the taxi driver that they could continue as the arrangements are.”

Phase two of the water front development project will include the preparation of a parking lot. Based on reports negations are presently on the way to acquire a plot of land, which will be used for construction.

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 26, 2019

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 26, 2019

PAGE 19

Presidential grants transforming village economies, lives

T

he village of Patarinau in the South Rupunini, Region Nine is the latest beneficiary of the Presidential Grant programme that allows hinterland villages to access funding to start or continue projects that generate income and provide jobs for residents within the community.

Patarinau, which is located about two hours south of Lethem, has a population of 613, mostly Makushi residents, spread across its three satellite villages, Baitoon, Katuur, and Shiriri.

On Sunday, Minister of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs, Sydney Allicock, handed almost $3M in grants to three of the four villages in the area: $1M was presented to Patarinau for the establishment of a women sewing centre, and $800,000 each to Baitoon and Katuur for the upgrading of a trail and upgrading of a sports ground pavilion respectively.

Patarinau's village councillor and member of the women's group, Mary Fernandes, explained that while the men in the village are engaged in farming and cattle rearing and other jobs.

There are little or no activities for women in the area.

It is for this reason, the village council decided to construct a women's sewing centre with its 2019 presidential grant fund.

“We have difficulties with sewing uniforms and other clothing in the village...Most of the women

Patarinau Village, Region Nine received training in Lethem and they are just there doing nothing so we want to get this building up and running so they can use it,” Fernandes said, adding that the complex will be equipped with sewing machines and facilities, and utensils to do catering.

She said that the presidential grant programme has been assisting in transforming the village. She praised the government for its continued support and is optimistic that support will continue.

Brian Melville, Senior councillor of Katuur, said that the funds will allow the village to upgrade its pavilion to host inter-school sports and other social activities. He said that the ground itself is already in good condition.

Treasurer of the Baitoon Village Council, Mark Anthony, said that monies will be used to upgrade the village main road leading to Lethem. He noted that during the rainy season the road is in a bad state and poses a difficulty for residents to traverse to

Almost nine years later…

V

ictor Bobb, who h a s b e e n accused of the 2010 murder of supermarket proprietor Dennis Ramah, was yesterday found guilty of the crime by a jury which deliberated at the High Court in Georgetown.

The murder convict was jailed for 80 years by Justice Navindra Singh.

State Prosecutors Abigail Gibbs, Tuanna Hardy and Te r i q M o h a m e d , h a d contended that on the day in question, Bobb was part of a group of men who stormed Dennis's supermarket at Chateau Margot, East Coast Demerara and killed him.

The police, in a

Councillor, Mary Fernandes of Patarinau Village, receives a cheque from Minister of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs, Sydney Allicock. conduct business or sell their products in the town.

“We will be organising ourselves right away to finish the work before the rains. The village will be engaged in self-help to ensure the work is completed in a timely manner and the monies will be calculated right here.”

At a community meeting in the compound of the

Patarinau Community Centre, Minister Allicock reiterated that the aim of the programme is to increase investment, strengthen village economies and advance community development.

The minister said that village leaders must ensure proper management and accountability of the projects initiated from these funding.

“In the past, we have seen projects just start and collapse. We want you to understand that this is a partnership in development, we are meeting you half way and so we want you to manage these projects properly... so that you have a facility that is useful. It supposed to be working for you.” He added, “it is about your development, planning

for your children and even for yourself when you get older.”

Minister Allicock urged the people to continue to work together for the development of their villages. He said that the government intends to see Indigenous villages become self-sufficient, thereby reducing the dependence on government support.

The Presidential Grant programme is aimed at creating self-sufficiency within the hinterland villages and communities through green, innovative projects that will create jobs and at the same time generate income for the village.

This year, over $200M will be invested in 215 villages and communities under the programme.

Last week, Kopinang and Bamboo Creek in Pataro- Siparuni, Region E i g h t ; a n d Wa k a p a u , Kabakaburi, St. Monica and Mainstay/Whyaka in the Pomeroon-Supenaam, R e g i o n Tw o r e c e i v e d presidential grants of over $8M.

Businessman's killer gets 80 years

statement, almost nine years ago, said that Dennis was shot and killed after a group of men entered his business place at L & D Supermarket at Second Street, Chateau Margot, where they held up the employees and placed them to lie on the ground.

Police had said that two of the men were armed with guns, while another had a knife.

According to the police, Dennis raised an alarm and armed himself with a cutlass which he used to wound one of the men, but was shot.

During the trial, Dennis's widow, Lorraine, was asked

by Prosecutor Gibbs if she could identify the man who

shot and killed her spouse.

She replied in the affirmative.

The woman then proceeded to look around the courtroom and focused her attention on the prisoners' dock in which Bobb was seated handcuffed and clad in a bright yellow shirt.

“Is he. Is he shoot me husband,” a sobbing Lorraine said as she pointed out Bobb, adding that she is haunted by the sound of the gunshots every day.

According to her, her husband, was shot and killed after he came to rescue her from one of the intruders who held her at gunpoint.

D u r i n g c r o s s

examination, Bobb's lawyer, Latoya Roberts, suggested to Lorraine that her client was not the one who shot and killed her husband. This suggestion, however, upset the witness who was quick to dismiss it.

“He (Bobb) is the person.

He is the person, Miss (Roberts). I see. I see he with my eyes,” Lorraine exclaimed.

“Because you want justice for your husband's death this accused (Bobb) is being blamed,” was the other suggestion put to the witness

by Roberts.

But Lorraine maintained that it was Bobb who shot and killed her husband.

Victor Bobb

MURDERED: Dennis Ramah

“He (Bobb) is the one who do it.

I ain't come to lie on nobody else,” she told the

jurors who had inquired if she had pointed out Bobb on an identification parade, something she denied.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Tuesday March 26, 2019

'He Killed My Family, but I Forgive Him'

By Frank Campbell Canadian Adventist Messenger

M

arch 14, 2019, marks one year since the day that Vas Pejcinovski's wife, son, and youngest daughter were murdered. In that year, he learned to cope with his immense grief; consoled Victoria, his eldest child and only surviving family member; became a baptized, born-again Christian. And he forgave the accused killer.

The Ontario, Canada, electrical contractor lost his wife Krissy; his only son, Roy, a 15-year-old star hockey goalkeeper; and his youngest child, 13-year-old Vana.

How did Vas Pejcinovski make the improbable journey from triple bereavement to salvation and forgiveness? Pot, Parties, and Pride Pejcinovski's evolution began with the music, dancing, and drugs common to many youth in Toronto's Greektown. He was more attracted to partying than to praying.

When Krissy Kapanova migrated from Bulgaria, she and Vas found a mutual attraction. They married twice — at City Hall in December 2000 and in

church the following month.

They had three children, whom they both loved.

Vas emphasizes Krissy was a good woman. She strove to show she loved him and labored to strengthen their marriage. But the fine art of spousal affection escaped him. Even fatherly love did not come easily. The value of reciprocating Krissy's affection could not compete with his pursuit of the biggest houses, the best cars, the finest wines, and the classiest clothes.

“I led a sinful life,” Vas confesses. “The underlying theme of my life was pride.”

I n l a t e 2 0 1 4 , Va s discovered that Krissy was having an affair. His pride was hurt, seemingly beyond repair. He recounts how he spent the next four months in search of opportunities for revenge. He sought every possible way to inflict pain on the woman he had sworn 14 years earlier to love, cherish, and protect.

Learning to Forgive Then, early 2015, from the recesses of his mind, he heard a voice advising him to look into the mirror and reflect on his own conduct.

That very day, he did.

By day's end, he had forgiven his wife, and he told her so. Although not yet a born-again Christian, he

recognized, as did Krissy and others familiar with the affair, that such forgiveness, and his overall change in attitude and behavior, could only represent a miracle from a powerful and gracious God. In the three years after 2015, he became more intentional in his pursuit of spirituality and righteousness.

“Three years after I heard that voice was when I got on fire for the Lord,” Vas says.

He listened to sermons on YouTube and borrowed a Bible from a long-time friend and business partner, a Christian of Greek Orthodox persuasion.

He reflected on the true healing that results when one forgives. “When I forgave my wife, I became happy,

and I wanted to be healthy. I stopped smoking.” He shows photographs that prove that he lost 60 pounds.

The relationship with his children was transformed.

His marriage was not repaired, but, although they lived apart, his relationship with Krissy changed from bitterness to friendship from that day until the day her life was stolen.

A Tragic Day It was a bleak and chilly spring morning in Ajax, in the Durham region of Ontario, when Vas and his daughter Victoria lost more than half of their family. The night before, Vas had driven Roy to his team's hockey game. Neither the boy nor his father knew this would be Roy's last performance as his

team's champion goalkeeper.

Near midnight, Vas dropped his son at his mother's house. It was the last time he would see him alive.

On that same Tuesday night, Vas had summoned a taxi to take Victoria from her mother's home to spend the night at a friend's place. That move, ironically, was how Victoria was spared.

Wednesday morning, Victoria called her mother to remind her to pick her up, but she received no answer. In desperation, she called her father. He called Krissy's phone and also got no answer. He called Roy's phone. No answer. He tried Vana's. Again, there was no response.

An uneasy feeling came over him. “I called 911 and

started making my way there.” By the time he arrived, police had already installed yellow tape indicating that Krissy's home had become a crime scene.

Vas declares mournfully, “It was the worst day of my life.” For the next week, he says, he was “asking God, 'Why?'” After all, he had “taken up the Bible.” In addition, feeling that he had been a bad father, he “had started trying to teach them [his children] the truth about heaven and hell.”

He adds, “My boy was the one who was asking questions.” On the day of the viewing, Vas was “weak and scared.” He recalls, “I did not want to see my boy in a casket. But the strength the Lord gave me that day was the first miracle. I was able to stand for seven, eight hours greeting about 4,000 people.

I ran out of tears, and after the first couple of hours, I was the one consoling people.”

The Meaning of Forgiveness One of the most remarkable outcomes of that tragic event remains the act of forgiving the man who had almost decimated Vas's family.

How and when did fury (continued on page 23)

Remorseful prison graduate gets 12 years for killing drinking buddy

By Feona Morrison “I apologize to the court.

I apologize to the deceased's family and I am begging (the court) for mercy. Gave me a second chance,” 30-year-old confessed killer Ravindra Paremdass said before he was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for manslaughter.

Paremdass, formerly of Providence, East Bank Demerara, was handed the custodial sentence by Justice James Bovell-Drakes, yesterday, at the High Court in Georgetown.

Earlier this month, Paremdass was arraigned before the said Judge on a murder indictment.

It was alleged that between December 20, and December 21, 2012, at Providence, East Bank Demerara, he killed Roopram Jagdeo, called 'Lil Baby' and 'Rabbit'.

Paremdass, who was represented by Attorney-at-

Law Maxwell McKay, opted to plead guilty to the lesser o ff e n c e m a n s l a u g h t e r, thereby admitting that he unlawfully killed Jagdeo.

According to reports, Jagdeo was killed following an altercation with Paremdass who dealt him several blows to the head with a length of wood during an argument over a bicycle.

During his murder trial in 2015, Paremdass had told the court that the incident was as a result of a fight, which Jagdeo started.

He had claimed that Jagdeo had threatened to kill him with a piece of wood after he refused to lend his bicycle. Paremdass explained that during the confrontation with Jagdeo, he sustained injuries to the head. He said that he then went into Jagdeo's yard and dealt him lashes with another piece of wood.

That same year, a 12member jury convicted Paremdass of the crime and

he was sentenced to 57 years in prison by the trial Judge.

However, being dissatisfied with the conviction and sentence, Paremdass asked the Court of Appeal to review his case on the grounds that, among other things, the trial judge failed to put his defence of self-defence to the jury in accordance with the law.

After deliberations, the appellate judges, including Chancellor of the Judiciary Yo n e t t e C u m m i n g s Edwards, agreed that the trial judge was duty bound to do so, and in the interest of justice the conviction and sentence were overturned.

This means that the case was remitted to the High Court for a new trial during the current session of the Demerara criminal assizes.

During the presentation of a probation report, it was revealed that Paremdass indicated that he never intended to kill Jagdeo.

The probation officer

said that Paremdass told her that he and Jagdeo were involved in a fight and he retaliated because he thought he would have been killed.

Nevertheless, the probation officer said that Jagdeo is seeking forgiveness from the wife, children and other relatives of the deceased.

Meanwhile, Jagdeo's widow told the probation officer that the death of her husband has had significant impact on her family. She said that her children are angry at the fact that they were deprived of a father's love. As a result of Jagdeo's untimely passing, the woman said she was forced to gain employment as a domestic worker to sustain her family.

The wife, however, indicated she hopes justice prevails and that Paremdass gets a sentence that is duly fitting for the crime.

Jagdeo was born and raised on the Essequibo Coast. The probation report

JAILED: Ravindra Paremdass

DEAD: Roopram Jagdeo

revealed that he moved to the East Bank of Demerara shortly after his mother's death in 2008. He was then 19. According to the probation report, Jagdeo described his childhood as “good” although he dropped out of school at Grade 10 due to economic constraints. But this shortcoming did not discourage him from seeking employment to assist his other siblings.

The probation officer told the court that based on investigations Paremdass

once shared a harmonious relationship with the dead man's family. She added that a few of Paremdass's coworkers had nothing bad to say about him, apart from him being an alcoholic.

She further added that residents in Providence also said that he was in the habit of consuming alcohol regularly, and on some occasions he and Jagdeo would be seen imbibing.

According to the probation report, Paremdass, who (continued on page 22)

Tuesday March 26, 2019

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Allegedly physically abused twin contemplates suicide Twenty-five-year-old Thakdall Narayan of 250 Crane Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara) is an emotional wreck, contemplating suicide.

The young man, who says he sees no reason to continue living, is at the point of giving up from years of alleged physical abuse at the hands of his twin brother Totaram.

Yesterday, Thakdall in tears told this newspaper that that he is presently living with his mother and father, Nirwali and Bagwandat Narayan.

He said his abusive brother Totaram lives in a separate apartment in the same yard and from since 2015 has been physically abusing him, causing bodily injuries. He said he would normally report the matter to the police, but by the time the police can arrive, his mother would have already sent away the abusive brother to stay with relatives, but kept in constant telephone contact with him to alert him of the many police visits.

Thakdall told this publication that his brother

The alleged abused Thakdall was in tears as he related his story to this publication yesterday runs a drug operation (sells marijuana and cocaine) and would beat him up badly when he ingests the substances.

“Me nah know wha happen or what to do. Right now me wan tek meh life, because meh mother encouraging him tuh beat me up. He beating meh since 2015.

“And is he mek ah does get seizures and gaff fuh go

Thakdall displaying medication he received from the Best Regional Hospital yesterday

ah de hospital fuh treatment.

When I report tuh the police, me mother does inform he and he would go away by relatives... And she does tell de police she can’t find him, but she does talk wid he pon the phone everyday when he disappear” Thakdall said that in 2015 his brother attempted to beat him up, and in so doing flung him to the ground causing him to hit his head. He said that

as a result he later began to get seizures for which he is treated at the Best Regional Hospital (West Bank Demerara) every month.

When his mother was contacted yesterday she admitted that his seizures were indeed as a result of the head injury he had received at the hands of his brother, but said it had happened in a fight years earlier.

“She also admitted that

the abusive son indeed sells cocaine and marijuana from the same premises, but denied allegations that she would hide the man when police try to apprehend him.

She said he would always disappear before the police arrive, and she would have no idea about his whereabouts, since only once did he contact her whilst he was hiding from the police.

Yesterday, according to Thakdall his brother lashed him in his face with a plank around 9"00 hours, resulting in having to take six stitches at the Best Hospital to sew together a deep wound across his nose.

During the newspaper interview he was tearfully complaining of pain in his head and eyes, and he displayed medication he had received from the hospital.

The injured man said he badly wanted to leave the home, but could not leave since he has nowhere to stay and cannot work as a result of the periodical seizures that often engulf him.

“I want to leave, but me nah get nowhere to go.

Nobody nah want keep me...

I can’t wuk because ah meh

condition, suh me gat to stay and tek de abuse. Right now me just want tek meh life... Me nah able no more.”

Yesterday his mother said that she was frustrated about the situation but seemed reluctant to take action. She said that she preferred both boys leave the premises.

When asked if she would help the police in apprehending the abusive son, she said she preferred to have both of the young men relocate elsewhere.

“Me is ah sick woman...Me frustrated...Me is ah pressure case and ah can’t tek it wid de two ah them...

Both ah dem is me son. Before police gah fuh come in, ah prefer both ah dem move out” Yesterday, too, police sources did confirm that there were indeed several reports on the beatings, but the accused have somehow always managed to elude the police.

One officer affirmed that when he called the home yesterday, it was the mother who related that the alleged abuser had left the residence, after realising his brother was about to make yet another police report.

Police to unleash ‘zero tolerance’ campaign on noise nuisance

Push Carts, Party and Buses, captioned as’ minibuses, loud music push carts and street styled parties are amongst some of the issues to be tacked in the ‘Zero Tolerance Campaigns’ Police have issued a stern warning that they will be unleashing a ‘zero tolerance’ campaign on noise nuisance, specifically in the ‘D’ and ‘A’ Police divisions.

This warning was issued by ’D’ Division Police Commander, Edmond Cooper, and ‘A’ Division Commander, Marlon Chapman, in two separate interviews yesterday.

Loud music is one of the main elements of the noise which assails the public, and to date it has escalated to an almost intolerable level, especially in minibuses. To attempt to get a minibus driver to reduce his music levels is a task some commuters won’t dare to attempt for fear of insults and the ‘customary cuss out’ by both drivers and conductors.

Youngsters operating the music push carts (from which they trade CDs) have been contributing to this dilemma recently as they blare their music when plying their trade

around the city. Nightclubs have certainly not been helping the situation, and the many street styled parties around all contribute to this dilemma both the police and Ministry of Public Security has been targeting overtime.

The Ministry of Public Security under whose remit the control of noise in the society falls, has begun a campaign of noise control. Teams have visited commercial houses, mostly bars, and have them moderate their music. They have also been trying to enforce the 2 a:m curfew.

Yesterday ‘ A’ Division Commander Chapman was very firm.

He said that his department will begin an immediate campaign geared at ridding the city and environs of this noise issue.

He said that they will be targeting areas that are normally transformed into incessantly loud street styled parties on weekends, and these

would include the areas of Sophia, Plaisance Railway Line, East Coast Bus Park, and many other areas.

He noted that perpetrators found breaking the laws will be dealt with severely since it’s his department’s intention to systematically rid our country of this troublesome situation. He noted that police action would be swift and severe since the street-styled parties contribute to traffic congestion and robberies by vagrants and criminal elements that use these events to their advantage.

He was particularly keen to apply the pressure on music push cart vendors who seemed to be of the view that it was okay to trek around the city with their music at alarming levels.

Commander Cooper of ‘D’ Division did not hesitate that there will be zero tolerance for offenders in this respect on the Westside. He noted that areas to be targeted will include the Pouderoyen, West Bank

Demerara (street styled party) nightclubs, and of course,he minibuses and even taxis that continue to blatantly disregard the law.

He said that several arrests have been made in the West Demerara District with that respect, the latest being at a wedding house, in Roraima Housing Scheme, Versailles. He pointed out that the police are even taking a proactive and stern approach to this issue, and have been arresting and charging already drivers who even pass by the police stations with their music at high levels.

He noted to get maximum impact out of this campaign, police presence will be strengthened to catch culprits who will be dealt the full extent of the law.

The issue of loud music generated by businesses overtime, has negatively affected numerous families in thickly populated

neighbourhoods GCCI, as well as many private families, has complained that the police are in dereliction of their duty and selectively enforce the law.

The GCCI President and VicePresident have emphatically called upon the police to act responsibly and GCCI President, Mr Indar, declared: “My complaint to the police was, they were enforcing the law unevenly. Some persons are being targeted and have to close down while others were getting away with it”.

Noise above 80 decibels begins to be uncomfortable, and when it gets to 100 to 120 decibels, it could impair hearing. Many bus drivers and conductors may not be aware that they are deliberately succumbing to partial deafness by subjecting themselves to persistent loud music. Commuters using public transport can also suffer the same fate as well.

PAGE 22

Tuesday March 26, 2019

Kaieteur News

Options being explored to find housing for Venezuelan migrants

SERVICES

FOR SALE

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

Coconuts 14000 weekly.

Bananas 4000lbs weekly. 6891270 or 662-5173

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisement, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

Jay’s Welding Est specialized in: Grills, Gates, Rails, Fencing, Razor wire, Repairs etc. Tel#698-0501

MODEL M BUSH TRUCK, big wheels, GPP, 2019 fitness, winch, good condition 3.7M Call#6826238/672-1906 1 250 KVA Onan generator powered by Cummins #2690603/644-1190 1 CAT 215 Excavator, 1 Honda 450 Atv, 2 8-cu yds Mack Mixer Truck, 1 Pneumatic 9 wheeled tryre roller #2750367/683-7225 1 Double Steel Wheel Roller, 1 CAT 428 Back-hoe, CAT 215 Excavator spare parts, 2 Bitumen spray kettle. #2750367/683-7225 LEARN TO DRIVE

REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIR CONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINE, FREEZER, SALE OF AC’S. TEL#629-4946,225-4822

N. Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square. Affordable package. Call: 644-5166/6912561

I N S TA L L AT I O N S , REPAIRS AND PARTS FOR AC, FRIDGE, WASHING MACHINE, STOVE ETC. CALL NICK 627-3206, 6301600 Eagle’s re-gas AC, Fridge, Washing machine & computer repairs, Gas stove, Plasma flatscreen, Electrical installation & more. Call: 6972969/646-0966 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezer-Call: 610-5846 or 661-8158 VEHICLE FOR SALE Foreign used 6x4 sinotruck Howo dump truck & excavators for sale. Tel: 5023408/677-8104 Honda SUV PTT series.

Contact 225-1005, 225-9230, 623-0368 Toyota caldina wagon (PLL) Price - $875,000 negotiable.

Any good offer accepted.

Tel:658-4021 TO LET Business space to rent. No restaurant. Serious enquiries only. 233 South Road 2250198/615-0317

FOR RENT

VACANCY

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

Wanted for Soesdyke area.

One headmaster as team leader. Good remuneration package. Call 612-1848

1 Bedroom for working couple/single person $35,000 & $32,000 monthly. Light & water included. Lodge. Call 623-0076 Prime business location. Lot 3 Anna Regina Public Road (size 2400 sq feet). Contact 662-0561 for details WANTED Experienced hire car drivers at Ramada Princess hotel. 2657075, 616-5419 Cashier/waitress, night supervisor, assistant cook.

Apply within 172 Sheriff Street or call 225-7933

DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL:225-7126/ 2263 6 9 3 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM/ WWW.D OLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/6560087, ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM Fabs Rental, Beterverwagting ECD Cars from $4000 #604-0883

Coconut and banana pickers for farm in the Pomeroon. 6891270 or 662-5173 Cashier. 2 Shift - 7am-3pm & 3pm-11pm. Apply to: Shell Service Station Providence o r Shellramsburg@gmail.com Receptionist. 25-50 yrs. 233 South Road Lacytown or call 225-0198 Vacancy for 1 male janitor.

Apply Alabama Trading. 65 Robb Street

Maid, taxi car drivers. Tel#2259223/225-3334

1 Live in domestic. Salary $75,000. Call 683-1606

(1)Diesel Mechanic to work in the interior. Interested persons can call cell#625-5136 Monday-Friday 8am-4pm

Industrial Sales Representative, 5 Subject CXC Age 25+ Experience in Sales, must own vehicle, email r e s u m e : vacancy@josarltd.com

Waitress to work in Bar #6614863 1 welder to work in the interior, interested persons contact tel# 625-5136 Monday-Friday from 8am-4-pm

CAR RENTAL

Vacancy for truck/hauler driver to drive both trucks & hauler. Apply Alabama Trading. 65 Robb Street

Porters. Apply with written application @ Best Buy Food Supplies, Lot 1E Dennis & Middleton Street, Campbellville Skilled carpenters to work in Linden. 602-9469, 660-6385 1 Live in domestic. Must know to cook indian dishes 25-50 yrs. Salary 100,000 monthly. #610-3974 (1) Manager to work @ a hotel, restaurant & bar located in Charity on the Essequibo Coast. Contact 665-6082 Cargo boat 36'-42' new or used. Suitable for open water.

676-7677

AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

1 Experienced cook wanted.

Call 623-8654. 8 - 4pm

WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIAL OFFERS! .

CALL: 690-6494

Private custom brokerage.

Training course/ AW lecturer with 30 year experience. April 29. Call 694-8322,690-4225.

Reg now & save

EDUCATION

Vacancy for porter. Apply at Alabama Trading. 65 Robb Street Bourda DemBake @ Land of Canaan is seeking distributors & experienced drivers & sales agents.

Email CV: admin@demerarabakery.com / 266-5848 LAND FOR SALE House lots for sale. 40x80 transported $3,000,000 cash.

200k downpayment. 20k monthly. 233-6997/622-1957 www.jobfairworldwide.com

Following the arrival of 140 Venezuelan migrants in Georgetown last Wednesday, the Department of Citizenship in collaboration with its international partners and other Government agencies, has been working diligently to provide the migrants with temporary accommodation, meals, medical and other services.

The majority of those who were being housed at Eve Leary have since been released into the care of their relatives.

At present, arrangements are being made to find housing for 45 persons -- 34 males and 11 females-- who do not have any family connections on the coast. Additionally, housing arrangements are still being worked out for the 26 persons squatting along the Non Pareil foreshore.

Meanwhile, in an effort to protect the migrants from possible exploitation, the Immigration Department has established a protocol to vet persons claiming to be family members.

At yesterday's meeting of the National Multi-Sectoral Coordinating Committee, Minister of Citizenship, Mr. Winston Felix, informed that a special committee is being set up to explore the option of transforming the Papaya Centre, located in the BarimaWaini Region One, into a facility for migrants; noting that “the greater the inflow of migrants, the more pressed we will be to find space”.

Additionally, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) will be seeking permission from the relevant authorities to renovate an abandoned hostel at Kumaka, Region One, to house migrants, particularly since this is a region where the inflow is greater.

The Committee was also HEALTH

Foundation and column completed. Land size 40x80, structure 30x24. Price $6.5M Diamond Scheme. Contact Ganesh Tel#669-9539, 6935096

HERBAL REMEDIES: Diabetes, Hypertension, Infertility, Menstrual disorders, Enlarged prostate, Kidney,Gall stones & Arthritis etc. Call Sparman #676-5924

Parfaite Harmonie transferrable 2.5M, Parfaite Harmonie 1.6M, Farm 3.5M, Herstelling 5.5M, Diamond 11M

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Parfaite Harmonie $1.4M Schoonard $3M Dairy with foundation & Fence $2M Farm $3M Tel# 656-0701/651-1969 Transported land 11.6 acres.

Lot 15 public road. #2 Village W.C.B. Price $18M. Contact 686-4818, 648-7109

House and land available at Parfaite, Tuschen, Diamond etc. Contact Pacific Development Inc. 223-6035/ 604-4909 House for sale, Eccles Housing Scheme. 7 bedrooms, 3 toilets and bathrooms enclosed. $28.5M. Call 6420391/ 001447587233657 Barrack St Kingston. Call 6018895, 681-8926

informed that a primary school is being constructed at Eteringbang, which will accommodate about 60 migrant children.

As a result of the influx of Venezuelans, the regional health and education systems have been spread very thinly to cater to the needs of migrants. Based on recent reports, there has been an addition of 50 students at Paruima in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Region Seven.

Taking into account the vast increases in school system, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is working with the Ministry of Education to roll out a project that will see Guyanese teachers being trained to teach English as a second language to Spanishspeaking students.

Technology is also being heavily relied on to better manage the influx of migrants.

In fact, the IOM has informed that a mobile application called 'MIGAP' will be launched to make more accessible, all pertinent information regarding migrant support services that are available in Guyana.

To date, there are 5,863 documented Venezuelan migrants in Guyana.

Remorseful prison graduate gets 12 years...

From page 20 once followed Hinduism, became a Christian during his time in pre-trial custody.

Added to that, he received a certificate after successfully completing a tailoring course while at the Mazaruni Prison, and has been taking anger management classes.

Before imposing sentence, Justice Bovell-Drakes told Paremdass that he hopes his time in jail would be a wakeup call for him. The judge explained that consuming excessive alcohol can cause people to do unusual things, and in this case, it resulted in the loss of a life.

Admitting that sentencing someone is not an easy thing to do, Justice Bovell-Drakes noted that despite all the positive things said about Paremdass in the probation report, a strong message has to be sent to society that such acts will not be tolerated.

“I am warning you, if somebody tries to interfere with you run, do not walk,” the Judge advised Paremdass before he was taken away to begin serving the jail time.

State Counsel Tamieka Clarke and State Counsel Tiffini Lyken presented the case for the prosecution.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 26, 2019

PAGE 23

Mason slapped with two Ex-insurance manager counts of armed robbery allegedly flees with $40M, arrest warrant issued

A

dam Mohamed, a mason of Lot 266 Independence Boulevard, Albouystown, was yesterday remanded to prison when he answered to two charges of armed robbery.

The 20-year-old man entered not guilty pleas to the charges after they were read to him by Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts.

The first charge alleged that Mohamed while in company of another on March 1, 2019 at East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme and armed with a gun, robbed Talmattie Persaud of articles amounting to $34,000.

Also it was alleged that on August 22, 2018 at Trench Road, Albouystown, the accused while armed with a gun, robbed Andre Jordan of one Guyana passport.

When asked about having previous charges Mohamed informed the court that he was sentenced to two years in prison for the possession of an unlicensed firearm. He mentioned that he was released in 2017.

Police prosecutor Quinn Harris objected to bail for Mohamed based on the seriousness, penalties and prevalence of the offence.

He also highlighted the fact that an alleged gun was used in the commission of the acts and a differing address was given to them rather than what was put to the court.

A

Remanded: Adam Mohamed The prosecutor further indicated that in the case of the victim Persaud, Mohamed was positively identified during a confrontation with both parties by the police.

According to Mohammed, “I am innocent because for the whole of 2018 Andre see me 'nuff' time and he never tell me or do me anything.

All of a sudden he bring police on me.”

The magistrate remanded Mohamed to prison and adjourned the matter until April 8, next.

n arrest warrant has been issued for the former insurance manager of Demerara Mutual Life Assurance, Zaheel Shaheed, y e s t e r d a y, b y a c i t y magistrate where 45 fraud related charges are waiting in court for him to answer.

These charges have been there for two months.

The charges against 40year-old Shaheed who tendered a resignation while overseas, in the United States of America (USA), was instituted after the company discovered discrepancies in several transactions involving the exemployee.

The matter is currently before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts and is prosecuted by police prosecutor Shellon Daniels. Shaheed's matter was called on two occasions before the recent hearing. On

both occasions the magistrate was informed that the accused is currently overseas.

A court summons was prepared and served for Shaheed however, yesterday, after his name was called thrice by the court orderly. He was once more a no-show for the hearing. As such the prosecutor asked that an arrest warrant be issued for the defendant.

The investigating rank told the court that when the summons was served at the last known address for Shaheed, a close relative informed him that the accused is reportedly in the United States of America (USA). An immigration officer also informed the court that a search of their records show that Shaheed left Guyana in June 2017 and has since not returned.

After listening to the presentations by Principal Magistrate, Sherdel Isaacs-

Marcus issued an arrest warrant for the defendant to appear in court on April 29, next.

Shaheed was an insurance manager at Demerara Mutual Life Assurance, working in the Claims Department. During the period 2013-2017, he allegedly authorized transactions amounting to in excess of $40M. These transactions were reportedly given to 16 persons who are not entitled to claims. However, after issuing the claims, Shaheed collected the money and converted it to his own use and benefit. It was only recently that an audit was conducted by the company and it was revealed that Shaheed took in excess of $40M for his own use and benefit. The matter was then reported to the police and an investigation was carried out, hence charges were made out.

IDB exposes unaddressed issues... Duo remanded for allegedly stealing bicycle, cash

From page 16 investments are undermined.

H E A LT H A N D WELLBEING The IDB found that communicable diseases such as malaria, dengue, influenza, pneumonia, and tuberculosis, were more frequent than noncommunicable diseases (NCD) such as diabetes and cancer. Further to this, the Bank said that the nature of illnesses and other health issues reported vary by village. In Baramita, for example, the Bank noted that dengue is the most commonly reported illness, while in Waramuri, several different unclassified cases were reported.

In Santa Aratak Mission and Waramadong, diarrhea was most frequently reported. In St. Cuthbert's Mission, several different unclassified cases were most frequently reported. In Moraikobai, cold/flu was most frequent, in Jawalla, malaria was most frequently reported, and in Muritaro, tuberculosis was the most frequently reported illness.

With the aforementioned in mind, the Bank said that each village has different needs with respect to health and common diseases.

It said however, “The number of full-time and parttime medical workers available in each village is an important factor in the health and wellbeing of the

residents. The study found that each village had at least one health worker.

“Five of the villages had full-time medics, four had full-time midwives, and one had a full-time nurse while another had a full-time dentist. None of the Amerindian Villages had a full-time doctor.”

The IDB said that the lack of adequate numbers of fulltime medical personnel is an important issue that needs to be addressed to improve the health and wellbeing of the residents of these villages.

With respect to part-time medical personnel, it was found that seven of the 11 villages were discovered to have at least one part-time doctor. Five had part-time dentists, three had part-time medics, three had part-time nurses, and none had parttime midwives or health workers. Baramita, Waramuri, St. Ignatius, and Muritaro had no part-time medical personnel.

EDUCATION The Inter-American Development Bank said that the most common level of educational attainment was primary school. The second most common was secondary school. When asked a series of questions about how education is perceived, most respondents told the IDB that there were no problems in receiving quality primary schooling, but a large percentage

reported that obtaining a quality secondary, tertiary and vocational education was difficult. More tellingly, a clear majority believed that the formal education system is failing to impart useful and practical skills that would help their children succeed beyond basic literacy.

A C C E S S T O FINANCIAL SERVICES The IDB said that most respondents do not seem to have access to formal financial services. A majority reported not having a bank account (deposit, checking), no access to credit, and claimed that obtaining access to capital to finance the start of a business was difficult.

(Those who did have a bank account tended to be government workers (teachers and healthcare workers).

INFRASTRUCTURE The IDB said that none of the villages surveyed has access to the nearest provincial town or capital by a paved all-weather road.

The Bank said that some of the villages depend on fluvial transport.

Furthermore, the Bank noted that poor transportation increases the time needed and the cost of moving goods and people, which reduces t h e e c o n o m i c competitiveness of the villages. Most of the respondents cited poor transportation links as a major problem.

W

ayne Blair, 28, and Ezra Evans, 25, found themselves before the court after they were caught by public spirited persons, when they allegedly robbed a man of his bicycle, cash and a cell phone. They both denied the joint charge.

It was alleged that on March 21, 2019 at Evans Street, Charlestown, the men while armed with a knife, they robbed James Walters of his bicycle, cash and a cell phone. At the time the charge was read the men were arraigned before Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts.

Blair told the court that he is the father of one and resides at Albouystown. The labour said that he was previously incarcerated for three years for a robbery and was released in 2015.

Wayne Blair

Ezra Evan On the other hand, Evans who was never before the court, said that he is labourer f r o m L o t 5 7 We s t Ruimveldt.

Police prosecutor Quinn Harris objected to bail being granted to the two defendants based on the seriousness, penalties and prevalence of the offence.

According to the prosecutor the men were positively identified by the

victim at the scene of the crime when they were apprehended by publicspirited persons. The police were then called in and the two defendants were arrested, taken into police custody and charged.

Bail was refused for the defendants by the magistrate and they were remanded to prison. They were instructed to return on April 29, 2019 for statements into the matter.

'He Killed My Family, but I Forgive...

From page 20 give way to forgiveness? “It was not a specific day or time,” says Vas. “I don't think I was angry ever. I was sad because I missed them. Anger or hate never seeped in.”

Vas has completely forgiven the accused murderer, while holding him responsible for his crime. Sure, he said, “it was a dark day” and “a chunk of me was ripped out” and “nothing can take the pain away.”

He still struggles not to think back on that

day because the loss and the pain are still real.

However, with the help of “a network of friends,” Vas and Victoria are, day by day, finding greater peace in God. Pejcinovski now awaits the first anniversary of the worst day of his life. His burden, while still painful and unfair, is lightened somewhat by the God-given strength to forgive the unforgivable. The original story appeared in the February 2019 issue of the Canadian Adventist Messenger.

PAGE 24

Tuesday March 26, 2019

Kaieteur News

Judge orders release of Brazil Bahamas PM says Venezuelan ex-president Temer from jail govt. illegitimate BRASILIA (Reuters) - A Brazilian appeals court judge yesterday ordered the release of former President Michel Temer from jail, following his arrest last week in connection with a corruption investigation.

Federal prosecutors have accused Temer, who was president from 2016 to 2018, of leading a “criminal organisation” that had received or arranged for 1.8 billion reais ($472 million) in bribes through various kickback schemes.

He has denied any wrongdoing and his lawyers appealed for his release, arguing that he could be tried while free.

Judge Ivan Athié of the TRF-2 federal appeals court said in his ruling that the evidence provided by investigators did not justify the “preventive” jailing of Temer and seven other defendants, including former minister Wellington Moreira Franco. “You have here old facts, involving possibly

Michel Temer illegal acts, but no evidence of repeated criminality after 2016 or any other factor that justifies preventive imprisonment,” wrote Athié.

The arrest of Temer on Thursday had added to a selloff in Brazilian financial markets last week, stirring concerns that the case could

distract Congress from major economic reforms.

The Bovespa stock index erased losses on the news of Temer’s release, trading in line with Friday’s close. Brazil’s currency firmed briefly to its strongest level of the day against the dollar before retreating to a 0.9 percent advance in the session.

Use of taxi, market purchases will not be regarded as local content – EITI...

From page 9 examples of what I am talking about. When we have a tax regime; it allows for a barter arrangement.

You give the company an exemption but you tell them that in exchange for this, you need to build us a bridge or you need to build us a school or something like that, that is local content. That goes into the report.”

The Independent Administrator added, “When we say that the companies need to publish their social expenditure to us, this means that they have to say what they did for the locals to transform their lives. Then they would say they gave x, y and z.

“This is local content and it has to be in the report.

When you have an agreement with the company, it should say that it is required to hire locals and not bring all the foreigners or expatriates to take all the jobs...We will check for this because this is how you capture local content and it will be in the report.”

The EITI Analyst said, too, that during his review of

local content in Guyana's extractive sector, focus will be placed on companies' training programmes to assess if they are passing on skills to the locals.

He said, “Now let's say a company is given exemptions on imports, is there a system in place to ensure they are not importing things that are already made or available in Guyana? And if they are found importing items that are available here, are they made to pay the required taxes? This is one of the ways in which you capture local content and we will look at this...”

Maalej added, “So use of taxi service, stationery from a local story, ads in a newspaper will not be considered local content. We are looking at the tangible, transformative effect of the extractive sector on the lives of citizens...”

LOCAL CONTENT DEBATE In the absence of a Local Content Policy, USA oil giant ExxonMobil, has been using its own definitions and terms to guide its reporting to the Coalition government on its

use of local content.

In fact, it was in June last year that ExxonMobil provided the Government of Guyana with a list of companies that it used as part of its local content obligations.

Bourda Market, Haags Bosch Dumpsite, Shanta's Roti Shop were among some of the 'companies' listed. Even government agencies like the Guyana Power and Light and the Guyana Revenue Authority made the cut.

The list of “registered companies” was also padded with the names of 41 individuals; these include Dennis Charran, Mokesh Daby, Colin Daniels, Colvin Lockhart, Kembleton Clyne, Kurt Branker, Ramesh Seebarran, Ganesh Ajodha, Gary De Jesus, and Stan Gouveia.

It also duplicated the name of Ram and McRae, an accounting firm. It is listed as Ram & Mcrae and three spaces later in the document as Rams and McRae. The issue is one which has stirred quite a debate in some circles as to what constitutes local content.

NASSAU, Bahamas CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis says the Bahamas remains firm on its position on Venezuela and is backing an Organisation of American States (OAS) position that the polls in the South American country “was an illegitimate election”.

Minnis was among four Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders – St. Lucia, Jamaica, and Haiti – who met with United States President Donald Trump at his private residence in Miami last weekend to discuss the ongoing economic and political situation in Venezuela.

Washington, backed by a number of its allies are seeking to remove President Nicolas Maduro, who was sworn into office in January for a second consecutive term, with Opposition Leader Juan Guaido, who has since declared himself as the interim president of Venezuela.

“The (Organization of American States has) categorically stated that the election in Venezuela was an illegitimate election.

“Our argument was if the election is illegitimate it means the government is illegitimate.

If the government is illegitimate, and we are a democratic society who believes in democracy, both us and America, which means that y o u m u s t h ave new elections and that must be done as quickly as possible.

Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis That has been our position,” Prime Minister Minnis told reporters on his return here over the weekend.

“When America issued a statement that they were recognizing the opposition leader, Juan, as the president of Venezuela, we, likewise, agreed because the election and the government was illegitimate and the assembly had appointed Guaido as the president of Venezuela. Our position has not changed,” he added.

In January OAS members passed the resolution to not recognize Maduro with 19 votes in favour, six against, eight abstentions and one absent. Jamaica, Haiti, The Bahamas, Guyana, and Saint Lucia supported the resolution, while Dominica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname voted against it.

St. Kitts -Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, and Belize abstained during the vote, while Grenada was not present.

But since then CARICOM had adopted a united position on the matter and last month, the regional leaders at their inter-sessional summit in St. Kitts-Nevis reiterated their position of non-interference in the internal affairs of Venezuela and said they were prepared to mediate in the process to bring about a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

Last Saturday, CARICOM foreign ministers held talks with Guaidó in accordance with the decision by CARICOM leaders to facilitate a “peaceful resolution” of the political and economic crisis in the South American country.

The meeting provided a greater understanding of Mr. Guaido’s views and perspectives on how to move forward in the search for peaceful solutions, as well as his willingness to take part in meaningful discussions. The participants accepted the benefit of further engagement,” they said in a statement afterwards.

Killer vehicle leaves number plate behind after hit-and-run Police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run accident which occurred on Sunday about 19:15hrs on the Timehri Public Road, East Bank Demerara.

Killed is Peter Billison, 50, said to be Lot 17 Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara. Security camera footage showed Billison being picked up, flung in the air and dragged. The vehicle’s make could not be determined.

Police said that enquiries disclosed that the pedal cyclist, around 7pm, was proceeding north along the western side road way when he was struck down from behind by the unknown motor car which drove away.

Police reportedly recovered a partial number plate from the scene bearing the numbers 4722.

As a result, the pedal

Peter Billison, 50

cyclist received injuries about his body. He was picked up in an unconscious condition by public spirited persons and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body is at Lyken’s Funeral home awaiting a post mortem examination.

Police said that the matter is being investigated.

Billison is said to be a staffer of the Guyana Forestry Commission.

Tuesday March 26, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

PAGE 26

Tuesday March 26, 2019

Late manifestation of HPV causes Ministry to label it 'the silent attacker'

T

h e H u m a n Papilloma Virus [HPV] is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract, surpassing both the human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] and the Herpes Simplex Virus [HSV]. This is according to information recently released by the Ministry of Public Health.

While back in the day, hypertension [high blood pressure] was the health condition which was regarded the 'silent killer', the Ministry has given a similar tag to HPV [the silent attacker].

In a centre spread advertisement intended to sensitise the nation to HPV, which is known to cause cervical cancer, the Ministry explained that the disease has been regarded as 'the

silent killer' because the majority of its victims will not show any symptoms for a number of years.

Based on information shared by the Ministry, there are 140 different types of HPV which are known to infect the skin and various mucous membranes such as the mouth or throat.

However, emphasis was given to the fact that the 'high risk' type HPV causes cancers of cervix, anus, penis, vulva, vagina and throat.

According to the Ministry, two strains of the 'high risk' virus: HPV-16 and HPV-18 are responsible for 70 percent of cervical cancer cases globally.

“It is estimated that there are about a dozen other highrisk HPV strains that collectively account for the

other 30 percent of cervical cancer.”

Information presented by the Ministry suggests that in the last 10 years, cervical cancer killed more than 2,000 Guyanese women of which a mere four percent of them were diagnosed at stage one or the earliest period the disease can be detected.

The Ministry noted, “With 270 Guyanese women dying each year from cervical cancer, Ministry of Public Health authorities decided in 2012 to expand access to the cancer-fighting vaccine, GARDASIL, to the general populations.”

In October 2017, the Ministry re-launched its HPV vaccination campaign and focused primarily on girls in the education sector.

However, this year

Police launch new boat in 'D' Division

O

n Friday, the Guyana Police Force 'D' Division launched a new boat which is powered by a 85 horse power (hp) Yamaha engine.

The vessel 'Lady G' made its first trip to the Bonasika Outpost with the Officer-inCharge of the No.1 Sub-Division, Assistant Superintendent Alwin Hoyte, along with

Sergeant Allison Daniels who is the Subordinate Officer in-Charge of Parika Police Station and other ranks, on board.

The 22-foot fiberglass vessel which was captained by Police Coxswain, Corporal Doodnauth Bridgemohan, will be used to patrol the expansive riverine areas of the Division.

Senior Minister of Public Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence Senior Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, announced that boys age nine to 16 have been included for vaccination against the virus, too.

This development has significantly driven up the cost of the campaign despite it being a voluntary vaccination programme, that is, parents or guardians either give consent or choose the 'opt out' option as they prefer their children not be vaccinated against the virus.

The 'opt out' option has reportedly been linked to the concerns vocalised by some faction who are convinced that the HPV vaccine

GARDASIL has more disadvantages in the long term than advantages.

But since April 2017, the Ministry has been on an unwavering national campaign which has been highlighting the benefits of the vaccine so as to help parents to make informed choices when it comes to the protection of their children.

According to the M i n i s t r y, i t s o n g o i n g campaign against HPV is being undermined by irresponsible journalism.

Moreover, in its sensitisation efforts it has debunked rumours being peddled about the campaign

which it said are helping to spread panic in the society.

The Ministry made reference to what it described as “false reports of children being rushed for medical attention at the New Amsterdam Hospital in Region Six.” Based on its own investigation, the Ministry said that it was able to uncover hospital medical records which contradicted such reports. It said that in one instance the HPV vaccine was blamed for adverse reaction in a male child when the record showed that the patient in question was administered a vaccine that should have been given earlier in his life.

“It is also not true that the Ministry is administering expired vaccines. These malicious rumours must stop n o w, ” t h e M i n i s t r y cautioned.

“The HPV vaccines are managed according to the protocols the Ministry follows to handle other drugs, medicines and medical supplies [that is first in, first out].” As such, it was revealed that the Ministry currently has vaccines of various shelf lives extending to the year 2020.

“We will, by our guiding (continued on page 12)

Tuesday March 26, 2019

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

PMs Mitchell, Rowley hail Skerritt... Giddings’ all round performance...

From page 32 agenda for change, their vision for the future of West Indies cricket and their ten-point plan for making that vision a reality.”

Under Cameron, CWI maintained an acrimonious relationship with CARICOM governments, especially after rejecting their attempted intervention to initiate governance reforms through the Patterson and Barriteau Reports.Mitchell, a former chairman of CARICOM’s sub-committee, remained a strident critic of Cameron and as recently as January said that as “far as [Cameron’s] management style of West Indies cricket [is concerned], I don’t have a lot of respect for it”.The veteran leader said he was especially pleased with Skerritt’s recognition of the need for partnership with the stakeholder community in pursuit of cricket development.

“I must especially commend Mr. Skerritt for requesting that stakeholders share responsibility for his strategy and become coowners of his agenda for change,” Mitchell continued.

“I believe that CARICOM Governments will honour these requests and do all in their power to promote harmonious and cooperative relationships between the board and all stakeholders, for the common good of the game and the region.

“I wish the new leadership team all the best for the future and stand ready to help in any way I possibly can. My interest has always been on the success of West Indies cricket and not on personalities, and that will continue to be my guiding principle.”

Rowley, meanwhile, who in the past charged that West Indies cricket had been “hijacked by a small clique of people … hell bent on destroying Caribbean cricket”, now also exuded optimism.

“I am pleased to hope that a door to farreaching progressive change is now open.

This holds out the prospect for the effecting of the much-needed restructuring of the management of the regional game with some sense of purpose and urgency,” Rowley pointed out.

Tuesday March 26, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) A relationship that you may have recently formed might have you in a dither today, Aries. This could be romantic or some other sort of acquaintance.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You might be feeling somewhat under the weather, Taurus. You're probably stressed and in need of rest.

Work concerns could also be confusing. You might have a lot of tasks to do and not be certain where to start.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Recent successes have you feeling especially pressured to continue on your path, Gemini. You may have to make some choices regarding your activities outside of career and family.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) A letter or call from a relative could result in the prospect of an unexpected houseguest.

You might be in a quandary as to what to do about it LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Travel plans might have you confused. You may have a number of possibilities in mind, and all seem equally attractive. It probably isn't feasible to go for them all.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) New earning or investment possibilities could have you in a quandary over which one is the best for you, Virgo.

There are a number of solutions - technology may be one of them - but this isn't the time to make any important decisions.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your life may seem to be at a crossroads, Libra. A number of different possibilities could be opening up to you.

The only thing that seems certain now is that changes are on the horizon.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Others' attitudes toward you may seem to be changing.

You may not be sure what this means. The fact is, you're changing, and some of your friends may like what you're becoming and others may feel less comfortable.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) A number of different and unexpected professional and personal possibilities might have you a bit confused about which way you want to go, Sagittarius.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Today you might face a choice, Capricorn. You might be thinking in terms of relocating to advance your career, but you could be confused about your options.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) An intellectual problem may prove confusing, and reading and research reveal contradictory information. You might also hear some gossip that doesn't seem quite right.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Confusion about money might be on your mind today, Pisces. This doesn't necessarily mean that your finances are in chaos.

Chances are that you face unfamiliar options concerning your financial future

From page 33 frugal overs, kept the shackles on the Islanders.

The consistent and impressive Giddings, who shared the new ball with Millington, took her wickettally to 10 by finishing with 214.

A vocal turn-out in the dismantled Kenny Whishart stand watched in dismay as the correct looking Mandy Mangru (1) fiddled at one that left her from Akeira Peters, and with little movement of her feet, edged a catch to wicketkeeper Rachel Francis at 10-1.

Grimmond (6) was next to go at 32-2 when she was stumped off Stacy-Ann Adams before Henry was bowled by the wily Fletcher, two runs later.

Wi n d i e s batsman Campbelle, the only Guyanese with a century in the tournament, looked promising as she used her feet to Fletcher and along with Gajnabi carried the score to 57 with well organised shots.

But Gajnabi was bowled

by Swayline William before Campbelle cut Fletcher to point as the two best batsmen in the team fell in the space of an over to leave Guyana on 57-5. Tremayne Smartt, with consistent contributions with the bat including an important 58 against Jamaica, was LBW to a Fletcher googlie without scoring and at 59-6 Guyana looked hard pressed to reach 100.

But Thompson and Giddings took the score 85 with a nice little partnership before Thompson, who seemed afraid to play her shots, was dismissed.

The powerful Giddings threw her bat around but blocked the good balls and did most of the scoring before Windies player Cordel Jack removed Cherry-Ann Fraser (3), Fletcher got rid of Millington (8) and Kaysia Shultz (6) was run out leaving Giddings unbeaten as Guyana recovered to reach 132.

The Windwards were set 133 to win at the historic venue, where West Indies won their first ever Test

BCB congratulates...

From page 30 forward to discussing ideas with the newly CWI bosses as we strive to or return West Indies Cricket to the successes of the Frank Worrel, Clive Lloyd and Vivian Richards’ era,” the release informed.

“Congrats and May God bless West Indies Cricket under its new leadership,” the release concluded.

Player-of-the-Match Erva Giddings rescued Guyana from 58-6 with an unbeaten 36 before taking 2-14 at Bourda yesterday. match by beating England by 89 runs in 1930, and after slumping to 26-5, never recovered despite Fletcher’s token resistance.

After Millington bowled William (9) at 12-1 in the 8th over and Giddings induced Adams (0) to edge to Campbelle behind the stumps at 13-2 in the next over, Millington struck again when she trapped Francis (3) LBW and Windwards were reeling on the ropes at 13-3 in 10 overs.

Spin was doing the trick for Guyana as Millington, Grimmond and left-arm spinner Shultz struck telling body blows to the Windwards as

they crashed to 45-6.

The pressure was eased a bit when pace was introduced as Fletcher looked more comfortable with the ball coming on to the bat, but when she was seventh out at 67, Grimmond and Giddings, in her second spelled bowled Guyana to a quick win.

After a two-day break, the Blaze t20 tournament starts with three matches at Providence on Thursday.

Barbados face the Leewards from 09:00hrs, Guyana oppose T&T from 14:00hrs and defending Champions Jamaica battle the Windwards under lights from 19:00hrs.

PAGE 28

Tuesday March 26, 2019

Kaieteur News

NBA roundup: Curry returns, Warriors retake No. 1 seed Stephen Curry returned from a one-game absence to hit five 3-pointers and total a game-high 26 points Sunday night as the Golden State Warriors shook off the embarrassment of a 35-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks one day earlier to turn back the Detroit Pistons 121-114 in Oakland, Calif.

The Golden State win, coupled with Denver’s loss at Indiana earlier in the day, allowed the Warriors to move a half-game ahead of the Nuggets in the race for the best record in the Western Conference.

The loss dropped Detroit from sixth to seventh in the Eastern Conference and further jumbled the five-team battle for the final three playoff spots. That duel also includes the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets.

Blake Griffin had 24 points, and Andre Drummond had a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double for the Pistons, who shot 46.4 percent overall and 12 for 31 (38.7 percent) on 3-pointers.

Spurs 115, Celtics 96 LaMarcus Aldridge scored 48 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as visiting San Antonio rolled to a win over reeling Boston to snap a twogame losing streak.

Aldridge’s points were the second-most of his career, following his 56 in a double-overtime win over Oklahoma City earlier this season. DeMar DeRozan added 16 points for the Spurs, who have won 10 of their past 12, while Patty

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) looks to shoot against the Detroit Pistons in the third quarter at Oracle Arena. (Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports) Mills hit for 12 points off the bench, and Jakob Poeltl grabbed 10 rebounds for San Antonio.

Marcus Smart led the Celtics with 14 points, with Marcus Morris and Gordon Hayward adding 13 each, and Kyrie Irving and Daniel Theis scoring 11 points apiece.

Hayward paced Boston with 10 rebounds and Irving had 12 assists as the Celtics lost their fourth game in a row.

Rockets 113, Pelicans 90 James Harden scored 28 points and Houston clinched a playoff berth with an easy victory over host New Orleans.

Harden, who leads the NBA with an average of 36.4 points per game, didn’t

sustain the pace that saw him score a combined 118 points in the previous two games, but it wasn’t necessary.

He played just 29 minutes as the Rockets rolled to a 14point lead at the end of the first quarter and cruised to their 14th victory in 16 games and remained in third place in the Western Conference.

Frank Jackson scored 19 points, Julius Randle added 15, Stanley Johnson scored 13 and Anthony Davis had 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Pelicans, who lost for the eighth time in nine games as they played the opener of a five-game homestand.

Hornets 115, Raptors 114 Jeremy Lamb’s desperation 48-foot 3-pointer

at the buzzer gave visiting Charlotte a stunning victory in Toronto.

After the Raptors trailed by 14 points less than a minute into the fourth quarter, Kawhi Leonard gave them the lead on a jumper with 45 seconds left, then made a block at the other end. But the Hornets had one big play left in them, and they won their third straight game.

Kemba Walker scored 15 points and added 13 assists and eight rebounds for the Hornets, who were led in scoring by Dwayne Bacon with 20 points. Miles Bridges added 16 points, Willy Hernangomez and Lamb had 13 each, and Devonte’ Graham and Marvin Williams

10 points each.

Pacers 124, Nuggets 88 Bojan Bogdanovic exploded for 35 points while teammates Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis recorded double-doubles as host Indiana avenged a loss to Denver last week in a duel of teams battling for NBA playoff positioning.

The win allowed the Pacers, coming off a fourgame road losing streak that included a 102-100 defeat in Denver on March 16, to solidify their standing as the No. 4 team in the Eastern Conference with just eight games remaining.

Meanwhile, the Nuggets failed in their quest to win a 50th game as they challenge Golden State for the top spot in the West, with the Warriors ending Sunday with a halfgame lead.

Bucks 127, Cavaliers 105 Giannis Antetokounmpo collected 26 points and 10 rebounds as host Milwaukee posted a 22-point victory over Cleveland.

George Hill and Khris Middleton each had 17 points, and Brook Lopez scored all 14 of his points in the first half for the Bucks, who avenged a 107-102 setback to the Cavaliers on Wednesday.

Antetokounmpo sat out that contest with an ankle injury, but he made his presence felt on Sunday by shooting 11 for 16 from the floor and adding seven assists and four blocks.

Kevin Love highlighted his 20-point performance with four 3-pointers and added 19

rebounds for the Cavaliers, who fell to 6-30 away from home. Jordan Clarkson scored 19 points, and rookie Collin Sexton added 18 in the loss.

Clippers 124, Knicks 113 Lou Williams scored 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, while Danilo Gallinari added 26 points and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer as surging Los Angeles ran its winning streak to five games while handing host New York its 60th loss.

Gallinari reached 20 points for a career-high ninth straight game and teamed with Williams to spark the Clippers to their 10th win in 11 games.

The Knicks have lost four straight and 12 of their last 13 games. They must win at least three of their eight remaining games to avoid exceeding the worst record in team history (17-65 in 201415).

Lakers 111, Kings 106 LeBron James had 29 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists to lead Los Angeles past visiting Sacramento.

Kyle Kuzma also scored 29 points and JaVale McGee overcame early foul trouble to finish with 17 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks for the Lakers, who ended a fivegame losing streak.

Marvin Bagley III had 25 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for the Kings, who fell 6 1/2 games behind the San Antonio Spurs for eighth place in the Western Conference with nine games left.

(Field Level Media)

Milo Schools’ football tourney round-of-16

Charlestown and Bishops’ High first to advance Charlestown Secondary and The Bishops’ High were the first two teams through to the quarter-finals of the Milo Schools Football tournament 2019 when play concluded on Saturday last at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground on Carifesta Avenue.

In the first game of the day, Golden Grove opened the scoring with Simon Jones in the 15th and it looked to be heading the way of the out of town side but a late surge from Charlestown ensured that they would live to fight another day.

Tariq Pryce’s 77th minute strike brought the game level before Raymond Bandhu’s 80th minute goal ensured the win.

In the other match, Bishops’ High drubbed Cummings Lodge 5-2.

A pair of braces from

Malachi Richards (17th and 81st) and Romeo Bradford (11th and 32nd) along with Antone Herod’s single strike in the 54th set the tone for the Georgetown side to move into the next round.

On Sunday, Annandale Secondary, Christianburg/ Wismar Secondary School (CWSS), Vergenoegen and President’s College all had comfortable wins. Each of the winners netted three goals in their triumph with the exception of Vergenoegen who got past St. Cuthbert’s Mission 2-0.

Yesterday, St. John’s College played St. Stanislaus College in the opening game, while Lodge Secondary clashed with Tucville in the feature match.

The results of that match were not available up to press time.

CWSS scorers from left, Andre Mayers (Skipper) and Tyrese Lewis.

The round-of-sixteen of the Milo Schools’ football tournament has been completed.

Tuesday March 26, 2019

Stage set for 2019 Concacaf Nations League draw - Guyana among 16 nations in League B

Golden Jaguars starting X1 vs Belize, March 23, 2019 Miami – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) has confirmed the participating teams for Leagues A, B and C of the 2019 Concacaf Nations League, as well as the pots for the official draw.

The group stage of the inaugural edition will be played in September, October and November 2019. The Final Championship will take place in 2020.

The draw, which will subdivide the three Leagues into groups, will be conducted live tomorrow, March 27 at 10:00 pm ET (7:00 pm local) from The Chelsea Theater, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Presidents from the participating Member Associations, as well as guests from the world of international football will be present at the gala event.

Following all 68 matches of the one-off Concacaf Nations League Qualifying Phase, which c u l m i n a t e d o n S u n d a y, teams have been ranked 134, based on points earned, goal difference and a series of additional tie breaker criteria.

By virtue of having qualified for the Hexagonal Round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Russia 2018, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, United States and Trinidad & Tobago have been seeded directly into League A. Additionally, Guatemala, who did not participate in the Qualifying Phase due to a suspension imposed

by FIFA, has been placed into League C.

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

For the 2019 Concacaf Nations League, Leagues A, B and C will be composed as follows (listed in alphabetical order per league): League A (12): Bermuda, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago and United States.

League B (16): Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname.

League C (13): Anguilla, Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, British Vi rgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, Turks and Caicos Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Draw Procedures - The draws, to be executed by Concacaf Chief Football Officer Manolo Zubiria, will all use a single-blind system involving three pots for League A, four pots for League B and three Pots for League C. The 41 participating teams will be allocated in the pots according to the League they have qualified for as well as by their Concacaf Ranking as of November 2018.

League A Pots *Listed in ranking order per pot Pot 1: Mexico, United States, Costa Rica and Honduras Pot 2: Panama, Canada, Haiti and Trinidad and

Tobago Pot 3: Martinique, Cuba, Curacao and Bermuda League B Pots *Listed in ranking order per pot Pot 1: Jamaica, El Salvador, Nicaragua and French Guiana Pot 2: Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominican Republic, Suriname and Guyana Pot 3: Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Saint Lucia Pot 4: Grenada, Aruba, Dominica and Montserrat League C Pots *Listed in ranking order per pot Pot 1: Guatemala, Guadeloupe, Bonaire and Barbados Pot 2: Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands Pot 3: U.S. Virgin Islands, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, British Virgin Islands and Anguilla All three draws will begin by randomly selecting a team from Pot 1 and placing them in Group A of their respective league.

The draws will continue by selecting the remaining teams from Pot 1 and positioning them into Groups B, C and D in sequential order.

The same procedure will be done for the remaining pots.

Fans will be able to follow all the action through the Confederation’s partner networks, including Univision Deportes (United States), FloSports (United States), Televisa (Mexico) and other local partners. The event will also be available on Concacaf GO (subject to territory restrictions).

Skerritt ready to act on campaign promises but urges patience KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – After securing the Cricket West Indies top job in a stunning result here Sunday, new president Ricky Skerritt has targeted the rejuvenation of the high performance centre, governance reform and finding a permanent West Indies coach, as three of the main items on his immediate agenda.

However, the former St Kitts and Nevis government minister has urged patience from stakeholders as he prepares to implement his 10point Cricket First Plan, which formed the basis of his election campaign over the last month.

The 62-year-old was speaking shortly after he and running mate, Dr Kishore Shallow, unseated Jamaican Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron and vice-president, Emmanuel Nathan, by 8-4 margins, in a highly anticipated annual general meeting at the Jamaica Pegasus.

“We are going to have to ask for patience but there is some basis in some of those 10 points that is already happening but most of it needs significant improvements, significant injections and in the case of the HPC for instance that is going to be the one that is most costly,” Skerritt shared.

The former West Indies team manager had made reviving the HPC one of the bedrocks of his campaign, after the Cameron-led CWI pulled the plug in the institution in 2017.

Skerritt, who gained widespread support from stakeholders in his election bid, said CWI would also be aiming to make possible implementations from the

New Cricket West Indies president, Ricky Skerritt.

Patterson Report.

“We had actually begun to do that under the leadership of Don Wehby and myself and two other independent directors back in 2016 and 2017,” Skerritt explained.

“And there is a report that was submitted to the outgoing president which was really a review of the Patterson Report and several others, to try to see which recommendations had actually been implemented and which ones were not.

“So what we have to do now is go back dust off that 2017 report which is the most recent summary and use it as a starting point to see which of the governance changes are still relevant and which ones we can implement as quickly as possible.”

He added “I will even try to approach him [Wehby].

Maybe he can somehow find the time out of his busy schedule to look at that report and even help me with the implementations.”

According to Skerritt, steps will also be taken to search within the region for the next possible West Indies senior team coach.

Englishman Richard Pybus is currently guiding the team on an interim basis, following the

departure of Australian Stuart Law. The appointment of Pybus ahead of the recent England series was a controversial affair, with Cameron accused of handpicking the former director of cricket and agreeing contractual terms without prior board approval.

“That has been a vexatious sort of issue,” said Skerritt.

“I have to tell you that we believe very strongly in localising the expertise that we put behind our teams and we believe only in bringing in non-Caribbean expertise only where it is not available across the region.

“We want to be sure that the team does well at all times with the possible resources but we also have to make sure that they have a Caribbean support team around them.”

He continued: “So that is the issue which will be looked at. I can’t give you any promises or any anticipation of how soon or when there will be changes but it is an issue that has touched many across the region.

People generally want to see Caribbean past cricketers and Caribbean expertise helping to build Caribbean cricket.”

Bakewell donates Polo Shirts and caps to RHTY&SC Under-17...

From page 31 c o u n t y w i d e championship title. The two teams have produced a combined forty national players including Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Esuan Crandon, Clinton Pestano, Abdel Fudadin, Erva Giddings, Dominique Rikhi, Mahendra Gopilall, Jonathan Rampersaud and Jeremy Sandia.

The two teams under the Bakewell Brand have also hosted hundreds of community projects under

the Sub-headings of Sports, Culture, Charity, Yo u t h Development, Education, Anti-Drugs and Anti-Alcohol among others.

Rajin Ganga, Bakewell’s General Manager, stated that his Company has always cherished its relationship with the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club and the two Cricket Teams. The two teams, Ganga noted have been o u t s t a n d i n g representatives of the Bakewell Brand and have

done remarkable jobs promoting the Company across every Village in Berbice. He congratulated the Teams on their status as Berbice Champions and urged them to uphold their high standard on and off the cricket field.

PAGE 30

61st Caribbean Table Tennis Championship From Left, Teddy Matthews and opens at CASH Christopher Jones serve off the tournament.

The opening ceremony of the 61st Caribbean Table Tennis Championships (CTTC) was held last night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) in Georgetown, Guyana, which will host the games this year.

The CTTC that precedes the Pan Am Cup and Pan American Games’ Caribbean Qualifiers, which were both concluded at the same CASH venue last night, will run from today and conclude on March 31st at the CASH. Before the ceremony that saw the attendance of the Head of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA); Godfrey Munroe, Head of the Caribbean Regional Federation; Teddy Matthew and Head of the Latin America Table Tennis Union; Juan Villa, along with Guyana’s Director of Sport; Christopher Jones, the final of the men’s Pan Am team qualifiers

was played and Puerto Rico came out victorious against the Dominican Republic.

Munore shared the opening remarks and thanked everyone that lent a helping hand in getting the tournament up and running,

including Jones for the support of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and by extension the Government of Guyana.

St. Lucia based Matthews, who is a former National Player for Guyana,

From left, Teddy Matthews (Caribbean Regional Tennis Federation) and Juan Villa (Latin Table Tennis Union).

now head of the regional tennis body, relished the opportunity of being home again and welcomed the upcoming week of anticipated intense table tennis rivalry.

Juan Villa, who is not very fluent in English, had his best wishes extended by Matthews, who encouraged the athletes to do their best.

NSC boss Chris Jones was brief in his remarks and he posited that, “I Believe that these games helps to promote camaraderie between nations and the government remains committed to sports since it fosters social cohesion.”

This is the first time Guyana was tasked with hosting a Pan American Games qualification event and teams from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Barbados, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, St. Kitts & Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Dominican Republic, St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Suriname, French Guiana, and Haiti will be part of the action.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo congratulates Richard Skerritt Guyana Prime Minister, the Honourable Moses Nagamootoo, has sent a letter of congratulation to new Cricket West Indies (CWI) President Richard Skerritt and his running mate Dr. Kishore Shallow on their ascension to the leadership of the regional cricket body.

PM Nagamootoo noted that Guyana wished them success and expressed the hope of a healing process of strained relations within the regional game. The full text of the message reads: “I offer warm congratulations to you and Dr. Kishore Shallow on your

Tuesday March 26, 2019

Kaieteur News

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo election to the Presidency and Vice Presidency of Cricket West Indies (CWI).

I am aware of your background in West Indies cricket administration and

experience in government which will serve you well during your term. All Guyanese wish you every success as you endeavor to provide leadership, vision and direction in the administration of our premier regional sport.

We look forward to the healing of strained relationships with players and other stakeholders.

We are impressed with your Cricket First plan, and look forward to its full execution regionwide.

As you are aware, the Guyanese people are passionate and unwavering fans of West Indies cricket

and look forward to annual international cricket in our country.

In this regard we look forward to engaging with you, Dr. Shallow and the CWI Board, soonest on matters of mutual interest towards the development and growth of West Indies Cricket.

Our government is also keen on forging a stronger and mutually beneficial working relationship with CWI at the bilateral level, and on matters which have engaged the attention of the CARICOM Sub-Committee on Cricket, and the role of the sport in the region.”

Fredericks’ ton hands Jaguars SC massive win over Jaguars SC Over-40 Former national youth opener Norman Fredericks proved that he is still one of the better batsmen on the Essequibo when he hammered a stroke filled 158 as Jaguars SC handsomely defeated Jaguars SC Over-40 by 192 runs when play in the South Essequibo T/20 cricket competition continued last Sunday at the Pomona Cricket Ground.

Played on a track where Rising Stars easily outplayed Hibernia Lions in the earlier game, the young Jaguars won the toss and came out hunting in an aggressive fashion with Fredericks and fellow opener Feizal Mohamed putting on 137 for the first wicket in 13.4 overs.

The muscular built Mohamed was severe on anything loose as he powered his way to a fluent 66 which included 6 boundaries and 2 maximums.

Medium pacer Vishnu Persaud was brought into the attack and immediately reaped success when he shattered the stumps of Mohamed.

Javid Azeez then joined the

left handed Fredericks and together mauled the ‘old’ Jaguars’ bowling to all parts of the lightening fast outfield before Zandy Mahadeo had him smartly caught at cover for 32. Mahadeo struck again when he had Fredericks taken at point for his brilliant 158 of which 15 went to the boundary and 8 over the ropes.

Husbard Thomas and skipper Chandie Jairam were unbeaten on 4 and 15 respectively.

Mahadeo claimed 2-38, while Persaud had 1-15.

Needing a miracle to overcome the 285 needed for victory, the senior Jaguars were taught a valuable lesson that ‘youth is power’ as they surrendered for a paltry 90-8 in their allotted overs. Only Thakur Ram with 26 and Altaf Mohamed with 20 offered any real resistance as off spinner Azeez grabbed 3-13, Husbard Thomas 3-23, while Fredericks and Mohamed took a wicket apiece.

Fredericks was named Man of the Match.

BCB congratulates Ricky Skerritt on his election as CWI President “The President and Executive Members of the Berbice Cricket Board would like to express our heartfelt congratulation to Ricky Skerritt on his election as President of the West Indies Cricket Board. We would like to congratulate newly elected Vice President Dr. Kishore Shallow and it is our hope that their election would be the start of a new era in West Indies Cricket where the development of cricket is the main objective,” a release from the BCB stated.

It continued, “The Berbice Cricket Board stands ready to work along with every elected cricket official whose mission is to make sure that cricket is always put first.

We are very confident that Mr. Skerritt would not only be a fair, inspirational leader but that he would spearhead a revival of cricket in the Caribbean. For too long, cricket in Guyana has been administered by an unelected Executives, who seemed more interested in staying in power than in the development of the game in every county.

We at the Berbice Cricket Board have not received a cent of funds from the Guyana

Cricket Board for over a decade, every effort has been made to stop the progress of Berbice Cricket, while we have also been denied the opportunity to see our stars playing at home. Over the last fourteen months, we have witnessed the unbelievable scene of the Guyana Cricket Board operating an unofficial office of the Berbice Cricket Board with a full time staff, who does nothing but pass on email messages from Guyana Cricket Board to the President of the Berbice Cricket Board. The Berbice Cricket Board would shortly take legal action to stop this profound nonsense as we did not authorise any person to act on our behalf.”

“We remain committed to working with all committed cricket stakeholders and would like to publicly in invite Mr. Skerritt and Dr. Shallow to visit the Ancient County.

Berbice Cricket is currently undergoing a remarkable period of development due to hard work, transparency, visionary leadership and a culture of cohesion between the Berbice Cricket Board and all stakeholders. We look (Continued on page 27)

Tuesday March 26, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Taylor, Nation guide Jamaica to eight-wicket victory; Barbados retain title with win over T and T A fine all-round performance from Stafanie Taylor coupled by a fluent unbeaten half century from Chedean Nation handed Jamaica an eight-wicket victory over Leeward Islands, while Barbados defeated Trinidad and Tobago by 28 runs to retain the title when the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Colonial Medical Insurance Women’s Super 50 concluded yesterday.

Leeward Islands opted to bat at Providence and lost opener Jamella McClure bowled by Chinelle Henry without scoring off the fourth ball of the innings before Malissa Howard (04) was lbw to Henry, leaving the score at 23-2. Henry struck again in the 11th over by having Shawnisha Hector caught and bowled for 16 off 31 balls with three fours.

However, Jenisen

Richards and Saneldo Willett steadied the innings somewhat with a fourth wicket stand of 42 in 12 overs as they rotated the strike nicely, mixing aggression with defence. But skipper Taylor brought herself on and ended their resistance when she had Richards smartly stumped by Natasha McLean for 19 which came off 41 balls and contained two fours. Her dismissal triggered a collapse as Taylor and Vanessa Watts combined to demolish the rest of the batting; Willett, who was stumped off Taylor for 23 with two fours off 79 balls, failed to get any support from the other batters as Leeward Islands were bowled out for 91 in 35.4 overs. Taylor, who looped the ball well, finished with 4-9 from 6.4 overs, Watts claimed 3-14 from eight overs and Henry 3-19 from eight.

Amanda Edwards trapped

Deandra Dottin

Stafanie Taylor accepts her player-of-the-match prize from Match Referee Hayden Bruce.

McLean lbw for four and uprooted the stumps of

Bakewell donates Polo Shirts and caps to RHTY&SC Under-17 and Second Division Teams The long standing relationship between Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS and Bakewell were further strengthened when the bakery giants handed a large quantity of white Polo Cricket Shirts and Caps. The donated items would be used by the Rose Hall Town Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division Teams for the 2019 Cricket Season of the Berbice Cricket Board.

Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Asst Secretary/ CEO Simon Naidu expressed gratitude to Bakewell and its General Manager Rajin Ganga for the donation, which he stated would make sure that the two teams are properly attired in 2019 and at the same time, properly promoting their official sponsor. Bakewell has been the official sponsor of the two teams since 2000. The Rose Hall Town Bakewell Under-17 Team is the Berbice Champion after winning the

BCB Ramnaresh Sarwan Under-17 Tournament, while the Second Division Team is also the undisputed Champion of the Ancient County after winning a total of six major tournaments over the last twelve months. Last week the Bakewell Second Division team emerged as champion of the countywide New Building Society 40Overs Tournament which attracted close to 90 teams.

This was the team’s sixth (Continued on page 29)

RHTYSC Organising Secretary Ravin Kissoonlall hands over the Bakewell donation to Second Division Captain Kevin Sinclair.

Rashada Williams for two as Jamaica were reduced to 13-2 in the chase. But Nation and Taylor added an unbroken third wicket stand of 83 to see their home as they finished on 96-2 in 15.2 overs. Nation hammered 10 fours and one six in a top score of 53 off 35 balls, while Taylor who was voted player-of-the-match, made 24 off 28 balls with four fours. Edwards took 2-32 from five overs.

At Enmore, Barbados took first strike and lost skipper Hayley Matthews (00) who was bowled by Anisa

Mohammed and Danielle Small (00) bowled by Karishma Ramharack, early in the innings. However resolute batting by Kycia Knight, Kyshona King and Deandra Dottin guided Barbados to 242-7. Knight thumped eight fours in scoring 77 off 88 balls while King made 56 off 135 balls with five fours and Dottin a robust 73 off 43 balls including three fours and six sixes. Aaliyah Alleyne contributed 15 not out as Ramharack picked up 4-37 to continue her fine showing

with the ball while Mohammed had 2-45.

Trinidad and Tobago threatened before they were eventually bowled out for 214 in 47.5 overs. Reniece Boyce top scored with 39 off 38 balls with four fours while Stacy-Ann King made 38 from 49 balls with five fours, Merissa Aguilleira scored 32 which contained four fours, Felicia Walters got 27 and Britney Cooper 23. Playerof-the-match Dottin bagged 6-43 from 8.5 overs while Matthews had 2-31.

Jumbo Jet Triple Crown second leg

Lucky Star dethrones Vera’s Finally at Rising Sun - Dynamic duo of Durban Park Era meets at 2nd leg of Triple Crown Last Sunday presented a beautiful day with clear and sunny skies along with cool Ocean breeze over the Rising Sun Turf Club. Turfites packed the stands and grounds to enjoy a day of thoroughbred horseracing as the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown meet created new champion horses and jockeys.

Jamaican bred Lucky Star from the S. Cheefoon stables outran Storm Bird, Red Rocket, Vera’s Finally & TNT to claim the $1M purse in the 1400m C3 & lower class feature race.

Jockey Rinaldo Appadu had the mount for this and two other wins on Miss Olympic in the L Class

1100m & J Class 1400m making him the champion jockey for the day.

Fans got a bonus history lesson in the process.

Rising Sun Turf Club owner, Insanally ’Sunny’ Habibulla celebrated his 86th birthday by taking in the races at his tracks.

Habibulla remains one of the patriarchs of the D’urban Park race track era.

Ninety one-year-old, Abdul Latiff, also a patriarch of the D’urban Park racing days recalled that his current home in Bel Air Park sits on what was once horse stables and paddocks where he and his horses trod in the 1940s after he had left his home

town in Skeldon, Corentyne, to ride at the then D’urban Park race course.

Habibulla has the honour of being the last standing horse owner/ trainer at D’urban Park, while Latiff is the only known surviving Guyanese jockey who rode at D’urban Park race tracks.

Special guest at the races was Guyanese-born Derek Chin, owner of the Movie Towne franchise.

D e r e k ’s f a t h e r, S a m m y Chin, was a horse owner well known to Latiff and on Sunday, Chin and those present were treated Latiff’s vivid memories and minute details of his father’s racing days.

PAGE 32

Tuesday March 26, 2019

Kaieteur News

2019 Concacaf Gold Cup berths sealed as CNLQ comes to close

Juan Barrera Miami, Florida – The 16-team field for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup is now official following Sunday’s results in Week 4 of 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League Qualifying.

Haiti, Canada, Martinique, Curacao, Bermuda, Cuba, Guyana, Jamaica, El Salvador and Nicaragua have finished in the top 10 of the 34team table and will join Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, United States and Trinidad and Tobago in this summer’s tournament.

The day started on a historical note, as Bonaire earned its first win since 2014 with a dramatic 2-1 home triumph over British Virgin Islands.

Jermaine Windster gave Bonaire the lead in the 7’, only for Jamie Wilson to pull level in the 76’. But Windster would rise up and score a dramatic winner in the 88’ for the three points.

Up next was Grenada, who traveled to Puerto Rico and got the best of the Boricuas 2-0 thanks to goals from Antonio German in the 27’ and Arthur Paterson in the 74’.

Things took an interesting turn in the third match of the day, as Bermuda took down hosts Dominican Republic 3-1 in a winnertake-all affair in which the victor would punch its Gold Cup ticket.

The home side had a dream start with an Enmy Pena goal in the 3’, but Bermuda would show its character and score three unanswered goals through Zeiko Lewis (15’), Nahki Wells (64’) and Justin Donawa (74’) to clinch its first ever Gold Cup. Canada was back flexing its scoring muscles in a 4-1 home win over French Guiana. Junior Hoilette

got things going in the 11’, but French Guiana would not back down and pulled level after a Kevin Rimane goal in the 26’.

But the final hour of play belonged to Canada, who got scores from Lucas Cavallini in the 39’ and 51’ and Jonathan David in the 41’ to finish second in the table. In a battle of teams that clinched Gold Cup berths, hosts Haiti edged Cuba 2-1 thanks to a late goal. Duckens Nazon scored his sixth goal of CNLQ

to make it 1-0 to Haiti in the 26’, but Cuba would respond in the 61’ through Luis Paradela.

Just when it looked like things would end in a draw, Kevin LaFrance scored in the 87’ to give Haiti the three points a first-place finish in the table.

The night ended with a thrilling finish that saw Nicaragua punch the last Gold Cup ticket with a 1-0 win at Barbados, courtesy of a Juan Barrera goal in the 65’.

PMs Mitchell, Rowley hail Skerritt presidency as new dawn for Windies cricket BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Two Caribbean prime ministers previously critical of Dave Cameron’s leadership of Cricket West Indies have welcomed the election of Ricky Skerritt as the new president of the regional governing body.

Grenada’s Dr Keith Mitchell said Skerritt, and new vice-president Dr Kishore Shallow, would “lift the spirits of Caribbean people” while Trinidad and Tobago’s Dr Keith Rowley said he now hoped that “a

door to far-reaching progressive change is now open”.

Skerritt, a former St Kitts and Nevis government minister, and Shallow, an IT consultant and president of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association, toppled three-term incumbents Cameron and vice-president Emmanuel Nathan by 8-4 margins at elections during Sunday’s annual general meeting in Jamaica.

“This result will bring great joy and happiness to cricket lovers

throughout the world, not just in the West Indies,” said Mitchell in a statement yesterday.

“The election of Mr. Skerritt’s team will lift the spirits of the Caribbean people and give them new hope and a greater expectation for the revival and rebirth of West Indies cricket.

“I also want to congratulate the Skerritt team for running a clean and effective campaign in which they consistently highlighted their (Continued on page 27)

GBA fund raising take away lunch set for Saturday as the push for funding continues The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) will hold a Take Away on Saturday March 30 at the National Gymnasium.

The event is being held to raise funds to send their team of boxers to Nicaragua for the Pan Am qualifiers.

Information received from President of the GBA Steve Ninvalle indicated that they did not receive the ‘expected’ support to date so the push is on to garner the additional funding hence Saturday’s event.

The GBA has five boxers preparing over the past month for the Qualifiers and are hopeful of getting the necessary funding to send all of them.

Ninvalle had been pushing

and got the help of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and brought in the Cuban coach due to their seriousness in participating successfully at the Qualifiers, which run from April 2 to April 11 in Nicaragua.

It was disclosed that as of yesterday the price for one ticket to Nicaragua was US$2000 per person.

Accommodation and meals is US$1200 per person. The team is scheduled to leave on April 1 for the event.

The take away lunch fundraiser starts at 1:00pm and tickets are $1000 each.

The GBA is encouraging the public to come out and support them.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 26, 2019

Colonial Medical Insurance Female Super50 Tournament

Giddings’ all round performance and spinners give Guyana 2nd win - Windwards lose by 58 runs in low scoring match

By Sean Devers

P

layer-of-theMatch Erva Giddings’ useful all-round work and tight spin bowling from Sheneta Grimmond and Plaffiana Millington give Guyana a 58-run win against the Wi n d w a r d s a t B o u r d a

with an unbeaten 36 from 104 balls with two boundaries before they were dismissed for 132 off the last ball of the 50th over.

It was a disappointing top order performance under clear blue skies, as only opener Melani Henry (16), Shabika Gajnabi (24), Skipper Shemaine

Plaffiana Millington traps Juliana Nero LBW and had the Windwards batsmen in shackles with 4-12-from 10 overs. yesterday in the final round of the Colonial Medical Insurance Female Super50 Tournament which was won by defending Champions Barbados who beat T&T at Enmore by 38 runs yesterday.

Guyana, who only beat the Leewards at Enmore, batted first on a track which offered bounce and turn for spinners and Grimmond, the left-handed Rose Hall town Youth & Sports fast bowler lifted Guyana from 58-6

Campbelle (10) and fast bowling all-rounder Akaze Thompson (13) reached double figures.

Windwards Captain and Windies’ player Afy Fletcher had 3-19 in a 10-over spell of high class leg-spin for her team who were bowled out for 75 in 32.2 overs in the bowler dominated low scoring encounter.

Fletcher was the only batsman to reach double figures after hitting a couple of fours in her 26 in a

Juilana Nero survives an LBW shot off Sheneta Grimmond who had 4-23 as Guyana beat Windwards at Bourda yesterday. (Sean Devers photos)

scorecard that looked like an international telephone number.

Berbician off-spinners Grimmond (4-23) and Millington, who bowled four maidens in her 3-12 from 10 (Continued on page 27)

PAGE 33

t r o Sp

61st Caribbean Table Tennis Championship opens at CASH The teams and official line up during the opening ceremony.

The teams and official line up during the opening ceremony.

Jumbo Jet Triple Crown second leg From first to third, Lucky Star, Vera’s Finally and Storm Bird crossing the finish line in the feature race on Sunday of Jumbo Jet’s Triple Crown (Emmerson Campbell photo)

Lucky Star dethrones Vera’s Finally at Rising Sun

- Dynamic duo of Durban Park Era meets at 2nd leg of Triple Crown

Taylor, Nation guide Jamaica to eight-wicket victory; Barbados retain title with win over T and T Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.