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Kaieteur News
Saturday March 24, 2018
We must constantly look to Environmental extremists care more improve our standards and facilities about jellyfish than Guyanese people DEAR EDITOR, With all the debate emanating from the different quarters of the Guyanese society as it relates to ExxonMobil and the oil and gas find, Guyana is definitely onto something big, really big. The Exxon deal, regardless of who erred, is a done deal, and only Exxon can change that. The question is: are they prepared to do that? That’s a whole different conversation and that is not the subject of my discussion today. Today, I would like to focus on the service sector, and the one area I wish for us to pay keen attention to is the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). My visit to the GRA headquarters last week was shocking. It took me ten minutes to find a place to park
my car and I had to walk about quarter mile to reach the entrance of the facility. When I looked at the building, I became fearful that it would collapse. I am surprised that over one thousand workers and hundreds of persons seeking the services of the revenue authority are cramped like sardines into that small, lifethreatening structure. The offices of the senior officers are so small that it can barely hold three persons. The Co-operative Republic of Guyana is on the move and we must constantly look to improve our standards and facilities. The GRA is collecting over $250 billion dollars in revenue annually. The employees are spending over a quarter of their daily lives there and the tax payers need
to have better and more e n c o u r a g i n g accommodations. It is my understanding that over the years there have been many discussions on utilisation of the Durban Park vacant land for the relocation of this vital institution. I humbly suggest that our government should reconsider the uses of Durban Park land and build a modern Revenue Collection Agency with a huge parking facility for staff and customers. My understanding is that the government has already identified ten acres of land on the East Coast for this purpose. My suggestion is that Georgetown would be more convenient because of the proximity of the business centre. Yours truly, Nazar Mohamed
Cooperation needed among citizens to achieve national progress DEAR EDITOR, I would like to issue a call to all my fellow Guyanese to rethink the situation on the national level in which we find ourselve s f r o m a fresh perspective, and make an effort to resolve, o n c e and for all, the relationships we share, so that we can really join together and contribute to the mutual development of our people. This would entail each of us, of whatever political persuasion, community or grouping we identify with, putting aside our several interests and differences and striving to find a way by which we could cooperatively make the greatest contribution to our national progress. We all know that our most insurmountable obstacles relate to whatever political and ethnic group we belong to, and so this must lead us to realise that these are the areas in which we must make the greatest efforts to achieve national cohesion. It is clear that our politicians have been the greatest villains in both of these areas, as we carry on the policy of “Divide and
Rule” that we have inherited from our colonial past, from the “Winner take All” that has been the code of our own political culture since our Independence, and the “We and Them” tradition that they have encouraged among our two m a i n r a ces, which has permeated all other areas of our lives. I have always decried the tradition of our political interaction in Parliament which I feel has been directed by the term identifying the Members of Parliament on the losing side as the “Opposition”, which has been responsible for those members believing that they are doing their duty when they simply oppose. It would be such a boon to our progress if all our elected representatives should cooperate and work constructively on the various projects towards fulfilling the responsibilities that have been entrusted to them by our people. I would now appeal to the present Opposition to bite the bullet and make an unprecedent e d e f f o r t t o change this
parliamentary culture by doing their part in b r i n g i n g into reality the Cooperative nature of our Republic, which I am sure will earn them kudos from all Guyanese. I also issue an appeal to all Guyanese, to always bear in mind that colour is skindeep, and we should strive assiduously to remove this scourge of racial prejudice, which is the greatest hindrance to our national aspirations. If I should venture the solution to this problem, I would like us all to consider that the only permanent answer is that we should earnestly strive to spread love among our people. All other attempts at unity are only perfunctory and temporary and will fizzle out eventually. May God bless our nation and help us to achieve this national peace and progress. Sincerely, Roy Paul
DEAR EDITOR, One notes with great concern the campaign known as “A Fair Deal for Guyana” which is behind the legal challenge to the Exxon PSA. A check of their Twitter posts includes the slogans: “#NIMBO Not in My Beautiful Ocean” and “Stop Oil Production in Guyana”. It seems clear then they want to go further and actually want NO DEAL AT ALL for Guyana?
This is a crucial moment in this country’s history. For decades, we have been abjectly poor and underdeveloped. Now oil is only two years away and it is not an insignificant amount. If at some point, Exxon alone reaches their p r o j e c t e d output of 500,000 barrels per day, Guyana would from just one company be among the top five producers per capita in the world. Why should we turn our
backs on this opportunity and be held hostage by environmental extremists, most of whom are already comfortably off. The truth is they don’t want Guyana to change and for the poor p e o p l e t o obtain a decent standard of living. To t h e m , w e say go swim with the jellyfish you claim to be saving as part of your radical campaign. Earl Hamilton
A deep loss to his family DEAR EDITOR, The death of Dr. Churaumanie Bissundyal is not only a deep loss to his family but also to the literary community. He emerged as a prolific postcolonial writer and made an indelible mark on the local literary landscape. But sadly his worth was not readily recognised by a few locally, imprisoned in their own literary ego and others in the People’s Progressive Party who were too power drunk to allow him the opportunity to nurture
younger minds. As one of his close friends, he expressed some of his bitter feelings about personal experiences locally, but was magnanimous. Churaumanie possessed a determined mind and journeyed to greener pastures. At the Fiji National University, he was a star in the academic and literary circles. Today, my friend is gone, but his literary works will forever be part of that landscape. Dhanraj Bhagwandin New York
Give us our coins! DEAR EDITOR, I have observed from time to time whenever I receive money from a particular renowned money transfer agency its agents would not give the coins, if the transaction so warrants it. On several occasions on checking, after receiving my money and realising the coins
were not given, I have to go back to the agent. Agents of these agencies should not decide that persons do not want the coins due to t h e m f r o m their transactions. To do so is open to all kinds of interpretation and speculation. Shamshun Mohamed
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Kaieteur News
Saturday March 24, 2018
I reject Sherwood Lowe’s conclusion on the third term case ... From page 4 placed any limitations on this exercise by representative democracy? Not at all… So, none can be imported in Article 9. Can Mendez’s heretical flipflop argument impugn this conclusion based on that principle of constitutional interpretation? So, I turn now to where the Constitution has by its wording and scheme, imposed limitations on the statute-making powers of the people’s representatives (the Parliamentarians) in the exercise of the representative democracy. This brings me to article 164 (2)(a) and the requirement (a limitation) of referendum worded exhaustively to “this article, articles 1,2,8,9,18,51,66,89,99 and 111”. Immediately, one notices that there is no mention of “90” in this exhaustive tabulation. That is the gravamen of this case. Not some “flip-flop”
argumentation. Article 90 is among the articles listed or mentioned in another sub-article 164(2)(b) – this sub-article does not deal at all with the requirement or limitation of referendum. By and under this Article 164(2)(b), no referendum is required to alter or amend Article 90. And the reader is reminded that it was an alteration or amendment of Article 90 (by Act 17/2000) that caused the two-term limit to now be in the Constitution. It is not as if that Act 17/ 2000 standing by itself, was newly inserted into the Constitution and thereby by such insertion this two-term limit was introduced. So, Act 17/2000 has to be considered as if it was one and indivisible with Article 90 which requires no referendum for alteration. It seems to me, that the point cannot be stressed enough, that in our constitutional scheme of things, and to a constitutional lawyer (a politician might have a different politician’s perspective), a referendum was never intended as a means of exercising “sovereignty”. Moreover, it is this perspective that is the flaw in Mendez’s argument (i.e. a referendum). It is predominantly a device (and was intended) for super entrenchment (i.e. protection from being easily or ordinarily changed in the
future) of certain matters/ institutions; and it finds no place in our constitutional affairs other than where the constitution makers have placed it in Article 164 (2)(a) to the exclusion of all other affairs (expressio unius est exclusio alterius – i.e. the expression of one thing is the exclusion of all others not mentioned). Mendez’s “flip-flop” argumentation, if accepted by the CCJ would have the bizarre consequence of removing, sub silentio, Article 90 from Article 164 (2)(b) list (that has nothing to do with referendum) and placing it in Article 164(2)(a) (that alone, and exhaustively, deals with referendum). Such judicial law making (by sleight of hand as it were, perhaps surreptitiously), the doctrine of separation of powers does not permit. In addition, this is a point strenuously argued by the learned Attorney General’s side. Second, under the separation of powers doctrine, the Courts are not permitted to substitute their sense of people’s desire and wishes, for and in the place of those who by articles 9 and 51 have been entrusted by the Constitution itself, with the role and responsibility for laws for peace, order and good government and accordingly of speaking via the legislative process for, and on behalf of the electorate (as to their
desires and wishes) of which Cedric Richardson is but one of some four hundred thousand (400,000) plus, of us. By Article 164(2)(a), the Constitution makers have predetermined the unworkability of expensive and rarified referendum for such matters as is provided for in Article 90 (“Qualifications for Election”) by excluding Article 90 from Article 164(2)(a). As to this impermissibility of judicial substitution…! Lord Wilberforce in the English House of Lords (one of the contemporary great English jurists) hit the proverbial nail squarely on its head, and might well have been speaking for Caribbean jurists when in an analogous constitutional context, his Lordship made this most poignant observation – “Furthermore, while the courts may look critically at legislation which impairs the rights of citizens and should resolve any doubts in interpretation in their favour, it is NO PART OF THEIR DUTY, OR POWER, to restrict or impede the working of legislation, even of unpopular legislation; to do so would be to weaken rather than to advance the democratic process” [IRC V. Ross Minister Ltd (1990) 1AII ER 80] I think rejecting and overruling the people’s choice for term limit expressed in the amendment of Article 90 via
that Act 17/2000 made by the p e o p l e ’s r e p r e s e n tatives in the Parliament, would be in Lord Wilberforce’s clarion warning “to weaken rather than advance the democratic process”. And this is, with due respect, what Chang, CJ (ag) in the High Court, and the CoA (majority) has done; and learned Counsel Mendez is inviting the CCJ to do. Third, Mendez’s emphasis on sovereignty is misplaced. The emphasis ought to be on the issue of referendum as the essential legal issue raised by the Applicant/Respondent Richardson’s pleadings in the High Court. And no amount of procrustean interpretation by Mendez in endeavouring to shift the CCJs gaze to article 9 (as Lowe puts it) can distort the constitutional reality that Article 9 does not, and was not intended to, deal with such matters as “Qualifications for Elections” (Article 90) under which provision and rubric presidential candidature/ candidacy squarely falls; and which as I have shown does not require a referendum for its amendment. I digress here to mention that I have abandoned, but have not lost curiosity in the jurisdictional issue whether the High Court (Chang, CJ (ag)) had, and has, jurisdiction in this matter. Did Chang,
CJ(ag) and the Court of Appeal (sitting in its appellate jurisdiction and not in its peculiar excusive original jurisdiction) assume jurisdiction per incuriam Article 177 (4). For me, a ruling by the CCJ on this most preliminary issue is not academic at all; and is patently most desirable. I end with this: it is one thing for Cedric Richardson, and now seemingly Sherwood Lowe, to desire, unwittingly or otherwise, that Jagdeo be the PPP/C Presidential Candidate for the 2020 Elections. It is quite another thing as to whether on their true construction, articles 1,9,90 and 164 (2)(a) and 164 (2)(b) cumulatively, permit a thirdterm candidature. No “flip-flop” (in Lowe’s pathetic aphorism) argumentation by Mendez will prevail. The law and the facts are decisively on the Attorney General’s side. The Attorney General will prevail by force of sheer soundness of his submissions. The introduction of term-limits into Guyana’s legal system by an alteration of article 90 by Act 17/2000, is as constitutional as the Constitution itself. The broad question of constitutional logic I posed in my introductory paragraph, I answer emphatically – No. Yours, Maxwell. E. Edwards
Saturday March 24, 2018
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Kaieteur News
East Bank Berbice residents to Guyana wants single ICT from 24 hours water service space across South America benefit The Guyana Water IncorGiven the importance of information connectivity among countries, Guyana is pushing to ensure the establishment of a single Information Communication Technology (ICT) space across South America. The President raised the creation of the ICT space at the Organisation of American States’ (OAS) 24th Inter-American Congress of Ministers and High-Level Authorities of Tourism at the Marriott, Georgetown. President David Granger had remarked that small island-states tend to lack the resources to finance their own air and shipping lines so that new routes can be exploited to boost tourist arrivals. He added that travel needs to be cheaper, easier and faster while destinations need to be connected efficiently to make tourism more competitive with our parts of the world. He encouraged the consideration of a roadmap to create a single ICT space of the Americas. “The Americas can straddle the sea and integrate the continents, North and South through information and communications technology,” President Granger stated. Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes, during her presentation to the congress explained the significant role the ICT sector plays in the development of the sustainable tourism industry and its supply chain. “Access to the internet has had a massive impact on the travel and tourism industry with the development of millions of websites, reservation systems, online booking agencies, access to online tour operators and the traditional travel agent,” she said. The Minister further explained that the rapid technological advancement over the last two decades has transformed the global tourism industry, especially with the development of the mobile phone and supporting high-speed data services. “Today’s industry is characterised by a combination of technologies such as an array of mobile apps that offer a range of activities and access to social media networks that allow any potential visitor, in any part of the world to sit in their home or office and plan their vacation…regardless of their interest or particular niche.” Recounting the government’s focus in
President David Granger creating a digital Guyana, Minister Hughes said, “Guyana has become a new world frontier for industrial development and growth with better economies, for technological expansion, for real development of tourism in all its sectors.” To date, over one hundred high schools have internet connection, 85 communities have established ICT hubs, and several government agencies now have online access. Over the years, Guyana has been laying a path for tourism synergies with its neighbours in South America and other Caribbean countries with the intention to place its eco-tourism package on the global map. Minister Hughes believes the agenda can only be achieved with sustained good relations, discussions and support from participating OAS member states and Caribbean countries. At the conclusion of the congress, delegates signed on to the ‘Declaration of Georgetown’, which among other things, encourages the establishment and strengthening of public-private partnerships among the different actors of the tourist sector that contribute to improving the connectivity of the sub-regions of the Americas and promote the development of sustainable tourism.
porated as part of its mandate to ensure every Guyanese has access to potable water has made the residents of Lighttown, Highbury and Deutichan, East Bank Berbice very happy. The company commissioned a water supply system on World Water Day on Thursday at a ribbon cutting c e r e m o n y . Executive Officer of Operations at GWI, Dwayne Shako, told the gathering that the communities would have gone through much suffering with the lack of water. He stressed that even with a river running in the village, it was still not good enough to consume due to the level of cont a m i n a t i o n . ”The first time we came in here, it looked like a massive task but these guys ran 2400 lengths of pipe within a couple of weeks to ensure that this area has water,” Shako said. Managing Director, Dr. Richard Van West Charles, explained that the access to potable water was vital and important along with the access to sanitation and hygiene is also very critical. ”We as a people have got to seriously address the (Continued on page 24)
The tap being turned on at the Highbury Arrival Day Centre with GWI’s head, Dr. Richard Van West Charles present.
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Kaieteur News
Saturday March 24, 2018
More than 30 MPs noncompliant prior to 2016 - says GRA By Kiana Wilburg When it comes to compliance with the nation’s tax laws, policy leaders must be held to a higher standard. If they are noncompliant, then the citizens would be as well. It is with this understanding in mind that Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia, revealed that measures have been put in place to ensure that Guyana’s politicians are always following the letter of the law. Statia reminded that in 2016, he was accused of “going after” opposition parliamentarians when he initiated steps to ensure their tax statements were in order. He stressed however that the tax authority was simply doing itsjob. The Commissioner General
said, “I was not going after Opposition Parliamentarians. I keep saying that our leaders should be held to a higher standard and if they are noncompliant then our citizens would be as well. “That is why I went through and doubled checked to ensure that not only the politicians but all of our public servants would have filed their tax returns. Those who did not file, they were demanded.” At the time, there were more than 30 noncompliant Members of Parliament. Statia added, “There were instances where politicians did not file and we demanded the returns and they filed them. They came in one at a time and they filed. Because we should have our leaders in high esteem, we had one person dealing with them. It
GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia was more than half of them in Parliament and on both sides of the aisle. That has been corrected up to the end of 2016.”The tax boss also noted that measures are in place to ensure that the nation’s policy leaders and
public servants are up to date with their filings for 2017. Additionally, the Commissioner General was reminded of the concerns of some citizens as it relates to politicians with unexplained wealth. He was asked to say if the revenue authority is paying any attention to such issues. Statia said, “What we do with all of our returns is we do a critical analysis and whether they are politicians or other citizens, they go through the same thing. Once we find unexplained wealth, we go after it regardless of whether they are politicians or not.”He added, “We have written a few of them about their wealth because information comes to us and so we look into it.” Chartered Accountant and former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran, has written extensively on the need for the Guyana Revenue Authority to step up its approach on unexplained wealth. The Chartered Accountant had said, “Suffice it to state that too many of these persons continue to flaunt unexplained wealth with impunity. There are also many large unincorporated entities for which there are no legal requirements to file audited accounts with the GRA. This
poses significant difficulties when considering the tax liabilities of the owners of these entities.” Goolsarran said that while there is a requirement for incorporated entities to file audited accounts with GRA within a specified timeframe, and duly certified by chartered accountants in public practice, GRA must be more proactive in carrying out its own independent assessment to ascertain whether these audited accounts do indeed reflect a fair presentation of the financial condition, performance and cash flows of these entities. The former auditor general said that GRA must be prepared to challenge these accounts rather than accept them at face value simply because they have been certified by chartered accountants. Goolsarran also pointed to the fact that the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in one of its latest reports, highlighted that there were several weaknesses within the revenue authority. In the area of verification of returns filed by taxpayers, the Fund noted several problems. It said that there was no automated crosschecking of internal and external information to detect and deter inac-
curate reporting; no proactive initiatives to encourage accurate reporting; and no monitoring of the extent of inaccurate reporting in any of the core taxes. In addition, the IMF found that GRA’s Customs Department was not used on a systematic basis to verify amounts reported for personal and corporate taxes. The need to monitor regularly tax revenue losses from inaccurate reporting was also highlighted, especially by business taxpayers, so that the necessary actions can be taken to ensure compliance. Accordingly, the IMF gave a D grade for this activity which is considered the lowest level of performance. There was no system of public or private rulings nor were cooperative compliance arrangements in place to facilitate GRA’s clarification of tax issues. There was also no legal framework to support the issuance of binding rulings nor were there any compliance gap studies for Value Added Tax (VAT). In the face of the aforementioned, GRA’s Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia, informed this newspaper that efforts are already in place to correct such deficiencies.
Saturday March 24, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
FOR RENT
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK;Guyanapassport application. G r a p h i c s design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6004212: We create A/works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Repairs to refrigerators, gas stoves, A/C units, washing machines. Call Lindon: 6411086/ 694-2202 PASSPORT, PERMANENT & VISITOR VISA APPLICATION, PROFESSIONAL IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT – SABITA IMMIGRATION SERVICES. CALL: 613-3920/625-3767. Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Are you looking for a job? Need assistance, Call: 6426617, 619-4071 56 Brickdam G/Town Solomon Building. Drawing of house plan, or if you need estimates, call: 216-0671/622-0267/6928464 Installations, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc call Nick 627-3206, 630-1600 Need to sell your home? Real Estate Solutions can help. Call: 608-6655/facebook us.
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PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Business place to rent at Anna Catherina WCD, Contact #690-0205 Call between 10:30 am to 8:00 pm (1) bedroom & (2) bedroom apartment, New bottom flat @ Lot 2043 Plot C Herstelling New scheme. #667-1947/6947248 Hair & Nail stations at T&J Unique Choice Salon, located at 101 Cummings St, Bourda Georgetown. Call: 227-7626/ 678-5461 (3) Bedrooms house to rent in (Lamaha Gardens) 2 1/2 Bath, fully air conditioned US$2000. Tel#653-7961/ 674- 9244 2 Bed apt fully furnished, single room fully furnished, Providence. #672-1906/2162299 2 bedroom house for rent Parfaite Harmonie WBD #6254118 2 bedroom apartment Alexander Village $35,000/ month. Tel#621-0189 LAND FOR SALE Parafaite Harmonie, Eccles, Uivlugt, Tuschen, Covent Garden, Herstelling, Diamond, Providence, Zeelugt. Tel# 6869608 18,731 acres mining land Gold & Diamond Mazaruni $5,000,000 USD Contact: 6951356, 687-8445 Farm $3.2M Eccles (concrete fence) $6M Herstelling $5M Parafaite Harmonie $1.6M Schnoord $3M. Tel#656-0701/ 651-1969 Parafaite (10) year up $3M $1.5M $2M Uivlugt $2.5M Tuschen Property $5.5M, $3.3M Eccles (front) $5.8M. Call: 666-2326 Lot 46 (Long Dam) Vergenoegen East Bank Essequibo. Land approx 10,000 sq ft Building 656 sq ft. $4.5 neg. Tel: 628-9390
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WANTED 1 cook to cook vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods in the interior #699-4718 Wanted experience hire car taxi drivers at Ramada Princess Hotel. Tel#265-7076/616-5419 Mature experience family to live in & work at Resort at Parika. Call: 231-0363 between (8:30am-4:30pm) Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic- Call: 223-7500 Monday to Saturday 8:15am4:15pm Looking for cash & best price on land in: Parafaite Harmonie, Uivlugt, Eccles, Herstelling, Providence, Farm. Call: 604-6724 Looking to buy a house or empty land, Preferences-EBD Public road. Buyer #1917-6225810/694-3331 (1) Office Clerk. Tel# 225-3234, walk with application Experienced cashier needed. Apply in person with application to American Variety Store (Regent/Light street) Experienced Pastry Maker/ Cake Decorator, Curry & Roti/ Puri cook. Apply Hack’s Halaal with H/written application, 5 Commerce St. One (1) part time domestic, between the ages of 40 to 50. Must know to iron and have character reference. Contact: #500-5923 Domestic help wanted female, Vreed-en-hoop, light house keeping $3000 daily. Call: 682-5230/615-4414 Wanted Handyboy, must have police clearance. Apply at Shanta’s 225 Camp St.
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Saturday March 24, 2018
VACANCY Handyman between the ages 18-35, apply in person to Christine’s Variety Store, Lombard street. Contact: 2278529 Paralegal with degree in law. Duties: secretarial, clerical & research tasks. Email: lawofficegy@gmail.com/ guyana@hotmail.com CARPENTERS, MASONS, LABOURERS for E.B.Demerara work site. Tel#266-4427 Porters. apply in person Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling.
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Lot 15 Public road #2 Village. West Coast Berbice. 49ft by Able bodied Driver/Salesman 10,314ft. $20M. Contact:648for Leyland DAF Lorry. 7109/686-4818 Involves lifting. Telles Steel: 3 story commercial 226-6771/231-3265/226-4537 building,land size-120ftX60ft Inventory clerk, Machinist, Building size-62ftX30ft Tool room clerk, Male cleaner, Location-Lot 1486,Plot B Apprentice. Send written Herstelling,EBD.Contact:609application to Technical 3777/697-4557 Services. Tel#233-2745 2 storey wood & concrete building at Hope E.C.D. Female kitchen assistant for interior location. Job entails Tel#648-0436 assisting cooks and general Property for sale (1) 3 story building at 97 Sugarcane cleaning. Call: 618-2020 street S/Rvldt Gardens. Price Truck driver to work at US 1.5M neg. Tel: 695-1356 & nights. Tel# 227-1717 687-8445 2 experienced play school 2-flat 3 bedroom wooden teachers. Call: 614-4005 for building situated at 154 ‘B’ Shell road, Kitty Georgetown. appointment. Tel: 697-9418/670-2653 VEHICLE FOR SALE 25 3-bedroom brand new Bluebird 2012 model-$2.7M houses from 18-22M. 30 Axio 2010-$2.6M Tida-2010 houselots to be sold, all $2.1M All vehicles agents welcome. Tel#656-1345 Looking for a home to unregistered #655-3400 purchase? Visit Real Estate 1 AT 170 Car $280k 1 Marino Solutions @ www.resgy.com Car $450k. Contact: 601-4926 or facebook us #608-6655
Radio Orealla, 95.1 FM, to be switched on
developments in Guyana and around the world, according to a release from the Office of the Prime Minister. The community-oriented radio station was established via a partnership among the Office of the Prime Minister, the National Communications Network (NCN), Orealla Village Council, and Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), which is a corporate partner of the project. Potential broadcasters from within the district are being trained by Dr. Rovin Deodat, the Coordinator of Government’s Regional Radio Project.“The Government considers connecting communities in the ‘hinterland’ as vital to improving people’s lives and creating more opportunities for them, and has already connected many communities in Upper
Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine), through the establishment of Radio Lethem, in May 2016, and in Barima-Waini, (Region One) with the setting up of Radio Maburama, in June 2016, the Office of the Prime Minister commissioned Radio Mahdia, Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight) on October 8, 2017, Radio Bartica in CuyuniMazaruni (Region Seven) on November 17, 2017, and recently Radio Aishalton in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region 9) on February 17, 2018,” the PM office said. President David Granger will be commissioning Radio Orealla. Expected to be present will be government ministers, regional representatives, Community Leaders, and officials of GTT and the National Communications Network (NCN).
Essequibians question removal of pedestrian crossings along E’bo Coast A number of pedestrian crossings at strategic locations along the Essequibo Coast were removed some two weeks ago. Crossings were removed from schools, post offices, banks, health centres and even key business locations. This action has since moved all stakeholders living on the Essequibo Coast to question the prudence of this decision, since the markings have not been replaced. The sole purpose of pedestrian crossings is to protect pedestrians, said one senior traffic rank attached to the Guyana Police Force. The rank further explained, “Hitting someone on the pedestrian crossing means that the driver is automatically at fault. In the event someone is hit on an erased pedestrian crossing, less burden would be enforced on the driver, since the crossing is no longer active.”
This was the case a few weeks ago when an elderly woman was struck down by a speeding car on a once active crossing.Since the removal of pedestrian crossings is such a serious issue, it was among the key issues raised at the region’s statutory meeting earlier this month. It was revealed at this meeting that the project is allegedly being undertaken by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. One councillor, who is a member of the region’s road safety committee, explained that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure had set out to repaint the crossings with a different design. He added, “Information filtered to us indicates that the persons are taking off the white and they would have their own painting, which they would implement along with their own design.” Region Two Chairman,
India’s Cabinet apprised of MoU with Guyana on renewable energy “The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in Renewable Energy between India and Guyana,” an official statement from the Indian government said yesterday. The MoU was signed on January 30, 2018 here by Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister, R K Singh, and Carl Greenidge, Second Vice President and Foreign Minister of the Co-operative, Guyana. According to the statement, both sides
aim to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable energy issues on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity. The MoU envisages establishing a Joint Working Committee to review, monitor and discuss matters in relation to areas of cooperation. The MoU aims for exchange of expertise and networking of information. The Memorandum of Understanding will help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Two different statements on GPL shutdown
The radio station at Orealla
From tomorrow, communities in and around Orealla and Siparuta in the East Berbice-Corentyne District will be able to switch on their radios to 95.1 FM, as the Government moves to commission Radio Orealla. Equipped with the latest technology in radio broadcasting, this multimillion-dollar radio station will serve the villages of Orealla and Siparuta, as well as residents, farmers, and logging and mining camps located along the Corentyne River in the East Berbice – Corentyne Region. In addition to functioning as a stand-alone station, Radio Orealla is equipped to relay transmission of National Communications Network’s (NCN) “Voice of Guyana- 102.5 FM” to its listeners, keeping them informed of current affairs, news, sports, and general
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Kaieteur News
Saturday March 24, 2018
Devenand Ramdatt, believes that the approach taken by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, is uncivilised. The Chairman even challenged the Ministry to justify why crossings were removed from busy parks and even schools. “If you’re taking out the pedestrian crossings and you’re providing all kinds of excuses that pedestrian crossings are only for schools, how is it that pedestrian crossings were removed from schools as well?” questioned the Chairman. Another councillor of the RDC noted that the road marking crew even grouted out the old double yellow lines, which were situated in locations notorious for road fatalities. As a decision-making body, the RDC recommended that the Ministry and the relevant authorities investigate, and immediately reverse their course of action. [Romario Blair]
On Thursday evening, the coastlands in Berbice and Demerara were once again hit by another shutdown. In the aftermath, there were varying statements from the Government and then from Guyana Power and Light Inc.On Thursday evening, a statement from the Government said that according to Deputy Chief Executive Officer of GPL, Renford Homer, there was a mini disturbance on a primary line at the Demerara/Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) in Duke Street, Kingston resulting in a total shutdown of the system.
“This subsequently led to power outages in several areas in Region Four. Currently, technicians are working expeditiously to resolve the situation. Homer anticipates that power will be restored in approximately 45 minutes in all areas while investigations continue.” Then yesterday, this was what GPL had to say: “Last evening, at approximately 18:33 hrs; entangled mains from a vehicular accident at Lance Gibbs and Irving Streets caused a disturbance on the F9 distribution line which triggered a shutdown of the
Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS). At approximately 20:00 hrs, during the process of restoring power, the DBIS experienced another shutdown due to a related fault at Peter Rose Street, Queenstown. Upon completion of remedial work, all areas within Demerara and Berbice were repowered at approximately 21:18 hrs. GPL remains cognizant of the inconvenience this interruption has caused and offers sincere apologies to our customers.”
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Kaieteur News
Saturday March 24, 2018
U.S. charges, sanctions Iranians for global cyber attacks on behalf of Tehran WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - The United States yesterday charged and sanctioned nine Iranians and an Iranian company for attempting to hack into hundreds of universities worldwide, dozens of companies and parts of the U.S. government, including its main energy regulator, on behalf of Tehran’s government. The cyber attacks, beginning in at least 2013, pilfered more than 31 terabytes of academic data and intellectual property from 144 U.S. universities and 176 universities in 21 other countries, the U.S. Department of Justice said, describing the campaign as one of the largest state-sponsored hacks ever prosecuted. The U.S. Treasury Department said that it was placing sanctions on the nine people and the Mabna Institute, a companay U.S. prosecutors characterized as designed to help Iranian research organizations steal information. U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said the nine Iranians were considered fugitives who may face extradition in more than 100 countries if they travel outside of Iran. Authorities “will aggressively investigate and prosecute hostile actors who attempt to profit from America’s ideas by infiltrating our computer systems and stealing intellectual property,”
Rosenstein said at a news conference. He said the case “will disrupt the defendants’ hacking operations and deter similar crimes.” The hackers were not accused of being directly employed by Iran’s government. They were instead charged with criminal conduct waged primarily through the Mabna Institute on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the elite military force assigned to defend Iran’s Shi’ite theocracy from internal and external threats. There was no immediate response to the charges and sanctions in Iran’s state-run media. The targeting of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, was especially concerning, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said, because it oversees the interstate regulation of energy in the United States and holds details of some of the country’s “most sensitive infrastructure.” Hackers targeted email accounts of more than 100,000 professors worldwide, half located in the United States, and compromised about 8,000 of them, prosecutors said. Hackers also targeted the U.S. Labor Department, the United Nations and the computer systems of the U.S. states Hawaii and Indiana, prosecutors
East Bank Berbice residents ... From page 7 sustainable goals of dealing with waste water treatment in all of our communities,” Charles said. He recounted that it was just about a year ago when he visited the area of Highbury for an event when he was approached by the people of Lighttown,” that encounter forced the attention to a need because water is a human right”. He hailed the collective approach to the solution as it being a signal to the people that “we can do many things”. It was also mentioned by the Managing Director that with agriculture being an important activity as part of the developmental strategy, it uses up 70% of the fresh water g l o b a l l y . He stressed, “We have to look at agricultural practices in use of water for the production of food. There are many new techniques to be used in agriculture communities where they use drip technology, where they use less water and produce more food, we have to look at the manufacturing industries and what chemicals they are us-
ing and where they are disposing of it.” This he said shows how water is relevant in every sector of development. He praised the professional staff comprising Manager for Region Six Operations, Jawaharlall Ramjug, Dwayne Shako and the engineer Randy Leitch and his team for putting their skills and knowledge into practice and completing the task as expected. A community member, Mitford Ward, while addressing the persons gathered at the site in Highbury, expressed his satisfaction for hearing their cries and requests made for potable water within their respective c o m m u n i t i e s . ”We are very happy that you have met our needs for which we are very thankful. We could not imagine that we would have been privileged to have potable water in our homes that would enable us to make use of water in a modern way,” Ward unders c o r e d . The water supply system was commissioned at $30 million and offers 24 hours water service.
U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein speaks at a news conference with other law enforcement officials at the Justice Department to announce nine Iranians charged with conducting massive cyber theft campaign. (REUTERS/Yuri Gripas) said. Friday’s actions are part of an effort by senior cyber security officials at the White House and across the U.S. government to blame foreign countries for malicious hacks. They were announced a day after U.S. President Donald Trump named John Bolton, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who is deeply skeptical of the 2015 international nuclear accord with Iran, as his new national security adviser. Trump himself has repeatedly cast doubt on the nuclear deal, in which the U.S. and other world powers eased sanctions in exchange for Tehran putting limits on its nuclear program. INTERNET FIRMS
ALERTED The Department of Justice on Friday privately warned major internet infrastructure companies to expect attacks from Iran, an executive at one company who received the alert said. The officials said the most likely retaliation would be denial of service attacks on websites, which are not destructive but disrupt commerce and communication. Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre said on Twitter that the Mabna Institute was “almost certainly responsible for cyber attacks targeting universities around the world.” The sanctions and charges were the fourth time in the past few months that the Trump administration has
Legal challenge ... From page 3 “beneficial use” does not mean “beneficial to the oil company.” The lawyer stressed that it means beneficial to Guyana – a point she believes that Minister Trotman appears to have missed. GOVT REFUTES News of this looming court challenge was first reported by the UK Guardian. Janki was also quoted by that media outfit as she provided additional reasons as to why the matter ought to be taken to court. In light of the aforementioned, the Ministry of Natural Resources released a statement yesterday, categorically stating that it has fulfilled all legal requirements in the award of the production licence to ExxonMobil. The Ministry noted that the Government is prepared and willing to present all facts
in this regard to any court with jurisdiction. The Ministry of Natural Resources further said that “this sort of action” is not unusual in emerging oil economies, particularly during the stage leading up to first oil at which Guyana currently is. The Ministry said it is satisfied that its partners engaged in exploration and preparation for production, are taking every precaution in ensuring that there is minimal effect to the environment and that they are diligently putting systems in place to guard against any spills or mishaps. The Ministry also sought to assure that it will continue to engage its partners – ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC Nexen – in ensuring that the interest of Guyana's waters and environment remains top priorities.
blamed a foreign government for major cyber attacks, a practice that was relatively rare under the Obama administration. Last week, the administration accused the Russian government of cyber attacks stretching back at least two years that targeted the U.S. power grid. Washington imposed new sanctions on 19 Russians and five groups, including Moscow’s intelligence services, for meddling in the 2016 U.S. election and other cyber attacks. Friday’s indictment in U.S. District Court in New York said the Iranian hackers did extensive background research of university professors before sending them “spearphishing” emails tailored to their academic interests and scholarly published articles. The emails purported to be from professors at another university and indicated the sender had read an article written by them, prosecutors said. The emails would then direct recipients to click on links to related articles that would
direct victims to a malicious internet domain that appeared similar to the victim’s actual university portal, where they would be prompted to enter their login credentials. Once accounts were compromised, the hackers would steal reams of academic data and intellectual property related to science and technology, engineering, social sciences and medicine, the indictment said. Stolen data was obtained to benefit Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and sold within Iran through the websites Megapaper and Gigapaper to universities in Iran, prosecutors said. ‘PASSWORD SPRAYING’ Hackers targeted and compromised employee email accounts for 36 U.S.-based companies and 11 companies in countries including Germany, Italy and Britain, prosecutors said. Victim companies in the United states included two media and entertainment companies, one law firm, 11 technology firms, and two bank and investment firms, among others. Unlike the precise targeting of professors, companies fell victim to a broad technique known as “password spraying” that involves finding lists of company email accounts online and then attempting to hack into them by using common default passwords. Once inside, the hackers would steal entire email mailboxes. The Treasury Department also placed sanctions on another Iranian, Behzad Mesri. Sometimes known as “Skote Vahshat,” Mesri was charged in 2017 with hacking cable TV network HBO to leak unaired episodes of the fantasy drama Game of Thrones. Mesri is still at large, officials said. The Obama administration in 2016 indicted seven Iranians for distributed-denial-of-service attacks on dozens of U.S. banks and for trying to shut down a New York dam.
Soesdyke Health... From page 20 initiative, many young teen mothers didn't know where to go, how to access critical information that they needed as there was no one to tell them where and what to do, so I am happy that you mothers despite being teenagers can access help and assistance,” Nurse Thomas said. It was reported that among the many things that persons attending the clinic would be taught is how to breast feed their babies effectively, handling stress and proper care of the child. Dr Travis Freeman, an Officer at Ministry of Public Health said that his Ministry is providing the technical support. It's the 39th adolescent clinic being established across Guyana, with more than half of the numbers being situated within Region Four. The adolescent day will be held every Monday from 1 pm at the Soesdyke Health Centre, already there are 15 mothers who are part of the clinic.
Kaieteur News
Saturday March 24, 2018
Unions disappointed at govt. new measure regarding salary negotiations BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – Public sector unions have expressed disappointed at the decision f the Barbados government to stop all negotiations on salary and wages until after the general elections. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of the Civil Service, Alyson Forte in a March 20 letter, noted that he had been directed by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Freundel Stuart to put a halt to the pay talks, based on prevailing economic conditions. “I am directed to advise you that the Minister, as authorized under Section 13 (1) (d) of the Public Service Act Cap. 29, and with the advice from the Ministry of Finance, has determined that the prevailing economic conditions do not permit a general increase in the emoluments for public servants, including any one-off payments,” Forte wrote in his letter to the Barbados Workers Union (BWU).The government has also indicated that any negotiations with the unions at this stage should focus on nonsalary items. “I therefore wish to inform you that your request for a 15 per cent increase in wages and salaries across-the-board for the period April 2016 to March 2018 for public servants, cannot be accommodated at this time,” the letter noted.Forte also informed the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), which is seeking a 23 per cent wage increase for its workers, that while he was prepared to continue to meet with them to follow up on any non-salary items, he would not be discussing any matters relating to any increases in salaries and wages.The umbrella Con-
Toni Moore
Alyson Forte,
gress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations (CTUSAB), which was also party to the pay talks, has joined the unions in expressing dissatisfaction with the situation. BWU general secretary, Toni Moore, has described the directive as “wishywashy” saying that the union’s executive would be meeting next week to decide on its next course of action. “As you would imagine, the Barbados Workers’ Union could only fully respond to the correspondence which it received earlier this week following discussions and further mandate from our members and careful examination of options available to us by the executive council when it meets sometime next week,” Moore told the on-line publication, Barbados TODAY. She said she was neither surprised nor alarmed by the directive given by the government. “I say it is not surprising because sadly, the Barbados Workers’ Union has been experiencing a trend where decisions are handed down to us – although not only to us
– without the full expression of social dialogue as provided for, and as we have known it in Barbados since the early 1990s,” she said.She said she also wanted to remind Prime Minister Stuart of his unfulfilled commitment to review at the end of its first quarter, the performance of the controversial National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL), which was increased from two to 10 per cent last July on the customs value of imported, as well as locally produced goods.“Although that discussion has not taken place, we are presented with this correspondence saying, ‘no further discussions,’” Moore said, while taking issue with the fact that Cabinet had earlier restored its ten per cent pay cut “without any efforts to restore the [pay of] public servants, whether it was an increase or via a refund of income tax or any other measure”.“This is the kind of response that we get in the form that we get it,” Moore said.NUPW general secretary, Roslyn Smith, said that the union would also be meeting next week to consider its options.
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Kaieteur News
Saturday March 24, 2018
Prime Minister Rowley to visit China
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley greets Zhou Xiaochuan, the Governor of the People’s Bank of China PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley is expected to pay an official visit to China later this year to continue further discussions on finance and trade issue, according to a government statement issued here yesterday. The statement, followed talks between Prime Minister Rowley and a delegation headed by Zhou Xiaochuan, the Governor of the People’s
Bank of China and Chairman of the Monetary Policy Committee. The brief statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister noted that “finance and trade were the principal topics” discussed noting that “the discussions were aimed at strengthening the bilateral relations between Trinidad and Tobago and China towards fostering mutual interests in finance and commerce”.
It said that Prime Minister Rowley “welcomes Chinese interest in expanding into areas of regional trade where Trinidad and Tobago has a geographic and commercial advantage. “It is expected that Prime Minister Rowley will pay an official visit to the People’s Republic of China later this year where these and similar discussions will form part of the business of both countries”.
Kaieteur News
Saturday March 24, 2018
CDB announces programme to support increased trade among CARICOM states BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – The Barbadosbased Caribbean Development Bank (CDEB) says it is providing US$750,000 for a programme aimed at assisting Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries strengthen intra-regional trade. It said Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Guyana, St Lucia and Suriname will benefit from three interventions to be implemented by the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ). “This programme will assist producers with overcoming some of the challenges encountered when trying to export their products, and will therefore enhance their ability to increase market access, penetrate new markets and integrate into global value chains,” said Daniel Best, the CDB’s Director of Projects. “Some of the key constraints manufacturers, exporters and service providers in the CARICOM face are caused by non-tariff trade barriers, otherwise known as Technical Barriers to Trade,” he added. He said that well-function-
Daniel Best ing quality infrastructure can minimize TBTs, open doors for producers in CARICOM countries to regional and international markets, and help them to raise the standard o f t h e i r production processes, thereby enhancing their competitiveness. Quality infrastructure refers to the public and private institutional framework required to implement standardisation, accreditation and conformity assess-
ment services, including inspection, testing, and laboratory and product certification. The CDB said that its interventions will assist with bringing regional goods in line with international standards and will include developing national quality policies intended to protect consumers and safeguard human health, safety, and the environment as well as technical assistance to two testing laboratories – to be chosen from among the five countries – for International Standards Organisation (ISO) 10725 accreditation. The intervention will also allow for the development and implementation of an awareness campaign to promote and sensitise stakeholders, particularly women, indigenous people, youth and other minority and at risk groups, on matters related to the development and implementation of quality policies, and to improve knowledge and use of accredited testing services. CROSQ is scheduled to commence the 18-month Strengthening of Regional Quality Infrastructure Programme in May, 2018.
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Police officer remanded for raping teen girl 15 A serving member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was yesterday remanded to prison for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl. Twenty-three-year-old Mark Otto, Police Constable, appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. It is alleged that during May 2017, at Roxanne Burnham Gardens Area, he engaged in sexual penetration with a child under the age of sixteen. The Police Constable was not allowed to plead to the indictable offence after it was read to him by the Magistrate. The matter was prosecuted by Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield. The matter was held in-camera and the media and members of the public were asked to exit the courtroom. The Magistrate after listening to the prosecutor remanded the accused to prison. He was instructed to make his next court appearance on March 28. According to reports, the teen and the police officer was involved in a relationship and after her parents found out, they went and reported the matter to the police.
Remanded to prison, Mark Otto
The matter was then investigated and the officer
was arrested and charge for the offence.
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Kaieteur News
Saturday March 24, 2018
Peru’s new president vows fight Govt. extends duty free against graft, calls for unity concession on building materials ROSEAU, Dominica CMC – The Dominica government yesterday announced a six month extension of the duty free concessions on building materials after indicating that not many people had been able to take advantage of the initiative that had been announced soon after Hurricane Maria swept through the island last September causing widespread damage. Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, speaking on the stateowned DBS radio, said that Cabinet had taken a decision “to extend the period for the setting aside of the import duties, so we have extended the waiver on import duties to June on a wide range of building materials.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit “We recognise that in many instances some insur-
ance companies would have been slow or delayed in making payments to some of the clients and so a number of people are now receiving their checks and we felt it was necessary to give them an opportunity to benefit from the waiver of import duty.” He said the extension should also benefit the private sector, noting “we felt that it would be good to extend the import duties to allow them to bring material at a reduced rate. “Obviously this is revenue the Treasury will be losing upon but we believe that in the circumstances it is the right decision.” Skerrit told radio listeners that the initiative would be assessed after the nine month period in June.
LIMA (Reuters) - Peru’s new president, Martin Vizcarra, promised on Friday his government would fight corruption “head on” after his predecessor resigned mired in scandal, and called for the country to come together to push past the political crisis. In a speech before Peru’s opposition-controlled Congress after being sworn in, Vizcarra said he would form a completely new cabinet and that no branch of government should trample another. Vizcarra was Peru’s first vice president and ambassador to Canada before arriving in Lima early on Friday to replace former President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who resigned this week in the face of near-certain impeachment.
Vice President Martin Vizcarra is sworn in as President at the Peruvian congress building in Lima, Peru, yesterday. REUTERS/Mariana Bazo
Dillon accused of abuse and fraud in US Trinidad Express - National Security Minister, Edmund Dillon was asked three times yesterday if he was willing to step down pending an outcome of a United States Supreme Court civil matter in which allegations of, “elder financial abuse, exploitation and fraud,” have been levelled against him. He answered each time: “The matter is still pending and I’m prepared to treat with it accordingly.”“Did you take advantage of Mr Piper?” Dillon was asked.He replied: “No. I did not.”Dillon said he was 62-years-old and has known Piper for 45 years. Asked if he was staying in office until the matter had been determined, Dillon said: “I will treat with the matter. I am prepared for court and that’s where I will have my vindication.” When asked he was unable to say when the matter might be determined but he added: “I hope it is soon.” Asked about a $5000 cheque which was allegedly made out to Dillon according to court subpoenas of Piper’s accounts, Dillon replied: “I cannot discuss that now as you must know.” Asked about his relationship with the man accusing him, Dillon replied: “Mr Piper is a Trinidadian. A born and bred Trinidadian. He grew up in the area of La Brea and he migrated to the United States. He and my parents were very good friends. He used to visit us at home and we visit him abroad. When he came to Trinidad, I used to drive him around. So we are very close because when you go to his home, you will see pictures of myself all over his household and so on.” Dillon said: “If you check my phone records as you
could probably check, you will see that almost everyday I would talk to him, discuss certain things with him because he liked to understand the politics of Trinidad. We had very good discussions.” The Express reported yesterday that over the past seven months, Dillon has been visiting the United States to attend a US Supreme Court civil matter in which allegations of “elder financial abuse, exploitation and fraud”, have been levelled against him. The allegations are being made by “incapacitated” Neville B Piper, through his lawyers.US civil court documents allege Dillon attempted to defraud Piper of his money and his condominium sometime last year.An order filed by his attorneys claims that Piper, an alleged incapacitated person (AIP), transferred 50 per cent of his condominium, located at 301 Cathedral Parkway, Uptown Manhattan, to Edmund Dillon. The document said “the purpor-ted signature of Piper on the deed and transfer documents does not appear to be Piper’s signature and the elderly man denied ever executing such documents and denied any recollection of the transaction”. In a more detailed 13-page report submitted to the court by the court evaluator, attorney Patricia Powis, who visited Piper at the New Jewish Home in Manhattan where he is undergoing medical treatment, Piper said he “did not have any recollection of having given an interest in his apartment to Mr Dillon. He seemed surprised that one would think he would do such a thing. He noted, ‘Having worked so hard for my home, why would I give some of it away while I am still here?’
n
Saturday March 24, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Saturday March 24, 2018
Syrian army celebrates as rebels quit most of their Ghouta stronghold BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian rebels left one besieged enclave yesterday and agreed to abandon another, leaving only the city of Douma still in insurgent hands in eastern Ghouta after a month-long army assault to drive them from the stronghold near Damascus. It brings President Bashar al-Assad to the cusp of his biggest victory over the rebels since driving them from Aleppo in December 2016, though they remain entrenched in areas of northwestern and southwestern Syria.The offensive to cap-
ture the towns and villages on the outskirts of the capital, which began on Feb. 18 with a massive bombardment, has brought 90 percent of eastern Ghouta back under government control. More than 1,600 people have been killed, a war monitor said. Syrian army soldiers fired tracer bullets into the night air in celebration on Friday as the last groups of rebels in the town of Harasta boarded buses for opposition territory in the northwest along with family members. They had agreed to surrender the town in return for
safe passage out and a pardon for civilians who chose to remain there as the government took back control. The government’s assault, backed by Russia, was one of the fiercest of the seven-year-old war and was carried out in defiance of international pleas to halt and honour a ceasefire. At the start of the offensive, the United Nations estimated 400,000 people were trapped inside the besieged area without access to food or medicine. Syrian state television broadcast the departure of
rebels and their families. From behind a half-drawn curtain, a woman in a headscarf could be seen gazing out through a spiderweb of bullet holes and cracks in the window of a bus as it prepared to carry her to exile. A Reuters witness near where the buses were gathering said some men had disembarked to pray while women and children walked nearby. Meanwhile, rebels in a second pocket around the towns of Arbin, Jobar, Zamalka and Ein Terma said they had also agreed to leave
BRUSSELS (Reuters) European Union member states agreed at a summit yesterday to take additional punitive measures against Russia for a nerve agent attack in Britain, as Moscow accused the bloc of joining a Londondriven hate campaign against it. Moscow has denied that it is behind the attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, the first known offensive use of a nerve toxin in Europe since World War Two. But German Chancellor Angela Merkel said evidence of Russian culpability presented by British Prime Minister Theresa May was “very solidly based” and promised new measures after EU leaders agreed late on Thursday to recall their ambassador to Moscow. “Germany and France agree that additional steps, on top of the recall of the ambassador, are necessary,” Merkel said at a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Macron called the attack “unprecedented” and said Europe must respond: “It is an aggression against the security and sovereignty of an ally that is today a member of the European Union. It demands a reaction. This is clear.” In a boost for May, the 28member EU collectively condemned the attack and declared in a Brussels summit statement that it was “highly likely” Moscow was responsible. A British judge said on Thursday that both victims may have suffered brain damage from the attack. A policeman who was hospitalised after discovering the two unconscious on a park bench has now been discharged. “Additional steps are expected as early as Monday at the national level,” summit chair Donald Tusk told reporters. TENSIONS The leaders of Poland, the Czech Republic and the three Baltic states - Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania - were among
those predicting further expulsions of Russian diplomats from their capitals. However, Boyko Borissov, prime minister of Bulgaria which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, wanted more evidence so that “high probability becomes full probability” of Russian involvement. “I expect very rapid tensions in the coming weeks because many countries will start to recall their ambassadors too. The current times are harder than the Cold War,” Borissov said, making clear his discomfort with further measures. Moscow has retaliated against Britain’s move to expel 23 Russians by ordering out the same number of Britons. On Friday, the Russian foreign ministry described the EU allegation as “baseless” and accused the bloc of spurning cooperation with Moscow and joining “another anti-Russian campaign deployed by London and its al-
lies overseas”. The expulsion of British diplomats went ahead on Friday, with a convoy of minibuses speeding out of the embassy compound to applause after British embassy staff said their goodbyes in the courtyard under a light snowfall. “I welcomed 48 colleagues/families plus 4 dogs. Safe at home,” Foreign Office official Simon McDonald said on Twitter after the diplomats arrived back at a British air force base later on Friday. France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, on a visit to Kiev, signalled that Paris was considering expelling Russian diplomats in solidarity with Britain. “You will see,” he said. The summit statement hardened previous EU language on Russia’s alleged role as Macron and others helped May to overcome hesitation on the part of some states that feel friendlier to Moscow. Some of them had questioned how definitive Britain’s evidence is.
Europeans promise more steps against Russia over UK spy attack
for the northwest with their families and any other civilians who did not wish to come back under Assad’s rule. People who wished to stay on would not face prosecution, said Wael Alwan, spokesman for the Failaq alRahman group there, adding that the group would also release captured government soldiers. About 7,000 people would depart in the deal starting on Saturday morning, including fighters carrying light weapons, state TV reported. But bombs still fell yesterday on the besieged city of Douma, from which thousands of people have fled into government territory in recent days. Once insurgents complete their agreed withdrawals from the other areas, it will stand as the last battered and besieged rebel zone in eastern Ghouta, itself the opposition’s last major bastion near the capital. ASSAULT The Syrian army’s assault to recapture the area has been marked by tactics the army has used to crush resistance since Russia joined the war on Assad’s side in 2015 - lay siege to an area, bombard it, launch a ground assault and finally offer the rebels and their families safe passage to the northwest. After helping turn the tide of the war in Assad’s favour with air power and military support, Russia has increasingly cast itself as a peacebroker. Russian representatives have played a role in negotiating local ceasefires and evacuations. Assad and his allies say their offensive in eastern Ghouta is necessary to end the rule of Islamist militants over the area’s people, and to stop them shelling government areas.
Rebel rocket fire has killed scores of people during the army offensive on eastern Ghouta, state television has reported including in a strike that hit a market place on Tuesday. A source in the Syrian Arab Red Crescent agency said four of its members, as well as other civilians, were injured on Friday by an explosion in Harasta. The war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the blast was caused by rebels detonating their arsenal before departing. By the time the last convoy departed Harasta on Friday evening, state media reported that scores of buses had left, carrying thousands of people including well over a thousand fighters. Shortly afterwards, the army retook the town, the state media said. State television broadcast footage of what it said was about 3,400 people leaving Douma on foot yesterday morning, carrying small children and belongings. Thousands of civilians have made the same journey over the past week, making their way to reception centres in government-held territory. They were leaving behind them a blast-wrecked landscape of smashed concrete and twisted metal, where for weeks people have cowered in basements from the unrelenting bombardment. Already besieged for years, people in eastern Ghouta have suffered acute shortages of food and medicine, and during the weekslong battle they were often unable to leave their homes even to bury the dead. The United Nations estimates more than 50,000 people have fled besieged areas of eastern Ghouta in the past two weeks.
Saturday March 24, 2018
Bolt delights fans by scoring in Dortmund training DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Usain Bolt trained again with German soccer club Borussia Dortmund yesterday and this time scored a header and a penalty in front of nearly 1,500 spectators. The 31-year-old retired sprint great took part in team exercises under coach Peter Stoeger, exchanging passes with Mario Goetze and others in the relaxed session. “It was good,” Bolt said. “I had fun with the guys. They were very welcoming.” Dortmund said 1,409 spectators came to see the eighttime Olympic champion in action. News agency DPA said there were 137 accredited journalists. “Usain is an incredibly laid back guy, totally down to earth. I think it was fun for him,” Stoeger said. “And he
got a stage that he had dreamed about.” The German club broadcast the session live with commentary in English. Bolt later signed autographs for fans as photographers jostled for pictures. “I think it worked out very well,” said Goetze, who won the World Cup with Germany in 2014. “Usain felt comfortable, we could accommodate him well. It was a cool exercise.” It was Bolt’s second training session with the team. He took part in another behind closed doors on Thursday. A delighted Nuri Sahin wrote on Twitter that it was a “big honour” to meet “the fastest man alive.” Other Dortmund players also posed
for photographs with Bolt. But Stoeger didn’t seem to think the Jamaican could make it in soccer today. “He is at an age where I say he is no longer so incredibly capable of development,” the Austrian coach said. “You can see that he understands the game. He’s talented. What he’s missing is the teamwork.” Dortmund, which shares a sponsor with Bolt, had long extended an invitation for him to train with the team at some stage. Bolt retired from track after the 2017 world championships. Dortmund’s next game after the international break is at Bayern Munich on March 31. Bayern can secure the league title if other results go its way.
Saturday March 24, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You're being called upon to take action in many areas today, Aries. People may be tugging at you to be with them and participate in their world of fun and excitement.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Action is the key word for you today, Libra, so put on some comfortable shoes and have a good time. Infuse a bit of non sequitur playfulness in your dealings with others.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Take action to create a fanciful dream world today, Taurus. Indeed, many of the activities of the day will be touched with an air of otherworldliness.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Live your creative fantasies today, Scorpio, but watch out for the reality police at the border. You may experience a bit of conflict with a stubborn person or in a situation that isn't very well planned.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A strong desire to bring more of the fantasy realm into your own reality spurs your actions today, Gemini. You could discover that there is an intense desire to bring a sense of the obscure to the normal CANCER (June 21–July 22) This is an intense day for you during which the disharmony in different realms of your life crops up and spurs you on to action, Cancer. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may find it difficult to take action on any practical matter today, Leo. If you find this is the case, don't bother pressuring yourself into making it happen. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Take action on well-laid plans today, Virgo. Stay levelheaded, and seek pleasure by taking things steadily one step at a time. Watch out for a forceful, willful, fanciful mindset that will somehow cause conflict with your plans
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SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today is one of those days in which you might be kicking yourself for not telling the truth on an earlier occasion, Sagittarius. The words that seemed so harmless then may come back to haunt you now. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Today is a very high-energy day in which you have the physical stamina to accomplish quite a bit, Capricorn. Take care, however, that you have all the necessary facts before you venture out AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Plan your moves carefully today, Aquarius, and have patience with the people around you. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your actions may be touched by a very fanciful frame of mind today, Pisces. Be careful about indulging in recreational substances that take you out of reality for a while.
Hamilton fastest but Red Bull, Ferrari in hunt M E L B O U R N E (Reuters) - Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets for Mercedes in both practice sessions at the Australian Grand Prix yesterday but Red Bull’s Max Verstappen showed enough pace to give the Silver Arrows pause for thought. After lapping Albert Park in one minute, 24.026 seconds to dominate the first practice of the new season, Hamilton improved the mark slightly to 1:23.931 in the second session on a balmy autumn day.“The car is quicker here than it was last year, so it feels better everywhere,” the four-times champion told reporters. “It closed up a little bit in FP2 in terms of the gap between us all, but that’s exciting. It’s more challenging for me to try and eke out a little more from the car.” R e d B u l l ’s D u t c h wunderkind Verstappen was snapping at his heels, however, finishing only 0.127 seconds adrift of the Briton after the second session. Raising hopes of a contest for Mercedes, who have swept the driver and constructors’ titles for the past four years, there was less than three-tenths of a second separating the champions from the Red Bull and Ferrari cars. Verstappen sandwiched himself between the Mercedes drivers, with H a m i l t o n ’s t e a m m a t e Valtteri Bottas third quickest despite taking a couple of slides off the track. “That’s what I call a positive start to the season,” Verstappen tweeted. “The car handled well and I’m happy with today.” Fourth in FP2, Kimi Raikkonen showed why Ferrari may also be in the hunt for tomorrow’s race but he will have to face the stewards after allegedly impeding fellow Finn Bottas, who nearly rammed into his rear and ended up in the gravel. VETTEL UNCONCERNED It was a tougher day for Raikkonen’s four-times champion team mate Sebastian Vettel, who was more than a half-second off the pace in FP2 down in fifth position, a disappointing run he later downplayed. “We still have quite a lot of performance in hand. I am not too worried be-
Lewis Hamilton was quickest in practice. (Getty Images) cause I know if I get everything right we should be in better shape,” the German told reporters. R e d B u l l ’s D a n i e l Ricciardo was seventh in FP2 but his day ended on a sour note, the home hope handed a three-place grid penalty for going too fast during red flag conditions.
The second session was suspended for a few minutes after some cabling became unearthed at the startfinish line. Tipped to be the big improvers after a positive preseason, Haas delivered in spades, with Romain Grosjean sixth quickest in FP2 and his team mate Kevin Magnussen ninth.
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Saturday March 24, 2018
Kaieteur News
Harvard Rugby Club rearing Warner in heated exchange to go at today’s GRFU/ with spectator after dismissal Hairoun Beer 7s Tourney David Warner’s stump goes cartwheeling. (AFP)
Harvard Rugby Club of Trinidad and Tobago Leading Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Club, Harvard arrived in Guyana yesterday and is rearing to go against the best local clubs at today’s Guyana Rugby Football Union season opening Sevens competition at the National Park. This would be the first time that Harvard’s full team is competing in Guyana but a number of their players have
already played at the National Park. According to club Chairman, Gregory Rousse, they have been preparing since last year and they are here to pocket the top prize of USD$1000. They will be competing against five local clubs, Pepsi Hornets, Yamaha Caribs, Guyana Police Falcons, Panthers and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). But with
the likes of international player in Kevin McKenzie among others in the visiting team’s line-up, the local clubs would have their work cut out in their desire to topple the visitors. Action will scrum off at 11:00hrs and the team finishing second will receive $100,000 while the Most Valuable Player (MVP) will collect $20,000.
ESPNcricinfo Australia’s vice-captain David Warner was involved in a heated exchange with a spectator as he walked off the ground after his dismissal by Kagiso Rabada on day two of the third Test in Cape Town. In the latest unsavoury episode of an eventful tour, Warner responded to his individual baiting from the spectator in scenes reminiscent of Merv Hughes’ infamous confrontation with a fan at the Wanderers in Johannesburg in 1994, for which he was given a suspended fine by the then Australian Cricket Board after bashing his bat against the barrier the spectator was behind. Warner’s exchange was less violent but more prolonged, immediately after he had lost a gladiatorial bout with Rabada. Bowled by Rabada after a frenetic innings of 30 from 14 balls in which he struck the Proteas spearhead for 4-4-4-6-4 in the five balls before his dismissal, Warner found the middleaged male spectator waiting for him as he commenced his walk from the boundary to the Australian dressing room, greeting him with sarcastic applause and plenty of words. As the verbal barbs con-
tinued, Warner stopped to respond to the spectator, who was seated in the Members enclosure of the Western Province Cricket Club, before a security guard moved to intervene. Nevertheless the pair kept on exchanging words as they made their way up the stairs on either side of the fence separating the players from spectators - the incoming batsman Usman Khawaja walked past the two adversaries on his way to the middle. Australia’s security manager, Frank Dimasi, subsequently made his way down to the area and spoke with both the security guard and the spectator. Warner’s “baiter”, who was the guest of a member of WPCC, was later ejected from the ground. Several fans were also kicked out of Newlands for singing songs about Sonny Bill Williams. Numerous members of the Australian side, in addition to Warner, had been subjected to abuse from spectators concerning their wives and partners while in the field at Newlands during South Africa’s first innings. Australian touring teams have long acknowledged that they receive some of their harshest treatment from spectators in South Africa, although up to this point
Warner’s tour had involved more exchanges with opponents than fans. In Durban he was captured on CCTV cameras exchanging words with Quinton de Kock, then responding angrily to the response from the South Africa wicketkeeper and needing to be physically restrained by team-mates as he climbed the stairwell at Kingsmead. That incident saw Warner fined and handed three demerit points under the ICC code of conduct, meaning he is one further disciplinary infraction away from a ban. De Kock was also fined over the episode, albeit on a lesser charge. Warner has alleged that his aggression was sparked by de Kock making personal remarks about his wife Candice. Between first two Test matches, offensive masks were distributed by fans in reference to her brief bathroom encounter with the rugby league player Sonny Bill Williams years before she and Warner became a couple. Two Cricket South Africa officials, Clive Eksteen and Altaaf Kazi, have been suspended by the home board after allowing fans wearing the masks to be admitted to St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth and then posing with them for a photograph.
Softball action at Linden Soesdyke Highway on March 31 Rainbow Promotion will be hosting a floodlight softball cricket competition on March 31 at Red Scorpion ground Kuru Kururu, Linden, Soesdyke Highway starting at 16:00hrs. Admission is free and Black Stone-Lexxus Blingzer, Face and David Hype will provide added entertainment. Entrance fee is $15,000 and the winning team will take home $100,000. Interested teams can contact Sham on 626-6564.
Saturday March 24, 2018
Captain Fantastic propels Afghanistan to the World Cup
Mohammad Shahzad leads Afghanistan’s post-match revelry. (International Cricket Council) HARARE (Reuters) Afghanistan qualified for next year’s cricket World Cup as captain Asghar Stanikzai played through the pain barrier to produce a heroic innings and lead them to a fivewicket victory over Ireland yesterday. Stanikzai returned to the team last week for the closing stages of the qualifying tournament after having surgery to remove his appendix. He batted in obvious pain and with a heavy dressing under his shirt, to score an unbeaten 39 off 29 balls, as he and Najibullah Zadran saw their team home with five balls to spare. Ireland scored a modest 209 for seven in their 50 overs in the winner-
takes-all match to decide who would join the West Indies in securing a place at the World Cup from the qualifying tournament. The West Indies booked their spot in next year’s tournament in England earlier in the week. Afghanistan reached their target as Stanikzai squeezed a boundary with the first ball of the last over as they scored 213-5. Ireland opener Paul Stirling top scored with 55 and Kevin O’Brien hit 41 runs off 37 balls near the end of their innings on a slow wicket as they sought to accelerate the run rate but managed only 81 runs in last 15 overs. Rashid Khan, who had skippered Afghanistan through most of qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe,
took 3-40. Afghanistan made a positive start in their chase with openers Mohammad Shahzad (54) and Gulbadin Naib (45) putting down the platform for victory. Shahzad was named man of the match. They will now play the West Indies on Sunday in the final of the qualifying tournament in Harare. It will be A f g h a n i s t a n ’s s e c o n d Wo r l d C u p a p p e a r a n c e after their debut in 2015 in Australia and New Zealand where they beat Scotland by a single wicket but lost their other five matches. Scores: Afghanistan 213 for 5 (Shahzad 54, Naib 45, Simi 3-30) beat Ireland 209 for 7 ( S t i r l i n g 5 5 , R a s h id 340) by five wickets.
WDCA President’s Cup
Wins for Independence B, Zeeburg B, Mc Gill Independence B, Zeeburg B, Mc Gill recorded victories when the West Demerara Cricket Association President’s Cup 50-over tournament continued recently. At Joe Viera Park, Independence B batted first and were bowled out for 188 in 36 overs. David Mohabir made 59 and David Alert 22; Sait Persaud claimed 3-21. All Stars were sent packing for 73 in 21 overs in response. Navindra Kishun made 17 as Parsram Permanand claimed 4-21 and Thakur Persaud 316. At Zeeburg, Windsor
Forest took first strike and made 91 all out in 24.3 overs. D. Dhanraj made 32; Ansar Khan captured 3-13, Vishal Persaud 2-3 and Yu t e s h D h a n p a u l 2 - 6 . Zeeburg B responded with 94-4 in 9.3 overs with Dhanpaul scoring 29 not out, Ushardeva Balgobin 24 and Richardo Pooran 22. Avinash Ganesh had 2-24. At Canal Number One, Mc Gill rattled up 212-9, taking first knock. Travis Persaud made 49, Diquan Murray 38, Azar Deen 29 and Sudesh Persaud 21. I. Khan had 3-4, Zafar Khan 2-5, S. Mahase 2-
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37 and Ganesh Puran 2-47. Sawpit made 134 all out in 28.3 overs in reply. Shivram Mahase made 41 and Rabindra Rajroop 22. Abdool Razack had 2-24 and Diquan Murray 2-31. Meanwhile, in the WDCA T20 which resumed recently at Canal Number Two, MetenMeer-Zorg took first strike and got to 128-8. Jermaine Maxwell made 27 and Raj Kumar 22. Keshram Seyhodan snared 3-5 and Seecharran Persaud 2-16. Culture CC replied with 129-4. Anthony Ifill struck 38 and Seyhodan 18 not out.
WDCA U-19 50-over tourney
Independence SC, Zeeburg, All Youths triumph Independence SC, Zeeburg, All Youths registered victories when the latest round of matches in the West Demerara Cricket Association U-19 5-over tournament concluded recently. At Joe Vieira Park, Cold Fusion batted first and were bowled out for 91 in 21 overs. Kenny Holder made 24 as Ajita Persaud claimed 5-6 and Deonauth Deochan 3-15. Independence SC responded with 92-4 in 26 overs. Aaron Seepersaud got 33; Parsuram Binand claimed 4-14. At Zeeburg, the home team took first strike and managed 171 all out in 24 overs. Ushardeva Balgobin struck 88 as Navendra Persaud captured 5-24. In reply, Belle Vue were sent packing for 93 in 18 overs. Navendra Persaud made 24; Shefeek Mohamed snared 412, Andre Seepersaud 3-6 and Mohamed Khan 3-11. At La Grange, All Youths scored 144 all out in 19 overs, batting first. Robin Budram made 52 while Navindra Singh got 21; Troy Persaud grabbed 5-9 and David Sears 2-20. Mc Gill were bowled out for 121 in 24 overs in reply. Lyan Lucas made 29, Sears 23
Navendra Persaud
Navindra Persaud
Ajita Persaud
Robin Budram
and Troy Persaud 21. Navindra
Persaud picked up 5-38.
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GCA’s Vnet Champs U-13 League launched In collaboration with the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) VNET Communications, Guyana’s premier satellite internet provider launched the Vnet Champs U13 League at their 25 Delph street office in Campbellville on Thursday afternoon. The teams will be competing for Cash, trophies and other prizes provided by the sponsors. Vnet is the premium sponsor with Cerulean INC, Guyana Trading Company, Eco Atlantic International Investment INC and Give another Chance foundation (a non-profit entity that works with children), also on board. Six clubs (Everest, GCC, DCC, GYO, TSC and Diplomats) and a School team (Queen’s College) will be involved and the first round will
Saturday March 24, 2018
Kaieteur News
be played on Saturday April 7 and continue on every Saturday after that until May 19 when final will be played. GCC play DCC at YMCA (09:30 hrs), GYO face TSC at YMCA (14:00hrs), QC oppose Diplomats at MYO (14:00hrs), while Everest draws the bye in the first round. And if the professional and high standard of the launching, which included a video message from Vnet’s brand Ambassador Kemo Paul in Zimbabwe for the World Cup Qualifiers, and the plans to develop the young players both on and off the field, is anything to go by, the tournament should be a resounding success. The players will also attend pre and post games workshops, where topics such as personal hygiene, bullying, abuse and violence among others, will be conducted by various Community leaders. In addition to the cricket, Vnet and GCA will be holding a number of events to boost the awareness of cricket at the grass roots level and two such events have already been planned; a fund raising dinner and a family fun day.
Vnet’s CEO Safraz Sheriffudeen has been a long-time supporter of the development of cricket and believes that there will be an even greater impact if children are engaged early in their lives, provided with mentorship and training as well as the right gear and facilities to make their dreams of playing in the big leagues a reality. Played under tag line ‘our Game, our Culture’ this is the fourth such competition organised by the governing body for cricket in the City after the inaugural tournament was held in 2012 as Pee wee league. Ashmead Nedd, Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed, Joshua Persaud, Bhaskar Ya d r a m a n d R a y m o n d Perez, who were the Guyanese in the last U-19 World Cup, are all graduates of the U-13 programme. Vice President of the GCA, former Guyana batsman, Neil Barry, noted that the incentives are very encouraging and said he hoped that other companies come on board to sup-
port cricket in Georgetown. “Each team will start their innings with 200 and bat for 25 overs. The batsmen will bat in pairs and will bat for five overs. They can be dismissed many times during the five overs but with every dismissal 10 runs would be deducted from their total,” Barry explained. Barry stressed that the format of the game teaches the youngsters to not only hit the ball but also to defend their wicket since it forces the players to think. Each bowler must bowl at least two overs except the Keeper who is not allowed to bowl. A bowler cannot bowl more than three overs. The winner will be the team scoring the higher number of runs after deductions for dismissals have been made. Sheriffudeen congratulated Vnet’s brand Ambassador 20-year-old Paul for joining Ronsford Beaton as the only two players who have played for Essequibo to play international cricket. “Vnet has for over the past years been actively in-
To help build the nursery of GT’s cricket volved in Sports and Community development through our cricketing programmes that are held in the island of Wakenaam and toda y w e a r e honoured to a part of this event,” said Sheriffudeen, w h o l i k e Te s t b a t s m a n Ramnaresh Sarwan and Paul who moved there as a little boy, are from Wakenaam. He sees Vnet’s involvement in this event as not just a sponsorship but as an investment in the future of Guyana’s cricket. “We have hosted T20 tournaments in Wakenaam over the last six years and seen the likes of Kemo Paul, Ricardo Adams and several Essequibo Youth players going on to represent Guyana. Vnet also has a presence in the Tapeball arena which boost players like Paul, Ricardo and Anthony Adams, Kevin Boodie and Savory,” informed the Vnet CEO who is a lover of cricket. Sheriffudeen spoke of the team work and spoke glowingly of the persons behind the other sponsors. GCA President Roger
Harper said he was excited about what he had heard so far and promised that the GCA will do its best to help the tournament be a success. “While I am a bit disappointed that not more of the youngsters are here today I hope they will learn a lot of things during the next three months and have fun at the same time. We not only want to build the nursery to take Guyana and West Indies cricket forward but we also want to produce productive Citizens,” said the former Test allrounder and ex West Indies Coach. Harper, a former Guyana Captain, thanked the sponsors for giving the kids this opportunity to display their talent adding that he hoped with Vnet’s and the others continued support of this tournament could be bigger and better in the years to come. Miranda Thukur-Deen, Founder and Managing Director of Eco Atlantic Investment International INC, give the vote of Thanks. (Sean Devers)